Maximum Yield UK Mar/Apr 2011

UK March - April 2011

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Unplugged The Modernized Gericke System

Healing with Food A Hydroponicist’s Perspective

www.maximumyield.com

2011

Indoor gardenING expo Denver

Colorado, USA March 31- April 3

VANCOUVER BC, CANADA May 14-15

SAN FRancisco California, USA July 16-17

long beach california, usa october 22-23

indoorgardeningexpo.com

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Maximum Yield UK | March / April 2011

CONTENTS march / april 2011 FEATURES 20

20

Understanding and Using Trichoderma Fungi

24

Precise and Stable: CO2 Concentration in the Garden

30

Unplugged: The Modernized Gericke System

38

Neem Oil: The Facts

40

Healing With Food: A Hydroponicist’s Perspective

by Donald Lester

by Isabelle Lemay, agr. and Mélissa Léveillé

by Dr. Lynette Morgan

by Matt LeBannister

by Evan Folds

DEPARTMENTS 38

6

From the Editor

6

Letters to the Editor

8

MaximumYield.com

10

Simon Says

12

MAX Facts

16

Product Spotlight

36

Talking Shop

46

You Tell Us

49

Do You Know?

49

Coming up in May/June

50

Max Mart

28

40 Maximum Yield UK | March / April 2011

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FROM THE editor

jessica raymond

Indoor gardeners and hydroponicists are a tech-savvy group. We get off on testing out the latest grow gadgets, convinced they lead the way to growth overload. The products are getting smarter so we don’t have to work as hard. Unfortunately, this also means we think less. And while high-tech devices certainly have their place in the grow room, their existence doesn’t mean we can’t revisit simpler techniques from the past that were surprisingly effective. Dr. Lynette Morgan details a system that requires no pumps, electricity or circulating of nutrient in “Unplugged” on page 30.

From using Trichoderma, understanding variable CO2 concentration and debating the effectiveness of neem oil, this issue offers you a full read of some of the top issues facing modern gardeners today. Got questions? Got grow tips? We want to hear it all, so send your letters to editor@maximumyield.com and you could have your letter published in Maximum Yield.

Want more? We have it for you April 3, 2011 at our Colorado (USA) Indoor Gardening Expo with over 300 exhibitors touting the latest innovations and earth friendly grow gear, plus seminars, an education stage, networking and more. We welcome you to attend general public day, Sunday, April 3. No registration is necessary. For more information, a list of exhibitors and directions to the venue visit www.indoorgardenexpo.com. Book a trip to the United States and make plans to attend this worldclass event; we know you are going to love it!

Jessica Raymond, Editor

Check it out! Be sure to enter the latest Win Big…Grow Big contest online at http://maximumyield.com/winbigUK.php. We are giving away some cool gear this issue. Flip to page 45 and enter online to win today.

editor@maximumyield.com

letters to the editor Connect to MaximumYield.com Instantly What is the black and white holographic symbol on the front cover of the Maximum Yield magazines? Is it a bar code of some kind?

Ed Kubinski The QR (Quick Response) Code found on the cover of every issue of Maximum Yield allows you to instantly connect to www.maximumyield.com from your Smartphone. Once you have downloaded your choice of QR software to your Smartphone, simply scan the QR Code and your phone’s browser will automatically launch, redirecting you to www.maximumyield.com. Full instructions on using this feature are available on page 8.

Modern Gardening Solutions Excellent mag guys! Flipping through the latest issues, I was pleased to find some intriguing articles. The ones of particular interest to me are on microbes and micro-organisms in the soil and compost concoctions. Some of the articles are quite heavy, but hydroponics is a technical process, after all; and gardening is based on science so I think of these “heavier” articles as a challenge to help me grow better and modernize my skill set.

Thanks again for putting out a great publication.

Matt Reed 6

Maximum Yield UK | March / April 2011

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

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

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

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

Garden Kat

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

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Simply download the QR Code Reader software compatible with your Smartphone, scan the QR Code and your phone’s browser will automatically launch, redirecting you to www.maximumyield.com. It’s that simple!

I N D O O R

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VOLUME 10 – NUMBER 6 March/April 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

Featured Articles Controlling Salt Build-Up Salt build-up is a common occurrence in hydroponic solutions and soilless systems, which can be serious and even fatal for plants. Luckily there are a number of easy options to correct the problem that growers of all skill levels can implement.

The Pythium Predator Do you run and cower when you hear the word Pythium? You’re not alone.

This plant plague can strike at any time leaving behind wilted leaves and brown roots. By understanding how and why it spreads, you will more easily be able to control and eventually prevent this devastating disease.

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 Daniel Peters - daniel@maximumyield.com Nicole Tennison - nicole@maximumyield.com Jenn Duong - jennifer@maximumyield.com ACCOUNTING - Lee Anne Veres leeanne@maximumyield.com

Hairy Root Tissue Culture and the Future of Horticulture Since the dawn of agriculture, humans have controlled and experimented with plant species. The modern techniques of tissue culture assist with cultivation and micropropagation of plants by the millions, as genetic clones.

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 Donald Lester is the plant

Isabelle Lemay is in charge of the

Mélissa Léveillé holds a license

Dr. Lynette Morgan holds a B. Hort.

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. in communication, writing and multimedia. She is the newest member of the Nova Biomatique Inc. Team (www.igrowing.com), makers of the PLUG’N’GROW climate controllers.

She is responsible for Nova Biomatique Inc.’s communications.

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.

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Maximum Yield UK | March / April 2011

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

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

Matt LeBannister developed a

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

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

SIMON says

Simon, what’s up man? How goes it? My question is if I’m growing organic and really focusing on microbial life in the soil, is it ok to foliar feed with a nutrient blend that isn’t organic? Meaning, will those non-organic foliar applications hinder the life below? You might wonder why I would want to do that. I’ve been learning about ammonium sulphate and how it works as an herbicide, pesticide and fungicide. I’ve been using Humboldt Nutrients (specifically Ginormous), which is not organic, but it’s supposed to help boost blooms and help with mould issues because it contains ammonium sulphate. Your thoughts are appreciated.

Eric

If you want to produce a certified organic crop, foliar feeding with a non-organic nutrient is out of the question; but, it sounds like you are more concerned with its effect on a quality organic medium full of microbial life. As a rule, the application of chemicals to an organic medium is generally detrimental. However, in the case of a foliar application, excluding any large quantity of direct runoff from the leaves into the medium, its effects will be negligible. As nutrients are absorbed into the plant, they are generally converted into various organic acids and other substances. These by-products are then moved throughout the plant, including to the roots where some, such as carbohydrates and amino acids, are secreted into the rhizosphere. So without question some of the elements provided in your foliar spray will end up in your medium but for the most part I would think that they would be in a form that is beneficial to your microbiology.

The second part of your question relates directly to ammonium sulphate. (NH4)2SO4 is a chemical fertilizer with 21 per cent ammonium nitrogen and 24 per cent sulphur in sulphate form. The use of sulphur as a fungicide is well documented but it is generally in its elemental form.

Sulphates aren’t fungicides and neither is ammonium sulphate.

Ammonium sulphate can be helpful in some cases as an adjuvant for certain pesticides. An adjuvant is a substance that increases the efficacy of the pesticide while lowering the cost of use. In the case of ammonium sulphate it can assist the process by boosting a gene expression resisting pathogen attack. The mechanism that seems to be the cause of this benefit is the acidification of the cytosolic pH within the plant

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Maximum Yield UK | March / April 2011

cells themselves.

Remember that microbiology in some cases can be used as a foliar fungicide. I can’t resist suggesting an organic option. An aerated compost tea can be tested and there are registered organic fungicides that are based on bacterial isolates. Perhaps you could look to these options to maintain the true organic nature of your system. This way, even as the runoff fell into your medium, you would still be seeing additional organic benefits.

Good luck

Maximum Yield UK | March / April 2011

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MAX

facts

hydroponic news, tips and trivia from around the world

Bahrain Goes Green With Hydroponics ____________________________ Within Bahrain, a small island country in the Persian Gulf, radical plans have been unveiled that could result in all homes and other buildings having hydroponic gardens in the future. The trial should lead to the implementation of the scheme across the country sometime this year. The eventual hope is to create green spaces within what is becoming an increasingly urban society.

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

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

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

Infrared Sheds Light on Beneficial Microbes ___________________ Infrared spectroscopy can quickly spot beneficial fungi on roots in soil. This type of spectroscopy has become established practice for quick and reliable analysis of grain and forage quality, as well as for other agricultural uses. The ability to quickly analyze field soils for these beneficial fungi, called Mycorrhizae, would allow scientists to judge which crop rotations or other farming practices increase mycorrhizal fungi. This is important nationwide to improve crop yields, and especially critical in semi-arid areas.

The test could simplify, speed and make more objective measurements of Mycorrhizae in root samples compared to the standard method of visual scoring through a microscope. Scientists plan to study the spectral properties of other crop-fungal species to see whether there are universal spectral signatures for this important group of organisms.

