UK September - October 2013
FREE
COver Basic Plant Genetics STEM SECRETS choosing LED grow lightS
Maximum Yield’s
LONG BEACH
CALIFORNIA OCTOBER 26-27, 2013
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CONTENTS September/October 2013
FEATURES 38
30
How to Choose the Right LED Grow Light for your Indoor Garden By Alena Dalton
34
Stem Secrets: Introducing a Smarter Way to Select, Store and Process Stem Cuttings By Bill Deboer
38
Aquaponics: The Key to a More Sustainable Future? By Matt LeBannister
44
34 54
Physiological Disorders of Indoor Gardens
64
Basic Plant Genetics By Grubbycup
50
Can Mineral Nutrition Affect Plant Disease? By Guy Sela
30 DEPARTMENTS 8
From the Editor
71
Industry's Latest
10
MaximumYield.com
72
You Tell Us
By Mark Boutwell II
12
Letters to the Editor
74
Talking Shop
Five Commonly Overlooked Cleaning Steps
14
Ask the Experts
76
Max-Mart
16
MAX Facts
80
Distributors
24
Product Spotlight
82
Coming Up Next Issue
70
Do You Know
By Dr. Lynette Morgan
60
44
The Little Things, Naturally
By Karen Wilkinson
66
That Natural Air Additive: CO2 Enrichment for Indoor Gardening By Glen Babcock
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Maximum Yield | September/October 2013
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FROM THE EDITOR | Linda Jesson
Message from the
Editor Linda Jesson
Fall is fast approaching, but that doesn't stop us indoor gardeners! For those just starting a new crop in the growroom, this issue is jam-packed with helpful tips, including five commonly overlooked cleaning steps, ways to enrich your indoor garden with CO2, help with choosing the right LED and the signs and symptoms of different physiological disorders in your growroom. The little things like pH, ppm and EC have a huge impact on your garden and Mark Boutwell II outlines what these things are, how to measure them and the benefits of keeping them balanced. Ever wanted to try breeding your plants for specific traits? Grubbycup has got the dirt on basic plant genetics. Matt LeBannister looks into whether aquaponics– a merging of edible fish production with hydroponics—is the key to a more sustainable future and Guy Sela talks about how keeping up on plant mineral nutrition can prevent plant diseases. Don't forget to check out our Talking Shop, You Tell Us and Product Spotlight sections to keep up to date with what is happening in the industry. We are excited to return to Long Beach, California, October 26 to 27 for the final stop on Maximum Yield's Grow Like a Pro Indoor Gardening Tour 2013. For more information, visit indoorgardenexpo.com, where you'll find information on special accommodation rates, exhibitor lists, free VIP tickets and other updates. Happy gardening and hopefully we'll see you in Long Beach!
contributors Glen Babcock is the owner of
Mark Boutwell II stepped into his first garden when he was about four years old. His father would educate him on how the Native Americans taught the pilgrims how to survive using different techniques in farming. When Mark was in a garden, his father would always force him to use their space as effectively as possible. This is the reason why Mark gravitated to indoor gardening as he got older.
Bill DeBoer is a laboratory scientist at Indiana-based steadyGROWpro. A master gardener intern, Bill is responsible for company’s laboratory operations, including the design and execution of research projects, plant propagation, seed germination and overall plant care. Bill has a BS and MS from Purdue University, and was previously a research technician for the US Department of Agriculture.
Grubbycup has been an avid indoor gardener for more than 20 years. His articles were first published in the United Kingdom, and since then his gardening advice has been published in French, Spanish, Italian, Polish, Czech and German. He is also considered one of the world’s leading authorities on crochet hydroponics.
Matt LeBannister developed a green thumb as a child, having been born into a family of experienced gardeners. During his career, he has managed a hydroponic retail store and represented leading companies at the Indoor Gardening Expos. Matt has been writing articles for Maximum Yield since 2007. His articles are published around the world.
Dr. Lynette Morgan holds a B.
Guy Sela is an agronomist and a chemical engineer for his innovative software company, Smart Fertilizer (smart-fertilizer.com), which provides fertilizer management solutions. Applying his background in water treatment, he has lead a variety of projects on reverse osmosis, water disinfection and water purification, and providing high-quality water for irrigation.
Karen Wilkinson works for EZCLONE Enterprises, Inc. as its social media editor. She came to them with a background in journalism and technical writing and is learning to grow, clone and write for the hydroponics community. She’s a budding gardener and loves growing her own vegetables.
Garden City Fungi and the founder of ExHale Homegrown CO2. Glen has been involved in agriculture his entire life. Glen graduated from the University of Montana with a degree in forestry and has been a mycologist for more than 23 years. His research has been published in scientific journals worldwide.
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Maximum Yield | September/October 2013
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 suntec.co.nz for more information.
Become a Maximum Yield contributor and have your articles read by 475,000+ readers throughout the USA, Canada, UK, Europe, New Zealand and Australia. Maximum Yield is the largest free-toconsumer indoor gardening magazine in the world. Every issue is available on maximumyield.com, which has thousands of unique visitors monthly.
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COMING UP ON THE WEB Get Free VIP Passes to the Long Beach Expo There is only one more stop on the 2013 Maximum Yield Indoor Gardening Grow Like a Pro Expo tour. So, be sure to plan your next vacation to Long Beach, California, on October 26 to 27. Whether you’re a new or experienced gardener, this show will offer something for everyone. Stay tuned to indoorgardenexpo.com where you’ll soon be able to download and print free passes to Sunday’s public day.
Compatible with Hand-held Devices No matter which smartphone or tablet you own, loading up your digital copies of Maximum Yield will now be possible thanks to multiple software upgrades and improvements. Readers can now view their digital copies of Maximum Yield in even more places!
Meet the Team Throughout 2013 there have been a few changes at the Maximum Yield office, including the addition of some great people to the team. To learn more about our current roster, check out maximumyield.com/about-us
Author Archives Has a particular Maximum Yield contributor caught your eye recently? Look them up using our online author archives. Simply visit maximumyield.com/resources/author-archive
September/October 2013 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 editorial Editor Linda Jesson editor@maximumyield.com Assistant Editors Julie McManus - julie@maximumyield.com Jennifer McGarrigle - jenn@maximumyield.com ADVERTISING SALES Sales Manager Ilona Hawser - ilona@maximumyield.com Account Executives Kelsey Hepples - kelsey@maximumyield.com Katie Montague - katie@maximumyield.com Jed Walker - jed@maximumyield.com Taylor Doyle - taylor@maximumyield.com DESIGN & PRODUCTION ads@maximumyield.com Art Director Alice Joe Graphic Designers Jennifer Everts Dionne Hurd Jesslyn Gosling ACCOUNTING Tracy Greeno - accounting@maximumyield.com Ava Siemens - ar@maximumyield.com
E-News Archives Every month, Maximum Yield sends out an electronic newsletter containing indoor gardening industry tidbits to our followers. We also keep all of that information posted on enews.maximumyield.com in case you ever miss something.
Ask an Expert Maximum Yield’s resident experts are ready to answer your modern gardening questions. Email editor@maximumyield.com or fill out the Ask the Experts question form on maximumyield.com
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Tell us what you think at editor@maximumyield.com. We’d love to hear from you. 10
Maximum Yield | September/October 2013
UK DISTRIBUTION Direct Garden Supplies Dutchpro Future Harvest Developments Europe Growth Technology Maxigrow Ltd. 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 General Hydroponics Humboldt Wholesale Hydrofarm Hydro International National Garden Wholesale / Sunlight Supply Nickel City Wholesale Garden Supply R & M Supply Tradewinds AUSTRALIAN DISTRIBUTION Dome Garden Supply Futchatec Growth Technology Holland Forge House N Garden
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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR I’m a Fan Winners Announced
Armando Mushik from Thermal, California, is the sixth winner of Maximum Yield’s I’m a Fan Contest! Armando said, “I am a fan of Maximum Yield because it seems that every time I am thinking of something, or am moving to the next step in growing knowledge, the info is often provided by Maximum Yield. I call my hydroponics store three hours from my house to see when they will have the next copy. When they do, I drive to go get one, plus supplies. Thank you for every- Armando Mushik thing and all the great information you provide and thank you for the free back issues available online.” Thanks for the kind words, Armando, and congratulations on winning Maximum Yield’s sixth I’m a Fan contest! We hope you enjoy your $100 gift certificate at your favourite indoor gardening shop, Green Coast Hydroponics. Shawn Curry from Houston, Texas, is the seventh winner of Maximum Yield’s I’m a Fan Contest! Shawn said, “Your magazine is what got me first interested in growing and gardening. Using the information I read in your magazine has gotten me to experiment with many different growing techniques. To me growing is more than a hobby; it is also therapeutic. At age 20 I enlisted in the army infantry. I was in the third Shawn Curry infantry division and in the initial invasion of Iraq. In 2004, I was honourably discharged from the army and I’ve been dealing with PTSD. I’m glad that two years ago I found your magazine because it is helping change my life for the better.” Thank you for sharing you story with us, Shawn, and congratulations on winning Maximum Yield’s seventh I’m a Fan contest! We hope you enjoy your $100 gift certificate at your favourite indoor gardening shop, Ultimate Hydroponic.
Handy Horticulture Information
I’m achieving trophy-worthy crops from the incredible horticultural information presented in Maximum Yield magazine. Harrison 12
Maximum Yield | September/October 2013
Thank You
Maximum Yield gives you the most up-to-date and new-to-theindustry products available and a ton of other information. I visit my hydro shop just to get the latest copy, and now I just subscribed to my very own digital copy each month (how awesome is that?) … Because of you guys, I have received numerous free samples and entered codes and have even won free nutrients. Who could ask for more? So, I would just like to say, thank you. Dante
Your
Two
We recently asked our Facebook fans:
“Where do you turn to first when you experience a gardening hurdle for the first time?” Below are some of the great responses we received.
Literacy. I read books, magazines, general information. Before experiencing problems.” Corey M Callahan I go and ask if similar problems are occurring in our area at the local nursery or hydro shop and I give my opinion on how I’m going to fix it and see what kind of feedback I get from other like minds. If I’m stumped, or so are they, then I fire up the computer and make some tea and let the Internet quest for knowledge begin!” Anthony Rodriguez Honestly, I use YouTube for quite a bit of information.” Anthony Owen I go to forums, the best place for hands-on experience. Just gotta find the right ones first.” Eron Jonson
We want to hear from you! Maximum Yield Publications Inc. Snail-mail: 2339 Delinea Place, Nanaimo, BC V9T 5L9 Email: editor@maximumyield.com Twitter: twitter.com/max_yield Facebook: facebook.com/MaximumYield
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SIMON ASK THESAYS EXPERTS
What nutrients would be suitable for growing saffron? I am going to have a go at it this year for the first time and want to grow it in hydroponics. Cheers, Bill
Dr. Lynette M organ
Saffron requires just a general purpose, complete hydroponic nutrient. For the first few weeks after the dormant bulbs are planted, the flowers and first leaves use the reserves provided in the bulb for growth, so minimal nutrients are required. However, after flowering, the plant must then produce a lot of foliage for a period of eight to 10 months, which feeds the developing bulblets from which the crop is propagated and during this stage the plants need a vegetative growth hydroponic formulation or product. I suggest you contact a hydroponic retailer and obtain a general purpose vegetative hydroponic nutrient product—this has to be a hydroponic product as many of the general purpose liquid plant foods you can buy from garden suppliers are not suitable for soilless production. The hydroponic nutrient product should contain all of the following elements: N, P, K, Ca, S, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, B, Cu and Mo and you will need to dilute this according to the instructions on the product (typically hydroponic nutrients come as two-part or three-part stock solutions that are diluted with water). Also, you will need an EC meter to check the concentration of the nutrient solution—EC meters can be purchased from your local hydroponic retail shop. Saffron should start off at a low EC of around 1.0, increasing to 2.2 when foliage has grown. Also, it needs reasonably high-quality water. Rainwater should be fine, but avoid city water supplies due to the water treatment chemicals they contain. Good luck with the saffron. Dr. Lynette Morgan
Can LED lights work for all stages of growth? Thomas Johnson Yes, LED lights can work for all stages of growth. There are many LED lighting systems available with spectrums tailored for specific stages of growth (e.g., more blue wavelengths for vegetative growth and more red wavelengths for blooming). It should be noted, however, that LEDs used for horticulture are a relatively new technology and there are some drawbacks (high cost and light penetration being the most prevalent). My tests with LEDs have shown that the current LED lighting systems available are more suitable for vegetative growth or plants that are short in stature. Keep on growing, Eric Hopper
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Maximum Yield | September/October 2013
Eric Hopper
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MAX FACTS
hydroponic news, tips and trivia
Bananas Top Brits’ Shopping Lists Bananas remain top of the tree when it comes to the United Kingdom’s favourite fruit, according to the latest shopping insights provided by Shopitize. Twenty-six per cent of 2,600 responders picked the banana as their favourite fruit, with 23% backing the apple, 19% saying grapes, 11% oranges and 7% pears. The banana owes its enduring success to being both healthy and affordable. Bananas are also one of the cheaper fruits on the market with prices halving in the last ten years. According to the Fairtrade Foundation, the price of bananas in the United Kingdom has dropped from £1.10 per kg in 2002 to just 68p today. Some supermarkets are selling bananas for as little as 14p each, while organic bananas are being sold for 31p each. As a result, bananas are often a loss-leader with supermarkets with prices reduced to increase shopping footfall. (Source: easier.com)
MAXFACTS hydroponic news, tips and trivia
Ammonium Can Have Positive Effect Fertilising with nitric nitrogen is for many growers the most natural thing in the world. But the other nitrogen— ammonium—often encounters resistance. It is feared that it is bad for the pH and that it may cause rot in pepper blossom due to calcium deficiency. Researchers in The Netherlands believe ammonium may be beneficial to crops after all. Earlier this year researchers started a growing trial using cucumbers. The crop appeared to respond well to the supplementary feeding of ammonium. It was found that 3% ammonium provided 10% more nitrogen in the leaves. While pH reacts strongly to the additional feeding, this apparent disadvantage may have an upside: ammonium may be used to at least adjust the pH. Studies are ongoing. (Source: horticoop.nl)
More Efficient Greenhouses in The Netherlands Although the number of greenhouse vegetable companies in The Netherlands has decreased since 2000 by 55%, the remaining companies are running more efficiently. In 2012 it took one annual work unit to cultivate 39 areal of land, with a standard yield value of 122,000 Euro, whereas in 2000 it took one annual work unit to cultivate 41 areal of land, with a standard yield of 96,000 Euro. This higher productivity (cultivating more land per labour year) led to a 28% higher standard yield per labour year for greenhouse vegetable companies. The standard yield for the entire industry increased by 18% in the 2000 to 2012 period. The average greenhouse vegetable company had 4.8 hectares of cultivated land in 2012—94% more than in 2000. This growth resulted in an increase of the average standard yield by 163%. (Source: freshplaza.com)
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Maximum Yield | September/October 2013
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MAX FACTS
hydroponic news, tips and trivia
Aromatic Blackberries Without Thorns
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The rumour going around about thornless blackberry varieties lacking in taste has been disproved by new test results. They are tasty! The German magazine Mein schöner Garten describes the thornless variety Lubera Navaho® as a milestone in blackberry cultivation: it has the longest harvesting time; it is the first vertically growing thornless variety; it is characterised by a very long harvest period which lasts until October. It is robust, healthy and its fruits are large, firm and extremely aromatic. Then there's the Bigandearly®, the Lubera Navaho variety with the largest fruits, which can be picked in July. The berries are around the same size as a two Euro coin, but longer and have a very firm flesh, which, despite this, is tender and sweet. As with all Navaho blackberries, the blossom is pink. The third variety is the Lubera Navaho Summerlong®, and this too is true to its name. From mid July to the end of August this variety bears its fruits: sweet, fruity and in large quantities. (source: freshplaza.com)
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foreverflowering.net 888.784.4687 18
Maximum Yield | September/October 2013
British Strawberry Sales Soar Andy Murray’s historic Wimbledon win seems to have encouraged sales of strawberries. The fruit has reached a 10-year high during the Wimbledon tournament, surging 40%. British Summer Fruits says 8,000 tonnes of strawberries were eaten in the UK during the fortnight. This has contributed significantly to helping sales towards an estimated 52,000 tonnes this year in total, a rise of 5% on last year. “Wimbledon fortnight is always a peak selling period for British strawberries, hence the tradition of strawberries and cream on Centre Court. However, this year we sold more during the tennis championships than we have for over 10 years. We put this partly down to Murray Mania hitting the nation, as well as the sizzling temperatures,” said British Summer Fruits chairman Laurence Olins. (Source: heraldscotland.com)
New Indoor Garden is a Market The glass structure at the corner of Borough High Street and Bedale Street in London, which was built as part of Network Rail’s project to construct a new rail market through the market, is now open. Borough Market’s space will be used as a classroom, a kitchen, an orchard, an information hub and a dining hall. Throughout the year, the Market Hall will be used for growing hops, fruits, flowers, herbs, olives and greens, resulting in a fragrant and visually stimulating environment providing a focus for educational programmes. The hall’s structure has been designed with huge amounts of light flooding in through the glass, vertical planters running up the pillars and benches constructed with planting spaces at either end. The plants will be watered using a rainwater irrigation system and the resulting produce will be used for cooking demonstrations, tastings and workshops. (Source: boroughmarket.org.uk)
World’s Tallest Delphinium? The horticulture manager at Waterperry Garden Centre in Oxfordshire believes he might have grown the world’s tallest delphinium measuring in at a staggering 2.75 m. At Waterperry they’ve been growing delphiniums since the 1930s and this summer was the most spectacular the garden centre has ever seen. Normally the flowers are around 2-m tall, sometimes 2.45 m. The delphinium is devilishly tricky to grow, is toxic to humans and is deadly to cattle. Rob Jacobs attributes the record-breaking growth to the coldest spring on record where the frozen ground allowed the seeds to remain dormant for a longer period than usual, slowly gathering their powers before the great push in June and July. (Source: telegraph.co.uk)
