Maximum Yield CAN Sep/Oct 2013

CANADA September-October 2013

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a i d e M

Cover d a m

s s ne Boost When the Time is Right Agricultural Robotics

maximumyield.com

LONG BEACH

CALIFORNIA OCTOBER 26-27, 2013

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CONTENTS September/October 2013

FEATURES

30 Moving on Over: Top Four Transplanting Mediums and Methods

by Karen Wilkinson

36 The Conversion Factor: From Ebb and Flow to Drip Systems

by Casey Jones Fraser

44 Boost When the Time is Right: Stage-specific Amendments

by Eric Hopper

36

58

by Therese Cressman

54 Backyard Gardening Hydroponically

by Jack Van Camp

58 The Four Elemental Building Blocks of Growing

by Chris Pianta

60 Agricultural Robotics: Here Come the Agribots

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DEPARTMENTS 8

From the Editor

64

You Tell Us

10

MaximumYield.com

66

Talking Shop

12

Letters to the Editor

70

Max Mart

14

Ask the Experts

72

Distributors

16

MAX Facts

74

Coming up Next Issue

22

Product Spotlight

by Philip McIntosh

6

by Dr. Lynette Morgan

46

44 52 How to Pot and Repot Plants

46 Treat ‘Em Bad and They’ll Taste Better: Improving Flavour

Maximum Yield Canada | September/October 2013

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FROM THE EDITOR | Linda Jesson

Fall is a rewarding time for gardeners–all that hard work over the summer is hopefully paying off with a bountiful harvest as we prepare for the next season. With the Canadian winter soon upon us, many of you will be starting your next crop indoors and this issue has got you covered!

To help you improve and succeed with your next crop, this issue shares tips on how to enhance the flavour of your produce, how to choose between different transplanting mediums and methods and outlines the four critical building blocks for healthy plants.

For new growers, we include a guide to potting and repotting plants and share how one man’s experiment with a backyard hydrofrom the ponic garden ended up.

Be sure to check out the new product section, which has all the tools and products to get your fall crop off to the best start!

Linda Jesson If you haven’t had the chance to attend one of the stops on Maximum Yield’s Grow Like a Pro Indoor Gardening Tour 2013, there’s still time! The final expo happens October 26 to 27 in Long Beach, California. This world-class event will be a combination indoor gardening and hydro life expo featuring leading experts from the hydro, snow, surf, skate and bike industries. Held at the beautiful Long Beach Convention Centre for the fourth year running, this expo provides an ideal location with the perfect mix of culture and climate. Stay tuned to indoorgardenexpo.com for special accommodation rates, exhibitor lists, free VIP tickets and other updates.

Happy fall harvest…and growing!

Message Editor

VOLUME 16 – NUMBER 3 September/October 2013 Maximum Yield is published monthly by Maximum Yield Publications Inc. 2339A Delinea Place, Nanaimo, BC V9T 5L9 Phone: 250.729.2677; Fax 250.729.2687 No part of this magazine may be reproduced without permission from the publisher.

If undeliverable please return to the address above.

The views expressed by columnists are a personal opinion and do not necessarily reflect those of Maximum Yield or the editor.

Publication Agreement Number 40739092 Printed In Canada PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER - Jim Jesson GENERAL MANAGER - Don Moores BUSINESS MANAGER - Linda Jesson editorial editor@maximumyield.com Editor-in-chief Linda Jesson Assistant Editor Julie McManus Assistant Editor 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 Taylor Doyle - taylor@maximumyield.com DESIGN & PRODUCTION ads@maximumyield.com Art Director Alice Joe Graphic Designers Jennifer Everts Dionne Hurd Jesslyn Gosling ACCOUNTING Tracy Greeno - accounting@maximumyield.com Ava Seimens - ar@maximumyield.com 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 • R&M 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 | September/October 2013

contributors Philip McIntosh is a science and

Chris Pianta, AgroSci CEO, has over

Jack Van Camp has years of hands-

Dr. Lynette Morgan holds a B.

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

25 years of experience in the lawn and garden market. He managed two successful startups and developed programs for Franks Nursery, FTD, Profile Soil Products, Martha Stewart, Agway and GROWELL. Chris is a holder of two United States patents. He earned his B.S. in environmental and professional horticulture from UConn.

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, CO., where he teaches mathematics at Challenger Middle School.

Eric Hopper has over 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.

on hydroponic gardening experience working for Homegrown Hydroponics.

He will answer all of your questions through the Homegrown Hydroponics website at hydroponics.com. He loves to share his knowledge with eager gardeners both locally and around the world.

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.

Casey Jones Fraser owns Garden

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

Grove Organics in northern Kentucky/ Greater Cincinnati. He has a degree in communications and electronic media.

He believes that indoor gardeners can achieve the highest-quality crops and maximum yields when proper science is applied. Since 1998, Casey has been testing various nutrients and supplements in search of outstanding harvests.

COMING UP ON THE WEB

Get Free VIP Passes to the Long Beach Expo

There is only one more stop on the 2013 Maximum Yield Indoor Gardening Grow Like a Pro Expo tour. So, be sure to plan your next vacation to Long Beach, California, on October 26 to 27. Whether you’re a new or experienced gardener, this show will offer something for everyone. Stay tuned to indoorgardenexpo.com where you’ll soon be able to download and print free passes to Sunday’s public day.

Compatible with Hand-held Devices

No matter which smartphone or tablet you own, loading up your digital copies of Maximum Yield will now be possible thanks to multiple software upgrades and improvements.

Readers can now view their digital copies of Maximum Yield in even more places!

Author Archives

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

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Meet the Team

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

E-News Archives

Every month, Maximum Yield sends out an electronic newsletter containing indoor gardening industry tidbits to our followers. We also keep all of that information posted on enews.maximumyield.com in case you ever miss something.

Free Digital Subscription

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

Ask an Expert

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

Maximum Yield Canada | September/October 2013

Scan It

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

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

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR I’m a Fan Winners Announced

Armando Mushik from Thermal, California, is the sixth winner of Maximum Yield’s I’m a Fan Contest!

Armando said, “I am a fan of Maximum Yield because it seems that every time I am thinking of something, or am moving to the next step in growing knowledge, the info is often provided by Maximum Yield. I call my hydroponics store three Armando Mushik hours from my house to see when they will have the next copy. When they do, I drive to go get one, plus supplies. Thank you for everything and all the great information you provide and thank you for the free back issues available online.”

Thanks for the kind words, Armando, and congratulations on winning Maximum Yield’s sixth I’m a Fan contest! We hope you enjoy your $100 gift certificate at your favourite indoor gardening shop, Green Coast Hydroponics.

Shawn Curry from Houston, Texas, is the seventh winner of Maximum Yield’s I’m a Fan Contest! Shawn said, “Your magazine is what got me first interested in growing and gardening. Using the information I read from your magazine has gotten me to experiment with many different growing techniques. To me growing is more than a hobby; it also is therapeutic. At age 20 I enlisted in the Shawn Curry army infantry. I was in the third infantry division and in the initial invasion of Iraq. In 2004, I was honourably discharged from the army and I’ve been dealing with PTSD. I’m glad that two years ago I found your magazine because it is helping change my life for the better.”

Thank you for sharing you story with us, Shawn, and congratulations on winning Maximum Yield’s seventh I’m a Fan contest! We hope you enjoy your $100 gift certificate at your favourite indoor gardening shop, Ultimate Hydroponic Garden Supply.

Friendly Facebook Tips Last month we asked gardeners: What’s the best way to get tomatoes to ripen on the vine sooner? Here are some of the great responses we received:

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Maximum Yield Canada | September/October 2013

Congratulations on 15 Years of Growing Strong

Timing is everything. When Maximum Yield arrived on the scene, it helped build a much-needed communication and networking bridge between manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers and customers. You continued to grow and develop alongside our industry from your humble beginnings with just one magazine printJune Angus ed on newsprint to a family of glossy mags and trade shows now serving North America and internationally. Congratulations from all of us at Brite-Lite Group on 15 years of growing strong.

June Angus, vice president of Brite-Lite Group in Laval, Quebec

Educating Growers for 15 Years

From the first Maximum Yield magazine printed on newspaper grade paper and the Maximum Yield trade show at the PNE in Vancouver 15 years ago, to the modern trade shows of today, Maximum Yield has been the trendsetter in the hydroponics industry by creating these marketing and information platforms for us manufacturers. Its publications Grigg Kellock and events are a big reason why this industry has grown as quickly as it has to where we are today.

These platforms have been instrumental to us manufacturers in creating new and improved products. Customer feedback was not so easily attainable until these platforms came into existence 15 years ago. Congratulations Linda and Jim Jesson and all the staff at Maximum Yield for 15 Years of helping educate not only the sellers of our products, but also the growers of today and future generations.

Grigg Kellock, DoktorDoom in Edmonton, Alberta

Tim Phosphorus and kelp. Kelp helps the hormonal development in any stage, and [together] with a little calcium, phosphorus will ripen the crop up really nice.

Perfect Gardens Temperatures above 85°F will drastically slow ripening time.

Keeping temperatures below this will help greatly.

Ryan In the South, shade cloth if it is too hot for extended periods. Not overwatering as well as proper nutrition, including healthy amounts of calcium, will help them ripen as soon as they’re willing.

Corey Put an apple [beside] them; a gas released from the apple naturally ripens them.

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ASK The SAYS Experts SIMON Can you give me results for growing crops in soil versus aeroponics, such as rates, yields, etc.?

- Ralph

When feeding freshly cut unrooted clones, what nutrient solution and dosage do you recommend?

- Paul

Unfortunately there haven’t really been many relevant, scientifically accurate studies making this comparison between aeroponics and soil growing, the reason being that the conditions of such studies vary so much that a conclusive result would be hard to get. For example, if a soil of excellent physical and nutritional properties was compared against a poorly designed aeroponic system, the results would be different than if a poorly structured soil was compared against a more superior aeroponic system. Factors such as the crop type, effect of environmental conditions on growth, water holding capacity and aeration of the soil, temperature of the nutrients, makeup of the nutrient solution, nutritional factors in the soil, pH, etc. all have such a huge result on variables such as yield that a standard comparison is very hard to make. In other words, it is not just the system that affects yields and growth rate.

Sometimes the system only has a minimal effect.

We don’t recommend attempting to feed your unrooted clones. Since roots are like mouths for plants, trying to feed an unrooted clone isn’t very productive. You want to limit your cuttings’ tasks during the propagation process, so giving them nutrients too early in their lifecycle can send mixed signals.

Nutrients are fuel for growth, and during the rooting process you want your fresh cuttings to only concentrate on root development and not leaf and foliage production.

Once your cuttings have started to root, a very light strength grow nutrient can be added to your solution to begin encouraging normal, healthy vegetative growth. We recommend dipping cuttings in a quality rooting gel and placing it in your cloner or medium.

Roots are the most important component during cloning, so concentrate on getting the best possible roots first. Once you’ve established them, go ahead and begin to feed your plants with your favourite growth formula.

Dr. Lynette Morgan, Suntec International Hydroponic Consultants

Scott Thompson-Montague, Research and development manager at EZ-CLONE Enterprises

Dr. Lynette Morgan

Scott Thompson-Montague 14

Maximum Yield Canada | September/October 2013

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MAX FACTS

hydroponic news, tips and trivia

Cash for Canola The federal government is investing up to $3.3 million to enhance the competitiveness of the canola and soybean industries in Eastern Canada. The Eastern Canada Oilseeds Development Alliance will conduct research focusing on increasing the successful and profitable production of high-quality canola and food-grade soybeans.

(Source: agr.gc.ca)

MAXFACTS

hydroponic news, tips and trivia Appetite for Organic A new study has determined that Canadians like their organic and locally grown produce—55% of Canadians are willing to pay a premium for fruits and vegetables if they are organic or locally grown. The average Canadian spends $40.80 per week on produce, eating up 34% of the weekly grocery budget, and 10% of purchased fruits and vegetables get tossed in the trash each week by Canadians, although 90% of Canadians feel guilty about throwing away uneaten fresh produce.

(Source: vancouversun.com)

Benefits of Blueberries Full of essential vitamins and minerals, including vitamins C, A and E, as well as potassium, calcium and magnesium, blueberries are a sweet and delicious way for Canadians to achieve the Canada Food Guide recommendations of seven to 10 servings of fruit or vegetables every day. One cup of blueberries— about the size of a tennis ball—contains 3.6 grams of dietary fibre, virtually no fat and just 80 calories. Researchers who ranked the antioxidant potential of 40 fresh fruits and vegetables found blueberries at the top of the list due to the fruit’s high content of polyphenols, the same types of compounds that provide the health benefits found in red wine and dark chocolate.

