Maximum Yield UK - May/June 2010

UK May - June 2010

I N D O O R

G A R D E N I N G

FREE

BIG YiELDS Hydro Style

Indoor gardenING expo long beach california, usa

october 16-17

indoorgardeningexpo.com

montreal

Quebec, Canada

June 5-6

SAN FRancisco California, USA

july 24-25

Coming up on the Web What’s going on?

The Maximum Yield 2010 Indoor Gardening Expos have an impressive line-up of the finest shows ever. 2010 kicks off with Montréal, Quebec (Canada) June 5 and 6, followed by the 7th Annual San Francisco Expo July 24 and 25 and the 1st Annual Long Beach, California Expo at the gorgeous Long Beach Convention centre, October 16 and 17. Everyone is welcome to come learn, network and grow.

More details and information constantly being updated at www.indoorgardenexpo.com

Latest News

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G A R D E N I N G

VOLUME 10 – NUMBER 1 May/June 2010 Maximum Yield is published bi-monthly by Maximum Yield Publications Inc. 2339A Delinea Place, Nanaimo, BC V9T 5L9 Phone: 250.729.2677; Fax 250.729.2687 No part of this magazine may be reproduced without permission from the publisher.

If undeliverable please return to the address above.

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

Publication Agreement Number 40739092 PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER - Jim Jesson GENERAL MANAGER - Don Moores BUSINESS MANAGER - Linda Jesson

Keep up with industry trends by checking our latest news on the web, updated weekly.

Affordable rooftop farms and green roofs, organics and hydro innovations will all be featured throughout the month.

Best New Products Jump start your indoor (and outdoor) grow this summer with the newest products from industry leaders Atami, Biobizz, CANNA and more. You can find this month’s featured products at your favourite indoor gardening shop, and make sure to tell them you saw them first on maximumyield.com

Win Big!

SALES DIRECTOR - Lisa Lambersek EDITOR - Jessica Raymond jessica@maximumyield.com ADVERTISING SALES 250.729.2677 Linda Jesson - linda@maximumyield.com Lisa Lambersek - lisa@maximumyield.com Julie Madden - julie@maximumyield.com Ilona Hawser - ilona@maximumyield.com Gaby Morin - gaby@maximumyield.com PRODUCTION & DESIGN ads@ads.maximumyield.com Pentti Tikkanen - pentti@maximumyield.com Alice Joe - alice@maximumyield.com Wes Cargill - wes@maximumyield.com ACCOUNTING - Lee Anne Veres leeanne@maximumyield.com

Just one month remains in our photo cover contest “Behind the Lens.” If your photo is chosen, it will be published on the cover of Maximum Yield for the world to see.

Entry submissions are unlimited. E-mail editor@maximumyield.com for more details.

The newest offerings in our wildly popular Win Big…Grow Big contest are in. Enter by June 15 to Win Big and Grow Big. Check out the newest prizes on page 37.

Details for these contests and more can be found at http://maximumyield.com/contests.php

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

contributors

Dr. Lynette Morgan holds a B. Hort. 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.

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

Lee McCall graduated from Johnson and Wales University with a concentration in Culinary Arts.

Culinary school opened the door to research and work with hydroponics and organic production. Currently, Lee attends business school in Denver and focuses on continuing advancements with Maximum Yield and indoor gardening technology.

Erik Biksa holds a diploma in agriculture

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

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MAXIMUM YIELD UK - May / June 2010

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

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 Hydrofarm Hydro International National Garden Wholesale / Sunlight Supply R & M Supply Tradewinds AUSTRALIAN DISTRIBUTION Dome Garden Supply Futchatec Growth Technology Holland Forge Hydraspher

CONTENTS may / june 2010 FEATURES 28

18

Nutrients: Beyond Macros and Micros

24

Houseplants That Help Us Breathe

28

Seven Steps to Bigger Yields

34

Our Organic Future

38

Coming up Roses: Combatting Grow Room Odours

by Dr. Lynette Morgan

by Matt LeBannister

by Erik Biksa

by Luis Bartolo

by Christopher J. Kline

40

34

The Fungus Among Us

by Lee McCall

DEPARTMENTS

24

4 MaximumYield.com 6 From the Editor 6 Letters to the Editor 8 Ask Erik

18

10 MAX Facts 14 Product Spotlight 43 Do You Know?

44 You Tell Us

40

49 Check Your Growing IQ 50 Coming up in July - August MAXIMUM YIELD UK - May / June 2010

5

FROM THE editor

jessica raymond

Ready...Set...Grow! With the help of Maximum Yield, you can expect a great grow this summer. Nutrition, pest control, beneficial elements, proper lighting and more can be found in this super packed 9th Anniversary issue. Read on about all the new products that will make your growing even easier and check out the seven steps to BIGGER YIELDS, which will get you set for the best yields ever!

Maximum Yield is dedicated to helping you with every step of the growing process. Take advantage of our 500+ articles on maximumyield.com, sign up for our monthly E-News and be first to hear about the latest industry news and products, enter our online contests to win grow gear and be sure to attend one of our 2010 Indoor Gardening Expos and learn first hand from the pros! Now you can

also read Maximum Yield on your Smartphone with our all-new Quick Response (QR) Code found on the cover of every issue. Simply download your choice of QR software to your Smartphone, scan the QR Code and your phone’s browser will automatically launch, redirecting you to www.maximumyield.com. It’s just that simple!

Jessica Raymond, Editor editor@maximumyield.com

letters to the editor On the Road with Maximum Yield

London-Sized Vermicomposting Facilities

I’m going to be travelling for the next few months and I will not have Internet connectivity.

I plan on spending a good portion of my time reading the back issues of Maximum Yield, so a small library of hard copies will be travelling with me.

Thank you for the quick “how-to” vermicompost in the Jan/Feb issue of Maximum Yield UK (“Worm Power – From Waste to Worthwhile”). I wanted to get into it, but I wasn’t sure where to begin. It’s quite an amazing process really. I’ve recently read about some of the larger scale facilities, where something like 500,000 pounds of earthworms process 75,000 tons of material annually. What a great way to minimize landfill waste. Excellent article; I anticipate more articles like this one in the future.

Thanks for all your great work.

Greg Markham

Aquatic Inspiration I just started reading Maximum Yield and find it very informative and enjoyable. It brings together all the techniques and events that are happening in the industry and in everyone’s indoor gardens. I love the articles and have learned so much from just one issue. I’m not even done reading it yet either!

I was reading the article “Aquaponics: Where One Plus One Equals Three” by Dr. Mike A. Nichols and was immediately sucked in, as I’m going to be studying greenhouse production. I am extremely interested in such sustainable and ecological means of food production, with organics being a key theme as well. I love the concept and am amazed at what a little bit of ingenuity and insight can bring about. It is a technology that I am deeply interested in, and I want to learn more as it is an industry that I find my self drawn towards as a career in the near future.

Please, send my appreciation to Dr. Nichols. He has definitely inspired me pursue a field of work I love though wasn’t quite sure what path I was taking after my training. Now I am sure of what I want to do thanks to that article.

Thank you Kyler Sintich

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MAXIMUM YIELD UK - May / June 2010

Jason Wallburg

Facing the Facts The article you ran in March/April UK, “Growing Fads and Fallacies” by William Texier contained very good information!

I hope many growers and shop owners read this one. It would help them on there quest to be better indoor gardeners.

Thanks for letting that one hit the press.

Regards Gerald Garrison CEO, Green Applied Sciences Inc. 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

ASK

erik

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

I am just a novice hydroponic hobbyist, but I spend a lot of time and money on equipment to bring the best performance to my growing plants. My modular, air-driven bucket system is okay. I was looking for something with a little better performance. Could you recommend a better system that takes up around the same amount of space?

Thanks Bob Edwards

Dear Erik,

If you are looking for a hydroponic system with the greatest potential for yield and growth rates, aeroponics is likely the best choice. It sounds like you have had your hands wet with hydroponics for a while, as typically, aeroponics does not come recommended for beginners.

In aeroponic systems, a fine mist that has been infused with plant available nutrients and high levels of dissolved oxygen is intermittently sprayed on the roots. Careful monitoring of the nutrient solution and the types of nutrients you apply are critical. There is no growing medium to buffer the nutrients to the roots, lending to accelerated growth rates, but increasing the potential of mishap.

There are a variety of aero systems to choose from. However, for the biggest yields possible in your floor area, consider vertical aeroponic gardening.You can make use of your available vertical height to increase the number of flowering sites you can effectively illuminate in your growing space. A simple way to do this is using a tiered “V” system. The next step is to have a true vertical garden, where planting sites are filled from the floor to the ceiling, encasing the light source(s) 360 degrees around.

The bucket system you describe is relatively forgiving and allows you to use a wide variety of nutrients, additives and beneficial microbial inoculants. In aero, you will want to run your solution a little thinner to prevent clogging of sprayers and to keep a high degree of hygiene in the root zone. An inline filter before the spray manifold is a must, along with regular maintenance and cleaning of sprayers/nozzles.

I am experiencing an overnutrition problem in my crop. Is there any other way to save my yield other than flushing the roots? There is very little water where I live, which is why an alternative method would be best.

Cheers, Erik Biksa

Doug

Yes, inoculating the root system and growing with beneficial microbes while backing off on the fertilizer feeding rates will help to alleviate this condition.

It is never a good idea to withhold water from thirsty plants, as it will reduce yields. However, in some areas, good quality water is scarce and must be used efficiently.

If applying less water in hot conditions, it’s also a good idea to feed a little bit weaker. Remember that when water is removed from the soil solution by thirsty plants, a lot of nutrients and salts get left behind, increasing the concentration of nutrients and salts around the roots and in the growing medium. If left unchecked, this can lead to a lockout of nutrients, or even wilting in severe cases.

