Maximum Yield USA August 2013 by Maximum Yield

USA

FREE

getting

Inside Your Garden

Greenhouse Growing 101

PLUS+ pH pHacts • Staying Sterilized

Crazy for Copper • Aquaponics Cycling our

San Francisco

Expo Issue! maximumyield.com

Maximum Yield’s

LONG BEACH

CALIFORNIA OCTOBER 26-27

indoorgardeningexpo.com

CONTENTS August 2013

134

FEATURES

148

160

50 Greenhouse Growing 101

102

by Karen Wilkinson

10.811

60 pH pHacts

by Grubbycup

72 Two Methods to a Great Clean: Sanitization & Sterilization by Eric Hopper

82 The Capacity for (EX)change: Cation

Exchange Capacity and What it Does for Your Garden by Maxwell Salinger

166

92 A Good Understanding: Learning About Light from a Plant’s POV by Dr. Ed Harwood

102 The Myth of Hot-Weather Watering by Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott

112 Companion Elements in Organic Fertilizers

by Dr. J. Benton Jones, Jr.

122 Cycling: Starting up an Aquaponics System Part 1

134 The Restricted Section: Root Restriction in Hydroponics by Dr. Lynette Morgan

148 Genetic Modification of Flavor and Aroma in Fruits & Flowers: Is the Future GMO? by David Kessler

158 Breaking Boredom with Boron by Bill DeBoer

164 Copper: Helpful or Harmful? by Donald Lester

172 Hand-Pollinating Indoor Cucumbers and Strawberries

by Kyle L. Ladenburger

Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

by Sylvia Bernstein

72 DEPARTMENTS 12

From the Editor

146

Green Thumb Gardening

MaximumYield.com

178

Book Review

Letters to the Editor

179

10 Facts On

Ask the Experts

180

Talking Shop

MAX Facts

182

You Tell Us

Product Spotlight

186

Max Mart

108

Beginners Corner

190

Distributors

110

Avant Gardening

202

Coming up in September

120

Growing for Health

FROM THE EDITOR | Linda Jesson Phew! Summer has arrived and it sure is getting hot out there. But, whether it’s hot or cold outside, there is always a lot going on inside the growroom. From maintaining pH levels and regulating the temperature of a nutrient solution, indoor gardening is all about mastering the finer details, which is why in this issue we’ve included a great mix of articles on how to do just that. In “Companion Elements in Organic Fertilizers” we talk about how to select fertilizers that contain the right combination of nutrients for plants, and in “Two Methods to a Great Clean” we remind everyone of the importance of sanitization and sterilization in the growroom—no, they are not quite the same thing! Also in this issue, we talk about what root restriction in hydroponics might mean for your plants, from the and why boron and copper are two elements that you might want to re-think. Water is also an important thing to keep in mind in these hot summer months, so we’ve included a feature on the myth Linda Jesson of hot-weather watering, as well as a short rundown on selecting the right hydroponic water source to begin with. If you’re new to the indoor growing scene, be sure to check out “Greenhouse Growing 101,” an article that provides a clear picture of what all is needed to get growing. All of these great reads are combined with this issue’s new product profiles and plenty of fun Max Facts to round off this issue. With the San Francisco Indoor Gardening Expo just behind us, we’ll be looking ahead to the last stop in the Maximum Yield Grow Like a Pro Indoor Gardening Tour 2013 to be held in Long Beach, California, on October 27. It’s been a highly successful expo tour thus far, and we hope to see a lot of you out for our final Expo of 2013 in Long Beach. Find Long Beach expo details at indoorgardenexpo.com In the meantime, keep cool and have fun in your gardens, everyone!

Message Editor

VOLUME 14 – NUMBER 5 August 2013 Maximum Yield is published monthly by Maximum Yield Publications Inc. 2339A Delinea Place, Nanaimo, BC V9T 5L9 Phone: 250.729.2677; Fax 250.729.2687 No part of this magazine may be reproduced without permission from the publisher. If undeliverable please return to the address above. The views expressed by columnists are a personal opinion and do not necessarily reflect those of Maximum Yield or the editor.

Publication Agreement Number 40739092 Printed In Canada PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER - Jim Jesson GENERAL MANAGER - Don Moores BUSINESS MANAGER - Linda Jesson editorial editor@maximumyield.com Editor-in-chief Linda Jesson Assistant Editor Julie McManus ADVERTISING SALES Sales Manager Ilona Hawser - ilona@maximumyield.com Account Executives Kelsey Hepples - kelsey@maximumyield.com Katie Montague - katie@maximumyield.com Jed Walker - jed@maximumyield.com Taylor Doyle - taylor@maximumyield.com DESIGN & PRODUCTION ads@maximumyield.com Art Director Alice Joe Graphic Designers Jennifer Everts Dionne Hurd Jesslyn Gosling ACCOUNTING Tracy Greeno - accounting@maximumyield.com Ava Seimens - ar@maximumyield.com USA DISTRIBUTION Aurora Innovations • BWGS • General Hydroponics Humbolt Wholesale • Hydrofarm National Garden Wholesale/Sunlight Supply • Nickel City Wholesale Garden Supply • R&M Supply • Tradewinds CANADIAN DISTRIBUTION Brite-Lite Group • Biofloral • Eddis Wholesale • Greenstar Plant Products Inc. • MegaWatt • Quality Wholesale UK DISTRIBUTION Direct Garden Supplies • Growth Technology • Future Harvest Development Europe • Dutch Bio Power Nutriculture UK • Dutch Pro • Maxigrow AUSTRALIAN DISTRIBUTION Dome Garden Supply • House N Garden • Futchatec • Growth Technology

Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

contributors Dr. Lynette Morgan holds a B.

Dr. J. Benton Jones Jr. has 50 years of experience growing plants hydroponically. He is an Emeritus Professor at the University of Georgia, Athens and has authored eight books and written articles for magazines that deal with hydroponic issues. He currently has his own consulting company, Grosystems, Inc. Dr. Jones currently lives in Anderson, SC, USA.

William DeBoer is a laboratory scientist

Hort. Tech. degree and a PhD in hydroponic greenhouse production from Massey University, New Zealand. Lynette is a partner with SUNTEC International Hydroponic Consultants and has authored ﬁve hydroponic technical books. Visit suntec.co.nz for more information.

Eric Hopper has over 10 years of

Grubbycup has been an avid

Karen Wilkinson works for EZCLONE Enterprises, Inc., as its social media editor. She came to them with a background in journalism and technical writing and is learning to grow, clone and write for the hydroponics community. She’s a budding gardener and loves growing her own vegetables.

Sylvia Bernstein is the author of Aquaponic Gardening: A Step by Step Guide to Growing Fish and Vegetables Together. She is also the president of The Aquaponic Source, and the cofounder and past vice chairman of the Aquaponics Association. Before discovering aquaponics, she was the vice president of marketing and product development for AeroGrow International.

Kyle L. Ladenburger is a passionate

Dr. Ed Harwood is founder and chief

Maxwell Salinger is a research

Donald Lester is the product manager at JH Biotech, a commercial fertilizer manufacturer with 28 OMRI-certiﬁed organic products. Donald has a master’s degree in agronomy with over 10 years of agricultural research experience and 50 scientiﬁc publications to his credit. He is also director of SaferGro Laboratories, a home and garden products company located in Ventura, California.

indoor gardener for over 20 years. His articles were ﬁrst published in the United Kingdom, and since then his gardening advice has been published in French, Spanish, Italian, Polish, Czechoslovakian and German. He is also considered one of the world’s leading authorities on crochet hydroponics.

experience in the hydroponic industry as both a retail store manager and owner. He continuously seeks new methods and products that could help maximize garden performance. Eric resides in Michigan where he and his family strive for a self-sufﬁcient and sustainable lifestyle.

indoor and outdoor gardener. He is also a freelance garden writer. With nearly 10 years in the industry working for Age Old Organics, he is well versed in numerous growing methods with a focus on soil health.

horticulturist at CropKing Inc. He earned his bachelor’s degree in crop science from Ohio State University, where he also minored in plant pathology. Maxwell has a passion for integrating the technological side of crop production with the art of growing, and he is proud to call himself a hydroponics geek.

at Indiana-based steadyGROWpro. A master gardener intern, Bill is responsible for company’s laboratory operations, including the design and execution of research projects, plant propagation, seed germination and overall plant care. Bill has a BS and MS from Purdue University, and was previously a research technician for the US Department of Agriculture.

executive ofﬁcer of AeroFarms. Ed previously served as associate director of Cornell Cooperative Extension for Agriculture. Prior to that, Ed served as CEO of Topline Waikato, Inc.

Become a Maximum Yield contributor and have your articles read by 250,000 readers throughout USA, Canada, UK, Europe, New Zealand and Australia. Maximum Yield is the largest free-to-consumer indoor gardening magazine in the world. Every issue is available on maximumyield.com, which has thousands of unique visitors monthly.

COMING UP ON THE WEB

Long Beach Expo October 26-27

There is only one more stop on the 2013 Maximum Yield Indoor Gardening Grow Like a Pro Expo tour. So, be sure to join us in Long Beach, California, on October 26 to 27— whether you’re a new or experienced gardener, this show will offer something for everyone. Stay tuned to indoorgardenexpo.com for details so you can plan your Long Beach vacation. And, don’t forget that a few weeks before the show, you’ll be able to download and print free passes to Sunday’s public day.

Got Questions? Get Answers.

Maximum Yield’s resident experts are ready to answer your modern gardening questions. Email editor@maximumyield.com or fill out the “Ask the Experts” question form on maximumyield.com

Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

Maximum Yield Publications now Smart Phone Compatible

Maximum Yield has been in circulation for the past 15 years, and fully available online for the majority of those years. This summer, we are excited to announce that all of our publications are now easily viewed using your smart phones and tablet computers. Whether you’re using an Android-based system, an iPhone or a Blackberry, loading up your digital copies of Maximum Yield will now be possible thanks to multiple software upgrades and improvements. Our loyal followers can now view their digital copies of Maximum Yield in even more places!

Maximum Yield E-News Archives

Every month, Maximum Yield sends out an electronic newsletter containing indoor gardening industry tidbits to our followers.

We also keep all of that information posted online at enews.maximumyield.com in case you ever miss something.

Free Digital Subscription to Maximum Yield USA Did you know you can receive Maximum Yield USA free to your inbox every month? Subscribe to the digital edition of Maximum Yield by simply filling out the form at maximumyield.com/subscriptions

Connect with US maximumyield.com facebook.com/MaximumYield indoorgardenexpo.com twitter.com/max_yield

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Sixth I’m a Fan Winner Announced

Armando Mushik from Thermal, California, is the sixth winner of Maximum Yield’s I’m a Fan Contest! Armando said, “I am a fan of Maximum Yield because it seems that every time I am thinking of something, or am moving to the next step in growing knowledge, the info is often provided by Maximum Yield. This last weekend I went to my hydro store and got a long-awaited printed version of Maximum Yield. As the temperature in Armando Mushik the desert at my home gets hot, I was wondering about CO2 to help with heat issues and when I got home I open up and find an article on CO2! Then, [the appropriate] advertising just says, ‘buy me, you need me.’ Thank you, MY, for having these ads so consumers purchase the products to drive the cycle. I call my hydroponics store three hours from my house to see when they will have the next copy. When they do, I drive to go get one, plus supplies. Thank you for everything and all the great information you provide and thank you for the free back issues available online.” Thanks for the kudos, Armando, and congratulations on winning Maximum Yield’s sixth I’m a Fan contest! We hope you enjoy your $100 gift certificate at your favorite indoor gardening shop, Green Coast Hydroponics.

Your

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Indoor Gardening Expo Feedback

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Here is what people are saying.

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via Facebook:

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I just wanted to say thank you to all the vendors who supplied the very cool samples and valuable information at the [Novi] expo. I cannot wait to put them to good use. Thanks again!”

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Judy A.

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Thanks for the show. We could go for two shows a year. We saw a lot of new technology and acquired a few new ideas!”

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Dale A.

Two Two Two Two Two Two Two Two Two Two We need an Indoor Gardening Expo in the Northeast!”

Andrew Robert D.

Cents Cents Cents Cents Cents Cents Cents Cents Cents Cents Thank you for hosting an awesome event.”

Andrew G.

Thanks, MY! Great show, as always! Oasis Grower Solutions

News You Can Use

via Twitter:

I loved the article on kitchen scrap gardening [Maximum Yield, June 2013]. We used the info right away with some ginger! Jeremiah (via Facebook)

What an amazing @Max_Yield show in MI. A great crowd with many intelligent questions. Can’t wait to return!”

Your Your Your Your Your Your Your Your Your Your

Sea-Crop @SeaCropCA

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Great times at the @Max_Yield #novi trade show. Thanks to everyone for stopping by. See you in San Francisco!”

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Organic Rescue @OrganicRescue

Your Your Your Your Your Your Your Your Your Your

Michigan packed the house. Another fine show @Max_Yield Novi!! See you in SF.” Forever Flowering @ericffg

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In Regards to MY, June 2013 This is your best issue yet! Julie Marie (via Facebook)

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We want to hear from you!

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Maximum Yield Publications Inc. Snail-mail: 2339 Delinea Place, Nanaimo, BC V9T 5L9 Email: editor@maximumyield.com Twitter: twitter.com/max_yield Facebook: facebook.com/MaximumYield

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Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

ASK The Experts

I have received a CO2 bag system. I have some understanding of CO2, but want to ask, should a fan be running 24 hours daily, or should the fan be turned off at night? Is using CO2 really worth the effort? Thank you for your information!

Steve Verre

Steve, Thank you for your questions. First of all, let me say how lucky you are to have received a CO2 bag. They provide a simple way to get some carbon dioxide into your garden. Let’s look at your second question first. Why is CO2 worth the effort? Plants need CO2 to photosynthesize. Photosynthesis is the process by which plant leaves make carbohydrates. Sunlight, CO2 and water are converted into carbohydrates and oxygen by the action of chlorophyll in the chloroplasts of the plant. Plants growing indoors under artificial light often lack enough CO2 to efficiently photosynthesize. Plants can quickly use up the available CO2 and convert it to O2. When O2 levels rise too high, stomata on the leaf surface close and plant growth virtually stops. CO2 is as important as your light, soil or the nutrients you use. Without it, your garden is not functioning at it greatest potential. With this in mind, let’s look at your first question. CO2 is heavier than O2 and will fall towards the bottom of your garden. Plants that are below the bag will catch most of the CO2, but some of it may make its way further down. A fan circulating the air is a good way to make sure that all

Glen Babcock

Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

available CO2 is utilized. A lot of people vent their garden with an exhaust fan and bring in fresh air via another air duct. If you do, it is best to exhaust up high and bring air in towards the bottom of your garden. This still allows CO2 from the bag to fall and allows your plants to photosynthesize. Having the intake lower will help move any CO2 that is down below back into the reach of your plants. Plants can only photosynthesize in the presence of light. During the dark period in your garden, CO2 is still being produced by the bag and will gradually build up, only to be utilized by your plants when the light period begins. When your lights turn on, the stomata on the plants leaves open and the process of photosynthesis begins for another day. If you are going to turn off anything during the dark period, I would suggest turning off the exhaust and fresh air fans to allow the greatest amount of CO2 to build up in your garden. CO2 bags are an affordable and effective way to provide your plants with what I like to call the air additive. The benefits outweigh the efforts, which are few. Simply place the CO2 bag above your plants and leave it alone to do its work. You should see results in just a few days. You will notice your plants are greener. This is because more chlorophyll is present, which means more photosynthesis is taken place. Hope this helps. Good Growing, Glen Babcock Glen Babcock is the owner of Garden City Fungi and the founder of ExHale Homegrown CO2. Glen has been involved in agriculture his entire life. Glen graduated from the University of Montana with a degree in forestry and has been a mycologist for over 23 years. His research has been published in scientific journals worldwide.

MAX FACTS

hydroponic news, tips and trivia

Pistachio Projections California’s pistachio growers have made a bet on the future: they’ve planted so many trees that the state’s production is expected to more than double, hitting in excess of a billion pounds by 2020. The ramped-up production is based on the gamble that Chinese consumers’ voracious appetite for pistachios will continue to grow. US pistachio exports to China now exceed 80 million pounds, up from just 1 million a decade ago. Growers have watched their fortunes rise as well. Total crop values are now over $1 billion, a fivefold increase from when growers first began their aggressive ramp-up of production in 1997, according to the Administrative Committee on Pistachios. In 2011, the American Pistachio Growers launched a road show in China. The nuts were pitched as part of a healthy diet that improves skin and hair. (Source: sacbee.com)

MAXFACTS

hydroponic news, tips and trivia

Funding the Battle Against Greening Federal and Florida state governments have invested $17 million in emergency research funding to find a solution to the ever worsening impact of the huanglongbing (HLB) disease (also known as greening) crisis. A $9 million allocation from the US Department of Agriculture will be targeted at intermediate research projects. An $8 million commitment from the Florida legislature will be aimed at short-term research. (Source: 2highlandstoday.com)

Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

Lots of Apricots It’s shaping up to be a great year for apricot growers in Washington. Industry experts are predicting a near record crop—about 5,900 tons—for the fruit. That’s the second largest crop in the past 13 years. Experts say the fruit should also be above average in size too, because of the good weather. (Source: kndu.cm)

MAX FACTS

hydroponic news, tips and trivia

Nematodes Helping Corn Nematodes have shown promise as biological control agents in the fight against the western corn rootworm, whose larval stage is a costly pest of corn. But current spray methods used to apply the beneficial nematodes can be labor-intensive and water-consuming. As an alternative, a team of scientists is field-testing gel capsule formulations that encapsulate the pest-killing nematode Heterorhabditis bacteriophora. This nematode species poses no danger to humans, pets or livestock, but its lethality to rootworm larvae may give corn growers another option for protecting their crops, together with the use of insecticides and rotations with non-host crops like soybean. (Source: ars.usda.gov)

Maximum Yield USAâ&#x20AC;&#x201A; |â&#x20AC;&#x201A; August 2013

Shipping Flowers by Sea Thanks to rising fuel costs and improved cold storage technology, fresh-cut flowers are increasingly transported by boat rather than by airplane, the Wall Street Journal signals. Such ocean transport can cost half as much as airfreight and retailers are increasingly demanding cheaper flowers. Consumers, meanwhile, are unlikely to notice the difference when it comes to the bouquets they buy. (Source: florint.org)

Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

MAX FACTS

hydroponic news, tips and trivia

Extending Strawberry Shelf Life Scientists have worked out how to double the shelf life of strawberries. The technique sees a novel use of LED technology to pour UV light onto the berries, which (as a result) won’t go off for at least nine days. This technology could also benefit other fresh produce. (Source: dailymail.co.uk)

Veggies for Soldiers North Carolina State University has gained support from the US Army to create functional food ingredients from fruits and vegetables that will be used to develop healthier, more portable combat rations for soldiers. Researchers with North Carolina State’s Plants for Human Health Institute, located at the North Carolina Research Campus in Kannapolis, are infusing protein powders and flours, the kinds found at health and nutrition stores, with health-promoting compounds from kale greens and muscadine grapes. The research addresses a critical military challenge: how to provide balanced diets (inclusive of fruits and vegetables) to troops in the field that will have taste appeal while still maintaining shelf life, portability and health-protective functionality. (Source: southeastfarmpress.com)

Using Every Last Olive Scrap For every gallon of olive oil that’s pressed from the ripe fruit, about 38 lb. of olive skins, pulp and pits are left behind. Known as pomace, these leftovers typically have low-value uses. But USDA agricultural engineer Rebecca R. Milczarek and her colleagues are working to find new, environmentally friendly and profitable uses for pomace. Milczarek notes that one key to creating higher-value uses for pomace, which is wet and heavy, is to develop techniques for quickly and affordably drying it at the mill. That would make the pomace easier and less expensive to ship to a centralized processing plant. There, specialized equipment could be used to extract additional oil or perhaps compounds for use in new foods, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics or other products. (Source: ars.usda.gov) 30

Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

MAX FACTS

hydroponic news, tips and trivia

A new Kind of Valentine The University of California, Riverside, has released a new fruit: the Valentine. While technically a pummelo, it’s a hybrid cross of Siamese sweet pummelo, Dancy mandarin and ruby blood orange. The name is derived from the shape of the fruit that when cut lengthwise and turned upside resembles a read heart. The red flesh contains anthocyanins, which have been coveted for their potential healthful benefits. These are the same antioxidants contained in dark-colored fruits, such as pomegranates, blueberries and blackberries. (Source: thegrower.com)

Cost-saving LED Lights The US Department of Energy did a study of how much electricity was saved last year thanks to the use of LED in nine kinds of applications (various kinds of indoor lights, streetlights, etc). The numbers are very impressive: “In 2012, about 49 million LED lamps and luminaires were installed in the nine applications. LEDs in these markets saved approximately 71 trillion British thermal units, equivalent to an annual energy cost savings of about $675 million!” (Source: treehugger.com)

Promoting Phosphorus Management A more comprehensive and consistent system for modeling phosphorus loss is now available, thanks to work by USDA scientists. The Phosphorus Index was originally a simple management tool developed to gauge the risk of phosphorus losses from agricultural fields. The original index has since been modified by individual states to incorporate local variations in soils, climate, management and water quality goals.To reduce these state-by-state discrepancies, the USDA has developed the Annual Phosphorus Loss Estimator (APLE), a user-friendly spreadsheet program that predicts field-scale phosphorus loss in runoff for a whole year. The revamped program can also be used in different states to quantify field-scale phosphorus loss and soil phosphorus changes over 10 years. APLE is free to download from ars.usda.gov (Source: ars.usda.gov) 32

Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT YOUR GUIDE TO THIS MONTH’S

HOTTEST ITEMS Ask for them at your local indoor gardening store

Active Aqua Premium White Reservoirs now Available from Hydrofarm Active Aqua’s new premium white reservoirs offer unparalleled strength, performance and value. These heavy-duty reservoirs are thick, rigid, durable and easy to clean. The edges are arch-formed for extra strength and minimal flexing. These versatile reservoirs are made to fit under flood tables and other hydroponic systems. They feature multiple drill access points for bulkhead fittings, drainage fittings and inside gradation to verify water levels. Active Aqua’s premium white reservoirs are a great value at an affordable price! This product is available in 20- , 40- , 70- and 115-gal. sizes. For more information, stop by your local hydro store.

Titan Controls’ Saturn Series

Aquatic Life’s RO Buddie

Titan Controls is proud to announce its latest addition to its multifunction controller line, the Saturn Series models 4, 5 and 6. These easy-to-use garden controllers provide ultimate control of your indoor garden. They offer temperature, humidity and CO2 functions to maintain the precise levels that make your garden flourish. Each product is ETL listed and comes in a durable dust-, rust- and moisture-resistant plastic enclosure. The Saturn 4 offers simplistic control of temperature and humidity and includes CO2 integration into your grow space. The Saturn 5 steps it up by adding a CO2 short-cycle timer to enrich the environment. The Saturn 6 is one of our most advanced controllers, coming complete with a remote CO2 sniffer. For more information, stop by a local grow store.

Committed to providing economical filtered water with a small footprint, Aquatic Life has introduced a new reverse osmosis (RO) water purification system called the RO Buddie™. The RO Buddie provides economical filtered water using a three-stage system. Using carbon and sediment cartridges with a central membrane, the RO Buddie removes harmful substances such as heavy metal ions and total dissolved solids from tap water. Available in two sizes: the 50 gal. and 100 gal. per day, the small size of the RO Buddie makes it easy to place under cabinets or in limited spaces. Unlike most RO units that use replacement carbon and sediment cartridges that fit into a chamber, the RO Buddie carbon and sediment cartridges are encased in durable plastic housings that are part of the filter. Quick connections combined with the front location of the cartridges make for easy removal, disposal and installation. Ask a retail store near you for more information.

Atmosphere’s new S-Line Atmosphere, the maker of the Vortex Powerfans, is proud to introduce the new S-Line. The S-line is a revolutionary series of fans that combine energy efficiency, ultra-quiet operations and a collection of advanced technologies that deliver unparalleled performances. An extremely energy efficient AC brushless motor powers the patented mixed-flow dual impellers. Built with double insulated walls, noise is reduced to levels that were previously thought to be unattainable. All S-Line models are assembled with high impact resistant polycarbonate casings, an integrated back draft damper and a mounting bracket designed for quick and easy installation. The S-Line models feature a 10-year warranty. For more information, visit an indoor gardening store near you.

Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

RootBuilder II RootMaker® provides container solutions for all sizes and varieties of plants. RootBuilder II® sizes are available in minis; quarts; 1, 2, 3 and 5 to 7 gal. and 100-ft. rolls. RootBuilder II rolls allow you to build a container to the size you need, with cable ties keeping it together. The material allows for roots to be directed outward to funnels, which allow for branching and air-root-pruning. The funnel technology keeps water loss at a minimum and provides shading to reduce temperature and water evaporation. The RootBuilder II system provides a superior root system and gives your plants the best opportunity to reach their genetic potential. Check out a local retail store for more information.

Method Seven Operator, LED Optics

Arborjet’s Eco-Mite and Eco-PM

Method Seven, the company that developed perfect color-balancing optics for working under HPS lights, introduces the first optics designed for LED grow lights. The Operator, LED is part of Method Seven’s Fission Series, manufactured by Carl Zeiss Vision. This lens offers the grower extreme clarity, focus and protection while working under LED lights. Growers can now experience daylight balance color under the harsh conditions of LED grow lights and protect themselves from UV. Designed in California and built in Italy, the LED Fission Lens is lightweight, shatterproof and will make their debut at the Maximum Yield Indoor Gardening Expo in San Francisco.

Say goodbye to mites, powdery mildew and a host of other insect and fungus pests. Arborjet Inc. recently announced two brand-new products specially formulated to use on small plants: Eco-Mite™ and Eco-PM™. Derived from organic botanical plant oils and extracts, both Eco-Mite and Eco-PM kill and repel target pests, and are non-toxic to people and pets. Eco-Mite is a contact miticide and insecticide. It controls phytophagous mites, eggs, nymphs, aphids, mealybugs, scale crawlers, thrips and whiteflies. Eco-PM is a broad spectrum contact fungicide. It controls powdery mildews, botrytis grey mold and phytophthora late blight on common garden and vegetable plants and vines and more. These new products, along with AzaSol™, comprise Arborjet’s new Eco-Line—an array of products created with ecofriendliness in mind. Visit an indoor gardening store near you to learn more.

Dutchpro’s Original Bloom Soil A+B Dutchpro’s award-winning Original Bloom Soil A+B is a complete bloom feed purposely designed for soil. This product has all of the essential macro and micro growth nutrients necessary for exuberant bloom. For fertilizer use mix 26.41 gal. of water with 6.76 or 10.14 oz. of Original Bloom Soil, dependant on the desired EC level. Never mix components in pure form with each other. Instead add component A, water and then component B in equal parts (always rinsing the measuring cup well). Available in sizes ranging from 0.26, 1.32, 2.64, 5.28 and the new 13.2 gal. Dutchpro nutrients are stable and clear and contain organic elements to keep plants vital and green until the end of the cycle. For more information, ask about Dutchpro at your local retail store.

Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT Active Eye Microscope for iPhone 4/5 now Available from Hydrofarm Active Eye’s Microscope transforms your iPhone into a mobile 60x microscope! This unit comes with a protective phone case that makes the microscope convenient to use and easy to attach. The microscope offers a portable and convenient design with a bright LED light for ideal magnification for detecting insects and diseases on plants. You can also photograph magnified objects for records and photo sharing. Available for the iPhone 4 and iPhone 5. To learn more, ask a local hydro store.

Dutchpro’s Original Grow Hydro/Coco A+B Soft Water Dutchpro’s award-winning Original Grow Hydro/Coco A+B Soft Water is a complete grow feed that’s proven to be perfect for hydro and coco methods. Soft water formulations are especially designed for soft water areas. This product has all the essential macronutrients and micronutrients necessary for exuberant growth. For fertilizer use mix 26.41 gal. of water with between 8.45 and 11.83 oz. of Original Grow Hydro/Coco dependant on the desired EC level. Never mix the components in pure form with each other. Instead, add component A, water and then component B in equal parts (always rinsing the measuring cup well). Available in sizes ranging from 0.26, 1.32, 2.64, 5.28 and the new 13.2 gal. Dutchpro nutrients are stable and clear and contain organic elements. Visit a local retail store and ask about Dutchpro today.

Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Sun System Light Emitting Ceramic (LEC) 315 Sunlight Supply®, Inc. is excited to announce the arrival of the Sun System®LEC 315 light fixture. Sun System LEC 315 utilizes cutting-edge Light Emitting Ceramic™ technology, along with a specially engineered 98% reflective optical cavity. This product includes a highly efficient agriculturally engineered Philips CDM-T Elite Agro Lamp. Get greatly improved full-color light spectrum, with higher amounts of beneficial UV and far red spectrums increasing the lamp’s growing power. The Sun System®LEC 315 light fixture has a very high 1.95 PPF per second light source; 3,100-K color temperature; high 92 CRI and 33,000 initial lumens (105 lm/W). The unique open-rated lamp construction reduces radiant heat from the arc tube and is suitable for open fixture use. 50/60 Hz low frequency, square wave, highly efficient electronic ballast rated for 50,000 hour ballast life. Visit a local retailer for more information.

Pot Licker Be done with the problems smooth-walled plastic pots can create with your plant’s roots. Turn any pot into a RootTrapper II® instantly with the new RootMaker® product called Pot Licker®. Its state-of-the-art lamination technology assures your plant’s roots grow in a healthy state and make a smooth transition to a larger pot or ground planting. The process is simple: line the hard pot with the Pot Licker fabric, fill with growth medium and allow for the fabric to promote trapping of root tips. Roots will branch as if they were cut or air-pruned, allowing a fibrous root system to be created throughout the container. To find out more, stop by a local grow store.

Gnat Nix by Growstone Introducing the scientifically proven, environmentally friendly fungus gnat control called Gnat Nix! Gnat Nix! is free of harmful pesticides and chemicals and is made from 100% recycled glass. Plants love it. Gnats don’t. Gnat Nix! is a non-toxic, chemical-free fungus gnat control and is considered a long-lasting top dressing effective under dry or moist conditions. It’s great for both indoor and outdoor use. University trials have proved Gnat Nix! used as a top dressing is an effective physical barrier against fungus gnats. It prevents adult emergence from hatching larvae and deters females from laying eggs in the growing media. As a result, the lifecycle of fungus gnats is interrupted. All you need to do is apply approximately a half-inch thick layer of Gnat Nix! to fully cover the surface of the growing medium in your growing containers. For more information, visit a grow store near you.

SuperCloset’s LED Trinity 3.0 Hydroponic Grow Box SuperCloset’s LED Trinity 3.0 grow box is 72-in. tall, 72-in. wide and 24-in. deep. It features three independent lighting systems to allow indoor gardeners the ability to move plants, based on their age and height, through different grow environments. The LED lights used in the system are proprietary 8 bandwidth spectrum LEDs that run on 700 mA. The LED Trinity 3.0 is a much more sustainable product than the traditional HID Trinity 3.0 and has garnered many accolades even in its short release. Ask about it at a local retailer.

Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Predator Lighting Announces new Viper The streamlined new Predator Lighting Viper is perfect for growers on the hunt for a high-quality reflector! Its durable steel housing and compact design make it ideal for indoor gardens, and its built-in cord with integrated ballast plug makes setup simple. The Viper features a UL-listed Leviton 2000-W, 600-V pulse-rated socket and a superior-quality 95% reflective insert that takes maximum advantage of available light. To allow gardeners greater control over the growing environment, the Viper has no flange or lens. Unit measures 20 in. by 13 5/8 in. by 8 1/4 in. Visit a retailer near you to find out more

Hydroton Sunlight Supply®, Inc. is pleased to announce the arrival of Hydroton. Hydroton is a unique, lightweight expanded clay aggregate. Hydroton is ecologically sustainable as it is derived from a replenishable source: clay. Clay naturally has balanced capillary action to accelerate plant growth with an ideal surface for root structures and beneficial bacteria. Hydroton drains freely, is pH adjusted, free of harmful heavy metals and is inert. You can use Hydroton as a stand-alone grow media for most hydroponic growing systems, as well as mixing in with other medias such as coco, potting soil or rockwool for increased aeration and drainage. Visit a local hydro store for more information.

Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Grow Your Plants in CYCO’s new Premium Media CYCO has expanded its line of premium growing media. CYCO Coco Pearl mixes their high-quality coco with perlite, forming a superior RHP-certified blend that provides high water absorption and excellent aeration. It’s pre-buffered and pH stabilized, so it’s healthy for plants right out of the bag. CYCO Hydro Clay is perfect as a growing medium, drainage layer or top dressing, and carries the GGS and RAL certifications. Visit a retailer near you to find out more.

Dutchpro’s Leaf Green Dutchpro’s award-winning Leaf Green is used to achieve good leaf development in your garden. Leaf Green gives plants a healthy and vital look. It is especially recommended for plants that have noticeable difficulties with their development. It also gives plants with a yellowish discoloring a fresh green color. Also use it for improving a plant’s nutrient uptake. Leaf Green is non-ammonia based and comes ready to use as a spray-on liquid. Spraying on the leaves should be done at least three hours before the lights go on. Available in sizes ranging from 0.26, 1.32, 2.64 and 5.28 gal. Dutchpro nutrients are stable and clear and contain organic elements. For more information on Dutchpro products, ask a local retailer.

Get Results with a Sunspot 6 Econo The Sunleaves Sunspot 6 Plug ‘N’ Play Econo packs a lot of features at an affordable price for gardeners on a budget. With a hinged airtight lens and heavyduty housing for reliable performance, it features 6-in. inline venting flanges and a highly reflective insert with a UL-listed Leviton 2,000-W, 600-V pulse-rated socket. Find a local retailer to learn more.

Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

Plant Perfect Fabric Flower Pots Plant Perfect Fabric Flower Pots are timetested fabric containers that perform, display and present better than the competition. Used in commercial tree farms and nurseries for decades, Plant Perfect Fabric Flower Pots are of the highest quality and are designed with performance in mind. Made with pressed felt, the Plant Perfect Fabric Flower Pot maintains moisture levels in your chosen media. To help with longevity and discourage the seams from rotting out, the Plant Perfect Fabric Flower Pot is bottom stitched externally. Unique top stitching helps the container maintain its shape when filling with your preferred media. All it takes is one person to do the job. For more information, ask a local retailer.

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

KIND LED Lights KIND LED introduces the largest LED grow light (up to 300% bigger footprint than other LED grow lights) in two series of lighting products, with the premium line featuring dimmable red, blue and white balance knobs to fine tune vegetative and flowering light cycles. Now you can mimic the sun’s natural photosynthetic progression of rays to maximize fruit, flower and essential oil production. In addition, KIND LED has developed their exclusive proprietary “Perfect Spectrum” that enables growers to harvest record yields at the highest quality level by utilizing a 12 spectrum bandwidth that penetrates the plant canopy entirely. A 2-cm thick high quality aluminum heat sink completes the hardware package design. To learn more, inquire at a local retailer.

DIY 5-gal. Bucket now Available at Hydrofarm This proprietary 5-gal. DIY bucket is designed specifically for hydroponic use. It features dual integrated air tubing channels, a flat mounting area for securing grommets/fittings and a stepped inner lip to prevent spillage. This DIY 5-gal. bucket works with standard bucket basket lids. To find out more, visit a local hydro store.

Method Seven Prescription Optics Method Seven Optics, which delivers color balance, clarity and protection while working under various grow lighting environments, introduces prescription glasses for HPS, metal halide and LED lighting. Available in the patent-pending Rendition Series glass and the Carl Zeiss Vision Fission Series, these glasses come in several prescription options, including bi-focal and progressives. Now growers who require prescription glasses can enjoy color, clarity and protection with Method Seven Technology. Learn more at a grow store near you.

Octopot’s Oystershell Garden Octopot’s Oystershell Garden unites simple soil gardening with the science of hydroponics, delivering farm-sized plants with yields similar to plants grown in 15-gal. containers or larger. Take a vacation from your garden without depending on others to take care of it—the Oystershell Garden automatically feeds and waters plants without electricity for up to two weeks, depending on the size and stage of the plant. Octopot’s Hydro Wick is designed to promote healthy root branching by delivering optimum amounts of air and moisture to plant roots. The root mass is nourished on demand and can be fed with organic or synthetic nutrients. Octopot’s new Gro Sleeve improves plant growth by promoting natural root pruning and allowing additional air to the soil for accelerated capillary action. Check in at a local retail store for more information.

Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

CleanLight Air and CleanLight Pro The CleanLight USA line has expanded to include an air filtration system and a larger handheld UV-C unit. The CleanLight Air treats rooms up to 720 sq. ft. killing fungus, bacteria and viruses in the air. The system does this with a multifaceted filtration system utilizing UV-C, HEPA, active carbon and cold catalyst and it even has an ozone generator with built-in safety features. The CleanLight Air has both automatic and manual settings along with a bad smell sensor for odors. The unit comes with a touchscreen digital display and remote control. Also from CleanLight USA, the CleanLight Pro builds on the success of the Hobby Unit but has a more powerful 40-W bulb. The unit is intended for larger growrooms and has a shatterproof lamp. Users simply sweep the CleanLight Pro across the plant’s architecture to kill unwanted fungus, bacteria and viruses on the plant. For more information, visit a retail store in your area.

Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

E S U O H N E E GR 1 0 1 G N I W GRO BY KAREN WILKINSON

SO, YOU WANT TO GROW IN A GREENHOUSE, BUT YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW? DON’T FRET... WE HAVE YOU COVERED. 50

Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

Greenhouse Growing 101

A greenhouse is the perfect

place to germinate seeds and allows you to extend the natural growing season.” If you’re a control freak, and can’t stand the uncertainty of growing outdoors with the whims of Mother Nature at the helm, greenhouse gardening may be the growing method you’ve been searching for. It’s relatively easy and cost effective and once you’ve got the environmental controls down, it can provide a lot of fun and rewards. A greenhouse is the perfect place to germinate seeds and allows you to extend the natural growing season. So if you want to grow vegetables year-round, it may be a reality if you’re willing to put in the work and if greenhouse growing is practical given your geographical location. But with such control, comes a lot of responsibility and work, which we’ll get to later. There’s nothing new about greenhouse gardening. The concept of using an environmentally-controlled apparatus to grow year-round has been around since Roman times when cucumber-like vegetables were planted in wheeled carts, which were put in the sun during the day, and taken inside at night to stay warm. Roman emperor Tiberius had an affinity for these vegetables so they were provided at his table every day and grown using artificial methods.

Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

Technology continued to evolve but for the most part was reserved for the rich and elite. The playing field is more level today, as most home growers can afford a plastic or glass greenhouse. Today’s gardeners have a few more advantages over those growing using greenhouse concepts thousands of years ago in that factors such as temperature, humidity, soil aeration, soil moisture and drainage, fertility levels and light are mostly within one’s control. But before embarking on a greenhouse growing adventure, there are a few tips to be mindful of, especially if you’re just starting out. The main greenhouse gardening factors are light, temperature, ventilation and watering. But that’s just touching the surface; the more you get into this style of growing the more you recognize virtually everything is within arm’s reach, from the lighting to pollination. But first things first: if you’re not up to speed on the basics, the whole thing can wither away and die before your eyes. Keep in mind you don’t need a bunch of fancy equipment to grow in a greenhouse. In fact, simplicity can be your friend here. Then, once you’ve got a grip on the greenhouse, explore more. For now, let’s focus on getting those plants growing.

Greenhouse Growing 101

What You’ll Need Seeds or starters Seeds can easily be propagated easily inside a greenhouse. They are the cheapest way to go and provide the greatest sense of pride for the grower. If you don’t have the patience or time for seeds, starters are almost always available at your local nursery. Whatever you’re planting, however, be sure that you’re growing sturdy, productive, disease- and pest-resistant plants. The last thing you want is a species prone to aphids regardless of ideal growing conditions, or plants that need constant feeding and attention. Next, you’ll want to find soil, containers and fertilizer.

Save yourself from the hassle and get into the best part of it all, the actual growing.” Soil First of all, do not use unsterilized soil. Going cheap and easy doesn’t pay off, and may end up causing more problems in the long run. Unsterilized soil often contains parasites, but if you insist on using dirt that’s straight from the ground or otherwise previously used, do yourself a big favor and sterilize it. Bake it, if you will, by placing in the oven for an hour at 250°F, being sure to thoroughly moisten it first. And be prepared to leave the kitchen while this is going on, as the scent isn’t terribly pleasing. Once baked, add about one tablespoon of fertilizer to each gallon of soil, and blend. You can always make your own soil mixture, but if you want to save yourself some time and messiness, just skip it all and throw down some money on soil. Save yourself from the hassle and get into the best part of it all, the actual growing. 54

Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

Greenhouse Growing 101

Containers Just as your soil should be either fresh from the store or sterilized, so should the containers you’ll be using. Keep in mind that plants should only be transplanted once due to the shock to the plant, so go big, but be realistic. Be sure that the container is deep enough for the plant’s root system, as root-bound plants aren’t healthy plants. If sterilizing a container, use a bleach mix of one part bleach to 10 parts water, or half water and half vinegar. Then submerge the container in the solution for 30 to 45 minutes, being sure to remove caked-on dirt and debris with a scourging sponge. Rinse thoroughly afterward with warm water and allow to completely dry before putting more life back into them.

Fertilizer Most plants like food, but can be hurt if the grower feeds it too much. Keep in mind that most commercial soil already has nutrients to sustain plants for about three weeks. So introduce fertilizer gradually, being sure to start with a diluted solution and slowly increase the dosage. Starting off with a high dose can burn a plant and damage its roots. Be slow, be mindful and be aware that adding fertilizer changes the pH of the soil, making it more acidic.

Be sure that the container is deep enough for the plant’s root system, as root-bound plants aren’t healthy plants.” Factors Affecting Growth Humidity While rain forests are ideal environments for some plants, such a climate can actually hinder plant growth if humidity levels get too high. Levels should be between 70 to 85% during high-growth periods, and levels between 90 and 95% should be avoided if possible. Too much humidity can weaken plants and encourage early bolting and fungal diseases, making otherwise sturdy, healthy plants limp and prone to problems that will only compound and leave you with a mess to clean. Humidity levels can be lowered through venting, exhausting humid air and watering only when needed. If you need to increase such levels, spraying water on the floor can help. Moisture levels can also be upped by placing containers of water in the greenhouse, allowing it to evaporate to maintain humidity levels. 56

Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

Greenhouse Growing 101

Watering

Use rooftop air vents to allow moisture and heat to expel naturally.”

This is a no brainer, but it’s usually the overabundance of water, or lack thereof, that can kill. So be mindful—water is necessary, but the amount and frequency depends on temperature, length of day, plant size and growing medium. Many recommend thoroughly soaking the plants once a day, but too much water can be harmful as well. It’s a balancing act. Use well-draining soil and be sure the pots are equipped to allow excess water to drain away from the plant’s roots. An abundance of moisture can lead to root rot, killing the plants. If you can only water once a day, do so, but if your schedule permits watering in smaller amounts twice daily, take the time. And with the exception of the hot summer months, many crops can be watered every other day. Also, remember to kill the chlorine. Allow the water to stand for 24 hours in an open container, which will not only help to evaporate the chlorine, but will also bring it to room temperature, allowing you to avoid the shock that your plants receive when given cold water. If there’s too much chlorine in your water, you may want to invest in some antichlorine drops at your local pet or fish store.

Ventilation Just like people, greenhouse plants require fresh air often. It’s arguably the most important part of a successful greenhouse, as it helps regulate temperature, provides plenty of fresh air for photosynthesis, prevents pest infestations and disease, and encourages pollination. Stagnant air can provide breeding grounds for unwelcome pests, fungi, mildew and diseases that take advantage of such an atmosphere, so make sure the greenhouse is well-ventilated by opening some windows or getting a fan. Use rooftop air vents to allow moisture and heat to expel naturally, or invest in fans, air circulators, screens and other equipment to manually control the greenhouse environment.

Light Full sun on your greenhouse is best, and can cut down on the need for additional heat during the winter. Remember that you can always provide more shade to limit the sunlight, but you can’t bring in additional sun once it’s been blocked by the shade. But when natural lighting isn’t cutting it, artificial means are the next best thing. Depending on your plants’ needs and the time of year, they will require between six and 12 hours of light daily. There are a myriad of types of artificial lighting, which require entire articles of its own. So choose according to plant needs, and don’t skimp on this investment. 58

Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

Do you know what “pH” stands for? Read on to find out and to learn other fun “pHacts” about pH…

pHacts by grubbycup

Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

The term pondus hydrogenii (weight of hydrogen) is better known by the abbreviation pH. pH is basically (pun intended) a measure of hydronium (H3O) concentration (formed by hydrogen ions and water) in relation to hydroxide (HO) in aqueous (H2O) solutions such as nutrient solutions. It is a logarithmic scale from 0 (most acidic) to 14 (most basic) with 7 being neutral. If there is more hydronium, it is an acid; if there is more hydroxide, it is a base and if they are equal, they form a neutral substance.

The pH scale

The pH scale is logarithmic according to the distance from neutral (7). A pH of 5 is 10 times as more acidic than a pH of 6, and a pH of 4 is 100 times more acidic. On the basic side, a pH of 9 is 10 times more basic than a pH of 8, and a pH of 10 is 100 times more basic. Liquids with a pH value below 7 have “spare” hydronium, are acidic and have a sour taste. Vinegar and lemon juice are common acids. Water, plus an additional hydrogen ion, forms a hydronium ion: (H2O+H=H3O). A low pH value indicates that there is a relatively high number of hydronium ions present, and the substance will donate protons. Here are a couple of examples:

“A low pH value indicates that there is a relatively high number of hydronium ions present.”

• Water (H2O) + hydrochloric acid (HCl) rearranges to become a hydronium ion (H2O) and chloride (Cl). • Water (H2O) + phosphoric acid (H3PO4) rearranges to become a hydronium ion (H3O) and dihydrogen phosphate ion (H2PO4)

Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

pH Phacts Strong acids (or weak acids in concentration) tend to be corrosive and can cause damage to living tissue or other materials. The lower end of the acceptable pH range for plants tends to favor micronutrient availability, but plants in mineral soils with a pH less than 5.5, or in soilless media with a pH less than 5.0, may experience problems from calcium and magnesium washing away, aluminium and manganese becoming too soluble and overwhelming the plant. A pH of 7 is the neutral center point, being neither acidic or basic. Hydronium and hydroxide in equal parts will cancel out the effects of the other (effectively forming H2O). This is how a strong base can be canceled out by a strong acid and vice versa. This is also why pH up products are bases (to offset the acid, thereby raising the pH), and pH down products are acids (to add acid, lowering the pH). Plain water (H2O) has a pH of around 7. While even at neutral, water can be used as a solvent or as a base in some instances, and plain water tends to be less damaging than a strong acid or base. The H2O can rearrange as H3O and HO, but as long as they are in equal amounts, they will neutralize each other. Many beneficial micro-organisms prefer a neutral or near neutral pH.

Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

While even

at neutral, water can be used as a solvent or as a base in some instances, and plain water tends to be less damaging than a strong acid or base.”

Liquids with pH values above 7 such as a lye solution are basic (also known as alkaline). A high pH value indicates that there is more hydroxide present, and the substance will accept available protons. Strong bases (or weak bases in concentration) tend to be caustic, which, like the corrosive property of acids, can cause damage to living tissue or other materials. The higher end of the acceptable pH range for plants tends to favor macronutrient availability in mineral soils, but soilless media with a pH over 7 may experience problems from manganese or phosphorous deficiencies. Bases raise the amount of hydroxide. Potassium hydroxide (KOH), and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) both increase the amount of available hydroxide in a solution. For example, KOH separates to become potassium and hydroxide (K and OH). Furthermore, lime is often used as an amendment to raise soil pH.

pH testing

Test drops and meters are two common ways to test pH, but it is also possible to test for pH using anthocyanins extracted from red cabbage leaves (I haven’t tested it with blueberries or beets yet, but they are also high in anthocyanins). Take a half of a head of red cabbage and shred it (you can use a whole head, but a half makes plenty). Add to a small pot with one cup of water (preferably distilled). Bring to a boil and then simmer for 20 minutes or until the liquid in the pot is a deep purple color. Strain out the cabbage and retain the fluid. This homemade fluid can be used to test pH.

It is possible to test for pH using red cabbage leaves.

Extract the boiled off water from a red cabbage to use as a pH tester. Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

pH Phacts

The testing

fluid can be applied to strips of absorbent paper and allowed to dry to create homemade testing strips.”

In a clear or white cup, put in enough of the liquid to cover the bottom of the cup, and add the substance to be tested. Stir, and dilute with water as needed to see the color clearly. The amount of fluid used won’t affect the shade of the color, only the intensity. The liquid will change color according to pH. In order from lowest pH (most acidic) to highest (most basic) the colors are: red, pink, blue, the original shade of purple, green, yellow and clear. Neutral (pH 7) is the purple starting color, and a pH of 6 is that same purple with a pinkish tone. The testing fluid can be applied to strips of absorbent paper and allowed to dry to create homemade testing strips (although the reaction works best if used within the first couple of weeks). Some common household items that can be used as testing fluids are lye, bleach, baking soda, lemon juice and vinegar. Be careful with lye and bleach as both are strong bases and can be dangerous if mishandled, and never mix bleach with an acid or it will release its chlorine as gas (not safe to breathe at all). There are other things that can also be used in a similar fashion, although often with different colors indicating the pH values. Litmus is made from lichen, and turns red in low pH, and blue in high pH. This fluid can be applied to strips of paper to become litmus paper, commonly used in testing pH. Many pH test kits use this same principle, using a chemical that changes color depending on pH. The substance to be tested (such as a nutrient solution sample) is put in a vial, and a few drops of the test fluid is added.

“Some common household

items that can be used as testing fluids are lye, bleach, baking soda, lemon juice and vinegar.”

Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

pH Phacts The vial is shaken, and the color compared to a chart. Once the closest color is located, the corresponding pH value is read. The ideal pH value for mineral soils is between 6.5 and 7.5, and for hydroponics and other soilless media it is between 5.0 and 6.0. Electronic pH meters for liquids use two electrodes. One is used as a reference, and the other is influenced by pH. The second electrode is covered in a special glass that allows only hydrogen ions to pass, changing the electrical charge that is compared and converted into a measure of pH. This probe should be kept moist at all times, even when not in use.

pH tips and tricks

Base cations such as calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and potassium (K) can raise pH, so will an abundance of sodium (Na). As these elements are used by the plant (or washed out of the area) the pH of the media may drift down and become more acidic if not replaced. Over-application of any of these elements can cause pH values to drift towards basic. Buffers are materials in the solution that help it resist change. They help occupy free hydronium and hydroxide to help stabilize the solution.

Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

“The Ideal pH value for mineral

soils is between 6.5 and 7.5, and for hydroponics and other soilless media it is between 5.0 and 6.0.”

pH Phacts Reverse osmosis (RO)water for example, has very little buffering capacity, which means only a small amount of an acid or a base can have a large impact on the pH of the solution. Having buffers in a nutrient solution helps minimize fluctuations. Organic matter such as compost tends to have a buffering effect. In hydroponic gardening, pH is a much more important to test often than with soil or soilless gardening. The mineral properties of soil, and the organic material in soilless, tend to help buffer fluctuations in pH, but in hydroponic systems, particularly when using RO water, pH can fluctuate very quickly with the addition of nutrients or additives. Now that you know a lot more about pH and how it works, you’re well on your way to achieving great growth results. If you have any questions regarding your pH levels, email editor@maximumyield.com and we’ll see if we can get one of our experts to help out!

Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

only a small

amount of an acid or a base can have a large impact on the pH of the solution.”

Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

TWO METHODS TO A GREAT CLEAN:

Sanitization & Sterilization BY ERIC HOPPER

As opposed to popular belief, sanitization and sterilization are two different things—and when used together, they provide indoor gardeners with a pretty amazing clean.

Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

In order to maintain an optimal growing environment, the horticulturist must maintain cleanliness. This may entail something as simple as a quick vacuuming or as complicated as the complete removal of all microbial life from a hydroponic system. In regard to growroom cleanliness, two methods should be used: sanitization and sterilization. To implement sanitization and sterilization in an indoor garden, a grower must understand the difference between the two. Although they are very different, sanitization and sterilization are commonly confused for the same thing. Equally important to the indoor horticulturist, sanitization and sterilization serve different purposes and should be used in conjunction to best employ their functions.

Sanitization

In reference to indoor horticulture, sanitization is essentially a good, deep cleaning. It is as much a part of an indoor garden’s ongoing maintenance as changing light bulbs or refilling nutrient reservoirs. Sanitization practices will usually eliminate some of the most unwanted micro-organisms. However, sanitization does not necessarily mean the use of a cleaning product or antimicrobial product. A simple wipe down to remove the “filth” could be considered sanitizing. Think of sanitization as keeping a consistently tidy growroom. By doing this, growers can remove most pathogens and prevent a slew of problems. There are many practices of sanitization a grower should apply within an indoor growroom. Creating a checklist to keep track of what was done, and when, can be an invaluable tool in maintaining the sanitization of an indoor garden. The immediate cleanup of spills, excess water or plant runoff is imperative in maintaining sanitization in an indoor garden. People who take on the hobby of indoor horticulture run the risk of having to deal with a wet floor. A wet/dry vacuum used to suck up any spillage or runoff is one of the best investments an indoor horticulturist can make. Excess moisture on the floor will raise the room’s humidity level and increase the risk of mold or rot, especially if it is occurring regularly. Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

Two Methods to a Great Clean

“It is always best to remove any dead plant matter or old soil completely from the indoor garden.”

Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

Upon entering the indoor garden, a grower should look for and cleanup dead plant matter. While working with your plants, take the time to look for fallen leaves on the ground or in plant containers. Removing the fallen leaves immediately eliminates a breeding ground for pests and diseases. After harvesting crops, make sure to always dispose of old soil or root matter a good distance from your indoor garden. Dead plant matter is extremely attractive to a variety of pests, but it is especially appealing to molds and fungi. Many gardeners with ongoing root rot never associate the problem with an unkempt growroom. It is always best to remove any dead plant matter or old soil completely from the indoor garden. This eliminates an array of potentially devastating problems. Inspect and sanitize your intake filter about once a week. This piece of equipment is an absolutely invaluable tool to the indoor horticulturist. If a grower doesn’t wish to purchase an intake filter, one can be made. An old carbon filter or nylons attached with zip-ties over an intake port will serve as an adequate filter. Intake filters keep unwanted dirt, dust, bugs and, in some cases, spores, molds and bacteria from ever entering the growing environment. A routine cleaning of the intake filter will help maintain a ventilation system’s maximum air flow. Besides cleaning the intake filter, it is equally important to closely examine the filter. Close inspection of an intake filter can give a grower early warning signs of pest insects. A pest insect found on an intake filter can give the horticulturist a jumpstart on implementing further preventative measures, or a treatment program.

Two Methods to a Great Clean It is a good idea for indoor horticulturists to get into a routine of removing bulbs and glass from the reflectors for a good wipe down. A good time to do this bit of sanitization is after every harvest. This will not only keep a regular schedule going but also be a good time for maneuvering in the growroom. With the garden harvested and removed from the area, it opens up a bunch of space in the room. This makes it much easier for the grower to get to the reflectors and other equipment. When sanitizing the bulbs, a damp cloth will do,

“It is a good idea for indoor horticulturists to get into a routine of removing bulbs and glass from the reflectors for a good wipe down.” but the use of isopropyl alcohol is more effective. Glass cleaners can be used on the reflector’s glass, but I still prefer isopropyl alcohol because when it evaporates I know there will be little or no residue. Even when using an intake filter, bulbs and glass develop a thin layer of grime capable of compromising their performance. This grime can block valuable light from reaching the plants. In some cases this may reduce light output by 10% or more. Consistently sanitizing the bulbs and glass will help maintain the fixture’s maximum light output. It is a good rule of thumb to also periodically sanitize any reflective material in your growroom to remove light inhibiting grime.

Along the same timeline as reflector glass and bulb maintenance (about every other month), it is a good idea to inspect and sanitize all the hardware in your growroom. For hardware with exposed circuitry, such as ballasts and controllers with ventilation ports for heat dissipation, compressed air is a

“compressed air is a great way to remove debris and maintain the hardware’s efficiency while extending its life.” great way to remove debris and maintain the hardware’s efficiency while extending its life. The compressed air cans used to clean computers work great for growers who don’t have access to large air compressor units. Air conditioners, dehumidifiers, heaters, carbon dioxide emitters, atmospheric controllers, light timers and fans should all be inspected and sanitized on a regular basis. For much of this hardware, which is designed and built to withstand abuse, a simple wipe down may be all that is needed. 76

Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

Two Methods to a Great Clean

Sterilization

Sterilization is a more involved cleaning process and refers to the elimination of micro-organisms including fungi, bacteria, spores and viruses. Sterilization can be achieved by using heat, filtration or chemical cleaners—the most common method for the indoor gardener being the chemical cleaners. Sterilization is generally used more selectively within an indoor growroom. In other words, it is unnecessary, and probably counterproductive, to try and sterilize everything within an indoor garden. The items normally sterilized by horticulturists are hydroponic systems, planting containers, cloning chambers or other places where plants are most sensitive to pathogens. The most common chemical cleaners used as sterilizing agents in horticulture are bleach and hydrogen peroxide. When you are sterilizing with a chemical cleaner it is always a good idea to wear gloves and goggles to protect yourself from potentially abrasive chemicals.

“it is unnecessary, and probably counterproductive, to try and sterilize everything within an indoor garden.”

Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

Two Methods to a Great Clean Common household bleach usually contains the active ingredient sodium hypochlorite, which is the same chemical compound commonly used in disinfecting waste water

“Bleach is a great sterilizer but can leave a residual so equipment needs to be double or triple rinsed.” at treatment plants. Bleach is a great sterilizer but can leave a residual so equipment needs to be double or triple rinsed. After every harvest, a hydroponic crop grower can create a bleach bath (1:1 water to bleach) to soak the hydroton, air-stones, submersible pumps and net pots to ensure they are all sterilized before starting the next crop. After soaking in bleach solution, growers should triple rinse all equipment before using it again to ensure all potentially harmful residues have been removed. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is water with an additional unstable oxygen molecule or an oxidizer. Its composition is truly valuable to the horticulturist because as hydrogen peroxide breaks down and loses its unstable

Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

oxygen molecule, it turns into water: H2O. Water is obviously non-toxic to plants and beneficial micro-organisms so it is an ideal byproduct of sterilization. I prefer hydrogen peroxide to bleach for the sterilization of reservoirs, hydroponic systems and all propagation equipment including clone machines. Reservoirs, cloning equipment and hydroponic systems can be wiped down with a clean rag saturated in 3% hydrogen peroxide. For larger hydroponic systems or systems that are too difficult to wipe down, a diluted 35% hydrogen peroxide (2:1 water to 35% hydrogen peroxide) solution can be run through the system for one hour. Rinse the system with clean water to rinse out any remaining hydrogen peroxide before returning the plants. For sterilizing clone machines, run a 4:1 water to 35% hydrogen peroxide solution for about an hour. As with the hydroponic system, rinse with clean water before returning clones to the machine. Extreme caution must be used with hydrogen peroxide especially when it is in higher concentrations. Growers should always protect skin and eyes from contact with concentrated peroxide.

In conclusion

Sanitization and sterilization are the most effective preventive measures against insects, molds, pathogenic fungi and plant viruses. Just like automotive maintenance is imperative to keeping a vehicle working efficiently, sanitization and sterilization techniques are imperative to keeping the garden and its hardware operating at an optimal performance level. Very few things in the realm of indoor gardening are low cost and high return. Where these rare opportunities exist, an indoor horticulturist must capitalize. Indoor horticulturists spend vast sums of money on lighting, ventilation and nutrient regimens to help boost production. These things are all important and absolutely contribute to high yielding gardens. By integrating sanitization and sterilization practices, gardeners can protect their investments and dramatically change the outcome of their garden’s performance at a minimal cost.

by MAXWell sAlInger

the CApACItY for (eX)ChAnge: Cation exchange Capacity and What it Does for Your garden

the concept of cation exchange capacity (CeC) is one that often confuses novice and seasoned gardeners alike; however, a basic understanding can greatly influence decisions pertaining to your garden.

Maximum Yield USAâ&#x20AC;&#x201A; |â&#x20AC;&#x201A; August 2013

Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

The Capacity for (Ex)change At its simplest form, cation exchange capacity (CEC) can be described as the capacity of your growing media to hold nutrients or other chemicals, which is directly related to the amount of negatively charged ions present. When delving into this subject, it is important to remember that a cation is a positively charged particle and an anion is the analogous negatively charged particle. This is important because we are

“it is important to remember that a cation is a positively charged particle and an anion is the analogous negatively charged particle.” primarily concerned with our media’s capacity to bind or release our positively charged fertilizer nutrient ions. Some of these positively charged nutrients or “cations” that we are most concerned with include potassium, sodium, magnesium and calcium, all of which play a large role in plant development. The roots of our plants as well as the micro-organisms in our media exchange their free hydrogen ions for these nutrient ions, allowing for the fertilizer to be utilized.

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Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

The Capacity for (Ex)change Typically, CEC is measured with the unit MEQ/100g which stands for milliequivilants per 100 grams; this allows for an easier conversion to real-life units such as grams per square foot or pounds per acre. The lower this CEC measurement, the less capacity the media has to hold onto the positively charged nutrients we mentioned above. This is where hydroponic and soil media vary and why the nutrient management is different between the two models. Rockwool, a popular media in the hydroponic industry, has a CEC of zero meaning it possesses no negative charge to form bonds with our positively charged fertilizers, allowing for extreme optimization of our nutrient delivery but also leaving little

“The lower this CEC measurement, the less capacity the media has to hold onto the positively charged nutrients.” margin for error. On the opposite side of the spectrum, a soil media that is comprised of mostly organic matter or clay has a much higher CEC; this means that constant fertilization is not a necessity, but in turn is more difficult to remediate if something becomes out of balance. Even the type of clay present in your soil can directly affect CEC properties. There are a couple of ways that we can go about determining what the CEC of our growing media is. The easiest being a visual inspection to determine the levels of each material. By looking at the ratio of inorganic material such as sand compared to organic material such as humus, we can determine if our CEC is high or low. An exact calculation of CEC can be done by taking a look at the soil pH as well as the amounts of potassium, magnesium and calcium present.

Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

The Capacity for (Ex)change

“ The implications that our CEC values have on our gardens are huge and can influence the type of fertilizer we use.” This calculation is usually best left to the experts at a soil testing laboratory, which many large universities possess. It is often worth contacting your local extension agent to determine where the best place is to send your sample. When you receive your CEC lab report, it will often contain a table detailing the base saturation percentages of the elements mentioned above. The remaining percentage of your media represents the unsaturated bonds available to be filled with fertilizer elements. By looking at these numbers, we can determine exactly how much more fertilizer we can add to our media. This is done by first taking into account the atomic weight and charge of each element we would like to add. For example, potassium has an atomic weight of 39 and a charge of +1. If we remember that hydrogen has the atomic weight of 1 and in this example our media has CEC of 1, it would take 39 times as much potassium to fill up the empty hydrogen sites. To calculate the remaining CEC that can be filled with our fertilizer elements, we simply multiple our given CEC by the remaining base saturation percentage and then divide that number by 100. For example, if we have a total base saturation of 80% and a CEC of 40, we have 20% left to fill that we multiply by 40, giving us 800/100 or an available CEC of 8 MEQ/100g. From these basic equations we can conclude that the heavier the atomic weight of our soil, the larger the capacity for heavier cations. The implications that our CEC values have on our gardens are huge and can influence the type of fertilizer we use, the frequency of fertilization and even the length of our final flush of nutrients. Because media that have a higher CEC have a larger fertilizer holding capacity, it will take longer to flush the media 90

Maximum Yield USA | July 2013

of dissolved salts which can affect your nutrient management choices. Media such as sand and perlite have such a small CEC that all of our plant’s nutrients will need to be constantly supplied. These examples are much different than a soil media that has large amounts of organic material meaning a large nutrient holding capacity. Coco coir, an interesting hybrid of soil and hydroponic production, has been gaining popularity throughout the indoor gardening industry and poses some interesting management obstacles. Because it has a very small CEC, it can be treated very much like a normal hydroponic application with a pH adjusted nutrient solution that supplies all of your plant’s fertilizer needs. But in its raw form, coco coir possesses negatively charged ions that will bind to some of our nutrients, the most common of which is calcium. Most commercially produced loose coco is treated with a process that fills up these negatively charged ions, but when using the brick form, it is important to keep this fact in mind. By boosting your calcium levels early in the growing cycle, you can effectively fill up these negative ions yourself. In reality, not all of us are going to run out and get a CEC analysis done of our growing media, but by keeping these basic principles in mind we can further optimize our growing environment.

: g in d n a t s r e d Un d o A Go

t h g i L t u o b g a n i n r a Le from a Plant’s POV by Ed Harwood

ht as g li f o g in d n a st r e d n A good u osed p p o s a — ’s t n la p a o t it pertains vital to a is s d e e n — ’s n so r e p a to e’s what r e h , o S . p o r c l u f ss e succ you need to know… 92

Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

Learning about light

Color

Relative absorption→

Light colors are measured in nanometers and many will be familiar with the representation in Fig. 1 where the absorption is graphed. Note that the light color moves from blue through green and yellow to red. What is not shown is the ultraviolet (UV) that precedes the blue and the infrared (IR) that follows the red. Photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) is often the term used for the range from 400 to 700 nanometers (nm). The nanometer is the measure of the width of the light radiation wave. b carotenoid

chlorophyll a chlorophyll b

400

violet

blue

500

green

600

yellow

orange

700 red

Wavelength (nm)

Fig. 1

Fig. 1 shows the relative absorption at each wavelength of the more important phytochemicals, the chlorophylls and carotenoids that actually do work in the plant. Many take this graphic to mean that a plant needs more in the blue range and less in the red. To the contrary, the absorption is not an indicator of the efficiency that the particular spectrum has on the plant’s actions. The action spectrum is in Fig. 2 and clearly shows a greater emphasis on the red than the blue. We know that we only need light in the blue and red colors to grow delicious leafy greens, so even this graph does not tell the whole story. Plants have evolved multiple pathways from photoreceptors to the chemical processes that make more plant tissue and fluids. This means that although light at 500 nm is absorbed and is active, it is not necessary. Research again has shown that blue is important to morphology of the leafy green and red to the yield of the leafy green. If we are looking at flowering, we need some additional colors.

Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

}

1.0 Relative value for unit incident energy

Plants require an agreeable environment, which includes nutrients and light, to grow properly, but often times the subject of light is misunderstood because a plant’s needs are so different from those of people. A good understanding of light requires knowledge about spectrum, intensity and distribution, as well as the impact each has on plants and their surroundings. Any good understanding begins with what it is and how to measure it. Light is made up of two components: spectrum—the color of the light, and intensity—how much light. Please note that the following discussion has leafy greens in mind.

0.5

350 400 violet

blue

500

green

600

yellow

700

orange

760

red

Wavelength (nm)

Fig. 2

Now note the superimposed orange line on this graph which is the spectrum of a high pressure sodium (HPS) lamp. Note the red bracket that spans the range of red light that is most efficient. Clearly we need a lamp that does a better job of supplying light in the most efficient color range. Some growers believe that each plant has a special range of colors needed to grow properly. We can see from the above that most plants grow well in a wide range. However, more specificity is required if we wish to optimize the yield and quality of a plant. Although PAR (400 to 700 nm) is the measured spectral range for a PAR meter and is the light most referred to in luminaires used in horticulture, UV that is below 400 nm has an impact on plant quality. UV can stimulate plant protective compounds and thickening of leaves. Far red (700 to 740 nm) also impacts plants. For instance, if one alters red and far red light to a lettuce seed, germination will follow red but not far red. IR (above 740) can impact plants by heating the leaves, a growth promoter lost when moving from incandescent to LED lighting. Do not miss the idea that as the plant moves from seed to flowerDaylight 8000K ing the color required is Sunlight 5600K likely different and the choice important. Office In human Flourescent 4000K lighting, the wavelength is Balanced 3200K not often used. Instead the Studio Lights color is often represented as Incandescent 2800K Kelvins; 2,700 Kelvins is literally the reddish Candle Flame 1800K color given

K e l v i n S c a l e

Fig. 3

Learning about light

For many plants the use of continuous light is okay, for others a rest period is required, plants are then said to have a photoperiod or to be diurnal.”

off by carbon heated to 2,700 degrees Kelvin. Fig. 3 shows the Kelvin scale. You should immediately recognize that the warm (lower Kelvin, even though it is cooler in temperature, we associate red with heat and blue with cold) lamp has more red and thus would best suit leafy green growing. For human purposes, light quality goes even further to provide a rendering index, or how we humans see the reflected light compared to certain standards, but none of this means anything to a plant. There is a complication for the grower; however, the intensity at lower Kelvins is less and thus the efficiency of the luminaire is less.

Intensity We just discussed the wave behavior of light and now we need to explore the particle behavior of light. Light intensity, or illuminance, comes in a lot of measures: • Lumens: the amount of light on a surface that is a given distance from the point source of light • Lux or the lumens per square meter • Foot candles: the lumens per square foot. No worries, none of them mean a thing to plants, nor are they convertible to the measure of import—the photon. They can’t be converted because the intensity is weighted for the human eye, not the plant need. Some have estimated the conversion of lux to photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD), but it is dependent on the specific lamp used and is still only an estimate. Note that the use of an energy measure like watts per unit area is sometimes included in the luminaire

Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

specification. A plant depends less on the energy contained in light and more on the number of photons—the PPFD. One might best think of growing plants as getting the right number of photons of the best spectra to the plant just in time. This is why only a PAR meter with an appropriate sensor can tell you what the plant sees and needs. Two measures are used. The instantaneous measure of a PAR meter is the photons raining down at that instant and is measured as µmol•m-2•s-1 or micro moles per square meter per second. If you make this into 24 hours (multiply by 60 seconds, 60 minutes and 24 hours and then divide by a million), or all the photons that rained down during the day, you get the DLI in moles per square meter per day. The optimal intensity varies with the plant. The intensity of light has an impact on plants. More importantly the total light in a 24-hour period called the daily light integral (DLI) is what counts. For many plants the use of continuous light is okay, for others a rest period is required, plants are then said to have a photoperiod or to be diurnal. Because really high light intensities can damage the plant—think of the photons coming in too fast—we can’t supply all of the DLI in a couple of hours. It seems that if the plant is not diurnal, then it is best to keep the intensity lower and leave it on longer for best yields. The intensity can be lowered even further in the presence of increased carbon dioxide. This will save energy.

Distribution The ability of a luminaire (lamp, driver, controller, reflector and fixture as appropriate) to deliver an

Learning about light

For human purposes, light quality goes even further to provide a rendering index, or how we humans see the reflected light compared to certain standards, but none of this means anything to a plant.”

Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

even illuminance is important. For instance, an HPS luminaire comes with a reflector. The result may look like Fig. 4, a graph of PPFD (µmol•m-2•s-1) where two HPS 400-w lamps are measured at 40 in. below the bulb. The plant yield as expected did follow this pattern. A better reflector design would help. A potential numerical descriptor of even distribution would be the use of relative standard deviation (RSD). This number uses measurements made over a grid below the luminaire at a given distance.

Fig. 4

This distance should be from luminaire to application. Calculate the standard deviation and make it a percent of the average value. For one of the luminaires in Fig. 4, the RSD is 36%. A perfectly even distribution would be an RSD of 0%. A set

Learning about light

One might best think of growing plants as getting the right number of photons of the best spectra to the plant just in time.” of T-5 fluorescent bulbs as shown in Fig. 5 has an RSD of 17%. Do note that the surfaces surrounding the light will impact the results, as will the distance between luminaire and grid surface. The distribution of spectra is also important when monochromatic LEDs are used.

Final thoughts Artificial light or electric lighting comes in a lot of forms: incandescent, fluorescent, high intensity dis-

comparison then becomes the cost of the luminaire and the energy to run it. Do be careful if someone says that a luminaire is 95% efficient —I hope you now understand now that it just can’t be. The comparative efficiency measure could be PPFD/watt for a given area, equivalent spectra and low relative standard deviation. Light spectra may drift over time and this is not likely much of a worry. The bigger worry is the loss of intensity over time as the yield of plants will decline proportionately. It is measured as the L-70 or when a luminaire reaches 70% of its original intensity. This varies among and between the various types of luminaires. Because the technology in LEDs is changing very rapidly, the L-70 would be an estimate only. So if possible, when you purchase a lamp, get a spectroradiograph, the PPFD, the L-70 and the distribution information. For further reading: The RPI Lighting Research Center lrc.rpi.edu

Fig. 5

charge, LED and induction lamps, for example. The type does not matter if you get the color, intensity and distribution that plants need. The meaningful

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Photobiology of Higher Plants by Maurice S. McDonald. 2003. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Patterns of Light by Steven Beeson and James W. Mayer. 2008. Springer Science and Business Media, LLC.

The

g n i r e t a W r e h t a e W f t o Ho -Scott

alker h C a d in L . r d y b

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ay d y u nn

?R s e v a r le i e h t ch will scor

out… d n i f o t n ead o

the myth of hot-weather watering

The Myth

As we enter the hottest months of the year, another bit of well-meaning advice rears its annual head. Magazine articles, books and websites all warn against watering plants during the heat of the day. Those water drops that accumulate on the leaf surfaces act as tiny magnifying glasses, focusing the sun’s energy into intense beams that burn leaves. Furthermore, we’re told that since water efficiently conducts heat, wet leaf surfaces are more likely to burn than dry ones. This all sounds very plausible (it has the patina of physics, after all) and there is anecdotal evidence that seems to support a cause-and-effect relationship between midday watering and leaf dieback.

The Reality

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This is one of those myths that refuses to die. Although most (but not all!) of the .edu websites I checked dispel this myth, hundreds of other domains on the web keep the misinformation alive. If your plants are showing signs of water stress in the middle of the day, by all means you should water them! Postponing irrigation until the evening (not a good time to water anyway, as this can encourage fungal pathogens) or the following morning could damage your plants and open them up to opportunistic diseases. There are many causes of leaf scorch, but irrigation with fresh water is certainly not one of them. Hundreds of scientific publications on crop plants, turf, woody shrubs and trees have examined foliar scorch, and not one of them has implicated midday irrigation as a causal agent. What does cause damage, however, is suboptimal plant-water relations, which can result in tip and marginal leaf scorch, shoot dieback, stunted growth and leaf abscission. After drought, the most common source of these problems is salt, in particular salts containing either sodium (Na), chlorine (Cl) or both. Salt can enter a plant’s microhabitat by spray from the ocean or other salt water bodies, or by runoff from road de-icing salts. These are relatively localized occurrences and far more damage occurs with salts in soils or irrigation water. Some of these salts come from over-application of fertilizers, herbicides and insecticides. Others are naturally found in irrigation water as it runs through particularly saline soils. This tends to be a more significant problem in arid climates. In urban areas, irrigation with recycled or gray water can add toxic levels of salt to the plant’s environment. Plants that are not adapted to dry or saline environments have a difficult time maintaining optimal water balance when that water contains salt.

the myth of hot-weather watering

We all know the dangers of shipwreck survivors drinking seawater, and we know what happens when we put salt onto slugs in the garden. The dehydration and death you expect from these examples also occurs in plant tissues, and in particular those tissues that transpire the most water—the leaves. Salts can reduce root function, and thus reduce water transport to the leaves, or they can accumulate in the leaves themselves. In either case, water loss occurs first at the tips and margins of the leaves and will lead to tip and marginal necrosis if not treated promptly. Besides drought and salt, other causes of leaf scorch include wind stress, high temperatures, reflected light and cold stress. All of these environmental stressors are directly linked to decreasing water availability in leaves. Poor root health, imperiled by soil compaction, flooding or restricted space, will also induce leaf scorch. Lack of foliar potassium (the “K” in fertilizers) prevents leaves from regulating stomatal openings and leads to higher water loss. Urea, contained in some fertilizers and in urine, can burn foliage and is a common cause of turf damage. Regardless of the cause, leaves deficient in water have been shown to be more susceptible to opportunistic pests and pathogens including mites and fungal leaf scorch. To prevent leaf scorch, it’s important to have environmental conditions conducive to optimal root health, which include adequate moisture, oxygen, space, temperature and nutrients are part of a healthy root zone. Some studies have found additional nitrogen helps prevent leaf scorch (perhaps by increasing root growth and uptake capabilities). Secondly, it’s crucial to watch foliage for signs of wilt. Once leaf tissues have passed the terminal wilt stage, no amount of water will save them. People that don’t recognize the signs of terminal wilt and add water anyway might

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“Besides drought and salt, other causes of leaf scorch include wind stress, high temperatures, reflected light and cold stress.” then associate their midday watering with the marginal and tip leaf burn that follows. Again, consider the plant’s needs in terms of sun and shade requirements; a shade-loving plant in an area with high light exposure, reflected heat, wind or temperature extremes is going to show leaf burn on a continuing basis.

