Maximum Yield USA November 2013 by Maximum Yield

124

CONTENTS November 2013

FEATURES 160

50 Testing T5 Lighting Technology

by Charles Winslow and Madelyn Ritrosky

58 Growing Media Part II

by Dr. Mike Nichols and Damian Duggen-Jones

66 Do You Know What’s In Your Water? by Harley Smith

74 Beneficial Insects for Beginners by Chris Bond

86 Solutions for a Sustainable Future by Helene Isbell

104

104 Mycorrhizae: The Straight Story by Dr. Robert G. Linderman

116 Growing & Propagating Shamrocks by Kyle Ladenburger

124 Optimal Nutrient Reservoir Parameters by Eric Hopper

116

154

136 136 The Top 10 Reasons Why Your

Aquaponics System Isn’t Cycling by Sylvia Bernstein

144 Photosynthesis, Photoperiodism & Prolonging The Season by Grubbycup

154 A Sea of Green Basil by Stephen Kasas

160 Aromatic Adventures by Dr. Lynette Morgan

166 Neem: A Gardener’s Dream by Chris Claussen

170 How You Can Determine the Nutritional Value of a Compost Product by Dr. J Benton Jones, Jr.

Maximum Yield USA | November 2013

DEPARTMENTS 12

From the Editor

122

Growing for Health

MaximumYield.com

152

Green Thumb Gardening

Letters to the Editor

172

10 Facts On...

Ask the Experts

173

Do You Know?

Max Facts

174

Talking Shop

Product Spotlight

176

You Tell Us

Avant Gardening

178

Max Mart

100

Tips and Tricks

180

Distributors

114

Beginner’s Corner

194

Coming Up

FROM THE EDITOR | Linda Jesson

Message from the

Editor Linda Jesson

That chill in the air signaling fall's transition to winter is a reality in many parts of the country now and with it comes the beginning of a new season of growing. With the summer harvest now preserved in the pantry and the growroom prepped for the next batch of crops, some gardeners may be experiencing a lull in activities or looking for some helpful information to help kick-start the next season, and this issue is jam-packed full of new ideas and tips. We've included a how-to guide for growing exotic herbs, a beginner's introduction to beneficial insects, tips on prolonging the season and best watering practices to ensure your plants get just the right amount of water, not too much or too little. New contributor Stephen Kasas shares his secrets for growing basil indoors along with a pesto recipe, Charles Winslow and Madelyn Ritrosky test out some of the latest T5 lighting technology, Matt LeBannister has the scoop on growing sprouts and micro-greens and Eric Hopper shares his expert knowledge on achieving the optimal nutrient reservoir solution. We've also included an introduction to some of the latest trends in urban farming practices and for those dabbling in aquaponics, we've got a checklist to help growers troubleshoot problems with their system. Combined with our new products section, great for those thinking about early Christmas presents, and some tips, trivia and facts from the growing world, this issue will keep you occupied on the nastiest, coldest days that November has to offer. The final stop in the 2013 Grow Like a Pro Indoor Gardening Expo Tour wrapped up in Long Beach, California, last month and we have firmed up the 2014 tour dates. We've got some exciting things planned for the New Year that you won't want to miss! Stay tuned to indoorgardenexpo.com for details. In the meantime, curl up with a hot drink and this magazine and get growing!

Maximum Yield USA | November 2013

VOLUME 14 – NUMBER 8 November 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 Assistant Editor Jennifer McGarrigle 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 Sarah Dale - sarah@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 Katie LaFrance - 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

contributors Sylvia Bernstein is the author of

Chris Bond is the horticulturist at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. His primary role is coordinator of the university’s Farm Food Program. His research interests are beneficial insects, biological pest control and alternative growing methods. He is a certified permaculture designer and nursery technician in Ohio and a certified nursery professional in New York.

Grubbycup has been an avid indoor gardener for more than 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, Czech and German. He is also considered one of the world’s leading authorities on crochet hydroponics.

Eric Hopper has more than 10 years

Helene Isbell has a passion for plants. A California native, Helene resides in San Diego where she promotes urban agriculture and sustainable living. She has also been a dynamic player in the hydroponic industry for the past decade. She has incorporated her love of horticulture with hands-on experience, arts and culture, integrated marketing and education. She is the southern California rep for High Caliper Growing/Smart Pots.

Stephen Kasas is a manager at Greenlife Garden Supply, with locations in Billerica, Massachusetts; Manchester, New Hampshire; and York, Maine. He has been working in the indoor gardening industry for close to a decade. He is an alumnus of Berklee College of Music and tours nationally playing country music.

Kyle L. Ladenburger is a passionate

Dr. Robert Linderman is a retired research plant pathologist and former research leader at the USDA-ARS Horticultural Crops Research Laboratory in Corvallis, Oregon. He is also a courtesy Professor Emeritus at Oregon State University. He’s been in the industry for nearly 50 years and is currently the science guy for two companies: Plant Health, LLC and Santiam Organics, LLC.

Dr. Lynette Morgan holds a B.

Dr. Mike Nichols is a retired university lecturer and an honorary research associate in the College of Sciences at Massey University, New Zealand. He speaks extensively at conferences for international organizations such as the United Nations, and also writes and consults on a range of intensive horticultural topics.

Harley Smith is the director

Charles Winslow, CEO of GW

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. of 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.

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.

Worldwide LLC, has a BS from Cal Poly. He has been principal in multiple start-ups and expansions including BWGS/Sunleaves, Penhall International, Furrows. He currently works with international companies developing JV’s, Co-ventures, and new technologies for energy reduction for horticulture, lighting and building. Contact gw.worldwide@yahoo.com

of research for Oregon Global Distribution. A veteran in the hydroponics industry, Harley has more than 18 years of consulting and educating experience. He is regarded as an expert on plant nutrition and organic bio-stimulants, performing research and new product development in the US and Europe.

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 lives in Anderson, SC, USA.

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 Author Archives

Meet the Team

Has a particular Maximum Yield contributor caught your eye recently? Look them up using our online author archives. Simply visit maximumyield.com/resources/author-archive

Throughout 2013 there have been a few changes at the Maximum Yield office, including the addition of some great people to the team. To learn more about our current roster, check out maximumyield.com/about-us

One More Chance to Win I’m a Fan Contest

Stay Tuned For Our 2014 Indoor Gardening Expo Lineup

Tell us why you are a fan of Maximum Yield and you could win a $100 gift card to your favorite indoor gardening shop and also have a chance at the grand prize of a $1,000 gift card to your favorite indoor gardening shop. Visit maximumyield.com to enter online and to read some of the great responses we've received. Contest closes December 14, 2013.

Now that the final stop in the 2013 Grow Like a Pro Indoor Gardening Expo Tour has wrapped up in Long Beach, California, we're looking ahead to 2014 and firming up tour dates and locations! Plan to attend one, two or all of our expos. Stay tuned to indoorgardenexpo.com for details so you can plan your 2014 vacation.

Maximum Yield USA | November 2013

Free Digital Subscription Receive Maximum Yield in your inbox every month. Simply subscribe to the digital edition of Maximum Yield by filling out the form at maximumyield.com/subscriptions

Scan It Connect to maximumyield.com instantly from your smartphone with our Quick Response (QR) Code found on the cover of every issue of Maximum Yield.

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

Read Later?

Why can we not download copies of your magazine for later reading? Kathy, via webform

Marko Portuondo from Connecticut is the ninth winner of Maximum Yield’s I’m a Fan Contest! Marko said, “I’m not going to get all technical on why I’m a fan of the magazine. You guys freakin’ rock! And because of that, my indoor garden rocks. I’ve learned countless things from your articles, which has made me a pretty successful grower. You’ve got to love Maximum Yield, baby!”

Editor’s Note: Good question, Kathy! Issues of Maximum Yield are available for download; readers will just need to create an account with the service that we use to showcase the magazine digitally. You can join issuu.com and be able to instantly download our publications and enjoy them without needing Internet access.

Marko Portuondo

Thank you for the great response, Marko, and congratulations on winning Maximum Yield’s ninth I’m a Fan contest! We hope you enjoy your $100 gift certificate at your favorite indoor gardening shop, Liquid Sun Hydroponics in Windsor, Connecticut. Tell us why you’re a fan of Maximum Yield and you could be the next winner. Visit maximumyield.com for full contest details. Ladies, the men have spoken, and now we want to hear why you are also fans of Maximum Yield. Write in and win! Email your responses to editor@maximumyield.com

For All You Do

I can’t say enough about Maximum Yield magazine! You and your crew are awesome. One of our customers won the I’m a Fan contest this year (Michael Goodin), and the fact that we were featured in the November 2012 issue in Talking Shop was also an incredible experience, making us instant celebrities around here. So, thanks for all you do! Scott Kimball, Hydro101

Friendly Feedback

Ever wondered what it would be like if your garden were to outgrow everyone’s wildest expectations? I want to thank Maximum Yield for helping mine to flourish far beyond what I dreamed possible. Providing us with this free place to share research, ideas and products is invaluable. I started hanging out at local hydro shops, getting all the samples I could and working hard in the garden. Now I work at the local hydro store. Thanks again Maximum Yield and a big green thumbs up to you all. Ray Crowley, via email

Hard Copy, Please

Hi there, I would really like a hard copy of your September issue with the Quackuaponics article in it, but can't locate one in my local area. Is it possible to have one posted to me? Michelle, via email Editor’s Note: Thank you for your interest, Michelle. We can mail out select magazines by request if we have extra copies around the office. We don’t typically mail out individual copies of the magazine but in this case it’s possible. We hope you enjoy your complimentary September issue!

Maximum Yield USA | November 2013

From Average to Super

After reading my first issue, I was blown away with all the information you provide us. Thank you for all the effort you put onto each issue, it is well worth it. This magazine is turning average growers into super farmers. George, Pueblo, Colorado

What our followers are saying on Twitter: Angela Lundmark @LEDGrowMaster “What a nice bunch. Thanks for the follow and for what you do to promote indoor agriculture. Cheers and such.” Organic Rescue @OrganicRescue “Great article on #Greenhouse Growing 101 in most recent issue of @Max_Yield by @KarenLeeYogini.

We want to hear from you! 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

ASK The Experts

I would like to hear about a good control (with a more natural product) for potato leafhopper when a large population has begun life cyles in my garden. Any ideas? I should add I've been using insecticidal soap and I am trying to keep concentrations mild to moderate so as to avoid leaf burn. —Reid This is the advice I sourced from The Organic Gardener's Handbook of Natural Insect and Disease Control, edited by Barbara W. Ellis and Fern Marshall Bradley. Every gardener should own a copy of this book—it's a fantastic reference. The book says to wash nymphs from the plants with strong sprays of water, attract natural enemies such as predatory flies, bugs, and wasps, and spray with insecticidal soap. And as a last resort, spray with neem oil or pyrethin. Matt LeBannister Maximum Yield contributor since 2007

Maximum Yield USA | November 2013

Thank you for your question. Insecticidal soap can be an effective treatment for potato leafhoppers but can be difficult to implement because the insects must be sprayed directly. Because leafhoppers can move quickly (and usually do when they sense danger), insecticidal soap usually only makes a small dent in their overall population. My suggestion is to use an insect deterrent in conjunction with the insecticidal soap spray. This way the insects that are sprayed directly with the insecticidal soap will die off and others that are missed will be deterred from feeding on the plants. Neem oil, or products that contain azadirachtin, can be used as an effective deterrent against a number of insects, including leafhoppers. Neem oil and products that contain azadirachtin are natural and rarely cause burning or any adverse effect on vegetable plants. That being said, it is always wise to spray a small portion of your garden with any potential treatment and wait 24 hours to be sure no damage results. Thanks again for your question. Keep on Growing, Eric Hopper Maximum Yield contributor since 2012

MAX FACTS

growing tips, news and trivia

Florida Launches War on Snails Unknown to many Floridians, the state’s Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam has quietly waged a own two-year battle against an unwelcome foreign invader—African snails. Giant African Land Snails, more commonly known as GALS, have been the target of a joint state-federal eradication effort since first discovered on Miami-Dade County soil back in September 2011. “After two years of battling this invasive and destructive pest, we’re now using a more effective bait and, with the help of canine detector teams, we’re able to detect snails in areas that were previously difficult to access,” says Putnam, who credits the mission’s apparent success to seek-and-destroy techniques, the development of experimental traps, the elimination of hiding places and education. Officially known as Achatina fulica, the East African mollusks can grow up to 8-in., live nine years and produce 1,200 eggs annually. They’re also said to consume at least 500 different types of plants. (Source: freshplaza.com)

MAXFACTS Growing tips, news and trivia

Invasive Vines USDA scientists are working with partners overseas to curb the threat two weed species pose to nurseries, Christmas tree farms, pastures and wildlife habitats. Known as dog-strangling vines in Canada, European swallow-worts are invasive vines that can grow to 8-ft. long and wrap around supporting vegetation, smothering it. There are two species, pale swallow-wort (Vincetoxicum rossicum) and black swallow-wort (V. nigrum). Both are encroaching on the habitats of threatened and endangered species in New England and New York. They’ve also invaded distinctive prairielike vegetation around the Great Lakes. Researchers are evaluating beetles, moths and fungi as potential biocontrols, and are searching for the biological mechanisms that make the swallow-worts such serious threats. They are also studying life cycles to see if there are life cycle stages when the vines are particularly vulnerable. (Source: ars.usda.gov)

Peach Growers Consider Self-imposed Fees North Carolina’s peach industry has been shrinking, but farmers still growing the summer fruit hope a little extra money will turn things around. Growers are voting on a self-imposed assessment ranging from $100 to $350 per year on all 112 commercial peach growers in the state, depending on orchard size, to help fund peach research and marketing. Most other crops in North Carolina have an annual assessment, but peaches haven’t had one since 2006. For this new fee to kick in, two-thirds of the growers will need to vote in favour. (Source: wfae.org)

Maximum Yield USA | November 2013

MAX FACTS

growing tips, news and trivia

Hot Pepper Celebrated in Wisconsin The Beaver Dam pepper was brought to the Dodge County community of the same name in 1912 by a Hungarian immigrant named Joe Hussli. The pepper’s attraction is a sweet, yet spicy, flavor. “There’s heat in the back, but the first thing you taste is a sweet chili taste,” says David Kozlowski, who grows the pepper on his farm south of Milwaukee. The pepper can be tricky to grow, though. Some gardeners say it requires a trellis or some other support, or the 9-in.-long peppers will pull over the plant. Seed banks consider varieties like the Beaver Dam important because they can carry valuable genetic traits, such as heat tolerance. Promotion of these peppers is being done by the nonprofit Slow Food Foundation, a group of farmers and chefs working to draw attention to what they say is one of thousands of forgotten vegetable varieties threatened with extinction. (Source: wiscnews.com)

Maximum Yield USA | November 2013

Stinky Sprouts Foul-smelling Brussels sprouts are like that for a reason. So many people hate Brussels sprouts because of the memory of stinky smells emanating from mom’s kitchen way back when. But, ever wonder why they smell like that? Well, first of all, they tend to only get really stinky when overcooked—especially when boiled. The smell is associated with glucosinolate sinigrin, an organic compound that contains sulphur. That same compound also happens to be responsible for the cancer-fighting characteristics of Brussels sprouts. (Source: foodrepublic.com)

MAX FACTS

growing tips, news and trivia

Crazy For Cranberries According to the Cranberry Marketing Committee, in conjunction with the USDA, the state of Wisconsin is projected to yield 4.9 million barrels of cranberries during the 2013 fall harvest—an increase of 5% over last year’s crop. Based on projections, and cooperation from Mother Nature, Wisconsin is set to be the country’s top cranberry-producing state for 19 years in a row. “We had a late spring, combined with good weather and well-timed rain, which all contribute to a healthy and plentiful crop,” says Tom Lochner, executive director of the Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association. Also in 2013, the Cranberry Marketing Committee has projected cranberry yields for Massachusetts at 2.1 million barrels, New Jersey at 530,000 barrels, Oregon at 420,000 barrels and Washington at 150,000 barrels. (Source: wisbusiness.com)

Spinach Helps Citrus Resist Disease Besides being a food, spinach is now being investigated as a potential cure for the disease of citrus greening. Dr. Erik Mirkov, Texas AgriLife research plant pathologist at the Texas Center for Research and Extension in Weslaco, has conducted successful studies with transgenic trees that have shown resistance in greenhouse trials and that will be soon be planted in Florida for field testing. According to research, spinach proteins have broad-spectrum resistance against multiple bacteria and fungi. “We injected canker in the leaves of transgenic plants with spinach genes and observed that the bacterial lesions didn’t spread,” says Mirkov. Citrus greening is the citrus producer’s worst nightmare because, currently, there is no cure. It can be present for years before it is detected and is spread mainly by two species of psyllid insects. (Source: freshplaza.com)

Strawberry Machine Increases Harvest GK Machine in Oregon has developed a remote-controlled strawberry harvest aid. Capable of carrying more than 200 crates, and operating by remote control, harvesters can adjust machine speed to their specifications. The machine makes offloading simple with push-button conveyance. Known as the Mercado Machine, it is the only strawberry harvest machine that does not require a driver. Use of the new design has reduced the most common harvester injury of trip and fall because people can work at a more comfortable pace while harvesting more crates per day. With more than 300 machines now operational, this new tool could become quite the labor-saving luxury for the agricultural industry. (Source: freshplaza.com)

Maximum Yield USA | November 2013

MAX FACTS

growing tips, news and trivia

Awarding Citrus Research According to Florida Citrus Mutual, the total impact of citrus production in Florida is approximately $9 billion a year and represents about 63% of total United States production. This could explain why the USDA recently awarded the University of Central Florida a $1.21-million grant to study citrus diseases, such as canker and greening that have emerged in recent years. Current research is particularly focused on minimizing the dumping of copper in agricultural areas. Minimizing copper in the soil using nanotechnology would promote citrus root health and would prevent copper from contaminating other ecosystems over time. The solution being developed uses sand-based silica as a delivery system for pesticides. It still contains copper for now, just less of it. Funding will ideally lead to a pesticide formula that contains no copper, and can be applied to any fruit. (Source: centralfloridafuture.com)

Battling Destructive Beetles An experimental foam containing spores of insect-killing fungi (i.e. Metarhizium, Isaria and Beauveria) is being tested by USDA scientists in the fight against ambrosia beetles— wood-boring pests that threaten the nation’s $322-million avocado crop. Scientists originally developed the foam as a way to pump fungal spores into the galleries of Formosan subterranean termites, which can nest deep inside trees. Now, together with university © Jiri Huler collaborators, researchers are testing the fungal foam’s effectiveness against ambrosia beetles in orchard-scale trials with avocado trees. In lab studies, the team devised tests called bioassays to genetically confirm the ability of the fungi to infect and kill the beetles, in addition to visual proof in the form of moldy growth on the pests’ bodies. In those tests, more than 95% of beetles exposed to the fungi died. (Source: ars.usda.gov)

Maximum Yield USA | November 2013

MAX FACTS

growing tips, news and trivia

Providing Hope Program Benefits Students The Eatontown, New Jersey, non-profit organization Providing Hope designs fun, interactive programs so high school students can learn the key concepts of growing organic vegetables and herbs. As they learn about new local food sources, Providing Hope donates each harvest to local lower-income families across Monmouth County. Students gather on the grounds of the Monmouth University Community Garden and are guided by a master gardener. They plant, tend and harvest fresh organic produce and reap the reward of helping others by feeding the community. Students also have the opportunity to introduce a fresh vegetable source into their daily nutrition plans as they increase awareness for the prevention of childhood obesity. In the future, program planners hope to further support lower-income families through different ways of organic gardening, such as hydroponics and aquaponics. (Source: thelinknews.net)

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

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT YOUR GUIDE TO THIS MONTH’S

HOTTEST ITEMS Ask for them at your local indoor gardening store CalCarb Foliar Booster by Xtreme Gardening CalCarb is the key to dense fruit and flower development. CalCarb is a unique form of calcium carbonate that plants are able to absorb through the foliage and quickly convert into calcium and CO2. Calcium is critical to plant health, contributing to the strength of cell membranes and regulation of nutrient use. CO2 is basically jet fuel for photosynthesis, allowing for higher growth rates and heavier yields. Unlike most sources of CO2, CalCarb does not require machinery or regulators, just simply spray the underside of plant leaves once a week and watch your plants take off. CalCarb works from inside the cell wall of leaves, meaning it does not require a sealed room. For use with both indoor and outdoor application, CalCarb helps shield plants from powdery mildew by raising the pH on foliage. CalCarb may be used with any nutrient line. Learn more at a local grow store.

OxyClone 20-Site Cloner Sunlight Supply is pleased to announce the release of the OxyClone 20-Site Cloner. The OxyClone 20-Site Cloner works on the principle of re-circulating oxygenated water created by the OxyHead. It can be used with Eco Air 1 for super oxygenated water. The OxyHead draws in oxygen from the atmosphere and produces turbulence to continuously nourish your cuttings. There are no spray jets that clog up and the water stays cool. Kit includes two sets of neoprene oxycerts (20 colored and 20 black), one OxyHead, one molded cover and one impactresistant reservoir. It’s made of black, lightproof materials and comes with a 90-day warranty. Visit a local indoor gardening store for more details.

Take Home Gold With a New Hortilux e-Ballast Designed by experts in lamp-ballast compatibility, Eye Hortilux Gold Series 1,000-W Electronic Ballasts provide consistent, stable power to the lamp for a quality spectrum and high-intensity output while ensuring the lamp’s longevity. These UL-listed 120/240-V ballasts feature high-frequency sine wave operation, open and short circuit protection, a cool operating temperature, soft start technology, silent operation and a three-year warranty. They are generator ready and completely sealed against dust and moisture. Learn more at a local indoor gardening store.

Maximum Yield USA | November 2013

Myco-Fusion Rhizo-Charge Produced by Santiam Organics, Myco-Fusion Rhizo-Charge is part of a three-part system designed to deliver the highest impact to growers by energizing the rhizosphere with myco-symbiotic organisms designed to promote mycorrhizal colonization. The product is loaded with complex humic materials and other growth-promoting biologicals. Myco-Fusion Rhizo-Charge is distributed by Savant Plant Technologies. For more information, visit a local retailer.

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Phresh Filter’s Skinny Filters Phresh Filter is pleased to introduce the new Skinny Filter—a unique inverted filter bed offering some of the best filtration in the industry on a budget. Each Phresh Skinny Filter contains 100% Pro-4/8™ Australian carbon for maximum air filtration. These filters, available in various sizes, feature flow-matched bed depths that increase progressively with larger diameter filter models to ensure adequate contact time with the higher associated air speeds/pressure from larger fans. The Skinny is thinner in diameter and up to half the weight of other competing filters. It’s small and light enough for easy, single-person installation. The Phresh Skinny has a targeted lifespan of nine months and under optimal climate conditions, the filter may last up to one year. With an inverted filter bed design, the expected airflow loss is mostly offset against the thinner filter bed depths now required for the short-term filtration targets. Visit a local indoor gardening store for more details.

Eye Hortilux 600-W BLUE Eye Hortilux™ is excited to announce the arrival of the 600-W BLUE Metal Halide grow lamp. The powerful spectrum of Hortilux™ BLUE is now available in a 600-W version. Our 600-W BLUE is a metal halide lamp designed to operate on 600-W electronic ballasts or core and coil (magnetic) HPS ballasts rated ANSI S106. The 600-W BLUE completes the BLUE lamp family, which already includes 1,000, 400 and 250-W options. Find more information at an indoor gardening store.

GeoPot’s Open Top Dry Rack With Buckle GeoPot offers the open top-style dry rack with buckles on each layer, making it easy to add layers or remove layers as needed. It also has a center strap to prevent bowing, as well as a finer-grade mesh and a silky nylon material so dried products slide right off the surface. With eight support straps, a strong additional middle strap and ticker top wire, you will not experience bowing or sagging under the weight of your product. GeoPot’s open top-style dry racks are available in 24-in., 30-in. and 36-in. diameter sizes. Ask about GeoPot at your favorite grow store!

Head Masta from CX Hydroponics Many growers obtain high quality at the expense of high yields, or vice versa. Head Masta ensures both a heavy-yielding and high-quality crop. In addition to stimulating an internal hormonal signal that increases flower formation and creating additional flowering sites, Head Masta pumps plant cells full of extra vitamins and minerals required by the plant to convert excess light and nutrients into the highest quality proteins, amino acids and carbohydrates. Head Masta also adds weight-producing silicon to flower cells and increases its thirst for potassium. All CX Hydroponics additives, including Head Masta, are formulated to work well in any medium and with any nutrient line. All CX Hydroponics products are designed for use with consumable crops and are PGR/hormone free. For more information, check out a local grow store.

Maximum Yield USA | November 2013

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT ONA Block in Apple Crumble The first fragrance in the new Black Label series, this ONA Block not only neutralizes odors, it smells like freshly baked apple crumble as well. Available through Hydrofarm, the ONA Block measures 3 in. by 3 in. so it fits easily into small places prone to developing less-thanpleasant odors. The ONA Block in Apple Crumble is great for cars, boats, lockers, restrooms, trash bins or anyplace with odor problems. For more information, ask a local retailer.

Supersize CO2 Production With XL ExHale Homegrown CO2

The ExHale Homegrown CO2 cultivator might be the easiest way to supplement CO2 in an indoor garden setting, besides maybe talking to your plants—and now it’s available in XL for bigger grow spaces. This vented cultivator produces CO2 continuously 24 hours a day for up to six months, with no need to refill bottles or invest in a complex CO2 system. Because it uses no electricity and generates no heat, it doesn’t need to be turned on or off, it simply sits and does its job. The new XL size is perfect for areas up to 36 sq. ft. Visit an indoor gardening store for more information.

Maximum Yield USA | November 2013

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Xtreme Gardening's Azos Growth Promoting Microbes Azos is a beneficial microbe that sparks new root development and boosts growth. Azos works by rapidly increasing plant production of IAA (indole-3 acetic acid)—a natural plant hormone that affects cell division, growth rates and plant and root development. Azos further enhances growth by converting atmospheric nitrogen into a form accessible by plants. It essentially turns air pollution into organic plant food. Use Azos to quickly and naturally root new cuttings, add to transplants to kick start new development (works best in combination with Mykos) and water in or add to hydroponic reservoirs to feed and fuel abundant growth. Azos has been used to help break seven world records for plant growth, including a 2,000-lb. pumpkin. Azos is a beneficial additive that may be used with any nutrient line. Use with soil, coco, rockwool and all hydroponic and aquaponic systems. Learn more at a local grow store.

GeoPot’s Trellis Netting GeoPot’s trellis netting makes supporting your plants fast and easy. Our trellis netting is made of clear, 6-in. square, lightweight polypropylene mesh (similar to fishing line) that is strong, easy to install and will not rot or mold. It comes with reinforced edges to make it easy to secure to bamboo stakes. GeoPot’s trellis netting is available in large 4-in., 5-in. and 6.5-in. rolls, or individually cut pieces. Ask about GeoPot at your favorite local retail store!

Myco-Fusion Bio Jolt Bio Jolt is Santiam Organics’ micronized natural bio stimulant that is designed to be added to water or your favorite organic liquid fertilizer and applied as a drench. When used regularly, these powerful organisms promote root development and mycorrhizal colonization. As the roots explode in size and mass, so does the foliage and fruiting bodies of your plant. Myco-Fusion Bio Jolt is distributed by Savant Plant Technologies. Visit your local grow shop for more information.

Humboldt County’s Own Sonic Bloom For nine years, this was a locals-only product here in Humboldt County until we gave out samples at the Maximum Yield show in Detroit and people raved. Sonic Bloom, a.k.a. sunshine powder, isn’t just a high PK booster. It contains 20 times the vitamin B1 of other popular bloom boosters, plus heavy amounts of B2, B3 and B6 for a kicker that will bulk up your plants like nothing else on the market. The B2 gives it a bright yellow color. At the recommended dose of 1 tsp. per 5 gal. of water, 1 lb. will make more than 300 gallons. Visit a local retailer for more information.

Maximum Yield USA | November 2013

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT Ancient Forest Soil Amendment Ancient Forest® soil amendment is composed of 100% pure forest humus and contains no fillers or additives. This product has been produced by Mother Nature through the process of natural composting. Since the last ice age, forests have been growing and dying in the Arctic, leaving behind accumulations of rich natural humus. When you use Ancient Forest to grow your plants, they receive the full spectrum of natural materials that have accumulated over thousands of years of growth and natural composting. For more information, stop by a local grow store.

GeoPot’s Dry Rack With U-Shaped Zipper Opening GeoPot has developed its own Flower Tower dry racks. The company has taken the concept of the standard dry rack and vamped it up. The U-shape-style zippers are designed to eliminate the lip when you empty out your harvest so nothing gets snagged as you empty your layers. It has a strap large enough to fit around a two-by-four on both the top and bottom made with extremely tough grip Velcro. This feature allows you to hang your dry rack from either the top or bottom to give you that adaptability for even drying. It has a center strap to prevent bowing, as well as a finer-grade mesh and a silky nylon material so dried products slide right off the surface. GeoPot’s dry racks with the U-shaped zipper opening are available in 24-in., 30-in. and 36-in. diameter sizes. For more information, visit a local gardening store.

