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Cool Toys and Tools for High-Tech Growers
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Advanced LIGHTING TACTICS Indoor gardenING expo montreal
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FEATURES 92
CONTENTS June 2010
48
Cool Toys and Toys for High Tech Growers
62
Sea Energy in Agriculture
72
Hydroponics and Medicinal Plants
80
Plant Nutrient Elements Part 1: Macronutrients
92
Creating Your Own Organic Garden
by Dr. Lynette Morgan
by David Yarrow
by Noucetta Kehdi
by Philip McIntosh
by Luis Bartolo
98
114
Optimal Management of Lighting and Irrigation by Isabelle Lemay, agr. and Mélissa Léveillé
106
Staggered Crop Lighting (SCL): Advanced Lighting Tactics
114
Small Spaces, Big Yields - Part 3
by Erik Biksa
by Lee McCall
120
Fresh Air Experience
124
Are Aeroponically Grown Foods Safer?
by Jack Van Camp
by Dr. Ed Hardwood
DEPARTMENTS 10 From the Editor
104 Green Thumb Gardening
12 Letters to the Editor
132 Beginner’s Corner
14 MaximumYield.com
134 You Tell Us
18 Ask Erik
140 Talking Shop
20 MAX Facts
144 Max Mart
34 Product Spotlight
148 Coming up in July
70 Growing for Health
149 Do You Know?
78 Tips and Tricks
150 Distributors
48
90 Avant-Gardening MAXIMUM YIELD USA - June 2010
9
FROM THE editor
jessica raymond
Indoor gardening and growing organically are definitely hot topics these days as more people choose to be in control of what they grow and consume. This issue provides instructions on implementing strategic, new-age techniques and developing basic skills to improve your organic outdoor garden and indoor hydro set-up. Want to make gardening more fun? Check out the Cool Toys and Tools for High-Tech Growers provided by Dr. Lynette Morgan and step it up on your lighting, nutrient and odor control skills with excellent articles provided by our resident experts. Increased efforts by our industry are making a positive impact on families and communities. Check out the exclusive feature on industry leaders General Hydroponics and eco-aware retailer Green Leaf Hydroponics. It is from companies like these and others that our industry continues to grow. The percentage of home growers, urban garden plots and rooftop gardens has risen substantially, even just in the last two years (43 million households in the U.S. alone plan to grow their own food this year – National Gardening
contributors
editor@maximumyield.com
Association, www.garden.org). One step at a time, we can make a healthy difference. This month marks the launch of the 2010 Maximum Yield Indoor Gardening Expo Tours. The first expo kicks off in beautiful Montréal, Quebec (June 5-6) at the Palais des Congrès. This sold-out event will feature our industry’s biggest companies from Canada and the world that are eager to share their knowledge and expertise with beginners and inspire those growers that have been experimenting for years. Don’t miss the San Francisco, CA Expo (July 24-25) followed by the Long Beach, CA Expo (Oct 16-17). Learn, network and become the best grower you can be by attending these expos. More info found at www.indoorgardenexpo.com
Note: Maximum Yield wishes to thank General Hydroponics for contributing the photos used in Susan Slobac’s article, “Start Dozens of Plants with an Aeroponic Cloner” published in the April edition of Maximum Yield USA.
Dr. Lynette Morgan holds a B. Hort.
Mélissa Léveillé holds a license in communication, writing and multimedia. She is the newest member of the Nova Biomatique Inc. Team (www.igrowing.com), makers of the PLUG’N’GROW climate controllers. She is responsible for Nova Biomatique Inc.’s communications.
Lee McCall graduated from Johnson and Wales University with a concentration in Culinary Arts. Culinary school opened the door to research and work with hydroponics and organic production. Currently, Lee attends business school in Denver and focuses on continuing advancements with Maximum Yield and indoor gardening technology.
Philip McIntosh is a science and
Jose Luis Pinheiro Bartolo is the president of Biobizz Worldwide Inc., a global leader in the production of hydroponic organic fertilizers and soil mixtures. He is passionate about the organic market and providing the highest service and perfectionism that comes direct from his heart and is projected to all aspects of his life
Dr. Ed Hardwood is founder and chief executive officer of AeroFarms. Ed previously served as associate director of Cornell Cooperative Extension for Agriculture. Prior to that, Ed served as CEO of Topline Waikato, Inc.
Erik Biksa holds a diploma in
Noucetta Kehdi is the co-founder and administrator of General Hydroponics in Europe. Noucetta got involved in hydroponics in the early 1990’s and in 1996 she moved to the southwest of France where she took care of a greenhouse educating herself on all things hydroponics.
Jack Van Camp has been working
Tech. degree and a PhD in hydroponic greenhouse production from Massey University, New Zealand. Lynette is a partner with SUNTEC International Hydroponic Consultants and has authored five hydroponic technical books. Visit www.suntec.co.nz/ consultants.htm and www.suntec. co.nz/books.htm for more information. technology writer with a bachelor’s degree in botany and chemistry and a master’s degree in biological science. During his graduate research he used hydroponic techniques to grow axenic plants. He lives in Colorado Springs, CO. where he teaches mathematics at Challenger Middle School.
agriculture with majors in fertilizer sciences and crop production. Erik has amassed over 18 years of indoor gardening experience and intensive research. Since first appearing in Maximum Yield in 1999, the “Ask Erik” column and numerous articles have reached growers throughout the world.
Isabelle Lemay is in charge of the technical support, customer service and research and development at Nova Biomatique Inc. (www.igrowing. com), makers of the PLUG’N’GROW climate controllers. She is an agronomist and holds a master’s degree in soil and environment studies, with a specialization in greenhouse production.
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Jessica Raymond, Editor
MAXIMUM YIELD USA - June 2010
for Homegrown Hydroponics. He has years of hands-on hydroponic gardening experience and will answer all of your questions through the Homegrown Hydroponics website at www.hydroponics.com He loves to share his knowledge with eager gardeners both locally and around the world.
Become a Maximum Yield contributor and have your articles read by 250,000 readers throughout USA, Canada, UK and Australia. Maximum Yield is the largest free-to-consumer indoor gardening magazine in the world. Every issue is available on maximumyield.com, which has thousands of unique visitors monthly.
FOXFARM Coming Friday
LETTERS TO the editor
A Local Point of View I appreciate that Maximum Yield encourages the support of local business with the Talking Shop feature. More often than not, these are family owned and operated shops and they need more consumer support than they can afford to entice with expensive advertising. You provide them with the opportunity to efficiently introduce themselves to the market. The “At a Glance” bar is quite effective as well, providing contact information and directing readers to web stores (if applicable). Keep it up Peter Cowan
Online Education I have recently gotten into the habit of visiting your website and checking out the online tips included with the articles each month. I find them to be very practical and useful. My favorites this month were the history of organics and information on Dr. Maynard Murray’s research. I’m certainly not opposed to learning from those that have come before me and adapting their ideas for use with my own devices. Awesome stuff. Thanks Addison Pierce
Fast Food for a Fast World There is definitely something wrong when we choose fast food over fresh, convenience over health. It shocks and disturbs me to watch a population of “intelligent” individuals destroy what was once pure—that goes for our planet as well as our bodies and minds. The part that really worries me is that we ignore the answers that are so obviously accessible. My partner recently gave birth to our first child, a daughter. As much as we try to shield her from life’s dangers, we’re not so disillusioned to believe we will always be able to protect her. We’re comforted by the fact that, at least for now, we get to choose what she eats. It’s scary to think that when she’s grown she may not have a healthy option. We grow as much of our own food as we can, which is not enough. When that fails we vote with our money. The way I see it, the imperfections serve as our call to action. I choose to not be a deep-fried couch potato. Now if only I could convince the rest of you. Sheldon Cohen Mount Shasta, California
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Paint by Numbers I was dismayed to read about machines that are replacing humans in the sorting of strawberries (Max Fact, February 2010). It is not okay with me that someone’s livelihood be sacrificed for efficient and cost-effective applications. It’s ludicrous, humans being replaced by robots. What will we do when they out-populate us? I guess we’ll all just be eternally retired, which may not sound so bad, but what about realworld interaction with people and the planet? What about that? Alexis Harris Odon, Indiana
Order Disorder I love the rag my friends. Great, detailed information. I especially like your latest feature by Luis Bartolo, “Our Organic Future.” It is the only way to go. I also hope to see more genetic diversity in production crops. I’m surprised you guys don’t offer an online subscription form. I usually read the mag online to save paper; however, my Internet connection is buggy at best. I don’t have a printer and I’m not able to print and mail the subscription form. That’s why I’m emailing you guys. Hopefully you can get me set up for a subscription. Thank you so much Dennis Fernandez Fort Walton Beach, Florida We appreciate your suggestions, and are always working to make our website as practical and user-friendly as possible. If you are unable to print and mail the PDF subscription form found on maximumyield.com, the best method for you to order a subscription at this time is to call our office (1-250-729-2677). Maximum Yield reserves the right to edit for brevity.
We want to hear from you! Write us at: Maximum Yield Publications Inc. 2339A Delinea Place, Nanaimo, BC V9T 5L9 or Email us at: editor@maximumyield.com
Coming up on the Web 2010 North American Expo Tour The biggest industry expo tour launches this month in Montréal, Canada June 5-6 for the Canadian Indoor Gardening Expo. Following on the heels of Montréal will be the BIGGEST show of the year, the 7th Annual San Francisco Expo July 24-25 and our long-awaited 1st Annual Long Beach Expo Oct. 16-17. Hop on the expo train and make plans to stop at each one of these pre-eminent events. Visit www.indoorgardeningexpo.com for full details.
Click & Win Every time you visit maximumyield.com is just one more opportunity to be eligible to win. Make the most of your visit to your favorite website and check out our latest contests with new prizes added every second month all year long. Link directly at http://maximumyield.com/contests.php
Featured Articles Staggered Crop Lighting Use less electricity, fewer ballasts, eliminate power spikes and reduces cooling requirements by adopting Staggered Crop Lighting techniques.
Back to School: Plant Chemistry Basics The 16 accepted essential macronutrients play diverse roles in plant metabolism. Know their role, discover the source and be able to identify deficiency symptoms.
Sea Energy in Agriculture Discover the key to healthy plants by recognizing the secret source, the sea, the all-encompassing unity for life on Earth.
Have you signed up for Maximum Yield’s monthly E-Newsletter? If so, you know that every issue is overflowing with the latest local and global news, expert advice, website reviews, contest updates, sneak peeks, event details and so much more. If not, what are you waiting for? Sign up today at http://maximumyield.com/newsletter.php
Tell us what you think at editor@maximumyield.com. We’d love to hear from you. 14
MAXIMUM YIELD USA - June 2010
I N D O O R
G A R D E N I N G
VOLUME 11 – NUMBER 3 June 2010 Maximum Yield is published monthly by Maximum Yield Publications Inc. 2339A Delinea Place, Nanaimo, BC V9T 5L9 Phone: 250.729.2677; Fax 250.729.2687 No part of this magazine may be reproduced without permission from the publisher. If undeliverable please return to the address above. The views expressed by columnists are a personal opinion and do not necessarily reflect those of Maximum Yield or the Editor. Publication Agreement Number 40739092 Printed In Canada.
PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER - Jim Jesson GENERAL MANAGER - Don Moores BUSINESS MANAGER - Linda Jesson SALES DIRECTOR - Lisa Lambersek EDITOR - Jessica Raymond jessica@maximumyield.com ADVERTISING SALES 250.729.2677 Linda Jesson - linda@maximumyield.com Lisa Lambersek - lisa@maximumyield.com Ilona Hawser - ilona@maximumyield.com Gaby Morin - gaby@maximumyield.com Ashley Heppell - ashley@maximumyield.com PRODUCTION & DESIGN ads@ads.maximumyield.com Alice Joe - alice@maximumyield.com Wes Cargill - wes@maximumyield.com Daniel Peters - daniel@maximumyield.com Nicole Tennison - nicole@maximumyield.com ACCOUNTING - Lee Anne Veres leeanne@maximumyield.com USA DISTRIBUTION Aurora Innovations BWGS, BWGS West and BWGS East General Hydroponics Hydrofarm Hydro International National Garden Wholesale / Sunlight Supply R&M Supply Tradewinds CANADIAN DISTRIBUTION Brite-Lite Group Biofloral Eddis Wholesale Greenstar Plant Products Inc. Hydrotek MegaWatt Quality Wholesale UK DISTRIBUTION Growth Technology Hydrogarden Northern Hydroponic Wholesale Nutriculture UK AUSTRALIAN DISTRIBUTION Futchatec Growth Technology Hydraspher
ASK
erik
Do you have a question for Erik? Forward it to editor@maximumyield.com with the words “Ask Erik” in the subject line, and your answer will be printed in an upcoming edition.
Erik, I have been growing on a decent sized scale for a few years now. Overall I have been pretty successful, but I have run into a problem with my crop that I just can’t seem to shake. Maybe you can help. It’s powdery mildew. Sure, I have read about and tried a number of the home remedies that different books or online forums have recommended. Some of them work a little, but it always comes back starting mid-flowering. I can keep it held back until harvest, but I want to avoid it all together. The problem first surfaced when I started growing a new strain that I got as cuttings from a propagator. The clones look pretty good when I get them, at least for commercial propagation. I don’t get it, my room is perfect. Temperatures never go over 80°F and the humidity stays below 40 per cent with my dehumidifiers and air-conditioners.CO2 is added as well. I even use a fogger instead of a spray bottle to mist the plants with some of the remedies I have been trying. Help! Bob
Bob, Powdery mildew is a problem many indoor growers face, although the reasons they encounter the problem often vary. One of the most common ways for plants to become infected with powdery mildew is through airborne spores. The spores are all around. However, there is much you can do to minimize the spore count. Activated carbon scrubbers and HEPA filters do a pretty good job of trapping the spores from the air, and reducing the overall spore count. Reducing the numbers of spores in the air lessens the chances and severity of various types of plant infections. The second thing is to make your plants less susceptible to infections. The drier growing conditions you describe may be stressing the plants out. With lower humidity levels plants can sometimes grow a little faster due to an increased level of water transpiration through the leaves in the drier growroom air. However, if this contributes to overworking the plants, especially under bright lighting conditions, it leaves the plant “soft” or “brittle” making it more susceptible to penetration by the fungal hyphae of powdery mildew spores. The fungus actually has to penetrate the leaf, sort of like a stinging insect. If the tissue is soft from excessive transpiration or over applications of nitrogen it becomes much more susceptible. Consider raising the humidity to a steady level of 60 per cent through both light and dark cycles. Thirdly, cover the plant with healthy microbiology both inside and out. By introducing select beneficial micro-organisms such as trichoderma, you make your plants much less of a friendly place for pathogens—such as powdery mildew—to live. Beneficial microbes like trichoderma prove to be very friendly towards pathogens. Certain beneficial super bacteria and fungi when 18
MAXIMUM YIELD USA - June 2010
applied at the roots and as sprays also help to colonize the plant tissue with beneficial micro-organisms, leaving little or no room for disease causing organisms like powdery mildew to step-in. From what you describe, there is also the possibility that the powdery mildew is working its way from the inside out. While there is not a lot of data available on this, many growers have observed that powdery mildew can be transferred from seemingly healthy mother stock into successive crops through the cuttings produced by the motherplant. In short, the PM might be right into the plant tissue when you get your plants as young cuttings, and then manifests when conditions prevail that are favorable for outbreaks. If you have tried every preventative measure out there, and still seem to get the problem, consider starting your own motherplant program by starting fresh from seeds. Seeds very rarely introduce any problems into the growing equation; it’s akin to starting with a clean slate. If any problems arise from there, they have been introduced by you, or somehow through the growing environment. When you get cuttings from outside sources, there is sometimes the possibility that you are inheriting unseen problems that will keep resurfacing, costing you yields and your enjoyment in the growing process. Good luck! Cheers, Erik Biksa
MY
MAX
facts
hydroponic news, tips and trivia
Announcing the Grand Opening of Hydro Planet in Golden, Colorado Hydro Planet stocks a full range of the highest quality hydroponic mediums, nutrients and complete hydroponic systems and atmospheric equipment to supply novice and expert growers. We carry a complete line of Botanicare, General Hydroponics, Humboldt Nutrients, Fox Farm and more, and we have the best prices on HPS/ MH light systems, T-5 fluorescents, trays, pumps, fans, ducting, CO2 and poly. We strive to have the most competitive prices in town with special discounts for large orders and customers buying in bulk. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff has over 40 years of combined hydroponic experience. Our team will help educate the indoor/outdoor grower to push their garden’s potential to the highest level. Located conveniently from both the metro area and the mountains at 711 Washington Ave. in Golden, Colorado on the southeast corner of the intersection of highway 58 and Washington. Open seven days, Monday thru Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The Place to Plant It, Hydro Planet.
