Maximum Yield EU Sept/Oct 2013

MAXIMUM YIELD’S LONG BEACHCALIFORNIAOCTOBER 26-27, 2013

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6 Maximum Yield | September/October 2013

CONTENTSSeptember/October 2013

DEPARTMENTS8 From the Editor

10 MaximumYield.com

12 Letters to the Editor

14 Ask the Experts

16 MAX Facts

24 Product Spotlight

70 Do You Know

71 Industry's Latest

72 You Tell Us

74 Talking Shop

76 Max-Mart

80 Distributors

82 Coming Up Next Issue

30 How to Choose the Right LED Grow Light for Your Indoor GardenBy Alena Dalton

34 Stem Secrets: Introducing a Smarter Way to Select, Store and Process Stem CuttingsBy Bill DeBoer

38 Aquaponics: The Key to a More Sustainable Future?By Matt LeBannister

44 Basic Plant GeneticsBy Grubbycup

50 Can Mineral Nutrition Affect Plant Disease?By Guy Sela

54 Physiological Disorders of Indoor GardensBy Dr. Lynette Morgan

60 The Little Things, NaturallyBy Mark Boutwell II

64 Five Commonly Overlooked Cleaning StepsBy Karen Wilkinson

66 That Natural Air Additive: CO2 Enrichment for Indoor GardeningBy Glen Babcock

FEATURES

30

60

34

44

38

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FROM THE EDITOR | LINDa JESSON

Linda Jesson

Message from the

Editor

CONTRIBUTORS

Become a Maximum Yield contributor and have your articles read by 475,000+ readers throughout the USA, Canada, UK, Europe, New Zealand and Australia. Maximum Yield is the largest free-to-consumer indoor gardening magazine in the world. Every issue is available on maximumyield.com, which has thousands of unique visitors monthly.

Grubbycup has been an avid indoor gardener for more than 20 years. His articles were fi rst 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.

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 fi ve hydroponic technical books. Visit suntec.co.nz for more information.

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

Guy Sela is an agronomist and a chemical engineer for his innovative software company, Smart Fertilizer (smart-fertilizer.com), which provides fertilizer management solutions. Applying his background in water treatment, he has lead a variety of projects on reverse osmosis, water disinfection and water purifi cation, and providing high-quality water for irrigation.

Mark Boutwell II stepped into his fi rst garden when he was about four years old. His father would educate him on how the Native Americans taught the pilgrims how to survive using different techniques in farming. When Mark was in a garden, his father would always force him to use their space as effectively as possible. This is the reason why Mark gravitated to indoor gardening as he got older.

Karen Wilkinson works for EZ-CLONE Enterprises, Inc. as its social media editor. She came to them with a background in journalism and technical writing and is learning to grow, clone and write for the hydroponics community. She’s a budding gardener and loves growing her own vegetables.

Glen Babcock is the owner of Garden City Fungi and the founder of ExHale Homegrown CO2. Glen has been involved in agriculture his entire life. Glen graduated from the University of Montana with a degree in forestry and has been a mycologist for more than 23 years. His research has been published in scientifi c journals worldwide.

Bill DeBoer is a laboratory scientist at Indiana-based steadyGROWpro. A master gardener intern, Bill is responsible for company’s laboratory operations, including the design and execution of research projects, plant propagation, seed germination and overall plant care. Bill has a BS and MS from Purdue University, and was previously a research technician for the US Department of Agriculture.

Fall is fast approaching, but that doesn't stop us indoor gardeners! For those just starting a new crop in the growroom, this issue is jam-packed with helpful tips, including five com-monly overlooked cleaning steps, ways to enrich your indoor garden with CO2, help with choosing the right LED and the signs and symptoms of different physiological disorders in your growroom. The little things like pH, ppm and EC have a huge impact on your garden and Mark

Boutwell II outlines what these things are, how to measure them and the benefits of keep-ing them balanced. Ever wanted to try breeding your plants for specific traits? Grubbycup has got the dirt on basic plant genetics. Matt LeBannister looks into whether aquaponics–a merging of edible fish production with hydroponics—is the key to a more sustainable future and Guy Sela talks about how keeping up on plant mineral nutrition can prevent plant diseases.Don't forget to check out our Talking Shop, You Tell Us and Product Spotlight sections to

keep up to date with what is happening in the industry.We are excited to return to Long Beach, California, October 26 to 27 for the final stop on

Maximum Yield's Grow Like a Pro Indoor Gardening Tour 2013. For more information, visit indoorgardenexpo.com, where you'll find information on special accommodation rates, exhibitor lists, free VIP tickets and other updates.Happy gardening and hopefully we'll see you in Long Beach!

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Get Free vIP PAsses tO the LOnG BeACh exPOThere is only one more stop on the 2013 Maximum Yield Indoor Gardening Grow Like a Pro Expo tour. So, be sure to plan your next vacation to Long Beach, California, on October 26 to 27. Whether you’re a new or experienced gardener, this show will offer something for everyone. Stay tuned to indoorgardenexpo.com where you’ll soon be able to download and print free passes to Sunday’s public day.

COMING UP ON THE WEB

PresIDent/PUBLIsher - Jim JessonGenerAL MAnAGer - Don Moores

BUsIness MAnAGer - Linda Jesson

eDItOrIAL editor Linda Jesson

[email protected]

Assistant editors Julie McManus - [email protected]

Jennifer McGarrigle - [email protected]

ADvertIsInG sALessales Manager

Ilona Hawser - [email protected]

Account executivesKelsey Hepples - [email protected] Montague - [email protected]

Jed Walker - [email protected] Doyle - [email protected]

DesIGn & PrODUCtIOn [email protected]

Art Director Alice JoeGraphic Designers

Jennifer EvertsDionne Hurd

Jesslyn Gosling

ACCOUntInG Tracy Greeno - [email protected]

Ava Siemens - [email protected]

sePteMBer/OCtOBer 2013

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

I’m a Fan Winners AnnouncedArmando Mushik from Ther-mal, California, is the sixth winner of Maximum Yield’s I’m a Fan Contest! Armando said, “I am a fan of Maxi-mum Yield because it seems that every time I am thinking of something, or am moving to the next step in growing knowledge, the info is often provided by Maximum Yield. I call my hydroponics store three hours from my house to see when they will have the next copy. When they do, I drive to go get one, plus supplies. Thank you for every-thing and all the great information you provide and thank you for the free back issues available online.”

Thanks for the kind words, Armando, and congratulations on winning Maximum Yield’s sixth I’m a Fan contest! We hope you enjoy your $100 gift certificate at your favourite indoor gardening shop, Green Coast Hydroponics.

Shawn Curry from Houston, Texas, is the seventh win-ner of Maximum Yield’s I’m a Fan Contest! Shawn said, “Your magazine is what got me first interested in growing and gardening. Using the information I read in your magazine has gotten me to experiment with many different growing techniques. To me growing is more than a hobby; it is also therapeutic. At age 20 I enlisted in the army infantry. I was in the third infantry division and in the initial invasion of Iraq. In 2004, I was honourably discharged from the army

and I’ve been dealing with PTSD. I’m glad that two years ago I found your magazine because it is helping change my life for the better.”

Thank you for sharing you story with us, Shawn, and con-gratulations on winning Maximum Yield’s seventh I’m a Fan contest! We hope you enjoy your $100 gift certificate at your favourite indoor gardening shop, Ultimate Hydroponic.

Armando Mushik

Maximum Yield Publications Inc.Snail-mail: 2339 Delinea Place, Nanaimo, BC V9T 5L9Email: [email protected]: twitter.com/max_yieldFacebook: facebook.com/MaximumYield

We Want to hear from you!

Thank You Maximum Yield gives you the most up-to-date and new-to-the-industry products available and a ton of other information. I visit my hydro shop just to get the latest copy, and now I just sub-scribed to my very own digital copy each month (how awesome is that?) … Because of you guys, I have received numerous free samples and entered codes and have even won free nutrients. Who could ask for more? So, I would just like to say, thank you.Dante

Handy Horticulture InformationI’m achieving trophy-worthy crops from the incredible horticul-tural information presented in Maximum Yield magazine.Harrison

Your

TwoWe recently asked our Facebook fans:

“Where do you turn to first when you experience a gardening hurdle for the first time?”

Below are some of the great responses we received.

Literacy. I read books, magazines, general informa-tion. Before experiencing problems.” Corey M Callahan

I go and ask if similar problems are occurring in our area at the local nursery or hydro shop and I give my opinion on how I’m going to fix it and see what kind of feedback I get from other like minds. If I’m stumped, or so are they, then I fire up the computer and make some tea and let the Internet quest for knowledge begin!” Anthony Rodriguez

Honestly, I use YouTube for quite a bit of information.” Anthony Owen

I go to forums, the best place for hands-on experi-ence. Just gotta find the right ones first.” Eron Jonson

Shawn Curry

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

http://www.growthtechnology.com

Can LED lights work for all stages of growth?Thomas Johnson

Yes, LED lights can work for all stages of growth. There are many LED lighting systems available with spectrums tailored for specific stages of growth (e.g., more blue wavelengths for vegetative growth and more red wavelengths for bloom-ing). It should be noted, however, that LEDs used for horti-culture are a relatively new technology and there are some drawbacks (high cost and light penetration being the most prevalent). My tests with LEDs have shown that the current LED lighting systems available are more suitable for vegeta-tive growth or plants that are short in stature. Keep on growing,Eric Hopper

Eric Hopper

What nutrients would be suitable for growing saffron? I am going to have a go at it this year for the first time and want to grow it in hydroponics.Cheers,Bill

Saffron requires just a general purpose, complete hydroponic nutrient. For the first few weeks after the dormant bulbs are planted, the flowers and first leaves use the reserves provided in the bulb for growth, so minimal nutrients are required. However, after flowering, the plant must then produce a lot of foliage for a period of eight to 10 months, which feeds the developing bulblets from which the crop is propagated and during this stage the plants need a vegetative growth hydroponic formulation or product.I suggest you contact a hydroponic retailer and obtain a general purpose vegetative

hydroponic nutrient product—this has to be a hydroponic product as many of the general purpose liquid plant foods you can buy from garden suppliers are not suitable

for soilless production. The hydroponic nutrient product should contain all of the fol-lowing elements: N, P, K, Ca, S, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, B, Cu and Mo and you will need to

dilute this according to the instructions on the product (typically hydroponic nutri-ents come as two-part or three-part stock solutions that are diluted with water).

Also, you will need an EC meter to check the concentration of the nutrient solution—EC meters can be purchased from your local hydroponic retail shop. Saffron should start off at a low EC of around 1.0, increasing to 2.2 when foli-age has grown. Also, it needs reasonably high-quality water. Rainwater should be fine, but avoid city water supplies due to the water treatment chemicals they contain. Good luck with the saffron.Dr. Lynette Morgan

SIMON SAYSASK THE EXPERTS

Dr. Lynette Morgan


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MaX FaCTS HyDROpONIC NEwS, TIpS aND TRIvIa

Ammonium Can have Positive effectFertilising with nitric nitrogen is for many growers the most natural thing in the world. But the other nitrogen—ammonium—often encounters resistance. It is feared that it is bad for the pH and that it may cause rot in pep-per blossom due to calcium deficiency. Researchers in The Netherlands believe ammonium may be beneficial to crops after all. Earlier this year researchers started a growing trial using cucumbers. The crop appeared to respond well to the supplementary feeding of ammonium. It was found that 3% ammonium provided 10% more nitrogen in the leaves. While pH reacts strongly to the additional feeding, this apparent disadvantage may have an upside: ammonium may be used to at least adjust the pH. Studies are ongoing.(Source: horticoop.nl)

More efficient Greenhouses in the netherlandsAlthough the number of greenhouse vegetable companies in The Netherlands has decreased since 2000 by 55%, the remaining companies are running more efficient-ly. In 2012 it took one annual work unit to cultivate 39 areal of land, with a standard yield value of 122,000 Euro, whereas in 2000 it took one annual work unit to culti-vate 41 areal of land, with a standard yield of 96,000 Euro. This higher productivity (cultivating more land per labour year) led to a 28% higher standard yield per labour year for greenhouse vegetable companies. The standard yield for the entire industry increased by 18% in the 2000 to 2012 period. The average greenhouse vegetable company had 4.8 hectares of cultivated land in 2012—94% more than in 2000. This growth resulted in an increase of the

average standard yield by 163%. (Source: freshplaza.com)

Bananas top Brits’ shopping ListsBananas remain top of the tree when it comes to the United Kingdom’s favourite fruit, according to the latest shopping insights provided by Shopitize. Twenty-six per cent of 2,600 responders picked the banana as their favourite fruit, with 23% backing the apple, 19% saying grapes, 11% oranges and 7% pears. The banana owes its enduring success to being both healthy and affordable. Bananas are also one of the cheaper fruits on the market with prices halving in the last ten years. According to the Fairtrade Foundation, the price of bananas in the United Kingdom has dropped from £1.10 per kg in 2002 to just 68p today. Some supermarkets are selling bananas for as little as 14p each, while organic bananas are being sold for 31p each. As a result, bananas are often a loss-leader with supermarkets with prices reduced to increase shopping footfall.(Source: easier.com)


ADMAXFACTS HYDROPONIC NEWS, TIPS AND TRIVIA

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British strawberry sales soar Andy Murray’s historic Wimbledon win seems to have encouraged sales of strawberries. The fruit has reached a 10-year high during the Wimble-don tournament, surging 40%. British Summer Fruits says 8,000 tonnes of strawberries were eaten in the UK during the fortnight. This has contributed significantly to helping sales towards an estimated 52,000 tonnes this year in total, a rise of 5% on last year. “Wimbledon fortnight is always a peak selling period for British strawberries, hence the tradi-tion of strawberries and cream on Centre Court. However, this year we sold more during the tennis championships than we have for over 10 years. We put this partly down to Murray Mania hitting the nation, as well as the sizzling temperatures,” said British Summer Fruits chairman Laurence Olins.(Source: heraldscotland.com)

Aromatic Blackberries without thornsThe rumour going around about thornless blackberry varieties lacking in taste has been disproved by new test results. They are tasty! The German magazine Mein schöner Garten describes the thornless variety Lubera Navaho® as a milestone in blackberry cultivation: it has the lon-gest harvesting time; it is the first vertically growing thornless variety; it is characterised by a very long harvest period which lasts until October. It is robust, healthy and its fruits are large, firm and extremely aromatic. Then there's the Bigandearly®, the Lubera Navaho variety with the larg-

est fruits, which can be picked in July. The berries are around the same size as a two Euro coin, but longer and have a very firm flesh, which, de-

spite this, is tender and sweet. As with all Navaho blackberries, the

blossom is pink. The third variety is the

Lubera Navaho Summerlong®,

and this too is true to its name. From mid July to the end of August

this variety bears its fruits:

sweet, fruity and in large quantities.

