Maximum Yield UK January/February 2011

UK January - February 2011

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Plant obesity

Growing it big!

Fertilizers or Additives ...or Both? www.maximumyield.com

2011

Indoor gardenING expo Denver

Colorado, USA March 31- April 3

SAN FRancisco California, USA July 16-17

long beach california, usa october 22-23

indoorgardeningexpo.com

Coming up on the Web The Maximum Yield Indoor Gardening Expos – Coming to Three USA Cities Plan a trip to the United States in 2011 to visit one of three unique and exciting Indoor Gardening Expos. Come visit us in Denver, Colorado (March 31 to April 3, 2011), San Francisco, California (July 16 to 17, 2011) and Long Beach, California (October 22 to 23, 2011). Full details and dates will be available at www.indoorgardeningexpo.com

Featured Articles Greener Gardens Education is the most valuable aspect one can acquire when setting up an indoor garden. Check out these efficient practices that may help you minimize waste and error in the garden.

Preventing and Reacting to Nutrient Deficiencies Understanding the symptoms of different nutrient deficiencies can make diagnosis and treatment a simple process. Gain a better understand of the three most common nutrient deficiencies: nitrogen, iron and magnesium.

Humidity, Vapour Pressure Deficit and the Transpiration Stream

I N D O O R

G A R D E N I N G

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

If undeliverable please return to the address above.

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

Publication Agreement Number 40739092 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 Christina Indseth- christina@maximumyield.com Ashley Heppell - ashley@maximumyield.com PRODUCTION & DESIGN ads@ads.maximumyield.com Mike Linden - mike@maximumyield.com Wes Cargill - wes@maximumyield.com Daniel Peters - daniel@maximumyield.com Nicole Tennison - nicole@maximumyield.com Jenn Duong - jennifer@maximumyield.com ACCOUNTING - Lee Anne Veres leeanne@maximumyield.com

Relative humidity is fairly easy to measure, but it can be difficult to know what to level aim for, how to adjust levels and how levels will affect your plants. Uncover the answers to these and other humidity-related questions.

Connect with Maximum Yield

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

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

contributors

Dr. Lynette Morgan holds a B. Hort.

Donald Lester is the plant

Glory Lennon’s four acre lot includes an arboretum, a thriving koy pond with water lilies, two greenhouses and an orchard. She writes a garden column for a local paper and contributes to several on-line gardening websites and now Maximum Yield. Visit www.helium. com, www.greenthumbarticles.com and www.myspace.com/glorygarden

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

William Texier started hydroponics in 1985, doing research and development for General Hydroponics in California.

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

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

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

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

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.

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Maximum Yield UK | January / February 2011

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.

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

CONTENTS january / february 2011 FEATURES 18

24

18

Moisture Matters

24

How to Start Gardening Early in the Year

28

Fertilizers or Additives...or Both?

34

How to Care for Holiday Plants After the Festivities

36

Plant Obesity: Choosing Higher Yields Over Healthy Crops

40

Biological Products in Indoor Gardens

44

Safety in the Grow Room

by Dr. Lynette Morgan

by Emma Cooper

by William Texier

by Glory Lennon

by Evan Folds

by Donald Lester

by Matt LeBannister

DEPARTMENTS 40

4

Maximum Yield.com

6

From the Editor

6

Letters to the Editor

8

Simon Says

10

MAX Facts

14

Product Spotlight

42

Talking Shop

46

You Tell Us

49

Do You Know?

49

Coming up in March/April

50

Max Mart

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Maximum Yield UK | January / February 2011

5

FROM THE editor

jessica raymond

The future looks great for the indoor gardening industry and we are proud to be helping you lead the way to growing more, growing bigger and growing green.

We have some excellent articles and issues planned for you in 2011 and of course the highly anticipated Indoor Gardening Expo Tour. Meet and greet with industry leaders and see firsthand the products and technologies that will help you grow. Stay tuned to www.indoorgardenexpo.com for more show details.

This issue kicks off the year with some pertinent topics such as biological products, plant obesity, moisture, safety in the grow room and more. Plus, discover the interesting array of new products that are bound to make a big difference in your grow room.

To celebrate the New Year, Maximum Yield is offering even more chances to win with our latest prize offerings in our Win Big…Grow Big online reader competition. Enter as many times as you like at maximumyield.com/winbigUK.php for your chance to win BIG!

Jessica Raymond, Editor

Happy New Year wishes for a happy, healthy, productive year!

editor@maximumyield.com

letters to the editor Tried and True Deficiency Detectors Can you guys publish a series on nutrient deficiencies and how to deal with them?

C. Green This issue of Maximum Yield USA features Matt LeBannister detailing the nutrient deficiencies that lead to yellowing leaves. Similar articles will be published in the future as well so stay tuned. You can also check out the following articles on maximumyield.com by searching our article archives: “Detecting and Dealing with Nutrient Deficiencies,” “Nutrients: Beyond Macros and Micros” and “Plant Nutrient Elements Part 1 and 2.”

MY.com Insight I love the magazine, but I can’t access a search feature or features from previous issues (such as Paul Foster’s in depth account of what algae looks like). How can I do that?

Thanks Judy Listello Although MaximumYield.com doesn’t have a general search function, you can search by author and article (under Resources on the main page) and issue (left hand side of main page). Simply click on View All Editions of Maximum Yield.

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Maximum Yield UK | January / February 2011

Grow Lessons All Year Long I am currently working with an aquaponics system at a public school in Leicester.

I was told about your magazine by my local garden centre. I would like to subscribe to your magazine.

Please advise Todd I love this magazine. I think it’s brilliant and very handy I would love to receive this monthly. I was just wondering how much it would cost to subscribe to the monthly magazine.

Richard Evans You can subscribe to Maximum Yield by visiting http://maximumyield.com/subscriptions.php or by calling our office at 1-250-729-2677.

Maximum Yield reserves the right to edit for brevity.

We Want To Hear From You! Write Us At: Maximum Yield Publications Inc. 2339A Delinea Place, Nanaimo, BC Canada V9T 5L9 or editor@maximumyield.com

SIMON says

Hi Simon, I want to use the water from my rain barrel to water my indoor plants.

Currently the rain barrel has a screen over it. What can I do to get rid of any negative substances or organisms in the water, in addition to using the screen, before using the water inside? Maximum Yield is doing great work. The articles are educational and inspiring. I’ve learned a lot from this magazine. Keep up the great work.

Hue Captured rainwater is a valuable asset for gardeners. Although most people use that water outside, it’s a great idea to use it in your indoor space. For an indoor garden, rainwater presents some problems that an outdoor gardener may not consider. Be mindful of algae and mineralization (such as zinc coating for moss reduction on roofing), which can come off roofing materials. In addition, microbes will invariably follow the water down the gutters and into your catchment area. A screen does a great job of filtering debris but won’t help with algae or microbes.

Sterilizing the water is good idea given the lack of biological diversity found in indoor gardens and the speed at which pathogens can spread. The use of an oxidizer such as hydrogen peroxide or ozone is the easiest and most cost effective way to purify your water.You can also pump it through a reverse osmosis machine, which will last a long time between filter changes due to the relative purity of rainwater.

Considering the purity of the water, you should also consider using it to inoculate your garden media with beneficial microbes. Consider using it for your own aerated compost tea or commercially available beneficial microbes.

Good luck in the garden.

Do you have a question for Simon?

Send it to simon@maximumyield.com with the words “Simon Says” in the subject line, and your answer will be printed in an upcoming edition.

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Maximum Yield UK | January / February 2011

MAX

facts

hydroponic news, tips and trivia from around the world

Maximum Yield Announces 2011 Expo Tour Get Ready to Grow Big ______________________________________ The 2011 Maximum Yield Indoor Gardening Expo Tour has been announced and we are proud to be hosting in Colorado (March 31 to April 3), San Francisco (July 16 to 17 ) and Long Beach (October 22 to 23). Full details and dates will be available made available on www.indoorgardeningexpo.com. The Maximum Yield Indoor Gardening Expos are the industry’s best opportunity to meet with manufacturers and check out the latest and greatest products, technologies and techniques. The Maximum Yield Expo Experience is a two-day, preeminent educational event. Plan to visit the United States and attend one, two or all three of these phenomenal 2011 events. For more information call Maximum Yield at 1-250-729-2677 and stay tuned to indoorgardeningexpo.com for event updates and details for each expo.

School Gardening Enhances Academic, Social and Physical Skills in Children _____________ A new report from the Royal Horticultural Society has found that when children garden they develop increased life skills, greater literacy and numeracy and are more responsive to the challenges of adult life. Carried out by the National Foundation for Educational Research, the report makes a strong argument for the academic, social and physical benefits of a garden plot. A nice spill-over effect was that children became so enthusiastic that they wanted to start gardens at home as well. Children that garden spend less time at the computer or watching the television.

To advance the cause, there are a number of organizations in the UK that are working on school gardens. The Royal Horticultural Society has a Campaign for School Gardening, which encourages schools to participate. They provide information for teachers and students about how to get started and how to progress. So far 12,000 schools are involved. Over the next three years they will be training 4,500 to become active participants.

