Hydromag 018 Hydroponics Magazine by Hydro Magazine

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THE MAKING OF HYDROMAG... Editor Christian Mason christian@hydromag.co.uk

William Willett. British builder and tireless promoter of British Summer Time daylight savings.

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes

“You better start swimming or you’ll sink like a stone, for the times they are a-changing” sang Bob Dylan more than half a century ago, and he wasn’t talking about Daylight Savings. These days the times seem to be “a-changing” in ever decreasing cycles, so much so that no-one can be particularly arsed to write further songs about the subject. But occasionally change can be genuinely epoch-making. For example, Leicester City - Leicester City for Christsake! - are the Premier League champions; by summer Britain may be bidding au revoir, auf wiedersehen, and adios to EU membership; and by Christmas the United States may have handed the White House keys and nuclear codes to a perma-tanned nutter with no political experience and who’s on record as saying he’d bone his daughter if they weren’t related. We’re not immune to a bit of change here at HYDROMAG Headquarters either. For one thing we’re ramping up our online presence – starting with Grow Gear Online (www.youtube.com/hydroshowtv), but with many more riveting features in the pipeline. And after two and a half beautiful years, our Sales-Manager-cum-Head-Features-Writer, Nico Hill, is moving on to pastures new. We want to thank Nico for his peerless growing expertise, unyielding irreverence, and smutty wit. He will be sorely missed. Coming up in this issue we bring you our famous annual Stores Guide. Napoleon Bonaparte was said to have called Britain a “nation of shopkeepers” apparently as some kind of insult. And a pretty weird insult it is too. Britain’s shop owners and workers are the very bedrock of society, and we salute their courage and tirelessness. If Napoleon were still around to read our stores guide, we’re sure he’d be forced to eat his garlic-stenched words. Please do pay our featured shops a visit if you get the chance. Finally, we like a bit of a theme here at HYDROMAG, and in this issue it’s “Grow Like a Pro”. Nico’s parting gift to us is his tag-team effort with Everest Fernandez - Upgrade Your Gardening Experience on Page 14. Meanwhile on Page 52 we take a look at what the big companies are using for fertilizers these days. As they say, when commercial horticulture farts, eventually the home-use market catches a whiff. Signing off,

Technical Assistant Editor Bill Sutherland bill@hydromag.co.uk Lifestyle Christian Mason christian@hydromag.co.uk Lifestyle Buddy Mason buddy@hydromag.co.uk Managing Director Pete Turner sales@hydromag.co.uk Project Manager / Sales Administrator Megan Corless sales@hydromag.co.uk Art Director Emma Godley emma@hydromag.co.uk Design Kim Tinker kim@hydromag.co.uk Design David Sugden david@hydromag.co.uk Accounts Claire Kennedy accounts@hydromag.co.uk

HYDRO PUBLISHING LTD Ellerslie House, Queen’s Road, Edgerton, Huddersfield HD2 2AG T: +44 (0) 203 384 8940 E: info@hydromag.co.uk W: www.hydromag.co.uk PRINTED IN THE UK

Christian Mason (Editor or something) 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.

The NEW DAYLIGHT 315 +0.0;(3 WV^LY WHJR MVY *4/ *+4 SHTWZ 3,7 Z[`SL ZWLJ[Y\T JVTIPULK ^P[O /7: Z[`SL PU[LUZP[` MVY H MYHJ[PVU VM [OL WYPJL 2,@ -,(;<9,:! :VM[ Z[HY[ [LJOUVSVN` ,UK VM SHTW SPML KL[LJ[PVU +`UHTPJ MYLX\LUJ` JVU[YVS :OVY[ JPYJ\P[ WYV[LJ[PVU ;OLYTHS WYV[LJ[PVU (\[V YLZL[ :PSLU[ HUK SPNO[ ^LPNO[

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For your nearest retailer visit: maxigrow.com

ISSUE NO. 018 04/05.2016

Featured In This Issue... 52 08

THE FEED Grow Gear Online

THE FEED Biomass Energy (Shit Just Got Real)

FEATURE Upgrade Your Gardening Experience PT1

Steve Jobs once said “people don’t read anymore” when referring to the print industry. Well we’re preparing for “Dumbaggedon” by going one step further and eliminating the need to read altogether, with our new video series Grow Gear Online. Welcome to the future, kids!

FEATURE Grow Like a Pro

What are they whispering about? Why won’t they let us in on their secrets? In this issue of HYDROMAG, we blow the lid on what the big corporations are using as fertilizer! (Hint: it’s not the ground bones of exploited third world factory workers).

Human faeces is much maligned - not so at HYDROMAG HQ! We love it so much we regularly have hilarious faeces fights across our desks! But did you know poo could power whole cities?

The grass is always greener. As soon as you upgrade your phone or get a new girl/boyfriend, a better alternative unfailingly comes along. But rather than begin again, why not take a look at improving what you’ve got? In this issue: gardens.

STUFF TO BUY Grow Gear

COMPETITION DAYLIGHT 315w...

The big Capitalist wheel keeps on turning! That’s thanks to all you wonderful folk with your loose spending habits and itchy credit card fingers. Well don’t stop now! Check out these amazing products!

Question. What is a banana? Is the answer a) A fruit; b) Engine Oil; or c) Prince Albert? This is actually harder than our real competition! What are you waiting for – your balls to drop?

FEATURE Upgrade Your Gardening Experience PT2

FEATURE Stores Guide

Sitting here in our ivory tower at HYDROMAG, we never forget the hardy souls at the coal face – the hydroponic stores. Here we celebrate them the only way we know how – by giving them their own Goddamn feature. Aren’t we nice?

GROW GEAR EXPLAINED

Here are a few sample videos to whet your appetite...

The new video series by Hydroshow.tv It’s been nearly three years since the broadcast of Hydroshow.tv – the world’s first dedicated hydroponics television show. Since its launch, we’ve had over half a million views on YouTube and amassed more than 5000 YouTube subscribers. Critically-acclaimed, with a loyal fan base - yet mysteriously off the airwaves. No wonder one of the burning questions we keep hearing is “will there ever be a second season?” So what does the future hold for Hydroshow.tv? Firstly it’s important to mention the television show was, overall, a success – in terms of exposure for the industry, raising awareness, and encouraging legions of new growers to take the hydroponic plunge. But here are some key points: It didn’t turn a profit. The producer, Pete, toiled for 6 months without pay, living in a tent and eating out of bins with the foxes. Like a lover considering taking back her abusive ex, we’ve toyed with filming another series. And all is forgiven. We’re planning a return. But hold your horses - this won’t happen until 2017/18. In the meantime we’ve decided to create a beguiling new series of videos called Grow Gear Online. Regular readers of HYDROMAG should be familiar with the Grow Gear section of our magazine (check out the back pages of this issue if not). And we’re very excited to bring you Grow Gear Online. The format is similar, but presented in glorious moving images, with professional narration and a soundtrack! In videos of two minutes or less, we provide you with all the necessary information about the industry’s favourite, new or upcoming products. Our aim is to have a video for every product available on the market. It’s never been done before, but then no-one had made a hydroponics TV show until we came along! Ambitious yes, but we like to aim high.

Let us know what videos you want to see in the Grow Gear Online series by contacting us through Facebook (www.facebook.com/HYDROMAG).

Scan the QR code to access Youtube or follow the link below for more videos... www.youtube.com/hydroshowtv

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SHIT JUST GOT REAL! We’ve come a long way since the days of open defecation amongst humans, and the contents of slop buckets raining down onto the city streets. Over recent centuries our species has become increasingly averse to even discussing faeces, so sensitive has our disgust trigger grown for the subject. And with good reason. In the survival of the fittest, our more easily revolted ancestors almost certainly stole a march on their more “cack-handed” neighbours; avoiding infection, contamination, and parasites has proved to be a sound instinct. But we may now need to grow a thicker skin and embrace the effluvium, because the world has turned full circle. With a global energy crisis on the horizon, alternatives to fossil fuels are being sought high and low. In this issue of HYDROMAG the emphasis is on the low – about sewer level low.

for the environment, pound for pound, than carbon dioxide – a unit of methane has been shown to create between 6 and 25 times more warming than an equivalent amount of carbon dioxide, depending on your sources. However, as human beings aren’t going anywhere in a hurry, and daily bowel evacuations are highly unlikely to become a thing of the past, we might as well tap into the “power of poo”; that methane will be produced regardless. The resultant biogas is generated by microorganisms, or bacteria, as they feed on and break down the human and / or animal waste, in a process known as anaerobic digestion. A variety of mechanisms are then able to convert the effluence into energy, while simultaneously lessening the negative impact of sewage on the environment.

Every day approximately 3.2 billion kilograms of excrement is generated, with serious consequences for the planet’s water tables. Some estimates put more than 200 million tonnes of human waste going untreated each year, with 90% of sewage in the developing world being pumped into our rivers and oceans. At the same time, everyone is aware of the problem of fossil fuels (i.e. they are nonrenewable, dwindling in supply, and slowly cooking our planet). All of this dovetails unpleasantly with the world’s population growth – from 3 billion in 1960, to 7 billion today, and likely rising to 9 billion in 2050. We’re looking at a lot of faeces, not a lot of fuel. It’s a slam dunk. In what is increasingly becoming known as “poo power”, the future is brown. The future is faeces.

Anaerobic digestion tanks

The term ‘biomass’ traditionally covers any organic material able to be used as a renewable energy source. Normally this refers to plant material such as wood, but is increasingly used to mean biogas, biodiesel or ethanol. And there aren’t many better sources of biogas than faeces. As excrement breaks down it emits methane, the key constituent of a fart. This highly combustible gas is actually worse

“Every day approximately 3.2 billion kilograms of excrement is genereated, with serious consequences for the planet’s water tables”

The potential of poop has been evident for a number of years. In the 18th and early 19th centuries cesspits occasionally erupted in flames, sometimes with loss of life. Pioneering English engineers put two and two together and worked out a means to exploit the combustible nature of methane to fuel gaslights. The use of animal waste as fuel is common in parts of the developing world, where biogas plants in parts of Asia and Africa have been powered by dung for some years. Although the concept of running engines on biogas was conceived as far back as 1971, the widespread adoption of animal and human excrement as a viable renewable energy source has really only just taken off in the developed world. Harold Bate, an inventor from Stoke, built and patented a methane-fuelled car more than forty years ago. Inspired by the Suez Crisis of 1953 and subsequent fuel rationing, Bates used his knowledge of farming to extract methane from chicken and pig manure and used it to power a 1953 Hillman Minx and also a five-ton truck; both of which he drove for years to demonstrate the efficacy of his invention. Were he still alive he’d be delighted to see faecespowered buses had splashed down in Norway, South Korea and parts of Britain. In Bristol a 40-seater Bio-Bus, with a range of 186 miles per tank, has been in use to shuttle passengers between Bath city centre and Bristol Airport. The annual waste produced by each passenger fuels the vehicle for approximately 37 miles. The biogas collected from human waste is compressed and stored in tanks on the buses’ roofs, and contrary to expectations, these vehicles produce almost odourless emissions, with up to 30% less carbon dioxide.

Bristol’s 40-seater Bio-Bus

And the muck is spreading far and wide. Wastewater and sewage treatment plants across Britain, from Wessex to Yorkshire, have been getting in on the act, while London’s Science Museum plans to use their public toilets as a power source capable of generating 1,530 kilowatt hours of electricity per annum.

Thermal Hydrolysis tanks In Bradford, Yorkshire Water’s large sewage treatment centre utilises giant “poo cookers” called Thermal Hydrolysis tanks to produce biogas able to power 7000 homes a year. Meanwhile, in Oslo, Norway, toilet flushers everywhere are helping to heat their houses. Giant machines either end of a 300 metre long tunnel in a nearby hillside draw heat from raw sewage using fridge technology. The heat is then transferred via a network of pipes directly into the radiators and hot water pipes of the city. It’s currently the largest sewage-based heating system on the planet. In Rwanda there are ambitious plans to put prisoners to use in what might be (but probably isn’t) called “toilet-chain gangs”; thereby helping these recidivists give something back to society in the form of clean energy.

HOW DOES IT WORK? There are two main methods for converting the effluence into energy; thermal and biochemical. The first approach involves transferring heat through varying means, including combustion or pyrolysis, to transform the biomass into a new chemical form. In this process the destruction of carbon and hydrogen bonds in the excrement forces the release of energy. This method can only be used with dryer waste, such as horse manure. For the sloppier faeces producers, a biochemical approach is required. Enzymes in bacteria, naturally present in excrement, feast on the faeces anaerobically, creating biogas; essentially a blend of methane and carbon dioxide. This is then fairly easily converted into energy. It is this second approach that is gaining particular traction in the western world. As well as being essential for use with human waste, the biochemical method has been shown to leave nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium almost entirely intact, allowing the manure to then be used as fertilizer after the biogas has been extracted. In the United States a study found that 2.5% of the nation’s electricity needs could be provided by utilising the dung of its cattle industry each year, while simultaneously decreasing greenhouse gases by up to 4%.

Part of the beauty of utilising the power of poop is that it doesn’t require an intricate, centralised system to implement. Major utilities companies and local farmers alike can get in on the act, making feculence a force for all. Anaerobic “biodigesters” can be constructed on a local level, allowing farms, for example, or prisons, museums, office buildings or indeed wherever faeces rears its ugly head, to tap into its power. It seems crazy that this form of energy production hasn’t already been made mandatory in every sewage plant on the planet. A simple tweak to the process of separating solids and liquids can be of great benefit to all. Faeces rots and pumps out methane regardless; collecting and using this valuable biogas to power generators seems a clear win-win situation. In addition, the excess heat produced by the fermentation process can be run through a system of pipes to heat homes. And finally, as if energy and heat creation weren’t enough, burning methane reduces its toxicity to the environment by at least a sixth. So world, let’s roll up our sleeves, and put our faeces to work. Our grandchildren will thank us for it.

HOW IT WORK: BIOCHEMICAL

10 WAYS TO...

Upgrade Your Gardening Experience: Part 1 Everyone wants a grow room that is the envy of their best mate. There is nothing better than seeing a jealous look come across their face when you talk them through all your latest little gizmos. Sure your plants might be half dead because you forgot to water them after focusing on installing your latest gadgets, but who cares when you have got some lovely shiny shit to stare at. Here are a few things that would definitely be on our list if we didn’t already have the most epic room you have ever seen.

