Maximum Yield USA - March 2010 by Maximum Yield

FEATURES

CONTENTS march 2010

Nutrients: Beyond Macros and Micros

Using Conductivity to Control Nutrient Concentration (Part II)

by Dr. Lynette Morgan

by Andrew Taylor

Grow Room Invasions: Next Generation LEDs Part II by Erik Biksa

Using Home Hydroponics to Grow Roses

Safe and Effective CO2 Enrichment in the Garden

by Lewis Dobson

by Isabelle Lemay, agr. and Mélissa Léveillé

We Need to Talk: An Insider`s Guide to Hydroponic Shops by Casey Fraser

94 100

Biological Products in Indoor Gardens by Donald Lester

Root-Parasitic Fungi: How to Control Pythium in Hydroponics by Noucetta Kehdi

110 DEPARTMENTS 10 From the Editor

Aquaponics: Clean, Green and Organic

120

Little Growers' Roots are Spreading

124

Do You Know What's Happening Under Your Drippers?

by Dr. Michael A. Nichols

by Heather Pearl

by Dr. J. Benton Jones Jr.

98 Growing for Health

12 Letters to the Editor

118 You Tell Us

14 MaximumYield.com

131 Coming up in April

18 Ask Erik

133 Do You Know?

20 MAX Facts

134 Talking Shop

34 Product Spotlight

136 Avant-Gardening

68 Beginner’s Corner

140 Max Mart

78 Tips and Tricks

144 Distributors

88 Green Thumb Gardening

110

124 MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

FROM THE editor

jessica raymond

For impressive results every time, growers must accept that advice can be gleaned from others who have been there, done that. This can be a difficult task for those of us that think we have everything figured out, although we may be experiencing less than perfect results in the garden. To help you outperform and outgrow your past endeavors (and succeed at new ones) I recommend a look at some of the unique and winning factors this issue offers. Your first lesson will cover the following topics: lighting, conductivity, nutrients, roots, water, CO2 and pest control. Your homework this month will include kitchen composting, greenhouse construction, microgreen growing and an essay on the benefits of neem oil. The great news is this homework is fun and will keep you busy and learning throughout the winter. This issue of Maximum Yield contains a comprehensive round-up of the newest products available to help you grow. Check them out at your favorite shop and while you are drooling over them, stop a moment and enter our “Win Big…Grow Big” online contest offering four chances to win some of the best grow gear ever.

Montreal canada Want to learn more? Take the opportunity to learn “hands on” at the upcoming Canadian Indoor Gardening Expo in beautiful Montreal – June 5-6, 2010. An impressive mix of the top manufacturers from around the world will be in attendance to showcase and demonstrate the industry’s latest products. Everyone is welcome to attend on general public day – Sunday, June 6th. Saturday, June 5th has been set aside for industry only. Admission is free and the show is open from noon until 5 p.m. More information can be found at www.indoorgardenexpo.com

Jessica Raymond, Editor editor@maximumyield.com

contributors Dr. Lynette Morgan holds a B. Hort.

Mélissa Léveillé holds a license in communication, writing and multimedia. She is the newest member of the Nova Biomatique Inc. Team (www.igrowing.com), makers of the PLUG’N’GROW climate controllers. She is responsible for Nova Biomatique Inc.’s communications.

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

Andrew Taylor is the manager of

Flairform (www.flairform.com) – an Australian-based manufacturing company. As an analytical chemist with qualifications in plant function and nutrition, he has over 13 years experience in product research and development, and also writes extensively on hydroponic growing techniques.

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

Dr. Mike Nichols is a retired

Erik Biksa holds a diploma in

Casey Fraser owns Garden Grove

Heather Pearl is completing her BA in development geography at Kings College. She acts as fundraiser for the Little Growers team, helping to increase its exposure and endorsements. She is keen to champion the Little Grower’s cause for worldwide youth education in the fields of health and horticulture.

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.

Donald Lester is the plant products manager at JH Biotech, Inc., a California based agricultural technology company with 27 OMRI certified products. Donald has a master’s degree in agronomy with an emphasis in entomology. He is an agricultural scientist with over 10 years of research experience and 50 scientific publications to his credit.

Dr. J. Benton Jones Jr. has 50 years

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

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

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

Organics, in Northern Kentucky/ Greater Cincinnati. He has a degree in communications and electronic media. He believes that indoor gardeners can achieve the highest quality crops and maximum yields when proper science is applied. Since 1998, Casey has been testing various nutrients and supplements in search of outstanding harvests.

university lecturer and an honorary research associate in the College of Sciences at Massey University, New Zealand. He speaks extensively at conferences for international organizations such as the United Nations, and also writes and consults on a range of intensive horticultural topics.

of experience growing plants hydroponically. He is an Emeritus Professor at the University of Georgia, Athens and has authored eight books and written articles for magazines that deal with hydroponic issues. He currently has his own consulting company, Grosystems, Inc. Dr. Jones currently lives in Anderson, SC, USA.

LETTERS TO the editor

The Directionless Artist An advertisement in the last issue of Maximum Yield USA 2010, “Growing for the Future,” tells me to go to your website for more information on the photo cover contest, Behind the Lens. I did that but I can’t find it. Help! Nick Millar

The link to follow is: http://maximumyield.com/BehindTheLens.php We encourage you to send us as many photographs as you like, which best represent the themes laid out in the contest regulations. Good luck and have fun!

Texas-Sized Vermicomposting Facilities Thank you for the quick “how-to” vermicompost in last month’s Maximum Yield USA (Worm Power, pg. 90). I wanted to get into it, but I wasn’t sure where to begin. It’s quite an amazing process really. I’ve recently read about some of the larger scale facilities, like the one in Westley, California, where something like 500,000 pounds of earthworms process 75,000 tons of material annually. What a great way to minimize landfill waste. Excellent article; I anticipate more articles like this one in the future.

by Emma

Cooper

Worm Power! From W to Worthaste whi

Vermicom posting - compost to turn ing with kitchen waste into worms And you - is an idea nutritiou can verm l way s compost icompost A worm for the even if bin can garden. you don be kept compost 't have indoors, a garden! and liqui or on the d produced patio, and are idea the l for feed ing hou seplants .

Step 1:

Firstly you need a conta can buy ready iner to keep your comp you can find -made wormeries osting worm , and many instruction s in.You of these are you need to remember s on the Inter net very good to make worms are . Or when choo living creat sing or build your own. The bin will need ures and things ing a worm have drainage ery are that the worm and air holes certain requireme s can't escap nts.Your , but you worm e and that also need they're kept to ensure that in the dark.

MAXIMUM

YIELD USA

- February

2010

Jason Wallburg Odessa, Texas

Five Ways to Say Thank You

Talking Shop an Engaging Read I remember reading an article three or four years back on hydroponic shops. The author, Cindy Rea, talked about people’s reluctance to enter their local grow shop “for fear of being overwhelmed by this particular gardening technique.” In fact, I was once one of those reluctant cynics; fortunately I was cursed with a strong desire to bring my love of gardening indoors and “play” through the seasons. In order to bring this desire to fruition, I had to step inside and say hello. And I’m so glad I did. I think it’s great that you are featuring local shops from across the country in the magazine now. As a beginner, I would have been so grateful to see the friendly faces of the local retailers before actually entering their store. I’m excited about “getting to know” more people in this great industry, and especially hearing from retailers in Oregon, my home state. Keep up the great work.

Flipping through the February issue of Maximum Yield USA online, I was surprised and happy to see friendly and familiar faces from my local hydro shop, Fifth Season Gardening Co. They’re not just a hydro shop either. My wife and I frequent the beer and wine section for everything we need to make our famous brew—at least we think it’s famous—for the holidays. The staff is incredibly knowledgeable and rarely, if ever, are they stuck for an answer for my question of the day (and trust me, I’ve got a grow room full of questions). With their help I have been able to integrate some of the new technologies into my garden, but they’ve also helped me use what I have for my best grow. Nik Summers Raleigh, NC

Allison Joseph Portland, Oregon

Stay tuned to Maximum Yield’s “Talking Shop” with a new store featured every month. This issue, meet Paula Christensen from Green Earth Products in Rapid City, South Dakota, page 134.

Maximum Yield reserves the right to edit for brevity.

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

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

Coming up on the Web

I N D O O R

G A R D E N I N G

VOLUME 10 – NUMBER 12 March 2010

Maximum Yield is published monthly by Maximum Yield Publications Inc. 2339A Delinea Place, Nanaimo, BC V9T 5L9 Phone: 250.729.2677; Fax 250.729.2687 No part of this magazine may be reproduced without permission from the publisher. If undeliverable please return to the address above. The views expressed by columnists are a personal opinion and do not necessarily reflect those of Maximum Yield or the Editor. Publication Agreement Number 40739092

PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER - Jim Jesson GENERAL MANAGER - Don Moores BUSINESS MANAGER - Linda Jesson SALES DIRECTOR - Lisa Lambersek EDITOR - Jessica Raymond jessica@maximumyield.com ADVERTISING SALES 250.729.2677 Linda Jesson - linda@maximumyield.com Lisa Lambersek - lisa@maximumyield.com Ilona Hawser - ilona@maximumyield.com Julie Madden - julie@maximumyield.com Gaby Morin - gaby@maximumyield.com

Features Every month, maximumyield.com is bursting with new information. This month you get biological products, CO2, composting, conductivity, greenhouse growing, lighting, microgreens, neem oil, root fungi, water knowledge, and more! Check it out.

Bonus Features Online Extras is Maximum Yield’s special gift to our readers. In case you didn’t get enough of what you wanted with our featured articles, we offer tables and tricks that can be printed and pasted in your grow room or greenhouse for easy reference.

Latest Products & Technologies Check out the industry’s latest innovations in lighting, nutrients and controllers.

Contests Prizes and prestige could be yours with Maximum Yield contests. Enter our Win Big…Grow Big online reader contest for your chance to win four new prizes every second month. Plus, get your photograph displayed on the cover of Maximum Yield by entering “Behind the Lens.” No purchase necessary. The next winner could be you, so enter online today.

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

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

PRODUCTION & DESIGN ads@ads.maximumyield.com Pentti Tikkanen - pentti@maximumyield.com Alice Joe - alice@maximumyield.com Wes Cargill - wes@maximumyield.com ACCOUNTING - Lee Anne Veres leeanne@maximumyield.com USA DISTRIBUTION Aurora Innovations BWGS, BWGS West and BWGS East General Hydroponics Hydrofarm Hydro International National Garden Wholesale / Sunlight Supply R&M Supply Tradewinds CANADIAN DISTRIBUTION Brite-Lite Group Biofloral Eddis Wholesale Greenstar Plant Products Inc. Hydrotek MegaWatt Quality Wholesale UK DISTRIBUTION Growth Technology Hydrogarden Northern Hydroponic Wholesale Nutriculture UK AUSTRALIAN DISTRIBUTION Futchatec Growth Technology Hydraspher

ASK

erik

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

Erik, What is the deal with the new LED grow lights? Do they really throw off as much light as promised? If so it would be a no brainer to change over. Does every lighting company sell them? How new are they? Why are people so skeptical? I don’t know if I should switch from my 1000 watt metal halide, but I will if it makes sense to do so. My electric bill is sick. Thank you, Confused

Hello Confused, The most straightforward answer I can give to you at this time is that it all depends on what type of LED lights you are using. There are a lot of different LED diode types, configurations and wattages available, so there can be some striking difference between one LED lighting system and another. HID (high intensity discharge) lighting has been around for some time now, and as a result is standardized. There is not a lot of variance between different HID lighting ballast and lamp manufacturers in terms of light output and spectrum, although there are some differences, perhaps on average within five to 10 per cent. As a new technology, some vendors are reluctant to jump on board and promote LED lighting as the wave of the future. A lot of the hydroponic industry has been built on the back of LED lighting, so to speak. Regardless, LEDs are here to stay and as with all things in nature it’s critical for survival to adapt to a changing environment. In this case, the environment is the hydroponics marketplace, so what you may find is a lot of the innovators rather than the reactionaries will be involved with moving this emerging growth technology forward.

LEDs throw off a different type or quality of light versus HID lighting. One of the great things about LED lighting for crops besides the 50 to 75 per cent decrease in power consumption and cool running is the fact that the spectral output can be tailored to just about any wavelength. LEDs produce light in the bandwidths that plants use, and as a result measuring or comparing light intensity in lumens or lux is not a fair comparison. If measuring in PAR or PFD (measuring light required for photosynthesis rather than just visible light) LED lighting can be extremely intense. Some of the quad-band, high output LEDs will meet or exceed the performance of your 1000 watt HID lighting system. Be prepared to spend a significant investment, however, you can often re-capture the higher purchase price within a couple of years with all the money saved on power consumption. Also, you will never have to replace a lamp/diode, which further offsets the higher initial purchase price of LEDs. Once LED lighting for plant growth becomes more consistent from manufacturer to manufacturer and mass production helps to lowers cost of purchase, LEDs may cause an explosion in the number of people who grow at home. LEDs allow for high output gardens to be set up just about anywhere and overcome a lot of the limitations that HID lighting provides to would-be home growers. Cheers, Erik B

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

MAX

facts

hydroponic news, tips and trivia

Exotic Orchids Available for Less Taiwan is putting orchids, a once high-priced product, within reach of the common consumer. The flowering of the orchid industry has been nurtured by a relationship between Taiwanese and California entrepreneurs. The flowers are now found in Costco, Wal-Mart and Trader Joe’s for as little as $15 or less, a bargain for a plant that takes up to two years to grow and whose blooms can last as long as a month or two. Taiwan is the world’s leading producer of phalaenopsis orchids, one of the most popular varieties. A couple of decades ago an orchid plant could cost as much as $2,000 in the United States.

Taiwan’s hot and humid climate is perfect for early-stage orchid growth. But the “spiking” process—the budding and blooming of orchids—needs cooler temperatures, so the young plants are shipped to California, where the cool coastal climate is well-suited for the blooming of orchids. Government officials in Taipei petitioned the United States Department of Agriculture to allow its farmers to ship orchids to America in sterile sphagnum moss, a process that produced hardier baby orchid plants. Shipping orchids embedded in moss dropped transportation costs from about $1.50 per plant to 20 cents. (Source: http://fwix.com)

Is Decentralized Urban Farming the Future of Food?

Global Warming a Cool Issue According to Americans

The founder of BK Farmyards advocates using urban land to grow crops closer to home, hoping to inspire the future planning of cities to include urban agriculture. Most Americans live in urban areas, and just as the population densities have shifted around the country, backyards should be re-examined. There are more than 10,000 acres of unused land in New York City, according to the Department of Planning, and 1,500 of those acres are in Brooklyn. Plus, there are countless privately owned sunny backyards. Farming 36 backyards in Crown Heights or Bay Ridge is the equivalent to farming an acre. BK Farmyards pairs yard-owners with urban farmers, using their website to crowd source available land. BK Farmyards found 700 square feet in backyards in Ditmas Park. Sharing backyards is a combination of online dating and Google maps, which allows you to meet your land match as a farmer. Hyperlocavore meets a similar need: sharing local resources through a social network interface.

A survey conducted at the end of 2009 by Yale University confirmed that Americans are skeptical about the causes of global warming, future effects and whether it’s even happening. The study has a margin of error of +/- three per cent. With this in mind, the percentage of Americans who think global warming is actually happening has fallen 14 points to 57 per cent. Just 47 per cent of Americans think that human activity is responsible for climate change, down 10 points from last year’s survey. At the end of 2009, 50 per cent of people surveyed said they were somewhat or very worried about global warming, down from 63 per cent the previous year. 43 per cent of Americans think the issue is not too important or not important all, with 38 per cent saying it is somewhat important. The last time this survey was conducted just 29 per cent of people thought global warming wasn’t a serious issue. The American public believes there is “a lot of disagreement” among scientists about whether warming is happening or not.

(Source: www.good.is)

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

(Source: www.treehugger.com)

MAX

facts

hydroponic news, tips and trivia

Gardening Apps for your iPhone The iPhone Smartphone allows users to personalize their handsets to fit their lifestyle, with applications available ranging from the essential to the exotic. Gardeners have more than 100 applications to choose from, with themes containing landscaping tips to virtual tour videos; there’s even an app that its developers claim will repel mosquitoes. All apps show up as fingertip controlled icons. Gardening apps aim to help with everything from locating supplies to fending off mosquitoes to converting cell phones into flashlights. Some are offered free, but most cost a one-time fee for downloading into your handset. Not every app remains long on virtual shelves or operates with every phone, so growers should check for availability and compatibility before ordering. Some gardening applications include: Pocket Garden (99 cents), Flowers Guide ($1.99), Botanical Interests ($5.99), Landscaper’s Companion ($6.99), Garden Supplies Store Finder (99 cents) and the General Hydroponics Nutrient Calculator (free). (Source: www.motherearthnews.com)

Turfgrass - Can’t Live With It, Can’t Live Without It New research has found that turfgrass lawns—in Southern California at least—may contribute to global warming. Greenhouse gas emissions would be lower if lawns did not exist. Turfgrass lawns help remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis and store it as organic carbon in soil, making them important “carbon sinks.” However, greenhouse gas emissions from fertilizer production, mowing, leaf blowing and other lawn management practices are four times greater than the amount of carbon stored by ornamental grass in parks, a UC Irvine study shows. These emissions include nitrous oxide released from soil after fertilization. Nitrous oxide is a greenhouse gas that’s 300 times more powerful than carbon dioxide, the Earth’s most problematic climate warmer. Turfgrass is increasingly widespread in urban areas and covers 1.9 percent of land in the continental U.S., making it the most common irrigated crop. This research was the first to compare carbon sequestration to nitrous oxide and carbon dioxide emissions from lawn grooming practices. (Source: www.sciencedaily.com)

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

MAX

facts

hydroponic news, tips and trivia

Lessons in Biodynamics This winter at The Farm at South Mountain, local farmer Maya Dailey, who won a Best of Phoenix for her Green Thumb last year, built a biodynamic compost heap, with the publicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s help. Composting is an environmentally beneficial practice that utilizes decomposed organic materials to create soil that goes back into the farming techniques. It helps eliminate waste and decreases farming costs since youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re recycling materials back into the earth. Biodynamic composting, which is what was taught by Maya, integrates spirituality and celestial influences, which participants learned about in the class. The Farm at South Mountain, which includes an upscale restaurant Quiessence Restaurant and Wine Bar, uses locally grown food in its menu items. The session, according to participants, was energizing, educational and hands-on. (Source: http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com)

USDA Funding to Battle Plant Pests The USDA has allocated $45 million for projects in support of critical plant health. Funding will be provided to more than 50 cooperators, including state departments of agriculture, universities, non-profit organizations and USDA agencies in support of over 200 projects. These state, regional and national projects will support the goals of the farm bill in building strong systems to safeguard the health of U.S. agricultural industries using early plant pest detection and surveillance, threat identification and mitigation. Roughly $2 million of these funds are being targeted to projects specifically related to the goal of safeguarding nursery production. A number of the target projects are relevant to the green industry. Several projects will seek to validate and measure the effectiveness of best management practices and nursery system approaches for pest management and nursery plant certification. Some projects are focused on the detection or containment of serious plant pests. (Source: www.greenhousegrower.com)

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

MAX

facts

hydroponic news, tips and trivia

Prison Garden Popularity Spreads Prison gardens are a growing trend, providing food for inmates while they learn a valuable skill set for when they are released. The idea rose to national fame when the Garden Project of San Francisco started selling fresh produce to Alice Waters’ acclaimed Chez Panisse restaurant. An increasing number of prisons are launching gardening programs. On-site gardens improve the nutritional intake of inmates and as a direct San Quentin result can reduce violence and improve participants’ mental health, teach horticultural skills that can be used upon inmates’ release and also often produce surplus that is sent to food banks or other community centers or services. A variety of prisons in the United States are following suit by launching their own inmate-tended gardens, including San Quentin State Prison’s Insight

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

Garden Program featuring 1,200 square feet of organic flowers; the organic produce garden at the California Institute for Women; the Greenhouse Project on New York’s Riker’s island, which produced 75,000 pounds of produce last year; an organic vegetable patch at Washington State’s McNeil Island Corrections Center, complete with composting units; and Greenleaf Gardens at the Prison Horticulture Vocational Program in New York’s Westchester County. Prison garden projects exist in New Zealand and London as well and no doubt in numerous countries in between. (Source: http://planetgreen.discovery.com)

MAX

facts

hydroponic news, tips and trivia

Renee’s Garden Seed Makes a Difference Every year, Renee’s Garden donates seeds to a wide variety of organizations and educational programs worldwide that strive to improve social, economic and health conditions, and promote sustainable organic gardening. Renee’s Garden Seed encourages retailers to donate unsold seeds to local non-profit organizations at the end of the season. (Source: www.reneesgarden.com)

U.S. Organic Sales Up 17 Percent Sales of organic products grew 17 percent despite the struggling economy. Results from the survey show organic food sales grew by 15.8 percent to reach $22.9 billion, while organic non-food sales grew by an astounding 39.4 percent to reach $1.648 billion. As a result, organic food sales now account for approximately 3.5 percent of all food product sales in the United States. Even though the industry seems to be growing, the cost of organics can be prohibitive. That’s why the Environmental Working Group publishes an annual list of the “Dirty Dozen,” or the 12 fruits and vegetables that carry the most pesticide residue. If you’re going to spend money on organics, it’s better to put it towards produce on that list, rather than the “Clean Fifteen,” or the fruits and vegetables least likely to carry residue. A good rule of thumb is, if it has a tough or inedible skin or rind, conventional is probably ok. If it has a delicate, edible skin, it’s likely a member of the Dirty Dozen, which includes: peaches, apples, bell peppers, celery, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, kale, lettuce, grapes, carrots and pears. The Clean Fifteen includes: onions, avocados, sweet corn, pineapples, mangos, asparagus, sweet peas, kiwi, cabbage, eggplants, papaya, MY watermelon, broccoli, tomatoes and sweet potatoes. (Source: www.usnews.com)

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

PRODUCT spotlight

See it. Want it. Find it at your local indoor gardening store. Equilibrium Natural 1-2-1 Plants must have accessible calcium and magnesium to successfully grow, fruit and flower. In thorough tests conducted by the Humboldt Nutrients team, specific solutions of Ca and Mg dominated the competition in side-by-side trials. If you want to reap a large bountiful harvest your plants must receive the correct ratio of calcium to magnesium throughout it’s life cycle; but for that harvest to be flavorful, sweet and aromatic, one must ensure that the Ca and Mg you are feeding your garden are derived from high quality source materials. With our latest invention, Equilibrium Natural, Humboldt Nutrients offers the ease of a one part Ca-Mg additive with the quality that has come to be associated with our products. Try Equilibrium Natural today and see the difference it makes in your normal routine. Use Equilibrium Natural as part of one of our complete feeding programs and you will be hooked for life. Humboldt Nutrients, bringing equality to a garden near you. Contact your local hydro store to learn more.

Humboldt Nutrients Presents Hydro Deuce Humboldt Nutrients Hydro Deuce brings the power of the H.N. natural line to your hydro system. The high quality potassium used in our Deuce Deuce is now formulated in a lower viscosity (thickness) allowing this award-winning formula to function without issues in your pumps and reservoirs. Potassium is the great equalizer in plants, ensuring that numerous chemical interactions take place. Hydro Deuce has been crafted by the Humboldt Nutrients team using a specific ratio and grade of potash, which allows more complete absorption of potassium into your plants. Try Humboldt Nutrients Hydro Deuce today and experience the best of both worlds. Humboldt Nutrients has finally put high performance hydroponics and all natural organics hand-in-hand. Ask for it now at your local hydroponics store.

All-New Flipbox™ from Powerbox™ Powerbox™ is excited to announce the release of their all-new Flipbox™. Now you can expand production without installing additional power circuits, by running two lights from a single ballast (non-simultaneously). Simply plug a Flipbox™ into your ballast and plug two lights into your Flipbox™. A trigger cord controls changeover from one light to the other. The Flipbox™ is modular – you use one per ballast. This allows for flexibility in placement of your equipment and provides increased system reliability, compared to flip panels that control multiple ballasts. If there is a component failure, you don’t have to take down an entire panel system and experience downtime – you simply replace one module, while the rest of your system keeps running. Powerbox™ Flipboxes™ work with digital or magnetic ballasts, are priced affordably and include a best-in-class five year warranty. Visit your local hydro retailer for more information. 34

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

PRODUCT spotlight

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

Aminozym Organic Root Stimulator from Cash Crop Aminozym is an organic-based root and grow stimulator and tonic. Aminozym promotes leaf, stem and enzyme production, guaranteeing the best start for young plants. This root stimulator consists of amino acids, natural flowering hormones, vitamins and organic macro and micro elements from seaweed kelp and vegetable matter. It ensures a faster growth rate, larger root mass, improved resistance to disease and increased production of the plant’s natural oils and resin. Use Aminozym from the start, until the end of the second week of bloom. Aminozym guarantees the fastest, healthiest and heaviest harvests. Visit your local grow shop to learn more.

