Maximum yield europe 2015 march april by Miguel Chávez A

PLUS plant diseases // nutrients // CO2 // MORE

eu March/April 2015

I N D O O R

G A R D E N I N G

evolution of Hydroponics

Bumper crops Perfecting Propagation Decoding ppm Absentee growing

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CONTENTS March/April 2015

FEATURES

26 Seeing Double

48 Perfecting Propagation by Dr. Lynette Morgan

by Lee McCall

54 The Evolution of

Hydroponic Nutrients by Eric Hopper

30 Decoding PPM by Grubbycup

34 Bringing in a Bumper Crop:

CO2 in the Garden by Stephen Keen

40 Basics of Plant Diseases

Part Two

by Dr. Robert G. Linderman

44 Absentee Growing: How

to Maximise a Garden's Growth from Out of Town by Karen Wilkinson

Maximum Yield | March/April 2015

DEPARTMENTS 6

From the Editor

Talking Shop

Letters to the Editor

10 Facts

Ask the Experts

Max Mart

Max Facts

Distributors

Product Spotlight

Coming Up Next Issue

Industry's Latest

FROM THE EDITOR | Linda Jesson March and April are ideal months to start planning your next crop, whether you’re a dedicated indoor gardener, growing strictly outdoors, or partake in a bit of both. From articles on perfecting the propagation of mother plants, to understanding the basics of plant diseases, to experimenting with CO2 supplementation, to trying out a new style of grow lights, this issue contains the tools you’ll need to succeed this spring. A lot of what takes place in a successful garden relies on the nutrients you supply your plants. It’s a delicate science that has been perfected for centuries, but over the last decade, hydroponic nutrients have evolved in from the a major way. Check out how far they’ve come in Eric Hopper’s article on the evolution of hydroponic nutrients. In addition to the advice in this issue, we are Linda Jesson proud to bring you the new Maximum Yield TV, an exclusive collection of instructional videos from the industry’s best. Check it out at maximumyield.com. Looking for even more tips and tricks? Come and get your grow game on at an upcoming 2015 Indoor Gardening Expo. We welcome European growers to join us in North America in Chicago, Illinois (May 30-31); Los Angeles, California (July 25-26); and Boston, Massachusetts (October 24-25). At each of these Expos, hundreds of exhibitors from around the world will be showcasing the latest products and technologies. Visit indoorgardenexpo.com for more information, including interactive floor plans and free VIP tickets. Get your bags packed and stay tuned for more details on each of these shows! Also stay tuned on Facebook and Twitter for all our Expo happenings.

Message Editor

march/april 2015 Maximum Yield is published bi-monthly by Maximum Yield Publications Inc. 2339A Delinea Place, Nanaimo, BC V9T 5L9 Phone: 250.729.2677; Fax 250.729.2687 No part of this magazine may be reproduced without permission from the publisher. If undeliverable please return to the address above. The views expressed by columnists are personal opinions and do not necessarily reflect those of Maximum Yield or the editor. Publication Agreement Number 40739092

PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER - Jim Jesson GENERAL MANAGER - Don Moores BUSINESS MANAGER - Linda Jesson editorial Editor Linda Jesson editor@maximumyield.com Assistant Editors Julie McManus - julie.mcmanus@maximumyield.com Jennifer McGarrigle - jennifer.mcgarrigle@maximumyield.com ADVERTISING SALES Sales Manager Ilona Hawser - ilona.hawser@maximumyield.com Account Executives Kelsey Hepples - kelsey.hepples@maximumyield.com Katie Rey - katie.rey@maximumyield.com Jed Walker - jed.walker@maximumyield.com Robyn Jesson - robyn.jesson@maximumyield.com DESIGN & PRODUCTION ads@maximumyield.com Art Director Alice Joe Graphic Designers Jennifer Everts Dionne Hurd Jesslyn Dubyna ACCOUNTING Tracy Greeno - accounting@maximumyield.com Katie LaFrance- ar@maximumyield.com

#maximumyield #indoorgardeningexpo

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Grow videos at your finger tips. Coming Soon. I N D O O R

Maximum Yield | March/April 2015

G A R D E N I N G

UK DISTRIBUTION Direct Garden Supplies Dutchpro Easy Grow Ltd. Erith Horticulture Nutriculture UK CANADIAN DISTRIBUTION Brite-Lite Group Biofloral Eddis Wholesale Greenstar Plant Products Inc. Hydrotek Quality Wholesale USA DISTRIBUTION Aurora Innovations BWGS General Hydroponics Humboldt Wholesale Hydrofarm Hydro International National Garden Wholesale / Sunlight Supply Nickel City Wholesale Garden Supply Tradewinds Urban Agricultural AUSTRALIAN DISTRIBUTION Dome Garden Supply Futchatec Growlush Australia Growth Technology Holland Forge House N Garden

contributors

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR Fan’s Garden Continues to Improve

Grubbycup has been an avid indoor

Maximum Yield is the best gardening magazine out there. I started my indoor garden about four years ago and it has done nothing but improve with each harvest. My friends have noticed the improvements and I have to say I owe most of that to MY. I have never read an issue where I didn't find something beneficial to increase my gardening knowledge and product awareness. Every month I know I will find another way to improve my garden. Keep it up! Scott Taylor, 24th I’m a Fan Contest Winner

gardener for more than 20 years. His articles were first published in the United Kingdom, and since then his gardening advice has been published in French, Spanish, Italian, Polish, Czech and German. He is also considered one of the world’s leading authorities on crochet hydroponics.

Scott Taylor

Fan Sneaks in Time to Read

I have been reading your magazine for years now. Because of your magazine and all of the cool things you give people to read, I have now started my own hydro garden at home. I love that when I have questions I can always turn to you for answers. I can research new products based on all of the informative articles your contributors write. If it was not for your magazine, I would have never caught the hydro grow bug! And yes, this picture was taken in the bathroom; I was reading Maximum Yield while my son was in the bath. Daniel Vierra, 25th I’m a Fan Contest Winner Daniel Vierra Scott and Daniel’s answers to why they are fans of Maximum Yield have won them each a $100 gift certificate to their favourite indoor gardening store. Are you a fan of Maximum Yield? You can win, too! Email editor@maximumyield.com and tell us what you love about the magazine.

Eric Hopper has more than 10 years of experience in the hydroponic industry as both a retail store manager and owner. He continuously seeks new methods and products that could help maximise garden performance. Eric resides in Michigan where he and his family strive for a self-sufficient and sustainable lifestyle. Stephen Keen has been an indoor

gardening hobbyist for more than 10 years. His personal successes with his garden led him to want to bring new ideas, mainly water-cooling, to the mainstream, which led to the founding of Hydro Innovations.

Dr. Robert G. Linderman is a retired

research plant pathologist and former research leader at the USDA-ARS Horticultural Crops Research Laboratory in Corvallis, Oregon. He is also a courtesy Professor Emeritus at Oregon State University. He’s been in the industry for nearly 50 years and is currently the science guy for two companies: Plant Health, LLC and Santiam Organics, LLC.

Lee McCall is an alumnus of Johnson

Comes Highly Recommended

I find Maximum Yield helpful when it comes to understanding new gardening methods. It features quality products that I use regularly. The information is all very useful, and I recommend the magazine all the time to family and friends. Lance T., via email

& Wales University. His extensive culinary background helped him gain experience in and knowledge of fine dining and food production, which developed into a career in the hydroponics industry. Lee and his business partner use their Denver-based businesses to educate the public on sustainable gardening and high-quality produce.

Philip McIntosh is a science and

Some Reminders for Aquaponic Enthusiasts

In one of your articles introducing aquaponics, you were right to say it is easy and cheap, but I would like to point out that since PVC pipes have no biological surface area, they are unsuitable for aquaponics because this means the ammonia in the system doesn’t turn to nitrates. Furthermore, many water pumps are not meant for particles and will need constant cleaning. In any case, thanks for putting aquaponics out there! Matt R., via email

A Gift Every Month

I love getting this gem in the mail each month. I always learn something new and enjoy hearing about new products. Jessie K., via email

Long-time Reader

I have been a huge fan of your publications for quite some time now. They are amazing. Louise, via email

Loving the Information

I am a big fan of your wonderful, informative magazine. Charlene, via email 8

Maximum Yield | March/April 2015

We want to hear from you! Maximum Yield Publications

2339A Delinea Place, Nanaimo, BC V9T 5L9, Canada email: editor@maximumyield.com twitter: twitter.com/max_yield facebook: facebook.com/maximumyield

technology writer with a bachelor’s degree in botany and chemistry and a master’s degree in biological science. During his graduate research, he used hydroponic techniques to grow axenic plants. He lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where he teaches mathematics.

Dr. Lynette Morgan holds a

B. Hort. Tech. degree and a PhD in hydroponic greenhouse production from Massey University, New Zealand. Lynette is a partner with Suntec International Hydroponic Consultants and has authored several hydroponic technical books. Visit suntec.co.nz for more information.

Karen Wilkinson is a budding gardener with previous experience working in the hydroponics industry. Her background includes daily reporting, technical writing, marketing and promotions. After spending years living along California’s northern coast, she made her way to Sacramento where she currently lives and breathes the yoga lifestyle. This Could Be You! Become a

Maximum Yield contributor and have your articles read by 250,000 readers throughout the USA, Canada, UK, Europe, New Zealand and Australia. Every issue is available on maximumyield.com, which has thousands of unique visitors monthly.

ASK The Experts I’m trying to be a thoughtful wife, but I don’t really know anything about indoor or outdoor gardening. My husband and I live where it is cold more than half the year. He is currently growing indoors but wants to move outdoors with a greenhouse. What kind of system can I get him so he can move inside or outside without a drop in performance and fruit quality, using the same system? He prefers a more natural light system and natural feeding, but we also need to watch the bill side as well! Please help! – Leticia

What a great gift idea! I hope this thoughtful response will satisfy a thoughtful wife. Without knowing the size of the growing area and number of plants your husband will be growing throughout the year, my answer is focused rather on the key information you provided: the desire to build a flexible, low-cost growing system that can use natural, organic nutrients. While there are a number of commercially made systems available that meet your criteria, I would recommend a do-it-yourself project to save as much money as possible. Two types of systems can be built relatively cheaply, will be highly effective indoors and out, and can effectively deliver organic nutrients: drip irrigation and nutrient film technique systems. Drip irrigation technology (tubing, barbed tees, emitters, etc.) can be reconfigured in an infinite number of ways depending on your changing growing conditions. Combined with a suitable substrate, drip irrigation can provide organic nutrients as long as the tubes are flushed periodically with pure water to prevent the buildup of non-soluble material.

With NFT, plants are grown in tubes or channels where a thin film of nutrient solution passes constantly across the bottom of the root zone. This perpetual motion sufficiently oxygenates the solution— decreasing the probability of an outbreak of bad bacteria—and provides plants with enough nutritious moisture in the event of an otherwise devastating heat wave. Both irrigation systems can be used to grow small or large plants. With drip irrigation, your choice of container size will largely influence the ultimate size of the plant, whereas with NFT, your choice of tube size will dictate the ultimate size of the plant. One key thing to keep in mind is that planting arrangements are ultimately infinite with drip technology, whereas plant spacing is typically static in NFT once the tubes have been drilled. Unfortunately, this answer is vague, primarily because hydroponic horticulture as a field of study is so complex. But take my word for it: you really won’t go wrong if you invest in a basic drip irrigation or NFT system. Ryan M. Taylor

Ryan M. Taylor Ryan is the president of the Taylor Hydroponics Company, a family-operated business that specialises in the manufacture of custom growing systems, provides hydroponically grown produce to the local community and offers consulting services to optimise production systems. He has 15 years of hydroponics experience and a master’s degree in operations research.

Maximum Yield | March/April 2015

Is it true that spraying your plants with pure seltzer water is a form of CO2 treatment? – Juan Martinez

That is a good question, Juan. The short answer is: not in useful amounts, but you might want to occasionally spray or water your plants with it anyway. The long answer is the amount of carbon dioxide dissolved in a litre of seltzer water is pretty small compared with other ways of introducing CO2 into a garden. Simply talking to your plants in close proximity would be a better, and cheaper, source of CO2. Using enough seltzer water to make a noticeable difference in CO2 levels would not only be cost-prohibitive, but it would also likely raise the humidity high enough to encourage mould growth. Another problem with using too much seltzer water is that plain, carbonated water has a pH of 4 or so; to make seltzer water, a base, such as potassium bicarbonate or potassium sulfate, is often added to raise the pH. Using too much can lead to pH problems unless monitored and adjusted. However, occasional use can still be beneficial to your plants. Basic (alkaline) additives are often made of useful things. Potassium bicarbonate is an organically acceptable fungicide that doubles as a potassium source. Potassium sulfate is also known as sulfate of potash, which is used in fertilisers as a source of both potassium and sulfur. Depending on the particular water source, other nutrients might be included as well. Mineral water generally has at least 250 ppm of mineral salts and sulfur compounds. So, while seltzer water is not generally considered to be an acceptable source of CO2 enrichment, it can have benefits if used occasionally as a foliar spray or watered in as a tonic.

Grubbycup

Grubbycup Grubbycup has been an avid indoor gardener for more than 20 years. His articles were first published in the United Kingdom, and since then his gardening advice has been published in French, Spanish, Italian, Polish, Czechoslovakian and German. He is also considered one of the world’s leading authorities on crochet hydroponics.

Maximum Yield | March/April 2015

Black Garlic Gaining Ground Mark and Wendy Botwright are the largest producers of garlic in the UK, growing some 700,000 bulbs of garlic on their Bridport farm, where conditions are ideal for garlic growing. The elevated fields keep the plants exposed to wind and therefore disease free, and the soil is sandy and free draining. The Botwrights grow a number of garlic varieties including elephant, morado, Iberian and violet spring, and are seeing a rise in the popularity of black garlic amongst gastronomic circles and the alternative medicine field. Black garlic is produced using a traditional technique that originates from South East Asia. “It has an extraordinary flavour with hints of aged balsamic, black cardamom, leather, smoke, tamarind and liquorice, with the texture of dried apricots,” says Wendy. The cloves are soft with a dark brown, almost black colour. They don’t have the strong odour of white garlic and can be consumed in large quantities without any negative side effects like bad breath. (Source: blackmorevale.co.uk)

MAXFACTS

growing tips, news and trivia

Asparagus Production Under Threat Britain’s biggest asparagus grower believes producing the crop in the UK will become “almost impossible” if the EU passes laws to ban key crop protection products. EU policymakers are seeking to implement new legislation on endocrine disruptor chemicals (EDCs), which could result in the loss of key products. Herefordshire grower John Chinn farms 500 ha of asparagus at Cobrey Farms in Herefordshire, which is equivalent to about 25% of the country’s total asparagus production. He says further reductions to the list of permitted active ingredients would jeopardise current British asparagus production and curtail the expansion so urgently needed to replace imports from Peru. “It could make asparagus production in the UK impossible and leave us in a crazy situation where we are importing asparagus from countries such as Peru and Mexico, where is it produced using chemicals banned in the EU,” he says. (Source: fwi.co.uk)

Maximum Yield | March/April 2015

Wood-heated Greenhouses Elected officials in Vire, France, are installing a wood heater in the commune’s garden service greenhouses. The officials have made €1.159 million available to carry out the project, whilst waiting for a budget vote that is planned for April 2015. The installation of a wood heater will replace the gas system. “We are making a bet on the future,” says Marc Andreu Sabater, the mayor of Vire. “By favouring a local and renewable energy source, we are showing our commitment to respecting the environment.” The initial cost for the project’s investment is estimated at €320,000, and the commune expects a return on investment over 10 years and a 40% reduction in energy consumption. (Source: hortidaily.com)

World’s Biggest Tomato The world’s biggest tomato, which can feed a family of four and is about 12 times the size of an average salad tomato, has been launched in the UK. Breeders in the UK and the US developed the new variety, called the Gigantomo, after almost two decades of research. Just one slice off of one tomato can fill an entire burger bun or sandwich, the Daily Mirror reports. The enormous fruit grows up to 25-cm wide, with each plant reaching heights of 1.82 m and yielding as many as 11 tomatoes. Simon Crawford, one of the UK’s leading plant breeders, was called in five years ago to finish the work of late American grower Paul Thomas, who spent 15 years trying to breed a huge tomato that also tasted good. Simon was able to complete the breeding programme to ensure there would be enough seed to sell commercially. (Source: newindianexpress.com)