As long as the solution containing beneficial microbes such as pseudomonas, actinomyces and bacillus can come into direct contact with the roots and surrounding root zone, they can begin to colonize, helping to improve nutrient cycling at the roots by forming a symbiotic relationship with the plant and organic matter in the growing medium.

Microbial inoculants are available as powders; typically with bacterial and fungal inoculants being available in separate formulations, liquid suspensions, bioactive compost teas and even in kits that allow you to brew your own aerobic teas.

Additions of humates via fulvic and humic acid fractions will help to improve conditions in the root zone for balanced nutrient absorption, while providing an important food source for any microbial inoculants applied.

Cheers, Erik Biksa

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MAXIMUM YIELD UK - May / June 2010

MY

MAX

facts

hydroponic news, tips and trivia from around the world

Plants Threatening Britain’s Waterways

Pak Choi Chosen for Trials at Wisley Pak choi, a Chinese veg once spurned by British gardeners, is becoming all the rage. Pak choi is so popular it’s being included in the prestigious trials at the Royal Horticultural Society’s flagship garden at Wisley.

The influence of television chefs has caused the versatile vegetable to gain popularity as a salad leaf ingredient. The tender stalks can be eaten raw in salads, stir fried, steamed or pickled and the flowering stems of some varieties, cut just before the flowers open, are tender and tasty.

The Wisley trial features 27 different varieties with both white and green stems including Natsu Taiko, Lunar Queen, Colour and Crunch and Summer Breeze.

The government’s new Be Plant Wise campaign (or scotland.gov.uk/beplantwise if you’re in Scotland) is warning that five non-native aquatic bullies—floating pennywort, New Zealand pigmyweed, water-primrose, parrot’s feather and water fern—are invading British waterways, wiping out native species.

According to the charity Pond Conservation, two thirds of our garden ponds are harbouring one or more of these species. They can grow at a prodigious rate; two floating pennywort can grow up to 20 centimetres a day in the wild and water primrose can double in size every 15 to 20 days, choking patches of water and crowding out native species.

Even if your pond is in glorious isolation in your back garden miles from the nearest waterway, there are many ways these pernicious little devils can spread, particularly if you dispose of plants and pond or fish tank water carelessly. If you want to eradicate non-native plants from your plant, the compost heap seems the obvious place, but you need to make sure that the plant is absolutely dead and no fragments are left to spread themselves about.

(Source: www.guardian.co.uk)

(Source: www.liveforgardening.com)

Germ-Free Vegetables for the Future

Japanese companies have found a solution to food contamination that takes hydroponics even further by producing fruits and vegetables that are as close to sterile as possible.

Vegetables are cultivated in immaculate Japanese factories instead of the fields where they are subject to unpredictable weather, pests and contamination. Everything in these factories is controlled: lighting, temperature, humidity, carbon dioxide and water. The plants are not exposed to the air outside, and because there is no exposure to dirt and insects, there is no need for pesticides.

Production runs 24 hours per day, 365 days per year.

Some factories produce up to three million vegetables a year. The creators of these plant factories think that this could well be the future of food.

(Source: www.digitaljournal.com)

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MAXIMUM YIELD UK - May / June 2010

AutoPot Trials and Little Growers Update This year’s AutoPot Greenhouse Trials will be undertaken in Bicester. They will be growing around 300 plants including: Sungold and Sparta tomatoes, Super Thai hot chillies, cucumbers, aubergines, melons and yellow bell peppers.

All the produce will be sold to local businesses and the public. The money raised from the sale of the produce will be donated to Little Growers. Over the coming months, photos and video footage will be added to the news section of the Autopot website.

Little Growers is making progress in funding bids from Local Food Grants so they may set up 120 additional UK schools with the Little Growers program. The Little Growers organization is working with the government scheme “Growing Schools” to roll out Little Growers throughout the UK and facilitate partnership working with other horticultural organizations. The organization is also working with the Allotment Association to create a volunteer network to support schools and enable the whole community to get involved with growing fresh produce.

(Sources: http://autopot.co.uk, www.littlegrowers.co.uk)

Hydroponic Fodder Solutions A revolutionary new hydroponic technology has been manufactured that creates nutrient-rich feed in just six days.

This easy-to-use fodder solution system holds trays loaded with grain and legume seeds in the climate controlled growing chamber. A small amount of fresh water floods and circulates throughout the trays. The seeds germinate, and in six days you have nutrient-rich green sprouts.

A cattleman who runs 300 heads of dairy cow was the first taker of the system. He plans to replace his current expensive grain feed mix with the hydroponic sprouts. The systems come in various sizes producing from 60 to 6,000 pounds of feed per day.

The system is zero waste as the little run-off water that exists can be used for stock water. It boasts a 100 per cent organic feed that costs £0.03/pound and the system uses no more than £2 per day in power costs. The best part is there is no chemical fertilizer or pesticide runoff.

(Source: www.tonic.com)

MAXIMUM YIELD UK - May / June 2010

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MAX

facts

hydroponic news, tips and trivia from around the world

Is Decentralized Urban Farming the Future of Food?

The founder of BK Farmyards advocates using urban land to grow crops closer to home, hoping to inspire the future planning of cities to include urban agriculture. Most people live in urban areas, and just as the population densities have shifted around the globe, backyards should be re-examined.

Thousands of acres of unused land exist as privately owned backyards. BK Farmyards pairs yard-owners with urban farmers, using their website to crowd source available land. Sharing backyards is a combination of online dating and Google maps, which allows you to meet your land match as a farmer. Hyperlocavore meets a similar need: sharing local resources through a social network interface.

In the U.K., a similar effort called Land Share has 43,900 users. While these projects have shown us a glimpse of the possibilities, there is still enormous social media potential untapped for farmers.

(Source: www.good.is)

Survival of Local Food Systems Rests on Community According to an article on www.grist.org, the key to local food systems’ survival is strong community support. Small farms are becoming trendy, and sustainable agriculture has made its way back into the limelight. According to the article, without a vibrant rural community, the emerging local food system cannot survive. If a farmer has no place close to home to have grains milled, livestock butchered or items sold, a prosperous local community is difficult.

Each tiny rural community used to have their own butcher, mill, grocer and farm supply shop, but in recent decades, as industrial and factory farming have taken over, these small entities were pushed out of business.

Larger corporate grocers are less likely to purchase local foods because these stores have minimums which most small farmers cannot reach. The same goes for butchers, millers and processors. The article listed five keys to a thriving local food system: 1) support local business, 2) encourage entrepreneurship in your community, 3) engage in community supported initiatives, 4) support local food cooperatives and 5) become a ruralpolitan.

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

The Prince of Wales becomes Patron of the North of England Horticultural Society His Royal Highness (HRH), The Prince of Wales, has agreed to become Patron of the North of England Horticultural Society for a five-year term. HRH is renowned for his interested in gardening and horticulture, creating an organic garden at his Gloucestershire home in Highgrove. His knowledge and passion of gardening makes him an ideal ambassador for the society.

The Prince of Wales will help spread The Society’s message of the benefits of gardening by showing his support at shows and with new and experienced gardeners across North England.

(Source: www.recklessgardener.com)

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MAXIMUM YIELD UK - May / June 2010

Give Your Plants a Boost Researchers at Wageningen University in the Netherlands have succeeded in growing plants in a climate chamber under artificial daylight making it that much easier to research the influence of light colours on plants. This work will be important for advanced LED research. The researchers controlled the climate so that they could guarantee their results.

However, trials in climate chambers have one enormous disadvantage; until recently it was not possible to provide daylight as the lamps to achieve this where simply not available. That made the results achieved in a confined space difficult to translate in practice. In the climate chamber, applying LED light gives (in certain colours) often very steady results. If the researcher then repeats the trial in a glass house, daylight will interfere, making it difficult to translate the clear results from the lab in a usable implication for the glass house.

(Source: www.plasma-i.com)

Dubai Forum Presents VertiCrop Vertical Farming System Valcent Products presented the VertiCrop™ vertical farming system at The Dubai forum: “Architecture for Sustainable Societies” earlier in the year. Valcent was invited by The Dubai Forum to speak at their inaugural workshop, which marked the opening of the Burj Dubai, the world’s tallest building. The event hosted over 40 speakers, panellists and more than 400 delegates from 15 countries.

In his presentation Tom Bentley, director, business development for Valcent Products (eu) Ltd, outlined the benefits of employing VertiCropTM vertical farming system in an urban farming environment.

The Dubai Forum is a new initiative that embodies the vision and the special attention given by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai.

The Forum has been established as a regular platform for focused discussions on a wide range of topics related to the main theme of sustainable development.

Tom Bentley plans to return to the UK with multiple new global enquiries about installations for VertiCrop.

MY (Source: www.valcent.net) MAXIMUM YIELD UK - May / June 2010

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PRODUCT spotlight

See it. Want it.

Find it at your local indoor gardening store.

Bloombastic Box for Beginners Atami makes it very easy for beginners to grow their very best. The Bloombastic Box for Beginners is made for a square metre garden, and includes Terra Leaves (one litre), Terra Max (one litre), Bloombastic (250 millilitres), ATA-zyme (100 millilitres), Root-c (100 millilitres) and a Bloombastic grow scheme. In addition to the Bloombastic Box for Beginners, there are two other boxes in this successful series: the Ata Organics Box and the Atami Box. More information is available at your local indoor gardening store.

Ata Organics Box for Beginners Atami makes it very easy for a beginner to start his or her organic garden. The Ata Organics Box for Beginners makes a starter successful. This box is made for a one metre squared garden, and one includes Flavour (one litre), Growth-C (one litre), Bloom-C (500 millilitres), Flower-C (500 millilitres), Root-C (250 millilitres) and an Ata Organics Growscheme.

