USA Jan 2011

USA

FREE

Guidelines for Adventurous

GUERRILLA GARDENERS GREENER GARDENS

www.maximumyield.com

Techniques That Save Time, Money and the Planet

2011

Indoor gardenING expo VANCOUVER BC, CANADA May 14-15

Denver

Colorado, USA March 31- April 3

SAN FRancisco California, USA July 16-17

long beach california, usa october 22-23

indoorgardeningexpo.com

FEATURES 58

112

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CONTENTS January 2011

Humidity, Vapor Pressure Deficit and the Transpiration Stream

by Dr. Lynette Morgan

58

Booster LEDs: Take Plant Steering to a Whole New Level

66

An End to Pesticides

78

Mechanical Design & Function Versus Plant Biology

86

Fertilizers or Additives...or Both? – Part 2

94

Nutrient Deficiencies: Reaction and Prevention – Part 1

by Brian Chiang and Josh Puckett

by Dr. Ed Harwood

by Dr. J. Benton Jones Jr.

by William Texier

by Matt LeBannister

102

Greener Gardens

112

Soilless Salvation and pH Perfection

122

AB 856 – California’s New Organic Law

134

Parent Plants: Care & Control

by Lee McCall

by Casey Jones Fraser

by Donald Lester

by Trevor Holt

DEPARTMENTS 10 12 14 20 22 32

From the Editor Letters to the Editor MaximumYield.com Simon Says MAX Facts Product Spotlight

76 92 100 118 120 128

Tips & Tricks Beginner’s Corner Green Thumb Gardening Avant-Gardening You Tell Us

140 144 148 149 150

Talking Shop Max Mart Coming up in February Do You Know?

Distributors

Growing for Health

Maximum Yield USA | January 2011

9

FROM THE editor

jessica raymond

For this special New Year’s 2011 edition of Maximum Yield USA, we help you set achievable resolutions to turn your garden a brighter shade of green. In this issue you can expect a healthy dose of reality on what it truly means to be an eco-gardener. Set the scene for a year of green gardening starting with a review of the side effects of pesticides, followed by guerrilla gardening guidelines for adventurous, ambitious souls. In “Greener Gardens” Lee McCall recommends techniques that may save you time, money and maybe even our planet. To top it off, this issue’s feature article outlines the newly passed organic law in California, which will significantly affect both endconsumers and the industry at large.

2011 marks the start of another year of great giveaways and free grow gear for dedicated Maximum Yield readers. Stay tuned to maximumyield.com/contests.php for the most up-to-date information on our Win Big…Grow Big contest and Correction: From November Maximum Yield USA True Liberty Bags donates one per cent of net sales, and not one per cent of their profits to an approved non-profit group or agency of their choosing, as part of 1% for the Planet.

other exciting contests coming your way this year. And flip to page 133 to check out the prize packs up for grabs for January/February.

Our 2011 Maximum Yield Expo Tour has been announced. We will be stopping in Denver, Colorado (March 31 - April 3),Vancouver, British Columbia (May 14 - 15), San Francisco, California (July 16 - 17) and Long Beach, California (October 22 - 23). Exciting new things are planned for this year’s shows so mark your calendars to attend the industry’s biggest and best indoor gardening tradeshows.

More information can be found at indoorgardenexpo.com Everyone here at MY HQ wishes you and your family a year of happiness, health and green gardens.

We looking forward to seeing you all at our Indoor Gardening Expos this year.

Jessica Raymond, Editor editor@maximumyield.com

contributors Brian Chiang has worked for

William Texier started hydroponics in

1985, doing research and development for General Hydroponics in California.

In 1995, he and his wife Noucetta Kehdi created General Hydroponics Europe.

William is best known for coining the term bioponics, or organic hydroponics.

William has 25+ years of hydroponics experience and is considered a hydroponics expert worldwide.

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

Dr. Lynette Morgan holds a B. Hort.

Dr. Ed Harwood is founder and chief

Casey Jones Fraser owns Garden

Lee McCall graduated from

Donald Lester is the plant

Josh Puckett earned his bachelor’s

Dr. J. Benton Jones Jr. has 50

Trevor Holt is the owner of Sydney-

DiCon Fiberoptics, Inc., an advanced technology company based in California, for the last 13 years.

Brian received his bachelor’s degree in physics from UC Berkeley and master’s degree in physics from UC Davis. He is currently the managing director for Kessil Lighting, a DiCon business division.

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.

Johnson and Wales University with a concentration in Culinary Arts.

Culinary school opened the door to research and work with hydroponics and organic production. Currently, Lee attends business school in Denver and focuses on continuing advancements with Maximum Yield and indoor gardening technology. years of experience growing plants hydroponically. He is an Emeritus Professor at the University of Georgia, Athens and has authored eight books and written articles for magazines that deal with hydroponic issues.

He currently has his own consulting company, Grosystems, Inc. Dr. Jones currently lives in Anderson, SC, USA.

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Maximum Yield USA | January 2011

executive officer of AeroFarms. Ed previously served as associate director of Cornell Cooperative Extension for Agriculture. Prior to that, Ed served as CEO of Topline Waikato, Inc.

products manager at JH Biotech, Inc., a California based agricultural technology company with 27 OMRI certified products. Donald has a master’s degree in agronomy with an emphasis in entomology. He is an agricultural scientist with over 10 years of research experience and 50 scientific publications to his credit. based Hydro Masta Pty Ltd. He has over 20 years of experience in the hydroponics industry. Their website (www.hydromasta.com.au) contains a full library of hydroponic help tips and ideas, plus their online store of over 800 quality products. Email sales@ hydromasta.com.au

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

He believes that indoor gardeners can achieve the highest quality crops and maximum yields when proper science is applied. Since 1998, Casey has been testing various nutrients and supplements in search of outstanding harvests. degree in biology with an emphasis on plant biology from Sonoma State University. He currently works at the UC Davis Foundation Plant Services.

He has years of experience in the horticulture and agriculture industries.

He also serves as an advisor for the Kessil Research team.

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

Friendly Feedback

Digital Dilemma

Max Yield,

Is it possible to make the back issues of Maximum Yield available as PDFs, like the current issue, instead of only digital editions?

I keep all the issues for reference and I read them when I am not near internet access.

Sometimes, I don’t get to the website quick enough and I miss an issue.

Thank you for producing such an excellent magazine. The hydro industry is so full of hearsay that it is refreshing to read information from a scientific perspective. I love your material, but I have a comment regarding past topics.

LEDs are cool, but they are not for everyone. For growing something like lettuce they are great, but in my experience they simply are not powerful enough for the plants I grow in comparison to HIDs. Sure, you can put the light very close to the canopy, but the light intensity can diminish rapidly, leaving the rest of my plants in relative darkness. And cool temperatures + low light = powdery mildew. Along with many of your readers, I do not have the space, money or time to spend on slower growth and lower yields.

Hydroponics can be a very expensive endeavor and investing in new technologies is a gamble that is not always worth taking. I recommend caution to all your readers regarding this topic.

Thank you again for producing a magazine that provides such cutting edge topics for debate.

Garden Kat

PDF

Thanks, Mike Carmain

Back issues of Maximum Yield are available to download on http://issuu.com.You will need to sign up (http://issuu.com/signup) in order to download past issues. Thanks for reading.

The Aeroponic Age I really enjoyed your “Advanced Aeroponics” article by Joshua Serpa in the August issue of Maximum Yield USA. Before reading, I struggled to name the fuzzies (root hairs) that develop on my roots when the root environment is optimal. I use a high pressure system (100 psi) that is sold for reptile owners.

Rob H

You Asked, We Listened Just a friendly suggestion: on the distributor’s list at the back of your magazine, I recommend you alphabetize by the city, not the name of the store. I live in Sacramento and all I want to know is where I can find your magazine in Sacramento. By alphabetizing by city (rather than by store name), it’s a lot easier to find a store by my house. Thanks for your consideration of my suggestion. Great magazine, regardless!

Ryan Tracy

Great idea! Starting with the February 2011 issue of Maximum Yield USA, we will be alphabetizing our retail distributor listings by the state first followed by the city, making it that much easier to locate a Maximum Yield distributor near you. Suggestions are encouraged and welcomed. This is your magazine. Tell us how we can make it better for you.

Growers Helping Growers I own a garden center that is beginning to sell a lot of hydroponic supplies, lighting systems, nutrients, etc. I would like to distribute your publication to my customers. The great people of the Urban Garden Centers of Maine recommended you and said the publication has helped their sales. The name of my business is Pelletier Florist Greenhouses and Garden Center located at 500 West Main St. in Fort Kent, Maine. Thank you in advance for your consideration.

Rob Johnson

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

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Maximum Yield USA | January 2011

Coming up on the Web EVENTS It’s Expo Mania! All three 2011 expos planned on the North American Tour are selling out fast, which means you can expect nothing less than the best our industry has to offer in products and educational information at these high-profile events. Visit www.indoorgardeningexpo.com for dates and details.

I N D O O R

G A R D E N I N G

VOLUME 11 – NUMBER 10 January 2011 Maximum Yield is published monthly by Maximum Yield Publications Inc. 2339A Delinea Place, Nanaimo, BC V9T 5L9 Phone: 250.729.2677; Fax 250.729.2687 No part of this magazine may be reproduced without permission from the publisher.

If undeliverable please return to the address above.

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

Publication Agreement Number 40739092 Printed In Canada.

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

STAY CONNECTED We’re in our second year of publishing Maximum Yield’s monthly E-News, and it just keeps getting better. How do we know? Readership is up more than 60 per cent! If you’re not subscribed to MY’s E-News by now, what are you waiting for? Go to http://maximumyield.com/newsletter.php and get connected.

SPEED READ

Grow a greener garden, learn about California’s new organic law, build a perfectly balanced soilless mix, stay educated on pesticides and discover the history of the nutrient film technique (NFT).

ADVERTISING SALES 250.729.2677 Linda Jesson - linda@maximumyield.com Lisa Lambersek - lisa@maximumyield.com Ilona Hawser - ilona@maximumyield.com Ashley Heppell - ashley@maximumyield.com Christina Indseth - christina@maximumyield.com PRODUCTION & DESIGN ads@ads.maximumyield.com Mike Linden - mike@maximumyield.com Wes Cargill - wes@maximumyield.com Daniel Peters - daniel@maximumyield.com Nicole Tennison - nicole@maximumyield.com Jennifer Duong - jennifer@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

LATEST NEWS The world has gone hydro from hydroponic wine and hydroponic fast food to hydroponic science and hydroponic vending machines. Check it out.

Connect with Maximum Yield

www.maximumyield.com www.facebook.com/MaximumYield www.indoorgardeningexpo.com

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

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Maximum Yield USA | January 2011

AUSTRALIAN DISTRIBUTION House N Garden Futchatec Growth Technology Hydraspher

SIMON says

What have you heard about jellyfish fertilizer? I just saw a show produced in Japan about jellyfish fertilizer and I am wondering where I can buy some.

Would it be good for all stages of growth?

What a great question and a wonderful example of how experimenting in the garden can generate creative ideas.

Before discussing the nutritional and efficacious nature of a jellyfish fertilizer in the garden we should probably mention why this is even being considered.

Jellyfish populations around the world are surging.

Scientists are pointing at global warming and environmental pollution. In areas where there is large agricultural runoff, nutrification of the water can cause anoxic (low oxygen) areas in the water. Although this is very bad for fish, which tend to disappear, the jellyfish seem to thrive with their ability to store oxygen within their physical structure—one of many exceptional evolutionary functions found within the “lowly” jellyfish.

Japan was concerned with their overpopulation and its effect on their fishing industry and tried to be proactive. The government hired fishermen to drag razor wire through the masses of jellyfish but it backfired and unleashed a population explosion, a jelly survival mechanism when they are under attack; yet another evolutionary marvel.

Overpopulation is a bit of an understatement in some cases. In November 2007 the only fish farm in Northern Ireland was overrun by a flotilla of jellyfish 10 miles wide and 43 feet deep. The army of jellies ate through 2,000,000 worth of fish and wiped out the farm before moving on.

So we have a lot of jellyfish and we need to use them while trying to limit their population explosion. There are many ideas that are being tested. Many people talk about eating them, but the ones people eat are actually

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Maximum Yield USA | January 2011

endangered while the ones no one puts on a table are exploding.

In theory all things organic will decompose into organic matter and nutrients so jellyfish could become plant nutrients. Preliminary research has shown some positive results in the field of vegetables.

The initial research has been done in Japan and the species of jellies they tested have elevated levels of nitrogen and phosphorous. They also have similar levels of potassium, magnesium and calcium to that of the surrounding salt water. Unfortunately they also have a strong level of sodium and processes are being tested to try and reduce the sodium levels.

I have not heard of any manufacturers in North America using jellyfish as a component in a fertilizer but with the issue of jellyfish overpopulation being international I would think that if its found to be effective it won’t be long before it is an organic option for gardeners.

MAX

facts

hydroponic news, tips and trivia

Vintage 2010 3D Private Reserve Zinfandel _____________________ The hot, dry Mendocino county summer never arrived to the winery rich region. Vineyards prepared for economic losses from early rains. Their poor quality grapes had low brix levels and unripe tannins due to cool, cloudy weather. Mid Mountain Vineyards in Redwood Valley, California contacted 3D Organic Solutions, LLC to increase the brix levels of their grapes.

3D applied an organic nutritional foliar program to their 40 acres of Zinfandel grapevines, for $12 per acre. All grapevines treated with the organic nutritional program showed a significant increase in brix, improved ripening of tannins and a greater resistance to molds. Nine rows of grapes in an untreated control group (about one acre), were discarded (due to heavy molds, low brix and unripe tannins). 3D Organic Solutions, LLC bought the exceptional harvest and now is turning it into wine. Vintage 2010 3D Private Reserve Zinfandel coming soon. Stay tuned!

Bahrain Goes Green With Hydroponics _______________________ Within Bahrain, a small island country in the Persian Gulf, radical plans have been unveiled that could result in all homes and other buildings having hydroponic gardens in the future.

The trial should lead to the implementation of the scheme across the country sometime this year. The eventual hope is to create green spaces within what is becoming an increasingly urban society.

The Public Utilities Committee chairman Sadiq Rahma is backing the project wholeheartedly as part of a re-election campaign. His opinion is that hydroponics is the ideal solution.

So far the funding for the project has been secured and it is expected to be rolled out as part of the compulsory commercial building rooftop garden initiative. The development of this initiative in Bahrain shows once again how hydroponics is being used intelligently in various parts of the world as a convenient solution to gardening and food production.

(Source: http://hydroponicsguide.co.uk)

Texas Cowboys Investigating Hydroponic Fast Food _______ In Texas, the land of Stetsons and cowboys, they are rapidly discovering the benefits that hydroponics can deliver. Researchers at the Sul Ross State University in West Texas have been investigating how to use hydroponic systems to grow feed for livestock and also wildlife.

The experiment is driven by the high demand for water in West Texas, and if successful could be rolled out to ranches and farms throughout the area as another means to produce feed for cattle, sheep or wildlife.

Growers can recycle the water in the system, which makes hydroponics an exciting proposition; particularly considering the need for water in the area. There is also an argument that the hydroponic units could also help to reduce the high labor costs currently involved in the collection and handling of feed.

The rapidity of growth is also a bonus, with a fresh crop of feed ready every six days. Each crop produces around 600 pounds of feed, enough for the university’s entire herd. The University, however, is still investigating the health benefits of the feed; if it proves healthy, then the benefits to local ranchers and farmers will be immense.

(Source: http://hydroponicsguide.co.uk)

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Maximum Yield USA | January 2011

MAX

facts

hydroponic news, tips and trivia

Inside Out Garden Supply 2nd Store Grand Opening Inside Out Garden Supply celebrated the grand opening of its second store located at 7412 Sudley Road in Manassas, Virginia (1-703330-7850). We would like to take this opportunity to thank Hydrofarm for the food and drinks they generously provided our customers. We would also like to thank the following companies who generously provided products for door prizes and giveaways: American Hydroponics, Atami, Botanicare, Emerald Triangle, Fox Farm, General Hydroponics, Grodan, Hydro Innovations, Hydrofarm, and of course, Maximum Yield. We would like to extend a special thanks to Kathy from Hydrofarm who, as always, provided invaluable guidance and assistance.

Come visit us at our new store in Manassas or our flagship store at 6517 Backlick Road, Springfield, VA (1-703-4513259). We look forward to seeing and serving you. Danny and all the staff at Inside Out Garden Supply.

New Issue of Healthy Animals Now Online The Agricultural Research Service today posted a new issue of “Healthy Animals,” its quarterly online newsletter that compiles news and expert resources on the health and wellbeing of agricultural livestock, poultry and fish.

Each quarter, one article in “Healthy Animals” focuses on a particular element of animal research. The current issue discusses research to help aquaculture producers keep fish healthy and productive.

Research highlighted in this issue includes developing vaccines to protect farm-raised catfish and other aquatic animal species against disease-causing pathogens; and finding ways to increase catfish production through better oxygen-management practices.

(Source: www.ars.usda.gov)

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Maximum Yield USA | January 2011

MAX

facts

hydroponic news, tips and trivia

Five Urban Farming Ideas for Your Inner-city Students Learning Indoor _________________________ Own Backyard Gardening Techniques in Curriculum-guided Let’s take a look at some growing trends in urban farming.

Science Program _______________________ BACKYARD GARDENS: Why settle for a boring lawn or shrubbery when you can walk a few steps to your backyard into an edible forest of fresh onions, chard, spinach, lettuce and squash? And don’t forget to share ideas and tools with your neighbors.

WORMS: Vericomposting is becoming a popular trend for creating your own rich compost. Earthworms break down the soil, helping it breath and stay loose so plants’ roots can grow better.

BEES: Beekeeping has been gaining popularity in urban areas. Urbanites have turned keeping hives into a profit, selling fresh local honey to the community. Many beekeepers are simply gardeners who want bees to pollinate their flowers and vegetables.

CHICKENS: Chickens can be fed just about any old scrap from the kitchen table, and the more variety in their diet, the more nutritious the eggs they lay. Backyard Poultry magazine boasts upward of 80,000 current subscribers (up from 15,000 four years prior) and numerous chicken websites are gaining surprising traffic, such as backyardchickens.com and urbanchickens.org.

AQUACULTURE: Considering the sad state of our oceans and declining and poisoned fish populations, it makes sense to take a shot at farming your own fish.

(Source: http://ecosalon.com)

Science students at an inner-city Chicago middle school will study indoor gardening techniques for the next two months and report on their successes for their exhibits in the Gompers Fine Arts Option School’s annual Science Fair.

Nearly 200 fourth-, fifth- and seventh-grade students at Gompers Fine Arts Option School will follow a curriculum developed and led by steadyGROWpro, a Kokomo, Ind.based company that manufactures and distributes indoor, soilless plant-growing products. In early October, students planted their seeds in steadyGROWpro. They will care for their seeds, monitor growth and germination and report on their successes at the conclusion of the curriculum.

“We’re extremely excited to help educate young minds, share the fundamentals of indoor gardening and broaden these young students’ experiences,” said Kelvin Frye, national sales manager for steadyGROWpro. “We look forward to the successes of this program at Gompers and other schools in the near future.”

Funded entirely by steadyGROWpro, the curriculum was developed by steadyGROWpro’s Dr. Pawan Srivastava—an experienced scientist and successful creator of innovative hydration products used throughout the global floral industry—and steadyGROWpro company representative Dan Bigg.

New Easy Store Locator and Problem Solver Online at www.nutrifield.com.au ________________________________ Nutrifield’s all new store locator on www.nutrifield.com.au is up and running. It is now easier than ever to find a store near you with our easy-to-use maps in both Australia and the USA. If your local store currently stocks Nutrifield products and is not listed, please let us know and we will add the location to our new store locator feature for some free publicity. Please visit www.nutrifield.com.au/store-locator to have a look.

In addition, a new page has been added to Nutrifield’s website. Nutrifield’s online Garden Problem Solver aims to educate, inform and entertain. Stop by and have a read, comment and share with your friends! Please visit www.nutrifield.com.au/garden-problem-solver today.

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Maximum Yield USA | January 2011

MAX

facts

hydroponic news, tips and trivia

High Tech Garden Supply Heads West ______ High Tech Garden (HTG) Supply is proud to announce the grand opening of our sixth retail location, a 7,000 square foot superstore in Commerce City, Colorado just outside of Denver. “We are excited to be making the move west,” said Marcus Ricard. “With a large inventory of quality indoor/outdoor gardening products and competitive prices, HTG Supply is sure to become a favorite for gardeners in Colorado.”

HTG Supply stores are open Tuesday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Come in and let our knowledgeable staff help select the right products for your gardening application. We specialize in complete grow packages, grow light systems, ventilation, hydroponics, cloning, nutrients and much more.

Come visit us in Cranberry Twp., PA, Shrewsbury, MA, Charlotte, NC, Melbourne, FL, Taylor, MI and now Commerce City, CO at 5275 Quebec St. Phone: 1-720-222-0772, Email: costore@htgsupply.com

Improving Soil for Better Lawns and Gardens U.S. Department of Agriculture scientists in West Virginia are finding ways to improve soil on degraded land so it can be used for sports fields and other uses. Researchers are developing constructed or replacement subsoils and topsoils to build better and less-costly sports fields, rain gardens and lawns on former landfills, mine lands and other degraded land.

The turfgrass industry has set a high priority on improving degraded soils by constructing soils that include readily available rural, urban and industrial byproducts that can be mixed with local soils. These byproduct mixes are being tailored to not only reduce rain runoff and erosion, but also to remove or neutralize pollutants before they reach storm drains.

With lower costs, schools and local parks have a better chance of being able to afford soil replacement for better turfgrass survival. Eliminating compacted soil is the first step toward growing good, robust grass.

(Source: www.ars.usda.gov)

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Maximum Yield USA | January 2011

MAX

facts

hydroponic news, tips and trivia

Join the Growing Revolution Revolution Hydroponics is proud to announce the grand opening of our indoor gardening and hydroponics supplies store in Olean, New York. We offer a large inventory of quality indoor/outdoor gardening and hydroponics supplies at competitive prices.

Our store is open Monday to Saturday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

EST. We specialize in complete grow packages, HID lighting, hydroponics, odor control and ventilation, top-of-the-line nutrients, a variety of OMRI-listed nutrients, accessories and much more. Revolution Hydroponics is here to help the indoor gardener achieve maximum results. We look forward to seeing you at our store at 309 West State St. You can also shop online at www.revolutionhydroponics.com. For more information call 1-716-373-GROW(4769).

Vending Machine Grows 20,000 Heads of Lettuce a Year Without Sunlight ____________

The Chef’s Farm, a Japanese lettuce-growing vending machine, doesn’t require sunlight and can churn out 60 heads of lettuce a day, or over 20,000 a year. The Chef’s Farm was developed by Dentsu and uses 40 watt fluorescent lighting housed in chrome that can be stored conveniently in any restaurant. It can grow other kinds of veggies as well.

The portable fluorescent garden is on sale for $90,000, with the target market ostensibly being restaurants that want locally manufactured, sun-free vegetables on site. Chef’s Farm comes with five nutri-culture beds, which are each installed on long and thin metal frames. The lettuce seeds are planted in sponges in frames that have to be moved manually. The lighting equipment, culture solution and temperature can be controlled for each bed and five different vegetables can be cultivated at the same time.

MY (Source: www.treehugger.com)

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Maximum Yield USA | January 2011

PRODUCT spotlight

GUIDE TO THIS MONTH’S HOTTEST ITEMS YOUR Ask for them at your local indoor gardening store.

OG Bloom 0-5-7 _____________________________________________ OG Bloom 0-5-7 is a performance-based, indoor/outdoor bloom formula designed for use in hydroponic, ebb and flow, re-circulating and aeroponic systems, plus in soil or coir mixes. OG Bloom 0-5-7 contains phosphorus, potassium, kelp, fulvic acid, magnesium, copper, iron, boron, manganese, zinc, sulfur, proteins, amino acids and a proprietary nano-emulsifier that increases the efficiency of your plant’s nutrient uptake. Use with OG Grow 4-0-0 and OG Amino-Cal 3-0-0.