(Source: www.treehugger.com)

Forced Use of Biofuels Could Hit Food Production Research Could Offer Alternative to Genetically-Engineered Crops ____________

Plans to make European motorists use more biofuels could take an area the size of Ireland out of food production by 2020, a study has found. Calculations suggest that the indirect effect of the switch will be to take between 4.1 and 6.9 million hectares out of food production.

Trees will be cleared, wetlands will be under threat and a range of species will be pushed to the brink if these proposals go ahead. European biofuel targets could result in up to 100 million more hungry people, increased food prices and landlessness. The United Nations has singled out biofuel demand as a major factor in what it estimates will be as much as a 40 per cent increase in food prices over the coming decade.

(Source: www.guardian.co.uk)

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Maximum Yield UK | January / February 2011

New findings from research scientists could lead to environmentally-friendly sprays that help plants survive drought and other stresses in harsh environments.

Scientists determined precisely how the plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) works at the molecular level to help plants respond to environmental stresses such as drought and cold.

One of ABA’s effects is to cause plant pores to close when plants are stressed so that they can retain water.

In the new study, researchers identified several synthetic compounds that fit well with ABA’s many receptors, or cellular “docking stations,” to have the same effect. Sprays would allow plants to be much more adaptable than if they were genetically engineered.

(Source: www.sciencedaily.com)

Maximum Yield UK | January / February 2011

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MAX

facts

hydroponic news, tips and trivia from around the world

UK Grocery Chain to Turn Wasted Food Into Electricity _________________ The UK’s third largest supermarket chain Sainsbury’s is planning to turn wasted food into electricity. Each week Sainsbury’s will send 42 tonnes of wasted food from its 28 stores in Scotland to a biomass electric plant in Motherwell. Each tonne of food waste is expected to be able to generate enough power for 500 homes.

Sainsbury’s stores throughout the UK will also be sending their unsold waste food to biomass plants as part of their Zero Waste program. Their goal is to eliminate sending waste to landfills. In the UK some 6.7 million tonnes of food is wasted every year, 50 per cent of which is unopened or otherwise untouched, leading to eight million tonnes of CO2 emissions.

(Source: www.treehugger.com)

UK Supermarkets Told to ‘Green Up Their Act’____________________ Supermarkets in the United Kingdom are failing to supply the Organic Food and Slow Food Movements. Attempts by Tesco, Morrisons and Asda have come up short, according to independent research. 73 per cent of grocery sales in the UK come from supermarkets like these, and 70 per cent of those customers want their supermarkets to do more to help them make informed environmental choices about the food they buy.

Market leader Tesco was singled out for poor signage of sustainable food options in their stores, and Asda received the most consistently low marks; with just 59 per cent of its produce grown in the UK and the proportion of organic food dropping from 18 per cent in 2007 down to the current 11 per cent, it has the most ground to make up to catch its competitors.

Sainsbury’s and M&S received praise for their “excellent” stocking of seasonal foods, and a strong commitment to engaging with their customers about sustainable foods.

(Source: www.treehugger.com)

Inner City Farm Uses Hydroponics _______________________________________ London has received its first indoor inner-city farm shop that is cultivating its produce right in the shop premises. Located in Dalston the farm is housed in a disused shop. The farm itself is selling a plethora of different products including mushrooms and even fish and prawns in a system of tanks. There are even livestock. The farm is using a range of different hydroponic and aeroponics methods to grow crops for retail.

The shop will also be using aquaponics, the system of cultivating both fish and plants in a symbiotic relationship. Apparently the system they have created is capable of producing around 30 kilograms of salad plants and 10 kilograms of fish and prawns in just one week.

The FARM:shop project is the work of Something & Son, an eco design company, and has been created as an experiment to test the viability of producing and selling such fresh project in a heavily populated urban area.

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

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Maximum Yield UK | January / February 2011

Bad Hospital Food May Get an Upgrade _____ Seed Sprouters: Easy to Use and A private Simple Designs _______________________

member’s bill is being debated in Parliament that would introduce health and sustainability standards for food in public institutions such as hospitals and care homes. The government spends over £2.2bn a year on food, providing nearly three million meals a day. Diet-related ill-health costs £6bn a year and 70,000 deaths could be prevented if diets met nutritional guidelines.

The bill offers a lifeline to British farming, sustainable fishing, the environment and the health of some of the most vulnerable people in the UK. Government backing is essential for the bill to succeed.

Some hospitals, such as the Royal Brompton in London, understand the importance of healthy food and work hard to make their budgets stretch to fresh, seasonal produce, healthy meat and sustainable fish.

Money is being raised to plant a vegetable garden in the hospital grounds of the Duke of Cornwall Spinal Treatment Center in Salisbury. Not only will it be good for the patients to get outside, but they can pick and cook their own produce.

Fresh sprouts are healthy and taste great. They contain a large variety of vitamins and are extremely easy to digest.

They are also very tasty and upgrade almost any meal. Once you have a sprouter, it is easy to germinate seeds at home. A variety of user-friendly, simple sprouter designs are flooding the market. Many of the designs don’t take up more space than a cup of tea and are practically foolproof. At the London Design Festival this year, the exhibition Bristol Air at Designersblock had some good designs on display.

Growing sprouts at home means you save on packaging, energy and transportation. It is much less bulky to transport dry seeds than fresh sprouts, that have a relatively short shelf life and require constant refrigeration, and hence energy. Common seeds to sprout are mung bean, chickpeas, soy and alfalfa.

(Source: www.treehugger.com)

(Source: www.guardian.co.uk)

Working Towards a Greener Future______________________________________________ Trees4Good is a Malaysian Borneo-based developer of bio-crops that assists developing countries in achieving economic growth while protecting vulnerable natural resources. Working with Trees4Good is The Greenhouse Effect, a UK-based hydroponics retail store operating since 2001. The Greenhouse Effect has designed and built large hydroponic nurseries in Borneo to propagate and bring trees for planting in an effort to re-plant the logged areas of Borneo. Deforestation can be avoided either by paying directly for forest preservation, or by using offset funds to provide substitutes for forest-based products with social economic benefits. Trees4Good is Malaysia’s leading supplier of hydroponically propagated seedlings producing over 100,000 seedlings per month. Their managed farms produce quality seeds for local and international Jatropha growers.

Investor opportunities are available to fund an ethical and socially responsible business that is genuinely green and which provides attractive returns.

MY (Sources: www.thegreenhouseffect.co.uk, www.trees4good.com)

Maximum Yield UK | January / February 2011

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PRODUCT spotlight

See it. Want it.

Find it at your local indoor gardening store.

Biobizz Presents All-Mix __________________________________ All-Mix is a heavily pre-fertilized soil mixture designed to emulate rich outdoor soil.

It contains a full micro active ecosystem that has enough power to sustain lush plant growth for a couple of weeks with no extra fertilizer required. When using All-Mix for the first time, moisten and leave to stand for 36 hours so the active fertilizer Pre-Mix and the micro-organisms have a chance to start working. Keep the soil slightly warm at all times. Reducing the soil temperature slows down microbial activity, which makes it more difficult for the plant to grow. Let the soil dry out between each watering; as the medium dries out fresh air is brought in. Soil needs to breathe too. Visit your local hydro shop for more information.

NF Hydro Clay – Premium Expanded Clay __________________________ Nutrifield Hydro Clay is a natural, inert growing medium. It has a neutral pH, is resistant to chemicals and will not break down easily. The ceramic-like pellets are lightweight, porous and have a high crushing resistance. Nutrifield Hydro Clay helps prevent oxygen starvation to the plant’s root system and can help prevent root rot due to increased oxygen levels.

Nutrifield Hydro Clay may also reduce algae, fungus gnats and unwanted weeds. Nutrifield Hydro Clay can be blended with Nutrifield NF Premium Coco to create an impressive potting mix. Available at an indoor gardening shop near you.

Master A and B from Humboldt Nutrients Now Available in Australia __________ Humboldt Nutrients Master A and B is a premium, naturally derived, two part amino acid-based fertilizer program. The chelates, combined with nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium, complex organic compounds and other trace elements, allow your plants to effectively utilize all available nutrients. Amino acid chelates provide a much lower salt-index, eliminating potential salt build-up and nutrient lockout, and allowing micro-organisms to thrive and multiply. We assure that your yields and quality will increase so dramatically that your friends will call you the master.To learn more about Master A and B visit your favourite hydro shop.

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Maximum Yield UK | January / February 2011

Canna Boost Accelerator ________________ Canna Boost is a powerful flowering stimulator that improves yield and quality. Increasing the speed of photosynthesis greatly increases the sugar production in the fruits. Canna Boost contains natural flowering regulators that dose the flowering stimulator in the booster itself, so the fruits can develop more uniformly and finish flowering more strongly. Thanks to the improved energy regulation, the plant also has sufficient energy to resist pathogens. Canna Boost can be used with any growing system and in combination with any feeding program. For more information about Canna Boost please visit your nearest authorized Canna hydroponic retailer.