In addition to the Ata Organics Box, there are three other starter kits in this successful series: the Bloombastic Box Coco, the Bloombastic Box Terra and the Atami Box. Visit your local hydro shop to learn more.

Introducing Black Pearl™ from Grotek Grotek is proud to add Black Pearl™ to our product line-up. This organic product is a blended powder that aims to build soil by replenishing nutrients. Black Pearl™ contains nitrogen, phosphorous and potassium to support vegetative growth, larger root systems, vigorous blooming and increased drought tolerance. This product also includes the benefits of a technical grade soluble kelp extract. Kelp has been used for centuries by coastal farmers to enhance soil nutrition. Black Pearl™ is high in organic matter, most of which comes from charcoal based carbon, a long lasting soil builder. This product is designed as both a soil improver and a plant nutrient. Visit an indoor gardening shop to learn more.

Take Root – Root Stimulator from DutchPro

LFG Spectrabox Professional

Take Root is a growth stimulant that improves the inner and outer qualities of plants. Take Root is particularly suited in the recovery of affected plants during the growing phase. The active components of Take Root are of natural origin, in particular the several plant hormones and, to a lesser degree, the micronutrients.

Take Root stimulates cellular division, cell elongation and nutrient transport. Take Root also slows down the ageing process and stimulates root development. Suited for every irrigation system and culture on soil, hydro and coco. To be used on cuttings and young plants. Available in: one litre, five litres, 10 litres and 20 litres. Ask for Take Root at your local indoor gardening shop.

This high performance LED grow light is designed for professional use and especially tuned for “Dutch Plants.”

The advanced Spectrabox Pro is top of the line and is equipped with a powerful flower booster. This enables the Pro Series to increase yields by 40 per cent compared to standard LED grow lights. Check them out at your local hydro shop today.

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MAXIMUM YIELD UK - May / June 2010

Ocean Mist by Nutrifield™ Ocean Mist is a unique, natural blend formulated to achieve optimal plant growth. Ocean Mist may increase the thickness of the plant’s cell walls.

The added advantage of Ocean Mist is you can regularly apply this formula, without the risk of an overdose. This unique mixture helps enzymes participate in cell metabolism and increases the production of carbohydrates (brix levels) to improve yields and reduce fruit rot. It is ideal for relieving plants affected by stress and provides natural chelation. Plus it’s an excellent stimulant for microorganism activity. *Note: When adding Ocean Mist to your hydroponic system ensure you drop your EC by 0.4 to 0.6.

For more information, please visit a hydroponics shop for more information.

New and Affordable LightScout™ DLI 100 Metre New for 2010, Spectrum Technologies, Inc. introduces the LightScout DLI 100 Light Metre. Simple to use and affordable, the DLI 100 Metre measures the light “falling” on your plants.

The LightScout DLI 100 Metre is the first step in measuring the light intensity levels affecting your crops.

Sold in sets of three to compare light level intensities inside or outside your greenhouse. With the push of a button, the DLI 100 Metre records light intensity for a 24 hour period and then calculates the Daily Light Integral (DLI). Real-time intensity levels are shown every four seconds in µmol m-2 s-1 (or footcandles).

Spectrum Technologies, Inc. manufactures affordable weather and plant measurement technologies that help growers make better decisions for their crops. Check out the entire Spectrum Technologies product line, including lights, soils and plant health monitoring devices, at your favourite indoor gardening store.

MAXIMUM YIELD UK - May / June 2010

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PRODUCT spotlight

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

Sumo Fultec – the King of Boosters LeafCoat Now Available from Biobizz LeafCoat is ready-to-use and made from natural latex that creates a protective, permeable, selfdegradable layer on the leaf. This layer lasts up to two weeks until it is degraded by light.

LeafCoat is an environmentally friendly alternative for pesticides. It strengthens plants and provides them with a powerful expelling effect on harmful insects. It also prevents harmful leaf fungi. It smells good as opposed to synthetic and toxic products. It gives no irritations and can be used safely. LeafCoat has been evaluated and it’s certified organic.

LeafCoat will save you money, and reduce the use of pesticides! Visit your favourite indoor gardening retail store to learn more.

Announcing the Unique Seedbox from Plagron Create the ideal germination environment at home using the Seedbox from Plagron. The Seedbox is the perfect starter set for hobby grower. The propagator, 10 germination plugs and the unique Seed Booster give your valuable seeds the very best start. Simply follow the instructions and your seeds will germinate and develop into fine, sturdy plants.

The propagator and coco-plugs protect the seeds from temperature fluctuations, droughts and dehydration.

Regulate pH, EC and the air/water balance and this kit will provide an ideal environment for the first days of the sensitive germination process and initial rooting.

The secret of this set is the Seed Booster, which contains a protective anti-rotting enzyme that carefully penetrates the hard seed coat of even the most difficult seeds, encouraging germination. You can see the results after just a couple of days: a healthy seedling that can be potted out in your choice of medium (soil, coco, hydro) and is ready to grow into a strong plant.

The Seedbox is now available at your local indoor gardening or hydro shop.

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MAXIMUM YIELD UK - May / June 2010

Cash Crop Sumo PK is the ultimate super booster and stimulator for buds and fruits. Consists of laboratory grade phosphorous potassium and organic fulvic acid and increases yields up to 30 per cent.

Benefits: • Aids and stimulates the development and yield of buds and fruits.

• A powerful electrolyte, which can balance and energize all plant cells.

The physical well-being of plants and microbes is determined by proper electrical potential.

• Unique capacity to dissolve minerals and trace elements, which provides fast-track nutrient uptake.

• Increases cell division, stomata opening and transpiration. Assists plant respiration and improves the conditions of beneficial bacteria in the medium.

Use from the start of the third week in the bloom period until the end of the sixth week, with a 12 hour light cycle.

Sumo can be mixed with all fertilizers. Available in one litre and five litre bottles. Visit your local hydro retailer to learn more.

GHE Tripack Starter Kit - Compact, Economical, Comprehensive Are you starting a new garden? General Hydroponic Europe’s latest product, the Tripack Starter Kit, is exactly what you need. The Tripack offers four options: • The Flora Series Tripack: three FloraGro (1/2 litre), FloraBloom (1/2 litre) and FloraMicro (1/2 litre).

• The FloraNova Tripack: two FloraNova grow and bloom (1/2 litre) and Ripen (1/2 litre).

• The One Part: two Total Grow and Total Bloom (1/2 litres) and Ripen (1/2 litre).

• The FloraDuo Tripack: two FloraDuo grow and bloom (1/2 litre) and Ripen (1/2 litre).

Each Tripack contains a free pH test kit (good for more than 400 tests), and 25 grams of pH Down in powder form (a highly soluble and concentrated pH regulator).

With the Tripack you have enough nutrients to complete a cycle of plant growth. For more information inquire with your GHE retailer supplier.

Hydro-Logic Upgrades the Stealth-RO The Stealth-RO100 and Stealth-RO200 have been the industry leading reverse osmosis filters for several years, offering quality and performance to hydroponics and organic soil growers. Hydro-Logic is proud to announce some important upgrades to both systems. First and foremost is the addition of an optional flow restrictor that will bring the already efficient 3:1 ratio down to a 2:1 ratio of drain-to-product water.

Both units come plumbed with the standard restrictor (3:1 ratio), saving an additional 33 per cent of drain water and making these the greenest and most efficient units on the market.

We have also included a pre-plumbed pressure gauge, allowing users to monitor system performance and diagnose low pressure and low flow problems. Another standard upgrade is the green certified coconut carbon block filter. This is the world’s first eco-friendly carbon filter and a Hydro-Logic exclusive product. Look for the redesigned box with upgraded instructions at your nearest hydroponics shop. Hydro-Logic brings you all these great upgrades at no increase in price. Pure water’s not magic, it’s logic.

Hortilight Plasma Lamps from Kweekotheek Introducing the new Hortilight Plasma grow lights. The revolutionary Plasma Lamp is a new light source with the highest affectivity and a true full spectrum similar to that of sunlight; the visible light output mimics sunlight better than any other artificial light source. The Hortilight Plasma light emits very little heat compared to HPS, and its lack of harmful ultraviolet radiation makes it the most efficient grow light available. Test results are very clear; young cucumber plants became 64 per cent heavier (dry weight) under Plasma “sunlight” and 128 per cent heavier then under fluorescent light. Check them out at your local hydro store today.

Plant Magic Plus Granules Granules from Plant Magic Plus is a must have for anybody wanting to enhance their plants’ health, experience vigorous growth and ensure there are no nasty pathogens eating away at the roots.

Granules is a granular inoculant made up of mycorrhiza, biostimulants and over 20 strains of micro-organisms that work to create an abundance of beneficial micro-life within the soil.

The mycorrhiza quickly establishes itself forming a symbiotic relationship with the roots. This in turn promotes a rapidly growing root mass, increasing the uptake of water and nutrients.

The micro-organisms, which include nitrogen fixers, populate the soil quickly and effectively to promote the re-establishment of bio-activity.

A barrier is formed helping to stop fungal pathogens attacking your crop.

The bio-stimulants balance and promote the biological activity within the soil, stimulating soil micro-population and root development. Available in 350 and 700 gram containers. Ask for Granules and other products in the Plant Magic Plus line at your favourite indoor gardening shop.

Continued on page 48

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17

Nutrients:

Beyond Macros and Micros

by Dr. Lynette Morgan

The nutrient solution is the foundation on which hydroponic plant growth is based. Its composition, in terms of essential nutrient ions, oxygen, microbial life and other ‘beneficial’ elements determines the health and growth rate of plants in hydroponics. While most growers are familiar with the essential macro and micro elements required for crop growth, plant matter has been found to contain well over 60 elements and soils are typically composed largely of aluminium, silicon and iron. Plant tissue has been found to contain elements as diverse as lead, gold, mercury, arsenic, uranium, sodium and many others, levels of which often reflect those found in the soil. In hydroponics, it has been found that plants will absorb and accumulate numerous non-essential elements from the nutrient solution, however, being non18

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essential does not necessarily mean that these extra elements are not beneficial to different plant species.