Maximum Yield USA | November 2013

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT Dutchpro’s Original Grow Soil A+B Soft Water This is a complete grow feed purposely designed for soil. Our soft water formulations are especially designed for soft water areas. This product has all of the essential macro- and micronutrients necessary for exuberant growth. Recommended use is between 6.79 oz. and 10.14 oz. per 26.41 gal. of water, depending 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 rinse measuring cup well). Adjust pH level to the optimal level of 5.8 to 6.5 if necessary with pH-Grow from Dutch Pro. Dutchpro’s Original Grow Soil A+B Soft Water is available in 0.26-, 1.32-, 2.64- and 5.28-gal. sizes. For more information, visit your local indoor gardening store.

Mighty Bomb Pesticide

Nickel City Wholesale Garden Supply’s Just Right Organic Worm Castings

Mighty Bomb strives to produce the highest-grade natural pesticide on the market. Made from 100% organic ingredients, the bugs and the competition hate us. We have recently removed our organic colorant to produce the cleanest evaporating spray to defend your crops. The product contains natural anti-ovipositors, which means bugs won't lay eggs on treated plants, and it does not leave a nasty, sticky film that clogs plant stomata and slows growth. Our 1-gal. concentrate breaks down to 2 gal. of usable spray. Plus we are made in the good old United States. For more information, ask a local gardening store.

The folks at Nickel City Wholesale Garden Supply are all revved up and have produced 20-lb. bags of wonderful worm castings. Just Right Organic Worm Castings offer low EC readings of .02 and are an odorless all-in-one soil amendment that are safe for the environment, children and pets. As a potting mix, mix in one part of worm castings for every four parts of potting mix. For house plants and flower beds, apply 1 in. of worm castings at the beginning of spring, summer and fall. Till in worm castings if possible. To use in vegetable gardens, till in 2 in. of worm castings or top dress with 1 in. of worm castings around plants. Re-apply every 30 days with half an inch of worm castings. For more information, visit an indoor gardening store.

DIY Hydroponics Water Test Kit The DIY Hydroponics Water Test Kit is Silver Lake Research Corporation’s latest addition to its line of Watersafe®rapid test kits. It uses patented technology to detect six common growth inhibitors, including bacteria, pesticides, chlorine, hardness, pH and iron. It is one of the first products on the market to provide on-the-spot testing for source water. With the hydroponics water test kit, there’s no need to send water samples to a lab; it gives growers a quick, lab-accurate and inexpensive way to test source water and keep crops healthy. Regular water testing can help growers stay informed of the constantly changing conditions of their source water. Accurate test results can be used to determine whether water treatment is needed and the appropriate treatment system or whether an existing water treatment system is working. Ask about these new kits at your favorite indoor gardening shop.

Maximum Yield USA | November 2013

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Predator Lighting Announces Redesigned King Cobras Predator Lighting’s improved King Cobra 6 and 8 plug-and-play reflectors have evolved to spread light even more efficiently than before. New wing latches secure and seal the lens to the reflector housing. In addition, integrated lens retention cables allow the sealed, shatter-resistant lens to swing open safely for easy lamp access. Heavy-duty steel housing protects a superior-quality, 95% reflective aluminum insert and a UL-listed Leviton 2,000-W, 600-V pulse-rated socket. The 15-ft. built-in cord features an integrated ballast plug, and inline 6-in. or 8-in. venting flanges make air cooling a breeze. Visit a retailer near you for more information.

Axiom Harpin Proteins Axiom Harpin Proteins are a plant health promoter and plant growth stimulator that results in improved plant growth, increased yield and quality and greater shelf-life. Harpin Proteins are produced in nature by certain bacterial plant pathogens and plants develop receptors on their seeds, roots and foliage to detect the presence of Harpin Proteins. Once detected, an early warning system is triggered, signaling a vigorous response throughout the plant to activate certain defensive and growth responses. Harpin Proteins have been extensively tested in greenhouses and replicated commercial trials with many different crops throughout the world. Harpin Protein beneficial responses among plants have been documented across a broad spectrum of crops. Research, field trials and producer experience show that the result is improved crop vigor, stamina, nutrient uptake and reproductive growth. For more information, visit a local indoor gardening store.

Dutchpro’s Original Bloom Hydro/Coco A+B This is a complete bloom feed that’s proven to be perfect for hydro and coco growing methods. It has all the essential macronutrients and micronutrients necessary for exuberant bloom. Use between 8.45 oz. and 11.83 oz. per 26.41 gal. of water, depending on EC levels. Never mix components in pure form with each other; instead add component A, water and then component B in equal parts (always rinse measuring cup well). If necessary, adjust the pH level to the optimal level of 5.8 with pH-Bloom from Dutchpro. Dutchpro’s Original Bloom Hydro/Coco A+B is available in 0.26-, 1.32-, 2.65- and 5.28-gal. bottles. For more information, ask an indoor gardening retail store about Dutchpro products.

UltraGrow E-Ballast Mini The UltraGrow E-Ballast Mini is a super compact, high-efficiency electronic HID lamp ballast that will operate 1000-W metal halide or highpressure sodium HID lamps. Featuring a slick, compact modern design that incorporates excellent cooling airflow characteristics, the Ultra Grow E-Ballast Mini has built-in dimming technology that allows users to operate lamps at 100%, 75% and 50% output levels. Dimming capability allows young plants to be grown using less electricity and provides the ability to add intensity as the plants grow and take up a larger area. The UltraGrow E-Ballast Mini is made available through Tradewinds Wholesale Garden Supply. For more information, stop by a local gardening store.

Maximum Yield USA | November 2013

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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Super Sun DE Reflector Sunlight Supply is pleased to announce the arrival of the Super Sun Double-Ended (DE) Reflector—the latest addition to the Sun System® line of reflectors and made specifically for double-ended 1,000-W HPS horticulture lamps (not included). Unique double-ended construction allows for maximum optical efficiency and uniformity. Full spectrum DE lamps used in this fixture focus on the red component for increased photosynthetic response. They offer improved PAR values and increased PAR/lumen maintenance (up to 90% PAR at 10,000 hours of operation). The Super Sun DE’s compact design delivers maximum light to your growing space using 95% reflective, textured German aluminum interior for excellent uniformity, output and diffusion. Product features galvanized steel housing with durable powder-coated finish. The Super Sun DE is manufactured in the United States with exacting standards and the finest quality components and includes a detachable 15-ft. lamp cord at the reflector and at the ballast. Visit a local indoor gardening store for more details.

Myco-Fusion Line Santiam Organics produces mycorrhizal inoculants of the highest quality. Backed by more than 50 years of research in the field of mycorrhizae, Santiam is also one of the oldest commercial producers of mycorrhizae in the United States, with its origins dating back to 1996. The Myco-Fusion line uses science and years of experience to deliver results to growers. It consists of Myco-Fusion Green 150 (an endomycorrhizal granular product), Myco-Fusion Hydro Green (a soluble endomycorrhizal product), Myco-Fusion Forest (an ectomycorrhizal product), Myco-Fusion Rhizo-Charge (a complex humic aid to mycorrhizal growth) and Myco-Fusion Bio Jolt (a natural bio stimulant with myco-symbiotic organisms). The complete Myco-Fusion line is distributed by Savant Plant Technologies. Visit a retailer near you for more information.

Xtreme Gardening Tea Brews Xtreme Tea Brews are a blend of the highest-quality organic matter teaming with active soil microbes, such as bacteria and symbiotic fungi. The treasure trove of beneficial organisms in Tea Brews—brought to life through a simple brewing process—are poured around the base of your plant, where they begin rapidly breaking down nutrients into forms that plants can access. With more nutrients and minerals available, your plants reach new peak rates of growth. The living microbes help shield plants from disease and stress, while naturally increasing their production of hormones, enzymes and secondary metabolites, such as terpenes, flavonoids, antioxidants and essential oils. Tea Brews enhance plant vigor from start to finish, ensuring the quality harvest you’ve been looking for. Tea Brews are a beneficial additive and may be used with any nutrient line. Learn more at a local grow store.

Dutchpro’s Keep It Clean Free your drip system from blockages and maintain the best working conditions possible with Keep It Clean from Dutchpro. This plant-friendly cleaning agent removes and prevents algae and bacterial slime while also inhibiting the growth of fungi. Long-term preventive use ensures top results. This product is suited for every irrigation system and it’s not harmful to plants. Recommended dosage is 0.33 oz. per 26.41 gal. of water. Available in 0.26-gal. and 1.32-gal. bottles. For more information, ask for Dutchpro at your local indoor gardening store.

Maximum Yield USA | November 2013

Testing

T5 Lighting

T e c h n o l o g y by Charles Winslow and Madelyn Ritrosky Artificial lighting is a crucial component of a successful indoor garden and the technology is always evolving. One writer puts some new T5 lamps to the test.

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

t5 lighting

Basil plants grow under T5 lamps.

T5: A Brief History Before the first indoor fluorescent lamps were sold in the Not surprisingly, the manufacturing process for T5s is far late 1930s, incandescent light bulbs were, of more complex. The three-band phosphorous has three basic course, the standard for interior lighting. phosphors—red, green and blue. The blue phosphorous Incandescent lamps basically convert is unstable and the light output depreciates quickly if heat to visible light—very inefthe manufacturing process is not spot-on and if the ficiently. Light output is just 14 inert gas is incorrect. Off-gassing from the glass lumens per watt. can react with the phosphorous, resulting in During and after World War II, 1970s, European reduced light output. If the amalgam is not right, fluorescent lighting burgeoned the T5 lamp will not be able to operate at the development led to the in the United States. In the higher temperature of 95˚F. The higher-output compact fluorescent, the 1970s, European development T5 lamp is dependent on the use of the best blue direct predecessor led to the compact fluorescent, phosphorous available on the market. A special of the T5 lamp we the direct predecessor of the T5 glass is used to limit the off-gas reaction with the know today.” lamp we know today. Fluorescent phosphors. Proprietary amalgams are used to enable lamps work by exciting atoms of the lamp to operate at the higher temperatures of 95˚F mercury with accelerated electrons and and above (these patent-pending components allow for emitting ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The greater lumen output). Each of these components raise the fluorescent powder coating converts the UV radiation to vismanufacturer’s cost for the quality lamps. With proper impleible light. Fluorescent lamps are far more efficient than their mentation of these components, the T5 lamp’s lumen output incandescent predecessors. and life are extended as wattage is expanded. The oldest fluorescent lamp is the T12. Its 1.5-in. diameter has an output of 60 lumens/watt. T12s were eventuDemystifying T5 Lamps ally replaced by T8s, which have a 1-in. diameter. The T8 The T5 lamp has undergone quantum leaps technologically boasted an improved fluorescent powder coating and inert with the advent of high-efficiency/high-output designs in the gas. Efficiency improved by 33% to 80 lumens/watt. The 1990s. Its full-spectrum, super-high intensity is perfect for proT8 lamp is currently being replaced by the T5, with just moting vegetative growth. Many industry insiders believe the a 5/8-in. diameter. The liquid mercury is replaced by an technology represents a paradigm shift in horticultural lighting. amalgam, formed by the reaction of another substance Stephen R. Covey, in his Principles of Centered Leadership, with mercury. The newest T5 is even more efficient, with writes, “If you want to make small changes in your life, change 95 lumens/watt. It can operate at 95˚F, whereas the T12 and your attitude and change your behavior. If you want to make T8 max out at 77˚F. This evolution was driven by these factors: quantum leap changes, then change your paradigm!” With the new full-spectrum, high-intensity fluorescent sys Diameter reduction was made possible by the tems, indoor growing promises healthier plants and more development of tri-phosphorous, which is more production with less heat and energy. efficient and stable. When T5s were introduced, the first adopters of the  Smaller diameter lamps are less costly to make because technology quickly noticed their plants had thicker stems, they use less glass and less phosphorous. carried more fruit and survived outdoor transplanting with  Smaller lamps are more compact and therefore more less shock at half the energy. Plants were hardier, exhibiting attractive for the consumer. more profuse growth with tight internodal spacing.  Smaller lamps are more efficient, with better energy savings.

In the

Maximum Yield USA | November 2013

t5 lighting 350 mA when the light meter was set 12 in. from the lamps. Cheap lamps use low-quality phosphorous or tri-phosphorous, which does not hold the lumen or blue of the 6.5-K lamps. Lumen degradation occurs rapidly. I’ve tried lamps that start out with high lumens but rapidly drop off by more than 30%. Full lamp lumen output takes 30 minutes with many lamps and fixtures. Lamps may be rated for 10,000 hours but won’t last if they use lower-grade phosphorous. In working with leading lighting scientists, I learned the importance of building lamps to run with specific ballasts. As one physicist colleague stated, “The No. 1 problem with lighting is lamp-to-ballast incompatibility.”

Current Testing Last year I completed tests in conjunction with several lighting scientists. We ran controlled tests with multiple light sources–metal halides, high-pressure sodium lights, induction lights, T5 lamps and LEDs–and measured plant growth and quality. We found induction lights underperformed T5s because of the point source and 90% energy factor of the latter. Induction fixtures had to be raised for enough light distribution and, with 80% energy efficiency, plants Plants thrive under the T5 lamps these authors tested. get less light. Induction lighting has great value with the 100,000-hour lamp life. It is great for tunnels, airports or Testing and growing have come a long way since then. T5 anyplace lamps are difficult or costly to change. grow lamps are now available in three outputs: 54-W high This year’s testing focus is the new HO, VHO and XHO output (HO), 95-W very high output (VHO) and 115-W T5s, and LED lights. We are conducting tests right now extreme high output (XHO). The latest generation, the with the new full-spectrum/enhancement/high output XHO, is particularly exciting. These lamps can give off more lamps at the 95-W and 115-W levels alongside the UV light, which helps keep bugs and mold at bay. newest high-output LEDs. The plants shown Unfortunately, that does include good bugs. in the photos are the culmination of these tests. These plants were grown under XHO The Present and Future 115-W lamps. The 95-W VHO lamps work of the T5 Lamps well and have even distribution, but are T5 lamps are changing so quickly that not designed for growing plants with it’s hard to keep track of the technology. the green spectrum. The current LEDs Years ago, when we first worked on T5 are prototypes and are in growth trials lighting, the ballasts were unstable, with rated for 10,000 hours but against a 450 mA HO 54 W. high failure rates. Each lamp required won’t last if they The LED at 116 W performed admiraa separate ballast, specified as 120 W bly against the T5 at 216 W (four lamps use lower-grade or 240 W. Even recently, in testing variat 54 W each). This was the first LED to phosphorous.” ous HO lights, I found big differences in work out for me in 15 years of testing, and fixtures and lamp performance. In controlled the next prototype arrives soon. Another plus tests of 54-W lamps in different fixtures, several for LEDs is their low temperature, running around 6.5-K lamps had 28% less lumen output. We found 75˚F. The fixtures could be lowered directly over the even greater discrepancies with substandard lamps. Not all plants with no risk of burning. The lamps were kept at the lamps are created equal nor do all ballast and fixture designs same height above the plants as the T5 for testing purposes. optimize output. When the T5 and LED fixtures and basil plants were transTo optimize performance, use a lumen meter and make sure ferred to the greenhouse, all went well, without shock. the fixture has the best ballast for the application. If you are With metal-halide lamps, plants need to be acclimated unsure, check with the manufacturer on the milliamp (mA). through shade to avoid shock, burning or stunting. Make sure the fixture uses quality ballasts and are driven at the Enhanced root development and tighter growth was appropriate milliamp, as in 450 mA for 54 W. The vast majority evident with this LED. Manufacturers, if you think you of fixtures on the market use 350 mA, which puts out far less have the new LED champion, send me one and I'll test it lumens with less penetration than 450 mA. If it looks brighter against what has tested the best. The vast majority I've seen to the human eye, double check with a lumen meter. In muland tested seem to put plants in suspended animation, tiple tests, the 450 mA put out two times the lumens as the looking nice but bearing little fruit.

Lamps may be

Maximum Yield USA | November 2013

t5 lighting In another test with XHO 115-W lamps, a 12-lamp fixture pulled 1,440 W. This had a little help with a fan under the lamps for air and heat circulation. With T5 lamps, I recommend always using a fan under the fixture. The plants enjoy good air circulation and it improves the efficiency of the fixture and lamps. By the way, most VHO lamps I’ve tested in the past put out 33% less lumens from the start and it diminishes from there. The pepper plants shown in the photographs were grown hydroponically with organic nutrients, use a lumen meter and meaning they are 100% organic make sure the fixture has and 100% hydroponic! They represent the best performance to the best ballast for date, for me, for hydroponic, organic the application.” vegetables. I’ve also had good success with basil grown in rockwool. Interestingly, the new VHO and XHO lamps appear to not only capture but enhance higher elevation lighting conditions. So get ready, get set—with hydroponic supplies, quality nutrients and appropriate lighting—and grow!

To optimize performance

* Thanks to Vee from Grodan (rockwool), Neil from New Millennium Nutrients and Ranil from EcoFert for their contributions to this testing. Photos submitted via authors.

Maximum Yield USA | November 2013

Above: Basil plants in the authors' greenhouse during the day. Below: Pepper plants grown hydroponically with organic nutrients.

Growing 2 Media Part

by Dr. Mike Nichols and Damian Duggan-Jones

Dr. Mike Nichols and Damian Duggan-Jones return to continue their discussion of growing media. The following is a look at why the type of medium a grower ends up using might just be the most important decision he or she makes in terms of their garden’s long-term cost and performance. 58

Maximum Yield USA | November 2013

Growing media: 2 Nursery growers, plant propagators and the humble gardener all have one thing in common: having to find the most suitable substrate for their growing requirements. Currently the market offers potting mixes made from compost, peat, coco coir, vermiculite, perlite and rockwool. How, with such a vast selection of options, do we make the correct choice? Primarily, we purchase according to tried and tested methods, or perhaps we pay attention to the day’s marketing messages. Either way, in terms of long-term costs, selecting the most suitable substrate might be the most important decision a grower makes, particularly on a commercial basis. A growing medium is composed of three distinct phases: the solid phase, the liquid phase and the air phase. The relationship between these phases determines the suitability of a media for the grower. The solid phase covers the stable component, and is the one that gives substance to the media, while the liquid and air phases provide the ebb and flow of resources. The ability of media to retain water, facilitate gas exchange and provide sufficient anchorage for root growth are critical in determining the suitability of a medium for horticultural purposes.

“The ratio of air to water will not only depend on the type of growing media, but also the distribution of particle sizes within the container.”

Maximum Yield USA | November 2013

A substrate’s physical properties help explain the unique relationship that occurs between solids, liquids and air. Properties of interest that control water retention and gas exchange are water-holding capacity (liquid) and air-filled porosity (air). For plants growing in containers, roots tend to grow downwards, possibly forming a dense layer of roots at the bottom of the container. If water remains perched, the free flow of oxygen is restricted. Although aeration may be sufficient, reduction in plant performance might be due to the perched water table that exists at the bottom of the container. The ratio of air to water will not only depend on the type of growing media, but also the distribution of particle sizes within the container.

“A growing medium is composed of three distinct phases: the solid phase, the liquid phase and the air phase. The relationship between these phases determines the suitability of a media for the grower.”

Maximum Yield USA | November 2013

Growing media: 2 Easily available water refers to the amount of water available in a profile easily accessed by plant roots. Measuring easily available water gives an overall picture of how media retains or drains liquid in the early stages of water availability. Media with high retention will gradually lose moisture over a period of time while a highly drained media will almost immediately drain any available water, leaving the remainder difficult to access. For example, a sample of coco coir was graded to include

“The relationship between moisture retention and release is fundamental in understanding the importance of irrigation management.” four relatively different particle sizes with the smallest being 0.5 mm and the largest 2.36 mm. Results indicate that the largest grade drained liquid at a much faster rate compared to the smallest particle, the reason being that the forces that hold water molecules to the particles are greater as particle size decreases. The relationship between moisture retention and release is fundamental in understanding the importance of irrigation management. During the research, the solid particles, whether they are small, medium or large, occupied only a small percentage in the three distinct phases, but appeared to exert a major influence on the root zone environment. The question we wished to answer was, does size matter?

Maximum Yield USA | November 2013

Research undertaken using coco coir as the medium and tomato as the crop shed some interesting results on whether or not size really matters. A trial was set up using different sizes of coco coir containing significantly different physical properties. Each plant bag used in the trial consisted of identical media weight. As such, the volume of coco coir in each bag increased with particle size due to bulk density (i.e., the smallest size was the densest, occupying less volume).

“Results suggest that as airfilled porosity increased and available soil moisture decreased, so the yield per plant decreased, but the mean weight per fruit increased.” Yield data was used to explain the effect of particle size. Tomato yield ranged between 14 to 19 lbs. per plant while average fruit weight ranged between 3.88 and 4.23 oz. Results suggest that as air-filled porosity increased and available soil moisture decreased, so the yield per plant decreased, but the mean weight per fruit increased. This was attributed to the fact that the better growing conditions of the higher moisture provided for a better fruit set per truss, and therefore a slightly lower mean fruit weight per fruit. Note: no truss thinning was carried out. The significant difference between small and large size particles appear to largely be affected by the amount of moisture in the root system. It is also worth noting that a growth analysis trial was undertaken using the same size graded coco coir to compare air-filled porosity against relative growth rate. Growth was compared over a two-week period after first true leaf emergence. Trends follow that of marketable yield per plant. As particle size increased, relative growth rate decreased. These results suggest that a shortterm bioassay may enable us to determine the potential of different soilless media without going through the expense of a full yield production trial.

Maximum Yield USA | November 2013

Growing media: 2 There are a number of comparisons that can be drawn between media choices. Peat provides easily available water for a longer period, compared to rockwool and coco coir. Even though peat and coco coir are similar in appearance, huge differences occur when comparing internal structure. For example, ungraded coco coir consists of fine fibrous strands and spongy mesophyll cells. Forces retaining water molecules to coco coir particles are weaker compared to peat, largely due to the smaller particle size of peat. Peat also contains decomposed materials, found in boglands through centuries of structure breakdown. As such, the physical structure is different, having adapted to retention of moisture, while coco coir undergoes limited decomposition. It’s possible that if coco coir is decomposed at a rate similar to peat, similar results may occur. Regardless of growing media used, it may well be important to consider relative size when grading, in terms of physical properties, for specific crop specifications. For example, tree

Maximum Yield USA | November 2013

“Regardless of growing media used, it may well be important to consider relative size when grading, in terms of physical properties, for specific crop specifications.” saplings may require a substrate with low air-filled porosity, while a highly drained substrate is preferred for propagation. Furthermore, irrigation strategy may play an equally important role in moisture retention when considering particle size. For example, highly porous media may require a more frequent application of irrigation compared to a moisture retentive media, which may undergo anoxia if left in a state of constant saturation. In conclusion, size matters, but how particle size is used is equally as important. Substrate particle size governs a grow medium’s ability to retain or release moisture while irrigation strategies can take advantage of a medium’s moisture and release properties to better control growth and timing. * This article was originally published in Practical Hydroponics.

by Harley Smith The results of a water test can show a grower how to customize their nutrient recipes and watering methods to optimize crop quality and yield. Is your garden’s water too hard, too soft or just right?

Maximum Yield USA | November 2013

what's in your water?

No matter what nutrient formula you use, it is important to start with a clean water source. It is so important, in fact, that commercial growers will often have their raw water tested before the greenhouse is even built. If there are potential problems with the water supply, growers might opt to choose a new location instead of trying to correct problems. Unfortunately, hobby growers rarely have the luxury of moving to a new location just to grow a great garden. So itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s even more important for hobbyists to identify any potential problems with their source water and take the proper steps to obtain the cleanest water possible. If you have never sent a water sample out for a lab analysis, now might be a good time to do so. A basic greenhouse water analysis costs about $40. It will quantify all of the soluble plant nutrients in the raw water and alert the grower to potential problems. In the hands of a trained consultant, a water analysis will also show a grower how to customize his or her nutrient recipes to optimize quality and yield.

Too Hard Even if a water analysis shows you have hard water with relatively high levels of minerals, it can still be excellent source water for growing great plants. Hard water typically has high levels of calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate. Calcium and magnesium are both essential elements for plant growth. So, as long as no other elements are in the water at toxic levels, the water is suitable for horticultural use. In fact, there may be trace amounts of beneficial elements in hard water that are missing from more pure water sources.

Even if a

water analysis shows you have hard water with relatively high levels of minerals, it can still be excellent source water for growing great plants."

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

what's in your water?

hard water nutrient

For best results, use a hard water nutrient formula when using water that is high in calcium and magnesium formulas are usually lower in carbonate. To compensate for excess calcium and magnesium, with minerals, hard water nutrient formureduced levels of sulfates, So a las are usually lower in calcium and magnesium, with reduced levels of hard water nutrient sulfates, so a hard water nutrient forformula complements the mula complements the minerals already minerals already present in present in the raw water. often falls out of the nutrient solution as the raw water." A laboratory water analysis will also show lime scale. Once lime scale is formed, both the alkalinity of the water. The higher the the calcium and phosphorus become unavailable alkalinity, the greater the buffering capacity of the to the plant. water against changes in pH. Since hard water typically resists Lime scale can be easily prevented by adding a small changes in pH, a good hard water nutrient formula will usuamount of an amino acid blend to your hard water. The ally be more acidic than standard nutrients. It will also have amino acids help chelate the calcium ions in the raw water. a higher ammonium to nitrate ratio. When a plant takes The word “chela” means claw, and the amino acids attach to up a positively charged ammonium ion, the roots exude a the calcium ions like a claw, preventing them from reacthydrogen ion in exchange, helping to neutralize the excess ing with phosphoric acid, and the calcium remains soluble. bicarbonates in the hard water. Some amino acids also stimulate root cells to open up One problem with hard water is the formation of lime calcium ion channels, allowing the calcium to be taken up by scale. When phosphoric acid is added to adjust the the plant thousands of times faster than simple osmosis. The pH, the bicarbonates are burned off as carbon result becomes stronger plants with stronger cell walls and dioxide and water, but the extra phosan improved resistance to temperature stress and disease. phorus may react with the calcium to However, not all hard water sources are good for plants. If form calcium phosphate. Calcium the water is excessively hard, or if a water analysis shows toxic phosphate is what your bones levels of trace elements such as sodium or boron, the water are made of, and it is 95% should be filtered or processed. water insoluble. So the calcium phosphate Too Soft Some growers simplify water quality management by using only filtered water. Reverse osmosis (RO) filters remove all

Maximum Yield USA | November 2013

what's in your water? mineral ions from the source water, To know for sure if RO water is right for you, send a starting with a clean slate. Therefore, if sample of your raw water to a lab for analysis. If the you use an RO filter, all of the essential analysis shows that even one element is approachelements will come from your nutrient ing toxic levels, an RO filter is definitely solution—not from the source water—crerecommended. RO is also recommended ating the perfect mineral balance for plant for any application where a water softgrowth. RO water is also great for topener is used. A water softener removes ping off your reservoir between nutrient the calcium and magnesium ions changes, replacing the water lost to from the hard water, but replaces evaporation without adding any them with sodium ions, often at unwanted minerals. toxic levels. If sodium levels exceed 50 ppm, the plants may not be able There are, however, a few to reach their true genetic potential. downsides to RO water. It is so pure that all of the bicarbonates Just Right if RO water is right for you, are removed from The best solution is to blend RO water with tap the source water. water to create a clean water source with just the send a sample of your raw water Therefore, RO water right amount of pH buffering capacity. Not only will to a lab for analysis. If the offers no buffer to you improve the source water for your plants, but analysis shows that even one changes in pH. During you will also extend the life of your element is approaching toxic rapid vegetative growth, filter. For example, if a water levels, an RO filter is when plants are taking analysis shows that you can get definitely recommended." up proportionally more by nicely with a 50:50 mix nitrates, the pH can quickly of RO and tap water, you spike upward; and during heavy could double the life of fruiting and flowering, when plants are your filter, while actually be easily prevented by adding a taking up more potassium ions, the pH can crash. Extreme improving the water qualsmall amount of an amino acid swings in pH can adversely affect plant growth. For ity to your plants! blend to your hard water. example, if the pH spikes above 6.5, iron starts to become The amino acids help chelate unavailable to the plants, and as the pH continues to rise, As a final note, I will also the calcium ions in the all of the essential metal ions become unavailable. As nutrimention you can pick up raw water." ent deficiencies develop, plant growth stalls and the plant’s water sampling kits at many natural resistance to environmental stress is greatly hindered. hydroponics stores. Best of luck!

To know for sure

Lime scale can

Maximum Yield USA | November 2013

for Beginners

BeneficIal Insects

by Chris Bond

Various insect infestations can throw an indoor gardener's best efforts out the window if left untreated.

One solution to the problem is using beneficial insects… 74

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The added

advantage to using beneficial insects for pest control is that they can supplement or replace the use of insecticides, both synthetic and those approved for organic growing.â&#x20AC;?

Ladybugs scatter about after their release.