(Source: www.ars.usda.gov)

Rain Gardens Sprouting Up Everywhere ____ Rain gardens are increasingly popular with homeowners and municipalities and are mandatory for many communities nationally. Scientists are finding ways to improve rain gardens so they not only reduce runoff, but also keep toxic metals out of storm drains.

Rain gardens not only slow water down to give it time to soak into the ground and be used by plants, but also filter out sediment and chemical pollutants. Scientists found that poultry litter biochar—activated carbons created from the charred remains of poultry litter—is a powerful pollutant magnet. It can attract heavy metals such as copper, cadmium and zinc, which are ordinarily tough to snag from wastewater.

Tests are being conducted on the poultry litter biochar as well as other farm and industrial byproducts at two demonstration rain gardens, as well as at plots at a county landfill and a mineland reclamation site.

(Source: www.ars.usda.gov)

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Maximum Yield UK | March / April 2011

Eco-friendly Advertising Leaves Clients in Awe _____ The latest from the ecominds at the UK-based firm natural media agency Curb is soilless urban greenery as an advertising tool. Curb's DesignGrass was created solely for indoor environments and can be designed in any shape, pattern, image, brand or word and installed on indoor surfaces such as walls and ceilings. DesignGrass is even hypoallergenic and a natural sound-proofer. FlexiGrass, meanwhile, is a soilless living carpet made from natural grass, herbs, flowers and plants that can be used to cover anything or create green spaces in locations where normal grass and greenery cannot take hold. Curb has long been using regular grass in its outdoor advertising campaigns, but these latest innovations open up a world of opportunity indoors. Eco-minded brands: start thinking green for your next marketing campaign.

(Sources: Springwise.com, www.greenlivingonline.com)

Maximum Yield UK | March / April 2011

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MAX

facts

hydroponic news, tips and trivia from around the world

New and Crazy Genetically Modified Foods ________________ According to Sustainable Table, about 200 million acres of farmland worldwide are now used to grow genetically modified organisms (GMOs). The most common GMO crops are soybeans, which represent 63 per cent of all GMO crops, corn at 19 per cent, cotton at 13 per cent and canola at five per cent. None of the following have been approved yet by the FDA, but with what we've seen so far, who's to say that they won't be in the future.

1. “Super Chicken Eggs” produce compounds that can fight a range of diseases from diabetes, to viruses to tooth decay.

2. “Non-Browning Apples” are missing the gene that produces the enzyme polyphenol oxidase.

3. “Fast-Growing Salmon” do not grow larger than regular salmon; they just achieve their size in 16 to 18 months rather than three years.

4. “Hyper-Producing Seeds” have an altered command gene that tells the plants when and how many flowers to generate.

5. “Enviro-Pigs™” are modified to produce 65 per cent less phosphorous in their poop and urine.

(Source: http://planetgreen.discovery.com)

Hydroponics Goes Mobile __________________________________________ Calling all fans of Farmville, if you find yourself watering your crops on the bus, in the pub or sneakily at work then in the near future you could doing the same actions to produce real crops. The latest in hydroponic pocket gadgets will give users the power to control and assess the light, water and temperature levels of their system straight from their computers, iPhones, iPods or iPads.

The product is a contained growing chamber that uses high intensity LED lights with a drip irrigation system. The box is controlled by a gadgets and server software for real time control. This product will work even work with Twitter, giving crop updates through tweets.

No longer will you have to rush home to make changes to your system. Wondering about how your plants are doing, how much water they have had, how hot the system is or if your light schedule has kicked in will be a thing of the past.

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

Can Kids Thrive on a Vegetarian Diet? _________________________ A nationwide survey of 1,258 eight to 18-year-olds found that an estimated 1.4 million kids are vegetarians. Plant-based diets are inherently healthier than meat-based diets, according to a host of studies, but this isn't to say that just by eating under the label vegetarian or vegan kids always eat healthier.

According to a recent newspaper article kids can thrive on a vegetarian diet but there are some definite dangers that parents need to be looking out for to keep their little ones at optimal health.

Pediatrician Dr. Hemant Sharma recommends three meals and three energy-dense snacks a day for his vegetarian patients including nuts, seeds and avocado, as well as such high protein foods as tofu and low-fat dairy and eggs. Particular areas of concern include iron, especially in teenage girls, and in vegan diets Vitamin D, B12 and calcium.

(Source: www.treehugger.com)

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Maximum Yield UK | March / April 2011

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PRODUCT spotlight

Ask for them at your local indoor gardening store.

YOUR GUIDE TO THIS ISSUE’S HOTTEST ITEMS

Introducing ATA Rootfast _________________________________ A healthy plant starts with a well developed root system. More then 50 per cent of a plant’s quality depends on what is below the surface. ATA Rootfast is a 100 per cent natural root stimulator that creates powerful root production. When used during the first two weeks the plant is forced to grow larger and stronger roots, which ensures stability during the whole cycle. Suitable for all substrates and with every watering system. NPK: 1/6/1. The stimulators and liquid nutrients of Atami are packed and sealed to be air and light tight under the twistable cap, so quality is guaranteed. Look for it at your local indoor gardening shop.

New From Nutriculture - EF100 Low Level Ebb and Flood System From Europe’s #1 hydroponic system manufacturer comes a new take on the tried and tested four by four ebb and flood table. The EF100 system features a four by four table set directly on a low level, 100 litre reservoir.

No need for tall frames. At just 23 centimetres tall the system offers maximum headroom under lights, allowing plants to grow big. The table features strengthening ribs for ultimate stability and security when using heavy pots and growing media. The EF100 is one of the most flexible systems on the market. Grow in any media, with or without pots. You can set floods on a timer to suit the lifestage of the plants. EF100 is a great vegging system for large scale growers and the ideal full cycle system for smaller scale, one lamp growers. For more information, visit your local indoor gardening shop.

Biowave Industries Presents the New Green Revolution in Agriculture After five years of research, development and testing, Biowave is releasing their Farm and Hydroponics models to the public. These machines feature rotating cages that create harmonic subsonic waves, which greatly enhance plant growth and yield by an average of 20 per cent. Biowave works by locking on to a plant’s frequency, creating a resonant wave that dilates the stomata, which is its breathing mechanism. Laboratory, farm and hydroponic tests have all had the same results—higher yields. Biowave machines produce 60 per cent higher brix, which translates to a better tasting, more nutritious fruit or vegetable. Biowave will soon be in use all over the world. Patents are currently pending in 160 countries. For more information talk to your favourite hydroponics retailer.

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Maximum Yield UK | March / April 2011

Plagron Terra: High-tech Fertilizers ____________________ For the most demanding grower, Plagron has created bio-mineral Terra fertilizers, containing advanced, high quality nutrients and powerful supporting stimulators. Innovative research in the Plagron laboratories has resulted in unique fertilizers with high grade, chelated mineral and trace elements for fast and total absorption. Organic vitamins, aminoacids, enzymes and natural hormones make plants ultra-resistant against mould and fungus. Plagron has also created the Terra-concept: a selection of nutrients and stimulators that activate, feed and strengthen plants; a fantastic concept to spoil them to the max. For more information, talk to your local hydroponics retailer.

JD-Lightings Electronic Ballasts ______________________________________ JD-Lightings electronic ballasts provide a strong and stable light output for a thriving grow.

Research has shown that our square-shaped printed-circuit board (PCB) is great for heat dissipation. These ballasts are 120/240 volt compatible and operate both metal halide (MH) and high pressure sodium (HPS) lamps. Our dimmable feature ranges from 50, 75, 100 to 110 per cent for maximum control of lumen output. The resonance ignition is designed for the right amount of voltage to strike the lamp in order to initiate a gradual ignition rather than a fast single ignition strike, which may decrease lamp life during re-strikes. JD-Lightings resin-sealed ballasts are completely silent and fully insulated for electrical safety (UL and CUL approved). To learn more visit your favourite indoor gardening shop.

Titan Controls® Flo-N-Gro™ ____________ Sunlight Supply,® Inc. is proud to announce the release of the Flo-N-Gro™ 12 site growing system from Titan Controls®. This innovative hydroponic system comes with a 250 litre reservoir, 12 – 18 litre grow sites and 12 – 14 litre 360° mesh aeration inserts that promote lateral root growth and oxygen exchange for your plants. This complete system also includes the Titan Controls® solid state Oceanus 1 Flo-N-Gro Controller, two Maxi-Jet 1,000 pumps and all the necessary two centimetre tubing and fittings to build your system. Simply add your favourite growing media and start growing. Easy to use and simple to understand, the Flo-N-Gro 12 site system makes growing plants fun! Visit an indoor gardening shop for more information.

The Award Winning EarthBox is Now Available ______________________ 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.

Maximum Yield UK | March / April 2011

17

PRODUCT spotlight

Your guide to this issue’s hottest items.