One gallon of OG Bloom 0-5-7 makes over 750 gallons of a ready-to-use bloom formula and 89 per cent of OG Bloom 0-5-7 ingredients are approved for use in organic crop production. Visit your local hydro shop for more information.

Growgles Glare Reduction Glasses ______________________________________________ Growgles offers glasses specifically designed to reduce sodium glare (red/orange) and protect eyes from UV and IR emitted by HPS lighting to allow the grower to see their plants again for the first time. Growgles are available in two different frames; the larger “heavy” frames are designed to protect eyes from the front and sides.

They fit over glasses and can be worn comfortably by themselves. The “Q” model is a more economical frame designed to protect eyes from the front and includes removable side shields to protect eyes from the side.

Order Growgles from an authorized Hydrofarm retailer near you.

Kessil Introduces the H150 Blue LED Grow Light Booster ________________________ Kessil is proud to introduce the H150 Blue aimed at enhancing vegetative growth without sacrificing yield. Working in conjunction with conventional or advanced LED lighting systems, this all blue light promotes stem growth and reduces internodal length for healthy and strong plants. Using the latest Dense Matrix LED™ platform, the H150 Blue delivers focused, intense light for effective photosynthesis.

Its compact form and low heat emission means it can be used in close conjunction with conventional grow light systems. Extremely versatile, the H150 Blue can be hung from the ceiling or positioned with a gooseneck arm to direct light where it’s needed. For more information visit an authorized Kessil retailer near you.

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Maximum Yield USA | January 2011

CO2 With No Altitude Problems __________ Sentinel’s High-Altitude Variable CO2 Generators were designed and tested 7,500 feet above sea level. They come with pre-installed, clean-burning brass burners. They produce up to six cubic feet of CO2 per hour. The large units offer variable CO2 control, while the small units can be adjusted by removing one of the burners and plugging the resulting hole. They have electronic ignition control modules that eliminate the open pilot flame for safer operation and a tip-over switch that automatically shuts off the entire unit in the event that they fall or tip over. Ask for Sentinel’s new High-Altitude Variable CO2 Generators at your local indoor gardening shop.

PRODUCT spotlight

OG Grow 4-0-0 ________________________ OG Grow 4-0-0 is a performance-based, indoor grow formula designed for use in hydroponic, ebb and flow, recirculating and aeroponic systems, plus in soil or coir mixes.

OG Grow 4-0-0 contains calcium, nitrogen, kelp, magnesium, copper, iron, boron, manganese, zinc, sulfur, proteins, amino acids and a proprietary nano-emulsifier that increases the efficiency of your plant’s nutrient uptake. Use with OG Bloom 0-5-7 and OG Amino-Cal 3-0-0. One gallon of OG Grow 4-0-0 makes over 750 gallons of a ready-to-use grow formula and 65 per cent of OG Grow 4-0-0 ingredients are approved for use in organic crop production.

Visit a hydro shop near you for more information.

Nutrifield Coco Mega Brick - Instant Premium Potting Mix ___________________________ The NF Coco Mega Brick is the fastest expanding brick on the market.

It arrives dried and compressed for ease of transportation, storage and handling.

The brick consists of 100 per cent coco coir.

It is pre-buffered to prevent calcium and magnesium lock out and is pH stabilized. NF Coco Mega Brick is your superior biodegradable, organic water absorbing brick. It holds the RHP Dutch stamp of quality and is free from harmful parasites and diseases. One Mega Brick in eight gallons of water will give you 12 gallons of NF Coco medium. Available at an indoor gardening shop near you.

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PRODUCT spotlight

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

SunPulse 250 Watt Pulse Start Metal Halide Lamps _________________ SunPulse 250 watt Pulse Start Metal Halide grow lamps are specifically designed for plants. Pulse Start Metal Halides are the next generation of halide lamps specifically designed to work with electronic and digital e-ballasts. SunPulse 250 watt Pulse Start Metal Halide grow lamps are available in color temperature ratings of 3k, 4k and 6.4k.

They have an even lamp life of approximately 20,000 hours with little color shift or loss of FT-CD output. Sun Pulse 250 watt lamps are for use in hobby and commercial applications. Order SunPulse bulbs from an authorized Hydrofarm retailer near you.

3D Organics Presents Third Eye ___________ Third Eye is a live indoor/outdoor biological root inoculant and mineral supplement that encourages rapid, healthy root development. Third Eye contains over 500,000 Colony Forming Units (CFU) per gram of Trichoderma harzianum and water-soluble magnesium sulfate, ensuring superior plant health. Use for seeds, cuttings, clones, transplants and throughout the grow stage. One half-pound of Third Eye makes over 900 gallons of a ready-to-use biological root formula. Third Eye is approved for use in organic crop production under National Organic Program Final Rule. Visit an indoor/outdoor gardening shop for more information.

The California Eclipse From Forever Flowering Greenhouses ______ The California Eclipse is a stand-alone light deprivation solution that fits inside any of the greenhouses in the Forever Flowering line. The system is fitted with rope-operated roll-up doors and an easy-to-use ratchet tensioning system. It retracts to 20 per cent of its full length, bathing your plants in natural light. This modular aluminum structure includes galvalume lift bows. It has a UV protected dual tone blackout shell white exterior with black interior. The California Eclipse can also go inside your current greenhouse and works without a greenhouse as well. It is available in 12 feet or 24 feet wide. For more information please visit your local gardening shop.

Biobizz Starters Pack _________________________________________________________ The new Starters Pack from Biobizz is fully loaded with everything needed to initiate a growing adventure and contains all the best 100 per cent organic ingredients for rooting, growing and blooming. Bio-Grow activates the substrates’ bacterial flora due to its base of Dutch organic sugar beet extract. Bio-Bloom contains a small amount of nitrogen and enough phosphorous and potassium to ensure exuberant flowering. TopMax dramatically increases the size and weight of floral clusters and facilitates the uptake of nutrients. RootJuice promotes vigorous root development.

BioHeaven is a highly concentrated plant energy booster, which contains biological stimulants like amino acids. Now available at indoor gardening stores across the USA.

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PRODUCT spotlight

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

Extreme Flower LED (120 Watts) from Advanced LED Lights ______ Our enhanced full spectrum lights are a tested blend of 11 wavelengths of color that produce the highest yield per watt of any LED grow light. The Extreme Flower (120) LED light will produce heavy flower production with only 120 watts of power. Get maximum yields without excessive heat, high electricity costs and bug problems. The Extreme Flower LED (120) provides a unique blend of color that helps plants grow extremely fast and produce large flowers and fruits. Ask your local indoor gardening retailer to order the 120 watt Extreme Flower LED from Advanced LED Lights.

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Put a Cobra in Your Garden ______________ Give your indoor garden’s lighting set-up some serious teeth with a Sunleaves Predator Series Cobra reflector.

Featuring innovative design elements in concert with established standards, the end result is a reflector that boasts superior performance and uncomplicated functionality.

Innovative wing latches secure the Cobra’s hinged lens frame, allowing the shatter-resistant tempered glass lens to provide a tight seal. Inside, a European aluminum insert offers 95 per cent reflectivity, making the most of the light produced by the lamp installed in the aerodynamicallymounted 2,000 watt/600 volt pulse-rated Leviton mogul socket. The Sunleaves Predator Series Cobra 6 and 8 house six and eight inch flanges respectively. Available now at your local indoor gardening shop.

PRODUCT spotlight

Durable and Versatile – Grodan’s GroSmart™ Tray ________________________

Premium Amino-Chelated Bloom Booster Big Up Powder ________________________

Grodan’s new Gro-Smart™ Tray is the only dual-purpose tray on the market with exceptional details in the design.

Apart from being made of 100 per cent recycled plastic, it is heavy duty and double-sided for long-term use and easily sanitized inside a dishwasher. Designed for maximum versatility, the 78 cell side is perfect for Grodan Macroplugs™ and 1.5 inch A-OK™ starters, while the mesh side can accommodate Grodan Mini-Blocks™ or Gro-Blocks™. The nosag Gro-Smart Tray fits neatly into standard 10 by 20 inch black flats, keeping your Grodan elevated from the bottom of the flat. For more information visit your local indoor gardening shop.

Humboldt Nutrients Big Up Powder utilizes over 24 different amino acids that effectively deliver high levels of phosphorus and potassium to your plants. Specifically designed for the first week and final weeks of your bloom cycle, Big Up provides the final boost of energy that gardens need to finish the bloom cycle. By introducing Big Up Powder in the first week of flowering, you effectively flip the switch in your plant, sending it immediately into an intense flowering cycle. In Humboldt County Big Up has become a legend by continually delivering results to seasoned gardeners time after time. Order Big Up Powder from your favorite hydroponics shop today.

Hydro International Presents the Miami Ballast _________­­­______ The Miami Ballast from Hydro International is cool running, super quiet and super heavy-duty. This factory tested ballast has an HPS/MH switch and switches easily from 120 to 240 volts. The Miami Ballast comes complete with a powder cord and handles, plus a three year warranty and five year warranty on parts. The Miami Ballasts is designed for those customers who are looking for the lowest price with the highest quality components available on the market today. This baby is near silent and simple to use, and just like Miami Beach, the Miami Ballast is one of the coolest running ballasts around. Visit an indoor gardening shop near you for more information.

New Xtrasun Air-Coolable Reflector _________________ The new and improved Xtrasun XT1AC offers excellent performance at a cost effective price. This reflector is solidly built, compatible with all Hydrofarm or Xtrasun ballasts and priced to fit any budget. The Xtrasun now comes pre-wired with a socket and cord set, so it’s ready to plug in and go.

These reflectors feature a low profile design but are bright and offer a broad spread of light. They’re fully air-coolable with optional flanges. The Xtrasun units are made with European high-performance specular aluminum for maximum light reflection, and carry a five year warranty on reflective materials. For more information, visit an authorized Hydrofarm retailer near you.

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Humidity, Vapor Pressure Deficit and the Transpiration Stream

by Dr. Lynette Morgan

W

ith indoor gardens our focus for optimizing growth is often light, warmth and just the right mix of nutrients, but humidity, or more specifically vapor pressure deficit (VPD), is sometimes overlooked. While relative humidity is fairly easy to measure with sensors or meters in the plant canopy, it’s difficult to know exactly what to aim for and how to adjust levels—and what exactly does it all mean for the plants? High humidity gets the blame for all sorts of scourges and nasty disease outbreaks, while low humidity may mistakenly be held accountable for anything that looks like burning, drying, shriveling or bleaching. However, the issues of humidity and VPD in the growing environment are a little more complex, both in terms of plant growth and disease or growth disorders. To complicate matters further, different levels of humidity and VPD are appropriate for different plant species—from dry atmosphere cactus to wet, steaming tropicals.

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Humidity,Vapor Pressure Deficit and the Transpiration Stream

Tipburn of the inner leaves of lettuce is more common under high humidity, warm growing conditions that restrict the flow of calcium out to the leaf edges.

What is relative humidity (RH) and vapor pressure deficit (VPD)?

Relative humidity is the most commonly used measure of how much water vapor is held in the air and it’s something most of us are familiar with, as we all know how uncomfortable hot, steamy air can be. One hundred per cent relative humidity is

Temperature °F

Minimum ideal RH (fog or wet down)

Ideal RH

Maximum RH (to prevent disease)

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-

50 per cent

73 per cent

68

46 per cent

64 per cent

80 per cent

77

60 per cent

73 per cent

86 per cent

86

70 per cent

80 per cent

89 per cent

The problem with using relative humidity is that it’s hard to set one optimum RH value, particularly when temperatures tend to vary between day and night and often throughout a 24 hour period. For this reason many growers prefer to use vapor pressure deficit (VPD) as a more accurate measure of the water vapor content of the air and how this affects plant growth.

VPD is the difference (or deficit) between the amount of moisture in the air at the current time and how much moisture the air can hold when it is saturated. Saturated air will condense out to form dew or condensation and leaf wetness, which in turn can lead to rot and a higher occurrence of certain disease pathogens. So while plants don’t want an overly dry atmosphere (high VPD), which sucks the moisture from the foliage, they also don’t want a wet environment (low VPD), which slows transpiration and can lead to an increase in disease outbreaks.VPD is typically expressed in the units kPa (kilopascals) with the range for most plants being 0.45 kPa to 1.25 kPa, with the optimum being around 0.85 kPa. Most indoor gardens are best run at 0.8 to 0.95 kPa for healthy mature plants, with cuttings needing a more humid environment in the lower VPD ranges. What is important is that unlike relative humidity, the VPD range for optimal growth already takes current temperature into account—so the one ideal value irrespective of temperature is around 0.85 kPa. Growers who come to grips with the concept of VPD can accurately measure and adjust their growing environment to stay within the recommended range and give themselves some

“Growers who come to grips with the concept of VPD can accurately measure and adjust their growing environment to stay within the recommended range.” extremely humid, while a humidity reading of only 50 per cent represents a dry environment, but what these values don’t tell us is how much water is actually being held in the air, unless the temperature is also given. This is because cold air holds much less water vapor than hot air. For example, air at 50oF can hold 9.4 grams of water vapor per 35 cubic feet, while air at 86oF can hold three times as much, up to a maximum of 30.4 grams per 35 cubic feet. This has some implications for growers as it’s not just a simple case of aiming for one ‘ideal’ relative humidity value, since the effect of humidity on plants also depends on temperature. As a rough guide, the table (top right) is used by greenhouse growers of many fruiting and vegetable crops and shows the relationship between temperature and humidity levels.

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Powdery mildew is one of the few diseases that can occur under low or high humidity conditions.

Humidity,Vapor Pressure Deficit and the Transpiration Stream

considerable advantages both in terms of maximizing growth and the ability to control some rather persistent nasties such as Botrytis (grey mold) disease.

Technically,VPD more accurately describes what the plant experiences in relation to the effects of temperature and humidity on growth and transpiration. It combines the effects of both humidity and temperature into one value, so it’s easier to use when setting environmental controls.

Why is humidity or VPD so important for plant growth?

We know that light level and quality and CO2 affect photosynthesis and a number of other plant processes, and that temperature determines the levels of many biological processes within plant cells, but the effects of humidity are a little more indirect.

VPD directly affects the rate of transpiration within the plant.

Transpiration not only cools the plant, but the transpiration stream from root to leaf surface carries essential minerals up the plant to where they are needed for tissue development. Leaves exposed to the sun or overhead lamps would soon become dangerously hot if they were not cooled by water evaporating from the leaf surface—the process actually works in a similar way to sweat. This evaporated water needs to be replaced from the transpiration stream, which moves in the xylem vessels of the A dense canopy of large leaves can rapidly increase the humidity in the growing environment through the process of transpiration.

Transpirational water loss helps the plant cool itself. This is vital under hot sun or artificial lamps.

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A dry environment with low humidity typically results in smaller, more compact leaves in tomato crops.

“Leaves exposed to the sun or overhead lamps would soon become dangerously hot if they were not cooled by water evaporating from the leaf surface.” plant. If the water flow from roots to shoots in the xylem vessels is not fast enough, the plant will start to wilt and tissue damage will occur. The plant will shut its stomata in an attempt to retain turgor pressure and prevent wilting if too much water is being lost via transpiration. When the stomata shut to prevent water loss, photosynthesis cannot occur as CO2 can’t be taken in from the surrounding air, so plant growth and yield will be slowed if this occurs too often. Low humidity (high VPD) can cause large volumes of water from the transpiration stream to be lost to the air and force the plant to shut down its stomata to prevent desiccation, and this ultimately reduces growth and yields.

High humidity (low VPD), on the other hand, creates a different problem. When the air already contains a lot of water vapor and may even be close to saturation, it cannot absorb much more water from the plant surface and transpiration slows or even stops. If high humidity conditions exist at the same time as high temperatures, the plant has a major problem as it can’t evaporate enough water from its foliage to cool its tissue and overheating will then occur. Cell damage, wilting and reduced growth will result where hot plants can’t effectively cool themselves via transpiration due to high relative humidity, and in these cases some humidity control is essential.

Humidity,Vapor Pressure Deficit and the Transpiration Stream

need to absorb water from the environment to germinate and get inside plant tissue, and having free water available such as that from condensation on plant surfaces is perfect for fungal diseases to develop. However, not all fungal disease spores need water on the plant surface, and many will attack when the air humidity is high. For this reason the safe maximum humidity value is often considered to be around 85 per cent at 77oF, or in other words a VPD value of more than 0.35 kPa is recommended at all times in order to prevent fungal diseases, which are common under humid conditions. While many of the commonly encountered plant diseases such as Botrytis (grey mold) thrive under humid conditions, and a good degree of control can be achieved by running optimal RH or VPD levels, there is always an exception. Powdery mildew species have spores that contain a lot of water themselves, so they don’t need high humidity or water for germination, and they can also obtain all the water they need for growth from the leaves that they infect.

This means that powdery mildew can develop at humidity levels as low as 30 per cent and that its appearance is not necessarily a sign that humidity has been running high.

Some species like it hot and dry and others prefer warm and steamy; optimum humidity varies with many plants.

The transpiration stream moving through the xylem vessels from roots to shoots driven by VPD and humidity is essential for plant functioning. Not only does the water carried in the transpiration stream maintain plant turgor and support, it also carries with it mineral elements and other compounds taken up Young, tender and density-grown by the roots. So without a good hydroponic crops such as microrate of transpiration drawing greens need extra attention to humidity and air movement to prevent the flow of water and minerals disease outbreaks. up through the xylem tissues from the roots, plant foliage can’t obtain sufficient levels of nutrients for growth and development. One of the most important aspects of transpiration is the flow of calcium. If transpiration is restricted in any way, the lack of calcium flow out to the leaf tips and new cells in developing fruits will cause problems such as tip burn and blossom end rot, which are conditions common under warm and humid growing conditions.

“Spores themselves need to absorb water from the environment to germinate and get inside plant tissue, and having free water available such as that from condensation on plant surfaces is perfect for fungal diseases to develop.”

How to control RH and VPD Low humidity (high VPD) is fairly easy to adjust upwards to high RH, as putting water vapor back into the air can be easily achieved with some light fogging, misting or damping down in the growing area. An open pan of water should provide enough evaporation to increase the humidity if you’re only dealing

How RH and VPD influence disease outbreaks There are a wide range of fungal and bacterial diseases that will attack even healthy plants under high humidity (low VPD) conditions, because fungal spores in particular are carried on air currents and so tend to be around much of the time just waiting for the right conditions to launch an attack. Spores themselves 52

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Misting or fogging of the atmosphere in the growing area is an effective way of increasing the humidity in arid climates.

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Humidity,Vapour Pressure Deficit...

Cuttings or clones need extra humidity to prevent excessive moisture loss during the root formation phase.

with a small area. Evaporative coolers also tend to increase the humidity of the air fairly effectively under warm growing conditions. However, having high humidity is a more common problem, as large surface areas of foliage tend to lose surprising volumes of water through transpiration and this adds to the humidity of the surrounding air. This humid air, referred to as the boundary layer, needs to be removed from directly around the foliage or further transpiration could be restricted. The best way of doing this is with a continual stream of drier fresh air, which not only lowers the humidity directly surrounding the leaf surface but also replenishes CO2 for photosynthesis. The amount of airflow required to continually remove excess water vapor and bring in sufficient CO2 is higher than many growers realize—there should be sufficient airflow to keep the leaves gently moving most of the time. The warmer it is and the faster the plants are growing, the more the air needs to be shifted over the leaf surface for these processes to occur at optimal rates. For very humid climates, sometimes the only option is a dehumidifier. If the outside air being brought in to cool and dehumidify an indoor garden is naturally very humid it can’t absorb much more moisture from transpiration, and using a dehumidifier is often useful for smaller areas under these conditions.

Checking humidity or monitoring vapor pressure deficit in the growing area is just as important as maintaining temperature, light and nutrition levels when it comes to optimizing plant growth and yields. Having some understanding of the relationship between RH and temperature and VPD and how to influence and optimize these factors is an essential tool for the serious grower, and also for those gardeners who just want to MY prevent annoying outbreaks of fungal disease.

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*

Take Plant Steering To a Whole New Level

by Brian Chiang and Josh Puckett

You don’t need to leave your broadband lights behind to add light emitting diodes to your indoor garden lighting set-up. Extremely versatile, LEDs work great as supplementary booster lights, and can help your garden spring to life.

Significant progress has been made in improving LEDs in the past few years, and their impact on the horticulture industry has been huge. Not only do they save energy and last a long time, their ability to produce wavelength-specific light makes them perfect for growing plants. The low level of heat emitted from LEDs also means growers have the opportunity to place more lights over their plants to help boost performance.

The advancement of dense matrix LED technology is allowing growers to do more with their plants than ever before, as this platform provides the intensity plants need for photosynthesis,

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Booster LED light on a gooseneck mount.

allowing the light to penetrate deep into the leaves of the plants.

With its highly focused beam, dense matrix LED technology also allows growers to direct light to specific dark areas. From isolating and mixing select wavelengths to increasing light intensity by moving the light closer to the plants, these spectrum-specific, low-heat LED lights are very versatile growing tools, and growers that have made the move to LEDs have been very successful.

Booster LEDs Even growers who haven’t had the opportunity to transition fully to LEDs can experience their benefits. Because these lights are so small and versatile, growers can use LEDs to control their plants as booster lights or to supplement their existing lighting systems. During the various phases of growth, plants respond in

Booster LED light on a gooseneck mount over a tomato plant.

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Booster LEDs Take Plant Steering to a Whole New Level

Experiment 1: Three LED boosters of different spectrums used with a fluorescent hood.

different ways to different spectrums. Studies have shown that more blue light can enhance vegetation, while red light boosts flowering and fruiting. Traditional broadband sources only come in limited spectrums that cannot be optimized for all stages of growth, but by increasing the quantity of a specific wavelength or spectra the grower can manipulate crops to achieve improved growth and yield. Specifically, by increasing the amount of blue light the grower can prolong vegetation or boost the rate of vegetative growth, while increasing the amount of red light can promote flowering in plants and improve fruit production.

“The low level of heat emitted from LEDs also means growers have the opportunity to place more lights over their plants to help boost performance.”

Dense matrix LED technology offers promising results when used in conjunction with conventional lighting. Packing LED chips closely together not only creates a bright point source, it shrinks the size of the actual lighting unit. This compact new fixture can add the desired spectrums without blocking any of the light from traditional sources. Multiple mounting options add to its versatility—individual LED lights can hang directly from the ceiling, or be directed to a specific area by a gooseneck arm. Growers also don’t have to worry about added heat in their grow tents; traditional grow light systems are hot enough! With expertly designed heat management systems, lights using dense matrix LED technology run cool. Delivering intense light while radiating very little heat makes these grow lights ideal as boosters, as no further venting systems are required. This platform is providing a whole new dimension to plant steering.

Traditional lighting systems usually implement broadband sources such as metal halide, high-pressure sodium and T5 fluorescent lamps. Often used for seeding, T5s need the added blue spectrum to enhance performance in the vegetative phase and red to boost fruiting and flowering. Other growers use metal

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halides during the vegetative phase of a plant’s growth because of their higher blue-spectrum emissions, but during the flowering phase they have to swap out the metal halides or suffer poor results during fruiting. With LED boosters, growers no longer have to buy another system—they can just supplement the missing spectrum for flowering with a red LED light. The same principle holds true for high-pressure sodium lamps, which are high in red- spectrum production—blue LED boosters can be added to help the vegetative performance of the plant. The benefit of implementing LED boosters is that instead of moving plants from tent to tent or swapping out lights, growers can keep their existing broadband lighting, but generate much better results with the permanent addition of some small LED fixtures.

Experiment #1: Red Booster for Flower and Fruit Promotion We conducted a couple of experiments to see how well LED booster lights would perform and to see the effect of different spectrums on growing plants.

