Maximum Yield USA - January 2010 by Maximum Yield

USA

I N D O O R

G A R D E N I N G

FREE

2010 Growing for the

Future

Indoor Gardening Expo

montreal

2010 Quebec, Canada

June 5-6

CONTENTS january 2010 FEATURES 42

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

CO2 The Secret Ingedient for a Better Harvest

10 Steps to Gardening with Nature

Knowing the Three S's of Controlled Release Fertilizers (CRF)

by Isabelle Lemay agr. and Mélissa Léveillé

by Dr. Carole Ann Rollins and Dr. Elaine Ingham

by Don Mulcahy

Who Really Runs the Show? The Effect of Plants on Human Beings by Luis Bartolo

94 102

Unraveling Indoor Gardening's Silent Epidemic by Daniel Wilson

Zoo-Ponics: The Verticrop Hydroponic System at Paignton Zoo by Dr. Lynette Morgan

94 DEPARTMENTS

110

Plant Obesity: Choosing Higher Yield over Healthy Crops

110

by Evan Folds

10 From the Editor

100 Tips and Tricks

12 Letters to the Editor

108 Green Thumb Gardening

14 MaximumYield.com

114 Talking Shop

18 Ask Erik

119 Do You Know?

20 MAX Facts

120 Avant-Gardening

32 Product Spotlight

124 Max Mart

60 Growing for Health

128 Distributors

70 Beginner’s Corner

138 Coming up in February

102

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

FROM THE editor

jessica raymond

Jessica Raymond, Editor editor@maximumyield.com

This issue marks the start of a New Year and yes, a new decade! Wow – 2010! The growth and advancements of the industry over the last 10 years have been incredible with no signs of things slowing up in the near future. Sustainability, organics and growing green are important issues that we all care about and are working towards. Throughout 2010 we will continue to present the articles and information that will take us in that direction. From small hobby gardens to commercial greenhouses and zoos like in the Zooponics by Lynette Morgan, growers are seeing and reaping the benefits of indoor garden production.

To celebrate the New Year, Maximum Yield is offering even more chances to win with our new cover photo contest “Behind the Lens.” Get those cameras clicking and send in your best photos that could win front cover placement on one of our five Maximum Yield issues. We have also added more prizes in our Win Big! Grow Big! online reader contest. Be sure to get your entry in every month at maximumyield.com for your chance to win BIG! Happy New Year wishes for a happy, healthy, productive year!

contributors Dr. Elaine Ingham is president of

Daniel Wilson is President of Current Culture H2O, a progressively minded hydroponics company located in central California and inventors of the patent pending Sub-Current Culture (SCC) method. Daniel and Cheryl have also own and operate Tower Garden Supply, an organicallyminded garden supply and micro nursery in Fresno, CA.

Mélissa Léveillé holds a license in communication, writing and multimedia. She is the newest member of the Nova Biomatique Inc. Team (www.igrowing.com), makers of the PLUG’N’GROW climate controllers. She is responsible for Nova Biomatique Inc.’s communications.

Dr. Carole Ann Rollins co-owns Nature Technologies International LLC, producers of organic alternatives. She co-authored Adding Biology for Soil and Hydroponic Systems and has compiled and edited The Field Guide I and II for Actively Aerated Compost Tea. Contact 1-415-898-5895, naturetech@earthlink. net, www.nature-technologies.com

Dr. Lynette Morgan holds a B. Hort.

Isabelle Lemay is in charge of the technical support, customer service and research and development at Nova Biomatique Inc. (www.igrowing. com), makers of the PLUG’N’GROW climate controllers. She is an agronomist and holds a master’s degree in soil and environment studies, with a specialization in greenhouse production.

Don Mulcahy received his Bachelor

Evan Folds is president of Progressive Gardens, a natural approach land care company, and Progress Earth (www.progressearth.com). With a degree in biology and religion, Evan’s interests include making sense of food production and bringing awareness to such topics as empty food, municipal water fluoridation and spiritual intolerance.

Matt LeBannister works at Homegrown Hydroponics, the manufacturer of the DNF line of premium nutrients and enhancement products. Matt manages the retail store at Homegrown’s head office in Toronto and as of late has been traveling the trade show circuit as their resident expert.

Jose Luis Pinheiro Bartolo is the president of Biobizz Worldwide Inc., a global leader in the production of hydroponic organic fertilizers and soil mixtures. He is passionate about the organic market and providing the highest service and perfectionism that comes direct from his heart and is projected to all aspects of his life

Erik Biksa holds a diploma in

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

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

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

of Science degree in Ornamental Horticulture from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in 1990. In 1993 he began his career with the J. R. Simplot Company and has 16 years of experience in the fertilizer industry. Licensed California Pest Control Advisor since 2003. Email: don.mulcahy@simplot.com Cell: 1-209-481-0070.

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.

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

LETTERS TO the editor

Hi there. I was just wondering when the new edition of the Best of Maximum Yield 2010 will be available.

I just purchased an ebb and flow system with all the nooks and crannies. After spending almost $4000, I realized I have no idea what I'm doing. I have 12 clones coming to my home early next week and was hoping to acquire some knowledge before I'm forced into growing. I was told by multiple sources that you folks are the kings of this industry and just pointing me in a direction or any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Regards

Eager Reader

Monica Foerster

The 2010 Best of Maximum Yield and International Trade Directory is available now from local indoor gardening retailers. Grab a copy today or visit maximumyield.com for a fully downloadable version, available for free.

Living Lettuce for Locals Thanks for the mention in the "I’m really glad that E-News! In case you didn’t you are getting out into know, Living Lettuce Farms is the commercial hydroponic the community and farm – a component of promoting hydroponics Better Grow Hydro. We have and raising public been selling produce at the awareness." Hollywood Market (and other local markets) for the last 12+ years. I’m really glad that you are getting out into the community and promoting hydroponics and raising public awareness. It’s something we have been doing for many years, so we know how difficult it can be (especially at certain venues where consumers think that hydroponics is like eating chemicals and pesticides). It can also be very rewarding. Keep up the good work! Best Regards David Goldman

Herbal Remedy Hello! I was thinking about starting some indoor growing. I honestly have no idea where to start. Can you provide tips for someone who has never done anything like this before? I'd like to grow veggies/herbs etc. How big of a space would I require? Thanks in advance! Kimberly Dubois Deschamps

A four foot by four foot grow tent is perfect, and you won't need to alter your room too much. Lighting and ventilation are the tricky part; T-5 fluorescent lights are good for entry level lighting, although don't expect the production levels that you could get from HID or LED lighting. A 600 watt HPS is the standard for a grow tent of recommended size. Dealing with the heat it creates is the hard part. Erik Biksa

E&F Basics for the Beginner

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

Ryan Brown

With 12+ years of how-to hydroponics articles to choose from, maximumyield.com is your #1 resource for all you need to know to get growing. Our world-renowned writers will assist you with choosing the correct medium, explain how to anchor your clones in pots and explain which nutrients to consider. Keep reading Maximum Yield and keep growing!

Spectacular Views and Education to Boot Thank you for the fantastic article on the indoor tropical gardens at San Francisco’s California Academy of Sciences. This institution has served as an inspiration for me and my children who love to explore the aquarium and planetarium, and now there is this entirely new world, the tropical indoor environment, for them to discover. After reading the article by Lee McCall (December ’09 USA) I took the family on an educational tour through the new exhibit; what a perfect way to spend one’s Saturday. My two youngest children are simply mesmerized by the sites and sounds, the vibrant colors and the closeness they have to the multitude of animals. My eldest son is fascinated by the technology used and upon leaving the Academy, he talked my ear off about starting his own indoor garden project during his school break. Thanks again for a great piece. Way to go! Susan Wilson

Read, Recycle, Reuse Could you send me any back issues you have? I am just starting to learn hydroponics, and found one of your magazines in the recycle bin. It was for the month of July 2009. Pages were missing, but what was there was very helpful. Please and thank you. Sincerely Cleve Tyson Maximum Yield reserves the right to edit for brevity.

We want to hear from you! Write us at: Maximum Yield Publications Inc. 2339A Delinea Place, Nanaimo, BC V9T 5L9 or Email us at: editor@maximumyield.com

Coming up on the Web

I N D O O R

G A R D E N I N G

VOLUME 10 – NUMBER 10 January 2010

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

PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER - Jim Jesson GENERAL MANAGER - Don Moores BUSINESS MANAGER - Linda Jesson SALES DIRECTOR - Lisa Lambersek EDITOR - Jessica Raymond jessica@maximumyield.com

All about Nutrients Secrets revealed! Controlled release fertilizers, complete nutrition and natural and nutrient-rich feed remedies are examined on maximumyield.com this month.

“Plants and people have an intimate connection that evolves around sustainable, environmental and social-psychological parameters. ” - Luis Bartolo -

Hot discussions

I N D O O R

Join in with other Maximum ON Yield readers on Facebook as they debate electronic vs. conventional lighting and LEDs. Plus, pose your grow questions to our new moderator, Erik Biksa. Visit us at Facebook.com/MaximumYield

G A R D E N I N G

Top news Get the news before it happens; gain sneak peaks for what’s coming up in Maximum Yield and learn of industry events in your area, all with our monthly E-News. Sign up today – maximumyield.com/newsletter.php

Great gear Specifically for online readers of Maximum Yield, our Win Big…Grow Big contest offers four chances to win every second month. Enter online at maximumyield.com/winbig

Tell us what you think at editor@maximumyield.com. We’d love to hear from you. 14

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

ADVERTISING SALES 250.729.2677 Linda Jesson - linda@maximumyield.com Lisa Lambersek - lisa@maximumyield.com Ilona Hawser - ilona@maximumyield.com Julie Madden - julie@maximumyield.com Gaby Morin - gaby@maximumyield.com PRODUCTION & DESIGN ads@ads.maximumyield.com Pentti Tikkanen - pentti@maximumyield.com Alice Joe - alice@maximumyield.com Wes Cargill - wes@maximumyield.com ACCOUNTING - Lee Anne Veres leeanne@maximumyield.com USA DISTRIBUTION Aurora Innovations BWGS, BWGS West and BWGS East General Hydroponics Hydrofarm Hydro International National Garden Wholesale / Sunlight Supply R&M Supply Tradewinds CANADIAN DISTRIBUTION Brite-Lite Group Biofloral Eddis Wholesale Greenstar Plant Products Inc. Hydrotek MegaWatt Quality Wholesale UK DISTRIBUTION Growth Technology Hydrogarden Northern Hydroponic Wholesale Nutriculture UK AUSTRALIAN DISTRIBUTION Futchatec Growth Technology Hydraspher

ASK

erik

Do you have a question for Erik? Forward it to editor@maximumyield.com with the words “Ask Erik” in the subject line, and your answer will be printed in an upcoming edition.

Hey Erik, I grow hydroponically. The system I like to use is a DWC (deep water culture). Each plant is grown in a five gallon bucket, with a five inch mesh pot on the top that is held up by the lid. I keep a couple of airstones in each bucket and have them all connected to a high-output air pump that is made for hydroponics. The buckets are bubbled 24/7. There is a lot of aeration due to the size of the air pump I am using. Everything had been going great. To try and get better crop quality I switched over to organics. I am using a 100 per cent organic crop feeding program, and have followed the manufacturer’s directions. After I transplant, the plants look great for a few days, then things appear to go downhill. The leaves start to turn yellow, and the roots don’t develop as well as they did before. They are starting

to get a slime growing on them and inside the bucket. I monitor the pH and have found that it just keeps going up, and up. I am worried that all the pH down I have been adding might be creating a nutrient lock-out or causing some of the problems I have been seeing? Help! What can I do? I have never experienced these types of problems before, when I was using synthetic nutrients in my DWC system. The temperature is pretty good, but I have noticed that the buckets tend to heat up. Could this be causing my problems? Thanks, Stressed

Stressed, Let’s hope we can have your pen name changed to “stoked” next time you write back by solving these issues that you are describing. Temperature is always a big factor, and is especially critical in hydroponics. Before when you were using a “sterile” nutrient solution from chemically derived nutrients, you may have been on the threshold of problems, but were lucky enough to avoid them. The high level of aeration coupled with the sterile nature of synthetic nutrients might have been just enough to keep pathogens away and nutrient availability to your plants intact. With organics, while a portion of the nutrients are available directly to the plant, there will be a portion that is being supplied as “raw,” requiring microbes, etc. to convert the cruder forms of nutrients into forms that the plant can easily take up. In a soil or soilless growing medium, the microbes required to accomplish this have plenty of “space” to live. Since there is very little growing medium in your system, the microbes required for these important conversions can only try and live in the solution, on the inner sides of the bucket and directly on the roots. This means that some of the species that are important in converting organic matter to plant food might not have a place to live. Remember that these organisms for the most part, evolved in growth mediums (soil), not water; so that’s the type of environment they prefer. You are supplying the microbes with plenty of oxygen from your high-powered air pump. This is causing a population explosion in the species that are able to thrive in the watery environment, while the solution, growth medium, roots, etc. may be lacking other species because it is not a conducive environment for them to multiply in and perform the necessary functions. Basically, you may have wound up with a microbial imbalance which in organics can equate to a nutrient imbalance. 18

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

The warmer temperatures and raw, undigested materials can create a situation where pathogens may develop, and in severe cases cause root rot. The constantly rising pH may be indicative of a microbial population explosion from the abundant food sources combined with high levels or aeration. Unfortunately, it appears that this has become an unbalanced population in terms of the species diversity. The additions of substantial quantities of chemical or organic pH down products can in fact create nutrient imbalances. If using chemical pH control products at significant levels, the microbial populations may suffer, furthering imbalances in the species diversity. Aside from recommending a nutrient system better suited for your DWC methods, I can advise the following: • reduce the level of aeration • include a broad spectrum of digestive enzymes in your feeding program • occasionally re-introduce balanced microbial populations by adding well formulated beneficial inoculants at half strength • reduce the level of carbohydrates and other potential food sources for microbes that you have been adding • ensure that the nutrient you are using is not too “thick” and does not contain excessive levels of undigested organic materials • be sure to completely empty the buckets out once per week and start with fresh solution; you may find that doing this even more frequently will have a positive effect. Hopefully, this will get things back on track, and I admire that you have been willing to experiment in an attempt to improve the quality of your harvests. Highest Regards, Erik Biksa

MAX

facts

hydroponic news, tips and trivia

Sonoma Named First CittaSlow in U.S.

Local Growers' Urban Plots Cropping Up Around North America Urban garden plots are springing up across North America in response to tighter budgets and an increased interest in eating locally. Whatever one’s reason for growing their own food, green space in cities is good for air and water quality, and they increase the supply of fresh, local produce. City folk are purchasing plots in community gardens or creating their own space with garden pots, kitchen gardens and grow rooms. The American Community Garden Association (ACGA) provides a great resource for finding the right gardening situation for you, serving the U.S. and Canada. Gardeners can search by zip code/postal code or state/province. The association also provides links to other regional urban gardening associations, as well as research and tips about growing in the city. DC Urban Gardeners (www.dc-urbangardener-news. com) offers resources and networking for a greener Washington. Seattle Tilth (www.seattletilth.org) inspires and educates people to garden organically, conserve natural resources and support local food systems. Organizations like Urban Garden Share (www. urbangardenshare.org) match people with yards and gardens in need of attention with folks who have the urge but not the space to grow. (Source: http://earth911.com/blog)

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

The popular wine country town of Sonoma embraces slowness with all members of the community connecting for local action following a shared vision for preserving quality of life and culture. Cittaslow designation is an invite-only status that requires the city to go through a rigorous application process proving they embody Cittaslow values. Cittaslow International is a worldwide network consisting of 129 towns accredited in 29 nations since. Cittaslow, Italian for slow city, embodies the ideas of the international Slow Food organization and extends its philosophy to a focus on quality of life and thoughtful attention to economy, lifestyle and sustainable methods. Prospective Cittaslow members have populations of less than 50,000 and are evaluated in six topic groupings and 54 areas of excellence, including sustainable agricultural practices; land use and infrastructure; environmental policy; support for local food cultivation and preparation; conservation of traditional artisan products; available hospitality programs; historic preservation; and educational programs for all ages. (Source: www.sonomanews.com, www.ecosalon.com)

2010 North American Indoor Gardening Expo Tour It’s finally official! The 2010 Montreal Indoor Gardening is set for June 5-6 at the funky and fabulous Palais des congrès de Montréal. With the industry still talking about the 2008 event in Montreal, we know you will enjoy all we have to offer. Ongoing updates will be made to indoorgardenexpo.com so stay tuned for exhibitor listings, venue directions and more. And don’t forget about the 7th Annual San Francisco Indoor Gardening Expo set for July 24-25, 2010. Mark your calendars now for the biggest and best industry event, seven years running. As always, we look forward to seeing you there.

MAX

facts

hydroponic news, tips and trivia

Warm Industry Welcome to Urban Gardens Welcome to Urban Gardens, owned and operated by Dan McGuire and his wife Kim. Urban Gardens is an indoor gardening store offering organic soils and fertilizers. Our product line includes Hydrofarm, FoxFarm, General Hydroponics, Botanicare, Active Air, Hydrotone, Clonex, Super Thrive, Maxicrop and Azatrol. We offer a CO2 exchange program and a variety of lighting options and accessories. We have numerous hydroponic systems operating along with light systems and an active indoor greenhouse. We are located at 671 East Center Street, Marion, Ohio. We can be reached at 1-740-3752800. Located in Central Ohio, just 40 minutes north of Columbus, off State Route 23 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; exit on State Route 309 West. We are two miles down on the left side. We look forward to seeing you in-store (Source: http://urbangardensohio.com) soon.

Flowers Ruling the Earth A new study on the evolution of flowering plants reveals how these crops developed more efficient hydraulics to increase rates of photosynthesis, and thus, dominate land over rival species. Flowering plants are the most abundant and ecologically successful groups of plants on earth. Without this hydraulic system, scientists predict that leaf photosynthesis would be two-fold lower then present. Under relatively low atmospheric CO2 conditions, water transport efficiency and photosynthetic performance are tightly linked. Adaptations that increase water transport will enhance maximum photosynthesis, exerting substantial evolutionary leverage over competing species. The mystery of when and how they increased photosynthetic capacity still remains. (Source: www.sciencedaily.com)

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

MAX

facts

hydroponic news, tips and trivia

Aquaponics Access for Everyone As one of the newest e-books on the topic of aquaponics, Bevan Suits’ “The Aquaponics Guidebook” examines the practical applications of aquaponics – growing fish and food - on any scale and for any budget. Bevan focuses on the ecological and sustainable aspects of this growing technology, illustrating its usability for hobby and commercial growers alike. This e-book serves to inspire anyone interested in growing their own food and instructs how to do so on a micro-scale and in a practical way. From choosing equipment and fish species, to building a home system and increasing to a full-scale agribusiness, this book has it all. The model described “is very simple for a process that is actually very complex,” providing a new perspective on the ecosystem. (Source: www.accesstoaquaponics.com)

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

High School Student Winner of Invent Your World Challenge The brilliant mind behind the invention of an algae-powered energy system is 15-yearold Texan Javier Fernández-Han. Combining a dozen technologies, the system treats waste, produces methane and bio-oil for fuel, produces food for humans and livestock, sequestered greenhouses and produces oxygen. As winner of the annual Invent Your World Challenge, Javier has been awarded a $20,000 scholarship, which will be used to build the project. The system consists of six subsystems, including an anaerobic digester for sewage and food scraps, a bio-gas upgrader to turn gases into food for the algae, a CO2-capturing device and much more. Javier would like to see the modular system targeted at developing countries that need self-contained sources of power and waste disposal. The excess methane could be sold for income, and thanks to the methane burning stoves, air pollution will be reduced. A scaled-down version of the system could be used for small houses or apartments that would cost as little as $200. (Source: www.inhabitat.com)

Disease Fighting Plants with Sidekick Bacteria

Get Behind the Lens Maximum Yield’s Photo Cover Contest

In order to unravel the mystery of how plants and bacteria community to thwart disease, scientists have identified the bacterial signaling molecule that wards off a devastating disease in rice known as bacterial blight. The communication involves a receptor molecule in the plant that pairs up with a specific molecule on the invading bacteria; the immune system swings into action to defend against the invasion of the disease-causing microbe. This discovery helps scientists better understand how plants’ innate immune systems operate. They are hopeful that this work will lead to new strategies for controlling diseases in plants and people, benefitting agriculture and medicine in the United States and around the world.

Get those cameras out! Maximum Yield’s photo cover contest puts you behind the Lens. The winners get bragging rights and fame as their photo will be seen by thousands of readers around the world. Send us your best photos to be entered into this exciting contest and have your photo displayed on a Maximum Yield cover. Submit your photos to editor@maximumyield.com Five winning photos will be chosen and published on the covers of Maximum Yield USA, Canada, French Canada, UK and Australia. Contest opens January 1, 2010 and closes June 1, 2010. See our ad on page 109. Full contest details are available on maximumyield.com

(Source: www.sciencedaily.com

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

MAX

facts

hydroponic news, tips and trivia

Introducing Indoor Garden Supply in Redmond, Oregon Indoor Garden Supply (IGS) was formed by partners, Dan McConnell of Portland, OR and Chris McDonald of Terrebonne, OR. Chris and Dan shared the vision for a better indoor gardening store in central Oregon and opened up shop in Redmond October 3, 2009. Their main focus is the customer and they offer excellent service and value. “We saw a demand in central Oregon and an opportunity for growth,” said Dan. IGS supports the individuals who wish to be more self-sustaining by giving them the tools to grow their own herbs, fruits and vegetables. IGS carries a wide variety of organic and synthetic nutrients, hydroponics systems, soilless and organic mediums and horticultural lighting. The staff consists of owners, Dan and Chris, and Chris’s son Justin. “We wish to maintain a family business and presence in the community.” Indoor Garden Supply is located at 536 SW Sixth Street.

Orchids and Fungi Partners for Life Three Thai orchids have been found to rely on a wide range of fungi to help them take carbon out of the soil instead of producing their own organic carbon. Aphyllorchis montana, A. caudata and Cephalanthera exigua orchids Aphyllorchis montana were studied. These orchids have no chlorophyll and rely on fungi colonizing their roots for their carbon supply. The plants were collected from 10 different sampling sites in diverse parts of Thailand. It was found that certain tropical orchids associate with highly diverse soil fungi colonizing their roots. All these fungi associate with the roots of nearby green trees, where they collect carbon for the orchids. Because plants interact with fungi in an unexpectedly diverse way there is a great need for more research on biological interactions in the tropics to unravel this diversity. (Source: www.sciencedaily.com)

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

MAX

facts

hydroponic news, tips and trivia

Wyattâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Tomatoes a Hit in Marshall County What began as a desire to extend the growing season has turned into a state-of-the-art production system that produces 6,000 tomato plants in approximately one acre of greenhouse space. Matt and Jerry Wyatt of Heartland Hydroponics in Marshall County, Kentucky have been growing vegetables in the traditional way for years, but when they discovered the powers of hydroponic technology, they decided to convert their greenhouses to hydroponic tomato production. The Wyatts sell their tomatoes to grocery stores in Louisville and also to local restaurants, school systems and to the public through a vegetable stand on their farm. They develop quality, hydroponically-grown fruits and vegetables in a timely manner, meaning it stays fresh longer. The hydroponic tomatoes are marketed as a natural product, as the Wyatts have implemented an integrated pest management (IPM) program and use bumblebees to pollinate the plants. Water circulation allows for more nourished plants with less water. Demand for their product is increasing as more people become educated about the benefits of hydroponic technology. The Wyatts plan to expand production into different varieties of fruits and vegetables. (Source: www.ca.uky.edu)

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

PRODUCT spotlight

See it. Want it. Find it.

at your local indoor gardening store.

