Maximum Yield USA February 2012

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2012

INDOOR GARDENING EXPO DENVER

GREAT LAKES

SAN FRANCISCO

LONG BEACH

MARCH 10 - 11

JUNE 2 - 3

JULY 21-22

NOVEMBER 3-4

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Maximum Yield USA | February 2012

CONTENTS February 2012

FEATURES 62

50

Sex and the Single Plant

62

The Science Behind Light

68

The Eco Home II - New Homes for a New World

by Bob Ireland and Paul Davis

by Eric Hopper

by Charles Winslow

84

Efficiency and the Indoor Garden

92

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

by Dr. Benjamin Grimes

by Dr. Lynette Morgan

132

110 102

Amino Acid Chelates - Giving Your Plants a Helping Hand

by Frank Rauscher

110

Growing Media Options

by Grubbycup

126 DEPARTMENTS 10

From the Editor

138

Tips and Tricks You Tell Us

118

Perfecting the System

12

Letters to the Editor

148

by Lee McCall

14

MaximumYield.com

150

Beginner’s Corner

126

A Simple Guide to Taking Plant Cuttings

18

Ask the Experts

152

Talking Shop

20

MAX Facts

154

Do You Know?

30

Product Spotlight

154

Coming up in March

82

Green Thumb Gardening

158

Max Mart

by Richard Gellert

108

Avant-Gardening

161

Distributors

Agricultural Robotics

116

Growing for Health

by Matt LeBannister

132 140

Waste Water and the Hydrologic Cycle

by Philip McIntosh

Maximum Yield USA | February 2011

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FROM THE EDITOR | Jessica Raymond Do you want to grow bigger-than-life crops? Do you want to with someone better than you? It’s the same advance your skills in the grow room? Do you want to take with growing. So learn from the experienced your grow to the next level? Then you’ve picked up the right and plan for your garden’s future.You’ll be magazine. In our special Ask the Experts Issue we hear from way ahead with our expert tips. On the 15 industry experts on topics as wide-ranging as best cleaning other hand, if you think you’re too much of practices (to help you get the most out of your system) to agri- an expert to need this issue of Maximum cultural robots (the future is closer than you think!).

Yield, think again. After all, everybody screws Not only are our writers industry experts, but they also have up (even the pros). loads of experience in their specific fields—experience that we Don’t wait a minute longer to dive into this packed all can learn from to advance our knowledge and improve our issue! I hope you enjoy what we have inside. crops and the efficiency of our modern gardens. 2012 started Feel free to e-mail editor@maximumyield.com strong with a variety of new products and technologies that can with any comments, questions, rants or raves. definitely help out in the grow room; this issue features 29 of Jessica Raymond, editor editor@maximumyield.com the latest and greatest products available.

Other ‘expert’ subject matters that are covered in this issue include: The Science Behind Light, Giveaway Waste Water and the Hydrologic Cycle, Amino Acid Win round trip tickets and hotel accommodations for two Chelates and The Top Five Mistakes Made by Adpeople to historic Amsterdam! You and your guest will receive vanced Growers to name a few. airfare and enjoy first-class accommodations for an entire week at the amazing Hotel Sofitel Legend. While in Holland take a once-inIf you don’t consider yourself an expert, don’t a-lifetime tour of House and Garden’s state-of-the-art nutrient manufacturing fear! This issue is perfect for beginners and facility, personally guided by our director of international relations. Official novice growers too.You know how people say you should run (or bike or snowboard or paint!) link to entry page: house-garden.us/events/holland-vacation-giveaway

contributors Charles Winslow, CEO of GW Worldwide LLC, has a bachelor of science in business from California Polytechnic State University. He began building energy efficient homes in 1996 and was instrumental in the local Furrow Building Material start-up. He has worked extensively in wholesale garden center distribution, focusing on hydroponic and lighting development.

Contact gw.worlwide@yahoo.com Dr. Lynette Morgan holds a B. Hort.

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

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.

Lee McCall is an alumnus of Johnson &

Philip McIntosh is a science and

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

Dr. Benjamin Grimes Ph.D (hc) is a

Richard Gellert owns Hydro-Logic

Frank Rauscher is a certified

Paul Davis is responsible for revising

horticulture enthusiast. He regularly applies his extensive skills in engineering and science by installing his control systems for indoor gardens and greenhouses throughout Oregon’s Willamette Valley. Benjamin is devoted to the research and development of sustainable and alternative agriculture solutions. horticulturist and consultant for the garden industry. He’s a contributing author to several publications and was writer and editor of the Green Pages.

Frank finds that analyzing plant stress and finding solutions is exciting. He is very much at home bringing new ideas to the field of horticulture and indoor gardening.

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Grubbycup has been an avid indoor gardener for over 20 years.

His articles were first published in the United Kingdom, and since then his gardening advice has been published in French, Spanish, Italian, Polish, Czechoslovakian and German.

He is also considered one of the world’s leading authorities on crochet hydroponics.

Maximum Yield USA | February 2012

Purification Systems, providers of cutting edge water purification technologies. His knowledge of and passion for water quality has been instrumental in helping gardeners achieve the high quality harvests.

Hydro-Logic offers a complete line of water purification solutions for guaranteed garden success.

and updating the article Sex and the Single Plant, originally written by Bob Ireland. Paul has a strong background in business management and development. He is currently working with Bob’s family to re-launch their plant hormone business.

technology writer with a bachelor’s degree in botany and chemistry and a master’s degree in biological science.

During his graduate research he used hydroponic techniques to grow axenic plants. He lives in Colorado Springs, CO. where he teaches mathematics at Challenger Middle School.

Eric Hopper has over 10 years of

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

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

Maximum Yield is the largest free-to-consumer indoor gardening magazine in the world. Every issue is available on maximumyield.com, which has thousands of unique visitors monthly.

Maximum Yield USA | February 2012

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Inspired Reading

Best Ever

I just started receiving my new subscription to Maximum Yield. I absolutely love it—with new growing techniques, nutrient recipes from the experts and tips and tricks for every subject in between. I especially liked The Devil is in the Details

by Casey Fraser from the January 2012 Back to the Basics Beginner’s Issue.

Maximum Yield is going to be the vehicle for me to be a better gardener, indoors and out.

Aimee Lamson

I have been reading Maximum Yield for the past three years and have found the issues very helpful in dealing with my plants. The August 2011 USA issue has been, by far, the most interesting and helpful to me for what I grow in my poly greenhouse—tomatoes, peppers, herbs and cucumbers.

The 2012 growing season will be the best and most productive one yet due to articles on soil, nutrients, roots, growing conditions and lighting by Lee McCall, Grubbycup, Dr. Benjamin Grimes, Philip McIntosh and more.

The Max-Mart and retail distributor sections of the magazine are also very helpful for me as we do some RVing in the summer to Colorado, Oregon, Utah and Washington and I am able to patronize the retailers listed.

Tom Gray

Blissful Beginner

Just checking out the latest issue of MY (January 2012, Back to the Basics) and it looks great. Love the articles and the graphics.

There’s a lot of good stuff in here, a lot of helpful information.

My favorite articles from this issue are from my favorite writers including Grubbycup, Dr. Lynette Morgan and Casey Jones Fraser. Keep up the great work. Maximum Yield rocks!

Josh Simmons

Growing on the East Coast

GREAT LAKES MICHIGAN June 2 - 3

via Facebook

Great article on propagating aloe in recent issue.

Dragon Juice Norcal

Will you guys be doing any Indoor Gardening Expos on the East Coast this year? I live in Indiana and would love to hit one up.

Michael Nelson New for 2012, Maximum Yield will be coming to Novi, Michigan June 3 for the 1st Annual Great Lakes Expo—located just a few hours north of you. We’re excited to finally serve growers on the East. Make sure to stay tuned to our updated site at indoorgardenexpo.com for complete event details, updates and information on all the Indoor Gardening Expos planned on the ‘Grow Like A Pro’ 2012 Tour.

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Maximum Yield USA | February 2012

We want to hear from you!

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

Maximum Yield USA | February 2012

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COMING UP ON THE WEB Upcoming Events ‘Grow Like A Pro’ in Denver, Colorado, March 2012 Maximum Yield will be returning to Denver, Colorado March 11 to kick off the 2012 Indoor Gardening Expo North American ‘Grow Like a Pro’ Tour. Maximum Yield and the Colorado Convention Center welcome growers from around the world to participate a full day of networking, education and entertainment. Visit indoorgardenexpo.com for complete event details.

Got Questions? Get Answers.

Maximum Yield’s resident experts are available and ready to answer your modern gardening questions.

E-mail editor@maximumyield.com or fill out the Ask the Experts question form on maximumyield.com

Free Digital Subscription to Maximum Yield Now you can receive Maximum Yield Magazine free to your inbox every month. Subscribe to the digital edition of Maximum Yield by simply filling out the form at maximumyield.com/subscribe-digital.php

Connect to MaximumYield.com instantly from your Smartphone with our Quick Response (QR) Code, found on the cover of every issue of 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 the QR Code Reader software compatible with your Smartphone, scan the QR Code and your phone’s browser will automatically launch, redirecting you to maximumyield.com. It’s that simple!

Connect with Maximum Yield

maximumyield.com facebook.com/MaximumYield indoorgardeningexpo.com twitter.com/max_yield

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

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Maximum Yield USA | February 2012

VOLUME 12 – NUMBER 11 February 2012 Maximum Yield is published monthly by Maximum Yield Publications Inc. 2339A Delinea Place, Nanaimo, BC V9T 5L9 Phone: 250.729.2677; Fax 250.729.2687 No part of this magazine may be reproduced without permission from the publisher.

If undeliverable please return to the address above.

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

Publication Agreement Number 40739092 Printed In Canada.

PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER - Jim Jesson GENERAL MANAGER - Don Moores BUSINESS MANAGER - Linda Jesson 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 Ashley Heppell - ashley@maximumyield.com Hayley Jesson - Hayley@maximumyield.com PRODUCTION & DESIGN ads@ads.maximumyield.com Mike Linden - mike@maximumyield.com Jennifer Duong - jennifer@maximumyield.com Alice Joe - alice@maximumyield.com Liz Johnston - liz@maximumyield.com ACCOUNTING Tracy Greeno - accounting@maximumyield.com Tara Campbell - tara@maximumyield.com USA DISTRIBUTION Aurora Innovations BWGS General Hydroponics Humbolt Wholesale Hydrofarm Hydro International National Garden Wholesale / Sunlight Supply Nickel City Wholesale Garden Supply R&M Supply Tradewinds CANADIAN DISTRIBUTION Brite-Lite Group Biofloral Eddis Wholesale Greenstar Plant Products Inc. MegaWatt Quality Wholesale UK DISTRIBUTION Direct Garden Supplies Growth Technology Future Harvest Development Europe Nutriculture UK Dutch Pro AUSTRALIAN DISTRIBUTION Dome Garden Supply House N Garden Futchatec Growth Technology Hydraspher

Maximum Yield USA | February 2012

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Maximum Yield USA | February 2012

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ASK THE EXPERTS

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

Paul

Can you give me results for growing crops in soil versus aeroponics—rates, yields, etc.?

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

Maximum Yield Magazine did, however, publish one grower’s take on the effects on growth with aeroponics and soil (see link below) and while this may or may not be typical of differences between the systems, the results are interesting. maximumyield.com/article_sh_db.php?articleID=423 Dr. Lynette Morgan

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Maximum Yield USA | February 2012

We don’t recommend attempting to feed your unrooted clones.

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

Nutrients are fuel for growth, and during the rooting process you want your fresh cuttings to only concentrate on root development and not leaf and foliage production. Once your cuttings have started to root, a very light strength grow nutrient can be added to your solution to begin encouraging normal, healthy vegetative growth.We recommend dipping cuttings in a quality rooting gel and placing it in your cloner or medium.

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

Scott Thompson-Montague, research and development manager at EZCLONE Enterprises, Inc.

Maximum Yield USA | February 2012

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MAX FACTS

hydroponic news, tips and trivia

Rainfall Culprit in Leaf Disease Transmission, Scientists Suspect Scientists from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge and the University of Liege in Belgium have identified two ways in which plant disease pathogens are spread from leaf to leaf by raindrops—directly, where pathogens are splashed off infected leaf surfaces onto healthy plants; and indirectly, where an accumulation of water pushes drops carrying dissolved fungi, bacteria and viruses off the leaves and then onto healthy plants or into the soil.

With the cost of plant diseases presently estimated at three billion dollars a year in the United States alone, the researchers are optimistic their work will provide some guidance for farmers by providing suggestions for optimal spacing between plants.

(Source:: sciencedaily.com)

MAXFACTS hydroponic news, tips and trivia

Blue Light Good for Lettuce Japanese scientists have discovered that treating lettuce seedlings with blue and red-blue light promotes the yield and antioxidant content of lettuce plants after transplanting.

Researchers reported that at 45 days after sowing, higher leaf areas and shoot fresh weight were obtained in lettuce plants treated with blue-containing LED lights and that polyphenol contents and total antioxidant status were also greater in lettuce seedlings treated with blue-containing LED lights when compared to seedlings that had been treated with fluorescent lights.

(Source: sciencedaily.com)

$4 Billion Energy Efficiency Initiative Announced President Obama has announced the launch of a $4 billion private-public initiative to upgrade the energy efficiency of the nation’s buildings.

A recent White House statement explained that the entire initiative will cost United States taxpayers nothing, since the planned energy upgrades to federal buildings will use long-term energy savings to pay for up-front renovation costs.

Former president Bill Clinton joined Obama in making the announcement.

(Source: treehugger.com)

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Maximum Yield USA | February 2012

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MAX FACTS

hydroponic news, tips and trivia

Walnut Trees at Risk in Changing Climate Researchers at Purdue University have predicted that United States walnut growers may be in for a tough time as the climate continues to change, warning that warmer, drier summers and extreme weather events could be fatal for walnut trees, an important resource in several states including Indiana and California.

Drought and temperature fluctuations associated with climate change are dangerous for walnut trees, which produced about $1 billion worth of edible nuts in California in 2010. The trees are also important to the United States hardwood industry, with black walnut logs accounting for about $11 million in annual revenue in Indiana alone.

(Source: sciencedaily.com)

Herbicide Responsible for Chemical Castration, Study Finds Atrizine, an herbicide used extensively on cornfields in the Midwest and on sugar cane fields in Florida, has been found to “chemically castrate” animals exposed to it, reports a study by a team of 22 researchers from more than 60 nations in the Journal of Steroid Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.

The European Union has already banned the use of atrazine, although a spokesman from the manufacturer, Switzerland-based Syngenta, denied there is cause for concern, saying that “atrazine cannot, does not and will not cause adverse effects at levels to which people would ever be exposed in the real world.”

(Source: news.discovery.com)

Maize Gets Sex Change A Purdue University researcher has found that removing naturally-occurring plant steroid hormones in corn plants not only makes them shorter and sturdier, but produces only female plants—a big advantage for the seed industry.

Hybrid maize seed producers must remove male pollen-producing tassels from corn plants so that they do not pollinate themselves, but Burkhard Schulz—an assistant professor of horticulture and landscape architecture—said maize plants that produce only female organs would eliminate the costly and painstaking detasseling step.

“We don’t know if this is a special case for corn or if this is generally the same in other plants,” Schulz said. “If it is the same in other plants, it should be useful for creating plants or trees in which you want only males or females.”

(Source: sciencedaily.com)

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Maximum Yield USA | February 2012

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MAX FACTS

hydroponic news, tips and trivia

Controlling Whiteflies the Green Way A USDA study conducted in association with a scientist from the University of Arizona has shown Arizona cotton growers that controlling whiteflies with greener, whitefly-specific pesticides is both more effective and less damaging to the environment than continuing to employ broad-spectrum insecticides that also killed all the whitefly’s natural predators.

The study—conducted by Steve Naranjo, a scientist with the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Peter Ellsworth of the University of Arizona—showed that while whiteflies initially died off at about the same rate in areas treated with both the whitefly-specific and the broadspectrum insecticides, the area where the researchers sprayed broad-spectrum insecticides had to be repeatedly sprayed to control whiteflies, while there was no need to re-spray the area treated once with the whitefly-specific insecticide.

(Source: ars.usda.gov)

Carnegie Scientists Find Sugar Pump Scientists working with the Carnegie Institute have identified a missing piece of the molecular pump system in plants—the protein that moves sucrose to the inside of the plant’s leaf cell walls.

The researchers believe that it is highly likely that the animal-cell version of this same protein fulfills a similar role in animals and humans, which could be a major breakthrough for diabetes and obesity research.

The discovery is also good news for scientists researching ways to increase food security by improving crop yields.

A spokesman from the research team said that “The identification of these critical transporters is a major step toward developing strategies to ensure food supplies and keep food prices in check.”

(Source: sciencedaily.com)

Old Wine Bottles Upcycled into Hydrogardens An article on EcoSalon.com reports that a United States company is marketing recycled wine bottles as hydroponic gardens for herbs like basil, mint, oregano, parsley and chives.

Priced at $35, each Growbottle includes “Hand-crafted recycled wine bottle, soil, USDA certified organic/ heirloom seeds, clay pebbles, wool wick, plant nutrient, cork coaster [and] ribbon made from recycled plastic bottles.”

The bottle gardens can be reused virtually endlessly and buyers need only “to remember to water them and let the wonders of hydroponics take over.”

(Source: treehugger.com)

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Maximum Yield USA | February 2012

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MAX FACTS

hydroponic news, tips and trivia

Scientists Identify Disease-Fighting Plant Response University of Missouri researchers have identified a protein in a common weed that could help crops of the future fight off devastating infections. Arabidopsis, a weed related to the mustard plant, contains immune receptors that act as sentinels to detect pathogens and trigger an ‘alarm’ that leads to a vigorous plant defense response.

The researchers believe that further study could lead to ways to add the alarm response to plants missing the protein or to amplify the response in plants that already have it, which could eventually help crops like soybeans fend off pathogens without the use of chemicals.

(Source: sciencedaily.com)

New Porsche Headquarters Goes Green Porsche’s new 200,000 square foot United States headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia will Goi sport natural ventilation, on-site energy ng G reen generation and green roofs that will reduce the heat-island effect and filter rainwater before it can return to the city’s water system, according to a spokesman from the designers, architecture firm HOK. The designers are aiming to achieve a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification with the futuristic complex, which will accommodate up to 400 employees.

(Source: treehugger.com)

Houston Bread Truck Becomes “Invasive Plant Eradication Unit” A former bread truck has been converted into a mobile headquarters to serve as a workstation, laboratory, bookmobile and vehicle for public education in the battle against invasive plant species along the Buffalo Bayou and its tributaries.

The customized truck—meant to draw public attention to the issue of plant species that are taken out of their natural ecosystems and placed in areas where they have no predators or competition, often taking over from native species and diminishing local biodiversity—was converted for the purpose of re-educating the public, complete with detailed images of invasive species on its exterior.

(Source: treehugger.com) 26

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Maximum Yield USA | February 2012

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MAX FACTS

hydroponic news, tips and trivia

Scientists Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions with Biochar

Scientists Named to ARS Science Hall of Fame Three USDA scientists—zoologist Ronald Fayer, soil scientist Ronald F. Follett and agricultural engineer Allen R. Dedrick—have been named to the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Science Hall of Fame for their work on irrigation management, identifying key parasites infecting the water and food supply, and sustainable agricultural production during global climate change.

The ARS Science Hall of Fame was established in 1986 to recognize agency researchers for lifelong achievements in agricultural sciences and technology.

(Source: ars.usda.gov)

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Maximum Yield USA | February 2012

Soil scientists working at the ARS Soil and Water Management Research Unit in St. Paul, Minnesota have discovered that adding a charred biomass material called biochar to glacial soils can help reduce emissions of the greenhouse gases carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide.

ARS scientists Kurt Spokas and John Baker found that amending glacial soils with biochar made from macadamia nut shells reduced a range of greenhouse gas emissions.

Studies by the USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) are beginning to yield valuable information about how biochar—a charred biomass created from wood, plant material and manure—is able to interact beneficially with soil and crops.

(Source: ars.usda.gov)

Maximum Yield USA | February 2012

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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

YOUR GUIDE TO THIS MONTH’S

HOTTEST ITEMS Ask for them at your local indoor gardening store.

Introducing Optimize From Age Old Organics New for 2012 Age Old Organics is introducing an amino acid product, Optimize. It has all the essential L-18 amino acids readily available for your plant. Made from non-GMO plant proteins, Optimize is safe for the environment, you and your family. Amino acids are great for maintaining the quality of fruits, vegetables and other perennial crops. Using Optimize with your regular feeding schedule will help balance nutrient uptake. It will also help your plant withstand most stress conditions caused naturally or chemically. Optimize from Age Old Organics is something every gardener needs if they want healthier plants and better yields. Visit your favorite hydroponics shop to learn more.

Three-in-one Lazy Gardener

Roots Organics CocoPalms

The three-in-one Lazy Gardener uses patent pending technology to automatically water, warm and aerate your plants’ root systems around the clock. It delivers water vapor, which greatly reduces water use. The Lazy Gardener maintains stable moisture content, root zone temperature and oxygen levels, and fosters growth of beneficial microorganisms. This maximizes yield with minimal effort. With the Lazy Gardener you can take a vacation from your plants for weeks at a time.

All you need to supply is a power outlet and water reservoir.

Contact your local retail shop to buy the Lazy Gardener.

Roots Organics CocoPalms is the result of years of research about what makes the best coco growing mediums. We import only premium quality, freshwater, washed and composted, low EC coir from global sources. It is then processed and naturally buffered in the United States. Roots Organics CocoPalms has a near perfect pH level (5.2 to 6.3) for optimum nutrient uptake and has a superb air-to-water ratio making it an ideal material to use as an amendment or mulch. Roots Organics CocoPalms is made from environmentally-friendly coconut husk, and was specially designed with a natural buffer to make it more user-friendly.

For more information about the Roots Organics line of quality products or to purchase CocoPalms, visit a hydroponics shop near you.

AQUAbox Straight The AutoPot AQUAbox Straight incorporates the AQUAvalve technology and is ideal for large planters, narrow raised beds, grow bags and allotments. Simply place the AQUAbox Straight in the ground and connect to a waterbutt or tank. The capillary matting pulls the water from the AQUAbox Straight and distributes it into the soil below. The roots instinctively head to the water source and attach to the capillary matting. You can connect several AQUAbox Straights to one waterbutt or tank to irrigate a larger area.

The AQUAbox is the perfect irrigation solution for weekends or holidays away and year-round watering.

No electricity or pumps required. Visit a hydroponics shop near you to check it out.

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Maximum Yield USA | February 2012

Maximum Yield USA | October 2011

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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Solve Plant Problems Naturally With Botanicare’s Fulvex Known as nature’s problem solver, fulvic acid has been helping hydroponic growers increase the effectiveness of their nutrient solutions for decades. Botanicare’s Fulvex combines concentrated amounts of fulvic acid with a blend of over 72 trace minerals dedicated to increasing your plants’ absorbency and mineral needs. Fulvex should be used as a low dose additive to facilitate the uptake of heavy macro- and micronutrients. Fulvex swiftly corrects deficiencies; the minerals/vitamins sprayed onto the leaves are absorbed into the plant’s vascular system to quickly correct localized deficiencies. Fulvex is available now at authorized Botanicare retail shops across the country.

New Tower Gro Pot Kits Tower Gro Pots are hydroponic grow pots that provide maximum growth results with minimal effort. These high-quality decorative plastic pots are designed to last a lifetime while serving as an attractive display for the plants growing inside. Whether they’re used indoors or out, they provide a space-saving alternative to traditional horizontally-oriented tray set-ups. Look for them at your favorite hydroponic retail shop today.

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Maximum Yield USA | February 2012

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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Butterfly Clamps Say goodbye to screwdrivers.

Our brand new stainless steel Butterfly Clamps have a super convenient turn knob to easily loosen or tighten the clamp without the hassle of excess tools.

These clamps work great on both irrigation hoses (available in 0.5-, 0.75-, one- and 1.5-inch models) and small ducting (available in four- and six-inch models) by preventing water and air leaks.

They’re also a great option for under water use as they will never rust or corrode. Check them out at your local hydroponic shops.

Presenting Dr. Earth’s Metabolic Transformer® After revolutionizing an entire industry with one breakthrough innovation after another, Dr. Earth’s founder and formulator Milo Shammas now offers you his very best Metabolic Transformer®. Milo Shammas invented ProBiotic® based on nature’s intelligence and his understanding of the complex relationship between soil and the root systems of plants. Twelve years later came his next innovation, ProMoisture Hydrate® with Aloe Vera to keep the intelligence alive.

Now, with Metabolic Transformer®, he combines ProMoisture Hydrate® with super concentrated ProBiotic® to create a catalyst for amazing results in any soil type. For more information and to purchase Dr. Earth products visit your favorite indoor gardening retail store.

Know More, Grow More Forston Labs’s new Lux Meter easily and accurately measures the strength of indoor lighting.

It plugs right into the Lab Navigator and immediately provides information on exactly how much light plants are getting. Forston’s Lux Meter measures the intensity and placement of the light source. With Forston’s Lux Meter and the Lab Navigator, the user can optimize the lighting component of the growing process. Couple the Lux Meter with Forston’s other tools such as sensors for pH, EC, temperature, carbon dioxide, etc. and optimize every facet of the growing operation. Ask for Forston Lab’s Lux Meter at your favorite hydroponics shop.

BioWave Subsonic Harmonic Wave Machine The BioWave Subsonic Harmonic Wave Machine creates a subsonic harmonic wave that improves plant respiration, increasing plant yields by an average of 20 per cent and total dissolved solids by a whopping 55 per cent. This revolutionary, patentpending machine enhances plant metabolism, photosynthesis and health so your hydroponic plants grow more rapidly, resist diseases better and produce larger yields. The 9,200 unit is specifically designed for indoor plants. Ask for it now at your local hydroponic retail shop.

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Maximum Yield USA | February 2012

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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Phresh – The Quietest Silencer Yet Faced with the dilemma of noisy fans and heavy fiberglass mufflers, the clever engineers at Phresh Filter tested dozens of materials and designs to create the Phresh Silencer series of fan mufflers. The Phresh Silencers are the quietest, lightest and best priced mufflers available. Sound waves are captured in the dense foam while air passes through without loss. The Phresh foam has proved superior to glass pack or “cherry bomb” mufflers, which won’t get brittle or mold. The Silencer features our exclusive 3D™ Principle, the minimum length for the specific sound waves captured, making them the smallest and most effective. Available for four-, six-, eight-, 10-, 12- and 14-inch fans and ducting exclusively from Sunlight Supply authorized retailers.

Sunshined Advanced Plant Fuel Max Flowering Plant Fuel Max Flowering builds on the vegetative foundation of Plant Fuel Max Growth. For the time-challenged grower, simplicity and ease-of-use makes Plant Fuel’s two-formula system the perfect solution for a busy lifestyle. The low nitrogen content of Max Flowering helps plants shift growth energy from foliage into bud and blossom formation with more generous phosphorous and potassium levels. Well established Mycorrhizae means there is no downside to higher phosphorous content. Plant Fuel’s chelated micronutrients are specially formulated to provide just the essentials and constant pH levels, eliminating the need for adjustments. Make the proven results of Max Growth and Max Flowers the cornerstone of your nutritional program. Ask for it now at your local hydroponics shop.

Growstones™ Nothing makes your hydroponic or soil plants stronger, healthier or more bountiful than Growstones™ Hydroponic Growth Medium and Super Soil Aerator.

Their porous surface and irregular shapes help anchor roots for greater stability and growth potential and help restructure soil for greater efficiency and productiveness. Growstones™ start out as discarded glass from the landfill. The glass is reclaimed and repurposed into 100 per cent eco-friendly Growstones™ that make your plants and our planet happy. Growstones™ make your plants beautiful without doing ugly things to the earth. Visit your local hydroponics shop near you for more information.

HydroRush™ Water Oxygenator HydroRush™ Water Oxygenator is a pH neutral water treatment that provides a safe and efficient way to introduce available oxygen for your plants without using harmful or poisonous chemicals.

This patented, ready-to-use water treatment root growth stimulator gives plants fast growing, bright white roots that promote better nutrient uptake, healthier plants and faster yields.

HydroRush has proven effective at stimulating beneficial microbial populations in the root zone to enhance the process that releases oxygen and other nutrients. HydroRush helps prevent root rot and slime buildup and can also prolong the life of compost tea. Visit your favorite hydroponic shop for more information.

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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

The Green Pad Green Pad CO2 Generators might be one of the most inexpensive and innovative ways to get the good gas to your plants and cuttings. The Green Pads were designed to produce enough CO2 for indoor gardens to be of significant benefit without the upfront expense of CO2 equipment. Green Pads hang inside your garden and absorb the room’s humidity (35 to 50 per cent) to power the pad’s natural chemical reaction, releasing carbon dioxide. To maintain higher PPMs use one to two Green Pads per 250 to 400 cubic feet of space per week. Leave unused pads in original packaging to last up to one year. Ask your favorite hydroponics shop to carry the Green Pad today.

Introducing General Hydroponics’s FloraNectar Coconut and Sugar The scientists at General Hydroponics have formulated FloraNectar to optimize the greatest transference of sweetness and aroma into your fruits and flowers. FloraNectar contains all-natural raw cane sugar, molasses, malt syrup, select plant-based esters, L-amino acids, organic acids, vitamins and essential minerals. This unique blend of ingredients helps your plants regulate enzymes that trigger specific reactions involved in maintaining optimal metabolism. This allows your plants to achieve a balance between respiration and photosynthesis in high intensity growing environments. FloraNectar fulfills the additional energy requirements of your plants throughout all phases of growth and during stressful times of transition, and it’s now available in Coconut and Sugar Cane at your local hydroponics shop.

Low Rider™ Air-Cooled Reflector (six inches) Announcing the arrival of Low Rider™, the newest air-cooled reflector in the Sun System Reflector lineup. The Low Rider™ has the distinction of being the most compact high output hood on the market! It is unique because it’s only sixinches tall (17.5- by 17.5-inches square) for low ceilings or use between floor joists. It’s completely sealed with hinged and double gasketed glass, and features 95 per cent reflective European aluminum interior and built-in six-inch oval shaped air-cooled flanges with bead ring to keep ducting securely in place. American made at our Woodland, WA facility. Visit an indoor gardening shop near you for more information.

