MY_CAN_JulAug2010

July/August 2010 MAXIMUM YIELD CANADA

CANADA July - August 2010

I N D O O R

G A R D E N I N G

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YOUR PLANTS’ SILENT PARTNER

YIELD OF DREAMS

An Optimal External Environment for Accelerated Crop Growth www.maximumyield.com

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long beach

Indoor gardenING expo

california, usa

october 16-17 indoorgardeningexpo.com

SAN FRancisco California, USA

july 24-25

contents July / August 2010

42 Features 26

How Compost Tea Works

34

How to Make a Hydroponic Bog Garden

38

Add a Little (Coir) Fibre to Your Plant’s Diet

42

Hairy Root Tissue Culture and the Future of Horticulture

48

Incredible, Edible Flowers

50

Yield of Dreams: An Optimal External Environment for Accelerated Crop Growth

by Dr. Carole Ann Rollins and Dr. Elaine Ingham

by Chris White

by Charlotte Bradley

by Peter Vakomies

by Erik Biksa

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50

The Benefits of Growing Your Own Aloe Vera

by Matt LeBannister

60

Wonderful Watercolours: ‘Tis the Season for Beautiful, Blooming Orchids

by Jack Van Camp

Departments 6 8 10 12 14 20

From the Editor MaximumYield.com Letters to the Editor Ask Erik MAX Facts Product Spotlight

58 64 66 70 74 74

You Tell Us Talking Shop Max Mart Distributors Do You Know?

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Coming up next issue

Maximum Yield Canada | July / August 2010

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FROM the editor Modern gardening practices are advancing faster than we can keep up and with summer finally making its debut, it’s nice to know that many of the new and old gardening techniques mesh nicely to produce a marvelous summer crop. This issue we explore a nice mix of new and old technologies starting with one of the simplest of techniques—composting. It’s an easy and inexpensive way to boost your crop’s nutrition, and can dramatically improve colour and growth. A hydroponic bog garden is another option that once set up is easy to maintain and provides the ideal environment for growing difficult crops. Mix that with LEDs, substrates and root tissue culture and you have the tools for a successful grow!

Please help us in welcoming Simon Hart, Greenstar’s Organic Mechanic™ as our new resident expert. Simon will be available to answer your questions about indoor gardening, hydroponics, environmental alternatives or any other relatable topics. Send your questions to Simon@maximumyield.com and watch for his reply in the upcoming Simon Says column.

We welcome you all to attend our upcoming 7th Annual San Francisco Indoor Gardening Expo held this July 24-25, 2010. Sunday, July 25th is open to the public to learn, network and explore the new and unique ways to improve your garden. Check out page 68 in this issue or go to indoorgardenexpo.com for times, directions and more. See you at the show and be sure to stop by the Maximum Yield booth and say hello.

Jessica Raymond, Editor editor@maximumyield.com

Maximum Yield Now on Your Smartphone!

Connect to MaximumYield.com instantly from your Smartphone with our all-new Quick Response (QR) Code, found on the cover of every issue of Industry News and Maximum Yield. Now you can access the best products, the most in-depth articles and information and the latest news, at high speeds. Simply download your choice of QR software to your Smartphone, scan the QR Code and your phone’s browser will automatically launch, redirecting you to www.maximumyield.com. It’s that simple!

contributors Erik Biksa holds a diploma in

agriculture with majors in fertilizer sciences and crop production. Erik has amassed over 18 years of indoor gardening experience and intensive research. Since first appearing in Maximum Yield in 1999, the “Ask Erik” column and numerous articles have reached growers throughout the world.

Dr. Carole Ann Rollins co-owns Nature Technologies International LLC, producers of organic alternatives.

She co-authored Adding Biology for Soil and Hydroponic Systems and has compiled and edited The Field Guide I and II for Actively Aerated Compost Tea. Contact 1-415-898-5895, naturetech@earthlink.net, www.nature-technologies.com

Jack Van Camp has been working

Peter Vakomies, BSc, has 17 years of experience in silviculture, vegetable growing and horticulture. He studied photosynthesis in nursery and field settings at Simon Fraser University. Living and working in British Columbia, Canada, Peter participated in growing over 550 million tree seedlings for reforestation programs.

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

Dr. Elaine Ingham is president of Soil Foodweb Inc., an international laboratory system that assesses beneficial balance in materials. The major emphasis of her work is to return health to soil, so that natural nutrient cycling and disease suppression mechanisms are present. Contact 1-541-752-5066, info@soilfoodweb. com, www.soilfoodweb.com

for Homegrown Hydroponics, the manufacturer of the nutrient line DNF, for 18 years. He has years of hands-on hydroponic gardening experience and will answer all of your questions through the Homegrown Hydroponics website at www.hydroponics.com He loves to share his knowledge with eager gardeners both locally and around the world.

Become a Maximum Yield contributor and have your articles read by 250,000 readers throughout USA, Canada, UK 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.

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Maximum Yield Canada | July / August 2010

on the web Simon Says Get Growing Connect with Maximum Yield’s new resident expert Simon Hart by clicking on the Simon Says button on maximumyield.com. Submit your growing questions instantly and watch for his reply in the upcoming Simon Says column.

I N D O O R

G A R D E N I N G

VOLUME 13 – NUMBER 2 July/August 2010 Maximum Yield is published bi-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

What’s going on?

If you plan on travelling to just one destination this year, head to California, USA for one of two major events planned for the indoor gardening industry. Join us in San Francisco, CA July 24-25 for 7th Annual Indoor Gardening Expo, aka the biggest expo on the planet, stop in Long Beach, CA October 16-17 or better yet, attend both. Visit www.indoorgardeningexpo.com for full event details.

Get in the Know Are you a subscriber to Maximum Yield’s E-News? You should be, and here’s why: Every month, Maximum Yield mails out our free newsletter full of the latest news, grow tips, upcoming events and more. Enter at http://maximumyield.com/newsletter.php today and get in the know.

Win Big! Grow big!

We’re thrilled to announce a new giveaway to win gear to help you grow.

Full prize details are available at www.maximumyield.com/winbig To be chosen as one of four lucky winners, enter by August 15, 2010 before midnight.

Connect with www.maximumyield.com Maximum Yield www.facebook.com/MaximumYield www.indoorgardeningexpo.com

Tell us what you think at editor@maximumyield.com. We’d love to hear from you.

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Maximum Yield Canada | July / August 2010

PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER - Jim Jesson GENERAL MANAGER - Don Moores BUSINESS MANAGER - Linda Jesson SALES DIRECTOR - Lisa Lambersek EDITOR - Jessica Raymond jessica@maximumyield.com ADVERTISING SALES 250.729.2677 Linda Jesson - linda@maximumyield.com Lisa Lambersek - lisa@maximumyield.com Ilona Hawser - ilona@maximumyield.com Gaby Morin - gaby@maximumyield.com Ashley Heppell - ashley@maximumyield.com PRODUCTION & DESIGN ads@ads.maximumyield.com Alice Joe - alice@maximumyield.com Wes Cargill - wes@maximumyield.com Daniel Peters - daniel@maximumyield.com ACCOUNTING - Lee Anne Veres leeanne@maximumyield.com

CANADIAN DISTRIBUTION Brite-Lite Group Biofloral Eddis Wholesale Greenstar Plant Products Inc. Hydrotek MegaWatt Quality Wholesale USA DISTRIBUTION Aurora Innovations BWGS BWGS East BWGS West General Hydroponics Hydrofarm Hydro International National Garden Wholesale / Sunlight Supply R&M Supply Tradewinds UK DISTRIBUTION Growth Technology Hydrogarden Northern Hydroponic Wholesale Nutriculture UK AUSTRALIAN DISTRIBUTION Futchatec Growth Technology Hydraspher

LETTERS to the editor Online Education

LED Fever

I have recently gotten into the habit of visiting your website and checking out the online tips included with the articles each month. I find them to be very practical and useful. My favourites this month were the history of organics and information on humic acids and how to treat micro-pores contained in grow rocks. I’m certainly not opposed to learning from those that have come before me and adapting their ideas for use with my own devices. Awesome stuff.

I really liked the last issue of Maximum Yield Canada and the article that Erik Biksa wrote, “Next Generation LEDs.” I was disappointed though that I could not find the approximate cost or where to find these new, spectacular LED light systems. Much appreciated and keep on printing great articles.

Jeffrey Casey

Thanks Addison Pierce

Where’s Maximum Yield?

Where do I find a list of retailers who carry the Maximum Yield magazine? I’m especially interested in those stores in the Montréal area.

Lori Whiston Every issue of Maximum Yield lists contact information and locations of indoor gardening retail stores across Canada that distribute our magazine. Simply flip to the back of the magazine to locate a store, and hurry to the nearest location to pick up Maximum Yield for free! If your favourite grow shop doesn’t carry it, have them call us (1-250-729-2677) to start distributing today.

A Local Point of View I appreciate that Maximum Yield encourages the support of local business with the Talking Shop feature. More often than not, these are family owned and operated shops and they need more consumer support than they can afford to entice with expensive advertising.You provide them with the opportunity to efficiently introduce themselves to the market. The “At a Glance” bar is quite effective as well, providing contact information and directing readers to web stores (if applicable).

Keep it up Peter Cowan

I recently read your article on LEDs about how under the right circumstances "...LEDs may cause an explosion in the number of people who grow at home." My question is, how do you choose which manufacturer makes quality LEDs? Ricardo Tapia I want to thank Erik Biksa for a great article in the latest addition about next generation LEDs. Truly a great read.

Mike Kitson I read Erik’s review on LED lights and I’m really thinking about going (and growing) in that direction. I’ve searched the web looking for research to supplement the information presented. Could you please tell me what brand of LED those are? Are the frames of the light colour coated: red for flowering and blue for veg? Thanks guys and good job on the zine.

Derek Buyers need to be very careful when making their choice, as some units simply don't perform up to the claims. Growers can't expect an inexpensive, generic LED crop light to work as well as the next, as their are major differences including type and number of diodes/ chips, wattage of diodes, peak wavelengths, ratios of the individual diodes, driver output, etc.

It pays to do the research, and it is my hope that this article will allow people to ask the right types of questions when making their decision on which type of LED to get for their garden, and to better understand what makes one LED work better for their plants than another.

Cheers, Erik Biksa

Sustainable Hydroponics I doubt many disagree with the environmental benefits of converting to organics in their approach to growing and living. But how do we merge these very two different two growing styles? Advancements are being made in the study of “organiponics” with experimental projects producing real results in Montréal, Canada and around the world. It’s inspiring, and although I’m no scientist, I am a grower, and I say it can be done.

Wendy Lee 10

Maximum Yield Canada | July / August 2010

Maximum Yield reserves the right to edit for brevity.

We want to hear from you!

Write us at: Maximum Yield Publications Inc. 2339A Delinea Place, Nanaimo, BC V9T 5L9 or Email us at: editor@maximumyield.com

ASK erik My hydroponic tomato plants are up over 1.5 metres tall. How can I stop them from going higher? The norm is 1.2 metres outdoors and I can’t move the light up any higher as the plants are not on the floor.

Roy Thornton

The final vertical height of your crop will have a lot to do with genetics (genotype) of the crop. Some varieties are better suited to growing indoors under lights than others. As you have stated, using the same genetics indoors the plants have become taller versus the same variety you grew outdoors. What you are witnessing is the plant’s genetic make-up (genotype) being influenced by the physical environment to create a different physical expression of the same genes. This is often referred to as the phenotype; the physical expression of the genes as dictated by environment.

Tomatoes are often classified as “determinate” or “indeterminate” varieties. Determinate means they will get to a certain height and mature, while “indeterminate” varieties will continue to grow upwards until they run out of room or as long as the climate allows for.

Indoors, plants may not have to work as hard in some areas, like water and nutrient absorption, while they may have to worker harder in others, such as capturing solar energy from the lighting levels provided by artificial light sources. With this increased level of water and nutrient availability, but less “sun,” the plants are searching for light, fuelled by abundant nutrients; ultimately creating more of a “stretch” in their growth pattern.

If you are running out of room before the plants hit the lights, you can bend, train and even prune the branches and vines back. A trellis support system or 15 square centimetre grid screens can be suspended and secured at the top of the crop canopy.You may have some luck training the branches and vines to grow along more horizontally rather than vertically in the trellis netting, reducing the overall height of the crop. Once the grid is filled, and fruits or flowers have formed, you may choose to remove the main growing point of the tomato plants, so they can concentrate their energy into the fruits and flowers rather than growth.

Most growers find that having more and stronger sources of “blue” light in their artificial light sources helps to keep internodal distances tighter. Lower humidity levels (40 to 50 per cent relative humidity) and more even light to dark cycle temperatures will also promote closer, squatter growth habits in your crop.

An abundance of nitrogen or not in the correct ratio with potassium will encourage more elongated and softer growth in plants, often making them more susceptible to insects and diseases.

Plants produce naturally occurring growth hormones 1) d 2) a, b, c, d 3) To keep aerobic conditions called “cytokinins” that help make them stockier and in the rootzone by creating as much oxygen as bushier. There are also naturally occurring soil bacteria possible with the airstone; preventing anaerobic that help to release these hormones to plants. Some great activity that causes root rot 4) Because they don’t 100 per cent organic bloom stimulants are available that restrict air movement and air circulation in the will help to supplement these levels, resulting in tighter growing environment which is important in hot and bushier plants for growing under lights.You can weather with increased plant respiration 5) a 6) b also inoculate the growing medium and root system with bacterial inoculants designed for use with Maximum Yield and Erik Biksa wish to thank you for your hydroponics gardens. faithful readership of "Check your Growing IQ" these past few

ANSWERS: May/June quiz

Good luck and good growing to you.

Cheers, Erik Biksa

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Maximum Yield Canada | July / August 2010

MY

A

years. We will no longer be running this special feature in the pages of Maximum Yield, however, the fun won't stop here.

Stay tuned to future editions of Maximum Yield where we will feature fun hydroponic trivia for all levels of growers.

MAX facts

Hydroponic news, tips and trivia from around the world

Rot is Hot: The Dirt on Biodegradable Plant Pots The demand for more eco-friendly products has led to the development of biodegradable containers meant specifically for the greenhouse and gardening industry. These new sustainable containers are great for growing in, they biodegrade after they’ve served their purpose and, because they decompose, therefore bypassing the landfill, they enrich your garden soil.