Technaflora, Bound to Cover More Ground Technaflora has released a new poster. This unique artwork titled “Technaflora, bound to cover more ground” has been specifically created for Technaflora by the renowned commercial artist Guy Burwell. Mr. Burwell is not only known for his posters, which are collected around the world, he also designs album covers and commercial content for a variety of companies. The new posters will soon be available at retail stores and will be distributed during the Technaflora East Coast Tour. Keep your eyes open, these posters will be hitting the road soon. Visit www.technaflora.com for more information. To view Guy’s portfolio visit www.guyburwell.com
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Longer-Lasting Flowers: Fresh Ideas from Researchers Tomorrow's fragrant bouquets and colorful potted plants might last longer, thanks to floriculture research that may help boost their vase life. In ongoing studies, researchers have shown that spraying low concentrations of a compound known as thidiazuron (TDZ) has significant, sometimes spectacular effects in extending the life of potted plants' leaves and flowers. In tests with greenhouse-grown cyclamen plants, TDZ-treated plants had a significantly longer life than did unsprayed plants. Preliminary studies with cut flowers were the first to demonstrate the value of TDZ for a commercial floricultural species. The cyclamen experiments are the first to show the leaf-saving and blossom-boosting effects of TDZ with potted floricultural plants. Though commercial use of TDZ on cut flowers and potted plants seems promising, the researchers' deeper interest lies in determining precisely how TDZ affects genes and proteins inside the plants. (Source: www.ars.usda.gov)
The Farmers’ Market Shopping List Eating well means paying attention to what you buy and when; this includes buying locally and organically as often as possible. Now we’re adding one more element to the mix: eating seasonally. Seasonal foods are the most flavor-abundant with the highest nutritional value, plus they are more affordable. Knowing what produce to purchase this summer will ensure you get the freshest food for the best price. The Farmers’ Market Shopping list outlines which fruits and veggies are ripe and ready for picking or shopping at your local produce stand this summer. June: wax beans, cauliflower, lettuce, cooking onions, broccoli, cherries, strawberries, green peas, cucumber, green onions, snow peas, green beans. July: beets, celery, gooseberries, peppers, raspberries, tomatoes, apricots, blueberries, carrots, peaches, plums, zucchini, corn, garlic, potatoes. August: pears, eggplant, grapes, parsnips, leeks, nectarines, squash. (Source: www.greenlivingonline.com)
MAX
facts
hydroponic news, tips and trivia
2nd Annual Global Solar Day This year’s global event—in recognition and celebration of solar energy, sustainability, energy independence and protection of our planet—will be held June 19, 2010. Events throughout the U.S. will publicize renewable energy programs and providing information to the public. The objective is to drive awareness of the many benefits of solar power and the financial incentives for residential and commercial consumers. SolarDay offers cities information to create local SolarDay 2010 events at no cost. Non-profits are also provided complimentary assistance to plan their events. SolarDay 2010 will provide useful information on energy audits, solar rebates and links to informative U.S. and state government websites related to energy conservation. Last year’s SolarDay 2009 included a solar thermal tour hosted by the City of San Francisco and media coverage of this day of recognition for the role of solar in California and the U.S. (Source: www.solarday.com)
Urban Farm Fishing in Chicago Raising fish in an urban area is a clean, organic way to grow food. It puts vacant lots and old industrial buildings to good use. But it will be a while before the idea may catch on in Chicago. Fish cannot be farmed in Chicago on a commercial scale. Although Chicago's zoning codes say nothing explicitly about fish, they are classified as livestock. So far, only institutions that raise fish for educational purposes can do it. But urban agriculture advocates are trying to change that, working with the city to write comprehensive guidelines for growing food in the city. One of the city’s "green" developers is eager to get going with a planned aquaponics center in a former meatpacking plant in the old Chicago Stockyards. Half the building would be rented out to green businesses, including a commercial brewery that wants to grow hops, and the other half would be an aquaponics facility. At the aquaponics facility at Chicago High School for Agricultural Sciences, about 1,000 tilapia swim around in tight circles in four 250 gallon tanks, and herbs and vegetables are sold in a school-run farm stand. The operation is commercial grade, although not on a commercial scale. (Source: www.chicagotribune.com)
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Continued from page 22
hydroponic news, tips and trivia
Manga Micro-Farm Makes for Great Geeky Gardening What can you do with a stack of manga or comics that are destined for the recycling bin? Use them as a gardening medium, of course! At least, that's what one artist has done in an installation at the Matsuzakaya department store in Nagoya, Japan. By piling up a stack, rubber banding them together, soaking it and sprinkling it with seeds, the artist explores a colorful and decorative way to raise a salad. PinkTentacle.com shows us the work of Tokyo-based artist Koshi Kawachi, who demoed "Manga Farming." It's simply the use of old manga as a growing medium for veggies. Within the comics, a crop of radish sprouts grow as happily as anything you'd see atop a Chia pet. While this is an art display, it does make you wonder what you might be able to do with the stack of comics under your bed, or the phone books you haven't cracked open in the last five years. (Source: www.treehugger.com)
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MAX
facts
hydroponic news, tips and trivia
Future Harvest Development Has a New YouTube Channel Future Harvest Development is pleased to announce that our new YouTube channel is up and running. Visit our channel at www.youtube.com/user/futureharvest to learn how to calibrate a Nutradip Tri-Meter and set up an FHD 4 Bucket Garden System. More videos will be coming soon. Become a subscriber and stay informed! For more information on Future Harvest Development, visit www.extremegrowing.com
ARS Strawberries Make Commercial and Home Growing Easy The Agricultural Research Services (ARS) strawberry breeding program—the longest continually running strawberry breeding program in the United States—celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. Commercial growers and home gardeners nowadays have many great strawberry varieties to choose from, thanks to scientists. Three of the most popular strawberries—Earliglow, Tribute and Northeaster—were developed by ARS scientists. Earliglow, released in 1975, set a new flavor standard for strawberries. This high-yielding and disease resistant berry is perfect for fresh eating, bite-sized and very sweet. Tribute, released in 1981, produces fruit multiple times during the growing season. This variety is also easy to grow, yielding large amounts of firm fruit in the spring, summer and fall. Northeaster, released in 1994, is prized for its high-yielding large, beautiful, aromatic fruit. The berries ripen early and freeze well. Several other notable varieties have been released by the ARS strawberry breeding program. The ARS strawberry breeding program also solved problems plaguing growers and consumers throughout its history. The program is now focused on producing nutritious, flavorful, disease-resistant varieties suitable for local yearround production. (Source: www.ars.usda.gov)
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MAX
facts
hydroponic news, tips and trivia
Follow the Bountea Blog with Roland Evans Roland Evans, CEO of Organic Bountea and longtime contributor to Maximum Yield, is the headlining author of the Bountea Blog (http://organicbountea.blogspot.com). The blog covers a lot of territory: up-to-date Organic Bountea news items, tips on how to use Bountea products, details about Roland’s gardening techniques and musings on the nature of gardening and psychology. “I love writing and gardening,” Roland tells us. “The Bountea Blog is a way to keep it all fresh and updated, to communicate in an immediate, human way with readers. Like good conversation, I want the Bountea Blog to inform, entertain and stimulate.” Roland is always open to questions and suggestions. Contact him at roland@bountea.com
St. John’s Wort Collection Mined for its Medicinal Value A unique collection of St. John's wort (Hypericum) is providing university collaborators with genetically diverse, well-documented sources of this herb to use in studies examining its medicinal potential. Scientists are screening 180 properties of St. John's wort for biologically active compounds and their potential to combat viral infections, reduce inflammation or improve digestive health. The hypericum collection at the Agricultural Research Service Ames crop genebank was started in the 1990s and today encompasses about 60 species collected from around the world. This diversity has enabled investigations of genetic, environmental and developmental factors affecting the quantity and quality of bioactive compounds, as well as their modes of action. Of particular interest is how these compounds interact, and whether those interactions are critical to human health benefits. Recently researchers noted that combinations of four compounds from St. John's wort were more effective at reducing inflammation in mouse macrophage assays than when each was used alone. (Source: www.sciencedaily.com)
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MY
PRODUCT spotlight
See it. Want it. Find it at your local indoor gardening store. Soul Synthetics Big Swell 2-5-3 Soul Synthetics Big Swell bloom booster has been designed specifically to increase flower size, vigor, density and quality. Our extensive hands-on research has resulted in a distinctive formula of botanical extracts, amino acids and versatile carbohydrates combined with a specific ratio of readily-available phosphorus and potassium. Soul Synthetics Big Swell can be used as an additive in conjunction with any base nutrient program for exceptional results. Soul Synthetics Big Swell bloom booster is derived from yucca extract, molasses, pure evaporated sugar cane extract, phosphoric acid, potassium hydroxide and L-glycine, bamboo extract and green tea extract. Available in one quart, one gallon, 2.5 gallons and the all-new five gallon size. For more information on Soul Synthetics Big Swell visit your favorite indoor gardening store.
Fire Bad. Chameleon Good! Defective cords can cause electrical overheating and major property damage, which is why Chameleon Cable Clips and Wraps are absolutely essential for every household. Designed to make it easy to identify overheating cord sets without touching the wire, these ingenious safety tools can be used on any flexible indoor electrical cord. When wrapped around or clipped onto the plug end of an electrical cord, they change color from green to orange when they reach 110°F. It’s a simple but potentially lifesaving technology that anyone with electronics in their home will appreciate! Includes two cord wraps and four clips. Now available at grow shops and garden centers in the USA.
Powersun Open Ballast The Powersun copper coil open ballasts from Flora Corp are now available. The open concept ballasts are the coolest running ballasts out there. The Powersun can run on 120 or 240 volts. 120 volt power cord is included (240 volt is available). All Powersun Open Ballasts come with detachable lamp and power cords for ease-of-use and set-up. Ask for the Powersun Open Ballast at your local hydro retail shop.
Introducing the New C.A.P. Plugz™ When professional growers want the absolute best for their “little ones,” they choose C.A.P. Plugz™. Formulated specifically for seedlings and delicate cuttings, Plugz are composed of only the finest quality peat and perlite, optimally blended to ensure proper aeration and adequate water retention. This attention to quality allows the grower to experience unparalleled viability and an overall increase in juvenile vigor. For more information contact your hydro retailer.
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MAXIMUM YIELD USA - June 2010
PRODUCT spotlight
See it. Want it. Find it at your favorite indoor gardening store.
Sunleaves All Purpose Bins Do More than Just Recycle You can save space in more ways than one with Sunleaves All Purpose Bins! Whether they’re used for recycling or just organizing loose knick-knacks, their tiny footprint (three bins take up less than one square foot of floor space) makes them perfect for any room, no matter how small. These sturdy, free-standing, six gallon bins have slanted openings for easy access; can be hung on a wall to keep floor space clear; and their even weight distribution makes them completely balanced and stable for stacking. They feature sturdy handles to make carrying less of a chore, and best of all, they’re made from recycled materials! Dimensions: 14.25 by 10.5 by 13.5. Ask your favorite indoor gardening retail store to carry them today.
Plant Marvel Bloom Special 3-15-26 If flexibility is what you’re looking for you have found the right product. Plant Marvel Bloom Special 3-15-26 is created with the finest quality ingredients. Bloom Special 3-15-26 is completely soluble and can be used in hydroponic reservoirs as well as drip lines and drench irrigation methods to meet your growing needs. This nutrient works extremely well for transitioning plants to their flowering cycle by using 11 high quality elements with increased iron and molybdenum. Bloom Special is completely compatible with other applied products and contains no excess salts or chlorine to damage roots or foliage and is specially formulated for safe, effective, simultaneous release of all nutrients in the proper amounts. Visit an indoor gardening shop to learn more.
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PRODUCT spotlight
See it. Want it. Find it at your favorite indoor gardening store.
Simple and Effective – Nutriculture Gro Tanks
Vital Earth’s Rose and Flower Mix
In a Nutriculture NFT Gro Tank the nutrient solution is contained. Your plants sit on a tray above the tank and nutrient solution flows over the roots of your plants. Unused nutrient solution drains back into the tank to be re-used.
A superior blend of bat and seabird guanos for roses, bulbs, flowering plants, trees, shrubs and vines. Designed to promote vigorous vegetative as well as flowering growth, this specially formulated Rose & Flower Mix will help your garden’s flowers reach their full potential.
Why choose Nutriculture NFT systems? • faster growth rates and four times the yields achieved with traditional soil methods • no complicated delivery systems, no feeding schedules to calculate, very little maintenance involved • harvest sooner and get more crops per year • no waste runoff in re-circulating hydroponic systems • no chance of over or under watering • clean and minimum waste produce – no heavy bags of medium to carry around • reduced chance of disease and reduced use of pesticides
• Promotes intensive growth. All-natural, organic fertilizer. • A blend of seabird and bat guano. No additives. No fillers. • May promote outstanding flowering and fruiting. • May promote improved crop yields. • May promote improved taste and flavor in all fruits and vegetables. Available in: 4.4 pound buckets, 22 pound bags and 44 pound bags. Visit your local hydro or indoor gardening retailer for more information on Rose & Flower.
Ask your retailer to carry Nutriculture Gro Tanks today.
Soul Synthetics Grow 3-1.25-1.25 Soul Synthetics Grow is a synergistic blend of highly soluble synthetic fertility components, enhanced with powerful organic extracts for maximum yields and spectacular flavor. It was designed specifically for increased yields and enhanced quality in versatile and demanding applications. Formulated from only the highest quality organic and synthetic ingredients and targeted to increase plant vigor for larger harvests. Soul Synthetics Grow is balanced and contains more of what a plant needs during its vegetative growth stage. It was purposely created to be userfriendly and pH stable. Great for both soil and hydroponic gardening. Soul Synthetics Grow is derived from bat guano, alfalfa, kelp, yucca, molasses, potassium nitrate, potassium phosphate, calcium nitrate and magnesium nitrate. Available in one quart, one gallon, 2.5 gallons and the allnew five gallon size. For more information on Soul Synthetics Grow visit your nearest indoor gardening retail store.