Most of the potentially beneficial elements only need to be present in the nutrient solution or rootzone in such minute quantities that some find their way into the plant’s environment through natural means, in water supplies or growing substrates and even as dust in the air. With many of the beneficial elements required at just a fraction of a part per million, there is such a fine line between a safe amount and toxicity, that the best method of incorporating these into a nutrient solution is with use of commercially prepared hydroponic supplements, many of which are organically based. Nutrient concentrates available feature a number of the proven beneficial

Tomato plants have been found to respond well to supplements of silica and titanium.

elements such as silica, quantities. We obtain these “Plant matter has been selenium, nickel and others nutrients from our food, found to contain well over and while many are present as well as a good balance 60 elements as diverse as in animal products, we of the essential macro and lead, gold, mercury, arsenic, get certain amounts from micronutrients. In the future uranium and sodium.” we can expect to see the eating plants. Many of the range of beneficial elements crops we eat contain the in commercially prepared nutrients increase extra elements we need, although they aren’t as scientists uncover more of the secrets of essential for the plant itself. There has been advanced plant nutrition.

Why incorporate nutrient supplements?

Many studies have demonstrated that certain ‘non essential’ elements have beneficial effects on the growth and development of many plant species. In fact it is likely that additional essential micro elements will be identified in the future, those which are currently only required in extremely low levels and thus difficult to identify and quantify. Secondly, many hydroponic growers are interested in the health giving properties of the fruits and vegetables they produce and there is a growing area of research into supplementing some of the human essential elements into plant material. Although plants need a certain diet of their own essential nutrients, humans require many others such as sodium, iodine, cobalt and selenium, as well as silicon, chromium, tin and vanadium in minute

Different plant species often vary in their response to many beneficial nutrients and supplements.

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Nutrients: Beyond Macros and Micros

which are a consequence of the form of selenium that develops inside plant tissue. The potential for enrichment of human diets with beneficial elements and organic supplements in hydroponic crop production is huge and something that even small growers can take advantage of.

Use of beneficial nutrients in crops such as wheat grass, grown for health giving properties, may give an extra boost to human nutrition.

some concern that hydroponic crops, grown with carefully formulated, salt fertilizer-based nutrients don’t contain the full range of extra elements required for a healthy diet. This is not entirely correct as most water sources contain small amounts of a large number of the same minerals found in soils and these do find their way into hydroponic crops in quantities comparable to well grown field crops. However, the hydroponic nutrient solution can be boosted with small amounts of the same potentially beneficial nutrient elements found in healthy soils and in “Like humans, plants need certain many cases will then produce more diet of their own nutritionally complete fruits and essential nutrients” vegetables than those grown in many heavily cropped soil systems.

By having plants naturally incorporate human beneficial elements such as selenium into their tissue at increased levels, human nutrition can be improved. Some elements such as selenium play a role in health, and in some cases, cancer prevention, but they are incorporated into plant tissue in a much more biologically active form, which is more suited to human intake. Hydroponic garlic grown in selenium-enriched nutrient solution has been shown to have potent anti-cancer properties, 20

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Beneficial Micronutrients Some of the beneficial micronutrient supplements have undergone considerable investigation by scientists while others are only just being looked into. Aluminium, cobalt, sodium, selenium and silica all have known roles in certain plant species.

Aluminium has been shown to be beneficial to some plants “Cobalt may also play a species, particularly those role in slowing leaf aging adapted to acidic soils when and disease resistance in supplied at low concentration. some species.”

Tea plants show increased antioxidant properties and increased growth in the presence of aluminium in the rootzone. Cobalt concentrations in plants are typically in the range 0.1 to 10 ppm on a dry weight basis and cobalt is often found in low levels in natural water sources (0.04 ppm). At low levels, cobalt can have a number of beneficial effects, particularly in leguminous plants such as peas where application of eight ppm cobalt increases growth, nodule number and weight as well as seedpod yield and quality. Cobalt may also play a role in slowing leaf aging and disease resistance in some species. Since cobalt is also essential for human health, additions of this element to nutrient solutions can enhance the nutritional quality of hydroponic food. While selenium enrichment of food crops for human health has been an area of recent study,

Hydroponic garlic may be one crop where health giving compounds can be intensified with the use of advanced plant nutrition.

Potato growth has been found to be stimulated by additions of trace amounts of selenium.

selenium may also have a beneficial role in plant growth and development. Plant tissue contains less than one ppm of selenium in most species; however, selenium is chemically similar to sulphur, a plant macro element, and appears to be metabolized via the same mechanisms. Trace amounts of selenium have been found to stimulate growth in a variety of plant species including ryegrass, lettuce and potato and to also provide the plants with more resistance to ultraviolet radiation.

There is also evidence that boosting selenium levels in hydroponically grown plants can help protect from biotic stress such as fungal diseases. Titanium is another element whose role in plant development and metabolism has been studied for over 90 years. While

Hydroponic nutrient supplements come in a range of forms ready for use in even the smallest systems.

plant tissue is generally low in titanium content, being 0.1 to 10 ppm on average, titanium is present in soil in relatively high concentrations. Studies have found that the chlorophyll content of hydroponic tomato plants increased when titanium was added.

When maize was provided with titanium in solution, the yield increased by 25 to 30 per cent and the concentration of sugars in the grain also rose.

Another interesting potential beneficial element is iodine. Iodine has been found to stimulate the synthesis of cellulose and the lignification of the stem tissue that helps the mechanical strengthening of the plant. Iodine

Leguminous plants such as peas benefit from the addition of cobalt to the nutrient solution.

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Nutrients: Beyond Macros and Micros

Plant tissue has been found to contain over 60 elements obtained from the soil crops are grown in.

Silica can assist with reducing the incidence and severity of powdery mildew in crops such as cucumbers and roses.

has been found to increase the concentration of ascorbic acid in plants and the amount of total free-amino-acids in crops grown in solution culture. Iodine also seems to increase salt tolerance in plants by facilitating a lower chlorine uptake.

Other beneficial elements that may play a role in plant growth and development include: silver (Ag), cerium (Ce), chromium (Cr), lanthanum (La), rubidium (Rb), tin (Sn), serium (Sr), vanadium (V) and tungsten (W). It is likely there are other elements whose quantities in plant tissue are so minute it is hard to quantify their role or presence, but these will lead to some exciting discoveries in plant nutrition in years to come.

Organic nutrient supplements While individual beneficial elements can be added to nutrient products in fairly precise quantities via the use of fertilizer salts, they can also be supplemented with organic additives and mineral products. Organic concentrates derived from natural materials such as seaweed, fish waste, compost and vermicast, mineral clay and earth extracts contain a wide spectrum of elements including levels of macronutrients, micronutrients and beneficial trace minerals. Organic supplements may not be as precise as using fertilizer salts of beneficial elements; however, good

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Hydroponic garlic grown in selenium-enriched nutrient solution has been shown to have anti-cancer properties.

quality products are likely to contain a wide range of beneficial elements and potentially other growth promoting compounds such as humic/fulvic acids amongst others.

Seaweed, for example, contains a wide range of minerals, some of which are known to be beneficial for plant growth and disease resistance. However, many decades ago scientists also found that naturally occurring cytokinins in seaweed could provide a growth stimulator effect. The level of naturally occurring cytokinins and the growth effects are of course largely dependant on the species and source of seaweed and obtaining a stable extract for use in hydroponics. However, extracts of certain species of seaweed have been shown to improve root and shoot growth and improve stress resistance in some crops by increasing the natural production of antioxidants in the plant. Compost and vermicast-based extracts may also have the added advantage of boosting beneficial microbe levels in the rootzone and provide a wide range of beneficial elements. Natural mineral, clay or earth extract products have been available for boosting the menu of elements for hydroponic plants for many years; these are a good way of safely incorporating rarer elements into nutrient solutions although they should be considered a slow release form of supplement.

MY References P Tlustos et al. “The role of titanium in biomass production and its influence on essential contents in field grown crops.” Plant and Soil Enviro, no. 1 (2005): 50, 19-25.

EAH Pilon-Smits et al. “Physiological functions of beneficial elements.” Current Opinion in Plant Biology (2009): 12:267-274.

E Diatloff et al. “Rare earth elements and plant growth II. Responses of corn and mungbean to low concentrations of lanthanum in dilute, continuously flowing nutrient solutions.”

Journal of Plant Nutrition (1995): 18(10) 19771989.

C M Steveni et al. “Effect of seaweed concentrate on hydroponically grown spring barley.” Journal of Applied Phycology no. 4 (1992): 173-180.

Cucumbers are a crop well known to respond to high levels of silica.

What macros and micros are your plants missing?

Check it out on maximumyield.com

MAXIMUM YIELD UK - May / June 2010

23

Houseplants That Help Us Breathe It is natural for people to want to improve their surroundings.

by Matt LeBannister

Everyone wants a bigger house or new furniture. We even buy costly purifiers to improve the air quality in our office and home environments. With office buildings and homes becoming more sealed off from the outside world, air quality can really suffer. Formaldehyde, benzene and trichloroethylene are common air pollutants found in building materials. These trapped pollutants result in what is commonly referred to as “Sick Building Syndrome.” There is hope, however, and it comes in the form of common houseplants like peace lilies, bamboo and spider plants, which can process these gases, removing them from the air.

Here are some of the plants known to remove formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, and benzene from the air.

Each plant can be easily grown at home or in the office.

Spathiphyllum “Mauna Loa,” peace lily, removes trichloroethylene and benzene from the air. This plant does not need much light to thrive and has beautiful, large flowers.