(Source: bcblueberry.com)

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Maximum Yield Canada | September/October 2013

Maximum Yield Canada | September/October 2013

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MAX FACTS

hydroponic news, tips and trivia

Grant to Grow Apples and sweet cherries are two of the most important tree fruit crops grown in Canada, representing more than 80% of the farm gate value of Canadian-grown tree fruits, and the federal government is bucking up to help the sector meet growing market demands. A $3.2-million grant will support the British Columbia Fruit Growers’ Association in developing new apple and sweet cherry varieties, as well as improving disease and pest management practices.

(Source: agr.gc.ca)

Life on Earth Sooner Than Expected Conventional scientific wisdom has it that plants and other creatures have only lived on land for about 500 million years, and the early Earth was as barren as Mars. A new study has presented evidence for life on land that is more than four times as old—2.2 billion years old—and almost halfway back to the inception of the planet. The evidence involves fossils the size of match heads and connected into bunches by threads in the surface of an ancient soil from South Africa. The study’s authors say the fossils most resemble modern soil organisms called Geosiphon, a fungus with a central cavity filled with symbiotic cyanobacteria.

(Source: sciencedaily.com)

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Maximum Yield Canada | September/October 2013

Rain Delays Potato Crop Rainy weather in June delayed planting of Prince Edward Island’s potato crop, but growers are optimistic the season will get back on track by the time harvesting begins in September. “We had a normal amount of rain in June, but it just occurred over a number of days,” said Greg Donald, general manager of the Prince Edward Island Potato Board.

“We had a lot of wet days, so that and the cool weather delayed getting the crop in the ground.”

He estimated that the weather delayed planting by up to two weeks. Now that the crop is planted and the weather has improved, the season’s timing has also improved. “With good weather, we’ve caught up quite a bit,” said Donald. “We’re still about a week behind schedule, but we gained a lot of time that we had lost.”

(Source: freshplaza.com)

Trade Talk The importance of trade to the Canadian agricultural sector was discussed at this year’s federal/ provincial/territorial agriculture ministers’ meeting in Halifax. Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz said a new record was set last year with agriculture exports hitting $47.7 billion. Canadian food exports went to 189 different countries. Canada’s ambitious trade agenda is aimed at maintaining and expanding export opportunities in traditional and emerging markets. New export opportunities for livestock farmers include several countries in the Asia-Pacific Rim, where Canada has trade agreements, and the European Union, which is negotiating free trade agreements with Canada.

(Source: betterfarming.com)

Got Spinach?

An Ontario farmer is using hydroponic growing techniques to cultivate disease-free spinach year-round. After years of experimentation, growing pains and $1 million of his own money, Jim Sheehan, a.k.a. the Spinach Guy, sells his spinach as fast as he can grow it in four 15-m ponds in his poly-wrapped greenhouse.

The demand for his product is so great that Sheehan is building a bigger greenhouse so that he can expand his sales. Pythium, a deadly root disease that can destroy entire crops, makes spinach hard to grow, but Sheehan said he beat it—sans chemicals—with a computer algorithm. His greenhouse’s environment is entirely controlled by computer.

(Source: thestar.com)

Forecasting Crop Failure Climate data can help predict some crop failures several months before harvest, according to an international study. Scientists found that in about one-third of global cropland, temperature and soil moisture have strong relationships to the yield of wheat and rice at harvest. For those two key crops, a computer model could predict crop failures three months in advance for about 20% of global cropland, according to the study. While climate’s role in crop yields and failures may seem intuitive, it’s difficult to demonstrate in part because of the overwhelming influence of social and economic factors, say researchers. But integrating climate and economic predictions can lead to a better understanding of crop yields and failures—especially in a changing climate.

(Source: sciencedaily.com)

Maximum Yield Canada | September/October 2013

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MAX FACTS

hydroponic news, tips and trivia

Outdoor Classrooms Take Root Children spend an average of 25% of their school day outside, yet too often school grounds are treeless asphalt, concrete or turf grass. The Toyota Evergreen Learning Grounds program helps schools across Canada create outdoor classrooms to provide students with a healthy place to play, learn and develop a genuine respect for nature. Amounts offered are $500 to $3,500 for schools and $500 to 2,000 for daycares. Eligible expenses include: native plant species; heritage berries, vegetable seeds and plants; and tools, materials and professional services.

(Source: evergreen.ca)

Reducing Greenhouse Gasses Crop cultivation, animal production and deforestation account for one third of the greenhouse gasses produced by humans in the past decade. But new research shows that improving crop yields—growing more food in a set amount of space—could reduce emissions by 12% per calorie. Improving yield usually involves increasing the use of fertilizer, which would be counterproductive for reducing emissions. But researchers found that sustainable farming approaches can accomplish both goals of reducing emissions and providing more food. A number of organizations, including the United Nations, have also found that “agroecological” methods outperform the use of chemical fertilizers in boosting food production, particularly in developing regions.

(Source: treehugger.com)

Eat Tomatoes for Strong Bones Natural pigments found in vegetables and fruits might help prevent bone loss among older people. A recent study demonstrates the power of carotenoids, biological antioxidants that provide living things with their colour, to protect bone mineral density. For four years, researchers monitored the intake of carotenoids by more than 600 seniors and discovered that one in particular—lycopene—was strongly associated with higher bone mass density in the lumbar spines of women and the hips of men. Tomatoes are known for their high levels of lycopene and it is also available in the form of nutritional supplements.

(Source: newsfix.ca)

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Maximum Yield Canada | September/October 2013

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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT YOUR GUIDE TO THIS ISSUE’S

HOTTEST ITEMS Ask for them at your local indoor gardening store Aquatic Life’s RO Buddie Aquatic Life has introduced a new reverse osmosis water purification system called the RO Buddie™ to the market. The RO Buddie provides economical filtered water using a three-stage system. Using carbon and sediment cartridges with a central membrane, the RO Buddie removes harmful substances such as heavy metal ions and total dissolved solids from tap water. Available in two sizes: the 189.31 L per day and the 378.62 L per day, the small size of the RO Buddie makes it easy to place under cabinets or in limited spaces. Unlike most RO units that use replacement carbon and sediment cartridges that fit into a chamber, the RO Buddie carbon and sediment cartridges are encased in durable plastic housings that are part of the filter. Quick connections combined with the front location of the cartridges make for easy removal, disposal and installation. Visit a retail store near you for more information.

RapidStart

Hydroton

RapidStart from General Hydroponics enhances your growing experience by delivering a powerful blend of premium plant extracts, amino acids and nutrients to generate explosive root growth. Using Rapidstart stimulates prolific root branching and development of fine root hairs that increase nutrient uptake and grow healthier, whiter roots. Using Rapidstart will make your plants explode! RapidStart can be used for all plants in prepared soil or soilless mixes, coco blends and hydroponics. Rapidstart, strong finish.

Bigger is always better. See a local retailer to learn more.

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

CO2 Manager V6

CO2 Manager V6 offers two algorithms to automatically control daytime CO2 concentration. One is for bottled CO2 injection, burners with continuous pilots and DSI-piezo-type ignition burners, and the other is for gas burners using Honeywell Smart Valve. A microprocessor provides incredible precision, often within 10 ppm. This product also controls nighttime CO2. There is a safety shut-off if growroom temperature exceeds 40.5°C, as well as an automatic shut-off when there is no gas. The CO2 Manager V6 supports any burner or regulator/emitter, and supports a 30.48-cm turbine for exhaust. A patch cord connects with your ventilation system and interrupts CO2 enrichment when activated. CSA, CEC and NEC compliant for your safety. Contact your local grow store today for more information.

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Maximum Yield Canada | September/October 2013

Maximum Yield Canada | September/October 2013

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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

SG Lite Convertible Ballast The 1000-W SG Lite Convertible Ballast offers versatility at a great price. It comes pre-wired with a patents-pending dual receptacle. It has an exclusive metal clip on the body that secures the power cord to the ballast. It also comes with a lock and seal plug and now features rubber feet for stable operation with less vibration.

The SG Lite has premium NRTL certification and is safety tested by CSA to meet all electrical requirements in Canada. You can be sure that your ballast will arrive in good shape as the distributor, Hydrofarm, utilizes premium packaging for better handling integrity. For more information visit a local indoor gardening store.

Aquatic Life’s CO2 Regulator

Aquatic Life has introduced a new high-pressure CO2 regulator that incorporates a lighted solenoid valve to indicate when CO2 is flowing. The needle valve adjustment makes it easier to regulate the amount of CO2 flowing through the system. Unlike most CO2 regulators that use a barb fitting to attach tubing, Aquatic Life’s CO2 regulator uses a compression fitting to securely lock the flexible tubing in place. Additionally, the compact size of the CO2 regulator makes it easy to place in limited spaces.

Check out an indoor gardening store for more information.

B’cuzz Blossom Builder Liquid It is commonly known that as the flowering phase progresses, your plant’s need for phosphorus and potassium will increase as well. Especially for the final two to four weeks in this flowering phase, Atami has developed B’cuzz Blossom Builder Liquid. Blossom Builder Liquid ensures an improved structure of the fruit and creates strong, healthy and beautifully large fragrant flowers and fruit. Due to the unique P:K ratio of 9% and 19%, Blossom Builder Liquid meets all the needs of your plants. In addition, the higher level of phosphorus compared to potassium improves the hardening of the fruit. This product can be used in combination with soil, cocos and hydro, and it is usable in any irrigation system. For more information, visit a retail gardening store in your area.

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

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Maximum Yield Canada | September/October 2013

Gavita DigiStar E-series Ballasts Together with the Gavita Master controllers, Gavita Holland introduces the new DigiStar E-series electronic ballasts. The DigiStar E-series ballasts are not only dimmable by the selector on the ballast, but they also have RJ inputs for the Gavita Master controller signal. This way you can centrally control them all. There is no need for a switchboard when you operate the ballasts with the controller; when switched off, the ballasts go into stand-by mode. Operating mode, lamp, voltage and temperature warnings are displayed by a three-colour status LED with a memory for warnings.

The DigiStar e-series operates at a high frequency, requiring high frequency lamps such as the Gavita enhanced HPS lamp. They can be dimmed to 50% and boosted to 110% (400-W and 600-W models) or 115% (1,000-W models) and are available in 240-V and 120/240-V models. For further details, visit a retail store near you.

B’cuzz Bloom Stimulator

SuperCloset’s Big Buddha Box

For many plants the flowering period is the most important period in the cycle. The B’cuzz Bloom Stimulator will force blooming at an early stage, which will start the flowering period earlier and ultimately make it last longer and happen more intensely. This bloom stimulator can be absorbed directly by the plant and it contributes to an explosive flower production.

B’cuzz Bloom Stimulator is available in the following sizes: 100 ml, 500 ml, 1 L and 5 L. Find out more information at a retailer nearest you.

The Big Buddha Box is SuperCloset’s highest yielding hydroponic grow system. It is vertically oriented and contains four multi-shelved walls with 87-net cups nested within the tiered grow trays situated around a centralized light column that extends from floor to ceiling. The effect of this set-up is four lush walls of flora all growing towards the centre of the system. The heart of the Big Buddha Box is the Superponics hydroponics system that utilizes both ebb and flow and deep water culture to achieve maximum oxygenation of the plant roots. The vertical Big Buddha helps growers quadruple their yields by only using half the electricity of a horizontally oriented hydroponics system. Fully automated pumps slowly raise and lower the water level in each lateral tank, which ensures roots receive equal levels of oxygen. For more information, visit a local retail store.

Sun System Light Emitting Ceramic 315 Sunlight Supply is excited to announce the arrival of the Sun System® Light Emitting Ceramic (LEC) 315 light fixture. Sun System LEC 315 utilizes cutting-edge Light Emitting Ceramic™ technology, along with a specially engineered 98% reflective optical cavity. This product includes a highly efficient agriculturally engineered Philips CDM-T Elite Agro Lamp. Get greatly improved full-colour light spectrum with higher amounts of beneficial UV and far red spectrums increasing the lamp’s growing power. The Sun System LED 315 provides high 1.95 PPF per second light source; 3,100-K colour temperature; high 92 CRI and 33,000 initial lumens (105 lm/W).

The unique open-rated lamp construction reduces radiant heat from the arc tube and is suitable for open fixture use. This 50/60 Hz low frequency, square wave, highly efficient electronic ballast has a 50,000-hour life. Visit a local retailer for more information.

Maximum Yield Canada | September/October 2013

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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Superpro Environmental Controllers Exclusive to Greenstar Plant Products, Superpro Environmental Controllers are now available in Canada. This new line of products combines simplicity and value, giving home gardeners control over the environment that helps plants grow. A wide range of products includes everything from basic speed control units all the way to complete garden control centres, taking the worry out of growing. These value-priced, easy-to-use, plug-and-play units come with three-year unconditional warranties. Check them out and grow with confidence using Superpro.

Visit a retail store for more details.

Method Seven Operator, LED Optics Method Seven, the company that developed perfect colour-balancing optics for working under HPS lights, has introduced the first optics designed for LED grow lights. The Operator, LED is part of Method Seven’s Fission Series manufactured by Carl Zeiss Vision. This lens offers the grower extreme clarity, focus and protection while working under LED lights. Growers can now experience daylight balance colour under the harsh conditions of LED grow lights and protect themselves from UV. The LED Fission lens is both lightweight and shatterproof. To learn more, visit an indoor gardening store in your area.