(source: freshplaza.com)



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world’s tallest Delphinium?The horticulture manager at Waterperry Garden Centre in Oxfordshire believes he might have grown the world’s tallest delphinium measuring in at a staggering 2.75 m. At Waterperry they’ve been growing delphiniums since the 1930s and this summer was the most spectacular the garden centre has ever seen. Normally the flow-ers are around 2-m tall, sometimes 2.45 m. The delphinium is devilishly tricky to grow, is toxic to humans and is deadly to cattle. Rob Jacobs at-tributes the record-breaking growth to the coldest spring on record where the frozen ground allowed the seeds to remain dormant for a longer period than usual, slowly gathering their powers before the great push in June and July. (Source: telegraph.co.uk)

new Indoor Garden is a MarketThe glass structure at the corner of Borough High Street and Bedale Street in London, which was built as part of Network Rail’s project to construct a new rail market through the market, is now open. Borough Market’s space will be used as a class-room, a kitchen, an orchard, an information hub and a dining hall. Throughout the year, the Market Hall will be used for growing hops, fruits, flowers, herbs, olives and greens, resulting in a fragrant and visually stimulating environment providing a focus for educational programmes. The hall’s structure has been designed with huge amounts of light flooding in through the glass, vertical planters running up the pillars and benches constructed with planting spaces at either end. The plants will be watered using a rainwater irrigation system and the resulting produce will be used for cooking demonstrations, tastings and workshops. (Source: boroughmarket.org.uk)

eU Might relax Citrus Black spot regsThe European Union might be relaxing its restrictions on importation of South African citrus. The subject of citrus black spot regula-tions was on the agenda of a recent EU-SA summit and while details are limited, the EU might be willing to be more flexible in regards to these regulations. Citrus black spot is a fungal disease caused by a plant pathogen and causes a reduction in fruit quality and quantity.(Source: freshplaza.com)

19Maximum Yield | September/October 2013

MaX FaCTS

scouting essential with echinothrips in PeppersIn recent years, echinothrips have been increasingly common in pepper crops. The problem with this type of thrip is the speed at which the plague spreads. In most cases yellowing and leaf drop is observed, which is then recognised as echinothrips. Fortunately, this pest causes no direct fruit damage in most instances. Echinothrips are commonly detected relatively late because growers working on the pipe rail trolley have less insight into what goes on underneath the crops. Unfortunately there is no real natural enemies available that can be used to identify this pest. Also, the preventive use of various enemies is limited, which means that scouting for pests is essential and further research on natural enemies is also definitely needed. (Source: koppert.nl)

Irish Potato Famine Pathogen now even More virulentThe plant pathogen that caused the Irish potato famine in the 1840s lives on today with a different genetic blueprint and an even larger arsenal of weaponry to harm and kill plants. Researchers have found that the genes in historical plant sam-ples collected in 1845, and the 1880s, were quite different from modern-day P. infestans genes, including some genes in modern plants that make the pathogen more virulent than the historical strains, suggesting that the pathogen has evolved in response to human actions like breeding more disease-resistant potatoes.P. infestans caused massive and debilitating late-blight disease outbreaks in Europe, leaving starvation and migration in its wake after ravaging Ireland in the mid-to-late 1840s. An estimated $6.2 billion is spent each year on crop damage and attempts to control the pathogen. Late blight is still a major threat to global food security in the developing world.(Source: North Carolina State University)

Imported Bees Pose Parasite threat Scientists say bumblebees imported into the United Kingdom from continental Europe pose a threat to native British bee populations. The bees are brought into the country for essential pollination purposes. For example, without them it would be impossible for Britain to produce the volumes of tomatoes it needs. However, the imported bees are said to carry dangerous pathogens that can be spread to wild bees. Researchers have found that up to 77% of im-ported bees could be carriers of parasites. (Source: bbc.co.uk/news)

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Introducing the Agri-tech strategyThe United Kingdom government has unveiled a £160-million strategy to boost farming technology—a move it says will turn the United Kingdom into a world leader in agricultural sci-ence. The strategy aims to help farmers deliver sustainable, healthy and affordable food for fu-ture generations. Money will be used to develop new technologies and help bring even more produce to supermarket shelves all in an effort to make the United Kingdom a world leader in addressing global food security issues. Agri-tech is a well-established and important sector in the United Kingdom. The entire agri-food supply chain, from agriculture to final retailing and catering, is estimated to contribute £96 billion to the economy and employ 3.8 million people.(Source: fwi.co.uk)

Fungicide resistanceScotland’s Rural College is investigating fungicide resistance in botrytis and would like growers to send in their samples of crops infected with botrytis to the crop clinic. Outputs of the project will be providing new advice on effective fungicide strategies for use in strawberries, raspberries and tomatoes, but the researchers are also interested in botrytis species on other horticultural and minor crops. Scotland’s Rural College has successfully developed detection tools and the next step is to screen as many botrytis samples as possible to determine what fungicide resistance issues are present in the United Kingdom, which crops are affected and where the problems lay. The project will run for three seasons and is currently in year one. Mail samples to The Crop Clinic, SRUC, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JG.(Source: hdc.org.uk)

Labour-saving technology from europeThirteen students from Hortus Forum, Cornell’s undergraduate horticulture club, travelled to Holland and Germa-ny to see the latest innovations in European floriculture and greenhouse technology. “Producers in Europe face very high labour and energy costs. So they are leaders in automation and energy-saving technology,” says Neil Mattson, one of the Department of Horticulture faculty who accompanied the students. “During their careers, these students will bring many of these practices to the United States as we cope with rising costs, too.” The group’s three days in Holland included stops at many cutting-edge companies, specialising in bulb forcing, seedling production, greenhouse vegeta-ble breeding, seed technology and more. Despite higher energy and labour costs, European growers have the advantage of being a very specialised industry, allowing them to focus on what they do best, observes Bill Miller, director of Cornell’s Flower Bulb Research Program and faculty advisor to Hortus Forum.(source: cornell.edu)


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YOUR GUIDE TO THIS ISSUE’S HOTTEST ITEMSAsk for them at your local indoor gardening store.

wilma xLBuilding on the success of the Wilma range of products is the Wilma XL, the next generation of the popular drip irrigation growing system. Wilma XL is designed specifically for growers looking for the flexibility of grow-ing in pots, combined with the accurate feeding and increased yields that are possible with active hydroponics. Available as four-pot and eight-pot systems, Wilma XL has some unique new features including a handy nutrient mixing tap in which water and nutrient are thoroughly mixed before feeding begins, ensuring plants are given the correct nutrient to water mix immediately. The system also uses 25-L pots that provide greater opportu-nity for roots to grow. This, coupled with the improved pot spacing on the Wilma XL, gives growers the best chance of producing the big plants they are looking for. For more information, visit a local retailer.

Method seven Prescription OpticsMethod Seven Optics, which delivers colour balance, clarity and pro-tection while working under various grow lighting environments, has introduced prescription glasses for HPS, metal halide and LED lighting. Available in the patent-pending Rendition Series glass and the Carl Zeiss Vision Fission Series, these glasses come in several prescription options, including bi-focal and progressives. Now growers who require prescription glasses can enjoy colour, clarity and protection with Method Seven technology. Learn more at an indoor gardening store in your area.

Dutchpro's explodeExplode is a brilliant bloom stimulator that delivers precious nutrients and minerals to

your plants throughout the flowering stage. Consisting of micronutrients, vitamins and acids, it does exactly as the name suggests—

explosively driving flowering growth and bigger yields as well as increasing your plants' resistance against diseases.

This product is suited for every irrigation system, as well as most soil, hydro and coco set-ups. It’s available in 250-ml and 1-, 5-, 10- and 20-L bottles. Visit your local indoor gardening store for more information.

CAnnA Aqua nutrientsCANNA Aqua nutrients are fast-working nutrients for plants and contain all the essential elements for optimal growing and flower-ing in a re-circulating system. The CANNA Aqua nutrition contains pH stabilisers, so there is no need to adjust the pH. CANNA Aqua Vega ensures strong plants with vital growth spurts and excessive

root development, while CANNA Aqua Flores stimulates fructification and provides every plant with its characteristic flavour. For more information about CANNA Aqua nutrients, please visit a local indoor gardening store.


pRODUCT SpOTLIGHT

sun system Light emitting Ceramic 315Sunlight Supply is excited to announce the arrival of the Sun System® Light Emitting Ceramic (LEC) 315 light fixture. Sun System LEC 315 utilizes cutting-edge Light Emitting Ceramic™ technology, along with a specially engineered 98% reflective optical cavity. This product includes a highly efficient, agri-culturally engineered Philips CDM-T Elite Agro Lamp.

Get greatly improved full-colour light spectrum with higher amounts of beneficial UV and far red spectrums increasing the lamp’s growing power. The Sun System LED 315 provides high 1.95 PPF per second light source; 3,100-K colour temperature; high 92 CRI and 33,000 initial lumens (105 lm/W). The unique open-rated lamp construction reduces radiant heat from the arc tube and is suitable for open fixture use. This 50/60 Hz low frequency, square wave, highly efficient electronic ballast has a 50,000-hour life. Visit a local retailer for more information.

hydrotonHydroton is a unique, lightweight expanded clay aggregate. It is is ecologically sustainable as it is derived from a replenishable source: clay. Clay naturally has balanced capillary action to accelerate plant growth with an ideal surface for root structures and beneficial bacteria. Hydroton drains freely, is pH adjusted, free of harmful heavy metals and is inert. Growers can use Hydroton as a stand-alone grow media for most hydroponic growing systems, as well as mixing in with other medias such as coco, potting soil or rockwool for increased aeration and drainage. Visit a local retailer for further details.

safer's trounceSafer's Trounce spider mite pesticide provides a natural and organic alternative and is one of the United Kingdom’s only amateur-use concentrate for spider mites containing both pyrethrins

and fatty acids. Growers can use Trounce up until the day of harvest. Trounce plant insecti-cide concentrate kills insects such as spider mites, aphids, whiteflies, mealy bugs and more on contact. Its potassium salts disrupt and weaken the insect’s protective outer shell. The pyrethrins kill by disabling the insect’s nervous system. Containing only natural ingredients, Trounce won’t leave a harmful residue on plants. It is available as a concentrated, ready-to-use formula and is completely biodegradable. It can be applied safely to edible plants and also flowering plants. Distributed by Growth Technology. For more information, ask your local grow store for Safer’s Trounce.


http://www.canna-uk.com

Mother earth CocoMother Earth® Coco substrate contains the highest quality mix of coco pith and coco fibre. Moth-er Earth Coco is RHP certified and is free from chemical additives. Mother Earth Coco is buffered using a unique process of rinsing with calcium before bagging to provide minimal sodium content, balancing the naturally occurring potassium and ultimately aiding in the prevention of nutrient lockout. As it is pH adjusted to a neutral 6.3 to 6.8, Mother Earth Coco can aid in the promotion of strong root growth, populate microbial activity, discourage disease and insect outbreak and will release nutrients evenly so that overall plant health and fruit production can be maximized. Mother Earth Coco is great as a standalone growing substrate or you can mix with other media to enhance the growing environment. For an optimal hydroponic media, combine Mother Earth Coco with Mother Earth Hydroton™ for increased production. Visit a retail store to learn more.

neutralizer Compact KitSynergy UK Ltd. is excited to announce the arrival of the Neutralizer Compact Kit. To provide hob-byists with a definitive solution to their odour problem, Synergy UK Ltd. has created a compact version of its popular Neutralizer Kit. This compact system features the same benefits as its big brother, but is housed in a smaller cartridge with its own smaller electronic molecule evaporator. The Neutralizer Compact Kit is able to effectively neutralize foul odours within a space of approxi-mately 15 to 20 cubic meters. It is supplied with cable ties to attach to your grow tent’s frame and has the same six-week duration with 24/7 use. Packed with natural essential oils, the Compact Kit is designed to remove odours from within one hour of activation. This is a simple plug-and-play system, yet we prefer to call it “the plug and chill.” Visit a local retailer for more information.

Gavita Digistar e-series BallastsTogether with the Gavita Master controllers, Gavita Holland intro-duces the new DigiStar e-series electronic ballasts. The DigiStar e-series ballasts are not only dim-mable by the selector on the bal-last, but they also have RJ inputs for the Gavita master controller signal. This way you can centrally control them all. There is no need for a switchboard when you operate the ballasts with the controller; when switched off, the ballasts go into stand-by mode. Operating mode, lamp, volt-age and temperature warnings are displayed by a three-colour status LED with a memory for warnings. The DigiStar e-series operates at a high frequency, requiring high frequency lamps such as the Gavita enhanced HPS lamp. They can be dimmed to 50% and boosted to 110% (400-W and 600-W models) or 115% (1,000-W models) and are available in 240-V and 120/240-V models. For further details, visit a retail store near you.

Maxibright DigiLight Pro select Power Pack 600-w and 1,000-wThe new DigiLight Pro® Select digital ballast from Maxibright gives you the ultimate flexibility with just one ballast. Choose from six power modes to run your lamps at normal power, super mode for 10% extra power on every lamp wattage (the only ballast on the market that can do this), or dimmed for ultimate light control throughout the growth cycle. Developed with new Surge Control® software, when multiple DigiLight Pro Select ballasts are started from the same power supply, they will safely ignite multiple lamps one at a time to reduce electrical surges. Soft start technology gently starts lamps with a low current for significantly improved lamp life and to maintain continual efficient lamp output. Fast lamp re-strike ensures hot lamps start as quickly as possible. Includes a built-in diagnostic LED for fault finding. Contact your nearest Maxibright retailer for more information.


pRODUCT SpOTLIGHT

Gnat nix by GrowstoneIntroducing the scientifically proven, environmentally friendly fungus gnat control called Gnat Nix. Gnat Nix is free of harmful pesticides and chemicals and is made from 100% recycled glass. Plants love it. Gnats don’t. Gnat Nix is a non-toxic, chemical-free fungus gnat control and is con-sidered a long-lasting top dressing effective under dry or moist conditions. It’s great for both indoor and outdoor use. University trials have proved Gnat Nix used as a top dress-ing is an effective physical barrier against fungus gnats. It prevents adult emergence from hatching larvae and deters females from laying eggs in the growing media. As a result, the lifecycle of fungus gnats is interrupted. All you need to do is apply a 1.5-cm thick layer of Gnat Nix to fully cover the surface of the growing medium in your growing containers. Visit a store near you to learn more.

Dutchpro's take rootTake Root is a growth stimulant capable of radically improving the inner and outer qualities of your young plants. The active components are of natural origin, including several plant hormones and micronutrients. These combine to boost cellular division, cell elongation and nutrient trans-port—all of which help with overall root development during early vegetative growth. In addition

to this, Take Root also slows down the ageing process for prolonged good health. This product is suited for every irrigation system, as

well as soil, hydro and coco set-ups. It is to be used with cuttings and young plants. Take

Root is available in 250-ml and 1-, 5-, 10- and 20-L

bottles. For more information, visit a local grow store.

Method seven Operator LeD OpticsMethod Seven, the company that developed perfect colour-balancing optics for working under HPS lights, has introduced the first optics designed for LED grow lights. The Opera-tor LED is part of Method Seven’s Fission Series manufactured by Carl Zeiss Vision. This lens offers the grower extreme clarity, focus and protection while working under LED lights. Growers can now experience daylight balance colour under the harsh condi-tions of LED grow lights and protect themselves from UV. The LED Fission lens is both lightweight and shatterproof. To learn more, visit an indoor gardening store in your area.



superCloset’s Big Buddha BoxThe Big Buddha Box is SuperCloset’s highest yielding hydroponic grow system. It is verti-cally oriented and contains four multi-shelved walls with 87-net cups nested within the tiered grow trays situated around a centralized light column that extends from floor to ceiling. The effect of this set-up is four lush walls of flora all growing towards the centre of the system. The heart of the Big Buddha Box is the Superponics hydroponic system that utilises both ebb and flow and deep water culture to achieve maximum oxygenation of the plant roots. The vertical Big Buddha helps growers quadruple their yields by only using half the electricity of a horizontally oriented hydroponic system. Fully automated pumps slowly raise and lower the water level in each lateral tank, which ensures roots receive equal levels of oxygen. For more information, visit a local retail store.

x-stream Aeroponic PropagatorThe X-Stream range of propaga-tors have been trusted by growers for years, but—based on feedback from the market—they have been redeveloped to provide even better results with improved flexibility. With an improved delivery system, the roots that are produced are stronger and transplanting can hap-pen in as little as 10 days. What’s more, the number of cutting sites has increased, with the original 36- and 105-site propagators replaced by a 40 and a 120 site, respectively. The range is completed by a 12- and 20-site propagator. The full range has been developed to provide even greater access to your cuttings and improved product rigidity. For more information, see a local retailer.

Gavita Master ControllersGavita Holland introduces a line of electronic light-ing controllers for the new control-lable e-series DigiStar ballasts, plasma lamps and e-series Pro-line luminaires. Gavita Master controllers are extremely easy to use and have a full text interface in five languages on the bright green OLED display and five-button interface. They feature centralized on/off/dim/boost con-trol, auto-dim at high temperatures, emergency shut-down at critical temperatures, sunrise/sunset and alarm outputs, and can optionally switch 2x15 amps accessories such as CO2 equipment and heating with the optional external contactor modules. Connecting the Gavita Master Controllers is a breeze due to the standard RJ connec-tors, enabling plug-and-play installation. The controller completely replaces timers and switchboards and eliminates ballast in-rush cur-rent. The EL2 controller can either steer one room with 50 ballasts, or two rooms alternating every 12 hours for optimal available power use. Visit a local gardening store for more information.

Dutchpro's Multi totalMulti Total aids the key processes necessary for turning organic material from dead plant matter into beneficial nu-

trients. It sparks off significant root growth by improving soil structure (in terms of water retention) and promotes nutrient producing bacterial life in the substrate. Incredibly, you’ll

also find that Multi Total stimulates the cationic exchange of minerals and micronutrients, and improves resistance against fungi and stress situa-

tions. Honestly, all this from only one product? You better believe it! This product is suited for every irrigation system, as well as most soil, hydro and coco set-ups. Available in 250-ml and 1-, 5-, 10- and 20-L bottles. Visit a local gardening store for more information.


pRODUCT SpOTLIGHT

Dutchpro's starter Pack for hydro and CocoAll the nutrients and supplements you need for grow and bloom in one box. This authen-tic, Amsterdam-designed canal houses start-er pack is the perfect introduction to Dutch-pro’s award-winning range of nutrients and additives at a significantly reduced price. This Dutchpro Hydro/Coco starter pack contains everything you would need to conduct a small grow. Not only does this pack give you a taste of the amazing hydro/coco grow and bloom nu-trients, but it also gives you a whole selection of Dutchpro additives and supplements to boost

your plant growth. Grow schedules and instruc-tions included. Take a chance today and experience

the benefits of the award-winning Dutchpro range! For more information, go to a retailer near you.

CAnnA Aqua Clay PebblesCANNA Aqua Clay Pebbles are baked clay pellets that form an ideal substrate for growers who want to control the application of nutrients and the humidity level of their plants throughout the entire cultivation process. CANNA Aqua Clay Pebbles are manufactured from special types of clay that have a low soluble salt content and have a high porosity and high air content to stimulate the de-velopment of strong roots. Want to know all about CANNA's Aqua Clay Pebbles? Visit an indoor garden retailer for more information.