Oneness from Humboldt Nutrients Now Available in Australia __________________

The Award Winning EarthBox is Now Available ________________________

Through extensive research and development, the Humboldt Nutrients team has created the first naturally chelated, biodegradable, one-part formula on the market. Oneness is Humboldt Nutrients own unique blend of plant-based amino and organic acid chelates, concentrated in a solution with complex carbohydrates, secondary nutrients and micronutrients. Formulated with over 30 separate, proprietary natural chelates, Oneness ensures that your crops receive adequate nutrition. When foliar sprayed, the trademarked phosphorus booster makes photosynthesis in your plants function optimally, while the wide range of nutrients correct any potential deficiencies.

To learn more about Oneness visit your local hydro shop.

The patented EarthBox was developed by commercial farmers and has proven effective in lab and farm tests.

This maintenance-free, award winning, high-tech growing system controls soil conditions, eliminates guesswork and more than doubles the yield of a conventional garden. It requires less fertilizer, less water and virtually no effort in the process. The EarthBox Garden Kit includes an EarthBox, an aeration screen, a fill tube, mulch covers, casters, fertilizer and dolomite soil amendment. Gardeners just supply a peat- or coir-based growing medium, plants and water. Ask for the EarthBox at your local indoor gardening shop.

CubeCap® Introduces Their Long Awaited 4” DripCap® __________________

New from Nutriculture and Atami – the Wilma Big 8 _______________________

The new DripCap® features an innovative hose holder and dripper technology that accommodates a host of propagation hose sizes ranging from four to 7.6 millimetres. The new DripCap allows for an even distribution of water and nutrients to saturate the block and root zone. This results in increased root mass and plant yields and minimizes or eliminates algae, fungus gnats, shore flies and their root eating, crop damaging larva.

The DripCap eliminates the need for pesticides, larvacides, bacticides and fungicide. For more information on the DripCap® and CubeCap® visit your favourite indoor gardening shop.

The Wilma Big 8 is tailor made for growers using a two light set-up in a 2.4 by 1.2 metre grow area. The additional space allows plants to grow bigger, and growers to achieve larger yields. The combination of massive 18 litre pots with the accurate feeding of active hydro means more root mass, greater nutrient uptake and increased yields.

Bigger pots and wider spacing between pots means plenty of room to let your plants grow big. Grow in any medium—clay, coco, soil, rockwool—and set feedings on a timer to suit the life stage of the plants. The Wilma Big 8 is now available at indoor gardening shops across the UK.

Maximum Yield UK | January / February 2011

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PRODUCT spotlight

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

Mayan MicroZyme from Humboldt Nutrients Now Available in Australia __ Mayan MicroZyme (MMZ) is an organic bacterial-enzymatic complex with biological nitrogen fixation achieved through the use of 24 species of micro-organisms. MMZ increases fertility while providing vital nutrients to plants, and increases their protein levels. The bacteria in MMZ are non-pathogenic, non-toxic and are resistant to extreme temperatures and ultraviolet radiation. MMZ mineralizes nutrients, produces nitrogen, natural antibiotics and plant growth hormones. As well, MMZ regulates nitrogen, builds organic matter in the soil, suppresses pathogens and improves fertility and yields. Ask your local hydro shop to carry Mayan MicroZyme from Humboldt Nutrients.

The Green Room from Growth Technology ______________________ The Green Room is a new tent that is designed for strength, with a rugged metal frame that will easily take the weight of heavy equipment. The Green Room represents the latest stage in the evolution of the modern growth chambers with new levels of design excellence in every detail. The Green Room is currently available in four very popular sizes from your local Growth Technology stockist. Visit an indoor gardening retail shop for more information.

Nutrifield Coco Mega Brick - Instant Premium Potting Mix __________________________ The NF Coco Mega Brick is the fastest expanding brick on the market. It arrives dried and compressed for ease of transportation, storage and handling. The brick consists of 100 per cent coco coir. It is pre-buffered to prevent calcium and magnesium lock out and is pH stabilized. NF Coco Mega Brick is your superior biodegradable, organic water absorbing brick. It holds the RHP Dutch stamp of quality and is free from harmful parasites and diseases. One Mega Brick in 36 litres of water will give you 55 litres of NF Coco Medium.

Available at an indoor gardening shop near you.

Kessil Introduces the H150 Blue LED Grow Light Booster _________________________________ Kessil is proud to introduce the H150 Blue aimed at enhancing vegetative growth without sacrificing yield. Working in conjunction with conventional or advanced LED lighting systems, this all blue light promotes stem growth and reduces internodal length for healthy and strong plants. Using the latest Dense Matrix LED™ platform, the H150 Blue delivers focused, intense light for effective photosynthesis. Its compact form and low heat emission means it can be used in close conjunction with conventional grow light systems. Extremely versatile, the H150 Blue can be hung from the ceiling or positioned with a gooseneck arm to direct light where it’s needed. For more information visit an authorized Kessil retailer near you.

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Maximum Yield UK | January / February 2011

SunPulse Splitter _____________ Every grower would like to make more money and spend less on the cost of operations. Why make more heat and pay money to cool? The SunPulse Splitter is an inexpensive tool that controls your grow room and operates cool. A 1,000 watt magnetic ballast drives two 600 watt fixtures that use SunPulse Lamps. This device delivers about 1,200 watts of energy for around 1,000 watts. Reduce the costs of operating your HVAC systems running fewer ballasts and lower wattage SunPulse lamps. Too much light causes photo-inhibition and shuts down photosynthesis. Use the same number of fixtures with half the magnetic ballasts. The SunPulse Splitter is exclusively for use with SunPulse brand lamps. For more information contact your local indoor gardening shop.

Instant Karma ________________________ Cash Crop’s Instant Karma is a natural flower, brix, resin and yield stimulator. This is the pride and signature product of Cash Crop Co. Instant Karma consists of a special blend of natural mineral phosphate, potassium, manganese and boron. It is not the amount of the elements in Instant Karma that make it perform so well; it’s the quality of the ingredients. To be used from the fourth week of the flowering cycle until the last two weeks. For more information visit your favourite hydro shop.

Plagron Presents Top Grow Box _____ The Plagron Top Grow Box is a complete grow and flower set that lets you cultivate on a small scale.

You can choose between the Bio-concept and the Terra-concept. The contents of a Top Grow Box are sufficient for a one square metre garden and can be used with all types of substrates. The Top Grow Box contains all the nutrients your plants need. The Bio-concept is ideal for growers who appreciate an excellent quality product, enticing aroma and perfect taste. The Terra-concept is suitable for growers who want to be flexible and respond promptly to the development and needs of the plant. This concept lets you benefit from the stable self-regulating pH and makes it possible for you to influence the EC value of the nutrient water. Both concepts consist of fertilizers, growth and flowering stimulators and the uniquely powerful booster Green Sensation. See your favourite hydro retailer for additional information.

Continued on page 48 Maximum Yield UK | January / February 2011

17

Moisture Matters

by Dr. Lynette Morgan

The frequency, amount, timing and duration of nutrient application to a hydroponic substrate are some of the most commonly discussed concerns by new growers. Even those with some experience can be caught out when switching from one substrate to another without realizing that the physical properties can vary considerably between growing media. More hydroponic plants are lost through over saturation in the root zone and the risks that occur with root suffocation and opportunist pathogen attack, than end up suffering through a drought. And while commercial growers can make use of computerized moisture sensors and complex formulas to determine the rate of irrigation, smaller growers need to be in tune with the growing environment, crop water uptake and media moisture levels.

Why media moisture matters Hydroponics is often seen as a foolproof way of growing plants under automatic control, so every aspect of plant growth is optimized. However, the majority of hydroponic systems still use some form of substrate or growing media to support the plant and retain a reserve of moisture and nutrients around the root zone between nutrient applications. Even many solution culture systems rely on a small amount of some substrate or material to hold the plant in position, while seeds and cuttings also need support during the propagation stages.

Plants require water, nutrients and oxygen in the root zone to both survive and obtain maximum growth and yields. In a hydroponic substrate these requirements are determined by the physical and chemical properties of the media, such as the water holding capacity, cation exchange capacity, pore size distribution and porosity. The substrate has to retain water and nutrients and at the same time must have enough 18

Maximum Yield UK | January / February 2011

Cuttings require both moisture and high levels of aeration for callus formation; too much moisture will cause rotting of the cut stem.

oxygen and remove sufficient carbon dioxide for the plant to thrive. This water retention versus aeration within a growing media is a delicate balance as over watering reduces the amount of oxygen in the media for root respiration, leading to anaerobic conditions. Drainage can be a problem in some hydroponic systems—the water held in the growing container is effectively a balance between the gravitational pull on the water, the tendency for water to adhere to

particles by surface tension and also the tendency for water to be retained in the fine pores of the substrate by capillary action. ‘Container capacity’ refers to the amount of water held in a container of a given depth after drainage is complete and most cropping plants will perform best in a substrate with a high percentage of air filled pores when at container capacity. To achieve this high rate of both air filled porosity and water holding capacity a particular type of Maximum Yield UK | January / February 2011

19

Moisture Matters

Over watering can cause problems such as fungus gnats and rapid growth of thick algae on the media surface.

Some plant species prefer a heavier and damper media with little tolerance for drying out.

These include the finer grades of coconut fibre, peat, some grades of rockwool slabs, decomposed sawdust and vermiculite.