SuperCloset’s LED SuperNova Hydroponic Grow Box SuperCloset has just added a new LED hydroponic grow box, the LED SuperNova, to its suite of hydroponics systems and its grow cabinet product line. The LED SuperNova is among the largest grow boxes on the market standing at 198.12-cm high by 106.68-cm wide by 60.96-cm deep. The LED SuperNova grow box utilizes a proprietary spectrum to flower large yields in tight spaces. Heat is dissipated efficiently amongst the 2-cm aluminum circuit boards that are the backbone of the SuperNova LED lighting system. The benefits of the new LED SuperNova are immense; it uses about half of the electricity as a 600-W HID light while producing similar luminous efficiency. For more information, visit a local retailer.

Gnat Nix by Growstone Introducing the scientifically proven, environmentally friendly fungus gnat control called Gnat Nix. Gnat Nix is free of harmful pesticides and chemicals and is made from 100% recycled glass. Plants love it. Gnats don’t. Gnat Nix is a non-toxic, chemical-free fungus gnat control and is considered a long-lasting top dressing effective under dry or moist conditions. It’s great for both indoor and outdoor use. University trials have proved Gnat Nix used as a top dressing is an effective physical barrier against fungus gnats. It prevents adult emergence from hatching larvae and deters females from laying eggs in the growing media. As a result, the lifecycle of fungus gnats is interrupted. All you need to do is apply approximately a 1.5-cm thick layer of Gnat Nix to fully cover the surface of the growing medium in your growing containers. Visit a local gardening store near you to learn more.

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Maximum Yield Canada | September/October 2013

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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Method Seven Prescription Optics Method Seven Optics, which delivers colour balance, clarity and protection while working under various grow lighting environments, has introduced prescription glasses for HPS, metal halide and LED lighting. Available in the patent-pending Rendition Series glass and the Carl Zeiss Vision Fission Series, these glasses come in several prescription options, including bi-focal and progressives. Now growers who require prescription glasses can enjoy colour, clarity and protection with Method Seven technology. Learn more at an indoor gardening store in your area.

CleanLight Air and CleanLight Pro The CleanLight USA line has expanded to include an air filtration system and a larger hand-held UV-C unit. The CleanLight Air treats rooms up to 66.89 m² killing fungus, bacteria and viruses in the air. The system does this with a multifaceted filtration system utilising UV-C, HEPA, active carbon and cold catalyst and it even has an ozone generator with built-in safety features. The CleanLight Air has both automatic and manual settings along with a bad smell sensor for odours. The unit comes with a touchscreen digital display and remote control. Also from CleanLight USA, the CleanLight Pro builds on the success of the Hobby Unit but has a more powerful 40-W bulb. The unit is intended for larger growrooms and has a shatterproof lamp.

Users simply sweep the CleanLight Pro across the plant’s architecture to kill unwanted fungus, bacteria and viruses on the plant. For more information, visit a retail store in your area.

Titan Controls Atlas Series CO2 Controllers

Titan Controls is proud to announce the latest additions to its CO2 controller line, the Atlas®Series models 8 and 9.

These straightforward CO2 controllers provide the ultimate control for your indoor garden. The Atlas 8 features simplistic push button control of your CO2 system. It is compatible with both CO2 regulators and burners. The Atlas 8 also uses fuzzy logic optimized for precise dosing in your garden when using a CO2 regulator. The Atlas 9 highlights easy-to-use dials and a 4.57-m remote sensor that accurately keeps the CO2 level exactly where you want it. Both products are ETL listed and manufactured in durable dust-, rust- and moisture-resistant plastic enclosures. For more information, stop by a local indoor gardening store.

Gavita Master Controllers Gavita Holland introduces a line of electronic lighting controllers for the new controllable e-series DigiStar ballasts, plasma lamps and e-series Pro-line luminaires. Gavita Master controllers are extremely easy to use and have a full text interface in five languages on the bright green OLED display and five-button interface. They feature centralized on/off/dim/ boost control, auto-dim at high temperatures, emergency shut-down at critical temperatures, sunrise/sunset, and alarm outputs and can optionally switch 2x15 amps accessories such as CO2 equipment and heating with the optional external contactor modules.

Connecting the Gavita Master Controllers is a breeze due to the standard RJ connectors, enabling plug-and-play installation. The controller completely replaces timers and switchboards and eliminates ballast in-rush current.

The EL2 controller can either steer one room with 50 ballasts, or two rooms alternating every 12 hours for optimal available power use.

Visit a local gardening store for more information.

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Thank-you Maximum Yield for your commitment to the industry and all those in it.�

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Moving on

by Karen Wilkinson

Four Transplanting Mediums and Methods

It’s said that transplanting is one of the most stressful times of a plant’s life—for many, it can be a matter of life and death. And while a newly rooted clone’s fate depends on a variety of factors the most important is the handling and care it receives right after going into a new home.

,

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Maximum Yield Canada | September/October 2013

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moving on over Just like a newborn baby, clones should only be taken from one environment to another when they are strong, healthy, have an ample supply of quality nutrients and are in nurturing, caring hands. And just like a baby, clones’ lives are in your hands, so it’s up to you to choose a home where they can grow and thrive to their fullest potential.

There are so many new homes to choose from for these little babies, too! From traditional soil to rockwool and coconut fibre, the mediums can be tailored to fit the plants’ needs, depending on the available space and environment.

So, here are a handful of the most widely used grow mediums, as well as tips on how to transplant your little babies to best ensure their future success. Keep in mind that due to the stressful after-effects, it’s ideal to limit the frequency of transplants. So, if your plant’s ultimate home is a 37.6-L pot, transplant it directly into that container once it’s rooted.

Traditional soil

Soil is so...earthy. It’s natural, it’s the medium in which many of us first learned to grow fruits and vegetables and it’s forgiving.

It’s one of Mother Nature’s greatest gifts, and is many plants’ innate, native home. And it can be used at ground level or gathered into containers for a more mobile gardening experience.

Transplanting into soil requires a bit of finesse, but is still simple enough for a child to manoeuvre. You’ll want to do so when the roots are relatively short—about 5.1-cm to 10.2-cm long—as opposed to waiting until they’ve become lengthy, which is preferable in hydroponic units. As the roots grow longer, they can also become tangled in the cloning unit and can suffer damage when removed. As well, if such mangled messes are put into soil without being separated, the likelihood of root rot killing off the plant increases. So, stick with the short-rooted clones for soil transplants; anything else will just cause unnecessary frustration.

stick with the short-rooted clones for soil transplants; anything else will just cause unnecessary frustration.,,

When it comes to brand type, it’s generally a matter of the plant species, personal preference and whether it’s nutrientrich or poor. While some people prefer nutrient-free soil (with which the control over the plants’ diet is in the hands of the grower), you ultimately just need be sure it’s fresh, free of pests and disease, and reputable.

When watering your newly potted plants, find the balance between being overly generous and stingy. Overwatering is a surefire way to promote root rot, disease and unhealthiness, and not watering enough is just as bad. If you’ve got a small plant in a large pot, water around it and the roots, but don’t saturate the soil. Watering at the roots allows the plant to dry out quicker and pushes the roots to spread out for more water sources. Increase the watering as the plant grows, but only as needed and without drowning it.

Speaking of roots, another way to increase your plants’ success rate is to use mycorrhizal fungi, which puts a blast on the roots’ nutrient uptake while transplanting.

Coconut fibre

This is a truly organic growing medium that’s recently grown in popularity. For good reason, too—it’s made from coconut husks and shells, has an amazing ability to retain water and oxygen, is high in root-stimulating hormones and protects plants from a host of issues, including root disease, pythium and fungal infections. An added organic perk is its biodegradable qualities and nearly neutral pH. It can be composted after use, is renewable and doesn’t damage the environment.

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Rockwool

Coconut fibre is also referred to as palm peat, cocopeat, cocos, kokos and coir, and is commercially available as compressed bricks (it expands when water is added). It can also be found in loose or dried forms. This product can be mixed with other growing media, including soil and hydroponic systems, and some growers blend it with perlite or expanded clay to aid in drainage.

When preparing to transplant your rooted clones into coconut fibre, it’s important to remember that quality pays off in the long run. So, don’t be cheap; buy reputable, healthy stuff. Some not-so-quality brands can have high sodium content, which isn’t ideal for plants. Also, wash the coco prior to using and get the double-washed coconut fibre if possible. And like any transplanting method, be gentle with the plants’ delicate roots.

Expanded clay

This growing medium is incredibly popular due to its versatility and amazing ability to hold oxygen and nutrients while being lightweight and nearly inert. It’s pH-neutral, releases virtually no minerals and is ideal for growing rooted clones and mother plants. The pellets can also be reused and is therefore considered an ecologically sustainable growing medium. Expanded clay can be mixed with other growing media to increase the oxygen retention, and the pebbles are best suited for net pots, drip irrigation systems, water culture systems and ebb and flow systems.

With roots that are at least 2.5-cm long, rooted clones should be handled gently and placed into clean clay. This means thoroughly washing new pebbles until the water runoff is clear. If reusing the medium, clean with a sterilizing solution, remove any dead roots and rinse. Also, for a thoroughly clean job, use a bleach-water solution or hydrogen-peroxide-water solution for optimal results.

Comprised of spun rock, rockwool is a growing medium that has an incredible ability to retain water.

It also holds onto air, making it ideal for newly transplanted clones’ vulnerable roots. It comes in a variety of shapes and sizes and it allows for newly rooted baby clones to be transplanted rather quickly after developing (they can have roots 1.3- to 3.8-cm long).

Speaking of size, short and sweet is key here. The sooner the plants are transplanted after roots have developed, the better. At between 1.3- to 3.8-cm long, they can be transplanted into 3.8-cm cubes (or larger ones, if desired).

Be careful as well when separating the rockwool cubes from the mat. Use scissors and wear gloves, as the fibres can be clingy. Use cool water to rinse off any irritation fibres from your skin. Remember, it’s spun rock and you would not want those materials on or in your body, even if they are non-toxic. When transplanting, split apart the rockwool and gently pinch back together around the roots. Or use a large cube, maybe 10 cm, and place the cutting in the centre indentation and fill with loose, shredded rockwool.

Whatever you do, however, don’t squeeze, squish or otherwise manipulate the cubes’ shape, as it can disrupt the air/water balance.

When preparing to transplant

your rooted clones into coconut fiber, it’s important to remember that quality pays off in the long-run.,,

Maximum Yield Canada | September/October 2013

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moving on over

Rockwool allows for newly rooted baby clones to be transplanted rather quickly after developing (they can have roots 1.3- to 3.8-cm long).,,

Depending on the stress caused by the move, consider misting the plants right after. While not a necessity, it can’t hurt and it will limit undue stress. When watering, test the water and nutrient solution for pH, which should be between 5.5 and 6.5. Then dip the bottom half or quarter of the cube into the water, allowing it to uptake a healthy amount without becoming soaked.

Recycled glass foam

This medium is made from recycled glass beverage containers that are ground into a fine powder before being combined with a natural foaming agent and heated in kilns. The result is highly porous pieces of glass foam aggregate that provide an effective ratio between aeration and moisture. When irrigated, water is held in the substrate’s micro pores, but quickly drains through the macro pores to allow fresh air to flow through the substrate.

Since this medium is made from vitreous soda lime glass, it has a naturally high pH and must be buffered before use. Once stable, simply fill half your container with glass foam, then take your seedling with the substrate still attached to the roots, hold it in the container and fill up the rest of the pot with more glass foam. Then irrigate immediately.

The fate of your newly transplanted clones is in your hands. Their success is dependent on you choosing the right medium where they will grow and thrive, and giving them the best care after they are transplanted.

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Maximum Yield Canada | September/October 2013

The Conversion Factor: From Ebb and Flow to Drip Systems

by Casey Jones Fraser

Elevate the old ebb and flow standby with these easy conversion instructions.

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Veggie plants growing in a 0.61-m by 1.22-m table.

Ebb and flow systems are some of the most common, reliable and easy ways to garden with hydroponics, although some gardeners find greater yields can be obtained growing with drip systems. Others prefer drip systems over ebb and flow because of the reduction in nutrient costs made possible by using smaller reservoirs or the ability to water larger containers from the top down.

If you currently use an ebb and flow system and are considering changing your methods, let me show you how to easily convert your hydro set-up to a drip system.

Most ebb and flow (a.k.a. fill and drain) systems involve a reservoir underneath a tray. At least once a day a pump in the reservoir kicks on via a timer and fills the tray with nutrient solution. The upper tray is full with container plants or blocks of an inert growing medium, which are soaked by the flooding process. If you are using airy media like grow rocks or perlite the tray should flood several times each day. If you are using a medium that holds more water, you will water less often.