Maxibright DigiLight Pro Max 600-w Digital Ballast The Maxibright DigiLight Pro® Max is the latest in digital ballast technology, allowing you to pow-

er the new high PAR output 600-W 400-V glasshouse system lamps, the Philips GreenPower Plus and the Sylvania Grolux 600-W 400-V in your growroom. This higher PAR output means you achieve more usable grow light for your plants per watt for increased yields. The DigiLight

Pro Max has four power modes: 400-W, 500-W, 600-W and 660-W ‘Super’. Developed with new Surge Control® software, each ballast safely ignites multiple lamps one at a time,

reducing the risk of electrical surges. Soft start technology gently starts lamps with a low current

for longer lamp life. In the event of a power cut, fast lamp re-strike will restart hot lamps quickly. Dynamic frequency control

gives a steady light output even when your main supply fluctuates. Includes a built-in diagnostic LED for fault finding. For more information, ask a local retailer.



LEDs have come a long way in the past few years, but they can still present some confusion when growers go to buy them. Never fear, Alena Dalton is here to answer

some of the FAQs about this popular lighting technology.When it comes to indoor gardening, the emergence of LED lighting tech-nology got off to a bit of a rough start. The technology was new—many lights just didn’t emit enough light and they emitted at frequencies that didn’t facilitate optimal plant growth. However, LED lighting has grown by leaps and bounds in nearly every sec-tor of the lighting industry. LED light-ing for indoor gardening purposes has really come into its own, allowing gar-deners remarkable control, pleasing intensity and relative coolness. These features make LED lights extremely attractive to the indoor gardener. But what makes a great LED light? How do you select the right grow light for your indoor gardening needs? What do your plants need? What does your garden need? Finally, with those traits in mind, what qualities make the right LED light stand out from the rest? Read on for answers.

How to Choose the Right

LED GRow LiGHtfor Your indoor Garden

by Alena Dalton


LED LiGHtinGfor indoor gardening

purposes has really come into its own, allowing gardeners remarkable control, pleasing

intensity and relative coolness.”

What do your plants need?Lots of light: We all know that plants need light to provide optimal growth. The potential advantage of a well-designed and maintained indoor garden is the ability to control the quality of light, even when conditions outside are dark, dank, rainy or snowy.

Not a lot of heat: One of the biggest issues, historically, with indoor gardening has been controlling the light-to-heat ratio. Lights emit heat. Incandescent lights especially emit enough heat that temperature control has been an issue when it comes to indoor garden-ing. Cool temperature is, of course, one of the primary advantages of LED lighting. However, still keep the light-to-heat ratio in mind when selecting a light.



What does your garden need?Electrical efficiency: In addition to light-to-heat, one of the most frustrating aspects of indoor gar-dening is the electrical bill. This issue, again, is at the forefront of many indoor gardeners’ decision to use LED lighting.

A controlled environment: The primary advan-tage of indoor gardening is control. The gardener is able to create optimal conditions for growth, continuously. Everything about the indoor garden should reflect this consistency.

So what makes an optimal LED?We’ve established that your plants need a lot of light provided by a device that doesn’t emit a lot of heat or use a lot of electricity. In addition, you’ll want the ability to create a controlled environment in which your plants can thrive. The perfect LED grow light, then, will perform exceptionally when it comes to light intensity, cool temperature and ability to control.

Intensity: Light intensity has been the issue when it comes to LED lighting development. Therefore, you want to pay close attention not only to the watt-age of the light, but also the efficiency and intensity at which that light is emitted. Diamond-style LED lights, for example, use a custom lens to direct and further intensify the quality of light emitted.

Control: The optimal indoor garden reflects con-sistency and control. Evenly distributed, consistent light creates the most efficient atmosphere for your

garden to thrive. In addition, lights with wavelength control al-low you to create the perfect atmosphere for whatever species of plant you intend to grow.

Coolness: One of the most exciting aspects of LED lighting is temperature control. However, lights still emit heat. Check the wattage and verify the heat output. In most cases, you’ll be pleased at the savings on your air-conditioning bill.Efficiency: LED lights typically provide insane efficiency in the arena of power draw. However, electrical efficiency increases with efficient design. Check the power draw on the LED lights you’re interested in; not all LEDs are created equal.

In ConclusionWhile LED grow lights represent an exciting new technology and promise to make indoor gardening much more efficient, it’s still great design in the areas of intensity, control, coolness and efficiency that makes superior lighting. Look for these qualities when selecting an LED light and enjoy a meticulously constructed, extremely productive indoor garden.

tHE pERfECtLED grow light will

perform exceptionally when it comes to

light intensity, cool temperature and

ability to control.”

HoW To cHoose THe rIgHT Led groW LIgHT

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Introducing a Smarter Way to Select, Store and Process Stem Cuttings

by Bill DeBoer

Unlike cloning herbaceous plants, woody cut-tings require slightly different treatment. Here’s how to properly select, store and process stem cut-tings (as opposed to leaf or root cuttings), using rooting hormones and creating the ideal rooting environment…

Selecting the right cuttingsMaking the proper selection of stem cuttings is an integral first step for reaching success. Seasonality creates differences in physiology within the plant; thus, there are three classifications of cuttings: softwood (spring), semi-hardwood (summer) and hardwood (fall and winter). Each type of cutting will require slightly different procedures.


Softwood is the soft, new and non-woody growth that emerges in spring and sometimes summer. The rooting potential is high, but it will easily wilt and rot under sub-optimal conditions. Semi-hardwood cuttings occur during

a transitional period when softwood starts to form a woody protective layer. In non-tropical areas, this is a protec-tive measure against cold temperatures during the winter. Semi-hardwood cuttings are not as delicate as softwood cuttings, but they will wilt if exposed to low humidity. Lastly, hardwood cuttings are often taken from dormant plants (those without leaves) during the fall and winter. These cuttings are the least finicky in terms of care and can be bundled together, placed in a refrig-erator and stuck later in the spring.Another important consideration is

the age of the plant. In general, the age of the plant greatly influences the rooting potential of the cutting. Juvenile plants produce cuttings that root far better than older plants. While the exact reason is unknown, some scientists attribute this decrease in rooting potential to an increase in root-inhibiting compounds. Personal experience has shown that rooting from mature plants is still obtainable, albeit at significantly reduced percent-ages; nonetheless, it’s best to stick to younger plants when possible. The position from which the cuttings

are taken can also impact rooting potential. Distal (closer to the end of a branch) and proximal (closer to where

the branch attaches to the trunk) can influence rooting percentages de-pending on the plant of interest. That is to say, for some plants, rooting po-tential will be higher when taken from the very end of the branch, whereas

the opposite is true with others. Lastly, before the

cuts are made, make sure the plant is not under water stress and that growth is neither vigorous (high in nitrogen and low in carbon) or stunted (often an indicator that the plant is older or not

growing in favorable conditions). All of these factors will reduce rooting potential.Now we are ready to make the cut.

The ideal cutting size depends upon the type (softwood, semi-hardwood or hardwood). Sizes range from 7.62 cm for softwood to 30.48 cm. or more for hardwood cuttings. In general, 7.62 to 20.32 cm cuttings are ideal for all types. If the cuttings are softwood, pay close attention to the termi-nal growth. If it is quite soft and bends easily, remove it as rotting will usually occur. While length is an important measurement, pay close attention to the nodes (place where leaves attach to the stem) per cuttings. Each cutting should have at least two nodes (three is preferable). The cut should be made directly above a node on the parent plant.

Storage conditions and processingNow that you have made the cut(s), proper processing and sticking should occur. If this is not possible and you are working with softwood or semi-hardwood cuttings, then preventing water loss is integral. This can be accomplished by immediately placing

the cuttings in a plastic bag, which is then sealed. It is also preferable to mist the cuttings prior to sealing, but if you do not have access to water simply use a sealable bag. If outside temperatures are hot, a cooler is a great place to put your sealed bags. Keep in mind that water stress in softwood or semi-hardwood cuttings can occur quickly (seconds to minutes). The next step in processing is removal

of leaves. While some growers instruct removal of all but the top set of leaves in softwood and semi-hardwood cut-tings, some disagree. Leaves are the carbohydrate manufacturing centre for the plant; therefore, these leaves

“Personal experience has shown that rooting

from mature plants is still obtainable, albeit

at significantly reduced percentages; nonetheless, it’s

best to stick to younger plants when possible.”


provide the necessary energy needed for root development. While removing leaves reduces the surface area for water loss, pruning the bottom leaves that touch the rooting sub-strate is sufficient. Also, depending on the plant, wounding the cuttings might

be needed to induce root formation. This is often necessary with hard-to-root plants like rhododendron, magnolia and pinus. To wound, use a clean sharp knife or pruners to scrape away the outer layer to expose the inner green layer. Make sure you do not go too deep and cut into the pith, which is often white.

Rooting hormonesGenerally, cloning woody ornamentals is enhanced through the use of rooting hor-mones. Natural rooting hormones are derived from plant chemicals known as auxins, and manufacturers utilise the synthetic-derived auxins indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) or alpha-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). Auxin promotes root initiation by programming cells to develop into new root cells. The type of cutting dictates the appropriate amount of this chemi-cal to use. In general, I have had good success using 500 to 1,000 ppm on softwood cuttings, 1,000 to 3,000 ppm on semi-hardwood cuttings and 4,000 to 10,000 ppm for dormant hardwood cut-tings. Beginners to vegetative propaga-tion should try a rooting hormone that

“It is also preferable to mist the cuttings prior to sealing, but if you do not have access to water

simply use a sealable bag.”

is mixed in talc powder. This will be relatively inexpensive, easy to use and, in general, will not burn the cuttings. The main drawbacks to this are that the concen-tration of IBA is fixed (usually 0.1% or 1,000 ppm) and the IBA in talc is relatively insoluble, so absorption might be sub-optimal. Also, the talc powder easily comes off (especially when sticking into the substrate) and is therefore in-effective. Another type of auxin delivery is gel based. This gel adheres to the cutting better than talc, but is usually more expensive and has the added danger of burning certain sen-sitive softwood cuttings. Also, like talc, the concentration of auxin is fixed in gel-based solutions. Lastly, another popular auxin carrier is a liquid-based solution (often a solvent like isopropyl or ethyl alcohol). The stock solu-tion is quite high (10,000 ppm) and can easily be diluted with water to acquire the desired concentration. This method is a quick dip where the auxin is highly soluble and readily absorbed; however, the price is usually much higher and the solvent readily burns cuttings if the optimal

concentration is exceeded. I have experienced the greatest success using rooting hormones that are solvent-based, but would not recommend it for those trying root hormones for the first time.

Ideal conditions of optimal rootingSince the cuttings have been severed from the parent plant and do not possess a root system, their ability to absorb water and nutrients is

drastically reduced. Cuttings will lose water from both the leaves and the cut end until it heals over; thus, maintaining high humidity is critical. Without humid-ity, the cuttings will quickly lose turgor pressure and wilt. On a commercial

scale, misting systems allow high humid-ity coupled with good air circulation, which

significantly reduces fungal rotting. However, most hobby growers do not have the aforemen-

tioned misting systems. In this case, hand misting with a sprayer oftentimes is less successful than using some sort of dome. Depending on your

growing environment, water droplets from misting can quickly evaporate away, creating an environment

sTeM secreTs


References:Dirr, M. A., & C. W. Heuser Jr. (2006). The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation: From Seed to Tissue Culture (2nd ed.). Varsity Press, Inc.

Hartmann, H. T., Kester, D. E., Davies Jr., F. T., & Gene-ve, R. L. (2002). Plant Propagation: Principles and Practices (7th ed.). Pearson Education, Inc.

that favours pulling water out from the leaves. For better results, take your

cuttings, mist the leaves (top and bottom) and place them in a plastic dome top or

baggy. Just make sure that the environment is sealed and that no leaves are touching the

bag or dome, as this will lead to rotting. Check on the cuttings every day or so to make sure

the substrate is moist and not waterlogged, that the leaves are healthy—remove yellow

or brown leaves—and to check for root formation. For traditional soilless mixes,

such as peat moss, coco coir, perlite and vermiculite, the grower is confined to

check on root formation by gently tugging on the cutting and feeling for resistance. With cellular-matrix substrates, you can remove the

whole plug to see if the root formation is penetrating without risking damaging the roots.

Patented plants and illegal propagation While some of you are coming around to the idea that cuttings could be quite lucrative, be forewarned that the plants you buy from a nursery have been developed by growers and are either patented or patent-pending. That means you cannot reproduce these plants for profit without notification and subsequent payment of royalties for each cutting. However, you can reproduce plants for your own use (or for a neighbour, if you are that kind) so long as you do not intend to sell them for profit. MY

“Since the cuttings have been severed from the parent

plant and do not possess a root system, their ability to

absorb water and nutrients is drastically reduced.”


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The world is always changing around us and the face of agriculture and food production is changing as well. A constantly increasing world population means more urban sprawl

is taking over what was once fertile farm land—how are we going to manage to grow enough food to keep up with our ever-growing numbers, especially the millions who live

in drought-stricken, arid climates? Fish numbers are also dropping throughout the world’s oceans, leading experts to predict increasingly severe global shortages.

The Key to a More Sustainable Future?

Aquaponics:by Matt LeBannister

It’s becoming increasingly evident that we’re going to run out of sustainable fish stocks in the years ahead—is aquaponics really a viable solution?


The Key to a More Sustainable Future?

How about aquaponics? Aquaponics is an ingenious growing system that merges edible fish production with hydroponics. In aquaponics an artificial ecosystem is created in which fish are fed, their waste is broken down into more absorbable forms by beneficial bacteria and the converted waste is then pumped through the system, where it feeds the plants. The plants act as a natural filter, clean-ing the water—which is then recircu-lated through the system. Aquaponics is looking more and more like it’s going to be one of the best solutions for future generations seeking sustainable ways to produce healthy organic food.

Making aquaponics work

Aquaponics is a blending of two impor-tant ideas, combining fish farming with hydroponics (soilless gardening). Edible fish that do well in closed environments are required—tilapia, white bass, crappie and barramundi are species that are used


http://www.easy-grow.co.uk

in many commercial and home aqua-ponic systems. These fish will feed and their urine and feces will be a waste product. In normal fish tanks or fish farming systems the waste builds up and makes the water toxic to the fish—the waste-filled water then needs to be purified and would normally be either filtered or disposed of.In aquaponic systems this is not the

case, however—the fish waste actually makes great plant food. The waste-filled water is recirculated throughout the system instead of being flushed away. One very important aspect of aquaponics that needs to be under-stood is that it is not just a symbiotic relationship between fish and plants—there is another system of organisms operating within every aquaponic system that is crucial to success. This is the network of beneficial bacteria that needs to exist in every aquaponic set-up. The beneficial bacteria nitro-samonas sp converts ammonia from fish urine and feces into nitrite and the beneficial bacteria nitrobacter sp then converts the nitrite into nitrate—a form of nitrogen that plants can absorb and fish can tolerate in their water at low levels. Without the action of this network of beneficial bacteria the water would develop toxic levels of nitrite (even small amounts are toxic) and

both the fish and plants would eventually die.

This network of beneficial bac-

teria is frag-ile and must

be cared for as carefully as your fish

or plants. This means that you can’t use any chemicals—including hydrogen peroxide or pesticides (chemical or organic)—that could harm the ben-eficial bacteria. If you stick to these rules you can create a healthy system of “good” bacteria in your aquaponic system. Bacteria need a lot of surface area to thrive—raft and deepwater culture systems have enough surface area for the beneficial bacteria to grow but systems such as NFT (nutrient film technique) do not. In NFT systems you

have to help the bacteria by creating a biofilter, which can be accomplished by adding a separate chamber to the system that the waste-filled water will have to pass through. In this chamber a piece of mesh should be strung from side to side, providing adequate surface area for the bacteria culture. You could buy bacteria and add them to your system but this is not really necessary as they will develop and grow naturally if allowed to.For beneficial bacteria to thrive a

neutral pH balance of seven should be maintained, unlike hydroponic systems where the pH should be kept slightly acidic at a level of 5.8 to 6.8.

Environmental benefits

There are many reasons to choose com-mercial and small-scale home aqua-ponic systems over traditional methods of farming fish and vegetables sepa-rately. Environmental concerns are one big reason that aquaponic systems are being looked at seriously as an impor-tant future source of food—aquapon-ics will eliminate the need for the costly synthetic nutrients that are often used in hydroponic systems. These syn-thetic nutrients are made using fossil fuels and many experts believe that we

have reached the peak level of oil production.

Edible fish thatDo wELL in cLosED EnvironmEnts arE rEquirED—

tiLapia, whitE bass, crappiE anD barramunDi arE spEciEs that arE usED in many commErciaL

anD homE aquaponic systEms.”