The Bottom Line

• Wet foliage is not susceptible to sunburn. • Analyze site conditions to ensure optimal root and shoot health and prevent drought problems. • Any time plants exhibit drought stress symptoms is the time to water them. • Optimal watering time is in the early morning; watering during the day increases evaporative losses, and evening watering regimes can encourage establishment of some fungal pathogens. • Do not overuse fertilizers and pesticides, especially those containing sodium or chloride salts. • If using recycled or gray water, consider running the water through a filtering system before applying it to plants.

Author Linda Chalker-Scott, Ph.D., is an extension horticulturalist and an associate professor at Washington State University’s Puyallup Research and Extension Center. She can be found online at theinformedgarden.com

beginner’s corner

Water

Where

Comes From:

Sourcing Water for Your Hydroponic Garden by Susan Eitel

“RO produces a consistent water supply and has fewer worries than other sources due to its low mineral content and preferred pH level.” Tap Water

There are many places where water comes from, and each source affects your plants differently. Read on to learn about the different water sources you are likely to encounter as you enter the realm of hydroponic growing. The wonderful thing about the Internet is that there is so much information available at your fingertips. The frustrating thing about the Internet is there is so much information available at your fingertips. It is like drinking from the virtual fire hose and you are being deluged by well-meaning advocates from all the different camps: tap water, well, rain, reverse osmosis, distilled and others. For the novice gardener, this can be both intimidating and paralyzing, but it 108

is not necessary to have all the answers up front to be a successful grower. It may take time to refine your techniques, but remember, you are also building a new vocabulary and knowledge base. Here are a few simple rules to help point you in the right direction and make your experiences as stress free as possible. In a nutshell, here is a look at some of the different water sources you will encounter as a hydroponic gardener, and what each one could mean for your plants.

Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

Tap water is unique to every municipality and will probably test differently depending on where you live. The greatest concern is the level of chlorine that is put into the water supply. One concern is that plants do not like chlorine and the second concern is that it kills off all the beneficial bacteria. Although chlorine dissipates in water after a day or two, newer chlorinebased chemical additives may not. The bottom line is that you will be able to get good, but maybe not ideal, results from using tap water. The one exception to this is treating water with water softeners. The high salt content can kill the plants.

Well Water This can potentially be one of the least desirable of all the options. Some wells, but certainly not all, can have extremely high mineral content. Although not an insurmountable problem, it takes

greater skill and knowledge on the part of the grower. It could certainly create a challenge to a novice gardener. You should have your water tested and take the results to your local hydroponic retailer for recommendations. They will be able to help the beginner make sound choices for optimal results.

Rain Water This one can also fall into the questionable bracket as pollutants are often the particulate matter that raindrops form around. Many people have great success with rain water but living down wind of a chemical plant may make you think twice. Follow the same advice that you would for well water.

Distilled Water Distilled water has many of its impurities removed through a process called distillation, which involves boiling the water and condensing the steam into a new container.

UV system The wavelength of ultraviolet (UV) rays is lethal to bacteria. In a UV system, as the water passes by the UV bulb, any living microbes are immediately destroyed. Separate filters can be installed to trap sediments. The combined result is a potable water supply. A UV system can be installed at the water source as it enters the building, purifying all water on site, or smaller units can be installed directly to a single faucet purifying the water at only that selected location. UV bulbs must be replaced annually, but the cost of running the system is no more than the cost of powering a low-wattage light bulb. Plants need beneficial bacteria and these can be added quite easily after the water passes through the UV system. Like RO systems, they come with a larger price tag, but they are becoming much more affordable, especially the smaller site-specific models.

in conclusion The information above is only a cursory examination of water systems available to the hydroponic grower, and admittedly, it is neither complete nor robust. The fervor created over preferred systems can be quite intimidating to the beginner, but hopefully this article will help dispel the anxiety of information overload and instructional bias. Learn, have fun and most importantly, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be afraid. No matter the source, plants tend to grow better with water than without.

Because of this treatment process, distilled water is more costly and can have a lower pH value than what is desirable. However, distilled water is prized for its lower mineral content. You can easily enjoy a good crop using it; just keep an eye on the pH levels.

Reverse osmosis Reverse osmosis (frequently referred to as RO) is the preferred water source for most growers. Be aware that it comes with a price tag, but many home systems are quickly becoming more affordable, making it worth a very serious look. RO produces a consistent water supply and has fewer worries than other sources due to its low mineral content and preferred pH level. Maximum Yield USAâ&#x20AC;&#x201A; |â&#x20AC;&#x201A; August 2013

109

Avant Gardening

by Matt Lebannister Maintain your indoor gardening reservoir’s ideal temperature and you’ll soon be watching your plants thrive. There are many factors that must be regulated when gardening indoors. One of the most difficult elements of indoor gardening to control is the temperature of the nutrient solution in your reservoir. The ideal temperature of the solution is important. It regulates the amount of oxygen the water can hold, the reproduction of harmful root-born insects, the metabolicrate within the plant, and it can also affect the concentration of nutrients present as evaporation takes place. There are many ways to regulate and maintain the ideal nutrient solution temperature in your reservoir to be between 60 to 75°F. Maintain the

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It is important

ideal reservoir temperature and watch your plants thrive.

for the temperature of your nutrients to stay in the range of 60 to 75°F because if it exceeds this range, the oxygen levels in the water are significantly reduced and plants need plenty of oxygen to survive.”

Problem:

Reservoir is too cold

Solution:

Often we might find that the nutrient solution in our reservoir is too cold. This can cause a number of problems. When the nutrient solution is too cold (below 60°F) it will shock your plants and slow down the metabolic processes within the plant. This can stunt the growth of your plants. There are a few ways of dealing with reservoirs that are too cold. Cold reservoirs are more often than not caused by plants being grown in basements during cold winter months. You can often remedy this by simply keeping the reservoir elevated off of the

methods that can help keep your nutrient solution within the ideal temperature range. Keeping your reservoir outside of the growroom is one great way to keep it from getting too warm. This can be accomplished by using a more powerful submersible pump to move the water greater distances. Another way is to keep the reservoir covered with black and white plastic with the white side facing up to reflect the light away. Problem: If these methods are Reservoir is too warm not effective enough, the warm air with a you may want to conSolution: high-powered fan can sider implementing It is far more common a reservoir chiller to for the temperature of usually reduce the maintain the ideal nutrithe nutrient solution temperature of your ent solution temperain your reservoir to be grow space, but there are ture. Reservoir chillers too warm (above 75°F) are like air conditionthan too cold. This other methods that can ers for your reservoir. is largely due to the help keep your nutrient They can be set for a lights used to garden solution within the ideal certain temperature and indoors. High-intensity will remove the excess discharge lighting can temperature range.” heat from the solution. give out great amounts Reservoir chillers are of heat, especially if you not the least expensive are growing in a small, methods for regulating temperature, but confined space such as a closet or spare bedthey are extremely effective and will reduce room. It is important for the temperature the need to crank the air conditioning in of your nutrients to stay in the range of 60 your growroom. to 75°F because if it exceeds this range, the oxygen levels in the water are significantly In conclusion reduced and plants need plenty of oxygen Following these guidelines will certainly help to survive. Overly warm nutrient solution any gardener regulate and maintain the evaporates more quickly and can become too concentrated, which might end up burn- temperature of the nutrient solution in their reservoir. This will lead to healthy and strong ing plants. It can also lead to the production plants and happy, carefree gardeners. of harmful bacteria, fungi and root-born insects. Exhausting the warm air with a high-powHave your own ideas? Share them with other ered fan can usually reduce the temperature Maximum Yield readers on our Facebook page, of your grow space, but there are other or email editor@maximumyield.com cold floor. A lot of heat can be transferred between the floor and the reservoir. If this doesn’t solve the low temperature problem, utilizing an aquarium heater is the next solution. They can be purchased at aquarium supply stores or many hydroponic retailers. They can be set to maintain the ideal nutrient solution temperature during the colder months of the year.

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Companion Elements in

Organic Fertilizers BY DR. J. BENTON JONES, JR. In the February 2013 issue of Maximum Yield, we published the article “Organic Fertilizer Elemental Contents: Do You Know What You’re Feeding Your Plants?” There is, however, more to the story, and it comes with a warning: companion elements in organic fertilizers can be deadly.

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organic elements

A little while ago, a home vegetable gardener growing organically yearly applied poultry litter compost as his nitrogen (N) source. In the initial years, plant growth and product yield were excellent. In the fourth year, however, plant growth had slowed and there were visual signs of possible plant nutrient element deficiencies. In addition, product yield was also declining. Wanting to know why these changes were occurring, the gardener asked his local agricultural county extension agent to come identify the plants’ visual symptoms and help him determine their cause. Before making a judgment, the county agent collected a soil sample for submission to the state’s soil testing laboratory. The soil test results were given to me for interpretation and suggested corrective treatment. The soil phosphorus (P) level was 10 times that for sufficiency, while the ratio among the major plant nutrient element cations, potassium (K), calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg), was not in balance. My comment to the county agent was to tell the gardener that there was nothing that could be done for dealing with the excessive soil P level, while the lack of balance among the cations could be corrected, but not easily. Therefore, my recommendation was to have the home gardener locate another garden site, and definitely no longer use the poultry litter compost.

“Animal manures are usually high in the fertilizer elements, N, P and K, and composts that are derived from a mix of an animal manure and plant material will result in a concentration of these elements in the composting process.” What had happened? The poultry litter compost was not only high in nitrogen (N), the reason for its selection, but it was also high in P and K, far beyond plant requirements. With yearly application of this compost, the accumulation of both P and K in the soil was the reason for the poor plant growth and declining product yield. What users of organic fertilizer materials must be aware of is that most of these materials are naturally occurring; therefore, they will contain various levels of most of the plant essential elements. Animal manures are usually high in the fertilizer elements, N, P and K, and composts that are derived from a mix of an animal manure and 114

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organic elements plant material will result in a concentration of these elements in the composting process. Therefore, the user needs to know what is the elemental content of applied compost and the supplier should provide that information. In some instances, the fertilizer value of an organic fertilizer may be given, expressed as the percentage of N, P2O5 and K2O. However, it is not unusual that the levels given are as approximate values, whereas the user needs to know the exact values. For some organic fertilizer products there are published elemental content values. Therefore, one might surmise that these published values are applicable to that particular material irrespective of its source. Unfortunately, such values may not apply; therefore, the elemental content of the product being purchased needs to be known based on an assay of that particular batch. The range in elemental content may be considerable as was found by an elemental assay of five worm

casting (vermicast) products, whose elemental content data were recently published in the May 2013 issue of Maximum Yield. Such ranges in elemental concentration would affect the compostâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s application rate, and in turn when misapplied, lead to potential insufficiencies based on an assumed elemental content concentration, and not based on the actual elemental content of that particular batch. As was noted in the experience described at the beginning of this article, the home gardener had not had his soil tested, an essential requirement to determine the initial fertility status of his soil. Then, by yearly testing, he could monitor the

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“Before selecting an organic fertilizer, read the label and ask the provider of the product being considered to provide an actual elemental content assay for that material, not estimated content values.” soil’s fertility status, and in this case, that being affected by the poultry litter compost being yearly applied. He could also observe what effect his cropping procedures were having on the soil’s fertility status. The soil test would have revealed the buildup in P content and the developing imbalance occurring among the cations, K, Ca and Mg, so that corrective steps could have been taken, thereby saving his garden site. When considering the selection of an organic fertilizer, find out what the major element content is as well as other companion elements. It may be that a companion element or elements will result in a plant nutrient element insufficiency, an insufficiency that is frequently not easily corrected after the fact. As was learned by the home gardener mentioned at the beginning of this article, it was the companion elements P and K in the poultry litter compost that resulted in the loss of his garden site, as his selection of the poultry litter compost was made based only on its N content. Before selecting an organic fertilizer, read the label and ask the provider of the product being considered to provide an actual elemental content assay for that material, not estimated content values. Inaccurate elemental content data can lead to misapplications, with the probable result being poor plant performance, or rendering the rooting medium infertile. In my own personal experience, with the range of products available to a grower today, there is far greater danger in over fertilization and applying elements not needed as well as misapplication that can lead to plant nutrient element imbalances rather than insufficiencies due to a single element inadequacy. Deficiencies are easy to correct, excesses and imbalances are not. Therefore, care in selecting an organic fertilizer product is essential by knowing its actual elemental contents, not its estimated or literature-derived values. 118

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growing for health

Handling Hydroponic Nutrient Solutions There is more to a nutrient solution than meets the eye or the label. Carefully consider these tips before preparing your next batch.

by guy sela

Several important factors have to be considered when preparing hydroponic nutrient solutions: • Water quality, such as salinity and concentration of potential harmful elements (like sodium, chlorides and boron) • Required nutrients and their concentrations in the hydroponic nutrient solution • Nutrient balance • The pH of the hydroponic nutrient solution and its effect on uptake of nutrients by plants

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The Electrical Conductivity (EC) of the Hydroponic Nutrient Solution The electrical conductivity is a measure of the total salts dissolved in the hydroponic nutrient solution. It is used for monitoring applications of fertilizers. Note that the EC reading doesn’t provide you with information regarding the exact mineral content of the nutrient solution. In closed hydroponics systems, the hydroponic nutrient solution is recirculated and elements that are not absorbed in high quantities by plants (such as sodium, chloride,

Ionic forms common range absorbed by plants (ppm = mg/l) Nitrogen Nitrate (NO3 ), 100-250 Ammonium (NH4+) Phosphorus H2PO4-, PO43-, HPO42- 30-50 Potassium Potassium (K+) 100-300 Calcium Calcium (Ca2+) 80-140 Magnesium Magnesium (Mg2+) 30-70 Sulfur Sulfate (SO42-) 50-120 Iron Fe2+, Fe3+ 1.0-3.0 Copper Copper (Cu2+) 0.08-0.2 Manganese Manganese (Mn2+) 0.5-1.0 Zinc Zinc (Zn2+) 0.3-0.6 Molybdenum Molybdate (MoO42-) 0.04-0.08 Boron BO32-, B4O72- 0.2-0.5 Chloride Chloride (Cl-) <75 Sodium <50 Element

fluoride, etc.) or ions released by the plant, build up in the hydroponic nutrient solution. In this case there is a need for more information about the nutrient solution content that EC cannot provide. Testing the hydroponic nutrient solution frequently will help you decide on the timing for replacing the nutrient solution or when to dilute it with fresh water.

pH of the Hydroponic Nutrient Solution

Water Quality

A hydroponic nutrient solution consists of minerals in the raw water and nutrients added with fertilizers. The selection of fertilizers and their concentration in the hydroponic nutrient solution greatly depend on the quality of the raw water. Therefore, testing the raw water prior to deciding on a fertilizer formula is imperative. Minerals such as calcium, magnesium and sulfur, as well as trace elements such as boron, manganese, iron and zinc may be present in the source water. These elements must be factored in when adjusting the hydroponic nutrient solution. Additionally, raw water might contain high concentrations of unwanted minerals, such as sodium, chloride or fluoride, rendering it unsuitable for hydroponics. This can be solved by diluting the water with a pure water supply or pre-treating the raw water with desalination or ion-exchange.

The optimal pH range of the hydroponic nutrient solution is 5.8 to 6.3. Micronutrients are more available in lower pH, but when pH levels drop below 5.5, you run the risk of micronutrient toxicity, as well as impaired availability of calcium and magnesium. In hydroponics, especially in closed systems, the roots readily effect the hydroponic solution pH, so pH tends to fluctuate. Appropriate products for acidifying the hydroponic nutrient solution are sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid and nitric acid. Ammonium/nitrate is one of the major factors affecting the pH of the nutrient solution. Be sure to check a plant nutrient availability chart for specifics.

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Bacteria are the magic in an aquaponics system that convert the fish waste to a near perfect plant fertilizer. In this article, and in future issues, we will de-mystify the process of establishing a beneficial bacteria colony in your aquaponics system. This process is often called system cycling. In this issue, I talk about cycling with fish and in the next issue I’ll go into how to cycle without fish. By the end of these two articles you will fully understand what you must do to initiate cycling and how to ensure its success. You will also understand what you can do to make the process less stressful for your fish and your plants, and what you can do to speed up the process.

What is Cycling? Cycling starts when your fish (or you) first add ammonia to your system. Ammonia (chemical formula NH3) is a compound made of nitrogen and hydrogen. It can come either from your fish or from other sources that we will discuss in the next issue. Ammonia is toxic to fish (more on this later) and will soon kill them unless it is either diluted to a nontoxic level or converted into a less toxic form of nitrogen. Unfortunately, nitrogen as found in ammonia is not readily taken up by plants, so no matter how high the ammonia levels get in your fish tank, your plants will not be getting much nutrition from it.

The good news is that ammonia attracts nitrosomonas, the first of the two nitrifying bacteria that will colonize your system. The nitrosomonas convert the ammonia into nitrites (NO2). This is a necessary step in the cycling process; however, nitrites are even more toxic than ammonia! But again there is good news because the presence of nitrites attracts the second kind of bacteria we require: nitrospira. Nitrospira convert the nitrites into nitrates, which are generally harmless to the fish and excellent food for of these bacteria in your plants. Once you detect nitrates hydroponic systems caused in your water nutrient solutions to slowly and the ammochange into something that nia and nitrite concentrations was poisonous to plants.” have both dropped to 0.5 ppm or lower, your system will be fully cycled and aquaponics will have officially begun!

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Cycling

Importance of Testing Tools Cycling typically requires four to six weeks to complete. With this is mind, as you proceed you need a way to tell where you are in the cycling process. Specifically, you must monitor ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels as well as pH so that you know that all these elements are in range, or if not, that you know that you may need to take corrective action. This is also the only way that you will know when you are fully cycled and ready to add more fish (or your first fish if you have been cycling with no fish at all). Plus, watching the daily progress of the cycling process is fascinating and something you can only see through the lens of a test kit. By the way, once you reach the point that your system is fully cycled, you will need to do much less monitoring than during the cycling process. So, get through the cycling process and look forward to reaping the fruits (or should we say, the fish) of your labor.

To do their testing, most aquaponic gardeners use a product by Aquarium Pharmaceuticals called the API Freshwater Master Test Kit. This kit is easy to use, is inexpensive, and is designed for monitoring the cycling process in fish systems. You will also need a submersible thermometer to measure your water temperature. Temperature affects both the cycling rate and the health of your fish and plants once you are up and running.

Cycling with Fish Ammonia is the ingredient that starts the cycling process. You must have some means to feed ammonia into the system so that you attract the bacteria that are at the heart of aquaponics. There are two ways to introduce ammonia into your system: with fish and without (fishless). In this article we talk about cycling with fish, and tackle fish-less cycling in a future article.

Cycling typically requires four to six weeks to complete. With this is mind, as you proceed you need a way to tell where you are in the cycling process.”

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Ammonia I cycled my first aquaponics system using fish and I suspect this is how most people approach cycling. In some ways it is the easier of the two methods because there are no extra inputs. However, it is definitely the more stressful of the two options because live critters are involved. The idea is to add fish on day one and hope that they make it through the cycling process alive. The challenge is to get the system cycled fast enough that the ammonia concentration from the fish waste drops to a non-toxic level before the fish succumb from exposure to their own waste. I strongly recommend that you don’t stock to your tank’s mature capacity (1 lb. of adult fish per 5 to 10 gal. of water) but to less than half that. You might also want to consider these fish as sacrificial and perhaps use inexpensive fish from the pet store. They are likely more tolerant of ammonia than the prized game fish with which you may ultimately envision stocking your tank. Also, do not feed these fish more than once a day and then, only feed them a small amount.

Cycling

Temperature affects both the cycling rate and the health of your fish and plants once you are up and running.”

Fish excrete ammonia through their gills as a bi-product of their respiratory process. Without dilution, removal or conversion to a less toxic form of nitrogen, the ammonia will build up in the fish tank and eventually kill the fish. In addition, ammonia continually changes to ammonium (NH4+) and vice versa, with the relative concentrations of each depending on the water’s temperature and pH. Ammonia is extremely toxic to fish; ammonium is relatively harmless. At higher temperatures and pH, more of the nitrogen is in the toxic ammonia form. Standard test kits measure total ammonia (ammonia plus ammonium) without distinguishing between the two forms. The chart provided on the following page gives the maximum long-term levels of ammonia in mg/L (ppm) that can be considered safe at a given temperature and pH.

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Cycling

whatever you do to adjust pH in aquaponics, do it slowly! Fast, large pH swings are very stressful on fish and will be much more of a problem than having pH that is out of range.”

Water Temperature

pH 68°F 77°F 6.5 15.4 ppm 11.1 ppm 7.0 5.0 ppm 3.6 ppm 7.5 1.6 ppm 1.2 ppm 8.0 0.5 ppm 0.4 ppm 8.5 0.2 ppm 0.1 ppm You will need to monitor your tank water daily during cycling for elevated ammonia levels. If those levels exceed the levels on the chart provided, you should dilute through a water exchange by pumping out up to onethird of your tank’s water and replacing it with fresh, de-chlorinated water.

Adjusting pH During cycling with fish, you should try and keep your pH between 6 and 7. The range does not go below 6 because most fish prefer slightly alkaline water and few fair well below 6. The range does not go above 7 because of the ammonia toxicity issue described earlier (higher pH readings suggest higher ammonia concentrations). So how do you keep pH in such a tight range? The first rule is, whatever you do to adjust pH in aquaponics, do it slowly! Fast, large pH swings are very stressful on fish and will be much more of a problem than having pH that is out of range. Shift your pH no more than 0.2 per day and you should be fine. The safest way to do this is to use diluted phosphoric acid. Don’t use citric acid as it is antibacterial! If you need to raise pH, alternately add calcium hydroxide—also known as hydrated lime or builder’s lime—and potassium carbonate (or bicarbonate) or potassium hydroxide (pearl ash or potash). Typically, you will be trying to lower pH during cycling, and then once your system is cycled you will probably notice that the pH will fall and you then need to switch to keeping it up. You will probably find that it is easier 128

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Cycling to increase pH than it is to decrease it. The ideal pH of a mature aquaponics system is 6.8 to 7. This is a compromise between what the plants prefer, i.e., a slightly acidic environment of 5.5 to 6.5, and what the fish and bacteria prefer, i.e., a slightly alkaline environment as we discussed before.

Nitrite Nitrite is to fish like carbon monoxide is to air breathers. The nitrite will bind with the blood in place of oxygen and keep the fish from getting the oxygen it needs. Fish poisoned with nitrites die of what is called brown blood disease. If the nitrite levels in your tank rise above 10 ppm while you are cycling your system with fish, you should do a water exchange as discussed above.

Adding Plants I recommend adding plants to your new aquaponic system as soon as you start cycling. Plants can take up nitrogen in all stages of the cycling process to varying degrees, from ammonia, nitrites and nitrates, but they will be happiest when cycling is complete and the bacteria are fully established because so many more nutrients become available at this stage. When plants are first transplanted, they focus on establishing their root systems in their new environment. You may initially see some signs of stress—yellowing or dropped leaves—and you will probably not see any new growth for a few weeks. This is fine. Adding plants to your system right away lets them go through the rooting process early on and readies them to start removing the nitrogen-based fish waste from your aquaponics system as soon as possible. I recommend adding some Maxicrop to get your plants off to a good start during cycling. Maxicrop is derived from Norwegian seaweed, is organic and is used primarily as a growth stimulant, especially to enhance plant root development. It is extremely effective at giving plants a leg up after being transplanted into your new aquaponics system, is absolutely harmless to the fish, and probably beneficial for the bacteria. You can find Maxicrop in garden centers, hydroponic stores and online in both liquid and dryform.

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Nitrite is to fish like carbon monoxide is to air breathers. The nitrite will bind with the blood in place of oxygen and keep the fish from getting the oxygen it needs.”

Cycling

Water temperature dramatically affects cycling speed. The optimal temperature range for the water is 77 to 86°F.”

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While there are no hard and fast rules about how much Maxicrop to add during cycling, I recommend about a quart of the liquid product for every 250 gal. of water. It will turn your water almost black but don’t worry; this will clear up after a week or so.

Speeding up the Process Cycling is in some sense akin to any hunting activity that uses a lure. We start by putting out the ammonia. This attracts the nitrosomonas bacteria which in-turn produces nitrites. The nitrites attract the nitrospira bacteria that produce the nitrates that are harmless to the fish and delicious to the plants. These two beneficial nitrifying bacteria are naturally present in the environment. As I stated earlier, this process will take four to six weeks if done with fish, or as little as 10 days to three weeks if done fishless. But what if you could speed that up significantly? What if instead of waiting for the bacteria to show up to the party, they actually are part of the party to begin with? You can do this by introducing nitrifying bacteria into your aquaponics system.

Adding Bacteria

Breathable Wall. A breath of fresh air.

While there are many ways to do this, they all boil down to two basic strategies: use bacteria from an existing aquaculture or aquaponics operation or from a near-by pond, or instead, purchase bacteria from a commercial source. Good sources of beneficial bacteria from existing systems are ranked here, starting with the best: • Grow media from an existing aquaponics system • A high-quality nitrifying bacteria product • Filter material (floss, sponge, biowheel, etc.) from an established, disease-free aquarium. • Gravel from an established, disease-free tank. (Many local pet and aquarium stores will give this away if asked.) • Other ornaments (driftwood, rocks, etc.) from an established aquarium • Squeezings from a filter sponge (any pet and aquarium store might be willing to do this.) • Rocks from a backyard pond with fish in it

Managing Water Temperature Water temperature dramatically affects cycling speed. The optimal temperature range for the water is 77 to 86°F. At 64°F, bacteria growth slows by 50%. At 46 to 50ºF it decreases by 75%, and stops all together at 39°F. It will die off at or below 32ºF and at or above 120°F.

In Conclusion Cycling with fish is the most widespread and straightforward of the cycling techniques, and it certainly works. However, it is stressful to your fish and therefore somewhat stressful for you. Next month we’ll go over another technique called fishless cycling that uses pure ammonia to cycle your system. Either way, it’s time to get up and grow!

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The Restricted Section: by Dr. Lynette Morgan

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Most hydroponic crops only require a small root zone volume. However, as Lynette Morgan points out, the restriction methods used are just as important as the result they produce.

The restricted section

“The more restrictive the hydroponic root zone volume, the more well-managed the production system needs to be to ensure plants are supplied with the water, nutrients and oxygen they need for optimal growth and production.”

One of the most well-recognized advantages of hydroponics is the small root zone volume required by most crops. This means tidy, compact, yet highly efficient systems can be constructed indoors without the need for huge beds or deep containers of soil to contain the root systems of plants we want to grow. In the early days of the industry, one of the greatest advantages of hydroponics was touted as being that the regular supply of a well-balanced and complete nutrient solution meant there was always sufficient water and minerals for growth, thus a large root system would not be needed Severe root or produced by the plant. While this is partly true, rootrestriction in ing volumes required by plants under well-managed hydroponics can reduce soilless culture are considerably smaller than those potential growth of plants in soil. Taking this to extremes with highly and yields. restricted root zones can cause growth problems and a loss in hydroponic productivity. On the other hand, mild root restriction can have positive effects on some hydroponic system design is to use a suitable rooting volume plants if applied correctly and with knowledge on how for the type of plant to be grown. To complicate matters furthis may affect plant physiology. ther, there are no exact recommendations for the optimal size The more restrictive the hydroponic root zone volume, of root zone volume for different hydroponic plants. Optimal the more well-managed the production system needs to root volume is dependant not only on the plant species and be to ensure plants are supplied with the water, nutrients cultivar, but other system and environmental factors such as and oxygen they need for optimal growth and production. the frequency of nutrient application, and hence, replenishHowever, even a constant supply of water and nutrients ment of oxygen and nutrients, plus factors that influence the cannot overcome all the constraints posed by an overly small plants requirements for these. root volume, and for that reason, an important aspect of

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The restricted section Some studies have been carried out to determine the effect of root zone volume and restriction on yields of crops, such as hydroponic tomatoes and peppers. It has been reported that the highest yields with peppers were obtained with a perlite substrate volume of 4.38 to 4.75 gal. per plant (as compared to 0.87, 1.76, 2.37 and 8.71 gal. per plant); however, this response to substrate volume is also highly correlated to

the conditions the experiment was run under, rates of nutrient application and substrate aeration. Since all the nutrients, water and oxygen required by a plant are supplied via the nutrient solution, the root system does not need to rapidly grow and expand to forage for these resources in a large depth of soil. However, root growth in plants, even in hydroponics, is a continual one, so over time the root density increases as new roots are produced. The regeneration of new roots is in fact essential for normal plant development. Roots respond to gravity and to touch when they contact a solid surface, thus, in a restricted growing container, they tend to head downwards and form a mat in the lower regions of the growing substrate. Eventually, with continual root growth, the point will be reached where extreme root binding occurs and overall plant growth restricted even with the regular supply of a nutrient solution. In very restricted root volumes, this prevention of further new root growth has been shown to be a result of both root self-inhibition and also caused

“Since all the nutrients, water and oxygen required by a plant are supplied via the nutrient solution, the root system does not need to rapidly grow and expand to forage for these resources in a large depth of soil.”

Root volume restriction during the seedling stages of growth needs to be carefully managed.

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by growth limiting factors such as root exudates. The size of the optimal rooting volume in hydroponics, therefore, must allow for this continual root growth, but at the same time, nutrients, water and oxygen being regularly supplied can be considerably less than that required by a soil-grown crop.

Root Restriction and Hydroponics With hydroponics, we tend to largely forget what is happening down in the root zone and often assume that since a well-balanced nutrient solution is being applied regularly, even if the roots have a very restricted volume for growth, they will be fine. In a perfectly designed hydroponic system, this may be the case; however, many systems, unbeknownst to the grower, can suffer from problems directly related to root zone restriction. The most common of these is the availability of oxygen used by plant roots in the process of respiration. Plants under certain conditions have a very high requirement for oxygen within the root zone, particularly under the protected and warm conditions provided year-round

Hydroponic crops can be grown in a much more restricted root zone volume than soil-grown plants due to the availability of water nutrients.

“Plants under certain conditions have a very high requirement for oxygen within the root zone, particularly under the protected and warm conditions provided yearround with indoor gardens.” Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

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The restricted section

“In hydroponic, seedling and ornamental plant and fruit crop production, milder root restriction practices are used for certain plants to help increase produce quality and productivity.”

A root’s directional growth responds to gravity and physical barriers.

with indoor gardens. A restricted root zone has a limited potential to hold oxygen and thus relies heavily on oxygen replenishment, be that via dissolved oxygen in the nutrient or oxygen percolation down into the root zone during irrigation. If root requirement for oxygen is greater than the replenishment rate in a restricted volume, than root function begins to slow, as does the uptake of water and nutrients. Eventually a lack of oxygen can cause root cell death increasing the risk of root diseases such as pythium. The more restricted the root zone volume, the greater the replenishment rate of oxygen must be. In hydroponics this can be achieved in a number of ways. First, some growing mediums contain larger pores than others and allow oxygen to disuse faster down into the root zone. Second, nutrient solutions carry dissolved oxygen so both increasing the dissolved oxygen content of the solution via aeration and making sure the root zone is not over saturated with water ensures more oxygen is available for root uptake.

Root-shoot Communication A traditional soil-grown tomato may average more than 52 gal. of rooting volume per plant, with almost unlimited access to soil depth to forage for water and nutrients. This can represent a considerable energy investment in root growth by the plant in search of resources for growth. In hydroponic water, nutrients and dissolved oxygen are delivered to the root system on a regular, or in the case of solution culture, continual basis, thus roots do not normally need to grow to excessive lengths in search of these. This should represent a better efficiency for plant growth in hydroponics—plants need to put less resources into growing large root systems, thus more energy can be diverted into the top of the plant. While this may seem to be simply a case of fewer roots and more shoot, flower, fruit or seed growth, there are other factors that complicate this situation. Plants coordinate their root and shoot growth by signaling with plant hormones produced in different organs. An overly restricted root system can signal via the production of hormones to the top of the plant and control shoot growth and other developmental processes. Shoots can also signal to roots via the plant hormone auxin produced in the top of the plant and transported down to the roots. Thus, the size, health and stress

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The restricted section of the roots affect the shoots of the plant, and vice versa. This means even in hydroponics, an overly restricted root zone will restrict the above ground plant growth due to this root/shoot co-ordination and communication even if water, oxygen and nutrients are optimal and continually supplied.

Advantages of Root Restriction The positive effects of root restriction for container-grown plants have long been known, with the art of bonsai being the most extreme example. When roots are severely restricted within the growing container for long periods of time with limited nutrients and root pruning practices, the entire plant becomes stunted and dwarfed. However, the balance must be maintained between keeping plant growth highly restricted and compact but at the same time healthy and alive. In hydroponic, seedling and ornamental plant and fruit crop production, milder root restriction practices are used for certain plants to help increase produce quality and productivity. Vegetable seedlings grown with some root restriction usually result in a shorter, hardier transplants that are better able to survive the stress of the planting out and establishment process. Root restriction in fruiting crops such as apples and grape vines has been found to restrict vegetative growth while improving the quality of the fruit in terms of soluble sugars and other parameters. There is evidence with some hydroponic crops that root restriction in the seedling stage

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Root restriction in hydroponics has been shown to improve the nutritional quality of some leafy vegetables.

helps hold back excessive vegetative growth in the young plant, leading to earlier flowering, more compact plants and an advantageous vegetative vs. reproductive balance. Root restriction in these cases may take the form of careful selection of the size of the seedling rooting container, or, as is more common, holding the seedlings for longer in their propagation cubes or containers so that root restriction begins to occur before planting out. Other studies have shown that root restriction can improve the nutritional value of hydroponically grown vegetables.

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The restricted section

“In many hydroponic systems, individual plants may be grown in their own separate container or slab of substrate and some plants are often grown side by side allowing roots from separate plants to intermingle.”

This may be via a stress response similar to when crops are grown under deficient irrigation or with a high EC, or most likely a combination of internal plant processes triggered by compounds produced by the restricted root system. One study found that edible chrysanthemum, pak-choi, endive and lettuce hydroponically cultured in a deep flow system in restricted root zone tubes resulted in plants with an increased percentage of dry matter, Severe root C:N ratio, ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and restriction in hydroponics can anthocyanin contents. However, increasing reduce potential root restriction also retarded growth, so growth and yields. a compromise restricted rooting volume needed to be established, one that produced sufficient foliage growth, but also at the expense of reproductive growth. These findings may be an improvement in nutritional value. The optimized rooting species specific; it appears that the roots of some plant species volume, however, varied for each different species. Thus, it is can sense the roots of neighboring plants and respond to them difficult to make generalized recommendations for the ideal accordingly. Further studies in this area may eventually help us root volume for hydroponic systems. determine how plants grown side by side may be influencing the growth of each other in hydroponic systems.

Root Competition

In many hydroponic systems, individual plants may be grown in their own separate container or slab of substrate and some plants are often grown side by side allowing roots from separate plants to intermingle. Some studies have found that plants produce more root mass when sharing rooting space with a neighbor, as compared to plants growing alone. It is thought that this allows plants to enhance their competitive ability for nutrients, but that root overgrowth may occur in this situation

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In Conclusion Our objective as hydroponic growers is to provide sufficient root volume for each species so that roots are not overly restricted, yet at the same time make soilless systems efficient and manageable by not providing very large and unnecessary root containment zones. Since root restriction can at times have advantages, with hydroponics we have the tools and technology to manage the root system volume precisely.

Green Thumb Gardening

Leaf Chlorosis For by Heather Rhoades

Plants: What does Iron do for Plants? Correcting chlorosis in plants is relatively simple, provided you can pinpoint the problem. There are four different reasons you plants might not be getting enough iron. Read on to discover them. Iron chlorosis affects many kinds of plants and can be frustrating for a gardener. An iron deficiency in plants causes unsightly yellow leaves and eventually death. So, it is important to correct iron chlorosis in plants. Let’s look at what iron does for plants and how to fix systemic chlorosis in plants.

What Iron Does for Plants Iron is a nutrient that all plants need to function. Many of the vital functions of the plant, like enzyme and chlorophyll production, nitrogen fixing and development and metabolism are all dependent on iron. Without iron, the plant simply cannot function as well as it should. 146

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Symptoms of Iron Deficiency in Plants The most obvious symptom of iron deficiency in plants is commonly called leaf chlorosis. This is where the leaves of the plant turn yellow, but the veins of the leaves stay green. Typically, leaf chlorosis will start at the tips of new growth in the plant and will eventually work its way to older leaves on the plant as the deficiency gets worse. Other signs can include poor growth and leaf loss, but these symptoms will always be coupled with the leaf chlorosis.