I am currently using a 0.61-m by 1.22-m ebb and flow table with about 50 small veggie plants. It takes about 75 L to fill the tray (most of the 75 L is in the tray, with a few litres left in the reservoir keeping the pumps submerged). Sixty litres won’t cut it. I tried using a 75.72-L reservoir, but after

It takes about 75 L to flood a 0.61-m by 1.22-m table in an ebb and flow system.

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The conversion factor

With a drip system, you are watering the new nutrients into the root zone while simultaneously pushing out last week’s nutrient batch, while ebb and flow systems push water upwards—leaving old nutrients behind, which can contribute to salt buildup.” three days there wasn’t enough solution to fill the tray and the plants were only getting 1.27 cm of solution before the pump would start to run dry. Eventually I found that a 132-L reservoir is required to keep the system going for a full week. At the end of each week I change the reservoir and there is about 64 L of solution left over. That is a significant amount of waste and a significant cost going down the drain.

For optimal results, I am choosing the best eight plants from this garden for flowering. I will place them in larger containers and convert this ebb and flow table to a drip system.

With a drip system the upper tray is never filled with solution. Instead, each plant gets a steady trickle of nutrients and water and runoff flow down the drain to the reservoir. Since the tray is never filled, only a couple of litres are out of the reservoir at any particular moment and 75 L will last all week with a 0.61-m by 1.22-m drip system. When you go from 132 L to 75 L, your cost for nutrients is nearly cut in half—now you can afford to use all of those high-end supplements that you skimped on last time.

Another argument for drip systems is the introduction of updated nutrient solutions. Many gardeners are finding increased yields are possible with nutrient recipes that change slightly each week. With a drip system, you

Old school drip systems run in a straight line and give uneven results.

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are watering the new nutrients into the root zone while simultaneously pushing out last week’s nutrient batch, while ebb and flow systems push water upwards—leaving old nutrients behind, which can contribute to salt buildup.

Drip system design So let’s look at the conversion. How do we get from ebb and flow to a drip system? Ebb and flow systems already have reservoirs, pumps and drains; the only thing missing is a tubing system that will deliver nutrient solution to each plant. For this set-up you will need 1.27-cm tubing connected to the pump, and 0.64-cm tubing going from the 1.27-cm tubing to each plant.

I used to build drip systems that ran in a straight line, which basically involved a length of 1.27-cm tubing with a pump on one end and a cap on the other, and 0.64-cm lines going to each plant. The only problem with that set-up was uneven pressure: the plants closest to the pump received the strongest flow rate, while plants at the end of the line got a weak dribble. This situation led to overwatering and underwatering, which in turn led to mixed results from each plant. The drip lines with the weakest flow were also the most likely to clog.

In an attempt to equalize pressure and maximize yields, I have now incorporated a manifold-style drip system, which involves 1.27-cm tubing running in a loop instead of a straight line. To build this drip manifold you will need the following items: 1.27-cm tubing, 0.64-cm tubing, 0.64-cm barbed connectors, a drip-line hole punch, a 1.27cm barbed tee and drip stakes. You can find all of these items at your local hydroponics retail shop.

New school drip systems employ loops (a.k.a. manifolds) for equalized pressure to each drip line.

Making a drip system  Step 1 Make the drip lines. Cut several 25.40-cm lengths of 0.64-cm tubing. Take each piece of tubing and add the drip stake to one end and the 0.64-cm connector to the other end.

 Step 2 Cut a length of 1.27-cm tubing to make the loop. Connect the loop with the 0.64-cm tee.

 Step 3 Position the drip lines evenly around the loop.

This step will help you locate the best positions for each drip line before you start punching holes in the 0.64-cm tubing.

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The conversion factor

 Step 4 Using the hole punch, make a hole in every spot that requires a drip line. Make sure that all of the holes are located in the top of the tubing and not out to the side. Proper placement is essential for even flow rates to each dripper.

Water-to-waste

 Step 5 Connect each drip line to the manifold by inserting the 0.64-cm connecters into each hole made by the hole punch. With the drip manifold completed, all you need to do is place it in the garden and connect a pump, using tubing and the 0.64-cm tee. Now each plant will be watered evenly each time the pump is kicked on by a timer.

Another advantage of converting to drip systems is the option of water-to-waste (WTW) gardening. Many hydro gardeners assume that this is a wasteful method—after all, waste is part of the name. However, that is not actually the case. Many WTW drip systems use the same amount of solution per week as recirculating drip systems. Most recirculating drip systems involve grow rocks or other inert hydroponic media, which require multiple waterings per day, or even constant watering. The water flows through the roots and rocks, then back into the reservoir and eventually back to the roots and rocks. On the other hand, WTW systems use soil or hydroponic mediums that are very absorbent and they irrigate the plants much less often and for much shorter periods.

My favourite watering schedule for WTW drip systems is as follows: 30 seconds, twice in one day, every other day.

The first 30-second watering takes place when the lights kick on, and the second watering happens six hours later.

This system can operate with two 1,000-W HPS lights over a 1.22-m by 2.44-m area with only 151 L to 189 L per week. With recirculating systems, water is constantly running out of containers. Water-to-waste systems, though, involve very small amounts of runoff per container—only 10% of the solution that goes into each container runs off. We know these systems work: WTW drip systems are probably the most common indoor hydro systems in The Netherlands, and those growers are serious and efficient.

Large-scale commercial greenhouses in The Netherlands often use complex recirculating drip systems.

WTW science We all mix up these expensive cocktails of nutrients, supplements and water for our plants. The nutrient solutions then go into the plants, root systems and growing substrates. The roots and growing media filter out certain things from the solution and leave other things behind.

Some ingredients become less concentrated, while other ingredients become over-concentrated. The microbial activity—and therefore the pH—will fluctuate up and 40

Maximum Yield Canada | September/October 2013

Have you ever noticed how your garden perks up after a reservoir change? Imagine experiencing that every day.

A perfect solution with every watering will give you steady growth all week.”

you mixed your solution. Enzymes may make some nutrients even more available as the week goes by, but no nutrients are filtered out of the solution. Just monitor your pH as usual, and the solution will stay ideal because the nutrients are unchanged or slightly improved. Have you ever noticed how your garden perks up after a reservoir change? Imagine experiencing that every day. A perfect solution with every watering will give you steady growth all week.

Basic set-up for my favourite water-to-waste drip system:  Soilless mix (equal parts coco coir, rockwool,

down over the course of a week. This all means that plants only get that perfect solution on the very first watering; after that, the solution is always changing. The solution continues to become less ideal as the week goes by.

In the WTW scenario, however, you mix up the nutrient solution at the beginning of the week. Each day (or every other day) the plants get watered, but nothing goes back into the reservoir. The mix stays perfect all week; it just gets lower with each watering. Keep the water temperature below 22°C and the beneficial biology will keep the solution safe for plants. The nutrient levels will stay exactly the same as they were the first day

perlite and peat-based potting mix)

 11.36-L or 18.93-L pots  Submersible timer (set up for 30 seconds, twice in six hours, every other day)

 Hydroponic reservoir drip system with one to two drippers per plant Okay, do-it-yourselfers—it’s time to buy a few parts and start building. Drip systems can make your garden more efficient and water-to-waste systems can enhance your plant’s gourmet diet, so start growing like a pro and you’ll reap the benefits with your very next harvest.

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onaonline.com Maximum Yield Canada | September/October 2013

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ARTICLE

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Maximum Yield Canada | September/October 2013

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Boost

When the Time is Right:

Stage-specific Amendments

by Eric Hopper

To get the most out of their plants, gardeners use nutrient additives, soil amendments and foliar treatments specifically designed for particular stages in a plant’s life cycle. Of course there are plenty of choices available, but this author wants you to know about the high-performance organic options.

New and

cts, teamed u d ro p e v ti a v inno ments in with advance s, allow thod ex traction me rs to achieve e w ro g ic n a rg o only obtained e c n o ts s e rv a h al methods.” by convention

To increase production and optimize efficiency within their indoor gardens, horticulturists use various stagespecific nutrient amendments. The most common example of these is blooming and ripening additives designed specifically to boost a plant’s fruiting or flowering stage. Organic growers have also become more in tune with the benefits of stage-specific feeding programs. As our knowledge of organic supplements expands (along with technologies used to extract the vital compounds), more stage-specific organic supplements are becoming available for the high-performance organic grower.

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Guano Bat and seabird guano have been used to boost fruiting and flowering since the beginning of indoor horticulture.

High-phosphorous guano helps trigger flowering hormones within the plant and contributes to an increase in flower sets. There has been many advances in the harvesting and extraction methods used by guano suppliers that help preserve the powerful elements that were lost due to outdated methods.

One extraction method is guano tea, a liquid guano formula that is chock full of the beneficial nutrients and microorganisms found in the guano. Liquid guano extracts like this one are more easily absorbed by the plants and give growers the option to foliar or root feed.

Maximum Yield Canada | September/October 2013

Unlike guano directly amended to the soil or medium, liquid guano also gives gardeners more control over dosage.

Kelp extracts As with guano, kelp suppliers have made advancements in methods to extract and preserve the beneficial elements and hormones found in kelp.

Although kelp was once rarely used as a bloom booster, some of the kelp formulations available today are specifically designed to do just that. Kelp extracts specific to bloom stimulation encourage rapid cell division during flowering and increase the production of specialized sugars found in fruit or flowers. It is important to select a kelp formula that is designed specifically for

Organic

also become growers have with the more in tune ge-specific benefits of sta ms.” feeding progra

blooming, or you could end up promoting vigorous growth during your plant’s ripening stage. Kelp extract, if harvested at the correct time or in a particular manner, can also contain a variety of hormones that help trigger flowering and ripening.

Alfalfa extracts One of the newer organic extracts to hit the indoor horticulture market is alfalfa extracts. Alfalfa has a great nitrogen to carbon ratio, contains a variety of trace elements and has been shown to promote larger flowers. Alfalfa contains triacontanol, a growth hormone that is thought to speed up the rate of photosynthesis by increasing the amount of CO2 that a plant can process.

Many studies have shown an increase in flower-site production and overall yield with the use of alfalfa extract.

Protein hydrolysate Protein hydrolysate is a recent advancement in organic stimulators. Protein hydrolysate is essentially organic matter (usually soy protein) broken down into the essential L-amino acids. Amino acids are the building blocks for the proteins and enzymes that directly influence the structure and metabolism of plants. Supplementing a protein hydrolysate during a blooming period will enhance the utilization of other nutrients, boost the plant’s immune system, increase plant respiration and reduce stress. Protein hydrolysate is

a multifaceted additive that increases fruit and flower production in many different ways. If you are going to try one organic stimulator, I recommend a protein hydrolysate formula.

In Conclusion Whether growing conventionally or organically, bloom boosters play an important role in enhancing yields. New and innovative products, teamed with advancements in extraction methods, allow organic growers to achieve harvests once only obtained by conventional methods. As more is learned about the intricate aspects of plant physiology, new products, methods and technologies will be created, allowing organic bloom boosters to evolve even further.

Maximum Yield Canada | September/October 2013

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Treat 'Em Bad & They'll Taste Better: Improving Flavour

by Dr. Lynette Morgan

Dr. Morgan shares some secrets for amping up the flavours of your hydroponic crops.

When it comes to good food, we are all looking for taste, aroma and texture. Sometimes these all come together to create a sensory delight, but when it comes to fruit, vegetables and herbs, appearances can certainly be deceiving. Those huge, red succulent strawberries or juicy fresh tomatoes at the grocery store might look fantastic on the outside, but biting into them can be an unpredictable experience—sometimes great, sometimes thoroughly disappointing.

Fortunately, flavour in fruits and vegetables is something that can be manipulated to various degrees by the grower—and in hydroponics we have far greater control over growth factors than we do with outdoor crops—so there’s no reason for our homegrown flavours not to be fantastic, right? Armed with some good information and basic tools, we can use hydroponic methods to create produce that tastes closer to the way we like it.

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Maximum Yield Canada | September/October 2013

What is flavour?

Our perception of flavour is actually the result of a combination of senses acting on a huge range of aromatics and compounds within the food we eat.

More than 400 volatile aromatic compounds that may contribute to the overall flavour experience have been

“Those huge, red succulent strawberries or juicy fresh tomatoes at the grocery store might look fantastic on the outside, but biting into them can be an unpredictable experience—sometimes great, sometimes thoroughly disappointing.” identified in tomatoes alone—and there are potentially many more as yet undiscovered. While the taste buds on our tongues can detect basic compounds we perceive as sweet, sour, salty or bitter, our main taste tool is actually our nose, which has receptors that bind into volatile compounds in the food we are consuming. The sensors on the tongue can actually only detect very basic aspects of flavour and can’t distinguish between small differences in these compounds— detecting flavour compounds in parts per hundred— while we can usually detect volatiles in parts per trillion with the receptors in our nose. The combination of the tastes we detect with our tongues along with the more sophisticated feedback we receive from odour receptors in the back of the nose gives us our overall sense of flavour. So not only do we want to produce fruit such as tomatoes or berries with high sugar levels (since humans love sweetness) and the correct balance of acidity to taste on the tongue, but we also want to concentrate the volatile aromatic compounds that provide so much of what we perceive as flavour.

