HYDROMAG-002-Hydroponics-Magazine by Hydro Magazine

THE MAKING OF HYDROMAG... Editor Cosmo MacKenzie cos@hydromag.co.uk Technical Assistant Editor Bill Sutherland bill@hydromag.co.uk Technical Assistant Arthur Courtenay arthur@hydromag.co.uk Lifestyle Terry Hatchett terry@hydromag.co.uk Lifestyle Patrick Swift patrick@hydromag.co.uk Lifestyle Christian Mason christian@hydromag.co.uk Managing Director / Sales Pete Turner sales@hydromag.co.uk Art Director Russ Sealey russ@hydromag.co.uk PR Executive Nick Stokoe nick@hydromag.co.uk Art / Illustration Emma Godley emma@hydromag.co.uk Design / Photography Andrew Clegg andy@hydromag.co.uk Accounts Claire Kennedy accounts@hydromag.co.uk

HYDRO PUBLISHING LTD 5, The Old Bakery, 90 Acre Street, Lindley, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire HD3 3EL T: +44 (0) 203 384 8940 E: info@hydromag.co.uk W: www.hydromag.co.uk PRINTED IN THE UK

HYDROSHOW.tv - coming soon to YouTube, Vimeo or a TV screen near you, the TV show for HYDROPONICS!

Welcome...

his Issue’s cover story is a game changer. I can’t take any credit for the untold hours of work which have gone into the planning and preparation, but I can say that we all share in the passion for the potential it holds for the future. Over the coming months the HYDROMAG team will be working alongside our new sister production, HYDROSHOW.tv, to give you insights into the process of setting up the world’s first specialist hydroponics television channel. Not to be outdone by the announcement, Issue two sees the start of a number of big articles for HYDROMAG; ‘Making light Work’ is the first article in what we hope will be the definitive series covering the science behind hydroponics. We will also be wading through the potions and lotions which we put into our plants, introducing newcomers to the many different forms of growth media available on the market today and, as ever, serving up a smorgasbord of distractions to fill those few hours in the day when you aren’t tinkering with your setup. All too often, stepping into the world of hydroponics can seem like a gargantuan task. Who can honestly say that, initially at least, they weren’t hoping to plug in a ballast unit here, fill up a reservoir there and then sit back and wait for the magic to happen? There’s an art to getting it right, a balance which you can only really arrive at through trial and error, through time spent getting familiar with your setup and his/her/its own particular quirks. If you’re lucky, you’ll reach a point in time when you realise that it isn’t the end product which keeps so many of us enthralled; it’s the process itself. So if you’re new to hydroponics, keep plugging away. Be forgiving of your mistakes and learn from them, but most of all- enjoy yourself. By the time you get your basement setup ticking over like clockwork you’ll probably already have laid out a plan for where to put your ducting in the attic.

Cosmo Mackenzie Cosmo MacKenzie, Editor Thank you to our distributors:

HYDROMAG is designed in partnership with PARA www.paraltd.com

All editorial is copyright. All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced or be stored in any retrieval system in any form without the prior permission of the Publisher. Whilst every effort is made to ensure accuracy no responsibility will be accepted for inaccuracies however caused. Contributed material does not necessarily reﬂect the opinion of the Publisher. The Publisher cannot accept responsibility for any unsolicited materials. It is assumed that any images taken from sources that are widely distributed such as the Internet, are in the public domain. However, since such images are passed between sources such as websites, the original source is not always possible to trace. The editorial policy and general layout of the publication is at the sole discretion of the Publisher and no debate will be entered into. No responsibility will be accepted for illustrations, artwork or photographs while in transmission with the Publisher or their agents unless such commitment is made in writing prior to receipt of such items.

ISSUE NO. 002 11.2012

Featured In This Issue... 34 08 44 10

DISTRACTIONS 100 Films to Watch…

The very best adventures to take from your favourite armchair.

THE FEED The Future’s Bright- BrightFarms

Meet the company putting the roof at work to a use other than skiving off.

THE KNOWLEDGE Beginners Corner - Growth Media

DISTRACTIONS A-Z of Music ‘Blues’

Terry Hatchett introduces readers to the key albums in each genre from A-Z, this issue; ‘Blues’.

A comprehensive guide to the materials soon to be found under your ﬁngernails.

DISTRACTIONS Surfing in The UK

COMPETITION TIME, WIN... Lumatek Lighting Kit

GROW GEAR Hydro’s Premier Products

A personal account of the hobby which conventional wisdom suggests would be better left to our Antipodean cousins.

16 24

FEATURE ARTICLE Making Light Work

The science behind light; an introduction to PAR - photosynthetically active radiation.

THE KNOWLEDGE Hydro Hormones

Hormones; more than an excuse for your better half to shout at you.

THE KNOWLEDGE Understanding Horizontal and Vertical systems

HYDROMAG looks at the pros and cons of growing vertically and horizontally.

PROMOTION Hydroshow.tv

A whole new chapter in the world of hydroponics reporting.

This issue we are giving away a Lumatek Ballast & Lamp, plus 5 lucky runner-ups will receive a Geopot each.

A chance for our advertisers to appeal directly to you with offers on all the latest Hydroponics equipment.

For those of you that thought beekeeping was restricted to the countryside, think again. There is a new crop of beekeepers doing their thing in London and in other urban areas all over the UK. It is estimated that there are 5,000 beehives in the capital alone, which means that at the height of summer honeybees outnumber humans in London by 30 to 1. Attempts to understand why beekeeping has suddenly taken off in urban areas can be answered with the assistance of soul singer Luther Vandross and Janet Jackson: “The best things in life are free.” The benefit of a bit of fresh air, reconnecting with nature and helping bees will also be a factor in why people are taking up this hobby, but ultimately you can’t beat free food. This offer of free honey is also made even more enticing when one is made aware of the fact that city-produced honey can be of great quality. This is down to the fact that in the city there is a wealth of flowers and foliage for the bees to take advantage of, whereas in the countryside there may be a lack of variety. Any readers who get a little nervous at the thought of swarms of honeybees buzzing around should fear not, because honeybees go about their daily business of managing the colony and seeking food and water without bothering anybody. Just as with Hydroponics, Apiculture (beekeeping) takes time, patience and no small amount of effort to master; it is not something that you can simply take up at the drop of a hat. Added to that is the cost of setting up your Apiary, roughly £150 if you buy secondhand. There is plenty of support online though and a number of classes available to set you on your way.

DID YOU KNOW... A honey bee visits 50 to 100 flowers during a collection trip.

30 : 1

DID YOU KNOW... The honey bee has been around for millions of years.

Things are set to get slightly easier for urban beekeepers who are struggling to extract their honey. The Bee Collective in Victoria have created a ‘honey house’ where they have the facilities to extract, jar and label vast quantities of honey from different beekeepers all over London. All The Bee Collective requires as payment for this service is a small amount of honey, which it will then sell in order to make money to create more habitats and thus more food for honeybees in the capital. It is good to see that something is being done to reinvest in the interest of honeybees and beekeeping alike, as this year’s downpours in April and June particularly prevented bees from getting out and foraging to be able to make honey. It was so serious that the National Bee Unit issued two high-level alerts warning beekeepers to feed their bees a sugar water solution to prevent them from starving to death. Naturally due to the bad weather this year’s honey yield has come in way under average, so maybe if you get on it and start producing your own tasty honey via your own hives you might have a nice little earner on your hands. The Urban Honey Collective is a website designed to allow honey lovers to track down local honey from nearby beekeepers. Information on how to get started is available from the British Beekeepers Association

THE FUTURE’S BRIGHT. The Future’s... BrightFarms?

We’re all aware of the problems surrounding the long haul transportation of food: CO2 emissions choking our cities and melting ice caps; local farmers struggling to compete with cheap overseas production; fruit and vegetables deep-frozen until the flavour dries up faster than Gary Glitter royalty cheques… Public opinion has long been swinging towards locally-sourced foods, but as always the tricky subject of cost tends to thwart good intentions. Well, the tide might just be turning. And at the vanguard of this development stands a company called BrightFarms. BrightFarms are a New York-based company that specialise in building hydroponic greenhouses on the rooftops of supermarkets and grocery stores. And they’re pushing to make the economic case for their model as strong as the moral one. The benefits seem obvious: no transportation costs; drastically-reduced CO2 emissions; jobs for local farmers (who are paid to come in and advise or grow); and delicious fresh produce. So are we witnessing the dawn of a new era? Hard, flavourless, insipid, depressing… Just a few adjectives to describe your standard supermarket fruit or vegetable. And what’s up with those revolting green, bitter tomatoes you find these days (tomatoes as bitter as the local farmers who aren’t being given a chance to grow them)? There’s a good reason for this, and it’s largely down to the procedures

involved in shipping fresh food over distance. In addition to the practice of artificially extending shelf-life and the resulting negative impact on taste and nutrition – recent reports in Australia have found some fruit taking a year to get from tree to shelf – farmers also grow their produce with half a mind on the food’s endurance. Tomatoes, for example, are usually cultivated to be extra tough and low on sugar to survive the roundthe-world trip to your market. They’re actually designed to be leathery and flavourless! With a farm on your roof the need to preserve or transport fruit and vegetables obviously goes, meaning the produce ending up in store is packed to the gills with vitamins and flavour. It’s possible that the customer can find themselves munching on an apple that was picked – upstairs – just that morning.

For more information visit: www.brightfarms.com

Why Hydroponic Greenhouses...? Very high yields Consistent, high quality product Extremely water and land eﬃcient Very lightweight – ideal for rooftops No agricultural run oﬀ

“BrightFarms have the goal of

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

making urban farming THE future of corporate farming, not just a niche interest of idealists and environmental activists.As a new business, in a radical new industry, the test of time has yet to be applied... ”

The environment is another likely beneficiary of BrightFarms’ approach. Currently in the UK alone 19 million tonnes of carbon dioxide are pumped into the atmosphere annually by cars, planes, lorries and boats delivering food to your local shops. Any reduction to these figures has got to be welcomed. And then there are the obvious environmental advantages of utilizing hydroponics – namely the efficient use of land and water and integrated pest control. It seems a no-brainer – surely this is the way forward? But as always we’re at the mercy of free market economics. Supply and demand is king and the majority of shoppers reluctantly sacrifice quality and conscience in the name of affordability. And who can blame them in the current climate? Equally grocers and supermarkets tend to baulk at anything that might squeeze their profit margins. If the system isn’t broken in their eyes, why fix it? For these reasons a number of urban farm projects have struggled to make an impact as the financials failed to convince big business to jump on board. BrightFarms are hoping to change all that. BrightFarms have the goal of making urban farming THE future of corporate farming, not just a niche interest of idealists and environmental activists. The big question mark remains over the financials, with BrightFarms currently reliant on tax exemptions. As a new business, in a radical new industry, the test of time has yet to be applied. Similar schemes in San Francisco have gone belly-up but BrightFarms’ CEO Paul Lightfoot remains optimistic: “If you really want to change a market you have to have a lot of capital to invest in making these changes happen. And if you want to raise a lot of capital you have to be able to provide returns on the capital.” And Lightfoot is certainly not lacking ambition: “We’re not trying to change the fringes of the supply chain,” he said. “We want to change the supply chain itself.” And they aim to do this with a unique business model – namely that the supermarkets pay nothing for their rooftop farms.