Cool growing conditions, high humidity and low rates of growth also predispose heavier media to over irrigation as moisture is not taken up as rapidly by the plants. Under slow growth and cooler conditions, a lighter growing media with a higher degree of aeration and more rapid drainage is often a better choice, with more moisture retentive media of greater use under warm, faster growing conditions.

structure is required and this is seen in many good hydroponic substrates.

Although it may appear that a hydroponic substrate has better aeration and drainage than field soil, this may not always be the case; the bottom of the growing container, or bed, creates a barrier to downward drainage. Once the medium’s pores at the container base become saturated with water, the “Cool growing moisture moves conditions, high humidity out of the Over and low rates of growth container’s saturation predispose heavier media drainage – signs and to over irrigation.” holes.The rate symptoms at which nutrient Early signs of over moves through a hydroponic saturation of a growing media substrate and the amount which is left may be as simple as the presence of shore behind after irrigation are vital properties flies and fungus gnats, which are attracted of a substrate which are dependant on a to the overly damp surface of a substrate. number of physical properties of the media. Fungus gnats are a particular problem as Over watering is a more common they can persist in hydroponic systems, problem in hydroponic substrates that which are continually over wet and have a high moisture holding capacity. where there is also organic matter such

as compost. The adult gnat fly lays eggs in the wet substrate, which hatch into small larvae and can chew into the root system causing damage and creating wounds for root rot pathogens to enter. The best form of prevention of gnat problems is to keep the surface of all growing media slightly dry to prevent the gnats from laying eggs. Large amounts of algae may

Some crops are very intolerant of high levels of moisture and prefer a coarse and very free draining medium.

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Perlite is a good choice for beginners as it is difficult to over water, while holding some moisture between irrigations.

also grow on the surface of the media if over watering has been occurring. In seedling trays, high levels of moisture often lead to problems with damping off caused by opportunist pathogens such as Pythium and Rhizoctonia that prey on young plants stressed by over saturation and lack of oxygen. Cuttings and clones may suffer from stem rot and die back as over saturation cuts out much of the oxygen required for callus and root formation.

While most plants can handle a short stint of over watering, if the saturated conditions continue, further damage is inflicted and root respiration rates begin to decline through a lack of oxygen.

Reduced root respiration often displays itself in a few different ways, some of which are species dependant. Some plants may, despite the high amount of moisture in the root zone, wilt during the warmest part of the day. This is a response to suffocation and hypoxic conditions in the root zone, as without a high degree of respiration the plant can’t take up sufficient water and nutrients. Longer term nutrient deficiencies may show on the waterlogged plant, including chlorosis

(yellowing) or paleness in the new foliage. In more mature plants, flower and fruitlet drop is common in waterlogged crops and older leaves may also yellow and abscise. One of the more extreme symptoms of waterlogged roots is ‘epinasty’ where ethylene gas builds up within the plant causing the upper side of the leaf petiole cells to elongate whereas those on the lower side do not.

The result is a severe bending downwards of the leaves in response to long term waterlogged conditions that cut out sufficient oxygenation in the root zone.

Epinasty in response to saturated root zone conditions are often mistaken for wilting caused by a lack of moisture, so growers need to carefully check whether

Warm season crops with large leaf areas are well suited to highly moisture retentive substrates.

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Moisture Matters

Rapid seed germination needs careful control of moisture as seeds will rot in over saturated conditions.

Even NFT systems can become over saturated if the flow of nutrient deepens and slows.

wilted plants are actually suffering from a lack of irrigation or not. Some plants such as tomatoes may also respond to over saturation of the root zone with the production of adventitious roots up on the stems. These root initials can be numerous and can even erupt as large bumps and slits which may be mistaken for a pest or disease attack.

Some plant species are highly prone to problems with over watering, while others are quite tolerant. Strawberries, for instance, have no tolerance for a saturated substrate and many strawberry crop losses have resulted from over watering

Different hydroponic substrates vary in both their air filled porosity and water holding capacity.

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the crown leading to root. Many cacti have a different irrigation program to the and succulents will also rot when over same crop growing in fine coconut fibre irrigated and prefer a coarse and very or rockwool slabs. The coarser media free draining substrate such as perlite would be expected to have a higher or coarse sand. Other plants—more frequency of smaller volumes of irrigation, notably those that are grown under warm while the more moisture retentive media conditions—have large leaves and a rapid would have less frequent irrigation of a rate of growth are better suited to highly greater volume. moisture retentive media that will hold Determining how often to irrigate a sufficient water between irrigations. particular substrate to avoid over saturation Cucumbers, tomatoes, in the root zone can be squash and similar difficult for newer “Strawberries have no crops perform growers. With tolerance for a saturated well in a media experience substrate and many crop that has a high growers soon losses have resulted from water holding develop an over watering.” capacity and also a instinct of knowing good rate of air filled porosity. how often to water certain media and how to adjust this for growing Nutrient application conditions and plant size. To start out programs inexperienced growers may want to Nutrient application rates, frequency and choose one of the more free draining timing needs to be carefully matched substrates such as coarse grade perlite and to the crop, stage of growth, type of monitor how much drainage solution hydroponic system and the water holding occurs after each nutrient application as capacity and drainage ability of the a guide to irrigation amounts. However substrate. A crop growing in coarse perlite more moisture retentive substrates such or expanded clay would be expected to as coconut fibre are more forgiving of a

lack of watering and probably a better death. The requirement for both oxygen choice in systems that can’t be monitored and moisture in the root zone is a trade off through the day. The moisture status of that needs to be considered in any type of coconut fibre and similar substrates can hydroponic system as both are essential for be determined by poking a finger into optimal plant functioning. the top of the substrate—this should be almost dry on top, but moist underneath Moisture meters the surface, with some nutrient run off at Moisture meters are not a substitute each irrigation. for experience when it comes to plant Systems such as ebb and flow, NFT irrigation and management; however, they and anywhere that a small volume of are a useful tool for some hydroponic media is being used to support a plant substrates. Most moisture meters have been in a larger system are also prone to over developed for use in field soils; however, watering problems. While there are some models the nutrient solution which can be “The requirement for both may carry some used for soilless oxygen and moisture in the root dissolved oxygen, substrates. zone is a trade off that needs this is only a These should to be considered in any type of very small amount always be hydroponic system.” (six to 13 ppm on selected as they average) compared to that give a more accurate contained in moist air surrounding roots, result with hydroponic mediums. so aeration is still a priority. NFT relies on Moisture meters range from the relatively a thin film (two to three millimetres deep) inexpensive type sold for home gardeners of nutrient solution flowing over the base to professional sensors for larger scale of a growing channel; if the flow becomes greenhouse growers. The inexpensive slower and deeper, especially under warm type only gives a rough approximation of growing conditions, problems can arise moisture levels but is useful for houseplants MY with insufficient oxygenation and root and small container systems.

Substrates may be combined to create a mix which has more suitable water holding qualities for the crop being grown.

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How to Start Gardening

Early in the Year

by Emma Cooper

One of the main problems with outdoor gardening in a temperate climate is that the gardeners tend to be all warmed up long before they garden. Whilst the garden is still sleeping through the winter chill, the gardener is cosy inside reading gardening books and thumbing through seed catalogues, hatching new plans for the garden this season. So even before the first signs of spring arrive, the gardener is itching to do some gardening.

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

The first pangs of withdrawal can be countered by tending to the house plants. They need watering and feeding, possibly even pruning and re-potting so that they will be ready for a growth spurt in spring. And if you’re really lucky then you can spend some time taking cuttings, collecting seeds and potting up offshoots; propagating new house plants to fill empty spaces in your house or those of friends and family.

Kitchen gardeners can spend the winter sprouting seeds on the kitchen counter—anything from mustard and cress right through to ultra-healthy broccoli sprouts and wheat grass. The only problem with that is, beyond rinsing twice a day, sprouts don’t need much attention.

The real gardening starts about a A greenhouse is the month before the last ideal environment to frost date. Whatever store winter-hardy plants that will keep your passion, the gardener busy kitchen gardening through until spring. or ornamental, now is the time that the spring seed sowing starts. All of the windowsills in the house fill with seed trays and burgeoning life. Tomatoes? A nice 24

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sunny, south-facing spot will be good for them. They’ll have to battle it out with the peppers for space. Early lettuce? They’ll be better in a cooler spot. Hardy annuals? I’ll put those out in the porch. And while I remember, it’s time to set the cold frame up outside so that I have somewhere to harden off all these seedlings.

If you can get hold of a greenhouse (buy, beg or fashion your own out of scrap materials) then now is the time to do so; you’ll open up a new world of early sowing opportunities. And even if you don’t heat it, there are hardy plants that will grow through the winter in a cold greenhouse and provide harvests for the kitchen and keep the gardener busy.

And if you’re really sneaky, then you’ll have done some of your sowing in the midst of winter. Winter sowing is great for seeds that need a cold period to encourage them to germinate, and seeds of hardy plants that will germinate as soon as spring is on the way.You see the real secret to start gardening early in the year is never stop for the winter.

About the Author Emma Cooper is the voice of the Alternative Kitchen Garden podcast and writes about kitchen gardening and environmental issues. An edible plant geek, she tries to grow her own food sustainably with the help of a reluctant husband and two pet MY chickens.Visit http://coopette.com for more information.