Ten tips to keep your growroom tidy... 1. Data loggers Chances are you won’t find a shop that actually stocks these. Massive gap in the market in our opinion. One of the most useful tools you can have. Find out exactly what went wrong and when, then you know exactly what you have to fix. Boom! 2. Temp/humidistats Your environment is key. Controlling it properly is the key to the city. Having stats rather than timers or manual controllers for your environmental equipment will give you a much better atmosphere to work with. 3. Wet vac Spilt some water? Just need to drain the bottom of your drip trays and don’t want to spend hours with a syringe sucking it up? Or even if you’ve just pissed yourself, go get one of these - you’ll thank yourself later. 4. Humidity domes. Struggle keeping up humidity in a large room when you’ve just planted out your small cuttings? Simply whack a dome over each pot rather than trying to raise the humidity of the entire room. 5. Infra red temp guage. Sometimes just knowing the air temp isn’t enough. Things could seem ok but your plants might tell you otherwise if you cared to check. Make sure your leaf temps aren’t too high and keep your VPD at optimum.

3 Wet Vac

5 Infra red temp guage

6. Humidifiers/Dehumidifiers Have we said environment is key yet? Don’t just buy a big fan and assume that’s all you need to do. Far from it my friend. Go read previous issues about the importance of humidity, then go buy some of these. 7. Stackable drying racks So you’ve harvested a record amount from your basement growroom, next thing is to properly dry it all for storage. Ideal space savers, they provide ample room in a small space to dry a decent amount of product at once. 8. Rope rachets Poor Yo-Yos. They were all the rage until these things hit the scene. Now you won’t see any of the cool kids using anything else. As they generally hold much more weight and are much easier to set hanging heights, you can see why! 9. NPK Industries Mighty Wash Aaaargh. Pests. Little twats. You’ve just spent all this money on fancy gear and then they come and spoil the party. Make sure they don’t hang around too long by spraying some gubbins like this on them. 10. HomeBox Equipment Board No-one likes piles of electronic shit everywhere and tangled messes of cables all over the place. Except Maplins, they seem to make a business of it all. Keep your stuff nice and neat with one of these little numbers.

STORES EDITION A look at some of the UK and Irelandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s hydroponic stores... Most hydroponic sales reps will tell you there are in excess of 550 retail stores in the UK, but with up to 30 hydro stores opening and closing in any given month, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s pretty much impossible to keep track... ...which is why we created the store edition. We can pretty much guarantee that at the time of print, every store in this edition is active, saving you time driving around looking for those most sought after hydroponic goodies.

UPDATED

2016 LISTINGS

2016

STORE LISTINGS MAP

FEATURED Some of the best stores in the country have supported the UKâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s favourite Hydro Magazine. Find out more, follow the pointers...

02 | WWW.HYDROMAG.CO.UK

CONTENTS COUNTIES IN ENGLAND

REST OF THE UK

SHROPSHIRE

IRELAND & N.I

GREATER MANCHESTER 10,11

SOMERSET

SCOTLAND

HAMPSHIRE

STAFFORDSHIRE

WALES

BUCKINGHAMSHIRE

HERTFORDSHIRE

SUFFOLK

CAMBRIDGESHIRE

KENT

11,12

SURREY

CHESIRE

LANCASHIRE

SOUTH YORKSHIRE

CORNWALL

LEICESTERSHIRE

TYNE & WEAR

18,19

DERBYSHIRE

LINCOLNSHIRE

WARWICKSHIRE

DEVON

6,7

MERSEYSIDE

WEST MIDLANDS

19,20

DORSET

NORFOLK

WEST SUSSEX

DURHAM

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE

WEST YORKSHIRE

20,22

EAST SUSSEX

NORTH YORKSHIRE

WILTSHIRE

EAST YORKSHIRE

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE

WORCESTERSHIRE

ESSEX

9,10

OXFORDSHIRE

GLOUCESTERSHIRE

RUTLAND

BEDFORDSHIRE

LONDON

BERKSHIRE

BRISTOL

FEATURED STORES

Ahppy by name, ahppy by nature...

East London’s original grow stores, in Chelmsford & Chigwell

From Devon to Cornwall, Progrow have it covered!

26 New superstore now open in Wirral, as well as Toxteth...

See our flagship showrooms, now in 4 locations STORE LISTINGS 2016 | 03

IZESPNBH!SFDPNNFOEFE!TUPSF

CHIGWELL STORE

East London’s original grow stores... VIBE / ETHOS Dan and his team at Future Garden, East London’s original grow store, have not been resting on their laurels over the past year. Despite already having one of the most welcoming atmospheres in the business and priding themselves on their innovative in-store displays (customers should really see their Opticlimate closed loop environment systems), Dan has splashed the cash and invested in all new comfy seating, fancy touch-screen filter coffee machines, and an unlimited selection of biscuits. Everything is geared to making their customers as comfortable as possible.

STAFF / SERVICE For those of you unfamiliar with the Future Garden approach, the team are determined to make hydroponics accessible and jargon free; you won’t find anyone here massaging their own ego with unnecessary technical terms. Dan is committed to constant improvement - tweaking everything to make the experience better for the customer; better service, better educated staff, better displays. The sales staff really impress with their level of personal service remembering customers’ names, and

being genuinely knowledgeable and friendly. Expect to drink lots of cups of tea and coffee. Future Garden still have their excellent prebooked appointment service whereby customers can bring in their growroom dimensions. Future Garden’s expert staff will guide and advise you how to plan and design your grow space and create a feed schedule, right down to the minutest detail.

PRODUCTS The guys at Future Garden have been extensively testing the effects of beneficial bacteria and fungi instore and giving a lot of free product to customers - with great feedback. With so many different beneficial bacteria and fungi on the market, each providing a range of differing effects, Future Garden’s staff have ensured they’re bang up to date with their knowledge. They’ve also added Hydrotops to their arsenal of nutrients – a range that has seen their customers reporting spectacular results. In addition to all the usual 600w magnetic and electronic lighting systems, Future Garden are now flying the flag for Dimlux and MaxiBright Daylight 315 systems, as

they believe pound for pound they’re the best lights money can buy. The new Alien and Exodus hydroponic systems can now be seen set up instore, with both gaining in popularity and positive word of mouth seeing bags of customers enquiring about them. Also in-store are the excellent Mammoth Tents complete with Gavita light systems. Soil-growers are more than welcome, and won’t find Dan and his team trying to “convert” them to hydroponics. Although Future Garden are firm advocates of soilless systems, first and foremost they strive to make less work for the grower, always trying to automate people’s gardens and removing the need for hand-watering plants.

INNOVATIONS Future Garden are always looking to try something new. Currently, in both their Chigwell and Chelmsford branches, pretty much every system on display has a different form of chilli growing in them, so you can see exactly how they work. If you’ve got the stomach for it, ask about the Future Garden Chilli Challenge. If you can eat a whole chilli you’ll receive a massive 20% off your order. If being the operative word.

FUTURE GARDEN PRODUCT INFO Systems: Nutriculture / Exodus / Alien / GHE / bespoke dripper systems Nutrients: Hydrotops / Dutch Pro / H&G / Green Haze / Humboldt / GHE Tech: Isomax / Isobox / Dimlux / Opticlimate / Bluelab / Maxigrow / Budbox / Mammoth / Green Qube / Gavita / SMS / Superpro /

...to name a few

FUTURE GARDEN STORE INFO

Sunlight Supply / Humidifiers / Foggers / Fire extinguishers / Air distribution tube and literally every type of fan you can think of!

Private Parking: Yes Loading Bay: Yes (Drive-in)

Product Displays: Exodus / Alien / IWS / Wilma / Amazon / Easy Feed Xstream Propagators / Grow Tents & Systems / Lighting / Ventilation Systems / Closed Loop

Clearance Section: Yes

STORE SPECS CHIGWELL

Store size: 5800sq ft Barely a stone’s throw from the M11, Future Garden’s Chigwell store in Browning Farm is a surprisingly picturesque corner of Essex. As a gated property you’ll need to buzz them over an intercom. It keeps out the undesirables and means you can browse the store in peace knowing your car isn’t being jacked outside. Chigwell also boasts its own closed loop expert on site to help you with your enquiries.

ADDRESS Future Garden Hydroponics Brownings Farm Gravel Lane Chigwell, Essex, IG7 6DQ Tel: 020 8502 7722

CLOSED LOOP DISPLAY

STORE SPECS CHELMSFORD

Store size: 2500sq ft Equally quiet and with equally excellent, safe parking facilities is Future Garden’s Chelmsford branch. Just off the A12/A414, it is well linked with the surrounding areas. As with Chigwell, service doesn’t take place over the counter, rather collections are made from Future Garden’s loading bay facility. Customers simply drop in, chat with the staff, choose their kit, pay, and then watch as your vehicle is loaded for you while you sip on a cup of tea. Lovely!

ADDRESS Future Garden Hydroponics Unit 15 Robjohns Road, Widford Industrial Estate, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 3AG Tel: 01245 265929

CLOSED LOOP DISPLAY

STORE LISTINGS 2016 | 05

COUNTIES // B - D BEDFORDSHIRE Hydro No 1 Unit 14, Grisedale Court, Woburn Road Ind’ Est’, Bedford, MK42 7EE 01462 819018 Super Hydro Garden Unit 2, Eagle Centre Way, Luton, LU4 9US 01582 561 154 BERKSHIRE Enhanced Urban Gardening, 152 London Road, Wokingham, RG40 1SU 01189 890 510 BRISTOL Branching Out Unit E, The Old Brewery, Durnford St, Ashton, BS3 2AW, 01179 666996 Green’s Horticulture Totterdown Bridge Trading Estate, Albert Road St Philips Bristol, BS2 0XH 0117 971 3000 Maximise Horticulture Unit 14 Baker Park, Cater Road, Bishopsworth, Bristol, BS13 7TT 01179 780 245 BUCKINGHAMSHIRE Grown Up Hydroponics 51 Edison Road, Aylesbury, HP19 8TE 01296 707 020

Hayzee Hydro Unit 190, Eastways Ind’ Est’, Witham, CM8 3YS 01376 512 327 The Greenhouse Effect Unit 2, Eagle Farm, Cranﬁeld Rd, Wavendon, Milton Keynes, MK17 8AX 01908 585 283 CAMBRIDGESHIRE Camgrow (F Tech UK) Unit 1, Cottages Ind’ Est’, Fen Road, Cambridge, CB4 1UN 01223 424 646 Gone to Pot 20 Second Drove, Fengate Peterborough Cambridgeshire, PE1 5XA 01733 890 843 Grow Superstore 6 Wulfric Square, Peterborough, PE3 8RF 01733 331 115 Plant Professional Unit 2, Noll River Lane, Peterborough, PE3 6AH 01733 311 831 Natural Cambridge 1 – 3 Brookﬁelds, Cambridge, CB1 3NW 01223 244 704 Tru:Grow 789 Lincoln Rd, Peterborough, PE1 3HE 01733 891 525

CHESHIRE Congleton Hydroponics 3 Silk St, Congleton, CW12 4DH 01260 279 444 North West Growshop Inside Treetops Nursery, Holmes Chapel Road, Over Peover, Knutsford, WA16 9RD 01565 722 450 Northwich Hydroponics Centre Ltd Unit 7 Kingﬁsher Court, Denton Drive, Northwich, CW9 7TT 01606 215 585 Runcorn Hydroponics Unit 6 Expressway Ind’ Park, Pimlico Road, Runcorn Cheshire, WA7 4US 01928 573 492 CORNWALL Greenthings Hydroponics Unit 1, Adjewhella Chapel, Barripper, Camborne, TR14 0QW 01209 611 870 Hydrodaze Unit 9a, Treloggan Ind’ Est’ Newquay, TR7 2SX 01637 850 770 Hydrosense 47 Scarrots Lane, Newport , PO30 1JD 07437 420 420 Kernow Grow Unit 11D, Kernick Road Ind’ Est’, Parkengue, Penryn, TR10 9EP 03300 104 420

DERBYSHIRE Chesterﬁeld Hydroponic Centre, Units 1-6, Ambrose Buildings, Broombank Road, Chesterﬁeld, S41 9QJ Environment Lighting Ltd Unit 4 Ellesmere Court, Manners Ind’ Est’ Ilkeston, DE7 8EF 01159 307 103 HydroGrow Systems Unit 7, Acton Business Park, Fields Farm Road , Long Eaton, NG10 3FZ 01159 730 007 The Grow Room (Derby) Unit 8, Stores Road, Derby Trading Estate, Derby, DE21 4BE 01332 206 308 Tropicanna Horticulture Unit 1A, Upperdale Yard, Colombo Street, Derby, DE23 8LW 01332 348 787 DEVON Pro Grow (Exeter) 5 Westwood Units, Alphinbrook Road, Marsh Barton, Trading Estate, Exeter, EX2 8QF 01392 276 998 (SEE PAGES 08-09) Pro Grow (Plymouth) 63 Christian Mill Business Park, Tamerton Foliot Road, Plymouth, PL6 5DS 01752 771 667 (SEE PAGES 08-09)

COUNTIES // D - E DEVON (continued)... Teignbridge Horticulture Aller Vale Buildings, Unit 6 Moor Park Road, Kingskerswell, Newton Abbot, Devon, TQ12 5AZ 01803 872 961 Tidy Hydro 63 Fleet St, Plymouth, Devon, Pl2 2BU 08443 343 373 DORSET Addloes Lighting & Hydroponics 16a, Maple Road, Winton, Bournemouth, BH9 2PN 01202 524 525 Southern Hydroponics Ltd (Spacehydro) 17 Morris Road, Nufﬁeld Ind’ Est’ Poole, BH17 0GG 01202 980 074 Triangle Hydroponics Unit 6, Bournemouth Centre Business Park, South Cote Road, Bournemouth, BH1 3SJ 01202 556 661 DURHAM Delta Nine 1E Littleburn Ind’ Est’ Langley Moor CA6 5TD 0191 378 4113 Grow 4 Good Dragonville Ind’ Est’, Dragon Lane, Durham, DH1 2XL 0191 3757 667

Secret Gardens Unit 32, Evans Easy Space, Lingford Way, Darlington, DL1 4QZ 01325 746 530

Happydaze Hydro & Gardening Supplies Unit 4, Craven Court, Hull, HU9 1NQ 01482 224 299