Vital Tea by Vital Landscaping Vital Tea, developed by the leaders in organic/biologic gardening and agriculture products, is a pre-measured, ready-to-brew tea bag filled with all of the finest organic and biological ingredients including: Baseline, super microbial-rich compost, humus and worm castings. Vital Tea also has a perfect dose of a mineral supplement that raises the brix/sugar content through the roof.

A once a week foliar application and root drench of Vital Tea will increase your plant’s ability to fight pests and disease, and increase its ability to uptake nutrients. The teabags come packaged in a pouch of 10 teabags for a five-gallon brew and 14 teabags for a 55-gallon brew. Compost tea brewing just became easy. Ask your local retailer to offer Vital Tea today.

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Continued on page 42

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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT Continued from page 38

Roots Organics Green Lite Roots Organics Green Lite growing mix is an aggressive, free-draining indoor and outdoor potting mix. Green Lite is designed with more perlite and pumice for enhanced drainage and greater oxygen in the root zone, and with specific ingredients for versatile container gardening. This mix has been extensively tested and you will see the results of this excellent high porosity blend in your garden. Roots Organics Green Lite is calculated to give you control and accelerate your garden for vigorous plants and root systems. For more information about the Roots Organics line of quality products or to purchase Green Lite, visit your favorite indoor gardening shop.

AutoPot Easy2grow Liquid Feed The AutoPot easy2grow Liquid Feed has been specially formulated to be used with AutoPot products, however, it is suitable for use in all watering systems. It is now available in a range of sizes including: eight-ounces, one-quart, one-gallon and five-gallons. Easy2grow Liquid Plant Fertilizer will leave minimal sediment ensuring clear lines and piping. It is a one-part feed that dilutes extremely well in water, so will remain mixed. It provides all the required nutrients with added seaweed to ensure your crops will bloom and grow to their full capacity time and time again. Visit a hydroponics shop near you to learn more.

150W Sunleaves OptiLUME HPS Lamps Now Available Available in a new 150-watt version, efficient Sunleaves OptiLUME High Pressure Sodium Lamps emulate natural sunlight and promote bud set, flower formation, and fruit and vegetable production as they distribute light energy concentrated in the red-orange portion of the spectrum. Universal design allows horizontal and base operation, and the one-year warranty on each lamp assures dependable performance. Find one at your local hydroponic retailer today.

Two-inch Colorful Neoprene Inserts Our brand new two- by 0.5-inch multicolored Neoprene Inserts are the same great quality as our other Neoprene Insert models and fit most popular brand cloning machines, but each pack contains 192 pieces and are ideal for color-coding to keep your plant strains organized. Each pack comes with 32 inserts of each color: red, orange, yellow, green, blue and purple. For more information, visit your favorite retailer.

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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT Introducing BioZeus Earth Juice BioZeus is a proprietary blend of 10 naturally-occurring beneficial soil microbes. This formula is a solution grade powder that may be applied by mixing directly into the medium. It can also be applied as a liquid feed by adding to water, plant teas or fertilizer solutions. BioZeus contains the following non-plant food active ingredients: Azotobacter chroococcum, Azotobacter vinelandii, Azospirillum lipoferum, Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus megaterium, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Rhizobium japonicum, Trichoderma harzianum, Trichoderma viride. For use in indoor and outdoor applications, as well as soil and hydroponics. Ask for it today at your local hydroponics shop.

Sunshine Advanced Super Hydro

The Green Pad Jr.

Sunshine Advanced Super Hydro is a problem solver for humid climates. It combines a start-up fertilizer and a solid dose of microbes. Super Hydro contains our highest degree of aeration with an optimal combination of washed coir to limit salts, and Canadian sphagnum peat moss. While moisture conditions are vital, it’s the bio-actives that give Super Hydro its powerful punch. Worm castings are added to bring vital micronutrients into the root zone and to introduce a variety of microbes that ensure naturally healthy plants.

Send them off to a screaming start with our most generous nutrient pack containing optimal nitrogen and potassium to support a superior root system.

With organic Super Hydro, expect superior performance in both vegetative and reproductive growth phases. Available now at authorized Sunshine Advanced retail shops across the country.

CO2 accelerates the natural rooting process for cuttings and seedlings so they can establish healthy roots and more node growth.

The Green Pad Jr.’s natural chemicals react to humidity to release CO2. Results include higher strike rates, less leaf yellowing and faster rooting. The Green Pad Jr. is placed in the humidity dome and replaced every other day until cuttings or seedlings are fully rooted. Keep unused pads dry in original packaging and they will last up to one year. The Green Pad Jr. allows you to move healthy rooted cuttings and seedlings into vegetative growth faster. Ask your favorite hydroponics shop to carry the Green Pad Jr. today.

Roots Organics Seabird Guano Roots Organics Seabird Guano is an excellent source of phosphate and calcium. Carefully sifted and processed to make it easy to work with, Roots Organics Seabird Guano encourages vigorous growth and is fast-acting for quick results. All of the Roots Organics guanos have been carefully sourced for quality and harvested with habitat-friendly methods so you get performance with principles. Available in both powdered and granular. For more information about the Roots Organics line of quality products or to purchase Seabird Guano, visit your favorite indoor gardening shop.

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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Drip No More With New Sunleaves Accessories Perfect your pour with new accessories now available from Sunleaves. The No Drip Bottle Clip allows for easy, mess-free pours and snaps onto standard gallon-size bottles and others with 38-millimeter diameter openings, converting their spouts into funnels for more control. The two-way Nutrient Nozzle attaches to standard quart/liter and gallon-sized bottles and extends pouring reach by more than nine-inches, eliminating spills and splashes. It includes a threaded nozzle and spout, and fits bottles with 28- to 38-millimeter diameter openings. Find them at your local gardening supplier today.

Reducers – New Sizes You asked for new reducer sizes and now they’re available. qThey’re an industry first. Available in 10- by six-inches and 12- by eight-inches. Made of galvanized steel and sized for the perfect fit, these reducers skip a size so you don’t have to waste time and money buying multiple sizes. Check them out at your local hydroponic shops.

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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT

Sunshine Advanced Ultra Coir Sunshine Advanced Ultra Coir was designed for the grower who wants to control every aspect of nutrition. This delightfully simple blend may be used alone or mixed with our other quality growing media. Largely composed of washed coconut coir for lower pH, this mix offers maximized water retention, a valuable quality in dry climates with problematic high evaporation rates. The addition of compost brings nitrogen to higher levels than any other formula, coupled with a heavy potassium load to stimulate expansive rooting through this porous yet fertile mix.

Don’t risk your crop on a media prone to rapid dehydration when Ultra Coir absorbs and nurtures its moisture content to make sure its there when roots need it most. Visit your nearest hydroponics shop for more information.

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Complete Garden in a Box From Nutriculture Nutriculture offers the biggest yields, boxed! Since 1976, our expertlyengineered hydroponic systems have helped growers achieve optimum growth and yields. Our knowledge, expertise and years of experience have set us apart, resulting in the finest grow products with some fantastic features. Today, with over 40 systems distributed worldwide we offer a system to suit every type of grower: • Aeroponic propagators and grow systems • Ebb and flood tables • Drip irrigation systems • Nutrient film technique Nutriculture gardens come with easy set-up instructions, and a reservoir, tray, pump and delivery system, all fully boxed for convenience. Ask for Nutriculture’s Complete Gardens in a Box at your local hydroponic shop.

Sex & the Single Plant

by Bob Ireland

Originally published in May, 1987; revisited and revised for Maximum Yield by Paul Davis

The late Bob Ireland shares some tips with us for controlling the sex of your plants with growth hormones.

Hormones are organic molecules produced by plants and transported within them to various sites where they control, stimulate, inhibit or alter one another, affecting plant growth and development. The term ‘growth regulator’ encompasses not only naturally-occurring plant hormones but also the hundreds of synthetic organic compounds found today that can exert profound regulatory effects on plant growth.

It is obviously advantageous for plants to grow at the maximum rate permitted by their environment. Signals from the environment are translated via hormones into integrated growth responses exactly suited to a plant’s situation. Hormones regulate the process of responding to the environment by allowing the decoding and translation of the proteins (enzymes) that influence the organization of the internal chemistry of the plant’s cells and the interaction among them.

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Sex in a flowering plant is controlled by both genetics and growth. Other products use a cytokinin (6-BAP) to promote the environment. While the sex chromosomes carry inforcell division and to promote the formation of female hormation that predisposes plants to become one sex or the mones from the very beginning. Herbal teas, aspirin, birth other, the information for the other sex is still present, but control pills, willow water and other mystical solutions that repressed. We know this to be true; otherwise, we would not people swear by undoubtedly have precursors or metabolites see the sex revertants and herthat mimic auxins or cytokins. Even maphrodites that seem to pop without any help, however, new “When conditions are favorable up out of nowhere. plantlets will synthesize their own The role of the environment hormones to do things we take for for plants, a higher percentage in this process can be summawill influence the of females are formed in order to granted—these rized into a philosophical line ability of the seed to point the growensure a population boom in that ing root down and the vegetative tip of scientific thinking called the ‘favorable environment’ theory. skyward. growing area.”

When conditions are favorable For transplants and clones the most for plants, a higher percentsignificant hormones are the auxins, age of females are formed in order to ensure a population which act as rooting hormones and are the most commonly boom in that growing area. Fewer males are formed since available commercially. These products, some of which are less pollen is needed to maintain a high survival rate. When used as rooting compounds and soil amendments, come in conditions are harsh, more males are formed, since more either liquid or powder—each has its advocates—and include pollen is needed to ensure the current female population is indole acetic acid (NAA) and indolebutyric acid (IBA). All fertilized. Also, more pollen can be scattered in the wind to of these auxin products have been implicated in promoting reach outlying populations in more favorable growing areas. female plants—whether indirectly by promoting a favorable Have you ever noticed that your earliest and tallest plants are environment, or directly by influencing the hormonal matrix generally males? regulating sex translation.

With that in mind, it stands to reason that good growing In healthy juveniles, natural hormones are synthesized. Cytechniques by themselves will tend to promote the favorable tokinins are manufactured for overall health and ion transport, disposition of your plants toward becoming female. HowGA is synthesized for vigorous growth and auxins migrate to ever, there are times in the plant life cycle when the applicathe growing tips to aid in active cell division and elongation. tion of knowledge about hormones (or growth regulators) can be used to our advantage.

Life Cycles Auxins, cytokinins and gibberellins are the principle growthpromoting hormones. Auxins promote rooting, leaf and fruit retention and directional growth, while cytokinins promote active cell mitosis, ion transport and general vigor. Auxins and cytokinins have, in general, been implicated in favoring feminization in plants. Gibberellic acid (GA) is the most powerful growth promoter because it increases internode spacing and it also promotes flowering in a great many ornamental plants, but in many cases the flowering plants are all male.

Numerous natural or synthetic growth-promoting and growth-retarding substances are available commercially.

These not only affect the life cycle stage they are intended to enhance, but often have a direct impact on the promotion of sex characteristics.

At the seed level there are soaking solutions that combine an auxin (naphthyl-acetic acid) and a coenzyme (vitamin B-1), both of which are vitally important to initial active

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Herbal teas, aspirin, birth control pills, willow water and other mystical solutions that people swear by undoubtedly have precursors or metabolites that mimic auxins or cytokins.

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If you manually manipulate your plants you are actually toying with the hormones. If you pinch the growing tip, auxins will no longer be concentrated there but will migrate in equal numbers to the two new growing tips below the cut. Also, since pinching the tip removes the focal point for auxins, more of them become available to migrate to the side branches and increase lateral branching. Bending your plants also creates a reaction—a side branch tipped up and down will react to the light (phototropism) and become a new growing tip. Auxins are marshaled into these new growing tips and the ones given the most light and filled with the highest concentration of auxins will grow the fastest.

This all can be overdone, however. As your plants grow, they start manufacturing floral hormones in preparation for flowering. If you prune too severely just before induction, it will take a while for the floral hormones to concentrate again.

There are ways to chemically manipulate your plants’ sex characteristics in the vegetative phase—in other words, to predispose them to produce female hormones in preparation for flowering. Some fertilizers include minute amounts of all the auxins to promote better general health and vigor. Theoretically, auxin sprays might enhance feminization. Different concentrations of NAA solutions are used in the olive industry, where one is used to prevent fruit drop and another to prevent fruit from forming—it is unknown whether they will work on other flowering plants in these same concentrations. Research Continued on page 58

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Sex & the Single Plant

Continued from page 54

tests involving miscellaneous foliar cytokinin sprays appear promising, but are not yet readily available. I once put together a product that was made up of NAA and IBA in lanolin, applied with a cotton swab. Sometimes the flowering that resulted was phenomenal, but other times the plant mutated and there was no flowering response at all.

As with the majority of plant hormone products, considerable research and replication must be put in to find a product that works in all environmental conditions and for different strains.

Perhaps the best and most consistent flower-promoting products available are the growth retardants. Their virtue is in reducing the internodal length and therefore the total height of plants, which is important for achieving efficiency in your growing space. The plant’s reward is elimination of wasted energy in vertical growth and the development of sturdier stalks to survive wind, rain and heavy blossoms. Energy is channeled into better lateral growth and producing bigger, fuller buds that tend to flower earlier. Furthermore, there is a marked tendency to promote more females, since these products are generally anti-gibberellins. As mentioned, GA promotes maleness in plants; growth retardants inhibit precursors to GA formation within the plant.

There are quite a number of growth retardants available commercially. The active retardant chemicals among the ones you may have encountered are ancymidol, dikegulac, paciobutrazol and chlormequat. None of these have been proven safe for use with consumable products though, and are only safe for ornamentals such as azaleas and chrysanthemums.

The diaminozide families of growth retardants, the basis of several commercial growth retardant products, have also been found to be effective. One such product also contains the auxin NAA, to enhance flowering in the now shorter, sturdier, bushier plants.

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Flowering The flowering process is quite complicated biologically and biochemically and is still not fully understood—space restraints here prohibit even attempting an explanation.

Suffice it to say that the photoperiod response is registered in the leaves by a pigment called phytochrome. The order to start flowering is then transported via some unknown hormonal messengers to the terminal buds.

There are numerous ways we can take advantage of our knowledge of hormones in the flowering process. One is in our choice of lights. Metal halides provide the balanced spectrum necessary for vegetative growth, while shortening the photoperiod by itself will trigger flowering. For more intense flowering, adding sodium lamps or tungsten halogens (less common today, but still used by some hobbyists) is preferred because these emit much more far-red light, which drives the phytochrome into a transitional state compelling the flowering process.

By far the most important class of hormones during flowering— whether internally produced or exogenously applied—is ethylene. Ethylene is a gaseous hormone implicated in the flowering and ripening stages

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of nearly all fruits and when applied on plants when they are changing over from their vegetative to a flowering state will cause them to become female regardless of their gene structure. Ethylene is sold commercially and in its gas form is often added to containers of unripe fruits and vegetables during transport to enhance ripening.

Other gaseous growth regulators, oddly enough, include acetylene and carbon monoxide. Both promote flowering when used in minute concentrations. Acetylene—which is almost identical chemically to ethylene—is produced by the reaction of calcium carbide and water. Pineapple growers in

“An atmosphere of one per cent CO has been shown to change the sex expression of genetically male flowering plants...”

Hawaii used to place pellets of calcium carbide in the recesses of the plants in order to induce flowering and fruit formation regardless of the season.

An atmosphere of one per cent CO has been shown to change the sex expression of genetically male flowering plants, resulting in intersexual and pure female flowers. The interesting point here is that carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide are biochemical competitors. If it is logical to assume that since CO promotes female flowers and CO2 antagonizes the action of CO, the rewards of increased levels of CO2 during the maturation cycle may be dubious. Higher levels of CO2 during active vegetative growth and photosynthesis have certainly been proven to be beneficial; however, when the thrust of the plant is directed toward creating full flowers— not active carbon acquisition for growth—perhaps much less CO2 during blooming would be recommended.

Experiment for yourself…

Oh, by the way—please do not hook up your car exhaust pipe or welder’s tank to your growing room, since CO and acetylene are both highly flammable and deadly if used improperly.

The study of plant hormones as growth regulators is at the leading edge of plant science. We all need to be aware of these various study results, as they may offer us the ability to dramatically improve both production and space efficiency in the future. MY

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THE

SCIENCE Behind Light

by Eric Hopper

E v e r y g a r d e n i s d i f f e r e n t, b u t t h e l a w s o f p h y s i c s a p p ly e q u a lly t o t h e m a ll …

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The horticultural lighting industry is in a state of constant evolution involving pure science, technology and plant physiology as indoor growers strive to recreate the sun within their indoor gardens. Many factors are at play when choosing the proper lighting system—energy consumption, physical space and budget constraints will all influence your final decision. Because indoor gardens are nearly as diverse as their operators it isn’t feasible to deal with every possible scenario for horticultural lighting applications in a single article, but we are able to break down any discussion on horticultural lighting into the ways it is affected by the laws of physics. These physical laws apply equally to all indoor horticultural lighting applications and are an invaluable source of reference when designing or assessing an indoor garden.

Diminishing Light Energy The inverse square law states that light energy diminishes exponentially. This physical law is very important for the indoor gardener because it means that the farther a plant is from a light source the less energy there is available for photosynthesis. For example, the light energy hitting a leaf seven-feet away from a light source will only be one quarter the amount of light energy hitting that leaf at 3.5feet away, the light energy at 10-feet will be 1/9th the light energy at 3.5-feet and so on. The optimal distance from light source to plant canopy depends on many factors but the two most pivotal are the wattage of the bulb and the way a grower chooses to remove radiant heat.

A good rule of thumb is to place the light source as close to the plant canopy as possible without burning the leaves, which should ensure your plants are receiving the maximum amount of light energy available without subjecting them to stress.

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Point of Diminishing Return The point of diminishing returns is used to calculate the point of maximum efficiency in terms of light energy. We use this formula to find the maximum amount of light energy that can be applied to the garden’s physical space without wasting energy—in other words, we are looking for the point at which adding additional light energy is no longer validated by any increase in yield. We usually discuss the point of diminishing returns in terms of watts per square foot. It’s very important to remember when discussing a garden’s square footage in a lighting context that we’re talking about the plant surface area, though—not the physical size of the room.

Through my experience with growing everything from sprouts to squash indoors I have found it is easier to separate vegetable crops into two general categories: leafy greens and fast-growing annuals. Lettuces, basil, sprouts and almost all of the culinary herbs are categorized as leafy “It’s very important to remember when greens, while tomatoes, strawberries, discussing a garden’s square footage in a cucumbers, peppers, squash and most lighting context that we’re talking about vegetables bearing fruit fall into the the plant surface area, though—not the fast-growing annual category. physical size of the room.”

I found the point of diminishing returns for leafy greens to be around

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25-watts per square foot and for most fast-growing annuals it seems to be around 40-watts per square foot of garden. For example, a productive use of a 1,000-watt HID bulb for leafy greens would be a 40-square-foot plant surface area, which would take up an eight-foot by five-foot space. A productive use of a 1,000-watt HID bulb for fast-growing annuals would be a 25-square-foot plant surface area or a five-foot by fivefoot space.

Leafy Greens: 1,000-watts = 1,000 watts = 25-watts per square foot Eight-feet by five-feet 40-square-feet Fast Growing Annuals: 1,000 watts = 1,000-watts = 40-watts per square foot Five-feet by five-feet 25-square-feet These examples are quite generalized and only represent two lighting footprint options for a 1,000-watt light. The point of diminishing returns will vary greatly depending on the crop that is being grown and is somewhat subjective—depending on the crop’s market value and what I like to call its ‘sentimental value.’ Sentimental value is unique to the individual grower because it is not based on purely financial considerations like overhead costs or profit margins and a person who really enjoys growing their own food indoors and values knowing where it came from probably doesn’t mind paying a little extra for the

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end results. For some fast-growing annual crops I will actually deploy more watts per square foot (50- to 60-watts), because paying a little extra on the energy bill is justified by the resulting increase in yield—this is especially applicable when the market value of a particular crop is higher.

No matter the market value, there is a point at which adding more light becomes useless. When more light energy is added to a given area than a plant can possibly process the light saturation point will be reached and at this point adding additional light energy will result in no further gain.

Diminished Output All artificial light sources break down over time and their light energy output declines—just because a bulb continues to produce light doesn’t mean its energy output for horticultural purposes remains the same as the day it was purchased! High pressure sodium and fluorescent bulbs for indoor gardening should be changed every year, if not sooner. Metal halides tend to decline in light energy at a faster rate than high pressure sodiums and should therefore be replaced more often. I replace metal halide bulbs every six to nine months and high

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pressure sodium and fluorescents every nine to 11 months.

The light energy in an indoor garden is the driving force for plant photosynthesis. Wasting light energy or not providing enough to effectively cover your square footage is essentially depriving plants of the chance of performing up to their potential. Placing your light source as close as possible to the plant canopy, calculating the proper wattage for the plant surface area and changing your bulbs regularly will help maximize your return on investment and optimize the efficiency of your indoor garden. MY

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The Eco Home II

by Charles Winslow

Charles Winslow is very concerned about the state of the planet, but he’s got some pretty amazing ideas about how to fix it—and they all start at home.

Just like the Chinese proverb says, we live in interesting times—unfortunately! Global transitions are occurring that are going to end up significantly affecting most life forms on our planet and we can no longer ignore them or hope they’ll just go away. Massive hits to the global economy, uncontrolled population growth, catastrophic climate changes and disappearing species are all affecting us now—and they’re all going to get worse. What does the future of our planet look like and is there anything we as individuals can do?

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the eco home ii

As far as I am concerned, what you can do is to be aware and contribute in whatever way you can. As well as understanding that there is an increasing need for more self-reliance and healthier food, I have a vision of people living in greater harmony with our ecosystem and our neighbors—it’s a vision of living more harmoniously with the Earth, where humans learn to walk ever more gently on this wonderful planet of ours. After all, it’s the only home we have, so far. And we can begin by using less energy and utilizing the energy we do consume more wisely.

What kinds of change does this mean when it comes to our individual homes? I know that not everyone is in a position to shift their living patterns drastically and abruptly—and I know that such drastic changes are also pretty expensive.

Upfront costs are always a major consideration. A gradual transformation in building practices, materials and paradigms could help to ease the way, though—and that’s what I’ve been doing for over a decade now, testing innovative and ecofriendly ideas, designs and systems in new homes.

Which brings me to the newest version of the ‘eco home’ or—more accurately—Sun Garden Homes. Our latest design target for energy reduction in our new homes is a whopping 85 per cent—and this is before the first solar panel is attached.

The house integrates bountiful, year-round hydroponic gardens and house systems, structures, materials and site design engineered to reduce energy demands, all while bringing

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fresh, oxygenated air into the home. The approach uses plants and nature to enhance the living experience. As a builder, horticulturalist and new technology developer, I am tantalized by design possibilities—those existing now and those yet to be developed—everywhere. That means that anything I write about this subject can only be an introduction to the possibilities, because I have still just scratched the surface; the options for the future are practically limitless.

For over a decade now I have been working toward this vision, to the point where the name Sun Garden Homes truly reflects the ‘eco home’ concept. My goal is to build affordable energy-efficient homes—where you don’t have to be rich to live in a more self-sustainable way. We all should start thinking about the idea of harnessing nature’s energy through earth-friendly means?

Integrating power from the sun, the ground, the air and plants can reduce home energy consumption by over 85 per cent. My latest home, for example, features an 85 per cent energy reduction in heating and cooling and a 75 per cent saving on lighting costs, while the CO2 levels of the home are reduced by over one third via the attached greenhouse, plants and HRV system. The new design incorporates an even greater reduction in petroleum use when you factor in active solar energy enhancements and the further application of other solar elements. Having returned recently from numerous meetings with solar product producers and designers, I can tell you there are many exciting new developments on the horizon when it comes to active solar energy products.

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the eco home ii

When it comes to the proverbial car in the garage, the new hanging gardens of Babylon. Passive solar designs capture the home is configured to incorporate a plug-in natural-gas Honda sun’s light and heat through window placement, home site Civic. We already own a hybrid car (a Toyota Prius) and I am placement and roof overhangs, while utilizing a heat sink to very excited about the new generation of energy-efficient store and release the heat during colder seasons. Overhang vehicles—this is another piece in the puzzle when crafting widths are designed to keep the high summer sun out and let future-ready energy-smart homes. The natural gas Civic prolow winter sunlight in. In addition, deciduous trees can be duces close to zero emissions and at current rates runs on about placed to help protect the home from heat gain during the a dollar a gallon for fuel costs. Natural gas compressors range in hot summer months but let the winter sun shine through. price from $4,000 to $9,000—admittedly, these are steep The greenhouse is vented directly into the mechaniupfront costs and at this time there not that many cal system on the new model home and is opened refueling stations. But it is another part of the and closed as supplemental heat is required. The solution and costs will go down. One estimate heat will also travel via convection and rises The greenhouse is used is that homes with plug-in hybrid vehicles to the highest level of the home by openas a passive solar system, will eventually reduce their overall petroing the greenhouse door manually. Cool magnifying heat and leum demand by 80 per cent—and natural air then returns to the greenhouse, cooling exchanging fresh air and gas is a fairly readily available resource in the plants and creating a continual loop.

North America.

The foundation and ground underneath as an indoor garden in Our homes utilize passive solar cooling the home function as the heat and cool sink winter... and a greenhouse as a produce production and the latest home has a complete envelope unit and air purifier. The upfront cost on new of insulation. It also utilizes a state-of-the-art construction is marginal, ranging from one to five per hybrid heating and cooling system, with a heat pump cent. The greenhouse is used as a passive solar system, magnifor primary heating and gas-forced air as backup. The heat fying heat and exchanging fresh air and as an indoor garden in pump becomes inefficient at temperatures below freezing, at winter—we even supply fresh basil in winter to several local which point the gas furnace kicks in. No geothermal runs are restaurants. In the latest model, summertime cooling costs are needed—there is radiant run through all slabs and garages to targeted at 85 per cent less than comparable conventional new connect to the solar vacuum tubes. home designs, which will run you between $200 and $350 per Typically, two sides or 50 per cent of the basement walls are month for cooling. walkout and the framed walls of the house are insulated with one So what does ‘passive solar’ mean, exactly? Since the ‘70s, inch high-density foam around all exterior walls. In addition, stud many engineers have worked on refining passive solar designs. walls have R19 batt insulation, so the total R value for the walls The concept isn’t new—perhaps even dating back to the is R24 and for the ceilings R60—above local and national codes.

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Neil Watson—a colleague and friend—visited one of our earlier model homes on a frigid winter day. We could only chat so long in the home, though, before the heat got to Neil and we had to step outside into the freezing cold to cool down—the 4,500 square foot home had reached 81° from the sun alone and was also heating a 500 square foot garage! I could only smile, for I was having fun showing him what the solar heating could do… MY Thanks are due to many people, but I would like to give special shout outs to Paul Smith, Chris Asselberg and Barb Asselberg of Suncourt for their contributions with the HRVs (heat recovery ventilators); to the city of Bloomington, Indiana for contributing mulch from storm-downed trees; to Lawrence Brooke of General Hydroponics for nutrients and growing systems; to Mike Yosina for his contribution of the Bad Boy and his Just Right Extra potting mix; to Treg Bradley from Botanicare for Hydro Systems for growing basil and his Zho products—and to my wife Madelyn Ritrosky, PhD, for her contributions on the homes and articles. Thanks to one and all.

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GREEN THUMB GARDENING

The Future of Hydroponics…

No Power Required

by Heather Pearl

An expert takes us on a quick tour of the gravity-powered growing revolution…

Ninety per cent of all growing systems available around the world require some combination of pumps, timers or electricity in order to operate. However, over the last decade several growing concepts have emerged that don’t require power sources to function. Obviously the main power-free method is still hand watering, although this requires constant monitoring and high levels of human input.

In recent years gravity-fed watering systems have become increasingly popular in a range of areas, including garden centers, hydroponic systems and commercial crop applications. Public concern over the environment tends to encourage power-free watering for a number of reasons—as global warming raises the level of public awareness about sustainability and green issues, systems powered by gravity have impeccable environmental credentials. As food security issues loom and self-sustaining 82

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commercial sites continue to proliferate, power-free systems offer a solution for practicing horticulture on a large scale in regions where electricity may be scarce or even non-existent.

Power-free systems are generally simple to operate and require minimal horticultural know-how to set up and maintain, which allows inexperienced growers to achieve good results without special training or outside assistance.

Whether you’re a novice or an expert, gravity systems provide fuss-free solutions since there is often no recirculation of nutrients, many systems are modular so they can be easily extended and with no pumps or timers to worry about there are few extra components.

Gravity-powered systems are often cheaper to install, they can be used either hydroponically or with soil, and they offer versatility in choosing your growing media—unlike traditional hydroponic

systems that require growing to be carried out in a set way.

So how do they work? The gravity is provided by a raised water reservoir via a network of piping. The larger the setup, the larger the reservoir has to be to provide sufficient gravity pressure. Power-free growing systems utilize a range of technologies, the two most important being drip and valve systems. Drip systems can be highly effective in certain scenarios, although one of their main drawbacks is the lack of control and the fact that a large percentage of the water distributed by the drippers can evaporate when it hits the soil surface.Valve systems work by flooding a tray to a preset level and only reflooding it when all the water has been consumed by the plants. This method is the most precise as it allows the plant to be in complete control of its own requirements and relieves the grower of the constant monitoring that is required in most power-driven systems.

Gravity-powered growing set-ups are increasingly leading the way in the hydroponic industry. They are simple to install and operate and they offer the user a no-nonsense system that can be left unattended and does not require constant input. By placing so much control with the plant you remove the need for the grower to have extensive growing knowledge—the system allows the plants to dictate what they need when they need it. The future of power-free growing systems looks extremely bright and with the increasing trend toward ‘grow your own’ and environmental sustainability they offer what might be the perfect solution for achieving impressive yields with minimal input. MY

About the Author: Heather Pearl is completing her BA in development geography at Kings College. She acts as fundraiser for the Little Growers team, helping to increase its exposure and endorsements. She is keen to champion the Little Grower’s cause for worldwide youth education in the fields of health and horticulture.