Vital Earth’s Manna Mix Manna is often described as a source of divine nourishment and this powerful blend of Vital Earth’s® most potent ingredients is indeed divine. This is our superior coconutbased planting mix, and we think you will notice great improvement in the yields and quality of your end product. With Vital Earth’s® Coconut Pith, the holding capacity of the extra-long strands of coconut fiber creates the perfect air-to-water ratio for this triple-washed, low-saline, ideal container planting mix. Your plants are sure to be happy and healthy from seedling to harvest. Contains: • Vital Earth’s® Coconut Pith (low saline) • Vital Earth’s® Rose & Flower Mix • MegaWorm® earthworm castings, which may promote enhanced germination, root growth, plant-growth, crop yield and water-holding capacity in soils • mycorrhizal fungi and Vital Earth’s® Powdered Glacial Rock • fortified with Vital Earth’s® Organic Compost OMRI® Available in 1.5 cubic foot bags and two yard totes. Visit your local hydro shop for more information on Manna Mix. Continued on page 42
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PRODUCT
Continued from page 38
spotlight
Plant Marvel All Purpose 20–20–20 Nutriculture General Purpose 20-20-20 provides over 60 per cent nutrient value in a 1-1-1 ratio making it excellent for use in a wide variety of growing situations. Nutriculture performs excellent on containerized stock in the nursery industry and for greenhouse crops such as foliage and bedding plants. For institutional and general landscape maintenance, it is ideal because it works well on turf, trees and shrubs as well as blooming plants and can be used as a single all-purpose spray feed. With Nutriculture you capture NPK and trace elements all in one mix. Visit your nearest indoor gardening retailer to learn more.
New STG Hail Packs a Wallop Sure To Grow’s latest and greatest Hail Mini Cubes are making a huge impression on growers. Hail was designed to offer growers a lightweight, clean alternative to hydroton and other granulates. This is STG’s first product to come in a bag and is a hit with growers because it addresses the biggest issues growers have with hydroton; the prewashing needed and the weight. Hail is ready-to-use out of the bag and needs no cleaning or prep. Being pH neutral makes STG ideal for new growers. Most important, a bag of Hail will fill the same amount of pots as a 50 pound bag of hydroton, but weighs only 12 ounces. The changing market affords STG a great opportunity to bring new. value added, eco-friendly media options to growers looking for a change. Visit your nearest hydroponics retailer to order the new STG Hail Mini Cubes.
Plant Ties Exclusively from Hydrofarm Hydrofarm’s new plant ties offer a gentle touch to avoid leaving your plants dangling. Our Soft Ties are big, thick and soft, providing 26 feet of securing power to tackle all your tie-down needs. Our Twist Ties come in a rolled dispenser that let’s you easily clip off the exact length of tie you need. This roll is 164 feet long. Hydrofarm Plant Ties are now available at an authorized Hydrofarm retailer near you. 42
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PRODUCT spotlight
Raptor Reflector Exclusively from Hydrofarm This new mega reflector was designed with our customers' needs in mind. You wanted bigger, broader, brighter light coverage; our engineers built it all into our newest reflector, the Raptor. Features: • super big – 30 inches by 41 inches • exclusive engineered design by Lighting Sciences • broad light spread allows close placement to plants for maximum light delivery in low-clearance locations • fully gasketed and sealed for most effective heat isolation and cooling • best-in-the-world 95 per cent reflective, four-sided Alanod Hammertone aluminum interior • pre-galvanized multi-point reinforced construction • most efficient reflector in its class • 15 foot pre-wired lamp cord included • aerodynamic design • built-in socket • completely sealed lens system Raptor Reflectors are now available at an authorized Hydrofarm retailer near you.
Introducing Kronus 1 The Kronus 1 controls temperature and humidity in your grow area at your preferred settings. This controller is designed by the indoor gardening industry for the indoor gardening industry using the highest quality components. Kronus 1 activates an exhaust fan, A/C or dehumidifier if the temperature or humidity exceeds the preferred setting. Easy to understand and use, just plug your exhaust fan or A/C into the exhaust fan output to control your temperature, and plug your dehumidifier into the dehumidify output to keep your humidity in check. Features: • highlighted grow zones for ease of use • 25 foot modular remote temperature and humidity sensor (10 and 50 foot cables available) • 15 amps/120 volts/60 hertz • three year warranty To learn more visit your local indoor gardening retailer. Continued on page 136 44
MAXIMUM YIELD USA - June 2010
Cool Toys and Tools
for High-Tech Growers
by Dr. Lynette Morgan
Humans love gadgets. The widespread use of iPods, iPhones and Blackberries are testament to this so why should hightech horticulture be any different? There is a wide range of exciting and useful tools, meters and instruments designed for horticultural applications that not only provide valuable, educational information but are also fun. While it may seem that high-tech grower gadgets are out of the budget range for many of us and only used for advanced research projects in university labs, in reality there are some toys and tools that won’t break the bank. Most of us know how to handle an EC or TDS meter and have a basic awareness of the range of methods used to measure pH on a small scale, but there are many more plant and environmental parameters that could be tested, quantified and adjusted to give even better plant performance. Tools exist to test and measure just about every plant variable from CO2, dissolved oxygen in the nutrient, surface temperature, sugar levels in plant material, individual elements in the nutrient solution, chlorophyll content of the foliage, PAR light, media moisture levels, peroxide levels, vapor pressure deficit, even entire plant photosynthesis, among others. There are also nutrient calculators and nutrient formulation software on the market for those who are into nutrient fine-tuning.
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IPM Scope – Digital IPM camera and hand held microscope This is a really great toy for checking the fine details of what’s happening at the plant level. Much of what goes on at the leaf surface is smaller than we can easily see and a whole other ‘micro-world’ exists that is truly fascinating to view close up. This type of digital microscope is particularly useful for growers who have problems seeing the early signs of pests and disease on leaf surfaces and for classroom hydroponics and science fair projects. Microscopes are commonly used for magnifying small insects, plant diseases and other plant disorders, however, this version goes one step further combining a digital movie camera, built in LED lighting and precision options in a small hand-held microscope. This gives 40 to140 times magnification so the fine details can be easily seen on a computer screen then captured as images or movies.
photo by Spectrum Technologies
“Microscopes are commonly used for magnifying small insects, plant diseases and other plant disorders.”
The IPM Scope – a hand held microscope and camera that links to a computer for full screen images.
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Cool Toys and Tools for High-Tech Growers
Pocket digital refractometer or brix meter
“Brix is a reliable measure of fruit quality and flavor (sweetness) in many common hydroponic crops such as tomatoes, strawberries, capsicum and melons.� brix levels. The digital refractometer has an accuracy of 0.2 per cent and measures in increments of 0.1 per cent. For smaller growers brix meters are a highly useful tool where improvements in the growing system, cultivar or nutrition are being carried out to raise
The electronic brix meter may be more expensive than the old manual types but the accuracy and speed of readings make it worthwhile.
Brix meters for measuring sugar levels in hydroponic fruits and vegetables are an essential tool for many growers.
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the quality of the crops being grown. Brix or sugar levels in many fruits and vegetables are also highly dependant on a number of factors such as light levels, EC, nutrition, cultivar, temperature and plant health. Being able to measure brix from one crop to the next can give definitive evidence that plant quality is improving. It’s also interesting to measure the brix of different samples of tomatoes and other fruit and then see if taste tests can actually pick up on the same differences in sweetness.
photo: Spectrum Technologies
Refractometers, also known as brix or total soluble solids meters, have been used in horticulture for many decades. Hand held brix meters are most commonly used in the wine industry to determine when sugar levels in grapes are high enough to harvest. However, many other industries use refractometers to gauge crop maturity and food quality. Brix meters can be one of the most useful tools for fruit and vegetable assessment if used correctly. Refractometers range in cost, the most inexpensive being the older manual styles to the most expensive digital hand held refractometers that fit in your pocket and give a reading in seconds. Brix is a reliable measure of fruit quality and flavor (sweetness) in many common hydroponic crops such as tomatoes, strawberries, capsicum and melons. Commercial growers, in particular, should know how to use a refractometer. They should also know how the values of brix relates to fruit quality and flavor in their crops. The problem with the old manual brix meters has always been the scale, which needs to be read by eye; it can be difficult to get a high degree of accuracy between samples that are relatively close in
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Cool Toys and Tools for High-Tech Growers
Chlorophyll meters Chlorophyll meters are not necessarily standard hydroponic gadgets, but they can be fun, in some cases providing very valuable information. Chlorophyll meters give an indication of plant health and stress before growth becomes adversely affected. Thus they are potentially a useful tool for hydroponic growers who would like to know if their plants are starting to suffer some stress long before potentially fatal symptoms—such as wilting—become more visible. There are a number of models of chlorophyll meters on the market, from simple versions to the high-tech, integrated data-logging models. Chlorophyll content is instantly measured by clamping a sensor over a leaf and receiving an indexed chlorophyll content reading. Good quality, high-tech chlorophyll meters are not only a useful crop diagnostic tool, but also a great learning tool for classroom experiments and student projects.
“Chlorophyll meters give an indication of plant health and stress before growth becomes adversely affected.”
Chlorophyll content of a crop’s foliage is a gauge of health and can be used as a disease diagnostic tool.
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Cool Toys and Tools for High-Tech Growers
An infrared thermometer can be used to determine if leaves are actively transpiring or have shut their stomata.
Infrared thermometer Infrared thermometers are perhaps the simplest and often least expensive tools a small hydroponic grower can purchase. They provide particularly valuable data and can even determine when a plant has become stressed to the point where it has stopped transpiring. Infrared thermometers are also the easiest and straightforward of all the tools to use and they have extra uses around the home
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as well. Infrared thermometers are in widespread use in the food industry. They are used to non-destructively gauge food temperatures to ensure proper storage. These gadgets operate by shining an infrared beam of light onto the surface of an object, or in the case of nutrient solutions, a liquid. The temperature of the surface of that object is then recorded and displayed in either Fahrenheit or Celsius on the meter’s digital display. In hydroponics, this surface temperature reading is important for foliage. The leaf or canopy temperature in a healthy plant usually differs from the air temperature and so should be checked, particularly
“The leaf or canopy temperature in a healthy plant usually differs from the air temperature and so should be checked, particularly under warm or high light conditions.” under warm or high light conditions. Plants’ leaves transpire, cooling themselves in the process. A healthy, actively photosynthesizing crop will have a leaf temperature that is close to or slightly lower than that of the surrounding air. A crop that has become stressed and shuts down with closed stomata will have a leaf temperature above that of the air temperature and eventually it will begin to wilt. Under these conditions the leaf is also not photosynthesizing. The objective of measuring the leaf temperature with a non-destructive infrared thermometer is to assess plant stress and prevent plants from shutting down during the day due to heat, humidity or other disorders. Infrared readings can also be taken of the nutrient solution at any point in a hydroponic system and are also great for checking solution temperatures in NFT channels, deep flow systems, aeroponics, raft systems or nutrient reservoirs.
Cool Toys and Tools for High-Tech Growers
Dissolved oxygen meters come in hand held models which can be used to directly measure the DO of a solution.
Dissolved oxygen meters are useful for assessing the efficiency of various nutrient aeration methods.
Dissolved Oxygen (DO) meters and moisture meters Dissolved oxygen meters are perhaps more useful for those using solution culture systems such as NFT or deep flow systems where the plants are somewhat reliant on the oxygen dissolved
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in the nutrient solution. Media based systems are a little different as plants largely obtain oxygen from air filled pores in the growing media; in this case a moisture meter is a great tool as it lets the grower determine how saturated the substrate surrounding the roots is and gives a guide on how often to water. A highly saturated substrate doesn’t hold as much air inside its pore structure as water fills all the available pores and displaces the essential oxygen supply to the roots. On the other hand a substrate holding very little moisture means the plant struggles to take up sufficient water and wilting can rapidly result. Having a good quality moisture meter, one designed specifically for use with soilless media, is a great tool for those struggling with irrigation programs and continual over or underwatering. Specific moisture meters are available for use with rockwool slabs, although the cost of this usually means it is only used by large scale commercial growers with computer integrated irrigation systems.
Cool Toys and Tools for High-Tech Growers
Dissolved oxygen meters are useful for any one with a nutrient reservoir. They can be used to gauge the dissolved oxygen level of the solution irrigated out to plants, or the DO level in the leachate of recirculating systems. Measuring the dissolved oxygen level is extremely valuable for anyone using microbial or organic additives in their nutrient solution as both these can lead to oxygen depletion if not used correctly at the right dose. Continuous verification of oxygen levels in the nutrient is advised for growers who regularly incorporate these sorts of products. Dissolved oxygen in solution is naturally only present at low levels. Oxygen is not very soluble in water, and the DO level is dependant on temperature. While
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a cooler solution may hold as much as 12 to 13 ppm of DO, a warm solution may hold as little as six to seven ppm. This combined with the fact that under warm growing conditions with rapid development, a large plant root system has a rather high oxygen requirement for respiration, we can see how important replacing DO in the nutrient and growing media can be. As with EC, ppm and pH meters, dissolved oxygen meters have come a long way since the early days of large, lab-based machines. Now oxygen can be measured on-site, which is important since the DO levels can be influenced by taking samples and transporting these for measurement elsewhere. Hand held, easy to use and highly accurate dissolved oxygen meters not only measure DO but also percentage saturation at the current temperature of the solution, which is a useful tool for
growers trying different methods of getting more oxygen into the solution. Of course the list of tools, meters and gadgets designed for horticultural use is far more extensive than is covered here and there are some highly advanced systems for measurement of plant photosynthesis, individual nutrient elements and biomass production. However, in terms of small useful gadgets that can tell us something about our plant’s state of health, environment and productivity and allow decisions to be made that benefit growth, the five mentioned above are MY worth the investment. Sources: Hanna Instruments (www.hannainst.com/usa) Spectrum Technologies Inc. (www.specmeters.com) Decagon Devices (www.decagon.com)
A list of additional fun tools and technologies for hydroponics are detailed on maximumyield.com
Sea Energy in Agriculture RENEWING THE SOIL WITH SEA SOLIDS by David Yarrow
In the early ages of our planet, water dissolved minerals from crystal bedrock, washing them into a vast ocean. Rain and ice scoured the infant orb’s dense granites and then flowed
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into streams and rivers, which all ran together into the sea. Minerals in endless flowing solution accumulated in the ocean over many millennia. Sea salt has all the elements needed for life. Over countless years, land has been worn down by wind and water, and elements washed out to sea. Thus, the sea received the enormous chemical richness and balance that once supported life on land. “Looking at ocean life, one is immediately impressed that in this 71 per cent of earth’s surface, there is no cancer, hardening of arteries or arthritis." So, when we savor the flavor of food, our fundamental seasoning is salt—the sea its original source. Natural sea salt is a faint gray-green, with soft, complex crystal structures, but today’s table salt is only sodium—pure white cubic crystals of chloride. All other seawater elements have been refined— removed and taken out. Gone is the iron; lost are potassium, calcium and magnesium, as well as more minor minerals and trace elements than we can yet measure. Mid-Century Science Bioneer Dr. Maynard Murray was a pioneer in biology, health and agriculture. His lifelong quest taught him that the key to health is a secret in soil, a secret whose source is the sea. A medical scientist, he recognized evidence of an all-encompassing unity for life on Earth. His inspiration came from his study of the ocean. In 1947, Murray began a 25 year medical career specializing in ear, nose and throat. Experiences with patients aroused his concern for the quality of life. While Americans lived longer, medical practice revealed they weren’t living better. Chronic illness and degenerative disease slowly but steadily increased. Pointedly, he wrote, “Americans hold the dubious distinction of being among the sickest of populations in modern society,” adding, “A nation with a drug industry flourishing as well as ours certainly cannot claim good health!” First Clue As a university student, Murray had tried to induce cancer in a toad. He was astonished to learn that the amphibian had natural immunity. He sought answers in ocean animals rather than freshwater and land animals. Time and money was spent traveling to study and dissect sea life from South America to the Pribilof Islands. MAXIMUM YIELD USA - June 2010
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“A cubic foot of seawater sustains many times more living organisms than an equivalent of soil,” he noted. “Seawater is literally alive, especially if its temperature is warm.” Murray sliced open whales and autopsied dolphins and marine mammals searching for organic degeneration, but he saw little sickness in the sea. Ocean animals, he discovered, did not develop the degenerative diseases that plague man: “Looking at ocean life, one is immediately impressed that in this 71 per cent of earth’s surface, there is no cancer, hardening of arteries or arthritis. Disease resistance in sea plants and animals differs remarkably from land animals. “The elements in seawater are essentially the same as in blood, and very close to the same quantities.” Ocean trout don’t develop cancer, while freshwater trout over five years have liver cancer. It’s difficult to find any land species without cancer. All land animals develop arteriosclerosis, yet sea animals are never diagnosed with this.” Murray noted that aging hardly occurs in the sea. Comparing cells from adult vs. newborn whales showed no evidence of the chemical changes observed in land mammal cells. Some sea denizens seem to never cease growing. Comparing the sizes of land vs. sea turtles reveals the tremendous difference. It’s Logical Murray pondered over what could impart this apparent immunity to sea animals. Was it a nutritional factor? Was it caused by minerals, or some more complex chemical factor? Simple reasoning reveals that minerals in soil leach out with rain and snow, flowing into oceans via streams and rivers—the land’s mineral fertility winds up washing into the seas. Minerals lost from land accumulated in the sea for millennia. This progression suggests that seawater minerals are key nutrients responsible for the heath of sea life.