“ The most obvious symptom of iron deficiency in plants is commonly called leaf chlorosis. This is where the leaves of the plant turn yellow, but the veins of the leaves stay green.”

Fixing Iron Chlorosis in Plants Rarely is an iron deficiency in plants caused by a lack of iron in the soil. Iron is typically abundant in the soil, but a variety of soil conditions can limit how well a plant can get to the iron in the soil. Iron chlorosis in plants is normally caused by one of four reasons. They are: • Soil pH is too high • Soil has too much clay • Compacted or overly wet soil • Too much phosphorus in the soil

Fixing Soil pH that is too High Have your soil tested at your local extension service. If the soil pH is above 7, the soil pH is restricting the ability of the plant to get iron from the soil and a remedy will be required. Start by asking a retail store for advice.

Correcting soil that has too much clay Clay soil lacks organic material. The lack of organic material is actually the reason that a plant cannot get iron from clay soil. There are trace nutrients in organic material that the plant needs in order to take the iron into its roots. If clay soil is causing iron chlorosis, correcting an iron deficiency in plants means working in organic material like peat moss and compost into the soil.

Improving Compacted or Overly Wet Soil If your soil is compacted or too wet, the roots do not have enough air to properly take up enough iron for the plant. If the soil is too wet, you will need to improve the drainage of the soil. If the soil is compacted, oftentimes it can be difficult to reverse this so other methods of getting iron to the plant are usually employed.

“ The lack of organic material is actually the reason that a plant cannot get iron from clay soil.” If you are unable to correct the drainage or reverse compaction, you can use a chelated iron as either a foliar spray or a soil supplement. This will further increase the iron content available to the plant and counter the weakened ability of the plant to take up iron through its roots.

Reducing Phosphorus in the Soil Too much phosphorus can block the uptake of iron by the plant and cause leaf chlorosis. Typically, this condition is caused by using a fertilizer that is too high in phosphorus. Use a fertilizer that is lower in phosphorus (the middle number) to help bring the soil back in balance.

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Genetic Modification of Flavor and Aroma in Fruits and Flowers:

Is the Future GMO? by David Kessler

Consumers have long complained about the lack of flavor in genetically modified foods. However, scientists are now trying to use those same manipulation techniques to bring that flavor back. 148

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IS THE FUTURE GMO?

Scientists are currently looking at manipulating flavor and aroma (the two are inextricably linked) by means of genetic engineering. This work may lead to better tasting and more nutritious produce and increased pest resistance in plants. It may even have a profound impact on the entire commercial agricultural industry. Trying to alter or improve the flavor and aroma of fruits, vegetables and flowers has long been the realm of plant breeders. To begin a breeding program, one first must collect a diverse population of genetic plant material, then carefully select stud plants and make crosses with the singular goal of improving the flavor or aroma of a given fruit, flower or vegetable. This type of breeding is called selective breeding. Selective breeding, or artificial selection, is the intentional breeding of a plant with desirable traits in an attempt to produce offspring with similar desirable characteristics or

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with improved traits. There are several obstacles to this approach. It consumes massive amounts of space and time to grow up a speculative cross and determine if it has been successful at achieving oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s goals. Also, plants only breed with other plants of the same familial order, making the resulting possibilities

limited, and because we do not yet fully understand the mechanisms that are responsible for flavor and aroma, we have been stumbling around in the proverbial dark. Before scientists can modify flavor, first they must understand the complex matter of what flavor is.

IS THE FUTURE GMO? square centimeters of olfactory epithelium compared to the 169 square centimeters of olfactory epithelium in a German shepherd (which is why they are the preferred drug sniffing dog breed).

“The flavor and aroma we experience from a given fruit is determined by complex mixtures of often hundreds of volatile compounds.”

“Human perception of ‘flavor’ involves integration of a massive amount of quantitative information from multiple sensory systems… Chemically, flavor is the total of a large set of primary and secondary metabolites that are measured by the taste and olfactory systems (Klee, 2010).” Taste is the amalgamation of all of the sensory data from the five classes of taste receptors in the

mouth: sweet, sour, salty, bitter and umami (savory). Quantifying flavor is a challenge by itself, but as anyone who has ever had a cold will tell you, flavor is inextricably linked to the sense of smell. As mammals, humans rely greatly on the combination of senses (i.e., taste and smell) to form sensory experiences because our senses are not as developed as those of other mammals. Humans have 10

“The compounds responsible for flavor are generally formed during the ripening stage of flower and fruit development when the metabolism of the plant changes and catabolism of high-molecular weight molecules such as proteins, polysaccharides and lipids degrade and are converted into volatile metabolites.” 152

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The flavor and aroma we experience from a given fruit is determined by complex mixtures of often hundreds of volatile compounds. A strawberry has over 300 compounds that contribute on multiple levels to make up the characteristic flavor we associate with a ripe strawberry (Honkanen & Hirvi, 1990). A tomato has more than 400 aromatic volatiles that constitute its aroma and flavor, but only 15 to 20 in sufficient enough quantity to impact flavor. The volatiles are composed of the metabolites of several chemical groups that include acids, aldehydes, ketones, alcohols, esters, sulfur compounds, furans, phenols, terpenes, epoxides and lactones. Although the individual concentration of these substances vary from tissue sample to tissue sample, their concentration makes up 10 to 100 ppm of a fruit’s fresh weight. The compounds responsible for flavor are generally formed during the ripening stage of flower and fruit development when the metabolism of the plant changes and catabolism of high-molecular weight molecules such as proteins, polysaccharides and lipids degrade and are converted into volatile metabolites (Asaphaharoni & Efraimlewinsohn). Catabolism can be thought of as destructive metabolism, or the breakdown of complex molecules in living organisms to form simpler ones, along

IS THE FUTURE GMO? This decline has been attributed to breeders selecting for particular traits such as disease resistance, appearance, firmness, post-harvest shelf life and yield. This focus on fiscally beneficial traits has resulted in less expensive, yearround produce that frankly does not taste good. Genetically modifying flavor is not restricted to introducing “new flavors or enhancing existing ones but also includes the removal of undesirable metabolites that generate ‘off-flavors.’ Since most of the molecules that compose the flavor profiles of fruit may exhibit antifungal or antibacterial bioactivity, it is conceivable that manipulation of fruit flavor will not only influence the flavor profile of fruit but will also confer resistance to pests and pathogens.” (Asaphaharoni & Efraimlewinsohn)

with the release of energy. It is during this stage of ripening that flushing a plant’s growing medium (depriving the plant of nutrition) and forcing it to catabolize its stored metabolites can most impact the final flavor. Prior investigations of fruit flavors focused on identifying compounds present in various fruit species (Honkanen & Hirvi, 1990). Along with the classification of flavor compounds, researchers often identified the substances that were responsible for the unique scent we attribute to a particular fruit (methoxyfuraneol for strawberries and isoamylacetate for bananas). Current research on fruit flavor is focused on the genes that directly influence fruit flavor formation. Future success at manipulating fruit flavor hinges on the research being carried out today— gathering information about the genes and metabolic pathways that generate fruit flavors. Other avenues of research include experiments that use genes isolated from plants other than fruits, such as the leaves and glandular trichomes of various herbs to modify flavor. Bio-engineering fruit flavor may seem like a waste of time, but there is a growing consensus among consumers that in recent decades the overall flavor quality of produce has declined. 154

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The first genetically modified tomato called the Flavr-Savr (also known as CGN-89564-2) was approved for commercial production in 1994. Using genetic engineering, the naturally produced enzyme that generates an “off” flavor and mushy texture was turned off. The result was a vine-ripened tomato that could be shipped with minimal bruising and spoilage. Due to poor flavor and mounting costs, the crop was pulled from production in 1997. The prevalent method currently employed to manipulate flavor is called transgenic genetic engineering. The transgenic approach refers to the modification of an organism by transferring a gene or genetic material from one organism to another. A gene is a segment of DNA that codes for the production of a protein, and those proteins determine particular traits.

“Bio-engineering fruit flavor may seem like a waste of time, but there is a growing consensus among consumers that in recent decades the overall flavor quality of produce has declined.”

IS THE FUTURE GMO?

“Two of the most common genetically modified crops in production are cotton and corn that have been modified with the addition of a gene from the bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis. The resultant crops are toxic to caterpillars but safe for humans.” For example, consider the gene for flower color. The arrangement of the nucleic acid compounds on a chromosome in one plant tells the flower cells to produce certain proteins that make the flower blue. On another plant, the nucleic acid compounds are arranged differently, instructing the plant to make pink. Some genes control regions of a chromosome. These regions are like a light switch or a thermostat. They turn the gene on or off, or regulate the amount of protein produced. While cells carry identical DNA codes, different cells have different functions. For example, the gene that makes a flower pink is not needed in the root, so it is turned off in the root cells and turned on in the cells of the flower. (Spears, Klaenhammer, & Petters) An advantage of transgenic genetic engineering is that precise alterations can be engineered into cultivars that are already proven commercially. Two of the most common genetically

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modified crops in production are cotton and corn that have been modified with the addition of a gene from the bacteria Bacillus thuringiensis. The resultant crops are toxic to caterpillars but safe for humans. A major obstacle of utilizing the transgenic approach is that the present regulatory environment makes it very expensive to gain approval for genetically modified organisms. Additionally, even if approval is obtained for a genetically modified crop, there is a growing social movement that vehemently opposes genetically modified produce. We recommend if you want a great “old-time” tasting tomato, go visit your local farmers market once the tomatoes hit the stand or you can pick up some organic heirloom seeds and grow them yourself! The day might be coming; however, for better or worse, when commercial greenhouses will be packed with high yielding, disease-resistant flavorful

genetically engineered tomatoes; if you choose to eat them that will be up to you. To stay apprised of Farm Bill legislation in your state, get involved with a local advocacy group, and always try your best to know your food. David Kessler heads research and development at Atlantis Hydroponics and writes for their popular blog. David has over two decades of experience and multiple degrees from the State University of New York. He’s also an accredited judge for the American Orchid Society and travels the world judging orchid events. Follow his blog at atlantishydroponics.wordpress.com

What are your thoughts on the future of genetically modified crops? Write to editor@maximumyield.com and let us know what you think.

“While cells carry identical DNA codes, different cells have different functions.”

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tips and tricks

Have you ever noticed how much food we throw away? With all of that valuable nutrition going into the trash, composting kitchen waste into free fertilizer is a great option. Here is a simple plan for kitchen composting so you can have healthier plants and a smaller carbon footprint. This particular method involves three 5-gal. buckets, screw-on lids and a combination of aerobic and anaerobic styles. The end result is not just compost, but also compost tea. Try to score some free 5-gal. buckets, or get them cheap at the hardware store. Also at the hardware store you can find fancy screw-on lids. The lid’s frame snaps onto the bucket, and the lid can

Kitchen composting doesn’t require much. Simply find three buckets and three lids, and then follow these simple instructions to easily turn kitchen waste into free fertilizer for your garden.

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then be sealed and easily unscrewed for removal. If you have ever worked in a restaurant, you know the woes of opening buckets the old way. These new screw-on lids are so much easier. You will need a total of three buckets, each with a screw-on lid. You will also need a bag of high-quality organic potting soil. Look for any soil that mentions the following: mycorrhizae, microbes, beneficial fungi, bacteria, compost or forest humus. Such soils will contain micro-organisms that convert food waste into plant food. With your first bucket, simply snap on the lid. Every time you have some compostable food waste such as bread or veggies

(avoid meat, dairy, oils and greasy foods), add it to the bucket with a scoop of organic potting soil. Seal it up tight with the lid. You may notice a foul odor when you open the bucket. This is to be expected, so keep the lid closed unless you are adding food waste. After closing the lid, give the bucket a good shake. Now you are building muscles and making compost! Once bucket one is filled with scraps and soil, you need the additional two buckets. Drill about a dozen 3/8 in. holes in the bottom of bucket two. The final bucket needs about four holes drilled in the lid. Stack those two buckets with the holes touching and set them in a safe place outside. Now you can empty bucket one (kitchen scraps) into bucket two (holes in the bottom). As the waste breaks down, it will release liquids into bucket three (holes in the lid). These liquids are rich with nutrients and microorganisms that are great for your outdoor gardens. Since this compost tea is not actively aerated, it can contain anaerobic bacteria

“Look for any soil that mentions the following: mycorrhizae, microbes, beneficial fungi, bacteria, compost or forest humus. Such soils will contain micro-organisms that convert food waste into plant food.”

in large quantities. For this reason, the tea is best suited to in-ground plantings. Never use this anaerobic compost tea on your indoor plants. It might work out fine, but the worst-case scenario would be nutrient imbalance and root rot. In an outdoor garden, these anaerobic bacteria function well with other ground organisms without harming your plants. I use this compost tea in my outdoor

flower beds and the results are visible after one day. My calla lilies grow faster and produce more blooms when I soak the roots with this stinky stuff. If you can occasionally add water and stir up the top bucket, the compost will break down much faster. For the fastest results, chop up your kitchen waste as you scrap it. Each day, stir bucket two with a garden trowel

or just give it a good shake. With daily agitation, your compost will be ready in two weeks. Once the contents of bucket two look like dark soil, and not food scraps, the compost and tea are ready to be added to your garden. By this point, the bucket in the kitchen is probably full again, so you are ready for another cycle. Scrap, compost, repeat.

Turning kitchen waste into compost with just a few steps. Photos submitted.

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B reaking B oredom 5

10.811

with Boron:

Functions and Uses by William DeBoer

Boron… it’s some chemical from the periodic table that plants need, but we don’t really need to know much about it, right? Wrong. Author William DeBoer explains more about this little known but very important micronutrient.

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Breaking boredom with boron Really, how exciting is an element like boron? Yeah, it’s some chemical from the periodic table that plants need, but you might be thinking, “I only need to know the N-P-K plus a few others, right?” You could be asking yourself, “why talk about boron when there are more than a dozen other required and even more recognized beneficial elements and compounds?” Simply put, boron is that little known element that is often masked in obscurity. Whether you fall victim to this view point or not, strap in because we are going to navigate through the primary role boron has on plants and just maybe strengthen your expertise on this little-known, but very important, micronutrient.

Uptake and Movement

For some

members of the rose family, boron can be transported down the phloem, attached to the sugar alcohol complex and utilized by the stem and roots.”

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A form of boron that is readily available and water soluble is boric acid. This weak acid is added to most commercially made fertilizers or can be individually supplemented via foliar application. The primary mode of uptake occurs via transporters in the root cells. Once inside the root cells, boron will move with the transpiration stream, loading first into the active growing sites of the stem and leaves. For foliar application, the movement of boron is fixed (immobile) within the leaf itself. Therefore, foliar application for most plants will only have a localized (leaf) effect. For some members of the rose family, boron can be transported down the phloem, attached to the sugar alcohol complex and utilized by the stem and roots.

Fortifying the Cell Wall Boron, like calcium or the beneficial element silicon, has an important structural role in the development and growth of most plants. In fact, 90% of total boron content within the plant is located in the cell walls. Boron helps with the crosslinking of the complex carbohydrates (polysaccharides) that comprise the cell wall. Imagine several metal fences in close proximity to one another. Among its structural roles, boron helps link these fences together further promoting the rigidity and structural support for each cell, culminating the plant’s overall strength. While boron has several other additional roles, cell wall fortification is the most visible function; a deficiency can lead to structural issues.

Problems of Toxicity and Deficiency Boron accumulates within the leaf margin when immobile (species specific); therefore, excess accumulation will cause discoloration and subsequent death of this area of the leaf. Look for browning or blackening of the leaf tip and margin as clear diagnostic signs of boron toxicity. In plants where boron is mobile, death of young shoots and leaves are likely signs of boron toxicity. Both boron deficiency and toxicity will reduce or cease plant growth causing stunting. The root response to an absence of boron, especially in hydroponics, can be fast. Inhibition of root growth can occur within three hours when boron is totally removed from the nutrient

solution and completely stopped after 24 hours. The good news is rectifying the situation by adding boron to the root zone is equally quick, occurring within 12 hours of application. Since boron is affected by leaching, avoid overwatering and flushing out boron, or consider foliar supplementation if necessary. Like several nutrients, the optimal range for boron separating deficiency from toxicity is relatively small. Boron, at concentrations below 0.2 ppm, is likely to result in signs of deficiencies just as concentrations above 2 ppm can result in symp-

occurred. Therefore, a little amount goes a long way, but careful monitoring is needed to ensure levels do not fall below a critical threshold. One final word of caution: the abovementioned guidelines will not match all plants’ needs. What is toxic for one plant will be the optimal requirement for another, so do your own homework prior to supplementation above the recommended dose. Commercially prepared fertilizers will provide the necessary boron requirement for the vast majority of plants.

W hile boron

has several other additional roles, cell wall fortification is the most visible function; a deficiency can lead to structural issues.”

toms of toxicity. Boron toxicity will greatly impact root development as it has been shown to stop cellular division of the root meristem, which can subsequently cause a myriad of problems downstream. As one group of authors best described it, “boric acid toxicity is more difficult to manage than boric acid deficiency, which can be avoided by fertilization.” Conceptually this makes sense as there is probably more leeway for correcting the boron concentration when it is needed versus when it is in excess and the damage has irreversibly

Benefits of Supplementation Besides its benefits to an established plant, boron may also aid in the health of plant cuttings. Sunflower cuttings have shown a positive response to the addition of boron. In this study, 0.1 mM boric acid or 1.1 ppm boron caused the highest amount of adventitious roots (formation of roots from a non-traditional area such as the stem, leaves, etc.) per cutting relative to the control group. While this study did not concretely state the direct role boron may have on adventitious root

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Breaking boredom with boron

Look for browning or blackening of the leaf tip and margin as clear diagnostic signs of boron toxicity.”

10.811 formation, it was speculated that it may play a role in promotion of endogenous (internal) auxin production. In addition, since one of boron’s roles is structural enhancement, foliar supplementation of boron may help reduce leaf drop in cuttings. I base this on personal experience but cannot conclude that the results will be uniform across all plants. For calculations, remember boron constitutes only 17.7% of the weight of boric acid, so if you want 0.5 ppm boron, you will need to add 9.87 oz. per 0.26 gal. of boric acid. Always start small, and slowly work your way up until the deficiency has been rectified and normal growth resumes. In addition, make sure you have your water source tested prior to use. Boron levels in the water should not exceed 1 ppm for general hydroponic use.

In Conclusion Boron, while not often discussed with the big boys (N-P-K), is an integral structural micronutrient whose role within plants is still being investigated today. Unfortunately, the need of boron and the sensitivity to it is often quite variable within the plant community. Some plants, such as the tomato, flourish with a constant supply and will elicit a quick response with

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its removal, while other plants, such as peas, are more tolerant and have a delayed response. In hydroponics, it is prudent to maintain optimal levels of boron as the plant’s response and subsequent decline in growth is often quick. Remember, the line between deficiency and toxicity for most plants is minute, so don’t overdo it! While not glamorous, now you have a better appreciation for this lesser-known micronutrient, boron. Sources: Blevins, D.G., and K. M. Lukaszewski. 1998. Boron in Plant Structure and Function. Annual Review Plant Physiology and Plant Molecular Biology. 49: 481-500. Aquea, f., Federici, F., Moscoso, C., Vega, A., Jullian, P., Haseloff, J., and P. ArceJohnson. 2012. A Molecular Framework for the Inhibition of Arabidopsis Root Growth in Response to Boron Toxicity. Plant Cell and Environment. 35: 719-734. Brown, P. H., and H. Hu. 1998. Boron Mobility and Consequent Management in Different Crops. Better Crops, Volume 82, #2. J. B. Jones, Jr. 2005. Hydroponics: A Practical Guide for the Soilless Grower. CRC Press, 2nd Edition. Unknown author. 2002. Boron as a Plant Nutrient. A&L

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Canada Laboratories Fact Sheet # 90. Waqar Ahmad, Munir H. Zia, Sukhdev S. Malhi, Abid Niaz and Saifullah. 2012. Boron Deficiency in Soils and Crops: A Review, Crop Plant, Dr Aakash Goyal (Ed.) Available fromintechopen.com/books/ crop-plant/boron-deficiency-insoils-and-crops-a-review Josten, P., and U. Kutschera. 1998. The Micronutrient Boron Causes the Development of Adventitious Roots in Sunflower Cuttings. Annals of Botany. 84:337-342.

Boron: AD

COPPER:

HELPFUL OR HARMFUL? You might already know that copper is one of the essential micronutrients that plants need for growth, but did you know that some plants require more copper than others, or that copper is what gives yellow onions their brown papery skin? Read on to discover more about this essential trace mineral.

BY DONALD LESTER

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Copper

Under the organic food laws, copper may not be added as a plant nutrient unless there is a documented soil or tissue deficiency. The amount of copper that can be in a product is restricted by most states.”

Copper is one of the essential micronutrients, or trace minerals, that plants need for growth. As with any nutrient, plants can absorb and use only certain forms of copper. For example, copper metal is useless to plants, but once dissolved in acidic conditions, copper enters plants very easily. Under high pH conditions (alkaline) copper becomes unavailable to plants.

Copper has specific duties in the plant. In onions, copper is the main ingredient needed to give yellow onions the brown papery skin desired by consumers. Plants have several copper- containing enzymes that play an important role in photosynthesis, respiration and the formation of lignin in woody plants. Insufficient levels of copper (copper deficiency) can lead to symptoms of reduced starch formation, reduced nitrogen fixation and nodulation in legumes, delayed flowering and maturity and pollen sterility. In broadleaf plants the upper portion of the plants wilt, the growing

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Copper point may die and the top leaves turn a distinctive bluishgreen color. Some plants require more copper than others. Beet, onion, lettuce, spinach, sunflower and tomato have relatively high copper requirements compared to other crops. It is interesting to note that archaeologists have discovered that metal-tolerant plants helped ancient civilizations identify ore bodies and mining and smelting sites. For example, the African copper flower is found only in soils rich in copper and helped with the discovery of mines and smelting areas in 14th century Zaire. Other examples of copper-tolerant plants include the Vernal Sandwort and the Sea Thrift from Europe, and Elsholtzia haichowensis (no English common name) from China. As a rule, beans, broccoli, cabbage, cucumber, mint, pea and potato do not require extra copper supplementation. High levels of copper can be toxic to plants. The symptoms of copper toxicity are reduced seed germination, low shoot vigor, and lower iron availability.

Disease Fighter Copper has very powerful antimicrobial properties. For example, a stainless steel sink will harbor germs for two weeks while a copper sink will be germfree in two hours. This was confirmed by a recent EPA study and it is why most hospital door knobs, handrails and fixtures are made of copper or plated with brass (a copper alloy). For over a hundred years, copper sulfate has been used in commercial agriculture as a foliar fungicide for powdery mildew disease control and copper plating was a technology that began in the mid1600s. One common use for copper plating, widespread in the 1700s, was the sheathing of ship hulls. Copper sheathing was used to protect

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If you are growing plants on a soil substrate with a pH above 7.5, then you need to check periodically for copper deficiency symptoms in your plants.

Similarly, copper compounds were the principal ingredient in boat anti-fouling paints, although newer chemistries are being developed for this purpose.

Copper Fertilizers

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Copper Copper

poisoning (like lead or mercury) are given EDTA to bind to the metal and physically filter it out. Obviously, the doctors do not want the EDTA to let go of the heavy metal easily. Furthermore, EDTA has a separation anxiety in that it will not give up its metal unless there is another one to trade. So, people treated with EDTA for heavy metal poisoning often get calcium deficiency. In plants the same is true. For example, plants given iron EDTA will often develop manganese deficiency, so in effect you are trading one deficiency for another. Another type of chelate on the market is the amino acid chelates. These products use amino acids (the building blocks of protein) as a shell. This shell is held onto the copper with citric acid as a binder. These products are generally certified as organic fertilizers. In California, the fertilizer laws state that citric acid is the chelating agent—not the amino acid. So, you will not see labels for amino acid chelated copper in California. Amino acid (or citric acid) chelates are a smaller molecule than EDTA so they penetrate the leaf easier and absorption time is greatly reduced. Also, plants recognize the amino acid as a building block and readily take it in. Once inside the plant, the amino acid shell is stripped off and used, as is the copper. Conversely, EDTA is synthetic so only the copper is used by the plant. The good thing about chelated copper fertilizers is that they can be used on the plant foliage, the soil or in nutrient solutions; however, there are some restrictions.

Hydroponics Organic matter (humus) binds to copper more tightly than it does with any other micronutrient. This tie-up of copper is a common cause for copper deficiency in soil systems. If the copper level in your solution is on the high side, than knowledge of this property may affect your choice of substrate. Choosing an organic soil over a sand substrate can mitigate the effect of high copper in your solution. Increasing the pH level increases the amount of copper held by organic matter or clay (which reduces the availability of copper to the plants). If you are growing plants on a soil substrate with a pH above 7.5, then you need to check periodically for copper deficiency symptoms in your plants. Copper metal is very malleable and is not as susceptible to corrosion like other metals, which is why it is still used today for pipes. In addition, copper has antibacterial properties that help to ward off micro-organisms like those that cause Legionnaire’s disease. Unlike plastic, copper does not give off fumes, melt or burn. However, the copper content in a closed hydroponic system should be minimized to prevent copper accumulation in the nutrient solution and in the plants. If the levels of copper are high in your source water, replace the copper pipes with high pressure PVC piping. 172

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Aquaponic systems are recirculating by design, which compounds the possibility of exposure and bioaccumulation of copper in both fish and humans.”

Aquaponics Copper is a soft metal that readily corrodes or ionizes, especially in acidic environments like aquaponics. Copper is considered to be a heavy metal and fish readily accumulate copper in their flesh. Aquaponic systems are recirculating by design, which compounds the possibility of exposure and bioaccumulation of copper in both fish and humans. Copper is toxic to fish at low levels and crustaceans at miniscule levels. Do not use copper heat exchangers in solar water heaters and minimize the use of copper pipes in the system. Most systems today use plastic PVC pipe almost exclusively.

Aeroponics In aeroponic systems where the nutrient solution is periodically misted onto roots suspended in the air, copper is added to the nutrient solution. Since the roots are not immersed in the solution it is unlikely that the plants will absorb enough copper to be phytotoxic. In this system is it not so imperative that copper piping or plumbing be eliminated from the system.

In Conclusion Copper is not only an essential plant nutrient, it’s also a tool that can be very beneficial to your indoor growing operation. Copper can be a big problem when not used in the proper environment or in the right form. But now that you know the hazards and the benefits of copper products, you can more confidently use them to keep your operation running smoothly and efficiently.

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Hand-Pollinating Indoor Cucumbers and Strawberries by Kyle L. Ladenburger Hobby growers can probably get by with hand-pollinating the majority of their plants, provided they know how to go about it. The following is a guide to understanding how to pollinate the flowers of two popular indoor-grown vegetables: cucumbers and strawberries. It begins with a simple anatomy lesson.

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Hand-Pollinating

One large factor contributing to the popularity of indoor gardening is the fact that the grower can have nearly complete control over the environment. All of the unpredictability that is inherent with growing outdoors and dealing with Mother Nature can be set aside. Indoor gardeners need not worry about the risks of prolonged drought or torrential flooding. They can rest easy knowing that their crops are safe from the threat of damaging winds and harmful pest infestations. And, one will never hear an indoor gardener say, “I’m prayin’ for rain.” However, with complete control also comes complete responsibility. Indoor gardeners must create from within their means an environment

Indoor gardeners must create from within their means an environment that is ideal for the specific plant being grown.”

that is ideal for the specific plant being grown. With care and diligence, and maybe some research as well, the grower needs to create a hospitable atmosphere for his or her plants by choosing the correct amount and style of lighting used, controlling the levels of humidity and airflow, keeping a close eye on the temperature in the growing area and supplying water and elemental nutrients properly. As indoor gardeners, we essentially take on the role of Mother Nature. We are the setting and the rising sun. We are the clouds that bring the much-needed rain. We control the winds that cool, and we supply the heat that encourages strong growth. At times we even

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have to be the bee that spreads the pollen from flower to flower. Large-scale indoor growers of flowering crops may deal with several acres of plants at any given time. In these types of operations it would be hard for the workers to hand-pollinate each flower. It would simply take too many people or too much time. So what many commercial indoor growers do is buy or rent pollinators (usually honeybees or bumblebees) and let them loose in the growing area for a given amount of time. But for the hobby grower, who is growing on a much smaller scale—perhaps a few plants instead of a few acres—I would recommend hand-pollinating the plants that are not self-fertilizing (self-pollinating) to ensure the best quality fruit production possible. The following is a guide to understanding the anatomy of, and how to pollinate, the flowers of two popular indoor grown vegetables: cucumbers and strawberries.

Cucumbers

The modern cucumber plant (Cucumis sativus) is usually monoecious, meaning both the male flowers and female flowers can be found separately on the same plant. The male flowers grow in small clusters and can be identified by their smooth, slender stems. Containing usually three stamens (pollen producers), male flowers open about a week before female flowers and outnumber their female counterparts on average 10 to one. Female flowers, on the other hand, grow singularly and have a large base or stem that resembles a baby cucumber.

This is the ovary. The ovary is the part of the female flower anatomy that will become the fruit that houses the seeds. Inside the female flower is where we find the pistil, which is made up of the stigma (pollen receivers) and the style, a tube-like structure that leads to the ovary. For the female flower to be successfully pollinated, pollen must be transferred from the stamens of the male flower to the stigma of the female flower. In order to do this properly, one will need a tool. I’ve found that a small paint or make-up brush with soft bristles works well, but some growers use electric toothbrushes, also with soft bristles, to move the pollen. To pollinate the cucumber flower start first at a male flower. Take the tool of your choice and gently brush the tip of the stamen, which is called the anther. This is the pollen bearing part of the flower

Hand-Pollinating

Strawberries The flowers of most strawberry plants are referred to as androgynous or hermaphroditic, meaning the flower contains both the male and female reproductive parts.”

that bees bump and vibrate, shaking the pollen onto their bodies. Brush the anthers a few times (you may be able to see the yellow pollen collecting if you use a white bristled brush), and then move to a female flower next. Take the part of the brush that contains the pollen and rub it gently upon the very center of the female flower. This is where the stigma resides and this is where the pollen is initially received. As you pollinate the flowers, be sure to go from male to female and back to male again before going to another female. A successfully pollinated female flower will grow into a cucumber. If it is not pollinated properly, the fruit will not form and instead will slowly wither and die off.

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The common garden strawberry plant (Fragaria ananassa) is self-fertilizing (selfpollinating), but only to a certain extent. The flowers of most strawberry plants are referred to as androgynous or hermaphroditic, meaning the flower contains both the male and female reproductive parts. However, unlike the tomato flower where both organs of reproduction are enclosed together in close proximity, the male and female parts on the strawberry flower are fractions of an inch apart. Outdoors, this fraction of an inch is handled and taken care of by pollinating insects and the wind. But indoors, this fraction of an inch can become more like a mile. The female part (pistil) of the strawberry flower is located in the direct center of the flower. It is yellow and circular, about the size of a pencil eraser, and will become the fruit of the plant. This part of the flower can be identified by the many small stigma (pollen receptors) covering it. The male part (stamen) of the flower encircles the female and has anthers (pollen producers) that stand above the stigma. When hand-pollinating, the goal is to move the pollen from the anthers to the stigma, gently spreading it as evenly as possible over the whole surface of said stigma. Do this using a soft brush or the tool of your choice.

If the pollen is spread evenly over the stigma, the result will be a fruit that is more uniformly shaped. An improperly pollinated strawberry flower will produce mis-shapen fruits that may still have great flavor, but are less appealing to the eye and usually much smaller than those from a successful pollination. This may be an important factor if the grower plans to give away or sell any of the harvest.

A Final Note

When hand-pollinating, it is best to do so when the flower is completely open because this is when pollen production will be at the highest levels. This is when the stigma of the female flower is most receptive. I prefer using a small softbristled paintbrush over something like a Q-tip. The brush seems to pick up and distribute the pollen quite well. I have never used an electric toothbrush or device similar to one, but I imagine that if used with care, they would work just fine. If you’ve experienced success pollinating cucumbers and strawberries using the methods described above, or if you have your own suggestions, please get in touch with editor@maximumyield.com to share your experiences.

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a Grow Pack from Green Planet Green Planet nutrients are amongst the finest in the world. The Grow Kit contains many essential products for the primarily organic grower, including 16-oz. samples of the award-winning base nutrient Medi-One, Massive (the company’s flagship bloom enhancer), Finisher and Liquid W-8. The kit also includes a full feed program for optimal growth.

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book review William Texier’s

Hydroponics For Everybody All About Home Horticulture

Have you ever wondered about the origins of the word “hydroponics” or what the differences between hydroponics and soilless media are? Well, those questions and more are answered as soon as you open up William Texier’s new highly anticipated book, Hydroponics for Everybody: All About Home Horticulture. William is a gardener who likes to keep it simple. In fact, that’s his first piece of advice in his book. In the first chapter, “The Different Hydroponics Systems,” he describes how many hydroponic failures derive from losing sight of this fundamental principle of keeping it simple. With many years in the industry behind him, William is able to include a historical perspective of hydro and William Texier is a true innovator highlight how far in the hydroponics it’s come in the last industry. In 2004 30 years. Following he developed the first chapter and patented that simplifies the “bioponics” system set-up are (organic others that cover hydroponics). Currently, he nutrients (you manages research and development at definitely need General Hydroponics in Europe and those!), substrates internationally, with a team of researchers (also essential) and drawn from different departments of the additives (should University of California. He publishes be considered by articles and conducts seminars around those who demand the world. With 33 years in the field, he is considered one of the most knowledgeable higher yields). hydroponics experts worldwide.

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Hydroponics for Everybody is easy to navigate, and over 100 computer-generated illustrations and photographs add to the reading experience. This reference guide also has global appeal, as it is available in seven languages and even includes a handy measurement conversion chart. Of particular interest is the section called “The Law and the Label,” which advises the beginner on what a nutrients product’s label should include, and how to decipher the information according to your garden’s needs. “Do not hesitate to run your own tests, comparing different nutrient brands,” William writes. “A well-formulated nutrient is a prime contribution to the success of your growing operation.” From basic gardening to high-tech installations, everything you ever wanted to know about the art of hydroponics is included in Hydroponics for Everybody and is delivered by a credible source. William first discovered hydroponics in 1985. He had a hand in developing aero-hydroponics with his long-time friend and founder of General Hydroponics, Lawrence Brooke. Later, in 1994, he moved back to his hometown in France and created General Hydroponics Europe with his wife, Noucetta Kehdi. Ten years later, William developed and patented bioponics (organic hydroponics), which he covers in chapter nine (“Can Hydroponics be Organic?”) of his book. Hydroponics for Everybody is distributed through HydroScope (hydro-scope.com) and is available in the gardening section of bookstores, grow shops, garden stores and online.

10 FACTS ON... NITROGEN BY PHILIP MCINTOSH

One.

Nitrogen (atomic symbol N), a gaseous element at room temperature with atomic number 7, is one of the “big three” plant nutrient elements, along with potassium (K) and phosphorus (P).

Three.

Two.

Nitrogen is relatively rare in the earth, but is abundant in the atmosphere, making up about 78% of the planet’s gas blanket.

Although nitrogen is common in the air, it exists as the inert diatomic gas N2, which is not useful in directly supporting plant or animal life.

Four.

Five

Although nitrogen is a part of many polyatomic ionic compounds (those made of more than one kind of atom and possessing an electric charge) only two forms of nitrogen are of use to plants—nitrate (NO3-) and ammonia (NH4+).

Nitrate ions are readily absorbed by plant roots, but are also quickly leached from soils, while ammonia binds to soil particles, so it not very mobile in the rhizosphere.

Six.

Plants need a lot of nitrogen and use up the available supply relatively quickly, which is why

Seven. Nitrogen is an important component of the amino acids that are the building blocks of all the proteins used by a plant. It is also found in the genetic material (DNA and RNA) and in chlorophyll molecules. In other words, it’s really important stuff.

Ten.

Eight.

There are many choices when it comes to providing nitrogen in a nutrient solution to include calcium nitrate, potassium nitrate, nitric acid, ammonium nitrate, ammonium sulfate and ammonium hydrogen phosphates.

Nine.

The dry weight content of nitrogen in plants generally varies from 1% to 6%, but variations in that range can have a dramatic effect on the health and productivity of plants.

excess symptoms include unnaturally dark green color and increased susceptibility to disease.

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talking shop

Scott, Richard, and Mike behind the Rasa counter.

AT A GLANCE Company: Rasa Hydroponics Owners: Richard Aylard and Scott Alexander Location: 5725 Winfield Blvd. Ste 8 San Jose, CA 95123 Phone: 1-408-227-7272 Web: rasahydroponics.com E-mail: customerservice@rasahydroponics.com Good to know: Rasa stands for Richard Aylard and Scott Alexander

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The following is a story of how two young, dedicated entrepreneurs went from developing and operating an online store in 2011, to successfully paving the way to opening their own hydroponics store in San Jose, California. Before opening Rasa Hydroponics, Richard Aylard had studied mechanical engineering, and Scott Alexander was working as an emergency medical technician. But, since both Richard and Scott were both raised in the garden industry, and both say they have always had a green thumb, they decided to get into the growing game. “It's why we chose to attend the two largest agricultural schools in California (University of California, Davis and California Polytechnic State University),” shares Scott. The Rasa story truly begins with the development of an online store in February 2011. “While going to school, we learned how to build a website and opened our store originally called EZ Hydroponics & Organics,” says Scott. “We were drop shippers for the online store and a year later when we graduated we opened our storefront in San Jose in 2012.”