EU Agriculture Incomes First estimates released by the European Commission earlier this year revealed that the average income per agricultural worker fell 1.7% across the EU in 2014. Finland was the worst hit with a 22.8% drop in income. There were only eight European member states that posted income increases. The best-performing country was Slovenia, where average incomes were up 13.3%. The UK was the fourth best-performing member state, boasting a 6.9% increase in average incomes. The European Commission document containing the estimates stated that while agricultural incomes in 2014 were about 33% higher than in the crisis year of 2009, EU agriculture is characterised by a long-term downward trend. The income levels reached in 2014 are about 11% lower than in 2000. On a positive note, production costs are down 3.6% and energy costs are down 3.1%. (Source: pressandjournal.co.uk)

Maximum Yield | March/April 2015

MAX FACTS growing tips, news and trivia Robots in Vineyards A European research consortium comprised of Spanish, French, Italian and German universities and companies is developing an unmanned robot equipped with non-invasive advanced sensors and artificial intelligence systems to help manage vineyards. The robot, called the VineRobot, will provide reliable, fast and objective information on the state of the vineyards to grape growers, such as vegetative development, water status, production and grape composition. Researchers say the robotics and precision agriculture will provide producers with powerful tools to improve the competitiveness of their farms. The robots will not be a substitute for the vine growers; they will just facilitate their work. The next stages of the project are giving the robot the autonomy to safely drive between vineyard lines using stereoscopic vision, and integrating a side camera that will provide information about the vegetation status of the plants. (Source: sciencedaily.com)

Students Learn About Hydroponics A hydroponics company in Cheltenham, England, is teaching agriculture students alternative ways to grow plants. JDL Hydroponics, based in The Runnings, Swindon Village, is run by co-founders Lee Hicks and Dan Adams. The company grows plants by only using water high in minerals. Having opened in June 2013, they are now taking their work into the classroom, working with students at St John’s School, Cheltenham, and Hartpury College. “This is becoming an increasingly popular method of growing plants in the world,” says Lee. “We have also been working with local companies, including the Cool Chili Company, but we don’t use soil. The method goes back as far as the Egyptians. I started trying hydroponics when I either struggled to keep up with my garden or to find an allotment. This isn’t a new method but it has become one of the most effective ways to grow fruit and vegetables.” (Source: gloucestershireecho.co.uk)

Opportunities for British Agriculture Greater access to the Chinese market will help bolster British agri-food prices, according to Guy Attenborough, director of communications with the Agricultural and Horticulture Development Board. He was commenting in the wake of the announcement that the UK has appointed its first Agriculture and Food Counsellor in China. “Fundamentally, exports drive opportunity for British agriculture, and China represents a market with tremendous potential in this regard,” says Guy. “UK food companies are already exporting significant quantities of pork to China. There should also be opportunities to develop outlets for UK beef, lamb, potatoes, dairy products and specialty horticultural crops within this market over the coming years.” Karen Morgan, based in the British embassy in Beijing, will represent the interests of UK businesses already exporting British food and drink produce to China. Her role will involve identifying opportunities for new markets and further developing British relationships with key Chinese authorities. (Source: agriland.ie)

Maximum Yield | March/April 2015

Fruit Washing Up on UK Beaches If you were to order fruits de mer in a restaurant, you might expect a plate of shrimps, oysters or perhaps even a delicious lobster, but some very different fruits have been washing up on beaches across Newquay and North Cornwall. Over the last week, beach visitors were shocked to see oranges, lemons and the odd onion bobbing around in the swell and strewn across the sand. The citrus fruits have been washing up as far away as Zandvoort in Holland and on a beach in the Shetland Islands. Strange as the occurrence may be, there is an explanation. Every March, hundreds of people from across West Sussex flock to Worthing’s annual Fruit Flingathon. People take to the beach to hurl oranges and lemons into the sea in memory of the 1901 SS Indiana fruit wreck, and to raise cash for charity. (Source: cornishguardian.co.uk)

Food From Flies The kitchen of the future will be full of cutlery that cleans itself, Willy Wonka-style food pills and edible packaging, according to forecasting agency Trendstop, which also predicts people will increasingly be turning their backs on supermarkets to go hyperlocal and grow their own food. Katharina Unger, founder of the Austrian collaborative design studio Livin, is one of many designers who wants to see the kitchen be more symbiotic with food production. She has designed Farm 432, a device that allows people to grow their own protein source by breeding black soldier flies. The “432” refers to the number of hours it would take for 1 g of fly eggs to produce 2.4 kg of larvae protein. “Insects can totally disrupt the way we currently produce food,” says Katharina. “I wanted to enable people to take advantage of this and independently produce their own food at home. I think part of our future food production lies in decentralised systems.” (Source: theguardian.com)

Maximum Yield | March/April 2015

SPOTLIGHTING THIS MONTH’S

HOTTEST PRODUCTS Ask for them at your local indoor gardening store

CANNA Aqua Clay Pebbles CANNA Aqua Clay Pebbles are baked clay pellets ideal for growers who want to control the application of nutrients and the humidity level of their plants throughout the entire cultivation process. The pebbles have a high porosity and air content that stimulates the development of strong roots, which results in bigger yields. CANNA Aqua Clay Pebbles are pH-neutral, fungus-free and do not rot, making them the ideal substrate for use in a hydroponic system. CANNA Aqua Clay Pebbles are available in the standard 45-L bag as well as in the smaller 20-L bag. Want to know more about CANNA Aqua fertilisers and Aqua Clay Pebbles? Visit an indoor garden shop near you for more information.

Dutchpro’s Starter Pack for Hydro and Coco Dutchpro’s Starter Pack for Hydro and Coco provides all the nutrients and supplements growers need for grow and bloom in one box. This authentic Amsterdam-designed canal house starter pack is the perfect introduction to Dutchpro’s award-winning range of nutrients and additives at a significantly reduced price. The Dutchpro Hydro/Coco Starter Pack contains everything growers need for a small garden set-up. Not only does this pack give them a taste of the amazing hydro/coco grow and bloom nutrients, it gives them a whole selection of Dutchpro additives and supplements to boost plant growth. Grow schedules and instructions are included. For more information, visit a retailer near you.

ONA Mini Mist Can ONA Mini Mist cans are a new product from ONA that provide portable odour control and the same great odour neutralisation capabilities ONA is known for. Fitting in the palm of the hand, the Mini Mist can provides a continuous, pressurised spray of ONA while the nozzle is held down, instantly neutralising any odour molecules the ONA comes into contact with. Measuring in at just 120-mm high by 33-mm wide, the cans can easily be stored in your pocket, hand bag, gym bag or glove compartment, allowing for fast action when needed. ONA Mini Mist cans are distributed in the United Kingdom by Easy Grow. For more information, visit a hydro store near you.

SuperCloset SuperTrinity 3.0 SuperCloset’s newest, state-of-the-art grow box is the SuperTrinity 3.0. This enormous, fully automated grow box is 2-m wide, 0.6-m deep and almost 2.4-m wide. Its split-design grow system has individual chambers for cloning, vegetative and flowering stages, which provides growers with three simultaneous growing environments. The SuperTrinity has 32 hydroponic plant sites, a 50-site SuperCloner and an eight-site mothering station. For their lighting, growers can choose between two KIND LED K3 Series L600s or two HPS 600-W lights paired with Lumatek ballasts. The SuperTrinity is rounded out with four carbon filters, four inline fans, four internal circulation fans, two hydrometers/thermometers, a TDS meter, a pH kit, a starter kit of nutrients and SuperCloset’s handy net trellis that can assist in raising yields by up to 30%. SuperCloset takes the guesswork out of growing so customers can focus on the fun, not the fabrication, of indoor gardening systems. For more information, visit an indoor gardening store near you.

Maximum Yield | March/April 2015

RAW GROW RAW GROW is a blend of all 12 RAW Soluble plant nutrients, essential elements and supplements. This tested blend is proven to be an optimal, all-in-one, base grow horticultural fertiliser. RAW GROW is used throughout the entire vegetative stage. It is derived from plant protein hydrolysate, mono potassium phosphate, potassium sulfate, cane molasses, sodium borate, copper sulfate, iron DTPA, magnesium sulfate, manganese sulfate, zinc sulfate and azomite. RAW GROW also contains the following non-plant food ingredients: humic acids derived from leonardite and peat, kelp (ascophyllum nodosum), silicon dioxide derived from diatomite, and yucca extract. RAW GROW contains the largest variety of nutrients and biostimulants in a single grow product found on the market. For complete details, visit a specialty garden shop near you.

ONA Air Filter The ONA Air Filter is designed to quickly, effectively and permanently remove any problematic odours in ventilation ducting. Simply insert the desired number of ONA blocks into the ONA Air Filter, depending on the amount of odour that needs to be neutralised, shut the lid and let the ONA work its magic. Once smells have been neutralised, or the ONA blocks have been exhausted, the ONA blocks can be easily removed and replaced if further odour neutralisation is required. ONA Air Filters are distributed in the United Kingdom through Easy Grow. Visit an indoor gardening shop for more information.

Dutchpro’s Explode Dutchpro’s Explode is a formidable flowering booster that delivers precious nutrients and minerals to your plants throughout the flowering stage. Consisting of micronutrients, vitamins and acids, it does exactly as the name suggests—explosively drives flowering growth and bigger yields in addition to increasing your plants' resistance against diseases. This product is suited for every irrigation system, as well as most soil, hydro and coco set-ups. It’s available in 250-ml and 1-, 5-, 10- and 20-L bottles. Visit an indoor gardening store for more information.

Maximum Yield | March/April 2015

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT RAW BLOOM RAW BLOOM is a blend of all 12 RAW Soluble plant nutrients, essential elements and supplements. This tested blend is proven to be an optimal, all-in-one, base bloom horticultural fertiliser. RAW BLOOM is used throughout the entire flowering stage. It is derived from plant protein hydrolysate, mono potassium phosphate, potassium sulfate, cane molasses, sodium borate, iron DTPA, magnesium sulfate, manganese sulfate and natural volcanic ash. RAW BLOOM also contains the following non-plant food ingredients: humic acids derived from leonardite and peat, kelp (ascophyllum nodosum), silicon dioxide derived from diatomite, and yucca extract. RAW BLOOM contains the largest variety of nutrients and biostimulants in a single bloom product found on the market. For complete details, visit a specialty garden store.

Mighty Wash Gravity Sprayer

Atami B’Cuzz Boosterpacks

Mighty Wash cleans plants, leaving them vibrant, healthy and just the way they were meant to be in nature. Wash your plants with Mighty Wash by giving them a thorough, saturating spray to both the top and bottom of the leaves. The new Mighty Wash Gravity Sprayer will revolutionise the way growers deliver NPK Plant Washes to plants by delivering an ultra-fine mist that distributes evenly across the whole plant surface, enabling plants to use every last drop. The unique gravity technology allows for the controlled distribution of Mighty Wash. It can even be used upside down, allowing growers to target even the most difficult to reach areas and giving plants 360-degree coverage. Mighty Wash is distributed in the United Kingdom through Easy Grow. Visit an indoor gardening shop near you for more information.

Atami stimulators and boosters are known worldwide for their high concentrations and high quality. Atami has grouped its additives in new Boosterpacks to give growers the opportunity to easily get acquainted with these high-quality boosters and stimulators. Atami Boosterpacks contain all of the additives required for an entire cycle and are grouped by product line so growers get the maximum out of their plants in one purchase. Boosterpacks come in five varieties, including the B’Cuzz Soil Boosterpack (contains Root Stimulator, Soil Booster Universal, Bloom Stimulator and Blossom Builder Liquid), B’Cuzz Hydro Boosterpack (contains Root Stimulator, Hydro Booster Universal, Bloom Stimulator and Blossom Builder Liquid), B’Cuzz Coco Boosterpack, Ata Boosterpack (contains Rootbastic, Bloombastic and Atazyme) and Ata Organics Boosterpack (contains Root-C, Flower-C and Bio-Bloombastic). Each pack also comes with instructions and a grow chart. The contents of every Boosterpack can be used in combination with any base nutrients. Pick one up from your favourite hydro store.

Gorilla Grow Tent Accessories For years, growing enthusiasts have been asking Gorilla Grow Tent for accessories to go with their world-class grow tents. Now, Gorilla is giving customers exactly what they have asked for. The new, fully-customised accessory line complements the company’s professional and premium lines of extraordinary grow tents. The Gorilla Accessory Line is set to include a new, ultra-strong Gorilla net trellis that yields up to 30% more growth. The net trellis can be attached at each of the tent’s corners to provide much-needed assistance to the garden. A vertical, steel-mesh equipment board, which allows growers to attach growing gear and components with ease, is another addition to the accessory line. These and other exciting items will become available throughout 2015. Grow Gorilla. Grow Strong. For more information, visit an indoor gardening store near you.

Maximum Yield | March/April 2015

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT Air Max and Hydro Growing Pots Air Max and Hydro Growing Pots are part of a new generation of smart containers available from Easy Grow. The Air Max Growing Pot will promote a continuous natural pruning of plant roots by exposing them to oxygen. When the roots grow and reach the edge of the pot, they will reach the small gaps that are present, oxygenating the tips of the roots before they can circle around. The plant responds by producing extra roots to compensate for the loss. This cycle provides a dense, fibrous, radial root system in a short period of time. The Hydro Growing Pot is specially designed for use with hydroponic substrates such as coco fibre. The Hydro Pot’s feet allow for proper circulation of water and homogenous drainage, providing the optimal distribution of water and nutrients to plants. Visit an indoor gardening shop for more details.

TNB CO2 Refill Pack The Enhancer by TNB Naturals now comes in a convenient refill pack. The TNB CO2 Refill Pack gives growers the ability to reuse their existing Enhancer bottles so they can save money and reduce their environmental footprint at the same time. Simply empty the contents of the original bottle, give it a quick rinse and add the contents of the refill pack. CO2 instantly becomes available for use once again. Boosting plant production and improving overall health, CO2 is an essential element of photosynthesis. The TNB CO2 Refill Pack consists of the same great recipe as The Enhancer, providing convenience and an amazing option for growers looking to supplement their gardens with passive CO2. With The Enhancer known for delivering levels of CO2 comparable to a propane or natural gas burner, many growers will be turning in their tanks and opting for this safer, all-natural method of CO2 supplementation. For full details, ask at a local hydro store.

KIND LED Red Spectrum K5 Series KIND LED, the manufacturer of lustrous LED grow lights, has consumers and plants spellbound over its new Red Spectrum K5 Series LED grow lights. The innovative KIND LED K5 Series has spectral adjustability and dimming capabilities, giving plants the most-desired red spectra. The secret to KIND’s red spectrum is not only fusing the perfect mix of reds, but also incorporating ultraviolet and infrared rays. The Red Spectrum K5 Series uses the most efficient diode wattages for the intensity that flowering high yields requires. Set the proper mood for your plants: dim the lights down low and turn your KIND lights bright. Sit back and let the all-new K5 series enchant your garden, giving your plants exactly what they yearn for in their peak stage of growth. Your garden will gift you in return with top-quality plants. Visit a specialty garden centre for more details.

Dutchpro’s Take Root Dutchpro's Take Root is a growth stimulant capable of radically improving the inner and outer qualities of young plants. The active components are of natural origin, including several plant hormones and micronutrients. These combine to boost cellular division, cell elongation and nutrient transport, all of which help with overall root development during early vegetative growth. Take Root also slows down the aging process for prolonged good health. This product is suited for every irrigation system, as well as soil, hydro and coco set-ups. It is to be used with cuttings and young plants. Take Root is available in 250-ml and 1-, 5-, 10-and 20-L bottles. Visit an indoor gardening store near you for more information.

Maximum Yield | March/April 2015

industry's Latest Experience the Expos The Maximum Yield Grow Like a Pro Indoor Gardening Expo Tour includes four exciting stops in the US this year: Seattle, Chicago, Los Angeles and Boston. For a taste of what to expect at the Indoor Gardening Expos, check out the #maximumyield, #indoorgarden and #indoorgardenexpo hashtags for details on upcoming Expos and pictures and comments on previous Expos from exhibitors and attendees. Be sure to follow Maximum Yield on Twitter and Facebook to find all the Expo information you’ll need, and check out our YouTube and Flickr accounts for Expo photos and videos.

Nutrifield Expands to Europe Nutrifield is proud to announce its expansion into the European market through Hydro Industry Direct. With a diverse range of quality-driven products now available within your region, email sales@hydroindustrydirect.com or call 01788 535493 to find out how you can become an official stockist. As a company, Nutrifield continues to evolve, support our partners worldwide and nurture the development of improved hydroponic practices and methods globally. Take your garden to the next level with Nutrifield.