EAST SUSSEX Bub’s Allotment Unit 4, The Granary Rural Bus’ Centre, North St, Hellingly, East Sussex, BN27 4DU 07528 098 103 Discount Hydroponics 1 Buss Building, Waldergave St, Hastings, TN34 1SJ 01424 428 186 Eastbourne Hydroponics 47 Upperton Road, Eastbourne, BN21 1LT 01323 732 250 Grow Works Ltd (Brighton) Unit 4, Belltower Ind’ Est’, Roedean Road, Brighton, BN2 5RU 01273 624 327 Persy Grow Shop Ground Floor Workshop, 4 Kings Mews, Third Avenue, Hove, BN3 2PA 01273 777 335 EAST YORKSHIRE Bright Green UK Ltd 60 Prince’s Avenue, Hull, HU5 3QG 01482 341 925 Divine Herb 37, Newland Avenue, Hull HU5 3BE 01482 345 086 Great Stuff Hydroponics 24 Collingwood Court Riverside Park Ind Est, Middlesbrough, TS2 1RP 01642 224544

Hygrow Hydroponic & Gardening Supplies Units 3 & 4, 30 Oslo Road, Sutton Fields, Hull, HU7 0YN 01482 833 643 Hygrow III 825 Hessle Road Hull, HU4 6QF 01482 351 990 ESSEX Anglia Hydroponics 62A Straight Road, Boxted, Colchester, CO4 5QY 01206 272 677 Essex Hydro Garden 3A Tonbridge Works, Tonbridge Road, Romford, RM3 8TS 01708 377 617 Essex Garden Supplies Unit 9, Moat Farm Bus’ Centre, Turkey Cock Lane, Colchester, CO3 8ND 01206 211 864 Future Garden (Chigwell) Browning Farm, Gravel Lane, Chigwell, Essex, IG7 6DQ. 02085 027 722 (SEE PAGES 04-05)

Future Garden (Chelmsford) Unit 15 , Rob Johns Road, Widford Industrial Estate , Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 3AG. 01245 265 929 (SEE PAGES 04 & 05) Gro-rite Hydroponics Supplies Unit 8, Thomasin Road, Basildon, SS13 1LG 01268 525 805 Grotech Ltd Unit 20-21, Saddlers Hall Farm, Bowers Gifford, Basildon, Essex, SS13 2HD 01268 799 828 Growing Underground Unit 8, Fengates, Haltwhistle Road, South Woodham, Ferrers, Romford, CM3 5ZA 01245 328 010 Grozone Essex 41 Ness Road, Shoeburyness, SS3 9DB 01702 290 424 Hockley Hydro Ltd Unit 17, Pond Chase Nurseries, Folly Lane, Hockley, SS5 4SR 0170 2205 330 Wheatley Hydroponics Wheatley Farm Nursery, London Road, Rayleigh , SS6 9ES 01268 784 027 King of Green 18-24 St Helens Road, Westcliff on Sea, Southend on Sea, SS0 7LB 01702 347 536

STORE LISTINGS 2016 | 07

HYDROMAG RECOMMENDED STORE

From Devon to Cornwall, Progrow have it covered! ETHOS The idea that you can go in to a grow store that feels relaxed yet like a professional and well-organised national retail outlet might seem a little foreign to most hydroponic growers... However both Progrow stores achieve exactly that. There’s also a lovely sense of calm at Progrow - on entering Progrow you’re immediately conﬁdent these guys know what they’re doing. It’s an old cliché, but Progrow does exactly what is says on the tin. Progrow have a wide range of customers; from hobby chilli growers to universities and horticultural colleges. They’ve even acted as consultants for television and ﬁlm companies representing hydroponics in their productions. Not only that, when HYDROMAG asked where else in the world Dave and his team had provided products, he pulled out an impressive list of 70 countries – a feat not many other stores can say they have managed!

PRODUCTS

TECHNOLOGY

The management at Progrow have been in the industry for over a decade and have seen many products come and go. On speaking with Dave and Steve, it’s clear that they don’t suffer fools gladly; when choosing products to stock, they want to know every little detail, and if something’s amiss, they simply won’t stock it on the shelves. What’s more, they have huge warehouses, meaning they’ll always have what you want in stock. To boot, Progrow have also developed their own successful product lines, taking existing technologies and improving on them.

NUTRIENTS Progrow are very aware of gimmicks, and recognise that many nutrient companies are trying to sell “Silver Bullets”. Progrow deliberately only stock a limited number of nutrients – the ones they prefer and know are tried and tested – rather than offer an excessive range of nutrients just for the sake of it.

With the re-introduction of closed loop environments (this has been around since the early 90s, but has only hit the hydro industry in the UK very recently), the team at Progrow have been developing systems for creating grow rooms using purpose made air conditioning systems and humidiﬁers. Their Exeter store now showcases one of the most efﬁcient & popular air-con systems for closed loop rooms; The Kahn Climate Control - Fatman. Theirs is a great example of how closed loop rooms should be correctly set-up.

SERVICE At HYDROMAG we’ve seen for ourselves that Progrow’s managers and sales assistants are trusted absolutely. They know their products very well, and their conversations with clients don’t sound like manufacturers’ sales patter. Dave and Steve have clearly instilled their ethos in everyone working in their stores. In store or online, Progrow want to give the same shopping experience with excellent advice and availability of information.

PROGROW STORE INFO (ACROSS ALL STORES) Private Parking: Yes

Loading Bay: Yes

Clearance Section: Yes

facebook.com/

progrow

PROGROW PRODUCT INFO Ranges of Nutrients: 15+ System Displays: RTA Topspin systems / Air-Pots, Autopot 1Pot & 2Pot systems / Wilma 4 pot, FloGro 500 / All Nutriculture GT NFT systems / GHE Aqua Farm & Water Farm / Amazon Aeroponic 16 plant system & 32 plant system / Nutriculture Ebb & Flood Systems / Nutriculture Oxypot Systems / Complete 2.4m X 2.4m tent set-up (including RTA Topspin, 6x 600W lights / 315mm Iso-Max fan & Rhino Pro Filter / Fully functioning Stealth Garden Closed Loop setup.

EXETER

Tech: Systemair / RVK / KVK / Isomax Rhino Filters / SMS COM / Pro3 Ozone Powerstar & Green Power Contactors Adjustawatt Digital Ballasts / Smartstart Sol Digital Lamps / Osram / Sunmaster Bluelab / Eutech / Nutridip / Sunslight Supply / Supernova / UNIS CO2 Controllers / Shiva CO2 Controllers LightWave T5 Lights / Ecotechnics Grolux / Sunblaster/ BK Fans / Haliea Pumps & Chillers / Superpro Controllers Mini-Ray IR Temperature Sensors /Adjusta-Watt 400V e-LITE 1000W /BALLASTS / DE-Stealth Reflectors (Euro, Adjusta, Parabolic, XXXL, G-Spot)

Other Displays: Growtents (PRO Growroom, Secret Jardin & RoofQube) / RVK, KVK & Iso-Max Fans (Wired & working displays) / SMSCOM Controllers Wide Variety of Lighting / Aeroponic Propagators / Complete range of Irrigation Fittings...Plus a wide range of other working displays.

STORE SPECS Store size: 5000sq ft Plants growing: Variety of Chillies, Tomatoes, Peppers, Lemon & Lime trees, Yucca Trees Situated minutes from Junction 30 of the M5, with good links to the A30 and the A38, Progrow’s Exeter store is within easy reach of Dorset, Cornwall and the surrounding areas. The store has been known to get customers from all over the country and even as far as remote parts of Scotland – they really do draw people from everywhere! The store is located in a discrete part of Exeter’s main trading estate and has the obligatory loading bay and ample car parking.

ADDRESS Progrow 5 Westwood Units, Alphinbrook Road, Marsh Barton Industrial Estate, Exeter, Devon, EX2 8QF Tel: 01392 276 998 | Email: info@progrow.co.uk PLYMOUTH

STORE SPECS Store size: 3000sq ft Plants growing: Variety of Chillies, Tomatoes, Yucca Trees Only a stone’s throw from Plymouth city centre and easily found within a few minutes from the A38 and A386, Progrow’s Plymouth store opened in late 2013 and serves a large area from Devon to Cornwall and everywhere in between. This store opened in 2013, so the clientele doesn’t stretch as far as Scotland yet, however, it’s only a matter of time. Again, this store is tucked away on a relatively quiet trading estate, and has the obligatory loading bay and ample car parking.

ADDRESS Progrow 63/64 Christian Mill, Business Park, Tamerton Foliot Road, Crownhill, Plymouth, PL6 5DS Tel: 01752 771 667 | Email: plymouth@progrow.co.uk STORE LISTINGS 2016 | 09

COUNTIES // E - G Growell Hydroponics & Lighting Ltd Brent Trading Estate North Circular Road London, NW10 0JF Greenfinger Hydroponics (Kingston) Unit 34 Adams Est, St John’s Road, New Maiden, KT3 3RZ 020 8942 0700

Britelite Hydroponics

ESSEX (continued)... Rapid Roots 11 Warley Hill, Brentwood, Essex, CM14 5HT 01277 233 030 GLOUCESTERSHIRE Green Light Horticulture Unit 4, Cotswold Edge Business Park Gloucester GL2 5WZ 01452 306 871 JDL Hydroponics 2 The Runnings Cheltenham Gloucestershire 01242 516 131 GREATER LONDON 21st Century Garden Unit A6, Bounds Green Ind’ Est’ Ringway Greater London N11 2UD 020 8361 4659

A - Zee Hydro Unit C4, Suttons Business Park, New Road Rainham RM13 8DE 01708 551 199 Applewoods Hydroponica Ltd Space Station Storage, Station Road, Brentford Hounslow TW8 8EF 07505 848 320 Brite Lite Hydroponics Unit 11, Roman Ind’ Est’, Tait Road Croydon, CR0 2DT 020 8683 4424 Bud-eez Services 137 Broad St Dagenham RM10 9HP 020 8220 3757 Direct Air Supplies Ltd Unit 4, Brocklebank Ind’ Est’, Brocklebank Road London, SE7 7SX 020 8853 2186

Greenfinger Hydroponics (London) Unit 59 T, Marchant Est, 42-72 Verney Road, London, SE16 3DH 020 7394 0629 Greenfinger Hydroponics (Perivale) Unit 38, Silicon Bus’ Centre, Perivale, UB6 7JZ 020 8998 2034 Go Grow Hydroponics Unit 1, Mill Yard Ind Est, Columbia Avenue, Middlesex, HA8 5EF 020 3609 4067 Hackney Hydroponics 265 Wick Road, London, E9 5DG 020 85330 497 Hempster 273 Eltham High St, Woolwich, London, SE9 1TY 020 88502 000 Hillingdon Hydroponics 923 Uxbridge Road Hillingdon, UB10 0NJ 020 8573 6246

HYJO Ltd Unit 2, 2 Oversbury Road, Harringay, London, N15 6RH, 020 8808 4321 Let it Grow 361A Cambridge Heath Road, London E2 9RA 07729 964 107 Sunlight Gardens Unit D3 Hastingwood Trading Est Harbet Road, N18 3HT 020 3763 6052 System Hydroponics Ltd B5 The Seedbed Centre, Davidson Way Romford, RM7 0AZ 01708 724 214 UK Garden Works 473 Railway arches, Cantrell Road, London, E3 4BN 020 7531 6432 GREATER MANCHESTER Chorlton Hydoponics 50 Barlow Moor Road, Chorlton, M21 8AZ 01618 813 990 Cultiv8 Hydroponics Unit 11/12 Appleton St, Wallgate Ind’ Est’ Wigan, Greater Manchester, WN3 4BZ 01942 826 030 Dutch Hydroponics Ltd UNITS 1 & 2 Broadfield Farm, Pilsworth Road, Heywood, Greater Manchester, OL10 2TA 01706 620 379

COUNTIES // G - K GREATER MANCHESTER (continued)... GL Hydroponics 66 Rochdale Road, Middleton, M24 2PU, 01616 540 118

Sale Hydroponics 71 Dane Road, Sale, M33 7BP 01619 739 899 SRS Hydroponics 260 Manchester Road, Linnyshaw Mill, Walkden, M28 3TR

Greenhouse Horticulture Unit 1B, Jubilee Works, Vale St, Bolton, BL2 6QF 01204 398 988

Tameside Hydroponics Centre, 3 Hammnett St, Hyde, SK14 2EX 0161 366 0581

Holland Hydroponics (Manchester) 17 Rondin Road, Ardwick, Manchester M12 6BF 0845 872 0570 (SEE PAGES 26 to 29)

The Grow & Brew Room 154 Huddersfield Rd, Oldham, OL4 2RD 0161 626 4732

Hydroculture Unit 87, Barry Street, Oldham, OL1 3NT, 0161 678 8711 Hydroponic Dealer 192D Liverpool Road, Cadishead Manchester M44 5DB 0161 776 9001 Manchester Hydroponics Unit 1A, Reliance Ind’ Est’, Reliance St, Newton Heath, Manchester, M40 3AG 01616 887 333 Natural Growth Ltd Unit 4, Kingsway Busi’ Centre, 140 Kingsway, Manchester, M19 1BB 01614 789 923

FEATURED Holland Hydroponics

The Med Gardener Unit 11, Barton Business Park, Cawdor St, Eccles, M30 0QR 0161 707 9860 Westhoughton Hydroponics Unit E, Dodd Lane Ind’ Est’, Chorley Road, Westhoughton, Bolton, 01942 816 755 HAMPSHIRE Chrissie’s Garden Unit 33, Portsmouth Enterprise Centre, Quartremaine Road, Portsmouth, PO3 5QT 023 9266 7887 Moneytree Hydroponics Unit 6, Furzehill Farm, Sheepwash Lane, Waterlooville, PO7 6TU 02392 250 966 Southern Hydro 9 Malmesbury Road, Shirley Southampton, SO15 5FT 02380 704 080

Brit Crops Hydroponics Unit 9, Oj’s Industrial Park Claybank Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire, PO3 5SX 02392 669 111 Southcoast Hydroponics 8 Enterprise Ind Est, Horndean, Portsmouth. PO8 0BB 02392 598 853 Store Coming Soon Southcoast Hydroponics 296 Commercial Road, Portsmouth, P01 4BP HERTFORDSHIRE