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

C.A.P. Introduces “The Mini Sun Light™” 150 Watt HPS Mini System “The Mini Sun Light™” is a 150 watt high pressure sodium complete mini system. It features a C.A.P. 150 watt lamp with 16,500 lumens, highly reflective imported hammertone Alumabrite insert and includes a back-lit on/off switch. “The Mini Sun Light™” is also equipped with an eight foot grounded 120 volt power cord and E-26 medium base socket. Its vented ballast housing allows heat dissipation and a powder coated finish provides moisture resistance. For more information contact your retail distributor.

PRODUCT spotlight

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

Conscious Earthworks™ Presents Vital Earth’s® High-Nitro Guano Vital Earth’s® High-Nitro Guano is an excellent and effective fertilizer, helping to increase the size and quantity of foliage in all vegetative plants, vines, shrubs and trees. Vital Earth’s® High-Nitro Guano is produced by fruit-eating bats in Indonesia. It helps to enhance growth in fruit and vegetables. Soils deficient in organic matter may be made more productive by the use of Vital Earth’s® High-Nitro Guano. Gently dig into soil surface once per month or as desired. Available in 44 pound bags. For more information on Vital Earth’s® High-Nitro Guano contact your local garden store.

Conscious Earthworks™ Presents Vital Earth’s® High-Phos Guano Vital Earth’s® High-Phos Guano is an excellent and effective fertilizer and a supreme source for promoting fruiting and flowering for all plant types. It is made from 100 per cent bat guano known as an effective fertilizer for centuries, with no additives. Soils deficient in organic matter may be more productive with the addition of Vital Earth’s® High-Phos Guano. Great for promoting improved crop yields. Gently dig into soil surface once per month or as desired. Available in 22 pound buckets. For more information on Vital Earth’s® High-Phos Guano contact your gardening store.

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

PRODUCT spotlight

House & Garden Shooting Powder The secret of every successful grower is Shooting Powder. This sparkling bud expander is the absolute best in the field of flowering simulators. It gives visible results, can be combined with all base nutrients, is packed in handy sachet, simple to use and has been extensively tested in the House & Gardenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s research and development center. Try it once and you will come back for more. This flowering booster starts a new flowering cycle after the regular flowering phase. The extra yield after applying this nutrient additive will surprise you. It actually creates a new layer on top of the existing fruit. Output increases of over 20 per cent can be reached this way. Shooting Powder is available now from indoor gardening retailers.

Introducing Geohumus Soil Enhancer Geohumus is the newest patentpending water storing granulate containing hybrid material that can store up to 30 times its own weight in water. Geohumus is a soil enhancer containing trace elements and minerals that ensure better and quicker plant growth, which leads to an increase in biomass. It is produced by means of polymerization of a hybrid material with water storing qualities, volcanic rock flour and colloidal silicate. Water that would previously have been lost to evaporation or seepage beyond root level is now retained. With Geohumus both seepage and the required water amount can be reduced considerably and irrigation periods can be lengthened. Geohumus can be mixed with the substrate in a concentration of one per cent. Numerous scientific studies have shown that Geohumus is completely non-toxic and absolutely harmless for the environment. Geohumus remains in the soil for three to five years and will then be degraded biologically. Geohumus â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Just Add It! Visit your local retailer to learn more.

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

PRODUCT spotlight

White Widow from Humboldt Nutrients White Widow is the newest and most powerful soluble mycorrhizal from Humboldt Nutrients. White Widow is a pure endo-mycorrhizal containing an extremely high and diverse amount of mycological spores. No other mycorrhizal on the market has more propagules per gram. A soluble mycorrhizal inoculant relies heavily on the amount of spores in the product and the ability of that product to become soluble in water. White Widow is a superfine powder that quickly and easily dissolves into water. With White Widow the speed and aggressiveness of your plantsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; root development is unprecedented. It is common to see large, furry, bright white roots shooting out of the bottom of containers only a week after transplanting. White Widow is bacteria free, making it ideal for hydroponic systems. White Widow can also be used in soil and soilless gardens. If you can keep things healthy on the surface, White Widow will handle the situation underneath. To learn more about White Widow contact an indoor gardening store near you.

C.A.P. Introduces the Variable Day and Night Fan Speed Controller The Day and Night Variable Fan Speed Controller is designed to gradually increase or decrease the speed of centrifugal fans depending on the day or night temperature set-points. It enables you to determine precise temperature levels to achieve within your growing environment by way of proper ventilation. Another great addition to C.A.P.â&#x20AC;&#x2122;s line of greenhouse and hydroponic controllers! For more information contact your retail distributor. Continued on page 130

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Nutrients:

Beyond Macros and Micros by Dr. Lynette Morgan

The nutrient solution is the foundation on which hydroponic plant growth is based. Its composition, in terms of essential nutrient ions, oxygen, microbial life and other â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;beneficialâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; elements determines the health and growth rate of plants in hydroponics. While most growers are familiar with the essential macro and micro elements required for crop growth, plant matter has been found to contain well over 60 elements and soils are typically composed largely of aluminum, silicon and iron. Plant tissue has been found to contain elements as diverse as lead, gold, mercury, arsenic, uranium, sodium and many others, levels of which often reflect those found in the soil. In hydroponics, it has been found that plants will absorb and accumulate numerous non-essential elements from the nutrient solution, however, being non-essential does not necessarily mean that these extra elements are not beneficial to different plant species. 46

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Most of the potentially beneficial elements only need to be present in the nutrient solution or root zone in such minute quantities that some find their way into the plantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s environment through natural means, in water supplies or growing substrates and even as dust in the air. With many of the beneficial elements required at just a fraction of a part per million, there is such a fine line between a safe amount and toxicity, that the best method of incorporating these into a nutrient solution is with the use of commercially prepared hydroponic supplements, many of which are organically based. On the market these days there are nutrient concentrates that feature a number of the proven beneficial elements such as silica, selenium, nickel and others as well as a good balance of the essential macro and micro nutrients. In the future we can expect to see the range of beneficial elements in commercially prepared nutrients increase as scientists uncover more of the secrets of advanced plant nutrition.

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

Why incorporate nutrient supplements There are two main reasons for the use of beneficial elements as nutrient supplements in hydroponics. Firstly, many studies have demonstrated that certain ‘non essential’ elements have beneficial effects on the growth and development of many plant species. In fact it is likely that additional essential micro elements will be identified in the future, those which are currently only required in extremely low levels and thus difficult to identify and quantify. Secondly, many hydroponic growers are interested in the health giving properties of the fruits and vegetables they “Plant matter has been produce and there is a found to contain well over growing area of research 60 elements as diverse as into supplementing some lead, gold, mercury, arsenic, of the human essential uranium and sodium.” elements into plant material. Although plants need a certain diet of their own essential nutrients, humans require many others such as sodium, iodine, cobalt and selenium, as well as silicon, chromium, tin and vanadium in minute quantities. We obtain these nutrients from our food, and while many are present in animal products, we get certain amounts from eating plants. Many of the crops we eat contain the extra elements we need, although they aren’t essential for the plant itself. There has been some concern that hydroponic crops, grown with carefully formulated, salt fertilizer-based nutrients don’t contain the full range of extra elements required for a healthy diet. This is not entirely correct as most water sources contain small amounts of a large number of the same minerals found in soils and these do find their way into hydroponic crops in quantities comparable to well grown field crops. However, the hydroponic nutrient solution can be boosted with small amounts of the same potentially beneficial nutrient elements found in healthy soils and in many cases will then produce more nutritionally complete fruits and vegetables than those grown in many heavily cropped soil systems. MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

Nutrients: Beyond Macros and Micros

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

By having plants naturally incorporate human beneficial elements such as selenium into their tissue at increased levels, human nutrition can be improved. Furthermore, not only do some elements such as selenium play a role in health, and in some cases, cancer prevention, but they are incorporated into plant tissue in a much more biologically active form, which is more suited to human intake. Hydroponic garlic grown in selenium-enriched nutrient solution has been shown to have potent anti-cancer properties, which are a consequence of the form of selenium that develops inside plant tissue. The potential for enrichment of human diets with beneficial elements and organic supplements in hydroponic crop production is huge and something that even small growers can take advantage of. Silica â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the missing macro element Silica is much more than a trace element in many plant species. In fact silica is considered to be a beneficial macro element for many crops with a wide range of benefits for hydroponic crop production. Several plants need silica for growth including rice, sugar cane and tomatoes. Silica is transported from the roots and travels up to the shoot in the xylem vessels and is deposited mainly as hydrated silica dioxide or as polysilicic acids. Once silica has been incorporated into plant issue in this form, it canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t be redistributed throughout the plant, so it needs to be in constant supply if the entire plant is to contain a useful amount.

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

The use of soluble forms of silica as an additive in hydroponics is not new; many cucumber and rose growers are aware of the benefits of adding silica to the nutrient solution, whether it is in an organic or non organic form. Silica in cucumbers, for example, reduces the incidence and severity of powdery mildew and other fungi. Silica contributes to the strength and thickness of cell walls, helping to keep leaves in a good position for good light interception and to resist attacks by fungi and insects. Silica also assists with the absorption and translocation of several macro and micro nutrients and plays a role in allowing plants to survive and thrive in adverse growing conditions such as high salinity or excess elements in the solution or soil. Silica in solution should, however, not be considered a micro element; levels as high as 140 ppm have been shown to have the most significant results since silica is naturally found in many plant tissues at up to 10 per cent or higher (dry weight). In the past silica has been a difficult element to supply at high rates in hydroponic nutrient solutions. Chemical forms such as potassium metasilicate not only have a very high pH, but tend to form a glassy like substance, which blocks drippers and emitters when the enriched nutrient solution comes into contact with the air. These days more forms of silica are available on the hydroponic market and nutrient products and supplements containing silica as a macro element are readily available and easy to use.

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

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

Nutrients: Beyond Macros and Micros

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

Beneficial micro nutrients Some of the beneficial micro nutrient supplements have undergone considerable investigation by scientists while others are only just being looked into. Aluminum, cobalt, sodium, selenium and silica all have known roles in certain plant species, which are well documented. Aluminum has been shown to be beneficial to some plants species, particularly those adapted to acidic soils when supplied at low concentration. Tea plants show increased antioxidant properties and increased growth in the presence of aluminum in the root zone. Cobalt concentrations in plants are typically in the range 0.1 to 10 ppm â&#x20AC;&#x153;Like humans, plants on a dry weight basis and need a certain diet of cobalt is often found in their own essential low levels in natural water nutrients.â&#x20AC;? sources (0.04 ppm). At low levels, cobalt can have a number of beneficial effects, particularly in leguminous plants such as peas where application of eight ppm cobalt increases growth, nodule number and weight as well as seedpod yield and quality. Cobalt may also play a role in slowing leaf aging and disease resistance in some species. Since cobalt is also essential for human health, addition of this element to nutrient solutions can enhance the nutritional quality of hydroponic food. While selenium enrichment of food crops for human health has been an area of recent study, selenium may also have a beneficial role in plant growth and development. Plant tissue contains less than one ppm of selenium in most species; however, selenium is chemically similar to sulfur, a plant macro element, and appears to be metabolized via the same mechanisms. Trace amounts of selenium have been found to stimulate growth in a variety of plant species including ryegrass, lettuce and potato and to also provide the plants with more resistance to ultraviolet 50

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

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

radiation. There is also evidence that boosting selenium levels in hydroponically grown plants can help protect them from biotic stress such as fungal diseases. Titanium is another element whose role in plant development and metabolism has been studied for over 90 years. While plant tissue is generally low in titanium content, being 0.1 to 10 ppm on average, titanium is present in soil in relatively high concentrations. Studies have found that the chlorophyll content of hydroponic tomato plants increased when titanium was added. When maize was provided with titanium in solution, the yield increased by 25 to 30 per cent and the concentration of sugars in the grain also rose. Another interesting potential beneficial element is iodine. Iodine has been found to stimulate the synthesis of cellulose and the lignification of the stem tissue that helps the mechanical strengthening of the plant. Iodine has been found to increase the concentration of ascorbic acid in plants and the amount of total free-amino-acids in crops grown in solution culture. Iodine also seems to increase salt tolerance in plants by facilitating a lower chlorine uptake.

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

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

Nutrients: Beyond Macros and Micros There are increasing reports of other beneficial elements, which may play a role in plant growth and development. These include: silver (Ag), cerium (Ce), chromium (Cr), lanthanum (La), rubidium (Rb), tin (Sn), serium (Sr), vanadium (V) and tungsten (W). It is likely there are other elements whose quantities in plant tissue are so minute it is hard to quantify their role or presence, but these will lead to some exciting discoveries in plant nutrition in years to come. Organic nutrient supplements While individual beneficial elements such as selenium, chromium and nickel can be added to nutrient products in fairly precise quantities via the use of fertilizer salts, they can also be supplemented with organic additives and mineral products. Organic concentrates derived from natural materials such as seaweed, fish waste, compost and vermicast, mineral clay and earth extracts contain a wide spectrum of elements including levels of macro nutrients, micro nutrients and beneficial trace minerals. Organic supplements may not be as precise as using fertilizer salts of beneficial elements; however, good quality products are likely to contain a wide range of beneficial elements and potentially other growth promoting compounds such as humic/fulvic acids amongst others.

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

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

Nutrients: Beyond Macros and Micros

Selenium has been found to stimulate growth in lettuce.

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

Seaweed, for example, contains a wide range of minerals, some of which are known to be beneficial for plant growth and disease resistance, however, many decades ago scientists also found that naturally occurring cytokinins in seaweed could provide a growth stimulator effect. The level of naturally occurring cyctokinins and the growth effects are of course

largely dependant on the species and source of seaweed and obtaining a stable extract for use in hydroponics. However, extracts of certain species of seaweed have been shown to improve root and shoot growth and improve stress resistance in some crops by increasing the natural production of antioxidants in the plant. Compost and vermicast-based extracts

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

Nutrients: Beyond Macros and Micros may also have the added advantage of boosting beneficial microbe levels in the root zone as well as providing a wide range of beneficial elements, although the composition of different supplements can be quite variable. Natural mineral, clay or earth extract products have been available for boosting the menu of elements for hydroponic plants for many years; these are a good way of safely incorporating rarer elements into nutrient solutions although they should be considered a slow release form of supplement. MY

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

What macros and micros are your plants missing? Check it out on maximumyield.com

References P Tlustos et al. “The role of titanium in biomass production and its influence on essential contents in field grown crops.” Plant and Soil Enviro, no. 1 (2005): 50, 19-25. EAH Pilon-Smits et al. “Physiological functions of beneficial elements.” Current Opinion in Plant Biology (2009): 12:267-274.

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

E Diatloff et al. “Rare earth elements and plant growth II. Responses of corn and mungbean to low concentrations of lanthanum in dilute, continuously flowing nutrient solutions.” Journal of Plant Nutrition (1995): 18(10) 1977-1989. C M Steveni et al. “Effect of seaweed concentrate on hydroponically grown spring barley.” Journal of Applied Phycology no. 4 (1992): 173-180.

Using Conductivity to Control Nutrient Concentration Part II by Andrew Taylor: Chemist for Flairform

It is important to control the concentration of hydroponic nutrients. Burning of roots or foliage can occur if levels are too high. If the concentration is too low then deficiency symptoms will occur. The concentration of nutrients and additives is usually set by the manufacturers who recommend volumetric dose rates of, for instance, four to five teaspoons per gallon. Nutrient labels often list dosage rates in terms of both volume and EC. However, for the main inorganic nutrient, a conductivity (EC) meter* is a helpful dosing aid. *Also includes cF and TDS meters

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“Without calibrating your EC meter, you can’t confidently use the EC recommendations supplied on nutrient product labels.” Uses of EC meters 1. EC meters gauge the total concentration of salts in the nutrient solution. They are useful for setting the target EC (table one ‘a’) when a nutrient batch is first made - see step four on next page. Note: EC meters will not detect organics like vitamins and hormones. 2. They are also useful for maintaining the target EC as nutrient and water is consumed in re-circulating systems. However, because both good and bad salts are included in the reading, re-circulating nutrients must be frequently dumped because of the likelihood of toxic levels of bad salts (chloride) present, and an imbalance of good salts.

Units EC measurements are typically stated as mS (cF and ppm are common, but unequal alternatives). For example, distilled water and organics have an EC of zero mS. Mature flowering plants, however, typically require a nutrient solution EC of around two mS. Obtaining conductivity readings Step 1. Make sure the meter is calibrated. Step 2. Remove a representative sample from the nutrient reservoir: + For re-circulating systems ensure the reservoir is always filled to the same volume. If the reservoir is only half full, then the conductivity reading will be twice as high as what it would be when full. + Stir the nutrient thoroughly prior to sampling. + Ensure the sampling container is clean. Step 3. Rinse electrode in distilled water before immersing in the sample. Wait a few minutes* before switching the meter on and recording the EC.F * Wait longer if the sample’s temperature is significantly different from 77oF. MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

Using Conductivity to Control Nutrient Concentration - Part II Step 4. + If the EC is below target, add nutrient to the water until correct (to calculate this refer to table two). When making a new batch of nutrient, use the label’s volumetric dose rate as a guide. + If the EC target is exceeded then add more water. To calculate this refer to table three. Refer to table one for commonly recommended EC levels for the main stages of growth. These levels are suitable for the majority of plant types (for specific plants see table one ‘b’). Within certain limits, there is no need to be precise with EC levels because plants will generally only consume what they

Table 1b. Recommended nutrient strength** for specific plant species Vegetables

Artichoke 1.0-2.0mS Asparagus 1.5-2.0mS Barley 1.5-2.5mS Bean 2.0-3.0mS Beetroot 2.0-3.0mS Broccoli 2.5-3.0mS Brussels Sprout 2.5-3.0mS Cabbage 2.5-3.0mS Capsicum 2.0-2.5mS Carrot 1.5-2.0mS Cauliflower 1.5-2.0mS Celery 2.0-2.5mS Cucumber 2.0-2.5mS Eggplant 2.5-3.0mS Endive 2.0-2.5mS Fodder 1.5-2.0mS Garlic 1.5-2.0mS Leek 1.5-2.0mS

Fruit

Banana 2.0-2.5mS Black Currant 1.5-2.0mS Blueberry 1.5-2.0mS Melon 2.0-2.5mS Passionfruit 1.5-2.5mS Paw Paw 2.0-2.5mS

Herbs

Basil 1.0-2.0mS Chicory 2.0-2.5mS Chives 1.5-2.5mS Fennel 1.0-1.5mS Hops 1.5-2.5mS Lavender 1.0-1.5mS Lemon Balm 1.0-1.5mS Marjoram 1.5-2.0mS

Flowers crops

African Violet 1.0-1.5mS Aster 1.5-2.5mS Begonia 1.5-2.0mS Canna 1.5-2.5mS Carnation 2.0-3.0mS Chrysanthemum 1.5-2.5mS Dahlia 1.5-2.0mS

Lettuce 1.0-1.5mS Okra 2.0-2.5mS Onion 1.5-2.0mS Pak-Choi 1.5-2.0mS Parsnip 1.5-2.0mS Pea 1.0-2.0mS Pepino 2.0-3.0mS Potato 2.0-3.0mS Pumpkin 2.0-2.5mS Radish 1.5-2.0mS Spinach 1.5-2.5mS Silver Beet 1.5-2.5mS Sweet Corn 1.5-2.5mS Sweet Potato 2.0-2.5mS Taro 1.5-3.0mS Tomato 2.0-3.0mS Turnip 2.0-2.5mS Zucchini 2.0-2.5mS Pineapple 2.0-2.5mS Red Currant 1.5-2.0mS Rhubarb 1.5-2.0mS Strawberries 2.0-2.5mS Watermelon 2.0-2.5mS

Mint 2.0-2.5mS Mustard Cress 1.0-2.5mS Parsley 1.0-2.0mS Rosemary 1.0-1.5mS Sage 1.0-1.5mS Thyme 1.0-1.5mS Watercress O.5-1.5mS

Ferns 1.5-2.0mS Fichus 1.5-2.5mS Freesia 1.0-2.0mS Impatiens 1.5-2.0mS Gladiolus 2.0-2.5mS Palms 1.5-2.0mS Roses 1.5-2.5mS

** This is a guide only. Values are represented as EC (mS/cm2 abbreviated to 'mS'). Generally use the lower value for run-to-waste systems (e.g. coco fibre, rockwool, soil) or where day air temperatures are above 86°F. Use the higher values when growing in re-circulating systems (e.g. NFT, Flood &Drain) where day air temperatures are below 86°F.

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need. Most species will tolerate being above or below the recommended value by at least 10 to 20 per cent. Step 5. When complete, rinse electrode with distilled water. Store the electrode in distilled water when not in use.

“Electrode contamination causes a loss in sensitivity and accuracy, so clean regularly for maximum performance.” Calibrating EC meters Unless an EC meter is calibrated, you cannot confidently use EC recommendations like those supplied on many nutrient products. Calibrating cross-checks the meter’s accuracy against a solution of known conductivity called a conductivity standard. To calibrate, either refer to your meter’s instructions, or do the following: Step 1. Rinse electrode in distilled water then gently wipe with a tissue to remove excess water. Immerse electrode in 2.76 mS/cm (cF 27.6) Conductivity standard* for five minutes, then calibrate the meter so that it reads the following: + For conductivity meters calibrate to 2.76 mS/cm or cF 27.6. + For TDS meters calibrate to 1800 ppm (or as directed). *Note: To prevent contamination of the stock solution, decant a portion into a smaller container and discard once used. Step 2. Remove electrode from conductivity standard and rinse with distilled water. The meter is now ready to be used. Maintaining EC electrodes Cleaning conductivity electrodes: Conductivity meter electrodes normally become coated with impurities. The degree to which this occurs will depend upon the nature of the samples being tested, and whether or not the electrode is rinsed with distilled water and properly stored after each use. Electrode contamination causes a loss in sensitivity and therefore accuracy. Regular cleaning will maximize electrode performance and ensure a longer working life. Note that when testing nutrient solutions, both organic and inorganic contaminations tend to co-occur. It is therefore important to use an all-purpose cleaner. Be aware that most cleaners usually only remove inorganic contaminants. Store the electrode in distilled water when not in use. This will help prevent salt build-up which tends to encrust the electrode if left to dry out. MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

Using Conductivity to Control Nutrient Concentration - Part II

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Many high phosphate flowering additives will require a conductivity factor of 1,100 mS/cm.â&#x20AC;? Purchasing a conductivity meter Popular styles of conductivity meters range from the more expensive laboratory grade to the cheaper, pocket sized versions. The following specifications are important considerations: + Ability to produce readings in Siemens (mS) or cF. Avoid meters that will only yield TDS (ppm). + Calibration facility: Helps ensure accuracy even when electrodes are not performing to original specifications due to electrode contamination, physical damage, etc. + Housing that is both waterproof and floats helps protect against accidents and mishandling. + Temperature compensation: A built-in temperature sensor allows the meter to adjust readings to display what it would be if the temperature was at 77oF. + Long battery life with auto-off feature to prolong battery life.

Limitations of TDS (ppm) EC readings can be used to determine the approximate TDS (total dissolved salts) of various solution types. However, growers must be aware of the limitations with this method. TDS is calculated by multiplying the EC by a conductivity factor; this derives the approximate concentration of salts in ppm (or mg/l). However, because the EC is dependant on the nature of the salts present, we must use a specific conductivity factor which matches the type of solution being tested. For example: Soft natural waters^: Multiply the conductivity by the factor listed in the second column of table four. The factor depends on the conductivity units employed by your meter. If a natural water sample has an EC of 2.0 mS/cm, we can approximate that the TDS is 1,100 ppm (2.0 mS/cm x 550). ^uncontaminated scheme water, bore water, swamp water Hard/Alkaline waters: These waters require a conductivity factor of around 650 (when measured in mS/cm). Inorganic nutrients: The typical grow and bloom hydroponic nutrient formulations have much higher concentrations of ions like potassium and phosphate. Consequently, these solutions require a much higher factor than the waters mentioned above (800 when measured in mS/cm). To further illustrate how important it is to consider the type of solution being tested, note that many high phosphate flowering additives will require a conductivity factor of 1,100 (when measured in mS/cm). 64

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

Using Conductivity to Control Nutrient Concentration - Part II The problem with TDS in hydroponics It is not uncommon to find some hydroponic operators assigning a TDS value of about 1,400 ppm to the common 2.76 mS/cm conductivity standard; they have used a conversion factor of 500, a factor which is only valid for relatively pure sodium chloride waters. As discussed above, 800 is a more realistic factor for hydroponics because many nutrient mixtures of around 2,200 ppm yield a conductivity of 2.76 mS/cm. Additionally, quoting TDS values derived from conductivity readings, and without quoting the factor used, can imply different conductivity values to different people depending on what conversion factor they favor!

“TDS is a derived value and employs guesswork of the composition of the solution.”