Maximum Yield Announces MY TV Got Videos? Maximum Yield unveiled MY TV at the Seattle Indoor Gardening Expo. MY TV features top-quality indoor gardening instructional videos straight from the experts. From nutrients and lighting to pest control, grow media and hydroponic systems, growers can learn straight from the creators of the industry’s proven systems and new technologies. For more information on how to have your videos featured on our exclusive channel, call 1-250-729-2677.

Optimal Storage for ExHale Bags Easy Grow is pleased to announce that ExHale Homegrown CO2 bags are now stored in an optimal, temperature-controlled environment in the company’s warehouse. The cooler storage rapidly reduces the growth rate of the mycelium, preventing full colonisation while in storage and saving the precious CO2 for when it is needed most—after you purchase it from the grow store. The optimal temperature slows down the rate of reproduction in the warehouse and then kicks back in when sent to grow stores. This maintains the freshness of the CO2 bag and guarantees six months of CO2 from the date of purchase. Easy Grow distributes the ExHale CO2 bags throughout the UK. For more information, visit easy-grow.co.uk.

Maximum Yield | March/April 2015

industry's Latest Maximum Yield Expands UK and EU Distribution Maximum Yield Publications is pleased to announce that Easy Grow Ltd. is now distributing Maximum Yield magazine in the United Kingdom and Europe. Easy Grow has been supplying horticultural and hydroponics wholesalers in more than 30 countries with high-quality hydroponic supplies for the past decade. Easy Grow carries a wide range of equipment to cater to the needs of all gardeners, from novice to expert growers. Now shops in the UK and Europe will also receive copies of the world’s No. 1 indoor gardening magazine with their Easy Grow orders! Maximum Yield would like to thank Easy Grow for the support, as well as our other distributors in the UK and Europe: Direct Garden Supplies, Erith Horticulture, Nutriculture UK and Dutchpro.

Ella May, 11, and Iona Marley, 8, with stacks of magazines to deliver to clients.

Easy Grow’s 10-year Anniversary —A Great BIG Thank You! Ten years ago, Easy Grow began selling foils and sheeting. Now we are celebrating a decade of excellence, having grown into a worldwide distributor of original and innovative hydroponic grow products to all four corners of the globe. Easy Grow would like to extend a big thank you to all our distributors, wholesalers, retailers, gardeners, workmates, family and friends who have made this possible. For more information, visit easy-grow.co.uk.

Become a CANNA Advisor CANNA would like to know everything from the most experienced CANNA growers in the UK! We can learn from you by sharing your stories. How do you think our products perform? What do you think of our new products? Which products should CANNA introduce to its range? We are interested to hear your opinions and feedback. CANNA is looking for CANNA advisors, and such advisors will be rewarded for their input. For more information, go to canna-uk.com/canna-advisor.

Maximum Yield Expands UK Distribution Maximum Yield is pleased to announce that Erith Horticulture is now distributing Maximum Yield magazine in the United Kingdom. Based in the London area, Erith Horticulture carries an extensive range of Grotek, BioBizz and other products. If you can’t find what you want with Erith, it probably doesn’t exist! Now with every order from Erith Horticulture, shops can also request copies of Maximum Yield UK. Maximum Yield would like to thank Erith Horticulture for the support, as well as our other distributors in the UK and Europe: Direct Garden Supplies, Easy Grow Ltd., Nutriculture UK and Dutchpro.

Maximum Yield | March/April 2015

Seeing double by Lee McCall Double-ended, high pressure sodium (HPS) lighting is emerging from several reputable manufacturers in the hydroponics industry, and it seems like 100% of growers who have given the new technology a try experience exceptionally positive results. So, what makes these lights so special?

Maximum Yieldâ&#x20AC;&#x201A;|â&#x20AC;&#x201A;March/April 2015

Seeing Double

Gardening indoors successfully is a composition of basic fundamentals. To garden indoors is to control and execute these fundamentals upon command. Because of amazing new technology, the productivity standards of indoor gardening have excelled in recent years. Lighting, nutrients, temperature and humidity controllers, carbon dioxide enrichment and artisan growing mediums are now common tools that allow average growers to set higher standards. This article focuses on one of the greatest and most recent advancements in horticultural lighting that is changing growers’ abilities for the better: double-ended, high pressure sodium lighting systems. Grow lights are mandatory tools for indoor gardening that allow individuals to manipulate all phases of plant growth year-round on a perpetual schedule without the use of sunlight. Many types of lighting technology boast similar yet different productivity standards. For example, light-emitting diode (LED) and plasma lighting systems continue to impress growers due to their low energy consumption. High pressure sodium (HPS) and metal halide (MH) lights have helped shape the ways, methods and styles of how we cultivate plants today. The introduction of T5 fluorescent lighting also revolutionised the lighting market with energy efficiency, low heat 28

Maximum Yield | March/April 2015

”Grow lights are mandatory tools for indoor gardening that allow individuals to manipulate all phases of plant growth year-round on a perpetual schedule without the use of sunlight.“ emissions and high light output. The T5 is an exceptional tool for vegetative production as the clean spectrums of various wavelengths in higher Kelvin temperature ranges produce stocky, tightly noded plants. Now, double-ended HPS technology is making its presence known in the marketplace with proven, high-quality results. This lamp technology has shown horticulturalists a new path to greater yields and quality. Doubleended HPS lights are now emerging from several reputable manufacturers in the hydroponics industry. The effects on yields are exceptionally positive for what seems like 100% of growers who try them. So, what makes these lights so special? For starters, these bulbs degrade slower than traditional, single-ended HPS bulbs. In fact, after 10,000 hours, double-ended lamps will still output approximately 90% of their original intensity. Next, the spectrum and relative energy measurement, dictated in micromoles, far surpasses that of

the industry-standard high intensity discharge (HID) mogul technology. Micromoles is a term we are hearing more and more in our industry. It’s a measurement that provides a comparative reference to understand what crops need in terms of light level requirements for particular crops and their various phases of growth. The double-ended HPS lamp has been recorded to produce more than 2,000 micromoles, whereas traditional mogul-based technology falls as low as 50% less with identical variables. Think of it this way: you’re using the same amount of energy to produce up to 50% less usable light to your crop. In some cases, this variance is the difference of up to double the yield per lighting fixture replaced. Aside from use during blooming, fruiting and flowering production, double-ended HPS lights work great for promoting vegetative growth as well. However, the concentrated wavelengths of lower nanometer range spectrum, a.k.a. red light, is favourable

in blooming production areas. In other words, these lights excel in bloom production scenarios. Double-ended HPS bulbs are more stable than traditional, single-ended HPS bulbs, and this allows them to have a 10% increase in light intensity and PAR output over traditional, singleended HPS bulbs. Double-ended HPS bulbs also emit more UV and IR light than traditional bulbs. Available in a variety of styles, from adjustable-wing style reflectors, to air-cooled models and non-air-cooled attached ballast models, there is a type of double-ended light to fit any growing scenario. Many growers claim one of the biggest benefits of double-ended lighting is larger footprints from the same energy consumption. According to light level measurement devices, doubleended lights are brighter and can cover larger surface areas in comparison to standard 1,000-W light systems. Higher ceilings are recommended for operating double-ended lights so larger footprints may be achieved, which could ultimately result in larger yields due to the increased growing area. Open-hood, non-vented reflectors will emit more heat from the lamp than air-cooled models. Greater ceiling heights are required to avoid canopy burning and other phototoxic effects on the crop. These lights perform better at 1-1.25 m from the canopy, rather than the standard 0.3-0.6 m. Of course, these

distances are subjective and are dependent on environmental conditions, but keep in mind the higher the light, the bigger the footprint and the less hot-spot concentrations occur. As mentioned earlier, the reflector’s design will influence footprint and canopy coverage. Some of the air-cooled, double-ended reflectors concentrate the light within a confined footprint directly under the light, while other open-hood style designs spread light for maximum distribution and even coverage. Consider these factors when purchasing a

reflectors. For example, a grower who uses 1,000 CFM of room temperature to cool eight 1,000-W lights might have a different heat output compared to if they were using 1,000 CFM of airconditioned air to cool the same set-up. Basically, for open-style reflectors with no air cooling, 2,000-4,000 BTU of air conditioning is recommended for every 1,000-W light in the room. Now for the good stuff. Research shows that double-ended HPS lights are increasing yields by anywhere from 20%, 30% and 50%. Several reports from side-by-side grows have concluded up to double the yield when swapping a fixture for a fixture. So, how is this possible, especially when using the same amount of input power? Well, as mentioned earlier, the increased micromole output per watt means that increased footprints

”Some of the air-cooled, double-ended reflectors concentrate the light within a confined footprint directly under the light, while other open-hood style designs spread light for maximum distribution and even coverage.“ lighting system as they will affect the overall productivity in the growroom. Aside from the distance between canopy and fixture, another question that always comes up for growers is, “How hot do these lights run?” In comparison to mogul or traditional HID lights, there is really no difference. The same kWh (kilowatt hours) is still being consumed to operate both styles of lights; therefore, heat output is matched through watt to BTU produced. Air-cooled lighting is not applicable to this question as there are multiple factors that can determine the heat output when using air-cooling

are applicable. The industry standard 1.2 m by 1.2 m grid per 1,000-W light is easily increased to 1.8 m by 1.5 m, and even greater in some cases. Again, reflector design and style will influence the shape of footprint produced. My recommendation is to implement air conditioning and go with an open-hood design if the space permits. For basements and other low-ceiling scenarios, air-cooled models will suffice just fine. New double-ended HPS lighting is taking over growrooms everywhere, and with good reason. The technology continues to amaze even the most seasoned and experienced growers. Try double-ended lighting in your growroom and increase your yields today.

Maximum Yield | March/April 2015

G N I D O C DE GRUBBYCUP PPM PPM3.5 by Grubbycup

Often, plants require nutrient elements in quantities so minute that we need to look at them in parts per hundred and parts per million. Grubbycup explains how these measuring systems works.

Maximum Yield | March/April 2015

“the more nutrients added to the water, the stronger the solution becomes.” Plants require nitrogen (N), Phosphorus (P)and potassium (K), along with other elements known as macro- and micronutrients, to grow well. In the wild, plants send out roots and try to find usable sources of these elements. In a garden, these nutrients are usually supplied, one way or another, by the gardener via fertilisers. With fertilisers, the gardener adds materials that contain the desired elements in forms that are either immediately available to the plant, such as is the case with many nutrient salts, or will break down gradually over time to become available to the plant, as organic materials tend to do. In either case, growers should have some idea of the nutritional value of the fertiliser being added, both to make sure that they don’t overfeed or underfeed their plants, and to make sure that they aren’t adding several sources of one element and not enough of another. Nutrient solutions are generally based on true solutions, although the math works out the same even if they are mixtures instead. A solution is made of at least two substances. The majority of the solution will be the solvent (in aqueous solutions, like those used in gardening, the solvent used is water). The substance dissolved into the water is known as the solute. The amount of solute in a solution determines the solution’s concentration. To put it simply, the more nutrients added to the water, the stronger the solution becomes. Knowing what elements (nutrients) a solute (the fertiliser) has, and at what strength they are in, is important to calculating the final nutrient solution given to the

plants. To help with this, fertilisers are marked with N-P-K values to help gardeners get an idea of how much N, P and K is in the bottle or bag. Parts per hundred is a pretty common way to relate two things. For example, a fertiliser with an N-P-K rating of 10-5-14, is made of 10 parts N per 100 parts of fertiliser. Another way to express that is to say it is 10% N. In the case of N, the N-P-K value listed and the amount of elemental N are the same. For P and K, their N-P-K values are for the oxide forms. Phosphorus oxide is 43.6 parts per 100 elemental P, so—using the N-P-K value above— multiplying 5 by 0.436 will give the elemental P value of 2.18 parts per hundred, or 2.18%. Potassium oxide is 83% elemental K, so a final N-P-K value of 14 would indicate a fertiliser that is 11.62% K (0.83 x 14 = 11.62). While knowing that the composition of our solute is 10% N, 2.18% P and 11.62% K tells us some useful information about the proportions of what we are putting into the water to make our solution, concentration is another critical factor. As these are pretty potent nutrients, the difference between mixing 1 g per litre and 5 g per litre makes for a very different experience for the plants (this is why I recommend at least reading the recommended feeding rates even if you don’t follow them exactly). Just how big of a difference can be shown with a little more math and the numbers we already have. One litre of water weighs 1,000 g. If we add 1 g of solute, the total weight becomes 1,001 g. Since our solute is 1 g of 10% elemental N, we can calculate the weight of the element: 10% of 1 g = 0.1 g.

Maximum Yield | March/April 2015

decoding ppm Since fertilisers are added in small amounts, and the amount of the desired elements are only a fraction of those small amounts, it is common to use parts per million (ppm) to express how much of each element is in the nutrient solution. Parts per million is used for concentrations smaller than can be easily expressed in parts per hundred (percent), but larger than those commonly expressed in parts per billion. To calculate ppm, simply divide the weight of element in solute by the total weight of solution and multiply that total by one million. So, using the data from our example for N:

(0.1 g N ÷ 1,001 g) x 1,000,000 = 100 ppm elemental N We can also calculate the value of P and K using this same formula.

(0.0218 g P ÷ 1,001 g) x 1,000,000 = 22 ppm elemental P (0.1162 g K ÷ 1,001 g) x 1,000,000 = 116 ppm elemental K

So, if 1 g of this nutrient is added per litre, the nutrient solution will have 100 ppm N, 22 ppm P and 116 ppm K, which is in the ballpark for many plants that aren’t actively fruiting. Since plants can survive twice those values, going as high as 2 g per litre would be reasonable to work up to. Back to our example, if you were to use 1 tsp. per litre instead of 1 g, calculating ppm shows how dramatic a difference that makes for your plants. Here is the math:

1 tsp. = 5 g Weight of N in solute = 0.5 g (10% of 5 g) Weight of P in solute = 0.109 g (2.18% of 5 g) Weight of K in solute = 0.581 g (11.62% of 5 g) Total weight of solution = 1,005 g (1,000 g water + 5 g solute)

Maximum Yield | March/April 2015

So, (0.5 g ÷ 1,005 g) x 1,000,000 = 498 ppm of elemental N (0.109 g ÷ 1,005 g) x 1,000,000 = 108 ppm of elemental P (0.581 g ÷ 1,005 g) x 1,000,000 = 578 ppm of elemental K

This will almost certainly cause overfeeding problems. Also note that the equation can be reversed to estimate a dose from a desired ppm. If a concentration of 150 ppm of N is the goal (and we’re using our sample solute of 10% N), then:

150 ppm = 10% x 1,000,000 x amount to add ÷ 1,000 g (ish) This reduces to: 150 ppm = 0.1 x 1,000 g x amount to add Leading to the answer of: 1.5 g = amount to add

One of the most important statistics to consider in formulating a feeding schedule is the ppm of each element of the final solution. By running the numbers on paper, schedules can be evaluated (even if they use several different components in concert). Also, not only can current feeding schedules be analysed, but they can also be adjusted to produce specific ppm solutions for different stages of plant growth. For those who follow the manufacturer’s recommended application schedule, these types of calculations should already have been taken into account. However, for gardeners who like to experiment while trying to perfect their own feeding concentrations, these types of calculations can be critical. If math isn’t your strong suit, or you would just prefer not to do the calculations yourself, don’t despair! There are free nutrient calculators online that can be used to compute the ppm values with minimal effort on your part.

Bringing in a Bumper Crop:

by Stephen Keen

CO2 In T he Garden

Maximum Yield | March/April 2015

One important, and often overlooked, aspect of an indoor garden’s climate is the level of carbon dioxide present. Here is why this is so important, and some ways to ensure your garden gets enough of this chemical compound.

Maximum Yield | March/April 2015

co2 in the garden Nothing makes an indoor gardener happier than a large, healthy crop, but no matter what you are growing, the limiting factors to crop health and overall yields are the same: nutrients, climate, lighting and pest control. Every plant has different requirements for optimal health, but these four limiting factors can make or break a harvest in any gardening scenario. If a single factor is imperfect, crops can be negatively affected. Some imperfections can destroy a crop entirely. One important, and often overlooked, aspect of the garden’s climate is the level of carbon dioxide in the garden.