The predator/prey and parasite/host balances that exist in nature between countless species of fauna is an aspect of indoor pest control that can be difficult to attain. Anyone who has attempted the indoor growing of food or plant crops is well aware that the artificial environments we seek to create for optimal plant growth are often equally conducive to numerous pest species, infestations of which, if left untreated, can devastate or annihilate the anticipated bounty. We can tip the balance in our favor with the release of beneficial insects into our growing areas and into our container media. A wide range of insects, both visible to the human eye and microscopic, are available for purchase. The added advantage to using beneficial insects for pest control is that they can supplement or replace the use of insecticides, both synthetic and those approved for organic growing. Beneficial insects come in numerous forms. The intended target pest species will dictate whether you release adults, eggs or larval stages of predatory or parasitic insects. Insects controlled include common nuisances such as whitefly, fungus gnats, thrips and aphids.

Predatory Beneficial Insects Ladybugs The most commonly released and recognizable beneficial insect to both novice and advanced grower alike is the ladybug (Hippodamia convergens). Ladybugs are generalists and consume aphids, whiteflies, mites, weevils, adelgids and other beetle larvae. They prefer and will seek out aphids to prey upon. An adult ladybug will consume as many as 60 aphids per day, and up to 5,000 Maximum Yield USAâ&#x20AC;&#x201A; |â&#x20AC;&#x201A; November 2013

bENEFICIAL INSECTS

If you are lucky enough to find the egg case of a praying mantis in the wild, scoop it up and put it in your growing area.”

Ladybugs scatter about after their release.

over the course of its lifetime. Ladybugs often come in plastic pint containers containing 1,500 insects. Larger packages are available with as many as 50,000 insects. To get the most out of your ladybug release, water plants and foliage first. Ladybugs usually come with food in their containers but not water and are likely to seek out a drink as soon as they are released, so a drop of water near their desired destination will help keep them there to do their work. Ladybugs do not typically fly after dark, so releasing your package at or after sundown is desirable. It is good practice to routinely release a limited amount into your growing areas. An infestation or outbreak of a particular pest species may necessitate the release of many thousands of ladybugs, but otherwise do not release more than a few per square foot of growing area, or overpopulation may drive them to leave in search of other food or worse, starve to death.

Delphastus catalinae Delphastus catalinae is a relative of the common ladybug, but is much smaller. These tiny, brown-black, round beetles are about the size of a pencil tip. Unlike ladybugs, they cannot sustain a population in the absence of prey. Females need to consume between 100 and 150 whitefly eggs daily to achieve and maintain their own egg-laying abilities. Both male and female Delphastus will consume whiteflies in all stages, including adults and nymphs. They kill their prey by biting a hole into the body of the adult or immature whitefly and extracting its contents, leaving a hollow, shelllike corpse. Each D.catalinae can consume up to 10,000 whiteflies over the course of its life. They can be used in conjunction with a beneficial parasite, as they will not consume parasitized whitefly. Best results using these beetles are yielded when more than 10 are released at each whitefly hot spot.

Praying Mantis Another commonly used predator for pest species is the praying mantis (Stagmomantis genus, found in the Americas). Praying mantids are sold commercially in their egg cases. These cases should be hung near plants with pest problems. The emerging mantids will be ready to consume a variety of small pest species. As they mature, they will graduate to consuming moths, houseflies and mosquitoes. Upon hatching, the praying mantids should be separated, as they can be cannibalistic when they are young. Contrary to popular belief, there is no federal law against killing or moving praying mantids. They are not an 76

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bENEFICIAL INSECTS

endangered species. If you are lucky enough to find the egg case of a praying mantis in the wild, scoop it up and put it in your growing area.

Green Lacewings

There are numerous species of destructive nematodes, but there are beneficial species as well.”

Like the praying mantis, which might be found in your outdoor garden, green lacewings (Chrysoperla rufilabris) are a common outdoor predator that can be incorporated into your indoor insect control routine. They consume a wide range of pest species, but are partial to aphids and mealybugs. They will eat whiteflies and scale insects in the absence of their preferred prey. Adults lay their eggs anywhere near a potential food source. It is the larvae of the lacewing that has the most impact on pest control. Chrysoperla are most often sold as eggs or larvae because of their youthful appetites. Larvae should be released upon receipt, as they will become cannibalistic in the absence of prey. If obtained as eggs, keep them off the ground or anywhere they might be vulnerable to predators---ants will eat the eggs. Green lacewings have been known to bite humans, but this is rare and their bites are not toxic.

Orius insidiosus Orius insidiosus, or insidious flower bugs, are so-named due to their extreme aggressiveness towards thrips. They predate other pest species and are a particularly useful pest control option, as they will burrow into closed flower buds in search of their food if they cannot find it on the leaves, or if they have already exhausted the easy pickings. Insidious flower bugs are only useful during summer months due to their need for daylight and warmth. Artificial lighting can be used as well as supplemental heat to extend their usefulness if needed. They are usually sold in units of 500 and are most effectively applied directly over infested plants. Like the green lacewing, O. insidiosus can bite humans, but it is a rare occurrence.

Hypoaspis miles Hypoaspis miles are a species of predatory soil mites that can be released directly into the media of containergrown plants, or directly onto the floor surrounding them. They can be applied into the cracks of concrete floors, or into the joints of brick or stone floors and are a good choice to control insects for mushroom production. Their primary diet is thrip larvae and pupae, but they also help to control fungus gnats by consuming their eggs and larvae as well. Water the area prior to releasing, and then again a few hours later. They are usually available in quantities of 25,000 each.

Maximum Yield USA | November 2013

Nematodes help prevent fungus gnats from achieving their adult stage, such as these seen trapped on a sticky lure card.

Atheta coriaria Atheta coriaria, more commonly known as rove beetles, are another soil-dwelling predator like the Hypoaspis. These tiny, often naturally occurring beetles thrive in moist, dark areas where they can feed on the larvae and pupae of fungus gnats, shore flies and thrips. Rove beetles will fly in search of new food supplies once they have exhausted their original location, so they are useful for broad coverage. They are usually sold in units of 100 and can be incorporated into soil media, on floors, in soil or in gravel.

Nematodes Nematodes are microscopic worms that often have a bad reputation. There are numerous species of destructive nematodes, but there are beneficial species as well. Steinernema feltiae are a species of nematode that, when incorporated into soil media, can control fungus gnats, thrips and more than 200 other species of flying and crawling insects. They achieve this by preying on their insect victims while in the larval stage. They seek out these pest insects when they are still developing in the soil to feed on them. An adult nematode can produce up to 200,000

bENEFICIAL INSECTS offspring over the course of its several-month-long life. When ready to reproduce, they will spear their prey, and deposit their eggs within. The young nematodes when hatched will feed on the host species from within and then emerge ready to find their own prey. Packages of nematodes are sold with tens of millions of active units (AU) in each. They may come embedded on granules or vermiculite flakes, which are easily incorporated into soil media. They may also be packaged and shipped on a moistened sponge that is mixed with irrigation water, or in a powder, which can be used as a soil drench. Nematodes can be stored for months in refrigeration prior to their use.

Parasitoids: Aphidoletes aphidimyza Carnivorous aliens that emerge from the bellies of their human hosts in science fiction movies are based on fact—this occurs in the insect world between host aphids and their parasitic killer, Aphidoletes aphidimyza. The Aphidoletes are usually obtained as pupae and are placed in an open container near plants with high levels of aphids. Once the Aphidoletes have pupated, they will seek out aphids and bore into them to feed. Each can kill up to 65 aphids per day and will kill more aphids than they are able to consume. The Aphidoletes leave what are called aphid mummies attached to the leaf of the plant where they found them. These mummies are the hollowed-out corpses of aphids and also serve as the cocoon where the adult Aphidoletes will lay its eggs.

A pepper plant leaf with both living and mummified aphids.

Encarsia formosa Encarsia formosa is a species of small, parasitic wasps who love nothing more than to lay their eggs within the larvae of whitefly. The whitefly larva is found on the undersides of leaves, and once aliens that emerge from they have been injected with the bellies of their human the Encarsia formosa's eggs, the hosts in science fiction affected larvae appear like small movies are based on fact.” dark scales, from which the adult wasp will emerge. Encarsia are most often sold as pupae, which are glued to a perforated card that is placed in a plant infested with adult whitefly. Application of the Encarsia cards, or other carriers, should be done on a weekly basis for up to 10 weeks, even if no whiteflies are visible.

Carnivorous

Close-up of aphids (file photo).

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bENEFICIAL INSECTS

Lures A separate, but effective biological method of pest control, specifically for thrips, is to use the emergence or lures baited with a sexual infestation of pests aggression pheromone species in the indoor produced by male thrips. growing area is too late to These are generally used be effective.â&#x20AC;? in conjunction with a blue, sticky trap card. Thrips are attracted to the color blue. A small vessel containing the pheromone is placed at the bottom of the card and then the card is hung near an infested plant. The pheromone triggers the mating response in both male and female thrips, luring them away from feeding on your plants. These cards and lures should be used before severe infestations. They should be a part of routine pest control. Beneficial insects should be used in conjunction with the lures to control severe outbreaks of thrips.

Waiting until

Encarsia formosa pupae (black dots) glued to a release card.

Precautions Beneficial predators and pests are most effectively employed as part of a routine maintenance program. Waiting until the emergence or infestation of pests species in the indoor growing area is too late to be effective. Beneficial insects do not work as quickly as chemical insecticides, but can be just as effective, if not more so, when given ample time to do their work. All beneficial insects are susceptible to many of the same insecticides (organic or not) as the pest species that they are used to control. In many cases, they are more sensitive to the use of pesticides, as they have not developed some of the same resistance to chemical pesticides that their pest counterparts have evolved. Do not release any beneficial insects, before, during or after the use of insecticides. The use of beneficial insects is an either/or proposition.

Photos courtesy of Case Western Reserve University.

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

NEW thermoflo fp (Kelsey)

Avant gardening

A Good Gardener is an

SOB’er

by Susan Eitel

a v

The complexity of nature indicates bees are of vital importance to the well-being of multiple species, yet bee populations remain in danger. Fortunately there are things we can do now to prevent them from one day disappearing altogether.

O u r

It seems quite likely that many people have by now some familiarity with colony collapse disorder, or CCD. The effects of this not entirely understood phenomenon have both beekeepers and scientists furiously working to understand, and hopefully mitigate this crisis. Vast numbers of the world’s bee populations—upwards of 50%— are simply disappearing. The loss of nature’s most effective pollinators is resulting in billions of dollars in lost fruit, vegetable, nut and flower production. It is estimated that one in three bites of the food we consume is a direct, or indirect, result of bee pollination. For example, birds feed off the pollinated fruits, seeds and berries. Bees pollinate alfalfa, which in turn feeds cattle. The complexity of our natural systems indicate that bees are of vital importance to the well-being of multiple species, and, like the canary in the coal mine, an unhealthy bee is a reflection of the degree of poor health that exists within our environment.

Maximum Yield USA | November 2013

Colony collapse disorder has occurred when there are no adult worker bees evident at a hive, and yet there are no dead bees present either. The bees simply disappear, leaving the queen bee, a capped brood and food stored in the combs. Normally, worker bees will not leave a nest while there is still a brood that requires tending, or food remaining in storage. Beekeepers must deal with events such as swarming and absconding as part of running an apiary. It is wellnoted that swarming (a reproductive process in which one colony splits and becomes two) is a familiar problem for beekeepers and it typically occurs when the hive no longer meets the needs of the colony and bees swarm away from the hive to find better accommodations. Typically, this happens because there is not enough room in the current hive to support further growth. It is considered to be the result of poor hive management, (i.e. overcrowding) and can be difficult to control. Bees will also abscond

(simply leave all together), which is typically a result of poor conditions within the hive. Disease, pests, starvation and poor ventilation are some of the many causes that can transpire into absconding. However, neither swarming nor absconding is part of CCD. As large-scale, professional apiaries and scientists attempt to get a handle on the problem, there are methods that any gardener can implement to improve local conditions. Beekeeping is a hobby that increases bee populations and the greatest increase in new beekeepers is in highly urbanized areas. Local bylaws permitting, it would seem as though there are few unsuitable places to raise bees. The cost in purchasing a hive and colony is not overly expensive and a quick Internet search should reveal many organizations and retailers in your area. It is not even necessary to extract the honey, wax or any of the other

It is estimated

that one in three bites of the food we consume is a direct, or indirect, result of bee pollination.”

valuable products bees produce. If you opt out of closely tending your hive, the benefits still end up being increased productivity for vegetables and flowers, and a resulting robust harvest. Should you be disinclined to don the beekeeping suit, there are still helpful alternatives to bolster the numbers of the wild bees. Adding more bee-friendly plants to a garden will attract the indigenous bee population. Diversity is the key. The greater the variety of desirous plantings, the greater the attraction a garden becomes as a food source. There are many bee-friendly plants available at local nurseries and it will be easy to make good planting choices for spring, summer and fall. Since nature functions so beautifully and efficiently, it is probably not even necessary to purchase more plantings for your garden. Bees are fond of dandelions, clovers and Saving our bees is as important many other plants that consider for us as it is for the other species weeds. Dandelion leaves even that inhabit and use natural flora. make a delicious salad fit for the Increasing crop yields, diversity of human table. There are several plantings and a deeper gene pool attractive ground covers that for bees are ways that we can push can replace grasses in hard to back against the onset of colony grow places, such as under trees. collapse disorder. While the Perhaps dandelions aren’t your scientists and large-scale apiaries thing, but there are so many continue their important work, it options available that it is worthis nice to know that one SOB’er while to investigate exciting can make a difference. new ideas in garden design.

Susan Eitel has a degree in landscape horticulture from Humber College in Toronto, Ontario, in Canada. She has worked in the hydroponics industry for more than 25 years. Susan has always been interested in beneficial insects and integrated pest management. She currently lives in the Niagara area with her beloved husband and dog. She writes on behalf of Homegrown Hydroponics.

Maximum Yield USA | November 2013

Solutions for a

Sustainable

Future by Helene Isbell

The future of agriculture is making a gradual, and hopefully a positive, shift. People are embracing the possibility that they can take food production back into their own hands. Read on to discover the ways in which the trend of urban farming is on the rise.

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

solutions for a sustainable future

With the continuous research and development of horticulture and understanding of plant nutrients, people are coming up with innovative techniques to make the most efficient use of available space.”

Maximum Yield USA | November 2013

As international industry plows forward with an agenda of progress, natural habitats, world cultures and precious resources fall victim to its consumption. In less than 100 years, big agriculture has all but emaciated the rich topsoil that once nourished the small-scale farms of our grandparents’ generation. Pesticides have degraded bee and natural insect populations, while heirloom varieties of produce have dwindled to a small fraction of their former numbers. The premium for fertile land and fresh water has skyrocketed, making the scramble for arable real estate ever more imminent. Although politicians and the media do their best to mask the urgency of the global predicament, many forward-thinking groups and individuals see the reality of the situation and are taking action towards promoting self-reliance. With fertile land and clean water becoming less accessible, urban dwellers will most directly feel the brunt of economic impact as the cost of living continues to climb.

It will cost farmers more than ever to grow food people have become accustomed to, and the price of fuel to transport food from countryside to city will steadily rise. Municipalities that control energy production and watershed management dictate the prices of utilities, while creating a system that citizens are confined to. In response, many have chosen to take the resources they have available to cultivate a more sustainable approach to conventional methods of development. Although the future of industrialized agriculture remains uncertain as it continues along its gluttonous trajectory, there are optimistic options for a sustainable future. Urban farming and appropriate technology are emerging as alternatives to commercial farming and conventional practices. By embracing these self-empowering methodologies, individuals hold more influence over what they produce and ultimately consume.

solutions for a sustainable future

This modern-day counterculture of self-sustaining farmers are using practices such as permaculture, hydroponics, aquaponics, rainwater catchment systems, soil remediation and companion planting to produce food in ways that preserve the integrity of the land so it can be used for generations to come.

The trend of urban farming is on the rise and could be a revolutionary way for the populace to regain some of the control they feel they have lost..” The future of agriculture is making a gradual, and hopefully positive, shift. People are becoming enlightened to the possibility that they can take food production back into their own hands. The trend of urban farming is on the rise and could be a revolutionary way for the populace to regain some of the control they feel they have lost. With the continuous research and development of horticulture and understanding of plant nutrients, people are coming up with innovative techniques to make the most efficient use of available space. Let’s look at a few of them. 90

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solutions for a sustainable future

In the most basic sense, permaculture educates people how to design edible landscapes that are selfsustaining on many levels.”

Permaculture Permaculture is a branch of ecological and environmental design that melds the words permanent and agriculture, figuratively and conceptually. It was founded in the 1970s by naturalist Bill Mollison and is flourishing today with institutes and certification programs worldwide that teach its principles. According to Graham Bell, author of The Permaculture Way, “It is the harmonious integration of the landscape with people providing their food, energy, shelter and other nonmaterial needs in a sustainable way.” In the most basic sense, permaculture educates people how to design edible landscapes that are self-sustaining on many levels. It incorporates practices derived from organic farming, agroforestry and sustainable development, while simultaneously caring for the earth and bolstering community. The permaculture mindset is all about educating people how to grow nutritious produce using compost teas, vermiculture, microbiology and other local biologically available nutrients in a way that replenishes natural resources in a synergistic loop. Permaculture practices can be applied on any plot, from a small-scale farm to a suburban backyard, to an inner city rooftop garden.

Agroforestry Agroforestry is an integrative approach to combining agriculture (crops and livestock) with forestry (shrubs and trees), in an effort to maximize benefits to both sectors. 92

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solutions for a sustainable future

Agroforestry provides many environmental solutions such as preventing soil erosion, increasing the fertility of depleted soil, intercropping to increase the yield potential of the land, and, on a larger scale, the ability to decrease global climatic shift. Agro forests can help protect livestock from hot summers and cold winters and they create a habitat for wild animals indigenous to the area. They also offer an economic advantage to farmers by maximizing potential profits through various crops and harvests. Food forests emerging in metropolitan areas like Seattle, Washington, are a perfect example of agroforestry at its finest. They are proof that a plentitude of food can be produced on a common plot of land even in dense metropolitan areas.

Hydroponics and aquaponics Hydroponics and aquaponics are emerging as popular and efficient methods of food production where soil is unavailable or impractical, or if space is an issue. Growers using hydroponics have gotten creative with the systems they apply to maximize crop production. From undercurrent bucket systems and ebb and flow tables to vertical nutrient film technique systems, hydro set-ups can be custom tailored to fit just about any space.

Indoor gardening Indoor gardening as a whole—controlling the environment with technology to recreate the conditions that Mother Nature has mastered—has come a long way as well. Indoor gardening makes food production available where natural conditions are unfavorable. Environmental controllers and highly efficient lighting systems allow growers to dial in and perfect their gardens using cutting-edge technology.

Container Gardening Container gardening has given determined city dwelling growers an option for cultivating veggies on rooftops, balconies, patios and windowsills. 94

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solutions for a sustainable future

Small-scale farming is on the rise and has adopted a chic air of social responsibility.” Container gardening dates back to ancient civilization and has come a long way throughout the centuries. Modernday container gardeners have achieved unprecedented results using fabric aeration containers as a way to stimulate root growth and aerate the root zone to maximize crop yields. These containers are growing in popularity within the horticultural community as an alternative to traditional rigid containers such as plastic or clay pots and wooden planter boxes.

Water Conservation With water becoming a highly coveted commodity, conservation becomes crucial. Rainwater catchment systems can be implemented to harvest the gift that the cloudy heavens have to offer. Gray water systems can be installed to recycle water after it has served its purpose for household use. Gray water diverts water from the kitchen sink, faucets and the shower and then runs it through specialized filters to remove phosphates and particulate matter so it is safe for use on food crops. Reverse osmosis filters can then be used to remove dissolved solids if parts per million levels are high, while adding additional nutrients to the water.

Small-scale Farming Small-scale farming is on the rise and has adopted a chic air of social responsibility. Growing your own food is one way citizens can provide for themselves and introduce more nutritious ingredients into their diets, replacing the processed foodstuff our fast food nation has become addicted to. Beyond that, small-scale farming cultivates community, uniting friends, family, neighbors and strangers in ways only a garden can. Farmers’ markets and the barter system allow produce to be passed from the farm directly to the table, eliminating polluting transportation and preserving the integrity of the food.

A Final Note There are so many different ways to garden it is virtually impossible for people to claim they can’t. As the trend continues to snowball, more techniques, ideas and improvements will come to fruition. Growing their own will help people understand what goes into their bodies, raising awareness around issues such as genetically modified food, the organic movement, FDA regulations, preserving heirloom varieties, sustainable fair trade, health and wellness and protecting the Earth’s natural resources and delicate environment. So be a part of the solution—no excuses! Dig in. Get your nails dirty and your garden growing! 96

Maximum Yield USA | November 2013

Tips and Tricks

t s e 10 B

g n i r e at

Practices

Water provides the required hydrogen for plant growth and helps carry nutrients throughout the plant, but too much can prove deadly, and is one of the most common causes of death for indoor plants.

By Karen Wilkinson

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to watering—the amount and frequency of watering depends on the size of the pots and plants, as well as the amount of light. It may take a bit of experimenting to find the Goldilocks balance of just right between overwatering and under-watering, but once you’ve got that down, you can refine your technique and focus on other factors. While there are no hard and fast rules to watering, which really comes down to paying attention to a plant’s specific needs, your judgment can determine

whether you produce a healthy, bountiful crop, or one that you’d avoid showing to your closest friends. With that in mind, here are a few watering tips to keep your plants in great shape: Check for drainage:

This sounds like a no-brainer, but it can easily be overlooked when growing in pots. Without proper drainage, excess water stays in the base of the pot, causing root rot. If the drainage holes are too small, create larger ones by using a knife or other instrument.

“Using water that's been sitting also allows it to reach room temperature, which prevents shocking the root system with warm or cold water.”

100

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Start with a finger:

Before assuming your plants' needs, check the soil moisture with the handiest tool at your disposal—your finger. Feel the soil around your plants; ideally the top 2 to 3 in. are dry and the soil below is moist. If your garden is outdoors, check the weather forecast to see what's anticipated before watering. timing is everything:

It's best to water during the start of the daily photosynthesis period. Watering in the morning provides the best environment for plants to absorb water, especially during warm weather before the hot sun or winds evaporate the moisture. This protects the plants from wilting in the afternoon heat. If mornings aren't manageable, try watering in the late afternoon, but not too late, as the foliage needs time to dry before the sun goes down to prevent the development of fungal diseases.

to them losing the ability to uptake water. A sign of overwatering is foliage that begins to brown at the edges and falls from the plant. If that happens, take a step back and let the plants be. If growing outdoors, do not water every night unless the weather is really hot and dry. Humus helps:

Mixing in some hearty humus can provide water the material it needs to hang on to until your plants are thirsty. Depending on the type of soil used, more organic matter can increase the accessibility of water for your plants. Get the water just right:

Plants dislike water laden with chemicals and water that's too hot, too cold or distilled. The best way to prepare water is to let it stand

Deep and sparingly:

While seeds and seedlings need moisture close to the soil's surface, more established plants need the water to go deep to help develop roots that will go on to find water in the subsoil during droughts.

, Don t go overboard:

You want damp soil, but there's a fine line between not enough and too much. Overwatering is one of the most common causes of plant death. Avoid having soggy soil 5 to 6 in. below the surface, as waterlogged soil can deprive roots of oxygen, which can lead

“A sign of overwatering is foliage that begins to brown at the edges and falls from the plant.”

in an open container for a few days before use (especially if the water is high in chemical content). Using water that's been sitting also allows it to reach room temperature, which prevents shocking the root system with warm or cold water. While using distilled or boiled water isn't harmful to plants, it doesn't contain certain beneficial chemicals needed for growth. Finally, make sure the pH is balanced. Catch the rain:

Plants love rainwater because it is rich in nitrogen and other elements. Rainwater is a great change in diet, especially for indoor plants. Check the weight of the pot:

Lift each pot every time you water to get a sense of its weight (it is heaviest when

it's moist, it is lightest when it's dry). Over time this will become intuitive and you'll know when it's time to water based on the pot's weight. Pay extra attention during flowering:

You can positively influence a plant's potency by limiting the watering during this period. That said, you should also check how long after watering your plants start wilting, and regularly water them one day sooner. These tips are no replacement for common sense and regular maintenance, but keeping these things in mind will likely simplify the daily watering routine. Karen Wilkinson is a budding gardener with previous experience working in the hydroponics industry. Her background ranges from daily reporting and technical writing to marketing and promotions. After spending years living and working along California’s northern-most coast, she made her way to Sacramento, California, where she currently lives and breathes the yoga lifestyle, through practicing, teaching and working for a non-profit yoga organization.

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by Dr. Robert G. Linderman

The term mycorrhizae describes the symbiotic relationship between specialized soil fungi and the roots of most plants on Earth. In part one of his three-part series, Dr. Robert G. Linderman provides the straight scoop on mycorrhizal fungi and what they are good for.

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mycorrhizae

Greetings plant people! As a retired research plant pathologist, I have conducted research on diseases affecting ornamental and nursery crops for nearly 50 years and studied root diseases with the goal of developing an understanding of the role soil microbes play in plant growth and health. I help many growers better understand how to improve the quality and health of soil by highlighting the three interactive soil factors: soil chemistry, soil structure and soil microbiology. These three factors are like a three-legged stool that must be in balance for optimal results in growing plants. Currently, I am the science guy for two companies and consult with nurseries and other companies on the development of technology to apply beneficial microbes, such as mycorrhizal fungi and associated rhizobacteria, and contribute microbiological technology that will aid in achieving sustainability in agricultural crop production. My role within these companies is to develop and transfer knowledge to production staff and provide them guidance and methodology so we can continue to produce the highest quality mycorrhizal fungal inoculum and other organic bio-based products for crop production systems. This boils down to biological farming, both philosophically and functionally. The following article is part one of a three-part series that aims to give the straight story on the biology and application of mycorrhizal fungi. I start with a description of these amazing fungi, and in future articles I will address application technology and my views on information and misinformation that growers might have been given.

Types and benefits of mycorrhizae There are three main types of mycorrhizae:

• Ectomycorrhizae—for pine, fir, spruce, oak and eucalyptus • Endomycorrhizae (arbuscular mycorrhizae) —for most crop plants • Ericoid mycorrhizae—for blueberry, rhododendron, azalea, Pieris and cranberry

A plant

with mycorrhizae is physiologically altered due to biochemical changes that occur in the plant.”

What are mycorrhizae? The term mycorrhizae describes the symbiotic (living together with mutual benefit) relationship between specialized soil fungi and the roots of most plants on Earth. Myco = fungus, rhizo = root. These fungi have been associated with plant roots for 460 million years ever since plants began to grow in soil. Other soil microbes become associated with the mycorrhizal fungi in the rhizosphere soil—soil associated with and influenced by root exudates. Then, rhizosphere soil becomes mycorrhizosphere soil—soil influenced by both fungus and roots. The mycorrhizal fungi become the interface between soil and plant roots—the fungi colonize the roots internally, and the soil externally. Internally, the fungus becomes the interface where nutrient exchanges occur between the fungus and plant by direct contact of the fungus with the root cells: carbon energy from the plant to the fungus, and soil nutrients from the fungus to the host plant. A plant with mycorrhizae is physiologically altered due to biochemical changes that occur in the plant.

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Mycorrhizal spores.

Some plants, such as crucifers, the carnation family and sedges, do not form mycorrhizae. It is important to match host plants with the right kind of mycorrhizal fungi. The following is a list of benefits that refer to all three types of mycorrhizae, although some are more relevant to one type than the others:

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mycorrhizae

increased

Papaya plant response.

Improved root development: Any treatment that can enhance the rate and extent of root development will greatly affect the growth and health of the whole plant. The specific situations can be an increased rooting of cuttings, enhanced secondary root development and simply increased root biomass. The benefit then goes further in that the plant has more roots to be colonized by mycorrhizal fungi, which can impart even more benefits to the plant.

Improved transplant success: Many crops are transplanted into the field or larger containers for further growth. Frequently, transplant shock results in the failure of the transplant to survive or grow properly. It is now known that pre-inoculation of small transplants with mycorrhizal fungi can greatly improve transplant success into soils that may have one or more stress factors. The benefit of pre-inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi is often obvious.

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produce quality can be a significant benefit of having fully functional mycorrhizae as early in the production cycle as possible.”

Increased yield and quality: When mycorrhizae form early in the plant growth cycle, multiple benefits can greatly affect plant growth and health. A bigger, stronger root system supports a bigger and more robust above-ground plant. Physiologically, the plant has been modified in many ways, some of which may mean the plant will produce more. Depending on the plant, of course, the product may be more and larger onions or potatoes; larger, healthier trees or shrubs; or increased quantities or types of compounds produced within the plant tissues. Some of those chemical products account for increased resistance to plant diseases, others may be health-improving antioxidants or medicinal plant products. The literature is increasing with examples of such biochemical changes in plants with mycorrhizae as compared to plants without mycorrhizae. For food produce, such as onions or potatoes, the keeping quality of the produce is increased: onions are firmer and denser, and fruits are tastier. So, increased produce quality can be a significant benefit of having fully functional mycorrhizae as early in the production cycle as possible. To accomplish that, plants need to be inoculated in the early stages of that production cycle.

mycorrhizae

Drought tolerance on pepper.