EU Might Relax Citrus Black Spot Regs The European Union might be relaxing its restrictions on importation of South African citrus. The subject of citrus black spot regulations was on the agenda of a recent EU-SA summit and while details are limited, the EU might be willing to be more flexible in regards to these regulations. Citrus black spot is a fungal disease caused by a plant pathogen and causes a reduction in fruit quality and quantity. (Source: freshplaza.com) Maximum Yield | September/October 2013
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MAX FACTS
hydroponic news, tips and trivia
Irish Potato Famine Pathogen Now Even More Virulent The plant pathogen that caused the Irish potato famine in the 1840s lives on today with a different genetic blueprint and an even larger arsenal of weaponry to harm and kill plants. Researchers have found that the genes in historical plant samples collected in 1845, and the 1880s, were quite different from modern-day P. infestans genes, including some genes in modern plants that make the pathogen more virulent than the historical strains, suggesting that the pathogen has evolved in response to human actions like breeding more disease-resistant potatoes. P. infestans caused massive and debilitating late-blight disease outbreaks in Europe, leaving starvation and migration in its wake after ravaging Ireland in the mid-to-late 1840s. An estimated $6.2 billion is spent each year on crop damage and attempts to control the pathogen. Late blight is still a major threat to global food security in the developing world. (Source: North Carolina State University)
Scouting Essential with Echinothrips in Peppers In recent years, echinothrips have been increasingly common in pepper crops. The problem with this type of thrip is the speed at which the plague spreads. In most cases yellowing and leaf drop is observed, which is then recognised as echinothrips. Fortunately, this pest causes no direct fruit damage in most instances. Echinothrips are commonly detected relatively late because growers working on the pipe rail trolley have less insight into what goes on underneath the crops. Unfortunately there is no real natural enemies available that can be used to identify this pest. Also, the preventive use of various enemies is limited, which means that scouting for pests is essential and further research on natural enemies is also definitely needed. (Source: koppert.nl)
Imported Bees Pose Parasite Threat Scientists say bumblebees imported into the United Kingdom from continental Europe pose a threat to native British bee populations. The bees are brought into the country for essential pollination purposes. For example, without them it would be impossible for Britain to produce the volumes of tomatoes it needs. However, the imported bees are said to carry dangerous pathogens that can be spread to wild bees. Researchers have found that up to 77% of imported bees could be carriers of parasites. (Source: bbc.co.uk/news)
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Maximum Yield | September/October 2013
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MAX FACTS
hydroponic news, tips and trivia
Labour-saving Technology from Europe Thirteen students from Hortus Forum, Cornell’s undergraduate horticulture club, travelled to Holland and Germany to see the latest innovations in European floriculture and greenhouse technology. “Producers in Europe face very high labour and energy costs. So they are leaders in automation and energy-saving technology,” says Neil Mattson, one of the Department of Horticulture faculty who accompanied the students. “During their careers, these students will bring many of these practices to the United States as we cope with rising costs, too.” The group’s three days in Holland included stops at many cutting-edge companies, specialising in bulb forcing, seedling production, greenhouse vegetable breeding, seed technology and more. Despite higher energy and labour costs, European growers have the advantage of being a very specialised industry, allowing them to focus on what they do best, observes Bill Miller, director of Cornell’s Flower Bulb Research Program and faculty advisor to Hortus Forum. (source: cornell.edu)
Fungicide Resistance Scotland’s Rural College is investigating fungicide resistance in botrytis and would like growers to send in their samples of crops infected with botrytis to the crop clinic. Outputs of the project will be providing new advice on effective fungicide strategies for use in strawberries, raspberries and tomatoes, but the researchers are also interested in botrytis species on other horticultural and minor crops. Scotland’s Rural College has successfully developed detection tools and the next step is to screen as many botrytis samples as possible to determine what fungicide resistance issues are present in the United Kingdom, which crops are affected and where the problems lay. The project will run for three seasons and is currently in year one. Mail samples to The Crop Clinic, SRUC, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JG. (Source: hdc.org.uk)
Introducing the Agri-tech Strategy The United Kingdom government has unveiled a £160-million strategy to boost farming technology—a move it says will turn the United Kingdom into a world leader in agricultural science. The strategy aims to help farmers deliver sustainable, healthy and affordable food for future generations. Money will be used to develop new technologies and help bring even more produce to supermarket shelves all in an effort to make the United Kingdom a world leader in addressing global food security issues. Agri-tech is a well-established and important sector in the United Kingdom. The entire agri-food supply chain, from agriculture to final retailing and catering, is estimated to contribute £96 billion to the economy and employ 3.8 million people. (Source: fwi.co.uk) 22
Maximum Yield | September/October 2013
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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
YOUR GUIDE TO THIS ISSUE’S
HOTTEST ITEMS Ask for them at your local indoor gardening store.
Method Seven Prescription Optics Method Seven Optics, which delivers colour balance, clarity and protection while working under various grow lighting environments, has introduced prescription glasses for HPS, metal halide and LED lighting. Available in the patent-pending Rendition Series glass and the Carl Zeiss Vision Fission Series, these glasses come in several prescription options, including bi-focal and progressives. Now growers who require prescription glasses can enjoy colour, clarity and protection with Method Seven technology. Learn more at an indoor gardening store in your area.
CANNA Aqua Nutrients
Wilma XL
CANNA Aqua nutrients are fast-working nutrients for plants and contain all the essential elements for optimal growing and flowering in a re-circulating system. The CANNA Aqua nutrition contains pH stabilisers, so there is no need to adjust the pH. CANNA Aqua Vega ensures strong plants with vital growth spurts and excessive root development, while CANNA Aqua Flores stimulates fructification and provides every plant with its characteristic flavour. For more information about CANNA Aqua nutrients, please visit a local indoor gardening store.
Building on the success of the Wilma range of products is the Wilma XL, the next generation of the popular drip irrigation growing system. Wilma XL is designed specifically for growers looking for the flexibility of growing in pots, combined with the accurate feeding and increased yields that are possible with active hydroponics. Available as four-pot and eight-pot systems, Wilma XL has some unique new features including a handy nutrient mixing tap in which water and nutrient are thoroughly mixed before feeding begins, ensuring plants are given the correct nutrient to water mix immediately. The system also uses 25-L pots that provide greater opportunity for roots to grow. This, coupled with the improved pot spacing on the Wilma XL, gives growers the best chance of producing the big plants they are looking for. For more information, visit a local retailer.
Dutchpro's Explode Explode is a brilliant bloom stimulator that delivers precious nutrients and minerals to your plants throughout the flowering stage. Consisting of micronutrients, vitamins and acids, it does exactly as the name suggests— explosively driving flowering growth and bigger yields as well as increasing your plants' resistance against diseases. This product is suited for every irrigation system, as well as most soil, hydro and coco set-ups. It’s available in 250-ml and 1-, 5-, 10- and 20-L bottles. Visit your local indoor gardening store for more information.
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Maximum Yield | September/October 2013
Sun System Light Emitting Ceramic 315 Sunlight Supply is excited to announce the arrival of the Sun System® Light Emitting Ceramic (LEC) 315 light fixture. Sun System LEC 315 utilizes cuttingedge Light Emitting Ceramic™ technology, along with a specially engineered 98% reflective optical cavity. This product includes a highly efficient, agriculturally engineered Philips CDM-T Elite Agro Lamp. Get greatly improved full-colour light spectrum with higher amounts of beneficial UV and far red spectrums increasing the lamp’s growing power. The Sun System LED 315 provides high 1.95 PPF per second light source; 3,100-K colour temperature; high 92 CRI and 33,000 initial lumens (105 lm/W). The unique open-rated lamp construction reduces radiant heat from the arc tube and is suitable for open fixture use. This 50/60 Hz low frequency, square wave, highly efficient electronic ballast has a 50,000-hour life. Visit a local retailer for more information.
Hydroton Hydroton is a unique, lightweight expanded clay aggregate. It is is ecologically sustainable as it is derived from a replenishable source: clay. Clay naturally has balanced capillary action to accelerate plant growth with an ideal surface for root structures and beneficial bacteria. Hydroton drains freely, is pH adjusted, free of harmful heavy metals and is inert. Growers can use Hydroton as a stand-alone grow media for most hydroponic growing systems, as well as mixing in with other medias such as coco, potting soil or rockwool for increased aeration and drainage. Visit a local retailer for further details.
Safer's Trounce Safer's Trounce spider mite pesticide provides a natural and organic alternative and is one of the United Kingdom’s only amateur-use concentrate for spider mites containing both pyrethrins and fatty acids. Growers can use Trounce up until the day of harvest. Trounce plant insecticide concentrate kills insects such as spider mites, aphids, whiteflies, mealy bugs and more on contact. Its potassium salts disrupt and weaken the insect’s protective outer shell. The pyrethrins kill by disabling the insect’s nervous system. Containing only natural ingredients, Trounce won’t leave a harmful residue on plants. It is available as a concentrated, readyto-use formula and is completely biodegradable. It can be applied safely to edible plants and also flowering plants. Distributed by Growth Technology. For more information, ask your local grow store for Safer’s Trounce.
Maximum Yield | September/October 2013
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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
Neutralizer Compact Kit Synergy UK Ltd. is excited to announce the arrival of the Neutralizer Compact Kit. To provide hobbyists with a definitive solution to their odour problem, Synergy UK Ltd. has created a compact version of its popular Neutralizer Kit. This compact system features the same benefits as its big brother, but is housed in a smaller cartridge with its own smaller electronic molecule evaporator. The Neutralizer Compact Kit is able to effectively neutralize foul odours within a space of approximately 15 to 20 cubic meters. It is supplied with cable ties to attach to your grow tent’s frame and has the same six-week duration with 24/7 use. Packed with natural essential oils, the Compact Kit is designed to remove odours from within one hour of activation. This is a simple plug-and-play system, yet we prefer to call it “the plug and chill.” Visit a local retailer for more information.
Gavita DigiStar E-series Ballasts Together with the Gavita Master controllers, Gavita Holland introduces the new DigiStar e-series electronic ballasts. The DigiStar e-series ballasts are not only dimmable by the selector on the ballast, but they also have RJ inputs for the Gavita master controller signal. This way you can centrally control them all. There is no need for a switchboard when you operate the ballasts with the controller; when switched off, the ballasts go into stand-by mode. Operating mode, lamp, voltage and temperature warnings are displayed by a three-colour status LED with a memory for warnings. The DigiStar e-series operates at a high frequency, requiring high frequency lamps such as the Gavita enhanced HPS lamp. They can be dimmed to 50% and boosted to 110% (400-W and 600-W models) or 115% (1,000-W models) and are available in 240-V and 120/240-V models. For further details, visit a retail store near you.
Maxibright DigiLight Pro Select Power Pack 600-W and 1,000-W The new DigiLight Pro® Select digital ballast from Maxibright gives you the ultimate flexibility with just one ballast. Choose from six power modes to run your lamps at normal power, super mode for 10% extra power on every lamp wattage (the only ballast on the market that can do this), or dimmed for ultimate light control throughout the growth cycle. Developed with new Surge Control® software, when multiple DigiLight Pro Select ballasts are started from the same power supply, they will safely ignite multiple lamps one at a time to reduce electrical surges. Soft start technology gently starts lamps with a low current for significantly improved lamp life and to maintain continual efficient lamp output. Fast lamp re-strike ensures hot lamps start as quickly as possible. Includes a built-in diagnostic LED for fault finding. Contact your nearest Maxibright retailer for more information.
Mother Earth Coco Mother Earth® Coco substrate contains the highest quality mix of coco pith and coco fibre. Mother Earth Coco is RHP certified and is free from chemical additives. Mother Earth Coco is buffered using a unique process of rinsing with calcium before bagging to provide minimal sodium content, balancing the naturally occurring potassium and ultimately aiding in the prevention of nutrient lockout. As it is pH adjusted to a neutral 6.3 to 6.8, Mother Earth Coco can aid in the promotion of strong root growth, populate microbial activity, discourage disease and insect outbreak and will release nutrients evenly so that overall plant health and fruit production can be maximized. Mother Earth Coco is great as a standalone growing substrate or you can mix with other media to enhance the growing environment. For an optimal hydroponic media, combine Mother Earth Coco with Mother Earth Hydroton™ for increased production. Visit a retail store to learn more.
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Gnat Nix by Growstone Introducing the scientifically proven, environmentally friendly fungus gnat control called Gnat Nix. Gnat Nix is free of harmful pesticides and chemicals and is made from 100% recycled glass. Plants love it. Gnats don’t. Gnat Nix is a non-toxic, chemical-free fungus gnat control and is considered a long-lasting top dressing effective under dry or moist conditions. It’s great for both indoor and outdoor use. University trials have proved Gnat Nix used as a top dressing is an effective physical barrier against fungus gnats. It prevents adult emergence from hatching larvae and deters females from laying eggs in the growing media. As a result, the lifecycle of fungus gnats is interrupted. All you need to do is apply a 1.5-cm thick layer of Gnat Nix to fully cover the surface of the growing medium in your growing containers. Visit a store near you to learn more.
Method Seven Operator LED Optics Method Seven, the company that developed perfect colour-balancing optics for working under HPS lights, has introduced the first optics designed for LED grow lights. The Operator LED is part of Method Seven’s Fission Series manufactured by Carl Zeiss Vision. This lens offers the grower extreme clarity, focus and protection while working under LED lights. Growers can now experience daylight balance colour under the harsh conditions of LED grow lights and protect themselves from UV. The LED Fission lens is both lightweight and shatterproof. To learn more, visit an indoor gardening store in your area.
Dutchpro's Take Root Take Root is a growth stimulant capable of radically improving the inner and outer qualities of your young plants. The active components are of natural origin, including several plant hormones and micronutrients. These combine to boost cellular division, cell elongation and nutrient transport—all of which help with overall root development during early vegetative growth. In addition to this, Take Root also slows down the ageing process for prolonged good health. This product is suited for every irrigation system, as well as soil, hydro and coco set-ups. It is to be used with cuttings and young plants. Take Root is available in 250-ml and 1-, 5-, 10- and 20-L bottles. For more information, visit a local grow store.
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PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
SuperCloset’s Big Buddha Box The Big Buddha Box is SuperCloset’s highest yielding hydroponic grow system. It is vertically oriented and contains four multi-shelved walls with 87-net cups nested within the tiered grow trays situated around a centralized light column that extends from floor to ceiling. The effect of this set-up is four lush walls of flora all growing towards the centre of the system. The heart of the Big Buddha Box is the Superponics hydroponic system that utilises both ebb and flow and deep water culture to achieve maximum oxygenation of the plant roots. The vertical Big Buddha helps growers quadruple their yields by only using half the electricity of a horizontally oriented hydroponic system. Fully automated pumps slowly raise and lower the water level in each lateral tank, which ensures roots receive equal levels of oxygen. For more information, visit a local retail store.
Gavita Master Controllers
X-Stream Aeroponic Propagator
Gavita Holland introduces a line of electronic lighting controllers for the new controllable e-series DigiStar ballasts, plasma lamps and e-series Pro-line luminaires. Gavita Master controllers are extremely easy to use and have a full text interface in five languages on the bright green OLED display and five-button interface. They feature centralized on/off/dim/boost control, auto-dim at high temperatures, emergency shut-down at critical temperatures, sunrise/sunset and alarm outputs, and can optionally switch 2x15 amps accessories such as CO2 equipment and heating with the optional external contactor modules. Connecting the Gavita Master Controllers is a breeze due to the standard RJ connectors, enabling plug-and-play installation. The controller completely replaces timers and switchboards and eliminates ballast in-rush current. The EL2 controller can either steer one room with 50 ballasts, or two rooms alternating every 12 hours for optimal available power use. Visit a local gardening store for more information.
The X-Stream range of propagators have been trusted by growers for years, but—based on feedback from the market— they have been redeveloped to provide even better results with improved flexibility. With an improved delivery system, the roots that are produced are stronger and transplanting can happen in as little as 10 days. What’s more, the number of cutting sites has increased, with the original 36- and 105-site propagators replaced by a 40 and a 120 site, respectively. The range is completed by a 12- and 20-site propagator. The full range has been developed to provide even greater access to your cuttings and improved product rigidity. For more information, see a local retailer.
Dutchpro's Multi Total Multi Total aids the key processes necessary for turning organic material from dead plant matter into beneficial nutrients. It sparks off significant root growth by improving soil structure (in terms of water retention) and promotes nutrient producing bacterial life in the substrate. Incredibly, you’ll also find that Multi Total stimulates the cationic exchange of minerals and micronutrients, and improves resistance against fungi and stress situations. Honestly, all this from only one product? You better believe it! This product is suited for every irrigation system, as well as most soil, hydro and coco set-ups. Available in 250-ml and 1-, 5-, 10- and 20-L bottles. Visit a local gardening store for more information.