For the first year, it was only Richard and Scott at the helm. They worked 14-hour days and were open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. “We worked so much we ended up staying at the shop overnight for the first six months,” Scott reveals. “Richard and I had to learn how to multitask. We did the bookkeeping, answered all the phone calls, managed inventory, paid the bills and built new business relationships all while making sure every customer left our store satisfied.” Eventually the guys brought on the third member of the Rasa team, Big Mike, who has 15 years of experience in the hydroponics and organics industries and is more than just an employee; he is a friend and part of the Rasa Hydroponics family. “We share the same interests and we take care of each other,” says Scott. Besides working around the clock, another struggle to overcome initially was stocking enough inventory to meet demand. “At the beginning, our bigger customers needed multiples of certain items that we only had one of. Since then we have quadrupled our inventory and we now stock almost everything a grower needs, and large amounts of each,” says Scott. These days, Rasa Hydroponics has many suppliers including Hydrofarm, Sunlight Supply, Geopot, Canna, Sanctuary Soils, Humbolt Wholesale, R&M Supply, Central Garden, Sparetime Supply, Can, SG, DL Wholesale, and many more. Scott attributes Rasa's initial success to its website. “Our webpage was our number one source of recognition and market share in the beginning. We started with 80% of our sales being online. But now 80% of our sales are with our awesome local customers,” he explains. Of course, impressing customers is at the heart of what Rasa does. “We will go way out of our way to make a customer happy; whether that be delivering products to a customer, staying a few hours after closing; or helping to make a growroom clean, professional and safe. There isn’t much we will not do for a customer. We take great pride in the fact that customers respect and like us.”

Scott loading up a customer’s truck with a whole lot of soil.

The guys at Rasa Hydroponics remain a dedicated threeman team that is very knowledgeable and mandates the best prices around. While Richard and Scott admit they are young business owners, being 22 and 23 years of age when first opening, they figure their ages did not hold them back in any way. “We thought it would be a bit of a disadvantage when building relationships with manufactures and gaining loyal customers; however, it worked to our advantage. Our customers saw our passion and dedication to horticulture and respected it. Being straight out of college, we didn’t have girlfriends or a family to take care of, so no matter what the time of day, we were available to help our customers without sacrificing important personal time. And, we remain single, so Rasa Hydroponics is literally our life,” shares Scott. One particularly rewarding day on the job for Scott was when a customer called them saying their clone looked quite weird. “It's healthy, but it just doesn’t look right,” they had said on the phone with Scott. “We told him to bring in the clone. A few hours later, he did, and it turned out he had cloned a leaf from the plant. We explained that you need to take a cutting of an internode and showed him where they are located on the plant. We exchanged laughs and kept the clone leaf and to our surprise, that leaf stayed healthy for over a month and continued to grow.” In addition to Rasa's 32,000-sq.-ft storefront, Richard and Scott recently opened an additional 1,500-sq.-ft. parcel for storage and are very pleased to be expanding so soon after having just opened a year and a half ago. They both learned quickly that although the industry has gotten a lot bigger throughout the years, it is only going to continue to grow as people become more aware of the benefits of growing your own herbs, vegetables and fruits. “We have also learned that as rewarding as it is to own a business, it also takes a lot of time and effort to have a successful and reputable business. For Richard and myself, it is a 24/7 job, and we love it!” concludes Scott.

“We worked so much we ended up staying at the shop overnight for the first six months.”

Two grow displays inside Rasa.

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You tell us

Dutchpro has been on the growing scene in Amsterdam in The Netherlands for the last 33 years. Nowadays, the company’s award-winning formulas are finding their way onto store shelves in the United States. Sales director Peter Knobel shares what the process has been like and why demand for the Dutchpro name is steadily increasing. Tell us a little bit about how your company got started. Over 30 years ago, growers who didn’t want to settle for grow and bloom stimulators available at that time started to develop specific nutrients. We designed a complete line of nutrients that met all demands and could fulfill all wishes of the modern grower. After small-scale production, we went commercial, and nowadays, our award-winning products are successfully sold in several European countries and the US. The demand for this user friendly product line increased enormously in a very short time and is one of the strongest upcoming brands.

Who are the people behind Dutchpro? Dutchpro is a team of close friends who have shared their experience and love for growing plants for over 30 years. Working close together and making optimum use of the specific skills of the individuals within the team has gotten us where we are today. Everyone within the team has their own role and together we are able to fulfil all disciplines needed to run the company.

What is your company’s philosophy? We only do what we are specialized in: manufacture a highly concentrated, user friendly product line of nutrients

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at very competitive prices. We decided to refrain from any price increases to keep our products available to all our customers and income levels.

Which products are you best known for and in which countries do you do business? Looking at our product range, Explode and Take Root are best-selling products rapidly replacing competitors’ products (topshooters/bloomstims and rootstims) in being very price competitive and highly concentrated (dilution rate 1:1000). Our awardwinning product range is available in all European countries and our customers appreciate getting a better end result with a much lower investment and the use of fewer bottles. This year, we made our first appearance in the US market and our products are exclusively available through Texas Hydroponics and Organics in the state of Texas. The other states will be approached shortly.

“No grow without Dutchpro!” Having started out in the Netherlands, how did you manage to get Dutchpro available on a global scale? Our relations with all our partner shops are very strong and we work close together. We created a network where we support our strategic partners and we don’t deliver our product on every corner of the street. Being on every shelf in every shop devalues your product and creates price wars between shops. We have a strong pricing strategy and our prices in every country are equal so there are no parallel imports. In addition, we offer customized marketing support to our partner shops. We respect the individual identity of our shops and offer them the option to promote their brand as well as ours in one go instead of asking them only to promote ours. Beneficial to shop keepers is our smart and integral product range (less stock age) that suits the modern grower via

competitive prices with good margins. Working this way brings both parties on a higher level and it creates much more fun for everybody.

What are your A + B formulas all about? The specific reason that we designed a two-part nutrient (A + B formula) is to create a basic nutrient that offers a better and stronger base for the development of the plant.

What do beginner growers need to know about getting started using your products? Our unique prescription delivers a characteristic (sweet) taste and fragrance. All products are designed for every irrigation system as well as most soil, hydro and coco set-ups. In hydro you can even reach an EC level of 2.3 without burning your plants. You need fewer different bottles and amounts of each product to gain higher results than most other products on the market. Product strengths are their simplicity in use, the pricing and the quality of the yield at the end.

In what ways are Dutchpro products good for the environment? Mainly we use organic elements that create a stable and clean nutrient (no residue or salt building) to keep plants vital and green until the end of

the cycle. At present we run both an allotment project and school projects where they use our Dutchpro Seeds (vegetable, fruit, herb and flower seeds) with our basic nutrients and our organic products: Take Root, Multi Total and Leaf Green. My palm trees are growing better and flower much more by using our products than you may expect in our climate.

Is there anything happening at the R&D stage you care to share? Our product line didn’t change much since the beginning. Why change a winning formula? When we started to sell our products abroad, we introduced a 250-ml version of stimulators, a soft water version of our basic nutrients and we launched Auto Flowering feed. Who knows what the future will bring?

What else should people know about Dutchpro? Nowadays, the market is much more competitive and the demand for high technology products has increased enormously. We also see nutrient companies who launch many unnecessary products to expand their range to gain more shelf space to compete with each other. We will not expand our product line with these “marketing bottles.” Our customers appreciate getting a better end result with a much lower investment and the use of fewer bottles.

Below from left to right: A Dutchpro storefront in Barcelona; One Stop 4 Growing promotional material; Dutchpro Girls present Maximum Yield magazine; An allotment project booth; At a trade show in Prague, Peter Knobel’s photo op; Trade show exhibit in Manchester; Special Dutchpro delivery; Dutchpro Girls helping out at Grow2012; Dutchpro ride for more modest deliveries.

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I’m a Fan! Armando Mushik

CoNTEST

Thermal, California

CURRENt

W IN N E R !

“I am a fan of Maximum Yield because it seems that every time I am thinking of something, or am moving to the next step in growing knowledge, the info is often provided by Maximum Yield. This last weekend I went to my hydro store and got a long-awaited printed version of Maximum Yield. As the temperature in the desert at my home gets hot, I was wondering about CO2 to help with heat issues and when I got home I open up and find an article on CO2! Then, [the appropriate] advertising just says, ‘buy me, you need me.’ Thank you, MY, for having these ads so consumers purchase the products to drive the cycle. I call my hydroponics store three hours from my house to see when they will have the next copy. When they do, I drive to go get one, plus supplies. Thank you for everything and all the great information you provide and thank you for the free back issues available online.”

! s e i r t n e n a F r e h t O cient nd effi a r e o-date prop st up-t dgets gives e t s y la a e a “It alw n. I get th cool g rban n and atio yu io t m m r a r o f m in bette infor d s e ce [I ic n lp po s he hs sin t a n h hydro o It m w d.” g out. n a fe hooke comin ’s bee d I’m It n . a n e g din gard fornia d] rea , Cali star te ily, Hemet – Da

Yield is nds Maximum “I tell my frie cooling, use it covers the best beca onics, soil, ients, hydrop lighting, nutr n going.” e informatio etc. Keep th rnia al umont, C ifo – David, Bea

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tEll US WhY yOu’rE a Fan FoR A ChANCE to WIN A $100 gIFt CERtIFICAtE MoNthlY ANd A gRANd pRIzE oF $1000 to SpENd At YoUR FAvoRItE hYdRo StoRE

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- RUSS CUNNINGTON, FUTURE HARVEST

Maximum Yield Maximum Results

250.729.2677

MAX-mART

OPPORTUNITY TO PURCHASE an established, profitable business in the high growth hydroponics industry-located in New Mexico. OWNER IS WILLING TO TRAIN THE NEW OWNER FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. For additional information about this listing, please contact the representative below:

NCRE GROUP, LLC Robert Newstead | Principal 408-628-4301 (D) 408-608-0391 (F) rnewstead@ncregroup.com

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MAXIMUM YIELD distributors ALABAMA Alabama Organics 3348 Bethel Rd. Hammondville, AL 35989 256-635-0802 Hydro-Ponics Inc. (of Birmingham) 2969 Pelham Pkwy. Suite. 3 Pelham, AL 35124 205-358-3009

ALASKA Far North Garden Supply 2834 Boniface Parkway Anchorage, AK 99504 907-333-3141 Southside Garden Supply AK 12870 Old Seward Hwy., Unit 114 Anchorage, AK 99515 907-339-9997 Holmtown Nursery Inc. 1301 - 30th Ave. Fairbanks, AK 99701 907-451-8733 Sea of Green Flagstaff 204 East Route 66 Flagstaff, AZ 86001 928-774-7643 Home Grown Hydroponics 2401 East Baseline Rd. Gilbert, AZ 85234 480-633-2100 Ground Control Hydroponic & Garden Supplies 1392 Ocean Dr. Homer, AK 99603 907-235-1521 Northern Lights Greenhouse & Garden Supply Suite 105-9737 Mud Bay Rd. Ketchikan, AK 9901 907-225-GROW (4769) Mesa Hydroponics 1720 W. Southern Ave. Suite C7 Mesa, AZ 85202 480-969-4769 Alaska Jack’s Hydroponics and Garden Supply 1150 S. Colony Way, Suite 9 Palmer, AK 99645 907-746-4774 Peninsula Garden Supply AK 44224 Sterling Hwy., Suite 4 Soldotna, AK 99669 907-420-0401 Alaska Jack’s Hydroponics and Garden Supply 244 S Sylvan Way, Unit 25 Wasilla, AK 99654 907-373-4757 Far North Garden Supply 300 Centaur Street Wasilla, AK 99654 907-376-7586

ARIZONA Happy Harvesters Hydroponics 1400 S. Arizona Ave. Suite 11 Chandler, AZ 85286 480-857-8878

Sea of Green West 2340 W. Bell Rd., Suite 116 Phoenix, AZ 602-504-8842 Show Low Hydroponics 1400 E. Deuce of Clubs #2 Show Low, AZ 85901 928-537-4606 ACI Hydroponics 1325 South Park Lane Tempe, AZ 85282 800-633-2137 Home Grown Hydroponics 1845 East Broadway Tempe, AZ 85282 480-377-9096 Sea of Green Hydroponics 1301 E. University Dr. Tempe, AZ 85281 800-266-4136 _________________________

Gonzo Grow 10297 W Van Buren St., Suite 8 Tolleson, AZ 85353 623-780-GROW (4769) _________________________ Sea of Green Hydroponics 402 North 4th Ave. Tucson, AZ 85705 520-622-6344 Sea of Green Tuscon East 7955 E. Broadway Blvd., #151. Tucson, AZ 85710 520-751-7745 _________________________

Sweet Harvest Hydroponics & Organics 1041 E. Grand Ave. Arroyo Grande, CA 93420 805-473-0004 Auburn Organic 4035 Grass Valley Hwy. Auburn, CA 95602 530-823-8900 Quail Mountain Ranch 230 Palm Ave. Auburn, CA 95603 530-889-2390

ARKANSAS

Kern Hydroponics 2408 Brundage Lane, Suite B Bakersfield, CA 93304 661-323-7333

Mickey’s Mercantile 1303 Hwy., 65 South Clinton, AR 72031 501-412-0214 Old Soul Organics and More 1771 Crossover Rd. Fayetteville, AR 72701 479-444-6955 Growfresh Organics & More 2900 Zero St., Suite 106 Fort Smith, AR 72901 479-648-8885

Anuway Hydroponics 2711 W. Walnut St. Rogers, Arkansas 72756 479-631-0099

Home Grown Hydroponics 1838 W. Bell Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85023 602-368-4005

Northcoast Horticulture Supply 639 6th St. Arcata, CA 95521 707-826-9998 _________________________

Bakersfield Hydroponics Bakersfield, CA 661-808-4640

Sea of Green Flagstaff 204-C E. Route 66 Flagstaff, AZ 86001 928-774-SOGF (7643)

The Grow Shop LLC 1733 E. McDowell Rd. Phoenix, AZ 85006 602-340-7591

Let it Grow 160 Westwood Center Arcata, CA 95521 707-822-8733 _________________________

Tucson Hydroponics & Organics 4235 W. Ina Rd., Suite 131 Tucson, AZ 85741 520-395-2052 _________________________

Fermentables 3915 Crutcher St. N. Little Rock, AR 72118 501-758-6261

The Hydro Closet 5826 West Olive Ave. #106 Glendale, AZ 85302 602-361-2049

A Fertile World 5565 W End Rd Arcata, CA 95521 707-825-0255 _________________________ American Hydroponics 286 South G St. Arcata, CA 95521 800-458-6543

Tell 2 Friends Indoor Gardening 62 Sutherland Dr. Auburn, CA 95603 530-889-8171

Arizona Hydroponics 3900 E Western Dr. #D Cottonwood, AZ 86326 928-649-1138

Home Grown Hydroponics 2401 East Baseline Rd. Gilbert, AZ 85234 480-633-2100

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CALIFORNIA Greenleaf Hydroponics 1839 W Lincoln Ave. Anaheim, CA 92801 714-254-0005 Grow It Yourself Gardens 401 Sunset Dr., Suite F Antioch, CA 94509 925-755-GROW High Desert Hydroponics 13631 Pawnee Rd., #7 Apple Valley, CA 92308 760-247-2090

Green with Envy 3903 Patton Way #103 Bakersfield, CA 93308 661-245-2616

Super Starts PO Box 732 Bellmont, CA 94002 650-346-8009 Berkeley Indoor Garden 844 University Ave. Berkeley, CA 94710 510-549-2918 Berkeley’s Secret Garden 921 University Ave. Berkeley, CA 94710 510-486-0117 The Hydroponic Connection Berkeley 2816 San Pablo Ave. Berkeley, CA 94702 510-704-9376 _________________________

Brentwood Hydroponics & Organics 560 Valdry Ct #85 Brentwood, CA 94513 925-634-6704 _________________________ Hydro Galaxy 3314 W. Burbank Burbank CA 91505 800-818-6128 Good To Grow & Global Garden Supply 1350 Rollins Rd. Burlingame, CA 94010 650-733-4420

Retail Stores listed alphabetically by city in each state. Advanced Garden Supply 3113 Alhambra Dr., Unit F Cameron Park, CA 95682 530-676-2100 Sky High Garden Supply 3081 Alhambra Dr., Suite 105 Cameron Park, CA 95682 530-676-4009 Precision Hydroponics 132 Kennedy Ave. Campbell, CA 95008 408-866-8176 Advanced Hydroponics 17808 Sierra Hwy. Canyon Country, CA 91351 Myron L Company 2450 Impala Dr. Carlsband, CA 9210-7226 760-438-2021; 661-299-1603 _________________________

San Diego Hydroponics North County Coastal 6352 Corte Del Abeto #J Carlsbad CA, 92011 760-420-8934 _________________________

The Greenhouse Garden Supply 7619 Fair Oak Blvd. Carmichael, CA 95608 916-515-9130 thegreenhousegardensupply.com _________________________ NorCal Creations PO Box 28, Cedar Ridge CA 95924 _________________________

The Hydro Shop of Cerritos 15961 S. Piuma Ave. Cerritos CA 90703 562-653-0700 _________________________ Garden Connection, The 629 Entler Ave. #32 Chico, CA 95928 530-342-7762 Hydro King 2540 South Whitman Place Chico, CA 959282 530-893-GROW (4769) Grow4Less Garden Supply & Hydroponics 320 Trousdale Dr., Suite L Chula Visa, CA 91910 619-425-GROW Mothers Earth 871 Harold Place. #108 Chula Vista, CA 91914 619-240-3235 _________________________

San Diego Hydroponics North 645 Marsat Court #101 Chula Vista, CA 91911 619-737-9272 _________________________ Citrus Heights Hydrogarden 8043 Greenback Lane Citrus Heights, CA 95610 916-728-4769 Green Thumb Hydroponics 6412 Tupelo Dr. Citrus Heights, CA 95621 916-721-6969 Conrad Hydroponics Inc. 14915 Unit E, Olympic Dr. Clearlake, CA 95422 707-994 3264 Under The Sun 13361 East Highway 20 Clearlake Oaks, CA 95423 707-998-GROW

G & G Organics and Hydroponics 901 W. Victoria Street Unit D Compton, CA 90220 310-632-0122

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Concord Indoor Garden 2771 Clayton Rd. Concord, CA 94519 925-671-2520

A Fertile World (Eureka) 6th St. Eureka, CA 95501 707-444-0200 _________________________

Hydroponics Plus 2250 Commerce Ave., Suite C Concord, CA 94520 925-691-7615 123 Grow 2175 Sampson Ave. #123, Corona, CA 92879 951-280-9232 Hydrostar Hydroponics & Organics 1307 W. Sixth St., #211 Corona, CA 92882 951-479-8069 _________________________

The Hydro Spot 21785 Temescal Cyn Rd. Corona, CA 92883 _________________________ A+ Hydroponics & Organics 1604 Babcock St. Costa Mesa, CA 92627 949-642-7776 The Hydro Source 671 E. Edna Pl. Covina, CA 91723 877 HYDRO 82; 626-915-3128 Let it Grow 1228 2nd St. Crescent City, CA 95531 707-464-9086 Pacific Coast Hydroponics 4147 Sepulveda Boulevard Culver City, CA 90230 310-313-1354 Dr. Greenthumbs Hydroponic Garden Supplies 566 San Ramon Valley Blvd. Danville, CA 94526 925-314-9376 Constantly Growing - Davis 123 D St. Davis, CA 95616 530-756-4774 Central Valley Gardening 9884 Stephens St. Delhi, CA 95315 209-668-2178 Constantly Growing 6200 Enterprise Dr., Suite A Diamond Springs, CA 95619 530-642-9710 Appleseed Hydroponics 6650 Merchandise Way, Suite B Diamond Springs, CA 95619 530-622-5190 Victory Garden Supply 1900 N Lincoln St., #100 Dixon, CA 95620 707-678-5800 Watch it Grow Hydro 9453 Firestone Blvd. Downey, CA USA 562-861-1928 Grow A Lot Hydroponics, San Diego 1591 N. Cuyamaca St. El Cajon, CA 93612 619-749-6777 Indoor Garden Solution Inc. 12424 Exline St. El Monte, CA 91732 626-453-0443 Go Green Hydroponics 15721 Ventura Boulevard Encino, CA 91436 818-990-1198

Bayside Garden Supply 4061 Highway 101 Ste 6 Eureka, CA 95503 707-826-7435 ________________________

Humboldt Hydroponics 1302 Union St. Eureka, CA 95501 707-443-4304 _________________________

Northcoast Horticulture Supply 60 West 4th St. Eureka, CA 95501 707-444-9999 _________________________ Happy Green Lawn Care 3890 Walnut Dr. Eureka, CA 95534 707-497-6186 Constantly Growing 4301 Hazel Ave. Fair Oaks, CA 95628 916-962-0043 Fallbrook Hydro 208 E Mission Rd., Suite B Fallbrook, CA 92028 760-728-4769 Tulare County Growers Supply 435 W. Noble Ave., Unit A Farmersville, CA 93223 559-732-8247 Santa Cruz Hydroponics & Organics - North 6241 Graham Hill Rd. Felton, CA 95018 831-335-9000 _________________________

Eel River Hydroponics & Soil Supply 164 Dinsmore Dr. Fortuna, CA 95540 707-726-0395 _________________________ The Shop 8635 Mirabel Rd. Forestville, CA 95436 866-223-0198; 707-887-2280 Dirt Cheap Hydroponics 17975 H Hwy. 1 Fort Bragg, CA 95437 707-964-4211 Headlands Garden Supply 630 North Franklin St. Fort Bragg, CA 95437 707-964-4447 Hydrogarden Mendocino County 1240 North Main St. Fort Bragg, CA 95437 707-962-9252 _________________________

A Fertile World (Fortuna) 610 7th St. Fortuna, CA 95540 707-725-0700 _________________________

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Northcoast Horticulture Supply 357 Main St. Fortuna, CA 95540 707-725-5550 _________________________ Nature’s Secret Garden and Supply 41451 Albrae St. Fremont, CA 94577 510-623-8393 _________________________

Gro More Garden Supply & Hydroponics Gro More Garden Supply & Hydroponics 2686 Clovis Ave., Suite 109 Fresno, CA 93727 559-348-1055 _________________________

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AG Natural 403 Idaho Maryland Rd. Grass Valley, CA 95945 530-274 0990 _________________________

Vital Landscaping Inc. 12817 Loma Rica Dr. Grass Valley, CA 95945 530-273-3187 _________________________ West Coast Growers Hydroponics 13481 Colifax Hwy. Grass Valley, CA 95945 888-924-4769 Joy’s Green Garden Supply 340-A Elm Ave. Greenfield, CA 93927 831-674-1416

Roots Grow Supply 1330 North Hulbert, #101 Fresno, CA 93728 559-840-0122 _________________________

All Seasons Hydroponics 17614 Chatsworth St. Granada Hills, CA 91344 818-368-4388

North Side Garden Supply 4529 N. Marty, Suite 102 Fresno, CA 93722 559-495-1140

Dirt Cheap Hydroponic 151 N 7th St. #4 Grover Beach, CA 93433 805-473-3478

Full Scale Soil & Hydro 2501 Business Park, Suite A Fresno, CA 93727 559 292 ROOT

Growers Choice Hydroponics 42089 Watkins St. Hayward, CA 94544 510-278-6200

Valley Hydroponics 207 E. Sierra Ave. Fresno, CA 93710 559-449-0426 Grow Wurks Hydroponics 765 S. State College Blvd., Suite J Fullerton, CA 92831 714-253-Grow (4769) SB Hydro 1109 W. 190th St., Unit #F Gardena, CA 90248 310-538-5788 Golden Gecko Garden Center 4665 Marshall Rd. Garden Valley, CA 95633 530-333-2394 Probiotic Solutions 20889 Geyserville Ave. Geyserville, CA 95441 707-354-4342 South Valley Hydroponics 320 Kishimura Dr., #3 Gilroy, CA 95020 866-848-GROW _________________________

Zen Hydroponics 1801 Victory Blvd. Glendale, CA 91201 877 ZEN Grow; 818-806-4500 _________________________

M.G.S. 22540 D FoothillBlvd. Hayward, CA 94541 510-582-0900

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Grass Roots Hydroponics 31875 Corydon, Suite 130 Lake Elsinore, CA 92530 951-245-2390 _________________________

South County Hydroponics 22511 Aspan St., Suite A Lake Forest, CA 92630 949-837-8252 _________________________ Clover Hydroponics & Garden Supply 43 Soda Bay Rd. Lakeport, CA 95453 707-263-4000 _________________________

San Diego Hydroponics East County 11649 Riverside Dr., Suite 141 Lakeside, CA 92040 619-562-3276 _________________________

Total Hydroponics Center Inc 4820 Paramount Blvd. Lakewood, CA 90712 562-984-GROW (4769) _________________________

American Ave Hydroponics 1208 W. Winton Ave. Hayward, CA 94545 510-785-4376 Thrive Hydroponics 30-A Mill St. Healdsburg, CA 95448 707-433-4068 Bear Valley Hydroponics & Homebrewing 17455 Bear Valley Rd. Hesperia, CA 92345 760-949-3400 Emerald Garden 13325 South Hwy. 101 Hopland, CA 95482 707-744-8300 Surf City Hydroponics 7391 Warner Ave., Suite B Huntington Beach, CA 92647 714-847-7900 Hydroluv Hydroponics 16582 Gothard St. Huntington Beach, CA 92647 714-916-0428 Dutch Garden Supplies Park Circle, Suite 12 Irvine, CA 92614 949-748-8777 West Coast Hydroponics, Inc. 27665 Forbes Rd., Unit 10 Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 949-348-2424

Grass Valley Hydrogarden 12506 Loma Rica Dr. Grass Valley, CA 95945 530-477-2996 grassvalleyhydrogarden.com _________________________

Retail Stores listed alphabetically by city in each state.

Hydro Life Hydroponics 18109 E Valley Blvd. La Puente, CA 91744 626-581-8800 La Habra Hydroponics 1301 S Beach Blvd., Suite O La Habra, CA 90631 562-947-8383

Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

Hydro Bros. 1471 B St., Suite F Livingston, CA 95334 209-394-7319 _________________________ Big Daddy Garden Supply 42400 Hwy. 101 Laytonville, CA 95454 707-984-7181 Weather Top Nursery 44901 Harmon Dr. Laytonville, CA 95454 707-984-6385 Livermore Hydroponics 22 Rickenbacker Crl. S Livermore, CA 94551 925-454-9376 DL Wholesale 6764 Preston Ave., Suite D Livermore, CA 94551 510-550-0018 _________________________

National Garden Wholesale/ Sunlight Supply 6485 Brisa St. Livermore, CA 94550 888-570-4678 (Southern CA) _________________________ VIP Garden Supply 203 Commerce St., Suite 101 Lodi, CA 95240 209-339-9950 Valley Rock Landscape Supply 2222 N H St. Lompoc, CA 93436 805-736-0841; 805-735-5921

562 Hydro Shop 717 East Artesia Blvd. Long Beach, CA 90805 562-726-1101 _________________________

Green Coast Hydroponics 2405 Mira Mar Ave. Long Beach, CA 90815 562-627-5636 _________________________ Grow Light Express 5318 East Second St., Suite 164 Long Beach, CA 90803 888-318-GROW _________________________

Long Beach Hydroponics & Organics

1772 Clark Ave.

Long Beach, CA 90815 562-498-9525 _________________________ Atwater Hydroponics 3350 Glendale Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90039 323-663-8881 _________________________

Green Coast Hydroponics 16705 Roscoe Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 91406 818-672-8880 _________________________

Green Coast Hydroponics 3865 Grand View Blvd. Los Angeles, CA90066 310-398-0700 _________________________ Green Door Hydro and Solar 830 Traction Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90013 212-625-1323 Hardman Hydroponics 3511 Youree Dr., Shreveport Los Angeles, CA 71105 318-865-0317 Hollywood Hydroponics & Organics 5109 1/2 Hollywood Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90027-6105 323-662-1908 Hydroasis 2643 S. Fairfax Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90232 888-355-4769 LAX Hydro 10912 S. La Cienaga Boulevard Los Angeles, CA 90304 310-337-6995 Nirvana Hydroponics 340 South San Pedro Los Angeles, CA 90013 310-795-2914 _________________________

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Superior Hydroponic Supply 5651 Hollywood Blvd. Los Angeles,CA 90028 323-465-grow (4769) _________________________

Hydro Bros. 521 Winmoore Way, Suite A Modesto, CA 95358 209-537-8220 _________________________

Green Giant Hydroponics 7183 Hwy. 49 Unit B Lotus, CA 95651 530-622-4465

Growers Choice Hydroponics 1100 Carver Rd. #20 Modesto, CA 95350 209-522-2727

Big Momma’s 11455 Clayton Creek Rd. Lower Lake, CA 95457 707-994-1788 California Green Hydroponics 16491 Rd., 26, Suite 101 Madera, CA 93638 559-674-1400 Grow 22333 Pacific Coast Hwy., Suite 101 Malibu, CA 90265 310-456-2910 Deep Roots Garden Center & Flower Shop 207 N. Sepulveda Blvd. Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 310-376-0567

Green Light Hydroponics 2615 Honolula Ave. Montrose, CA 91020 818-640-2623 _________________________ 247 Garden 1101 Monterey Pass Rd., Unit B Monterey Park, CA 91754 323-318-2600

B & S Gardening Supplies 592 Commerce Court Manteca, CA 95336 209-239-8648

South Bay Hydroponics and Organics - Mtn. View 569 East Evelyn Ave. Mountain View, CA 94041 650-968-4070

Monterey Bay Horticulture Supply 218 Reindollar Ave., Suite 7A Marina, CA 93933 831-38-HYDRO Two Chix Garden Supply 1230 Yuba St. Marysville, CA 95901 530-923-2536 _________________________

Murphys Hydroponics & Organics 785 Murphys Creek Rd., Suite C2 Murphys, CA 95247 209-728-8058 Redwood Garden Supply 55 Myers Ave. Myers Flat, CA 95554 707-943-1515 _________________________

Northcoast Horticulture Supply 1580 Nursery Way McKinleyville, CA 95519 707-839-9998 _________________________

Endless Green Hydroponics 25 Enterprise Court, Suite 3 Napa, CA 94558 707-254-0200 _________________________

Mendocino Garden Shop 44720 Maint St. (at Hwy. 1) Mendocino, CA 95460 707-937-3459 Hooked Up Hydroponics 1004 W. 15th St. Suite B & C Merced, CA 95340 209-723-1300 Indoor/Outdoor Garden Supply 1501 W. Main St. Merced, CA 95340 209-580-4425 The Urban Farmer Store 653 E. Blithedale Ave. Mill Valley, CA 94941 415-380-3840 Hydroponics Inc. 3811 Wacker Dr. Mira Loma, CA 91752 951-685-4769 Mission Viejo Hydroponics 24002 Via Fabricante Suite 502 Mission Viejo, CA 92691 949-380-1894 Central Valley Gardening 509 Winmoore Way, Suite T Modesto, CA 95358 209-537-GROW

Sunland Hydroponics 4136 Eagle Rock Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90065 323-254-2800 _________________________

Year Round Garden Supply 11000 Carver Rd. #20 Modesto, CA 95350 209-522-2727 _________________________

Coca’s Central Valley Hydroponics 116 West Orangeburg Ave. Modesto, CA 95350 209-567-0590

Wyatt Supply 4407 Solano Ave. Napa, CA 94558 707-251-3747 _________________________ Conejo Hydroponics 3481 Old Conejo Rd., #106 Newbury Park, CA 91320 805-480-9596 _________________________ Big Momma’s 2581 Stokes Ave. Nice, CA 95464 707-274-8369 Foothill Hydroponics 10705 Burbank Blvd. N. Hollywood, CA 91601 818-760-0688 One Stop Hydroponics 12822 Victory Blvd North Hollywood, CA 91606 818-980-5855 Lumatek Digital Ballasts 33 Commercial Boulevard, Suite B Novato, CA 94949 415-233-4273 Marin Hydroponics 1219 Grant Ave. Novato, CA 94945 415-897-2197 Roots Grow Supply 40091 Enterprise Dr. Oakhurst, CA 93644 559-683-6622

3rd Street Hydroponics 692 4th St. Oakland, CA 94607 510-452-5521

Igro Hydro 2280 Veatch St. Oroville, CA 95965 530-534-4476

New Leaf Hydro 34150 123rd St. Parablossom, CA 93553 661-944-2226

Mission Hydroponics 1236 East Mission Pomona, CA 91766 909-620-7099

Medicine Man Farms 1602 53rd Ave. Oakland, CA 94601 707-980-0456

Orville Organic Gardens 5250 Olive Hwy., Suite 1 Oroville, CA 95966 530-589-9950

Alternative Hydro 3870 East, Colorado Blvd. Pasadena, CA 91107 888-50-HYDRO

Emerald Garden 8249 Archibald Ave. Ranch Cucamanga, CA 91730 909-466-3796

Plant-N-Grow 1602 53rd Ave. Oakland, CA 94601 707-980-0456

Amazon Garden Supply 29 Ridge View Lane Oroville, CA 95966 530-589-5054

365 Hydroponics 2062 Lincoln Ave. Pasadena, CA 91103 626-345-9015

Hydrobrew 1319 South Coast Hwy. Oceanside, CA 92054 760-966-1885; 877-966-GROW

Amazon Greenlight 521 Cal Oak Rd. Oroville, CA 95966 530-534-4769

Garden All Year Inc. 3850 Ramada Dr., Unit D2 Paso Robles, CA 93446 805-434-2333

Radiant Roots Gardening & Hydroponics 1394 S Pacific Coast Hwy. Redondo Beach, CA 90277 310-540-2005 _________________________

Socal Hydroponics 1727-B Oceanside Blvd. Oceanside, CA 92054 760-439-1084

Amazon Growing Needs 5369 Old Olive Hwy. Oroville, CA 95966 530-589-9850

Cultivate Ontario 2000 Grove Ave. #a110 Ontario, CA 91761 909-781-6142

US Orchid & Hydroponic Supplies 1621 South Rose Ave. Oxnard, CA 93033 805-247-0086

Supersonic Hydroponic & Organic Garden Supply 3850 Ramada Dr., Unit D2 Paso Robles, CA 93446 805-434-2333

Flairform 1751 S Pointe Ave. Ontario, CA 91761 213-596-8820 _________________________

Pacifica Hydroponics 90 Eureka Square Pacifica, CA 94044 650-355-5100 _________________________

Four Seasons Landscape Materials 17115 Penn Valley Dr. Penn Valley, CA 95946 530-432-9906 _________________________

Green Coast Ontario Unit 102-103 1920 S. Rochester Ave. Ontario, CA 909-605-5777 _________________________

National Garden Wholesale/ Sunlight Supply 1950 C South Grove Ave. Ontario, CA 91761 888-888-3319 _________________________ Palm Tree Hydroponics 2235 E 4th St., Suite G Ontario, CA 91764 909-941-9017 _________________________

America’s Best Hydroponics & Gardening Center 641 W. Palmdale Blvd., Unit D Palmdale, CA 93551 661-266-3906 _________________________

Hydroponics Unlimited 641 W. Palmdale Blvd., D Palmdale, CA 93550 661-266-3906 _________________________

DNA Hydroponics Inc 19345 North Indian Canyon Dr., Suite 2-F North Palm Springs, CA 92258 760-671-5872 _________________________

Greenback Garden Supply 9341 Greenback Ln., Suite C Orangevale, CA 95662 530-391-4329 _________________________

Advanced Soil & Garden Supply 350 Oro Dam Blvd. Oroville, CA 95965 530-533-2747 _________________________

Funny Farms Hydroponics 963 Transport Way, #12 Petaluma, CA 94954 707-775-3111 _________________________ House of Hydro 224 Weller St., #B Petaluma, CA 94952 707-762-4769 Wyatt Supply 1016 Lakeville St Petaluma, CA 94952 707-762-3747 Deep Roots Hydroponics 830 Perry Lane Petaluma CA 94954-5320 707-776-2800

RH Distribution 1751 S. Pointe Ave. Ontario, CA 91761 888-545-8112 _________________________

Green Coast Hydroponics 496 Meats Ave. Orange, CA 92865 714-974-4769 _________________________

Foothills Hydrogarden 3133 Penryn Rd. Penryn, CA 95663 916-270-2413 _________________________

Green Bros Hydroponics 14072 Osborne St. Panorama City, CA 91402 818-891-0200 _________________________ Mission Hydroponics 1236 East Mission Pomona, CA 91766 909-620-7099

JNJ Hydroponics 4774 Phelan Rd., Suite 2 Phelan, CA 92371 760-868-0002

The Hydro Shop of Redondo Beach 1304 S. Pacific Coast Hwy Redondo Beach, CA 90277 310-540-2005 _________________________

Dazey’s Supply 3082 Redwood Dr. Redway, CA 95560 707-923-3002 _________________________ Shadow Valley Aquatics 75 Kimick Way Red Bluff, CA 96080 530-526-0479 Bare Roots Hydroponics 1615 East Cypress, #5 Redding, CA 96002 530-244-2215 Humboldt Hydroponics 2010 Tunnel Rd. Redway, CA 95560 707-923-1402 Redway Feed Garden & Pet Supply 290 Briceland Rd. Redway, CA 95560 707-923-2765 Sylvandale Gardens 1151 Evergreen Rd. Redway, CA 95560 707-923-3606 Hydro King 105 Hartnell Ave., Suite C and D Redding, CA 96002 888-822-8941 Orsa Organix 111 Willow St. Redwood City, CA 94063 650-369-1269 _________________________

Turbo Grow 1889 San Pablo Ave. Pinole, CA 94564 510-724-1291 Hillside Hydro & Garden 4570 Pleasant Valley Rd. Placerville CA 95662 530-644-1401

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Discount Hydroponics 4745 Hiers Ave. Riverside, CA 92505 877-476-9487 _________________________

Reforestation Technologies International 1341 Daton St., Unit G Salinas, CA 93901 800-784-4769 _________________________

All Ways Hydro 2220 Eastridge Ave., Suite C Riverside, CA 92507 888-HYDRO98 Calwest Hydroponics 11620 Sterling Ave., Suite A Riverside, CA 92503 800-301-9009 Hydro Depot 5665 Redwood Dr., #B Rohnert Park, CA 94928 707-584-2384 Murphy’s Hydropincs & Organics 799 W. Stocktan St. Sanora, CA 95370 209-532-2022 Constantly Growing 1918 16th St. Sacramento, CA 95811 916-448-1882

Xtreme Gardening 1341 Dayton St., Annex B Salinas, CA 93901 800-784-4769 _________________________

National Garden Wholesale / Sunlight Supply 1900 Bendixsen St., Bldg. 1 Samoa, CA 95564 800-683-1114 (Northern CA) _________________________ Greenmile Hydroponic Garden Supply 1480 South E. St., Suite D San Bernardino, CA 92408 909-885-5919

Green Acres Hydroponics 1215 Striker Ave., Suite 180 Sacramento, CA 95834 916-419-4394

Pure Food Gardening/ Microclone 830 H Bransten Rd. San Carlos, CA 94070-3338

Greenfire Sacramento 3230 Auburn Blvd. Sacramento, CA 95821 916-485-8023

Green Gopher Garden Supply 679 Redwood Ave., Suite A Sand City, CA 93955 831-899-0203

Green Thumb Hydroponics 1537 Fulton Ave. Sacramento, CA 95825 916-934-2476 Green Thumb Hydroponics 35 Quinta Court, Suite B Sacramento, CA 95823 916-689-6464 _________________________

KY Wholesale 8671 Elder Creek Rd. #600 Sacramento, CA 95828 916-383-3366 _________________________ Hydro City 8510 Morrison Creek Dr. Suite 200 Sacramento, CA 95828 916-388-8333 J Street HydroGarden 2321 J St. Sacramento, CA 95816 916-444-4473 Mystic Gardens 8484 Florin Rd., #110 Sacramento, CA 95828 916-381-2464

All Elements Hydroponics & Gardening Supply 5623 Motherlode Dr. Placerville, CA 95667 530-642-4215

Mendocino Greenhouse & Garden Supply 960 East School Way Redwood Valley, CA 95470 707-485-0668 _________________________ Hydro Hills Hydroponics 19320 Vanowen St. Reseda, CA 91335

IGS Hydroponics & Organics 57 California Ave., Suite 1 Pleasonton CA 94566 925-426-GROW

Hi-Tech Gardening 5327 Jacuzzi St., #282 Richmond, CA 94804 510-524-4710

Tradewinds Wholesale Garden Supplies 1235 Striker Ave. #180 Sacramento, CA 95834 888-557-8896

Best Yield Garden Supply 3503 West Temple Ave., Unit A Pomona, CA 91768 909-839-0505

The Urban Farmer Store 2121 San Joaquin St. Richmond, CA 94804 510-524-1604

Green Joint Ventures 61 Tarp Circle Salinas, CA 93901 831-998-8628

Sac Hydroponics 9529 Folson Blvd., Suite C Sacramento, CA 95827 916-369-7968 Skywide Import & Export Ltd. 5900 Lemon Hill Ave. Sacramento, CA 95824 916-383-2369

Modern Gardens 26620 Valley Center Dr., Unit #104 Santa Clarita, CA 91351 661-513-4733 Best Coast Growers 4417 Glacier Ave., Suite C San Diego, CA 92120 800-827-1876 City Farmer’s Nursery 4832 Home Ave San Diego, CA 92105 619-284-6358 Home Brews & Gardens 3176 Thorn St. San Diego, CA 92104 619-630-2739 Indoor Garden Depot 1848 Commercial St. San Diego, CA 92113 619-255-3552 Innovative Growing Solutions (IGS) 5060 Santa Fe St., Suite D San Diego, CA 92109 858-578-4477 _________________________

Mighty Garden Supply 4780 Mission Gorge Pl. #A-1 San Diego, CA 92120 619-287-3238 _________________________ Miramar Hydroponics & Organics 8952 Empire St. San Diego, CA 92126 858-549-8649 _________________________

Oracle Garden Supply 5755 Oberlin Dr., Suite 100 San Diego, CA 92121 858-558-6006 _________________________

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MAXIMUM YIELD distributors _________________________

San Diego Hydroponics Beach Cities 4122 Napier St. San Diego, CA 92110 619-276-0657 _________________________ Direct Hydroponics Wholesale 1034 W. Arrow Hwy. #D San Dimas, CA 91773 888-924-9376 _________________________

House of Hydroponics 732 W. Arrow Hwy. San Dimas, CA 91773 877-592-5111; 909-592-5111 _________________________

Inland Empire Hydrogarden 1301-C South State St. San Jancinto, CA 92853 Hahn’s Lighting 260 E. VA Suite 1 San Jose, CA 95112 408-295-1755 _________________________

Rasa Hydroponics 5725 Winfield Blvd., Suite 8 San Jose, CA 95123 408-227-7272 _________________________ Urban Gardens 1999 Monterey Rd. San Jose, CA 95125 408-298-8081 Plant Life 32 Race St., San Jose, CA 95126 408-283-9191

Retail Stores listed alphabetically by city in each state.