AquAponics


This is a controversial topic and is debatable, but either way these fossil fuels could be better used in other ways, such as heating and powering homes.Another environmental benefit

aquaponic systems have over other farming options is that you don’t use pesticides when farming with aquapon-ics. Pesticides that are normally used to control and eliminate insects are harm-ful to the fish in aquaponic systems. Although most pesticides in use today are considered relatively safe, there are many that are not—and not all coun-tries enforce the same strict pesticide laws that protect us in North America.Aquaponics is also advantageous in

that it conserves water. Fish farms must either use expensive filters to purify water before it is recirculated, or—more likely—dirty water is just flushed and fresh water is then used to replace it. Water used in hydroponic systems must be replaced often as well—salts and minerals that are not absorbed by the plants can build up, reaching toxic levels quickly. In aquaponic systems

plants absorb the fish waste, acting as a natural filter. In this way water can be continuously recirculated, only occa-sionally needing a top-up to make up for evaporation and plant transpiration.The capability of aquaponic systems

to recirculate water efficiently could be beneficial in arid regions of the world where so many countries are now facing drought and food short-ages. Aquaponics looks like it could be a great solution to those problems—by recirculating water, aquaponics systems should allow people to grow more food with less water. Since aquaponics doesn’t require synthetic nutrients or pesticides either, it can be a very cost-effective means of feeding many people. Aquaponics could also be established on a large-scale outdoors in warmer climates to utilise the sunlight.People love fish—it is highly nutri-

tious and at one time the supply of most species was so plentiful as to appear inexhaust-ible. Now, due to overfishing, climate change and lax regula-tions, the world’s stocks are rapidly dwindling and it seems more and

more likely that fish farming will have to become the way of the future. If we are serious about finding a sustainable way for future generations to acquire the nutrition that fish can provide, we must take a long look at aquaponics.The world continues to change and

the population is going to keep grow-ing. Climate change and ever-expand-ing urban sprawl are taking away fertile land that was once used for agriculture. Fish stocks are plummeting, while large-scale farming on land reduces the natural habitats of animal species. We are at a vital crossroads and the well-being of future generations depends on which road we take—it’s beginning to seem more obvious every day that aquaponics could be a very important part of the solution to our planet’s impending food shortages.

AquaponicscouLD aLso bE

EstabLishED on a LargE scaLE outDoors in

warmEr cLimatEs to utiLisE thE sunLight.”


The Result: Greater hydration & more life-force in the form of negative ions.

✔ Improves taste and appearance✔ Up to 300% increase in growth rate✔ Decreased turn-around time✔ Less fertilizer✔ Less water

✔ Independant test results✔ 30 year life span✔ 10 year warranty✔ Goodbye to wetting agents✔ Reduced scale build-up

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with the Super Imploder, a unique water structuring and re-energizing system.

Water is passed through our unique golden ratio nozzle

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by GrubbyCup

BASIC PLANT GENETICSThe basic principles at work behind the modification of plant genetics

can be demonstrated with a simple pack of playing cards.


Most of the different varieties of tomatoes we know today are examples of plant breeding and many of them were originally developed by home gardeners.”

Gardeners have been breeding plants for specific traits for thousands of years. By following the simple rule of cross-ing your best examples together, substantial modification can be made to any plant over enough generations. Many of the original heirloom vegetables are believed to have been developed using this basic technique. Most of the different varieties of tomatoes we know today are exam-ples of plant breeding and many of them were originally developed by home gardeners.While improvement can be made to plant strains

without understanding any of the science behind it, learning even just the basics of Mendelian genetics can greatly improve breeding attempts and doesn’t require an advanced degree in molecular biology. Plants have a number of chromosomes in their reproductive cells. The number of chromosomes depends on the type of plant. For example, peas have only 14 chromosomes, while some strains of wheat have 42. Each chromosome contains many genes, which are the blueprints for how the plant will grow. A plant may have a gene present that will determine, say, whether it has the instructions to grow red flowers or to grow white flowers. In this example, flower colour is a trait and it may be expressed as red or white, depending on the gene. All the instructions contained in the genes are collec-tively known as the genotype of the plant.


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The colour of

flower that will

manifest in a

plant that is

heterozygous

for that trait will

depend on which

gene is dominant.”

It’s true that some complex traits require multiple genes to express, and some traits require specific combinations of genes to manifest. For example, calico cats have to be female, with a different colour on each X chromosome. For the pur-pose of this discussion, though, we’ll keep things simple and talk about an either/or situation: red flowers or white.Mendelian traits are binary; they have two states. Since our

hypothetical plant can have either red or white flowers, play-ing cards can be used to model a single regular trait, con-trolled by a single gene, located on a single chromosome.Take a deck of playing cards and remove the jokers. Cut the

deck in half and create two stacks—the left stack will rep-resent genes from the father and the right stack the genes from the mother. To show your first resulting offspring, place one card from each stack face up. Red cards symbolise the genetic instruction for red flowers and black cards repre-sent an instruction to grow white flowers.There are three possible scenarios governing what the

two face-up cards will be. Twenty-five per cent of the time both cards will be red and your imaginary plant will produce red flowers. Twenty-five per cent of the time both cards will be black and your subject will produce white flowers. A plant with two of the same form of the gene is said to be homozygous for that trait. Fifty per cent of the time, however, the pair will consist of one red card and one black card. A plant with one of each of the two forms of a certain gene is said to be heterozygous for that trait. The colour of flower that will manifest in a plant that

is heterozygous for that trait will depend on which gene is dominant. Simply stated, the dominant gene wins all ties. If the red gene is dominant then the mixed pairs will show red flowers, while if the white gene is dominant then mixed pairs will have white flowers. In order to keep things simple, we’ll assume that red genes will be the dominant form in our demonstration.Because of the principle of dominance, when both par-

ents are heterozygous the recessive form will present 25% of the time and 75% of the time the dominant form will show up. Even though 25% of the plants are homozygous for the trait and 50% are heterozygous, the resulting plants will have red flowers 75% of the time. To show the result over a number of plants, deal out 25 cards face down in a five-by-five grid—these will represent

the genes inherited from one parent. To repre-sent the gene each plant gets from the other

parent, deal a card face up on each of the down cards. Since red is dominant,

for each pair that has a black card face up, flip the pair to exchange

the up card and the down card. Approximately 25% of the face-

up cards should be black and the rest red. The pheno-

type is the plant that is expressed by growing out the seed. No matter what

the face-down card is, the face-up card determines the phenotype.

basic plant genetics


With real plants, there is no way to peek at the hole card—the only way to determine its value is by testing and deduction.”

The genotype refers to both the up card and the down card together. If the face-up card is red, then our hypothetical plant will grow with the dominant trait of red flowers. This will happen 75% of the time, since the four possibilities in the two cards are:

• Red, red = true breeding (homozygous) for red flowers

• Black, black = true breeding (homozygous) for white flowers

• Red, black = red flowers, since it is heterozygous and red is dominant

• Black, red = red flowers, since it is heterozygous and red is dominant

In other words, the same ratio we saw before—of 25% reces-sive to 75% dominant—will occur, but on a larger scale. The reason why understanding these ratios is important is that with real plants, there is no way to peek at the hole card—the only way to determine its value is by testing and deduction. All that can be observed directly is that about 75% of the face-up cards are red. Traits become stable or fixed when the other form of the gene (card colour) is eliminated or at least greatly reduced in the gene pool.If the recessive form of the gene (represented by a black

card) is paired with another recessive form (another black card) there will be no ties, as only black cards are available, and the trait will breed true. All the face-up black cards should have a black card underneath as well. This is why recessive traits are easier to breed than dominant traits: if a recessive trait expresses itself, you know it will breed true if crossed with another plant that also expresses that trait. If you take a plant with two black cards and cross it with another plant with two black cards, all the offspring will also have only black cards.


Most of the time the face-up card will be red and the plant will show the dominant form of the gene. The reason that dominant traits are harder to work with is that both the true-breeding plants and the heterozygous (mixed card) plants will both express as red flowers. To stabilise a cultivar, as many important traits as possible are bred to be homozygous (both cards of the same colour). Since the bottom card can only be indirectly observed, it is more difficult to know the difference between the two. What can be done with dominant traits is to keep breeding

plants that appear to be true-breeding for the trait until it is statistically improbable that they aren’t true-breeding. If one of the parents with a red up card has a black down card, you will still get red flowers, but as the generations continue then at some point two black cards will come together in the same plant. This will be a throwback and will show the recessive form.Heterozygy may not be desirable for breeding a stable line,

but it can have benefits. Hybrid vigor tends to express itself in heterozygous plants. Because of this factor hybrids are often

ideally the product of two true-breeding plants of opposite colour—two red cards to two black

cards. To observe the effects of hybridi-sation, separate the cards by suits into

four stacks. Put the two red stacks face up together to sym-

bolise the mother and the black stacks face

up for the father. The mother plant will show the dominant form since she has a red card and the father plant will not, since both his

cards are black.

Randomly take one card from one of the two mother stacks. Since all her cards are red it doesn’t matter which stack you take from—the card will be red. Then take one card from one of the father stacks and again, no matter which stack you take from the card will be black. Since offspring get one card from their mother and one from their father, all the offspring will have one black card and one red card. Therefore, the children will all express the dominant trait because they will all have a red card. Hybrids that all have one red and one black card will all show the dominant form and can appear very similar to each other. This technique is often used to create commercial seeds.Hybrids can also express hybrid vigour, which generates

superior plants, although one drawback to hybrids is that they do not breed true. In the following demonstration of hybridisation all the offspring will have one red card and one black card. Arrange the stacks so that the mother has one red stack and one black stack and the father has one red stack and one black stack.

The reason that dominant traits are harder to work with

is that both the true-breeding plants and the heterozygous

(mixed card) plants will both express as red flowers.”

basic plant genetics


To simulate crossing the two parents, take one card from the mother (randomly choose

between her two stacks) and do the same with the father. Deal several hands, flip

the black pairs and what you should find is that the results change dramatically from the original hybrids. While the offspring of the cross making the hybrid creates sib-

lings that are similar to each other, the generation after that will show both dominant and recessive traits.

This is how traits can hide or skip generations.If two plants that both show the recessive form of a trait are

crossed, the offspring will also (generally) show the reces-sive trait. If two plants that both show the dominant form of the trait are crossed, the offspring may or may not all show the dominant traits. If all the offspring show the dominant trait, that is an indication that at least one of parents is true-breeding for that trait. In the generation after that if no offspring display the recessive form of the trait then that is an indication that the line is true-breeding for the dominant trait. It is only an indication; however, since as long as one of the plants involved in the crossing has a black down card the recessive form may resurface in later generations.Keeping good records is a must, and each plant should

be evaluated for the desired traits. By observing traits over several generations and then comparing the results to the ratios from either dealing pairs with different combinations of parent stacks or the mathematical results from a Punnett square, educated guesses as to the value of the unseen face-down cards can be made. Making sense of the mysteries of genetics can take a bit of effort, but by understanding these basic principles you can begin to improve your own seed making results dramatically.


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Plant diseases are a major limiting factor in agricultural production. Most growers use high amounts of chemicals to control plant diseases, but they are unaware that mineral nutrition has an important role in disease control. Essential plant nutrients influence the health of plants and their susceptibility to disease. In other words, plants suffering a nutrient stress will be more susceptible to diseases, while adequate crop nutrition makes plants more tolerant of or resistant to disease. (Note that the resistance of plants to diseases is mainly related to genetics, but the ability of the plant to express its genetic resistance to a particular disease is affected by mineral nutrition.)Some nutrients have a greater impact on plant diseases

than others. However, it should be noted that a particular nutrient could have opposite impacts on different diseases and in different environments—for example, the same nutrient might decrease the incidence of one disease, but increase the incidence of others. Soil pH, nitrogen forms and the availability of nutrients also play a major role in disease management. Nutrient manipulation can be achieved directly by applying adequate fertilisers, or indirectly through the use of different cultural practices, such as liming for pH adjustment, irrigation, organic amendments, tillage, etc.

“Nutrient manipulation Can be aChieved

direCtly by applyinG adequate fertiliSerS.”


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Mineral nutrition

How can mineral nutrition prevent plant disease? Basically, all diseases have a cycle of three to five parts, and any disease can be prevented or suppressed if that cycle is interrupted. Mineral nutrition can affect two primary resistance mechanisms: first, the formation of mechanical barriers (e.g., thickness of cell walls), and secondly, the synthesis of natural defense compounds (e.g., antioxidants, phytoalexins and flavonoids).Different pathogens have different infection mechanisms.

Fungi penetrate surface cells (the epidermis) by passing between or through the cells. The cell walls present a physical resistance to the fungus and stronger cell walls can prevent the infection. Certain nutrients, like calcium, play a major role in the ability of the plant to develop stronger cell walls and tissues. Mineral nutrition also affects the production of antifungal compounds in plants. However, when some nutrients are below a certain level, plants release com-pounds that contain higher amounts of sugars and amino acids, thus stimulat-ing the establishment of the fungus.Bacteria invade the plant tissue

through wounds, sucking insects and through the stomata. Then they spread within the intercellular spaces, releasing enzymes that dissolve the plant tissue. The ability of bacteria to spread within the plant tissues depends on the strength of the internal cells, which is greatly affected by mineral nutrition. Calcium is known for its ability to inhibit such enzymes. Another mechanism in which

bacteria spread within the plant is in the xylem (the vessels that transport water in the plant). The bacteria forms slime within the vessels, which blocks them and results in stems and leaves wilting and dying. Certain plant nutrients suppress the ability of bacteria to form this slime.Viruses are transmitted to plants by sucking insects

and fungi. It was found that silicon—although not a plant nutrient—inhibits the feeding ability of some sucking pests like aphids, thus reducing viral infection.

Cultural practices and soil condition Many plant diseases are categorised as high-pH diseases or low-pH diseases, high-ammonium or high-nitrate types, high- or low-moisture varietals, etc. Thus, cultural conditions that influence the form of nitrogen also affect soil pH and, therefore, disease development. For example, verticillium wilt

of vegetables, phymatotrichum root rot of cotton and thielavi-opsis root rot of tobacco are all associated with alkaline soils. Another example, scab is reduced in lower soil pH. Sulfur and ammonium are used to decrease soil pH and reduce scab, while calcium, potassium and nitrate might increase scab.

Same nutrient, different effectDifferent oxidation forms of the same nutrient often have opposing effects on plant disease. This is true mainly for nitro-gen, sulfur, manganese and iron. For example, nitrate and ammonium nitrogen forms have different metabolic pathways.

Therefore, they have different effects on plant disease.

Additional examples EXCESS NITROGEN

Adequate nitrogen levels are necessary for disease resis-tance. However, excess nitrogen could promote favourable

conditions to plant disease. Reasons for this include:

• Excess nitrogen promotes thinner and weaker cell walls

• Increased plant density creates high humidity and low light conditions

• Excess nitrogen delays maturity of plant tissues therefore increasing the risk of disease infection and development

• An unbalanced sodium-potassium ratio affects both yield and disease resistance

POTASSIUM AND POTASSIUM-CALCIUM RATIO Potassium is an important nutrient in plant disease pre-

vention because it is involved in many cellular pro-cesses that influence disease severity. It was also

found effective in the prevention of bacteria, fungi and nematodes. However, excess

potassium and a high potassium-calcium ratio might result in calcium deficiency and reduced resis-tance to dis-eases. Mineral nutrition and cultural practices that affect it play an important

role in the prevention of plant disease and

in the resistance of plants to diseases. Although diseases cannot be totally elim-

inated by any particular nutrient (growers must also use proper fertiliser programs

based on soil tests, plant analysis and disease monitoring), bal-anced plant nutrition can help growers minimise chemical use, increase productivity and reduce the severity of disease.

“cultural conditions that influenCe the fOrm Of nitrOGen alSO affeCt SOil

ph and, therefOre, diSeaSe develOpment.”

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PhysiologicalDisordersof Indoor Gardens

by dr. Lynette MorGan

Indoor GardenInG aLLows Gardeners to be fuLLy In controL of theIr pLants. so, when

physIoLoGIcaL dIsorders strIke, they can seeM stranGe, MysterIous and even sInIster…


Indoor gardens can be a fairly intense environment for hydroponic plants. High levels of light, heat, carbon dioxide enrichment and a plentiful supply of water and nutrients give plants everything they could want; however, sometimes growth can still go awry with no obvious cause. Physiological disorders, which affect a plant’s development, are usually the culprit and they are caused by environmen-tal or cultural factors.Some of these physiological disorders, such as tip burn

on heading lettuce or blossom-end rot on tomatoes, are common in indoor gardens, large-scale commercial greenhouses and outdoor production, so they are relatively well-understood and easily recognizable. Other physi-ological conditions, however, are much more specific to the enclosed environment of indoor hydroponic systems and are not as well-understood or easily diagnosed by growers. Some physiological disorder symptoms are also non-specific, meaning the same symptom could be caused by a number of different issues—like plant pathogens, nutritional problems or a complex physiological problem. In this case, having a good idea of basic plant requirements and physiology is the best place to start.