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Dutchpro's Starter Pack for Hydro and Coco All the nutrients and supplements you need for grow and bloom in one box. This authentic, Amsterdam-designed canal houses starter pack is the perfect introduction to Dutchpro’s award-winning range of nutrients and additives at a significantly reduced price. This Dutchpro Hydro/Coco starter pack contains everything you would need to conduct a small grow. Not only does this pack give you a taste of the amazing hydro/coco grow and bloom nutrients, but it also gives you a whole selection of Dutchpro additives and supplements to boost your plant growth. Grow schedules and instructions included. Take a chance today and experience the benefits of the award-winning Dutchpro range! For more information, go to a retailer near you.
CANNA Aqua Clay Pebbles CANNA Aqua Clay Pebbles are baked clay pellets that form an ideal substrate for growers who want to control the application of nutrients and the humidity level of their plants throughout the entire cultivation process. CANNA Aqua Clay Pebbles are manufactured from special types of clay that have a low soluble salt content and have a high porosity and high air content to stimulate the development of strong roots. Want to know all about CANNA's Aqua Clay Pebbles? Visit an indoor garden retailer for more information.
Maxibright DigiLight Pro Max 600-W Digital Ballast The Maxibright DigiLight Pro® Max is the latest in digital ballast technology, allowing you to power the new high PAR output 600-W 400-V glasshouse system lamps, the Philips GreenPower Plus and the Sylvania Grolux 600-W 400-V in your growroom. This higher PAR output means you achieve more usable grow light for your plants per watt for increased yields. The DigiLight Pro Max has four power modes: 400-W, 500-W, 600-W and 660-W ‘Super’. Developed with new Surge Control® software, each ballast safely ignites multiple lamps one at a time, reducing the risk of electrical surges. Soft start technology gently starts lamps with a low current for longer lamp life. In the event of a power cut, fast lamp re-strike will restart hot lamps quickly. Dynamic frequency control gives a steady light output even when your main supply fluctuates. Includes a built-in diagnostic LED for fault finding. For more information, ask a local retailer.
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How to Choose the Right
LED Grow Light for Your Indoor Garden by Alena Dalton LEDs have come a long way in the past few years, but they can still present some confusion when growers go to buy them. Never fear, Alena Dalton is here to answer some of the FAQs about this popular lighting technology. When it comes to indoor gardening, the emergence of LED lighting technology got off to a bit of a rough start. The technology was new—many lights just didn’t emit enough light and they emitted at frequencies that didn’t facilitate optimal plant growth. However, LED lighting has grown by leaps and bounds in nearly every sector of the lighting industry. LED lighting for indoor gardening purposes has really come into its own, allowing gardeners remarkable control, pleasing intensity and relative coolness. These features make LED lights extremely attractive to the indoor gardener. But what makes a great LED light? How do you select the right grow light for your indoor gardening needs? What do your plants need? What does your garden need? Finally, with those traits in mind, what qualities make the right LED light stand out from the rest? Read on for answers.
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LED lighting for indoor gardening purposes has really come into its own, allowing gardeners remarkable control, pleasing intensity and relative coolness.� What do your plants need? Lots of light: We all know that plants need light to provide optimal growth. The potential advantage of a well-designed and maintained indoor garden is the ability to control the quality of light, even when conditions outside are dark, dank, rainy or snowy.
Not a lot of heat: One of the biggest issues, historically, with indoor gardening has been controlling the light-toheat ratio. Lights emit heat. Incandescent lights especially emit enough heat that temperature control has been an issue when it comes to indoor gardening. Cool temperature is, of course, one of the primary advantages of LED lighting. However, still keep the light-toheat ratio in mind when selecting a light.
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how to choose the right led grow light
The perfect What does your garden need? Electrical efficiency: In addition to light-to-heat, one of the most frustrating aspects of indoor gardening is the electrical bill. This issue, again, is at the forefront of many indoor gardeners’ decision to use LED lighting.
A controlled environment: The primary advantage of indoor gardening is control. The gardener is able to create optimal conditions for growth, continuously. Everything about the indoor garden should reflect this consistency.
So what makes an optimal LED? We’ve established that your plants need a lot of light provided by a device that doesn’t emit a lot of heat or use a lot of electricity. In addition, you’ll want the ability to create a controlled environment in which your plants can thrive. The perfect LED grow light, then, will perform exceptionally when it comes to light intensity, cool temperature and ability to control.
Intensity: Light intensity has been the issue when it comes to LED lighting development. Therefore, you want to pay close attention not only to the wattage of the light, but also the efficiency and intensity at which that light is emitted. Diamond-style LED lights, for example, use a custom lens to direct and further intensify the quality of light emitted. Control: The optimal indoor garden reflects consistency and control. Evenly distributed, consistent light creates the most efficient atmosphere for your
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LED grow light will perform exceptionally when it comes to light intensity, cool temperature and ability to control.” garden to thrive. In addition, lights with wavelength control allow you to create the perfect atmosphere for whatever species of plant you intend to grow.
Coolness: One of the most exciting aspects of LED lighting is temperature control. However, lights still emit heat. Check the wattage and verify the heat output. In most cases, you’ll be pleased at the savings on your air-conditioning bill. Efficiency: LED lights typically provide insane efficiency in the arena of power draw. However, electrical efficiency increases with efficient design. Check the power draw on the LED lights you’re interested in; not all LEDs are created equal.
In Conclusion While LED grow lights represent an exciting new technology and promise to make indoor gardening much more efficient, it’s still great design in the areas of intensity, control, coolness and efficiency that makes superior lighting. Look for these qualities when selecting an LED light and enjoy a meticulously constructed, extremely productive indoor garden.
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Introducing a Smarter Way to Select, Store and Process Stem Cuttings by Bill DeBoer Unlike cloning herbaceous plants, woody cuttings require slightly different treatment. Here’s how to properly select, store and process stem cuttings (as opposed to leaf or root cuttings), using rooting hormones and creating the ideal rooting environment…
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Selecting the right cuttings
Making the proper selection of stem cuttings is an integral first step for reaching success. Seasonality creates differences in physiology within the plant; thus, there are three classifications of cuttings: softwood (spring), semi-hardwood (summer) and hardwood (fall and winter). Each type of cutting will require slightly different procedures.
the branch attaches to the trunk) can influence rooting percentages depending on the plant of interest. That is to say, for some plants, rooting potential will be higher when taken from the very end of the branch, whereas the opposite is true with others. “Personal experience Lastly, before the has shown that rooting cuts are made, make sure the plant is not from mature plants is under water stress still obtainable, albeit and that growth is neither vigorous at significantly reduced percentages; nonetheless, it’s (high in nitrogen and low in carbon) best to stick to younger plants or stunted (often an indicator that the when possible.” plant is older or not growing in favorable conditions). a transitional period when softwood All of these factors will reduce rooting starts to form a woody protective layer. potential. In non-tropical areas, this is a protecNow we are ready to make the cut. tive measure against cold temperatures The ideal cutting size depends upon during the winter. Semi-hardwood the type (softwood, semi-hardwood or cuttings are not as delicate as softwood hardwood). Sizes range from 7.62 cm cuttings, but they will wilt if exposed to for softwood to 30.48 cm. or more for low humidity. Lastly, hardwood cuttings hardwood cuttings. In general, 7.62 are often taken from dormant plants to 20.32 cm cuttings are ideal for all (those without leaves) during the fall types. If the cuttings are softwood, and winter. These cuttings are the least pay close attention to the termifinicky in terms of care and can be nal growth. If it is quite soft bundled together, placed in a refrigand bends easily, remove erator and stuck later in the spring. it as rotting will usually Another important consideration is occur. While length is an the age of the plant. In general, the important measurement, age of the plant greatly influences pay close attention to the the rooting potential of the cutting. nodes (place where leaves Juvenile plants produce cuttings that attach to the stem) per cuttings. root far better than older plants. Each cutting should have at least two While the exact reason is unknown, nodes (three is preferable). The cut some scientists attribute this decrease should be made directly above a node in rooting potential to an increase in on the parent plant. root-inhibiting compounds. Personal experience has shown that rooting Storage conditions and processing from mature plants is still obtainable, Now that you have made the cut(s), albeit at significantly reduced percentproper processing and sticking should ages; nonetheless, it’s best to stick to occur. If this is not possible and you younger plants when possible. are working with softwood or semiThe position from which the cuttings hardwood cuttings, then preventing are taken can also impact rooting water loss is integral. This can be potential. Distal (closer to the end of a accomplished by immediately placing branch) and proximal (closer to where Softwood is the soft, new and nonwoody growth that emerges in spring and sometimes summer. The rooting potential is high, but it will easily wilt and rot under sub-optimal conditions. Semi-hardwood cuttings occur during
the cuttings in a plastic bag, which is then sealed. It is also preferable to mist the cuttings prior to sealing, but if you do not have access to water simply use a sealable bag. If outside temperatures are hot, a cooler is a great place to put your sealed bags. Keep in mind that water stress in softwood or semihardwood cuttings can occur quickly (seconds to minutes). The next step in processing is removal of leaves. While some growers instruct removal of all but the top set of leaves in softwood and semi-hardwood cuttings, some disagree. Leaves are the carbohydrate manufacturing centre for the plant; therefore, these leaves
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stem secrets
“It is also preferable to mist the cuttings prior to sealing, but if you do not have access to water simply use a sealable bag.” provide the necessary energy needed for root development. While removing leaves reduces the surface area for water loss, pruning the bottom leaves that touch the rooting substrate is sufficient. Also, depending on the plant, wounding the cuttings might be needed to induce root formation. This is often necessary with hard-to-root plants like rhododendron, magnolia and pinus. To wound, use a clean sharp knife or pruners to scrape away the outer layer to expose the inner green layer. Make sure you do not go too deep and cut into the pith, which is often white. Rooting hormones Generally, cloning woody ornamentals is enhanced through the use of rooting hormones. Natural rooting hormones are derived from plant chemicals known as auxins, and manufacturers utilise the synthetic-derived auxins indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) or alpha-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). Auxin promotes root initiation by programming cells to develop into new root cells. The type of cutting dictates the appropriate amount of this chemical to use. In general, I have had good success using 500 to 1,000 ppm on softwood cuttings, 1,000 to 3,000 ppm on semi-hardwood cuttings and 4,000 to 10,000 ppm for dormant hardwood cuttings. Beginners to vegetative propagation should try a rooting hormone that
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is mixed in talc powder. This will be relatively inexpensive, easy to use and, in general, will not burn the cuttings. The main drawbacks to this are that the concentration of IBA is fixed (usually 0.1% or 1,000 ppm) and the IBA in talc is relatively insoluble, so absorption might be sub-optimal. Also, the talc powder easily comes off (especially when sticking into the substrate) and is therefore ineffective. Another type of auxin delivery is gel based. This gel adheres to the cutting better than talc, but is usually more expensive and has the added danger of burning certain sensitive softwood cuttings. Also, like talc, the concentration of auxin is fixed in gel-based solutions. Lastly, another popular auxin carrier is a liquid-based solution (often a solvent like isopropyl or ethyl alcohol). The stock solution is quite high (10,000 ppm) and can easily be diluted with water to acquire the desired concentration. This method is a quick dip where the auxin is highly soluble and readily absorbed; however, the price is usually much higher and the solvent readily burns cuttings if the optimal concentration is exceeded. I have experienced the greatest success using rooting hormones that are solvent-based, but would not recommend it for those trying root hormones for the first time. Ideal conditions of optimal rooting Since the cuttings have been severed from the parent plant and do not possess a root system, their ability to absorb water and nutrients is drastically reduced. Cuttings will lose water from both the leaves and the cut end until it heals over; thus, maintaining high humidity is critical. Without humidity, the cuttings will quickly lose turgor pressure and wilt. On a commercial scale, misting systems allow high humidity coupled with good air circulation, which significantly reduces fungal rotting. However, most hobby growers do not have the aforementioned misting systems. In this case, hand misting with a sprayer oftentimes is less successful than using some sort of dome. Depending on your growing environment, water droplets from misting can quickly evaporate away, creating an environment
that favours pulling water out from the leaves. For better results, take your cuttings, mist the leaves (top and bottom) and place them in a plastic dome top or baggy. Just make sure that the environment is sealed and that no leaves are touching the
“Since the cuttings have been severed from the parent plant and do not possess a root system, their ability to absorb water and nutrients is drastically reduced.” bag or dome, as this will lead to rotting. Check on the cuttings every day or so to make sure the substrate is moist and not waterlogged, that the leaves are healthy—remove yellow or brown leaves—and to check for root formation. For traditional soilless mixes, such as peat moss, coco coir, perlite and vermiculite, the grower is confined to check on root formation by gently tugging on the cutting and feeling for resistance. With cellular-matrix substrates, you can remove the whole plug to see if the root formation is penetrating without risking damaging the roots. Patented plants and illegal propagation While some of you are coming around to the idea that cuttings could be quite lucrative, be forewarned that the plants you buy from a nursery have been developed by growers and are either patented or patent-pending. That means you cannot reproduce these plants for profit without notification and subsequent payment of royalties for each cutting. However, you can reproduce plants for your own use (or for a neighbour, if you are that kind) so long as you do not intend to sell them for profit. MY References: Dirr, M. A., & C. W. Heuser Jr. (2006). The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation: From Seed to Tissue Culture (2nd ed.). Varsity Press, Inc. Hartmann, H. T., Kester, D. E., Davies Jr., F. T., & Geneve, R. L. (2002). Plant Propagation: Principles and Practices (7th ed.). Pearson Education, Inc.
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Aquaponics: The Key to a More Sustainable Future? by Matt LeBannister
It’s becoming increasingly evident that we’re going to run out of sustainable fish stocks in the years ahead—is aquaponics really a viable solution?
The world is always changing around us and the face of agriculture and food production is changing as well. A constantly increasing world population means more urban sprawl is taking over what was once fertile farm land—how are we going to manage to grow enough food to keep up with our ever-growing numbers, especially the millions who live in drought-stricken, arid climates? Fish numbers are also dropping throughout the world’s oceans, leading experts to predict increasingly severe global shortages.
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How about aquaponics? Aquaponics is an ingenious growing system that merges edible fish production with hydroponics. In aquaponics an artificial ecosystem is created in which fish are fed, their waste is broken down into more absorbable forms by beneficial bacteria and the converted waste is then pumped through the system, where it feeds the plants. The plants act as a natural filter, cleaning the water—which is then recirculated through the system. Aquaponics is looking more and more like it’s going to be one of the best solutions for future generations seeking sustainable ways to produce healthy organic food.
Making aquaponics work Aquaponics is a blending of two important ideas, combining fish farming with hydroponics (soilless gardening). Edible fish that do well in closed environments are required—tilapia, white bass, crappie and barramundi are species that are used
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Aquaponics
in many commercial and home aquaponic systems. These fish will feed and their urine and feces will be a waste product. In normal fish tanks or fish farming systems the waste builds up and makes the water toxic to the fish— the waste-filled water then needs to be purified and would normally be either filtered or disposed of. In aquaponic systems this is not the case, however—the fish waste actually makes great plant food. The wastefilled water is recirculated throughout the system instead of being flushed away. One very important aspect of aquaponics that needs to be understood is that it is not just a symbiotic relationship between fish and plants— there is another system of organisms operating within every aquaponic system that is crucial to success. This is the network of beneficial bacteria that needs to exist in every aquaponic set-up. The beneficial bacteria nitrosamonas sp converts ammonia from fish urine and feces into nitrite and the beneficial bacteria nitrobacter sp then converts the nitrite into nitrate—a form of nitrogen that plants can absorb and fish can tolerate in their water at low levels. Without the action of this network of beneficial bacteria the water would develop toxic levels of nitrite (even small amounts are toxic) and both the fish and plants would eventually die. This network of beneficial bacteria is fragile and must be cared for as carefully as your fish or plants. This means that you can’t use any chemicals—including hydrogen peroxide or pesticides (chemical or organic)—that could harm the beneficial bacteria. If you stick to these rules you can create a healthy system of “good” bacteria in your aquaponic system. Bacteria need a lot of surface area to thrive—raft and deepwater culture systems have enough surface area for the beneficial bacteria to grow but systems such as NFT (nutrient film technique) do not. In NFT systems you
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have to help the bacteria by creating a biofilter, which can be accomplished by adding a separate chamber to the system that the waste-filled water will have to pass through. In this chamber a piece of mesh should be strung from side to side, providing adequate surface area for the bacteria culture. You could buy bacteria and add them to your system but this is not really necessary as they will develop and grow naturally if allowed to. For beneficial bacteria to thrive a neutral pH balance of seven should be maintained, unlike hydroponic systems where the pH should be kept slightly acidic at a level of 5.8 to 6.8.
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Environmental benefits There are many reasons to choose commercial and small-scale home aquaponic systems over traditional methods of farming fish and vegetables separately. Environmental concerns are one big reason that aquaponic systems are being looked at seriously as an important future source of food—aquaponics will eliminate the need for the costly synthetic nutrients that are often used in hydroponic systems. These synthetic nutrients are made using fossil fuels and many experts believe that we have reached the peak level of oil production.