Consider the following scenario: You calibrate your TDS meter in a 2.76 mS/cm conductivity standard to 1,800 ppm. Using the same conductivity standard, your friend calibrates his meter to 1,400 ppm. If you then give your friend a nutrient strength recommendation he will add 30 per cent more nutrient than what you intended! To summarize, conductivity factors that attempt to accurately convert conductivity readings into TDS must be customized to suit both the concentration range and ratios of the particular salts present in the water being analyzed. This requires prior knowledge of the sample’s composition, and logically, such an effort would be counterproductive. The inevitable conclusion is that the general use of conductivity to determine TDS is, at best, only an approximate method. Remember, the fundamental property being measured is conductivity. TDS is a derived value and employs guesswork of the composition of the solution. For these reasons, in the water industry it is fast becoming international practice to simply quote electrical conductivity MY (EC) values and not TDS. A handy and helpful table on recommended nutrient strengths for specific plants species can be found online at www.maximumyield.com

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

BEGINNER'S

corner

Does Your Green Thumb Need a With some people, the need to garden is an obsession. Whether you are growing herbs, flowers or vegetables, that motivation to see the fruits of your labors is a constant craving. If you live in a northern climate or have a short outdoor growing cycle, your green thumb may yearn for some of that gardening action during the dormant season. Recruiting some form of a hobby greenhouse may be the answer to your winter gardening restrictions. Hobby greenhouses come in almost any shape, size and for most locations.You can customize any greenhouse design to fit whatever kind of space you have in your dwelling for your potted plants. With all the different materials, designs and accessories, not having enough space for a greenhouse just isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t probable. There are ways to turn a balcony into a greenhouse, a window planter into a year-round herb garden or a rooftop into a private produce section. There are lean-to style greenhouses for outdoor sheds, decks and garages that use the wall of your home for support.You can get a small free-standing growing shelf that will fit on your balcony or porch or you can go for a fully glassed-in structure that will soon overtake you.

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

Winter Hobby? by Charlene Rennick

Not sure how long you are going to live in that cramped apartment? You can buy a greenhouse that is the same size as a small bookshelf; the frame snaps together without tools and has a polycarbonate cover. Canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t tell one end of a hammer from the other? Free-standing models are available already framed with adjustable shelves; this is all covered with UV-treated plastic. Only renting? Portable greenhouses can be disassembled with ease and relocated to your new sunnier studio flat. Need two more months in your growing season? You can set up a portable cold frame made of lightweight, waterproof, UV-resistant material that stores in a bag you can carry. It contains zippered and screened windows for ventilation and two portholes for water and power access. It comes with stakes that are used to anchor into the ground. For every growing setback, there is a greenhouse solution. All it takes to find it is a little digging and a green thumb. MY

Grow Room Invasions

Next Generation LEDs Part II by Erik Biksa For those of you just joining in, this is a continuation from part one in this series on high intensity and high output LED (light emitting diode) technologies as a light source for high yielding indoor gardens. In our last installment we discussed the benefits and the limitations of dual band diode lighting versus conventional indoor crop lighting systems like high output fluorescents, MH (metal halide) and HPS (high pressure sodium). The earlier generation LED lights produced lots of light relative to the amount of power they used, ran very cool and eliminated wasted light wavelengths. However, they were unable to deliver very high intensity levels for larger, high yielding gardens and omitted the â&#x20AC;&#x153;traceâ&#x20AC;? amounts of light wavelengths that 70

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certain types of plants seemed to require to fulfill their life cycles in a timely fashion. Enter the higher wattage, very high output quad band LED crop lighting systems. By using higher wattages and more individual diodes/chips in the lighting board and driving them with hundreds of milliamps rather than tens of milliamps, the overall intensity is incredible. Coupled by the fact that there are 288 diodes/chips per fixture being tested, we had a 600 watt LED lighting system. We also discovered that these are not driven to their full capacity, so a 600 watt LED fixture is really only drawing about 327 watts of power. Amazingly, this provides light intensities that compete with 1000 watt HPS lamp in the 630 to 680 nm (nanometer) range, the light for flowering and fruiting responses.

“The new LEDs are not driven to their full capacity, so a 600 watt system draws only about 327 watts of power with light intensities that compete with 1000 watt HPS lamps.” Not only is this next generation of LED crop lighting much more intense than it’s predecessor, it also offers a broader spectrum while still delivering very efficient light wavelengths versus conventional light sources. The quad band lighting arrangement being examined has output in the following wavelengths: 455 to 475 nm, 620 to 630 nm, 660 nm and bright white (2700K; full spectrum). Note that there are higher ratios of red and blue diodes versus others, as this is where the majority of the photosynthetic response curve falls into. However, it still supplies the “trace” levels of all the bandwidths required. Also note that the quality of the “red” light is improved with this generation due to innovations in the manufacturing of the individual chips/diodes.

Someone who really knows their lighting may also notice that very little light would be produced in the 555 nm range based on the diode types listed above. At this nanometer rating, the light is mostly green; a bandwidth plants tend to reflect back more than absorb (that’s partly why plants look green to us). Oddly, this is also the peak wavelengths we use to measure lumens (lm) and lux (lx) for growth. Growers have been using lm and lx to measure the intensity of their HPS and MH lamps; not really measuring the usable light for growth. Lux and lumens measure mostly green light, because these units of measurement were intended to be relative to how the human eye sees light rather, than the “shades of the rainbow” (spectrum) that plants use for photosynthesis (growth). MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

Next Generation LEDs Part II

“Seeing is believing, and if you plug in one of the newer high output quad band LEDs, you will be amazed at the intensity of light created.”

Chart one: LED VS HPS for Photosynthesis: Notice how much of the HPS lamps intensity is in the green and yellow bandwidths. These bandwidths are used in very small amounts for plant growth.

Upon consulting chart one in this article, you will see that when compared to an HPS lamp, the majority of the HPS lamps intensity is in the green to yellow (550 to 600 nm) range of light, while a considerably smaller percentage is in the blue, orange and red spectrums where most of the real “action” occurs. So, when we hold a light meter up to them and measure the lumens or lux, they appear to be giving lots of light for growth. More accurately, they are giving lots of light although as intensity; not very much where it is needed the most: in the blue and red portions.

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

Look at figure one. What you see is a high lumen (7130 lumens from over 12 inches away) rating from the veg model being tested. Now think about this: what you are seeing is the LED’s output in the lowest area of the spectral emission because the average light meter isn’t measuring in the right wavelengths for LEDs/photosynthesis. This LED crop light was intentionally designed to have a low output in this range for efficiency. This means that the reading should be considered much more intense for growth in terms of what it might compare to with MH and HPS lighting, because the majority of intensity is being measured in the 555 nm or “green” light range. With MH and HPS lighting, very little of the total output occurs in the blue and red areas where photosynthesis happens (HIDs are mostly in the yellow/green bandwidths). With LED lighting, the vast majority of the output occurs in the red and blue ranges with very little in the green (555 nm) area, making LEDs very efficient (and standard light meter readings deceiving).

Figure one: Intense LED lighting: Given how little of the LEDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s output is in bandwidths that are measured in lumens, this reading suggests that this LED lighting system is incredibly intense (+7000 lumens).

Advanced growers know that vegetative plants will grow more vigorously with high levels of blue light and then produce larger flowers and fruits during the bloom phase with higher levels of red and orange wavelengths. If any lighting engineers are reading this, they are likely horrified to see a discussion of LED lights for plant growth in terms of lumens; the author recognizes that the majority of the light meters that most growers own measure in lumens or lux rather than PFD (photon flux density), Micro-Einsteins, PAR, etc. In the end, seeing is believing, and if you plug in one of the newer high output quad band LEDs, you will be amazed at the intensity of light created; and perhaps even more amazed by the lack of heat produced along with the light. Make sure to have some protective glasses on. Well how does it yield? Reportedly some â&#x20AC;&#x153;test pilotsâ&#x20AC;? in the State of California found the 600 watt quad band crop light to yield within +/- five to 10 per cent of a standard 1000 watt HPS lamp that used a high quality horizontal lamp reflector for the bloom phase. Obviously a lot more data is required before anything can be considered utterly conclusive; however, these early reports and findings are looking extremely promising. As well, 600 watt high output LEDs are available in custom outputs and chip/diode ratios for improved vegetative growth characteristics and are even more efficient, as vegetative plants typically require lower light intensities. In short, this means you can cover more square feet of growing area in veg with a single 600 watt high output LED than you can in flowering; especially with specialized vegetative growth diode arrangements (see figure one for a comparison).

Next Generation LEDs Part II Kilowatts used (1kW=1000 watts)

Cost per kWh

Hours per light cycle

Cost per day

Cost per 100 days

Cost per 300 days

Cost per 400 days

Cost per 600 days

1 (1000 watt HPS)*

$0.20

$2.40

$240.00

$720.00

$960.00

$1,440.00

0.327 (LED)* $0.20 12 $0.78 $78.48 $235.44 $313.92 $470.88 * Each light source covers a light loving garden area of approximately four by four feet or four by five feet. In the real world, which many of us are forced to live in, we must also consider the economic factors in terms of how viable high output quad band LED crop lighting systems are for indoor growers. It is true that in North America, you can expect to pay near three times more

for a high-output quad band LED system over a standard or a cost effective digital 1000 watt HPS/MH ballast, bulb, high quality reflector and cords. While that might stop some people in their tracks, take the time to consider the following. The 1000 Watt HPS will draw about

three times more power to produce the same light intensities in the bloom 610 to 680 nm range. In fact, the LED will produce a higher quality of “red” light in the bloom phase because the diodes/ chips allow for light wavelengths to be tailored very exactingly. Little can be done to enhance the spectrum of HPS lamps, although the horticultural HPS lamps are superior to standard lamps. Now if you live somewhere where electricity is expensive, or want to run multiple lamps, the savings actually pay for the difference within a short time frame.

“With the LEDs they will require no replacement at all for over 50,000 to 100,000 hours.” The above chart does not factor the replacement costs of HID lamps such as MH and HPS. Consider that every six months to maintain optimal light levels, the bulbs will require replacement. With the LEDs they will require no replacement at all for over 50,000 to 100,000 hours. To save you from doing the math, they will run for at least 10 years before needing replacement using a 12 hour lighting cycle. In the opinion of the author, it will take some time before growers in real world situations will be able to confirm these findings. However, it is clear that tremendous cost savings are offered in terms of lamp replacements, and more importantly, the cost of electricity. Also note that further energy saving can be achieved by choosing high-output LED crop lighting systems because little cooling will be required. With HID lighting systems, a lot of heat is produced by the lamps and ballasts. This has to be vented away, commonly with air cooled 74

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

Specialized LED Lighting: Although the bloom model LED is suitable for vegetative growth, the more specialized veg model is available, providing more blue light and greater lighting coverage for the vegetative growth cycle.

reflectors, vent fans and air-conditioners. Obviously, this all uses quite a bit of electricity. For the home gardener this means a bigger power bill and more noise with fans and ACs humming to keep the lamps cool. For the commercial grower it means having fewer lighting systems on the same 200 AMP service versus using lower wattage and lower heat-output quad band high intensity LED systems. Thatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s right, because they use less electricity growers can run more lights safely per circuit. In an apartment, that might mean having three lights in a room where you could have only had one HID lamp. That is a quick way to triple your productivity levels, especially in smaller spaces. So now we have more information on some of the potential benefits of using high-output quad band LED crop lighting systems: less heat and less electrical use means more efficient gardens and the capability to run more lights per circuit. In terms of economics, we have also examined the cost benefits when considering the cost of electricity and lamp replacement. In our next installment we will have a look at the emerging technology from the growing perspective. That is, how to tweak your garden for maximum yields when using next generation LED lights for plant growth. We will discuss modifications in temperature, humidity and CO2 levels that will not only make your LED garden more efficient, they will almost certainly MY make it more productive as well. Until then... Years of experience and research have made Erik an expert on growing indoors and hydroponically. You can find all his articles by visiting maximumyield.com

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

Using Home Hydroponics to

Grow Roses by Lewis Dobson

Regardless of whether you love the smell of fresh roses, or making potpourri from the petals, there is nothing quite like growing roses in your own garden. Unfortunately, many regions donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a climate that will enable grafted roses to grow and thrive. Fortunately, you can easily grow roses with a home hydroponics system. Have you always wanted to grow a perfect blue rose, along with green, black and purple ones? As you may be aware, many of these exotic rose colors result from a variance in nutrients found in the soil. For example, if a blue rose is kept in a certain type of soil, it will take on a reddish color. In a similar way, a red rose bush may produce yellow roses when the pH of the soil is not optimal. When you use a home hydroponics system to grow roses, you can be assured that each plant will get the exact nutrients that it needs. At the same time, you will always be able to control lighting and temperatures. This is especially important to consider if you want to experiment with grafting, as well as creating your own strains of roses. As you may be aware, successfully grafting roses requires a good bit of patience and effort. There is no question that growing roses challenges many gardeners. At the same time, if you go to a florist, you may not always enjoy the smell of roses that have been sitting in a refrigerator. Fortunately, when you grow with hydroponics, you will be able to do all kinds of fascinating experiments with roses.You may even find that you can create a stunning new rose color, or even one with multi-colored petals. About the Author Lewis Dobson is the director of the popular blog backyard-garden-and-patio.com. He is an expert on gardening and his blog contains stacks of information on things like homemade hydroponics and much more. Get free tips from his site today. MY

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

TIPS & tricks

Neem Oil S T C FA THE

Matt LeBannister Neem oil is a botanical product derived from pressing the seeds of the Indian Neem tree and it functions as an insecticide as well as a plant fertilizer. However, the effectiveness of neem oil as a pesticide or fertilizer is often up for debate. Many gardeners swear by its ability to keep pest populations under control and its ability to eliminate the pests entirely. Others choose to use chemical pesticides claiming neem oilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s active ingredient azadirachtin takes too long to take effect. The idea of using neem oil as a fertilizer has only recently been brought to the attention of western gardeners, but has been the common practice of gardeners from India and Pakistan for centuries. Neem cake, made from the pressed fruit and seeds used to extract the oil, is also gaining popularity as a fertilizer.

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

Here are the Facts When used as a pesticide the ingredient that affects the insects is azadirachtin. Azadirachtin confuses growth hormones causing insects and eggs to never reach maturity. The catch is that neem oil is not as effective against adult insects since they are already mature. The fatty acids in the oil can clog the membranes of soft skinned insects such as aphids and kill them as a result. To destroy pest populations, neem oil must be sprayed on the affected plants two times a week for at least two weeks. This will help ensure each successive pest generation will be diminished until there is none left. Mix neem oil in water at a rate of one to two teaspoons per quart of water. Neem oil can also be poured on a cloth or paper towel and be manually applied to the leaves of the plants. This can be especially effective against scales. Neem oil can be used against a variety of pests including, but not exclusive to, spidermites, aphids, scales, thrips and mealy bugs. The one downside to applying neem oil is that it will also kill any beneficial insects in your garden. Neem oil and neem cake also improve the quality of soil. The recommended dilution rate for neem oil as a fertilizer varies from two milliliters to 15 milliliters of neem per quart of water. Experiment by starting with small amounts and working your way up, checking the EC and pH levels often. One of the ingredients prevents nitrogen-fixing bacteria from converting the nitrogen in the soil into gas, thus allowing more nitrogen to be available to the plant. Neem oil can be effective as a pest control or fertilizer when applied properly. But donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take my word for it. Try it for yourself and give Maximum Yield MY your feedback.

Neem oil and neem cake can make great natural fertilizers. Both contain many different macro and micro-nutrients. According to AgroGreen Canadaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s website, the average sample of neem oil will contain the following:

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

Azadirachtin - 1800 ppm Total Nitrogen - 1.20 per cent by mass Phosphorous - 0.07 per cent by mass Potassium - 0.01 per cent by mass Magnesium - 0.03 per cent by mass Copper - 10 ppm Magnesium - 0.40 Zinc - 20.00 ppm Iron - 14.00 ppm

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

Safe and Effective CO2 Enrichment in the Garden Isabelle Lemay and Mélissa Léveillé CO2 enrichment in the garden often makes all the difference between a satisfying harvest and an exceptional one! When plants are provided with a CO2 concentration between 700 and 1,000 parts per million (ppm), they can achieve optimal photosynthesis resulting in record growth! Knowing that the outdoor air contains an average CO2 concentration of approximately 400 ppm, we clearly understand the benefits of CO2 enrichment. But which enrichment method is best to choose? How can we ensure the 80

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

well-being of our plants and our safety? This article will answer these questions and more! Choosing the appropriate CO2 enrichment method for your garden The best known and most effective methods of CO2 enrichment are combustion CO2 generators and CO2 bottle regulators. Other methods of CO2 enrichment include a baking soda and vinegar mix, compost, dry ice or fermentation, but these methods are less effective and can be difficult to control.

“The most common fuels used for combustion generators are propane and natural gas.” Combustion generator or CO2 bottle? As its name indicates, the generator creates CO2 by combustion. The most common fuels used are propane and natural gas. When there is sufficient oxygen available for complete combustion, the generator converts more than 99 per cent of the gas into CO2 and water vapor. As for the pressured liquid CO2 bottle, the operation is simple: with a proper regulator, the CO2 is gradually released from the bottle into the garden. The following table shows the pros and cons of using these two methods according to price, influence on the climate and toxicity.

Combustion Generator

CO2 Bottle and Regulator

Price

• Operating costs are relatively low once the CO2 generator is purchased. • More economical than CO2 bottles.

• Expensive source of CO2. • The larger your garden, the higher the cost.

Impacts on the garden’s climate

• Produces heat and water vapor: one pound of propane generates about 1.5 pounds of water and 20,000 BTU of heat. • CO2 generators are not recommended for small growing volumes (less than 424 cubic feet). • Requires good management of temperature and humidity to avoid damage to plants.

• The garden’s climate is not affected since no heat or water vapor is generated. • Can be used in the presence of high temperature and humidity levels in the garden. • Excellent choice for small growing volumes.

• Risk of toxicity in cases of incomplete combustion caused by defective device or lack of oxygen. • Poor quality of fuels are to be avoided: some may cause sulfur dioxide pollution (e.g. kerosene).

• Safe source of CO2. • Risk free for crops, since no toxic gas is released.

• A generator with a heat exchanger can recover some of the heat generated by combustion to heat another room.

• Regulators may freeze at large gas ﬂow (more than 20 cubic feet per hour). • Some models can withstand gas ﬂow up to 50 cubic feet per hour without freezing.

Potential Toxicity

Others

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

Safe and Effective CO2 Enrichment in the Garden

“An excess of CO2 in the garden will slow plant growth; above 10,000 ppm will negatively affect human health depending on the concentration and duration of exposure.” CO2 and Safety Potential risks related to a high CO2 concentration A CO2 concentration equal or greater than 1,500 ppm may cause partial or complete closure of the plant’s stomas which results in a reduction of CO2 absorption as well as a limitation in plant transpiration. Transpiration is an essential process to plant growth since the roots absorption of water and nutrients depends on it. Far from serving the plants best interests, an excess of CO2 will slow down growth. For gardeners, an excess of CO2 is just as harmful, if not more so! The maximum CO2 concentration exposure is a 15 minutes period at about 30,000 ppm , but possible side effects can occur at a concentration as low as 1,000 ppm. High concentrations may occur with defective equipment (generator, CO2 bottle, regulator, controller), and especially in confined and isolated spaces with poor air exchange. Above 10,000 ppm, the side effects on human health worsen as the CO2 concentration and duration of exposure increase. Health side effects of exposure to different CO2 concentrations CO2 Concentration (ppm) ~ 400 ~ 600-800

Side effects on health* None (normal concentration in outdoor air) None (normal concentration in well ventilated houses and offices)

~ 1,000

May cause asthma or sick building syndrome May cause drowsiness if exposure is prolonged

~ 5,000

Professional limit exposure in many countries (for eight hours)

~ 10,000

Drowsiness if exposure is prolonged

~ 20,000

Increase of respitary amplitude

~ 30,000

Respiratory rate two times higher than normal Exposure limit: 15 minutes

~ 40,000

Limit for irreversible effects on health

~ 50,000

Dizziness, confusion, respiratory difficulties, headaches Respiratory rate four times higher than normal

~ 100,000

Visual disorder, shaking, sweating More than 10 minutes exposure can lead to death

~ 150,000

Sudden loss of conciousness

~ 250,000

Respiratory arrest resulting in death

*Please note that these effects can largely vary depending on individuals and on the room conditions. 82

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

To prevent excessive CO2 concentrations, regular inspection and maintenance of the enrichment equipment used in the garden is important. For CO2 bottles, it is possible to spray the equipment fittings with soapy water; if there is a leak, bubbles will appear where the gas is escaping. Getting a CO2 monitoring device is also strongly recommended; knowing the ambient CO2 concentration allows fast reactions in case of danger. A CO2 controller is a very interesting solution. Not only will it ensure safety, it will also maintain a stable and precise concentration in the garden (great benefit to plants) and the gardener will benefit from great savings!

Complete combustion: produces bright blue flames dotted with purple flames. Combustion is odorless and clean, producing CO2 and water vapor.

Incomplete combustion: flickering orange and yellow flames, produce many toxic compounds as carbon monoxide, ethylene and sulfur dioxide.

The dangers of incomplete combustion In the particular case of a combustion generator, there is an additional risk: an incomplete combustion caused by a defective burner or a lack of oxygen. When properly burned, propane and natural gas produce bright blue flames dotted with purple flames (figure one). The combustion is odorless and clean, producing CO2 and water vapor. Incomplete combustion is easy to detect with its often flickering orange and yellow flames. It creates a danger from the toxic MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

Safe and Effective CO2 Enrichment in the Garden

onoxi m n o b = car

C2H4= ethylene

C 3H 6

NO = nitrogen monoxide e

n = propyle

NO2 = nitrogen dioxide

compounds that emerge from the flames, which are harmful to plants and humans and can even be fatal. The main toxic gases from incomplete combustion are carbon monoxide (CO), ethylene (C2H4), sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen monoxide and nitrogen dioxide (NO and NO2) and propylene (C3H6). Their effects on plants and humans are numerous, but here are the main ones. Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless, tasteless and non irritating gas. However, it is very toxic! Exposure to low doses may cause flu symptoms on humans, but higher doses are dangerous and can be fatal. Poisoning occurs when inhaled carbon monoxide replaces the oxygen in the blood. As the carbon monoxide level increases in blood, the oxygen level decreases and the body’s organs and tissues may no longer function properly. The main systems affected are the cardiovascular and nervous systems. Ethylene is a gas that is naturally produced from the plants and can have various effects. Mainly, it causes fruit ripening, aging of the organs and may also cause the leaves to fall. Without getting into these complex processes, the presence of ethylene at the wrong stage of development may have side effects on plants such as preventing flowering, reducing the yield and fruit quality or causing the leaves to lose chlorophyll, a reduction of flower’s pigmentation and other wilting symptoms. At high concentrations, propylene may cause similar symptoms to carbon monoxide.

“As for nitrogen oxides, a large quantity may decrease the plant’s growth and cause necrosis.” 84

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

Dioxide r u f l u S =

SO 2

Sulfur dioxide is also harmful to plants. When this gas is present in abundant quantities, the plants close their stomas. As for nitrogen oxides, a large quantity may decrease the plantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s growth and cause necrosis. Interestingly, a low concentration combination of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide may be more damaging to plants than a high concentration of one of these two gases. Gas

Critical Concentrations (ppm) Plants

Human

Ethylene (C2H4)

0.01 to 0.5

Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)

0.1 to 0.5

Nitrogen monoxide and dioxide (NO and NO2)

0.01 to 0.5

25 to 30

Propylene (C3H6)

10 to 50

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

100 to 500

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

2,000 to 30,000

5,000

Reference: Wacquant, C. 1995. MaĂŽtrise de la conduite climatique tomate sous serre et abris en sol. CTIFL, France, 127 pages.

Critical concentrations of gases emitted by incomplete combustion With that said, how can we protect ourselves against the side effects of incomplete combustion? First, proper maintenance and verification of the generator should be frequently executed. Then, the room where the generator is being used should contain enough oxygen to allow complete combustion. A simple way to do it is to make sure some ventilation is present with the outdoor air to maintain an acceptable oxygen level without wasting the precious generated CO2. For example, a 24,000 BTU CO2 generator requires about five cubic feet (CF) of air per minute of functioning. So if a generator burns for 15 minutes per hour, it requires five by 15 = 75 CF per hour of fresh air. Thus, a 100 CFM fan has to work about one minute per hour to replenish the oxygen supply to ensure complete combustion.

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

Safe and Effective CO2 Enrichment in the Garden

“The results from a garden that benefits from good CO2 enrichment management will be worth the invested time and money.”

Another strongly recommended protection is to purchase a detector. Some gases, such as ethylene, strongly affect plants but are expensive to detect. However, it is not expensive to acquire a carbon monoxide monitor, and it is a good indicator of combustion quality. Normally, a concentration greater than 30 ppm of carbon monoxide in the undiluted gas from the generator indicates incomplete combustion; the presence of other harmful gases is very likely.

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

In order to avoid wasting CO2, some gardeners choose a culture volume as airtight as possible, without any air exchange. The CO2 generator is not recommended in this type of confined space due to a high risk of lack of oxygen and, therefore, incomplete combustion. The CO2 bottle is much safer for this type of garden. Selecting and applying an appropriate CO2 enrichment method for the growing area is no easy task. But taking the time to do so will allow one to achieve the expected results and will ensure the plants’ and the gardener’s safety. The results from a garden that benefits from good CO2 enrichment management will be worth the invested time and money. MY The pros and cons of combustion generators and CO2 bottles and regulators can be found online www.maximumyield.com

GREEN THUMB gardening

Eco-Friendly Indoor Gardening by Isabella Samvosky

Indoor gardening has many benefits: It's an eco-friendly way to detoxify the air inside your home, provides chemical-free herbs and plants for your kitchen, adds beauty to your home's décor and reduces your stress level significantly. People across the globe are trying their hand at indoor gardening and are finding it to be a very enjoyable and productive hobby. Do you feel you have a black thumb rather than a green one? There are several varieties of indoor plants and herbs that are hardy and easy to grow. Think of these plant additions to Easy to Grow Indoor Plants your home as natural air cleaners and built-in décor.