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Efficiency

& the Indoor Garden

by Dr. Benjamin Grimes ‘Why bother taking steps to maximize efficiency?

My garden works, isn’t that enough?’ A garden writer examines cost versus yield in a typical indoor garden set-up and provides some tips for increasing your indoor garden’s efficiency. > >

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Your garden may be a functional producer—but if it’s costing you a fortune to keep it running, is it really worth it? So many gardeners look at the end result—the total yield of their crop—without looking back on what it cost to produce. Take a 100 pound harvest of tomatoes, for example: if you are selling them for $2 a pound, your gross income would be $200.

If it cost you $175 to grow that 100 pounds of tomatoes your net profit is only $25. By increasing your garden’s efficiency, however, you might be able to reduce your cost of production to only $100 and thus make a net profit of $100. The question should really be—how much profit margin do you want?

So how do we make a really efficient indoor garden?

That is a simple question with a very complex answer—although efficiency begins with controlling your electrical usage, it also involves a symbiosis is of light, air movement and equipment.

So, from the ground up—let’s begin.

Painting the walls: it seems like a simple enough idea, but all too often this first critical step is overlooked. Of course if you plan on wrapping your entire garden in a thousand dollars or two worth of Mylar you can skip the painting—but I still don’t recommend it. This is because paint does so many things for you: it seals the walls, ceiling and sometimes the floor; it prevents off-gassing from common building materials contaminating your produce; it acts as your primary light reflector, maximizing the dissipation of light throughout your garden; and it allows you to easily monitor the development of bugs, molds or other pathogens that like to hide on walls near your plants. Just remember that you don’t need to buy anything fancy—flat white is the best color and finish for the job.

When bringing electricity into your garden, copper is by far the best conductor available for supply wiring. Aluminum is about 40 per cent less conductive and about a third the cost, but for supply loads less than 100 amps the extra money for copper is worth every penny! Remember that you are running equipment that uses a lot of power—cutting corners on safety or the use of underweight lines could lead to a devastating house fire.

Painting your grow room carries myriad benefits, including: preventing off-gassing from common building materials, acting as a light reflector; and allowing for easy monitoring of the development of bugs, molds or other pathogens.

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Vented hoods with fans of the appropriate size attached will carry most of the waste heat produced by your lights out of your garden and decrease the demand on your atmospheric control system.

Remote ballasts offer an advantage over attached ballasts as they can be placed outside the garden and only the wires needed to power the bulbs pass into the room, plus putting them outside the garden means that the heat they produce does not have to be offset by the garden’s climate control system.

Reflective hoods used to maximize the downward diffusion of light should

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be vented atmosphere-to-atmosphere.

Vented hoods with fans of the appropriate size attached will carry most of the waste heat produced by your lights out of your garden and decrease the demand on your atmospheric control system. But don’t stop there! For about $20 at your local home improvement store you can find sheets of polystyrene insulation that have been glued to reflective Mylar. Cut

this insulation to sit on the tops of your hoods to maximize the ability of your venting system to carry heat out of your garden before it can escape back into your grow room.

Staggered crop lighting (SCL) is something that not too many indoor gardeners have heard about—and even fewer have actually taken the time to use. So what does SCL do? It simply allows you to light the same amount of garden space with half the power input. Some have claimed that there is an average 10 per cent overall loss in yield as a result of using SCL, but being able to save hundreds to thousands of dollars in electricity should be enough to compensate most growers for this loss. SCL works by alternating the lights that are on every hour in a checkerboard pattern; this creates an effect on your plants similar to rolling clouds on a summer day. Turning on just half of your lights at any time means that half the amount of electricity is needed to power your garden—plus half the amount of cooling is needed for climate control and half the amount of infrared radiation is cooking your fragile leaves.

Climate control is the ultimate efficiency upgrade and key to making your garden productive: too warm or too cold and your yields will suffer—or you won’t produce anything at all. Heat rarely needs

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to be added (since lights provide so much), but cooling your garden is the secret to maintaining the perfect environment.

Two schools of thought exist when it comes to maintaining the proper garden environment: there are those who prefer atmospheric venting (AV)—or moving air from the outside through your garden using fans—and those who go with sealed gardening (SG), where the internal environment is controlled by air conditioners. AV systems are less expensive to set up and operate than SG ones, but the supplemental CO2 that is necessary with an SG system usually produces such increases in yield that the additional cost seems insignificant.

If you go with the sealed gardening (SG) choice, you’ll also have to decide between a heat pump and air conditioning (AC).

From a strictly energy efficiency point of view, the standard AC unit is your best option. This unit can operate year-round, but its use is limited to cooling only. Heat pumps are designed to operate as both heating and cooling units, but unless your garden requires heating when your lights are off, the extra cost is a waste. In either case, split units—or units that do not pass air from your garden to the outside—are recommended. They are simple to set up and require only two hoses be installed from the exterior of your garden to the interior. Window AC units are generally not recommended as they are less efficient and they tend to pass air from inside your SG to the outside—and they are usually rather difficult to install where there is not already a window present.

The most important thing to remember when you are considering cost versus yield in your indoor garden is that every watt you put into your garden is a watt you have to pay for. From turning on the lights to cooling them down—everything adds up when you’re figuring out what your bottom line will look like after harvest. MY

Heat pumps are designed to operate as both heating and cooling units, but unless your garden requires heating when your lights are off, the extra cost is a waste.

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&

Treat‘Em Bad

They‘ll Taste Better:

I m p rov i n g F l avo r

by Dr. Lynette Morgan

Dr. Morgan shares some secrets for amping up the flavors in your hydroponic crops.

When it comes to good food, we are all looking for taste, aroma and texture.

Sometimes these all come together to create a sensory delight, but when it comes to fruit, vegetables and herbs, appearances can certainly be deceiving.

Those huge, red succulent strawberries or juicy fresh tomatoes at the grocery store might look fantastic on the outside, but biting into them can be an unpredictable experience—sometimes great, sometimes thoroughly disappointing. > >

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

What is flavor?

Our perception of flavor is actually the result of a combination of senses acting on a huge range of aromatics and compounds within the food we eat. Over 400 volatile aromatic compounds that may contribute to the overall flavor experience have been identified in tomatoes alone—and there are potentially many more as yet undiscovered. While the taste buds on our tongues can detect basic compounds we perceive as sweet, sour, salty or bitter our main taste tool is actually our nose, which has receptors that bind into volatile compounds in the food we are consuming. The sensors on the tongue can actually only detect very basic aspects of flavor and can’t distinguish

“Those huge, red succulent strawberries or juicy fresh tomatoes at the grocery store might look fantastic on the outside, but biting into them can be an unpredictable experience— sometimes great, sometimes thoroughly disappointing.” between small differences in these compounds—detecting flavor compounds in parts per hundred—while we can usually detect volatiles in parts per trillion with the receptors in our nose. The combination of the tastes we detect with our tongues along with the more sophisticated feedback we receive from odor receptors in the back of the nose gives us our overall sense of flavor. So not only do we want to produce fruit such as tomatoes or berries with high sugar levels (since humans love sweetness) and the correct balance of acidity to taste on the tongue, but we also want to concentrate the volatile aromatic compounds that provide so much of what we perceive as flavor.

Do we all taste flavor the same?

While we all have certain preferences for sweetness and acidity when it comes to flavor, everybody’s perception of taste is somewhat different. What one person may consider 94

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Strawberries may look fantastic but flavor can be unpredictable.

a particularly good tomato or strawberry may not even register as being tasty with another. There are many reasons for this: there are certain slight genetic differences in the way all people perceive flavor and there is also a certain small percentage of the population who are ‘super tasters,’ with a very high degree of flavor perception. However, other factors—such as the memory of how something is expected to taste, cultural differences, age, health and even gender—play a role in flavor perception too. In scientific taste panels involving fruits and vegetables it’s often reported that in general women prefer sweeter flavors and men more acidic tastes and that the proportion of ‘super tasters’ is higher among women. Taste perception diminishes as we age, as well as among those who smoke or suffer from sinus problems. If you have a cold or a plugged nose you’ll also have an overall lower perception of flavor, as these factors tend to block the olfactory nerve endings in the nose, which are responsible for the detection of the complexity of flavors. What all these differences mean is that flavor can be highly subjective and for this reason scientific taste panels either use a very large number of people to gauge an overall opinion of flavor (i.e., consumer panels) or a smaller number of highly trained and carefully selected tasters who can differentiate between flavors with far greater skill and precision than the average person. For the ordinary hydroponic gardener, however, the main objective is just pleasing ourselves and those we are growing for—which makes flavor assessment a little easier and a lot of fun.

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

This is one of the most commonly asked questions regarding modern day fruits and vegetables. One reason may be that as we age our sensation of taste declines somewhat, so it’s our taste perception that may have changed rather than the quality of the produce itself. Then again, the recollections many people retain of flavor are often only of really great taste experiences—not the mundane ones—so it can be hard Maximum Yield USA | February 2012

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for everyday food to live up to these golden memories.

Another reason may well be horticultural: modern cultivars are bred for yield, without a lot of regard for flavor. Many crops are grown through the winter in heated greenhouses under low light levels, so out-of-season produce may never live up to that childhood memory of ‘backyard summergrown’ flavor.

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

This depends largely on the fruit, vegetable or herb being grown. In tomatoes and strawberries, for example, one of the major problems is often a lack of sweetness. Sweetness can be measured using a brix meter or refractometer and most people can actually taste a difference of just one degree brix. A great-tasting beefsteak tomato may have a brix of at least seven and cocktail types can have a brix of over 10, while poor-tasting fruit often have brix levels below five. Handheld brix meters are not expensive and can be easily sourced by hydroponic gardeners who are keen to assess their own fruit. Peppers and chilies also have a certain degree of sweetness, but the draw for most people with peppers is the heat produced by the compound capsaicin—although underlying the heat of chilies are also some delicate and distinctive flavors and aromatics. Many aromatic herbs such as basil, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, thyme, mint and sage produce essential oils in their foliage that give off characteristic aromas and flavors and the concentration of these oils be very intense in some crops.

How do I improve the flavor of my hydroponic produce?

Flavor improvement using hydroponics relies on some basic principles of plant physiology. First, when we restrict water

In garlic the strong flavor and aroma is derived from the presence of organosulfur compounds.

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uptake by the plant, it tends to concentrate certain compounds within the plant tissue and many of these compounds are related either directly or indirectly to flavor and aroma.

Applying slight moisture stress—or in hydroponic gardens increasing the EC to create a higher osmotic potential in the root zone—is a proven way to increase dry matter and flavor in many crops. This is most commonly done in greenhouse tomato crops to maintain fruit quality; however, it can also be applied to a lesser degree with chilies, berries and many woody herbs, although too much osmotic stress can create problems such as reduced fruit size and lower yields. Any other factor that stresses the plant can have a similar effect: volatile compounds become concentrated in the foliage and many

“In scientific taste panels involving fruits and vegetables it’s often reported that in general women prefer sweeter flavors and men more acidic tastes and that the proportion of ‘super tasters’ is higher among women.”

of these are related to flavor. Herbs such as basil, oregano, sage and rosemary can all have their flavor and aromatic levels increased by applying some plant stress—high light, dry conditions, warm temperatures, high rates of air flow, high EC or moisture stress will all concentrate the essential oils in the foliage just as they would if the herbs were being grown outside in their natural habitat. Growing these aromatic plants ‘hard’—under stressful conditions— replicates the hot dry climate of the Mediterranean. On the other hand, rapid, lush, weak growth under highly protected conditions with a low nutrient EC, particularly with reduced seasonal light, will produce herbs with reasonable yields of foliage but a poor flavor profile.

Do the genetics of my plants matter?

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

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

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

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

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

The explosive pungency in hydroponic wasabi originates from isothiocyanate compounds.

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levels will give the biggest ‘kick’ to their fruit. When using a higher EC to increase the pungency of chilies, it’s best to do so by increasing only the macronutrients in solution (N, P, K, S and Ca) while maintaining the trace elements at normal EC strength levels. For crops such as onions, garlic, shallots and chives the strong flavor and aroma we prize is derived from the presence of organosulfur compounds and in hydroponic gardens these distinctive flavors have been boosted by using higher levels of N and S in the nutrient solution. Brassica crops—such as watercress, arugula, cabbage and kale—also derive much of their distinctive flavors from sulfur-containing compounds called glucosinoles and manipulation of sulfur in the nutrient solution can help boost these flavors too, which range from peppery and pungent in watercress to sharp and nutty in arugula. Increasing sulfur levels in hydroponic gardens has also been shown to boost flavor or pungency in condiment herbs such as wasabi and horseradish, which contain mixtures of volatile compounds called isothiocyanates that give them their flavor and heat.

“For crops such as onions, garlic, shallots and chives the strong flavor and aroma we prize is derived from the presence of organosulfur compounds.”

When it comes to flavor improvement, indoor hydroponic gardeners have all the tools required to create unique and unforgettable taste sensations. While many new growers make the mistake of trying to provide a luxurious, highly protected and stress-free environment for their plants in order to maximize growth rates, this can actually be detrimental to the flavor level of many of our favorite food crops. Slight to moderate stress, though—applied to plants at the right time—will have the effect of concentrating the wide range of compounds and volatiles that make up the distinctive flavor profiles of the produce you are growing. Tomatoes, aromatic herbs, strawberries and chilies will all respond well to these methods and this tendency, combined with the right genetics, allows the savvy indoor gardener infinite possibilities for flavor manipulation. MY Maximum Yield USA | February 2012

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by Frank Rauscher

Amino Acid Chelates Giving Your Plants a Helping Hand

Just because you’re giving your plants nutrients doesn’t always mean they’re getting the full benefit—that’s where chelation comes in…

Every plant needs certain components—beyond soil, sun, rain and air—for them to grow. The basic components of living cells are proteins, which are formed from building block materials called amino acids. Making amino acids available in appropriate quantities has long been known as a means to increase the yield and overall quality of crops. Amino acids are also an effective natural chelating agent. Chelates (as well as amino acids) have been the subject of many discussions inside local hydroponic stores recently—let’s take a look at both and see if we can gain a more clear understanding of their function and importance.

Why do we do this? For starters, the roots and leaves of plants are negatively charged (anions), while the trace elements (micronutrients) are positively charged (cations). Because of this polar difference in the electrical charge, the nutrient is ‘fixed’—or stuck outside of the plant root.

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Consider this—put the opposite poles of a magnet together and see how stuck these become. This is what happens when the negatively charged root tries to absorb the positively charged micronutrients. What would help the root to be able to absorb the nutrient would be to somehow make the nutrient’s charge neutral—which is where the chelate or coating for the nutrient comes in. It’s like a blanket around the charged nutrient element and in effect creates a neutral charge, allowing the binding or fixing of the nutrient at the plant root or pore.Voilá—in it goes!

To a certain degree the plant and the biology of the soil can work on this new modified element and once again make it available, but only in a very limited way. What we really want is to prevent this precipitation from happening in the first

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Amino Acid Chelates

place and making the trace nutrient a complex by chelating it accomplishes this.

Here’s a useful definition for chelation: chelation in soil increases nutrient availability to plants. Organic substances in the soil—either applied, or produced by plants or microorganisms—are natural chelating agents. The most important substances having this nature are hydroxamate siderophores, organic acids and amino acids. Hydroxamate siderophores are naturally produced by soil microorganisms and are essential in natural ecosystems to make nutrients soluble and transport them (especially iron and copper) to plant roots.

Although the beneficial bacteria that exist in the soil constitute another method of causing chelation and making plant nutrients more available, a little blanket of chelation placed around micro-nutrients—made from amino acids and other organic acids—is a very important added feature that most gardeners want to see in the nutrients they use.

Just how much of a positive impact on plants can chelation have? Research conducted in the USSR (by Tronov) indicated that glycinate, an amino acid, greatly stimulates the growth of plants. These results showed that zinc glycinate (zinc glycine chelate) increased total plant weight—stem, root and foliage—by between 147 per cent and 254 per cent. Manganese glycinate (manganese glycine chelate) was almost as effective, increasing total plant weight by as much as 110 per cent. Now, these results are not going to be found in every application— but they do show how potentially beneficial micronutrient chelates can be in helping you to get the maximum yield from your crops.

The type of chelating agent you use is also a very important consideration. Some agents are too strong in bonding with the nutrient and can actually impede plant uptake, while others may be too weak and not able to prevent unwanted precipitation reactions.

Chelating certain micronutrients is a popular topic when discussing the many fertilizers available for indoor gardeners. A technical discussion of chelates often requires a strong background in chemistry to understand, but the basic principle is really quite simple—they are a thin coating put around the nutrient, like the candy shell on an M & M.

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Synthetic chelates Many commercial fertilizers have one or more synthetic chelating agents: EDTA, DPTA and EDDHA are the most common. EDTA is the most economical and works best in soil with a lower pH (more acidic, below seven). DPTA is a special agent that is designed to work well in soils with a higher pH (more basic, above 7.5), while EDDHA is the most expensive and the most effective among the synthetic group and has been shown to outperform EDTA and DPTA in studies.

In California synthetic agents like EDTA, DPTA and EDDHA are allowed to be listed as chelates, while biological

“An important issue here is to avoid over-fertilization—the right balance is what good nutrition is all about.”

agents are required to be listed as complexes. Don’t be confused—these are all chelating agents, although each of them binds to the nutrient in a slightly different manner.

Biological chelates There are compounds that occur naturally with the same beneficial effects on plant nutrition uptake—including fulvic and amino acids. These can be derived from a number of organic sources, like soy or corn protein. Plants depend on these existing in the soil in order to help them process the nutrients they need to grow and stay healthy. Although synthetic chelating agents cannot be absorbed into plants, amino and fulvic acids can—a feature which adds to the mobility of nutrients within the plant. The application of amino acids for foliar use is based on their requirement by plants in general and at critical stages of growth in particular. Plants absorb amino acids through stomas and this absorption is proportionate to environmental temperature.

Just getting these nutrients into your plants isn’t the end of the story—once inside, the nutrients need to move. This translocation within the plant is essential to plant health and is one reason we want to make sure our plants get an adequate supply of calcium. Calcium plays a major role in nutrient movement within the plant and yet ironically tends to bind up many nutrients in the soil. This is another reason that chelates play such an important part in plant yields, because there are going to be compounds and elements in the soil that the plant needs, but that also impede the availability of other nutrients.

Amino Acid Chelates

An important issue here is to avoid over-fertilization— the right balance is what good nutrition is all about.You can see (just by the previous example) that too much calcium—or calcium in the wrong form—can be detrimental to the uptake of other nutrients. Too much nitrogen is bad too, as it will cause what is often called leaf burn as the plant attempts to move the excess nutrient away from itself and out to the end of the leaves. This imbalance can actually kill your plants at extreme levels.

As conscientious gardeners we need to look for fertilizers that provide a broad cross section of nutrients.

We need to employ complete fertilizers that include micro- as well as macronutrients, fertilizers based on scientific principles and techniques that help to make (and keep) the nutrients in the soil available to our plants. Chelates employing amino acids are certainly in the forefront of this discussion and their application will help you to maintain the vigor and health of your indoor garden. MY

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Another aspect that affects nutrition uptake by plants is related to precipitation. We are not talking about rain here, but a kind of nutrient tie-up. For example: a basic trace element like iron reacts to another element like ethyl alcohol (in the hydroxyl group) and forms insoluble ferric hydroxide. In this case nature is taking a completely available form of iron and changing it to a form that is not. The result of this reaction is that the iron is now unavailable for absorption by the plant—it’s like it’s not in the soil at all. This transition is (confusingly) known as precipitation.

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Avant-Gardening

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Weird Plant Symptoms How to Avoid Them

Sometimes plant growth does not progress as expected and strange symptoms can arise from a variety of causes that aren’t necessarily related to the grower’s actions in the grow room. Some unusual plant happenings are actually quite fascinating and completely natural occurrences, but others are just plain frustrating and best avoided—like the following occurrences listed.

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by Dr. Lynette Morgan

viruses, the most commonly seen is filiform leaflets, also known as shoestring growth, where growth in the head of the plant develops very thin, narrow, often thickened, twisted and sometimes purple growth.Viruses can also cause strange coloring patterns, such as with the very common mosaic viruses, leaf curl, stunting and other fruit and plant symptoms.Viruses can be transmitted from plant to plant by the feeding of insects such as aphids, thrips, whitefly and other plant sucking pests, who are also responsible for bringing viruses into crops. The tobacco mosaic virus can infect many species of plants as there are several strains and this can be spread through growers hands infected after handling cigarette tobacco.

Other viruses can be seed borne and most can be transmitted from plant to plant via sap and by use of cloning. Any plant that is suspected of having a virus should be removed from the growing area and disposed of to prevent spread of the disease. MY Catface is the term used to describe the sometimes ugly and very weird symptoms of tomato and other fruit when conditions are not optimal for fruit set and development.

Tomato fruit can look as if they are turning themselves inside out with seed development on the outer surface of malformed and twisted fruit. Catface deformities typically occur in winter and early spring crops and growers who attempt to get tomato plants started too early in the season soon become familiar with this disorder. While catface is usually caused by low temperatures at the time of pollination and fruit set, it is also a symptom of hormone herbicide damage or certain viruses, in which case the foliage in the head of the plant will also be showing damage symptoms. Catface can be prevented by increasing temperatures and is usually only a problem on the first few trusses of early season crops.

Virus diseases are another weird plant happening that are best avoided, although doing so is not necessarily that easy. While many of these symptoms can be caused by

Growing

MEDIA options

by Grubbycup

Our columnist takes us on a media tour of the hydroponic kind.

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growing media options

Healthy plants depend on their root systems to draw moisture and nutrients up to the rest of the plant.The roots also anchor the stem in place and form a foundation to hold the plant upright.The material surrounding the roots is called the growing medium.The two most common types of growing media used for containers are potting soils and hydroponic media, but there are plenty of alternatives, as you can see from the list below:

Potting soil

Basic potting soils are usually made as a mix of materials—common ingredients are actively decomposing plant material, stable plant material and mineral materials.

Compost

Decomposing plant matter will degrade into compost, which in turn can be used to grow more plants. A naturally-occurring renewable resource, it requires little processing. As long as this decomposition is taking place (it will continue even after the compost is mature and ready for use), the material is compost.

Compost has a dark earthy smell and contains nutrients that are readily available for plants.

Humus

Eventually compost will completely decompose and settle into its stable form—which is known as humus. Humus is so stable that it can remain unchanged for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. However, since decomposition is complete humus contains little nutrient value, although it still provides for less compact soil density and general soil improvement.

Peat moss

Peat moss is the decayed remains of sphagnum moss, a stable material harvested from bogs. While peat moss is naturally-occurring, overharvesting has damaged or destroyed bogs in many areas—coir is a more sustainable alternative.

Perlite

Perlite is made from puffed volcanic glass and is often added to potting soils to improve physical structure and aeration.

(More on perlite later…)

Perlite

Sand

Sand is often added to media to allow better drainage and provide structure. It also helps give weight to the mix and adds some density.

Pre-mixed and homemade

Commercial mixes often fortify their products with beneficial ingredients like nutrients and other additives, which can save all 112

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the time and labor involved for the grower in assembling ingredients and compiling additives to include.

A basic homemade potting soil can be made from a mix of two parts homemade compost, one part coir or humus and a half part sand or clean dirt. There is a wide variety of homemade potting mix recipes available—ranging from the simple to the complex— and each gardener tends to have their own version.

Hydroponic media

The term hydroponics refers to using a growing medium other than soil, which can offer a habitat for soil-laying insects. Just as

“A basic homemade potting soil can be made from a mix of two parts homemade compost, one part coir or humus and a half part sand or clean dirt.” there are different kinds of garden soils, there are several different hydroponic growing media available, each with its own set of characteristics.

In general, the primary function of hydroponic media is to supply a structure for the root system. The medium itself has little to no nutritional value of its own, but can help keep air, nutrients and moisture available to the plants.

Your ideal medium will depend on both your chosen hydroponic method and environmental conditions. Fast-drying media can be helpful in preventing overwatering in humid conditions, while slow-drying media can help mitigate the problems associated with low-humidity environments. There is no single best medium for all applications!

Coco fiber (coir)

Coco fiber is made from coconut husks and is a renewable byproduct of coconut processing. The natural fibers have a high cellulose content and are often woven to create mats or used as upholstery stuffing. Coir is often sold in compressed blocks that are expanded before use. It is sometimes necessary to add additional calcium to nutrient solutions when using coir, as it can absorb available calcium applied in average amounts. Using coir is more like growing in soil than most other hydro media and may be a good choice for a confident soil gardener trying their hand at hydroponics for the first time.

Diatomite (diatomaceous earth or DE)

Freshwater diatomite is primarily silicon oxide from the fossilized remains of diatoms (unicellular plants). A porous, chalky, mined sedimentary rock that absorbs moisture well, it is often used to assist in insect control, as a cat litter or to clean up oil spills. While commonly known as a non-chemical insecticide, it may also be used as a growing medium. Diatomite is very light

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and has a low density, which means that it is not suitable for flooding systems as it may float when dry. Most of the diatomite used in a container can be recovered and reused after harvest.

Lightweight expanded clay aggregate (LECA) LECA is clay that has been heated to expand and solidify. It is extremely airy and well suited for systems that have overwatering issues. LECA may be available either as irregular chunks or rolled into balls—it does not compact with use and allows for open space when used in a container. It is often used to fill netting in deep water culture or nutrient film systems, but it is not well suited for sprouting and may float if flooded. LECA is reusable after washing (with a diluted sterilizing solution) and rinsing.

Rockwool retain moisture longer than larger pieces. One benefit to using perlite is that as long as the harvested plants were healthy, it can be rinsed and reused. As an alternate to perlite there is a similar product named Growstone, which is made from recycled glass and a foaming additive.

PET1

LECA None

There are hydroponic systems that use little to no media to hold the root structure.With a deep water culture system (DWC), for instance, the roots are allowed to dangle into an aerated nutrient solution, while in an aeroponic garden the nutrient solution is sprayed onto the roots. Neither arrangement requires much in the way of media: the roots dangle below the plant with little or no support.

Perlite

Perlite is natural volcanic glass with internal moisture locked inside. When heated at high temperatures the glass becomes molten and the internal moisture vaporizes into steam, expanding the glass. Dry perlite can be a dust hazard, so care should be taken to wet and rinse new product.

Perlite is extremely airy and difficult to overwater, but—as a tradeoff—it does not retain water as well as some other options.

It will wick nutrient solution, though, which makes it a good choice for passive systems. Since dry perlite will float until it becomes saturated, it is not well suited for ebb and flow systems. Most perlite is sold in bags containing small pieces, which

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PET1 is a common plastic used to make a huge variety of products, including soda bottles and polar fleece. This pHneutral plastic can also be spun into a fiber for use as a sterile hydroponic medium and as it tends to be very dry it works well in situations where it will be watered often—such as an ebb and flow system. While the medium itself does not break down much over time, it is not very reusable as the roots will permeate the material and embed themselves throughout.

Thermosetting and thermoplastic foams

Polystyrenes and other polymers can be formed into materials similar to florist’s foam. These foams tend to be very light and airy when dry and can hold several times their weight in water when saturated.

Rockwool

Rockwool is melted basalt spun like fiberglass or cotton candy.

One of the most popular hydroponic medium choices, rockwool has been around since the late 19th century. It can be an irritant when dry and can cause small itchy cuts in the skin (similar to fiberglass). Depending on the manufacturer, it may be slightly basic (high pH) when new, so it might have to be rinsed with a light acid such as lemon juice before use. It is less prone to overwatering than coir, but more so than perlite or LECA. It retains water well but it is not very reusable.

Vermiculite

Vermiculite is heated at high temperatures and the moisture it contains expands to puff up—much like popcorn. Dry vermiculite is dusty and may be an irritant, so precautions should be taken to limit exposure.Vermiculite, which compacts and breaks down over repeated use, is very airy and more commonly used in conjunction with other media than by itself.

As you can see, there are many choices of media to select from— each with their own ideal set of application parameters. Depending on what type of garden you have, some will be better suited than others. Match your medium to your garden and to your needs— and both you and your plants will enjoy the benefits. MY

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Growing for Health

Best

by Karen Wilkinson

Cleaning Practices: How to Get the Most Out of Your System

If there’s one thing I can’t stress enough to keep your hydroponic system pumping out consistent, quality results, it’s the sanitation and maintenance of the unit’s inner workings. Once that’s locked down, cloning healthy baby plants is smooth sailing.

Below are tips for keeping your system and grow room clean, and commonly overlooked or missed steps in the process.

• Avoiding SMS or sick manifold syndrome. One of the more common yet easily avoidable issues that can occur if a hydroponic system is not properly maintained is bacterial growth building up in the system’s manifold.This is called SMS or sick manifold syndrome and there is one simple solution to combating it—remove all misters after each cycle and clean according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

• Cleaning your neoprenes. If not replaced following each cycle, the neoprene collars that hold the stem cuttings can be cleaned and reused, though I recommend only doing so for three cycles.

• Cleaning and storing units between cycles. Stagnant water equals death. In other words, don’t put off cleaning the system after transplanting, as the risk of contamination increases tremendously. And if storing the system during the off-season, put it back in its original packaging or in trash bags to keep it free of dust and debris.

• Commonly overlooked cleaning steps. Some parts of the system, due to their intricate nature, can be susceptible to bacterial growth if not properly scrubbed. Misters, the manifold, neoprenes, laser lines and drains are easy to clean when using a bleach-water solution recommended earlier.

• Reducing cross-contamination. A clean grow room, tools and grower are crucial when growing multiple plants.With that in mind, here are some helpful tips on reducing the potential for cross-contamination by keeping it clean.

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The Grow Room: Be sure to clean reservoirs weekly or biweekly (or as specified by the manufacturer) to ensure proper nutrient and pH levels.

• Set up a routine—possibly every two weeks—to kill and prevent pests. The best way to have a pest-free grow room is to prevent them from even becoming a problem.

• Keep cords off the ground. Not only is this an obvious safety precaution, but it helps when sweeping debris and leaf matter from the floor.