Physiological Problems in detailHumidity and root pressure issuesHumidity levels—if not kept below a certain level—might be more often associated with an increased risk of fungal and bacterial disease; however, it also plays an important role in plant physiology. The plant must be able to transpire and lose water in order to maintain the transpiration stream within itself. If transpiration is slowed down due to high humidity and lack of air movement (which removes the stale and humid boundary layer sounding the leaf), then elements like calcium can’t be transported fast enough to the developing leaf tips and fruit. When this occurs, many inexperienced grow-

ers mistake the resulting brown or black tissue of blossom-end rot (BER)—in tomatoes and peppers—and tip burn—on the youngest leaves in lettuce, straw-berry and other salad crops—to be a disease. However, it is in fact most often due to a localized deficiency of calcium that develops in the extremities of the plants. In well-run hydroponic systems, tip burn and BER are rarely caused by a calcium deficiency in the root zone; these calcium transport problems are more commonly found in warmer growing conditions and are usually associated with high humidity. These conditions can be improved by lowering humidity and increasing air flow over the plants to boost the rate of transpiration and, therefore, the flow of calcium out to developing fruits and leaf tips. Calcium transport disorders like these also have a genetic element, and many modern cultivars of lettuce and tomatoes have had some degree of BER or tip-burn resistance bred into them.

GlassinessAnother less well-known physiological disorder related to humidity levels is glassiness, most commonly seen in lettuce, young seedlings and other succulent crops. Glassiness creates patches with a water-soaked, almost translucent appearance on the leaves of plants—and it’s often seen first thing in the morning and it might disappear later on as the plants warm up. This disorder is related to both high humidity and root pressure, which is greatest at night. Roots can take up excess moisture under the cooler conditions at night and, using root pressure, pump this up to the foliage where it can’t be lost from the leaves thanks to the low rate of transpiration that occurs when temperatures are cool and humidity is high.

leaf rolling can have a number of causes, including CO2 toxicity.

“ these days, growers have the choice of the latest technology for Monitoring and adjusting the indoor growing environMent so that Many physiological disorders can be prevented.”


a halo of yellow tissue around this cucumber leaf is a result of high eC in the root zone.

Physiological DisorDers

This condition is usually reversible (with no lasting damage) once good ventilation and air flow are introduced and humidity is lowered. However, if glassiness persists and becomes severe, leaf cells can eventually die and create dead patches of foliage that could then be infected with disease.

Edema (Oedema)Edema is more common than most growers realise; how-ever, its symptoms are often not correctly linked back to the cause. As with glassiness, edema is caused by an imbalance between the plant’s water uptake and water loss, and devel-ops when root pressure is high and transpiration low. The enlarged cells—which are full of water—divide and rupture, causing a number of symptoms like raised blisters, galls and water-soaked swellings or protrusions on leaves, stems and veins. In later stages, the damaged tissue becomes corky with gall-like formations that harden and darken with age. In mild cases, plants can recover from edema; in severe ones, leaves can curl and become distorted and foliage will drop in the later stages. It has been suggested that edema is linked to the spectral quality of the lighting, with red light promoting the condition and ultra-violet inhibiting it. Edema, however, is usually controlled or prevented by careful management of the environment by increasing air movement, lowering humidity with high rates of ventilation, using a well-drained growing medium with optimum levels of nitrogen, ect.

light, temPerature and carbon dioxide issues sPecific to indoor gardensContinuous light injury or abnormal photoperiod effectsLight injury is another physiological disorder often only seen in indoor gardens, where HID lighting can be run continu-ously or for long periods. Many plant species can tolerate continuous lighting (although running lamps for 24 hours a day may not give the growth increases expected), but some species—including tomato, potato and some ornamentals—are intolerant of extended or continuous periods of light.

If exposed to such conditions, they can develop physiologi-cal disorders, such as becoming severely chlorotic, yellowed and stunted or with brown flecking of the foliage. High-light injury is also more common in environments where CO2

enrichment is used and it is thought that a high buildup of starch in the chloroplasts might play a role in this disorder.

CO2 injuryEnriching an enclosed growing area with CO2 can

result in significant growth benefits; however, CO2 toxicity can occur when levels run too high. Some

plant species are more susceptible to CO2 toxicity than others, so maximum-level recommenda-tions are hard to define. That being said, opti-

mum ranges for most plants are below 1,600 ppm, more commonly in the 800 to 1,200 ppm

range. Sometimes, in indoor gardens, the cause of CO2 toxicity is a faulty CO2 monitor; in that case, the

grower would not be aware that CO2 levels are well above optimum. It should also be noted that high levels of CO2

are toxic to humans as well—levels of 5,000 ppm can cause dizziness or a lack of co-ordination—which is another good reason for keeping CO2 monitors properly calibrated.In plants, symptoms of CO2 toxicity can include leaf rolling

or deformation, chlorosis or mottling of the leaves and, in later stages, leaf drop of older foliage.

Gasses as unwanted contaminantsSome of the most severe physiological disorders are caused by gasses that find their way into the growing envi-ronment. Propane leaks from heating systems have been known to cause injury to indoor crops, but ethylene is a more common issue. Ethylene is a gas and a plant hormone that can originate from a number of sources, including rotting vegetation, ripening fruit, vehicle exhaust, and some plant-growth regulators. However, malfunctioning heating systems and the incorrect use of burners to gen- erate CO2 are the most common causes of ethylene contamination in growing environments.

“ soMe physiological disorder syMptoMs are also non-specific, Meaning the saMe syMptoM could be caused by a nuMber of different issues.”


Wilting plants, despite having sufficient water, is typical of a lack of oxygen in the root zone, often caused by overwatering.

The severity of symptoms depends on the species being grown and the level of ethylene buildup. Some sensitive plants, such as tomatoes, will show symp-toms—like epinasty (downward bending of the leaves while remaining turgid), reduced growth and height and, in severe cases, leaf and flower abscission—at eth-ylene levels as low as 0.05 ppm.

Premature boltingBolting is the term used to describe the premature elonga-tion of a plant’s compact stem. The entire plant, which is still relatively young and immature, grows upwards and forms a flower stalk. Lettuce, other salad greens and herbs can bolt or go to seed extremely early, sometimes while still in the seedling stage.

“as with Many physiological disorders,

the syMptoMs of these May be confusing to

new or inexperienced growers; however,

they are usually never forgotten once

encountered.”


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tipburn can be common on lettuce and other vegetables under conditions of high humidity.

Salt burn can be mistaken for plant disease.

Typically, this occurs when tem-peratures are higher than optimal, often combined with low light levels or overcrowding. Some culti-vars have been bred to have some degree of premature bolting resis-tance, but this physiological disor-der is still a common problem, par-ticularly with lettuce. Prevention is relatively easy, however: maintain temperatures below 78oF for let-tuce and other cool season salads, maintain suitably high light levels and prevent seedlings from becom-ing pot-bound and overcrowded before planting out.

Media and nutrient issuesOverwatering and under watering are the most common causes of physiological disorders in hydro-ponic crops; however, overwa-tering is far more common and misdiagnosed than under watering (we all know what a dry root system looks like, after all). Interestingly, overwatering initially looks quite similar to under watering—at least from the top of the plant. Wilting, downward hanging leaves, eventual leaf/bud/flower drop, yellowing and chloro-sis are all signs of overwatering. In the most severe cases, epinasty will result because the damaged root systems will have started produc-ing ethylene. Overwatering can be prevented by reducing the frequency and volume of nutrient applied, particularly under cooler growing conditions, and using a coarse, free-draining medium like perlite.

Elephant’s footThe root zone can be the cause of other physiological dis-orders in hydroponics. Some of the most common of these disorders are related to salinity damage and electrical con-ductivity (EC) buildup. As with many physiological disorders, the symptoms of these may be confusing to new or inexperi-enced growers; however, they are usually never forgotten once encountered. For example, one condition that is common in pepper plants (other plants can also develop a similar appear-ance) is elephant’s foot—or, foot corkiness. Elephant’s foot is characterised by a swollen and sometimes cracked area on the stem close to the base of the plant, caused by injury to the stem cells by excessive amounts of salts. It is easy for nutrient salts to accumulate around the base of the plant, particularly where the nutrient is irrigated close to the stem area or when a highly free-draining growing medium is used under low-humidity conditions. Elephant’s foot is less likely to occur when seed-lings are planted deeper into the growing medium and when nutrient salt buildup around the stem is prevented.

“ soMe plant species are More susceptible to co2 toxicity than others, so MaxiMuM-level recoMMendations are hard to define.”

Physiological DisorDers


Strange growth, deformed leaves and plant stunting can all be caused by various physiological disorders.

Salinity damageSalinity damage in hydroponic systems is much more common in some crops than others. Tomatoes, for exam-ple, are fairly tolerant of high EC and salt buildup, whereas other more sensitive plants like cucumbers and lettuce are not. Cucumbers show a fairly distinctive disorder when the EC becomes too high in the root zone (EC levels of only 3.0 to 3.5 have been shown to cause these symptoms in some cucumber crops): wilting during the warmest part of the day, followed by a distinctive leaf halo—a thin band of yellow coloration around the leaf margin. This disorder is more common under warm growing

conditions with rapid evaporation from the growing media and high rates of water uptake by the plant. These act to concentrate the EC and salts around the root zone, leading to salinity damage. Salinity damage is common under the warm, dry conditions of many indoor hydroponics gardens where EC levels in the root zone can climb far more rapidly than a grower may realize. In this case, the EC in the feed solution should be dropped right back to adjust for the increased rate of water uptake by the plants.

Physiological disorders can range from mild (sometimes not even noticeable) to severe (causing plant death), so identification of the problem is the key to a quick recovery. Physiological disorders can be easily forgotten and over-looked; so, when a problem starts occurring, it pays not to just assume that every issue is either a disease or nutri-ent disorder. Most of these physiological conditions are induced by factors that are fully under our control and—in an indoor situation—that means keeping a constant check on light, humidity, temperature, salinity in the root zone, CO2 and heating/venting systems. Luckily, these days grow-ers have the choice of the latest technology for monitoring and adjusting the indoor growing environment so that many physiological disorders can be prevented—using and maintaining the best equipment to monitor CO2, root zone moisture levels, pH, EC, temperature, humidity and vapour pressure deficit, air flow and light levels go a long way to preventing any unwanted growth issues.

“the root zone can be the cause of other

physiological disorders in hydroponics. soMe of

the Most coMMon of these disorders are related to salinity daMage and electrical conductivity

(ec) buildup.”



THE THINGS,

LITTLE

methods in controlling ph, PPm and ec organically

EC, pH and ppm are caused by tiny molecules, but they have a huge impact on your garden. Here, Mark Boutwell explains what these things are, how to measure them and the benefits of keeping them balanced.

by markboutwell II

Naturally


NaturallyTHE moST productive range is between 5.8 and 6.8, but My recoMMendation is to not get caught up on being so precise.”

Whether you’re growing hydroponically, with aquaponics or in soil or soilless media, your pH will always have impor-tance. But what exactly is pH? It is a measurement of how acidic or alkaline a substance is when measured on a scale from 1 to 14 (1 being the most acidic and 14 being the most alkaline). The mea-surement is depending on the amount of hydrogen ions are in the solution, which is why pH stands for probable hydrogen. The next question that most growers ask

about pH is the ideal level to the decimal for your plants. If you ask five growers this question, you will most likely receive five different answers. Normally, when growers asked me this question, I rephrase it from what is the exact pH to what is the most productive pH range for my plants. The most productive range is between 5.8 and 6.8, but my recommendation is to not get caught up on being so precise. As long as you are within that range, the majority of all macro- and micronutrients will be readily available for the plant to take up. Still, many times I have worked with growers that had the perfect grow-ing environment, great cash flow and more than enough light, but still had a low yield because of pH imbalance in the growing media. So, be sure to keep on top of your levels. Many growers are also looking for an organic method to

raise and lower their pH. You can indeed control your pH without ever messing with any chemicals by using basic products. If a grower used beneficial fungus, nitrogen-fixing bacteria and highly chelated mineral deposits (such as rock dust) before planting in any growing medium and working keeping the ppm under 800, that grower would rarely run into a nutrient-lockout issue. The reason why is because when you grow organic, your entire ecosystem is working in

harmony and with the same goal in mind: the plant’s sur-vival. When your crop is not utilising microbiology, the plant is completely reliant upon this grower. This is like it skydiver jumping out of the plane without a back-up parachute.Speaking of ppm, remember that ppm, TDS and EC are

all the same thing. EC measures the electrical conductivity of your water (everything in this world—even down to the molecular level—has an electrical charge). In other words, EC measures the amount of salts in your hydroponic system. When you have less salt in a system, you have a lower EC; if you have more salts in a system, you will have a higher EC.

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the little things

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You caN indeed control your

pH witHout ever messing witH any

cHemicals by using basic products.”

WHEN SomEoNE asks if you know your tds/ppM, all he or she is asking for is a reading of how Many salts are in your hydroponic systeM.”

Then, while TDS stands for total dissolved solids and ppm stands for parts per million, these readings provide you with the same information as EC—when someone asks if you know your TDS/ppm, all he or she is asking for is a reading of how many salts are in your hydroponic system.In a regular hydroponic system, the most expe-

rience growers will recommend that you have at least an EC reading of 1 to grow anything in hydroponics. If you are growing in an aquaponic system, you could grow full tomatoes with an EC reading of 0.2. I personally have seen great produce pro-duced using an EC range of 0.2 to 3.6, the levels depend-ing on the growing method and the crops being grown. There are charts available detailing ideal levels, but many like to experiment and figure out what works for them. Just remember that when your EC is too high, you will normally see all your worms leave the environment. All of your beneficial fungi and bacteria go dormant after about 1.6 EC or 800 ppm/TDS.Then, when you know the EC, ppm or TDS of your

system, you can then decide if you need to add some-thing to your solution, leave it alone or dilute it. One of the best ways to control your EC, TDS and ppm organi-cally is to use reverse osmosis (RO) water. By doing this, you have the ability to use a fifth or less fertiliser than conventional farming. You can get an RO system relatively inexpensively, but it’s better to not be cheap on this. Clean water is your friend! Keep in mind that ideally you always want to start with a lower ppm or EC because when you start with a higher ppm or EC, you cannot take it away. Also, remember that less is more—water will always be taken up and evapourate faster than your salts are taking up by your plants. As such, always monitor the water levels. If you are noticing your plants taking up a certain amount of water, then I would recommend adding at least that much water every day. If you are growing in soil, I would recom-mend feeding once and using only water one or two times before the next feed. This will allow your plants time to process the nutrients. So, if you’re going to take the time and

resources to grow, be sure to take the time to also check your pH, EC and ppm. You can measure pH, EC and ppm with inexpensive tools that are sold at your local hydro-ponic store. Sure, they’re small things, but remember that suc-cess is normally a collabora-tion of small decisions that went in your favour over a long period of time.

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Five CommonlyOverlookedCleaning Steps

by Karen Wilkinson

A common (if not the most common) cause of system algae, slime, bacterial growth and stunted root growth is improper cleaning practices—or inconsistent or altogether lacking habits. I can’t stress the importance of cleaning enough to keep your system bacteria- and pathogen-free, which ulti-mately promotes healthy baby plant propagation. In that spirit, I’ve decided to spotlight some of the

more frequently overlooked—or skipped—steps in the cloning system cleaning process, which should be performed following each cycle. From the misters and manifold, to the drain plug and laser line, below are some tips and tricks on the best ways to success-fully scrub those pieces.

Properly cleaning your cloning system is extremely important forthe promotion of healthy plants.Here are a few tips on how to do it.


MistersThese tiny devices need to be removed from the manifold during each cleaning and placed in a separate cup of bleach-water solution. Due to their intricate nature, gunk and root material gets trapped in the tiny grooves between them and the manifold. If not properly cleaned, this material will infect the water and the stems. After 20 minutes sitting in the bleach-water solution, remove the misters, rinse with fresh water and use compressed air or a toothbrush to clear the misters of any residual buildup.

ManifoldThis is one of the more common spots for bacteria and disease to flourish. It can become susceptible to sick manifold syndrome (SMS) and become a haven for gunk to thrive. After each cycle, place the water pump and manifold (without the misters) back in the reservoir and fill to the top with a bleach-water solution, then plug the water pump in and let run for 20 minutes, fully submerged. Rinse thoroughly afterward.

NeoprenesWhile using new neoprene collars for each cycle is a guaranteed way to avoid system contamination, it’s not always

realistic. So, if reusing, place and submerge them in a bucket of bleach-water solution for

20 minutes, then flush with fresh water until there is no bleach odor. Individually scrub

and squeeze each like a sponge to ensure no plant matter or tissue is stuck in the material. Allow them to air dry, but do not place in the sunlight. Some people also clean them in their clothes washer, which can be done using a mild bleach solution (the water can be any tem-

perature). Just don’t use detergent and do not place them in the dryer afterward.

“ i can’t stress the importance of cleaning enough to keep your system bacteria- and pathogen-free, which ultimately promotes healthy baby plant propagation..”

Laser lineAnother small, intricate piece of the system, the laser line is also a vulnerable spot for infection. Disconnect it from the air pump and place in the bottom of the reservoir; fill the reservoir to the top and allow the water pump to run for 20 minutes. Then thoroughly rinse the line and drain all water from it, which can be done by hooking one end to the air pump and turning it on. Raising the pump and keeping it vertical will help the water drain faster. If compressed air is available, use it to blow the gunk out of the line.

Drain plugDisassemble the drain plug and wipe off the two rubber washers and adaptor with a cleaning pad and bleach-water solution; reassemble when finished.