Coir fibre pots may be the least attractive but their permeability is great for increasing vital airflow around roots. Rice pots are the most durable and esthetically pleasing. They’re smooth, shiny and earth-toned. They are, however, rather brittle and prone to cracking. Wheat pots are much more pliable than rice ones, which makes them less susceptible to cracking, but they are also less esthetically pleasing.

Wheat pots also biodegrade more rapidly than pots made from rice or coir.

Be aware that wheat versions are destined for the compost as soon as you remove the transplants.

(Source: www.edmontonjournal.com)

The Farmers’ Market Shopping List Eating well means paying attention to what you buy and when; this includes buying locally and organically as often as possible. Now we’re adding one more element to the mix: eating seasonally. Seasonal foods are the most flavour-abundant with the highest nutritional value, plus they are more affordable. Knowing what produce to purchase this summer will ensure you get the freshest food for the best price.

The Farmers’ Market Shopping list outlines which fruits and veggies are ripe and ready for picking or shopping at your local produce stand this summer.

July: beets, celery, gooseberries, peppers, raspberries, tomatoes, apricots, blueberries, carrots, peaches, plums, zucchini, corn, garlic, potatoes. August: pears, eggplant, grapes, parsnips, leeks, nectarines, squash.

(Source: www.greenlivingonline.com)

Asexual Plant Reproduction May Seed New Approach for Agriculture Farmers throughout the world spend an estimated $36 billion a year to buy seeds for crops, especially those with sought after traits such as hardiness and pest-resistance. They can't grow these seeds themselves because the very act of sexual reproduction erases many of those carefully selected traits.

Scientists are close to turning sexually-reproducing plants into asexual reproducers. The findings raise the possibility that many plants have the ability to reproduce through apomixis, a specific type of asexual reproduction, but that potential is suppressed by Argonaute 9, a large family of proteins that has gained widespread attention among researchers because they control which gene products a cell makes.

Scientists are still working toward creating a fully asexual Arabidopsis plant.

Current mutants do not develop completely asexual seeds. But highlighting the role of Argonaute 9 in plant reproduction increases the slew of agricultural possibilities.

(Source: www.sciencedaily.com)

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Maximum Yield Canada | July / August 2010

MAX facts

Hydroponic news, tips and trivia from around the world

Growing an Urban Revolution

Technaflora, Bound to Cover More Ground

Ward Teulon, also known as City FarmBoy on his website, is a 45-year-old former agrologist who has put his farming skills to work in the middle of some of Vancouver's densest neighbourhoods.

He produces $30,000 worth of vegetables, herbs and fruit a year on 8,000 square feet of land in garden plots around the city. He has 65 raised beds on top of the Freesia condo tower on Seymour Street, along with gardens that he farms in 13 other single-family yards near his house.

Out of those 8,000 square-feet, about a fifth of an acre, he grew about 50 crops last year in multiple rotations including carrots, rhubarb, grape vines, herbs, potatoes and garlic. The rule of thumb in the urban-ag world is that one person can comfortably farm 2.5 acres, which is enough to provide 100 people with fresh produce.

Technaflora has released a new poster. This unique artwork titled “Technaflora, bound to cover more ground” has been specifically created for Technaflora by the renowned commercial artist Guy Burwell. Mr. Burwell is not only known for his posters, which are collected around the world, he also designs album covers and commercial content for a variety of companies. The new posters will soon be available at retail stores and will be distributed during the Technaflora East Coast Tour. Keep your eyes open, these posters will be hitting the road soon. Visit www.technaflora.com for more information. To view Guy’s portfolio visit www.guyburwell.com

(Source: www.theglobeandmail.com)

Houseplants Cut Indoor Ozone Indoor air pollution has been ranked as one of the world's greatest public health risks and people in industrialized countries spending as much of 90 per cent of their time indoors. Researchers are investigating alternatives— including the use of common houseplants—to eliminate or reduce ozone concentrations and improve indoor air quality and health. Scientists chose three common houseplants— snake plant, spider plant and golden pothos—to determine their effectiveness in reducing ozone concentrations in a simulated indoor environment.

Researchers set up chambers in a greenhouse equipped with a charcoal filtration air supply system in which ozone concentrations could be measured and regulated.

Ozone was then injected into the chambers, and the chambers were checked every five to six minutes.

The data revealed that ozone depletion rates were higher in the chambers that contained plants than in the control chambers without plants.

Using plants as a mitigation method could serve as a cost-effective tool in the developing world where expensive pollution mitigation technology may not be economically feasible.

(Source: www.sciencedaily.com)

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Maximum Yield Canada | July / August 2010

MAX facts

Hydroponic news, tips and trivia from around the world

2nd Annual Global Solar Day This year’s global event—in recognition and celebration of solar energy, sustainability, energy independence and protection of our planet—was held June 19, 2010. Events throughout the U.S. and Canada publicized renewable energy programs and provided information to the public. The objective was to drive awareness of the many benefits of solar power and the financial incentives for residential and commercial consumers.

SolarDay offers cities information to create local SolarDay events at no cost. Non-profits are also provided complimentary assistance to plan their events. SolarDay 2010 provided useful information on energy audits, solar rebates and links to informative government websites related to energy conservation.

(Source: www.solarday.com)

Organics Growing Big and Small ______________ Organic agriculture is growing in two distinct directions in Canada—within the confines of the small family farm or community shared farm, and within the domain of big corporate farming.

The differences between these two worlds were discussed at the 29th annual Guelph Organic Conference. What began as a student seminar in 1982 has become one of the largest organic food gatherings of its kind in North America.

The Canada Organic Office of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency provided information on a host of issues, including the new Organic Products Regulation, brought in last year to regulate organic certification in Canada for organic products.

Over 30 workshops at the conference were designed for two distinct audiences—the larger scale farming sector and the small growers, producers and purveyors of organic products.

(Source: http://news.guelphmercury.com)

Longer-Lasting Flowers: Fresh Ideas from Researchers Tomorrow's fragrant bouquets and colourful potted plants might last longer, thanks to floriculture research that may help boost their vase life.

In ongoing studies, researchers have shown that spraying low concentrations of a compound known as thidiazuron (TDZ) has significant, sometimes spectacular effects in extending the life of potted plants' leaves and flowers. In tests with greenhouse-grown Cyclamen plants, TDZ-treated plants had a significantly longer life than did unsprayed plants.

Preliminary studies with cut flowers were the first to demonstrate the value of TDZ for a commercial floricultural species. The Cyclamen experiments are the first to show the leaf-saving and blossom-boosting effects of TDZ with potted floricultural plants.

Though commercial use of TDZ on cut flowers and potted plants seems promising, the researchers' deeper interest lies in determining precisely how TDZ affects genes and proteins inside the plants.

(Source: www.ars.usda.gov)

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Maximum Yield Canada | July / August 2010

PRODUCT spotlight

See it. Want it. Find it at your local indoor gardening store.

Ancient Forest from General Organics Now Available ________________________

General Organics Ancient Forest is a natural soil amendment consisting of 100 per cent pure forest humus.

Derived from thousands of years of naturally decomposed forest litter, it contains a wide spectrum of organic compounds. Its high diversity of micro-organisms, including more than 35,000 species of bacteria and over 5,000 species of fungi, make Ancient Forest an ideal amendment for gardening and potting soils. This amendment also aids in the retention of water and nutrients, creating stable, long lasting soil for your garden. Ancient Forest’s immense biological activity also makes it the ideal inoculum for actively aerated compost teas. Ask for it now at an indoor gardening shop.

Plant Marvel Bloom Special 3-15-26

If flexibility is what you’re looking for you have found the right product. Plant Marvel Bloom Special 3-1526 is created with the finest quality ingredients. Bloom Special 3-15-26 is completely soluble and can be used in hydroponic reservoirs as well as drip lines and drench irrigation methods to meet your growing needs. This nutrient works extremely well for transitioning plants to their flowering cycle by using 11 high quality elements with increased iron and molybdenum. Bloom Special is completely compatible with other applied products and contains no excess salts or chlorine to damage roots or foliage and is specially formulated for safe, effective, simultaneous release of all nutrients in the proper amounts. Visit an indoor gardening shop to learn more.

Boost Your Plant’s Immunity with Nutrifield® Herbal Boost

Herbal Boost is an organic growth stimulant that boosts your plant’s immune system against insect infestation. It is sourced from the roots of an ancient Chinese tree root called Sophora. It has long been used in Chinese natural medicine and is a product of many years of research in Chinese medicine and its applications in today’s society.

Detailed research has shown that the product works by stimulating a plant’s phytoalexin production. Phytoalexins are antibiotics that are produced by plants that are under attack. When produced they act as toxins towards the attacking organism. Not only will Herbal Boost strengthen your plant’s immune system, it will invigorate your plants by producing strong healthy roots and green lush foliage. Herbal Boost will become inactive when used with products with high alkalinity.

For more information about Herbal Boost, please visit your favourite indoor gardening store.

Simple and Effective – Nutriculture Gro Tanks Announcing Atami Wilma 9

Riding on the incredible success of the Wilma Grow System, we are pleased to announce the arrival of the Wilma 9.

Features: • bigger plant spacing allows you to grow big • 18 litre pots for increased root mass • 1.2 metre system fits the Wilma tent perfectly Why use a Wilma?

• effortless set-up and automatic feeding saves hours of work • excellent drainage no matter which medium is used • easy pump access for maintenance and monitoring of nutrient solution • high quality pots are the ideal size and reusable • self-contained system greatly reduces chance of leakage • comes with a selection of drippers suitable for any medium Success guaranteed! Visit your local hydro retailer to learn more.

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Maximum Yield Canada | July / August 2010

In a Nutriculture NFT Gro Tank the nutrient solution is contained. Your plants sit on a tray above the tank and nutrient solution flows over the roots of your plants. Unused nutrient solution drains back into the tank to be re-used.

Why choose Nutriculture NFT systems?

• faster growth rates and four times the yields achieved with traditional soil methods • no complicated delivery systems, no feeding schedules to calculate, very little maintenance involved • harvest sooner and get more crops per year • no waste runoff in re-circulating hydroponic systems • no chance of over or under watering • clean and minimum waste produce—no heavy bags of medium to carry around • reduced chance of disease and reduced use of pesticides For more information visit your favourite hydro retail shop.

Ocean Mist by Nutrifield® Ocean Mist is a unique, natural blend formulated to achieve optimal plant growth. Ocean Mist may increase the thickness of the plant’s cell walls. The added advantage of Ocean Mist is you can regularly apply this formula, without the risk of an overdose. This unique mixture helps enzymes participate in cell metabolism and increases the production of carbohydrates (brix levels) to improve yields and reduce fruit rot. It is ideal for relieving plants affected by stress and provides natural chelation. Plus it’s an excellent stimulant for micro-organism activity. *Note: When adding Ocean Mist to your hydroponic system ensure you drop your EC by 0.4 to 0.6. For more information, please visit a hydroponics shop.

Fire Bad. Chameleon Good!

Defective cords can cause electrical overheating and major property damage, which is why Chameleon Cable Clips and Wraps are absolutely essential for every household. Designed to make it easy to identify overheating cord sets without touching the wire, these ingenious safety tools can be used on any flexible indoor electrical cord. When wrapped around or clipped onto the plug end of an electrical cord, they change colour from green to orange when they reach 43°C. It’s a simple but potentially lifesaving technology that anyone with electronics in their home will appreciate! Includes two cord wraps and four clips. Now available at grow shops and garden centres in Canada.

The New Ultrametre II

by Myron L Company

The Ultrametre II still delivers the most accurate dissolved solids measurements of any instrumentation and the greatest degree of accuracy available for pH, ORP and temperature measurements, but has been redesigned to include an LSI/hardness calculator, free chlorine measurements and Bluetooth® data transfer.

The hardness calculator is an analyzer that generates a Langelier Saturation Index value useful in determining how to modify hardness, pH or alkalinity to achieve balanced water.

The user can accept inferred LSI calculations or input known values for pH, hardness or alkalinity to allow the calculator to determine the LSI value precisely. The user can also select from grains and ppm hardness units within the calculator.

ORP readings can be displayed as mV or ppm free chlorine. This new feature allows the Ultrametre II to measure a dynamic range of sanitizer concentrations wider than that of a colorimetric test kit.

For more information, please contact your local indoor gardening product retailer.

Maximum Yield Canada | July / August 2010

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PRODUCT spotlight

See it. Want it. Find it at your local indoor gardening store.

RootMaker® Root Pruning Containers RootMaker® Root Pruning Containers are essential and functional root production tools that assist with the plant’s growing cycle. They create fibrous, non-circling root systems, horizontally and vertically, at all phases of production to equip plants for transplanting and growing success. Our products are designed to promote root branching and new roots at every phase of production, whether above ground, in ground or in pots. The result is a root system that has a greater surface area and, therefore, absorbs water and nutrients more efficiently resulting in an increase in growth rate, establishment, transplant survivability and ultimately, superior performance for your prized plants.

Order RootMaker® Root Pruning Containers from your favourite indoor gardening retailer and while you’re there make sure to check out the entire RootMaker® product line, which includes: RootMaker, RootBuilder II, Root Trapper Soft-Sided Containers and Propagation Trays.

New STG Hail Packs a Wallop

Sure To Grow’s latest and greatest Hail Mini Cubes are making a huge impression on growers. Hail was designed to offer growers a lightweight, clean alternative to hydroton and other granulates. This is STG’s first product to come in a bag and is a hit with growers because it addresses the biggest issues growers have with hydroton; the prewashing needed and the weight. Hail is ready-to-use out of the bag and needs no cleaning or prep. Being pH neutral makes STG ideal for new growers. Most important, a bag of Hail will fill the same amount of pots as a 23 kilogram bag of hydroton, but weighs only 340 grams. The changing market affords STG a great opportunity to bring new, value added, eco-friendly media option to growers looking for a change. Visit your nearest hydroponics retailer to order the new STG Hail Mini Cubes.

Plant Marvel All Purpose 20–20–20

Nutriculture General Purpose 2020-20 provides over 60 per cent nutrient value in a 1-1-1 ratio making it excellent for use in a wide variety of growing situations.

Nutriculture performs excellent on containerized stock in the nursery industry and for greenhouse crops such as foliage and bedding plants. For institutional and general landscape maintenance, it is ideal because it works well on turf, trees and shrubs as well as blooming plants and can be used as a single all-purpose spray feed. With Nutriculture you capture NPK and trace elements all in one mix. Visit your nearest indoor gardening retailer to learn more.