X-ceL pro(fessional) X-ceL is one of the oldest products from Bio Nova. Several changes have been made over the years to stay up–to-date with the newest developments in knowledge and biotechnique. A lot of insights have changed the last couple of years and new possibilities to stimulate plants and boost yields are available. We at Bio Nova followed these developments from close range and are now introducing a new and very advanced version of our X-ceL. We can say with total conviction that this super booster is a high end, state-of-the-art product, which complies with the latest bio-technical developments. Because the properties of this product are so unique, we would like everyone to have access and benefit from these new and astonishing developments. Your plants will be healthier and produce higher yields. This product is now available at indoor gardening retail stores across the country.

PROfilter - The First Reversible Carbon Filter Most can-type air filters utilize 50 per cent of the carbon available by only filtering through the top section of the carbon filter, leaving the bottom section unused. PROfilter uses an innovative design allowing the user to reverse the filter, benefiting from the use of 100 per cent of the carbon available and effectively extending the unit’s life span. We suggest reversing the filter every six months to ensure a total use of the carbon. To reverse the filter, all the user needs to do is take off the adapter and cap, which are both press-fitted to the filter and reverse it. Manufactured by Atmosphere, the makers of the Vortex Powerfans, the PROfilters are made with the finest TC940 virgin three millimeter grain-sized carbon. PROfilter effectively removes 99.5 per cent of odors. Rated for a continuous worry-free operation and available in seven different sizes and CFM ratings, PROfilter can be used for commercial or residential applications. For more information, don’t hesitate to contact your local indoor gardening retailer.

Hydroplex Bloom from Botanicare Hydroplex Bloom is a premium plant supplement for the reproductive fruiting and flowering phase in a plant’s life cycle. It contains ample phosphorous, potassium and sulfur to enhance yields, and fruit and flower development. Also fortified with seaweed, humic acid, fulvic acid, vitamins and amino acids. For use in container gardens as well as soilless hydrogardening applications. Ask for it at your local authorized retail distributor.

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

PRODUCT spotlight

Horti-Control Introduces the LF Series Ballast Flip Flop Horti-Control is happy to introduce the LF series ballast output controller, aka the flip flop, to the market. The LF series allows users to switch the output of the HID ballast between two bulbs, without having to power off the ballast! The LF series features plug-and-play connectors, and an external timer to avoid burn out issues. The Horti-Control LF series flip flop is available in two, four, six, eight, 10 and 20 ballast models. All models feature a 15 foot piggy back trigger cable, allowing the user to daisy chain multiple units and control them all with one timer! Please visit your local hydroponic retailer for more information.

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

Nutrifield Line of Nutrients and Grow Mediums Nutrifield offers a complete range of hydroponic nutrients, additives, supplements and growing mediums from Australia! Included are quality products such as Ocean Mist, Alaska Pure, Cargo Boost and Fulife. Nutrifieldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s NF Premium Coco is your ultimate organic-based growing medium. The medium is produced from coconut husks following a precise ageing and treatment process. The coco coir consists of 45 per cent cellulose material to ensure long lasting physical properties preventing the media from decomposing or compacting during use. This lower priced alternative to other coco grow mediums is now available at hydroponic retail stores.

PRODUCT spotlight

Active Aqua Flood Tables – Three New Sizes Available The Active Aqua line of flood tables, reservoirs and covers offer features that rival the competition at value prices. They offer true, full-size dimensions and volume to provide maximum growing area. They are made from durable, high-impact ABS plastic with UV resistance for longevity, and they feature stronger corners and thicker walls than any others in their class. The new Flood Tables are now available in the following sizes: two by two feet, three by three feet and three by six feet. They offer: • Superior grid pattern design and multi level drainage channels to promote fast and thorough drainage. • Multi drain positions for versatility in set-ups. • Stronger corners and thicker all around than any in their class. • Rounded corners for easy cleaning. • Gradation inside to accurately assess optimal water level. • Full size. • Also available in two by four feet, four by four feet and eight by four feet models. Contact your authorized retail distributor for more information.

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

PRODUCT spotlight

DNF Success in a Box has Everything Your Plants Need DNF Success in a Box has everything you need for a successful harvest! All you have to do is add water. Have you ever been unsure about which nutrients would be best to use together? DNF has made it easy by putting everything into one box for an affordable price. Follow their easy to use feed chart and apply the nutrients in the box. Available through your local hydroponics retail distributor.

Plug’N’Grow CO2 Sensor Calibration Kit Simple, fast and the most reliable CO2 sensor in the indoor gardening market! This calibration kit is essential for precision. NDIR CO2 sensors lose their calibration easily as time goes by or if submitted to a shock. This is why it’s recommended to regularly calibrate them for precise control without wasting the CO2 offered to the plants! Why a calibration kit? A calibration performed outdoors or with another reference is not precise and risks falsifying the sensor’s measurements even more. The Plug’N’Grow calibration kit includes a 1000 ppm certified gas for precise CO2 concentration for the calibration. Effective on any controller’s make and model. A kit includes at least 20 calibrations! For more information, visit an indoor gardening retail store.

Continued on page 116

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

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

by Erik Biksa

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

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

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

Plants are considered to be “autotrophic,” basically meaning that they create their own food. They do this through photosynthesis, which translated means “to put together with light.” There are three foundations to photosynthesis: 1. Photosynthetic activity – the capturing of light energy to combine carbon dioxide (in air) and water (in soil) to produce glucose; the chemical energy that is used to fuel all the necessary internal reactions for plants to grow. In simple terms, in the presence of light plants’ manufacture the carbohydrates they need to do “work.” Oxygen is a by-product of this process. 2. Respiration – this mostly occurs in the “dark” phase. Plants “burn” the carbohydrates they create during light reactions in the presence of oxygen to send the energy through the plant’s internal “wiring,” which is a network of proteins/amino acids to supply a variety of functions with the free energy they require. Carbon dioxide is a by-product of this process, making it a “mirror” reaction to the photosynthetic reaction, as above. 3.Transpiration – occurs at higher rates during the light reactions/photosynthetic activity. This relates to the loss of water vapor through the leaves, as water is transported from the growing medium with nutrients, through the roots. The nutrients are delivered into the plants, while a portion of the hydrogen and oxygen ions (from H2O) are assimilated through the plant. The majority of the water taken up escapes the plant through the leaves. Water pressure (turgor) inside the plant is what gives plants their rigidity and structure; as plants are after all, “bone-less.”

1 2 3

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

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

6CO2 (carbon dioxide) + 6H20 (water) + light = C6H12O6 (glucose/carbohydrates) + 6O2 (oxygen)

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

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

So if one of the pre-cursors in the reaction is lacking, for example, the plant has only three units of carbon dioxide relative to six units of water in the presence of bright light (radiant energy), the reaction can only work as high as a rate that three units of carbon dioxide will allow, with the remainder of the light and water being “wasted.” In fact, it may create a situation that is more than just inputs being “wasted,” it can actually create situations where the plant is running at a deficit. In other types of situations, common to indoor gardening, when temperatures climb above 85°F, the rate at which respiration occurs (the burning of carbohydrates for energy) can exceed the rate of photosynthesis (creating carbohydrates). This creates a situation where by some definition, the plant is “working itself to death.”

Yield of Dreams Very bright light conditions are easy for indoor gardeners to supply using HID (high intensity discharge) lighting sources. This is usually the factor that creates an â&#x20AC;&#x153;imbalanceâ&#x20AC;? in the equation and relationship between the photosynthetic process, respiration and transpiration. The plant is saturated with intense light energy, while other factors such as carbon dioxide, temperatures, minerals and vitamins required by photosynthesis, etc. are not available in the same abundance. This imbalance puts the plant in a situation similar to excessive temperatures where the plant is working itself to death. Bear in mind that modern indoor growers are putting incredible demands on the super-strains of plants that are cultivating. In nature similar types of crops may require four to six plus months to reach maturity in natural settings. Indoors, growers are driving the same types of plants to reach complete

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

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

Heavy Loads: When plants are able to manufacture adequate supplies of chemical energy, heavy fruit loads may develop.

maturity in two to four months. That equates to twice the work that is required by the plant on a day-to-day basis! The demands placed on the plants by the environment supplied by the indoor grower are astounding when you consider the time frame it takes the crop to reach maturity versus in natural settings. So how exactly are we accomplishing this incredible feat as growers? Well, those of us who accomplish it the most successfully are driving and fuelling this natural process through improved crop growth technologies. As growers, we are supplying an abundance of the factors necessary and in the correct balance to amplify the plantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s natural and inherent responses.

Yield of Dreams

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

In today’s day and age, it’s easy to provide optimal light durations (day lengths) and incredible lighting intensities using readily available artificial lighting sources. HPS (high pressure sodium) lamps do a good

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

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

job of producing lots of lumens, although they are not as rich and complete as the sun in spectrum. They also produce a lot of heat, which can be detrimental to plant growth, as we discussed earlier. Air- and water-cooled lighting fixtures can drastically reduce the excess unwanted heat created, removing it at the source, rather than overheating the plants. Artificial lighting spectrums can be improved by using modern HID lamps that have their spectrums enhanced to stimulate plant growth rather than illuminate parking lots. While they are no match for the sun’s “solar nutrition,” they are an improvement. High output T5 fluorescent lights can be very rich in spectrum, and are ideal for stimulating healthy plant growth in the earlier stages, and can in some instances be used to raise plants to maturity. LEDs perhaps offer growers the best opportunity to provide very exacting light wavelengths for different growth

Yield of Dreams

"LED diodes emit very negligible amounts of heat, reducing cooling requirements and costs."

Exacting Energy Wavelengths: LED crop lighting can stimulate photosynthesis with very exacting light wavelengths, making for a very efficient growing experience.

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

phases. At present, it would appear that the technology itself is “smarter” than we are; growers and LED manufacturers alike are learning about what will work best at different growth phases, as LED fixtures can be tailored to provide very exact wavelengths of light. The technology goes far beyond the capabilities of what HID lighting can offer. LED diodes emit very negligible amounts of heat, reducing cooling requirements and costs. The fact that they run cooler allows for more efficient supplementation of carbon dioxide levels in the growing environment for faster growth rates and bigger yields, due to reduced air exchange requirements. Carbon dioxide (CO2) for light reactions is usually the most limiting factor in indoor gardens, assuming cooling

requirements have been accomplished with a high level of control. If growers are able to maintain optimal temperatures during the intense light cycle, plants will grow at noticeably increased rates when elevating the levels of carbon dioxide in the growing environment. Carbon is the biggest component in the dry weight of plants, and elevating carbon dioxide levels can have a direct effect on increasing dry plant weights at maturity. Fermentation, releases of bottled CO2, and generation of CO2 through gas-fired combustion are common methods growers may use to elevate CO2 levels in the growing environment for better results. All of the areas discussed above are “exogenous” or external factors that can be controlled by the grower through the use of specialized mechanical equipment. Now what about the internal or “endogenous” reactions that are going on inside of the plant? This is where the real magic happens.

Yield of Dreams

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

Modern, advanced nutrient manufacturers have dissected the internal responses and materials required to fuel and sustain high rates of growth for intense indoor growing environments. These “ingredients” have been discovered, refined and blended into exacting ratios to create crop feeding programs that help meet and stimulate the tremendous functional demands placed on crops by modern indoor growers. The end result of the photosynthetic response is glucose, which is “burned” during respiration to release energy. There are crop feeding supplements that are able to supply relatively available sources of carbohydrates to plants when they are applied accordingly. This means that for example, in instances when the rate of respiration is exceeding the rate at which photosynthesis (during high light and warm conditions in the presence of CO2), the plant’s reserves of energy may not run at a deficit, allowing the plant to continue growth, rather than “shutting down” to prevent exhaustion or even plant death. Consider high intensity activity in humans such as long distance running. Athletes load up on carbohydrates to provide their bodies with the necessary levels of energy to meet the high demands of the task they are placing on their body’s energy system. During the activity, runners breathe harder, requiring more oxygen. Plant growth has a similar demand for vital gas, although it is carbon dioxide rather than oxygen.

Yield of Dreams "After strenuous physical demands, plants, like athletes, also require proteins to repair and build new tissue." If there is insufficient carbohydrates or necessary vitamins, minerals, gases, etc., the runner will finish poorly, or may not even finish at all in some instances. This is the case with plants. After strenuous physical demands plants, like athletes, also require proteins to repair and build new tissue and energy transfer ways to supply and direct energy. This is where L-amino acids for crops come into play. Plants normally have to manufacture amino acids and other forms of reduced nitrogen to help build new tissue and create the energy transfer ways. Growers who supply crop feeding supplements that contain broad spectrum of L-amino acids including lysine during times of great mass gains, for example in the peak bloom phase, are in fact providing crops with the necessary materials to get bigger faster. The plant will not have to work as hard to manufacture these proteins, as they are supplied at some level of availability. Note that microbes in beneficial bacteria and fungi help to improve this process. This would be similar to an athlete drinking a well formulated protein supplement after strenuous physical activity versus eating a steak. The athleteâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

body will more readily assimilate select proteins in their ideal ratios, rather than expending energy to convert proteins supplied in cruder forms such as meats, to forms that the body can use to build and repair tissue. This quickly translates into greater mass gains in shorter time frames; something every indoor grower should aim to accomplish. Vitamins, minerals, enzymes and other co-factors also play a strong role at which the rate of all the reactions required by the plant to grow may occur. Most minerals are supplied to the plant through the roots, carried up with water in the transpiration process (loss of water through leaves). Without these vital minerals, and in their correct ratios for the type of crop being grown, the rate at which photosynthesis may occur will decrease. This is why it is important to choose your crop nutrients carefully. The correct balance and a high level of availability under a wide range of growing conditions should be of careful consideration. Plants typically manufacture their own vitamins, enzymes and co-factors, although in nature it has been demonstrated that these substances may also occur in the growth medium and be transferred to the plant for uptake and assimilation for functions. Again, this is typically assisted through beneficial microbes, which are available in modern formulations to inoculate indoor crops. These beneficial vitamins, enzymes and co-factors can

Yield of Dreams "Three key foundations to plant growth: photosynthetic activity, respiration and transpiration." also be supplied through specialized and well formulated crop feeding additives more or less directly to the plants. Similar in concept to supplementing the crop with carbohydrates and amino acids for higher rates of growth and mass gain, additions of vitamins, enzymes and co-factors will benefit the crop. By using specialized crop feeding programs designed to promote bigger yields and healthier plants grown under intense artificial light and elevated carbon dioxide levels, the grower is helping to â&#x20AC;&#x153;balanceâ&#x20AC;? the plantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s internal equation that is dictated by the three key foundations to plant growth: photosynthetic activity, respiration and transpiration.

Now that you know more about what exactly is making your favorite plants tick, you may be able to improve your yields, growth rates and crop quality by respecting and maintaining an understanding of these very important principles. Keep them in mind when constructing the ideal environment for your plant with regards to light intensity and quality, temperature and CO2 levels. Once you can maintain and manage the optimal external environment, your crop can take advantage of full spectrum feeding programs that have been designed specifically to satisfy the needs of your plants being grown in an accelerated environment. In fact, some crop supplements will help your plants to maintain a higher degree of health and growth rates, even in less than perfect environments. However, supplements are not a replacement to creating the optimal growing environment for your favorite type of plants. It is about harmony, balance and respecting the perfect inherent mechanisms for growth that nature has developed, and with understanding we MY may achieve our own personal yield of dreams. Erik Biksa has been writing for Maximum Yield for 12+ years. Gain insight from dozen of his articles on maximumyield.com. And now you can talk to Erik live on Facebook. Visit Facebook.com/Maximumyield

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

GROWING for health

Hydroponics Fights Hunger Food shortages and food inaccessibility due to economic instability are problems common to countries around the world. Land unsuitable for traditional farming contributes to food shortages, as do urban conditions preventing self-sufficiency. Hydroponics gardening and farming techniques are being used around the world to help fight hunger. Food shortages and food inaccessibility due to economic instability are problems common to countries around the world. Land unsuitable for traditional farming contributes to food shortages, as do urban conditions preventing selfsufficiency. Hydroponics gardening and farming techniques are being used around the world to help fight hunger. Hydroponics in Inhospitable Locations In areas of Pakistan, traditional farming methods are expensive and impractical. Water, a precious commodity in the arid landscape, is lost at an alarmingly high rate with traditional methods. Water evaporates into the air, drains through the soil and is taken up by weeds, making farming in the soil unaffordable for farmers. Inability to farm and no money with which to purchase fresh food leaves many in Pakistan hungry. The government of Pakistan is beginning to see the value of hydroponics farming to help fight hunger. A test project overseen by a Dutch expert in hydroponics recently began in Islamabad. Five acres of land are producing tens of thousands of pounds of tomatoes a week. With such huge results on very little space, the possibility of hydroponics making an impact on the economic situation in Pakistan is real. Because hydroponics farms require infrastructure in the form of water and electricity, before the farms can become a reality, infrastructure around the country will need improvement. 60

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

by Charlotte Bradley Hydroponics Beats Disease In North Korea, potatoes are a staple crop. Producing tubers, or potatoes from which new potatoes are started, is a lengthy process fraught with failure. Potatoes are susceptible to a wide variety of diseases and producing disease-free starter stock presents a challenge. To counter effects of potato diseases, a philanthropic organization â&#x20AC;&#x153;World Visionâ&#x20AC;? has partnered with the North Korean government to start hydroponics potato seedling farms. North Koreans suffer from hunger due to inhospitable growing conditions, lack of free trade, poor weather and poverty. The ability to grow more potatoes will help improve overall health conditions. World Vision is also experimenting with farming methods to grow cucumbers and other produce to help enhance the nutrient-deficient diet of North Koreans. Hydroponics Helps Even within nations traditionally considered developed, poverty prevents thousands of individuals from consuming fresh produce and gaining necessary nutrients. In Penfield, New York on Freshwise Farms, a hydroponics greenhouse grows tons of produce each year for the local community. The farm is owned by Foodlink, a program devoted to fighting hunger in the region surrounding the farm. Profits from sales go to help fight hunger locally, while produce grown at the farm makes affordable fresh foods available to local residents. Whether in far-flung desert locations in Asia or temperate climates of North America, hydroponics gardening can contribute to the greater heath of a population. Look for hydroponics to revolutionize agriculture around the world in years to come. MY

tHE SECRET INGREDIENT FOR A BETTER HARVEST by Isabelle Lemay agr. and Mélissa Léveillé

E P I R E C

tr ials lt of many su re e th ally ething, es are usu a little som ip c e re av h st e n b e ft , the een an s recipes o In cookery erence betw s to ost famou iff m d e e h T th . ll rs a es nslate and erro t that mak oncept tra n c ie is d h re ct recipe T g ! h in ine dis r the perfe iv a secret d fo a g d in n k a o ones dish re lo time. The ardeners a acceptable rd g o ll c A re . ll in e akes all as w ality ing” that m h high qu gardening it th e w m ts n so la ttle eir p ave the “li to grow th ost often h )! m d O e e (C c c 2 xide that su .carbon dio .. e c n re e the diff

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

A real treat for the plants CO2 is an essential element in the photosynthesis process, which is directly responsible for the growth of vegetal species. Without taking water in consideration, the plant is principally composed of carbon (C) and oxygen (O), which mainly come from CO2. During photosynthesis, the CO2 in the air is sort of “captured” by the plant through the light. So, when the CO2 concentration in the air is increased, the photosynthesis process and the growth increase as well. To make it simple, plants feed themselves with CO2 and use it to fabricate tissues. The more plants eat, the bigger they get! It is important to ensure a rich CO2 concentration at the plant’s canopy, since it’s from the stomas that the absorption happens. During photosynthesis, the plant consumes CO2 and makes the concentration drop around itself. A simple way to counter this effect is to use a recirculation fan to mix the ambient air and to ensure a higher and consistent CO2 concentration around the plant. The importance of proper dosing In nature, the average CO2 proportion in the air comes close to 400 ppm (parts per million), and can largely vary depending on natural or human made CO2 production. The air in the garden should be close to this concentration; below this limit, the photosynthesis and the growth considerably slow down and might even stop around 200 ppm or less. This situation might happen in an isolated indoor garden with no CO2 added. The plant will then consume the ambient CO2 until it’s all gone.

"The more CO2 plants eat, the bigger they get!"