Chinese Evergreen – for homes with low-light conditions, this plant is ideal. It requires very little maintenance, so it's a great choice for beginning gardeners. Weeping Fig – this plant is extremely hardy and will survive despite long periods of little tender loving care.

Ficus

Palm

Fern

Easy Indoor Herbs

Chamaedorea Palm – you'll love this plant addition if your décor lends itself to a tropical theme. Cactus Combo Bonsai – these wonderfully unique plants are ideal for most any climate since they adapt easily to changes in temperature and moisture levels.

Herbs do require a bit of maintenance, but the rewards far outweigh the care required to make them thrive in an indoor environment. You'll need a location that receives at least six hours of full sun per day, or you’ll have to use grow lights. Always enrich your soil or medium before planting the herb seeds. Good drainage is key to growing healthy herbs indoors.

Braided Ficus Tree – an adaptable indoor tree that requires little fuss to thrive.

Mint Leaves – be sure to grow this one separately from your other herbs, as it tends to be invasive. Excellent in tea.

Boston Fern – ferns only require feeding roughly once a month and love high humidity, so they're ideal for a bathroom or greenhouse.

Lemon Grass – purchase a stalk from the store, cultivate it in a few inches of water and voila, you have your own lemon grass. Chive – needs less light than some other herbs.

English Ivy – fantastic choice for hanging baskets or topiaries.

Peace Lily – a fantastic air purifier that also provides great greenery and blooms.

Parsley – slow growing, but once it's established, it's a great kitchen herb to have on hand. Bay Tree – slow growing, but worth the wait.

This is not to say that you can't grow oregano, sage, thyme, rosemary, basil and cilantro indoors. These simply require more specific growing environments and a bit more attention. If you have the proper environment and the time to dedicate to them, try growing these herbs indoors as well. Indoor gardens are eco-friendly, but the benefits reach even further. Indoor gardening is a good fit for homeowners, renters or even those on the road in a recreational vehicle. Indoor gardening provides healthy food and provides natural air cleaners that also serve as decorating accessories. Indoor gardening is a win-win situation both for the environment and the gardener. MY About the Author Isabella Samvosky’s website, Natural-Salt-Lamps.com contains information on Solay Wellness products. For successful indoor gardening try Solay Simple Biodynamic Natural Plant Food. (ArticlesBase.com)

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

We Need to Talk

An Insider's Guide to Hydroponic Shops

by Casey Fraser

I can say with no hesitation that I want every indoor grower to reap bountiful harvests of picturesque crops. Guess what...I’m a hydroponics sales person. For salespeople like me, a successful garden is just good business. In fact, your success is more important to me than how much money you spend in a visit. We want long-term customers, not quick sales. The salespeople I know in this industry prefer gardening success over irrational purchases, regardless of the ticket price. As a grower, I want the highest yields of gourmet produce out of every grow. As a salesman, I want customers to have excellent results too. So if the customer and the retailer are both after the same goal, why is there so much frustration, confusion and mistrust between the customers and sales reps? In an effort to improve your shopping experience (not to mention your crops) I have created a list of “focus areas” for you. I believe this list will be useful for new and experienced growers. Focusing your questions will makes it easier for the sales rep to find solutions for your indoor garden troubles.

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

Focus #1 – Catalogs Ask for a catalog to view the available product options. Communicate with the clerk about what you’re looking for. If you need a specific product or are curious about pricing, simply ask. If you don’t know what you want, say so. If the shop does not carry what you need, ask for similar options that are available or ask to have something ordered in. Focus #2 – Lighting Your garden starts with lighting. Tell the salesperson the light sizes you’re growing with, or the light you’re looking for. Outline the dimensions of your garden: square (3’ x 3’), rectangle (2’ x 4’), circle (5’), basement (10’ x 10’), etc. Next, let us know the wattage and lighting type (high pressure sodium, metal halide, fluorescent or LED). This specific lighting information, combined with grow room dimensions, will tell us how much light your plants need. When a salesperson suggests additional lighting or increased wattage, the motivation is not simply sales; we want you to be successful and satisfied. We want your lighting to be the perfect fit for your garden.

Focus Areas for Success Use catalogues and industry publications like Maximum Yield to sort through available products. Know what you want to grow and know your garden dimensions so an effective lighting scheme can be designed. Technology exists to enhance your grow; do your research and ask questions so you can be sure to buy only what you need. If choosing to grow hydroponically, investigate available systems before jumping in. Different systems require different grow mediums. Once again research will be a huge benefit for you. Consider performance, quality and pricing when choosing nutrients and supplements. Know your budget and stay within it. MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

We Need to Talk: An Insider's Guide to Hydroponic Shops Focus #3 - Cooling, Exhaust Fans and CO2 This area can be complicated, so expert advice will be extremely helpful. Many grow light reflectors have built-in duct ports, so you can connect ventilation equipment.Your sales clerk will suggest the perfect exhaust fan for your hot grow lights. Exhausting your room will cool things down and bring fresh air to your plants. An intake fan may also be helpful (exhaust fan kicks out old air/intake fan brings in fresh air). A more expensive (and often more productive) option is to use CO2 and air conditioning, instead of pulling a constant stream of fresh air through your room. If you want a professional set-up, you could use exhaust fans to cool the lights independently from the room, and keep the grow room supplemented NOTE with air conditioning and CO2. For a small hobby Manufacturers are creating set-up, you could simply install one exhaust fan fresh concepts for safely that will dump out the old air, cool your light(s) cooling equipment with water instead of air. Be sure and bring in new air via suction. As you can see, to ask about such products the options are many. Once the clerk understands your lighting requirements and space, he or she at your local grow shop. will be able to recommend various ventilation equipment to suit your budget.

Focus #4 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Hydroponics If you choose to garden hydroponically (without soil) there are many different systems to choose from. Here are the basic topics for hydro gear: performance, track record, ease of use, cleaning/ maintenance, complexity and price.

Focus #5 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Soils and Growing Mediums (aka Root Zone Substrates) Indoor gardeners use soil, soilless mixes, grow rocks, rockwool, coco coir and several other types of growing media. If you grow in hydroponics, just tell the sales person what system you have, and they will direct you to the appropriate growing medium. Ask which products offer the ideal pH range and water holding capacity for your indoor gardening method.You can also search the internet for soil recipes. Grow stores carry individual products like perlite, biodynamic compost, worm castings, etc., to help you build your own custom soil. Ask your local store if they have a preferred soil mix for top yields.

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Focus #6 – Plant Nutrients and Supplements Simply put, nutrients feed your plants and supplements assist in that function. The top nutrient companies offer recipe charts, which have been researched and designed for gardens like yours. When using products simultaneously, don’t simply follow the label’s instructions; use the manufacturer’s recipe guide to determine the specific amounts of each product. Using too much will actually decrease yield and quality. If you are new to gardening, please don’t invent your own nutrient recipe. Performance, quality and pricing should be considered when choosing a nutrient brand for your garden. ‘Grower A’ has a 1000 watt garden. He spends $50 on two bottles and harvests less than one bucket of tomatoes, flowers and herbs. ‘Grower B’ has an identical garden set-up, but spends $500 on a scientific assortment of nutrients and supplements, and harvests more than two buckets of tomatoes, flowers and herbs.You must decide if the increase in yield is worth the increase in cost. For many growers, garden success is worth every penny. For others, they are satisfied as long as the plants survive (regardless of yield and quality), in which case price rules. Be sure to ask which brands guarantee quality and performance, and it’s always a good idea to ask which brand they prefer or use personally.

Focus #7 – Budget and List Now that you know about the gear, grab that catalog from #1. Get a sheet of paper and start listing products for your current or future garden. Continue to add and delete products until you can fit everything into your budget. Share the list with your sales clerk and see if you left anything out. Together, you may realize a carbon filter and exhaust fan are more important than that aeroponics unit. When working within a set budget, we want to make sure you get everything you need without overspending. Don’t try out a new technology unless you can afford them. We can also direct you away from products with a high failure rate. After all, we’re growers too! That’s how you get the right growing gear for your specific situation. Sure, I left out topics like climate controllers, digitals meters and cloning machines, but a good grow store will gladly keep you informed on such items. So please ask questions (heck, bring in a long list of questions), and be friendly.You might learn something new, and your plants will thank you for it. MY

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Biological Products in Indoor Gardens

by Donald Lester

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

“Bacteria thrive in water, which is why growers should make use of beneficial living organisms to out-compete the bad bacteria, especially in hydroponics.” The concept of using one biological organism to fight another is called biological control and it is becoming more important in commercial agriculture. Biological control is also happening in the food industry. Many types of yogurt have beneficial bacteria in them known as probiotics. Many of the organisms sold for biological control exist naturally so why do you need to buy them? The organisms sold in the marketplace are generally selected for their killing power meaning you are buying and adding a “big brother” to beef up your natural flora of organisms. And the good part is that you can use these powerful tools in your indoor gardening program. Arguably the most powerful beneficial bacteria is Bacillus subtilis. This bacterium is so tough it can withstand severe pressure differentials; enough that NASA uses this bacterium as a model organism for space research. Bacillus subtilis is well known in the research world because, not only can it out-compete other bacteria for space and nutrients, Bacillus subtilis produces powerful enzymes and antibiotics that it uses on competitors. Unlike fungal biological products that grow on plant roots, Bacillus products have small tails or flagella making them motile and able to go on seek-and-destroy missions in your nutrient solution. Biological products, overall, are better at preventing disease rather than curing it. Therefore, it is important to establish a population of beneficial micro-organisms at planting time and maintain them through the growing cycle. There are several things you can do to stack the deck in your favor: select the proper organism, buy quality material, avoid temperature extremes, maintain hygienic conditions and avoid the use of strong chemicals.

“Biological products generally prevent disease, not cure it.” MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

Biological Products in Indoor Gardens

Biological products offer a safe, environmentally friendly method of disease prevention for your harvests.

In hydroponics, because the plant`s roots are immersed in a liquid growing solution, poor growing conditions can lead to disastrous results.

In shopping for biological products first look for biological organisms, not extracts of living organisms. This is an important distinction. Extracts can provide protection for a short time but a living organism is self-maintaining and can even grow in strength under the right conditions. Another consideration is determining what pathogen or detrimental organism you are trying to prevent. Hydroponics keeps the roots of plants immersed in a liquid growing

solution. Poor hygiene and other factors can lead to disastrous disease infections. Knowing your production history and problems can help you out here. If you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know what disease is plaguing your operation, seek help from a professional. They can help you choose the right product to control the infection and guide you in selecting the proper biological to use as a follow up for maintaining a healthy growing system.

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â&#x20AC;&#x153;Biologicals can be applied with bare hands with no fear of injury; they are completely safe for people, pets, houseplants and the environment.â&#x20AC;?

Bacillus subtilis

Biologicals are living organisms so they do best in certain environmental conditions. Use fresh products and avoid sterilizers, bacteriacides, fungicides and other strong chemicals when using biologicals. The shelf life of biologicals can vary greatly so look for those that last 18 months to two years. Avoid using products that require refrigeration; you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know if they got warm and degraded before you bought them. Also, be sure the label has a guaranteed analysis, meaning a count of the organisms is actually listed so you know what you are getting. Avoid products with more than three living organisms; more organisms mean fewer of each and possibly a weak product. And continue adding the product as the label indicates to maintain high levels of beneficial organisms. Biological products typically come as liquids or powders and are quite easy to use. One of the big advantages to using biologicals is that they are completely safe for people, pets, children, houseplants and the environment.You can literally apply these things with your bare hands and have no fear of hurting yourself. Moreover, biologicals have no re-entry limits, no harvest intervals to worry about and no toxic residues. With the marketplace moving toward organically grown foods, public demand for chemical-free foods, safety and liability issues associated with conventional products and the high cost of conventional product registrations, the future in plant pest control is biological. Consider putting biological products to work in your indoor garden today. MY Additional articles by Donald Lester can be found at www.maximumyield.com

GROWING for health

Tender and Tangy

Microgreens Microgreens are edible greens that are tiny in form and are derived from the seeds of different herbs, plants and vegetables. Microgreens are stemmed and bear leaves usually ranging from one to two inches in size. Even though microgreens are tiny in size, their flavors are quite intense, though not as strong as the mature herbs and greens. A typical microgreen contains a central stem with two completely developed cotyledons and a pair of true leaves from the main plant. The size of the microgreens and the configuration of the leaves vary according to the plant species. One of the most common misconceptions about microgreens is that they are sprouts. There are considerable differences between the two and each is produced in a different way. For example, sprouts are water grown in semi-dark conditions and are eaten as a tangled mass of stems, underdeveloped leaves and roots. Also, the flavors, textures and colors of sprouts are not quite developed as they are with microgreens. Microgreens are becoming immensely popular, common in the greenhouses and on farms, and appearing in homes and restaurants. The concept of microgreens has become very popular all over North America. The best thing about the microgreens is that they are easy to grow, simple to prepare and delicious to taste. Microgreens are rich in nutrients. Good business opportunities exist with microgreens as they are highly marketable. Whether you are a commercial grower trying to expand, a supplier looking to supply microgreens to restaurants or a gardener hoping to grow some greens; if you have the seeds, consider the job done. Microgreens are derived from several vegetables like broccoli, green and red cabbage, red kale and beetroot. Microgreens can be grown easily at home, in a medium filled pot, and MY they can be grown year round.

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These slimy roots are unhappy due to a pythium attack.

Root-Parasitic Fungi: How to Control Pythium in Hydroponics

by Noucetta Kehdi

“Generally, roots take care of themselves, but in adverse situations they can be easily attacked by disease.”

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Roots don’t get the attention they deserve. This comment is true for all types of growing methods, but even more in hydroponics where roots are barren and vulnerable. So root management in hydroponics is an extremely important issue. But don’t roots take care of themselves? Generally they do, at least to some extent. But when in adverse situations, they will be easily attacked by several diseases. A good grower must be able to address the problem before hand. The question is how to get and maintain a healthy root system.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Under extreme stress conditions, roots will emit the stress hormone ethylene.â&#x20AC;?

This drawing depicts the inside of an aeroflo hydroponics system and the oxygenation that happens inside the nutrient-rich solution.

A dynamic, well-designed growing system, clean, highlyoxygenated water, a well-drained substrate, good ventilation and the right temperature and humidity levels are the main ingredients to success when growing hydroponically. Many more parameters are involved of course, but following these basic directions, and the application charts on the nutrient bottles, will allow you to keep your plants happy and healthy. And basically, this is what you are looking for because it is when your plants are stressed that pests and diseases start invading. The root level is a particularly vulnerable part of the plant, be it in soil or in water. When your temperature is high, and your water circulation is poor, your plants will suffer due to a lack of oxygen. At the root level this oxygen starvation reduces the permeability of roots to water, and consequently the absorption of mineral salts, which will weaken the plant and eventually lead to a poor crop. Under continuing stress conditions, the roots will emit ethylene, a stress hormone that accumulates in the roots and participates to the slow degradation of the root system. Furthermore, ethylene is recognized by some pathogens as the sign for a weak individual, and a motivation to attack. MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

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“Fusarium and pythium are ferocious invaders that are often the reason for total crop destruction.” What’s a pathogen? It’s an organism that can cause sickness. There is an immense variety of pathogens in our environment, and some of them are fungi like: fusarium, pythium, verticillium, phytophtora and many more. Fusarium and pythium are two of the most common and destructive root aggressors known to all growers, soil gardeners or hydroponicists. They are very ferocious invaders that are often the reason for total crop destruction. What we must realize is that a large diversity of micro-organisms live all around us. They live on plants, in soil and water, in the air we all breathe, on our skin and in our food. Some are beneficial and some are pathogens, in the sense that they can “induce sickness.” Most of these organisms will remain harmless as long as the body they live on is in good health. But as soon as they sense the first signs of stress, they will attack.

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These roots are healthy once again after a pythium attack. Provided the grower reacts quickly enough, some recovery is possible.

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Root-Parasitic Fungi What is Pythium? Pythium is a destructive root-parasitic fungus. Under favorable conditions pythium multiplies very fast and liberates microscopic spores that infect the roots and deprive the plant of food. It attacks mainly seeds and seedlings, which have little resistance to disease. Larger plants are more resistant; they do get injured too, but if quickly detected they can be treated and saved, although your crop will be definitely stunted. Like other fungi, pythium exists everywhere in the plantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s environment and will attack practically all plants. The best conditions for its development are high moisture levels and a temperature between 68 and 86Â°F. Plus poor oxygenation of the nutritive solution in hydroponics, of course. It is a fungal spore that lives in air and water and will be present in your growing area, no matter how clean it is. It will come in on your shoes, your clothes, your hands, etc. It will come in with your water, especially when your water supply comes from wells or rivers and streams. There are millions of opportunities for this fungus to get into your garden. So, it is important to keep your growing environment clean and keep track of the quality of the water you are using.

The roots of this young plant are being attacked by pythium. You can tell they are dying from the brown and slimy texture on the roots.

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These basil plants are showing healthy roots at a very high temperature of 118°F, thanks to a bio-filter and micro-organisms.

Pythium is often described as a “secondary infection” because it only attacks when the plant is already slightly damaged or when growing conditions are not at best. It takes advantage of sick or wounded tissues to colonize the root and creates damping off and root rot.

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How do you recognize a pythium attack? On a general basis, when pythium attacks, infected seeds will turn soft, mushy and black, and will die. Seedlings will get soggy stems and collapse. For no apparent reason, larger plants and mothers will start wilting and yellowing (which is often incorrectly identified as a nutrient deficiency). Sometimes leaves

will tend to curl downwards.Your plants will show poor growth and your yields will be reduced; you may even lose your crop entirely. It is not easy to catch a pythium attack on time, especially when growing in soil, as the first signs of plant stress will not show immediately above ground. Only after a few days will you notice that your plants look unhappy. Meanwhile at the root level the game was started long ago. In hydroponics, pythium, which loves and thrives in water, is quite a common disease. If you are not vigilant enough, the consequences can be extremely damaging. But hydroponics offers the grower a priceless advantage: access to the root system.To have a better grasp on his future crop, a good hydroponicist will regularly check his root system, as roots offer a wealth of information on the plant’s health, the quality of the nutritive solution and the functioning of the growing system.

"When the infection is severe, the lower portion of the stem can become slimy and black." But be careful. In some growing systems you can lift your plants out of the growing chamber. When plants are young you can easily extract them to see if the roots are healthy. But once the root system develops, it is better to look at it from a neighboring access hole to prevent wounding the plant, as wounded roots will attract fungi as surely as a sick plant. When you look at the roots at that stage, and if pythium started to attack your plants, you will see different symptoms, depending on the extent of the damage. Infection starts at the tip of the root then slowly disintegrates root hairs and the fine lateral roots which are critical for nutrient uptake. The gleaming white roots will turn into light brown, then to dark brown and then to black. When the infection is severe, the lower portion of the stem can become slimy and black. Usually the soft to slimy rotted portion of the root can be easily separated from the inner core.

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Root-Parasitic Fungi How to fight pythium? The answer is quite simple: by keeping your plants healthy you will allow them to resist fungal attacks. And to keep them healthy in hydroponics, there are basic and mandatory rules: good water quality, optimal oxygenation of the nutritive solution, good ventilation, a well drained substrate, adequate temperature and humidity levels, suitable feeding programs and general cleanliness. These are the first preventative measures that all hydroponic growers must keep in mind to start with, as prevention remains the most efficient solution. But there are moments too when your plant is particularly vulnerable, and when it is good to watch them closely.

Keep a close watch on your seedlings and cuttings, as it is often at that stage that your plant will be infected. It is important to choose your germination substrate very carefully and to keep your germination area as clean as possible.

When preparing your cuttings for propagation, use clean utensils, and take good care of both cutting and the mother plant, as the cuts inflicted during the operation are a wonderful opportunity for pathogen penetration.

As with the mother plant, another phenomena takes place when you cut some of its stems off: the root mass becomes too important for its new needs, the root system becomes mushy and sad and parts of it start decaying. At that time it will release more ethylene, and pathogens, including pythium, will rush in.

So don’t hesitate to renew your mothers. After some time your mother becomes old and eventually carries the pythium spores. And your cutting will carry it too. This is why it is wise to use your mother once or twice, and then replace it with one of the newly rooted cuttings. This way you will always propagate healthy young mothers and get healthy and vigorous cuttings, devoid of disease.

Transplanting is another key operation, as a wounded root is a perfect ground for infection. So when you transplant, use a clean spot and be particularly gentle with the young roots.To avoid transplant stress and root manipulation, you can use aeroponic propagation systems where you only need to move your plant from one pot to the next, without interfering with the root system.

On a general basis, start with disease-free plants and seeds. Avoid overfeeding and overcrowding of plants and keep good ventilation. It seems that pythium will thrive better at high alkalinity levels, so keep your pH as low as possible, while following the plant’s needs, of course.

Some growers have discovered other means of fungi prevention by using wetting agents and chlorination of the nutritive solution, UV light, hydrogen peroxide and ozone. But be careful, as some of these methods may be detrimental as they can interfere with some of the mineral salts in the solution, thus endangering the balance of your plant’s nutrition. There are other means to prevent pythium and fungi in general. Some companies offer products like special silicate powders, beneficial bacteria or fungi, or different mixes of various strains of both to add to your nutritive solution. Some go further and offer a “biological filter” that will filter all residues, increase water oxygenation and include a mix of micro-organisms that will colonize and form a protective barrier on the roots, thus blocking the invasion of pathogen organisms. A big advantage to these filters is to keep your roots healthy, even when you have a difficult time controlling your temperature levels. Pythium is one among a huge diversity of fungi. Although, many more exist, like fusarium, verticillium, phytophtora and rhizoctonia, which will cause root rot of adults and damping off of seeds and seedlings. They will develop easily, according to temperatures and pH levels, but they will thrive in the same conditions as pythium. Prevention against their attacks is the same as for pythium, the most important aspects being to continuously keep your plants as healthy and vigorous as possible. The root system of large plants will recover, if you react quickly enough! MY All of Noucetta Kehdi's articles can be found at www.maximumyield.com

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Aquaponics Clean, Green and Organic

by Dr. Michael A. Nichols

Illustration by Ivan Flower-Jones

In the beginning man was a hunter-gather. This nomadic life slowly changed when food resources declined and men became farmers. Man is still primarily a hunter-gatherer in relation to food from the sea; however, the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fish resources are declining at an increasing rate, making fishing a less efficient and less attractive option. Only about four per cent of the world's oceans remain undamaged by human activity, with climate change and fishing being the strongest influences. The answer clearly lies in the hunter gatherer in the seas being replaced by the farmer of the sea with aquaculture. This is already occurring in a number of countries including Canada, Scotland, Chile, New Zealand, Norway and Australia. In Australia there is also a significant fresh water fish farming industry producing eels, barramundi and Murray cod, but all of these land based systems have two major problems, namely the limited fresh water supply and (even more critical) the disposal of the nutrient rich waste products from the fish.

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“Only about four per cent of the world's oceans remain undamaged by human activity.” So what is aquaponics? I was first introduced to aquaponics when visiting Western Australia and met with two people from Curtin University; a postgraduate student from Cyprus and his supervisor. The student’s research involved the production of fish (Barramundi) combined with growing a crop of NFT hydroponic lettuce. My next involvement with aquaponics was at the South Pacific Soilless Culture Conference held at Massey University. Among the papers was one presented by Schultz from the University of the US Virgin Islands in the West Indies. In this paper he described how he grew crops of basil in an aquaponic system with Tilapia fish. At a hydroponics meeting in Singapore, a whole day was set aside for a discussion on aquaponics. Leading the discussion was Professor Jim Rakocy from the US Virgin Islands, along with his colleague Charlie Schultz. They were ably supported by a Canadian aquaponics researcher, Nick Savidov from Alberta in Canada. A visit was made to the aquaponics project of Dr. Jim Rakocy and Charlie Shultz at the University of the Virgin Islands in the West Indies. Water is a very scarce resource on the Island of St. Croix and all the water for the project is collected as rainfall on a large plastic sheet, and stored in a deep reservoir. Essentially, the only water being lost from the system is through transpiration, as all the other water is recirculated from the fish to the hydroponics system, and then back to the fish. The US Virgin Islands is considered tropical, and so all the crops are produced without any protection. Rakocy and Shultz have found that they require at least four different fish tanks to

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Aquaponics: Clean, Green and Organic The fish waste has to have the solids removed and much of the ammonia excreted by the fish converted to nitrate before it reaches the hydroponic tanks through the use of a biofilter. Simplistically, a bio-filter may comprise only a section of windbreak mesh, through which the solution slowly passes. Over a short period of time, a broad spectrum of microorganisms becomes established around the bio-filter. Some of these micro-organisms are capable of converting ammonia to nitrite, and others can carry out the next step of converting nitrite to nitrate. The hydroponic system used in the Virgin Islands is the deep flow method (DFT), and the solution is aerated regularly along the growing tanks. Deep Flow I visited the aquaponics project of Dr. Nick Method Savidov at the Horticultural Research Institute in Brooks, Alberta, Canada. With winter temperatures below -22째F, this environment could certainly not be considered tropical. From a horticultural viewpoint, Savidov has shown that not only does a recirculating aquaponic system results in fewer root diseases in the crop, but also that the crop yield from aquaponics, when compared with conventional hydroponic, is often increased. The reduction in root disease is not surprising, as there is considerable interest in Europe in developing an ecological

DFT

Produced primarily using nutrients from fish waste, it is possible that some aquaponic crops could be marketed as certified organic.

ensure a regular supply of nutrients for the hydroponic system. It is not possible to mix fish of widely different ages (sizes) in the same tank because of the risk of cannibalism. They have also found that it is desirable to grow plants of different ages, to ensure that the uptake of minerals by the plants is also evened out over time.