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Maximum Yield Canada | July / August 2010

Penetrator LED Grow Lights from Hydro Grow LED

Hydro Grow has fixed all of the conventional problems our competitors are still experiencing with LEDs. The spectral outputs from our Penetrator LED Grow Lights match all four chlorophyll absorption peaks required for photosynthesis, guaranteeing the highest possible conversion rate from electrical energy to plant energy, with little to no energy wasted. Our products deliver this light more efficiently to your plants vs. any of our competitors, by using a unique 60° lens. Our lens distributes light at four times the intensity of their 120° lens, which enables full penetration comparable to HID. Without full penetration the rate of light absorption is much weaker, resulting in slower growth rates and lower yields. Independent grow tests have proven our LED Grow Lights to be at least 60 per cent more efficient when compared with HIDs, and up to 70 per cent more efficient than our competitors’ LEDs. Experience for yourself the world’s most efficient horticultural grow light! Available now at your local indoor gardening store.

Powersun Open Ballast

The Powersun copper coil open ballasts from Flora Corp are now available.

The open concept ballasts are the coolest running ballasts out there. The Powersun can run on 120 or 240 volts.

120 volt power cord is included (240 volt is available). All Powersun Open Ballasts come with detachable lamp and power cords for ease-of-use and set-up. Ask for the Powersun Open Ballast at your local hydro retail shop.

PRODUCT spotlight

See it. Want it. Find it at your local indoor gardening store.

Nutrifield® pH Up and Down _______________________________________

pH Up and pH Down are tank controllers that will adjust your solution to the desired pH (the measure of the acidity or alkalinity of a solution). The pH scale ranges from 1.0 to 14.0. pH 7.0 is considered neutral and is based on pure water.

Solutions with a pH less than 7.0 are considered acidic, while those above 7.0 are considered basic (alkaline). pH affects nutrient uptake for most plants. The optimum pH range for plants is from 5.8 to 6.5. pH Up and Down comes in both concentrated and ready to use (RTU) forms. Available in concentrated sizes: 250 millilitres, one litre and four litres. Available in ready-to-use: 17 ounces, one quart and one gallon. For more information about pH Up and Down please visit your local indoor gardening store.

Grozone Control SCO2 – The Simple One

The Grozone Control SCO2 is the most simple and affordable CO2 monitor on the market. The SCO2, or ‘The Simple One,’ is the newest product in the Grozone Control line of environmental controllers. Known for their exceptional quality and second-to-none return policy, Grozone Control SCO2 doesn’t compromise on quality.

The Simple One features: • 120/240 volt compatibility • feature for high altitude • range of 0 to 5,000 ppm • full no-hassle three year warranty • easy to use and set up The Simple One SCO2 is now available at indoor gardening stores across the country.

Keep Gardens Safer®

Safer® Brand End All Insect Killer is an effective, readyto-use spray that kills 45 different insect species in any stage of life, from egg to adult. It’s effective against 45 different insects including aphids, various beetles (including Japanese beetles), caterpillars and larvae (including gypsy moth caterpillars and tent caterpillars), harlequin bugs, leafhoppers, mealybugs, stink bugs and whiteflies. OMRI®listed Safer® Brand End All can be used up to the day of harvest on ornamentals, trees, shrubs, fruits, vegetables, flowers and houseplants.

Compliant for use in organic gardening, this product dissolves in the soil with no residual! OMRI Listed® and compliant for use in organic gardening, Safer® Brand Garden Dust effectively kills caterpillars, corn earworm, bollworm and more than a dozen other types of worms. Once ingested by the wayward pests, the active ingredient, bacillus thuringiensis, kills them within a few days. Ask for it now at your local grow shop or garden centre.

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Maximum Yield Canada | July / August 2010

Introducing Kronus 1

The Kronus 1 controls temperature and humidity in your grow area at your preferred settings. This controller is designed by the indoor gardening industry for the indoor gardening industry using the highest quality components. Kronus 1 activates an exhaust fan, A/C or dehumidifier if the temperature or humidity exceeds the preferred setting. Easy to understand and use, just plug your exhaust fan or A/C into the exhaust fan output to control your temperature, and plug your dehumidifier into the dehumidify output to keep your humidity in check.

Features: • highlighted grow zones for ease of use • eight metre modular remote temperature and humidity sensor (three and 15 metre cables available) • 15 amps/120 volts/60 hertz • three year warranty To learn more visit your local indoor gardening retailer.

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Do you want to be included in the product spotlight?

Contact the editor at 1-250-279-2677 or email editor@maximumyield.com

by Dr. Carole Ann Rollins and Dr. Elaine Ingham

How Compost Tea Works The Symbiotic Relationship Between Microbes and Plants Leaf, stem, flower, root, seed-surface, soil particles and soilless media are all places where communities of beneficial micro-organism species should live. Each plant selects different sets of species of organisms for different environmental growing conditions.

Alan Magan of Chesapeake Gardens adds biology to his hydroponic system in the form of actively aerated compost tea. “In our greenhouse we planted lettuce and applied compost tea on our soilless mix first, and then we plant lettuce in our greenhouses. Every time we cut the lettuce we spray the beds with compost tea again. In the summer we also did a trial on 250 potted sweet peppers. Using the compost tea made a dramatic improvement in the fruiting colour and growth of the peppers,” Magan said.

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Maximum Yield Canada | July / August 2010

Lettuce growing in greenhouse: Alan Magan of Chesapeake Garden sprays compost tea on his soilless mix first, and then plants lettuce.

(Photo courtesy of Chesapeake Gardens).

Landscape, greenhouse flower and vegetable production: Impressive landscape arrangements were all started in a greenhouse using only biological/organic products, and compost tea.

(Photo courtesy of Nature Technologies International, LLC.).

Maximum Yield Canada  |  July / August 2010

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How Compost Tea Works How does aerated tea work?

The environment in aerated tea is one that selects for the growth of beneficial organisms. Facultative anaerobes, or non-beneficial organisms, do not compete well with true aerobes—beneficial organisms—when conditions are fully aerobic.

Disease organisms are, for the most part, facultative anaerobes that will not be able to compete with the aerobic organisms that thrive and multiply in well-aerated tea, with appropriate added foods for growth.

Hemlock tree recovered: Trees recovered from a very severe adelgid infestation and are now covered with cones.

(Photo courtesy of Chesapeake Gardens).

Greenhouse Flower and Vegetable Production James Cannard, former sustainable director of Mulehead Growers,Vineyard and Land Management, used compost tea in greenhouse production. James used a high quality compost tea and compost/castings mix in his greenhouse and on outdoor plants. “We no longer need to fertilize with 20-20-20 when transplanting or afterwards, and plants take less time to establish. We have no disease or insect problems where we have used the products. We have uniform growth in our flats and don’t lose plants.

Roots are strong and large, with many fine root hairs growing in all directions all the way to the surface. We have achieved spectacular results, while at the same time reducing labour and fertilizer input,” Cannard said.

“We no longer need to fertilize with 20-20-20 when transplanting or afterwards, and plants take less time to establish.”

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How Compost Tea Works

Compost Purity It is important to buy or make proper compost. To produce safe compost tea, use only compost that does not contain E. coli. Ask for E. coli tests when you buy compost and make sure the E. coli counts are extremely low, preferably zero or un-detected. If the temperature in the compost pile has been maintained above 55°C for a full 10 to 15 days, and turned five times during that period (the requirements for making compost approved by organic regulations), no human pathogens will survive. Be careful, however, that no subsequent contamination of the compost occurs. Cases have been documented where good compost was contaminated by being put in a truck that had just carried manure, road-kill deer carcasses or bio-solids from a sewage plant. A case has occurred where a good (E. coli free), finished compost pile was contaminated because a neighbouring farm put a manure pile just up-wind.

Quality of compost teas: Brewer design, temperature, water and the quality of the ingredients used in making compost tea all determine the quality of the resulting liquid.

(Photo courtesy of Nature Technologies International, LLC.).

Aerobic and anaerobic conditions: When air cannot move into the organic material, aerobic organisms are killed, and as oxygen is used up anaerobic organisms grow. (Photo courtesy of Dr. Graham Lancaster, Director Environmental Analysis Lab, Southern Cross University, and Elaine Ingham, PhD.)

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Maximum Yield Canada  |  July / August 2010

How Compost Tea Works

Disease prevention: At 100 per cent and 70 per cent coverage of biology, no disease was observed but in any treatment with less than 70 per cent coverage, the leaves became totally infested with the disease. (Photo courtesy of SARE).

Organism Assessment If you want to know you are getting the full set of organisms in the tea that should have been in the compost you can have your compost tested by a direct microscope assessment of the biology.

(Diagram courtesy of Nature Technologies International LLC.)

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Disease Prevention In a SARE Grant vineyard trial, Dr. Elaine Ingham from the Sustainable Studies Institute reported that mildew and gray mould were prevented for most of the season in a diverse set of vineyards. Spray applications of fungicide were reduced and dropped by 87 per cent when aerated compost tea was applied to the foliage. Applications of tea to the soil were not performed, as this study determined what fungal disease prevention might be possible with foliar applications alone.

In one case, no fungicide was required during the summers of the study, while in the other vineyards, only one or two applications of fungicide were required, and typically just before colour change in the grapes. If proper biology had been applied to the soil to reduce the inoculum levels of mildew and gray mould, application of fungicide would likely have not been required, but documentation of that requires further study.

The Process of Restoration and Regeneration Thus, the way to fix the negatives of chemical-based plant growing systems is to put back the needed beneficial organisms, along with food to feed them, to help the biology survive and grow in the soil or soilless media. When that happens, the plant will be healthier, less diseased, contain more nutrition and will attract fewer pests.

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Maximum Yield Canada  |  July / August 2010

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by Chris White

How to Make a

Hydroponic Bog Garden A bog garden uses the same techniques employed in aquaculture. It is best to use bacteria that are attached to bio-media to clean the highly oxygenated water passing through the alfagrog media. Alfagrog media works well because it has a high surface area and good void capacity. The added bonus to this system is that by placing a gravel bed over the top of the media, it produces an ideal environment for growing those difficult to propagate plants—the moisture loving ones that fail at the first sign of drought.

The bog garden quickly begins to take shape as the aeration system and lining are added to the hole. At this stage, it is important to provide a cushion material before adding the alfagrog. The alfagrog is a highly porous, ceramic filter media that will play host to bacteria helping keep the water clean.

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Maximum Yield Canada  |  July / August 2010

STEPS 1. Dig a hole.The bog garden starts life as a square hole with a level base and square sides.

2. Line the bottom. Once the base is leveled out, it is time to line the bottom of the bog garden with a cushion to stop stones rising up and making holes in the liner.

3. Level the bottom with sand. Add sharp sand coating to level the bottom completely.

4. Cushion the bog.The lining cushion is laid out in sheets and comes right up the side of the bog garden. It has to protect the liner.This is the same liner as would be used in a garden pond.

5. Line the bog.The liner is laid out and pushed all the way to the side of the hole.

6. Add second cushion. Once the liner is in place, it too is lined with cushion in order to protect it from the alfagrog that we will be putting on the top.The solid oak sleepers are put in the tank to separate off the aeration pond and the final settlement pond from the actual bog garden itself.

7. Allow the water to flow out. Realize that since the Oak sleepers are the green untreated oak, small holes routed in the bottom will allow the water to flow through and into the bog garden from the aeration chamber.

8. Add the alfagrog. Having completed the basic design, fill the actual bog garden part with alfagrog.This is a ceramic filter media used in Koi fish ponds to filter the water. It contains a huge amount of surface area in which our bacteria will live and clean up the water.

9. Add water. Completely filled, the centre section of the hydroponic bog garden starts filling it with water and adding the rest of the sleepers around the outside of the system.This size of tank takes around 64 cubic metres of water to fill it to a level just above the alfagrog. Filling it with water allows it to level the alfagrog and ensure that when gravel is added to it that it is all immersed in water.

10. Support the centre section. Full of water and alfagrog and awaiting the gravel to fill the middle.The cross section wood is to stop the center section moving when the gravel is added.

11. Add gravel. Once filled with gravel the water level is raised so that at least a few centimetres of the gravel is under water to provide the plants with moisture.

12. Get ready to aerate.The section of the tank that will receive the water from the bio-tank needs to be aerated. A small compressor provides this aeration via a rubber aerator.The dissolved oxygen level needs to be as high as possible if the bacteria in the alfagrog are going to survive.

13. Put in some plants. Once finished the final touch is to add plants. All of the plants should be moisture loving.

14. Enjoy the bog garden.The water from the bog garden is used to feed ponds and to water the lawns.

TIPS

Hostas, hardy herbaceous perennials grown primarily for their beautiful foliage, are extremely popular.

Alfagrog is made of a highly porous material that contains many thousands of tiny pockets in which bacteria can thrive making it an ideal material for biological filters.

This was a research and development project by Biotank Ltd, a supply company.

MY

The completed bog garden is ready for the addition of plants and to enjoy.

Maximum Yield Canada  |  July / August 2010

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Add a Little (Coir) Fibre to Your Plant’s Diet

by Charlotte Bradley

H More fibre please!

ydroponic gardeners use coir as a growing medium in place of soil. In traditional horticulture, coir is used as a substitute for peat moss.

Coir, another name for coco peat, is simply the fibres removed from the outer shell of a coconut. As it is 100 per cent natural and biodegradable, it is popular with both organic and hydroponic gardeners. The vast majority of coco peat comes from Asia, in particular India and Sri Lanka, but countries in the Caribbean and Mexico also produce coir.

One of the main reasons that coco peat is popular among gardening enthusiasts is that it is resistant to bacterial and fungal growth. An interesting fact about the coco peat that comes from Mexico is that it is populated with a beneficial fungus that acts as a biological control against pathological fungi.

Coco peat has several characteristics that make it popular with both the hydroponic and traditional gardener: • •

• • •

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Maximum Yield Canada | July / August 2010

It retains water and is able to store eight to nine times its weight in water.

It has a pH of 5.2 to 6.8, which makes it potentially acidic.

Hydroponic gardeners should be careful to adjust pH as required when using coco peat.

It is renewable and according to literature can be reused for up to four years.

It stores and releases nutrients for extended periods of time.

Has great oxygenation properties

that assist in root development.

Coco peat typically comes in two formats, loose or compressed.