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“Seawater is Earth’s most ancient natural solution,” Murray said, “and, in my opinion, most ideal, physiologically. In the sea, as liquid crystalloid, all atomic table elements are in a solution of consistent balance and proportion, available to all sea life.” Murray noticed the elements in seawater are essentially the same as in blood, and very close to the same quantities. This seemed no coincidence, but a true clue to the role of minerals in health. Might mineral deficiency be a significant cause of degenerative disease? If humans get a full menu of minerals, will our physiologic disorders decline? But how could humans assimilate these necessary nutrients? Drinking seawater isn’t possible—humans aren’t designed to ingest minerals as salts, or rocks, for that matter. Our guts can’t absorb elements in raw, naked, ionic forms. Rather, human intestines need minerals to be packaged with sugars, amino acids, fats, oils. “Table salt is the only food we eat that’s inorganic,” Murray noted, “and frankly, it isn’t good for us.” He summed up his thesis: “Ocean waters hold a perfect balance of essential elements required as food for the complex cell groups that make up our bodies.” Seawater into Soil As a first step to learning how to supply minerals to humans, Murray realized that we get our minerals primarily from food, but that water is the second most important source. He decided to use seawater as a soil amendment, and observe whether this provided any benefit. Perhaps if soil is supplied with all essential minerals, plants will absorb them as nutrients and pass them on to the animals that eat them. In Murray’s first trials, the U.S. Navy supplied seawater from oceans all over the world. Railroad tank cars delivered seawater to Cincinnati, which was sprayed at various controlled rates onto test plots. In 1940, four 12-foot peach trees were planted 20 feet apart. Two of them, designated experimental, were treated with 600 cc. of seawater per square foot, before the buds
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broke; the other two acted as controls, receiving no application. Murray recalled: “All four trees were sprayed with curly leaf virus. The test lasted three years.Virus spraying took place only the first year. Control trees contracted curly leaf each year, and finally died. Experimentals retained resistance throughout, and provided normal yields each year. Turnips were planted the same year, the experimental half fertilized with 600 cc. of seawater per square foot of soil. Staphylococcus bacteria associated with “center rot” was mixed into the soil of the entire plot. When turnips sprouted and leaves appeared, they were sprayed with the bacteria. All experimentals grew normal, healthy, no evidence of center rot. Controls contracted center rot and died. Similar results occurred with every crop Murray tested. Sea Solids All the solids in one railroad tank car of seawater hardly fill a steel drum. By weight, 3.5 per cent of seawater is made up of solids. Seawater is cheap, but water is heavy and thus costly to transport, so Murray began using sea solids: salts and other chemicals. He eliminated the water so that only the solids remained made transport economical, and solids were easier to apply to soils. He wrote, “We looked worldwide for natural locations where seawater becomes landlocked, and total evaporation takes place. This complete spectrum of elements from the sea we designated sea solids.” Rain falling on sea salts drying in openair beds dissolves heavier metals and trace elements first. Minerals that go in
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Sea Energy in Agriculture
Sea Energy in Agriculture
solution quickest wash away faster than light minerals. After a few rainwater washings, sea salt has far more sodium, and far fewer trace elements. Murray searched for sources of sea sediments that were subject to minimal rainfall and leaching. Southwest Africa; Arabia; Baja; California; and northern Chile are all arid areas where rain is rare. There, ocean waters swell up at high tides into beachside lagoons. These pools dry out, leaving behind the minerals. Murray believed that these desert deposits retained all of seawater’s original elements in nearly the same ratios. Over the course of more than 20 years, Murray tested sea solids on various crops in seven states and in different climates. Experiments indicated that land plants tolerate 400 to 1,000 cc. of seawater to ⅓ cubic foot of soil. Sea solids were administered to soil at 500 to as much as 3,000 pounds per acre. Except in cases of serious rainwater runoff, one application would last five years. Corn, wheat, oats, barley, hay, fruit trees, vegetable crops and other plants were raised using seawater or sea solids. Fields were planted so that an experimental plot using sea solids (applied at 1,000 to 2,200 pounds per acre) was situated beside a control plot using the best commercial method. Crops fertilized with sea solids grew faster, were healthier and produced far greater growth. Resulting color, disease resistance, taste and yield were outstanding. Animals, wild and domestic, had no trouble determining which crop was better to eat. A walk through one of the fields fertilized with sea solids revealed a glimpse of animal heaven. Rabbits and mice scurried everywhere, yet a control area with standard fertilizers was almost lifeless. In the 1950s, Murray began assaying crops for nutrients. Consistently, foods grown using sea solids had significantly more minerals (ash content), vitamins (25 per cent more vitamin C in tomatoes; 40 per cent more vitamin A in MY carrots) and sugars. The continuation of this article will appear in the July issue of Maximum Yield USA.
Reprinted with permission from Acres U.S.A., P.O. Box 91299, Austin, Texas 78709 1-512-892-4400, Subscriptions: $27/year. For a sample copy of Acres U.S.A. call 1-800-355-5313 or visit www.acresusa.com
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GROWING FOR HEALTH
GROWING BASIL INDOORS: AN AYURVEDIC ANSWER
by Sudhir Naik and Shraddha N.
Basil, also known as “Sacred Tulsi” or “Holy Basil,” has been cultivated for around 5,000 years in the tropical regions of Asia, Iran and India. There are more than 60 varieties and most of them are adaptable to organic cultivation. “Genovese” and “Italian large leaf ” varieties are relatively easy to grow. “Thai Basil” has a mild anise flavor and is sweeter compared to the Italian variety. “Purple Ruffles” is also considered one of the best to grow indoors. Health Benefits Basil increases the body’s resistance to disease and assists with the development of a strong immune system. While many of the benefits take immediate effect, some of the benefits appear over time as the body’s natural process of healing and health improve gradually. You may feel more energized and relaxed after consuming a cup of basil tea or juice. Research confirms that basil reduces stress, enhances stamina, lowers cholesterol, relieves inflammation, eliminates toxins, prevents gastric ulcer, lowers fever, improves digestion and provides a rich supply of antioxidants and other nutrients. It has traditionally been used in Ayurvedic medicine in countries around the world and is widely used in homeopathy and pharmaceuticals.
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Properties and Composition The unique composition of basil is highly complex with its different beneficial compounds (phytochemicals), essential oils (containing linalol, estragol, eugenol, citral and citronellal mono-terpenes), tannins, flavonoids, rosmarinic, caffeic and chlorogenic acids. The antioxidative effect is mainly due to the phenolic acids, flavonoids and anthocyanins present. Due to this property, it is effective in reducing blood glucose levels. The adaptogenic property of basil helps the body to adapt efficiently to stress and tension. Adaptogens present in basil reduce the intensity and negative, harmful effects of stress. Studies have shown that crude aqueous and ethanol extracts of basil that contain ursolic acid exhibit strong antiviral behaviors against viruses Culinary Uses of Basil Basil is commonly used fresh in cooking. The aroma of the fresh leaves is simply outstanding in salads and stews, and with tuna and potatoes. Basil is the main ingredient in pesto. It is advisable to add it when the dish is almost done to retain its flavor and aroma. Beware of excessive cooking, as it destroys the flavor and the essential nutrients. Fresh herbs can be refrigerated in a plastic bag or dried for future consumption.
Cultivated for around 5,000 years in the tropical regions of Asia, Iran and India, there are more than 60 varieties and most of them are adaptable to organic cultivation and relatively easy to grow.
Growing Basil Indoors Basil herbs are tender annuals in cold climate like the U.S. and Canada but are perennial in the warm, temperate and tropical regions of Asia. They can be easily grown indoors in containers or outdoors from seeds and cuttings. Maintain the soil temperature at around 70°F. Basil should be pruned when it has grown three to five sets of leaves to expedite propagation and branching.
American Ag./Rose City Half
About the Author Sudhir Naik has been caring for herbs for over 20 years. He is a contributing writer to www.evergreenherbgardens.com and author MY of “Secrets of Evergreen Herb Gardening.” (Source: http://EzineArticles.com)
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by Noucetta Kehdi
x R
Hydroponics and Medicinal Plants
For the hobby gardener, growing hydroponically offers enormous opportunities and sometimes unsuspected alternatives. When you start a hydroponic garden with the proper nutrients you are generally stricken by the rapidity of growth and the vigor of your plants, not to mention the profusion and generosity of your yields! Often this leads to unexpected vocations The marriage of medicinal plants and hydroponics may sound odd, and yet, during my many years of research on hydroponically-grown plants, one of my goals was to attain unequalled growth allied with excellent crop quality and high “essential” content. Another objective was to offer new alternatives to small commercial growers, associating them to successful and economically independent ventures. During these years I came across a large variety of plants, and nearly each time the results were astounding. Plants were plentiful, beautiful and healthy. They smelled sweet and tasted great; they were rich in active principles. 72
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So quite naturally a section of my studies was directed to culinary and therapeutic plants. But if it was easy to choose the right culinary plants (basil, sage, mint, parsley, chives, etc.), it was much more difficult to determine which medicinals would be interesting to cultivate. The idea was to establish a list of high value cash crops that could grow in my greenhouse in France, analyze them and eventually suggest them to potential smallscale commercial growers. In order to be sure of my choice I contacted the University of Toulouse, France and its Faculty of Pharmacognosis. It was important that once analyzed the hydroponically grown crops would be truly compatible with the pharmacopoeia’s requirements. The faculty suggested a few plants from which I chose Hieracium pilosella and Hypericum perforatum. Both of them had value and were excellent candidates for economical, practical, and of course, for medicinal purposes.
Mouse-Ear Hawkweed, a yellow-flowered species of Asteraceae, is native to Europe and Northern Asia.
Hieracium pilosella
Hieracium pilosella (also called Mouse-Ear Hawkweed,) is a soil-cover, rampant (12 inches maximum) colony-forming plant. It is a perennial, stoloniferous herb whose rosettes form dense, prostrate mats. Each rosette produces a single, lemon yellow flower between May and September. Seeds stay on the plant until end of winter. Leaves vary in size according to habitat, from 0.8 by 0.2 inches in drier, less fertile sites to four by 0.8 inches in moister, more fertile sites. The under-surface of the largely smooth leaves has a dense cover of white hairs. Hieracium pilosella has been used since the ancient times for its several medicinal qualities, and mainly as a “cleaner.� In the past the sap was used to accelerate the cicatrisation of internal and external wounds and to relieve kidney malfunctions. Today it is still used. It is known as an astringent, with strong diuretic, depurative and antibiotic properties. It is often used to eliminate superfluous water from the body and increases the secretion of the gall bladder. All parts are used. The most common way of preparing it is by infusion of the fresh leaves for internal cleansing. An old recipe says: 100 grams for one quart of water infuse for 15 to 20 minutes and take three cups/day. MAXIMUM YIELD USA - June 2010
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Hydroponics and Medicinal Plants
cium ty of Hira d The entire is covere erennial, p a , a ll pilose h hairs. lar, whitis in glandu
For external use crush the fresh leaves. They act as a detergent and help heal atonic wounds. (See notice at the end of the article) Hieracium easily adapts to all substrates and is quite easy to grow. But it has two characteristics that make it less attractive to traditional soil growers: 1. It is allelopathic, which means invasive. The active principle in a plant is the original inherent constituent, which
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characterizes a substance, and gives it its essential properties: power to heal, to cure, to nourish, etc. Most often people will think that an active principle is only characteristic to medicinal plants. But it is not. Fragrance and flavor are the results of active principles too; the sweater the smell or the stronger the taste, the higher is the content in the correspondent active principles. Young plants form dense mats in open spaces through vegetative development and extend quite rapidly. Their roots emit a substance inhibiting neighboring root growth, which makes it a true intruder in some countries. Indeed it is recorded as a weed and even forbidden to import in some countries like Australia, or Canada because, when conditions are met, it competes with neighboring plants to the point of invading the soil completely and threatening local biodiversity. It is a native of England and grows well in the rest of Europe, especially in areas like the dry prairies of the Pyrenees. It forms a very pleasant mat to walk upon, and makes an excellent candidate for lawns in poor soil. 2. It is a rampant, which has two disadvantages when harvesting: • When in contact with soil, the blades of the harvesting machines become blunt. They have to be regularly sharpened or replaced, and become an economical setback.
Widely known as an herbal treatment for depression, Hypericum perforatum (St. John’s wort), has long been enjoyed as an herbal tea.