What many of us don’t understand completely is that CO2 is actually consumed by our plants. Carbon dioxide is made of two oxygen atoms and one carbon atom bonded together. During photosynthesis, when the lights are on, plants absorb CO2 through the stomata (pores) found on the leaves of the plant. The plant turns the carbon atom into plant material such as leaves, flowers and fruit, and discards the two oxygen atoms during transpiration— usually when the lights are off, with few notable exceptions. Adequate CO2 levels are absolutely vital to the health and growth of plants, and elevated levels can contribute to explosive growth and production. Normal levels of CO2 in the atmosphere are generally between 300 and 500 ppm, but this is a basic range and can vary somewhat based on location. Under all circumstances, your plants should be provided with 300500 ppm of carbon dioxide to ensure proper growth. This can be tricky, especially in a sealed garden environment, because plants will consume the CO2, so even though the normal range of carbon dioxide is present at

What many of us don’t understand completely is that CO 2 is actually consumed by our plants.

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first, supplementation might still be required because the plants will drop the levels of carbon dioxide in a sealed garden down to zero. Once the CO2 levels drop below what is normally available in the atmosphere, plant growth will be negatively affected, often dramatically. Studies have shown that plant growth and production increases with CO2 levels that are higher than atmospheric norms. Different species of plants will respond in different ways, but overall, all plants that consume CO2 will respond positively to elevated levels. A 1979 study by the Australian National University found that when carbon dioxide levels were elevated to approximately double the atmospheric normal, 40-day-old cotton plants were double the weight of the same cotton plant grown at normal carbon dioxide levels. Maize plants that were part of the same study increased in weight by 20%. While elevated levels are beneficial to the health and overall production of most plants, levels above 1,500 ppm are unnecessary. There is no benefit to providing more CO2 than your plants can consume and carbon dioxide levels above 2,000 ppm can harm your plants by limiting transpiration and reducing nutrient uptake. Carbon dioxide is

generally safe for humans at these levels, but levels above 6,000 ppm are harmful to humans after exposure for a period of time, especially for those with respiratory problems. For this reason, if you are enriching your garden with CO2, it is vital that you use a monitor in conjunction with your enrichment devices to control the levels at all times. The generally accepted sweet spot in the indoor gardening world is maintaining levels between 1,000 and 1,800 ppm, with most gardeners agreeing on 1,500 ppm as the level of maximum benefit. With few exceptions, it is unnecessary to provide the garden with CO2 enrichment when the lights

depleted CO2 levels. This method is are off; this is usually only necessary when the lights in the garden are on common, but it limits the garden to and photosynthesis is in full swing. only the atmospheric normal levels of CO2, does nothing to enrich the air There are several different ways of delivering CO2 to your garden. The with higher levels and it is not without problems, primarily related to the other simplest way to replenish the CO2 aspects of the gardenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s climate. levels is by venting, where a fan exhausts garden air out and replaces it with air from the outside. This The simplest replaces any way to air that has

replenish the CO 2 levels is by venting, where a fan exhausts garden air out and replaces it with air from the outside.

Maximum Yieldâ&#x20AC;&#x201A;|â&#x20AC;&#x201A;March/April 2015

co2 in the garden For example, if it’s humid outside, you introduce humidity into the garden, which can lead to fungus growth on your crop, and since most gardens are already humid, no more moisture is needed. Introducing outside air can also introduce pests into the space. Lastly, if the temperature outside is hotter than you want your garden to be, you must compensate for the introduction of outside air with your air-conditioning system. Most gardeners who start out with a venting system eventually move to a different type of enrichment system. There are also systems available that boost CO2 levels with decomposing natural materials. These come in a package that you place in the garden, during which time the decomposition off-gasses CO2 into the garden, boosting the levels somewhat. These products are natural and inexpensive and don’t require a CO2 monitor or other equipment to operate, as there is little chance of overdosing your garden unless you are growing in an extremely small space. However, CO2 volumes will vary, and it is difficult to determine exactly what ppms can be reached. Additionally, they can’t be turned on and off with your lighting, so will continually off-gas even during the night cycle when carbon dioxide isn’t being consumed. The manufacturer’s estimate for the lifespan on this product is usually about two months. Depending on the size of the garden, multiple packages might be required. Bottles of pure CO2 are commonly available at most hydro stores, where they can also be refilled or exchanged for new bottles. With this method, you use a regulator connected to a CO2 monitor. The monitor reads the

Maximum Yield | March/April 2015

CO2 level in the space, opens the regulator when CO2 is needed in the space, and closes it when the levels reach the presets on the monitor. This is a relatively inexpensive up-front cost, as the bottles aren’t particularly expensive. However, they will require frequent refilling or exchanging, which can become tedious. Carbon dioxide generators are also commonly available from most hydro retailers. These generators create CO2 in the air by burning propane or natural gas and the primary byproduct of burning these gases is CO2. They should also be used in conjunction with a CO2 monitor that turns them on when carbon dioxide is needed and turns them off when it is not. Using a carbon dioxide generator is an easy and efficient way to introduce CO2 into the garden, as gas creates about three times as much CO2 as an equivalently sized bottle.

Once the CO 2 levels drop below what is normally available in the atmosphere, plant growth will be negatively affected, often dramatically.

If you are operating your generator using bottles of propane, this reduces the number of refills required by twothirds. Additionally, most generators can be plumbed into the gas supply of your home or commercial space, resulting in no need to replace or refill a bottle. The downside to using a CO2 generator is that burning propane or natural gas produces a lot of heat. This is undesirable in most gardens, as heat is a constant struggle for many of us. You can compensate for this with additional air conditioning. There is also a CO2 generator available that is water-cooled, resulting in optimal CO2 levels with no heat being released into the garden environment. The generator and the bottle used in conjunction with a CO2 monitor are the only two ways of maintaining constant, specific levels of carbon dioxide in the garden. Carbon dioxide is heavier than the rest of the air in the space, meaning that it will fall to the floor and levels 0.3-m above the ground will be higher than levels 1.5-m above the ground. For this reason, monitors should be placed at plant canopy level, so they can accurately read the CO2 levels where they matter most. Adequate airflow inside the garden will ensure CO2 is homogenised into the air as much as possible.

Whatever youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re growing or how you deliver it, adequate CO2 levels in the space are absolutely vital for the health of your crop. Since the carbon translates directly into plant material, CO2 levels higher than atmospheric norms will result in density and yields not otherwise achievable.

Maximum Yieldâ&#x20AC;&#x201A;|â&#x20AC;&#x201A;March/April 2015

s Plant c i s Ba Diseases: of

Part Two

by Dr. Robert G. Linderman

Plants can be infected by different types of pathogens, ranging from fungi, bacteria, viruses and nematodes. It is important to diagnose the cause of a plant disease in order to consider options for managing or controlling it.

Maximum Yieldâ&#x20AC;&#x201A;|â&#x20AC;&#x201A;March/April 2015

In the first article in this series on plant diseases, I described the process of diagnosing a plant problem that might have been caused by a biotic agent (pathogen) or some abiotic factor, such as an environmental stress of some sort. That is the first step in solving the problem: proper diagnosis. If the conclusion is that your plants are infected by some pathogen, it is important to determine what that organism actually is in order to take the proper corrective action. In this article I describe the different types of pathogens that might be infecting your plants and provide some information about their biology. Knowing the biology of a pathogen allows a grower to choose the best remedy and time the remedy’s application to be the most effective. Pathogens that often lead to basic plant diseases are fungi, bacteria, viruses or nematodes.

Fungal Pathogens There are many different fungi that can cause plant diseases. Some live in the soil and cause root diseases, while others live above ground and infect the stems, leaves or flowers of the plant. All of these fungi produce spores or other structures (propagules) that can grow and infect plant tissues—both the roots and the leaves. Many also produce propagules that are resistant to environmental stresses and can live for extended times in the soil and in or on roots and leaves, waiting for the conditions to be right to grow again and infect plants. Such propagules generally have thick walls with dark pigmentation to protect them from physical and biological elements.

Spores and other resting structures (sclerotia) of pathogenic fungi all have thick walls and most are pigmented to enhance their capacity to survive the elements. Top left (clockwise): Sclerotia of Sclerotium rolfsii the size of radish seed; brown pigmented chlamydospores of Thielaviopsis basicola that causes black root rot; oospores (stained blue) of Pythium sp. causing root rot of turf grass; sporangia of Phytophthora releasing swimming zoospores. Maximum Yield | March/April 2015

basics of plant diseases part two

Symptoms of cucumber mosaic virus on cucumber leaves and fruit.

When spores of pathogenic fungi contact roots or leaves of a susceptible host plant, they germinate and grow on the plant tissue surface and penetrate the cells. Then they spread within the plant tissues, generally producing chemicals that kill the cells. When enough cells have been killed, the roots become rotten and can no longer function or support the plant. When leaf tissue is infected with a fungal pathogen, dead spots may appear on the leaves. Eventually, fungal pathogens will produce many new spores, some of which can spread to other healthy roots or leaves, causing new infections. Many fungi will then produce survival spores or structures. The rotted roots will be brown compared to healthy roots that are white, and plants will be stunted due to lack of good root function.

Bacterial Pathogens Most bacteria are tiny, single-celled organisms (1-3 micrometers) compared to the larger fungal spores (at least five micrometers). Bacterial cells have a cell wall, but their genetic material is not contained in a nucleus as with fungi and most other microbes. Some produce spores with a thicker

To prove that a bacterium isolated from a diseased plant is the pathogen, healthy plants have to be inoculated and disease symptoms must appear. Many bacteria can be isolated from diseased plants, so identification of the pathogen is critical. However, bacteria cause foliar symptoms on certain plants that are diagnostic. Most bacterial diseases are on the foliage or stems—few infect roots. One exception is crown gall, a distinctive bacterial disease that occurs on both roots and stems of some plants. The gall structures are usually fairly diagnostic. Bacterial pathogens spread in splashed water from rain or irrigation. They are able to rapidly multiply in water, doubling their numbers in a matter of minutes. Many bacterial cells can be produced on a leaf or fruit lesion, and splash to more tissue rapidly. There are few or no treatments that can limit the spread of the disease. Culturally, keeping the foliage and fruit dry, that is, without standing water, is the best bet.

Viral Pathogens Viruses are infectious and intracellular entities, but they are not cells. There is some debate about whether or not viruses are living or

“There is some debate about

whether or not viruses are living or nonliving, but they cannot reproduce on their own and require components found in host plant cells.”

Parasitic nematodes (top to bottom): single root lesion nematode; lesion nematode in root tissue; and roots with root knot nematode infection compared to healthy roots.

Maximum Yield | March/April 2015

wall, while others do not. Sporeforming bacteria can withstand harsher environmental conditions, whereas the rest are quite sensitive and need other means of protection. When cultured, bacteria look slimy, and there can be some cultural variation in the bacterial colony morphology. Identification of specific bacterial pathogens requires laboratory procedures to detect minute genetic differences.

non-living, but they cannot reproduce on their own and require components found in host plant cells. However, viruses do multiply within host cells and can cause disease. Virus particles in plant cells are much too small to be seen, even with a light microscope. They have various shapes, but all are a thousand times smaller than a bacterial cell. Some are spherical, some are rod-shaped. They are

“Bacterial pathogens spread in

splashed water from rain or irrigation. They are able to rapidly multiply in water, doubling their numbers in a matter of minutes.” composed of nucleic acids covered by a coat of protein. Virus particles can be transmitted from plant to plant by mechanical means (rubbing leaves of infected plants and then touching healthy leaves) or by insects such as aphids that feed on infected leaves and then move to healthy leaves and deposit virus particles that initiate new infections. Viruses can move systemically throughout the plant and cause changes in the plant’s machinery that result in the development of symptoms such as stunting of the plant or mosaic patterns on the leaves, and as a result, the productivity of the plant is likely to be diminished. There is no cure for a virus-infected plant. A few viruses are carried in the seed, but that is not true for most crop plants.

Nematode Pathogens Nematodes are tiny roundworms that largely infect plant roots. There are only a few that infect foliage. The most serious infect roots, causing lesions or knots on the roots. Nematodes multiply within the infected tissue and their young or their eggs are released into the soil where they live until they become adults to infect more roots. Plant parasitic nematodes must infect plant roots to multiply, so they are considered obligate parasites. Root lesion nematodes cause root rot, so their effect on the plant would be stunted growth.

Summing It All Up Plants can be infected by different types of pathogens, ranging from fungi, bacteria, viruses and nematodes. It is

important to diagnose the cause of a plant’s disease in order to consider options for managing it. Some pathogens are soil-borne and infect roots, while some infect only the aerial parts of plants. The extent of damage caused by the disease can vary, depending on the pathogen and how and when the plant became infected. In the case of root diseases, whether caused by fungi or nematodes, the pathogen most likely resides in the soil and begins the infection process by invading the roots, either rotting them or moving from the roots into the vascular cells, sometimes blocking them and causing wilting. Foliar pathogens, on the other hand, initiate disease by spores or cells of the pathogen splashing onto the leaves or stems, thereafter initiating infection. Once leaves are infected, pathogens multiply and can spread to other leaves or plants. Viral diseases are most likely to occur when infected plants are touched or pruned, followed by touching or pruning of a healthy plant. Virus particles are rubbed into the healthy leaf cells, or they are transferred to healthy leaves by feeding insects such as by aphids. Remember, a virus-infected plant cannot be cured.

Coming Up

Bacterial spot of pepper on leaves and fruit.

The bacterial disease, crown gall, showing galls on roots (top) and stems (bottom).

In the final installment of this series, I will highlight options for managing or controlling plant diseases, whether chemical, cultural or biological. For many of the diseases caused by different pathogens, one of the best remedies is to discard infected plants and focus on avoiding the disease during the following season or the next planting, either indoors or in the greenhouse.

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“An automated growroom can maintain a controlled environment, while reducing problems and saving time, but it's not a replacement for the inherent quality of the human touch.” Gardens certainly don’t grow themselves, and indoor gardens require much more attention and care than the outdoor type, which have Mother Nature’s built-in support system. Indoor gardening is a demanding hobby that sucks up a lot of time and money, can add work to your already busy life and dramatically alter your chill lifestyle. It will cause stress, takes tough decision making and a lot of space in your home. The daily, weekly and monthly rituals can seem like burdens, but the payoff is well worth the amount of effort you’ll put in. To help shoulder some of the burden, many growers automate the process to some degree, lessening the workload while allowing their gardens to thrive. Advances in technology have made it so that you can leave your indoor garden for weeks at a time, or while holding a demanding, full-time job, and come back to a stable growing environment with increased yields. This means less time worrying, less stress and improved overall efficiency and performance. More bang for your buck, if you will. While nothing can replace the constant monitoring and interaction that comes under the guidance of the human hand, an automated growroom can reduce the grower’s time commitment and increase efficiency to maximise yield. The automated systems only perform as programmed, so if you aren’t present to monitor the changing needs of your plants, anticipate some suffering. Remember, it’s all about supplementing, not replacing, quality care. Other than the initial installation and occasional check-in to monitor your plants’ health, an automated growroom can help guarantee results with minimal effort on your part. An automated growroom can maintain a controlled environment, while reducing problems and saving time, but it’s not a replacement for the inherent quality of the human touch. Both combined, however, can leave you with an abundance of time and peace of mind knowing that your plants are being cared for when you can’t be there. Plainly put, an automated garden employs a combination of user-specified parameters, while operating and controlling the growing process using highly automatic methods, such as electronic or mechanical devices, which greatly reduce the need for human interaction. Some common automation means include timers, temperature or humidity controllers and CO2 monitors, with the most basic method being a timer to control the lighting. As with any technology, growroom

automation is in constant flux, always changing and evolving, so there are continually new gadgets, smartphone apps and ways to check up on your plants without having to be present, but these are the basics:

Climate control The most common of automation controllers, this umbrella term covers three factors: humidity, temperature and CO2. A climate controller (or atmospheric controller) will allow you to create an environment fit for the plants’ needs, which is achieved by keeping CO2 at ideal levels and maintaining the humidity and temperature levels. Growers with fully automated climates or atmospheres can anticipate larger yields and quicker growth thanks to the compatible environmental conditions. Beginners can get started with a thermostat/humidistat controller, which lets the grower control multiple devices such as fans, air conditioners and dehumidifiers by plugging them into a single controller. Proper ventilation is one of the main elements of growing that, if neglected, can ruin your investment. If your plants suffer from poor ventilation due to stagnant air throughout the growroom, the plants can consume all of the CO2 in a matter of hours. The room should include fans to circulate air, along with fresh air vented in to avoid dead zones void of CO2 that can form around the leaves. Maximum Yield | March/April 2015

absentee growing

“Advances in technology have made it so that you can leave your indoor garden for weeks at a time, or while holding a demanding, full-time job, and come back to a stable growing environment with increased yields.”