Chamaedorea sefritzii, bamboo or reed palm, is another great plant to grow indoors that will improve air quality.

Bamboo or reed palms are efficient at removing the three air pollutants listed above. This plant thrives in the shade.

Bamboo palms grow best in moist conditions and should not be fed any nutrients. These plants can grow one to 1.2 metres tall with large serene leaves.

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Hedera helix, English ivy, is a great plant for the home or office. This plant should be potted in a hanging pot or placed somewhere high, because it is a creeping ivy. English ivy is excellent for removing benzene from the atmosphere and thrives in indirect light and possibly shade.

Chlorophytum comosum, green spider plant, is a common houseplant that will thrive in nearly any condition, the shade or direct sunlight. Spider plants are most effective at removing formaldehyde from the air and are an excellent addition to any indoor space. These plants do best from hanging pots, which allow their long “spider leg� like leaves to droop downwards.

The three aforementioned plants are the most efficient plants for removing airborne pollutants, but there are many more that can effective. Golden pathos, geresa daisies and pot mums are visually appealing and can improve the air quality of any living space. The greater the number and variety of plants in any space, the more likely indoor air pollutants will be removed. Fifteen plants in at least 15 centimetre pots will be able the clean the air from a 610 square metre space.

The importance of plants in our lives does not simply include the outdoor world, but our indoor environment as well. It is not just about looks and appearances or livening up the workplace. It is about our health and maintaining MY clean air that is safe to breathe.

Reference: www.cleanairgardening.com

by Erik Biksa

by Erik Biksa

So you want to get bigger yields from your crop? Here are seven grow tips (in no particular order), that when adhered to, will help you grow the healthiest and most vibrant crops possible. These growing secrets are the culmination of decades of growing experience from the author and countless other dedicated growers spanning the globe over. Follow them closely; they have worked for others and they can work for you.

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1

“Hot and dry One: Keep it optimal. environments cause Technologicallysevere stress to plants, advanced products so temperatures available to consumers should never go above make it effortless to 29°C at the tops supply bright light to of the plants.” plants indoors with HID (High Intensity Discharge) lighting. These crop lighting systems are available in various wattages for different levels of light output.

Bigger wattage equals more light. However, it’s extremely important to consider the level of heat created by the lighting components.

The amount of heat produced by HID lighting systems must be properly managed to maintain optimal temperatures in the growing environment. Hot and dry environments will really stress your plants out, causing them to produce poorly. In the majority of indoor growing situations the plants will yield better and be of higher quality when the temperature does not reach above 29°C at the tops of the plants when the lights are on.

Temperatures above 32°C, in most situations, are a huge contributor to reductions in yield and overall crop quality in indoor gardens. The heat forces work at a high metabolic rate, meaning all the biological processes are accelerated. Couple this with high intensity light, nutrients and air movement and you are working the plant at its upper limits. What tends to happen is that one factor, for example, CO2 for the leaves or oxygen for the roots, is lacking while other variables are driven at their maximum. This is like driving a high performance car at top speed while the engine is lacking oil; although everything else is working great, the car will grind to a halt and will possibly experience irreversible damage. The same goes for your crop. Do what is necessary to keep the optimal temperature, even if it means using less light intensity in the growing environment.

2

Two: You are what you overeat.

Growers have access to some pretty amazing crop feeding technologies. We all get excited about using them, although in our quest to give our plants the best, we can sometimes “kill them with kindness.” It’s important to keep a handle on the overall feeding strengths that we apply to our crops, and also the ratios of the different types of ingredients that are found in various products. Most of the time, the dilution rates on crop product labels are recommended for standalone applications, as the manufacturer cannot possibly account for everything and anything else you may be MAXIMUM YIELD UK - May / June 2010

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Seven Steps to Bigger Yields

Measure Twice, Pour Once: Even when measuring organic nutrients, it’s critical to know exactly the right amount to add to reach the desired nutrient strength in the right phase of growth.

applying to your crops. For example, the levels of base nutrients, additives, biological inoculants, etc. all contribute to the overall feeding strengths, and how the plant will react. Furthermore, the quality of the growing environment itself will affect how suitable a feeding strength for the plants will be.

Growers often discuss feeding strengths in terms of PPM (parts per million), while EC (electrical conductivity) is probably the best unit of measurement, as it is universal from one region to another. PPM is not universal, as different conversion factors are used by different measuring equipment manufacturers (PPMs are actually conversions from EC, the base measurement).

In most growing scenarios, it’s rare for there to be any need to feed over 2.0 EC. Follow a complete feeding program from a reputable manufacturer, as piecing together your own feeding program can be a real hit and miss affair. Even when following a manufacturer’s complete program, it still pays to monitor your feeding strengths using TDS/EC testers. Remember after mixing all of your nutrients into the water, you can always add more fresh water to dilute the nutrient solution to lower strengths if necessary.

Know What They Are Eating: It’s always a good idea to check, and double check EC and pH levels if you are unfamiliar with the values created by your nutrient solution when mixing and for the period following.

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3

Photo by: Dr. Lynnette Morgan

Over-fertilized plants produce poorly, are prone to insects and diseases and usually the taste and smell is less than desirable.

Besides watching your overall feed strengths, and applying nutrients in a “feed, feed, water” regimen on soilless mediums, flushing the growing medium every couple of weeks can help keep nutrients from building-up and causing problems.

Plant over fertilized, showing salt burn.

Three: The plant is boss.

If your plants aren’t ready for the next growing phase or increased feeding strengths, you should wait. Following recommendations is always a good idea, however, to do so blindly is not. Just because a chart says after three weeks that you should “flip” the plants into flower doesn’t mean that you should. Some strains will grow very little once flowering has started, so ask yourself if they will be at the right size for a healthy harvest at maturity.

Conversely, some strains and plant varieties grow leaps and bounds, upwards of 300 per cent, once flowering is initiated.

With these varieties, the wise grower can be sure they are flowering early enough, so that they will not out-grow the space available in the garden.

Determining the right size to flower can take a couple of trials to get right, especially if you are working with a plant variety that you are less familiar with, or perhaps a strain within a plant variety that you have not yet cultivated. Do some research, and ask around. Growers who have experience with a particular strain or variety may be willing to share some insights. Note that hydroponically-grown plants will usually develop at a faster rate than soil grown plants, although overall yields are often similar.

4

Four: Simplify.

In an effort to make ourselves better growers, we sometimes pull the mad scientist cap on a little too far. It’s a great idea to experiment from crop to crop, however, you need to be realistic about how many variables you experiment with to really determine the cause and effect of particular inputs and practices.

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Seven Steps to Bigger Yields

Photo by: Dr. Lynnette Morgan

“To ensure that you Same goes with the environment. are making the most If you are running experiments to use of the lights find the optimal temperature for you have, look for your strain in flowering, it’s not a reflectors that offer good idea to switch from 1000 watt a photometric chart lights to 600 watt lights and turn that illustrate their around and say that one temperature is performance.” working better than another.

Set up your grow with a fool-proof system, whether in terms of nutrient programs or an optimal growing environment.

From there, consider changing one variable at a time per crop to really “dial-in” your growing environment accurately and precisely. Otherwise, you can only guess at any changes you see in the plants, for better or worse.

Plants at optimal temperature.

With nutrients, for example, if you are not following a complete program, or if you’re using a tiered grower level system, don’t add too many new products at once; especially if they are not on the manufacturer’s crop feed chart. To really see how a particular product performs, you need to run at least one cycle with that being the only variable changed.

5

Five: Put some love into it.

Most of us get into growing indoors because we have a passion for growing things, or we are especially fond of the plants that we are cultivating. If taking care of your plants is not much more than an obligatory chore for you, don’t expect too much back from your plants in return; they will feel the same way about you!

Even growers who start out with a very strong passion can find themselves treating growing as a job after several years. It should never feel like a job. Perhaps it’s time to take a break from growing, or hire a reliable crop-sitter for your garden.You have to be in touch with your plants as often as possible. Plants are honest; they will ask for exactly what they want, and won’t hesitate to tell you what they don’t like. However, if you are not observing or “listening” to these signs because you are in a hurry to get in and out of the garden, you will overlook some very important “suggestions” from your plants, and your yields and crop quality will suffer. Basically, you will never be able to realize the full potential of your garden. After all, you only get out of it what you put into it, and that’s not just reserved to your gardens.

Photo by: Dr. Lynnette Morgan

6

Growing with HID (High Intensity Discharge) light.

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Six: Use a high quality light reflector.

If you are growing with HID (High Intensity Discharge) lighting, use a high quality, engineered lamp reflector to ensure that your garden receives the maximum number of lumens, in an even and consistent spread. There is no sense in having one high-yielding plant directly under the reflector, while the surrounding plants produce poorly due to uneven light distribution.

Poorly designed lamp reflectors may look good to the human eye, although their performance in re-directing light from the lamp to the garden can be extremely poor. Hot spots can be created in the garden canopy when a reflector is not redirecting light evenly, for example over an area of one to 1.2 square metres. Lesser quality reflectors may provide intense light directly beneath the lamp, although they do not do a good job

“Plants have evolved in an environment as diverse as the earth itself, so they have learned to make excellent use of all of the building blocks in nature provided to them.�

Juicy Roots, Naturally: These roots have been treated with beneficial fungal and bacterial inoculants; notice how thick they are relative to their age.

of spreading the light intensity to reach the plants on the outside of the garden canopy.