For the first experiment, we wanted to see the behavior of tomato plants under different boosters. We started 12 Juliet Hybrid tomatoes from seed and grew them to seedlings beneath an eight-bulb T5 fluorescent hood. At this point, three LED booster lights of different wavelengths and spectra were introduced. We selected three LED units—red, blue and magenta— that were then placed directly above three separate tomatoes at one side of the grow area. This enabled us to concentrate to some degree the effects of the fluorescent light spectrum, although since no partitions were imposed upon the samples the potential existed for some influence upon the growth of the adjacent nine plants as well. The initial vegetative growth of these

Comparison of results from Experiment 2 (HPS with Blue Booster versus just HPS).

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Booster LEDs Take Plant Steering to a Whole New Level decreasing internode stretching, eliminating the yellow chlorotic appearance of leaves and increasing stem width and branching. To test this, we conducted a separate experiment with only a blue booster over tomato plants.

not just any red or blue LED boosters are capable of producing the same results. We used specific combinations of wavelengths that we had tested against others with varying effects prior to these experiments.

In one of these tests, there was a com-

“Packing LED chips closely together not only creates a bright point source, it shrinks the size of the actual lighting unit. ”

Blue booster under an HPS source.

three seedlings into full-size tomatoes and their subsequent reproductive growth were analyzed and compared to those tomatoes farthest from the influence of the LED boosters, which served as the control group for this experiment.

The results from this initial LED booster experiment would seem to conclusively demonstrate that the addition of a red LED booster to an eight-bulb T5 fluorescent hood encourages fruit production and fruit ripening. During the initial vegetative stages, three to five weeks after transplant we observed a noteworthy increase in growth occurring in the tomato plants under the red and magenta LED boosters. However, as the experiment advanced, the magenta and blue-lit tomato plants grew to be larger in size but produced few flowers and no fruit.

Ultimately fruit production and maturation was limited exclusively to the plants beneath the red booster.

Two separate treatment groups of Gardener’s Delight tomatoes were grown beneath an eight-bulb T5 fluorescent hood. One included tomatoes beneath two suspended blue units and the overhead HPS hood, the other group—as the control for this experiment—grew exclusively under the HPS bulb. The tomatoes under the blue LED unit expressed darker color leaves, thicker stems and increased branching, with shorter internode length and a higher leaf count. Flowering occurred in these tomatoes more rapidly, and the number of flowers produced was greater. These results were exaggerated by week three to four of growth, demonstrating that the tomatoes grown under an HPS hood with blue LED boosters clearly outperformed tomatoes grown exclusively under an HPS treatment during the vegetative stage.

Not Just Any LED The effectiveness of using supplemental LEDs to manipulate plant growth is evident from these experiments. However,

Experiment #2: Blue Booster for Vegetative Growth Improvement Where red LED boosters shift full-spectrum lighting treatments toward a flower and fruit-promoting spectrum, adding blue LED boosters serves to improve the spectrum for vegetative growth. When a blue spectrum is used in combination with a high-pressure sodium bulb, it tends to improve vegetative growth by Red booster under a fluorescent hood.

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monly used blend of red wavelengths that actually had adverse effects to crop yield and fruit ripening. With our tailored mix of red wavelengths, however, the tomato plants were able to respond favorably during the flowering and fruiting period in the experiment. In the same way, our pre-tested formula of blue wavelengths strengthened the plants’ vegetative growth by supplementing the high-pressure sodium light.Without the added spectrum from these LEDs, the broadband sources alone could not have produced such results.

The convenience and ease of installing LED booster lights gives growers the ability to achieve better crop growth and improved yields in ways they couldn’t have imagined before. Indoor gardeners can now steer their plants by implementing optimized blue wavelengths for stronger plants and red wavelengths for higher yields. Compact, low in heat emissions and powerfully bright, dense matrix LED technology is lighting the way for a spectral revolution! MY

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An End to Pesticides

by Ed Harwood

A pesticide is something that kills pests where “pests” are anything the applicator believes is out of place. This can include weeds, bugs, bacteria, rodents and unfortunately anything biologically related to them. Pesticides are typically chemicals and the way they achieve their desired results can take many forms. They are tested and certified nationally and sometimes additionally by state organizations for safety and to recommend proper application procedures. However, the state of public knowledge regarding their unintended side effects tends to lag far behind their published test data. Apples and Alar in 1989 first raised the red flag on this issue.

In the ‘90s an attempt was made to address this lag with the precautionary principle. This concept encouraged the burden of proof to be placed on the producer of pesticides rather than on regulators. A white paper1 describing the decision in 2001 by the San Francisco City Council to use the precautionary principle in all of its regulatory activities provides a fascinating insight into the logic of this approach. It notes with regard to use and approval of policies, “…the greatest weakness in policies on toxic substances and environmental conservation may be that they are based on the expectation that science can and must provide definitive proof of harm before protective action is taken.”

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An End to Pesticides

“Vegetables are very difficult to grow without using pesticides. Often recommendations for traditional growing practices lead to more than a dozen applications over the course of growing a single crop. ”

The precautionary principle has evolved to generally produce bans on anything that risks damage to human health or the environment. Critics say this is unreasonable, as most things pose risks of some kind. However, this mindset can obviously lead to a loss of initiative to explore potential risks and remove them.

Vegetables are very difficult to grow without using pesticides.

Often recommendations for traditional growing practices lead to more than a dozen applications over the course of growing a single crop. This high number of applications is usually prophylactic in nature and reductions in the number of applications can easily be made by understanding the relationship between crop and pest cycles and taking weather events into account. However, pesticides are still generally required to produce a pristine product.

It would be really great if consumers would just accept bugs and the cosmetic damage they cause in our food, but we are not likely to get there any time soon. Grocers and chefs generally won’t accept products that aren’t close to cosmetically perfect. However, protected agriculture and the application of integrated pest management (IPM) principles are beginning to allow us a means to provide more perfect crops with less use of pesticides.

We are learning now that pesticides are more insidious than we first believed or test results indicated. Pesticides can be conclusively linked to human disease. In January of 2006, the Produce Marketing Association released a statement to address allegations in Consumer Reports regarding pesticide risks in fruits and vegetables:

Those who argue that consumers are at risk from the minuscule pesticide residues on fresh produce ignore the facts and do consumers a grave disservice. They willfully

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An End to Pesticides dismiss the overwhelming evidence from government, scientific and health authorities that produce is safe and that the health benefits of frequent and regular consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables far outweigh any hypothetical risk. Leading health authorities encourage Americans to eat five or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day for better health. These experts have taken pesticide residues into account when making these recommendations.

Note the two main arguments—experts say it is safe, and the benefits outweigh the risks.

It has taken until this month for the EPA to inform the public about children and pesticides, although the CDC cautioned that children were at special risk many years ago.

The following statement from the EPA about who decides standards of acceptable risks is most revealing, especially the placement of quotes around the main decision point—you might conclude that our health is negotiable:

The primary statutes regulating pesticide use in the United States are the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA). FIFRA gives EPA the authority to regulate the registration (licensing) and use of pesticides, and FFDCA governs the establishment of tolerances (also known as maximum residue limits) on food and animal feed. In order for a pesticide to be registered under FIFRA, it must be demonstrated that the pesticide’s use will not result in “unreasonable adverse effects” on human health or the environment. FIFRA provides EPA with authority to make pesticide regulatory decisions necessary to ensure the safe use of pesticides and to require any data the Agency determines are needed to reach those decisions.

FIFRA also requires the periodic review of existing registrations, during which EPA can use the same data call-in authority associated with the registration process.

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Food safety watchdogs have so far ignored pesticides and pesticide residues. Those who monitor food safety are far more concerned with food-borne sickness—it’s as if they think pesticides can’t really cause illness. The E. coli-infected spinach problem in 2005 focused everyone’s attention fully on monitoring, detection, inspection and washing for bacteria control. But bactericides are also used to remove bacteria from produce, and are analogous to pesticides in every way.

There needs to be more discussion about the unintended side effects of both pesticides and bactericides on our produce.

Astonishingly, the first and only International Lettuce and Leafy Greens Food Safety Research Conference did not even mention pesticides. And we know that the restrictions on pesticide use in many countries outside the U.S. are far more lax than our own and thus harmful residues are even more likely.

When purchasing seeds for my own use, I prefer ones that are organic. Not only does this ensure that I am growing pesticide-free, but it means I get better seeds. If I have to put pesticide on my seeds, it means they are susceptible to a known pest, and that I have not found a better way to

“If I have to put pesticide on my seeds, it means they are susceptible to a known pest, and that I have not found a better way to deal with that pest.”

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An End to Pesticides

“It would be really great if consumers would just accept bugs and the cosmetic damage they cause in our food.” deal with that pest. It means that I have not been able to successfully work in concert with nature. An article2 in the American Scientist by Robert Dorit helps us understand what not working in concert with nature can really cost. Here is an important excerpt: A clearer picture of the genetic changes that make bacteria “go bad” and become pathogens is also coming into focus.

Pathogens are thugs. The lives of these bacterial delinquents are all about competing aggressively for scarce resources (iron, for instance), clinging to surfaces, and producing bacteriostatic and bactericidal molecules that clear away the established residents. Yet delinquency comes at a cost: The pathogen lifestyle is expensive and burdensome for the pathogen itself. Pathogenesis is a fringe occupation for most bacteria, and the conditions that give pathogens an opportunity are rare. Ironically, our scorched-earth approach to the microbial world increases the opportunities for pathogens to gain a foothold. Excessive antibiotic use sows chaos in our resident microbiota, and pathogens thrive on such chaos. Well-organized, stable resident communities can normally resist thugs; weakened and disrupted communities cannot.

Working in concert with nature is what sustainability is. Sustainability issues have begun to be addressed more analytically by what is termed lifecycle analysis (LCA), where the focus and mathematical analysis is for water use and carbon footprint, but only recently have sustainability analyses included chemical contributions. An approach adopted by a 72

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An End to Pesticides

lot of large retailers and their manufacturers is Green Screen3, where the path to reduction is clearly delineated. It is a great addition to the criteria to use for determining sustainability, using an approach where the chemicals in products are scaled based on science for specific properties. The idea is to encourage manufacturers to use less-toxic products, and large retailers like Wal-Mart have now adopted this in their vendor criteria. I am hopeful that pesticides will be soon be among the categories addressed.

Earlier this year a study linked chemicals in our environment to ADHD and autism, and more studies like it are being released every day. We’ve known for more than 20 years that we have pesticide residues on our produce, and now we are beginning to have solid proof that it is causing harm to us and to our children. For a long time it seemed that we had to use pesticides to get the quality and yield of produce our marketplace demanded, but now we know the dangers and we are better equipped to begin to do things in a new way. IPM principles and protected agriculture have given us some weapons to begin to fight the pests that destroy or limit our crops in a less environmentally harmful way, and we must continue to explore their possibilities. Growers need to use all the methods at their disposal to fight pests in a way less harmful to our health and continue to increase quality and yield at the same time—the ultimate way to get rid of pesticides while producing marketable products. MY Sources: 1. The Precautionary Principle and the city and County of San Francisco.

March 2003, www.sfenvironment.org 2. Robert L. Dorit. All Things Small and Great. American Scientist. http:// www.americanscientist.org/issues/pub/2008/4/all-things-small-and-great/1 3. Green Screen http://cleanproduction.org

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TIPS & TRICKS

NUTRIENT Deficiency Symptoms

by Andrew Taylor

Monitor plants closely for symptoms of nutrient deficiency. These symptoms can provide a valuable forewarning of serious problems within the growing system.

Be aware that there are many factors that cause nutrient deficiency symptoms in a plant. The nutrient itself may not be the cause.

Deficiency symptoms are grouped into several categories:

axillary bud

midrib

petiole

vein

apex (or tip)

left margin

Fig 2 Simplified illustration of external leaf sturcture.

3.

Stunting of growth: As all essential nutrients are simultaneously required for healthy growth, this symptom can be attributed to a deficiency in any one or more of them.

Purple/red discoloration: This often occurs on stems or along leaf petioles, veins or margins. It occurs due to abnormal levels of anthocyanin that accumulates when plants are stressed. These symptoms can also be caused by physical stresses such as cold, drought and disease.

2.

4.

1.

Chlorosis and interveinal chlorosis: Chlorosis can result in the whole plant or leaf turning light green or yellow. It can also be more localized. For example, yellowing of the veins themselves or between the veins (interveinal chlorosis). Chlorosis occurs due to plants being deficient in elements required for photosynthesis or chlorophyll production.

purple petiole

interveinal chlorsis

chlorosis of veins

nectrotic spot

tip burn chlorosis of margin

Fig 1 Some common leaf abnormalities resulting from nutrient deficiencies.

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Necrosis: Generally happens in the later stages of deficiency where the affected plant part becomes stressed to the point that it becomes brown and dies.

5.

Other: Further symptoms include: • poor quality (or few) buds, flowers or fruit • poor root development • distorted leaves (i.e. cupped or twisted)

Old or young growth A key indicator for identifying nutrient deficiency is whether the symptoms are occurring in older growth, younger growth or both. Mobile elements are able to move out of older leaves and into younger plant parts when a deficiency is present. Hence the symptoms usually

occur first in the older (usually lower) leaves. Mobile elements include N, P, K and Mg (chart one).

In contrast, immobile nutrients are not able to move quickly from one plant part to another. Therefore, deficiency symptoms are initially most obvious in younger growth (usually higher up the plant).

Immobile nutrients include Ca, S, Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn and B (chart one).

WHAT CAUSES DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS? The appearance of foliar deficiency symptoms often causes inexperienced growers to conclude that the nutrient solution is deficient in a particular element. However, if a ‘complete’ nutrient formulation is being used, check the following before settling on this conclusion: • insufficient EC or feed frequency • in recirculating hydroponic systems, the nutrient is discarded too infrequently • inappropriate nutrient pH (causes certain nutrient elements to become unavailable for uptake) • excessive humidity (hinders the distribution of nutrient throughout the plant) • signs of pests or diseases (their presence can produce symptoms that are similar in appearance to nutrient deficiency symptoms)

CHART 1

Diagnostic Flow-Chart For Common Nutrient Deficiency Symptons

Deficiency Symptoms Old Leaves Affected

Young Leaves Affected

- Terminal buds remain alive but chlorotic (ie. yellow) or wilted without necrotic (i.e. dead) spots

- Effects are mostly generalized over whole plant - Lower leaves dry up and die

- Terminal buds die. Distortion and necrosis (ie. dying of young leaves)

Effects mostly localized: - Mottling (ie. blotches) or cholosis - Lower leaves do not dry up but become mottled or chlorotic - Leaf margins cupped or tucked

Boron (B)

Calcium (Ca)

- Young leaves light green at bases, die back from base - Twisted leaves

- Young leaves hooked then die back at tips and margins

Phosphorus (P) - Dark green foliage; red/purple colours appear - Lower leaves yellow/drying to dark green - Stalks become short and slender

Nitrogen (N) - Light green foliage - Lower leaves yellow/drying/brown - Stalks become short and slender

Zinc (Zn)

Copper (Cu) - Young leaves wilted, without cholorosis - Weak stem tip

- Young leaves not wilted - Chlorosis

- Nercrotic spots (large and general) eventually involving veins - Thick leaves - Short stalks

Magnesium (Mg)

Manganese (Mn)

- Mottling or chlorosis with yellow around margins and interveinal chlorosis - Necrotic brown spots

No necrotic spots

- Small nercotic spots - Veins remain green

Potassium (K)

- Mottled or chlorotic dull grey-green leaves - Small necrotic spots between veins or near leaf tips and margins - Slender stalks

NOTES

Iron (Fe)

Sulfur (S)

Veins remain green

Veins become chlorotic

Deficiency symptoms observed under field conditions often appear different than ideal text book examples. Diagnosis is often difficult even to the most experienced eyes. Some elements produce similar symptoms and several deficiencies can occur at the same time. Symptoms can also be easily confused with those caused by pests, diseases, under watering and genetic abnormalities.

Early detection is important because deficiency symptoms are often more unique and easier to distinguish in the early stages. Yield loss can also be potentially avoided. Early detection also prompts the grower to check for other possible causes such as excessive humidity and poor EC and pH control. MY Maximum Yield USA | January 2011

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&}

Mechanical Design Function Versus Plant Biology

by J. Benton Jones, Jr.

There are two commonly heard expressions that relate to the subject of mechanical design and function versus plant biology: “Don’t fool with Mother Nature,” and “What are the unintended consequences?”

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“

A tomato plant carrying a substantial fruit load under high atmospheric demand conditions will require at least one quart of water during the daylight hours.”

Modern Methods

Modern use of the nutrient film technique (NFT) hydroponic growing system is primary confined to the growing of lettuce and herbs, short-term crops harvested before the root mass can begin to significantly affect the flow of nutrient solution down the trough. The length and slope of the trough is determined by growing conditions such as atmospheric demand. Recirculation of the collected nutrient solution requires additional volume and elemental reconstitution as well as aeration, filtering and sterilization in order to maintain both elemental sufficiency and to reduce the potential for root disease.

Aeroponics is attracting attention, particularly applications of aeroponics designed for kitchen use, which have been commercially successful. Can aeroponics be applied to the commercial production of a greenhouse crop, such as a tomato? Such a system has been proposed. My first concern is the substantial electrical requirement for the pumping and cooling of the recirculating nutrient solution. It is assumed that the design and operational characteristics of the nutrient solution delivery system will be sufficient to meet the water and elemental requirements of the tomato plant. Let’s remember that a tomato plant carrying a substantial fruit load under high atmospheric demand

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Mechanical Design and Function Versus Plant Biology conditions will require at least one quart of water during the daylight hours. Therefore, just keeping the plant roots moist may not be sufficient to provide the water required to keep the plants from wilting, wilting that will reduce both fruit set and lower fruit quality. Therefore, failure to consider how to meet this biological requirement of the tomato plant will doom the best of designed aeroponic systems.

Biological procedures using predatory organisms are being proposed by those looking for an “organic” means of disease control in hydroponic growing systems. It’s important to realize that the presence of even a low population of disease organisms in a nutrient solution will significantly impact the plant, reducing root function and possibly resulting in plant death. Sterilization is required when a nutrient solution is to be re-circulated because it must be kept totally free of any organism, whether beneficial or pathological. Again, biology is in control and no one can predict the outcome as each organism will take its toll with the plant being the loser.

The head of an engineering company, a gentleman who had a keen interest in and considerable experience with growing plants, constructed a controlled environmental chamber for growing tomatoes. Being an expert in lighting system design, he installed what he thought was a light-sufficient system in terms of intensity and wavelength coverage. I even assisted him

The presence of even a low population of disease organisms in a nutrient solution will significantly impact the plant, reducing root function and possibly resulting in plant death.”

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in the construction of a sub-irrigation growing system. The tomato plants grew extremely well, and then we waited for the plants to flower and set fruit. Unfortunately, only a few flowers appeared, while the plants continued to grow vegetatively. Evidently there was not the proper wavelength mix or intensity of radiant energy present in the lighting system to promote flower initiation.

An outdoor hydroponic tomato grower had devised a flood-and-drain growing system that worked very well, producing high yields of quality fruit.

But in the design and operating procedures he did not consider what would be required if there was an electrical power failure and if root disease organisms invaded the recirculating nutrient solution. An electrical power failure did occur on a hot Sunday afternoon when the plants were setting fruit. Without a source of auxiliary power he had to hand-water each rooting vessel using city drinking water, which under normal conditions he considered unsuitable for his hydroponic growing system—he had been using a reverse osmosis water treatment system for generating the water for making the nutrient solution. To his surprise, however, the plants survived, showing no effects from the change in water quality. But what he was not prepared to deal with was Pythium, a deadly root disease organism that was waiting for the ideal time to strike—and it did, killing all his plants within 48 hours! Unable to bring the disease under control, the grower’s whole operation failed. If he had sterilized the recirculated nutrient solution and added composted pine bark to the gravel rooting medium, Pythium could have been kept out or at least kept under some manageable degree of control.

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Mechanical Design and Function Versus Plant Biology

Plants grow best when their roots are maintained in a consistent nutrient solution environment.”

A greenhouse tomato grower thought that he could save on his heating costs by setting the nighttime greenhouse air temperature right at the lower end of the optimum recommended level. What the grower was not prepared to deal with was the condensation that then accumulated on the inside of the greenhouse. The condensation formed into droplets of water that fell on the plant foliage, resulting in the death of the tissue where the droplets hit (initially he thought that a disease organism was the cause), thereby reducing the rate of photosynthesis, slowing plant growth and reducing fruit yield. He was unaware that his tomato plants would be slow in setting fruit under these conditions as well, since nighttime air temperature can also affect fruit set.

I have been surprised how well plants will grow under a range of different conditions involving nutrient solution formulations, frequency of irrigation and varying characteristics of the rooting medium. However, the challenge is to balance these three factors for maximum plant performance. I have visited the best greenhouses and seen growing system designs with plants growing well, but not at their maximum potential—that would require carefully regulating the nutrient element environment around the plant roots, something that is not easy to do.

One of most impressive hydroponic growing experiences I have ever witnessed was an experimenter whose objective was to determine what effect the ratio of nitrate to ammoniumnitrogen in a nutrient solution formulation would have on bean yield using green beans as the test crop. The rooting medium was perlite placed in two gallon buckets. Having determined the water-holding capacity of the perlite, sufficient nutrient solution was added to just saturate it. Each morning, the perlite was leached with water to remove the previous day’s nutrient solution residue, then sufficient fresh nutrient solution was added to just saturate the perlite again. Plant growth and treatment difference results were significantly greater than had been obtained in a previous hydroponic experiment using the same rooting medium and nutrient solution

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formulation, the only difference being that the previous day’s nutrient solution residue was not leached from the perlite before fresh nutrient solution was added.

This suggests that plants grow best when their roots are maintained in a consistent nutrient solution environment. In other words, best plant growth occurs when plant roots are growing in an infinite volume of nutrient solution whose elemental composition remains unaffected by root activity.

This also raises another question regarding nutrient solution formulations and their use, suggesting that the dominating factor in their effectiveness is the set of biological characteristics of the root itself, the lesser factor being

What had seemed at first to be a perfectly designed mechanical and functional system was rendered ineffective, however, by the biological characteristics of the plant and its roots.” the set of characteristics of the surrounding rooting environment. There are nutrient solutions currently being marketed that are formulated to achieve certain results—such as stimulating vegetative growth, flowering and fruit set and enhancing root “availability” of the essential elements in various rooting media, but it is the root itself that determines its function irrespective of what nutrient solution formulation is used.

Those who would promote these nutrient solution formulations should first be prepared to define to the user under what conditions their product will be able to accomplish the objectives described.

Old School Style

I was present at the Hydroponics Worldwide: State of the Art in Soilless Crop Production conference held in Honolulu, Hawaii in 1985. At that conference, Dr. Allen Cooper and his colleagues described their newly developed nutrient film technique (NFT) method for growing plants hydroponically without the use of a rooting medium. With this method, the plant’s bare roots are set in an enclosed slopping trough or channel and at its top, nutrient solution is periodically introduced to flow down the trough, bathing the roots, as the method for supplying water and essential elements to the plant. At the end of the trough

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Mechanical Design and Function Versus Plant Biology the nutrient solution can be either discarded or collected for recirculation. The method described was relatively simple in its design, since it was claimed that folded plastic sheeting of any width and length would do as long as the slope was sufficient to allow for the gentle, even flow of nutrient solution down the trough. Many at the conference saw this as a revolutionary advancement in hydroponic technology and high praise was given to Dr. Cooper and his colleagues.

Over a number of years many tried the NFT concept, devising various trough

configurations to suit particular growing conditions and plant species. What had seemed at first to be a perfectly designed mechanical and functional system was rendered ineffective, however, by the

colleagues had considered was that as the root mass in the trough increased in size, the flow of nutrient solution down the trough was impeded. Rather than passing through the root mass, the introduced nutrient solution flowed over the top and along the edges of the trough. In fact, as the root mass enlarged, it acted like a dam, preventing the free movement of nutrient solution down the trough. Portions of the root mass would become anaerobic, resulting in death due to the lack of oxygen.