Greater tolerance to soil-borne diseases: Growers of almost all crop plants can experience losses of plants or productivity due to the incidence and severity of root diseases caused by soil-borne fungal or nematode plant pathogens. This leads to the application of microbe-devastating soil fumigants or drench fungicides, many of which greatly suppress mycorrhizal fungi. Many published examples show that inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi can suppress root diseases by mechanisms that are still being explored. My own studies have indicated that when mycorrhizae form, there is an increase in the numbers of potential antagonists to the pathogens. The selective pressure for those antagonistic bacteria to increase in the soil around and influenced by roots (rhizosphere soil, now called the mycorrhizosphere soil, influenced by both the roots and the mycorrhizal fungal strands) is distinctly greater than rhizosphere soil around roots that are not mycorrhizal. The net result is that plants with mycorrhizae have less root disease than plants without, due to the increased antagonistic potential of the soil to pathogens.

Improved soil structure due to aggregation: When mycorrhizae form, the symbiotic fungus colonizes the roots internally, but then grows out into the soil, creating a huge fungal biomass in the soil. The fungal strands (called hyphae for AM or ericoid mycorrhizal fungi, or hyphae and rhizomorphs [rope-like strands] for ectomycorrhizae) explore a large volume of soil for nutrients and water to support themselves and their host plant partner. Those hyphae produce a sticky material that binds small soil particles or aggregates into larger macro-aggregates that greatly improve aeration in the soil and enhance potential for water or nutrients to move down into the soil profile. Thus, soil tilth is improved. 110

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Improved fertilizer-use efficiency: Many studies have shown that mycorrhizal fungi greatly expand the absorptive capacity of the root system by means of the soil-penetrating fungal strands that can mine the soil for more distant and soil-bound nutrients like phosphorus (P), copper (Cu) or zinc (Zn). Those essential nutrients would not be available to the plants without the help of mycorrhizal fungi. So, when P is limited, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi can explore a huge volume of soil, acquire the P and transport it to the root via the hyphal stands.

Improved tolerance to soil drought: When water becomes limited due to drought conditions, plants with mycorrhizae consistently fair better than plants without mycorrhizae. The mechanisms for that effect are at least two-fold: improved absorptive capacity of water from the soil by the fungi, and altered plant physiology that increases the drought tolerance of the plant.

Improved tolerance to soil toxicities (salinity): Salinity can be a plant growth-limiting factor in soil, as a result of salt accumulation from irrigation practices and application of fertilizers. When the salt level exceeds an EC

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of 4, most plants will suffer and exhibit a growth reduction and decreased yield and quality of produce. Many studies have shown that plants with mycorrhizae tolerate soil salinity better than plants without mycorrhizae.

Coming Up Next Time

Transplantability.

In my next article for Maximum Yield, I will address the range of application methods in terms of placement and amounts of inoculum, product quality evaluation and cultural practices that may reduce or negate the benefits from inoculation. I will consider some of the information and misinformation out there and how to evaluate the impact of mycorrhizae formation by assays and analyses we offer to customers. Photos submitted.

beginner’s corner

Enjoy Fresh Sprouts and Micro-greens During Winter How to Grow and What to Know: — by Matt LeBannister —

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The following article is a great primer on how to start growing sprouts and micro-greens over the winter months. It’s easy to do and the results taste great! The winter months can be hard on us all, especially gardeners. The summer months brought sunshine and healthy plants, and autumn gave us a great harvest. Many outdoor subsistence gardeners don’t have indoor gardens. Sprouts and micro-greens are a great way to add some homegrown nutrition that preserved garden fruit and vegetables cannot. Sprouts and micro-greens are rich in enzymes, chlorophyll and nutrients, and they can be easily grown indoors inexpensively without lights, nutrients or a complex hydroponic system. Here’s what you’ll need to start growing your own delicious, nutritious sprouts at home: 1 quart-sized mason or canning jar 1 canning ring 1 sprouting screen (a stainless steel mesh screen to fit over the mouth of the jar)  Seeds for your favorite sprouts such as broccoli, soy beans or radishes  Non-chlorinated water  A dark place   

To start your sprouts and micro-greens off right, pour 2 to 3 tbsp. of sprout seeds into the jar. Then, place the sprout screen over the mouth and use the canning ring to fix it in place. Add 16 to 24 oz. (2 to 3 c.) of non-chlorinated water into your jar. Swirl or stir the water to rinse the seeds, then drain. Then pour another 16 to 24 oz. of non-chlorinated, pH-balanced water into the jar and let the seeds soak overnight in a dark place. In the morning, drain the water from the jar by tipping the jar. The canning screen will keep the seeds from falling out. Repeat the process of adding non-chlorinated, pH-balanced water, rinsing and draining. Make sure you drain as much water as possible. You can place the jar screen-side down in a dish drying rack or on a dishtowel for more than 30 minutes to allow excess water to drain. Do not leave the mouth of the jar covered for too long as it will limit air circulation and lead to potential mold or fungal issues. Over the next three to seven days you will need to repeat the process of adding 16 to 24 oz. of non-chlorinated, pHbalanced water, rinsing, draining, and putting the jar screenside down. The seeds will germinate and sprouts will begin to grow (get a little bit larger each day). The sprouts and microgreens will eventually fill the jar and turn green.

Once the sprouts have reached a level of growth that you are satisfied with, you must stop adding water. This will slow or stop further growth and help prevent spoiling. Make sure the sprouts are relatively dry and then place them in the fridge. If properly dried and refrigerated, the sprouts and microgreens will stay fresh for four to seven days. Now it is time to eat your delicious, healthy and fresh sprouts and micro-greens. They go great in salads, on sandwiches, as garnishes on soup and other dishes, or in stir-fries. When it comes to enjoying your homegrown sprouts and micro-greens, the possibilities are endless. Growing your own sprouts and micro-greens indoors throughout winter has never been simpler. All you need are some seeds, a mason jar, a seed screen and a desire to grow delicious, fresh sprouts all year round.

"Sprouts and micro-greens are a great way to add some homegrown nutrition that preserved garden fruit and vegetables cannot."

Matt LeBannister developed a green thumb as a child, having been born into a family of experienced gardeners. During his career, he has managed a hydroponic retail store and represented leading companies at the Indoor Gardening Expos as a marketer. Matt has been writing articles for Maximum Yield since 2007.

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by Kyle Ladenburger

Small-leafed shamrocks are great plants to own and can live for many years. They are easy to grow, make an excellent addition to any plant collection and are easily gifted to others. Shamrocks can even be sold for a handsome profit. Best of all, they are easy enough for any level of gardener to propagate.

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There have been times in my life when I have known that what I was doing was truly the right thing. Times when my actions needed no affirmation from others for me to know, right down in my heart, that they were not only right, but important. These moments can happen anywhere at any time—at work or at home, volunteering or doing a hobby. When something is right, it just feels good. And one activity that has given me this feeling since the first time I tried it is growing and propagating shamrocks. Shamrocks (Oxalis species) are small trifoliate (leaf structure having three parts) plants with delicate little flowers that bloom on a nearly continual basis. Shamrocks grow well in containers and make excellent houseplants that can be placed either indoors or out, depending on the season. These plants are a true pleasure to own and their popularity is on the rise. It seems to me that five or six years ago, it was a rare treat to see a shamrock in a retail setting, but now they are at every garden center and farmers’ market I visit. I am not surprised at how popular these plants have become.

I got my first shamrock when I was 20 years old, as a gift from my grandmother, and it is one of the most visually appealing plants I have ever owned. During the daylight hours the leaves stand erect on slender stems that lean aggressively towards the light. At night the leaves fold downward and stay

“These plants are a true pleasure to own and their popularity is on the rise.” closed firmly together. My first shamrock has been with me for eight years and four houses and I now have two plants, one green and one purple. When the shamrocks start to get crowded in the pots, I simply split them up and give some away as gifts. It’s a fun and easy way to share the plant with friends or even sell them at a place like a farmers’ market.

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growing shamrocks Propagation of a shamrock can be done one of two ways. They can be started from seed, but asexual reproduction is the method most growers use. Asexual reproduction (a mode of reproduction by which offspring arise from a single parent) of a shamrock plant is done by dividing or separating the rhizomes from one plant and then replanting them. Rhizomes are similar to plant bulbs and are found just beneath the soil. This is a relatively easy procedure that doesn’t take very long to complete. First, carefully remove the shamrock, rhizomes and all, from its current pot. Remove any excess growing medium that may still be attached to the rhizomes and gently separate them. The rhizomes are not connected to one another and will separate easily. Prepare new containers with your choice of growing medium, provide shamrocks with a well-draining soil for the best results and plant the separated rhizomes with the pointed ends facing upwards. Be sure the rhizomes aren’t planted too deep and leave only the top of each uncovered.

“be sure to keep the shamrock’s soil continuously moist but not soaking.” Lightly cover the exposed part of the rhizome with more growing medium and water thoroughly. If the newly planted rhizomes still have shamrock stems and leaves attached, they will droop until the rhizomes begin to root and establish themselves. I would advise removing any remaining top growth prior to replanting the rhizomes. New growth should appear in a few days after planting. When caring for a growing shamrock, pay attention to a few key conditions. The first is light requirements. Shamrocks prefer moderate to bright sunlight. If the stems appear to be stretching and the leaf growth is stunted, this may mean that the plant needs more light. When watering, be sure to keep the shamrock’s soil continuously moist but not soaking. Shamrocks do not grow well during prolonged dry periods. A welldrained growing medium will allow the grower to water frequently while avoiding the potential of over saturation, which can cause serious problems in the root zone. 118

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growing shamrocks Breathable Wall. A breath of fresh air. Rigid breathable blackout material you can build with. Get full air flow when your light dep tarps are covering your greenhouse. For indoor and greenhouse ventilating needs. Herb-based plant super food. Inoculated with beneficial bacteria and endomycorrhizae. With kelp, humates, micro nutrients, and sugars.

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When watering a shamrock, allow the water to drain thoroughly from the holes in the bottom of the container. Never let the shamrock sit in standing water. Shamrocks grow best when fertilized once a month. A general purpose fertilizer such as a 10-10-10 will work just fine. Like other bulb plants, shamrocks can have a dormancy period. About twice a year the leaves can become wilted and the plant may look like it is dying. When this happens, the grower can cut back on watering, remove the dying leaves, and soon enough the plant will be growing strong again. Personally, I don’t allow my shamrocks to go into their dormant stage and they grow well all year round. Growth may slow down at times but it doesn’t seem to affect the overall health and vigor of the plants. It is up to each individual grower as to whether to allow the dormancy stage or not.

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Growing and propagating shamrocks is a great way for novice plant owners to get used to dealing with a plant that can be split apart to form new ones. Shamrocks should be divided about every year or two. They make wonderful gifts and can also be sold for profit. They are great plants to own and can live for many years. Shamrocks make an excellent addition to any plant collection. They are both elegant and whimsical at the same time. As I stated earlier, the leaves close tight together when the sun goes down: a pleasurable event to witness in the evenings. And, in honor of these great little plants, I would like to close with an expression of mine: “When the day is done and out of sight, they close their eyes and say good night.”

Growing For Health

c i o Her id

c A c i m Hu by Russell Landry

Just what exactly is that black powdery stuff growers are often asked to put in their soil, and how does it work? Here is master gardener Best results Russell Landry with an are obtained using explanation on natural ancient humic acid.

deposits of humus materials that are rich in both humic and fulvic acids."

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Humic acid is often referred to as a natural plant-growth stimulator that increases plant metabolism and nutrient intake and improves plant development. These are pretty tall claims for any natural supplement; however, humic acid is one of the major components of organic matter found within nature’s most fertile soils. There are many types of natural humic acid

amendment products used today. They are often found in granular or liquid form and are dark brown. Humic acid and its cousins, fulvic acid and humus, can be found in most soils, marsh water courses and boggy peat moss areas. These organic compounds can also be found overlying the earth’s coal deposits (leonardite) in various forms and compositions. They are the end result of years of decaying plant organic matter that has been continually broken down by microbes from its prior humus forms. Humic acid is one of the best natural chelating products Mother Nature

offers. It not only raises cation exchange capacity (CEC) or nutrient-holding capacity of soil, it also holds calcium and other micronutrients in forms that are easy for plants to uptake. Humic acid contains numerous negatively charged anions that attract or hold onto positively charged cations in the soil. The cations growers are concerned with include a host of micro elements good for growing plants, with calcium, ammonium, magnesium and iron among the most important. This chelation of cations is probably the most important role of humic acid with respect to boosting plant production and fruit and vegetable yields. The CEC of the most popular brands of humic acid is in the range of 500 to 600 milliequivalents per 100 grams. This is about five times greater than the CEC of highquality peat moss and twice as high as the CEC of soil humus. Best results are obtained using natural ancient deposits of humus materials that are rich in both humic and fulvic acids. Humic acid also prevents calcium and other positively charged micro cations leaching from the soil by binding them to the soil’s molecules. It allows mycorrhizal fungi to flourish and easily colonize plant roots by providing nutrients in an easy-to-open storage bin. The fungi easily garner and exchange other elements and thus share their required nutrients by transporting them directly into the root zone. In the case of boosting yields, the increased uptake of nutrients is perhaps the greatest benefit of humic acid.

In a sense, mycorrhizal fungi is the factory that processes the elements that are mined from the humic acid then shipped on the way to the roots assembly factory. Although plant roots perform a similar job, fungi can tap into a wider reaching distribution network. Enhancing the products in the plant’s root system and network often results in increased yields. Humic acid is ultimately a worthwhile investment when considering adding enhancements to your soil. It is one of the best natural sources of organic matter a grower could want. Fulvic acid, humic acid’s cousin, is a more concentrated, smaller-particle form of the acid blends usually found in liquid form. It is referred to as a plant growth booster that increases plant metabolism and improves root development by also increasing nutrient intake. It is naturally produced in soil by composting or after years of organic matter decay. Fulvic acid can rejuvenate soil and is an excellent supplement to fertilizers. It is also used to improve nutrient absorption and also to raise the CEC of soil. Does adding humic or fulvic acid to your soil work? Drive by a nearby marsh or wetland and find out for yourself. Mucky soils found in marshy and low wetlands are often used to grow vegetables. Marshy and swampy drained soils are rich in both acids and are some of the most productive areas on the planet. Thanks largely to the accumulation of the humic and fulvic built up in the soil over millennia, growers are able to easily boost their yields.

Humic acid is one of the best natural chelating products Mother Nature offers."

Russell Landry is the former vice president of the Great Pumpkin Commonwealth and its competitive weigh-off sites held worldwide. He is now the current president of the Giant Vegetable Growers of Ontario (gvgo.ca). Russ grows giant pumpkins, tomatoes and squash. He has written numerous articles featuring methods to increase vegetable size and fruit yield.

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Optimal Nutrient Reservoir Parameters Understanding the heart

by Eric Hopper of your hydroponic system Getting the nutrient solution just right for the plants it will feed is important to ensure a successful, thriving garden. Read on to learn all about how to make your nutrient reservoir the best it can be.

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nutrient reservoir parameters Many indoor horticulturists store a large volume of nutrient solution in a reservoir until it is needed by their plants. For hydroponic growers, these reservoirs are the heart of their systems, delivering nutrition and dissolved oxygen to the plant’s roots. Many soil growers take advantage of nutrient reservoirs as well. Soil gardens with many containers require a lot of water. Using a nutrient reservoir makes it easier and

“water’s ability to hold oxygen is directly related to its temperature.” more practical to deliver a consistent nutrient solution to all the plants in the garden. Whether a grower is using the reservoir for soil or hydroponics, there are several parameters that should be followed to ensure the nutrient solution contains adequate essential elements and dissolved oxygen, and maintains a consistent pH for maximum nutrient absorption.

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Temperature

The temperature of a nutrient solution in a reservoir is one of the most important factors affecting the dissolved oxygen content of the solution. In fact, water’s ability to hold oxygen is directly related to its temperature. As the temperature of the water (or the nutrient solution) gets warmer, the dissolved oxygen potential decreases. As the temperature of the water gets colder, the dissolved oxygen potential increases. Since oxygen is good for the plant’s roots, a grower should try to have the coldest nutrient solution possible, right? Well, not exactly. If the temperature gets too cold, a whole new set of problems are created. Temperatures that are too cold will cause the plant’s growth to slow and eventually stop altogether.

nutrient reservoir parameters Most indoor horticulturists experience nutrient reservoir temperatures that are too warm. This causes a decreased dissolved oxygen content, which allows anaerobic pathogens to make their home. Pythium, or root rot, is the most common pathogen that plagues the indoor grower with warm nutrient reservoir temperatures. The optimal temperature for a nutrient reservoir is 63 to 72°F. Within this temperature range, the dissolved oxygen content is high and the temperature is warm enough to facilitate nutrient uptake.

It may be necessary for a grower to employ one or more devices to make sure the nutrient reservoir stays in the desired temperature range. Submersible titanium heaters are a great way to keep temperatures from dropping below the desired range. Many of these heaters come equipped with a thermostat, which makes this a set-it-andforget-it device. For growers experiencing reservoir temperatures that are rising above the desired range, a water chiller is the best automated device to remedy this problem. Water chillers are like air conditioners but are made for cooling water instead of air. The water from the reservoir is recirculated through the water chiller, which cools the nutrient solution’s temperature. A dedicated pump is usually required for a water chiller to operate most efficiently. However, growers experiencing excessive heat should be aware that the chiller unit, much like an air conditioner, will create heat as waste. Some growers remedy this by placing the chiller in a separate room. This way the heat generated by the chiller won’t be absorbed by the nutrient solution in the reservoir, creating a counterproductive process.

“By filling a two-liter plastic bottle with water and freezing it, a grower can fix a hot reservoir in a pinch.”

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nutrient reservoir parameters Growers who intermittently experience heat issues in their reservoirs can implement the ice-bottle technique. By filling a two-liter plastic bottle with water and freezing it, a grower can fix a hot reservoir in a pinch. Another plastic bottle can be put in the freezer so the two can be rotated as needed. In some cases, removing the reservoir from the actual garden area is all a grower needs to do to control the heat. HID lighting creates a lot of radiant heat which, if the reservoir is in the garden room, can be absorbed by the nutrient solution. Many hydroponic growers will create “control rooms” where the reservoir is stored. This allows for heightened control over all the reservoir parameters. Submersible or inline pumps deliver the nutrient solution to the garden room(s) as needed.

“The best way a grower can replace the oxygen in the solution is to somehow aerate the reservoir.”

Dissolved Oxygen Content

The temperature of the nutrient solution determines how much oxygen the water can hold, but how do growers replace the oxygen that is used by the plants? The best way a grower can replace the oxygen in the solution is to somehow aerate the reservoir. As long as the reservoir’s surface tension is continually agitated, the solution will be absorbing oxygen. This can be done a few different ways. One of the most common ways is to use an air pump with an air diffuser (air stone). Air pumps should operate 24 hours a day to provide a constant supply of air (oxygen) to the reservoir. As long as the nutrient solution’s temperature is kept in the desired range, the air pump and diffuser will be more than sufficient to replace the dissolved oxygen used by the plants.

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Potential Hydrogen (pH)

Another huge determining factor of plant performance in any garden is the nutrient solution’s pH. The pH of the solution basically determines the solubility of each nutrient. Growers experiencing pH fluctuations out of the desired range run the risk of hindered growth or, worse, nutrient lockout. Unlike temperature, the optimal pH for a nutrient solution depends on the particular medium that the grower is using. For growers using soil, the optimal pH range is 6.5 to 6.8. For growers using hydroponic systems, the optimal pH range is a little more acidic and comes in at 5.5 to 5.8. These pH ranges are where all the essential elements are available for absorption.

“The pH of the solution basically determines the solubility of each nutrient.” The best way a grower can be sure the nutrient solution’s pH stays in the desired range is to continuously monitor it. This is especially true right after nutrient changes or the addition of nutrient additives to the reservoir. Usually the pH will stabilize in a few hours after a change has been made to the solution. At that time growers can adjust the solution’s pH with the help of pH buffers (pH Up and pH Down).

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nutrient reservoir parameters

Nutrient Concentration

Unfortunately, the optimal concentration of a nutrient solution is an arbitrary number— many factors will determine the optimal nutrient concentration for any given system. The plant variety, stage of growth, amount of light energy and type of growing system will all dramatically affect the optimal nutrient concentration. Nutrient monitors are a must-have tool for any serious indoor horticulturist. With a nutrient monitor and a little experimentation, any grower can find the optimal nutrient concentration. For beginner growers, it is wise to start fertilizing at a lower dosage than recommended by the manufacturer. From there, incremental increases can be made until the optimal concentration is found. Close attention should be paid to the plants as the concentration of the nutrients is increased. Any sign of burning on the outer edge of the leaves is a good indicator that the concentration is on the verge of being too potent.

“For beginner growers, it is wise to start fertilizing at a lower dosage than recommended by the manufacturer.” By keeping the nutrient reservoir parameters in check, a grower guarantees that the nutrient solution delivered to the plants is optimal. With the proper reservoir setup, including monitoring and automation devices, growers can get the most out of their nutrient solutions (and their gardens). A grower who understands the way variables are affected in a nutrient reservoir is better able to make proactive decisions regarding the reservoir. After all, the nutrient solution is literally the food and water source for the entire garden. A grower who masters the parameters of the nutrient reservoir is one step closer to mastering indoor horticulture as a whole. 134

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Reasons 10 m e t s y S c i n o Aqu a p

The Top

by Sylvia Bernstein

Why Your

Isn’t Cycling

Having trouble getting your aquaponic system to cycle? Consult Sylvia Bernstein’s following checklist to help identify the problem and start cycling successfully. 136

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why your aquaponics system isn’t cycling I’ve recently written two articles for Maximum Yield on starting up (cycling) your aquaponic system both with and without fish. Establishing the nitrogen cycle is the hardest, most frustrating, part of aquaponics, in part because the activity is all invisible to the naked eye. We hope the nitrifying bacteria are finding our system, and then moving in and reproducing, but the only way we know what is happening is through sometimes subtle changes of color in a test kit test tube. And when that test tube stays the same color day after day, sometimes week after week, it is frustrating. Over the past few years of handling customer calls about cycling, I’ve developed a checklist of what to ask to help people identify the problem and cycle successfully. Hopefully you will see the solution to your own cycling mystery somewhere on this list.

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Temperature During the colder months of the year, this temperature is the number one issue we see, especially with people who are cycling without fish. The optimal temperature for bacteria reproduction is between 77 to 86°F. At 64°F their growth rate is decreased by 50%. This means the rate at which you cycle will be twice as long as it would be with warmer temperatures. Even if you plan on growing cold or cooler water fish once you are fully cycled, do yourself and your bacteria a favor and heat the water now.

pH Too Low We had a call just recently from someone who had spent two months cycling with no trace of nitrites or nitrates. The average temperature of his system was between 65 and 70°F, so that could have had something to do with it, but when we asked him what his pH was, he said 4.0! That is essentially an acid bath and there is no way that the nitrifying bacteria are going to colonize in that kind of environment. Bacteria actually prefer a pH closer to 8.0. While this is too high for your plants to be happy, during cycling the bacteria are the main focus so targeting a higher pH than you will want during the rest of your system’s life makes sense. As an aside, if you are using the API Freshwater Master Test Kit, and you see a reading of 6.0 that means that your water is at 6.0 or below. You might want to find another means to test to an even lower range to see what your actual, true pH reading is.

do yourself

and your bacteria a favor and heat the water now.”

why your aquaponics system isn’t cycling

Chlorine This chemical is added to municipal water supplies for sterilization (i.e., to kill bacteria). It is easy to remove because it dissipates from the water as a gas. If you don’t already have a de-chlorinating filter on your incoming water supply, you can get rid of chlorine by simply holding the water in a separate tank for a day or two. Oxygenating the water using an aerator will speed up the process. Or you can use an additive that will de-chlorinate your water—just be sure that it doesn’t have any sodium as most of the de-chlorinating solutions made for aquariums do.

Chloramine While you can assume your city water supply has chlorine in it, chloramine (derivative of ammonia by substitution of one, two or three hydrogen atoms with chlorine atoms) is rare and is also much more difficult to get rid of. There are two ways that I know of. The first is a double mechanical filtration method where you send the water through both a charcoal filter and a reverse osmosis filter. The second is to remove it chemically by adding a product such as ChloramX. If you are using the chemical method, you should do this in a separate holding tank before the water enters your aquaponic system.

Stop Adding Ammonia The next problem we see only occurs during fish-less cycling, and the scenario unfolds as follows: you add enough ammonia to reach 4.0 ppm then you start testing your system every day. After a while the ammonia disappears and nitrites show up. Good news! The problem starts, however, when you don’t replenish the ammonia. Think of the ammonia as food that you set out to attract the first set of nitrifying bacteria (nitrosomonas), and those bacteria come to the party bringing the food (nitrites) for the second set of bacteria (nitrospira). If the food runs out, the party is over and everyone goes home. You need to keep up a steady supply of ammonia in the front end of the process to keep everyone happily reproducing and colonizing your system. That steady supply can come either from an ammonia compound or from the addition of fish to your system.

you can get

rid of chlorine by simply holding the water in a separate tank for a day or two.”

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why your aquaponics system isn’t cycling

Too Much Ammonia Some aquapons believe that ammonia levels higher than 6 ppm will actually retard the cycling process. Some don’t. I have yet to form a strong opinion either way, but I thought I would add it to the list of possibilities.

Sterile Environment Occasionally we find a system that is being started in an indoor environment so shut off from outside air and a natural supply of nitrifying bacteria that it will never cycle on its own without the addition of purchased bacteria. I’ve seen this problem occur both in schools and when people are growing in interior rooms of their house.

the good news

is that once you are fully cycled, you can safely add fish and plants and will never need to go through this again!”

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Lack of Oxygen

Nitrifying bacteria are aerobic. The more oxygen you have flowing through your system, the faster your system will cycle. Be aware that this is challenged by my first point. Liquids at higher temperatures have a harder time holding gas, so if you are heating your water to encourage bacteria growth, be sure to pump up the oxygen as well.

Time Cycling is a natural process we can certainly encourage by establishing favorable conditions, but after that, Mother Nature is on her own schedule. You might be doing everything right, and the bacteria just need a bit more time.

You Really Are Cycled, You Just Don’t Know It This is my favorite, because it is so easy to fix and the customer is usually delighted to discover that their problem was not really a problem at all. The instructions for your test kit need to be followed to the letter. If you don’t follow them, you won’t get accurate readings. The nitrate test is by far the most complex in the API Master Aquarium Test Kit, and therefore the most likely to tell you that you don’t have any nitrates when in fact you actually do. Read, and carefully follow, instructions! Or get a hold of a digital meter like the Hanna Instrument Nitrate Checker and say goodbye to complex instructions and color chart comparisons. Cycling an aquaponic system can be a trying time, but the good news is that once you are fully cycled, you can safely add fish and plants and will never need to go through this again! Good luck.

Photosynthesis, Photoperiodism & Prolonging the Season by Grubbycup

Manipulating the light that plants are exposed to can allow gardeners to grow plants out of sync with their normal growing seasons.Grubbycup has the details ... 144

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prolonging the season

Light is used by plants for photosynthesis, in some cases to signal flowering. Plants that use light as a signal for flowering can sometimes be manipulated using light to induce flowering out of season. Photosynthesis converts energy, water and carbon dioxide to carbohydrates (used for plant growth) and oxygen. Light energy is collected by chloroplasts in leaves, which contain chlorophyll pigments. These pigments appear green because they absorb red and violet-blue light, and reflect green light, giving most plant leaves a green appearance. The chlorophyll pigment itself is made of carbon, nitrogen and magnesium. Plants without enough access to nitrogen or magnesium suffer from diminished photosynthesis. The energy from the collected light is used to convert water and phosphorous containing chemicals to create nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH), adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and oxygen gas (O2). The oxygen gas is vented off though stomates (holes in the leaf structure). NADPH and ATP are used by the reactions that follow as an energy source.