FERTILIZERS OR ADDITIVES… OR BOTH?

by William Texier

Part 1 Having navigated the indoor gardening industry for many years, I have come to realize the difficulties faced by many cultivators in differentiating between a fertilizer and an additive. In truth, it comes down to the plant’s needs and wants. Hydroponic plants need fertilizer for sustenance. They want additives for accelerated growth, improved health and pest and disease resistance. This article helps you navigate the more common additives available on the market today so you can give your garden everything it wants and needs this winter.

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“Additives are products that have a function other than nourishing the plant. They promote and accelerate growth while improving the general health of the plant and its resistance to insects and pathogenic diseases.”

The difference is both fundamental and simple: a plant requires variable quantities of mineral salts to nourish itself. Any product that provides mineral salts, whether it is the primary or secondary source or a micro-element, is a fertilizer. This fertilizer is necessary to sustain the plant, and in hydroponics is the sole source of nutrition. If it is a complete fertilizer, not only is it necessary but also sufficient, because it provides the plant everything it needs for its metabolism. Both in theory and in practice

you can have very healthy plants and a rich harvest using a complete fertilizer on its own. So why use additives? Additives are products that have a function other than nourishing the plant. They promote and accelerate growth while improving the general health of the plant and its resistance to insects and pathogenic diseases.

Generally, they either function by providing the plant with ready-made molecules— thus saving energy, which can be used elsewhere—or they give signals to the plant to increase its metabolism. There are several kinds of additives, and they often have multiple functions and results.

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Fertilizers or Additves...or both?

potassium silicate in the levels of pH used in nutritive solutions.

As a powder it comes in silica clay, which is very rich in silicate and contains a number of useful trace elements. This clay can be used externally in powdered form on foliage applications or around the root to prevent a fungal attack, or internally, in the nutritive solution, to be absorbed by the plant. Adding silica does not provide a spectacular result because it is, after all, a preventive substance. However, an informed cultivator will quickly realize that with a silica additive his plants are healthier than usual, more pest and disease resistant and have a more stable pH. Humates These are a large family of molecules that have similar characteristics, and are defined by the way in which they are extracted rather than by a chemical structure.

Humates are the result of the decomposition of organic matter, and are found in the ground.

The humates represent only a small portion of the matter that Silicate was decomposed; the remainder consists of other minerals that In order for an element to be considered indispensable the plant uses for nourishment. The humate family is divided to a plant, there has to be evidence of a deficiency in the into three fractions according to their molecular weight: plant caused by the absence of the element. With modern humic acid—with the highest molecular weight—ulmic acid hydroponics it became possible to create deficiencies in a and fulvic acid, a molecule that has a much shorter chain but plant’s nutrition by isolating one element or another. This is numerous active sites. The chemistry of humates is complex how a list of mineral salts essential to various plants’ lives was and more than a million different molecules are listed in this established. This test was never carried out on silica though, category, but they have common points with respect to both essentially because it is such an abundant element in soil that it their composition and structure. In fact, humates make up the is difficult to create an environment without it. However, there active element of the soil, and when you add them, whether are strong indications that into soil or into a nutritive silica is actually an essential solution, you increase the element. In any case, it has a plant’s activity. Obviously, not number of functions in plants: all humic or fulvic acid-based “In the nutritive solution [silica] helps to in solution, it is absorbed by products on the market are stabilize the pH, and also protects the roots the plant in the form of silicic the same. This means that the from pathogenic fungi such as Pythium and acid, which penetrates the cells concentration of the active Fusarium by killing their spores on contact.“ and strengthens their structure. matter is of no help to us, This means plants are more because the activity does not resistant to insects, which find depend on the concentration it difficult to pierce the cell walls and tend instead to go for but on the source of the product. The acids are often extracted plants that are easier to attack. But silica has other advantages from a rock called leonardite, but not all leonardite deposits are too: in the nutritive solution it helps to stabilize the pH, and also the same and numerous tests must first be performed on the protects the roots from pathogenic fungi such as Pythium and cultures to determine the most effective product. The action of Fusarium by killing their spores on contact. Silica can be found these acids is incredibly diversified: first, in soil, they increase in either liquid or powder form. As a liquid it comes in the water retention capacity, improve ventilation, enhance texture, form of potassium silicate, which is generally an effective way prevent drying out in case of drought, make the soil lighter of providing silica, although limited by the poor solubility of 30

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“[Silicate] has a number of functions in plants: in solution, it is absorbed by the plant in the form of silicic acid, which penetrates the cells and strengthens their structure. This means plants are more resistant to insects.“ and help prevent erosion. On a chemical level, they keep the elements insoluble in the root area and they encourage the conversion of some of these elements into a form easily assimilated by plants, then “release” them so that the plant can absorb them. They also have a strong ionic exchange capacity—both anions and cations—which acts as a buffer in soil as well as in the nutritive solution, and they increase the quantity of nitrate in the soil. Finally, they are rich in organic matters and mineral substances indispensable to the plant’s growth. On a biological level, these acids stimulate the metabolism, accelerating cell division and activating growth in the root area. They increase the germination rate of seeds, facilitate the assimilation of nutrients, boost microbial life in soil,

aid photosynthesis, increase root respiration and stimulate enzymatic activity. This impressive range of results has helped to boost the popularity of humates among gardeners and horticulturists. Humates are used for watering soil or can be dissolved in the nutritive solution, but they are just as effective for foliar spraying. Subject to finding a good quality product, humates—and particularly fulvic acid, the most active—are still my favourite additives for improving the health of plants and the quantity and quality of the harvest. No other product offers a range of actions as wide and diversified. Moreover, humates are a natural product, one of the essential elements of soil, and can be used in organic cultivation too.

Boosters As the name implies, these are compounds that activate the metabolism of a plant. Boosters comprise a large family of products and they come in various types: growth boosters, flowering boosters, rooting boosters and so on. The technical term is actually elicitors, and most of the time they are natural extracts from plants. A large number of plants synthesize molecules that are not directly linked to their metabolism.

Some of these molecules are useful for plant survival—for instance, they can give the plant a bitter taste, making them

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Fertilizers or Additves...or both?

“The humate family is divided into three fractions according to their molecular weight: humic acid—with the highest molecular weight—ulmic acid and fulvic acid, a molecule that has a much shorter chain but numerous active sites.“

less palatable for grazing animals, or they can help the plant survive temperature fluctuations. They are also the chemical weapons used by plants in their never-ending fight for space, light and food. Although the benefit for the plant is clear in the case of many of these booster molecules, the reason why the plant spends energy to manufacture some of them—referred to under the generic name of secondary metabolites—is

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actually far from obvious. These include essential oils, tannins, alkaloids, latex, glycosides, terpens and many others. These secondary metabolites provide us with a number of medicines, essential oils and resins, as well as tannins for leather, natural insecticides, spices and flavours for the kitchen and much more.

Nature provides us with thousands of these compounds and a single plant species can produce a large variety of them. It is among the secondary metabolites that we find the building blocks for the boosters, which are extracted from one plant or another according to the desired effect. Here is a simple example that anybody can try: willow contains molecules that will help a cutting during the rooting stage. Cut some young twigs of willow about four inches long and soak them in water for a few days.You can then use that water as a root booster by watering your cuttings with it or by soaking the stem of cuttings in that water before putting them in place.You will be amazed how efficient the maceration can be! According to the plant that you choose for extraction as well as the process used, you can achieve a large spectrum of effects. Generally speaking, not only do boosters increase a plant’s intake capacity for nutritional elements but can also help to move them inside the plant. Boosters can also promote the growth of a vigorous root system, improving the general health of the plant as well as its capacity to fight harmful fungi and pathogens. On top of this internal effect, boosters also play a part in the surroundings of the plant, tending to favour the development of beneficial micro-organisms in the root zone. Elicitors are still a novelty in

“On a biological level, [humic and fulvic] acids stimulate the metabolism, accelerating cell division and activating growth in the root area.” the agricultural world, however. At first, they were used primarily by greenhouse growers, nurseries and plant collectors on plants, which generated a large added value, but they are now slowly starting to gain ground in field agriculture.

Although they can be expensive, in many cases the economic benefits of using elicitors largely offsets their cost, and it is regulations rather than price that are slowing down research progress. At the same time, it is a sad truth that lobbies from large chemical groups are not keen to see natural elicitors coming on the MY market and displacing some of their own products.

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How to Care for

Holiday Plants after the Festivities

by Glory Lennon

It happens every year. You get a lovely plant for the holidays and it looks really good at first but then you wonder how long until you’ll want to toss it into the compost heap. After all it’s not going to look this good ever again.

Even now just a few days later it’s losing its initial lustre. The flowers are drooping and the leaves are wilted. Sooner than you like it’ll be all dried out, on its last legs – or should we say stems?

However, it need not be this way. Holiday plants are like any other kind of plant and can make it through the holidays quite nicely to live long productive lives if we care for them properly and treat them as you would any houseplant.

Is it worth the trouble? That depends how enthusiastic you are. Here are a few tips to ensure these pretty plants stay fresh and vibrant long after the Christmas tree is taken down and the ornaments stowed away for another year.