Even with free movement down the trough, oxygen and elemental contents in the nutrient solution decreased, with the plants at the end of the trough exposed to a nutrient solution quite different in composition from that introduced at the head.Various attempts were made to overcome these problems by changing the width and length of the trough as well as by altering the slope and the nutrient solution flow rates. Changing the design of the trough from a “U-shaped” form to a “W-shaped” form was tried, with the base of the plant being placed on the top of the “W” peak, equally dividing the plant roots on both sides. With the “W-shaped” trough design various nutrient solution formulations and water could be alternately sent down either side of the trough.

As the root mass enlarged, it acted like a dam, preventing the free movement of nutrient solution down the trough.” biological characteristics of the plant and its roots.

What neither the participants at the conference nor Dr. Cooper and his

Lesson Learned?

The message from all of these experiences? In the contest between mechanical design and function versus plant biology, plant biology will always determine the outcome! MY

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Fertilizers or Additives… or Both?

by William Texier In part one of this article, we helped you navigate the more common additives available on the market. In part two we identify more popular options so you can give your garden everything it wants and needs this winter.

Part Two

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Fertilzer or additives...or both? Part 2

HORMONES Hormones are chemical messengers, carrying a message from name can actually have a different effect.Very roughly, their one cell or group of cells to another. They move with main actions are as follows: auxins regulate growth, the sap or are transported actively from one root initiation and bud formation, cytokinins cell to another, and act by attaching themaffect cell division and gibberelins regulate selves onto specific receptors. Hormones germination, stem elongation and flowering. can also be emitted by plants into their Of all the tools that can be used in agriculsurroundings in the air (as in the case of ture, hormones are by and large the most ethylene, for instance) or in the root zone. controversial—and for good reason. First Plant hormones are properly referred and most importantly, a hormone never to as phyto-hormones, and unlike their acts alone: plant morphology is the result of counterparts in the vertebrate kingdom the offsetting effect of a certain number of plants don’t have specific organs to syndifferent hormones, and it is a delicate matter thesize them, instead producing them at the to shift the balance in favor of one hormone spot where they are needed. Hormones are vital over another. Additionally, hormones are active for the vegetal world, regulating the lifecycles of all in minute quantities, so it is easy to pass the optimum plants, affecting their growth and morphology and controllevel when providing them from an outside source, with resultling all the steps of the plant’s life from seed germination to ing abnormalities in growth or even the opposite of the desired fruit ripening, as well as triggering flowering and determining effect. Finally, many users are put off by the fact that most horsex. They regulate the life duramones on the market are made tion of the leaves and fruits as synthetically. The products most “Hormones are vital for the vegetal world, well as the ripening, senescence regulating the lifecycles of all plants, affecting commonly offered to the public and even the death of the plant. their growth and morphology and controlling are cloning hormones, mostly The major plant hormones are: auxins. They are efficient, but all the steps of the plant’s life from seed auxin, cytokinin and gibberelin. it is better to avoid the ones germination to fruit ripening, as well as Of course there are numerin a dry powder form because triggering flowering and determining sex.” when the stem is dipped into ous other hormones, the two most important being abscissic the powder the canals through acid (ABA) and ethylene, and some hormones are specific to a which the cutting absorbs water necessary for its survival can variety of plants. It is a common mistake to think that each one often become clogged. Despite their efficiency, however, I never of these names applies to just a single molecule; auxins, cytouse hormones because there are numerous other effective ways kinins and gibberellins are families of hormones, sometimes to achieve the same results with more natural tools such as very large. Inside the same family, hormones with the same fulvic acid and elicitors.

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Fertilzer or additives...or both? Part 2

FUNGI AND BACTERIA Fungi and bacteria are both present naturally in soil, but it is Fusarium. They have a dual often useful to increase their numbers. They are especially useaction: they occupy the ecologiful in hydroponics because they help recreate in the root zone cal niche of those pathogens conditions similar to soil. Those micro-organisms can colonize and they emit substances that a wet substrate such as coco fibers, rockwool or pumice, but if kill the spores on contact. Not the substrate is dry such as clay pebbles then you will need to every researcher agrees on the use a biofilter to provide the organisms with a breeding ground. type of mix to use; some use A biofilter can be just a simple plastic pot filled with pumice, a large spectrum of organisms, provided that you establish a continuous circulation to maintain others prefer to use only one vathe oxygen level. This is achieved either by putting the pot in riety at a time to avoid competition the system in place of a growing pot, or with a small accessory between species. Whichever way you go, pump that will draw water from it is a good idea “A little experience will allow you the main tank and back. When to introduce those micro-organisms to rapidly overcome these little introducing living colonies in into your nutrient solution.You the system, the grower faces an inconveniences, and it will be well worth can try a simple experiment by increased level of complexity. ascending the learning curve because, introducing Trichodermas—you For instance, if the population will rapidly see a difference in the once mastered, the use of microof micro-organisms increases cleanliness of your nutrient solution organisms can bring a lot of benefits to too fast, or if they suffer a masand the health of your plants. your hydroponics cultivation.” sive die-off from thermal probWe’ve taken a quick look at the lems, they will acidify the pH main types of supplements that you of the solution. They also compete with the roots for dissolved can find on the market today. However, it’s worth pointing out oxygen.You will need to use a well-designed hydroponic systhat there are others—some interesting in a lab but falling short tem that provides a nutrient solution constantly rich in oxygen. so far of providing a significant difference outside of it, others A little experience will allow you to rapidly overcome these still at a basic research level that will be the additives of tomorlittle inconveniences, and it will be well worth ascending the row. Is it a good idea to use supplements? The answer is a loud learning curve because, once mastered, the use of micro-organyes, absolutely! That said, there are many products on the market isms can bring a lot of benefits to your hydroponics cultivation. and it’s best to be a little cautious when buying an additive.

Micro-organisms help plants to absorb mineral salts, but they Choose a product by a company with a solid reputation. Read are also little factories continuously manufacturing enzymes. the labels carefully to make sure that the active ingredient and its These enzymes have a cleaning effect on the nutrient solution mode of action are identified clearly. Always reserve a critical eye and will decompose vegetal debris present in the solution from for the claims made in advertisements while remembering that decaying roots, leaves or other organic matter and transform supplements really can improve your results tremendously—and, them into useful nutritive elements, and they are also your best as a consequence, simplify your life as a grower.

MY

friends in the fight against pathogenic fungi such as Pythium or

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BEGINNER’S CORNER

by Rob Samborn

TDS Meters, Conductivity Conversion Factors

&

Though there is a close relationship between TDS and Electrical Conductivity, they are not the same thing. Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and Electrical Conductivity (EC) are two separate parameters.

TDS, in layman’s terms, is the combined total of solids dissolved in water. EC is the ability of something to conduct electricity (in this case, water’s ability to conduct electricity).

The only true method of measuring TDS is to weigh residue found in water after the water has evaporated.You know those spots you see on a glass after you wash it and let it air dry? That’s TDS! That residue has mass, and it’s possible to weigh it, but if you’re not in a lab, it can be tricky thing to do.

Therefore, we can estimate TDS levels based

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on the conductivity of the water since the hydrogen and oxygen molecules of the H2O carry almost no electrical charge.The EC of most other metals, minerals and salts will carry a charge. A TDS meter measures that EC level and then converts it to a TDS measurement. Since different metals, minerals and salts will be more or less conductive than others, there are different conversion factors that can be used.

ppm (parts per million) is the most commonly used scale to measure TDS (Total Dissolved Solids).

µS (micro-Siemens) is the most commonly used scale to measure EC (Electrical Conductivity).

TDS and Conversion Factors EC: There is no conversion for electrical conductivity.

TDS - NaCl: 0.47 to 0.50 TDS - 442: 0.65 to 0.85 TDS - KCl: 0.50 to 0.57

Converting between different scales PPM to µS: The conversion factor of the TDS meter must be known. Once known, the conversion factor should be multiplied by the TDS level.

MY PPM to PPT: Divide by 1,000 (1,000 ppm = one ppt) µS to mS: Divide by 1,000 (1,000 µS = one mS)

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NUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES:

REACTION AND PREVENTION: PART ONE

by Matt LeBannister

Understanding the symptoms of different nutrient deficiencies can make diagnosis and treatment a simple process. A prompt reaction to nutrient deficiencies can make all the difference and keep your plants healthy and your harvests bountiful.

Gardeners are extraordinary people.

Most are extremely caring and nurturing towards their plants, spending countless hours in the grow room fussing over them, making sure they are happy and healthy. Many gardeners are so engaged in their plants’ wellbeing that they treat them more like family than flora.

When plants just do not seem to be growing to their full potential, though, it is no wonder that many growers work themselves into a frenzy searching

top of plants are a sign of iron deficiency.

Each of these deficiencies is caused either by the use of poor quality nutrients, fluctuating pH levels or high EC readings, causing nutrient lockout.

This article will explain how to spot and treat three relatively common problems—phosphorous, potassium and calcium deficiencies.

Phosphorous is a macronutrient that all plants require to photosynthesize and is also a component of plant DNA, pro-

“Many gardeners are so engaged in their plants’ wellbeing that they treat them more like family than flora.” through all avenues of botanical knowledge in search of an answer. We can find ourselves reading every book and article available on the subject—anything to save our beloved leafy and flowering friends from damage and unnecessary trauma.

Nitrogen, iron and magnesium deficiencies are common in plants and each presents symptoms that involve different leaves yellowing. Plants that are deficient in nitrogen have their oldest leaves on the bottom of the plant turn yellow, magnesium-deficient plants have the leaves in the middle of the plant turn yellow and young yellowing leaves at the 94

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teins and many enzymes. Plants require phosphorous in larger amounts during the blooming or fruiting stage of growth.

If you look at the NPK of most bloomenhancing products you will see that phosphorous is usually the most abundant ingredient.

There are many symptoms associated with a plant suffering from a phosphorous deficiency. The stem or leaves of the plant will begin to turn a bluish-purple hue and sometimes develop spots. When the deficiencies are not treated properly the leaf tips will darken as they contort downward, eventually shriveling up,

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Nutrient Deficiencies: Reaction and Prevention Part One this problem, flush the growing medium with straight, pH-balanced water or with a nutrient clearing solution. Checking EC levels frequently can prevent nutrients from reaching toxic levels.

Potassium is a macronutrient used by plants through all stages of growth which aids in the manufacturing of sugars and encourages healthy root growth. Potassium is necessary for the production of flowers, fruits and vegetables and is also vital to a plant’s resistance to bacteria and mold. Plants suffering from a potassium deficiency often become diseased, as their immune systems are not working at the same level as healthy organisms.

Symptoms of potassium deficiency usually begin with the older, lower leaves on the plants, which will begin to develop

high EC—when salinity levels become too high, plants are unable to absorb potassium. To remove toxic levels of nutrients from the growing medium it must be flushed with straight pH-balanced water or a clearing solution, which can be done every so often to prevent the build up of salts from reoccurring. Once the medium is flushed plants should only receive a complete nutrient solution that is specialized to the plant’s specific stage of growth, which when combined with more frequent EC measurements should cure any potassium deficiency and prevent the problem from plaguing your plants again.

Calcium is a secondary nutrient that is essential to plant growth, required in abundance by fast-growing fruit and vegetable plants—sometimes as much so as the macronutrients. Calcium is needed for cell growth and reproduction and is also drying and falling off. Plants that receive very important for root growth, as each an inadequate amount of phosphorous root tip must contain calcium to grow. during the fruiting and flowering phase The initial symptom of calcium defiwill not fruit or flower as well as their ciency is overall stunted growth, with healthy counterparts, and if the young leaves ap“Plants require phosphorous in larger amounts during problem persists and becomes pearing dark green severe the plants will sometime the blooming or fruiting stage of growth.” and smaller than the not fruit or flower at all. leaves on healthy Phosphorous deficiencies can be caused brown tips and edges. The internal templants. The young growth will eventually by not using quality nutrients. For the perature of a potassium-deficient plant’s turn a yellow to purplish hue and start organic gardeners, steamed bone meal leaves will also rise, causing protein in the to contort, finally shriveling, dying and and bat guano are excellent sources of leaf ’s cells to burn. Leaf tips and edges falling off. Plants experiencing a calcium organic phosphorous. Deficiencies can burn first because this is where evaporadeficiency will have a difficult time also be caused by fluctuations in pH tion levels in the leaf are the highest, but producing flowers, which will fall off or levels. If pH levels drift lower than 5.8 or eventually the leaves will turn completely not even grow at all. If fruit is produced climb higher than 7.0, plants become undark yellow to rust brown, curl up and it will be stunted, and the amount will be able to absorb phosphorous, but checking fall off. The stems can also become weak. far less than that generated by an average and adjusting pH more frequently can Potassium deficiencies can be caused healthy plant. solve the problem if this is the case. A by not using quality nutrients. For those Calcium deficiencies are less common plant may also become deficient in phosgardeners who are organically inclined, indoors than phosphorous and potassium phorous if the soil or soilless medium kelp meal and greensand (iron potasdeficiencies, but there are a number of remains too wet for too long, which can sium silicate) are good sources of organic reasons why a plant could become calcioccur in hydroponics if the water is not potassium. Wood ash is fast-acting but um deficient. Naturally, not using quality properly aerated. should be used in moderation because it nutrients that have enough calcium can Phosphorous deficiencies will also occur is very alkaline, with a pH level as high be a problem, and like all deficiencies the if there is too much iron or zinc present as 10. To counteract this, mix the wood use of a quality hydroponic solution can in the soil, soilless medium or hydroponash with water and balance pH levels prevent the problem from ever occurring. ic solution, which causes the phosphates before feeding it to your plants. PotasIf the nutrient does not contain adequate to become chemically bound, making sium deficiencies can also be caused by amounts of calcium, watering with a half them unavailable to the plant. To remedy nutrient lockout as a result of an overly teaspoon of hydrated lime per one gallon 96

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Nutrient Deficiencies: Reaction and Prevention or adding dolemite lime to the soil/soilless growing medium are both great ways to give your plant the calcium it needs.

If the humidity is too high in your grow room plants can also become calcium deficient, because the high humidity forces them to close their stomata—the part of the leaf from which water is evaporated—thereby shutting down transpiration. Transpiration is the process by which water evaporates out from the leaves, which in turn causes the plant’s roots to draw up water.

No transpiration means there isn’t any water being sucked up into the plant, resulting in no nutritional intake. Calcium is a mobile nutrient and shutting down transpiration means it can no longer be moved through the plant. Keeping the humidity level lower than 70 per cent will keep the leaves’ stomata open and calcium will continue to circulate throughout the plant.

Plants can also become deficient in calcium if the pH levels in their growing medium and nutrient solution are allowed to fluctuate. Nutrients cannot be absorbed when the pH levels drift from their ideal range, which can vary from plant to plant and can depend on the growing medium being used. It usually falls somewhere between a pH of 5.8 at the lowest and 6.8 at the highest, and a reading outside of this level will generally result in nutrient deficiencies. Simply checking your pH frequently can prevent deficiencies like this from ever occurring.

Gardeners seem to have a real lust for knowledge—they are always on a quest to learn new things and understand their plants better, right down to the cellular level. Knowledge and experience truly are the best tools in the grow room, so a successful grower will make it his business to never stop learning.

The knowledge you gain can be used to cure or even totally prevent nutrient deficiencies, keeping your plants healthy and your harvest rich!

MY

Sources: Gardening Indoors,The Indoor Gardening Bible by George Van Patten 2002 Van Patten Publishing

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GREEN THUMB GARDENING

Seed Balls &

by Michael Bloch

Guerrilla Gardening

Have you ever walked past a vacant lot in an industrial area and thought how much better it would look with a few trees? I bet there are patches of dirt around your town just begging for some greenery, but the local council doesn't make an effort or can't provide the resources.

You're not alone; there are many people like you who have formed guerrilla gardening groups; often going out under the cover of night and often without permission to make ugly plots of ground into gardens.

If guerrilla gardening appeals to you, there are quite a few online resources around to help you form your gardening army and plan your planting missions.

That sort of dedication requires a lot of time and the sometimes covert nature isn't everyone's cup of tea; but there are alternatives.

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I've been wanting to plant native grasses and some trees out on my bush block in some bare areas, but after having propagated 300 native seedlings from seed and planted them all by hand on another property a few years back, I really didn't think I'd have the time to do that again for a while.

I even considered grabbing a bunch of seeds and throwing them around the place and letting nature do its thing.

The problem with that approach is the seed wouldn't last too long given all the hungry birds and ants around the place; or even if the seed avoided those challenges, some of it would be blown away by the wind.

There composition is as such: take finely ground terracotta clay, add dry organic compost, seeds and then mix it together.

Add water to the mixture and stir just enough to make the concoction bind. The mixture is then rolled into small balls and left in the sun for a day or two to dry. After this time it's ready for dispersal.

The ball protects the seed until enough rain falls to break through the mixture to allow the seeds to germinate; spurred on by the compost within the ball.

What a great idea! Imagine strolling through your town with a bag of these balls, spreading them over barren and unsightly areas, without even needing to break your stride. There's something very Johnny Appleseed about it.

Seed balls I recently came across what looks to be a fascinating solution to this challenge—seed balls. Seed balls protect seeds by encasing them in a mixture of clay and compost.

Supposedly, some native North American tribes used seed balls.

Seed balls as WMDs Just a note of caution. If you do decide to get into guerrilla gardening in such a way, be sure to research well and use seeds of species native or compatible to your area as a desirable plant in one location can be a noxious pest in another.You don't want your seed balls to become WMDs—Weeds of Mass Destruction.

Go forth and do seed ball battle; wage war on urban and industrial environmental ugliness. MY

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GREENER GARDENS

by Lee McCall

Hydroponic and soil gardening occupy opposite ends of the year-round gardening spectrum, and there are basic and advanced tactics available to more successfully execute both styles. In this article I attempt to show how you can enhance traditional hydroponic and soil gardening techniques with some of the newer industry trends, while keeping the environment a priority. After all, the idea is to be efficient and put in as little time and money as possible while reaping as much benefit as you can.

Whether you are going for quality, quantity or a combination of both is ultimately at your discretion.

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Greener Gardens The popularity of indoor gardening has been the catalyst for the recent upswing in research, development, innovation and overall growth in our industry. A once small pool of dedicated consumers in the indoor gardening industry across the globe has swelled, saturating the market and increasing competition for the manufacturer, distributor and retailer. This burst of new interest has increased revenue for many associated industries and markets as well, breathing life into stagnant businesses and boosting the economy. However, the very vitality of the indoor gardening market can make it difficult for the unwary or inexperienced consumer to successfully navigate the bewildering claims and counter-claims of manufacturers and retailers offering miracle products. With such a broad selection of brands, options, styles and alternatives, education has become the most valuable commodity for the new grower trying to set up a successful indoor garden. From the grower’s standpoint, success can be measured in various ways. Some aim for connoisseur-quality produce, while others are more concerned with the hefty weight of their harvest; either way, growers today need to keep learning in order to keep up with the dynamic marketplace.

With the surge of technological advancements and competing players in the industry it is important also to remember your roots—sometimes it’s the tried-and-true techniques that have

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Greener Gardens “With such a broad selection of brands, options, styles and alternatives, education has become the most valuable commodity for the new grower trying to set up a successful indoor garden.” always worked that will end up saving a crop even after years of trial and error using new products and systems.

The ebb-and-flow system is not an unfamiliar method of hydroponic gardening by any means, and is usually most effectively used with rectangular or square footprints. The balance of intermittent feedings allows the grower to automate when the plants receive water and nutrients. The advantages of this system are the ability to harness larger volumes of plants simultaneously, with equally controlled growth patterns and results through use of a recycle timer. Rockwool cubes or containers with hydroton have been a staple commonly used for years. Hydroton may be rinsed and reused after use, but its porous characteristics make it subject to salt residue if not carefully treated. Flood-and-drain (ebb-and-flow) growers have also used rockwool blocks in their systems for years, and although this is a very effective gardening method capable of excellent results, it defeats the purpose of a rockwool block. Rockwool is ideal for top-feed systems that allow water to disperse fluidly throughout the grains of the block. Coco is used in flood and drain systems (in square or round containers)—its excellent capillary properties allow for consistent moisture-to-air ratios in the medium. Perlite is often cut or pre-mixed into loose-fill coco in order to create custom mixes for those who would rather water more often and incorporate more air into the substrate. A small layer of hydroton in the bottom of the containers will prevent particles from being rinsed into the reservoir and tray during and after feedings, and also promotes thorough drainage and helps maintain consistent moisture throughout the root mass. I find this technique to be helpful in organic soil gardening as well. Whether using raised beds or containers, placing a layer of hydroton or diatomite under and on top of the grow medium will benefit the watering process. The concentration of perlite in the mix may determine how often feedings are required in hydroponic gardens: if coco is used as a standalone, feedings may be reduced to as little as

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once every day or two, even during aggressive flowering cycles when water uptake is highest. Coco is a clean and renewable substrate, making it environmentally friendly and versatile. As a soil amendment it will loosen compacted soils and revitalize depleted ones as high-quality filler, and it also supports beneficial microbial activity and colonization.

Diatomite (or silica rock) is a great organic alternative to hydroton for use in ebb-and-flow, drip, aeroponic or deepwater culture systems. This substrate may be used exactly like

“The balance of intermittent feedings allows the grower to automate when the plants receive water and nutrients. The advantages of this system are the ability to harness larger volumes of plants simultaneously...”

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Greener Gardens hydroton, but provides the luxury of be reused, increasing overall gardening matter and deposits left from the last releasing naturally occurring benefiefficiency. Remove as much root matter crop cycle. A beneficial bacteria or cial silicates to the plant system while as possible before replanting, and always mycorrhizal inoculants will increase retaining higher concentrations transplant success and replenish of moisture and air compared to “Efficiency equates to profit in year-round gar- the quality of the reused grow hydroton. Comprised of fossilized dening. Everything matters—from the equip- medium. ment you purchase to the methods of instalunicellular freshwater organHorticultural lighting is another lation and the design options you choose to isms, this natural grow medium field which is being revolutionmake a part of your indoor garden.” is mined directly from the earth ized as the indoor gardening and undergoes very little treatindustry expands. LEDs and the ment before landing in the local gardenprovide an enzyme formula in the initial latest plasma grow lights are begining center. Both coco and silica rock may feeding to help break down organic ning to find their place in the market.

Replacing HPS or MH with LED or plasma grow lights might not be the answer in every application, but if the situation allows, LEDs have remarkable potential as supplemental light sources. The projected specific bandwidths that are emitted from certain LED products may definitely be analyzed as concentrated and pure within a selective nanometer range, and these sources are ideal for illuminating hard-to-reach corners where HID light may be diffused. The lack of heat and electrical consumption with these new lower-power lighting options also serves to increase the efficiency of the garden as temperatures are easier to control without more fans or air conditioning. The garden ends up benefitting directly from the enhanced spectral output of the newer lighting fixtures without dramatic utility costs.

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Efficiency equates to profit in yearround gardening. Everything matters—from the equipment you purchase to the methods of installation and the design options you choose to make a part of your indoor garden. How your equipment, products and design perform together will dictate overall net profit after time and your initial investment are considered. Given this equation, a very important factor to consider is that cheaper equipment is usually not a better investment. Of course it is wise to shop around for competitive prices and great customer service, but if you’re in this business for the long haul it pays to buy quality every time. The assurance guarantee on a light or pump or even the invaluable information obtained from your trusted local

gardening outlet is worth driving a few miles or spending an extra buck or two when it might mean a difference of, say, 25 per cent in crop yield on an ongoing

basis. Be efficient in your practices, use high-quality products, minimize waste and always make intelligent use of trial and error. Success is not an accident for those growers who are both passionate and MY well-informed.

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SOILLESS SALVATION AND PH PERFECTION

by Casey Jones Fraser

When you pay top dollar for high-end nutrients, you expect high-end results. So why throw away your money by neglecting pH; incorrect pH could be causing you to lose nutrients. Perfect pH “zones” are the key to building a perfectly balanced soilless mix that makes use of every precious element you provide and every dollar you spend.