However, ventilation isn’t needed when lighting is off and your intake fans should be turned off, though you may still run them or exhaust fans for controlling the temperature. Fans can be controlled manually, by using a timer, fan controller or multi-function climate controller that also controls humidity and temperature (more on these later). Growers wanting to add CO2 can combine multiple atmospheric controllers or buy a complete controller, often referred to as a brain, that controls light timing, temperature, humidity and CO2 control. To avoid wasting carbon dioxide, automation is a key factor to increase the room’s levels. Controllers designed to enhance the room’s CO2 levels will automatically turn off or reduce exhaust fans while the device is in use. An infrared beam scans the air in the room and when the specified parameters aren’t being met, the controlling device sends power to the CO2 generator or tank, adding carbon dioxide to your garden. Controllers can also automatically turn off during the garden’s dark cycle, as they’re equipped with a photocell. It’s also imperative that the grower can set the room to an exact temperature, as an indoor growroom’s optimal running temperature increases slightly with higher CO2 levels. 46

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Nutrient automation For those who already have atmospheric automation on lock down and want even more relief from the daily chores of growing indoors, adding nutrient reservoir automation is the next logical step. A nutrient reservoir that is maintained by hand can be incredibly time consuming and is prone to errors given the water makeup and fluctuations in pH and EC. Maintaining an ideal nutrient balance is vital to plants’ health and vitality, which leads to stronger, more bountiful harvests and plants that are less susceptible to pests and disease. Consistency here is key, as the root zone supports and encourages life. For an automated nutrient reservoir system that needs the least maintenance, a grower should use the following connected to the source of water: a water chiller/heater, nutrient auto doser, pH auto adjuster and an auto shut-off valve. This way the grower can set the parameters for the temperature, nutrient concentration and the nutrient solution’s pH.

Combined properly, climate control and nutrient reservoir automation can provide an optimal growing environment that can be tweaked to meet the plants’ needs. But there’s always something even bigger and badder out there, which brings us to the next section.

Everything automation The most advanced controller is an all-in-one growroom controller, a.k.a. a brain. These mega-gadgets can simultaneously monitor and control all sorts of growing parameters and there are even models with long-term data loggers and graphing features. You can monitor multiple growrooms using a single brain, and receive alerts when something is wrong, from anywhere in the world using a computer or smartphone. When automating systems in the growroom, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of the technology and slip on the basics, such as regularly tending to the plants and making sure your systems are in top shape. Here are a few things to keep in mind: ❯ Inspect your plants for overall health and moisture levels at least once a week if possible ❯ Look for pests or diseases ❯ Trim and clean foliage as needed ❯ Toss and replace any dead or dying plants ❯ Replace any broken irrigation pieces ❯ Check the water tank’s levels and refill as needed ❯ Add fertiliser to the irrigation system as needed ❯ Inspect pumps and timers, clean filters weekly Maximum Yield | March/April 2015

P r o g p n a i t g c a e

tion

Per f

r. Lynette Morgan by D

Producing clones from cuttings in hydroponics is a great way to yield new, healthy planting stock genetically identical to your carefully selected parent plants. While the process of taking and striking cuttings is relatively straightforward, Dr. Lynette Morgan has some tips to help ensure success.

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Nothing beats multiplying your own plants. Whether it’s from seed or vegetative cuttings, perfecting propagation can not only give a succession of healthy young planting stock, but also an immense sense of satisfaction. While propagation of most commonly grown hydroponic plants is usually a straightforward process, understanding the physiology behind striking cuttings in particular is worth taking a closer look at, as technology, product development and new research are constantly providing more tools for us to work with.

“ When genetic diversity is not desirable, or when certain plants don’t set seed, vegetative propagation methods are used.”

Propagation from Cuttings Cuttings from a stock plant, or mother plant, used to make new plants are called clones because they have the same genetic characteristics as the parent plant. Seed-grown plants, on the other hand, can vary considerably from the parent plant, depending on a number of factors including how they were bred. When genetic diversity is not desirable, or when certain plants don’t set seed, vegetative propagation methods are used. The process of new root formation on cut stems has been well documented for a wide range of plant species, and indoor gardening provides us with an environment in which successful propagation can be carried out by everyone. These days even “bench top” tissue culture

The rate of formation and number of roots on cuttings is increased when rooting hormone products are used.

processes are used by indoor gardeners to propagate more challenging species such as orchids.

The Basics of Using Cuttings

Heat pads or mats are good tools for those wanting to propagate from cuttings as well as raise seedlings.

Most gardeners know the basic process of taking cuttings. A section of stem with leaves is taken from a suitable plant, then the lower stem is stripped and firmly planted New roots on the base of a carnation cutting. into a free-draining medium. Rooting gel, powder or liquid formulations may be used to speed up the root formation process and the cutting is then misted or covered to prevent excess water loss. Bottom heat may be provided, depending on the species, and then the wait for root formation begins. There are a large number of variables that can determine the success or failure of vegetative propagation, from the condition of the mother/stock plants, to the rooting compounds applied, temperature, light, carbohydrate content, oxygen levels, substrate or misting system and a number of “root promotion” synergists. Obtaining new plants

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perfecting propagation from cuttings is a delicate process. The stem, cut off from its supply of water from the roots, can desiccate and die before new roots have formed. The cut stem can act as an entry point for a number of fungal and bacterial pathogens that can rot the cutting before it strikes, and sometimes roots just fail to form for any number of unknown reasons. Elimination of all of these factors is difficult, but knowing exactly what conditions are required for rapid root formation goes a long way towards successful propagation.

Stock Plants The condition of the stock or mother plant plays a major role in determining how well or how quickly cuttings will strike. Many inexperienced gardeners often overlook this vital step and take cuttings from plants that are either too tender, too soft or too unhealthy. With the advanced nutrition hydroponic gardening provides, we can ensure stock plants for propagation receive all the essential elements required for healthy foliage. Control of electrical conductivity (EC) is one way of strengthening stock plants before taking cuttings. Gradually increasing EC in the nutrient solution puts slight osmotic stress onto the plant, making it more resistant to desiccation, lowering the moisture content in the foliage and increasing the dry matter percentage. The EC should not be increased to the point where plant wilting occurs, but provided the plant experiences good growing conditions with sufficient light and correct temperatures, increased EC assists the plants in storing more carbohydrates, which in turn helps with rapid root formation and maintaining the cutting in good condition once removed from the mother plant. Along with EC control, optimal or slightly increased light levels also help harden the plant material for propagation. Nutrients for stock plants in preparation for propagation should avoid the use of aggressive vegetative formulations high in nitrogen. Nutrients with a more balanced N-K ratio help avoid any excessively soft growth. Studies have also found that a good level of boron in stock plants assists with root initiation after cuttings have been taken. Plants given a complete nutrient solution will have sufficient boron for this purpose. Depending on the species being propagated, there are also certain growth stages or times of year when many plants will strike roots from cuttings more rapidly. Some plants, like winter-dormant fruit trees, are propagated when dormant through winter, while many others can have cuttings taken year-round provided fresh new growth has had sufficient time to harden up. Some species should not be propagated when they are flowering or have flower buds formed, as even if the flower buds are removed, cuttings don’t initiate new roots rapidly. It’s likely these types of plants have some sort of internal control or physiologic condition associated with flower bud formation that inhibits root formation on cut stems. Generally, it’s best to select stock plants for propagation either before or after flowering has occurred.

“ Obtaining new plants from cuttings is a delicate process. The stem, cut off from its supply of water from the roots, can desiccate and die before new roots have formed.”

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Top: Cuttings from hardwood fruiting plants are often taken during the winter dormancy period. Above: Clean, hygienic conditions with a sterile growing medium help prevent pathogens from infecting new cuttings.

Taking Cuttings Once stock plants have been pre-conditioned for propagation, the next step is selecting, preparing and treating the stem cuttings. Cutting material needs to be taken from growth that is not overly soft and has had time to mature and harden slightly. Stems should be cut from the mother plant with a sharp, sterilised knife to prevent diseases from infecting the exposed tissue. Most plant species benefit from cuttings being prepared from fresh material immediately after cutting, but hardier cuttings can be stored wrapped in plastic for a few days before preparation. Once cut, the foliage from the lower two thirds of the stem is removed to prevent excessive moisture loss and the cut stem is treated with root promotion products before being positioned into the propagation unit or system.

Root promotion products may also contain a range of other ingredients and synergists proven over many decades to assist with propagation. One of these synergists is boron, which helps stimulate root formation in some plants. The use of boron in combination with the auxin IBA can increase the rooting percentage, and the number and length of roots. With hydroponic cutting propagation, boron can easily be incorporated into the growing medium, mist solution or rooting compounds. Thiamine (vitamin B1) is another root promotion substance used in the cuttings of many species to help with promotion of rooting in terms of speed and number of roots formed.

Microbial & Organic Additives While synthetic rooting promotion products are well proven and highly effective in promoting root formation on cuttings, some studies have found similar effects by inoculating cuttings with plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). Certain species of beneficial bacteria, strains of bacillus in particular, induce root formation in stem cuttings. It is thought these bacteria work though a number of different mechanisms, one of which is the ability to produce a natural plant growth-promoting phytohormone, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). This means the use of these bacteria to provide additional auxin could be used by organic growers. Other organic additives that may assist root formation are humic and fulvic acids. These humic acid compounds promote root initiation in cuttings, indicating they have auxin-like activity.

Softwood cuttings strike quickly and easily, allowing rapid multiplication of many flowering plants.

Rooting Compounds & Synergists Root promotion products for use on cuttings are widely available in gels, liquids and powders of varying strengths. These products contain growth regulators that stimulate the production of adventitious roots on stem and leaf cuttings and give greater success rates and more numerous roots formed than untreated cuttings. Auxins (IBA and NAA) are plant growth regulators that stimulate root development by inducing root initials that differentiate from cells of the young, secondary phloem, cambium and pith tissue of the cutting material. IBA is most commonly used in these products, as it is relatively stable and doesn’t break down due to the enzymes within the plant.

“Providing either bottom heat or a warmed nutrient solution in cloning units speeds up the rate of root formation on the cuttings of many species.”

Young fruiting plants raised from cuttings.

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perfecting propagation

OPTIMAL CONDITIONS FOR ROOT FORMATION Oxygen Good levels of oxygen around the cut stem base is a requirement for callus and root initiation. Propagators typically use a slightly coarse, free-draining substrate such as sharp sand mixed with vermiculite or peat for striking cuttings. However, research shows the size or number of air pores in the cutting’s substrate doesn’t necessarily help

“ The use of boron in combination with the auxin IBA can increase the rooting percentage, and the number and length of roots.”

Houseplants, such as these ficus cuttings, can be rapidly bulked up using cloning methods.

The misted base of the cutting is exposed to fresh supplies of dissolved oxygen on a regular basis, meaning dissolved oxygen is never in short supply.

Temperature Providing either bottom heat or a warmed nutrient solution in cloning units speeds up the rate of root formation on the cuttings of many species, but each species is different. For many plants, the ideal temperature conditions consist of a warm base and slightly cooler top to give the root formation process a boost while slowing respiration and loss of carbohydrate reserves in the cutting’s foliage. This differential between air and stem base temperatures is easy to achieve when using heat pads or mats to warm the growing substrate, while retaining air temperature at normal levels.

Leaf Retention & Cutting Care

Plants that don’t set viable seed, such as these hydroponic babaco trees, are typically raised via cuttings.

provide enough oxygen for the most optimal rate of root formation. It is the dissolved oxygen concentration directly at the interface of the cutting’s stem surface and the water that is important. This is one of the main reasons why hydroponic cloning mist chambers can provide better results than solid propagation substrates for many plant species. 52

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A major part of successful root formation is maintaining the correct environment around the top of the cutting. Leaves may be reduced in size to lower the rate of water loss, but leaving a certain amount of foliage assists root formation in non-dormant plants. Many plants benefit from misting to prevent desiccation, particularly in the first few days after removal from the mother plant. Some plants may rot if this is used excessively and are better off just covered with light, breathable horticultural cloth. With many plant species, it is likely that additional root formation growth regulators or other beneficial compounds are produced in the stem and leaves, which further assist the cutting to form roots at the base, so some leaf retention is recommended for many plants. Producing clones by taking and striking cuttings in hydroponics is a great way to produce new, healthy planting stock genetically identical to carefully selected parent plants.

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Hydroponic Nutrients O v e r t he l a s t d e c a d e o r s o , t he r e h a s b ee n a l o t o f development that has influenced t he w a y w e view hydroponic nutrients. Ever wonder why that is?

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by Eric Hopper

Evoluti t he

Indoor gardeners have witnessed many technological advancements over the last few years, and hydroponic nutrients, like indoor gardening hardware, have evolved immensely. There have been major breakthroughs in the methods used to extract, create and culture various nutrients and supplements as nutrient manufacturers pay closer attention to the way their products interact with each other. In other words, more attention is being placed on how combining nutrients affects the end nutrient solution. Manufacturers are paying closer attention to the habits of the growers as well, which influences the way hydroponic nutrients are designed. There have also been major discoveries regarding the microscopic world in and around the plant’s root mass. All of these discoveries have had a tremendous impact on the evolution of hydroponic nutrients. Many hydroponic nutrients and supplements now include beneficial micro-organisms in their formulation, for example. Over the last decade or so there has been a lot of development that has influenced the way we view hydroponic nutrition. Each of these developments deserves its own recognition as being a major contributing factor in the topnotch fertilisers available to indoor growers today.

“ Nutrient manufacturers are paying closer attention to the way their products interact with each other.” C H E LAT E D PLANT NUTRI E NTS One of the discoveries that greatly affected the hydroponic nutrient industry was the invention of chelated nutrients for plants. Many growers use fulvic and humic acids because of their ability to chelate organic compounds and aid in nutrient absorption. Scientists figured out a way to take this naturally occurring phenomenon and re-create it in the laboratory. This occurred in the early 1990s and since then has changed the way our plants take in nutrients, especially micronutrients. The process of chelation describes a way that particular ions and molecules bind with metal ions. Many of the essential micronutrients found in a plant’s diet are metals that, when chelated, can be absorbed more easily and used more efficiently by the plant. To create chelated micronutrients for hydroponics, the desired micronutrient is combined with fulvic acid, ammonia and hydroxy acid, and in some cases heated, until the desired metal chelates form. After the chelates are formed, a stabiliser is added and the chelated nutrients can be added as an ingredient to a

“ One of the discoveries that greatly affected the hydroponic nutrient industry was the invention of chelated nutrients for plants.” fertiliser or supplement. Chelated plant nutrients are stable and can be used in any hydroponic system, including high oxygen systems like aeroponic or top-drip systems. Chelated nutrients can also be used effectively in a foliar feeding program.

p H STABILIS E RS Few parameters affect nutrient uptake in a hydroponic system as much as the solution’s pH. In fact, there is a desired pH range that hydroponic gardeners must stay within for their plants to uptake nutrients at all. One of the biggest frustrations for hydroponic gardeners is the constant battle of trying to stabilise the nutrient solution’s pH.

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evolution of hydroponic nutrients Nutrient manufacturers are starting to understand that creating a pH-stable product is as important to creating success for the hydroponic grower as anything else. Some nutrient manufacturers have begun to add pH stabilisers to their nutrients to help curb undesired pH fluctuations. Other nutrient manufacturers are constantly testing and reformulating their products so they work synergistically without causing pH stabilisation issues.

AMINO ACIDS Amino acids are essentially the building blocks of plant life. They are required for virtually every plant function to occur and are directly linked to a plant’s metabolism. Many amino acids are produced by the plants themselves and contribute to the synthesis of cellular molecules, including chlorophyll. Plants grown in less than desirable conditions experience stresses that cause amino acid production to be hindered, which, in turn, causes stunted growth or reduced yields. By supplementing amino acids, a grower can help negate the effects of many of the everyday stresses that may occur in an indoor garden, before they

affect the plant. Hydroponic nutrient manufacturers are not only adding amino acids to many fertilisers, but are also creating specific amino acid supplements so the grower can add them as needed or desired. It wasn’t necessarily the discovery of amino acids themselves that influenced the evolution of hydroponic nutrients, as much as the discovery of how to effectively extract the desired amino acids. Enzymatic hydrolysis extraction of amino acids is one of the most influential discoveries to affect plant health in hydroponic

“ Some nutrient manufacturers have begun to add pH stabilisers to their nutrients to help curb undesired pH fluctuations.” systems. It allows for the separation and concentration of L-form amino acids that can be used to amend existing fertilisers or create powerful, stand-alone additives.