Doctorblooms 30 Raynham Road, Bishop’s Stortford, CM23 5PE 01279 501 857 Hemel Hydroponics Room 5, First Floor, Avia House, Avia Close, Aspley, Heml Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP3 9TH 01442 231 101 KENT Ashford Hydroponics Haycross Farm, Brook St , Woodchurch 01233 861 097

Cheshunt Hydroponics Store Unit 11, Westbury, 83-87 Turners Hill, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire 01991 628 377

Cheriton Hydroponics 103 Cheriton High St, Cheriton , Folkestone, CT19 4HE 01303 275 800

Concept (Indoor Grow Ltd) Unit 3, Knuway House, Cranborne Road, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire, EN6 3JN 0208 207 0700

Grow Works Ltd (Northfleet) Unit F6, Northfleet Ind’ Est’, Low Road, Gravesend, Kent, DA11 9SW 01322 838 131

STORE LISTINGS 2016 | 11

COUNTIES // K - L FEATURED AVAGROW

KENT (continued)... Grow Works Ltd (Welling) 94 Upper Wickham Lane, Welling, DA16 3HQ 0208 854 5160 Happy Dayz Hydroponics Unit B6, Sneed Dean Centre, Castle Road, Sittingbourne, ME10 3EW 01482 224 299

FEATURED

Avagrow LTD Unit 29B Heaver Trading Estate Ash Road, Ash Sevenoaks Kent TN15 7HJ 01474 248286 www.avagrow.co.uk sales@avagrow.co.uk andrew@avagrow.co.uk

NEW STORE - 2016 Avagrow LTD J2 Cuxton Ind’ Est’ Station Rd, Cuxton Rochester Kent ME2 IAJ 01634 787 227

Hydroglo Hydroponics Top Store, South Road, Tower Hamlets, Dover, CT17 0AH 01304 203 199 Maidstone Hydroponics Unit 6, Parkwood Ind’ Est’, Bircholt Road, Maidstone, ME15 9YG 01622 692 669 Southern Lights 19a Grace Hill, Folkestone, CT20 1HA 01303 210 003 The Green Room Indoor Gardens, North Point Business Est, Enterprise, Rochester, ME2 4LJ 01634 716 764 LANCASHIRE A 2 Z Hydroponics Shorebury Point, Amy Johnson Way, Blackpool, FY4 2RF 01253 362 262

Holland Hydroponics (Burnley) Handbridge Mill, 5 Parliament St, Burnley, BB11 3JT 08458 720 590 (SEE PAGES 26 to 29) Hydroponics Superstore 62 Lytham Road, Blackpool, Lancashire, FY1 6DY 07852 513 375 Mellow Yellow Unit B1a, Towngate works, Darklane, Mawdesley Lancashire, L40 2QU 01704 822 609 New Age Hydroponics Unit 1, Albert Mill, Albert Place, Lower Darwen, Lancashire, BB3 0QE 01254 661 177 UKPonics 6 Hall St, Burnley, Lancashire BB11 1QJ 01282 788 862

LEICESTERSHIRE Premier Grow LTD Unit S, Tungsten Park Maple Drive Hinchley LE10 3BE 0116 2697 580 Hydro World 41A Nottingham Road Loughborough, LE11 1ER 01509 768 229

COUNTIES // L - M LEICESTERSHIRE (continued)... Ideal Grow 75 Bradgate St Leicester, LE4 0AW 0116 276 0062 Premier Grow LTD 11, Pinfold Road Leicester, LE4 8AS 0116 269 7580 The Grow Room Units 5&6, Marlow Road, Leicester, LE3 2BQ 0116 289 4055 The Growers Shop Unit 7, Redcombe Business Park, Desford Road Enderby, LE19 4AD Urban Hydroponics Unit 3, Cambridge Court, Off Alsop St Preston, Lancashire PR1 7RJ 01772 821 673

LINCOLNSHIRE Big Stone River Unit 1, Eastgate Grimsby, DN32 9BA 01472 241 114 Greenzone Hydroponics Ltd 78 Durban Road Grimsby, DN32 8BA 01472 240 801 Hydrogrow Hydroponics Unit 4, Earlsfield Close, Sadler Business Park, Lincoln, LN6 3RT 08456 435 523

Hydrologic Dowland Bus Park Harrison Way Manby, Louth, LN11 8UX 01507 327 000 Hydroteq Gothic House, Melville St Lincoln, LN5 7HW 01522 520 444 Hygro Hydroponics & Gardening Unit C, 55 Sunningdale Road, South Park Trading Estate, Scunthorpe, DN17 2TW 01724 842 212 The Crop King 88 Trinity St, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire DN21 1HS, Tel: 01427 612 938

MERSEYSIDE Aquapontics 21 water St, Wallasey, Wirral, CH44 8AP Big Bud Hydro 203 Ringtail Road, Burscough Ind’ Est’, Merlin Park, Ormskirk, L40 8JY 01704 898 103 Eurogarden Unit 70, Speke Hall Ind’ Est’ Liverpool, L24 1YA 0151 486 2895 Greenlight Guys Hydroponics Unit 705, Merlin Park, Ringtail Road, Burscough, L40 8JY Greenleaf Systems Howe St, Bootle, Liverpool, L20 8NG 0151 933 1113

FEATURED NPK TECHNOLOGY Green Planet Hydroponics Unit 10, Sefton Business Park, Olympic Way Liverpool, L30 1RD 0151 345 3312

NPK Technology 20 Commerce Way Liverpool, L8 7BA 0151 228 8306 (SEE PAGES 14 to 15)

Grow & Harvst Unit 17, Arrowe, Commercial Park, Upton, CH49 1AB 01516 788 302

NPK Technology Unit 11, Peninsular Business Park, Reeds Lane, Moreton, Wirral, England, CH46 1DW (SEE PAGES 14 to 15)

Harbord Electrical Unit 1, Harbord St, Wavertree, Liverpool, L7 6GA 01517 087 002 Heavy Harvest Hydroponics Ltd Unit 4, Dalweb Ind’ Est’, Gravel Lane, Southport, PR9 8DF 01704 211 805 Kirkby Hydroponics Unit 6, Deltic Way, Liverpool, L33 7BA 0151 547 1747

Pro Green Liverpool Unit E6 Kingfisher Park, Hawthorne Road, Liverpool, L20 6PF 01519 220 376 Sonic Hydro 449 Cleveland St, Birkenhead, Liverpool, CH41 4JW 0151 647 9248

North West Hydroponics Unit 6, Sefton Lane Ind’ Est’, Liverpool, L31 8BX 0151 520 0667

STORE LISTINGS 2016 | 13

HYDROMAG RECOMMENDED STORE Listen to the latest weekley podcast here.

Whether you’re growing for food, pleasure or aesthetic purposes, you’ll find everything you need at NPK Technology. The flagship Liverpool store and the Wirral Superstore prides itself on providing the highest quality products at affordable prices and, with decades of experience and knowledge within the team, they are at the pinnacle of scientific horticulture. However... There are many good shops in the UK, a few are advertised in the previous and the following pages, but it’s not hard to offer great service, high quality products and competitive prices, you have to take it to the next level and offer more. NPK goes that one step further to come up with innovative ideas and strives to educate its customers so they can make informed decisions about the products they buy and use. One of the ways in which NPK achieves this is via the hugely popular ‘NPK Live’, the only hydroponic podcast in the world with no advertisement or sponsors so they can talk openly about everything in the hydro world, giving the listeners very honest feedback on products and events in our industry. At the time of print, they have 18,000 subscribers with 200,000 total downloads in over 80 countries. Listen today at npktechnology.podbean.com or type ‘Hydroponics’ into iTunes. The NPK Team also recently launched ‘NPK University’, an educational programme for people

of all abilities and knowledge levels to improve their indoor hydroponic grows. Seminars consist of subjects such as: An introduction to Hydroponics; Nutrient management part I; Horticultural lighting; Environment control and ventilation; and many others. Held at the NPK Superstore in the Wirral, they have a fully integrated media room with projectors and complimentary snacks/drinks for the customers. They also offer corporate evenings for any new members of staff that join the hydroponic wholesalers. NPK’s cultivation lab is a state of the art facility for the production of tobacco plants. Here NPK cultivates over 20 strains of tobacco for e-cigarettes and in doing so they test all the latest technology, nutrients and hardware, making them second to none in the field of knowledge in new products and hardware. Lastly, late in 2016 they’ll be launching ‘The People’s Hydroponic Show’, their YouTube channel aimed at education for all aspects of hydroponics from set-ups to pH/EC and much more. To keep up to date with their million miles an hour approach and their involvement with Liverpool youth schemes, NPK Allotment, and council work; follow the team on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, iTunes and YouTube. If Carlsberg had a Hydroponics shop… they would copy NPK as well!

www.npktechnology.podbean.com

NPK Technology, Some of our other projects... Community Garden Project: Toxteth Youth Centre: A local plot of land for the youth centre to grow plants and food with NPK donating tools and fertilisers. Tobacco Lab - Ecig Liquid production: A pharmaceutical laboratory set up to grow tobacco plants hydroponically, aiming to ﬁnd the most potent strains of tobacco for nicotine extraction. NPK Allotment - Raising the profile of organic growing: On the allotment, the NPK team use sustainable methods to grow food organically, trialing methods to become self suﬃcient and carbon negative.

NPK Technology STORE INFO Loading Bay Tents on display Systems on display

WIRALL - NEW SUPERSTORE

STORE SPECS Store size: 15,000sq ft The NPK Superstore is an innovative shop that aims to bring a ‘grow show’ experience to the customer through it’s huge selection of tents, systems and media on display.

IMAGES

CLOCKWISE

A quarter of NPK’s ridiculously large store where the magic happens. The superstore counter, custom made by Dutch Pro. The entrance of the shop with the first conference room Hydromag has encountered. A selection of over 100 varieties of seeds for the customers.

ADDRESS

NPK Technology Ltd Unit 11, Peninsular Business Park, Reeds Lane, Moreton, Wirral, England, CH46 1DW Tel: 0151 678 6000

TOXTETH

STORE SPECS Store size: 2500sq ft The flagship store, small in size but big in heart, aptly named ‘The People’s shop’ by the NPK ffamily of follower’s and customers” should be “family of followers and customers.

IMAGES

CLOCKWISE

NPK’s vast array of well stocked nutrients. The NPK allotment being prepared for the summer. The tobacco lab in full flow. Golden Virginia are the plants here. The entrance to the Cultivation lab with Thomas the owner.

ADDRESS NPK Technology Ltd Unit 20, Commerce Way, Upper parliament Business Park, Upper Parliament Street, Liverpool L8 7BA Tel: 0151 678 6000 STORE LISTINGS 2016 | 15

COUNTIES // N - S NORFOLK D- Teks Units 28 -29, East Coast Business Park, Clenchwarton Road, King’s Lynn, PE34 3LW 01553 770 177 Hydro Projects Ltd 120 Thorpe Road, Norwich, NR1 1RT 01603 883 410 Mousehold Garden Centre 63 Mousehold Lane, Norwich, NR7 8HP 01603 413 272 Norfolk Lights & Hydroponics Centre Unit 2, Guardian Road Ind’ Est’, Norwich, NR5 8PF 01603 666 199 Thetford Urban Gardens 25 Brunel Way, Thetford , IP24 1HP 01842 765 566 NORTH YORKSHIRE Elements Hydroponics 44 Auster Road, York, YO30 4XA 01904 479 979 Great Stuff 24 Collingwood Court, Middlesbrough, TS2 1RP 01642 224 544 Greenworld Units 16-17, Market Vaults, Scarborough,YO11 1EU 0172 337 0900 Hydroponica Unit 3, Oakwood Business Park, Northfield Lane, Upper Poppleton, York, YO26 6QF 01904 786 737

NORTHAMPTONSHIRE

Green Roomz 75 Kettering Road Northampton, NN1 4AJ 01604 633 116 Wellingborough Hydroponics 11, Bentley Court, Finedon Road Ind’ Est’, Wellingborough, NN8 4BQ 0193 327 4000 NOTTINGHAMSHIRE Basement Lighting Unit 3, The Old Maltings, George St Newark, NG24 1LU 01636 650 189 Concrete Jungle Hydroponics Unit 11-12 Vernon Place, Basford Nottingham, NG6 0DE 01159 794 387 Crop Master Hydroponics Unit 199, Boughton Ind’ Est’, Boughton Newark, NG22 0LD 01623 861 171 Flowerpot Men Unit A3 Wholesale Fruit & Veg Market, Clarke Road Nottingham, NG2 3JJ 01159 869 279 Garden Alchemy Unit 10, Catton Road, Arnold Nottingham, NG5 7JD 01159 261 500 Highlight Horticultural Ltd Unit D1 – D2, 12 Moorbridge Road, Bingham, NG13 8GG 01949 839 727

Advanced Gardening Unit 20 Carlton Tech Business Centre, Carlton, Nottingham, NG4 3AA 01158 405 060 Huthwaite Hydroponics 36 Sherwood St Huthwaite, NG17 2LX 01623 237 515 Hydrolight UK 215 Denman St Central, Radford, Nottingham, NG7 3PS 01159 785 556 Martyns Bargains Unit 6 & 7 Aurillac Court, Hallcroft Ind’ Est’, Retford, DN22 7PX 01777 708 457 Pro Green Lighting & Hydroponics Unit 2, Boundary Court, Burma Road, Blidworth, NG21 0RT 01623 490 211 Ripley Garden Supplies Ltd T/A Roots & Culture Hydroponics Unit 1A, Springbank House, 2 Craster St, Sutton-In-Ashfield, NG17 5AG 01623 232 280 The Plantpot 69 Ratcliffe Gate Mansfield, NG18 2JB 01623 422 711 OXFORDSHIRE Homegrown Hydroponics Unit 5 Rectory Farm, Waters Lane, Middleton, Cheney, Banbury, OX17 2NA 01295 711 031

Plantasia Brill View Farm, Ludgershall Road, Piddington, Oxfordshire, OX25 1PU 08707 555 225 RUTLAND Rutland Horticulture Unit E, 99 Boston Road, Beaumont Leys, Leicester, LE4 1AW 01572 723 485 SHROPSHIRE Dr Greens Hydroponics Unit 15, Stafford Park Telford, Shropshire, TF3 3BJ 01952 200 209 Hydrovate Hydroponics Stafford Park 11, Telford, Shropshire, TF3 3AY 01952 292 328 SUFFOLK 1st Hydroponics Ltd UNIT 5, K-Line House, West Road, Ipswich IP3 9FG 01473 279 829 Greensea Hydroponics & Plant Lighting Unit 1G, Gregory Road, Mildenhall, IP28 7DF 01638 715 350 Haverhill Hydroponics Centre Unit 14 Spring Rise, Falconer Road, Haverhill, CB9 7XU 01440 709 474

