USA July 2011 by Maximum Yield

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2011

Indoor gardenING expo SAN FRancisco

long beach

July 16-17

October 22-23

California, USA

california, usa

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Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

FEATURES

118

CONTENTS July 2011

Old Fashioned Crops are Making a Comeback

Try Hydroponics

A Natural Wetting Solution - Yucca Wetting Agents

Super Naturals - Using Biological Products in the Garden

The Conversion Factor - From Ebb and Flow to Drip Systems

by Dr. Lynette Morgan

by Grubbycup

by Donald Lester

by Evan Folds

by Casey Jones Fraser

100

The Great Organic Hydroponic Debate - Part 2

110

Companion Planting in Hydroponics

118

Shedding Light

130

Hydroponics: A Neverending Learning Experience

136

Hydroponics for Locavores

146

Fine Food on the Go - Road Trippin’ With Daniel Klein of the Perennial Plate

158

Spectral Shifting With LEDs

168

Making the Most of Hydroponics Outdoors

by Noucetta Kehdi

by Matt LeBannister

by Lee McCall

by Dr. J. Benton Jones, Jr. by Philip McIntosh

by Brian Chiang and Josh Puckett by Cindy Rea

DEPARTMENTS 10 12 14 20 24 32

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

76 98 108 116 128 164

Green Thumb Gardening Beginner’s Corner Tips and Tricks Growing for Health Avant-Gardening

180 187 192 193 194

Talking Shop Max Mart Coming up in August Do You Know? Distributors

You Tell Us

Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

FROM THE editor

ed t i m li uble do ition ed

In your hands you are holding (or, on your computer you are reading) the second issue in our Limited Double Edition Set of Maximum Yield USA. We promised an explosion of product reviews, grow tips and giveaways and we’re delivering on that promise with 200+ pages of nothing but the best.

contributors

Ask and you shall receive; we’ve sprinkled a little bit of everything into our biggest issue of the year.You get: outdoor hydroponics, wetting agents, biologicals and organics, beginner tips, lighting tricks, industry trends, deficiency detectors, compost tea, companion planting and so much more. If we missed anything, please let us know by e-mailing editor@maximumyield.com so we can fulfill your article requests and get your questions answered by our contributing experts in an upcoming issue. The weekend you’ve all been waiting for—the 8th Annual San Francisco Indoor Gardening Expo—is just two weeks away so this is your last chance to plan your visit. If you don’t live in San Francisco, you’ll want to book a hotel room now as this weekend will be swarming with eager growers. If you require any last minute event info, please visit indoorgardenexpo.com. Make sure to peruse through the Product Spotlight on page 32 for a sneak peek of

the some of the products that will be displayed and demonstrated at the expo. When you arrive at the show, make sure to pick up a copy (if there are any left) of the highly-anticipated premiere issue of Maximum Yield’s Hydrolife. We’re so excited for this launch and providing the industry with the #1 lifestyles magazine for growers.

Jessica Raymond, editor editor@maximumyield.com

Dr. Lynette Morgan holds a B. Hort.

Casey Jones Fraser owns Garden

Dr. J. Benton Jones Jr. has 50

Grubbycup has been an avid indoor gardener for over 20 years. His articles were first published in the United Kingdom, and since then his gardening advice has been published in French, Spanish, Italian, Polish, Czechoslovakian and German. He is also considered one of the world’s leading authorities on crochet hydroponics.

Noucetta Kehdi is the co-founder

Philip McIntosh is a science and

Donald Lester is the plant

Matt LeBannister developed a

Brian Chiang has worked for

Evan Folds is president of

Lee McCall is an alumnus of Johnson &

Josh Puckett earned his bachelor’s

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.

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

jessica raymond

Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

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. and administrator of General Hydroponics in Europe. Noucetta got involved in hydroponics in the early 1990’s and in 1996 she moved to the southwest of France where she took care of a greenhouse educating herself on all things hydroponics.

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

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. technology writer with a bachelor’s degree in botany and chemistry and a master’s degree in biological science. During his graduate research he used hydroponic techniques to grow axenic plants. He lives in Colorado Springs, CO. where he teaches mathematics at Challenger Middle School.

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. 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.

Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

LETTERS TO the editor E-News Readers Respond E-News readers responded to the following question: What is your favorite pastime (outside of growing)? They were entered to win a copy of our special San Francisco Expo issue of Maximum Yield USA. Runners-up Thanks for all your hard work and efforts involved to produce such an informative magazine. I particularly like the Simon Says column. It offers very useful suggestions. My favorite pastime these days is RVing in a 19 foot camper van. Besides making several short trips to the Living Forest in Nanaimo, we have visited all the canyons in Utah and Yosemite National Park. We hope to travel through Colorado and New Mexico in 2011. I am particularly looking forward to visiting some hydroponic stores in Denver as we were unable to attend their expo.

Happy Gardener A big thanks to Maximum Yield and Root Pouch for the [Win Big…Grow Big] prize—it’s not only ecologic but useful in gardening. I’ve attached the photo of me with my winnings. Again, BIG THANKS! Jean-Philippe Corsi

Win Big, Grow Big Winner Show and Tell

Regards Tom Gray Brewing beer! I just got into the hobby recently and it is so interesting to learn of all the different types of beer and the history of this great pastime. Shane Brooks And the winner is… My favorite pastime, outside of growing, is hiking through the California Mountains near my home. I do short hikes at a slow pace, collecting pieces of nature—literally and through my android camera. I rescue wildflowers and baby trees/ bushes from footpath and animal paths and nurture them in my backyard. Then, I plant them in a community spot that I have worked solo on for four years, and in my own garden. Bad weather brings out my addiction to book stores and hardware stores, which of course inspires my gardening [adventures]. I’m hopeless!

Thanks for the Boldtbags. Now I can really brew some great compost tea with these high-tech tea bags. I love your mag, it’s very informative. Keep up the good work. Here are some pictures of my outdoor plants raised on organic matter (i.e., green sand, rock phosphate, kelp meal, compost) and oodles of T.L.C. Impressive, yes? The sunflowers are called Tequila Sunrise and the chili plants are Purira Chili. Thanks again Mark aka Mr. “G”

Laura Olney, owner Sarge’s Mailbox, Inc. And you could win too. Simply sign up to receive Maximum Yield’s E-Newsletter on maximumyield.com and enter our monthly draw to win.

Reader Props You have a great looking magazine—sharp bright colors, good quality paper and covers. I look forward to reading every issue cover to cover in my ever expanding quest for more hydroponic/indoor growing information. I find the articles current and interesting. I find great. Overall, much better than other similar magazines. Ron Daily

Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

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

Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

Coming up on the Web Upcoming Events

Ready, Set, Grow – It’s time for San Fran (SFIGE11) The event you’ve all been waiting for is finally here! You’re all invited to Maximum Yield’s 80 Annual San Francisco Indoor Gardening Expo, July 17 at the Fort Mason Center from noon to 5 p.m. This event offers education and entertainment rolled into one. For full event details including a list of exhibitors, updated floor plan, accommodation suggestions and directions to the venue, visit indoorgardenexpo.com

Got Questions? Get Answers. Maximum Yield’s resident expert Simon Hart is available and ready to answer your modern gardening questions. E-mail simon@maximumyield.com or fill out the Simon Says question form on maximumyield.com

Latest News Go green, fertilize with mushrooms, scrutinize produce and embrace high-tech horticulture. Check out these fascinating facts and more of the latest industry news on maximumyield.com Connect to MaximumYield.com instantly from your Smartphone with our Quick Response (QR) Code, found on the cover of every issue of Maximum Yield. Now you can access the best products, the most in-depth articles and information, and the latest news at high speeds. Simply download the QR Code Reader software compatible with your Smartphone, scan the QR Code and your phone’s browser will automatically launch, redirecting you to www.maximumyield.com. It’s that simple!

Connect with Maximum Yield

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

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

Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

I N D O O R

G A R D E N I N G

VOLUME 12 – NUMBER 4 July 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 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 Tina Skujins - tina@maximumyield.com Mike Linden - mike@maximumyield.com Jennifer Duong - jennifer@maximumyield.com ACCOUNTING - Tracy Greeno accounting@maximumyield.com

USA DISTRIBUTION Aurora Innovations BWGS 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. MegaWatt Quality Wholesale UK DISTRIBUTION Growth Technology Future Harvest Development Europe Nutriculture UK AUSTRALIAN DISTRIBUTION House N Garden Futchatec Growth Technology Hydraspher

Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

Hello, I’m a French journalism student in Paris, researching urban agriculture and vertical farming projects that incorporate hydroponics and aeroponics. What do you think about these vertical farm projects? Do you think that they are utopian? What are the advantages and the drawbacks of hydroponics and aeroponics? How does the quality of hydroponic/ aeroponic crops compare to crops cultivated outside in soil? Thank you for your time. Kind regards, Thibaut Forté The future of agriculture is becoming a very interesting conversation as farmers around the world struggle with more volatile weather conditions while feeding a growing population. There are many facets to the changing face of agriculture, and vertical farming is one of them. The concept of layered farming within a building is an efficient and creative opportunity. Vertical farms require supplemental lighting to ensure the plants in the middle are receiving the light required for healthy growth. This adds a large energy component to the project and the more floors there are, the more energy needed. LED lighting options might provide an alterative, but not for vining crops such as cucumbers and tomatoes, which are two of the dominant crops grown hydroponically in the world. In the short to medium term, we should look at low cost, low input models before jumping into the high cost, high input option of dedicated structures for urban agriculture. Using rooftops we already have is a good first step towards sustainable urban food production. There are a couple of problems when it comes to water-based roof gardens. The first problem is the amount of radiant heat on rooftops; this can make water temperature regulation a massive issue, especially in sensitive aeroponic systems. Also, the waste water from hydroponic 20

Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

systems still has a vast amount of soluble nutrients unused by the plants. This creates an issue of disposal. Fresh substrate would also need to be brought in between crops. Most large green roofs currently use drought-tolerant species that are planted and then basically forgotten. Now imagine the same space including people interacting with food crops.

“Building food and biodiversity into a system that improves the urban environment at the same time would be such a positive step forward.”

An amazing first step in our urban food development would be to take the Cuban organoponicos concept and place it on rooftops full of shallow (12 inch) raised beds filled with soilless mix and compost. You would get the insulation value, cooling effect and

water retention of a green roof along with the low cost nearly self sufficient aspect of the Cuban food experience. Building food and biodiversity into a system that improves the urban environment at the same time would be such a positive step forward. Economically speaking, the building could generate revenue by leasing this as an additional floor and it would provide opportunity for entrepreneurs looking at food production but just needing the space. A chance to get a new generation of people excited about farming? That’s always a good thing. In keeping with efficient urban farming and organoponicos, vermicomposting could supply the majority of nutrition in the soilless beds on the rooftop. A building based on green diversion could keep 30 per cent of building waste on-site to build biodiversity and feed the plants. A small portion of the garden could also be dedicated to habitat for beneficial insects, improving the balance of the space. The vertical farm is a very creative concept and will probably end up being exceptionally important in the future. Until we have worked out an efficient system and a reasonable cost, we need to adapt in different ways. Our rooftops are numerous and can provide nutritious, low impact food while reducing the heat island effect and making our cities more liveable. MY

Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

MAX

facts

hydroponic news, tips and trivia

Market Lighting Affects Nutrients Many people reach toward the back of the fresh-produce shelf to find the freshest salad greens with the latest expiration dates. But a study led by U.S. Department of Agriculture scientists may prompt consumers to instead look for packages that receive the greatest exposure to light—usually those found closest to the front. For the study, the researchers exposed spinach leaves to light similar to the 24 hour artificial fluorescent light received by spinach in packages located at the front of the display case. A second group was enclosed in two-layer-thick, brown-grocery-bag paper to represent the dark treatment. Light exposure resulted in a significant increase in levels of: • carotenoids • vitamins C, E, K • B9 or folate (Source: www.ars.usda.gov)

Falklands Company Shows Viability of Hydroponics Business This year, Stanley Growers, based on the East Falkland Islands, celebrates their 25th year growing and marketing their hydroponic produce—predominantly fresh salad crops. Over the past quarter of a century, the company has supplied the military and local population of the Falklands and has provided the cruise ship industry and South American countries with a large amount of crops. (Source: http://hydroponicsguide.co.uk)

Society Releases Go Green Videos The Raincoast Education Society (RES) released the third and fourth clips in a series of “Raincoast Sustainable Living Videos” during Earth Week. The videos explore alternative transportation and lifestyle ideas in the Clayoquot Sound UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, including hydroponic growing techniques, chickens that compost, green roofs and glass crushing. (Source: www.canada.com)

Air-Conditioned Greenhouse Uses Alternative Energy The Basque Institute for Agricultural Research and Development has created an air-conditioned greenhouse using alternative energies and hydroponics that enables an increase in crop yields. The novel system has a biomass boiler—that produces 400 kW power and is, to date, the largest in Spain—and 40 thermodynamic panels—employed for the first time in intensive greenhouse cultivation—that heat the crops’ roots. (Source: www.sciencedaily.com)

Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

MAX

facts

hydroponic news, tips and trivia

Mushrooms Could Drastically Cut Fertilizer Use in Agriculture New research suggests seeding agricultural soils with special mushrooms could drastically reduce fertilizer use. Plants form symbiotic relationships with mycorrhizal fungi; the mushrooms acquire nutrients and make them available to plants. The fungi act as extensions of plants’ root systems, drastically reducing the need for phosphate fertilizers. (Source: www.treehugger.com)

Santa Maria Embraces High-Tech Agriculture Just outside Camarillo, California, hydroponic agriculture business Windset Farms has constructed two massive state-of-the-art hydroponic greenhouses where a variety of tomatoes, peppers and cucumber will grow. When the project is finished there will be the equivalent of 5.7 million square feet of hydroponic heaven. The result of the technology used, mixed with the beneficial climate is estimated yields 10 to 20 times more than those offered with traditional farming methods. Greenhouse features: • 28 feet tall • Span 32 acres • Recycled and harvested water and condensation collection • Intricate, elaborate and mostly computerized growing system Windset Farms is a Canadian outfit from British Columbia that has built numerous greenhouses across the United States; currently they have three such facilities across the country including one in Las Vegas, dubbed as “the most sustainable greenhouses in the world”. (Source: http://hydroponicsguide.co.uk)

High-Tech Approach Uses Lights, Action and Camera to Scrutinize Fresh Produce Scientists have developed and patented an experimental, cutting-edge optical scanning system that would use two different kinds of lighting, a sophisticated camera and other pieces of equipment to scrutinize fresh produce as they travel along packinghouse conveyor belts. These high-tech tactics will help ensure the quality and safety of these good-for-you foods. The system would provide evidence of certain kinds of defects—like cuts and bruises— or contaminants—like specks of fertilizer from orchard or field soil. (Source: www.ars.usda.gov)

Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

MAX

facts

hydroponic news, tips and trivia

Lifting Spirits With Hydroponics

The United Cerebral Palsy of New York City recently began an indoor farming curriculum. Alternative gardening practices like hydroponics are being used as tools to improve the lives of developmentally disable individuals, providing education, therapy and job opportunities. (Source: www.ucpnyc.org)

Clifford proudly displays his first first pepper harvest.

Urban Agriculture Aims at Helping Seattle’s at-Risk Youth

Seattle Youth Garden Works (SYGW) employs young homeless individuals or those involved in the juvenile justice system, offering teens and young adults the opportunity to work, develop social skills and eventually find stable employment or return to school. The Community Supported Agriculture program allows residents to subscribe to a weekly, delivered box of organic produce from SYGW’s garden for a growing season. The South Park neighborhood where SYGW is located is a poor and heavily urbanized district. Grocery stores that once carried fresh produce have moved from the neighborhood, a term known as food flight. To combat the absence of available produce and the cost of a CSA box, SYGW would donate to the community food pantry along with two other city garden programs. (Source: www.sciencedaily.com)

Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

MAX

facts

Organic Planet Festival: Transforming Harmful to Healthful The fifth annual Organic Planet Festival is coming Sunday, August 30 to Humboldt County, California’s Halvorsen Park. It’s the largest green event in the area featuring organic food and beverages, an eco-fashion show, bands, workshops and you can even dive into the world’s largest organic salad. Festival workshops will include growing green advice— without pesticides, herbicides, and chemicals. Attendees can drop off healthy and organic foods and claim a poster redemption voucher. (Source: www.treehugger.com)

Vertical Garden to Tower Over Chelsea Flower Show A 30 foot tall food garden (skyfarm) was constructed for the 2011 Chelsea Flower Show in London. One wall of the steel-frame structure is entirely plants, the other entirely solar photovoltaic panels. The panels power the water pumps that push water from a borehole round the hydroponic growing system. Inside the tower, along with the stairs are greenhouse areas for propagation, and a compost chute. Everything in the garden is edible, even the trees: the vertically trimmed lime trees have flowers that can make an herbal tea, while the mulberry trees give a crunchy berry. The garden illustrates the hundreds of edible plants in the world, including many unusual varieties like Stevia rebaudiana, a sweet-tasting sugar substitute. (Source: www.guardian.co.uk)

hydroponic news, tips and trivia

Balcony Farms Sprout in Shanghai Concerns about food safety and the high cost of organics in Shanghai are prompting some city residents to grow their own veggies. In 2009, 46.6 per cent of China’s population, around 622 million people, lived in urban centers and the number is expected to rise to 70 per cent by 2035. Susan Evans, founder of Kplunk, a company specializing in sustainable strategy decision making and research, led a study in 2009 on sustainability perceptions and behaviors for around 400 households in Shanghai. It found that around 95 per cent of people surveyed are concerned with food safety; they are unsure and concerned about farming practices, levels of pesticide, fertilizer and the process of manufacturing. Those surveyed also said that certified organic food is too expensive and difficult to find. In 2010, another Kplunk study of around 120 individuals found 60 per cent were interested in growing their own vegetables. (Source: www.theurbn.com)

Ground-breaking New Waste Water Treatment Unveiled in South Africa Major beer brewers SABMiller is working to reduce its water consumption and clean up waste water from its factories using groundbreaking research. In partnership with Rhodes University, “Project Eden” will feature an environmentally sustainable treatment system for brewery waste-water, with the resulting output being used to successfully rear edible, freshwater fish and grow hydroponic lettuce. MY (Source: www.guardian.co.uk)

Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

PRODUCT spotlight

GUIDE TO THIS MONTH’S HOTTEST ITEMS YOUR Ask for them at your local indoor gardening store. Boldtbags 5 Gallon 4 Bag Kit The Boldtbags five gallon four bag kit gives you the perfect range of filtration with the 220, 160, 73 and 25 micron bags. Boldtbags are made from heatfused nylon and FDA approved watertight lining, which ensures no liquid absorption and produces a higher yield. The Swiss grade mesh screens have been measured to the absolute micron and heat-stamped to prevent fluctuation. The durable nickel-plated grommets can be used easily with suspension systems and will never rust. Boldtbags come with a quality assured factory two year warranty. Visit your local hydroponics shop for more information.

Sunleaves Ballasts Now UL Listed Sunleaves is proud to announce that the Sunleaves 1,000 watt two-way and 600 watt HPS ballasts are now UL Listed, a guarantee of both safety and quality. Gardeners looking for reliable results from their HID lighting system will love the easy operation of Sunleaves Ballasts and the peace of mind offered by their extensive five-year warranty. The 1,000 watt two-way and the 600 watt HPS are both easy to operate, have 120/240 volt dual-voltage capabilities, feature the industry standard common outlet and include a 120 volt power cord. For more information visit an indoor gardening shop near you.

Quantum Growth - Harnessing Nature’s Energy

Proudly Introducing Bokashi Bokashi is manufactured in Hawaii by a guru Japanese scientist who specializes in microbiology using a carefully selected group of microorganisms called BAM (Beneficial Anaerobic Microorganisms) that ferment organic matter. The microorganisms are applied using the impregnation carrier ingredient of wheat bran. The fermentation process breaks the organic matter down in a preliminary process, which transforms the organic matter into readily available nutrients for your favorite plants. Bokashi Grow (NPK 4-1-1) and Bokashi Bloom (NPK 3-3-1) can be brewed as a live tea or purchased in the concentrated form. To order Bokashi please contact your authorized Humboldt Nation retailer.

Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

The Quantum Growth Series of products contain naturally occurring microorganisms that inhabit the root zone and vascular system of the plant, helping to break down, hold and transport nutrients and water to the root zone. The microbes convert the nutrients 10 times faster than the plant can, feeding the plant as needed. Quantum Growth is the only biological product on the market today that is a shelf stable liquid that contains photosynthetic bacteria and other vegetative cultures with over 200 billon per gallon. There is no NPK, GMOs, growth inhibitors or two-part mixes, just pure beneficial bacteria for your garden. Quantum Growth improves plant health, enhances root growth, plant development and increase yields. Quantum can be used in hydroponics or soil gardens and is available in a variety of sizes to fit your needs. For more information visit your favorite gardening shop.

Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

PRODUCT spotlight

New Rope Ratchet® Light Hanger for the Indoor Gardener For indoor gardeners, raising and lowering expensive equipment can be a huge challenge; but not anymore thanks to the new Rope Ratchet Light Hangers from Carolina North Manufacturing. This sturdy hanger system easily attaches to fixtures and is made from heavy duty glass-filled nylon outer casing, interior mechanisms from die cast zinc and fitted with six feet of solid braided polyester rope and zinc plated steel hook. The 1⁄8 inch size holds 150 pounds while the ¼ inch size holds 300 pounds. For more information contact your local indoor gardening retailer.

Hydro International Introduces the All New Arc Pruner Meet the latest member of our gardening line of products, the new KM-641-A ARC Pruner. Its small curved stainless steel blades prevent rusting and are perfect for fruits, vegetables, bonsai and flowers. Its ergonomic size fits perfectly in your hand and non-slip handles are comfortable and make for a secure grip. The ARC is the ideal pruner when you need to get in close on dense foliage without damaging plants. The ARC also comes with a free bonus sharpening stone and extra spring. Visit an indoor/outdoor gardening shop for more information.

Soft Twist Tie Garden Wire Now Available Through Authorized Greenstar Retailers Greenstar Plant Products is proud to be a new distributor of the Soft Twist Tie Garden Wire. This soft, pliable wire is reusable and great for fastening shrubs, plants, flowers, vines and decorations. UV stabilized and able to handle extreme temperatures, these Soft Twist Ties are available in four convenient roll sizes: 17 feet, 55 feet, 250 feet and 500 feet. For more information, visit your favorite gardening shop. 34

Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

PRODUCT spotlight

Your guide to this month’s hottest items.

Introducing the All New Ecogrowwall Ecogrowwall is a vertical system and its flexibility allows for maximum use of space at a lower price. Ecogrowwall can be used alone or in chain and also back to back so it can adapt easily to your room size. A wide range of parts and accessories are offered including: hooks, push cocks, crosses, water lines, water distribution systems and a compression fitting, allowing you plenty of options for assembly. The Ecogrowwall gutter has a lip that prevents light from reaching the rockwool directly and prevents the formation of algae in the lower walls. Visit your local grow shop to learn more about the new Ecogrowwall.

Protect Your Hydroponic Plants From Fungal Diseases With Actinovate Organic Fungicide Actinovate Organic Fungicide contains a high concentration of a patented beneficial microorganism (Streptomyces lydicus) in a 100 per cent water-soluble powder. When mixed with water, Actinovate protects hydroponic plants from fungal diseases caused by pathogens such as Pythium, Phytophthora, Fusarium, Rhizoctonia, Verticillium and other root decay fungi. Actinovate can also be used as a spray for leaf and foliar diseases such as powdery mildew, downy mildew, black spot, Botrytis, Alternaria and others. Actinovate is OMRI Listed for use in organic gardening and made in the USA by Natural Industries. Ask for it at your favorite indoor gardening shop.

Hydro-Logic Now has Convenient Rolls of Tubing Due to popular demand, Hydro-Logic now offers tubing for their filtration systems in smaller rolls: blue tubing in ¼ inch and 3/8 inch diameter in 50 foot rolls; black tubing in ¼ inch and 3/8 inch diameter in 50 foot rolls; white tubing in ½ inch diameter in 25 foot rolls. The tubing is the hard style, polyethylene plastic that is recommended for use with Hydro-Logic quick connect fittings. This high quality tubing is extremely durable and not prone to annoying kinks. Pure water’s not magic. It’s logic. The rolls are available immediately from your local authorized Hydro-Logic retail distributor.

Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

GreenGro Granular Plus Mycorrhizae Granular Plus is our newest all-in-one mycorrhizae blend that includes four species of endo-mycorrhizae, five species of beneficial bacteria, humic acid and Norwegian kelp— everything you need in an organic soil additive. It is superb for tilling into the soil, tea bags and soil mixes. Granular Plus will increase your plant’s growth capacity, fruiting and flowering potential, and nutrient storage and uptake. Also, it promotes massive root systems, great soil structure and diverse soil ecology. Great for outdoor and indoor gardens. Available in one, two and 15 pound bags. Visit an indoor gardening shop near you for more information.

Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

PRODUCT spotlight

Your guide to this month’s hottest items.

New GreenCure® Fungicide GreenCure® is an environmentally friendly fungicide proven to cure and prevent powdery mildew, black spot, downy mildew, blights, molds and more. GreenCure Fungicide is recommended for use on over 150 different flowers, trees, houseplants, fruits, vegetables and turfs. Unlike many fungicides, GreenCure is not a toxic chemical. Its active ingredient, potassium bicarbonate, is commonly used in food products and is “generally recognized as safe” by the FDA and is seen as an alternative to other fungicides by the EPA. It’s better for the environment, it’s better for you and it works. GreenCure Fungicide is now available at authorized Hydrofarm retailers across the country.

Introducing the GX150 HF Reverse Osmosis System The GX150 high flow reverse osmosis system is built with the same 2:1 waste ratio as the standard version, but offers a more than 30 per cent increase in pure water production. The GX150 HF, using a single membrane, can produce over 200 gallons per day (GPD) of almost zero ppm water. The GX150 HF comes standard with a manual flush valve to extend the life of the high-flow membrane. The GX150 HF comes standard with a stainless steel liquid filled pressure gauge and a sports an EZ-carry handle. Ask your favorite retailer to carry the GX150 HF.

Earth Tonic From Progress Earth Earth Tonic is a biologically correct biodynamic sea mineral complex. It contains literally all earth-bound, naturally occurring colloidal ionic minerals. Sea water and primordial sea water (Himalayan crystal salt) are the most ancient forms of natural solutions on Earth. If you are growing a garden or brewing compost tea and not using Earth Tonic, you are not experiencing the maximum potential of plant growth. Inspired by the work of Maynard Murray and Rudolf Steiner, Earth Tonic bridges the chasm created by the idea of “essential nutrients”.Why not give your garden everything? For complete information contact your local biodynamic-friendly indoor garden shop.

Introducing Optic Foliar’s Transport Optic Foliar Transport is a highly concentrated revolutionary wetting and delivery agent that sends signals to the plant’s leaf surface to open the stomata, allowing it to absorb 100 per cent of spray solutions and deliver all ingredients into the mesophyll layer with no damage, burning or magnification worries. Unlike traditional sprays, Transport is highly concentrated and can be sprayed on plants with the lights on and without the need to adjust the spray’s pH. Use only 7.5 milliliters per quart. Spray it, see it, be-leaf it. That’s Optic Foliar. Learn more from your local indoor garden retailer.

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Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

PRODUCT spotlight

Continued from page 38

Your guide to this month’s hottest items.

Titan Controls® Helios 11™ and Helios 12™ Sunlight Supply®, Inc. is pleased to announce the release of the new Classic Series Helios 11™ and 12™ 240 volt light controllers from Titan Controls®. They both feature premium quality Siemens brand relays, trigger cord sets for use with wall timers, multi-tap outlets that accept 120 or 240 volt cord sets and plastic enclosures that resist dust and moisture. The Helios 11™ will control up to four 1,000 watt lights at 240 volts and the Helios 12™ will control up to eight 1,000 watt lights at 240 volts. Visit an indoor gardening shop more information.

Boldtbags Large Cone 3 Bag Kit The Boldtbags Large Cone three Bag Kit makes filtration easy and efficient. Available in all the micron grades of the regular Boldtbags but the micron screen continues up to the top and attaches to a metal ring. The bag is tapered from top to bottom creating optimum downward flow, as well as out through the sides of the bag. The Large Cone tapers to a straight edge and once all excess liquid is wrung from the bag, it can be inverted to produce a “brick” of extract or nutrients. Visit your favorite indoor gardening shop for more information.

Genesis Compound From Progress Earth Genesis Compound is the finest compost tea inoculant on the planet, hand-crafted on a certified organic and biodynamic farm. It contains only the finest ingredients and is created in whisky barrels buried in the Earth for up to a year. This makes the microbes work harder, developing strength and abilities that do not register on biological assays and that cannot be seen under a microscope. This magical material is now available to the home gardener and can be used as a compost tea inoculant, a soil/hydroponic amendment or as a field spray. For complete information talk to your local biodynamic retailer.

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Presenting Bloom Oxygen Bloom Oxygen helps break down and release oxygen into the area around the roots, encouraging rapid healthy root growth and, more importantly, stopping oxygen from being depleted. Bloom Oxygen breaks down and releases oxygen into the area around the roots. This helps stop the oxygen from being depleted in the water filled air spaces until air can get back into them. In a hydroponic system H2O2 will disperse throughout the system and raise oxygen levels as it breaks down. Healthy plant starts with a healthy root system. Visit an indoor gardening shop near you for more information.

New Hydrofarm Nine Quart Plastic Watering Can Hydrofarm’s large capacity nine quart plastic watering can is constructed from durable plastic that won’t dent or rust. It features two comfortable ergonomic handles that enable two handed pouring for better maneuverability and control, easy to read U.S. and metric markings and a detachable hose for finer spray. For more information, visit an authorized Hydrofarm retail distributor near you.

Titan Controls® Atlas 3™, 4™, 5™ and 6™ Sunlight Supply®, Inc. is pleased to announce the release of the newest Atlas CO2 controllers from Titan Controls®. The Atlas 3™, 4™, 5™ and 6™ are all manufactured in North America. The Titan Controls® C02 control line integrates multiple features, all designed to help take the guesswork out of CO2 monitoring/controlling in your garden. The Atlas line uses digital technology to monitor/control your garden CO2 levels to help you provide just the right amount of CO2. Be in control with Titan. Visit your favorite indoor gardening shop for more information.