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O

ver the years, many soil and soilless recipes have made the rounds in the indoor gardening industry. Most of the recipes are not simple. If you want simple, buy a bag of potting mix off the shelf. These recipes are based on performance, and the creator of each recipe has found the right mix to meet their needs. Performance goals include water-holding capacity, drainage, nutrient availability, beneficial biology, nutrient supplementation, overall plant health and yield.

Some growers use a simple nutrient feeding regimen with few or no liquid supplements, and therefore require rich soil supplementation to meet the plants’ feeding needs. Other growers use a rich, scientific liquid nutrient mix with every feeding. These growers often seek a soil with limited nutrient additives, as they want to manipulate the plant’s nutrition at every step of the growing process.

The truth is, higher yields are achieved with a higher-quality feeding program, but nutrients will not be fully available without a quality growing medium. One of the biggest factors for nutrient availability is pH.While you probably check and adjust the pH of your water and feeding solution, a common mistake is to neglect the pH range of the medium. But think about it—your root systems are sitting in the growing medium 24/7 for the entire lifecycle of the plant. If your solution’s pH is correct but the roots are sitting in material that is too acidic or too alkaline, the plant is experiencing incorrect pH and as a result nutrients are less available. I pay for the high-end nutrients, and I want them to always be available to my precious plants.

Perfect pH I have been hearing a lot of talk about nutrient recipes being formulated to reach perfect pH levels.

As I said, I use the high-end nutrients, and I can say from

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Soilless Salvation

and pH

Perfection

“I love finishing a nutrient mix, testing the pH and always seeing an ideal range (5.5 to 6.5) on my meter.”

Eco Nutrients Quarter Page

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experience that some nutrient companies can help you achieve perfect pH. I love finishing a nutrient mix, testing the pH and always seeing an ideal range (5.5 to 6.5) on my meter. So now the nutrient companies are helping with pH in the nutrient solution, and we don’t want to ruin the batch by pouring it into a low-quality substrate.

The key is to build a soilless mix with the best our industry has to offer, while encouraging pH zones that will help with nutrient uptake. And no, that is not a typo: I said pH zones—plural. Most growers have seen the pH availability chart, which shows all of the nutrients required by plants and at which pH level each nutrient is most available. In the past, growers have compromised by choosing a pH near 6.0, because all of the nutrients are available around this level. To be clear, though, some nutrients are more available or less available at this level—each nutrient has a specific pH number where it reaches peak availability, and this number is not the same for every nutrient. For example, molybdenum is most available at a high pH, and iron is most available at a low pH. The good news is that a few soilless mediums have slightly higher or lower pH to match the nutrients you want to use. Rockwool gardeners will tell you that their favorite substrate has properties consistent with high pH, while peat moss is known to naturally have a low pH. Perlite typically has a neutral pH of 7.0 and coconut coir

is slightly lower, in the ideal 6.1 to 6.8 range.You can mix these ingredients in the proper ratios, adding organic and biological supplements to complete the mix. The result— pH perfection for the roots.

My Original “Perfect pH Mix”

A few popular coconut coir and coir-based products.

Five years ago, after working with both hobby and commercial growers, I came up with my own potting mix recipe. It contained the mediums described for ideal pH zones, along with small amounts of kelp meal, worm castings, bat guano, multiple composts, biological inoculants and a few other secret ingredients. Measuring out each item, putting all of it together and thoroughly mixing would take an entire evening of work, but the high yields and superb quality it allowed made it worth all the work, and I never had to adjust pH in my solutions. This is important, because as you may know, pH adjusters can kill beneficial inoculants and alter NPK levels.

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Soilless Salvation

and pH

Perfection

My Updated “Easy pH Mix” Skip forward five years to the current day, I finally found a way to achieve the same results with only four ingredients instead of a dozen. How can this be true, you ask? I finally realized the advantages of using the potting mixes that are available from the

One of the four buckets should be drilled for drainage.

That bucket will be filled with grow cubes and dropped into another bucket to soak in chlorine-free water.

local hydro shops! Basically, I combine a rich coco coir-based mix, a peat-based mix, mini grow cubes and large-grade perlite.

That’s it! I went from four hours of work to 30 minutes, and that includes cleanup.

I start with four empty five gallon buckets and an empty children’s wading pool.

One bucket is drilled out for drainage. I fill that bucket with the grow cubes, then drop that bucket into another bucket. I soak the grow cubes with four gallons of chlorine-free water and then drain completely. I fill the second bucket with the coco coir mix, a third bucket with peat mix and a fourth bucket with largegrade perlite. I always wear goggles and a

“The supplements are diluted by adding the inert grow cubes and perlite, which will help to prevent overfeeding.”

dust mask for safety, because the materials are dusty, especially the perlite. The coirbased mix is well fortified with a bevy of organic amendments, not to mention large amounts of beneficial bacteria and fungi, and the peat-based mix also contains mycorrhizae and compost—making this combination of amendments very similar to my old custom mix. The supplements are diluted by adding the inert grow cubes and perlite, which will help to prevent overfeeding. Other benefits of this mix include the perfect air-to-water ratio and the ability to be utilized in a hydroponics system (using fabric pots), or a traditional container garden.Your plants will also have increased feeder roots and root branching from the grow cubes, while seeing increased levels of beneficial bacteria and fungi from the coir.

Making the Mix Now you have each bucket filled with a medium, and the grow cubes are soaked.

If mixing indoors, soak the perlite as well. Start by pouring the peat-based mix into the pool. Push the peat mix toward the edges, creating a pit, then pour the perlite into the peat pit. Add the wet grow cubes, and finally, the coir-based mix. Stir all of the ingredients with a long-handled shovel. I find that sitting on a five gallon bucket puts me at the ideal height for mixing the mediums— standing and bending while mixing is not good for your back. Take a seat and take your time while mixing! Periodically turn the pool and continue mixing, making sure you get the edges mixed in well. With 15 to 20 minutes of stirring, the mix is complete.

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Two happy mixmasters enjoy a sunset near the Ohio River.

A Simple Process You can pick up all the ingredients you’ll need from your local grow store: their best coco coir-based potting mix, their best peat-based potting mix, perlite and grow cubes. The grow cubes can be in granulate form (about the size of salad croutons) if preferred. Largegrade perlite is preferred over cheap perlite, especially for automated hydro systems. Mix all four items in equal parts. For an extra boost, add a gallon of premium biodynamic compost to the mix. You can never MY have too much beneficial biology!

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avant-gardening

What’s in for

2011 TOP TRENDS ✓ ✓ ✓

Organics Cloth Containers Nutrition

Organics

Organics are definitely a popular item for 2011 and hopefully beyond as well. Consumers are demanding high quality products that are not only good for our plants, our planet and our children, they actually work. Thankfully, manufacturers are filling the demand and they’re taking green to the next level by sourcing innovative materials, recycling and reusing. The focus this year is on organic and sustainable products that create organic and sustainable produce. Organics replenish the earth and they are highly concentrated, which means you can use less, the first step in the waste management hierarchy.

Interactive Websites Companies are stepping up their game on the web. Some of the interactive features being utilized by companies in our industry include grower forums, blogs, videos and quick links to social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter,YouTube, MySpace and more. Gardening websites are more than just a spot to check out the latest products. Many of the best websites also offer comprehensive feeding schedules, grow tools and advice, easy store locators, fun downloads, product catalogues, helpful articles and support. Retail websites have also improved with monthly specials, top product picks and easy online shopping.

Cloth Containers Gardeners are loving the cloth containers now available in a variety of styles and sizes. Container gardening is a versatile

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option that allows you to move your garden to the location of your choice (greenhouse, grow room, sunny spot in the yard). Many of the new cloth containers are reusable, made out of recycled materials, or compostable/ degradable. Cloth containers are great for year round planting; they’re lightweight and flexible, which makes them easy to move around and perfect for a variety of plants. The materials used are breathable, which encourages healthy root growth. They prevent circling roots and release heat. Plus, they’re inexpensive.

Facebook Facebook is catching on in our industry. Many of the top companies, brands and even retailers are now sporting dedicated Facebook Pages, making it easy to find the information you want quickly. Connect with fellow growers from around the globe; share grow tips and stories; participate in contests and win your grow gear; and stay up-to-date on our industry’s news and happenings on Facebook.

Nutrition The market is saturated with nutrients: micros and macros, grow, flower and bloom, dry, liquid—the list is endless.

There are nutrients available if you want a complex nutritional program for your plants. There are nutrients available if you want to take the simple route. Growers can choose between one step, two steps or three steps.

Many of the available nutrients will excel in all soils, coco, and peat based soilless mixes, plus a variety of systems.

The amount of information now available (thanks to dedicated scientific research, ongoing experimentation and information sharing) means the quality of nutrient recipes continues to improve.

Reflectors Reflectors have long since been available in sizes big and small to fit any space. The change for 2011 is the innovative design elements being implemented. The latest reflectors are uncomplicated, shatter resistant, durable, air tight and come pre-wired. The most compact are ideal for teeny enclosed spaces and the giants in the industry are MY great for big spaces.

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YOU TELL US MY: Who are the names and faces behind 3D? Alex: The current 3D Organic Solutions team includes: Albee Wilder (general partner), Dan Price (senior graphic designer), myself (sales and marketing manager), Ken Clarke (production and special operations manager), Alicia Clarke (accounting manager), John ‘Quynh’ Le (sales specialist), Jason Griffis (sales specialist), Jake Petrykowski (promotional specialist), Victor Cornejo (sales and viticulture specialist), Marcos Perez (production and viticulture specialist) and AJ Lemos (web design).

Maximum Yield discusses the importance of supporting local causes and community building, and the science behind the organic, performance-based products from 3D Organic Solutions with Alex Fosse, sales and marketing manager for 3D. Maximum Yield (MY): What is the story behind 3D Organics?

Alex Fosse: The real story behind 3D Organic Solutions is the continuing need to provide products and services for farmers and growers. There will always be a real need for customerserving companies with simple, premium, easy-to-use, organic and performance-based products that ensure highly productive yields and quality harvests. 3D Organic Solutions is a thriving new company founded to service this important market and provide the ideal tools for agricultural or home garden success.

MY: Where was the company founded?

Alex: 3D Organic Solutions was founded in July 2007 in Ukiah, California. Ukiah is in the heart of Mendocino County wine country—agricultural land—and is the first county to ban genetically modified organisms (GMOs).

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MY: What types of products do you offer the consumer?

Alex: 3D Organic Solutions products are for organic and performance-based applications, agricultural use and indoor or outdoor home gardens. We offer powerful liquid- and dry-based nutrients, organic, performance-enhancing foliar sprays and a concentrated beneficial root biological treatment.

MY: What organic certification agencies is 3D affiliated with?

Alex: 3D’s product ingredients are nearly all approved for organic crop production under USDA NOP Final Rule 205.600. Some ingredients used in the manufacturing of 3D products are certified by the following agencies: OMRI, WSDA and BCS-OKO. MY: How do organic certification agencies help companies like yours enter the organic marketplace?

Alex: Organic certification agencies can help companies entering the organic marketplace via the co-marketing of logos or brands, increased directory listings and additional product accreditations.

MY: What non-profits is 3D affiliated with?

Alex: 3D Organic Solutions is affiliated with the following non-profit organizations: KZYX &Z (listener-supported community radio), SLI (Solar Living Institute) and NFF (Noyo Food Forest).

MY: Why did you choose to promote these organizations?

Alex: First, listener-supported local radio is vital for a well-informed, cultured community, and KZYX&Z is a voice for our community that is highly treasured and valued. Support your local independent media! Next, the use of clean, natural, sustainable energy in building and agriculture is essential for the future of our environment, and the SLI trains people in these areas now, giving them the skills needed for the future of our planet. “Be the change you want to see in the world.” Finally, an education in organic agriculture is crucial preparation for more localized food production in the future.

Thanks to the NFF, organic vegetable gardens are now located at schools throughout the region. Think globally and act locally.

MY: How does 3D support local causes and community building?

Alex: 3D Organic Solutions is proud to support local events, fundraisers, projects, schools, affiliates, artists, music and movements—through sponsorships, donations, planning, programs, volunteer time, consulting, networking and dedicated involvement.

MY: Which products in the 3D Organics line are you most excited about right now and why?

Alex: I’m excited about all of our products right now!

Our new, patent-pending manufacturing processes have made our products better than ever. The indoor or outdoor performance-based three-part nutrients have been working amazingly well, and both of the new foliar sprays will blow your mind within 24 hours! The Trichoderma in our inoculant is extremely concentrated and helps your plants create unmatchable root growth, while our new organic dry nutrient blends provide a premium mixture of top-quality agricultural concentrates designed to give your plants the best organic nutrition available.

MY: What makes 3D’s products unique from the other options available in the market?

Alex: Each 3D product is handcrafted with care by someone trained in 3D manufacturing and application, and 3D’s patent-pending manufacturing processes guarantee each 3D product is created precisely to specification. 3D’s direct distribution system makes our products available nationwide only from 3D Organic Solutions, LLC. MY: What ingredients are used in your products to ensure superior quality and ease of use?

Alex: Nearly all of 3D’s product ingredients are approved for organic crop production under USDA NOP Final Rule 205.600, and have been nano-emulsified to their smallest, most readily available molecular form. This improves the efficiency of nutrient uptake, resulting in consistent, premiumMY quality harvests.

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AB

6 5 8

AB 856 – CALIFORNIA’S NEW ORGANIC LAW

by Donald Lester

This article outlines the key components of the bill AB 856, which have ramifications outside of California.

I

n 2008, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) investigated a California-based organic fertilizer manufacturing company that claimed its product was suitable for organic food production. The product had been approved as organic by a third-party reviewer, but the CDFA found the material to be adulterated. This revelation in the media created a backlash from the organics industry, environmental groups, consumers, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and even Congress had hearings on the matter. The California Senate Subcommittee on Food and Agriculture conducted an oversight hearing and found gaps in CDFA’s authority to deal with such an issue, so in February 2009 assembly bill AB 856 was introduced into the California State Legislature to fill gaps in CDFA’s authority to ensure the integrity of organic input materials (OIM) sold in California.

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AB 856 - California’s new organic law per product will be assessed for a two year The measure was signed production. AB 856 also sets up new registration. Existing Organic Materials into law by the governor enforcement authority and fines for the Review Institute (OMRI),Washington on January 1, 2010.

CDFA to enforce compliance.

State Department of Agriculture Organic Although AB 856 is now The reason why manures and composts Foods Program (WSDA) or other officially on the books, are now regulated is because high organically approved product labels and the CDFA is still in the levels of arsenic have been observed in supporting materials must be submitted to implementation phase where it chicken manure. The poultry industry the CDFA for evaluation between January is setting up the infrastructure to uses arsenic-based compounds in 1, 2011 and April 30, 2011.These labels handle the new program. Fortunately, chicken feed to promote growth, kill will be reviewed by the CDFA and ready this implementation phase for use in California by January gives organic growers 2012, the start of the two year some time to familiarize registration period, which themselves with the new law.

“Perhaps the most important component of AB 856 is that all occurs only on even years. materials sold to be applied on California crops and fields for Perhaps the most important Label submissions will be made organic food production must be registered with the CDFA.” component of AB 856 is primarily through the new that all materials sold to be CDFA online fertilizer database, applied on California crops but paper hardcopies can be and fields for organic food submitted. In order to submit parasites that cause diarrhea and improve production must be registered with the labels to the CDFA for consideration the pigmentation of chicken meat. In CDFA. These materials include lime, the manufacturer must have a current 2006 the Environmental Protection gypsum, manures, compost and other California fertilizer license.

Agency (EPA) reduced the maximum materials previously not required to It is important to note that the CDFA undergo organic review and certification. contaminant levels of arsenic in tap water organic registration will now be required from 50 ppb down to 10 ppb. Even at 10 Manufacturers of these ingredients who by law in California, while certifications ppb the EPA estimates the risk of cancer previously did not have to label their

by OMRI, WSDA or others will be products must do so now in order to sell is one in 2,000. optional. Since California is the largest those products in California for organic AB 856 requires that OIM labels be producer of organic foods, it is expected food production. This includes OIM’s for registered with the CDFA to ensure that OMRI and WSDA organic commercial organic food production as compliance with the USDA National registrations will diminish significantly well as home and garden organic food Organic Program standards—a fee of $500 over time, but at this point it is unclear if states other than California will recognize the CDFA organic certification.

Another important aspect of this law is that all manufacturers of materials for use on California organic food production fields must have their manufacturing facilities inspected every year—this also applies to manufacturers located outside of California. The CDFA is still in the implementation phase of AB 856, however, so many of the details about how this will be accomplished on a practical level are still being worked out.

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AB 856Potential - California’s new organic law Plant The current thinking is that There are many more details about OIM logo is still in the design phase, third-party reviewers might AB 856 to be released in the coming but it is expected to be released soon be allowed to perform this months by the CDFA, but this article for use on CDFA-compliant product activity for manufacturers summarizes the core of the legislation packaging and marketing materials. outside of California. and the key points that organic California-based organic growers will One concern about AB 856 materials manufacturers need to need to recognize this emblem and be is that if California is going to take know if they want to do business in sure it is on the products they buy for on the review of these materials the California. use on their organically certified fields. turnaround time for label Organic growers outside of reviews will be lengthened California should expect to significantly, since the CDFA see the new CDFA emblem “California organic growers must be made aware that has not hired a large number of on the OIM’s they purchase. when they buy OIM products, OMRI and WSDA organic new investigators or reviewers For these growers the CDFA materials certifications will no longer be sufficient...” to do the additional work. emblem will be optional, at In October 2010 OMRI least for now. announced that it had passed Opponents of AB 852 the threshold of 2,000 certified or California organic growers must argue that the law is merely a tool for listed materials on its books, which be made aware that when they buy California to generate revenue for the gives you some idea of the size of the OIM products, OMRI and WSDA state. Whether or not that is the case, effort that the CDFA is taking on. organic materials certifications will no many observers on the outside are And in a climate of staggering budget longer be sufficient, and that CDFAwatching this issue carefully. Depending deficits, it is hard to imagine that registered products will be the only on how the implementation of AB more state employees will be hired to OIM certification recognized in 856 goes, other states may follow MY perform the additional work required.

California from now on. The CDFA California’s model as well.

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GROWING FOR HEALTH

by Matthew Bennett

Health Benefits Garlic and its derivatives are widely used in the culinary world and are a staple in a lot of Asian and Italian cuisine. Garlic not only provides you with a wonderful flavor, but it also has superb healthy benefits to it.

It is a fact known to and used by ancient Egyptians. Discover some of the health benefits that it provides you.

• Garlic has anti-cancer properties.

One of the compounds found in garlic is Germanium. It is a known antioxidant instrument that is proven in lab tests worldwide. It is also known to hold back tumor growth.

• Garlic has nutritive properties found in your multivitamins.

Garlic has vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin C, calcium, manganese, niacin, iron, phosphorus, potassium and zinc. These are all components regularly found in multivitamin tablets. Aside from these, it also has a good amount of protein, carbohydrates and fiber, all needed by the body.

• Garlic is good for your heart.

It lowers your blood pressure (via Saponin compound), reduces serum LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides (via Di-Sulphides), increases HDL-cholesterol and stimulates nitric oxide production.

These help prevent arteriosclerosis, which minimizes the risk of heart strokes and heart attacks.

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• Garlic helps people with known ailments.

It has compounds that help decongest the lungs. It also aids people who have tuberculosis.

It helps people who have weak digestion. It prevents thrombosis.

It aids people suffering from hyperthyroidism. It helps normalize blood sugar levels. It helps prevent arrhythmia. There are still other ailments that are benefited by garlic like warts, tonsillitis, ringworms and other fungal infection, diarrhea, rheumatism and so on.

• Garlic promotes weight-control.

In lab studies, it has shown weightcontrol properties on animals that were fed garlic. The control group that ate the same amount of food, but without garlic showed to have their weight increased.

• Garlic improves the immune system.

Garlic contains antioxidants that remove free radicals from the body.

It protects the body from viral and bacterial attack. It also has vitamins and minerals known to boost the immune system.

“People are just starting to know what these health benefits are and joining the garlic bandwagon craze.”

With all these things mentioned, there are still a ton of health benefits that garlic offers. More and more researches uncover more heath benefits that garlic has to offer. People are just starting to know what these health benefits are and joining the garlic bandwagon craze. It is amazing that all these heath benefits are just derived from a single plant.You can also benefit from it by incorporating it in your daily diet. Start by including it in your meals. Eat three cloves of garlic per day and feel the difference it gives your body. Remember, too much of a good thing is also bad for you, so regulate your garlic intake.You can also uncover home remedies for different ailments. Garlic has been used throughout history, and it’s now time for you to do the same, and grow some of your own. MY (Source: www.hotodothings.com)

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PRODUCT

Continued from page 42

spotlight

Introducing Green Lacewings from Organic Control Inc./Orcon _____________________ Green Lacewings are predators of many species of pest insects, the natural enemy of whitefly and aphids. Shipped as eggs, they quickly hatch and become active seekers of the whitefly. They are voracious eaters. The larvae feed for approximately three weeks. Under warm conditions many generations can be produced each year offering continued protection.

Use approximately two per square foot. Each package has 1,000 eggs. Ask your local gardening retailer to carry Green Lacewings from Organic Control, Inc./Orcon.

Sunshine Systems GlowPanel 45® Upgrade Sunshine Systems has done it again. The GlowPanel 45® 28 watt LED grow light is a direct replacement for a 250 watt HPS/MH grow light. GlowPanel 45® has been upgraded with powerful new features. An integrated on/ off switch allows easy power cycles from the unit. The Infinite Adjustment™ hanging system allows quick and easy changes from overhead to side lighting. The revolutionary Pass-Thru-Power™ allows up to 28 GlowPanel 45s to be daisy chained together using just one plug. Glow Your Own®.

Visit an indoor gardening shop for more information.

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PRODUCT spotlight

Professional, High Performance Ushio Hi-lux Gro™ Lamps ___________________________ Ushio’s Hi-lux Gro™ lamp series is a full line of professional grade horticulture lamps that use super high output lamp technology to achieve maximum vegetative growth and maximum flower yield. The lamps are designed to ensure consistency in quality and optimized for high performance. These lamps are made in Germany in an ISO9001 certified facility, and are available in 400 watts, 600 watts and 1,000 watts. Visit your favorite indoor gardening shop for more information about the Hi-Lux Gro™ lamp series.

Vital Earth’s® Mega Worm™ _____________________________ Conscious Earthworks is proud to present Vital Earth’s® Mega Worm, superior quality, 100 per cent pure castings. Mega Worm earthworm castings promote enhanced germination, root growth, plant growth, crop yield and water holding capacity in soils. It may help improve the physical structure of soil. Excellent for use in compost tea. Mega Worm 100 per cent earthworm castings are black and roll when touched.

Available in 1.1 cubic foot bags and two yard totes. For more information on Mega Worm visit your favorite gardening shop.

MY

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disease & pest resistant

healthy & stress free

good leaf density

by Trevor Holt

PARENT PLANTS Care and Control

good aesthetics

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When choosing a suitable motherplant you need to look at the following attributes: aesthetics, shape, size, density of leaves, compactness, early maturation, clones well, produces strong plantlets and is disease and pest resistant, and production history.

Your motherplant should be a healthy and stress free parent. Cuttings from a stressed parent may root poorly, grow slowly, produce mutated leaves or produce lower yields.

Generally you should not take more than 20 to 30 per cent of the vegetative material off each motherplant at any one time, and do not take cuttings from the motherplant too often.

The motherplant should be allowed two weeks to rejuvenate after each pruning.

To achieve desired results when growing from seed, you must be patient. Select only the strongest genetic stock from your seedlings. A potential motherplant is easily identified as it will be the best performer of the bunch. Keep in mind that seed stock will never produce consistent results that you can expect from cuttings, as they need to first grow to maturity before they show results.