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

Poinsettia- While many think this holiday classic is not worth the trouble of keeping it around after the blossoms drop, there are a few adventurous souls looking for a challenge during the dreary winter months. Placed in a bright but indirect light the Poinsettia can still look fine if kept moist and pruned back when it becomes too leggy and starts dropping leaves. It can even be planted outdoors in summer under a dappled shade and brought back in before temperatures drop too much. Give it the light and dark required and it should bloom again without a problem.

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

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Amaryllis

Mum

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

Norfolk Island Pine- Some folks like to use this pretty evergreen as their Christmas tree but it can live as a houseplant afterwards. It will stay small in pots within the house but it can get to nearly 30 metres high if planted outdoors in tropical areas.

Azalea- Though the prettiest and usually the most hardy of flowering shrubs Azaleas grown for the holiday season may not be well suited to planting outdoors in the coldest zones.

But that is not saying you shouldn’t try. If at all possible buy Azaleas labelled hardy for your area. Otherwise plant it outdoors and bring it back in to winter over but don’t expect it to bloom during the holidays. It is likely, if cared for properly, to bloom when it’s supposed to, in spring.

Azalea

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

English Ivy topiary- You must have a brown arm not just a thumb if you can manage to kill an English Ivy. This requires a bit of water and can grow in shade so even lack of sun won’t hurt it. Trimmed off stray stems can be easily rooted in water to pot up and give away or to make another topiary.

Dwarf Alberta Spruce- Another very cold hardy evergreen which doubles as a Christmas tree but once the festivities are done it still looks great either in the home or placed out on the patio in a decorative pot.

In spring it could be planted directly in the ground but don’t wonder if it stays the same size. It can take 30 years for it to reach two metres.

Cyclamen- These plants are hardy to zone seven so can be planted in the garden but where it is colder they can be found for use as houseplants especially during the holidays. They are unusual in that the speckled heart-shaped foliage is as pretty as the slightly fragrant flowers. Simply cut off the flower stems after Cyclamen the blooming time and it’s a pretty little plant much like an African Violet.

Keeping those holiday plants looking nice after the festivities isn’t so hard. It just takes a bit of care and you already do that with your MY other houseplants so what’s the big deal? None at all.

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by Evan Folds

Plant Obesity: Choosing Higher Yields over Healthy Crops

Food is not what it used to be.The limitations of language prevent us from collectively recognizing it as anything else, but a processed TV dinner does not and cannot replace living whole foods.

Think about it, all food was completely intact and untouched by industrialization as little as 100 years ago. Instead of being used as a tool to work within nature, modern “science” has been used as a 36

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means to outmanoeuvre her, and what an astonishing job we have done.

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

are being healthy when we eat our broccoli, but nutrient data shows that the calcium content of broccoli has dropped from 12.9 milligrams dry weight in 1950 to only 4.4 milligrams in 2003. (Full Study: “Declining Fruit and Vegetable Nutrient Composition,” HortScience, 2009; 44:15) The two forces at work on crops are what are called the “environmental dilution effect” and the “genetic dilution

“We may think we are being healthy when we eat our broccoli, but the calcium content of broccoli has dropped from 12.9 milligrams dry weight in 1950 to only 4.4 milligrams in 2003." effect.” Researchers have known since the 1940s that an emphasis on empty fertilizers results in cheaper food that is devoid of minerals, but our economic system is driven by volume and shelf life, not nutritional value. We cannot see nutrient density in food, so a bushel of corn fortified with more minerals than the next bushel sells for the same or less as the empty corn right next to it and further down the spiral we go. The economic incentive associated with the volume of food produced trumps the reason we are actually growing the food in the first place.

The genetic dilution effect is a result of the environmental dilution effect.

Farmers and plant breeders caught up in a system that pays them for the amount of physical food they produce develop high-yielding varieties without a primary focus on nutrient density. In most modern fruits and vegetables around 80 to 90 per cent of the dry weight is

carbohydrates, much higher than it should be relative to the amount of protein. Dr. William Albrecht provides evidence for the importance of this in his book “Soil Fertility & Animal Health.”

The human coercion of food has occurred on so many different levels that it leaves no smoking gun. However, there are examples that serve to illustrate our misguided ways. One reason our food is empty is an overemphasis of elements such as nitrogen (N) or potassium (K), which both give a strong growth and yield response, at the expense of elements such as calcium (Ca) or phosphorous (P).

In order to grow strong bones and teeth we need high levels of Ca and P, not high levels of N and K. In his landmark book “Nutrition and Physical Degeneration,” Weston Price proved that traditional diets had five times the Ca and P as a modern diet of industrially-grown processed foods, resulting in significant reductions in dental decay and developmental abnormalities.

Consider this: a plant has a limited reservoir of potential to take up nutrition.

In the same way that the negatively charged soil has a finite ability to hold onto cations (or + charged elements, see ‘cation exchange capacity’) a plant is also restricted in its ability to take up only a certain volume of positively charged elements.You can’t fit 23 litres of water in a five litre bucket can you? Ca is taken up far slower than K by plants. In an experiment with alfalfa it was found that the Ca:K ratio of 32:1 in the soil resulted in only a 3:1 ratio in the plant

and it turns out that plants can take up more K than they need for optimum yields and nutrient density. When this happens it doesn’t leave room for the other cations (Ca+, Mg+, Na+, Cu+, Zn+, Fe+, trace+, etc.). Similarly, the major anions (- charged elements) appear to have the same sum-total limits on anion saturation, so P uptake is equally manipulated by the overuse of nitrate (NO3-) based fertilizers common in gardening and farming. The result is empty food.

We’ve established that it is necessary to provide plants a broader range of mineral elements in order for them to attain a higher nutrient density and be the vitamin they are designed to be, but it turns out the picture is much larger.

Complete nutrition is not only important in regards to the plant itself, it involves an ecosystem. In fact, by focusing on the plant at the expense of the ecosystem, we sell short all of the varying means of symbiotic assistance plants have available to them, namely the help of microorganisms.

Microorganisms are vital to our existence, not only in building soil and helping to produce our food, but in helping us digest our food and protecting us from disease from enemy microbes, same as they do for plants. A teaspoon of good compost will easily have over a billion organisms and, similarly, a human not taking antibiotics has more foreign cells from micro-

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

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Plant Obesity: Choosing Higher Yields over Healthy Crops

use 40 elements, but the microbes that protect and help it eat use every single element to manifest the amino acids, hormones, enzymes and various metabolic compounds that allow it to perform its duty.

This concept can be proven by doing a simple experiment brewing compost tea. Conduct a side-by-side experiment using a biologically balanced compost with a food source such as fish emulsion, kelp or molasses. Expose these ingredients to oxygen by using an air stone in each bucket using similar amounts of water. After setting up the experiment and ensuring that the exact same ingredients are used in both variables, include one tablespoon per 23 litres of water of a biodynamically enhanced micronutrient in one container and not in the other. After only a couple of hours you will be able to see the enhanced biomass in the micronutrient-treated solution with the naked eye.The organisms can simply do more of what they want to do given all of the means to do it. Consider that microorganisms use each element as a primer to carry out the communication delivered from its genetic code and to build the compounds necessary for them to do their work (and to benefit your plants). In all reality, no organism can carry out their true genetic expression without all the tools necessary to carry out the communication.

What if you hired someone to build your house and only gave them half the tools? If

they could build the house at all, it will take them a heck of a long time!

Big picture, any living organism, including humans, cannot operate at maximum efficiency without access to all of the physical elements. Cells are the bottom line in life.When we operate on the level of mere “essential nutrients” we are feeding them fast food.This doesn’t kill them, as it doesn’t kill us, but we are selling ourselves short.Trace elements govern the potential of health for living organisms and all of them are needed for health. In short, gardening without all possible elements at our disposal is degeneration and the result of pest infestations, weeds in our landscapes and disease.

Everyone knows that health is derived from what you eat, not how much of it.

The hydroponics community is awash in stimulants and amendments designed to make plants grow bigger/stronger/ faster, but it’s time we take a look at plant growth from a plants perspective.

An obese plant may give us a higher yield, but in the end is it working in our favour? MY

"Traditional diets had five times the calcium and phosphorous as a modern diet of industrially-grown processed foods."

organisms in and on our bodies than we do human cells. It has been determined that plants actually use upwards of 40 elements, much more than the 16 or so we have defined “essential,” but the idea of “essential nutrients” does not apply at all to microbes; they utilize literally all of them.

For instance, it has been established that over half of the energy a plant creates for itself is exuded though its roots to attract specific microbes via what are called exudates.This means that when there are specific mineral deficiencies or pathogenic organisms present in and around plants they have the ability to attract the specific microbes necessary to aid them in the deficiency or disease.

All of this intelligence is lost when we are not considering microbiology in regards to plant growth. Even if we are actively encouraging the biology in our plant growing situations, we are limiting the potential of this biological response by not allowing the microbes all of the physical elements to work with. A plant may only

"Any living organism, including humans, cannot operate at maximum efficiency without access to all of the physical elements."