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

CO2 The Secret Ingredient For a Better Harvest

Different species’ optimal CO2 concentrations SPECIES

Recommended CO2 concentration during daytime (ppm)

Tomato

1000

Cucumber

1200

Lettuce

1000 - 1500

Rose

1000 - 1200

Poinsettia

600 - 800

The majority of plants will appreciate concentrations between 700 ppm and 1000 ppm during daytime (light period) and around 400 ppm at nigh time (dark period). Why are these ideal conditions different from day to night? As mentioned earlier, the photosynthesis process occurs only in the presence of light. The CO2 enrichment is then necessary only in the presence of light and therefore is useless, even harmful, in the dark period. In order to provide the plants with the optimal CO2 concentration for their growth, many gardeners turn themselves towards CO2 enrichment. In addition to improving the yields, maintaining the recommended CO2 concentration in the air will also have the advantage of reducing the production time, accelerating flowering, improving the quality and the quantity of fruits and flowers and may even diminish the incidence of some pathogenic fungus. CO2 concentrations effects on plants Concentration (ppm)

Effects

200 and less

Avoid - photosynthesis and growth interruption

Near 400

Daytime minimal recommendation Nighttime recommended concentration

Between 700 & 1000

Average concentration recommended during daytime

1500 and more

Avoid - useless, non profitable and harmful to crops

Not enough CO2 is harmful, but too much is just as bad. Equal or superior concentrations to 1500 ppm are generally less effective and less profitable and can even have a negative effect on some crops. One of the most serious impacts is an overflow of CO2, which reduces the plant’s stomas opening, resulting into a reduction of the CO2 absorption and a limitation of transpiration. The transpiration is a key process for vegetal species because the water and nutrients’ absorption depends on it. Far from serving the plant’s interest, an excess in CO2 slows down the growth and, in some cases, can even cause leaves 64

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

"CO2 enrichment is necessary only in the presence of light and is useless, even harmful, in the dark period." necrosis and curling or again provokes flower malformations. Tomatoes and cucumbers are particularly sensitive to high CO2 concentrations. When choosing to enrich the garden with CO2, adjusting the garden’s temperature will be necessary. In fact, the optimal temperature for the plant’s growth increases by a few degrees (as much as 8ºF) when the air is enriched with CO2. Consider that the plant’s metabolism works faster when it benefits from a CO2 supplement; CO2 allows plants to produce better, but to do so, they need to consume more. Every need, like water and nutrients for example, will be increased. To fully take advantage of CO2 enrichment, we have to pay attention and take care of our plants to provide them with everything they need. A good balance A successful recipe is determined by a good mix between all the ingredients. Similarly, even if we provide plants with the ideal CO2 concentration, this will not guarantee success if we do not manage the other factors properly. Before getting into CO2 enrichment, it’s important to master the plant’s basic needs in order to submit them to conditions that are favorable to the yield. If these conditions are not accomplished, they will be an obstacle for the growth, and the CO2 enrichment will have no significant impact and will be wasted. They are many conditions, but usually one in particular will harm more than others; we call it the “limiting factor,” since it’s the one that limits growth. The limiting factor To better understand the effect of the limiting factor, we can compare a plant’s yield to the maximal quantity of water that a barrel can hold. A barrel is usually composed of many boards of equal length, but let’s suppose that the barrel would be built with boards of different lengths. The water level contained could not exceed the shortest board. The same way, a plant’s yield would not go further than the limiting factor who limits the growth, even if the other factors are optimal. These factors are the CO2, light, temperature, humidity, water, nutrients or substrate. MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

CO2 The Secret Ingredient For a Better Harvest The diagram illustrates the interactions between the light, the temperature and the CO2 concentration and perfectly shows the effects of a limiting factor on the photosynthesis process. For example, we observe that at 54°F, the rate of the photosynthesis does not increase despite the CO2 enrichment and the augmentation of light intensity. In this situation, it’s the temperature limiting the plant’s growth. However, note

that if we augment the temperature to 70°F, the addition of CO2 significantly raises the photosynthesis level. Again, the temperature is the limiting factor, since with an increase to 88°F the photosynthesis process goes up 30 per cent. So it is only when all the plant’s needs are fulfilled with light, temperature and CO2, among others, that a maximum level of photosynthesis is reached. To summarize, remember that plants require well balanced conditions as close as possible to their needs to get the full potential of CO2 enrichment. This way plants reach an exceptional growing level! But how can you ensure and maintain an ideal CO2 concentration in the garden, day and night? Among other things, technology helps in the form of a CO2 controller with a properly calibrated sensor. MY

Visit Online Extras section on maximumyield. com for the ultimate CO2 pamphlet featuring three tables on CO2 concentration.

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

BEGINNER'S

corner

by Matt LeBannister

With so many different varieties of plants available to the home gardener it is no wonder that people want to preserve their favorite strains. Gardeners can replicate all the traits that made a particular strain their favorite through cloning. A clone will have the same genetic make-up and sex as the “mother” or “parent” plant they were taken from. If you have a chili pepper plant that delivers a high yield, is resistant to insects or thrives in the particular climate you are growing in, these traits are worth preserving. Cloning also saves the grower time since they do not have to determine the sex of the plant and because clones mature faster than seeds. This equals a faster crop rotation and more crops per annum. The way to get the best clones is to take them from healthy, strong mother plants.

“Clones taken from plants that are too young or too old will be weak and will bare fewer fruit or vegetables.” When selecting a clone or seedling to become a mother plant there are some rules to keep in mind; when first choosing a new parent plant one should always sacrifice the strongest and healthiest clone or seedling because their vigor will be passed along to the next generation of clones. The stronger a plant, the faster it grows, the more it produces and the less chance it has of being affected by disease or insects. 70

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

Once the future mother plants have been selected they should be segregated from the rest of the plants.This will hopefully ensure that any outbreak of insects or disease amongst the general population of plants will not reach the mother plants. Any gardener who has lost their favorite strain to bugs or disease will tell you that this simple precaution will protect years of hard work. Once separated from the rest of the population, mother plants should be kept in the grow phase. Clones can be taken from plants that are flowering but they will not root easily and, therefore, it is not recommended. Eighteen hours of uninterrupted light and six hours of uninterrupted darkness is recommended although some gardeners will leave the lights on 24 hours a day. To improve the overall health and vigor of the mother plants only feed them premium grow-phase nutrients. Mother plants should be at least two months old before clones are taken and should be replaced once they are two years old to ensure clones taken are as healthy as possible. Clones taken from plants that are too young or too old will be weak and will bare fewer fruit or vegetables. Leeching nutrients from the mother plants three days prior to cuttings being taken will also improve the health and vigor of the clones. Clones root quicker with no nitrogen in their system. When there are no nutrients present the clone is forced to grow strong roots in order to search for nutrients. The health of the mother plant is so important because it directly reflects the health of the next generation of clones. Healthy plants mean less time, less trouble, better yields and MY more rewarding experiences for gardeners.

1 2 3 4 5 6 Steps to 7 Gardening 8 with Nature 9 10

by Dr. Carole Ann Rollins and Dr. Elaine Ingham People commonly ask questions about how to garden in a way that is more harmonious with nature. To help folks get going, we decided that a question-answer approach would be useful. Assess your growing system: Know where you are starting from 1. What gardening products do you use in your yard now? a. Have you used pesticides, herbicides or fungicides? When was the last time? b. Have you used chemical fertilizers? When was the last time?

Answer: a) If pesticides, herbicides or fungicides have been used in the past year, then most likely, residuals of those toxic chemicals are still present in your yard or garden. The fact that these toxic chemicals were used suggests that there are significant problems. Disease, weeds and pests were serious enough that money was invested to alleviate these problems. Interestingly enough, the situation that caused the weed problem, poor plant growth, excess need to water, wilting problems, fertility problems and disease was, in fact, made even worse by the use of toxic chemicals. Toxic chemicals kill some harmful organisms, but they also impact, and in some cases kill, When your soil life is in complete balance, your plants will grow happily and in harmony with nature.

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

(Photo courtesy of Nature’s Solution) What gardening products do you use in your yard now? If more than two pounds of chemical synthetic fertilizer is used at a time on a typical home lot, damage will occur to the microbiological populations.

the very organisms that combat and control diseases, pests and weedy species. Continuous use of toxic chemicals can result in so much loss of soil life that plants can no longer obtain nutrients or water from the soil. When soil life is completely out of balance, the only plants that grow happily are weeds. The shift from healthy plants to weed systems usually takes some time and is subtle and slow. The natural functions of soil are slowly eroded as the balance of life is lost. Nutrient retention, good water infiltration and provision of nutrients for plants in the right form, at the right time and place, are destroyed. Recognize that constantly having to use toxic chemicals to control disease, pests, infertility and water movement through the soil is a clear signal that something is terribly wrong. The damage cannot be fixed by using more toxic chemicals. On the other hand, if disease, pests or weeds aren’t routine issues - if they only turn up occasionally, every three or four years, then clearly the underlying problem isn’t as far out of control. There’s still something not quite right, but fixing it will be much easier. Have you used chemical fertilizers in your greenhouse? When was the last time? The ability of the naturally occuring micro-organisms to decompose any toxic chemical addition will be diminished if you have used chemical fertilizers because they will be killed by the salts in the fertilizers. (Photos courtesy of Nature’s Solution) What types of fertilizers do you use on your agricultural crops? If any chemical synthetic fertilizers have been used within the last year then the naturally occurring biology in the soil or soilless growing system will have been harmed or killed and there will be harmful residuals left.

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

Ten Steps to Gardening with Nature Answer: b) If any chemical synthetic fertilizers have been used within the last year, then many of the soil organisms that were present have been harmed or killed. In addition, residual toxic chemicals will be left, which will have a continuing negative impact until they are decomposed into harmless materials. All chemical synthetic fertilizers are salts. Table salt is one variety, but there are thousands of other kinds including lime, gypsum and ammonium nitrate, to name a few. Salts hold water, preventing the use of that water by all life in the soil, including the roots of plants. A high salt concentration equals increased difficulty for life to remain functional. In general, significant negative impacts occur above 75 parts per million (ppm) of inorganic fertilizer (salts). That translates into two pounds of inorganic fertilizer on a typical suburban home lot, or 200 pounds of fertilizer per acre. If more than two pounds of inorganic fertilizer are used at a time on a typical home lot, damage will occur. (Photos courtesy of the Hendrikus Group) Renovating Anaerobic soils: The above photo is of a landscape project before renovation or anaerobic soils. Surface drainage conditions were extremely poor. Dieback and unhealthy plants plagued this garden. Photo on the far left: Standing water demonstrates severe compaction problems at lower depths. Photo on the left: What appeared as mere sand, was, in fact, sand with a high percent of silt that easily compacted.

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

Ten Steps to Gardening with Nature Check your water source 2. What is the quality of the water that you use? a. Does your water supply contain chlorine? b. Does your water supply contain chloramine? c. Does your water supply salt in your water?

Renovating Anaerobic soils: Existing soils were amended with balanced topsoil and compost. Regular compost tea inoculation achieved a high level of healthy and sustainable growth within the first year.

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

You can buy a chlorine pool testing kit and test your water for chlorine yourself at home. If you do detect any chlorine then you need to filter your water because any chlorine will kill microbiology that you want to establish in any natural gardening system.

(Photo courtesy of Natureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Solution)

Answer: a) Send a water sample to a laboratory for chlorine testing. Another possible approach is to buy and use a pool chlorine testing kit. If any chlorine is detected, filter your water because chlorine kills the organisms that you want to establish in any natural gardening system. A hose-end carbonblock filter will filter out most of the chlorine.You may need to put a filter at your water source (on the house tap) if you use automatic drip irrigation.

"Activated carbon filters or reverse osmosis systems are needed to remove chloramine."

(Photo courtesy of Nature’s Solution)

Answer: b) Activated carbon filters or reverse osmosis systems are needed to remove chloramine. Although recent developments have been made in this area, many emerging products have not been time tested, so talk with the manufacturer and run some tests if you are not sure of the product’s quality. Humus, which is most easily obtained from aerobic compost, can also remove chloramine. To obtain liquid humus, run water through dark brown–colored compost.

Call your municipal water district and asked them is they use chlorine or chloramine in your water in your area. You can also take a water sample and send it to a laboratory for them to test for chlorine or chloramine. If you have chloramine in your water you will need to get a reverse osmosis system to remove the chloramine.

Answer: c) If the electrical conductivity (EC) of your water is above 10 - 12 microsiemens per centimeter (μS/cm), or 75 ppm salt, you will need to remove the salts with activated carbon and/or a reverse osmosis water filtration system, or complex the salts with humic acid. You can buy inexpensive EC meters at gardening and hydroponic stores or through the Internet.

EC Meter for testing salt levels in nutrients and water.

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

Buy Environmentally Friendly Products 3. What gardening products will work with nature?

Answer: Compost tea, sea kelp, humic acid, mycorrhizae, compost and worm castings are all examples of products that will work with nature. Look for options that come from a reliable organic source. Use of strong acids or bases or inorganic chemicals will leave chemical residues in the end product, which will harm or destroy any living material the chemicals contact.

Dip bare roots in a mixture of mycorrhizal fungal spores and compost tea just before planting. While the plant is recovering from transplanting, it would be a good idea to add in a handful of food that will help beneficial fungi grow and establish around the root system of the plant.

(Photo courtesy of Nature's Solution)

Ten Steps to Gardening with Nature

"Nobody can stop a company from simply writing the word organic on their container, but that is literally just an advertising gimmick." Even if a product says that it is organic, you must check that it has been approved for organic production by a certifying agency. A seal and the name of the certifying agency are usually present on the container. Be careful of wording as products used for organic crops are not certified organic, but rather, are approved for organic production by agencies that check the product for compliance with National Organic Program (NOP) standards. Nobody can stop a company from simply writing the word organic on their container, but that is literally just an advertising gimmick. Organic Approval: Even if a product says it is organic you must check that it has been approved by a certifying agency.

Even if a product is approved for organic production, it may not be compatible for gardening with nature. For example, some sea kelp may contain salt levels that are over 100 ppm if applied in quantities recommended by the manufacturer. How does a small-scale grower check this? If the package says, for example, to use 20 ounces in 10 gallons of water (which is the same as two ounces in one gallon), set up a small test. Mix two ounces in one gallon of water. Take your EC meter and test the salt levels. If the levels are over 100 ÂľS/cm, or about 75 ppm, then dilute the kelp even more. Add one ounce in one gallon of water, or one ounce in two gallons of water, until you get EC levels less than 100 ÂľS/cm. Then 78

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

(Photo courtesy of Nature's Solution) (Photo courtesy of Nature's Solution)

Roll seeds in a mixture of mycorrhizal fungal spores and compost tea before planting. You can also put the mycorrhizal fungal spores out in your planting rows or holes and drench the soil in the planting hole with compost tea and other organic nutrient while planting.

The goal is to achieve a soil composition with five per cent organic matter, good sets of organisms and excellent structure. This goal can be obtained by using compost and compost teas that have the full diversity of organisms needed by the plant.

use that dilution rate for spraying the product on your plants, using it as a soil drench, or incorporating it into your hydro system. Be very careful when looking at EC values because the units µS/cm are different from millisiemens per centimeter (mS/cm) by a factor of one thousand. If you have 100 µS/cm, it would be reported as 0.1 mS/cm (move the decimal point three places left), or as 0.01 centisiemens per centimeter (cS/ cm). Sometimes chemical salesmen will disguise extremely high salt materials by reporting the information as decisiemens per centimeter (dS/cm). Scientific units can be confusing if you aren’t familiar with them, so check with someone you trust when these issues come up. Pesticides, from organophosphates to sulfur, to insecticidal soap, to neem oil, may kill their target disease organisms, but MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

Ten Steps to Gardening with Nature

"The entire food web is necessary to build structure and allow oxygen and water to move normally through a system."

(Photo courtesy of Nature's Solution) Until such time as the balance of micro-organisms is established, compost â&#x20AC;&#x201C; in solid or liquid forms (compost teas) â&#x20AC;&#x201C; should be applied once a week. Once the balance of micro-organisms has established then applications can be reduced to twice a month for a few months, and then once a month.

they also kill non-target, beneficial If toxic chemicals have been used, organisms. Think about what a disease no matter how minimal, most likely, organism is: a micro-organism that kills beneficial organisms have been reduced. something that humans want to keep The remedy is really quite simple: replace living. Why would something that kills a the missing beneficial microbes through disease organism not also kill beneficial the application of aerobic compost or microbes? Whatever means by which a compost tea. Apply one of these products pesticide kills the bad guys, it will also every few days until the problem affect the good guys. (diseases, pests, lack of "Be careful! Just All evidence points to fertility, weeds) subsides. because a format If, after two weeks of the fact that nearly all looks scientific pesticides kill a broad application, the problem range of organisms. is still significant, use an does not mean The only way pesticide that the methods organic pesticide, or if all companies can try were appropriate else fails, a toxic chemical to claim that their for assessing the might have to be used. As chemicals have no soon as this material has problem." effect on non-target done its job, add back the organisms is if the methods used do not, beneficial organisms that can sustainably in fact, detect non-target organisms. maintain the system for years, without For example, if companies use plate the use of the toxic materials. count methods to assess organisms, The process of returning your system these methods do not detect non-target to a condition of health can be rapid but organisms. Again, be careful of the cost a fair amount of money ($100 to so-called science used to demonstrate $500 per acre, depending on just how something. Just because the format bad the soil was to start with). Or it can looks scientific does not mean that the take additional time but be nearly costmethods were appropriate for assessing free. Clearly there is a trade-off between the problem. time and money. The cost of rapidly 80

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

adding the full diversity of organisms, getting them spread throughout the soil and providing them with the food they need to function can cost a significant amount of money, but then, the food you are growing is healthy, with full nutrition, and no surprises with respect to toxic chemical residues. However, if you can take a few more months, or a few years, to allow the recovery process to happen, there may be no more cost than learning to make good compost, using some appropriate plants to combat weeds and building a compost tea brewer. But in both approaches, if you want to be successful as rapidly as possible, then monitoring the life in your system is necessary. A word or two needs to be said about residues of toxic chemicals in soil and water. Toxic residues can take a very long time to decompose because the process

Having to constantly use toxic chemicals is a clear signal that something is terribly wrong.

What gardening products do you use in your garden now?

relies on the actions of living organisms to convert the residues into nontoxic materials. But use of a toxic material kills most, but not all, of the target disease or pest. In the case of inorganic fertilizers, this toxic material adds a high concentration of inorganic salt, which kills the organisms that normally provide plants with available nutrients. Any of these materials kill a range of non-target organisms, most of them actually beneficial organisms. Were the organisms that were killed in fact the organisms that were needed to remediate, break down and detoxify the toxic chemical? Aerobic conditions are required so that these beneficial organisms can remove the harmful materials. This means not only that the specific microbes that decompose these toxic chemicals must be present, but the entire set of nutrient-cycling, diseasesuppressing organisms normally found in growing environments must be present and functioning. This entire food web is necessary to build structure and allow oxygen and water to move normally through the system. Testing is needed to ensure that the organisms and the conditions are right for recovery to occur. You can do your own testing to adjust EC levels by changing the types, quantities and feeding schedule of nutrients you add.You can send samples of soil or water to testing facilities for microbiological analysis to see if the organisms have been established or you can get a microscope and test your own samples, if you get the proper training to identify the major groups of organisms. Thus, the time it will take to fix a sick situation depends on just how bad things were to start. How much loss of soil life occurred? How easy will it be to establish the right set of organisms and to replenish the sources of food these organisms need to do their job? If the grower backslides and uses toxic chemicals to give a quick fix, the recovery process will never occur. MY Dr. Carole Rollins and Dr. Elaine Ingham articles are all archived on maximumyield.com. Simply search our author archive.

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

Knowing the Three Sâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s of Controlled Release Fertilizers (CRF) by Don Mulcahy

For many horticultural nurseries, turf managers and agricultural farmers, controlled release fertilizers have become an important part of their supplemental plant nutrition program. There are many advantages to using a controlled release fertilizer, and before choosing one, it is important to know the three Sâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s: safe, simple and sensible.

Advances in Controlled Release Fertilizers Why were controlled release fertilizers developed originally? They were developed to slow or control the release of nutrients over time. With a controlled release fertilizer, the full amount of nutrients can be applied at the time of planting, or at the earliest stages of growth, thereby continuously releasing the nutrients to the plantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s roots over time so the plant can adapt to its nutrient needs. The goal is to choose a controlled release fertilizer for the crops being produced; thereby maintaining optimum nutrient ranges for those crops during the growing season. How it works How does the controlled release fertilizer process work? It begins after application when soil moisture enters an encapsulated fertilizer and the nutrients inside the coated granule dissolve but are not yet released. Once in a solution, the encapsulated nutrients can release slowly and consistently 82

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

N-P-K for months to the root zone through diffusion. The longevity of release is determined by the coating thickness and temperature of the soil. Upon completion of the release of nutrients, the coating membrane will collapse and microbially-decompose into naturally occurring carbon dioxide, ammonium and water. This process occurs with substrates that are encapsulated such as homogenous ammonium nitrate based nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (N-P-K), ammonium nitrate based homogenous (N-P-K) with micronutrients or single nutrient source compounds such as urea.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Controlled release fertilizers maximize the efficiency of nutrients while minimizing the potential risk for negative environmental effects.â&#x20AC;?

Safe

Nitrate contamination of groundwater has become a serious problem in North America. Controlled release fertilizers are intended to maximize the efficiency of nutrients while minimizing the potential risk for negative environmental effects such as leaching and runoff. Excess nutrient runoff from nurseries or farms can end up in streams, rivers, lakes and oceans. In the United States the Clean Water Act was originally enacted in 1948 and totally revised by amendments in 1972. The law was primarily directed at point of source pollution, and amendments in 1987 authorized measures to address non-point sources of pollution, such as storm water runoff from farm lands, golf courses, nurseries or forests. Non-point source pollution includes sediments, pesticides and nutrients. The use of a controlled release fertilizer is appealing from the viewpoint of increasing fertilizer efficiency and minimizing environmental pollution. Soil texture affects how nutrients and water are retained in the soil. Clays and organic soils hold on to nutrients and water longer than sandy soils. As water drains from sandy soils, it often carries nutrients along with it through the soil profile. When nutrients leach through sandy soils, they are not available for use MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

Knowing the Three S’s of CRF

Simple - This wholesale nursery in Hollister, CA grows perennials with controlled release fertilizers at a low rate.

by plants. Sandy soils are extremely vulnerable to nutrient loss through leaching. A research study on the Differential Leaching of Nutrients from Soluble vs. Controlled Release Fertilizers conducted at the Citrus Research and Education Center, University of Florida in 1992 by Ashok K. Alva1 concluded that “controlled release technology offers an important capability for minimizing leaching losses of nutrients.” It doesn’t matter if you are growing ornamental plants in Oregon, strawberries in California or citrus in Florida - the crops you are growing demand the utmost safety and performance. Controlled release fertilizers improve nutrient uptake in crops grown by decreasing the potential of nutrients lost to groundwater.

Simple

Fertilizers have been around for thousands of years to supplement nutrients in growing media. It is widely known that the benefits provided by the additional nutrients may depend on when they are delivered to the growing media and in turn available to plants growing in the media. Sudden delivery of too much fertilizer can be wasteful or even detrimental, causing soluble salt injury to the plants. Delivery of too little fertilizer or delayed fertilizer of an adequate amount may starve plants. 84

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

Tropical Views: An Undiscovered Indoor Rainforest

Safe - This wholesale nursery in Sacramento, CA relies on controlled release fertilizers to decrease nutrient runoff into a nearby creek.

It is beneficial to provide fertilizer that delivers relatively uniform rates of nutrients to the growing media over a period of time. When growing a diverse range of crops growers want to keep their fertilizer program simple while giving the plants the nutrition they need for optimal performance. For a significant amount of the container grown nursery business in the United States, growing “color” has

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

become more common and “Sudden delivery of too much is defined by growing a plant fertilizer can be wasteful or even from start to finish and sold detrimental to plants.” in one season. A research experiment was done in 1999 and 2000 at the Department of Horticultural Fertilizer Count?2 In the experiment, controlled release fertilizers from four Science, Mountain Horticultural Crops Research and Extension Center at North different companies were applied once at the beginning of the experiment with Carolina State University by Richard completely soluble fertilizers applied Bir titled Fast Tracking Color Crops: Does weekly. The fertilizers were applied at three rates so that all plants were fertilized at a rate that was calculated to provide the same amount of nitrogen per pot per month from the different sources of fertilizers for each test species. The conclusion was that “controlled release fertilizers consistently produced the best growth regardless of the company providing the fertilizer.” Twice as much growth on Buddleia ‘Pink Delight’, 2.5 times as much growth for Echinacea ‘Bright Star’ and 1.5 times as much growth for Pennisetum orientale were measured as fresh weight at the end of the experiment from controlled release fertilization. In another experiment titled Slow Release vs. Water Soluble Fertilization Affects Nutrient Leaching and Growth of Potted Chrysanthemum published in the Journal of Plant Nutrition3, Charm

Knowing the Three S’s of CRF and Delano chrysanthemums were planted in a peat-based root medium using standard greenhouse cultural practices. Fertilizer treatments included: (1) alternate liquid fertilizer of a water soluble N-P-K formulation alternated with tap water, (2) constant liquid fertilizer, (3) controlled release fertilizer and (4) slow release tablets. The end result was that the root dry mass was higher for plants that received the controlled release fertilizer, more than double for those that had the constant liquid fertilizer. It was determined that “the resulting larger root system which developed with controlled release fertilizer compared to liquid feed fertilization may be considered an advantage of using a controlled release fertilizer instead of frequent applications of high concentrations of soluble fertilizers”. Some growers can grow 300 to 400 different varieties of flowering annuals and perennial plants. In those types of situations, it may be difficult to try to determine the best rate of controlled release fertilizer for each variety. One must look at maximizing nutrient efficiency as well as monetary payback to the grower. Rates and type of controlled release fertilizers could be determined by container size, longevity of the crop grown, or crop similarities. Sometimes additional controlled release fertilizer or water soluble fertilizers maybe needed to maximize crop growth.