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Aquaponics: Clean, Green and Organic

balance of organisms in the nutrient solution, as clearly a sterile solution is not sustainable even in the short term. The deep sand filters being developed in Europe for recirculating hydroponics systems are a good example of this approach. There is no simple explanation for the increased yield reported by Savidov, but one possibility is that the organic components in the nutrient solution (possibly humates) may make the trace elements more readily available to the plants. A recent report of microbiologists with the Alberta Research Council (ARC) has shown a presence of so called Plant Growth Promoting Rhizobacteria, or PGPR, in aquaponics water. There is no doubt that the UV sterilization of the recirculating nutrient solution undertaken in conventional hydroponic systems has the potential to alter the microflora population and composition plus precipitate out iron; these factors alone may be enough justification for moving away from the conventional hydroponic systems. The key factor in aquaponics is that the plants are grown using a deep flow hydroponics system. However, worldwide there has been a Nutrient steady move away from deep flow hydroponic Film systems towards Nutrient Film Technique Technique (NFT) and media based systems that use, for example, rockwool or coco peat (coir). Using a deep flow system with forced aeration throughout the deep channel by aquarium aeration stones, means that the plant root system has access to a large quantity of water, and also to a large buffer of nutrients without running short of oxygen. In aquaponics the nutrient solution is actually more dilute than in conventional hydroponics, but because it is present in a large volume, the plant roots are able to extract all they need. In tests strawberry plants were grown in NFT and coir using aquaponics water from a DFT facility as a source of nutrients. The leachate was then returned to the DFT facility. The trial showed a potential

NFT

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An aquaponic greenhouse showing plants being supplied nutrients from their fishy counterparts (above left). Tilapia, a common species, thrive in their own tank, providing nutrient-rich water to the plants (above).

for aquaponics operations to successfully grow greenhouse crops using several techniques while providing an opportunity for diversifying aquaponics operations. A new aquaponics facility was constructed at CDCS in Brooks using expertise acquired from working with the previous model. In the new facility the research team managed to: (a) Radically improve usage of greenhouse space by more than two times. With the same gas bill the producers will be able to double the yield of greenhouse crops. (b) Significantly decrease labor requirements through new design and better protocol for crop management based on the design. (c) Entirely eliminate water discharge from the system. It is a completely contained system now, which allows introduction of new fish species, for example, barramundi in North America, without any contact with the environment. No fertilizers or pesticides were used to produce greenhouse crops. The developed system is unique by its efficiency in space, labor and water usages, and its environmental impact is close to zero. The new design allows aquaponics operations in a fully automated â&#x20AC;&#x153;Aquaponics is not regime and shows just more efficient and a high potential environmentally friendly for considerably than other technologies, larger operations but it is also a safer way incorporating to produce vegetables.â&#x20AC;? integrated waste management. A study/survey on bacterial contamination and a spoilage rate of green vegetables was conducted at CDCS. The leaves were collected in aquaponics and compared to the green vegetables purchased in grocery stores. The aquaponics produce showed minimal spoilage compared to other samples. This confirmed MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

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“There are essentially three Ω3 fatty acids, namely DHA (important for brain health), EPA (important for cardiovascular health) and ALA. DHA and EPA are only found in seafood.”

Consuming fish that contain Omega 3 fatty acids is necessary in order to obtain adequate levels in the human diet.

previous two-year food safety studies, which showed no presence of E. Coli or other pathogens in aquaponics produce. It is not a surprising result as the plants are grown in a confined area with no contact with animal manure, which is a main source of E. Coli contamination in fieldgrown produce. Thus, aquaponics is not just more efficient and environmentally friendly than other technologies, but it is also a safer way to produce vegetables.

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Omega 3 (ω3) One interesting aspect of aquaponics is that one of the critical human health constituents found in fish are the Ω3 fatty acids. There are essentially three Ω3 fatty acids, namely DHA (important for brain health), EPA (important for cardiovascular health) and ALA. DHA and EPA are only found in seafood, and are derived by fish from the consumption of micro-organisms consumed at sea by fish etc. EPA is found in a range of plant derived seed oils, e.g. hemp seed oil, but our bodies are only able to convert small

quantities (10 per cent) of EPA to the physiologically active DHA and EPA. Thus to ensure an adequate level of EPA and DHA in our diet it is necessary to consume fish which contain these fatty acids. This does not mean that the fish must be sea fish, but that the fish must have been provided with a source of DHA and EPA, which means that they must have been fed with fish meal sourced from sea fish.

References: Some crops typically grown in subsrates, such as tomatoes, don’t lend themselves well to deep flow hydroponic systems.

To learn more about Dr. Nichols' aquaponics research arounf the world, visit www.maximumyield.com

Nelson, R L & Pade J S (2007) “Agri-tourism”. Acta Hort., 742, 225-227 Rakocy, D S, Schulz, J E, Bailey, R C & Thoman, E S (2004) “Aquaponic production of tilapia and basil: comparing a batch and staggered cropping system”. Acta Hort., 742, 63-69. Rakocy, J E, Bailey, D S, Schulz, R C & Danahar, J J (2007) “Preliminary evaluation of organic waste from two aquaculture systems as a source of inorganic nutrients for hydroponics”. Acta Hort., 648, 201-207. Savidov, N A, Hutchings, E & Rakocy, J E (2007) “Fish and plant production in a recirculating aquaponic system: A new approach to sustainable agriculture in Canada” Acta Hort., 742, 209-221.

Education and Agritourism As society becomes more urbanized, a separation is developing between those with a rural background and those who believe that food comes from the supermarket. Aquaponics provides a very suitable educational vehicle to demonstrate the link between animals (fish), fish waste, plant nutrition and human food. It also provides an excellent example of the need to have a balanced ecology. Agritourism provides a valuable interphase between urban and rural, and between the developed and developing world. Jon Nielson, a teacher from Rosemary High School (Alberta), successfully introduced aquaponics as part of his biology and chemistry curricula using aquaponics mini-systems developed at CDCS. As a result, the average marks in biology increased by 20 per cent and has prompted other schools in the district to consider aquaponics as a teaching tool for biology and chemistry teachers. Conclusion Aquaponics is an ecologically sustainable system capable of producing food with few, if any, pesticide residues. Preliminary studies have demonstrated it is worthy of further investigation and development as a commercially viable business. There is one added marketing advantage of aquaponics and that is that provided the pesticides used to control pests and diseases conform to organic criteria, then clearly the crop could be MY organically certified. MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

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YOU TELL US

Cary Senders of Sure To Grow, hydroponic growth media technology, discusses STG for a new generation of growers.

Maximum Yield (MY): What products are available in the Sure To Grow (STG) line and how can a hobby or commercial grower choose the right option for their unique situation? Cary Senders: The STG line consists of rockwool type products like seed starter cubes, blocks, slabs and loose fill and is ideal for those grow in flood tables or use top drip methods. Our Grow Pads are designed specifically for microgreens and wheatgrass. This product has become a staple for many commercial microgreens growers in the US and Canada. Our Flood and Drain mats are lightweight and more user friendly than coco mats. The new STG Storm series offers growers an innovative option for their net pots and buckets. This line was primarily designed for manufactured systems like flood and drain, aeroponic, DWC or a combination of systems. These one piece, ready to use out of the box cylinders, offer growers the luxury of not having to clean or prep their media. Plus, all STG products are pH neutral giving growers a level of ease of use and predictability. Our new Clipper clone pucks are designed for use with all manufactured clone systems, plus the grower does not

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Cary Senders

have to remove the clone or cutting once the puck is removed from the system. With Storm Clone pucks the cutting stays right where it is therefore removing any chance for shock during transplant. STG is all about eliminating variables that can harm your crops. MY: How was it discovered that polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyethyelen (PE), the materials used in STG products, could work as a successful growing medium?

it worked. A problem arose as they plowed the fields; they were bringing up thousands of rags that got stuck in their tractor blades. They turned to DuPont who manufactured the PET fiber who turned to PET pillow stuffing as a fix. They found that if they produced the fiber with what are called cluster balls, the fiber was able to hold lots of water, with excellent aeration qualities. In essence this fiber had all the desired qualities of a great plant growth media. At the end of the day, the kibbutz and DuPont decided not to puruse this as a commercial idea, and we were contacted by a Dupont representative in 2005 to evaluate the technology and see if we were interested in taking over the patents. After conducting extensive trials, we decided to license the technology and create what is now known as Sure To Grow.

Cary: The idea originated in Israel. A kibbutz (collective farm) began experimenting in their fields with small pieces of polyester that were left over from their textile mill production. The idea was to jelly roll seeds inside the rags and plant them in the field, and surprisingly

Sure to Grow product line.

the flexibility of our technology, allows us to find ways to make media designs that benefit growers, and enable us to offer the largest variety and most comprehensive family of media products on the market. A case in point is our new Hail mini cubes. Hail is an STG aggregate consisting of pourable one inch cubes that need no cleaning or pre prep. A two cubic foot bag weighs only about two pounds. These kinds of value added, ease of use qualities are what STG is all about. In just two years we have brought over 20 new plant media designs to this market, always trying to improve, always trying to make it easier for our growers. The revolutionary Storm Hail Croutons for large bucket and net pot systems.

MY: Is polyethylene terephthalate (PET) safe? How can you be sure? Cary: We get this question a lot and we appreciate you asking. PET is a very safe product, and is the most widely used food safety packaging material in the world. It is also OMRI approved for food packaging because it is sterile, inert and pH neutral. These same qualities transfer over very well for a hydroponics growing media. No other media can make the same claim. By mid-2010, all of our STG products will be made from 100 per cent post consumer recycled materials! We will be the first and only media manufacturer in the world able to make this claim, and it is something we are very proud to be able to do for our industry, our growers and the environment. A great resource to learn more about PET safety is www.plasticinfo.org

Basil thriving in STG hail croutons.

Healthy white roots as a result of growing in STG.

MY: What crops can be successfully grown with STG?

MY: How is the storm series different from the original STG product line?

Cary: That’s easy; we have yet to find a crop that can’t be grown is STG.

Cary: STG is a grow media technology and, in essence, a textile fiber, manufactured right here in the USA in the textile mills of North Carolina. This manufacturing process, combined with

MY: What research has been done that proves STG’s success rate in growing various crops? Cary: We have two existing patents on our technology, and three have been filed

since 2007.We have a couple of interesting studies on STG available on our website and what’s fascinating is the number of crop and plant professionals that routinely contact us to do their own trials with STG. Crop professionals around the world are testing and evaluating the STG technology for a wide range of unique applications. Here are some examples: The Ohio State University Department of Crop Sciences is growing hundreds of trees in a specially designed STG pot liner. Scientists at OSU believe that STG will provide the trees with better insulation so they do not have to be moved indoors for the winter. If this theory is proven, the labor savings alone for the movement of literally millions of trees would be an industry changing event. Three major roofing manufacturers are evaluating STG for green roof applications, due to of its lightweight and durable nature. Several large, commercial agricultural systems manufacturers are trialing proprietary STG designs for several new systems that are going to be coming to market. MY

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

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by Heather Pearl

Little Growers’

Roots are Spreading “Children love to create; caring for plants, watering them and watching them grow instills confidence and sparks that creativity.” Every parent wants their children to have what’s best; access to fresh fruit and vegetables as part of a healthy nourishing diet is just one aspect of that. If only it were that simple! But that’s the challenge taken on by Jason Ralph-Smith, founder of Little Growers. He believes that getting youngsters to grow tasty produce is an exciting and educational way of involving them in what they eat.

Children love to create. Caring for plants, watering them and watching them grow, instills confidence and sparks creativity. Little Growers aims to harness youngsters’ eagerness and natural curiosity, encouraging them to grow and taste a variety of produce. By enabling children to get involved in growing, Little Growers also encourages them to learn about their environment, sustainability and healthy eating. They produce their own healthy, fresh food and learn key life skills. Little Growers is responding to the pressing need for improved eating habits and better nutrition. Children and families are a key target group in healthy eating and increased physical activity campaigns. Recent research found that many young children do not associate a carrot stick with a carrot grown in the ground or a chip with a potato. Experts have confirmed that obesity, diabetes and heart disease are increasing in the developed world and change must be imminent if we are to reverse this worrying trend. It is great to see the Obamas taking the first steps in the Faringdon Junior School have all hands on deck as they begin their Little Growers project in their environmental area, planting and growing their own produce from scratch.

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The older students at Hawthorn Primary are championing the cause for Little Growers with their school banner.

Washington kitchen garden. Little Growers reflects this proactive approach at a school level, allowing communities to take action by instilling healthy values at a young age in the form. So there’s plenty to be done and Little Growers is taking up the challenge and their philosophy is taking root in schools around the UK. Launched in 2008, Little Growers, a community interest company, started work with seven schools around the UK. These included a school for disabled children and a community school for disadvantaged and troubled youngsters. Following the success of the initial phase, a further 12 schools joined the project. They have installed hyroponic technology and polytunnels and are now well under way in their growing projects. Another 50 schools, which are in the beginning stages of their set-ups, are using propagators whilst awaiting grant funding. Over 1,350 children ranging from four to 19 years old now have had direct contact with Little Growers initiatives. Children’s’ enthusiasm and innovation for their Little Growers projects is remarkable. Participating schools sell their Little Growers produce at the local farmers market creating revenue for the school, healthy fresh produce for their community and a great and engaging experience for the children. At the heart of the Little Growers project is a unique self watering technology invented by Jason Ralph-Smith. The watering systems provide controlled irrigation for food crop production powered only by gravity. They are environmentally MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

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Little Growers`Roots are Spreading

These youngsters from Hawthorn Primary admire their newly planted tomato and pumpkin plants, eagerly anticipating their first harvest of produce.

f “A database o have 2,000 schools interest expressed an lved in getting invo wers.” with Little Gro

friendly, extremely safe for use in the schools and very simple to manage. The added advantage is they can be left unattended several weeks, ideal for school weekends and holiday breaks. The system has been proven to work in a range of environments and climates. These include Thailand, South Africa and Europe, proving that Little Growers projects are

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highly adaptable and have great potential for development worldwide. When they come on board, all schools are provided with complete growing kits free of charge, so they can get started immediately. They select which seeds to plant and learn what they need to make them grow. Their fresh produce is then used throughout the school; during

lessons, in the canteen and after school clubs, giving children a taste of ‘homegrown’ fruit and vegetables. The process that schools follow to become involved in Little Growers is simple. Those showing an interest simply explain why they wish to be involved and what they will undertake to ensure that the objectives of Little Growers are fully delivered. Little Growers then provides all the necessary equipment including polytunnels, self-watering systems, water butts, raised beds, liquid fertilizer, seeds and propagation units. Little Growers offers continuous support, and if required hands on assistance with the set up, either from Jason Ralph-Smith or one of our volunteers. The schools are also provided with key information via online video examples on how to maintain the project and make it the greatest success possible for the childrens’ enjoyment and learning. Jason Ralph-Smith acknowledges there are other schemes promoting healthy eating in schools, but none that combines the complete package from total food production to consumption, incorporating environmental issues. Little Growers combines all the key stages that children need to understand healthy eating and environmental sustainability, from planting, growth, maintenance, harvest, and eating. With a database of 2,000 UK schools expressing an interest in getting involved, Little Growers is applying for funding to expand and eventually take their growing scheme into all schools in the UK and now the United States. Jason says: “Our ultimate goal at Little Growers is to build the concept to the level where the produce grown by the children is sold in local supermarkets with branding of Little Growers so that the whole community can access locally grown food. Initially we aim to grow enough produce to supply the school canteens. Then as more food is grown sales to the parents will be incorporated to provide healthy produce and added revenue for the school, with the supermarket distribution being the ultimate goal.”

Little Growers is also winning fans around the world, with interest from Japan, South Africa and the United States but currently, their focus now is to become an international scheme with a wide range of schools involved across the globe, tailoring the concept to their needs and environment. Japanese schools are currently in the process of establishing Little Growers projects for the start of the new school year. They are developing exciting Little Growers projects in congested urban environments to provide green space for the children and to counteract pollution. “Little Growers Encouraging community touches on areas support and development is a key area. Little Growers aims that are close to to establish volunteer networks people’s hearts.” to support schools and involve the wider community. By making links with allotment and horticultural groups, schools and pupils would benefit from specialist knowledge and share in expert growers’ enthusiasm and support. Ideally volunteer groups would champion the cause of growing fresh produce locally, healthy eating and healthy environments. Little Growers touches on areas that are close to people’s hearts, whether it be their children’s future or the future of the planet.Volunteer networks give ongoing support for the Little Growers’ schools whilst providing

Hawthorn Primary School children get stuck in planting their chosen crop varieties as they begin their Little Growers project at the start of the school year.

an opportunity for the community to work together for a sustainable, eco-friendly project. On the horizon for Little Growers are: school recycling which will then be used to provide the raw materials for the growing systems, wormeries and composting to allow the schools to create their own fertilizer and compost and expanding the projects to family gardens at home. All of these areas increase the impact and environmental sustainability of the Little Growers ethos, making a significant and long-term difference to children, the community and the environment. MY Feel free to contact info@littlegrowers.co.uk for more information or inquiries into Little Growers schemes. We would love to hear from you.

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Do You Know Whatâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Happening

Under Your Drippers? by Dr. J. Benton Jones Jr.

The drip irrigation procedure is the most commonly used method for dispensing water and nutrient solution to hydroponically grown plants rooted in either an inorganic or organic substrate, with a dripper head anchored on a peg at the base of each plant. The system is fairly easy to install, relatively free of malfunctions and cost effective. Flow from the dripper requires that the water or nutrient solution be under pressure, with the flow volume determined by the size of dripper head opening. Since drippers can clog or occasionally malfunction, they need to be monitored during their period of use. To minimize clogging, a filter is placed at the head of the delivery line to remove suspended material from the water or nutrient solution that will be dispensed.

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“Water and nutrient element requirements are calculated in slight excess of what is actually needed by the plant in order to avoid insufficiencies.” The volume of water or nutrient solution to be delivered with each irrigation and the frequency of irrigations is usually a calculated value based on the atmospheric demand on the plant for water and its nutrient element requirement determined by species and stage of growth. Normally water and nutrient element requirements are calculated in slight excess of that actually needed by the plant in order to avoid the potential for insufficiencies. The combination of frequency and length of time for each irrigation as well as the size of the dripper opening, will determine how much of the rooting media will become saturated at each irrigation. Some recommend that with each irrigation, there should be some runoff that is either discarded or collected for possible re-circulation. What portion of the applied water or nutrient solution retained in an inorganic substrate, such as course sand, perlite or rockwool, is determined by their individual physical properties? Initially, these rooting media are essentially “nutrient element free,” but with time there is an accumulation of unabsorbed nutrient elements as soluble ions, frequently referred to as salts. Following the accumulation of ions in the retained solution, precipitates begin to form. These precipitates are a mix of calcium sulfate and calcium phosphate, with that initially formed acting as a seed to keep the process continuing with each application of nutrient solution. Co-precipitation of other elements, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese and zinc, also occurs.

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Do You Know What's Happening Under Your Drippers?

This application of drip irrigation is using expanded clay pellets as the medium to grow basil.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Precipitate formation is less likely to occur with organic media, as they may have physical and chemical exchange buffering properties.â&#x20AC;? The rate at which ion and precipitate accumulation occurs depends on the rooting media characteristics, rate of root absorption and the elemental composition and frequency of application of the nutrient solution. With ion (salt) accumulation, both water and nutrient element root uptake declines. The concentration level of ion accumulation is determined by measuring the electrical conductivity (EC) of solution being discharged from the rooting media or measured in an aliquot of solution taken from a formed cavity in the rooting media. With an elevated EC, the rooting media requires leaching with pure water to remove the accumulated salts. Unfortunately, leaching will not remove all of the soluble ions and it will not remove the accumulating precipitates. The disposal of the leachate may require special procedures in order to meet local environmental requirements. With time, the plant will eventually have three sources of nutrient elements, that being supplied by the nutrient solution that retained in the rooting media as soluble ions and that in the form of precipitates. Since root surfaces are highly acidic, there contact with these precipitates will dissolve elements that can then be root absorbed. At this point, the grower has 126

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lost control of the nutrient element status of his plants. With each change in stage of plant growth, it is common practice to adjust the elemental composition of the nutrient solution to meet these changing demands, the result of the formation and/or maturing of fruit or the formation of flowers. But, depending on the reservoir of elements in the rooting media, a change in either the nutrient solution formulation or irrigation schedule (volume and frequency of application), with the intention to alter the nutrient element status of the plant, becomes problematic.

“A grower using the drip irrigation method needs to be aware of what may be happening under each dripper, as plant performance, yield and product quality can easily suffer.” If the rooting media is organic, such as pinebark, course peat, saw dust or coir, their physical and chemical properties complicate the interaction among that of the nutrient solution, retained nutrient solution and the plant roots. Precipitate formation is less likely to occur since these organic substrates have both physical and chemical exchange properties that

The small size drippers used in this irrigation system are perfect for even saturation.

provide some degree of “buffer capacity” that would keep the accumulating precipitating elemental ions, such as the calcium cation and the sulfate and phosphate anions, from concentrating sufficiently to form precipitates. This method is far from being ideal. Unfortunately, little research is being conducted to make the drip irrigation technique more efficient in dispensing water and plant nutrient

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Do You Know What's Happening Under Your Drippers? elements in order to minimize the accumulation of soluble ions and precipitates. In this way, the need to periodically leach the substrate to reduce the EC of retained ions (salts), and to create a rooting environment that provides control of the nutrient element status of the plant is eliminated.

“An elevated EC will require leaching with pure water to remove accumulated salts.” Allan Cooper, the inventor of the Nutrient Film Technique (NFT), suggested when using the “W” form of the nutrient trough, that a concentrated form of the nutrient solution be periodically flowed down one side of the trough and only water down the other. Using this same concept with the drip irrigation technique, one would apply a concentrated nutrient solution once a day, either in the early evening or before dawn, sufficient in volume to saturate the rooting media. Then during the daylight hours, only water would be applied to keep the plant fully turgid. However, to make such a system work, the elemental composition of the nutrient solution needs to be carefully formulated. Another procedure that needs to be explored is to alternate the application of nutrient solution and water, just sufficient to saturate the rooting media at each irrigation, balancing water and nutrient element requirements just sufficient to sustain healthy plant growth. Again such a procedure would require the use of a carefully formulated nutrient solution that just meets the nutrient element requirement of the plant.

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In this set-up the rooting media is enclosed in a water tight vessel and the nutrient solution is released at the base.

Organic rooting media can complicate the interaction among the nutrient solution, retained nutrient solution and the plant roots.

A drip system using perlite-filled bags as the growing media.

Another means for utilizing the drip irrigation technique would be to place the rooting media in a watertight vessel with the nutrient solution being released at the base of the rooting media, sufficient to maintain a constant depth of nutrient solution in the bottom of the container. I have found that a dilute modified formulation of the HoaglandArnon nutrient solution works well with this procedure. The advantage of this procedure is that all of the applied nutrient elements and water are totally utilized by the growing plant. Therefore, there is no runoff, no accumulation of unabsorbed nutrient elements, or EC build-up that would affect water and nutrient element uptake by the plant. The drip irrigation procedure is widely used. Therefore, a grower using

this method of dispensing water and a nutrient solution, needs to be aware of what may be happening under each dripper that will determine plant performance and yield as well as the quality of products produced. Much is yet to be learned so that adverse conditions associated with this procedure can be prevented. MY References: Cooper, A. 1996. The ABC of NFT. Casper Publications, Narranbeen, Australia. Hoagland, D.R. and I. Arnon. 1950. The Water Culture Method for Growing Plants without Soil. Circular 347. California Agricultural Experiment Station, University of California, Berkeley, CA.