“Nutrients cannot be absorbed until the plant has a root system, so don’t waste your nutrients. ” Helpful Hints • Limit each cloning session to 16 to 20 clones at a time per motherplant.

• Only clone from a motherplant at two week intervals.

• If you have to take cuttings from a plant that is flowering, cut all the flowers off the clone to help reduce plant stress.

• If planting clones outdoors, treat with care and slowly acclimatize them to the natural sunlight.

• Always clean propagation trays thoroughly between cloning sessions. Use a weak cleaning solution as per the directions on the bottle.You would be amazed at how much bacteria and fungal spores can form in your trays. An unclean environment can lead to diseases such as Pythium (root rot).

• Do not reuse the propagation media, which can harbor diseases. Always start with fresh cubes; they are inexpensive and easy to store if kept dry.

• Do not clone from a motherplant that is bug infested.

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Parent Plants - Care and control The Procedure 1. Provide your seeds and cuttings with the best propagating environment possible; keeping the area clean is paramount. This will ensure a faster strike rate for your seeds and cuttings.

2. High humidity, 18 hours of light, proper air circulation, strict attention to cleanliness and correct bottom heat are absolutely necessary for success.

3. If air in the propagation room is dry, you can mist to raise the humidity. Black leaf edges, black spots on leaves and mushy stems are all indications of too much moisture and poor airflow.

4. It is also essential that you provide adequate bottom heat. If you do, root development will be slow and the chance of plants crashing is increased. Even in sub-tropical areas the night time temperatures can dip below 59°F.

Remember to follow the propagation basics: • Root zone temperature: 77°F • Humidity: 85 per cent • pH Level: 6.3 • Nutrient strength: seven CF • Ambient temperature: 80°F

Seeds and Seedlings All a seed needs to germinate is warmth and moisture. Seeds swell with moisture and then a little miracle happens and the seed begins the plant life process all over again. A seed has all the hormones needed in its husk to strike.

Nutrients cannot be absorbed until the plant has a root system, so don’t waste your nutrients. The medium used to germinate a seed must be well draining, but remain moist to the touch. Although moisture levels may vary for different plants, the medium must not be too wet as this will cause the seed to rot.

Within a few days of planting the seeds in the medium, most of the seeds will have started to sprout. Once the seeds sprout, you will need to monitor moisture levels even more closely. At no time during the germination period must the medium be allowed to dry out. Keep your seedlings in a place that has a constant warm atmosphere, like a propagation box. This will create a high humidity environment and will cut out the need for daily watering.

“Seeds swell with moisture and then a little miracle happens and the seed begins the plant life process .”

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Parent Plants - Care and control Don’t worry if all the seeds haven’t made an appearance; if they are all from the same source, then the others will follow suit within hours; those that don’t are probably duds.

Once a seed has sprouted it is a good idea to give it some indirect light in preparation for its first leaves. Fluorescent grow tubes can be placed close to the tops of the seedlings, about four inches.

The seedlings will sprout with small leaves (cotyledons or water leaves), but when the first true leaves appear it is a good indication that the seedling now has the beginnings of a root system and you should apply a specific nutrient from now on. The first two weeks of life are critical.

If a plant does not have a good start, then the plant likely won’t grow successfully.

Optimum germinating temperatures can vary from seed to seed, but as a guide, 77°F should give you a very good strike rate. Using perlite and vermiculite mixes has been a professional method for many years, although rockwool cubes are also an option to start seeds as they hold their moisture for long periods.

Seed Raising Success STEP 1. Mix seed and clone starter solution with root zone accelerant at recommended dosage rates in a bucket of lukewarm water. Pre-soak propagation blocks or medium until saturated.

Gently squeeze the block to get rid of the excess solution.

STEP 2. Place propagation blocks on your netted tray with the black drip tray underneath; you are now ready to plant out your seeds.

STEP 3. Gently place one seed per hole no deeper than 0.2 inches into the block or medium. Do not close.

STEP 4. Place clear grow top over both trays and do not water at all until all seeds have germinated or within seven days, or whichever is sooner. The seed should strike within seven to 10 days. If seeds do not germinate within 14 days they are either sterile, or they will become weak even if they strike after this time.

STEP 5. When the water leaves or cotyledons, also known as nursery leaves, appear, open vents on the propagation lid half way.

This will stop the seedlings stretching and acclimatize. They should be only moist to touch. Don’t worry if some of the seeds haven’t germinated. If the seed is worth growing it will have germinated within the 14 day time frame.

STEP 6. When the first true leaves have appeared, lift the propagation lid completely off. This stage is called the hardening off period, whereby the plants acclimatize to the environment and the higher intensity lighting is required for this next stage of the growth process.

STEP 7. By now your seedlings should be stretching a little, and a tap root or two should be visible at the bottom of the propagation block. It is important at this stage to keep feeding your young plants every few days and be sure to pour off any excess solution.

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Taking Cuttings Cuttings can be taken from anywhere on the motherplant, provided they are tip cuttings and the stems are of the correct thickness (approximately 0.2 inches in diameter). Take cuttings with at least three to four sets of leaves plus the two crown leaves. The top growing shoots make excellent cuttings; however, make sure the stem is rigid and not too soft and flexible.

If you can bend it over it is not ready to cut from the mother. If you do take it as a cutting, more than likely it will not make it through the sensitive early stages of cloning.You may wish to take a number of cuttings at one time, if so, prepare all the cubes or media first, because any time that the cut is exposed to the air it can pick up pathogens and fungal spores, which will lower your success rate. Before you begin to take cuttings it is a good idea to have all the equipment ready and in good working order. All your equipment should be as sterile as possible.

STEP 1. Pre-soak the propagation blocks or media with a mix of seed and clone solution and root zone accelerant in a bucket of lukewarm water.This is the batch solution and will be used later, so don’t discard it. Soak blocks for about 20 minutes and pour off the excess prior to the cloning session. Lay out propagation cubes in the tray.

STEP 2. Take a single edged razor blade and begin taking your cuttings just below the third or fourth internodal junction of the plant at a 45 degree angle. Then, trim the bottom two sets of leaves flush with the stem. If the leaves are large, trim approximately 50 per cent of leaves by cutting across the leaf surface.

By doing this you will slow the transpiration rate down. Next dip the stem of the cuttings into the cloning gel to about 0.2 inches above the cut.

STEP 3. Now you are ready to put the cuttings into their propagation blocks. Slice a hole about half way down the block. If you are doing multiple cuts I would suggest you do this before hand. Gently insert the stem half way into each block or media pot, making sure the stem does not protrude out of the bottom of the block. After all the cuttings are in the propagation blocks and placed into the tray, discard any excess solution from the drip tray before placing the clear propagation lid over your new cuttings.

STEP 4. Place the propagation tray on a heat pad in total darkness for 24 hours making sure you close the vents on the grow top as this will allow the hormones to take effect more quickly.

After this you can set your lighting at 18 hours on and six hours off. Check moisture levels every two to three days; if blocks are drying out, saturate with the batch solution you made earlier.

Make sure no solution is sitting in the bottom of the tray; the blocks must be able to freely drain at all times.

STEP 5. After seven days, open vents on the grow top. Monitor progress of clones for another two to three days. By this stage it should be time to take the grow top off the unit and expose the cuttings to normal air. Monitor moisture levels in the propagation blocks and inspect the progress of the root development of the cutting. By day 10 you should be able to see roots appearing from the bottom of the blocks. Healthy roots look thick, white and hairy. Sickly roots look thin, yellowish, brown and hairless. The cuttings with the healthiest root system will be the same ones that will grow vigorously.

STEP 6. When your cuttings are well rooted and have begun to show new growth, it is time to transplant them into your growing system.

Now introduce them to a full strength nutrient.

STEP 7. Place the clones under an appropriate light system, preferably one high in the bluegreen color spectrum needed by young plantlets to develop strong lush growth. The new clones are tender and care should be taken to acclimatize your new clones to the brighter light.

STEP 8. As soon as roots have appeared, a full strength nutrient is applied. If you do not have a nutrient tester, follow directions on the nutrient label. Those of you using tank and pump systems should dump and re-dose each week.

Note: If roots have not appeared, keep the grow top on until they do. Slow root development can occur sometimes in cold MY winter months.

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TALKING SHOP

The Calwest dream team from left: Darrin Bell, Marcia Wicks, Whitney Cochran, Ryan Wicks, Carissa Timura and Brad Wicks.

AT A GLANCE Store name: Calwest Hydroponics Owners: Brad and Ryan Wicks Location: 11620 Sterling Ave Riverside, CA Phone: 951-351-1880 Email: sales@calwesttropical.com Web: www.CalwestHydro.com

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Calwest Hydroponics began nearly two his son Ryan to take over management decades ago with the founding of a small of Calwest Tropical, Inc. and they soon tropical plant supply business out of Brad began noticing that the term ‘hydroponics’ Wicks’ backyard greenhouse.With a lack of coming up in more and more of their quality growing suppliers in the Southern customers’ emails. One day Brad walked California area, Brad began importing into Ryan’s office and said, “Let’s check out products from all over the world to support what it would take to start carrying some his ever-expanding tropical plant collection. of these hydroponics supplies,” and Calwest Other local growers began asking him Hydroponics was born. where he was getting these one-of-a-kind Brad and Ryan opened Calwest products (like tree fern, New Zealand Hydroponics in late 2009 in Riverside, sphagnum moss and custom plastic pots) California with the same goal as the other and Calwest branches of Tropical Supply “As his passion for growing expanded, so did Calwest: to provide was formed. As Calwest. Calwest Tropical Nursery was opened the best products his passion for in 2000 with over 25 acres of growing grounds, on the market growing expanded, supplying both retail customers and wholesale at the best price, so did Calwest. landscapers with hardy, locally grown plants.” and to support Calwest Tropical their customers Nursery was opened in 2000 with over 25 through every stage of their projects. It was acres of growing grounds, supplying both their love for growing and the experience retail customers and wholesale landscapers of Calwest Hydroponics’ staff, however, with hardy, locally grown plants. As both that quickly set them apart from other Calwest Tropical Nursery and Calwest stores in the area. Carissa Timura was Tropical Supply grew, so did the demands the first person brought onboard to help of their customers. In 2005, Brad hired during their opening—a certified master

gardener with over 12 years running a root-accelerator in the gardening industry product against an untreated and an unparalleled passion control group.We planted for all things organic, she fit peppers in clear UV-coated pots right in! With sales growing, so that the roots could be visible Whitney Cochran and Cole throughout the growing cycle and Wicks were soon added our customers were blown away. to the team to help with The plants supplemented with the account management and root accelerator had nearly twice sales, respectively. Sammy the root mass of the control group!

Nellum—then warehouse manager for Accelerator sales skyrocketed, and Calwest Tropical Supply—was also brought over to help manage within a week we were completely the quickly growing inventory. sold out of that particular product.”

They began with the basics: a few nutrient lines, some reflectors “Our goal, since day one, was to create a store that people would and bulbs and the standard white trays and reservoirs.That didn’t want to come to. Not just because we have competitive prices or last long! Within a few short a huge selection, but because we months they expanded to “Within a few short months they expanded to a nearly 5,000 have a staff that truly cares about a nearly 5,000 square foot square foot showroom and an additional 4,500 square feet the success of our customers,” Ryan showroom and an additional of warehouse to keep up with their constantly multiplying explains. “For me, there is no greater 4,500 square feet of warehouse product lines. “ success as a storeowner than to have to keep up with their constantly a customer personally thank you multiplying product lines. After answering many of the same for helping them. Nobody thanks you for selling them a bottle of questions about basic recirculating hydroponic set-ups, they set up nutrients or a light. People thank you for helping them find the a four-by-four flood system in the showroom. “Our customers right nutrients for their garden, or the right light for the size of the loved it! They could examine the system from every angle, and area and growing stage they are in. Our customers keep coming when they can see a working flood and drain system up close and back because they know that every time they walk in, they are MY how simple they really are, the customers gets really excited,” says going to learn something new.”

Ryan. “They would be amazed at how much the plants would grow in size every time they came in, and they could even pick For Calwes t’s support an open house in Sep the fruit off the plants and taste the great flavor of homegrown d tember, th Kinzie (Hyd celebrate. From le e industry ft: Tyler K came to rofarm), B metko (R produce.”What began as a simple four-by-four flood table rad Wicks &M Supp and Art Is ly), Darre agholian ll (Sunlight running a three-part nutrient system has become a state-of-the Supply). art 500 square foot grow room, incorporating nearly a dozen fully functioning grow systems, HID, LED and fluorescent lighting, CO2 and several nutrient lines.They also run live product testing in the grow room so that customers can see firsthand the benefit of adding products to their nutrient regimen. “Our latest test includes

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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.

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LLC

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

www.hydrogardendelight.com

Maximum Yield USA | January 2011

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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.

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Maximum Yield USA | January 2011

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COMING UP IN February

FEATURED ARTICLES Back to the Basics: Proper Airflow

Plants like to be comfortable. All of the complex actions plants perform are best accomplished when their environment is optimal, with good airflow and air exchange a basic requirement for perfect setting.

Building the Veg

If the “veg” phase of a plant’s lifecycle is unhealthy, expect the bloom/flowering phase to follow in the same pattern.

Vegetative growth chambers, or “veg rooms”, should be designed to promote healthy structural and foliar development.

Clean and Green – Hydroponic Hygiene

The warm and moist environment that is ideal for plants in an indoor garden is also ideal for a host of nasty life forms that we don’t want in our gardens. In keeping the grow space “clean and green” proper hygiene and regular maintenance can go a long way.

www.maximumyield.com Stay in the Know With Maximum Yield’s E-News Every month Maximum Yield’s E-News brings you the latest news, tips and tricks, reader questions, contests and upcoming events. If you are not yet subscribed to our mailing list, sign up today at www.maximumyield.com/newsletter.php. Don’t miss out. subscribe today.

Maximum Yield USA February will be available February 1 for FREE at selected indoor gardening retail stores across the country and on maximumyield.com Subscriptions are available at maximumyield.com/subscriptions.php

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I N D O O R

G A R D E N I N G

DO YOU

know?

1

Each nutrient has a specific pH number where it reaches peak availability, and this number is not the same for every nutrient.

2

An important aspect of the new California Organic Law (AB 856) is that all manufacturers of materials for use on California organic food production fields must have their manufacturing facilities inspected every year—this also applies to manufacturers located outside of California.

3

Air at 50oF can hold 9.4 grams of water vapor per 35 cubic feet, while air at 86oF can hold three times as much, up to a maximum of 30.4 grams per 35 cubic feet.

4

A tomato plant carrying a substantial fruit load under high atmospheric demand conditions will require at least one quart of water during the daylight hours.

5

Diatomite (or silica rock) releases naturally occurring beneficial silicates to the plant system while retaining higher concentrations of moisture and air compared to hydroton.

6

Plants require phosphorous in larger amounts during the blooming or fruiting stage of growth.

7

Plant hormones (phyto-hormones) don’t have specific organs to synthesize them, instead producing them at the spot where they are needed.

8

pH adjusters can kill beneficial inoculants and alter NPK levels.

9

Vapor Pressure Deficit (VPD) is typically expressed in the units kPa (kilopascals) with the range for most plants being 0.45 kPa to 1.25 kPa.

10

A plant may become deficient in phosphorous if the soil or soilless medium remains too wet for too long.

11

If the population of micro-organisms increases too fast, or if they suffer a massive die-off from thermal problems, they will acidify the pH of the solution.

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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 2525 West Glendale Ave Phoenix AZ 85051 602-368-4005 Natural Pools & Gardens 2143 North Country Suite C, Tucson, AZ 85716 520-323-2627 Sea of Green Hydroponics 1301 E. University Dr. 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

CALIFORNIA 3rd Street Hydroponics 636 3rd Street Oakland, CA 94607 510-452-5521 805 Hydroponics & Organics 1785 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard Thousand Oaks, CA 91362 805-494-1785 A+ Hydroponics & Organics 1604 Babcock Street, Costa Mesa, CA 92627 949-642-7776 A Fertile World (Eureka) 65th Street, Eureka, CA 95501 707-444-0200 A Fertile World (Fortuna) 610 7th Street, Fortuna, CA 95540 707-725-0700

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Abundant Hydroponics LLC 1611 Shop Street, #1-A, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 530-54 HYDRO Advanced Garden Supply 2660 Lake Tahoe Boulevard, Building C, Unit 9, S. Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 530-541-4769 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 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 Always Sunny Hydroponics 2511 West LN. Stockton, CA 95205 209-939-0660 All Ways Hydro 2220 Eastridge Ave. Suite C Riverside CA 92507 888-HYDRO98 American Hydroponics 286 South G Street, Arcata, CA 95521 800-458-6543 America’s Best Hydroponics & Gardening Center 641 W. Palmdale Blvd. Unit D Palmdale, CA 93551 661-266-3906 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 Art of Hydro 2636 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd.

Thousand Oaks, CA 91362 805-230-2227 Atlantis Garden Supply 2851 A Whipple Road, Union City, CA 94587 510-487-8007 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 Bakersfield Hydroponics 2408 Brundage Lane, Suite B Bakersfield, CA 93304 661-323-7333 Bare Roots Hydroponics 1615 East Cypress, #5 Redding, CA 96002 530-244-2215 Beginning Hydroponics PO Box 1232, Corona, CA 92787 951-735-4446

Berkeley Indoor Garden 844 University Avenue Berkeley, CA 94710 510-549-2918 Berkeley’s Secret Garden 921 University Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94710 510-486-0117 Best Coast Growers 4417 Glacier Avenue Suite C, San Diego, CA 92120 800-827-1876 Best Yield Garden Supply 3503 West Temple Avenue, Unit A, Pomona, CA 91768 909-839-0505 Better Choice Hydroponics 610 S. Washington Street, Senora, CA 95370 209 533 2400 Better Grow Hydro Pasadena 1271 E. Colorado Boulevard, Pasedena, CA 91106 626 737 6612 Better Grow Hydro Los Angeles 5554 Bandini Boulevard, Bell, CA 91106 323-510-2700; 877 640 GROW Bloom Hydro 1602 53rd Ave. Oakland CA 94601 707 980 0456 Box Of Rain Inc. Po Box 302, Rexford, CA 59930 406-755-7245 Brentwood Hydroponics & Organics 560 Valdry Ct #85 Brentwood, CA 94513 925-634-6704 BWGS-CA 7530 W. Sunnyview Avenue 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 Calwest Hydroponics 11620 Sterling Avenue, Suite A Riverside, CA 92503 800-301-9009 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 Farm Hydroponics 8903 Laurel Canyon Boulevard, Sun Valley, CA 91352 818-767-2076 City Farmer’s Nursery 4832 Home Avenue, San Diego, CA 92105 619-284-6358 Clover Hydroponics & Garden Supply 43 Soda Bay Road, 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

Conejo Hydroponics 3481 Old Conejo Road #106 Newbury Park, CA 91320 805-480-9596 Conrad Hydroponics Inc. 14915 Unit E, Olympic Drive, Clearlake, CA 95422 707-994 3264 Constantly Growing 6200 Enterprise Drive, Suite A Diamond Springs, CA 95619 530-642-9710 Constantly Growing 4343 Hazel Avenue, Fair Oaks, CA 95628 916-962-0043 Constantly Growing - Davis 123 D Street Davis, CA 95616 530-756-4774 Cultivate Ontario 2000 Grove Ave #a110 Ontario, CA 91761 909-781-6142 D&S Garden Supplies 17-130 Doolittle Drive San Leandro, CA 94577 510-430-8589 Dazey’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 Dr. Greenthumbs Hydroponic Garden Supplies 566 San Ramon Valley Blvd.

Danville, CA 94526 925-314-9376 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 Hydroponics 25 Enterprise Court, Suite 3 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 Flairform 1751 S Pointe Avenue, Ontario, CA 91761 213-596-8820 Flower Hut Nursery 603 4th Street Wheatland, CA 95692 530-633-4526 Foothill Hydroponics 10705 Burbank Boulevard, N. Hollywood, CA 91601 818-760-0688 Foothills Hydrogarden 3133 Penryn Road, Penryn, CA 95663 916-270-2413 Full Sun Supply 3535 Industrial Drive, Unit B-3 Santa Rosa, CA 95403 877-FULL-SUN Funny Farms Hydroponics 963 Transport Way, #12 Petaluma, CA 94954 707-775-3111 G & G Organics and Hydroponics 901 W. Victoria Street Unit D, Compton, CA 90220 310-632-0122 Garden Connection, The 2145 Park Avenue, Unit 2 Chico, CA 95928 530-342-7762 Garden Depot, The 203 Commerce Street, Suite 101 Lodi, CA 95240 209-339-9950 Garden Highway Garden Supply 598 Garden Highway #22 Yuba City, CA 95991 530-755-2877 Garden Shed, The 1136 El Camino Real San Carlos, CA 650-508-8600 Garden Spout, The 44800 Highway 101, Laytonville, CA 95454 707-984-7260 Garden Spout, The 630 S. Main Street, Willits, CA 95490 707-456-0196 Garden Warehouse 6355 Scarlet Court, #2, Dublin, CA 94568 925-556-3319 Gardening Unlimited 60 Old El Pueblo Road, Scotts Valley, CA 95066 831-457-1236 Go Big Hydroponics 4501 Van Nuys Boulevard, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 818-789-3341 Go Green Hydroponics 15721 Ventura Boulevard, Encino, CA 91436 818-990-1198 Golden Gecko Garden Center, The 4665 Marshall Road, Garden Valley, CA 95633 530-333-2394 Golden Harvest Hydroponics & Garden Supply 8626 Lower Sacramento Road #48, Stockton, CA 95210 209-951-3550 Gonzo Grow 2550 Guerneville Road, Suite C,Santa Rosa, CA 95401 707-546-1800 Gottagrow Garden Supply 769 Wilson Street, Santa Rosa, CA 95404 707-544-7782 Grass Roots Hydroponics 31875 Corydon, Suite 130 Lake Elsinore, CA 92530 951-245-2390 Grass Valley Hydrogarden 12506 Loma Rica Drive, Grass Valley, CA 95945 530-477-2996

Green Acres Hydroponics 1215 Striker Avenue, Suite 180, Sacramento, CA 95834 916-419-4394 Green Coast Hydroponics 3560 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93105 805-898-9922 Green Coast Hydroponics 2405 Mira Mar Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90815 562-627-5636 Green Coast Hydroponics 496 Meats Avenue Orange, CA 92865 714-974-4769 Green Coast Hydroponics 11510 Whittier Boulevard Whittier, CA 90601 562-699-4201 Green Door Hydro and Solar 830 Traction Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90013 212-625-1323 Greenfire Sacramento 3230 Auburn Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95821 916-485-8023 Green Giant Hydroponics 7183 Hwy 49 Unit B Lotus CA 95651 530 622 4465 Green Gopher Garden Supply 679 Redwood Avenue, Suite A, Sand City, CA 93955 831-899-0203 Green Joint Ventures 61 Tarp Circle, Salinas, CA 93901 831-998-8628 Green Lady Hydroponics 4879 Newport Avenue, San Diego, CA 92107 619-222-5011 GreenLeaf Hydroponics 2212 Artesia Boulevard, Redondo Beach, CA 90278 310-374-2585 Green Light Hydroponics 2615 Honolula Ave. Montrose, CA 91020 818-640-2623 Green Logic Garden Supply 860 Piner Road, #38, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 707-843-3156 Greenmile Hydroponic Garden Supply 1480 South E. Street, Suite D, San Bernardino, CA 92408 909-885-5919 Green Thumb Hydroponics 35 Quinta Court, Suite B, Sacramento, CA 95823 916-689-6464 Green Thumb Lighting & Garden 1647 W. Sepulveda Boulevard, Unit 5, Torrance, CA 90501 888-326-GROW Greentrees Hydroponics Inc. 2581 Pioneer Avenue, Unit D Vista, CA 92081 760-598-7551 GreenWay Hydroponics 11510 Whittier Boulevard, Whittier, CA 90601 562-699-4201 Grodan Inc. 5152 Commerce Avenue, Moorpark, CA 93021 541-646-8245 Gro More Garden Supply 2937 Larkin Avenue, Clovis, CA 93021 541-646-8245 Grow It Right Aquaponics POB 552, Eureka, CA 95502 707-407-6519 Grow A Lot Hydroponics, San Diego 1591 N. Cuyamaca Street, El Cajon, CA 93612 619-749-6777 Grow 4 Less Hydroponics 320 Trousdale Ste L Chula vista, CA 91910 619-425-GROW (4769) Growers Choice Hydroponics 1100 Carver Road, Modesto, CA 95350 209-522-2727