• If using a reusable medium, flush it thoroughly and sterilize completely.

• Finally, after a cycle is complete, it’s best to clear out and sanitize the whole grow room and all utensils.

The Tools: Sanitize and clean clippers and shears with alcohol or flame and make it a habit to do so between plants, which will cut down possible cross-contamination. It’s also best to sterilize them when finished with a task, so that you’re putting away clean tools for the next use.

• Clean your pH and TDS meters regularly according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

• Keep fan blades free of dust, along with the filters, as clogged filters can reduce its efficiency.

• Keep lights and hood glass clean and clear to maximize the amount of light shining through. Over time, dust slowly builds so it’s hard to notice, but it happens and is easy to avoid.

• Clean measuring cups after each use and clearly label spray bottles to avoid any confusion.

• Immediately clean up any spills (liquids or solids) that occur.

Personal Hygiene: • Thoroughly wash your hands before entering the grow room. If you’re a tobacco smoker, wash anything that’s touched tobacco, as it can spread disease like tobacco mosaic virus, which hinders growth and transfers easily by touch.

• If recently in a greenhouse, field or anywhere with increased exposure to pests, shower and change clothes before entering the grow room.You don’t want to inadvertently bring bugs into your grow room.

• As much as we love our furry friends, they should never be allowed in the grow room as they can easily transfer pests to your plants. MY

About the Author: Karen Wilkinson works for EZ-CLONE Enterprises, Inc. as their social media editor. Her background is in journalism and technical writing, and she is learning to grow, clone and write for the hydroponics community. She’s a budding gardener and loves growing her own vegetables.

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Perfecting the System

by Lee McCall

Lee McCall walks us through the set-up for a comprehensive new growing system that he thinks just might be the start of something big in the grow biz.

We’re at the beginning of a very exciting time in the hydroponic industry—and although the concept of delivering custom-tailored high-performance nutrients directly to your plants in precise proportions with exact timing in an ideal environment featuring the most advanced horticultural technologies is not really new, it does seem like more knowledge surfaces daily. Every new breakthrough in technology encourages more individuals willing to invest their time and money into what is now a blooming industry worldwide.This chain reaction is the industrial revolution of our market—and these crucial years will change the way we grow from here on out.

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perfecting the system

Let’s talk about plants and gardening. Recently, a new friend introduced me to a brilliant concept that combines all the micro-worlds of growing into one seamless system, compatible with both soil and hydroponic gardens.

This is the first growing style that I can truly say is both simple and advanced—by this I mean the method employs simple tactics in a systematic series that allows for advanced technical results.

Starting with clones or cuttings, the new method uses an automated cloning machine to initiate root production. Neoprene inserts were used in this case, but net cups and plugs will also work.The application of B1 vitamins is also recommended for cloning stages as it reduces the effects of shock on newly spliced cuttings. B vitamins can be applied either by way of root drench or foliar spray approximately 24 hours prior to taking new clones off the selected parent plant. After the cutting has been separated from its host, rather than dipping the bottom portion of the clone into gel a liquid concentrate with a mild NPK of .009 to .011 and B vitamins is used in conjunction with a hypo-chlorous acid additive.These two products are diluted into a simple milliliter-per-gallon solution in order to fill the clone machine reservoir. Clones should then be placed immediately into either a holding container with the solution or directly into the plugged-in clone machine—the light solution of nutrition and sterilizing agents helps encourage healthy growth, reduce stress, deflect negative pathogens from infecting the clones and prevent yellowing in the plant once the cuttings have callused or begun to root. Generally, the rooting phase (from the time they are cut) may take anywhere from five to 10 days before the plant is mature enough to transplant into its first week of a vegetative growth cycle. Cloning machines do not necessarily work better than tray-and-dome methods with plugs, but for larger-scale operations involving higher plant counts they definitely consolidate the risk on a broad spectrum in terms of propagation maintenance—rather than having to check multiple tray-and-dome set-ups to ensure consistency among each individual group of clones, the automated 120

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machine forces the clones to all have the same root zone conditions. Overall, however, proper temperature and humidity levels will dictate success "The end result is no matter which impressive: you’ll see method is used. enhanced aromatic Once properly properties stemming rooted, the small from the increased cuttings are transessential oil production planted into small that fruits, flowers and three-inch net vegetables exhibit when cups with hydroton they are introduced to and LECA (light high-quality organic expanded clay agelements like molasses, gregate) and placed cold-pressed kelp, guano, into a flood and worm castings and drain or ebb and flow glacial rock dust..." system. Make sure to always thoroughly rinse off clay growing media before introducing it to new plants.

Here they can marinate in an ‘inbetween’ or pre-vegetative stage and build up structural support before a final transplant into the primary growth medium or hydroponic system. A and B or three-part nutrient systems are great candidates for this stage in development; these nutrients will stimulate fresh and aggressive growth from the newly transplanted cuttings without drastically shocking them while they are still young and fresh out of the cloner. A very dilute solution is recommended at first in order to see how the new clones respond to immediately available plant food.This preliminary vegetative stage basically supercharges your rooted clones into vibrant eight to 12 inch plants that should now easily transplant into any growing medium or system with virtually no slowing in growth. A fairly small amount of space is all that is needed in order to produce a healthy group of pre-vegetative clones.

After your plants achieve the desired height, the small net cups holding the roots and containing the hydroton can then be transplanted right into organic soil mixes in two-gallon containers, cup and all—there is no need to remove them. During this transplanting phase a select granular blend of endo-mycorrhizal fungi, kelp extract, humic acid and a few bacillus strains should be inoculated into the plants’ systems by placing the net cups directly on top of a small amount of the mix in each transplanting hole.The beneficial microbes will help the plants absorb water and nutrients at an accelerated rate. Some of the pre-veg net cup clones should also be transplanted into the same two-gallon containers, but placed in silica rock for continued flood and drain systems that will finish out the plant cycle.The new ebb and flow transplants are not 122

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perfecting-the system

left un-inoculated just because they will be hydroponically grown—they receive the same inoculated mix, but in a finer grade that allows it to be mixed directly into the hydroponic solution and applied with the first feeding after being transplanted.

This nutrient system is especially intriguing to me because it combines all the performance benefits of synthetic base nutrient systems in a cycle with premium organic base nutrients that stimulate microbial activity in and around the root system.The end result is impressive: you’ll see enhanced aromatic properties stemming from the increased essential oil production that fruits, flowers and vegetables exhibit when they are introduced to high-quality organic elements like molasses, cold-pressed kelp, guano, worm castings and glacial rock dust. Perhaps some of the salts or heavy metals found in the synthetic nutrients decrease microbe activity, but the organics being reintroduced on a consistent basis help balance out the plant system in a way that allows for enhanced nutritional uptake from multiple sources. Hydroponic reservoirs are initially filled up with the synthetic nutrient system and as the water level decreases from plant uptake they are then topped off with the organic solutions.

Approximately every 10 to 14 days the reservoir should be drained and completely sprayed out and the cycle restarts.The soil plants will generally alternate between organic and synthetic feedings on an as-needed basis. Different varieties of plants will require more watering than others, so spot-check each plant if possible to ensure it is ready for a drink and that you are not overwatering.

This system, though simple enough, was custom tailored for a specific individual in order to meet their large-scale growing needs.

After years of hobby gardening, greenhouse and big agriculture developments in horticulture, systems of this nature are revolutionizing the process again—just when you thought you had seen it all, the industry sprouts a new root that looks like it will branch into another dense network of niche markets. More products, more gardens, more growers and healthier plants—all these mean that our industry is continuing to grow and mature as we head into the future. MY 124

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A Simple Guide to Taking Plant Cu ings

by Matt LeBannister

Matt LeBannister tells you pretty much everything you need to know to be a confident and successful cutting expert.

It’s easy to see that genetics are an extremely important factor in the human story: after all, it is our genes that determine to a large extent what type of people we will be. Whether we will be tall or short, skinny or fat, disease resistant or susceptible to infection—it’s all in our genes. This doesn’t just apply to humans, though; it applies to all life on earth, including the plants we grow. So when we first grow a type of tomato or pepper that we really like, it is only natural to want to hold onto that plant and its good traits—and the best way to ensure that your next generation of plants has the same favorable qualities is to take a cutting of that plant, thus creating an exact genetic replica, or clone. Some plants will take to this process better than others, but by following some simple instructions you can limit your failures and become something of a cutting expert.

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Selecting a Mother Plant Making clones from plant cuttings is a method of asexual propagation. The cutting is taken from what is commonly referred to as a ‘mother plant.’ A cutting will be genetically identical to the mother plant and will be the same as the parent as long as the environmental conditions are the same—so obviously your best, most vigorous plants should be selected as mother plants, as their vitality will then be passed onto the cuttings. The mother plant should be healthy and at least one or two months old and should be kept in a constant vegetative state.

Your mother plant’s only purpose is for taking cuttings.To avoid contaminating your mother plant with pest insects or disease, keep it isolated from the rest of your plants—if your mother plant was to become infected with a disease, all subsequent cuttings would be infected and therefore useless.

Making the Cut Whichever cutting tool you use— whether it’s a scalpel, a razor, scissors or some other instrument—it must be sterile, because making a cut can introduce disease to your plant through the open wound. Find a healthy branch with four to six leaves on it and, using the sterile cutting tool, sever the branch at a 45° angle directly below the bottom two leaves. These lower two leaves can now be removed from the cutting, allowing more of the freshly cut surface area to be exposed to your rooting hormones and medium. The severed end of the cutting should then be stuck into your chosen medium about one-inch deep. Do this quickly, as air can get trapped in the

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a simple guide to taking plant cuttings

freshly cut stem of the cutting and this could cause it to wilt and die.

Rooting Hormones When a cutting is taken from a plant, stem cells that were used to grow leaves and branches must then begin to grow roots instead. Plants achieve this by the stem cells located at the cut becoming undifferentiated cells, eventually transforming into root cells. Root-inducing hormones are already present in plants, but many gardeners believe that by dipping the severed end of the cutting into a rooting compound that contains some root-inducing hormones the rate at which the roots will develop will be accelerated.

Rooting compounds come in powder, gel and liquid forms and are to be applied to the severed end of the cutting right after the cut has been made, prior to it being inserted into the growing medium. Liquid and gel types are most common, as the powdered versions are easy to over apply and too much rooting hormone solution can actually stunt the development of new root growth.

The three most common rooting hormones found in commercially available rooting compounds are napthalenaecatic acid (NAA), indolebutyric acid (IBA) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4DPA).

Growing Media There are many different types of growing media available to the indoor gardener and each has "The three most common rooting its own advantages and disadvantages: hormones found in commercially Rockwool is very available rooting compounds popular for use with cutare napthalenaecatic acid (NAA), tings.This inert medium with excellent water and indolebutyric acid (IBA) and oxygen-retaining proper2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic ties is spun from heated rock in a similar style acid (2,4DPA)." to cotton candy. Insects that lay eggs in growing media are less likely to lay their eggs in rockwool and root-borne the oven at 482°F for 15 minutes. Allow insects are also less likely to be found in it. the mix to cool before placing your cutRockwool can come in a flat of 100 starter tings in it. cubes, which are easily transplanted into Aeroponics is the medium of the future larger cubes suitable for hydroponic systems. for cuttings. There are many different Coco coir is made from shredded coconut aeroponic cutting propagators on the husks. It is totally inert, very suitable for market today and they all work on the rooting cuttings and is often available in same principal: the severed end of the starter packs ideal for propagating cuttings. cutting is suspended in the air, where it Soil and soilless mixes are not inert and is misted by a fine spray of water. Roots can contain pathogens harmful to plants. will eventually grow into the humid, To sterilize your soil or soilless mixmisty air and can then be transplanted ture you can bake the medium in your into a larger aeroponic system. This oven—just place the necessary amount of technique is also ideal for starting cutmix into a large baking tray and bake in tings that are destined for nutrient film technique (NFT) hydroponic systems.

Many people are achieving excellent results with these methods.

Lighting Lighting is vital in all stages of plant development and cuttings are no different. Cuttings need 18 to 24 hours of light if they are to root properly, but they must not receive light that is too intense. Transpiration is the process through which water is evaporated through the leaves and in turn water is sucked in through the roots—without fully developed roots, plant cuttings can easily dry out. Using fluorescent light bulbs at this stage of growth is wise because they are not intense enough to damage fragile cuttings.

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a simple guide to taking plant cuttings

"Do not transplant cuttings until there is dense root growth. This can be determined by checking underneath rockwool flats or by gently coaxing the root ball out of the container."

Humidity Appropriate humidity levels are very important for cuttings to root successfully. High humidity levels—from 90 to 100 per cent— slow down transpiration and help keep cuttings from drying out.

High humidity levels also help to promote root growth. Humidity domes—clear plastic covers placed over your cuttings, allowing light in and keeping the humidity from escaping—are excellent tools to

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help maintain ideal humidity levels. With high humidity levels there is always a risk of developing molds and fungi, however, so to help prevent this, as well as to toughen up your cuttings, remove the humidity dome from the cuttings for 10 to 20 minutes each day.

Air and Root Zone Temperature Cuttings will root faster and with higher success rates when the root zone and air temperatures are kept within a certain range. They do best when the air temperature is between 70 and 85°F—outside of this range and root growth will be stunted or stopped altogether. The root zone temperature should actually be five degrees warmer than the ambient air temperature to promote root growth; heating pads with thermostats, which can be purchased at any quality hydro shop, can be placed below the cutting tray for controlled root zone heating.

Transplanting After cuttings have been taken they must be given adequate time to grow roots before they are transplanted into larger planter pots or into a hydroponic or aeroponic system. Do not transplant cuttings until there is dense root growth. This can be determined by checking underneath rockwool flats or by gently coaxing the root ball out of the container. Transplanting can be a very stressful process for the plant—as stressful as taking the cutting in the first place—so always handle roots and cuttings with care and do whatever it takes to ensure that the plant is damaged as little as possible during transplanting.

The process of cloning a plant by taking a cutting can be extremely useful—it allows you to continue growing exact genetic replicas of your favorite plants. It may seem like a complicated process, but with the right knowledge and experience there is no reason it has to be a difficult one, either for you or your plants! MY

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Waste Water&

the Hydrologic Cycle

by Andrea Milat and Jennifer Casey of Hydrologic Purification Systems

We take you on a tour of our planet’s water cycle—which may or may not include alien motherships.

If you're serious about your hydroponic garden, you probably use a reverse osmosis filter (RO) to ensure your plants have the purest water. RO systems create waste water during the purification process. Have you ever looked down at your waste water stream and wondered where all that water is going to end up?

Does it go in a landfill? Does it go into the ocean? Does it get transported off the planet by an alien mothership? Although the process by which water moves around the Earth may seem like deep and complex science, it's actually a fairly simple process— 132

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let's take a look at some basic water terminology as it relates to the processes of water transformation.

Precipitation happens when condensed water vapor falls to the Earth's surface, mostly as rain and snow. Seventy-eight per cent of global precipitation occurs over the ocean. Evaporation is the transformation of water from a liquid to a gas as it moves from the ground or bodies of water into the atmosphere. Oceans evaporate the largest part of our water budget.

Dogs pant, people sweat but plants transpire, as moisture is

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waste water and the hydrologic cycle

carried from roots to small pores called stoma located on the leaves, where it evaporates into a vapor and is released into the atmosphere. During a growing season, a leaf will transpire many times more water than its own weight—a large oak tree can transpire 40,000 gallons a year! If you enjoy a cold beer on a hot day, you've probably noticed the droplets of moisture that collect on the can or bottle. Condensation is the cause of your wet can, as vapor in the air transforms into water droplets and clings to the outside of your beer.

Other forms of condensation—slightly more pertinent to our topic—are Figure one clouds and fog.

Water is always in motion. Although the number of water molecules on Earth remains constant, the number of individual water molecules in any one place can rise and fall as they move in and out of the atmosphere as part of a never-ending process of water circulation.The movement and endless recycling of water between the atmosphere, the surface of the Earth and underground is called the hydrologic cy-

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cle.The water moves from one source to another—such as from the river to the ocean or from the ocean to the atmosphere—by physical processes driven by the transfer of energy from the sun.

This water cycle supports the maintenance of life and all the ecosystems on Earth.Through these transformations the water cycle purifies water, replenishes the land with fresh precipitation

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waste water and the hydrologic cycle

and transports minerals to different areas.This cycling of water is linked with energy exchanges that help to determine the Earth’s climate and cause much of its natural climate variability.

The hydrologic cycle of water (shown in figure one) illustrates how the movement of water through the hydrosphere is constantly being replenished.

Water transformation is one portion of this cycle, but the processes of water storage within the land is the other.Water seeping into the ground after falling from the air (by means of precipitation) is called infiltration. Once the ground is saturated, the excess water moves across the land in rivers and streams collectively called runoff.When this happens underground in aquifers it is known as subsurface flow—and this water may return to the surface by forming a spring, being pumped by people or eventually seeping into the ocean.

These processes are in constant ebb and flow, changing with the seasons, geographic location and increased climate variability. Human activities that alter the water cycle include agriculture, industry, deforestation, urbanization, construction of dams and aquifer over-drafting. These deficits are constantly being replenished, however, as part of the Earth’s overall water

budget is in constant circulation. For example, water covers 70 per cent of the Earth’s surface and of that, 97.5 per cent is in the oceans, 2.4 per cent is fresh water on land and the atmosphere holds less than 0.001 per cent.

The annual precipitation figure for the Earth actually totals more than 30 times the atmosphere’s total capacity to hold water. Under the surface, groundwater infiltrates the soil, flows downward until it encounters impermeable rock and then travels laterally in underground bodies of water called aquifers. Groundwater then returns to the surface through these aquifers, which empty into lakes, rivers and the oceans. As the amount of groundwater water increases or decreases, the water table rises or falls accordingly. Plants access this water through their roots and use it for photosynthesis and then it is evaporated through the stoma on the undersides of leaves. As much as 10 per cent of the moisture found in the atmosphere is released by plants through this process called transpiration.

Now that we understand the hydrologic cycle of water on Earth, let’s look at one of the most common misconceptions in regards to waste water and reverse osmosis systems. As many of you know, the process of reverse osmosis requires a waste water stream in order to separate hardness and contaminants from pure water molecules. These pure water molecules are small enough to pass through the thin film material in your system’s tightly wound membrane, while the unwanted substances that are rejected by the membrane as waste simply flow back into the hydrologic cycle, often through subsurface flow back into the groundwater and aquifers. If you are still concerned with waste water, many water purification systems offer a solution that reduces the amount of waste. It should be noted that reducing waste water could negatively affect the life of the membrane you’re using if your source water TDS count (total dissolved solids) is high. As you can now see, ‘waste’ water is kind of a relative term, since it is impossible to destroy a water molecule and everything ends up back in the hydrologic cycle of the Earth—which at this time does not include any alien motherships! MY

As much as 10 per cent of the moisture found in the atmosphere is released by plants through this process called transpiration.

Sources: • “The Water Cycle,” Howard Perlin, U.S. Geological Survey, November 2011. ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/watercycle.html • “Water Cycle—Ocean and Earth Systems,” Ruth Netting, NASA Science, 2011. science.nasa.gov/earth-science/ oceanography/ocean-earth-system/ocean-water-cycle/ • “The Hydrologic Cycle,” Learning Module, Institute of Water Research, Michigan State, January, 1997. iwr. msu.edu/edmodule/water/cycle.htm • “Water Processing: Residential, Commercial, Light Industrial,” Wes McGowan, Water Quality Association, Third Edition, 2000.

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Tips and Tricks

5

The Top Five Mistakes Made by Advanced Growers

by Shane Hutto

Everybody screws up from time to time—Shane Hutto shows us where the pros often go wrong and how to avoid their mistakes.

Once you’ve been gardening for awhile and you’ve gained some experience you’ll likely outgrow the rookie mistakes—but that’s not to say the pros don’t make mistakes sometimes too! Being an advanced grower means you have made a lot of mistakes and learned from them—the typical overwatering and inadequate pest-management problems should be out of your system by now. The thing that 138

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really sets advanced growers apart from novices, though, is the ability to solve new problems in the grow room and then prevent them from reoccurring.

Overconfident growers often quit checking the pH of their water or measuring their nutrients, for example. This is a really bad idea, because we work with plants

"Never introduce too many new variables to your plants at the same time."

The one problem I see a lot of expert growers struggle with is overconfidence— gardeners who think they know it all usually have the most to learn.

and—as with any living thing—changes happen constantly.You should always check that your equipment is properly calibrated and then use all the measuring

tools in your arsenal to ensure your nutrients are precisely where you want them every time.

Another big mistake I see experienced gardeners make is failing to institute an equipment maintenance program.

Whether you need new bulbs, pH probes or yellow sticky cards, there is always some kind of equipment to buy, but there are a few things you can do that can help increase the lifespan of your equipment.

Bulbs and hoods should be cleaned on a regular basis, but use a polishing cloth and don't let the oils from your skin touch the bulb surface. Also, never touch the bulb or spray anything on it when it’s hot, as liquid on a hot bulb can cause the bulb to shatter. And to help improve the lifespan of your ventilation systems, clean your filters—this is one I see overlooked a lot,

but it only takes a few minutes per filter and will allow your fans to run at a much lower stress level.

As you become a more advanced grower you’ll likely want to increase the scale of your operation from time to time. Any increase in the number of plants comes with a corresponding increase in workload, though, so tending a much bigger garden can become a bit overwhelming. The key is not to get lazy. It’s easy to say, “Oh, the plants all look pretty good. I’ll cut out early today and grab a beer.” If this becomes a habit your crops may suffer and never reach their full potential. Spending lots of time in the grow room around your plants and keeping up with your general tasks is the best way to catch problems early on when they are still fixable.

Our industry is constantly coming up with new innovations and products to try and we all want to be on the cutting edge of growing. When you introduce a new product or do something differently in your garden you should only change one thing at a time, though—that way you

can properly evaluate the effects of the new product or system. It’s also a good idea to have a ‘test garden’ where you can set aside a few plants to experiment with so you can try new products without risking your crop.

Never introduce too many new variables to your plants at the same time.

Poor planning is another major problem for many advanced growers. In order to be successful year-round and have good harvests on a regular basis you have to plan ahead.

Sometimes, however, you might actually need to take a vacation. Garden sitters are a nice idea but no one cares enough to baby your plants the way you do—your plants need the same level of care whether you’re around or not, so you must plan these things well in advance.

They say growing is as much an art as it is a science—whether you are a newbie or a professional you will make mistakes, but the best growers are the ones who learn from their mistakes and are able to prevent them from happening again. That old saying couldn’t be more true—an ounce of prevention really is worth a pound of cure. MY

About the Author: Shane Hutto is a technical advisor at

Grodan Inc. He earned a bachelor’s degree in horticulture at Oklahoma State University and received a research assistantship for his master’s degree. During his graduate studies he researched production and extraction of surface waxes on horticultural commodities. His passion for growing is complimented by his experience in many types of controlled environment operations and design.

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Agricultural

Robotics

by Philip McIntosh

Here Come the Agribots...

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

Robot. Whether the term conjures up an image of a friendly alphanumerically-named droid with a knack for languages, or an apocalyptic vision of a future ruled by merciless killers, it is hard to not be fascinated by these human designed and made (at least for now) machines. Robots have established a firm foothold in factories around the world, where they perform highly repetitive or dangerous operations at high speed much more accurately, repeatably and efficiently than any human. Robots are now also found in homes, where they are well-suited to such menial tasks as vacuuming floors and mowing lawns. Whether it be in fun and educational pursuits such as First Lego League Robotics competitions, or in the deadly serious game of explosives disposal, there is no doubt that robots are becoming more and more integrated into human society all the time.

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Here come the agribots...

So, what really is a robot? Contrary to the popular image of robots conjured in the minds of science fiction writers and filmmakers, there are actually few practical robots today in humanoid form.

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

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

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

Bots in the Fields Compared to the manufacturing industries commercial agriculture has been relatively slow to adopt robotics, but not because of a lack of motivation to do so. It's just a lot harder to build safe, reliable robots for agricultural work than it is for manufacturing. There is also still a relatively ready supply of cheap farm labor available in many markets. However, changes are on the horizon and there are many good reasons to consider putting robots into the fields.

With GPS positioning systems, machine vision and other sensors and off-theshelf control parts, full-sized harvesting, plowing and planting machines are now being successfully tested. To keep costs down, current approaches are mostly centered on adapting existing vehicles to autonomous operation rather than designing custom robotic solutions from the ground up. A production autonomous harvester will cost a bit more up front than a human-driven one, but a large fleet of them could be maintained

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Here come the agribots...

by a small team of engineers and technicians—or a single driver could watch over and adjust the operation of several semi-autonomous machines while perched on a tower as the machines follow pre-programmed instructions.

When it comes to robots Japan has long been at the development forefront and work on automated tractors began in Japan more than 20 years ago. For the Japanese, agribots aren't just about being on the cutting edge of technology—the median age of Japanese farm workers is increasing and there are not enough young people becoming farmers or interested in being farm workers. Japan is counting on robots to keep future harvests coming in; among the machines in advanced stages of testing are robots designed for planting and harvesting rice, weeding rice paddies, harvesting tomatoes and strawberries and even performing grafting operations on crop plants.

Dorhout machine - Prospero is a prototype Autonomous Micro Planter (AMP) from Dorhout R&D. (Photo by Richard Dorhout)

Researchers at Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology have tested a human-assistance machine designed to be worn by elderly farmers. Although not an autonomous vehicle, the device provides intelligent support and motion assistance for the user’s legs and arms and the researchers hope to make it available for less than $10,000 within a few years.

Researchers at Carnegie Melon University’s Robotics Institute are working on a project called Comprehensive Automation for Specialty Crops (CASC).

The aim of CASC is to improve efficiency and lower costs, especially in the 144

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Strawberry harvester arm - Robotic arm for picking strawberries. (Photo courtesy of Robotic Harvesting, LLC)

apple and nursery tree industries. The CASC team has developed robotic vehicles for use in orchards, along with systems designed to detect plant stress and disease and take measurements of fruit before harvest.

Demonstrations of many CASC projects can be seen on the CASC YouTube channel, (youtube.com/user/TheCASCrop).

Agribots need not be hulking machines that are simply automatic versions of traditional farming equipment; miniature robots have opened up a whole new spectrum of possibilities for the future farmer. Small bots are perfectly suited for crawling or rolling along between, under and around plants, where they can monitor soil conditions, photograph and transmit images of plants for monitoring and analysis, do some spot tillage here and there, detect insect infestations and diseases before they become widespread and even dispense precise and controlled amounts of pesticides and fertilizers as needed. Swarms of such robots will someday act as intelligent agents to provide a level of care, monitoring and data collection that is far beyond what is now economically feasible for any farmer.The cost of such small agribots should be fairly low—once commercial production is in full swing, such machines could be available for around $500 each, or eventually even much less.

Prospero, a five-legged automated seed distributor, is an example of an early prototype

of an autonomous micro planter (AMP) designed to be part of a small swarm of bots specially designed for agricultural work.

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

Bots in Nurseries and Greenhouses If robots can be made to successfully perform in the unpredictable conditions of an outdoor farm field then it should be even easier to get them working in the more controlled environments found in nurseries, greenhouses and indoor gardens—the floors and grounds of these facilities are far easier for robots to negotiate than the more unpredictable and less uniform surfaces found in fields and orchards. Researchers are making rapid progress in the development of small- to medium-sized robots designed for many of the specialized tasks that need

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

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

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

Rail systems have the advantage of keeping the machines on well-defined paths, which makes safety management easier and also simplifies programming and operation.

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

Bench-mounted systems are commonly used in commercial operations to perform transplanting and plugging operations.These machines can transplant up to 24,000 seedlings per hour, although the actual speed of the machines depends on many

factors and some plants are too delicate to be handled by currently available automated systems. Rolling, walking or crawling machines are in development all over the world and although some bots designed for harvesting tomatoes or cucumbers still have a rather boxy, machine-tool appearance, some recent prototypes are actually quite futuristic!

One of the most labor-intensive jobs in an ornamental plant nursery—indoors or out—is the movement, collection and placement of plant containers. According to one estimate, up to 40 per cent of this labor can be safely performed by small autono-

Mico-EX2010 Sprayer -This wheeled vehicle is an automatic spraying machine for use in greenhouses.

(Photo courtesy of Micothon Netherlands)

mous vehicles. A Massachusetts-based startup company has developed small wheeled robots designed to work in teams alongside humans in plant nursery environments.

These machines are entering a final testing phase with the cooperation of a number of

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

greenhouse and nursery operations around the United States, with plans for commercial availability this year.

Swarms of small bots are destined to bustle about in indoor growing facilities as well.

These bots will operate in a fairly predictable and stable environment and should be even less expensive than their outdoor cousins, since they won’t have to be as ruggedly built. Small autonomous bots designed for more complex indoor monitoring and plant maintenance operations are still in the development phase, though, and we are probably at least several years away from seeing commercially available machines.

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

But the next time you see a tractor with a few unusual gizmos attached to it at work in a field, look closely; there might not be anyone behind the wheel… MY Acknowledgement Thanks to Steve Rainwater of robots.net for information on recent developments in the world of agricultural robotics.

References Dorhout, D., 2011, Prospero: Robot Farmer, dorhoutrd.com/home/prospero_robot_farmer (accessed December 9, 2011) Harvest Automation,Agricultural Market Analysis, harvestai.com/agricultural-robots-manual-labor.php (accessed December 5, 2011) Kusuda,Y. (2010) “The Use of Robots in the Japanese Food Industry”, Industrial Robot,Volume 37, Number 6, pages 503–508 ‘Robot’,The Free Miriam-Webster Dictionary, merriam-webster.com/dictionary/robot (accessed December 3, 2011) RobotVideo:“Dutch Robomatic Using Rhizopon Plant Rooting Hormones”, hortus.com/ Video_Robot.htm (accessed December 5, 2011) Smalley, E., 2011,“These May be the Droids Farmers are Looking For”,Wired, November 11,

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you tell us

Apache Tech president Andre' La Forge

We recently interviewed Apache Tech president Andre' La Forge, who talked about overcoming consumer mistrust stemming from shoddy imports, the future of the LED and how amazing it is to work with NASA. Maximum Yield (MY): How did you get your name? It seems like sort of an unusual moniker for a lighting manufacturer…

Andre' La Forge: The founder and CEO of our company is of Apache descent. The Apache name suggests the idea of strength, integrity and courage— which are all values we at Apache Tech believe in. Apache Tech Inc. has the vision to make the highest-quality LED and we make it right here in the United States. We want to represent the best of what America has to offer and we strive to be considered the best of the best when it comes to LED lighting for the agricultural lighting industry.