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Old-Fashioned Crops are Making by Dr. Lynette Morgan

Comeback

Everything old is new again. The latest indoor horticulture trends are straight out of the past.

Black currants are packed with vitamin C and antioxidants.

Over the years many old-fashioned fruits and vegetables have made a gourmet comeback in fine dining restaurants. Some of the most modern and highlyprized fancy salad greens are actually ancient crops that were grown for centuries before modern agriculture introduced mass production. Arugula, chicory and romaine lettuce, for example, were grown by the Romans. More recently there have been a number of old-fashioned plants making a culinary comeback, many of which were popular backyard garden favorites only 46

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a generation or two ago. For one reason or another some fruits and vegetables fell out of favor as supermarkets focused on familiar mass-produced greens with long shelf lives. However, with renewed interest in the culinary arts and gardening in general, we are seeing a resurgence of

some old favorites and finding many of these are well suited to indoor and hydroponic production. Old-fashioned crops now turned a little trendier include rhubarb, currants, beets, Swiss chard and homemade pickles, as well as a huge selection of heirloom varieties of just about every fruit and vegetable imaginable. Many of these thrive when provided with the improved nutrition and protected environment of a well-maintained hydroponic system and also provide us with something a little unique to grow and taste.

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Old-Fashioned Crops are Making a Comeback

Rhubarb

Fresh gherkins ready to be made into old fashioned pickles.

Once a popular pie filling, rhubarb is one old-fashioned crop that has seen a major comeback in recent years, largely due to its inclusion in a wide range of innovative recipes designed by celebrity chefs. In fact, rhubarb is an ancient crop grown Rhubarb plants are grown for their pinky-red stems, which are cooked, for centuries sweetened and eaten as a fruit. in China although it was only introduced to the USA in 1772.While rhubarb may be one of those ‘love Currant bushes are not only it or hate it’ items, there has been a growing easy to grow, they can be rapidly propagated from dormant market for fresh stalks in recent years. Rhucane cuttings. barb is also somewhat confusing—largely encounter would be considered a fruit or dessert crop, it is the if the stems were not thick, red-colored stems of the leafy vegremoved often enough, etable that are cooked and eaten, often after in which case the plant could liberal sweetening.The distinctive flavor become quite large and crowd out may be why it has made such a comeback; others in the hydroponic system. Raw, however, generations ago it was more of a uncooked rhubarb stems and the folibackyard staple, providing large amounts of age of the plant are also poisonous, as fruit pie fillings from a plant that required they contain oxalic acid, so this is one no real care or attention and that persisted crop that should not be eaten raw or as unattended for years. Luckily, rhubarb is a plant well suited to hydroponics. It prefers a high level “Raw, uncooked rhubarb stems and the of moisture and produces foliage of the plant are...poisonous, as well with a nutrient forthey contain oxalic acid, so this is one mulation similar to those crop that should not be eaten raw or as used on all leafy vegetaa salad green.” bles. Rhubarb is also very easy to propagate—crowns of dormant plants can be a salad green. Interestingly, some growers purchased to give a kickstart to a crop, make a pesticide spray from raw rhubarb which will provide harvestable stems leaves to control insects, but there is not within a few weeks of starting regrowth, a lot of evidence to suggest that this is or rhubarb seeds can be sown to give large numbers of plantlets in a short time. effective. As with many crops, gourmet ‘baby’ rhubarb stems are also becoming Rhubarb is a hardy plant, and if kept popular, as these can be cooked whole well trimmed and frequently harvested and lack the stringiness that older, more can be confined to the same amount mature stems can develop. In hydroponic of space required by a tomato or capsisystems, rhubarb can be grown as an cum plant. The only problem you might 48

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annual, removed each season as the plants become a little too large and replaced with new seedlings, or left for a number of seasons if space allows. While rhubarb grown outdoors typically goes dormant in winter and stops growth, only to resume in spring, indoor gardens can allow year-round production of fresh stems.

Currants While much attention has been focused on blueberries and cranberries, the less well known bush currant has been making a slow but steady comeback. Currants come in a range of colors—red, black and white—and are typically rather tart in flavor, but pack a powerful punch of vitamins and antioxidants. Blackcurrants in particular have very high levels of health-giving phytochemicals and vitamin C, and for this reason much of the commercial blackcurrant crop is processed into drink syrups and other health drinks. Black and red currants have made a culinary comeback due to the flavor they impart to preserves, sauces, candies, drinks, meat dishes and desserts, but while the fruit can be eaten fresh, currants are usually processed into other dishes because of their large number of seeds and tart flavor. Currant bushes, if kept well trimmed and pruned, grow to around three feet in height at maturity and are easily grown in a container of media and drip-fed hydroponic nutrients.The bushes require winter chilling to initiate flowers and therefore need a few weeks outside in winter—or artificial chilling—before a good crop can be obtained.Yields can be as high as three to four pounds of fruit per currant

Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

Old-Fashioned Crops are Making a Comeback

plant if grown under good conditions, and although the season is short, fruit can be frozen for year-round use.

Homemade pickles Pickles, which are specific cultivars of baby cucumbers bottled in jars of vinegar solution, have always been popular— now, however, dedicated gourmets and gardeners have moved back to growing and bottling their own uniquely flavored product. Pickle cucumbers, commonly referred to as gherkins, are highly suited to hydroponic production and in particular to a protected environment, where perfectly formed, clean fruit with prolific yields can be grown in just a few weeks. Many gherkin plants are smaller and more compact than the seedless European cucumbers commonly grown hydroponically, and the fruit—which is crisp, seedless and mild—can also be eaten fresh in salads and sandwiches. Two to three hydroponically grown gherkin plants will give yields high enough to provide a year-round supply of pickles, provided some care is given to cultivar selection. Gherkins—like many cucumbers—are susceptible to powdery mildew, a disease that can wreak havoc in an indoor grow room. To prevent this, only mildew-resistant gherkin cultivars should be selected, as this means a lot less spraying and a healthier crop with improved longevity. There is a wide selection of gherkin or ‘pickling cucumber’ seeds to select from, including varieties of green- and white-skinned types; however, the main characteristics to consider with hydroponic crops of this kind are compact plant size, wide disease resistance, parthenocarpic plants (fruit sets without the Red beets can be grown for both their large rounded root and the foliage, which makes a good salad green.

Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

Pickling Perfection The key to perfect pickling cucumbers? Garden smart. This step-by-step strategy will help you grow the best. Pickling cucumbers are grown in much the same way as the larger ‘slicers’ or telegraph seedless cucumbers—they should be strung upwards for support and need warmth (60 to 82ºF) and moderate to high light levels, and they can be intercropped with tomatoes, capsicum and other heat-loving crops. Since gherkin plants are smaller than other cucumbers they can be grown two to three plants per planting space and trained upwards and along strings for support. Moisture-retentive growing media such as coco fiber is well suited to growing pickling cucumbers and several successive crops can be grown in the same substrate. Nutrient solutions should begin on a standard ‘vegetative’ formulation at a moderate EC of 1.8 to 2.2 and a pH level of 5.8. This should then be switched for a fruiting formulation with higher potassium levels for maintenance of good fruit quality as soon as the first tiny fruitlets have formed, and maintained until the crop is finished. Under hot growing conditions, the EC can be dropped back slightly, particularly if the plants are wilting under overhead lights. Cucumber vines need to be carefully trimmed and trained to prevent them taking over the entire growing area, but growth can be directed upwards to an overhead support and then downwards again so the maximum number of fruit can be obtained from a minimum amount of vertical space. The small fruits only take a few days to develop to a suitable pickle size once flowering has occurred, and they need to be harvested frequently. Fruit can then be stored in the refrigerator until enough have been gathered to make jars of pickles. Some keen pickle makers also grow various hydroponic herbs and spices to add to their jars of pickles for additional flavor—the most common being dill, of course—although hot chilies, lime leaves, basil, tarragon and garlic can all be used to impart a unique flavor.

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Old-Fashioned Crops are Making a Comeback

“Beets are another healthy old-fashioned crop, and red beets in particular are rich in antioxidants.”

Red currants are produced on bushes, which flower in spring.

need for pollination and with no seeds inside), size and shape. Reputable seed suppliers generally carry a good selection, and cultivars such as ‘Harmonie F1’ or ‘Salt and Pepper’ (a whiteskinned variety) are good choices for small-scale production.

Beets Beets are another healthy old-fashioned crop, and red beets in particular are rich in antioxidants. There are two distinct types of beet commonly used for cooking: the large, rounded rootforming beet, which not only comes in red, but also yellow, white and striped, and Swiss chard—which is sometimes called ‘silver beet’—grown for its stems and leaves. Both vegetables are variations of the same plant, Beta vulgaris, but both have different uses and different growing requirements. Being a root vegetable, the beet root needs a bed of substrate to develop in, while Swiss chard can be treated more like an upright lettuce and is well suited to NFT and other solution-culture systems. Round red beets are the most common— although old-fashioned types such as specialty elongated and golden varieties are becoming more popular—and Gherkin plants can be trained upwards in the same way as other the leaves of cucumbers to maximize space. the traditional ‘bulls blood’ 52

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Gherkins are picked when just a few days old to make pickles or to be eaten fresh as a salad vegetable.

variety are also used for salad, due to the deep burgundy color that can develop even under low light conditions. For hydroponic systems, large beet roots may seem to take up a lot of space; however, the modern versions of this old-fashioned crop are ‘baby beets’, which are sown at a high density and harvested when the root is formed but still immature, around one to two inches in diameter. Shallow trays of growing media such as coconut fiber or perlite/vermiculite mix are perfect for beet roots, and for baby beets a depth of only four inches is required, provided irrigation is frequent enough under warmer growing conditions to keep the media uniformly moist. Beets grown this way are tender and quick to cook and can even be used raw in some dishes. In a similar way Swiss chard is also grown for baby leaf and mesclun salads, which are higher-value options often chosen by hydroponic gardeners with limited space. Swiss chard now comes in colors as diverse as gold, pink, orange, purple, red and white, with bright and pastel variations, with one of the most popular varieties for hydroponics being ‘Bright Lights’, which contains a selection of all the colors. Beets prefer cooler growing conditions and do well alongside lettuce, with a moderate EC of around 1.5 to 2.0 and a vegetative nutrient formulation. All beets are easily raised from seed, and while root-forming beets are best direct-sown into fine media beds, Swiss chard can be grown in cells, propagation blocks or small trays and transplanted into your hydroponic system when large enough. No doubt there will soon be more old-fashioned crops making a comeback in our kitchens—after all, many ancient vegetables have been reinvented as the latest culinary trend, and new flavor combinations are eagerly sought after. Luckily, hydroponic growers can take advantage of these comebacks and grow perfect year-round specimens long before local markets can begin to supply commercially available crops. MY

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Stop stressing, start growing! Here are the basic elements, strategies and steps that will help any beginner grow a hydroponic garden with ease.

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Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

try hydroponics

A new friend recently confided, “As a beginner, I’ve been discouraged from trying hydroponics because of the many complicated elements that must be considered.” That any friend (or reader) of mine feels that hydroponics is too complex to even try is a wrong that simply must be put right. So for any other beginners feeling this way, here are some words of encouragement… Hydroponics is simply the substitution of soil with a different growing medium, and it has some definite advantages over traditional soil gardening. It tends to be more pest resistant, containers can be smaller and some hydroponic methods require either no rooting support or one made with reusable media. Unfortunately, hydroponics also has a reputation for being dauntingly complex, and this can certainly be discouraging to newbies. Part of the problem is that all too often people talk about the advanced techniques that are possible with hydroponics, but forget to mention how simple the whole process can be. Trying to learn about hydroponics by listen-

ing to experts talk about the nuances is like someone with a learner’s permit trying to figure out how to start a car by listening to NASCAR drivers at a high-performance racing shop— the fundamentals are often not seriously explained to curious gardeners, and the basic simplicity of the practice is obscured by abbreviations and jargon. The reality of the matter is that it does not take all that much to get you around the block in hydroponics: you just need to know a few basics. Hydroponics can be rocket science (NASA does research into the use of hydroponics in space, after all), but the requirements for successfully bringing a plant to maturity hydroponically are within the reach of anyone with the desire to learn how. A person does not need an advanced degree to garden hydroponically, any more than you would require nitro boost and racing slicks just to drive to the corner grocery store and back. It is easy for a novice to become overwhelmed, but all gardeners have one thing in common; none were born experts, and at some point each grew something for the first time. Learning hydroponics is like learning to drive.The first goal is just to make it around the block. As your experience and comfort levels increase, so will the complexity of your projects and the level of your technique.There is no shame in not being as far along the learning path as someone else—there is only shame in standing still. As with all types of gardening, the elements that plants require to thrive are light, water, nutrients, air and a suitable growing temperature. A good first step in learning how to grow hydroponically is to begin by understanding how to grow a houseplant in soil. The light and environmental needs of the plant do not change when shifting from soil to a hydroponic system, and a plant that performs well under a given set of conditions in soil can generally do as well under the same conditions in a hydroponic system as long as the plant’s nutrient requirements are properly addressed. Growing a houseplant in potting soil also tends to be more forgiving of minor mistakes than hydroponic systems, so it is a less frustrating place to learn early lessons in gardening. By starting with soil, the correct conditions for lighting, temperature and air circulation can all be learned, and this knowledge will serve as your foundation for a successful first hydroponic experience. Learning how to grow the same plants hydroponically will then only require you to figure out how the application of water, nutrients and air supply to

“Trying to learn about hydroponics by listening to experts talk about the nuances is like someone with a learner’s permit trying to figure out how to start a car by listening to NASCAR drivers at a high-performance racing shop.”

Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

Peter peppers hydroponically grown in perlite.

the roots will differ—once the fundamentals of how to grow a houseplant are learned, it is just a small additional step to move on to a simple hydroponic garden. Most people don’t learn to drive in a high-performance sports car; they learn how to drive with the cheapest, most expendable vehicle in the family garage. Start with something similarly cheap, expendable and simple for your first hydroponic attempt. Perlite and other hydroponic materials tend to behave like fastdrying soils. The simplest of the hydroponic systems is called a passive system and provides a very similar experience to using traditional potting soil. A simple passive hydroponic system does not even require a mechanical pump to operate, as capillary action helps to distribute the nutrient solution throughout the medium. As long as the medium is exposed to the nutrient solution, wicking action will supply the roots with the elements they require.

Here are some directions for assembling a very simple hydroponic system. 1. First, take a pot or container with drainage holes in the bottom and fill with rinsed perlite. 2. Then set the pot in a large, lipped dish or container. 3. Plant the plant in the perlite as a transplant. (Try saying that three times fast!) 4. Then, mix the hydroponic nutrient solution as directed by the manufacturer. Nutrients designed for use in soil usually lack the micronutrients needed for hydroponic use, so use a fertilizer designed for hydroponics. 5. Add enough nutrient solution to run through the pot and let enough collect in the bottom dish to last for one or two days. It is important that the solution is not allowed to stand for too long, or it will release its suspended oxygen and become stagnant.This type of hand-watering is labor intensive, which is one issue addressed in more advanced hydroponic systems. Active hydroponic systems tend to run on timers and can accomMaximum Yield USA | July 2011

try hydroponics

“By starting with soil, the correct conditions for lighting, temperature and air circulation can all be learned, and this knowledge will serve as your foundation for a successful first hydroponic experience.” modate the storage of several days’ worth of nutrient solution, reducing the number of times new solution must be added. 6. Some plants thrive in a very moist medium, and some prefer the medium to dry out a bit between waterings. Temperature and humidity have a strong influence on evaporation rate. Adjust your watering schedule as needed to keep the perlite moist without giving it more than a couple of day’s worth of solution. 7. With a traditional houseplant or garden situation, air is supplied to the roots by the drying of the soil. In our simple hydroponic example, air is supplied to the roots by the drying of the perlite. Either way, the roots require both moisture and air to remain healthy and cannot withstand prolonged periods without either. More complicated systems are just variations on this same basic theme of supplying water, air and nutrients to the roots.

Catnip and other mints are a good choice for hydroponic gardening.

Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

Hydroponics can be as simple as media in a pot with a tray.

A drip system automates the watering by using a pump to drip solution at the top of the pot and collects the runoff for reuse. In an ebb and flow system the plants sit in a container that is flooded by a pump, after which the solution is allowed to drain back to a reservoir. The nutrient film technique slowly moves water at the bottom of the roots along a channel. In aeroponics, a nutrient solution sprays onto roots suspended in the air. In deep water culture, air is sprayed into the nutrient solution containing the roots. In each instance the roots are being supplied

Drip emitters can replace hand watering and save labor.

with both air and nutrient solution, and only the particulars of the delivery system change from method to method. For a slightly more advanced hydroponic system to try, consider a tabletop deep water culture hydroponic system. In deep water culture, air is supplied both by exposed roots and by aerating the nutrient solution with an air stone. The plant absorbs the nutrient solution by keeping the bottom of the roots submerged. Maximum Yield USAâ&#x20AC;&#x201A;|â&#x20AC;&#x201A;July 2011

try hydroponics

support for the plant, such as the crocheted netting shown. There are also plastic nets made expressly for this purpose, but I had the yarn and a crochet hook handy at the time. Connect an air stone to an air line and the air line to a small air pump. (Say that four times fast on Friday!) Then place the air stone in the bottom of the container and run the air line out of the top. Place the plant into the netting, allowing the roots to dangle into the container. Add enough nutrient solution to cover the bottom portion of the roots. Then turn on the air pump. Add to the solution as needed and completely change the solution every few weeks. The closer the solution matches the plant’s needs, the longer it can last between full solution replacements. Rinse out the container when changing the water. The plant is suspended by the netting, and receives air both from

All this DWC needs to be complete is nutrient solution and an air stone.

To create a small desktop deep-water culture system, take a watertight container—glass is pretty, but keep it covered when not observing it in order to retard algae growth—and affix a

Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

“The closer the solution matches the plant’s needs, the longer it can last between full solution replacements. Rinse out the container when changing the water.”

Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

try hydroponics

exposed roots and the air added to the nutrient solution. To my new friend and any others who might be thinking about trying hydroponics but have been discouraged by its reported complexity, I have a suggestion: get a pot, growing media, dish and fertilizer together and give hydroponics a try. Don’t be surprised if your success and courage build together, as well as your desire for an ever bigger and better garden. Hydroponics can be as complex and scientific as an expensive racing car—but it can also be as simple as a walk around the block…

The nutrient solution is kept well aerated to allow the roots to stay submerged without drowning.

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Potential hydroponic gardeners can easily become overwhelmed by the complex processes involved with soilless cultivation. Understanding the basics prior to venturing into advanced gardening manuals can help prevent frustration and confusion. An informed gardener is more likely to succeed, and a successful gardener is more likely to continue to garden. Grubbycup’s

These black radishes were grown in a simple desktop DWC.

Simple Hydroponics is a gentle overview of hydroponic gardening for the beginner featuring 40 full color pages with over 60 photos illustrating concepts including artificial lighting, media choices and basic nutrition.Visit your local hydroponic retail shop or Amazon.com to order Grubbycup’s Simple Hydroponics today. MY

Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

by D o n a l d L e s t e r

Natural Solution Yu c ca We t t i ng Ag e n ts

They improve the effectiveness of pesticides, increase nutrient uptake and help distribute water more evenly in hydrophobic substrates. Saponin-based products are the newest trend in horticulture, plus they’re biodegradable, organic and renewable.

News about water pollution and lingering droughts has brought the subject of water conservation into the forefront of resource management discussions lately, especially in the field of agriculture. A number of watersaving products have emerged on the market to address these concerns. Although many of these products use synthetic chemical ingredients to manage water, there are organic alternatives available as well. Arguably the most popular type of water-saving bio-based products are the saponin or Yucca extract products.

Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

A Natural Solution - Yucca Wetting Agents

“The Yucca root contains high levels of saponin, which Native Americans used for centuries to make soap and shampoo.”

What are saponins? Saponins are natural detergents found in a variety of plant species, especially certain desert plants. Some saponins are derived from marine animals, but the bulk come from plants (and some herbs), with names that indicate their foaming properties—such as soapwort, soaproot, soapbark and soapberry. Commercial saponins are extracted mainly from the desert plants Yucca schidigera and Quillaja saponaria. Quillaja bark has been used as a shampoo in Chile for centuries. Yucca is native to the Mojave and Sonoran deserts of California, Baja California, southern Nevada and western Arizona. Its needle-sharp tips gave the plant the name ‘Spanish bayonet’. The Yucca root contains high levels of saponin, which Native Americans used for centuries to make soap and shampoo. Native Americans washed their hair with Yucca to fight dandruff and hair loss and they also used the flowers and fruits for food; the black seeds were dried and ground into flour, while the leaf fibers were used to weave cloth and to make rope and sandals. The soapy characteristics of saponins make them ideal for use as spray adjuvants (to make pesticides work better) or as additives to help spray solutions stick and spread onto leaf surfaces for better coverage and increased nutrient uptake. An additional characteristic of saponin-based materials is that they help distribute water more evenly in hydrophobic or hardto-wet substrates. For this reason potting soil manufacturers are starting to add saponin-based materials to their bulk soils and potting mixes. Rates of use vary, depending on the composition of the media. For example, soil media with a high percentage of peat or wood bark will require more saponin-containing product than a standard potting soil. In hydroponic systems, coconut coir is hard to keep wet, and some manufacturers use up to three times the recommended label rates with no reported ill effects to seedlings. 68

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A Natural Solution - Yucca Wetting Agents

Environmentally friendly Because saponins are derived from cactus and other desert plants they are typically certified as organic products and are generally easy to extract using simple, low-cost cold-press methods, without the need for harsh or toxic synthetic chemicals. Since they mostly come from plants they are considered green, natural and renewable, as well as biodegradable.

Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

Saponins come in either powdered or liquid formulations for convenient use, making them suitable for an array of applications, and phytotoxicity—or plant burn—is not known to occur when saponins are used as foliar sprays. Saponin uses Saponins are found in many plants, but they get their name from the soapwort plant (Saponaria), the root of which was used historically as a soap (the Latin word ‘sapo’ means soap). Saponins are one of a group of glucosides found in many plant species with

known foaming properties when mixed with water. Saponins reduce the surface tension of water, allowing the formation of small, stable bubbles. The amount of foam created by saponins shaken in a jar of water is a good indication of the amount of saponins present in a solution. As a consequence of their surface-active properties, saponins are excellent foaming agents, forming very stable foams. Saponins have been used in modern times in the manufacture of fire extinguisher foam, toothpaste, shampoos, liquid soaps and cosmetics, and to increase the foaming qualities of beer and soft drinks— Yucca and Quillaja extracts are used in beverages such as root beer to provide the foamy ‘head’. Because of their surfactant properties, saponins are also used industrially in mining and ore separation, in preparation of emulsions for photographic films and extensively in cosmetics products such as lipstick and shampoo, where their antifungal and antibacterial

Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

A Natural Solution Yucca Wetting Agents

properties are important in addition to their emollient effects. Yucca has also been used to treat headaches, bleeding, gonorrhea, arthritis and rheumatism, among other maladies. Besides being used in agricultural and health-related products, saponins are used as a natural deodorizer or odor reducer in several pet products, feeds and litters. Saponin-based mild detergents are also used in diverse areas of researchâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;in fact, they even are used by the British Museum to gently clean ancient manuscripts and artifacts. Fish poison Most saponins readily dissolve in water and are poisonous to fish. Fish absorb saponins directly into their bloodstream through the gills, where a toxin acts on their respiratory organs without affecting their edibility. Saponins also cause the breakdown of red blood cells in fish, helping the toxin to spread quickly. Even though the effects of the poison are powerful, they are not usually fatal, and fish that are washed with or swim through untainted water will soon revive without any lasting ill effects. Because of this phenomenon, fishermen using saponins to gather the stunned fish quickly as they float to the surface. Because saponins are toxic to fish these types of products are not recommended for use in or around aquaponic systems where fish and plants are grown together, but saponin-based products are still valuable in greenhouses for foliar applications and for the treatment of soil mixes. Heat stress Saponins are believed to be responsible for heat and drought resistance (and lower stress under these conditions) in cactus. Anecdotal evidence certainly suggests that saponins help plants deal with heat stress. One customer related a story to me where he applied a Yucca-based saponin product to a steep south-facing 72

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Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

A Natural Solution Yucca Wetting Agents

slope to help his ornamental plants cope with the direct sun and the summer heat. Coincidentally, a wildfire occurred a few days after his application and moved up the hillside toward his plantings. Aerial tankers successfully dropped fire retardant to stop the flames, but the intense heat wilted all of the plants in the area. Only the saponin-treated plants withstood the intense heat and showed no wilting or signs of heat stress. Consider using yucca saponins Yucca and saponin-based products are becoming more commonplace in the market. They are often employed as adjuvants, surfactants or ‘spreader and sticker’ additives for spray solutions, as anti-stress products in hot, dry weather conditions and as wetting agents for packaged soils and potting mixes, among many other things. It might be time for you to consider using one of these valuable products: after all, why would you ever use a synthetic, chemically based product when you could use a biodegradable, organic, renewable counterpart containing natural saponins? MY

Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

Green thumb Gardening

Aerobic Compost Maximize Your Microorganisms by Ian Davidson

Brew up a batch of oxygen-rich aerobic compost tea What is the difference between aerobic and anaerobic? Aerobic soil is healthy soil. Every skilled grower knows the importance of oxygen penetration in the growing medium; almost all beneficial soil organisms prefer aerobic conditions. Anaerobic organisms also exist in healthy soils but in very small populations. Most anaerobic organisms produce metabolic byproducts, such as alcohol, that are toxic to plants. Many compost tea brewers and recipes produce facultative (partially) anaerobic teas that may not hurt plants, but they don’t offer the same level of benefits as a fully aerobic tea such as disease prevention and nutrient cycling.

Breath is life

Compost tea brewers must be able to maintain oxygen levels above six micrograms per milliliter (ug/ml) in order to grow aerobic organisms. Elevation and water temperature both decrease how much oxygen can be physically dissolved in water as they increase. For example, at 1,500 feet above sea level and water temperature of 60˚F, water can hold 9.4 ug/ml dissolved oxygen. At 1,500 feet and a water temperature of 80˚F, water can only hold 7.6 ug/ml dissolved oxygen. With these factors considered, when brewing tea the quantity of microbes and food stocks added to the brew affects how rapidly the microbes consume the oxygen in the tea and reproduce. Additionally, the organisms raise the temperature of the water as they reproduce. All these variables must be considered when making high quality aerobic compost teas.

Keep it Cool

A dissolved oxygen meter is the best way to monitor your tea’s oxygen content. However, monitoring temperature is one practical way to avoid making anaerobic teas. At elevations below 5,000 feet, water temperatures should not exceed 78ºF. At elevations above 5,000 feet, water temperatures should not exceed 68ºF.

Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

At any elevation when daily high temperatures are above 75ºF, brew for 24 hours or less, and when daily high temperatures are below 75°F, brew for 48 hours.

Trust Your Sense of Smell

You’ll be surprised how little food it takes to drive a tea anaerobic even in brewers that are able to maximize dissolved oxygen potential. The easiest indicator of anaerobic microbial growth in a tea is a foul smell. What you smell is the valuable macro and trace nutrients in the compost tea volatilizing and blowing off in gaseous forms. Teas should never smell bad. If it stinks, it’s anaerobic!

Request the Data

Manufacturers of compost tea brewers should be able to provide data that shows how much compost and food stocks you can add at what maximum elevation/temperature and still maintain aerobic conditions through the entire brew cycle. Before purchasing any compost tea equipment or subscribing to any brewing method, request data from the manufacturer showing how the machine or method functions under different conditions and what the parameters are in terms of inputs, elevation and temperature. MY

Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

SU sui n pg Bei orl o gNi c aal tP ruo dru cat sl s in the Garden It’s time to call a truce with bacteria—that is, beneficial bacteria. by Evan Folds

The world of the microorganism—or microbe—is another universe entirely, and we know relatively little about it. As Leonardo Da Vinci said, “We know more about the movement of celestial bodies than we do about the soil underfoot.” In the progressive gardening industry we tend to pay closer attention, but even gardeners sometimes don’t fully understand the potential of growing plants with microbes and working with nature rather than against it.

Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

Microorganisms are microscopic—we cannot see them, but they perform herculean acts. Microbes are responsible for protecting plants and helping them eat, and even for creating the soil that supports all life on Earth. It is possible to grow plants without microbes, but this could lead to serious health care issues in modern America as we grow plants for efficiency rather than nutrition. Microbes are required for nutrient-dense food. To grow organically

is to nurture life in the soil so microbes can do all of the molecular-level work that humans cannot do and tend to take for granted. There’s another universe under our feet. There are potentially billions of microorganisms and thousands of feet of fungal hyphae in a single teaspoon of quality compost. Microbes are so abundant, so pervasive in everything we do, that it’s easy to be confused by astronomical numbers when discussing their

Super Naturals

function in products like compost or compost teas. But donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t believe the hype. Although up to 500,000 bacteria can fit in the period at the end of this sentence, large numbers are not the essential part of the equation. The number of microbes present in a biological sample is nowhere near as important as the diversity and strength of the organisms. These qualities cannot be measured or seen under a microscope

The Soil Food Web The soil food web is a term that encompasses all the life forms found in soil, like the big fish and the little fish in the ocean. There is a series of checks and balances among the organisms in the soil that allows for life to thrive, and the successful grower must keep this in mind. Because our understanding of the universe underfoot is so limited, the challenge for growers is not just adding specific microbes to address a particular situation, but making sure we are distributing a full spectrum of microbes so that the ones required will take hold and begin to reproduce. Most of us are familiar with mycorrhizal fungi, for example. There is a known selectivity between specific plants and specific endo-mycorrhizal products. However, if you check the products on garden store shelves, you will notice that they are not plant-specific. Instead, formulators include all strains of Mycorrhizae in their products in order for the ones that are required in the specific ecosystem being treated to predominate. The same is true for other forms of microorganisms. Assuming you are starting with a well-balanced biological product, there are basically two ways for the grower to utilize microbes: either directly in the garden or by brewing compost tea.

