Maximum Yield Canada March/April 2014

CANADA March - April 2014

MY CANADA LED lighting MAR/APRIL Consider the Possibilities 2014 FREE

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Optimizing pH Instrumentation Made Easy Spring Planting Tips

2014 INDOOR GARDENING EXPO TOUR www.maximumyield.com

TACOMA

NOVI

SAN FRAN

BOSTON

April 5-6

MAY 31 - JUNE 1

july 26-27

october 18-19

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CONTENTS March/April 2014

FEATURES 30

38

30 10 Tips Toward a Super Spring Start

48

54

58 Vermicompost: Micronutrient Rich Fertilizer from Worms

by Grubbycup

60 How to Keep Your Yields Thriving with Optimal pH

by Matt LeBannister

by Beth Dumey and Steve Goldberg

34 The Importance of Being Efficient: Applying Green Principles to Hydroponic Growing

by Dr. J. Benton Jones, Jr.

38 Water Disinfection by Chlorine

by Guy Sela

40 Instrumentation Made Easy and Troubleshooting

by Dr. Lynette Morgan

48 The Red and the Blue of It

by Philip McIntosh

54 Trellises, Super-Cropping and Ladybugs: Increase Your Yield by All Means Necessary

by Lee McCall

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Maximum Yield Canada | March/April 2014

60

DEPARTMENTS 8

From the Editor

64

You Tell Us

10

MaximumYield.com

66

Talking Shop

12

Letters to the Editor

68

Max Mart

14

Ask the Experts

71

Distributors

16

Max Facts

73

Coming up Next Issue

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Product Spotlight

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FROM THE EDITOR | Linda Jesson It’s been a crazy winter across Canada, with the East Coast shovelling their way through while the West Coast experienced nothing but balmy moderate temperatures. Nonetheless, the best way to bring spring on is by getting a new garden or indoor crop started. We have made it easy to get that new grow off to a good start by sharing some expert tips on producing strong, healthy crops.

For a productive garden, indoor growers should be aware of the importance of proper instrumentation, and in this issue Dr. Lynette Morgan sums it up nicely in her article “Instrumentation Made Easy,” which also includes tips on troubleshooting common problems. We’ve paired this with informafrom the tion on how to optimize pH levels and how to disinfect water using chlorine. We round things off with a feature on lighting, in which Philip McIntosh shares the possibilities of using LED Linda Jesson lighting for your next grow.

Craving even more tips and tricks? Come and see us during our first stop on the 2014 Coast to Coast Grow Like a Pro Indoor Gardening Expo Tour in Tacoma, Washington—just a short trip over the border for many West Coasters. From April 5 to 6, exhibitors from around the world will be showcasing the latest products and technologies for excited West Coast gardeners at the Tacoma Convention Center. Visit indoorgardeningexpo.com for more information, including an interactive floor plan for the event, special accommodation rates and free VIP tickets. We hope to see you there!

We’re pleased to continue Maximum Yield’s I’m a Fan contest for another year.

We have enjoyed what our readers have had to say so far, and the winners have loved spending their prizes at their favourite retail shops! You can win too just by telling us how much you enjoy reading Maximum Yield. Submit your response online at maximumyield.com/features/contests/i-m-a-fan and enter to win monthly $100 cash prizes to spend at your favourite grow store. We will choose a new winner every month, and a grand prize winner will be drawn in December to receive a $1,000 grand prize cash to spend at their favourite store.

Message Editor

VOLUME 16 – NUMBER 6 March/April 2014 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 personal opinions 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 Jenn McGarrigle ADVERTISING SALES Sales Manager Ilona Hawser ilona@maximumyield.com Kelsey Hepples - kelsey@maximumyield.com Katie Montague - katie@maximumyield.com Jed Walker - jed@maximumyield.com Robyn Jesson - robyn@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 CANADIAN DISTRIBUTION Brite-Lite Group • Biofloral • Eddis Wholesale Greenstar Plant Products Inc. • MegaWatt Quality Wholesale • Green Planet USA DISTRIBUTION Aurora Innovations • BWGS • General Hydroponics Humbolt Wholesale • Hydrofarm Hydro International National Garden Wholesale/Sunlight Supply Nickel City Wholesale Garden Supply Tradewinds UK DISTRIBUTION Direct Garden Supplies • Growth Technology Future Harvest Development Europe Hydrogarden Nutriculture UK • Dutch Pro • Maxigrow AUSTRALIAN DISTRIBUTION Dome Garden Supply • House N Garden Futchatec • Growth Technology • Hydraspher

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Maximum Yield Canada | March/April 2014

contributors Beth Dumey is the senior marketing communications specialist for Oakton Instruments. As a professional communicator, her articles have appeared in a variety of trade magazines, newsletters and online venues. Visit 4oakton.com for more information.

Dr. J. Benton Jones, Jr. has 50

Philip McIntosh is a science and

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.

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. Matt has been writing articles for Maximum Yield since 2007. His articles are published around the world.

Dr. Lynette Morgan holds a

Steven Goldberg is the marketing

Lee McCall is an alumnus of Johnson

Guy Sela is an agronomist and a

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, South Carolina.

manager for Oakton Instruments and has more than 21 years experience both in the laboratory and marketing as well as developing laboratory instrumentation including pH meters.

& Wales University. His extensive culinary background helped him gain experience in and knowledge of fine dining and food production, which developed into a career in the hydroponics and year-round gardening industry. Lee and his business partner use their Denver-based businesses to educate the public on sustainable gardening and high-quality produce.

technology writer with a bachelor’s degree in botany and chemistry and a master’s degree in biological science. During his graduate research, he used hydroponic techniques to grow axenic plants. He lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he teaches mathematics.

B. 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.

chemical engineer for his innovative software company, Smart Fertilizer (smart-fertilizer.com), which provides fertilizer management solutions.

Applying his background in water treatment, he has led a variety of projects on reverse osmosis, water disinfection, water purification, and providing high-quality water for irrigation.

Become a Maximum Yield contributor and have your articles read by 250,000 readers throughout USA, Canada, UK, Europe, New Zealand and Australia. Every issue is available on maximumyield.com, which has thousands of unique visitors monthly.

COMING UP ON THE WEB

Tacoma Expo Ready to Roll

Ask an Expert

Just a short hop over the border for West Coast gardeners, the 2014 Expo Tour kicks off in Tacoma, Washington, April 5 (industry only) and April 6 (general public welcome) at the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center. Don’t miss the first opportunity to see the latest gear for 2014. For more information, special hotel rates and your complimentary VIP ticket go to indoorgardenexpo.com.

See you in Tacoma!

Got a gardening question? We can help you get an answer. Every month, Maximum Yield writers answer pressing growing questions from readers.

Check out recent Ask the Experts questions at maximumyield.com/features/asktheexperts and then email your own question to editor@maximumyield.com or fill out the “Ask the Experts” form to get an answer. Feel free to submit questions for a particular writer or about a specific article.

Product Spotlight

Free Digital Subscription

Want to learn more about the latest products to hit the indoor gardening market? We’ve got the details at maximumyield.com/features/product-spotlight

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Maximum Yield Canada | March/April 2014

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

Connect with Us to Help You Grow

Join us on Facebook and Twitter and share some of the latest grow tips and information with our growing online community.

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

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Twelfth and Thirteenth I’m a Fan Winners Announced

Darcie and her daughter Anna, from Armstrong, British Columbia, are the 12th winners of Maximum Yield’s I’m a Fan contest. Darcie says, “I started gardening because my three-year-old daughter wanted to grow food and she was so dedicated to her garden all summer.

She was heartbroken that the garden would be done after the fall harvest so we picked up your magazine at our plant Anna shop and now she is growing tomatoes, lettuce, peppers, strawberries, dragon fruit, lemon trees and orange trees in our basement. Thank you for all of the wonderful information, it has helped keep her hobby going year-round.”

Editor’s Note: Thank you for the great response, Darcie, and congratulations on winning Maximum Yield’s I’m a Fan contest. We hope you and Anna enjoy your $100 gift certificate at your favourite indoor gardening shop, TLC Hydroponics and Garden Supply.

John Brady from Largo, Florida, is the 13th winner of Maximum Yield’s I’m a fan Contest. John says, “I have been a fan of Max Yield since it was nothing more than a few pages per issue. Since then, Max Yield has become the industry standard for information and the logical comparison to which all are held up to. Best of all, it is still free. I keep my issues as a reference for any and all problems or new John Brady endeavours. The many expos I have been fortunate to attend are always a highlight of the year.”

Editor’s Note: Thank you for the great response, John, and congratulations on winning Maximum Yield’s I’m a Fan contest. We hope you enjoy your $100 gift certificate at your favourite indoor gardening shop, Simply Hydroponics.

Constantly Researching

The reason I love Maximum Yield is because you guys are constantly researching new ideas and products, basically putting the latest in technology at our fingertips! You guys have started a movement, and I’ll follow for life.

Jason G., via email

Tune In

If you are a reader of Maximum Yield Magazine, then you know that Grubbycup has the knowledge base that keeps on giving. Check out the Grubbycup Show on dfzradio.com and get informed on Tuesday nights at 6 p.m., PST. Horizen Hydroponics, via Facebook

Learning a Lot

Customer Appreciation

We love your magazine and so do our customers. Great articles, exciting news. @growgreenknox, via Twitter

We want to hear from you!

Steven R. Van Vranken

Editor’s Note: Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us, Steven. We’re happy to have you as a fan. We hope you enjoy the new growing system you plan to obtain this year.

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Hi, I’m working on a project I think you and your readers would be interested in. Here in Silicon Valley, my partner and I are building the OsmoBot—a hydroponic monitor that uploads your system’s pH, DO, water temp, water level, air temp, humidity and light spectrum to an app accessed from a smartphone, tablet or PC. Paul, a systems engineer by trade and a master gardener by passion, developed the technology for the OsmoBot. He has built three biosphere systems in his garage. These are hermetically sealed chambers that only use outside heat and light to grow and maintain a healthy balance of plants and fish. His oldest biosphere has been sealed for almost two years and is lush with plants and even has a crawfish that is still alive. The technology we developed to monitor and control the necessary variables of the biosphere led to us consolidating them in the OsmoBot. The balance of microbiology seems to be the direction hydroponics is moving as natural/organic becomes increasingly sought after.

Check out our hydroponics landing page and a short video on the biospheres and OsmoBot here: intro.osmobot.com/hydroponics Zach S., via email

Only mag I read anymore. Learn a lot of what I know from there.

Very informative articles good for newbies and novices alike. @abel49er21, via Twitter

I’m a Fan Grand Prize Winner Congratulations to our 2013 Maximum Yield I’m a Fan Grand Prize Winner. Steven R. Van Vranken has received a grand prize of $1,000 to spend at his favourite indoor gardening shop, Indoor Garden Depot in Vancouver, Washington. Steven says, “I have post-traumatic stress disorder, so I don’t get out much, but when I do I find my way to the grow store and when there’s a new magazine available, it makes my day. I can’t believe it’s free. Thank you.”

Hydroponic Monitoring

Maximum Yield Canada | March/April 2014

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

My tomato leaves are so heavy. They just droop down. Is this normal?

If not, what could it be?

Jason Miller Jason, There are a couple reasons this might be happening. The most likely culprit is heat. If plants are too close to light sources they will become droopy. The same can be said for plants that are too cold. The ideal temperature range for most crops is 18 to 24°C. It could also be a result of overwatering. If plant roots are starved of oxygen, the leaves will begin to droop and wilt. Allow the growing medium to dry out before watering. A more serious problem could be bacterial wilt, fusarium wilt or verticillium wilt—these are fungal and bacterial diseases. The symptoms of each include wilting leaves and stems. There are other symptoms involved such as yellowing leaves. There is no cure for these diseases, one can only remove the infected plants. I hope this helps clear things up.

Sincerely, Matt LeBannister

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.

I am running LEDs for both stages of growth. Is this okay or should I take out one of my 400-W LED lights and add a 400-W high pressure sodium or metal halide for my flowering plants?

Kolton Davis Kolton, LED lighting can work great for both stages of growth especially when using higher wattage LED fixtures (like the 400-W units you are using). LEDs produce more usable light energy for plants per watt of electricity consumed.

Because the HPS/MH is equal to the LED unit in terms of wattage, I would recommend sticking with the LEDs. I do recommend keeping the LED light fixture as close to the plant canopy as you can without causing stress (usually 25.40 cm to 45.72 cm above the plants) to ensure sufficient light penetration.

Sincerely, Eric Hopper Eric Hopper has more than 10 years 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.

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Maximum Yield Canada | March/April 2014

Maximum Yield Canada | March/April 2014

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MAX FACTS

growing news, tips and trivia

Record Crop Numbers for Saskatchewan Saskatchewan producers have harvested the largest crop in the province’s history and surpassed the 2020 target set out in the province’s growth plan.

The latest estimates from Statistics Canada indicate Saskatchewan’s 2013 crop is 38.4 million tonnes, exceeding the goal to increase crop production to 36.6 million tonnes by 2020. The 2013 crop is 40% above 2012 production and 48% above the 10-year average. Saskatchewan’s canola crop is estimated to be the largest on record at 8.9 million tonnes, an increase of 37.5% over 2012. Production levels for wheat, canola, peas, lentils, chickpeas, oats and flax are all estimated to be above the 10-year average.

(Source: gov.sk.ca)

MAXFACTS growing news, tips and trivia Winter Wheat Research The Ontario Cereal Industry Research Council plans to research winter wheat gluten quality using funding it received from the Government of Canada recently. The research will benefit the Ontario wheat industry by identifying traits that will help build new markets for winter wheat through enhanced milling and more product uses. The goal of this research is to help farmers benefit from the development of new, locally adaptable winter wheat varieties that can meet the changing preferences of buyers. Ontario grows 73% of Canada’s winter wheat with a market value of more than $500 million.

(Source: agr.gc.ca)

Broccoli: A Cool-season Crop A cool-season crop, broccoli grows best when daytime temperatures are low. Grow in both spring and fall, but avoid mid-summer crops as hot weather can cause premature bolting. Romanesco types are especially handsome choices for edible landscaping. One stalk of cooked broccoli gives you 75 mg of vitamin C, 1300 IU of beta carotene, 3 g of protein and 5 g of dietary fibre with only 40 calories.

(Source: westcoastseeds.com)

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Maximum Yield Canada | March/April 2014

Maximum Yield Canada | March/April 2014

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MAX FACTS

growing news, tips and trivia

Eat Avocados to Reduce Snacking New research published in Nutrition Journal reports that adding one-half of a fresh avocado to a lunch may have helped healthy, overweight people feel more satisfied and reduced their desire to eat following a meal. The study was funded by the Hass Avocado Board. Researchers found that participants who added half of a fresh avocado to their lunch reported a significantly decreased desire to eat by 40% over a three-hour period, compared to their desire to eat after a standard lunch without avocado. They also reported increased feelings of satisfaction over the three hours following the meal. More research is needed to determine whether the conclusions drawn from this study can be applied to the general public.

However, the results do provide promising clues and a basis for future research to determine the effect of avocados on satiety, glucose and insulin response.

(Source: sacbee.com)

Analyzing Aquaponics A Canadian researcher believes that in Canada, aquaponics could be the solution for the national agriculture industry’s looming water shortages and lack of arable land. “My personal opinion is that integrated farming like aquaponics has no alternative,” says Nick Savidov, a researcher with the Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development ministry. “This is the only food production system in the world that provides only food and no waste.” Nick has studied aquaponics for more than a decade hoping to find an affordable and efficient method for Canadian farmers.