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MY: Have you really designed lighting fixtures for NASA? Can you give us any details?

Andre': Yes, we have. NASA/Ames Research Center has been a focal point for controlled environment crop production for the last two decades in the United States. They have developed state-of-the-art controlled environments that go from basic greenhouses to reach-in and walk-in growth chambers to incredibly high-tech completely gas-tight chambers that are used to simulate space station, lunar base and even Martian conditions. These chambers have been used to define and understand how to optimize growing conditions to maximize crop productivity. Apache Tech has the honor of knowing that our lights are good enough to be installed in all of these environments, including the Martian gas-exchange growth chamber.

MY: What is your answer to the critics of LED lighting who claim it just isn’t a cost-efficient method of lighting large grows?

Andre': The answer is just to look at the math. Stanford University is a prime example of forward thinking in the implementation of lighting technology that is not only energy efficient but ‘green.’

Good LED arrays produce significant output—comparable to many of the traditional HID options

available—and can save you almost 80 per cent on electrical consumption.

Although there is no doubt that none of these good LED arrays have the light spread that some HID options can provide, even if you need two or even three LED arrays to match the spread of light from the HIDs, you’ll still be saving a significant amount of money on energy costs.

Additionally, LEDs offer a much longer operating lifespan, which significantly diminishes the cost of bulb and ballast replacement and— even more importantly—the amount of time and the cost associated with having maintenance staff replacing and throwing away bad bulbs and burned-out capacitors. This is a significant economic impact for the grower, especially because HID and fluorescent light bulbs are

considered to be hazardous waste materials and need to be handled appropriately. LED lights have lifespans that are five to 10 times as long as these light sources and are solid state— which means they do not contain any potentially harmful toxic compounds.

Finally, the dramatic difference in lost and wasted heat will keep money in your pocket and growers will not need to worry about overheating and burning leaves with the excessive heat produced by HIDs. Now, usually the critics will say that they use that waste heat from HIDs to help heat their greenhouse or controlled environment.

However, electrical heat is very expensive, which is why homeowners typically do not use electrical heat to maintain temperature in the house. It is much more energy- and cost-effective to use LEDs—which consume significantly less power and produce very little waste heat—to produce light and then use natural gas, propane or heating oil to heat the greenhouse.

MY: Are LED lights the way of the future or is there something else on the horizon?

Andre': There are always new technologies right around the corner and Apache Tech Inc. keeps a close eye on all those that are being developed.

Our close relationship with NASA keeps us involved with all the promising lighting technologies and Apache Tech will be there to make certain that a product made in the United States and of the highest quality is always available for you.

In the meantime, LEDs offer the greatest lighting potential for the foreseeable future. LEDs are a solidstate technology that is environmentally friendly. We know there has been a big push for fluorescent lighting over the last few years, but—as most of your

Three lights cover an eight by nine foot grow bench.

readers know—these are environmental disasters because of all the mercury that is used. We believe that fluorescents

will work their way out of the market very soon and the environmentally friendly LED will eventually light every greenhouse, farm and corporate building in the United States.

MY: What is the state of the LED industry right now? How do you know if you’re getting a reputable product?

Andre': The LED industry is trying to recover from the blow inflicted by the poor quality and poor light output of imported LED arrays. There is a lot of mistrust right now and it is an uphill battle trying to show people that LEDs

really can produce a significant amount of light and can last a long time and save users a significant amount of money. Generally speaking, you should look for products that are made in the United States and are UL approved.

While other countries can produce high-quality components, the general lack of oversight and control leaves the user guessing. Do your research. Look at the company’s website, Facebook page and Twitter feeds and don’t be afraid to give them a call—talk to them and ask them questions. Good LED lights are not cheap but they will save you lots of money over the years to come. MY

Apache Tech LED Inc. is running a promo right now on our Facebook page—become our friend and you’ll be entered into a raffle to win a United States-made, NASA-approved LED light for your plants (facebook.com/ApacheLEDGrowLights)

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Beginner’s corner Beyond the Basics:

Classifying Hydroponic Growing Systems With MIST

by Ryan M. Taylor Hydroponic systems are traditionally classified according to the irrigation method employed, which can cause confusion to beginning growers. Ryan Taylor explains the MIST system, which classifies grow systems according to modularity, irrigation, substrate and technology.

Believe it or not, I actually like my in-laws—since the time I began wooing their daughter, they have taken an active interest in my hydroponics career and have made me feel like part of their family.

In other words, they are a far cry from the ‘monsters-in-law’ cliché.

Recently they decided to build a hobby system of their own and it didn’t take long for them to become frustrated and call me for help.You see, hydroponic systems are typically named after the type of irrigation system they employ, regardless of the other features the system might include. Compounding this confusing tendency, readers may be talked into believing there is ‘one best way’ to build a particular type of system.

I suspect that my in-laws are not alone among beginners in their level of confusion. If our industry is to continue to expand, we really need to develop a more useful and specific set of criteria with which to classify hydroponic growing systems—rather than just lumping them together based on the irrigation method they use.

A set of four basic dimensions could be used to classify hydroponic growing systems, for instance, and each system could then be described according to how it employs each of these four dimensions.

This classification protocol would make describing particular grow systems both simpler and more precise and would go a long way toward dispelling the confusion faced by many new growers.

The MIST Classification System MIST is an acronym that can be used to describe the four major dimensions of any growing system: modularity, irrigation, substrate and technology. Each dimension describes a particular aspect of the system, with each aspect represented as a continuum of possibilities between extremes.

Modularity refers to the degree to which plants are interconnected by substrate and nutrient solution. At one extreme, plants are grown in individual pots, buckets or bags that are completely independent of one another. At the other extreme, plants are densely grown in beds or troughs—we refer to this arrangement as being ‘tightly coupled’ because all the plants share the same substrate and nutrient solution. In between these two extremes

Table 1: The MIST Classification System Dimension

Aspect

Minimum

Hybrid

Maximum

Modularity

Containers

Independent

Loosely Coupled

Tightly Coupled

Flow

Static

Mixed

Dynamic

Level

Film

Variable

Deep

Origin

Top-feed

Mixed

Sub

Waste

Open

Add Back + Discard Closed

Substrate

Media

None

Inorganic/Organic Mixed

Technology

Automation

Passive

Selected

Irrigation

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Active

is a virtually limitless array of arrangements where plants are ‘loosely coupled’ between each other—one example might be a flood-and-drain system in which individual substrate-filled buckets are packed densely on a bed: in this case, the plants share irrigation solution but not the root substrate.

Irrigation refers to the method of supplying water, nutrients and other growth aids to the plants. This is a complex dimension with many sub-dimensions, four of which are described: • Flow describes whether the system solution is moving or stationary and the rate at which it changes.

• Level characterizes the amount of solution in the root zone at a given time, ranging from a thin film to a deep basin.

• Origin refers to the point at which solution is applied to the plant; major points of origin include foliar (leaf) feeding, top-feeding of the substrate and sub-irrigation from below the substrate.

• Waste is a sub-dimension concerned with the useful life of the nutrient solution: systems are said to be ‘open’ if solution passes through the root system just once before being discarded, whereas systems are ‘closed’ if the solution is re-circulated over the life of the crop—in practice, growers often use a hybrid strategy combining solution add-backs with periodic replacement of the entire solution.

Substrate refers specifically to the growing media in the root zone. At one extreme, plant roots are grown without media at all, absorbing nutrient solution through misted air or by hanging in a periodically flooded chamber. More often than not, though, an inorganic or organic substrate is used to provide both anchorage and nutrient solution to the plant. Substrates are characterized by their qualities, including water holding capacity, porosity and cation exchange capacity: by creating a mix that balances these properties effectively, higher yields can be produced than with stand-alone substrates.

Technology refers to the operational power of the system.

Fully passive systems rely on manual aeration and irrigation of the nutrient solution, while fully active systems are automated—with timers, water pumps, air pumps and so on. In practice, most systems use a combination of both passive and active modes, employing both grower-power and technology for system operations.

The MIST classification systemcan help growers across all levels of expertise by providing them a useful framework for designing their own grow operations and allowing them to better understand the basic principles behind hydroponic systems and more critically evaluate the available literature. Although some combinations of system dimensions will work better than others, the possibilities are virtually infinite! MY

A hybrid system combining drip irrigation with deep water culture.

A hybrid substrate composed of a 50:50 mix of coco and LECA.

About the Author: Ryan Taylor is the founder and president of the Taylor Horticulture Company. In addition to growing a wide variety of hydroponic and bioponic crops, he also specializes in the manufacturing of hybrid hydroponic systems and consults with horticulturalists on methods for optimizing their production processes. Ryan is obsessed with hydroponics and his cat.

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talking shop

Michael and Natalie Elola—owners of Dublin, California’s The Lucky Garden

AT A GLANCE Company: The Lucky Garden, Dublin Hydroponics Owners: Michael and Natalie Elola Location: 7071 Village Parkway, Dublin, CA Phone: 1-925-828-GROW (4769) Email: TheLuckyGarden@yahoo.com Motto: “In order to live off a garden, you practically have to live in it. Come shop with us!”

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Lucky and Loving It

Michael and Natalie Elola have found the pot of gold at the end of their particular rainbow—in Dublin, California…

People get involved in the hydroponics industry for all kinds of reasons. Michael and Natalie Elola—owners of Dublin, California’s The Lucky Garden—couldn’t help but be interested in what people were growing in the greenhouses they used to build as a sideline business.

“I was in outside sales selling natural stone to the construction industry,” Natalie tells us. “As a side business, Michael and I had started BBQ Brothers, a business building outdoor kitchens and greenhouses for residential properties.”

The couple decided that the time was right to get serious about running their own full-time business and that hydroponics could be the answer—it looked like a growth opportunity and they already had a customer base to target from their greenhouse business.

“When we were building greenhouses we spent lots of time consulting with our customers on what kinds of produce would be the best for them to grow. We saw that the future of both indoor and outdoor gardening was only going to flourish in the years to come,” Natalie continues. “We wanted to open a retail

store where our greenhouse customers could shop and also learn about hydroponics—and hopefully they would then tell their neighbors, friends and family.”

The couple found a good location for their new store, but getting the place ready to open for business was no picnic.

“We lucked out on a great wide open space that had a private parking lot in the back in a nice little shopping center for a rent,” Michael says.

Their first few months were a struggle, but Michael and Natalie were fully sup-

"We have customers tell us that they love the fact that they didn’t have to make a trip to the local hardware or big box store because we have everything they need!” ported by their family and friends and two people in particular were crucial to their success.

“We are so blessed to have the help of our brother, David Elola,” Natalie explains. “The knowledge and insight he brings to our store is priceless. He has always made himself available when we need him to work and the best part is that Michael gets to work with his

best friend again and David will work in exchange for plant food.”

“We have also been blessed to have the help of one of our close friends, Kyle,” Michael carries on. “Kyle is very familiar with all our nutrient lines and enjoys spending quality time with each customer talking about what their recipe is and what they can add to it to maximize their yields or increase the quality of their grow. He has his own little following of customers that shop at our store just to learn from him.”

Natalie and Michael knew that they’d have to carry a pretty great selection of products to compete with the big box stores in a very competitive industry.

“When we opened our doors,” Natalie says, “we had a great selection of nutrients—all the basics that most hydro stores had and more. We established a good relationship with DL Wholesale and Sunlight Supply and are pleased to be able to offer their hardware to our customers. We also took pride in offering a full selec-

tion of plumbing fixtures, environmental controllers and CO2, along with electrical components. We want to be the hydro store that has everything—we don’t want our customers to have to shop anywhere else. We have customers tell us that they love the fact that they didn’t have to make a trip to the local hardware or big box store because we have everything they need!”

Every business has its start-up difficulties, but Michael and Natalie’s first big obstacle came as a bit of a surprise.

Michael laughs. “Our first problem was with the city of Dublin. After we had been open for business for a few days the

City paid us a visit and said they were not sure if they wanted a hydroponic store in their town. After we gave them a tour of our store and a brief lesson on indoor and outdoor gardening, however— and were paid a visit by the garden club while they were here—they changed their mind and welcomed us to Dublin.”

The Lucky Garden is open seven days a week and they’ve had to open a warehouse facility in town to keep up with product demand, plus they’ve got a solid marketing plan in place for the future.

“We learned that that there is a thriving community of gardeners in our area that is eager to learn and extremely excited to sign up for our ongoing grow classes,” Natalie tells us. “As for marketing, we have a VIP rewards card—for every purchase our customers make, they get a percentage of that purchase back onto their card. We are also going to be running a commercial at the IMAX theaters in Dublin, we are hosting workshops for the local garden clubs and we continue to look at other great marketing opportunities.”

Natalie and Michael love their new business and are looking forward to a successful future in the hydroponics industry.

“This industry is not boring in any way and we love that.” Michael smiles at Natalie, who adds, “It’s true—there is always something to learn and when new products come out we are excited to educate our customers about them.”

“We are so proud to be able to give back to our community and to causes around the world now, too,” continues Michael. “We have plans to build vegetable gardens for the local elementary and middle schools for no charge this spring. We have several middle school students right now that are doing their science project on hydroponics and we have helped them build mini hydro flood and drain systems and provided nutrients to them at no charge.”

“After all,” Natalie sums up for us, “these students are our future growers. They may one day have a stand at the local produce market—and we want to be the store they shop at for their plant food.” MY

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COMING UP IN march

DO YOU KNOW?

1.

The annual precipitation figure for the Earth actually totals more than 30 times the atmosphere’s total capacity to hold water.

2.

Herbs such as basil, oregano, sage and rosemary can all have their flavor and aromatic levels increased by applying some plant stress—high light, dry conditions, warm temperatures, high rates of air flow, high EC or moisture stress will all concentrate the essential oils in the foliage just as they would if the herbs were being grown outside in their natural habitat.

3.

When bringing electricity into your garden, copper is by far the best conductor available for supply wiring

4.

All artificial light sources break down over time and their light energy output declines—just because a bulb continues to produce light doesn’t mean its energy output for horticultural purposes remains the same as the day it was purchased!

5.

Research conducted in the USSR (by Tronov) indicated that glycinate, an amino acid, greatly stimulates the growth of plants. These results showed that zinc glycinate (zinc glycine chelate) increased total plant weight—stem, root and foliage—by between 147 per cent and 254 per cent.

Manganese glycinate (manganese glycine chelate) was almost as effective, increasing total plant weight by as much as 110 per cent.

6.

The three most common rooting hormones found in commercially available rooting compounds are napthalenaecatic acid (NAA), indolebutyric acid (IBA) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4DPA).

7.

Ethylene is sold commercially and in its gas form is often added to containers of unripe fruits and vegetables during transport to enhance ripening.

8.

During a growing season, a leaf will transpire many times more water than its own weight—a large oak tree can transpire 40,000 gallons a year!

Over 400 volatile aromatic compounds that may contribute to the overall flavor experience have been identified in tomatoes alone—and there are potentially many more as yet undiscovered.

9.

SCL works by alternating the lights that are on every hour in a checkerboard pattern; this creates an effect on your plants similar to rolling clouds on a summer day.

10.

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Maximum Yield USA | February 2012

A Plant’s Life As growers we’re constantly concerned with the life of the crops we grow—from seedling/cutting to harvest. This special issue of Maximum Yield covers both those topics and every other in between in detail.

• • • • • • • •

Sprouting and Germination Maximizing Photosynthesis Building a Fertilizer Regiment Cloning Plant Senescence Tropisms Post-harvest Care More!

www.maximumyield.com Maximum Yield USA March will be available next month for FREE at selected indoor gardening retail stores across the country and on maximumyield.com Subscriptions are available at maximumyield.com/subscriptions.php

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MAX-mART

LLC

Phone: 510.903.1808 Fax: 510.764.1246 13762 Doolittle Drive, San Leandro, CA 94577

www.hydrogardendelight.com

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MAX-mART MAX-MART

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MAXIMUM YIELD distributors

ALABAMA Alabama Organics 3348 Bethel Road, Hammondville, AL 35989 256-635-0802 ALASKA Brown’s Electrical Supply 365 Industrial Way, Anchorage, AK 99501 907-272-2259 Far North Garden Supply 2834 Boniface Parkway Anchorage, AK 99504 907-333-3141 Southside Garden Supply AK 12870 Old Seward Highway, Unit 114, Anchorage, AK 99515 907-339-9997 Holmtown Nursery Inc. 1301 - 30th Avenue, Fairbanks, AK 99701 907-451-8733 Ground Control Landscape ServicesHydroponic & Garden Supplies 1067 Ocean Dr. Homer ,Alaska 99603 907-235-1521 Northern Lights Greenhouse & Garden Supply Suite 105-9737 Mud Bay Road Ketchikan, Alaska 9901 907-225-GROW (4769) Alaska Jack’s Hydroponics and Garden Supply 1150 S. Colony Way, Ste.9 Palmer, AK 99645 (907) 746-4774 Anuway Hydroponics Suite #1 2711 W Walnut Rogers AK 72756 USA 479 631 0099 Peninsula Garden Supply AK 44224 Sterling Highway, Suite 4, Soldotna, AK 99669 907-420-0401 Far North Garden Supply 300 Centaur Street, Wasilla, AK 99654 907-376-7586 ARIZONA Sea of Green Flagstaff 204-C E. Route 66 Flagstaff, AZ 86001 928-774-SOGF(7643) The Hydro Closet 5826 West Olive Avenue #106 Glendale, Arizona 85302 602-361-2049 Growtown Horticulture Supply 1945 E. Indian School RD. Phoenix AZ 85016 602-277-0121 Homegrown Hydroponics 2525 West Glendale Ave Phoenix AZ 85051 602-368-4005 Sea of Green West 2340 W. Bell Road, Suite 116, Phoenix, AZ 85023 602-504-8842 ACI Hydroponics 1325 South Park Lane, Tempe, AZ 85282 800-633-2137 Homegrown Hydroponics 601 East Broadway Road, Tempe, AZ 85282 480-377-9096 Sea of Green Hydroponics 1301 E. University Dr. Tempe AZ, 85281 800-266-4136 Gonzo Grow 10297 W Van Buren Street, Tolleson, AZ 85353 623-780-GROW Natural Pools & Gardens 2143 North Country Suite C, Tucson, AZ 85716 520-323-2627

Retail Stores listed alphabetically by city in each state.

Sea of Green Hydroponics 402 North 4th Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85705 520-622-6344 ARKANSAS Mickey’s Mercantile 1303 Highway 65 South, Clinton, AR 72031 501-412-0214 Old Soul Organics and More 1771 Crossover Road, Fayetteville, AR 72701 479-444-6955 Growfresh Organics & More 2900 Zero St, Ste 106 Fort Smith, AR 72901 479-648-8885 Fermentables 3915 Crutcher Street, N. Little Rock, AR 72118 501-758-6261 Anuway Hydroponics 2711 W. Walnut Street, Rogers, Arkansas 72756 479-631-0099 CALIFORNIA Greenleaf Hydroponics 1839 W Lincoln Avenue, Anaheim, CA 92801 714-254-0005 Grow It Yourself Gardens 401 Sunset Drive, Suite L, Antioch, CA 94509 925-755-GROW High Desert Hydroponics 13631 Pawnee Road, #7 Apple Valley, CA 92308 760-247-2090 American Hydroponics 286 South G Street, Arcata, CA 95521 800-458-6543 Humboldt Hydroponics 601 I Street, Arcata, CA 95521 707-822-3377 Let it Grow 160 Westwood Center, Arcata, CA 95521 707-822-8733 Northcoast Horticulture Supply 639 6th St. Arcata, CA 95521 707-826-9998 Sweet Harvest Hydroponics & Organics 1041 E. Grand Ave. Arroyo Grande,CA 93420 (805) 473-0004 Auburn Organic 4035 Grass Valley Highway, Auburn, CA 95602 530-823-8900 High Street Hydro 180 Cleveland Avenue, Auburn, CA 95603 530-885-5888 Quail Mountain Ranch 230 Palm Ave Auburn, CA 95603 530-889-2390 Tell 2 Friends Indoor Gardening 62 Sutherland Drive, Auburn, CA 95603 530-889-8171 Bakersfield Hydroponics Bakersfield , CA 1 (661) 808-4640 Stop N Grow 5455 Rosedale Hwy Bakersfield, CA 93308 (661) 859-1988 Green Leaf Hydroponics 3903 Patton Way #103 Bakersfield CA 93308 661-245-2616 Kern Hydroponics 2408 Brundage Lane, Suite B, Bakersfield, CA 93304 661-323-7333

The Hydro Shop 3980 Saco Road Bakersfield, CA 661-399-3336 Better Grow Hydro Los Angeles 5554 Bandini Boulevard, Bell, CA 91106 323-510-2700; 877 640 GROW Super Starts PO Box 732, Bellmont, CA 94002 650-346-8009 Berkeley Indoor Garden 844 University Avenue Berkeley, CA 94710 510-549-2918 Berkeley’s Secret Garden 921 University Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94710 510-486-0117 Hydroponic Connection, The 2816 San Pablo Ave Berkeley, CA 94702 510 704-9376 Brentwood Hydroponics & Organics 560 Valdry Ct #85 Brentwood, CA 94513 925-634-6704 Good To Grow & Global Garden Supply 1350 Rollins Rd Burlingame, CA, 94010 (650) 733-4420 Advanced Garden Supply 3113 Alhambra Drive, Unit F, Cameron Park, CA 95682, 530-676-2100 Precision Hydroponics 132 Kennedy Avenue, Campbell, CA 95008 408-866-8176 Elite Horticulture Supply 22330 Sherman Way, C13, Canoga Park, CA 91303 818-347-5172 Hydro International 7935 Alabama Avenue Canoga Park, CA 91304 Advanced Hydroponics 17808 Sierra Highway, Canyon Country, CA 91351 Myron L Company 2450 Impala Drive, Carlsband, CA 9210-7226 760-438-2021 661-299-1603 San Diego Hydroponics North County Coastal 6352 Corte Del Abeto #J Carlsbad CA, 92011 760-420-8934 The Greenhouse Garden Supply 7619 Fair Oak Blvd.

Carmichael, CA 95608 1 (916) 515-9130 NorCal Creations PO Box 28, Cedar Ridge, CA 95924 Garden Connection, The 2145 Park Avenue, Unit 2 Chico, CA 95928 530-342-7762 Hydro King 2540 South Whitman Place, Chico, CA 959282 530-893-GROW (4769) Grow4Less garden Supply & Hydroponics 320 Trousdale Dr., Suite L Chula Visa CA 91910 619-425-GROW Citrus Heights Hydrogarden 8043 Greenback Lane Citrus Heights, CA 95610 916-728-4769 Conrad Hydroponics Inc. 14915 Unit E, Olympic Drive, Clearlake, CA 95422 707-994 3264 Under The Sun 12638 Foothill Boulevard, Clearlake Oaks, CA 95423 707-998-GROW (4769)

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Gro More Garden Supply 2937 Larkin Avenue, Clovis, CA 93021 559-348-1055 G & G Organics and Hydroponics 901 W. Victoria Street Unit D, Compton, CA 90220 310-632-0122 Concord Indoor Garden 2771 Clayton Road, Concord, CA 94519 925-671-2520 Hydroponics Plus 2250 Commerce Avenue, Suite C Concord, CA 94520 925-691-7615 Hydrostar Hydroponics & Organics 1307 W. Sixth Street, #211, Corona, CA 92882 951-479-8069 The Hydro Spot 21785 Temescal Cyn Rd Corona Ca, 92883 A+ Hydroponics & Organics 1604 Babcock Street, Costa Mesa, CA 92627 949-642-7776 The Hydro Source 671 E. Edna Place Covina, CA 91723 877 HYDRO 82; 626-915-3128 Let it Grow 1228 2nd Street, Crescent City, CA 95531 707-464-9086 Northcoast Horticulture Supply 1070 Highway 101, Crescent City, CA 95531 707-464-1200 Seaside Hydrogarden 1070 Highway 101 North, Crescent City, CA 95531 707-465-3520 Pacific Coast Hydroponics 4147 Sepulveda Boulevard, Culver City, CA 90230 310-313-1354 Dr. Greenthumbs Hydroponic Garden Supplies 566 San Ramon Valley Blvd.

Danville, CA 94526 925-314-9376 Constantly Growing - Davis 123 D Street Davis, CA 95616 530-756-4774 Constantly Growing 6200 Enterprise Drive, Suite A Diamond Springs, CA 95619 530-642-9710 Harvest Hydroponics 6650 Merchandise Way Suite B, Diamond Springs, CA 95619 530-622-5190 Victory Garden Supply 1900 N Lincoln St #100 Dixon CA 95620 707 678 5800 The Lucky Garden, Dublin Hydroponics 7071 Village Parkway Dublin, Ca 94568 925-828-GROW (4769) Grow A Lot Hydroponics, San Diego 1591 N. Cuyamaca Street, El Cajon, CA 93612 619-749-6777 Indoor Garden Solution Inc. 12424 Exline Street, El Monte CA 91732, 626-453-0443 Go Green Hydroponics 15721 Ventura Boulevard, Encino, CA 91436 818-990-1198 A Fertile World (Eureka) 6th Street, Eureka, CA 95501 707-444-0200 Bayside Garden Supply 4061 Highway 101 Ste 6 Eureka, CA 95503 1 (707) 826-7435 Humboldt Hydroponics 1302 Union Street, Eureka, CA 95501 707-443-4304

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Retail Stores listed alphabetically by city in each state.

Northcoast Horticulture Supply 60 West 4th Street, Eureka, CA 95501 707-444-9999 Constantly Growing 4343 Hazel Avenue, Fair Oaks, CA 95628 916-962-0043 Fallbrook Hydro 208 E Mission Rd Ste B Fallbrook CA 92028 1 (760) 728-4769 Tulare County Growers Supply 435 W. Noble Avenue, Unit A, Farmersville, CA 93223 559-732-8247 Santa Cruz Hydroponics & Organics - North 6241 Graham Hill Road, Felton, CA 95018 831-335-9000 Eel River Hydroponics & Soil Supply 164 Dinsmore Drive, Fortuna, CA 95540 707-726-0395 The Shop 6542 Front Street, Forestville, CA 95436 707-887-2280 Dirt Cheap Hydroponics 17975 H Highway 1, Fort Bragg, CA 95437 707-964-4211 Hydrogarden Mendocino County 1240 North Main Street, Fort Bragg, CA 95437 707-962-9252 A Fertile World (Fortuna) 610 7th Street, Fortuna, CA 95540 707-725-0700 Northcoast Horticulture Supply 357 Main Street, Fortuna, CA 95540 707-725-5550 Nature’s Secret Garden and Supply 41469 Albrae Street, Fremont, CA 94577 510-623-8393 Roots Grow Supply 1330 North Hulbert, #101 Fresno, CA 93728 559-840-0122 Tower Garden Supply & Organic Nursery 403 W. Olive Avenue, Fresno, CA 93728 559-495-1140 Valley Hydroponics 207 E. Sierra Ave. Fresno, CA 93710 559-449-0426 Grow Wurks Hydroponics 765 S. State College Boulevard. Suite J Fullerton, CA 92831 714-253-Grow (4769) SB Hydro 1109 W. 190th Street, Unit #F, Gardena, CA 90248 310-538-5788 Golden Gecko Garden Center, The 4665 Marshall Road, Garden Valley, CA 95633 530-333-2394 Probiotic Solutions 20889 Geyserville Avenue, Geyserville, CA 95441 707-354-4342 South Valley Hydroponics 320 Kishimura Drive, #3 Gilroy, CA 95020 1-866-848-GROW Zen Hydroponics 1801 Victory Blvd.

Glendale, CA 91201 877 ZEN Grow 818 806 4500 Stop N Grow 340 Pine Avenue, Goleta, CA 93003 805-685-3000

All Seasons Hydroponics 17614 Chatsworth Street, Granada Hills, CA 91344 818-368-4388 AG Natural 403 Idaho Maryland Road, Grass Valley, CA 95945 530-274 0990 Grass Valley Hydrogarden 12506 Loma Rica Drive, Grass Valley, CA 95945 530-477-2996 Vital Landscaping Inc. 12817 Loma Rica Drive, Grass Valley, CA 95945 530-273-3187 West Coast Growers Hydroponics 13481 Colifax Highway, Grass Valley, CA 95945 888-924-4769 Joy's Green Garden Supply 340-A Elm Ave Greenfield, CA 93927 831-674-1416 M.G.S. 22540 D Foothill Boulevard, Hayward, CA 94541 510-582-0900 Thrive Hydroponics 70 A West North Street, Healdsburg, CA 95446 707-433-4068 Bear Valley Hydroponics & Homebrewing 17455 Bear Valley RD. Hesperia CA 92345 760 949 3400 Emerald Garden 13325 South Highway 101, Hopland, CA 95482 707-744-8300 Surf City Hydroponics 7319 Warner Street, Suite B Huntington Beach, CA 92647 714-847-7900 Dutch Garden Supplies Park Circle Suite 12 Irvine CA 92614 949-748-8777 West Coast Hydroponics, Inc. 27665 Forbes Road, Unit 10 Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 949-348-2424 La Habra Hydroponics 1301 S Beach Blvd, Suite O. La Habra, CA 90631 562-947-8383 Grass Roots Hydroponics 31875 Corydon, Suite 130 Lake Elsinore, CA 92530 951-245-2390 South County Hydroponics 22511 Aspan Street, Suite E Lake Forest, CA 92630 949-837-8252 Clover Hydroponics & Garden Supply 43 Soda Bay Road, Lakeport, CA 95453 707-263-4000 San Diego Hydroponics East County 11649 Riverside Drive, Suite 141, Lakeside, CA 92040 619-562-3276 Total Hydroponics Center Inc 4820 Paramount Blvd Lakewood, CA 90712 562-984-GROW (4769) Weather Top Nursery 44901 Harmon Drive, Laytonville, CA 95454 707-984-6385 CNG Garden Supplies 22 Ricknbacker Circle, Livermore, CA 94551 925-454-9376 DL Wholesale 6764 Preston Ave. Suite D Livermore CA 94551 510 550 0018

National Garden Wholesale/Sunlight Supply 6485 Brisa Street, Livermore, CA 94550 888-570-4678 (Southern CA) Garden Depot, The 203 Commerce Street, Suite 101 Lodi, CA 95240 209-339-9950 Valley Rock Landscape Supply 2222 N H Street Lompoc CA 93436 P: 805 736 0841 805 735 5921 Green Coast Hydroponics 2405 Mira Mar Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90815 562-627-5636 Grow Light Express 5318 East Second Street suite 164, Long Beach, CA 90803 888-318-GROW Long Beach Hydroponics & Organics

1772 Clark Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90815 562-498-9525 Atwater Hydroponics 3350 Glendale Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90039 323-663-8881 Green Door Hydro and Solar 830 Traction Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90013 212-625-1323 Hardman Hydroponics 3511 Youree Dr., Shreveport Los Angeles 71105 318-865-0317 Hollywood Hydroponics and Organics 5109 1/2 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90027-6105 323-662-1908 Hydroasis 2643 S. Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90232 888-355-4769 LAX Hydro 10912 S. La Cienaga Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90304 310-337-6995 Nirvana Hydroponics 340 South San Pedro Los Angeles, CA 90013 310-795-2914 Sunland Hydroponics 4136 Eagle Rock Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90065 323-254-2800 Green Giant Hydroponics 7183 Hwy 49 Unit B Lotus CA 95651 530 622 4465 California Green Hydroponics 16491 Road 26, Suite 101 Madera, California 93638 559-674-1400 grow 22333 Pacific Coast Hwy., Ste. 101 Malibu, CA 90265 310-456-2910 Deep Roots Garden Center & Flower Shop 207 N. Sepulveda Blvd.

Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 310-376-0567 B & S Gardening Supplies 592 Commerce Court, Manteca, CA 95336 209-239-8648 Monterey Bay Horticulture Supply 218 Reindollar Avenue Suite 7A, Marina, CA 93933 831-38-HYDRO Two Chix Garden Supply 1230 Yuba Street, Marysville, CA 95901 530-923-2536 Northcoast Horticulture Supply 1580 Nursery Way McKinleyville, CA 95519 707-839-9998

Mendocino Garden Shop PO Box 1301, 44720 Maint Street (at Hwy. 1), Mendocino, CA 95460 707-937-3459 Hooked Up Hydroponics 1004 W. 15th St. Suite B & C, Merced, Ca 95340 209-723-1300 The Urban Farmer Store 653 E. Blithedale Avenue, Mill Valley, CA 94941 415-380-3840 Mission Viejo Hydroponics 24002 Via Fabricante Suite 502 Mission Viejo, CA 92691 949-380-1894 Coca’s Central Valley Hydroponics 116 West Orangeburg Avenue, Modesto, CA 95350 209-567-0590 Year Round Garden Supply 11000 Carver Rd. #20 Modesto, CA 95350 Tel: 209 522 2727 Green Light Hydroponics 2615 Honolula Ave. Montrose, CA 91020 818-640-2623 South Bay Hydroponics and Organics - Mtn. View 569 East Evelyn Avenue, Mountain View, CA 94041 650-968-4070 Redwood Garden Supply 55 Myers Avenue, Myers Flat, CA 95554 707-943-1515 Endless Green Hydroponics 25 Enterprise Court, Suite 3 Napa, CA 94558 707-254-0200 Wyatt Supply 4407 Solano Ave. Napa, CA 94558 707-251-3747 Conejo Hydroponics 3481 Old Conejo Road #106 Newbury Park, CA 91320 805-480-9596 Stop N Grow 640 S. Frontage Road, Nipomo, CA 93444 805-619-5125 Valley Garden Solutions Inc. 15650 Nordhoff Avenue, Suite 104, North Hills, CA 91345 818-336-0041 Foothill Hydroponics 10705 Burbank Boulevard, N. Hollywood, CA 91601 818-760-0688 One Stop Hydroponics 12822 Victory Boulevard North Hollywood, CA 91606 818-980-5855 Lumatek Digital Ballasts 33 Commercial Boulevard, Suite B Novato, CA 94949 415-233-4273 Marin Hydroponics 55 Frosty Ln Novato, CA 94949 (415) 233-4104 Marin Hydroponics 1219 Grant Avenue, Novato, CA 94945 415-897-2197 Roots Grow Supply 40091 Enterprise Dr. Oakhurst CA 93644 559 683 6622 3rd Street Hydroponics 636 3rd Street Oakland, CA 94607 510-452-5521 Bloom Hydro 1602 53rd Ave. Oakland CA 94601 707 980 0456 Medicine Man Farms 1602 53rd Avenue, Oakland, CA 94601 707-980-0456

Plant-N-Grow 1602 53rd Avenue, Oakland, CA 94601 707-980-0456 Hydrobrew 1319 South Coast Highway, Oceanside, CA 92054 760-966-1885; 877-966-GROW Socal Hydroponics 1727-B Oceanside Boulevard, Oceanside, CA 92054 760-439-1084 Cultivate Ontario 2000 Grove Ave #a110 Ontario, CA 91761 909-781-6142 Flairform 1751 S Pointe Avenue, Ontario, CA 91761 213-596-8820 GreenCoast Ontario Unit 102-103 1920 South Rochester Avenue Ontario, CA 1 (909) 605-5777 National Garden Wholesale/Sunlight Supply 1950 C South Grove Avenue, Ontario, CA 91761 888-888-3319 Palm Tree Hydroponics 2235 E 4th St,Suite G Ontario, CA 91764 909-941-9017 RH Distribution 1751 S. Pointe Avenue Ontario, CA 91761 888-545-8112 Green Coast Hydroponics 496 Meats Avenue Orange, CA 92865 714-974-4769 Natural Pest Controls 8320 B Hazel Avenue, Orangevale, CA 95662 916-726-0855 Advanced Soil & Garden Supply 350 Oro Dam Boulevard, Oroville, CA 95965 530-533-2747 Igrow Hydro 2280 Veatch Street, Oroville, CA 95965 530-534-4476 Orville Organic Gardens 5250 Olive Hwy Ste 1 Oroville, CA 95966 530-589-9950 US Orchid & Hydroponic Supplies 1621 South Rose Avenue, Oxnard, CA 93033 805-247-0086 Pacifica Hydroponics 90 Eureka Square Pacifica, CA 94044 (650) 355-5100 America’s Best Hydroponics & Gardening Center 641 W. Palmdale Blvd. Unit D Palmdale, CA 93551 661-266-3906 Hydroponics Unlimited 641 W. Palmdale Blvd. “D” Palmdale, CA 93550 661-266-3906 Palm Springs Hydroponics 4651 Ramon Road, Palm Springs, CA 92264 760-327-ROOT DNA Hydroponics Inc 19345 North Indian Canyon Drive, North Palm Springs, Suite 2-F CA 92258 760-671-5872 Mission Hydroponics 1236 East Mission Pomona CA 91766 (909) 620 7099 New Leaf Hydro 34150 123rd Street, Parablossom, CA 93553 661-944-2226

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MAXIMUM YIELD distributors

Alternative Hydro 3870 East, Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91107 888-50-HYDRO Better Grow Hydro Pasadena 1271 E. Colorado Boulevard, Pasedena, CA 91106 626 737 6612 365 Hydroponics 2062 Lincoln Ave Pasadena, CA 91103 1 (626) 345-9015 Supersonic Hydroponic and Organic Garden Supply 3850 Ramada Drive, Unit D2 Paso Robles, CA 93446 805-434-2333 Foothills Hydrogarden 3133 Penryn Road, Penryn, CA 95663 916-270-2413 Funny Farms Hydroponics 963 Transport Way, #12 Petaluma, CA 94954 707-775-3111 House of Hydro 224 Weller Street, #B, Petaluma, CA 94952 707-762-4769 Wyatt Supply 1016 Lakeville St. Petaluma, CA 94952 707-762-3747 JNJ Hydroponics 4774 Phelan Rd. Suite 2 Phelan CA 92371 760 868 0002 Turbo Grow 1889 San Pablo Avenue, Pinole, CA 94564 510-724-1291 Hillside Hydro & Garden 4570 Pleasant Valley Road Placerville CA 95662 530-644-1401 Best Yield Garden Supply 3503 West Temple Avenue, Unit A, Pomona, CA 91768 909-839-0505 Emerald Garden 8249 Archibald Avenue, Ranch Cucamanga, CA 91730 909-466-3796 GreenLeaf Hydroponics 2212 Artesia Boulevard, Redondo Beach, CA 90278 310-374-2585 Radiant Roots Gardening & Hydroponics 1394 S Pacific Coast Hwy Redondo Beach, AB 90277 1 (310)540-2005 Shadow Valley Aquatics 75 Kimick Way, Red Bluff, CA 96080 530-526-0479 Bear Roots Hydroponics 1615 East Cypress, #5 Redding, CA 96002 530-244-2215 Dazey’s Supply 3082 Redwood Drive, Redway, CA 95560 707-923-3002 Humboldt Hydroponics 2010 Tunnel Road, Redway, CA 95560 707-923-1402 Redway Feed Garden and Pet Supply 290 Briceland Road, Redway, CA 95560 707-923-2765 Sylvandale Gardens 1151 Evergreen Road, Redway, CA 95560 707-923-3606 Humboldt Hydroponics 2174 Pine Street, Redding, CA 96001 530-241-7454

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Retail Stores listed alphabetically by city in each state.

Hydro King 105 Hartnell Avenue, Suite C and D, Redding, CA 96002 888-822-8941 Orsa Organix 111 Willow Street, Redwood City, CA 94063 650-369-1269 Mendocino Greenhouse & Garden Supply 960 East School Way, Redwood Valley, CA 95470 707-485-0668 EZ Green Hydroponics 7017 Reseda Boulevard, Reseda, CA 91335 818-776-9076 Hydro Hills Hydroponics 19320 Vanowen St. Reseda CA 91335 Box Of Rain Inc. Po Box 302, Rexford, CA 59930 406-755-7245 Hi-Tech Gardening 5327 Jacuzzi Street, #282, Richmond, CA 94804 510-524-4710 The Urban Farmer Store 2121 San Joaquin Street, Richmond, CA 94804 510-524-1604 Discount Hydroponics 4745 Hiers Avenue, Riverside, CA 92505 877-476-9487 All Ways Hydro 2220 Eastridge Ave. Suite C Riverside CA 92507 888-HYDRO98 Calwest Hydroponics 11620 Sterling Avenue, Suite A Riverside, CA 92503 800-301-9009 Hydro Depot 5665 Redwood Drive, #B, Rohnert Park, CA 94928 707-584-2384 Igrow Hydro 9000 Atkinson Street, Roseville, CA 95678 916-773-4476 Green Acres Hydroponics 1215 Striker Avenue, Suite 180, Sacramento, CA 95834 916-419-4394 Greenfire Sacramento 3230 Auburn Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95821 916-485-8023 Green Thumb Hydroponics 35 Quinta Court, Suite B, Sacramento, CA 95823 916-689-6464 KY Wholesale 8671 Elder creek Rd. #600 Sacramento, CA 95828 916 383 3366 Mystic Gardens 8484 Florin Road, #110, Sacramento, CA 95828 916-381-2464 Sac Hydroponics 9529 Folson Boulevard, Suite C Sacramento, CA 95827 916-369-7968 Skywide Import & Export Ltd. 5900 Lemon Hill Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95824 916-383-2369 Tradewinds Wholesale Garden Supplies 1235 Striker Avenue #180, Sacramento, CA 95834 888-557-8896 Green Joint Ventures 61 Tarp Circle, Salinas, CA 93901 831-998-8628 Reforestation Technologies International 1341 Daton Street, Units G&I Salinas, CA 93901 831-424-1494; 800-RTI-GROW

National Garden Wholesale / Sunlight Supply 1900 Bendixsen Street , Bldg. 1, Samoa, CA 95564 800-683-1114 (Northern CA) Greenmile Hydroponic Garden Supply 1480 South E. Street, Suite D, San Bernardino, CA 92408 909-885-5919 Garden Shed, The 1136 El Camino Real San Carlos, CA 650-508-8600 Pure Food Gardening/Microclone 830 H Bransten Rd. San Carlos,CA 94070-3338 Green Gopher Garden Supply 679 Redwood Avenue, Suite A, Sand City, CA 93955 831-899-0203 Modern Gardens 26620 Valley Center Dr. Santa Clarita, CA 91351 661-513-4733 Best Coast Growers 4417 Glacier Avenue Suite C, San Diego, CA 92120 800-827-1876 City Farmer’s Nursery 4832 Home Avenue, San Diego, CA 92105 619-284-6358 Green Lady Hydroponics 4879 Newport Avenue, San Diego, CA 92107 619-222-5011 Home Brews & Gardens 3176 Thorn St San Diego, CA 92104 619 630 2739 Indoor Garden Depot 1848 Commercial St. San Diego CA 92113 619-255-3552 Innovative Growing Solutions (IGS) 5060 Santa Fe St. Ste.D San Diego, CA 92109 858-578-4477 Mighty Garden Supply 4780 Mission Gorge Pl. #A-1, San Diego, CA 92120 619-287-3238 Miramar Hydroponics & Organics 8952 Empire Street San Diego CA 92126 858-549-8649 Oracle Garden Supply 5755 Oberlin Drive, Suite 100 San Diego, CA 92121 858-558-6006 Pacific Beach Hydroponics 1852 Garnet Avenue, San Diego, CA 92109 858-274-2559 San Diego Hydroponics Beach Cities 4122 Napier Street, San Diego, CA 92110 619-276-0657 Wai Kula Hydrogardens 5297 Linda Vista Road, San Diego, CA 92110 619-299-7299 Direct Hydroponics Wholesale 1034 W. Arrow Hwy#D San Dimas, CA 91773 888-924-9376 Liquid Gardens 1034 West Arrow Hwy.#D San Dimas, CA 91773 888-924-9376 Extreme Hydroponics 11479 San Fernando Road C, San Fernando, CA 91340 818-898-0915 Plant It Earth 661 Divisadero San Francisco, CA 94117 (415) 626-5082

Plant It Earth Warehouse 1 Dorman Ave. San Francisco, CA 94124 (415) 970-2465 Grow Your Own 3401 Traval Street, San Francisco, CA 94116 415-731-2115 Hydroponic Connection Warehouse, The 1995 Evans Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94124 415-824-9376 Nor Cal Hydroponics 4837 Geary Boulevard, San Francisco, CA 94118 415-933-8262 Plant It Earth 2279 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94114 415-626-5082 Urban Gardens Unlimited UrbanGardens 704 Filbert Street, San Francisco, CA 94133 415-421-4769 San Francisco Hydro 123 Tenth Street, San Francisco, CA 94103 The Urban Farmer Store 2833 Vicente Street, San Francisco, CA 94116 415-661-2204 US Garden 417 Agostinio Rd San Gabriel Ca 91776 626 285-5009 Inland Empire Hydrogarden 1301-C South State Street, San Jancinto, CA 92853 Hahn’s Lighting 260 E. VA Suite 1, San Jose, CA 95112 408-295-1755 Plant Life 32 Race Street, San Jose, CA 95126 408-283-9191 South Bay Hydroponics and Organics - San Jose 1185 South Bascom Avenue, San Jose, CA 95128 408-292-4040 D&S Garden Supplies 17-130 Doolittle Drive San Leandro, CA 94577 510-430-8589 Hydrogarden Delight 13762 Doolittle Drive, San Leandro, CA 94577 510-903-1808 Central Coast Hydrogarden 1951 Santa Barbara Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 805-544-GROW Healthy Harvest Hydroponics and Organics 2958 S. Higuera St. San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 805.596.0430 San Diego Hydroponics North 802 N. Twin Oaks Valley Road #108 San Marcos, CA 92069 760-510-1444 H20 Gardening 355 West 7th Street, San Pedro, CA 90731 310-514-1416 Marin Hydroponics 721 Francisco Blvd East San Rafael, CA 94901 415-482-8802 Pacific Garden Supply 128 H Carlos Drive, San Rafael, CA 94903 San Rafael Hydroponics 1417 Fourth Sreet San Rafael, CA 94901 415 455 9655 Green Coast Hydroponics 3560 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93105 805-898-9922 advanced hydroponics and gardening

704 Filbert Street, San Francisco, CA 94133

Nutes Int’l 204 N Quarantina Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93103 805-687-6699 Planet Earth Hydroponics 102 East Haley St. Santa Barbara, CA 93101 P. 805 899 0033 Urban Grow Systems 204 N Quarantine Street Santa Barbara, CA 93103 1 (805) 637-6699 Santa Clarita Valley Hydroponics 25835 Railroad Ave. #26 Santa Clarita CA 91350 661 255 3700 661 255 3701 California Hydroponics 310 Coral Street, Suite C Santa Cruz, CA 95060 831-423-4769 Hydro-Logic Purification Systems 370 Encinal St, Suite 150, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 888 H2O LOGIC Santa Cruz Hydroponics & Organics - West Side 815 Almar Avenue, Unit K, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 831-466-9000 Full Sun Supply 3535 Industrial Drive, Unit B-3 Santa Rosa, CA 95403 877-FULL-SUN Gonzo Grow 2550 Guerneville Road,Suite C, Santa Rosa, CA 95401 707-546-1800 Gottagrow Garden Supply 769 Wilson Street, Santa Rosa, CA 95404 707-544-7782 Green Logic Garden Supply 860 Piner Road, #38, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 707-843-3156 Organic Bountea 1919 Dennis Lane, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 800-798-0765 Pro Gardening Systems 3715 Santa Rosa Avenue #2, Santa Rosa, CA 95407 707-585-8633 Sun-In Hydroponics 1257A Cleveland Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95401 707-578-5747 Sweet Leaf Hydroponics 1611 Sebastobol Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95407 707-575-GROW (4237 Wyatt Supply 747 Yolanda Ave. Santa Rosa, CA 95404 707-578-3747) Santee Hydroponics 7949 Mission Gorge Road, Santee, CA 92071 619-270-8649 Gardening Unlimited 60 Old El Pueblo Road, Scotts Valley, CA 95066 831-457-1236 Pro Gardening Systems 765 Petaluma Avenue, Sebastopol, CA 95472 707-829-7252 Better Choice Hydroponics 610 S. Washington Street, Senora, CA 95370 209 533 2400 Go Big Hydroponics 4501 Van Nuys Boulevard, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 818-789-3341 Bloom Brothers Garden Supply, Inc. 3293 Industry Dr. Signal Hill, CA 90755 562 494-0060 We Grow Hydroponics 3350 East Los Angeles Avenue, Simi Valley, CA 93063 805-624-4566

Abundant Hydroponics LLC 1611 Shop Street, #1-A, S. Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 530-54 HYDRO Advanced Garden Supply 2660 Lake Tahoe Boulevard, Building C, Unit 9, S. Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 530-541-4769 Farm Hydroponics, The 1950 Lake Tahoe Boulevard #3, S. Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 530-541-3276 Valley Hydro and Organics 19230 Sonoma Hwy. Sonoma CA 95476 707 396 8734 Santa Cruz Hydroponics & Organics - East Side 4000 Cordelia Lane Soquel, CA 95073 831-475-9900 Orange County Hydroponics 12797 Beach Boulevard, Stanton, CA 90680 714-893-9493 HomeGrown Indoor Garden Supply 681 A Grider Way, Stockton, CA 95210 209-477-4447 Golden Harvest Hydroponics & Garden Supply 8626 Lower Sacramento Road #48, Stockton, CA 95210 209-951-3550 M&M Garden Supply 2509 West Lane, Suite B Stockton, CA 95205 209-939-0664 Pacific Ave Indoor Garden Supply 4633 pacific Ave Stockton , CA 95207 209-955-0945 City Farm Hydroponics 8903 Laurel Canyon Boulevard, Sun Valley, CA 91352 818-767-2076 Sunland Hydroponics 8300 Foothill Boulevard, Sunland, CA 91040 818-352-5300 Anthony’s Garden & Lighting Supply 30 Ridge Road, Suites 8 & 9 Sutter Creek, CA 95685 209-267-5416 Tahoe Garden Supply 645 Westlake Boulevard, Suite 2, PO Box 487 Tahoe City, CA 96145 530-581-3200 The Otherside Hydroponics 19425 Ventura Blvd Tarzana CA 91356 818 881 hydro (4937) Hydroponics 4 Less 41669 Winchester Avenue, Temecula, CA 92590 800-A1-HYDRO Inland Empire Hydrogarden 28822 Old Town Front St. #206 Temecula, CA 92590 886-74-HYDRO 805 Hydroponics & Organics 1785 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard Thousand Oaks, CA 91362 805-494-1785 Art of Hydro 2636 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd.

Thousand Oaks, CA 91362 805-230-2227 Green Thumb Lighting & Garden 1647 W. Sepulveda Boulevard, Unit 5, Torrance, CA 90501 888-326-GROW Los Angeles Hydroponics and Organics 3007-3009 W. Artesia Blvd.

Torrance, CA 90504 310-323-4937 Anything Grows 10607 W. River Street, Building 3 Suite C, Truckee, CA 96161 530-582-0479

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MAXIMUM YIELD distributors

Hooked Up Hydroponics 339 S. Golden State Boulevard, Turlock, CA 95380 209-668-1300 Emerald Garden 307 East Perkins Street, Ukiah, CA 95482 707-463-2510 HydroPacific - Hydroponics & Garden Supplies 351 C Hastings Av., Ukiah, CA 95482 707-467-0400 Northcoast Hydrogardens 3450 North State Street, Ukiah, CA 95482 707-462-7214 Wyatt Supply 2200 N. State St. Ukiah, CA 95482 707-462-7473 Atlantis Garden Supply 2851 A Whipple Road, Union City, CA 94587 510-487-8007 Evergreen Hydroponics 923 N. Central Avenue, Suite B, Upland, CA 91786 909-946-7100 TNC Supply 9490 Main Street, P.O. Box 763 Upper Lake, CA 95485 707-275-9565 Everything Green 1650 Lewis Brown Dr. Vallejo, CA 94589 707 647 0774 Hydroponics Market 15816 Arminta St Van Nuys, CA 91406 818-305-6261 886-72-HYDRO Stop N Grow 4160 Market Street, Unit 11 Ventura, CA 93003 805-639-9489 BWGS-CA 7530 W. Sunnyview Avenue Visalia, CA 93291 888-316-1306 The Green Shop 66420 Mooney Boulevard, Suite 1 Visalia, CA 93277 559-688-4200 Kaweah Grower Supply 1106 1/2 N. Ben Maddox Way, Visalia, CA 93293 559-625-4937 Greentrees Hydroponics Inc. 2581 Pioneer Avenue, Unit D Vista, CA 92081 760-598-7551 Home Life Hydroponics and Organics 1745 East Vista Way, Vista, CA 92084 760-643-2150 Specialty Garden Center 1970 East Vista Way, Suite 10, Vista, CA 92084 760-758-4769 Monterey Bay Hydroponics and Organics 81 Hangar Way, #1, Watsonville, CA 95076 831-761-9999 Evergreen Farm Feed and Garden 1131 Main Street Weaverville, CA 96093 1 (530) 623-2884 California Hydro Garden 1043 South Glendora Avenue, Suite A West Covina, CA 91790 626-813-0868 No Stress Hydroponics 7543 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA 90046 323-845-9874 Hydronation 2491 Boatman Drive, Suite B West Sacramento, CA 95691 916-372-4444 Flower Hut Nursery 603 4th Street Wheatland, CA 95692 530-633-4526

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Maximum Yield USA | February 2012

Retail Stores listed alphabetically by city in each state.

Green Coast Hydroponics 11510 Whittier Boulevard Whittier, CA 90601 562-699-4201 GreenWay Hydroponics 11510 Whittier Boulevard, Whittier, CA 90601 Lazy Gardeners Hydroponics ‘N’ More 14626 East Whittier Boulevard, Whittier, CA 90605 562-945-0909 Garden Spout, The 260 Margie Dr Willits, CA 95490 707-456-0196 Sparetime Supply 208 E. San Francisco Avenue, Willits, CA 95490-4006 Hydromagic Supply 40 N. East St. Suite F Woodland,CA 95776 530-661-0117 Urban Gardens 22516 Ventura Boulevard, Woodland Hills, CA 91364 818-876-0222 Ultra Lo Hydro ultralohydro.com 937-252-8224 Garden Highway Garden Supply 598 Garden Highway #22 Yuba City, CA 95991 530-755-2877 Golden Valley Hydroponics 870 W. Onsott Rd. Ste F Yuba City, CA 95993 (530) 763-2151 Southern Humbolt Garden Supplies 34919 Yucaipa Boulevard, Yucaipa, CA 92399 909-797-6888 707-459-6791 Yucca Valley Hydroponics 56825 Twentynine Palms Hwy. Yucca Valley, CA 92284 760 369 0300 COLORADO South Park Hydroponics 42 E Buckskin Rd. Alma CO 80420 719 836 1533 National Garden Wholesale/Sunlight Supply 3550 B Odessa Way, Aurora, CO 80011 866-877-4188 (Northeast) Nick’s Garden Center 2001 S. Chambers, Aurora, CO 80014 303-696-6657 The Big Tomato Indoor Garden Supply 14440 E. 6th Ave. Aurora, CO 80011 (303) 364-4769 Family Hydroponics-Boulder 2125 32nd Street Boulder, co 80301 303-996-6100 Polar Ray 5171 Eldorado Springs Dr. Boulder, CO 80303 303 494 5773 Way To Grow 6395 Gunpark Drive, Boulder, CO 80301 303-473-4769 Deep Roots Garden Supply 1790 Airport Road, Unit 1 Breckenridge, CO 80424 970-453-1440 Mile High Hydroponics 37 Strong St. Brighton, CO 80601 303 637 0069 Brighton Hydroponics 839so.Kuner rd., Brighton Colorado 80601 303-655-1427 ACME Hydroponics 300 Nickel St Suite 3 Broomfield, CO 80020 720.524.7306

Colorado Grow 3400 Industrial Lane, Unit 10A Broomfield, CO 80020 (303) 465-GROW (4769) Hydrofarm CO 400 Burbank St Broomfield, CO 80020 800-634-9990 J&D Organic Growing Solutions 217 1/2 Clayton Street Brush, CO 80723 970-310-5408 BIG BloomZ 1011 Caprice Drive, Castle Rock, CO 80109 303-688-0599 Indoor Garden Warehouse 8100 S Akron St., Suite 322, Centennial, CO 80112 720-496-2110 Garden Tech 737 Garden of the Gods Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80907 719-278-9777 Greenhouse Tech 917 East Fillmore, Colorado Springs, CO 80907 719-634-0637 Hydro Grow Supply 644 Peterson Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80915 719-596-2600 Purple Mountain Hydroponics LLC 1530 S Nevada Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80906 719-635-5859 Room To Grow LLC 422 South 8th Street Colorado Springs CO 80905 719 633 8682 Roots and Rocks Hydroponic and Organic Garden Supply 1014 S. 21st Street Colorado Springs, CO 80904 719-634-1024 High Tech Garden Supply 5275 Quebec St. Commerce City, CO 80022 720-222-0772 R-n-B Horticultural Supply 25797 Conifer Rd #a-8 Conifer, Co 80433 303-838-5520 Roll-N-Green Farms Horticultural Supply 25797 Conifer Rd #A-8 Conifer, Co 80433 303-838-5520 Global Organics & Hydroponics 11 N Broadway Cortez CO 81321 970 564 8100 Your Grow Bud 6801 South Emporia St. Suite 106 Greenwood Village, CO 80112 Tel: 303-790-2211 BWGS-CO 11685 E. 55th Avenue Denver, CO 80239 888-316-1306 Chlorophyll 3801 Mariposa St. Denver CO 80211 303-433-1155 Denver Hydroponic & Organic Center 6810 North Broadway, Unit D Denver, CO 80221 303-650-0091 Rocky Mountain Lighting and Hydroponics 7100 N. Broadway, Suite 3D Denver, CO 80221 303-428-5020 The Grow Outlet 4272 Lowell Boulevard Denver, CO 80211 303-586-5543 Way To Grow 301 East 57th Ave. Denver, CO 80216 303-296-7900

All Seasons Gardening 434 Turner Drive, Suite 2B Durango, CO 81303 (970) 385-4769 Blue Sky Hydroponics 1301 Florida Road Unit C Durango, CO 81301 970-375-1238 Grow Store South, The 5050 S. Federal Boulevard, #37, Englewood, CO 80110 303-738-0202 Alpenglow Garden Supply 2712 South College Ave Fort Collins, CO 80525 970-266-8888 Bath Nursery & Garden Center 2000 E. Prospect, Fort Collins, CO 80525 970-484-5022 Gold Coast Hydroponics West 8101 S.W. Frontage Road Suite 300 Fort Collins, Colorado 80528 970-232-3220 Indoor Paradise Hydroponics 309 S. Summit View, Unit 17, Fort Collins, CO 80524-1462 970-221-3751 Way To Grow 3201 E. Mulberry Street, Fort Collins, CO 80524 970-484-4769 Hydro Shack, The 220 Main Street, Suite E Frisco, CO 80443 970-668-0359 GWS Hydroponics 7025 Highway 82 Building 4B, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 970-384-2040 Hydro Planet 711 Washington Avenue, Golden, CO 80401 303-279-6090 Rocky Mountain Hydroponics and Organics 15985 S. Golden Road Golden, CO 80401 720-475-1725 Desert Bloom Hydroponics 445 Pitkin Avenue, Grand Junction, CO 81501 970-245-6427 Primo Gardens 1600 North Ave. Suite B Grand Junction, CO 81501 970-241-1209 Greeley Nutrients 700 11th Street Unit 101 Greeley CO 80631 970 673 8302 GroWize 3225 S. Wadsworth Boulevard, Lakewood, CO 80227 303-986-2706 Grow Store, The 8644 W. Colfax Avenue, Lakewood, CO 80215 888-510-0350 Ever Green Hydroponics Inc. 1131 Francis Street, Suite A, Longmont, CO 80501 303-682-6435 Ultra Lo Hydro ultralohydro.com 937-252-8224 Victory Hydro Gardening 1387 E. South Boulder Rd. Louisville, CO, 80027 Tel: 303-664-9376 Lyons Indoor Gardening 138 Main Street, Lyons, CO 80540 720-530-3828 Head Start Hydroponics & Organic Gardening Emporium 34500 US Highway 6, Unit B-9, North Edwards, CO 81632 970-569-313 Cultivate Hydroponics & Organics 7777 W. 38th Avenue, A120A, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 303-954-9897

Salida Hydroponic Supply 1242 C Street Salida, CO 81201 (719) 539-4000

CONNECTICUT Grow Crazy 11 Berlin Rd. Unit 2 Cromwell CT 06416 203 660 8486 Harvest Moon Hydroponics 775 Silver Lane, East Hartford, CT 06118 860-568-4067 LiquidSun® CT 10C South Main Street, East Windsor, CT 06088 860-254-5757 Rogue Hydroponics 160 Broadway Hamden, CT 06518 866-277-4432 Organix Hydroponics 749 Saybrook Road, (Tradewinds Plaza) Middletown, CT 06457 860-343-1923 Delaware Sunny Day Organics 1867 Coastal Hwy. Rehoboth Beach, Delaware MD 19917 302 703 2538 FLORIDA Urban Sunshine 1420 E. Altamonte Dr Altamonte Springs, FL 32701 407-830-4769 Best Hydro 4920 Lena Road, Bradenton, FL 34211 941-756-1928 Palm Coast Hydroponics 4490 N Hwy US1 Ste. 108 Bunnell FL 32110 386 246 4119 East Coast Hydroponics & Organics 461 Forrest Avenue, Suite 105 Coca, FL 32922 321-243-6800 GreenTouch Hydroponics Inc. 5011 S State Road 7, Suite 104 Davie, FL 33314 954-316-8815 Absolute Hydroponic Garden Center Inc 1607 Old Daytona Steet Deland, FL 32724 386-734-0696 Organic Grow Hut 2 780 Deltona Blvd. #107 Deltona, Florida 32725 1-888-574-grow 386-259-5777 Gold Coast Hydroponics 1539 SW 21st Avenue, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33312 1-800-780-7371 Biofloral 6250 NW 27th Way, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33309 877 735 6725 Green Thumb Hydroponics Supplies 13482 North Cleveland Avenue, Fort Meyers, FL 33903 239-997-4769 Gardener’s Edge Gainesville 5000 NW 34th Street, Suite 13, Gainesville, FL 32605 352-375-2769 Florida Garden Supplies 2692 W 79 Street, Hialeah, FL 33016 1-800-931-5215 Hydro Terra Corp.