Planet Earth Hydroponics 102 East Haley St. Santa Barbara, CA 93101 805-899-0033 _________________________

Urban Grow Systems 204 N Quarantina St. Santa Barbara, CA 93103 805-637-6699 _________________________

Santa Clarita Valley Hydroponics 25835 Railroad Ave. #26 Santa Clarita, CA 91350 661-255-3700; 661-255-3701 _________________________

Liquid Gardens 1034 West Arrow Hwy. #D San Dimas, CA 91773 888-924-9376

Hydrofarm, Inc. 2249 South McDowell Ext. Petaluma, CA 94954 800-634-9990

California Hydroponics 310 Coral St., Suite C Santa Cruz, CA 95060 831-423-4769

Hydro Depot 2090 Cesar Chavez St. San Francisco, CA 94124 415-282-5200

Hydrofarm Southwest 12991 Leffingwell Rd. Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670 800-634-9990

Hydro-Logic Purification Systems 370 Encinal St., Suite 150 Santa Cruz, CA 95060 888-H2O-LOGIC

Plant It Earth Warehouse 1 Dorman Ave. San Francisco, CA 94124 415-970-2465 _________________________

South Bay Hydroponics and Organics - San Jose 1185 South Bascom Ave. San Jose, CA 95128 408-292-4040

Santa Cruz Hydroponics & Organics - West Side 815 Almar Ave., Unit K Santa Cruz, CA 95060 831-466-9000 _________________________

Beach Cities Hydroponics 33155 Camino Capistrano Unit F. San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675 949-493-4200

Grow Your Own Hydroponics & Organics - West 3401 Taraval St. san Francisco, CA 94116 415-731-2115 _________________________ The Hydroponic Connection Warehouse, 1995 Evans Ave. San Francisco, CA 94124 415-824-9376 The Hydroponic Connection San Francisco 1549 Custer Ave. San Francisco, CA 94124 415-864-9376 Nor Cal Hydroponics 4837 Geary Blvd. San Francisco, CA 94118 415-933-8262 _________________________

Urban Gardens. 704 Filbert St. San Francisco, CA 94133 415-421-4769 _________________________ San Francisco Hydro 123 Tenth St. San Francisco, CA 94103 Urban Gardens 1394 Lowrie St. San Francisco, CA 94080 650-588-5792 The Urban Farmer Store 2833 Vicente St. San Francisco, CA 94116 415-661-2204 US Garden 417 Agostinio Rd. San Gabriel, CA 91776 626-285-5009

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D&S Garden Supplies 17-130 Doolittle Dr. San Leandro, CA 94577 510-430-8589 Hydrogarden Delight 13762 Doolittle Dr. San Leandro, CA 94577 510-903-1808 Central Coast Hydrogarden 1951 Santa Barbara St. San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 805-544-GROW Healthy Harvest Hydroponics and Organics 2958 S. Higuera St. San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 805-596-0430 _________________________

San Diego Hydroponics North County Inland 802 N. Twin Oaks Valley Road #108 San Marcos, CA 92069 760-510-1444 _________________________ Marin Hydroponics 721 Francisco Blvd. East San Rafael, CA 94901 415-482-8802 San Rafael Hydroponics 1417 Fourth St, San Rafael, CA 94901 415-455-9655 _________________________

Green Coast Hydroponics 135 Nogal Dr. Santa Barbara, CA 93110 805-898-9922 _________________________ Nutes Int’l 204 N Quarantina St. Santa Barbara, CA 93103 805-687-6699

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Santa Rosa Hydroponics 4880 Sonoma Hwy. Santa Rosa, CA 707-595-1340 Santa Rosa Hydroponics 4130 S Moorland Ave. Santa Rosa, CA 707-584-9370 _________________________ Santee Hydroponics 7949 Mission Gorge Rd. Santee, CA 92071 619-270-8649 Gardening Unlimited 60 Old El Pueblo Rd. Scotts Valley, CA 95066 831-457-1236 Deep Roots Hydroponics 2661 Gravenstein Hwy. S #E Sebastopol, CA 95472-8200 707-829-7668 Hydro Depot 6731 Sebastopol Ave. Sebastopol, CA 95472 707-829-1510 Beyond Hydro Inc. 12639 San Fernando Rd. Sylmar, CA 91342 818-362-5373 loom Brothers Garden Supply, Inc. 3293 Industry Dr. Signal Hill, CA 90755 562-494-0060 ________________________

Glow Hydroponics 124-H Blossom Hill Rd. San Jose, CA 95123 408-455-7720 _________________________ Big Daddy Garden Supply 3236 Dutton Ave. Santa Rosa, CA 95407 707-535-0996 Deep Roots Hydroponics 3715 Santa Rosa Ave. Suite A2 Santa Rosa, CA 95407 707-540-0773 Gottagrow Garden Supply 769 Wilson St. Santa Rosa, CA 95404 707-544-7782 _________________________

Green Logic Garden Supply 860 Piner Rd, #38 Santa Rosa, CA 95403 707-843-3156 _________________________ Hydro Depot 13 West 3rd St. Santa Rosa, CA 95401 707-542-3866 Organic Bountea 1919 Dennis Lane Santa Rosa, CA 95403 800-798-0765 Sonoma Hydro LLC 3535 Industrial Dr., Suite B2-3 Santa Rosa, CA 95403 707-544-3383

We Grow Hydroponics 3350 East Los Angeles Ave. Simi Valley, CA 93063 805-624-4566 ________________________

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Orange County Hydroponics 12797 Beach Blvd. Stanton, CA 90680 714-893-9493 ________________________

HomeGrown Indoor Garden Supply 681 A Grider Way Stockton, CA 95210 209-477-4447 ________________________ Golden Harvest Hydroponics & Garden Supply 8626 Lower Sacramento Road #48 Stockton, CA 95210 209-951-3550 M&M Garden Supply 2509 West Lane, Suite B Stockton, CA 95205 209-939-0664 Pacific Ave Indoor Garden Supply 4633 Pacific Ave Stockton, CA 95207 209-955-0945 Hydroponics Depot 8712 Sunland Blvd. Sun Valley, CA 91352 818-771-0600 ________________________

Sunland Hydroponics 8300 Foothill Blvd. Sunland, CA 91040 818-352-5300 ________________________ South Bay Hydroponics & Organics - Sunnyvale 1205 W. El Camino Real Sunnyvale, CA 94087 650-968-4070 Tahoe Garden Supply 645 Westlake Blvd., Suite 2 Tahoe City, CA 96145 530-581-3200

Advanced Garden Supply 2660 Lake Tahoe Blvd. Building C, Unit 9 S. Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 530-541-4769 ________________________

The Otherside Hydroponics 19425 Ventura Blvd. Tarzana, CA 91356 818-881-HYDRO (4937) ________________________

Farm Hydroponics, The 1950 Lake Tahoe Boulevard #3 S. Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 530-541-3276 Valley Hydro and Organics 19230 Sonoma Hwy. Sonoma, CA 95476 707-396-8734 Motherlode Hydroponics and Organics 799 W Stockton St. Sonora, CA 95370 209-532-2022

Wyatt Supply 747 Yolanda Ave. Santa Rosa, CA 95404 707-578-3747

Santa Cruz Hydroponics & Organics - East Side 4000 Cordelia Lane Soquel, CA 95073 831-475-9900

Next Generation Hydroponics 10658 Prospect Ave., Suite A Santee, CA 92071 619-438 2415

East County Hydroponics 9903 Campo Rd. Spring Valley, CA 91977 619-825-5097

Grass Roots Hydroponics 27250 Madison Ave. Suite C Temecula, CA 92590 951-296-1090 ________________________ Hydroponics 4 Less 41669 Winchester Ave. Temecula, CA 92590 800-A1-HYDRO Inland Empire Hydrogarden 28822 Old Town Front St. #206 Temecula, CA 92590 886-74-HYDRO 805 Hydroponics & Organics 1785 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. Thousand Oaks, CA 91362 805-494-1785

Green Thumb Lighting & Garden 1647 W. Sepulveda Blvd., Unit 5 Torrance, CA 90501 888-326-GROW

Kaweah Grower Supply 1106 1/2 N. Ben Maddox Way Visalia, CA 93293 559-625-4937

Los Angeles Hydroponics & Organics 3007-3009 W. Artesia Blvd. Torrance, CA 90504 310-323-4937

Greentrees Hydroponics Inc. 2581 Pioneer Ave., Unit D Vista, CA 92081 760-598-7551

Growers Choice Hydroponics 470 W. Larch Road #1 Tracy, CA 95304 209-833-1212

Home Life Hydroponics and Organics 1745 East Vista Way Vista, CA 92084 760-643-2150

Anything Grows 10607 W. River St., Bldg. 3 Suite C Truckee, CA 96161 530-582-0479 Garden Depot Hydroponics 1460 Freitas Park Turlock, CA 95380 209-250-0101

Specialty Garden Supply 7 Hangar Way, Suite B Watsonville, CA 95075 831-768-0420

Hooked Up Hydroponics 339 S. Golden State Blvd. Turlock, CA 95380 209-668-1300

Art of Hydro 5740 Corsa Ave. #102 Westlake Village, CA 91362 818-865-2227

Big Daddy Garden Supply 310 Mason St. Ukiah, CA 95482 707-467-9234 Emerald Garden 307 East Perkins St. Ukiah, CA 95482 707-463-2510 HydroPacific - Hydroponics & Garden Supplies 351 C Hastings Ave. Ukiah, CA 95482 707-467-0400 Northcoast Hydrogardens 3450 North State St. Ukiah, CA 95482 707-462-7214 Wyatt Supply 2200 N. State St. Ukiah, CA 95482 707-462-7473 TNC Supply 9490 Main St., P.O. Box 763 Upper Lake, CA 95485 707-275-9565 ________________________

Green Coast 16705 Roscoe Blvd. Van Nuys, CA 91406 818-672-8880 ________________________ Hydroponics Market 15816 Arminta St. Van Nuys, CA 91406 818-305-6261; 886-72-HYDRO Kinney Nursery 4115 Rowles Rd. Vina, CA 96092 530-839-2196 ________________________

BWGS-CA 7530 W. Sunnyview Ave. Visalia, CA 93291 888-316-1306 ________________________ The Green Shop 66420 Mooney Blvd., Suite 1 Visalia, CA 93277 559-688-4200

South Park Hydroponics 42 E Buckskin Rd. Alma, CO 80420 719-836-1533 Green Spot Garden Center & Antiques 711 State Ave. Alamosa, CO 81101 719-589-6362 The Grofax 25797 Conifer Rd. #A-8 Aspen Park, CO 80433 303-838-5520 ________________________

Evergreen Farm Feed and Garden 1131 Main St. Weaverville, CA 96093 530-623-2884 National Garden Wholesale/ Sunlight Supply 3550 B Odessa Way Aurora, CO 80011 866-877-4188 (Northeast) _________________________

California Hydro Garden 1043 S. Glendora Ave., Suite A West Covina, CA 91790 626-813-0868 No Stress Hydroponics 7543 Santa Monica Blvd. West Hollywood, CA 90046 323-845-9874 Hydronation 2491 Boatman Dr., Suite B West Sacramento, CA 95691 916-372-4444 Flower Hut Nursery 603 4th St. Wheatland, CA 95692 530-633-4526 GreenWay Hydroponics 11510 Whittier Blvd. Whittier, CA 90601 Lazy Gardeners Hydroponics ‘N’ More 14626 East Whittier Blvd. Whittier, CA 90605 562-945-0909 Garden Spout, The 260 Margie Dr. Willits, CA 95490 707-456-0196 Jolly Rancher 399 Business Park Ctr., Suite 205 Windsor, CA 95492 707-838-0842

North Bay Hydroponics 1650 Lewis Brown Dr. Vallejo, CA 94589 707-647-0774 ________________________

COLORADO

Green Acres 20946 Victory Blvd. Woodland Hills, CA 91367

Southern Humbolt Garden Supplies 31653 Outer Highway 10 Yacaipa, CA 92373 909-794-6888 Yucca Valley Hydroponics 56825 Twentynine Palms Hwy. Yucca Valley, CA 92284 760-369-0300

J&D Organic Growing Solutions 217 1/2 Clayton St. Brush, CO 80723 970-310-5408

Indoor Gardener, The 3225 I-70 Business Loop, Unit A10 Clifton, Colorado 81520 970-434-9999

The Big Tomato Indoor Garden Supply 14440 E. 6th Ave. Aurora, CO 80011 303-364-4769 ________________________

Garden Tech 737 Garden of the Gods Rd. Colorado Springs, CO 80907 719-278-9777

Aurora Hydroponic LLC 4250 S Chambers Rd. Aurora, CO 80014 303-400-6941 The Hydro Store 6695 Wadsworth Blvd. #C Arvada, CO 80004 720-328-3746

Boulder Hydroponics 1630 N 63rd St. Unit #5 Boulder, CO 80301 313-415-0045

Golden Valley Hydroponics 870 W. Onsott Rd. Suite F Yuba City, CA 95993 530-763-2151

Hydro Galaxy 3314 W Burbank Blvd. Burbank, CA 91505 800-818-6128

Nick’s Garden Center 2001 S. Chambers Aurora, CO 80014 303-696-6657 ________________________

Farmer Browns Garden Supply 80 Country Club Rd. Willow Creek, CA 95573 530-629-3100

Garden Highway Garden Supply 598 Garden Highway #22 Yuba City, CA 95991 530-755-2877

Hydrofarm Mountain 400 Burbank St. Broomfield, CO 80020 800-634-9990

BIG BloomZ 1011 Caprice Dr. Castle Rock, CO 80109 303-688-0599

Sparetime Supply 208 E. San Francisco Ave. Willits, CA 95490-4006

Ultra Lo Hydro ultralohydro.com 937-252-8224 _________________________

ACME Hydroponics 300 Nickel St., Suite 3 Broomfield, CO 80020 720-524-7306 ________________________

CT. Home Grown 45 South Canterbury Rd. Canterbury, CT 06331

Rooted Hydroponics & Organics – Vail 910 Nottingham Road Unit N-11 & N-12 Avon, CO 81620 970-748-1222

Urban Gardens 22516 Ventura Blvd. Woodland Hills, CA 91364 818-876-0222 ________________________

Mile High Hydroponics 37 Strong St. Brighton, CO 80601 303-637-0069 ________________________

Candy Shop Hydroponics LLC 2740 Canyon Blvd. Boulder, CO 80302 303-444-3355 One Love Garden Supply 3620 Walnut St. Boulder, CO 80301 303-586-1715 Polar Ray 5171 Eldorado Springs Dr. Boulder, CO 80303 303-494-5773 Rocky Mountain Hydroponics and Organics 2125 32 St. Boulder, CO 80301 303-996-6100 Way To Grow 6395 Gunpark Dr. Boulder, CO 80301 303-473-4769 Deep Roots Garden Supply 1790 Airport Rd., Unit 1 Breckenridge, CO 80424 970-453-1440

Indoor Garden Warehouse 8100 S Akron St., Suite 322 Centennial, CO 80112 720-496-2110

Global Organics & Hydroponics 11 N Broadway Cortez, CO 81321 970-564-8100 Joy of Growing 1410 Valley View Dr. Delta, CO 81416 970-874-2550 _________________________

BWGS-CO 11685 E. 55th Ave. Denver, CO 80239 888-316-1306 _________________________

Chlorophyll 3801 Mariposa St. Denver, CO 80211 303-433-1155 _________________________ Cultivate Hydroponics & Organics 666 S. Buchtel Blvd. Denver, CO 80210 303-954-9919 Greenlight Garden Supply 7741 E Colfax Ave. Denver, CO 80220 720-389-8320 _________________________

Grotools 2408 East Platte Ave. Colorado Springs, CO 80909 719-475-7699

Grow Your Own 2118 S Bellaire St. Denver, CO 80222 303-990-1929 _________________________

Greenhouse Tech 917 East Fillmore Colorado Springs, CO 80907 719-634-0637

HyGrow Indoor Gardening Supplies 6271 Beach St., Unit F Denver, CO 80221 303-396-1420

Hydro Grow Supply 644 Peterson Rd. Colorado Springs, CO 80915 719-596-2600

Indoor Paradise Denver 7100 N Broadway, Suite 3D & E Denver, CO 80221 303-428-5020

Purple Mountain Hydroponics LLC 1530 S Nevada Ave. Colorado Springs, CO 80906 719-635-5859

NoDo Urban Garden Supply 1330 27th St. Denver, CO 80205 303-296-3424

Room To Grow LLC 422 South 8th St. Colorado Springs, CO 80905 719-633-8682 Roots and Rocks Hydroponic and Organic Garden Supply 1014 S. 21st St. Colorado Springs, CO 80904 719-634-1024 ________________________

High Tech Garden Supply 5275 Quebec St. Commerce City, CO 80022 720-222-0772 _________________________

Rocky Mountain Hydroponics and Organics 1717 39th Ave. Denver, CO 80205 800-58-HYDRO The Grofax 7540 East Colfax Ave. Denver, CO 80220 720-328-2127 The Grofax 755 South Federal Blvd. Denver, CO 80219 720-328-5164 The Grow Outlet 4272 Lowell Blvd. Denver, CO 80211 303-586-5543

Grow Your Own 27051 Barkley Rd. Conifer, CO 80433 303-816-GROW (4769)

Hydro Terra Corp 3893 Steele St. Denver, CO 80205 954-260-3377

Happy Grow Lucky 11873 Springs Rd. Conifer, CO 80433 1-303-838-8700

Ultimate Hydroponics & Organics 2380 S. Broadway Denver, CO 80210 303-282-0034

Whetstone Garden Supply 300 Belleview Ave. Crested Butte, CO 81224 970-349-9666

Way To Grow 301 East 57th Ave. Denver, CO 80216 303-296-7900

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MAXIMUM YIELD distributors _________________________

Green Head Hydroponics 809 E. Jasper Court Granby, CO 80446 970-557-3031 Greeley Nutrients 700 11th Street Unit 101 Greeley CO 80631 970-673-8302

All Seasons Gardening 434 Turner Dr., Suite 2B Durango, CO 81303 970-385-4769 _________________________ Blue Sky Hydroponics 1301 Florida Road Unit C Durango, CO 81301 970-375-1238 DHL Garden Supply 178 Bodo Dr.Unit B Durango, Co 81303 970-247-1090 _________________________

The Grow Shop LLC 1701 Greeley Mall Rd. Greeley CO 80631 970-352-5447 Green Thumb Garden Supply Co. 2830 W 27th St Greeley CO 80634 970-506-1711 _________________________

Your Grow Bud 6801 South Emporia St., Suite 106 Greenwood Village, CO 80112 303-790-2211 _________________________ Green Gardens 133 E. Tomichi Ave. Gunnison, CO 81230 970-641-1161

The Grow Store South 5050 S. Federal Boulevard, #37, Englewood, CO 80110 303-738-0202 _________________________ Rocky Mountain Hydroponics and Organics 439 Edwards Access Rd Unit B101 Edwards, CO 81632 970-926-2100 Bath Nursery & Garden Center 2000 E. Prospect, Fort Collins, CO 80525 970-484-5022 Gold Coast Hydroponics West 8101 S.W. Frontage Road Suite 300 Fort Collins, Colorado 80528 970-232-3220 The Grow Shop LLC 1711 S. College Avenue Fort Collins CO 80525 970-484-1042

Grow in Peace 1241 Mine Rd. Idaho Springs, CO 80452 303-567-GROW GroWize 3225 S. Wadsworth Blvd. Lakewood, CO 80227 303-986-2706 Way to Grow 11989 West Colfax Ave. Lakewood, CO 80215 303-546-3600 _________________________

MileHydro 355 S. Harlan St. Lakewood, CO 80226 303-935-4769 _________________________

The Grow Store 8644 W. Colfax Ave, Lakewood, CO 80215 888-510-0350 _________________________ The Flower Bin 1805 Nelson Rd. Longmont, CO 80501 303-772-3454 _________________________

Hydro Shack, The 753 10 Mile Drive Frisco, CO 80443 970-668-0359 _________________________ Rocky Mountain Hydroponics and Organics 7800 Colorado 82 #203 Glenwood Springs, Colorado 81601 970-947-9551 _________________________

Ultra Lo Hydro ultralohydro.com 937-252-8224 _________________________

Victory Hydro Gardening 1387 E. South Boulder Rd. Louisville, CO, 80027 303-664-9376 _________________________ WarHammer Supply 1112 Munroe Ave. Loveland, CO 80537 970-635-2602 Desert Bloom Hydroponics 445 Pitkin Avenue, Grand Junction, CO 81501 970-245-6427 _________________________

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Greener Mountain Indoor Gardening 20 Lakeview Dr., Unit 210 Nederland, CO 80466 303-258-7573 Grow in Peace 176 Hwy. 119 South Nederland, CO 80466 303-258-3520 Grow Depot 1434 W. 104th Ave. Northglenn, CO 80234 303-459-7878 Four Corners Organics & Hydroponics LLC 68 Bastille Unit #3, PO Box 627 Pagosa Springs, CO 81147 970-731-1685 _________________________

Colorado Hydroponics & Organics 2740 Commercial Way, Unit 1 Montrose CO, 81401 970-252-7450

Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

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Good To Grow 335 Westport Ave. Norwalk, CT 06851 203-956-5600 www.goodtogrowct.com _______________ Grow with Us 10 Middle River Dr. Stafford Springs, CT 06076 860-684-1595

Majestic Hydro-Gardening 860 Hwy. 105 Palmer Lake CO 80133 719-481-0777 _________________________ Pueblo Hydroponicss and Organics - Downtown 113 W 4th St. Pueblo, CO 81003 719-542-6798 Pueblo Hydroponics and Organics- South 2704 S Prarie Ave., Suite C Pueblo, CO 81005 719-564-2660 Pueblo Hydroponics and Organics 609 E Enterprise Dr. Pueblo West, CO 81007 709-647-0907

Little Shop of Growers 2560 Copper Ridge Dr. Steamboat Springs, CO 80487 970-879-8577

FLORIDA Urban Sunshine 1420 E. Altamonte Dr. Altamonte Springs, FL 32701 407-830-4769 Full Bloom Hydroponics 1489 W. Palmetto Boca Raton, FL 33486 888-725-4769 Best Hydro 4920 Lena Rd. Bradenton, FL 34211 941-756-1928 Palm Coast Hydroponics 4490 N Hwy US1, Suite 108 Bunnell, FL 32110 386-246-4119 East Coast Hydroponics & Organics 461 Forrest Ave., Suite 105 Coca, FL 32922 321-243-6800 GreenTouch Hydroponics Inc. 5011 S State Rd. 7, Suite 104 Davie, FL 33314 954-316-8815

Cultivate Hydroponics & Organics 7615 W.38th Ave., Suite B111 Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 303-954-9897

Absolute Hydroponic Garden Center Inc 336 North Boundary Ave. Deland, FL 32720 386-734-0696

Hydro Planet 5022 Kippling St. Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 303-279-6090

Organic Grow Hut 2 780 Deltona Blvd. #107 Deltona, Florida 32725 1-888-574-GROW; 386-259-5777

CONNECTICUT

Gold Coast Hydroponics 1539 SW 21st Ave. Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33312 1-800-780-7371 _________________________

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CT Home Grown 45 South Canterbury Rd. Canterbury, CT 06331 860-546-6161 _________________________ Grow Crazy 11 Berlin Rd., Unit 2, Cromwell, CT 06416 203-660-8486 Harvest Moon Hydroponics 775 Silver Lane East Hartford, CT 06118 860-568-4067 LiquidSun® CT 10C South Main St. East Windsor, CT 06088 860-254-5757 _________________________

Rogue Hydroponics 160 Broadway Hamden, CT 06518 866-277-4432 _________________________ Organix Hydroponics 749 Saybrook Rd., (Tradewinds Plaza) Middletown, CT 06457 860-343-1923

Hydroponics International Inc. 7029-10 Commonwealth Ave. Jacksonville, FL 32220 904-693-6554 _________________________

Grower’s Choice & Hydroponics 11855 North Main St. Jacksonville, FL 32218 904-683-4517 _________________________

Delaware Sunny Day Organics 1867 Coastal Hwy. Rehoboth Beach, DE MD 19917 302-703-2538

Salida Hydroponic Supply 1242 C St., Salida, CO 81201 719-539-4000

Indoor Paradise Hydroponics 309 S. Summit View, Unit 17, Fort Collins, CO 80524-1462 970-221-3751 Way To Grow 3201 E. Mulberry Street, Fort Collins, CO 80524 970-484-4769 _________________________

Retail Stores listed alphabetically by city in each state.

Biofloral 6250 NW 27th Way Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33309 877-735-6725 _________________________ Green Thumb Hydroponics Supplies 13482 North Cleveland Ave. Fort Meyers, FL 33903 239-997-4769 Gator Hydroponics 4460 SW 35th Terrace, Suite 310 Gainesville, FL 32608 352-301-5383 _________________________

Florida Garden Supplies 2692 W 79 St. Hialeah, FL 33016 1-800-931-5215 _________________________ Simply Hydroponics & Organics (North) 3642 South Suncoast Blvd. Homosassa, FL 34448 352-628-2655

Growers Choice South 8535 Baymeadows Rd., Suite 13 Jacksonville, FL 32256 904-647-7156 _________________________ Urban Organics & Hydroponics 5325 Fairmont St. Jacksonville, FL 32207 904-398-8012 Simply Hydroponics & Organics 7949 Ulmerton Rd. Largo, FL 33773 727-531-5355 GrowSmart Indoor Garden Centers 14587 Southern Blvd. Loxahatchee, FL 33470 561-429-3527 Palm Beach Discount Hydroponics – West 14703 Southern Blvd. Loxahatchee, FL 33470 561-296-8555 _________________________

High Tech Garden Supply 2975 West New Haven Ave. Melbourne, FL 32901 321-821-0853 ________________________ Advanced Hydro Gardens 4960 NW 165 St., Suite B-4 Miami, FL 33014 305-474-4376 All Star Hydroponics Inc 8901 SW 129th St. Miami FL, 33176 800-842-8582 Blossoms Experience, The 7207 NW 54th St. Miami, FL 33166 866-452-4769 _________________________

Florida Garden Supplies 9545 Sunset Dr. Miami, FL 33173 800-931-5215 _________________________ Future Farms Inc., The 14291 SW 120th St., Suite 105 Miami, FL 33186 305-382-2757 Gold Coast Hydroponics 4241 SW 71st Ave. Miami, FL 33155 1-800-780-6805 Growing Garden Inc., The 12811 SW 42nd St. Miami, FL 33175 305-559-0309

VitaOrganix 7921 NW 67th St. Miami, FL 33166 786-845-8633

Esposito Garden Center 2743 Capital Circle NE Tallahassee, FL 32308 850-386-2114

Atlantis Hydroponics 2561 West Point Ave. College Park, GA 30337 678-510-0032

3D Hydroponics and Organics 7139 US Highway #19 New Port Richey, FL 34652 727-847-3491 _________________________

Evershine Hydroponics 1519 Capital Circle NE Unit #35 Tallahassee, FL 32308 850-765-0040

Alpha Hydroponics and Garden Supply Inc. 3904 N Druid Hills Rd., Suite 247 Decatur, GA 30033 404-590-4769 _________________________

Florida Garden Supplies 8442 Tradeport Dr., Unit 200 Orlando, FL 32827 _________________________ Urban Sunshine 6100 Hanging Moss Rd., Suite 50 Orlando, FL 32807 407-647-4769 Urban Sunshine 6142 S. Orange Ave. Orlando, FL 32809 407-859-7728 Vertical Food Growers 10964 Dearden Circle Orlando, FL 32817 407-671-4241 Green Winters Inc. 147 Tomoka Ave. Ormond Beach, FL 32174 386-235-8730; 800-931-5215 The Healthy Harvest Suite 126, 21113 Johnson St. Pembroke Pines, FL 33029 954-538-1511 _________________________

Eden Garden Supply 3111 N. Davis Hwy. Pensacola, FL 32503 850-439-1299 _________________________ Healthy Gardens and Supply of Florida, Inc. 196 East Nine Mile Rd., Suite F Pensacola, FL 32534 850-912-4545 _________________________

National Garden Wholesale/ Sunlight Supply 455 S. Andrews Ave. Pompano Beach, FL 33069 877-649-3567 (Southeast) _________________________ Hydroponic Depot II 2395 S Tamiami Trail #19 Port Charlotte FL 33952 941-255-3999 EZ Grow Green 604 S.W. Bayshore Blvd. Port St. Lucie, Fl 34983 772-807-7755 _________________________

Grace’s Hydro-Organic Garden Center 8877 North 56th St. Tampa, FL 33617 813-514-9376 Grace’s Hydro-Organic Garden Center 8707 Temple Terrace Hwy. Tampa, FL 33637 813-514-9376 Hydroponics of Tampa 120 W. Bougain Villea Tampa, FL 33612 813-333-6828 Schiro’s Barn-N-Garden Supplies Inc. 7812 Causeway Blvd. Tampa, FL 33619 813-626-0902 Stoney Hydro @ Schiro’s Barn n Garden Supplies 7812 Causeway Blvd. Tampa, FL 33619 813-626-0902 _________________________

Worm’s Way Florida 4412 North 56th St. Tampa, FL 33610 800-283-9676; 813-621-1792 _________________________ Monkey Hydroponics 940 West Oakland Ave., Unit A1 407-574-8495 Happy Planet Hydroponics 1179 E. Alfred St. Tavares, FL 32778 352-253-1001 365 Hydroponics 13054 W Colonial Dr. Winter Garden, FL 34787 407-656-GROW(4769) Cultivating Eden Hydroponic Supplies 946 18th Ave. SW Vero Beach, FL 32962 772-564-8880 _________________________

Florida Garden Supplies 8020 Belvedere Rd.,Unit 4 West Palm Beach, FL 33411 800-931-5215 _________________________ Palm Beach Discount Hydroponics – East 968 North Congress Ave. West Palm Beach, FL 33409 561-296-6161

GEORGIA

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Atlantis Hydroponics 8042 N. Palafox St., Suite C Pensacola, FL 32534 850-912-8796 _________________________

Atlantis Hydroponics 1422 Woodmont Lane, #4 Atlanta, GA 30318 404-367-0052 _________________________

Savannah Hydroponics & Organics 4107 Eighth St., Suite C Garden City, GA 31408 912-349-4030 _________________________ Atlantis Hydroponics 5182-B Brook Hollow Parkway Norcross, GA 30071 770-558-1346

Chicago Roots Hydroponics & Organics 4020 W. Irving Park Rd. Chicago, IL 60641 773-545-4020 Fertile Ground 463 West MacArthur Dr. Cottage Hills, IL 62018 618-259-5500 Brew and Grow- Crystal Lake 176 W. Terra Cotta Ave. Crystal Lake, IL 60014 815-301-4950 _________________________

Midwest Hydroganics 20647 Renwick Rd. Crest Hill, IL 60403 815-838-0100 _________________________

HAWAII Eco-Island Supply 810 Haiku Rd., #394 Haiku, HI 96708 808-575-9171 Aqua Plant Hawaii / Kahala Hydroponics 4224 Wailae, Suite 1A Honolulu, HI 96816 808-735-8665 Green Hands of Aloha 1713 Mary St. Honolulu, HI 96819 808-847-4263 Ohana Greenhouse & Garden Supply 300 Hukilike St. #2M, Kahalui, HI 96732 808-871-6393 Aiyah’s Garden 4558 Kukui St. Kapa’a, HI 96746 Aiyah’s Garden 3-3122 Kuhio Hwy. Unit B-2 Lihue, HI 96766 808-245-2627

Goldman’s Grow Shop 910 Greenwood Rd. Glenview, IL 60025 847-657-7250 _________________________ Grow Masters 4641 Old Grand Ave. Gurnee, IL 60031 224-399-9877 Big Grow Hydroponics 9225 Trinity Dr. Lake In The Hills, IL 60156 847-854-4450 Grow Big Hydroponics 7817 B North 2nd St. Manchesney Park, IL 61115 815-637-4769 Green Fields 8137 N. Milwaukee Niles, IL 60714 847-965-5056 _________________________

Pahoa Feed & Fertilizer 15-2754 Old Government Rd. Pahoa, HI 96778 808-965-9955

Brew and Grow 3224 South Alpine Rd. Rockford, IL 61109 815-874-5700 Rock Valley Garden Center 785 N.Bell School Rd. Rockford, IL 61107 815-398-9419 Brew and Grow 359 W. Irving Park Rd. Unit E Roselle, IL 60172 630-894-4885 Organic Garden Center 9223 Skokie Blvd. Skokie, IL 60077 847-675-2722 _________________________

Kreation’s Indoor Gardening Center 3427 Old Chatman Rd. Springfield, IL 62704 217-341-0821 Kreation’s Indoor Gardening Center 2110 North Grand Ave. Springfield , IL, 62702 217-341-0821 _________________________ Joe Dirt’s Organics & Hydroponics 760 Heartland Dr. Sugar Grove, IL 60554 630-466-8346 Water Works Indoor Gardening 1900 South Dirksen Parkway Springfield, IL 62703 217-553-6929

INDIANA Sunleaves Garden Products 7854 North State Rd. 37 Bloomington, IN 47404 888-464-9676 _________________________

IDAHO Boise Hydroponics 614 North Orchard St. Boise, ID 83706 208-344-3053 Greenthumb Greenhouses 5895 Ensign Ave. Boise, ID 83714