Farmers Market Freshness Improved Environmental Impact Higher Gross Margins Hedging Food & Fuel Price Increases

BrightFarms design, build, finance and maintain the rooftop greenhouses. The only financial obligation on the retailer is to buy their produce on fixed long-term contracts; meaning it’s a zero-risk arrangement for the retailer. The retailer also gets produce with a full shelf life (higher margins), no transportation costs, cheaper products, and an ability to hedge their bets to avoid fluctuations in food and oil pricing. And big business seems to have taken the bait, with ten supermarket chains (including five of America’s top 50) opting in. In September it was announced that a 45,000-squarefoot greenhouse will be constructed atop a commercial building in Roscoe Village, Chicago. It remains to be seen how successful BrightFarms can become, but a scheme that provides jobs for local growers, aids the environment, and lowers costs for all concerned; should be cautiously applauded. And if it also means the consumer can spit out those bitter green tomatoes and replace them with explode-in-the-mouth sweetness, then so much the better.

BEGINNERS CORNER:

GROWTH MEDIA

IN THIS EDITION WE SHALL LOOK AT: Coco Coir / Perlite / LECA (Clay balls) / Rockwool

For newcomers to indoor gardening and hydroponics the voluminous array of products on offer can be something of a headache: from choosing a system, lighting, ventilation, what to grow, where to grow, to considering nutrient solutions, and so on and so on. And then of course there’s growth media. There seems to be no end of options and permutations. It’s enough to make one throw one’s hands in the air and give up before even starting. But don’t despair - this is where you must let the paternal arm of Hydro Mag wrap around your shoulders. Firstly, some of you just starting out might be wondering what “Growth Media” actually is (fortunately nothing to do with medical journals dedicated to discussing tumours). It’s essentially soil substitute (or substrate as it’s also known). As your plants’ nutrition will be derived from solution, not soil, the growth media we’re talking about is, in effect, just there to hold the plants in place (think Neo in The Matrix, after taking the red pill, waking up to find himself suspended in a strange liquid – or growth medium!). Almost anything can simply hold your plants in place, from polystyrene to sand. But

before you rush off and improvise with old pairs of socks and toenail clippings, know that your medium should also be inert, lightweight, water-retentive and porous; to allow oxygen and solution access to the plants’ roots with minimal interference. And in this edition we’ll be taking a closer look at some of the more popular growth media products out there in the market, with a particular focus on Coco Coir, Perlite, Rockwool and LECA (or clay balls). Why these four? Because they’re easily obtainable, simple to use and will service practically all your growing needs. But to pique your interest we’ve bunged in some facts about other commonly-used media.

It’s that time of month again, when HydroMag menstruates ideas and advice into the absorbent cotton pads of your neophytic minds.

1. COCO COIR

If you thought Coco Coir sounds like some drunken, ageing diva in Los Angeles, clinging to her fast-disappearing youth in an undignified manner … well you’d be right. That is exactly what Coco Coir sounds like. But it’s not what Coco Coir is. Coco Coir has become increasingly popular in recent years. It’s inexpensive, highly absorbent and can be used many times. Its pH value fluctuates slightly which can aid the absorption of nutrients. It also has an excellent cation exchange capacity (i.e. its ability to hold and release the various elements and compounds in your nutrient solution). And if that wasn’t enough here are a couple of other juicy bonuses: it’s got roughly double the porosity of rockwool; and a water-holding capacity that’s greater than peat moss. Interestingly its effectiveness has been shown, rather like a good cheese or Hydro Mag’s writers, to actually improve with age. After the first use or two it tends to degrade in a favourable way. But nothing in life is perfect. For one, Coir has a habit of retaining oxygen - which can lead to increased microbial activity; bacteria and fungi are rather partial to a bit of coconut. This is a positive when the bacteria and fungi are friendly, but something of a drag when the unfriendly variety takes root. The other thing of note is that nitrogen can also get “caught” in coconut media, so extra nitrogen may be required for your growing solution. And while Coir is reusable, it does break down and has been known to cause drainage issues.

OTHERS: Peat Moss / Vermiculite / Diatomite / Sure To Grow

“Coco Coir has become increasingly popular in recent years. It’s inexpensive, highly absorbent and can be used many times. Its pH value fluctuates slightly which can aid the absorption of nutrients. It also has an excellent cation exchange capacity...” COCO COIR OVERVIEW ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE PH VALUE FLUCTUATES SLIGHTLY AIDING ABSORPTION OF NUTRIENTS EXCELLENT CATION EXCHANGE CAPACITY DOUBLE POROSITY OF ROCKWOOL WATER-HOLDING CAPACITY GREATER THAN PEAT MOSS RETAINS OXYGEN NITROGEN CAN GET “CAUGHT” IN COCONUT MEDIA. EXTRA NITROGEN MAY BE REQUIRED WHEN BREAKING DOWN CAN CAUSE DRAINAGE ISSUES

2. PERLITE

Made from volcanic glass, perlite is cooked at such high temperatures it puffs up like a depressed, ice-cream-gorging menopausal woman going through a break-up. Or more sensitively put – like popcorn. This process is called Fusionic Metamorphosis. The glass heating that is, not the ice-cream gorging (“What’s happened to Susan, she doesn’t seem to have taken the split with Fred very well?” “She’s just going through some Fusionic Metamorphosis”). Perlite is bone dry due to its hydrophobic qualities (it’s water-resistant), but the thousands of tiny bubbles in its structure allow a degree of water retention. It’s cheap, light, and can be used repeatedly. For the drinkers amongst you, perlite is also often used by breweries to filter beer. So if you ever start your own microbrewery, you might want to keep those sacks of perlite handy. On the flip side, the lightness of perlite causes it to “work” its way to the top of your soil substitute mix over time. If you’re offended by the sight of these little white pebbles popping up at the top of your mix, we recommend not using it if you plan on keeping plants in the same container for more than six months. And if you use an “ebb and flow” system with your plants you’ll notice pieces tend to float away during the flooding cycle. For this reason it is good practice to mix perlite with a heavier media such as the aforementioned Coco Coir. It also has a very low cation exchange capacity, something else the Coir can counterbalance.

3. LECA (CLAY BALLS)

Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate. Otherwise known as Clay Balls (Morph fans look away now). These are, well, balls of clay - cooked until they puff up like a thyroidal fat kid who’s just had his face stung by a wasp. Or more sensitively put – like popcorn. The result is a mountain of extremely light, highly porous, spherical objects that look like very stale Maltesers. They might even taste like very stale Maltesers but for God’s sake don’t try to find out. The drainage and aeration qualities are superb and they can be sterilised and used time and again. They’re also chemically inert so won’t affect pH levels. They don’t retain moisture as well as Coir or perlite though and are best used in conjunction with another product such as Coco Coir. Use as a base layer in an ebb and flow system, or in top-drip pots to cut out algae growth.

PERLITE OVERVIEW:

LECA OVERVIEW:

CHEAP

EXTREMELY LIGHT

THOUSANDS OF TINY BUBBLES IN ITS STRUCTURE ALLOW A DEGREE OF WATER RETENTION

HIGHLY POROUS

CAN BE USED REPEATEDLY

SUPERB DRAINAGE AND AERATION QUALITIES

HYDROPHOBIC QUALITIES MEAN IT IS WATER-RESISTANT

CAN BE STERILISED AND USED TIME AND AGAIN

LIGHT

CHEMICALLY INERT SO WON’T AFFECT PH LEVELS

LIGHTNESS CAUSES IT TO “WORK” ITS WAY TO THE TOP OF SOIL

DOESN’T RETAIN MOISTURE AS WELL AS COIR OR PERLITE

“The drainage and aeration qualities of Clay Pebbles are superb and they can be sterilised and used time and again. They’re also chemically inert so won’t affect pH levels.”

4. ROCKWOOL This is a man-made mineral-based fibre, tweaked to be conducive to hydroponic plant growth. A bit like fibreglass, this can be bought in two different forms – repellent or absorbent (bit like Kevin Pietersen; absorbing cricketer, repellent person). You’ll need the repellent type. Rockwool is used in hydroponics on an industrial scale and is the choice of many large-scale, professional outfits - mainly because it’s relatively cheap, holds its structure, retains water well, and has little cation exchange capacity (allowing expert gardeners to control the release of certain nutrients). The downside is it’s not the simplest of substrates to work with, as quite a lot of initial effort is required to ensure it’s ready for use. It is imperative to test your rockwool first. First piece of advice: don’t opt for the cheapest version on the market. The best quality rockwool is made from pure basaltic rock (diabase) and is inert. The crap version is often a byproduct of industrial smelting – basically slag – and will be awash with reactive metals that your plants won’t appreciate. Another thing to watch out for: like perlite, rockwool is hydrophobic due to the natural presence of mineral oils. But good quality rockwool will have these oils replaced with a wetting agent – it should wet easily without becoming waterlogged - yet another test you’ll have to conduct (as well as needing to adjust its pH value).

ROCKWOOL OVERVIEW: COMES IN TWO DIFFERENT FORMS – REPELLENT OR ABSORBENT HOLDS IT’S STRUCTURE RETAINS WATER WELL HAS LITTLE CATION EXCHANGE CAPACITY HYDROPHOBIC BUT GOOD QUALITY ROCKWOOL WILL HAVE A WETTING AGENT

(A)

(4)

(C)

“The best quality rockwool is made from pure basaltic rock (diabase) and is inert. ” Another drawback is that its fibreglasslike quality can be something of an irritant when dry. Mind those fingers. Although rockwool requires extra initial effort, the major bonus of being forced to test it from the get-go means you know you’ve got your set-up just right before you’ve even started. A bit like doing all your homework on a Friday, you can now safely watch EastEnders and Hollyoaks omnibuses all through Sunday without that gnawing sense of dread! (I appreciate most of the readership has probably forgotten this feeling).

(B)

(D) TIP: Use rockwool with Coir to get a good boost to its aeration and drainage.

5. OTHERS:

(D) Sure To Grow

(A) Peat Moss PEAT MOSS OVERVIEW: Peat Moss has nothing to do with the ill-advised relationship between the LOW COST Babyshambles frontman and model Kate Moss, and everything to do with a SOME CATION EXCHANGE CAPACITY spongy green substance found in peat bogs. Despite the plethora of modern, NEEDS PH ADJUSTMENT non-organic substrates out there, peat moss is still in common usage in NEEDS A WETTING AGENT hydroponics. All organic substrates, which of course peat moss is, have NON-RENEWABLE some cation exchange capacity. This will give the grower a buffer against TENDENCY TO BECOME QUITE nutrient changes in the root zone and UNSTABLE aids nutrition management. Other advantages include its excellent water retentiveness and its relatively low cost. However this needs to be balanced by the fact peat moss has a tendency to become quite unstable – you’ll need to keep on top of pH levels. On purchase you will need to make a pH adjustment and introduce a wetting agent. Other problems include the fact it can decay, clog irrigation systems and lead to the growth of fungal spores if you’re unlucky. Growers also report that it takes up calcium and magnesium meaning your plants might miss out. Final note: there’s a raging debate amongst peat producers and conservationists as to just how renewable peat moss is as a resource. If you’re considering using it and you care for the environment we suggest you do your own homework and make your own choices.

(B) Vermiculite Similar to perlite, vermiculite is mineral based. And like both perlite and LECA, it’s heated at such extreme temperatures that it puffs up like the face of a jowly middle-aged man with a tooth abscess who’s somehow just survived ten rounds with a Klitschko… Or more sensitively put – well, you’re starting to get the picture. Unlike perlite however, vermiculite retains a Hell of a lot of water so needs to be used sparingly. It provides excellent anchorage to young roots but needs to be mixed well with other media.

(C) Diatomite Tiny fossilised rocks or powder that can be added to your mix but can’t be used as a standalone medium. Diatomite comes from salt and fresh water sources. DO NOT get the salty version as the salinity levels are through the roof. Look at this seemingly harmless powder under a microscope and you’ll see what looks like thousands of tiny razors – and that’s how they act if our insect chums should stumble into it. The sharp edges blitz the bugs’ protective coating until all the moisture gets sucked out of them and they die a death from a thousand cuts. Diatomite is a useful addition to your growing mix.