The compressed form is more common because it is easier to ship and takes up less space. It is typically shipped as bricks that can be broken into smaller pieces and then rehydrated.

In hydroponic systems coco peat is typically mixed at a ratio of

“Coco peat... is 100 per cent natural and biodegradable.”

50/50, with pumice or coarse perlite to provide some drainage.

This type of medium is recommended for intermediate to advanced hydroponic gardeners due to the fact that the saline effect will vary from one brand of coco peat to another. During the hydration stage, the runoff should be checked to see how much dissolved solids are being introduced into the system. MY

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Hairy Root Tissue Culture and the

Future of Horticulture

by Peter Vakomies

Plants are our food; they supply us with fresh air and they heal. Given proper attention, plants will grow like crazy. It is almost mindboggling how many plants exist for our survival and well-being. Of the over 276,000 plant species discovered so far, each has a unique gift that can be used to our benefit.

Since the dawn of agriculture, farmers and horticulturists have developed techniques to maximize these applications. For example, modern maize, corn, is the result of centuries of inbreeding conducted by early Mesoamerican cultures. The huge-husked crops originally evolved from a ragged looking, low-yielding grass called teosinte that was selectively bred into the husked varieties we know today. This is just one example of how humanity has controlled and experimented with plant species.

All of life evolves, including horticulture;

especially horticulture.

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Scientists have been studying plant evolution since 3,000 Ma proving that plants evolve as our planet evolves. In order to survive, corn husks increased in size and developed tolerance to different climates.

Ten thousand years ago, there was no corn—there was just the weedy grass teosinte.

A Microbial Tool for Modern Needs Infecting plant roots, leaves or stems Tissue culture is a modern means of with the genetically engineered A. cultivating and micropropagating plants by rhizogene strains causes the immediate the millions, as genetic clones. It requires growth of new roots on root cells or growth chambers and specialized aseptic makes hairy looking aerial “roots” on conditions, plus growth media found in leaves and shoots. The root tissue that is laboratory settings, often utilizing complex induced this way to grow in a bioreactor apparatus. It is expensive to set up, but very can grow at more than 10 times the cost effective normal rate. to operate.

We can then Most of the tropical plants Tissue culture harvest the grown for many horticultural uses techniques alkaloids and markets start their stocks from that exploit the secondary laboratory cultured clones. abilities of the soil metabolites bacteria called secreted by hairy Agrobacterium roots simply by rhizogenes to transfer the genes of one withdrawing and filtering the growth plant to another, or to modify the genetic medium used to grow the hairy roots expression of plant biomolecules like in. This seems too good to be true, but alkaloids, pigments, sugars, flavonoids and a complex molecule such as a cancerproteins. The A. rhizogenes is a bacterium preventing alkaloid, a pain killer or an found in soil, but many variant strains exist. antidepressant can now be mass They can all infiltrate plant tissues and insert produced, and secreted in their DNA into the plant’s genes, modifying pure form from the the growth of infected cells. roots or leaves The A. rhizogenes used in plant tissue of the actual culture laboratories is an engineered plants that bacterium that can genetically transform make all plant tissues. We can enhance almost them. any characteristic we like by modifying the genes for that trait, just like we did with the development of corn reshuffling its DNA over generations. But now it can be done much more sophisticatedly with A. rhizogenes and our scientific knowledge of life.

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Hairy Root Tissue Culture and the Future of Horticulture Proteins are also harvestable this way—purified enzymes can be reaped in usable forms, fresh from the farm. And in the near future, these will be the kinds of biomolecules that are useful in horticulture as well, such as insecticidal alkaloids, never used before antibiotics and chitinase enzymes. Disinfectant compounds and growth promoting substances can be churned fresh from the plants using a horticultural process that “milks” the hairy roots of their potent secretions. These biomolecules can be reused right back on the crops of the same farm and laboratory.

All of a plant’s DNA can be made into a hairy root factory—every allele or genetic trait can be amplified exactly as we want using Agrobacterium rhizogenes.

With just a small amount of equipment assembled into a bioreactor, we now can produce any plant made biomolecule using the transformed roots of the plant required. Large bioreactors can grow crops of just roots and even whole plants.

Roots transformed by A. rhizogenes are grown without light, but whole plants transformed by hairy root genetic engineering are grown as any crop would require, under ideal conditions with light. As we explore below, aeroponics and recirculating hydroponic grow systems are being used for this very purpose—harvesting plant synthesized biomolecules.

The miracle of this method is that these roots also become modified to secrete increased amounts of the precious alkaloids, flavonoids, pigments, co-factors, vitamins and enzymes that they make. Hairy root bioreactors are able to abundantly overproduce any of the biomolecules that we use for healthy living.

With hairy root tissue culture, even the most complex molecules made in nature can now be harvested in the most ingenious way—by growing or brewing roots in a bioreactor.

We no longer need to consume the natural ecosystems for medicine, or have to grow huge acreages of trees or plants to harvest. Now we can simply grow any of nature’s biomolecular gifts in a huge abundance by transforming the cells of any plant into producing hairy roots.

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Periwinkles, Corkwood and Poppies A great example of the abundance of A. rhizogenes found in nature that yields medicine and simple beauty is the Periwinkle plant, Catharanthus roseus. It has been used since ancient times for its medicinal and aesthetic properties.

Periwinkle makes several medicinal alkaloids when cultured using hairy root techniques. These include vinblastine used to treat lymphomas, and vincristine used as an antineoplastic agent to treat other cancers. Ajmalicine and serpentine are two other valuable alkaloids used to control blood pressure found in C. roseus. Hairy root tissue culture from Periwinkle also yields catharanthine and vindolin in increased amounts, and these are precursors to other classes of alkaloids (see figure on page 46). A cascade of precious medicinal molecules comes from a culture of Periwinkle hairy roots.

Although alkaloid-rich plants are dangerous to consume and handle, some alkaloids are able to treat many health conditions. In many cases it is safer to consume highly purified plant medicine instead of ingesting the whole plant, as the plant has mixtures of toxic and healing alkaloids.

Scopolamine is another very valuable medicinal tropane-type of alkaloid made by certain poisonous plants that can be grown by hairy root culture. Scopolamine is used in minute doses to assist during surgery. It is also popularly used in motion sickness

Agrobacterium rhizogenes lab.

Disposable bioreactor for hairy root culture in darkness.

patches, and since 2007 has shown promise as a potent, rapidacting antidepressant with negligible side effects, essentially working overnight as a mood stabilizer.

At the National Research Council of Canada - Plant Biotechnology Institute, scientists are working on a program called Plant Products for Health and Wellness. This includes work with Prairie Carnations or Saponaria vaccaria, famous

in Chinese medicine to treat menstrual irregularities, some cancers and breast infections. In addition to medicinal phenolics and saponins, the Prairie Carnation makes medicine called cyclic peptides that are another impossibly complex molecular structure to synthesize in the lab. However, the use of hairy root culture allows us to harvest even this type of medicine used to control blood pressure, in highly pure amounts.

Plants also synthesize a class of complex shaped alkaloids called benzoisoquinolines.

These molecules are some of humanities most relied upon alkaloids. They eliminate pain, and act as muscle relaxants, antibiotics and gout suppressants.

The poppy plant (Papaver somniferum) makes drugs like morphine, codeine, sanguinarine and colchicine—precious molecules needed all Hairy roots of Henbane make scopolamine - a new and promising, fast acting antidepressant. over the world.

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Hairy Root Tissue Culture and the Future of Horticulture The Future Although the bioreactor is not standard horticultural equipment, designed a few ways. One variation is to grow whole plants we do already use similar concepts and equipment for running on aeroponic tables or hydroponic NFT tables with their roots greenhouses and growth chambers. We will soon adapt secreting alkaloids into the runoff. Aeroponic systems have been hydroponic systems to used to grow plants that extract the secondary have been transformed CLASS 1 metabolites secreted

by A. rhizogenes, and Dehydroby the plants being with specially adapted Stirctosidine Ajmalicine geissoschizine grown so that they are root misting systems the N common equipment in alkaloids secreted into the H N N greenhouse operations. run-off fertigation water Preakuammicine H H N A crude parallel can be filtered, and purified CH CH OH H Ajmalicine H MeO C example to a from a more highlyO MeO C Stemmadenine Stemmadenine bioreactor might be a concentrated runoff.

Akuammicine compost tea brewer, In a second design N but this system is style, bioreactors can be N Vallesamine H very rough and dirty. made cheaply now, using C CH N With compost teas we moulded plastics. Some N H CO Me H CH have to control pH, components are disposable Apparicine Akuammicine Apparicine temperature, prevent and recyclable. There are contamination and companies selling single-use, CLASS 2 maintain adequate disposable bioreactors that N Dehydrosecodine aeration, just as with utilize double polyethylene Dehydrosecodien and hairy root culture. bags to contain the hairy similar compounds N But with compost root tissue, and use semiCO Me H tea bioreactors it is permeable membranes to the microbial crop isolate the reactor volume that is the product into separate chambers. This CLASS 5 CLASS 3 to “harvest,” and essentially resembles the set Catharanthine N Tabersonine there is no complex up of an ebb and flow table N processing or used in hydroponics, but it H H N N H filtration required rocks back and forth and Vindoline H CO Me COOCH when harvesting the the crop grows suspended Tabersonine crop of beneficial inside a liquid medium bacteria from within a two-chambered 5 classes of Indole alkaloids compost tea. bag, similar in size to a The biogenetic classification of monoterpenoid indole alkaloids. The dashed Hairy root tissue loosely filled water bed. arrows show postulated biosynthetic steps where enzymes haven’t been culture requires a The double bag bioreactor characterized. Enzymatic steps have been identified in the case of solid harvest system that is laid flat on a table and arrows. The classification and the biosynthetic routes have been recreated can extract molecular agitated by rocking back based on descriptions from various sources [78, 79, 81-83.] Class 4 is not sized particles from and forth. The table can included in this figure because it is irrelevant to this article. the growing medium. be designed as a heater Sometimes this to maintain the optimal closed growing system is called “hydroponic biopharming.” temperature for the liquid volume in the bag. The bag reactor is This is accomplished by using special polymers that adsorb supplied with oxygen and nutrient solution by tubes attached to the alkaloids very selectively from the recirculating nutrient the bag, and the gasses and run-off nutrient are withdrawn the solution pulling only the desired products out of solution. The same way. This kind of system may not require lighting as some polymer resins are used routinely in chromatography to separate hairy root cultures just grow root tissue, but if light is required to complex mixtures of molecules in solution, and can achieve trigger biosynthesis, it can be added. more than 90 per cent purity of Compared to traditional steel the desired products by adsorbing bioreactors, the instrumentation “The future of horticulture them from the nutrient medium. on these reusable bag bioreactors is will include the ability The main “bioreactor” part of minimal—the process of maintaining to grow our own natural this kind of hydroponic hairy aseptic conditions and for cleaning pesticides.” root culture system can be and sterilizing the bag systems is 3

2

2

2

3

2

2

2

3

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Maximum Yield Canada | July / August 2010

2

much cheaper to do than with a huge, heavy steel machine with no disposable components. This makes this technology adaptable to the horticulture industry where existing greenhouse computer control systems can operate such closed, or recirculating cultivation equipment needed in hairy root culture.

The future of horticulture will include the ability to grow our own natural pesticides for use around the nursery or even produce our own growth promoters and inhibitors.

Imagine harvesting any combination of molecules we need to protect our crops and using these without poisoning

and polluting. Imagine slightly more sophisticated compost tea bioreactors from which are harvested a semipurified liquid product. Soon we could be growing many types of hairy root plants that are transformed by A. rhizogenes, and at harvest these would yield preciously elevated nutrients and medicinal alkaloids. The future of horticulture can meet all our needs as we unlock each of Gaia’s green gifts with hairy root tissue culture.

MY

Agrobacterium

Bibliography: Guillon, Stéphanie, Jocelyne Trémouillaux-Guiller, Pratap Kumar Pati, Marc Rideau, and Pascal Gantet. “Harnessing the potential of hairy roots: dawn of a new era.”

Trends in Biotechnology 24, no. 9 (2006): 403-409.

Muranaka, Toshiya, Hideo Ohkawa, and Yasuyuki Yamada.

“Scopolamine release into media

by Duboisia leichhhardtii hairy root clones.” Applied Microbiological Biotechnology 37, no. 5 (1992): 554559.

Balsevich, John. “Prairie Carnation (Saponaria vaccaria) - A Potential New Industrial/Medicinal Crop for the Prairies.” Plant Biotechnology Institute, National Research Council of Canada, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. SSCA 2008, Regina Saskatchewan.

Vani, Sundeep N. “Biorecator design for scale up of Catharanthus roseus hairy root cultures for production of indole alkaloids.” Houston, Texas: Rice University (1996).

Park, Sang-Un and Peter J. Facchini.

“Agrobacterium rhizogenesmediated transformation of opium poppy, Papaver somniferum L., and California poppy, Eschscholzia californica Cham., root cultures.”

Journal of Experimental Botany 51, no. 347 (2000): 1005-1016.

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Incredible,

Edible Flowers Did you know...

• • • • • •

The pollen contained in many flowers is rich in vitamins and minerals?

Roses and rosehips are loaded with vitamin C? Dandelion blossoms are high in vitamin A and C? Marigolds and nasturtium contain vitamin C? Most blossoms are very low in calories?

Artichokes and broccoli are actually flower buds?

More Edible Flowers • • • • • • •

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Maximum Yield Canada | July / August 2010

Chrysanthemums Calendulas Hibiscus Impatiens Roses Tuberous Begonias Violets

Be careful though.

Some edible flowers should only be eaten in moderation.

Here are some precautionary measures to ensure safety in consumption: • • •

•

• • • •

Some flowers are toxic or only become edible after appropriate preparations.

Check with your doctor before consuming to avoid allergic reactions.

Always use flowers that have not been sprayed with pesticides. This can be accomplished by growing your own or ensuring pesticides were not used by asking your commercial grower.

Do not use damaged or excessively dirty flowers. Check for an overabundance of insects, as this may be a sign of unsuitable flowers to consume. Flowers should be washed thoroughly but gently in cool water and dried on paper towel.

Always remove the reproductive organs (pollen area) of the flowers.

Although they may be edible they may not be palatable.

Eat only the parts known to be safe.

Do not eat flowers picked from roadsides due to poisonous car exhaust emissions.

Confusing and contradictory information has appeared concerning edible flowers. That is why it is important to not be tempted by their beauty and to beware of petunias, foxgloves and lilies of the valley, for example, which are very poisonous.