Canada has only a handful of large-scale aquaponics systems, most of which are located in Alberta, where the agriculture ministry has invested in researching and developing the systems. Globally, aquaponics has seen a boom in the last decade, particularly in arid climates in India and the Middle East. Australia is the global leader in aquaponics with an estimated 7,000 operations.

(Source: metronews.ca)

Pesticides in Produce The Vancouver food industry is buzzing over a report that nearly 80% of conventionally grown fruits and vegetables and 50% of organic produce bought at Canadian grocery stores tested positive for pesticide residues during testing by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. “We aren’t farming in a bubble,” says Rebecca Kneen, co-president of the Certified Organic Associations of BC, adding that conventional farmers have been applying steadily increasing rates of toxins in the form of pesticides to the soil and to food directly since the 1950s. “That’s 70 years of applying agro-toxins; of course they are still going to be there.” To alleviate some of the concerns surrounding pesticide use, more consumers are choosing to buy certified organic food, which supports a system of agriculture that aims to enhance biodiversity, eliminates synthetic agro-toxins and employs humane animal management.

Pesticide levels on organic foods are generally lower than those on conventional produce and domestically grown organics show lower levels than imports, Rebecca says.

(Source: vancouversun.com)

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Maximum Yield Canada | March/April 2014

Native Plants Explained In Canada, a native plant is one that occurs naturally in a particular region, ecosystem or habitat and occurred prior to European contact. Native plants can be mosses, ferns, grasses, wildflowers, shrubs, trees and more. They have co-evolved with animals, fungi and microbes to form a complex network of relationships. These plants are the foundation of native ecosystems, or natural communities. Native plants are important because they are the basis of Canadian native ecosystems. All forms of native organisms depend on native plants— directly or indirectly. Insects such as butterflies may use plants for food, shelter or as places to hide their eggs. Birds may nest in their branches, eat their berries or hide from predators within them.

Mammals may den in them, eat their roots, shoots and leaves or use them as cover from the weather.

(Source: npsbc.ca/nativeplants.html)

Canadian Plant Names Simplified Environmental consultants, research ecologists, nature conservation agencies, city managers, translators and many others all need to put names to plants at one time or another. The sources used often are not scientifically up-to-date, making it difficult to figure out the accepted name or proper vernacular to use in a vast country like Canada. The online VASCAN database (data.canadensys.net) simplifies this task for all users. Developed by a team of botanists and maintained and improved via input from the whole botanical community, the VASCAN database includes names for more than 5,100 vascular plants in Canada, Saint Pierre and Miquelon (France) and Greenland, roughly half of the North American continent, a zone that includes temperate and boreal forests, prairies and tundra. The plant groups that make up vascular plants are lycopods, ferns and their relatives, conifers and flowering plants.

(Source: sciencedaily.com)

Maximum Yield Canada  |  March/April 2014

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MAX FACTS

news, tips and trivia

Carinata: An Oilseed Ready for Liftoff When most people in the Prairies look at fields of yellow, they immediately think of canola. But there are other yellowflowered plants vying for attention. Most people aren’t familiar with carinata, but it holds strong potential for prairie farmers. It can grow on marginal lands and be used as a rotational crop with wheat and other cereal crops and, because of its high oil content, it’s a promising alternative to petroleum-based lubricants and biofuels.

In 2012, the National Research Council conducted the first-ever aviation tests of a biofuel made from pure carinata oil, with promising results. One of the reasons why producers might like this crop so much is that carinata is well adapted to heat and drought, and it is generally similar to canola and mustard, so for the most part the established fertility, weed and pest control options, as well as harvest management practices, can be applied to carinata.

(Source: agr.gc.ca)

Garden Centres Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Across Canada last year, garden centres diverted thousands of pounds of plastic during a national plastics recycling event. Fifty garden centres, spanning eight provinces, participated in the Canadian Nursery Landscape Association’s fourth National Plastics Recycling Event by acting as drop-off points for their community’s used garden pots and trays. Since its inception in 2010, this annual 10-day event has diverted more than 120,000 lbs. of plastic from the landfill—a conservative number based on the many garden centres that recycle plastic year-round. The CNLA believes that through these events the public is becoming more accustomed to the option of returning their old garden pots for recycling at their local independent garden centre any time of the year. Municipalities are also beginning to notice and many now accept plastic pots as part of their curbside recycling program. The National Plastics Recycling Event returns again in summer 2014.

(Source: canadanursery.com)

Boulevard Gardening Gets the Green Light Adam Hynam-Smith can visualize a row of vegetables running the length of his St. Catharines street in Ontario, with neighbours tending the plants. Nature strips are popular in his native Australia, where he says residents grow vegetation on the boulevard area, which is otherwise wasted space. In St. Catharines there is no policy or bylaw that prohibits residents from doing the same thing. Plants just have to be maintained according to basic horticultural standards. “What we don’t want is people planting large plants or something that would restrict access to a fire hydrant or other utilities that are on the boulevard,” says Kristen Sullivan, the project and development planner in the city’s recreation and community services department who recently presented a report to city council. Plants also can’t overflow onto the street or sidewalk, create a trip hazard, contain thorns or dangerous material or inhibit snow removal operations.

(Source: stcatharinesstandard.ca)

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Maximum Yield Canada | March/April 2014

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT YOUR GUIDE TO THIS ISSUE’S

HOTTEST ITEMS Ask for them at your local indoor gardening store Sun Land Indoor Soil Program The Sun Land Indoor Soil Program consists of three great growing mediums. Natural & Organic Potting Mix is a rich blend of natural and organic components, such as mycorrhizae, which is added for maximum root development and nutrition gathering capacity. Gro Line Premium Growers Mix is specially formulated with ingredients that are uniformly blended to provide air porosity that helps plants retain moisture in the root zone, and added fertilizer gives plants the boost they need. Terra Nu Coir Coconut Husk Fiber is nature’s eco-rich, renewable, sustainable by-product of the coconut harvesting industry. This product is a high-quality growing media that provides a moisture- and oxygen-rich environment for healthy root development. With more than 36 years of experience developing growing media, Sun Land Indoor is dedicated to providing consistent and reliable soil mixes for all gardening and growing styles. The company has a bulk soil delivery program starting up in the spring as well. Visit a specialty gardening store for more details.

Bluelab Connect Product Suite The Bluelab Connect Product Suite includes four new innovative products: The Bluelab Guardian Monitor Connect, the Bluelab Connect Stick, the Bluelab Connect Range Extender and the Bluelab Connect Software. The Bluelab Guardian Monitor Connect can connect wirelessly to a computer at the grow site via the Bluelab Connect Stick, which enables the data logging of pH, conductivity and temperature to the free Bluelab Connect Software—a free online download.

The logged information is viewed on a computer and can also be accessed remotely via the cloud from a mobile device or another computer, allowing the grower to view the status of the grow system 24 hours a day. The Bluelab Connect Range Extender is available when you need to extend the range between the Guardian Connect and Connect Stick. Visit an indoor garden retail store for more information.

Dutchpro’s Explode: Formidable Flowering Booster Dutchpro’s Explode is a formidable flowering booster that delivers precious nutrients and minerals to your plants throughout the flowering stage. Consisting of micronutrients, vitamins and acids, it does exactly as the name suggests— explosively driving flowering growth and bigger yields in addition to increasing plant resistance to diseases. This product is suited for every irrigation system, as well as most soil, hydro and coco set-ups. It’s available in 250-ml and 1-, 5-, 10- and 20-L bottles. Visit an indoor gardening retail store for more information.

KIND LED K3 Series The KIND LED K3 series of grow lights possess 3-W diodes that are constantly driven at 700ma advanced drivers. Since LED grow lights need constant DC current, the constant current drivers used in the KIND K3 series will deliver constant voltage and current regardless of temperature.

This powerful combination of the perfect blend of intensity, efficiency, durability and low operating temperature makes the KIND K3 a superior choice for LED grow lighting compared to other LED brands that run lower diode wattages and lesser driving currents. In addition, KIND LED grow lights are the only 3-W grow lights that feature a 12-bandwidth, full-spectrum LED panel, a secondary highintensity optical lens and 2-cm. aluminum heat sinks. For more details, ask a local garden retailer.

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Maximum Yield Canada | March/April 2014

Maximum Yield Canada | March/April 2014

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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT Digimax DE Lamp Now available at your favourite retail store through Sunlight Supply, the Digimax 1,000-W Double Ended HPS Horticulture Lamp is specifically designed for operation with high-frequency electronic ballasts. The Digimax DE’s unique T32.5 double-ended lamp construction allows for maximum optical efficiency and improved ignition behaviour. It has a connection wire at each end of the lamp, eliminating the need for a frame wire inside the lamp. The absence of frame wire eliminates any shadows in the light beam. Digimax DE lamps have an improved light spectrum, improved PAR maintenance and a quicker warm up time/reduced restrike time. Double-ended lamp-specific locking sockets ensure optimal lamp placement and support within the reflector. Please use caution and follow lamp installation instructions included with Sunlight Supply-specific DE reflectors. The jacket of this double-ended lamp is made from quartz glass—do not handle with bare hands. The lamp is packaged in a protective keepsake tin box and comes with a one-year warranty. Visit an indoor garden retail store for more information.

LightRail 4.0 AdjustaDrive from Gualala Robotics

Dutchpro’s Multi Total: Grow Media Improver Dutchpro’s Multi Total is a grow media improver that aids the key processes necessary for turning organic material from dead plant matter into beneficial nutrients. It sparks off significant root growth by improving soil structure (in terms of water retention) and promotes nutrient producing bacterial life in the substrate. Multi Total also stimulates the cationic exchange of minerals and micronutrients, and improves resistance against fungi and stress situations. This product is suited for every irrigation system, as well as most soil, hydro and coco set-ups. It’s available in 250-ml and 1-, 5-, 10- and 20-L bottles. Visit an indoor gardening retail store for more information.

The all-new LightRail 4.0 AdjustaDrive is the newest linear light mover available from Gualala Robotics Inc. With both a 0- to 60-second adjustable time delay for promoting even growth from end to end, and a 0.61-m to 1.22-m per minute adjustable speed control that covers a wide range of lamp intensities and travel distances, the LightRail 4.0 AdjustaDrive is a powerful and effective light mover control. The basic science of LightRail is that, by moving the light, growers can get light into the mid and lower leaves, increasing photosynthesis. A moveable light also eliminates hot spots, allowing growers to run lights closer to plants—a much more efficient use of wattages. Compatible with all LightRail 3.0 and 3.5 rails and accessory items, the LightRail 4.0 AdjustaDrive comes complete with a drive motor, an easy-to-assemble 2-m rail, mounting hardware, instructions and a two-year manufacturer warranty.

Check out an indoor gardening retail store for more information.

Platinium Systems Platinium Systems (all-in-one hydroponic systems) are the future of affordability and performance. These 100% self-contained units include everything needed to grow healthy plants. Platinium Systems save space and offer user-friendly features like universal bases, interchangeable accessories and easy-fill reservoirs with removable lids. They come equipped with a pump, all the required tubing and 360 sprayers for a complete set-up.

The new Platinium Systems lineup includes single-top aeroponic systems (Aerotop), individual-pot aeroponic systems (Aerostar), ebb and flow systems (Ebb&Flow), rockwool drip systems (Hydrostone), pot-drip systems (Hydropro) and cloners (Super Cloner). Most Platinium Systems are available in the following styles: 40 Series, 40 by 90 series, 60 Series, 100 Series and 120 Series, which range in size from 40 cm by 40 cm to 121 cm by 116 cm. Visit an indoor garden shop for more information.

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Maximum Yield Canada | March/April 2014

Heavy-Duty Active Air Fans Hydrofarm’s new heavy-duty Active Air™ brand fans make managing the airflow in your indoor garden a simple task.

Growers can choose between 40-cm and 45-cm pedestal fans, a 30-cm pivot fan and a 40-cm wall-mount fan, making it possible to set the degree of oscillation to exactly what is needed.

These industrial strength fans bring superior durability, quiet operation, energy efficiency and UL listings to the consumer at a value price. Visit a Hydrofarm authorized retailer near you for more information.

iGROW Grow Lights In development for three years and soft launched in 2012 with 20 exclusive retailers around the United States, iGROW is also available in Canada. American made and warrantied, iGROW is the only full-colour spectrum induction light with both vegetative and bloom frequency bulbs. iGROW’s patent-pending technology has been vetted for performance and energy efficiency by the most rigorous testing through two USDA facilities, major universities, commercial growers, US and Canadian retailers and hundreds of home growers.

With a near 100% customer satisfaction rate, iGROW will deliver what every grower is looking for: higher quality crops, more yield per watt, a low cost of ownership and a light system guaranteed for five years. Visit an indoor gardening retail store to learn about iGROW.

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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Overgrow by Optic Foliar A dynamic, multipurpose, ready-to-use spray that combines all necessary sprays into one dynamic solution, Overgrow provides solutions for increased growth, deficiencies, pests and pest management. Match that with the ability to spray in full sunlight with no resulting burning and no need to spray the undersides of leaves and you have the only all-in-one spray with no negative side effects from leaf burn to residuals. Overgrow will prevent and combat all problems attacking your leaves, ensuring you always get a healthy harvest. For more information, visit a local retail store.

Limited Edition Bluelab Grower’s Toolbox

Gorilla Grow Tent’s 12’ by 12’ Indoor Growroom

The Bluelab Grower’s Toolbox combines the essential tools growers need to easily manage crop success. Each tool helps growers measure pH, conductivity (ppm) and temperatures of nutrient solutions. Growers also learn hydroponic basics with the Grow Book. The ultimate handy team—the Bluelab pH Pen and Bluelab ppm Pen—are clever little pens that make it easy to measure the nutrient uptake (pH), the amount of food available (ppm) and solution temperature in a grow, so growers can create the best nutrient environment for plant growth. The Bluelab Probe Care Kit makes maintenance easy to maximize the life and accuracy of the pens’ probes. With these tools and essentials all in one value-added pack, The Grower’s Toolbox is a complete, simple crop management system that helps growers get it right from the start. Visit an indoor garden retailer to pick up the Bluelab Grower’s Toolbox.

The Gorilla Grow Tent line has expanded to include the 12’ by 12’ indoor growroom. Gorilla Grow Tents are known as the tallest, strongest and thickest most durable grow tents and accessories available. Engineered with a patent-pending adjustable extension system, Gorilla Grow Tents enable the indoor home gardener to increase the height and size of their grow tents up to 1-m higher than the standard height. All standard features, including double reinforced structural poles for no-stress accessory and component suspension, 25-cm port holes that zip up on both ends and tool pouches are found on all of the Gorilla Grow Tents.

Ask a local indoor gardening retailer for more information.

Fantech Inline Fans Exclusively distributed by Sunlight Supply, Fantech offers two different inline fan series. The Fantech Inline Mixed Flow Duct Fan FKD Series is specifically designed to bridge the transition between centrifugal and axial fan design by combining the high flow of axial designs with the higher pressure, non-overloading characteristics of backward curved impellers. The Fantech Inline Centrifugal Fan FG Series is a German-made fan with a top-quality motor. Both fans offer galvanized steel housing and an external wiring box for ease of connection. Fantech Inline Fans have external motors with built-in thermal overload protection and automatic reset, mixed flow impellers, permanently sealed ball bearings and are 100% speed controllable. Fantech Inline Fans are suitable for air stream temperatures up to 60°C and offer excellent heat dissipation that helps ensure long motor life. Visit an indoor garden retail store for more information.