One way to utilize microbes in the garden is by brewing compost tea.

Maximum Yield USAâ&#x20AC;&#x201A;|â&#x20AC;&#x201A;July 2011

Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

Super Naturals

U s i n g m i c r o b e s d i r e c t ly i n t h e g a r d e n Simply put, if you are growing a garden without the help of microbes you’re not getting the most out of it. Microbes and plants are natural teammates, so inoculating your garden with beneficial microbes is a step in the right direction. This maxim applies to all growing situations—from developing good organic potting soil to growing hydroponically. There are gardening stores all over this country with literally hundreds of synthetic fertilizer products for sale that create a growth response in plants, but not necessarily a healthy one. Most of these products are NPK synthetics, hormones or stimulants, raw organic inputs and some manufactured biology. Sadly, most stores don’t even have shelf space for natural, biological products. In any discussion of the benefits of microbial applications in growing we tend to see a lot of misconceptions. For instance, many growers think that bat guano, on its own, is plant food. Bat guano can create a growth response in plants, but only a small fraction of it is soluble and plant-available; most of it is made plant-available by microbes. In a forest the plants don’t eat the leaves that fall; they eat what the microbes make of the fallen leaves. Microbes make plant food.

The biodynamic preparation BD500 is created by burying the horn of a cow filled with manure during the winter months. The telluric energy of the Earth is focused by the horn and potentizes it into a substance sufficient to treat four acres of land.

Some growers are reticent to use biological products in hydroponics, but aruably, a hydroponic system is the place one would want to use them most, because a hydro system consists of entirely sterile components by design. Even the growing media— rockwool, coir fiber, hydroton and so on—is sterile. Microbes cannot simply manifest in hydroponic systems, which are normally set up indoors in completely artificial environments. This is where inoculation comes in. Without the conscious addition of beneficial microbes, they will not be present in a hydroponic system. More importantly, without them you are inviting bad microbes, accidentally introduced, to run 82

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Super Naturals

rampant and unchecked. This is the source of diseases such as Pythium, Fusarium or damping off. Using beneficial microbes— even in cloning machines—bring balance and allow a grower to begin to bring the healthy aspects of the outdoors in. Many claim that salt-based hydroponic fertilizers will kill beneficial microbes, but this is not entirely true. It’s true that artificial salts do not help microbes—the salts don’t represent a food source—but this idea is actually born of landscaping issues.

When artificial salts are used continually on a lawn, they build up to toxic levels, which results in compaction, disease, weeds and other lawn issues. When growing in hydroponics, however, gardeners use flushing solutions to prevent a buildup of salts to this toxic level. In other words, any concentration of salts sufficient to kill microbes would also affect the growing plant and so they must be flushed away. There are several biological products on the market

serving as flushing solutions, and microbes themselves will actually help mitigate salt toxicity in hydroponic systems. Microbes can set up shop anywhere. The porosity evident in hydroponic media is actually ideal for accommodating beneficial microbes. For instance, hydroton is routinely used in aquaponic systems that work by using bacteria to process fish waste into plant food. Try sprinkling a biological inoculant into your medium starts, slabs or cubes as a comparison test. Use it in some cubes or slabs and not others, and note the dramatic growth increases.You should also consider fortifying your medium with beneficial microbes. Even good organic potting soil can benefit from inoculation. There are great benefits to hydroponic growth, but there are also great benefits to the living aspects of soil—it’s time to get the benefit of both.

Compost Tea Compost tea is a living solution. By using a premium humus product as the biological inoculant and growing the microbes contained in it to extremely high concentrations in an aerated water solution comprised of food sources and catalysts, the power of the soil food web can become fully available to your plants. Compost tea is extremely cost-effective to brew. It is so cost-effective, in fact, that some gardening stores provide it free to their customers—a great way to introduce people to the world of microbes. It’s pretty amazing how many people out there are scared of microbes or have never considered the fact that the soil is alive in the first place. We aren’t taught the benefits of these primal relationships in school; we’re taught to use hand sanitizer. If you have never used microbes or compost tea in your garden, now is the time to consider it.You can buy microbial spores and microbial products in gardening stores, but these products harness only a fraction of the power of the soil food web, so make sure to source your biology from a product derived on a living farm if possible. MY 84

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From Ebb and Flow to Drip Systems

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

Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

The Conversion Factor

Veggie plants growing in a two by four foot table.

Ebb and flow systems are some of the most common, reliable and easy ways to garden with hydroponics, although some gardeners find greater yields can be obtained growing with drip systems. Others prefer drip systems over ebb and flow because of the reduction in nutrient costs made possible by using smaller reservoirs or the ability to water larger containers from the top down. If you currently use an ebb and flow system and are considering changing your methods, let me show you how to easily convert your hydro set-up to a drip system. Most ebb and flow (aka fill and drain) systems involve a reservoir underneath a tray. At least once a day a pump in the reservoir kicks on (via a timer) and fills the tray with nutrient solution. The upper tray is full with container plants or blocks of an inert growing medium, which are soaked by the flooding process. If you are using airy media like grow rocks or perlite the tray should flood several times each day. If you are using a medium that holds more water, you will water less often.

15 gallons of water isn’t enough to flood the two by four foot table.

“When you go from 35 gallons to 20 gallons your cost for nutrients is nearly cut in half."

Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

the conversion factor

I am currently using a two-foot by four-foot ebb and flow table with about 50 small veggie plants. It takes about 20 gallons to fill the tray (most of the 20 gallons is in the tray, with a few gallons left in the reservoir keeping the pumps submerged). Fifteen gallons won’t cut it. I tried using a 20 gallon reservoir, but after three days there wasn’t enough solution to fill the tray and the plants were only getting half an inch of solution before the

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

pump would start to run dry. Eventually I found that a 35 gallon reservoir is

required to keep the system going for a full week. At the end of each week I change the reservoir and there are about 17 gallons of solution left over. That is a significant amount of waste and a significant cost going down the drain. For optimal results, I am choosing the best eight plants from this garden for flowering. I will place them in larger containers and convert this ebb and flow table to a drip system. With a drip system the upper tray is never filled with solution. Instead, each plant gets a steady trickle of nutrients, and water and runoff flow down the drain to the reservoir. Since the tray is never filled, only a couple of gallons are out of the reservoir at any particular moment and 20 gallons will last all week with a two-foot by four-foot drip system. When you go from 35 gallons to 20 gallons your cost for nutrients is nearly cut in half—now you can afford to use all of those high-end supplements that you skimped on last time.

“With a drip system the upper tray is never filled with solution. Instead, each plant gets a steady trickle of nutrients, and water and runoff flow down the drain to the reservoir.” 92

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Another argument for drip systems is the introduction of updated nutrient solutions. Many gardeners are finding increased yields are possible with nutrient recipes that change slightly each week.With a drip system, you are watering the new nutrients into the root zone while simultaneously pushing out last week’s nutrient batch, while ebb and flow systems push water upwards—leaving old nutrients behind, which can contribute to salt buildup.

Drip system design So let’s look at the conversion. How do we get from ebb and flow to a drip system? Ebb and flow systems already have reservoirs, pumps and drains; the only thing missing is a tubing system that will deliver nutrient solution to each plant. For this set-up you will need half inch tubing connected to the pump, and quarter inch tubing going from the half inch tubing to each plant. I used to build drip systems that ran in a straight line, which basically involved a length of half inch tubing with a pump on one end and a cap on the other, and quarter inch lines going to each plant. The only problem with that set-up was uneven pressure: the plants closest to the pump received the strongest flow rate, while plants at the end of the line got a weak dribble. This situation led to overwatering and underwatering, which in turn led to mixed results from each plant. The drip lines with the weakest flow were also the most likely to clog. In an attempt to equalize pressure and maximize yields I have now incorporated a manifold-style drip system, which involves half inch tubing running in a loop instead of a straight line.

Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

the conversion factor

Making a drip system Step 1 Make the drip lines. Cut several 10 inch lengths of quarter inch tubing. Take each piece of tubing and add the drip stake to one end and the quarter inch connector to the other end.

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

To build this drip manifold you will need the following items: half inch tubing, quarter inch tubing, quarter inch barbed connectors, a drip-line hole punch, a half inch barbed tee and drip stakes. You can find all of these items at your local hydroponics retail shop.

Maximum Yield USAâ&#x20AC;&#x201A;|â&#x20AC;&#x201A;July 2011

Step 2 Cut a length of half inch tubing to make the loop. Connect the loop with the half inch tee. Step 3 Position the drip lines evenly around the loop. This step will help you locate the best positions for each drip line before you start punching holes in the half inch tubing.

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

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

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the conversion factor

the other hand, water-to-waste systems use soil or hydroponic mediums that are very absorbent and they irrigate the plants much less often and for much shorter periods. My favorite watering schedule for WTW drip systems is as follows: 30 seconds, twice in one day, every other day. The first 30 second watering takes place when the lights kick on, and the second watering happens six hours later. This system can operate with two 1,000-watt HPS lights over a four-foot by eight-foot area with only 40 to 50 gallons per week. With recirculating systems, water is constantly running out of containers. Water-towaste systems, though, involve very small amounts of runoff per container—only 10 per cent of the solution that goes into each container runs off. We know these systems work: WTW drip systems are probably the most common indoor hydro systems in Holland, and those growers are serious and efficient. Large-scale commercial greenhouses in Holland often use complex recirculating drip systems.

WTW science Water-to-waste Another advantage of converting to drip systems is the option of water-to-waste gardening. Many hydro gardeners assume that this is a wasteful method—after all, ‘waste’ is part of the name. However, that is not actually the case: many WTW drip systems use the same amount of solution per week as recirculating drip systems. Most recirculating drip systems involve grow rocks or other inert hydroponic media, which require multiple waterings per day, or even constant watering. The water flows through the roots and rocks, then back into the reservoir and eventually back to the roots and rocks. On

We all mix up these expensive cocktails of nutrients, supplements and water for our plants.The nutrient solutions then go into the plants, root systems and growing substrates.The roots and growing media filter out certain things from the solution and leave other things behind. Some ingredients become less concentrated, while other ingredients become over-concentrated.The microbial activity—and therefore the pH—will fluctuate up and down over the course of a week.This all means that plants only get that perfect solution on the very first watering; after that, the solution is always changing.The solution continues to become less ideal as the week goes by. In the WTW scenario, however, you mix up the nutrient solution at the beginning of the week. Each day (or every other day) the plants get watered, but nothing goes back into the reservoir.The mix stays perfect all week; it just gets lower with each watering. Keep the water temperature below 72°F and the beneficial biology will keep the solution safe for plants.The nutrient levels will stay exactly the same as they were the first day you mixed your solution. Enzymes may make some nutrients even more available as the week goes by, but no nutrients are filtered out of the solution. Just monitor your pH as usual, and the solution will stay ideal because the nutrients are unchanged or slightly improved. Have you ever noticed how your garden perks up after a reservoir change? Imagine experiencing that every day. A perfect solution with every watering will give you steady growth all week.

“plants only get that perfect solution on the very first watering; after that, the solution changing.”

Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

Basic set-up for my favorite water-to-waste drip system: • Soilless mix (equal parts coco coir, rockwool, perlite and peat-based potting mix) • Three or five gallon pots • Submersible timer (set up for 30 seconds, twice in six hours, every other day) • Hydroponic reservoir drip system with one to two drippers per plant

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

Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

Beginner’s Corner

FLOWER

The

LEAF

Vascular System

From Top to Bottom

STEM

BUD

Plants, like all living things, respond to their environments for good or for bad. A good environment breeds a healthy plant. A bad environment breeds an unhealthy plant, or can kill the plant. tap root

You likely know the basic plant life system, but let’s refresh. Through its leaves, a plant takes in light and carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere. Through its roots, it takes in water and nutrients from the soil or growing environment. It converts light and CO2 into sugar and releases oxygen (O2). The plant then uses these sugars, the water and nutrients for growth.

FIBROUS root

No ifs or buts

Hydroponic growing lets you give the best care possible to your plants. The quality of care is in your control. These are the most important factors you need to know:

LIGHT water purityoxygenpH valueppm valuetemperature Hydroponics is the first choice when you want the most control possible over plant growth. That control depends on knowing as much as possible about the growing environment. It’s why we need accurate measuring systems. They tell us when things are going well and when they’re turning for the worse. First, we measure what’s happening in the growing environment. Then we can make sure we keep growing conditions superb. We can, in other words, add our knowledge and skills to nature. Water and nutrient conducting tissue throughout the plant ensure that all parts of the plant get the water and nutrition they need to grow.

Shoot System • •

Above ground parts of the plant Leaves trap energy from sunlight and carbon dioxide from the air to create “food” (photosynthesis).

Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

• • • •

Leaves release oxygen into the air (respiration). Stems provide structure and position leaves so they can collect sunlight. Buds produce new plants or plant parts. Flowers or cones produce seeds from which new plants can grow.

Root System • • • • •

Below ground parts of the plant Anchors and supports the plant in the ground. Fibrous roots absorb water and nutrients from the soil. Taproots store “food” created during photosynthesis. May produce new plant from roots buds.

It sounds obvious, and it is. Plants eat! Article contributed by Bluelab Corporation Limited

Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

The

Great Organic

Hydroponic

D e b at e by Noucetta Kehdi

In part two of this series, we continue on our quest to discover if hydroponics and organics can be combined by defining hydroponics and discovering what healthy hydroponic produce looks like.

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The Great Organic Hydroponic Debate

What’s hydroponic, what’s not?

If a plant is grown without soil and with a complete nutrient solution, that’s hydroponics! It can be as simple as plants growing in sand, gravel or rockwool with a nutrient drip, or as complex as a complete waterculture system such as NFT (Nutrient Film Technique) or aeroponics. No matter what method you use, the key to successful hydroponics is nutrients. Hydroponic crops are raised on a perfected mix of primary, secondary and micronutrients. The formulas for different crops and environments vary, but all have been defined from extensive experience with a wide variety of crops growing in many different environments throughout the world. Problems may occur where water quality is poor and where environmental extremes of high or low temperatures and humidity place stress on crops; however, when a hydroponic facility is properly planned and installed, the resulting crops can be impressive. Data generated in Europe, Israel, Canada, Australia and the United States have defined precise combinations of minerals for a variety of crops. The data is so accurate that required elements are specified in mS (millisiemens) and uS (microsiemens), a system of measuring by electrical conductivity and calculating by atomic weight.

Hydroponic produce and health

For a test commissioned by an investment group, Plant Research Technologies Laboratory in San Jose, California analyzed organic and non-organic hydroponically-grown tomatoes and sweet peppers. The hydroponic produce showed a significant increase in vitamins and minerals over the soil grown produce and the flavor was reported to be outstanding. This data indicates the importance of a calibrated nutrient solution. The hydroponic crops were further analyzed to search for chemicals on the EPA’s “priority pollutant list”, of which, none were found. American agribusiness is beginning to apply hydroponics on a significant scale. Large corporate facilities in Colorado, Utah and Mexico are showing profits and generating high yields with consistent quality at facilities. These installations mark an important point for hydroponic farming in the United States. If the investments prove profitable over the long term, then steady growth is going to continue, slowly replacing many field-grown crops in the marketplace. The British have been farming hydroponically to meet consumer needs for decades. Farming cooperatives grow tomatoes, cucumbers and salad greens on a very large scale. In support of enterprises that produce hydroponic produce, the British government runs a research facility that investigates improved hydroponic methods, disease and pest control and new plant varieties. The cooperation between government and farmers has led to improved crop production, quality and profits. Although hydroponically grown produce, while usually free of 102

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The Great Organic Hydroponic Debate

pesticide and other chemical hazards, does not generally meet the rather narrow definitions of organic, it can offer superior flavor, nutrition, appearance, freshness and shelf life. Many small hydroponic growers are recognizing these market trends and cashing in on the huge demand for higher quality produce. Small growers find that gourmet restaurants and local markets are delighted to have access to superior quality produce, whether organically or hydroponically grown. Since organic is pretty much out of the question, an increasing number of hydroponic growers are promoting their produce as “pesticide-free”. This gives the consumer the reassurance that their fruits and vegetables have been grown following the most important principal of organically-grown produce. One consequence of this dichotomy is that the term “organic agriculture” is declining in favor of the term “sustainable agriculture”, which applies to both organic and hydroponic cultivation. Though many organic growers look down on hydroponic technology, the superior quality and freshness of locally grown hydroponic produce is, in fact, gaining market acceptance. A new niche is developing for small hydroponic growers, family farms and even urban farms in areas that have traditionally been served by large corporate farms far away. The simple truth is that top quality organically raised produce can only be grown under fairly ideal conditions and only seasonally in most parts of the United States. This results in produce that is expensive and frequency unavailable or shipped from afar, causing quality to suffer. In the organic model, good soil is enriched with compost, blood meal, bone meal, manures and a host of other natural amendments. These components break down slowly in the soil at a rate in harmony with the plant’s growth; a microbiological

Hydroponic growers...must use refined minerals because mined minerals dissolve poorly in solutions.

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The Great Organic Hydroponic Debate

process is required to make the nutrients available to the plants. These microbes include many organisms that are all in a symbiotic embrace with the environment and the plants. When done skillfully in the right environment with the right crop, this is nature and farming at its finest. But it differs sharply from the hydroponic model, where microorganisms are unnecessary for the plants to absorb the prepared nutrients. The nutrient absorption rate of a hydroponically grown plant is generally much faster than that of a soil-grown plant, since in hydroponics, nutrients are instantly soluble and available, as is essential oxygen. Hydroponic plants are usually grown in a relatively sterile environment, and often with precise controls, from artificial lighting to extend growing seasons to exotic computer systems that enable the grower to actually tailor the environment to the crop wherein hydroponics becomes just one part of the entire system. In this type of set-up, labor is reduced, yet plant growth rates, yields and quality increase. Many attempts have been made to create the perfect organic hydroponic nutrient, but so far nothing matches the purified mineral salts used in formulating hydroponic nutrient solutions. The

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European Economic Community (EEC) has established the category of “mineral organic” for foods grown with the required mineral nutrients to supplement an organic base of nitrogen. We previously touched on the fact that United States agricultural regulations are currently set and applied at the state level but practically all states prohibit the use of refined ingredients to cultivate organic crops; only mined minerals can be used. Surprisingly, this precludes organic growers from using pharmaceutical or food-grade ingredients to formulate fertilizers. This could be a safety risk, but at least mined minerals will break down in the soil. Hydroponic growers, on the other hand, must use refined minerals because mined minerals dissolve poorly in solutions. As a consequence, it is not currently practical to formulate a top-quality organic fertilizer that will work well for hydroponic crop production and meet U.S. standards. There is some possibility that the USDA will consider the European standards, opening the door for organic growers to use purified mineral nutrients and hydroponic growers to cultivate organically certified produce. It is not surprising that European regulations favor policies that

promote the cultivation of produce with superior quality and flavor. Generally European consumers are accustomed to higher quality foods and will not purchase flavorless produce. The myth that only certified organic produce is of good quality, nutrition and flavor has been clearly dispelled by the many successes of hydroponic producers worldwide, but remains predominant in public perception. This trend will most likely continue; the only question is whether the United States will be a leader or a follower.

Author’s note:

I’ve tried to describe a few of the problems hydroponic growers face when trying to compete with organic produce. I don’t wish to leave readers with the impression that there’s anything wrong with organic, or that hydroponic produce is always better. It can go either way depending upon the skill and ethics of the farmer. The main issue is for growers and consumers to understand that sometimes organic produce is the best tasting and most nutritious; other times hydroponic produce is better. In the final analysis, organic farming has a low environmental impact on the Earth, and this is an important point from a philosophical view. Until hydroponic growers can find a way to recycle used water, media and nutrients, the hydroponic method will not be equal to organic in these terms. On the other hand, if a consumer is comparing the flavor and nutrition quality of a crop, both hydroponic and organic methods are excellent. MY

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TIPS & TRICKS WATER PH, ALKALINITY AND BUFFERING CAPACITY by Guy Sela

Growers are well familiar with the term pH; they also know that measuring the pH of an irrigated water and soil solution is important and can actually determine whether a crop is a success or a failure. pH is an index of the concentration of hydrogen ions (H+) in water. It is defined as -Log (H+).The higher the concentration of hydrogen ions in the water, the lower the pH value is. The pH scale ranges from 0 to 14 where: • Water with a pH lower than seven is considered acidic (higher H+ concentration). • Water with a pH higher than seven is considered basic (lower H+ concentration). • Water with a pH of seven is considered neutral since pH is on a logarithmic scale.A change of one unit in the pH (e.g., from five to six) means a tenfold change in the concentration of H+ ions. Hydrogen ions take part in most of the chemical reactions present in water and soil.Their concentration (pH) influences the solubility of fertilizers, the ionic forms of salts, the availability of nutrients to plants, the stability of chelates, etc. A water or soil solution with a pH that is too high can result in nutrient deficiencies, mainly of micronutrients. Keeping the pH of the irrigation water below 7.0 is also important in order to prevent emitter clogging due to sedimentation of salts. On the other hand, pH that is too low might result in micronutrient toxicities and damage to the plant’s root system. The desirable pH range in the root zone that is comfortable for most plants is 5.5 to 6.5.Therefore, many growers have to add an acid to their irrigation water.Adding acid actually means adding hydrogen ions. However, to determine the amount of acid to be added, it is not enough to know the pH of the water.Another vital parameter must be taken into consideration: the water alkalinity. Water Alkalinity and Buffering Capacity The alkalinity of water is related to the pH, but it is actually a different parameter. It is a measure of the capacity of the water to resist changes in pH; in other words, it is the buffering capacity of the water. Don’t confuse alkalinity with alkaline, which means a pH of seven to 14.0. The main components of the water alkalinity are: • Carbonates (CO3-2) • Bicarbonates (HCO3-) • Soluble hydroxides (OH-) 108

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Alkalinity is usually expressed as ppm or mg/L of Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3).The higher the alkalinity, the more acid can be added without considerably changing the pH.This is because the bicarbonates (HCO3-) and carbonates (CO3-2) react with the hydrogen ions (H+) contributed by the acid, preventing them from dropping the pH. Once all the alkalinity components in the water are neutralized by the acid, the concentration of the free hydrogen ions in the water increases and there is a dramatic drop in the pH of the water.The graph illustrates this “breaking point”, where the pH drops:

Amount of acid added

Here is simple example of how buffering capacity of the water influences daily decisions: • Grower A has source water with a pH of 9.0 and alkalinity of 45 mg/L CaCO3. • Grower B has source water with a pH of 8.0 and alkalinity of 120 mg/L CaCO3. Both growers need the pH of their irrigation water to be 5.0, and use sulphuric acid for this purpose. Even though Grower A’s water has a higher pH he actually needs to add less acid than grower B to reach the same target pH. Less than 45 mg/L CaCO3 is considered to be a low water alkalinity, with low buffering capacity.Acid added to this water will quickly affect its pH.Therefore, it is obvious that both pH and alkalinity are essential for finding the correct amount of acid you have to add to the irrigation water in order to reach the required pH. MY About the Author: Guy Sela is an agronomist and a chemical engineer for his innovative software company, Smart Fertilizer (www.smartfertilizer.com), that provides fertilizer management solutions. Applying his background in water treatment, he has lead a variety of projects on reverse osmosis, water disinfection and water purification, providing high quality water for irrigation.

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Companion Planting by Matt LeBannister

in Hydroponics

Traditionally, companion planting is done outdoors, but it can be surprisingly simple in a hydroponic garden as well. Just remember, planning is everything. Companion planting in a garden system can be complicated. Certain plants will benefit from having companion plants growing alongside them: many plants demonstrate improved overall vigor when planted together because they can help each other by fighting off pests, giving mutual shade and providing homes for beneficial insects.There are also plants that should not be planted together, however—because they can cause harm to each other. Plants that are susceptible to the same diseases, molds and parasitic insects, for example, should never be planted together. Companion planting outdoors has been fairly widely discussed, but the idea of companion planting in hydroponics is a whole different game.Where most factors outdoors are controlled by Mother Nature, the indoor grower must take her place in a hydroponic system. Factors such as light intensity, photoperiod, stage of

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plant growth—from cuttings all the way to flowering phases—EC or TDS levels, pH levels, temperature and humidity all play important roles in plant development and must be kept in mind when companion planting indoors. The pH level of the water in your reservoir has a major impact on plant growth. The pH scale is a way to measure how acidic or alkaline the water is, and goes from one to 14, with one being the most acidic, 14 the most alkaline and seven being neutral. Plants have an ideal pH range that is generally between 5.6 and 6.8, and if the pH levels are allowed to drift outside of this range plants will begin to lock out elements, causing nutrient deficiencies. When companion planting in a hydroponic system you should choose plants with similar pH requirements—plants such as chili peppers and violets grow well togetherare good choices together,

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because their ideal pH range is 6.4 to 6.8. have plants that are in their vegetative stage of plants that love a lot of light (6,000 to EC (electrical conductivity), PPM (parts growing alongside plants that are flower12,000 lumens) and would make good per million) and TDS (total dissolved saltsing in a hydroponic system because these companions together under an HID bulb solids) levels are also important to consider plants require different levels of nutrients to would be roses, tomatoes, chrysanthemums when companion gardening in a hydroachieve their full potential. and basically any type of chili pepper. If ponic system.These are different ways of Another factor to consider when companthese plants do not receive enough light measuring the general levels of nutrients in ion planting in hydroponics is light intensity, they will be lanky and weak, with little our hydroponics solution, and are essential which can be measured in different ways. fruit or flower setting, resulting in to understand because different plants can Lumens are a good way to measure light a poor yield. handle different concentrations of nutrients. intensity in hydroponics—one lumen is Examples of plants that do best with Many fruits and vegetables—like tomatoes, equal to the light one candle emits onto medium light levels—3,000 to 6,000 for example—need high levels of lumens—are African violets, nutrients during their flowering “Choose plants with similar pH and EC needs and most leafy herbs, cucumber phase, and can tolerate nutrient and lettuce.These plants will then be sure to select plants that need the same levels in the range of 1,500 to do well under a lower-watt2,000 PPM. Nutrient-loving plants age HID, or a larger-wattage amount of light for the same photoperiod. Finally, like this should obviously not share HID bulb that is placed three a hydroponic garden with plants to four feet away from the select plants that have similar temperature that cannot handle such high salinfoliage, keeping the lumens and humidity requirements.” ity levels. in the required range.There Plants also prefer certain nutrients are also relatively new higha one square foot surface. Just like pH and in more abundant levels depending on their output T5 fluorescent light bulbs available EC levels, different plants can handle more stage of growth. For example, plants in their that can be effective when placed six intense light levels while others prefer less. vegetative stage of growth require more inches to one foot away from the foliage. Plants that need high levels of light are nitrogen in order to promote leafy growth, Examples of plants that do best with generally fruiting and flowering variewhereas plants in the flowering stage need low light levels (500 to 3,000 lumens) ties, but there are many flowers that prefer more phosphorous to promote fruiting and are bamboo, orchids, ferns and almost all medium light levels as well. Some examples flowering. It wouldn’t really make sense to seedlings and cuttings. If these low-light plants receive too much light their leaves will burn, because the water will evaporate too quickly from the leaf surfaces. These plants do best under high-output T5 fluorescent bulbs, placed one to two feet away from the foliage. Most cuttings and seedlings also generally do very well under the older style T12 fluorescent light bulbs, since most plants require only a minimal amount of light for the first few weeks of growth.

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The optimal photoperiod—or length of uninterrupted light and uninterrupted darkness that a plant receives in a day—is also very important to take into account when choosing plants to share a hydroponic system. Many plants need a photoperiod of 18 to 24 hours of uninterrupted light and between zero to six hours of darkness a day to remain in their vegetative state.These photoperiod-sensitive plants will also require a photoperiod of 12 hours of light and 12 hours of darkness to flower indoors. When companion planting with hydroponics you need to separate plants in their vegetative state from those that are flowering—to have both flowering and vegetating plants at the same time will require two separate hydroponic systems. When companion planting in hydroponic systems you must also consider the role temperature and humidity levels play in plant development. Most plants need a specific temperature range maintained for them to thrive indoors as well. Drift too far out of the ideal range and plant functions will begin to slow down,

“Each plant is a unique creature with its own special needs that must be met by the gardener in order for the plant to reach its full potential.” then stop—and prolonged exposure to unsuitable temperature levels will eventually lead to the death of the plants. Generally, this ideal range falls between 70 to 76°F during the day and 60 to 66°F at night with the lights off. There are also many plants that prefer things a little warmer or cooler. These plants all have specific temperature requirements and when they are not consistently maintained your yields will inevitably suffer. Each plant is a unique creature with its own special needs that must be met by the gardener in order for the plant to reach its full potential, and these distinctive requirements should be thoroughly examined and understood before attempting companion planting in any hydroponic system. First, choose plants with similar pH and EC needs and then be sure to select plants that need the same amount of light for the same photoperiod. Finally, select plants that have similar temperature and humidity requirements. Once you understand what the plants which inhabit your garden need and group the plants together accordingly, gardening success and improved yields will surely follow! MY . 114

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GROWING FOR HEALTH

NPK Deficiencies Elemental deficiencies in plants are common and may occur when one or more of the elements are deficient. Common signs of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium deficiencies are outlined.

by Des Warnock

vegetables—apart from nitrogen-fixing legumes—are prone to this disorder. Symptoms include poor plant growth and leaves are pale green or yellow in the case of brassicas. Lower leaves show symptoms first. Leaves in this state are said to be chlorotic with reduced chlorophyll. Flowering and fruiting may be delayed.

Nitrogen (N) deficiency in plants can occur when woody material such as sawdust is added to the soil. Soil organisms will use any nitrogen in order to break this down, thus making it temporarily unavailable to growing plants. Nitrogen drawdown is more likely on light soils and those low in organic matter content, although all soils are susceptible. Cold weather, especially early in the season, can also cause a temporary shortage. All

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Phosphorus (P) deficient leaves show some necrotic (dead) spots. As a rule, phosphorus deficiency symptoms are not very distinct and thus difficult to identify. A major visual symptom is that the plants are dwarfed or stunted. Phosphorus deficient plants develop very slowly in relation to other plants growing under similar environmental conditions but without phosphorus deficiency. Phosphorus deficient plants are often mistaken for unstressed but much younger plants. Under severe deficiency conditions there is also a tendency for leaves to develop a blue-gray luster. In older leaves under very severe deficiency conditions

a brown netted veining of the leaves may develop.