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MAXIMUM YIELD distributors

Growers Choice Hydroponics 16754 East 14th Street, San Leandro, CA 94578 510-278-6200 Grow4Less garden Supply & Hydroponics 320 Trousdale Dr., Suite L Chula Visa CA 91910 619-425-GROW Grow It Yourself Gardens 401 Sunset Drive, Suite L, Antioch, CA 94509 925-755-GROW Grow Light Express 5318 East Second Street suite 164, Long Beach, CA 90803 888-318-GROW Grow Your Own 3401 Traval Street, San Francisco, CA 94116 415-731-2115 Grow Zone 718 Willow Rd. Menlo Park CA 94025 650-326-4769 Grow Wurks Hydroponics 765 S. State College Boulevard. Suite J Fullerton, CA 92831 Grunder Family Organics & Hydroponics 12321 Magnolia Avenue, Suite C, Riverside, CA 92503 877-468-7974 H20 Gardening 355 West 7th Street, San Pedro, CA 90731 310-514-1416 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 Healthy Harvest Hydroponics and Organics 2958 S. Higuera St. San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 805.596.0430 High Desert Hydroponics 13631 Pawnee Road, #7 Apple Valley, CA 92308 760-247-2090 High Street Hydro 180 Cleveland Avenue, Auburn, CA 95603 530-885-5888 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 Brews & Gardens 3176 Thorn St San Diego, CA 92104 619 630 2739 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

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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 Hydrogarden Delight 13762 Doolittle Drive, San Leandro, CA 94577 510-903-1808 Hydro Hills Hydroponics 19320 Vanowen St. Reseda CA 91335 Hydrogarden Mendocino County 1240 North Main Street, Fort Bragg, CA 95437 707-962-9252 Hydro International 7935 Alabama Avenue Canoga Park, CA 91304 Hydro King 105 Hartnell Avenue, Suite C and D, Redding, CA 96002 888-822-8941 Hydro King 2540 South Whitman Place, Chico, CA 959282 530-893-GROW (4769) Hydro-Logic Purification Systems 2825 Mattison Lane, Suite 103, Santa Cruz, CA 95065 888 H2O LOGIC Hydronation 2491 Boatman Drive, Suite B West Sacramento, CA 95691 916-372-4444 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 Market 15816 Arminta St Van Nuys, CA 91406 818-305-6261 Hydroponics Plus 2250 Commerce Avenue, Suite C Concord, CA 94520 925-691-7615 Hydroponics Unlimited 641 W. Palmdale Blvd. “D” 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

Indoor Garden Depot 1848 Commercial St. San Diego CA 92113 619-255-3552 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 KY Wholesale 8671 Elder creek Rd. #600 Sacramento, CA 95828 916 383 3366 La Habra 1301 S Beach Boulevard, La Habra, CA 90631 562-947-8383 LAX Hydro 10912 S. La Cienaga Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90304 310-337-6995 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 Let it Grow 160 Westwood Center, Arcata, CA 95521 707-822-8733 Liquid Gardens 21752 Devonshire Street, Chatsworth, CA 91311 818-718-7624 Long Beach Hydroponics & Organics 1772 Clark Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90815 562-498-9525 Los Angeles Hydroponics and Organics 3007-3009 W. Artesia Blvd.

Torrance, CA 90504 310-323-4937 Lumatek Digital Ballasts 33 Commercial Boulevard, Suite B Novato, CA 94949 415-233-4273 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 Mighty Garden Supply 4780 Mission Gorge Pl. #A-1, San Diego, CA 92120 619-287-3238 Modern Gardens 26620 Valley Center Dr. Santa Clarita, CA 91351 661-513-4733 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 1900 Bendixsen Street , Bldg. 1, Samoa, CA 95564 800-683-1114 (Northern CA) National Garden Wholesale/Sunlight Supply 6485 Brisa Street, Livermore, CA 94550 888-570-4678 (Southern CA) National Garden Wholesale/Sunlight Supply 1950 C South Grove Avenue, Ontario, CA 91761 888-888-3319 Natural Pest Controls 8320 B Hazel Avenue, Orangevale, CA 95662 916-726-0855 Nature’s Secret Garden and Supply 41469 Albrae Street, Fremont, CA 94577 510-623-8393 New Leaf Hydro 34150 123rd Street, Parablossom, CA 93553 661-944-2226 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 60 West 4th Street, Eureka, CA 95501 707-444-9999 Northcoast Horticulture Supply 357 Main Street, Fortuna, CA 95540 707-725-5550 Northcoast Horticulture Supply 1070 Highway 101, Crescent City, CA 95531 707-464-1200 Northcoast Hydrogardens 3450 North State Street, Ukiah, CA 95482 707-462-7214 No Stress Hydroponics 7543 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA 90046 323-845-9874 Nutes Int’l 204 N Quarantina Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93103 805-687-6699 One Stop Hydroponics 12822 Victory Boulevard North Hollywood, CA 91606 818-980-5855 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

Orville Organic Gardens 5250 Olive Hwy Ste 1 Oroville, CA 95966 530-589-9950 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 Pacifica Hydroponics 90 Eureka Square Pacifica, CA 94044 650-355-5100 Palm Springs Hydroponics 4651 Ramon Road, Palm Springs, CA 92264 760-327-ROOT Plant It Earth 2279 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94114 415-626-5082 Plant Life 32 Race Street, San Jose, CA 95126 408-283-9191 Plant-N-Grow 1602 53rd Avenue, Oakland, CA 94601 707-980-0456 Precision Hydroponics 132 Kennedy Avenue, Campbell, CA 95008 408-866-8176 Probiotic Solutions 20889 Geyserville Avenue, Geyserville, CA 95441 707-354-4342 Pro Gardening Systems 3715 Santa Rosa Avenue #2, Santa Rosa, CA 95407 707-585-8633 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 Redwood Garden Supply 55 Myers Avenue, Myers Flat, CA 95554 707-943-1515 Reforestation Technologies International 1341 Daton Street, Units G&I Salinas, CA 93901 831-424-1494; 800-RTI-GROW RH Distribution 1751 S. Pointe Avenue Ontario, CA 91761 888-545-8112 Roots Grow Supply 1330 North Hulbert, #101 Fresno, CA 93728 559-840-0122 Roots Grow Supply 40091 Enterprise Dr. Oakhurst CA 93644 559 683 6622 Sac Hydroponics 9529 Folson Boulevard, Suite C Sacramento, CA 95827 916-369-7968 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 San Rafael Hydroponics 1417 Fourth Sreet San Rafael, CA 94901 415 455 9655 Santa Clarita Valley Hydroponics 25835 Railroad Ave. #26 Santa Clarita CA 91350 661 255 3700 661 255 3701 Santa Cruz Hydroponics & Organics - West Side 815 Almar Avenue, Unit K, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 831-466-9000 Santa Cruz Hydroponics & Organics - East Side 4000 Cordelia Lane 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 SB Hydro 1109 W. 190th Street, Unit #F, Gardena, CA 90248 310-538-5788 Seaside Hydrogarden 1070 Highway 101 North, Crescent City, CA 95531 707-465-3520 Shadow Valley Aquatics 75 Kimick Way, Red Bluff, CA 96080 530-526-0479 Skywide Import & Export Ltd. 5900 Lemon Hill Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95824 916-383-2369 Socal Hydroponics 1727-B Oceanside Boulevard, Oceanside, CA 92054 760-439-1084 South Bay Hydroponics and Organics - Mtn. View 569 East Evelyn Avenue, Mountain View, CA 94041 650-968-4070 South Bay Hydroponics and Organics - San Jose 1185 South Bascom Avenue, San Jose, CA 95128 408-292-4040 South County Hydroponics 22511 Aspan Street, Suite E Lake Forest, CA 92630 949-837-8252 South Valley Hydroponics 320 Kishimura Drive, #3 Gilroy, CA 95020 1-866-848-GROW Southern Humbolt Garden Supplies 34919 Yucaipa Boulevard, Yucaipa, CA 92399 909-797-6888 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 Stop N Grow 340 Pine Avenue, Goleta, CA 93003 805-685-3000 Stop N Grow 4160 Market Street, Unit 11 Ventura, CA 93003 805-639-9489 Stop N Grow 640 S. Frontage Road, Nipomo, CA 93444 805-619-5125 Sun-In Hydroponics 1257A Cleveland Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95401 707-578-5747 Sunland Hydroponics 8300 Foothill Boulevard, Sunland, CA 91040 818-352-5300

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MAXIMUM YIELD distributors

Sunland Hydroponics 4136 Eagle Rock Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90065 323-254-2800 Supersonic Hydroponic and Organic Garden Supply 850 Shasta Avenue, Suite B Morro Bay, CA 93442 805-772-5869 Supersonic Hydroponic and Organic Garden Supply 3850 Ramada Drive, Unit D2 Paso Robles, CA 93446 805-434-2333 Super Starts PO Box 732, Bellmont, CA 94002 650-346-8009 Surf City Hydroponics 7319 Warner Street, Suite B Huntington Beach, CA 92647 714-847-7900 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 Hydro Shop 3980 Saco Road Bakersfield, CA 661-399-3336 The Otherside Hydroponics 19425 Ventura Blvd Tarzana CA 91356 818 881 hydro (4937) The Shop 6542 Front Street, Forestville, CA 95436 707-887-2280 The Urban Farmer Store 653 E. Blithedale Avenue, Mill Valley, CA 94941 415-380-3840 The Urban Farmer Store 2833 Vicente Street, San Francisco, CA 94116 415-661-2204 The Urban Farmer Store 2121 San Joaquin Street, Richmond, CA 94804 510-524-1604 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 Total Hydroponics Center Inc 4820 Paramount Blvd Lakewood, CA 90712 562-984-GROW (4769) 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

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Tulare County Growers Supply 435 W. Noble Avenue, Unit A, Farmersville, 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 Quail Mountain Ranch 230 Palm Ave Auburn, CA 95603 530-889-2390 Ultra Lo Hydro ultralohydro.com 937-252-8224 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 UrbanGardens 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 Valley Hydroponics 6632 N Blackstone Avenue, Unit B Fresno, CA 93710 559-449-0426 Valley Rock Landscape Supply 2222 N H Street Lompoc CA 93436 P: 805 736 0841 805 735 5921 Vital Landscaping Inc. 12817 Loma Rica Drive, Grass Valley, CA 95945 530-273-3187 Watch It Grow Hydro 9453 Firestone Blvd.

Downey, CA 90241 562-861-1982 Wai Kula Hydrogardens 5297 Linda Vista Road, San Diego, CA 92110 619-299-7299 Weather Top Nursery 44901 Harmon Drive, Laytonville, CA 95454 707-984-6385 We Grow Hydroponics 3350 East Los Angeles Avenue, Simi Valley, CA 93063 805-624-4566 West Coast Growers Hydroponics 13481 Colifax Highway, Grass Valley, CA 95945 888-924-4769 West Coast Hydroponics, Inc. 27665 Forbes Road, Unit 10 Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 949-348-2424 Western Auto 1156 Main Street, Fortuna, CA 95540 707-725-1189 advanced hydroponics and gardening

704 Filbert Street, San Francisco, CA 94133

COLORADO ACME Hydroponics 300 Nickel St Suite 3 Broomfield, CO 80020 720.524.7306 Alpenglow Garden Supply 2712 South College Ave Fort Collins, CO 80525 970-266-8888 Bath Nursery & Garden Center 2000 E. Prospect, Fort Collins, CO 80525 970-484-5022

Big Tomato, The 14440 E. 6th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80011 303-364-4769 Boulder Hydroponics 1630 N. 63rd Street, #5, Boulder, CO 80301 303-415-0045 BWGS-CO 11685 E. 55th Avenue Denver, CO 80239 888-316-1306 Chlorophyll 3801 Mariposa St. Denver CO 80211 303-433-1155 Colorado Grow 3400 Industrial Lane, Unit 10A Broomfield, CO 80020 P (303) 465-GROW (4769) Cultivate Hydroponics & Organics 7777 W. 38th Avenue, #A120A, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 303-954-9897 Deep Roots Garden Supply 1790 Airport Road, Unit 1 Breckenridge, CO 80424 970-453-1440 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 Family Hydroponics-Boulder 2125 32nd Street Boulder, co 80301 303-996-6100 Garden Tech 737 Garden of the Gods Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80907 719-278-9777 Go Green Hydro 1005 Caprice Drive, Castle Rock, CO 80109 303-688-0599 Greeley Nutrients 700 11th Street Unit 101 Greeley CO 80631 970 673 8302 Greenhouse Tech 917 East Fillmore, Colorado Springs, CO 80907 719-634-0637 GroWize 3225 S. Wadsworth Boulevard, Lakewood, CO 80227 303-986-2706 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 970-569-313 High Tech Garden Supply 5275 Quebec St. Commerce City, CO 80022 720-222-0772 Hydro Grow Supply 644 Peterson Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80915 719-596-2600

Hydro Planet 711 Washington Avenue, Golden, CO 80401 303-279-6090 Hydro Shack, The 220 Main Street, Suite E Frisco, CO 80443 970-668-0359 Indoor Garden Warehouse 8100 S Akron St., Suite 322, Centennial, CO 80112 720-496-2110 Indoor Paradise Hydroponics 309 S. Summit View, Unit 17, Fort Collins, CO 80524-1462 970-221-3751 J&D Organic Growing Solutions 217 1/2 Clayton Street Brush, CO 80723 970-310-5408 Lyons Indoor Gardening 138 Main Street, Lyons, CO 80540 720-530-3828 Mile High Hydroponics 37 Strong St. Brighton, CO 80601 303 637 0069 National Garden Wholesale/Sunlight Supply 3550 B Odessa Way, Aurora, CO 80011 866-877-4188 (Northeast) Nick’s Garden Center 2001 S. Chambers, Aurora, CO 80014 303-696-6657 Olympic Hydroponics Supply LLC. 1530 S Nevada Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80906 719-635-5859 Polar Ray 5171 Eldorado Springs Dr. Boulder, CO 80303 303 494 5773 Primo Gardens 1600 North Ave. Suite B Grand Junction, CO 81501 970-241-1209 Rocky Mountain Hydroponics and Organics 15985 S. Golden Road Golden, CO 80401 720-475-1725 Rocky Mountain Lighting and Hydroponics 7100 N. Broadway, Suite 3D Denver, CO 80221 303-428-5020 Roll-N-Green Farms Horticultural Supply 25797 Conifer Rd #A-8 Conifer, Co 80433 303-838-5520 The Grow Outlet 4272 Lowell Boulevard Denver, CO 80211 303-586-5543 Ultra Lo Hydro ultralohydro.com 937-252-8224 Victory Hydro Gardening 1387 E. South Boulder Rd. Louisville, CO, 80027 Tel: 303-664-9376 Way To Grow 301 East 57th Ave. Denver, CO 80216 303-296-7900 Way To Grow 3201 E. Mulberry Street, Fort Collins, CO 80524 970-484-4769 Way To Grow 6395 Gunpark Drive, Boulder, CO 80301 303-473-4769

CONNECTICUT Harvest Moon Hydroponics 775 Silver Lane, East Hartford, CT 06118 860-568-4067 LiquidSun® CT 10C South Main Street, East Windsor, CT 06088 860-254-5757 Organix Hydroponics 749 Saybrook Road, (Tradewinds Plaza) Middletown, CT 06457 860-343-1923

FLORIDA 3D Hydroponics and Organics 7139 US Highway #19, New Port Richey, FL 34652 727-847-3491 Absolute Hydroponic Garden Center Inc 1607 Old Daytona Steet Deland, FL 32724 386-734-0696 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 Best Hydro 4920 Lena Road, Bradenton, FL 34211 941-756-1928 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 Esposito Garden Center 2743 Capital Circle NE, Tallahassee, FL 32308 850-386-2114 Evershine Hydroponics 1519 Capital Circle NE Unit #35 Tallahassee FL 32308 850-765-0040 EZ Grow Green 604 S.W. Bayshore Blvd.

Port St. Lucie, Fl 34983 772-807-7755 Florida Garden Supplies 2692 W 79 Street, Hialeah, FL 33016 1-800-931-5215 Florida Garden Supplies 8020 Belvedere Road, Unit 4, West Palm Beach, FL 33411 800-931-5215 Florida Garden Supplies 9545 Sunset Drive, Miami, FL 33173 800-931-5215 Florida Garden Supplies 8442 Tradeport Drive, Unit 200, Orlando, FL 32827 800-931-5215 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 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 Green Winters Inc. 147 Tomoka Avenue, Ormond Beach, FL 32174 386-235-8730 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 GrowSmart Indoor Garden Centers 14587 Southern Boulevard, Loxahatchee, FL 33470 561-429-3527 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 Hydroponic Depot II 2395 S Tamiami Trail #19 Port Charlotte FL 33952 941 255 3999t 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 Monkey Hydroponics 940 West Oakland Ave. Unit A1 Oakland FL 34787 407 574 8495 National Garden Wholesale/Sunlight Supply 455 S. Andrews Avenue, Pompano Beach, FL 33069 877-649-3567 (Southeast) Palm Beach Discount Hydroponics – East 968 North Congress Ave. West Palm Beach, FL 33409 561 296 6161 Palm Beach Discount Hydroponics – West 14703 Sothern Blvd.

Loxahatchee, FL 33470 561 296 8555 Palm Beach Hydroponics Supply, Inc. 968 N. Congress Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33409 561-296-6161 Palm Coast Hydroponics 4490 N Hwy US1 Ste. 108 Bunnell FL 32110 386 246 4119 Simply Hydroponics & Organics 7949 Ulmerton Road, Largo, FL 33773 727-531-5355 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 The Healthy Harvest Ste. 126 21113 Johnson St. Pembroke Pines, FL. 33029 Tel: 954-538-1511 Urban Organics & Hydroponics 5325 Fairmont Street, Jacksonville, FL 32207 904-398-8012

Maximum Yield USA | January 2011

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MAXIMUM YIELD distributors

Urban Sunshine 6142 S. Orange Ave Orlando, FL 32809 407-859-7728 Urban Sunshine 6100 Hanging Moss Rd ste 500 Orlando, FL 32807 407-647-4769 Urban Sunshine 1420 E. Altamonte Dr. Altamonte Springs, FL 32701 407-830-4769 VitaOrganix 7921 NW 67th St Miami, FL 33166 786 845 8633 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 Flora Hydroponics Inc. 2475 Jefferson Road, Suite 600 Athens, GA 30607 866-404-0551 Savannah Hydroponics & Organics 4107 Eighth Street, Suite C Garden City, GA 31408 912-349-4030

HAWAII Aiyah’s Garden 3-3122 Kuhio Hwy. unit B-2 Lihue, Hi. 96766 808 245 2627 Aqua Plant Hawaii / Kahala Hydroponics 4224 Wailae, Suite 1A, Honolulu, HI 96816 808-735-8665 Eco-Island Supply 810 Haiku Road, #394 Haiku, HI 96708 808-575-9171 Green Hands of Aloha 1713 Mary Street, Honolulu, HI 96819 808-847-4263 Ohana Greenhouse & Garden Supply 300 Hukilike Street, #2M, Kahalui, HI 96732 808-871-6393 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 615 Industrial Drive, Unit A Cary, IL 60013 800-444-2837 Big Grow Hydroponics 9225 Trinity Drive, Lake In The Hills, IL 60156 847-854-4450

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Brew and Grow 359 W. Irving Park Road Unit E, Roselle, IL 60172 630-894-4885 Brew and Grow 3625 N. Kedzi Avenue, Chicago, IL 60618 773-463-7430 Brew and Grow 3224 South Alpine Road, Rockford, IL 61109 815-874-5700 Brew and Grow 2379 Bode Road, Schaumburg, IL 60440 630-771-0555 Brew and Grow 181 Crossroads Parkway, Bolingbrook, IL 60194 847-885-8282 Fertile Ground 463 West MacArthur Drive, Cottage Hills, IL 62018 618-259-5500 Goldman's Grow Shop 910 Greenwood Road, Glenview, IL 60025 847-657-7250 Green Fields 8137 N. Milwaukee, Niles, IL 60714 847-965-5056 Grow Big Hydroponics 7817 B North 2nd Street, Manchesney Park, IL 61115 815-637-4769 Hydrocork 20647 Renwick Road, Crest Hill, IL 60435 815-838-0100 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 Organic Garden Center 9223 Skokie Blvd.

Skokie, IL 60077 (847) 675-2722 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

INDIANA BWGS-IN 7854 North State Road 37, Bloomington, IN 47404 800-316-1306 Five Point Gardens 56555 Oak Road, South Bend, IN 46619 574-287-9232 Frogs Lilly Pad, The 706 Citation Road, Carmel, IN 46032 317-846-4610 Harvest Moon Hydroponics 1336 East Washington St. Indianapolis, IN 4620 317-780-8070 Hops & Harvest 4616 E. DuPont Road, Suite Q, Fort Wayne, IN 46825 260-918-3035 Magic Bulb Garden Center 6229 Allisonville Road, Indianapolis, IN 46220 317-202-2852 Sunleaves Garden Products 7854 North State Road 37, Bloomington, IN 47404 888-464-9676 Worm’s Way Indiana 7850 North State Road 37, Bloomington, IN 47404 800-598-8158

Worm’s Way Mail Order 7850 North State Road 37 Bloomington, IN 47404 800-274-9676

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

KENTUCKY

Inc.

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

LOUISIANA Geaux Hydroponics!

2126 O’Neal Lane, Baton Rouge, LA 70816 225-751-4769 Laughing Buddha Nursery 4516 Clearview Parkway, Metairie, LA 70006 504-887-4336 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 Evergreen Garden Center 301 Forest Avenue Portland, ME 04101 207-761-2800 Green Thumb Indoor Gardening 19 Stage Road, St. Albans, ME 04971 207-938-5909 Greenlife Garden Supply 611 US Rt. 1 York, ME 03909 978 262 9966 Urban Garden Center 235 Lewiston Road, Toposhan, ME 04086 207-373-0990

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

MASSACHUSETTS 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 High Tech Garden Supply 560 Boston Turnpike (Rt.9) Shrewsbury, MA 01545 508-845-4477 LiquidSun® MA 8 Lynwood Avenue, Holyoke, MA 01040 413-539-6875 New England Hydroponics 15 D College Hwy. (Rt. 10), Southampton, MA 01073 888-529-9025 Worm’s Way Massachusetts 121 Worc-Providence Turnpike, Sutton, MA 01590 800-284-9676

MICHIGAN 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. Clair, MI 48080 586-775-9485 Cultivation Station of Michigan Inc., The 6540 Allen Road, Allen Park, MI 48101 313-383-1766 Cultivation Station 3 Inc. 46912 Gratiot, Chesterfield, MI 48051 586-949-7453 Flo-N-Grow.

214 N. 2nd Street, Niles, MI 49120 269-683-1877

Green Forest Indoor Garden Supply, LLC. 2555 N. State(M-66) Rd. Ionia, MI 48846 616-523-6111 Gro Blue Indoor Gardening Supplies 270 W. Liberty Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 734-913-2750 Grow Store, The 721 W. Blue Star Drive, Traverse City, MI 49684 231-421-5191 Growco Garden Supply 1042 Michigan Street, NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 877-939-6900 Growing Consultant 2260 Apple Avenue, Muskegon, MI 49442 231-773-5600 High Tech Garden Supply 7889 Telegraph Road.