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AD

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT Digital Dimmable Ballasts by B-Lite Choose B-Lite Digital Dimmable Ballasts to serve all your lighting needs. B-Lite can power 400-W, 600-W and 1,000-W lamps, putting the versatility of three ballasts into one. With Smart Ignition technology, B-Lite protects your equipment and electrical systems. Smart Ignition technology prevents failure issues commonly caused by overloading of circuits. The ballasts also use advanced technology called Soft Start technology, which may increase the life of your lamps. Soft Start technology slowly applies power to the lamp and is capable of sensing the lamp temperature and detecting short circuits. To ensure cooler-running temperatures and longevity, B-Lite comes equipped with a thermostat-controlled internal fan. Visit an indoor garden retailer for more information.

Ideal H2O Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System The Ideal H2O™ Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System is one of the most cost effective and efficient ways to remove the majority of contaminants from water. The Ideal H2O Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System produces up to 750 L per day of ultra-pure, low ppm water. While removing more than 98% of chlorine and all other contaminants, the Ideal H2O RO System also wastes 25% less drain water than other RO systems on the market. This system, available at your favourite retail store through Sunlight Supply, is customizable for hydroponic and horticultural applications. It includes a one-year warranty on parts. For more information, visit an indoor garden retail store.

Dutchpro’s Take Root: Superb Root Stimulator Take Root is a growth stimulant capable of radically improving the inner and outer qualities of young plants. The active components are of natural origin, including several plant hormones and micronutrients. These combine to boost cellular division, cell elongation and nutrient transport—all of which help with overall root development during early vegetative growth. In addition to this, Take Root also slows down the aging process for prolonged good health. This product is suited for every irrigation system, as well as soil, hydro and coco set-ups. Take Root is available in 250-ml and 1-, 5-, 10- and 20-L bottles. For more information, visit an indoor gardening retail store.

SuperCloset’s Improved SuperFlow-20 and SuperFlow-32 SuperCloset has just improved the SuperFlow-20 and the SuperFlow-32 to supplement its product line of SuperPonics hydroponic systems. The SuperFlow-20 is a 20-plant system spread across 1.22-m trays and the SuperFlow-32 is a 32-plant system spread across 1.83-m trays. Both systems combine ebb and flow and aeroponic hydro methodologies in one system. A central control reservoir feeds the ebb and flow system that spans the four-tray arrangement. The aeroponic hydrosystem is a simple air stone configuration that will not clog. The SuperFlow is compatible with organic nutrients and promotes rapid root growth because of the custom-moulded, thick-gauge, HDPE-food-grade, UV-resistant reflective reservoir and trays. The SuperFlow is easy to operate, clean, fill and drain due to its customized valve and tube array. For more information on these improvements, stop by an indoor gardening shop.

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10 Tips Toward a Super Spring Start

by Grubbycup

Spring planting marks the beginning of the outdoor gardening season, and getting off to a good start can go a long way toward a successful harvest in the fall. Here are 10 tips to get you started.

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Assess Sun Exposure of Garden Plots Different plants have different light requirements. A full-sun plant will underperform and under produce in a shady location, and intense sunlight can damage or burn shade-loving plants. Take note of how many hours of direct sunlight each location in your garden gets during the day. Six hours or more is suitable for full-sun plants, between three and six hours is considered either partial sun or partial shade and less than three hours of direct sun is considered full shade. Dappled sun means that the plants prefer their filtered, as if they were under the canopy of other plants.

1.

Make Practical Choices About the Size of the Garden It is easy to get excited in the spring and overplant, but keep in mind that a small garden tended to all season will outproduce a large garden that is abandoned halfway through summer.

Gardening takes both time and effort, and is more suitable for a long-distance mentality than a sprinting one. It is also often desirable to plant a variety of vegetables in a garden, since some plants (such as squash) can be prolific and there are only so many ways to prepare the harvest from a bumper crop. If, in the fall, there is an excess of harvest from one kind of vegetable, trading with other gardeners or giving to relatives, friends and local food banks are all possible venues to disperse a surplus without waste.

2.

Take note of how many hours of

direct sunlight each location in your garden gets during the day.“

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10 tips toward a super spring start Prepare the Location Hopefully, the majority of last year’s garden debris was cleaned up and moved to the compost pile after last season’s harvest; if it was not, clean the area before planting. One reason to compost the leftover material in the fall is to allow time for it to be ready for the following spring.

This was a standard procedure in Roman and Greek farming.

To prevent unwanted weed growth, the area can be watered enough to sprout the offending seeds and then allowed to dry out enough to kill weed sprouts, or covered with a tarp or mulch in advance to slow weed growth.

3.

4.

Improve the Soil if Needed Soil tests can give information about possible deficiencies. Nitrogen is often boosted with compost or herbivore manure and then supplemented throughout the season with fertilizer. Rock phosphate is a common long-acting phosphorus source, and potassium levels can be improved with potash or langbeinite. Home test kits are available, or samples can be sent out for analysis.

Select Suitable Plants or Seeds Find out which plants do well in your garden zone, and what they need to do well in your area.

Plant labels, the Internet, local garden clubs and neighbouring gardens are all sources to consult. Since the tender spring starts will end in harvested produce, select plants where the harvest will be enjoyed. Personally, I have a taste for freshly harvested tomatoes, so I select varieties that either I know I like from previous years or from those similar to to get excited in the spring and my favourites—with a new variety overplant, but keep in mind that a or two mixed in so I can keep an eye out for new favourites. small garden tended to all season

5.

It is easy

will outproduce a large garden For Container Planting, Use Quality Potting Mix that is abandoned halfway If purchasing a potting soil, through summer.“ check the ingredients and inspect the product before purchasing.

Compost is the primary component of many homemade potting mixes. Garden debris is a resource that can be made into valuable compost without incurring shipping costs or middleman markups. For a simple homemade potting soil base, use one to two parts compost, one part coir and one part perlite. To this base, you can add mix amendments like seed, bone, blood or kelp meals, which will release their nutrients and fertilize the plants. Composting is simple enough to do at home, and the compost resulting from last year’s garden debris can be made into this year’s garden potting mix.

6.

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Plan Accordingly Around Frost Dates In many areas, to maximize the growing season, seeds can be started indoors under the sort of lights used for indoor gardens or in cold frames. T5 lighting is well-suited for starting seeds with minimum fuss. A simple cold frame can be made with a wooden box covered with a glass panel or covered with a clear plastic tarp. Find the last frost date for your area and count backward to find when to start the seeds. For example, if the last frost date for your garden is in April and the recommendation is to start the seeds four weeks before planting, they should be started in March. This can be particularly important when trying to get the most out of a short growing season.

7.

Harden Plants Before Moving Outdoors Plants started indoors should be hardened by gradually exposing them to outdoor conditions. This is done by moving them to less sheltered locations in steps or by introducing them to the new location for an increasing number of hours a day over a period of a week or so. Plants moved immediately from a sheltered indoor environment to the harsher conditions outdoors might suffer from shock, possibly stalling or killing the plant; gentler introduction to the new environment makes the transition easier and less stressful.

8.

Make a Plan for Watering Gardens need water to grow, and there are several options available. While a watering can is suitable for a small container garden, it is often too labour-intensive for larger gardens. A simple drip irrigation system can be connected to an existing sprinkler system or supplied by a garden hose. Since drip systems disperse water at a low rate over a longer period of time, the soil has time to absorb a higher percentage of the moisture, thus reducing runoff waste.

9.

Take Photos and Enjoy the Journey Once the garden is planted and ready for the growth of summer, take before photos to compare with the during photos of summer and the after photos of harvest. Not only will they serve as keepsakes of the pleasant memories of your garden, but they can serve as reminders of what worked and what didn’t in following seasons.

10.

Remember, every journey starts with a single step and a well-prepared spring start can start you off on the right foot.

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the importance of being

efficient: applying Green principles to hydroponic Growing

by Dr. J. benton Jones, Jr. Organic products are not the only way to go green in the garden. Making your system more efficient, while challenging, is one of these ways.

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Today, the challenge for the hydroponic grower is to determine what can be done to make his or her growing system more efficient in its use of items needed to grow successfully—that is, to make the growing procedure conform to green principles. It’s not an easy task, as little is being researched today to assist growers in ways to improve the efficiency of commonly used hydroponic growing systems.

"Great care is needed in the formulation and use of nutrient solutions so the elements applied are better used by the crop."

the importance of being

efficient: Great care is needed in the formulation and use of nutrient solutions so the elements applied are better used by the crop. For those growing systems requiring a rooting medium, minimizing the accumulation of salts in the rooting medium and reducing the requirement to periodically leach with water are green issues. What is needed are nutrientby Dr. J. benton solution formulations that fit the plant species and stage of growth and make full use of the nutrient solution.

applying Green principles to hydroponic Growing Jones, Jr.

Organic products are not the only way to go green in the garden. Making your system more efficient, while challenging, is one of these ways.

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the importance of being efficient

Some growers add enough solution to create an effluent, It saves water and reagents, as well as the cost associated which serves as a leaching of the rooting medium and parwith disposal if a spent nutrient solution is identified as tially removes accumulated materials from previous irrigabeing a hazardous waste. tions. However, the effluent must be collected and disposed of. At one time, I was advising a greenhouse tomato grower who was using his spent nutrient solution as irrigation water for his commercial vegetable garden. It seemed like a win-win situation. But he soon noticed that the elements in the spent nutrient solution did not match the nutrient element needs of the vegetable plants and continued applications could significantly alter the fertility status of the soil, creating an imbalance among the essential plant nutrient elements. After one season, the grower looked for another means of disposing the spent nutrient solution.

There is a way to reuse this nutrient solution effectively. It’s reconstitution. Reconstitution

by Dr. ofJ.aBenton Jones, Jr. nutrient solution is little practiced, as testing is required to determine its pH Aside from the nutrient solution, what is to be done with and elemental content (and thus the rooting medium at the end of the growing period?

Organic products areCan notit be the only way what will be needed to adjust recycled or put to some other use? A greenhouse to what go quantity green ofin the garden.

Making the pH and tomato grower switched his rooting medium from perlite reagents will be needed to restore composted milled pinebark. At the end of the growing your system more toeffi cient, while the elemental content to that of a local nursery purchased the pinebark for use as challenging, is oneseason, of these ways. the original). For reconstitua potting soil for bedding and woody ornamental plants. tion, the nutrient solution TheJones, grower recovered the initial cost for the pinebark

by Dr. J. benton Jr. will require filtering to and reagents added during the growing season—a profitremove suspended debris able means of disposal. I have used spent perlite as a soil and sterilization to kill areamendment my vegetable Organic products not the in only way garden, as it adds plant nutrimicrobial organisms. ent elements and—with continued application—is making toNonetheless, go green in the garden.

Making reconmy clay-textured soil more friable. your system while stitution can be more effi Mostcient, hydroponic systems also require a reliable source of cost-effective. is oneelectrical power.

Each time an electrically powered pump challenging, of these ways.

The Importance of Being

EFFICIENT: efficient: "For reconstitution, the nutrient solution will require filtering to remove suspendedGrowing debris Applying Green Principles to Hydroponic and sterilization to kill microbial organisms."

the importance of being

applying Green principles to hydroponic Growing

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Maximum Yield Canada | March/April 2014

the importance of being comes on to deliver a nutrient solution to the rooting more cost-effective (green) than having to treat for a disease medium, the cost is based on the time required to deliver or insect outbreak. It is a matter of knowing what disease the nutrient solution. Some growers use a set time method organisms and insects are likely to appear, and then followfor nutrient solution deliving those procedures that will ery whether the plants prevent unwanted outbreaks. have need for water or not.

In general, most hydroponic Having a means of detersystems are inefficient in their mining the water needs of use of water and reagents, and the plant and applying only have fairly high electrical power when needed can result in requirements. Making your significant savings in electricurrent hydroponic systems

by Dr. J. benton Jones, Jr. cal power, as well as reduced green is a significant challenge treatment requirements with no easy answers. However, of the nutrient solution. as quality water becomes scarce Placing a water-sensing Organic products are not the only way and costly, significant changes device in the rooting medium, or using a program that have to be made in how water is used to efficiently deliver to go green in thewill garden.

Making predicts plant water use based on measured energy inputs, the essential plant nutrient elements to the rooting medium for your system more cient,with while makes sure water is applied only when needed. rooteffi absorption a minimum loss to the environment. The challenging, these idealof would be noways. loss—a totally green method for growing— Growers need to be aware of the real costs associated withis one and it’s a goal worth pursuing. disease and insect control—in particular, that prevention is

efficient: "Making your current applying Green principles to hydroponic Growing hydroponic growing systems green is a significant challenge with no easy answers."

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WATER DISINFECTION by

BY GUY SELA Sometimes water needs to be disinfected before being used on plants.

Guy Sela explains one method available to growers: the use of chorine.

Many of the water sources used for irrigation require preliminary treatment before they can be considered safe to use. Water disinfection is one of the treatments that might be needed.

Disinfection is important to prevent the spread of diseases originating in the source water, and also to prevent bacteria and fungi growth in the irrigation system.

THE IMPORTANCE OF IRRIGATION WATER DISINFECTION

Deciding whether to disinfect your irrigation water depends both on your water source and on the susceptibility of the crop to pathogens that can be spread by the water. Surface water might contain plant pathogens and infect plants with diseases. Bore-hole water might contain bacteria, such as iron bacteria, sulphur bacteria, etc.

These bacteria can grow in irrigation lines and might cause severe clogging of irrigation systems and drip lines.

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Water recirculation and reuse are especially dangerous because it might cause rapid spread of plant diseases.

Various methods are available for water disinfection, including chlorine, UV, slow sand filtration, ozone and heat.

This article reviews chlorine disinfection, which is one of the most economical and effective water disinfection methods.

ADVANTAGES OF CHLORINE AS A DISINFECTANT

Efficiency Chlorine eliminates most micro-organisms, including most bacteria, viruses and fungi.

Cost Both set-up and maintenance costs are relatively low compared to other water disinfection methods.

Prolonged protection When chlorine disinfection is done correctly, residual free chlorine remains in water, protecting it against

Maximum Yield Canada  |  March/April 2014

regrowth of micro-organisms. Residual free chlorine also protects irrigation lines against clogging as a result of slime and algae growth. Other methods leave water exposed to reinfection.

BASIC PRINCIPLES OF WATER DISINFECTION BY CHLORINE

Combined chlorine versus free (residual) chlorine Chlorine binds to organic matter in water, resulting in compounds (combined chlorine) with low disinfection efficiency. Free chlorine is the concentration of the residual chlorine in water, which has high disinfection efficiency. This is why free chlorine measurements are most frequently used to evaluate the efficiency of the disinfection.

Total chlorine is the sum of the combined chlorine and the residual chlorine.

Measuring the total chlorine will not necessarily give a good indication of the disinfection efficiency.

FACTORS AFFECTING DISINFECTION EFFICIENCY

Organic matter The organic matter load in water affects chlorination efficiency. Higher organic matter levels consume more chlorine; therefore, in order to reach a particular residual chlorine concentration, addition of more chlorine is needed. However, preliminary water filtration, especially in water recirculation systems, might substantially decrease organic matter load, which would reduce the amount of chlorine needed for effective disinfection.

Contact time and free chlorine concentration The duration of time allowed for contact and reaction between chlorine and micro-organisms is extremely important. Free chlorine level, especially, must be related to the contact time. At longer contact times, lower concentrations of free chlorine can be used, and vice versa.

Temperature Disinfection is more effective in higher temperature, although too high a temperature actually reduces the efficiency of disinfection. As a rule of thumb, a decrease of 8°C reduces efficiency of disinfection by 50 to 60%.