Learn ways to make the drip irrigation more efficient at www.maximumyield.com

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PRODUCT spotlight

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

Continued from page 42

Global Product Solutions Presents HID-1 HID lighting is an essential part of any indoor garden. Timers work great to turn lighting on and off. But what happens if the cooling fails while the lights are on...fried plants, plus momentary power outages, which negatively affect ballasts and lamps. With these safety factors in mind the Sentinel HID-1 was designed to protect your plants as well as control and safeguard your lighting systems. Features: • digital 24 hour time clock • back-up battery in the event of a power outage • hot start prevention logic, which prevents HID lamps from re-firing until they have properly cooled after a power failure • built-in temperature sensor that automatically shuts down the lights to prevent overheating in the grow area • two receptacles – one to control your lights (daytime), one to control dehumidifiers, heaters or exhaust fans Connect up to 1200 watts of HID lighting directly to the HID-1 or use one or more Sentinel HPH-4 or HPH-8 and operate as many lights as you need. Now available from local retailers.

Sun System Solar Flare and Solar Wind T5 The new Solar Flare and Solar Wind lighting fixtures are designed with the newest Very High Output (VHO) fluorescent technology. VHO ballasts and lamps are a brand new innovation, offering an amazing 7200 lumens at 95 watts each. These fixtures are made with 95 per cent reflective European aluminum reflectors, major brand solid state electronic ballasts, heavy duty white steel housing and are louvered and slotted for efficient cooling capabilities. As an added bonus, the eight and 12 lamp models offer two switches for a variety of lamp configurations to suit Premium Coco Peat from your growing needs. Visit your local retailer to Cash Crop learn more. Cash Crop Coco Peat is a natural, organic fiber derived from the coconut husk. The Coco Peat has been treated and aged precisely, which prevents it from compacting or decomposing during use. Cash Crop Coco Peat is RHP certified and has been washed to remove all salts and buffered with a special blend of nutrient, which prevents calcium and magnesium block out. Additionally, Coco Peat contains trichaderma mould which is a natural root stimulator, and protector from root disease. Cash Crop Coco Peat has superior air, water and nutrient holding capacity. It’s able to hold seven times its own weight in water and has an air porosity of 30 per cent. Visit your local grow shop to learn more. 130

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New from Green Air Products – HyperGrow™

COMING UP IN april

Here is something you are going to love. This hydroponic kit comes in a beautiful box complete with everything necessary to get growing. Perfect for the first time grower or someone who wants to add a couple more plants to their garden. Designed for use indoors or on the patio. Takes only moments to assemble – anyone can do it. The top pot will support one or two large plants while the lower outer tray is perfect for lettuce herbs and small flowers. The constant circulation provides roots with abundant aeration and nutrients for vigorous growth of almost any type of plant. No tools or additional accessories needed. HyperGrow™ Kit includes: • two-tier potting system • LECA stones • grow cubes • Green Air Products® nutrient start pack • submersible pump, fountain and tubing • illustrated instructions Ask your local indoor gardening store to carry HyperGrow.

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

LEDs Continued Modifications in temperature, humidity and CO2 levels will make your LEDs more efficient and productive.

The Future of the Environment Agriculture is estimated to contribute 11 per cent of the world’s total greenhouse emissions. Take a more efficient approach to growing with organics.

Sea Solid Supplements Sea solids are the perfect trace element supplement. All the elements are available to sea life, and they can be applied successfully to your plants in a balanced solution.

Industry Meet and Greet Plus Expert Advice

High Quality Hydroponics Fertilizer - Shiva A&B Cash Crop Shiva A&B is a two part, high quality, hydroponics fertilizer that is designed to be used in the grow and bloom cycle, in any medium (soil, hydroponics, coco peat). Shiva A&B are made from the most expensive and purest raw material, guaranteeing the fastest growth rates and heaviest yields. It’s simply the easiest to use and the best hydroponic nutrient on the market today. Since Shiva A&B are made from the best raw materials, they will never clog your vat, pump or irrigation system and the EC will always remain stable. Available in one quart, one gallon, two gallons and four gallons. Ask for Shiva at your nearest hydro retailer.

Maximum Yield USA features manufacturers, retailers and growers from this ever-expanding industry. Get to know your indoor gardening comrades in Talking Shop, You Tell Us and Your Best Advice. Upcoming international events (Montreal, Canada!), exclusive contests, latest industry news, reader question and answer, best products and technologies, and much, much more.

www.maximumyield.com April will be available April 1 for at selected indoor gardening retail stores across USA FREE and on maximumyield.com I N D O O R

G A R D E N I N G

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PRODUCT spotlight

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

House & Garden Top Booster House & Garden Top Booster is an excellent flowering stimulator, which acts on the basis of potassium, phosphorus and Eddha-Fe (iron). These elements are important for the plant’s flowering; potassium for the beginning of the flowering stage and phosphorus for the proper development of fructification, while the Eddha-Fe additive ensures a better coloring of the leaves. Top Booster creates an optical drought giving the plant the impression that the last phase of its life cycle has started. To ensure its survival, the plant will then begin forming flowers and fruits to reproduce. Add Top Booster for two to three days and then return to the usual nutrient composition. The plant will continue to form fruits and flowers. As this aspect of the final phase of the plant’s cycle starts earlier, the fruits and flowers have more time to become larger. Never use Top Booster in combination with PK 13-14, Top Shooter or Shooting Powder. Top Booster is available now from your local hydroponics retailer.

Ultra Sun 150, 250 and 400 Watt HPS Lamps These high-output HPS lamps are specifically engineered for plant growth. The Ultra Sun’s spectrum and output rival lamps that are significantly more expensive. Plus, the Ultra Sun HPS lamps have a one year warranty. A quality and performance line of lamps at an excellent price. • Ultra Sun 150 watt - 16,000 lumens • Ultra Sun 250 watt - 29,000 lumens • Ultra Sun 400 watt - 50,000 lumens Visit your local hydro store for more information.

Sun System® Introduces New Air-Cooled Reflectors - Blockbuster 6” and 8” With the Blockbuster’s square shape it is a perfect match for your square growing areas. The Blockbuster delivers a very uniform, square, intense light pattern for optimum growing. • interior made from 95 per cent reflective European aluminum • completely sealed with neoprene gaskets and hinged glass • available in six or eight inch integrated air-cooled fittings • pre-wired with lamp cord and socket • galvanized steel housing with Dupont powder coated finish

ActiveAqua Domes Now Available This ActiveAqua humidity dome fits perfectly with Hydrofarm’s ActiveAqua flood tables. They feature threeway ventilation for superior temperature and humidity control with vents on the top and on the side. These tall domes accommodate larger plants for increased growing volume. Available in two feet by four feet, two feet by two feet and three feet by three feet. ActiveAqua domes are now available at an authorized Hydrofarm retail store near you.

For more information about the new six and eight inch Blockbuster Reflectors, visit your local retail hydro dealer.

MY You can find all of our products online at www.maximumyield.com. Each month your favorite new product profiles will be featured on our website. Get the latest information on what will make your garden grow. Do you want to be included in the product spotlight? Contact the editor at 1-250-279-2677 or email editor@maximumyield.com

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DO YOU

know?

1 Most species of plants will tolerate an EC level that is above or below the recommended value by at least 10 or 20 per cent.

2 If you can decide on a soil or medium mix that suits

your needs, you can custom create your own with the help of a knowledgeable sales clerk at your local grow shop.

3 Bacillus subtilis, considered the most powerful

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

4 The rinds from watermelons can be thrown directly

CO concentration equal or greater than 1,500 7 Appm may cause partial or complete closure of the 2

plantâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stomas, which results in a reduction of CO2 absorption and a limitation in plant transpiration. and sprouts are not the same, as is 8 Microgreens the popular belief. Significant differences worth mentioning are the flavors, textures and colors, which are much more developed in microgreens.

9 Precipitate formation is less likely to occur with

organic rooting media, such as pinebark, course peat, saw dust or coir, since these substrates have physical and chemical exchange properties that provide buffering.

into your compost pile.

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

6 The newest generation of LED lights will run for at

least 50,000 to 100,000 hours, or the equivalent of 10 years, before needing to be replaced.

10Plants that are starving for oxygen will suffer at

the root level as oxygen starvation reduces the permeability of roots to water and the absorption of mineral salts.

11Neem kills aphids and other insects by clogging the

membranes of their soft skins with the fatty acids in the oil. MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

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TALKING SHOP

AT A GLANCE Company: Green Earth Products Inc. Owners: Paula M. Christensen and Bill Bom

by Paula Christensen

Location: 5700 Higway 79 South, Unit 1 Rapid City, South Dakota 57702 Phone: 605-342-1307 Email: bill@green-earth-products-inc.com Web: www.green-earth-products-inc.com Motto: Promoting healthy living through a cleaner lifestyle. Paula Christensen

For over a decade I owned a local delivery business with partner Bill Bom, but when health issues forced me to quit, I looked no farther Bill Bom than my own backyard for the next venture. A seasoned greenhouse gardener, I struggled to find plant products nearby. A niche market existed for a local gardening supply store that would be open year round, not just during the summer months. Until that time most local gardeners had to travel 600 miles to the next city or order by mail. Located on a major secondary highway, foot traffic is non-existent. Fortunately, the highway links to Colorado, Wyoming and North Dakota, so there is never a shortage of customers. And though the interior of the store is smallâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;there is approximately 950 square feet of useable floor spaceâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;when we do get a first time customer, they are really impressed with all that we stock. 134

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The biggest challenge we face, and something we never considered when we were drawing up the business plan, is how best to reach the mid-westerners interested in hydroponics as well as the rest of the products we offer. In an effort to reach as many potential customers as we can, I write a monthly newspaper article, advertise in local newspapers and do presentations at local garden clubs. I even taught Hobby Greenhouse Gardening 101 classes for about two years in the hopes of teaching the public about eating healthier and being good stewards of the land by using natural and organic fertilizers and insecticides.

Although I had been introduced to hydroponics gardening in the 70s, when my dad got me a summer job in a local commercial hydro greenhouse, I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t originally plan on carrying hydroponics supplies. We were on a tight budget and I didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t know just how many people in the area were interested in hydroponics. But, as the years pass and more people hear about our store, interest in hydroponics increases. I also wanted to honor my agricultural roots and healthy lifestyle, so in 2008, after Bill and I came back from a tradeshow, I decided to completely revamp the entire store, and changed the name from Grapevine Hobby Greenhouses to Green Earth Products Inc. I started stocking not just gardening supplies, but an eclectic collection of natural and organic products for the home and garden, including earth-friendly house goods, bamboo furniture and childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s accessories, natural pet products, greenhouse accessories and more. Check out our e-store at www.green-earth-products-inc.com We use what we sell and we ask our customers for their input on new products so that we can answer detailed questions on their care and use or provide the customer with a knowledgeable contact to better address their concerns. I like having a reputable resource for my customers, which is the main reason I offer Maximum Yield magazine to them. One of the biggest challenges I have seen for beginning hydroponics gardeners in the mid-west is the potential for information overload. I believe that growing, whether hydroponically or in soilless mediums, is going to become much more important in the MY years to come.

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AVANT-GARDENING

Kitchen Composting If you’re a composter then you know that sometimes it feels like a chore to take your kitchen scraps out to the compost bin. No one wants to run outside every time they eat an apple or chop some onions. Well you don’t have to anymore if you get a compost crock. Compost crocks will blend in on your kitchen countertop. They look more like cookie jars than a container to store your disposables in. Peel a carrot or a cucumber, toss in the peels. Making coffee? Toss in the grinds and the filter too. Are you a fan of watermelon? The rinds can go right in your compost crock where they will wait until you have a free moment to dump them into your outside compost bin. If storing stuff on your counter that you’re used to putting in the trash doesn’t sounds like a great idea to you, don’t worry. Kitchen compost crocks come with replaceable carbon filters. They fit neatly into the lid of the crock and eliminate odors. No one will ever know that it’s filled with your kitchen waste. Compost crocks come in different colors and are even made from different materials. It will be easy to find one that will look good in your kitchen. There are stainless steel models and also ceramic ones. Now just because you have a compost crock doesn’t mean that you can let the contents sit for weeks on end. Be sure to empty your crock at least once a week. Compost crocks are easy to empty and clean.You can use a hose from the garden to give it a quick rinse over your compost bin; or, you can bring it back inside with you and wash it out in the sink. Getting a dishwasher safe compost crock makes it even easier to clean. Stop feeling guilty about throwing away your kitchen scraps. With a compost crock in your kitchen you’re on your way to making the most nutrient-rich, good for your plants compost that you’ve ever made. And you’ll owe it all to your compost crock. MY 136

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

Widely available, compost crocks can be found in a variety of materials and colors. Selection ranges from trendy, stainless steel to traditional ceramic to uber, ecofriendly bamboo.

MAX-MART

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LLC

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

www.hydrogardendelight.com

I N D O O R

G A R D E N I N G

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

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MAX-MART

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MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

MAXIMIZE YOUR EXPOSURE WITH

MAX-MART

Get your Max-Mart ad into the next issue! Call Maximum Yield at (250) 729-2677 for more information. MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

143

MAXIMUM YIELD distributors

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

ALASKA Brown’s Electrical Supply 365 Industrial Way, Anchorage, AK 99501 907-272-2259 Far North Garden Supply 300 Centaur Street, Wasilla, AK 99654 907-376-7586 Far North Garden Supply 2834 Boniface Parkway Anchorage, AK 99504 907-333-3141 Holmtown Nursery Inc. 1301 - 30th Avenue, Fairbanks, AK 99701 907-451-8733

A Fertile World (Fortuna) 610 7th Street, Fortuna, CA 95540 707-725-0700

Best Yield Garden Supply 3503 West Temple Avenue, Unit A, Pomona, CA 91768 909-839-0505

Abundant Hydroponics LLC 1611 Shop Street, #1-A, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 530-54 HYDRO

Better Choice Hydroponics 610 S. Washington Street, Senora, CA 95370 209 533 2400

Advanced Garden Supply 2660 Lake Tahoe Boulevard, Building C, Unit 9, S. Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 530-541-4769

Better Grow Hydro Pasadena 1271 E. Colorado Boulevard, Pasedena, CA 91106 626 737 6612

Advanced Garden Supply 3113 Alhambra Drive, Unit F, Cameron Park, CA 95682, 530-676-2100

Better Grow Hydro Los Angeles 5554 Bandini Boulevard, Bell, CA 91106 323-510-2700; 877 640 GROW

Advanced Hydroponics 17808 Sierra Highway, Canyon Country, CA 91351 661-299-1603

ARIZONA

AG Natural 403 Idaho Maryland Road, Grass Valley, CA 95945 530-274 0990

ACI Hydroponics 1325 South Park Lane, Tempe, AZ 85282 800-633-2137

All Seasons Hydroponics 17614 Chatsworth Street, Granada Hills, CA 91344 818-368-4388

Homegrown Hydroponics 601 East Broadway Road, Tempe, AZ 85282 480-377-9096

Alternative Hydro 3870 East, Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91107 888-50-HYDRO

Homegrown Hydroponics 1702 East Prince Road, Tucson, AZ 85719 520-323-1212

Always Sunny Hydroponics 708 W. Swain Road Stockton, CA 95207 209-473-9827

Natural Pools & Gardens 2143 North Country Suite C, Tucson, AZ 85716 520-323-2627

American Hydroponics 286 South G Street, Arcata, CA 95521 800-458-6543

Sea of Green Hydroponics 815 W. University Drive, Suite 110, Tempe, AZ 85281 800-266-4136

Anthony’s Garden & Lighting Supply 30 Ridge Road, Suites 8 & 9 Sutter Creek, CA 95685 209-267-5416

Sea of Green West 2340 W. Bell Road, Suite 116, Phoenix, AZ 85023 602-504-8842 Sea of Green Hydroponics 402 North 4th Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85705 520-622-6344

ARKANSAS Fermentables 3915 Crutcher Street, N. Little Rock, AR 72118 501-758-6261

Anything Grows 10607 W. River Street, Building 3 Suite C, Truckee, CA 96161 530-582-0479 Atwater Hydroponics 3350 Glendale Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90039 323-663-8881 Auburn Organic 4035 Grass Valley Highway, Auburn, CA 95602 530-823-8900

Brentwood Hydroponics & Organics 560 Valdry Ct #85 Brentwood, CA 94513 925-634-6704 BWGS West 2247 North Plaza Drive Visalia, CA 93291 888-316-1306 California Hydro Garden 1043 South Glendora Avenue, Suite A West Covina, CA 91790 626-813-0868 California Hydroponics 310 Coral Street, Suite C Santa Cruz, CA 95060 831-423-4769 Central Coast Hydrogarden 1951 Santa Barbara Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 805-544-GROW Citrus Heights Hydrogarden 8043 Greenback Lane Citrus Heights, CA 95610 916-728-4769 City Farmer’s Nursery 4832 Home Avenue, San Diego, CA 92105 619-284-6358 Clover Hydroponics & Garden Supply 2626 South Main Street, Lakeport, CA 95453 707-263-4000 CNG Garden Supplies 22 Ricknbacker Circle, Livermore, CA 94551 209-836-5550 Coca’s Central Valley Hydroponics 116 West Orangeburg Avenue, Modesto, CA 95350 209-567-0590

B & S Gardening Supplies 590 Commerce Court, Manteca, CA 95336 209-239-8648

Concord Indoor Garden 2771 Clayton Road, Concord, CA 94519 925-671-2520

Bakersfield Hydroponics 2408 Brundage Lane, Suite B Bakersfield, CA 93304 661-323-7333

Conejo Hydroponics 3481 Old Conejo Road #106 Newbury Park, CA 91320 805-480-9596

CALIFORNIA

Bare Roots Hydroponics 1615 East Cypress, #5 Redding, CA 96002 530-244-2215

3rd Street Hydroponics 636 3rd Street Oakland, CA 94607 510-452-5521

Conrad Hydroponics Inc. 14915 Unit E, Olympic Drive, Clearlake, CA 95422 707-994 3264

Beginning Hydroponics PO Box 1232, Corona, CA 92787 951-735-4446

805 Hydroponics & Organics 1785 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard Thousand Oaks, CA 91362 805-494-1785

Constantly Growing 6200 Enterprise Drive, Suite A Diamond Springs, CA 95619 530-642-9710

Berkeley Indoor Garden 844 University Avenue Berkeley, CA 94710 510-549-2918

Constantly Growing 4343 Hazel Avenue, Fair Oaks, CA 95628 916-962-0043

A+ Hydroponics & Organics 1604 Babcock Street, Costa Mesa, CA 92627 949-642-7776

Berkeley’s Secret Garden 921 University Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94710 510-486-0117

Constantly Growing - Davis 123 D Street Davis, CA 95616 530-756-4774

A Fertile World (Eureka) 65th Street, Eureka, CA 95501 707-444-0200

Best Coast Growers 4417 Glacier Avenue Suite C, San Diego, CA 92120 800-827-1876

D&S Garden Supplies 17-130 Doolittle Drive San Leandro, CA 94577 510-430-8589

Mickey’s Mercantile 1303 Highway 65 South, Clinton, AR 72031 501-412-0214 Old Soul Organics and More 1771 Crossover Road, Fayetteville, AR 72701 479-444-6955

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Dazey’s Supply 3082 Redwood Drive, Redway, CA 95560 707-923-3002

Garden Connection, The 2145 Park Avenue, Unit 2 Chico, CA 95928 530-342-7762

Green Gopher Garden Supply 679 Redwood Avenue, Suite A, Sand City, CA 93955 831-899-0203

Direct Hydroponics Wholesale 14228 Alberts Way, Chino, CA 91710 909-606-5885

Garden Depot, The 203 Commerce Street, Suite 101 Lodi, CA 95240 209-339-9950

Green Joint Ventures 61 Tarp Circle, Salinas, CA 93901 831-998-8628

Dirt Cheap Hydroponics 17975 H Highway 1, Fort Bragg, CA 95437 707-964-4211

Garden Highway Garden Supply 598 Garden Highway #22 Yuba City, CA 95991 530-755-2877

Green Lady Hydroponics 4879 Newport Avenue, San Diego, CA 92107 619-222-5011

Discount Hydroponics 4745 Hiers Avenue, Riverside, CA 92505 877-476-9487

Garden Shed, The 1136 El Camino Real San Carlos, CA 650-508-8600

GreenLeaf Hydroponics 2212 Artesia Boulevard, Redondo Beach, CA 90278 310-374-2585

Eel River Hydroponics & Soil Supply 164 Dinsmore Drive, Fortuna, CA 95540 707-726-0395

Garden Spout, The 44800 Highway 101, Laytonville, CA 95454 707-984-7260

Green Logic Garden Supply 860 Piner Road, #38, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 707-843-3156

El Centro Hydro & Brew Supply Inc. 591 main Street, Suite N-2 El Centro, CA 92243 760-235-4985

Garden Spout, The 630 S. Main Street, Willits, CA 95490 707-456-0196

Greenmile Hydroponic Garden Supply 1480 South E. Street, Suite D, San Bernardino, CA 92408 909-885-5919

Elite Horticulture Supply 22330 Sherman Way, C13, Canoga Park, CA 91303 818-347-5172

Garden Warehouse 6355 Scarlet Court, #2, Dublin, CA 94568 925-556-3319

Green Thumb Hydroponics 35 Quinta Court, Suite B, Sacramento, CA 95823 916-689-6464

Emerald Garden 8249 Archibald Avenue, Ranch Cucamanga, CA 91730 909-466-3796

Go Big Hydroponics 4501 Van Nuys Boulevard, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 818-789-3341

Green Thumb Lighting & Garden 1647 W. Sepulveda Boulevard, Unit 5, Torrance, CA 90501 888-326-GROW

Go Green Hydroponics 15721 Ventura Boulevard, Encino, CA 91436 818-990-1198

Greentrees Hydroponics Inc. 2581 Pioneer Avenue, Unit D Vista, CA 92081 760-598-7551

Golden Gecko Garden Center, The 4665 Marshall Road, Garden Valley, CA 95633 530-333-2394

GreenWay Hydroponics 11510 Whittier Boulevard, Whittier, CA 90601 562-699-4201

Golden Harvest Hydroponics & Garden Supply 8626 Lower Sacramento Road #48, Stockton, CA 95210 209-951-3550

Grodan Inc. 5152 Commerce Avenue, Moorpark, CA 93021 541-646-8245

Gonzo Grow 2550 Guerneville Road, Suite C, Santa Rosa, CA 95401 707-546-1800

Gro More Garden Supply 2937 Larkin Avenue, Clovis, CA 93021 541-646-8245

Emerald Garden 13325 South Highway 101, Hopland, CA 95482 707-744-8300 Emerald Garden 307 East Perkins Street, Ukiah, CA 95482 707-463-2510 Endless Green Hydroponics 25 Enterprise Court, Suite 3 Napa, CA 94558 707-254-0200 Evergreen Hydroponics 923 N. Central Avenue, Suite B, Upland, CA 91786 909-946-7100

Gottagrow Garden Supply 769 Wilson Street, Santa Rosa, CA 95404 707-544-7782

Grow A Lot Hydroponics, San Diego 1591 N. Cuyamaca Street, El Cajon, CA 93612 559-348-1055

Grass Roots Hydroponics 31877 Corydon, Suite 150 Lake Elsinore, CA 92530 951-245-2390

Growers Choice Hydroponics 1100 Carver Road, Modesto, CA 95350 209-522-2727

Grass Valley Hydrogarden 12506 Loma Rica Drive, Grass Valley, CA 95945 530-477-2996

Growers Choice Hydroponics 16754 East 14th Street, San Leandro, CA 94578 510-278-6200

Green Acres Hydroponics 1215 Striker Avenue, Suite 180, Sacramento, CA 95834 916-419-4394

Grow It Yourself Gardens 401 Sunset Drive, Suite L, Antioch, CA 94509 925-755-GROW

Green Coast Hydroponics 3560 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93105 805-898-9922

Grow Light Express 5318 East Second Street suite 164, Long Beach, CA 90803 888-318-GROW

Foothill Hydroponics 10705 Burbank Boulevard, N. Hollywood, CA 91601 818-760-0688

Green Coast Hydroponics 2405 Mira Mar Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90815 562-627-5636

Grow Your Own 3401 Traval Street, San Francisco, CA 94116 415-731-2115

Foothills Hydrogarden 3133 Penryn Road, Penryn, CA 95663 916-270-2413

Green Coast Hydroponics 496 Meats Avenue Orange, CA 92865 714-974-4769

Grunder Family Organics & Hydroponics 12321 Magnolia Avenue, Suite C, Riverside, CA 92503 877-468-7974

Full Sun Supply 3535 Industrial Drive, Unit B-3 Santa Rosa, CA 95403 877-FULL-SUN

Green Coast Hydroponics 11510 Whittier Boulevard Whittier, CA 90601 562-699-4201

H20 Gardening 355 West 7th Street, San Pedro, CA 90731 310-514-1416

Funny Farms Hydroponics 963 Transport Way, #12 Petaluma, CA 94954 707-775-3111

Green Door Hydro and Solar 830 Traction Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90013 212-625-1323

Hahn’s Lighting 260 E. VA Suite 1, San Jose, CA 95112 408-295-1755

G & G Organics and Hydroponics 901 W. Victoria Street Unit D, Compton, CA 90220 310-632-0122

Greenfire Sacramento 3230 Auburn Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95821 916-485-8023

Harvest Hydroponics 6650 Merchandise Way Suite B, Diamond Springs, CA 95619 530-622-5190