Do we all taste flavour the same?

While we all have certain preferences for sweetness and acidity when it comes to flavour, everybody’s perception of taste is somewhat different. What one person may consider a particularly good tomato or strawberry may not even register as being tasty with another. There are many reasons for this: there are certain slight genetic differences in the way all people perceive flavour and there is also a certain small percentage of the population who are super tasters, with a high degree of flavour perception.

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Treat 'em bad However, other factors—such as the memory of how something is expected to taste, cultural differences, age, health and even gender—play a role in flavour perception, too. In scientific taste panels involving fruits and vegetables it’s often reported that in general women prefer sweeter flavours and men more acidic tastes and that the proportion of super tasters is higher among women. Taste perception diminishes as we age, as well as among those who smoke or suffer from sinus problems. If you have a cold or a plugged nose you’ll also have an overall lower perception of flavour, as

these factors tend to block the olfactory nerve endings in the nose, which are responsible for the detection of the complexity of flavours. What all these differences mean is that flavour can be highly subjective and for this reason scientific taste panels either use a large number of people to gauge an overall opinion of flavour (i.e., consumer panels) or a smaller number of highly trained and carefully selected tasters who can differentiate between flavours with far greater skill and precision than the average person. For the ordinary hydroponic gardener, however, the

“While we all have certain preferences for sweetness and acidity when it comes to flavour, everybody’s perception of taste is somewhat different. What one person may consider a particularly good tomato or strawberry may not even register as being tasty with another.”

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main objective is just pleasing ourselves and those we are growing for, which makes flavour assessment a little easier and a lot of fun.

Why don’t fruits and vegetables taste as good now as they did in my childhood?

This is one of the most commonly asked questions regarding modern day fruits and vegetables. One reason may be that as we age our sensation of taste declines somewhat, so it’s our taste perception that may have changed rather than the quality of the produce itself. Then again, the recollections many people retain of flavour are often only of really great taste experiences, not the mundane ones, so it can be hard. Fortunately, flavour in fruits and vegetables is something that can be manipulated to various degrees by the grower, and in hydroponics we have far greater control over growth factors than we do with outdoor crops. So, there’s no reason for our homegrown flavours not to be fantastic, right? Armed with some good information and basic tools, we can use hydroponic methods to create produce that tastes closer to the way we like it.

What makes a highly flavourful hydroponic fruit or vegetable different from a watery, insipid, tasteless one?

This depends largely on the fruit, vegetable or herb being grown. In tomatoes and strawberries, for example, one of the major problems is often a lack of sweetness. Sweetness can be measured using a Brix meter or refractometer and most people can actually taste a difference of just one degree Brix. A greattasting beefsteak tomato may have a Brix of at least seven and cocktail types can have a Brix of more than 10, while poor-tasting fruit often have Brix levels below five. Hand-held Brix metres are not expensive and can be easily sourced by hydroponic gardeners who are keen to assess their own fruit. Peppers and chilies also have a certain degree of sweetness, but the draw for most people with peppers is the heat produced by the compound capsaicin—although underlying the heat of chilies are also

“Many aromatic herbs such as basil, marjoram, egano, rosemary, thyme, mint and sage produce essential oils in their foliage that give off characteristic aromas and flavours and the concentration of these oils can be very intense in some crops.” some delicate and distinctive flavours and aromatics. Many aromatic herbs such as basil, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, thyme, mint and sage produce essential oils in their foliage that give off characteristic aromas and flavours and the concentration of these oils can be intense in some crops.

How do I improve the flavour of my hydroponic produce?

Flavour improvement using hydroponics relies on some basic principles of

plant physiology. First, when we restrict water uptake by the plant, it tends to concentrate certain compounds within the plant tissue and many of these compounds are related either directly or indirectly to flavour and aroma.

Applying slight moisture stress—or in hydroponic gardens increasing the EC to create a higher osmotic potential in the root zone—is a proven way to increase dry matter and flavour in many crops. This is most commonly done in greenhouse tomato crops to maintain fruit quality; however, it can

Maximum Yield Canada | September/October 2013

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Treat 'em bad

also be applied to a lesser degree with chilies, berries and many woody herbs, although too much osmotic stress can create problems such as reduced fruit size and lower yields. Any other factor that stresses the plant can have a similar effect: volatile compounds become concentrated in the foliage and many of these are related to flavour. Herbs such as basil, oregano, sage and rosemary can all have their flavour and aromatic levels increased by applying some plant stress—high light, dry conditions, warm temperatures, high rates of air flow, high EC or moisture stress will all concentrate the essential oils in the foliage just as they would if the herbs were being grown outside in their natural habitat. Growing these aromatic plants ‘hard’—under stressful conditions—replicates the hot dry climate of the Mediterranean. On the other hand, rapid, lush, weak growth under highly protected conditions with a low nutrient EC, particularly with reduced seasonal light, will produce herbs with reasonable yields of foliage but a poor flavour profile.

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“It’s a waste of energy boosting flavours if you’re using cultivars that have poor flavour genetics in the first place.”

Do the genetics of my plants matter?

The genetic makeup of hydroponic plants has a significant effect on their final flavour profile. Cultivars need to be chosen carefully and in most cases need to be tested, tasted and evaluated by individual growers. It’s a waste of energy boosting flavours if you’re using cultivars that have poor flavour genetics in the first place. By selecting naturally flavourful or aromatic varieties and providing growing conditions, EC and nutrients that maximize flavour, though, a truly great flavour profile can be obtained.

What makes hydroponics such a great tool for growing flavourful produce?

Hydroponic growing, and in particular protected cultivation, provides a

Maximum Yield Canada | September/October 2013

number of tools for the manipulation of flavour. First, light levels and leaf area determine the amount of assimilate or sugar available for importation into fruit and while outdoor crops have to make do with natural light, indoor gardeners can provide just the correct levels year-round and can even extend the amount of daylight to give plants that extra boost. Second, other conditions such as temperature can be highly controlled in a hydroponic garden to give optimum levels for photosynthesis and sugar production. Finally, indoor growers have a high degree of control over the root zone, which means that elements such as potassium—vital for the flavour quality of many crops, most notably tomatoes—can be boosted at just the right stage to ensure the fruit is of the highest possible quality. The nutrient solution EC can also be adjusted upward once plants are established into a hydroponic system to apply sufficient plant stress to concentrate flavour compounds and aromatics in a wide range of hydroponic plants.

What are some specific details of flavour improvement methods in hydroponic crops?

In hydroponic tomatoes it has been found that the flavour profile and the sugar, acid and sodium content of fruit grown at an EC of 8.0 mScm-1 was far greater than in fruit grown at an EC of 3.0. However, increasing the EC to improve flavour via a higher percentage of dry matter in the fruit tends to give smaller fruit and lower yields, so there is often a trade off involved between flavour improvement and yield. With hydroponic chili crops EC levels as high as 8.0 mScm-1 have been applied to boost pungency with good results, although different chili cultivars will respond differently to increases in EC and growers will need to determine for themselves what levels will give the biggest kick to their fruit. When using a higher EC to increase the pungency of chilies, it’s best to do so by increasing only the macronutrients in solution (N, P,

K, S and Ca) while maintaining the trace elements at normal EC strength levels. For crops such as onions, garlic, shallots and chives, the strong flavour and aroma we prize is derived from the presence of organosulfur compounds and in hydroponic gardens these distinctive flavours have been boosted by using higher levels of N and S in the nutrient solution. Brassica crops—such as watercress, arugula, cabbage and kale—also derive much of their distinctive flavours from sulfurcontaining compounds called glucosinoles and manipulation of sulfur in the nutrient solution can help boost these flavours too, which range from

peppery and pungent in watercress to sharp and nutty in arugula. Increasing sulfur levels in hydroponic gardens has also been shown to boost flavour or pungency in condiment herbs such as wasabi and horseradish, which contain mixtures of volatile compounds called isothiocyanates that give them their flavour and heat.

In Conclusion

When it comes to flavour improvement, indoor hydroponic gardeners have all the tools required to create unique and unforgettable taste sensations. While many new growers make the mistake

of trying to provide a luxurious, highly protected and stress-free environment for their plants to maximize growth rates, this can actually be detrimental to the flavour level of many of our favourite food crops.

Slight to moderate stress, though— applied to plants at the right time—will have the effect of concentrating the wide range of compounds and volatiles that make up the distinctive flavour profiles of the produce you are growing. Tomatoes, aromatic herbs, strawberries and chilies will all respond well to these methods, and this tendency, combined with the right genetics, allows the savvy indoor gardener infinite possibilities for flavour manipulation.

“Slight to moderate stress, though—applied to plants at the right time—will have the effect of concentrating the wide range of compounds and volatiles that make up the distinctive flavour profiles of the produce you are growing.”

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How to

Pot& Repot Plants

by Therese Cressman Follow these tips designed to help beginner gardeners pot and repot plants quickly and easily.

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To pot a plant, start with clean, scrubbed containers, preferably sterilized for the best success. Coarse steel wool or metal scouring pads clean pots in a jiffy.

Pot cleaning tips

“Most harmful organisms can be killed by placing a stack of pots on a cloth under the hot water faucet and running hot water slowly into the top pot for five minutes. Another option is rinsing using a quick recipe for cleaning pots: 50/50 water and vinegar solution, which works well on both plastic and clay containers.”



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 Most harmful organisms can be

killed by placing a stack of pots on a cloth under the hot water faucet and running hot water slowly into the top pot for five minutes.

Another option is rinsing using a quick recipe for cleaning pots: 50/50 water and vinegar solution, which works well on both plastic and clay containers.

Getting ready to plant In planting, place a piece of broken crockery over the hole in the bottom of the pot and cover with a handful of soil (you can use a few small stones instead of crockery pieces). The idea is to allow water to drain (instead of being trapped in the pot) without losing soil. Placing a piece of broken crockery or a few rocks will provide filtered drainage.

How to pot a plant

 Hold the plant in the pot with 

its crown just below the rim and spread the roots out evenly.

Fill the pot gradually with soil and

firm it, without packing, as each handful is put in.

Final soil level should be at least 0.64-cm below the pot rim to allow for easier watering.

 If the plant requires repotting,

 The general rule of thumb is to

When repotting a plant, first remove as much old soil as possible from roots, particularly from the top of the soil ball.

Disturb roots as little as possible. Use a pot proportionate in size to the plant.

Plants should be shifted to bigger pots as they grow larger.



 

Consider the container

“If the plant requires repotting, there will be a heavy mat of roots showing through the dirt. If the roots have lost their healthy creamy white colour and instead are of rusty appearance, repotting is required at once.”



How to repot plants

 Unglazed clay pots provide ideal

  

growing conditions for plants because they are porous, providing necessary air circulation to roots and have drainage holes in the bottom, making overwatering less likely.

Plastic pots are lightweight and easy to handle but, as in metal or ceramic containers, water evaporates slowly, so you have to be careful not to overwater.

If drainage is not provided, water can accumulate in the bottom of the container. Then roots rot and give off gases toxic to the plant.

If you find a pot unattractive, set it in a jardinière that better suits your taste.

there will be a heavy mat of roots showing through the dirt. If the roots have lost their healthy creamy white colour and instead are of rusty appearance, repotting is required at once.

Handle the plant with care so that no more earth than necessary is disturbed or broken from the roots.

Remove all the soil down to where the roots begin.

select the next largest size of pot, putting enough soil in the bottom to raise the plant to a height where all roots will be nicely covered and the soil is at least one 1.27 cm from the top edge of the pot.

A stick is handy for firming the soil around the edge of the pot.

Always water thoroughly after potting, making sure all soil is well moistened.

When to repot a plant When the plant has exhausted the nutritive value of the soil in the pot, it should be transferred to a larger pot to maintain its normal growth.

Determine if a plant requires repotting

 First remove the plant from the pot.

Do this by turning the plant upside down, supporting it by two fingers on each side of the stem against the soil. Tap the rim of the pot on the edge of a bench or table. This will loosen the soil from the pot so it may be removed.

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d r a y k c a B g n i n e d r a G

y l l a c i n o p o Hydr

by Jack Van Camp

Every once in a while someone comes along and shows you that something you thought was complicated, is really quite simple. Lane Burman is one of these people. Lane lives on a quiet street on the north side of a moderate city.

A 9.1-metre by 3.4-metre area in his backyard is where he built his hydroponic garden.

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Lane approached me one winter and asked what I thought of his plan for a backyard hydroponic garden. I thought it was brilliant and offered my advice and donated materials—such as fittings and nutrients—for the project.