It’s fairly simple to maintain your cloning system, and it’s best to always have bleach on hand for cleaning at the end of each cycle. Many prefer to take the system to the bath tub or shower (who knew a trip to the bathroom could be so much fun?). Good luck and happy cloning!



Let us first look at some

basics. Photosynthe-sis is the process by which plant

leaves make carbohydrates. Specifically, sunlight, CO2 and water are converted into carbohydrates and oxygen (O2) by the action of chlorophyll in the plant’s chloroplasts. When plants are able to maximise the process

of photosynthesis, the result is larger plants with larger yields. However, plants growing indoors under artificial light often lack enough CO2 to efficiently photosynthesize. Plants can quickly use up the available CO2 and convert it to O2. When O2 levels rise too high, stomata on the leaf’s surface close and plant growth virtually stops. Growing areas that have limited or no air circulation can be affected even more.

“lack of air MoveMent causes co2 that would be used by plants to becoMe unavailable due to its distance froM the leaf (usually down low in the growing area).”

Lack of air movement causes CO2 that would be used by plants to become unavailable due to its distance from the leaf (usually down low in the growing area). Moving air helps solve this problem. Adequate levels of light, water and nutrients

are needed for good plant growth. Therefore, it might seem logical to assume the growth-promoting effects of indoor CO2 enrich-ment would be reduced when these essential resources are present in less-than-adequate amounts. In many instances, however, the per-centage of growth enhancement provided by indoor CO2 enrichment is even greater when these important natural resources are present in sub-optimal quantities. When they are in

such short supply that plants cannot survive un-der ambient CO2 concentrations, elevated levels of CO2 often enable such vegetation to grow and successfully reproduce where they would otherwise die. One of the reasons that plants are able to respond to indoor CO2 enrichment in the face of significant shortages of light, water and nutrients is that CO2-enriched plants generally have more extensive and active root systems, which allows them to more thoroughly explore larger volumes of soil in search of the things they need.Ambient CO2 levels (percentage of CO2 in

the air with any enrichment) typically hover around 400 ppm. Indoor plants can quickly convert this CO2 through photosynthesis and deplete available CO2. When CO2 lev-els fall to around 150 ppm, the rate of plant growth quickly declines. Enriching the air in the indoor growing area to around 1,200 to 1,500 ppm can have a dramatic effect on plant growth. Growth rates typically increase by up to 30%. Stems and branches grow faster, and the cells of those areas are more densely packed. Stems can carry more weight without bending or breaking. CO2-enriched plants also have more flowering sites due to the increased branching effect.CO2 enrichment also affects the way a plant

can tolerate high temperatures. At the highest air temperatures encountered by plants, CO2 enrichment can often mean the difference


“aMbient co2 levels (percentage of co2 in the air with any enrichMent) typically hover around 400 parts per Million (ppM).”

between living and dying. It typically enables plants to maintain positive carbon exchange rates in situations where plants growing under ambient CO2 levels would normally exhibit negative rates that ultimately lead to their demise. This is because CO2 enrichment affects transpiration by causing the stomata to partially close, which slows down the loss of water vapour into the air. As such, foliage on CO2-enriched plants is much thicker and slower to wilt than plants grown without CO2.There are many alternatives to traditional

CO2 production. The composting of organic matter results CO2, so many large-scale green-houses have composting rooms adjacent to the growing greenhouse (the CO2 is pumped from one room into the other with circula-tion fans). One drawback, however, is that composting so close to your growing area can attract potential crop-damaging insects.

The process from beer making—that is, using sugar, water and yeast—has also been used. Not a bad deal if you like to brew beer. The yeast eats the sugar and releases alcohol and CO2 as by-products. If you are not into brew-ing beer, you can simply mix brewer’s yeast and sugar with water. Keep in mind, though, it is important to have the temperature of the water right—water that is too hot will kill the yeast and water that is too cold will not activate the yeast. The process is simple and inexpensive, but it does have some drawbacks. Mainly, it can present an odour problem and it is somewhat time-consuming as you have to remix the brew every four to five days.

Dry ice, which is frozen CO2, releases gas-eous CO2 when exposed to the atmosphere. Dry ice has no liquid stage, which makes it easy to work with and has little clean-up. However, dry ice can be expensive for long-term use and it is difficult to store. Using insulated containers can slow the melting process, but it cannot be stopped.Mycelial-based CO2 production is a relative-

ly new way to introduce CO2. Mushrooms are more like humans in that they exhale CO2, and a non-fruiting strain of mycelium has been discovered that continues to produce CO2 for at least half a year (above-ambient CO2 levels can still be detected up to 16 months later). There is no maintenance or set-up with this option, and the low cost makes mycelial-based CO2 a good option.As a grower, you know the time and energy

you spend working your indoor garden is tremendous. Adding CO2 is not only a good idea, it’s necessary to have the most efficient growing area possible. Natural CO2 produc-tion, in particular, is a good choice. The ease of use and the reduced effect on the environ-ment make the described options the green choice. They are also easy on your budget and your plants will love you for it.

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ambient CO2 levels (percentage of CO2 in the air with any enrichment) typically hover around 400 ppm. indoor plants can quickly convert this CO2 through photosynthesis and deplete available CO2. When CO2 levels fall to around 150 ppm, the rate of plant growth quickly declines.

While led grow lights represent an exciting new technology and promise to make indoor gardening much more efficient, it’s still great design in the areas of intensity, control, coolness and efficiency that make superior lighting.

aquaponics is a blending of two important ideas, combining fish farming with hydroponics (soilless gardening). edible fish that do well in closed environments are required—tilapia, white bass, crappie and barramundi are species that are used in many commercial and home aqua-ponic systems.

nutrient manipulation can be achieved directly by applying adequate fertilisers, or indirectly through the use of different cultural practices, such as liming for ph adjustment, irrigation, organic amendments and tillage.

it’s fairly simple to maintain your clon-ing system, and it’s best to always have bleach on hand for cleaning at the end of each cycle. many prefer to take the system to the bath tub or shower (who knew a trip to the bathroom could be so much fun?).

Composting too close to your growing area can attract potential crop-damaging insects.

most of the different varieties of tomatoes we know today are examples of plant breeding and many of them were originally developed by home gardeners.


dO yOu KnOW?

9. 10.

1.eC measures the electrical conductivity of your water (everything in this world—even down to the molecular level—has an electrical charge). in other words, eC measures the amount of salts in your hydroponic system. 2.3.

many plant species can tolerate continuous lighting (al-though running lamps for 24 hours a day might not give the growth increases expected), but some species includ-ing tomato, potato and some ornamentals are intolerant of extended or continuous periods of light.

Seasonality creates differences in physiology within the plant and as a result, there are three classifica-tions of cuttings: softwood (spring), semi-hardwood (summer) and hardwood (fall and winter).7. 8.

4.5. 6.

Atami’s Dynamic Duoatami’s well-known bloombastic is now bundled with 50 ml of rootbastic. here at atami we do not brag about our products, instead we prefer to let them speak for themselves. try our showpieces now and convince yourself. With the dynamic duo you’ll receive a stimulant for your roots and a stimulant for your flowers in one package. follow us and we will keep you informed. find more information at bloombastic.com, rootbastic.com and atami.com

Bluelab’s Online Video Librarylearn how to use and care for bluelab meters and monitors direct from the manufacturer. Just visit vimeopro.com/bluelab/videos to view the online library. bluelab has differ-ent styles of videos for most of its product range. if you are new to using a bluelab meter or monitor, we show you how to set up and use our products for the first time with using product demonstra-tion videos. Cleaning probes is really important for maintaining the accuracy of readings, so we have shorter cleaning and calibration refresher videos available too. visit getbluelab.com to find faqs, full user manuals or technical specs, or to contact someone from the company directly.

CANNA Need to Knowfrom the beginning of September, Canna will reveal every fortnight new tips and tricks on the Canna website. for the second year in a row andrew will take you into the world of growing and will give you tips about healthy roots, repotting plants, and much more. you can now be informed when a new need to Know video is revealed on the Canna website! the only thing you need to do is to sign up as a Canna member on the website: canna-uk.com

Grodan Releases new iPhone App Grodan has just launched its first iphone app. Known as Grolog™, this free, powerful tool enables the grower to be even more successful by recording and moni-toring their nutrient solution’s daily levels, environmental conditions and several other important variables. the Grolog also features a built-in programmable event calendar that sends phone alerts to the grower so they never miss a watering, forget to check ph or overfeed plants again. users can even print or email customisable reports and graphs straight from their phones. to download the Grolog, simply search for it by name in the apple inc. app store. the Grolog is the simplest and easiest way to stay dialed in. for more information, visit

grodan101.com

Deep Impact Plant Care Welcomes new Directorsdeep impact plant Care wishes to welcome new staff members Colin Williams and lee mcmurdy to the team. Colin has an impressive track record in the service industry throughout the united King-dom and europe and became the new company director in September. he now commands the day-to-day operations at deep impact. lee mcmurdy is set to become the online operations director overseeing the automatic pick-and-pack service from the online ordering facility. the company will also move to its new premises over the next few weeks, which will not only provide more space for bottling machinery, enabling an even faster service, it is also an ideal location for testing products and working closely with local nurseries and farms—all to get the best possible results for growers in the united Kingdom’s horticultural indus-try. for more information, visit deepimpactplantcare.co.uk

Deep Impact Plant Care Announces new Products and Policieshere at deep impact plant Care, we strive to be a quick, reliable, fully-stocked distributor. under our new service policy, we will ensure all completed orders received from retail stores before 2 p.m. will be sent out same day for next-day delivery. this will include the Safer’s trounce ready-to-use 1-l bottles that are new to the united Kingdom as of September. after what we can only describe as an amazing launch to Safer’s trounce Concentrate, we have secured the ready-to-use version, too. this is what shops have asked for, so we are extremely excited to launch this exclusive product. in October, watch out for our new line of plant care nutrients and additives. We are in the later stages of develop-ment and excited about the launch as we have developed some never-been-used-before technology. Watch this space for further details and visit deepimpactplantcare.co.uk for more information.


IndustrY’s Latest

UK-based easy Grow has been sUpplyinG horticUltUral

wholesalers with plant-safe foils and reflective sheetinG since 1998 to over 30 coUntries worldwide, bUt it hasn’t been limited to jUst foils. the company also deals with many other fine brands in the indoor

GrowinG indUstry, as easy Grow co-foUnder simon atKinson

shares with maximUm yield.

Easy

Grow

tell Us a little aboUt how yoUr company started. who are the people behind easy Grow?The company was founded back in 1998 by myself (Simon Atkinson) and Mark Goodwin. I have a strong background supplying UK manufactured food-grade materials to the food industry, while Mark has an in-depth knowledge of hor-ticulture. Easy Grow has been supplying horticultural whole-salers with food- and plant-safe foils and reflective sheeting since 1998 to over 30 countries worldwide. Easy Grow has a UK food-grade manufacturing stan-dard second to none, which has been proven by the British retail accreditations we adhere to, and by us winning the award for the best UK exporter.

who shoUld be UsinG easy Grow liGhtite foils and reflective sheetinG? how do they worK?All hydroponic growers should be using Easy Grow foils and reflective sheeting. We have a number of different grades to suit all growers’ needs and bud-gets, from the professional to the amateur. Our foils and sheeting work by reflecting light and heat thermals back into the growroom while preventing the escape of light, reducing energy costs and maximising the light in the grow-room. We also have a diamond diffusion range of foils that have a diamond texture to distribute the light more evenly resulting in larger, more vigorous yields. Our foils are original concepts and manufactured in the UK.

Simon atkinson (left) and mark Goodwin, the founders of easy Grow, were recently in San francisco to showcase their company.


You tell us

easy

-gro

w.co.uk

what is yoUr company’s philosophy?Easy Grow’s philosophy is to provide the highest quality grow products to our cus-tomers at affordable prices. We only distribute original products that are the best in the market. We do not sacrifice on quality and are proud that our products are never bettered—only poorly copied. We only offer new innovations sourced from all corners of the globe. We choose companies to partner with who, like ourselves, offer original, innovative products that we can see will benefit the avid gardener and retailers develop their customer base and return footfall to their stores.

how important is it for easy Grow to partner with environmentally friendly manUfactUrers?Easy Grow is committed to being environmentally friendly and as such it is an important factor for us to partner with manufacturers that care about the environ-ment. Our main manufactur-er shows such commitments, with the number one odour neutraliser in the market, ONA, being environmen-tally friendly and safe. The compounds that are used in ONA odour neutralisers are high-grade quality, derived from plant materials and

safe for the environment. In addition, Easy Grow foils are made from food-grade mate-rial and are 100% recyclable.

how many different brands do yoU worK with, and in how many coUntries do yoU do bUsiness in?Easy Grow has seen in-creased demand for our products in the last few years and we have expanded our product range significantly in this time. We now distrib-ute over 10 different high quality brands to over 30 countries across five conti-nents worldwide.

what types of prodUcts are yoU seeinG the most demand for riGht now? Both our foils and the ONA line of products continue to receive increased demand year upon year, along with NPK’s Mighty Wash and PM Wash. We are currently seeing a high demand for Exhale CO2 bags as well— an environmentally friendly, completely natural source of CO2 provision. We are also seeing an increased demand for Photosynthesis Plus from Microbe Life, which is a stabilized formula containing a blend of several strains of bacteria including two strains of photosynthetic bacteria. Beneficial bacteria is the fu-ture of all-season gardening and as knowledge of these

cultures increases, more and more products for adding bacteria to your gardening system are coming to the market, and this, along with the increased knowledge of the benefits, is why we suspect there has been an increased demand for our Microbe Life range. Demand for our products continues to increase year upon year; we see this as the grower establishes the benefits of our product range and sees the notable increase in yield and quality of crop these products help create.

what maKes Up an easy Grow starter pacK? Our Easy Grow starter packs are aimed at new retailers and offer significant savings on the normal wholesale price allowing the retailer to get a head start on their new business. The packs come complete with a wide range of all of our top-selling products and include pro-motional material. We have two different starter packs depending on the amount of products required.

how have yoU seen demand for prodUcts chanGe since yoU first started oUt?Over the years we have no-ticed an increased demand for both retails and garden-ers to be better informed

and educated about the life cycle of plants and how plants can be better culti-vated indoors and out. After receiving endless

requests, an exciting new Apple Crumble scent is now available from ONA and has been flying off the shelves. There is also the brand new ONA mini mist can avail-able, also in Apple Crumble scent. This small aerosol can fits in the palm of the hand and delivers a blast of ONA on demand. We also have a privately sourced high-end retail friendly fabric pot com-ing soon.

what’s in store for easy Grow’s fUtUre?Easy Grow will be moving to a new 30,000-sq.-ft. location in autumn, allowing us to have all our warehouse and office space under one roof, while separating the manu-facturing plant away from the distribution warehous-ing and office staff. This will increase the efficiency of the day-to-day operations and ensure we can focus on developing new and exciting products for our distributors and wholesalers.

left to right: Simon atkinson at a manufacturing site in the uK; mark Goodwin shows off an exhale CO2 bag; easy Grow products proudly displayed; mark Goodwin talks about easy Grow products with a potential customer.


Company Greenkeeper Hydroponicsowner alan Higgins, John wilson, Bernie FinnLoCation 141 Brook St., Chester, Cheshire, Ch13DUpHone +44 (0) 1244 630501moBiLe +44 (0) 7784 244922weB greenkeeperhydroponics.co.uke-maiL [email protected] “Weed it ‘n’ Reap” • “Grow with the Flow”

Greenkeeper Hydroponics

the founders of Greenkeeper Hydroponics in Chester in the United Kingdom see a lot of potential in the hydroponics industry, which is why they took their interest in gardening

to whole new levels.

“wHen you’re starting off, it’s difficult, but stick at it, everyone Has tHeir slow days. it only takes one big sale to make your week and as for tHe

industry, it’s only going to get bigger and better.”

at a

GLa

nCe

the founders of Greenkeeper hydroponics: alan (left), John (centre) and bernie (right).


talkIng shop

Before opening Greenkeeper Hydroponics, partners Alan

Higgins, John Wilson and Bernie Finn had careers in differ-

ent fields—Alan was a sports therapist and John and Bernie

owned a café together. They recently decided to open a

hydroponics shop to gain more insight and experience into

this method of growing—the three already had allotment

garden plots and were getting into hydroponics growing at

home to extend the growing season into the winter months.

The partners opened Greenkeeper Hydroponics a few

months ago in the heart of Chester, a two-minute walk away

from the main train station. While all three worked in the

shop at the start, one of the partners is now working on a dif-

ferent project.Start-up struggles for the business have so far included

building a rapport with customers and getting to know the

local people and area—the three are not from the area—but

Alan says it hasn’t taken them long to settle in. At the begin-

ning, there was a lot of information to absorb. “We have had

to learn so much in such a short time, about systems we have

never used before, and nutrients we were unfamiliar with, but

hydroponics is a growing sector with new products coming

out nearly every week, so the learning curve is never ending,”

shares Alan. The folks behind Greenkeeper Hydroponics achieved local

recognition by advertising on the front page of the local

newspaper a couple of times and also on the front page of the

Chester City Football Club championship edition newspaper.