Taylor, MI 48180 313-908-7554 Holland Hydroponic Outlet 587-40 East 8th Street Holland, MI 49423 616-298-7395 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 Horizen Hydroponics 4646 W. Main Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49006 269-567-3333 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 Hydro Heaven 73647 W 8th Mile Road, Detroit, MI 48235 313-861-0333; 877-823-2076 Hydro Grow, The 8210 Telegraph Road, Taylor, MI 48180 313-633-0641 Hydrospot 34236 Michigan Avenue, Wayne, MI 48184 734-722-1285 Indoor Garden Superstore 2570 Dixie Highway, Waterford Twp., MI 48328 248-673-2200; 877 22 HYDRO 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 Stealth Hydro 15 E. Cross Street, Ypsilanti, MI 48198 866-998-1916 Sunnyside Hydroponics 24930 Gratiot Avenue, Eastpoint, MI 48021 586-777-2528 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 Synthetic Sun Hydroponics, LLC 3218 W. Houghton Avenue West Branch, MI 48661 989-345-8800 Synthetic Sun Hydroponics, LLC 9091 W. Lake City Road Houghton Lake, MI 48629 989-422-2800 Synthetic Sun Hydroponics, LLC 799 S. Wisconsin Avenue Gaylord, MI 49735 989 731 8800 Ultra Lo Hydro ultralohydro.com 937-252-8224 Urban Gardening Center, The 2520 22nd Street, Detroit, MI 48216 313-898-0200 Van Hydro 7480 N State, Davison, MI 48423 810-653-8267 Wild Child 7740 M 72 East, Traverse City, MI 49690 866-711-GROW

MINNESOTA American Garden Supply 601-6th Avenue, North, Princeton, MN 55371 763-631-0543 Brew and Grow 8179 University Avenue, Fridley, MN 55432 612-780-8191 Duluth Hydroponics 26 W 1st Street Duluth, MN 55802 218-341-7253

Eco Garden Supply 800 Transfer Door 25 in rear St. Paul, MN 55114 651-647-1896 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 Interior Gardens 115 -1620 Central Avenue NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413 800-498-4178; 612-870-9077 Midwest Hydroponics 3440 Belt Line Boulevard, Suite A, Minneapolis, MN 55416 888-449-2739 Still-H2O Inc. 14375 North 60th Street, Stillwater, MN 55082 651-351-2822

MISSISSIPPI Indoor Garden Shop LLC 1310 Bienville Boulevard, Ocean Springs, MS 39564 228-875-3725

MISSOURI 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 Green Thumb Organics 249 Mid Rivers Mall Drive, St. Peters, MO 63376 636-397-4769 (GROW) Heartland Hydrogardens 705 Vandiver Drive, Suite G Columbia, MO 65202 HYDROGARDENS 573-474-4769 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 Alpengrow Nursery Supplies 238 Highway 93 S., Eureka, MT 59917 406-882-4496 Bizzy Beez LLP 5875 Highway 93 S, Whitefish, MT 59937 406-863-9937 Big Sky Garden Supply 528 West Idaho, Kallispell, MT 59901 406-755-1465 Cornucopia Grow Your Own 127 Stoner Creek Road Lakeside, MT 59922 406-709-1076 Dr. Green Thumbs 1106 West Park, Livingston, MO 59047 406-222-7440 Heightened Harvests 2018 Main Street #4, Billings, MT 59105 406-252-4311

Maximum Yield USA | January 2011

157

MAXIMUM YIELD distributors

Heightened Harvests 3103 Harrison Avenue, Suite B Butte, MT 59701

NEBRASKA Advanced Hydro-Ponics 10711 Mockingbird Drive, Omaha, NE 68127 (108th and L-Q) 402-991-6630 Paradigm Gardens 8949 J Street, Suite 5, Omaha, NE 68127 402-339-4949 Patio-Ponics 3255 Cornhusker Highway, Suite 4 Lincoln, NE 68504 402-466-9218

NEVADA AAA Indoor Organic Garden SuperCenter 2101 S. Decatur Boulevard, #21, Las Vegas, NV 89102 702-450-4769 Advanced Gardens Hydroponics 3111 South Valley View, (on Desert Inn West of Valley View) Suite V103 Las Vegas, NV 89102 702-257-4769 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 Best Hydroponic Supply 6818 W Cheyenne, Las Vegas, NV 89108 702-750-9300 Carson Valley Hydroponics 2520 Empire Ranch Road, Carson City, NV 89701 775-884-4769 Hydro Store, The 7145 W. Ann Road, Las Vegas, NV 89130 702-434-9376 Hydro Store, The 1014 W. Sunset Road, Henderson, NV 89014 702-434-7365 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 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 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

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Maximum Yield USA | January 2011

Green Touch 2 Hydroponics Inc. 888 Route 33, Unit 1, Hamilton, NJ 08619 HYDROPONICS 609-570-8829

greentouch2

NEW MEXICO AHL Year Round Garden Supply 1051 San Mateo Blvd. SE, Albuquerque, NM 87108 505-255-3677 AHL Year Round Garden Supply 9421 Coors Blvd. NW Suite K, Albuquerque, NM 87114 505-899-0592 All Seasons Gardening 3600 Osuna Road, Suite 406 Alburquerque, NM 87109 505-508-4292 All Seasons Gardening 1228 Parkway, Suite E Sante Fe, NM 87507 505-438-GROW Common Shaman 1319 San Mateo N.E., Albuquerque, NM 87110 505-255-6463

NEW YORK Bklyn Hydro & Garden 3116 McGuiness Blvd Brooklyn NY 11222 718-383-0095 Bronx Hydro & Garden 39 Bruckner Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10454 718-993-3787 Brooklyn Farms 521 Hicks Street Brooklyn, NY 11231 347-725-3491 California Hydroponics 27 Corporate Circle, East Syracuse, NY 13057 315-432-9387 East Coast Hydroponics 14649 Horace Harding Exp, Flushing, NY 11367 718-762-8880 Environmental Gardens 8 John Walsh Boulevard, Suite 310 Peekskills, NY 10566 800-254-0507; 914-736-6676 FutureGarden Inc. 59 Central Avenue, Farmingdale, NY 11735 516-420-0884 Greentree Nursery 308 Elmira Road, Ithaca, NY 14850 607-272-3666 Green Zone Hydroponics 2148 Niagara Falls Blvd.

Tonawanda, NY. 14150 716-693-9663 Grow Room, The 8 Bridge Street, Nyack, NY 10960 800-449-9630 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 Healthy Harvest Organics and Hydro 163 Broadway, Fort Edwart, NY 12828 518-480-4698 Hudson Valley Hydroponics 217 Route 32 North, New Paltz, NY 12561 845-255-3633

INC.

Hydro Garden Center 1069B Lyell Avenue, Rochester, NY 14606 1-800-277-1322 Hydroponics of Buffalo 1497 Hertel Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14216 716-838-3545 Hydroponics Shops of America 2606 Erie Boulevard, Syracuse, NY 13224 315-251-2516 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 Revolution Hydroponics 309 West State St. Olean NY 14760 716.373.Grow (4769) 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 The Grape Vine 4020 Hempstead Turnpike Bethpage,NY,11714 516-731-1100 Upstate Hydroponics 2026 Lake Rd unit B Elmira, NY 14903 607 483 9199

NORTH CAROLINA Be Well Hydroponics & Urban Gardening 4732 Monroe Road, Charlotte, NC 28205 704-344-8010 BWGS-NC 4045 Perimeter West Drive, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28214 800-316-1306 Fifth Season Gardening Company 21 B Westside Dr. Asheville NC 28806 828-225-5007 Fifth Season Gardening Company 45 Banks Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801 828-253-4112 Fifth Season Gardening Company 106 South Greensboro Street, Carrboro, NC 27510 919-932-7600 Fifth Season Gardening Company 1616 D-3 Battleground Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27408 336-271-3373 Fifth Season Gardening Company 5619-A Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27606 919-852-4747 Flow & Grow Hydroponics & Organic Garden Center 4521 Cumberland Road, Fayetteville, NC 28306 910-423-FLOW (3569) High Tech Garden Supply 2712 B Freedom Drive Charlotte, NC 28208 704-697-0911

New Age Gardens 2236A US Highway 70, Swannanoa, NC 28778 828-299-9989 Progressive Gardens 6005 Oleander Drive, Wilmington, NC 28403 910-395-1156

OHIO Advanced Hydrorganics Indoor Garden Center 5204 Darrow Road, Hudson, OH 44236 234-380-1287 Akron Garden Center 434 W Wilbeth Road, Akron, OH 44314 330-724-2700 Cleveland Garden Center Inc. 727 East 185th Street, Cleveland, OH 44119 216-481-7868 CropKing 134 West Drive, Lodi, OH 44254 330-302-4203 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 Eastside Hydroponics 550 Ohio Pike Cincinnati, OH 45255 513-528-GROW Garden Connections 3341 Centerpoint Dr. Grove City OH 43123 614 871 0707 Garden Indoors of Ohio 4720 Indianola Avenue, Columbus, OH 43214 800-833-6868 Greenleaf Hydroponics 1805 Elm Road, Warren, OH 44483 330-372-1039 Grow Wizard, The 5700 Denison Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44102 216-961-2500 Harvest Moon 9215 Market Street, Youngstown (North Lima), OH 44452 800-776-8399 Herb-N-Garden Center 14901 Puritas Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44135 216-252-2001 Hydro Gardens and Lights 1144 N Memorial Drive Lancaster, OH 43130 705-65 Hydro Indoor Garden Worx 906 Blue Avenue, Zanesville, OH 43701 866-900-9679 Indoor Gardens 1222 Hill Road, North, Pickerington, OH 43147 614-866-6065 Kissed by the Sun Hydroponic 10740 Reading Road, Cincinnati, OH 45241 513-769-0159 Magic Home Gardens 209 Cemetery Road, Canal Winchester, OH 43110 614-837-2440 Magic Home Garden 4538 Indianola Avenue, Columbus, OH 43214 614-263-2440 Summit Hydroponics 1030 Kenmore Boulevard Akron, OH 44314-2114 330-753-5222 Sweet Greens 5540 Brecksville Road Independence, OH 44131 800-421-7084

Toledo Hydroponics Ltd. 855 S. Holland-Sylvania Road, Suite 2 Toledo, OH 43615 1-877-893-0716 Trinity Hydro Organics 465 Woodman Drive Riverside, OH 45431 937-252-GROW Urban Gardens 671 E. Center Street Marion, OH 43302 740-375-2800

Green Zone Garden Center & Hydroponic Supplies 454 S.W. Coast Hwy Newport OR 97365 USA P: 541-265-8252 Green Zone Garden Center & Hydroponic Supplies 1845 S W Hwy. 101 Ste. 3 Lincoln OR 97367 USA P: 541 994 7070 Green Thumb Hydrogarden and Organic Supply 2021 West Main Street, Medford, OR 97501 541-779-8600 Grow America Garden Supply LLC 11511 SW Pacific Highway, Tigard, OR 97223 503-841-6868 Growing Crazy (Hooked On Hydroponics) 817 W. 2nd Street, Medford, OR 97501 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 & Out Gardens 1574 Skypark Drive Medford, OR 97501 541-858-3333

OKLAHOMA AAAAHA! Hydroponics Unlimited P.O. Box 74, Oakhurst, OK 74050 Organics OKC Garden Supply 3620 N Pennsylvania Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73118 405-528-GROW 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. 11th Avenue, Eugene, OR 97402 541-302-9073 Aqua Serene 465 Applegate Way, Ashland, OR 97520 541-482-7600 Aurora Innovations PO Box 22041, Eugene, OR 97402 866-376-8578 Basin Indoor Gardening 1221 Main Street, Klamath Falls, OR 97601 541-273-2023 B.I.G.S. 155 SW Century Drive, Suite 401, Bend, OR 97702 541-385-5222 BIGS Warehouse 2606 SW 4th Street, Unit B Redmond, OR 97756 541-504-8886 Bloom Garden Supply 518 NE 20th Ave. Portland, OR 97232 (971)255-1336 Cascade Horticulture 39570 Pioneer Boulevard, Sandy, OR 97055 503-668-8242 Corvallis Hydroponics & Organics 5490 SW Philomath Boulevard, Corvallis, OR 97333 541-738-2820 Everybody’s Garden Center 2701 SE 14th Avenue, Portland, OR 97202 800-669-5483 Forever Green Organic Hydro Gardens 7530 Crater Lake Highway, White City, OR 97503 541-826-2946 Garden Spout, The 4532 South East 63rd Avenue, Portland, OR 97206 503-788-4769 Gorilla Garden Supply 1810 Virginia Avenue, North Bend, OR 97459 Garden 541-756-5005

Supplies

In & Out Gardens 93484 Hwy 99 South Junctin CIty OR 97448 541-234-2342 Indoor Garden Center 1697 SE 25th Street, Salem, OR 97302 503-566-7888 Indoor Garden Depot 15828 SE McGloughlin 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 Moonshine Park Farm 135 South East 62nd, Unit F South Beach, OR 97366 541-444-2298 Northern Light and Garden Beaverton 9290 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway, Beaverton, OR 97005 503-297-7331 Northern Light and Garden Grants Pass 1203 Rogue River Highway, Grants Pass, OR 97527 541-474-1700 Northern Light and Garden Salem 1915 Lancester Drive, Salem, OR 97305 503-364-4769 Oregon Rainforest Co. 19949 E. Burnside Street, Gresham, OR 97233 503-465-9909

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MAXIMUM YIELD distributors

Paradise Supply LLC 560 NE. "F" Street, Unit C, Grand Pass, OR 97526 541-955-7293 Rain or Shine 13126 NE Airport Way, Portland, OR 97230 503-255-1981 Rogue Silicates Inc. POB 21, Azalea, OR 97410 541-837-8590 Roots Garden Supply 5426 North Gay Avenue, Portland, OR 97217 503-285-4768 Roseburg Hydroponics 853 SE Stephens Street, Roseburg, OR 97470 541-229-1420 SunInside Gardening Co. 665 Conger, Unit F, Eugene, OR 97402 541-686-9966 The Good Earth Organics 30088 Redwood Highway, Cave Junction, OR 97523 541-592-4496 Urban Flora 2865 South East, Portland, OR 97214 503-236-3344 Vital Organix 932-B SE “M” Street Grants Pass, OR 97526 541-226-9283 Westcoast Organic and Hydroponic Supply 12410 SE 282nd Avenue, Unit C Boring, OR 97009 503-766-4106 Wizard's Garden, LLC 621 Spruce Street, Unit C, Myrtle Point, OR 97458 541-572-2333

PENNSYLVANIA 422 GROW 1775 North Main Street Extension Butler, PA 16001-1327 724-561-3777 Flairform POB 1417, Lansdale, PA 19446 215-395-6353 Full Bloom Hydroponics 84 South 24th Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203 888-872-3602 Garden Indoors of Pennsylvania 208 Route 13, Bristol, PA 19007 800-227-4567 Harvest Moon Hydroponics 1239 South Airport Road, Allentown, PA 18103 610-432-4949 Healthy Gardens and Supply 1012 Lincoln Avenue, Prospect Park, PA 19076 866-32-HYDRO 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 Hydro Ponics of Harrisburg 310 South 10th Street, Lemoyne, PA 17043 877-684-3808 National Garden Wholesale/Sunlight Supply 450 Grim Lane, York,PA 17406 877-779-7111(Northeast)

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New Stanton Hydro 150 Post Ave. New Stanton, PA. 15672 724-635-0297 Organic Garden Center 800 Washington Blvd.

Williamsport, PA 17701 570-322-3120 PA Hydroponics & Home Gardening Supply 20 Quaker Church Road, York Springs, PA 17372 717-528-4175 Pocono Hydroponic Solutions 25 Route 611 Bartonsville, PA 18321 Tel: 570-730-4544 RH Distribution POB 1417 Lansdale, PA 19446 888-545-8112

RHODE ISLAND Good To Grow 34 Nooseneck Hill Road West Greenwich, RI 02817 401-392-3100 Hydro-Earth 1243 Mineral Springs Avenue, North Providence, RI 02904 401-305-5520 LiquidSun® RI 1179 Central Avenue, Pawtucket, MA 02861 401-722-2724 Oakworld Garden Center 39 West Street, Barrington, RI 02806 401-245-5705 Organically Grown 768 Atwood Ave Cranston, RI 02920 401-944-0549 Solar Seed Hydroponics, Inc. 2406 Putman Pike, Chepachet, RI 02814 401-710-9010

SOUTH CAROLINA 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; Greenspirit Hydrogardens 3600 Unite 1 Hwy.17 S. North Myrtle Beac, SC 29582 843-361-7777 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

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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 National Garden Wholesale/Sunlight Supply 126 Belinda Parkway, Mt. Juliet, TN 37122 888-265-9005 Perpetual Harvest 75 Riverport Drive, Jackson, TN 38301 877-422-3391 Sun City Hydroponics 2235 Whitten Road, Suite 104, Memphis, TN 38133 901-372-8100 Worm’s Way Tennessee 901 Main Street, Nashville, TN 37072 800-397-4153

TEXAS Abundant Harvest Hydroponics & Organics 3101 Avenue E East, Arlington Road, TX 76011 817-649-0100 Airline Hydroponics P.O. Box 980904, Trader’s Village #363, Houston, TX 77098 713-942-0484 Botani Garden 15120 Bellaire Blvd Houston, TX 77083 281-575-1999 Brite Ideas Hydroponics & Organics 4360 S.Congress Avenue, #310, Austin, TX 78745 512-444-2100 Earth Organics 1360 Lee Trevino Drive,Suite 105 El Paso, TX 79936 915-591-9500 Field of Dreams Indoor Growing Supplies 5302 Slide Road Unit B, Lubbock, TX 79414 806-793-2901 GreenMaker Nursery 3030 Northwest Loop, Stephenville, TX 76401 254-965-7273 GroGreen Hydroponics 4015 Main Street, Dallas, TX 75226 214-370-9984 Happy Harvest Hydroponics & Organic 1500 Crescent Drive, Suite 202 Carrollton, TX 75006 972-466-1300 Houston Discount Hydroponics 9384 Richmond Avenue, Houston, TX 77063 713-464-9406 Hydro Mart 3841 Main Street, Rowlett, TX 75088 972-475-6114 Hydroponic Nation 9700 Almeda Genoa Road, Suite 108, Houston, TX 77075 281-501-9636 Innergrow Hydroponics 24451 Interstate Highway 20, Wills Point, TX 75169 866-475-4769 Jolly Green Hydroponics (Greenhouse Horticultural Supplies) 13628 Neutron Road, Dallas, TX 75244 (866) WE-JOLLY; 469-341-5555

WASHINGTON

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

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

VERMONT Green Thumb Gardening P.O. Box 235, Route 15, Underhill, VT 5489 800-564-9376 Greenthumb - Vermont 394 Route 15, Jericho, VT 05465 802-899-4323 LiquidSun® VT 1 Bellows Falls Road, (Route 5 North) Putney, VT 05158 802-387-1100 Peak Hydroponic Garden Supplies 20 School Street, Plainfield, VT 05667 802-454-8000

VIRGINIA Blue Ridge Hydroponics & Home Brewing Co. 5524 Williamson Road, Suite 11 Roanoke VA 24012 540-265-2483 Clean & Green Technologies 196 Corning Drive, Christiansburg, VA 24073 866-694-1628 Fifth Season Gardening Company 900 Preston Ave. Charlottesville VA 22903 434-293-2332 Hydroponics & Growlights 13400 Occoquan Road, Woodbridge, VA 22191 703-490-0700 I Love Hydroponics 612 N. Sheppard Street, Richmond, VA 23221 804-377-3020 I Love Hydroponics 368 Newtown Road, #105, Virginia Beach, VA 23462 757-490-5425 Inside-Out Garden Supply 6517 Backlick Road, Springfield, VA 22150 703-451-3259

West VIRGINIA Panhandle Hydroculture 800 East Moler Ave. Martinsburg, WV 25401 304-240-7587

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509 Grow 2718 N Division Spokane, WA 99207 509-327-GROW(4769) Aqua Serene 3839 Stone Way North, Seattle, WA 98103 206-547-GROW (4769) Eco Enterprises 1240 NE 175th Street, #B Shoreline, WA 98155 800-426-6937 Garden Smart 500 Bond Drive, Castlerock, WA 98611 360-274-7960 Green Gardens Distributing 12738 Bel-Red Road, Bellevue, WA 98005 425-454-5731 Green Tree Hydroponics and Garden 12316 Pacific Ave South Tacoma, WA 98444 253-495-6757 Good 2 Gro 3507 W Clearwater Ave. Kennewick WA 99336 P: 509 737 1313 Go-N-Green Hydroponics 1241 State Ave Suite #102 Marysville, WA 98270 (360)386-8230 Grow Center, The 17524 N. Franklin Crescent, Colbert, WA 99005 509-456-GROW GROGRO HYDRO 12316 32nd AVE NE #103 Seattle, WA 98125 Hydro-Tech 2121 Aurora Avenue, North, Seattle, WA 98103 206-547-2202 Indoor Garden Depot 6400 NE Highway 99, Suite H, Vancouver, WA 98665 360-993-7779 Indoor Garden Depot 1401 S. 324th Street, Federal Way, WA 98003 253-874-1112 Indoor Garden & Lighting 8606 Preston Fall City Rd. SE Preston WA 98050 425 222 9661 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 Indoor Garden Supply LLC 1250 Atlantic Ave, Woodland, WA 98674 360-841-8055 InDoor Gardening 1158 Commerce Longview WA, 98632 360-353-3851 Indoor Tropics 5930 Sunburst Lane #B Cashmere, WA 98815 509-470-7782 Island Horticulture Supply 8608 S March Point Rd. Anacortes WA 98221 P: 360 293 000 Island Hydroponic & Supplies 1515 5th Street #B, Marysville, WA 98271 425-299-5855 Kent Garden Supplies Ltd. 18817 East Valley Highway, Kent, WA 98032 425-251-9299

Kitsap Garden & Lighting 2130 6th Street, Bremerton, WA 98312 360-377-1277 Linda’s Gardening & Hydroponics 11522 Canyon Road East, Puyallup, WA 98373 253-531-9641 Liquid Sunshine Hydroponics 5087 Lincoln Road, Blaine, WA 98230 M & R Lighting 17238 Memorial Drive, Mt. Vernon, WA 98273 360-848-1080 M & R Lighting Unit C 22914 Highway 410, Buckley, WA 98390 253-891-4190 Mike's Indoor Garden Supply 6121 172nd Street NE #A, Arlington, WA 98223 425-346-6481 National Garden Wholesale / Sunlight Supply 4525 NW Fruit Valley Road, Vancouver, WA 98660 888-478-6544 (Northwest) National Garden Wholesale / Sunlight Supply 5408 NE 88th Street, Building A, Vancouver, WA 98665 888-478-6544 Northern Lights Gardening 4159 Hannegan Road, Bellingham, WA 98225 360-715-8585 Northwest Horticulture Supply 161 Hooker Road, #1, Sequim, WA 98057 360-582-0702 Renton Indoor Garden Center 207 Sunset Blvd. N, Building A, Renton, WA 98055 425-917-9000 River City Hydroponics 1514 East Francis Avenue, Spokane, WA 99208 509-464-0246 Sodo Hydro 1727 1st Ave. South, Seattle, WA 98134 888-904-9376 Solar Shop 306 West 4th Street, Tonasket, WA 98855 509-486-4508 Spokane Organic and Hydroponic Supply 4823 East Sprague Avenue E., Spokane Valley, WA 99212 509-534-4055 VM Indoor Garden Supply 2903 NE 109th Ave Ste. D Vancouver, WA 98682 P: (360) 256-2933

WISCONSIN Aric's Indoor Garden Supply 1104 West Wisconsin Avenue, Appleton, WI 54914 920-574-3258 Brew and Grow 285 N. Janacek Road, Brookfield, WI 53045 262-789-0555 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 Add your company logo to the distributor listings!

Call 250-729-2677 or Email ilona@maximumyield.com

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