“ Carbohydrates added to the nutrient solution are used to encourage fungal and bacterial growth.” In carbon fixation, carbon dioxide from the air is incorporated with ribulose bisphosphate(RuBP) in a process known as the Calvin cycle. Using ATP and NADPH, the resulting compounds are then reduced to form carbohydrates. These carbohydrates are then used for plant growth. Light, temperature and the amount of available carbon dioxide are all factors in the photosynthetic reaction. Since photosynthesis is so important to plant growth, it behoves the gardener to make sure these three resources are available and within the range of plant tolerance. The reactions above can be simplified to 6H2O + 6CO2 --> C6H12O6 + 6O2 (6 water and 6 carbon dioxide forming 1 sugar and 6 oxygen). 146

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“Light energy is collected by chloroplasts in leaves, which contain chlorophyll pigments.” Since not only water, but also carbon dioxide is a requirement for photosynthesis, it must be available. Luckily, there is a fair amount (400 ppm and growing) of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere already, so simply making sure fresh air is available to the plant will meet the minimum requirements for growth. With indoor gardens, additional CO2 (if used) is usually generated by chemical reaction, combustion, biological reaction or slowly released from pressurized tanks. Carbon dioxide pads use a chemical reaction that is activated with moisture. Small gas fires can be used to create CO2 by burning them. Fungi (especially oyster mushrooms) often produce CO2 as part of their life cycle (look for future isuues of Maximum Yield for more on this principle). Another alternative is pressurized CO2 tanks, which can be used with a regulator to slowly release their contents into a garden area. As a side note, adding carbohydrates directly to a nutrient solution does not increase the amount of sugars available to the plant for growth. Carbohydrates added to the nutrient solution are used to encourage fungal and bacterial growth in and around the root system.

prolonging the season

In some plants, light is used not only as an energy source for growth, but the duration of the dark periods can signal when a plant should flower. Photoperiodism in plants refers to the length of the dark period being the determining factor in triggering flowering. In an unfortunate miscalculation by earlier botonists, the terms “short day” and “long day” were chosen to describe plants that are photodependant for flowering. A better way to refer to them would be “long night” and “short night” plants, since it is actually the length of the dark periods, and not the length of the light periods that trigger flowering. The presence or absence of light is detected by a type of photoreceptor known as a phytochrome (and in some cases a photoreceptor known as cryptochrome). Red lightabsorbing phytochromes (Pr) will turn into far red light absorbing phytochromes (Pfr) in the presence of red light. To reverse the reaction, Pfr will convert back into Pr over time in darkness (or under far red light). The ratio of Pr to Pfr will indicate how long the dark periods are. If much of the Pr has been converted to Pfr then the plant has been in light for a long time. If a lot of the Pfr has converted back into Pr, then the plant has been in uninterrupted darkness for a long time. Since the reaction to start converting Pr into Pfr takes only a short while, only a brief interruption of the dark period is needed to raise Pfr levels high enough to prevent the flower trigger in long night plants.

light is used not only as an energy source for growth, but the duration of the dark periods can signal when a plant should flower.”

Short day/long night plants such as chrysanthemums will flower in fall or spring (and winter), whereas long day/short night plants such as California poppies will flower in summer. Some plants like tomatoes are “day neutral” and use a different mechanism to trigger flowering (such as chronological age). In outdoor gardens, spring, fall and winter all have longer nights than the short nights of summer. Short day/long night plants bulk up during the growth stage of summer until the longer nights of fall trigger flowering. If these plants are set outside too early in the spring, when the nights are long, they take a cue from the long nights to start flowering.

“Photoperiodism in plants refers to the length of the dark period being the determining factor in triggering flowering.” The four seasons are important for plants that use the length of darkness (night) to trigger flowering. Winter Solstice is around Dec. 21, and marks the day of the year that has the longest night (take note that the dates given are reversed south of the equator, where midsummer occurs in December and midwinter is in June). While in many areas the cold of winter prevents outdoor gardening, it is an excellent time for indoor gardening, as cooler outdoor temperatures usually make indoor lighting heat issues easier to cope with. The Spring Equinox is around March 20, when day-night approaches 12-12. Depending on the date of last frost, some areas can use photoperiodism-triggered plants for an early spring harvest. The Summer Solstice is around June 22 and has the longest day and shortest night. Artificially lit gardens often use light-to-dark periods of 18 hours on and six hours

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prolonging the season off to simulate this lighting condition and prevent flowering in long night plants. The Autumn Equinox is around Sept. 22, when the longer nights and shorter days again approach 12-12. This is the traditional fall harvest season. As the weather cools, keep an eye out for bud rot and other fungal diseases, which can thrive in the moist, cool fall. To replicate seasonal lighting indoors for long night plants, many gardeners use zero to six hours of darkness to simulate the short nights of summer, encouraging short night plants to grow and develop without flowering. When the plants have developed sufficiently, the dark periods are increased to 12 hours or so, giving them long nights and triggering flowering. The reverse is done for short night plants, where they put on size during long nights and bloom under short ones. With even a basic understanding of photosynthesis and photoperiodism, lights, cold frames and greenhouses can be used to manipulate the light that the plant is exposed to. By covering the plants at dusk and/or dawn with an opaque covering, nights can be extended. To shorten the dark periods, electric lights can be added to interrupt long nights. Many photoperiod-dependent plants can be grown out of sync with their normal growing season using these two techniques, allowing for harvest times to be manipulated while still taking advantage of outdoor lighting as the primary growth light source. (The lights used to interrupt dark periods are usually not bright enough to encourage much growth but are high enough to convert the Pr back to Pfr and prevent flowering). Have a question for the author regarding this topic? Email editor@maximumyield.com

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To replicate seasonal lighting indoors for long night plants, many gardeners use zero to six hours of darkness to simulate the short nights of summer, encouraging short night plants to grow and develop without flowering.â&#x20AC;?

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Green Thumb Gardening

Winter Care for by Heather Rhoades

Nothing adds a lovely exotic flair to your garden quite like a tropical hibiscus. While hibiscus will do fine outdoors in the summer in most areas, they need to be protected in the winter. Wintering hibiscus is easy to do. Let’s look at the steps for hibiscus winter care. Who should be overwintering hibiscus? If where you live gets more than a few days a year below freezing (32°F), you should store your hibiscus indoors for the winter.

Indoor locations for hibiscus winter care Hibiscus is not picky when it comes to indoor storage. Keep in mind, when you take care of a hibiscus indoors, their summertime, flower-covered glory will quickly fade. Unless you have an atrium or greenhouse, your hibiscus will most likely start to look less than stellar before spring returns. It is best to find a place to care for the hibiscus that will be out of the way—as long as you are wintering hibiscus in a place that stays warmer than 50°F, gets some light and is in an area where you will remember to water it.

Watering tips for care for hibiscus in the winter The first thing to remember about hibiscus winter care is that hibiscus in the winter will need less water than it does in the summer. While watering is essential to your year-round care for hibiscus, in the winter, you should only water the plant when the soil is dry to the touch. If you water more than this, you may damage the roots. This will cause a significant number of yellow leaves on your hibiscus. 152

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Are those yellow leaves normal?

Watering

You can expect to see a moderate amount of yellow leaves on your hibiscus when you take care of a hibiscus indoors over the winter. This is normal, and the plant is acting normally. If all the leaves have fallen off but the branches are still pliable, your hibiscus has just gone into full dormancy. At this time, you may want to place it in a cool, dark place and allow it to stay dormant. These yellow leaves are why you will want to find an out-of-theway place to care for hibiscus trees in the winter. But, the benefit for taking the time to take care of a hibiscus over the winter is that you will have a larger and lovelier plant in the summer than you could ever buy in the store.

When a hibiscus is in its blooming stage, they require large amounts of water. Your hibiscus will need daily watering in warm weather. But once the weather cools, your hibiscus needs far less water—too much water can kill it. In the winter, water your hibiscus only when the soil is dry to the touch.

How to care for hibiscus plants in general Growing hibiscus is an easy way to add a tropical flair to your garden. When you know how to care for hibiscus plants, you will be rewarded with many years of lovely flowers. Let’s look at some tips on how to care for hibiscus.

“Hibiscus is not picky when it comes to indoor storage. Keep in mind, when you take care of a hibiscus indoors, their summertime, flower-covered glory will quickly fade.”

Fertilizing A growing hibiscus plant needs lots of nutrients to bloom well. In the summer, use a high potassium fertilizer. You can either use a diluted liquid fertilizer one a week, a slow release fertilizer once a month or you can add a high potassium compost to the soil. In the winter, you do not need to fertilize at all.

In conclusion These are the basics for how to care for hibiscus plants in your garden. As you can see, they are an easy maintenance, high-impact flower that will make a garden in any part of the world look like a tropical paradise. This article was originally published on gardeningknowhow.com

Choose a container Many people who are growing a hibiscus plant choose to do so in a container. This allows them to move the hibiscus plant to ideal locations, depending on the time of year. A hibiscus prefers a cozy fit when growing in a container. This means the plant should be slightly root bound in its pot and when you do decide to repot, only give the hibiscus a little bit more room. Always make sure that your growing hibiscus plant has excellent drainage.

Temperatures When you care for a hibiscus, you should remember that a hibiscus flowers best in temperatures between 60 to 90°F and cannot tolerate temps below 32°F. In the summer, your hibiscus plant can go outside, but once the weather starts to get near freezing, it is time for you to bring your hibiscus indoors.

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A Sea of Green Basil by stephen kasas

Growing basil year round indoors is a cost-effective way of making your own pesto. Give it a try by using this guide from Stephen Kasas and you’ll soon be swimming in a sea of green.

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a sea of green basil

Stephen’s basil. Photo submitted.

Good pesto, a sauce which traditionally consists of crushed garlic, basil and European pine nuts blended with olive oil and cheese, is hard to find, and when you do find some, it can be expensive. The frustration of making frequent trips to my favorite restaurant on the other side of town just for good pesto inspired my latest project—an endless basil supply. This endeavor has been in the making for about three months, and it has finally reached the point I strived for. I am able to supply myself and my friends with sweet basil or pesto any night of the week. I originally started with four plants from seed. Compared to other plants, basil tends to be a slow starter for me, and I quickly realized that I would greatly benefit from propagating from cuttings instead. Once I got my four seedlings fairly mature, I clipped off about a dozen or so cuttings. In my aeroponic cloner, the cuttings typically take about a week before they are ready to transplant. I planted everything in 5-in. square pots, and filled them with expanded clay pebbles. I continued this process for a couple of weeks before I had the entire table filled.

“I am able to supply myself and my friends with sweet basil or pesto any night of the week.” For this set-up, I prefer to keep it simple and use a flood and drain system. I have it water for 15 minutes about every four hours during the light cycle. I am currently using an HID lighting system, although I will ultimately be switching to a T5. I use a 48-site aeroponic cloning system, which I keep filled with cuttings at all times. If there were to be a bug infestation, I would prefer to remove the infected plants and replace them as opposed to spraying any chemicals. Fortunately, I have not had to do this, much of which I attribute to the grow tent. Keeping an enclosed environment eliminates or reduces several problems that could arise and is a great investment. 156

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a sea of green basil

“I duct the heat produced from the light into my living area, and it is just as effective with the added fringe benefit.”

I wash them before preparing out of habit, although it is completely unnecessary. You can get a cheap electric chopper at just about any major department store, which has been one of the best investments I have made. I fill the chopper with the basil, and rinse it down with olive oil, which prevents it from sticking to the sides. I will usually fill the chopper back up again, and repeat this process. Once I have a decent supply of chopped basil, I’ll toss in a couple garlic cloves. I’ll chop those, and taste test to see if it needs more. Next, I’ll put in a decent amount of mozzarella. There are a variety of cheeses that work well and taste excellent, I just prefer mozzarella. The cheese tends to give it a better consistency in addition to better flavor. The last thing I do is put in a small amount of butter, salt and pepper, and it’s done. The whole process takes less than five minutes, and you are ready to go. Many people prefer to add pine nuts; I bypass that ingredient due to allergies, but it would take no time to incorporate.

Stephen’s basil. Photo submitted.

This garden is relatively low maintenance for me at this point. I’ll drain the reservoir weekly or sometimes every other week. Asides from that, I basically just pick the basil. When I remove leaves, I make sure to do it just above the internodes (the place on the stem where the leaves meet), so although I am removing growth, I’m promoting new growth at the same time. General plant maintenance is virtually non-existent since I am constantly harvesting and the plants never get large enough to need any supporting or staking. To eat pesto as often as I like to, buying basil from the grocery store would be cost prohibitive. I estimate that I am harvesting between $30 to $50 a week in basil, based on grocery store costs. The light I am using costs about $30 to $40 a month to operate, which will go down once I use a T5. In the winter, I actually benefit from using the HID, so I do not count that as an expense. A small portable space heater will draw generally 1,000 watts, while making a minimal impact. I duct the heat produced from the light into my living area, and it is just as effective with the added fringe benefit. While I’m always looking for other uses for my basil, the majority of my harvests go to pesto. Pesto is cheap, quick and easy to make, provided you have enough basil. To prepare the basil, I remove all the stems and put all the leaves in a strainer. 158

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“I estimate my cost to produce a pint of pesto at around $1.” Stephen’s home-grown basil is thriving. Photo submitted.

When all is said and done, I estimate my cost to produce a pint of pesto at around $1, which is a fairly conservative estimate. A pint of inferior quality that you could find at a grocery store loaded with various preservatives would run you close to $7. If you do not have the space or means to produce basil indoors, you can produce a significant amount outdoors, vacuum seal, freeze and enjoy during the off season.

aroMaTic

ADVENTURES Growing Exotic Herbs and Spices Hydroponically BY DR. LYNETTE MORGAN Many people value the distinctive ﬂavors that herbs and spices from faraway places add to a dish and the good news is many of these tropical and subtropical plants thrive in hydroponic systems. Dr. lynette Morgan has the details on how to make your indoor garden into an exotic, aromatic oasis.

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Indoor gardening offers some amazing opportunities when it comes to growing exotic, expensive and flavorful herbs and spices. We can create a tropical oasis where spices such as ginger, lemongrass, lime leaf, turmeric, chillies, curry leaf and even vanilla can thrive while delicate saffron is harvested from flowering corms and dried for year-round use. There are many exciting species of spices to experiment with. Some of the lesser-known herbs such as epazote, used in Mexican cuisine, and Japanese perilla, also known as the sushi herb, produce well in hydroponic systems and add that extra special exotic touch to many dishes.

kaffir lime leaves and fruit, fresh Young lemongrass plants can be started from seed or plant division and grow rapidly under warm conditions.

Systems for Spices

ginger, sliced galangal and lemongrass can all be grown hydroponically in a relatively small space.”

Hydroponic systems for exotic herbs and spices don’t need to be complicated and fall into two main categories. For longer-term plants and those that produce rhizomes such as ginger, galangal, turmeric and kaffir lime, use deep media beds or shallow, free-draining beds for saffron corms. For shorterlived, smaller plants such as perilla, epazote and many other herbs and spices such as dwarf chillies, use other systems ranging from nutrient film technique and pond or raft system to drip, ebb and flow or aeroponics. Since most of the exotic spices and herb plants that can be grown hydroponically originate in tropical and subtropical climates, they are generally not fussy about day length, but they do like heat. Most ginger species, vanilla orchids, cardamom, turmeric, curry leaf plant, lemongrass and chillies like year-round warmth with an optimal temperature range of 72 to 86o F. Many of these can be grown outdoors in summer and then brought inside to overwinter in containers.

Hydroponic saffron takes up little space indoors and provides a harvest of golden strands.

Spicy Species

For those who like Asian-inspired dishes, there are a good range of exotic herb and spice plants that mesh well together–-kaffir lime leaves and fruit, fresh ginger, sliced galangal and lemongrass can all be grown hydroponically in a relatively small space provided they are kept trimmed and compact. For those who like hot, spicy curries, chillies, curry leaf and turmeric can also be grown in containers, although they need a little more space than the average herb garden. And for lovers of delicate dishes, saffron, produced by the crocus bulb, is one of the easiest spices to grow in a small hydroponic garden, with the advantage of also providing the grower with beautiful purple blooms. Maximum Yield USA | November 2013

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aromatic adventures

Ginger rhizome showing buds that will sprout into new shoots once planted out into a hydroponic system.

The Ginger Family

Ginger

is an easy plant to start in hydroponics—fresh, healthy rhizomes can be purchased from stores or Asian supermarkets.” Galangal or Thai ginger is an easy plant to start

Traditional ginger rhizome (Zingiber officinale) is the most well-known crop in this category; there is also Myoga or Japanese ginger (Zingiber mioga), of which the young flower buds and leaves are used to flavor dishes. Another member is galangal or Thai ginger, which is similar in appearance to ginger but has a milder flavor. Galangal (Alpinia galangal) is a little more forgiving and seems to grow particularly well in hydroponics, being more cold tolerant in winter. Ginger is an easy plant to start in hydroponics–-fresh, healthy rhizomes can be purchased from stores or Asian supermarkets and sown into a moist hydroponic medium such as coconut fiber at 77 to 86oF. The knobbly buds on the rhizome will grow into fresh, new shoots with roots developing from the rhizome. If conditions are warm enough, ginger plants will then produce a large number of shoots and an expanding root system of thick fleshy rhizomes, taking anywhere from 12 to 18 months before the first harvest of large rhizomes can occur. The plants are best mounded up as the rhizomes develop— adding more growing medium around the base of the plant helps increase yields and quality of the harvested product. General purpose nutrient solutions at an EC of 2.2 to 2.6 can be applied, but using a fruiting or bloom formulation at a higher EC seems to assist with intensifying the flavor profile of the rhizomes. 162

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from a fresh piece of rhizome and will produce well provided sufficient warmth is given.

Another member of the Zingiberaceae family is turmeric (Curcuma longa), which, like ginger, grows from a rhizome that can often be purchased fresh in Asian specialty stores. Turmeric can be grown hydroponically in much the same way as ginger and used fresh or dried and ground to create the distinctive yellow, powdered spice.

Saffron

Saffron (Crocus sativus) has long been sought after as an expensive, delicate spice that adds both color and distinctive flavor to many dishes. Saffron is produced commercially as an outdoor field crop in countries such as Spain, India and Iran, where the climate is suitable and cheap labor is available for the time-consuming harvesting and processing of the flowers. However, saffron is an easy, small-scale crop for hydroponics and these days saffron bulbs are readily obtainable for those who want to grow it.

Saffron is the world’s highest-priced spice and is composed of the bright yellow, dried stigma of the saffron flower. The saffron crocus grows from a small, rounded corm (similar to a bulb), which after flowering and vegetative growth, multiplies by the production of many small daughter corms. Each flower produces on average three strands of saffron, weighing in at much less than a gram, hence a huge number of flowers must be grown, picked, processed and dried to make just 100 grams of this spice. For the hobby hydroponic grower or household chef, a small plot of saffron should give sufficient spice to last for many months as only a few strands are used in most dishes.

Each flower

It is the long orange stigmas that are plucked from inside the flower that constitute saffron threads.

produces on average three strands of saffron, weighing in at much less than a gram.”

While it is fairly easy to grow, saffron does need some specific requirements if the objective is to propagate and multiply the plants. There are two ways of running a saffron system. The dormant corms can be purchased, usually towards the end of summer or in early autumn, then planted, flowered, harvested and the corms discarded, all over a six-week period. Or after the short flowering period, the bulbs can be grown on, producing vegetation and new daughter cormlets over a period of many months until they become dormant in mid summer. The first system means the corms are planted at a high density since they won’t be grown on and multiplied. The second system needs more space for the plants to fully develop and many months of caring for the corms after they flower, although the reward is a supply of new corms that can be sold or given away to others and a higher yield of flowers in the next year. Tying up your hydroponic system with vegetative saffron for nine to 10 months may not be attractive to those with limited space, although trays of saffron plants are cold hardy and can be put outside for winter and spring if necessary.

Beautiful and highly productive, saffron is a crocus that naturally flowers in fall.

Corms can be stored in a dry place and planted out when the hydroponic system is ready. The spacing should be approximately 4 to 5 in. apart and 1.5 to 2 in. deep, in a tray of freedraining, sterile growing media such as coconut fiber with some perlite mixed in. The media needs to support the plants, but at the same time be friable enough for the young corms to form without deformities, so any substrate used for baby root crops would be suitable. The flowers will have already been initiated in the corms during the summer dormancy period and flowering will occur when moisture is provided and temperatures start to drop in fall. Flowering is triggered by environmental conditions such as temperate and moisture, which is easily manipulated in a hydroponic growroom. The ideal conditions during flowering are: a 16-hour day length with day temperatures of 63oF and night temperatures of 54o F. An indoor growroom or greenhouse situation means the flowers are protected from rain, moisture and wind, and the lack of weeds makes harvesting high-quality flowers much easier. Maximum Yield USA | November 2013

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aromatic adventures Flowering will typically occur quite quickly after planting and within a few weeks the first emerging flower buds should be seen. The flowers will fully open in three to five days and be ready for harvest. As each flower blooms, it should be plucked or snipped from the plant and taken away for processing. The easiest way to remove the saffron stigmas from the center of the flower is to pull back and remove all the petals and then snip the golden strands at the base. The strands will need to be dried before storage.

remains compact and productive. Ideal temperatures for growth are 72 to 90oF, and the plant should be grown in a large pot or grow bed of media such as perlite, coco fiber or rockwool with a drip irrigation system. Warmth, high light, increased EC (2.2 to 3.0) and slight moisture stress will concentrate flavor and aromatic compounds in the plant, resulting in higher-quality harvested spices. Lemongrass is a popular hydroponic herb, grown commercially for fresh harvests. Lemongrass seeds germinate rapidly within three to five days at 77 to 86oF, making this an easy plant to establish. Mature plants can become as large as 4 ft. in diameter with leaves 3-ft. long, but small plants can be grown if kept well trimmed. Even the foliage of young seedlings contains the fresh pungent flavor of lemongrass, so harvesting can take place as soon as there is sufficient foliage to cut for use. Use of small rooting volumes such as nutrient film technique is not recommended due to the large and fibrous root system that rapidly develops and can cause system blockages and slow the flow of nutrients. Lemongrass requires warm temperatures to produce well and develop a strong and distinctive flavor, although it will survive cool conditions in a dormant state. Optimal temperatures are 72 to 95oF, with a high humidity level (more than 80%) and full sunlight or high levels of artificial light. Full spectrum grow lamps are recommended for many spices such as lemongrass as there is evidence to suggest certain parts of the light spectrum such as UV assist with the development of flavor compounds in plants.

Kaffir

Kaffir lime (Citrus hystrix) produces both aromatic leaves and small fruit for flavoring a range of Asian dishes.

lime trees can handle cooler conditions than fruiting lime types and will produce for many years.â&#x20AC;?

Citrus Flavors

Citrusy, aromatic kaffir lime leaves (Citrus hystrix) and fragrant lemongrass (Cymbopogen citratus) are distinctive and popular flavors associated with many Asian and ethnic dishes and also easy to grow hydroponically. Kaffir lime (also called Makrut lime) is a small, compact tree grown mostly for its distinctly flavored leaves, but the peel of the small knobbly fruit is also ground into a paste and used in many Asian dishes and curries. Kaffir lime trees can handle cooler conditions than fruiting lime types and will produce for many years. In an indoor garden they are best kept regularly trimmed by harvesting foliage for culinary use so the tree 164

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Epazote (Chenopodium ambrosioides), is a little-known hydroponic herb and also an ingredient in traditional Mexican chilli sauces and bean dishes.

Epazote and Perilla

International cuisine has introduced us to some exciting exotic herbs, many of which have now become hydroponic crops.Two of these are epazote, often considered to be an essential ingredient in many traditional Mexican chilli sauces and bean dishes, and Japanese perilla or shiso, also known as the sushi herb. Both are small annual plants, easy to propagate from seed (perilla seed should be sown while still fresh) and grow well in nutrient film technique or media-based systems under similar conditions to those used for basil and cilantro. Perilla (Perilla frutescens) is an attractive herb that is available in both deep purple and green forms with a flavour similar to mild basil. Perilla grows best under warm conditions of 64 to 79oF with full light and takes around 35 to 40 days to mature. It is also grown as a micro green species harvested after the development of the

first seedling leaves. Epazote (Chenopodium ambrosioides) is a small annual plant with a distinctive flavor often described as camphor or turpentine-like with a strong aroma. Easily grown from seed, epazote is a rapid growing herb requiring temperatures of 64 to 79oF, full light and with similar nutritional requires as other hydroponic herbs such as basil.

Perilla

is an attractive herb that is available in both deep purple and green forms with a flavour similar to mild basil.â&#x20AC;?

In Conclusion

A hydroponic garden full of exotic herbs and spices originating from far away lands, ready to pluck and serve in fresh, fragrant dishes is a real possibility with a climate-controlled indoor garden. Many of these species are hardy plants, easy to grow and thrive under the advanced nutrition hydroponic systems provide. Even the smallest growing area can accommodate a saffron corm or two, making for eye-catching displays as well as impressive harvests.

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Neem: a Gardener’s

Dream By Chris claussen

In India, it has been valued for more than 200 years as both a medicine and a pesticide, but in the Western world, the neem plant’s potential to revolutionize the organic agricultural movement has just begun to be realized in recent years.

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Neem The neem tree (Azadirachtaindica) is in the mahogany family and can easily adapt to high temperatures, aridity and brackish soil conditions, making it possible to grow in a wide variety of environments, according to a publication by Nitin Abhishek at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology in Southeast India.

“neem is a safe, completely biodegradable pesticide and fungicide viable against more than 200 insect pests.” Dating back to ancient ayurvedic texts, neem has been named as a powerful anti-bacterial agent with antiseptic properties widely used for treating wounds and skin problems. Pharmaceutical firms use neem as a key ingredient in toothpastes, soaps, medicines and cosmetics. In addition, neem is a safe, completely biodegradable pesticide and fungicide viable against more than 200 insect pests as well as some major plant diseases such as mildew and rust, according to an urban pest management specialist at Montana State University. A number of plant chemicals have been reported to have similar insecticidal and fungicidal properties, but neem is the only species from which bio-pesticides have been manufactured and used by farmers and gardeners who found the product to be effective and easy to use. The Extension Toxicology Network, a co-operative of many American universities, attests that the active ingredient in neem, azadirachtin, is found in the seed and is a viable option to synthetic and toxic pesticides. Instead of acting as a poison like many widely used pesticides, azadirachtin is taken up by the insect just like natural hormones might be. Neem enters the insect’s system, blocking the insect’s real hormones from acting properly and thereby inhibiting flying, eating, mating and egg-laying behaviors. If eggs are produced, they do not hatch or the larvae don’t molt. In addition to harsh interruptions to insect cycles, just a mere hint of neem oil can be enough to repel leaf-eating insects. The precise way this works has proven a mystery to scientists for a long time because there are many active compounds in neem oil, and different insect species react differently. Neem oil is a natural wonder, as most commercially available neem oil boasts the product as an effective insect antifeedant, repellant and growth inhibitor as well as an effective fungicide for the prevention and control of diseases such as powdery mildew, black spot, downy mildew, rust, leaf spot, botrytis, needle rust, scab and flower, twig, tip blight and alternaria. The product most often takes the oil form, and is most effective as a foliar spray applied to new growth. The oil can also be used as a systemic insecticide via application of a dilution or extract to the soil. When the azadirachtin is absorbed by the plant through its roots, it becomes a component of the tissues of the 168

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“The product most often takes the oil form, and is most effective as a foliar spray applied to new growth.” plant in a way that completely incapacitates large leaf-eating insects like leaf hoppers or grasshoppers. It should be noted that this technique leaves the plant susceptible to aphids, which feed on the phloem, and alkaline soils such as those in Montana, reduce the effectiveness of neem drenches. Neem is considered almost completely non-toxic to humans and other animals. The Parker India Group, an agricultural company from India, suggests neem be applied on a seven to 14 day schedule until the potential for disease development or insect infestation is no longer present. The benefits and far-reaching insecticidal and fungicidal properties of neem make it an appealing option for farmers and gardeners looking for an alternative to toxic chemical pesticides. Chris Claussen has been a horticulturist for more than 20 years and holds a degree in horticulture from the University of Connecticut. He currently manages Brown University’s EEB greenhouse complex in Providence, Rhode Island, and consults for individuals looking to develop sustainable indoor farming models, the most recent of which involves helping a small start-up company in Bridgeport, Connecticut. The goal is to bring a hydroponic LED lettuce farm to one of the many vacant warehouse spaces in the city. Chris believes sustainable indoor farming is the future.