Turbidity In turbid water that contains many suspended particles, bacteria can hide inside and in between the particles, thus escaping contact with chlorine.

Therefore, in many cases, it is necessary to filter the water prior to disinfection.

Water pH Free chlorine in water exists in three forms: Cl2 (dissolved gas), HOCl (hypochlorous acid) and OCl(hypochlorite). HOCl is 100 times more effective than OCl-. The relative proportions of these three forms are determined by water pH. The chart below shows that in pH above 6.7 the relative proportion of HOCl significantly decreases and, consequently, the efficiency of disinfection is markedly decreased. At pH of 7.4, only 50% of chlorine is in the form of HOCl.

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&

Instrumentation Made Easy+

Troubleshooting

by Dr. Lynette Morgan

A beginner’suments r t s n i e h t o t guide nd a t s r e d n u o t you’ll need garden and your new hen things what to do wrong. go w

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As exciting and delightful as a new indoor hydroponic garden can be for any hydroponic newbie, the vast assortment of instrumentation, equipment, tools and gadgets associated with the hobby can be a little overwhelming to anyone just starting out. Luckily, sticking to the basics is relatively simple and an investment in reliable instruments will make the hydroponic experience a whole lot more interesting and a little less dependent on good luck.

Troubleshooting unexpected problems is another aspect of indoor gardening that may baffle newcomers. Plants are part of a biological system and biological systems are not always predictable or trouble-free, although with an indoor garden most problems are not that difficult to deal with once you have a little experience under your belt. Pest and disease outbreaks are the most common frustrations, as the identification of culprits munching on plants or strange furry or powdery growths on leaves tends to be the first troubleshooting experiences for new growers.

Instrumentation for indoor gardens doesn’t need to be complex.

Some tools for essential measurements such as light are always a good idea.

Instrumentation for Beginners

A green peach aphid infestation.

Instrumentation: Indoor Gardens

The instrumentation required for an indoor hydroponic garden tends to be rather specific to the growing environment and system, so while an electronic weather station may be great for measuring rainfall or wind speed in the backyard garden, it’s not much use in your growroom. Most hydroponic retailers have a great range of basic to advanced instrumentation that is specifically designed for indoor gardens and will provide valuable and usually fairly easy-tounderstand information. But while it’s great to have instruments that incorporate the latest and greatest technology, every grower needs to understand the basics about what they are measuring and why, as well as what the optimum values they should be checking for are. Even beginners need to know what EC or ppm and pH they should be running their solution at and how to adjust these levels, along with all the other growing basics—like the ideal temperatures, humidity and light levels their plants require to thrive.

The basics of instrumentation don’t need to be complicated: just a few simple tools are essential—solution measurement devices, environmental monitoring tools and growing aids.

Growing aids include tools like a hand lens or magnifying glass to check for tiny little critters such as mites, which can turn into serious plant infestations if not identified and controlled. Environmental monitoring tools can be as simple as a greenhouse temperature gauge. These can range from old-fashioned spirit thermometers to detailed digital temperature gauges with multiple probes, although the newfangled ones will have to be moisture proof, as humidity in growing areas can cause havoc with electronic components.

Other environmental monitoring instruments include light meters—from basic handheld lux or foot candle meters to more advanced quantum (photosynthetically active radiation) meters with multiple sensors. Solution measurement is more specific to hydroponics and for the beginner, a basic EC, CF or TDS meter—all of which measure the concentration of nutrients in solution—is essential. EC, CF and TDS meters come in a full range of different makes and models and hydroponic retailers can advise you on the best type for growers. It’s also easy to measure pH, with a range of different methods available, from inexpensive test strips or kits sold by aquarium suppliers to electronic meters—you can even get combined EC, TDS and pH electronic meters.

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Instrumentation made easy

Why So Many Different Instrumentation Units?

One aspect of instrumentation many beginners (and often many experienced growers, too) find incredibly frustrating is the range of different units used for measurement. For example, light can be measured and expressed as visible light, which is how the human eye experiences it (as lux, lumens, foot candles or watts per square metre or square foot), or by using quantum sensors (PAR meters), which measure plantusable wavelengths of light in micromoles per m2/s-1, or daily light integral in moles per day.

Solution concentration might be measured in CF, EC or TDS as ppm (parts per million), temperature in degrees Celsius or Fahrenheit and even the amount of moisture held in the air can be recorded as either relative humidity or vapour pressure deficit. It’s important to find out the exact units of measurement your instruments are calibrated for (particularly before you buy them) and then find out what the optimum values are for your garden in those same units.

factor to give a reading in ppm. This conversion factor is slightly different for different nutrient solution compositions, so it’s only an approximation. Investing in a meter that can display both EC and ppm is a great idea for growers who are familiar with ppm values but want to get accustomed to using EC as well. Conversion factors between the different units of measurement for light, solution concentration and temperature can be used, but who wants to do that sort of math on a daily basis?

Instead, know your instrument's units of measure and find out what the optimal level is for your indoor garden.

“while it’s great to have instruments that incorporate the latest and greatest technology, every grower needs to understand the basics about what they are measuring and why.”

One measurement all growers should know about is EC, or the electrical conductivity of the nutrient solution, which is a measure of the concentration of dissolved salts in that solution. These dissolved salts conduct electricity, so an EC measure is an accurate way of determining concentration levels. EC is the preferred unit of measurement for hydroponics—meters that give readings in ppm are not actually measuring parts per million, but measuring EC and then using an in-built, approximate conversion

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Infrared thermometers are great tools for measuring leaf and solution temperatures.

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Instrumentation made easy

Powdery deposits are a sign of powdery mildew, a fungal disease that affects many indoor plants.

Once you have some experience with the basics of instrumentation, it’s time to amp it up a bit and get a little more technically advanced in the garden. There are instruments that can give you a huge amount of data on the environment the plants are growing in, such as the solution’s composition, elemental and dissolved oxygen levels and a whole range of other factors, although all this may send a grower into information overload if it can’t be processed

usefully and implemented to improve plant performance.

One of the most useful instruments for more experienced or technologically advanced growers includes a dissolved oxygen meter for those with solution culture systems.

Meters that measure total oxygen ppm and percentage of oxygen saturation are great tools for checking oxygen levels in your nutrient solution culture. Another great device is the electronic controller for larger automated systems, which measures and adjusts EC and pH all by itself while you are away from the garden. For really keen hydroponic growers, there are even nutrient analysis systems for measuring individual elements in the nutrient solution on-site, which means no waiting time for analysis results to come back from the lab. One such photometer hydroponic analysis instrument allows NO3, NH4, P, K, Ca, Mg and S in the nutrient solution to be measured directly by the grower.

For those who love indoor tomatoes, a handheld or electronic brix (TDS) meter is a fun tool to measure sugars in the fruit, giving you a way to measure the overall sweetness value of your tomatoes.

What are They Called?

Here’s a list of instruments commonly used for indoor gardening. Not all are essential and some are more highly specialized and geared towards the hydro-geeks among us.

Measurement

Instrument(s)

Nutrient solution concentration

Electrical conductivity meter (EC meter) Conductivity meter (CF meter) TDS meter (total dissolved solids) ppm (parts per million)

pH

Electronic pH meter (pH range 4 to 9) pH test strips (colour change pH range often 5 to 9) pH liquid test kits (pH range often 5 to 9)

CO2 (carbon dioxide)

Portable CO2 monitor (ppm of CO2) Infrared gas analyzer (IRGA)

Humidity

Hygrometer (relative humidity percentage) Dry-and wet-bulb instrument or psychrometer

Brix (total soluble solids, fruit)

Refractometer: manual (also called Brix meter) Refractometer: digital (brix degrees)

Individual ions

Photometer (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S in mg/l or ppm) Individual ion meters (cardy nitrate meter)

Temperature

Thermometer in °C or °F, digital or spirit Infrared thermometer for surfaces or solution temperatures Submersible thermometer (solution temperatures)

Oxygen in solution

DO meter (dissolved oxygen ppm and percentage of saturation)

Light

Quantum light meter (PAR measures plant usable wavelengths as micromoles m2/s-1) Photometric light meter (foot candles, lux, watts)

Plant stress/health

Chlorophyll meter

Pest identification

Hand lens, macroscope, IPM scope

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Troubleshooting

While instruments for measuring, monitoring and adjusting things in an indoor garden are valuable tools, some troubleshooting skills are going to be required by all growers sooner or later. Hydroponic problems tend to fall into five general categories: those caused by the environment (too hot, cold, shaded, humid or dry; not enough carbon dioxide, oxygen, air movement or ventilation); those caused by the nutrient solution (nutrient balance issues or incorrect EC/TDS/pH); those caused by unwelcome intruders (insects, viruses, fungi, bacteria); those caused by system faults (over or under-watering, for example); or those caused by grower error or inexperience, which of course might be the root cause of all of these issues.

While this may seem a little daunting, most beginners are able to enjoy a relatively trouble-free experience with their indoor garden once good control over the environment, plant nutrition and general plant growth has been established. The basics of troubleshooting start with knowing what a healthy plant should look like and then checking regularly for anything unusual. Important points to remember are: • Symptoms showing on the tops of the plants—stunting or wilting, for example—may be due to a problem with the roots. Always check root health when troubleshooting vague symptoms.

Troubleshooting growing conditions can be vital—cool night temperatures have caused this fruit deformity on a tomato truss.

• Wilting may not be due to a lack of water—wilting can occur when the plant has been overwatered, if temperatures are too high, if the roots have been damaged and can’t take up water or if there is not enough oxygen in the root zone.

“The basics of troubleshooting start with knowing what a healthy plant should look like and then checking regularly for anything unusual.”

• Be careful what you kill—not all microbes and insects are harmful; in fact, most are not. The ‘kill everything and be super-sterile’ approach is now seen as an old-fashioned idea when it comes to indoor gardens. Biodiversity—even with an indoor garden—is generally a good thing. There are beneficial insects that prey on insect pests and there are microbes such as fungi and bacteria that not only protect plants but also play a role in nutrient uptake and plant health and protection. Some of these are naturally occurring, some can be introduced with the use of commercially available products.

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Instrumentation made easy

Watch out for caterpillars that chew on plant leaves.

Some of the more common problems beginners may encounter are described briefly below. There are many great books and Internet resources available should you require more detail on any of these issues.

Young plants are yellowed or pale, stunted and refusing to grow. While there are many causes of this, the most likely one is overwatering (it is possible to overwater plants in hydroponics and it’s a common problem with inexperienced growers, particularly in moisture-retentive substrates such as coco fibre).

Overwatering may also encourage the root rot pathogen pythium (check for brown, disintegrating root systems).

“Most beginners underestimate how much light their plants need.”

Insects on plants. Caterpillars chewing holes, whiteflies fluttering around the tops of plants, tiny black thrips causing bronzing of leaves, tiny red insects (mites) creating speckled leaves, white waxy scaly insects on plants or roots (mealy bugs), twisted foliage on peppers (aphid feeding damage) and many more insect-related issues are all possible problems. Using a pest identification book or website is the first step, followed by applying the recommended control agent or spray.

Plants becoming tall and stretched with pale, thin foliage and lack of productivity. You can blame this on low light levels, which is far more common in indoor gardens than high light levels, which can sometimes occur in outdoor crops and greenhouses in summer. Most beginners underestimate how much light their plants need (it may look bright to the human eye, but be far too low in intensity for a tomato), and they also tend to cram far too many plants into a small area. The resulting competition for light results in tall, stretched plants and low yields. Beginners should seek advice from horticultural lighting specialists about exactly how many lamps they need for the number of plants they want to grow and then check light levels on a regular basis because light levels fall as HID bulbs age.

General poor growth. This is characterized by small plants, slow rates of development, a failure to set fruit and flowers dropping off. Environmental issues are often the cause of these sorts of problems. Most fruiting plants such as

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The root disease pythium is often a concern for beginners.

tomatoes and peppers need a day and night temperature differential for strong flowering and fruit set and in fact most plants benefit from day to night differentials.

Having average night temperatures run lower than day temperatures promotes stronger growth and improved flowering. For example, tomatoes have an optimal temperature of 25 to 26°C during the day and 20 to 22°C at night. When night temperatures are the same as day temperatures or higher, flowering problems become more common. Capsicums are even more sensitive to day and night temperature differences than tomatoes. If overall temperatures are too hot or too cold for the species of plant being grown then the plants won’t produce happily.

It pays to research the ideal temperatures for growth.

Solution troubleshooting. Provided a clean, highquality water source is used and recommended rates of nutrients applied, nutrient solutions are fairly reliable in small indoor gardens. Growers using city water may need to be wary of water treatment chemicals such as chloramines and chloride, which can harm sensitive young plants, and of hard water, which may create lime scale on pumps and equipment. Water softeners can also create problems as many use sodium in the softening process, which is an unwanted element that builds up in hydroponic systems. If you are experiencing these problems, rainwater collection or the use of small RO (reverse osmosis units) are a good solution.

Instrumentation for measuring dissolved oxygen can be useful for growers with solution culture systems.

Furry growths, powdery deposits or slime on leaves are all symptoms of disease. Furry, fluffy and powdery deposits are usually fungal in nature while wet, slimy and rotting spots are characteristic of bacterial infections.

Treatment sprays are effective, but it’s important to read the spray product labels to check which disease is controlled by which product.

Monitoring your garden will prevent plants from becoming unsightly.

Just plain weird problems. Sometimes troubleshooting is difficult, even for experts with decades of experience.

If really weird plant afflictions are a problem, the best remedy is to remove affected plants and dispose of them quickly to prevent any spread. There are many viruses that cause strange plant symptoms as well as genetic abnormalities that may be impossible to identify, so removal is usually the safest option.

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The

red The

by Philip McIntosh

&BLUE

of It

Many gardeners have always known the technical advantages of LEDs, but the high initial cost can be a deterrent. However, as the price of LED lighting continues to drop, maybe it’s time to take a closer look at this technology.

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Maximum Yield Canada | March/April 2014

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the red and the blue of it

The technical advantages of light-emitting diodes (LEDs), such as low power requirement, low cost of operation, low heat output, high efficiency, compact form, precise direction and intensity control, shock resistance and long life, have always been clear, but the high initial purchase cost has prevented wider adoption. Times are changing, though, and LEDs with higher intensities and lower costs are making this technology an ever-more attractive choice for grow lights.

LEDs are semiconductor devices, which makes them completely different than any other kind of lighting on the market. LEDs are manufactured in foundries, or fabs, using the same kinds of technology and equipment used to manufacture integrated circuits and microprocessors.

White or seemingly broad spectrum LED lamps are available for household use (reading lamps, task lighting) and for portable use (flashlights, camping lamps, headlamps and the like), but white is not a natural output colour for an LED. In fact, one of the advantages of LED grow lights is that they emit monochromatic light, or light in a narrow wavelength band. Since photosynthesis is preferentially driven by specific bands of red and blue light, LEDs offer the opportunity to provide energy of the required wavelengths without wasting any of the output on wavelengths that are not useful for photosynthesis. In theory at least, this should make red, blue or red-blue combination LED lamps less expensive than white LED lights because additional steps have to be taken to get an LED device to emit white light.

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hole

electron

light

Fermi level recombination

LED basics

n-type

p-type

band gap (forbidden band) valence band

Figure 1. Diagram of an LED

Anode

Cathode

Figure 2. Electrical symbol for an LED

A physical schematic view of a typical LED is shown in Figure 1 and the electrical symbol for an LED is shown in Figure 2. As you can see in the first figure, two semiconductor materials are placed in contact with each other. One material is an n-type semiconductor, meaning it has a surplus of negative-charge-carrying particles (namely, electrons).