The first thing to do was choose the plants for the garden. He chose seven different types of heirloom tomatoes, cucumbers, loufa, pumpkins, beans and orange Blenheim melon. Four varieties of lettuce were also sown to be grown remotely in soilless mix in a Styrofoam cooler. All the seeds were started in April and physically planted into the system in the middle of May as there was no frost present in the hydroponic system, yet frost was still in the ground.

The system Lane chose was a drip system with a 302.8-L garbage container for 10 tomatoes and a 113.6-L container for the rest of the plants. Friends donated 13.2-L kitty litter containers and eight 15.1-L pails as growing vessels. The drippers would be pushed by 2,271 litres-per-hour submersible pumps and they would run 12 hours a day. One dual electrical outlet was needed to run both pumps.

Next on the agenda was to build a bench around the perimeter of the garden against the fence. The bench ran along the fence on two sides of the garden for the 15.1-L pails to sit on.

Two sawhorses held a 5.1-cm by 10.2-cm frame for the kitty litter pails to sit in and one kitty litter pail was placed inside another with a brick set inside for countering the weight of the tomatoes with fruit. Holes about 1.9-cm wide were drilled in the bottom containers and 1.3-cm fittings were installed and the hoses attached. The kitty litter containers were filled with pea gravel and 7.6 litres-per-hour drippers were attached to the top hose. (You could also use expanded clay pellets, perlite or vermiculite and sand). The rest of the garden was assembled with 1.3-cm fittings (straights “Ls” and “Ts”), gardening twine, trans barbs and various 1.9-cm clamps. The whole process of building the garden took approximately 20 to 25 hours. The garden was set up and ready by the middle of May. All he had to do was add water.

The garden area was positioned north to south and was well lit all day.

The spring was pretty normal but the summer was brutally hot at times.

“The whole process of building the garden took approximately 20 to 25 hours. The garden was set up and ready by the middle of May. All he had to do was add water.”

All photos submitted.

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backyard gardening hydroponically

“At one point in the summer, Lane spotted blossom end rot on the bottom of the tomatoes and added extra calcium to the reservoir and it cleared up immediately.”

There were sustained temperatures of more than 37°C for days at a time. The containers were white for this reason.

The reservoir was hidden under the tomato plants and kept cool in the shade. If the containers or the reservoirs are dark in colour the water will become far too hot for the roots to handle and the plant will shut down.

The reservoirs were topped up when needed and the nutrients refreshed weekly. He used a two-part nutrient solution full strength with a vegetative fortifier. The A and B nutrient formula was used half strength for the lettuce and peppers in the soilless mix. The A and B nutrient can be used in any hydroponic system successfully.

The tomatoes were all heirlooms and were purchased at the local market from a co-op as cuttings. The tomato varieties were Margo, delicious, green zebra and black krim. These tomatoes are all non-hybrids and are not GMO (genetically modified organisms). At one point in the summer Lane spotted blossom end rot on the bottom of the tomatoes and added extra calcium to the reservoir and it cleared up immediately. The only other problem was the weight of the tomatoes and keeping the plant upright, especially on windy days. Trying to set tomato cages in the pea gravel proved problematic because they did not dig in deep enough to

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“All in all, the garden was a great success.

All the plants produced copious amounts of quality fruit the whole summer. The tomato plants averaged 7.3 kg of fruit per plant.” be effective. This year he will lower the garden and try some sort of trellis system with gardening twine to physically tie the plant to. As the hot and sunny summer wore on, Lane realized he would have to construct some sort of shade cover for those extreme days when the plants would visibly suffer in the heat. Being closed in on three sides of the garden made stagnant air a bit of a problem on calm, hot days, so some sort of fan arrangement will be set up in this year’s garden. Ideally solar fans and pumps could be run on 12 volts for all the energy they use.

All in all, the garden was a great success. All the plants produced copious amounts of quality fruit the whole summer. The tomato plants averaged 7.3 kg of fruit per plant. This is not surprising. Plants in hydroponic systems can produce two to three times more crops than in soil. Plants absorb and transpire one-third less water than a field crop and use less space overall. Reservoirs were topped up every two or three days at the most and only 15.1 L or so at a time.

In a sunny corner on his deck, Lane grew six or seven types of hot peppers in containers with soilless mix. These peppers thrived and produced lots of hot fruit. He gave me a couple of plants that I grew in my yard. They were called friars hat from Portugal and they were very hot. Over the winter he has been buying pepper seeds on eBay. Here you can purchase rare seeds from around the world.

Planting these seeds in the drip containers this year should give him a good harvest. He plans to retain the seeds from what he grows and in turn, sell them on EBay.

Lane knows a farmer who grows lavender near a lake in the southeast area of town. This fellow expressed an interest in growing lavender hydroponically after seeing pictures of Lane’s results from last year. He wanted to use a combination of French and English lavender to attain a unique fragrance to be used in perfumes and aromatic oils. They eventually made plans to firm up his system.

A total of 95% of all greenhouse vegetables are grown hydroponically in North America. Field crops run generally about 18.1 to 27.2 kg per acre. Top growers using hydroponics can get upwards of 294.8 kg per acre. A small area in someone’s backyard can help feed a family and friends and neighbours quite easily.

With plenty of sun energy, no drought and no searching for nutrients, edible plants can’t help but thrive.

And besides, there’s no weeding.

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4

The

Elemental Building Blocks

ofGrowing

by Chris Pianta

Fire, water, earth and air used to be the building blocks of the world. While atoms and string theory have taken over their places in science, there’s no denying that the four elements still play a critical role in growing healthy plants.

In ancient Greek times, well before the concept of chemistry, physics and even basic agriculture, all matter in the world was made up of four primary elements: fire, water, earth and air. These four elements—not atoms, not string theory,

not bending of the fabric of time or space—were the ancient building blocks of the world.

Funny, these same four elements are the critical building blocks to healthy plants. The Big Four—fire

“The Big Four—fire (temperature), water (hydration), earth (soil) and air (porosity)—are the basics to a proper soil environment and, following that, healthy roots and plants.”

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(temperature), water (hydration), earth (soil) and air (porosity)—are the basics to a proper soil environment and, following that, healthy roots and plants.

Humans have spent the better part of the last 100 years “improving” on nature in agriculture through chemistry. We have proven that with the right management, we can grow grass on concrete and plants in Styrofoam, but there is a price to pay for ignoring the basic four. Only recently have we realized that ignoring the basics results in a decline in soil health and quality. Fortunately, we also grasped that

properly utilizing the assets nature provides us with—and understanding the relationship between the big four and soil microbes—will improve our crops’ quality, yield and sustainability.

Physical amendments for native or manufactured soils are primarily used to adjust porosity, either by adding capillary or non-capillary pore space in the soil, to enhance water and air movement. This will also help regulate the thermo capacity of a soil, which does not transfer heat very well at all (hence why soil is a great insulator), and promotes the health and vigour of the flora and fauna growing in it.

Chemical amendments add nutrients to the soil or adjust the soil acidity. In the northeastern United States, acidity is a major issue with native soils. A pH below six reduces the availability of nutrients, especially nitrogen, and results in poor appearance and growth.

Growing up in Connecticut, an annual rite of spring was watching homeowners walk in a cloud of white dust as they covered their lawns with pulverized lime. In my early days managing garden centres, we would sell a truckload full of 22.7-kg bags of lime per weekend to meet the demand. Now, with pelletized

“So, instead of using a ‘life is better with chemistry’ thought process (with which all you do is add more fertilizers to get the results you need), it is clear that a properly biologically active soil can significantly reduce your need for fertilizers and still produce a better plant.” lime, the demand for powdered lime is lower, but the need is still there; you will waste every dime you spend on fertilizers if your pH is not right.

Biological amendments might be the “new” horizon, but they have been unknowingly used for centuries. As much as we loved (still love?) to use cow manure in the garden to help hold water and provide nutrients, it was really the power pack of microbes in the manure that resulted in the benefits to our plants. Soil microbes interact with plant roots symbiotically to promote cell development, the uptake of water and the absorption of nutrients.

So, instead of using a ‘life is better with chemistry’ thought process (with

which all you do is add more fertilizers to get the results you need), it is clear that a properly biologically active soil can significantly reduce your need for fertilizers and still produce a better plant.

The Big Four building blocks all play a role in our success as growers and horticulturalists, so don’t over think and don’t over tech a process that has worked successfully without human intervention for hundreds of millions of years. Keep it simple. Base your systems on what nature evolved the plant to grow in and you and your plants will see success.

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Agricultural

Robotics

by Philip McIntosh

Here Come the Agribots...

Do vast fields crawling with tiny agricultural robots sound far-fetched to you? The future may be closer than you think.

Robot. Whether the term conjures up an image of a friendly alphanumerically-named droid with a knack for languages, or an apocalyptic vision of a future ruled by merciless killers, it is hard to not be fascinated by these human designed and made (at least for now) machines. Robots have established a firm foothold in factories around the world, where they perform highly repetitive or dangerous operations at high speed much more accurately, repeatably and efficiently than any human.

Robots are now also found in homes, where they are well-suited to such menial tasks as vacuuming floors and mowing lawns. Whether it be in fun and educational pursuits such as First Lego League Robotics competitions, or in the deadly serious game of explosives disposal, there is no doubt that robots are becoming more and more integrated into human society all the time.

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Maximum Yield Canada  |  September/October 2013

So, what really is a robot? Contrary to the popular image of robots conjured in the minds of science fiction writers and filmmakers, there are actually few practical robots today in humanoid form. Yes, there are some impressive humanoid robots that can do amazing things—like dance, play the piano or even carry on a passable conversation—but the vast majority of contemporary robots are far less glamorous. After all, there is no need for a welding machine to look like a supermodel! Definitions of robots vary, but Merriam-Webster provides one that can be usefully applied for the purpose of this discussion: (1) a machine that looks like a human being and performs various complex acts (as walking or talking) of a human being; (2) a device that automatically performs complicated, often repetitive tasks; (3) a mechanism guided by automatic controls.

Agricultural robots, or agribots, have been at work in labs and in field tests for many years now. They have been toiling away—mostly unheralded and unknown to the general public—doing what robots do best; in other words, jobs that are dangerous or boring.

Bots in the Fields Compared to the manufacturing industries commercial agriculture has been relatively slow to adopt robotics,

"Agribots are beginning to make their presence known in farm fields and greenhouses—just don’t expect them to look like fruit-picking versions of imperial walkers!"

but not because of a lack of motivation to do so. It's just a lot harder to build safe, reliable robots for agricultural work than it is for manufacturing.

There is also still a relatively ready supply of cheap farm labor available in many markets. However, changes are on the horizon and there are many good reasons to consider putting robots into the fields.

With GPS positioning systems, machine vision and other sensors and off-the-shelf control parts, full-sized harvesting, plowing and planting machines are now being successfully tested. To keep costs down, current approaches are mostly centered on adapting existing vehicles to autonomous operation rather than designing custom robotic solutions from the ground up.

A production autonomous harvester will cost a bit more up front than a human-driven one, but a large fleet of them could be maintained by a small team of engineers and technicians—or a single driver could watch over and adjust the operation of several semiautonomous machines while perched on a tower as the machines follow preprogrammed instructions.

When it comes to robots Japan has long been at the development forefront and work on automated tractors began in Japan more than 20 years ago. For the Japanese, agribots aren't just about being on the cutting edge of technology—the median age of Japanese farm workers is increasing and there are not enough young people becoming farmers or interested in being farm workers.

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Here come the agribots Japan is counting on robots to keep future harvests coming in; among the machines in advanced stages of testing are robots designed for planting and harvesting rice, weeding rice paddies, harvesting tomatoes and strawberries and even performing grafting operations on crop plants.

Strawberry harvester arm: Robotic arm for picking strawberries. (Photo courtesy of Robotic Harvesting, LLC) Dorhout machine: Prospero is a prototype Autonomous Micro Planter (AMP) from Dorhout R&D. (Photo by Richard Dorhout)

Researchers at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology have tested a human-assistance machine designed to be worn by elderly farmers.

Although not an autonomous vehicle, the device provides intelligent support and motion assistance for the user’s legs and arms and the researchers hope to make it available for less than $10,000 within a few years.

Researchers at Carnegie Melon University’s Robotics Institute are working on a project called Comprehensive Automation for Specialty Crops (CASC). The aim of CASC is to improve efficiency and lower costs, especially in the apple and nursery tree industries. The CASC team has developed robotic vehicles for use in orchards, along with systems designed to detect plant stress and disease and take measurements of fruit before harvest. Demonstrations of many CASC projects can be viewed on YouTube at youtube.com/user/TheCASCrop.

Agribots need not be hulking machines that are simply automatic versions of traditional farming equipment; miniature robots have opened up a whole new spectrum of possibilities for the future farmer. Small bots are perfectly suited for crawling or rolling along between, under and around 62

plants, where they can monitor soil conditions, photograph and transmit images of plants for monitoring and analysis, do some spot tillage here and there, detect insect infestations and diseases before they become widespread and even dispense precise and controlled amounts of pesticides and fertilizers as needed. Swarms of such robots will someday act as intelligent agents to provide a level of care, monitoring and data collection that is far beyond what is now economically feasible for any farmer. The cost of such small agribots should be fairly low—once commercial production is in full swing, such machines could be available for around $500 each, or eventually even much less.