THE WORLDWIDE REFERENCE NEW ENGLISH EDITION INCLUDING INDOOR & OUTDOOR URBAN GARDENING

Available through GROWTH TECHNOLOGY , HIGHLIGHT HORTICULTURE , Hydrofarm, BWGS, Avalon Wholesale and major distributors worldwide. MAMAPUBLISHING.COM

COUNTIES // S - T SURREY Esoteric Hydroponics 8, Mayrtyr Road, Guildford, GU1 4LF 01483 596 484 Rootzone Hydroponics 2-3 Green Business Centre, The Causeway, Staines, TW18 3AL 01784 490 370 SOMERSET One Stop for Growing Garden Park Garden Center, Puxton Lane, Hewish, BS24 6TA 01934 834 919 Somerset Hydroponics Unit 4 Technine, Guard Avenue, Houndstone Bus’ Park, Yeovil, BA22 8YE 01935 420 720 The Inner Garden Cornishway West, Galmington, Taunton, TA1 5NA 01823 274 791 SOUTH YORKSHIRE

Happy Gardens Hydroponics Unit 2, Kelham St, Balby Doncaster, DN1 3RE 01302 761 386

Nasa (Barnsley) 16, Oaks Lane Business Park, Oaks Lane, Barnsley, S71 1HT 01226 805 004

Garden of Eden Unit 4, Zenith Park, Whaley Road, Barugh Green Barnsley, S75 1HT 01226 282 555

Nasa (Doncaster) Units 1 & 2 Jupiter Business Park, Bentley Road, Bentley, Doncaster, DN5 9TJ 01302 708 779

Greenspirit Hydronponics Unit 6, Rockingham Business Park Rockingham Row Barnsley S7O 5TW 01226 399 837

Nasa (Rotherham) Unit 4D, Thornhill Ind’ Est’, Hope St, Rotherham, S60 1LH 01709 829 030

Greenspirit Hydronponics 230 Unit 5, Woodburn Road Sheffield S9 3IQ 01442 753 353 GroWell Hydroponics & Plant Lighting Ltd Parkway Drive Sheffield South Yorkshire S9 4WU 08453 457 704

Acorn Horticulture Ltd 65 Deep Lane Sheffield. S5 0DU 01142 458 581

Hydro Station Ltd Unit 10, Hill Foot Ind’ Est’, Hoyland Road Sheffield, S3 8AB 01142 491 636

Ahppy Hydro Unit 4, Wheatley Hall Trade and Business Centre, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN2 4BH 01302 341 004

Hytec Hydroponics Old Waleswood Colliery, Mansfield Road, Wales Bar Sheffield, S26 5PQ 01909 772 872

Autoculture Unit 11D, Goldthorpe Ind’, Est’, Commercial Road, Barnsley, S63 9BL 01709 205 043

Miss Hydro Reed Business Park, Carr Hill, Doncaster. DN4 8DE 01302 369 372

Rotherham Hydro 8 Springfield Close, Rotherham, S61 4RQ 01709 252 256 Supersonic 3 Hickleton St, Denaby Main, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN12 4BA 01709 865 550 STAFFORDSHIRE Castle Hydroponics Ltd Unit 31,Winpenny road, Parkhouse Ind. Est, Newcastle Under Lyme, ST5 7RH 01782 576 308 Green Fever 18 Hartshill Road Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 7QU 01782 414 448 HFM Pyrotechnics The Gunpowder Plot 165 Longford Road Cannock Staffordshire, WS11 0LD 01543 500 800 One Stop Grow Shop Unit 8, Fenton Ind’ Est’, Dewsbury Road, Stoke-on-Trent, ST4 2TE 01782 749 955

Sunrise Hydroponics 127 Newcastle St, Burslem Stoke-on-Trent, ST6 3QJ 01782 813 814 TYNE & WEAR Greendaze Gateshead 10 Wellington Street Gateshead, NE8 2AJ 01914 789 107 Greendaze South Shields 79-81 Fowler Street South Shields, NE33 1NT 01914 540 746 Greendaze Ashington Unit 9 Waterside Court North Seaton Business Park Ashington NE63 0YG 01670 818 003 Budgreen 4 Green Lane, Baltic Road IE, Felling, Gateshead, NE10 0QH 01914 697 775 DS Progrow Unit 16, Blaydon Business Centre, Cowan Road Blaydon, NE21 5TV 01914 147 460 Gro Supplies Ltd Sovereign House, Ellen Terrace, Sulgrave, Washington, NE37 3AS 01914 164 995 Great Stuff Hydroponics 30c Ellesmere Court Leechmeere Ind. Est Sunderland SR2 9UA 0191 447 4098

COUNTIES // S - W Kingston Organics and Hydroponics 15B Airport Ind’ Est’, Kingston Park, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE3 2EF 01912 862 045 Pro Hydro Washington 15 Whitworth Road Washington, Tyne & Wear, NE37 1PP 01914 479 299

FEATURED PRO HYDRO WASHINGTON TYNE & WEAR (continued)... Gro Supplies Sovereign House, Ellen Terrace Washington, Tyne & Wear NE37 3AS 01914 153 345 Greendaze Gateshead 10 Wellington Street Gateshead, NE8 2AJ 01914 789 107 Greendaze South Shields 79-81 Fowler Street South Shields, NE33 1NT 01914 540 746 Greendaze Ashington Unit 9 Waterside Court North Seaton Business Park Ashington NE63 0YG 01670 818 003 Budgreen 4 Green Lane, Baltic Road IE, Felling, Gateshead, NE10 0QH 01914 697 775

DS Progrow Unit 16, Blaydon Business Centre, Cowan Road Blaydon, NE21 5TV 01914 147 460 Gro Supplies Ltd Sovereign House, Ellen Terrace, Sulgrave, Washington, NE37 3AS 01914 164 995 Great Stuff Hydroponics 30c Ellesmere Court Leechmeere Ind. Est Sunderland SR2 9UA 0191 447 4098 Gro Supplies Sovereign House, Ellen Terrace Washington, Tyne & Wear NE37 3AS 01914 153 345 Mr Hydroponic Redburn Road, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE5 1NB 0191 447 6435

WARWICKSHIRE Daves Hydro Land 74-76 Bulkington Road Bedworth, CV12 9DR 024 7767 8634 Midland Hydroponics The Log Cabin, Russells Garden Centre, Mill Hill, Baginton, CV8 3AG 02476 639 109 Neo Garden Supplies 7-9 Hickman Road, Galley Common, Nuneaton, CV10 9NQ 02476 393 557 WEST MIDLANDS Grow Mate Hydroponics Unit 4 Sanders Road Ind. Est, Sanders Road, Bromsgrove, B61 7DG 01527 757 900 Blooms of Birmingham Unit 15, Brookvale Trading Estate, Moor Lane, Birmingham, B6 7AQ 01214 390 443 Eco Hydro Unit 3, Fallings Park, Ind’ Est’, Park Lane, Wolverhampton, WV10 9QA 01902 865 878

Evergreen Hydroponics Ltd Unit 2, Belfont Trading Estate, Mucklow Hill, Halesowen, B62 8DR 07729 551 422 Extreme Impex Ltd E2 OYO Business Units, 187 Park Lane, Castle Vale Birmingham, B35 6AN 0121 749 1542 Fastgrow Hydroponics Webnor Ind’ Est’, Ettingshall Road Wolverhampton, WV2 2LD Grofather Hydroponics Unit 19e, Lower High St Wednesbury, WS10 7AL 0121 502 5764 Grow Central Unit 3, Central Drive, Bloxwich Wallsal, WS3 2QJ 07593 040 593 Grow Wise 15-17 Green Lane, Castle Bromwich Birmingham, B36 0YA Grow World 1271 Bristol Road Birmingham, B31 2SP 07904 943 344 Growmate Shop Unit 9, Attwood St, Embassy Industrial Park, Lye, Stourbridge, DY9 8RY 01384 896321 GroWell Hydroponics & Plant Lighting Unit 6 Birmingham One Trading Estate Clement Street Birmingham, B1 2SW 0845 345 7704

STORE LISTINGS 2016| 19

COUNTIES // W FEATURED Holland Hydroponics

Total Hydro Unit 55 Downs Road, Willenhall, WV13 2PX 0121 568 6850 Oasis Hydroponics Unit 34, Camp Hill Ind’ Est’, John Kempe Way, B12 0HU 01217 535 115 PHG Supplies Ltd Unit 3, Birmingham Trade Park, 786 Kingsbury Road, Erdington, B24 9PS

WEST MIDLANDS (continued)... GroWell Hydroponics & Plant Lighting Ltd Units 8-11, Coleshill Trade Park, Station Road, Coleshill, Birmingham, B46 1HT 08453 457 704 GroWell Hydroponics & Plant Lighting Unit 52, Enterprise Trading Estate, Hurst Lane, Brierley Hill, Dudley, DY5 1TX 08453 456 991 GroWell Hydroponics & Plant Lighting Ivy House Farm, Grange Road, Hockley Heath,, Solihull, B94 6PR, 08433 571 640 Let’s Grow Hydro Unit 5, Crossings Ind‘ Est’ Fryers Road Bloxwich, Walsall, WS3 2XJ Tel: 01922 405 903

Urban Grower Unit 35, Deykin Park Ind’ Est’ Birmingham, B6 7HN 0121 328 0876 Hydro Evolution Ltd 143 Hockey Hill, Birmingham, B18 5AN 01215 545 283 Hydro-Gro 630 Kingsbury Road, Birmingham, B24 9PJ 01213 509 099 Hydrohobby Hydroponics Brook Farm, Stoneleigh Road, Coventry, CV4 7AB 02476 414 161 Hydroponics Birmingham 1548 Pershore Road, Birmingham, B30 2NW 01214 581 580 Seymour Green Hydroponic Center Unit 4 Fordhouse Rd Ind Est, Steel Drive, Bushbury, Wolverhampton, WV10 9XA 01902 782900

The Grow Shop 186 Longford Road, Coventry, CV6 6DR, 02476 366 999 Urban Jungle 1669 Bristol Road Sth, Longbridge, B45 9UA 01214 535 404 Wednesfield Hydroponics Unit 11, Essington Ind’ Est’, Bognop Road, Essington Wolverhampton, WV11 2BH 01922 476 538

WEST SUSSEX Aertec Hydroponics Unit 15, Hoe Farm, Tye Lane, Walberton, BN18 0LU 01243 542 742 Grow it Yourself 17 Shopwhyke Ind’ Est’, Chichester, PO20 2GD 01243 781 614 Grow Sense Ltd Unit 3 Babsham Bus’ Cen’, Chichester Road, Bognor Regis, PO21 5EL 01243 860 493

Professor Greens Hydroponics Ground Floor Shop, 123 Tarring Road, Worthing, BN11 4HE 01903 211 136 The Grow Home Unit 26, Bolney Grange, Stairbridge Lane, Haywards Heath, RH17 5PB 01444 244 414 The Grow Room Ltd 7 Coronation Buildings, Brougham Road, Worthing, BN11 2NW 01903 236 000 WEST YORKSHIRE Ace Hydroponics Lambert Works, Luton St, Keighley, BD21 2LE 01535 958 747 Clockwork Horticulture Ltd New Craven Gate, Leeds LS11 5NF 01132 450 111 DEEPHYDRO Hydroponics Unit 4a Mearclough Mills, Holmes Road, Sowerby Bridge, HX6 3LF Holland Hydroponics Unit 4, Leeds Road Trade Park, Leeds Rd, Huddersfield, HD2 1YR 0845 872 0580 ((SEE PAGES 26 to 29)

COUNTIES // W FEATURED Wortley Hydroponics

The Hydro Store Unit B1, Tenterfields Business, Park, Luddendenfoot, Halifax, HX2 6EQ 01422 883 290 Urban Cultivation 10 Dip Lane, Leeds, LS8 3DE 0113 2188 100 WHF Garden Centre & Hydroponics Wagon House Farm, Shetcliffe Lane, Bradford, BD4 6QJ 01274 652 277

WEST YORKSHIRE (continued)... Easy Grow Hydroponics Unit 2B, Beza Road Ind’ Est’, Hunslet, Leeds, LS10 2BR Eye 1 Der 101c, Bradford Rd, Dewsbury, WF13 2EW 01924 457378 Garforth Hydroponics 11A Main St, Leeds, LS25 1DS 0113 286 7444 Halifax Hydroponics Unit 20, Drakes Ind’ Est’, Halifax, HX3 6RL 01422 381 693 Hydroponica 130 Doncaster Road, Wakefield, WF1 5JF 01924 362 888 Hydro Basement Unit D, Hoyle Head Mills, New St, Dewsbury, WF12 8JJ 01924 450 086

Kinsley Hydro Unit 17, Ashmount Industrial Park, Ford St, Kinsley, Pontefract, WF9 5EE Leeds Hydroponics 1 Silver Court, Intercity Way, Leeds, LS13 4LY 01132 567 916 Northern Hydro Culture 50 Stainbeck Road, Leeds, LS7 2QY 01132 693 999 Plant Life 11 Riverside Way, Dewsbury, WF13 3LG 01924 492 298 The Grow Shop Lady Lane (Off Ings Road) Wakefield, WF1 1DZ 07565 653 493

Bill & Ben’s Hydro World Unit D15, Bumpers Way, Chippenham, SN14 6LH 01249 447796 Indoor Grow Store Trowbridge Garden Centre, 288 Frome Road, Trowbridge, BA14 0DT 01225 762512 Sea of Green 25 Eastcott Hill, Swindon, SN1 3JG 01793 617 046 WORCESTERSHIRE

Hydro-Mania 12a Wilton Industrial Court, 851 Bradford Road, Batley, WF17 8NN In The Grow Hydroponics Unit 2B Acorn Park Ind’ Est’, Albion St, Castleford, WF10 1QX 01977 524 168

WILTSHIRE

Mill St Hydroponics 40 Mill St Kidderminster, DY11 6XB 01562 744 885

FEATURED Wortley Hydroponics Unit 3 Wortley Business Park Upper Wortley Court, Wortley, Leeds LS12 4WE 0113 263 3158 wortleyhydroponics.co.uk Keen hydroponic hobbyist Dean was a shop manager for a number of years before taking the plunge and opening his own store in Leeds. He moved to his new store as he was unable to climb the ladder any further, since then Wortley Hydroponics has come a long way. This Wortley-based store, with its epic-sized showroom, has a lovely relaxed atmosphere.