ILLINOIS Aerostar Global 824 South Kay Ave. Addison, IL 60101 Aerogro 502 N Prospect, Suite 18 Bloomington, IL, 61704 Brew and Grow 181 Crossroads Parkway Bolingbrook, IL 60194 847-885-8282 Let it Grow - Carbondale West Main St. Carbondale, IL 62908 573-450-5401

Urban Sunshine Organic & Hydroponic Gardening 2841 South Nove Rd., Suite 5 South Daytona, FL 32119 386-236-9989; 386-492-6978

Flora Hydroponics, Inc. 1239 Fowler St. NW Atlanta, GA 30318 404-532-0001

Versaponics.COM Box 166 West Main St. Carbondale, IL62901 573-450-5401

Avid Brew Company 1745 1st Ave South St. Petersburg, FL 33712 727-388-6756

Flora Hydroponics Inc. 2475 Jefferson Rd., Suite 600 Athens, GA 30607 866-404-0551

Alternative Garden Supply 615 Industrial Dr., Unit A Cary, IL 60013 800-444-2837

Mr. Nice Guy Hydroponics 1800 NW. Federal Hwy. Stuart, FL 34994 772-934-6785

Flora Hydroponics, Inc. 195 Paradise Blvd. Athens, GA 30607 800-470-6881

Brew and Grow 3625 N. Kedzi Ave. Chicago, IL 60618 773-463-7430

Autumn Bloom Alternative Indoor Gardening 1020 Derby St. Pekin, IL 61554 309-642-6943 _________________________

Worm’s Way Indiana 7850 North State Rd. 37 Bloomington, IN 47404 800-598-8158 _________________________

Grow Shop of Peoria 2621 N University Peoria, IL 61604 309-299-0953 _________________________

GroUp Gardening 221 N. 5th St. Pekin, IL 61554 309-349-4407 _________________________ Prairie House Garden Center 15151 South Harlem Ave. Orland, IL 60462 708-687-3131 _________________________

Heartland Hydrogardens 7403 Broadway St. Quincy, IL 62305 217-214-GROW(4769) _________________________

Worm’s Way Mail Order 7850 North State Rd. 37 Bloomington, IN 47404 800-274-9676 _________________________ Frogs Lilly Pad, The 706 Citation Rd. Carmel, IN 46032 317-846-4610 Hops & Harvest 4616 E. DuPont Rd., Suite Q Fort Wayne, IN 46825 260-918-3035 Harvest Moon Hydroponics 1336 East Washington St. Indianapolis, IN 46202 317-780-8020 Magic Bulb Garden Center 6221 Allisonville Rd. Indianapolis, IN 46220 317-202-2852

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MAXIMUM YIELD distributors _________________________

Maximum Grow Gardening 6117 E Washington St. Indianapolis, IN 46219 317-359-GROW (4769) _________________________ Next Generation Gardening & Hydroponics 6805 Madison Ave. Indianapolis, IN 46227 317-786-0066 One Stop Grow Shop 2326 E.44th St. Indianapolis, IN 46205 317-546-GROW The Wine-N-Vine Inc. 1524 East McGalliard Rd. Muncie IN 47303 765-282-3300 _________________________

BWGS-IN 1400 Hancel Pkwy., Mooresville, IN 46158 800-316-1306 _________________________ Five Point Gardens 56555 Oak Rd. South Bend, IN 46619 574-287-9232

Urban Organics 285 St. Claude Ave. New Orleans, LA 70117 504-352-4709 Ourcrazydeals Hydroponics 201 Angus Dr. Yungsville, LA 70592 337-303-6146

MAINE The Urban Garden Center 600 Wilson St. Brewer, ME 04412 207-989-2020 LiquidSun of Maine 51West Gray Rd. Gray, ME 04039 207-657-8033 Natures Palate Indoor Garden Store 1321 Mercer Rd. (route 2) Mercer, ME 04957 877-587-4150; 207-587-4150 Newfield Farms 122 Water St. Newfield, ME 04095 207-956-3334 _________________________

KENTUCKY Garden Grove Organics 29 East 7th St. Covington (Cincinnati Metro), KY 41011 859-360-1843 _________________________

Evergreen Garden Center 301 Forest Ave. Portland, ME 04101 207-761-2800 _________________________

High Tech Garden Supply Maine178 Rand Rd. Portland, ME 04102 207-899-4387 _________________________ The Urban Garden Center 659 Warren Ave. Portland, ME 04103 207-347-2350 Here We Grow 30 Parsons St. Presque Isle, ME 04769 207-SOY-BEAN (769-2326)

Worm’s Way Kentucky 1360 Donaldson Hwy. Suite A Erlanger, KY 41018 800-669-2088 _________________________ Grow Shop, The of Lexington 2320 Palumbo Dr., Suite 130 Lexington, KY 40509 859-268-0779 Louisville Hydroponics 3471 Taylor Blvd. Louisville, KY 40215 502-366-4000 New Earth Garden Center 9810 Taylorsville Rd. Louisville, KY 40299 800-462-5953 Bluegrass Organic Grow Shop 125 Quinn Dr. Nicholasville, KY 40356 859-887-0677 Bluegrass Hydro Garden 13529 S. Dixie Hwy. Upton, KY 42784 270-369-9000

Green Thumb Indoor Gardening 19 Stage Rd. St. Albans, ME 04971 207-938-5909 New England Horticulture Supply 125 John Roberts Rd., Suite 1 South Portland, ME 04106 207-899-0510 Urban Garden Center 235 Lewiston Rd. Topsham, ME 04086 207-373-0990 Greenlife Garden Supply 611 US Route 1 York, ME 03909 207-363-0844

Montgomery Hydroponics 8950 Brookville Rd. Silver Springs, MD 20910 301-588-1935 _________________________ Purple Mountain Organics 100-7010 Westmoreland Ave. Takoma Park, MD 20912 877-538-9901

MASSACHUSETTS Grow it Green 122 Pulaski Blvd. Bellingham, MA 02019 508-883-GROW Greenlife Garden Supply 481 Boston Rd., Unit 4 Billerica, MA 01821 978-262-9966

East Coast Organics 2800 Sisson St. Baltimore, MD 21211 Healthy Gardens and Supply 5001-F Harford Rd. Baltimore, MD 21214 443-708-5144

LOUISIANA Laughing Buddha Nursery 4516 Clearview Parkway Metairie, LA 70006 504-887-4336

Maryland Hydroponics Inc. 10051 North 2nd St. Laurel, MD 20723 301-490-9236

Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

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Tru Bloomz Hydroponics 1201 Fall River Ave. Seekonk, MA 02771 508-336-4443 _________________________

High Tech Garden Supply 560 Boston Turnpike (Route 9) Shrewsbury, MA 01545 508-845-4477 _________________________ Nor’easter Organic Life 515 College Highway Unit J Southwick, MA 01077 413-998-3951 _________________________

Mass Hydro 1753 Main St. Brockton, MA 02301

Mass Hydro 390 Rhode Island Ave. Fall River MA 02721 704-GO-HYDRO Harvest Moon Hydroponics 29 Washington St., Route 1 Foxboro, MA 02035 800-660-6977 Here We Grow 123 Russell St. (Route 9) Hadley, MA 01035 413-584-FARM (3276)

Cape Cod Hydroponics 195 Ridgewood Ave. Hyannis, MA 02601 508-737-2555 _________________________

Rootdown Hydroponics Indoor Garden Center 236 Mystic Ave. Medford, MA 01255 781-874-1693 _________________________ Green Path Garden Supply 276 West Main St. Northborough, MA 01532 508-393-4181 LiquidSun® RI 1179 Central Ave. Pawtucket, MA 02861 401-722-2724 _________________________

Evergreen Garden Center 216 Newbury St. Peabody, MA 01960 978-854-5541 _________________________ Hydroponics N More Garden Center 331 Centre Ave. Rockland, MA 02370 781-421-3356 Mass Hydro 679 Washington St. S. Attlevoro, MA 02703 508-761-4937 _________________________

Cultivation Station of Michigan Inc., The 6540 Allen Rd. Allen Park, MI 48101 313-383-1766 _________________________

Discount Hydro & Indoor

Garden Supplies

Gro Blue Discount Hydro and Indoor Garden Supplies 4072 Packard Rd. Ann Arbor, MI 48108 734-913-2750 _________________________ Grow Show, The 4095 Stone School Rd. Ann Arbor, MI 48108 734-677-0009; 734-677-0509 HotHydro® 5245 Jackson Rd., Suite F Ann Arbor, MI 48103 734-761-5040; 877-893-0716

New England Hydroponics 15 D College Hwy. (Route 10) Southampton, MA 01073 888-529-9025 _________________________ Nor'easter Organic Life 515 College Highway Unit J Southwick, MA 01077 413-998-3951 _________________________

All things Good and Green 501 E. Michigan Ave. Augusta, MI 49012 269-978-8550 Battle Creek Indoor Gardening 1125 E.Michigan Ave. Battle Creek MI 49014 269-282-0554 BIG Green Tomato 1775 E. Columbia Ave. Battle Creek, MI 49014 269-282-1593 Homelight Gardens 3471 S. Huron Rd. Bay City, MI 48706 989-922-0088

LiquidSun® MA 8 Lynwood Ave. Holyoke, MA 01040 413-539-6875

MARYLAND

Eco Greenworks 7814 Parston Dr. Forestville, MD 20747 301-278-7541

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Meadowview Feed & Garden Center 1202 Meadowview Rd. Pasadena, MD 21122 443-817-0018 _________________________

GYOstuff – Grow Your Own 2400 Massachusetts Ave. Cambridge, MA 02140 617-945-1654

KANSAS Kan-Grow Hydro Farm LLC 5555 S. Meridian Ave. Wichita, KS 67217 316-214-3022

Retail Stores listed alphabetically by city in each state.

Worm’s Way Massachusetts 121 Worc-Providence Turnpike Sutton, MA 01590 800-284-9676 _________________________ LiquidSun East 12 Bay St. Unit 105 Wilmington, MA 01887 978-447-5442

MICHIGAN Get Growing Urban Garden Centre 142 S. Main St. Adrian, MI 49221 All Things Good and Green 501 E. Michigan Ave. Augusta, MI 49012 269-978-8550 Allegan Hydroponic Supply 1177 Lincoln Rd. Allegan, MI 49010 269-355-1595 _________________________

Grow Supply Center 3131 Benzie Hwy. Benzonia, MI 49616 231-882-9270 J&L Growco 206 S. Michigan Ave. Big Rapids, MI 49307 231-796-1528 Hydro Vision 11820 Belleville Belleville, MI 48111 734-325-6210 One Stop Grow Shop Inc., The 397 Main St., Suite A. Belleville, MI 48111 734-325-7242 Growers Outlet 7720 Clyde Park SW Byron Center, MI 49513 616-878-4444 Happy Harvesters Hydroponics 4410 South Saginaw St. Burton, MI 48529 810-496-3005 Hydroponic Gardening 4204 Davison Rd. Burton, MI 48505 810-406-3355 Two Guys and a Grow Shop 3374 Atherton Rd. Burton, MI 48509 810-820-4275 _________________________

Cultivation Station 2734 Jackson Ave. Ann Arbor, MI 48103 734-213-7740 _________________________ U Can Grow Hydro 2247 W. Liberty Ann Arbor, MI 4810 734-369-3387

Hydro Giant #4 6199 Haggerty Rd. West Bloomfield, MI 48322 248-668-6100 _________________________

Caledonia Gardens 9750 Cherry Valley Ave. SE Caledonia Gardens, MI 49316 616-891-0706 Greenway Gardens 916 W 13th St. Cadillac, MI 49601 231-775-7075 Indoor Grower’s Edge 8998 E. 34 Rd., Suite B Cadillac, MI 49601 231-468-3343 Easy Growing 5748 N. Canton Centre Rd. Canton, MI 48187 734-451-4500 Hydro Helper 6445 Canton Center Rd. Canton, MI 48187 734-354-3900 ________________________

Hydro Giant #1 14455 Ford Rd. Dearborn, MI 48126 313-216-8888 ________________________

Hydro Pro’s Indoor Garden 30504 23 Mile Rd. Chesterfield, MI 48047 586-741-8805 ________________________

The Great Lakes Hydroponics Co. 5998 US.31 South Charlevoix MI 49720 231-237-9153 _________________________ Horti-Toad Hydroponic Supply 21323 Harper St. Clair Shores, MI 48080 586-944-0650 Hydro 411 411 West 5th St. Clare, MI 48617 989-941-4157 Michigan Hydro Depot 571 E. Chicago St., Suite B Coldwater, MI 49036 517-278-9600 All American Indoor Gardening Warehouse 11504 N. Saginaw Rd. Clio, MI 48420 810-640-1156 Clio Cultivation 11394 N.Saginaw Rd. Clio, MI 48420 810-686-4769 HydroMaster 36345 Grosebeck Hwy. Clinton Twp, MI 48035 586-792-0277 Hydro Pro’s Indoor Garden 20560 Hall Rd. Clinton Township, MI 48038 586-263-5793 H2O Grow Supply 3364 Arent Ct. Coloma, MI 49038 269-468-3890 Van Hydro 7480 N State Davison, MI 48423 810-653-8267 _________________________

The Grow Station 5670 Telegraph Rd. Dearborn, MI 48127 313-406-5147; 800-797-4769 (GROW) _________________________

Granny Green Thumbs 103 W. Grand River Flowerville, MI 48836 517-223-1302 Indoor/Outdoor Garden Shop 105 N. Seymour Rd. Flushing, MI 48433 810-867-4351

Cultivation Station – Eastern Market, The 2518 Market St. Detroit, MI 48207 313-394-0441 ________________________ Growers R Us 19317 West Warren Detroit, MI 48228 313-633-1617 _________________________

Cultivation Station 3 Inc. 46912 Gratiot Chesterfield, MI 48051 586-949-7453 _________________________

Urban Garden Supply 3410 S. Dort Hwy. Flint, MI 48507 810-875-9580

Hydro Giant #3 21651 W. 8 Mile Rd.(8 Mile & Lahser) Detroit, MI 48219 313-387-7700 _________________________ Hydro Heaven 73647 W 8th Mile Rd. Detroit, MI 48235 313-861-0333; 877-823-2076 _________________________

Ultra Lo Hydro ultralohydro.com 937-252-8224 _________________________

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The Grow Shop of Garden City 28505 Ford Rd. Garden City, MI 48135 734-956-5400 _________________________

Synthetic Sun Hydroponics, LLC 799 S. Wisconsin Ave. Gaylord, MI 49735 989-731-8800 _________________________

Growco Garden Supply 1042 Michigan St. NE Grand Rapids, MI 49503 877-939-6900 NEW 2nd LOCATION! 4640 West River Dr. Comstock Park, MI 49321 _________________________

Urban Gardening Center, The 2520 22nd St. Detroit, MI 48216 313-898-0200 _________________________

Home Grown Hydroponix 5333 Plainfield, Suite C Grand Rapids, MI 49525 616-361-2924 _________________________

Superior Growers Supply 4870 Dawn Ave. East Lansing, MI 48823 517-332-2663 _________________________

Horizen Hydroponics 1614 Leonard St., NW Grand Rapids, MI 49504 866-791-1664 _________________________

Sunnyside Hydroponics 24930 Gratiot Ave. Eastpoint, MI 48021 586-777-2528 GroMart Indoor Gardening Solutions 68991 M-62 Suite Q Edwardsburg, MI 49112 269-414-4385 Bay de Noc Hydroponic & Garden Supply 1501 Sheridan Rd. Escanaba, MI 49829 906-553-7006

Grand Rapids Hydroponics Inc. 524 Leonard St. Grand Rapids, MI 49504 616-454-2500 _________________________

Garden Doctor 2974 28th St. SW Grandville, MI 49418 616 530 2500 _________________________

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Hydroharrys- HP 24047 Dequindre Rd. Hazel Park, MI 48030 248-541-0099 _________________________ Garden Doctor 2974 28th St. SW Grandville, MI 49418 616-530-2500 Absolute Wholesale Garden Supply 3255 Highland Rd. Highland, MI 48357 248-714-6558 Holland Hydroponic Outlet 587-40 East 8th St. Holland, MI 49423 616-298-7395 _________________________

Flower Factory, The 2223 East Highland Rd. Highland, MI 48356 248-714-9292 _________________________ Mr. Grow it All 6660 Blair Lane Holland, MI 49424 616-392-3028 Hydro Grow Room 15201 N. Holly Rd., Unit B Holly MI, 48430 248-369-8333 Holland Hydroponic Outlet 1220 Phoenix Rd. South Haven, MI 49090 269-637-5941 ________________________

HGR Garden Supply 15231 N. Holly Rd. Holly, MI 48442 248-369-8333 _________________________ J&W Farm & Garden Center 10906 Main St. Honor, MI 49640 231-325-3433 _________________________

Synthetic Sun Hydroponics, LLC 705 S. Loxley Houghton Lake, MI 48629 989-422-2800 _________________________ Hydro Vision 1247 E. Grand River Howell, MI 48843 517-552-4965 Grow Fast Gardens 5015 South Straits Hwy. Indian River, MI 49749 231-238-4113 Grow Maxx 1220 S. Stephenson Ave. Iron Mountain, MI 49801 920-447-2211

Holland Hydroponic Outlet 604 N. Beacon Blvd. Grand Haven, MI 49423 616-847-1277

Hydro Magic 595 South Cedar St. Imlay City, MI 48444 810-721-7232

Green Thumb Garden Center 22963 Woodward Ave. Ferndale, MI 48220 248-439-1851

BSS Garden Supplies 8899 Peck Rd. Unit #2 Greenville, MI 48838 616-225-7000

Urban Garden Supply 4516 Pasadena Ave. Flint, MI 48504 810-733-0420

It is Green Ville Gardens 11500 Morgan Mills Rd., NE Greenville, MI 48838 616-745-0500

Ionia Hydroponics & Indoor Garden Supply 2555 N. State(M-66) Rd. Ionia, MI 48846 616-523-6111

Hydro Vision 495 Fenway Dr. Fenton, MI 810-714-1719

Hydrocapitol 258 Cooper St. Jackson, MI 49201 517-795-2633

Mighty Grow 2418 West Michigan Ave. Jackson MI 49202 517-962-4822 _________________________

High Tech Garden Supply 1745 West Main St. Kalamazoo, MI 49006 269-978-8697 _________________________

Horizen Hydroponics 4646 W. Main St. Kalamazoo, MI 49006 269-567-3333 _________________________

Kalamazoo Indoor Garden 450 W. Maple Kalamazoo, MI 49001 269-344-2550 _________________________ Plainwell Indoor/Outdoor Garden Center 8201 Douglas Ave. Kalamazoo, MI 49009 269-532-1167 Zoo City Grower Supply 3514 S. Westnedge Kalamazoo, MI 49008 269-903-2450 Halms Hydro 2368 S. Huron Rd. Kawkawklin, MI 48631 989-402-1296 _________________________

High Tech Garden Supply 2815 East Grand River Ave. Lansing, MI 48912 517-580-0555 _________________________ Howz It Growing 1290 S. Lapeer Rd. Lake Orion, MI 48360 248-693-5747 Capital City Growers 2208 E. Michigan Ave. Lansing, MI 48912 517-853-9988 _________________________

Horizen Hydroponics 5425 W. Saginaw Hwy Lansing, MI 48917 517-323-ROOT _________________________

Superior Growers Supply Inc. 3928 West Saginaw Hwy. Lansing, MI 48917 517-327-1900 _________________________ H2O Hydroponics 5210 W. Saginaw Hwy Lansing, MI 48917 517-703-8120 Edenz Hydro 560 Oak St. Lapeer, MI 48446 248-291-6691 Howz It Growing 700 Main St. Suite 101B Lapeer, MI 48446 810-245-8687

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MAXIMUM YIELD distributors Two Guys and a Grow Shop 11917 E. Lennon Rd. Lennon, MI 48449 810-621-3790 _________________________

Superior Growers Supply Inc. 292200 Seven Mile West Livonia, MI 48152 248-473-0450 _________________________ The Barefoot Gardener 11635 Fulton St. Suite 300B Lowell, MI 49331 616-987-3457

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Edenz Hydro 1411 West 14 Mile Madison Heights, MI 48071 248-291-6691 Hypnotic Hydroponics 321 Deer St. Manistique, MI 49854 906- 341-GROW BIg Creek Hydroponics 555 Old Little Lake Rd. Marquette, MI 49855 906-249-5297 Indoor Garden Center 236 Mystic Ave. Medford, MA 02155 781-874-1693 Sweet Greens Hydroponics 113 Fifth St. Michigan Center, MI 49254 517-764-9232 Stealth Hydro 14630 King Dr. Milan, MI 48160 734-961-4333 _________________________

The Grow Shop 2609 Telegraph Rd. Monroe, MI 48162 734-384-4769 _________________________ Cedar Garden Wholesale 132 North Bound Gratiot Mt. Clements, MI 48043 586-738-0030 Green Grow LLC 9046 N. Dort Mt. Morris, MI 48458 810-687-9500 Indoor Grower’s Edge 2410 S. Leaton Suite 5 Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858 989-317-0944 Sunshine Supply Co. 5800 East Pickard St. Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858 989-775-3700 Cedar Garden Wholesale 132 North Bound Gratiot Mt. Clements, MI 48043 586-738-0030 Big Blue Hydroponics 590 Ottawa St. Muskegon, MI 49441 231-571-9400 Growing Consultant Hydroponics & Things 2260 Apple Ave. Muskegon, MI 49442 231-773-5600

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Hydro Giant #5 290 S. Telegraph Pontiac, MI 48341 248-706-7600 _________________________ Green Lantern H2O 1383 E. Laketon Ave. Muskegon, MI 49442 231-722-0420 _________________________

Plant Paradise 4593 W. US 10 Ludington, MI 49431 231-843-3000 Northern Lights Hydroponic & Garden Supply 29090 Campbell Rd. Madison Heights, MI 48071 248-439-6269

Retail Stores listed alphabetically by city in each state.

Third Coast Horticulture Supply 1965 Holton Rd Muskegon, MI 49445 231-288-1762 _________________________ Harbor Country Hydro 17648 US Highway 12 New Buffalo, MI 49117 269-469-2242 _________________________

Flo-N-Grow Hydroponics Co. 214 North 2nd St. Niles, MI 49120 269-683-1877 www.FNGhydro.com _________________________

Aric’s Indoor Garden Supply W. 8065 US Highway 2 Iron Mountain, MI 49801 906-828-2000 _________________________

HGR Garden Supply 200 E. Main St. Owosso MI 48867 989-472-4999 _________________________ Owlyn Solutions for Growers 2398 Jolly Rd., Suite 300 Okemos, MI 48864 517-203-5070 Watch it Grow Hydroponics 407 W. Center St. Omer, MI 48749 989-653-2141 Happy Harvesters Hydroponics 1772 S. Ortonville Dr. Ortonville, MI 48462 248-793-3357 Healthy Harvest Garden Supply 233 South State St. Oscoda, MI 48750 989-569-3006 Hydro Grow Source 10609 East Lovejoy Perry, MI 48872 517-376-8583 Super Grow 288 W. Montcalm Pontiac, MI 48342 248-24SUPER (78737) Green Earth Hydroponics 8127 Portage Rd. Portage, MI 49002 269-342-419

Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

Hydroponics Highway Inc. 2708 14th Ave. Port Huron MI, 48060 810-982-4769 _________________________ Ultra Green Hydroponics 9300 Telegraph Rd. Redford, MI 48239 313-534-9377 Hydro Vision 66783 Gratiot Ave. Richmond, MI 48062 586-430-1956 Happy Gardening 20840 Telegraph Rd. Romulus, MI 48174 734-486-4115 _________________________

Growers Edge 175 Marcell Dr. Rockford, MI 49341 _________________________

Green Thumb Hydroponics & Organic Indoor Supply 8460 Algoma, Suite G Rockford, MI 49341 616-884-5500 _________________________

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Hydro Giant #2 19363 Eureka Rd. Southgate, MI 48195 734-281-8888 _______________________

Cultivation Station of Michigan Inc., The 23529 Little Mack Ave. St. Clair, MI 48080 586-775-9485 _______________________ Horti-Toad Hydroponic Supply 21323 Harper St. Clair Shores, MI 48080 586-944-0650 Advanced Hydroponic Growers 705 N. US 27 St.Johns, MI 48879 989-227-0408 Hydro City LLC 34863 Schoenherr Sterling Heights, MI 48312 586-883-9075 _________________________

High Tech Garden Supply 7889 Telegraph Rd. Taylor, MI 48180 313-908-7554 _________________________ Hydro Grow, The 8210 Telegraph Rd. Taylor, MI 48180 313-633-0641 Cultivation Innovations 6652 Lewis Ave. Suite 7 Temperance, MI 48182 419-725-4769 Great Lakes Green Horticultural Supply 757 S. U.S. Highway 131 Three Rivers, MI 49093 269-278-130 Grow Depot 9 North Main St. Three Rivers, MI 49093 269-273-4769

High Tech Garden Supply 28000 Groesbeck Hwy. Roseville, MI 48066 586-435-2335 _________________________

Grow Store, The 90 N U.S. Highway 31 South Traverse City, MI 49685-7923 231-421-5191 _________________________

Plant Paradise 7657 Michigan Ave. Rothbury, MI 49452 231-843-3000 GrowMart 2137 Warwick St. Saginaw, MI 48603 989-799-6330 Home Grown Hydroponics 4880 Gratiot Rd., Suite # 2 Saginaw, MI 48638 989-781-1930 Third Coast Garden Supply LLC 2327 Auburn Rd. Shelby Township, MI 48195 586-997-2700 _________________________

Superior Growers Supply, Inc. 5716 South Pennsylvania Ave. South Lansing, MI 48911 517-393-1600 ________________________

Cultivation Station 1990 US-31 N. Suite C Traverse City, MI 49686 231-421-8118 _________________________

High Tech Garden Supply 720 South Garfield Ave. Traverse City, MI 49686 231-668-6913 _________________________ Woodland Shore Garden Center 956 W. South Airport Rd. Traverse City, MI 49686 231-421-5901 Hydro Vision 1910 West Rd. Trenton, MI 48183 734-301-3745

Hydro Pro’s Indoor Garden 45410 Van Dyke Ave. Utica, MI 48317 586-803-0966 Forever Green 340 S. Main St. Vassar, MI 48768 989-882-9177 H2 Hydro 702 N. Pontiac Trail Walled Lake, MI 48390 248-669-6063 _________________________

Hydroharrys – WL 1138 E. West Maple Rd. Walled Lake, MI 48390 248-896-0099 _________________________

Beste’s Hydroponics 21410 Schoenherr Rd. Warren, MI 48089 586-776-1794 _________________________ Hydro King Indoor Garden Supply 32000 Van Dyke Ave. Warren, MI 48093 586-939-0518 Greco’s Nursery & Garden Supplies 12219 E. 11 Mile Rd. Warren, MI 48093 586-759-1335 Indoor Garden Superstore 2570 Dixie Hwy. Waterford Twp., MI 48328 248-673-2200; 877-22-HYDRO Happy Harvesters Hydroponics 5720 Highland Rd. Waterford, MI 48327 248-599-9761 Light Green Water 3661 Highland Rd. Waterford, MI 48329 248-681-0001 Bubonic Hydroponics 38540 Michigan Ave. Wayne MI, 48184 734-331-2316 _________________________

Hydrospot 34236 Michigan Ave. Wayne, MI 48184 734-722-1285 _________________________ B&B Hydro Supply 28974 Warren Rd. Westland, MI 48185 734-469-280 Ultra Green Hydroponics 8067 N. Wayne Rd. Westland, MI 48185 734-425-1000 G.C. II 1006 E. Colby St., Suite A Whitehall, MI 49417 231-893-2400 _________________________

Indoor Eden 9281 East-M 36 Whitmore, MI 48189 810-355-1465 _________________________

AAA Hydroponics LLC 22 50th St. Wyoming, MI 49504 616-249-8338 _________________________

Cultivation Station – Grand Rapids, The 4907 S. Division Ave. Wyoming, MI 49548 616-855-4440 _________________________

Stealth Hydro 15 E. Cross St. Ypsilanti, MI 48198 866-998-1916 _________________________

The Grow Stop 7380 Highland Rd. Waterford, MI 48327 248-599-9231 _________________________

Still-H2O Inc. 14375 North 60th St. Stillwater, MN 55082 651-351-2822 Eco Garden Supply 800 Transfer Door 25 in rear St. Paul, MN 55114 651-647-1896

MISSISSIPPI Urban Organics 2217 E Canal St. Picayune, MS 39466 504-352-4709

MISSOURI Versaponics LTD 879 South Kingshighway Cape Girardeau, Missouri 63703 573-450-5401 _________________________

Heartland Hydrogardens 705 Vandiver Dr., Suite G Columbia, MO 65202 573-474-4769 _________________________ Grow Your Own Hydroponics 3617 Saint John Ave. Kansas City, MO 64123 816-241-2122 _________________________

MINNESOTA Duluth Hydroponics 26 W 1st St. Duluth, MN 55802 218-341-7253 The Interior Tomato, LLC 519 N. Central Ave. Duluth, MN 55087 218-260-5167 _________________________

Grower’s Edge 175 Marcell Dr. Rockford, MI 49341 _________________________ U-Grow 1724 North, 13th St. St. Louis, MO 63106 314-452-6368 _________________________

Indoor Gardening 10 NE 3rd St. Faribault, MN 55021 507-209-1546 _________________________ Brew and Grow 8302 Highway 65 NE. Minneapolis, MN 55432 763-780-8191 Interior Gardens 115 -1620 Central Ave. NE Minneapolis, MN 55413 800-498-4178; 612-870-9077 _________________________

Midwest Hydroponics 5825 Excelsior Blvd. St. Louis Park, MN 55416 888-449-2739 _________________________ Eden Indoor Organic Gardens 831 Highway 75 N. Moorhead, MN 56560 218-477-EDEN (3336) _________________________

American Garden Supply 601-6th Ave. N. Princeton, MN 55371 763-631-0543 _________________________

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Butteopia 127 Main St. Butte, Montana 59701 1-406-782-8476 _________________________ Alpengrow Nursery Supplies 238 Highway 93 S. Eureka, MT 59917 406-882-4496 Big Sky Garden Supply 528 West Idaho Kallispell, MT 59901 406-755-1465

Green Thumb Organics 249 Mid Rivers Mall Dr. St. Peters, MO 63376 636-397-4769 (GROW) _________________________

MONTANA Heightened Harvests 3103 Harrison Ave. Butte, MT 59701 406-494-4222 One World – Life Products 906 Broadwater Billings, MT 59101 406-839-9969 Heightened Harvest 1415 S 32nd St. West Billings, MT 59102 406-656-1156

Anything Grows 190 West Moana Lane Reno, NV 89509 775-828-1460 Everything Green Hydroponics Box 34869 Reno, Nevada 89533 The Hydro Store 121 Woodland Ave #160 Reno, NV 89523 775-787-2760

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Box of Rain INC 860 North Meridian Rd., Suite B #19&20 Kalispell, MT 59901 406-755-RAIN (7246)

The Beez Kneez Garden Supply 180 Emerald St. Keene, NH 03431 603-903-1488

Cornucopia Grow Your Own 127 Stoner Creek Rd. Lakeside, MT 59922 406-709-1076

Greenlife Garden Supply 885 Second St. Manchester, NH 03102 603-782-8259 _________________________

Dr. Green Thumbs 1106 West Park Livingston, MO 59047 406-222-7440 Bizzy Beez LLP 5785 Highway 93 South Whitefish, MT 59937 406-863-9937

NEBRASKA Bodhi Organic Garden Supply 1438 S1 St., Suite 6 Lincoln, NE 68502 402-438-6785 Patio-Ponics 3255 Cornhusker Hwy., Suite 4 Lincoln, NE 68504 402-466-9218 ________________________

Hydro101 545 Hooksett Rd. #24 Manchester, NH 03104 603-782-8894 _________________________ Natural Roots Hydroponics 24 Crown St. Nashua, NH 03060 603-204-5528 Four Seasons Horticulture Supply 2076 White Mountain Hwy. North Conway, NH 03860 603-733-5444

NEW JERSEY Paradigm Gardens 8949 J St., Suite 5 Omaha, NE 68127 402-339-4949 _________________________

NEVADA

Worm’s Way Missouri 1225 North Warson Rd. St. Louis, MO 63132 800-285-9676 _________________________

Nevada Hydroponics 4700B Maryland, Suite 1 Las Vegas, NV 89119 702-798-2852

Carson Valley Hydroponics 2520 Empire Ranch Rd. Carson City, NV 89701 775-884-4769 Lorraine Indoor Gardens 290 Spear Court Fernley, NV 89408 775-575-7757 Hydro Store, The 1014 W. Sunset Rd. Henderson, NV 89014 702-434-7365 AAA Indoor Organic Garden SuperCenter 2101 S. Decatur Blvd. #21 Las Vegas, NV 89102 702-450-4769 Advanced Gardens Hydroponics 7850 Dean Martin Dr., Suite 506 Las Vegas, NV 89139 702-247-4769 All American Hydroponics 2675 East Patrick Lane, Unit 8 Las Vegas, NV 89120 702-894-9888 Best Hydroponic Supply 6818 W Cheyenne Las Vegas, NV 89108 702-750-9300 Grow Hydro Gardens 5870 S. Decatur, Suite 11 Las Vegas, NV 89148 702-997-7053; Toll Free 866-568-4769 Hydro Store, The 7145 W. Ann Rd. Las Vegas, NV 89130 702-434-9376

Garden State Hydroponics 511 Avenel St. Avenel, NJ 07001 888-300-8711 Boyer Indoor Gardening 57 Crescent Blvd. Gloucester City, NJ 08030 856-456-5000 Bergen County Hydroponics 70 Essex St. Hackensack, NJ 07601 201-342-2001 Garden Indoors of New Jersey 600 Meadowlands Pkwy., Suite 25 Secaucus, NJ 07094 201-865-1616 East Coast Horticultural Supply 1652 Hurffville Rd. Sewell, NJ 08080 856-228-5290 77HYDRO 37 Fairfield Pl. West Caldwell, NJ 07006 877-774-9376 Claraqua 4 Redwood Court West Windsor, NJ 08550

NEW MEXICO

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AHL Year Round Garden Supply 1051 San Mateo Blvd. S. Albuquerque, NM 87108 505-255-3677 _________________________

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All Seasons Gardening 3600 Osuna Rd., Suite 406 Alburquerque, NM 87109 505-508-4292 _________________________ Common Shaman 1319 San Mateo N.E. Albuquerque, NM 87110 505-255-6463 Heavy’s Grow Supply 1325 San Mateo Blvd. NE. Albuquerque, NM 87110 505-315-4573 Dr. Green Hydroponics 129 E. Idaho Ave. Las Cruces, NM 88005 575-524-6751 _________________________

All Seasons Gardening 1228 Parkway, Suite E. Sante Fe, NM 87507 505-438-GROW _________________________ Santa Fe Hydroponics 851 W. San Mateo Rd., Suite 4 Santa Fe, NM 87505 505-467-8454 New Mexico Hydroponics 923 W. Almeada Santa Fe, NM 87501 505-316-5855 Taos Gardening Supply 120 Bertha Taos, NM 87571 575-758-9131

NEW YORK Organica: Garden Supply & Hydroponics 296 Delaware Ave. Albany, NY 12209 518-618-7666 The Grow Room 32-32 49th St. Astoria, NY 11103 718-218-GROW (4769) Saratoga Organics & Hydroponic Supply 19 Front St. Ballston Spa, NY 12020 518-885-2005; 800-850-4769 The Grape Vine 4020 Hempstead Turnpike Bethpage, NY 11714 516-731-1100 Bronx Hydro & Garden 39 Bruckner Blvd. Bronx, NY 10454 718-993-3787 Bklyn Hydro & Garden 316 McGuiness Blvd. Brooklyn, NY 11222 718-383-0095 Brooklyn Farms 51 Hicks St. Brooklyn, NY 11231 347-725-3491 Indoor Outdoor Gardener 8223 5th Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11209 718-836-2402 Buffalo Roots Hydroponics and Organics 3231 Main St. Buffalo, NY 14214 716-240-9075 Hydroponics of Buffalo 1497 Hertel Ave. Buffalo, NY 14216 716-838-3545 Harvest Moon Hydroponics 340 West at 59 Central Nyack, NY 10960

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MAXIMUM YIELD distributors California Hydroponics 27 Corporate Circle East Syracuse, NY 13057 315-432-9387 Upstate Hydroponics 2026 Lake Rd., Unit B Elmira, NY 14903 607-483-9199 _________________________ FutureGarden Inc. 59 Central Ave. Farmingdale, NY 11735 516-420-0884 _________________________ Sunflower Supplies, LLC 176-18 Central Ave. Farmingdale, NY 11735 631-651-8281 East Coast Hydroponics 14649 Horace Harding Exp. Flushing, NY 11367 718-762-8880

Harvest Moon Hydroponics Henrietta Townline Plaza 3047 West Henrietta Rd. Rochester, NY 14623 716-865-7353 ________________________

Hydro Garden Center 1069B Lyell Ave. Rochester, NY 14606 1-800-277-1322 ________________________Sunset Hydroponics & Home Brewing 1590 West Ridge Rd. Rochester, NY 14615 866-395-9204

Retail Stores listed alphabetically by city in each state.