Prospero, a five-legged automated seed distributor, is an example of an early prototype of an autonomous micro planter (AMP) designed to be part of a small swarm of bots specially designed for agricultural work.

Inventor David Dorhout hopes that people will see Prospero and start to rethink what is possible for the future of farming.

Bots in Nurseries and Greenhouses If robots can be made to successfully perform in the unpredictable conditions of an outdoor farm field

Maximum Yield Canada | September/October 2013

then it should be even easier to get them working in the more controlled environments found in nurseries, greenhouses and indoor gardens—the floors and grounds of these facilities are far easier for robots to negotiate than the more unpredictable and less uniform surfaces found in fields and orchards. Researchers are making rapid progress in the development of small- to medium-sized robots designed

HA-1 Rpbot nursery worker: The HA-1 is designed to work along side humans moving potted plants in a nursery. (Photo courtesy of Harvest Automation, Inc.)

for many of the specialized tasks that need to be performed indoors. Some approaches that have been explored for greenhouse automation so far include installing worker bots that move about on rails or tracks, free-moving machines that operate directly on the floor and bench-mounted systems.

Rail systems have the advantage of keeping the machines on well-defined paths, which makes safety management

Strawberry harvester: A self-navigating, self-propelled strawberry harvester. (Photo courtesy of Robotic Harvesting, lLC)

easier and also simplifies programming and operation. However, being limited to traveling on rails these are not fully autonomous machines and not everyone would consider them to be true robots. Rail-mounted systems for crop spraying are currently in use throughout the world.

Bench-mounted systems are commonly used in commercial operations to perform transplanting and plugging operations. These machines can transplant up to 24,000 seedlings per hour, although the actual speed of the machines depends on many factors and some plants are too delicate to be handled by currently available automated systems. Rolling, walking or crawling machines are in development all over the world

and although some bots designed for harvesting tomatoes or cucumbers still have a rather boxy, machine-tool appearance, some recent prototypes are actually quite futuristic!

One of the most labor-intensive jobs in an ornamental plant nursery—indoors or out—is the movement, collection and placement of plant containers.

According to one estimate, up to 40% of this labour can be safely performed by small autonomous vehicles. A Massachusetts-based start-up company has developed small wheeled robots designed to work in teams alongside humans in plant nursery environments.

These machines are entering a final

won’t have to be as ruggedly built.

Small autonomous bots designed for more complex indoor monitoring and plant maintenance operations are still in the development phase, though, and we are probably at least several years away from seeing commercially available machines.

Agribots are beginning to make their presence known in farm fields and greenhouses—just don’t expect them to look like fruit-picking versions of imperial walkers! But the next time you see a tractor with a few unusual gizmos attached to it at work in a field, look closely; there might not be anyone behind the wheel… MY Acknowledgements Thanks to Steve Rainwater of robots.net for information on recent developments in the world of agricultural robotics.

References Dorhout, D., 2011, Prospero: Robot Farmer, dorhoutrd.com/home/ prospero_robot_farmer Harvest Automation, Agricultural Market Analysis, harvestai.com/agriculturalrobots-manual-labor.php

Mico-EX2010 Sprayer: This wheeled vehicle is an automatic spraying machine for use in greenhouses. (Photo courtesy of Micothon Netherlands)

testing phase with the cooperation of a number of greenhouse and nursery operations around the United States, with plans for commercial availability this year.

Swarms of small bots are destined to bustle about in indoor growing facilities as well. These bots will operate in a fairly predictable and stable environment and should be even less expensive than their outdoor cousins, since they

Kusuda, Y. (2010) “The Use of Robots in the Japanese Food Industry”, Industrial Robot, Volume 37, Number 6, pages 503–508 Robot Video: “Dutch Robomatic Using Rhizopon Plant Rooting Hormones”, hortus.com/Video_Robot.htm Smalley, E., 2011, “These May be the Droids Farmers are Looking For”, Wired, November 11

"Rolling, walking or crawling machines are in development all over the world and although some bots designed for harvesting tomatoes or cucumbers still have a rather boxy, machine-tool appearance, some recent prototypes are actually quite futuristic!"

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Maximum Yield USA | February 2012

Maximum Yield Canada | September/October 2013

63

YOU TELL US Tell us a little about how your company started.

Grodan invented rockwool for horticultural use in 1969. Intensive research and development empowered Grodan to provide a new, highly efficient and environmentally sound method of production for commercial greenhouse growers. This highly effective growing method uses fewer resources to grow healthier, more productive plants without the use of soil. By removing Mother Nature’s environmental variables, yields increase exponentially. Using clean and pathogen-free Grodan rockwool products to produce healthy seedlings enables the growers to more easily manage pest control through biological means. Also, using recirculating tanks in true hydro systems maximizes the efficiency of fertilizer and water usage, resulting in lower operating/production costs.. Grodan’s new method of growing revolutionized the industry and about 20 years ago, Grodan made the product available to the average hobbyist.

Grodan’s parent company, the Rockwool Group, employs nearly 9,700 people and operates factories in numerous countries. Grodan strives to utilize new technological advances to provide the best possible growing media.

Who are the people behind Grodan?

Maximum Yield recently sat down with Wendy Denney from Grodan to discuss the advantages of using rockwool as a growing medium.

Left: Grodan product specialist Wendy Denney.

Above: Cucumber plant grown commercially out of a single 4-in.

Grodan Gro-Block.

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Maximum Yield Canada | September/October 2013

The Rockwool Group’s research centre is in Hedehusene, Denmark. Many people don’t realize that the Grodan name is derived from “growing the Danish way” and the word Grodan means frog in Swedish.

In North America, Grodan has a team of six traversing the continent, visiting as many retail stores as they can and educating store owners and consumers along the way.

What is your company’s philosophy?

Grodan provides reliable and sustainable substrate solutions for the cultivation of vegetables and other plants.

The primary goal is to help increase

crop yields as well as the quality of the produce, but the company takes corporate social responsibility seriously and endeavours to contribute to a more sustainable world in which people and the environment are treated with respect and environmental impacts are reduced to an absolute minimum.

What products are you seeing the most demand for these days?

Grodan starters (A-OKs™, MiniBlocks™ and Macroplugs™) are popular not only because the rockwool provides the perfect air-to-water ratio, but also because of its natural purity to provide the healthiest start for seedlings and cuttings. The second most popular is our Gro-Blocks™, including the Hugo™, a Gro-Block that can produce massive yields with very little media. Grodan Grow-Cubes™ are also popular for container growing. GroSlabs™ are a highly effective way of growing and the preferred choice of commercial greenhouse growers. For the hobbyists, the compact Uni-Slabs™ used in conjunction with a Gro-Block are gaining popularity.

How has rockwool progressed as a growing medium over the years?

What are the advantages of using it as a primary medium?

Over time, Grodan has implemented incremental changes in the structure of the fibres (or what is typically called weave), strategically engineering them for different growth stages. These subtle alterations make a substantial improvement in the final yield of the plant. The hobby hydro industry has benefited tremendously from the technological advances made by Grodan.

This type of development and testing is not inexpensive, but quality is the solid thread that runs through Grodan’s entire product line.

Grodan rockwool is a natural, clean, sustainable product that has the capacity to produce consistently uniform

results and lends itself to highly efficient growing techniques. One can choose to mix it (specifically regarding Grow-Cubes, Grow-Chunks or Gro-Wool™) with other medias like soil, coco or peat and still improve overall yields significantly. It not only provides aeration to the other media but it also increases nutrient availability in the root zone.

How do you make your rockwool products?

First, Grodan sustainably harvests basalt, which is naturally occurring solidified lava formed by volcanic activity. The basalt is then re-liquefied by melting it at 1500°C and spinning it into fibrous threads, similar to how cotton candy is made. Previously used rockwool is also recycled and melted down. Next, the fibres are layered and compressed in productspecific densities to form the wool.

The last step is to cut the wool into the shapes and sizes of the various products using high-powered water jets and apply the signature platinum foil packaging.

What do you mean by the expression, “Precision Growing?”

“Precision Growing”, a term coined

by Grodan’s commercial division, refers to the most efficient way of growing: using minimum input materials to generate maximum output.

At the hobbyist level, Grodan has taken the concept of “Precision Growing” and applied it to a new growing tool–the GroLog™, a free mobile app. The GroLog makes it easier than ever to grow with the same level of control and consistency that the greenhouse growers do. This convenient, easy-to-use app includes daily

logs and photos, an events calendar, growing reports, graphs and more. To download the GroLog on your iPhone, simply search for it by name in the App Store. There are plenty of updates in the works for the GroLog, including versions for the various smart phone platforms.

What is your best piece of advice for someone just starting out growing?

Grodan provides three easy ways to find out what you need to know to be successful: • For online information, grodan101.com includes charts, photos and illustrations.

• Grodan’s Gro-SMART video series and additional videos show stepby-step methods of how to get the most out of the product.

• Grodan’s Grow Guides and other brochures are available in most hydro stores and can be downloaded from the website.

In which countries are your products available?

Grodan products are available in many countries worldwide, but only Canada and the United States have exclusive access to the platinum product line and the support of a Grodan team to service hobbyists. To find a distributor or retailer near you, visit grodan101.com and use the locator feature on right side of the page.

Maximum Yield Canada | September/October 2013

65

talking shop

Brady, Ian, Jaxon, Geof and Duncan

AT A GLANCE Company:

IncrediGrow Garden Centre

Location:

103, 7500 MacLeod Trail S.E. Calgary, Alberta T2H 0L9

Web:

incredigrow.ca

E-mail:

sales@incredigrow.ca

Motto:

“Your Plant’s Personal Trainer.”

Indoor Gardening: The Green Frontier. These are the exploits of IncrediGrow Garden Centre. Our mission: to explore unique new gardening techniques, to seek out new botanical species and new cultures, to boldly grow where no one has grown before.

Welcome to IncrediGrow Garden Centre: your plant’s personal trainer. We are a year-round garden centre with a focus on expanding the target market to include the hobby gardening enthusiast and introduce them to the wonderful world of indoor crop production.

As we approach our third anniversary of operations (we do, however, have more than 35 years of combined garden centre experience), we have developed great working relationships with several gardening societies in the area and continue to develop relationships within the educational community. The commitment to helping develop and grow these societies along with providing the products required and introducing new ones has been a tremendous success.

This is not to say that there are not hiccups along the way. We are lucky and appreciative to have found excellent staff with a willingness to put up with the demanding nature of the business and the steep learning curve involved in keeping the business at showroom

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Maximum Yield Canada | September/October 2013

quality. We refer to our garden centre as a showroom and our customers as guests. We also aim to keep staff informed as to the feel and sense we want to impart. We hold parking lot BBQ’s for the staff as often as the weather permits and allow for the free outflow of ideas and opinions from everyone who wishes to contribute in a positive and forward-thinking format. The family feeling is one that we are happy to encourage and hope our guests leave with this sense as well.

Adopting new methods of management has helped achieve this feeling within our little garden centre. We do not dictate orders to staff or have set job descriptions per se. Rather, we have a conglomeration of seniority, experience and capabilities that evolve and coalesce into one harmonic synergy of gardening confluence that brings out the best in all and keeps everyone striving to achieve more. We encourage staff to bring forward ideas and everyone is involved in brainstorming new developments. This process helps to bring new products into the showroom and keep everyone committed to working in a team environment with similar goals.

The summer months are typically slow for indoor garden centres, with layoffs an all too common phenomenon, but having additional product lines in stock that fill needs for this season has reversed this trend. We have expanded our product offerings to include items that lend themselves to sustainable living initiatives and unique gardening experiences. Aquaponics, for instance, is a sustainable food production system that combines conventional aquaculture (raising aquatic animals such as snails, fish, crayfish or prawns in tanks), with hydroponics (cultivating plants in water) in a

“We refer to our garden centre as a showroom and our customers as guests.”

Duncan energizing the worm factory.

symbiotic environment. This is proving to be one of the most enjoyable family gardening experiences and can be maintained indoors on a small scale.

We also promote such things as vermicomposting, which is the process of composting using various worms—usually red wigglers—and other earthworms to create a mixture of decomposing vegetable or food waste, bedding materials and vermicast. Vermicast, also called worm castings, is the end product of the breakdown of organic matter by an earthworm. Containing water-soluble nutrients, vermicompost is an excellent, nutrient-rich organic fertilizer and soil conditioner.

The kits we have available for this process have received great reviews and can be kept in the kitchen. Used in conjunction with the blue bin, they encourage recycling and we’ve heard that it is very therapeutic to feed your shredded credit card bills to the worms! The above examples are just two of the many gardening concepts and equipment we make available to all our guests.