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Maximum Yield UK | January / February 2011

Maximum Yield UK | January / February 2011

39

Biological Products in Indoor Gardens

by Donald Lester

Biological products are beneficial living organisms sold to out-compete detrimental organisms. There are several good bacteria on the market that kill or out-compete bad bacteria or fungi. This is particularly important in hydroponics because bacteria thrive in water. If you can maintain a balance of good and bad bacteria, or establish a population of good bacteria upfront, then you can prevent some pretty nasty bacterial diseases or even fungal diseases like the water mould root rots pythium and phytophthora.

The concept of using one biological organism to fight another or flagella making them motile and able to go on seek-and-destroy is called biological control and it is becoming more important in missions in your nutrient solution. commercial agriculture. Biological control is also happening in Biological products, overall, are better at preventing disease rather the food industry. Many types of yogurt have beneficial bacteria than curing it. Therefore, it is important to establish a population in them known as probiotics. Many of the organisms sold for of beneficial micro-organisms at planting time and maintaining biological control exist naturally so why do you need to buy them? them through the growing cycle. There are several things you can The organisms sold in the marketplace are generally selected for do to stack the deck in your favour: select the proper organism, their killing power meaning you are buying and adding a “big buy quality material, avoid temperature extremes, maintain brother” to beef up your natural flora hygienic conditions and avoid the of organisms. And the good part is use of strong chemicals.

“Bacteria thrive in water, which that you can use these powerful tools In shopping for biological products in your indoor gardening program. first look for biological organisms, not is why growers should make use Arguably the most powerful extracts of living organisms.This is of beneficial living organisms to beneficial bacteria is Bacillus an important distinction. Extracts can out-compete the bad bacteria, subtilis.This bacterium is so tough provide protection for a short time but it can withstand severe pressure a living organism is self-maintaining especially in hydroponics.” differentials; enough that NASA uses and can even grow in strength under this bacterium as a model organism the right conditions. for space research. Bacillus subtilis is well known in the research Another consideration is determining what pathogen or world because, not only can it out-compete other bacteria for detrimental organism you are trying to prevent. Hydroponics keeps space and nutrients, Bacillus subtilis produces powerful enzymes the roots of plants immersed in a liquid growing solution. Poor and antibiotics that it uses on competitors. Unlike fungal biological hygiene and other factors can lead to disastrous disease infections. products that grow on plant roots, Bacillus products have small tails Knowing your production history and problems can help you out 40

Maximum Yield UK | January / February 2011

In hydropon ics, becaus e the plant’s growing co roots are im nditions ca n lead to di mersed in sastrous re a liquid grow sults. ing solutio n,

lly friendly vironmenta r a safe, en fe of ts uc prod Biological rvests. for your ha prevention

poor

disease method of

Bac

illus s ubtilis here. If you don’t know what disease is plaguing your operation, seek help from a professional. They can help you choose the right product to control the infection and guide you in selecting the proper biological to use as a follow up for maintaining a healthy Biological growing system. products typically come Biologicals are living organisms so they do best in certain as liquids or powders and are quite easy to environmental conditions. Use fresh products and avoid sterilizers, use. One of the big advantages to using biologicals is that they bacteriacides, fungicides and other are completely safe for people, strong chemicals when using biologicals. pets, children, houseplants and “Biologicals can be applied with The shelf life of biologicals can vary the environment.You can literally greatly so look for those that last 18 bare hands with no fear of injury; apply these things with your bare months to two years. Avoid using hands and have no fear of hurting they are completely safe for products that require refrigeration; yourself. Moreover, biologicals people, pets, houseplants and the have no re-entry limits, no harvest you don’t know if they got warm and degraded before you bought them. intervals to worry about and no environment.”

Also, be sure the label has a guaranteed toxic residues. analysis, meaning a count of the With the marketplace moving organisms is actually listed so you know what you are getting. toward organically grown foods, public demand for chemicalAvoid products with more than three living organisms; more free foods, safety and liability issues associated with conventional organisms mean fewer of each and possibly a weak product. And products and the high cost of conventional product registrations, continue adding the product as the label indicates to maintain high the future in plant pest control is biological. Consider putting levels of beneficial organisms. biological products to work in your indoor garden today.

MY

Maximum Yield UK | January / February 2011

41

TALKING SHOP

GrowDen The

Making a Greener World

AT A GLANCE Store Name: The Grow Den and The Grow Den Ltd. Owner: Steve Garrett Location: The Grow Den 2 Hothfield, Rainham Kent, ME8 8BJ, UK Phone: (0) 1634 239333

Ltd.

What do you do when you love to garden but you’re tired of working outside? If you’re Steve Garrett, who spent more than 20 years outside raising flower beds, working as a landscaper, building greenhouses and running a fruit-growing service, you buy a retail gardening shop and continue to work in the field you love—inside.

Steve heard that a tiny retail outlet that he used to buy nutrients from in Rainham was for sale in 2008, and decided to buy it to go along with his existing landscaping business because he felt it was time to get in out of the cold. He took over the shop and ran it by himself at first, using his landscaping contacts to acquire more clients and stocking a little bit of everything as he worked hard to grow his new business. “It was quite easy, really,” explains Steve, “because the shop was fairly established—it was just a case of taking over from the previous owner.”

The Grow Den Ltd. Unit 13 Eaves Court Eurolink Commercial Park Bonhan Dr. Sittingbourne, Kent, ME8 3RY, UK Phone: (0) 1759 426264 Motto: “Making a greener world.”

n d the Grow De Grow Den an owner of the established. tt, ell rre w Ga dy e ea ev St s alr 08 when it wa the shop in 20

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Maximum Yield UK | January / February 2011

Ltd., took over

There was one serious problem, though—there just wasn’t enough room in Steve’s new shop to stock meaningful amounts of fertilizers and other bulky but essential product lines, and in July 2010 Steve opened another outlet in nearby Sittingbourne as a warehouse facility. “Sittingbourne is quite a big town in its own right and is not far from Rainham,” says Steve. “The idea was to see how it would go as a warehouse to hold pallets for the store, but people were going there to buy products too, so I put a shop counter in there as well.” Although at first he didn’t like the idea of competing against himself with his two retail outlets, Steve’s initial misgivings were unfounded, he discovered. “It didn’t take business away, but gave the other store more business because it was closer to other people.”

Steve’s landscaping contacts proved invaluable in drumming up new business for his two shops. “I’d set up a greenhouse with landscaping and recommend something like an Autopot system to get them into growing and leave a card for the shop,” he says. Since he was already a trusted landscaper, his advice was respected and the client base began to expand.

His clients knew what kind of quality customer service to expect from Steve because of the reputation he had already established as a local landscaper and grower, and he brought that level of service to his new retail outlets right from the get-go. It’s not rocket science, according to Steve, but just good oldfashioned common sense. “Work hard and be reliable. Make sure your shops are open on a regular basis, The origin turn up and al Grow D en Shop in Rainham meet customers . when they want you to, and make sure stock is in the shop.” He concludes: “Be honest. Take pride in honest, reliable hard work.”

Steve now employs five workers between his two retail outlets and his still-flourishing landscaping and planting business. His product lines have expanded too—no longer limited by the confines of his original tiny shop, Steve tries to carry a little bit of everything to keep his loyal customers happy. “We carry Atami,

Steve ’s busin landscapin ess, b ringin g busines s g in c ustom balances o u ers ac ross K t his retail ent.

House and Garden, Atami B’cuzz, Plant Magic Plus, a bit of everything, really,” says Steve.

“You need that much of a variety to compensate for what everybody wants.”

He didn’t always have a handle on exactly what his customers were going to want, though. At first, in fact, that was Steve’s biggest problem. “I needed to learn a little bit more in the stock-buying side of things. Keeping on top of the stocking and what I needed to keep in the store. Keeping a shop filled isn’t quite so easy but I’m now doing a good job staying on top of it.”

“Work hard and be reliable. Make sure your shops are open on a regular basis, turn up and meet customers when they want you to, and make sure stock is in the shop.”

Steve’s philosophy is simple—employ good people who work hard and know their stuff, so they can sell and service products efficiently and keep the customers coming back. And he believes in trying to cater to as many of his clients’ needs as he can: “We’re full range,” he says, “We carry a bit of everything, really—growth management control, nutrients, mediums and lights.”

Steve believes his customers appreciate his full-service approach and that’s what keeps bringing them back. “My company’s biggest strength,” Steve goes on, “Is our ability to cover all the bases, from landscaping and soft planting to selling and setting up product, and of course our reliability.”

Steve’s final words for us on the future of the industry that has been such a huge part of his life? “In this world of mass population and lack of resources—water and things like that— people should be encouraged to grow on their own,” he says.

“In an overpopulated world with mounting damage to the environment, the more people that grow their own means the MY less harm to the planet.”

Maximum Yield UK | January / February 2011

43

in the

Grow Room

by Matt LeBannister

Safety is a very important aspect of our lives. From hard hats on job sites to seat belts in cars, safety is always a priority. The grow room is no different. It is filled with hidden dangers and hazards.

With proper advice and know-how one can easily avoid these dangers and enjoy the wonderful experience that is indoor gardening.

Let us discuss bulb safety first. Bulbs can be dangerous if not handled carefully. One must remember that H.I.D. (High Intensity Discharge) bulbs get extremely hot when turned on. In fact you can see them actually glow with heat when turned off in the dark.