VERMICULITE OVERVIEW:

This is a relatively new product created from recycled plastic and looks and feels like cotton wool. It’s pH neutral (no pre-soaking required), lightweight, versatile, durable and has excellent water retention and aeration properties. What’s different about it? Sounds like all the other products on the market… Well it’s also “non-wicking”, which in real terms means it doesn’t suck up nutrients using capillary action like rockwool or Coir – instead it simply holds the nutrients in a state of suspension. The upshot is plants don’t have to work so hard to suck up your solution, and can expend some of that reserve energy on growth instead! Available in blocks, pads, loose fill and other forms – all of which hold their shape so don’t leave unsightly bits and pieces floating down your irrigation channels. This product is gaining a lot of fans. Just be aware that this substance doesn’t have the rigidity of some of its rivals so larger plants might lack the necessary support (you’ll need to invest in some plant stakes or grow nets).

SURE TO GROW OVERVIEW:

MINERAL BASED

CREATED FROM RECYCLED PLASTIC

RETAINS A LOT OF WATER

PH NEUTRAL

PROVIDES EXCELLENT ANCHORAGE TO YOUNG ROOTS

LIGHTWEIGHT

NEEDS TO BE MIXED WELL WITH OTHER MEDIA

VERSATILE EXCELLENT WATER RETENTION AND AERATION PROPERTIES

DIATOMITE OVERVIEW: TINY FOSSILISED ROCKS / POWDER

NON-WICKING - HOLDS THE NUTRIENTS IN A STATE OF SUSPENSION LESS RIGID SO LARGER PLANTS MIGHT LACK THE NECESSARY SUPPORT

USE THE FRESH WATER VERSION SHARP EDGES DESTROY BUGS’ PROTECTIVE COATING SO THEY DIE CAN’T BE USED AS A STANDALONE MEDIUM

“Look at this seemingly harmless powder under a microscope and you’ll see what looks like thousands of tiny razors”

“Sure To Grow is a relatively new product created from recycled plastic and looks and feels like cotton wool. Available in blocks, pads, loose fill and other forms – all of which hold their shape so don’t leave unsightly bits and pieces floating down your irrigation channels.”

ALL ELSE Anything that can hold a plant above its nutrient solution is effectively a substrate or growth medium. Polystyrene, marbles, gravel, sand – all sorts. It is advised however to stick to recommended products such as those illustrated here in this article. None of them cost the earth but if you really do want to be a cheapskate, by all means experiment. But don’t come crying to us when all your hard labour results in shitty crop yields. One final growing medium, best left to the experts, is AIR! Aeroponics, as it’s known, uses no growth media at all. But we’ll leave this for our sister publication Aero Mag (kidding). Aeroponics involves the plant roots being suspended and receiving solution through a fine mist, pumped at timed intervals. More on this in a future edition.

GROWING SYSTEMS AND GROWTH MEDIA Okay, you’ve seen what’s out there. Now it’s time to apply the right media with the right system. There are six main systems – “Wick”, “Water Culture” “Ebb & Flow” (a.k.a. “Flood & Drain”), “Drip”, “N.F.T” and “Aeroponic”. This is Beginners’ Corner as we’ve already been at pains to point out, so we’ll scrap the last two systems as they’re best left to the experts. That and they don’t really use growth media. We’ll address them in detail when you’ve earned your stripes, soldier.

WICK

WATER CULTURE

The simplest of all systems – only suitable for small plants. The grow tray sits atop a reservoir of solution. A wick (as in a candle), sucks up the solution into the tray. It’s a passive system because there are no moving parts. There’s no ﬂow of water so you don’t have to worry about your media getting bashed about, but as the wicks’ absorption rate is slow you’ll want to use media with good retentive qualities.

The type you see in classrooms. Cups of plants in Styrofoam, ﬂoating atop a tank of solution – again, only suitable for small plants. Very little growth medium is required as the roots should dangle directly into the solution. Water retentiveness is therefore not that vital. A small amount of perlite to hold the plants in place will do the job.

A mix of Coir and perlite are just ﬁne for this system. If you’re feeling adventurous whack in some vermiculite.

HYDROMAG would like to Thank Holland Hydroponics for supplying the growth medium for photography in this article. www.hydroponics.co.uk

EBB & FLOW

DRIP

A pump on a timer will flood your grow tray at intervals throughout the day. When the pump switches off the solution will then drain back into your reservoir. Because of the regular flow of solution you will find the growth media potentially moving or coming apart, so you’ll want to mix in a heavier medium like Coir.

This system also operates on a pump and timer basis; except the solution from your reservoir is released through a drip line to the base of your plants. There are two versions of this system – Recovery and Non-Recovery. Quite simply, the former will return excess solution to your reservoir; the latter won’t.

A 50/50 mix of Coir and perlite are perfect for this end. If for some reason your pump or timer fails and you’re not there to jump in and ﬁx it, your poor plants’ roots will dry quickly if you don’t use a medium with lots of retentiveness. Again, this is where Coir comes in handy (vermiculite or rockwool are also good), but use an inch or two of clay balls (LECA) at the base of your mix to prevent the Coir being washed away.

A 50/50 mix of perlite and Coir will again suﬃce, and some growers will recommend an inch of clay balls at the top of your mix to cut down on algae.

SCIENCE & COMPLEXITY Scientists are not really interested in the truth, but they are very interested in finding out how wrong they are, and where that error might be. This is a paraphrase of a bloke called Sir Francis Bacon, who is the father of modern scientific thinking. Understanding this is the key to figuring out why scientists seem to make everything so over-complicated and hard to understand.

For growers, light is an essential part of our tool-box. It is the fuel in our car, the plasma in our reactor, the only form of energy our plants can usefully take in. It’s central to everything we do, and photosynthesis is the process which determines how successful our plants are. In the dark days (see what I did there?) of hydroponics, growers used standard fluorescent strip-bulbs to illuminate their plants, and received very mixed results. This is because fluorescent light is very different in a number of ways from the daylight provided by the sun, and cannot provide plants with the quality of light they need. To shine a light (and again!) on this issue, we need to illuminate (apologies) how plants use light and how we can use technology to maximise our growroom’s potential. Before we start, it might be a good idea to explain why a lot of the information on this subject looks so complicated.

Each of the equations above describes the process of photosynthesis but as we move down the list the equations become a little less wrong, a little closer to the actual situation. Looking at ‘Water’ we see that it is not just one thing, but, as shown in the second equation, a molecule of two hydrogens and an oxygen atom. In the third equation, we can see that six of these molecules take part in the process. If we extend this process of becoming a little less wrong through several dozen stages we end up here:

PHEOPHYTIN

HIGHER

ENERGY OF ELECTRON

INTRODUCTION

4e-

2 NADPH+ + 2H+

CYTOCHROME COMPLEX

Photon

ATP

P680

LOWER

2H2O4

4e-

PRODUCED VIA PROTON MOTIVE FORCE

PHOTOSYSTEM II

P700

Photon

2 NADPH

PHOTOSYSTEM I

H++ O2

Diagrams like this can give the impression that scientists are confusing people, but remember that they are just trying to become a little less wrong. Going back a few stages in complexity and working forward again will eventually switch on that light-bulb (I can’t resist doing this). Going back to our first diagram, both light energy and chlorophyll are not as simple as the word might appear. Just as ‘Water’ became ‘6H2O’, Chlorophyll can become ‘P700 Photosystem I’. Just identifying that the current level of understanding is certain to be wrong is a valuable insight.

THE CHLOROPHYLL FAMILY Chlorophyll is the substance that allows light to be absorbed by plant leaves and then stored as carbohydrates. Each photon or particle of light that is successfully absorbed enables the plant to manufacture more high-energy molecules such as glucose, which are used in a range of cellular processes. Sadly, chlorophyll is not just one molecule in the way that water (H20), or carbon dioxide (C02), or even glucose (C6H12O6) are. It is a family of different molecules that are known by a variety of different names and have different structures and functions. To begin with, we should look for things that they all have in common. All the molecules in the chlorophyll family are attached to the surface of stacks of membranes called Thylakoids that are found in the Chloroplasts of leaf cells. They all take part in the process of photosynthesis. Other than that, they perform a wide variety of different functions within the process, like different machines on a production-line.

The molecules in the family we are most interested in are the pigments or ‘Photosystems’. Pigments, such as those in dyes, work by absorbing certain colours of light photons from the spectrum but allowing other colours to pass through. These photosynthetic pigments work by giving the energy of the photon to a set of electrons that then move across the thylakoid membrane due to their suddenly increased energy levels. These high energy electrons then drive the rest of the photosynthesis system in the same way that water falling off a cliff can drive a mill-wheel. There are three main types of pigment, each of which has its own ability to absorb different colours or frequencies of photons of light. To be even less wrong about things, each pigment is a complex array of different molecules arranged in a disclike structure known as a ‘Photosystem Complex’. These complexes are known as ‘Chlorophyll a’, ‘Chlorophyll b’ and ‘Carotenoids’. These last consist of a subfamily of different types of molecules that don’t actually contribute energy to photosynthesis but use the energy they absorb to prevent the photosystems from destroying themselves as they perform their function. As you can see in the graph on pages 21-22 that plants are not good at absorbing green and yellow light. They simply never evolved a pigment that could do the job of absorbing these frequencies of photons. Shining light of these colours at a plant is pointless, like firing bullets at a magazine; they just pass straight through the leaf.

PAR & PUR Wavelengths of light that are absorbed by any of this chlorophyll family are called ‘Photosynthetically Active Radiation’ or PAR for short. A lot of the light coming from light bulbs does NOT fall into this range. There are no types of pigment that can absorb it, and so it is called non-PAR. Non-PAR light is pretty much useless for our purposes. Plants can’t use it to grow faster, so it just wastes electricity and money. Common strip-lights or incandescent bulbs release a lot of non-PAR energy, usually in the form of excess heat or Infra-Red (IR) light. Just because light activates photosynthesis, does not mean that it is very good at activating it. Because plants are not very good at absorbing and using green light for photosynthesis, light in this range is also wasted. This means that it’s not enough just to buy a bulb with a high PAR rating, it has to have a high PUR, or Photosynthetically Useful Radiation as well. A bulb with a high PAR, but which releases a lot of its energy in the green wavelengths of the spectrum will have a lower PUR than one that shines out more red light.

MEASURING LIGHT As well as understanding chlorophyll and the absorption spectrum, we need to know how to measure the different quantities and qualities that light can have. One of the obstacles to doing this effectively is that light is one of the central fundamentals of reality; it does not change, but our perceptions of it do as we try to measure it in different ways. Wavelength, Frequency & Colour Measured one way, light is a wave of electro-magnetic energy moving through space at a constant speed. As with all waves, there are several numbers that describe the qualities of the wave being measured. These are the speed of the wave (which for light is constant), the length of the wave (usually measured in micrometers (µm) or nanometres (nm)), and the frequency of the wave (measured in Hertz (Hz) which is waves per second). Because the frequency is the speed divided by the wavelength, and speed for light always stays the same, as the wavelenghth of light increases it’s frequency falls in direct proportion. These measurements are used to determine the colour of the light that is emitted from an object.