“That Stuff” Plant Washes _____________________________ Sunlight Supply,® Inc. is pleased to announce the arrival of “That Stuff” Mighty Wash, PM Wash and Power Wash. Many years of research have lead to the creation of these amazing plant cleaning products. These ready-to-use washes may be used throughout your plant’s entire growing and flowering cycle, up to and including the day of harvest. “That Stuff” is truly the cleanest solution to your problems. Use Power Wash as your final spray to remove residue left behind from other plant sprays. Available now from retailers across the UK.

ATA Awa Bloombastic Box From Atami __________________ For new growers Atami has developed the Bloombastic Box that contains every product required for a one square metre culture on soil garden, making growing a piece of cake. In combination with the ATA nutrients and supplements, the box provides excellent growth and flowering results.

Products are ultra concentrated with more active ingredients. They promote the enzyme process, so that your system is less vulnerable to stress factors!

Products increase the sugar content and thus the weight of your plants for colossal blooms. Easy to use for every type of substrate including hydroculture, soil and coconut fibre. ATA Awa Bloombastic Box includes: Awa Max A and Max B (one litre), Awa Leaves A and Leaves B (250 millilitres), Rootfast (100 millilitres) and Bloombastic (250 millilitres). Atami’s performance in a box makes beginners professionals and professionals champions. Ask for it at your local indoor gardening shop.

Optimal Yields With Soil Mixtures From Plagron The quality of potting soil has a huge influence on a successful cultivation and harvest. Clever growers make no concessions when it comes to getting off to the perfect start with the right soil mixture. Plagron offers the most extensive range of quality soil mixtures with a product to suit every grower. All mixtures are either fully organic or bio-mineral based. All soil mixtures from Plagron reproduce the natural soil conditions for air and water management. The difference between the various potting soils is the extent of pre-fertilisation. Light-mix is a minimally fertilised substrate making it ideal for fervent growers who know exactly what they want. Visit an indoor gardening shop near you to learn more.

New From Nutriculture and Atami – the Wilma Big 8 _____________ 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 lifestage of the plants. The Wilma Big 8 is now available at indoor gardening shops across the UK.

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Maximum Yield UK | March / April 2011

CubeCap® Canada Introduces the Long Awaited Square DripCap® __________ The new Grodan approved 15 centimetre square DripCap® minimizes algae and algae related problems while saving water and nutrients. It hosts a list of other attributes like a new “one size fits all” hose holder, which accommodates four millimetre to 7.6 millimetre diameters. A new innovative drip technology allows for an even saturation of the growing medium promoting larger root mass and yields with more uniformity. For more information visit an indoor gardening shop near you.

Titan Controls® Helios 9™ and Helios 10™ ________________ Sunlight Supply®, Inc. would like to announce the latest release in the Helios Series lighting controllers from Titan Controls®: the Helios 9™ and Helios 10™. The Helios 9™ is a four light timer with a built-in 30 amp breaker and will run up to 4,000 watts of light, while the Helios 10™ is an eight light timer with a built-in 50 amp breaker and will run up to 8,000 watts of light. These controllers come pre-wired with a pigtail cord set and include the Apollo 8™ - 24 hour timer. Both models feature premium quality Siemens brand relays, 120 volt accessory outlets and offer multi-tap universal outlets that will accept either a 120 volt or 240 volt ballast cord set. Simple to set up and easy to use and makes timing your lights a snap!

Visit an indoor gardening shop near you for more information.

New Urban Saddlebag From Root Pouch ________________ The Urban Saddlebag from Root Pouch, made from recycled water bottles, is perfect for hanging on railings, balconies, fences or gates. No hardware needed, just hang them on or over something.

Perfect for decorative gardens, vegetable gardens and herb gardens, whether you are looking for a splash of living colour or turning railings into living works of art. Root Pouch offers a complete line of earth friendly products, made of recycled materials that promote a healthy, quality environment for plants.

For more information visit your local indoor/outdoor gardening shop.

Continued on page 48 Maximum Yield UK | March / April 2011

19

Understanding and using

trichoderma fungi

by Donald Lester

There are many species of fungi, bacteria, viruses and protozoa commercially available for the biological control of insects, diseases and weeds. Some products offer mixtures of different organisms. This article will cover one particularly easy-to-use type of fungi that occurs naturally in soil and helps control soil diseases and break down crop residues to makes otherwise unavailable soil nutrients available to plants—Trichoderma.

Trichoderma fungi have many positive effects on plants: increased growth and yield, increased nutrient uptake, increased fertilizer utilization efficiency, increased percentage and rate of seed germination and induced systemic resistance to plant diseases (Harman et al., 2004). Moreover, their use as biological control agents is due to their modes of action: competition, parasitism, production of inhibitory compounds and enzymes or inactivation of the pathogen’s enzyme systems. Trichoderma actively takes over a root zone and makes it difficult for pathogens to compete for space on the roots and for nutrients. And in terms of parasitism, Trichoderma coils around the hyphae of pathogenic fungi and then produces enzymes to dissolve the pathogen’s cell walls.

There is another kind of beneficial fungi that is commercially available to growers and also covers the roots to physically prevent disease infection and make nutrients available to the roots—Mycorrhizae. People often confuse the two fungi but Mycorrhizal fungi are not parasitic like Trichoderma fungi.

Trichoderma fungi produce powerful enzymes to dissolve crop residues and attack soil pathogens like Pythium, Fusarium, and Rhizoctonia. Trichoderma produces two main types of enzymes: cellulase and chitinase. Cellulose is a major component in plant

fibres and crop residues. The enzyme cellulase breaks down cellulose. Similarly, chitin is a structural component in fungal cell walls. It is a strong material that is also a key component in insect exoskeletons. The enzyme chitinase breaks down chitin though Trichoderma is not known to attack insects.

Trichoderma switches back and forth on which enzymes to produce depending on the type of food source available. For example, when fresh bark is used in composts, Trichoderma fungi do not directly attack the plant pathogen Rhizoctonia solani. But, in decomposing bark the amount of readily available cellulose decreases, which activates the chitinase genes of Trichoderma, which in turn produce chitinase to parasitize Rhizoctonia solani (Benhamou and Chet 1997). What this means is that in the spring time when temperatures are low and pathogen activity is low Trichoderma will feed on the readily available cellulose from crop residues. Later in the season when the crop residues are exhausted and the pathogen load has increased Trichoderma will switch over to parasitizing the pathogens.

It should be emphasized that the enzymes produced by Trichoderma are industrial strength compounds. Many people are unaware that their stone washed blue jeans are made using Trichoderma. There is no such thing as a true stone washed blue jean because no stones are used in the manufacturing process. Rather, the manufacturer puts denim jeans into a vat of Trichoderma reesii until the cellulase enzymes break down the denim to give the desired, faded, worn appearance (University of Wisconsin).

Trichoderma does have a bad side. It is not only a powerful biological control agent, but it is a major pest in commercial

“Trichoderma actively takes over a root zone and makes it difficult for pathogens to compete for space on the roots and for nutrients.”

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Maximum Yield UK | March / April 2011

“Many people are unaware that their stone washed blue jeans are made using Trichoderma.”

mushroom production. There it is known as “green mould.” The powerful enzyme chitinase produced

by Trichoderma creates big problems in commercial mushroom farms.

If Trichoderma exists naturally in the soil then why should you have to add more of what is already there?

Trichoderma fungi in nature are lost due to soil disturbances such as mining, construction or erosion; strong acid or chemical treatments; pesticides, excessive heat, drought or flooding; and denial of oxygen or water by asphalt, concrete, soil compaction and roads. In indoor gardens Trichoderma should be added to potting soils to restore healthy population levels lost due to soil sterilization, the use of strong chemical sanitizers, waterlogged soils low in oxygen and excessive fertilization.

The optimum temperature range for Trichoderma harzianum is between 30 to 38oC, whereas Trichoderma koningii has an optimal range between 32 to 35oC (Danielson and Davey). Once soil temperatures exceed 15oC, this is the best timing for Trichoderma to be introduced into the soil.

Trichoderma has a lifecycle of about 28 days. It is self replicating but like any lifecycle it becomes weak. Therefore, it is necessary to re-apply the product to maintain strength. Trichoderma is non-toxic to plants so there is no danger of over application or phytotoxicity.

Trichoderma fungi work well as soil inoculants. If using Trichoderma as a disease control rather than preventative it is best to treat infections early. If Trichoderma are applied too late then the results will be disappointing. Trichoderma fungi are not a miracle cure, but with proper usage and realistic expectations you can have trichoderma working for you.

“If using trichoderma as a disease control rather than preventative it is best to treat infections early.”

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Understanding and using trichoderma fungi

Shopping for Trichoderma Fungi There are a lot of Trichoderma products on the market today. Growers are often wary of new products that suddenly appear on the market and appear to be copy-cats of more well known products.

Here are some features and specifications to look for when buying Trichoderma products.

• Look for stable formulations.

• Look for combinations of Trichoderma species in one product.

• Look for a guaranteed analysis on the label.

• Shelf life is important.