Sensies 10 Port St, Evesham Worcester, WR11 1AN 01386 423 060

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AHPPY HYDRO HYDROPONICS Ahppy by name... Well ahppy by nature... This Doncaster-based store is light and airy despite being rammed to the ceiling with amazing products. Owners Scott and Dave have 14 years combined experience in hydroponics. They have a simple philosophy – “Ahppy” by name, “ahppy” by nature, providing their customers with great advice, cups of tea, and no hard sell. The staff are friendly, knowledgeable, and passionate about hydroponics – they’ll give good honest guidance for all budgets, with the requirements of the customer always taking priority over any sales target. Integrity is fundamental to the guys at Ahppy. If a product is on the website, it’s in stock. Ahppy are not one of those companies

MAP

that whacks everything on their website and then buy it off a wholesaler when it sells. And they know which products give good value for money; they won’t make you buy something if you don’t need, but equally, if paying a bit more upfront saves you in the long term, they’ll tell you. They’re doing something right, as the store is always busy and the kettle always on. Anyone can pay a visit, whether they need thorough advice for a full setup, or they just want to pop in and out. Finally, Ahppy are the only store in their area where you can pick up Solistek Digital Ballasts and Moonshine Nutrient Enhancer.

STORE / ADDRESS

EXTRAS

Bargain Bucket in store Good-quality second-hand equipment bought and sold

PRODUCT INFO Electronics from popular brands including: CanFan, RVK, Isomax, Hyperfan, Lumatek, Sunmaster, Gavita, Maxibright, Ecotechnics Well stocked in grow room extras, including: Humidifiers, misters, CO2 controllers Systems popular in this store include: IWS, Oxypot, Autopot – automated systems, and plenty for DIY enthusiasts On Display: All lighting reflectors, tents, various plants from Spring to Summer including chillies and tomatoes Visit aHppy Website:

www.ahppyhydro.co.uk EXPLORE Ahppy Hydro Hydroponics Unit 4 Wheatley Hall Trade & Bus’ Centre, Doncaster, South Yorkshire, DN2 4BH Tel: 01302 341 004

Google: Ahppy Hydro

See inside their store with Google Maps

IRELAND & N.I.

SCOTLAND

Advanced Gardening Ltd 95 Lockfield Avenue, Enfield, EN3 7PY , Ireland 0208 443 2420

Hydra Hydroponics 41 Tower St, Edinburgh, EH6 7BN 0131 561 1332

Dublin Indoor Gardening Unit 3 Avonbeg, Enterprise Centre, Saint Dominic’s, Dublin, Ireland +353 1 461 0831 Dublin Indoor Gardening Santry Business Park, Swords Road, Dublin, Ireland +353 1 862 3645 Get Up and Grow 2 Great Strand St, Dublin, Ireland +353 1 872 7240 Belfast Indoor Gardening 22 Church Lane, Belfast, BT1 4QN Northern Ireland The Hydroponic Store Unit 35, Smithfield Market, Winetavern St, Belfast, BT1 1JE , Northern Ireland 028 9033 2939 The Grow Shop Navan Ardsallagh, Navan, Co. Meath, (046) 902 0625

Just Grow Unit 7, Block 4, Wood End Ind’ Est’, Cowdenbeath, KY4 8HW 01383 512 520 Lothian Hydroponics 172, South Mid St Bathgate, EH48 1DY 01506 650 501 Premier Hydroponics Dundee 1 Horsewater Wynd, Hawkhill, Dundee, DD1 5DU 01382 202 556 Premier Hydroponics Stirling Unit 29, Stirling Enterprise Park, Players Road, Stirling, FK7 7RP 01786 463 774 Premier Hydroponics Newbridge Unit 5, Evans Business Centre, Harvest Road, Newbridge, EH28 8LW 0131 333 2777 Progrow Scotland 6 Nasmyth Square, Houston Ind’ Est’, Livingston, EH54 5GG

The Grow Shop Galway Unit 12 Royal Rock Ballybane Galway (091) 735 617

Scothydro Ltd Unit H, Ken Shaw Ind’ Est’, 567 Shettleston Road, Glasgow, G31 5JT 0141 778 8250

The Grow Shop Dublin 1a Eklad Park, Malhide Road Business Park, Coolock, Dublin (01) 8674978

The Hemp Culture 57 East Road, Irvine, KA12 0BT 01294 312 750 Ugrow 17 North Canal Bank St, Port Dundas Ind’ Est’, Glasgow , G4 9XP 0141 341 3352

Abergreen Horticulture Ltd Arch 8, Palmerston Road, Aberdeen AB11 5RE 01224 574 737 Aurshirs Organics 24a Peebles St, KA8 8DS East NEUK Hydroponics 6A Forth St, Leven, Fife, KY8 4PF 01333 421 040 Eastend Hydroponics Glasgow 314 Toll Cross Road, Glasgow, G31 4UR 0141 550 0911 Edinburgh Organics Unit 6C, West Telferton, Edinburgh, EH7 6UL 0131 669 0493 EZ Grow 77 Scott St Perth, PH2 8JR 01738 624 193 Gavsgrow 378 Great Northern Road, Aberdeen, AB24 2AX 01224 492 902 Glasgrow 15 Parnie St Trongate, Glasgow , G1 5RJ 0141 552 7522 Govan Hydroponics 134 Helen St Govan, G51 3JS 0141 328 9069 Grow Now Hydroponics 5A David Orr St, Kilmarnock, KA1 2RH 01563 538 231 Hamilton Hydro Ltd Unit 16, Murray Court, Hillhouse Ind’ Est’, Hamilton, ML3 9SL 01698 281 148

WALES FEATURED

Holland Hydroponics

Hydro Urban 184A Rear, Cowbridge Road East, Canton, Cardiff, CF11 9NE 07414 744 800

South Wales Hydro Unit D, Premier Buildings, Newport Road, Caerphilly, CF83 8YE 02920 868 015

Hydrodragon Ltd 113-115 Alfred St Cardiff, CF24 4UA 02920 490 333

Neath Hydroponics Garden Centre, 131 Windsor Road, Neath, SA11 1NU 01639 638 000

Hydroharvest Unit 66, Pentre Ind. Est, Chester Road, Deeside, Queensferry, Flintshire, CH5 2DQ 01244 539 658

Focus Aim Fire 24 Bergele Road, Colwyn Bay, LL29 7PA 01492 547 118 Green Giant Hydroponics Glany y Mor Road, Llandudno, LL31 9RU 0800 043 5337

Animal and Garden Supplies Unit 1, Eastlake Close, Litchard Ind’ Est’, Bridgend, CF31 2AL 01656 663 030 Grow 2 Go Ltd Unit 4, Pant Ind’ Est’, Merthyr Tydfil, CF48 2SR

Root 2 Success Unit 3, Gulf Works, Penart Road Cardiff, CF11 8TT 02920 229 895

Plantwell Hydroponics Unit 3 50 Village Farmroad, Pyle, Bridgend, CF33 6BN

Cwmbran Hydro 111 Springvale Cwmbran, NP44 5BG 01633 865 864

The Green Machine Unit 1A, Felin Puleston Ind’ Est’, Ruabon Road, Wrexham, LL13 7RF 01978 265 090

Plantwell Hydroponics Unit 14, Ely Ind’ Est’, Williamstown, CF40 1RA, 01443 430 045

Green Valley Hydro Unit 5 Noble Square, Ind’ Est’ Brynmawr, NP23 4BS 01495 311 212

West Wales Hydroponics Spring Gardens Ind’ Est’, Whitland, SA34 0HZ 01994 240203

FEATURED

Holland Hydroponics Unit 1 Flint Trade Park, Holywell Road, Flint, CH6 5RR 0845 872 0565 (SEE PAGES 26 to 29) Better Grow Hydro Unit 11, Pwll Mawr Court, Wentloog Road, Rumney, Cardiff, CF3 1TH 029 2036 3076

The Hydroponics Centre 38A, Approach Road, Mansleton, Swansea West Glamorgan SA5 8PD

Garden Secrets UK Ltd Unit 3, Hollybush Est, Whitchurch, Cardiff, CF14 7DS 02920 651 792

Greenworld Hydroponics Unit 5, South Arcade, Peoples Market, Chester St Wrexham, LL13 8BE 01978 310 329

Grow Rooms 24 Maesaeron Talsarn Ceredigion, Dyfed, SA48 8QA 01545 561 816

Swansea Hydroponics Unit 28, Aztec Business Centre, Swansea, SA5 4DJ

Let It Grow Hydro Unit 5, St Davids ind Est, Pangam, Blackwood, NP12 3SW 01443 858 049 Newport Horticulture 42 Clarins Place, Newport, NP19 0AH 07521 880 070

STORE LISTINGS 2014 | 29

STORE LISTINGS 2016 | 25

HYDROMAG RECOMMENDED STORE

Our flagship showrooms FACILITIES

WHERE IT BEGAN The first Holland Hydroponics shop opened during 1996 in Heywood near Middleton, Greater Manchester. The original store moved location several times during the early years, including a short spell at the infamous Affleck’s Palace. It finally settled in Ardwick during 2005, which also acts as the head office. It is fair to say that Holland Hydroponics is Manchester’s original hydroponics superstore and remains a popular choice for growers in the Greater Manchester area and on the M62 corridor.

20 YEARS OF HYDROPONICS 2016 sees Holland Hydroponics celebrate its 20th year supplying hydroponics equipment, nutrients and offering expert advice to both the beginner and experienced grower. To celebrate this milestone, on Saturday 14th May, the Manchester store will be hosting an extra special party with entertainment, free food and drink along with bargains galore, so make sure you mark the date down in your diary. Keep an eye on their website and social media pages where more information will be announced on the run up to the event.

ETHOS The ethos of Holland Hydroponics has always been to offer a comfortable shopping experience, with great quality and an extensive range of products, all at competitive prices, along with excellent

customer service. What ensures Holland Hydroponics stores stand out amongst the local competition is their stock capacity. The warehouses, at both Burnley and Manchester, are enormous, meaning they always have the products you want in stock. Holland’s also focus on importing, bringing the UK consumer the benefit of lots of everyday products (ballasts, lighting, tents, fans etc.) at the lowest possible prices. They also offer a ‘Price Match Guarantee’ against all competitor stores in the North West, West Yorkshire, Chester and Wales and to quote, ‘they will not be beaten on price!’ their product displays - expect to see something you didn’t know existed!

STAFF/SERVICE At all the Holland Hydroponics stores, you can always expect to see familiar, friendly faces. The staff are also very knowledgeable and always willing to dispense with some great advice or to simply answer those questions you might have. Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, you’ll be able to speak to someone on the same level, and there are no annoying or pushy salesmen – if you know what you’re after, the staff will let you buy it without trying to ‘upsell’. Holland’s also prides itself on its aftersales service, which has earned a great reputation for customer satisfaction, just give them a call during their opening hours and Holland’s advisors will be only too happy to help.

Tea and coffee making facilities are available in the Manchester and Burnley stores. For larger orders, the Manchester store has a private room where you can discuss your order in confidence with a member of staff. It also has to be said that Holland’s really excel themselves with their product displays - expect to see something you didn’t know existed!

PRODUCT INFO Ranges of Nutrients: 20+ including Advanced Nutrients, BioBizz, Canna, Cyco, Dutch Pro, House & Garden, Ionic, Plant Magic, Plantlife, Shogun Fertilisers and more. Systems: Aeroponics, Aquafarm, Aquaponics, Amazon, AutoPot, Bubblebox, Dripper, DWC, Flood & Drain, NFT, RDWC. Tech: BAY6, Budmaster, Dimlux, Gavita, Growlite, Hacienda, HomeBox, Hyperfan, Kaizen, Kind, LUMii, Max-Fan, Maxibright, OptiClimate, Powerstar, RAM, RVK, Secret Jardin, Spectrum King, Shogun, Sunmaster, Sunstretcher, Vents and more. Product Displays: Ballasts, Carbon Filters, Ducting, Extraction/Intake Fans, Grow Lights, Grow Tents, Grow Room Essentials, Hydroponic Systems, LED Lights, Reflectors, Nutrients, Oscillating Fans, Pots, Propagation, Reflective Sheeting and Substrates.

HOLLAND HYDROPONICS STORE INFO (ACROSS ALL HOLLAND HYDROPONICS STORES) Private Parking: Yes

Loading Bay: Yes

Clearance Section: Yes

facebook.com/

hollandhydroponics

MANCHESTER

STORE SPECS Store size: 3000 Sq Ft / Stock size: 8,000 Sq Ft Plants growing: Various Chilli plants, Bell Peppers, Catnip, Money Plants, Mother-in-Law’s Tongue & many more. The Manchester store is undoubtedly one of the largest in the UK and in 2015 had a complete refurbishment including the installation of a working OptiClimate closed loop grow room. The open plan showroom boasts a vast array of product displays and stock including grow lights, reflectors, ballasts, grow tents, environment, hydroponic systems, nutrients, pretty much everything you need for your indoor grow room. With easy access from the City Centre (just 5 minutes away), the A627(M) as well as the M60, the store also has a large car park (customer parking is never an issue) and a private loading bay with room for up to Transit sized vans. The day to day running is overseen by Store Manager Kate, who took up this new role in October 2015, while the sales staff are extremely knowledgeable and always on hand to give expert advice.

ADDRESS Holland Hydroponics 17 Rondin Road, Ardwick, Manchester, M12 6BF Tel: 0845 872 0570 BURNLEY

STORE SPECS Store size: 2,720 Sq Ft / Stock size: 5,000 Sq Ft Plants growing: Various Chilli and Banana plants Like Manchester, Burnley is also one of the UK’s largest hydroponic stores, with massive stock capabilities, showcasing a large array of nutrients, hydroponic systems, tents, lights, environment and grow room essentials. It’s also in a great accessible location, only 15 minutes’ drive from the M65 in the Townley area of Burnley. The car park is large, but also very private with a concealed entrance towards the rear of the building. Store manager Michael has worked at the Burnley store for 10 years, over that time he’s gained a wealth of knowledge, making him a walking encyclopedia of the hydroponics industry, and is supported by assistant manager Dan along with a team of experienced sales staff.