Particle Flux & Illuminance Measured another way, light is a series of particles called photons that are emitted from a light-source at a certain measurable rate, and fall upon a surface at another measurable rate. Particles, unlike waves, can be counted, and large numbers of particles are usually counted in moles. 1 mole is about the same as 6x1023 particles, which is the number 6 with 23 zeroes behind it. When measuring photons, the number is usually measured in micromoles (µmol) or one millionth of a mole. One millionth is 1x10-6, which when combined with moles gives us about 6x1017 particles in a micromole. We are more interested in light falling upon a surface (incident light) than that given out by the bulb (emitted light), because we want to know how much light is falling upon the leaves of our plants. When photons fall upon a surface, we can now measure how many photons (µmol) fall on one metre squared of surface (m2) per second (s-1) or (/s). Combined together this gives the Photon Flux, which is measured in µmol m2 s-1, and is also called the Illuminance, and can be measured in Lumens (lm). One lumen (lm) is one µmol m2 s-1. If we only count PAR photons, that fall within the photosynthetic spectrum we end up with a measure called the Photosynthetic Photon Flux (PPF). Even though a photon is of the correct wavelength, and falls on a plant’s leaf, it does not necessarily mean that it will be absorbed by a chlorophyll molecule and contribute to photosynthesis. There is a fairly good chance it will just pass straight through the leaf, or hit and be absorbed by some non-photosynthetic molecule like starch or cellulose. A more useful measurement is generated by using the absorbtion spectrum for leaves above and combining it with the PPF to give the Photon Flux that the plant actually uses, which is called the Yield Photon Flux (YPF). As the PPF increases within the PAR range of light, the YPF will increase in direct proportion, but the YPF will always be smaller than the PPF because of the various inefficiencies of the leaf. Assuming that your growroom has a twelve hour light cycle, and since there are 3600 seconds in an hour, the total amount of usable light a plant receives over the 12 hour cycle will be equal to x µmol m2 s-1 x (12h x 3600sec/h), where x is the YPF of your illumination. Energy, Luminosity & Irradiance A more familiar way to measure light is as a type of energy, in Watts (W), which is Joules per second (Js-1). Watts are a measurement of Power, which is just energy per second. Here, we need to know how much energy the bulb is using (input), as that will affect our electricity bill. We are also interested in how much energy the bulb is emitting (output), especially output within the PAR and PUR range. This is where the ideas of PARwatts and PURwatts come from. The amount of energy per second given off by a bulb is known as the Luminosity of the bulb. The original measurement of luminosity was the foot-candle (fc or ft-c) which is how much light in lumens is falling on an area of one square foot that is one foot away from a candle. The metric equivalent is called the Lux (lx) or metre-candle, which is the same but with feet replaced by metres to give the energy of light falling upon one square metre of area which is one square metre from a candle. The total amount of energy falling on one m2 of surface per second is called the Irradiance. This is similar to Photon Flux, but instead of measuring the number of light particles, we are measuring their energy. This is important because high-frequency low-wavelength light has higher energy than low-frequency high-wavelength light. We measure this in W m2 s-1.

MEASURING LIGHT: UVA 400-550nm

Visible light

100

ll - a p hy

l o ro

h yl

n ote Car

l-b

l Ch

400

s oid

e gm l pi f al is o hes ynt otos d ph bine Com

450

500

Ń ń ĩ Ħ Ħ İ İ 0.000000001 metersĩ

550 Chlorophyll a Ĉ ĩ Ħ Ľ Ľ ĩ

600

EXAMPLE LAMP LIGHT SPECTRUMS

Near infrared 620-750nm

Ħ Ĉ ĩ ĩ

Lumatek ŨŢŢ

Sunmaster ŨŢŢ Sunmaster ŨŢŢ

Osram ŨŢŢ Osram ŨŢŢ

650

700

Chlorophyll b ĩ ŦŧŢ ŧŧŢ ĩ Ħ Ľ Ľ ĩ ĩ

Carotenoids Ħ Ħ ĩ

LIGHT EFFECTS Now that we can measure the light and understand how plants use it, we can turn our attention to what varying the quality and intensity of our lighting can have on our plants. Although PUR light is the only kind that can be utilised for photosynthesis, plants rely on many other wavelengths of light to gather information about their surroundings. Due to their relative immobility in comparison to animals, plants have become extremely effective at gathering data about their external environment and using that information to alter their interior processes. Plants that do not recieve enough light grow quickly upward and become etoliated, or long and thin. This is an evolutionary adaptation, as growing quickly upward is usually a good strategy when light levels are insufficient. The mechanism that allows this to happen relies on the destructive effects of light, in particular Ultra-Violet or UV radiation. The light falling on the plant can break molecules apart, and causes the number of intact growth hormone molecules to fall. This fall in growth hormone stops the plant growing upward so quickly, and so prevents the etoliation of the plant. Higher light intensities can also cause problems for plants. The cholorophyll family is in constant balance between creation and destruction, and the chemicals and energies that the plant uses to harvest energy from the sun have the potential to be intensely destructive to the delicate molecules of the photosystem. A great deal of the photosynthetic system is concerned with harvesting energy which is then used to prevent the destruction of the photosystems and their accompanying proteins. Too much light can cause the plant to deliberately alter the interior cellular and molecular structure of itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s leaves, tilting the receptors away from the incoming radiation so as to reduce itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s harmful effects. The plant can also grow defences against prolonged exposure to excessive light, thickening its cell walls. These processes take time however, so quickly varying the light intensity to high levels can damage the delicate photosystems by overloading the leaf with the more destructive products of photosynthesis. More modern research has indicated that Infra-Red or IR light is used by plants as a way of synchronising their flowering and reproductive patterns. As the quantity of infrared light emitted by the sun varies over the year, this allows plants of the same species to grow and develop their flowers at the same time. This is again an evolutionary adaptation, as it maximises the chances that pollen from another plant of the same species will be transported to the flower and result in fruit. Therefore, the amount of IR light can be increased artificially by the grower in order to induce flowering at the desired time.

AT THE END OF THE DAY This is a vast subject that people spend their entire lives working in, so this article canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t do anything more than give a quick look over the main topics relevant to hydroponic growers. Future articles will hope to look more closely at how bulbs emit particular qualities of radiation, how to maximise the efficiency of your lighting, and what kinds of plant do well under different qualities of lighting.

The parallels between alchemy and hydroponics are numerous. Countless hours spent tucked away in a basement or attic, tinkering with outlandish contraptions, carefully measuring concoctions, scribbling notes in the half light and endlessly muttering to yourself. Then there are the cautious misgivings of the mostly mistrusting world at large. In an effort to break through the barrier of ignorance, and hopefully save us from a fiery fate at the hands of the Inquisition, HYDROMAG is here to usher you onwards as you dip a tentative toe into the sloshy world of potions and lotions. Where better to start than with the very substance your plants are most likely to meet first; rooting hormones. The primary functions of hormones are to regulate metabolism in plants and humans alike. Humans produce hormones in glands. Most of us are familiar with adrenaline and endorphins, produced by the adrenal and pituitary glands respectively, and no one can deny the central role they play in our lives. Plants, as ever, have us at a disadvantage in the biological stakes when it comes to hormone production. Every cell of a plant is capable of producing hormones and transporting them to the place where they are most needed. Plant hormones (phytohormones) work in conjunction with one another. Variances in the concentration of the constituent hormones determine the functions performed by a particular hormone mix. Fundamentally, low concentrations of plant hormones stimulate growth, while high concentrations inhibit growth. Plant hormones are categorised into five major classes, or families if you prefer.

Abscisic Acid (ABA) ABA inhibits growth in a plant- which can at first seem counter intuitive - and arguably is so, to an extent, for hydroponic gardeners. In the barren wilds of ‘outdoors’, ABA prevents plants from being tricked by the pesky weather into growing at the wrong time of year- say during an aberrant warm spell in the winter. Plants build up ABA during the vegetative stages of their life cycle. Seeds begin life with a large amount of ABA, which begins to dissipate under the action of other hormones, before the seed can germinate. ABA is essential to plant life though, even if it isn’t a big fan of hydroponic practitioners and their nefarious attempts to betray the natural order by growing strawberries in the middle of winter.

Cytokinins CKs stimulate growth throughout the life of a plant; specifically, root growth, leaf growth and internodal length. They work in conjunction with other auxins and help to transport them around the body of a plant.

Ethylene Ethylene gas acts on the structure of cells preventing cell elongation. Plants have a geotropic response, which is to say they want to grow upright. When growing straight up isn’t an option, ethylene acts to strengthen the plant and influence it in the necessary direction.

Gibberellins Better known to gardeners as blooming hormone; gibberellins act to lessen the effects of ABA, in essence allowing the plant to ‘wake up’ and begin growing. GAs promote healthy cell growth which in turn affects the height of plants. They’re important to germinating seeds and also in healthy fruit development.

Auxins Better known to gardeners as rooting gels, powders and pastes; auxins promote healthy root growth and the production of side roots. Indole-3-acetic (IAA) is produced naturally in the young leaves of a plant. Most rooting products use synthetic substitutes to IAA, namely 1-Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). NAA and IBA are structurally very similar to IAA, but plants are unable to break them down in the same way they would break down their naturally occurring cousin. The advantage of synthetic hormones is, obviously, that the longer they’re present in a plant, the more time they have to work their magic. The disadvantage is that the longer they hang around, the higher their concentration is likely to grow. Higher concentrations act to inhibit plant growth and have the potential to progress up the food chain, potentially increasing in concentration further up the ladder.

Synthetic plant hormones are highly regulated in many countries, and even banned in others. Despite the fact that synthetic plant hormones are used in exceptionally small quantities for gardening purposes, fears about their proliferation aren’t without a solid foundation. Operation Ranch Hand was an unfathomably evil act by the US Government to utterly decimate Vietnam and her people. Synthetic hormones were the prominent ingredient in Agent Orange; an herbicide sprayed on the country in vast quantities during the Vietnam War. Agent Orange was intended to defoliate the rural areas in which the Viet Cong fought so effectively and force the local population to migrate to US controlled urban areas. Half a million people died as a direct result of this action and a further one million people still feel the direct effects of it today, including a number of the children of US Veterans who suffered birth defects as a result. Not a cheery read, but a very necessary one. Thankfully gardeners use synthetic hormones in very small quantities - in fact if you use more than the smallest amount of rooting gel it will act to stunt the growth of your clones or seedlings. If you’re still hesitant then there are a couple of alternative options open to you. Richard Dennison of Down to Earth Kent Ltd. graciously took some time to give us the rundown on organic, or natural, hormone gels: “Organic rooting gels have made a massive leap forward over the last few years.” He told us. “Generally seaweed products are made from reconstituted seaweed powder which is a commodity that is traded all around the world. To create this dry powder the seaweed is spray dried at very high temperatures which de-natures the natural plant hormones that would otherwise be readily available in concentrate within the seaweed. These are the very same hormones that the cuttings require to produce strong healthy roots and positive early growth.” “The greatest advancement in organic rooting gels has been the use of micronization (finely chopping the seaweed extract into tiny particles) without the seaweed extract undergoing the high temperatures that are used with most seaweed extracts; it is this high temperature that damages the long chain molecules that the cuttings need to encourage successful rooting.” “The best seaweed used for this purpose is Ascophyllum nodosum which is harvested at a time of year when the seaweed is undergoing its most rapid growth cycle and is therefore rich in the hormones that cause new cuttings to root, it is then chopped into micro particles (Micronization) to form a gel without having to undergo the high temperatures that are so damaging to the long chain molecules that we are looking to preserve for maximum rooting and early growth stimulation, the all-natural micronized gel is very rich in growth promoting nutrients that are so beneficial to plant root development and early plant growth.”