• Do your homework and see how long the product has been on the market.

• Look for products that operate over a wide range of temperatures.

• Make sure the Trichoderma product is organically certified.

Listed are some general guidelines and expectations for using Trichoderma in various greenhouse and hydroponic environments. As with any product, strict adherence to the label instructions is necessary for optimum performance.

Incorporating Trichoderma into your indoor garden or grow room is easy, safe and environmentally friendly. Look for Trichoderma fungi products in your gardening catalogue, local nursery or garden centre. By using Trichoderma you will be promoting a more balanced population of naturally occurring soil micro-organisms, and at the same time reducing your use of harsh, toxic chemicals. And you will save yourself costly and worrisome disposal problems associated with chemical alternatives. Now that you’ve learned a little about Trichoderma perhaps you will feel more confident in buying and using Trichoderma fungi in your garden, greenhouse or indoor garden.

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Aeroponics and Hydroponics Trichoderma use in aeroponic and hydroponic systems can eventually form a fibrous mat that can block pipes and nozzles used to irrigate the plants. Removal of this material is a time consuming process, which involves temporarily dismantling the irrigation system pipes and spaghetti tubing. In warmer weather this needs to be done frequently.

Transplanting into Containers Apply granules or liquid formulation directly into the planting hole making sure that the root ball has good contact with the Trichoderma. As the plants grow maintenance applications can be applied as granules to the soil surface or soil drenches. A soil drenching solution can be prepared from bulk granules by soaking the granules in water for several hours to release the organisms and activate them. This liquid can then be used as a soil drench. The activation process brings Trichoderma out of its dormant stage so it will be actively growing. Once activated Trichoderma should be applied within 24 hours.

Mix with Growing Media Many commercial potting mixes already contain Trichoderma fungi. However, bulk granules of Trichoderma can be mixed in with the soil before transplanting. Or Trichoderma can be applied to the soil surface after transplanting, in the same manner as application of a granular fertilizer. Incorporation of Trichoderma fungi is especially important in sterilized soils to restore or establish a population of beneficial micro-organisms to out-compete pathogens. Trichoderma are aerobic, meaning they require oxygen, so it is best not to waterlog the growing media for too long.

Bare Root Bare root plants can be dipped into solutions containing Trichoderma fungi that have been pre-activated. Trichoderma fungi are compatible with most common commercial rooting powders and water-absorbent gels. Granules can also be soaked in water for a few hours with the water being used as a base for a dipping solution.

Sawdust Trichoderma will produce the enzyme cellulase and feed on the most available food source, in this case the sawdust itself. In fact, Trichoderma is often used as a compost addition in conventional gardening systems to break down straw, sawdust and other fibrous materials. So, Trichoderma is not recommended as an augmentation to sawdust bags or sawdust-based media.

Sand Culture Trichoderma will not be self-sustaining in sand culture because of the limited food supply. Since there is relatively low amounts of organic matter in sand, Trichoderma will suffer because there is nothing for the cellulase enzymes to work on. The only other source of food for Trichoderma would be pathogens that the chitinase enzymes can break down. But when the pathogens are gone Trichoderma is once again left without a food supply.

Seeding Seeds can be placed in direct contact with Trichoderma at planting time. This ensures that the young roots are colonized early on for protection against water mould root rots like Pythium and Phytophthora. However, be sure that the Trichoderma are compatible with any fungicides that may be used as seed treatments or applied with the seed.

MY

Maximum Yield UK | March / April 2011

23

Precise and Stable: CO2 Concentration in the Garden

by Isabelle Lemay, agr. and Mélissa Léveillé Some believe that talking to plants helps them grow better.

This theory is based on the power of waves and positive thoughts, but there is certainly an explanation that is more mundane to this phenomenon. When one knows that a human exhales at a CO2 concentration between 30,000 and 40,000 ppm, it is easy to assume that gossiping with the plants provides them with a high quantity of CO2 essential to

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photosynthesis. Of course, this is only a theory, but it clearly exposes the importance of CO2 for the optimal growth of the plants. Fortunately, there are ways to provide the needed CO2 to plants that are more precise and practical! The following article will allow you to better understand the causes of the variable CO2 concentration in the garden as well as the different ways to control it.

“A human exhales at a CO2 concentration between 30,000 and 40,000 ppm.”

The influence of human activity As the exterior air generally influences the garden’s atmosphere, it is important to understand the exterior CO2 concentration variations. Many factors affect the composition of the air, but one in particular has a noticeable impact: human activity. According to the measurements of an air sampling global network (NOAA/ESRL’s Global Monitoring Division), the average international CO2 concentration in November 2009 was near 390 parts per million (ppm). Such a low level is often observed in limited human activity zones, but rarely in the city where industries, vehicles and numerous other CO2 sources (often combined to the effects of smog) will increase the concentration to variable levels.

The diagram below shows the CO2 concentration variation in an urban region over a 48 hour period. We observe

It is difficult to identify the exact causes of CO2 level variations but certainly, it is real and it has to be taken in consideration in the garden!

CO2 concentration variations in the garden In the microclimate created within the sheltered garden, numerous causes explain the variation of CO2 concentration, such as the plant’s photosynthesis and respiration processes, but also the exchange with exterior air.

Each of these causes must be taken into consideration and be well understood to conserve an ideal CO2 concentration.

Photosynthesis and respiration The vegetal growth depends on photosynthesis, a process that happens in the presence of light and during which the plant absorbs CO2 to transform it in cells and tissues. To reach the maximal photosynthesis level, most of the plants need a CO2 CO2 Measurements over 48 Hours concentration between 700 and 1,000 ppm. It is important to know that in the absence of CO2 enrichment or ventilation, fast grown plants may easily consume all the available CO2 in the garden, Reference: http://co2.utah.edu/ (2009-11-17 09:00) and this, within that the concentration varies on a range a few hours only (depending on the of approximately 150 ppm in the same plant’s density). For example, a CO2 day, so about 400 ppm to 550 ppm. concentration between 400 and 1,000 The maximal concentration is reached ppm can easily go down to 340 ppm between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m., probably within an hour or two in the presence of due to rush hour. Then, it tumbles down light, and even down to 150 ppm if the luminosity is important. in the afternoon, perhaps caused by the surrounding vegetation.

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Precise and Stable CO2 Concentration in the Garden

Continued from page 25

With such results, it is obvious that the garden needs CO2 enrichment, for example, with combustion CO2 generators or again, with regulated CO2 bottles. For lack of CO2 enrichment, the air in the garden should minimally be exchanged with exterior air, although this method does not generally allow an optimal concentration for growth.

In dark periods, the CO2 concentration naturally increases in the garden. Why? Because in the absence of light, photosynthesis stops; the plant does not consume CO2 anymore, but continues with the respiration process, meaning the plant consumes the oxygen and rejects the CO2. It is then unnecessary to enrich the air with CO2 during the dark period. At the end of a period without light, the CO2 concentration may reach between 400 to 1,000 ppm, depending on a plant’s density, environmental conditions and how airtight the garden is.

Exchange with exterior air It is important to consider the exchanges with exterior air. If one chooses not to enrich the garden with CO2, the ventilation has to be sufficient to provide the plant with a maximum of CO2. If one chooses to enrich the garden with CO2, it is important to minimize the exchanges with outside air; in this particular case, leaks of air and ventilation will contribute to the drop of CO2 concentration in the garden. Minimal ventilation is still recommended. Even if it makes the CO2 level slightly drop in the garden, it allows the plants to benefit from oxygen and also ensures the gardener’s safety. CO2 concentration over 1,200 ppm can degrade lucidity and lead to various discomforts; exceeding 6,000 ppm, the gardener may even pass out.

CO2 management In a garden enriched with CO2, a controller is an essential tool to maintain an optimal CO2 concentration for the plants.

Unfortunately, some choose to use a timer to periodically activate the enrichment equipment. Although it is less expensive than a controller, a timer is an inaccurate method that does not

“To reach the maximal photosynthesis level, most plants need a CO2 concentration between 700 and 1,000 ppm.”

allow the desired CO2 concentration in the garden to be reached and maintained. The adjustment of the timer is usually an estimate calculated according to the volume size of the garden and type of enrichment equipment. But this estimate cannot include all other factors that influence the CO2 concentration, such as the plant’s consumption, air leaks or the ventilation. This way, unknown and approximated CO2 concentrations are obtained, which are rarely the ones plants’ need. In the case of too high concentrations, the excess of CO2 is wasted and can even be harmful to the plants and persons working in the garden. Sad conclusion: the sums invested to enrich will probably not bring the expected results in return.

The controller is much better than the timer. With a

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Interesting features to consider when purchasing a CO2 controller Light Sensor Since adding CO2 is useless in dark periods, even harmful, it might be interesting to opt for a controller equipped with a light sensor that can be set to enrich in the presence of light only. No more need to synchronize the enrichment with the lamps or with the sunrise and sunset.