Edible fish that do well in closed environments are required— tilapia, white bass, crappie and barramundi are species that are used in many commercial and home aquaponic systems.”
Aquaponics could also be established on a large scale outdoors in warmer climates to utilise the sunlight.”
This is a controversial topic and is debatable, but either way these fossil fuels could be better used in other ways, such as heating and powering homes. Another environmental benefit aquaponic systems have over other farming options is that you don’t use pesticides when farming with aquaponics. Pesticides that are normally used to control and eliminate insects are harmful to the fish in aquaponic systems. Although most pesticides in use today are considered relatively safe, there are many that are not—and not all countries enforce the same strict pesticide laws that protect us in North America. Aquaponics is also advantageous in that it conserves water. Fish farms must either use expensive filters to purify water before it is recirculated, or— more likely—dirty water is just flushed and fresh water is then used to replace it. Water used in hydroponic systems must be replaced often as well—salts and minerals that are not absorbed by the plants can build up, reaching toxic levels quickly. In aquaponic systems
more likely that fish farming will have plants absorb the fish waste, acting as a to become the way of the future. If we natural filter. In this way water can be are serious about finding a sustainable continuously recirculated, only occaway for future generations to acquire sionally needing a top-up to make up for evaporation and plant transpiration. the nutrition that fish can provide, we must take a long look at aquaponics. The capability of aquaponic systems The world continues to change and to recirculate water efficiently could the population is going to keep growbe beneficial in arid regions of the ing. Climate change and ever-expandworld where so many countries are ing urban sprawl are taking away fertile now facing drought and food shortland that was once used for agriculture. ages. Aquaponics looks like it could be Fish stocks are plummeting, while a great solution to those problems—by large-scale farming on land reduces the recirculating water, aquaponics systems natural habitats of animal species. We should allow people to grow more are at a vital crossroads and the wellfood with less water. Since aquaponics being of future generations depends doesn’t require synthetic nutrients or on which road we take—it’s beginning pesticides either, it can be a very costeffective means of feeding many people. to seem more obvious every day that aquaponics could be a very important Aquaponics could also be established part of the solution to our planet’s on a large-scale outdoors in warmer impending food shortages. climates to utilise the sunlight. People love fish—it is highly nutritious and at one time the supply of most species was so plentiful as to appear inexhaustible. Now, due to overfishing, climate change with the Super Imploder, a unique water and lax regulastructuring and re-energizing system. tions, the world’s stocks are rapidly Water is passed through our dwindling and it unique golden ratio nozzle and magnetic array, reducing seems more and
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BASIC PLANT GENETICS by GrubbyCup
The basic principles at work behind the modification of plant genetics can be demonstrated with a simple pack of playing cards. 44
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Gardeners have been breeding plants for specific traits for thousands of years. By following the simple rule of crossing your best examples together, substantial modification can be made to any plant over enough generations. Many of the original heirloom vegetables are believed to have been developed using this basic technique. Most of the different varieties of tomatoes we know today are examples of plant breeding and many of them were originally developed by home gardeners. While improvement can be made to plant strains without understanding any of the science behind it, learning even just the basics of Mendelian genetics can greatly improve breeding attempts and doesn’t require an advanced degree in molecular biology. Plants have a number of chromosomes in their reproductive cells. The number of chromosomes depends on the type of plant. For example, peas have only 14 chromosomes, while some strains of wheat have 42. Each chromosome contains many genes, which are the blueprints for how the plant will grow. A plant may have a gene present that will determine, say, whether it has the instructions to grow red flowers or to grow white flowers. In this example, flower colour is a trait and it may be expressed as red or white, depending on the gene. All the instructions contained in the genes are collectively known as the genotype of the plant.
Most o f varietie the different s of we kno tomatoes w are exa today plant b mples of re many o eding and f origina them were lly by hom de veloped e garde ners.”
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basic plant genetics It’s true that some complex traits require multiple genes to express, and some traits require specific combinations of genes to manifest. For example, calico cats have to be female, with a different colour on each X chromosome. For the purpose of this discussion, though, we’ll keep things simple and talk about an either/or situation: red flowers or white. Mendelian traits are binary; they have two states. Since our hypothetical plant can have either red or white flowers, playing cards can be used to model a single regular trait, controlled by a single gene, located on a single chromosome. Take a deck of playing cards and remove the jokers. Cut the deck in half and create two stacks—the left stack will represent genes from the father and the right stack the genes from the mother. To show your first resulting offspring, place one card from each stack face up. Red cards symbolise the genetic instruction for red flowers and black cards represent an instruction to grow white flowers. There are three possible scenarios governing what the two face-up cards will be. Twenty-five per cent of the time both cards will be red and your imaginary plant will produce red flowers. Twenty-five per cent of the time both cards will be black and your subject will produce white flowers. A plant with two of the same form of the gene is said to be homozygous for that trait. Fifty per cent of the time, however, the pair will consist of one red card and one black card. A plant with one of each of the two forms of a certain gene is said to be heterozygous for that trait.
of r u o l o c e Th will t a h t r e flow in a t s e f i n a m t is a h t t n a l p ous g y z o r e t e h it will a r t t a h t for hich w n o d n depe nt.” a n i m o d s gene i
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The colour of flower that will manifest in a plant that is heterozygous for that trait will depend on which gene is dominant. Simply stated, the dominant gene wins all ties. If the red gene is dominant then the mixed pairs will show red flowers, while if the white gene is dominant then mixed pairs will have white flowers. In order to keep things simple, we’ll assume that red genes will be the dominant form in our demonstration. Because of the principle of dominance, when both parents are heterozygous the recessive form will present 25% of the time and 75% of the time the dominant form will show up. Even though 25% of the plants are homozygous for the trait and 50% are heterozygous, the resulting plants will have red flowers 75% of the time. To show the result over a number of plants, deal out 25 cards face down in a five-by-five grid—these will represent the genes inherited from one parent. To represent the gene each plant gets from the other parent, deal a card face up on each of the down cards. Since red is dominant, for each pair that has a black card face up, flip the pair to exchange the up card and the down card. Approximately 25% of the faceup cards should be black and the rest red. The phenotype is the plant that is expressed by growing out the seed. No matter what the face-down card is, the face-up card determines the phenotype.
The genotype refers to both the up card and the down card together. If the face-up card is red, then our hypothetical plant will grow with the dominant trait of red flowers. This will happen 75% of the time, since the four possibilities in the two cards are: • Red, red = true breeding (homozygous) for red flowers
With real plants , there is no way to peek at the hole card—the only w ay to determine its value is by testin g and deduction.”
• Black, black = true breeding (homozygous) for white flowers • Red, black = red flowers, since it is heterozygous and red is dominant • Black, red = red flowers, since it is heterozygous and red is dominant In other words, the same ratio we saw before—of 25% recessive to 75% dominant—will occur, but on a larger scale. The reason why understanding these ratios is important is that with real plants, there is no way to peek at the hole card—the only way to determine its value is by testing and deduction. All that can be observed directly is that about 75% of the face-up cards are red. Traits become stable or fixed when the other form of the gene (card colour) is eliminated or at least greatly reduced in the gene pool. If the recessive form of the gene (represented by a black card) is paired with another recessive form (another black card) there will be no ties, as only black cards are available, and the trait will breed true. All the face-up black cards should have a black card underneath as well. This is why recessive traits are easier to breed than dominant traits: if a recessive trait expresses itself, you know it will breed true if crossed with another plant that also expresses that trait. If you take a plant with two black cards and cross it with another plant with two black cards, all the offspring will also have only black cards. Maximum Yield | September/October 2013
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basic plant genetics
The rea traits a son that do m r is that e harder to w inant bo o plants th the tr ue- r k with b a (mixed nd the heter reeding ozyg car expres d) plants wil ous l s as re d flowe both rs.”
Most of the time the face-up card will be red and the plant will show the dominant form of the gene. The reason that dominant traits are harder to work with is that both the truebreeding plants and the heterozygous (mixed card) plants will both express as red flowers. To stabilise a cultivar, as many important traits as possible are bred to be homozygous (both cards of the same colour). Since the bottom card can only be indirectly observed, it is more difficult to know the difference between the two. What can be done with dominant traits is to keep breeding plants that appear to be true-breeding for the trait until it is statistically improbable that they aren’t true-breeding. If one of the parents with a red up card has a black down card, you will still get red flowers, but as the generations continue then at some point two black cards will come together in the same plant. This will be a throwback and will show the recessive form. Heterozygy may not be desirable for breeding a stable line, but it can have benefits. Hybrid vigor tends to express itself in heterozygous plants. Because of this factor hybrids are often ideally the product of two true-breeding plants of opposite colour—two red cards to two black cards. To observe the effects of hybridisation, separate the cards by suits into four stacks. Put the two red stacks face up together to symbolise the mother and the black stacks face up for the father. The mother plant will show the dominant form since she has a red card and the father plant will not, since both his cards are black. 48
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Randomly take one card from one of the two mother stacks. Since all her cards are red it doesn’t matter which stack you take from—the card will be red. Then take one card from one of the father stacks and again, no matter which stack you take from the card will be black. Since offspring get one card from their mother and one from their father, all the offspring will have one black card and one red card. Therefore, the children will all express the dominant trait because they will all have a red card. Hybrids that all have one red and one black card will all show the dominant form and can appear very similar to each other. This technique is often used to create commercial seeds. Hybrids can also express hybrid vigour, which generates superior plants, although one drawback to hybrids is that they do not breed true. In the following demonstration of hybridisation all the offspring will have one red card and one black card. Arrange the stacks so that the mother has one red stack and one black stack and the father has one red stack and one black stack.
To simulate crossing the two parents, take one card from the mother (randomly choose between her two stacks) and do the same with the father. Deal several hands, flip the black pairs and what you should find is that the results change dramatically from the original hybrids. While the offspring of the cross making the hybrid creates siblings that are similar to each other, the generation after that will show both dominant and recessive traits.
This is how traits can hide or skip generations. If two plants that both show the recessive form of a trait are crossed, the offspring will also (generally) show the recessive trait. If two plants that both show the dominant form of the trait are crossed, the offspring may or may not all show the dominant traits. If all the offspring show the dominant trait, that is an indication that at least one of parents is true-breeding for that trait. In the generation after that if no offspring display the recessive form of the trait then that is an indication that the line is true-breeding for the dominant trait. It is only an indication; however, since as long as one of the plants involved in the crossing has a black down card the recessive form may resurface in later generations. Keeping good records is a must, and each plant should be evaluated for the desired traits. By observing traits over several generations and then comparing the results to the ratios from either dealing pairs with different combinations of parent stacks or the mathematical results from a Punnett square, educated guesses as to the value of the unseen facedown cards can be made. Making sense of the mysteries of genetics can take a bit of effort, but by understanding these basic principles you can begin to improve your own seed making results dramatically. Maximum Yield | September/October 2013
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Plant diseases are a major limiting factor in agricultural production. Most growers use high amounts of chemicals to control plant diseases, but they are unaware that mineral nutrition has an important role in disease control. Essential plant nutrients influence the health of plants and their susceptibility to disease. In other words, plants suffering a nutrient stress will be more susceptible to diseases, while adequate crop nutrition makes plants more tolerant of or resistant to disease. (Note that the resistance of plants to diseases is mainly related to genetics, but the ability of the plant to express its genetic resistance to a particular disease is affected by mineral nutrition.) Some nutrients have a greater impact on plant diseases than others. However, it should be noted that a particular nutrient could have opposite impacts on different diseases and in different environments—for example, the same nutrient might decrease the incidence of one disease, but increase the incidence of others. Soil pH, nitrogen forms and the availability of nutrients also play a major role in disease management. Nutrient manipulation can be achieved directly by applying adequate fertilisers, or indirectly through the use of different cultural practices, such as liming for pH adjustment, irrigation, organic amendments, tillage, etc.
“Nutrient manipulation
can be achieved directly by applying adequate fertilisers.”
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Mineral nutrition
How can mineral nutrition prevent plant disease? Basically, all diseases have a cycle of three to five parts, and any disease can be prevented or suppressed if that cycle is interrupted. Mineral nutrition can affect two primary resistance mechanisms: first, the formation of mechanical barriers (e.g., thickness of cell walls), and secondly, the synthesis of natural defense compounds (e.g., antioxidants, phytoalexins and flavonoids). Different pathogens have different infection mechanisms. Fungi penetrate surface cells (the epidermis) by passing between or through the cells. The cell walls present a physical resistance to the fungus and stronger cell walls can prevent the infection. Certain nutrients, like calcium, play a major role in the ability of the plant to develop stronger cell walls and tissues. Mineral nutrition also affects the production of antifungal compounds in plants. However, when some nutrients are below a certain level, plants release compounds that contain higher amounts of sugars and amino acids, thus stimulating the establishment of the fungus. Bacteria invade the plant tissue through wounds, sucking insects and through the stomata. Then they spread within the intercellular spaces, releasing enzymes that dissolve the plant tissue. The ability of bacteria to spread within the plant tissues depends on the strength of the internal cells, which is greatly affected by mineral nutrition. Calcium is known for its ability to inhibit such enzymes. Another mechanism in which bacteria spread within the plant is in the xylem (the vessels that transport water in the plant). The bacteria forms slime within the vessels, which blocks them and results in stems and leaves wilting and dying. Certain plant nutrients suppress the ability of bacteria to form this slime. Viruses are transmitted to plants by sucking insects and fungi. It was found that silicon—although not a plant nutrient—inhibits the feeding ability of some sucking pests like aphids, thus reducing viral infection.
of vegetables, phymatotrichum root rot of cotton and thielaviopsis root rot of tobacco are all associated with alkaline soils. Another example, scab is reduced in lower soil pH. Sulfur and ammonium are used to decrease soil pH and reduce scab, while calcium, potassium and nitrate might increase scab.
Same nutrient, different effect Different oxidation forms of the same nutrient often have opposing effects on plant disease. This is true mainly for nitrogen, sulfur, manganese and iron. For example, nitrate and ammonium nitrogen forms have different metabolic pathways. Therefore, they have different effects on plant disease.
Additional examples EXCESS NITROGEN Adequate nitrogen levels are necessary for disease resistance. However, excess nitrogen could promote favourable conditions to plant disease. Reasons for this include: • Excess nitrogen promotes thinner and weaker cell walls • Increased plant density creates high humidity and low light conditions • Excess nitrogen delays maturity of plant tissues therefore increasing the risk of disease infection and development • An unbalanced sodium-potassium ratio affects both yield and disease resistance POTASSIUM AND POTASSIUM-CALCIUM RATIO Potassium is an important nutrient in plant disease prevention because it is involved in many cellular processes that influence disease severity. It was also found effective in the prevention of bacteria, fungi and nematodes. However, excess potassium and a high potassiumcalcium ratio might result in calcium deficiency and reduced resistance to diseases. Mineral nutrition and cultural practices that affect it play an important role in the prevention of plant disease and in the resistance of plants to diseases. Although diseases cannot be totally eliminated by any particular nutrient (growers must also use proper fertiliser programs based on soil tests, plant analysis and disease monitoring), balanced plant nutrition can help growers minimise chemical use, increase productivity and reduce the severity of disease.
“cultural conditions
that influence the form of nitrogen also affect soil pH and, therefore, disease development.”
Cultural practices and soil condition Many plant diseases are categorised as high-pH diseases or low-pH diseases, high-ammonium or high-nitrate types, high- or low-moisture varietals, etc. Thus, cultural conditions that influence the form of nitrogen also affect soil pH and, therefore, disease development. For example, verticillium wilt 52
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Physiological
Disorders of Indoor Gardens
Indoor Gardening Allows gardeners to be fully in control of their plants. So, when physiological disorders strike, they can seem strange, mysterious and even sinister…
by Dr. Lynette Morgan 54
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Indoor gardens can be a fairly intense environment for hydroponic plants. High levels of light, heat, carbon dioxide enrichment and a plentiful supply of water and nutrients give plants everything they could want; however, sometimes growth can still go awry with no obvious cause. Physiological disorders, which affect a plant’s development, are usually the culprit and they are caused by environmental or cultural factors. Some of these physiological disorders, such as tip burn on heading lettuce or blossom-end rot on tomatoes, are common in indoor gardens, large-scale commercial greenhouses and outdoor production, so they are relatively well-understood and easily recognizable. Other physiological conditions, however, are much more specific to the enclosed environment of indoor hydroponic systems and are not as well-understood or easily diagnosed by growers. Some physiological disorder symptoms are also non-specific, meaning the same symptom could be caused by a number of different issues—like plant pathogens, nutritional problems or a complex physiological problem. In this case, having a good idea of basic plant requirements and physiology is the best place to start.
Physiological problems in detail Humidity and root pressure issues
Humidity levels—if not kept below a certain level—might be more often associated with an increased risk of fungal and bacterial disease; however, it also plays an important role in plant physiology. The plant must be able to transpire and lose water in order to maintain the transpiration stream within itself. If transpiration is slowed down due to high humidity and lack of air movement (which removes the stale and humid boundary layer sounding the leaf), then elements like calcium can’t be transported fast enough to the developing leaf tips and fruit. When this occurs, many inexperienced growers mistake the resulting brown or black tissue of blossom-end rot (BER)—in tomatoes and peppers— and tip burn—on the youngest leaves in lettuce, strawberry and other salad crops—to be a disease. However, it is in fact most often due to a localized deficiency of calcium that develops in the extremities of the plants. In well-run hydroponic systems, tip burn and BER are rarely caused by a calcium deficiency in the root zone; these calcium transport problems are more commonly found in warmer growing conditions and are usually associated with high humidity. These conditions can be improved by lowering humidity and increasing air flow over the plants to boost the rate of transpiration and, therefore, the flow of calcium out to developing fruits and leaf tips. Calcium transport disorders like these also have a genetic element, and many modern cultivars of lettuce and tomatoes have had some degree of BER or tip-burn resistance bred into them.