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High Tech Garden Supply 2712 B Freedom Dr. Charlotte, NC 28208 704-697-0911 ________________________ Flow & Grow Hydroponics & Organic Garden Center 4521 Cumberland Rd. Fayetteville, NC 28306 910-423-FLOW (3569) Fifth Season Gardening Company 1616 D-3 Battleground Ave. Greensboro, NC 27408 336-271-3373 Good Harvest Garden Center 629 Oakridge Farm Hwy. Mooresville, NC 28115 704-658-9136

Healthy Harvest Organics & Hydro 163 Broadway Fort Edwart, NY 12828 518-480-4698

Hydroponic Garden Centers Inc 146 49 Horace Harding Exp. Rushing, NY 11367 718-762-8880

Saratoga Organics & Hydroponic Supply 10 Saratoga Ave. S. Glen Falls, NY 12803 518-798-820

LiquidSun of New York 1702 Fiero Ave. Rotterdam, NY 12150 518-952-4654

New Age Gardens 2236A US Highway 70 Swannanoa, NC 28778 828-299-9989

Hydroponics Shops of America 2606 Erie Blvd. Syracuse, NY 13224 315-251-2516 _________________________

Progressive Gardens 6005 Oleander Dr. Wilmington, NC 28403 910-395-1156

Hydroponic Shops of America 2568 Western Ave. Guilderland, NY 12009 518-355-1503 Hydroponic Shops of America 720 Willow Ave. Ithaca, NY 14850 607-697-0199 Greentree Garden Supply 606 Elmira Rd. Ithaca, NY 14850 607-272-3666 Mike’s Nursery & Grower Supplies 199 E. Fairmount Ave. Lakewood, NY 14750 716-763-1612 Harvest Moon Hydroponics 217 Route 32 N. New Paltz, NY 12561 845-255-3633 _________________________

LiquidSun East 12 Bay St., Unit 105 Wilmington, MA 01887 978-447-5442

OHIO Green Zone Hydroponics 2148 Niagara Falls Blvd. Tonawanda, NY. 14150 716-693-9663 _________________________ Green Zone Hydroponics 2928 Southwestern Blvd. Orchard Park, NY 14127 716-677-9663 _________________________ Harvest Moon Hydroponics 147 Fourth St. Troy, NY 10960

The Green Box 495 9th Ave. NY, NY 10018 212-967-4777 thegreenboxhydro.com _________________________

Fifth Season Gardening Company 5619-A Hillsborough St. Raleigh, NC 27606 919-852-4747

Follow The Sun 1185 B Yonkers Ave. Yonkers, NY 10704 914-237-2760

NORTH CAROLINA

Akron Garden Center 434 W Wilbeth Rd. Akron, OH 44314 330-724-2700

Hydro House of Ohio 2234 South Union Ave. Alliance, OH 44601 330-680-4014 _________________________

Purely Hydroponic, LLC 1507 Lear Industrial Pkwy. Avon, OH 44011 866-787-5060 _________________________

Advanced Hydroponic Garden 55 Shiloh Rd. #6 Asheville, NC 28803 1-828-277-3488

Campbells Indoor Gardening Supplies 1721 Greenville Rd. Bristolville, OH 44402 330-889-0049

Crossroads Hydroponics and Organics 181 South Plank Rd. (Route 52) Newburgh, NY 12550 845-561-4769

Fifth Season Gardening Company 21 B Westside Dr. Asheville, NC 28806 828-225-5007

Magic Home Gardens 209 Cemetery Rd. Canal Winchester, OH 43110 614-837-2440

KG Garden Supply 4575 Commercial Dr. New Hartford, NY 13413 877-KG-HYDRO

Fifth Season Gardening Company 45 Banks Ave. Asheville, NC 28801 828-253-4112

Dumont Seed Co. 619 30th St. N.W. Canton, OH 44709 330-492-0204

The Grow Room 8 Bridge St. Nyack, NY 10960 800-449-9630

Fifth Season Gardening Company 106 South Greensboro St. Carrboro, NC 27510 919-932-7600 ________________________

Mor Gro Hydroponics 5680 State Route 104 E Oswego, NY 13126 315-877-8725 Environmental Gardens 8 John Walsh Blvd., Suite 310 Peekskills, NY 10566 800-254-0507; 914-736-6676

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BWGS-NC 4045 Perimeter West Dr., Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28214 800-316-1306 ________________________

Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

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Herb-N-Garden Center 14901 Puritas Ave. Cleveland, OH 44135 216-252-2001

Gardening-Indoor 5851 Youngstown-Warren Rd. Niles, OH 44446 USA 330-932-1023 _________________________

Garden Indoors of Ohio 4720 Indianola Ave. Columbus, OH 43214 800-833-6868 Magic Home Garden 4538 Indianola Ave. Columbus, OH 43214 614-263-2440 Miami Valley Hydro 8220 N. Dixie Dr. Dayton, OH 45414 937-280-4468 _________________________

Dayton Hydroponics 4920 Provident Dr. Cincinnati, OH 45246 513-942-7111 Eastside Hydroponics 834 Ohio Pike #318 Cincinnati, OH 45245 513-528-4769 Kissed by the Sun Hydroponic 10740 Reading Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45241 513-769-0159 Cleveland Garden Center Inc. 727 East 185th St. Cleveland, OH 44119 216-481-7868

Pet Finatics LLC 3150 Navarre Ave., Suite A Oregon, OH 43616 USA Hydrogarden 542 Griswold Rd. Elyria, OH 44035 440-324-4769 Indoor Gardens 1222 Hill Rd., N. Pickerington, OH 43147 614-866-6065 _________________________

USA Hydrogarden 542 Griswold Rd. Elyria, OH 44035 440-324-4769 _________________________ Garden Connections 3341 Centerpoint Dr. Grove City, OH 43123 614-871-0707 Advanced Hydrorganics Indoor Garden Center 5204 Darrow Rd. Hudson, OH 44236 234-380-1287 Sweet Greens 5540 Brecksville Rd. Independence, OH 44131 800-421-7084 _________________________

Summit Hydroponics 1030 Kenmore Blvd. Akron, OH 44314-2114 330-753-5222

Sunlight Solutions Hydroponics 2045 Niagara Falls Blvd., Suite 13 Niagara Falls, NY 14304 888-GROWBOX

Revolution Hydroponics 309 West State St. Olean, NY 14760 716-373-GROW (4769)

Grow Wizard, The 5700 Denison Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44102 216-961-2500

Hydro Gardens Wholesale 1144 N Memorial Dr. Lancaster, OH 43130 855-210-5599 _________________________ Carefree Garden Center 134 West Dr. Lodi, OH 44254 330-302-4203 CropKing 134 West Dr. Lodi, OH 44254 330-302-4203 USA Hydrogarden 7450 Industrial Pkwy., Suite A Lorain, OH 44053 440-282-4880 The Grow Shop 165 Davids St. Marion, OH 43302 740-223-7467 _________________________

Urban Gardens 671 E. Center St. Marion, OH 43302 740-375-2800 _________________________ Top Garden Products 8600 East Ave., Suite C Mentor, OH 44060 440-290-8773 Green Garden Indoor Garden Center 1664 North Main St. N. Canton, OH 44720 330-494-1234

USA Hydrogarden - West 11001 Route 250 Suite B9 Milin, OH 44846 419-499-0480 ________________________

Trinity Hydro Organics 465 Woodman Dr. Riverside, OH 45431 937-252-GROW _________________________ USA Hydrogarden - West 11001 Route 250 Suite B9 Milin, OH 44846 419-499-0480 Hot Hydro ® 855 S. Holland-Sylvania Rd. #2 Toledo, OH 43615 419-866-1266 Organic Garden Center 5215 Monroe St. Toledo, OH 43623 419-517-8110 Toledo Hydroponics Ltd. 855 S. Holland-Sylvania Rd., Suite 2 Toledo, OH 43615 877-893-0716 _________________________

Plant Lighting Hydroponics 2201-A Pinnacle Parkway Twinsburg, OH 44087 888-258-0670 _________________________ Greenleaf Hydroponics 1805 Elm Rd. Warren, OH 44483 330-372-1039 Dayton Hydroponics 3856 Miamisburg-Centerville Rd. West Carrolton, OH 45449 937-859-3999 _________________________

Gardening-Indoor 9215 Market St. Youngstown (North Lima), OH 44452 330-758-0272 _________________________ Indoor Garden Worx 304 West Monroe St. Zanesville, OH 43701 866-900-9679

OKLAHOMA

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Tulsa County Hydro-Organics 1928 W. Albany Broken Arrow, OK 74012 918-259-HYDRO AAAAHA! Hydroponics Unlimited P.O. Box 74 Oakhurst, OK 74050 Organics OKC Garden Supply 2800 N Pennsylvania Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73107 405-528-GROW The OKC Urban Gardener 3711 N. Western Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73118 405-521-9300 Urban Garden 3141 E. 15th St. Tulsa, OK 74104 918-289-0018 The Mad Farmer Tulsa LLC 11630 E. 51st Tulsa, OK 74146 918-615-3735

OREGON Indoor Hydroponic Garden & Lights 5990 SW 185th Ave. Aloha, OR 97006 503-848-3335 Astoria Indoor Garden Supply 1343 Duane St., Unit C Astoria OR 97103 503-468-0606 _________________________

Aqua Serene 2836 W. 11th Ave. Eugene, OR 97402 541-302-9073 _________________________

Rogue Silicates Inc. POB 21 Azalea, OR 97410 541-837-8590 American Agriculture 9966 SW. Arctic Dr. Beaverton, OR 97005 503-641-3500 _________________________

B.I.G.S. 35 NW Bond Bend, OR 97701 541-385-5222 _________________________ Northern Light & Garden 9290 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Hwy. Beaverton, OR 97005 503-297-7331 Westcoast Organic & Hydroponic Supply 12410 SE 282nd Ave., Unit C Boring, OR 97009 503-512-7710 The Good Earth Organics 30088 Redwood Hwy. Cave Junction, OR 97523 541-592-4496 Anthony’s Garden & Light Supply 93779 B Troy Lane Coos Bay, OR 97420 541-266-8822 Corvallis Hydroponics & Organics 5490 SW Philomath Blvd. Corvallis, OR 97333 541-738-2820 Emerald Valley Gardens Inc. 88680 McVay Hwy. Corvallis, OR 97405 541-636-3763

In & Out Gardens 1574 Skypark Dr. Medford, OR 97501 541-858-3333 _________________________ Ladybug Indoor Gardens 3960 W. Main St. Medford, OR 97501 541-618-4459

Aurora Innovations PO Box 22041 Eugene, OR 97402 866-376-8578 _________________________ Vital Organics Northwest 457 River Ave. Eugene, OR 97404 541-688-0028 Oregon’s Constant Gardener 2385 West 11th Eugene, OR 97402 541-636-4220 Advanced Indoor Gardens 17831 S.E. 82nd Dr. Gladstone, OR 97027 503-305-6341 Northern Light & Garden 1203 Rogue River Hwy. Grants Pass, OR 97527 541-474-1700 Paradise Supply LLC 560 N.E. “F” St., Unit C Grand Pass, OR 97526 541-955-7293

Aqua Serene 465 Applegate Way, Ashland, OR 97520 541-482-7600 _________________________

Growing Crazy (Hooked On Hydroponics) 817 W. 2nd St. Medford, OR 97501 _______________________

Redwood Nursery 1303 Redwood Ave. Grants Pass, OR 97527 541-474-2642 Vital Organix 932-B S.E. “M” St. Grants Pass, OR 97526 541-226-9283 _________________________

Healthy Harvest Indoor Garden Suite #1, 1635 S.E. Tualatin Valley Hwy. Hillsboro, OR 97123 503-640-0995 _________________________ Gorge Garden Center 1203 12th St., Suite H Hood River, OR 97031 541-386-4769 _________________________

In & Out Gardens 93484 Hwy 99 South Junctin City, OR 97448 541-234-2342 _________________________ Basin Indoor Gardening 417 N. Spring St. Klamath Falls, OR 97601 541-273-2023 Just the Tip Gardening 631 Main St. Lebanon, OR 97355 541-258-3234 Green Zone Garden Center & Hydroponic Supplies 1845 S.W. Hwy. 101 Suite 3 Lincoln, OR 97367 541-994-7070 Green Thumb Hydrogarden & Organic Supply 2021 West Main St. Medford, OR 97501 541-779-8600

Advanced Organics & Garden Supply 290- B Merlin Ave. Merlin, OR 97532 541-659-1466 _________________________

Wizard’s Garden, LLC 621 Spruce St., Unit C Myrtle Point, OR 97458 541-572-2333 _________________________ Green Zone Garden Center & Hydroponic Supplies 454 S.W. Coast Hwy. Newport, OR 97365 541-265-8252 _________________________

Gorilla Garden Supply 2011 Union Ave North Bend, OR 97459 541-756-5005 _________________________ Green Garden Indoor Garden Center 1664 North Main St. N. Canton, OH 44720 330-494-1234

Everybody’s Garden Center 2701 S.E. 14th Ave. Portland, OR 97202 800-669-5483

Pharmer Hydroponics 11135 S.W. Industrial Way, Bldg 10-4 Tualatin, OR 97062 503-486-5751

Evergreen Garden Supply 3393 SE 21st Ave. Portland, OR 97055 503-206-5670

Grow Big Inc. 16572 SE 362nd Dr. Sandy, OR 97055 503-826-8277

Garden Spout, The 4532 South East 63rd Ave. Portland, OR 97206 503-788-4769

Greener Side of Life 623 West Centennial Blvd. Springfield, OR 97477 541-636-3552

Indoor Hydroponic Garden & Lights 1409 S.E. 82nd Ave. Portland, OR 97216 503-445-2250

Splatt Hydroponics 23842 NE Halsey St., Suite B Wood Village, OR 97060-1002 503-912-0231

Jantzen Beach Hydroponics 909 N. Tomahawk Island Dr., Suite 103 Portland, OR 97217 503-546-3185

PENNSYLVANIA

Lights Distributing 9843 S.W. 55th Ave. Portland, OR 97219

Green Solutions Hydroponics 1700 Orange St. Berwick, PA 18603 570-752-1530

Rain or Shine 13126 N.E. Airport Way Portland, OR 97230 503-255-1981 Roots Garden Supply 5426 North Gay Ave. Portland, OR 97217 503-285-4768 Urban Flora 2865 South East Portland, OR 97214 503-236-3344 BIGS Warehouse 2606 S.W. 4th St., Unit B Redmond, OR 97756 541-504-8886 Indoor Garden Supply 536 S.W. 6th St. (rear alley) Redmond, OR 97756 541-504-7750 DC Hydroponics & Organics 7275 Green Siding Rd. Roseburg, OR 97471 541-679-3700 Roseburg Hydroponics 853 SE Stephens St. Roseburg, OR 97470 541-229-1420

Indoor Garden Depot 3260 SE Oak Grove Blvd. Oak Grove, OR 97267-1421 503-786-2445

Indoor Garden Center 1697 SE 25th St. Salem, OR 97302 503-566-7888

All About Hydroponics 633 Claude Rd. Ontario, OR 98914 208-731-9823

Northern Light & Garden Salem 1915 Lancester Dr. Salem, OR 97305 503-364-4769

Phoenix Organics 4543 S. Pacific Highway Phoenix, OR 97535 541-535-1134 American Agriculture 9220 SE Stark St. Portland, OR 97216 800-433-6805 Evergreen Garden Supply 8830 N.E. Sandy Blvd. Unit C Portland, OR 97220 503-408-6635 Bloom Garden Supply 518 N.E. 20th Ave. Portland, OR 97232 971-255-1336 _________________________

BWGS-OR 18201 N.E. Portal Way, Suite 104 Portland, OR 97230 888-316-1306 _________________________ Cascade Horticulture 19959 E. Burnside Portland, OR 97233 503-661-1700

Pocono Hydroponic Solutions 25 Route 611 Bartonsville, PA 18321 570-730-4544

Moonshine Park Farm 135 South East 62nd, Unit F South Beach, OR 97366 541-444-2298 Oregon’s Constant Gardener 2053 Laura St. Springfield, OR 97477 541-747-8170 J-N-B Hydro 2 Go 155 West Central Ave. Sutherlin, OR 97479 541-459-9211

Garden Indoors of Pennsylvania 208 Route 13 Bristol, PA 19007 800-227-4567 422 GROW 1775 North Main St. Ext. Butler, PA 16001-1327 724-561-3777 ________________________

High Tech Garden Supply 20232 Route 19, Unit 6 Cranberry Twp., PA 16066 724-473-1113 ________________________ Hydrofarm East 270 Canal Rd. Fairless Hills, PA 19030 888-780-4567 Home Hydroponics of Pittsburgh 830 Route 119 Greensburg, PA 15601 724-836-1118 Buds to Blooms Garden and Supply Co., LLC 509 Orchard Ave. Kennett Square, PA 19348 610-388-0100 _________________________

The Companion Plant 363 E. Main St. Kutztown, PA 19530 610-683-9676 _________________________ The Companion Plant 363 E. Main St. Kutztown, PA 19530 610-683-9676 Flairform PO 1417 Lansdale, PA 19446 215-395-6353 ________________________

Rogue Farmers 1007 S. Pacific Hwy. Talent, OR 97540 541-512-4600 Samurai Greenhouse Supply 32067 Old Hwy. 34 Tanget, OR 97389 541-928-3431 Grow America Garden Supply LLC 11511 S.W. Pacific Highway Tigard, OR 97223 503-841-6868 Portland Hydroponics & Organics 11564 S.W. Pacific Highway Tigard, OR 97223 503-746-4303

RH Distribution PO 1417, Lansdale, PA 19446 888-545-8112 _________________________ Esbenshades Greenhouses 546A E. 28th Div Hwy Lititz, PA 17543 717-626-7007

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MAXIMUM YIELD distributors Esbenshades Greenhouses 546A E. 28th Div Hwy Lititz, PA 17543 717-626-7007

GrowRI 184 Admiral Kalbfus Rd. Newport, RI 02840 401-619-0776

Hydro Ponics of Harrisburg 310 S. 10th St. Lemoyne, PA 17043 877-684-3808

Hydro-Earth 1243 Mineral Springs Ave. North Providence, RI 02904 401-305-5520

Always Green Garden Supply 4400 Old William Penn Hwy., Suite 106 Monroeville, PA 15146 412-646-1243

The Organic Grow Hut 375 Putnam Pike, Suite 13 Smithfield, RI 02828 401-349-4141 _________________________

New Stanton Hydro 150 Post Ave. New Stanton, PA 15672 724-635-0297 Full Bloom Hydroponics 84 South 24th St. Pittsburgh, PA 15203 888-872-3602 _________________________

Gardening-Indoor 20550 Rt. #19 Cranberry Twp. Pitsburgh, PA 16066 724-591-8086 _________________________ Home Hydroponics of Pittsburgh 2008 Smallman St. Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-232-7030 Healthy Gardens and Supply 1008 Lincoln Avenue, Prospect Park, PA 19076 866-32-HYDRO Northeast Hydroponics & Homebrewing 221 Scranton Carbondale Hwy. Scranton, PA 18508 570-209-7924 Full Time Garden Supply 1011 Ritner Hwy. Shippensburg, PA 17257 717-477-0350 Home Hydroponics of Pittsburgh 9 N. Main St. Washington, PA 15301 724-222-0200 Western Pennsylvania Innovative Gardening 1177 Pittsburgh Rd., Suite 103 Valencia, PA 16059 724-903-0800 Organic Garden Center 1307 Park Ave. Williamsport, PA 17701 570-322-3120 _________________________

Retail Stores listed alphabetically by city in each state.

SOUTH DAKOTA

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Green Earth Products Inc. 5700 Highway 79 S., Unit 1 Rapid City, SD 57702 605-342-1307 _________________________

TENNESSEE Innovative Hydroponic Supply Inc. 3286 North Park Blvd., Unit G Alcoa, TN 37701 865-984-0280 _________________________

Good To Grow 51 Old Tower Hill Rd. Wakefield, RI 02879 401-783-1733 _________________________ Grow With Us 709 Warwick Ave. Warwick, RI 02888 401-270-6998 Mother Nature Hydroponics 1268 Post Rd. Warwick, RI 02888 401-780-0600 GrowRI 105 Franklin St., Unit # 38 Westerly, RI 02891 401-596-0904 _________________________

Growin’ Crazy 93 Kingston Rd. Wyoming, RI 02898 401-284-0810

SOUTH CAROLINA GreenSpirit Hydrogarden 1864 Meeting St. Charleston, SC 29405 843-225-1GRO

Atlantis Hydroponics 1800 Rossville Avenue, #3 Chattanooga, TN 37408 423-752-5400 _________________________

PA Hydroponics & Home Gardening Supply 20 Quaker Church Rd. York Springs, PA 17372 717-528-4175

Oakworld Garden Center 39 West St. Barrington, RI 02806 401-245-5705 Solar Seed Hydroponics, Inc. 2406 Putman Pike Chepachet, RI 02814 401-710-9010 Organically Grown 768 Atwood Ave. Cranston, RI 02920 401-944-0549

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All Seasons Indoor & Outdoor Supplies 1350 Hwy. 501 Business, Store 3&4 Conway, SC 29526 843-347-9266 _________________________ Green Thumb Unique Gardening & More 1230 Rutherford Rd. Greenville, SC 29609 864-271-8830

Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

Texas Hydroponics & Organics (Dallas) 2606 Manana Dr. Dallas, TX 75220 214-744-4769

Perpetual Harvest 75 Riverport Dr. Jackson, TN 38301 877-422-3391

Texas Hydroponics & Organics (Ft. Worth) 2501 Airport Frwy. Ft. Worth, TX 76111 817-834-4769

Advanced Hydroponic Garden 6912 Clinton Hiwy. Knoxville, TN 37921 866-938-3318

National Garden Wholesale/ Sunlight Supply 126 Belinda Parkway Mt. Juliet, TN 37122 888-265-9005 _______________________ All Seasons Gardening and Brewing Supply Co. 924 8th Ave. S. Nashville, TN 37203 800-790-2188 _________________________

Hydrofarm Central 950 Ave. S. Grand Prairie, TX 75050-1133 800-634-9999 Botani Garden 15120 Bellaire Blvd. Houston, TX 77083 281-575-1999 Houston Discount Hydroponics 9380 Richmond Ave. Houston, TX 77063 713-464-9406 Hydroponic Nation 9001 Frey Rd. Houston, TX 77034 713-943-1115 Progressive Garden 3582 W T.C. Jester Blvd. Houston, TX 77018 713-681-7764 Texas Hydroponics & Organics (Houston) 2420 Rusk St,. Houston, TX 77003 713-641-4769 Ultimate Hydroponic Garden Supply 6125 W. Sam Houston Pkwy. N. #206 Houston, TX 77041 713-856-8425

Worm’s Way Tennessee 901 Main St. Nashville, TN 37072 800-397-4153 _________________________

TEXAS

RHODE ISLAND

Jolly Green Hydroponics (Greenhouse Horticultural Supplies) 13628 Neutron Rd. Dallas, TX 75244 866-WE-JOLLY; 469-341-5555

Earth Organics 1360 Lee Trevino Dr., Suite 105 El Paso, TX 79936 915-591-9500

247 Garden Supply 535 D Clemson Rd. Columbia, SC 29229 803-788-4445 The Urban Garden Hydroponics 9557 Two Notch Rd., Suite E Columbia, SC 29223 803-788-9313 _________________________

Third Coast Horticulture Supplies 2715 Main St. Dallas, TX 75226 512-459-4353

Advanced Hydroponic Garden 783 French Mill Rd. Dandridge, TN 37725 800-521-1643

Skyes the Limit 455 B Fleming Rd. Charleston, SC 29412 843-566-2121 National Garden Wholesale/ Sunlight Supply 450 Grim Lane York, PA 17406 877-779-7111(Northeast) _________________________

Texas Hydroponics & Organics (Deep Ellum) 2715 Main St. Dallas, TX 75226 214-745-4769

Lone Star Hydroponics & Organics 1302 Motor Circle Dallas, TX 75207 214-634-9376

Sun City Hydroponics 2235 Whitten Rd., Suite 104 Memphis, TN 38133 901-372-8100 _________________________ Good To Grow 34 Nooseneck Hill Rd. West Greenwich, RI 02817 401-392-3100 _________________________

Texas Hydroponics & Organics (South Austin) 2125-A Goodrich Ave. Austin, TX 78704 512-440-4769

Texas Growers Supply 5990 N. Sam Houston Pkwy. E. #602 Humble, TX 77396 281-441-3739 Brite Ideas Hydroponics & Organics 5121 Crest Way Dr., Suite 203 San Antonio, TX 78239 210-248-9309

Texas Hydroponics & Organics (San Antonio West) 6729 Bandera Rd. San Antonio, TX 78238 210-684-4769 Innergrow Hydroponics 24451 Interstate Hwy. 20 Wills Point, TX 75169 866-475-4769

UTAH Wasatch Hydroponics 4050 South Howick, Suite 11E Salt Lake City, UT 84107 801-716-4133

VERMONT Greenthumb - Vermont 394 Route 15 Jericho, VT 05465 802-899-4323 Peak Hydroponic Garden Supplies 20 School St. Plainfield, VT 05667 802-454-8000 LiquidSun® VT 1 Bellows Falls Rd. (Route 5 North) Putney, VT 05158 802-387-1100 Green Thumb Gardening P.O. Box 235, Route 15 Underhill, VT 5489 800-564-9376

VIRGINIA Fifth Season Gardening Co. 900 Preston Ave. Charlottesville, VA 22903 434-293-2332 Clean & Green Technologies 196 Corning Dr. Christiansburg, VA 24073 866-694-1628 Maryland Hydroponics 1061 West Broad St. Falls Church, VA 866-324-9376 Lucky Roots 612 North Sheppard St. Richmond, VA 23221 804-377-3020 Blue Ridge Hydroponics & Home Brewing Company 5327 D Williamson Rd. Roanoke, VA 24012 540-265-2483 Inside-Out Garden Supply 6517 Backlick Rd. Springfield, VA 22150 703-451-3259 I Love Hydroponics 368 Newtown Rd. #105 Virginia Beach, VA 23462 757-490-5425 Hydroponics & Growlights 13400 Occoquan Rd. Woodbridge, VA 22191 703-490-0700

West VIRGINIA Panhandle Hydroculture 800 East Moler Ave. Martinsburg, WV 25401 304-240-7587

HydroShack 1138 W. 20th St. Houston, TX 77008 713-292-1921

Mountaineer Gardening and Hydroponics 258 Kingwood St. Morgantown, WV 26505 304-290-2460

Brite Ideas Hydroponics & Organics 4201 South Congress Ave., Suite 310 Austin, TX 78745 512-444-2100

Hydro Mart 3841 Main St. Rowlett, TX 75088 972-475-6114

Almost Heaven Hydroponics 3476 University Ave. Morgantown, WV 26505 304-598-5911

Texas Hydroponics & Organics (Central Austin) 5605 Burnet Rd. Austin, TX 78756 512-459-4769

Texas Hydroponics & Organics (San Antonio) 3412 Copeland San Antonio, TX 78219 210-226-4769

Abundant Harvest Hydroponics & Organics 3101 Ave. E. Arlington, TX 76011 817-649-0100

WASHINGTON AJ’s Indoor Gardening 1317 Summit St. Aberdeen, WA 98520 360-533-1170

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Island Horticulture Supply 8608 S March Point Rd. Anacortes, WA 98221 360-293-0000 _________________________ Mike’s Indoor Garden Supply 6121 172nd St. N.E. #A Arlington, WA 98223 360-474-1900 _________________________

Pro Grow Horticulture Supplies 3411 169th Pl. N.E. Suite C Arlington, WA 98223 360-925-6358 _________________________ Belfair Garden & Lighting 24090 N.E. State Route 3 #F Belfair, WA 98528 360-275-2130 Green Gardens Distributing 12738 Bel-Red Rd. Bellevue, WA 98005 425-454-5731 In Bloom 2119 Lincoln St. Bellingham, WA 98225 360-778-1668 Northern Lights Gardening 4159 Hannegan Rd. Bellingham, WA 98225 360-715-8585 _________________________

North West Hydro Supply 5659 Guide Meridian St. Bellingham, WA 98226 360-778-3254 _________________________ Liquid Sunshine Hydroponics 5087 Lincoln Rd. Blaine, WA 98230 Kitsap Garden & Lighting 2130 6th St. Bremerton, WA 98312 360-377-1277 M & R Lighting Unit C 22914 Hwy 410 Buckley, WA 98390 360-707-5999 ________________________

Island Horticulture Supply 1500 Port Dr. Burlington, WA 98233 360-707-5999 _________________________

Indoor Tropics 5930 Sunburst Lane #B Cashmere, WA 98815 509-470-7782 _________________________

Indoor Gardening 111 W. Main Centralia, WA 98531 360-807-4259 _________________________ Grow Center, The 615 South Fir DeerPark, WA 99006 509-276-GROW

Cascadia Garden Supply 188 A St. Eastsound, WA 98245 360-376-6040 _________________________

Indoor Tropics 801 N. Prospect Ellensburg, WA 98926 509-933-4441 _________________________ Healthy Grow Indoor Garden Supplies 10 S.E. Everett Mall Way, Suite B Everett, WA 98208 425-374-2227 Indoor Garden Depot 8630 Evergreen Way, Suite B Everett, WA 98208 425-347-0700 Indoor Garden Depot 1401 S. 324th Street, Federal Way, WA 98003 253-874-1112 Fife Indoor Garden Center 1422 54th Ave. E. Fife, WA 98424 253-922-5352 Good 2 Gro 3507 W. Clearwater Ave. Kennewick, WA 99336 509-737-1313 _________________________

Island Hydroponic & Supplies 1515 5th St. #B Marysville, WA 98271 425-299-5855 Mike’s Indoor Garden Supply 1204 East Wheeler Rd. Moses Lake, WA 98837 509-766-5856 M & R Lighting 17238 Memorial Dr. Mt. Vernon, WA 98273 360-848-1080 Northern Lights Gardening 1524 Riverside Dr, #2 Mt. Vernon, WA 98273 360-982-2217 ________________________

Indoor Garden & Lighting 8606 Preston Fall City Rd. S.E. Preston, WA 98050 425-222-9661 ________________________ Linda’s Gardening & Hydroponics 11522 Canyon Rd. E. Puyallup, WA 98373 253-531-9641 Purple Spring Horticulture Supply 711 Nesses Corner Rd. Pt.Hadlock, WA 98339-9411 360-344-2500

Indoor Garden & Lighting 714 South Central Ave. Kent, WA 98032 253-373-9060 _________________________ Kent Garden Supplies Ltd. 18817 East Valley Hwy. Kent, WA 98032 425-251-9299

Renton Indoor Garden Center 329 Wells Ave. S. Renton, WA 98057 425-917-9000 Eco Enterprises 1240 N.E. 175th St. #B Shoreline, WA 98155 800-426-6937 ________________________

Grogro Hydro 12403 N.E. 124th St. Kirkland, WA 98034 888-7-GROGRO; 425-820-6200 Hefty Harvest Garden & Hydroponic Supply 2825 Marvin Rd. N.E., Suite M Lacey, WA 98516 360-628-8964 _________________________

Aqua Serene 3839 Stone Way N. Seattle, WA 98103 206-547-GROW (4769) ________________________ Grogro Hydro 12316 32nd AVE N.E. #103 Seattle, WA 98125

KP Indoor Garden Store 8912 Key Peninsula Hwy. N. Lakebay, WA 98349 253-884-SURE (7873) ________________________ Indoor Gardening 1158 Commerce Longview, WA 98632 360-353-3851 ________________________

Indoor Garden & Lighting 20505 Highway 99 Lynnwood, WA 98036 425-673-2755 _________________________ Go-N-Green Hydroponics 1241 State Ave., Suite #102 Marysville, WA 98270 360-386-8230 Green Acres Indoor Garden & Lighting 514 State Ave, Suite #102 Marysville, WA 98270 360-658-GROW (4769)

Hydro-Tech 2121 Aurora Ave. N. Seattle, WA 98103 206-547-2202 ________________________

Seattle’s Hydro Spot 917 N.W. 49th St. Seattle, WA 98107 206-784-2161 _________________________

SnoGro Indoor Gardening Supply 502 Maple Ave. Snohomish, WA 98290 360-863-6935 509 Grow 2718 N. Division Spokane, WA 99207 509-327-GROW(4769)

WISCONSIN

_________________________

Grow Center, The 2808 W. Sprague Spokane, WA 99202 509-456-GROW River City Hydroponics 1514 East Francis Ave. Spokane, WA 99208 509-464-0246 Rootz Indoor Garden Supply 923 E. Hoffman Spokane, WA 99207 509-443-5999 _______________________

Spokane Organic & Hydroponic Supply 4823 East Sprague Avenue E. Spokane Valley, WA 99212 509-534-4055 ________________________ Spokane Organic & Hydroponic Supply 8701 North Division, Suite D Spokane Valley, WA 509-468-4800 ________________________

Waterworks Hydroponics 5039 S. Washington Tacoma, WA 98409 • 253-301-4343 waterworkshydro@hotmail.com ________________________ Garden City Hydroponics 14103 Pacific Ave. S. Tacoma, WA 98444 253-301-3985 _______________________

Indoor Garden & Lighting 3839 6th Ave. Tacoma, WA 98406 253-761-7478 ________________________ Solar Shop 306 West 4th St. Tonasket, WA 98855 509-486-4508 Indoor Garden Depot 6400 N.E. Highway 99, Suite H Vancouver, WA 98665 360-993-7779 ________________________

National Garden Wholesale/ Sunlight Supply 4525 N.W. Fruit Valley Rd. Vancouver, WA 98660 888-478-6544 (Northwest) _ ________________________

Sodo Hydro 1727 1st Ave. S. Seattle, WA 98134 206-682-9377; 888-90-HYDRO (904-760) _____________________ Northwest Horticulture Supply 161 Hooker Rd. #1 Sequim, WA 98057 360-582-0702

Artificial Sun Hydroponics 3506 Summitview Ave. Yakima, WA 98902 509-823-4026

National Garden Wholesale/ Sunlight Supply 5408 N.E. 88th St. Building A Vancouver, WA 98665 888-478-6544 _________________________ Indoor Garden Supply LLC 1250 Atlantic Ave. Woodland, WA 98674 360-841-8055

Aric’s Indoor Garden Supply 1104 West Wisconsin Ave. Appleton, WI 54914 920-574-3258 _________________________ Grow BIG Hydroponics 954 S. Westland Appleton, WI 54914 920-749-4769 H2oGrow 1150 Madison Rd. Beloit, WI 53511 608-289-1852 Brew and Grow 285 N. Janacek Rd. Brookfield, WI 53045 262-789-0555 Sustainable Growth LLC 218 N. Dewey St. Eau Claire, WI 54703 715-901-0511 Spread Eagle Garden Center 4413 N. Lake Rd. South Florence, WI 54121 715-696-3910 Garden Supply Guys 752 Memorial Dr., Suite A Green Bay, WI 54303 920-857-9493 Hydro Your Own 8501-75th St. Unit C Kenosha, WI 53142 262 697 6112 Brew and Grow 3317 Agriculture Dr. Madison, WI 53716 608-226-8910 _________________________

Paradigm Gardens 4501 Helgesen Dr. Madison, WI 53718 608-241-3800 _________________________ Brew and Grow 2246 Bluemound Rd., Suite B Waukesha, WI 53186 262-717-0666

PUERTO RICO

_________________________

Tecno-Hydro Ave Campo Rico GJ17, PO Box 1450 Carolina, PR 00982 787-752-8252 _________________

Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

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2. 3.

Boron has an important structural role in the development and growth of most plants. In fact, 90% of total boron content within the plant is located in the cell walls.

A strawberry has over 300 compounds that contribute on multiple levels to make up the characteristic flavor associated with a ripe strawberry. A tomato has more than 400 aromatic volatiles that constitute its aroma and flavor, but only 15 to 20 in sufficient enough quantities to impact flavor.

Salts can reduce root function, and thus reduce water transport to the leaves, or they can accumulate in the leaves themselves. In either case, water loss in plants occurs first at the tips and margins of its leaves and will lead to tip and marginal necrosis if not treated promptly.

When the nutrient solution is too cold (below 60°F), it will shock your plants and slow down the metabolic processes within the plant, which might end up stunting growth.

7. 8.

Unsterilized soil often contains parasites. To sterilize dirt that’s straight from the ground or otherwise previously used, bake it by placing it in the oven for an hour at 250°F, being sure to thoroughly moisten it first. Once baked, add about one tablespoon of fertilizer to each gallon of soil, and blend.

Base cations such as calcium, magnesium and potassium can raise pH; so will an abundance of sodium. As these elements are used by the plant (or washed out of the area) the pH of the media may drift down and become more acidic if not replaced. Over-application of any of these elements can cause pH values to drift towards basic.

Rockwool, a popular media in the hydroponic industry, has a cation exchange capacity (CEC) of zero, which means it possesses no negative charge to form bonds with positively charged fertilizers. This allows for extreme optimization of nutrient delivery but also leaves little margin for error.

10.

The immediate cleanup of spills, excess water or plant runoff is imperative in maintaining sanitization in an indoor garden. Excess moisture on the floor will raise the room’s humidity level and increase the risk of mold or rot, especially if it is occurring regularly.

The more restricted the plant’s root zone volume, the greater the replenishment rate of oxygen must be.

Since a homemade compost tea is not actively aerated, it can contain anaerobic bacteria in large quantities. For this reason, DIY compost tea is best suited to inground plantings. Never use this anaerobic compost tea on your indoor plants. It might work out fine, but the worst-case scenario would be nutrient imbalance and root rot. Maximum Yield USA | August 2013

209

COMING UP NEXT ISSUE

Blushing Hydroponic Tomatoes

We are all familiar with the benefits of eating seasonally, but by taking advantage of the technology used in hydroponics, we can enjoy high-quality produce year-round. In this article, we’ll learn the how’s and why’s of hydroponic growing—through the eyes of the tomato.

Amending Garden Soil

After the harvest ends, some would argue that’s when the hardest work for a grower begins. It involves not only the storing of the bountiful fruits of your labor of love, but also the cleanup and the preparation of your next garden patch.

Sensible Control Systems

Control systems are commonplace in almost every industry and market, and they are certainly a large aspect of any indoor garden set-up. These systems involve three key elements: actuators, controllers and sensors. Are yours all in working order?

www.maximumyield.com Maximum Yield USA September will be available next month for free at select indoor gardening retail stores across the country and on maximumyield.com Subscriptions are available at maximumyield.com/subscriptions

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Maximum Yield USA | August 2013