ADDRESS Holland Hydroponics 5 Parliament St, Burnley, Lancashire , BB11 3JT Tel: 0845 872 0590 STORE LISTINGS 2016| 27

HYDROMAG RECOMMENDED STORE

A new concept in hydroponic shopping! OPTICLIMATE ROOM In 2015, the Manchester store installed a working, state of the art, closed loop grow room. Featuring the OptiClimate Pro 3 3500 climate control system along with three 600w Dimlux Expert Series lights, all connected to the Maxi Controller, to give full, automated control over every aspect of the environment. This includes probes that monitor room temperature and CO2 levels, along with an infrared camera that scans the leaf temperature. The staff at Holland’s realise that not all growers start out with - but many aspire to run - complex systems like this so it’s a fantastic opportunity to see how the entire system works. and to get any of those niggling questions answered. At the time of going to press, the OptiClimate room was in full flower with a selection of chilli and bell pepper plants growing in an 8 Pot Wilma XL Wide Hydroponic system using Shogun Fertilisers, seeing really is believing!

WEBSITE, MAILORDER & GOOGLE STORE VIEW 2014 saw Holland Hydroponics revamp their website allowing customers to browse and shop 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and with the one click checkout, it couldn’t be easier to place an order. No matter how big or small the order,

if placed before 12 noon, they aim to get it dispatched for next day delivery using discrete packaging and a signed for courier service, giving the customer peace of mind that their order will arrive safely and in a timely manner. And if you want to see inside each store, in 2015 Holland’s were visited by Google who now host 360° virtual tours for each of the four stores, allowing customers to look around and see the displays without having to leave the comfort of their living room.

LED SPECIALISTS

Previous free gifts include a 60ml bottle of Superthrive with orders over £75 and a free Large Screen Digital Thermometer with orders over £100. To be the first to hear about any of Holland Hydroponics’ special offers, keep an eye on their blog, sign up to their email newsletter, or follow them on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram where you’ll be notified as and when they happen.

HOLLAND HYDROPONICS PRODUCT INFO Ranges of Nutrients: 15+

Holland’s are also one of the UK’s leading LED lighting specialists; the feedback they’ve been getting from customers has been getting better and better with every new generation of light. Their current stock includes Budmaster, Kind and Spectrum King, while all stores have displays in their showroom so customers can view the lights and get any questions they may have answered.

BI MONTHLY OFFERS Every two months, Holland’s run special offers for its customers, these can range from a fixed amount or percentage off selected products, BOGOF (Buy One Get One Free), or a free gift if the total value of the order is over a stated amount.

Systems: Platinium, Wilma, Nutriculture, Autopot, IWS, Bubblebox, Oxypot, Aquafarm, Amazon, NFT, FLOOD & DRAIN, Aeroponics Tech: RVK, Vents, Max Speed, Gorilla Box, ISOMAX, Lumatek, Adjustawatt, Lumni, Hacienda, Shogun, Digilite, Kaizen, Puma, Maxibright, OG Reflector, Sunstretcher, Cooltube, Megasun, Gavita, Budmaster Opticlimate... to name few. Product Displays: Tents, Lighting, Fans, Systems, Pots, Mediums, Propagation, growroom essentials, nutrients – a full range.

HOLLAND HYDROPONICS STORE INFO (ACROSS ALL HOLLAND HYDROPONICS STORES) Private Parking: Yes 44

Loading Bay: Yes

Clearance Section: Yes

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hollandhydroponics

HUDDERSFIELD

STORE SPECS Store size: 484 Sq Ft / Stock size: 800 Sq Ft Plants growing: Chilli and banana plants Situated on Leeds Road Trading Estate, the Huddersfield store is only 10 minutes away from Junctions 23, 24 and 25 of the M62 – meaning it’s well placed to serve not only Huddersfield, but also the surrounding villages, towns and cities of West Yorkshire and beyond. Holland’s recognised the need for a good hydroponic store in the area, and since opening its doors in 2012, has become extremely popular. Adam and his team of dedicated staff are on hand to offer expert advice and friendly chit chat. It also has a large car park and an easily accessible loading bay. Situated right next door to ScrewFix and Denmans if you need any of those DIY necessities, or if you’re feeling peckish, McDonalds and KFC are literally a stone’s throw away on Leeds Road.

ADDRESS Holland Hydroponics Unit 4, Leeds Road Trade Park, Leeds Rd, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD2 1YR Tel: 0845 872 0580

FLINT

STORE SPECS Store size: 680 Sq Ft / Stock size: 900 Sq Ft Plants growing: A selection of Chilli plants Again realising the need for a decent store in the North of Wales, Holland’s opened their Flint store in 2013 and have never looked back as it’s grown into one of the most popular stores in the area. Expect a no-nonsense approach and plenty of banter from store manager Russ and his team of dedicated assistants. The store has a large car park and private loading bay. Located on the A458, the Flint Store is easily accessible from the North Wales artery – the A55, and often sees regular customers travelling from as far as Chester, Bangor and even the Wirral in Merseyside.

ADDRESS Holland Hydroponics Unit 1 Flint Trade Park, Holywell Road Flint, CH6 5RR Tel: 0845 872 0565

STORE LISTINGS 2016 | 29

STORE LISTINGS 2016

SEE IT ONLINE @ WWW.ISSUU.COM/HYDROMAGAZINE

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As of HYDROMAG ISSUE 008, there is a new way to enter competitions. You must now go to www.hydroshow.tv/competition and enter your phone number and email address into the form. Winners will be chosen at random before the publication of our next issue. Your information will not be shared with third party companies. *Full terms can be found at http://hydroshow.tv/competition-terms 47

10 WAYS TO...

Upgrade Your Gardening Experience: Part 2 How’s your growroom looking these days? Does its smooth, white, polished surfaces and crisp right angles rival the OCD of NASA’s chief laboratory executive or are your botanical endeavours somewhat more—how can I put this—ghetto?

inputs. If you’ve not tried a powdered base nutrient or supplement yet then check out what’s available at your local grow store, even if they have to blow dust off the packaging.

Honestly—I don’t really care. As long as you’re keeping things reasonably clean then your style is just that—all yours. Indeed, over the years I’ve come to realise that there are probably as many different styles of growroom as there are growers who tend them. However, if you’re one of these folks who’s adamant that they’ve got it all perfected and dialled in then allow me to pass on my commiserations. For you, my friend, have started to DIE if you’re no longer in the business of learning or trying anything new. You should probably resign yourself to a life spent online telling everyone where they’re going wrong. No, seriously, it’s time to embrace your inner “neophile”—that lover of all things new and different. Don’t dismiss an idea or technique based on second-hand anecdotal evidence. Try it yourself. Take some risks, keep your garden interesting, and hopefully you’ll be thanking me at harvest time.

1. Powdered Nutrients We are paying thousands of pounds a year for countless litres of water—some of it shipped many thousands of miles across the ocean from places as far flung as Canada and Australia. What a ridiculous waste of energy. Over the years, many of us have simply become habitualised to using liquid hydroponic nutrients—often stoically sticking to a particular brand or product. And let’s not forget about the cost! Sure—maybe it’s easier to stomach the high price tags invariably associated with pairs of cumbersome 20 litre bottles of ‘A’ and ‘B’ with pretty, colourful labels rather than a far less impressive looking yet functionally equivalent sachet of boring looking powder, tablets or granules. Some folks claim liquid nutrients are easier to use. I disagree. It’s all about what you’re used to. Industry insiders from across the pond claim that a powered nutrient epiphany has already started to take hold among larger, more commercially minded growers looking to rationalise the cost of their

Aptus Breakout Powder, ProActive Nano Power Powder

2. Media-less Hydroponics Systems I used to live on the top floor of a cheap block of apartments in central Wolverhampton. It’s not a period of my life upon which I reflect very happily. For one thing, there was no lift—which meant hauling countless sacks of coco coir up six flights of stairs, hoping not to bump into any fellow residents along the way. (I produce embarrassing amounts of sweat when confronted with even low level cardiovascular activity.) If only I’d known about nutrient film technique (NFT) or deep water culture (DWC) back then. In these highly productive, active hydroponics systems, the water—or nutrient solution—is the media, not soil, coco coir or perlite. Sure, you have to keep an eye on your pumps to make sure everything’s working as it should—but surely that’s less of a ball-ache than hauling (and disposing of) sack after sack of coco coir? You have more control over your plants and use less nutrients in the long-run too.

Image Credit: Steve at Progrow Exeter sets up a growroom with military precision

3. Soft Mesh Netting Growing plants indoors is a very different ballgame to outdoor cultivation—especially if you prefer to grow heavy-fruiting, light-loving annuals. The aim of the game indoors is to train your plants into a squat, wide form. The last thing you want is a natural ‘Christmas tree’ shape where the plant basically forms an apex with a single, dominant fruiting site closest to your grow lamp. Why? Because this forces you to raise up your grow lights relative to the height of that terminal tip. It’s far preferable and efficient to top your plants and train the satellite growth tips out so that they are spread into a sort of candelabra shape—and soft mesh netting spread out over your canopy can really help. Use the elasticated variety—you can often find netting sized specifically for different models of grow tent, or you can simply create some stakes at the corners of your garden space and use them to spread it out. I can’t recommend soft mesh netting enough to create a homogenous ‘sea’ of flowering sites all at the same height! Marvellous.

5. Reverse Osmosis Water Purification What’s the EC of your tap water? If it’s over 0.3 you really should consider a reverse osmosis water purifier. If it’s over 0.5 then you should install a water softener for your whole house! (This exchanges the calcium and magnesium carbonate and bicarbonates with potassium and sodium making it easier for your reverse osmosis purifier to deal with.) Pure water—that’s an EC of 0.0 mS—essentially leaves more “room” for dissolved nutrients, meaning you can feed your plants more of the good stuff thanks to a higher toxicity ceiling. I grew for years with crappy hard tap water thinking that hard water nutrient formulations were going to solve all my problems for me. I was wrong. Life is infinitely easier with a reverse osmosis machine. It fills up my spare tank with crystal clean water and my plants love it—especially in the propagation phase. Don’t dismiss reverse osmosis as something just for the pros. The units are inexpensive, easy to install yourself and I promise that you will never look back.

6. Light Emitting Ceramics (Ceramic Metal Halide)

Plant Netting

4. Power Your Propagation with Air Pruning So much of your potential future harvest is decided in the early stages—i.e. propagation. However, many growers overlook this crucial period in a rush to getting their plants into generative (flowering) mode. I like to start my cuttings and young plants off in rockwool cubes / blocks sat on a gro-smart tray—basically just a plastic thing that allows you to raise your blocks up a little so air can get beneath them. (You could fashion the same sort of thing with a grilling shelf from your oven.) The additional air circulation encourages the roots to stay within the growing media and branch out, totally colonising the space. When it comes time to transplanting (either into a pot or a hydroponics growing system) they will literally explode out of the blocks—all because you simply took a little more time and care initially.

Sometimes called the “poor man’s plasma” I would say that for half the price of many plasma lights, the LEC is a must for your veg room. I’ve rarely seen more stocky, robust looking juvenile plants with tight internodal spacing than those produced under my LEC. The secret is the ridiculously high PAR combined with a broad lighting spectrum. A v fixture on a light rail can easily cover a 3’ by 6’ tray with a more penetrating light with fewer radiant heat issues than multi-array T5s. My tip is to choose a fixture with a vertically mounted lamp—it’s a good deal kinder to young plants L.E.C light

Image Credit: Steve at Progrow Exeter sets up a growroom with military precision.

7. UV

Insect Frass

Some folks think UV is just something to throw at your plants during the last few weeks in the form of a high Kelvin (10 or 20K) lamp to help it produce more essential oils. I’d argue that UV is something to get your plants into right from the beginning. Plants actually adapt to photosynthesize some of that UV (yes, there’s more than one McCrea curve) and it also provides anti-fungal and insecticidal properties too. Look out for new T5 fluorescent lamps with increased UV output. They might not generate as much PAR but they certainly create strong plants you wouldn’t want to meet down a dark alley.

10. Fabric, Breathable Pots First it was Smart Pot, now it seems there are dozens of different brands of fabric pot. Sure, you have to water them a little more often, but that’s arguably a good thing as it means more chances to deliver nutrition! I suggest either rockwool mini-cubes or a 70 / 30 mix of coco coir and perlite. You can irrigate either with drippers or flood and drain.

UV light in a commercial greenhouse setting

8. Loose-fill Rockwool

Breatheable, fabric pots help to mitigate the effects of over-watering and encourage more root development (particularly the all-important root hairs) thanks to roots being ‘pruned’ as they reach the porous edge of the pot, rather than circling round and round in the ‘hot zone’ as is often the case with plastic pots.

Rockwool (aka stonewool) doesn’t just come in cubes, blocks and slabs. Try filling your pots with the loose-fill stuff. Often referred to as grow chunks, mini-cubes, flock or wool, you can fill your pots with this form of rockwool just as easily as with coco coir or any other substrate.

Fabric Plant Pots

Rockwool is special because of its capacity to promote fine root hairs and hold on to lots of air and water at the same time. It also has near zero cation exchange capacity which means it’s super easy to flush as harvest time approaches helping you to achieve a top-shelf taste. Should a pump or timer fail then rockwool will keep your plants alive for longer, given that it holds on to so much moisture! Incredible stuff.

9. Insect Frass Mealworm poop is packed full of beneficial biology and provides a broad hit of fertility. But it’s chitin content is also said to ‘trick’ plants into thinking they’re being attacked by insects (when, of course, they’re not) leading to stronger, more pest-resistant plants. Coco coir growers are reporting excellent results mixing in a small amount of insect frass at potting up time. It can also be used as a top dressing or even a foliar application as a properly sieved solution.