Everything Green Hydroponics 915 Texas Street, Fairfield, CA 94533 707-432-0774 Everything Green 448 Georgia Street, Vallejo, CA 94590 707-647-0774 Extreme Hydroponics 11479 San Fernando Road C, San Fernando, CA 91340 818-898-0915 EZ Green Hydroponics 7017 Reseda Boulevard, Reseda, CA 91335 818-776-9076 Farm Hydroponics, The 1950 Lake Tahoe Boulevard #3, S. Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 530-541-3276

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

145

MAXIMUM YIELD distributors

High Desert Hydroponics 13631 Pawnee Road, #7 Apple Valley, CA 92308 760-247-2090

Hydroponic Connection Warehouse, The 1995 Evans Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94124 415-824-9376

Hi-Tech Gardening 5327 Jacuzzi Street, #282, Richmond, CA 94804 510-524-4710

Hydroponics 4 Less 41669 Winchester Avenue, Temecula, CA 92590 800-A1-HYDRO

Hollywood Hydroponics and Organics 5109 1/2 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90027-6105 323-662-1908

Hydroponics Plus 2250 Commerce Avenue, Suite C Concord, CA 94520 925-691-7615

Home Life Hydroponics and Organics 1745 East Vista Way, Vista, CA 92084 760-643-2150

Hydroponics Unlimited.com 2728 E. Palmdale Boulevard #121 Palmdale, CA 93550 661-266-3906

Hooked Up Hydroponics 339 S. Golden State Boulevard, Turlock, CA 95380 209-668-1300 House of Hydro 224 Weller Street, #B, Petaluma, CA 94952 707-762-4769 Humboldt Electronics 2547 California Street, Eureka, CA 95501 707-443-9408 Humboldt Hydroponics 1302 Union Street, Eureka, CA 95501 707-443-4304 Humboldt Hydroponics 2174 Pine Street, Redding, CA 96001 530-241-7454 Humboldt Hydroponics 601 I Street, Arcata, CA 95521 707-822-3377 Humboldt Hydroponics 2010 Tunnel Road, Redway, CA 95560 707-923-1402 Humboldt Nutrients 65th Street, Eureka, CA 95501 888-420-7770 Hydroasis 2643 S. Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90232 888-355-4769 Hydrobrew 1319 South Coast Highway, Oceanside, CA 92054 760-966-1885; 877-966-GROW Hydro Depot 5665 Redwood Drive, #B, Rohnert Park, CA 94928 707-584-2384 Hydrogarden Delight 13762 Doolittle Drive, San Leandro, CA 94577 510-903-1808 Hydrogarden Mendocino County 1240 North Main Street, Fort Bragg, CA 95437 707-962-9252 Hydro King 105 Hartnell Avenue, Suite C and D, Redding, CA 96002 888-822-8941 Hydro King 2540 South Whitman Place, Chico, CA 959282 530-893-GROW (4769) Hydro-Logic Purification Systems 2825 Mattison Lane, Suite 103, Santa Cruz, CA 95065 888 H2O LOGIC HydroPacific - Hydroponics & Garden Supplies 351 C Hastings Av., Ukiah, CA 95482 707-467-0400

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MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

Hydrostar Hydroponics & Organics 1307 W. Sixth Street, #211, Corona, CA 92882 951-479-8069 Igrow Hydro 2280 Veatch Street, Oroville, CA 95965 530-534-4476 Igrow Hydro 9000 Atkinson Street, Roseville, CA 95678 916-773-4476 Inland Empire Hydrogarden 1301-C South State Street, San Jancinto, CA 92853 886-72-HYDRO Inland Empire Hydrogarden 28822 Old Town Front St. #206 Temecula, CA 92590 886-74-HYDRO Innovative Growing Solutions (IGS) 7922-B Miramar Road, San Diego, CA 92126 858-578-IGS7 Kaweah Grower Supply 1106 1/2 N. Ben Maddox Way, Visalia, CA 93293 559-625-4937 Kern Hydroponics 2408 Brundage Lane, Suite B, Bakersfield, CA 93304 661-323-7333 Lazy Gardeners Hydroponics ‘N’ More 14626 East Whittier Boulevard, Whittier, CA 90605 562-945-0909 Let it Grow 1228 2nd Street, Crescent City, CA 95531 707-464-9086 Let it Grow 160 Westwood Center, Arcata, CA 95521 707-822-8733 Liquid Gardens 21752 Devonshire Street, Chatsworth, CA 91311 818-718-7624 Long Beach Hydroponics & Organics 1772 Clark Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90815 562-498-9525 Lumatek Digital Ballasts 33 Commercial Boulevard, Suite B Novato, CA 94949 415-233-4273 M&M Garden Supply 2509 West Lane, Suite B Stockton, CA 95205 209-939-0664 M&M Garden Supply 22540 D Foothill Boulevard, 2509 Westlane Suite B Stockton, CA 95205 Marin Hydroponics 1219 Grant Avenue, Novato, CA 94945 415-897-2197

Medicine Man Farms 1602 53rd Avenue, Oakland, CA 94601 707-980-0456 Mendocino Garden Shop PO Box 1301, 44720 Maint Street (at Hwy. 1), Mendocino, CA 95460 707-937-3459 Mendocino Greenhouse & Garden Supply 900 East School Way, Redwood Valley, CA 95470 707-485-0668 Merced Hydroponics 1809 East 21st Street, Merced, CA 95340 209-726-4769 M.G.S. 22540 D Foothill Boulevard, Hayward, CA 94541 510-582-0900 Monterey Bay Horticulture Supply 224B Reindollar Avenue, Marina, CA 93933 831-38-HYDRO Monterey Bay Hydroponics and Organics 81 Hangar Way, #1, Watsonville, CA 95076 831-761-9999 Myron L Company 2450 Impala Drive, Carlsband, CA 9210-7226 760-438-2021 Mystic Gardens 8484 Florin Road, #110, Sacramento, CA 95828 916-381-2464 National Garden Wholesale/Sunlight Supply 1950 C South Grove Avenue, Ontario, CA 91761 888-888-3319 Nature’s Secret Garden and Supply 41469 Albrae Street, Fremont, CA 94577 510-623-8393 New Leaf Hydro 34150 123rd Street, Parablossom, CA 93553 661-944-2226 NorCal Creations PO Box 28, Cedar Ridge, CA 95924 Nor Cal Hydroponics 4837 Geary Boulevard, San Francisco, CA 94118 415-933-8262 Northcoast Horticulture Supply 122 West 4th Street, Suite B Eureka, CA 95501 707-444-9999 Northcoast Horticulture Supply 1580 Nursery Way, Suite Q McKinleyville, CA 95519 707-839-9998 Northcoast Hydrogardens 3450 North State Street, Ukiah, CA 95482 707-462-7214 No Stress Hydroponics 7543 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA 90046 323-845-9874 One Stop Hydroponics 12822 Victory Boulevard North Hollywood, CA 91606 818-980-5855 Oracle Garden Supply 5755 Oberlin Drive, Suite 100 San Diego, CA 92121 858-558-6006 Orange County Hydroponics 12687 Beach Boulevard, Unit H, Stanton, CA 90680 714-893-9493 Organic Bountea 1919 Dennis Lane, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 800-798-0765

Orsa Organix 111 Willow Street, Redwood City, CA 94063 650-369-1269 Pacific Beach Hydroponics 1852 Garnet Avenue, San Diego, CA 92109 858-274-2559 Pacific Coast Hydroponics 4147 Sepulveda Boulevard, Culver City, CA 90230 310-313-1354 Pacific Garden Supply 128 H Carlos Drive, San Rafael, CA 94903 Palmdale Hydroponics 2728 East Palmdale Boulevard Suite 108, Palmdale, CA 93550 661-266-9908 Palm Springs Hydroponics 4651 Ramon Road, Palm Springs, CA 92264 760-327-ROOT Plant It Earth 2279 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94114 415-626-5082 Plant Life 32 Race Street, San Jose, CA 95126 408-283-9191 Plant-N-Grow 1602 53rd Avenue, Oakland, CA 94601 707-980-0456 Precision Hydroponics 132 Kennedy Avenue, Campbell, CA 95008 408-866-8176 Pro Gardening Systems 3715 Santa Rosa Avenue #2, Santa Rosa, CA 95407 707-585-8633 Pro Gardening Systems 4936 Highway 12, Santa Rosa, CA 95472 707-538-8402 Pro Gardening Systems 765 Petaluma Avenue, Sebastopol, CA 95472 707-829-7252 Redway Feed Garden and Pet Supply 290 Briceland Road, Redway, CA 95560 707-923-2765 Redwood Garden Supply 55 Myers Avenue, Myers Flat, CA 95554 707-943-1515 Reforestation Technologies International 1341 Daton Street, Units G&I Salinas, CA 93901 831-424-1494; 800-RTI-GROW Roots Grow Supply 1330 North Hulbert, #101 Fresno, CA 93728 559-840-0122 Sac Hydroponics 9529 Folson Boulevard, Suite C Sacramento, CA 95827 916-369-7968 San Diego Hydroponics East County 11649 Riverside Drive, Suite 141, Lakeside, CA 92040 619-562-3276 San Diego Hydroponics Beach Cities 4122 Napier Street, San Diego, CA 92110 619-276-0657 San Diego Hydroponics North 802 N. Twin Oaks Valley Road #108 San Marcos, CA 92069 760-510-1444

San Francisco Hydro 123 Tenth Street, San Francisco, CA 94103 Santa Cruz Hydroponics & Organics - West 815 Almar Avenue, Suite K, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 831-466-9000 Santa Cruz Hydroponics & Organics - East 4000 Cordelia Lane #4, Soquel, CA 95073 831-475-9900 Santa Cruz Hydroponics & Organics - North 6241 Graham Hill Road, Felton, CA 95018 831-335-9990 Santee Hydroponics 7973A Mission Gorge Road, Santee, CA 92071 619-270-8649 Seaside Hydrogarden 1070 Highway 101 North, Crescent City, CA 95531 707-465-3520 Skywide Import & Export Ltd. 5900 Lemon Hill Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95824 916-383-2369 Socal Hydroponics 1727-B Oceanside Boulevard, Oceanside, CA 92054 760-439-1084 South Bay Hydro 1109 W. 190th Street, Unit #F, Gardena, CA 90248 310-538-5788 South Bay Hydroponics and Organics 569 East Evelyn Avenue, Mountain View, CA 94041 650-968-4070

Tahoe Garden Supply 645 Westlake Boulevard, Suite 2, PO Box 487 Tahoe City, CA 96145 530-581-3200 Tell 2 Friends Indoor Gardening 62 Sutherland Drive, Auburn, CA 95603 530-889-8171 The Green Shop 66420 Mooney Boulevard, Suite 1 Visalia, CA 93277 559-688-4200 The Hydro Source 671 E. Edna Place Covina, CA 91723 877 HYDRO 82; 626-915-3128 The Shop 6542 Front Street, Forestville, CA 95436 707-887-2280 The Urban Farmer Store 653 E. Blithedale Avenue, Mill Valley, CA 94941 415-380-3840 The Urban Farmer Store 2833 Vicente Street, San Francisco, CA 94116 415-661-2204 The Urban Farmer Store 2121 San Joaquin Street, Richmond, CA 94804 510-524-1604 Thrive Hydroponics 70 A West North Street, Healdsburg, CA 95446 707-433-4068 Thunders Hydroponic Center 1729 Yosemite Boulevard, Medesco, CA 95354

South Bay Hydroponics and Organics - San Jose 1185 South Bascom Avenue, San Jose, CA 95128 408-292-4040

TNC Supply 9490 Main Street, P.O. Box 763 Upper Lake, CA 95485 707-275-9565

South County Hydroponics 22511 Aspan Street, Suite E Lake Forest, CA 92630 949-837-8252

Tower Garden Supply & Organic Nursery 403 W. Olive Avenue, Fresno, CA 93728 559-495-1140

South Valley Hydroponics 320 Kishimura Drive, #3 Gilroy, CA 95020 1-866-848-GROW

Tradewinds Wholesale Garden Supplies 1235 Striker Avenue #180, Sacramento, CA 95834 888-557-8896

Sparetime Supply 208 E. San Francisco Avenue, Willits, CA 95490-4006 707-459-6791

Tulare County Growers Supply 435 W. Noble Avenue, Unit A, Farmerville, CA 93223 559-732-8247

Specialty Garden Center 1970 East Vista Way, Suite 10, Vista, CA 92084 760-758-4769

Turbo Grow 1889 San Pablo Avenue, Pinole, CA 94564 510-724-1291

Sun-In Hydroponics 1257A Cleveland Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95401 707-578-5747

Two Chix Garden Supply 1230 Yuba Street, Marysville, CA 95901 530-923-2536

Sunland Hydroponics 8300 Foothill Boulevard, Sunland, CA 91040 818-352-5300

Under The Sun 12638 Foothill Boulevard, Clearlake Oaks, CA 95423 707-998-GROW (4769)

Supersonic Hydroponic and Organic Garden Supply 850 Shasta Avenue, Suite B Morro Bay, CA 93442 805-772-5869

Urban Gardens 22516 Ventura Boulevard, Woodland Hills, CA 91364 818-876-0222

Supersonic Hydroponic and Organic Garden Supply 3850 Ramada Drive, Unit D2 Paso Robles, CA 93446 805-434-2333

Urban Gardens Unlimited 704 Filbert Street, San Francisco, CA 94133 415-421-4769

Super Starts PO Box 732, Bellmont, CA 94002 650-346-8009

US Orchid & Hydroponic Supplies 1621 South Rose Avenue, Oxnard, CA 93033 805-247-0086

Sweet Leaf Hydroponics 1611 Sebastobol Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95407 707-575-GROW (4237)

Valley Garden Solutions Inc. 15650 Nordhoff Avenue, Suite 104, North Hills, CA 91345 818-336-0041

Sylvandale Gardens 1151 Evergreen Road, Redway, CA 95560 707-923-3606

Wai Kula Hydrogardens 5297 Linda Vista Road, San Diego, CA 92110 619-299-7299

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

147

MAXIMUM YIELD distributors

Weather Top Nursery 44901 Harmon Drive, Laytonville, CA 95454 707-984-6385 We Grow Hydroponics 3350 East Los Angeles Avenue, Simi Valley, CA 93063 805-624-4566 West Coast Growers Hydroponics 13481 Colifax Highway, Grass Valley, CA 95945 888-924-4769 West Coast Hydroponics, Inc. 27665 Forbes Road, Unit 10 Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 949-348-2424 Western Auto 1156 Main Street, Fortuna, CA 95540 707-725-1189

COLORADO Bath Nursery & Garden Center 2000 E. Prospect, Fort Collins, CO 80525 970-484-5022 Big Tomato, The 14440 E. 6th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80011 303-364-4769 Big Tomato, The 3000 Main Avenue, Durango, CO 81301 970-375-1238 Boulder County Caregivers PO Box 7406, Golden, CO 80403 303-495-2195 Boulder Hydroponics 1630 N. 63rd Street, #5, Boulder, CO 80301 303-415-0045 Cultivate Hydroponics & Organics 7777 W. 38th Avenue, #A120A, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 303-954-9897 Denver Hydroponic & Organic Center 6810 North Broadway, Unit D Denver, CO 80221 303-650-0091 Desert Bloom Hydroponics 445 Pitkin Avenue, Grand Junction, CO 81501 970-245-6427 Ever Green Hydroponics Inc. 1131 Francis Street, Suite A, Longmont, CO 80501 303-682-6435 Garden Tech 737 Garden of the Gods Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80907 719-278-9777 Greenhouse Tech 917 East Fillmore, Colorado Springs, CO 80907 719-634-0637 Grow Store South, The 5050 S. Federal Boulevard, #37, Englewood, CO 80110 303-738-0202 Grow Store, The 8644 W. Colfax Avenue, Lakewood, CO 80215 888-510-0350 GWS Hydroponics 7025 Highway 82 Building 4B, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 970-384-2040 Head Start Hydroponics & Organic Gardening Emporium 34500 US Highway 6, Unit B-9, North Edwards, CO 81632 970-569-3139 Hydro-Grow Supply 644 Peterson Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80915 719-596-2600

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Hydro Shack, The 220 Main Street, Suite E Frisco, CO 80443 970-668-0359 Indoor Paradise Hydroponics 309 S. Summit View, Unit 17, Fort Collins, CO 80524-1462 970-221-3751 Olympic Hydroponics Supply LLC. 1530 S Nevada Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80906 719-635-5859 Rocky Mountain Lighting and Hydroponics 7100 N. Broadway, Suite 3D Denver, CO 80221 303-428-5020 Way To Grow 3201 E. Mulberry Street, Fort Collins, CO 80524 970-484-4769 Way To Grow 6395 Gunpark Drive, Boulder, CO 80301 303-473-4769

CONNECTICUT

Gardener’s Edge Gainesville 5000 NW 34th Street, Suite 13, Gainesville, FL 32605 352-375-2769 Gardener’s Edge Jacksonville 5325 Fairmont Street, Jacksonville, FL 32207 904-398-8012 Gold Coast Hydroponics 1539 SW 21st Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 1-800-780-7371 Gold Coast Hydroponics 4241 SW 71st Avenue, Miami, FL 33155 1-800-780-6805 Grace’s Hydro-Organic Garden Center 8877 North 56th Street Tampa, FL 33617 813-514-9376 Green Thumb Hydroponics Supplies 13482 North Cleveland Avenue, Fort Meyers, FL 33903 239-997-4769

Harvest Moon Hydroponics 775 Silver Lane, East Hartford, CT 06118 860-568-4067 LiquidSun® CT 10C South Main Street, East Windsor, CT 06088 860-254-5757 Organix Hydroponics 749 Saybrook Road, (Tradewinds Plaza) Middletown, CT 06457 860-343-1923

GreenTouch Hydroponics Inc. 5011 S State Road 7, Suite 104 Davie, FL 33314 954-316-8815

FLORIDA

Harvest Time Hydroponics 14414 N. Florida Avenue, Tampa, FL 33613 813-264-7101

3D Hydroponics and Organics 7139 US Highway #19, New Port Richey, FL 34652 727-847-3491 Advanced Hydro Gardens 4960 NW 165 Street, Suite B-4, Miami, FL 33014 866-97-HYDRO Atlantic Hydroponics 430 Count Street, Melbourne, FL 32901 321-821-1535 Blossoms Experience, The 7207 NW 54th Street, Miami, FL 33166 866-452-4769 Cultivating Eden Hydroponic Supplies 946 18th Avenue SW, Vero Beach, FL 32962 772-564-8880 East Coast Hydroponics & Organics 461 Forrest Avenue, Suite 105 Coca, FL 32922 321-243-6800 Eden Garden Supply 5044 N. Palafox Street, Pensacola, FL 32505 850-439-1299 Esposito Garden Center 2743 Capital Circle NE, Tallahassee, FL 32308 850-386-2114 Falero Hardware & Hydroponics 6758 W. Flager Street, Miami, FL 33144 305-266-8878 Florida Garden Supplies 2692 W 79 Street, Hialeah, FL 33016 1-800-931-5215 Florida Garden Supplies 8020 Belvedere Road, Unit 4, West Palm Beach, FL 33411 561-333-1088 Future Farms Inc., The 14291 SW 120th Street, Suite 105 Miami, FL 33186 305-382-2757

Grower's Choice & Hydroponics 11855 North Main Street, Jackonsonville, FL 32218 904-683-4517 Growing Garden Inc., The 12811 SW 42nd Street, Miami, FL 33175 305-559-0309

Healthy Gardens and Supply of Florida, Inc. 196 East Nine Mile Road, Suite F, Pensacola, FL 32534 850-912-4545 High Tech Garden Supply 2975 West New Haven Avenue, Melbourne, FL 32901 321-821-0853 Hydro For Less 9545 Southwest 72nd Street, Miami, FL 33173 305-598-4311 Hydroponics International Inc. 7029-10 Commonwealth Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32220 904-693-6554 Hydroponics of Tampa 120 W. Bougain Villea, Tampa, FL 33612 813-333-6828 Hydro Terra Corp. 924 North Federal Highway, Hollywood, FL 33020 954-920-0889 Palm Beach Hydroponics Supply, Inc. 968 N. Congress Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33409 561-296-6161 Simply Hydroponics & Organics 7949 Ulmerton Road, Largo, FL 33773 727-531-5355 Simply Hydroponics & Organics (North) 3642 South Suncoast Boulevard, Homosassa, FL 34448 352-628-2655 Stoney Hydro @ Schiro's Barn n Garden Supplies 7812 Causeway Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33619 813-626-0902 Sunshine Hydroponics Garden Center 1420 East Altomonte Drive, Altamonte Spring, FL 32701 407-830-GROW

Sunshine Hydroponics Garden Center 5561 S. Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, FL 32809 407-859-7728 Sunshine Hydroponics Garden Center 6100 Hanging Moss Road, Suite 500, Orlando, FL 32807 888-833-GROW Worm’s Way Florida 4412 North 56th Street, Tampa, FL 33610 800-283-9676; 813-621-1792

GEORGIA Atlantis Hydroponics 1422 Woodmont Lane, #4, Atlanta, GA 30318 404-367-0052 Atlantis Hydroponics 2561 West Point Avenue, College Park, GA 30337 678-510-0032 Flora Hydroponics Inc. 2475 Jefferson Road, Suite 600 Athens, GA 30607 866-404-0551 Savannah Hydroponics & Organics 4107 Eighth Street, Suite C Garden City, GA 31408 912-349-4030

HAWAII Aqua Plant Hawaii / Kahala Hydroponics 4224 Wailae, Suite 1A, Honolulu, HI 96816 808-735-8665 Eco-Island Supply 810 Haiku Road, #394 Haiku, HI 96708 808-575-9171 Green Hands of Aloha 1713 Mary Street, Honolulu, HI 96819 808-847-4263 Ohana Greenhouse & Garden Supply 300 Hukilike Street, #2M, Kahalui, HI 96732 808-871-6393 Pahoa Feed & Fertilizer 15-2754 Old Government Road, Pahoa, HI 96778 808-965-9955

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

ILLINOIS Aerostar Global 824 South Kay Avenue, Addison, IL 60101 Alternative Garden Supply A-615 Industrial Drive, Gary, IL 60013 800-444-2837 Big Grow Hydroponics 9225 Trinity Drive, Lake In The Hills, IL 60156 847-854-4450 Brew and Grow 1824 North Besly Court, Chicago, IL 60622 773-395-1500 Brew and Grow 3224 South Alpine Road, Rockford, IL 61109 815-874-5700 Brew and Grow 2379 Bode Road, Schaumburg, IL 60194 847-885-8282 Fertile Ground 463 West MacArthur Drive, Cottage Hills, IL 62018 618-259-5500

Green Fields 8137 N. Milwaukee, Niles, IL 60714 847-965-5056 Grow Big Hydroponics 7817 B North 2nd Street, Manchesney Park, IL 61115 815-637-4769 Hydrocork 20647 Renwick Road, Crest Hill, IL 60435 815-838-0100 Kreation’s Indoor Gardening Center 3427 Old Chatman Road, Springfield, IL 62704 217-341-0821 Let it Grow - Carbondale West Main Street, Carbondale, IL 62908 573-450-5401 Prairie House Garden Center 15151 South Harlem Avenue, Orland, IL 60462 708-687-3131 Water Works Indoor Gardening 1900 South Dirksen Parkway, Springfield, IL 62703 217-553-6929

INDIANA BWGS 7854 North State Road 37, Bloomington, IN 47404 800-316-1306 Five Point Gardens 56555 Oak Road, South Bend, IN 46619 574-287-9232 Frogs Lilly Pad, The 706 Citation Road, Carmel, IN 46032 317-846-4610 Harvest Moon Hydroponics 4200 S. East Street, Indianapolis, IN 46227 317-780-8070 Hops & Harvest 4616 E. DuPont Road, Suite Q, Fort Wayne, IN 46825 260-918-3035 Magic Bulb Garden Center 6229 Allisonville Road, Indianapolis, IN 46220 317-202-2852 Sunleaves Garden Products 7854 North State Road 37, Bloomington, IN 47404 888-464-9676 Worm’s Way Indiana 7850 North State Road 37, Bloomington, IN 47404 800-598-8158

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

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

LOUISIANA Laughing Buddha Nursery 4516 Clearview Parkway, Metairie, LA 70006 504-887-4336 Ourcrazydeals Hydroponics 201 Angus Drive, Yungsville, LA 70592 337-303-6146 Urban Organics 285 St. Claude Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70117 504-352-4709

MAINE Green Thumb Indoor Gardening 19 Stage Road, St. Albans, ME 04971 207-938-5909 Urban Garden Center 235 Lewiston Road, Toposhan, ME 04086 207-373-0990

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

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

MICHIGAN BIg Creek Hydroponics 555 Old Little Lake Road, Marquette, MI 49855 906-249-5297 Cultivation Station of Michigan Inc., The 23529 Little Mack Avenue, St Claire’s Shores, MI 48080 586-775-9485 Gro Blue Indoor Gardening Supplies 270 W. Liberty Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 734-913-2750 Growco Garden Supply 1042 Michigan Street, NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 877-939-6900