Potassium (K) deficient plants show

marginal necrosis (tip burn) in the leaves. Others at a more advanced deficiency status show necrosis in the interveinal spaces between the main veins along with interveinal chlorosis. This group of symptoms is very characteristic of K deficiency symptoms. MY

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When lighting converges with streamlined HVAC and environmental excellence, the result is incredible crops grown using the least amount of energy.

Indoor horticultural lighting has recently sparked the attention of that small but interested crowd of growers who are finally beginning to acknowledge the benefits of ‘new age’ grow lighting technologies. Moving away from traditional fluorescent, metal halide and high-pressure sodium lamp styles, these pioneers are starting to experiment with the use of broader spectrums of photosynthetic active radiation (PAR) from more energy-efficient power sources. Every day more consumers are

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educating themselves about PAR light, micromoles and the daily light integral (DLI) concept, greenhouse terms that until now have been somewhat neglected by many indoor gardeners strictly because of the lack of reader-friendly information available. Opposed to solely focusing on the lumen output of a particular style of grow lamp, PAR lighting defines specific nanometer ranges used by plants in order to achieve healthy chlorophyll production.

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Shedding Light

LED and plasma technologies are making impressive progress characteristics and the parameters of the growing area will in this area, and slowly but surely these companies are begininfluence their decision of whether or not to incorporate air ning to claim their niche in the industry. cooled lighting systems. Another class of growers has been arguThe air cooled reflector uses opposing ing the theories and practices of the flange mounts to allow for streamair cooled reflector design. Many lined ventilation through the use growers believe HVAC (heating, of high-output inline fans and ventilation, air conditioning) reinforced ducting. Six inch integration is necessary in and eight inch ducts are most LED and plasma order to maintain a produccommon; however, four and technologies are making tive environment for precise 10 inch models are available impressive progress in crop control. Other growers as well. A tempered glass this area, and slowly but find higher efficiency can lens, a crucial component in surely these companies be achieved by implementorder to properly air cool any are beginning to ing larger HVAC systems that reflector or series of reflectors, claim their niche in the focus on temperate control of is also included on most major industry. the entire room rather than usbrands. The tempered glass retains ing smaller portable units for spot most of the radiant heat emitted by the cooling in addition to air cooled lights. bulb and prevents it from being directed Although the air cooled reflector design down towards the crop canopy. A high-outrevolutionized indoor gardening in a sense put fan is also mandatory to effectively ventilate for many growers in hot, arid climates, most the heat trapped inside growers will find that seasonal demographics, regional the reflector housing and to project it through the flange openings on the hood away from the garden and out to a designated area. By effectively removing most of the radiant heat from the growing area other environmental factors such

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as temperature, humidity, and CO2 levels are easier—and require a smaller investment in energy—for the grower to influence. Many growers have reservations about air cooled operations, however, and argue that light intensities are

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drastically diminished from having to penetrate through a glass lens, and that there is also a lack of reflective surface area on air cooled lights due to duct openings. There are many different pros or cons to be considered in this debate. For example, is the loss of light due to the glass lens compensated for by the reduction of heat obtained through air cooling properly by allowing closer placement to the canopy? Plant size is ultimately going to affect this decision as well, as is the style of growing, whether it’s soil, aero, ebb and flow, DWC or some other method. I will agree that a reflector that is not air cooled, depending on the brand and model,

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may be more efficient at emitting higher argument either. Cool tube-style reflectors intensities of light in comparison to allow for vertically hung HID lamps to its counterpart air cooled model— be air cooled. If done correctly, plants however, in my experience with may literally grow up against the indoor cultivation I believe you borosilicate glass tubes without can achieve closer placement any resulting burnt foliage. Alto the canopy with air cooled ways air cool a cool tube-style lighting. On the other hand, reflector to prevent cracking CO2 enrichment may boost close placement also restricts the glass. growth rates and yields available growing space in CO2 enrichment may boost in your grow room by many ways, limiting the area growth rates and yields in as much as 30 per cent in of coverage. Potentially more your grow room by as much some instances. lights could be necessary in as 30 per cent in some instances. order to achieve the same light The style of lighting you choose intensity throughout the garden to implement will determine the from lights that are not air cooled, method of supplementation you use stationed at a higher vertical point. The and the on/off intervals, depending on reasoning to this logic is that although the the stability of the grow room environment. lights are stationed higher and lumen levels Perhaps lighting that is not air cooled will allow do depreciate the farther away the object to be lit for better production using less overall CO2 because of is from the arc tube, the greater reflective intensity achieved the greater amount of light intensity available to the crop. This because there is no loss of light through duct openings and glass could mean less gas is required in order to achieve a particular result—which is definitely an efficient means of gardening. So could mean more planting surface area is effectively lit with long as the temperature remains stable and does not exceed fewer fixtures.Vertical lamp growers are not excluded from this

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Experimenting is the very best way to further an individual’s knowledge of gardening—there are no such things as mistakes as long as you learn from them.

the plant’s comfort threshold, CO2 absorption from the garden will increase photosynthesis rates overall and plants will benefit from the higher levels of available light. However, air cooled lighting allows the grower to dispense with intake and exhaust applications to and from a garden while still removing most of the radiant heat emitted from the light sources. This means that temperatures in the grow room stay lower—despite no intake and exhaust—so CO2 saturation times are extended, allowing the crop to absorb more CO2 due to the low risk of overheating the grow room. This method should also allow for maximum use of CO2 without any wasteful overshooting, and in my experience CO2 is one of the most challenging aspects of a successful grow room to master without being wasteful. A little fine tuning will undoubtedly be required in order to achieve a perfect balance. My current customized grow room will function at any desired set point of temperature or relative humidity level that is needed in order to best suit the crop being cultivated. I have no need for air cooled lighting in this set-up due to complete temperature control, so my crop receives the highest concentration of light available from the most efficient reflector designs on the market. At some point in the future, however, I might decide that I must begin to air cool my lighting in order to make the overall system easier to control.You should also customize your own garden to operate in the most efficient means possible. Use less energy to get better results and your profit margins will increase. Experimenting is the very best way to further an individual’s knowledge of gardening—there are no such things as mistakes as long as you learn from them. Record and monitor key points in the crop cycle so as to pinpoint pros and cons faster, no matter which lighting style you’ve decided to implement, and you’ll soon be able to tell if you’re on the right track. MY 126

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Avant-Gardening

Bamboo The Many Uses of

by Michael Bloch

Bamboo is a renewable and versatile resource that has the ability to grow up to a foot a day, which is why it is used in dozens of consumer products. Grow it, wear it, eat it, build with it; the options are endless. I think my father has always rued the day he planted bamboo in the front yard of the house I grew up in, much the same he regretted planting prickly pear cactus. I love my dear old Dad, but what the heck was he thinking? The bamboo became somewhat of a monster, sending out runners and shoots throughout much of the yard, dozens of feet away from the main plant. These young shoots were like spears that threatened anyone in bare feet. No matter what he did—hacking, digging, poisoning, depriving it of water—this thing just couldn’t be killed; in fact each attempt seemed to just spur it on. This resilience is also what makes bamboo such a wonderful plant for other reasons. Bamboo is a type of grass of which there are around 1,400 species. I don’t remember the type we had but I

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think it was a four letter cuss word judging by what my father used to mumble each time he looked at it. The attributes vary between species, but generally speaking it is pest (and dad) resistant, can grow in poor soils, and in comparison to other crops, requires little water. When we think of bamboo, we usually think of Asia; but of all the species, around 900 are tropical and 500 are temperate. North America has species of bamboo in the Eastern and Southeastern United States. Bamboo is the world’s fastest growing plant and some species of bamboo can grow up to a foot a day in the right conditions. It’s this amazing growth rate coupled with the “spear” type shoot I mentioned that led it to unfortunately also being used as a torture device; the methods of use I won’t go into. The bamboo plant has an extraordinary range of uses. Here’s just a few: baskets, bicycle frames, bird cages, blinds, boats, bridges, brushes, buckets, canoes, carts, charcoal, chopsticks, clothing, cooking utensils, diapers, fans, fences, firewood, fishing rods, food steamer, furniture, garden tools, handicrafts, hats, incense, musical instruments, paper,

particle board, pens, pipes, ply, roofing, scaffold, tableware, toilets, toothpicks, toys, umbrellas, walking sticks and that’s really only just scratching the

surface. I have a bamboo cutting board that’s proven to be incredibly tough and particular resistant to becoming smelly, no matter what food I use it for—including onions (usually a nono with wood boards).

“Another important use for bamboo is food. The shoots are used in many Asian countries as a vegetable—sometimes eaten raw, or steamed and boiled.” Another important use for bamboo is food.The shoots are used in many Asian countries as a vegetable—sometimes eaten raw, or steamed and boiled. I can’t say I’m a big fan of it, but given a choice between a bowl of bamboo shoots and a bowl of twigs, I’d certainly opt for the bamboo. China makes beer from bamboo, which I’ve read

You can wear it, you can eat it, you can build with it. Bamboo may increasingly replace plastics and wood products. What a marvelous gift from nature. Consider bamboo alternatives when purchasing items. Despite some ongoing debate about the exploitation of bamboo and associated production processes of bamboo goods, it’s readily renewable, sustainable and still seems to have a lot less environmental impact than chemical-ridden crops, destruction of old growth forests and petroleum-derived materials. Bamboo greenwashing avoidance tip: When clothes proclaim they are made from bamboo, check to see what proportions are used.You will pay more for bamboo based clothing, so you want to ensure that what you’re getting has a good level of bamboo. In terms of textiles, new lower-impact technologies are increasingly being used to turn bamboo into fiber suitable for clothing.

is quite palatable. Given that, I’m thinking it may also be useful in relation to the production of cellulosic ethanol. There also appears to be some medicinal applications for bamboo; and even perfume is being made from the stuff!

About the Author:

Michael Bloch owns GreenLivingTips.com, an online resource powered by renewable energy offering a wide variety of earth friendly tips, green guides, advice and environment related news to help consumers and business reduce costs,consumption and environmental impact. MY

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a neverending

by Dr. J. Benton Jones, Jr. Scientist, university professor and author of nine books—most recently Hydroponic Handbook: How Hydroponic Growing Systems Work—Dr. J. Benton Jones, Jr. investigates three hydroponic experiments and their common conundrums.

I began growing vegetables hydroponically outdoors using growing vessels that I had developed. One location was on a large lot behind my son-in-law’s video production business office, ideal in that it received full morning sun and was partially shaded in the afternoon by tall trees on the neighboring lot. I grew strawberries, lettuce, tomatoes, peppers, melons, cucumbers, okra and even sweet corn. My son-in-law’s uncle, an avid home vegetable gardener himself, made frequent visits to observe my hydroponic garden. He wanted to give it a try, so I made him several troughs for installation at his garden site. He planted several bean varieties and made ready for setting tomato and pepper transplants into one of the troughs, but

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the bean seeds were slow in germinating and the emerging plants grew slowly; in fact, only about half of the seeds germinated. I was concerned, and wondered why this was happening. The uncle was a heavy user of pest chemicals on his soil-grown vegetable plants, so at first I thought that residues from these chemicals had gotten into the nutrient solution, or even the perlite rooting medium. I remade the nutrient solution and had it analyzed to ensure that all the nutrient elements were present in their proper concentrations, and I also put new perlite into the trough that was to be used for the tomato and pepper transplants.

But why was the water suddenly a problem when for years—using this same water source—he had been successfully soil gardening? After about three weeks with little plant growth, even for the tomato and pepper transplants, I wondered what was still wrong. My son-in-law, equally concerned, asked me if I was aware that the water at his uncle’s house, taken from a well shared by those in his small community, was not drinkable, and that those drawing water from this well were using bottled water for drinking and cooking. I had the water tested and found it to be high in nitrates—about 20 parts per million. When the water was heated, it turned cloudy as suspended organic matter began to coagulate. Unable to find another water source, the uncle finally abandoned the hydroponic system. But why was the water suddenly a problem when for years—using this same water source—he had been successfully soil gardening? At about the same time, I was consulting with a hydroponic tomato grower who was using a flood and drain gravel bed system in self-constructed outdoor miniature greenhouses. The plants grew amazingly well in these unique structures, more than 100 units individually owned by the group of investors collaborating on this ‘farm’ operation. I was brought in to advise on the nutritional aspects of the project, monitoring the composition of the nutrient solution and the nutritional status of the plants. All was going well for over a year, as the tomato plants produced a continuous supply of high-quality fruit. Then one day I received a call that the tomato plants were dying. The reason? Pythium had gotten into the nutrient solution and rooting medium, and within 24 hours of infection all the plants were

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dead. The rapidity of plant death surprised me, even though Pythium is a deadly root disease, slowing plant growth and then eventually killing the plants when the infection occurs in soil. Because we were unable to bring this disease under control, the hydroponic operation failed. While still a faculty member at the University of Georgia I was curious about what effect rooting vessel diameter and height—as well as the depth of nutrient solution in the bottom of the rooting vessel—would have on greenhouse tomato plant growth and fruit yield. At that time, there was much being written about the possible beneficial effect of humic acid and similar substances derived from humus on plant growth. A fellow UGA faculty member was interested in this subject and was conducting research on the effects of humic acid on soil-grown plants. I wondered if humic acid or related substances had any place in hydroponics. My colleague gave me some humic acid that he had isolated from soil, and I had humic acid of my own on hand, purchased from a chemical supply house. Following his recommendation, I added humic acid to the nutrient solution that I was using in my tomato greenhouse experiment as the tomato plants were beginning to flower and set fruit. On high atmospheric demand days, those plants receiving nutrient solution containing humic acid from the chemical supply house

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On high atmospheric demand days, those plants receiving nutrient solution containing humic acid from the chemical supply house wilted.

wilted, while those plants receiving nutrient solution containing the humic acid from soil my UGA colleague provided did not. When I asked my colleague about this apparent anomaly, he explained that humic acid is not a fixed chemical compound, and that its source (whether extracted from soil, compost or peat) and the purification procedures used would determine the chemical nature of the humic acid obtained. At the end of the growing season there were no differences in plant growth and fruit yield due to the presence of humic acid in the nutrient solution, although the plants that wilted did produce some fruit with blossom-end rot. My conclusion—humic acid had no place in hydroponics. It took me several years of careful thought to come up with some reasonable explanations for these three experiences. My years of training and practice as a soil scientist provided one part of the answer: in soil, there exists a solid phase and a liquid phase, with substances and elements existing in each phase in equilibrium with each other. This equilibrium is constantly changing, depending on what is occurring physically and biologically in the soil. With moisture, temperature and pH changes, various levels of biological activity, plant root development and added amendments, the equilibrium between the solid and liquid phase also changes. There exists a physio-chemical property in soil—also present to a limited degree in organic soilless mixes—that acts as a ‘buffer’ that moderates the shifting equilibrium. This buffering aspect also provides a degree of protection to plant roots. In addition, the plant root itself has a protective zone around it known as the rhizosphere, a thin cylindrical zone immediately around the root that serves as the interface between the root surface and the surrounding rooting medium. In the three hydroponic growing systems without rooting media—aeroponics, standing aerated and NFT—there is no solid phase. In the three systems using a rooting medium—flood anddrain, drip irrigation and sub-irrigation—the commonly used rooting media are sand or gravel for the flood-and-drain system and either perlite or rockwool in the drip irrigation system: all inert substances, lacking physio-chemical properties. This means that the ‘buffer’ characteristic that occurs with substances that have physio-chemical properties is absent. There is a possibility that coir may have some degree of physio-chemical activity, but this is something that needs to be investigated.

In all of the commonly used hydroponic growing systems, the development and sustainability of a root rhizosphere is probably minimal at best, due to the constant influx of nutrient solution around the plant root. The only hydroponic growing system that would provide the conditions for rhizosphere development is the sub-irrigation method. Now let’s go back to my previous experiences and apply what occurs in a soil-growing system that has physio-chemical properties and roots with well-established rhizospheres versus what exists and occurs in a hydroponic growing system. My son-in-law’s uncle’s water contained something that was adversely affecting seed germination and then the roots of the seedlings and transplants in his new hydroponic system, but this ‘something’ was clearly not activated in the garden soil, since the water to irrigate his soil-garden had had no adverse effect on the plants being grown over a number of years of use. The killing effect of Pythium in the flood and drain hydroponic growing system was quick because there was no buffer system that would moderate the action of the disease organism—a buffer system that does exist in soil and works to slow disease infection.

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There are two explanations for the behavior we observed when tomato plants were treated with humic acid. In the first case, when plants were treated with one source of humic acid and they wilted, there was something present in that particular humic acid solution that interfered with water absorption by the tomato plant roots. Our second observation was that there was nothing in either humic acid source that resulted in a stimulation of plant growth or that manifested itself in higher fruit yield or quality, so the second explanation is that humic acid is ineffective in hydroponic systems. So what conclusions can we draw from the experiences I’ve described in this article? Most importantly, we can see that the principles associated with plants growing in soil, or in any media that has physio-chemical properties, can not be successfully translated to what happens in a hydroponic growing system. The lack of a formed or sustained rhizosphere on plant roots in a hydroponic system exposes roots to the direct impact of the nutrient solution bathing the plant roots. This means that element form and concentration, ratio balance among the cation elements and between the anions and cations (referred to as the Steiner1 concept) as well as the presence of other substances— such as humic acid or other organic-based compounds—will directly affect root function, either beneficially or detrimentally. In several previous articles published in Maximum Yield I have discussed what the basic requirements are for formulating a nutrient solution: what should be included as well as what you don’t want. Equally important are the use factors—when to apply, how frequently and how much should be used with each application. My experience suggests that what would be called ‘dilute’ nutrient solution formulations will result in better plant growth, less need for water leaching of the rooting

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medium and reduced incidences of nutrient element insufficiencies. I have also observed that most nutrient solution formulations contain excessive levels of phosphorus and insufficient levels of zinc, and are not well balanced among the major cations and between the anions and cations, as noted earlier. Water quality is an equally important issue—not necessarily the requirement for ‘pure’ water, but for water free of substances (primarily organic) that might adversely affect plant roots. If

The killing effect of Pythium in the flood and drain hydroponic growing system was quick because there was no buffer system that would moderate the action of the disease organism. you’re using water already containing essential plant nutrient elements such as calcium and magnesium, you should adjust your nutrient solution formulation to reflect their presence in the water. In many ways, we are still in the infancy stage in the formulation and use of nutrient solutions. Sometimes it takes years to figure out what we’ve done wrong, or what is missing in a particular system. It’s all in the game, though—and that’s why hydroponics is a neverending learning experience. MY

A detailed discussion of the Steiner nutrient solution formulation concept is given in my book, Hydroponics: a Practical Guide for the Soilless Grower, 2nd edition, pp. 84-87, CRC Press, Boca Raton, Florida 1

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Hydroponics for Locavores The Circle Fresh Farms Story

by Philip McIntosh

Readers of this magazine undoubtedly know what the term hydroponics means, but are you familiar with the term locavore? A locavore is someone who seeks out food grown as close to home as possible. It’s not always easy to obtain locally sourced fruits, vegetables and meats, but dedicated locavores are willing to go to great lengths to do so.

Lettuce in production at Nicholas Farms.

Locavores are motivated by a combination of factors, the most important of which is a concern for their health. It is much easier to be well informed about the food you consume when it comes from local producers. Is it organic? What kinds of fertilizers or feeds are used? What about pesticides? If you buy local you’ll be able to ask your supplier these important questions—farmers often encourage customers to visit and in some cases even allow people to harvest food themselves.

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The closer the better

“locavores support local farmers who in turn provide jobs for local residents.”

Local produce also does not have to be shipped as far to market as the food grown by major agribusinesses, so it arrives in better, fresher condition. Another motivating factor is environmentalâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;when the farm is close to the consumer, less fuel is needed for transportation and less carbon is added to the atmosphere in truck or rail exhaust. Another good reason to shop locally is economic, as locavores support local farmers who in turn provide jobs for local residents.

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Young tomatoes at Nicholas Farms.

Many hydroponic growing operations are now starting to work closely with this ‘think globally, act locally’ movement. In selected markets around the US, food suppliers and farmers are teaming up to grow food intended specially for local consumption. One company that recognizes the value of producing for local markets and supporting family farms is Circle Fresh Farms of Colorado.

Circle Fresh Farms and the local farm model

Readers of Maximum Yield may remember first learning about the work of Jon Nicholas in 2009 (“Mauro Farms Superior Organics: Certified Organic Tomatoes Grown Hydroponically”, Maximum Yield USA, October 2009). At that time, Jon was running four greenhouses near Pueblo, Colorado where he produced some of the only certified hydroponic tomatoes around. He still grows organic tomatoes and varieties of lettuce at that facility and is selling all he can provide, but now he and his colleagues are doing so much more. I met up with Jon this April in Denver at the 2011 Colorado Indoor Gardening Expo. “I remember the closing statement from that article from 2009,” he told me as we took a break from the show. “Imagine 100 operations just like this one, built up and down the interstate highways, providing the freshest produce straight to market, literally within hours of being harvested. How much better will that product be compared to goods shipped by truck all the way from Zacatecas or someplace? Think of all the diesel fuel that could be saved and how much less pollution will result by cutting out that long transportation haul,” he quoted from memory.

The Nicholas family (center three) at the American Clay Works booth at the 2011 Colorado Indoor Gardening Expo in Denver.

He did not realize at the time that his prophetic remarks would be coming true so soon. Nicholas is now a partner in Circle Fresh Farms, a family-owned business that has organized hydroponic operations along the Colorado Front Range with the goal of providing local markets with the freshest, highest-quality produce in the most sustainable way possible. Armed with the experience of successfully growing tomatoes and lettuce and having expanded the Pueblo operation to a much higher capacity, Circle Fresh Farms has now moved into cucumbers and peppers. Not content to just compete with standard varieties, Nicholas grows both white and Japanese round cucumbers as well. “We are looking for unusual things that are off the beaten path from what is normally offered,” he says.

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“One of the company’s mottos is ‘we produce more with less’.”

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Hydroponics for Locavores

One of the company’s mottos is ‘We Produce More with Less’. It is well known that hydroponics requires significantly less water than traditional methods to produce an equivalent amount of product. For example, in a 3,000 square foot greenhouse, Circle Fresh uses about 7,500 gallons of water to produce up to 40,000 heads of lettuce in a year. According to Nicholas, it would require more than 500,000 gallons of water to produce the same amount on a traditional farm. Because all the growing is done indoors, greater productivity and a longer growing season are also achieved along with the more efficient water use. Tomato yields are currently running at 50 pounds per plant over a 10 month period, compared to around 20 pounds in three months for field-grown tomatoes.

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“Maybe people can buy tomatoes for a dollar less, but our appeal is not based on price.”

]

Another goal is achieved by selling to vendors located within a 10 to 15 mile radius of the greenhouses, with a maximum transport run of 150 miles—less distance to travel equals less fuel and pollution. Although Whole Foods is a major customer, other smaller grocers are very excited about access to great local produce too. One store in Pueblo called Lagree’s gets its produce personally delivered by Jon from only a few blocks away, while vendors from smaller towns, such as Salida in the Rocky Mountains, are able to drive down themselves to pick up product. Another customer of Jon’s is Todd Stevenson, owner of In Season Market in Denver. In Season Market is geared to serve the locavore movement, and only offers produce grown within 250 miles of their stores. Circle Fresh Farms produce is not intended to compete with the cheapest stuff on the market. “Maybe people can buy tomatoes for a dollar less, but our appeal is not based on price,” says Nicholas. He recently compared the brix reading (a measure of sugar content in the fruit) from a selection of his tomatoes with some that were imported, and found that the shipped tomatoes had brix readings of around one or two, while his tomatoes were sometimes above 10. Better tasting produce is certainly a good thing, and the brix measurement doesn’t even begin to measure

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Lettuce in production at Nicholas Farms.

the higher lycopene and vitamin content of tomatoes grown organically and delivered to market within a day or two or even hours of being picked. So far, price has not been an impediment to increasing sales and an expanding market share—Nicholas has found that people are las F ichowilling to pay more for a product that tastes better, isNsustainably arms produced and is touched by the hands of local growers. “When we demo the product right in stores, and the people get to meet the person who is actually growing it, it makes a strong impression,” relates Nicholas as he talks about his instore appearances at Whole Foods. “People like that it is from Oak Le af only maybe 10 to 15 miles away. But it’s the taste that sells, Lettuc e and we’re not afraid to go head-to-head in taste tests with other brands.” Nicholas Farm s The family farm resurgent Although Jon grows under his own name (Nicholas Farms), Circle Fresh Farms is a regional umbrella company with the goal of helping other growers estabOak Le lish their own independently af Lettuce owned and operated greenhouses, and is able to provide technical expertise, These a re construction support, marketing assistance and roueven nd Cofinancrnered ing to expand the ‘local produce movement’ model further in Colorado. Affiliated growers use their own name, but take advantage of Circle Fresh’s established reputation. Growers label their product with the Circle Fresh Farm logo, modified to emphasize the name of their own family farm. “Maintaining the integrity of the family farm is crucial to us,” according to Nicholas. One such farm affiliated with Circle Fresh is Boulder Fresh, which is a greenhouse growing company owned and operated by Jon Hulme and his family. Boulder Fresh (14 miles from Boulder, Colorado, west of Denver) has 15 greenhouses on a 35 acre plot, and the process water used to grow tomatoes at Boulder Fresh is pure snowmelt from Rocky roduce more ... w We p i

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Tomatoes in one of the Boulder Fresh greenhouses.

Mountain National Park. Together with Circle Fresh Farms, Boulder Fresh is planning to construct even more greenhouses at the same location in 2012. And the latest addition to the Circle Fresh organization is Trinity Farms, in Brighton, Colorado, owned and operated by Dave Rock and his family. As the reputation of Circle Fresh Farms and its affiliates continues to grow, it is likely that more family-operated greenhouses will pop up just outside of urban areas, as well as in more out-of-the-way places that normally do not have access to locally grown produce. Smaller towns in the central ski areas or in the dryer southern mountains of Colorado may soon also benefit from the local hydroponic greenhouse model, especially because the soil and climate are not well suited to field growing. “It’s an open-ended equation right now,” says Jon with obvious enthusiasm. “I see no limit to what we can achieve in the future.” As I finished lunch with Jon and his family before heading back to the expo for the afternoon, I took a moment to ask his son Tyler about how much time he spent working in his dad’s greenhouses. Since he is still in school, it wasn’t that much. However, when I asked him what he wanted to do after high school, there was no hesitation in his reply. “Get a greenhouse,” he said… MY

The Hulme family of Boulder Fresh.

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Fine Food on the Go -

Road Trippin’ With Daniel Klein of the Perennial Plate

Chef and activist Daniel Klein of The Perennial Plate ventures across North America on the Good Food Road Trip in search of fine food with a sustainable edge. Tell me a little bit about the Perennial Plate and your role in the series? After learning to cook at my mother’s bed and breakfast, I went on to work and train at many of the world’s top restaurants. My culinary education brought me to Spain, France, England, India and New York, where I worked and trained at top Michelin starred restaurants. After graduating from NYU, I also pursued a career in film. I directed, filmed, edited and produced projects on various issues 146

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including the development industry in Africa and oil politics. I wanted to do something I would enjoy that combined all my skills and wasn’t sure I wanted to

keep doing restaurant work for the rest of my life. I’ve always considered myself an activist. I try to have some point of impact of improving things in food or the world or whatever. Putting all those ideas together, the idea of The Perennial Plate came up. Originally it was going to be a pilot for a TV show. As I filmed I saw individual pieces that were really great on their own. Getting it seen by people can be frustrating so instead of going through traditional avenues of getting the work I just up it on the Internet. It was pretty overwhelming at

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Fine Food on the go

I’ve always considered myself an activist. I try to have some point of impact of improving things in food or the world or whatever. Putting all those ideas together, the idea of The Perennial Plate came up. first—filming and creating something new every week—but it was enjoyable and I met incredible people and people started watching, which is really wonderful. Once I got into the swing of things and had some more time to reach out and talk to people on Twitter and Facebook, more and more people started to watch. After season one we thought, “What should we do next?” Going around America just seemed like a no brainer, plus I wanted to travel. We did fundraising through Kickstarter.com, a crowd funding platform. Through Kickstarter, you post a video about your project, set yourself a goal—ours was $20,000— and you offer rewards for each donation amount. For instance, a $30 donation received a copy of our first documentary film, a $60 donation got a t-shirt and so on. If you reach your goal, you get the money; if you don’t reach your goal, no one’s credit card is charged. We gave ourselves a month to raise the money and we did it in a couple weeks. We had over 450 people donate to us. It was really inspiring to see all those people give so generously. We also get the occasional donation on our website. California is such a hotbed for organic food, sustainable business and eco initiatives. We’re you overwhelmed by the amount and variety of filming opportunities? We were in California from June 20 through July 1 or 10 days, which is more time than we spent (or plan to spend) anywhere else. We like to keep the show diverse from week to week so if there’s stuff we haven’t covered or if we lack decent footage from elsewhere, Cali will help fill in the blanks because it has everything.

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mom is a good cook; she teaches cooking classes and has a bed and breakfast. I was raised learning how to cook and eating good food. While making my first documentary film after college I started working as a waiter for a couple months and was asked to go into the kitchen. I liked it and I was so into it. From that opportunity I got to work and cook all over the world. What made you decide to cook (and eat!) for a living? I love to cook and I like storytelling and working on changing the way we eat in this country and around the world.

Have you always wanted to be a chef? I haven’t always wanted to be a chef and I don’t know if I ever thought that. My

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I needed a project that would combine these two passions. What is your goal or hope for the Perennial Plate? I hope people continue to watch. I’d love for the Perennial Plate or its offshoots to continue to make people think about their food, try to cook and be entertained while learning where their food comes from. I want to do a cookbook and possibly a TV show based on this trip around the country. Who knows from there? There are a lot of opportunities. This trip is all consuming so it’s hard to think about those things right now.