924 North Federal Highway, Hollywood, FL 33020 954-920-0889 Simply Hydroponics & Organics (North) 3642 South Suncoast Boulevard, Homosassa, FL 34448 352-628-2655

.

Hydroponics International Inc. 7029-10 Commonwealth Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32220 904-693-6554 Grower’s Choice & Hydroponics 11855 North Main Street, Jacksonville, FL 32218 904-683-4517 Urban Organics & Hydroponics 5325 Fairmont Street, Jacksonville, FL 32207 904-398-8012 Simply Hydroponics & Organics 7949 Ulmerton Road, Largo, FL 33773 727-531-5355 GrowSmart Indoor Garden Centers 14587 Southern Boulevard, Loxahatchee, FL 33470 561-429-3527 Palm Beach Discount Hydroponics – West 14703 Southern Blvd.

Loxahatchee, FL 33470 561 296 8555 Atlantic Hydroponics 430 Count Street, Melbourne, FL 32901 321-821-1535 High Tech Garden Supply 2975 West New Haven Avenue, Melbourne, FL 32901 321-821-0853 Advanced Hydro Gardens 4960 NW 165 Street, Suite B-4, Miami, FL 33014 866-97-HYDRO Blossoms Experience, The 7207 NW 54th Street, Miami, FL 33166 866-452-4769 Florida Garden Supplies 9545 Sunset Drive, Miami, FL 33173 800-931-5215 Future Farms Inc., The 14291 SW 120th Street, Suite 105 Miami, FL 33186 305-382-2757 Gold Coast Hydroponics 4241 SW 71st Avenue, Miami, FL 33155 1-800-780-6805 Growing Garden Inc., The 12811 SW 42nd Street, Miami, FL 33175 305-559-0309 VitaOrganix 7921 NW 67th St Miami, FL 33166 786 845 8633 3D Hydroponics and Organics 7139 US Highway #19, New Port Richey, FL 34652 727-847-3491 Florida Garden Supplies 8442 Tradeport Drive, Unit 200, Orlando, FL 32827 Urban Sunshine 6100 Hanging Moss Rd ste 50 Orlando, FL 32807 407-647-4769 Urban Sunshine 6142 S. Orange Ave Orlando, FL 32809 407-859-7728 Green Winters Inc. 147 Tomoka Avenue, Ormond Beach, FL 32174 386-235-8730 800-931-5215 The Healthy Harvest Ste. 126 21113 Johnson St. Pembroke Pines, FL. 33029 Tel: 954-538-1511 Eden Garden Supply 5044 N. Palafox Street, Pensacola, FL 32505 850-439-1299 Healthy Gardens and Supply of Florida, Inc. 196 East Nine Mile Road, Suite F, Pensacola, FL 32534 850-912-4545

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MAXIMUM YIELD distributors

National Garden Wholesale/Sunlight Supply 455 S. Andrews Avenue, Pompano Beach, FL 33069 877-649-3567 (Southeast) Hydroponic Depot II 2395 S Tamiami Trail #19 Port Charlotte FL 33952 941 255 3999t EZ Grow Green 604 S.W. Bayshore Blvd.

Port St. Lucie, Fl 34983 772-807-7755 Mr. Nice Guy Hydroponics 1800 NW. Federal Hwy., Stuart, FL 34994 772 934 6785 Esposito Garden Center 2743 Capital Circle NE, Tallahassee, FL 32308 850-386-2114 Evershine Hydroponics 1519 Capital Circle NE Unit #35 Tallahassee FL 32308 850-765-0040 Grace’s Hydro-Organic Garden Center 8877 North 56th Street Tampa, FL 33617 813-514-9376 Harvest Time Hydroponics 14414 N. Florida Avenue, Tampa, FL 33613 813-264-7101 Hydroponics of Tampa 120 W. Bougain Villea, Tampa, FL 33612 813-333-6828 Stoney Hydro @ Schiro’s Barn n Garden Supplies 7812 Causeway Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33619 813-626-0902 Worm’s Way Florida 4412 North 56th Street, Tampa, FL 33610 800-283-9676; 813-621-1792 Monkey Hydroponics 940 West Oakland Ave. Unit A1 407 574 8495

Winter Garden FL 34787 13054 W Colonial Drive Winter Garden, FL 34787 407-656-GROW(4769) Cultivating Eden Hydroponic Supplies 946 18th Avenue SW, Vero Beach, FL 32962 772-564-8880 Florida Garden Supplies 8020 Belvedere Road,Unit 4, West Palm Beach,FL 33411 800-931-5215 Palm Beach Discount Hydroponics – East 968 North Congress Ave. West Palm Beach, FL 33409 561 296 6161 GEORGIA Atlantis Hydroponics 1422 Woodmont Lane, #4, Atlanta, GA 30318 404-367-0052 Flora Hydroponics, Inc. 1239 Fowler St. NW Atlanta, GA 30318 Flora Hydroponics Inc. 2475 Jefferson Road, Suite 600 Athens, GA 30607 866-404-0551 Flora Hydroponics, Inc. 195 Paradise Blvd.

Athens, GA 30607 Atlantis Hydroponics 2561 West Point Avenue, College Park, GA 30337 678-510-0032 Alpha Hydroponics and Garden Supply Inc. 3904 N Druid Hills Rd. Suite 247 Decatur GA 30033 404 590 4769

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Maximum Yield USA | February 2012

Retail Stores listed alphabetically by city in each state.

Savannah Hydroponics & Organics 4107 Eighth Street, Suite C Garden City, GA 31408 912-349-4030 Atlantis Hydroponics 5182-B Brook Hollow Parkway, Norcross, GA 30071 770.558.1346

Big Grow Hydroponics 9225 Trinity Drive, Lake In The Hills, IL 60156 847-854-4450 Grow Big Hydroponics 7817 B North 2nd Street, Manchesney Park, IL 61115 815-637-4769 Gardinside 618 S. Rt. 59 suite 104 Naperville, IL 60540 630-276-9885 Green Fields 8137 N. Milwaukee, Niles, IL 60714 847-965-5056 Autumn Bloom Alternative Indoor Gardening 1020 Derby Street Pekin, Illinois 61554 309-642-6943 Aerogro 502 N Prospect suite 18 Bloomington, IL, 61704, 127 N Main St E Peoria 61611 Prairie House Garden Center 15151 South Harlem Avenue, Orland, IL 60462 708-687-3131 Brew and Grow 3224 South Alpine Road, Rockford, IL 61109 815-874-5700 Brew and Grow 359 W. Irving Park Road Unit E, Roselle, IL 60172 630-894-4885

HAWAII Eco-Island Supply 810 Haiku Road, #394 Haiku, HI 96708 808-575-9171 Aqua Plant Hawaii / Kahala Hydroponics 4224 Wailae, Suite 1A, Honolulu, HI 96816 808-735-8665 Green Hands of Aloha 1713 Mary Street, Honolulu, HI 96819 808-847-4263 Ohana Greenhouse & Garden Supply 300 Hukilike Street, #2M, Kahalui, HI 96732 808-871-6393 Aiyah’s Garden 4558 kukui st. kapa’a, Hi. 96746 Aiyah’s Garden 3-3122 Kuhio Hwy. unit B-2 Lihue, Hi. 96766 808 245 2627 Pahoa Feed & Fertilizer 15-2754 Old Government Road, Pahoa, HI 96778 808-965-9955

Organic Garden Center 9223 Skokie Blvd.

Skokie, IL 60077 (847) 675-2722 Kreation’s Indoor Gardening Center 3427 Old Chatman Road, Springfield, IL 62704 217-341-0821 Water Works Indoor Gardening 1900 South Dirksen Parkway, Springfield, IL 62703 217-553-6929 Midwest Hydroganics 949 W Irving Park Rd. Streamwood IL 60107 630 483 1600

IDAHO Boise Hydroponics 614 North Orchard Street, Boise, ID 83706 208-344-3053 Greenthumb Greenhouses 5895 Ensign Avenue, Boise, ID 83714 ILLINOIS Aerostar Global 824 South Kay Avenue, Addison, IL 60101 Brew and Grow 181 Crossroads Parkway, Bolingbrook, IL 60194 847-885-8282 Let it Grow - Carbondale West Main Street, Carbondale, IL 62908 573-450-5401 Alternative Garden Supply 615 Industrial Drive, Unit A Cary, IL 60013 800-444-2837 Brew and Grow 3625 N. Kedzi Avenue, Chicago, IL 60618 773-463-7430 Fertile Ground 463 West MacArthur Drive, Cottage Hills, IL 62018 618-259-5500 Brew and Grow- Crystal Lake 176 W. Terra Cotta Ave. Crystal Lake, IL 60014 1 (815) 301-4950 Midwest Hydroganics 20647 Renwick Road, Crest Hill, IL 60403 815-838-0100 Goldman’s Grow Shop 910 Greenwood Road, Glenview, IL 60025 847-657-7250 Grow Masters 4641 Old Grand Ave. Gurnee, Il. 60031 (224) 399-9877

Inc.

INDIANA BWGS-IN 7854 North State Road 37, Bloomington, IN 47404 800-316-1306 Sunleaves Garden Products 7854 North State Road 37, Bloomington, IN 47404 888-464-9676 Worm’s Way Indiana 7850 North State Road 37, Bloomington, IN 47404 800-598-8158 Worm’s Way Mail Order 7850 North State Road 37 Bloomington, IN 47404 800-274-9676 Frogs Lilly Pad, The 706 Citation Road, Carmel, IN 46032 317-846-4610 Hops & Harvest 4616 E. DuPont Road, Suite Q, Fort Wayne, IN 46825 260-918-3035 Harvest Moon Hydroponics 1336 East Washington St. Indianapolis, IN 46202 317-780-8020 Magic Bulb Garden Center 6229 Allisonville Road, Indianapolis, IN 46220 317-202-2852 Maximum Grow Gardening 6117 E Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN 46219 317-359-GROW (4769)

Five Point Gardens 56555 Oak Road, South Bend, IN 46619 574-287-9232

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

KANSAS Green Circle Hydroponics 6890 W. 105th Street, Overland Park, KS 66212 913-642-3888

MARYLAND East Coast Organics 2800 Sisson Street, Baltimore, MD 21211 Healthy Gardens and Supply 5001-F Harford Road, Baltimore, MD 21214 443-708-5144 Maryland Hydroponics Inc. 10051 North 2nd Street, Laurel, MD 20723 301-490-9236 Meadowview Feed & Garden Center 1202 Meadowview Road, Pasadena, MD 21122 443-817-0018 Maryland Hydroponics Inc. 12130 Nebel Street, Rockville, MD 20852 240-551-4625 Purple Mountain Organics 100-7010 Westmoreland Avenue, Takoma Park, MD 20912 877-538-9901

KENTUCKY Garden Grove Organics 29 East 7th Street, Covington, (Cincinnati Metro), KY 41011 859-360-1843 Worm’s Way Kentucky 1360 Donaldson Hwy. Suite A, Erlanger, KY 41018 800-669-2088 Grow Shop, The of Lexington 2320 Palumbo Drive, Suite 130, Lexington, KY 40509 859-268-0779 Louisville Hydroponics 3471 Taylor Boulevard, Louisville, KY 40215 502-366-4000 New Earth Garden Center 9810 Taylorsville Road, Louisville, KY 40299 800-462-5953 Bluegrass Organic Grow Shop 125 Quinn Dr., Nicholasville, KY 40356 859 887 0677 LOUISIANA Geaux Hydroponics!

2126 O’Neal Lane, Baton Rouge, LA 70816 225-751-4769 Laughing Buddha Nursery 4516 Clearview Parkway, Metairie, LA 70006 504-887-4336 Urban Organics 285 St. Claude Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70117 504-352-4709 Ourcrazydeals Hydroponics 201 Angus Drive, Yungsville, LA 70592 337-303-6146 MAINE The Urban Garden Center 600 Wilson St. Brewer, ME 04412 1-207-989-2020 LiquidSun of Maine 51West Gray Rd. Gray, ME 04039 207-657-8033 Natures Palate Indoor Garden Store 1321 Mercer Rd ( rte2) Mercer, Maine 04957 877-587-4150 207-587-4150 Evergreen Garden Center 301 Forest Avenue Portland, ME 04101 207-761-2800 High Tech Garden Supply Maine178 Rand Rd. Portland, ME 04102 Phone 207-899-4387 The Urban Garden Center 659 Warren Ave Portland, ME 04103 1-207-347-2350 Green Thumb Indoor Gardening 19 Stage Road, St. Albans, ME 04971 207-938-5909 Urban Garden Center 235 Lewiston Road, Topsham, ME 04086 207-373-0990

MASSACHUSETTS Greenlife Garden Supply 481 Boston Road, Unit 4, Billerica, MA 01821 978-262-9966 GYOstuff – Grow Your Own 2400 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02140 617-945-1654 Harvest Moon Hydroponics 29 Washington Street, Route 1 Foxboro, MA 02035 800-660-6977 LiquidSun® MA 8 Lynwood Avenue, Holyoke, MA 01040 413-539-6875 Green Path Garden Supply 276 West Main Street, Northborough, MA 01532 508-393-4181 High Tech Garden Supply 560 Boston Turnpike (Rt.9) Shrewsbury, MA 01545 508-845-4477 New England Hydroponics 15 D College Hwy. (Rt. 10), Southampton, MA 01073 888-529-9025 Worm’s Way Massachusetts 121 Worc-Providence Turnpike, Sutton, MA 01590 800-284-9676 MICHIGAN Hydro Vision 11820 Belleville Belleville, MI 48111 (734) 325-6210 Growers Outlet 7720 Clyde Park SW Byron Center, MI 49513 616-878-4444 A Plus Hydroponics of Michigan LLC 9750 Cherry Valley Ave SE Caledonia MI 49316 (616) 891-0706 Hydro Vision 5844 N. Shelton Rd. Canton, MI 48187 (734) 335-6818 HydroMaster 36345 Groesbeck Hwy Clinton Twp, MI 48035 586-792-0277 Hydro Grow Room 15201 N. Holly Road, Unit B Holly, MI 48442 248-369-8333

Aric’s Indoor Garden Supply 611 Main st.

Norway, Michigan 49870 (906)563-1518 Cultivation Station of Michigan Inc., The 6540 Allen Road, Allen Park, MI 48101 313-383-1766 Gro Blue Indoor Gardening Supplies 270 W. Liberty Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 734-913-2750 Grow Show, The 4095 Stone School Rd. Ann Arbor, MI 48108 (734)-677-0009 (734)-677-0509 HotHydro® 5245 Jackson Road, Suite F Ann Arbor, MI 48103 734-761-5040; 877-893-0716 Homelight Gardens 3471 S. Huron Road, Bay City, MI 48706 989-922-0088 J&L Growco 206 S. Michigan Avenue, Big Rapids, MI 49307 231-796-1528 Greenway Gardens 916 W 13th St Cadillac, Mi,49601 231-775-7075 Hydro Vision 303 W 14 Mile Rd. Clawson, MI 48017 (248) 435-2250 Cultivation Station 3 Inc. 46912 Gratiot, Chesterfield, MI 48051 586-949-7453 H2O Grow Supply 3364 Arent Ct Coloma, MI 49038 269-468-3890 Van Hydro 7480 N State, Davison, MI 48423 810-653-8267 The Grow Station 5670 Telegraph Rd. Dearborn, MI 48127 313-406-5147 800-797-4769 (GROW) Hydro Giant 14455 Ford Rd, Dearborn, MI Cultivation Station – Eastern Market, The 2518 Market Street, Detroit, MI 48207 313-394-0441 Hydro Giant 21651 W. 8 Mile Rd. Detroit, MI (8Mile & Lahser) 313-387-7700 313-216-8888 Hydro Heaven 73647 W 8th Mile Road, Detroit, MI 48235 313-861-0333; 877-823-2076 Ultra Lo Hydro ultralohydro.com 937-252-8224 Urban Gardening Center, The 2520 22nd Street, Detroit, MI 48216 313-898-0200 Superior Growers Supply 4870 Dawn Avenue, East Lansing, MI 48823 517-332-2663 Sunnyside Hydroponics 24930 Gratiot Avenue, Eastpoint, MI 48021 586-777-2528 Hydro Vision 495 Fenway Dr. Fenton, MI (810) 714-1719

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MAXIMUM YIELD distributors

Synthetic Sun Hydroponics, LLC 799 S. Wisconsin Avenue Gaylord, MI 49735 989 731 8800 Growco Garden Supply 1042 Michigan Street, NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 877-939-6900 Home Grown Hydroponix 5333 Plainfield Suite C, Grand Rapids Michigan 49525, 616-361-2924 Horizen Hydroponics 1614 Leonard Street, NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504 866-791-1664 Hydro Grow Room 15201 N Holly Rd Unit B Holly MI, 48430 248-369-8333 Flower Factory, The 2223 East Highland Road Highland, MI 48356 248-714-9292 Hydro Vision 2858 E Highland rd Highland, MI 48356 (248) 714-5556 Holland Hydroponic Outlet 587-40 East 8th Street, Holland, MI 49423 616-298-7395 Synthetic Sun Hydroponics, LLC 705 S., Loxley Houghton Lake, MI 48629 989-422-2800 Hydro Vision 1247 e Grand River Howell, MI 48843 (517) 552-4965 Superior Growers Supply, Inc. 2731 East Grand River Howell, MI 48843 517-376-6843 Green Forest Indoor Garden Supply, LLC. 2555 N. State(M-66) Rd. Ionia, MI 48846 616-523-6111 Horizen Hydroponics 4646 W. Main Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49006 269-567-3333 Kalamazoo Indoor Garden 450 W. Maple, Kalamazoo, MI 49001 269-344-2550 High Tech Garden Supply 2815 East Grand River Ave. Lansing, MI 48912 (517) 580-0555 Hills Hydro 1290 S. Lapeer Rd., Lake Onion, MI 48360 (248) 693-5747 Horizen Hydroponics 5425 W. Saginaw Highway Lansing, MI 48917 517-323-ROOT Superior Growers Supply Inc. 3928 West Saginaw Highway Lansing, MI 48917 517-327-1900 Hills Hydro 700 Main St. Ste III Lapeer, MI 48446 (810) 245-8687 Superior Growers Supply 292200 Seven Mile West Livonia, MI 48152 248-473-0450 Northern Lights Hydroponic and Garden Supply 29090 Campbell rd.

Madison Heights, MI 48071 248-439-6269 BIg Creek Hydroponics 555 Old Little Lake Road, Marquette, MI 49855 906-249-5297

170

Maximum Yield USA | February 2012

Retail Stores listed alphabetically by city in each state.

Growing Consultant 2260 Apple Avenue, Muskegon, MI 49442 231-773-5600 Sunshine Supply Co. 5800 East Pickard Street, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858 989-775-3700 Flo-N-Grow.

214 N. 2nd Street, Niles, MI 49120 269-683-1877 Super Grow 288 W. MONTCALM PONTIAC, MI 48342 248-24SUPER (78737) Green Earth Hydroponics 8127 Portage Rd. Portage, MI 49002 269-342-4190 Hydroponics Highway Inc. 2708 14th Ave. Port Huron MI, 48060 810-982-4769 Hydro Vision 66783 Gratiot Ave. Richmond, MI 48062 (586) 430-1956 Hills Hydro 896 S. Rochester Rd. Rochester Hills, MI 48307 (248) 650-4937 Green Thumb Hydroponics and Organic Indoor Supply 8460 Algoma Suite G Rockford MI 49341 USA 616 884 5500 Home Grown Hydroponics 8075 Gratiot Road, Unit C, Saginaw MI 48609 989-781-1930 Superior Growers Supply, Inc. 5716 South Pennsylvania Avenue South Lansing, MI 48911 517-393-1600 Hydro Giant 19363 Eureka Rd, Southgate, MI 734.281.8888 Hydro Vision 22180 Pontiac Trail South Lyon, MI 48178 (248) 435-2268 Cultivation Station of Michigan Inc., The 23529 Little Mack Avenue, St. Clair, MI 48080 586-775-9485 High Tech Garden Supply 7889 Telegraph Road.

Taylor, MI 48180 313-908-7554 Hydro Grow, The 8210 Telegraph Road, Taylor, MI 48180 313-633-0641 Great Lakes Green Horticultural Supply 757 S. U.S. Highway 131 Three Rivers, MI 49093 269-278-130 Grow Store, The 90 N U.S. Highway 31 South , Traverse City, MI 49685-7923 231-421-5191 Wild Child 7740 M 72 East, Traverse City, MI 49690 866-711-GROW Hydro Vision 1910 West rd Trenton, MI 48183 (734) 301-3745 Hydroharrys.com 24500 Dequindre, Warren, MI 48091 800-461-8819 Indoor Garden Superstore 2570 Dixie Highway, Waterford Twp., MI 48328 248-673-2200; 877 22 HYDRO

Light Green Water 3661 Highland Road, Waterford, MI 48329 248-681-0001 Hydrospot 34236 Michigan Avenue, Wayne, MI 48184 734-722-1285 Indoor Eden 11090 Hi Tech Dr. Whitmore lake MI 48189 810-355-1465 Synthetic Sun Hydroponics, LLC 3218 W. Houghton Avenue West Branch, MI 48661 989-345-8800 G.C. II Whitehall, MI 49461 231-893-2400 G.C. II 1006 E. Colby St. Suite A Whitehall, MI 49417 231-893-2400 AAA Hydroponics LLC 22 50th Street Wyoming, MI 49504 616-249-8338 Cultivation Station – Grand Rapids, The 4907 S. Division Ave., Wyoming, MI 49548 616-855-4440 Stealth Hydro 15 E. Cross Street, Ypsilanti, MI 48198 866-998-1916 MINNESOTA Duluth Hydroponics 26 W 1st Street Duluth, MN 55802 218-341-7253 Indoor Gardening 10 NE 3rd Street, Faribault, MN 55021 507-209-1546 Brew and Grow 8302 Highway 65 NE., Minneapolis, MN 55432 763-780-8191 Interior Gardens 115 -1620 Central Avenue NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413 800-498-4178; 612-870-9077 Midwest Hydroponics 5825 Excelsior Blvd., St. Louis Park,MN 55416 888-449-2739 Eden Indoor Organic Gardens 831 Highway 75 North Moorhead, MN 56560 218-477-EDEN (3336) American Garden Supply 601-6th Avenue, North, Princeton, MN 55371 763-631-0543Q Still-H2O Inc. 14375 North 60th Street, Stillwater, MN 55082 651-351-2822 Eco Garden Supply 800 Transfer Door 25 in rear St. Paul, MN 55114 651-647-1896 MISSISSIPPI Indoor Garden Shop LLC 1310 Bienville Boulevard, Ocean Springs, MS 39564 228-875-3725 Sunrise Garden Center 5173 W. 4th St.,

Hattiesburg, MS 39402 (601) 264-9300

MISSOURI Let It Grow - Girardeau 879 S. Kings Highway, Cape Girardeau, MO 63703 573-803-0628

Heartland Hydrogardens 705 Vandiver Drive, Suite G Columbia, MO 65202 573-474-4769 Green Circle Hydroponics 12 East Missouri, Kansas City, MO 64106 816-421-1840 Grow Your Own Hydroponics 3617 Saint John Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64123 816-241-2122 Let It Grow - Springfield 2519 E. Kearney Street, Springfield, MO 65803 417-862-GROW U-Grow 1724 North, 13th Street, St. Louis, MO 63106 314-452-6368 Worm’s Way Missouri 1225 North Warson Road, St. Louis, MO 63132 800-285-9676 Green Thumb Organics 249 Mid Rivers Mall Drive, St. Peters, MO 63376 636-397-4769 (GROW)

HYDROGARDENS

MONTANA Heightened Harvests 2018 Main Street #4, Billings, MT 59105 406-252-4311 Magic City Organic & Hydroponic Supply 812 Central Billings, MT 59102 (406)-245-LEAF(5323) One World – Life Products 906 Broadwater Billings MT 59101 406 839 9969 Heightened Harvests 3103 Harrison Avenue, Suite B Butte, MT 59701 Alpengrow Nursery Supplies 238 Highway 93 S., Eureka, MT 59917 406-882-4496 Butteopia 127 Main Street, Butte, Montana 59701 1-406-782-8476 Big Sky Garden Supply 528 West Idaho, Kallispell, MT 59901 406-755-1465 Box of Rain Indoor Garden Center 860 N. Meridian Road B-19, Kalispell, MT 59901 406-755-RAIN (7246) Cornucopia Grow Your Own 127 Stoner Creek Road Lakeside, MT 59922 406-709-1076 Dr. Green Thumbs 1106 West Park, Livingston, MO 59047 406-222-7440 Bizzy Beez LLP 5875 Highway 93 S, Whitefish, MT 59937 406-863-9937 NEBRASKA Bodhi Organic Garden Supply 1438 S1 St. Ste 6 Lincoln, NE 68502 402 438 6785 Patio-Ponics 3255 Cornhusker Highway, Suite 4 Lincoln, NE 68504 402-466-9218 Advanced Hydro-Ponics 10711 Mockingbird Drive, Omaha, NE 68127 (108th and L-Q) 402-991-6630 Paradigm Gardens 8949 J Street, Suite 5, Omaha, NE 68127 402-339-4949

NEVADA Carson Valley Hydroponics 2520 Empire Ranch Road, Carson City, NV 89701 775-884-4769 Lorraine Ink 290 Spear Court, Fernley, NV 89408 775-575-7757 Hydro Store, The 1014 W. Sunset Road, Henderson, NV 89014 702-434-7365 AAA Indoor Organic Garden SuperCenter 2101 S. Decatur Boulevard, #21, Las Vegas, NV 89102 702-450-4769 Advanced Gardens Hydroponics 3111 South Valley View, (on Desert Inn West of Valley View) Suite V103 Las Vegas, NV 89102 702-257-4769 Advanced Gardens Hydroponics 7850 Dean Martin Dr. Suite 506 Las Vegas,NV 89139 702-247-4769 All American Hydroponics 2675 East Patrick Lane, Unit 8, Las Vegas, NV 89120 702-894-9888 Best Hydroponic Supply 6818 W Cheyenne, Las Vegas, NV 89108 702-750-9300 Hydro Store, The 7145 W. Ann Road, Las Vegas, NV 89130 702-434-9376 Nevada Hydroponics 4700 B Maryland, Suite 1, Las Vegas, NV 89119 702-798-2852 Anything Grows 190 West Moana Lane, Reno, NV 89509 775-828-1460 Everything Green Hydroponics P.O Box 34869 Reno, Nevada 89533

Common Shaman 1319 San Mateo N.E., Albuquerque, NM 87110 505-255-6463 All Seasons Gardening 1228 Parkway, Suite E Sante Fe, NM 87507 505-438-GROW Santa Fe Hydroponics 821 W. San Mateo Road, Suite 4, Santa Fe, NM 87505 505-467-8454

NEW HAMPSHIRE Natural Roots Hydroponics 24 Crown St. Nashua, NH 1 (603) 204-5528 NEW JERSEY Garden State Hydroponics 511 Avenel Street, Avenel, NJ 07001 888-300-8711 Bergen County Hydroponics 70 Essex Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601 201-342-2001 Green Touch 2 Hydroponics Inc. 888 Route 33, Unit 1, Hamilton, NJ 08619 HYDROPONICS 609-570-8829 East Coast Horticultural Supply 1652 Hurffville Road, Sewell, NJ 08080 856-228-5290 77HYDRO 37 Fairfield Place, West Caldwell, NJ 07006 877-774-9376 Claraqua 4 Redwood Court, West Windsor, NJ 08550

greentouch2

NEW MEXICO AHL Year Round Garden Supply 1051 San Mateo Blvd. SE, Albuquerque, NM 87108 505-255-3677

All Seasons Gardening 3600 Osuna Road, Suite 406 Alburquerque, NM 87109 505-508-4292

INC.