Sensible

Growers are demanding more from their fertilizers today than just a source of plant nutrients. They want reliable products that can help them move plants to market quicker with better quality at a lower cost. Using controlled release fertilizer makes sense, because they have the ability to keep nutrients available to the crop

“Growers will also save money on labor, equipment and the cost of repeated fertilizer applications.”

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

during its life cycle. There is greater nutrient uptake efficiency to the plant using a controlled release fertilizer, and more nutrients are protected from loss since they are metered out daily. The use of water soluble fertilizers can result in the loss of nutrients through leaching, volatilization and immobilization in soils. Controlled release fertilizers allow the maximum amount of nutrients to be taken up by the plant, and reduce lost nutrients due to leaching or volatilization. Growers will also save money on labor, equipment and the cost of repeated fertilizer applications. Additionally they will have peace of mind knowing they are using a product benefiting the environment. The technology being utilized today to encapsulate fertilizers is state-of-the-art, which has been refined over the last five decades. Growers who utilize these controlled release fertilizer technologies are achieving results that go beyond a plantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nutritional needs, they are achieving results that impact their MY bottom line as well. Footnotes 1. Ashok K . vs. ControAlva, Differential Center, U lled Release FertilizLeaching of Nutrie niversity o n f Florida ers, Citrus Researc ts from Soluble h and Edu 1992. 2. Richard cation B Dept. of Hir, Fast Tracking C o o Research rticultural Scien lor Crops: Does F University and Extension Cent ce, Mountain Horticertilizer Count? , 1999-20 er at Nort u 00. h Carolinaltural Crops State 3. Christo ph Suave, Sloer J. Catanzaro, K Nutrient w Release vs. Wat imberly A. William published Leaching and Grow er Soluble Fertilizas and Roger J. in the Jou t rnal of Plah of Potted Chrysation Affects n nt Nutrit ion Vol. 21,themum No. 5, 199 8.

This is Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first article for Maximum Yield. Stay tuned to maximumyield.com for more of his first-rate features.

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

Who Really Runs the Show? The Effect of Plants on Human Beings

by Luis Bartolo The effects and consequences of humans on plants, animals and the environment is something that is often written about. But, have you ever wondered how plants affect humans? One thing is certain, this relationship is complex; we are simply an element in nature just as plants are elements in nature and interaction exists. But, is that interaction positive or negative? You are about to find out. Plants and people have an intimate connection that evolves around sustainable, environmental and social-psychological parameters. Indeed there are many factors that make plants an important resource to local communities and individuals. The interests of farmers, policy makers, the pharmaceutical industry, 90

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

industrialists, biodiversity conservationists, local cultural groups and hobby growers alike relate, in some form, to plants. All cultures depend on plants in different ways, without exception. The academic discipline that deals with peopleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s interactions with plants is called Ethnobotany. As a unit of an ecological study, the definition of Ethnobotany is varied but there are some common elements in the concept. It is broadly defined as the study of the relationship between plants and people. Similar to the major necessities of life, we may not realize how important plants are until we no longer have them. So, how do plants really affect us?

Environmentally Replenishing O2 supply: Using the sunâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s energy, plants convert carbon dioxide and water into simple sugars and oxygen through the process of photosynthesis. Along with carbon dioxide, plants also need water, which is gathered by the plantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s roots to make food. The stomata allow oxygen to be released through this process. Oxygen is an important exchange for all living things; plants take in carbon dioxide and give off the oxygen that we need to breathe. Preventing soil erosion: The roots of vegetation, trees, ground cover, shrubs and other plants hold soil in place on the ground. Soil will not blow away due to wind, or be washed away from rain as easily. MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

Who Really Runs the Show?

Chicago skyline

Cooling buildings and neighborhoods: In a city like Chicago where more than 700 people died during a July ’95 heat wave, one benefit of green roofs that is clearly important is their capacity to mitigate the “urban heat island effect” that makes cities hotter than surrounding suburbs. Higher urban temperatures derive from mile after mile of concrete and other heat-absorbing materials; in contrast, the plants on green roofs cool the air and reduce ozone formation.

Socially and Aesthetically • improve property value • provide a sense of community • foster sense of well-being • provide aesthetically-pleasing environments What about the stress relief that plants provide? Studies have proven that plants provide relief to sick people in hospitals and boost life satisfaction for humans in general. Hospital gardens, an atrium in a business center, a small fountain with fauna in a busy shopping mall; we owe it to society and to ourselves to investigate this more. When workers catch a view of natural surroundings like trees and flowers they suffer less job stress and feel more satisfaction. They also report fewer headaches and ailments than workers with no outside view or those who only have the benefit of a view from an office window. Overall positive feelings increase; fear and anger is reduced when views of plants are possible. In inner-city neighborhoods where common areas feature more trees

"Plants take in carbon dioxide and give off the oxygen that we need to breathe." and grass, the space provides more opportunities for informal conversation and social interaction. Neighbors build stronger relationships and bonds with one another simply because of the plant-filled environment and vegetation. Beyond these benefits are the physical and emotional advantages that people have with plants. Growth, development and change become visible and are experienced through immediate physical contact while practicing in a garden. New experiences can be initiated.Verbal and more still, non-verbal communication play an important role.

Horticultural Therapy(which empowers disabled people to enjoy and experience contact in a meaningful way) is a process using horticultural activities to advance body, mind and soul and improve well-being. It is an effective method for all ages independent of their physical skills and social heritage. Investigating and documenting these responses is at the heart of what people-plant interaction is about in order to understand and communicate the importance of plants in society. So these were the benefits and here comes the tricky question. How different are we? Surprisingly, in findings that some might find reminiscent of science fiction, scientists have shown for the first time that humans and plants share a common pathogen recognition pathways as part of their innate immune systems. Although there is an obvious significant genetic crossover between plants and mammals, very little is known about this common human-plant regulatory pathway. Scientists speculate that certain protein regulatory structures might exist in both plants and humans simply because they do the same thing in much the same way. Therefore, we too depend on nature in countless ways. Without plants weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d have no oxygen to breath. Without growing, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d have no food to eat. Everything we make and use comes from nature. Plants are nature, we are nature. MY More articles from Luis Bartolo can be found by visiting maximumyield.com

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

Unraveling Indoor Gardening’s Silent Epidemic by Daniel Wilson

Long since the introduction of organophosphates in the early 1900s, farmers and gardeners have become accustomed to the convenient and complete annihilation of plant pests. But it wasn’t until the Green Revolution in the 1950s that the wholesale roll-out of these toxins took center stage on farms and gardens all around the world.

Thanks in large part to the proliferation of petroleum-based synthetic nutrients, crops began producing unprecedented yields. Unfortunately, plant pest populations also increased thanks to the lush growth provided by this new source of plant nourishment. It was this explosion in pest populations that drove the widespread use of organophosphates and other toxics as a means of controlling potentially detrimental pest activity. And not surprisingly, like all genies once let out of their bottle, the use of these non-specific neurotoxins skyrocketed. Today you can walk into any big box store and you’ll find a plethora of complex chemical pest and disease controls to do your bidding. Many of these patented formulas are adorned with misleading labels encouraging their use in the garden as a means of keeping your veggies clean and safe from pests. Just a stroll down the Pest Death aisle and you might find yourself with a headache or watering eyes. But don’t be surprised; these indiscriminate killers are just as toxic to you and me as they are to the insect kingdom.

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

Problem is we’ve just started to unlock the mysterious world of the living genomes and one thing seems certain, we are far more alike our insect counterparts than we are different. So with this said it seems that the likelihood of ridding the garden of pests while avoiding creating a toxic environment for ourselves, our pets and our world is pretty slim. As a result of our ever-increasing desensitization to the use of toxic chemicals, there’s been a sharp increase in the application of extremely toxic pesticides in food and medicinal herb production. These complex chemical compounds are being recommended for use in a variety of applications that should cause us all a great deal of alarm. Unfortunately it's only when the government raises a red flag, as with DDT in the ‘70s and Methyl Bromide in the ‘90s, that we even hesitate before we dose. The sad fact of the matter is that even these governmental restrictions fail to convince people of the dangers lurking in the food chain when we use these killing tools.

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

Unraveling Indoor Gardening’s Silent Epidemic

So What’s the Problem with the Answer? Indoor gardeners are a very resourceful and determined group of humans. When posed with an obstacle it is commonplace for a solution to be unconventional, and more often than not it's something intended to suit the needs of other more mainstream end-users. Indoor gardeners rely on their local shops to offer them solutions to a wide array of pest problems from fungus gnats and white flies to pythium and fusarium. But the pest that brings growers the most grief is without a doubt the two spotted spidermite and more recently the "Mendo" mite. These tiny plant vampires wreak havoc on plants by sucking away chlorophyll and Spidermites dehydrating plants, making them much weaker and more susceptible to disease. It's in response to this threat that growers of all sorts have began to compromise their own health in an effort to rid their gardens of what in many cases is a crop failure in waiting. And though there are a wide variety of tools like neem preparations, pyrethrins, essential oil blends and beneficial insects, the restricted toxics have once again taken center stage.

"Due to the availability of harmful pesticides, more and more gardeners are being turned on to what is basically the right tool for the wrong job."

One commonly recommended poison has made a name for itself as a total and instant kill miticide. The active ingredient Abamectin is the by-product of a fermentation process from the bacterium Streptomyces avermitilis. This toxin’s mode of action is the induction of insect paralysis and subsequent death due to starvation. The product label and MSDS sheets clearly state that it is approved for “ornamental” use only. Unfortunately the majority of growers seeking out controls in retail garden shops are growing food. This simple oversight has led to many being exposed to what even the manufacturer would recommend against. And though extremely effective, this microbiological derivative is often mistaken as a natural control given its relationship with the aforementioned micro-organisms. This unfortunately plays into the misconception that if it’s organically-derived it is somehow less harmful to mammals…wrong. 96

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

Here’s a list of a few other “organic” organisms you may be familiar with: cholera, anthrax, small pox, malaria, stacchy botris. Any of these ring a bell? Here’s the bottom line: we currently have a silent epidemic amongst the indoor garden industry. Due to the availability of harmful pesticides, more and more gardeners are being turned on to what is basically the right tool for the wrong job. The new pesticide paradigm has the misinformed retailer exposing the less informed gardener and eventually the oblivious end-user to what equates to a slow poisoning and toxification through second hand exposure. This exposure is especially bad when fruits/flowers are ingested, or worse, when applied to plants with naturally occurring essential oils, which tend to encapsulate the poison until volatized into a gaseous form by heat.

"In a world where we all live downstream from someone, do unto others…" The reality is that in an industry that services the food movement we’ve turned a blind eye to those who’ve chosen to intoxicate as opposed to educate. It’s clear that in the face of a mite outbreak growers are looking for the absolute answer. In a world where mites are considered the ultimate garden menace, who would you listen to, the person with a multitiered IPM approach or the person with the quick fix? What this has led to is the widespread dissemination of extremely poisonous chemicals. Another Inconvenient Truth But now we're faced with an even more disturbing trend, and that’s the completely aware retailers and growers that differentiate their products by whether or not it’s for personal or commercial consumption. The idea that toxic chemicals are acceptable if it’s commercial products is arguably the biggest problem facing the world’s entire industrial food chain. It seems that now it has found its way into what had previously been a very conscious and thoughtful community of small farmers and gardeners. An organically - derived product doen't always equal a safe product.

Unraveling Indoor Gardening’s Silent Epidemic

The sad fact of the matter is that the eaters and end-users are the ones whom pay the ultimate price. And for those with compromised immune systems and terminal ailments the addition of these neurotoxins and endocrine disrupters can be the difference between life and death. Sadly, since the pervasive nature of these chemical compounds lends to subtle side effects, it’s hard to know when you’ve been exposed. This unfortunately makes the covert use of this pesticide that much easier for those growers that decide to hide the use of it. So for those of you out there considering what to use to fight those tiny spiders remember this: in a world where we all live downstream from someone, do unto others as…you know the rest. What You Can Do As a means of controlling what has turned into a full-scale crisis, here are some things we can all do to bring this subject into focus: Learn! It’s in the absence of knowledge that we are the most susceptible to misinformation. Gardening and farming is a lifelong journey and information is the proverbial fuel for your vehicle. The more information we seek out and share, the further our journey will take us. Hold your mentors accountable. Whether it’s a professor or a retail shop staffer, be inquisitive. If you’ve been recommended something your not familiar with be sure the person recommending it actually knows what’s really up. To often the phrase “bro it works, trust me” is all it takes to get you to make the purchase. Expect more. If it’s sold under the counter you might end up six feet under. Though it may seem like your being done a favor, this under-the-counter fix is often more like a Trojan horse. More often than not there’s a valid reason you don’t have access to this miracle quick fix. Anyone naïve enough to sell a restricted product is probably not looking out for your best interest. Be your brother’s keeper. Take great care in what you decide to use on your garden. The sacred art of gardening is not something to be balanced like a profit and loss sheet, be thoughtful of the things you can’t see.

Remember pests are part of nature and if you see them on your food, chances are it is pesticide free. That's a good thing.

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

"Gardening and farming is a lifelong journey and information is the proverbial fuel for your vehicle." Be more tolerant. Pests are a part of nature as much as the crop you are farming. It’s due to our intolerance of mite damage that there’s been a movement towards pest free at all costs. Fact is, if you see pests on what you’re consuming its likely pesticide free, and remember that’s good stuff. Report the illegal sales of controlled pesticides to your local agriculture department. This is not snitching it’s a public service. Do your part. Why Grey is the New Black and White In the world of IPM there is an understanding that no tools are off the table when necessity calls for results. If using a highly toxic pesticide is the means to an end then be sure to practice safe and thorough application techniques. Always wear protective gear (respirator, goggles, etc.) when applying pesticides and make it count. Dipping plants when young then following up with natural practices can eliminate problems and help avoid needing more acute controls in the future. But most importantly be accountable. If you feel the need to use restricted chemicals in your garden seek out the proper retailers and work closely with them. And if it's necessary to achieve specific certifications before using something, take the time to seek out the training. If you take your garden seriously enough to use professional tools than take responsibility and educate yourself. MY

Visit www.maximumyield.com for a few of Daniel's tips staying on top potential pest populations.

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

TIPS &

g n i t n e v Pre o t g n i t c a e R and tricks

Green Algae

by Matt LeBannister

There are many problems gardeners face, beginner and advanced growers alike. Most advanced gardeners have faced the annoyance of algae growing in their reservoirs and rockwool cubes. There are over 6000 species of algae and they range in color from brown, to green, red, etc. Green algae is the most common algae that will invade indoor-gardens, hydroponic gardens especially. Green algae will rob nutrients from plants and will clog pumps, sprayers and drippers of hydroponic systems. Many insects and their larvae also feed on green algae and can lead to bigger problems and infestations. Beginners, when faced with the problem of preventing and reacting to algae problems, may feel lost and overwhelmed by the situation. Prevention, such as cleaning equipment between crop rotations, is the best way to keep a garden safe from this grow room pest. Most types of algae need nutrients, light, and a moist environment. The easiest way to prevent algae from growing is to stop light from entering reservoirs, N.F.T. tunnels, grow cubes, and any other surface that is moist and containing nutrients. The best way to block light out of reservoirs is to keep it covered by a lid. If a lid is not available lightproof plastic is a suitable solution. The best lightproof plastic is white on the outside to reflect light away and black on the inside to absorb any light rays that might get through. This same process can be done to cover hydroponic tables to keep algae from growing on cubes and roots. The simplest way to do this is to stretch the black and white plastic tight across the hydroponic table before placing the rockwool cubes, mesh pots or whichever growing medium your clones or seedlings will be transplanted into. Once the plastic is stretched

over the medium, a small cut can be made so the plant can be transplanted will minimal damage to the plastic. This way as little light as possible will reach the medium and root zone preventing any algae growth there. To control the outbreak of green algae use hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). This is added to reservoirs in hydroponic systems or added to nutrient solutions as part of a top watering routine. Hydrogen peroxide will corrode algae to kill them, but this must be used every watering to be effective. When peroxide comes into contact with algae and other undesirables in the water, an oxygen molecule will break off and bond to the algae. When there are no more algae left to bond to, the extra oxygen molecule will still break down and provide oxygen to the roots. After the oxygen molecule breaks off of the compound hydrogen peroxide (H2O2,) you are left with water (H2O). One must take care when using hydrogen peroxide, because it is highly corrosive. Wear eye and hand protection when applying to be safe. Hydrogen peroxide can also damage young roots and should not be used on seedlings or clones. There are many products known as algaecides that are available to combat algae infestations, but they are not recommended. These algaecides are dangerous to plants, because the active ingredients used to combat the algae can also destroy healthy roots and plant tissue. The potential benefits of algaecides are not worth the risks they pose to the healthy plants they are meant to protect. Green algae infestations are a constant nuisance once they infiltrate growing mediums and hydroponic systems. By taking protective measures against algae gardeners can prevent the problem from ever starting. MY For more articles by Matt LeBannister visit maximumyield.com and search our author archive.

100

Maximum Yield Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x201A; |â&#x20AC;&#x201A; January / February 2010

zoo-ponics

A wide range of zoo species will benefit from the fresh hydroponic greens grown on site.

by Dr. Lynette Morgan

The Verticrop Hydroponic System at Paignton Zoo Hydroponic plants can enrich the lives of animals just as they do humans, and what better place to exhibit this than at a zoo. Paignton Zoo Environmental Park in Devon, UK, recently hosted the official opening of the Verticrop vertical hydroponic farming system, developed by Valcent EU. The idea of growing fresh food for the animals on-site originated from discussions between Kevin Frediani, curator of plants and gardens at Paignton Zoo, and Valcent Products (EU) Ltd., based in Launceston, who was developing a vertical hydroponic system for high intensity cropping. Space within the zoo was tight and at a premium, so options for on-site fresh food production were severely limited until the vertical cropping was introduced by Valcent. Within a small area in the middle of the zoo, which was formally a goat paddock, a 395 square foot greenhouse was erected in May 2009 and the system began installation in August. By the time of the opening on September 30, an impressive growth rate had ensured some sizeable lettuce was ready for viewing and for taste testing by the zoo occupants. 102

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

With an annual bill for animal feed currently in excess of $300,000 a year, it is the hope of management the high intensity Verticrop system will not only produce ultra fresh produce on-site, but also reduce both food miles and food costs for the zoo. Lettuce has been the initial trial crop for the Verticrop system, with many animals enjoying the fresh crunch of crispy green leaves. The zoo currently goes through 800 lettuce heads per week, $12,000 worth of fruit per month and also uses fresh herbs as enrichment for many species. Later on it’s planned that the hydroponic system will have more diversity of crops; currently small volumes of basil and other leafy greens are being trialed. The Verticrop system comprises 10 feet tall, multi-level growing trays, which are suspended from an overhead track. Each ‘rig’ consists of eight levels of growing channels or ‘trays’ of which there are two different sizes to accommodate various crops. Each growing tray, which has been purpose built for the Verticrop system, has a nutrient delivery funnel through which nutrients are dosed at the feeding station. The unique thing about this vertical system is that the rigs are suspended on a closed loop conveyor and in motion around the greenhouse track. Each circuit takes approximately 40 minutes with groups of rigs stopping at the dosing station on each round where nutrient solution is delivered via nozzles to the growing trays. The 395 square foot greenhouse has the capacity to grow 11,200 lettuce heads using the Verticrop system, compared to 4,332 in conventional systems. One unique aspect of the Verticrop system is that trays are in continual motion via a conveyor system.

Verticrop system side view showing full 10 foot height of the rigs.

"The 395 square foot greenhouse has the capacity to grow 11,200 lettuce heads using the Verticrop system, compared to 4,332 in conventional systems."

The first taste of zoo grown lettuce.

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

103

Zoo-Ponics: The Verticrop Hydroponic System at Paignton Zoo

Rigs of trays glide around the corners at each end of the greenhouse.

Each growing tray contains a nutrient feeding funnel.

104

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

The overhead track system allows the rigs of trays to move slowly around the greenhouse to and from the nutrient dosing station.

Nutrient solution flows through the trays, past the plant roots and is channeled to the end were it is collected and drained away for recirculation. The movement of the stacks or rigs of trays, filled with lettuce plants, "Hemosiderosis is a worldwide around the greenhouse to the nutrient problem in zoos where certain delivery bay is a feature of the system animals are no longer dining on the which has great audience appeal as the many spectators who pass the greenhouse food of their native habitats." in the midst of the zoo grounds are testament to. The system features not only new technology in terms of rigs, conveyors, tray loading machinery and customized growing channels, but also incorporates high technology growing greenhouse equipment such as UV nutrient treatment, filters and automated nutrient and greenhouse control. A â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;touchscreenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; monitor linked to a Priva computer gives control over the nutrient dosing, greenhouse ventilation and the conveyor system. This system allows groups of growing trays to receive different irrigation programs so that young seedlings or different species can be dosed with fewer nutrients than those rigs containing larger plants. The Priva system also controls the under floor heating system. Another interesting feature of the Verticrop system is the custom made tray handler, which allows the growing trays to be loaded and unloaded from the rigs, four at a time; this should allow for commercial Verticrop systems to become fully automated. Based upon technology originally developed in the Valcent Groupâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s research centre in El-Paso, Texas, much of the current success of the system can be attributed to Valcent's UK team led by horticultural development manager Grahame Dunling, who with many years of experience as a grower and manager

"The food grown on-site can be harvested and fed out immediately, guaranteeing the animals have salads fresher than most zoo-goers will ever experience."

was fully aware of the challenges involved in designing high intensity solution culture systems. Grahame's knowledge and expertise saw the development of customized growing trays, which are a unique feature of the system and has made the many modifications and improvements required to get the Verticrop system fully operational. Along with customized growing trays, the system will incorporate the use of the latest technology in soilless growing media. Because the final product is destined to be fed, roots and all, to the animals, the media used to raise and support the seedlings needs to be suitable for this purpose. Rockwool has been avoided for this reason, and it is intended that hydroponic seedling media made from a cellulose fiber derived from wood is to be used, which can be fed to the animals once the crop is harvested. While growth through summer in the multi-level system has been rapid, it is planned to trial LED supplemental lighting as the season progresses into the shorter days and lower light levels of the UK winter.Valcent has been working in association with Philips to trial new LED technology, which is hoped will lead to the development of a commercially viable lighting arrangement for the Verticrop system.