Another positive development in the exploits of IncrediGrow Garden Centre is the newly released web page upgrade and the launch of our Facebook fan page. Visit incredigrow.ca now to view our online catalogue featuring the exciting product lines and prices we offer, along with gardening information and tricks. Also find us on Facebook where we post links to cool sites and videos, how-to information on gardening stuff and upcoming specials or coupon offerings. Like us on Facebook to be eligible for contests, special events and promotional products.

Finally, come on in and visit with us to find out first-hand about cool new products or speak with a friendly, knowledgeable staff member.

“We encourage staff to bring forward ideas and everyone is involved in brainstorming new developments.”

Geof posing with the aquaponics.

Look forward to growing with you, The IncrediGrow Team Maximum Yield Canada | September/October 2013

67

MAXIMUM YIELD’S

LONG BEACH CALIFORNIA INDOOR GARDENING EXPO october 26 & 27, 2013

saturday october 26

10AM - NOON • VIP SEMINAR NOON - 6PM • INDUSTRY ONLY TRADE SHOW

our Proud sPonsors

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Maximum Yield Canada | September/October 2013

AT THE LONG BEACH CONVENTION CENTER

sunday october 27 NOON - 5PM GENERAL PUBLIC

INDOORGARDENEXPO.COM|250-729-2677 • Learn from the experts • See the latest grow gear! • Supercharge your garden

eXHibitors to date:

cHeck out tHe interactiVe FloorPlan online!

PO.COM INDOORGARDENEX

Aquatic Life LLC Arborjet Coolmart Group Inc Cutting Edge Solutions Cyco Flower Dome Garden Supply Dyna-Gro Dynamiq Lighting Eco Organics Ecological Laboratories Emerald Triangle Excel Garden Products Future Harvest Developments General Hydroponics Geo Pot Gorilla Grow Tent Greenbeams Grotek Canada Grow Stone LLC Growlite Heavy 16 High Caliper Growing Inc. Humboldt Wholesale Hydro-Organics HydroLife Hygrozyme Lambert Peat Moss Maximum Yield Publications Method Seven Metrop Mondi Products Mr.Nice Guys Hydroponics Myron L Company

NGW/Sunlight Supply Nickel City Wholesale North County Bounty Novozymes BioAg Inc. NPK Industries Nutrifield Oasis Grower Solutions OD’s Distribution Orca Grow Films Organic Bountea Ostberg Americas Inc. Ozone Environmental Technologies Plant Revolution Pure Essentials Black Label Pure Sciences Quality Wholesale Ltd. Quest Equipment R&M Supply Rock Nutrients Royal Gold Sanctuary Soil & Feed Serenade Garden Spring Pots Sunland Garden Products Sunmaster Supreme Growers Thermoflo Technologies Urban AG Vermicrop Organics Vital Garden Supply Xtreme Nutrients Zenport Industries

Maximum Yield Canada | September/October 2013

69

MAX-mART

Unit 6 12342 82A Avenue

❘ Surrey, B.C. ❘ 604.599.1778

BOGARTS GARDENING SUPPLY

www.coastpetandplant.com

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.

like us on

Facebook

facebook.com/maximumyield

70

+

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

visit us

follow us on

Twitter

twitter.com/max_yield

Maximum Yield Canada | September/October 2013

online maximumyield.com

Maximum Yield Canada | September/October 2013

71

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

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

IncrediGrow Garden Centre 103-7500 MacLeod Trail SE Calgary, AB T2H 0L9 403-255-0740 ------------------------------------------

Valley Indoor Geenhouse Supplies 103 - 44195 Yale Road West Chilliwack, BC V2R 4H2 877-702-1169 ------------------------------------------

Quick Grow 1-1204 Edmonton Trail Road NE Calgary, AB T2E 3K5 877-426-4769

Sundogz Garden Supply 1824 Alberni Hwy. Coombs, BC V0R 1M0 250-954-2046

Smart Grow 2422 - 23 Avenue, NE Calgary, AB T2E 8J4 403-236-9999

Art Knapp 2855 Wentworth Road Courtenay, BC V9N 6B7 250-334-3024

Twins Greenhouse 13 - 2235 30th Avenue, NE Calgary, AB T2C 7C7 403-273-2881

Just-N-Tyme Greenhouse and Hydroponics Supply 1094 McKenzie Avenue Courteney, BC V9N 3C5 250-703-0476 ------------------------------------------

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 ------------------------------------------

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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

Retail Stores listed alphabetically by city in each province.

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

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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 ------------------------------------------

Quick Grow Indoor Garden Center 1945 Kirschner Rd. Kelowna, BC V1Y 4N7 250-861-3434

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

BC Hydroponics 3 - 20092-93A Avenue Langley, BC V1M 3Y4 604-888-5716

Pacific NW Garden Supply Unit 14- 104 Silica Street Nelson, BC V1L 4M1 250-354-4767

Green Earth Garden Supplies Unit 5, 19300, Langley Bypass Langley, BC V3S 6K2 604-532-7106

Buckerfields 587 Alberni Highway Parksville, BC V9P 1J9 250-248-3243

GreenStar Plant Products Inc. 9430 198 Street, Langley, BC V1M 3C8 604-882-7699

Better Than Nature Penticton 101 - 78 Industrial Avenue, West Penticton, BC V2A 6M2 250-770-8978 ------------------------------------------

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

Maximum Yield Canada | September/October 2013

Aurora Lighting 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 Skytek Indoor Solutions 833 4th Avenue Prince George, BC V2L 3H5 800-975-9835 Spruce Capital Feeds 1694 Quinn Street Prince George, BC V2N 1X3 250-564-6010 Omega Garden Inc. 1695 Peligren Place Qualicum Beach, BC V9K 2S3 250-752-1301; 888 976 6342 Garden Effects 200-2288 #5 Road Richmond, BC V6X 2T1 604214-6620 Natural Choice Garden Centre, The 5500 48th Avenue, SE Salmon Arm, BC V1E 1X2 250-832-7151 ------------------------------------------------

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

Nico’s Nurseryland 830 - 28th Street, NE Salmon Arm, BC V1E 2S7 250-804-2004 Mylo’s 3837 Squilax Anglemont Hwy Scotch Creek, BC V0E 1M0 250-955-0525 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 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 BN Garden Supply 4493 Boundary Road Vancouver, BC V5R 2N3 604-431-2977 Double AA Garden Supplies Ltd. 2908 Commercial Drive Vancouver, BC V5N 4C9 604-876-8837 Pacific NW Garden Supply 2137 East Hastings Street Vancouver, BC V5L 1V2 604-254-4765 U-Grow Garden Supplies 8265 Main St. Vancouver, BC V5X 3L7 604-880-1111 Vancouver Garden Supply 4894 Fraser Street Vancouver, BC V5V 4H5 604-879-8167

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

NEW BRUNSWICK

ONTARIO

Canadian Green Products 811 Central St. Centerville, NB E7K 2B9 506-276-3555 ------------------------------------------

Canadian Hydrogardens Ltd. 1330 Sandhill Drive Ancaster, ON L9G 4V5 905 648 1801

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

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 ------------------------------------------

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

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 ------------------------------------------

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 ------------------------------------------

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

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

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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 ------------------------------------------

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

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

Hydrogarden 1122 Paul Street Cornwall, ON K6H 6H5 613-360-6996

Nature’s Garden Supplies 24-340 Don Park Road Markham, ON L3R 1C5 905-470-7887

Agrogreen Canada Inc. 1938 Hwy #20, RR#1 Fonthill, ON L0S 1E6 866-650-1136

All Seasons 1000 Dundas Street East Mississauga, ON L4Y 2B8 905-848-2619

Diatomite Canada 1938 Hwy #20, RR#1 Fonthill, ON L0S 1E6 866-650-1136

Green Thumb Hydroponics 3075 Ridgeway Drive, 25 Mississauga, ON L5L 5M6

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 Road, Meadowbrooke Plaza Gloucester, ON K1B 3L7 613-842-8999

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

hydroponics for everyone

Yield of Dreams Hydroponics 559 Steven Court 12 Newmarket, ON L3Y 6Z3 877-778-7960 ------------------------------------------

1103 Cassells Street North Bay, ON P1B 4B3 705-494-7169 ----------------------Brite-Lite Indoor Garden Centre 4373 Steeles Avenue West North York, ON M3N 1V7 416-663-2999

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 Hydrotech 2436 Kingston Road Toronto, ON M1N 1V2 416-267-4769 Jungle Hydroponics 2215 Gerrard Street East Toronto, ON M4E 2C8 416-699-0861 Toronto Hemp Company 665 Yonge Street Toronto, ON M4Y 1Z9 416-920-1980 Truly Local 851 Queen Street, West Toronto, ON M5R 2K2 647-855-5932 -----------------------

LV Garden Supply 415 Oakdale Road Unit 379 North York, ON M3N 1W7 416-744-7762 Supply For You 3615 Weston Road, Unit 6 North York, ON M9L 1V8 416-741-8062 All Grow Hydroponic 391 Marwood Drive, Unit 14 Oshawa, ON 866-606-4723 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

Hydro Culture Emporium Inc. 1315 Richmond Rd. Unit #7 Ottawa, ON K2B 8J7 613-715-9472

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

Harvest Time Hydroponics 5918 Main St., Niagra Falls, ON L2G 5Z8 289-296-7754

Sweet Hydroponic Gardens 776 Bruce Street Renfrew, ON K7V 3Z8 613-433-9600

Iponic Zone 151 Brunel Road, Mississauga, ON L4Z 2H6, 905-502-7211

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

grow it all

Green Kingdom Hemp AKA The Indoor Gardener 207 Exeter Road, Unit D London, ON N6L 1A4 519-652-4224 ------------------------------------------

Bluewater Hydroponics 1173 Michener Road, Unit 12 Sarnia, ON N7S 5G5 519-337-7475

Hydro-Tonyque 761 Avenue Gilles Villeneuve Berthierville, QC J0K 1AO 450-836-8088 ------------------------------------------

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 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) ------------------------------------------

Hydrosphere 2000 2400 rue Canadian, Suite 104 Drummondville, QC J2C 7W3 819-478-9791 ----------------------------------------Les Serres Binette Inc 2568 Boul. Mercurre Drummondville, QC J2A 1H2 819-478-7195 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

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

519-886-9200 ----------------------Grower’s Choice Hydroponics 1621 McEwen Drive 14 Whitby, ON L1N 9A5 905-725-GROW 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 ------------------------------------------

QUEBEC Un Monde Sans Terre 565 Beausejour Alma, QC G8B 5V3 418-480-3274

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 ------------------------------------------

------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

Maximum Yield Canada | September/October 2013

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MAXIMUM YIELD distributors 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 ------------------------------------------

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 Hydroculture Guy Dionne 8473 - 19th Avenue Montreal, QC H1Z 4J2 514-722-9496 Hydro Expert 12752 Industriel Montreal, QC H1A 3V2 514-624-3091 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

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Qué-Pousse - Mont.

Tremblant 462 Montée Kavanagh Mont-Tremblant, QC J8E 2P2 819-429-6145 MegaWatt Hydroculture 636 Route 364 Morin Heights, QC J0R 1H0 450-226-2515 Fleuriste Savard Inc. 1833 boul. Louis-Frechette Nicolet, QC J3T 1M4 819-293-5933 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 échologik 798 St Jean Québec, QC G1R 1P9 418-648-2828; 418-648-8288 Hydroculture Guy Dionne 1990 Cyrill-Duquet Local 150 Québec, QC G1N 4K8 418-681-4643 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 Qué-Pousse - St-Constant 6264 Route 132 Ste-Catherine, QC J0L 1E0 450-635-4881 Benoit Dupuis Extincteurs Inc. 2503 Victoria Street

COMING UP NEXT ISSUE

Ste-Julienne, QC J0K 2T0 450-831-4240 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 ----------------------------------------------

Winterizing Your Growroom

P.P.M. Hydroponique 504 Rue du Parc St. Eustache, QC J7R 5B2 450-491-2444 ----------------------------------------------

For a lot of growers, winter is considered the prime indoor growing season since cooler weather allows for enhanced environmental control from the grower’s standpoint. In residential growrooms, adding heat is a lot easier than trying to subtract it. Get your growroom ready for winter with these easy tips and tricks.

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

Maximum Yield Canada | September/October 2013

Buying on a Budget From lights and ventilation to food, grow media, reflection and enclosures, hydroponic expert and enthusiast Casey Jones Fraser breaks down how to set up an affordable indoor garden and provides lists of required materials and estimated cost requirements for each item.

Reducing Cross Contamination Want healthy, hardy plants? First you will need to aim for a clean, tidy, well-maintained growing space void of cross contamination. It sounds simple enough in theory, but the realities can be much more demanding. It all starts with a routine that fits into your schedule.

PLUS: Hydroponic news, tips and trivia, hot new products, exclusive giveaways and more!

www.maximumyield.com Maximum Yield November/December will be available soon 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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