The other material is a p-type semiconductor that contains a surplus of positive-charge carriers, which are referred to as holes. When a voltage is applied across the material junction, electrons flow through and they fall into the holes. As this happens, the electrons lose energy, which is then emitted as photons of light of a specific wavelength. This electrically stimulated emission of photons is called electroluminescence. The wavelength of the emission can be adjusted by controlling the chemical makeup of the semiconductor materials and by mixing the light of different coloured LEDs in a single device.

LEDs are made in a few basic shapes and sizes, but ones useful for grow lighting are fairly large (as LEDs go), packaged in a base and covered by a plastic bulb. The base supports the mounting wires and the bulb, which is made from a type of plastic resin, provides some options in terms of focusing or dispersing the emitted light.

LEDs are direct current devices, meaning they require some power conversion and conditioning to operate. You can’t just take an LED and plug it in to a wall socket, but, as a practical matter, manufacturers provide the necessary circuitry to allow them to be operated off of standard household or industrial power sources.

one of

the advantages of LED grow lights is that they emit monochromatic light, or light in a narrow wavelength band.”

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the red and the blue of it

Blue LEDs The blue LED proved to be much more difficult to come by than the red. The first blue LEDs appeared in the early 1970s, but had a low output. Commercially practical blues did not appear until 1989. Then, in the 1990s, these lights were revolutionized in Japan with the introduction of high power blue LEDs. Plants absorb blue light in the range of about 400 to 450 nm. One type of LED in particular is perfect for meeting these wavelength requirements: the ultra blue (430 nm), which consists of a substrate made from the semiconductor materials silicon carbide and gallium nitride.

Red-Blue combination lighting

Red LEDs

So, does it make sense to build a light fixture containing a combination of only red and blue LEDs? You bet. An array of red and blue LEDs are available in both circular and rectangular panels designed to be hung above plants or mounted on walls. Some include separate controls to manually adjust the output ratio of red to blue light. There are also compact bulb-like products that can be screwed into a standard Edison-base light fixture.

Large arrays of blue and red LEDs can take the place of high intensity discharge (HID) lamps and fluorescent fixtures.

Although the electroluminescent process itself does not generate much heat, the electricity used to make it happen does heat up the LED bases and when a bunch of them are put together, enough heat can be generated to require a cooling fan.

LEDs

The red LED holds a special place in LED history. Prior to its invention in 1962, other LEDs under research emitted light that was not visible to the human eye (such as in the infrared range). It was Nick Holonyak, Jr. who came up with a way to synthesize a semiconductor material—gallium arsenide phosphide—that resulted in the first useful visible light LED. Even so, red LEDs were at first mostly a subject of scientific curiosity and research due their high cost (hundreds of dollars each) and LEDs did not achieve an economically feasible price point for nearly another decade.

Plants like red light with wavelengths of about 640 to 675 nanometres (nm). It just happens that LEDs with outputs in that range are readily available, and there are two in particular that are well-suited to grow light applications. These are ultra red (660 nm), which are fabricated from gallium aluminum arsenide, and high-efficiency red (635 nm), which use gallium arsenide phosphide and gallium phosphide.

Arsenic and arsenide—sound rather dangerous, don’t they?

Yes, arsenic is a toxic material, but in LEDs, it exists in small amounts in a stable solid form that does not represent an environmental threat even if disposed of in a landfill. Also, you have to try pretty hard to break an LED, so even if by some form of accident or abuse red LEDs are broken open, there is little chance of arsenic contamination.

are direct current devices, meaning they require some power conversion and conditioning to operate.”

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Fortunately, most of the heating occurs at the back of the fixture, so LED lights can be placed close to plants.

Smaller LED lamps can also be placed under the top of the plant canopy and directly among plants to provide light to the lower leaves.

What might the future bring with respect to red and blue LED grow lights? Well, one intriguing idea is to produce a

Large

arrays of blue and red LEDs can take the place of high intensity discharge (HID) lamps and fluorescent fixtures.”

lamp that varies its red/blue ratio over time under computer control. Such lamps would be similar to ones already in production that combine both colours, except the circuits used to control the red and blue outputs would be automatically controlled with a computer. Why would this be desirable?

Well, many plants regulate their flowering and fruiting cycle based on the ratio of red to blue light. As the summer comes to an end in nature, the relative amount of red light received on Earth tends to increase. Many plants have evolved to use this phenomenon as a signal to shift from vegetative growth mode into reproduction mode. So, a lamp that would automatically mimic this gradual shift over a time could conceivably improve crop performance by exposing plants to a more natural light environment.

With further research, it might even be found that varying the red-blue ratio throughout a daylight period to simulate sunrise and sunset could have a beneficial effect on the performance of some crops. Moreover, it is possible that the use of wavelengths not directly associated with photosynthesis—such as far red or ultraviolet—might have desirable effects on plant processes. So, even if LEDs do not play a direct role in these aspects of plant physiology in actual agriculture practice, it might be able to play a role in the research. In any case, if the cost of LEDs does drop over the next few years, we can expect to see a rapid and dramatic shift into LED lighting for many uses.

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Trellises, Super-cropping and Ladybugs Increase Your Yield by All Means Necessary by

Lee McCall

Lee McCall talks about increasing yields with trellis systems and super-cropping and preventative pest control maintenance without toxic pesticides or poisons.

Increasing the yield is always the key goal at the end of the day in any type of crop production.

I always try and explain this in terms of space when gardening under lights, as opposed to talking about how many plants you can fit in the garden. Basically, understanding how to efficiently produce the optimum amount of fresh

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weight per square metre of surface area under each light will allow you to achieve the maximum possible yield and production. For example, when you grow a plant outdoors, there isn’t really any space restriction because the plant has virtually unlimited root space and equal light penetration from the sun throughout the day.

This allows a plant to grow full and thick, without the sparse, wispy straggler growth resulting from lack of light or restricted root development that you might see in an indoor plant receiving only overhead light from reflectors. Under normal circumstances, this wispy growth is always underdeveloped come harvest time and should be removed prior to initiating the flowering cycle. If not, the result is wasted time and plant energy that would have been better used in the primary tops, fruit or blooms on the plant. Indoors, using artificial lighting, a single lamp can cover only so much available surface area effectively, as opposed to the sun, which covers the entire circumference of an outdoor plant. My personal translation of this logic is that outside plants can most definitely reach their maximum possible yield without pruning, trellising or training if they are given a sunny location and adequate water and nutrients and protected from things like pests and mould. Indoors, though, each grow lamp can only cover X amount of surface area, most commonly on a horizontal platform, and it’s up to us as growers to determine the most efficient way to produce a full canopy under this available surface area and turn wispy growth into primary growth.

Trellising techniques and super-cropping can really benefit the grower in terms of maximizing production surface area with fewer plants. Trellising uses a nylon or plastic monofilament grid sectioned out in specific increments of length and width. These nets—comprised of multiple squares—will allow you to train a plant from having what were once only a few tops (primary shoots) into dozens of tops, each one occupying an individual square in the trellis net. Common trellising techniques might include wooden or PVC custom frames that serve to hold and spread the trellis flat or parallel with the canopy.

Trellis systems are usually applied to mature vegetative crops prior to the flowering cycle, so that each plant has enough time to train itself into the grids of the trellis. You should build your trellis supports in ways that will allow you to maximize the footprint of your available light.

“Trellis systems are usually applied to

mature vegetative crops prior to the flowering cycle, so that each plant has enough time to train itself into the grids of the trellis.”

Traditionally, the common understanding is that a 1,000-W light will support approximately a 1.5-sq.-m footprint; with a trellis this might be increased up to double the size, as long as there is enough plant mass to sufficiently fill in the surface area of the trellis.

This technique will also encourage shorter finishing heights, as the plants will grow out horizontally instead of vertically. Currently, this is definitely the most popular way of maximizing yield without increasing the number of plants in the garden. This kind of trellising—sometimes called screen of green or SCROG—might be conducted with many plants or few. Personally, I feel that fewer are generally better; otherwise, what is the point of the trellis? A downside to this technique is that longer vegetative growth periods are required to grow a larger plant capable of filling in a big trellis grid, but at least you’ll only have one plant to tend, as opposed to the many single plants you would need to produce the same yield.

Outdoors—and in indoor grows that use vertical lighting—trellises can also be spread vertically to function as sturdy supports for tall, longer-season varieties.

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Trellises, Super-cropping and Ladybugs Super-cropping is not a new technique, but it has continued to be a popular solution as the gardening industry has evolved. Super-cropping involves taking primary branches of a plant and creasing or bending them in such a way that it not only shortens the plant, but promotes a denser canopy over a larger surface area. Rather than having several tall primary tops on a plant, these are creased over to the side between the nodes of the plant and either tied down, trellised or left to heal as is. Over time, the crease will form a thick, callused, elbow-like knot and permanently fix the branch in place without the need of bamboo or twist-ties. This super-cropping technique works well on most types of soft-stem plants that have a tendency to grow tall—you can employ it in any situation where trellis grids are not available and plant training is required. Tomatoes, basil and pepper plants are all great candidates for the use of super-cropping strategies to increase yields.

“Although not kill-on-contact effective,

ladybugs are an excellent preventative measure that will work full-time in your garden so you won’t have to.”

To increase yields and benefit from trellising and supercropping, plant health must be also be carefully maintained.

Bugs always seem to be a big problem for most gardeners across the board, no matter what their level of expertise might be. This is a part of gardening that I always recommend approaching with extreme caution, though, as many products use harmful ingredients and plants usually don’t respond in a positive manner to them. For example, Abamectin is a systemic insecticide that many commercial or large-scale growers have used in their rooms in an attempt to control infestations of spider mites, thrips or whiteflies.

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This scheduled group six insecticide is extremely toxic to humans, animals and the environment and should be reserved for use only on ornamental and non-consumable crops. The extreme danger associated with this product is enough for me to never recommend it for use to anyone.

Imidacloprid is another pesticide ingredient that is beginning to gain some popularity among those who run into root-dwelling insect infestations. Root aphids, thrips and fungus gnats stand absolutely no chance against this systemic toxin and even though it is registered for use on vegetable crops I would still caution against it. Many countries have banned this product due to the huge numbers of native insects it has killed off.

Although not kill-on-contact effective, ladybugs are an excellent preventative measure that will work full-time in your garden so you won’t have to. Ladybugs are predatory in nature and their favourite foods are plant-dwelling insects, including spider mites, aphids, whiteflies, fungus gnats and thrips. Ladybugs are most effective once their breeding colonies start to flourish—the larvae will feast on smaller pests like mites while adults prefer fat juicy aphids. By no means are ladybugs the cure to a major pest problem in the garden. If you are struck by a serious infestation you’ll need to employ a spray that will kill bugs on contact to effectively reduce their population. The reason for this is that plant-sucking pests breed much faster than most beneficial insects, so trying to curb large infestations with ladybugs will usually prove ineffective. They’re more of a maintenance measure— you can put ladybugs in vegetative rooms and clones to ensure clean, pest-free starts and they will even burrow down into the growing medium to retrieve tasty root aphids and fungus gnats.

Try using these tactics to improve your crop production. For me, gardening is all about trial and error. In order to become better, you must first fail. Trellising and super-cropping are grower-devised techniques used to improve crop yields by manipulation of plant growth patterns. Some failures are inevitable to achieve success using these techniques. Don’t freak out if you break a branch off your first time trying to super-crop your plant.

As with anything, practice makes perfect, so throw up a grid and get started. Soon you’ll begin to see maximized yields in your own garden.

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Vermicompost: Micronutrient Rich

Fertilizer From Worms

by Matt LeBannister Want to produce your own homemade organic fertilizer while eliminating waste from landfills?

Well, it’s all about the worm poop.

There are few friends in the garden more important than the earthworm. Worms increase the permeability of soil, improving drainage and allowing more air and water to penetrate the soil. They eat organic material and the waste they produce, referred to as worm castings, is a micronutrient-rich organic fertilizer. Worm castings are not only rich in the micronutrients our plants crave, but they are also full of beneficial bacteria.

Now, what if I told you that you could bring the benefits of worms to the indoor garden? What if you could use them to make your own fertilizer loaded with micronutrients and you could do it essentially for free? Too good to be true? Actually, making, maintaining and harvesting vermicompost is a really simple process that anyone can learn if they follow a few easy steps.

Making Your Own Worm Bin Worm bins are easy to make at home. First, you need a box or bin—plastic storage containers are great for this—to house your worms and the compost. The size of the box depends on the amount of food scraps your family produces, but the box must be no taller than about 30 to 46 cm otherwise the weight of the compost can cause compaction, and if there is not enough air getting to the compost, it won’t be a healthy environment for the worms and millions of

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beneficial bacteria that are converting the compost into a great organic fertilizer. To further improve oxygen levels in your worm bin, drill small holes around the sides of your container, roughly 5 to 10 cm above the base.

The next step is to line the base of your worm bin with a few centimetres of bedding. Bedding will house the worms and can be made from a light organic material such as shredded newspaper that has been moistened but not soaked with water. Once the bedding is in place, you can add the worms.

Worms can be purchased at bait shops or dug up in a garden. The worms will work their way down into the bedding instinctively.

Feeding Your Worms Now that your worms are comfortably set up in your worm bin, it is time to start feeding them. Spread organics loosely over the bedding. Most table scraps are acceptable to add to your worm bin. Fruit and vegetable rinds are great, as well as eggshells and coffee grinds (in small amounts). You can also add lawn clippings, leaves and used napkins and paper towel. Try to avoid adding meat, dairy and fatty foods, mainly due to the odour, especially if your worm bin is indoors. Also, citrus fruits can be a problem if you add too much.

The worms will instinctively move away from the light, to the lowest section of the vermicompost pyramid. Remove the top third of the pile and repeat the process until you have removed most of the compost and most of the worms are left in the bottom. Keep the last bit of compost containing the worms and reintroduce it into your worm bin once you have adding fresh bedding. The little bit of compost will accelerate the breakdown of the next round of organics added to your worm bin. You can now repeat the process of feeding and harvesting year-round.

making, maintaining and harvesting your own vermicompost is a really simple process that anyone can learn if they follow a few easy steps.”

Harvesting Your Vermicompost After two to three months, your vermicompost is ready to be added to your indoor or outdoor garden. If you are able to wait four to six months, the organics in your worm bin will resemble healthy soil. To harvest your vermicompost, you need to sort out the worms. One of the easiest ways to do this is to spread the contents of your worm bin on a tarp underneath a light. Try to pile it all into a pyramid shape.

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How Keep Your Yields Thriving With Optimal

pH

By Beth Dumey and Steve Goldberg Indoor gardeners often have questions about pH test strips, testers and meters. Which are best? How long do they last? How do you keep them functioning?

We have the answers.

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In hydroponics, pH level is an indicator of how well plants are able to access and absorb the nutrients necessary for them to thrive. pH refers to the potential hydrogenhydroxyl ion content, and is measured on a scale that ranges from 0 to 14, with values below seven referred to as acidic and values above 7.0 as basic or alkaline. The scale is logarithmic, meaning that a reading of 6.0 is 10 times more alkaline than 5.0.

When the balance of hydrogen-hydroxyl ions shifts, nutrient absorption can suffer. Too much hydrogen in a solution and it becomes acidic—the solubility of phosphoric acid, calcium and magnesium declines with pH values below 5.0. Too much hydroxyl and a solution moves toward alkalinity. With a higher level of alkali (above 7.0) some of the nutrients precipitate out of the solution, which means iron, manganese, copper and other elements may stick to the side of the reservoir or settle at the bottom, making them unavailable to nourish the plant. In general, maintaining a pH range between 5.0 and 6.0 is ideal, though some vegetation can flourish at a 7.0 level.