Kevin Frediani, Curator of plants and gardens at Paignton Zoo, shows off some of the first harvest.

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

105

Zoo-Ponics: The Verticrop Hydroponic System at Paignton Zoo

Grahame Dunling (right) explains details of the Verticrop system at the official opening in September.

"Manipulations of the nutrient solution and environment could enhance the fiber, vitamin and beneficial nutrient levels and phytonutrients in the fresh greens."

Initially several varieties of butterhead and loose leaf lettuce were trialed to determine which would produce the best `fodder cropâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; for the zoo animals. While hydroponic lettuce destined for supermarkets and consumers needs to meet specific qualities of long shelf life, compact heads and acceptable weight, fresh produce for the animals is a little different. The vegetables, herbs and other produce grown on-site can be harvested and fed out immediately, guaranteeing the animals have salads fresher than most zoo-goers will ever experience. While there might be less of a concern over extended shelf life and compact heads, there is interest from zoo staff and researchers in using the system to not only enrich the lives of the animals with fresh produce, but also to manipulate the nutritional quality of the vegetables being grown in the Verticrop system. With hydroponics and protected growing environments, there is much more control over plant nutrition than there is with soil grown crops. Starting with a base of good quality water, the nutrient solution can be manipulated to influence the compositional quality of the hydroponic crop and whether this is for animals or for improving human nutrition it is an idea which has increasing appeal to many. Kevin Frediani, curator of plants and gardens at Paignton Zoo is particularly interested in the nutritional quality of fresh fodder and is hoping that the Verticrop system can be used to address problems such as `hemosiderosisâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in zoo animals. Hemosiderosis is a worldwide problem in zoos where certain animals, who are no longer dining on the food of their native habitats, end up consuming too much iron, which ends up stored in body tissues. This iron builds up in organs such as the liver where it stays permanently and causes severe tissue damage over time. While 106

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

Grahame Dunling, Valcentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Horticultural Development Manager has largely been responsible for the final design of the Verticrop system.

zoo animals can be fed commercial premixes low in iron, the fresh fruits and vegetables fed to many animals as part or all of their diet typically contain more iron than is needed. With fruit, vegetables and herbs being an important part of not only captive animals diets, but as part of the enrichment and activity programs, the issue of iron levels and hemosiderosis can become widespread in some species. This problem is further compounded at Paignton Zoo as vegetables grown locally in the deep red, iron rich soils of Devon are higher than normal in iron, and in general commercially-grown vegetables worldwide produced with soil fertilizer additions would be expected to have higher iron contents than the vegetation many zoo animals consumed in their native environments. With hydroponic systems and starting with RO, distilled or rainwater (free from naturally occurring iron in the water supply) it is relatively simple to lower iron in the solution to levels where plant iron deficiency and growth reductions are Happy customers sampling the first of the hydroponic crop.

"One of the most exciting aspects of the Verticrop system installed at Paignton Zoo is that is it is effectively bringing hydroponics to the people."

limited, but the resulting tissue has minimal iron levels, making it more suitable to animals prone to development hemosiderosis. Further manipulations of the nutrient solution and environment could see improvements in dry weight, fiber, vitamin and beneficial nutrient levels, phytonutrients, chlorophyll and other health related factors in the fresh greens that are difficult or impossible to achieve with commercially prepared dried animal feeds. One of the most exciting aspects of the Verticrop system installed at Paignton Zoo is that is it is effectively `taking hydroponics to the people,’ zoo-goers can walk around the outside of the greenhouse and view the plants moving and growing in situ. This is particularly relevant to Paignton Zoo which is also a botanic garden keen to education people about all aspects of horticulture and the impact on our environment of crop production. Public viewings of large scale hydroponics are rare and while many people are aware of soilless culture, few have the option of seeing high intensity crops growing in real life. At a later date, a web cam installed on the greenhouse ceiling will provide a live feed on the zoo’s website, allowing visitors ongoing viewing of plant progress. Good publicity regarding hydroponics is always a bonus and at Paignton Zoo; healthy lettuce at all stages of development can be seen and the story of how the animal’s lives are enriched by on-site fresh produce is told. The fact that the Verticrop system is the first high intensity vertical hydroponic system of its kind installed in a zoo anywhere in the world makes it a great addition to Paignton Zoo’s attractions.

MY Resources: Paignton Zoo Environmental Park (www.paigntonzoo.org.uk) (www.paigntonzoo.org.uk/news-events/news-detail.php?id=167) Valcent products (eu) limited (www.valcent.eu)

Can’t get any fresher than this.

Monkeys and elephants and lions – oh my! Additional views of the vertical hydroponic system and the animals that feed off it are available on maximumyield.com

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

107

GREEN THUMB

gardening

How to Start Gardening Early in the Year One of the main problems with outdoor gardening in a temperate climate is that the gardeners tend to be all warmed up long before they garden. Whilst the garden is still sleeping through the winter chill, the gardener is cozy inside - reading gardening books and thumbing through seed catalogs, hatching new plans for the garden this season. So even before the first signs of spring arrive, the gardener is itching to do some gardening. The first pangs of withdrawal can be countered by tending to the house plants. They need watering and feeding, possibly even pruning and re-potting so that that they will be ready for a growth spurt in spring. And if you're really lucky then you can spend some time taking cuttings, collecting seeds and potting up offshoots - propagating new house plants to fill empty spaces in your house or those of friends and family. Kitchen gardeners can spend the winter sprouting seeds on the kitchen counter - anything from mustard and cress right through to ultra-healthy broccoli sprouts and wheat grass. The only problem with that is, beyond rinsing twice a day, sprouts don't need much attention.

House plants often need feeding, pruning or even re-potting to get them ready for growth in the spring.

108

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

A greenhouse is the ideal environment to store winter-hardy plants that will keep the gardener busy through until spring.

The real gardening starts about a month before the last frost date. Whatever your passion, kitchen gardening or ornamental â&#x20AC;&#x201C; now is the time that the spring seed sowing starts. All of the windowsills in the house fill with seed trays and burgeoning life. Tomatoes? A nice sunny, south-facing spot will be good for them. They'll have to battle it out with the peppers for space. Early lettuce? They'll be better in a cooler spot. Hardy annuals? I'll put those out in the porch. And while I remember, it's time to set the cold frame up outside so that I have somewhere to harden off all these seedlings. If you can get hold of a greenhouse (buy, beg or fashion your own out of scrap materials) then now is the time to do so you'll open up a new world of early sowing opportunities. And even if you don't heat it, there are hardy plants that will grow through the winter in a cold greenhouse and provide harvests for the kitchen and keep the gardener busy. And if you're really sneaky, then you'll have done some of your sowing in the midst of winter. Winter sowing is great for seeds that need a cold period to encourage them to germinate, and seeds of hardy plants that will germinate as soon as spring is on the way.You see the real secret to start gardening early in the year is never stop for the winter. About the Author Emma Cooper is the voice of the Alternative Kitchen Garden podcast and writes about kitchen gardening and environmental issues. An edible plant geek, she tries to grow her own food sustainably with the help of a reluctant husband and two pet chickens.Visit http://coopette.com for more information. MY

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

109

Plant Obesity:

Choosing Higher Yields over Healthy Crops

Food is not what it used to be. The limitations of language prevent us from collectively recognizing it as anything else, but a processed TV dinner does not and cannot replace living whole foods. Think about it, all food was completely intact and untouched by industrialization as little as 100 years ago. Instead of being used as a tool to work within nature, modern “science” has been used as a means to outmaneuver her, and what an astonishing job we have done. 110

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

by Evan Folds

For instance, a study of 45 corn varieties developed from 1920 to 2001 found that concentrations of proteins, oil and three important amino acids have all declined in the newer varieties. Similarly, six minerals have declined by 22-39 per cent in 14 widely grown wheat varieties developed over the past 100

years. We may think we are being healthy when we eat our broccoli, but USDA nutrient data shows that the calcium content of broccoli has dropped from 12.9 milligrams dry weight in 1950 to only 4.4 milligrams in 2003. (Full Study: “Declining Fruit and Vegetable Nutrient Composition,” HortScience, 2009; 44:15)

"We may think we are being healthy when we eat our broccoli, but the calcium content of broccoli has dropped from 12.9 milligrams dry weight in 1950 to only 4.4 milligrams in 2003." The two forces at work on crops are what are called the “environmental dilution effect” and the “genetic dilution effect.” Researchers have known since the 1940s that an emphasis on empty fertilizers results in cheaper food that is devoid of minerals, but our economic system is driven by volume and shelf life, not nutritional value. We cannot see nutrient density in food, so a bushel of corn fortified with more minerals than the next bushel sells for the same or less as the empty corn right next to it and further down the spiral we go. The economic incentive associated with the volume of food produced trumps the reason we are actually growing the food in the first place. The genetic dilution effect is a result of the environmental dilution effect. Farmers and plant breeders caught up in a system that pays them for the amount of physical food they produce develop high-yielding varieties without a primary focus on nutrient density.

In most modern fruits and vegetables around 80-90 per cent of the dry weight are carbohydrates, much higher than it should be relative to the amount of protein. Dr. William Albrecht provides evidence for the importance of this in his book Soil Fertility & Animal Health. The human coercion of food has occurred on so many different levels that it leaves no smoking gun. However, there are examples that serve to illustrate our misguided ways. One reason our food is empty is an overemphasis of elements such as nitrogen (N) or potassium (K), which both give a strong growth and yield response, at the expense of elements such as calcium (Ca) or phosphorous (P). In order to grow strong bones and teeth we need high levels of Ca and P, not high levels of N and K. In his landmark book Nutrition and Physical Degeneration, Weston Price proved that traditional diets had five times the Ca and P as a modern diet of industrially-grown processed foods, resulting in significant reductions in dental decay and developmental abnormalities. Consider this: a plant has a limited reservoir of potential to take up nutrition. In the same way that the negatively charged soil has a finite ability to hold onto cations (or + charged elements, see ‘cation exchange capacity’) a plant is also restricted in its ability to take up only a certain volume of positively charged elements.You can’t fit five gallons of water in a one gallon bucket can you? Ca is taken up far slower than K by plants. In an experiment with alfalfa it was found that the Ca:K ratio of 32:1 in the soil resulted in only a 3:1 ratio in the plant and it turns out that plants can take up more K than they need for optimum yields and nutrient density. When this happens it doesn’t leave room for the other cations (Ca+, Mg+, Na+, Cu+, MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

111

Plant Obesity: Choosing Higher Yields over Healthy Crops

"Traditional diets had five times the calcium and phosphorous as a modern diet of industriallygrown processed foods." Zn+, Fe+, trace+, etc.). Similarly, the major anions (- charged elements) appear to have the same sum-total limits on anion saturation, so P uptake is equally manipulated by the overuse of nitrate (NO3-) based fertilizers common in gardening and farming. The result is empty food. We’ve established that it is necessary to provide plants a broader range of mineral elements in order for them to attain a higher nutrient density and be the vitamin they are designed to be, but it turns out the picture is much larger. Complete nutrition is not only important in regards to the plant itself, it involves an ecosystem. In fact, by focusing on the plant at the expense of the ecosystem, we sell short all of the varying means of symbiotic assistance plants have available to them, namely the help of micro-organisms. Micro-organisms are vital to our existence, not only in building soil and helping to produce our food, but in helping us digest our food and protecting us from disease from enemy microbes, same as they do for plants. A teaspoon of good compost will easily have over a billion

organisms and, similarly, a human not taking antibiotics has more foreign cells from micro-organisms in and on our bodies than we do human cells. It has been determined that plants actually use upwards of 40 elements, much more than the 16 or so we have defined “essential,” but the idea of “essential nutrients” does not apply at all to microbes; they utilize literally all of them. For instance, it has been established that over half of the energy a plant creates for itself is exuded though its roots to

"Complete nutrition is not only important in regards to the plant itself, it involves an ecosystem."

112

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

attract specific microbes via what are carry out their true genetic expression called exudates. This means that when without all the tools necessary to carry there are specific mineral deficiencies out the communication. What if you or pathogenic organisms present in and hired someone to build your house and around plants they have the ability to only gave them half the tools? If they attract the specific microbes necessary could build the house at all, it will take to aid them in the deficiency or disease. them a heck of a long time! All of this intelligence is lost when we Big picture, any living organism, are not considering microbiology in including humans, cannot operate at regards to plant growth. Even if we are maximum efficiency without access to actively encouraging the biology in our all of the physical elements. Cells are the plant growing situations, we are limiting bottom line in life. When we operate on the potential of this biological response the level of mere “essential nutrients” we by not allowing are feeding them fast food. "Any living organism, This doesn’t kill them, as the microbes all including humans, of the physical it doesn’t kill us, but we elements to work are selling ourselves short. cannot operate at with. A plant maximum efficiency Trace elements govern may only use 40 without access to all of the potential of health for elements, but the physical elements." living organisms and all of the microbes them are needed for health. that protect and help it eat use every In short, gardening without all possible single element to manifest the amino elements at our disposal is degeneration acids, hormones, enzymes and various and the result of pest infestations, weeds metabolic compounds that allow it to in our landscapes and disease. perform its duty. Everyone knows that health is derived This concept can be proven by doing a from what you eat, not how much of it. simple experiment brewing compost tea. The hydroponics community is awash Conduct a side-by-side experiment using in stimulants and amendments designed a biologically balanced compost with a to make plants grow bigger/stronger/ food source such as fish emulsion, kelp or molasses. Expose these ingredients to oxygen by using an air stone in each bucket using similar amounts of water. After setting up the experiment and ensuring that the exact same ingredients are used in both variables, include one tablespoon per five gallons of water of a biodynamically enhanced micronutrient in one container and not in the other. After only a couple of hours you will be able to see the enhanced biomass in the micronutrient-treated solution with the naked eye. The organisms can simply do more of what they want to do given all of the means to do it. Consider that micro-organisms use each element as a primer to carry out the communication delivered from its genetic code and to build the compounds necessary for them to do their work (and to benefit your plants). In all reality, no organism can

Cauliflower field.

faster, but it’s time we take a look at plant growth from a plants perspective. An obese plant may give us a higher yield, but in the end is it working in our favor? MY Find Evan Fold's articles from the past year on maximumyield.com in our author archive.

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

113

TALKING SHOP

“When you walk through the doors of The Wizard’s Garden, you’re enveloped in a warm, friendly and professional atmosphere.” AT A GLANCE Company: The Wizard`s Garden LLC Owners: Ed and Michelle Raminez Location: 621Spruce Street, Unit C, Myrtle Point, OR Phone: 541-572-2333 Email: thewizardsgarden@yahoo.com Web: www.wizardsgarden.com Motto: “Make magic wherever you grow.”

114

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

Our young business started in April of 2009. Much work was involved and funds were limited, but we had the support and help of family, and bucket loads of determination. It was a bold move opening a shop in a depressed economy, but we went for it. We rented a vacant 2500 square foot auto parts shop in downtown Myrtle Point, Oregon. Myrtle is a quaint town that has suffered for several years from the closure of logging businesses, leaving many empty storefronts. The store we rented sat empty for four years, and needed lots of work and love, and slowly we have converted it into what is now The Wizard’s Garden.

Michelle and Ed Raminez

We brightened up the building with custom graphics and paint. It was spring, Oregon’s most glorious season, with bright colors, strong smells and the melodic sounds of nature, so we opened our doors before we were really ready. People responded with enthusiasm immediately. We were a sight for sore eyes for growers who would no longer have to drive 45-60+ minutes to reach a hydroponic shop and new growers who were eager to experiment with this new form of growing. Myrtle Point proudly hosts the Coos County Fairgrounds, and competition is fierce on who has the biggest and best fruits and vegetables. Although we did not win, we provided unique heirloom tomatoes and other starters that were unavailable at the local big box stores. We provide only rare and heirloom plant varieties, grown with no pesticides, with only quality products, an achievement we are truly proud of. We are anxious again to provide our starters at the 2010 competition, and have already received requests for our plants.

Our love of gardening was what prompted us to open our shop first and foremost. We had a great desire to show people how to grow organically all year long without the use of harmful pesticides. We were eager to show people that gardening does not have to be limited by seasons. Our shop has turned into a social rest spot where many gather not just to shop, but to hang out and converse on a variety of topics. Building on this scene, we have decided to incorporate a juice bar for 2010. We will offer fresh wheatgrass shots grown in-store. The store evolves daily, and we try to provide cutting edge products that we discover in Maximum Yield, and also customer favorites. We also offer a monthly newsletter that has received great response. We try to highlight many of our products, their uses and other seasonal articles and information. Our own local newspaper did not bother to announce that Oregon passed the approval to grow hemp in our state, but we did. We felt that sustainable hemp was worth writing about and so do many of our customers. Our young son came up with our logo, “Make magic wherever you grow,” and that’s exactly what we try to do and encourage. We are family owned and operated and are very much looking forward to a prosperous 2010. MY

If you would like to have your store featured in "Talking Shop" please contact editor@maximumyield.com or give us a call at 250 729 2677

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

115

PRODUCT spotlight

ask for these exciting new products at your favorite indoor gardening store.

Continued from page 38

Nutrilife’s H2O2 Now Available

Adding Nutrilife’s H2O2 is a great way for gardeners to oxygenate the nutrient solution in their reservoirs. A plant’s health and vigor rely on the roots getting enough oxygen, because the roots of a plant need oxygen to convert carbohydrates into energy. H2O2 adds this important element to nutrient solution, effectively “powering up” pre-existing feeding regimens. It can also be used to preserve fresh cut flowers and for cleaning reservoirs, drippers and dripper lines. Nutrilife H2O2 is now available to consumers.

Bud+ from Nutri+ Bud+ is the ideal flowering booster for any fertilizer program, specially designed to give you bigger harvests. As the newest Nutri+ product, Bud+ is sure to impress any gardener. Bud+ (0-15-40) increases flower density and weight. Its unique blend, rich in phosphorous, potassium, magnesium and amino acids, will give you amazing results that you can see and maximum bloom development. Bud+ is specially formulated to use mid-flowering and is meant to be used during blooming weeks three, four and five. Gardeners should expect to see increased flower density, improved aroma and greater overall weight. Available sizes: 4.5 ounces, 17 ounces, 5.5 pounds and 22 pounds. Try Bud+ today. You won’t be disappointed. Bud+ comes with a 100 per cent money back guarantee. Ask for it at your local grow shop today.

Take Control of Your Plants with the Beast The Beast is the first natural Plant Growth Regulator (PGR) available, originally used in the fruiting tree industry in South America. Based on all natural fruit enzymes, The Beast performs as well as its chemical competitors. The Beast can be used in two ways: To stop vertical growth. Dilute The Beast in water without any other products. The Beast has every thing your plant needs. Your plants vertical growth will stop almost immediately. The Beast can be applied two weeks before harvest to add size and weight to your flowers. Similar chemical products create a huge stress to your plants resulting in wilted leaves and retarded growth. The Beast’s natural formula is much gentler on your plants and the result is much less stress symptoms. Try The Beast, you will not be disappointed! The Beast comes with a 100 per cent money back guarantee. Ask for The Beast as your local grow shop today.

116

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

Humboldt Nutrients Honey Carbohydrates for Every Type of Garden Beneficial micro-organisms thrive on carbohydrates. Sugars allow multiple biochemical processes to take place effectively by supplying free energy to this microscopic world. The sugars, which are left over once these processes take place, are then utilized by the plant to increase the brix and sugar levels of fruits and flowers. Humboldt Nutrients has developed two high quality carbohydrate additives to increase the yield and quality of your crop. Humboldt Honey ES is an extra strong formula developed for use in soil gardens. Humboldt Honey Hydro supplies the same high quality sugars along with calcium in a thinner formula designed for use in hydroponic gardens. Try Humboldt Nutrients Honey today and see what the buzz is about. Ask for it by name at your local hydro shop.

Get Serious with Agroneem Plus Agroneem Plus is a broad spectrum insecticide that controls over 200 insect species, as well as a large number of nematodes and other plant pathogens. It attacks insects at multiple growth stages, and it is compatible with most fertilizers, fungicides and insecticides. Agroneem Plus is non-toxic to humans, harmless to beneficial insects and biodegradable. Ask for it now at your local grow shop.

Retailers Now Carrying the New Gro Pots from C.A.P. Custom Automated Productsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Gro Pots provide excellent root zone aeration and drainage. They are available in 1/2, one, two, three, five, seven and 10 gallon sizes! C.A.P. Gro Pots cause less heat build up and move easily with handles. Contact your nearest indoor gardening retailer to learn more.

Super Starts Plant Tissue Culture With Plant Tissue Culture you can grow your favorite plants in small glass and plastic containers in very small areas, saving space and light. Imagine cutting parts from your favorite plants and seeing them generate fresh shoots and roots before your eyes. A piece of Begonia leaf begins to grow new plants all over it soon after being placed in the growing media. The new plants explode with bushy growth energized by the sugar and hormones. Universities and research companies maintain expensive laboratories for multiplying their valuable plants and exposing their hidden genetics. Now you can employ these same techniques at home! Ask for Super Starts at your local grow shop.

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

117

PRODUCT spotlight

ask for these exciting new products at your favorite indoor gardening store.

Wonder Soil’s Relocation Station Wonder Soil’s Relocation Station comes complete with four inch coir pots, wonder soil wafers and a tray. When Sprout House seedlings are two to three inches tall, coir cups can be transplanted into the Relocation Station without disturbing roots. These 100 per cent biodegradable pots can be planted directly into the garden. Ask for the Relocation Station at your nearest hydroponics store.

Wonder Soil Reground® Wonder Soil Reground® are wafers that have been reground into thousands of little expanding granules. They are easy to pour and expand where needed. The two pound bag expands to approximately 18 pounds when rehydrated. The five pound bag expands to nine times the volume when water is added, or approximately 45 pounds. A scoop is included for easy handling. Reground is good for all planting applications and is excellent for rapid lawn patch repair when mixed with grass seed. For more information visit your local hydroponics shop.

Power Rock from Xtreme Nutrients This is the product you’ve been waiting for! Power Rock is a technological breakthrough in hydroponic and soil grown plants. Flowers gain massive weight and density otherwise impossible. By maximizing the plant’s natural ability to utilize potassium and phosphorus, the plant produces an abundance of five carbon sugars, which get stored in the flowers, adding weight. Used in the fourth week of blooming, Power Rock will increase both the size and the quality of your crop. The flavor and aroma of your crop will improve unbelievably. Power Rock will increase your yield by at least 70 per cent. By using Power Rock the end result will be significantly improved quality and greatly increased. Remember, Power Rock is a concentrate; a little goes a long way, so use as directed. Your yield is limited by the products you use; raise your limits with Power Rock. Visit your hydro shop to learn more. 118

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

Introducing Xtreme Grow The latest in technology, Xtreme Grow doubles the size of your plants in four to five days without internodes stretching and cutting a week off your growth program. Should be used in week three or four during the growth period or when the plant canopy is the size of your pot. Eight tablespoons will treat 60 gallons of solution and should only be used once. It is very important to adjust pH as this product will drop your pH down to 2.0 to 3.0. Visit an indoor gardening retail store to learn more.