B E N E FICIAL MICRO - OR G ANISMS Our further understanding of the complex symbiotic relationships between a plant and the micro-organisms living around the plant’s roots has played a pivotal role in shaping modern hydroponic nutrients. Some of the hydroponic nutrients are broken down into a readily available form and actually bypass the need to be broken down by a micro-organism. This does not mean that the plant does not benefit from supplemental beneficial microorganisms. Aside from aiding in breaking down nutrients, micro-organisms stimulate root growth and defend a plant’s root zone from pathogens. Many hydroponic nutrient companies offer micro-organism supplements. These range greatly and be either specific (sometimes containing one particular strain or one type of micro-organism for a specific purpose or benefit) or more generalised (containing a mix of various micro-organisms for a more general benefit). Micro-organisms used for indoor horticulture can be broken down into three categories: mycorrhiza, trichoderma and bacteria. Each category contains many individual strains or varieties that can have varying benefits to plant growth. Each discovery made regarding these beneficial microbes and how they interact with plants (and each other) has contributed to our current understanding of plant nutrition and will contribute to the future of hydroponic nutrients.

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E N Z YM E S

T H E E VOLUTION CONTINU E S

Enzymes are specialised catalysts responsible for numerous chemical reactions happening in and around a plant at all times. Catalysts are substances that accelerate the rate at which a chemical reaction occurs. Enzymes, like other catalysts, are able to increase the rate of chemical reactions by lowering the energy required for the reaction. What makes enzymes different from other catalysts is their selective nature— enzymes only react with one particular substrate. Some of the specialised reactions created by enzymes are of great interest to the indoor horticulturist. Root stimulation and breaking down organic matter (dead root matter) are probably the two most common reasons indoor growers use enzymes in a hydroponic system. Enzymes have become intertwined with many fertiliser regimens so

Hydroponic nutrition is in a constant state of evolution. Over the last couple of decades, we have seen our

“The future uses of nanotechnology in indoor horticulture could include improving the plant’s ability to absorb nutrients and the molecular treatment of diseases and pathogens.”

“ By supplementing amino acids, a grower can help to negate the effects of many of the everyday stresses that may occur in an indoor garden, before they affect the plant.” growers could be using enzymes and not even know it. Some nutrient manufacturers sell enzyme formulas for a specific purpose, such as controlling or treating pythium, or for more generalised supplementation, such as root stimulation or maintaining root health.

NANOT E C H NOLO G Y One of the newer technologies sure to influence hydroponic nutrition in the future is nanotechnology. Nanotechnology is the manipulation of matter on an atomic and molecular scale. It is possible that one day all of our hydroponic fertilisers could be greatly influenced by this type of technology. The future uses of nanotechnology in indoor horticulture could include improving the plant’s ability to absorb nutrients and the molecular treatment of diseases and pathogens.

heightened understanding of plant nutrition, how pH affects nutrient uptake and how the relationship between plants and micro-organisms influence the way hydroponic nutrients are designed and used. There are always new technologies or discoveries just around the corner. Although hydroponic nutrient manufacturers compete against each other, they are all inadvertently working together to bring growers the latest and greatest breakthroughs in plant nutrition. It is not just the manufacturers that play a crucial role in the evolution of hydroponic nutrients. The growers themselves test and experiment with various combinations to find the best nutrient regimen for their individual needs. There is no sole determiner but instead it is the combination of the scientific discoveries, the manufacturers and the growers that together shape the continuous evolution of hydroponic nutrients.

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talking shop

Hamilton Hydro in Scotland is a fully stocked indoor garden supplies store and a relaxing coffee shop all rolled into one. Founder Robert Allan shares how the shop got its start, and why the combination works so well.

Location:

Phone:

Hamilton, South Lanarkshire, Scotland +44 (0) 1698 28 11 48

botanybobs.com/index.php Email: robert.allan@hamiltonhydro.co.uk Web: Motto: 60

Every day is a school day.

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Before opening Hamilton Hydro four years ago, Robert Allan earned a degree in business and a certificate in horticulture. During his studies, he identified several opportunities for new businesses. Robert found two industries that, despite the recession, appeared to be growing. Those industries were coffee and hydroponics. “As a result of the recession, people began to avoid high-ticket luxury products and replace those luxuries with lower-cost luxuries, such as fancier coffees,” he explains. “The sales of luxury coffees saw major growth. On top of this, the cost of food increased and people began to grow their own produce. With a shortage of allotments available, hydroponics became more and more popular as more people learned they could grow inside their homes.” With the experience he gained through his father’s landscape gardening business, and a passion for horticulture that started when he was 16, Robert decided to combine his interests in the coffee and hydroponics industries and established Hamilton Hydro in November 2011. The shop carries every product required to establish a good indoor garden, including popular brands like Growth Technology, CANNA, BioBizz, Dutchpro, Rhino, Sunmaster, Maxigrow, General Hydroponics, Nutriculture and Hydrogarden. Robert was a one-man show at first, but within weeks, family and friends were lending a hand. Cash flow was limited at the time, but Robert

maintained a fully stocked store from day one. “I aimed to have a well-stocked store from the moment I opened, which meant I risked having a lot of stock that might have remained on the shelves for a long time,” shares Robert. Thankfully, this didn’t turn out to be the case. “Sometimes it was pretty tight, but we managed to have the business maintain itself over a short period of time.” To get the word out, Hamilton Hydro takes a multipronged marketing approach. “Conventional marketing generally doesn’t reach our target audience, so we made sure we were highly visible,” explains Robert, pointing to their colourful logo and the two characters they created: Hydro Harry and Botany Bob, two hippy types who grow their own produce. The company’s colours, which relate to horticulture, are also distinctive: green represents the fertile land, red represents the flowers in bloom, and yellow represents the lifegiving source of the sun. Hamilton Hydro team members dress up as Hydro Harry and Botany Bob to cycle around town, pulling a sign behind them. On top of this, plenty of signage and a company vehicle can be found driving around Lanarkshire, Glasgow and surrounding areas, but Robert is most proud of the shop’s horticultural seminars and training courses, which are offered free to customers. The shop is also a key sponsor of up-and-coming athletes. It’s a formula that has been working since the shop’s inception and has led to multiple expansions. “We opened originally in a small, industrial unit and within six months had to double in size. We are now in the process of doubling again with an adjoining unit to provide customers an interactive experience,” says Robert. “Part of our combining of the horticulture and coffee industries was completed last year when we opened our sister company in a neighbouring unit. Zen Kitty is a coffee shop where customers can enjoy chill music and savour our top-quality coffees, teas, crepes and other edibles in an environment reminiscent of Amsterdam.” Robert hopes to expand this concept into several major towns and cities in Scotland, with Hamilton Hydro and Zen Kitty combined under one roof.

The industry is still new and is about to see great growth in the coming years, and we are filled with optimism for the future.”

Robert, who is the shop’s marketing manager, now has three others on his team: Dave the store manager, Dean on the shop floor and Kerry in administration. Their team’s strengths lie in their knowledge and experience. “We are always willing to discuss horticultural-related issues with customers no matter what level of experience they are at, and we are always honest,” says Robert. “If our customers don’t need a product, we won’t sell it to them. We want to make sure customers are satisfied and have the right products when they leave the store. This honesty has helped us build a solid group of loyal customers.” Overall, Robert feels proudest when he sees customers advance in their gardens. “Our greatest successes come from the customers we see going from absolute beginners to advanced horticulturists,” he says. Around the shop, the commonly used expression, “every day is a school day” refers to how the team learns something new every day. “This is thanks to the large network of growers who meet regularly to discuss techniques and advances in technology, as well as their participation in our free courses and seminars,” says Robert. “The industry is still new and is about to see great growth in the coming years, and we are filled with optimism for the future. We see more people moving from soil to soilless media and moving towards new lighting technology, which will feature greatly in our plans.” Maximum Yield | March/April 2015

10 facts On…ventilation by Philip mcintosh

The word ventilation comes from the Latin word ventilationem, meaning “an exposing to the air.”

The original use of the term ventilate was in relation to tossing grain in the air to remove chaff.

The first use of the term ventilate to mean “provide fresh air to a room” is believed to have occurred in the 1660s.

4. 5.

Fans can be coupled with wetted cooling pads, which can lower the temperature of the air moved by the fan.

Ventilation (exchanging the air in a room) is not the same as recirculation (moving the air in a room without exchanging it). It is used to remove unpleasant smells and excessive moisture, introduce outside air, keep interior building air circulating and to prevent stagnation of the interior air.

Recirculation systems can be generally classified as parallel or series.

A Google search for ventilation fans returns six million pages.

Ventilation fans provide no direct cooling. The impeller of a fan actually imperceptibly warms the air as it passes through the fan.

Maximum Yield | March/April 2015

A parallel recirculation system uses fans that are next to each other, such as along a wall, to move a mass of air across a room.

10.

Series recirculation is characterised by fans arranged in such a way that the output of one fan is directed toward the input of another.

MAX mART

To advertise on this page, call 1.250.729.2677 Maximum Yield | March/April 2015

Maximum Yield distributors Retail stores listed alphabetically by shop name. 1st Hydroponics Unit 5 K-Line House, West Rd. Ipswich, Suffolk UK IP3 9FG Tel: +44 (0) 1473 279829 Web: 1st-hydroponics.co.uk

Addloes Lighting & Hydroponics 16-A Maple Rd., Winton Bourmouth, Dorset UK BH9 2PN Tel: +44 (0) 1202 524525 Web: addloes.com

Branching Out Unit E, The Old Brewery, Durnford St. Ashton Gate, Bristol UK BS3 2AW Tel: +44 (0) 1179 666996 Web: hydroponics-online.co.uk

21st Century Garden Unit A6., Bounds Green Ind. Es., Ringway London, Greater London UK N11 2UD Tel: +44 (0) 2083 614659 Web: 21stcenturygarden.co.uk

Animal and Garden Supplies Ltd. Unit 1 Eastlake Close, Litchard Ind. Es. Bridgend South Wales, UK CF31 2AL Tel: +44 (0) 1656 663030 Web: animalandgarden.co.uk

Bright Green UK Ltd. 42-44 Princess Rd., Hull, Yorkshire UK HU5 2RD Tel: +44 (0) 1482 341925 Web: brightgreen-uk.co.uk ____________________________

3 Counties Hydroponics Unit 9., Galley Hill Yard Waltham Abbey, Essex UK EN9 2AG Tel: +44 (0) 1992 652301 Web: 3ch.co.uk 3 Counties Hydroponics Unit 12., Yew Tree Ind. Es., Mill Hall Aylesford, Maidstone UK ME20 7ET Tel: +44 (0) 1622 790456 Web: 3ch.co.uk 3 Counties Hydroponics Unit 7, City Business Park, Marshwood Cl. Canterbury, Kent UK CT1 1DX Tel: +44 (0) 1227 766113 Web: 3ch.co.uk 3 Counties Hydroponics Unit 10., Woodley Yard Cherstsey Bridge Rd. Chertsey, Surrey UK KT16 8LF Tel: +44 (0) 1932 562174 Web: 3ch.co.uk 3 Counties Hydroponics Unit 13., Chiltern Bus. Ctr. Cowley, Oxford UK OX4 6NG Tel: +44 (0) 1865 771747 Web: 3ch.co.uk 3 Counties Hydroponics Unit B, Jarvis and Rowell Estate, Burnham Rd. Dartford, Kent UK DA1 5BN Tel: +44 (0) 1322 273444 Web: 3ch.co.uk 3 Counties Hydroponics Unit 15, Moon River Pines, Fir Tree Lane, Fair Oak Eastleigh, Hampshire UK SO50 7DF Tel: +44 (0) 2380 692405 Web: 3ch.co.uk 3 Counties Hydroponics Unit 14B, Lawrence St. Gillingham, Kent UK ME7 5TY Tel: +44 (0) 1634 577452 Web: 3ch.co.uk 3 Counties Hydroponics Unit 9, Wycombe Industrial Mall, W. End St. High Wycombe, Bucks UK HP11 2QY Tel: +44 (0) 1494 444830 Web: 3ch.co.uk 3 Counties Hydroponics 12 Cranley Parade, Kimmeridge Rd. Mottingham, London UK SE9 4DZ Tel: +44 (0) 2088 579991 Web: 3ch.co.uk 3 Counties Hydroponics Unit 52, Rober t Court Ind.E s. Britten Rd. Reading, Berkshire UK RG2 0AU Tel: +44 (0) 1189 874758 Web: 3ch.co.uk 3 Counties Hydroponics Unit 2, Trinity Trading Estate Sittingbourne, Kent UK ME10 2PG Tel: +44 (0) 1795 437387 Web: 3ch.co.uk 3 Counties Hydroponics Unit 11, Olds Close, Olds Approach Watford, Herts UK WD18 8RU Tel: +44 (0) 1923 774486 Web: 3ch.co.uk

Anglia Hydroponics 62 A Straight Rd. Boxted, Colchester, Essex UK C04 5RD Tel: +44 (0) 1206 272677 Web: angliahydroponics.co.uk Aquatech Horticultural Lighting Unit 3F, Spa Fields Ind. Es. New St. Slaithwait, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire UK HD7 5BB Tel: +44 (0) 1484 842632 Ashton Hydroponics Ltd. Unit 3 Park Parade Ind. Es. Welbeck St. S. Ashton-Under-Lyna, Manchester UK OL6 7PP Tel: +44 (0) 1613 391673 Web: ashton-hydroponics.co.uk ____________________________

Avagrow Ltd 29B Heaver Trading Est., Ash Rd. New Ash Green, Kent UK TN15 7HJ Tel: +44 (0) 1474 248286 Web: avagrow.co.uk ____________________________

Aztec Garden Unit 1A Roughan Ind.Es. Bury St. Edmunds Suffolk UK IP30 9ND Tel: +44 (0) 1359 271876 Web: aztec-garden.co.uk _____________________________ Basement Lighting Ltd. Unit 3, The Old Maltings, George St. Newark, Nottinghamshire UK NG24 1LU Tel: +44 (0) 1636 650189 Big Stone River Garden Center Unit 1 East Gate Grimsby, Lincolnshire UK DN3 29BA Tel: +44 (0) 1472 241114 _____________________________

Bill & Ben’s Hydro World Unit D15 & D16 Erin Trade Centre Bumpers Way Chippenham, Wiltshire, UK SN14 6LH Tel: +44(0) 1249 447796 Web: billandbens.com _____________________________ Blooming Borders Unit 3, Borders Bus Pk. Longtown Carlisle, Cumbria UK CA6 5TD Tel: +44 (0) 1228 792587

3 Counties Hydroponics Unit 2, Hedley Ave. West Thurrock, Essex UK RM20 4EL Tel: +44 (0) 1375 373476 Web: 3ch.co.uk

Boss Hydroponics Unit 79 (A) Carlton Ind. Es. Barnsley, South Yorkshire UK S71 3HW Tel: +44 (0) 8456 445544 Web: aquaculture-hydroponics.co.uk

Acorn Horticulture 65 Deep Ln. Sheffield UK, 55 ODU Tel: +44 (0) 1142 458581 Web: acornhorticulture.co.uk

Bradford Hydroponics 9597 Manningham Ln. Bradford, West Yorkshire UK BD1 3BN Tel: +44 (0) 1274 729205 Web: bradfordhydroponics.co.uk

Maximum Yield | March/April 2015

Brit Crops Ltd Unit 9 OJ’s Ind. Pk.Claybank Rd. Portsmouth, Hampshire UK PO3 5SX Tel: +44 (0) 2392 669111 Web: britcropshydroponics.co.uk ____________________________

Discount Hydroponics 1 Bus. Bldg. Waltergrave St. Hastings, East Sussex UK TN34 1SJ Tel: +44 (0) 1424 428186 DS Progrow Hydroponics Warehouse Unit 16 Blaydon Business Centre Cowen Road. Blaydon Newcastle UK NE21 5TW Tel: +44 (0)792 563 4520 Web: dsprogrow.co.uk Eastbourne Hydroponics 47 Upperton Rd. Eastbourne, East Sussex UK BN21 1LT Tel: +44 (0) 1323 732241 Elements Hydroponics 44 Auster Rd. Clifton Moor, York UK YO30 4XA Tel: +44 (0) 1904 479979 Web: elementshydroponics.com