Automatic Differential The differential represents the CO2 concentration variation around the set point. We can also say that it is the different range between the value at which the controller deactivates the enrichment equipment and the one where the controller activates the equipment.

In the case of an automatic differential (optimized), the controller automatically modifies the differential’s value in order to narrow the range around the desired set point. This feature allows the grower to obtain a more stable and precise concentration.

Combined Controller

“In the case of too high concentrations, the excess of CO2 is wasted and can even be harmful to the plants and persons working in the garden.” built-in infrared sensor, which permanently measures the CO2 with high precision, the controller activates and stops the enrichment equipment to maintain the concentration as close as possible to the value selected by the user. CO2 is added only when the concentration goes below the set point and the controller stops the equipment when the concentration exceeds the set point. This way, we obtain an ideal concentration, stable, without waste or worries, for the plants!

To be really effective, the controller must be installed to a location that represents the cultural environment. For example, it is recommended to avoid placing the controller too close to the ventilation system or the CO2 source. The superior part of the plants is usually the best location to measure the CO2 level since it is at this location that the photosynthetic activity is maximal.

To summarize, the best way to maintain the ideal CO2 concentration in the garden is to use a controller, combined with CO2 enrichment equipment such as a combustion CO2 generator or a regulated CO2 bottle. It is also important to maintain good management of the ventilation, meaning

It is common to want to enrich a cultural environment with CO2 that is partially vented. In order to avoid waisting CO2, it is better to avoid enriching while the venting equipment is running. Some controllers, called combined controllers, allow you to intelligently manage more than one piece of equipment at once, for example by avoiding opposite actions, such as the enrichment and ventilation, to be simutaneously activated.

sufficiently venting the garden to provide the plants with the needed oxygen, while minimizing CO2 waste. In addition, enriching the garden with CO2 during dark periods should be avoided since plants only absorb it in the presence of light. For the ones that choose not to enrich with CO2, it is essential to provide frequent ventilation with exterior air to maintain an acceptable CO2 level to the plants. In this case, having frequent chats with the plants will certainly help!

MY

“Enriching the garden with CO2 during dark periods should be avoided.”

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Unplugged 30

The Modernized Gericke System

by Dr. Lynette Morgan Taking a hint from Dr.William Frederick Gericke’s 1930s hydroponic system, indoor growers today can combine the best of old school techniques and modern technologies for a simple and effective growing solution.

Maximum Yield UK | March / April 2011

The science of hydroponics is now more revolutionize agriculture. In 1938, when high-tech than ever before with the asked by journalists if he expected to average grower having almost instant make a lot of money out of hydroponics, access to information on advanced Gericke’s response was to just smile and growing techniques, systems and products. reveal two gold teeth (1).

However, every now and then it pays to The Gericke System would seem by look back in history and revisit old ideas today’s standards to be rather simple and that might have something to offer us primitive, however, there is no doubt that today, or at least provide some insight into it can be used to grow plants successfully what the early pioneers of hydroponics and many similar hybrid systems are in had to deal with. One such fascinating commercial use today.What is interesting system was developed by Dr.William and perhaps overlooked at the time, was Frederick Gericke when he was working that a Gericke System can be run as a at the University of California at Berkley traditional hydroponic system using inert in the late media and 1930s. nutrient “[Dr. William Gericke published] the Science solutions; book ‘The Complete Guide to Soilless magazine as a hybrid Gardening’ in 1940, where it was in 1937 organic/ claimed the system would reported hydroponic revolutionize agriculture.” that ‘last system; week a new science was given a new or possibly as a truly organic soilless name. Hydroponics, by its foremost U.S. system. By incorporating two phases in practitioner Dr.William Gericke’—a one system—a solid media or substrate startling announcement for a time when based ‘seed bed’ suspended above a producing crops without soil was virtually nutrient ‘basin’ that don’t interact with unheard of. Unfortunately Gericke’s each other—there is the possibility for research into soilless production methods combining some modern ideas and was controversial when he initially philosophies about plant growth. At the refused to reveal details very least a well run Gericke System of the system that he had is a simple method worked on at home in that can be utilized his own time, despite where there is no the huge volume of power source or enquiries he received. limited labour for Eventually this led monitoring and The to him leaving adjusting nutrient Complete G u i d the University of solutions.

Many of e To Soilless G a r d e California and the modern solution ning publishing the book culture or deep tank “The Complete systems are based on William F . Gericke Guide to Soilless the Gericke System, Gardening” in although these have 1940, where it been developed to was claimed the incorporate new system would materials and equipment.

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Unplugged: The Modernized Gericke System

What is the Gericke System?

In the days before readily available plastics for irrigation lines, reservoirs, plant supports and synthetic plant mediums, early hydroponic researchers had limited resources to work with. Gericke’s initial basic system consisted of a trench dug into the earth lined with asphalt impregnated mats and roofing paper. Later these trenches become ‘basins’ constructed from timber, painted concrete or sheet metal.

Over the basin, which was used to contain a depth of nutrient solution, wire netting was stretched and this held the 10 to 13 centimetres deep ‘seedling’ bed that supported the plants. This seedling bed was typically filled with materials available at the time (no rockwool or expanded clay in those days); this was often sawdust, compost, vegetable litter, straw, chaff and leaf mould. The function of the seed bed was to provide support and moisture for the

germinating seed until the plant had extended roots down through the wire mesh and into the nutrient solution contained in the basin reservoir below. With this system it was important to maintain an air gap between the top of the nutrient solution in the basin and the base of the media filled seed bed, which provided a moist environment for roots to obtain oxygen.

The nutrient solution in those days was fairly basic as chelates were not yet available and formulations contained fertilizers such as treble super phosphate’ and iron sulphate—salts we would not consider part of today’s modern nutrient solutions.

Despite this, photographs of the many and varied crops, everything from peanuts to potatoes and papayas, grown by Gericke, demonstrated that the system not only worked but was highly productive as well.

The modern Gericke System Today, with a much wider range of materials and a wealth of knowledge on soilless production generated by researchers over the six decades since Gericke’s first system, it should be possible to recreate and improve on these ideas. Gericke’s System was initially a hybrid organic/hydroponic set up with a ‘seed’ bed consisting of organic materials and a reservoir below of balanced fertilizer salts.

Thus, the plants would have had access to the best of both philosophies—potential availability of organic compounds, microbes, humus and other organic factors as well as complete and balanced nutrient from the mineral ions provided below.

Considering that the organic seedbed

“With a wider choice of both hydroponic nutrient products and organic materials these days it would be possible to create the ultimate organoponic system, which would require very little maintenance and adjustment.”

The planted organic/hydr System showing root gro oponic Gericke the nutrient reservoir aftwth down into er two weeks.

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2011

above is maintained so that it does not leach organic materials into the solution below, the risk of the solution going anaerobic or bacterial and starting to smell would have been eliminated.

Furthermore, the nutrient solution would not have been applied or irrigated onto to the organic seed bed, keeping it in its natural state. With a wider choice o f bo t h hy d ro p on i c nutrient products and organic materials these days it would be possible to create the ultimate organoponic system, which would require very little maintenance and adjustment.

Another modern take on the Gericke System was to determine if it would still work for some of today’s micro crops that would have probably horrified Gericke who concentrated many trials on growing vast quantities of 1.8 metre tall wheat for high quality bread baking. Healthy food crops such as wheat grass shoots, sprouts, baby salad leaves, lettuce and “Having such a system that microgreens need does not require electricity, little space and are pumps or other equipment is well adapted to a major advantage.” growing indoors on a kitchen bench or next to a window, but such systems need to be self contained and compact. Having such a system that does not require electricity, pumps or other equipment is a major advantage, as is a carefree method of nutrient management.

Gericke System showing the and mesh based seed bednutrient reservoir below , which sits above.

The modern Gericke System trials Two ‘modern’ Gericke Systems were designed using two different philosophies—the first was a small salad greens system using completely soilless and media free principals.

The nutrient reservoir or basin consisted of a polystyrene cooler, approximately 25 centimetres long, 20 centimetres wide and 15 centimetres deep, filled to ⅔ depth with a

Maximum Yield UK | March / April 2011

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Unplugged: The Modernized Gericke System

complete hydroponic nutrient solution.

The seed bed of the Gericke System was a plastic mesh basket that fitted tightly into the top of the nutrient filled cooler, allowing an air space of around 1.2 centimetres. The mesh basket was lined with a special matting, a synthetic, hygienic, porous material used in the production of microgreens.

The matting was wetted with water and sown with lettuce seeds. The system was left to its own devices, apart from two to three mistings with water to maintain moisture around the germinating seeds. The lettuce seedlings grew rapidly with roots that extended down into the nutrient solution within a few days of germination. The system required no maintenance or adjustment of the nutrient. The lettuce leaves were harvested within three weeks, by which time the nutrient in the reservoir had dropped to less than 2.5 centimetres in depth. The only time the solution needed to be replenished was between sowings of microgreens and baby leaf lettuce. The system was clean, compact, energy and labour efficient (no energy was required to run the Gericke

System although a lamp was used for extra light indoors).