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How You Can Determine the

Nutritional Value of a

Compost Product BY Dr. J. Benton Jones, Jr.

it is not easy, but such a determination can be made. Determining the nutritional value of a compost product is not easy, but it can be done. A compost product may have an NPK (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium) content label, but these values may not be the actual amounts in the packaged product or bulk supply. Instead, they represent the approximate content for that type of compost product. These values are given so that the product can be marketed as a fertilizer. In addition, the levels are set so that if the product is analyzed for verification, the minimum will be satisfied, avoiding a financial penalty for testing lower than the label indicates. Values higher than listed on the label will not be subject to a penalty, but for the user, a higher-than-designated elemental content can lead to a nutrient element insufficiency. Therefore, the actual NPK contents should be provided to the purchaser. An assessment of the nutrient element value of a compost product means ordering a laboratory analysis to obtain the needed values, which are organic matter content and total concentration of the three major essential nutrient elements: nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K). The other major elements— calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and sulfur (S)—as well as the micronutrients might be useful information to have, but not essential for making an assessment of nutritional value for most composts. There is one possible exception—micronutrients copper (Cu) and zinc

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(Zn)—because the concentration of these two micronutrients could limit a compost’s use, particularly for products that have sewage sludge or an industrial by-product (primarily rubber products) as components. The determination of the organic matter content is by a technique called loss-on-ignition. An aliquot of compost is oven-dried at 176oF for 12 hours. After its weight is determined, the compost aliquot is placed in a muffle furnace set at 932oF. After 24 hours, it is removed from the furnace and allowed to cool. The aliquot is weighed again and the loss in weight designated as the compost’s organic matter content. Knowing the total nitrogen concentration, the crude protein content of the compost can be determined by multiplying the nitrogen percentage by 6.25. Taking the percentage of organic matter content (determined by loss-on-ignition), subtract the crude protein content, which then gives the carbohydrate portion of the organic matter. The ratio of crude protein versus carbohydrate will give an indication as to the microbial stability of the compost—the larger the ratio (greater carbohydrate content), the greater the stability and the less likely the compost will easily decompose. Another potential means of evaluating a compost product’s nitrogen-supplying power is based simply on its total percentage of nitrogen concentration. In a recently conducted vermicompost study, obtained plant growth was correlated to the total nitrogen concentration of the vermicompost. In vermicompost containing less than 1.5% nitrogen, the N-supplying power was minimal, that is, of little value as a nitrogen source. Whether this applies to other types of composts needs to be investigated. Since generated composts are the end product of microbial decomposition, those substances in the initial source materials (animal manure, silage, yard and kitchen wastes) needed to support microbial activity would have been exhausted. For verification, one can conduct the following tests. Take a glass jar, such as a pickle jar (1 pint), and put a thin, evenly distributed layer

of compost in the bottom of the jar. Moisten the compost with water applied as a fine spray. Tightly screw the lid on the jar and let the jar stand for at least 48 hours at room temperature. After this time, open the lid carefully and sniff the air in the jar. If there is established that if the the smell of ammonia, then there compost is indeed carare micro-organisms still funcried to the end product of tioning in the compost. Another way to make this judgment is to microbial decomposition, put a lighted wood match into the the compost will be jar. If the flame immediately extinessentially sterile.” guishes (due to the lack of oxygen), then micro-organisms still exist in the compost. However, it has been well established that if the compost is indeed carried to the end product of microbial decomposition, the compost will be essentially sterile. What about the other two major essential plant nutrient elements, phosphorus and potassium? If these elements are equal in concentration to nitrogen in a compost product, it should be avoided, as using it can lead to excesses and plant insufficiencies if used as a nitrogen source. Both excess and insufficiency are difficult to correct if they occur. However, the key element is N as it will determine the stability of the compost product when added to a rooting medium, thereby controlling the release of the other two elements into the rooting medium solution for absorption by plant roots. Much has been written about the value of composts in terms of plant growth and as a potential organic source for essential plant nutrient elements. Following the procedures outlined in this article, one can make an assessment of the ability of an applied compost product to supply a sufficient quantity of an of the organic matter essential plant nutrient content is by a technique element or elements that will ensure normal called loss-on-ignition.” plant growth free from insufficiency. Therefore, the investment made in the purchase and use of a compost product can be justified in terms of plant performance.

It has been well

The determination

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10 facts on...Sulfur by philip mcintosh

1. 2. 3. 4. 6. 8. 9.

Sulfur is highly mobile in soils, especially those low in organic matter, and it is easily leached away from the root zone. But, since it is highly soluble in the sulfate ionic form (SO4-2), this is not a problem in hydroponics.

Plants that donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get enough S exhibit symptoms similar to those of N deficiency (overall loss of green color) and it can be tricky to diagnose. It is best to rely on a plant tissue analysis to properly differentiate between N and S deficiency.

32,065

Because of its colloidal nature and tendency to precipitate in the presence of calcium in hydroponic rooting media, sulfur tends to exist in the root zone and remain available to roots for quite some time after it is introduced in a nutrient solution. However, toxicity is seldom a problem.

5. 7.

Sulfur is found in the amino acids cysteine and methionine, which are components of many plant proteins, and it is also found in some vitamins.

The sulfur content of dried plant material ranges from about 0.15 to 0.5%, but a concentration of more than 1% would be no cause for alarm.

Like the smell of garlic? Then thank sulfur-containing glycosides, which are also responsible for the distinctive odors of onions and mustard.

Although it is not considered one of the big three plant nutrient elements, plants need about as much sulfur as they do phosphorous to remain healthy.

The main sources of S in a nutrient solution are usually sulfate salts, where the sulfate anion concentration is around 50 ppm. Sulfate is often paired with another nutrient element such as K or Mg, or the ammonium ion (NH4+) in the solution reagent.

Sulfur (atomic symbol S), is an element with atomic number 16. It is a non-metal and quite common on Earth.

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10.

In its pure elemental form, sulfur is a yellow crystalline solid, and it also exists in many sulfate and sulfite compounds.

DO YOU KNOW?

Ladybugs consume aphids, whiteflies, mites, weevils, adelgids and other beetle larvae, but they prefer, and will seek out, aphids to prey upon. An adult ladybug will consume as many as 60 aphids per day, and up to 5,000 over the course of its lifetime.

Permaculture is a branch of ecological and environmental design that melds the words permanent and agriculture, figuratively and conceptually. It was founded in the 1970s by naturalist Bill Mollison and is flourishing today with institutes and certification programs worldwide that teach its principles.

Growers who intermittently experience heat issues in their reservoirs can implement the ice-bottle technique. By filling a two-liter plastic bottle with water and freezing it, a grower can fix a hot reservoir in a pinch.

Photoperiodism in plants refers to the length of the dark period being the determining factor in triggering flowering. In an unfortunate miscalculation by earlier botonists, the terms “short day” and “long day” were chosen to describe plants that are photodependant for flowering. A more correct way to refer to them would be “long night” and “short night” plants, since it is actually the length of the dark periods, and not the length of the light periods that trigger flowering.

In an aquaponic system, the optimal temperature for bacteria reproduction during cycling is between 77 to 86°F.

The neem tree (Azadirachtaindica) is in the mahogany family and can easily adapt to high temperatures, aridity and brackish soil conditions, making it possible to grow in a wide variety of environments. Neem oil can be used as a systemic insecticide via application of a dilution or extract to the soil.

While seeds and seedlings need moisture close to the soil’s surface, more established plants need the water to go deep to help develop roots that will go on to find water in the subsoil during droughts.

10.

Saffron is the world’s highest-priced spice and is composed of the bright yellow, dried stigma of the saffron flower. Each flower produces on average three strands of saffron, weighing in at much less than a gram, hence a huge number of flowers must be grown, picked, processed and dried to make just 100 grams of this spice.

Hard water typically has high levels of calcium carbonate and magnesium carbonate. Calcium and magnesium are both essential elements for plant growth. So, as long as no other elements are in the water at toxic levels, the water is suitable for horticultural use.

Many studies have shown that mycorrhizal fungi greatly expand the absorptive capacity of a root system by means of the soil-penetrating fungal strands that can mine the soil for more distant and soil-bound nutrients like phosphorus, copper or zinc.

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talking shop

Southhampton employees, Sam and Nick.

AT A GLANCE Company New England Hydroponics

Owner Ethan Holmes

Locations 1) 15 College Hwy. Southampton, MA 01073 2) 855 Worcester Rd. Framingham, MA 01701

Phone Southampton: 1-413-529-9025 Framingham: 1-508-405-2525 Toll Free: 1-888-529-9025 Website nehydro.com E-mail sales@nehydro.com

Motto Helping People Bring Plants to Life Since 2002 174

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New England Hydroponics started off almost 12 years ago as a venture run out of a one-bedroom apartment in Framingham, Massachusetts. But as president and founder Ethan Holmes explains, the business has grown and diversified since then. Ethan Holmes, president of New England Hydroponics, had recently graduated from college when he started the business in 2002 in his onebedroom apartment in Framingham, Massachusetts. It was an online-only venture at first. “I had an interest in plants and hydroponics and after looking at the industry, I saw a huge opportunity for selling hydroponic equipment online and through eBay,” recalls Ethan. “At the time, there were few online sellers.” The business was initially a part-time job for Ethan and for the first few years, he also worked part-time at a grocery store. Most of his time was spent shipping items and finding new ways to expand the business. “At the beginning, in 2002, it was just me, I did it all,” he remembers. In 2004, Ethan moved the business to Southampton, Massachusetts, so that he could afford more space for inventory. Three years later, in 2007, the company’s first retail store opened there in a 1,250-sq. ft. space and New England Hydroponics became Ethan’s full-time job. “The store started off slow, but over time, people began to find us,” remembers Ethan. That was also the year he hired his first employee, mainly in the roll of packing shipments to fulfill customer orders. In early 2008, Ethan hired a second employee, Bob. He is still with the company as the warehouse manager.

Southhampto storefront.

Struggles for the fledgling business included finding enough space for all of its inventory and finding vendors that would sell to an online-only venture, as most vendors require a physical retail store. There was a lot to learn, shares Ethan. “The most important thing is to be flexible,” he says. “The industry keeps changing, and it is important to let the business change with it.” To gain market share, the business promoted its website directly to customers in all shipments. “We have always done our best to treat everyone fairly and to offer great customer service,” says Ethan. “Oftentimes you can turn a shipping mistake into repeat customer if you handle the situation correctly and exceed the customer’s expectations.” The retail store has moved and expanded over the years and New England Hydroponics now has both a 4,000-sq. ft. retail store and a separate 4,000-sq. ft. warehouse that manages inventory and fulfills online orders in Southampton. “We also just recently opened our second retail store in Framingham, which is just outside of Boston,” says Ethan. “The Framingham store is 4,400 sq. ft. With more than 12,000 sq. ft. of total space, we are the largest hydroponics retailer in Massachusetts.” In terms of product lines, Ethan tries to carry just about everything. “Everybody has an opinion about which brands they like and we try to make sure that we have them all,” he says. “We sell and distribute our own brand of LED Grow Lights called

“ The industry keeps changing, and it is important to let the business change with it.” BloomBoss. There are several models of the BloomBoss lights and we sell them direct to consumers and to other retailers. We have been producing the BloomBoss LEDs since 2009.” Ethan counts the wide range of products available, offered at fair prices, as one of the company’s main strengths. And offering services in a professional manner is another. “Our stores are always clean, organized and well stocked,” he explains. “We do our best to make sure that our customers are happy with their experience each and every time they shop at New England Hydroponics.”

Rather than opening several small stores, the company has focused energy and capital on opening large, well-stocked stores that are a true destination for customers. “Our eastern and western Massachusetts retail stores are among the largest indoor gardening stores in all of New England,” shares Ethan. “Our stores have lots of items in use and on display so that customers can really visualize their own garden. When a customer decides it’s time to buy, we have everything in stock and ready to go. We really focus on creating a great experience for the customer.” The industry is always changing, so business needs to change with it or be left behind, he says. Starting and growing a company is a lot of work and there are a lot of challenges, but Ethan has found it exciting to see what a group of people can build over time. The company Owner, Ethan Holmes. philosophy has remained much the same, which is to offer customers great products at great prices and to follow up with great service. “Take care of the customers above everything else,” shares Ethan. “As the industry accelerates, take your time with the next step. A lot of people have acted too fast to expand and sometimes it can bite you really hard.” As for employees, he says it is all about what they bring to work each day—a great attitude from everyone makes the store a wonderful place to be and work and customers really enjoy being around employees who are willing to go above and beyond to help. “We really focus much more on helping customers than on selling products,” says Ethan. “When you teach someone the techniques, the products sell themselves.” The company motto is Helping People Bring Plants to Life Since 2002. Ethan says this motto reflects the company well because it is really all about helping people to do something great in their own little part of this world and what could be better than bringing plants to life? Maximum Yield USA | November 2013

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You tell us

Solis Tek is providing the indoor growing industry with innovative horticultural lighting products. Co-founder Alvin Hao shares some information about the company's current line of products and technologies, as well as a bit about what new technologies customers can expect to see in the near future. Solis Tek, Inc., a Los Angeles based company revolutionizing the technology behind horticultural lighting, talks with Maximum Yield.

solely on pricing; instead we aim to provide the customer with elite products and solidify our position as one of the industry's best.

how did your company gEt started?

What products are you best known for and in which countries do you do business?

Sensing an innovation stagnancy within the hydroponics industry, Alvin and Alan saw an opportunity to improve upon products that had remained the same for years. Using Alvin's vast understanding of the horticulture industry and Alan's extensive networking capabilities in sourcing and manufacturing, this match-madein-heaven has produced softwarebased technologies that have changed industry standards for manufacturing digital ballasts. Some of these technologies include (but are not limited to) Ignition Control, Sense Smart and the introduction of the Matrix LCD ballast.

What is your company's philosophy? We strive to stay on top with constant technological innovations and improvements. We refuse to compete 176

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We are best known for our Ignition Control technology, Sense Smart safety checks and Matrix LCD digital ballast. These special features and products have essentially helped to standardize the industry. Our next highly anticipated venture, the HILED panel, will be unveiled soon. Currently, our products can be purchased in Europe, Australia, Canada, and, of course, in our home territory---the United States.

What should the beginner gardener know about your products? The novice gardener must first realize that lighting is one of the most critical components to ensure a successful indoor garden because the quality of

the light will directly affect the end product. One of our most valuable accomplishments is our less than 0.5% return rate, saving the end user the headache of wasting time and money on products that are more likely to fail prematurely. Gardeners of all skill levels can happily anticipate a constant flow of new products and technologies from Solis Tek.

You have quite the list of testimonials on your website. What kind of feedback do you get most frequently from growers? Much of the feedback is in regards to our No. 1 quality—our low return rates. Other testimonials speak of the higher yields experienced when using our matched systems. Many customers also appreciate the fact that we provide the right tools such as different color options for our MH lamps, which are capable of providing more UV spectrum than any other lamp on the market.

Tell us about Total Harmonic Distortion, Ignition Control and SenseSmart technologies. When different waveform distortions come together in a power supply, total harmonic distortion (THD) occurs. THD in the power system can distort voltages and overload equipment. Thus, it is important to understand not only THD but also how the electrical and power system will react to the harmonics. This measurement of THD present in the bulb and ballast defines the ration of the sum of powers of all components of the fundamental frequency. The lamp's waveforms, power currents and operating frequency depend on the lamp, ballast type, power conditions, lighting controls and temperatures. A lesser THD ballast such as Solis Tek provides allows the components in a digital lighting system to produce a higher-quality digital signal by reducing the harmonic distortions added by the ballast itself. It is important to recognize that all electronic ballasts have a different level of THD.

At Solis Tek, core and coil ballasts are tested at 16% output THD and have a recorded 14% output THD reading. Our Ignition Control feature allows the consumer to plug in a chain of ballasts ranging from two to upwards of 100 at a time and there will never be more than one ballast firing at a time. This feature helps to avoid any huge current draws in power which are often the cause of circuit breaker malfunction. Our Sense Smart technology helps alleviate concerns about multiple ballasts firing at the same time by doing a three-second system check, which allows one millivolt of energy to circulate the closed loop between ballast and lamp, checking for any one of the following : open output, end of lamp life, hot lamp, over/low voltage, high/low temperature, thermal, overflow current or short circuit. If any of the above were to occur, our ballasts would not fire as a standard precaution.

What makes your technology unique? We would prefer not to see the technology itself as being unique, but rather that we are pioneers in the hydroponics industry because we are the first to introduce and perfect such components. By leading in research and application of said technologies, Solis Tek is unique.

Is there anything happening at the R&D stage that you're at liberty to tell us about? We are working on several different versions of the notorious LED product to introduce a new, game-changing LED technology.

What else should people know about Solis Tek? We are looking to better the industry through our innovative new technologies and educating consumers as to how to use our products to the maximum efficiency. We seek to eradicate inefficiency and promote Solis Tek products as the standard for quality.

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MAX-mART

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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

Want to see your store advertised here? call 1.250.729.2677 for more info

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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

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

ALASKA

ACI Hydroponics 1325 South Park Lane Tempe, AZ 85282 800-633-2137

Far North Garden Supply 2834 Boniface Parkway Anchorage, AK 99504 907-333-3141

Home Grown Hydroponics 1845 East Broadway Tempe, AZ 85282 480-377-9096

Southside Garden Supply AK 12870 Old Seward Hwy., Unit 114 Anchorage, AK 99515 907-339-9997

Sea of Green Hydroponics 1301 E. University Dr. Tempe, AZ 85281 800-266-4136 _________________________

Holmtown Nursery Inc. 1301 - 30th Ave. Fairbanks, AK 99701 907-451-8733 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) 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

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 _________________________

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

Alaska Jack’s Hydroponics and Garden Supply 244 S Sylvan Way, Unit 25 Wasilla, AK 99654 907-373-4757

ARKANSAS

Far North Garden Supply 300 Centaur Street Wasilla, AK 99654 907-376-7586

Mickey’s Mercantile 1303 Hwy., 65 South Clinton, AR 72031 501-412-0214

ARIZONA

Old Soul Organics and More 1771 Crossover Rd. Fayetteville, AR 72701 479-444-6955

Happy Harvesters Hydroponics 1400 S. Arizona Ave. Suite 11 Chandler, AZ 85286 480-857-8878 Arizona Hydroponics 3900 E Western Dr. #D Cottonwood, AZ 86326 928-649-1138 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 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 Let It Grow 160 Westwood Center Arcata, CA 95521 707-822-8733 _________________________

Northcoast Horticulture Supply 639 6th St. Arcata, CA 95521 707-826-9998 _________________________ Sweet Harvest Hydroponics & Organics 1041 E. Grand Ave. Arroyo Grande, CA 93420 805-473-0004

Greenleaf Hydroponics 1839 W Lincoln Ave. Anaheim, CA 92801 714-254-0005

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

Grow It Yourself Gardens 401 Sunset Dr., Suite F Antioch, CA 94509 925-755-GROW

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

High Desert Hydroponics 13631 Pawnee Rd., #7 Apple Valley, CA 92308 760-247-2090

Maximum Yield USA | November 2013

Sky High Garden Supply 3081 Alhambra Dr., Suite 105 Cameron Park, CA 95682 530-676-4009

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

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 _________________________

Quail Mountain Ranch 230 Palm Ave. Auburn, CA 95603 530-889-2390

NorCal Creations PO Box 28 Cedar Ridge, CA 95924 _________________________

Tell 2 Friends Indoor Gardening 62 Sutherland Dr. Auburn, CA 95603 530-889-8171 Bakersfield Hydroponics Bakersfield, CA 661-808-4640 Green with Envy 3903 Patton Way #103 Bakersfield, CA 93308 661-588-8269 Kern Hydroponics 2408 Brundage Lane, Suite B Bakersfield, CA 93304 661-323-7333 Super Starts PO Box 732 Bellmont, CA 94002 650-346-8009

Berkeley’s Secret Garden 921 University Ave. Berkeley, CA 94710 510-486-0117

Hydroponics and More Inc 3519 Vandyke Rd Almont, CA 810-798-2524

Under The Sun 13361 East Highway 20 Clearlake Oaks, CA 95423 707-998-GROW

Auburn Organic 4035 Grass Valley Hwy. Auburn, CA 95602 530-823-8900

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

CALIFORNIA

Advanced Garden Supply 3113 Alhambra Dr., Unit F Cameron Park, CA 95682 530-676-2100

The Greenhouse Garden Supply 7619 Fair Oak Blvd. Carmichael, CA 95608 916-515-9130 thegreenhousegardensupply.com _________________________

Berkeley Indoor Garden 844 University Ave. Berkeley, CA 94710 510-549-2918

Mesa Hydroponics 1720 W. Southern Ave. Suite C7 Mesa, AZ 85202 480-969-4769

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Growfresh Organics & More 2900 Zero St., Suite 106 Fort Smith, AR 72901 479-648-8885

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

Retail Stores listed alphabetically by city in each state.

The Hydroponic Connection Berkeley 2816 San Pablo Ave. Berkeley, CA 94702 510-704-9376 _________________________

Brentwood Hydroponics & Organics 560 Valdry Ct Suite B-1 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

The Hydro Shop of Cerritos 15961 S. Piuma Ave. Cerritos, CA 90703 562-653-0700 _________________________ Chico Garden Center 3028 Esplanade Ave. Unit E Chico, CA 95973 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

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

East County Garden Depot 1529 North Cuyamaca St El Cajon, CA 92020 (619)270-8649 _________________________ 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 Encinitas Hydroponics 463 Encinitas Blvd. Encinitas, CA 9202 Go Green Hydroponics 15721 Ventura Boulevard Encino, CA 91436 818-990-1198 _________________________

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

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

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

Roots Grow Supply 1330 North Hulbert, #101 Fresno, CA 93728 559-840-0122 _________________________ North Side Garden Supply 4529 N. Marty, Suite 102 Fresno, CA 93722 559-495-1140 Full Scale Soil & Hydro 2501 Business Park, Suite A Fresno, CA 93727 559 292 ROOT 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 _________________________

Hydroponics Outlet 320 Kishimura Dr., Unit #3 Gilroy, CA 95020 408-848-0884 _________________________

Zen Hydroponics 1801 Victory Blvd. Glendale, CA 91201 877 ZEN Grow; 818-806-4500 _________________________ Laid Back Gardens 340 Pine Avenue Goleta, CA 93117 805-845-2471

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

AG Natural 403 Idaho Maryland Rd. Grass Valley, CA 95945 530-274 0990 _________________________ West Coast Growers Hydroponics 13481 Colifax Hwy. Grass Valley, CA 95945 888-924-4769 530 Hydo & Soil 10021 Wolf Rd. C-16 Grass Velley, CA 95949 Joy’s Green Garden Supply 340-A Elm Ave. Greenfield, CA 93927 831-674-1416 All Seasons Hydroponics 17614 Chatsworth St. Granada Hills, CA 91344 818-368-4388 Dirt Cheap Hydroponic 151 N 7th St. #4 Grover Beach, CA 93433 805-473-3478 Growers Choice Hydroponics 42089 Watkins St. Hayward, CA 94544 510-278-6200 M.G.S. 22540 D FoothillBlvd. Hayward, CA 94541 510-582-0900 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 Hydro Zen 3518 Tanya Ave. Hemet, CA 92545 951-392-5016 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 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

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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 _________________________

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.

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) _________________________ Room to Grow 43511 13th St. W Lancaster, CA 43511 661-940-5599 _________________________

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 _________________________

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 _________________________

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

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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

Hydro Max 664 Bitritto CT Modesto, CA 95356 209-491-2816

California Green Hydroponics 16491 Rd., 26, Suite 101 Madera, CA 93638 559-674-1400

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

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

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

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

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

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

Vital Landscaping Inc. 204 Gold Flat Ct. #7 Nevada City, CA 95959 530-273-3187 _________________________ Big Momma’s 2581 Stokes Ave. Nice, CA 95464 707-274-8369 Foothill Hydroponics 10705 Burbank Blvd. N. Hollywood, CA 91601 818-760-0688

Maximum Yield USA | November 2013

181

MAXIMUM YIELD distributors

Retail Stores listed alphabetically by city in each state.

One Stop Hydroponics 12822 Victory Blvd N. Hollywood, CA 91606 818-980-5855

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

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

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

Lumatek Digital Ballasts 33 Commercial Boulevard, Suite B Novato, CA 94949 415-233-4273

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

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

Hand’s On Hydroponics 3320 North Cedar Ave. Presno, CA 93726 559-222-7770

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 Grass Valley 1920 E 12 St. Oakland, CA 94606 Medicine Man Farms 1602 53rd Ave. Oakland, CA 94601 707-980-0456 Plant-N-Grow 1602 53rd Ave. Oakland, CA 94601 707-980-0456 Hydrobrew 1319 South Coast Hwy. Oceanside, CA 92054 760-966-1885; 877-966-GROW Socal Hydroponics 1727-B Oceanside Blvd. Oceanside, CA 92054 760-439-1084 Cultivate Ontario 2000 Grove Ave. #a110 Ontario, CA 91761 909-781-6142

Advanced Soil & Garden Supply 350 Oro Dam Blvd. Oroville, CA 95965 530-533-2747 _________________________ Orville Organic Gardens 5250 Olive Hwy., Suite 1 Oroville, CA 95966 530-589-9950 Amazon Garden Supply 29 Ridge View Lane Oroville, CA 95966 530-589-5054 Amazon Greenlight 521 Cal Oak Rd. Oroville, CA 95966 530-534-4769 Amazon Growing Needs 5369 Old Olive Hwy. Oroville, CA 95966 530-589-9850 US Orchid & Hydroponic Supplies 1621 South Rose Ave. Oxnard, CA 93033 805-247-0086 _________________________

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

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 _________________________

182

Garden All Year Inc. 3850 Ramada Dr., Unit D2 Paso Robles, CA 93446 805-434-2333 Supersonic Hydroponic & Organic Garden Supply 3850 Ramada Dr., Unit D2 Paso Robles, CA 93446 805-434-2333 Foothills Hydrogarden 3133 Penryn Rd. Penryn, CA 95663 916-270-2413 _________________________

Four Seasons Landscape Materials 17115 Penn Valley Dr. Penn Valley, CA 95946 530-432-9906 _________________________ Deep Roots Hydroponics 830 Perry Lane Petaluma, CA 94954-5320 707-776-2800 _________________________

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

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

Maximum Yield USA | November 2013

Emerald Garden 8249 Archibald Ave. Ranch Cucamanga, CA 91730 909-466-3796 The Growbiz 3127 Fite Circle Rancho Cordova, CA 95827 916-315-3580 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 Hydro King 105 Hartnell Ave., Suite C and D Redding, CA 96002 888-822-8941 _________________________

The Hydro Shop of Redondo Beach 1304 S. Pacific Coast Hwy Redondo Beach, CA 90277 310-540-2005 _________________________ Radiant Roots Gardening & Hydroponics 1394 S Pacific Coast Hwy. Redondo Beach, CA 90277 310-540-2005 _________________________

Funny Farms Hydroponics 963 Transport Way, #12 Petaluma, CA 94954 707-775-3111 _________________________

Dazey’s Supply 3082 Redwood Dr. Redway, CA 95560 707-923-3002 _________________________

House of Hydro 224 Weller St., #B Petaluma, CA 94952 707-762-4769

Humboldt Hydroponics 2010 Tunnel Rd. Redway, CA 95560 707-923-1402

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

Redway Feed Garden & Pet Supply 290 Briceland Rd. Redway, CA 95560 707-923-2765

Wyatt Supply 1016 Lakeville St Petaluma, CA 94952 707-762-3747 JNJ Hydroponics 4774 Phelan Rd., Suite 2 Phelan, CA 92371 760-868-0002

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

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

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

Turbo Grow 1889 San Pablo Ave. Pinole, CA 94564 510-724-1291 All Elements Hydroponics & Gardening Supply 5623 Motherlode Dr. Placerville, CA 95667 530-642-4215

Sylvandale Gardens 1151 Evergreen Rd. Redway, CA 95560 707-923-3606 Orsa Organix 111 Willow St. Redwood City, CA 94063 650-369-1269 _________________________

Mendocino Greenhouse & Garden Supply 960 East School Way Redwood Valley, CA 95470 707-485-0668

Hillside Hydro & Garden 4570 Pleasant Valley Rd. Placerville CA 95662 530-644-1401

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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

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

Hydro Hills Hydroponics 19320 Vanowen St. Reseda, CA 91335

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

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 _________________________

Discount Hydroponics 4745 Hiers Ave. Riverside, CA 92505 877-476-9487 _________________________ Green Forest Hydro 570 E La Cadena Dr., Suite #1D Riverside, CA 92507 951-784-5733, Fax 951-704-4633 Hydro Depot 5665 Redwood Dr., #B Rohnert Park, CA 94928 707-584-2384 Constantly Growing 1918 16th St. Sacramento, CA 95811 916-448-1882 Green Acres Hydroponics 1215 Striker Ave., Suite 180 Sacramento, CA 95834 916-419-4394 Greenfire Sacramento 3230 Auburn Blvd. Sacramento, CA 95821 916-485-8023 Green Thumb Hydroponics 1537 Fulton Ave. Sacramento, CA 95825 916-934-2476

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

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) _________________________ Sanger Garden Supply 725 Academy Ave. Sanger, CA 93657 559-259-7597 Greenmile Hydroponic Garden Supply 1480 South E. St., Suite D San Bernardino, CA 92408 909-885-5919 Pure Food Gardening/ Microclone 830 H Bransten Rd. San Carlos, CA 94070-3338 _________________________

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 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 Tradewinds Wholesale Garden Supplies 1235 Striker Ave. #180 Sacramento, CA 95834 888-557-8896 Green Joint Ventures 61 Tarp Circle Salinas, CA 93901 831-998-8628

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

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

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

Grow Your Own Hydroponics & Organics - West 3401 Taraval St. san Francisco, CA 94116 415-731-2115 _________________________ Hydro Depot 2090 Cesar Chavez St. San Francisco, CA 94124 415-282-5200 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 Plant It Earth Warehouse 1 Dorman Ave. San Francisco, CA 94124 415-970-2465 San Francisco Hydro 123 Tenth St. San Francisco, CA 94103 Urban Gardens 1394 Lowrie St. San Francisco, CA 94080 650-588-5792 _________________________

US Garden 417 Agostinio Rd. San Gabriel, CA 91776 626-285-5009

San Rafael Hydroponics 1417 Fourth St. San Rafael, CA 94901 415-455-9655

Hydro Depot 13 West 3rd St. Santa Rosa, CA 95401 707-542-3866

Inland Empire Hydrogarden 1301-C South State St. San Jancinto, CA 92853 _________________________

55 Hydroponics 1727 Boyd St. Santa Ana, CA 92705 714-259-7755

Organic Bountea 1919 Dennis Lane Santa Rosa, CA 95403 800-798-0765

Glow Hydroponics 124-H Blossom Hill Rd. San Jose, CA 95123 408-455-7720 _________________________ Hahn’s Lighting 260 E. VA Suite 1 San Jose, CA 95112 408-295-1755 Plant Life 32 Race St. San Jose, CA 95126 408-283-9191 _________________________