“I suppose we are unique in the way of our branding, as we

have set out to image our store as an actual shop as oppose to

a back street unit or dodgy garage,” says Alan. “The idea of the

shop looking warm and welcoming is important to us and we

aim for the customers to feel comfortable during their visit.”

The company’s current product line includes Dutchpro,

Canna, House and Garden, Rhino, Lumii, Ionic, Powerplant

and Root!t, with products from GHE, Buddhas Tree,

Humboldt and more all coming soon. Greenkeeper Hydroponics distributes throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland and currently employs five people.Customers find staff to be friendly, helpful and welcoming

and the business accommodating. “Our prices are amongst the best in the industry and if we don’t have what you want in stock, we can almost guarantee to have it in the very next day,” says Alan. “Our customers have made us what we are to date, so they are worth going the extra mile for.”Alan believes one of the main success stories for the business

is where it is today, given that it has only been in existence a few months. “In that short period of time, we have found our premises, totally refurbished it, stocked it, built a large customer base and built our website,” shares Alan. “Friends, family and local businesses have given us a little hand here and there, but it looks like all the hard work and long hours are starting to pay off, as we are currently looking to extend our nutrient range to appeal to more growers and we are con-sidering expanding our current shop. Who knows, soon there may be a Greenkeeper store near you.”One of the significant things Alan has learned so far about

the industry is that enough is never enough—the products a business can supply are endless. For those new to the industry, he has some words of wisdom to share: “When you’re starting off, it’s difficult, but stick at it, everyone has their slow days,” he says. “It only takes one big sale to make your week and as for the industry, it’s only going to get bigger and better.”As for the things that set Greenkeeper apart from competi-

tors, Alan says having good staff is important. “Our employees are the best simply because they get things done and make things happen and, most of all, they’re so easy going and brilliant with the customers,” he shares. “If I could wish one thing for my company it would obviously be massive success and also to continue the special relationship that we have with our customers.”

“we Have Had to learn so mucH in sucH a sHort time, about systems we Have never used before, and

nutrients we were unfamiliar witH, but Hydroponics is a growing sector witH new products coming out nearly

every week, so tHe learning curve is never ending.”



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MAXIMUM YIELDdistributors listed alphabetically by shop name.

1st HydroponicsUnit 5 K-Line House, West Rd. Ipswich, Suffolk UK IP3 9FGTel: +44 (0) 1473 279829 www.1st-hydroponics.co.uk

21st Century GardenUnit A6., Bounds Green Ind. Es., Ringway London, Greater London UK N11 2UDTel: +44 (0) 2083 614659 www.21stcenturygarden.co.uk

3 Counties HydroponicsUnit 52, Rober t Court Ind.E s. Britten Rd. Reading, Berkshire UK RG2 0AUTel: +44 (0) 1189 874758

3 Counties HydroponicsThe Lodge, 113 Invicta Rd. Dartford, Kent UK DA2 6AYTel: +44 (0) 1322 273444

3 Counties HydroponicsUnit 13., Chiltern Bus. Ctr. Cowley, Oxford UK OX4 6NGTel: +44 (0) 1865 771747

3 Counties HydroponicsUnit 11, Olds Close, Olds Approach Watford, Herts UK WD18 8RUTel: +44 (0) 1923 774486

3 Countries HydroponicsUnit 12., Yew Tree Ind. Es., Mill Hall Aylesford, Maidstone UK ME20 7ETTel: +44 (0) 1622 790456

3 Countries HydroponicsUnit 10., Woodley Yard Cherstsey Bridge Rd. Chertsey, Surrey UK KT16 8LFTel: +44 (0) 1932 562174

3 Countries HydroponicsUnit 9., Galley Hill Yard Waltham Abbey, Essex UK EN9 2AGTel: +44 (0) 1992 652301

A-Zee Hydro Ltd.Unit C4, Suttons Bus. Ctr.New Rd. Rainham, Essex UK RM13 8DETel: +44 (0) 1708 551199____________________________

Acorn Horticulture65 Deep Ln.

Sheffield, UK S5 0DUTel: +44 (0) 1142 458581

www.acornhorticulture.co.uk____________________________

Addloes Lighting & Hydroponics16-A Maple Rd., Winton Bourmouth, Dorset UK BH9 2PNTel: +44 (0) 1202 524525; www.addloes.com

AllbrightUnit 6., The Rise Edgware, Middlesex UK HA8 8NRTel: +44 (0) 2089 582426

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

Anglia Hydroponics62 A Straight Rd. Boxted, Colchester, Essex UK C04 5RDTel: +44 (0) 1206 272677 www.angliahydroponics.co.uk

AquacultureUnit 79 (A) Carlton Ind. Es. Barnsley, South Yorkshire UK S71 3HWTel: +44 (0) 8456 445544 www.aquaculture-hydroponics.co.uk

AquacultureUnit 3, Asher Ln. Bus. Pk. Asher Ln. Ripley, Derbyshire UK DE5 3RETel: +44 (0) 8456 445544 www.aquaculture-hydroponics.co.ukAquacultureUnit 3, Pkwy One, Pkwy Dr. Sheffield, South Yorkshire UK S9 4WUTel: +44 (0) 8456 445544 www.aquaculture-hydroponics.co.uk

Aquatech Horticultural LightingUnit 3F, Spa Fields Ind. Es. New St. Slaithwait Huddersfield, West Yorkshire UK HD7 5BBTel: +44 (0) 1484 842632

Ashton Hydroponics Ltd.Unit 3 Park Parade Ind. Es. Welbeck St. S. Ashton-Under-Lyna, Manchester UK O4L 67PPTel: +44 (0) 1613 391673www.ashton-hydroponics.co.uk____________________________

Aztec GardenUnit 1A Roughan Ind.Es.

Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk UK IP30 9ND

Tel: +44 (0) 1359 271876www.aztec-garden.co.uk

_____________________________

Basement Lighting Ltd.Unit 3, The Old Maltings, George St. Newark, Nottinghamshire UK NG24 1LUTel: +44 (0) 1636 650189

Big Stone River Garden CenterUnit 1 East Gate Grimsby, Lincolnshire UK DN3 29BATel: +44 (0) 1472 241114

Bill & Ben’s Hydro WorldUnit D15 & D16 Erin Trade CentreBlumpers WayChippenham, Wiltshire, UKSN14 6LHTel: +44(0) 1249 447796

Blooming BordersUnit 3, Borders Bus Pk. Longtown Carlisle, Cumbria UK CA6 5TDTel: +44 (0) 1228 792587 www.bloomingbordersltd.co.uk

Bradford Hydroponics9597 Manningham Ln. Bradford, West Yorkshire UK BD1 3BNTel: +44 (0) 1274 729205www.bradfordhydroponics.co.uk

Branching OutUnit E, The Old Brewery, Durnford St. Ashton Gate, Bristol UK BS3 2AWTel: +44 (0) 1179 666996www.hydroponics-online.co.ukBright Green UK Ltd.42-44 Princess Rd., Hull, Yorkshire UK HU5 2RDTel: +44 (0) 1482 341925 www.brightgreen-uk.co.uk

____________________________

Brit Crops LtdUnit 9 OJ’s Ind. Pk.Claybank Rd.

Portsmouth, Hampshire UK PO3 5SXTel: +44 (0) 2392 669111

www.britcropshydroponics.co.uk____________________________

Britlite HydroponicsUnit 11 Roman Ind. Es. Croydon, UK CRO 2DTTel: +44 (0) 2086 834424www.britelite-hydroponics-uk.com

Bub’s allotmentThe Rural Granary Business CentreUnit 4 North StreetHellingly, East Sussex UK BN27 4DUTel: +44 (0) 7528 098103Web: www.bubsallotment.co.uk

Chrissie’s GardenUnit 33 Portsmouth Enterprise Ctr. Quartermain Rd. Portsmouth, UK PO3 5QTTel: +44 (0) 2392 667887Clever Green35 Ketley Bus. Pk. Waterloo Rd., Telford, Shropshire UK TF1 5JDTel: +44 (0) 1952 257200 www.clevergreen.co.uk

Crofters Bio GardensUnit 2, Bloomsgrove Ind. Es.Ilkeston Rd. Radford, Nottingham UK NG7 3JBTel: +44 (0) 1159 782345 www.croftersbiogardens.com

Discount Hydroponics1 Bus. Bldg. Waltergrave St. Hastings, East Sussex UK TN34 1SJTel: +44 (0) 1424 428186

Eastbourne Hydroponics47 Upperton Rd. Eastbourne, East Sussex UK BN21 1LTTel: +44 (0) 1323 732241

Eighteen Twelve Ltd.Unit 11 Whitehall Properties Towngate Wyke, Bradford UK BD12 9JQTel: +44 (0) 1274 694444

Elements Hydroponic Center44 Auster Rd. Clifton Moor, York UK YO30 4XATel: +44 (0) 1904 479979 www.elementshydroponics.com

Enhanced Urban Gardening152 London Rd. Workingham, Berkshire UK RG40 1SUTel: +44 (0) 1189 890510www.enhancedurbangardening.co.uk

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

Future Garden (Chelmsford)15 Rob Johns Rd., Widford Ind.Est.,Essex, Chelmsford CM1 3AG+44 (0) 1245 [email protected] Garden (Ilford)Unit E., The Acorn Centre Roebuck Rd., Hainault Bus.Pk.,Essex, Ilford IG6 3TU+44 (0) 0208 [email protected]

Garden Secrets UK Ltd.Unit 3 Hollybush Est. Whitchurch, Cardiff UK CF14 7DSTel: +44 (0) 2920 651792www.gardensecretsuk.co.uk

Garforth HydroponicsBack off 11a main streetLeeds, UK lS25 1DSwww.garforthhydroponics.co.uk

Great Stuff Hydroponics24 Collingwood Ct. Riverside Park Ind. Es. Middlesbrough, UK TS2 1RPTel: +44 (0) 1642 224544www.hydroponics-hydroponics.com

Great Stuff Hydroponics30 C Ellemeres Ct. Leechmere Ind. Es.Sunderland, UK SR2 9UATel: +44 (0) 1914 474098www.hydroponics-hydroponics.com

Greater Manchester Hydroponic GardenUnit 3, The Courtyard, 157 Bolton Old Road,Atherton, Manchester, M46 9RETel: +44 (0) 1942 884612

Green Daze Hydroponics AshingtonUnit 9 Waterside Ct.North Seaton Bus. Pk. Ashington, Northumberland UK NE63 0YG Tel: +44 (0) 1670 818003www.greendazehydroponics.co.uk

Green Daze Hydroponics Gateshead10 Wellington St. Gateshead, UK NE8 2AJTel: +44 (0) 1914 789107 www.greendazehydroponics.co.uk____________________________

Green Fever18 Hartsill Rd.,Stoke-on-Trent

Staffordshire, UK ST4 7QUTel: +44 (0) 1782 414448

www.green-fever.co.uk____________________________

Green Life190 Hessle Rd. Hull, East Yorkshire UK HU3 3BETel: +44 (0) 1482 222425

___________________________

Greenfinger-HydroponicsUnit 3 Park Works, 16-18 Park Road,

Kingston-Upon-Thames, Surrey, KT2 6BX

Tel: +44(0) 208 546 3444____________________________

Greenfinger-HydroponicsUnit 59 T Marchant Estate, 42-72 Verney

Road, South Bermondsey,SE16 3DH

Tel: +44 (0) 207 394 0629____________________________

Greenfinger-HydroponicsUnit 38 Silicon Business Centre,28

Wadsworth Road,Perivale,UB6 7JZ

Tel: +44 (0) 208 998 2034____________________________

Green Giant HydroponicsGlan Y Mor Rd. Llandudno Junction Conwy.Gwynedd North Wales, LL31 9RU UKTel: +44 (0) 1492 583960

GreenKeeper Hydroponics141 Brook St.Chester Cheshire, UK CH1 3DUTel: +(44 (0) 1244 630501

____________________________

Green Spirit Hydroponics Ltd.Unit 6, Rockingham Business Park,

Rockingham Row, Birdwell, UK S705TWTel: +44 (0) 1226 399837

www.greenspirit-hydroponics.com ____________________________

Green Spirit Hydroponics Ltd.8-10 Stanley St.

Sheffield, UK S3 8HJTel: +44 (0) 1142 753353

www.greenspirit-hydroponics.com ____________________________

Green Stream12-14 Vivian Rd. Harbourne, Birmingham UK B17 ODSTel: +44 (0) 1214 262675www.greenstream.co.uk

Green World1618 Market Vaults Scarborough, UK YO11 1EUTel: +44 (0) 1723 370900www.greenworld.ne.uk

Greener than Life575- 577 Holderness Rd. Hull, East Riding UK HU8 9AATel: +44 (0) 1482 374201

Greengrass Indoor Gardening SuppliesUnit 5A Alexander Ct. Hazleford Way Newstead, Nottingham UK NG15 0DQTel: +44 (0) 1623 755055

____________________________

Greenhouse EffectUnit 2 Eagle Farm Cranfield Rd.

Wavendon, Milton Keynes UK MK17 8AU

Tel: +44 (0) 1908 585283____________________________Greenleaf SystemsUnit 26, Millers Bridge Ind. Es., Seymour, Bootle, Liverpool UK L20 1EETel: +44 (0) 1519 331113www.greenleafsystemsmerseyside.co.uk

The Green Machine Ltd.Unit 1A., Felin Puleston Ind.Es., Ruabon Rd. Wrexham, UK L13 7RFTel: +44 (0) 1978 265090www.thegreenmachineonline.com

The Green Room (Indoor Gardens) Ltd.Unit 61 Riverside III, Sir Thomas Longley Road,MEdway City Estate Rochester, KENT ME2 4BHTel: 01634 716764www.thegreenroomvip.co.uk

Greens HorticultureUnit F Totterdown Bridge Est, Albert Rd. St. Philips, Bristol, Somerset UK BS2 0XHTel: +44 (0) 1179 713000www. greenshorticulture.co.uk

Greenstream Hydroponics12-14 Vivian Rd. Birmingham, Harbourne UK B17 0DSTel: +44 (0) 1214 262675www.greenstream.co.uk


____________________________

Greensea HydroponicsUnit 1G. Gregory Rd. Mildenhall,

Bury St. Edmonds, Suffolk UK IP28 7PP Tel: +44 (0) 1638 715350

www.greensea-hydroponics.co.uk___________________________

Greenthings HydroponicsUnit 1, Adjewhella Chapel Barriper Camborne, Cornwall UK TR14 0QWTel: +44 (0) 1209 611870www.greenthings.co.uk

Grotec Hydroponics393 Manchester Rd., Rochdale, Greater Manchester UK OL11 3PGTel: +44 (0) 1706 750293www.grotec.co.uk

Grotech Ltd.Unit 21. Saddlers Hall Farm, London Rd. Basildon, Essex UK SS13 2HDTel: +44 (0) 1268 799828www.grotechonline.co.uk

Grow 4 Good Ltd.22i Beehive Workshops Durham, UK DH1 2X1Tel: +44 (0) 1913 757667www.grow4good.net

The Grow Den2 Hothfield Rd. Rainham, Kent UK ME8 8BJTel: +44 (0) 1634 239333

The Grow Den Ltd.Unit 13., Eaves Ct., Eurolink Com.Pk., Bohan Dr. Sittingbourne, Kent UK ME10 3RYTel: +44 (0) 1795 426264

Grow Green Ltd.15-17 Green Ln., Castle BromwichBirmingham, UK B36 0AYTel: +44 (0) 121 241 6445

Grow Green Trade Ltd.Unit 4 Castle Trading Est.La Grange, Tamwarth, UK B79 7X0Tel: +44 (0) 1827 62766

Grow Shaw96-98 Shaw Heath Rd., Stockport, Manchester UK SK3 8BPTel: +44 (0) 8452 725266www.growshaw.co.uk

Grow Zone UKUnit 7, West Court, Crantock StreetNewquay, Cornwall UK TR7 1JLTel: +44 (0) 1637 806115www.growzoneuk.comGroSupplies Sovereign House, Ellen TerraceSulgrave, Washington,Tyne & Wear NE37 3ASTel: +44 (0) 1914 [email protected] Hydroponics – ColeshillUnits 9-11 Coleshill Trade ParkStation Road, ColeshillBirmingham B46 1HTTel: 0845 344 [email protected]

GroWell Hydroponics – DudleyUnit 52 Enterprise Trading EstateHurst Lane, Dudley DY5 1TX0845 345 [email protected] - Fullham1 Royal Parade 247 Dawes Rd. Fullham, London UK SW6 7RETel: +44 (0) 8453 445174www.growell.co.uk

GroWell - Hockley HeathIvy House Farm, Grange Rd. Hockley Heath, Solihull UK B94 6PRTel: +44 (0) 8433 [email protected] www.growell.co.uk

GroWell - Mail Order DivisionPO Box 3255 Warwick, UK CV34 5GHTel: +44 (0) 8453 455177www.growell.co.ukGroWell Hydroponics – WembleyBrent Trading EstateNorth Circular Road, London NW10 0JF0843 357 [email protected]