More tips: For more grow tips and advice, be sure to check out Everest Fernandez on YouTube. www.youtube.com/user/Just4Growers/videos

FERTILIZING WITH THE

BIG BOYS “In this issue of HYDROMAG we take a look at two breakthroughs in fertilizer technology Big Industry has largely kept sneakily for themselves; lignosulfonates and nano manufacturing.” Should we trust “experts”? It’s a question that might have seen us taken away in straightjackets a couple of generations ago. But today we live in an era of The Internet and unprecedented information sharing, and everything is up for debate. Sticking it to The Man, holding him to account, is a recent phenomenon – they used to burn you at the stake for it – but since the 1960s we’ve made it an artform.

As with most evolutionary changes in human society, these developments bring with them both benefits and hazards. But there are times when there’s simply no choice but to admit that those who’ve committed their whole lives to mastering a subject might have a point. When you keel over from appendicitis, you’re not likely to get your mate Dave from the pub to whip out the offending body part with his Swiss army knife. And there are times when the manufacturers who’ve spunked billions of pounds on R&D, employed the sharpest brains, and used state of the art facilities to roll out a product, have got to be trusted over the old hippy who trepans his own skull and sells artisanal potions from his garage. The US Government doesn’t buy guns from a Yardie down by the train tracks, just as big, commercial horticultural growers don’t go to Uncle Nobby’s allotment to get their fertilizer. In this issue of HYDROMAG we take a look at two breakthroughs in fertilizer technology Big Industry has largely kept sneakily for themselves; lignosulfonates and nano manufacturing.

We now respond to authority telling us “to jump” with a “why?” and not a “how high?” After all, our leaders and grand institutions have brought us thalidomide babies, WMDs in Iraq, paedophile priests and trillion dollar bank bailouts to name but a few. But on the flipside, in this age of Wikipedia and the erosion of faith in expertise and authority, we’re now seeing a major resurgence of measles in the western world – a byproduct of MMR scaremongering and Chinese whispers. We’ve seen a rise in the number of Americans believing in a literal interpretation of the Bible, a Flat Earth Theory renaissance, people hiding their savings under mattresses again, and base-instinct populism in politics unseen since the 1930s. In 1999, 47% of Americans felt science, medicine and technology had provided America with its greatest achievements. By 2009 that figure had dropped to 27%.

CHANGE IN TOTAL FACTOR PRODUCTIVITY 2002 - 2013

110 100 90

EU - N13

EU - 28

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

80 2002

The EU-N13 (countries that joined the EU between the 2004 and 2007) have shown a massive increase in crop productivity thanks to modern farming techniques, including the improvement in fertilizer technology.

120

FACTOR PRODUCTIVITY

Graph showing the increase in food production from 2002 to 2013 amongst the 28 EU countries, based on improved structures and more eﬃcient growing techniques.

And keeping up with the Joneses are the manufacturers of nano-fertilizers. When we talk of “intelligent fertilization”, we’re not discussing non-alcoholic, planned pregnancy. And in case anyone was in doubt, nanotechnology doesn’t involve tiny robots (that would be nanorobotics) but instead refers to the field of technology that covers dimensions of less than 100 nanometres. To put this into a more relatable context, the width of a human hair is 100,000 nanometres thick. We’re talking manipulation on an atomic and molecular level. And for Big Industry, it’s all the rage.

SCALED DIAGRAM Wood Pulp and Paper

HUMAN HAIR

NANO PARTICLE

“Ligna-sulphur-what?” we hear you enquire. And it’s not just the GCSE Chemistry flunks asking the question. Lignosulfonates are a waste product of wood pulp and paper. In its raw form it can be turned into a chemical agent and multiple forms of lignosulfonates can be created depending on the wood type. Many different metal ions can bond with lignosulfonates, from magnesium to potassium, iron to zinc and so on, although calcium and sodium are the most common. Lignin demand is rapidly growing and is used in animal feed, dye, cosmetics, varnishes, polymers, paints, concrete additives and many other products. Its use as a fertilizer is relatively new. A key benefit of lignosulfonates is in the way they affect fertilizer particles. As both have almost identical electrostatic charges they repel each other, resulting in a more consistent, homogenous fertilizer, with improved physical and chemical properties that reduce compaction and caking. Lignosulfonates soften particles, facilitating their movement, and decreasing surface tension. As surface tension decreases there is greater permeability, a larger quantity of air in the fertilizer, and easier adsorption. Finally, lignosulfonates have a relatively large surface area, yet are lightweight and can act as a perfect carrier for NPK after preparation. Their natural propensity for slow-release allows for controlled leaching and as a fertilizer they’ve shown themselves to be free from pollutants and harmless to the environment. Many large scale users of fertilizers are now feeling the love for lignin, as its use aids photosynthesis, and improves all round plant growth and development. Positive effects have been found in terms of root growth, flowering (in both quantity and frequency), mineral nutrition, water consumption, and nutrient absorption.

Human Strand of Hair (100,000 nm)

Nano Particle (100 nm)

(Nano Particle is 100 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair.)

The process of creating nano-particles to use in fertilizer typically involves “smashing” nutrients together until they splinter into tiny, nano-sized pieces, but recent research has shown this can also be achieved by utilising microbial enzymes for breaking down salts into a nano-form. These tiny particles provide a greater surface area, resulting in faster dissolving times and easier absorption by plant roots, meaning your plants expend less energy and can instead channel that extra energy into growth. Studies in India have shown nano-fertilizers to be considerably more efficient than their chemical cousins: three times improved Nutrient Use Efficiency; ten times more stress tolerance; 30% greater NPK take up; between a 17 and 54% increase in crop yields; and finally enhanced soil aggregation, moisture retention and carbon accumulation. An additional benefit – one that speaks directly to the hearts of the big multinationals – is the dramatic reduction in operating costs. Currently for every pound sterling put into feeding crops, only 30 pence is successfully used, with the rest “disappearing” as runoff. But the efficiency and accuracy of delivery of nano-fertilizers can reduce costs between two and four times. Furthermore, growers have been finding nanotechnology has in some cases entirely removed the need for additional chemicals and pesticides. In the near future we can expect to see even greater reductions.

PERCENTAGE INCREASE %

60 Upto 54% increase in yield.

In the nanotechnology pipeline are pesticides that will release directly in insects’ stomachs rather than be sprayed indiscriminately over plants and soil, significantly reducing environmental risk. At the Universities of Alberta and Carleton in Canada, research is at an advanced stage looking at the use of nanosensors in agriculture. Researchers hope to devise a polymer coating to not only protect fertilizer molecules from the elements but act as a biosensor that allows the fertilizer to “eavesdrop” on the chemical communication between plant roots and soil. It will then release nutrients or water as a direct response to the plant’s needs; thereby nipping potential deficiencies in the bud while the grower, blissfully unaware, can sit back and read the latest edition of HYDROMAG with a cup of tea. So while the Angry Birds and Butt Selfie generation rail against Big Industry and look to doubt our experts, the men in suits are quietly getting on with things, as impervious to criticism as they are to the immense damage they frequently cause to our environment, population, and general wellbeing. Sometimes however, we have to put our hands up and accept what’s good for the gander is usually good for the goose. Expect the trickle-down effect to come into play any day now. Just as we, the plebs, today enjoy top secret military inventions such as computers, microwaves, GPS, duct tape and cargo pants – tomorrow, coming to a store near you, we’ll all enjoy the fruit of Big Industry’s drive to cut costs and maximise crop yields (in fact we already are). Welcome to a future of lignosulfonates and nanofertilizer in the home!

10X

30 20 10

MORE STRESS TOLERANCE

NPK

CROP YIELDS

Studies in India have shown nano-fertilizers to be considerably more efficient than their chemical cousins: three times improved Nutrient Use Efficiency; ten times more stress tolerance; 30% greater NPK take up; between a 17 and 54% increase in crop yields.

Richard Feynman Richard Feynman was a Nobel prize winner (1965) and a brilliant physicist. In 1959 he introduced the concept of nanotechnology, it’s him you will have to thank for your 54% increase in yield after reading this article.

GROW GEAR Grow Gear gives you a taste of our advertisers’ 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.

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MAXIGROW Daylight 315 The NEW Daylight 315 Digital Power Pack: The new Daylight 315 digital ballast from Maxibright is compact, lightweight and silent running. With all the features of the Maxibright Digilight range, this stunning ballast precisely drives Philips 315W Elite ceramic metal halide lamps; the Daylight lamp for growing and the Agro lamp for flowering. The Daylight 315 when used with the Philips CDM lamps ensures healthy abundant yields, excellent PAR output levels per watt of power consumed and delivers outstanding results at an affordable price. Philips daylight CDM lamps are extremely efficient ceramic metal halide lamps with a spectral output close to natural sunlight. As a result, plants form more lateral branches, have smaller internodal spacing, more flowering sites and larger root systems, culminating in strong, healthy growth and high quality yields. Find your local supplier: maxigrow.com/where-to-buy/ Scan the QR code or type into your browser: http://bit.ly/DAY315 to watch the DAYLIGHT 315 video.

Manufacturer / Product Website: www.maxigrow.com

MAXIGROW Maxibright DUO 600W Power Pack The Maxibright DUO uses Filp Flop technology to alternately illuminate two separate grow rooms automatically, using the 12 Hour Flip/Flop setting. Or use the 1 Hour Flip/Flop setting to run two lamps alternately in one grow room to half the lamp heat and significantly reduce the grow room temperature. The Maxibright DUO has all the features of our standard Digilight range but with the addition of Flip/Flip technology, manual primary/secondary output and six selectable power settings, making the Maxibright DUO our most versatile ballast ever! Flip/Flop Technology Six Power Settings: 250W, 275W, 400W, 440W, 600W & 660W Surge Controlâ&#x201E;˘ Soft Start Technology Fast Lamp Re-strike Dynamic Frequency Control

End of Lamp Life Detection Short Circuit Protection Thermal Protection, Auto Reset LED Status with Diagnostic Feature Silent, Lightweight & Wall Mountable Runs HPS & MH Lamps

Find your local supplier: maxigrow.com/where-to-buy/

Manufacturer / Product Website: www.maxigrow.com

MAXIGROW Secret Jardin Monkey Fan The Monkey fan from Secret Jardin has two speed settings, is height adjustable and easy to install. 13Watts â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 2200 RPM Powder coated metal fan guard Stays in position Compatible with grow tent poles 16 - 19mm To view the Monkey fan installation video, scan the QR code or type into your browser: http://tinyurl.com/MONKEYFAN

Manufacturer / Product Website: www.maxigrow.com

GROW GEAR MAXIGROW TLED – LED Units TLEDs from Secret Jardin offer an affordable, efficient and versatile way of lighting your grow room. The 26W TLEDs are available in (Blue) Growing 6500°K or (Red) Blooming (Red mix including infra-red, 2100°K and 3000°K LEDs) options. The TLEDs is 93% more efficient than CFL lighting in terms of PAR per watt. Flexible TLEDs can be hung vertically or horizontally from grow tent poles 16-19mm using the hooks and clips provided or suspend your TLEDs from the grow tent using traditional methods, like Maxibright Easy Hangers. To view the easy installation of the TLEDs, scan the QR code or type into your browser: http://tinyurl.com/SJTLED

Manufacturer / Product Website: www.maxigrow.com

PLAGRON Plagron Terra Grow and Terra Bloom Basic Nutrient Complete mineral fertilisers for the growth and flowering phase. Together, Terra Grow and Terra Bloom, guarantee the highest yield. By growing with the minerals in Terra Grow and Terra Bloom, you can benefit from a stable self-regulating pH-value and you are able to determine the EC-value of the nutrient water. The results are visible in only one day because the roots are able to absorb these fertilisers directly. Terra Grow is a highly concentrated mineral basic fertiliser that can be used in the plant’s growing phase. This liquid fertiliser ensures optimum fertilisation during the plant’s growth and supports and promotes a solid foundation. Terra Bloom is also a mineral fertiliser and can be used in the flowering phase. This basic plant food supports and promotes flower development. Together, Terra Grow and Terra Bloom are the perfect partnership for optimum growth, flowering and yield – and a much better flavour! The advantages of Terra Grow and Terra Bloom: Terra Grow Immediately absorbable. Guarantees optimal growth. Suitable for all watering systems.

Terra Grow Immediately absorbable. Guaranteed optimum ﬂowering and fruit setting. Suitable for all watering systems.

For the best result, combine Terra Grow and Terra Bloom with Plagron Lightmix or Growmix. Do you have any questions? servicedesk@plagron.com For additional information about Terra Grow or Terra Bloom, www.plagron.com

Product Website: www.plagron.com

GROW GEAR POWER ADDITIVE Flower Bomb Power Additive with a lot of bottle. What a Power Additive... “Boom Bloom”... use a bit of Flower Bomb for a week (2 weeks max), and a quality PK and see what happens! For you growers who want to see the weight of hard earned growing endeavours go up you have to have a play with Flower Bomb. Rumour has it to get the best results ignore the dilution rates on the bottle - if you follow them you could end up with fruit sets that can become too dense. Try going in at 1ml per litre and use for just 8 - 12 days (weeks 4 & 5). Flower Bomb contains no organics so can be used with any hydro, coco or soil garden. Available in 4 sizes, 30ml, 100ml, 250ml & 1L

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FIELD MARSHAL GO 12/12 A “Head Start” to faster flowering GO 12/12 saves a week on each crop cycle by reducing the time to turn vegetative plants into dedicated full flower drive. Be amazed after just 5 days. GO 12/12 is a real pocket rocket producing a head start by accelerating early bud formation - plot your harvest date one week earlier! Use on back to back cycles and FM GO 12/12 will give you one extra crop each year from the same garden area and electric bill. This is the first time Field Marshal products have featured in HYDROMAG. Field Marshal is a British company that has been in the market place for several years and not surprisingly gained some dedicated followers across the UK. Available in 40g, 200g and 1200g.

Manufacturer: www.fieldmarshal.info Enquiry line: 0845 873 5773

FIELD MARSHAL Bliss Bud The ultimate crop boost? Improve aroma and quality - Yes please!!! Bliss Bud is another Field Marshal trick to the growers tool kit to boost flower aroma and quality to the max and ensure your flowers stand out from the crowd! Bliss Bud is a complex fermented concoction of growth enhancers, L-form amino acids, polypeptides, chitinase enzymes and organic trace minerals derived from aquatic plants, shells and various plant life. Bliss Bud can be used in hydro, but those diverse organics really excel in pot culture, using soil, coco or hydrococo. Available in 275ml, 1L & 5L

Manufacturer: www.fieldmarshal.info Enquiry line: 0845 873 5773

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