Richard offered a final word of advice to anyone looking to take the organic path; “Do make sure that (the organic product you choose) is not a reconstituted extract as these will not give the same level of success as cold micronized gels.” As it happens, ‘Cutting Edge’ from Down to Earth Kent is a 100% natural organic rooting gel which fulfils these very parameters. Coincidence? No Mr Dennison’s willingness to share his extensive knowledge with our readers is, we feel, a fair trade-off for a brief, blatant plug. If you’re a purveyor of a competing product then we’d love to hear from you and put your experience to work for our readership, too. (Please note that no money exchanged hands for this exchange and it isn’t the policy of HYDROMAG to attempt to subvert our readership buy Scottish Lamb). Finally, you could choose to embody the spirit of our alchemical forefathers by brewing up a concoction of your own. The Internet offers a number of interesting recipes for homemade plant rooting hormones; most involve using willow and/or honey. Many people swear by their homemade brews, but obviously results can be mixed across the board. They do require some legwork and we’re not encouraging anyone to go tearing branches off someone else’s willow tree or raiding a beehive. You might like to check out our article on starting your own colony of buzzing sugar guzzlers though (p06). We’ll be looking at the huge variety of fertilizers and feeds available on the market in the weeks to come. We’ll also introduce you to some fundamental principles which should underpin your understanding of how, when, and what to feed your plants. For the meanwhile; do you have a warped willow recipe passed down by your Wiccan grandmother? Maybe your organic rooting gel is crafted from the very tears of Gaia herself. Well, if you plan to share them with the world then we’re the people to do it for you - so why not get in touch?

UNDERSTANDING HORIZONTAL & VERTICAL SYSTEMS HYDROMAG Looks at the pros and cons of growing vertically and horizontally. At its core, vertical growing is a very simple concept; if you lack the floor space to grow horizontally then you can tip your whole system 90 degrees and grow your plants sideways. The practicalities of doing this aren’t so simple. There are products, self-contained units, on the market which ingeniously deal with the inherent problems. Of course it’s never that simple and vertical growing has thrown up a number of further issues along the way. Some people swear by vertical growing, others think it’s little more than a gimmick. Both parties love to argue about it. So what’s the truth of the matter? Who’s right and who’s wrong? Well, let’s lay out the issue and see if we can’t get to the bottom of it. Classical wisdom dictates that growth mediums are laid flat on the ground with a horizontal bulb placed at a particular distance above it. So whilst the growth medium and the bulb are both positioned horizontally, the sum of the constituent parts are arranged along the horizontal plain. The inherent problem with this is that only a portion of the bulb is directed towards the plant. Reflective hoods and materials go some way towards dealing with the problem, but there is an

argument to be made that these materials refract the light in such a way that the light’s efficacy is diminished. Vertical growing aims to solve the problem by positioning the bulb and the corresponding growth medium vertically, with the plants arranged around the sides of the bulb, thereby utilizing the full 360° arc of light produced by said bulb. Technically, in this case, the sums of the constituent parts are arranged on a horizontal plain. The coliseum arrangement is the most well-known configuration of vertical growing in the hydroponics industry, with the ‘Ecosystem’ being the most recognisable example of this. Plenty of people believe it to be the only configuration though, which is one of the major contributing factors to the considerable disagreement over vertical growing’s worth. Since most of the arguments for and against vertical growing refer to the coliseum arrangement, we’ll start there before looking at alternative arrangements.

“If you lack the floor space to grow horizontally then you can tip your whole system 90 degrees and grow your plants sideways. Of course it’s never that simple and vertical growing has thrown up a number of further issues along the way. Some people swear by vertical growing, others think it’s little more than a gimmick. ”

HORIZONTAL PROS: Fewer bigger plants More choice in systems Wider spread - less disease prone Cheaper setup cost Better for taller crops (Sunﬂowers)

HORIZONTAL CONS: Takes up more floor space Less efficient use of light Closer to floor - more backbreaking

VERTICAL PROS: Lots of plants in a small area

Space, the limited frontier. Our feature article this month should have set you in good stead with regards to the working of light, if you’re not up to speed already. In the coliseum arrangement, the distance between the bulb and the plants is fixed, which negates the problem of the diminishing efficacy of light over increased distances. Proponents of vertical growing claim that this means your light usage is more efficient. This is true to an extent, but it comes at a price; plants have less space in which to grow and the distance between the growth medium and the light source is fixed. This relative lack of space has to be compensated for by altering a number of other aspects of the grow. Obviously tall, gangly plants don’t fair too well in a coliseum arrangement; short, stocky plants are your only real option. Phototropism dictates that plants grow upwards, towards the light source. Plants in a vertical system still have a tendency to grow in a general upwards direction, which is great news for Basil growers, but not so good for Sunflower fans or any growers of top heavy crops. Cuttings put in a coliseum need to be old enough to handle a relatively short veg period, which means more time spent developing your cuttings. The advantage of a shortened life cycle is, of course, the ability to grow more crops in a shorter space of timeVertical growers can push out at least one additional crop per year. In financial terms, that isn’t something to be sniffed at. Horizontal purists argue that much of the time saved in a vertical grow is negated by the extra workload involved in developing your cuttings or seedlings before putting them in the vertical system. Obviously all those young plants also need space in which to develop, too. It is a widely held belief that the curved glass cooling tube which the bulbs sit in, in a coliseum setup, acts to diminish the effective output of the bulbs by 5-10%. Many vertical growers remove the glass casing and compensate for its absence by increasing the amount of cool air being fed to the bulbs. This has the added function of making it easier to change the bulbs where appropriate during a grow, something which can be a nightmare when using the glass tubes. If airflow is a particular problem for you, then it could be argued that you’re simply shifting the problem from one aspect of the grow to another. HYDROMAG will be looking at airflow in a later issue and getting to grips with just how different air quality is, dependant on where your growroom is situated.

More eﬃcient use of light Often easier access to plants Better for smaller plants (Lettuce)

VERTICAL CONS: More prone to spread of disease Small, stocky plants - harder to crop Often expensive equipment cost

“Phototropism dictates that plants grow upwards, towards the light source. Plants in a vertical system still have a tendency to grow in a general upwards direction, which is great news for Basil growers, but not so good for Sunflower fans or any growers of top heavy crops.”

Close quarters Plants in a coliseum arrangement live cheek to cheek, so the spread of diseases and funguses are a real worry. If you don’t catch a problem quickly enough, your crop stands a strong chance of being ravaged. In reality this problem has more to do with the practices of the grower than any inherent problem with the vertical system. Good plant spacing is a worthwhile practice in any growroom, be it horizontal, vertical or any other arrangement. Vertical growing doesn’t necessitate ramming in as many plants as possible, but because most vertical growers are aiming to eke out the maximum yield per wattage of electricity used, they tend to fill their growrooms to the brim. At this point you may well ask; what self-respecting grower would be so deficient as to allow his entire crop to succumb to a disease? Well, there is a misguided perception that a self-

“I know, I know, we’re avoiding the question of which is better, Horizontal or Vertical growing. Well answer me this- which is better; Kung Fu or Karate? Strawberry jam or Raspberry jam? Cats or Dogs?... ” contained unit like the Ecosystem requires less maintenance then a conventional setup. Vertical growing units aren’t cheap and it isn’t hard to imagine a less than scrupulous retailer selling this high end stock as a save-all solution to an unsuspecting newcomer. The basic rule still applies; the more plants you have on the go at any particular time, the more time you’re going to need to spend taking care of them.

It’s all about the money, Baby Commercial growers aim to maximise their yield relative to the amount of electricity used to grow the plants. Vertical growing has the potential to do just that, but it comes at the expense of other factors- predominantly your workload. That’s not to say you can’t maximise the size of your yield by increasing your workload in a horizontal growroom, but in that case you are likely to be limited by a lack of growing space. Really it comes down to what your motivations are. If you’re a hobby grower, then vertical growing still offers you the opportunity to make the most of a limited grow space without using the coliseum arrangement. Bookshelf and stadium arrangements aim to make the most of a limited floor space. Horizontal and coliseum arrangements both tend toward producing top heavy plants, whilst these alternative arrangements aim to maximise flower or fruit production by offering the whole plant a good dose of available light, unimpeded by a heavy, or thick, canopy. We’ll look at these alternative arrangements, and indeed we’ll take a closer look at the coliseum arrangement, in later issues. Ultimately there are no hard and fast rules. It’s impossible to define one system as being superior to another when there are so many contributing factors to consider. Choosing which arrangement to use depends on the space you have available, what you’re hoping to achieve and which system you feel works best for your individual needs. Vertical growing opens a door to thinking in a way other than laterally about how we utilize the space available to us. It’s a stepping stone on the path to new avenues of growing, not the ultimate destination. I know, I know, we’re avoiding the question of which is better, horizontal or vertical growing. Well answer me this- which is better; Kung Fu or Karate? Strawberry jam or raspberry jam? Blackpool or Bournemouth? Cats or dogs? Made In Chelsea or The Only Way Is Essex? That last one was a trick question; they’re both harbingers of the Apocalypse, but you get the idea. Maximising your yield is all well and good, but it isn’t necessarily better than maximising the quality of your crop, and it definitely shouldn’t come at the expense of having a growroom in which you’re happy to spend your valuable hours doing what we all love to do. Gardening, any kind of gardening, isn’t all about arriving at the perfect end product. If it was, surely you would simply buy the end product? Gardening is about the process. It’s a journey which wouldn’t have the same resonance if it was ever ‘perfected’. We’d be foolish to draw a line in the sand, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t. If you’re a particular proponent of either medium, pop your manifesto in the post to us and we may just give you the airtime to voice your opinion to your fellow growers.

You may have heard the rumblings going around the industry; the whispers of disbelief, the gentle pop of minds being blown... Yes, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s true . All your hydroponics needs are soon to be found in one place; on your television ...

HYDROSHOW.tv IS COMING...

The mainstream media rarely give our ‘little’ industry a second thought, beyond the occasional back handed slight or patronising pat on the head. Most people are oblivious to the influence Hydroponics has on their lives. They eat hydroponically grown vegetables and decorate their homes with hydroponically grown flowers, all the while oblivious to how this bountiful boon came to be. It’s crazy that an industry offering countless economic and ecological benefits, an industry worth millions if not billions should be so side-lined. Well, no longer! Hydroponics has a new home and with it the age old call for greater recognition can be seen and heard through the prolific medium of television. HYDROSHOW.tv won’t just feature on the internet. We’re going bigger and better – HYDROSHOW.tv comes to a Sky television channel in 2013. Without giving too much away, the team at HYDROSHOW.tv along with the help of some very inquisitive and persistent researchers, have managed to pull some strings and give us access to broadcast on our very own channel. We’re not saying any more than that I’m afraid, but watch this space. The first series will feature six episodes, with episode one airing in Spring/Summer 2013 and the following episodes airing consecutively over the following weeks. The second series will follow six months later. There will of course be repeats and all of our content will be available at www. HYDRSHOW.tv which is also the place where we’ll be announcing the precise details for the television element at a later date. HYDROSHOW.tv will cater to everyone; whether you’re new to hydroponics, an industry veteran or even a non-grower, there will be something for you to enjoy. Here’s a rundown of some of what you can expect to see.

“ Without giving too much away, the team at HYDROSHOW.tv, along with the help of some very inquisitive and persistent researchers, will cater to everyone; whether you’re new to hydroponics, an industry veteran or even a non-grower...”

MEGA ROOMS... Every episode we bring you Mega Rooms, where the industries distributors, manufacturers and retailers use our blank canvas to create the most elaborate grow rooms you’ve ever seen. With a no holds barred attitude, Mega Rooms will make your jaws drop and with the help and advice of the industries experts, you will be able to get some great ideas and apply them to your own indoor garden. PRESENTER CHALLENGE... Each episode we will give our presenters a new and interesting grow room related problem. Armed with a set budget and the help of their local grow shop – the HYDROSHOW.tv presenters will individually set off on their tasks and each bring back a different solution to the problem. On pitching their solution, each of the presenters will be scrutinised by our very own industry boffin – who’ll announce an overall winner. The competition will provoke a bit of rivalry between the presenters, causing mounting pressure for the following week’s challenge. COMPETITION TIME... What TV show would be complete without a competition comprising of a ridiculously easy question intended solely for making money through the already cash strapped audiences inﬂated mobile phone bill? Well, that is the usual format, but ever keen to keep our viewers happy, we are making our Series 1 competitions FREE OF CHARGE. That’s right; gratis, zilch, costless, for nothing. Through the powers of social media and thanks to the generosity of our lovely hydro sponsors, a handful HYDROSHOW. tv viewers will win some free grow gear and all they’ll have to do to enter is click a mouse button (maybe a few times, but you get the idea!). THE HYDROSHOW.TV POLYTUNNEL... In the media they say never work with animals or children... and I’m sure after ﬁlming HYDROSHOW.tv we’ll be adding plants to that list. Coming direct from our own Poly-tunnels, you’ll see how our very own crops progress from seed to harvest. You’ll be right there with us as we navigate the treacherous path to a fruitful crop, with our experts on hand to look at some of the problems and pitfalls we’ll no doubt experience along the way.