Early Turn A+B from Xtreme Nutrients Turn growth into bloom, quick! Adapted from use in commercial horticulture, Early Turn has now been perfected for use in domestic hydroponics. Early Turn is a highly potent bloom stimulator that increases the effectiveness of other fertilizers and additives. Early Turn is used in the first (Part A) and second week (Part B) of flowering with two primary actions. The first action is transition. Recognizing the stress on hydroponically-grown plants caused by an instant decrease in daylight hours, we developed Quick Turn to encourage the plants adapt seamlessly to the new environment and produce flowering sites much earlier. The second action is to stimulate. After the plant has been caringly introduced to the new environment, Early Turn encourages rapid bloom. Early Turn easily stimulates the plant into full flowering production much earlier than normal. This same stimulate increases fertilizer usage and metabolic rate. Visit your local hydro shop to learn more.

MY You can find all of our products online at www.maximumyield.com. Each month your favorite new product profiles will be featured on our website. Get the latest information on what will make your garden grow. Do you want to be included in the product spotlight? Contact the editor at 1-250-279-2677 or email editor@maximumyield.com

DO YOU

know?

1 Not all products that claim to be organic have

actually been approved for organic production. Always check for a seal and the name of the certifying agency on the product package.

2 Mendomites suck away chlorophyll and dehydrate plants, making them much weaker and more susceptible to disease.

3 The use of water soluble fertilizers can result in the

7 8

loss of nutrients through leaching, volatilization and immobilization in soils.

Paignton Zoo in Devon, UK currently spends in 4 The excess of $300,000 a year on animal feed, and goes through 800 lettuce heads per week and $12,000, the majority of which is imported.

Plant respiration usually occurs in the dark phase.

A study of 45 corn varieties developed from 1920 to 2001 found that concentrations of proteins, oil and three important amino acids have all declined in the newer varieties.

An overflow of CO2 reduces plantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stomas opening, resulting in a reduction of the CO2 absorption and a limitation of transpiration.

10 Green roofs cool the air and reduce ozone

formation, a process that is badly needed in cities where temperatures are much higher.

output T5 fluorescent lights can be very rich 11 High in spectrum, and are ideal for stimulating healthy plant growth in the earlier stages, and can in some instances be used to raise plants to maturity.

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

119

AVANT-GARDENING How to Care for

Holiday Plants

by Glory Lennon

after the Festivities

It happens every year. You get a lovely plant for the holidays and it looks really good at first but then you wonder how long until you’ll want to toss it into the compost heap. After all it’s not going to look this good ever again. Even now just a few days later it’s losing its initial lustre. The flowers are drooping and the leaves are wilted. Sooner than you like it’ll be all dried out, on its last legs – or should we say stems? However, it need not be this way. Holiday plants are like any other kind of plant and can make it through the holidays quite nicely to live long productive lives if we care for them properly and treat them as you would any houseplant. Is it worth the trouble? That depends how enthusiastic you are. Here are a few tips to ensure these pretty plants stay fresh and vibrant long after the Christmas tree is taken down and the ornaments stowed away for another year.

Christmas cactus - Once this sturdy plant finishes blooming it needs nothing more than a spot out of drafts and away from heat vents. Place it in indirect light and water lightly. To get it to bloom again for the following year place the plant in a cool spot with bright light during the day and darkness at night, much like a poinsettia, and keep the watering to a minimum.

Amaryllis - Just think spring blooming bulbs like the daffodil and these will be easy to deal with only in reverse time. After the blossoms drop, cut off the stem but keep the foliage in bright, indirect sunlight. This gives the bulb the energy to bloom again the next year. When the leaves dry up cut them off and store the bulb in a cool (10°C is ideal), dry place like a cellar or garage until you are ready for it to start growing. Water it and place the potted bulb in a sunny spot and you’ll have it blooming for the holidays again within a few weeks.

Rosemary Topiary - Well, here’s a lovely plant for the kitchen if you like the flavour and scent of Rosemary. Useful well after the holidays, the more you trim off the bushier the plant becomes and this one too can be planted outside in warm weather in an herb garden. If allowed it will even produce tiny lavender blue flowers and look even better. Make certain you bring it back in before temperatures get too cool unless you live in zone seven or warmer. 120

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

Amaryllis

Norfolk Island Pine - Some folks like to use this pretty evergreen as their Christmas tree but it can live as a houseplant afterwards. It will stay small in pots within the house but it can get to 30 metres high if planted outdoors in tropical areas. Azalea - Though the prettiest and usually the most hardy of flowering shrubs Azaleas grown for the holiday season may not be well suited to planting outdoors in the coldest zones. But that is not saying you shouldn’t try. If at all possible buy Azaleas labelled hardy for your area. Otherwise plant it outdoors and bring it back in to winter over but don’t expect it to bloom during the holidays. It is likely, if cared for properly, to bloom when it’s supposed to, in spring.

English Ivy Topiary - You must have a brown arm not just a thumb if you can manage to kill an English Ivy. This requires a bit of water and can grow in shade so even lack of sun won’t hurt it. Trimmed off stray stems can be easily rooted in water to pot up and give away or to make another topiary. Poinsettia - While many think this holiday classic is not worth the trouble of keeping it around after the blossoms drop, there are a few adventurous souls looking for a challenge during the dreary winter months. Placed in a bright but indirect light the Poinsettia can still look fine if kept moist and pruned back when it becomes too leggy and starts dropping leaves. It can even be planted outdoors in summer under a dappled shade and brought back in before temperatures drop too much. Give it the light and dark required and it should bloom again without a problem.

Dwarf Alberta Spruce - Another very cold hardy evergreen which doubles as a Christmas tree but once the festivities are done it still looks great either in the home or placed out on the patio in a decorative pot. In spring it could be planted directly in the ground but don’t wonder if it stays the same size. It can take 30 years for it to reach two metres.

Azalea

Florist Mums - These can be lovely but not likely are these hardy enough to plant in your garden to come back as perennial mums do. But you can keep them outdoors for the summer neatly trimmed to encourage bushier growth and to keep it from developing flowers until you want them. Stop trimming it six to eight weeks before you want it to bloom, bring it indoors and it may flower quite nicely just in time for the holidays again.

Mum

Cyclamen - These plants are hardy to zone seven so can be planted in the garden but where it is colder they can be found for use as houseplants especially during the holidays. They are unusual in that the speckled heart-shaped foliage is as pretty as the slightly fragrant flowers. Simply cut off the flower stems after the blooming time and it’s a pretty little plant much like an African Violet. Keeping those holiday plants looking nice after the festivities isn’t so hard. It just takes a bit of care and you already do that with your other houseplants so what’s the big deal? None at all. MY

Cyclamen

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

121

0 1 20 r o o g Ind n i n e d r a G o p x E y ly da n o y tr th indus ay, June 5 d satur on - 6pm no ission m d A ublic ne 6th P e e Fr ay, Ju Sund n - 5pm noo

ship r o s Spon d an h boot ing k o o b call 2677 9 2 7 250

l a e r ont da

ana C , c ebe

e n u J 5-6 0 1 0 2 des

s i a l a P de s Ă¨ r cong trĂŠal Mon

nd a h t irs f e e s est t a l the ucts prod rom f n r lea xperts the e ith w k r o Netw e pros th Sponsored by:

$5.oo Donation accepted at the door for Hydro for Hunger

For more information visit indoorgardenexpo.com

MAX-MART

124

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

LLC I N D O O R

G A R D E N I N G

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

www.hydrogardendelight.com

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

125

MAX-MART

MAXIMIZE YOUR EXPOSURE WITH

MAX-MART

Get your Max-Mart ad into the next issue! Call Maximum Yield at (250) 729-2677 for more information.

126

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

USA NOV

CANA

DA MA Y - JU

EMBER -

NE 200

DECEMBER

2007

5th ANNIVERSARY ISSUE UK MAY -

I N D O O R

G A R D E N I N G

I N D O O R

JUNE 200

R O O I N D

M A G A Z I N E

I N G E N R D G A

UV Ste riliza of Hydro tion Process ponic Fluids

Soil Plant and

Anniversary Edition

Take the

G S CONTROLLIN CONDITION CLIMATE

I N D O O R

FREE

BASICS BACK TO Nutrition

OSMOSIS REVERSPlunE ge

AUSTRALIA

G A R D E N I N G

E 200 MAY - JUN

PolliN AtiN gREEN g in the hoUs E

yield.com

maximum

Tempera ture an Indoor d the Garde n - Part 2

R O O I N D

I N G E N R D G A

G A R D E N I N G

FREE

CANADA-F

RANÇAIS

MAI / JUIN

J A R D I N A G E

CTION SEED SELE

A: Part URBAN CE yield.com

IENTS

SUGARY

>> maximum

SUPPLEMEN

yield.com

maximum

D ’ I N T É R I E U R

GRATUIT

SOLUTION

UNDERSTAN DIOXIDE DING CARBON IN THE GRE ENHOUSE WHY USE

ONIC NUTR

G HYDROP

CHOOSIN

NUTRIENT

2008

TS?

S AQUAPONICLe Plus One S s Equals

Where One

se de carbcrets du dio xy one en serre de

Three

Le thé panacéde compost, e cont re tousune Le jardin les ma ux? contrô age en en vir lé en zo ne urbaonnement ine

Subscribe Today!

maximum

yield.com

Please sign me up for a one year subscription to Maximum Yield Magazine

$35.00 Canada - $70.00 USA - $65.00 International q Canada ENG q Canada FR q USA q UK q Australia

q Cheque Name: Address: City: Country: Telephone:

q Visa / Mastercard

Expiry Date:

Date Started: Province/State: Postal/Zip Code: Email: Mail to: 2339A Delinea Place, Nanaimo, BC V9T 5L9 Phone: 250 729 2677 - Fax: 250 729 2687

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

127

MAXIMUM YIELD distributors

ALABAMA Alabama Organics 3348 Bethel Road, Valley Head, AL 35989 256-635-0802

ALASKA Brown’s Electrical Supply 365 Industrial Way, Anchorage, AK 99501 907-272-2259 Far North Garden Supply 300 Centaur Street, Wasilla, AK 99654 907-376-7586 Far North Garden Supply 2834 Boniface Parkway Anchorage, AK 99504 907-333-3141 Holmtown Nursery Inc. 1301 - 30th Avenue, Fairbanks, AK 99701 907-451-8733

ARIZONA ACI Hydroponics 1325 South Park Lane, Tempe, AZ 85282 800-633-2137 Homegrown Hydroponics 601 East Broadway Road, Tempe, AZ 85282 480-377-9096 Homegrown Hydroponics 1702 East Prince Road, Tucson, AZ 85719 520-323-1212 Natural Pools & Gardens 2143 North Country Suite C, Tucson, AZ 85716 520-323-2627 Sea of Green Hydroponics 815 W. University Drive, Suite 110, Tempe, AZ 85281 800-266-4136 Sea of Green West 2340 W. Bell Road, Suite 116, Phoenix, AZ 85023 602-504-8842 Sea of Green Hydroponics 402 North 4th Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85705 520-622-6344

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

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

Best Coast Growers 4417 Glacier Avenue Suite C, San Diego, CA 92120 800-827-1876

Abundant Hydroponics LLC 1611 Shop Street, #1-A, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 530-54 HYDRO

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

Advanced Garden Supply 2660 Lake Tahoe Boulevard, Building C, Unit 9, S. Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 530-541-4769

Better Grow Hydro Pasadena 1271 E. Colorado Boulevard, Pasedena, CA 91106 626 737 6612

Advanced Garden Supply 3113 Alhambra Drive, Unit F, Cameron Park, CA 95682, 530-676-2100 Advanced Hydroponics 17808 Sierra Highway, Canyon Country, CA 91351 661-299-1603 AG Natural 403 Idaho Maryland Road, Grass Valley, CA 95945 530-274 0990 Alameda County Hydroponics 20910 Redwood Road, Suite C, Castro Valley, CA 94546 All Seasons Hydroponics 17614 Chatsworth Street, Granada Hills, CA 91344 818-368-4388 Alternative Hydro 3870 East, Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91107 888-50-HYDRO Always Sunny Hydroponics 708 W. Swain Road Stockton, CA 95207 209-473-9827 American Hydroponics 286 South G Street, Arcata, CA 95521 800-458-6543 Anthony’s Garden & Lighting Supply 30 Ridge Road, Suites 8 & 9 Sutter Creek, CA 95685 209-267-5416 Anything Grows 10607 W. River Street, Building 3 Suite C, Truckee, CA 96161 530-582-0479 Atwater Hydroponics 3350 Glendale Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90039 323-663-8881 Auburn Organic 4035 Grass Valley Highway, Auburn, CA 95602 530-823-8900 B & S Gardening Supplies 590 Commerce Court, Manteca, CA 95336 209-239-8648

Better Grow Hydro Los Angeles 5554 Bandini Boulevard, Bell, CA 91106 323-510-2700; 877 640 GROW Brentwood Hydroponics & Organics 560 Valdry Ct #85 Brentwood, CA 94513 925-634-6704 BWGS West 2247 North Plaza Drive Visalia, CA 93291 888-316-1306 California Hydro Garden 1043 South Glendora Avenue, Suite A West Covina, CA 91790 626-813-0868 California Hydroponics 310 Coral Street, Suite C Santa Cruz, CA 95060 831-423-4769 Caliponics Inc. 2030 Viborg Road, Unit 110 Solvang, CA 93463 877-PONICS9 Central Coast Hydrogarden 1951 Santa Barbara Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 805-544-GROW Citrus Heights Hydrogarden 8043 Greenback Lane Citrus Heights, CA 95610 916-728-4769 City Farmer’s Nursery 4832 Home Avenue, San Diego, CA 92105 619-284-6358 Clover Hydroponics & Garden Supply 2626 South Main Street, Lakeport, CA 95453 707-263-4000 CNG Garden Supplies 22 Ricknbacker Circle, Livermore, CA 94551 209-836-5550 Coca’s Central Valley Hydroponics 116 West Orangeburg Avenue, Modesto, CA 95350 209-567-0590 Concord Indoor Garden 2771 Clayton Road, Concord, CA 94519 925-671-2520

CALIFORNIA

Bakersfield Hydroponics 2408 Brundage Lane, Suite B Bakersfield, CA 93304 661-323-7333

3rd Street Hydroponics 636 3rd Street Oakland, CA 94607 510-452-5521

Bare Roots Hydroponics 1615 East Cypress, #5 Redding, CA 96002 530-244-2215

Conejo Hydroponics 3481 Old Conejo Road #106 Newbury Park, CA 91320 805-480-9596

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

Beginning Hydroponics PO Box 1232, Corona, CA 92787 951-735-4446

Conrad Hydroponics Inc. 14915 Unit E, Olympic Drive, Clearlake, CA 95422 707-994 3264

A+ Hydroponics & Organics 1604 Babcock Street, Costa Mesa, CA 92627 949-642-7776

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

Constantly Growing 6200 Enterprise Drive, Suite A Diamond Springs, CA 95619 530-642-9710

A Fertile World (Eureka) 65th Street, Eureka, CA 95501 707-444-0200

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

Constantly Growing 4343 Hazel Avenue, Fair Oaks, CA 95628 916-962-0043

128

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

Constantly Growing - Davis 123 D Street Davis, CA 95616 530-756-4774

Full Sun Supply 3535 Industrial Drive, Unit B-3 Santa Rosa, CA 95403 877-FULL-SUN

Green Coast Hydroponics 11510 Whittier Boulevard Whittier, CA 90601 562-699-4201

D&S Garden Supplies 17-130 Doolittle Drive San Leandro, CA 94577 510-430-8589

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

Greenfire Sacramento 3230 Auburn Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95821 916-485-8023

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

Green Joint Ventures 61 Tarp Circle, Salinas, CA 93901 831-998-8628

Garden Connection, The 2145 Park Avenue, Unit 2 Chico, CA 95928 530-342-7762

Green Lady Hydroponics 4879 Newport Avenue, San Diego, CA 92107 619-222-5011

Garden Depot, The 203 Commerce Street, Suite 101 Lodi, CA 95240 209-339-9950

GreenLeaf Hydroponics 2212 Artesia Boulevard, Redondo Beach, CA 90278 310-374-2585

Garden Highway Garden Supply 598 Garden Highway #22 Yuba City, CA 95991 530-755-2877

Green Logic Garden Supply 860 Piner Road, #38, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 707-843-3156

Garden Shed, The 1136 El Camino Real San Carlos, CA 650-508-8600

Greenmile Hydroponic Garden Supply 1480 South E. Street, Suite D, San Bernardino, CA 92408 909-885-5919

Garden Spout, The 44800 Highway 101, Laytonville, CA 95454 707-984-7260

Green Thumb Hydroponics 35 Quinta Court, Suite B, Sacramento, CA 95823 916-689-6464

Garden Spout, The 630 S. Main Street, Willits, CA 95490 707-456-0196

Green Thumb Lighting & Garden 1647 W. Sepulveda Boulevard, Unit 5, Torrance, CA 90501 888-326-GROW

Garden Warehouse 6355 Scarlet Court, #2, Dublin, CA 94568 925-556-3319

Greentrees Hydroponics Inc. 2581 Pioneer Avenue, Unit D Vista, CA 92081 760-598-7551

Go Big Hydroponics 4501 Van Nuys Boulevard, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 818-789-3341

GreenWay Hydroponics 11510 Whittier Boulevard, Whittier, CA 90601 562-699-4201

Go Green Hydroponics 15721 Ventura Boulevard, Encino, CA 91436 818-990-1198

Grodan Inc. 5152 Commerce Avenue, Moorpark, CA 93021 541-646-8245

Golden Gecko Garden Center, The 4665 Marshall Road, Garden Valley, CA 95633 530-333-2394

Grow A Lot Hydroponics, San Diego 1591 N. Cuyamaca Street, El Cajon, CA 92020 619-749-6777

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

Growers Choice Hydroponics 1100 Carver Road, Modesto, CA 95350 209-522-2727

Gottagrow Garden Supply 769 Wilson Street, Santa Rosa, CA 95404 707-544-7782

Growers Choice Hydroponics 16754 East 14th Street, San Leandro, CA 94578 510-278-6200

Grass Roots Hydroponics 31877 Corydon, Suite 150 Lake Elsinore, CA 92530 951-245-2390

Grow It Yourself Gardens 401 Sunset Drive, Suite L, Antioch, CA 94509 925-755-GROW

Grass Valley Hydrogarden 12506 Loma Rica Drive, Grass Valley, CA 95945 530-477-2996

Grow King Hydroponics 932 South San Pedro Street, Los Angeles, CA 90015 213-689-8982

Green Acres Hydroponics 1215 Striker Avenue, Suite 180, Sacramento, CA 95834 916-419-4394

Grow Light Express 5318 East Second Street suite 164, Long Beach, CA 90803 888-318-GROW

Green Coast Hydroponics 3560 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93105 805-898-9922

Grow Your Own 3401 Traval Street, San Francisco, CA 94116 415-731-2115

Foothills Hydrogarden 3133 Penryn Road, Penryn, CA 95663 916-270-2413

Green Coast Hydroponics 2405 Mira Mar Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90815 562-627-5636

Grunder Family Organics & Hydroponics 12321 Magnolia Avenue, Suite C, Riverside, CA 92503 877-468-7974

Four Seasons Garden Center 1737 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612 510-832-2545

Green Coast Hydroponics 496 Meats Avenue Orange, CA 92865 714-974-4769

H20 Gardening 355 West 7th Street, San Pedro, CA 90731 310-514-1416

Dazeyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Supply 3082 Redwood Drive, Redway, CA 95560 707-923-3002 Direct Hydroponics Wholesale 14228 Alberts Way, Chino, CA 91710 909-606-5885 Dirt Cheap Hydroponics 17975 H Highway 1, Fort Bragg, CA 95437 707-964-4211 Discount Hydroponics 4745 Hiers Avenue, Riverside, CA 92505 877-476-9487 Eel River Hydroponics & Soil Supply 164 Dinsmore Drive, Fortuna, CA 95540 707-726-0395 El Centro Hydro & Brew Supply Inc. 591 main Street, Suite N-2 El Centro, CA 92243 760-235-4985 Elite Horticulture Supply 22330 Sherman Way, C13, Canoga Park, CA 91303 818-347-5172 Emerald Garden 8249 Archibald Avenue, Ranch Cucamanga, CA 91730 909-466-3796 Emerald Garden 13325 South Highway 101, Hopland, CA 95482 707-744-8300 Emerald Garden 307 East Perkins Street, Ukiah, CA 95482 707-463-2510 Endless Green 25-3 Enterprise Court, Napa, CA 94558 707-254-0200 Evergreen Hydroponics 923 N. Central Avenue, Suite B, Upland, CA 91786 909-946-7100 Everything Green Hydroponics 915 Texas Street, Fairfield, CA 94533 707-432-0774 Everything Green 448 Georgia Street, Vallejo, CA 94590 707-647-0774 Extreme Hydroponics 11479 San Fernando Road C, San Fernando, CA 91340 818-898-0915 EZ Green Hydroponics 7017 Reseda Boulevard, Reseda, CA 91335 818-776-9076 Farm Hydroponics, The 1950 Lake Tahoe Boulevard #3, S. Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 530-541-3276 Foothill Hydroponics 10705 Burbank Boulevard, N. Hollywood, CA 91601 818-760-0688

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

129

MAXIMUM YIELD distributors

Hahn’s Lighting 260 E. VA Suite 1, San Jose, CA 95112 408-295-1755 Harvest Hydroponics 6650 Merchandise Way Suite B, Diamond Springs, CA 95619 530-622-5190 High Desert Hydroponics 13631 Pawnee Road, #7 Apple Valley, CA 92308 760-247-2090 Hi-Tech Gardening 5327 Jacuzzi Street, #282, Richmond, CA 94804 510-524-4710 Hollywood Hydroponics and Organics 5109 1/2 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90027-6105 323-662-1908 Home Life Hydroponics and Organics 1745 East Vista Way, Vista, CA 92084 760-643-2150 Hooked Up Hydroponics 339 S. Golden State Boulevard, Turlock, CA 95380 209-668-1300 House of Hydro 224 Weller Street, #B, Petaluma, CA 94952 707-762-4769 Humboldt Electronics 2547 California Street, Eureka, CA 95501 707-443-9408 Humboldt Hydroponics 1302 Union Street, Eureka, CA 95501 707-443-4304 Humboldt Hydroponics 2174 Pine Street, Redding, CA 96001 530-241-7454 Humboldt Hydroponics 601 I Street, Arcata, CA 95521 707-822-3377 Humboldt Hydroponics 2010 Tunnel Road, Redway, CA 95560 707-923-1402 Humboldt Nutrients 65th Street, Eureka, CA 95501 888-420-7770 Hydroasis 2643 S. Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90232 888-355-4769 Hydrobrew 1319 South Coast Highway, Oceanside, CA 92054 760-966-1885; 877-966-GROW Hydro Depot 5665 Redwood Drive, #B, Rohnert Park, CA 94928 707-584-2384