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

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MAXIMUM YIELD distributors

Home Grown Hydroponics 8075 Gratiot Road, Unit C, Saginaw MI 48609 989-781-1930 Homelight Gardens 3471 S. Huron Road, Bay City, MI 48706 989-922-0088 Horizen Hydroponics 1614 Leonard Street, NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504 866-791-1664 Horizen Hydroponics 4646 W. Main Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49006 269-567-3333 HotHydro® 5245 Jackson Road, Suite F Ann Arbor, MI 48103 734-761-5040; 877-893-0716 Hydroharrys.com 24500 Dequindre, Warren, MI 48091 800-461-8819 Hydrospot 34236 Michigan Avenue, Wayne, MI 48184 734-722-1285 Indoor Garden Superstore 2570 Dixie Highway, Waterford Twp., MI 48328 J&L Growco 206 S. Michigan Avenue, Big Rapids, MI 49307 231-796-1528 Kalamazoo Indoor Garden 450 W. Maple, Kalamazoo, MI 49001 269-344-2550 Light Green Water 3661 Highland Road, Waterford, MI 48329 248-681-0001 SH Hydroponics Inc. 115 Holmes Road, Building 3 Suite A, Ypsilanti, MI 48198 734-879-4014 Sunnyside Hydroponics 24930 Gratiot Avenue, Eastpoint, MI 48021 586-777-2528 Sunshine Supply Co. 5800 East Pickard Street, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858 989-775-3700 Superior Growers Supply 19582 Middlebelt Road, Livonia, MI 48152 248-473-0450 Superior Growers Supply 4870 Dawn Avenue, East Lansing, MI 48823 517-332-2663 The Grow Store 721 W. Blue Star Drive, Traverse City, MI 49684 231-421-5191 Van Hydro 7480 N State, Davison, MI 48423 810-653-8267 Wild Child 7740 M 72 East, Traverse City, MI 49690 866-711-GROW

MINNESOTA American Garden Supply 601-6th Avenue, North, Princeton, MN 55371 763-631-0543 Brew and Grow 8179 University Avenue, Fridley, MN 55432 612-780-8191

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MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

Paradigm Gardens 8949 J Street, Suite 5, Omaha, NE 68127 402-339-4949

Eco Garden Supply 800 Transfer Door 25 in rear St. Paul, MN 55114 651-647-1896 Eden Indoor Organic Gardens 831 Highway 75 North Moorhead, MN 56560 218-477-EDEN (3336) Indoor Gardening 10 NE 3rd Street, Faribault, MN 55021 507-209-1546 Interior Gardens 115 -1620 Central Avenue NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413 800-498-4178; 612-870-9077 Midwest Hydroponics 3440 Belt Line Boulevard, Suite A, Minneapolis, MN 55416 888-449-2739 Still-H2O Inc. 14375 North 60th Street, Stillwater, MN 55082 651-351-2822

Patio-Ponics 3255 Cornhusker Highway, Suite 4 Lincoln, NE 68504 402-466-9218

NEVADA AAA Indoor Organic Garden SuperCenter 2101 S. Decatur Boulevard, #21, Las Vegas, NV 89102 702-450-4769 Advanced Gardens Hydroponics 3111 South Valley View, (on Desert Inn West of Valley View) Suite V103 Las Vegas, NV 89102 702-257-4769 All American Hydroponics 2675 East Patrick Lane, Unit 8, Las Vegas, NV 89120 702-894-9888 Anything Grows 190 West Moana Lane, Reno, NV 89509 775-828-1460

MISSOURI Divine Hydroponics 301 North Bishop Avenue, Rolla, MO 65401 573-426-2348 Dr. Green Thumbs 1106 West Park, Livingston, MO 59047 406-222-7440 Grow Your Own Hydroponics 3617 Saint John Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64123 816-241-2122

Carson Valley Hydroponics 2520 Empire Ranch Road, Carson City, NV 89701 775-884-4769 Lorraine Ink 290 Spear Court, Fernley, NV 89408 775-575-7757 Nevada Hydroponics 4700 B Maryland, Suite 1, Las Vegas, NV 89119 702-798-2852

Green Circle Hydroponics 12 East Missouri, Kansas City, MO 64106 816-421-1840

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

Green Thumb Organics 249 Mid Rivers Drive, St. Peters, MO 63376 636-561-4769 (GROW) Heartland Hydrogardens 5695 E. Clark Lane, Suite L, Columbia, MO 65202 573-474-GROW (4769) Let It Grow - Springfield 2519 E. Kearney Street, Springfield, MO 65803 417-862-GROW

NEW JERSEY

HYDROGARDENS

77HYDRO 37 Fairfield Place, West Caldwell, NJ 07006 877-774-9376 Claraqua 4 Redwood Court, West Windsor, NJ 08550

Let It Grow - Girardeau 879 S. Kings Highway, Cape Girardeau, MO 63703 573-803-0628 U-Grow 1724 North, 13th Street, St. Louis, MO 63106 314-452-6368 Worm’s Way Missouri 1225 North Warson Road, St. Louis, MO 63132 800-285-9676

East Coast Horticultural Supply 1652 Hurffville Road, Swewell, NJ 08080 856-228-5290

MONTANA

NEW MEXICO

Alpengrow Nursery Supplies 238 Highway 93 S., Eureka, MT 59917 406-882-4496 Bizzy Beez LLP 5875 Highway 93 S, Whitefish, MT 59937 406-863-9937 Heightened Harvest 2018 Main Street #4, Billings, MT 59105 406-252-4311

AHL Year Round Garden Supply 1051 San Mateo Blvd. SE, Albuquerque, NM 87108 505-255-3677

NEBRASKA Advanced Hydro-Ponics 10711 Mockingbird Drive, Omaha, NE 68127 (108th and L-Q) 402-991-6630

Garden State Hydroponics 511 Avenel Street, Avenel, NJ 07001 888-300-8711 Green Touch 2 Hydroponics Inc. 888 Route 33, Unit 1, Hamilton, NJ 08619 609-570-8829

greentouch2 HYDROPO NI C S

AHL Year Round Garden Supply 9421 Coors Blvd. NW Suite K, Albuquerque, NM 87114 505-899-0592 Common Shaman 1319 San Mateo N.E., Albuquerque, NM 87110 505-255-6463

NEW YORK Bronx Hydro & Garden 39 Bruckner Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10454 718-993-3787

I NC .

California Hydroponics 27 Corporate Circle, East Syracuse, NY 13057 315-432-9387 East Coast Hydroponics 14649 Horace Harding Exp, Flushing, NY 11367 718-762-8880 Environmental Gardens 8 John Walsh Boulevard, Suite 310 Peekskills, NY 10566 800-254-0507; 914-736-6676 FutureGarden Inc. 59 Central Avenue, Farmingdale, NY 11735 516-420-0884 Greentree Nursery 308 Elmira Road, Ithaca, NY 14850 607-272-3666 Grow Room, The 8 Bridge Street, Nyack, NY 10960 800-449-9630 Harvest Moon Hydroponics Henrietta Townline Plaza, 3047 West Henrietta Road, Rochester, NY 14623 716-865-7353 Harvest Moon Hydroponics 340 West at 59, Central Nyack, NY 10960 Harvest Moon Hydroponics 147 Fourth Street, Troy, NY 10960 Healthy Harvest Organics and Hydro 163 Broadway, Fort Edwart, NY 12828 518-480-4698 Hudson Valley Hydroponics 217 Route 32 North, New Paltz, NY 12561 845-255-3633 Hydro Garden Center 1069B Lyell Avenue, Rochester, NY 14606 1-800-277-1322 Hydroponics of Buffalo 1497 Hertel Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14216 716-838-3545 Hydroponics Shops of America 2606 Erie Boulevard, Syracuse, NY 13224 315-251-2516 Indoor Outdoor Gardener 8223 5th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11209 718-836-2402 KG Garden Supply 1327 Floyd Avenue, Rome, NY 13440 1-877-KG-HYDRO Saratoga Organics & Hydroponic Supply 19 Front Street, Ballston Spa, NY 12020 518-885-2005; 800-850-4769 Sunlight Solutions Hydroponics 2045 Niagara Falls Boulevard, Suite 13, Niagara Falls, NY 14304 888-GROWBOX Sunset Hydroponics & Home Brewing 1590 West Ridge Road, Rochester, NY 14615 866-395-9204

NORTH CAROLINA Be Well Hydroponics & Urban Gardening 4732 Monroe Road, Charlotte, NC 28205 704-344-8010 BWGS East 4045 Perimeter West Drive, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28214 800 316 1306 Fifth Season Gardening Company 45 Banks Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801 828-253-4112

Fifth Season Gardening Company 106 South Greensboro Street, Carrboro, NC 27510 919-932-7600 Fifth Season Gardening Company 1616 D-3 Battleground Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27408 336-271-3373 Fifth Season Gardening Company 5619-A Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27606 919-852-4747 Flow & Grow Hydroponics & Organic Garden Center 4521 Cumberland Road, Fayetteville, NC 28306 910-423-FLOW (3569) High Tech Garden Supply 2712 B Freedom Drive Charlotte, NC 28208 704-697-0911 New Age Gardens 2236A US Highway 70, Swannanoa, NC 28778 828-299-9989 Progressive Gardens 6005 Oleander Drive, Wilmington, NC 28403 910-395-1156 The Family Tree Nursery & Garden Center 6033 Ocean Highway E.,(on mile marker 35) Winnabow, OH 28479 910-253-9200 Urban Organics and Hydroponics 4604 W. Market Street, Suite 106, Greensboro, NC 27407 336-316-0604 Water’s Edge Hydro-Gardens & Organics 107 South White Street, Wake Forest, NC 27587 919-562-5343

OHIO Advanced Hydrorganics Indoor Garden Center 5204 Darrow Road, Hudson, OH 44236 234-380-1287 Akron Garden Center 434 W Wilbeth Road, Akron, OH 44314 330-724-2700 Cleveland Garden Center Inc. 727 East 185th Street, Cleveland, OH 44119 216-481-7868 CropKing 134 West Drive, Lodi, OH 44254 330-302-4203 Carefree Garden Center 134 West Drive, Lodi, OH 44254 330-302-4203 Dayton Hydroponics 3856 Miamisburg-Centerville Road, West Carrolton, OH 45449 937-859-3999 Garden Indoors of Ohio 4720 Indianola Avenue, Columbus, OH 43214 800-833-6868 Greenleaf Hydroponics 1805 Elm Road, Warren, OH 44483 330-372-1039 Harvest Moon 9215 Market Street, Youngstown (North Lima), OH 44452 800-776-8399 Garden Grove Organics 29 East 7th Street, Covington, (Cincinnati Metro), KY 41011 859-360-1843 Grow Wizard, The 5700 Denison Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44102 216-961-2500 Herb-N-Garden Center 14901 Puritas Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44135 216-252-2001

Indoor Garden Worx 906 Blue Avenue, Zanesville, OH 43701 866-900-9679 Indoor Gardens 1222 Hill Road, North, Pickerington, OH 43147 614-866-6065 Kissed by the Sun Hydroponic 10740 Reading Road, Cincinnati, OH 45241 513-769-0159 Magic Home Gardens 209 Cemetery Road, Canal Winchester, OH 43110 614-837-2440 Magic Home Garden 4538 Indianola Avenue, Columbus, OH 43214 614-263-2440 Summit Hydroponics 1030 Kenmore Boulevard Akron, OH 44314-2114 330-753-5222 Sweet Greens 5540 Brecksville Road Independence, OH 44131 800-421-7084 Super Harvest 5956 A Colerain Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45239 513-385-5999 Toledo Hydroponics Ltd. 855 S. Holland-Sylvania Road, Suite 2 Toledo, OH 43615 1-877-893-0716 Trinity Hydro Organics 435 Woodman Drive Riverside, OH 45431 937-252-GROW Urban Gardens 671 E. Center Street Marion, OH 43302 740-375-2800 Worm’s Way Greater Cincinatti / N. Kentucky 1360 Donaldson Road (Route 236), Suite A, Erlanger, KY 41018 800-669-2088

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

OREGON American Agriculture 9220 Southeast Stark Street, Portland, OR 97216 800-433-6805 Anthony’s Garden & Light Supply 93779 B Troy Lane, Coos Bay, OR 97420 541-266-8822 Aqua Serene 2836 W. 11, Eugene, OR 97402 541-485-2171 Aqua Serene Hydro Gardens 465 Applegate Way, Ashland, OR 97520 541-482-7600 Basin Indoor Gardening 1221 Main Street, Klamath Falls, OR 97601 541-273-2023

MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

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MAXIMUM YIELD distributors

B.I.G.S. 155 SW Century Drive, Suite 401, Bend, OR 97702 541-385-5222 BIGS Warehouse 2606 SW 4th Street, Unit B Redmond, OR 97756 541-504-8886 Cascade Horticulture 39570 Pioneer Boulevard, Sandy, OR 97055 503-668-8242 Corvallis Hydroponics & Organics 5490 Philomath Road, Corvallis, OR 97333 541-738-2820 Everybody’s Garden Center 2701 SE 14th Avenue, Portland, OR 97202 800-669-5483 Forever Green Organic Hydro Gardens 7530 Crater Lake Highway, White City, OR 97503 541-826-2946 Garden Spout, The 4532 South East 63rd Avenue, Portland, OR 97206 503-788-4769 Gorge Garden Center 1203 12th Street Suite H, Hood River, OR 97031 541-386-GROW Gorilla Garden Supply 1810 Virginia Avenue, North Bend, OR 97459 541-756-5005 Garden Supplies Green Thumb Hydrogarden and Organic Supply 2021 West Main Street, Medford, OR 97501 541-779-8600 Grow America Garden Supply LLC 11511 SW Pacific Highway, Tigard, OR 97223 503-841-6868 Growing Crazy (Hooked On Hydroponics) 817 W. 2nd Street, Medford, OR 97501 H2organic LCC 620 NE 3rd Street, McMinnville, OR 97128 503-434-6107 Herb N’ Jungle Hydroponics 930 SE Textron Drive, Bend, OR 97702 541-382-4010 Homegrown Garden Supply 7112 NE Gilsan Street, Portland, OR 97213 877-EZ2-GROW In and Out Gardens 1574 Skypark Drive Medford, OR 97501 541-858-3333 Indoor Garden Center 1697 SE 25th Street, Salem, OR 97302 503-566-7888 Indoor Garden Depot 15828 SE McLoughlin Boulevard, Milwaukie, OR 97267 503-786-2445 Indoor Garden Supply 536 SW 6th Street (rear alley), Redmond, OR 97756 541-504-7750 Island Flowers & Indoor Garden Center 909 N. Tomahawk Island Drive, Suite 103, Portland, OR 97217 503-546-3185 J-N-B Hydro 2 Go 155 West Central Avenue, Sutherlin, OR 97479 541-459-9211 Ladybug Indoor Gardens 3960 W. Main Street, Medford, OR 97501 541-618-4459

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MAXIMUM YIELD USA - March 2010

Lights Distributing 9843 SW 55th Avenue, Portland, OR 97219 Liquid Sun 1845 Southwest Highway 101, Lincoln City, OR 97367 541-994-7070 Moonshine Park Farm 135 South East 62nd, Unit F South Beach, OR 97366 541-444-2298 Northern Light and Garden Beaverton 9290 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway, Beaverton, OR 97005 503-297-7331 Northern Light and Garden Grants Pass 1203 Rogue River Highway, Grants Pass, OR 97527 541-474-1700 Northern Light and Garden Salem 1915 Lancester Drive, Salem, OR 97305 503-364-4769 Oregon Rainforest Co. 19949 E. Burnside Street, Gresham, OR 97233 503-465-9909 Paradise Supply Inc. 1409 N. Highway 99, Ashland, OR 97520 541-552-1037 Rain or Shine 13126 NE Airport Way, Portland, OR 97230 503-255-1981 Roots Garden Supply 5426 North Gay Avenue, Portland, OR 97217 503-285-4768 Roseburg Hydroponics 853 SE Stephens Street, Roseburg, OR 97470 541-229-1420 SunInside Gardening Co. 665 Conger, Unit F, Eugene, OR 97402 541-686-9966 Urban Flora 2865 South East, Portland, OR 97214 503-236-3344 Westcoast Organic and Hydroponic Supply 12410 SE 282nd Avenue, Unit C Boring, OR 97009 503-766-4106 Wizard's Garden, LLC 621 Spruce Street, Unit C, Myrtle Point, OR 97458 541-572-2333

PENNSYLVANIA Full Bloom Hydroponics 84 South 24th Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203 888-872-3602 Garden Indoors of Pennsylvania 208 Route 13, Bristol, PA 19007 800-227-4567 Harvest Moon Hydroponics 1239 South Airport Road, Allentown, PA 18103 610-432-4949 Healthy Gardens and Supply 1012 Lincoln Avenue, Prospect Park, PA 19076 866-32-HYDRO High Tech Garden Supply 20232 Route 19, Unit 6, Cranberry Twp., PA 16066 724-473-1113 Home Hydroponics of Pittsburgh 2008 Smallman Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-232-7030

Home Hydroponics of Pittsburgh 830 Route 119, Greensburg, PA 15601 724-836-1118 PA Hydroponics & Home Gardening Supply 20 Quaker Church Road, York Springs, PA 17372 717-528-4175

RHODE ISLAND Hydro-Earth 1243 Mineral Springs Avenue, North Providence, RI 02904 401-305-5520 LiquidSun® RI 1179 Central Avenue, Pawtucket, MA 02861 401-722-2724 Oakworld Garden Center 39 West Street, Barrington, RI 02806 401-245-5705

SOUTH CAROLINA 247 Garden Supply 535 D Clemson Road, Columbia, SC 29229 803-788-4445 All Good Hydroponics & Gardening 6729 Two Notch Road, Columbia, SC 29223 803-708-4819 GreenSpirit Hydrogarden 1864 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC 29405 843-225-1GRO; Green Thumb Unique Gardening & More 1230 Rutherford Road, Greenville, SC 29609 864-271-8830

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

TENNESSEE Advanced Hydroponic Garden 783 French Mill Road, Dandridge, TN 37725 800-521-1643 Advanced Hydroponic Garden 6912 Clinton Highway, Knoxville, TN 37921 866-938-3318 All Seasons Gardening and Brewing Supply Co. 924 8th Avenue, South, Nashville, TN 37203 800-790-2188 Atlantis Hydroponics 1800 Rossville Avenue, #3, Chattanooga, TN 37408 423-752-5400 National Garden Wholesale/Sunlight Supply 126 Belinda Parkway, Mt. Juliet, TN 37122 888-265-9005 Perpetual Harvest 75 Riverport Drive, Jackson, TN 38301 877-422-3391 Sun City Hydroponics 2235 Whitten Road, Suite 104, Memphis, TN 38133 901-372-8100 Worm’s Way Tennessee 707 Rivergate Parkway, Suite E Goodlettsville, TN 37072 800-397-4153

TEXAS Airline Hydroponics P.O. Box 980904, Trader’s Village #363, Houston, TX 77098 713-942-0484

Botani Hydroponics & Organics 7730 Highway 6 South Houston, TX 77083 281-575-1999 Brite Ideas Hydroponics & Organics 4360 S.Congress Avenue, #310, Austin, TX 78745 512-444-2100 Earth Organics 1360 Lee Trevino Drive,Suite 105 El Paso, TX 79936 915-591-9500 Field of Dreams Indoor Growing Supplies 5302 Slide Road Unit B, Lubbock, TX 79414 806-793-2901 GreenMaker Nursery 3030 Northwest Loop, Stephenville, TX 76401 254-965-7273 GroGreen Hydroponics 4015 Main Street, Dallas, TX 75226 214-370-9984 Happy Harvest Hydroponics & Organic 1500 Crescent Drive, Suite 202 Carrollton, TX 75006 972-466-1300 Houston Discount Hydroponics 9384 Richmond Avenue, Houston, TX 77063 713-464-9406 Hydro Mart 3841 Main Street, Rowlett, TX 75088 972-475-6114 Innergrow Hydroponics 24451 Interstate Highway 20, Wills Point, TX 75169 866-475-4769 Jolly Green Hydroponics (Greenhouse Horticultural Supplies) 13628 Neutron Road, Dallas, TX 75244 (866) WE-JOLLY; 469-341-5555 Lone Star Hydroponics and Organics 1302 Motor Circle, Dallas, TX 75207 214-634-9376 Sol Organics & Hydroponics 1634 Babcock Road, San Antonio, TX 78229 210-366-9082 Texas Growers Supply 5990 N. Sam Houston Pkwy. E. #602, Humble, TX 77396 281-441-3739 Texas Hydroponics & Organics (Central Austin) 5126 Burnet Road, Austin, TX 78756 512-459-4769 Texas Hydroponics & Organics (South Austin) 2125-A Goodrich Avenue, Austin, TX 78704 512-440-4769 Texas Hydroponics & Organics (Dallas) 3400 Elm Street, Dallas, TX 75226 214-744-4769 Texas Hydroponics & Organics (Houston) 7730 A Park Place Boulevard, Houston, TX 77087 713-641-4769 Ultimate Hydroponic Garden Supply 6125 West Sam Houston Parkway, North Suite 206 Houston, TX 77041 713-856-8425

UTAH Salt Lake Plant & Hydro 60 West 3300 S. #6, South Salt Lake, UT 84115 801-488-3200

VERMONT Green Thumb Gardening P.O. Box 235, Route 15, Underhill, VT 5489 800-564-9376

Greenthumb - Vermont 394 Route 15, Jericho, VT 05465 802-899-4323 LiquidSun® VT 1 Bellows Falls Road, (Route 5 North) Putney, VT 05158 802-387-1100

VIRGINIA Blue Ridge Hydroponics & Home Brewing Co. 5524 Williamson Road, Suite 11 Roanoke VA 24012 540-265-2483 Clean & Green Technologies 196 Corning Drive, Christiansburg, VA 24073 866-694-1628 Hydroponics & Growlights 13400 Occoquan Road, Woodbridge, VA 22191 703-490-0700 I Love Hydroponics 612 N. Sheppard Street, Richmond, VA 23221 804-377-3020 I Love Hydroponics 368 Newtown Road, #105, Virginia Beach, VA 23462 757-490-5425 Inside-Out Garden Supply 6517 Backlick Road, Springfield, VA 22150 703-451-3259

WASHINGTON Aqua Serene 3839 Stone Way North, Seattle, WA 98103 206-547-GROW Eco Enterprises 1240 NE 175th Street, #B Shoreline, WA 98155 800-426-6937 Garden Smart 500 Bond Drive, Castlerock, WA 98611 360-274-7960 Green Gardens Distributing 12738 Bel-Red Road, Bellevue, WA 98005 425-454-5731 Hydro-Tech 2121 Aurora Avenue, North, Seattle, WA 98103 206-547-2202 Indoor Garden Depot 6400 H NE Highway 99, Vancouver, WA 98665 360-993-7779 Indoor Garden Depot 1401 S. 324th Street, Federal Way, WA 98003 253-874-1112 Indoor Garden & Lighting 3839 6th Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98406 253-761-7478 Indoor Garden & Lighting 23303 Highway 99, Suite A, Edmonds, WA 98026 425-673-2755 Indoor Garden & Lighting 714 South Central Avenue, Kent, WA 98032 253-373-9060 Indoor Garden Supply LLC 1950b Belmont Loop, Woodland, WA 98674 360-841-8055 Kent Garden Supplies Ltd. 18817 East Valley Highway, Kent, WA 98032 425-251-9299 Kitsap Garden & Lighting 2130 6th Street, Bremerton, WA 98312 360-377-1277 Linda’s Gardening & Hydroponics 11522 Canyon Road East, Puyallup, WA 98373 253-531-9641

Liquid Sunshine Hydroponics 5087 Lincoln Road, Blaine, WA 98230 M & R Lighting 17238 Memorial Drive, Mt. Vernon, WA 98273 360-848-1080 M & R Lighting Unit C 22914 Highway 410, Buckley, WA 98390 253-891-4190 National Garden Wholesale / Sunlight Supply 5408 NE 88th Street, Building A, Vancouver, WA 98665 888-478-6544 Northern Light and Garden Vancouver 6305 NE Highway 99, Vancouver, WA 98665 360-993-7779 Northern Lights Gardening 4159 Hannegan Road, Bellingham, WA 98225 360-715-8585 Northwest Horticulture Supply 161 Hooker Road, #1, Sequim, WA 98057 360-582-0702 Renton Indoor Garden Center 207 Sunset Blvd. N, Building A, Renton, WA 98055 425-917-9000 River City Hydroponics 1514 East Francis Avenue, Spokane, WA 99208 509-464-0246 Solar Shop 306 West 4th Street, Tonasket, WA 98855 509-486-4508 Spokane Organic and Hydroponic Supply 4823 East Sprague Avenue E., Spokane Valley, WA 99212 509-534-4055

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

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

MY WE THANK ALL OF OUR DEDICATED RETAILERS FOR OFFERING MAXIMUM YIELD TO THEIR CUSTOMERS.

ARE YOU CURRENTLY DISTRIBUTING MAXIMUM YIELD FROM YOUR RETAIL STORE?

If so, pass along your contact information to us here at the magazine care of ilona@maximumyield.com and we will add your store’s name, address and telephone number to our distributor listing in an upcoming issue. Add your company logo to the distributor listings! Call 250-729-2677 or Email ilona@maximumyield.com

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