GrowinGreenUnit 6, Queens drive industrial estate,Newhall, Swadlincote, DE11 0EGTel: +44 (0) 1253 675722www.growingreen.co.uk

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

Groworks94 Upper Wickham LaneWelling, Kent, UK DA16 3HQTel: +44 (0) 2088 545160

GroworksUnit F16 Northfleet Industrial EstateLower Road, Gravesend, UK DA11 9SWTel: +44 (0) 1273 624327

GroworksUnit 4 Belltower Industrial EstateRoedean Road, Brighton, UK BN2 5RUTel: +44 (0) 1322 838131

Happy Daze HydroponicsUnit 4 Craven Court Hedon Rd. Hull, UK HU9 1NQTel: +44 (0) 1482 224299www.happydazehull.com

____________________________

The Grow Home HydroponicsUnit 26 Bolney Grange Ind.Pk., Burgess Hill

West Sussex RH17 5PB+44 (0) 1444 244414

[email protected]

____________________________

Happy Gardens Ltd.Unit 9, Kelham Bank Ind Es., Kelham St. Doncaster, South Yorkshire UK DN1 3RETel: +44 (0) 1302 761386

Haverhill Hydroponics CentreUnit 14 Spring Rise Falconer RoadHaverhill, Suffolk CB97XUTel:+44 (0) 01440709474www.haverhillhydro.co.uk

The Head GardenerUnit 11, Barton Bus. Pk. Eccles, Manchester UK M3O OQRTel: +44 (0) 1617 079860www.theheadgardner.net

HFM Pyrotechnics Ltd.165A Londford Rd. Cannock, Staffordshire UK WS11 OLDTel: +44 (0) 1543 500800www.hfmgroup.com

Hi9THCUnit 3. Rope Walk,. Coach Rd. Whitehaven, Cumbria UK CA28 7TETel: +44 (0) 7821 914646www.hi9thc.co.uk

High Street HydroponicsUnit 56 Hebden R., Berkley Ind.Es.,Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire DN15 8DTTel: +44(0) 1724 857191

Holland Hydroponics17 Rondin Rd., Ardwick, Greater Manchester UK M12 6BFTel: +44 (0) 8458 720570www.hydroponics.co.uk

Holland Hydroponics ExpressUnit 4 Leeds Rd. Trade Park. Leeds Rd.,Huddersfield, UK HD2 1YR

Holland HydroponicsHandbridge Mill 5 Parliament St. Burnley, Lancashire UK BB11 5HGTel: +44 (0) 8458 720590www.hydroponics.co.uk

The Home Grower Ltd.Unit 8, Oak Court, Crystal Dr. Smethwick, West Midlands UK B66 1QGTel: +44 (0) 1215 411446www.thehomegrower.comHuyton Hydroponics & Gardening SuppliesHuyton, Mersey Side UK Tel: +44 (0) 1514 820101www.huytonhydro.co.uk

Hygrow II Hydroponics Units 3+4, 30 Oslo RoadSuttonfields Industrial EstateHULL HU7 0YN, East YorkshireTel: +44 (0) 1482 833455www.hygrow.co.uk

Hydro 1 StopUnit 35 Deykin Pk. Ind. Es. Deykin Ave. Aston, Birmingham UK B67HNTel: +44 (0) 1213 280876www.hydro1stop.co.uk

Hydro HobbyUnit 4 Brook Farm, Stoneleigh Rd. Gibbet Hill, Coventry UK CV4 7ABTel: +44 (0) 2476 414161www.hydrohobby.co.ukHydro Station Ltd.Unit 10 Hillfoot Ind. Es. Hoyland Rd. Sheffield, South Yorkshire UK S38ABTel: +44 (0) 1142 491636www.hydrostationltd.co.uk

Hydrodragon Ltd.113-115 Alfred St. Roath Cardiff, South Glamorgan UK CF24 4UATel: +44 (0) 2920 490333www.hydrodragon.co.uk

Hydroglo Ltd.The Top Store South Rd., Towerhamlets Dover, Kent UK CT17 OAHTel: +44 (0) 1304 203199Web: www.hydroglowltd.co.uk

Hydrogrow Systems Ltd.Unit 7, Acton Bus. Pk., Fields Farm Rd. Longeaton, Nottingham UK NG10 3FZTel: +44 (0) 1159 730007Web: www.hydrogrowsystems.co.uk

Hydrolite UK Ltd.215 Denman St., Radford, Nottingham UK NG7 3PSTel: +44 (0) 1159 785556www.hydrolite.co.uk

Hydroponic CorporationUnit 20, Deeside Ind. Es., Zone 1 Deeside, Flintshire UK SH5 2LRTel: +44 (0) 1244 289699www.t-h-c.bizThe Hydroponic WarehouseUnit 15., Bay Airport Ind.Es., Kingston Pk. Newcastle, Tyne and Wear UK NE3 2EFTel: +44 (0) 1912 862045www.thehydroponicwharhouse.co.uk

Hydroponica Ltd.130 Doncaster Rd. Wakefield, Yorkshire UK WF1 5JFTel: +44 (0) 1924 362888www.hydroponica.biz

Hydroponics.comUnit 24, Port Talbot Business Units Addison RoadPort Talbot, UK SA12 6HZTel: +44 (0) 1639 888891www.hydroponicsdotcom.com

Hydropower300 Holton Rd. Barry, Vale Of Glamorgan UK CF63 4HWTel: +44 (0) 7725 551479www.hydro-power.biz

Hydrosense47 Scarrots Ln. Newport, Isle of Wright UK PO30 1JDTel: +44 (0) 1983 522240

Hygro HydroponicsUnit C -55 Sunningdale Road, South Park Industrial Estate, Scunthorpe Lincs, UK DN17 2TW

Hylton HydroRockington NurseryBlackness Rd. Sunderland, UK SR4 7XTTel: 01 9155 18453

Hytec HorticultureOld Wales Wood Colliery, Mansfield Rd. Sheffield, UK S26 5PQTel: +44 (0) 1909 772872www.hytechorticulture.co.uk

The Inner Garden Ltd.Unit 14., Cornish Wy., West, Galmington Taunton, Somerset UK TA1 5NATel: +44 (0) 1823 274791

Junction 10 HydroUnit 55, Owen Road Industrial EstateWillenhall, WV13 2PXTel: +44 (0) 1215 686850www.j10hydro.com

Kernow Grow Ltd.11 D. Kernick Ind. Es. Penryn, Cornwall UK TR10 9EPTel: +44 (0) 3300 104420www.kernowgrow.co.uk

King Of Green18-24 Saint Helens Rd., Westcliff on Sea Westcliff, Essex UK SS0 7LBTel: +44 (0) 1702 347536www.kingofgreen.com

Kitbag Hydroponic Warehouse22 Pool Bank St. Nunaeton, Warwickshire UK CV11 5DBTel: +44 (0) 2476 641033ebaystores.co.uk/kitbagshop

Lancaster HydroponicsUnit 18 Lansil Ind.Es., Caton Rd. Lancaster, Lancashire UK LA1 3PQTel: +44 (0) 7961 279279www.lancasterhydroponics.co.uk

Lothian Hydroponics172 S Mid St. Bathgate, West Lothian UK EH48 1DYTel: +44 (0) 1506 650501

Makes Sense Grow ShopThe Annex Rear of #20, Barden Rd. Tonbridge, Kent UK TN9 1TXTel: +44 (0) 1732 507201www.makessencesrowshop.co.uk

Manchester HydroponicsUnit 1A, Reliance St. Newton Heath, Manchester UK M40 3AGTel: +44 (0) 1616 887333www.manchesterhydroponics.co.ukmanchesterhydroponics@yahoo.co.uk

Matilda’s Planet1 Green Pl. Kenfig, South Wales UK Tel: +44 (0) 7895 [email protected]

Mellow Yellow Hydro Ltd.Unit B1A Towngate Works., Dark Ln. Mawdesley, Lancashire UK L40 2QUTel: +44 (0) 1704 822609www.mellowyellowhydro.co.uk

Midland HydroponicsRussells Garden CentreBaginton Coventry UK CV8 3AGTel: +44 (0) 2476 [email protected]

Midnight Garden6 Howlbeck Rd., Guisborough, UK TS14 6LETel: +44 (0) 79333 449661

Mile End Hydroponics265 Wick Rd. London, UK E9 5DGTel: +44 (0) 2085 330497www.mile-end-hydroponic.co.uk

Mousehold Garden Center63 Mousehold Ln. Norwich, Norfolk UK NR7 8HPTel: +44 (0) 1603 413272

Mr. Beam HydroRose Grove Selby Rd. Askern, Doncaster UK DN6 0ESTel: +44 (0) 1302 708297www.mr-beam-hydro.com

New Age HydroponicsUnit 1 Albert Pl., Albert Mill Lower Darwen, Lancashire UK BB3 OQETel: +44 (0) 1254 661177

New Leaf Hydroponics1 Horsewater Wynd, Hawkhill, Dundee UK DD1 5DUTel: +44 (0) 1382 202556www.newleafhydroponics.co.uk

Norfolk Lights & Hydroponics Centre Ltd.Unit 2 Guardian Rd., Ind. Es. Norwich, Norfolk UK NR5 8PFTel: +44 (0) 1603 666199www.norfolklights.com

NuGreen HydroponicsUnit 4 Stirchley Trad. Es., Hazelwell Rd. Stirchley, Birmingham UK B3O 2PFTel: +44 (0) 1216 855900www.nugreenhydroponics.co.uk

One Stop Grow ShopUnit 8, Fenton Ind. Es., Dewsbury Rd. Fenton, Stroke-On-Trent UK ST4 2TETel: +44 (0) 1782 212000www.onestopgrowshop.co.uk

The Persy Grow Shop4 Kings Mews. Brighton, East Sussex UK BN3 2PATel: +44 (0) 1273 777335www.persygrowbox.co.uk

The Plant Pot69 Ratcliffe Gate, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire UK NG18 2JBTel: +44 (0) 1623 422711www.theplantpot.co.uk

Planet HydroUnit 11 NorthBridge Works., Storey St. Leicester, Leics UK LE3 5GRTel: +44 (0) 1162 510800

Plant LifeUnit 11, Riverside Wy., Ravensthorpe Ind Es. Dewsbury, West Yorkshire UK WF13 3LGTel: +44 (0) 1924 492298www.plantlife.me.uk

PlantasiaBrill View Farm Ludgershall Rd. Bicester, Oxfordshire UK OX25 1PUTel: +44 (0) 8707 555225www.plantasia.co.uk


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MAXIMUM YIELDdistributors listed alphabetically by shop name.

Maximum Yield November/December will be available in November for free at indoor gardening retail stores and on maximumyield.com

subscriptions are available at maximumyield.com/subscriptions

Progrow5 Westwood Units, Alphinbrook Rd. Marsh Barton Trad. Es. Exeter, Devon UK EX2 8QFTel: +44 (0) 1392 276998www.progrow.co.uk

____________________________

Reading HydroponicsUnit 15 Albury Close

Redding, Berkshire UK RG30 1BD+44 (0)11 8 939 4998

____________________________

Rootzone Hydroponics Ltd.Unit 2 & 3., The Green Bus.Ctr., The Causeway Staines, Middlesex UK TW18 3ALTel: +44 (0) 1784 490370www.hydrowebshop.com

Sale Hydro71 Dane Rd., Sale Manchester, Lancashire UK M33 7BPTel: +44 (0) 1619 739899Email: [email protected]

Sea of Green UK25 Eastcott Hill Swindon, Wiltshire UK SN1 3JGTel: +44 (0) 1793 617046www.seaofgreen.co.uk

____________________________

Somerset HydroUnit4 Technine, Guard Avenue

Houndstone Business ParkYeovil Somerset

BA22 8YETel: +44 (0) 1935 420720

www.somhydro.co.uk____________________________

South Coast HydroponicsUnit 8., Enterprise Ind. Es., Enterprise Rd. Horndean, Portsmouth UK PO8 0BBTel: +44 (0) 2392 598853www.southcoasthydroponics.com

Southern Hydro Centre9 Mamesbury Rd. Southampton, Hampshire UK S01 SFTTel: +44 (0) 2380 704080www.southernhydro.co.uk

Southern Lights #125 Fratton Rd. Hampshire, UK PO1 5ABTel: +44 (0) 1705 811822

Southern Lights #219A Grace Hill. Folkestone, Kent UK CT20 1HQTel: +44 (0) 1303 210003; Tel: +44 (0) 1303 252561

St Albans HydroponicsUnit 5 London Rd., Bus.Pk., 222 London Rd. St Albans, UK AL1 1PNTel: +44 (0) 1727 848595www.stalbanshydroponics.moonfruit.com

Starlite Systems226 Albert Rd., Plymouth, Devon UK PL2 1AWTel: +44 (0) 1752 551233www.starlitesystems.co.uk

Sub-Garden Supplies45-J Leyton Industrial Village, Argall Ave., Leyton, London UK E10 7QPTel: +44 (0) 2085 399563

Sunrise Hydroponics127 Newcastle St., Burslem. Stoke on Trent, Staffshire UK ST6 3QJTel: +44 (0) 1782 813814www.sunrisehydro.co.uk

Thetford Urban Gardens Ltd.25 Brunel Way, Thetford, Norfolk, UK IP24 1HPTel: +44 (0) 7780 232169thetford.urbangardens@hotmail.co.ukwww.thetford-urban-gardens.com

Toddington Hydroponics CenterGriffin Farm Unit 9., Toddington Dunstable, Bedford UK LU5 6BTTel: +44 (0) 1582 664765www.toddingtonhydroponics.co.uk

Triangle HydroponicsUnit 6 Bornemouth Central business park. South Cote Rd. Bornemouth BH1 3SJTel: +44 (0) 1202 556661www.trianglehydroponics.co.ukU Grow LondonStudio12, Imperial Studios, 3-11 Imperial Rd. London, UK SW6 2AG, Tel: +44 (0) 2073 843388www.ugrow.com

Warehouse HydroponicsBank Quay Trading Est., Slutchers Ln. Warrington, Cheshire UK WA1 1PJTel: +44 (0) 1925 637837www.warehousehydroponics.co.uk

ireland

Northern Lights9 Dunluce St. Larne Antrim, Northern Ireland BT40 1JGTel: +44 (0) 2828 278485 www.northernlightsni.com

The Grow Shop14 Brews Hill , Nauan, Co. M Fath Ireland OLITel: +44 (0) 1772 204455 www.thc.ie

scotland

Progrow ScotlandUnit 6., Nasmyth Square Houston Ind.Es. Livingston, West Lothian Scotland EH5 45GGTel: +44 (0) 1506 430830www.progrowscotland.co.uk

Abergreen Horticulture LtdArch 8 Palmerston Rd.Aberdeen, Granpian Scotland AB11 5RETel: +44 (0) 1224 574737 www.abergreen.co.uk

Kingdom HydroponicsUnit #12 Carbery Pl., Mitchelson Ind. Es. Kirkcaldy, Fife Scotland KY1 3NETel: +44 (0) 1592 655611

____________________________

Hamilton Hydro Ltd.Unit 13&16 Murray Court, Hillhouse Indus-

trial Estate, Hamilton Scotland ML3 9SL+44 (0) 1698281148

____________________________

Hydra Hydroponics41 Tower St., Edinburgh, Scotland EH6 7BNTel: +44 (0) 1315 611332 www.hydraonline.co.ukGlasgrow15 Parnie St. Glasgow, Scotland G15RJTel: +44 (0) 1415 527522www.glasgrowhydroponics.co.uk

EZ Grow Perth77 Scott St. Perth, Scotland PH2 8JRTel: +44 (0) 7521 597308

U-Grow OrganicUnit 11 North Canal Bank St.,Port Dundas, GlasgowScotland G4 9XP+44 (0) 1413 [email protected]

hungary

BABYLON growCsurgói street 15., Budapest, Pest megyeHungaryTel: +36 (0) 20 381 [email protected]

Gomoa Trade Kft.Lágymányosi street 5., Budapest, Pest megye, Hungary 1111 Tel: +36 (0) 20 566 [email protected]

Gomoa Trade Kft.Petofi avenue 50.Szeged, Csongrád megye, Hungary 6725Tel: +36 (0) 20 406 [email protected]

Gomoa Trade Kft.Kazinczy street 3.Pécs, Baranya megye, Hungary 7621Tel: +36 (0) 20 351 [email protected]

CoMIng up InNovember/December 2013

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Winterizing Your groW roomWinter is a great time for indoor gardening—seasonal crops that may have been difficult to source for consumers during the winter months because they were field or green-house grown can be produced indoors on a perpetual cycle and you’ll be able to charge top-market price for these out-of-season rari-ties. Lee McCall shares why your winter grow room should feature a water chiller and other suggestions for maximising space.

Have You Forgotten about magnesium?A doctor of science has the latest word on what determines a magnesium sufficiency in a rooting medium.

oxYgenate, respirate or suFFocateAll plants need oxygen for proper functioning and health. Oxygen starvation can result in myriad crises in the garden that can’t be reversed. So, how do you know if your plants are starved for oxygen? Stay tuned.

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