Inappropriate pH levels can also influence the development of parasites such as fungal diseases. The combination of inefficient nutrient uptake and the presence of parasitic fungi can adversely affect the hydroponic growing process by reducing yields and increasing input costs.

The pH level in your solution may fluctuate over time as well. In daylight, photosynthesis enhances hydrogen levels, which lowers the pH. In the evening hours an increased rate of respiration depletes the hydrogen ions, so pH levels rise. Regularly testing pH levels and adjusting the solution accordingly will ensure that your plants are receiving the full amount of nutrients required for healthy growth.

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Optimal pH

Measuring pH Several resources are available for pH testing:

pH Paper Strips or Liquid Test Kits Gardeners often use inexpensive and convenient pH paper strips or liquid test kits to measure pH, with varying levels of success. With the strips, a test paper is dipped into a solution and the resulting change of colour, when checked against a colour chart, will indicate the pH level. Paper strips offer relatively low accuracy, however, providing only a rough indication of pH range. Liquid test kits work in a similar fashion, with a dropper dispensing liquid dye into the solution, and provide a higher level of accuracy than papers.

pH Meters These are electronic instruments that provide a more accurate readout—usually digital—of pH levels, and are part of a full pH measurement system that will also include an electrode (or sensor) with an ion-selective, pH-sensitive membrane, a temperature sensor and at least one calibration solution of known pH. Once calibrated (and adjusted if necessary), pH meters will display accurate and reliable measurements.

Pocket-sized pH Meters

(also called testers)

These budget-friendly testers are small in size, easy to carry around and run on batteries. Users simply dip the tester into the solution and read the results on the display. Some testers feature sensors intended to be used until they no longer

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calibrate correctly, at which time they are thrown away.

Other pocket testers feature replaceable sensors or allow growers to use custom electrodes designed for their specific application. These custom electrodes extend the overall life of the instrument, but can be costlier and more complicated to set up. In general, pocket-sized testers are usually fairly economical and provide a high level of accuracy.

Handheld, Portable pH Meters These typically offer more features than testers and are good for both in-house and field use. Like the pocketsized pH testers, they may contain non-replaceable, replaceable or custom electrodes.

Benchtop pH Meters Instruments of this kind are available, but are typically used in stationary laboratory applications rather than for hydroponics. Benchtop meters, though not so portable, offer more robust data management capabilities than other meters. For hydroponic applications, pocket pH testers or handheld pH meters are generally preferred because of their low cost, portability and ease of use.

Short-term Use or Longer-term Investment?

From disposable paper strips and liquid test kits to meters of various levels of complexity, the lifetime of pH measurement devices varies greatly, but most of the meters or instruments on the market today are durable and longlasting when used properly.

Both pocket-sized pH testers and pH meters use electrodes as sensors. The life of the electrode will depend on many variables, including how it is handled and maintained and what type of sample it is used in. If it is used frequently to test the pH of dirty fluids that are likely to clog the reference junction, the electrode may only last a few weeks to a few months, but if testing is done less frequently, and with relatively clean fluids, the lifetime of the electrode may extend to six months, or even to two years and beyond.

Another component of pH measurement systems that must be used regularly is a calibration solution. Only about 17.01 to 42.52 g amounts of solution are required (and later discarded) for each calibration. When purchasing calibration solution, consider shelf-life and expiration dates—calibration solutions usually expire one to two years after their date of manufacture when they remain in sealed containers. Once opened, they should be replaced within 30 to 60 days. Users will need to have at least one pH calibration solution of known value, but should select a buffer value near their expected measured values. If two buffers are used to calibrate, those values should frame the expected measured values, meaning most growers should calibrate with a value of four pH, seven pH or both of these buffers.

Maintaining Electrodes for pH Testers and pH Meters Handling Electrodes should be rinsed between samples with distilled or deionized water and gently blotted (never wiped) dry with a lab wipe.

Replacing/refilling When adding filling solution to the electrode, fill up to—but not past—the refill hole. When measuring, leave the refill hole open for proper flow through the reference junction.

Storing “Both pocketsized pH testers and pH meters use electrodes as sensors.”

Always keep the pH electrode moist by storing it in 4M KCl solution. If 4M KCl is not available, use a pH 4 or 7 buffer solution. Do not store the electrode in distilled or deionized water.

After storage, if white KCl crystals have formed outside the electrode, simply rinse the electrode and blot dry with a lab wipe before use.

Correcting pH Once a pH reading shows that a solution is either too acidic or too alkaline, the gardener must step in to adjust pH levels to stabilize the solution. Simply put, acids or alkalis should be introduced to the solution at this stage to bring it closer to the optimal range.

Controllers are available to automate this process, but dedicated growers can also explore other methods to minimize pH variations and keep their crops flourishing.

For information on optimal pH levels for specific crops, refer to your hydroponic supplies distributor. MY

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you tell us

For 30 years, Dyna-Gro has been manufacturing affordable, top-quality plant nutrition formulas for growers of all kinds. Sales manager Marshall de Leon shares how this company’s success led it to create its flagship products that contain all 16 mineral elements in a concentrated solution immediately available to plants.

Above: A backyard landscape thrives with the use of Dyna-Gro nutrients. Left: Marshall de Leon.

Tell us a little about how the company got started.

Dyna-Gro was started by our current CEO, David Neal, his wife and a former client of his law practice in 1984.

He saw a tremendous opportunity with a product that was chemically unique.

What is the company’s philosophy?

We know that we have a reputable product that provides extraordinary results. We stand behind our product by providing knowledge and technical support that leads to overall customer satisfaction. We listen to our customers.

What are your company’s core values?

We are in business to help people grow better plants, teach people how to grow and provide benefits to growers. Aside from that, our vision is to be recognized in the horticulture and hydroponics industry for high-quality plant nutrition products based on constant innovation and cutting-edge research that are made available at an affordable price.

What has the response been in Canada so far?

Canadian response has been good, although, like any business, things can always be better. The biggest problem we have right now is limited distribution of the products in Canada, but we are working actively to overcome that situation and we look forward to introducing more Canadians to our reliable nutrients very soon.

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How has demand for your nutrients evolved over the years?

As growers become more sophisticated, they appreciate the fact that with Dyna-Gro Nutrition Solutions®, they do not need to source and use multiple, expensive products. With us, everything the plant needs is in a single, concentrated solution. As a result, we now provide multiple 200-L drums to large commercial growers as well as retail sizes to an increasing number of hobby growers.

What are some of your more popular products? Why do you think that is?

Pro-TeKt® and Foliage-Pro®, along with our Pure Neem Oil and Root-Gel®. Typical of all of our products, we are a onestep solution rather than requiring a two- or three-part solution mixing. Associated with that is the fact that we are the only nutrient solution out in the market that is complete— containing all 16 essential mineral elements.

How important is education to Dyna-Gro? It is extremely important. We have a technical sales staff available to answer questions relating to our product, a Facebook page and other various literature. Our product is complete and simple to use, but we still stand behind the product by our willingness to assist any newbie, or address other, more technical questions.

How do your products provide complete nutrition to plants?

All 16 mineral elements are in a concentrated solution in a form that is immediately available to plants.

What are the benefits of adding soluble silica to a garden?

Soluble silicon provides a plethora of benefits to growing plants. These include increased resistance to insects and fungi; increased resistance to cold, heat, drought; security over toxic and deficient levels of other mineral elements; increased fertility; more, larger, longer-lasting blooms and fruits; increased mechanical strength and delayed flower and leaf senescence.

“ With us, everything the plant needs is in a single, concentrated solution.”

What types of plants grow the best with Dyna-Gro? Any type of plant. Because our products supply nutrients that are required by all plants, there is no specific type of plant that benefits more than any other. All plants benefit from the use of our products.

What type of grower should be using Dyna-Gro products?

Well, as an overview I would say hydroponic operators, orchid growers, growers of trees and shrubs, bedding plant growers and vegetable start operations, but all growers will benefit from using our products.

Is there anything happening at the R&D stage you’re at liberty to tell us about?

Obviously there is a confidentiality situation involved here, but we do have new products that will hit the market later this year, which will likely be released at the Maximum Yield Indoor Gardening Expos. We also have a new range under consideration for later in the year or perhaps early next year.

What is your favourite part about this industry?

The people, the variety and being involved with a product that offers high-quality at a very reasonable price.

Want to ask Dyna-Gro a few questions of your own?

Visit dyna-gro.com or call 1-800-396-2476

Dyna-Gro nutrients provide growers a lot of options.

Maximum Yield Canada | March/April 2014

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talking shop

Good Guys Gardening Center

When Roy Buxbaum first opened the Good Guys Gardening Center to right: Roy and wife Evelyn and in Williams Lake, British Columbia, Left Rick Blackwood, manager.

Above: Roy and Evelyn’s one-year-old with his father in 2003, many daughter, Isabella. leaders in the local indoor gardening community threw their support behind the budding business. After 11 years in business, Roy shares the tactics that have helped the store not only stay in business, but also thrive.

At a Glance Company: Good Guys Gardening Center Inc. Owner: Roy Buxbaum Location: 250 Mackenzie Avenue S. Williams Lake, BC, V2G 1C6 Phone: 1-250-392-2069 Web: goodguysgardening.com E-mail: admin@goodguysgardening.com Motto: “Under Promise and Over Deliver”

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Maximum Yield Canada | March/April 2014

A growing demand for indoor gardening supplies in the Cariboo region of British Columbia led Roy Buxbaum, owner and founder of The Good Guys Gardening Center Inc., to open the business with his father 11 years ago in Williams Lake. “Being avid gardeners, we spoke to numerous people in the community and then began to contact wholesalers in the industry to see what they thought of having another hydroponics store open in a community of only 10,000 people,” says Roy. “The response from all wholesalers was an overwhelming yes, with many of them offering to help in any way they could. We saw a niche opportunity and decided to take the plunge.”

Roy was introduced to many leaders in the indoor gardening community and everyone was welcoming and forthcoming with answers to the many questions he had. Having no previous experience in retail—he was involved in real estate investing prior to opening the store—this help was greatly appreciated. “They gave suggestions on products, what

worked with marketing, shared ideas and even gave me their personal cellphone numbers in case I had any after-hours questions,” remembers Roy. The initial years were good for the father-son duo. “Many customers would come in and tell us that the community needed a business just like ours and expressed how happy they were to see us open our doors,” he explains. Start-up struggles for the men included keeping up with new products, balancing an adequate amount of inventory with the needs of customers, as well as keeping wholesalers happy with prompt payments. “We had to learn everything about running a retail business and about the indoor gardening market,” remembers Roy. As a consumer for five years prior to opening the business, Roy felt he understood what the customer was looking for and how best to provide it without them even asking. Simple things such as having an “if we don’t carry it, we’ll bring it in fast” attitude seemed to make clients happy. The store has two mottoes: “Your One Stop Indoor Gardening Shop”, because Roy doesn’t want customers to have to go somewhere else for something they need for their indoor gardens; and “Under Promise and Over Deliver”, which sums up how Roy wants customers to view the business: “We aren’t the biggest, we don’t carry the most products, but when you need something from us, you can be certain that we will come through for you in a big way.”

Recognition in those early days was gained through satisfied customers. “I can’t even begin to count how many times someone would come in saying that they had heard great things about us and the store so they wanted to come and check it out,” shares Roy. He always had his phone number on the door and would come down to open the store for customers before and after hours. If someone had an emergency and a fan went down in their room, he would put on his boots and head down to the office in the middle of the night to open up to ensure their garden was back up and running as quickly as possible.

If the store doesn’t have a product, staff will order it in for a customer right away.

“We will also match prices and don’t just want to up-sell people products that they don’t need,” adds Roy. “We only recommend products that we know first-hand will work. We have also delivered products to our customers free of charge when they are unable to come to the store.”

The ability to serve the needs of clients quickly and professionally and the friendly repertoire amongst the staff, who work well together and are friends outside of the business, are things Roy counts as successes. “I think staying in business in such a niche market in a small community of only 10,000 people for 11 years is a success in itself,” Roy reflects. “We have integrated an online presence with the launch of our website and now, after 11 years, we own the property and building that we first started out in.”

While the business experienced a temporary setback four years ago when Roy’s father (and best friend) died in a car accident, the store has remained a family affair—since that time Roy met and married wife Evelyn, who does the bookkeeping, and they have a one-year-old daughter, Isabella, who also spends a lot of time at the store. The other members of the Good Guys family are: Rick Blackwood, who manages the store full-time, and Himel Barua, the full-time webmaster, who was hired last year when the store’s website launched. With its new online presence, Good Guys has begun to distribute across Canada and Roy doesn’t see the business—or the industry—slowing down anytime soon. “We are the future of gardening,” he says. “We need to keep our eyes on what is happening not just locally but globally.”

“Many customers would come in and tell us that the community needed a business just like ours and expressed how happy they were to see us open our doors.”

Left: Roy and his father, Brandy.

Right: Good Guys Gardening Center shop front.

Maximum Yield Canada | March/April 2014

67

MAX mART

retail business for

sale in armstrong, b.C. Established profitable retail business (grosses $200k plus) in great location for sale in Armstrong, B.C., (business only) specializing in tropical plants, organic herbs, hydroponics, nursery, and gifts. Strong customer base and good supplier relationships along with staff in place make this a care-free investment. Purchaser may also choose to operate business. Armstrong is a spectacular place to live, a wonderful safe community and this is a great opportunity to be your own boss.

Same owner for 6 years, health problem forces sale.

5 year lease available from landlord: $1,000 per month (plus $400 in utilities) for 3,000 square feet of retail space.

Serious inquiries only. Financial statement to be supplied to purchaser upon offer acceptance.

Kelly Rankin 604-781-4687 • kelly.rankin@shaw.ca

bogarts gardening supply 68

Maximum Yield Canada  |  March/April 2014

Maximum Yield Canada | March/April 2014

69

MAX mART MAX-mART

we strive to build customers for life At growers paradise, unbeatable service and selection is our business...

And business is GOOD!

growers paradise Hydroponics - Nutrients - grow gear

authorized Retailer of

growersparadise.ca | 905.495.4040 Unit 11 | 40 Regan rd | Brampton | Ontario

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Maximum Yield Canada  |  March/April 2014

MAXIMUM YIELD distributors

Retail Stores listed alphabetically by city in each province.

ALBERTA Double AA Garden Supplies Ltd. Bay 9 2820 Centre Avenue Calgary, AB T2A 7P5 403-273-9188 ----------------------------------------------

IncrediGrow Garden Centre 103-7500 MacLeod Trail SE Calgary, AB T2H 0L9 403-255-0740 ---------------------------------------------Quick Grow 1-1204 Edmonton Trail Road NE Calgary, AB T2E 3K5 877-426-4769 Smart Grow 2422 - 23 Avenue, NE Calgary, AB T2E 8J4 403-236-9999 Twins Greenhouse 13 - 2235 30th Avenue, NE Calgary, AB T2C 7C7 403-273-2881 All Season’s Garden Centre 10027 81 Ave., Edmonton, AB T6E 1W7 780-448-2385 ----------------------------------------------

Hydro-Lite 12249 Fort Road Edmonton, AB T5B 4H7 780-477-7860 ---------------------------------------------Niloc Wholesale Inc. Box 82008 Yellowbird RPO Edmonton, AB T6J 7E6 780-885-4769 Northern Lights Indoor Gardening Centre 10108 100th Ave. Grand Prairie, AB T8V 0V5 780-538-3277

BRITISH COLUMBIA Interior Gardener’s Supply 221 - 1 McDermid Road, Box 1779 100 Mile House, BC V0K 2E0 250-395-3399 OK Garden Supply 104-5498 267th Street.