NEW YORK The Grow Room 32-32 49th Street Astoria, NY 11103 718-218-GROW (4769) Saratoga Organics & Hydroponic Supply 19 Front Street, Ballston Spa, NY 12020 518-885-2005; 800-850-4769 The Grape Vine 4020 Hempstead Turnpike Bethpage,NY,11714 516-731-1100 Bronx Hydro & Garden 39 Bruckner Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10454 718-993-3787 Bklyn Hydro & Garden 316 McGuiness Blvd Brooklyn NY 11222 718-383-0095 Brooklyn Farms 51Hicks Street St. Brooklyn, NY 11231 347-725-3491 Indoor Outdoor Gardener 8223 5th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11209 718-836-2402 Hydroponics of Buffalo 1497 Hertel Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14216 716-838-3545 Harvest Moon Hydroponics 340 West at 59, Central Nyack, NY 10960 California Hydroponics 27 Corporate Circle, East Syracuse, NY 13057 315-432-9387 Upstate Hydroponics 2026 Lake Rd unit B Elmira, NY 14903 607 483 9199 FutureGarden Inc. 59 Central Avenue, Farmingdale, NY 11735 516-420-0884 East Coast Hydroponics 14649 Horace Harding Exp, Flushing, NY 11367 718-762-8880 Healthy Harvest Organics and Hydro 163 Broadway, Fort Edwart, NY 12828 518-480-4698 Saratoga Organics & Hydroponic Supply 10 Saratoga Ave S. Glen Falls, NY 12803 (518) 798-820 Greentree Nursery 308 Elmira Road, Ithaca, NY 14850 607-272-3666 Crossroads Hydroponics & Organics 181 S. Plank Rd. Newburgh, NY 12550 845-561-GROW Hudson Valley Hydroponics 217 Route 32 North, New Paltz, NY 12561 845-255-3633 Sunlight Solutions Hydroponics 2045 Niagara Falls Boulevard, Suite 13, Niagara Falls, NY 14304 888-GROWBOX

Maximum Yield USA | February 2012

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MAXIMUM YIELD distributors

The Grow Room 8 Bridge Street, Nyack, NY 10960 800-449-9630 Revolution Hydroponics 309 West State St. Olean NY 14760 716.373.Grow (4769) Mor Gro Hydroponics 5680 State Route 104 E Oswego , NY 13126 315-877-8725 Environmental Gardens 8 John Walsh Boulevard, Suite 310 Peekskills, NY 10566 800-254-0507; 914-736-6676 Harvest Moon Hydroponics Henrietta Townline Plaza, 3047 West Henrietta Road, Rochester, NY 14623 716-865-7353 Hydro Garden Center 1069B Lyell Avenue, Rochester, NY 14606 1-800-277-1322 Sunset Hydroponics & Home Brewing 1590 West Ridge Road, Rochester, NY 14615 866-395-9204 KG Garden Supply 4575 Commercial Drive New Hartford, NY 13413 877-KG-HYDRO LiquidSun of New York 1702 Fiero ave Rotterdam, NY 12150 518-952-4654 Hydroponics Shops of America 2606 Erie Boulevard, Syracuse, NY 13224 315-251-2516 Green Zone Hydroponics 2148 Niagara Falls Blvd.

Tonawanda, NY. 14150 716-693-9663 Harvest Moon Hydroponics 147 Fourth Street, Troy, NY 10960 NORTH CAROLINA Advanced Hydroponic Garden 55 Shiloh Road #6 Asheville, NC 28803 1 (828) 277-3488 Fifth Season Gardening Company 21 B Westside Dr. Asheville NC 28806 828-225-5007 Fifth Season Gardening Company 45 Banks Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801 828-253-4112 Fifth Season Gardening Company 106 South Greensboro Street, Carrboro, NC 27510 919-932-7600 Be Well Hydroponics & Urban Gardening 4732 Monroe Road, Charlotte, NC 28205 704-344-8010 BWGS-NC 4045 Perimeter West Drive,Suite 400, Charlotte, NC 28214 800-316-1306 High Tech Garden Supply 2712 B Freedom Drive Charlotte, NC 28208 704-697-0911 Flow & Grow Hydroponics & Organic Garden Center 4521 Cumberland Road, Fayetteville, NC 28306 910-423-FLOW (3569) Fifth Season Gardening Company 1616 D-3 Battleground Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27408 336-271-3373 Good Harvest Garden Center 629 Oakridge Farm Hwy. Mooresville NC 28115 704-658-9136

172

Maximum Yield USA | February 2012

Retail Stores listed alphabetically by city in each state.

Fifth Season Gardening Company 5619-A Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27606 919-852-4747 New Age Gardens 2236A US Highway 70, Swannanoa, NC 28778 828-299-9989 All Season Hydroponics 890 South Kerr Avenue, Wilmington, NC 28410 Progressive Gardens 6005 Oleander Drive, Wilmington, NC 28403 910-395-1156 OHIO Akron Garden Center 434 W Wilbeth Road, Akron, OH 44314 330-724-2700 Summit Hydroponics 1030 Kenmore Boulevard Akron, OH 44314-2114 330-753-5222 Campbells Indoor Gardening Supplies 1721 Greenville Road Bristolville, OH 44402 330-889-0049 Magic Home Gardens 209 Cemetery Road, Canal Winchester, OH 43110 614-837-2440 CincyPonics 3314 Harrison Ave. Cincinnati, Ohio 45211 513-661-3886 Dumont Seed Co. 619 30th ST. N.W. Canton, ohio 44709 330-492-0204 Dayton Hydroponics 4920 Provident Drive Cincinnati, Ohio 45246 513-942-7111 Eastside Hydroponics 550 Ohio Pike #136 Cincinnati, OH 45255 513-528-GROW Kissed by the Sun Hydroponic 10740 Reading Road, Cincinnati, OH 45241 513-769-0159 Cleveland Garden Center Inc. 727 East 185th Street, Cleveland, OH 44119 216-481-7868 Grow Wizard, The 5700 Denison Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44102 216-961-2500 Herb-N-Garden Center 14901 Puritas Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44135 216-252-2001 Garden Indoors of Ohio 4720 Indianola Avenue, Columbus, OH 43214 800-833-6868 Magic Home Garden 4538 Indianola Avenue, Columbus, OH 43214 614-263-2440 Garden Connections 3341 Centerpoint Dr. Grove City OH 43123 614 871 0707 Advanced Hydrorganics Indoor Garden Center 5204 Darrow Road, Hudson, OH 44236 234-380-1287 Sweet Greens 5540 Brecksville Road Independence, OH 44131 800-421-7084 Hydro Gardens and Lights 1144 N Memorial Drive Lancaster, OH 43130 705-65 Hydro

Carefree Garden Center 134 West Drive, Lodi, OH 44254 330-302-4203 CropKing 134 West Drive, Lodi, OH 44254 330-302-4203 USA Hydrogarden 7450 Industrial Pkwy, Ste. A Lorain, Ohio 44053 440-282-4880 The Grow Shop 165 Davids St. Marion OH 43302 740 223 7467 Urban Gardens 671 E. Center Street Marion, OH 43302 740-375-2800 Top Garden Products 8600 East Avenue Suite C. Mentor, OH 44060 440-290-8773 Indoor Gardens 1222 Hill Road, North, Pickerington, OH 43147 614-866-6065 Trinity Hydro Organics 465 Woodman Drive Riverside, OH 45431 937-252-GROW Toledo Hydroponics Ltd. 855 S. Holland-Sylvania Road, Suite 2 Toledo, OH 43615 1-877-893-0716 Greenleaf Hydroponics 1805 Elm Road, Warren, OH 44483 330-372-1039 Dayton Hydroponics 3856 Miamisburg-Centerville Road, West Carrolton, OH 45449 937-859-3999 Harvest Moon 9215 Market Street, Youngstown (North Lima), OH 44452 800-776-8399 Indoor Garden Worx 906 Blue Avenue, Zanesville, OH 43701 866-900-9679 OKLAHOMA Tulsa County Hydro-Organics 1928 W. Albany, Broken Arrow, OK 74012 918-259-HYDRO AAAAHA! Hydroponics Unlimited P.O. Box 74, Oakhurst, OK 74050 Organics OKC Garden Supply 3620 N Pennsylvania Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73118 405-528-GROW The OKC Urban Gardener 3711 N. Western Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73118 405-521-9300 Urban Garden 3141 E. 15th Street, Tulsa, OK 74104 918-289-0018 OREGON Aqua Serene 465 Applegate Way, Ashland, OR 97520 541-482-7600 Astoria Indoor Garden Supply 1343 Duane St. Unit C Astoria OR 97103 503 468 0606 Rogue Silicates Inc. POB 21, Azalea, OR 97410 541-837-8590 B.I.G.S. 155 SW Century Drive, Suite 401, Bend, OR 97702 541-385-5222

Herb N’ Jungle Hydroponics 930 SE Textron Drive, Bend, OR 97702 541-382-4010 Northern Light and Garden Beaverton 9290 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway, Beaverton, OR 97005 503-297-7331 Westcoast Organic and Hydroponic Supply 12410 SE 282nd Avenue, Unit C Boring, OR 97009 503-766-4106 The Good Earth Organics 30088 Redwood Highway, Cave Junction, OR 97523 541-592-4496 Anthony’s Garden & Light Supply 93779 B Troy Lane, Coos Bay, OR 97420 541-266-8822 Corvallis Hydroponics & Organics 5490 SW Philomath Boulevard, Corvallis, OR 97333 541-738-2820 Aqua Serene 2836 W. 11th Avenue, Eugene, OR 97402 541-302-9073 Aurora Innovations PO Box 22041, Eugene, OR 97402 866-376-8578 SunInside Gardening Co. 665 Conger, Unit F, Eugene, OR 97402 541-686-9966 Advanced Indoor Gardens 17831 se 82nd drive Gladstone, OR 97027 503 305 6341 Northern Light and Garden Grants Pass 1203 Rogue River Highway, Grants Pass, OR 97527 541-474-1700 Paradise Supply LLC 560 NE. “F” Street, Unit C, Grand Pass, OR 97526 541-955-7293 Vital Organix 932-B SE “M” Street Grants Pass, OR 97526 541-226-9283 Oregon Rainforest Co. 19949 E. Burnside Street, Gresham, OR 97233503-465-9909 In & Out Gardens 93484 Hwy 99 South Junctin City OR 97448 541-234-2342 Basin Indoor Gardening 417 N. Spring St. Klamath Falls, OR 97601 541-273-2023 Green Zone Garden Center & Hydroponic Supplies 1845 S W Hwy. 101 Ste. 3 Lincoln OR 97367 USA 541 994 7070 H2organic LCC 620 NE 3rd Street, McMinnville, OR 97128 503-434-6107 Green Thumb Hydrogarden and Organic Supply 2021 West Main Street, Medford, OR 97501 541-779-8600 Growing Crazy (Hooked On Hydroponics) 817 W. 2nd Street, Medford, OR 97501 In & Out Gardens 1574 Skypark Drive Medford, OR 97501 541-858-3333 Ladybug Indoor Gardens 3960 W. Main Street, Medford, OR 97501 541-618-4459 Advanced Organics & Garden Supply 290- B Merlin Avenue Merlin, Oregon 97532 541-659-1466

Indoor Garden Depot 15828 SE McGloughlin Boulevard, Milwaukie, OR 97267 503-786-2445 H2organic LCC 620 NE 3rd Street, McMinnville, OR 97128 503-434-6107 Wizard’s Garden, LLC 621 Spruce Street, Unit C, Myrtle Point, OR 97458 541-572-2333 Green Zone Garden Center & Hydroponic Supplies 454 S.W. Coast Hwy Newport OR 97365 USA P: 541-265-8252 Gorilla Garden Supply 2011 Union Ave, Garden Supplies North Bend, OR 97459 541-756-5005 American Agriculture 9220 Southeast Stark Street, Portland, OR 97216 800-433-6805 Bloom Garden Supply 518 NE 20th Ave. Portland, OR 97232 (971)255-1336 Everybody’s Garden Center 2701 SE 14th Avenue, Portland, OR 97202 800-669-5483 Garden Spout, The 4532 South East 63rd Avenue, Portland, OR 97206 503-788-4769 Homegrown Garden Supply 7112 NE Gilsan Street, Portland, OR 97213 877-EZ2-GROW Island Flowers & Indoor Garden Center 909 N. Tomahawk Island Drive, Suite 103, Portland, OR 97217 503-546-3185 Lights Distributing 9843 SW 55th Avenue, Portland, OR 97219 Rain or Shine 13126 NE Airport Way, Portland, OR 97230 503-255-1981 Roots Garden Supply 5426 North Gay Avenue, Portland, OR 97217 503-285-4768 Urban Flora 2865 South East, Portland, OR 97214 503-236-3344 BIGS Warehouse 2606 SW 4th Street, Unit B Redmond, OR 97756 541-504-8886 Indoor Garden Supply 536 SW 6th Street (rear alley), Redmond, OR 97756 541-504-7750 DC Hydroponics & Organics 7275 Green Siding Rd. Roseburg, OR 97471 541-679-3700 Roseburg Hydroponics 853 SE Stephens Street, Roseburg, OR 97470 541-229-1420 Indoor Garden Center 1697 SE 25th Street, Salem, OR 97302 503-566-7888 Northern Light and Garden Salem 1915 Lancester Drive, Salem, OR 97305 503-364-4769 Cascade Horticulture 39570 Pioneer Boulevard, Sandy, OR 97055 503-668-8242 Moonshine Park Farm 135 South East 62nd, Unit F South Beach, OR 97366 541-444-2298

J-N-B Hydro 2 Go 155 West Central Avenue, Sutherlin, OR 97479 541-459-9211 Samurai Greenhouse Supply 32067 Old Hwy. 34 Tanget, OR 97389 541-928-3431 Grow America Garden Supply LLC 11511 SW Pacific Highway, Tigard, OR 97223 503-841-6868 Pharmer Hydroponics 11135 SW Industrial Way Bldg 10-4 Tualatin, OR 97062 (503) 486-5751 PENNSYLVANIA Pocono Hydroponic Solutions 25 Route 611 Bartonsville, PA 18321 Tel: 570-730-4544 Green Solutions Hydroponics 1700 Orange Street Berwick, PA 18603 570-752-1530 Garden Indoors of Pennsylvania 208 Route 13, Bristol, PA 19007 800-227-4567 422 GROW 1775 North Main Street Extension Butler, PA 16001-1327 724-561-3777 High Tech Garden Supply 20232 Route 19, Unit 6, Cranberry Twp., PA 16066 724-473-1113 New Moon Indoor Garden Supply 20550 Route 19 Perry Highway, Cranberry Twp., PA 16066 724-591-8086 Easton Hydroponcis 437 N. Hampton St. Easton, PA 18042 484-373-3232 Home Hydroponics of Pittsburgh 830 Route 119, Greensburg, PA 15601 724-836-1118 Buds to Blooms Garden and Supply Co., LLC 509 Orchard Avenue Kennett Square, PA 19348 484-860-8056 The Companion Plant 363 E. Main St Kutztown, PA 19530 1 (610) 683-9676 Flairform POB 1417, Lansdale, PA 19446 215-395-6353 RH Distribution POB 1417 Lansdale, PA 19446 888-545-8112 Hydro Ponics of Harrisburg 310 South 10th Street, Lemoyne, PA 17043 877-684-3808 Always Green Garden Supply 4400 Old William Penn Hwy Ste. 106 Monroeville PA 15146 412 646 1243 New Stanton Hydro 150 Post Ave. New Stanton, PA. 15672 724-635-0297 The Companion Plant 363 E. Main St Kutztown, PA 19530 1 (610) 683-9676 Full Bloom Hydroponics 84 South 24th Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203 888-872-3602 Home Hydroponics of Pittsburgh 2008 Smallman Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-232-7030

Maximum Yield USA | February 2012

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MAXIMUM YIELD distributors

Healthy Gardens and Supply 1012 Lincoln Avenue, Prospect Park, PA 19076 866-32-HYDRO Home Hydroponics of Pittsburgh 9 North Main St. Washington, PA 15301 724-222-0200 Western Pennsylvania Innovative Gardening 1177 Pittsburgh Road, Suite 103 Valencia, PA 16059 724 - 903 - 0800 Organic Garden Center 800 Washington Blvd.

Williamsport, PA 17701 570-322-3120 National Garden Wholesale/Sunlight Supply 450 Grim Lane, York,PA 17406 877-779-7111(Northeast) PA Hydroponics & Home Gardening Supply 20 Quaker Church Road, York Springs, PA 17372 717-528-4175

Green Thumb Unique Gardening & More 1230 Rutherford Road, Greenville, SC 29609 864-271-8830 Greenspirit Hydrogardens 3600 Unite 1 Hwy.17 S. North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582 843-361-7777 SOUTH DAKOTA Green Earth Products Inc. 5700 Highway 79 S.,Unit 1, Rapid City, SD 57702 605-342-1307 TENNESSEE Innovative Hydroponic Supply Inc. 3286 North Park Blvd. Unit G Alcoa TN 37701 865 984 0280 Atlantis Hydroponics 1800 Rossville Avenue, #3, Chattanooga, TN 37408 423-752-5400 Advanced Hydroponic Garden 783 French Mill Road, Dandridge, TN 37725 800-521-1643 Perpetual Harvest 75 Riverport Drive, Jackson, TN 38301 877-422-3391 Advanced Hydroponic Garden 6912 Clinton Highway, Knoxville, TN 37921 866-938-3318 Sun City Hydroponics 2235 Whitten Road, Suite 104, Memphis, TN 38133 901-372-8100 National Garden Wholesale/Sunlight Supply 126 Belinda Parkway, Mt. Juliet, TN 37122 888-265-9005 All Seasons Gardening and Brewing Supply Co. 924 8th Avenue, South, Nashville, TN 37203 800-790-2188 Worm’s Way Tennessee 901 Main Street, Nashville, TN 37072 800-397-4153

RHODE ISLAND Oakworld Garden Center 39 West Street, Barrington, RI 02806 401-245-5705 Solar Seed Hydroponics, Inc. 2406 Putman Pike, Chepachet, RI 02814 401-710-9010 Organically Grown 768 Atwood Ave Cranston, RI 02920 401-944-0549 Hydro-Earth 1243 Mineral Springs Avenue, North Providence, RI 02904 401-305-5520 The Organic Grow Hut 375 Putnam Pike- Ste 13 Smithfield, RI 02828 (401)349-4141 South County Hydroponics 51 Old Tower Hill Road, Wakefield, RI 02879 401-783-1733 Mother Nature Hydroponics 1268 Post Rd. Warwick RI 02888 401 780 0600 LiquidSun® RI 1179 Central Avenue, Pawtucket, MA 02861 401-722-2724 Good To Grow 34 Nooseneck Hill Road West Greenwich, RI 02817 401-392-3100 Growin’ Crazy 93 Kingston Road Wyoming, Rhode Island 02898 401-284-0810 SOUTH CAROLINA GreenSpirit Hydrogarden 1864 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC 29405 843-225-1GRO; 247 Garden Supply 535 D Clemson Road, Columbia, SC 29229 803-788-4445 All Good Hydroponics & Gardening 6729 Two Notch Road, Columbia, SC 29223 803-708-4819 All Season Hydroponics 6729 Two North Road, 10B Columbia, SC 29223 803-708-4819 The Urban Garden Hydroponics 9557 Two Notch Rd. Ste. E Columbia, SC 29223 803-788-9313 All Season Hydroponics 1350 Hwy. 501 Business, Store 3&4 Conway, SC 29526 843-347-9266

174

Maximum Yield USA | February 2012

Retail Stores listed alphabetically by city in each state.

,

TEXAS Abundant Harvest Hydroponics & Organics 3101 Avenue E East, Marshall, TX 76011 817-649-0100 Brite Ideas Hydroponics & Organics 4360 S.Congress Avenue, #310, Austin, TX 78745 512-444-2100 Texas Hydroponics & Organics (Central Austin) 5126 Burnet Road, Austin, TX 78756 512-459-4769 Texas Hydroponics & Organics (South Austin) 2125-A Goodrich Avenue, Austin, TX 78704 512-440-4769 Third Coast Horticulture Supplies 7010 Burnet Rd., Ste.A Austin, TX 78757 512 459 4353 Happy Harvest Hydroponics & Organic 1500 C rescent Drive, Suite 202 Carrollton, TX 75006 972-466-1300 GroGreen Hydroponics 4015 Main Street, Dallas, TX 75226 214-370-9984 Jolly Green Hydroponics (Greenhouse Horticultural Supplies) 13628 Neutron Road, Dallas, TX 75244 (866) WE-JOLLY; 469-341-5555 Lone Star Hydroponics and Organics 1302 Motor Circle, Dallas, TX 75207 214-634-9376

Texas Hydroponics & Organics (Dallas) 3400 Elm Street, Dallas, TX 75226 214-744-4769 Organic Garden & Feed 3801 N Interstate Hwy 35,Suite126, Denton Texas 76207 940-381-9890 Earth Organics 1360 Lee Trevino Drive,Suite 105 El Paso, TX 79936 915-591-9500 Airline Hydroponics P.O. Box 980904, Trader’s Village #363, Houston, TX 77098 713-942-0484 Botani Garden 15120 Bellaire Blvd Houston, TX 77083 281-575-1999 Houston Discount Hydroponics 9384 Richmond Avenue, Houston, TX 77063 713-464-9406 Hydroponic Nation 9700 Almeda Genoa Road, Suite 108, Houston, TX 77075 281-501-9636 In-N-Out Garden Supply 11011 S Wilcrest Drive Ste K Houston, TX 77099 1 (281) 568-5265 Texas Hydroponics & Organics (Houston) 7730 A Park Place Boulevard, Houston, TX 77087 713-641-4769 Ultimate Hydroponic Garden Supply 6125 West Sam Houston Parkway, North Suite 206 Houston, TX 77041 713-856-8425 Texas Growers Supply 5990 N. Sam Houston Pkwy. E. #602, Humble, TX 77396 281-441-3739 Field of Dreams Indoor Growing Supplies 5302 Slide Road Unit B,Lubbock, TX 79414 806-793-2901 Hydro Mart 3841 Main Street, Rowlett, TX 75088 972-475-6114 Sol Organics & Hydroponics 1634 Babcock Road, San Antonio, TX 78229 210-366-9082

Innergrow Hydroponics 24451 Interstate Highway 20, Wills Point, TX 75169 866-475-4769 UTAH Wasatch Hydroponics 4050 South Howick, Suite 11E, Salt Lake City, Utah 84107 801-716-4133 Salt Lake Plant & Hydro60 West 3300 S. #6 ,South Salt Lake, UT 84115 801-488-3200 VERMONT Greenthumb - Vermont 394 Route 15, Jericho, VT 05465 802-899-4323 Peak Hydroponic Garden Supplies 20 School Street, Plainfield, VT 05667 802-454-8000 LiquidSun® VT 1 Bellows Falls Road, (Route 5 North) Putney, VT 05158 802-387-1100 Green Thumb Gardening P.O. Box 235, Route 15, Underhill, VT 5489 800-564-9376 VIRGINIA

Fifth Season Gardening Company 900 Preston Ave. Charlottesville VA 22903 434-293-2332 Clean & Green Technologies 196 Corning Drive, Christiansburg, VA 24073 866-694-1628 I Love Hydroponics 612 N. Sheppard Street, Richmond, VA 23221 804-377-3020 Lucky Roots 612 North Sheppard St. Richmond, VA 23221 804-377-3020 Blue Ridge Hydroponics & Home Brewing Company The Williamson Road Plaza, 5327 D Williamson Road Roanoke, VA 24012 540-265-2483 Inside-Out Garden Supply 6517 Backlick Road, Springfield, VA 22150 703-451-3259 I Love Hydroponics 368 Newtown Road, #105, Virginia Beach, VA 23462 757-490-5425 Hydroponics & Growlights 13400 Occoquan Road, Woodbridge, VA 22191 703-490-0700 West VIRGINIA Panhandle Hydroculture 800 East Moler Ave. Martinsburg, WV 25401 304-240-7587 WASHINGTON Island Horticulture Supply 8608 S March Point Rd. Anacortes WA 98221 360 293 0000 Mike’s Indoor Garden Supply 6121 172nd Street NE #A, Arlington, WA 98223 (360) 474-1900 Belfair Garden & Lighting 24090 NE State Route 3 #F Belfair,WA 98528 360-275-2130 Green Gardens Distributing 12738 Bel-Red Road, Bellevue, WA 98005 425-454-5731 Northern Lights Gardening 4159 Hannegan Road, Bellingham, WA 98225 360-715-8585 Liquid Sunshine Hydroponics 5087 Lincoln Road, Blaine, WA 98230 Kitsap Garden & Lighting 2130 6th Street, Bremerton, WA 98312 360-377-1277 M & R Lighting Unit C 22914 Highway 410, Buckley, WA 98390 253-891-4190 Indoor Tropics 5930 Sunburst Lane #B Cashmere, WA 98815 509-470-7782 Garden Smart 500 Bond Drive, Castlerock, WA 98611 360-274-7960 Grow Center, The 615 South Fir DeerPark WA 99006 509-276-GROW Healthy Grow Indoor Garden Supplies 10 SE Everett Mall Way Suite B Everett WA 98208 425-374-2227 Indoor Garden Depot 1401 S. 324th Street, Federal Way, WA 98003 253-874-1112

North West Hydro Supply 1355Pacific Pl Unit 117 Ferndale WA 98248-7824 360-778-3254 Good 2 Gro 3507 W Clearwater Ave. Kennewick WA 99336 509 737 1313 Indoor Garden & Lighting 714 South Central Avenue, Kent, WA 98032 253-373-9060 Kent Garden Supplies Ltd. 18817 East Valley Highway, Kent, WA 98032 425-251-9299 Grogro Hydro 12403 NE. 124th Street, Kirkland, WA 98034 888-7-GROGRO 425-820-6200 KP Indoor Garden Store 8912 Key Peninsula HWY N Lakebay, WA 98349 253-884-SURE (7873) InDoor Gardening 1158 Commerce Longview WA, 98632 360-353-3851 Indoor Garden & Lighting 20505 Highway 99,, Lynnwood, WA 98036 425-673-2755 Go-N-Green Hydroponics 1241 State Ave Suite #102 Marysville, WA 98270 (360)386-8230 Green Acres Indoor Garden & Lighting 514 State Ave Suite #102 Marysville, WA 98270 360-658-GROW (4769) Island Hydroponic & Supplies 1515 5th Street #B, Marysville, WA 98271 425-299-5855 Mike’s Indoor Garden Supply 1204 East Wheeler Road, Moses Lake, WA 98837 (509)766-5856 M & R Lighting 17238 Memorial Drive, Mt. Vernon, WA 98273 360-848-1080 Northern Lights Gardening 1524 Riverside Dr #2 Mt. Vernon, WA 98273 360-982-2217 Indoor Garden & Lighting 8606 Preston Fall City Rd. SE Preston WA 98050 425 222 9661 Linda’s Gardening & Hydroponics 11522 Canyon Road East, Puyallup, WA 98373 253-531-9641 Renton Indoor Garden Center 207 Sunset Blvd. N, Building A, Renton, WA 98055 425-917-9000 Eco Enterprises 1240 NE 175th Street, #B Shoreline, WA 98155 800-426-6937 Aqua Serene 3839 Stone Way North, Seattle, WA 98103 206-547-GROW (4769) Grogro Hydro 12316 32nd AVE NE #103 Seattle, WA 98125 Hydro-Tech 2121 Aurora Avenue, North, Seattle, WA 98103 206-547-2202 Sodo Hydro 1727 1st Ave. South, Seattle, WA 98134 206-682-9377 888-90HYDRO (904-9376)

Northwest Horticulture Supply 161 Hooker Road, #1, Sequim, WA 98057 360-582-0702 509 Grow 2718 N Division Spokane, WA 99207 509-327-GROW(4769) Grow Center, The 2808 W Sprague Spokane WA 99202 509-456-GROW River City Hydroponics 1514 East Francis Avenue, Spokane, WA 99208 509-464-0246 Spokane Organic and Hydroponic Supply 4823 East Sprague Avenue E., Spokane Valley, WA 99212 509-534-4055 Green Tree Hydroponics and Garden 12316 Pacific Ave South Tacoma, WA 98444 253-536-1791 Indoor Garden & Lighting 3839 6th Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98406 253-761-7478 Solar Shop 306 West 4th Street, Tonasket, WA 98855 509-486-4508 Indoor Garden Depot 6400 NE Highway 99, Suite H, Vancouver, WA 98665 360-993-7779 National Garden Wholesale / Sunlight Supply 4525 NW Fruit Valley Road, Vancouver, WA 98660 888-478-6544 (Northwest) National Garden Wholesale / Sunlight Supply 5408 NE 88th Street, Building A, Vancouver, WA 98665 888-478-6544 VM Indoor Garden Supply 2903 NE 109th Ave Ste. D Vancouver, WA 98682 P: (360) 256-2933 Indoor Garden Supply LLC 1250 Atlantic Ave, Woodland, WA 98674 360-841-8055 WISCONSIN Aric’s Indoor Garden Supply 1104 West Wisconsin Avenue, Appleton, WI 54914 920-574-3258 Grow BIG Hydroponics 954 S. Westland, Appleton, WI 54914 920-749-4769 H2oGrow 1150 Madison rd Beloit WI 53511 608-289-1852 Brew and Grow 285 N. Janacek Road, Brookfield, WI 53045 262-789-0555 Garden Supply Guys 752 Memorial Drive - Suite A Green Bay, WI 54303 920-857-9493 Brew and Grow 3317 Agriculture Drive, Madison, WI 53716 608-226-8910 Paradigm Gardens 4539 Helgesen Drive, Madison, WI 53718 608-241-3800 Brew and Grow 2246 Bluemound Road Ste. B Waukesha, WI 53186 1 (262) 717-0666 PUERTO RICO Tecno-Hydro Ave Campo Rico GJ17, PO Box 1450 Carolina, PR 00982 787-752-8252

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Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

Retail Stores listed alphabetically by city in each state.