• The harvest is dirty, full of soil and debris and has to be cleaned before starting proper processing, which represents another economical burden. While being an obstacle for soil growers, these two disadvantages make Hieracium pilosella a perfect candidate for hydroponics. Indeed, the plant is cultivated in enclosed growing modules and cannot spread out. No need for harvesting machines; in hydro your plants grow on high beds making harvesting a much more practical process. They grow in clean and easy to wash-off substrates like clay pellets, which eliminates the cost of cleaning and sorting. Last but most important, in hydroponics you increase the quality and quantity of your yields, as well as their content in active principles, especially when you use the right nutrients. I began testing Hieracium pilosella with the understanding that the faculty in Toulouse would analyze the harvest and give me its conclusions about the quality of the plants compared to soil-grown, and their content in active principles. I started the Hieracium from seeds in a tray with a mix of perlite and vermiculite. As soon as they became vigorous young seedlings, I transplanted them into a three foot squared drip feed hydro system with a mix of small and medium size rocks for best adherence to the root system. I used professional grade nutrients and set the nutritive solution around EC 1.0 and pH 5.8 – 6.2. The plants developed quite well and rapidly increased in size with leaves measuring four by 1.2 inches minimum. In no time they covered the whole area. Maintenance was minimal, just cleaning the dead leaves from time to time. To respond to the criteria of the analysis I picked part of the plants before flowering and the other after flowering, dried them as requested and sent them to the laboratory. The results came back quite encouraging. “Batch corresponds to MAXIMUM YIELD USA - June 2010
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Hydroponics and Medicinal Plants
n’s lant, St. Joh p d te ia c e r p a few A highly ap andoned for b a y ll a tu c a wort was covered for is d e r g in e b re decades befo rative properties. s cu its numerou
Hypericum perforatum
Pharmacopoeia, presenting a high level of tracers (active substances),” was the conclusion of the laboratory’s report. The macroscopic and microscopic identifications, as well as the mineral content of the crop, were consistent with the required norms of the soil-grown control. The dosage showed that the hydroponically grown Hieracium contained 4.24 per cent of active principles compared to 2.5 per cent for the control! This first analysis boosted my spirits, and opened a large field of investigation and research for me. Once again I had the confirmation that with the proper technology and products I could increase the volume of production, and get the assertion that those products were appropriate for human consumption, and fit to be used for therapeutic applications. 76
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My second test was with Hypericum perforatum (or “St. John’s wort”), a long-living plant, which spontaneously grows in most uncultivated areas. It is called “perforatum” because the leaves, when held to the light, show little translucent dots that look as if they were perforated. In reality the dots are not holes, but vesicles of colorless essential plant oils and resin. Hypericum contains lots of active ingredients with therapeutic virtues, including hypericin and hyperforin. In summer it blooms into bright yellow-orange flowers which petals are peppered with black dots. These dots, when rubbed between the fingers become red. Many herbalists say that the translucent perforations, Hieracium pilosella before harvest and the black-red dots contain the most active medicinal qualities. (www.hypericum.com) Hypericum perforatum, is an exceptional plant. In the Middle Ages it was considered magical, capable to chase malicious spirits away. It was mainly employed to treat nervous diseases. It was used as “red oil” to cure burns. This consists in macerating the flowers with olive oil in a sunny spot for a few weeks. Once the oil becomes red, it is filtered and kept aside to use on all kinds of burns and bruises.** Abandoned for a few decades, Hypericum was rediscovered lately thanks to modern research that put into perspective its numerous curative properties. It is today a highly appreciated plant, and you can find it on the shelves of most organic stores and pharmacies worldwide. Hypericum is generally used to treat moderate depression, anxiety and sleep disorder. It seems to have several other virtues and research is still conducted as to the extent of its possible applications. With the rising general interest for the plant, demand is increasing. Hydroponics of course could represent an excellent alternative, but again only if you make sure that your crop satisfies strict therapeutic specifications. I started Hypericum perforatum in a row of hydro pots, using a series of professional nutrients. Again plants grew very rapidly and bloomed at the end of June. I picked the flowers and fruit in the beginning of summer, a few days after the solstice; I dried them, and sent them again to Toulouse.
The results that came back were equally as impressive as they were for the Hieracium pilosella. The harvest was separated in two groups, one with only the flowering tops, and one with the fruits. They were compared with a batch of wild Hypericum grown in soil in the region of Toulouse, as a control. The analysis concluded that the hydroponically grown batch entirely complied with the list of requirements of the pharmacopoeia. The content in total hypericines (the most important active substance in Hyperium perforatum) was higher: 0.12 per cent for the soil control, 0.19 per cent for the flowering tops and 0.13 per cent for the fruits, the minimum required by the pharmacopoeia being 0.8 per cent. The plants passed the tests brilliantly. I could now draw my own conclusions: the cultivated medicinal plants fully complied with therapeutic requirements, but also contained more active principles than usual. I had the confirmation that these products could be grown for medicinal purposes. I am not sure how much demand already exists for Hieracium pilosella, but the plant has potential and could be commercially exploited. I know that there is definitely a market for Hypericum perforatum, and there are many more possible candidates to come. MY
Note: ** Although plants are natural, they must not be used without the right knowledge or advice. So when you find them on the shelves, and if you grow them, make sure to ask for advice before ingesting them, as some of them can be terribly dangerous without the proper knowledge.
Learn about active principles and Noucetta’s furthur research on Chrysanthemum parthenium on maximumyield.com
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TIPS & TRICKS
Lettuce by Clair Schwan
Succession Planting and Succession Harvesting
Succession planting works a continuous supply of lettuce throughwell for many types of vegetables, but out the spring and early summer? particularly lettuce plants. The idea is They say that everything has its price, simple; plant lettuce seeds in a series of and succession planting is no exception. rows, a couple weeks apart, and enjoy an The price is more “real estate” taken up extended harvest. As one row of lettuce by the rows of lettuce in variplants are depleted by harvesting, the ous stages of development. If you next row is ready to be harvested. This have the room, it works well, but approach gives you a tremendous bounty if your indoor growing space is of lettuce over a much longer period. limited, then succession harvesting The traditional alternative to succesoffers a better alternative. sion planting is a short-lived harvest that ends soon after Harvesting crisp mint leaves one at a time you start enjoying the fruits allows the plant to regenerate leaves for a of your initial planting. So, future harvest. clearly there are benefits associated with succession planting. Who wouldn’t like 78
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With succession harvesting, you don’t harvest the lettuce plant, but rather harvest individual leaves and this allows the plant to regenerate leaves for a future harvest. This approach works best
with romaine type lettuce varieties. In the store we buy the “hearts” of romaine, but in the greenhouse we can harvest the outer leaves and let the “heart” keep growing, thereby offering us many more outer leaves to harvest. Think of it as harvesting from the outside in, but never getting to the inside because it keeps growing out as well as up. This method allows you to grow several varieties of romaine type lettuces in a relatively small space, and enjoy a nice mixed bowl of salad. The trick is to cut carefully at the base of the outer leaves so the main stem of the plant isn’t damaged. The more you cut, the more the plant responds by developing additional leaves on the main stem. All the while you’re cutting outer leaves, you’re encouraging the lettuce to grow taller in order to have a viable platform for the formation of more replacement leaves. Using this method of succession harvesting, a couple of people will have all the lettuce they can eat by planting only a few lettuce plants. Some varieties like Valmaine and Crisp Mint are heavy producers and a few plants can far out-produce the ability of a small family to keep up with the supply. And, that’s a
good problem for anyone to have. Some refer to this type of harvesting as “cut and come again.” Whatever you call it, you’ll find that it works quite well, and can be applied to many vegetable varieties like beets, turnips, Swiss chard, broccoli and romaine type lettuces.
MY
About the Author: Clair Schwan is an avid vegetable gardener who believes in planting for high yields and variety. He focuses on romaine lettuce simply because it’s a wonderful provider of food when harvested one leaf at a time. His adventures in vegetable gardening can be found at Frugal-Living-Freedom.com and Vegetable-Gardening-andGreenhouses.com. Both sites are dedicated to helping people become more self sufficient and gain better control over their food supply.
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by Philip McIntosh
Plant Nutrient Elements Part 1 The Macronutrients P, N, K, Mg, Ca and S
In addition to light, carbon dioxide and water, plants need For an element to be considered essential in plants, the mineral nutrients to support the myriad biochemical processes following four criteria should be met: (1) It must be required that occur in their cells. In nature and in traditional agriculfor the completion of the lifecycle of the plant; (2) it cannot be ture, plants get these nutrients from the soil through their roots replaced by some other element; (3) it must play a direct and (although nutrients can be supplied through leaf feeding). Plants specific role in plant metabolism; and (4) it must required by a under hydroponic culture also absorb essential minerals through substantial number of plant species, not just a single species or their roots, not from the soil, but two. Clearly, this fourth “rule” from an aqueous solution. can lead to disagreement “Hydroponics has been crucial in allowing It is convenient to discuss the minamong scientists about which scientists to determine which elements are eral requirements of plants in terms minerals are truly essential. required and which are not.” of essential elements. Although there For the purposes of this are 92 naturally occurring elements, article, we’ll discuss the 16 there is some disagreement as to the exact definition of essential main elements that are accepted by most as essential. Some as well as some variation in the techniques and apparatus used unusual plants do require more or can get by on fewer, but in experiments to test for mineral requirements. Hydroponics most plant physiologists wouldn’t quibble with the general has been crucial in allowing scientists to determine which elerequirement for the “standard 16.” For most of these elements, ments are required and which are not. In practice, it is difficult there is no question of their essential nature (carbon, hydrogen, to completely eliminate an element from an experimental nitrogen and oxygen for example). The trouble arises when system, making mineral nutrient research a challenging and considering the roles of elements that may be required in exacting field. Also, keep in mind that just because a sensiextremely small amounts. The elements required by virtually tive chemical analysis of plant tissue reveals the presence of an all plants for normal growth and development are (in order of element, it doesn’t mean that element is really required by the usual concentration found in dried tissue): carbon (C), oxygen plant. Plants will absorb and store plutonium—but plutonium is (O), hydrogen (H), nitrogen (N), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), certainly not an essential element. magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P), sulfur (S), chlorine (Cl), iron 80
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(Fe), manganese (Mn), boron (B), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and molybdenum (Mo). Some scientists would insist that nickel (Ni) and perhaps cobalt (Co) be added to this list, but since there is no universal agreement on this, they’ll be left out. The 16 essential elements play diverse roles in plant metabolism. Some are structural components of biomolecules such as enzymes and nucleic acids; others play a regulatory role; still others carry electrical charges that influence plant functions and responses. Most essential elements are metals but carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, chlorine, sulfur and phosphorus are nonmetals. Although hydrogen is on the same side of the periodic table as metals, it is only metallic under extreme pressure. Boron is a metalloid, with properties similar in some ways to both metals and non-metals. This article, the first of two, discusses the six so-called “macronutrients”—nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, calcium and sulfur. Macronutrients are found in plant tissues in notably higher concentrations than the other class of nutrients—the “micronutrients.” Carbon, hydrogen and oxygen, which are not usually considered “mineral” elements will not be discussed.
Role in Plants. Nitrogen (N) is present in plants in the largest concentration of any of the mineral nutrients. It is a component
of many organic molecules of great importance, including chlorophyll and the energy transfer molecules adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and adenosine diphosphate (ADP). Nitrogen is a component of amino acids, which are the molecular subunits from which proteins are synthesized. The nucleic acids DNA and RNA also contain nitrogenous bases—the As, Ts, Cs and Gs that make up the genetic coding sequences. Hydroponic Source. Nitrogen in hydroponic nutrient solutions is supplied in the form of nitrogen salts containing nitrate (NO3-) or ammonium (NH4+). A combination of both of these offers some desirable pH buffering in the
Typical chlorosis on older leaves of tobacco plants caused by nitrogen deficiency. (R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company Slide Set, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Bugwood.org)
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Plant Nutrient Elements: Part 1 solution. Nitrates of potassium (KNO3), calcium [Ca(NO3)2] and ammonium (NH4NO3), or ammonium phosphate [(NH4)3PO4] are commonly used to formulate hydroponic nutrient solutions. In cases where the addition of no other nutrient elements is desired, nitric acid is an option (HNO3). “A lack of calcium interferes with normal cell division and elongation, causing blossom end rot on developing fruit.” Deficiency Symptoms. Nitrogen deficiency in plants is characterized by chlorosis, which is a yellowing of the leaves. Nitrogen is a mobile element in plants, and can be moved around as needed; thus, older leaves tend to be the first plant parts to show signs of nitrogen deficiency (as nitrogen is transported to support new growth). Chlorosis is often evident when other minerals are deficient as well. Plants grown in poor nitrogen conditions tend to have stunted growth, and abnormally thin shoots. Excess Symptoms. Too much of any element is detrimental. Excessive nitrogen in plants is evident as abnormally dark green leaves. Plants that have absorbed too much nitrogen are not as hardy, and more susceptible to attack from insects, bacteria and fungi. Phosphorus Role in Plants. Phosphorus is a part of the previously mentioned energy molecules ATP and ADP and is found in the backbone portion of both DNA and RNA. Many organic molecules contain a phosphate group and amino acids incorporated into proteins may be phosphorylated after protein synthesis. The phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of proteins is an important mechanism in regulating the activity of proteins. Cell membranes are rich in phosphate groups that are part of the “head” regions of the phospholipid molecules that form the membrane bilayers. Hydroponic Source. Phosphorus is usually provided in hydroponics solutions as mono- or dihydrogen phosphate
Purple coloration of corn leaves caused by phosphorus deficiency. (Mary Ann Hansen, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Bugwood.org)
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Plant Nutrient Elements: Part 1 (HPO42- or H2PO4-). In either case, the actual species in solution is pH dependent, with monohydrogen phosphate favored near neutral (pH about 7.0) and dihydrogen phosphate favored at more acid pH. Phosphorus is provided in conjunction with either potassium or nitrogen in the form of ammonium [(NH4)2HPO4 or NH4H2PO4] or potassium [K2HPO4 or KH2PO4] phosphates. In instances where there is already enough of either potassium or nitrogen in the solution, phosphoric acid (H3PO4) is an option. “Plants grown in potassium deficient conditions show a distinctive yellowing at the tips and edges of the oldest leaves.” Deficiency Symptoms. Phosphorus (P) deficiency can be difficult to diagnose. Since phosphorus is important in many metabolic functions as well as in the synthesis of new cell membranes, phosphorus deficiency results in slow growth. In a moderate case, the leaves become a darker green than normal with perhaps a blue or purple tint, which can give the illusion of a healthy plant. In addition to darker leaf color, plants will exhibit stunted growth and thin stems, with longer than normal distance between the branches. In severe cases of phosphorus deficiency chlorosis appears followed by leaf curl and drop. Excess Symptoms. Although it is relatively uncommon in soil-cultured plants, the possibility of phosphorus toxicity is somewhat greater in hydroponically grown plants. The problem likely arises, not directly from the affect of too much phosphorus, but from its interaction and interference with other elements such as iron, magnesium and especially zinc. For this reason, the symptoms of toxicity, if they are detectable at all, will likely present as symptoms associated with one of these other elements. Potassium Role in Plants. Potassium (K) does its job as a small monatomic ion (K+) in plants. It has diverse roles, including
Typical edge “burning” on cucumber leaves caused by potassium deficiency. (Mary Ann Hansen, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Bugwood.org)
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Plant Nutrient Elements: Part 1 acting as a cofactor for the function of many enzymes important in energy production and carbohydrate metabolism and catabolism. Potassium ions are a critical part of the system that controls the movement of water in and out of leaves. It also facilitates water uptake by roots, which is probably a more important function in soil-grown plants. Hydroponic Source. Potassium is supplied as potassium nitrate (KNO3) or sulfate (K2SO4). If no other source of chloride is available for the solution, potassium chloride (KCl) is an option. Deficiency Symptoms. Like nitrogen, potassium is highly mobile in plants resulting in deficiency symptoms appearing in the oldest foliage first. Plants grown in potassium deficient conditions show a distinctive yellowing at the tips and edges of the oldest leaves. As the yellowing spreads, the leaves die and turn brown at their peripheries giving a burned appearance. Since K+ ions are important in maintaining water balance and turgor, potassium deficient plants are sensitive to water stress and wilt easily. Excess Symptoms. Too much potassium is not directly toxic to a plant. However, the balance between the concentrations of potassium, calcium and magnesium ions is important, and too much K+ can be detrimental. An excessively high potassium to calcium ratio causes magnesium or calcium deficiency.