There are some tremendous differences in the ability of one reflector over another to re-distribute the light intensity evenly in a desirable lighting footprint for your garden. To ensure that you are making the most use of the lights you have, look for reflectors that offer a photometric chart that illustrates their performance. Use the right reflector for the right wattage lamp; sometimes mogul extensions may be required when working with lower wattage lamps. Finally, invest in a light meter; it will tell you exactly what intensities the plants are receiving.

formulated for hydroponics growers, and contain super strains of bacteria such as Bacillus and Pseudomonas as well as beneficial fungi such as Trichoderma and Mycorrhizae. These are available as liquid concentrates or powdered formulations, and can be added to a variety of cropping programs. Most often they are applied to the roots, and when specially formulated, will not clog-up hydroponics growing systems. They are especially well suited to soil and soilless growing medium applications.

So, there you have it. Seven growing tips, that when followed and adhered to, can offer just about any grower in any growing situation a bigger yield, healthier plants and better crop quality.

Sure there are many more tips and tricks that all stack up to maximum yields, however, these are a great place to start.

Remember that it is never any one tweak or trick that makes your garden successful; it’s the culmination of all the little things you do to make your garden grow better.You will only get out of it what you put into it.

MY

bacteria

7

Seven: Add some life.

Whether you garden hydroponically, organically, in soil or soilless mediums, your crop will benefit greatly from introductions of bio-active and bio-available substances rather than just providing flat-lined, synthetic NPK nutrients.

Plants have evolved in an environment as diverse as the earth itself, so they have learned to make excellent use of all of the building blocks in nature provided to them. Growers who add another dimension in crop nutrition through the application of bio-active nutrients and supplements are often rewarded with higher yields, noticeably higher crop quality and fewer problems such as insects and diseases.

Freshly brewed aerobic teas are an excellent source of nutrients and beneficial life for plants. If your system is not well suited for root applications of aerobically brewed nutrient teas, you can apply them as foliar sprays with some level of benefit. Also, there are some specialty inoculants available that are specifically

Pseudomonas bacteria

Bacillus bacteria

Fungi

Trichoderma fungi

Visit maximumyield.com to review 12+ years of grow tips from Erik Biksa.

MAXIMUM YIELD UK - May / June 2010

33

Our Organic Future

by Luis Bartolo

What was once an uncommon term used by concerned scientists is now frequently on the lips of civilians. Global warming is a real concern and the blame rests squarely at the feet of carbon emissions, which are a direct result of our advanced industrial lifestyle. Most of what we take for granted, the keyboard we type on, the chair on which we sit, has contributed to climate change.

Globally, agriculture and horticulture contribute an estimated 11 per cent of the total greenhouse gas emissions. Chemically-treated crops affect the earth’s natural growing and carbon processing cycles, and because the natural environment is unable to process these alien waste forms efficiently and effectively, over time our earth becomes sterile.

Instead of being processed and recycled, the waste (gasses, toxins, etc.) are released directly into the earth’s atmosphere where they form mass amounts of poison, further damaging the ozone layer. This creates a circle of destruction where the planet can longer contain its waste, and instead burns a hole in the sky to escape.

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This is not to say that organic farming is carbon neutral. It is just more efficient at containing negatives within its natural life cycle. This process is slow, but it’s the only one this planet was designed to function by.

Nature is self sustaining and has a propensity to clean up after itself when it produces waste. Plants naturally absorb negative gasses from the air like CO2, which assists the photosynthetic process in producing organic compounds needed for plant growth and development. It is then recycled and sent back into the atmosphere “Most of what we as oxygen, and extracted by humans and take for granted, other living beings for survival. the keyboard we Another dangerous result of chemical type on, the chair farming is eutrophication. Eutrophication on which we sit, occurs when nitrates from fertilizers, and has contributed to other toxins from pesticides, are washed into rivers and streams from farmland, or climate change.� absorbed into the atmosphere to fall back to the earth as rain. An estimated 67 million birds die each year as a backlash from pesticide use; the estimate for fish is six to 14 million annually. Several water companies in Germany now pay farmers to switch to organic operations because it costs less than removing chemicals from water supplies. In recent years, the water quality in certain valleys of Northern France became so bad due to pollution the local politicians, backed by the community, demanded a conversion to organic farming.

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35

Our Organic Future The number of organic farms is still a use per ton of produce than conventional “The natural minority in comparison to modern factory farming, excluding tomatoes grown in heated environment is unable farms. This, however, wasn’t always the case. greenhouses. The milk and beef industry to process these Pre-1940, most of the world’s agricultural showed the greatest gap, using 28 and 41 alien waste forms practice was organic or at the very least nonper cent less energy respectively than their (chemicals) efficiently conventional counterparts. synthetic. Chemical replicates of NPK became available during the previous century, although and over time our earth Organic agriculture helps counteract climate becomes sterile.” they weren’t popular until the manpower change by restoring soil’s organic matter shortage and food demands of World War II. content, reducing soil erosion and improving Intensive chemical farming relied on less manpower to manage soil’s physical structure. Organic soils also have greater waterand produce and it was cheaper; this is how chemical farming holding capacity, which explains why organic production is much became so prevalent today. more resistant to climate extremes such as droughts and floods.

In recent years there has been an upsurge in consumer Such savings in energy consumption alone should be enough demand for organic produce. This has been seen as something of an incentive for governments to place more focus on of a trend that has no conclusive benefits for human health or organic agriculture. Healthy soils can also process more toxins for the environment. Detractors take pains to point out that from other areas of industry safely and naturally, thereby organic food is no better than conventionally-grown food and reducing the stress on the ozone layer. is simply a marketing ploy.

Before the 1990s, the number of organic farmers represented In fact, organic agriculture less than one per cent of the total agricultural sector in most reduces greenhouse gas countries. Since that time the situation has changed with emissions by effectively many countries expanding organic agriculture considerably. locking more carbon into This is in part due to the increased profits from organic the soil rather than releasing produce, as well as increased consumer demand. it into the atmosphere, as Just as our planet has been negatively affected by chemical use is the case in conventional in agriculture, the consumption of chemically-treated food by agriculture. If organic fertilizer humans has had a detrimental effect upon our health. We, like was used to grow corn and the natural environment, are a delicate living ecosystem. When soybeans, two of the most we build our cells upon inorganic and unnatural compounds, widely produced crops in the the body becomes unable to process and develop adequately.

United States, carbon dioxide The result of this is new generations of super bugs and an in the atmosphere could be increase in the rise of cancers and other serious diseases. It is no reduced by an estimated two surprise that the first cases of such maladies came about with per cent annually. Organic the advent of industrial agriculture. farming also uses 50 per cent A return to natural and self sustainable growing principles will less energy than conventional ensure the longevity of our natural resources and the health farming methods, therefore, and well being of the next generation who will no longer be less pollution is processed exposed to toxins in their soil, air, water and food. by the already overburdened We will likely continue to advance and embrace new ecosystem. technologies, but by focusing on the original building blocks There is no doubt that organic, sustainable agricultural of life and sustaining them we can progress exponentially and MY practices can mitigate climate change. As stated in the infinitely, without destroying our world in the process.

2002 report of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), organic agriculture enables ecosystems to better adjust to the effects of climate change and has major potential for reducing agricultural greenhouse gas emissions.

The FAO report also found that, “organic agriculture performs better than conventional agriculture on a per hectare scale, both with respect to direct energy consumption (fuel and oil) and indirect consumption (synthetic fertilizers and pesticides),” with highly efficient energy usage.

The United Kingdom’s Soil Association found that organic The history of organics is available on maximumyield.com farming in the UK is about 26 per cent more efficient in energy 36

MAXIMUM YIELD UK - May / June 2010

Coming up Roses:

Combatting Grow Room Odours

One common complaint about hydroponics is the smell that often results, but with a little care and knowledge, a well run hydroponics system doesn’t need to smell bad.

With consistent application of the following tips a microbial equilibrium can be created in the hydroponics system that will not only have undesirable odours, but will consistently produce better harvests.

1

Keep the system as free of organic materials as possible.

Nutrient solution problems are often the cause of bad smells in hydroponics systems. Odours can be strong and persistent and are a result of bacteria metabolizing proteins that release amines and sulphurcontaining organic molecules into the solution. Microbial growth in the nutrient itself is a result of having organic materials in the system (fungi, for instance, needs organic matter to feed on). Because of this, it is important to avoid introducing unnecessary organic material into the nutrient solution or growing media.

Organic matter may have come from large amounts of old rotting root systems or vegetation from a previous crop or use of organic growing media. Take steps to avoid these problems by using non-organic starting medium for starting plants to be added to the system and a non-organic growing medium in the system. Between crops replace or clean the growing medium to remove unwanted organic matter. Use a dark reservoir and keep it covered to keep light and foreign organic matter out.

2 3

Take steps to maintain a microbial equilibrium in the system.

The microbial species which produce the bad smells, slime and other undesirable problems are not to be encouraged, but there are beneficial microbes that can be added and encouraged in the system. First, start with a clean, sterilized water source, add in the nutrients and then inoculate the nutrient solution with a mixture of beneficial microbes that can be purchased from hydroponics retailers and found with an online search for “beneficial microbes hydroponics.� This gives the beneficial microbes a head start and results in a healthy system where any pathogens should be suppressed before plant damage occurs.

Use only nutrients and additives that are specifically designed for hydroponics.

Avoid the use of organic fertilizers that are designed for soil-based systems. Many of these rely on boosting the population growth of microbes in the soil, which in turn break down organic matter, releasing nutrients. Many of the organic compounds are not fully mineralized and putting these soil-based organic fertilizers into a hydroponics system in large quantities can have rapid and unpleasant results.

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4

Keep the nutrient solution well oxygenated.

Start with a clean system and keep the nutrient well oxygenated. This helps swing the equilibrium in favour of the beneficial microbes and provides oxygenated solution to the plant roots. Air pumps are now very inexpensive and should be used with an air stone to add oxygen to the nutrient solution. Plant only healthy seedlings into the system in non-organic starting media and remove any sick or stressed plants as soon as they are noticed, making sure to get most of the roots.

5

Flush the system and replace the nutrient solution often.