COMMERCIAL HYDROPONICS... HYDROSHOW.tv offers you the unique opportunity to look behind the scenes at a number of full scale commercial hydroponics Businesses. Commercial Hydro will look at the process of setting up on a commercial scale, from conception to realisation, and the everyday workings of the business. You’ll get to see the thought that’s gone into the products you buy, the testing and the processes used to manufacture the products you use every day in your grow rooms.

“ HYDROSHOW.tv offers you the unique opportunity to look behind the scenes at a number of full scale commercial hydroponics Businesses. Commercial Hydro will look at the process of setting up on a commercial scale...”

INTERVIEWS… For many of us, choosing the right hydro equipment is a nightmare. To help you make the right choices we get in to the minds of the hydro industry’s manufacturers, innovators and experts with our weekly interviews. So what the hell is Ozone? How do I know how much air to move though my grow room? What are the benefits of this new fandangle reflector? What nutrient range is best for me? All your questions will be answered in the HYDROSHOW.tv interviews. ADVERTISING... If you’re anything like us, you probably turn over when the adverts come on, That’s probably because the majority of you don’t want to watch adverts for female hygiene products, super absorbent kitchen towels, never ending discount sofa sales or how white are your whites washing powders. How about a TV channel where all of the adverts are tailored to you? Adverts for things you will definitely be interested in, ads which you will most probably react to, in fact, to hell with show, you’ll probably look forward to the ads. Joking aside, Hydroshow.tv will bring you ads from manufacturers, distributors and retailers – keeping you up to date with the best deals and the newest technology. I know, we’re genius.

AND MUCH, MUCH MORE... Creating the world’s ﬁrst dedicated hydroponics television programme is no mean feat. Our budget won’t stretch to the highest production values, but then again would a fancy studio and a fame hungry bimbo really be good way to represent our passion? We have the expertise, the drive to get it right and an audience who we know will want to see what we have on offer- that’d be you.

“ HYDRSHOW.tv is the first in a very long line of interesting TV programmes conceived by growers, for growers. Our aim is to bring hydroponics to the masses and as the show progresses, so will the quality and content. “

HYDRSHOW.tv is the first in a very long line of interesting TV programmes conceived by growers, for growers. Our aim is to bring hydroponics to the masses and as the show progresses, so will the quality and content. So, come spring 2013 keep an eye out for HYDROSHOW.tv, set your drip feeders to auto, bed down your clones and brew up a cup of tea for your mother plant – let HYDROSHOW.tv show you how to grow.

SO WHAT’S ON HYDROSHOW.tv NOW? Having started the set build, auditioned our presenters and brought the crew together, it was time for a dry run, and what better an opportunity than at Grow Expos 2012, Manchester. Prior to the show, we sent an email to all the exhibitors explaining we’d be there conducting short interviews where they can either talk about a speciﬁc product or about their company as a whole for 1 to 2 minutes. Of course, everyone (bar a few) was falling over themselves to reach the HYDROSHOW.tv audience. And the result… a handful of videos from the experts of the world’s hydroponic manufacturers and suppliers. If you didn’t get chance to see them at the show, see them on:

www.hydroshow.tv www.youtube.com/hydroshowtv www.vimeo.com/hydroshow Here’s a list of who and what you’ll ﬁnd there…

GROWING EDGE TECHNOLOGIES PRODUCT: The Aroma Formula PRODUCT TYPE: Liquid Plant Nutrition INTERVIEWER: Pooja Sisodia INTERVIEWEE: Bill Sutherland Bill Sutherland from Growing Edge Technologies in Canada talks us through his new 5-part nutrient ‘The Aroma Formula’, explaining how an incremental feeding plan will get you the best possible yields from your plants. The Aroma formula is newly introduced to the UK market and will be available in stores late 2012 / early 2013. For more information visit: www.thearomaformula.com

SO WHAT’S ON HYDROSHOW.tv NOW? GEOPOT PRODUCT: GeoPot PRODUCT TYPE: Fabric Plant Container INTERVIEWER: Pooja Sisodia INTERVIEWEE: Dennis Hunter Dennis Hunter of GeoPot introduces his breathable fabric plant container, which air prunes your roots when they reach the edge of the container creating a better root structure and the aeration of the root zone, your plants can reach their full potential. For more information visit: www.geopot.com GROTEK PRODUCT: N/A PRODUCT TYPE: Plant Nutrients INTERVIEWER: Gemma Hepworth INTERVIEWEE: Colin Bullmore Colin Bullmore of Grotek Canada talks to HYDROSHOW about his company as a whole, their history, their objectives and their passion for good quality, honest products at an affordable price. Colin is joined on the sofa by the Grotek girls did you see them at the show? Grow Big with Grotek! For more information visit: www.grotek.net HORTILINE PRODUCT: Clip Fan PRODUCT TYPE: Ventilation INTERVIEWER: Gemma Hepworth INTERVIEWEE: Fernand Cuenod Fernand from Hortiline has developed his clip fan to work in the unforgiving environment of your grow room. The fan is extremely economical using only 5w of energy and is constructed in a way that will prevent seizing which is a common occurrence in other clip fans used in grow rooms. For more information visit: www.hortiline.com I-GROTEK PRODUCT: I-Support PRODUCT TYPE: Plant Support INTERVIEWER: Gemma Hepworth INTERVIEWEE: John Spence Plant supports in the form of netting and yoyos can get in the way when trying to access your plants, the i-support sits in your plant container allowing you to move move around the plant without restriction. John gives us more information. For more information visit: www.i-growtek.com

HORTILUX SCHRÉDER PRODUCT: HSE 600W Electronic Ballast System PRODUCT TYPE: Lighting INTERVIEWER: Pooja Sisodia INTERVIEWEE: Stephanie Turpin Maxibright’s Stephanie Turpin gives us a little information on the new 400v 600w combined reﬂector ballast and lamp from Hortilux Schréder, which is rich in PAR (photosynthetically active radiation) - a new movement in hydroponics, it used to be about lumens, now were talking PAR. For more information visit: www.maxibright.com (Info coming soon)

SO WHAT’S ON HYDROSHOW.tv NOW? METROP PRODUCT: Concentrated Plant Nutrition PRODUCT TYPE: Liquid Plant Nutrition INTERVIEWER: Pooja Sisodia INTERVIEWEE: Robbie Den Hartog What can you say about your nutrients company in a few minutes? Well not a lot, however Robbie from Metrop gives us a brief description of his concentrated plant nutrients, explaining how they promote bigger yields and more weight. For more information visit: www.metrop.nl

GROW LUSH PRODUCT: OG Reflector PRODUCT TYPE: Lighting INTERVIEWER: Gemma Hepworth INTERVIEWEE: Macro Dong Macro Dong came all the way from Australia just to talk to HYDROSHOW about his OG light. Ahhem, slight exaggeration, however he did take the opportunity to tell us about his ground-breaking product the OG Growlite, which mounts the lamp vertically and reﬂects the light more efficiently. For more information visit: www.youtube.com/growlitechannel HIGH CALIPER PRODUCT: Smart Pot PRODUCT TYPE: Plant Container INTERVIEWER: Gemma Hepworth INTERVIEWEE: Nicolas Ste-Marie Nicolas Ste-Marie of Bio Nord, Smart Pot & Distribution Eco-X talks about Smart Pot - a fabric plant container which is bio-degradable, machine washable and made from recycled materials. For more information visit: www.smartpots.com

OZONE ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES PRODUCT: Uvonair PRODUCT TYPE: Ozone Generator (Pest, Disease & Odour Control) INTERVIEWER: Pooja Sisodia INTERVIEWEE: Dan Wickham Dan Wickham introduces the original Ozone Generator from Ozone Environmental Technologies. Uvonair creates Ozone using two methods, Ultra Violet and Corona Discharge. Ozone created by Uvonair is effective at killing pests and is also hailed as the best form of odour elimination and prevention. For more information visit: www.uvonair.com VITALINK PRODUCT: PlantStart PRODUCT TYPE: Plant Nutrition INTERVIEWER: Gemma Hepworth INTERVIEWEE: Callie Seaman Callie from VitaLink talks us through a product she developed herself with the assistance of Sheffield Hallam University. The PlantStart product is designed as a replacement for often used half strength nutrients, with speciﬁc minerals for seedling stage of the plants life. For more information visit: www.vitalink.eu

100 FILMS

TO WATCH BEFORE YOU SNUFF IT:

ADVENTURE It is commonly said that before you die, your life flashes before your eyes. Now imagine your disappointment, as you settle back for this ﬁnal show reel of all your accomplishments, that alongside all the missed sexual opportunities, the countries you’d never visited - you realise the full horrifying extent of all those incredible movies you’d never quite got around to watching! There’d be no turning back – you just denied yourself some of life’s great pleasures. But wait, you’re reading this so we can assume you still have a pulse. There’s still hope! Get off that gurney, pull that drip out of your arm, run to a video store and ensure you watch each and every one of the following recommendations before it’s too late… In this edition: Adventure (a ﬁlm usually involving a journey through exotic locations and a tangible – i.e. not just metaphorical “quest” ).

DELIVERANCE

DIRECTOR: John Boorman (1972) Jon Voigt and three corporate buddies take one last boating trip down Georgia’s Cahulawassee River before the valley is ﬂooded to make way for a dam. Ned Beatty’s contemptuous attitude towards the local Hillbillies comes back to bite his ass, almost literally, as our protagonists are left ruing the lack of mobile phones back in the 1970s, being forced to ﬁght for their anal virginity and indeed their very survival in the unforgiving wilderness. Deliverance has produced some of the most striking moments in movie history, from duelling banjos to the “squeal like a pig” sequence.

“Get off that gurney, pull that drip out of your arm, run to a video store and ensure you watch each and every one of the following recommendations before it’s too late…”

“No-one does world-weary quite like Bogey. And in this John Huston epic he outBogeys himself as a paranoid, alcoholic, down-and-out getting gypped in Mexico.“

THE TREASURE OF THE SIERRA MADRE DIRECTOR: John Huston (1948)

No-one does world-weary quite like Bogey. And in this John Huston epic he out-Bogeys himself as a paranoid, alcoholic, downand-out getting gypped in Mexico. After a chance encounter with a talkative old-timer in a poorhouse, Bogart’s Dobbs ignores his remark that he’s “never known a prospector yet that’s died rich” to join him and a fellow

bum mining for gold in the mountains of deepest Mexico. While their efforts are initially rewarded, things turn sour as ﬁrst rival prospectors, and then banditos close in on their camp. But the real enemy is greed, and as the pile of gold grows, so does the mutual mistrust. Watching Dobbs slowly unhinge is a sheer delight.