Generally speaking, don't trust either the smell or the taste and use only species with well-established edibility reputations. Like for mushrooms, some are gastronomic delights and other can cause death or serious health problems.

There are over 100 varieties of edible flowers. When used as an addition to a meal, they provide nutrition as well as stunning beauty to complement any dish.

MY (Source: Montréal Botanical Garden. 2008.

Edible flowers. Horticultural Leaflet Web + Series of the Green Pages of the Montréal Botanical Garden. http://www.ville.montreal.qc.ca/jardin/en/ info_verte/feuillet_fleurs_comes/feuillet_fleurs_ comes.htm)

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Yield of Dreams: An Optimal External Environment for Accelerated Crop Growth

by Erik Biksa

"Nature has created the perfect internal and inherent growing system (photosynthesis) within plants."

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Maximum Yield Canada | July / August 2010

Understanding what exactly makes your favourite plants tick will give you the insight you need to supercharge the natural process for faster growth and bigger yields. Nature has created the perfect internal and inherent growing system within plants. Some growers using advanced crop feeding programs may already be accelerating plant growth, while not fully understanding the process that is working to their benefit. It is the intention of this article to shine some light on how the photosynthetic processes work and how they relate to modern indoor growing practices that include artificial lighting, elevated carbon dioxide levels and intensive crop feedings.

Plants are considered to be “autotrophic,” basically meaning that they create their own food. They do this through photosynthesis, which translated

means “to put together with light.” There are three foundations to photosynthesis: 1. Photosynthetic activity – the capturing of light energy to combine carbon dioxide (in air) and water (in soil) to produce glucose; the chemical energy that is used to fuel all the necessary internal reactions for plants to grow. In simple terms, in the presence of light plants manufacture the carbohydrates they need to do “work.” Oxygen is a by-product of this process.

2. Respiration – this mostly occurs in the “dark” phase.

Plants “burn” the carbohydrates they create during light reactions in the presence of oxygen to send the energy through the plant’s internal “wiring,” which is a network of proteins/amino acids to supply a variety of functions with the free energy they require. Carbon dioxide is a by-product of this process, making it a “mirror” reaction to the photosynthetic reaction, as above.

3. Transpiration – occurs at higher rates during the light reactions/photosynthetic activity. This relates to the loss of water vapour through the leaves, as water is transported from the growing medium with nutrients, through the roots. The nutrients are delivered into the plants, while a portion of the hydrogen and oxygen ions (from H2O) are assimilated through the plant. The majority of the water taken up escapes the plant through the leaves. Water pressure (turgor) inside the plant is what gives plants their rigidity and structure; as plants are after all, “bone-less.”

1 2 3

One of the most important things to understand about how these processes work on an individual basis, and as they do in harmony with one another, is that they need to be maintained in a balanced equation.

For example, the chemical equation in photosynthesis can be given as: 6CO2 (carbon dioxide) + 6H20 (water) + light

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Yield of Dreams puts the plant in a situation similar to excessive temperatures where the plant is working itself to death.

Bear in mind that modern indoor growers are putting incredible demands on the super-strains of plants that are cultivating. In nature similar types of crops may require four to six plus months to reach maturity in natural settings. Indoors, growers are driving the same types of plants to reach complete maturity in two to four months. That equates to twice the work that is required by the plant on a day-to-day basis! The demands placed on the plants by the environment supplied by the indoor grower are astounding when you consider the time frame it takes the crop to reach maturity versus in natural settings.

So how exactly are we accomplishing this incredible feat as growers? Well, those of us who accomplish it the most successfully are driving and fuelling this natural process through improved crop growth technologies. As growers, we are supplying an abundance of the factors necessary and in the correct balance to amplify the plant’s natural and inherent responses.

"Lamps do a good job of producing lots of lumens, although they are not as rich and complete as the sun in spectrum."

Light Energy = Growth: Healthy plants with ample CO2, water and nutrients will continue to photosynthesize under bright light conditions.

= C6H12O6 (glucose/carbohydrates) + 6O2 (oxygen). So if one of the pre-cursors in the reaction is lacking, for example, the plant has only three units of carbon dioxide relative to six units of water in the presence of bright light (radiant energy), the reaction can only work as high as a rate that three units of carbon dioxide will allow, with the remainder of the light and

6CO2 (carbon dioxide) + 6H20 (water) + light = C6H12O6 (glucose/carbohydrates) + 6O2 (oxygen) water being “wasted.” In fact, it may create a situation that is more than just inputs being “wasted,” it can actually create situations where the plant is running at a deficit.

In other types of situations, common to indoor gardening, when temperatures climb above 29°C, the rate at which respiration occurs (the burning of carbohydrates for energy) can exceed the rate of photosynthesis (creating carbohydrates).

This creates a situation where by some definition, the plant is “working itself to death.”

Very bright light conditions are easy for indoor gardeners to supply using HID (high intensity discharge) lighting sources.

This is usually the factor that creates an “imbalance” in the equation and relationship between the photosynthetic process, respiration and transpiration. The plant is saturated with intense light energy, while other factors such as carbon dioxide, temperatures, minerals and vitamins required by photosynthesis, etc. are not available in the same abundance. This imbalance

In today’s day and age, it’s easy to provide optimal light durations (day lengths) and incredible lighting intensities using readily available artificial lighting sources. HPS (high pressure sodium) lamps do a good job of producing lots of lumens, although they are not as rich and complete as the sun in spectrum. They also produce a lot of heat, which can be detrimental to plant growth, as we discussed earlier.

Air- and water-cooled lighting fixtures can drastically reduce the excess unwanted heat created, removing it at the source, rather than overheating the plants. Artificial lighting spectrums can be improved by using modern HID lamps that have their spectrums enhanced to stimulate plant growth rather than illuminate parking lots. While they are no match for the sun’s “solar nutrition,” they are an improvement.

High output T5 fluorescent lights can be Heavy Loads: When plants are able very rich in spectrum, and to manufacture adequate supplies of are ideal for stimulating chemical energy, heavy fruit loads may develop.

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healthy plant growth in the earlier stages, and can in some instances be used to raise plants to maturity.

LEDs perhaps offer growers the best opportunity to provide very exacting light wavelengths for different growth phases.

At present, it would appear that the technology itself is “smarter” than we are; growers and LED manufacturers alike are learning about what will work best at different growth phases, as LED fixtures can be tailored to provide very exact wavelengths of light. LED diodes emit very negligible amounts of heat, reducing cooling requirements and costs.

The fact that they run cooler allows for more efficient supplementation of carbon dioxide levels in the growing environment for faster growth rates and bigger yields, due to reduced air exchange requirements.

"High output T5 fluorescent lights can be very rich in spectrum, and are ideal for stimulating healthy plant growth in the earlier stages..."

Carbon dioxide (CO2) for light reactions is usually the most limiting factor in indoor gardens, assuming cooling requirements have been accomplished with a high level of control. If growers are able to maintain optimal temperatures during the intense light cycle, plants will grow at noticeably increased rates when elevating the levels of carbon dioxide in the growing environment. Carbon is the biggest component in the dry weight of plants, and elevating carbon dioxide levels can have a direct effect on increasing dry plant weights at maturity.

Fermentation, releases of bottled CO2, and generation of CO2 through gas-fired combustion are common methods growers may use to elevate CO2 levels in the growing environment for better results.

All of the areas discussed above are “exogenous” or external factors that can be controlled by the grower through the use of specialized mechanical equipment. Now what about the internal or “endogenous” reactions that are going on inside of the plant? This is where the real magic happens.

Exacting Energy Wavelengths: Modern, advanced nutrient LED crop lighting can stimulate manufacturers have dissected photosynthesis with very exacting light wavelengths, the internal responses and making for a very efficient materials required to fuel and growing experience. sustain high rates of growth for intense indoor growing environments. These “ingredients” have been discovered, refined and blended into exacting ratios to

Radiant Energy: Photosynthesis literally means “to put together with light;” intense lighting can put the crops work load into overdrive.

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"After strenuous physical demands, plants, like athletes, also require proteins to repair and build new tissue." create crop feeding programs that help meet and stimulate the tremendous functional demands placed on crops by modern indoor growers.

The end result of the photosynthetic response is glucose, which is “burned” during respiration to release energy. There are crop feeding supplements that are able to supply relatively available sources of carbohydrates to plants when they are applied accordingly. This means that for example, in instances when the rate of respiration is exceeding the rate at which photosynthesis (during high light and warm conditions in the presence of CO2), the plant’s reserves of energy may not run at a deficit, allowing the plant to continue growth, rather than “shutting down” to prevent exhaustion or even plant death.

Consider high intensity activity in humans such as long distance running. Athletes load up on carbohydrates to provide their bodies with the necessary levels of energy to meet the high demands of the task they are placing on their body’s energy system. During the activity, runners breathe harder, requiring more oxygen. Plant growth has a similar demand for vital gas, although it is carbon dioxide rather than oxygen. If there is insufficient carbohydrates or necessary vitamins, minerals, gases, etc., the runner will finish poorly, or may not even finish at all in some instances. This is the case with plants.

After strenuous physical demands plants, like athletes, also require proteins to repair and build new tissue and energy transfer ways to supply and direct energy. This is where L-amino acids for crops come into play. Plants normally have to manufacture amino acids and other forms of reduced nitrogen to help build new tissue and create the energy transfer ways.

forms such as meats, to forms that the body can use to build and repair tissue. This quickly translates into greater mass gains in shorter timeframes; something every indoor grower should aim to accomplish.

Vitamins, minerals, enzymes and other co-factors also play a strong role at which the rate of all the reactions required by the plant to grow may occur. Most minerals are supplied to the plant through the roots, carried up with water in the transpiration process (loss of water through leaves). Without these vital minerals, and in their correct ratios for the type of crop being grown, the rate at which photosynthesis may occur will decrease. This is why it is important to choose your crop nutrients carefully. The correct balance and a high level of availability under a wide range of growing conditions should be of careful consideration.

Plants typically manufacture their own vitamins, enzymes and co-factors, although in nature it has been demonstrated that these substances may also occur in the growth medium and be transferred to the plant for uptake and assimilation for functions. Again, this is typically assisted through beneficial microbes, which are available in modern formulations to inoculate indoor crops. These beneficial vitamins, enzymes and co-factors can also be supplied through specialized and well formulated crop feeding additives more or less directly to the plants.

"Vitamins, minerals, enzymes and other cofactors also play a strong role at which the rate of all the reactions required by the plant to grow may occur."

Growers who supply crop feeding supplements that contain broad spectrum of L-amino acids including lysine during times of great mass gains, for example in the peak bloom phase, are in fact providing crops with the necessary materials to get bigger faster. The plant will not have to work as hard to manufacture these proteins, as they are supplied at some level of availability.

Note that microbes in beneficial bacteria and fungi help to improve this process. This would be similar to an athlete drinking a well formulated protein supplement after strenuous physical activity versus eating a steak. The athlete’s body will more readily assimilate select proteins in their ideal ratios, rather than expending energy to convert proteins supplied in cruder

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Nutrients in the Air: Growers are wise to regard Carbon Dioxide as a vital nutrient, although it is delivered to plants through the air.

Similar in concept to supplementing the crop with carbohydrates and amino acids for higher rates of growth and mass gain, additions of vitamins, enzymes and co-factors will benefit the crop. By using specialized crop feeding programs designed to promote bigger yields and healthier plants grown under intense artificial light and elevated carbon dioxide levels, the grower is helping to “balance” the plant’s internal equation that is dictated by the three key foundations to plant growth: photosynthetic activity, respiration and transpiration.

Now that you know more about what exactly is making your favourite plants tick, you may be able to improve

"Three key foundations to plant growth: photosynthetic activity, respiration and transpiration." your yields, growth rates and crop quality by respecting and maintaining an understanding of these very important principles. Keep them in mind when constructing the ideal environment for your plant with regards to light intensity and quality, temperature and CO2 levels.

Once you can maintain and manage the optimal external environment, your crop can take advantage of full spectrum feeding programs that have been designed specifically to satisfy the needs of your plants being grown in an accelerated environment. In fact, some crop supplements will help your plants to maintain a higher degree of health and growth rates, even in less than perfect environments.

However, supplements are not a replacement to creating the optimal growing environment for your favourite type of plants. It is about harmony, balance and respecting the perfect inherent mechanisms for growth that nature has developed, and with understanding we may achieve our own personal yield of dreams.

MY

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by Matt LeBannister

The Benefits of Growing Your Own

Aloe Vera

Houseplants make a great addition to any home.

Most houseplants are grown for their appearance, but there are many plants that can be easily grown at home that have beneficial medical properties for their growers. One such plant is Aloe Vera, the most common of roughly 400 aloe species.

400

There are roughly

aloe species

Aloe Vera is a succulent plant. Its leaves are packed with stored water and when opened contain a healing gel. Aloe Vera is actually 99 per cent water and the other one per cent is made up of glycoproteins and polysaccharides.

The glycoproteins speed up the healing process.This is done by stopping pain and reducing inflammation.The polysaccharides found in the Aloe Vera gel can stimulate skin growth and repair damage skin.

The gel contained in Aloe Vera leaves is generally used topically to treat minor wounds, burns and dry skin. It is especially effective on mild sunburns. Although aloe is considered safe to use, there is always a risk of an allergic reaction, so apply to a small patch of skin and gauge the reaction before exposing a large area to be safe.There have been a number of studies to determine whether the application of Aloe Vera gel to wounds has a positive or negative effect on the healing process. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, “In a review of the scientific literature, researchers found that patients who were treated with Aloe Vera healed an average of almost nine days sooner than those who weren’t treated with the medicinal plant. However, other studies show mixed results, with at least one study [on deep surgical wounds] that found aloe actually delayed healing.”

Aloe Vera can be easily grown at home by beginner and advanced gardeners alike.These beneficial plants like a sunny windowsill to grow healthy succulent leaves full of their healing gel. Aloe Vera plants do not like water and can die if watered too often, thus causing the soil to become waterlogged.Water Aloe Vera plants thoroughly every one and a half weeks or once the growing medium becomes dry. Aloe Vera can do quite well in hydroponics and they do best in dripper systems and passive hydroponics.These plants can grow at amazing rates when premium nutrients are added to their water supply. Although aloe plants can flower, grow phase nutrients are recommended since their leaves are full of the medicinal gel that gardeners are after.