The second Gericke System was designed to incorporate organic gardening principals with hydroponics, but without the potential problems that this sort of combination can pose. For this system a large black nutrient reservoir was selected that held 100 litres of nutrient solution. The nutrient solution was a standard vegetative formulation at an EC of 2.0 and pH of 5.9. The seed bed consisted of a painted timber frame and wire netting that sat in top of the nutrient reservoir.

The seed bed was filled with a layer of shredded paper and coarse coconut fibre that prevented the finer particles falling through into the solution below. A mixture of high quality vermicast (worm castings), fully decomposed compost mixed with coarse bark, for additional aeration was placed over the shredded paper, and the media planted with vegetable seedlings over a three week period. While this system is still in the early stages of growth, the results are promising. The media in

System with a seedbed of The modernized Gericke ark/paper and a standard t/b pos vermicast/coco/com in the reservoir below. ‘grow’ nutrient solution

the seedling bed has remained moist and roots have grown down into the nutrient reservoir. No signs of foliar yellowing, stunting or wilting have occurred, which would have indicated a lack of oxygen in the root zone or root suffocation. The system appears to be healthy with worm populations in the growing media and no unpleasant smell that would indicate the hydro/organic system had gone anaerobic.

Over time the nutrient level, EC and pH has not been adjusted and will not be replaced until the plants are mature and harvested from the system. A true test of the potential of this system will come

“With a wider choice of both hydroponic nutrient products and organic materials these days it would be possible to create the ultimate organoponic system, which would require very little maintenance and adjustment.”

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when modern hybrid tomato plants will be used at a high density to determine just how long the nutrient in the reservoir will last before needing a top up.

Disadvantages of these modern Gericke Systems to date have been: The small microgreens ‘cooler’ system worked well and the mesh basket could be easily lifted up to examine the roots and nutrient level with ease. However, the larger hydro/organic Gericke System was more difficult to examine; the seed bed once filled with compost media was heavy to lift, so it became difficult to check the nutrient solution and root growth below. Given that this system was still considerably smaller than the original Gericke set-up, it was expected that the roots would be easy to access, however, the weight of the damp seed bed had been underestimated. If the nutrient solution is going to need topping up and adjustment during intense heat and evaporation it is going to be rather difficult to do this and some further tinkering with the system is planned for future developments. The original Gericke Systems had built in nutrient level indicators and access funnels to allow the nutrient to be topped up as required, so that would be the next logical step to improving the trial system.

Overall revisiting the Gericke System has led to some interesting findings; simplified systems that require no pumps, electricity

or circulating of nutrient can produce surprising results provided the principles of good plant nutrition, root zone aeration and support are followed. In addition, modern ideas incorporating organic gardening into hydroponics while still maintaining the benefits of both are possible in a simple and easy to MY operate system.

References Hydroponics’ Published in Science Monday May 01, 1937 Gericke W F, 1940.The Complete Guide to Soilless Gardening. Published

by Prentice-Hall Inc, New York.

Gericke W F, 1945. The meaning of hydroponics. Science,Volume 101, Number 2615 pp 142-143.

Maximum Yield UK | March / April 2011

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TALKING SHOP

AT A GLANCE Store Name: Sub-Garden Supplies Owner: Zak Location: Unit 45 J, Argall Avenue, Leyton Industrial Village Phone: +44 (0) 208 539-9563 Email: info@subgardensupplies.com Web: www.subgardensupplies.com

It seems like gardeners and indoor growers have a leg up when it comes to starting retail grow shops, and it’s not just because they are more interested in the subject than the guy on the street—it’s because they understand how frustrating it can be for their customers trying to source quality products, since they’ve been doing it themselves for years!

East London’s Zak is no exception: he put 15 years into the gardening trade before opening his store in May of 2010, and his inability to find the products he needed was the catalyst.

the only retaile pplies, Zak is s.

Su n de ar G bLondon’s Su ying Humboldt Nutrient Owner of East carr 36

Maximum Yield UK | March / April 2011

r in the UK

“After seeing a lack of good products in the UK, and always trying to source good products and not able to find them,” explains Zak, “I realised there was a gap in the market, and especially in my area of East London.”

It was one product line in particular that tipped the scale for him.

“I was always looking for Humboldt Nutrients and no one had it, so I decided that was it—I was going to open up my own shop.”

Zak is now the only retailer in the UK to carry Humboldt Nutrients, and also carries a wide range of quality products chuckles, “but I do get help from people like Foxfarm, FHD, B’Cuzz from Atami, Plagron, House and and I do plan to eventually take more people on…”

Garden and Hesi, as well as the best nutrients available on the Zak feels that it’s his job as a retailer to learn as much as he European market. can in order to pass his expertise on to his customers, and that Zak had two things in mind when he considered what in order to do this effectively he must listen to others and take products to carry in his new store. their advice.

“I wanted to carry products that were harder for people to “I want to sell my products from an informed position, and get,” he says, “and I wanted to carry quality products. I was also I’d like to run my shop with integrity, not ego,” he agrees. “So especially determined that I was going to carry the great brands I listen to other people’s opinions, and then I am able to send I had always tried to find as a grower—and in a lot of cases, that customers in the right direction for the products that will work meant being willing to source product lines internationally.” in each particular application.”

Zak hasn’t been open long—not even a year yet—but things And although he works hard to source great products and is are already really starting to pick up. continually seeking advice from his peers, there is no substitute “It did take a while for people to find out where we were for first-hand knowledge, and that’s why Zak doesn’t just take located physically,” he confides, “and the first year is always a bit everything it says on the product quiet—that’s why it is so important to advertise, so that “I want to sell my products from an informed position, and labels as gospel.

“I’m continuously trying to people can know where you I’d like to run my shop with integrity, not ego.” source new products, and to are. But although setting up stay on the forefront of what and getting your name out is coming out,” he says, “but there are the main struggles in most importantly—I always have products tested before I the first year, in the last two months we’ve seen a lot of new faces, recommend them.” and since we opened up again after our Christmas break we’ve The road ahead is looking fairly rosy for Zak now: he’s making been twice as busy already!” the adjustment to the retail mindset and the punters are coming in.

The biggest challenge for Zak has been the adjustment “The fact is that we’ve actually been surprised at how busy we’ve from being a gardener to being a retailer, but he’s making been in such a short amount of time,” Zak says, “and every day the transition now, and besides having a couple of part-time now we’re gaining loads of new customers.” helpers, he’s doing it on his own.

Chances are Zak and Sub-Garden Supplies will keep them coming “I’m actually a bit of a one-man band at the moment,” he in, too—because they seem to have hit on a winning formula.

“It’s very important to carry good products and to get your name out there,” says Zak. “Sub-Garden Supplies specializes in organics and we have the best products in our shop. I felt like it was hard to get all of the good products in one place at other stores in the UK and that is why I opened the store—to provide consumers with all of those great products that I was unable to get as a grower.”

Zak seems to have all the bases covered—he’s got a passion for discovering and stocking exciting new products from all over the gardening world, he’s learning all the time in order to assist his customers and he’s building a loyal client base in a previously underserved market. It looks like Zak is doing all the right things—and he’s got the thriving grow shop to prove it. MY

Maximum Yield UK | March / April 2011

37

Neem OilCTS A F THE r

anniste

t LeB

by Mat

Here are the Facts When used as a pesticide the ingredient that affects the insects is azadirachtin. Azadirachtin confuses growth hormones causing insects and eggs to never reach maturity. The catch is that neem oil is not as effective against adult insects since they are already mature. The fatty acids in the oil can clog the membranes of soft skinned insects such as aphids and kill them as a result.

To destroy pest populations, neem oil must be sprayed on the affected plants two times a week for at least two weeks. This will help ensure each successive pest generation will be diminished until there is none left. Mix neem oil in water at a rate of one to two teaspoons per litre of water. Neem oil can also be poured on a cloth or paper towel and be manually applied to the leaves of the plants.

This can be especially effective against scales.

Neem oil can be used against a variety of pests including, but not exclusive to, spidermites, aphids, scales, thrips and mealy bugs. The one downside to applying neem oil is that it will also kill any beneficial insects in your garden.

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Maximum Yield UK | March / April 2011

Neem oil and neem cake also improve the quality of soil. The recommended dilution rate for neem oil as a fertilizer varies from two millilitres to 15 millilitres of neem per litre of water. Experiment by starting with small amounts and working your way up, checking the EC and pH levels often. One of the ingredients prevents nitrogen-fixing bacteria from converting the nitrogen in the soil into gas, thus allowing more nitrogen to be available to the plant.

Neem oil can be effective as a pest control or fertilizer when applied properly. But don’t take my word for it. Try it for yourself and give Maximum Yield your feedback.