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I don’t really think there’s an answer to what sustainable eating is. I think as long as you’re engaged, looking for answers or challenging the way you eat, then that’s a good place to be.

How do you decide on the focus for each episode? We put out a request for story ideas on the website so we have at least 500 ideas from people around the country. We’re stopping in a lot of different places and if what we film isn’t good, we don’t use it; if it works out, great. In Iowa the initial idea was heirloom seed savers but we weren’t able to capture the essence of it on film in the short time we had. We did feel like we got that something special from a dairy farmer in southern Iowa.

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What is the most exciting or interesting thing you’ve seen or done so far on the “Good Food Road Trip”? This trip has been an awakening for me to all the diversity that is America. The people are really interesting; they are

generous and kind. I’ve met with people from the middle-of-nowhere Mississippi with 50 guns and a flag on their wall and then I’ve met with New Orleans folks who own a hotel. I’m pretty sure if the three met they wouldn’t get along. In the backwoods parts of America there’s really two stories going on. There’s that sustainable/adventurous aspect, people really connecting with their food—hunting, fishing. But then they’ll prepare it with something form Wal-Mart. This is so far from buying local and people getting back to where their food comes from. It’s pretty fascinating really.

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What is your definition of “real food”? Real food is when you make it yourself, when it’s not processed and the source is at least thought about. From the show’s perspective it means seeing where food from comes, its beginnings. I like to show what’s special or awesome about food from how it’s killed or harvested, how it’s prepped and how it’s cooked. What’s the most important lesson you’ve learned so far about sustainable and socially responsible eating? I don’t really think there’s an answer to what sustainable eating is. I think as long as you’re engaged, looking for answers or challenging the way you eat, then that’s a good place to be.With each person we meet and place we go I gain new perspectives. Ideas haven’t necessarily been learned so much as reinforced. Sustainable eating is about making informed decisions based on each individual product, which is really difficult for people to understand. Eating local isn’t always the best choice, for example. For something that grows well in your area in the right season, then yes, local is the best thing, but not if it’s being forced out with lots of water and feed that can be harmful. All farms are not near cities, so it’s hard to make certain products locally. I have learned not to be dogmatic about how I eat.There isn’t always time to find out where your food comes from. People love food and they love to learn about where their food comes from. Sometimes I think we’re

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too obsessed with food and it can be a little overwhelming; it is meant to be enjoyed. Do you see urban or modern gardening as a trend with staying power? I think more people are getting back to farming and growing their own food; I sure hope that continues. That’s a really fantastic trend. Do you and Mirra garden at home? Yes.We have a garden and we have chickens. I’m not the greatest gardener, though. I have a laissez-faire attitude towards planting. MY How can our readers learn more about Real Food, sustainable and adventurous eating and the Perennial Plate? www.theperennialplate.com www.Facebook.com www.Twitter.com/perennialplate

Season 2 of the Perennial Plate will take viewers on a journey across North America. Where will Daniel and Mirra go next?

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Food Facts

Wild Spring Green Pizza

• 17 per cent of petroleum demand in the US is for the food production industry (www.energybulletin.net/5173.html) • The food on your plate has traveled an average of 1,500 miles to get there (Barker & Mander, 1999, Invisible Government: The WTO Global Government for the New Millenium) • Smaller farms tend to be two to 10 times more productive than larger farms (www.energybulletin.net/5173.html) • 90 per cent of the agricultural subsidies benefit corporations and big farmers growing food for export; while 500 family farms close down every week in the United States (www.energybulletin.net/5173.html)

Recipe: Ramp Pesto Ingredients: • 1 part ramp leaves • 3 parts nettles • 1 part garlic mustard • 1 part dandelion greens • 1/2 part extra virgin olive oil (more if needed) • salt

Instructions:

Blanch the nettles in hot water followed by an ice bath. Wring out the water. Puree all the ingredients together.You can add nuts or parmesan if you want, but we we’re going for more of a sauce consistency. This could be used in pasta or as a sauce for more full flavored fish or a lighter meat. We used it on pizza, with a few dollops of chevre and cooked it in a wood-fired oven then garnished with some micro greens.

Recipe: Pizza Dough Ingredients: • 1 cup levain • 3 cups flour • 1/2 cup warm water • 2 tablespoons EVO • 2 teaspoons sea salt

Instructions:

Because I was making dough for 150, I mixed the dough in a mixer. But for a small batch, do it in a bowl. Add a little extra water if necessary.You want the dough to be nice and wet. Once the dough is formed (as little mixing as possible, just knead until combined), I let it rise for a couple hours in the kitchen and then overnight in the fridge. The next morning, I divided it into small balls, covered with a damp towel and let it slowly rise again until I was ready to cook the pizzas. In the heat of a wood-fired oven they don’t take more than a minute. 156

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Light movers give growers the flexibility to customize spectrums by Brian Chiang and Josh Puckett

There seems to be no end in sight to the advancements in LED technology, and these devices are becoming a preferred lighting method in many applications, including indoor gardening. We’ve talked a great deal about the various advantages to using LED lighting in horticulture, benefits that include energy savings, high-quality intense light, modular design and spectrum tuning. It’s important to note that these last two points go hand in hand. The flexibility of LEDs stems from their small size and the ability of individual chips to produce particular wavelengths. For example, a purple LED light can be produced by installing individual blue and red LED chips, which is actually a blending of the two specific wavelengths made possible by dense matrix LED technology. Panel arrays with more sparsely populated colored LEDs demonstrate the same effect, although with less intensity. With LED panels it is evident that what the plants are receiving is a low-intensity combination of many different wavelengths of light, while dense matrix LED technology compacts many LED chips into a small unit with a much higher intensity.

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spectral shifting with leds

Customizing spectra using light movers

LEDs can allow the grower to tailor a particular spectrum to a specific plant and there have been countless experiments detailing the different effects achieved by the use of various spectra. Certain blue spectra are known to strengthen vegetative growth, for instance, and parts of the red spectrum promote flowering and fruiting. By making use of LED technology growers are able to employ a combination of these spectra to achieve optimal results. With the help of light movers this concept of spectral shifting or light blending can be achieved on a larger scale using dense matrix LED technology. Just as with individual LEDs, lights of different spectra can be targeted to plants consecutively to provide an altered overall spectrum. However, this is only possible if the grower can provide all the necessary wavelengths to cover their crop, and to do this a light mover is essential. An ideal light mover rotates around the grow area to deliver light to every inch of the garden and allows the grower to specifically designate the spectra they want their plants to receive. For example, we could pass a 50 chip array of all-blue diodes followed by a 50 chip array of all-red diodes over the

plants and achieve similar results to a statically suspended 100 chip array of half all-red and half all-blue diodes. Traditional LED panels are too large for this kind of scheme to be implemented, so it is crucial that compact dense matrix LED lights are used—units small enough to be installed onto light movers.

Comparing static and moving light treatments

To test this concept we evaluated whether Husky Cherry tomato growth beneath rotating light would differ from growth under statically suspended lights. For this experiment we compared two four-foot by four-foot growing areas, each containing six 36 watt LED purple units, which ran for a period of 18 hours per day. Within the first grow tents we suspended six static units and in the other we slowly moved the units around using a prototype ‘light spinner’. Results showed little, if any, difference in the growth pattern of the test plants and although the test was run multiple times, both for vegetative and reproductive growth, the results remained the same.

Combining different light intensities

The next experiment we designed to examine the effectiveness of spectral shifting was to test whether rotating LED units of different wattage and spectral output would produce uniform results in plant growth. Experiments were conducted within a four-foot by four-foot grow tent with four test treatments, each consisting of four 90 watt magenta LED lights and two 36 watt

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LED lights of various spectra. Within each grow tent were four Beef Steak tomatoes, each planted in a four-gallon container. The lights ran at a 12/12 photoperiod for 10 weeks. Test Treatments • Four 90 watt magenta and two 36 watt magenta • Four 90 watt magenta, one 36 watt magenta and one 36 watt 3500K white • Four 90 watt magenta and two 36 watt purple • Four 90 watt magenta and two 36 watt blue

Although we observed different growth patterns per treatment, these patterns were uniform throughout each specific treatment and where the light treatment caused internode elongation and petiole elongation these effects were seen throughout each plant. Similarly, where the light treatment caused increased flower production and fruit set, each plant saw the same effects throughout the grow room.

Conclusion

From these results we have been able to develop methods of analyzing spectral influence upon plant growth. Using combinations of spectrally customized light units and light movers, we are easily able to shift spectra as well as intensity within a particular light treatment and evaluate the effect upon crop growth. Using dense matrix LED technology in conjunction with a light mover, the indoor grower now also has the flexibility to customize their light environment to best meet the needs of their crops. These experiments demonstrate how the grower can design the light environment of their grow room with combinations of dense matrix LED units, just as engineers customize the spectral output of individual units with different diode configurations. Additionally, the grower can add or remove units at desired 162

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intervals of the growth cycle to manipulate plant growth. Through the use of light movers a grower can also cut down the number of light units that they need to purchase while still achieving optimal results. Rather than purchasing a number of vegetative and reproductive units, the grower can simply blend vegetative-promoting blue units with red units to produce a blended light environment that still encourages reproductive growth. As we learn more about the effects of light spectra on plants the versatility of LEDs to project specific wavelengths takes on a new

significance—without it we wouldn’t be able to test and experiment efficiently with different spectra at all. LED technology will continue to break boundaries and push the limits of lighting, and the indoor gardening industry will only continue to benefit from the advancements that are made. The best is yet to come. MY

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You Tell Us

Russ Cunnington, marketing representative for Future Harvest Development, highlights the advantages of the SunBlaster HO T5 and NanoTech Reflector combo and offers his advice for the ideal hydro grow set-up for beginners. Maximum Yield (MY): What products in the Future Harvest Development line are you most excited about right now and why? Russ: Right now we are designing and testing a number of products that we are excited about; unfortunately we have to keep a hush on those for now. What we can talk about are our newest releases like the new T5HO and NanoTech T5 reflector—wow talk about light. Also new is our growth regulator, The Hammer. If you want to control the vertical growth of your plants and divert that energy into extreme lateral growth, you must try The Hammer. This product rocks in all kinds of applications and is ideal for closet, tent and growbox users. Our new line of plastics is proving to be very successful— square pots, saucers and 1020 heavy duty trays and domes are

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Russ Cunnington

already in high demand, and it’s going to get better as we add lighting options to this lineup. The next 12 months are going to be exciting for FHD with a planned FHD Retail Partner expansion program. MY: What makes the new SunBlaster HO T5 and NanoTech Reflector the ideal duo? Russ: Honestly, even we were blown away by their combined performance. Our SunBlaster crew has been working diligently on this project for a while now. We reengineered our T5HOs to accommodate this reflector with our built-in receiving channel. The reflector simply snaps onto our new Sunblaster T5HO. It is the only reflector in the industry that can do so. By positioning the reflector between the lamp and the ballast we are utilizing all the available light that is wasted in other types of reflectors. The real advantage to the NanoTech Reflector is its superior reflective surface, designed using nanotechnology.The reflector incorporates a metallic crystal layer within its four layer construction

that creates a higher quality light with improved brightness that plants just love. We also improved the performance of the T5HO and the lamps making them run more efficiently by incorporating improved technology that allows them to run at maximum output while reducing heat and extending lamp life—more of what you want and less of what you don’t.We call them the ideal duo because they were truly made for each other. MY: What tools and resources do you offer growers to help them achieve their very best yield? Russ: Our success is based on our experience, and we have a lot of experience. For over 20 years now we have been bringing new and innovative solutions to the hydroponic industry, increasing the ability of novice growers and storeowners alike to become successful in the most exciting of times.We have grown up in this industry, and wouldn’t have it any other way.We know what it takes to be successful in this industry, and have a proven track record of doing the same for others. Both growers and retailers alike can put this vast experience and knowledge to work for them by choosing to purchase any FHD product, or get involved with any of our retail, wholesale or distribution opportunities. MY: In your opinion, what is the ideal hydroponic grow room set-up for a beginner? Russ: The best hydroponic set up for the beginner is the one they feel most confident with, and is fully supported by the retailer and the manufacturer that sold it to them. Every grower is different; some can do amazing things right out of the gate, others, not so much. At FHD we provide a wide variety of growing solutions and products, all skill levels are supported and virtually any size application. MY: What strategies has FHD implemented to lessen their environmental impact on our planet? Russ: Our FHD head offices both here and in Europe are fully lit using CFL lighting. Not only do we feel this is the most energy efficient

means of providing light for our work environments, it is also the healthiest light we can provide to benefit our employees’ health. Plants aren’t the only ones who benefit from our lighting; it’s the best light for people to live and work under as well. MY: How does FHD support local causes and community building? Russ: FHD empowers our communities by helping our customers and storeowners alike become successful. The more successful our customers become, the more they contribute to their local economy, and everybody wins. FHD helps support a group of charities and organizations in our local area that help people find health, happiness and freedom in their lives. MY: What can growers expect from FHD in the future? Russ: Growers can expect high quality products that perform better than promised at reasonable prices. Growers and retailers can feel confident when they buy an FHD product that they bought it from someone who cares, and wants them to be successful. MY Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

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Making the Most of Hydroponics

Outdoors

by Cindy Rea Summer is here and nature has provided us with an abundance of glorious sunshine and wonderful warm temperatures to bask in and enjoy. Summer is ripe with opportunities for gardening enthusiasts to try their hands at cultivating a wide variety of plant life. Some gardeners opt for the beauty and color of flower beds filled with an array of annuals and perennials, while others pursue vegetable and herb gardens.

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MAking the most of hydroponics outdoors

Gardening is a summer pastime for many North Americans. The therapeutic benefits of gardening go way beyond the simple pleasure and rewards of nurturing and creating. In the garden you can create and control your environment. This control is empowering. Gardening stimulates all of the senses, giving great pleasure

“Many institutions have begun integrating hydroponics into their therapeutic horticulture practices.” and satisfaction. Relaxing in the garden helps restore energy and relieve stress. Many hospitals and nursing homes practice therapeutic horticulture at their facilities. Patients are encouraged to participate in the care and maintenance of the gardens on the property. Therapeutic

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horticulture brings people and plants together to improve general wellbeing. Many institutions have begun integrating hydroponics into their therapeutic horticulture practices. Hydroponic gardens can be elevated to a comfortable height and spaced far enough apart

for barrier-free access. Hydroponics is a clean method of cultivating plants. There is no dirt and, therefore, no soilborne pests or contamination. Hydroponics gardening can be practiced indoors during the winter months or outdoors all summer.

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MAking the most of hydroponics outdoors

Often people associate hydroponics with grow lights. It is true, you do need light for plants to exist, and supplemental artificial light is required to produce fruit and entice flowering. This is true whether it is indoor hydroponics or soil cultivation. Hydroponics is the preferred method for indoor gardens because it is easy and clean and requires little space— plants can be grown much closer than in a conventional garden. During the summer months, hydroponics and sunshine can work together in a harmonious relationship outdoors. The summer sun provides all the light necessary to grow a full crop of hydroponic food crops or flowers. Plants reap all the benefits of the outdoor atmosphere as well as the benefits that hydroponic cultivation offers. The wind will help

“Hydroponics has always been an ecologicallysound gardening choice.” strengthen stems and deter insects, as well as help with natural pollination. Hydroponics has always been an ecologically-sound gardening choice. It uses much less water than conventional gardening and does not erode the soil or add toxins to the environment. Soluble nutrient formulas are recirculated and used by plants’ roots, eliminating environmental waste. Plants tend to be healthier in a hydroponic system than those grown in soil, making them more pest resistant. Biological control agents, such as the introduction of predator insects prior to any infestation

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of destructive bugs, are used as preventive measures. Harmful herbicides are simply not required because there are no weeds in a hydroponic garden. Many gardeners today are choosing to grow organically. Organic crop cultivation in hydroponics has become very popular in recent years. Organic gardening is the cultivation of plants without the use of synthetic chemicals or pesticides. Growers are willing to invest in the extras required by organic gardening because it ensures that no harmful pesticides or fungicides will be used. There are many organic nutrients and additives designed specifically for use in hydroponic gardens. Most of the potted plants purchased at the local nursery are already in a soilless growing medium, thereby making them hydroponic by definition. The medium most commonly used

“organic crop cultivation in hydroponics has become very popular in recent years.”

is a mixture of sterilized peat, vermiculite or perlite, with small amounts of nutrients added. This is an inert combination of substrates that have water retention capabilities and provide plant roots with good aeration while supplying a firm foundation to anchor roots—all the requirements of a good hydroponic growing medium. Incorporating hydroponics in your outdoor environment is quite simple. Passive hydroponic systems, as described earlier, work well for decorative potted plants and small plugs that will be transplanted. Soilless mixes are a perfect option for container gardens. They guarantee that plants are free from soilsborne contaminants. Soilless mixes will retain water and nutrients longer than soil, ensuring that plants don’t dry out between watering. Self-watering pots are an effective, passive system whereby plants receive water that is wicked from the self-contained reservoir. The reservoir will hold enough water to prevent plants from drying out over an extended period of time. 174

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These pots are especially useful for out-of-the-way or shady areas, where evaporation is not so much of a problem. Selfwatering pots are excellent for plants you wish to move around or bring indoors during the winter months. Your arrangements will need to be transplanted into the selfwatering pots. Carefully remove the entire root ball and all its surrounding soil from the existing pot. Roots can be bathed in cool water to remove all the remaining soil from the roots. Spread a thin layer of pre-dampened soilless mix on the bottom of the self-watering pot. Place the root ball into the pot and top up with more damp soilless mix. Slowly top water the plant until the bottom reservoir is full. This should keep the plant moist for a week or two. Many growers opt for a drip system in their gardens. This stress-free gardening method effectively automates the watering of patio arrangements and hanging plants. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s ideal for extended periods where you have to be away from your garden. A reservoir, a submersible pump, an outdoor timer and some hose and fittings are all that are required for the automation.Visit a hydroponics store for all the supplies and instructions on how to incorporate this practice into you garden. Drip systems can also be employed in a small vegetable garden or flower bed to subsidize a regular watering schedule. If you have access to a small pond or lake, it could be used for all your gardens water requirements. Deep-water culture is the most commonly used hydroponic system. Plant roots are suspended over a highly oxygenated nutrient bath in a self-contained system. It is a pure form of hydroponics because the roots are exposed directly to the nutrient solution. Deep-water culture gardens are ideal for small- to medium-sized plants outdoors. These gardens are available in

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many sizes and shapes and can contain from one to 50 plants. These systems can be easily elevated to any height and are especially suited for balconies and patios. Window box deepwater systems are also used for decorative flowers and herbs. Deep-water culture allows the grower easy access to the roots for inspection and pruning. The majority of outdoor commercial hydroponic crop production is done in a system called N.F.T. or Nutrient Film Technique. It is also the form of hydroponics most intriguing to the public because of its futuristic nature and appearance. When

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all plant requirements are met, a fine-tuned N.F.T. system delivers superior results. Unfortunately, N.F.T. requires very careful monitoring because it leaves little room for error and can be very unforgiving. N.F.T. is usually used by experienced growers. In N.F.T., the nutrient is fed into grow tubes where the roots draw it up. The excess drains by gravity back to the reservoir. A thin film of nutrient allows the roots to have constant contact with the nutrient and the air layer above at the same time. Nutrient solution is recirculated through an extruded plastic channel by a pump submersed in the reservoir, providing plant roots with a constant supply of fresh water, nutrients and oxygen. This type of hydroponic culture is used frequently in spacerestricted areas. N.F.T. gardens can be stacked where the recirculated nutrient can run through a series of channels. Small plants like lettuce and strawberries grow well in these gardens. Incorporating hydroponics into you outdoor garden can add interest and intrigue. The natural conditions available outdoors in the summer make it a perfect time to experiment with the various types of hydroponic cultivation. Annual flowers, herbs, fruits and vegetables do exceptionally well in hydroponics. Give nature a helping hand while you enjoy the therapeutic benefits of your garden. Grow hydroponically and watch the spectacular improvements you can bring to your garden. MY

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ZEN

TALKING SHOP

From left: Brian (owner) with Debbie (employee)

AT A GLANCE Company: Zen Hydroponics Owner: Brian Galperin Location: 1801 Victory Boulevard Glendale, California Phone: 1-877-ZEN-GROW E-mail: brian@zenhydroponics.com Motto: “Come Grow With Us!”

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When Brian Galperin moved to California a couple of years back and decided to go into the hydroponics biz, he did it in a big way.And when Brian thinks big, he thinks BIG—as in 4,000 square feet of retail space and a billboard on Sunset andVine. “I had always been a fan of the industry, but when I decided to move to California and take a closer look at the business end of things, it became evident that the hydroponics industry was on a verge of a revolution,” Brian explains. Brian and his partner came to the grow trade from real estate backgrounds, but Brian had also put years into the family electronics store and had taken it from a small appliance shop to a successful home automation/smart home/ home electronics business. Now he wanted to apply the lessons learned there to hydroponics retailing. First step—find a great spot, and fill in the paperwork. “It took nearly a year since we found the perfect location to get through the red tape with the city, but after months of hard work and a complete build-out of our giant 4,000 square foot location, we finally opened for business in April of this year,” Brian tells us. Next move—get the name out there. “We decided to put all of the traditional marketing philosophies to work for our store right from the start,” Brian says.“Out of the gates, we got a billboard on Sunset and Vine in Hollywood.We did a run of radio ads on two popular local radio stations.We also did

a deal with all of the local movie theaters to have our ads run before all of the big movies. And last, but certainly not least— here we are in Maximum Yield!” It became pretty clear to Brian and his partner early on that they’d have to rely on their staff pretty heavily to get things off to a good start. “Our people are our strength,” Brian says proudly, “and their knowledge is second to none.” And what did Brian and his partner need to learn about their new business venture? “Everything!” Brian laughs.“No matter how much you know about indoor gardening…there is always more to learn. It became very evident very quickly that the key is staff that knows the ins and outs of the industry and who are helpful and patient and fun. Our return customer rate is excellent, primarily for that reason.” The new business had its struggles in the first months of operation, but they made their first big sale and haven’t really looked back since. “Like with any business, building a base of steady customers takes time,” Brian relates. “We are still building that base, but with numerous industry connections and expert staff, the business is growing every day.” He thinks for a moment, remembering his first successful transaction. “Our first sale was a complete six-light grow room set up. They went for the air cooled Blockbusters from Sunlight, and

N HYDRO used coco as the medium.” Brian smiles. “They just had their first harvest and are very happy and ready to grow even bigger.” Taking care of the customers is job one at Zen Hydroponics, and Brian makes sure he’s got the qualified staff on hand at all times to deal with even the most difficult consumer questions. “I tell my staff—know your industry, know your products, take care of your customers at the point of sale and beyond,” Brian says. “As long as we help people learn and understand the hydroponics industry in a friendly and expert manner, they will keep coming back and telling everyone about you. It’s really the ABCs of any good retail business—take care of your customers and they will keep coming back.” One of the reasons Brian and his partner wanted to open a really big store was so the customers would be able to find everything they were looking for in an easy and stress-free manner. “We have 4,000 feet of retail, so we are always stocked for the commercial grower, and that is a big plus. But what makes our store unique is that we really spent time

on layout. How you display things is very important,” Brian continues. “A little logic goes a long way. Big signs, sections with similar products, complete product lines that are easy to see.” Brian and the gang at Zen Hydro are looking forward to some exciting changes in the year ahead, and they’re planning on giving back to their customers as well. “Our online store is opening in July and is very userfriendly,” says Brian. “Our site will also feature an online hydro school. But what we’re really excited about,” he confides, “is that we are also set up to open an in-store hydro school this summer, where folks can come in and learn how to garden indoors or learn some advance techniques and about new products. We are also planning to throw a lot of fun customer and professional events in order to maximize on networking.” Brian sums up his plans for the future for us—“Sooner or later, we foresee hydroponics to be a major presence in all 50 states. We want to stay ahead of the curve and grow wisely, opening new stores in every emerging territory throughout the United States.” MY

“Our people are our strength,” Brian says proudly, “and their knowledge is second to none.”

With 4,000 feet of retail space, Zen Hydroponics is always stocked for the commercial grower.

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PRODUCT spotlight

Continued from page 43

Your guide to this month’s hottest items.

The Vortex Brewer™ - a Revolution in Creating Compost Tea The magic of the Vortex Brewer™ comes from respecting water. By allowing water to take its natural vortexial flow it can carry out all of its roles in natural systems. Further, the suction of the vortex accomplishes increased air and dissolved oxygen levels, actually supersaturating the solution. This allows the Vortex Brewer™ to create compost tea perpetually. In addition, the Vortex Brewer™ can be used as a reservoir, a mixing machine for nutrient solutions or with your favorite hydroponic system to create living water. For complete information visit your favorite indoor gardening shop.

Bug Shield Now at Authorized Hydrofarm Retailers Hydrofarm’s plastic mesh Bug Shield easily slips on and off fans. Its elasticized opening and adjustable drawstring creates a perfect fit. The Bug Shield catches insects, mold and mildew and can be used for intake or exhaust. It’s washable, and mildew and UV resistant. The Bug Shield is available in four, six, eight 10 and 12 inch sizes. For more information, visit an authorized Hydrofarm retailer near you.

Hydro International Presents Bloom Silica The Boldtbags Large Cone three Bag Kit makes filtration easy and efficient. Available in all the micron grades of the regular Boldtbags but the micron screen continues up to the top and attaches to a metal ring. The bag is tapered from top to bottom creating optimum downward flow, as well as out through the sides of the bag. The Large Cone tapers to a straight edge and once all excess liquid is wrung from the bag, it can be inverted to produce a “brick” of extract or nutrients. Visit your favorite indoor gardening shop for more information.

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PRODUCT spotlight

Your guide to this month’s hottest items.

Boldtbags Large Wash Bag The Boldtbags Large Wash Bag is new and improved with a snap buckle closure to keep the zipper locked in place. It is made of Swiss grade quality mesh with reinforced stitching at the seams and a military grade zipper and buckle. The mesh screen has been measured to the absolute micron and heat stamped to prevent fluctuation. Boldtbags Large Wash Bag fits standard washing machines and can be used to help speed up the agitation process; or used to wash delicate laundry. The Boldtbags Large Wash Bag comes with a quality assured two year warranty. Visit your local hydroponics shop more information.

Introducing the GX300 HF The GX300 high flow reverse is built with the same 2:1 waste ratio as the standard version, but offers a more than 30 per cent increase in pure water production. It comes standard with a manual flush valve to extend the life of the high flow membranes. The GX300 HF, using dual membrane technology, can produce over 400 gallons per day of almost zero ppm water. Never before has such an affordable, durable and compact reverse osmosis system offered this kind of pure water production. Ask your favorite indoor gardening retailer to carry the GX300 HF today. MY

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MAX-MART

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MAX-MART

GRowco indoor Garden supply

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LLC

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

www.hydrogardendelight.com

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COMING UP IN august

Biological Diversity and Microbe Strength

What are microbes and how are they used to help grow plants? These questions and more are illustrated through a discussion of compost tea.

Roots - Form and Function

Think you know how plant roots function? Think again. This seemingly simple topic is dissected to help growers truly understand the role of roots in the garden.

International Edibles – Indoor Thai Garden

Cook up an exotic Thai meal using fresh, homegrown crops like peppers, Asian greens, bunching onions, lemongrass and more.

Plasma Lamp Technology

Learn the principles of operation, advantages, how plants respond to plasma lighting, and perhaps most importantly, the definition of plasma.

The latest hydroponics news and trivia, the newest indoor gardening products, giveaways, upcoming events, beginner tips, industry insight and more.

www.maximumyield.com Maximum Yield USA August will be available August 1 for FREE at selected indoor gardening retail stores across the country and on maximumyield.com Subscriptions are available at maximumyield.com/subscriptions.php 192

Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

I N D O O R

G A R D E N I N G

DO YOU

know? 6 7 8

When companion planting in a hydroponic system you should choose plants with similar pH requirements—plants such as chili peppers and violets grow well together, because their ideal pH range is 6.4 to 6.8.

Bat guano can create a growth response in plants, but only a small fraction of it is soluble and plant-available.

Rhubarb is an ancient crop grown for centuries in China although it was only introduced to the USA in 1772.

Anecdotal evidence certainly suggests that saponins help plants deal with heat stress.

Most recirculating drip systems involve inert hydroponic media whereas water-to-waste systems use soil or hydroponic mediums.

The food on your plate has traveled an average of 1,500 miles to get there.

Native Americans washed their hair with Yucca to fight dandruff and hair loss.

One definition of “real food” is when you make it yourself, when it’s not process and when the source is considered.

Two to three hydroponically grown gherkin plants will give yields high enough to provide a yearround supply of pickles.

Since organic is pretty much out of the question, an increasing number of hydroponic growers are promoting their produce as “pesticide-free”.

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

ALASKA Brown’s Electrical Supply 365 Industrial Way, Anchorage, AK 99501 907-272-2259 Far North Garden Supply 2834 Boniface Parkway Anchorage, AK 99504 907-333-3141 Southside Garden Supply AK 12870 Old Seward Highway, Unit 114, Anchorage, AK 99515 907-339-9997 Holmtown Nursery Inc. 1301 - 30th Avenue, Fairbanks, AK 99701 907-451-8733 Northern Lights Greenhouse & Garden Supply Suite 105-9737 Mud Bay Road Ketchikan, Alaska 9901 907-225-GROW (4769) Anuway Hydroponics Suite #1 2711 W Walnut Rogers AK 72756 USA 479 631 0099 Peninsula Garden Supply AK 44224 Sterling Highway, Suite 4, Soldotna, AK 99669 907-420-0401 Far North Garden Supply 300 Centaur Street, Wasilla, AK 99654 907-376-7586

ARIZONA Sea of Green Flagstaff 204-C E. Route 66 Flagstaff, AZ 86001 928-774-SOGF(7643) The Hydro Closet 5826 West Olive Avenue #106 Glendale, Arizona 85302 602-361-2049 Homegrown Hydroponics 2525 West Glendale Ave Phoenix AZ 85051 602-368-4005 Sea of Green West 2340 W. Bell Road, Suite 116, Phoenix, AZ 85023 602-504-8842 ACI Hydroponics 1325 South Park Lane, Tempe, AZ 85282 800-633-2137 Homegrown Hydroponics 601 East Broadway Road, Tempe, AZ 85282 480-377-9096 Sea of Green Hydroponics 1301 E. University Dr. Tempe AZ, 85281 800-266-4136 Gonzo Grow 10297 W Van Buren Street, Tolleson, AZ 85353 623-780-GROW Natural Pools & Gardens 2143 North Country Suite C, Tucson, AZ 85716 520-323-2627 Sea of Green Hydroponics 402 North 4th Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85705 520-622-6344

ARKANSAS Mickey’s Mercantile 1303 Highway 65 South, Clinton, AR 72031 501-412-0214 Old Soul Organics and More 1771 Crossover Road, Fayetteville, AR 72701 479-444-6955 Growfresh Organics & More 2600 S Zero St, Suite C Fort Smith, AR 72901 479.648.8885

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Retail Stores listed alphabetically by city in each state.