Leaf rolling can have a number of causes, including CO2 toxicity.
“ these days, growers have the choice of the latest technology for monitoring and adjusting the indoor growing environment so that many physiological disorders can be prevented.” Glassiness
Another less well-known physiological disorder related to humidity levels is glassiness, most commonly seen in lettuce, young seedlings and other succulent crops. Glassiness creates patches with a water-soaked, almost translucent appearance on the leaves of plants—and it’s often seen first thing in the morning and it might disappear later on as the plants warm up. This disorder is related to both high humidity and root pressure, which is greatest at night. Roots can take up excess moisture under the cooler conditions at night and, using root pressure, pump this up to the foliage where it can’t be lost from the leaves thanks to the low rate of transpiration that occurs when temperatures are cool and humidity is high.
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Physiological Disorders
This condition is usually reversible (with no lasting damage) once good ventilation and air flow are introduced and humidity is lowered. However, if glassiness persists and becomes severe, leaf cells can eventually die and create dead patches of foliage that could then be infected with disease.
If exposed to such conditions, they can develop physiological disorders, such as becoming severely chlorotic, yellowed and stunted or with brown flecking of the foliage. High-light injury is also more common in environments where CO2 enrichment is used and it is thought that a high buildup of starch in the chloroplasts might play a role in this disorder.
“ Some physiological disorder symptoms are also non-specific, meaning the same symptom could be caused by a number of different issues.” Edema (Oedema) Edema is more common than most growers realise; however, its symptoms are often not correctly linked back to the cause. As with glassiness, edema is caused by an imbalance between the plant’s water uptake and water loss, and develops when root pressure is high and transpiration low. The enlarged cells—which are full of water—divide and rupture, causing a number of symptoms like raised blisters, galls and water-soaked swellings or protrusions on leaves, stems and veins. In later stages, the damaged tissue becomes corky with gall-like formations that harden and darken with age. In mild cases, plants can recover from edema; in severe ones, leaves can curl and become distorted and foliage will drop in the later stages. It has been suggested that edema is linked to the spectral quality of the lighting, with red light promoting the condition and ultra-violet inhibiting it. Edema, however, is usually controlled or prevented by careful management of the environment by increasing air movement, lowering humidity with high rates of ventilation, using a well-drained growing medium with optimum levels of nitrogen, ect.
CO2 injury
Enriching an enclosed growing area with CO2 can result in significant growth benefits; however, CO2 toxicity can occur when levels run too high. Some plant species are more susceptible to CO2 toxicity than others, so maximum-level recommendations are hard to define. That being said, optimum ranges for most plants are below 1,600 ppm, more commonly in the 800 to 1,200 ppm range. Sometimes, in indoor gardens, the cause of CO2 toxicity is a faulty CO2 monitor; in that case, the grower would not be aware that CO2 levels are well above optimum. It should also be noted that high levels of CO2 are toxic to humans as well—levels of 5,000 ppm can cause dizziness or a lack of co-ordination—which is another good reason for keeping CO2 monitors properly calibrated. In plants, symptoms of CO2 toxicity can include leaf rolling or deformation, chlorosis or mottling of the leaves and, in later stages, leaf drop of older foliage.
Gasses as unwanted contaminants Some of the most severe physiological disorders are caused by gasses that find their way into the growing environment. Propane leaks from heating systems have been known to cause injury to indoor crops, but ethylene is a more common issue. Ethylene is a gas and a plant hormone that can originate from a number of sources, including rotting vegetation, ripening fruit, vehicle exhaust, and some plant-growth regulators. However, malfunctioning heating systems and the incorrect use of burners to generate CO2 are the most common causes of ethylene contamination in growing environments.
Light, temperature and carbon dioxide issues specific to indoor gardens Continuous light injury or abnormal photoperiod effects
Light injury is another physiological disorder often only seen in indoor gardens, where HID lighting can be run continuously or for long periods. Many plant species can tolerate continuous lighting (although running lamps for 24 hours a day may not give the growth increases expected), but some species—including tomato, potato and some ornamentals— are intolerant of extended or continuous periods of light.
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A halo of yellow tissue around this cucumber leaf is a result of high EC in the root zone.
The severity of symptoms depends on the species being grown and the level of ethylene buildup. Some sensitive plants, such as tomatoes, will show symptoms—like epinasty (downward bending of the leaves while remaining turgid), reduced growth and height and, in severe cases, leaf and flower abscission—at ethylene levels as low as 0.05 ppm.
“As with many physiological disorders, the symptoms of these may be confusing to new or inexperienced growers; however, they are usually never forgotten once encountered.” Premature bolting
Wilting plants, despite having sufficient water, is typical of a lack of oxygen in the root zone, often caused by overwatering.
Bolting is the term used to describe the premature elongation of a plant’s compact stem. The entire plant, which is still relatively young and immature, grows upwards and forms a flower stalk. Lettuce, other salad greens and herbs can bolt or go to seed extremely early, sometimes while still in the seedling stage.
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Physiological Disorders
Typically, this occurs when temperatures are higher than optimal, often combined with low light levels or overcrowding. Some cultivars have been bred to have some degree of premature bolting resistance, but this physiological disorder is still a common problem, particularly with lettuce. Prevention is relatively easy, however: maintain temperatures below 78oF for lettuce and other cool season salads, maintain suitably high light levels and prevent seedlings from becoming pot-bound and overcrowded before planting out.
Media and nutrient issues
Overwatering and under watering are the most common causes of physiological disorders in hydroSalt burn can be mistaken for plant disease. ponic crops; however, overwatering is far more common and misdiagnosed than under watering (we all know what a dry root system looks like, after all). Interestingly, overwatering initially looks quite similar to under watering—at least from the top of the plant. Wilting, downward hanging leaves, eventual leaf/bud/flower drop, yellowing and chlorosis are all signs of overwatering. In the most severe cases, epinasty will result because the damaged root systems will have started producing ethylene. Overwatering can be prevented by reducing the frequency and volume of nutrient applied, particularly under cooler growing conditions, and using a coarse, free-draining medium like perlite.
“ Some plant species are more susceptible to CO2 toxicity than others, so maximum-level recommendations are hard to define.” Elephant’s foot
Tipburn can be common on lettuce and other vegetables under conditions of high humidity. 58
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The root zone can be the cause of other physiological disorders in hydroponics. Some of the most common of these disorders are related to salinity damage and electrical conductivity (EC) buildup. As with many physiological disorders, the symptoms of these may be confusing to new or inexperienced growers; however, they are usually never forgotten once encountered. For example, one condition that is common in pepper plants (other plants can also develop a similar appearance) is elephant’s foot—or, foot corkiness. Elephant’s foot is characterised by a swollen and sometimes cracked area on the stem close to the base of the plant, caused by injury to the stem cells by excessive amounts of salts. It is easy for nutrient salts to accumulate around the base of the plant, particularly where the nutrient is irrigated close to the stem area or when a highly free-draining growing medium is used under low-humidity conditions. Elephant’s foot is less likely to occur when seedlings are planted deeper into the growing medium and when nutrient salt buildup around the stem is prevented.
“The root zone can be the cause of other physiological disorders in hydroponics. Some of the most common of these disorders are related to salinity damage and electrical conductivity (EC) buildup.” Salinity damage
Salinity damage in hydroponic systems is much more common in some crops than others. Tomatoes, for example, are fairly tolerant of high EC and salt buildup, whereas other more sensitive plants like cucumbers and lettuce are not. Cucumbers show a fairly distinctive disorder when the EC becomes too high in the root zone (EC levels of only 3.0 to 3.5 have been shown to cause these symptoms in some cucumber crops): wilting during the warmest part of the day, followed by a distinctive leaf halo—a thin band of yellow coloration around the leaf margin. This disorder is more common under warm growing conditions with rapid evaporation from the growing media and high rates of water uptake by the plant. These act to concentrate the EC and salts around the root zone, leading to salinity damage. Salinity damage is common under the warm, dry conditions of many indoor hydroponics gardens where EC levels in the root zone can climb far more rapidly than a grower may realize. In this case, the EC in the feed solution should be dropped right back to adjust for the increased rate of water uptake by the plants. Physiological disorders can range from mild (sometimes not even noticeable) to severe (causing plant death), so identification of the problem is the key to a quick recovery. Physiological disorders can be easily forgotten and overlooked; so, when a problem starts occurring, it pays not to just assume that every issue is either a disease or nutrient disorder. Most of these physiological conditions are induced by factors that are fully under our control and—in an indoor situation—that means keeping a constant check on light, humidity, temperature, salinity in the root zone, CO2 and heating/venting systems. Luckily, these days growers have the choice of the latest technology for monitoring and adjusting the indoor growing environment so that many physiological disorders can be prevented—using and maintaining the best equipment to monitor CO2, root zone moisture levels, pH, EC, temperature, humidity and vapour pressure deficit, air flow and light levels go a long way to preventing any unwanted growth issues.
Strange growth, deformed leaves and plant stunting can all be caused by various physiological disorders.
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THELITTLE THINGS, by mark boutwell II
Naturally METHODS IN CONTROLLING pH, PPM AND EC ORGANICALLY
EC, pH and ppm are caused by tiny molecules, but they have a huge impact on your garden. Here, Mark Boutwell explains what these things are, how to measure them and the benefits of keeping them balanced. 60
Maximum Yield | September/October 2013
Whether you’re growing hydroponically, with aquaponics or in soil or soilless media, your pH will always have importance. But what exactly is pH? It is a measurement of how acidic or alkaline a substance is when measured on a scale from 1 to 14 (1 being the most acidic and 14 being the most alkaline). The measurement is depending on the amount of hydrogen ions are in the solution, which is why pH stands for probable hydrogen. The next question that most growers ask about pH is the ideal level to the decimal for your plants. If you ask five growers this question, you will most likely receive five different answers. Normally, when growers asked me this question, I rephrase it from what is the exact pH to what is the most productive pH range for my plants. The most productive range is between 5.8 and 6.8, but my recommendation is to not get caught up on being so precise. As long as you are within that range, the majority of all macro- and micronutrients will be readily available for the plant to take up. Still, many times I have worked with growers that had the perfect growing environment, great cash flow and more than enough light, but still had a low yield because of pH imbalance in the growing media. So, be sure to keep on top of your levels. Many growers are also looking for an organic method to raise and lower their pH. You can indeed control your pH without ever messing with any chemicals by using basic products. If a grower used beneficial fungus, nitrogen-fixing bacteria and highly chelated mineral deposits (such as rock dust) before planting in any growing medium and working keeping the ppm under 800, that grower would rarely run into a nutrient-lockout issue. The reason why is because when you grow organic, your entire ecosystem is working in
The most productive range is between 5.8 and 6.8, but my recommendation is to not get caught up on being so precise.”
harmony and with the same goal in mind: the plant’s survival. When your crop is not utilising microbiology, the plant is completely reliant upon this grower. This is like it skydiver jumping out of the plane without a back-up parachute. Speaking of ppm, remember that ppm, TDS and EC are all the same thing. EC measures the electrical conductivity of your water (everything in this world—even down to the molecular level—has an electrical charge). In other words, EC measures the amount of salts in your hydroponic system. When you have less salt in a system, you have a lower EC; if you have more salts in a system, you will have a higher EC.
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The little things
Then, while TDS stands for total dissolved solids and ppm stands for parts per million, these readings provide you with the same information as EC—when someone asks if you know your TDS/ppm, all he or she is asking for is a reading of how many salts are in your hydroponic system. In a regular hydroponic system, the most experience growers will recommend that you have at least an EC reading of 1 to grow anything in hydroponics. If you are growing in an aquaponic system, you could grow full tomatoes with an EC reading of 0.2. I personally have seen great produce produced using an EC range of 0.2 to 3.6, the levels depending on the growing method and the crops being grown. There are charts available detailing ideal levels, but many like to experiment and figure out what works for them. Just remember that when your EC is too high, you will normally see all your worms leave the environment. All of your beneficial fungi and bacteria go dormant after about 1.6 EC or 800 ppm/TDS. Then, when you know the EC, ppm or TDS of your system, you can then decide if you need to add something to your solution, leave it alone or dilute it. One of the best ways to control your EC, TDS and ppm organically is to use reverse osmosis (RO) water. By doing this, you have the ability to use a fifth or less fertiliser than conventional farming. You can get an RO system relatively inexpensively, but it’s better to not be cheap on this. Clean water is your friend! Keep in mind that ideally you always want to start with a lower ppm or EC because when you start with a higher ppm or EC, you cannot take it away. Also, remember that less is more— water will always be taken up and evapourate faster than your salts are taking up by your plants. As such, always monitor the water levels. If you are noticing your plants taking up a certain amount of water, then I would recommend adding at least that much water every day. If you are growing in soil, I would recommend feeding once and using only water one or two times before the next feed. This will allow your plants time to process the nutrients. So, if you’re going to take the time and resources to grow, be sure to take the time to also check your pH, EC and ppm. You can measure pH, EC and ppm with inexpensive tools that are sold at your local hydroponic store. Sure, they’re small things, but remember that success is normally a collaboration of small decisions that went in your favour over a long period of time.
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You can indeed control your pH without ever messing with any chemicals by using basic products.”
When someone asks if you know your TDS/ppm, all he or she is asking for is a reading of how many salts are in your hydroponic system.”
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Five Commonly Overlooked Cleaning Steps by Karen Wilkinson
Properly cleaning your cloning system is extrem ely the promotion of impor tant for healthy plants. Here are a few ti ps on how to do it. A common (if not the most common) cause of system algae, slime, bacterial growth and stunted root growth is improper cleaning practices—or inconsistent or altogether lacking habits. I can’t stress the importance of cleaning enough to keep your system bacteria- and pathogen-free, which ultimately promotes healthy baby plant propagation. In that spirit, I’ve decided to spotlight some of the more frequently overlooked—or skipped—steps in the cloning system cleaning process, which should be performed following each cycle. From the misters and manifold, to the drain plug and laser line, below are some tips and tricks on the best ways to successfully scrub those pieces.
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Misters
These tiny devices need to be removed from the manifold during each cleaning and placed in a separate cup of bleach-water solution. Due to their intricate nature, gunk and root material gets trapped in the tiny grooves between them and the manifold. If not properly cleaned, this material will infect the water and the stems. After 20 minutes sitting in the bleach-water solution, remove the misters, rinse with fresh water and use compressed air or a toothbrush to clear the misters of any residual buildup.
Manifold
Another small, intricate piece of the system, the laser line is also a vulnerable spot for infection. Disconnect it from the air pump and place in the bottom of the reservoir; fill the reservoir to the top and allow the water pump to run for 20 minutes. Then thoroughly rinse the line and drain all water from it, which can be done by hooking one end to the air pump and turning it on. Raising the pump and keeping it vertical will help the water drain faster. If compressed air is available, use it to blow the gunk out of the line.
“ I can’t stress the importance of cleaning enough to keep your system bacteria- and pathogen-free, which ultimately promotes healthy baby plant propagation..”
This is one of the more common spots for bacteria and disease to flourish. It can become susceptible to sick manifold syndrome (SMS) and become a haven for gunk to thrive. After each cycle, place the water pump and manifold (without the misters) back in the reservoir and fill to the top with a bleachwater solution, then plug the water pump in and let run for 20 minutes, fully submerged. Rinse thoroughly afterward.
Neoprenes
Laser line
While using new neoprene collars for each cycle is a guaranteed way to avoid system contamination, it’s not always realistic. So, if reusing, place and submerge them in a bucket of bleach-water solution for 20 minutes, then flush with fresh water until there is no bleach odor. Individually scrub and squeeze each like a sponge to ensure no plant matter or tissue is stuck in the material. Allow them to air dry, but do not place in the sunlight. Some people also clean them in their clothes washer, which can be done using a mild bleach solution (the water can be any temperature). Just don’t use detergent and do not place them in the dryer afterward.
Drain plug
Disassemble the drain plug and wipe off the two rubber washers and adaptor with a cleaning pad and bleach-water solution; reassemble when finished. It’s fairly simple to maintain your cloning system, and it’s best to always have bleach on hand for cleaning at the end of each cycle. Many prefer to take the system to the bath tub or shower (who knew a trip to the bathroom could be so much fun?). Good luck and happy cloning!
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Let us first look at some basics. Photosynthesis is the process by which plant leaves make carbohydrates. Specifically, sunlight, CO2 and water are converted into carbohydrates and oxygen (O2) by the action of chlorophyll in the plant’s chloroplasts. When plants are able to maximise the process of photosynthesis, the result is larger plants with larger yields. However, plants growing indoors under artificial light often lack enough CO2 to efficiently photosynthesize. Plants can quickly use up the available CO2 and convert it to O2. When O2 levels rise too high, stomata on the leaf’s surface close and plant growth virtually stops. Growing areas that have limited or no air circulation can be affected even more.