Neem oil and neem cake can make great natural fertilizers. Both contain many different macro and micronutrients. According to AgroGreen Canada’s website, the average sample of neem oil will contain the following: Azadirachtin - 1,800 ppm Total Nitrogen - 1.20 per cent by mass Phosphorous - 0.07 per cent by mass Potassium - 0.01 per cent by mass Magnesium - 0.03 per cent by mass Copper - 10 ppm Magnesium - 0.40 Zinc - 20.00 ppm Iron - 14.00 ppm

Careful consideration should be given when using neem oil as a pest control. While it is quite effective against a variety of pests such as spidermites, aphids and gnats, it doesn't discriminate against beneficial insects, such as ladybugs.

Neem oil is a botanical product derived from pressing the seeds of the Indian Neem tree and it functions as an insecticide as well as a plant fertilizer.

However, the effectiveness of neem oil as a pesticide or fertilizer is often up for debate. Many gardeners swear by its ability to keep pest populations under control and its ability to eliminate the pests entirely. Others choose to use chemical pesticides claiming neem oil’s active ingredient azadirachtin takes too long to take effect.

The idea of using neem oil as a fertilizer has only recently been brought to the attention of western gardeners, but has been the common practice of gardeners from India and Pakistan for centuries. Neem cake, made from the pressed fruit and seeds used to extract the oil, is also gaining MY popularity as a fertilizer.

Maximum Yield UK | March / April 2011

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Healing with Food A Hydroponicist’s Perspective

by Evan Folds "On every level we have removed the magic and replaced it with materialism."

As humans, we tend to consider ourselves the most central entity in the universe. It’s called anthropocentrism and it is rampant in modern society. We think we have the world under our thumbs, and we have screwed it up in the process. Take artificial fertilizers, nuclear bombs, water fluoridation, table salt, clear cutting virgin forests for paper, pharmaceuticals and processed foods. On every level we have removed the magic and replaced it with materialism.

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Healing With Food: A Hydroponicist’s Perspective

billion plus each year in federal subsidies.

Industrial Big Ag uses almost 85 per cent of available fresh water. The result of this is that the US spends $2.5 trillion on health care each year with over $800 billion of it a direct result of the above.

Reading statistics like this is infuriating. We spend more energy trying to compensate for our misguided ways than trying to get to the root of our problems. We take for granted that the human body is an alchemist and is not meant to be sick.

It’s easy to be cynical and point fingers at those who appear responsible, but the more effective antidote is to grow the food that you eat, or at the least, utilize your buying power to encourage the type of world you want to live in. If everyone We’re experiencing a general degeneration in modern society purchased goods in a manner that reinforced their ideals the as a result of this self-centeredness. Many are fond of throwing world would change tomorrow. around the increasing life expectancy as proof of the efficacy of a We in the indoor gardening community sit in a unique position pharmaceutical society, but they are fooling themselves. We may of opportunity.We may come from humble roots, but we have the be living longer, but we aren’t living better. Weston Price proved opportunity to wield great power in the not so distant future if this with his landmark work “Nutrition we play our cards correctly.Very seriously, the & Physical Degeneration: A Comparison technologies that we are working with have of Primitive and Modern Diets and Their the capability to empower people to make “A whopping 80 per Effects” (1939). sense of their own personal agriculture.We cent of cancers are Price was a dentist and became interested can save the world. attributable to diet and Groups such as the Progressive Gardening in health through his observation of a progressive degeneration in dental health environmental toxins.” Trade Association (PGTA, and jaw formation. Price compared www.ProgressiveGardening.org, www.PGTA.org) people of the same genetic origin who and the Institute for Simplified maintained different eating habits. The native diets of the Inuit Hydroponics (www.Carbon.org) are planting seeds that can help in Canada, Aboriginal Australians and African tribes altered as change the collective perspective that there is nothing that can the Western world slowly encroached. The developing world be done about the coming global crises we now face. was being infiltrated by NaCl table salt, white flour and sugar The answer to our troubles lies in proper perspective. If we under the guise of “food.” The consequences of this seemingly continue to believe that we have it all figured out then we will simple diet change were staggering. Price noted a drastic increase never get to where we need to be. When a homeowner makes in incidences of tooth decay and deformation in the people the connection that the budget who began eating the Western diet relative to the people who fertilizers they have been feeding remained on the primitive diet. In a very real sense, the entire profession of general dentistry and orthodontics was created by food lacking nutritional value.

We are creating the problems that we are trying to eliminate.

Author of “Nutrition & There are 76 million cases of food poisoning each year in the Physical Degeneration: A United States, according to the Centres for Disease Control Comparison of Primitive and Prevent (CDC). A whopping 80 per cent of cancers are and Modern Diets and attributable to diet and environmental toxins. The companies that Their Effects” produce these empty and processed foods receive $90 to $100

Weston Price

Maximum Yield UK | March / April 2011

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Healing With Food: A Hydroponicist’s Perspective

their lawn are nothing more than fast food, their actions change.

Rather than try to kill what they don’t want, they begin to encourage what they do want. They understand that they cannot eliminate the weeds, pests and disease created by this bad diet with more of the same bad diet. The change in perspective changes actions.

“...the technologies that we are working with have the capability to empower people to make sense of their own personal agriculture.”

Don’t get me wrong, technology is not bad. It is what allows us to maintain our existence outside of natural evolutionary population limits. We’ve domesticated and technologized our way into a serious imbalance in the world via egolution and now we must use our ingenuity to extract ourselves.

The grow room is the quintessential representation of anthropocentrism. It is a perfect example of how humans take life into their own hands, as we are not bound by our biological limitations or primal instinct. We manipulate our environment, unlike plants and all non-domesticated animals that remain under the manipulation of the natural world.

It is this power over nature that defines our existence and it is this same power that can take it away. We begin to lose our grip when we imagine that plants only need a certain number of elements to thrive, or that we imagine we can understand what

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Maximum Yield UK | March / April 2011

a plant truly needs. The result is us growing plants for what they require, rather than what we require from them. This is a fundamental disconnect in agricultural policy. Plants do not need what we need from them, so if we limit what they can eat, humans suffer. We’re only considering half the story. We are immersed in a supersensible arena without the senses to experience it. Rudolph Steiner offered a way into this world more effectively than most visionaries of the past. His worldview of anthroposophy and contributions to agriculture called “biodynamics” are sources of great wisdom, but are known by only a few. In his words: “We must realize that plants represent the direct antithesis of human being, and the animals represent the mean between the two. The external physical expression of this contrast is to be found in the breathing process. It is a familiar fact that human beings inhale oxygen, assimilate it and subsequently combine it with carbon which is finally exhaled as carbon dioxide, while in plants, which absorb carbon to sustain themselves, the reverse is true. In a sense, plants also breathe but their breathing process has a completely different significance for them. Hence, we can say that in a spiritual respect plants and human beings stand opposite each other.” (9-10, Nutrition).

We’re used to thinking about this idea, but rarely do we apply it in a spiritual context. What does it mean that plants are the yin to the human yang? Building on Steiner’s influence, Rudolph Hauschka offers a more direct assessment of the relationships between humans and plants. In his work “The Nature of Substance,” Hauschka offers the idea that the same formative forces are alive in the root system of plants as are active in the human head. He goes on to explain, “forces similar to those active in the blossom principle are found in man’s will

and his metabolism. And the forces that build stalk and foliage work in human feeling, and in the rhythmic system centrally located between head and limbs.

It can be assumed that root substances taken as foods act upon the brain and nervous system; that products of the flowering and fruiting parts of plants affect the metabolism; and that leafy matter stimulates breathing and circulation” (31).

Plants and humans may be opposites, and thankfully so, but they also take advantage of similar forces and processes; they meet in the middle. Consider that the human gut is no different than the compost pile in the backyard. In fact, some of the same organisms are involved. The reason we turn a compost pile is to encourage aerobic organisms in the same way that blood oxygen generally defines human health. It has actually been proven that cancer cannot grow in the presence of proper blood

“...human beings inhale oxygen, assimilate it and subsequently combine it with carbon which is finally exhaled as carbon dioxide, while in plants, which absorb carbon to sustan themselves, the reverse is true.”

oxygen; look into Otto Warburg and his 1931 Nobel Prize.

The seers of yore—such as Goethe, Rudolph Steiner,Viktor Schuaberger and Rudolph Hauschka—saw the world in its natural spiritual brilliance. They moved past mere materialism and relied more on their intuition than the crippling data points of the modern world. They were vilified by the powers that be of their age for working against the burgeoning industrial framework, but modern times are increasingly defined by information flow and the time has come to bring this light into the dark. The sooner we can begin to incorporate these ideas into our grow rooms the sooner we can begin growing plants that do us justice.

MY

Maximum Yield UK | March / April 2011

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MAX

facts

hydroponic news, tips and trivia from around the world

Continued from page 13

Scientists Release First Cultivated ‘Õhelo Berry for Hawaii ______________________ 'Õhelo is a small, native Hawaiian shrub in the cranberry family. As people scour the landscape to harvest this delectable berry, they unfortunately disrupt the fragile habitats where this plant grows. In an effort to reduce damage to the environment and meet consumer demands, Hawaiian horticulturists and researchers are evaluating 'Õhelo for small farm production and ornamental use.