Fermentables 3915 Crutcher Street, N. Little Rock, AR 72118 501-758-6261 Anuway Hydroponics 2711 W. Walnut Street, Rogers, Arkansas 72756 479-631-0099

CALIFORNIA Greenleaf Hydroponics 1839 W Lincoln Avenue, Anaheim, CA 92801 714-254-0005 Grow It Yourself Gardens 401 Sunset Drive, Suite L, Antioch, CA 94509 925-755-GROW High Desert Hydroponics 13631 Pawnee Road, #7 Apple Valley, CA 92308 760-247-2090 American Hydroponics 286 South G Street, Arcata, CA 95521 800-458-6543 Humboldt Hydroponics 601 I Street, Arcata, CA 95521 707-822-3377 Let it Grow 160 Westwood Center, Arcata, CA 95521 707-822-8733 Northcoast Horticulture Supply 639 6th St. Arcata, CA 95521 707-826-9998 Sweet Harvest Hydroponics & Organics 1041 E. Grand Ave. Arroyo Grande,CA 93420 (805) 473-0004 Auburn Organic 4035 Grass Valley Highway, Auburn, CA 95602 530-823-8900 High Street Hydro 180 Cleveland Avenue, Auburn, CA 95603 530-885-5888 Quail Mountain Ranch 230 Palm Ave Auburn, CA 95603 530-889-2390 Tell 2 Friends Indoor Gardening 62 Sutherland Drive, Auburn, CA 95603 530-889-8171 Stop N Grow 5455 Rosedale Hwy Bakersfield, CA 93308 (661) 859-1988 Green Leaf Hydroponics 3903 Patton Way #103 Bakersfield CA 93308 661-245-2616 Kern Hydroponics 2408 Brundage Lane, Suite B, Bakersfield, CA 93304 661-323-7333 The Hydro Shop 3980 Saco Road Bakersfield, CA 661-399-3336 Better Grow Hydro Los Angeles 5554 Bandini Boulevard, Bell, CA 91106 323-510-2700; 877 640 GROW Super Starts PO Box 732, Bellmont, CA 94002 650-346-8009 Berkeley Indoor Garden 844 University Avenue Berkeley, CA 94710 510-549-2918 Berkeley’s Secret Garden 921 University Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94710 510-486-0117 Hydroponic Connection, The 2816 San Pablo Ave Berkeley, CA 94702 510 704-9376

Brentwood Hydroponics & Organics 560 Valdry Ct #85 Brentwood, CA 94513 925-634-6704 Advanced Garden Supply 3113 Alhambra Drive, Unit F, Cameron Park, CA 95682, 530-676-2100 Precision Hydroponics 132 Kennedy Avenue, Campbell, CA 95008 408-866-8176 Elite Horticulture Supply 22330 Sherman Way, C13, Canoga Park, CA 91303 818-347-5172 Hydro International 7935 Alabama Avenue Canoga Park, CA 91304 Advanced Hydroponics 17808 Sierra Highway, Canyon Country, CA 91351 Myron L Company 2450 Impala Drive, Carlsband, CA 9210-7226 760-438-2021 661-299-1603 San Diego Hydroponics North County Coastal 6352 Corte Del Abeto #J Carlsbad CA, 92011 760-420-8934 NorCal Creations PO Box 28, Cedar Ridge, CA 95924 Garden Connection, The 2145 Park Avenue, Unit 2 Chico, CA 95928 530-342-7762 Hydro King 2540 South Whitman Place, Chico, CA 959282 530-893-GROW (4769) Grow4Less garden Supply & Hydroponics 320 Trousdale Dr., Suite L Chula Visa CA 91910 619-425-GROW Citrus Heights Hydrogarden 8043 Greenback Lane Citrus Heights, CA 95610 916-728-4769 Conrad Hydroponics Inc. 14915 Unit E, Olympic Drive, Clearlake, CA 95422 707-994 3264 Under The Sun 12638 Foothill Boulevard, Clearlake Oaks, CA 95423 707-998-GROW (4769) Gro More Garden Supply 2937 Larkin Avenue, Clovis, CA 93021 559-348-1055 G & G Organics and Hydroponics 901 W. Victoria Street Unit D, Compton, CA 90220 310-632-0122 Concord Indoor Garden 2771 Clayton Road, Concord, CA 94519 925-671-2520 Hydroponics Plus 2250 Commerce Avenue, Suite C Concord, CA 94520 925-691-7615 Hydrostar Hydroponics & Organics 1307 W. Sixth Street, #211, Corona, CA 92882 951-479-8069 A+ Hydroponics & Organics 1604 Babcock Street, Costa Mesa, CA 92627 949-642-7776 The Hydro Source 671 E. Edna Place Covina, CA 91723 877 HYDRO 82; 626-915-3128 Let it Grow 1228 2nd Street, Crescent City, CA 95531 707-464-9086 Northcoast Horticulture Supply 1070 Highway 101, Crescent City, CA 95531 707-464-1200

Seaside Hydrogarden 1070 Highway 101 North, Crescent City, CA 95531 707-465-3520 Pacific Coast Hydroponics 4147 Sepulveda Boulevard, Culver City, CA 90230 310-313-1354 Dr. Greenthumbs Hydroponic Garden Supplies 566 San Ramon Valley Blvd. Danville, CA 94526 925-314-9376 Constantly Growing - Davis 123 D Street Davis, CA 95616 530-756-4774 Constantly Growing 6200 Enterprise Drive, Suite A Diamond Springs, CA 95619 530-642-9710 Harvest Hydroponics 6650 Merchandise Way Suite B, Diamond Springs, CA 95619 530-622-5190 Victory Garden Supply 1900 N Lincoln St #100 Dixon CA 95620 707 678 5800 Watch It Grow Hydro 9453 Firestone Blvd. Downey, CA 90241 562-861-1982 Garden Warehouse 6355 Scarlet Court, #2, Dublin, CA 94568 925-556-3319 Grow A Lot Hydroponics, San Diego 1591 N. Cuyamaca Street, El Cajon, CA 93612 619-749-6777 El Centro Hydro & Brew Supply Inc. 591 main Street, Suite N-2 El Centro, CA 92243 760-235-4985 Go Green Hydroponics 15721 Ventura Boulevard, Encino, CA 91436 818-990-1198 A Fertile World (Eureka) 65th Street, Eureka, CA 95501 707-444-0200 Humboldt Nutrients 65th Street, Eureka, CA 95501 888-420-7770 Humboldt Electronics 2547 California Street, Eureka, CA 95501 707-443-9408 Humboldt Hydroponics 1302 Union Street, Eureka, CA 95501 707-443-4304 Northcoast Horticulture Supply 60 West 4th Street, Eureka, CA 95501 707-444-9999 Everthing Green Hydroponics, Inc. 1201 Oliver Rd. Fairfield, CA 94534 707-432-0774 Constantly Growing 4343 Hazel Avenue, Fair Oaks, CA 95628 916-962-0043 Tulare County Growers Supply 435 W. Noble Avenue, Unit A, Farmersville, CA 93223 559-732-8247 Santa Cruz Hydroponics & Organics - North 6241 Graham Hill Road, Felton, CA 95018 831-335-9990 Eel River Hydroponics & Soil Supply 164 Dinsmore Drive, Fortuna, CA 95540 707-726-0395 The Shop 6542 Front Street, Forestville, CA 95436 707-887-2280 Dirt Cheap Hydroponics 17975 H Highway 1, Fort Bragg, CA 95437 707-964-4211

Hydrogarden Mendocino County 1240 North Main Street, Fort Bragg, CA 95437 707-962-9252 A Fertile World (Fortuna) 610 7th Street, Fortuna, CA 95540 707-725-0700 Western Auto 1156 Main Street, Fortuna, CA 95540 707-725-1189 Northcoast Horticulture Supply 357 Main Street, Fortuna, CA 95540 707-725-5550 Nature’s Secret Garden and Supply 41469 Albrae Street, Fremont, CA 94577 510-623-8393 Roots Grow Supply 1330 North Hulbert, #101 Fresno, CA 93728 559-840-0122 Tower Garden Supply & Organic Nursery 403 W. Olive Avenue, Fresno, CA 93728 559-495-1140 Valley Hydroponics 207 E. Sierra Ave. Fresno, CA 93710 559-449-0426 Grow Wurks Hydroponics 765 S. State College Boulevard. Suite J Fullerton, CA 92831 714-253-Grow (4769) SB Hydro 1109 W. 190th Street, Unit #F, Gardena, CA 90248 310-538-5788 Golden Gecko Garden Center, The 4665 Marshall Road, Garden Valley, CA 95633 530-333-2394 Probiotic Solutions 20889 Geyserville Avenue, Geyserville, CA 95441 707-354-4342 South Valley Hydroponics 320 Kishimura Drive, #3 Gilroy, CA 95020 1-866-848-GROW Zen Hydroponics 1801 Victory Blvd. Glendale, CA 91201 877 ZEN Grow 818 806 4500 Stop N Grow 340 Pine Avenue, Goleta, CA 93003 805-685-3000 All Seasons Hydroponics 17614 Chatsworth Street, Granada Hills, CA 91344 818-368-4388 AG Natural 403 Idaho Maryland Road, Grass Valley, CA 95945 530-274 0990 Grass Valley Hydrogarden 12506 Loma Rica Drive, Grass Valley, CA 95945 530-477-2996 Vital Landscaping Inc. 12817 Loma Rica Drive, Grass Valley, CA 95945 530-273-3187 West Coast Growers Hydroponics 13481 Colifax Highway, Grass Valley, CA 95945 888-924-4769 M.G.S. 22540 D Foothill Boulevard, Hayward, CA 94541 510-582-0900 Thrive Hydroponics 70 A West North Street, Healdsburg, CA 95446 707-433-4068 Bear Valley Hydroponics & Homebrewing 17455 Bear Valley RD. Hesperia CA 92345 760 949 3400 Emerald Garden 13325 South Highway 101, Hopland, CA 95482 707-744-8300

Surf City Hydroponics 7319 Warner Street, Suite B Huntington Beach, CA 92647 714-847-7900 Dutch Garden Supplies Park Circle Suite 12 Irvine CA 92614 949-748-8777 West Coast Hydroponics, Inc. 27665 Forbes Road, Unit 10 Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 949-348-2424 La Habra Hydroponics 1301 S Beach Blvd, Suite O. La Habra, CA 90631 562-947-8383 Grass Roots Hydroponics 31875 Corydon, Suite 130 Lake Elsinore, CA 92530 951-245-2390 South County Hydroponics 22511 Aspan Street, Suite E Lake Forest, CA 92630 949-837-8252 Clover Hydroponics & Garden Supply 43 Soda Bay Road, Lakeport, CA 95453 707-263-4000 San Diego Hydroponics East County 11649 Riverside Drive, Suite 141, Lakeside, CA 92040 619-562-3276 Total Hydroponics Center Inc 4820 Paramount Blvd Lakewood, CA 90712 562-984-GROW (4769) Weather Top Nursery 44901 Harmon Drive, Laytonville, CA 95454 707-984-6385 CNG Garden Supplies 22 Ricknbacker Circle, Livermore, CA 94551 925-454-9376 DL Wholesale 6764 Preston Ave. Suite D Livermore CA 94551 510 550 0018 National Garden Wholesale/Sunlight Supply 6485 Brisa Street, Livermore, CA 94550 888-570-4678 (Southern CA) Garden Depot, The 203 Commerce Street, Suite 101 Lodi, CA 95240 209-339-9950 Valley Rock Landscape Supply 2222 N H Street Lompoc CA 93436 P: 805 736 0841 805 735 5921 Green Coast Hydroponics 2405 Mira Mar Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90815 562-627-5636 Grow Light Express 5318 East Second Street suite 164, Long Beach, CA 90803 888-318-GROW Long Beach Hydroponics & Organics 1772 Clark Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90815 562-498-9525 Atwater Hydroponics 3350 Glendale Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90039 323-663-8881 Green Door Hydro and Solar 830 Traction Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90013 212-625-1323 Hardman Hydroponics 3511 Youree Dr., Shreveport Los Angeles 71105 318-865-0317 Hollywood Hydroponics and Organics 5109 1/2 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90027-6105 323-662-1908 Hydroasis 2643 S. Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90232 888-355-4769 LAX Hydro 10912 S. La Cienaga Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90304 310-337-6995

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MAXIMUM YIELD distributors

Nirvana Hydroponics 340 South San Pedro Los Angeles, CA 90013 310-795-2914 Sunland Hydroponics 4136 Eagle Rock Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90065 323-254-2800 Green Giant Hydroponics 7183 Hwy 49 Unit B Lotus CA 95651 530 622 4465 California Green Hydroponics 16491 Road 26, Suite 101 Madera, California 93638 559-674-1400 Deep Roots Garden Center & Flower Shop 207 N. Sepulveda Blvd. Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 Telephone: 310-376-0567 B & S Gardening Supplies 590 Commerce Court, Manteca, CA 95336 209-239-8648 Monterey Bay Horticulture Supply 218 Reindollar Avenue Suite 7A, Marina, CA 93933 831-38-HYDRO Two Chix Garden Supply 1230 Yuba Street, Marysville, CA 95901 530-923-2536 Northcoast Horticulture Supply 1580 Nursery Way McKinleyville, CA 95519 707-839-9998 Thunders Hydroponic Center 1729 Yosemite Boulevard, Medesco, CA 95354 Mendocino Garden Shop PO Box 1301, 44720 Maint Street (at Hwy. 1), Mendocino, CA 95460 707-937-3459 Grow Zone 718 Willow Rd. Menlo Park CA 94025 650-326-4769 Hooked Up Hydroponics 1004 W. 15th St. Suite B & C, Merced, Ca 95340 209-723-1300 Merced Hydroponics 1809 East 21st Street, Merced, CA 95340 209-726-4769 The Urban Farmer Store 653 E. Blithedale Avenue, Mill Valley, CA 94941 415-380-3840 Mission Viejo Hydroponics 24002 Via Fabricante Suite 502 Mission Viejo, CA 92691 949-380-1894 Coca’s Central Valley Hydroponics 116 West Orangeburg Avenue, Modesto, CA 95350 209-567-0590 Growers Choice Hydroponics 1100 Carver Road, Modesto, CA 95350 209-522-2727 Year Round Garden Supply 11000 Carver Rd. #20 Modesto, CA 95350 Tel: 209 522 2727 Green Light Hydroponics 2615 Honolula Ave. Montrose, CA 91020 818-640-2623 Grodan Inc. Moorpark, CA 93021 541-646-8245 Supersonic Hydroponic and Organic Garden Supply 850 Shasta Avenue, Suite B Morro Bay, CA 93442 805-772-5869 South Bay Hydroponics and Organics - Mtn. View 569 East Evelyn Avenue, Mountain View, CA 94041 650-968-4070 Redwood Garden Supply 55 Myers Avenue, Myers Flat, CA 95554 707-943-1515

196

Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

Retail Stores listed alphabetically by city in each state.

Endless Green Hydroponics 25 Enterprise Court, Suite 3 Napa, CA 94558 707-254-0200 Conejo Hydroponics 3481 Old Conejo Road #106 Newbury Park, CA 91320 805-480-9596 Stop N Grow 640 S. Frontage Road, Nipomo, CA 93444 805-619-5125 Valley Garden Solutions Inc. 15650 Nordhoff Avenue, Suite 104, North Hills, CA 91345 818-336-0041 Foothill Hydroponics 10705 Burbank Boulevard, N. Hollywood, CA 91601 818-760-0688 One Stop Hydroponics 12822 Victory Boulevard North Hollywood, CA 91606 818-980-5855 Lumatek Digital Ballasts 33 Commercial Boulevard, Suite B Novato, CA 94949 415-233-4273 Marin Hydroponics 55 Frosty Ln Novato, CA 94949 (415) 233-4104 Marin Hydroponics 1219 Grant Avenue, Novato, CA 94945 415-897-2197 Roots Grow Supply 40091 Enterprise Dr. Oakhurst CA 93644 559 683 6622 3rd Street Hydroponics 636 3rd Street Oakland, CA 94607 510-452-5521 Bloom Hydro 1602 53rd Ave. Oakland CA 94601 707 980 0456 Medicine Man Farms 1602 53rd Avenue, Oakland, CA 94601 707-980-0456 Plant-N-Grow 1602 53rd Avenue, Oakland, CA 94601 707-980-0456 Hydrobrew 1319 South Coast Highway, Oceanside, CA 92054 760-966-1885; 877-966-GROW Socal Hydroponics 1727-B Oceanside Boulevard, Oceanside, CA 92054 760-439-1084 Cultivate Ontario 2000 Grove Ave #a110 Ontario, CA 91761 909-781-6142 Flairform 1751 S Pointe Avenue, Ontario, CA 91761 213-596-8820 National Garden Wholesale/Sunlight Supply 1950 C South Grove Avenue, Ontario, CA 91761 888-888-3319 Palm Tree Hydroponics 2235 E 4th St,Suite G Ontario, CA 91764 909-941-9017 RH Distribution 1751 S. Pointe Avenue Ontario, CA 91761 888-545-8112 Green Coast Hydroponics 496 Meats Avenue Orange, CA 92865 714-974-4769 Natural Pest Controls 8320 B Hazel Avenue, Orangevale, CA 95662 916-726-0855 Advanced Soil & Garden Supply 350 Oro Dam Boulevard, Oroville, CA 95965 530-533-2747

Igrow Hydro 2280 Veatch Street, Oroville, CA 95965 530-534-4476 Orville Organic Gardens 5250 Olive Hwy Ste 1 Oroville, CA 95966 530-589-9950 US Orchid & Hydroponic Supplies 1621 South Rose Avenue, Oxnard, CA 93033 805-247-0086 Pacifica Hydroponics 90 Eureka Square Pacifica, CA 94044 (650) 355-5100 America’s Best Hydroponics & Gardening Center 641 W. Palmdale Blvd. Unit D Palmdale, CA 93551 661-266-3906 Hydroponics Unlimited 641 W. Palmdale Blvd. “D” Palmdale, CA 93550 661-266-3906 Palm Springs Hydroponics 4651 Ramon Road, Palm Springs, CA 92264 760-327-ROOT New Leaf Hydro 34150 123rd Street, Parablossom, CA 93553 661-944-2226 Alternative Hydro 3870 East, Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91107 888-50-HYDRO Better Grow Hydro Pasadena 1271 E. Colorado Boulevard, Pasedena, CA 91106 626 737 6612 Supersonic Hydroponic and Organic Garden Supply 3850 Ramada Drive, Unit D2 Paso Robles, CA 93446 805-434-2333 Foothills Hydrogarden 3133 Penryn Road, Penryn, CA 95663 916-270-2413 Funny Farms Hydroponics 963 Transport Way, #12 Petaluma, CA 94954 707-775-3111 House of Hydro 224 Weller Street, #B, Petaluma, CA 94952 707-762-4769 JNJ Hydroponics 4774 Phelan Rd. Suite 2 Phelan CA 92371 760 868 0002 Turbo Grow 1889 San Pablo Avenue, Pinole, CA 94564 510-724-1291 Hillside Hydro & Garden 4570 Pleasant Valley Road Placerville CA 95662 530-644-1401 Best Yield Garden Supply 3503 West Temple Avenue, Unit A, Pomona, CA 91768 909-839-0505 Emerald Garden 8249 Archibald Avenue, Ranch Cucamanga, CA 91730 909-466-3796 GreenLeaf Hydroponics 2212 Artesia Boulevard, Redondo Beach, CA 90278 310-374-2585 Shadow Valley Aquatics 75 Kimick Way, Red Bluff, CA 96080 530-526-0479 Bare Roots Hydroponics 1615 East Cypress, #5 Redding, CA 96002 530-244-2215 Dazey’s Supply 3082 Redwood Drive, Redway, CA 95560 707-923-3002

Humboldt Hydroponics 2010 Tunnel Road, Redway, CA 95560 707-923-1402 Redway Feed Garden and Pet Supply 290 Briceland Road, Redway, CA 95560 707-923-2765 Sylvandale Gardens 1151 Evergreen Road, Redway, CA 95560 707-923-3606 Humboldt Hydroponics 2174 Pine Street, Redding, CA 96001 530-241-7454 Hydro King 105 Hartnell Avenue, Suite C and D, Redding, CA 96002 888-822-8941 Orsa Organix 111 Willow Street, Redwood City, CA 94063 650-369-1269 Mendocino Greenhouse & Garden Supply 960 East School Way, Redwood Valley, CA 95470 707-485-0668 EZ Green Hydroponics 7017 Reseda Boulevard, Reseda, CA 91335 818-776-9076 Hydro Hills Hydroponics 19320 Vanowen St. Reseda CA 91335 Box Of Rain Inc. Po Box 302, Rexford, CA 59930 406-755-7245 Hi-Tech Gardening 5327 Jacuzzi Street, #282, Richmond, CA 94804 510-524-4710 The Urban Farmer Store 2121 San Joaquin Street, Richmond, CA 94804 510-524-1604 Discount Hydroponics 4745 Hiers Avenue, Riverside, CA 92505 877-476-9487 All Ways Hydro 2220 Eastridge Ave. Suite C Riverside CA 92507 888-HYDRO98 Calwest Hydroponics 11620 Sterling Avenue, Suite A Riverside, CA 92503 800-301-9009 Hydro Depot 5665 Redwood Drive, #B, Rohnert Park, CA 94928 707-584-2384 Igrow Hydro 9000 Atkinson Street, Roseville, CA 95678 916-773-4476 Green Acres Hydroponics 1215 Striker Avenue, Suite 180, Sacramento, CA 95834 916-419-4394 Greenfire Sacramento 3230 Auburn Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95821 916-485-8023 Green Thumb Hydroponics 35 Quinta Court, Suite B, Sacramento, CA 95823 916-689-6464 KY Wholesale 8671 Elder creek Rd. #600 Sacramento, CA 95828 916 383 3366 Mystic Gardens 8484 Florin Road, #110, Sacramento, CA 95828 916-381-2464 Sac Hydroponics 9529 Folson Boulevard, Suite C Sacramento, CA 95827 916-369-7968 Skywide Import & Export Ltd. 5900 Lemon Hill Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95824 916-383-2369

Tradewinds Wholesale Garden Supplies 1235 Striker Avenue #180, Sacramento, CA 95834 888-557-8896 Green Joint Ventures 61 Tarp Circle, Salinas, CA 93901 831-998-8628 Reforestation Technologies International 1341 Daton Street, Units G&I Salinas, CA 93901 831-424-1494; 800-RTI-GROW National Garden Wholesale / Sunlight Supply 1900 Bendixsen Street , Bldg. 1, Samoa, CA 95564 800-683-1114 (Northern CA) Greenmile Hydroponic Garden Supply 1480 South E. Street, Suite D, San Bernardino, CA 92408 909-885-5919 Garden Shed, The 1136 El Camino Real San Carlos, CA 650-508-8600 Pure Food Gardening/Microclone 830 H Bransten Rd. San Carlos,CA 94070-3338 Green Gopher Garden Supply 679 Redwood Avenue, Suite A, Sand City, CA 93955 831-899-0203 Modern Gardens 26620 Valley Center Dr. Santa Clarita, CA 91351 661-513-4733 Best Coast Growers 4417 Glacier Avenue Suite C, San Diego, CA 92120 800-827-1876 City Farmer’s Nursery 4832 Home Avenue, San Diego, CA 92105 619-284-6358 Green Lady Hydroponics 4879 Newport Avenue, San Diego, CA 92107 619-222-5011 Home Brews & Gardens 3176 Thorn St San Diego, CA 92104 619 630 2739 Indoor Garden Depot 1848 Commercial St. San Diego CA 92113 619-255-3552 Innovative Growing Solutions (IGS) 5060 Santa Fe St. Ste.D San Diego, CA 92109 858-578-4477 Mighty Garden Supply 4780 Mission Gorge Pl. #A-1, San Diego, CA 92120 619-287-3238 Miramar Hydroponics & Organics 8952 Empire Street San Diego CA 92126 858-549-8649 Oracle Garden Supply 5755 Oberlin Drive, Suite 100 San Diego, CA 92121 858-558-6006 Pacific Beach Hydroponics 1852 Garnet Avenue, San Diego, CA 92109 858-274-2559 San Diego Hydroponics Beach Cities 4122 Napier Street, San Diego, CA 92110 619-276-0657 Wai Kula Hydrogardens 5297 Linda Vista Road, San Diego, CA 92110 619-299-7299 Direct Hydroponics Wholesale 1034 W. Arrow Hwy#D San Dimas, CA 91773 888-924-9376 Liquid Gardens 1034 West Arrow Hwy.#D San Dimas, CA 91773 888-924-9376

Extreme Hydroponics 11479 San Fernando Road C, San Fernando, CA 91340 818-898-0915 Grow Your Own 3401 Traval Street, San Francisco, CA 94116 415-731-2115 Hydroponic Connection Warehouse, The 1995 Evans Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94124 415-824-9376 Nor Cal Hydroponics 4837 Geary Boulevard, San Francisco, CA 94118 415-933-8262 Plant It Earth 2279 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94114 415-626-5082 Urban Gardens Unlimited UrbanGardens 704 Filbert Street, San Francisco, CA 94133 415-421-4769 San Francisco Hydro 123 Tenth Street, San Francisco, CA 94103 The Urban Farmer Store 2833 Vicente Street, San Francisco, CA 94116 415-661-2204 US Garden 417 Agostinio Rd San Gabriel Ca 91776 626 285-5009 Inland Empire Hydrogarden 1301-C South State Street, San Jancinto, CA 92853 Hahn’s Lighting 260 E. VA Suite 1, San Jose, CA 95112 408-295-1755 Plant Life 32 Race Street, San Jose, CA 95126 408-283-9191 South Bay Hydroponics and Organics - San Jose 1185 South Bascom Avenue, San Jose, CA 95128 408-292-4040 D&S Garden Supplies 17-130 Doolittle Drive San Leandro, CA 94577 510-430-8589 Hydrogarden Delight 13762 Doolittle Drive, San Leandro, CA 94577 510-903-1808 Central Coast Hydrogarden 1951 Santa Barbara Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 805-544-GROW Healthy Harvest Hydroponics and Organics 2958 S. Higuera St. San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 805.596.0430 San Diego Hydroponics North 802 N. Twin Oaks Valley Road #108 San Marcos, CA 92069 760-510-1444 H20 Gardening 355 West 7th Street, San Pedro, CA 90731 310-514-1416 Marin Hydroponics 721 Francisco Blvd East San Rafael, CA 94901 415-482-8802 Pacific Garden Supply 128 H Carlos Drive, San Rafael, CA 94903 San Rafael Hydroponics 1417 Fourth Sreet San Rafael, CA 94901 415 455 9655 Green Coast Hydroponics 3560 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93105 805-898-9922 Nutes Int’l 204 N Quarantina Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93103 805-687-6699 advanced hydroponics and gardening

704 Filbert Street, San Francisco, CA 94133

Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

197

MAXIMUM YIELD distributors

Santa Clarita Valley Hydroponics 25835 Railroad Ave. #26 Santa Clarita CA 91350 661 255 3700 661 255 3701 California Hydroponics 310 Coral Street, Suite C Santa Cruz, CA 95060 831-423-4769 Hydro-Logic Purification Systems 370 Encinal St, Suite 150, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 888 H2O LOGIC Santa Cruz Hydroponics & Organics - West Side 815 Almar Avenue, Unit K, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 831-466-9000 Full Sun Supply 3535 Industrial Drive, Unit B-3 Santa Rosa, CA 95403 877-FULL-SUN Gonzo Grow 2550 Guerneville Road,Suite C, Santa Rosa, CA 95401 707-546-1800 Gottagrow Garden Supply 769 Wilson Street, Santa Rosa, CA 95404 707-544-7782 Green Logic Garden Supply 860 Piner Road, #38, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 707-843-3156 Organic Bountea 1919 Dennis Lane, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 800-798-0765 Pro Gardening Systems 3715 Santa Rosa Avenue #2, Santa Rosa, CA 95407 707-585-8633 Sun-In Hydroponics 1257A Cleveland Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95401 707-578-5747 Sweet Leaf Hydroponics 1611 Sebastobol Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95407 707-575-GROW (4237) Santee Hydroponics 7949 Mission Gorge Road, Santee, CA 92071 619-270-8649 Gardening Unlimited 60 Old El Pueblo Road, Scotts Valley, CA 95066 831-457-1236 Pro Gardening Systems 765 Petaluma Avenue, Sebastopol, CA 95472 707-829-7252 Better Choice Hydroponics 610 S. Washington Street, Senora, CA 95370 209 533 2400 Go Big Hydroponics 4501 Van Nuys Boulevard, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 818-789-3341 Bloom Brothers Garden Supply, Inc. 3293 Industry Dr. Signal Hill, CA 90755 562 494-0060 We Grow Hydroponics 3350 East Los Angeles Avenue, Simi Valley, CA 93063 805-624-4566 Abundant Hydroponics LLC 1611 Shop Street, #1-A, S. Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 530-54 HYDRO Advanced Garden Supply 2660 Lake Tahoe Boulevard, Building C, Unit 9, S. Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 530-541-4769 Farm Hydroponics, The 1950 Lake Tahoe Boulevard #3, S. Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 530-541-3276 Santa Cruz Hydroponics & Organics - East Side 4000 Cordelia Lane Soquel, CA 95073 831-475-9900

198

Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

Retail Stores listed alphabetically by city in each state.