Rasa Hydroponics 5725 Winfield Blvd., Suite 8 San Jose, CA 95123 408-227-7272 _________________________ Sunny Tool 580 Parrott St. San Jose, CA 95112 408-278-1800 South Bay Hydroponics and Organics - San Jose 1185 South Bascom Ave. San Jose, CA 95128 408-292-4040 Urban Gardens 1999 Monterey Rd. San Jose, CA 95125 408-298-8081 Beach Cities Hydroponics 33155 Camino Capistrano Unit F. San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675 949-493-4200 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 _________________________

Gro Pro Garden Supply 841 Racheros Dr. San Marcos, CA 1906 760-735-8604 _________________________

San Diego Hydroponics North County Inland 802 N. Twin Oaks Valley Rd #108 San Marcos, CA 92069 760-510-1444 _________________________

Urban Gardens. 704 Filbert St. San Francisco, CA 94133 415-421-4769 _________________________

Murphy’s Hydroponics & Organics 799 W. Stocktan St. Sanora, CA 95370 209-532-2022

The Urban Farmer Store 2833 Vicente St. San Francisco, CA 94116 415-661-2204

Marin Hydroponics 721 Francisco Blvd. East San Rafael, CA 94901 415-482-8802

Nutes Int’l 204 N Quarantina St. Santa Barbara, CA 93103 805-687-6699 _________________________

Sonoma Hydro LLC 3535 Industrial Dr., Suite B2-3 Santa Rosa, CA 95403 707-544-3383 _________________________

Green Coast Hydroponics 135 Nogal Dr. Santa Barbara, CA 93110 805-898-9922 _________________________ 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 _________________________ Modern Gardens 26620 Valley Center Dr., Unit #104 Santa Clarita, CA 91351 661-513-4733 _________________________

Santa Clarita Valley Hydroponics 25835 Railroad Ave. #26 Santa Clarita, CA 91350 661-255-3700; 661-255-3701 _________________________ Hydro-Logic Purification Systems 370 Encinal St., Suite 150 Santa Cruz, CA 95060 888-H2O-LOGIC Santa Cruz Hydroponics & Organics - West Side 815 Almar Ave., Unit K Santa Cruz, CA 95060 831-466-9000 Hydrofarm Southwest 12991 Leffingwell Rd. Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670 800-634-9990

Santa Rosa Hydroponics 4880 Sonoma Hwy. Santa Rosa, CA 707-595-1340

Garden Spout, The 1236 Briggs Ave. Santa Rosa, CA 95401 707-528-3500 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 _________________________

Advanced Garden Supply 2660 Lake Tahoe Blvd. Building C, Unit 9 S. Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 530-541-4769 ________________________ Farm Hydroponics, The 1950 Lake Tahoe Boulevard #3 S. Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 530-541-3276 East County Hydroponics 9903 Campo Rd. Spring Valley, CA 91977 619-825-5097 ________________________

Santa Rosa Hydroponics 4130 S Moorland Ave. Santa Rosa, CA 707-584-9370 _________________________ Wyatt Supply 747 Yolanda Ave. Santa Rosa, CA 95404 707-578-3747 Next Generation Hydroponics 10658 Prospect Ave., Suite A Santee, CA 92071 619-438 2415 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

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 ________________________

Hydro Depot 6731 Sebastopol Ave. Sebastopol, CA 95472 707-829-1510

M&M Garden Supply 2509 West Lane, Suite B Stockton, CA 95205 209-939-0664

loom Brothers Garden Supply, Inc. 3293 Industry Dr. Signal Hill, CA 90755 562-494-0060 ________________________

Pacific Ave Indoor Garden Supply 4633 Pacific Ave Stockton, CA 95207 209-955-0945

Green Universe Inc. 19618 8th St. E Sonoma, CA 95476 707-320-0554 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 Santa Cruz Hydroponics & Organics - East Side 4000 Cordelia Lane Soquel, CA 95073 831-475-9900

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

Green Thumb Lighting & Garden 1647 W. Sepulveda Blvd., Unit 5 Torrance, CA 90501 888-326-GROW Los Angeles Hydroponics & Organics 3007-3009 W. Artesia Blvd. Torrance, CA 90504 310-323-4937

Deep Roots Hydroponics 2661 Gravenstein Hwy. S #E Sebastopol, CA 95472-8200 707-829-7668

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

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805 Hydroponics & Organics 1785 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. Thousand Oaks, CA 91362 805-494-1785

Golden Harvest Hydroponics & Garden Supply 8626 Lower Sacramento Road #48 Stockton, CA 95210 209-951-3550

California Hydroponics 600 N. Broadway Santa Maria CA 93454 805-614-9376 Big Daddy Garden Supply 3236 Dutton Ave. Santa Rosa, CA 95407 707-535-0996

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Hydroponics Depot 8712 Sunland Blvd. Sun Valley, CA 91352 818-771-0600 ________________________

Growers Choice Hydroponics 470 W. Larch Rd. #1 Tracy, CA 95304 209-833-1212 Tracy Hydroponics 543 W. Grant Line Tracy, CA 95376 209-207-9065 Anything Grows 10607 W. River St., Bldg. 3 Suite C Truckee, CA 96161 530-582-0479 Aloha Hydroponics 225 Lander Ave. Turlock, CA 95380 209-667-6653 Garden Depot Hydroponics 1460 Freitas Park Turlock, CA 95380 209-250-0101 Hooked Up Hydroponics 339 S. Golden State Blvd. Turlock, CA 95380 209-668-1300 Big Daddy Garden Supply 310 Mason St. Ukiah, CA 95482 707-467-9234

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 Beyond Hydro Inc. 12639 San Fernando Rd. Sylmar, CA 91342 818-362-5373

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

Tahoe Garden Supply 645 Westlake Blvd., Suite 2 Tahoe City, CA 96145 530-581-3200

Wyatt Supply 2200 N. State St. Ukiah, CA 95482 707-462-7473

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

TNC Supply 9490 Main St., P.O. Box 763 Upper Lake, CA 95485 707-275-9565

Maximum Yield USA | November 2013

183

MAXIMUM YIELD distributors ________________________

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

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 Blazzin Hydroponics 6650 Cresent St. Ventura, CA 93003 805-644-9376 Kinney Nursery 4115 Rowles Rd. Vina, CA 96092 530-839-2196 The Green Shop 66420 Mooney Blvd., Suite 1 Visalia, CA 93277 559-688-4200 ________________________

BWGS-CA 7530 W. Sunnyview Ave. Visalia, CA 93291 888-316-1306 ________________________ Kaweah Grower Supply 1106 1/2 N. Ben Maddox Way Visalia, CA 93293 559-625-4937 Greentrees Hydroponics Inc. 2581 Pioneer Ave., Unit D Vista, CA 92081 760-598-7551 Home Life Hydroponics and Organics 1745 East Vista Way Vista, CA 92084 760-643-2150 ________________________

Flower Hut Nursery 603 4th St. Wheatland, CA 95692 530-633-4526

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GreenWay Hydroponics 11510 Whittier Blvd. Whittier, CA 90601

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

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 ________________________

Evergreen Farm Feed and Garden 1131 Main St. Weaverville, CA 96093 530-623-2884

Jolly Rancher Hydroponics 399 Business Park Ctr., Suite 205 Windsor, CA 95492 707-838-0842 ________________________ Green Acres 20946 Victory Blvd. Woodland Hills, CA 91367 Sparetime Supply 208 E. San Francisco Ave. Willits, CA 95490-4006 Farmer Browns Garden Supply 80 Country Club Rd. Willow Creek, CA 95573 530-629-3100 Urban Gardens 22516 Ventura Blvd. Woodland Hills, CA 91364 818-876-0222 ________________________

Ultra Lo Hydro ultralohydro.com 937-252-8224 _________________________ Garden Highway Garden Supply 598 Garden Highway #22 Yuba City, CA 95991 530-755-2877 Golden Valley Hydroponics 870 W. Onsott Rd. Suite F Yuba City, CA 95993 530-763-2151

Yucca Valley Hydroponics 56825 Twentynine Palms Hwy. Yucca Valley, CA 92284 760-369-0300

COLORADO South Park Hydroponics 42 E Buckskin Rd. Alma, CO 80420 719-836-1533

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

Green Spot Garden Center & Antiques 711 State Ave. Alamosa, CO 81101 719-589-6362

California Hydro Garden 1043 S. Glendora Ave., Suite A West Covina, CA 91790 626-813-0868

The Hydro Store 6695 Wadsworth Blvd. #C Arvada, CO 80004 720-328-3746

No Stress Hydroponics 7543 Santa Monica Blvd. W. Hollywood, CA 90046 323-845-9874

The Grofax 25797 Conifer Rd. #A-8 Aspen Park, CO 80433 303-838-5520

Hydronation 2491 Boatman Dr., Suite B W. Sacramento, CA 95691 916-372-4444

Aurora Hydroponic LLC 4250 S Chambers Rd. Aurora, CO 80014 303-400-6941

184

National Garden Wholesale/ Sunlight Supply 3550 B Odessa Way Aurora, CO 80011 866-877-4188 (Northeast) _________________________

Maximum Yield USA | November 2013

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

Cultivate Hydroponics & Organics 666 S. Buchtel Blvd. Denver, CO 80210 303-954-9919

Rocky Mountain Hydroponics and Organics 439 Edwards Access Rd Unit B101 Edwards, CO 81632 970-926-2100

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

Greenlight Garden Supply 7741 E Colfax Ave. Denver, CO 80220 720-389-8320

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

The Grofax 7540 East Colfax Ave. Denver, CO 80220 720-328-2127

Bath Nursery & Garden Center 2000 E. Prospect, Fort Collins, CO 80525 970-484-5022

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

The Grofax 755 South Federal Blvd. Denver, CO 80219 720-328-5164

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

The Grow Outlet 4272 Lowell Blvd. Denver, CO 80211 303-586-5543 _________________________

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

Southern Humbolt Garden Supplies 31653 Outer Highway 10 Yacaipa, CA 92373 909-794-6888 Specialty Garden Supply 7 Hangar Way, Suite B Watsonville, CA 95075 831-768-0420 ________________________

Retail Stores listed alphabetically by city in each state.

Nick’s Garden Center 2001 S. Chambers Aurora, CO 80014 303-696-6657 ________________________ Rooted Hydroponics & Organics – Vail 910 Nottingham Road Unit N-11 & N-12 Avon, CO 81620 970-748-1222 ________________________

\ Black Dog LED 2885 Aurora Ave. #38 Boulder, CO 80303 720-420-1209 sales@blackdogLED.com ________________________ Boulder Hydroponics 1630 N 63rd St. Boulder, CO 80301 303-415-0045 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 Mile High Hydroponics 37 Strong St. Brighton, CO 80601 303-637-0069 ________________________

ACME Hydroponics 300 Nickel St., Suite 3 Broomfield, CO 80020 720-524-7306 ________________________ Hydrofarm Mountain 400 Burbank St. Broomfield, CO 80020 800-634-9990

Greenhouse Tech 917 East Fillmore Colorado Springs, CO 80907 719-634-0637 Hydro Grow Supply 644 Peterson Rd. Colorado Springs, CO 80915 719-596-2600 Purple Mountain Hydroponics LLC 1530 S Nevada Ave. Colorado Springs, CO 80906 719-635-5859 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 _________________________ Grow Your Own 27051 Barkley Rd. Conifer, CO 80433 303-816-GROW (4769) Happy Grow Lucky 11873 Springs Rd. Conifer, CO 80433 1-303-838-8700 Whetstone Garden Supply 300 Belleview Ave. Crested Butte, CO 81224 970-349-9666 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 _________________________

Grow Your Own 2118 S Bellaire St. Denver, CO 80222 303-990-1929 _________________________ Hydro Terra Corp 3893 Steele St. Denver, CO 80205 954-260-3377 HyGrow Indoor Gardening Supplies 6271 Beach St., Unit F Denver, CO 80221 303-396-1420 Indoor Paradise Denver 7100 N Broadway, Suite 3D & E Denver, CO 80221 303-428-5020 NoDo Urban Garden Supply 1330 27th St. Denver, CO 80205 303-296-3424

Gold Coast Hydroponics West 8101 S.W. Frontage Rd. Suite 300 Fort Collins, Co 80528 970-232-3220 The Grow Shop LLC 1711 S. College Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80525 970-484-1042 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 _________________________

Hydro Shack, The 753 10 Mile Drive Frisco, CO 80443 970-668-0359 _________________________ Rocky Mountain Hydroponics and Organics 7800 Colorado 82 #203 Glenwood Springs, Co 81601 970-947-9551 Green Head Hydroponics 809 E. Jasper Court Granby, CO 80446 970-557-3031 _________________________

Rocky Mountain Hydroponics and Organics 1717 39th Ave. Denver, CO 80205 800-58-HYDRO Ultimate Hydroponics & Organics 2380 S. Broadway Denver, CO 80210 303-282-0034 Way To Grow 301 East 57th Ave. Denver, CO 80216 303-296-7900 _________________________

Desert Bloom Hydroponics 445 Pitkin Ave., Grand Junction, CO 81501 970-245-6427 _________________________ Greeley Nutrients 700 11th Street Unit 101 Greeley, CO 80631 970-673-8302 Green Thumb Garden Supply Co. 2830 W 27th St. Greeley, CO 80634 970-506-1711

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 Store South 5050 S. Federal Boulevard, #37, Englewood, CO 80110 303-738-0202 _________________________

The Grow Shop LLC 1701 Greeley Mall Rd. Greeley, CO 80631 970-352-5447 _________________________

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 Grow in Peace 1241 Mine Rd. Idaho Springs, CO 80452 303-567-GROW GroWize 3225 S. Wadsworth Blvd. Lakewood, CO 80227 303-986-2706

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The Grow Store 8644 W. Colfax Ave, Lakewood, CO 80215 888-510-0350 _________________________

MileHydro 355 S. Harlan St. Lakewood, CO 80226 303-935-4769 _________________________ Way to Grow 11989 West Colfax Ave. Lakewood, CO 80215 303-546-3600 The Flower Bin 1805 Nelson Rd. Longmont, CO 80501 303-772-3454 _________________________

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 Colorado Hydroponics & Organics 2740 Commercial Way, Unit 1 Montrose, CO 81401 970-252-7450 Greener Mountain Indoor Gardening 20 Lakeview Dr., Unit 210 Nederland, CO 80466 303-258-7573 Grow in Peace 176 Hwy. 119 S. 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 _________________________

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

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

Palm Coast Hydroponics 4490 N Hwy US1, Suite 108 Bunnell, FL 32110 386-246-4119

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

East Coast Hydroponics & Organics 461 Forrest Ave., Suite 105 Coca, FL 32922 321-243-6800

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

GreenTouch Hydroponics Inc. 5011 S State Rd. 7, Suite 104 Davie, FL 33314 954-316-8815

CONNECTICUT

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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 E. Hartford, CT 06118 860-568-4067 LiquidSun® CT 10C South Main St. E. 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 _________________________

Absolute Hydroponic Garden Center Inc 336 North Boundary Ave. Deland, FL 32720 386-734-0696 Organic Grow Hut 2 780 Deltona Blvd. #107 Deltona, Fl 32725 1-888-574-GROW; 386-259-5777 _________________________

Grow with Us 10 Middle River Dr. Stafford Springs, CT 06076 860-684-1595

Delaware 1st State Seed And Garden Supply People’s Plaza Suite 950 Newark, DE 19702 302-834-0440 Sunny Day Organics 1867 Coastal Hwy. Rehoboth Beach, DE 19917 302-703-2538

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 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

Biofloral 6250 NW 27th Way Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33309 877-735-6725 _________________________

Blossoms Experience, The 7207 NW 54th St. Miami, FL 33166 866-452-4769 _________________________

Gold Coast Hydroponics 1539 SW 21st Ave. Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33312 1-800-780-7371 Green Thumb Hydroponics Supplies 13482 North Cleveland Ave. Fort Meyers, FL 33903 239-997-4769

Florida Garden Supplies 9545 Sunset Dr. Miami, FL 33173 800-931-5215 _________________________

Gator Hydroponics 4460 SW 35th Terrace, Suite 310 Gainesville, FL 32608 352-301-5383 _________________________

Future Farms Inc., The 14291 SW 120th St., Suite 105 Miami, FL 33186 305-382-2757

Florida Garden Supplies 2692 W 79 St. Hialeah, FL 33016 1-800-931-5215 _________________________

Good To Grow 335 Westport Ave. Norwalk, CT 06851 203-956-5600 www.goodtogrowct.com _________________________

GrowSmart Indoor Garden Centers 14587 Southern Blvd. Loxahatchee, FL 33470 561-429-3527

Simply Hydroponics & Organics (North) 3642 South Suncoast Blvd. Homosassa, FL 34448 352-628-2655 _________________________

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

Growers Choice South 8535 Baymeadows Rd., Suite 13 Jacksonville, FL 32256 904-647-7156 _________________________ Hydroponics International Inc. 7029-10 Commonwealth Ave. Jacksonville, FL 32220 904-693-6554 Urban Organics & Hydroponics 5325 Fairmont St. Jacksonville, FL 32207 904-398-8012 Simply Hydroponics & Organics 7949 Ulmerton Rd. Largo, FL 33773 727-531-5355

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

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

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

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

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 _________________________ 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) Monkey Hydroponics 940 West Oakland Ave., Unit A1 Winter Garden, FL 34787 407-574-8495 Cultivating Eden Hydroponic Supplies 946 18th Ave. SW Vero Beach, FL 32962 772-564-8880 _________________________

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

GEORGIA

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Urban Sunshine Organic & Hydroponic Gardening 2841 South Nove Rd., Suite 5 S. Daytona, FL 32119 386-236-9989; 386-492-6978 Avid Brew Company 1745 1st Ave S. St. Petersburg, FL 33712 727-388-6756 Avid Brew Company 1745 1st Ave. S. St. ST. Petersberg, Fl 33712 727-388-6756 Mr. Nice Guy Hydroponics 1800 NW. Federal Hwy. Stuart, FL 34994 772-934-6785 Esposito Garden Center 2743 Capital Circle NE Tallahassee, FL 32308 850-386-2114 Evershine Hydroponics 1519 Capital Circle NE Unit #35 Tallahassee, FL 32308 850-765-0040 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

Atlantis Hydroponics 1422 Woodmont Lane, #4 Atlanta, GA 30318 404-367-0052 _________________________ Flora Hydroponics Inc. 2475 Jefferson Rd., Suite 600 Athens, GA 30607 866-404-0551 Flora Hydroponics, Inc. 195 Paradise Blvd. Athens, GA 30607 800-470-6881 Atlantis Hydroponics 2561 West Point Ave. College Park, GA 30337 678-510-0032 Alpha Hydroponics and Garden Supply Inc. 3904 N Druid Hills Rd., Suite 247 Decatur, GA 30033 404-590-4769 _________________________

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

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MAXIMUM YIELD distributors Flora Hydroponics, Inc. 1239 Fowler St. North West Atlanta, GA 30318 404-532-0001

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

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Alternative Garden Supply Brew and Grow- Crystal Lake 176 W. Terra Cotta Ave. Crystal Lake, IL 60014 815-301-4940 _________________________

Ohana Greenhouse & Garden Supply 300 Hukilike St. #2M, Kahalui, HI 96732 808-871-6393

Goldman’s Grow Shop 910 Greenwood Rd. Glenview, IL 60025 847-657-7250 _________________________

Aiyah’s Garden 4558 Kukui St. Kapa’a, HI 96746

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

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

Grow Big Hydroponics 7817 B North 2nd St. Manchesney Park, IL 61115 815-637-4769

IDAHO

Green Fields 8137 N. Milwaukee Niles, IL 60714 847-965-5056

Boise Hydroponics 614 North Orchard St. Boise, ID 83706 208-344-3053 Four Seasons Garden Supply 6218 Overland Rd. Boise, ID 83709 208-377-3030

Organic Garden Center 9223 Skokie Blvd. Skokie, IL 60077 847-675-2722 _________________________

One Stop Grow Shop 2326 E.44th St. Indianapolis, IN 46205 317-546-GROW _________________________

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

Green Hands of Aloha 1713 Mary St. Honolulu, HI 96819 808-847-4263

Aiyah’s Garden 3-3122 Kuhio Hwy. Unit B-2 Lihue, HI 96766 808-245-2627

Retail Stores listed alphabetically by city in each state.

Prairie House Garden Center 15151 South Harlem Ave. Orland, IL 60462 708-687-3131 _________________________

Greenthumb Greenhouses 5895 Ensign Ave. Boise, ID 83714

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 _________________________ Water Works Indoor Gardening 1900 South Dirksen Parkway Springfield, IL 62703 217-553-6929 Joe Dirt’s Organics & Hydroponics 760 Heartland Dr. Sugar Grove, IL 60554 630-466-8346

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

Maximum Grow Gardening 140 Frontage Rd. Suite D Lafayette, IN 47905 765-464-6689 _________________________ 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. S. Bend, IN 46619 574-287-9232

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

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

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

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 Versaponics.COM Box 166 West Main St. Carbondale, IL 62901 573-450-5401 Alternative Garden Supply 615 Industrial Dr., Unit A Cary, IL 60013 800-444-2837 Brew and Grow 3625 N. Kedzi Ave. Chicago, IL 60618 773-463-7430 Brew and Grow 19 South Morgan St. Chicago, IL 60607 312-243-0005 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

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

GroUp Gardening 221 N. 5th St. Pekin, IL 61554 309-349-4407 _________________________ Grow Shop of Peoria 2621 N University Peoria, IL 61604 309-299-0953 _________________________

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

Maximum Yield USA | November 2013

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 _________________________

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

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

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 _________________________

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) Green Thumb Indoor Gardening 19 Stage Rd. St. Albans, ME 04971 207-938-5909

Success Hydroponics Lexington, KY 4505 859-294-4769 Louisville Hydroponics 3471 Taylor Blvd. Louisville, KY 40215 502-366-4000

Urban Garden Center 235 Lewiston Rd. Topsham, ME 04086 207-373-0990

New Earth Garden Center 9810 Taylorsville Rd. Louisville, KY 40299 800-462-5953

Greenlife Garden Supply 611 US Route 1 York, ME 03909 207-363-0844

Bluegrass Hydro Garden 13529 S. Dixie Hwy. Upton, KY 42784 270-369-9000

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

New England Horticulture Supply 125 John Roberts Rd., Suite 1 S. Portland, ME 04106 207-899-0510

Bluegrass Organic Grow Shop 125 Quinn Dr. Nicholasville, KY 40356 859-887-0677

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

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

Mass Hydro 1753 Main St. Brockton, MA 02301 GYOstuff – Grow Your Own 2400 Massachusetts Ave. Cambridge, MA 02140 617-945-1654 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 _________________________

New England Hydroponics 855 Worcester Rd. Route 9 Framingham, MA 01701 888-529-9025 _________________________ Here We Grow 123 Russell St. (Route 9) Hadley, MA 01035 413-584-FARM (3276) LiquidSun® MA 8 Lynwood Ave. Holyoke, MA 01040 413-539-6875 Cape Cod Hydroponics 195 Ridgewood Ave. Hyannis, MA 02601 508-737-2555 Indoor Garden Center 236 Mystic Ave. Medford, MA 02155 781-874-1693 _________________________

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

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

Rootdown Hydroponics Indoor Garden Center 236 Mystic Ave. Medford, MA 01255 781-874-1693 _________________________

Urban Organics 285 St. Claude Ave. New Orleans, LA 70117 504-352-4709

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

Green Path Garden Supply 276 West Main St. Northborough, MA 01532 508-393-4181

LOUISIANA

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 _________________________

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 _________________________

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

Nor’easter Organic Life 515 College Highway Unit J Southwick, MA 01077 413-998-3951 _________________________

U Can Grow Hydro 2247 W. Liberty Ann Arbor, MI 4810 734-369-3387 _________________________

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 Battle Creek Indoor Gardening 1125 E.Michigan Ave. Battle Creek MI 49014 269-282-0554

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 _________________________

BIG Green Tomato 1775 E. Columbia Ave. Battle Creek, MI 49014 269-282-1593

Grow Supply Center 3131 Benzie Hwy. Benzonia, MI 49616 231-882-9270

LiquidSun East 12 Bay St. Unit 105 Wilmington, MA 01887 978-447-5442

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

MICHIGAN

Let’s Grow It! 225 S. Michegan Ave Big Rapids, MI 49307 231-792-2775

Get Growing Urban Garden Centre 142 S. Main St. Adrian, MI 49221

Growers Outlet 7720 Clyde Park SW Byron Center, MI 49513 616-878-4444

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 Lets Grow Hydroponics 1141 W Randall Coopersville, MI 49404 616-997-0420 Van Hydro 7480 N State Davison, MI 48423 810-653-8267 _________________________

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 _________________________

The Great Lakes Hydroponics Co. 5998 US.31 South Charlevoix, MI 49720 231-237-9153 _________________________ Hydro Pro’s Indoor Garden 30504 23 Mile Rd. Chesterfield, MI 48047 586-741-8805 _______________________

Homelight Gardens 3471 S. Huron Rd. Bay City, MI 48706 989-922-0088

J&L Growco 206 S. Michigan Ave. Big Rapids, MI 49307 231-796-1528 Worm’s Way Massachusetts 121 Worc-Providence Turnpike Sutton, MA 01590 800-284-9676 _________________________

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

Discount Hydro & Indoor

High Tech Garden Supply 560 Boston Turnpike (Route 9) Shrewsbury, MA 01545 508-845-4477 _________________________

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

Happy Harvesters Hydroponics 4410 South Saginaw St. Burton, MI 48529 810-496-3005

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

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

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

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

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

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

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 _________________________

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 _________________________

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

Horizen Hydroponics 1614 Leonard St., NW Grand Rapids, MI 49504 866-791-1664 _________________________ Grand Rapids Hydroponics Inc. 524 Leonard St. Grand Rapids, MI 49504 616-454-2500 _________________________

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

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

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

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

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

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

Urban Garden Supply 3410 S. Dort Hwy. Flint, MI 48507 810-875-9580 Granny Green Thumbs 103 W. Grand River Flowerville, MI 48836 517-223-1302

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

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Indoor/Outdoor Garden Shop 105 N. Seymour Rd. Flushing, MI 48433 810-867-4351 _________________________

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 _________________________

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

Hydroharrys- HP 24047 Dequindre Rd. Hazel Park, MI 48030 248-541-0099 _________________________ Garden Doctor 2974 28th St. SW Grandville, MI 49418 616-530-2500 Holland Hydroponic Outlet 1220 Phoenix Rd. S. Haven, MI 49090 269-637-5941 Absolute Wholesale Garden Supply 3255 Highland Rd. Highland, MI 48357 248-714-6558 _________________________

Flower Factory, The 2223 East Highland Rd. Highland, MI 48356 248-714-9292 _________________________ Holland Hydroponic Outlet 587-40 East 8th St. Holland, MI 49423 616-298-7395 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

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MAXIMUM YIELD distributors Holland Hydroponic Outlet 1220 Phoenix Rd. S. Haven, MI 49090 269-637-5941 ________________________

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Howz It Growing 700 Main St. Suite 101B Lapeer, MI 48446 810-245-8687

Sunshine Supply Co. 5800 East Pickard St. Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858 989-775-3700

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

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

Big Blue Hydroponics 590 Ottawa St. Muskegon, MI 49441 231-571-9400

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 _________________________

Aric’s Indoor Garden Supply W. 8065 US Highway 2 Iron Mountain, MI 49801 906-828-2000 _________________________ Grow Maxx 1220 S. Stephenson Ave. Iron Mountain, MI 49801 920-447-2211 Hydro Magic 595 South Cedar St. Imlay City, MI 48444 810-721-7232 Ionia Hydroponics & Indoor Garden Supply 2555 N. State(M-66) Rd. Ionia, MI 48846 616-523-6111 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 _________________________

188

Retail Stores listed alphabetically by city in each state.