JAWS

DIRECTOR: Steven Spielberg (1975) A local cop tries to stop a Great White shark from terrorising bathers in his coastal town. This tour de force destroyed swimmingin-the-sea as a viable pastime for a whole generation. Not many people can lay claim to that. Spielberg is so adept at giving audiences what they want he is often seen more as a slick marketing man than the artist he truly is. Jaws shows him at his Hitchcockian best (even borrowing Vertigo’s dolly zoom effect). Disappointed by the quality of the rubber shark he was given to work with, Spielberg instead relied on expert direction and editing, not to mention one of the most inspired uses of music, to ratchet up tension and terrify the audience. A masterclass in suspense and contains one of cinema’s great lines: “You’re going to need a bigger boat.” Indeed.

“Spielberg is so adept at giving audiences what they want he is often seen more as a slick marketing man than the artist he truly is.”

“Raiders of the Lost Ark was recently voted the second greatest film of all time by Empire readers for good reason.”

AGUIRRE: THE WRATH OF GOD DIRECTOR: Werner Herzog (1972)

The Wrath of God. Quite possibly Werner Herzog’s finest film. This story of madness and obsession follows Klaus Kinski (playing the eponymous hero) in search of the mysterious city of gold – El Dorado. Filmed on location in the Peruvian rainforest, the Conquistadors engage in a power struggle amongst themselves as they hack their way through dense jungle and unwitting Indians. Herzog’s direction is staggering; from the opening sequence of the Spaniards navigating narrow mountain footpaths to the doomed boat ride up the Amazon. Kinski, a mad genius himself, is perfectly cast - famously terrifying cast, crew and director even after the cameras had long stopped rolling. The final sequences of Aguirre on his raft, railing against God and his enemies as arrows, disease and hunger pick off his crew, are amongst the most memorable in cinema.

RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK DIRECTOR: Steven Spielberg (1981)

If you haven’t seen this exhilarating tribute to 1930s Saturday matinee serials, then you’re either from Tora Bora or you have a visceral hatred of cinema. Raiders of the Lost Ark was recently voted the second greatest ﬁlm of all time by Empire readers for good reason. Besides Nazis , treasure, ingenious traps, snakes, biplanes, exotic locations, face melting and treacherous monkeys – you’ll ﬁnd at its heart a fantastic story, razor-sharp dialogue and surprisingly adult themes…

This is the ﬁrst and the best of the Indiana Jones franchise and amazingly, given the sumptuous visuals and locations, shot for only $18m (contrast with the execrable, CGI-heavy, Kingdom of The Crystal Skull - estimated budget $185m). In recent years George Lucas has been on a one-man quest to destroy his own legacy, but Raiders serves to remind us that he was once, truly, a master of his art.

See the oﬃcial trailers for these movies. HYDROMAG YouTube channel will be full of playlists to supplement our articles. You can also see sponsored playlists from our advertisers. Visit: www.youtube.com/user/hydromagazine

NUTHIN’ BUT THE BLUES: Willie Dixon pretty much nailed the importance of the blues genre when he said that “The blues is the roots, everything else is the fruits.” Blues has influenced every important genre, movement, and scene in 20th and 21st century music from hip hop to rock to soul to funk. Below is a small selection of key blues albums and bluesmen.

Muddy Waters

At Newport (1960)

This seminal performance by Muddy Waters at the Newport Jazz Festival has become a standard. Its powerful and relatively light performances enhanced the appeal of the album, and conﬁrmed Waters as one of the greats of his genre. “Put A Tiger In Your Tank” is a perfect example of the barely restrained ferocity that marks the whole set.

Blind Willie McTell

The Definitive Blind Willie McTell (1994)

Blind Willie McTell’s beautifully delivered songs of love, lust, and betrayal would be immortalised in the Bob Dylan’s tribute ‘Blind Willie McTell’. This compilation is a great starting point from which to explore a true titan of the blues.

“OF ALL THE GREAT BLUES ARTISTS, BO DIDDLEY HAS HAD THE MOST INFLUENCE ON THE FORMATION OF ROCK AND ROLL, AND NOT SURPRISINGLY, DOZENS OF ROCK GREATS HAVE COVERED HIS SONGS. ”

Bo Diddley Bo Diddley Is A Gunslinger (1960)

Of all the great blues artists, Bo Diddley has had the most inﬂuence on the formation of rock and roll. His hits – including ‘I’m A Man’ and ‘Who Do You Love’ – contained an effusive and contagious beat that pre-echoed and formed the sound of rock, and not surprisingly, dozens of rock greats have covered his songs.

Jimmy Reed Blues Masters (2000)

Of the Post-WWII bluesmen, Jimmy Reed was one of the most inﬂuential performers and certainly one of the most popular. While stories abound of his alcoholism (which would lead to his death in 1976 at the age of 50) and the resulting inappropriate behavior both on stage and in the studio, Reed still managed to place more singles on the pop chart than any other bluesman during his career.

Robert Johnson King Of The Delta Blues Singers (1961)

Another classic compilation and great starting point from which to explore familiar blues themes from a great in the genre. Though he isn’t as popular as some of his more famous colleagues, he still helped deﬁne a genre and is widely acclaimed by musicians and fans of all stripes. ‘Cross Road Blues’ brings a rich, haunting sound to the listener’s ears as Johnson explores the darkness and danger of Satantic worship.

Albert King Born Under A Bad Sign (1967)

The release of Born Under a Bad Sign in 1967 would change the face of American music, modernising the blues and bringing the sound of the blues to a new, wider audience. Much of its crossover appeal was attributed to Booker T. and MGs, who gave his blues a sleek, soulful sound [which] gave King crossover appeal. Four of the songs on this pseudo compilation would become futuremodern blues classics: “Born Under A Bad sign”, “Oh Pretty Woman”, “The Hunter”, and “Crosscut Saw”.

Howlin Wolf The Chess Box (1991)

The blues has been a wellspring for rivers of pop, rock and R&B and there’s nothing quite like returning to the source. In the mid-’60s, Chess Records released a series of legendary “best of” albums for Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, Sonny Boy Williamson and Howlin’ Wolf. Under each artist’s name, The Real Folk Blues was issued in 1966 and a More Real Folk Blues in 1967 (though the latter album for Hooker wasn’t discovered and released until 1991). This compilation of Howlin’ Wolf’s work is a great introduction to these box sets. It is also worth investigating his ‘London Sessions’ for a taste of his time on our side of the Atlantic.

“THE RELEASE OF BORN UNDER A BAD SIGN IN 1967 ‘WOULD CHANGE THE FACE OF AMERICAN MUSIC, MODERNISING THE BLUES’” 46

SURFING IN THE

“Although the experts make it look easy, surfing is difficult and certainly easier for some than it is for others, but that’s not to say if you’re not sporty you can’ t do it.” I tried surfing once whilst on holiday in Australia. After twenty minutes of getting batted around like a cat in a washing machine I was desperate for a fag so I gave up. The withering look of utter disdain which I got from the surfing instructor has haunted me ever since. This issue Pete gives us the low down on surfing off the decidedly more civilised (if a sight colder) shores of our own country. All my life I felt like I had been looking for an active hobby which I really enjoy and that I could do all year round. Something that would keep me fit, doesn’t cause injuries, is relatively inexpensive and most of all something that would cure my laziness. After 30 years (almost literally to the day) I finally found it, surfing, a great sport which almost anyone can do, even in the often dreadful British weather. Having surfed all year round in sun, rain and hail - the weather has never put me off. In fact, I’d much rather be in the sea when it’s raining, than be stuck outside wishing I was warm and dry – which was quite often the case when I played football. Surfing is also a great full-body workout which isn’t too strenuous but can keep you both extremely fit and strong. Although the experts make it look easy, surfing is difficult and certainly easier for some than it is for others, but that’s not to say if you’re not sporty you can’ t do it. There were many times when I was first learning that I didn’t manage to stand up once, but it didn’t matter whether I was standing up, sitting down or falling on my arse, it was still surfing and I still really enjoyed it. As well as that the experience of being in the sea and having time to reflect never fails to give the soul a cleansed feeling – every time you come out of the water it’s like being reborn.

What does it cost?

I would always recommend you try before you buy. There are surf shops where you can hire a board and wetsuit for a half day for around £15 - £20. However, if you don’t want to wear a suit which somebody has (most likely) taken a piss in, you can buy your own gear - you get what you pay for though and the more you spend the better your gear will be and it should last for longer . If you’re serious about surfing all year round then it’s worth investing in a board, summer and winter wetsuits, surf shoes, gloves and a rash vest. That will set you back anywhere from £350 to a couple of grand. Once you’ve bought your first set of equipment surfing is pretty much free - all you pay for is fuel to drive to your nearest beach. The good thing with your board is that they do hold their value, so if you have a scary moment in the sea which puts you off, you’ll always be able to get a reasonable amount of your money back.

Its all about the pop...

Making sure you have a good central position on the board, when a wave comes, paddle like hell with your arms.

Once you feel the wave is carrying you, place your hands on the rail of the board and lift your upper-body oﬀ the deck.

Having lifted your upper body, this is the diﬃcult bit, starting to stand without wiping out. Balance is key here.

You’re almost there. Try to keep your weight even at this stage in order to prevent falling sideways oﬀ your board.

This is the final push and a real test of leg, back and core strength. To practice, squats are a good exercise to do at home

And you’re surfing. All five steps need to happen in a second, otherwise you’ll run out of waves. Practice makes perfect!

The dangers

Surfing can be a dangerous sport, especially if you’re not a strong swimmer - which is why you should always go with someone who’s been before, or where other people are doing it. Surfers tend to look out for each other, but it’s not all nice - get in the way of a moody surfer’s wave and you could be heading for a fight out at sea. Beginners should look for a nice sandy beach where there are less rocks to get pushed in to. I have personally been at the mercy of the sea on a rocky beach - and there’s little more terrifying than seeing those rocks coming closer and closer at high speed and feeling totally powerless to do anything about it. For me the biggest factor is stamina, it’s surprising how quickly your arms get tired when you’re stuck in a rift (the backwash from a wave that’s just broken), the only way out is to swim sideways - a good tip well worth keeping in mind.

Search for surf

Of course, you can’t surf all the time, so just set off hoping waves are there. There are some excellent websites; I would recommend magicseaweed.com which tells you where the waves are and what the seas doing. Waves are measured by buoys out to sea. The buoys measure the height of the wave and their frequency. The further apart the waves are, the more time you have to get on your board when you get knocked off. The bigger the waves are, the more likely you are not to be able to surf them. A bit of local knowledge helps too, some beaches are better when the tide is low, or indeed when the tide is high so it’s worth asking someone at the local surf shop when it’s best to surf local beaches – don’t be shy, they’re usually very helpful. Eighteen months after my first fling with surfing and it’s now become a full time relationship, one that I hope I can continue into my late years. I’ve taken loads of my friends and they’ve enjoyed it too. So if you’re like I was and you go from hobby to hobby and not really getting that in to one, don’t just take my word for it, try it.

HYDROMAG YouTube channel will be full of playlists to supplement our articles. You can also see sponsored playlists from our advertisers. Visit: www.youtube.com/user/hydromagazine

How to read a surf report...

Ideal conditions for beginners would be about 2-4 foot waves at 10 second intervals. Anything less than 2 foot is pretty much un-surfable, anything less than 7 seconds apart and you’re really going to be battling to get out past the breaker (the point on the sea bed where the waves are formed) - however I have been out in those conditions and if anything , again, it’s a good workout.

COMPETITION... Every issue the team at HYDROMAG bring you a chance to win a prize kindly donated by one of our advertisers, and we’re not talking a pack of sticky fly traps or a pair of latex gloves - to make it worth your while we’ve asked our competition prize sponsor to think big!

This month’s prize is donated by Lumatek Professional Lighting

LUMATEK LIGHTING Suggested Retail Price Approx £155.00 INCLUDES: Lumatek 600 Lamp Lumatek 600 Digital Ballast

FIRST

FIVE WIN RUNNER-UPS RU

HOW TO ENTER...