Aloe Vera gel is an active ingredient in many over the counter moisturizers, sun burn lotions, cosmetics and other skin care products. But why feed into billion dollar industries when aloe Vera can be grown easily and affordable in our own homes?

Throw away those overpriced, pre-packaged solutions and let’s all roll up our sleeves and grow our own Aloe Vera.

MY Source: University of Maryland Medical Center, www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/aloe-000221.htm

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YOU TELL US

Glenn Curtis, Aeroflo’s national sales manager, discusses correct fan sizing, ventilation options for indoor gardeners and reasons why you should avoid purchasing an economy fan.

Maximum Yield (MY): Why is ventilation necessary in an indoor growing environment?

Glenn Curtis: Proper ventilation is essential in every indoor growing environment as it helps with humidity and temperature control, and general air movement. Proper humidity in the grow area results in optimum growth for your plants. Too little humidity will slow the growth of the plants, while too much humidity can contribute to bacteria and fungi growth. Having an efficient ventilation fan also helps maintain the correct temperature in your grow area by exhausting the heat generated from your lighting system and allowing the air to circulate throughout the room.

MY: How do I correctly size my fan?

Glenn: There are several considerations in properly sizing a fan. The first consideration is the size of the area, measured in cubic feet. This can be achieved through the simple formula

of length (L) by width (W) by height (H). Once this has been obtained, the next consideration is how many air changes per hour you require throughout the entire area. Many hydroponic and indoor gardeners base their requirements on a standard of one air change per minute. In this instance you would calculate your fan for a 10 foot by 10 foot by eight foot room as such: 10 by 10 by eight = 800 cubic feet by one air change per minute = 800 CFM. Another rule of thumb is to have a minimum of 400 CFM per lamp for lamps rated at 400 watts, or to have a minimum of 600 CFM per lamp for each lamp rated at 1,000 watts or less.

MY: What other factors need to be considered when setting up a ventilation system?

Glenn: Many people only concern themselves with the initial fan rating when choosing a fan. There is an incorrect assumption

“A [quality] fan should be summed up in two words – quality and dependability.”

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Maximum Yield Canada | July / August 2010

that if you put in a 600 CFM rated fan you are actually moving 600 CFM of air. When making your calculations you must also take into consideration the duct system.

Your duct system comprises of duct lengths, bends (elbows), intake grilles, carbon filters and exhaust grilles. Each component you add to your exhaust system adds resistance to the airflow, measured in Static Pressure (or inches of water gauge). To ensure that your fan is providing the proper amount of airflow, you have to make sure that the fan you choose is rated for the correct amount of CFM at the static pressure rating of your system. A quality fan manufacturer will be able to provide you with a chart showing the performance of each fan at different static pressure measurements. When considering a fan for your area, make sure that it will provide you with the right amount of airflow. When designing your exhaust duct system, the best advice I can supply is to keep it simple—the shorter the run and the fewest amount of bends will always lead to better performance from your fan. Remember, poor air flow = poor growing conditions.

MY: What options are available for ventilation fans?

Glenn: There are several options available. Small computer fans, in-duct axial fans, wall mounted axial fans, forward curved wheels (also referred to as squirrel cages), mixed-flow impellers, in-line centrifugal fans and even larger blowers are available to assist in the movement of air throughout your growroom.

The main differences can be categorized into three areas: air movement capacity (CFM, or cubic feet per minute), air movement efficiency and sound ratings. All three categories should be considered when you are making a purchase decision.

MY: With all the options available, what is the best choice?

Glenn: Although no one can say that there is an absolute best way to move air, many in the industry have moved to the in-line centrifugal fans as they are the most efficient at moving air, have the greatest range in air movement capacities and are one of the quietest ways of moving air available today. Other reasons for choosing an in-line centrifugal fan include the physical size of the fan, the energy efficiency of the fan and the overall reliability of the fan.

MY: With so many different manufacturers of in-line fans available, what should people look for?

Glenn: There are two main motor styles utilized by in-line fan manufacturers today—backward curved impellers and mixed flow impellers. Mixed flow impellers have a larger initial air movement rating and look more impressive. These fans are great if there is little resistance to air movement (short, uncomplicated duct runs), but their performance drops rather drastically as resistance increases. The backward curved impellers may have a lower initial air movement rating, but are designed to move air through longer more complex duct runs, providing you with overall better performance and avoiding having to oversize your fan to obtain the correct amount of airflow.

People have a lot of choices for their in-line fans today, and their first choice for a fan should be summed up in two words—quality and dependability. With ventilation being such a critical component to the growth of your plants, you want to make sure you are installing a fan that will move the right amount of air and a fan that will not just stop working. Quality fan manufacturers have had their fans in the market for a long time and have a proven reliability in the industry.Yes, these fans may be more of an initial investment, but will prove to be money well spent.

MY: What are your views on the economy fans in the market today?

Glenn: The economy fans that have entered the market over the last number of years are a result of people looking to save money on their set-up. These fans have a place in the market if you are only looking to set up a short term system, as many of these fans will not last more than a couple of years. Many of these units have also not been tested by an accredited facility (such as HVI or AMCA) to certify their air movement efficiencies.

When you are looking at your set-up costs, don’t be afraid to invest in a quality fan, as in the long run you will be far better off. Many quality manufacturers have had their fans tested, offer a minimum five year warranty and have been tested through years of operation in these types of environments. If you spent 30 per cent less on an economy fan but had to replace it three times during the life of a quality fan, are you really saving money? With air movement being so critical and the fact that a failed fan can destroy your entire crop, is it really worth saving a few dollars?

Maximum Yield Canada | July / August 2010

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Wonderful

Watercolours

by Jack Van Camp

‘Tis the Season for Beautiful, Blooming Orchids Far from being difficult and finicky as is the popular belief, orchids are easy and rewarding plants to grow by following a few simple steps. Beautiful flowers can be sitting on your windowsill for many weeks during every month of the year.

1

1. Do not overwater orchids.

There are 10 or 12 popular mediums in which orchids thrive and they all have different water retention qualities. With the super efficient heating systems available nowadays, the humidity levels tend to be on the low side. Orchids like humidity levels between 40 and 70 per cent. If your house is dry, perlite or sphagnum moss in plastic containers will stay moist with a weekly watering. If your house has humidity levels in the 60 to 70 per cent range, fir bark or combinations of rockwool and cork nuggets in clay pots will stay moist with a once per week watering. Using reverse osmosis or distilled water will eliminate salt build-up. Misting the orchids with a hand sprayer is also a great way to create humidity. In their natural environment, mist and fog occur regularly for most orchids.

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2

2. Give orchids the proper amount of light.

Some orchids are happy with light levels as low as 200 foot candles and others can thrive in 2,000 or even 5,000 foot candles. Phalaenopsis is one of the most popular and most recognized orchids. There are about 50 species of phals that will do nicely in an east window where light is relatively low, around 1,000 foot candles. Catileya like higher light levels and would do nicely in a south window. All orchids can be placed in a south window setting. Light-loving orchids should be placed closest to the window and lower light orchids can be set further back from the window at varying degrees. For a house or apartment with no suitable light source, a good quality, high output fluorescent is all that’s needed for orchids to thrive. In a natural setting, orchids will dwell in the treetops, the jungle flora, on fence posts and in the crotch of trees.

All these niches have the proper amount of light and water for that particular orchid.

“Some good nutrients for orchids are a 30-30-10 in powder form or a two part A and B solution.”

3

3. Fluctuate temperature.

Don’t be afraid to let orchids cool at night and warm during the daylight hours. Orchids, like the phalaenopsis, will tolerate a temperature fluctuation from 15 to 28°C. A temperature drop at night is critical for good flower set to be established, so you can nudge the orchids up against a cool window to achieve a more pronounced fluctuation.

A 20° drop in temperature is common in their natural setting and this may seem pretty big, but in reality, all plants respond better with some sort of temperature drop.

An orchid at home will do fine with a six to 10° drop in the evening.

4

4. Manage nutrients.

When I purchased my first orchid (a phalaenopsis) and asked about proper feeding, I was told “weak, weekly.”

I never forgot that saying, and it works. There are many nutrients available, some pre-made especially for orchids and others as powder solutions that you can mix yourself.

Some good nutrients for orchids are a 30-30-10 in powder form or a two part A and B solution. There are also one part organic nutrients on the market and fish emulsion, which work well, especially for outdoor plants. These nutrients should be mixed at ¼ strength and used on a weekly basis.

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Wonderful Watercoulours

There are indicators that show when the orchid is getting too much or too little food, but following the quip “weak, weekly” should make feeding foolproof.

There are nearly 22,000 accepted species of orchids and thousands more not yet identified in the orchid family worldwide. There are 1,000 native species in Australia and in the bulbophyllum family alone, there are 2,000. In 1510, the Spaniards brought the first orchid back from South America. It was vanilla. James Cook brought orchids back from around the world to Britain. Orchid gardening was born in England at the Kew Gardens in the late 1700s. Orchids come from the tropics where there are no seasons. The closest an orchid gets to seasons is dry and wet. The light in the tropics is consistent, so when you find a happy spot for an orchid it is best to leave it where it is. At nurseries where orchids are sold the plants will have stakes or tags that take the guesswork out of what a plant needs in the way of light. They will be marked high, medium or low light. Failing that, the web can tell you pretty much anything you need to know about orchids and their needs.

Today, rather than sailing around the world to find orchids, you can purchase any variety you want through mail order or even better, through members of an orchid club near you. When you mail order from an organization, you will receive a product guide to choose from. Once you have chosen your plants you will be sent the bare root in a plastic bag surrounded by moss.

From there, pot it, water it and enjoy. Orchid clubs are a great way to find out about these exotic plants. Usually you can purchase peoples extras from a table setup at meetings.You can glean some good advice from members as well.

My first orchid was a gift, and shortly after receiving it, I bought another. At one time I had 25 or 30 between the basement and main floor of my house. Today, I have six plants that I can rotate from fluorescents to the windowsill. I’m not going into the orchid business, but it’s easy to be taken in by the orchid’s exotic beauty.

If you’re interested in getting started with orchids, I would suggest two or three orchids that are easy to keep indoors.

The phalaenopsis is number one. This orchid comes in a myriad of colours and its flowers last a long time. Phals do not need a lot of light and after the flowers are done you can cut off the spike at the last flower and shortly thereafter more flowers appear. My wife refers to these orchids as living watercolours. The second orchid would be a Jewel orchid. I keep this plant in a peat and coco fibre mix. It’s from Hawaii and likes lots of light and moisture. This is the easiest orchid I have ever taken care of. It likes to be root bound and taking cuttings is practically 100 per cent successful. Three times a year spikes will appear and shoot out, up to one metre from the base of the stems. Small white flowers pop out all the way down the stem. These flowers stay for up to eight weeks. They are stunning and also carry the subtle scent of vanilla. Last year I counted 14 spikes on one pot of jewel orchids. Orchid number three is any type of Dendrobium. Some of these orchids look like aliens or bizarre insects. The colours and shapes are out of this world. Dendrobium orchids prefer cool temperatures, medium light levels and respond well to 30-30-10 fertilizer.

With a few simple steps, anyone can enjoy a little summer all year. MY

“Don’t be afraid to let orchids cool at night and warm during the daylight hours.”

“There are nearly 22,000 accepted species of orchids and thousands more not yet identified in the orchid family worldwide.”

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Maximum Yield Canada | July / August 2010

TALKING SHOP

AT A GLANCE Company: Urban GreenHouse Hydroponics Owners: James and Rebecca Marcoux Location: 7635 Tecumseh Road East (Pickwick Plaza) Windsor, Ontario Phone: 519-944-8444

Urban GreenHouse Hydroponics, Windsor Ontario’s newest one-stop-shop for hydroponic and aquaculture supplies in south-western Ontario, is making a big impression. My wife Rebecca and I hosted our grand opening in April 2010 and have received a warm welcome from the city and its residents.

It took a lot of hard work to get to where we are but it has all been worth it. Our quaint store is located on Windsor’s east side and is easily accessible to the entire city. The location was chosen mainly because it provides a unique vision upon arrival.

From outside it looks like a small store nestled in the corner of a plaza but upon entering you are welcomed by vibrant gardens and a rush of fresh air. We want to inspire people to transform the unused space in their homes into usable garden space. The store and business venture have been dreams of ours for years.

We are both avid gardeners and have a passion for cooking with fresh ingredients. Our passion led us to create an indoor garden

Web: www.urbangreenhouse hydroponics.com Email: james@urbangreenhouse hydroponics.com

What started as a hobby and summers on the farm has turned into a vision of helping people become self sustainable.

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to grow fresh food right next to our kitchen. We split our summers between our home in Windsor and our family farm where we grow a wide range of produce outdoors. What started as a hobby and summers on the farm has turned into a vision of helping people become self sustainable.

We felt Windsor was the perfect location to plant our store. Windsor is a great city but it has certainly faced hard times as of late. It currently has one of the highest unemployment rates in Canada but the workforce here is extremely knowledgeable, hard working and skilled. The people here are highly capable of designing and operating indoor gardens provided they are given the knowledge to do so.

Our arrival was a breath of fresh air for a city full of business closures and customers have definitely been supportive. The movement here to purchase locally grown organic produce and ingredients has gained a lot of momentum in the past few years but we wanted to show people how easy it actually is to grow your own. Our in-store displays make it easy to show new growers how the different types of systems work.

We want you to leave with the knowledge and confidence you need to succeed with your garden.

The goal of The Urban GreenHouse is to transform city homes into green homes. Our main objectives are to provide the knowledge and products for indoor sustainable gardens; living plant walls that serve as both a natural air purification system and brilliant décor; and products for outdoor organic gardens.

The Urban GreenHouse has a strong interest in the community and we plan to develop those relationships. We have chosen to allocate resources to jump start community initiatives such as donating materials for the university’s campus garden.

We are also working with our suppliers to launch a project called The Grade School Vertical Gardening Initiative.

The program provides schools with the necessary supplies and tools to transform their fences and walls into educational gardens by thinking vertically. By building these relationships with the community Urban GreenHouse Hydroponics will be ahead of these trends through consumer feedback. James and Rebecca would like to invite you to come see their showroom and wall gardens and to see with your own eyes the benefits of growing your own.