“Lack of air movement causes CO2 that would be used by plants to become unavailable due to its distance from the leaf (usually down low in the growing area).” Lack of air movement causes CO2 that would be used by plants to become unavailable due to its distance from the leaf (usually down low in the growing area). Moving air helps solve this problem. Adequate levels of light, water and nutrients are needed for good plant growth. Therefore, it might seem logical to assume the growthpromoting effects of indoor CO2 enrichment would be reduced when these essential resources are present in less-than-adequate amounts. In many instances, however, the percentage of growth enhancement provided by indoor CO2 enrichment is even greater when these important natural resources are present in sub-optimal quantities. When they are in
such short supply that plants cannot survive under ambient CO2 concentrations, elevated levels of CO2 often enable such vegetation to grow and successfully reproduce where they would otherwise die. One of the reasons that plants are able to respond to indoor CO2 enrichment in the face of significant shortages of light, water and nutrients is that CO2-enriched plants generally have more extensive and active root systems, which allows them to more thoroughly explore larger volumes of soil in search of the things they need. Ambient CO2 levels (percentage of CO2 in the air with any enrichment) typically hover around 400 ppm. Indoor plants can quickly convert this CO2 through photosynthesis and deplete available CO2. When CO2 levels fall to around 150 ppm, the rate of plant growth quickly declines. Enriching the air in the indoor growing area to around 1,200 to 1,500 ppm can have a dramatic effect on plant growth. Growth rates typically increase by up to 30%. Stems and branches grow faster, and the cells of those areas are more densely packed. Stems can carry more weight without bending or breaking. CO2-enriched plants also have more flowering sites due to the increased branching effect. CO2 enrichment also affects the way a plant can tolerate high temperatures. At the highest air temperatures encountered by plants, CO2 enrichment can often mean the difference
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That Natural Air Additive
between living and dying. It typically enables plants to maintain positive carbon exchange rates in situations where plants growing under ambient CO2 levels would normally exhibit negative rates that ultimately lead to their demise. This is because CO2 enrichment affects transpiration by causing the stomata to partially close, which slows down the loss of water vapour into the air. As such, foliage on CO2-enriched plants is much thicker and slower to wilt than plants grown without CO2. There are many alternatives to traditional CO2 production. The composting of organic matter results CO2, so many large-scale greenhouses have composting rooms adjacent to the growing greenhouse (the CO2 is pumped from one room into the other with circulation fans). One drawback, however, is that composting so close to your growing area can attract potential crop-damaging insects.
“Ambient CO2 levels (percentage of CO2 in the air with any enrichment) typically hover around 400 parts per million (ppm).” The process from beer making—that is, using sugar, water and yeast—has also been used. Not a bad deal if you like to brew beer. The yeast eats the sugar and releases alcohol and CO2 as by-products. If you are not into brewing beer, you can simply mix brewer’s yeast and sugar with water. Keep in mind, though, it is important to have the temperature of the water right—water that is too hot will kill the yeast and water that is too cold will not activate the yeast. The process is simple and inexpensive, but it does have some drawbacks. Mainly, it can present an odour problem and it is somewhat time-consuming as you have to remix the brew every four to five days.
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Dry ice, which is frozen CO2, releases gaseous CO2 when exposed to the atmosphere. Dry ice has no liquid stage, which makes it easy to work with and has little clean-up. However, dry ice can be expensive for longterm use and it is difficult to store. Using insulated containers can slow the melting process, but it cannot be stopped. Mycelial-based CO2 production is a relatively new way to introduce CO2. Mushrooms are more like humans in that they exhale CO2, and a non-fruiting strain of mycelium has been discovered that continues to produce CO2 for at least half a year (above-ambient CO2 levels can still be detected up to 16 months later). There is no maintenance or set-up with this option, and the low cost makes mycelial-based CO2 a good option. As a grower, you know the time and energy you spend working your indoor garden is tremendous. Adding CO2 is not only a good idea, it’s necessary to have the most efficient growing area possible. Natural CO2 production, in particular, is a good choice. The ease of use and the reduced effect on the environment make the described options the green choice. They are also easy on your budget and your plants will love you for it.
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DO YOU KNOW?
1.
Ambient CO2 levels (percentage of CO2 in the air with any enrichment) typically hover around 400 ppm. Indoor plants can quickly convert this CO2 through photosynthesis and deplete available CO2. When CO2 levels fall to around 150 ppm, the rate of plant growth quickly declines.
EC measures the electrical conductivity of your water (everything in this world—even down to the molecular level—has an electrical charge). In other words, EC measures the amount of salts in your hydroponic system.
3. 5.
While LED grow lights represent an exciting new technology and promise to make indoor gardening much more efficient, it’s still great design in the areas of intensity, control, coolness and efficiency that make superior lighting.
Most of the different varieties of tomatoes we know today are examples of plant breeding and many of them were originally developed by home gardeners.
7.
It’s fairly simple to maintain your cloning system, and it’s best to always have bleach on hand for cleaning at the end of each cycle. Many prefer to take the system to the bath tub or shower (who knew a trip to the bathroom could be so much fun?).
Maximum Yield | September/October 2013
4.
6.
Nutrient manipulation can be achieved directly by applying adequate fertilisers, or indirectly through the use of different cultural practices, such as liming for pH adjustment, irrigation, organic amendments and tillage.
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2.
Aquaponics is a blending of two important ideas, combining fish farming with hydroponics (soilless gardening). Edible fish that do well in closed environments are required—tilapia, white bass, crappie and barramundi are species that are used in many commercial and home aquaponic systems.
Many plant species can tolerate continuous lighting (although running lamps for 24 hours a day might not give the growth increases expected), but some species including tomato, potato and some ornamentals are intolerant of extended or continuous periods of light.
Seasonality creates differences in physiology within the plant and as a result, there are three classifications of cuttings: softwood (spring), semi-hardwood (summer) and hardwood (fall and winter).
10.
8.
Composting too close to your growing area can attract potential crop-damaging insects.
IndustrY’s Latest
Atami’s Dynamic Duo Atami’s well-known Bloombastic is now bundled with 50 ml of Rootbastic. Here at Atami we do not brag about our products, instead we prefer to let them speak for themselves. Try our showpieces now and convince yourself. With the Dynamic Duo you’ll receive a stimulant for your roots and a stimulant for your flowers in one package. Follow us and we will keep you informed. Find more information at bloombastic.com, rootbastic.com and atami.com
CANNA Need to Know From the beginning of September, CANNA will reveal every fortnight new tips and tricks on the CANNA website. For the second year in a row Andrew will take you into the world of growing and will give you tips about healthy roots, repotting plants, and much more. You can now be informed when a new Need to Know video is revealed on the CANNA website! The only thing you need to do is to sign up as a CANNA member on the website: canna-uk.com
Bluelab’s Online Video Library
Grodan Releases new iPhone App
Learn how to use and care for Bluelab meters and monitors direct from the manufacturer. Just visit vimeopro. com/bluelab/ videos to view the online library. Bluelab has different styles of videos for most of its product range. If you are new to using a Bluelab meter or monitor, we show you how to set up and use our products for the first time with using product demonstration videos. Cleaning probes is really important for maintaining the accuracy of readings, so we have shorter cleaning and calibration refresher videos available too. Visit getbluelab.com to find FAQs, full user manuals or technical specs, or to contact someone from the company directly.
Grodan has just launched its first iPhone app. Known as GroLog™, this free, powerful tool enables the grower to be even more successful by recording and monitoring their nutrient solution’s daily levels, environmental conditions and several other important variables. The GroLog also features a built-in programmable event calendar that sends phone alerts to the grower so they never miss a watering, forget to check pH or overfeed plants again. Users can even print or email customisable reports and graphs straight from their phones. To download the GroLog, simply search for it by name in the Apple Inc. app store. The GroLog is the simplest and easiest way to stay dialed in. For more information, visit grodan101.com
Deep Impact Plant Care Announces new Products and Policies
Deep Impact Plant Care Welcomes new Directors
Here at Deep Impact Plant Care, we strive to be a quick, reliable, fully-stocked distributor. Under our new service policy, we will ensure all completed orders received from retail stores before 2 p.m. will be sent out same day for next-day delivery. This will include the Safer’s Trounce ready-to-use 1-L bottles that are new to the United Kingdom as of September. After what we can only describe as an amazing launch to Safer’s Trounce Concentrate, we have secured the ready-to-use version, too. This is what shops have asked for, so we are extremely excited to launch this exclusive product. In October, watch out for our new line of plant care nutrients and additives. We are in the later stages of development and excited about the launch as we have developed some neverbeen-used-before technology. Watch this space for further details and visit deepimpactplantcare.co.uk for more information.
Deep Impact Plant Care wishes to welcome new staff members Colin Williams and Lee Mcmurdy to the team. Colin has an impressive track record in the service industry throughout the United Kingdom and Europe and became the new company director in September. He now commands the day-to-day operations at Deep Impact. Lee Mcmurdy is set to become the online operations director overseeing the automatic pick-and-pack service from the online ordering facility. The company will also move to its new premises over the next few weeks, which will not only provide more space for bottling machinery, enabling an even faster service, it is also an ideal location for testing products and working closely with local nurseries and farms—all to get the best possible results for growers in the United Kingdom’s horticultural industry. For more information, visit deepimpactplantcare.co.uk
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You Tell Us Tell us a little about how your company started. Who are the people behind Easy Grow? The company was founded back in 1998 by myself (Simon Atkinson) and Mark Goodwin. I have a strong background supplying UK manufactured food-grade materials to the food industry, while Mark has an in-depth knowledge of horticulture. Easy Grow has been supplying horticultural wholesalers with food- and plant-safe foils and reflective sheeting since 1998 to over 30 countries worldwide. Easy Grow has a UK food-grade manufacturing standard second to none, which has been proven by the British retail accreditations we adhere to, and by us winning the award for the best UK exporter.
Simon Atkinson (left) and Mark Goodwin, the founders of Easy Grow, were recently in San Francisco to showcase their company.
UK-based Easy Grow has been supplying horticultural wholesalers with plant-safe foils and reflective sheeting since 1998 to over 30 countries worldwide, but it hasn’t been limited to just foils. The company also deals with many other fine brands in the indoor growing industry, as Easy Grow co-founder Simon atkinson shares with Maximum Yield.
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Who should be using Easy Grow lightite foils and reflective sheeting? How do they work? All hydroponic growers should be using Easy Grow foils and reflective sheeting. We have a number of different grades to suit all growers’ needs and budgets, from the professional to the amateur. Our foils and sheeting work by reflecting light and heat thermals back into the growroom while preventing the escape of light, reducing energy costs and maximising the light in the growroom. We also have a diamond diffusion range of foils that have a diamond texture to distribute the light more evenly resulting in larger, more vigorous yields. Our foils are original concepts and manufactured in the UK.
What is your company’s philosophy? Easy Grow’s philosophy is to provide the highest quality grow products to our customers at affordable prices. We only distribute original products that are the best in the market. We do not sacrifice on quality and are proud that our products are never bettered—only poorly copied. We only offer new innovations sourced from all corners of the globe. We choose companies to partner with who, like ourselves, offer original, innovative products that we can see will benefit the avid gardener and retailers develop their customer base and return footfall to their stores. How important is it for Easy Grow to partner with environmentally friendly manufacturers? Easy Grow is committed to being environmentally friendly and as such it is an important factor for us to partner with manufacturers that care about the environment. Our main manufacturer shows such commitments, with the number one odour neutraliser in the market, ONA, being environmentally friendly and safe. The compounds that are used in ONA odour neutralisers are high-grade quality, derived from plant materials and
safe for the environment. In addition, Easy Grow foils are made from food-grade material and are 100% recyclable. How many different brands do you work with, and in how many countries do you do business in? Easy Grow has seen increased demand for our products in the last few years and we have expanded our product range significantly in this time. We now distribute over 10 different high quality brands to over 30 countries across five continents worldwide. What types of products are you seeing the most demand for right now? Both our foils and the ONA line of products continue to receive increased demand year upon year, along with NPK’s Mighty Wash and PM Wash. We are currently seeing a high demand for Exhale CO2 bags as well— an environmentally friendly, completely natural source of CO2 provision. We are also seeing an increased demand for Photosynthesis Plus from Microbe Life, which is a stabilized formula containing a blend of several strains of bacteria including two strains of photosynthetic bacteria. Beneficial bacteria is the future of all-season gardening and as knowledge of these
cultures increases, more and more products for adding bacteria to your gardening system are coming to the market, and this, along with the increased knowledge of the benefits, is why we suspect there has been an increased demand for our Microbe Life range. Demand for our products continues to increase year upon year; we see this as the grower establishes the benefits of our product range and sees the notable increase in yield and quality of crop these products help create. What makes up an Easy Grow Starter Pack? Our Easy Grow starter packs are aimed at new retailers and offer significant savings on the normal wholesale price allowing the retailer to get a head start on their new business. The packs come complete with a wide range of all of our top-selling products and include promotional material. We have two different starter packs depending on the amount of products required. How have you seen demand for products change since you first started out? Over the years we have noticed an increased demand for both retails and gardeners to be better informed
Left to Right: Simon Atkinson at a manufacturing site in the UK; Mark Goodwin shows off an Exhale CO2 bag; Easy Grow products proudly displayed; Mark Goodwin talks about Easy Grow products with a potential customer.
and educated about the life cycle of plants and how plants can be better cultivated indoors and out. After receiving endless requests, an exciting new Apple Crumble scent is now available from ONA and has been flying off the shelves. There is also the brand new ONA mini mist can available, also in Apple Crumble scent. This small aerosol can fits in the palm of the hand and delivers a blast of ONA on demand. We also have a privately sourced high-end retail friendly fabric pot coming soon. What’s in store for Easy Grow’s future? Easy Grow will be moving to a new 30,000-sq.-ft. location in autumn, allowing us to have all our warehouse and office space under one roof, while separating the manufacturing plant away from the distribution warehousing and office staff. This will increase the efficiency of the day-to-day operations and ensure we can focus on developing new and exciting products for our distributors and wholesalers.
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talking shop
Greenkeeper Hydroponics
The founders of Greenkeeper Hydroponics: Alan (left), John (centre) and Bernie (right).
The founders of Greenkeeper Hydroponics in Chester in the United Kingdom see a lot of potential in the hydroponics industry, which is why they took their interest in gardening to whole new levels.
At a Glance
“When you’re starting off, it’s difficult, but stick at it, everyone has their slow days. It only takes one big sale to make your week and as for the industry, it’s only going to get bigger and better.”
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Company Greenkeeper Hydroponics Owner Alan Higgins, John Wilson, Bernie Finn Location 141 Brook St., Chester, Cheshire, Ch13DU Phone +44 (0) 1244 630501 Mobile +44 (0) 7784 244922 Web greenkeeperhydroponics.co.uk E-mail greenkeeperhydroponics@hotmail.co.uk Motto “Weed it ‘n’ Reap” • “Grow with the Flow”
Maximum Yield | September/October 2013
“We have had to learn so much in such a short time, about systems we have never used before, and nutrients we were unfamiliar with, but hydroponics is a growing sector with new products coming out nearly every week, so the learning curve is never ending.”