It is possible to test the nutrient solution often and maintain proper pH and nutrient levels, but it is beneficial and much easier to replace the solution every week or at least every two weeks. Set the system up so a water pipe can be easily opened to drain the system. Plan to drain the system when the reservoir is already low.

Drain the solution into a watering can until the pump starts to draw air. Use this nutrient-rich water to water soil based plants. Add a few litres of pH adjusted water to the system and run the system for five minutes to flush.

Drain the system again and then fill with pH adjusted nutrient solution and beneficial microbes.

6

Consider ozone generators and carbon filters.

Ozone generators and carbon filters are no substitute for the general hydroponics practices discussed in the previous tips.

They may, however, have benefits beyond odour control that are worth considering. For example, some systems claim to purify the water by injecting ozone directly into the holding tank or the nutrient reservoir.

In the water, excess ozone Carbon Filters constantly breaks down into oxygen which super oxygenates the nutrient solution, promoting rapid healthy root development, plant growth and higher yields.

Carbon filters are probably the best way of removing odours from any area. Charcoal has long been recognized as one of the best vehicles for air filtering and different size filters are available Ozone Generator for different sized growing rooms. Carbon filters are easy to install and operate.

MY

MAXIMUM YIELD UK - May / June 2010

39

The

Fungus Among Us

by Lee McCall

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MAXIMUM YIELD UK - May / June 2010

When used properly, high quality horticultural lighting, wholesome plant nutrients, state-of-the-art ventilation and advanced hydroponic systems can enhance crop growth.

These factors are considered offensive measures that aid in an optimal harvest; but what about the defensive aspects of gardening? Any experienced grower knows there are natural influences that work against the success of a healthy harvest.

Whether gardening indoors or outdoors, pests and disease can find their way into a garden wreaking havoc on precious fruits, flowers and foliage. Preventative treatments along with proper pre-planning and room design will ensure detriments like powdery mildew, botrytis, rust, spidermites, thrips and other pests are avoided. Below are hints and helpful methods to eradicate and repel the global garden disease powdery mildew, also referred to as downy mildew.

In indoor gardens, greenhouse operations, vineyards, and orchards, the spores and mould of this crop-killing fungus can appear without warning ruining precious plants. Grape varietals, roses and some species of fruit trees are common victims to powdery mildew attacks. The high reproductive rates of the disease create a huge percentage of spores from relatively small patches of threads, also known as hyphae and stalks. These characteristics make the fungus fast spreading, and difficult to control once a garden is infested.

Air movement is responsible for spreading the spores throughout the area upon infection, but also prevents the growth and production with adequate grow room ventilation by keeping humidity levels down. Powdery mildew is capable of thriving in both humid and dry conditions as it adapts to its host’s environment, but usually prefers cooler temperatures. However, this fungus can multiply rampantly in very hot grow rooms if vegetation is plentiful and humidity allows for it. This disease is identified by the chalky, dusty-like residue that accumulates on foliage and blooms.Visually, this mildew is a huge nuisance and will not

Powdery mildew, shown here on a cucumber plant, is identified by the chalky, dusty-like residue.

Photo by: Dr. Lynnette Morgan

cause much damage if controlled with a counteractant. If left untreated, this killer dust is almost impossible to get rid of without cutting down the crop, and disinfecting the entire area including equipment. Different plant strains will show resilience to this fungus while others fall victim.

Trial and error with different varieties will yield sensitivity or hardiness to attacks. There is always a possibility that certain strains in the same area will be affected differently by powdery mildew. Even in the instance where different plants are side-by-side, one gets infested, while the other is strong and healthy with no signs of the disease.Varietals should be chosen based on a combination of their productivity, vigour and end quality. A plant that is supposed to have high quality fruits or flowers, but is highly susceptible to disease and infestation should probably be avoided so time and money is not spent babysitting the delicate plant. Breeding also allows a grower to obtain desired characteristics from particular strains and cross pollinate them to create custom hybrids.

Several treatments have been very effective in combating this dusty white-eye sore on plants. Sulphur vapourizers offer a very effective and efficient treatment. In commercial operations with multiple plants, vapourizing sulphur allows for quick coverage of large areas, and offers penetration in hard-to-reach crevices, corners and nooks where the fungus might be residing. This practice is physically less labour intensive compared to foliar applications, and will not block leaf surface pores (stomata) as bad as oil-based fungicides. Effective coverage is also much more likely to occur with a sulphur vapourizer opposed to foliar sprays.

MAXIMUM YIELD UK - May / June 2010

41

The Fungus Among Us

Most sulphur vapourizers on the market consist of a metal canister housing that is suspended above the canopy of a garden. A heating element inside the unit liquefies the sulphur to the point of vapourization, and a cup, usually aluminium, contains the sulphur prills. New and improved models feature a heating element that also operates as the containment cup opposed to a separate cup that sits on top of the heating element or hot plate. Take extreme caution when operating certain models of sulphur burners; some are designed to heat the sulphur up to the point of self-ignition (230 to 260°C). Obviously this is extremely dangerous being that a sulphur fire is exceptionally hard to extinguish. When making a purchase, search for models that feature energy efficient heating elements and range about 200°C during operation. Depending on the amount of sulphur in the containment cup, operations should typically last anywhere from two to eight hours before a refill is needed. A timer is recommended to automate “burn time” of the vapourizer. For optimal results, night time operation or during the garden’s dark cycle is highly recommended.

A single burner unit can effectively cover up to 100 square metres of area. Oscillating fans that blow towards the infected areas of the garden will increase the effectiveness and coverage of the sulphur vapours. Carbon filtration systems and any other grow room exhausts should be turned off during the ON time of the sulphur vapourizer so fumes have enough time to make contact with the disease. Botrytis and black spot may also be controlled through proper operating techniques using a sulphur vapourizer. Rinsing plant foliage with clean water will wash off sulphur residue after a burn cycle, however, make sure that ventilation is sufficient in the room otherwise the disease may re-colonize.

Foliar treatments with specific active ingredients are also effective at controlling powdery mildew and other fungal infections. Neem oil applied as a foliar spray with a high quality wetting agent seems to smother the fungus and prevent it from spreading on the infected tissue. If a certain area of the infected plant is missed during an application, the mildew may re-emerge on a part that did not receive any treatment. For smaller vegetative plants like cuttings and seedlings, dunking the entire plant, aside from the root system, into a 23 litre bucket of pre-mixed solution will ensure complete coverage of all exposed tissue. This method also keeps the grow room slightly cleaner compared to spraying the plants from different angles. Bacillus subtilis concentrates may be diluted into non-chlorinated water for foliar spraying to provide control as well. These beneficial bacteria colonies work as a probiotic, eradicating the colonization of detrimental fungal entities. I have found whole milk to be as effective as neem oil, bacillus subtilis and sulphur-based sprays. Obviously more of a home remedy, whole milk is readily available and inexpensive.

Milk works by disrupting the pH values on the surface of leaf tissue, and the beneficial cultures as probiotics. Only non-chlorinated water should be used with milk at a mixed ratio of around one tablespoon per litre of water. Adjust this dilution more or less as needed; plants should not show sensitivity to this mixture.

Oscillating fans increase the effectiveness and coverage of sulphur vapours to combat powdery mildew and other grow room diseases.

Preventative maintenance is always recommended before any signs of the fungus appear. This may include, but is not limited to, HEPA filtration for air intakes, adequate carbon filter exhaust, dehumidifiers if necessary and foliar treatments approximately once every two to four weeks. Blends of strong plant genes, proper grow room design and preventive maintenance will keep the garden flourishing and free of disease.

Gardens that are infiltrated by mildews portray a potential flaw in design or weak genetic natural defence mechanisms of the plant strain. Every grower has a different set-up and preference so take the necessary steps to ensure the garden is performing to optimal standards.

MY

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DO YOU

know?

6 1 2

3 4 5

Silica in cucumbers reduces the incidence and severity of powdery mildew and other fungi.

Electrical Conductivity (EC) is probably the best unit of measurement for feeding strengths because it is universal. Parts Per Million (PPM), on the other hand, is not.

An estimated 67 million birds and six to 14 million fish die each year as a backlash from pesticide use.

Titanium’s role in plant development and metabolism has been studied for over 90 years.

7 8

9

Some sulphur burners are designed to heat sulphur up to the point of self-ignition (230 to 260°C).

In most growing scenarios, it’s rare for there to be any need to feed over 2.0 EC.

Organic farming in the UK is about 26 per cent more efficient in energy use per ton of produce than conventional farming, excluding tomatoes grown in heated greenhouses.

Chlorophytum comosum, green spider plant, is a common houseplant that will thrive in nearly any condition and effectively remove formaldehyde from the air.

A CO2 concentration equal or greater than 1,500 ppm may cause partial or complete closure of the plant’ stomas, which results in a reduction of CO2 absorption and a limitation in plant transpiration.

MAXIMUM YIELD UK - May / June 2010

43

YOU TELL US

What filter do I need for my growing environment? How do filters clear the air? What should I be looking for in a quality grow tent? These questions and more are answered in this exclusive interview with Evan Townsley of International Growers Supply, Inc. (IGS). (Products now available in the UK).

Maximum Yield (MY): How are filters beneficial in a grow room or greenhouse?

Evan Townsley: Organic odours emanating from steeping, syrupy bio-teas, manure, composts and vegetation can permeate a growing environment. Odours travel far and wide and filters help moderate the environment’s atmosphere by cleaning the air rather than masking the odours.

MY: You offer the grower a variety of filters. Explain how they are different.

Evan: IGS fills needs in the myriad niches of our expanding market. Not all applications are the same so catering to specific needs is what drives our lateral brands.