Hydro-Logic Purification Systems 2825 Mattison Lane, Suite 103, Santa Cruz, CA 95065 888 H2O LOGIC HydroPacific - Hydroponics & Garden Supplies 351 C Hastings Av., Ukiah, CA 95482 707-467-0400 Hydroponic Connection Warehouse, The 1995 Evans Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94124 415-824-9376 Hydroponics 4 Less 41669 Winchester Avenue, Temecula, CA 92590 800-A1-HYDRO Hydroponics Plus 2250 Commerce Avenue, Suite C Concord, CA 94520 925-691-7615 Hydroponics Unlimited.com 2728 E. Palmdale Boulevard #121 Palmdale, CA 93550 661-266-3906 Hydrostar Hydroponics & Organics 1307 W. Sixth Street, #211, Corona, CA 92882 951-479-8069 Igrow Hydro 2280 Veatch Street, Oroville, CA 95965 530-534-4476 Igrow Hydro 9000 Atkinson Street, Roseville, CA 95678 916-773-4476 Inland Empire Hydrogarden 1301-C South State Street, San Jancinto, CA 92853 886-72-HYDRO Inland Empire Hydrogarden 28822 Old Town Front St. #206 Temecula, CA 92590 886-74-HYDRO Innovative Growing Solutions (IGS) 7922-B Miramar Road, San Diego, CA 92126 858-578-IGS7 Kaweah Grower Supply 1106 1/2 N. Ben Maddox Way, Visalia, CA 93293 559-625-4937 Kern Hydroponics 2408 Brundage Lane, Suite B, Bakersfield, CA 93304 661-323-7333 Lazy Gardeners Hydroponics ‘N’ More 14626 East Whittier Boulevard, Whittier, CA 90605 562-945-0909 Let it Grow 1228 2nd Street, Crescent City, CA 95531 707-464-9086

M&M Garden Supply 2509 West Lane, Suite B Stockton, CA 95205 209-939-0664 M&M Garden Supply 22540 D Foothill Boulevard, 2509 Westlane Suite B Stockton, CA 95205 Marin Hydroponics 1219 Grant Avenue, Novato, CA 94945 415-897-2197 Medicine Man Farms 1602 53rd Avenue, Oakland, CA 94601 707-980-0456 Mendocino Garden Shop PO Box 1301, 44720 Maint Street (at Hwy. 1), Mendocino, CA 95460 707-937-3459 Mendocino Greenhouse & Garden Supply 900 East School Way, Redwood Valley, CA 95470 707-485-0668 Merced Hydroponics 1809 East 21st Street, Merced, CA 95340 209-726-4769 M.G.S. 22540 D Foothill Boulevard, Hayward, CA 94541 510-582-0900 Monterey Bay Horticulture Supply 224B Reindollar Avenue, Marina, CA 93933 831-38-HYDRO Monterey Bay Hydroponics and Organics 81 Hangar Way, #1, Watsonville, CA 95076 831-761-9999 Myron L Company 2450 Impala Drive, Carlsband, CA 9210-7226 760-438-2021 Mystic Gardens 8484 Florin Road, #110, Sacramento, CA 95828 916-381-2464 National Garden Wholesale/Sunlight Supply 1950 C South Grove Avenue, Ontario, CA 91761 888-888-3319 Nature’s Secret Garden and Supply 41469 Albrae Street, Fremont, CA 94577 510-623-8393 NorCal Creations PO Box 28, Cedar Ridge, CA 95924 Nor Cal Hydroponics 4837 Geary Boulevard, San Francisco, CA 94118 415-933-8262 Northcoast Horticulture Supply 122 West 4th Street, Suite B Eureka, CA 95501 707-444-9999

Hydrogarden Delight 13762 Doolittle Drive, San Leandro, CA 94577 510-903-1808

Let it Grow 160 Westwood Center, Arcata, CA 95521 707-822-8733

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

Hydrogarden Mendocino County 1240 North Main Street, Fort Bragg, CA 95437 707-962-9252

Liquid Gardens 21752 Devonshire Street, Chatsworth, CA 91311 818-718-7624

Northcoast Hydrogardens 3450 North State Street, Ukiah, CA 95482 707-462-7214

Hydro King 105 Hartnell Avenue, Suite C and D, Redding, CA 96002 888-822-8941

Long Beach Hydroponics & Organics 1772 Clark Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90815 562-498-9525

No Stress Hydroponics 7543 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA 90046 323-845-9874

Hydro King 2540 South Whitman Place, Chico, CA 959282 530-893-GROW (4769)

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

One Stop Hydroponics 12822 Victory Boulevard North Hollywood, CA 91606 818-980-5855

130

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

Oracle Garden Supply 5755 Oberlin Drive, Suite 100 San Diego, CA 92121 858-558-6006 Orange County Hydroponics 12687 Beach Boulevard, Unit H, Stanton, CA 90680 714-893-9493 Organic Bountea 1919 Dennis Lane, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 800-798-0765 Orsa Organix 111 Willow Street, Redwood City, CA 94063 650-369-1269 Pacific Beach Hydroponics 1852 Garnet Avenue, San Diego, CA 92109 858-274-2559 Pacific Coast Hydroponics 4147 Sepulveda Boulevard, Culver City, CA 90230 310-313-1354 Pacific Garden Supply 128 H Carlos Drive, San Rafael, CA 94903 Palmdale Hydroponics 2728 East Palmdale Boulevard Suite 108, Palmdale, CA 93550 661-266-9908 Palm Springs Hydroponics 4651 Ramon Road, Palm Springs, CA 92264 760-327-ROOT

San Diego Hydroponics East County 11649 Riverside Drive, Suite 141, Lakeside, CA 92040 619-562-3276 San Diego Hydroponics Beach Cities 4122 Napier Street, San Diego, CA 92110 619-276-0657 San Diego Hydroponics North 802 N. Twin Oaks Valley Road #108 San Marcos, CA 92069 760-510-1444 San Francisco Hydro 123 Tenth Street, San Francisco, CA 94103 Santa Cruz Hydroponics & Organics - West 815 Almar Avenue, Suite K, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 831-466-9000 Santa Cruz Hydroponics & Organics - East 4000 Cordelia Lane #4, Soquel, CA 95073 831-475-9900 Santa Cruz Hydroponics & Organics - North 6241 Graham Hill Road, Felton, CA 95018 831-335-9990 Santee Hydroponics 7973A Mission Gorge Road, Santee, CA 92071 619-270-8649 Seaside Hydrogarden 1070 Highway 101 North, Crescent City, CA 95531 707-465-3520

Plant It Earth 2279 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94114 415-626-5082

Skywide Import & Export Ltd. 5900 Lemon Hill Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95824 916-383-2369

Plant Life 32 Race Street, San Jose, CA 95126 408-283-9191

Socal Hydroponics 1727-B Oceanside Boulevard, Oceanside, CA 92054 760-439-1084

Plant-N-Grow 1602 53rd Avenue, Oakland, CA 94601 707-980-0456

South Bay Hydroponics and Organics 569 East Evelyn Avenue, Mountain View, CA 94041 650-968-4070

Precision Hydroponics 132 Kennedy Avenue, Campbell, CA 95008 408-866-8176

South Bay Hydroponics and Organics - San Jose 1185 South Bascom Avenue, San Jose, CA 95128 408-292-4040

Pro Gardening Systems 3715 Santa Rosa Avenue #2, Santa Rosa, CA 95407 707-585-8633

South County Hydroponics 22511 Aspan Street, Suite E Lake Forest, CA 92630 949-837-8252

Pro Gardening Systems 4936 Highway 12, Santa Rosa, CA 95472 707-538-8402 Pro Gardening Systems 765 Petaluma Avenue, Sebastopol, CA 95472 707-829-7252 Redway Feed Garden and Pet Supply 290 Briceland Road, Redway, CA 95560 707-923-2765 Reforestation Technologies International 1341 Daton Street, Units G&I Salinas, CA 93901 831-424-1494; 800-RTI-GROW

South Valley Hydroponics 320 Kishimura Drive, #3 Gilroy, CA 95020 1-866-848-GROW Sparetime Supply 208 E. San Francisco Avenue, Willits, CA 95490-4006 707-459-6791 Specialty Garden Center 1970 East Vista Way, Suite 10, Vista, CA 92084 760-758-4769 Sun-In Hydroponics 1257A Cleveland Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95401 707-578-5747 Sunland Hydroponics 8300 Foothill Boulevard, Sunland, CA 91040 818-352-5300

Sweet Leaf Hydroponics 1611 Sebastobol Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95407 707-575-GROW (4237) Sylvandale Gardens 1151 Evergreen Road, Redway, CA 95560 707-923-3606 Tahoe Garden Supply 645 Westlake Boulevard, Suite 2, PO Box 487 Tahoe City, CA 96145 530-581-3200 Tell 2 Friends Indoor Gardening 62 Sutherland Drive, Auburn, CA 95603 530-889-8171 The Green Shop 66420 Mooney Boulevard, Suite 1 Visalia, CA 93277 559-688-4200 The Hydro Source 671 E. Edna Place Covina, CA 91723 877 HYDRO 82; 626-915-3128 The Shop 6542 Front Street, Forestville, CA 95436 707-887-2280 Thrive Hydroponics 70 A West North Street, Healdsburg, CA 95446 707-433-4068 Thunders Hydroponic Center 1729 Yosemite Boulevard, Medesco, CA 95354 TNC Supply 9490 Main Street, P.O. Box 763 Upper Lake, CA 95485 707-275-9565 Tower Garden Supply & Organic Nursery 403 W. Olive Avenue, Fresno, CA 93728 559-495-1140 Tradewinds Wholesale Garden Supplies 1235 Striker Avenue #180, Sacramento, CA 95834 888-557-8896 Tulare County Growers Supply 435 W. Noble Avenue, Unit A, Farmerville, CA 93223 559-732-8247 Turbo Grow 1889 San Pablo Avenue, Pinole, CA 94564 510-724-1291 Two Chix Garden Supply 1230 Yuba Street, Marysville, CA 95901 530-923-2536 Under The Sun 12638 Foothill Boulevard, Clearlake Oaks, CA 95423 707-998-GROW (4769) Urban Gardens 22516 Ventura Boulevard, Woodland Hills, CA 91364 818-876-0222 Urban Gardens Unlimited 704 Filbert Street, San Francisco, CA 94133 415-421-4769 US Orchid & Hydroponic Supplies 1621 South Rose Avenue, Oxnard, CA 93033 805-247-0086 Valley Garden Solutions Inc. 15650 Nordhoff Avenue, Suite 104, North Hills, CA 91345 818-336-0041

Roots Grow Supply 1330 North Hulbert, #101 Fresno, CA 93728 559-840-0122

Supersonic Hydroponic and Organic Garden Supply 850 Shasta Avenue, Suite B Morro Bay, CA 93442 805-772-5869

Wai Kula Hydrogardens 5297 Linda Vista Road, San Diego, CA 92110 619-299-7299

Sac Hydroponics 9529 Folson Boulevard, Suite C Sacramento, CA 95827 916-369-7968

Supersonic Hydroponic and Organic Garden Supply 3850 Ramada Drive, Unit D2 Paso Robles, CA 93446 805-434-2333

Weather Top Nursery 44901 Harmon Drive, Laytonville, CA 95454 707-984-6385

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

131

MAXIMUM YIELD distributors

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

Hydro Shack, The 220 Main Street, Suite E Frisco, CO 80443 970-668-0359

West Coast Growers Hydroponics 13481 Colifax Highway, Grass Valley, CA 95945 888-924-4769

Indoor Paradise Hydroponics 309 S. Summit View, Unit 17, Fort Collins, CO 80524-1462 970-221-3751

West Coast Hydroponics, Inc. 27665 Forbes Road, Unit 10 Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 949-348-2424

Olympic Hydroponics Supply LLC. 1530 S Nevada Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80906 719-635-5859

Western Auto 1156 Main Street, Fortuna, CA 95540 707-725-1189

Rocky Mountain Lighting and Hydroponics 7100 N. Broadway, Suite 3D Denver, CO 80221 303-428-5020

COLORADO

Way To Grow 3201 E. Mulberry Street, Fort Collins, CO 80524 970-484-4769

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

Way To Grow 6395 Gunpark Drive, Boulder, CO 80301 303-473-4769

Big Tomato, The 14440 E. 6th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80011 303-364-4769

CONNECTICUT

Big Tomato, The 3000 Main Avenue, Durango, CO 81301 970-375-1238

Harvest Moon Hydroponics 775 Silver Lane, East Hartford, CT 06118 860-568-4067

Boulder County Caregivers PO Box 7406, Golden, CO 80403 303-495-2195

LiquidSun® CT 10C South Main Street, East Windsor, CT 06088 860-254-5757

Boulder Hydroponics 1630 N. 63rd Street, #5, Boulder, CO 80301 303-415-0045

Organix Hydroponics 749 Saybrook Road, (Tradewinds Plaza) Middletown, CT 06457 860-343-1923

Cultivate Hydroponics & Organics 7777 W. 38th Avenue, #A120A, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 303-954-9897

FLORIDA

Denver Hydroponic & Organic Center 6810 North Broadway, Unit D Denver, CO 80221 303-650-0091 Desert Bloom Hydroponics 445 Pitkin Avenue, Grand Junction, CO 81501 970-245-6427 Ever Green Hydroponics Inc. 1131 Francis Street, Suite A, Longmont, CO 80501 303-682-6435 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 Grow Store South, The 5050 S. Federal Boulevard, #37, Englewood, CO 80110 303-738-0202 Grow Store, The 8644 W. Colfax Avenue, Lakewood, CO 80215 888-510-0350 GWS Hydroponics 7025 Highway 82 Building 4B, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 970-384-2040 Head Start Hydroponics & Organic Gardening Emporium 34500 US Highway 6, Unit B-9, North Edwards, CO 81632 970-569-3139 Hydro-Grow Supply 644 Peterson Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80915 719-596-2600

132

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

3D Hydroponics and Organics 7139 US Highway #19, New Port Richey, FL 34652 727-8471-3491 Absolute Growing Solutions Inc. 7307 49th Street, Pinellas Park, FL 33781 727-541-3333 Advanced Hydro Gardens 4960 NW 165 Street, Suite B-4, Miami, FL 33014 866-97-HYDRO Atlantic Hydroponics 430 Count Street, Melbourne, FL 32901 321-821-1535 Blossoms Experience, The 7207 NW 54th Street, Miami, FL 33166 866-452-4769 Cultivating Eden Hydroponic Supplies 946 18th Avenue SW, Vero Beach, FL 32962 772-564-8880 East Coast Hydroponics & Organics 461 Forrest Avenue, Suite 105 Coca, FL 32922 321-243-6800 Eden Garden Supply 5044 N. Palafox Street, Pensacola, FL 32505 850-439-1299

Florida Garden Supplies 8020 Belvedere Road, Unit 4, West Palm Beach, FL 33411 561-333-1088 Future Farms Inc., The 14291 SW 120th Street, Suite 105 Miami, FL 33186 305-382-2757 Gardener’s Edge Gainesville 5000 NW 34th Street, Suite 13, Gainesville, FL 32605 352-375-2769 Gardener’s Edge Jacksonville 5325 Fairmont Street, Jacksonville, FL 32207 904-398-8012 Gold Coast Hydroponics 1539 SW 21st Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 1-800-780-7371 Gold Coast Hydroponics 4241 SW 71st Avenue, Miami, FL 33155 1-800-780-6805 Grace’s Hydro-Organic Garden Center 8877 North 56th Street Tampa, FL 33617 813-514-9376 Green Thumb Hydroponics Supplies 13482 North Cleveland Avenue, Fort Meyers, FL 33903 239-997-4769 GreenTouch Hydroponics Inc. 5011 S State Road 7, Suite 104 Davie, FL 33314 954-316-8815 Grower's Choice & Hydroponics 11855 North Main Street, Jackonsonville, FL 32218 904-683-4517 Growing Garden Inc., The 12811 SW 42nd Street, Miami, FL 33175 305-559-0309 Harvest Time Hydroponics 14414 N. Florida Avenue, Tampa, FL 33613 813-264-7101 Healthy Gardens and Supply of Florida, Inc. 196 East Nine Mile Road, Suite F, Pensacola, FL 32534 850-912-4545 High Tech Garden Supply 2975 West New Haven Avenue, Melbourne, FL 32901 321-821-0853 Hydro For Less 9545 Southwest 72nd Street, Miami, FL 33173 305-598-4311 Hydroponics International Inc. 7029-10 Commonwealth Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32220 904-693-6554 Hydroponics of Tampa 120 W. Bougain Villea, Tampa, FL 33612 813-333-6828 Hydro Terra Corp. 924 North Federal Highway, Hollywood, FL 33020 954-920-0889

Esposito Garden Center 2743 Capital Circle NE, Tallahassee, FL 32308 850-386-2114

Palm Beach Hydroponics Supply, Inc. 968 N. Congress Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33409 561-296-6161

Falero Hardware & Hydroponics 6758 W. Flager Street, Miami, FL 33144 305-266-8878

Simply Hydroponics & Organics 7949 Ulmerton Road, Largo, FL 33773 727-531-5355

Florida Garden Supplies 2692 W 79 Street, Hialeah, FL 33016 1-800-931-5215

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

Stoney Hydro @ Schiro's Barn n Garden Supplies 7812 Causeway Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33619 813-626-0902

Fertile Ground 463 West MacArthur Drive, Cottage Hills, IL 62018 618-259-5500

Worm’s Way Kentucky 1360 Donaldson Hwy. Suite A, Erlanger, KY 41018 800-669-2088

Sunshine Hydroponics Garden Center 1420 East Altomonte Drive, Altamonte Spring, FL 32701 407-830-GROW

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

LOUISIANA

Sunshine Hydroponics Garden Center 5561 S. Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, FL 32809 407-859-7728

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

Sunshine Hydroponics Garden Center 6100 Hanging Moss Road, Suite 500, Orlando, FL 32807 888-833-GROW

Hydrocork 20647 Renwick Road, Crest Hill, IL 60435 815-838-0100

Worm’s Way Florida 4412 North 56th Street, Tampa, FL 33610 800-283-9676; 813-621-1792

GEORGIA Atlantis Hydroponics 1422 Woodmont Lane, #4, Atlanta, GA 30318 404-367-0052 Atlantis Hydroponics 2561 West Point Avenue, College Park, GA 30337 678-510-0032

Kreation’s Indoor Gardening Center 3427 Old Chatman Road, Springfield, IL 62704 217-341-0821 Let it Grow - Carbondale West Main Street, Carbondale, IL 62908 573-450-5401 Prairie House Garden Center 15151 South Harlem Avenue, Orland, IL 60462 708-687-3131 Water Works Indoor Gardening 1900 South Dirksen Parkway, Springfield, IL 62703 217-553-6929

Laughing Buddha Nursery 4516 Clearview Parkway, Metairie, LA 70006 504-887-4336 Ourcrazydeals Hydroponics 201 Angus Drive, Yungsville, LA 70592 337-303-6146 Urban Organics 285 St. Claude Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70117 504-352-4709

MAINE Green Thumb Indoor Gardening 19 Stage Road, St. Albans, ME 04971 207-938-5909 Urban Garden Center 235 Lewiston Road, Toposhan, ME 04086 207-373-0990

MARYLAND East Coast Organics 2800 Sisson Street, Baltimore, MD 21211

Flora Hydroponics Inc. 2475 Jefferson Road, Suite 600 Athens, GA 30607 866-404-0551

INDIANA

Savannah Hydroponics & Organics 4107 Eighth Street, Suite C Garden City, GA 31408 912-349-4030

BWGS 7854 North State Road 37, Bloomington, IN 47404 800-316-1306

HAWAII

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

Maryland Hydroponics Inc. 12130 Nebel Street, Rockville, MD 20852 240-551-4625

Frogs Lilly Pad, The 706 Citation Road, Carmel, IN 46032 317-846-4610

Meadowview Feed & Garden Center 1202 Meadowview Road, Pasadena, MD 21122 443-817-0018

Harvest Moon Hydroponics 4200 S. East Street, Indianapolis, IN 46227 317-780-8070

Purple Mountain Organics 100-7010 Westmoreland Avenue, Takoma Park, MD 20912 877-538-9901

Magic Bulb Garden Center 6229 Allisonville Road, Indianapolis, IN 46220 317-202-2852

MASSACHUSETTS

Aqua Plant Hawaii / Kahala Hydroponics 4224 Wailae, Suite 1A, Honolulu, HI 96816 808-735-8665 Ohana Greenhouse & Garden Supply 300 Hukilike Street, #2M, Kahalui, HI 96732 808-871-6393 Pahoa Feed & Fertilizer 15-2754 Old Government Road, Pahoa, HI 96778 808-965-9955

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 Alternative Garden Supply A-615 Industrial Drive, Gary, IL 60013 800-444-2837

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

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

KENTUCKY

Big Grow Hydroponics 9225 Trinity Drive, Lake In The Hills, IL 60156 847-854-4450

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

Brew and Grow 1824 North Besly Court, Chicago, IL 60622 773-395-1500

Grow Shop, The of Lexington 2320 Palumbo Drive, Suite 130, Lexington, KY 40509 859-268-0779

Brew and Grow 3224 South Alpine Road, Rockford, IL 61109 815-874-5700

Louisville Hydroponics 3471 Taylor Boulevard, Louisville, KY 40215 502-366-4000

Brew and Grow 2379 Bode Road, Schaumburg, IL 60194 847-885-8282

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

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

Greenlife Garden Supply 481 Boston Road, Unit 4, Billerica, MA 01821 978-262-9966 Green Path Garden Supply 276 West Main Street, Northborough, MA 01532 508-393-4181 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 New England Hydroponics 15 D Coolege Hwy. (Rt. 10), Southampton, MA 01073 888-529-9025 Worm’s Way Massachusetts 121 Worc-Providence Turnpike, Sutton, MA 01590 800-284-9676

MICHIGAN BIg Creek Hydroponics 555 Old Little Lake Road, Marquette, MI 49855 906-249-5297 Cultivation Station of Michigan Inc., The 23529 Little Mack Avenue, St Claire’s Shores, MI 48080 586-775-9485

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

133

MAXIMUM YIELD distributors

Gro Blue Indoor Gardening Supplies 270 W. Liberty Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 734-913-2750 Growco Garden Supply 1042 Michigan Street, NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 877-939-6900 Home Grown Hydroponics 8075 Gratiot Road, Unit C, Saginaw MI 48609 989-781-1930 Homelight Gardens 3471 S. Huron Road, Bay City, MI 48706 989-922-0088 Horizen Hydroponics 1614 Leonard Street, NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504 866-791-1664