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Calcium Role in Plants. Most of the calcium (Ca) in plants is found embedded in the cell walls where it has a structural role, and in membranes where it influences the flexibility of membranes. Changes in the normally low concentration of calcium ions (Ca2+) found in the cell cytoplasm are thought to be involved in signaling environmental stress.
Left: Leaf tip burn typical of calcium deficiency in cabbage. (David B. Langston, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org) Right: End rot of tomato fruit brought on by calcium deficiency. (David B. Langston, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org)
Plant Nutrient Elements: Part 1 Hydroponic Source. Calcium nitrate [Ca(NO3)2] is the reagent usually chosen to supply calcium in a nutrient solution. Many water supplies contain significant calcium and this should be taken into account before deciding how much calcium salt to include in a formulation. Deficiency Symptoms. Newly emergent leaves are usually the first parts of a plant to show symptoms of calcium deficiency. The young leaves will be malformed, with ragged margins, and eventually turn brown. Roots also are affected and will turn brown (or translucent in some cases), and develop a swollen bulbous appearance accompanied by stunted growth. In fruit bearing plants, a lack of calcium interferes with normal cell division and elongation, causing blossom end rot on developing fruit. Excess Symptoms. As mentioned, a proper balance between the concentrations of potassium, calcium and magnesium ions is important. Too much calcium can result in either magnesium or potassium deficiency. Magnesium Role in Plants. A magnesium ion (Mg2+) is found at the central position of every chlorophyll molecule, making it an important part of the photosynthetic apparatus. Magnesium ions also serve as enzyme cofactors, notably in ATP metabolism. Some magnesium is also present in cell walls. Hydroponic Source. Magnesium sulfate (MgSO4) is the most common magnesium source for hydroponics. As is true for calcium, the amount of naturally occurring magnesium in the feed water should be determined before deciding how much reagent to use. Deficiency Symptoms. Because of the importance of magnesium in photosynthesis, a lack has a profoundly negative effect and is difficult to recover from when it happens. Chlorosis between the veins of older leaves is a good indicator, with perhaps the addition of a red or orange tint. Growth is strongly inhibited. Magnesium has a complex relationship with Ca2+, K+ and NH4+ ions, and an imbalance among them can lead to magnesium deficiency.
Excess Symptoms. Excess magnesium is not harmful in and of itself. The main risk of having too much magnesium in solution is in creating an imbalance with respect to other ions, especially calcium. For this reason, the Ca and Mg concentrations should be about the same to avoid problems. Sulfur Role in Plants. Although only two amino acids contain sulfur (S), few proteins would function normally without them. Sulfur is found in plant hormones, and in molecules involved in chemical defense, odor and taste. Many organic molecules, intermediate compounds and proteins, contain or are modified with sulfate side-groups.
Typical chlorosis in tobacco plant caused by sulphur deficiency. (R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company Slide Set, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Bugwood.org)
Hydroponic Source. Growers have a choice of several other nutrient ions to pair up with sulfur when designing nutrient solutions. Potassium (KSO4), magnesium (MgSO4) or ammonium [(NH4)2SO4] sulfates are all good options. Deficiency Symptoms. Sulfur deficiency is difficult to distinguish from nitrogen deficiency. One difference between the two is that a lack of sulfur tends to cause more of an overall yellowing of a plant, rather than a yellowing of the older leaves first. Excess Symptoms. There is little evidence that plants are harmed by high concentrations of sulfate ion. MY References Barack, Phillip (1999), Essential Elements for Plant Growth, http://www.soils.wisc.edu/~barak/soilscience326/essentl.htm (accessed 09/06/09) Jones, J. Benton (2005), Hydroponics: A practical guide for the soilless grower, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL
Typical interveinal chlorosis in tobacco plant caused by magneisum deficiency. (R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company Slide Set, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, Bugwood.org)
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Online Extra: Visit maximumyield.com and click on the Author Archive under Resources to review Philip McIntosh’s articles that date back to 2008.
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Growers tend to have a “don’t fix it if it isn’t broken” approach to their indoor gardens. As a result, some growers aren’t realizing the level of quality and production that is available to them.
With a few simple modifications and a little bit of time your existing garden space can give you bigger yields of higher quality. Here are some things that you can do to get the most out of your grow.
Transform your Indoor Garden
Bigger Yields
by Erik Biksa
AVANT-GARDENING
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Keep it cool, keep it healthy Convert your existing in/out grow into a sealed CEA (Controlled Environment Agriculture) set-up. Modify your carbon filter and fan(s) to act as scrubbers, running 24/7. Use your existing exhaust fan to vent out heat generated from air-cooled lights. If not using air-cooled reflectors, you can plug-up the hole. Set up the A/C to cool the room based on a thermostat pre-set level. Most of the time, the de-humidification created by the AC is enough to keep humidity levels below 60 per cent. However, for the dark cycle or in wetter growing set-ups, a de-humidifier may be required. Now install a carbon dioxide supplementation system. The best route for most multiple light gardens is by infrared CO2 monitors/controllers and with natural gas or propane fired CO2 generators. Look for electronic ignition or water cooled models. MY
Enter the digital age High quality, digital or electronic ballasts can realistically give you between five to 10 per cent more plant usable light for about 10 per cent less of the electrical draw when compared to core and coil or magnetic ballasts.The new digital ballasts can light either MH or HPS lamps from the same ballast.You can install them further away from the growing area to help create a cooler environment.
Garden up to the roof Convert to a basic vertical garden. Construct some sturdy shelves that you can sit containers on in an orientation around vertically suspended lamps. Pay careful attention that one bed or shelf on top of another doesn’t leak or drain onto the shelf or bed below. For each level, an additional lamp is stacked vertically onto the previous level. Make sure you have good air circulation top to bottom. This might mean installing some oscillating fans on the ceiling, or if space allows, a standard ceiling fan.
Commercial peat mixes are forgiving, and can produce high yielding, quality crops. Premium quality organic additives and 100 per cent organic bloom stimulants will improve any conventional fertilizer program.You can modify your standard peat mix to produce better quality crops and improve rates of growth.
Switch your reflectors
Add reflectors to your set-up for better and more even light coverage. Pick up a good quality light meter. A well engineered four-sided reflector will give the plants on the outer edges almost the same light levels as the ones right underneath. Air-cooled is always a good choice. The best shades have special reflective inserts that sit inside the reflector unit at optimal angles for light distribution.
Use a rich, high quality, bio-active growth medium
Creating Your Own Organic Garden by Luis Bartolo
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“Modern organic cultivation practices emphasize recycling and using what is naturally available.�
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Creating Your Own Organic Garden
Vegetable Crop Rotation Long before the introduction of chemical fertilizers, all gardens were organic—only they were simply called gardens, no organic necessary. Food was grown using only natural ingredients because that’s all there was. Today, gardening organically involves precise practices that “green up” the act of growing. These practices include crop rotation, companion planting and the use of green or “living” manures, and involve more than a simple feed, water regimen. Modern organic cultivation practices emphasize recycling and using what is naturally available. The various methods listed above assist with the development of fertile and healthy growth. Although mostly practiced on large-scale commercial farms, they work well in kitchen gardens, outdoor beds and with homegrown hydroponics.
Let’s look at a sampling of these practices. Crop Rotation Crop rotation involves rotating (obviously) crops in the garden—in order to replenish the soil and nutrients—over a four year cycle, for example. This can be done in fields, or in the smallest of vegetable beds it could simply entail dividing the area into quadrants and rotating the crops accordingly. By alternating crops annually the soil has time to recover from crops that draw much from it in the way of nutrients. Some plants, being heavier feeders than others, can leave soil depleted. Frequent crop rotation also prevents pathogen, pest and disease buildup, leaving no time for them to become established. It also ensures that the cultivation area is always in use.
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Cycle #1 In the first cycle we plant brassicas, including broccoli, cauliflower and spinach. Brassicas are heavy feeders and use much of the fertilizer in the soil, so this bed will contain a lot of well rotted manure and fertilizers ready for planting out, blood fish and bone meal or other organic substances.
Cycle #2 In cycle two root crops are planted, including carrots. Root crops require very little fertilizer. After the brassicas have drawn most of the fertilizers from the soil the root crops are planted one year later. Root crops will fork and split if there is too much food in the soil. They also loosen up deeper and previously unused areas of soil naturally plowing the soil, releasing untapped minerals and nutrients simultaneously. Root crops will require nothing, although depending on soil type you may wish to add sand.
Green or Living Manures Another ancient organic cultivation method that can be incorporated into modern gardens is green or living manures. A green or living manure is a plant grown purely for its fertilizer value. These are very useful to grow over winter and many varieties exist for this purpose. They can be grown in any quadrant of your organic garden during any season to improve fertility and soil structure when required. Green manures are grown and cared for like any other crop. However, rather than harvesting for use elsewhere they are chopped and dug into the soil. In the case of the legume crops
Cycle #3 The third cycle is given over to plants that are grouped into the “other” category, that is peas and beans, pumpkins and other squashes and also flowers for cutting. This bed will require small amounts of manure or a dry base fertilizer before planting out, bearing in mind that the root crop previous will have cleaned up and made use of all nutrient reserves. Peas and beans draw atmospheric nitrogen from the air into the soil by means of nodules on their stems, thereby further enriching the ground.
Cycle #4 The fourth cycle features potatoes. Potatoes are very heavy feeders and require the addition of manure when planting and also require an extra large dose of added manure/fertilizer during the growing phase. Potatoes also serve to clear the ground and break it up on a deep level—similar to the root crops—whilst leaving an enriched soil for the brassicas to begin the cycle again.
this serves to extract atmospheric nitrogen like their culinary relations. Green manures are always chopped and dug into the soil before they set seed and begin to develop flowers; this ensures that they don’t become wild or take over the garden.
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Creating Your Own Organic Garden
Companion Planting
Beginning from Square one
Companion planting entails the growing of separate species of plants together. The theory being that some plants will benefit the others by means of sympathetic association such as making conditions more favorable and assisting in the deflection of pests and diseases. Carrots and onions or garlic are the most common companions as the smell of the onions disturbs the carrot fly, and because both are root crops, they can be grown together. A popular companion plant is marigolds whose smell deflects insects such as aphids and also stands as a first line of defense against slugs.
A good start for a vegetable patch in its first year is to grow a green manure upon the whole area and dig it back in again as outlined. The growth rate of the plants will indicate what nutrients are present in the soil and what types of growing conditions you will come to expect when you are growing your more high value and precious summer crops. Many green manures can be grown—and even planted—over winter. For best results plant them towards the end of summer whilst the soil is still warm to ensure good germination and a healthy start. In spring chop the plants and dig thoroughly into the soil. Now divvy up the area into the quadrants that are to become the rotating growing area.
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“Carrots and onions or garlic are the most common companions as the smell of the onions disturbs the carrot fly...”
Soil types There are two common types of soil found in gardens. Here is a rough guide to help you determine the type you have and tips to enhance and work with it. Form a compressed ball of soil in your hand. Does is stick and become easily rounded? If so you have a clay soil. Unless composed of solid clay, this is a good soil that holds water and nutrients well. It can be difficult to work with, however, and the addition of bulky organic matter such as animal bedding or discarded greenhouse compost will help to break up the structure and make it more workable. Does it crumble instantly? If so, you have sandy soil. This is well draining soil that some crops such as carrots and parsnips prefer. However, it does not hold water or nutrients well.You can add organic matter now to bulk the texture of the substrate, to thicken it and make it more malleable. If it neither crumbles nor sticks you have a balance of loam sand and clay. Sometimes this may lead to one or the other and is one of the easiest and most balanced soils to work with. This article is just an outline of what can be done to create your own organic garden incorporating methods that have been used for thousands of years. These basic building blocks will help ensure your organic garden is healthy, fertile and pest-free. MY
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Optimal Management of Lighting and Irrigation by Isabelle Lemay agr. and Mélissa Léveillé
Water and light are essential to plant survival and should be the elements that receive the most focus in an indoor garden. Because these needs are periodic, lighting and irrigation systems activated at specific and well-calculated times can be helpful in satisfying your plants’ needs. This is what makes the use of timers interesting: timers optimize the management of these systems, resulting in better yields, all the while reducing the gardener’s work. The following article presents the importance of properly determining lighting and irrigation in the garden, and gives a glimpse of the different timers available on the market.
“The number of consecutive hours of darkness is crucial; a simple flash of light during the dark phase could prevent flowering.”
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A perfect amount of light Satisfying plants’ need for light involves much more than turning garden lamps on and off. For optimal growth, plants must be exposed to proper lighting, a detail that involves three factors: the quantity of light, its composition and photoperiod. Quantity and composition Light is essential to the process of photosynthesis, during which the plant converts light energy into chemical energy for plant growth. To reach a maximum level of photosynthesis, the quantity of light must specifically correspond to the needs of the species being cultivated. The
lack or excess of light are both detrimental, which is why it is important to find a happy medium. Too little light causes plants to wilt, and results in long and fragile stems, as well as pale, abnormally developed leaves. On the other hand, too much light slows growth: stems cease to lengthen and the already pale leaves fail to broaden. The quantity of light is based on the intensity and the duration of the lighting. The intensity depends on the lamps used and on their position in relation to the plants. Deciding on what is appropriate in a given situation is a matter of asking a few questions when purchasing a lamp and following lamp installation instructions. For the period of lighting, the duration leading to optimal yields varies from one species to another. It may be, for example, 16 hours for tomatoes, lettuce and the majority of annual flowers, and 20 hours for cucumbers, peppers and cut roses. The quality, or composition, of light also has a significant impact on plant development and growth. Light is composed of electromagnetic waves. Seeing as plants only use certain wavelengths, and certain wavelengths favor growth whereas others favor flowering, the type of light available to plants has a direct influence on plant development. Before getting a lamp for the garden, it is therefore a good idea to make some inquiries at your local indoor gardening store. The influence of photoperiod on flowering The term ‘photoperiod’ refers to the relationship between the length of the day (light phase) and the length of the night (dark phase). In nature, photoperiod is based on a 24 hour cycle and varies according to latitude and the seasons. Whether the plants grow in a natural or an artificial environment, photoperiod affects certain aspects of development, including dormancy, germination and flowering.
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The Influence of Photoperiod on Flowering According to the Species of Plant
Short-day plants
Long-day plants
(Chrysanthemums, Poinsettias, Kalanchoes)
(Bluebells, Carnations, eggplants)
Only flower if the length of the light phase is shorter than the critical threshold. In order to flower, the Chrysanthemum requires a minimum of 12 hours of total and uninterrupted darkness for every 24 hour period.
Only flower if the length of the light phase is longer than the critical threshold.
Ideal flowering conditions vary from species to species. Certain species acquire the ability to flower autonomously once mature, whereas others require an external stimulus. This stimulus may be temperature, relative humidity value or a specific photoperiod, or even a combination of all of these factors. Plants whose flowering is influenced by photoperiod are classed into two categories: short-day plants that only flower if the duration of the light phase is shorter than a given critical threshold; and long-day plants that flower only if the light phase is longer than a given critical threshold. In fact, it’s not really the length of the light phase that’s important for flowering, but rather the length of the dark phase. The number of consecutive hours of darkness is crucial; a simple flash of light during the dark phase could prevent flowering. It’s as though interrupting the ‘night’ simulates a longer day. The number of cycles, or rather the number of complete
days (night/day), necessary to stimulate flowering varies according to the species and the age of the plant.