The Organic Air brand (www.organicairfilter.com) includes charcoal fibre filters and HEPA filters. These cutting-edge filters feature a unique, inverted, dual cone design coupled with vertical pleats to cover a large surface area but are available in a small package. Charcoal fibre filters use a mesh material to achieve a super lightweight odour filter with millions of micropores on the surface of each carbon thread comprising the mesh.

These pores are negatively charged by nature and attract any organic odour. Our HEPA (high efficiency particulate arrestor) filter cleans the air going into a greenhouse. Attached to intake blowers, they remove moulds, pollen, insects and bacteria.

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MAXIMUM YIELD UK - May / June 2010

Evan Townsley

The mesh size in our HEPA filters is five times smaller than a human hair. HEPA filters clean the air of contaminants, leading to better crops with less hassle.

The Elf and Goblin filters use pelletized charcoal carbon, which has been a staple in carbon filtration for years. These filters were specifically designed to be hung from the ceilings of grow tents or attached to smaller fans or blowers. They are lightweight, compact and very affordable. The Elf has a 100 millimetre mouth and the Goblin a 160 millimetre mouth.

Phat filter is our flagship filter brand targeted to experienced growers and larger scale greenhouses. Phat Filters use non-pelletized, virgin RC 412 charcoal from Australia. Pelletized charcoal is bound together with heavy binding agents or glue that doesn’t filter. Because the non-pelletized charcoal is made without glue, the Phat Filters are lighter. They have a larger, usable carbon surface area from

which to attract odours. We make 18 sizes of Phat Filters to suit the needs of every possible grower. See our filter calculator at www.Phatfilter.com/sizes.html where you can plug in your greenhouse dimensions, number of lights being used and find out how many filters you need and what sizes.

charcoal hitting the surface where micro-pores in the charcoal, like fissures in rocks, traps the organic odours. The air continues on its path out of the filter clean and odour-free.

MY: You mention your flagship Phat Filters. How are they unique?

Evan: Phat Filters are lightweight for several reasons. Filters are generally heavy and difficult to transport, hang or manoeuvre.

We use aluminium in our casing, bottom plate and top collar to minimize weight. We use virgin charcoal with no binders and this alone makes the Phat Filter up to 40 per cent lighter than traditional pelletized charcoal filters. We have managed to produce a lighter-weight filter without compromising on the key factors that make a great filter; so no, the lightness of our filters does not negatively affect out output.

Evan: Phat filters are built with the finest charcoal in the world, mined from a source that yields the highest quality carbon.

The charcoal goes into netting, which goes into our perforated aluminium casing. The bottom of the Phat filter casing is conical so it drives air off the bottom of the main cylinder and sends it back toward the charcoal. This increased air movement inside the cylinder is important for efficiency. When filters are transported, the charcoal inside the cylinder always settles—the pieces of charcoal find a closer home to their neighbouring pieces of charcoal. We fill our filter cylinders very carefully during manufacturing but after transport, all filters will have a charcoal bed that has settled even lower and tighter. To protect against air passing through the space created at the top of a filter after settling, we employ a unique anti-air bypass system. Most manufacturers add a piece of foam at the top to expand into the space. We use specialized foam and wrap it in a non-permeable layer of material so air cannot pass through the foam. Foam is permeable by air. This little detail makes our system foolproof.

Lastly, we wrap our Phat Filters in a pre-filter, or blanket of Dacrons. The Dacron traps larger dirt particles to keep them from going inside the filter and needlessly clogging the charcoal.

Filters need forced air. Air is either pushed or pulled through a filter. Dirty or smelly air goes in, travels across the bed of

MY: Because the Phat Filters are lightweight, does that not negatively affect the output?

MY: Tell us about other products that IGS offers the indoor gardener.

Evan: IGS offers the HydroHut indoor garden tent, a market that has matured very quickly. HydroHut uses quality material and small margins to compete in this market. We use all steel poles and corners that are 20 per cent thicker than others.

As well, we galvanize our steel and powder coat it to prevent rust, along with a thicker exterior canvas. IGS concentrates on providing consistent features to give the customer the best experience possible. Competition dictates that we continuously change our product and as successive models are launched, we find innovative ways to improve. International Growers Supply is setting up strategic alliances now with companies in the UK to create mutually beneficial opportunities. So now you will be able to find all of the quality products from IGS in indoor MY gardening retail stores across the country.

If you would like to have your product featured in "You Tell Us," please contact editor@maximumyield.com or give us a call at 250 729 2677

MAXIMUM YIELD UK - May / June 2010

45

PRODUCT spotlight

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

Continued from page 17

Grow Indoors with the HomeBox Modular Greenhouse The HomeBox Modular allows growers to fully customize the size and shape of their HomeBox to their needs. Hydroponic systems have been a popular choice for those with the room to set up a permanent garden, but many have discovered that a contained, movable environment that can fit in a space as small as a closet or as large as a basement or garage may be the best option.

Visually appealing and long-lasting, the HomeBox Modular is washable, air tight, lightweight and affordable. The box can be set up in less than one hour without any tools. Additionally, the HomeBox is made from PE, not PVC, which means the grow box will not create dioxin, a hazardous gas created by PVC when it is heated.

For more information visit your favourite indoor gardening shop.

Alg-A-Mic from Biobizz

Explode - New Booster from DutchPro

Alg-A-Mic is an OMRI listed, high-grade organic seaweed concentrate extracted through cold-press. It contains a high content of trace elements and hormones of vegetable origin, naturally occurring amino acids and vitamins that cater to the whole spectrum of a plant’s needs.

Alg-A-Mic is a bio-stimulant to be used sparingly. It can be used as a soil drench, an additive for hydroponic nutrients or as a foliar spray for instant vigour in any stage of plant growth. It has gained popularity for its effectiveness among bonsai growers in the USA and Japan.

Alg-A-Mic can be taken in by the leaves through sprayers and with water directly applied to the rootzone.

Healthy plants grown with Alg-a-Mic are less likely to suffer from deficiency and temperature fluctuations. Available in 500 millilitres, one litre, five litres and 10 litres. Ask for AlgA-Mic at your favourite hydro shop.

This pre-eminent bloom stimulator gives plants all the nutrients they need in their bloom phase.

This bloom stimulator, consisting of several micronutrients, vitamins and acids, gives the plant an explosive hardening on their tops.

With the administration of Explode, plants will have more disease- and pest-resistance. Suited for every irrigation system and culture on soil, hydro and coco. Available in one litre, five litres, 10 litres and 20 litres. Ask for DutchPro’s Explode at your local indoor gardening shop.

House & Garden Roots Excelurator Roots Excelurator is the best and most powerful root stimulator available in today’s market, and our top product in the area of ultra-concentrated nutrients. This powerful root stimulator ensures the explosive growth of plant roots and rids the plant of brown roots. Roots Excelurator is packaged in a lightproof aluminium container with a sealed lid to guarantee the product stays fresh. Roots Excelurator is a must-have for every successful grower.

Use Roots Excelurator throughout the entire vegetative growth cycle as well as in the first three weeks of growth at a rate of 1.1 millilitres per 18 litres. Roots Excelurator is now available from indoor gardening shops across the UK. 48

MAXIMUM YIELD UK - May / June 2010

Kweekotheek Hortilight Induction Lamp A wide range of high performance induction grow lights from Kweekotheek are available.

The Hortilight 2100K lights are very efficient during flowering stage.

Hortilight Induction grow lights emit little heat, so they are ideal for indoor greenhouses and grow boxes. Keekotheek grow lights are now available at your local indoor gardening store.

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

Do you want to be included in the product spotlight?

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

CHECK YOUR growing I.Q.

by Erik Biksa

Q

1. Which of the following developments in plant nutrition/fertilizers may have a significant impact on crop production technologies for the years to come? a) sacharides b) poly amino alcohols c) all of the above d) none of the above 2. What are some of the beneficial effects that poly amino alcohols may have promoting plant growth? a) Plants resources such as amino acids and carbohydrates are no longer “tied-up� within the plant. b) Plant cell membranes are altered. c) Plants will need to shave less. d) None of the above.

3. While lowering temperatures in the ripening/ late flowering stage may help improve plant colorations, what may be a potential drawback(s) to this cultural practice? a) decreased essential oil production in some varieties b) lower Nutrient availability c) decreased plant metabolic rates d) all of the above

ANSWERS: March/April 2010 quiz

4. What are some common sources of plant growth regulators such as auxins and cyctokinins? a) synthetic formulations b) plants c) secretions from beneficial bacteria and fungi d) shady guy at the train station 5. Based on question #4, which do you think would be the most effective source(s) and why?

6. For outdoor gardens, plants that have been grown vegetatively for longer durations will start to flower _________ versus plants that spent less tiem in vegetative growth. a) faster b) slower

A

1) a, b, c, d, e 2) glycine 3) b 4) a 5) b, 6) a large volume flush will disrupt the soil chemistry too greatly.

Besides reducing fertilizer residues, flushing reduces other benefical compounds and micro-organims. answers to this quiz will be printed in the July/August 2010 issue of Maximum Yield.

MAXIMUM YIELD UK - May / June 2010

49

COMING july-aug UP IN2010

The Future of Indoor Lighting There’s been a huge fuss around LEDs in the past year; we help separate the facts from the myths.

Growing Up

Maximize your growing space with specialty equipment and vertical hydroponic systems.

Shop Talk

Get the most out of your visit to the local hydro shop with these helpful hints from a storeowner.

The Green Eyed Monster Growers get answers to ridding their reservoirs and mediums of the most common invader of indoor and hydroponic gardens—green algae.

Upcoming international events, exclusive contests, latest industry news, reader question and answer, best products and technologies, and much, much more.

Maximum Yield (July /August) will be available July 1 for FREE at selected indoor gardening retail stores across the UK and on maximumyield.com Subscriptions are available at maximumyield.com/ subscriptions.php

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MAXIMUM YIELD UK - May / June 2010

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