Green Daze Hydroponics Ashington Unit 9 Waterside Ct. North Seaton Bus. Pk. Ashington, Northumberland UK NE63 0YG Tel: +44 (0) 1670 818003 Web: greendazehydroponics.co.uk Green Daze Hydroponics Gateshead 10 Wellington St. Gateshead UK NE8 2AJ Tel: +44 (0) 1914 789107 Web: greendazehydroponics.co.uk Green Daze Hydroponics South Shields 79281 Fowler Street South Shields UK NA33 1NT Tel: +44 (0)1914 540746 Web: greendazehydroponics.co.uk ____________________________

BriteLite Hydroponics Unit 11 Roman Ind. Es. Croydon, UK CRO 2DT Tel: +44 (0) 2086 834424 Web: britelite-hydroponics-uk.com

Enhanced Urban Gardening 152 London Rd. Workingham, Berkshire UK RG40 1SU Tel: +44 (0) 1189 890510 Web: enhancedurbangardening.co.uk

Bub’s Allotment The Rural Granary Business Centre Unit 18 North Street Hellingly, East Sussex UK BN27 4DU Tel: +44 (0) 7528 098103 Web: bubsallotment.co.uk

Esoteric Hydroponics Ltd. 8 Martyr Rd. Guildford, Surrey UK GU1 4LF Tel: +44 (0) 1483 596484 Web: 1-hydroponics.co.uk

Green Fever 18 Hartsill Rd., Stoke-on-Trent Staffordshire, UK ST4 7QU Tel: +44 (0) 1782 414448 Web: green-fever.co.uk ____________________________

Fast Grow Hydroponics Unit 3 Webnor Ind.Es., West Midlands Wolverhampton WV2 2LD Tel: +44 (0) 1902 404247 Web: fast-grow.com

Green Life 190 Hessle Rd. Hull, East Yorkshire UK HU3 3BE Tel: +44 (0) 1482 222425 ___________________________

Bud-eez Hydroponics 137 Broad St., Dagenham Essex UK RM10 9HP Tel: +44 (0) 2082 203757 Web: bud-eez.co.uk ____________________________

BudMaster LED Glan Y Mor Rd. Llandudno Junction Conwy. Gwynedd North Wales, UK LL31 9RU Tel: +44 (0) 8000 43LEDS Web: budmaster.co.uk ____________________________ Castle Hydroponics Unit 31, Winpenny Rd. Parkhouse Ind. Est East Newcastle, Under Lyme UK ST5 7RH Tel: +44 (0) 1782 576308 Chrissie’s Garden Unit 33 Portsmouth Enterprise Ctr. Quartermain Rd. Portsmouth, UK PO3 5QT Tel: +44 (0) 2392 667887 Web: chrissiesgarden.co.uk Clever Green 35 Ketley Bus. Pk. Waterloo Rd. Telford, Shropshire UK TF1 5JD Tel: +44 (0) 1952 257200 Web: clevergreen.co.uk Concept- Indoor Grow Ltd. Bay 15 Brittanic House, Stirling Way. Borehamwood, Herts UK WD6 2BT Tel: +44 (0) 7703 700300 Web: indoorgrow.co.uk Congelton Hydroponics #3 Silk St. Congelton, Cheshire UK CW12 4DH Tel: +44 (0) 1260 2794444

Forever Green Hydroponics 150 Westmount Rd. London, Etham UK SE9 1XA Tel: +44 (0) 2088 500906 _____________________________

Future Garden Ltd. (Chelmsford) 15 Rob Johns Rd., Widford Ind.Est., Essex, Chelmsford UK CM1 3AG Tel: +44 (0) 1245 265929 info@futuregarden.co.uk Web: futuregarden.co.uk _____________________________

Future Garden Ltd. (Chigwell) Brownings Farm, Gravel Lane Chigwell, Essex UK 1G7 6DQ +44 (0) 2085 027722 info@futuregarden.co.uk Web: futuregarden.co.uk _____________________________ Garforth Hydroponics Back off 11a main street Leeds UK lS25 1DS Tel: +44 (0) 1132 867444 Web: garforthhydroponics.co.uk Great Stuff Hydroponics 30 C Ellemeres Ct. Leechmere Ind. Es. Sunderland UK SR2 9UA Tel: +44 (0) 1914 474098 Web: hydroponics-hydroponics.com

Crofters Bio Gardens Unit 2, Bloomsgrove Ind. Es.Ilkeston Rd. Radford, Nottingham UK NG7 3JB Tel: +44 (0) 1159 782345 Web: croftersbiogardens.com

Great Stuff Hydroponics 24 Collingwood Court, Riverside Park Industrial Est. Middlesbrough UK TS2 1RP Tel: + 44 (0) 1642 224544 Web: hydroponics-hydroponics.com

D-Teks Ltd. Unit 28 & 29 East Coast Bus. Pk. Kings Lynn, Norfolk UK PE34 3LW Tel: +44 (0) 1553 770177 Web: d-teks.co.uk

Greater Manchester Hydroponic Garden Unit 3, The Courtyard, 157 Bolton Old Road, Atherton, Manchester UK M46 9RE Tel: +44 (0) 1942 884612

Greenfinger-Hydroponics Unit 34, Adams Estate. St. John’s Rd. New Malden, Surrey UK KT3 3RZ Tel: 44 (0) 2089 420700 Web: greenfinger-hydroponics.co.uk ____________________________

Greenfinger-Hydroponics Unit 59 T Marchant Estate, 42-72 Verney Road, South Bermondsey UK SE16 3DH Tel: +44 (0) 207 394 0629 ____________________________

Greenfinger-Hydroponics Unit 38 Silicon Business Centre, 28 Wadsworth Road, Perivale UK UB6 7JZ Tel: +44 (0) 208 998 2034 ____________________________ GreenKeeper Hydroponics 141 Brook St. Chester, Cheshire UK CH1 3DU Tel: +(44 (0) 1244 630501 Web: greenkeeperhydroponics.com ____________________________

Green Spirit Hydroponics Ltd. Unit 6, Rockingham Business Park, Rockingham Row, Birdwell UK S705TW Tel: +44 (0) 1226 399837 Web: greenspirit-hydroponics.com ____________________________

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Green Spirit Hydroponics Ltd. Unit 5- 230 Woodbourn Rd. Sheffield, South Yorkshire UK S93LQ Tel: +44 (0) 1142 753353 Web: greenspirit-hydroponics.com ____________________________ Green Stream 12-14 Vivian Rd. Harbourne, Birmingham UK B17 ODS Tel: +44 (0) 1214 262675 Web: greenstream.co.uk Green World 1618 Market Vaults Scarborough, UK YO11 1EU Tel: +44 (0) 1723 370900 Web: greenworld.ne.uk Greener than Life 575- 577 Holderness Rd. Hull, East Riding UK HU8 9AA Tel: +44 (0) 1482 374201 Greengrass Indoor Gardening Supplies Unit 5A Alexander Ct. Hazleford Way Newstead, Nottingham UK NG15 0DQ Tel: +44 (0) 1623 755055 ____________________________

Greenhouse Effect Unit 2 Eagle Farm Cranfield Rd. Wavendon, Milton Keynes UK MK17 8AU Tel: +44 (0) 1908 585283 ____________________________ Greenleaf Systems Unit 2, Millers Bridge Ind. Es., Seymour, Bootie, Liverpool UK L20 1EE Tel: +44 (0) 1519 331113 Web: greenleafsystems.co.uk The Green Machine Ltd. Unit 1A., Felin Puleston Ind.Es., Ruabon Rd. Wrexham, UK L13 7RF Tel: +44 (0) 1978 265090 Web: thegreenmachineonline.com The Green Room (Indoor Gardens) Ltd. Unit 2, North Point Business Estate Enterprise Close. Medway City Estate Rochester, Kent UK ME2 4LY Tel: +44 01634 716764 Web: thegreenroomvip.co.uk Greens Horticulture Unit F Totterdown Bridge Est, Albert Rd. St. Philips, Bristol, Somerset UK BS2 0XH Tel: +44 (0) 1179 713000 Web: greenshorticulture.co.uk Greenstream Hydroponics 12-14 Vivian Rd. Birmingham, Harbourne UK B17 0DS Tel: +44 (0) 1214 262675 Web: greenstream.co.uk ___________________________

Greensea Hydroponics Unit 1G. Gregory Rd. Mildenhall, Bury St. Edmonds, Suffolk UK IP28 7PP Tel: +44 (0) 1638 715350 Web: greensea-hydroponics.co.uk ___________________________ Greenthings Hydroponics Unit 1, Adjewhella Chapel Barriper Camborne, Cornwall UK TR14 0QW Tel: +44 (0) 1209 611870 Web: greenthings.co.uk Grotec Hydroponics

393 Manchester Rd., Rochdale, Greater Manchester UK OL11 3PG Tel: +44 (0) 1706 750293 Web: grotec.co.uk Grotech Ltd. Unit 21. Saddlers Hall Farm, London Rd. Basildon, Essex UK SS13 2HD Tel: +44 (0) 1268 799828 Web: grotechonline.co.uk Grow 4 Good Ltd. 22i Beehive Workshops Durham UK DH1 2X1 Tel: +44 (0) 1913 757667 Web: grow4good.net The Grow Den 2 Hothfield Rd., Rainham, Kent UK ME8 8BJ Tel: +44 (0) 1634 239333 Grow Green Ltd. 15-17 Green Ln., Castle Bromwich Birmingham, UK B36 0AY Tel: +44 (0) 121 241 6445 GroSupplies Sovereign House, Ellen Terrace Sulgrave, Washington Tyne & Wear UK NE37 3AS Tel: +44 (0) 1914 153345 Web: grosupplies.com GroWell HydroponicsBirmingham Unit 6 Birmingham One Trading Es tate, Clement St. Birmingham UK B1 2SW Tel: +44 (0) 8433 571650 Web: growell.co.uk GroWell Hydroponics- Bristol Unit 1 Day’s Rd. Commerical Centre George Jones Rd. Bristol, UK BS2 0QS Tel: +44 (0) 8452 235088 Web: growell.co.uk GroWell Hydroponics – Coleshill Units 9-11 Coleshill Trade Park Station Road, Coleshill Birmingham UK B46 1HT Tel: 0845 344 2333 Web: growell.co.uk GroWell Hydroponics – Dudley Unit 52 Enterprise Trading Estate Hurst Lane, Dudley UK DY5 1TX Tel: +0845 345 6991 Web: growell.co.uk GroWell Hydroponics - Hockley Heath Ivy House Farm, Grange Rd. Hockley Heath, Solihull UK B94 6PR Tel: +44 (0) 8433 571640 Web: growell.co.uk GroWell Hydroponics- Sheffield Unit #3, Pkwy One, Pkwy Dr. Sheffield, South Yorkshire UK S9 4WU Tel: +44 (0) 8456 445544 Web: growell.co.uk GroWell Hydroponics- South London Unit 8 Chelsea Fields Ind. Est. 278 Western Rd. Merton, London UK SW19 2QD Tel: +44 (0) 8453 455174 Web: growell.co.uk GroWell Hydroponics – Wembley Brent Trading Estate,North Circular Rd. London UK NW10 0JF Tel: +44 (0) 0843 357 1642 Web: growell.co.uk

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The Grow Home Hydroponics Unit 26 Bolney Grange Ind.Pk., Burgess Hill West Sussex RH17 5PB Tel: +44 (0) 1444 244414 thegrowhome@hotmail.co.uk Web: first4hydroponics.com ____________________________ Halifax Hydroponics 20 Drakes Ind. Est, Shay Lane Halifax, West Yorkshire UK HX3 6RL Tel: +44 (0) 1422 381693 Happy Daze Hydroponics Unit 4, Craven Court, Hedon Rd. Hull UK HU9 1NQ Tel: +44 (0) 1482 224 299 Happy Gardens Ltd. Unit 9, Kelham Bank Ind Es., Kelham St. Doncaster, South Yorkshire UK DN1 3RE Tel: +44 (0) 1302 761386 Web: happygardensdoncaster.co.uk Haverhill Hydroponics Centre Unit 14 Spring Rise Falconer Road Haverhill, Suffolk UK CB97XU Tel:+44 (0) 01440709474 Web: haverhillhydro.co.uk HFM Pyrotechnics Ltd. 165A Londford Rd. Cannock, Staffordshire UK WS11 OLD Tel: +44 (0) 1543 500800 Web: hfmgroup.com Hi9THC Ltd. Unit 34, Lillyhall Business Centre, Jubilee Rd. Workington, Cumbria UK CA14 4HA Tel: +44 (0) 7821 914646 Web: hi9thc.co.uk High Street Hydroponics Unit 56 Hebden R., Berkley Ind.Es. Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire UK DN15 8DT Tel: +44(0) 1724 857191 Holland Hydroponics 17 Rondin Rd. Ardwick, Greater Manchester UK M12 6BF Tel: +44 (0) 8458 720570 Web: hydroponics.co.uk Holland Hydroponics Handbridge Mill 5 Parliament St. Burnley, Lancashire UK BB11 5HG Tel: +44 (0) 8458 720590 Web: hydroponics.co.uk Holland Hydroponics Express Unit 1 Flint Trade Park. Holywell Rd. Flint, Wales UK CH6 5RR Tel: +44 (0) 8458 720565 Web: hydroponics.co.uk Holland Hydroponics Express Unit 4 Leeds Rd. Trade Park. Leeds Rd. Huddersfield, UK HD2 1YR Tel: +44 (0) 8458 720580 Web: hydroponics.co.uk The Home Grower Ltd. Unit 8, Oak Court, Crystal Dr. Smethwick, West Midlands UK B66 1QG Tel: +44 (0) 1215 411446 Web: thehomegrower.com

Growing Life #6 Newington Green Rd. London UK N1 4RX Tel: +44 (0) 2070 339541 Web: growing-life.com

Huyton Hydroponics & Gardening Supplies Unit 2, Brickfields Huyton, Merseyside UK L36 6HY Tel: +44 (0) 1514 820101 Web: huytonhydro.co.uk

Hackney Hydroponics 265 Wick Rd., Hackney UK E9 5DG Tel: +44 (0) 20 8533 0497 info@hackneyhydroponics.co.uk Web: hackneyhydroponics.co.uk

Hydro2Grow- Crawley Unit 15 The Stanley Centre, Kelvin Way Crawley, West Sussex UK RH10 9SE Tel: +44 (0) 1293 535157 Web: hydro2grow.co.uk

Hydro2Grow- Sutton 299 Gander Green Lane. Sutton, Surrey UK SM3 9QE Tel: +44 (0) 2086 443780 Web: hydro2grow.co.uk Hydro 1 Stop Unit 35 Deykin Pk. Ind. Es. Deykin Ave. Aston, Birmingham UK B67HN Tel: +44 (0) 1213 280876 Web: hydro1stop.co.uk Hydrodaze Unit 9a, Treloggan Ind. Est. Newquay, Cornwall UK TR7 2SX Tel: 44 (0) 1637 850770 Web: hydrodaze.co.uk Hydro Hobby Unit 4 Brook Farm, Stoneleigh Rd. Gibbet Hill, Coventry UK CV4 7AB Tel: +44 (0) 2476 414161 Web: hydrohobby.co.uk Hydro Station Ltd. Unit 10 Hillfoot Ind. Es. Hoyland Rd. Sheffield, South Yorkshire UK S38AB Tel: +44 (0) 1142 491636 Web: hydrostationltd.co.uk Hydrodragon Ltd. 113-115 Alfred St. Roath Cardiff, South Glamorgan UK CF24 4UA Tel: +44 (0) 2920 490333 Web: hydrodragon.co.uk Hydroglo Ltd. The Top Store South Rd., Towerhamlets Dover, Kent UK CT17 OAH Tel: +44 (0) 1304 203199 Web: hydroglowltd.co.uk Hydrogrow Systems Ltd. Unit 7, Acton Bus. Pk., Fields Farm Rd. Longeaton, Nottingham UK NG10 3FZ Tel: +44 (0) 1159 730007 Web: hydrogrowsystems.co.uk The Hydroponic Warehouse Unit 15., Bay Airport Ind.Es. Kingston Pk. Newcastle, Tyne and Wear UK NE3 2EF Tel: +44 (0) 1912 862045 Web: thehydroponicwharhouse.co.uk Hydroponica Ltd. 130 Doncaster Rd. Wakefield, Yorkshire UK WF1 5JF Tel: +44 (0) 1924 362888 Web: hydroponica.biz Hydroponica Ltd. Unit 3 Oakwood Bus.Pk., Northfield Ln. Poppleton, York UK YO26 6QZ Tel: +44 (0) 1904 768737 Web: hydroponica.biz The Hydroponics Centre Ltd. Unit 24, Port Talbot Business Units Addison Rd., Port Talbot, UK SA12 6HZ Tel: +44 (0) 1639 888891 Web: thehydroponicscentreltd.co.uk Hydroponics Superstore 62 Lytham Road Blackpool Lancashire UK FY1 6DY Tel: +44 (0) 7852 513375 Web: hydroponicssuperstore.co.uk Hydroponics Lancaster 62 Lytham Road Blackpool Lancashire UK FY1 6DY Tel: +44 (0) 7852 513375 Web: hydroponicslancaster.co.uk Hydropower 255 Holton Rd. Barry,Wales UK CF63 4HT Tel: +44 (0) 7725 551479 Web: hydro-power.biz Hydrosense 47 Scarrots Ln. Newport, Isle of Wight UK PO30 1JD Tel: +44 (0) 1983 522240