Aldergrove, BC V4W 3S8 604-607-7263 Bogarts Gardening Supply 3545 Okanagan St. Armstrong, BC V0E 1B0 250-546-9790 Jon’s Plant Factory 3925 E. Hastings St. Burnaby, BC V5C 2H8 604-294-3000 Hygro Gardening Supplies Inc. 1791 Tamarac Street Campbell River, BC V9W 5Y7 250-286-0424 ----------------------------------------------

Canadian Garden Supply 1730 Highway 3 Castlegar, BC V1N 4W1 250-304-2911 ----------------------------------------------

Sun Beam Central 3444 River Road Chemainus, BC V0R 1K4 250-246-1379 ----------------------------------------------

Valley Indoor Geenhouse Supplies 103 - 44195 Yale Road West Chilliwack, BC V2R 4H2 877-702-1169 ---------------------------------------------Sundogz Garden Supply 1824 Alberni Hwy. Coombs, BC V0R 1M0 250-954-2046 Art Knapp 2855 Wentworth Road Courtenay, BC V9N 6B7 250-334-3024 Just-N-Tyme Greenhouse and Hydroponics Supply 1094 McKenzie Avenue Courteney, BC V9N 3C5 250-703-0476 ----------------------------------------------

Progressive Growth 2459 Cousins Avenue Courtenay, BC V9N 3N6 250-334-8425 ---------------------------------------------Pacific NW Garden Supply 1139B Industrial Road 3 Cranbrook, BC V1C 5E3 250-489-4761 Cowichan Hydroponic Supplies 4 - 2955 Jacob Road Duncan, BC V9L 6W4 250-746-0244 Duncan Plants & Ponics 6512 Bell McKinnon Road Duncan, BC V9L 6C1 250-746-5591 Better Than Nature Enderby 1900 George Street Enderby, BC, 250-838-5502 Sunshine Gardens Greenhouse Superstore 5 - 1744 Kelly Douglas Road Kamloops, BC V2C 5S4 877-372-2270 Room 2 Grow 901 Laval Crescent Kamloops, BC V2C 5P4 250-372-3663 ----------------------------------------------

West Coast Hydroponic Garden Shop 113 - 805 Notre Dame Kamloops, BC V2C 5N8 250-851-2992 ---------------------------------------------Aqua Gro Hydroponics Supplies Suite 101 2689 Kyle Rd. Kelowna, BC V1Z 2M9 250-769-7745 Better Than Nature Kelowna 725B Evans Court Kelowna, BC V1X 6G4 250-868-8978

Oasis 12 - 1771 Cooper Road Kelowna, BC V1Y 7T1 250-763-4769

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Nico’s Nurseryland 830 - 28th Street, NE Salmon Arm, BC V1E 2S7 250-804-2004

Pacific NW Garden Supply Unit C1 - 1810 Kyle Court Kelowna, BC V1Z 3Z4 250-769-4791

Tridon Hydroponics 12 - 1708 Bowen Road Nanaimo, BC V9S 1G9 250-755-1900 ----------------------------------------------

Mylo’s 3837 Squilax Anglemont Hwy Scotch Creek, BC V0E 1M0 250-955-0525

Quick Grow Indoor Garden Center 1945 Kirschner Rd. Kelowna, BC V1Y 4N7 250-861-3434 BC Hydroponics 3 - 20092-93A Avenue Langley, BC V1M 3Y4 604-888-5716 Green Earth Garden Supplies Unit 5, 19300, Langley Bypass Langley, BC V3S 6K2 604-532-7106 GreenStar Plant Products Inc. 9430 198 Street, Langley, BC V1M 3C8 604-882-7699 Pacific Western Garden 5785 203A Street.

Langley B.C V3A 1W7 604-510-4839; 778-898-5888 Excel Air Systems 200 - 20170 Stewart Crescent Maple Ridge, BC V2X 0T4 604-728-0757 Pacific NW Garden Supply 109 - 20110 Lougheed Highway Maple Ridge, BC V2X 2P7 Planting Plus Greenhouse Supplies and Hardware 22394 Dewdney Truck Road Maple Ridge, BC V2X 3J2 604-466-5949 Triple Tree Nurseryland 20503 Lougheed Highway Maple Ridge, BC V2X 2P9 604-465-9313 ---------------------------------------------Gro Green Garden Supply 7260 Park Street Mission, BC V2V 6G8 604-814-4345 ---------------------------------------------Nutty Zone 5 & 6 - 33201 London Avenue Mission, BC V2V 4P9 604-814-2223 Long Lake Nursery Hydroponic Supply 4900 Island Highway, North Nanaimo, BC 250-758-5012 ----------------------------------------------

Progressive Growth 41 - 1925 Bowen Road Nanaimo, BC V9S 1H1 800-405-4769 ---------------------------------------------Word of Mouth Hydroponics Inc. 1-1611 Bowen Rd., Nanaimo, BC V9S 1G5 250-591-1180

Vancouver Island Garden Supply Ltd. 4770 Wellington Rd Nanaimo, BC V9T 2H3 250-585-8881

Green & Clean Energy Co. Ltd. 2875 Cudlip Road Shawnigan Lake, BC V0R 2W0 250-732-7224 Happy Acres Greens & Backroad Hydroponics Equipment 2058 Cambie-Solsqua Road Sicamous, BC V0E 2V0 250-836-3878

Pacific NW Garden Supply Unit 14- 104 Silica Street Nelson, BC V1L 4M1 250-354-4767 Buckerfields 587 Alberni Highway Parksville, BC V9P 1J9 250-248-3243 Better Than Nature Penticton 101 - 78 Industrial Avenue, West Penticton, BC V2A 6M2 250-770-8978 ----------------------------------------------

Aurora Lighting and Sales 750 3rd Avenue Prince George, BC V2L 3C5 250-564-9888 ---------------------------------------------Backwoods Hydroponic & Garden 10590 Carlson Road Prince George, BC V2K 5E5 250-963-9541 PG2 1798 Nicholson Street Prince George, BC V2N 1V6 250-612-4769; 1-888-817-4769

Garibaldi Nursery 38917 Progress Way, Squamish Industrial Park Squamish, BC V0N 3G0 604-892-3892 ----------------------------------------------

Coast Pet & Plant Supplies Unit 6 12342 83A Ave. Surrey, BC 604-599-1778 ---------------------------------------------Fat Eddies Systems Inc. 108 - 18760 96th Avenue Surrey, BC V4N 3P9 604-888-2499 ---------------------------------------------Garden King Supplies 7533 135 Street, Unit 109 Surrey, BC V3W OM8 604-598-1912 Pacific NW Garden Supply 15374-103A Avenue Surrey, BC V3R 9V8 604-588-4769; 800-443-4769 Warehouse Garden Supplies & Hydroponic 109 - 8173 128 Street Surrey, BC V3W 4G1 604-543-3177

Skytek Indoor Solutions 833 4th Avenue Prince George, BC V2L 3H5 800-975-9835

BN Garden Supply 4493 Boundary Road Vancouver, BC V5R 2N3 604-431-2977

Spruce Capital Feeds 1694 Quinn Street Prince George, BC V2N 1X3 250-564-6010

Double AA Garden Supplies Ltd. 2908 Commercial Drive Vancouver, BC V5N 4C9 604-876-8837

Omega Garden Inc. 1695 Peligren Place Qualicum Beach, BC V9K 2S3 250-752-1301; 888 976 6342

Pacific NW Garden Supply 2137 East Hastings Street Vancouver, BC V5L 1V2 604-254-4765

Garden Effects 200-2288 #5 Road Richmond, BC V6X 2T1 604214-6620

U-Grow Garden Supplies 8265 Main St. Vancouver, BC V5X 3L7 604-880-1111

Natural Choice Garden Centre, The 5500 48th Avenue, SE Salmon Arm, BC V1E 1X2 250-832-7151 ----------------------------------------------

Vancouver Garden Supply 4894 Fraser Street Vancouver, BC V5V 4H5 604-879-8167 ----------------------------------------------

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S.A. Ecoline Products Ltd. 5671 Auto Road, SE Salmon Arm, BC V1E 4S1 250-833-4769 ----------------------------------------------

Fraser Valley Greenhouse Supplies Ltd. 45653 Lark Road Vedder Crossing, BC V2R 3N7 fraservalleygreenhouse.com 604-858-0455 ----------------------------------------------

Advanced Garden Supplies 7979 Aspen Road Vernon, BC V1B 3M9 250-545-9545 AJs Pets & Things 3219 - 31st Avenue Vernon, BC V1T 2H2 250-549-3222 Better Than Nature Vernon 506 25th Avenue Vernon, BC V1T 1P4 250-260-4466 Northern Lights Greenspace 3 - 2706 45th Avenue Vernon, BC V1T 3N4 250-558-4757 OK Garden Supply 12-4601 23rd Street.

Vernon, BC V1T 4K7 778-475-6075 Indoor Jungle 2624 Quadra Street Victoria, BC V8T 4E4 250-388-5611 Mr. Fertilizer 9 Burnside Road, West Victoria, BC V9A 1B2 250-381-4644 ----------------------------------------------

Progressive Growth Unit #111-1790 Island Highway Victoria, BC V9B 1H5 250-391-9519 ---------------------------------------------Sunwest Garden Supply 2035 Unit B Louie Drive Westbank, BC V4T 1Y2 50-768-1636 ----------------------------------------------

Good Guys Gardening Center 250 Mackenzie Ave. S. Williams Lake, BC V2G 1C6 250-392-2069 ---------------------------------------------Trees Company Nursery & Garden Supplies G9 C17 RR1, 7030 Powell Road Winlaw, BC V0G 2J0 250-226-7334

MANITOBA Better Than Nature Winnipeg 14 Gertrude, Winnipeg MB R3L OM6 204-453-3032 Gro Pro International Hydroponics 101-904 Porthee Avenue Winnipeg, MB R3G 0P4 204-956-1389 Kleen Gro Hydroponics 218 Osbourne Street South Winnipeg, MB R3L 1Z3 204-475-7096 My Two Sons 2 - 2055 McPhillips Street Winnipeg, MB R2Y 3C6 204-339-3489 Nature’s Nutrition 819 Portage Avenue Winnipeg, MB R3J 0G4 204-889-2979 Northern Lights Hydroponics 129 Regent Avenue East Winnipeg, MB R2C 0C2 204-415-5106 Ready Set Grow!

375 Henderson Highway Winnipeg, MB R3C 2H2 204-668-GROW

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MAXIMUM YIELD distributors NEW BRUNSWICK Canadian Green Products 811 Central St. Centerville, NB E7K 2B9 506-276-3555 ----------------------------------------------

Dieppe Hydroponics 988 Champlain St. Door #3 Dieppe, NB E18 1P8 506-384-4769 ---------------------------------------------Craft N’ Grow 60 Micmac Road, Eel Ground, NB E1V 4B1 506-624-9317 Ultimate Hydroponics Box 1191, Hampton, NB E5N 8H2 506-639-5948 Scott’s Nursery Ltd. 2192 Route 102 Highway Lincoln, NB E3B 8N1 506-458-9208 Atlantic Hydroponics & Greenhouses Inc. 42 Brandon Street Moncton, NB E1C 7E8 506-858-0158 Jardins Notik Gardens 798 Gray Road St-Charles, NB E4W 4N9 506-876-9100 Century Gardening 20 Bayside Drive St. John, NB E2J 1A2 506-657-9982

NOVA SCOTIA Den Haan’s Garden World 12688 Highway 1, Brickton Annapolis County, NS B0S 1M0 902-825-4722 Woodland Farm Nursery 3544 Highway 1, Annapolis Royal, NS B0S 1A0 902-532-7617 ----------------------------------------------

S&L Worx Hydroponics 135 Main Street, Unit 14 Dartmouth, NS B2X 1R6 902-434-GROW (4769) ---------------------------------------------Mmad Hydroponics 4400 Second Division Road Digby Co. NS B0W1M0 902-778-1922 Sweetleaf Smoke Shop and Hydroponics 3132 Isleville Street Halifax, NS B3K 3Y2 902-454-6646 Plant Manager Gardening 12 Industrial Drive, Richmond County Industrial Park, Lennox Passage, Cape Breton, NS B0E 1V0 902-345-2112 Steve’s Hydroponic Headquarters 131 Sackville Drive Lower Sackville, NS B4C 2R3 902-865-7764 Greenfield Grow & Brew 69 Wilson Mountain Road Murray Siding, NS B6L 4N7 902-897-6568

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Woodin Nickel Hydroponics 3393 Central West, Highway 4 Pictou County, NS BOK 1H0 902-695-7640 ----------------------------------------------

ONTARIO Canadian Hydrogardens Ltd. 1330 Sandhill Drive Ancaster, ON L9G 4V5 905 648 1801 Homegrown Hydroponics Inc. 521 Dunlop Street West Barrie, ON L4N 9W4 705-721-8715 Homegrown Hydroponics Inc. 5386 Greenlane Road Beamsville, ON L0R 1B3 905-563-6121 ----------------------------------------------

BMA Hydroponics 404A Maitland Drive, Unit 2 Belleville, ON K8N 4Z5 613-967-9888 ---------------------------------------------Home Hydroponics 289 Rutherford Road, South 22 Brampton, ON L6W 3R9 905-874-GROW ----------------------------------------------

Retail Stores listed alphabetically by city in each province.

Garden Depot 605 Justus Drive Kingston, ON K7M 4H5 613-384-8882 Brite-Lite Indoor Garden Centre 1659 Victoria Street, North, Unit 6 Kitchener, ON N2B 3E6 888-670-0611 Kawartha Hydroponics 12 Lindsay St. S. Lindsay, ON K9V 2L6 705-324-5200 ----------------------------------------------

AKA The Indoor Gardener 207 Exeter Road, Unit D London, ON N6L 1A4 519-652-4224 ---------------------------------------------Best of Hydroponics 360 Richmond Street London, ON N6A 3C3 519-858-1533 Ontario Growers Supply 1540 Fanshawe Park Road West London, ON N6H 5L8 519-641-3992 Vantage Hydroponics 1 Adelaide Street North London, ON N6B 3P8 519-451-4769 Markham Hydroponics 95 Royal Crest Court 18 Markham, ON L3R 9X5 905-305-0698 Nature’s Garden Supplies 24-340 Don Park Road Markham, ON L3R 1C5 905-470-7887

Growers Paradise 40 Regan Rd. Unit 11 L7A1B2 Brampton, ON 905 495 4040 ---------------------------------------------Homegrown Hydroponics Inc. 79 Woolwich Street South Breslau, ON N0B 1M0 519-648-2374 J & C Hydroponics 343 Elgin Street, Unit A Cambridge, ON M1R 7H9 519-622-9969 Pro Grow Indoor Garden Supplies 1710 Bishop St. Unit 2 Cambridge, ON N1T 1T2 519-624-7692 Hydrogarden 1122 Paul Street Cornwall, ON K6H 6H5 613-360-6996 Agrogreen Canada Inc. 1938 Hwy #20, RR#1 Fonthill, ON L0S 1E6 866-650-1136 Diatomite Canada 1938 Hwy #20, RR#1 Fonthill, ON L0S 1E6 866-650-1136 Northern Lights Green Supply 1938 Highway 20 (at 406), RR 1 Fonthill, ON L0S 1E6 905-892-3743 Brite-Lite Indoor Garden Centre 1677 Cyrville Rd., Meadowbrooke Plaza Gloucester, ON K1B 3L7 613-842-8999 ----------------------------------------------

Happy Hydroponics 68 Princess Street Hamilton, ON L8L 3K9 905-545-8434 ----------------------------------------------

All Seasons 1000 Dundas Street East Mississauga, ON L4Y 2B8 905-848-2619 Green Thumb Hydroponics 3075 Ridgeway Drive, 25 Mississauga, ON L5L 5M6 Iponic Zone 151 Brunel Road, Mississauga, ON L4Z 2H6, 905-502-7211 Hydro Culture Emporium Inc. 1315 Richmond Rd. Unit #7 Ottawa, ON K2B 8J7 613-715-9472 Harvest Time Hydroponics 5918 Main St., Niagra Falls, ON L2G 5Z8 289-296-7754 ----------------------------------------------

Second Nature Hydroponics 4 - 2133 Royal Windsor Drive Mississauga, ON L5J 1K5 905-403-4769 ---------------------------------------------Nature’s Elements Box 119 500 Mill Street Neustadt, ON N0G 2M0 519-799-5323 ----------------------------------------------

Brite-Lite Indoor Garden Centre 4373 Steeles Avenue West North York, ON M3N 1V7 416-663-2999 LV Garden Supply 415 Oakdale Road Unit 379 North York, ON M3N 1W7 416-744-7762

Green Kingdom Hemp 1103 Cassells Street North Bay, ON P1B 4B3 705-494-7169 ----------------------------------------------

Maximum Yield Canada | March/April 2014

Indoor Farmer 10 Wyman Road, Unit 4, Waterloo, ON N2V 1K7.