Superior Growers Supply Inc. 292200 Seven Mile West Livonia, MI 48152 248-473-0450 _________________________ 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

Maximum Yield USA | November 2013

Growing Consultant Hydroponics & Things 2260 Apple Ave. Muskegon, MI 49442 231-773-5600 _________________________

Green Lantern H2O 1383 E. Laketon Ave. Muskegon, MI 49442 231-722-0420 _________________________

Edenz Hydro 1411 West 14 Mile Madison Heights, MI 48071 248-291-6691 Northern Lights Hydroponic & Garden Supply 29090 Campbell Rd. Madison Heights, MI 48071 248-439-6269 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 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 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

Hydro Giant #5 290 S. Telegraph Pontiac, MI 48341 248-706-7600 _________________________ Super Grow 288 W. Montcalm Pontiac, MI 48342 248-24SUPER (78737)

The Barefoot Gardener 11635 Fulton St. Suite 300B Lowell, MI 49331 616-987-3457 Plant Paradise 4593 W. US 10 Ludington, MI 49431 231-843-3000

Hydro Grow Source 10609 East Lovejoy Perry, MI 48872 517-376-8583 _________________________

Green Earth Hydroponics 8127 Portage Rd. Portage, MI 49002 269-342-4190 _________________________

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

High Tech Garden Supply 28000 Groesbeck Hwy. Roseville, MI 48066 586-435-2335 _________________________ Plant Paradise 7657 Michigan Ave. Rothbury, MI 49452 231-843-3000 GrowMart 2137 Warwick St. Saginaw, MI 48603 989-799-6330

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 _________________________

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

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 _________________________

Garden Wise 16010 King Rd. Riverview MI 48193 734-225-6414 amgardensupply@yahoo.com _________________________ Happy Gardening 20840 Telegraph Rd. Romulus, MI 48174 734-486-4115 _________________________

Third Coast Garden Supply LLC 2327 Auburn Rd. Shelby Township, MI 48195 586-997-2700 _________________________

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

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

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

Home Grown Hydroponics 4880 Gratiot Rd., Suite # 2 Saginaw, MI 48638 989-781-1930

Growers Edge 175 Marcell Dr. Rockford, MI 49341 _________________________

Hydro City LLC 34863 Schoenherr Sterling Heights, MI 48312 586-883-9075

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

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 _________________________

High Tech Garden Supply 7889 Telegraph Rd. Taylor, MI 48180 313-908-7554 _________________________

Greco’s Nursery & Garden Supplies 12219 E. 11 Mile Rd. Warren, MI 48093 586-759-1335

Hydro Grow, The 8210 Telegraph Rd. Taylor, MI 48180 313-633-0641

Hydro King Indoor Garden Supply 32000 Van Dyke Ave. Warren, MI 48093 586-939-0518 _________________________

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 _________________________

Cultivation Station 1990 US-31 N. Suite C Traverse City, MI 49686 231-421-8118 _________________________ Grow Store, The 90 N U.S. Highway 31 South Traverse City, MI 49685-7923 231-421-5191 _________________________

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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 _________________________

The Grow Stop 7380 Highland Rd. Waterford, MI 48327 248-599-9231 _________________________ Indoor Garden Superstore 2570 Dixie Hwy. Waterford, 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 _________________________

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

Hydrospot 34236 Michigan Ave. Wayne, MI 48184 734-722-1285 _________________________

Hydro Vision 1910 West Rd. Trenton, MI 48183 734-301-3745

B&B Hydro Supply 28974 Warren Rd. Westland, MI 48185 734-469-280

Hydro Pro’s Indoor Garden 45410 Van Dyke Ave. Utica, MI 48317 586-803-0966

Ultra Green Hydroponics 8067 N. Wayne Rd. Westland, MI 48185 734-425-1000

Forever Green 340 S. Main St. Vassar, MI 48768 989-882-9177

G.C. II 1006 E. Colby St., Suite A Whitehall, MI 49417 231-893-2400

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

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 _________________________

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 Eden Indoor Organic Gardens 831 Highway 75 N. Moorhead, MN 56560 218-477-EDEN (3336)

Lorraine Indoor Gardens 290 Spear Court Fernley, NV 89408 775-575-7757

Heightened Harvest 1415 S 32nd St. West Billings, MT 59102 406-656-1156 _________________________

Hydro Store, The 1014 W. Sunset Rd. Henderson, NV 89014 702-434-7365

Still-H2O Inc. 1266 Frontage Road W Stillwater, MN 55082 651-351-2822 _________________________

Midwest Hydroponics 5825 Excelsior Blvd. St. Louis Park, MN 55416 888-449-2739 _________________________ 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

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

One World – Life Products 906 Broadwater Billings, MT 59101 406-839-9969

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

Butteopia 127 Main St. Butte, MT 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 Box of Rain INC 860 North Meridian Rd., Suite B #19&20 Kalispell, MT 59901 406-755-RAIN (7246) Cornucopia Grow Your Own 127 Stoner Creek Rd. Lakeside, MT 59922 406-709-1076

Heartland Hydrogardens 705 Vandiver Dr., Suite G Columbia, MO 65202 573-474-4769 _________________________

Dr. Green Thumbs 1106 West Park Livingston, MT 59047 406-222-7440

Grow Your Own Hydroponics 3617 Saint John Ave. Kansas City, MO 64123 816-241-2122

Bizzy Beez LLP 5785 Highway 93 South Whitefish, MT 59937 406-863-9937

U-Grow 1724 North, 13th St. St. Louis, MO 63106 314-452-6368 _________________________

Worm’s Way Missouri 1225 North Warson Rd. St. Louis, MO 63132 800-285-9676 _________________________

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

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 ________________________

Paradigm Gardens 8949 J St., Suite 5 Omaha, NE 68127 402-339-4949 _________________________

NEVADA Carson Valley Hydroponics 2520 Empire Ranch Rd. Carson City, NV 89701 775-884-4769

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 866568-4769 Hydro Store, The 7145 W. Ann Rd. Las Vegas, NV 89130 702-434-9376 Nevada Hydroponics 4700B Maryland, Suite 1 Las Vegas, NV 89119 702-798-2852 Anything Grows 190 West Moana Lane Reno, NV 89509 775-828-1460 Everything Green Hydroponics Reno, Nv 89533 The Hydro Store 121 Woodland Ave #160 Reno, NV 89523 775-787-2760

NEW HAMPSHIRE The Beez Kneez Garden Supply 180 Emerald St. Keene, NH 03431 603-903-1488 Greenlife Garden Supply 885 Second St. Manchester, NH 03102 603-782-8259 _________________________

Hydro101 545 Hooksett Rd. #24 Manchester, NH 03104 603-782-8894 _________________________

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MAXIMUM YIELD distributors Natural Roots Hydroponics 24 Crown St. Nashua, NH 03060 603-204-5528 Four Seasons Horticulture Supply 2076 White Mountain Hwy. N. Conway, NH 03860 603-733-5444

Santa Fe Hydroponics 851 W. San Mateo Rd., Suite 4 Santa Fe, NM 87505 505-467-8454 Taos Gardening Supply 120 Bertha Taos, NM 87571 575-758-9131

Healthy Harvest Organics & Hydro 163 Broadway Fort Edwart, NY 12828 518-480-4698

NEW JERSEY

NEW YORK

Saratoga Organics & Hydroponic Supply 10 Saratoga Ave. S. Glen Falls, NY 12803 518-798-820

Garden State Hydroponics 511 Avenel St. Avenel, NJ 07001 888-300-8711

Organica: Garden Supply & Hydroponics 296 Delaware Ave. Albany, NY 12209 518-618-7666

Hydroponic Shops of America 2568 Western Ave. Guilderland, NY 12009 518-355-1503

The Grow Room 32-32 49th St. Astoria, NY 11103 718-218-GROW (4769)

Hydroponic Shops of America 720 Willow Ave. Ithaca, NY 14850 607-697-0199

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. W. Caldwell, NJ 07006 877-774-9376 Claraqua 4 Redwood Court W. 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 _________________________

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 _________________________

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 California Hydroponics 27 Corporate Circle E. 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 _________________________ All Seasons Gardening 1228 Parkway, Suite E. Sante Fe, NM 87507 505-438-GROW _________________________ New Mexico Hydroponics 923 W. Almeada Santa Fe, NM 87501 505-316-5855

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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

Maximum Yield USA | November 2013

Retail Stores listed alphabetically by city in each state.

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 Crossroads Hydroponics and Organics 181 South Plank Rd. (Route 52) Newburgh, NY 12550 845-561-4769 KG Garden Supply 4575 Commercial Dr. New Hartford, NY 13413 877-KG-HYDRO Harvest Moon Hydroponics 217 Route 32 N. New Paltz, NY 12561 845-255-3633 _________________________

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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 Hydroponic Garden Centers Inc 146 49 Horace Harding Exp. Rushing, NY 11367 718-762-8880 LiquidSun of New York 1702 Fiero Ave. Rotterdam, NY 12150 518-952-4654 Hydroponics Shops of America 2606 Erie Blvd. Syracuse, NY 13224 315-251-2516 _________________________

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 Follow The Sun 1185 B Yonkers Ave. Yonkers, NY 10704 914-237-2760

NORTH CAROLINA The Green Box 495 9th Ave. New York, NY 10018 212-967-4777 thegreenboxhydro.com _________________________ Sunlight Solutions Hydroponics 2045 Niagara Falls Blvd., Suite 13 Niagara Falls, NY 14304 888-GROWBOX The Grow Room 8 Bridge St. Nyack, NY 10960 800-449-9630 Revolution Hydroponics 309 West State St. Olean, NY 14760 716-373-GROW (4769) 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 Harvest Moon Hydroponics Henrietta Townline Plaza 3047 West Henrietta Rd. Rochester, NY 14623 716-865-7353

Advanced Hydroponic Garden 55 Shiloh Rd. #6 Asheville, NC 28803 1-828-277-3488 Fifth Season Gardening Company 21 B Westside Dr. Asheville, NC 28806 828-225-5007 Fifth Season Gardening Company 45 Banks Ave. Asheville, NC 28801 828-253-4112 Fifth Season Gardening Company 106 South Greensboro St. Carrboro, NC 27510 919-932-7600 ________________________

Flow & Grow Hydroponics & Organic Garden Center 4521 Cumberland Rd. Fayetteville, NC 28306 910-423-FLOW (3569) Hydro Garden Zone 2222 Patterson St. Suite #1 Green Grove, NC 27407 336-854-0788 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 Fifth Season Gardening Company 5619-A Hillsborough St. Raleigh, NC 27606 919-852-4747 New Age Gardens 2236A US Highway 70 Swannanoa, NC 28778 828-299-9989 Progressive Gardens 6005 Oleander Dr. Wilmington, NC 28403 910-395-1156 LiquidSun East 12 Bay St., Unit 105 Wilmington, NC 01887 978-447-5442

OHIO Akron Garden Center 434 W Wilbeth Rd. Akron, OH 44314 330-724-2700 Summit Hydroponics 1030 Kenmore Blvd. Akron, OH 44314-2114 330-753-5222 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 _________________________ Campbells Indoor Gardening Supplies 1721 Greenville Rd. Bristolville, OH 44402 330-889-0049 Magic Home Gardens 209 Cemetery Rd. Canal Winchester, OH 43110 614-837-2440 Dumont Seed Co. 619 30th St. N.W. Canton, OH 44709 330-492-0204 _________________________

BWGS-NC 4045 Perimeter West Dr., Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28214 800-316-1306 ________________________

High Tech Garden Supply 2712 B Freedom Dr. Charlotte, NC 28208 704-697-0911 ________________________

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The Bubbling Bucket 11156 Kenwood Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45242 513-469-2825 _________________________ 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 The Grow Wizard 5700 Denison Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44102 216-961-2500 Herb-N-Garden Center 14901 Puritas Ave. Cleveland, OH 44135 216-252-2001 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 _________________________

Dayton Hydroponics 3856 Miamisburg-Centerville Rd. Dayton, OH 45449 937-859-3999 _________________________ Miami Valley Hydro 8220 N. Dixie Dr. Dayton, OH 45414 937-280-4468 _________________________

Ultra Lo Hydro DAYTON, OH 45431-2046 937-252-8224 ultralohydro.com _________________________

USA Hydrogarden 542 Griswold Rd. Elyria, OH 44035 440-324-4769 _________________________ Garden Connections 3341 Centerpoint Dr. Grove City, OH 43123 614-871-0707

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Advanced Hydrorganics Indoor Garden Center 5204 Darrow Rd. Hudson, OH 44236 234-380-1287

Eastside Hydroponics 834 Ohio Pike #318 Cincinnati, OH 45245 513-528-4769

Sweet Greens 5540 Brecksville Rd. Independence, OH 44131 800-421-7084

Dayton Hydroponics 4920 Provident Dr. Cincinnati, OH 45246 513-942-7111

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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 _________________________

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. W. Carrolton, OH 45449 937-859-3999 _________________________

Urban Gardens 3665 Likens Rd. Marion, OH 43302 740-375-2800 _________________________ Top Garden Products 8600 East Ave., Suite C Mentor, OH 44060 440-290-8773 _________________________

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

USA Hydrogarden - West 11001 Route 250 Suite B9 Milin, OH 44846 419-499-0480 ________________________ Green Garden Indoor Garden Center 1664 North Main St. N. Canton, OH 44720 330-494-1234 _________________________

Gardening-Indoor 5851 Youngstown-Warren Rd. Niles, OH 44446 USA 330-932-1023 _________________________ Pet Finatics LLC 3150 Navarre Ave., Suite A Oregon, OH 43616 USA Hydrogarden 542 Griswold Rd. Elyria, OH 44035 440-324-4769 USA Hydrogarden - West 11001 Route 250 Suite B9 Milin, OH 44846 419-499-0480 Indoor Gardens 1222 Hill Rd., N. Pickerington, OH 43147 614-866-6065 _________________________

Trinity Hydro Organics 465 Woodman Dr. Riverside, OH 45431 937-252-GROW _________________________

OKLAHOMA Aeroponic Tower Garden 204 W. 5th St. PO Box 712 Beggs, OK 74421 918-221-4630; 1-877-213-8868 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 The Mad Farmer Tulsa LLC 11630 E. 51st Tulsa, OK 74146 918-615-3735 Urban Garden 3141 E. 15th St. Tulsa, OK 74104 918-289-0018

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

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Aqua Serene 465 Applegate Way, Ashland, OR 97520 541-482-7600 _________________________ 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

Paradise Supply LLC 560 N.E. “F” St., Unit C Grants Pass, OR 97526 541-955-7293 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 _________________________

Westcoast Organic & Hydroponic Supply 12410 SE 282nd Ave., Unit C Boring, OR 97009 503-512-7710

In & Out Gardens 93484 Hwy 99 South Junction City, OR 97448 541-234-2342 _________________________

The Good Earth Organics 30088 Redwood Hwy. Cave Junction, OR 97523 541-592-4496

Basin Indoor Gardening 417 N. Spring St. Klamath Falls, OR 97601 541-273-2023

Anthony’s Garden & Light Supply 93779 B Troy Lane Coos Bay, OR 97420 541-266-8822

Just the Tip Gardening 631 Main St. Lebanon, OR 97355 541-258-3234

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 _________________________

Aqua Serene 2836 W. 11th Ave. Eugene, OR 97402 541-302-9073 _________________________

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

Green Zone Garden Center & Hydroponic Supplies 1845 S.W. Hwy. 101 Suite 3 Lincoln, OR 97367 541-994-7070

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Gorilla Garden Supply 2011 Union Ave N. Bend, OR 97459 541-756-5005 _________________________ Green Garden Indoor Garden Center 1664 North Main St. N. Canton, OH 44720 330-494-1234 Indoor Garden Depot 3260 SE Oak Grove Blvd. Oak Grove, OR 97267-1421 503-786-2445 All About Hydroponics 633 Claude Rd. Ontario, OR 98914 208-731-9823 Phoenix Organics 4543 S. Pacific Highway Phoenix, OR 97535 541-535-1134 American Agriculture 9220 SE Stark St. Portland, OR 97216 800-433-6805 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 _________________________

Green Thumb Hydrogarden & Organic Supply 2021 West Main St. Medford, OR 97501 541-779-8600

Cascade Horticulture 19959 E. Burnside Portland, OR 97233 503-661-1700

Growing Crazy (Hooked On Hydroponics) 817 W. 2nd St. Medford, OR 97501 _______________________

Evergreen Garden Supply 3393 SE 21st Ave. Portland, OR 97055 503-206-5670

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 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

Evergreen Garden Supply 8830 N.E. Sandy Blvd. Unit C Portland, OR 97220 503-408-6635 Everybody’s Garden Center 2701 S.E. 14th Ave. Portland, OR 97202 800-669-5483 Garden Spout, The 4532 SE 63rd Ave. Portland, OR 97206 503-788-GROW Indoor Hydroponic Garden & Lights 1409 S.E. 82nd Ave. Portland, OR 97216 503-445-2250 Jantzen Beach Hydroponics 909 N. Tomahawk Island Dr., Suite 103 Portland, OR 97217 503-546-3185

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 Green Solutions Garden Supply 628 SW Glacier Ave. Redmond, OR 97756 541-504-2604 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 Center 1697 SE 25th St. Salem, OR 97302 503-566-7888 Northern Light & Garden Salem 1915 Lancester Dr. Salem, OR 97305 503-364-4769 Grow Big Inc. 16572 SE 362nd Dr. Sandy, OR 97055 503-826-8277 Greener Side of Life 623 West Centennial Blvd. Springfield, OR 97477 541-636-3552 Oregon’s Constant Gardener 2053 Laura St. Springfield, OR 97477 541-747-8170 Moonshine Park Farm 135 South East 62nd, Unit F South Beach, OR 97366 541-444-2298 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

Lights Distributing 9843 S.W. 55th Ave. Portland, OR 97219

Pharmer Hydroponics 11135 S.W. Industrial Way, Bldg 10-4 Tualatin, OR 97062 503-486-5751

Rain or Shine 13126 N.E. Airport Way Portland, OR 97230 503-255-1981

Splatt Hydroponics 23842 NE Halsey St., Suite B Wood Village, OR 97060-1002 503-912-0231

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MAXIMUM YIELD distributors PENNSYLVANIA Pocono Hydroponic Solutions 25 Route 611 Bartonsville, PA 18321 570-730-4544 Green Solutions Hydroponics 1700 Orange St. Berwick, PA 18603 570-752-1530 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 ________________________

Full Bloom Hydroponics 84 South 24th St. Pittsburgh, PA 15203 888-872-3602 _________________________

Esbenshades Greenhouses 546A E. 28th Div Hwy Lititz, PA 17543 717-626-7007 Hydro Ponics of Harrisburg 310 S. 10th St. Lemoyne, PA 17043 877-684-3808

Home Hydroponics of Pittsburgh 2008 Smallman St. Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-232-7030

Grow With Us 709 Warwick Ave. Warwick, RI 02888 401-270-6998

Healthy Gardens and Supply 1008 Lincoln Ave. Prospect Park, PA 19076 866-32-HYDRO

Live to Grow 719 Bald Hill Rd. Warwick, Rl 02886 401-615-5122

Northeast Hydroponics & Homebrewing 221 Scranton Carbondale Hwy. Scranton, PA 18508 570-209-7924

Mother Nature Hydroponics 1268 Post Rd. Warwick, RI 02888 401-780-0600

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 _________________________

GrowRI 105 Franklin St., Unit # 38 Westerly, RI 02891 401-596-0904 _________________________

\ Good To Grow 34 Nooseneck Hill Rd. W. Greenwich, RI 02817 401-392-3100 _________________________ Growin’ Crazy 93 Kingston Rd. Wyoming, RI 02898 401-284-0810

SOUTH CAROLINA National Garden Wholesale/ Sunlight Supply 450 Grim Lane York, PA 17406 877-779-7111 (Northeast) _________________________ PA Hydroponics & Home Gardening Supply 20 Quaker Church Rd. York Springs, PA 17372 717-528-4175

RHODE ISLAND

Solar Seed Hydroponics, Inc. 2406 Putman Pike Chepachet, RI 02814 401-710-9010

GreenSpirit Hydrogarden 1864 Meeting St. Charleston, SC 29405 843-225-1GRO Skyes the Limit 455 B Fleming Rd. Charleston, SC 29412 843-566-2121 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 _________________________

Hydro-Earth 1243 Mineral Springs Ave. North Providence, RI 02904 401-305-5520

New Stanton Hydro 150 Post Ave. New Stanton, PA 15672 724-635-0297

The Organic Grow Hut 375 Putnam Pike, Suite 13 Smithfield, RI 02828 401-349-4141

Maximum Yield USA | November 2013

Texas Hydroponics & Organics (Central Austin) 5605 Burnet Rd. Austin, TX 78756 512-459-4769

Brite Ideas Hydroponics & Organics 5121 Crest Way Dr., Suite 203 San Antonio, TX 78239 210-248-9309

Green Earth Products Inc. 5700 Highway 79 S., Unit 1 Rapid City, SD 57702 605-342-1307 _________________________

Texas Hydroponics & Organics (South Austin) 2125-A Goodrich Ave. Austin, TX 78704 512-440-4769

TENNESSEE

Jolly Green Hydroponics (Greenhouse Horticultural Supplies) 13628 Neutron Rd. Dallas, TX 75244 866-WE-JOLLY; 469-341-5555

Texas Hydroponics & Organics (San Antonio) 3412 Copeland San Antonio, TX 78219 210-226-4769

Innovative Hydroponic Supply Inc. 3286 North Park Blvd., Unit G Alcoa, TN 37701 865-984-0280 _________________________

Atlantis Hydroponics 1800 Rossville Avenue, #3 Chattanooga, TN 37408 423-752-5400 _________________________ Advanced Hydroponic Garden 783 French Mill Rd. Dandridge, TN 37725 800-521-1643 Perpetual Harvest 75 Riverport Dr. Jackson, TN 38301 877-422-3391 Advanced Hydroponic Garden 6912 Clinton Hiwy. Knoxville, TN 37921 866-938-3318 Grow Green Garden Shop 3625 Fairmont Blvd. Knoxville, TN 37917 865-249-8259 Sun City Hydroponics 2235 Whitten Rd., Suite 104 Memphis, TN 38133 901-372-8100 _________________________

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 _________________________

Worm’s Way Tennessee 901 Main St. Nashville, TN 37072 800-397-4153 _________________________

Organically Grown 768 Atwood Ave. Cranston, RI 02920 401-944-0549 GrowRI 184 Admiral Kalbfus Rd. Newport, RI 02840 401-619-0776

SOUTH DAKOTA

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Good To Grow 51 Old Tower Hill Rd. Wakefield, RI 02879 401-783-1733 _________________________

Always Green Garden Supply 4400 Old William Penn Hwy., Suite 106 Monroeville, PA 15146 412-646-1243

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Gardening-Indoor 20550 Rt. #19 Cranberry Twp. Pitsburgh, PA 16066 724-591-8086 _________________________

Oakworld Garden Center 39 West St. Barrington, RI 02806 401-245-5705 RH Distribution PO 1417, Lansdale, PA 19446 888-545-8112 _________________________

Retail Stores listed alphabetically by city in each state.

TEXAS 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

Abundant Harvest Hydroponics & Organics 3101 Ave. E. Arlington, TX 76011 817-649-0100 Brite Ideas Hydroponics & Organics 4201 South Congress Ave., Suite 310 Austin, TX 78745 512-444-2100

Lone Star Hydroponics & Organics 10550 Markinson Rd. Dallas, TX 75207 214-634-9376 Texas Hydroponics & Organics (Deep Ellum) 2715 Main St. Dallas, TX 75226 214-745-4769 Texas Hydroponics & Organics (Dallas) 2606 Manana Dr. Dallas, TX 75220 214-744-4769 Third Coast Horticulture Supplies 2715 Main St. Dallas, TX 75226 512-459-4353

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 60 W 3300 S. Suite #6 Salt Lake City, UT 84115 801-716-4133

VERMONT Greenthumb - Vermont 394 Route 15 Jericho, VT 05465 802-899-4323 _________________________

Earth Organics 1360 Lee Trevino Dr., Suite 105 El Paso, TX 79936 915-591-9500 Texas Hydroponics & Organics (Ft. Worth) 2501 Airport Frwy. Ft. Worth, TX 76111 817-834-4769 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 HydroShack 1138 W. 20th St. Houston, TX 77008 713-292-1921

How’s It Growing 193 Route 15 West Johnson, VT 05656 802-635-9931 avespo@myfairpoint.com _________________________ 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

Hydroponic Nation 9001 Frey Rd. Houston, TX 77034 713-943-1115

Fifth Season Gardening Co. 900 Preston Ave. Charlottesville, VA 22903 434-293-2332

Progressive Garden 3582 W T.C. Jester Blvd. Houston, TX 77018 713-681-7764

Clean & Green Technologies 196 Corning Dr. Christiansburg, VA 24073 866-694-1628

Texas Hydroponics & Organics (Houston) 2420 Rusk St,. Houston, TX 77003 713-641-4769

Maryland Hydroponics 1061 West Broad St. Falls Church, VA 866-324-9376

Ultimate Hydroponic Garden Supply 6125 W. Sam Houston Pkwy. N. #206 Houston, TX 77041 713-856-8425

Lucky Roots 612 North Sheppard St. Richmond, VA 23221 804-377-3020

Texas Growers Supply 5990 N. Sam Houston Pkwy. E. #602 Humble, TX 77396 281-441-3739

Blue Ridge Hydroponics & Home Brewing Company 5327 D Williamson Rd. Roanoke, VA 24012 540-265-2483

Hydro Mart 3841 Main St. Rowlett, TX 75088 972-475-6114

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

Kitsap Garden & Lighting 2130 6th St. Bremerton, WA 98312 360-377-1277

Hydroponics & Growlights 13400 Occoquan Rd. Woodbridge, VA 22191 703-490-0700

M & R Lighting Unit C 22914 Hwy 410 Buckley, WA 98390 360-707-5999 ________________________

West VIRGINIA Panhandle Hydroculture 800 East Moler Ave. Martinsburg, WV 25401 304-240-7587 Mountaineer Gardening and Hydroponics 258 Kingwood St. Morgantown, WV 26505 304-290-2460 Almost Heaven Hydroponics 3476 University Ave. Morgantown, WV 26505 304-598-5911

WASHINGTON AJ’s Indoor Gardening 1317 Summit St. Aberdeen, WA 98520 360-533-1170 _________________________

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

Island Horticulture Supply 1500 Port Dr. Burlington, WA 98233 360-707-5999 _________________________

Indoor Tropics 5930 Sunburst Lane #B Cashmere, WA 98815 509-470-7782 _________________________

Kent Garden Supplies Ltd. 18817 East Valley Hwy. Kent, WA 98032 425-251-9299 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 _________________________

Grow Center, The 615 South Fir DeerPark, WA 99006 509-276-GROW

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 ________________________

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 St. federal Way, WA 98003 253-874-1112

Linda’s Gardening & Hydroponics 11522 Canyon Rd. E. Puyallup, WA 98373 253-531-9641

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 ________________________

Aqua Serene 3839 Stone Way N. Seattle, WA 98103 206-547-GROW (4769) ________________________ Grogro Hydro 12316 32nd AVE N.E. #103 Seattle, WA 98125

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)

Fife Indoor Garden Center 1422 54th Ave. E. Fife, WA 98424 253-922-5352

Island Hydroponic & Supplies 1515 5th St. #B Marysville, WA 98271 425-299-5855

Good 2 Gro 3507 W. Clearwater Ave. Kennewick, WA 99336 509-737-1313 _________________________

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

Indoor Garden & Lighting 714 South Central Ave. Kent, WA 98032 253-373-9060 _________________________

Indoor Garden & Lighting 8606 Preston Fall City Rd. S.E. Preston, WA 98050 425-222-9661 ________________________

Purple Spring Horticulture Supply 711 Nesses Corner Rd. Pt. Hadlock, WA 98339-9411 360-344-2500

Indoor Gardening 111 W. Main Centralia, WA 98531 360-807-4259 _________________________ Sauk Solutions 7460 S Dillard Ave. Concrete, Wa 98237 360-853-8498

________________________

Northern Lights Gardening 1524 Riverside Dr, #2 Mt. Vernon, WA 98273 360-982-2217

Hydro-Tech 2121 Aurora Ave. N. Seattle, WA 98109 206-547-2202 ________________________

509 Grow 2718 N. Division Spokane, WA 99207 509-327-GROW (4769) 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 _______________________

_________________________

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 Artificial Sun Hydroponics 3506 Summitview Ave. Yakima, WA 98902 509-823-4026

WISCONSIN

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\ 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 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 ________________________

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 2oGrow 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 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 1525 Williamson St. Madison, WI 53703 608-226-8910 _________________________

Seattle’s Hydro Spot 917 N.W. 49th St. Seattle, WA 98107 206-784-2161 _________________________

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 SnoGro Indoor Gardening Supply 502 Maple Ave. Snohomish, WA 98290 360-863-6935

Waterworks Hydroponics 5039 S. Washington Tacoma, WA 98409 253-301-4343 waterworkshydro@hotmail.com ________________________ 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 ________________________

Paradigm Gardens 4501 Helgesen Dr. Madison, WI 53718 608-241-3800 _________________________ Spread Eagle Garden Center 4413 N. Lake Rd. S. Florence, WI 54121 715-696-3910 Brew and Grow 2246 Blue Mound Rd., Suite B Waukesha, WI 53186 262-717-0666

PUERTO RICO

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National Garden Wholesale/ Sunlight Supply 4525 N.W. Fruit Valley Rd. Vancouver, WA 98660 888-478-6544 (Northwest) _ _______________________

Tecno-Hydro Ave Campo Rico GJ17, PO Box 1450 Carolina, PR 00982 787-752-8252 _________________

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What’s Your Hydration Status? Most green thumbs who propagate plants by cuttings are concerned with relative humidity, temperature, rooting hormones and media type. While all of these factors play an integral role in the success or failure of rooting, there is one factor that growers may be overlooking: water status!

Breaking Down Biochar The rediscovery of biochar, a charcoal specifically produced for use as a soil amendment and soil-less mix component, is a fascinating dimension of modern horticulture. Its ability to boost agricultural productivity while ameliorating climate change has led to an impassioned debate. Which side are you on?

Permaculture Permeates Helene Isbell returns with a more in-depth look at permaculture. In her next article for Maximum Yield, she addresses what it’s good for and provides some examples of how people are using it to make a difference across the country to promote food security. Maximum Yield USA December 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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