This requires that bulbs be left for about half an hour to cool when turned off before handling.

H.I.D. bulbs can also be dangerous if they get a crack in the outer arc tube. The outer arc tube is designed to virtually contain all of the ultraviolet light produced by the bulbs.

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Maximum Yield UK | January / February 2011

Ultraviolet light is a form of radiation and can burn skin and eyes. This is produced by the sun and is why we get sunburns and why we cannot stare into the sun. If you detect a crack in any of your H.I.D. bulbs, immediately unplug the ballast so that the light turns off. The light is now ruined, totally unsafe and must be replaced. Most quality bulb manufacturers have a one year warranty on their bulbs. If it was more than a year old, the bulb needs to be replaced anyway because they will have dropped significantly in lumen production.

“While there are several potentially dangerous elements to indoor gardening, taking proper precautions can mean a safer, more productive experience.”

Ballasts are also a source of danger if not used properly. There are high levels of current going through H.I.D. ballasts. Keep all ballasts off the grow room floor. This ensures that the risk of electric shock is minimized.

It also keeps ballasts from becoming damaged.

Metal core ballasts can get quite hot. They should never be close to anything that might catch fire. Ballasts should always have their covers on and

should never be hung in strands. If one wire touches a hot part of the ballast the wire insulation will burn off leaving the wire exposed. This is a serious fire hazard and should never be allowed to happen.

Remember that all electronic equipment, such as H.I.D. ballasts, should only be modified and/or repaired by qualified professionals.

Another hidden danger in the grow room is the chemical nutrients and pesticides used. Precautions must be taken when applying these potentially dangerous substances. Acids and bases that are used to adjust pH can be very corrosive to the human skin and eyes. Powdered nutrients can easily be inhaled.

If chemicals are mixed together outside of water, reactions can occur with deadly gases being released.

Pesticides are poisonous not only to the insects but to the gardener applying it. One should always have on eye protection, rubber protective gloves and a mask when using one or more of the aforementioned products.

Do not let this article scare you from enjoying your garden.

It can be as risk-free as reading a book if the right precautions are taken. Simply let it to be a guide for a safer, more productive MY gardening experience.

Maximum Yield UK | January / February 2011

45

YOU TELL US

Maximum Yield sits down with Lee Crabtree, director of Damrak Distribution, to discuss the award winning DutchPro products, ingredients that ensure excellence and what growers can expect from Damrak and DutchPro in 2011.

Maximum Yield (MY): How can British growers find out about the newest and most innovative products available from Damrak Distribution?

Lee Crabtree: We are working to make our website www.damrakdistribution.com fully functional with all our new and exciting products available for review. Also, we will soon launch our 2011 product catalogue so stay tuned for that.

MY: What products in the DutchPro line do you carry that you are most passionate about right now?

Lee: We carry Explode, Take Root and Multi Total, pre-eminent stimulators and soil improvers that are improving gardens across the UK. MY: What makes DutchPro products unique from the other options available in the market?

Lee: The product range is designed by an award winning company that is actually the only company coming out of

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Maximum Yield Yield UK | January UK | January // February February 2011 2011 Maximum

Amsterdam. They offer approximately 30 years of experience, which is recognizable in their very competitively priced range of products; especially when you compare the dilution rate with other products on the market. It’s the most easy product range to work with and the results are unbelievable.

You can use every stimulator for all grow media (coco/hydro/ soil) and the dilution rate is 1:1000. For the whole process you just need basic feed A&B (grow and bloom), Take Root, Multi Total, Explode and Leaf Green, which is optional. This means that you only need three bottles on top of the basic feed.

My: What ingredients are used in these products to ensure superior excellence and ease-of-use?

Lee: Most products contain much more ingredients in a unique combination and are more concentrated than other lines are offering. It’s the clearest nutrient that is available on the market with no residue left over afterwards.They have used mostly organic elements and the whole range is made following a unique recipe.

MY: Where can Briton growers find DutchPro products?

Lee: The products are available in the better shops nationwide, including Cheshire Hydroponics (www. cheshirehydroponics.co.uk) located at Unit 17 Hillgate Business Centre on Hindley Street, and distributed by Damrak Distribution Ltd. through www.damrakdistribution.com

MY: What educational materials do you offer that will help growers use your products efficiently and effectively?

Lee: We believe that the feed charts are the most userfriendly charts available since they are very clear and concise.

However, any help or support needed is always offered by Cheshire Hydroponics and other retail distributors, Dutch Pro and Damrak.

Damrak will continue to serve the indoor growing and hydroponic fraternity with as much enthusiasm and eagerness to help customers we have strived for in our past. Our delivery times are second-to-none and our staff is always helpful and friendly. Damrak Distribution is the new age distributor with some fantastic, exciting products and changes upcoming. Our product portfolio is growing daily. Watch for the launch of our MY 2011 product catalogue, coming soon.

MY: How can a hobby or commercial grower in the UK choose the right options for their unique situation?

Lee: The whole range is very compact, easy-to-use and designed for every level of experience, from commercial growers to hobby growers. It must be clear that the environment and circumstances can also have a big influence on the whole process.

MY: What strategies has Damrak implemented to lessen their environmental impact on our planet?

Lee: We have stripped all non essential packaging and plastics on all our products. We also keep deliveries and export travel to a minimum to save on emissions.

MY: How does Damrak support local causes and community building?

Lee: We support local schools with our fight against drug abuse campaign.

MY: What can growers expect from Damrak and DutchPro in the future?

Lee: Dutchpro will continue to use their 30 years of experience to support growers the best way they can, not only in manufacturing high quality products but also in making sure that their products will be available for reasonable prices. Our specialists are easy to contact and prepared to answer every question individually. We also offer educational programs to support shop owners in serving their customers.

Maximum Yield Yield UK | January UK | January // February February 2011 2011 Maximum

47 47

PRODUCT

Continued from page 17

spotlight

Biobizz Starters Pack __________________ The new Starters Pack from Biobizz is the answer for growers with strong organic beliefs that care about the future and opt for quality. It is fully loaded with everything needed to initiate a growing adventure and contains all the best 100 per cent organic ingredients for rooting, growing and blooming. Bio-Grow activates the substrates’ bacterial flora due to its base of Dutch organic sugar beet extract. Bio-Bloom contains a small amount of nitrogen and enough phosphorous and potassium to ensure exuberant flowering. TopMax dramatically increases the size and weight of floral clusters and facilitates the uptake of nutrients.

RootJuice promotes vigorous root development. BioHeaven is a highly concentrated plant energy booster, which contains biological stimulants like amino acids. Visit your local hydro shop for more information.

Kessil Introduces the H150 Red LED Grow Light Booster ________________________ Kessil is proud to introduce the H150 Red, designed to supplement spectrums for traditional broadband sources. The H150 Red is a booster for the flowering stage, increasing photon intensity and balancing the spectrum. Using the latest Dense Matrix LED™ platform, the H150 Red delivers focused, intense light for effective photosynthesis. Its compact form and low heat emission means it can be used in close conjunction with conventional grow light systems. Extremely versatile, the H150 Red can be hung from the ceiling or positioned with a gooseneck arm to direct light where it’s needed. For more information visit an authorized Kessil retailer near you.

MY You can find all of our products online at www.maximumyield.com. Each month your favourite new product profiles will be featured on our website. Get the latest information on what will make your garden grow.

Do you want to be included in the product spotlight?

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

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Maximum Yield UK | January / February 2011

DO YOU

know?

COMING UP IN march - april 2011

1 Bacillus subtilis, considered the most powerful

beneficial bacteria, have small tails (flagella), which makes them motile.

2 Epinasty is one of the more extreme symptoms of waterlogged roots, where ethylene gas builds up within the plant.

3 A study of 45 corn varieties developed from 1920 to

2001 found that concentrations of proteins, oil and three important amino acids have all declined in the newer varieties.

4 As a liquid, silica comes in the form of potassium

silicate; as a powder it comes in the form of silica clay.

5 Biological products, overall, are better at preventing disease rather than curing it.

6 Over watering is a more common problem in

hydroponic substrates that have a high moisture holding capacity, such as finer grades of coconut fibre, peat, some grades of rockwool slabs, decomposed sawdust and vermiculite.

7 In most modern fruits and vegetables around 80 to 90

per cent of the dry weight is carbohydrates, much higher than it should be relative to the amount of protein.

Neem Oil: The Facts

The effectiveness of neem oil as a pesticide or fertilizer is often up for debate. This article breaks down the pros and cons of this botanical product so you can decide for yourself.

Healing With Food

Live Longer and live better. Eliminate or reduce your own health problems by enhancing the health of your plants.

CO2 in the Garden

Discover the precise and practical methods of delivering CO2 to plants and different ways to control it.

Maximum Yield UK (March/April) will be available March 1 for FREE at selected indoor gardening retail stores across the UK and on maximumyield.com.

Subscriptions are available at maximumyield.com/ subscriptions.php

Maximum Yield UK | January / February 2011

49

MAX-MART

50

Maximum Yield UK | January / February 2011

UK January - February 2011

FREE

Plant obesity

Growing it big!

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