MY

Maximum Yield Canada | July / August 2010

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MAX-MART

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

Fusion 5 Organic Gardens Inc. PO Box 5821, 120B 1 Street, SW High River, AB T1V 1P3 866-652-2594 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 Quick Grow 1-1204 Edmonton Trail Road NE Calgary, AB T2E 3K5 877-426-4769 Smart Grow 2456 - 23 Avenue, NE Calgary, AB T2E 8J4 403-236-9999 Twins Greenhouse 13 - 2235 30th Avenue, NE Calgary, AB T2C 7C7 403-273-2881 BRITISH COLUMBIA A+ Gardening Supplies 1450 Venables Street Vancouver, BC V5L 2G5 604-876-4769 Advanced Garden Supplies 7979 Aspen Road Vernon, BC V1B 3M9 250-545-9545 Advanced Wholesale Superstore 406 - 1952 Kingsway Avenue Port Coquitlam, BC V3C 6C2 604-945-0174 AJs Pets & Things 3219 - 31st Avenue Vernon, BC V1T 2H2 250-549-3222 A.R.I. Research 120 - 4111 Hastings Street Burnaby, BC V5C 6Y7 604 433 6067 Art Knapp 2855 Wentworth Road Courtenay, BC V9N 6B7 250-334-3024 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 BC Hydroponics 3 - 20092-93A Avenue Langley, BC V1M 3Y4 604-888-5716 Better Than Nature Enderby 1900 George Street Enderby, BC 250-838-5502 Better Than Nature Kelowna 725B Evans Court Kelowna, BC V1X 6G4 250-868-8978 Better Than Nature Penticton 101 - 78 Industrial Avenue, West Penticton, BC V2A 6M2 250-770-8978 Better Than Nature Vernon 3506 25th Avenue Vernon, BC V1T 1P4 250-260-4466

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Maximum Yield Canada | July / August 2010

BN Garden Supply 4493 Boundary Road Vancouver, BC V5R 2N3 604-431-2977 Buckerfields 587 Alberni Highway Parksville, BC V9P 1J9 250-248-3243 Canadian Garden Supply 1730 Highway 3 Castlegar, BC V1N 4W1 250-304-2911 Chilliwack Indoor Garden Centre Ltd. 311 - 44500 South Sumas Road Chilliwack, BC V9R 5M3 604-824-2944 Coastal Growers Supply 103 - 12824 Anvil Way Surrey, BC V3W 8E7 604-599-1778 Cowichan Hydroponic Supplies 4 - 2955 Jacob Road Duncan, BC V9L 6W4 250-746-0244 Double AA Garden Supplies Ltd. 2908 Commercial Drive Vancouver, BC V5N 4C9 604-876-8837 Duncan Plants & Ponics 6512 Bell McKinnon Road Duncan, BC V9L 6C1 250-746-5591 Excel Air Systems 200 - 20170 Stewart Crescent Maple Ridge, BC V2X 0T4 604-728-0757 Fat Eddie’s Systems 108 - 18760 96th Avenue Surrey, BC 604-888-2419 Garden Effects 200-2288 #5 Road Richmond BC V6X 2T1 604-214-6620 Garden King Supplies 7533 135 Street, Unit 109 Surrey, BC V3W OM8 604-598-1912 Garibaldi Nurseryland & Florist 38917 Progress Way, Squamish Industrial Park Squamish, BC V0N 3G0 604-892-3892 Good Guys Gardening Center 250 McKenzie Avenue, South Williams Lake, BC V2G 1C6 250-392-2069 Green & Clean Energy Co. Ltd. 2875 Cudlip Road Shawnigan Lake, BC V0R 2W0 250-732-7224 Green Earth Garden Supplies Unit 5, 19300, Langley Bypass Langley, BC V3S 6K2 604-532-7106 GreenStar Plant Products Inc. 9430 198 Street Langley, BC V1M 3C8 604-882-7699 Growing Solutions Box 650, 1150 Bowlby Road Errington, BC V0R 1V0 250-248-1101 Happy Acres Greens & Backroad Hydroponics Equipment 2058 Cambie-Solsqua Road Sicamous, BC V0E 2V0 250-836-3878 Hygro Gardening Supplies Inc. 1791 Tamarac Street Campbell River, BC V9W 5Y7 250-286-0424

Indoor Jungle 2624 Quadra Street Victoria, BC V8T 4E4 250-388-5611 Interior Gardener’s Supply 221 - 1 McDermid Road, Box 1257 100 Mile House, BC V0K 2E0 250-395-3399 Jon’s Plant Factory 3925 East Hastings Burnaby, BC V5C 2H8 604-294-3000 Just-N-Tyme Greenhouse and Hydroponics Supply 1094 McKenzie Avenue Courteney, BC V9N 3C5 250-703-0476 Kamloops Sunshine Gardens Greenhouse Superstore 5 - 1744 Kelly Douglas Road Kamloops, BC V2C 5S4 877-372-2270 Kootenay Bubble Refinery PO Box 81 Slocan Park, BC V0G 2E0 250-226-7753 Kootenay Grower’s Supply Nelson 721-G Front Street Nelson, BC V1L 4B8 888-422-8333 Long Lake Nursery Hydroponic Supply 4900 Island Highway, North Nanaimo, BC 250-758-5012 Mr. Fertilizer 9 Burnside Road, West Victoria, BC V9A 1B2 250-381-4644 Mylo’s 3837 Squilax Anglemont Hwy Scotch Creek BC V0E 1M0 250-955-0525 Natural Choice Garden Centre, The 5500 48th Avenue, SE Salmon Arm, BC V1E 1X2 250-832-7151 Nico’s Nurseryland 830 - 28th Street, NE Salmon Arm, BC V1E 2S7 250-804-2004 Northern Lights Greenspace 3 - 2706 45th Avenue Vernon, BC V1T 3N4 250-558-4757 Nutty Zone 5 & 6 - 33201 London Avenue Mission, BC V2V 4P9 604-814-2223 Oasis 12 - 1771 Cooper Road Kelowna, BC V1Y 7T1 250-763-4769 Omega Garden Inc. 1695 Peligren Place Qualicum Beach, BC V9K 2S3 250-752-1301; 888 976 6342 Pacific NW Garden Supply 109 - 20110 Lougheed Highway Maple Ridge, BC V2X 2P7 Pacific NW Garden Supply 107 Nicol Street Nanaimo, BC V9R 4T1 250-754-5292 Pacific NW Garden Supply 2137 East Hastings Street Vancouver, BC V5L 1V2 604-254-4765 Pacific NW Garden Supply Unit 14- 104 Silica Street Nelson, BC V1L 4M1 250-354-4767 Pacific NW Garden Supply Unit C1 - 1810 Kyle Court Kelowna, BC V1Z 3Z4 250-769-4791

Pacific NW Garden Supply 15374-103A Avenue Surrey V3R 9V8 604-588-4769; 800-443-4769 Pacific NW Garden Supply 1139B Industrial Road 3 Cranbrook, BC V1C 5E3 250-489-4761 Pacific Rim Indoor Garden & Lighting 170- 12111 Bridgeport Road Richmond, BC V6V 1J4 604-232-4468 PG2 1798 Nicholson Street Prince George, BC V2N 1V6 250-612-4769; 1-888-817-4769 Planting Plus Greenhouse Supplies and Hardware 22394 Dewdney Truck Road Maple Ridge, BC V2X 3J2 604-466-5949 Progressive Growth 111 - 1790 Island Highway Victoria, BC V9B 1H5 250-391-9519 Progressive Growth 41 - 1925 Bowen Road Nanaimo, BC V9S 1H1 800-405-4769 Room 2 Grow 901 Laval Crescent Kamloops, BC V2C 5P4 250-372-3663 S.A. Ecoline Products Ltd. 5671 Auto Road, SE Salmon Arm, BC V1E 4S1 250-833-4769 Skytek Indoor Solutions 833 4th Avenue Prince George, BC V2L 3H5 1-800-975-9835 Solar Greenhouse and Hydroponic Supply 4752 Imperial Street Burnaby, BC V5J 1C2 604-438-7244 Spruce Capital Feeds 1694 Quinn Street Prince George, BC V2N 1X3 250-564-6010 Sun Beam Central 3444 River Road Chemainus, BC V0R 1K4 250-246-1379 Sundogz Garden Supply & Hydroponics 30 - 1365 Old Alberni Highway Parksville, BC V9P 2B8 250-954-2046 Sunwest Garden Supply 2035 Unit B Louie Drive Westbank, BC V4T 1Y2 250-768-1636 Trees Company Nursery & Garden Supplies G9 C17 RR1, 7030 Powell Road Winlaw, BC V0G 2J0 250-226-7334 Tridon Hydroponics 12 - 1708 Bowen Road Nanaimo, BC V9S 1G9 250-755-1900 Triple Tree Nursery 20503 Lougheed Highway Maple Ridge, BC V2X 2P9 604-465-9313 Valley Indoor Geenhouse Supplies 103 - 44195 Yale Road West Chilliwack, BC V2R 4H2 877-702-1169 Vancouver Garden Supply 4894 Fraser Street Vancouver, BC V5V 4H5 604-879-8167 Vancouver Island Garden Supply Ltd. 4770 Wellington Rd Nanaimo, BC V9T 2H3 250-585-8881

Warehouse Garden Supplies & Hydroponic 109 - 8173 128 Street Surrey, BC V3W 4G1 604-543-3177

S&L Worx Hydroponics 135 Main Street, Unit 14 Dartmouth, NS B2X 1R6 902-434-GROW (4769)

West Coast Gardens Equipment and Supplies 113 - 805 Notre Dame Kamloops, BC V2C 5N8 250-851-2992

Steve’s Hydroponic Headquarters 131 Sackville Drive Lower Sackville, NS B4C 2R3 902-865-7764

MANITOBA All Grow Distributors 410 Madison Street Winnipeg, MB R3J 1J1 204-231-1694 Better Than Nature Winnipeg 2B - 2 Donald Street Winnipeg, MB R3L 0K5 204-453-3032 Gro Pro International Hydroponics 101-904 Porthee Avenue Winnipeg, MB R3G 0P4 204-956-1389 Kleen Gro Hydroponics 224 Osborne 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 1819 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 Atlantic Hydroponics & Greenhouses Inc. 42 Brandon Street Moncton, NB E1C 7E8 506-858-0158 Craft N’ Grow 60 Micmac Road Eel Ground, NB E1V 4B1 506-624-9317 Jardins Notik Gardens 798 Gray Road St-Charles NB E4W 4N9 506-876-9100 Scott’s Nursery Ltd. 2192 Route 102 Highway Lincoln, NB E3B 8N1 506-458-9208 21st Century Gardening 20 Bayside Drive St. John, NB E2J 1A2 506-657-9982 Ultimate Hydroponics PO Box 1191 Hampton, NB E5N 8H2 506-639-5948

Sweetleaf Smoke Shop and Hydroponics 3132 Isleville Street Halifax, NS B3K 3Y2 902-454-6646 Woodland Farm Nursery 3544 Highway 1, Annapolis Royal, NS B0S 1A0 902-532-7617 Woodin Nickel Hydroponics 3393 Central West, Highway 4 Pictou County, NS BOK 1H0 902-695-7640 ONTARIO Agrogreen Canada Inc. 1938 Hwy #20, RR#1 Fonthill, ON L0S 1E6 866-650-1136 AKA The Indoor Gardener 207 Exeter Road, Unit D London, ON N6L 1A4 519-652-4224 AKA The Indoor Gardener 3014 Highway 29 Brockville, ON K6V 5T4 613-342-2700 All Grow Hydroponic 391 Marwood Drive, Unit 14 Oshawa, ON 866-606-4723 All Seasons 1000 Dundas Street East Mississauga, ON L4Y 2B8 905-848-2619 Best of Hydroponics 360 Richmond Street London, ON N6A 3C3 519-858-1533 Bluewater Hydroponics 1173 Michener Road, Unit 12 Sarnia, ON N7S 5G5 519-337-7475 BMA Hydroponics 404A Maitland Drive, Unit 2 Belleville, ON K8N 4Z5 613-967-9888 Brite-Lite Indoor Garden Centre 4373 Steeles Avenue West North York, ON M3N 1V7 416-663-2999 Brite-Lite Indoor Garden Centre 1677 Cyrville Road, Meadowbrooke Plaza Gloucester, ON K1B 3L7 613-842-8999 Brite-Lite Indoor Garden Centre 1659 Victoria Street, North, Unit 6 Kitchener, ON N2B 3E6 888-670-0611

NOVA SCOTIA

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

Den Haan’s Garden World 12688 Highway 1, Brickton Annapolis County, NS B0S 1M0 902-825-4722

D&M Gardens 2961 Main Street Blezard Valley, ON P0M 1E0 705-897-3727

Greenfield Grow & Brew 69 Wilson Mountain Road Murray Siding, NS B6L 4N7 902-897-6568

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

Plant Manager Gardening 12 Industrial Drive, Richmond County Industrial Park Lennox Passage, Cape Breton, NS B0E 1V0 902-345-2112

Envirotex P.O. Box 21069 Paris, ON N3L 4A5 519-442-1237

Maximum Yield Canada | July / August 2010

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MAXIMUMdistributors YIELD Garden Depot 605 Justus Drive Kingston,ON Canada K7M 4H5 613-384-8882 Green And Clean 761 Barrydowne Road Sudbury, ON P3A 3T6 800-246-5503 Green Kingdom Hemp 1103 Cassells Street North Bay, ON P1B 4B3 705-494-7169 Green Thumb Hydroponics 3075 Ridgeway Drive, 25 Mississauga, ON L5L 5M6 Greenthumbs Garden Supply 338 Kingston Road Toronto, ON M4L 1T7 647-345-GROW (4769) www.green-thumbs.ca Grow It All Hydroponics Inc. 165 Geary Avenue, Unit 3B Toronto, ON M6H 2B8 416-588-9595 Grower’s Choice Hydroponics 1621 McEwen Drive 14 Whitby, ON L1N 9A5 905-725-GROW Happy Hydroponics 68 Princess Street Hamilton, ON L8L 3K9 905-545-8434 Home Hydroponics 289 Rutherford Road, South 22 Brampton, ON L6W 3R9 905-874-GROW Homegrown Hydroponics Inc. 26 Meteor Drive Toronto, ON M9W 1A4 416-242-4769 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 Homegrown Hydroponics Inc. 79 Woolwich Street South Breslau, ON N0B 1M0 519-648-2374 Hydro Culture Emporium Inc. 150 Robertson Rd Unit 22 Nepean, ON K2H 9S1 613-715-9472 Hydrogarden 1122 Paul Street Cornwall, ON K6H 6H5 613-360-6996 Hydrotech 2436 Kingston Road Toronto, ON M1N 1V2 416-267-4769 In-Home Gardens 279 Caborne St. Brantford, ON N3T 2H3 519-754-9090 Indoor Gardens Canada 2952 Thompson Road Smithville, ON L0R 2A0 905-957-6969 Indoor Harvest 3040 New Street Burlington, ON L7R 1M5 289-337-9169 J & C Hydroponics 343 Elgin Street, Unit A Cambridge, ON M1R 7H9 519-622-9969 Jungle Hydroponics 2215 Gerrard Street East Toronto, ON M4E 2C8 416-699-0861