nics, partners Alan Before opening Greenkeeper Hydropo had careers in differHiggins, John Wilson and Bernie Finn t and John and Bernie ent fields—Alan was a sports therapis decided to open a owned a café together. They recently ht and experience into hydroponics shop to gain more insig already had allotment this method of growing—the three hydroponics growing at garden plots and were getting into into the winter months. home to extend the growing season Hydroponics a few The partners opened Greenkeeper a two-minute walk away months ago in the heart of Chester, all three worked in the from the main train station. While is now working on a difshop at the start, one of the partners ferent project. so far included Start-up struggles for the business have and getting to know the building a rapport with customers not from the area—but local people and area—the three are to settle in. At the beginAlan says it hasn’t taken them long to absorb. “We have had ning, there was a lot of information , about systems we have to learn so much in such a short time were unfamiliar with, but never used before, and nutrients we new products coming hydroponics is a growing sector with curve is never ending,” out nearly every week, so the learning shares Alan. roponics achieved local The folks behind Greenkeeper Hyd t page of the local recognition by advertising on the fron on the front page of the newspaper a couple of times and also ship edition newspaper. Chester City Football Club champion of our branding, as we “I suppose we are unique in the way actual shop as oppose to have set out to image our store as an says Alan. “The idea of the a back street unit or dodgy garage,” is important to us and we shop looking warm and welcoming able during their visit.” aim for the customers to feel comfort includes Dutchpro, The company’s current product line Lumii, Ionic, Powerplant Canna, House and Garden, Rhino, E, Buddhas Tree, and Root!t, with products from GH
Humboldt and more all coming soon. Greenkeeper Hydroponics distributes throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland and currently employs five people. Customers find staff to be friendly, helpful and welcoming and the business accommodating. “Our prices are amongst the best in the industry and if we don’t have what you want in stock, we can almost guarantee to have it in the very next day,” says Alan. “Our customers have made us what we are to date, so they are worth going the extra mile for.” Alan believes one of the main success stories for the business is where it is today, given that it has only been in existence a few months. “In that short period of time, we have found our premises, totally refurbished it, stocked it, built a large customer base and built our website,” shares Alan. “Friends, family and local businesses have given us a little hand here and there, but it looks like all the hard work and long hours are starting to pay off, as we are currently looking to extend our nutrient range to appeal to more growers and we are considering expanding our current shop. Who knows, soon there may be a Greenkeeper store near you.” One of the significant things Alan has learned so far about the industry is that enough is never enough—the products a business can supply are endless. For those new to the industry, he has some words of wisdom to share: “When you’re starting off, it’s difficult, but stick at it, everyone has their slow days,” he says. “It only takes one big sale to make your week and as for the industry, it’s only going to get bigger and better.” As for the things that set Greenkeeper apart from competitors, Alan says having good staff is important. “Our employees are the best simply because they get things done and make things happen and, most of all, they’re so easy going and brilliant with the customers,” he shares. “If I could wish one thing for my company it would obviously be massive success and also to continue the special relationship that we have with our customers.” Maximum Yield | September/October 2013
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MAXIMUM YIELD distributors 1st Hydroponics Unit 5 K-Line House, West Rd. Ipswich, Suffolk UK IP3 9FG Tel: +44 (0) 1473 279829 www.1st-hydroponics.co.uk 21st Century Garden Unit A6., Bounds Green Ind. Es., Ringway London, Greater London UK N11 2UD Tel: +44 (0) 2083 614659 www.21stcenturygarden.co.uk 3 Counties Hydroponics Unit 52, Rober t Court Ind.E s. Britten Rd. Reading, Berkshire UK RG2 0AU Tel: +44 (0) 1189 874758 3 Counties Hydroponics The Lodge, 113 Invicta Rd. Dartford, Kent UK DA2 6AY Tel: +44 (0) 1322 273444 3 Counties Hydroponics Unit 13., Chiltern Bus. Ctr. Cowley, Oxford UK OX4 6NG Tel: +44 (0) 1865 771747 3 Counties Hydroponics Unit 11, Olds Close, Olds Approach Watford, Herts UK WD18 8RU Tel: +44 (0) 1923 774486 3 Countries Hydroponics Unit 12., Yew Tree Ind. Es., Mill Hall Aylesford, Maidstone UK ME20 7ET Tel: +44 (0) 1622 790456 3 Countries Hydroponics Unit 10., Woodley Yard Cherstsey Bridge Rd. Chertsey, Surrey UK KT16 8LF Tel: +44 (0) 1932 562174 3 Countries Hydroponics Unit 9., Galley Hill Yard Waltham Abbey, Essex UK EN9 2AG Tel: +44 (0) 1992 652301 A-Zee Hydro Ltd. Unit C4, Suttons Bus. Ctr.New Rd. Rainham, Essex UK RM13 8DE Tel: +44 (0) 1708 551199 ____________________________
Acorn Horticulture 65 Deep Ln. Sheffield, UK S5 0DU Tel: +44 (0) 1142 458581 www.acornhorticulture.co.uk ____________________________ Addloes Lighting & Hydroponics 16-A Maple Rd., Winton Bourmouth, Dorset UK BH9 2PN Tel: +44 (0) 1202 524525; www.addloes.com Allbright Unit 6., The Rise Edgware, Middlesex UK HA8 8NR Tel: +44 (0) 2089 582426 Animal and Garden Supplies Ltd. Unit 1 Eastlake Close, Litchard Ind. Es. Bridgend South Wales, UK CF31 2AL +44 (0) 1656 663030 www.animalandgarden.co.uk Anglia Hydroponics 62 A Straight Rd. Boxted, Colchester, Essex UK C04 5RD Tel: +44 (0) 1206 272677 www.angliahydroponics.co.uk
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Aquaculture Unit 79 (A) Carlton Ind. Es. Barnsley, South Yorkshire UK S71 3HW Tel: +44 (0) 8456 445544 www.aquaculture-hydroponics.co.uk Aquaculture Unit 3, Asher Ln. Bus. Pk. Asher Ln. Ripley, Derbyshire UK DE5 3RE Tel: +44 (0) 8456 445544 www.aquaculture-hydroponics.co.uk Aquaculture Unit 3, Pkwy One, Pkwy Dr. Sheffield, South Yorkshire UK S9 4WU Tel: +44 (0) 8456 445544 www.aquaculture-hydroponics.co.uk Aquatech Horticultural Lighting Unit 3F, Spa Fields Ind. Es. New St. Slaithwait Huddersfield, West Yorkshire UK HD7 5BB Tel: +44 (0) 1484 842632 Ashton Hydroponics Ltd. Unit 3 Park Parade Ind. Es. Welbeck St. S. Ashton-Under-Lyna, Manchester UK O4L 67PP Tel: +44 (0) 1613 391673 www.ashton-hydroponics.co.uk ____________________________
Aztec Garden Unit 1A Roughan Ind.Es. Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk UK IP30 9ND Tel: +44 (0) 1359 271876 www.aztec-garden.co.uk _____________________________ Basement Lighting Ltd. Unit 3, The Old Maltings, George St. Newark, Nottinghamshire UK NG24 1LU Tel: +44 (0) 1636 650189 Big Stone River Garden Center Unit 1 East Gate Grimsby, Lincolnshire UK DN3 29BA Tel: +44 (0) 1472 241114 Bill & Ben’s Hydro World Unit D15 & D16 Erin Trade Centre Blumpers Way Chippenham, Wiltshire, UK SN14 6LH Tel: +44(0) 1249 447796 Blooming Borders Unit 3, Borders Bus Pk. Longtown Carlisle, Cumbria UK CA6 5TD Tel: +44 (0) 1228 792587 www.bloomingbordersltd.co.uk Bradford Hydroponics 9597 Manningham Ln. Bradford, West Yorkshire UK BD1 3BN Tel: +44 (0) 1274 729205 www.bradfordhydroponics.co.uk Branching Out Unit E, The Old Brewery, Durnford St. Ashton Gate, Bristol UK BS3 2AW Tel: +44 (0) 1179 666996 www.hydroponics-online.co.uk Bright Green UK Ltd. 42-44 Princess Rd., Hull, Yorkshire UK HU5 2RD Tel: +44 (0) 1482 341925 www.brightgreen-uk.co.uk ____________________________
Brit Crops Ltd Unit 9 OJ’s Ind. Pk.Claybank Rd. Portsmouth, Hampshire UK PO3 5SX Tel: +44 (0) 2392 669111 www.britcropshydroponics.co.uk ____________________________
Maximum Yield | September/October 2013
Listed alphabetically by shop name.
Britlite Hydroponics Unit 11 Roman Ind. Es. Croydon, UK CRO 2DT Tel: +44 (0) 2086 834424 www.britelite-hydroponics-uk.com
Great Stuff Hydroponics 24 Collingwood Ct. Riverside Park Ind. Es. Middlesbrough, UK TS2 1RP Tel: +44 (0) 1642 224544 www.hydroponics-hydroponics.com
Bub’s allotment The Rural Granary Business Centre Unit 4 North Street Hellingly, East Sussex UK BN27 4DU Tel: +44 (0) 7528 098103 Web: www.bubsallotment.co.uk
Great Stuff Hydroponics 30 C Ellemeres Ct. Leechmere Ind. Es. Sunderland, UK SR2 9UA Tel: +44 (0) 1914 474098 www.hydroponics-hydroponics.com
Chrissie’s Garden Unit 33 Portsmouth Enterprise Ctr. Quartermain Rd. Portsmouth, UK PO3 5QT Tel: +44 (0) 2392 667887 Clever Green 35 Ketley Bus. Pk. Waterloo Rd., Telford, Shropshire UK TF1 5JD Tel: +44 (0) 1952 257200 www.clevergreen.co.uk Crofters Bio Gardens Unit 2, Bloomsgrove Ind. Es.Ilkeston Rd. Radford, Nottingham UK NG7 3JB Tel: +44 (0) 1159 782345 www.croftersbiogardens.com Discount Hydroponics 1 Bus. Bldg. Waltergrave St. Hastings, East Sussex UK TN34 1SJ Tel: +44 (0) 1424 428186 Eastbourne Hydroponics 47 Upperton Rd. Eastbourne, East Sussex UK BN21 1LT Tel: +44 (0) 1323 732241 Eighteen Twelve Ltd. Unit 11 Whitehall Properties Towngate Wyke, Bradford UK BD12 9JQ Tel: +44 (0) 1274 694444 Elements Hydroponic Center 44 Auster Rd. Clifton Moor, York UK YO30 4XA Tel: +44 (0) 1904 479979 www.elementshydroponics.com
Greater Manchester Hydroponic Garden Unit 3, The Courtyard, 157 Bolton Old Road, Atherton, Manchester, M46 9RE Tel: +44 (0) 1942 884612 Green Daze Hydroponics Ashington Unit 9 Waterside Ct. North Seaton Bus. Pk. Ashington, Northumberland UK NE63 0YG Tel: +44 (0) 1670 818003 www.greendazehydroponics.co.uk Green Daze Hydroponics Gateshead 10 Wellington St. Gateshead, UK NE8 2AJ Tel: +44 (0) 1914 789107 www.greendazehydroponics.co.uk ____________________________
Green Fever 18 Hartsill Rd., Stoke-on-Trent Staffordshire, UK ST4 7QU Tel: +44 (0) 1782 414448 www.green-fever.co.uk ____________________________ Green Life 190 Hessle Rd. Hull, East Yorkshire UK HU3 3BE Tel: +44 (0) 1482 222425 ___________________________
Enhanced Urban Gardening 152 London Rd. Workingham, Berkshire UK RG40 1SU Tel: +44 (0) 1189 890510 www.enhancedurbangardening.co.uk Esoteric Hydroponics Ltd. 8 Martyr Rd. Guildford, Surrey UK GU1 4LF Tel: +44 (0) 1483 596484 www.1-hydroponics.co.uk Future Garden (Chelmsford) 15 Rob Johns Rd., Widford Ind.Est., Essex, Chelmsford CM1 3AG +44 (0) 1245 265929 info@futuregarden.co.uk www.futuregarden.co.uk Future Garden (Ilford) Unit E., The Acorn Centre Roebuck Rd., Hainault Bus.Pk., Essex, Ilford IG6 3TU +44 (0) 0208 265929 info@futuregarden.co.uk www.futuregarden.co.uk Garden Secrets UK Ltd. Unit 3 Hollybush Est. Whitchurch, Cardiff UK CF14 7DS Tel: +44 (0) 2920 651792 www.gardensecretsuk.co.uk Garforth Hydroponics Back off 11a main street Leeds, UK lS25 1DS www.garforthhydroponics.co.uk
Greenfinger-Hydroponics Unit 3 Park Works, 16-18 Park Road, Kingston-Upon-Thames, Surrey, KT2 6BX Tel: +44(0) 208 546 3444 ____________________________
Green Giant Hydroponics Glan Y Mor Rd. Llandudno Junction Conwy. Gwynedd North Wales, LL31 9RU UK Tel: +44 (0) 1492 583960 GreenKeeper Hydroponics 141 Brook St. Chester Cheshire, UK CH1 3DU Tel: +(44 (0) 1244 630501 ____________________________
Green Spirit Hydroponics Ltd. Unit 6, Rockingham Business Park, Rockingham Row, Birdwell, UK S705TW Tel: +44 (0) 1226 399837 www.greenspirit-hydroponics.com ____________________________
Green Spirit Hydroponics Ltd. 8-10 Stanley St. Sheffield, UK S3 8HJ Tel: +44 (0) 1142 753353 www.greenspirit-hydroponics.com ____________________________ Green Stream 12-14 Vivian Rd. Harbourne, Birmingham UK B17 ODS Tel: +44 (0) 1214 262675 www.greenstream.co.uk Green World 1618 Market Vaults Scarborough, UK YO11 1EU Tel: +44 (0) 1723 370900 www.greenworld.ne.uk Greener than Life 575- 577 Holderness Rd. Hull, East Riding UK HU8 9AA Tel: +44 (0) 1482 374201 Greengrass Indoor Gardening Supplies Unit 5A Alexander Ct. Hazleford Way Newstead, Nottingham UK NG15 0DQ Tel: +44 (0) 1623 755055 ____________________________
Greenhouse Effect Unit 2 Eagle Farm Cranfield Rd. Wavendon, Milton Keynes UK MK17 8AU Tel: +44 (0) 1908 585283 ____________________________ Greenleaf Systems Unit 26, Millers Bridge Ind. Es., Seymour, Bootle, Liverpool UK L20 1EE Tel: +44 (0) 1519 331113 www.greenleafsystemsmerseyside.co.uk The Green Machine Ltd. Unit 1A., Felin Puleston Ind.Es., Ruabon Rd. Wrexham, UK L13 7RF Tel: +44 (0) 1978 265090 www.thegreenmachineonline.com
Greenfinger-Hydroponics Unit 59 T Marchant Estate, 42-72 Verney Road, South Bermondsey, SE16 3DH Tel: +44 (0) 207 394 0629 ____________________________
Greenfinger-Hydroponics Unit 38 Silicon Business Centre,28 Wadsworth Road, Perivale,UB6 7JZ Tel: +44 (0) 208 998 2034 ____________________________
The Green Room (Indoor Gardens) Ltd. Unit 61 Riverside III, Sir Thomas Longley Road, MEdway City Estate Rochester, KENT ME2 4BH Tel: 01634 716764 www.thegreenroomvip.co.uk Greens Horticulture Unit F Totterdown Bridge Est, Albert Rd. St. Philips, Bristol, Somerset UK BS2 0XH Tel: +44 (0) 1179 713000 www. greenshorticulture.co.uk Greenstream Hydroponics 12-14 Vivian Rd. Birmingham, Harbourne UK B17 0DS Tel: +44 (0) 1214 262675 www.greenstream.co.uk
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Greensea Hydroponics Unit 1G. Gregory Rd. Mildenhall, Bury St. Edmonds, Suffolk UK IP28 7PP Tel: +44 (0) 1638 715350 www.greensea-hydroponics.co.uk ___________________________ Greenthings Hydroponics Unit 1, Adjewhella Chapel Barriper Camborne, Cornwall UK TR14 0QW Tel: +44 (0) 1209 611870 www.greenthings.co.uk Grotec Hydroponics 393 Manchester Rd., Rochdale, Greater Manchester UK OL11 3PG Tel: +44 (0) 1706 750293 www.grotec.co.uk Grotech Ltd. Unit 21. Saddlers Hall Farm, London Rd. Basildon, Essex UK SS13 2HD Tel: +44 (0) 1268 799828 www.grotechonline.co.uk Grow 4 Good Ltd. 22i Beehive Workshops Durham, UK DH1 2X1 Tel: +44 (0) 1913 757667 www.grow4good.net The Grow Den 2 Hothfield Rd. Rainham, Kent UK ME8 8BJ Tel: +44 (0) 1634 239333 The Grow Den Ltd. Unit 13., Eaves Ct., Eurolink Com.Pk., Bohan Dr. Sittingbourne, Kent UK ME10 3RY Tel: +44 (0) 1795 426264 Grow Green Ltd. 15-17 Green Ln., Castle Bromwich Birmingham, UK B36 0AY Tel: +44 (0) 121 241 6445 Grow Green Trade Ltd. Unit 4 Castle Trading Est. La Grange, Tamwarth, UK B79 7X0 Tel: +44 (0) 1827 62766 Grow Shaw 96-98 Shaw Heath Rd., Stockport, Manchester UK SK3 8BP Tel: +44 (0) 8452 725266 www.growshaw.co.uk Grow Zone UK Unit 7, West Court, Crantock Street Newquay, Cornwall UK TR7 1JL Tel: +44 (0) 1637 806115 www.growzoneuk.com GroSupplies Sovereign House, Ellen Terrace Sulgrave, Washington, Tyne & Wear NE37 3AS Tel: +44 (0) 1914 153345 sales@grosupplies.com www.grosupplies.com GroWell Hydroponics – Coleshill Units 9-11 Coleshill Trade Park Station Road, Coleshill Birmingham B46 1HT Tel: 0845 344 2333 coleshill@growell.co.uk www.growell.co.uk