The offspring of seed-grown plants were selected to create the new cultivar "Kilauea" for berry production.

Research found plant hardiness and vigour improved with age, and some seedlings flowered just 10 months after germination.

Cuttings and tissue culture were also used to propagate selected 'Õhelo of high ornamental potential.

Since the plant is not seasonal, its readiness for market can be scheduled by trimming and fertilizing. Older potted 'Õhelo plants can be trained into a bonsai and can readily adapt to the office environment.

(Source: www.ars.usda.gov)

Permaculture Greens the Jordanian Desert Jordan seems to be a hot spot for permaculture. In 2006, Greening the Desert documented how permaculture activist Geoff Lawton worked with the local population to turn 10 acres of arid, salty Jordanian desert into a lush productive garden.

Two permaculture projects in Jordan today show both the limitations and the possibilities of permaculture. The first, started by Geoff Lawton and his wife Nardia, features an impressive drip irrigation system, but the project is reliant on volunteer labour from abroad.

The second project, run by CARE International, struggles to convince many locals that an organic, permaculture-based approach will yield better results than chemical fertilizers. And yet the shot of two gardens next to each other—one run on permaculture principles, the other using extensive chemical inputs—is a pretty impressive contrast. Showing lush green ground cover and flowers interplanted with trees on the one side, and bare earth and trees on the other, the long term environmental and social benefits of a more integrated, holistic approach seem self-evident.

(Source: www.treehugger.com)

Vending Machine Grows 20,000 Heads of Lettuce a Year Without Sunlight ___________________________________ The Chef’s Farm, a Japanese lettuce-growing vending machine, doesn't require sunlight and can churn out 60 heads of lettuce a day, or over 20,000 a year. The Chef's Farm was developed by Dentsu and uses 40 watt fluorescent lighting housed in chrome that can be stored conveniently in any restaurant. It can grow other kinds of veggies as well.

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

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Maximum Yield UK | March / April 2011

45

YOU TELL US

Gaby Bronsztein, owner and mastermind behind Everest Garden Supply, highlights the benefits of the Rootmaker line of containers—a versatile, durable and reusable product that’s now available to growers in the UK.

Gabriel Bronsztein, owner of Everest Garden Supply, is constantly growing containerized plants both indoors and out to see the benefits of root pruning.

MY: What products in the Everest Garden Supply line are you most Maximum Yield (MY): How can British growers find out about

passionate about right now?

the newest and most innovative products available from Everest

Gaby: It is hard to deny that the Rootmaker containers are the most exciting product in our line. We believe Rootmaker has the proper growing container for every type of garden.

Our research shows Rootmaker containers deliver the best value for the dollar when compared to consumable root stimulators. They are extremely durable and reusable.

Garden Supply?

Gaby Bronsztein: Everest Garden Supply’s latest and most innovative products can be found online at www.EverestGardenSupply.com. These same products are also consistently featured in Maximum Yield UK.

MY: What makes your products unique from the other options available in the market?

Gaby: The Rootmaker container system offers a variety of containers to meet the plants’ needs with smaller sizes to promote healthy propagation to larger containers for growing full size trees. The innovation of the Rootmaker system is in the ability to offer a variety of techniques to prune roots, in order to create a fibrous root system that will give you increased growth rates, less transplant stress and higher yields. Our products were designed not only to prune the roots, but also to keep the root zones cooler, which will improve growth rates.

There is a Rootmaker product for nearly every conceivable growing situation.

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Maximum Yield UK | March / April 2011

Rootmaker containers come in a variety of designs, offering a solution for your growing needs.

water conservation and they also stay much cooler than other containers.

Root Trapper containers are also the best choice for hydroponics systems with constant feed; such as those in which plants are grown in clay pebbles or perlite. These containers do not air prune therefore they are able to prune roots even with constant irrigation.

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

Gaby: We provide our retailers with informative print materials that are accessible to end-consumers if they just ask. Our website, www.EverestGardenSupply.com also has easy to access product information. We have DVDs available that offer limited information and for those in search of more detail, a much more elaborate tutorial is available that explains in-depth how root pruning and the Rootmaker system benefits plants.

MY: What strategies has Everest Garden Supply implemented to lessen their environmental impact on our planet?

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

Gaby: It would be great to have one size or variety of container to meet all the demands of both commercial and hobby growers, but it’s not realistic. This is why Rootmaker containers come in such a variety of designs, so regardless of your growing environment, we have a solution for your growing needs. In outdoor gardens, especially where water conservation is critical, the root trapper containers are by far the best container available.

Available in sizes from four litres to 2,273 litres these containers use a technique called root tip trapping in order to prune the roots. The material acts similarly to Velcro in that when the root tip grows into it, the root gets stuck. Because the root cannot continue to grow forward it is forced to branch out (pruned).

These bags are coated with a white reflective liner to allow for

Gaby: All Rootmaker containers are reusable and made from mostly recycled plastic. In an effort to ensure quality we have kept manufacturing in the US. We are interested in minimizing the environmental impact shipping can have, so we are actively searching for manufacturing partners in the UK or mainland Europe, which will reduce the cost of shipping as well.

MY: What can growers expect from Everest Garden Supply in the future?

Gaby: Our long term goals at Everest Garden Supply have remained constant since the beginning. We look to increase market awareness of introduce new and exciting products for the worldwide indoor growing market. Our short term goals are to find companies in Europe and beyond to help us bring these MY products to an even larger audience.

Maximum Yield UK | March / April 2011

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PRODUCT spotlight

Continued from page 19

Canna PK 13/14 __________ Canna PK13/14 is a mixture of phosphorus and potassium that is added during the flowering phase. Canna has succeeded in combining the ingredients in high concentrations, making PK 13/14 quickly and directly available to the plant. The plant will achieve maximum development when Canna PK 13/14 is applied. Canna PK 13/14 can be used with every medium for cultivating indoors and outdoors. For optimal results use in combination with CannaBoost. CannaBoost enhances metabolism and has a strengthening effect on PK 13/14. For more information about the Canna products please visit your local indoor gardening shop.

Award Winning and Eco-Friendly Horticulture Plant Pot __________________ Root Pouch’s award winning technology takes discarded plastic water bottles that would otherwise clog our landfills and oceans, and turns them into plant pots. As well as being a more environmentally sound option, the plant pots are also more lightweight, encourage healthier root growth and are much less expensive than ordinary plastic pots. As the plant matures, the patented geotextile fabric breaks down in three to four years, allowing the plant to take root in its natural environment. Horticulture Plant Pots from Root Pouch are available in everything from four litres to 2,728 litres, with or without handles. For more information visit an indoor/outdoor gardening shop near you.

MY

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 | March / April 2011

COMING UP IN march april may june 2011

DO YOU

know?

Grow Your Own Superfoods 1 Mycorrhizal fungi andTrichoderma fungi often get confused, but Mycorrhizal fungi are not parasitic like Trichoderma fungi.

2 The term hydroponics was introduced in 1937 in Science magazine by U.S. practitioner Dr. William Gericke.

3 To reach the maximal photosynthesis level, most the plants need a CO2 concentration between 700 and 1,000 ppm.

4 Neem kills aphids and other insects by clogging the membranes of their soft skins with the fatty acids in the oil.

5 A whopping 80 per cent of cancers are said to

be attributable to diet and environmental toxins.

6 In addition to being a powerful biological

control agent, Trichoderma is a major pest in commercial mushroom production where it is known as “green mould.”

7 A human exhales at a CO concentration 2

between 30,000 and 40,000 ppm.

When most people think of the term “superfood,” they think of exotic fruits or imported vegetables from faraway places with foreign names. In reality, many of the foods you eat and even grow in your own garden are superfoods.

Grow Tents for the Constructionally Challenged

If building a garden space from scratch is not your idea of a good time, check out the various benefits of indoor grow tents, which come in a variety of sizes and can be assembled by one person in a matter of minutes.

The Ins and Outs of HVAC

Ventilation is an essential component of any grow room and will ultimately influence the quality of the end product and your set-up’s efficiency. The question up for debate in this article related to ventilation is: should you run a sealed room?

Plant Solutions – How to Deal With Yellowing Leaves Yellowing leaves can be a result of a variety of inconsistencies in EC, nutrient levels and pH. Discover the most common causes and combat yellowing leaves with easy solutions

Maximum Yield UK Spectacular 10th Anniversary Edition

10 th

Anniv ersar y Editio n

Watch out for Maximum Yield UK’s 10th Anniversary Edition (May/June 2011), available May 1 for FREE at select indoor gardening retail stores across the UK and on maximumyield.com. This landmark edition spotlights UK retailers and manufacturers, exclusive products and tips and tricks to keep you growing indoors all year.

Subscriptions are available at maximumyield.com/subscriptions.php

Maximum Yield UK | March / April 2011

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MAX-MART

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Maximum Yield UK | March / April 2011