Orange County Hydroponics 12797 Beach Boulevard, Stanton, CA 90680 714-893-9493 Golden Harvest Hydroponics & Garden Supply 8626 Lower Sacramento Road #48, Stockton, CA 95210 209-951-3550 M&M Garden Supply 2509 West Lane, Suite B Stockton, CA 95205 209-939-0664 Pacific Ave Indoor Garden Supply 4633 pacific Ave Stockton , CA 95207 209-955-0945 City Farm Hydroponics 8903 Laurel Canyon Boulevard, Sun Valley, CA 91352 818-767-2076 Sunland Hydroponics 8300 Foothill Boulevard, Sunland, CA 91040 818-352-5300 Anthony’s Garden & Lighting Supply 30 Ridge Road, Suites 8 & 9 Sutter Creek, CA 95685 209-267-5416 Tahoe Garden Supply 645 Westlake Boulevard, Suite 2, PO Box 487 Tahoe City, CA 96145 530-581-3200 The Otherside Hydroponics 19425 Ventura Blvd Tarzana CA 91356 818 881 hydro (4937) Hydroponics 4 Less 41669 Winchester Avenue, Temecula, CA 92590 800-A1-HYDRO Inland Empire Hydrogarden 28822 Old Town Front St. #206 Temecula, CA 92590 886-74-HYDRO 805 Hydroponics & Organics 1785 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard Thousand Oaks, CA 91362 805-494-1785 Art of Hydro 2636 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd. Thousand Oaks, CA 91362 805-230-2227 Green Thumb Lighting & Garden 1647 W. Sepulveda Boulevard, Unit 5, Torrance, CA 90501 888-326-GROW Los Angeles Hydroponics and Organics 3007-3009 W. Artesia Blvd. Torrance, CA 90504 310-323-4937 Anything Grows 10607 W. River Street, Building 3 Suite C, Truckee, CA 96161 530-582-0479 Hooked Up Hydroponics 339 S. Golden State Boulevard, Turlock, CA 95380 209-668-1300 Emerald Garden 307 East Perkins Street, Ukiah, CA 95482 707-463-2510 HydroPacific - Hydroponics & Garden Supplies 351 C Hastings Av., Ukiah, CA 95482 707-467-0400 Northcoast Hydrogardens 3450 North State Street, Ukiah, CA 95482 707-462-7214 Atlantis Garden Supply 2851 A Whipple Road, Union City, CA 94587 510-487-8007 Evergreen Hydroponics 923 N. Central Avenue, Suite B, Upland, CA 91786 909-946-7100 TNC Supply 9490 Main Street, P.O. Box 763 Upper Lake, CA 95485 707-275-9565 Everything Green 448 Georgia Street, Vallejo, CA 94590 707-647-0774

Hydroponics Market 15816 Arminta St Van Nuys, CA 91406 818-305-6261 886-72-HYDRO Stop N Grow 4160 Market Street, Unit 11 Ventura, CA 93003 805-639-9489 BWGS-CA 7530 W. Sunnyview Avenue Visalia, CA 93291 888-316-1306 The Green Shop 66420 Mooney Boulevard, Suite 1 Visalia, CA 93277 559-688-4200 Kaweah Grower Supply 1106 1/2 N. Ben Maddox Way, Visalia, CA 93293 559-625-4937 Greentrees Hydroponics Inc. 2581 Pioneer Avenue, Unit D Vista, CA 92081 760-598-7551 Home Life Hydroponics and Organics 1745 East Vista Way, Vista, CA 92084 760-643-2150 Specialty Garden Center 1970 East Vista Way, Suite 10, Vista, CA 92084 760-758-4769 Monterey Bay Hydroponics and Organics 81 Hangar Way, #1, Watsonville, CA 95076 831-761-9999 California Hydro Garden 1043 South Glendora Avenue, Suite A West Covina, CA 91790 626-813-0868 No Stress Hydroponics 7543 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA 90046 323-845-9874 Hydronation 2491 Boatman Drive, Suite B West Sacramento, CA 95691 916-372-4444 Flower Hut Nursery 603 4th Street Wheatland, CA 95692 530-633-4526 Green Coast Hydroponics 11510 Whittier Boulevard Whittier, CA 90601 562-699-4201 GreenWay Hydroponics 11510 Whittier Boulevard, Whittier, CA 90601 Lazy Gardeners Hydroponics ‘N’ More 14626 East Whittier Boulevard, Whittier, CA 90605 562-945-0909 Garden Spout, The 260 Margie Dr Willits, CA 95490 707-456-0196 Sparetime Supply 208 E. San Francisco Avenue, Willits, CA 95490-4006 Hydromagic Supply 40 N. East St. Suite F Woodland,CA 95776 530-661-0117 Urban Gardens 22516 Ventura Boulevard, Woodland Hills, CA 91364 818-876-0222 Ultra Lo Hydro ultralohydro.com 937-252-8224 Garden Highway Garden Supply 598 Garden Highway #22 Yuba City, CA 95991 530-755-2877 Southern Humbolt Garden Supplies 34919 Yucaipa Boulevard, Yucaipa, CA 92399 909-797-6888 707-459-6791 Yucca Valley Hydroponics 56825 Twentynine Palms Hwy. Yucca Valley, CA 92284 760 369 0300

COLORADO South Park Hydroponics 42 E Buckskin Rd. Alma CO 80420 719 836 1533 National Garden Wholesale/Sunlight Supply 3550 B Odessa Way, Aurora, CO 80011 866-877-4188 (Northeast) Nick’s Garden Center 2001 S. Chambers, Aurora, CO 80014 303-696-6657 Family Hydroponics-Boulder 2125 32nd Street Boulder, co 80301 303-996-6100 Polar Ray 5171 Eldorado Springs Dr. Boulder, CO 80303 303 494 5773 Way To Grow 6395 Gunpark Drive, Boulder, CO 80301 303-473-4769 Deep Roots Garden Supply 1790 Airport Road, Unit 1 Breckenridge, CO 80424 970-453-1440 Mile High Hydroponics 37 Strong St. Brighton, CO 80601 303 637 0069 Brighton Hydroponics 839so.Kuner rd., Brighton Colorado 80601 303-655-1427 ACME Hydroponics 300 Nickel St Suite 3 Broomfield, CO 80020 720.524.7306 Colorado Grow 3400 Industrial Lane, Unit 10A Broomfield, CO 80020 (303) 465-GROW (4769) Hydrofarm CO 400 Burbank St Broomfield, CO 80020 800-634-9990 J&D Organic Growing Solutions 217 1/2 Clayton Street Brush, CO 80723 970-310-5408 BIG BloomZ 1011 Caprice Drive, Castle Rock, CO 80109 303-688-0599 Indoor Garden Warehouse 8100 S Akron St., Suite 322, Centennial, CO 80112 720-496-2110 Garden Tech 737 Garden of the Gods Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80907 719-278-9777 Greenhouse Tech 917 East Fillmore, Colorado Springs, CO 80907 719-634-0637 Hydro Grow Supply 644 Peterson Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80915 719-596-2600 Purple Mountain Hydroponics LLC 1530 S Nevada Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80906 719-635-5859 Roots and Rocks Hydroponic and Organic Garden Supply 1014 S. 21st Street Colorado Springs, CO 80904 719-634-1024 High Tech Garden Supply 5275 Quebec St. Commerce City, CO 80022 720-222-0772 Roll-N-Green Farms Horticultural Supply 25797 Conifer Rd #A-8 Conifer, Co 80433 303-838-5520 Global Organics & Hydroponics 11 N Broadway Cortez CO 81321 970 564 8100

Your Grow Bud 6801 South Emporia St. Suite 106 Greenwood Village, CO 80112 Tel: 303-790-2211 BWGS-CO 11685 E. 55th Avenue Denver, CO 80239 888-316-1306 Chlorophyll 3801 Mariposa St. Denver CO 80211 303-433-1155 Denver Hydroponic & Organic Center 6810 North Broadway, Unit D Denver, CO 80221 303-650-0091 Rocky Mountain Lighting and Hydroponics 7100 N. Broadway, Suite 3D Denver, CO 80221 303-428-5020 The Grow Outlet 4272 Lowell Boulevard Denver, CO 80211 303-586-5543 Way To Grow 301 East 57th Ave. Denver, CO 80216 303-296-7900 All Seasons Gardening 434 Turner Drive, Suite 2B Durango, CO 81303 (970) 385-4769 Blue Sky Hydroponics 1301 Florida Road Unit C Durango, CO 81301 970-375-1238 Grow Store South, The 5050 S. Federal Boulevard, #37, Englewood, CO 80110 303-738-0202 Alpenglow Garden Supply 2712 South College Ave Fort Collins, CO 80525 970-266-8888 Bath Nursery & Garden Center 2000 E. Prospect, Fort Collins, CO 80525 970-484-5022 Indoor Paradise Hydroponics 309 S. Summit View, Unit 17, Fort Collins, CO 80524-1462 970-221-3751 Way To Grow 3201 E. Mulberry Street, Fort Collins, CO 80524 970-484-4769 Hydro Shack, The 220 Main Street, Suite E Frisco, CO 80443 970-668-0359 GWS Hydroponics 7025 Highway 82 Building 4B, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 970-384-2040 Hydro Planet 711 Washington Avenue, Golden, CO 80401 303-279-6090 Rocky Mountain Hydroponics and Organics 15985 S. Golden Road Golden, CO 80401 720-475-1725 Desert Bloom Hydroponics 445 Pitkin Avenue, Grand Junction, CO 81501 970-245-6427 Primo Gardens 1600 North Ave. Suite B Grand Junction, CO 81501 970-241-1209 Greeley Nutrients 700 11th Street Unit 101 Greeley CO 80631 970 673 8302 GroWize 3225 S. Wadsworth Boulevard, Lakewood, CO 80227 303-986-2706 Grow Store, The 8644 W. Colfax Avenue, Lakewood, CO 80215 888-510-0350 Ever Green Hydroponics Inc. 1131 Francis Street, Suite A, Longmont, CO 80501 303-682-6435

Ultra Lo Hydro ultralohydro.com 937-252-8224 Victory Hydro Gardening 1387 E. South Boulder Rd. Louisville, CO, 80027 Tel: 303-664-9376 Lyons Indoor Gardening 138 Main Street, Lyons, CO 80540 720-530-3828 Head Start Hydroponics & Organic Gardening Emporium 34500 US Highway 6, Unit B-9, North Edwards, CO 81632 970-569-313 Cultivate Hydroponics & Organics 7777 W. 38th Avenue, A120A, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 303-954-9897

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

Delaware Sunny Day Organics 1867 Coastal Hwy. Rehoboth Beach, Delaware MD 19917 302 703 2538

FLORIDA Urban Sunshine 1420 E. Altamonte Dr Altamonte Springs, FL 32701 407-830-4769 Best Hydro 4920 Lena Road, Bradenton, FL 34211 941-756-1928 Palm Coast Hydroponics 4490 N Hwy US1 Ste. 108 Bunnell FL 32110 386 246 4119 East Coast Hydroponics & Organics 461 Forrest Avenue, Suite 105 Coca, FL 32922 321-243-6800 GreenTouch Hydroponics Inc. 5011 S State Road 7, Suite 104 Davie, FL 33314 954-316-8815 Absolute Hydroponic Garden Center Inc 1607 Old Daytona Steet Deland, FL 32724 386-734-0696 Organic Grow Hut 2 780 Deltona Blvd. #107 Deltona, Florida 32725 1-888-574-grow 386-259-5777 Gold Coast Hydroponics 1539 SW 21st Avenue, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33312 1-800-780-7371 Biofloral 6250 NW 27th Way, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33309 877 735 6725 Green Thumb Hydroponics Supplies 13482 North Cleveland Avenue, Fort Meyers, FL 33903 239-997-4769 Gardener’s Edge Gainesville 5000 NW 34th Street, Suite 13, Gainesville, FL 32605 352-375-2769 Florida Garden Supplies 2692 W 79 Street, Hialeah, FL 33016 1-800-931-5215 Hydro Terra Corp. 924 North Federal Highway, Hollywood, FL 33020 954-920-0889

Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

199

MAXIMUM YIELD distributors

Simply Hydroponics & Organics (North) 3642 South Suncoast Boulevard, Homosassa, FL 34448 352-628-2655 Hydroponics International Inc. 7029-10 Commonwealth Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32220 904-693-6554 Grower’s Choice & Hydroponics 11855 North Main Street, Jackonsonville, FL 32218 904-683-4517 Urban Organics & Hydroponics 5325 Fairmont Street, Jacksonville, FL 32207 904-398-8012 Simply Hydroponics & Organics 7949 Ulmerton Road, Largo, FL 33773 727-531-5355 GrowSmart Indoor Garden Centers 14587 Southern Boulevard, Loxahatchee, FL 33470 561-429-3527 Palm Beach Discount Hydroponics – West 14703 Southern Blvd. Loxahatchee, FL 33470 561 296 8555 Atlantic Hydroponics 430 Count Street, Melbourne, FL 32901 321-821-1535 High Tech Garden Supply 2975 West New Haven Avenue, Melbourne, FL 32901 321-821-0853 Advanced Hydro Gardens 4960 NW 165 Street, Suite B-4, Miami, FL 33014 866-97-HYDRO Blossoms Experience, The 7207 NW 54th Street, Miami, FL 33166 866-452-4769 Florida Garden Supplies 9545 Sunset Drive, Miami, FL 33173 800-931-5215 Future Farms Inc., The 14291 SW 120th Street, Suite 105 Miami, FL 33186 305-382-2757 Gold Coast Hydroponics 4241 SW 71st Avenue, Miami, FL 33155 1-800-780-6805 Growing Garden Inc., The 12811 SW 42nd Street, Miami, FL 33175 305-559-0309 VitaOrganix 7921 NW 67th St Miami, FL 33166 786 845 8633 3D Hydroponics and Organics 7139 US Highway #19, New Port Richey, FL 34652 727-847-3491 Florida Garden Supplies 8442 Tradeport Drive, Unit 200, Orlando, FL 32827 Urban Sunshine 6100 Hanging Moss Rd ste 50 Orlando, FL 32807 407-647-4769 Urban Sunshine 6142 S. Orange Ave Orlando, FL 32809 407-859-7728 Green Winters Inc. 147 Tomoka Avenue, Ormond Beach, FL 32174 386-235-8730 800-931-5215 The Healthy Harvest Ste. 126 21113 Johnson St. Pembroke Pines, FL. 33029 Tel: 954-538-1511 Eden Garden Supply 5044 N. Palafox Street, Pensacola, FL 32505 850-439-1299 Healthy Gardens and Supply of Florida, Inc. 196 East Nine Mile Road, Suite F, Pensacola, FL 32534 850-912-4545

200

Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

Retail Stores listed alphabetically by city in each state.

National Garden Wholesale/Sunlight Supply 455 S. Andrews Avenue, Pompano Beach, FL 33069 877-649-3567 (Southeast) Hydroponic Depot II 2395 S Tamiami Trail #19 Port Charlotte FL 33952 941 255 3999t EZ Grow Green 604 S.W. Bayshore Blvd. Port St. Lucie, Fl 34983 772-807-7755 Esposito Garden Center 2743 Capital Circle NE, Tallahassee, FL 32308 850-386-2114 Evershine Hydroponics 1519 Capital Circle NE Unit #35 Tallahassee FL 32308 850-765-0040 Grace’s Hydro-Organic Garden Center 8877 North 56th Street Tampa, FL 33617 813-514-9376 Harvest Time Hydroponics 14414 N. Florida Avenue, Tampa, FL 33613 813-264-7101 Hydroponics of Tampa 120 W. Bougain Villea, Tampa, FL 33612 813-333-6828 Stoney Hydro @ Schiro’s Barn n Garden Supplies 7812 Causeway Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33619 813-626-0902 Worm’s Way Florida 4412 North 56th Street, Tampa, FL 33610 800-283-9676; 813-621-1792 Monkey Hydroponics 940 West Oakland Ave. Unit A1 Winter Garden FL 34787 407 574 8495

Cultivating Eden Hydroponic Supplies 946 18th Avenue SW, Vero Beach, FL 32962 772-564-8880 Florida Garden Supplies 8020 Belvedere Road,Unit 4, West Palm Beach,FL 33411 800-931-5215 Palm Beach Discount Hydroponics – East 968 North Congress Ave. West Palm Beach, FL 33409 561 296 6161

GEORGIA Atlantis Hydroponics 1422 Woodmont Lane, #4, Atlanta, GA 30318 404-367-0052 Flora Hydroponics Inc. 2475 Jefferson Road, Suite 600 Athens, GA 30607 866-404-0551 Atlantis Hydroponics 2561 West Point Avenue, College Park, GA 30337 678-510-0032 Alpha Hydroponics and Garden Supply Inc. 3904 N Druid Hills Rd. Suite 247 Decatur GA 30033 404 590 4769 Savannah Hydroponics & Organics 4107 Eighth Street, Suite C Garden City, GA 31408 912-349-4030

HAWAII Eco-Island Supply 810 Haiku Road, #394 Haiku, HI 96708 808-575-9171 Aqua Plant Hawaii / Kahala Hydroponics 4224 Wailae, Suite 1A, Honolulu, HI 96816 808-735-8665 Green Hands of Aloha 1713 Mary Street, Honolulu, HI 96819 808-847-4263 Ohana Greenhouse & Garden Supply 300 Hukilike Street, #2M, Kahalui, HI 96732 808-871-6393

Aiyah’s Garden 3-3122 Kuhio Hwy. unit B-2 Lihue, Hi. 96766 808 245 2627 Pahoa Feed & Fertilizer 15-2754 Old Government Road, Pahoa, HI 96778 808-965-9955

IDAHO Boise Hydroponics 614 North Orchard Street, Boise, ID 83706 208-344-3053 Greenthumb Greenhouses 5895 Ensign Avenue, Boise, ID 83714

ILLINOIS Aerostar Global 824 South Kay Avenue, Addison, IL 60101 Brew and Grow 181 Crossroads Parkway, Bolingbrook, IL 60194 847-885-8282 Let it Grow - Carbondale West Main Street, Carbondale, IL 62908 573-450-5401 Alternative Garden Supply 615 Industrial Drive, Unit A Cary, IL 60013 800-444-2837 Brew and Grow 3625 N. Kedzi Avenue, Chicago, IL 60618 773-463-7430 Fertile Ground 463 West MacArthur Drive, Cottage Hills, IL 62018 618-259-5500 Hydrocork 20647 Renwick Road, Crest Hill, IL 60435 815-838-0100 Goldman’s Grow Shop 910 Greenwood Road, Glenview, IL 60025 847-657-7250 Grow Masters 4641 Old Grand Ave. Gurnee, Il. 60031 (224) 399-9877 Big Grow Hydroponics 9225 Trinity Drive, Lake In The Hills, IL 60156 847-854-4450 Grow Big Hydroponics 7817 B North 2nd Street, Manchesney Park, IL 61115 815-637-4769 Gardinside 618 S. Rt. 59 suite 104 Naperville, IL 60540 630-276-9885 Green Fields 8137 N. Milwaukee, Niles, IL 60714 847-965-5056 Autumn Bloom Alternative Indoor Gardening 1020 Derby Street Pekin, Illinois 61554 309-642-6943 Prairie House Garden Center 15151 South Harlem Avenue, Orland, IL 60462 708-687-3131 Brew and Grow 3224 South Alpine Road, Rockford, IL 61109 815-874-5700 Brew and Grow 359 W. Irving Park Road Unit E, Roselle, IL 60172 630-894-4885 Brew and Grow 2379 Bode Road, Schaumburg, IL 60440 630-771-0555 Organic Garden Center 9223 Skokie Blvd. Skokie, IL 60077 (847) 675-2722

Inc.

Kreation’s Indoor Gardening Center 3427 Old Chatman Road, Springfield, IL 62704 217-341-0821 Water Works Indoor Gardening 1900 South Dirksen Parkway, Springfield, IL 62703 217-553-6929

INDIANA BWGS-IN 7854 North State Road 37, Bloomington, IN 47404 800-316-1306 Sunleaves Garden Products 7854 North State Road 37, Bloomington, IN 47404 888-464-9676 Worm’s Way Indiana 7850 North State Road 37, Bloomington, IN 47404 800-598-8158 Worm’s Way Mail Order 7850 North State Road 37 Bloomington, IN 47404 800-274-9676 Frogs Lilly Pad, The 706 Citation Road, Carmel, IN 46032 317-846-4610 Hops & Harvest 4616 E. DuPont Road, Suite Q, Fort Wayne, IN 46825 260-918-3035 Harvest Moon Hydroponics 1336 East Washington St. Indianapolis, IN 4620 317-780-8070 Magic Bulb Garden Center 6229 Allisonville Road, Indianapolis, IN 46220 317-202-2852 Five Point Gardens 56555 Oak Road, South Bend, IN 46619 574-287-9232

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

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

LOUISIANA Geaux Hydroponics! 2126 O’Neal Lane, Baton Rouge, LA 70816 225-751-4769 Laughing Buddha Nursery 4516 Clearview Parkway, Metairie, LA 70006 504-887-4336 Urban Organics 285 St. Claude Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70117 504-352-4709 Ourcrazydeals Hydroponics 201 Angus Drive, Yungsville, LA 70592 337-303-6146

MAINE

Natures Palate Indoor Garden Store 1321 Mercer Rd ( rte2) Mercer, Maine 04957 877-587-4150 207-587-4150 Evergreen Garden Center 301 Forest Avenue Portland, ME 04101 207-761-2800 High Tech Garden Supply Maine178 Rand Rd. Portland, ME 04102 Phone 207-899-4387 Green Thumb Indoor Gardening 19 Stage Road, St. Albans, ME 04971 207-938-5909 Urban Garden Center 235 Lewiston Road, Toposhan, ME 04086 207-373-0990 Greenlife Garden Supply 611 US Rt. 1 York, ME 03909 207-363-0844

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

MASSACHUSETTS Greenlife Garden Supply 481 Boston Road, Unit 4, Billerica, MA 01821 978-262-9966 Harvest Moon Hydroponics 29 Washington Street, Route 1 Foxboro, MA 02035 800-660-6977 LiquidSun® MA 8 Lynwood Avenue, Holyoke, MA 01040 413-539-6875 Green Path Garden Supply 276 West Main Street, Northborough, MA 01532 508-393-4181 High Tech Garden Supply 560 Boston Turnpike (Rt.9) Shrewsbury, MA 01545 508-845-4477 New England Hydroponics 15 D College Hwy. (Rt. 10), Southampton, MA 01073 888-529-9025 Worm’s Way Massachusetts 121 Worc-Providence Turnpike, Sutton, MA 01590 800-284-9676

MICHIGAN Cultivation Station of Michigan Inc., The 6540 Allen Road, Allen Park, MI 48101 313-383-1766 Gro Blue Indoor Gardening Supplies 270 W. Liberty Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 734-913-2750 Grow Show, The 4095 Stone School Rd. Ann Arbor, MI 48108 (734)-677-0009 (734)-677-0509

HotHydro® 5245 Jackson Road, Suite F Ann Arbor, MI 48103 734-761-5040; 877-893-0716 Homelight Gardens 3471 S. Huron Road, Bay City, MI 48706 989-922-0088 J&L Growco 206 S. Michigan Avenue, Big Rapids, MI 49307 231-796-1528 Greenway Gardens 916 W 13th St Cadillac, Mi,49601 231-775-7075 Cultivation Station 3 Inc. 46912 Gratiot, Chesterfield, MI 48051 586-949-7453 H2O Grow Supply 3364 Arent Ct Coloma, MI 49038 269-468-3890 Van Hydro 7480 N State, Davison, MI 48423 810-653-8267 Hydro Giant 14455 Ford Rd, Dearborn, MI Hydro Giant 21651 W. 8 Mile Rd. Detroit, MI (8Mile & Lahser) 313-387-7700 313-216-8888 Hydro Heaven 73647 W 8th Mile Road, Detroit, MI 48235 313-861-0333; 877-823-2076 Ultra Lo Hydro ultralohydro.com 937-252-8224 Urban Gardening Center, The 2520 22nd Street, Detroit, MI 48216 313-898-0200 Superior Growers Supply 4870 Dawn Avenue, East Lansing, MI 48823 517-332-2663 Sunnyside Hydroponics 24930 Gratiot Avenue, Eastpoint, MI 48021 586-777-2528 Synthetic Sun Hydroponics, LLC 799 S. Wisconsin Avenue Gaylord, MI 49735 989 731 8800 Growco Garden Supply 1042 Michigan Street, NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 877-939-6900 Home Grown Hydroponix 5333 Plainfield Suite C, Grand Rapids Michigan 49525, 616-361-2924 Horizen Hydroponics 1614 Leonard Street, NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504 866-791-1664 Flower Factory, The 2223 East Highland Road Highland, MI 48356 248-714-9292 Hydro Vision 2858 E Highland rd Highland, MI 48356 Holland Hydroponic Outlet 587-40 East 8th Street Holland, MI 49423 616-298-7395 Synthetic Sun Hydroponics, LLC 9091 W. Lake City Road Houghton Lake, MI 48629 989-422-2800 Hydro Vision 1247 e Grand River Howell, MI 48843 Green Forest Indoor Garden Supply, LLC. 2555 N. State(M-66) Rd. Ionia, MI 48846 616-523-6111

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MAXIMUM YIELD distributors

Horizen Hydroponics 4646 W. Main Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49006 269-567-3333 Kalamazoo Indoor Garden 450 W. Maple, Kalamazoo, MI 49001 269-344-2550 HTG Supply-Lansing Michigan 2815 East Grand River Ave.Lansing, MI 48912 (517) 580-0555 Superior Growers Supply 19582 Middlebelt Road, Livonia, MI 48152 248-473-0450 Northern Lights Hydroponic and Garden Supply 29090 Campbell rd. Madison Heights, MI 48071 248-439-6269 BIg Creek Hydroponics 555 Old Little Lake Road, Marquette, MI 49855 906-249-5297 Growing Consultant 2260 Apple Avenue, Muskegon, MI 49442 231-773-5600 Sunshine Supply Co. 5800 East Pickard Street, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858 989-775-3700 Flo-N-Grow. 214 N. 2nd Street, Niles, MI 49120 269-683-1877 Super Grow 288 W. MONTCALM PONTIAC, MI 48342 248-24SUPER (78737) Green Earth Hydroponics 8127 Portage Rd. Portage, MI 49002 269-342-4190 Hydroponics Highway Inc. 2708 14th Ave. Port Huron MI, 48060 810-982-4769 Home Grown Hydroponics 8075 Gratiot Road, Unit C, Saginaw MI 48609 989-781-1930 Hydro Giant 19363 Eureka Rd, Southgate, MI 734.281.8888 Cultivation Station of Michigan Inc., The 23529 Little Mack Avenue, St. Clair, MI 48080 586-775-9485 High Tech Garden Supply 7889 Telegraph Road. Taylor, MI 48180 313-908-7554 Hydro Grow, The 8210 Telegraph Road, Taylor, MI 48180 313-633-0641 Grow Store, The 90 N U.S. Highway 31 South , Traverse City, MI 49685-7923 231-421-5191 Wild Child 7740 M 72 East, Traverse City, MI 49690 866-711-GROW Hydro Vision 1910 West rd Trenton, MI 48183 Hydroharrys.com 24500 Dequindre, Warren, MI 48091 800-461-8819 Indoor Garden Superstore 2570 Dixie Highway, Waterford Twp., MI 48328 248-673-2200; 877 22 HYDRO Light Green Water 3661 Highland Road, Waterford, MI 48329 248-681-0001 Hydrospot 34236 Michigan Avenue, Wayne, MI 48184 734-722-1285

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Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

Retail Stores listed alphabetically by city in each state.