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Lighting control As one of the gardener’s essential tools, a timer is inexpensive and assures the regularity of lighting duration. Certain timers are programmed according to the time of day (ex. lamps turned on between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.) whereas others are cyclical (ex. 12 hours of light followed by 12 hours of darkness). Cyclical timers are particularly interesting if one wishes to program cycles other than those based on 24 hours. Certain gardeners cultivate according to 18 hour cycles, for example, alternating 12 hours of light and six hours of darkness. Before using a timer, it is important to check the wattage it can handle. If need be, it is possible to add an electric distribution module to obtain more power. Timers, protection devices or electric distribution modules that allow
Plants that are unaffected by photoperiod (Cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, beans, corn, sunflowers, cyclamens, New Guinea impatiens)
the user to program a start-up delay in case of a power failure, are also available on the market. This kind of protection is essential if the lamps being used are not to be turned back on once hot, which is the case for high pressure sodium vapor lamps, in particular.
Too little light causes plants to wilt, and results in long and fragile stems.
Optimal Management of Lighting and Irrigation
Water, the spring of life It’s no secret that water is essential to plant survival. Without water, plants wither and close their stomata in order to protect themselves. This inevitably results in a decline in photosynthesis (and therefore in growth), and sometimes in death. An excess of water can be equally harmful: this lowers the quality of the yields, gives rise to a lack of oxygen at the roots and promotes the development of root diseases. The need for water varies according to several factors, including plant age, the size of the growing container, physical properties of the substrate, temperature, humidity and ventilation. The garden’s irrigation system must take all of these factors into account, and the quantity of water provided must be regularly adjusted to meet the plants’ changing needs. In the specific case of hydroponic cultures, a high-performance irrigation system is an essential prerequisite. Plants cultivated on artificial supports and nourished with nutrient solutions call for more frequent irrigation than those grown in the ground, due to the smaller size of their containers, and the fact that their substrates dry up more quickly. Most irrigation systems run intermittently, meaning they irrigate frequently and for short periods of time. This is the case in aeroponics, drip irrigation and sub-irrigation (ebb and flow system). Regardless of the type of irrigation chosen, automation is necessary in hydroponic cultures, in order to avoid continuous visits to the garden.
Photosynthesis of a tomato crop relative to light intensity and CO2 concentration. Source: Wacquant, C. 1995. Maîtrise de la conduite climatique tomate sous serre et abris en sol. CTIFL, France, 127 pages.
Automating garden irrigation An easy and affordable way to control one’s irrigation system is to connect a timer to the pump; when well regulated, the timer stabilizes and standardizes the watering without any additional work for the gardener. Stable conditions created in this way 102
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Without water, plants wither and close their stomata in an effort to protect themselves.
promote more abundant yields! As is the case with lighting, irrigation timers can be programmed according to the time of day or to cycles. In hydroponics, the use of a timer based on the time of day does not always offer the flexibility necessary for the numerous irrigations required each day. These timers are often limited to a maximum number of start-ups per 24 hour period, and to a minimum running time that is longer than necessary (i.e. 15 minutes). Cyclical timers are usually more suitable; they generally allow an undetermined number of irrigations per day, at regular intervals, for regular lengths of time. Some cyclical timers designed for irrigation also have the advantage of being able to detect the presence or absence of light.This therefore allows the gardener to program irrigation cycles which run in the presence of light only, as well as to program a different cycle altogether for periods of darkness. Some models even offer running times as short as five seconds. A combined timer for lighting and irrigation What if there was a multi-timer capable of controlling both lighting and irrigation cycles right down to the very second? We will soon see this type of timer on the market. It will have numerous advantages, including perfect coordination of lighting and irrigation. And why not go a little further with a “super timer” that offers practical protection options for the plants and the facilities in case of a pump breakage, a power shortage, a low level of nutrient solution, overheating of the growing environment or any number of other things! Keep an eye out; this timer could be available sooner that you think. MY Visit www.maximumyield.com for a quick reference to the influence of photoperiod on flowering, according to plant species.
GREEN THUMB GARDENING
Using the Whole Herb Holistic Hydroponics
basil
dill
rosemary
peppercorns
dried chili peppers
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by Charlene Rennick
People want food that tastes good without devoting a whole day to the preparation of the meal. We want quick and easy solutions, but we don’t want to admit that we have been reduced to buying the glossy, pre-packaged, high carbohydrate food. The new consensus is that food available in cardboard is unhealthy; yet, we don’t have time to start right from scratch and garden on a regular basis. Where is the balance? The desired trend is to put together healthy meals in a short period of time that have a memorable flavor. Does this sound unrealistic? It isn’t. Homemade vinegars, herb-infused oils and simple marinades dress up a good cut of meat, add zest to whole grain pasta and tempt your palate with a tasty side dish of fresh vegetables. Gourmet cooking can be easy without adding the extra fat, carbs, processed sugars and cancer-causing additives. A few simple ingredients can be found at your fingertips. Snip some fresh herbs from your kitchen aerogarden, whisk them together with some homemade vinegar and an herb-infused oil and let the fresh flavors blend together while you put your feet up and open the day’s mail. When you choose fresh, organic ingredients, you don’t need all the extra additives to make it taste good. Access to your own homegrown herbs lets you savor the flavor while you enjoy peace of mind from knowing where they were cultivated. Simply-Hydroponics.com has put together five minute gourmet recipes for the kitchen, adding pizzazz on the barbeque and start with the basics by making herbed vinegar and spiced oils. MY
HERBS TO USE Basil Burnet Chives Dill Fennel Leaves Garlic Lemon Balm Mint Rosemary Tarragon Thyme
SPICES TO ADD
Anise Seeds Coriander Seeds Dried Chili peppers or seeds Fennel Seeds Lemon Zest Mustard Seeds Orange Zest Peppercorns Check your favorite salad dressings, marinades and sauces for the ingredients and combine your custom herbed vinegars accordingly.
Herbed Vinegar Fresh, homemade, herbed vinegars can be used as the base for marinades, salad dressings and pasta sauces. Picking your own herbs or snipping them from an indoor hydroponic garden or kitchen aerogarden mean you get extra flavor. Always pick herbs before the light begins to warm up the plant. The natural oils from the plant will be at their highest concentrate. The best herbed vinegars are made from wine, rice or apple cider vinegar. Start with a clean mason jar or other bottle with an airtight cork or lock. Stuff the jar full of herbs and pour approximately two cups of the vinegar over top. Seal it and leave to age. Taste it after a season; it should be ready for cooking. The herbed vinegar will keep in the jar for several years.
Spiced Oils Making herbed or spiced oil is the same process as creating a culinary vinegar except that the finished product is stored differently. To begin, choose a clean, sterilized jar with an airtight lid. Make sure it is big enough to stuff with herbs and add about two cups of oil over the top. The best results are reached by using a cold-pressed, virgin olive oil, sunflower oil or grape seed oil. Let the mixture sit for a season and then strain the herbs out of the oil. Re-bottle the strained oil, seal with an airtight lid and store in a cool place to preserve it.
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Staggered Crop Lighting (SCL): Advanced Lighting Tactics
by Erik Biksa
Most experienced growers are familiar with the idea of using timed relays to transfer the lighting load between two different grow lamps using a single HID ballast as the source of power for both. Most often, the relays that transfer the electrical load are doing so by supplying the light for one growroom in a 12 hours on, 12 hours off light cycle to another, separate growroom that is also in a 12/12 light cycle. What allows this to work is two rooms are mirrored opposites in their photoperiod; while one room is off the other is on. The relays that transfer the lighting load are wired to a timer, and it switches the power coming from the HID ballast to either one of the lamps. Neither of the two lamps that are connected to the ballast may ever be on at the same time. SCL or “Staggered Crop Lighting” is a tactic based on the “flip-flop” principle discussed above, although in a different application that also accommodates a vegetative growth cycle, when it is critical to ensure that the lights are not off in each room for more than 10 hours to produce vegetative growth on short-day flowering plants. Normally for vegetative growth in “flip-flop” situations, growers have to turn off the relay, and keep all of their plants in one of the two rooms; the plants have to be moved into two separate rooms to initiate flowering when the relay is activated again. SCL is an advanced growing technique that uses less electricity, fewer ballasts, eliminates power spikes and reduces cooling requirements while providing the opportunity for larger harvests from the same number of ballasts versus conventional lighting methods. With SCL tactics, more growing space will be required in your growroom from a single ballast. This is because the grower will be operating four lamps with each ballast unit, although the same four lights will never be on at the same time.
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Start with the Basics Sound confusing? It won’t be once we delve further into this idea, and look at the schematics. First let’s back up a little and have a look at the inner workings of what makes this all possible, that being the relays/contactors that switch the lighting load from a single ballast to four different lamps. In terms of electrical devices and components, there is no shortage in terms of how many different types of contactors are out there. A contactor is defined as: a type of switch for repeatedly opening and closing an electric circuit. Its operation can be mechanical, electromagnetic or pneumatic. For our applications, it will take the load and common wires (black and white, typically) coming from the HID ballast (lamp cord). Connected to the relay are two separate lamp cords (as well as the original lamp cord coming from the ballast), each having a connection for load and common wires. Basically, the relay has two input connections from the power source (ballast to lamp cord) and four connections to the two different lamp cords (each with two connections). Connected to the relay is a light-duty power source (independent of the ballast circuit) that is connected to a timer. When the timer is on two of the output wires will be in contact with the power source (ballast wires), when the timer shuts off, the contact between the two wires from the source of power is transferred to the other two electrical outputs connected to the other lamp (switching the lighting load from one lamp set-up to the other). The relay/contactor is built in such a way that the two separate dual outputs (black and white wires) may never contact the power source at the same time, hence the need for the timer to shift the electrical load. If the timer were With SCL, the grower will be able to power four lights using a single ballast.
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Staggered Crop Lighting (SCL): Advanced Lighting Tactics
Relays or contactors can be found for many forms of application. Some units will have built-in timers while more basic models will rely on a separate timer, be it electronic or mechanical.
to fail, the only thing that would happen in terms of the lighting is that one light would stay on from the same ballast, rather than operating the other light separately as well. The question is which relays are best suited for indoor HID lighting applications for reliability, performance and safety? Most growers who have tried a few different types of contactor mechanisms have found that mechanical relays are up for the task when shifting high voltage electrical loads from one contactor to the other, as controlled by a timer over and over again. Solid State and Printed Circuit Board timers are other common devices used to transfer electrical loads from one power source to separate power sources, although again, never at the same time. For commercial growers using larger numbers of lights, relayed lighting offers a very big safety feature: if you plan your lighting system well, there is no danger of overloading your power at the source. Blown-out power transformers, yes, those barrel like things at the top of the hydro pole, may occur if a larger scale grower were to accidentally have all of their lights on at one time while not using relayed lighting for the same number of lights overall.
“SCL can offer growers respectable yields…Further, it significantly reduces electrical bills, eliminates power spikes and adds a level of safety.” For example, the grower is utilizing a 200 amp power service. They have installed lighting that totals 300 amps of potential power draw, although spread out over two different flowering rooms that have opposite 12/12 light cycles (not planned to be on all at once; a common situation). In one of the rooms, the lamps are shutting off at 8 a.m., while in the other room, the lights will come on at 8 p.m., so that’s 150 amps of power on at once; well below the 200 amp limit. What’s wrong with this picture? If there was ever to be any overlap in the timing, or a timer failed, and both rooms powered on at once from the ballasts, it would create a tremendous power spike that could have very serious negative results, for example blown powers transformers and fires. If lighting relays are installed, fewer numbers of ballasts can operate the same number of lamps. If equated into the scenario described above, 150 amps of power draw would be the maximum power draw possible, although lighting the same sized areas, just never at the same time; which as you can see, is exactly what 108
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Staggered Crop Lighting (SCL): Advanced Lighting Tactics
ONE HOUR LATER
eight lights on two ballasts This example illustrates how SCL can be used for the ultimate in efficiency. We have two ballasts connected to a four output contactor. The four outputs of the are connected to the inputs of an eight output contactor. The trigger cable of the second contactor is connected to a timer set on for one hour/off for one hour, 24 hours a day. The trigger cable of the first contactor is connected to a timer set on for 12 hours/off for 12 hours.
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you want when working with larger numbers of HID lighting systems. Now back to the heart of the matter: one ballast is going to run four different lights. To accomplish this, two timers for the lights and relays will be required. In our example, we will use four ballasts to run 16 lamps. This will be done in two separate rooms, although there will never be a need to move the plants from one room to the other. The four lamp cords coming from the four ballasts to be operated are connected into the first relay system that creates eight lamp outputs from the four ballasts.
This relay is connected to a timer/trigger cable to control when the relay shifts the lighting load from one set of four lamp outputs to the other set of four lamp outputs, for a total of eight lamp outputs. These eight lamp outputs are then connected to another relay that has eight lamp inputs, converting them by timer/ trigger cable to 16 lamp outputs. So, from four ballasts we have 16 lamps. At any one time, four of the lamps will be on, with 12 lamps off. The trick to SCL is how you set up the total number of lamps and which ones will be on at what time and for how long. Overall, the ballasts are going to run 24/7. Consult the diagrams. This gives a visualization of how things are going to work and look when set up. For vegetative growth in both of the rooms, timer #1 is set to four hours on and four hours off, with timer #2 set to one hour on and one hour off. Timer #1 will change the photoperiod over between the two rooms every four hours, while timer #2 will change the lights within the room every hour, ensuring each light comes on at least once every hour per four hour cycle. The cycles on timer #1 and timer #2 are continuous; the plants will never receive 12 hours of uninterrupted darkness, in fact they only receive four hours of darkness at a time; this means that short-day plants won’t flower and will produce healthy vegetative growth.
Staggered Crop Lighting (SCL): Advanced Lighting Tactics
ONE HOUR LATER
TWELVE HOURS LATER Illustrated above is the next 12 hour cycle, showing the same eight lamp configuration but utilizing the next four light banks. This set-up maximizes the output cababilities of each ballast while protecting your equipment and safety from excessive power loads.
For larger scale growers this means that all the plants can stay put through the entire cropping cycle, and not having to move plants from one room to the other between vegetative growth and flowering cycles using conventional relayed “flipflop” lighting methods. For the bloom phase, all the grower needs to do is change the lighting cycle on timer #1 from four hours on/four hours off to 12 hours on/12 hours off. Now each of the two rooms will receive the 12 hours of uninterrupted darkness required to initiate flowering in short-day plants. Within each of the rooms, timer
#2 will keep shifting the light around every hour. Throughout the entire cropping phase, this set-up is allowing the grower to run four lights very efficiently and effectively using only one ballast. Now, after thinking this set-up through, you will come to the conclusion that although there are 16 lights operating from four ballasts in our scenario, any one light is never on for an entire 24 or 12 hour photoperiod. Is this going to affect the yield potential? The answer is not entirely linear. While it is likely that running 16 ballasts instead of four using conventional lighting methods may potentially offer an overall bigger yield, there are advantages to this system that must not be overlooked when all things are considered. In fact, experienced growers find that using SCL methods, they can achieve yields within 10 to 20 per cent, using ¼ of the ballasts normally used to achieve similar yields.