519-886-9200

Supply For You 3615 Weston Road, Unit 6 North York, ON M9L 1V8 416-741-8062

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All Grow Hydroponic 391 Marwood Drive, Unit 14 Oshawa, ON 866-606-4723

Grower’s Choice Hydroponics 1621 McEwen Drive 14 Whitby, ON L1N 9A5 905-725-GROW

Paradise Gardens Hydroponics 2158 Chiefswood Road Oshweken, ON N0A 1M0 519-445-2275 Ontario Hydroponics 103015 Grey Road 18 Owen Sound, ON N4K 5N6 519-372-1144 Envirotex PO Box 21069 Paris, ON N3L 4A5 519-442-1237 Peterborough Hydroponic Center 347 Pido Road, Unit 32 Peterborough, ON K9J 6X7 705-745-6868 Sweet Hydroponic Gardens 776 Bruce Street Renfrew, ON K7V 3Z8 613-433-9600 Bluewater Hydroponics 1173 Michener Road, Unit 12 Sarnia, ON N7S 5G5 519-337-7475

Northern Lights Hydroponics 2690 Oulette Ave Windsor, ON N8X 1L7 519-254-4015 Urban GreenHouse Hydroponics & Aquaculture 7635 Tecumseh Road E. Windsor, ON N8T 3H1 519-944-8444 ----------------------------------------------

Ozone Environmental Technologies 361 Rowntree Dairy Road Unit 4 Woodridge, ON L4L 8H1 905-264-6618 ---------------------------------------------Un Monde Sans Terre 565 Beausejour Alma, QC G8B 5V3 418-480-3274 Hydro-Tonyque 761 Avenue Gilles Villeneuve Berthierville, QC J0K 1AO 450-836-8088

Green And Clean 761 Barrydowne Road Sudbury, ON P3A 3T6 800-246-5503

Hydrofolie Autoroute 15 Blainville, QC JFC4GL 438-395-5133 ----------------------------------------------

Northern Hydroponics 236 Simpson Street Thunder Bay, ON P7C 3H4 807-623-3666 Greenthumbs Garden Supply 338 Kingston Road Toronto, ON M4L 1T7 647-345-GROW (4769) ----------------------------------------------

grow it all hydroponics for everyone

Grow It All Hydroponics Inc. 165 Geary Avenue, Unit 3B Toronto, ON M6H 2B8 416-588-9595 ---------------------------------------------Homegrown Hydroponics Inc. 26 Meteor Drive Toronto, ON M9W 1A4 416-242-4769

Jungle Hydroponics 2215 Gerrard Street East Toronto, ON M4E 2C8 416-699-0861

Pablo Jardinage Drummondville 2080 Joseph St-Cyr Drummondville, QC J2C 8V6 819-475-2525 Les Entreprises Fernand Pigeon Inc. 174 Beaudoin Nord Durham-Sud, QC J0H 2C0 819-858-2777 Hydromax Gatineau 3-1695 Atmec (porte 6) Gatineau, QC J8P 7G7 819-663-7470 Naturexpert Inc. 828 Chemin du Sixième Rang Gatineau QC J8R 3A4 Jardinages Gilles Robert Inc. 574 St-Hubert Granby, QC J0H 1Y5 450-375-3441 Méristème Hydroponique 871 Dufferin Granby, QC J2G 9H8 450-991-1514 Jardinage d’intérieur Huntingdon 72 Dalhousie Huntingdon, PQ J0S 1H0, Canada 450-322-6079 Hydroponique Plus Inc. 405 - 18 Avenue Lachine, QC H8S 3R1 514-634-3677 Biofloral 675 Montee, St. Francois Laval, QC H7C 2S8 877-38-HYDRO ----------------------------------------------

QUEBEC

Indoor Gardens Canada 2952 Thompson Road Smithville, ON L0R 2A0 905-957-6969

Hydrotech 2436 Kingston Road Toronto, ON M1N 1V2 416-267-4769 Yield of Dreams Hydroponics 559 Steven Court 12 Newmarket, ON L3Y 6Z3 877-778-7960 ----------------------------------------------

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Plant-O-Maxx 3169 Blais, Boisbriand, QC, J7H 1H2 514-968-7799 ---------------------------------------------Gerard Bourbeau & Fils Inc. 8285, 1 re Avenue Charlesbourg, QC G1G 5E6 418-623-5401

------Brite Lite Hydroponics 940 Bergar, Laval, QC H7L 4Z8 450-669-3803 ---------------------------------------------Espace Culture Boutique 17 boul. Ste-Rose Est Laval, QC H7V 3K3 450-622-2710 Fernand Corbeil Produits Horticoles - Horticultural Products 17 boul. Ste-Rose Est Laval, QC H7L 3K3 450-622-2710 Hydro Times 1533 Boulevard Cure Labelle Laval, QC H7V 2W4 450-688-4848 Hydromax Laval 295 Boulevard Curé Labelle Laval, QC H7L 2Z9 450-628-8380 ----------------------------------------------

Les Grands Jardins Lavel 2900, Boul. Cure-Lavelle Chomedey, Laval, QC H7P 5S8 250-729-2687 Simplement Vert 8B Georges-Gagne Delson, QC J5B 2E1 514-913-8378 (VERT) ----------------------------------------------

Toronto Hemp Company 665 Yonge Street Toronto, ON M4Y 1Z9 416-920-1980

Hydrosphere 2000 2400 rue Canadian, Suite 104 Drummondville, QC J2C 7W3 819-478-9791 ----------------------------------------------

Truly Local 851 Queen Street, West Toronto, ON M5R 2K2 647-855-5932

Les Serres Binette Inc 2568 Boul. Mercurre Drummondville, QC J2A 1H2 819-478-7195

Qué-Pousse - Laval 940 Bergar Laval, QC H7L 4Z8 450-667-3809 ---------------------------------------------Point De Vue 880 Chemin St-Féréol Les Cèdres, QC J7T 1N3 450-452-2878 / 1-877-510-2991 Hydro Rive-sud 4721 Boulvard de la rive sud Levis, QC G6W 1H5 418-835-0082 Boutique Grunge 364 Rue Sherbrooke Magog, QC J1X 2S1 819-847-4141 Hydromax Mont-Laurier 388 Rue Hebert Mont-Laurier, QC J9L 2X2 888-609-4476

COMING UP NEXT ISSUE Hydroculture Guy Dionne 8473 - 19th Avenue Montreal, QC H1Z 4J2 514-722-9496

échologik 798 St Jean Québec, QC G1R 1P9 418-648-2828; 418-648-8288

Hydro Expert 12752 Industriel Montreal, QC H1A 3V2 514-624-3091

Hydroculture Guy Dionne 1990 Cyrill-Duquet Local 150 Québec, QC G1N 4K8 418-681-4643

B&S Electrique Inc. 2240 Pitt Street Montreal, QC H4E 4H1 514-931-3817 Distribution De la Plante 5498 Hochelaga Suite 910 Montreal, QC H1N 3L7 514-255-1111 Hydromax Montreal 9300 Lajeunesse Montreal, QC H2M 1S4 514-381-0111 Hydromax St-Henri 3522 Notre-Dame Montréal, QC H4C 1P4 514-481-3939 International Hydroponique 5478 Hochelaga St Montreal, QC H1N 3L7 514-255-2525 Momentum 11289 London Avenue Montreal, QC H1H 4J3 888-327-4595 Pousse Magique Atwater 3522 Notre-Dame, ouest, Montreal, Qc H4C 1P4 514-481-3939 Qué-Pousse - Montreal 2215 Walkley Montreal, QC H4B 2J9 514-489-3803 Summum Bio Teck 2100 Ontario Est Montreal, QC H2K 1V5 866-460-2226 Univert 4 Saisons 2100 Ontario Est Montréal, QC H2K 1V5 514-527-2226 Vinexpert De L’Est 6384 Beaubien est Montreal, QC H1M 3G8 514-354-8020 XXXtractor Inc. 1228 St. Marc Montreal, QC H3H 2E5 514-931-4944 Qué-Pousse - Mont.

Tremblant 462 Montée Kavanagh Mont-Tremblant, QC J8E 2P2 819-429-6145

Pousse Magique 515 rue Lanaudiere Repentigny, QC J6A 7N1 450-582-6662 Fred Lamontagne Inc. 356 Chemin du Sommet Est, Rimouski, QC G5L 7B5 418-723-5746 Qué-Pousse - Sherbrooke 4394 Bourque Rt. 112 Rock Forest, QC J1N 1S3 819-563-0353 Hydro Plus 149 avenue Principale A Rouyn Noranda, QC J9X 4E3 819-762-4367 Rap Hydroponique 5700, rue Martineau Local 7 Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 8B1 450-768-5188 Culture Uni Vert 36 rue de Martigny E Saint-Jérôme, QC J7Z 1V4 Comptoir Richelieu Inc. 350, du Collège Sorel-Tracy, QC J3P 6T7 800-363-9466 Ferme Florale Inc. (Botanix) 2190 Blvd. Laurier (route 116) St. Bruno de Montarville, QC J3V 4P6 450-653-6383 Hydrobec 2145 Lavoisier Suite 4 Ste-Foy, QC G1N 4B2 418-687-1119 Chanvre du Nord Inc. 38 DeMartigny est St-Jérome, QC J7Z 1V4 866-565-5305 Hydro Sciences 4800 de la Cote-Vertu Blvd.

Saint-Laurent, QC H4S 1J9 514-331-9090 Pablo Jardinage Shawinigan 5023 Boulevard Royal Shawinigan QC J9N 6T8 819-731-9766 Sherbrooke Hydroponique 3545 King Est, Sherbrooke, QC J1G 5J4 819-829-9299 Plant-T-Plantes 3439 boulevard Fiset Sorel-Tracy, QC J3P 5J3 450-780-0008

MegaWatt Hydroculture 636 Route 364 Morin Heights, QC J0R 1H0 450-226-2515

Qué-Pousse - St-Constant 6264 Route 132 Ste-Catherine, QC J0L 1E0 450-635-4881

Fleuriste Savard Inc. 1833 boul. Louis-Frechette Nicolet, QC J3T 1M4 819-293-5933

Benoit Dupuis Extincteurs Inc. 2503 Victoria Street Ste-Julienne, QC J0K 2T0 450-831-4240

Qué-Pousse - Point-Claire 1860D Sources Blvd Pointe-Claire, QC H9R 5B1 514-426-5057 Boutique Echologik 829, cote d’Abraham Quebec, QC G1R 1A4 418-648-8288 Boutique Echologik 790 St - Jean Quebec, QC G1R 1P9 418-648-2828

Hydroponique 2000 84 Boul. Curé Labelle Ste-Therese, QC J7E 2X5 450-971-0726 Pépinière Eco-Verdure 965 Boul. Sauvé St-Eustache, QC J7R 4K3 450-472-6474 Amazonia Hydroponique 394 Boulvard Arthur-sauve St. Eustache, QC J7R 2J5 450-623-2790

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P.P.M. Hydroponique 504 Rue du Parc St. Eustache, QC J7R 5B2 450-491-2444 ---------------------------------------------Hydrotek 12300 Rue de l’avenir St. Janvier, QC J7J 2K4 St-Jean Hydroponique 747 rue St-Jacques St-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, QC J3B 2M9 450-346-9633 Hydromax Terrebonne 1674 Chemin Gascon Terrebonne, QC J6X 4H9 450-492-7447 Hydromax Trois-Rivières 6157 rue Corbeil Trois-Rivières Ouest, QC G8Z 4P8 819-372-0500 Pablo Jardinage Intérieur 2 Des Ormeaux Suite 500 Trois-Rivières, QC G8W 1S6 819-693-6000 Rap Hydroponique 326 Rue Vachon Trois-Rivières QC G8T 8Y2 819-376-5959 Hydromax Val-David 895 route 117 nord Val-David, QC J0T 2N0 888-320-0129 Val d’Or Hydroculture 1261 3e Avenue Val d’Or, QC J9P 1V4 Horticulture Piégo 228 Pierre Bertrand Sud Vanier, QC G1M 2C4 418-527-2006 Qué-Pousse - VaudreuilDorion 3666-D, boul. Cité des Jeunes Vaudreuil-Dorion, QC J7V 8P2 450-424-0306 Centre Jardin Denis Brodeur 15 Nord C.P. 658 Waterloo, QC J0E 2N0 Sonador Horticulture Inc. 819-479-2941 SASKATCHEWAN Busy Bee Upholstery Box 811, 134 5th Avenue East Gravelbourg, SK S0H 1X0 306-648-3659 B&B Hydroponics and Indoor Gardening 1404 Cornwall Street Regina, SK S4R 2H7 306-522-4769 Waterboy Supply 401 Dewdney Avenue East Regina, SK S4N 4G3 306-757-6242 YUKON, NUNAVUT and NORTHWEST TERRITORIES Porter Creek Indoor Garden Centre 1307 Centennial Street Whitehorse, YT Y1A 3Z1 867-667-2123

Grow Media: You’ve Got Options The material surrounding a growing plant’s roots is called the growing medium. The two most common types of growing media used for containers are potting soils and hydroponic media, but there are plenty of alternatives. From rockwool to recycled glass, we’ve rounded up our top picks.

Growing Food in Modern-day Containers Just about any plant imaginable can be grown in even the most concrete of jungles. Nowadays there are simple, yet effective, types of containers popping up in the marketplace that have the ability to produce crop yields of unprecedented proportions.

12 Ways Aquaponics and Hydroponics Differ Aquaponics is commonly described as the marriage of aquaculture and hydroponics, so you would think that anyone with a basic understanding of hydroponics ought to be able to quickly replace their reservoir nutrients with fresh water, toss in some fish and be set to grow. We say, not so fast!

www.maximumyield.com Maximum Yield Canada May/June 2014 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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