To be in with a chance of winning this excellent prize, simply send us a postcard with your name, email and phone number and send it to the address below. Or visit www.facebook.com/HYDROMAG, like us, then find the Lumatek image and click ‘like’ on the picture. Winners will be chosen at random on December 14th 2012. POST TO: HYDROMAG COMPETITION NO.1, No.5 The Old Bakery, 90 Acre St, Lindley, Huddersfield, HD3 3EL

GROW GEAR ADVANCED NUTRIENTS UK Ancient Earth

Ancient Earth is a combination of both Fulvic and Humic acids now available in a single nutrient formula that was specifically designed to fit the needs of a plants requirement. Ancient Earth reduces the eﬀects of salinity and PH ﬂuctuations increase your plants’ uptake of the precious micronutrients that drive your plants to reach their optimum yield. Plus you get double the value, because this one formula replaces two products previously sold separately. Distribution by Advanced Nutrients UK

GROW LUSH HPS Lamp

With a Lamp life of up to 29,000 hours and giving a ‘Super High Output, the Grow Lush HPS lamp tried and tested for over 10 years in the Australian hydro market is a perfect fit for the hobbyist to professional grower alike. Giving 20% more light than a standard HPS lamp, the Grow Lush lamp gives exceptional value for money, giving you a professional light for a sensible price. Distribution by IKON International

COCO POTZ Grow Medium

CoCo Potz will save you time and money; No need for plant pots as CoCo Potz come ready to use in their own square disposable container. The container is constructed from light proof black / white sheeting, to protect your plants’ roots. You can also pierce holes for drainage with ease. Just add water (or nutrient solution) and watch the CoCo Potz magic expand before your eyes. Distribution by IKON International

HANG UP’S

Multi Purpose Hangers Hang Ups are an easily adjustable lighting and reflector hanger with a simple ‘push button’ and glide action. The all metal construction is both professional and safe which easily holds up to 20KG (Per Hang Up). The multi-purpose Hang Up are constructed ideally for controlled environments. Distribution by IKON International

Grow Gear gives you a taste of our advertiser’s premier products, from popular classics to new-fangled curiosities. We can’t guarantee that they’re right for you, but we can tell you that we wouldn’t have them in HYDROMAG if we didn’t respect their work. Even if you aren’t in the market for something new, Grow Gear is well worth a read.

CANNA

CANNABOOST CANNABOOST increases the uptake of nutrients by boosting the metabolism of your plants. The focus on metabolism makes CANNABOOST much more eﬃcient than all the other boosters on the market. If you want to know more about the working of CANNABOOST please visit www.canna-uk.com and watch the CANNABOOST video and you might even want to read the article ‘Discover the secrets of CANNABOOST’.

CANNA

Need to Know

Growing is all about passion. You’re determined to get the best yields, and so you set off on what seems like a never-ending journey to find out about how your plants grow and bloom. You feel like you need to learn everything there is to know about roots, nutrient uptake, water temperature, seasonal influences, spraying your leaves, air circulation and so on. That’s why CANNA produced a series of short videos to inform you how to optimize your growth. Do you want to watch all the videos please surf: www.canna-uk.com/media

GROW GEAR

HORTILINE Clip Fan

The secret to Hortiline’s brand new 5W CLIP FAN is it’s ‘Direct Drive Magentic Engine’. Unlike conventional clip fans that use oil to lubricate rotation, Hortiline have incorporated a high quality magnetic fan that guarantees a longer life span than other products on the market. The fan also boasts the ability to withstand the extreme changes in conditions that grow rooms can face 24/7. In addition to this, the fan’s low 5W consumption means users can also save on their electricity bills (up to £240/year), making the Hortline 5W Clip Fan one of (if not the) best on the market. Distribution by Highlite Horticulture

NEW FROM HORTILUX SCHRÉDER HSE 600W Electronic Ballast System

Hortilux Schréder is the No.1 world leader in glasshouse technology. The new HSE 600W is light years ahead in horticultural technology. Providing powerful lighting with energy eﬃciency, the HSE 600W increases your yield with up to 10% more growth light than traditional domestic HID lighting systems. The electronic ballast with Philips components powers the new Philips MASTER GreenPower Plus 600W 400V electronic lamp from your domestic supply for excellent PAR output from the lamp per watt of power consumed. Two interchangeable reﬂectors are available: the Delta gives deep, uniform light dispersal ideal for plants up to 80cm in height and the Zèta provides extremely deep light penetration through adult crops of 80cm and above. For your nearest stockist visit www.maxibright.com/retailers

GROWING EDGE TECHNOLOGIES Aroma Formula

You may have seen the advert for The Aroma Formula in HYDROMAG last issue, or even spoken to Bill at Grow Expos 2012 where he spoke about his brand new 5-part nutrient formula. Tipped as the jewel in G.E.T’s crown, The Aroma Formula boasts a slightly more complex feeding plan designed to give you unparalleled results. The Aroma Formula is available in all good grow stores late 2012. Distribution by IKON International

VIDEO PODCASTS

Video podcasts are harder to pin down than their audio cousins. They have to be engaging enough to justify sitting and watching them. Whether you’re into knitting or skydiving or anything in between, you can be sure that someone on the internet has made a series of videos about it. Often the appeal isn’t the subject matter at all, but some other element which wasn’t intended as the focus. As ever the key to finding what’s right for you is give a few a try, and in the case of video podcasts, to give something a go which at first glance might not seem all that great.

TED The Technology, Entertainment and Design talks are billed as ‘ideas worth spreading’. They’re a series of lectures given by some of today’s prominent thinkers looking at solutions to the many problems the world faces today and going into the future. They’re also a chance for some of the richest people in the world to pat themselves on the back for their idealistic world view and charitable willingness to educate anyone not gifted with their infinite wisdom. Cut through the chaff though and you’ll find the kind of stuff capable of changing your worldview in a matter of minutes. Take it all with a pinch of salt though and do some further research before selling your house and moving to a floating community.

BUG

Original done for a show at the BFI, Adam Buxton collates interesting and off the wall music videos into playlists. Buxton spends a little time talking about each video’s creators and the techniques they use, but the real magic comes when he reads out the comments left by the viewing public. Silly and irreverent it may be, but Buxton is a master of silliness and irreverence; he’s clearly spent untold hours trawling through comments sections, picking out the best and worst of society’s favourite outlet for stupidity. Buxton’s own videos are also some of the funniest on the internet; check out ‘A New Pope’ for a ﬂavour of his own, very particular, stylings.

Schmoes Know

Two ‘Average Joes’ discuss the latest cinema releases. Kristian Harloff and Mark Ellis are anything but average, hence their substantial success. They do go about their business in a refreshingly unpretentious way though, considering the subject matter. Their early reviews are some of the funniest on Youtube and well worth going back to watch. The Schmoes have put a lot of work into building up and working with an online community, which is very commendable, but seems to have detracted somewhat from the quality of their shows of late. Their review of The Last Airbender is an all-time classic.

Baron Von Grumble

A middle-aged, middle-class Englishman records his motor biking journeys on a helmet cam, whilst musing on life and the lack of manners amongst London commuters. Sounds dull, but so would the premise to Peep Showand The Baron does sound scarily like Jez from the aforementioned programme. The episode when The Baron takes his superbike down a green route is particularly hairy, and his recent adventure around Soho on a mobility scooter (due to a broken leg) shows real dedication. Chances are you’ll either love it or wonder why anyone would waste time watching it- either way it’s a better use of your time then watching X-factor.

LETTERS

The HYDROMAG surgery is open for business...

Here at HYDROMAG we’re honoured and delighted to be able to oﬀer you and your plants the much prized services of Growing Edge Technologies C.E.O. Bill Sutherland. Bill has over thirty years of experience in the indoor gardening industry, which he has kindly agreed to put at your disposal. We also thought it’s worth mentioning only a handful of people entered the competition last issue, meaning the odds of winning were very good. See page 51 for this month’s giveaway.

Get in touch with us by writing to us at: 5, The Old Bakery, 90 Acre St, Lindley, Huddersﬁeld, West Yorkshire, England, HD3 3EL or alternatively email Bill directly bill@hydromag.co.uk You can also get in touch via Facebook & Twitter: facebook.com/hydromag twitter.com/hydromagazine

I’m new to hydroponics, but I did a lot research before investing in a small tent setup. I’ve sowed a lot of seeds, but so far the only thing that’s sprouted is a single sweet pea. I soaked my seeds until they started to sprout, and then planted them in seeding pots ¼ inch below surface level. I made sure to keep the tent at an even temperature and water them sparingly beyond their first watering. I haven’t even seen any roots yet, let alone a plant. I fished out 1 seed after a month and it was black, bloated and squishy. Are the seeds the problem or is it me? Hope you can help. FC. .............................................................................................. Hi FC, you never stated what type of hydroponic growing medium you were using. If you use Rockwool the pH could have been too high for the seeds to grow. Did you pH correct the rock wool before planting? When sowing seeds into a hydroponic growing medium, use the same type of growing medium in a propagation tray. Keep ¼ inch of ¼ strength nutrient solution in tray at all times. Place seeds the same distance under the growing medium as the package states and place more growing medium over seeds to keep moist. Place covered tray under fluorescent lights leaving enough room to remove dome and exchange the air within dome 3 times per day and now would be a great time to wipe moisture off of sides of dome too. Once seedling sprouts or roots come out the side transplant to hydroponic system. Feed with regular strength plant food. Try to keep unspouted seeds about 5 degrees C above normal room temperature. You do not need to transplant from one size container to another like you need to for soil growing.

Do I need to keep my fans on all the time? It’s pretty cold where I live, so I don’t need them to cool the room down-but I’m thinking they might need to be on for air circulation. How do I work out accurately if my room has good air circulation? From Rory. .......................................................................... Hi Rory, large plants or a lot of little plant can utilize the available CO2 from the air in a matter of hours. 92 per cent of the plant matter is made up of hydrogen, oxygen and carbon and your plants will have used up the free available elements within 2 to 3 hours. Also the humidity can climb quite high within that time. Best to change the complete air volume once an hour. Length X width X height equals cubic area of grow room this will be the size of extraction fan to be used. Keep fan on for at least 3 to 5 minutes allowing complete ventilation. If you walk into your room and are sweating or feel uncomfortable, your plants are probably uncomfortable too. You will probably want to leave the grow room as fast as possible. But remember that your plants cannot leave and will be growing there or not growing there, more likely, at least to their full potential. To strengthen plants’ stems and move the air around their leaves use an oscillating fan to move the air in grow room around.

I’m a big fan of plain old traditional soil. Outdoors it’s so easy to use that anyone can do it. I’ve never had much success with soil indoors, though. Do you have any tips for growing with soil under an HPS lamp? If I was to switch to using a diﬀerent mediumwhich do you think would be the easiest for an old stick in the mud to pick up? Sincerely, Mac. ............................................................................. Hi Mac, you might have experienced watering problems as soil is an excellent growing medium when used right. Here are a couple of ways to improve your indoor growing with soil. 1) For every month of growth have a minimum of 1 gallon of soil for each month of growth. 2) Do not take a small plant and put it in a 3 gallon pot, start plant oﬀ in smaller pot and transplant from smaller to larger as the plant grows. Plants should require water every 3 to 4 days so choose a pot that will allow this to happen. We do not want to let plants sit in water for too long as plants breathe through the roots, so do not plant into too large a container for the size of the plant. My favourite growing medium has always been rock wool for smaller plants and clay pellets for larger plants. Both growing mediums are hydroponic growing mediums and with a proper hydroponic system the water and air ratio is very easy to control.

Bill, Bill, bill@hydromag.co.uk

bill@hydromag.co.uk

Bill, bill@hydromag.co.uk