Interior Gardens 115 -1620 Central Avenue NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413 800-498-4178; 612-870-9077

HotHydro® 5245 Jackson Road, Suite F Ann Arbor, MI 48103 734-761-5040; 877-893-0716 Hydroharrys.com 24500 Dequindre, Warren, MI 48091 800-461-8819

Still-H2O Inc. 14375 North 60th Street, Stillwater, MN 55082 651-351-2822

Hydrospot 34236 Michigan Avenue, Wayne, MI 48184 734-722-1285

MISSOURI

J&L Growco 206 S. Michigan Avenue, Big Rapids, MI 49307 231-796-1528 Kalamazoo Indoor Garden 450 W. Maple, Kalamazoo, MI 49001 269-344-2550 Light Green Water 3661 Highland Road, Waterford, MI 48329 248-681-0001 SH Hydroponics Inc. 115 Holmes Road, Building 3 Suite A, Ypsilanti, MI 48198 734-879-4014 Sunshine Supply Co. 5800 East Pickard Street, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858 989-775-3700 Superior Growers Supply 19582 Middlebelt Road, Livonia, MI 48152 248-473-0450 Superior Growers Supply 4870 Dawn Avenue, East Lansing, MI 48823 517-332-2663 The Grow Store 721 W. Blue Star Drive, Traverse City, MI 49684 231-421-5191 Van Hydro 7480 N State, Davison, MI 48423 810-653-8267 Wild Child 7740 M 72 East, Traverse City, MI 49690 866-711-GROW

AAA Indoor Organic Garden SuperCenter 2101 S. Decatur Boulevard, #21, Las Vegas, NV 89102 702-450-4769

Eden Indoor Organic Gardens 831 Highway 75 North Moorhead, MN 56560 218-477-EDEN (3336) Indoor Gardening 10 NE 3rd Street, Faribault, MN 55021 507-209-1546

Midwest Hydroponics 3440 Belt Line Boulevard, Suite A, Minneapolis, MN 55416 888-449-2739

Indoor Garden Superstore 2570 Dixie Highway, Waterford Twp., MI 48328

NEVADA

Brew and Grow 8179 University Avenue, Fridley, MN 55432 612-780-8191 Eco Garden Supply 800 Transfer Door 25 in rear St. Paul, MN 55114 651-647-1896

All American Hydroponics 2675 East Patrick Lane, Unit 8, Las Vegas, NV 89120 702-894-9888 Anything Grows 190 West Moana Lane, Reno, NV 89509 775-828-1460 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 Nevada Hydroponics 4700 B Maryland, Suite 1, Las Vegas, NV 89119 702-798-2852

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Divine Hydroponics 301 North Bishop Avenue, Rolla, MO 65401 573-426-2348 Grow Your Own Hydroponics 3617 Saint John Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64123 816-241-2122 Green Circle Hydroponics 12 East Missouri, Kansas City, MO 64106 816-421-1840 Heartland Hydrogardens 5695 E. Clark Lane, Suite L, Columbia, MO 65202 573-474-GROW (4769)

Advanced Gardens Hydroponics 3111 South Valley View, (on Desert Inn West of Valley View) Suite V103 Las Vegas, NV 89102 702-257-4769

Hydro World 17 White Birch Lane, Lincoln, NH 03251 603-745-3030

NEW JERSEY 77HYDRO 37 Fairfield Place, West Caldwell, NJ 07006 877-774-9376 Claraqua 4 Redwood Court, West Windsor, NJ 08550

HYDROGARDENS

Let It Grow - Springfield 2519 E. Kearney Street, Springfield, MO 65803 417-862-GROW Let It Grow - Girardeau 879 S. Kings Highway, Cape Girardeau, MO 63703 573-803-0628 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

MONTANA Bizzy Beez LLP 5875 Highway 93 S, Whitefish, MT 59937 406-863-9937

NEBRASKA Advanced Hydro-Ponics 10711 Mockingbird Drive, Omaha, NE 68127 (108th and L-Q) 402-991-6630

East Coast Horticultural Supply 1652 Hurffville Road, Swewell, NJ 08080 856-228-5290 Garden State Hydroponics 511 Avenel Street, Avenel, NJ 07001 888-300-8711 Green Touch 2 Hydroponics Inc. 888 Route 33, Unit 1, Hamilton, NJ 08619 609-570-8829

greentouch2

NEW MEXICO

HYDROPO NI C S

AHL Garden Supply 1051 San Mateo Blvd. SE, Albuquerque, NM 87108 505-255-3677 Common Shaman 1319 San Mateo N.E., Albuquerque, NM 87110 505-255-6463

NEW YORK Bronx Hydro & Garden 39 Bruckner Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10454 718-993-3787 California Hydroponics 27 Corporate Circle, East Syracuse, NY 13057 315-432-9387

MINNESOTA

Paradigm Gardens 8949 J Street, Suite 5, Omaha, NE 68127 402-339-4949

East Coast Hydroponics 14649 Horace Harding Exp, Flushing, NY 11367 718-762-8880

American Garden Supply 601-6th Avenue, North, Princeton, MN 55371 763-631-0543

Patio-Ponics 3255 Cornhusker Highway, Suite 4 Lincoln, NE 68504 402-466-9218

Environmental Gardens 8 John Walsh Boulevard, Suite 310 Peekskills, NY 10566 800-254-0507; 914-736-6676

134

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

I NC .

FutureGarden Inc. 59 Central Avenue, Farmingdale, NY 11735 516-420-0884

Flow & Grow Hydroponics & Organic Garden Center 4521 Cumberland Road, Fayetteville, NC 28306 910-423-FLOW (3569)

Magic Home Gardens 209 Cemetery Road, Canal Winchester, OH 43110 614-837-2440

Greentree Nursery 308 Elmira Road, Ithaca, NY 14850 607-272-3666

High Tech Garden Supply 2712 B Freedom Drive Charlotte, NC 28208 704-697-0911

Grow Room, The 8 Bridge Street, Nyack, NY 10960 800-449-9630

Magic Home Garden 4538 Indianola Avenue, Columbus, OH 43214 614-263-2440

New Age Gardens 2236A US Highway 70, Swannanoa, NC 28778 828-299-9989

Summit Hydroponics 1030 Kenmore Boulevard Akron, OH 44314-2114 330-753-5222

Progressive Gardens 6005 Oleander Drive, Wilmington, NC 28403 910-395-1156

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

Urban Organics and Hydroponics 4604 W. Market Street, Suite 106, Greensboro, NC 27407 336-316-0604

Super Harvest 5956 A Colerain Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45239 513-385-5999

Harvest Moon Hydroponics Henrietta Townline Plaza, 3047 West Henrietta Road, Rochester, NY 14623 716-865-7353 Harvest Moon Hydroponics 340 West at 59, Central Nyack, NY 10960 Harvest Moon Hydroponics 147 Fourth Street, Troy, NY 10960

Water’s Edge Hydro-Gardens & Organics 107 South White Street, Wake Forest, NC 27587 919-562-5343

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

OHIO

Hudson Valley Hydroponics 217 Route 32 North, New Paltz, NY 12561 845-255-3633

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

Hydro Garden Center 1069B Lyell Avenue, Rochester, NY 14606 1-800-277-1322

Akron Garden Center 434 W Wilbeth Road, Akron, OH 44314 330-724-2700

Hydroponics of Buffalo 1497 Hertel Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14216 716-838-3545

Cleveland Garden Center Inc. 727 East 185th Street, Cleveland, OH 44119 216-481-7868

Hydroponics Shops of America 2606 Erie Boulevard, Syracuse, NY 13224 315-251-2516

CropKing 134 West Drive, Lodi, OH 44254 330-302-4203

Indoor Outdoor Gardener 8223 5th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11209 718-836-2402 KG Garden Supply 1327 Floyd Avenue, Rome, NY 13440 1-877-KG-HYDRO Saratoga Organics & Hydroponic Supply 19 Front Street, Ballston Spa, NY 12020 518-885-2005; 800-850-4769 Sunlight Solutions Hydroponics 2045 Niagara Falls Boulevard, Suite 13, Niagara Falls, NY 14304 888-GROWBOX Sunset Hydroponics & Home Brewing 1590 West Ridge Road, Rochester, NY 14615 866-395-9204

NORTH CAROLINA Be Well Hydroponics & Urban Gardening 4732 Monroe Road, Charlotte, NC 28205 704-344-8010 BWGS East 4045 Perimeter West Drive, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28214 800 316 1306

Carefree Garden Center 134 West Drive, Lodi, OH 44254 330-302-4203 Dayton Hydroponics 3856 Miamisburg-Centerville Road, West Carrolton, OH 45449 937-859-3999 Garden Indoors of Ohio 4720 Indianola Avenue, Columbus, OH 43214 800-833-6868 Greenleaf Hydroponics 1805 Elm Road, Warren, OH 44483 330-372-1039 Harvest Moon 9215 Market Street, Youngstown (North Lima), OH 44452 800-776-8399 Garden Grove Organics 29 East 7th Street, Covington, (Cincinnati Metro), KY 41011 859-360-1843 Grow Wizard, The 5700 Denison Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44102 216-961-2500

Toledo Hydroponics Ltd. 855 S. Holland-Sylvania Road, Suite 2 Toledo, OH 43615 1-877-893-0716 Trinity Hydro Organics 435 Woodman Drive Riverside, OH 45431 937-252-GROW Urban Gardens 671 E. Center Street Marion, OH 43302 740-375-2800 Worm’s Way Greater Cincinatti / N. Kentucky 1360 Donaldson Road (Route 236), Suite A, Erlanger, KY 41018 800-669-2088

OKLAHOMA AAAAHA! Hydroponics Unlimited P.O. Box 74, Oakhurst, OK 74050 Tulsa County Hydro-Organics 1928 W. Albany, Broken Arrow, OK 74012 918-259-HYDRO Urban Garden 3141 E. 15th Street, Tulsa, OK 74104 918-289-0018

OREGON American Agriculture 9220 Southeast Stark Street, Portland, OR 97216 800-433-6805 Anthony’s Garden & Light Supply 93779 B Troy Lane, Coos Bay, OR 97420 541-266-8822 Aqua Serene 2836 W. 11, Eugene, OR 97402 541-485-2171 Aqua Serene Hydro Gardens 1090 Benson Way, Ashland, OR 97520 541-482-7600

Fifth Season Gardening Company 45 Banks Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801 828-253-4112

Herb-N-Garden Center 14901 Puritas Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44135 216-252-2001

Basin Indoor Gardening 1221 Main Street, Klamath Falls, OR 97601 541-273-2023

Fifth Season Gardening Company 106 South Greensboro Street, Carrboro, NC 27510 919-932-7600

Indoor Garden Worx 906 Blue Avenue, Zanesville, OH 43701 866-900-9679

B.I.G.S. 155 SW Century Drive, Suite 401, Bend, OR 97702 541-385-5222

Fifth Season Gardening Company 1616 D-3 Battleground Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27408 336-271-3373

Indoor Gardens 1222 Hill Road, North, Pickerington, OH 43147 614-866-6065

BIGS Warehouse 2606 SW 4th Street, Unit B Redmond, OR 97756 541-504-8886

Fifth Season Gardening Company 5619-A Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27606 919-852-4747

Kissed by the Sun Hydroponic 10740 Reading Road, Cincinnati, OH 45241 513-769-0159

Cascade Horticulture 39570 Pioneer Boulevard, Sandy, OR 97055 503-668-8242

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

135

MAXIMUM YIELD distributors

Corvallis Hydroponics & Organics 5490 Philomath Road, Corvallis, OR 97333 541-738-2820

Moonshine Park Farm 135 South East 62nd, Unit F South Beach, OR 97366 541-444-2298

LiquidSun® RI 1179 Central Avenue, Pawtucket, MA 02861 401-722-2724

Everybody’s Garden Center 2701 SE 14th Avenue, Portland, OR 97202 800-669-5483

Northern Light and Garden Beaverton 9290 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway, Beaverton, OR 97005 503-297-7331

SOUTH CAROLINA

Forever Green Organic Hydro Gardens 7530 Crater Lake Highway, White City, OR 97503 541-826-2946

Northern Light and Garden Grants Pass 1203 Rogue River Highway, Grants Pass, OR 97527 541-474-1700

Garden Spout, The 4532 South East 63rd Avenue, Portland, OR 97206 503-788-4769

Northern Light and Garden Salem 1915 Lancester Drive, Salem, OR 97305 503-364-4769

Gorge Garden Center 1203 12th Street Suite H, Hood River, OR 97031 541-386-GROW

Oregon Rainforest Co. 19949 E. Burnside Street, Gresham, OR 97233 503-465-9909

Gorilla Garden Supply 1810 Virginia Avenue, North Bend, OR 97459 541-756-5005

Paradise Supply Inc. 1409 N. Highway 99, Ashland, OR 97520 541-552-1037

Garden Supplies

Green Thumb Hydrogarden and Organic Supply 2021 West Main Street, Medford, OR 97501 541-779-8600

Rain or Shine 13126 NE Airport Way, Portland, OR 97230 503-255-1981

Grow America Garden Supply LLC 11511 SW Pacific Highway, Tigard, OR 97223 503-841-6868

Roots Garden Supply 5426 North Gay Avenue, Portland, OR 97217 503-285-4768

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

Roseburg Hydroponics 853 SE Stephens Street, Roseburg, OR 97470 541-229-1420

H2organic LCC 620 NE 3rd Street, McMinnville, OR 97128 503-434-6107 Herb N’ Jungle Hydroponics 930 SE Textron Drive, Bend, OR 97702 541-382-4010 Homegrown Garden Supply 7112 NE Gilsan Street, Portland, OR 97213 877-EZ2-GROW In and Out Gardens 1574 Skypark Drive Medford, OR 97501 541-858-3333 Indoor Garden Center 1697 SE 25th Street, Salem, OR 97302 503-566-7888 Indoor Garden Depot 15828 SE McLoughlin Boulevard, Milwaukie, OR 97267 503-786-2445 Indoor Garden Supply 536 SW 6th Street (rear alley), Redmond, OR 97756 541-504-7750 Island Flowers & Indoor Garden Center 909 N. Tomahawk Island Drive, Suite 103, Portland, OR 97217 503-546-3185 J-N-B Hydro 2 Go 155 West Central Avenue, Sutherlin, OR 97479 541-459-9211 Ladybug Indoor Gardens 3960 W. Main Street, Medford, OR 97501 541-618-4459 Lights Distributing 9843 SW 55th Avenue, Portland, OR 97219 Liquid Sun 1845 Southwest Highway 101, Lincoln City, OR 97367 541-994-7070

136

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

SunInside Gardening Co. 665 Conger, Unit F, Eugene, OR 97402 541-686-9966 Urban Flora 2865 South East, Portland, OR 97214 503-236-3344 Wizard's Garden, LLC 621 Spruce Street, Unit C, Myrtle Point, OR 97458 541-572-2333

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 GreenSpirit Hydrogarden 1864 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC 29405 843-225-1GRO; Green Thumb Unique Gardening & More 1230 Rutherford Road, Greenville, SC 29609 864-271-8830

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

TENNESSEE Advanced Hydroponic Garden 783 French Mill Road, Dandridge, TN 37725 800-521-1643 Advanced Hydroponic Garden 6912 Clinton Highway, Knoxville, TN 37921 866-938-3318 All Seasons Gardening and Brewing Supply Co. 924 8th Avenue, South, Nashville, TN 37203 800-790-2188 Atlantis Hydroponics 1800 Rossville Avenue, #3, Chattanooga, TN 37408 423-752-5400

PENNSYLVANIA

National Garden Wholesale/Sunlight Supply 126 Belinda Parkway, Mt. Juliet, TN 37122 888-265-9005

Full Bloom Hydroponics 84 South 24th Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203 888-872-3602

Perpetual Harvest 75 Riverport Drive, Jackson, TN 38301 877-422-3391

Garden Indoors of Pennsylvania 208 Route 13, Bristol, PA 19007 800-227-4567

Sun City Hydroponics 2235 Whitten Road, Suite 104, Memphis, TN 38133 901-372-8100

Harvest Moon Hydroponics 1239 South Airport Road, Allentown, PA 18103 610-432-4949

Worm’s Way Tennessee 707 Rivergate Parkway, Suite E Goodlettsville, TN 37072 800-397-4153

Healthy Gardens and Supply 1012 Lincoln Avenue, Prospect Park, PA 19076 866-32-HYDRO

TEXAS

High Tech Garden Supply 20232 Route 19, Unit 6, Cranberry Twp., PA 16066 724-473-1113 Home Hydroponics of Pittsburgh 2008 Smallman Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-232-7030 Home Hydroponics of Pittsburgh 830 Route 119, Greensburg, PA 15601 724-836-1118

Airline Hydroponics P.O. Box 980904, Trader’s Village #363, Houston, TX 77098 713-942-0484 Botani Hydroponics & Organics 7730 Highway 6 South Houston, TX 77083 281-575-1999 Brite Ideas Hydroponics & Organics 4360 S.Congress Avenue, #310, Austin, TX 78745 512-444-2100

RHODE ISLAND

Field of Dreams Indoor Growing Supplies 5302 Slide Road Unit B, Lubbock, TX 79414 806-793-2901

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

GreenMaker Nursery 3030 Northwest Loop, Stephenville, TX 76401 254-965-7273

GroGreen Hydroponics 4015 Main Street, Dallas, TX 75226 214-370-9984

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

National Garden Wholesale / Sunlight Supply 5408 NE 88th Street, Building A, Vancouver, WA 98665 888-478-6544

Happy Harvest 1500 Crescent Drive, #202 Carrollton, TX 75006 972-820-9376

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

Northern Light and Garden Vancouver 6305 NE Highway 99, Vancouver, WA 98665 360-993-7779

Houston Discount Hydroponics 9384 Richmond Avenue, Houston, TX 77063 713-464-9406

I Love Hydroponics 612 N. Sheppard Street, Richmond, VA 23221 804-377-3020

Northern Lights Gardening 4159 Hannegan Road, Bellingham, WA 98225 360-715-8585

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

I Love Hydroponics 368 Newtown Road, #105, Virginia Beach, VA 23462 757-490-5425

Northwest Horticulture Supply 161 Hooker Road, #1, Sequim, WA 98057 360-582-0702

Innergrow Hydroponics 24451 Interstate Highway 20, Wills Point, TX 75169 866-475-4769

Inside-Out Garden Supply 6517 Backlick Road, Springfield, VA 22150 703-451-3259

Renton Indoor Garden Center 207 Sunset Blvd. N, Building A, Renton, WA 98055 425-917-9000

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

WASHINGTON

River City Hydroponics 1514 East Francis Avenue, Spokane, WA 99208 509-464-0246

Lone Star Hydroponics and Organics 1302 Motor Circle, Dallas, TX 75207 214-634-9376 Sol Organics & Hydroponics 1634 Babcock Road, San Antonio, TX 78229 210-366-9082 Texas Growers Supply 5990 N. Sam Houston Pkwy. E. #602, Humble, TX 77396 281-441-3739 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 Texas Hydroponics & Organics (Dallas) 3400 Elm Street, Dallas, TX 75226 214-744-4769 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

Aqua Serene 3839 Stone Way North, Seattle, WA 98103 206-547-GROW Eco Enterprises 1240 NE 175th Street, #B Shoreline, WA 98155 800-426-6937 Garden Smart 500 Bond Drive, Castlerock, WA 98611 360-274-7960

Hydro-Tech 2121 Aurora Avenue, North, Seattle, WA 98103 206-547-2202

Brew and Grow 285 N. Janacek Road, Brookfield, WI 53045 262-789-0555

Indoor Garden Depo 6305 NE Highway 99, Vancouver, WA 98665 360-993-7779 Indoor Garden & Lighting 3839 6th Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98406 253-761-7478 Indoor Garden & Lighting 23303 Highway 99, Suite A, Edmonds, WA 98026 425-673-2755 Indoor Garden & Lighting 714 South Central Avenue, Kent, WA 98032 253-373-9060

Salt Lake Plant & Hydro 60 West 3300 S. #6, South Salt Lake, UT 84115 801-488-3200

Kent Garden Supplies Ltd. 18817 East Valley Highway, Kent, WA 98032 425-251-9299

VERMONT

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

LiquidSun® VT 1 Bellows Falls Road, (Route 5 North) Putney, VT 05158 802-387-1100

WISCONSIN Aric's Indoor Garden Supply 1104 West Wisconsin Avenue, Appleton, WI 54914 920-574-3258

UTAH

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

Spokane Organic and Hydroponic Supply 4823 East Sprague Avenue E., Spokane Valley, WA 99212 509-534-4055

Green Gardens Distributing 12738 Bel-Red Road, Bellevue, WA 98005 425-454-5731

Indoor Garden Supply LLC 1950b Belmont Loop, Woodland, WA 98674 360-841-8055

Green Thumb Gardening P.O. Box 235, Route 15, Underhill, VT 5489 800-564-9376

Solar Shop 306 West 4th Street, Tonasket, WA 98855 509-486-4508

Linda’s Gardening & Hydroponics 11522 Canyon Road East, Puyallup, WA 98373 253-531-9641 Liquid Sunshine Hydroponics 5087 Lincoln Road, Blaine, WA 98230

VIRGINIA

M & R Lighting 17238 Memorial Drive, Mt. Vernon, WA 98273 360-848-1080

Blue Ridge Hydroponics & Home Brewing Co. 5524 Williamson Road, Suite 11 Roanoke VA 24012 540-265-2483

M & R Lighting Unit C 22914 Highway 410, Buckley, WA 98390 253-891-4190

Brew and Grow 3317 Agriculture Drive, Madison, WI 53716 608-226-8910 Grow BIG Hydroponics 954 S. Westland, Appleton, WI 54914 920-749-4769 Paradigm Gardens 4539 Helgesen Drive, Madison, WI 53718 608-241-3800

PUERTO RICO Tecno-Hydro Ave Campo Rico GJ17, Carolina, PR 00982 787-752-8252

MY WE THANK ALL OF OUR DEDICATED RETAILERS FOR OFFERING MAXIMUM YIELD TO THEIR CUSTOMERS.

ARE YOU CURRENTLY DISTRIBUTING MAXIMUM YIELD FROM YOUR RETAIL STORE?

If so, pass along your contact information to us here at the magazine care of ilona@maximumyield.com and we will add your store’s name, address and telephone number to our distributor listing in an upcoming issue. Add your company logo to the distributor listings! Call 250-729-2677 or Email ilona@maximumyield.com

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010

137

COMING UP IN february

commonly asked questions According to Dr. Lynette Morgan, many hydroponic plants are lost through over saturation in the root zone. Growers need to be in tune with the growing environment because Moisture Matters. Expert advice; latest news; your letters; little known facts; web exclusives; contests; CO2 concentration, LEDs, grow room safety and more!

www.maximumyield.com available for FREE at selected indoor gardening retail stores across USA and on maximumyield.com. Subscriptions are available by contacting editor@maximumyield.com or visiting maximumyield.com/subscriptions.php I N D O O R

138

G A R D E N I N G

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - January 2010