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Markham Hydroponics 95 Royal Crest Court 18 Markham, ON L3R 9X5 905-305-0698 Nature’s Elements Box 119 500 Mill Street Neustadt, ON N0G 2M0 519-799-5323 Northern Hydroponics 236 Simpson Street Thunder Bay, ON P7C 3H4 807-623-3666 Northern Lights Green Supply 1938 Highway 20 (at 406), RR 1 Fonthill, ON L0S 1E6 905-892-3743 Northern Lights Hydroponics 1185 Tecumsch Road Windsor, ON N8W 1B5 519-254-4015

grow it all hydroponics for everyone

Maximum Yield Canada | July / August 2010

Ontario Growers Supply 1540 Fanshawe Park Road West London, ON N6H 5L8 519-641-3992 Ontario Hydroponics 103015 Grey Road 18 Owen Sound, ON N4K 5N6 519-372-1144 Ozone Environmental Technologies 361 Rowntree Dairy Road Unit 4 Woodridge, ON L4L 8H1 905-264-6618 Paradise Gardens Hydroponics 2158 Chiefswood Road Oshweken, ON N0A 1M0 519-445-2275 Peterborough Hydroponic Center 347 Pido Road, Unit 32 Peterborough, ON K9J 6X7 705-745-6868 Planetary Pride 372 Queen Street East Sault Ste Marie, ON P6A 1Y7 1-888-215-8970 Pro Grow Indoor Garden Supplies 1710 Bishop St. Unit 2 Cambridge, ON N1T 1T2 519-624-7692 Second Nature Hydroponics 4 - 2133 Royal Windsor Drive Mississauga, ON L5J 1K5 S e c o n d 905-403-4769 NATURE HYDROPONICS Supply For You 3615 Weston Road, Unit 6 North York, ON M9L 1V8 416-741-8062 Sweet Hydroponic Gardens 776 Bruce Street Renfrew, ON K7V 3Z8 613-433-9600 Toronto Hemp Company 665 Yonge Street Toronto ON M4Y 1Z9 416-920-1980 Urban GreenHouse Hydroponics & Aguaculture 7635 Tecumseh Road E. Windsor, ON N8T 3H1 519-944-8444 urbangreenhousehydroponics.com Vantage Hydroponics 1 Adelaide Street North London, ON N6B 3P8 519-451-4769 Yield of Dreams Hydroponics 559 Steven Court 12 Newmarket, ON L3Y 6Z3 877-778-7960 QUEBEC Amazonia Hydroponique 394 Boulvard Arthur-sauve St. Eustache, QC J7R 2J5 450-623-2790

B&S Electrique Inc. 2240 Pitt Street Montreal, QC H4E 4H1 514-931-3817 Benoit Dupuis Extincteurs Inc. 2503 Victoria Street Ste-Julienne, QC J0K 2T0 450-831-4240 Biofloral 675 Montee, St. Francois Laval, QC H7C 2S8 877-38-HYDRO Boutique Grunge 364 rue Sherbrooke Magog, QC J1X 2S1 819-847-4141 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 Brite Lite Hydroponics 940 Bergar, Laval, QC H7L 4Z8 450-669-3803 Centre Jardin Denis Brodeur 15 Nord C.P. 658 Waterloo, QC J0E 2N0 Chanvre du Nord Inc. 38 DeMartigny est St-Jérome, QC J7Z 1V4 866-565-5305 Comptoir Richelieu Inc. 350, du Collège Sorel-Tracy, QC J3P 6T7 800-363-9466 Culture Uni Vert 36 rue de Martigny E Saint-Jérôme, QC J7Z 1V4 www.cultureunivert.com Distribution De la Plante 5498 Hochelaga Suite 910 Montreal, QC H1N 3L7 514-255-1111 échologik 798 St Jean Québec, QC G1R 1P9 418-648-2828; 418-648-8288 Espace Culture Boutique 17 boul. Ste-Rose Est Laval, QC H7V 3K3 450-622-2710 Ferme Florale Inc. (Botanix) 2190 Blvd. Laurier (route 116) St. Bruno de Montarville, QC J3V 4P6 450-653-6383 Fernand Corbeil Produits Horticoles - Horticultural Products 17 boul. Ste-Rose Est Laval, QC H7L 3K3 450-622-2710 Fleuriste Savard Inc. 1833 boul. Louis-Frechette Nicolet, QC J3T 1M4 819-293-5933 Fred Lamontagne Inc. 356 Chemin du Sommet Est, Rimouski, QC G5L 7B5 418-723-5746 Gerard Bourbeau & Fils Inc. 8285, 1 re Avenue Charlesbourg, QC G1G 5E6 418-623-5401 Horticulture Piégo 228 Pierre Bertrand Sud Vanier, QC G1M 2C4 418-527-2006 Hydroculture Guy Dionne 8473 - 19th Avenue Montreal, QC H1Z 4J2 514-722-9496

Hydroculture Guy Dionne 1990 Cyrill-Duquet Local 150 Québec, QC G1N 4K8 418-681-4643 Hydro Expert 12752 Industriel Montreal, QC H1A 3V2 514-624-3091 Hydro Plus 149 avenue Principale A Rouyn Noranda, QC J9X 4E3 819-762-4367 Hydro Rive-sud 4721 Boulvard de la rive sud Levis, QC G6W 1H5 418-835-0082 Hydro Sciences 4800 de la Cote-Vertu Blvd.

Saint-Laurent, QC H4S 1J9 514-331-9090 Hydro Times 1533 Boulevard Cure Labelle Laval, QC H7V 2W4 450-688-4848 Hydro-Tonyque 761 Avenue Gilles Villeneuve Berthierville, QC J0K 1AO 450-836-8088 Hydrobec 2145 Lavoisier Suite 4 Ste-Foy, QC G1N 4B2 418-687-1119 Hydromax Gatineau 3-1695 Atmec (porte 6) Gatineau, QC J8P 7G7 819-663-7470 Hydromax Laval 295 Boulevard Curé Labelle Laval, QC H7L 2Z9 450-628-8380 Hydromax Mont-Laurier 388 Rue Hebert Mont-Laurier, QC J9L 2X2 888-609-4476 Hydromax Montreal 9300 Lajeunesse Montreal, QC H2M 1S4 514-381-0111 Hydromax St-Henri 3522 Notre-Dame Montréal, QC H4C 1P4 514-481-3939 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 Hydromax Val-David 895 route 117 nord Val-David QC J0T 2N0 888-320-0129 Hydroponique 2000 84 Boul. Curé Labelle Ste-Therese, QC J7E 2X5 450-971-0726 Hydroponique Plus Inc. 405 - 18 Avenue Lachine, QC H8S 3R1 514-634-3677 Hydrosphere 2000 2400 rue Canadian, Suite 104 Drummondville, QC J2C 7W3 819-478-9791 Hydrotek 12300 Rue de l’avenir St. Janvier, QC J7J 2K4 nternational Hydroponique 5478 Hochelaga St Montreal, QC H1N 3L7 514-255-2525

Jardinages Gilles Robert Inc. 574 St-Hubert Granby, QC J0H 1Y5 450-375-3441 Les Grands Jardins Lavel 2900, Boul. Cure-Lavelle Chomedey, Laval, QC H7P 5S8 250-729-2687 Les Entreprises Fernand Pigeon Inc. 174 Beaudoin Nord Durham-Sud, QC J0H 2C0 819-858-2777 Les Serres Binette Inc 2568 Boul. Mercurre Drummondville, QC J2A 1H2 819-478-7195 MegaWatt Hydroculture 636 Route 364 Morin Heights, QC J0R 1H0 450-226-2515 Méristème Hydroponique 871 Dufferin Granby, QC J2G 9H8 450-991-1514 Momentum 11289 London Avenue Montreal, QC H1H 4J3 888-327-4595 Naturexpert Inc. 828 Chemin du Sixième Rang Gatineau QC J8R 3A4 Pablo Jardinage Drummondville 2080 Joseph St-Cyr Drummondville, QC J2C 8V6 819-475-2525 Pablo Jardinage Intérieur 2 Des Ormeaux Suite 500 Trois-Rivières, QC G8W 1S6 819-693-6000 Pablo Jardinage Shawinigan 5023 Boulevard Royal Shawinigan QC J9N 6T8 819-731-9766 Pépinière Eco-Verdure 965 Boul. Sauvé St-Eustache, QC J7R 4K3 450-472-6474 Plant-O-Maxx 3169 Blais, Boisbriand, QC, J7H 1H2 514-968-7799 Plant-T-Plantes 3439 boulevard Fiset Sorel-Tracy, QC J3P 5J3 450-780-0008 Point De Vue 880 chemin St-Féréol Les Cèdres, QC J7T 1N3 450-452-2878 / 1-877-510-2991 Pousse Magique 515 rue Lanaudiere Repentigny, QC J6A 7N1 450-582-6662 P.P.M. Hydroponique 504 Rue du Parc St. Eustache, QC J7R 5B2 450-491-2444 Qué-Pousse - Laval 940 Bergar Laval, QC H7L 4Z8 450-667-3809 Qué-Pousse - Montreal 2215 Walkley Montreal, QC H4B 2J9 514-489-3803 Qué-Pousse - Mont. Tremblant 462 Montée Kavanagh Mont-Tremblant, QC J8E 2P2 819-429-6145 Qué-Pousse - Point-Claire 1860D Sources Blvd Pointe-Claire, QC H9R 5B1 514-426-5057

Qué-Pousse - Sherbrooke 4394 Bourque Rt. 112 Rock Forest, QC J1N 1S3 819-563-0353 Qué-Pousse - St-Constant 6264 Route 132 Ste-Catherine, QC J0L 1E0 450-635-4881 Qué-Pousse - St-Jerome 709A 14e Avenue, Sud Saint-Antoine, QC J7Z 4B8 450-436-3803 Qué-Pousse - Vaudreuil-Dorion 3666-D, boul. Cité des Jeunes Vaudreuil-Dorion, QC J7V 8P2 450-424-0306 Rap Hydroponique 326 Rue Vachon Trois-Rivières QC G8T 8Y2 819-376-5959 Rap Hydroponique 5700, rue Martineau Local 7 Saint-Hyacinthe, QC J2S 8B1 450-768-5188 Sherbrooke Hydroponique 3545 King Est, Sherbrooke, QC J1G 5J4 819-829-9299 Simplement Vert 8B Georges-Gagne Delson, QC J5B 2E1 514-913-8378 (VERT) Sonador Horticulture Inc. 819-479-2941 St-Jean Hydroponique 747 rue St-Jacques St-Jean-Sur-Richelieu, QC J3B 2M9 450-346-9633 Summum Bio Teck 2100 Ontario Est Montreal, QC H2K 1V5 866-460-2226 Un Monde Sans Terre 565 Beausejour Alma, QC G8B 5V3 418-480-3274 Univert 4 Saisons 2100 Ontario Est Montréal, QC H2K 1V5 514-527-2226 Val d’Or Hydroculture 1261 3e Avenue Val d’Or, QC J9P 1V4 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 www.xxxtractor.com SASKATCHEWAN B&B Hydroponics and Indoor Gardening 1404 Cornwall Street Regina, SK S4R 2H7 306-522-4769 Busy Bee Upholstery Box 811, 134 5th Avenue East Gravelbourg, SK S0H 1X0 306-648-3659 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 | July / August 2010

MY 73

DO YOU know?

1

The majority of coco peat comes from Asia, in particular India and Sri Lanka. Mexico and the Caribbean also produce coir.

Alfagrog is made of a highly porous material that contains many thousands of tiny pockets in which bacteria can thrive.

3

4

A temperature drop at night is critical for good flower set to be established on orchids like the phalaenopsis. “Phals” will tolerate a temperature fluctuation from 15 to 28°C.

Aloe Vera is 99 per cent water; the other one per cent is made up of glycoproteins and polysaccharides.

7

2

Disease organisms are facultative anaerobes that will not be able to compete with the aerobic organisms that thrive and multiply in well-aerated tea, with appropriate added foods for growth.

High output T5 fluorescent lights can be very rich in spectrum, and are ideal for stimulating healthy plant growth in the earlier stages, and can in some instances be used to raise plants to maturity.

5

COMING UP IN September - October 2010

6

A complex molecule such as a cancerpreventing alkaloid, a pain killer or an antidepressant can now be mass produced, and secreted in pure form from the roots or leaves of the actual plants that make them.

Artichokes and broccoli are actually flower buds.

8

The Short and Vicious Life of a Fungus Gnat

Out of sight but not out of mind, these stealthy pests will cause horrific damage to your plants if undetected.

Applying effective treatment early will ensure they stay out of your garden.

Fruits and Vegetables Just in Time for Fall Buying produce in season means you get the best flavour for the best price. This comprehensive list helps you choose what to buy for fall and how to test product quality.

The Foggy Future of Hydroponics A first for Maximum Yield, Brian Johns presents a piece on fogponics, a relatively new theme in hydroponics, and demonstrates the benefits of this radical new idea.

Industry Meet and Greet Plus Expert Advice Maximum Yield Canada features manufacturers, retailers and growers form this ever-expanding industry. Get to know your indoor gardening comrades in Talking Shop, You Tell Us, How it’s Made and Your Best Advice.

www.maximumyield.com Maximum Yield Canada (September/October) will be available September 1 for FREE at selected indoor gardening retail stores across Canada and on maximumyield.com Subscriptions are available at maximumyield.com/subscriptions.php

74

Maximum Yield Canada | July / August 2010

July/August 2010 MAXIMUM YIELD CANADA

CANADA July - August 2010

I N D O O R

G A R D E N I N G

FREE

ROOTS

YOUR PLANTS’ SILENT PARTNER

YIELD OF DREAMS

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