GroWell Hydroponics – Dudley Unit 52 Enterprise Trading Estate Hurst Lane, Dudley DY5 1TX 0845 345 6991 dudley@growell.co.uk www.growell.co.uk GroWell - Fullham 1 Royal Parade 247 Dawes Rd. Fullham, London UK SW6 7RE Tel: +44 (0) 8453 445174 www.growell.co.uk GroWell - Hockley Heath Ivy House Farm, Grange Rd. Hockley Heath, Solihull UK B94 6PR Tel: +44 (0) 8433 571640 hockley@growell.co.uk www.growell.co.uk GroWell - Mail Order Division PO Box 3255 Warwick, UK CV34 5GH Tel: +44 (0) 8453 455177 www.growell.co.uk GroWell Hydroponics – Wembley Brent Trading Estate North Circular Road, London NW10 0JF 0843 357 1642 coleshill@growell.co.uk www.growell.co.uk GrowinGreen Unit 6, Queens drive industrial estate, Newhall, Swadlincote, DE11 0EG Tel: +44 (0) 1253 675722 www.growingreen.co.uk Growing Life #6 Newington Green Rd. London, UK N1 4RX Tel: +44 (0) 2070 339541 www.growing-life.com Groworks 94 Upper Wickham Lane Welling, Kent, UK DA16 3HQ Tel: +44 (0) 2088 545160 Groworks Unit F16 Northfleet Industrial Estate Lower Road, Gravesend, UK DA11 9SW Tel: +44 (0) 1273 624327 Groworks Unit 4 Belltower Industrial Estate Roedean Road, Brighton, UK BN2 5RU Tel: +44 (0) 1322 838131 Happy Daze Hydroponics Unit 4 Craven Court Hedon Rd. Hull, UK HU9 1NQ Tel: +44 (0) 1482 224299 www.happydazehull.com ____________________________
The Grow Home Hydroponics Unit 26 Bolney Grange Ind.Pk., Burgess Hill West Sussex RH17 5PB +44 (0) 1444 244414 thegrowhome@hotmail.co.uk www.first4hydroponics.com ____________________________
The Head Gardener Unit 11, Barton Bus. Pk. Eccles, Manchester UK M3O OQR Tel: +44 (0) 1617 079860 www.theheadgardner.net HFM Pyrotechnics Ltd. 165A Londford Rd. Cannock, Staffordshire UK WS11 OLD Tel: +44 (0) 1543 500800 www.hfmgroup.com Hi9THC Unit 3. Rope Walk,. Coach Rd. Whitehaven, Cumbria UK CA28 7TE Tel: +44 (0) 7821 914646 www.hi9thc.co.uk High Street Hydroponics Unit 56 Hebden R., Berkley Ind.Es., Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire DN15 8DT Tel: +44(0) 1724 857191 Holland Hydroponics 17 Rondin Rd., Ardwick, Greater Manchester UK M12 6BF Tel: +44 (0) 8458 720570 www.hydroponics.co.uk Holland Hydroponics Express Unit 4 Leeds Rd. Trade Park. Leeds Rd., Huddersfield, UK HD2 1YR Holland Hydroponics Handbridge Mill 5 Parliament St. Burnley, Lancashire UK BB11 5HG Tel: +44 (0) 8458 720590 www.hydroponics.co.uk The Home Grower Ltd. Unit 8, Oak Court, Crystal Dr. Smethwick, West Midlands UK B66 1QG Tel: +44 (0) 1215 411446 www.thehomegrower.com Huyton Hydroponics & Gardening Supplies Huyton, Mersey Side UK Tel: +44 (0) 1514 820101 www.huytonhydro.co.uk Hygrow II Hydroponics Units 3+4, 30 Oslo Road Suttonfields Industrial Estate HULL HU7 0YN, East Yorkshire Tel: +44 (0) 1482 833455 www.hygrow.co.uk Hydro 1 Stop Unit 35 Deykin Pk. Ind. Es. Deykin Ave. Aston, Birmingham UK B67HN Tel: +44 (0) 1213 280876 www.hydro1stop.co.uk Hydro Hobby Unit 4 Brook Farm, Stoneleigh Rd. Gibbet Hill, Coventry UK CV4 7AB Tel: +44 (0) 2476 414161 www.hydrohobby.co.uk Hydro Station Ltd. Unit 10 Hillfoot Ind. Es. Hoyland Rd. Sheffield, South Yorkshire UK S38AB Tel: +44 (0) 1142 491636 www.hydrostationltd.co.uk Hydrodragon Ltd. 113-115 Alfred St. Roath Cardiff, South Glamorgan UK CF24 4UA Tel: +44 (0) 2920 490333 www.hydrodragon.co.uk Hydroglo Ltd. The Top Store South Rd., Towerhamlets Dover, Kent UK CT17 OAH Tel: +44 (0) 1304 203199 Web: www.hydroglowltd.co.uk
Happy Gardens Ltd. Unit 9, Kelham Bank Ind Es., Kelham St. Doncaster, South Yorkshire UK DN1 3RE Tel: +44 (0) 1302 761386
Hydrogrow Systems Ltd. Unit 7, Acton Bus. Pk., Fields Farm Rd. Longeaton, Nottingham UK NG10 3FZ Tel: +44 (0) 1159 730007 Web: www.hydrogrowsystems.co.uk
Haverhill Hydroponics Centre Unit 14 Spring Rise Falconer Road Haverhill, Suffolk CB97XU Tel:+44 (0) 01440709474 www.haverhillhydro.co.uk
Hydrolite UK Ltd. 215 Denman St., Radford, Nottingham UK NG7 3PS Tel: +44 (0) 1159 785556 www.hydrolite.co.uk
Hydroponic Corporation Unit 20, Deeside Ind. Es., Zone 1 Deeside, Flintshire UK SH5 2LR Tel: +44 (0) 1244 289699 www.t-h-c.biz The Hydroponic Warehouse Unit 15., Bay Airport Ind.Es., Kingston Pk. Newcastle, Tyne and Wear UK NE3 2EF Tel: +44 (0) 1912 862045 www.thehydroponicwharhouse.co.uk Hydroponica Ltd. 130 Doncaster Rd. Wakefield, Yorkshire UK WF1 5JF Tel: +44 (0) 1924 362888 www.hydroponica.biz Hydroponics.com Unit 24, Port Talbot Business Units Addison Road Port Talbot, UK SA12 6HZ Tel: +44 (0) 1639 888891 www.hydroponicsdotcom.com
Midland Hydroponics Russells Garden Centre Baginton Coventry UK CV8 3AG Tel: +44 (0) 2476 639109 midhydroponic@aol.com www.maidland-hydroponics.com Midnight Garden 6 Howlbeck Rd., Guisborough, UK TS14 6LE Tel: +44 (0) 79333 449661 Mile End Hydroponics 265 Wick Rd. London, UK E9 5DG Tel: +44 (0) 2085 330497 www.mile-end-hydroponic.co.uk
Hydropower 300 Holton Rd. Barry, Vale Of Glamorgan UK CF63 4HW Tel: +44 (0) 7725 551479 www.hydro-power.biz
Mousehold Garden Center 63 Mousehold Ln. Norwich, Norfolk UK NR7 8HP Tel: +44 (0) 1603 413272
Hydrosense 47 Scarrots Ln. Newport, Isle of Wright UK PO30 1JD Tel: +44 (0) 1983 522240
Mr. Beam Hydro Rose Grove Selby Rd. Askern, Doncaster UK DN6 0ES Tel: +44 (0) 1302 708297 www.mr-beam-hydro.com
Hygro Hydroponics Unit C -55 Sunningdale Road, South Park Industrial Estate, Scunthorpe Lincs, UK DN17 2TW Hylton Hydro Rockington Nursery Blackness Rd. Sunderland, UK SR4 7XT Tel: 01 9155 18453 Hytec Horticulture Old Wales Wood Colliery, Mansfield Rd. Sheffield, UK S26 5PQ Tel: +44 (0) 1909 772872 www.hytechorticulture.co.uk The Inner Garden Ltd. Unit 14., Cornish Wy., West, Galmington Taunton, Somerset UK TA1 5NA Tel: +44 (0) 1823 274791 Junction 10 Hydro Unit 55, Owen Road Industrial Estate Willenhall, WV13 2PX Tel: +44 (0) 1215 686850 www.j10hydro.com Kernow Grow Ltd. 11 D. Kernick Ind. Es. Penryn, Cornwall UK TR10 9EP Tel: +44 (0) 3300 104420 www.kernowgrow.co.uk King Of Green 18-24 Saint Helens Rd., Westcliff on Sea Westcliff, Essex UK SS0 7LB Tel: +44 (0) 1702 347536 www.kingofgreen.com Kitbag Hydroponic Warehouse 22 Pool Bank St. Nunaeton, Warwickshire UK CV11 5DB Tel: +44 (0) 2476 641033 ebaystores.co.uk/kitbagshop Lancaster Hydroponics Unit 18 Lansil Ind.Es., Caton Rd. Lancaster, Lancashire UK LA1 3PQ Tel: +44 (0) 7961 279279 www.lancasterhydroponics.co.uk Lothian Hydroponics 172 S Mid St. Bathgate, West Lothian UK EH48 1DY Tel: +44 (0) 1506 650501 Makes Sense Grow Shop The Annex Rear of #20, Barden Rd. Tonbridge, Kent UK TN9 1TX Tel: +44 (0) 1732 507201 www.makessencesrowshop.co.uk Manchester Hydroponics Unit 1A, Reliance St. Newton Heath, Manchester UK M40 3AG Tel: +44 (0) 1616 887333 www.manchesterhydroponics.co.uk manchesterhydroponics@yahoo.co.uk Matilda’s Planet 1 Green Pl. Kenfig, South Wales UK Tel: +44 (0) 7895 567843 dale.hudd@grg.com Mellow Yellow Hydro Ltd. Unit B1A Towngate Works., Dark Ln. Mawdesley, Lancashire UK L40 2QU Tel: +44 (0) 1704 822609 www.mellowyellowhydro.co.uk
New Age Hydroponics Unit 1 Albert Pl., Albert Mill Lower Darwen, Lancashire UK BB3 OQE Tel: +44 (0) 1254 661177 New Leaf Hydroponics 1 Horsewater Wynd, Hawkhill, Dundee UK DD1 5DU Tel: +44 (0) 1382 202556 www.newleafhydroponics.co.uk Norfolk Lights & Hydroponics Centre Ltd. Unit 2 Guardian Rd., Ind. Es. Norwich, Norfolk UK NR5 8PF Tel: +44 (0) 1603 666199 www.norfolklights.com NuGreen Hydroponics Unit 4 Stirchley Trad. Es., Hazelwell Rd. Stirchley, Birmingham UK B3O 2PF Tel: +44 (0) 1216 855900 www.nugreenhydroponics.co.uk One Stop Grow Shop Unit 8, Fenton Ind. Es., Dewsbury Rd. Fenton, Stroke-On-Trent UK ST4 2TE Tel: +44 (0) 1782 212000 www.onestopgrowshop.co.uk The Persy Grow Shop 4 Kings Mews. Brighton, East Sussex UK BN3 2PA Tel: +44 (0) 1273 777335 www.persygrowbox.co.uk The Plant Pot 69 Ratcliffe Gate, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire UK NG18 2JB Tel: +44 (0) 1623 422711 www.theplantpot.co.uk Planet Hydro Unit 11 NorthBridge Works., Storey St. Leicester, Leics UK LE3 5GR Tel: +44 (0) 1162 510800 Plant Life Unit 11, Riverside Wy., Ravensthorpe Ind Es. Dewsbury, West Yorkshire UK WF13 3LG Tel: +44 (0) 1924 492298 www.plantlife.me.uk Plantasia Brill View Farm Ludgershall Rd. Bicester, Oxfordshire UK OX25 1PU Tel: +44 (0) 8707 555225 www.plantasia.co.uk
Maximum Yield | September/October 2013
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MAXIMUM YIELD distributors Progrow 5 Westwood Units, Alphinbrook Rd. Marsh Barton Trad. Es. Exeter, Devon UK EX2 8QF Tel: +44 (0) 1392 276998 www.progrow.co.uk ____________________________
Reading Hydroponics Unit 15 Albury Close Redding, Berkshire UK RG30 1BD +44 (0)11 8 939 4998 ____________________________ Rootzone Hydroponics Ltd. Unit 2 & 3., The Green Bus.Ctr., The Causeway Staines, Middlesex UK TW18 3AL Tel: +44 (0) 1784 490370 www.hydrowebshop.com Sale Hydro 71 Dane Rd., Sale Manchester, Lancashire UK M33 7BP Tel: +44 (0) 1619 739899 Email: care@salehydroponics.co.uk Sea of Green UK 25 Eastcott Hill Swindon, Wiltshire UK SN1 3JG Tel: +44 (0) 1793 617046 www.seaofgreen.co.uk ____________________________
Somerset Hydro Unit4 Technine, Guard Avenue Houndstone Business Park Yeovil Somerset BA22 8YE Tel: +44 (0) 1935 420720 www.somhydro.co.uk ____________________________
South Coast Hydroponics Unit 8., Enterprise Ind. Es., Enterprise Rd. Horndean, Portsmouth UK PO8 0BB Tel: +44 (0) 2392 598853 www.southcoasthydroponics.com Southern Hydro Centre 9 Mamesbury Rd. Southampton, Hampshire UK S01 SFT Tel: +44 (0) 2380 704080 www.southernhydro.co.uk Southern Lights #1 25 Fratton Rd. Hampshire, UK PO1 5AB Tel: +44 (0) 1705 811822 Southern Lights #2 19A Grace Hill. Folkestone, Kent UK CT20 1HQ Tel: +44 (0) 1303 210003; Tel: +44 (0) 1303 252561 St Albans Hydroponics Unit 5 London Rd., Bus.Pk., 222 London Rd. St Albans, UK AL1 1PN Tel: +44 (0) 1727 848595 www.stalbanshydroponics.moonfruit.com Starlite Systems 226 Albert Rd., Plymouth, Devon UK PL2 1AW Tel: +44 (0) 1752 551233 www.starlitesystems.co.uk Sub-Garden Supplies 45-J Leyton Industrial Village, Argall Ave., Leyton, London UK E10 7QP Tel: +44 (0) 2085 399563
Listed alphabetically by shop name.
Sunrise Hydroponics 127 Newcastle St., Burslem. Stoke on Trent, Staffshire UK ST6 3QJ Tel: +44 (0) 1782 813814 www.sunrisehydro.co.uk Thetford Urban Gardens Ltd. 25 Brunel Way, Thetford, Norfolk, UK IP24 1HP Tel: +44 (0) 7780 232169 thetford.urbangardens@hotmail.co.uk www.thetford-urban-gardens.com Toddington Hydroponics Center Griffin Farm Unit 9., Toddington Dunstable, Bedford UK LU5 6BT Tel: +44 (0) 1582 664765 www.toddingtonhydroponics.co.uk Triangle Hydroponics Unit 6 Bornemouth Central business park. South Cote Rd. Bornemouth BH1 3SJ Tel: +44 (0) 1202 556661 www.trianglehydroponics.co.uk U Grow London Studio12, Imperial Studios, 3-11 Imperial Rd. London, UK SW6 2AG, Tel: +44 (0) 2073 843388 www.ugrow.com Warehouse Hydroponics Bank Quay Trading Est., Slutchers Ln. Warrington, Cheshire UK WA1 1PJ Tel: +44 (0) 1925 637837 www.warehousehydroponics.co.uk
ireland
Northern Lights 9 Dunluce St. Larne Antrim, Northern Ireland BT40 1JG Tel: +44 (0) 2828 278485 www.northernlightsni.com The Grow Shop 14 Brews Hill , Nauan, Co. M Fath Ireland OLI Tel: +44 (0) 1772 204455 www.thc.ie
scotland Progrow Scotland Unit 6., Nasmyth Square Houston Ind.Es. Livingston, West Lothian Scotland EH5 45GG Tel: +44 (0) 1506 430830 www.progrowscotland.co.uk Abergreen Horticulture Ltd Arch 8 Palmerston Rd. Aberdeen, Granpian Scotland AB11 5RE Tel: +44 (0) 1224 574737 www.abergreen.co.uk Kingdom Hydroponics Unit #12 Carbery Pl., Mitchelson Ind. Es. Kirkcaldy, Fife Scotland KY1 3NE Tel: +44 (0) 1592 655611 ____________________________
Hamilton Hydro Ltd. Unit 13&16 Murray Court, Hillhouse Industrial Estate, Hamilton Scotland ML3 9SL +44 (0) 1698281148 ____________________________ Hydra Hydroponics 41 Tower St., Edinburgh, Scotland EH6 7BN Tel: +44 (0) 1315 611332 www.hydraonline.co.uk Glasgrow 15 Parnie St. Glasgow, Scotland G15RJ Tel: +44 (0) 1415 527522 www.glasgrowhydroponics.co.uk EZ Grow Perth 77 Scott St. Perth, Scotland PH2 8JR Tel: +44 (0) 7521 597308
U-Grow Organic Unit 11 North Canal Bank St., Port Dundas, Glasgow Scotland G4 9XP +44 (0) 1413 413352 info@u-grow.com www.u-grow.com
hungary BABYLON grow Csurgói street 15., Budapest, Pest megye Hungary Tel: +36 (0) 20 381 2802 babylon@babylon-grow.eu www.babylon-grow.eu Gomoa Trade Kft. Lágymányosi street 5., Budapest, Pest megye, Hungary 1111 Tel: +36 (0) 20 566 1186 gomoa.net@gmail.com www.gomoa.net Gomoa Trade Kft. Petofi avenue 50. Szeged, Csongrád megye, Hungary 6725 Tel: +36 (0) 20 406 2182 ˝ gomoa.net@gmail.com www.gomoa.net Gomoa Trade Kft. Kazinczy street 3. Pécs, Baranya megye, Hungary 7621 Tel: +36 (0) 20 351 4294 gomoa.net@gmail.com www.gomoa.net
COMING UP IN November/December 2013 Oxygenate, Respirate or Suffocate
Winterizing Your Grow Room
Winter is a great time for indoor gardening— seasonal crops that may have been difficult to source for consumers during the winter months because they were field or greenhouse grown can be produced indoors on a perpetual cycle and you’ll be able to charge top-market price for these out-of-season rarities. Lee McCall shares why your winter grow room should feature a water chiller and other suggestions for maximising space.
Have You Forgotten About Magnesium?
A doctor of science has the latest word on what determines a magnesium sufficiency in a rooting medium. 82
Maximum Yield | September/October 2013
All plants need oxygen for proper functioning and health. Oxygen starvation can result in myriad crises in the garden that can’t be reversed. So, how do you know if your plants are starved for oxygen? Stay tuned.
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