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HydroZone UK 13 Delacourt Rd. London UK SE3 8XA Tel: +44 (0) 20 8858 3503 Web: hydrozoneuk.com ____________________________ Hygrow Hydroponics Unit C -55 Sunningdale Road South Park Industrial Estate Scunthorpe Lincs UK DN17 2TW Tel: +44 (0) 172 4842 212 Hygrow II Unit 3&4, 30 Oslo Rd. Sutton Fields Hull UK HU7 0YN Tel: +44 (0) 1482 833643 Web: hygrow.co.uk Hygrow III 825 Hessle High Rd. Hull UK HU4 6QF Tel: +44 (0) 1482 351990 Web: hygrow.co.uk Hytec Hydroponics Old Wales Wood Colliery, Mansfield Rd. Sheffield UK S26 5PQ Tel: +44 (0) 8453 080917 Web: hytechydroponics.co.uk The Inner Garden Ltd. Unit 14., Cornish Wy., West, Galmington Taunton, Somerset UK TA1 5NA Tel: +44 (0) 1823 274791 Web: theinnergarden.co.uk J.D.L Hydroponics Unit 2A, The Runnings, Kingsditch Trad. Est. Cheltenham, Gloucestershire UK GL51 9NJ Tel: +44 (0) 1242 516131 Junction 10 Hydro Unit 55, Owen Road Industrial Estate Willenhall UK WV13 2PX Tel: +44 (0) 1215 686850 Web: j10hydro.com Kernow Grow Ltd. 11 D. Kernick Ind. Es. Penryn, Cornwall UK TR10 9EP Tel: +44 (0) 3300 104420 Web: kernowgrow.co.uk King Of Green 18-24 Saint Helens Rd., Westcliff on Sea Westcliff, Essex UK SS0 7LB Tel: +44 (0) 1702 347536 Web: kingofgreen.com Kitbag Hydroponic Warehouse 22 Pool Bank St. Nunaeton, Warwickshire UK CV11 5DB Tel: +44 (0) 2476 641033 Web: kitbagshop.org Lancaster Hydroponics Unit 18 Lansil Ind.Es., Caton Rd. Lancaster, Lancashire UK LA1 3PQ Tel: +44 (0) 7961 279279 Web: lancasterhydroponics.co.uk Leeds HydroStore Unit 5 Felnex Rd. Leeds, West Yorkshire UK LS9 0SS Tel: +44 (0)113 249 4730 Web: leedshydrostore.co.uk Lothian Hydroponics 172 S Mid St. Bathgate, West Lothian UK EH48 1DY Tel: +44 (0) 1506 650501 Web: lothianhydroponics.co.uk Maidstone Hydroponics Ltd. Unit 6 Boxmend Ind. Est. Maidstone, Kent ME15 9YG Tel: +44 (0) 1622 692669 Web: maidstonehydroponics.co.uk Manchester Hydroponics Unit 1A, Reliance St. Newton Heath, Manchester UK M40 3AG Tel: +44 (0) 1616 887333 Web: manchesterhydroponics.co.uk Mead Gardener Unit 11, Barton Bus. Pk. Eccles, Manchester UK M3O OQR Tel: +44 (0) 1617 079860

Maximum Yield | March/April 2015

Maximum Yield distributors Retail Stores listed alphabetically by shop name. Mellow Yellow Hydro Ltd. Unit B1A Towngate Works., Dark Ln. Mawdesley, Lancashire UK L40 2QU Tel: +44 (0) 1704 822609 Web: mellowyellowhydro.co.uk Midland Hydroponics Russells Garden Centre Baginton Coventry UK CV8 3AG Tel: +44 (0) 2476 639109 Web: midland-hydroponics.com Mousehold Garden Centre 63 Mousehold Ln. Norwich, Norfolk UK NR7 8HP Tel: +44 (0) 1603 413272 Web: mousehold.net Mr. Beam Hydro Rose Grove Selby Rd. Askern, Doncaster UK DN6 0ES Tel: +44 (0)1302 248345 Web: mrbeam.co.uk New Leaf Hydroponics 1 Horsewater Wynd, Hawkhill, Dundee UK DD1 5DU Tel: +44 (0) 1382 202556 Web: newleafhydroponics.co.uk Norfolk Lights & Hydroponics Centre Ltd. Unit 2 Guardian Rd., Ind. Es. Norwich, Norfolk UK NR5 8PF Tel: +44 (0) 1603 666199 Web: norfolklights.com ____________________________

Northwich Hydroponics Centre Ltd. Unit-7, Kingfisher Court, Denton Dr., Northwich Cheshire UK CW9 7TT Tel: +44 (0)1606 215 585 Web: northwichhydroponics.co.uk ____________________________ NuGreen Hydroponics Unit 4 Stirchley Trad. Es., Hazelwell Rd. Stirchley, Birmingham UK B3O 2PF Tel: +44 (0) 1216 855900 Web: nugreenhydroponics.co.uk One Stop Grow Shop Unit C1 Fenton Trade Pk., Off Dewsbury Rd Stroke-On-Trent Staffs UK ST4 2TE Tel: +44 (0) 1782 749955 Web: onestopgrowshop.co.uk Peterlee Hydroponics 9 Lister Rd. Peterlee County Durham UK SR8 2RB Tel: +44 (0) 191 5861752 Web: peterleehydroponics.co.uk The Persy Grow Shop 4 Kings Mews Brighton, East Sussex UK BN3 2PA Tel: +44 (0) 1273 777335 Web: persygrowbox.co.uk The Plant Pot 69 Ratcliffe Gate Mansfield, Nottinghamshire UK NG18 2JB Tel: +44 (0) 1623 422711 Web: theplantpot.co.uk

Plantasia Brill View Farm Ludgershall Rd. Bicester, Oxfordshire UK OX25 1PU Tel: +44 (0) 8707 555225 Web: plantasia.co.uk Premier Grow Hydroponics Unit S Tungsten Park, Maple Drive. Hinckley UK LE10 3BE Tel: +44 (0)145 5613888 Web: premiergrow.com Premier Grow Hydroponics 11 Pinfold Rd. Leicester UK LE4 8AS Tel: +44 (0)116 2697580 Web: premiergrow.com Premier Hydroponics Ltd. 1 Horsewater Wynd, Hawkhill Dundee, DD1 5DU Tel: +44 (0) 1382 202 556 Web: premierhydroponics.com Premier Hydroponics Ltd. Unit 29 Stirling Enterprise Park, Players Rd. Stirling, FK7 7RP Tel: +44 (0) 1786 463 774 Web: premierhydroponics.com Premier Hydroponics Ltd. Unit 5 Evans Business Centre, Harvest Rd. Newbridge, EH28 8LW Tel: +44 (0) 1313 332 777 Web: premierhydroponics.com Progrow-Exeter 5 Westwood Units, Alphinbrook Rd. Marsh Barton Industrial Est. Exeter, Devon UK EX2 8QF 44 (0) 1392 276998 Web: progrow.co.uk Progrow-Plymouth Unit 63 Christian Mill Business Park Tamerton Foliot Rd. Plymouth Devon UK PL6 5DS Tel: +44 (0) 1752 771667 Web: progrow.co.uk Reading Hydroponics Unit 15 Albury Close Reading, Berkshire UK RG30 1BD +44 (0)11 8 939 4998 Web: readinghydroponics.co.uk Rootzone Hydroponics Ltd. Unit 2 & 3., The Green Bus.Ctr., The Causeway Staines, Middlesex UK TW18 3AL Tel: +44 (0) 1784 490370 Web: hydrowebshop.com Rotherham Hydroponics Centre Unit 8, Springfield Close Rotherham, South Yorkshire UK S61 4RQ 44 (0) 1709 252256 Sale Hydroponics Unit 11 Big Storage, Stanley Cr. Bus. Pk. Earl Rd. Cheshire UK SK86 PT Tel: +44 (0) 161 485 1728 Web: salehydroponics.co.uk Sea of Green UK 25 Eastcott Hill, Swindon, Wiltshire UK SN1 3JG Tel: +44 (0) 1793 617046 Web: seaofgreen.co.uk Seymour Green Hydroponic Centre Unit 4, Ford House Rd. Ind. Est. Steel Drive, Bushbury Wolverhampton UK WV10 9XA Tel: 44 (0) 1902 782900 Web: seymourgreenhydroponiccentre.com

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Somerset Hydro Unit4 Technine, Guard Ave Houndstone Business Park Yeovil Somerset UK BA22 8YE Tel: +44 (0) 1935 420720 Web: somhydro.co.uk ____________________________ South Coast Hydroponics Unit 8., Enterprise Ind. Es., Enterprise Rd. Horndean, Hampshire UK PO8 0BB Tel: +44 (0) 2392 598853 Web: southcoasthydroponics.com Southern Hydro Centre 9 Mamesbury Rd. Southampton, Hampshire UK S01 SFT Tel: +44 (0) 2380 704080 Web: southernhydro.co.uk Southern Lights #2 19A Grace Hill Folkstone, Kent, UK CT2O1HQ Tel: +44 (0) 1303 210003 Web: southern-lights.demon.co.uk SRS Hydroponics 260 Manchester Rd. Walkden, Manchester M28 3TR Tel: + 44 (0) 1617 033691 Web: srshydroponics.co.uk Starlite Systems 226 Albert Rd., Plymouth Devon UK PL2 1AW Tel: +44 (0) 1752 551233 Web: starlitesystems.co.uk Sub-Garden Supplies Unit 45J Leyton Industrial Village Argall Ave Leyton, London UK E10 7QP Tel: +44 (0) 2085 399563 Web: subgardensupplies.com ____________________________

Thetford Urban Gardens Ltd. 25 Brunel Way, Thetford, Norfolk, UK IP24 1HP tel: +44 (0) 1842 765566 Web: thetford-urban-gardens.com Trafford Hydroponics Ltd. 136 Higher Rd. Urmston Manchester UK M41 9AZ Tel: +44 (0) 1612 227838 Web: traffordhydroponics.co.uk Triangle Hydroponics Unit 6 Bornemouth Central business park. South Cote Rd. Bornemouth UK BH1 3SJ Tel: +44 (0) 1202 556661 Web: trianglehydroponics.co.uk U Grow London Studio12, Imperial Studios, 3-11 Imperial Rd. London, UK SW6 2AG Tel: +44 (0) 2073 865559 Web: u-grow.com UK GroWorks 94 Upper Wickham Ln. Welling, Kent UK DA16 3HQ Tel: +44 (0)208 854 5160 Web: ukgroworks.co.uk UK GroWorks Unit 4 Belltower Ind.Es., Roedean Rd. Brighton UK BN2 5RU Tel: +44 (0)127 362 4327 Web: ukgroworks.co.uk UK GroWorks Unit F16 Northfleet Ind.Es., Lower Rd. Gravesend UK DA11 9SW Tel: +44 (0)132 283 8131 Web: ukgroworks.co.uk Warehouse Hydroponic Yielding Unit 42 Bank Quay Trading Est., Slutchers Ln. Warrington, Cheshire UK WA1 1PJ Tel: +44 (0) 1925 637837 Web: warehousehydroponics.co.uk

ireland

Sunlight Gardens Unit D3, Hastingwood Trading Estate. Harbet Rd., Edmonton, London N18 3HT Tel: +44 (0) 20 3763 6052 Web: sunlight-gardens.co.uk ____________________________ Sunrise Hydroponics 127 Newcastle St., Burslem. Stoke on Trent, Staffshire UK ST6 3QJ Tel: +44 (0) 1782 813814 Web: sunrisehydro.co.uk Super Hydro Garden Eagle Centre Way Luton, Bedfordshire UK LU4 9US Tel: 44 (0) 1582 561154 TC Hydroponics 247 Camberwell New Rd. Camberwell, UK SE5 0TH Tel: +44 (0) 2072 773669 Web: tchydroponics.co.uk

Culture Indoor Island 37 Eyre St. Newbridge County Kildare Ireland Tel: +35 (0)45 437639 Web: bloomandgrow.ie Culture Indoor Island 4-A Slaney Court. Dublin Ind.Est Glasnevin Dublin Island Dublin 11 Ireland Tel: +35 (0)18 603917 Web: bloomandgrow.ie Northern Lights 9 Dunluce St. Larne Antrim, Northern Ireland BT40 1JG Tel: +44 (0) 2828 278485 Web: northernlightsni.com

scotland Abergreen Horticulture Ltd Arch 8 Palmerston Rd. Aberdeen, Granpian Scotland AB11 5RE Tel: +44 (0) 1224 574737 Web: abergreen.co.uk

Edinburgh Organics 6C W. Telferton, Edinburgh, Scotland EH7 6UL Tel: +44 (0) 131 669 0493 Web: edinburghorganics.com EZ Grow Perth 77 Scott St. Perth, Scotland PH2 8JR Tel: +44 (0) 1738 624193 Web: facebook.com/exgrowperth Glasgrow 15 Parnie St. Glasgow, Scotland G15RJ Tel: +44 (0) 1415 527522 Web: glasgrowhydroponics.co.uk ____________________________

Hamilton Hydro Ltd. Unit 13&16 Murray Ct., Hillhouse Industrial Estate, Hamilton Scotland ML3 9SL Tel: +44 (0) 1698281148 Web: hamiltonhydro.co.uk ____________________________ Hydra Hydroponics 41 Tower St., Edinburgh, Scotland EH6 7BN Tel: +44 (0) 1315 611332 Web: hydraonline.co.uk Kingdom Hydroponics Unit #12 Carbery Pl., Mitchelson Ind. Es. Kirkcaldy, Fife Scotland KY1 3NE Tel: +44 (0) 1592 655611 Progrow Scotland Unit 6., Nasmyth Square Houston Ind.Es. Livingston, West Lothian Scotland EH5 45GG Tel: +44 (0) 1506 430830 Web: progrowscotland.co.uk U-Grow Glasgow 17 North Canal Bank Street Glasgow, Scotland 9XT Tel: +44 (0) 1413 413352 Web: u-grow.com

hungary BABYLON grow Csurgói street 15., Budapest, Pest megye Hungary Tel: +36 (0) 20 381 2802 Web: babylon-grow.eu Gomoa Trade Kft. Lágymányosi street 5., Budapest, Pest megye, Hungary 1111 Tel: +36 (0) 20 566 1186 Web: gomoa.net Gomoa Trade Kft. Petofi avenue 50. Szeged, Csongrád megye, Hungary 6725 Tel: +36 (0) 20 406 2182 Web: gomoa.net Gomoa Trade Kft. Kazinczy street 3. Pécs, Baranya megye, Hungary 7621 Tel: +36 (0) 20 351 4294 Web: gomoa.net

coming up next issue Join the Microgreen Revolution

Why Your Leaves Are Turning Yellow

Slender, but with a powerful flavour punch, microgreens are increasing in popularity both on our plates and as profitable hydroponic crops. While they may seem tender and delicate, most types of microgreens are easy to germinate, and many take just five days from seed to harvest.

To deduce why a plant’s leaves are turning yellow, a grower sometimes has to put a detective hat on, as many different things can cause this. Harley Smith is here to help lead the investigation in the right direction. Hint: your plants are most likely nutrient-deficient.

Contain Yourself: Growing Food in Modern-day Containers When we think of container gardening, terracotta flower pots, decorative ceramic planters and standard black plastic nursery pots are probably the first images that come to mind. But it’s the fabric aeration containers that are taking the hydroponics industry by storm.

Maximum Yield May/June will be available starting in May for free at select indoor gardening retail stores across Europe and on maximumyield.com. Subscriptions are available at maximumyield.com/subscriptions. 66

Maximum Yield | March/April 2015