Synthetic Sun Hydroponics, LLC 3218 W. Houghton Avenue West Branch, MI 48661 989-345-8800 G.C. II Whitehall, MI 49461 231-893-2400 AAA Hydroponics LLC 22 50th Street Wyoming, MI 49504 616-249-8338 Stealth Hydro 15 E. Cross Street, Ypsilanti, MI 48198 866-998-1916

MINNESOTA Duluth Hydroponics 26 W 1st Street Duluth, MN 55802 218-341-7253 Indoor Gardening 10 NE 3rd Street, Faribault, MN 55021 507-209-1546 Brew and Grow 8179 University Avenue, Fridley, MN 55432 612-780-8191 Interior Gardens 115 -1620 Central Avenue NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413 800-498-4178; 612-870-9077 Midwest Hydroponics 5825 Excelsior Blvd., St. Louis Park,MN 55416 888-449-2739 Eden Indoor Organic Gardens 831 Highway 75 North Moorhead, MN 56560 218-477-EDEN (3336) American Garden Supply 601-6th Avenue, North, Princeton, MN 55371 763-631-0543Q Still-H2O Inc. 14375 North 60th Street, Stillwater, MN 55082 651-351-2822 Eco Garden Supply 800 Transfer Door 25 in rear St. Paul, MN 55114 651-647-1896

MONTANA Heightened Harvests 2018 Main Street #4, Billings, MT 59105 406-252-4311 Magic City Organic & Hydroponic Supply 812 Central Billings, MT 59102 (406)-245-LEAF(5323) One World – Life Products 906 Broadwater Billings MT 59101 406 839 9969 Heightened Harvests 3103 Harrison Avenue, Suite B Butte, MT 59701 Alpengrow Nursery Supplies 238 Highway 93 S., Eureka, MT 59917 406-882-4496 Butteopia 127 Main Street, Butte, Montana 59701 1-406-782-8476 Big Sky Garden Supply 528 West Idaho, Kallispell, MT 59901 406-755-1465 Box of Rain Indoor Garden Center 860 N. Meridian Road B-19, Kalispell, MT 59901 406-755-RAIN (7246) Cornucopia Grow Your Own 127 Stoner Creek Road Lakeside, MT 59922 406-709-1076 Dr. Green Thumbs 1106 West Park, Livingston, MO 59047 406-222-7440 Bizzy Beez LLP 5875 Highway 93 S, Whitefish, MT 59937 406-863-9937

NEBRASKA

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

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

MISSOURI

NEVADA

MISSISSIPPI

Let It Grow - Girardeau 879 S. Kings Highway, Cape Girardeau, MO 63703 573-803-0628 Heartland Hydrogardens 705 Vandiver Drive, Suite G HYDROGARDENS Columbia, MO 65202 573-474-4769 Green Circle Hydroponics 12 East Missouri, Kansas City, MO 64106 816-421-1840 Grow Your Own Hydroponics 3617 Saint John Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64123 816-241-2122 Let It Grow - Springfield 2519 E. Kearney Street, Springfield, MO 65803 417-862-GROW U-Grow 1724 North, 13th Street, St. Louis, MO 63106 314-452-6368 Worm’s Way Missouri 1225 North Warson Road, St. Louis, MO 63132 800-285-9676 Green Thumb Organics 249 Mid Rivers Mall Drive, St. Peters, MO 63376 636-397-4769 (GROW)

Carson Valley Hydroponics 2520 Empire Ranch Road, Carson City, NV 89701 775-884-4769 Lorraine Ink 290 Spear Court, Fernley, NV 89408 775-575-7757 Hydro Store, The 1014 W. Sunset Road, Henderson, NV 89014 702-434-7365 AAA Indoor Organic Garden SuperCenter 2101 S. Decatur Boulevard, #21, Las Vegas, NV 89102 702-450-4769 Advanced Gardens Hydroponics 3111 South Valley View, (on Desert Inn West of Valley View) Suite V103 Las Vegas, NV 89102 702-257-4769 Advanced Gardens Hydroponics 7850 Dean Martin Dr. Suite 506 Las Vegas,NV 89139 702-247-4769 All American Hydroponics 2675 East Patrick Lane, Unit 8, Las Vegas, NV 89120 702-894-9888 Best Hydroponic Supply 6818 W Cheyenne, Las Vegas, NV 89108 702-750-9300

Hydro Store, The 7145 W. Ann Road, Las Vegas, NV 89130 702-434-9376 Nevada Hydroponics 4700 B Maryland, Suite 1, Las Vegas, NV 89119 702-798-2852 Anything Grows 190 West Moana Lane, Reno, NV 89509 775-828-1460 Everything Green Hydroponics P.O Box 34869 Reno, Nevada 89533

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

NEW JERSEY Garden State Hydroponics 511 Avenel Street, Avenel, NJ 07001 888-300-8711 Bergen County Hydroponics 70 Essex Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601 201-342-2001 Green Touch 2 Hydroponics Inc. 888 Route 33, Unit 1, Hamilton, NJ 08619 HYDROP ONICS 609-570-8829 East Coast Horticultural Supply 1652 Hurffville Road, Swewell, NJ 08080 856-228-5290 77HYDRO 37 Fairfield Place, West Caldwell, NJ 07006 877-774-9376 Claraqua 4 Redwood Court, West Windsor, NJ 08550

greentouch2

NEW MEXICO AHL Year Round Garden Supply 1051 San Mateo Blvd. SE, Albuquerque, NM 87108 505-255-3677 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 Common Shaman 1319 San Mateo N.E., Albuquerque, NM 87110 505-255-6463 All Seasons Gardening 1228 Parkway, Suite E Sante Fe, NM 87507 505-438-GROW Santa Fe Hydroponics 821 W. San Mateo Road, Suite 4, Santa Fe, NM 87505 505-467-8454

NEW YORK Saratoga Organics & Hydroponic Supply 19 Front Street, Ballston Spa, NY 12020 518-885-2005; 800-850-4769 The Grape Vine 4020 Hempstead Turnpike Bethpage,NY,11714 516-731-1100 Bronx Hydro & Garden 39 Bruckner Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10454 718-993-3787 Bklyn Hydro & Garden 316 McGuiness Blvd Brooklyn NY 11222 718-383-0095 Brooklyn Farms 51Hicks Street St. Brooklyn, NY 11231 347-725-3491

INC.

Indoor Outdoor Gardener 8223 5th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11209 718-836-2402 Hydroponics of Buffalo 1497 Hertel Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14216 716-838-3545 Harvest Moon Hydroponics 340 West at 59, Central Nyack, NY 10960 California Hydroponics 27 Corporate Circle, East Syracuse, NY 13057 315-432-9387 Upstate Hydroponics 2026 Lake Rd unit B Elmira, NY 14903 607 483 9199 FutureGarden Inc. 59 Central Avenue, Farmingdale, NY 11735 516-420-0884 East Coast Hydroponics 14649 Horace Harding Exp, Flushing, NY 11367 718-762-8880 Healthy Harvest Organics and Hydro 163 Broadway, Fort Edwart, NY 12828 518-480-4698 Greentree Nursery 308 Elmira Road, Ithaca, NY 14850 607-272-3666 Hudson Valley Hydroponics 217 Route 32 North, New Paltz, NY 12561 845-255-3633 Sunlight Solutions Hydroponics 2045 Niagara Falls Boulevard, Suite 13, Niagara Falls, NY 14304 888-GROWBOX The Grow Room 8 Bridge Street, Nyack, NY 10960 800-449-9630 Revolution Hydroponics 309 West State St. Olean NY 14760 716.373.Grow (4769) Mor Gro Hydroponics 5680 State Route 104 E Oswego , NY 13126 315-877-8725 Environmental Gardens 8 John Walsh Boulevard, Suite 310 Peekskills, NY 10566 800-254-0507; 914-736-6676 Harvest Moon Hydroponics Henrietta Townline Plaza, 3047 West Henrietta Road, Rochester, NY 14623 716-865-7353 Hydro Garden Center 1069B Lyell Avenue, Rochester, NY 14606 1-800-277-1322 Sunset Hydroponics & Home Brewing 1590 West Ridge Road, Rochester, NY 14615 866-395-9204 KG Garden Supply 1327 Floyd Avenue, Rome, NY 13440 1-877-KG-HYDRO Hydroponics Shops of America 2606 Erie Boulevard, Syracuse, NY 13224 315-251-2516 Green Zone Hydroponics 2148 Niagara Falls Blvd. Tonawanda, NY. 14150 716-693-9663 Harvest Moon Hydroponics 147 Fourth Street, Troy, NY 10960

NORTH CAROLINA Fifth Season Gardening Company 21 B Westside Dr. Asheville NC 28806 828-225-5007

Fifth Season Gardening Company 45 Banks Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801 828-253-4112 Fifth Season Gardening Company 106 South Greensboro Street, Carrboro, NC 27510 919-932-7600 Be Well Hydroponics & Urban Gardening 4732 Monroe Road, Charlotte, NC 28205 704-344-8010 BWGS-NC 4045 Perimeter West Drive,Suite 400, Charlotte, NC 28214 800-316-1306 High Tech Garden Supply 2712 B Freedom Drive Charlotte, NC 28208 704-697-0911 Flow & Grow Hydroponics & Organic Garden Center 4521 Cumberland Road, Fayetteville, NC 28306 910-423-FLOW (3569) Fifth Season Gardening Company 1616 D-3 Battleground Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27408 336-271-3373 Good Harvest Garden Center 629 Oakridge Farm Hwy. Mooresville NC 28115 704-658-9136 Fifth Season Gardening Company 5619-A Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27606 919-852-4747 New Age Gardens 2236A US Highway 70, Swannanoa, NC 28778 828-299-9989 All Season Hydroponics 890 South Kerr Avenue, Wilmington, NC 28410 Progressive Gardens 6005 Oleander Drive, Wilmington, NC 28403 910-395-1156

OHIO Akron Garden Center 434 W Wilbeth Road, Akron, OH 44314 330-724-2700 Summit Hydroponics 1030 Kenmore Boulevard Akron, OH 44314-2114 330-753-5222 Campbells Indoor Gardening Supplies 1721 Greenville Road Bristolville, OH 44402 330-889-0049 Magic Home Gardens 209 Cemetery Road, Canal Winchester, OH 43110 614-837-2440 Dayton Hydroponics 4920 Provident Drive Cincinnati, Ohio 45246 513-942-7111 Eastside Hydroponics 550 Ohio Pike Cincinnati, OH 45255 513-528-GROW Kissed by the Sun Hydroponic 10740 Reading Road, Cincinnati, OH 45241 513-769-0159 Cleveland Garden Center Inc. 727 East 185th Street, Cleveland, OH 44119 216-481-7868 Grow Wizard, The 5700 Denison Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44102 216-961-2500 Herb-N-Garden Center 14901 Puritas Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44135 216-252-2001 Garden Indoors of Ohio 4720 Indianola Avenue, Columbus, OH 43214 800-833-6868

Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

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MAXIMUM YIELD distributors

Magic Home Garden 4538 Indianola Avenue, Columbus, OH 43214 614-263-2440 Garden Connections 3341 Centerpoint Dr. Grove City OH 43123 614 871 0707 Advanced Hydrorganics Indoor Garden Center 5204 Darrow Road, Hudson, OH 44236 234-380-1287 Sweet Greens 5540 Brecksville Road Independence, OH 44131 800-421-7084 Hydro Gardens and Lights 1144 N Memorial Drive Lancaster, OH 43130 705-65 Hydro Carefree Garden Center 134 West Drive, Lodi, OH 44254 330-302-4203 CropKing 134 West Drive, Lodi, OH 44254 330-302-4203 The Grow Shop 165 Davids St. Marion OH 43302 P: 740 223 7467 Urban Gardens 671 E. Center Street Marion, OH 43302 740-375-2800 Top Garden Products 8600 East Avenue Suite C. Mentor, OH 44060 440-290-8773 Indoor Gardens 1222 Hill Road, North, Pickerington, OH 43147 614-866-6065 Trinity Hydro Organics 465 Woodman Drive Riverside, OH 45431 937-252-GROW Toledo Hydroponics Ltd. 855 S. Holland-Sylvania Road, Suite 2 Toledo, OH 43615 1-877-893-0716 Greenleaf Hydroponics 1805 Elm Road, Warren, OH 44483 330-372-1039 Dayton Hydroponics 3856 Miamisburg-Centerville Road, West Carrolton, OH 45449 937-859-3999 Harvest Moon 9215 Market Street, Youngstown (North Lima), OH 44452 800-776-8399 Indoor Garden Worx 906 Blue Avenue, Zanesville, OH 43701 866-900-9679

OKLAHOMA Tulsa County Hydro-Organics 1928 W. Albany, Broken Arrow, OK 74012 918-259-HYDRO AAAAHA! Hydroponics Unlimited P.O. Box 74, Oakhurst, OK 74050 Organics OKC Garden Supply 3620 N Pennsylvania Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73118 405-528-GROW The OKC Urban Gardener 3711 N. Western Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73118 405-521-9300 Urban Garden 3141 E. 15th Street, Tulsa, OK 74104 918-289-0018

OREGON Aqua Serene 465 Applegate Way, Ashland, OR 97520 541-482-7600

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Maximum Yield USA | July 2011

Retail Stores listed alphabetically by city in each state.

Astoria Indoor Garden Supply 1343 Duane St. Unit C Astoria OR 97103 503 468 0606 Rogue Silicates Inc. POB 21, Azalea, OR 97410 541-837-8590 B.I.G.S. 155 SW Century Drive, Suite 401, Bend, OR 97702 541-385-5222 Herb N’ Jungle Hydroponics 930 SE Textron Drive, Bend, OR 97702 541-382-4010 Northern Light and Garden Beaverton 9290 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway, Beaverton, OR 97005 503-297-7331 Westcoast Organic and Hydroponic Supply 12410 SE 282nd Avenue, Unit C Boring, OR 97009 503-766-4106 The Good Earth Organics 30088 Redwood Highway, Cave Junction, OR 97523 541-592-4496 Anthony’s Garden & Light Supply 93779 B Troy Lane, Coos Bay, OR 97420 541-266-8822 Corvallis Hydroponics & Organics 5490 SW Philomath Boulevard, Corvallis, OR 97333 541-738-2820 Aqua Serene 2836 W. 11th Avenue, Eugene, OR 97402 541-302-9073 Aurora Innovations PO Box 22041, Eugene, OR 97402 866-376-8578 SunInside Gardening Co. 665 Conger, Unit F, Eugene, OR 97402 541-686-9966 Advanced Indoor Gardens 17831 se 82nd drive Gladstone, OR 97027 503 305 6341 Northern Light and Garden Grants Pass 1203 Rogue River Highway, Grants Pass, OR 97527 541-474-1700 Paradise Supply LLC 560 NE. “F” Street, Unit C, Grand Pass, OR 97526 541-955-7293 Vital Organix 932-B SE “M” Street Grants Pass, OR 97526 541-226-9283 Oregon Rainforest Co. 19949 E. Burnside Street, Gresham, OR 97233503-465-9909 In & Out Gardens 93484 Hwy 99 South Junctin City OR 97448 541-234-2342 Basin Indoor Gardening 1221 Main Street, Klamath Falls, OR 97601 541-273-2023 Green Zone Garden Center & Hydroponic Supplies 1845 S W Hwy. 101 Ste. 3 Lincoln OR 97367 USA 541 994 7070 H2organic LCC 620 NE 3rd Street, McMinnville, OR 97128 503-434-6107 Green Thumb Hydrogarden and Organic Supply 2021 West Main Street, Medford, OR 97501 541-779-8600 Growing Crazy (Hooked On Hydroponics) 817 W. 2nd Street, Medford, OR 97501 In & Out Gardens 1574 Skypark Drive Medford, OR 97501 541-858-3333

Ladybug Indoor Gardens 3960 W. Main Street, Medford, OR 97501 541-618-4459 Advanced Organics & Garden Supply 290- B Merlin Avenue Merlin, Oregon 97532 541-659-1466 Indoor Garden Depot 15828 SE McGloughlin Boulevard, Milwaukie, OR 97267 503-786-2445 H2organic LCC 620 NE 3rd Street, McMinnville, OR 97128 503-434-6107 Wizard’s Garden, LLC 621 Spruce Street, Unit C, Myrtle Point, OR 97458 541-572-2333 Green Zone Garden Center & Hydroponic Supplies 454 S.W. Coast Hwy Newport OR 97365 USA P: 541-265-8252 Gorilla Garden Supply 1810 Virginia Avenue, Garden Supplies North Bend, OR 97459 541-756-5005 American Agriculture 9220 Southeast Stark Street, Portland, OR 97216 800-433-6805 Bloom Garden Supply 518 NE 20th Ave. Portland, OR 97232 (971)255-1336 Everybody’s Garden Center 2701 SE 14th Avenue, Portland, OR 97202 800-669-5483 Garden Spout, The 4532 South East 63rd Avenue, Portland, OR 97206 503-788-4769 Homegrown Garden Supply 7112 NE Gilsan Street, Portland, OR 97213 877-EZ2-GROW Island Flowers & Indoor Garden Center 909 N. Tomahawk Island Drive, Suite 103, Portland, OR 97217 503-546-3185 Lights Distributing 9843 SW 55th Avenue, Portland, OR 97219 Rain or Shine 13126 NE Airport Way, Portland, OR 97230 503-255-1981 Roots Garden Supply 5426 North Gay Avenue, Portland, OR 97217 503-285-4768 Urban Flora 2865 South East, Portland, OR 97214 503-236-3344 BIGS Warehouse 2606 SW 4th Street, Unit B Redmond, OR 97756 541-504-8886 Indoor Garden Supply 536 SW 6th Street (rear alley), Redmond, OR 97756 541-504-7750 DC Hydroponics & Organics 7275 Green Siding Rd. Roseburg, OR 97471 541-679-3700 Roseburg Hydroponics 853 SE Stephens Street, Roseburg, OR 97470 541-229-1420 Indoor Garden Center 1697 SE 25th Street, Salem, OR 97302 503-566-7888 Northern Light and Garden Salem 1915 Lancester Drive, Salem, OR 97305 503-364-4769 Cascade Horticulture 39570 Pioneer Boulevard, Sandy, OR 97055 503-668-8242

Moonshine Park Farm 135 South East 62nd, Unit F South Beach, OR 97366 541-444-2298 J-N-B Hydro 2 Go 155 West Central Avenue, Sutherlin, OR 97479 541-459-9211 Grow America Garden Supply LLC 11511 SW Pacific Highway, Tigard, OR 97223 503-841-6868

PENNSYLVANIA

Pocono Hydroponic Solutions 25 Route 611 Bartonsville, PA 18321 Tel: 570-730-4544 Green Solutions Hydroponics 1700 Orange Street Berwick, PA 18603 570-752-1530 Garden Indoors of Pennsylvania 208 Route 13, Bristol, PA 19007 800-227-4567 422 GROW 1775 North Main Street Extension Butler, PA 16001-1327 724-561-3777 High Tech Garden Supply 20232 Route 19, Unit 6, Cranberry Twp., PA 16066 724-473-1113 Home Hydroponics of Pittsburgh 830 Route 119, Greensburg, PA 15601 724-836-1118 Buds to Blooms Garden and Supply Co., LLC 509 Orchard Avenue Kennett Square, PA 19348 484-860-8056 Flairform POB 1417, Lansdale, PA 19446 215-395-6353 RH Distribution POB 1417 Lansdale, PA 19446 888-545-8112 Hydro Ponics of Harrisburg 310 South 10th Street, Lemoyne, PA 17043 877-684-3808 Always Green Garden Supply 4400 Old William Penn Hwy Ste. 106 Monroeville PA 15146 412 646 1243 New Stanton Hydro 150 Post Ave. New Stanton, PA. 15672 724-635-0297 Full Bloom Hydroponics 84 South 24th Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203 888-872-3602 Home Hydroponics of Pittsburgh 2008 Smallman Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-232-7030 Healthy Gardens and Supply 1012 Lincoln Avenue, Prospect Park, PA 19076 866-32-HYDRO Home Hydroponics of Pittsburgh 9 North Main St. Washington, PA 15301 724-222-0200 Western Pennsylvania Innovative Gardening 1177 Pittsburgh Road, Suite 103 Valencia, PA 16059 724 - 903 - 0800 Organic Garden Center 800 Washington Blvd. Williamsport, PA 17701 570-322-3120 National Garden Wholesale/Sunlight Supply 450 Grim Lane, York,PA 17406 877-779-7111(Northeast) PA Hydroponics & Home Gardening Supply 20 Quaker Church Road, York Springs, PA 17372 717-528-4175

RHODE ISLAND

Oakworld Garden Center 39 West Street, Barrington, RI 02806 401-245-5705

Solar Seed Hydroponics, Inc. 2406 Putman Pike, Chepachet, RI 02814 401-710-9010 Organically Grown 768 Atwood Ave Cranston, RI 02920 401-944-0549 Hydro-Earth 1243 Mineral Springs Avenue, North Providence, RI 02904 401-305-5520 Mother Nature Hydroponics 1268 Post Rd. Warwick RI 02888 401 780 0600 LiquidSun® RI 1179 Central Avenue, Pawtucket, MA 02861 401-722-2724 Good To Grow 34 Nooseneck Hill Road West Greenwich, RI 02817 401-392-3100 Growin’ Crazy 93 Kingston Road Wyoming, Rhode Island 02898 401-284-0810

SOUTH CAROLINA

GreenSpirit Hydrogarden 1864 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC 29405 843-225-1GRO; 247 Garden Supply 535 D Clemson Road, Columbia, SC 29229 803-788-4445 All Good Hydroponics & Gardening 6729 Two Notch Road, Columbia, SC 29223 803-708-4819 All Season Hydroponics 6729 Two North Road, 10B Columbia, SC 29223 803-708-4819 All Season Hydroponics 1350 Hwy. 501 Business, Store 3&4 Conway, SC 29526 843-347-9266 Green Thumb Unique Gardening & More 1230 Rutherford Road, Greenville, SC 29609 864-271-8830 Greenspirit Hydrogardens 3600 Unite 1 Hwy.17 S. North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582 843-361-7777

SOUTH DAKOTA

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

TENNESSEE

Atlantis Hydroponics 1800 Rossville Avenue, #3, Chattanooga, TN 37408 423-752-5400 Advanced Hydroponic Garden 783 French Mill Road, Dandridge, TN 37725 800-521-1643 Perpetual Harvest 75 Riverport Drive, Jackson, TN 38301 877-422-3391 Advanced Hydroponic Garden 6912 Clinton Highway, Knoxville, TN 37921 866-938-3318 Sun City Hydroponics 2235 Whitten Road, Suite 104, Memphis, TN 38133 901-372-8100 National Garden Wholesale/Sunlight Supply 126 Belinda Parkway, Mt. Juliet, TN 37122 888-265-9005 All Seasons Gardening and Brewing Supply Co. 924 8th Avenue, South, Nashville, TN 37203 800-790-2188 Worm’s Way Tennessee 901 Main Street, Nashville, TN 37072 800-397-4153

TEXAS

Abundant Harvest Hydroponics & Organics 3101 Avenue E East, Marshall, TX 76011 817-649-0100 Brite Ideas Hydroponics & Organics 4360 S.Congress Avenue, #310, Austin, TX 78745 512-444-2100 Texas Hydroponics & Organics (Central Austin) 5126 Burnet Road, Austin, TX 78756 512-459-4769 Texas Hydroponics & Organics (South Austin) 2125-A Goodrich Avenue, Austin, TX 78704 512-440-4769 Happy Harvest Hydroponics & Organic 1500 C rescent Drive, Suite 202 Carrollton, TX 75006 972-466-1300 GroGreen Hydroponics 4015 Main Street, Dallas, TX 75226 214-370-9984 Jolly Green Hydroponics (Greenhouse Horticultural Supplies) 13628 Neutron Road, Dallas, TX 75244 (866) WE-JOLLY; 469-341-5555 Lone Star Hydroponics and Organics 1302 Motor Circle, Dallas, TX 75207 214-634-9376 Texas Hydroponics & Organics (Dallas) 3400 Elm Street, Dallas, TX 75226 214-744-4769 Organic Garden & Feed 3801 N Interstate Hwy 35,Suite126, Denton Texas 76207 940-381-9890 Earth Organics 1360 Lee Trevino Drive,Suite 105 El Paso, TX 79936 915-591-9500 Airline Hydroponics P.O. Box 980904, Trader’s Village #363, Houston, TX 77098 713-942-0484 Botani Garden 15120 Bellaire Blvd Houston, TX 77083 281-575-1999 Houston Discount Hydroponics 9384 Richmond Avenue, Houston, TX 77063 713-464-9406 Hydroponic Nation 9700 Almeda Genoa Road, Suite 108, Houston, TX 77075 281-501-9636 Texas Hydroponics & Organics (Houston) 7730 A Park Place Boulevard, Houston, TX 77087 713-641-4769 Ultimate Hydroponic Garden Supply 6125 West Sam Houston Parkway, North Suite 206 Houston, TX 77041 713-856-8425 Texas Growers Supply 5990 N. Sam Houston Pkwy. E. #602, Humble, TX 77396 281-441-3739 Field of Dreams Indoor Growing Supplies 5302 Slide Road Unit B,Lubbock, TX 79414 806-793-2901 Hydro Mart 3841 Main Street, Rowlett, TX 75088 972-475-6114 Sol Organics & Hydroponics 1634 Babcock Road, San Antonio, TX 78229 210-366-9082 GreenMaker Nursery 3030 Northwest Loop, Stephenville, TX 76401 254-965-7273 Innergrow Hydroponics 24451 Interstate Highway 20, Wills Point, TX 75169 866-475-4769

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MAXIMUM YIELD distributors

UTAH

Wasatch Hydroponics 4050 South Howick, Suite 11E, Salt Lake City, Utah 84107 801-716-4133 Salt Lake Plant & Hydro 60 West 3300 S. #6 South Salt Lake, UT 84115 801-488-3200

VERMONT

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

VIRGINIA

Fifth Season Gardening Company 900 Preston Ave. Charlottesville VA 22903 434-293-2332 Clean & Green Technologies 196 Corning Drive, Christiansburg, VA 24073 866-694-1628 I Love Hydroponics 612 N. Sheppard Street, Richmond, VA 23221 804-377-3020 Lucky Roots 612 North Sheppard St. Richmond, VA 23221 804-377-3020 Blue Ridge Hydroponics & Home Brewing Company The Williamson Road Plaza, 5327 D Williamson Road Roanoke, VA 24012 540-265-2483 Inside-Out Garden Supply 6517 Backlick Road, Springfield, VA 22150 703-451-3259 I Love Hydroponics 368 Newtown Road, #105, Virginia Beach, VA 23462 757-490-5425 Hydroponics & Growlights 13400 Occoquan Road, Woodbridge, VA 22191 703-490-0700

West VIRGINIA

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

WASHINGTON

Island Horticulture Supply 8608 S March Point Rd. Anacortes WA 98221 360 293 0000 Mike’s Indoor Garden Supply 6121 172nd Street NE #A, Arlington, WA 98223 (360) 474-1900 Belfair Garden & Lighting 24090 NE State Route 3 #F Belfair,WA 98528 360-275-2130 Green Gardens Distributing 12738 Bel-Red Road, Bellevue, WA 98005 425-454-5731 Northern Lights Gardening 4159 Hannegan Road, Bellingham, WA 98225 360-715-8585 Liquid Sunshine Hydroponics 5087 Lincoln Road, Blaine, WA 98230 Kitsap Garden & Lighting 2130 6th Street, Bremerton, WA 98312 360-377-1277 M & R Lighting Unit C 22914 Highway 410, Buckley, WA 98390 253-891-4190

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Retail Stores listed alphabetically by city in each state.

Indoor Tropics 5930 Sunburst Lane #B Cashmere, WA 98815 509-470-7782 Garden Smart 500 Bond Drive, Castlerock, WA 98611 360-274-7960 Grow Center, The 615 South Fir DeerPark WA 99006 509-276-GROW Healthy Grow Indoor Garden Supplies 10 SE Everett Mall Way Suite B Everett WA 98208 425-374-2227 Indoor Garden Depot 1401 S. 324th Street, Federal Way, WA 98003 253-874-1112 North West Hydro Supply 1355Pacific Pl Unit 117 Ferndale WA 98248-7824 360-778-3254 Good 2 Gro 3507 W Clearwater Ave. Kennewick WA 99336 509 737 1313 Indoor Garden & Lighting 714 South Central Avenue, Kent, WA 98032 253-373-9060 Kent Garden Supplies Ltd. 18817 East Valley Highway, Kent, WA 98032 425-251-9299 Grogro Hydro 12403 NE. 124th Street, Kirkland, WA 98034 888-7-GROGRO 425-820-6200 KP Indoor Garden Store 8912 Key Peninsula HWY N Lakebay, WA 98349 253-884-SURE (7873) InDoor Gardening 1158 Commerce Longview WA, 98632 360-353-3851 Indoor Garden & Lighting 20505 Highway 99,, Lynnwood, WA 98036 425-673-2755 Go-N-Green Hydroponics 1241 State Ave Suite #102 Marysville, WA 98270 (360)386-8230 Green Acres Indoor Garden & Lighting 514 State Ave Suite #102 Marysville, WA 98270 360-658-GROW (4769) Island Hydroponic & Supplies 1515 5th Street #B, Marysville, WA 98271 425-299-5855 M & R Lighting 17238 Memorial Drive, Mt. Vernon, WA 98273 360-848-1080 Northern Lights Gardening 1524 Riverside Dr #2 Mt. Vernon, WA 98273 360-982-2217 Indoor Garden & Lighting 8606 Preston Fall City Rd. SE Preston WA 98050 425 222 9661 Linda’s Gardening & Hydroponics 11522 Canyon Road East, Puyallup, WA 98373 253-531-9641 Renton Indoor Garden Center 207 Sunset Blvd. N, Building A, Renton, WA 98055 425-917-9000 Eco Enterprises 1240 NE 175th Street, #B Shoreline, WA 98155 800-426-6937 Aqua Serene 3839 Stone Way North, Seattle, WA 98103 206-547-GROW (4769) Grogro Hydro 12316 32nd AVE NE #103 Seattle, WA 98125

Hydro-Tech 2121 Aurora Avenue, North, Seattle, WA 98103 206-547-2202 Sodo Hydro 1727 1st Ave. South, Seattle, WA 98134 206-682-9377 888-90HYDRO (904-9376) Northwest Horticulture Supply 161 Hooker Road, #1, Sequim, WA 98057 360-582-0702 509 Grow 2718 N Division Spokane, WA 99207 509-327-GROW(4769) Grow Center, The 2808 W Sprague Spokane WA 99202 509-456-GROW River City Hydroponics 1514 East Francis Avenue, Spokane, WA 99208 509-464-0246 Spokane Organic and Hydroponic Supply 4823 East Sprague Avenue E., Spokane Valley, WA 99212 509-534-4055 Green Tree Hydroponics and Garden 12316 Pacific Ave South Tacoma, WA 98444 253-536-1791 Indoor Garden & Lighting 3839 6th Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98406 253-761-7478 Solar Shop 306 West 4th Street, Tonasket, WA 98855 509-486-4508 Indoor Garden Depot 6400 NE Highway 99, Suite H, Vancouver, WA 98665 360-993-7779 National Garden Wholesale / Sunlight Supply 4525 NW Fruit Valley Road, Vancouver, WA 98660 888-478-6544 (Northwest) National Garden Wholesale / Sunlight Supply 5408 NE 88th Street, Building A, Vancouver, WA 98665 888-478-6544 VM Indoor Garden Supply 2903 NE 109th Ave Ste. D Vancouver, WA 98682 P: (360) 256-2933 Indoor Garden Supply LLC 1250 Atlantic Ave, Woodland, WA 98674 360-841-8055

WISCONSIN Aric’s Indoor Garden Supply 1104 West Wisconsin Avenue, Appleton, WI 54914 920-574-3258 Grow BIG Hydroponics 954 S. Westland, Appleton, WI 54914 920-749-4769 Brew and Grow 285 N. Janacek Road, Brookfield, WI 53045 262-789-0555 Garden Supply Guys 752 Memorial Drive - Suite A Green Bay, WI 54303 920-857-9493 Brew and Grow 3317 Agriculture Drive, Madison, WI 53716 608-226-8910 Paradigm Gardens 4539 Helgesen Drive, Madison, WI 53718 608-241-3800

PUERTO RICO Tecno-Hydro Ave Campo Rico GJ17, PO Box 1450 Carolina, PR 00982 787-752-8252

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