With SCL techniques, comparable yields can be achieved with a fraction of the resources normally used.
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“In natural settings, growers have found that many types of plants actually grow better with some rolling clouds... similar to the lighting created using well planned SCL methods.” Firstly, by shifting the lighting loads around to the different lamps in the same room cooling requirements are greatly reduced. Overheated growrooms are usually the number one source of growing problems that hurt yields and harvest quality. With SCL you are lighting the same number of plants, with much less of the overall heat. For growers used to battling heat problems in the growroom, SCL methods may actually increase their yields due to healthier plants. Secondly, although there is less actual on time per light, yields can be similar to conventional “one light, one ballast” set-ups. Consider that in the staggered on/off lighting pattern created individual lights can be spaced closer together because each area directly under the source of light has a chance to cool during the lights on/off rotation that occurs during the photoperiod. Note that it is important that you connect the right lamp to the right outlet from the flip box (relay set-up) so that you achieve a staggered lighting pattern. It’s not called Staggered Crop Lighting for nothing. The overlap effect created from the light sources keeps plants illuminated throughout the entire photoperiod in each of the two rooms. With the lights spaced closer together and the fact that the plant canopy has a chance to cool at the “hot spots” every hour, plants grow very healthy. In natural settings, growers have found that many types of plants actually grow better with some rolling clouds (periodic dimming effect), similar to the lighting conditions created using well planned SCL methods. SCL can offer growers respectable yields and very high harvest quality while reducing the number of ballasts required. Further, it significantly reduces electrical bills, eliminates power spikes and adds a level of safety. MY
12+ years of articles from Erik Biksa on lighting, nutrients, advanced techniques and more are available www.maximumyield.com. Simply flip to our author archive under the Resources tab.
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Article and Photos by Lee McCall
small spaces
Big Yields part 3
Healthy growth on the Early Girl hydroponic specimen two weeks into veg.
The finale of S.S.B.Y. (Small Spaces, Big Yields) veg series documents the majority of the vegetative growth cycles for the trial. The seedling stage, the aggressive vegetative growth cycle and prebloom is recorded, exposing the benefits of a nutritional regimen and artificially lit photoperiod control. The light cycle operates 18 hours per day with a six hour night for the garden. Running the lights through the night helps regulate the internal temperature of the garden since it is cooler at night. Germination Week 2, Day 8: As the sprouts roll into the beginning of week two, production is definitely moving slower than I anticipated. Only five of a total 12 planted seeds have sprouted, leaving me with few choice specimens to choose from. This is a perfect example that indicates why more seeds should be sown than less. In addition to the possibility of having only five potential plantlets to choose from, the two Sugar Baby sprouts appear very small and fragile compared to the Early Girls. The utmost care will be needed to ensure that the health and vigor of this strain prevails. Week 2, Day 12: Two of the Early Girls have developed a healthy root system 114
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signaling they are ready to be transplanted into their soil and hydroponic arrangements. Upon rinsing the silica stone for the drip bucket modules and turning my back to the seedlings, I turn back around to discover that our dog Alice has eaten the top half of one of the seedlings. Luckily all is not lost. I still have two Early Girls and Sugar Baby specimens left as was originally intended for this trial. Unfortunately, transplanting will have to be pushed back until the root systems and leaves have matured on these remaining four sprouts. This is further evidence to support the theory that planting more than what is needed is advantageous to planting less. Week 3, Day 15: Finally, five days past the anticipated transplant date, two new specimens, one Sugar Baby and one Early
A healthy Early Girl seedling is transplanted into the organic soil mix.
Close up of the Early Girl four days after transplant. Close up of the Sugar Baby four days after transplant. Some shock is evident in the foliage and structure.
Girl, have developed into strong seedlings and are ready for transplanting. Each variety will begin vegetative growth regiments in the drip buckets. Once the remaining sprouts’ root systems are vibrant and healthy they will be transplanted into containers of organic soil. The first hydroponic nutrient base mix is a blend of micro, grow and bloom in low PPMs. Accompanying additives are a super concentrated metabolic enhancer derived from plant, marine and mineral derivatives used at a rate of five milliliters per gallon, a premium
Innoculants of beneficial microbiology encourage dynamic nutritional uptake and help protect the plant from infectious pathogens. humic acid concentrate, endo and ecto mycorrhizae and an additional beneficial microbiological inoculant that will help overcome transplant shock and enhance the overall size and production of the plant. These inoculants encourage dynamic nutritional uptake, and help to protect the plant from infectious pathogens. The water is filtered to remove chlorines and chloramines, and the pH is adjusted to balance out at 5.8 after nutrients have been added. Week 3, Day 20: The soil transplants are actually ready after a long, 20 day germination phase. This has been one of the longest and
Ten days after the soil transplant; 15 days after the hydroponic transplant.
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End of week two, the Sugar Baby plants on the right are definitely experiencing the same stress factors.
most tedious seed germinations I have ever endured with a strain. The growth characteristics persuade me to believe there is a weakness in the genetic line of the strain. I will use reusable one gallon containers made from a breathable fabric instead of plastic grow bags or nursery containers. These unique planters promote thorough drainage, aeration and increase fibrous root development. This specific container literally airprunes the roots as they emerge through the sides of the fabric walls. Consequently, the effect is a prolific production of feeder roots increasing nutrient
Three weeks in, the Early Girls are rockin’, but the Sugar Babies are still stressed.
uptake. The soil blend as stated in part two is extremely rich in naturally occurring elements and biology. The same endo/ecto mycorrhizae and probiotic inoculants used for the hydroponic plants are applied in dry form to the planting sites in the containers where the seedlings will be transplanted. The first feeding is a one-part base grow 4-3-3 vegan nutrient derived from alfalfa meal, cane sugar, glacial rock powder, kieserite, molasses, Ascophyllum nodosum, Laminaria digitata and various other plant extracts and minerals. The base is fortified with a special
compost tea, a vegan 1-1-1 root stimulant containing brewer’s yeast, a rich six per cent humic acid supplement to assist with nutrient uptake, 100 per cent pure ascophyllum nodosum (seaweed) rich in naturally occurring auxins, hormones and trace minerals. Fish emulsion and an enzyme formula are also added to the cocktail in attempt to increase soil fertility, enhance structural development and help keep the roots clean and disease free. Unfortunately when starting from seed there are many differences that can occur from each potential germinated
Healthy growth on the Early Girl in soil approximately four weeks in.
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Small Spaces, Big Yields:Veg Part 3
The Sugar Baby soil plant shows a distinct leaf curl.
seedling. Sometimes everything goes according to plan and within three to 10 days a vibrant, white root system is evident with healthy sets of leaves. Other times leaf development is deformed, root growth is weak and structural support is spindly. My selected seedlings have turned out great overall, but the production rates were much slower than I expected. Week 4, Day 22: Both hydroponic and soil transplants have successfully adapted to the vegetative growth nutritional regiments without any sign of burn. This is a good indication that the root masses are rap-
idly increasing in size and establishing into their new systems. The Early Girl varieties are happy and reveal positive growth displayed through vigorous leaf production and non-deficient foliage. The Sugar Baby plantlets are responding with positive root and structural growth as well, but seem to show a sensitivity that is visible through the appearance of the foliage. I will maintain the same fertilizer regiment for another week to see if they out grow the deformity.
Leaf roll, a possible genetic disorder, is best discribed as slightly curled leaves with no sign of spotting or burning.
Week 5, Day 29: The foliage of the Sugar Baby specimens continues to show sensitivity and endure some type of physiological leaf roll. To better describe the appearance of this possible disease or nutritional defect, the leaves are slightly curled up and in, but are neither spotting nor burning. Some studies I have researched show that this is nothing to worry about and is merely an indication of a genetic disorder; however, other information indicates this is a sign of a disease that will negatively affect yield and production of the plants. The Sugar Baby planted in soil and the hydroponic transplant both shows the same physical growth deformations. This leads me to believe the discrepancy is either a fault in the nutri-
Lateral root growth on the hydroponic Early Girl.
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ents or possibly the environment itself. Another potential factor could be that the temperature is too cold for what the Sugar Baby variety prefers, negatively affecting nutritional uptake of much needed elements. On a positive note, the Early Girls are lush. This indicates that the genetic makeup of the two varieties
stem from differing indigenous regions and preferences. The growroom temperature is reaching 79째F during the hottest part of the light cycle and dropping down to 70 during lights off. I am maintaining higher than average humidity levels of approximately 52 per cent which seems to be desirable for the Early Girls in particular. There are no indications of fungus gnats or any other pests, which is also a very good sign. Occasionally, fungus gnats may emerge from the grow medium and flutter about clumsily indicating that eggs and larvae are viable in the root zone. If this is left untreated, the larvae will attack the root zone hindering the productivity of the plant.
Healthy foliage!
Week 6, Day 36: The hydroponic plants are experiencing around an inch of growth every day. The nutrient concentrations are measuring in the vicinity of 800 PPM and approximately two gallons of solution is absorbed every seven days. Despite the problems that the Sugar Baby plants are enduring, their growth remains stable with that of the Early Girls. The foliage and structural mass do not even measure to half of that of the Early Girl plants, but they continue to consume the same amount of nutrient solution.Visually, the roots are healthy and white on both hydroponic plants. Thus far, the healthiest plant appears to be the Early Girl soil specimen. The foliage is a brilliant green color, the stalks are thick and the leaves are showing the least amount of stress. Week 7, Day 43: The plants are measuring around 14 inches tall and the Early Girl stalks are an inch in diameter at the thickest point! Vegetative growth is in full swing
and on the cusp of pre-flowering. The nutritional regiments will both take on a carbohydrate supplement comprised of molasses, raw cane sugar, L-amino acids, polyflavonoids, vitamins and essential minerals. This will help boost microbiological activity and prepare the plants for an immense fruiting cycle. Hopefully, the transition from veg to bloom should carry over with minimal stress induced on the garden. Concluding the end of a successful vegetative growth trial, the Sugar Baby variety could have performed better, but the vigorous Early Girl plants definitely made up for the weakness displayed by the others. I expect a hearty bloom cycle and await a heavy harvest from these plants so long as the production maintains consistent throughout. MY Check out the Sugar Baby and Early Girl gallery as they progressed through their veg phase on on maximumyield.com
This Early Girl has made it through a hearty seven week veg cycle.
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Fresh Air
experience
by Jack Van Camp
Molecules are groups of atoms held together with covalent bonds. Your nostrils take in air laden with these molecules triggering reactions in your brain. Your olfactory is stimulated by different shaped molecules and each different shaped molecule offers a unique smell. Some smells are pleasant and you can’t get enough and others are abhorrent and unwanted.
Odor removal techniques eradicate offensive and unwanted molecules from the common air. There are three proven methods discovered in the last 15 or 20 years that are effective for the indoor gardener. Liquids, sprays and gels trap organic molecules and change their “smell shape.” Ozone dispensers create an extra oxygen molecule that alters the molecular structure of offending micro-organisms. Adsorbing carbon filters take in air from within the garden area and absorb the unwanted odors in the surface of the carbon itself. The liquids, sprays and gels are organic, safe and environmentally friendly. They are made of chemical compounds 120
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based on terpenes that are found in nature. Terpenes are hydrocarbons and some are oxygen-containing compounds like alcohol and ketones. These products work three ways in your growroom. The compounds absorb and bind with odor permanently or they adsorb, collect and hold the gas or vapor in the surface of the compound or by a chemical reaction where the odor is actually cancelled out in a “pairs bonding” reaction. Originally developed for use in commercial and industrial applications, it was only a matter of time until these products collided with hydroponics. Because these products are a wide spectrum formulation that neutralizes all organic
and non-organic odors, the smells are not just masked but permanently removed. The chemical is dispensed in a grow area by auto sprayers or simply by placing the liquid, gel or block in front of an oscillating fan. There are also canisters with custom made fans that are affordable and cost effective and can provide odor neutralization from 6,000 cubic feet to 100,000 cubic feet. Gels and pucks can be placed near heating vents or placed in ducting. They can be used virtually anywhere. Another method of odor controls is generating O3. O3 is a specific form of oxygen (ozone) that is completely safe when used correctly. Basically ozone converts odors to CO2 and oxygen. Ozone has a very short life and reverts back to oxygen quickly since O3 will not remain stable for long. Ozone can irritate if the levels are too high, so an ozone test kit must be placed in the garden and a color code will show how much O3 is reaching the garden during a one hour period. One RPM of ozone is an acceptable level according to government standards. The average growroom will use around .03 or .05 to be effective in a hydroponic application.
“Oxygen is a powerful purifier that freshens the air—something like a breeze after a thunderstorm.”
Organic and environmentally safe, liquids, sprays and gels neutralize all organic and non-organic odors, effectively removing smells.
Ozone generators take care of mold, mildew, bacteria and other pathogens created in a controlled environment and run quietly as well as operating at an optimum in humidity over 50 per cent. Ozone generators have a UV germicidal bulb that reacts with the surrounding air in a volatile way and the oxygen will take on another oxygen atom for a short period of time. Oxygen is a powerful purifier that freshens the air—something like a breeze after a thunderstorm. The ozone units commonly carried in stores can purify areas ranging from 1,000 to 5,000 cubic feet. Some larger units are placed inside duct work and commercial and industrial units can purify as much as 100,000 cubic feet. In a growroom situation the ozone unit can be hung opposite the outtake fan on the opposing wall of the room. When hung like this the ozone will have a chance to roll through the garden and give the ozone a chance to do its converting. Adsorbing carbon is used in many different applications. It is used for removing such nasty things as arsenic and carbon monoxide and in paint booths, absorbing fumes and noxious vapors. Different grain sizes and types of carbon are used in specific applications to attain the most efficient absorption. In a growroom situation the carbon type is CKV-4. The carbon filters will remove 99 per cent of odors in the room if the temperature, humidity and the CFM of the outtake fan is MAXIMUM YIELD USA - June 2010
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Ozone generators have a UV germicidal bulb that reacts with the surrounding air in a volatile way and the oxygen will take on another oxygen atom for a short period of time.
met. The carbon filters can operate at a maximum temperature of 176°F and up to 70 per cent humidity. A properly running growroom will be well within these limits. In order to find the proper filter for your room, you simply calculate the cubic feet of the room and divide that by the number of minutes you would like to exchange your air (two minutes is good). That will be the minimum CFM of your fan. The CFM number should be higher than the exhaust minimum of the filter itself. This way any CFM loss from the filter is covered. Periodic cleaning of the prefilter will also keep things flowing and is the only maintenance required. The carbon filters can technically be refilled but this would be futile. The filters are packed with industrial shakers and the carbon becomes packed evenly with no gaps for air or smell to sneak through. You would not be able to achieve this. The life of the carbon filter depends on the concentration of the smell, humidity and how much volume of air is flowing through the room daily. You can expect 18 or so months of service from a properly run filter. You can push or pull air through a filter but pulling is best as the surface area of the carbon is utilized the most efficiently. If you do happen to push air through you should take the pre-filter off for better air flow. 122
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“The life of the carbon filter depends on the concentration of the smell, humidity and how much volume of air is flowing through the room daily.�
With over a dozen filters to choose from and CFM parameters clearly marked on the containers, carbon filters are a viable means of odor removal. When it comes to choosing an odor control method, it is best to discuss your options with your local hydroponics retailer. Some good advice and knowledge about these products will help with decisions about the ins and outs of your particular situation.
All these odor control products are easy to use, have a proven track record and have no negative effect on the plants. Odor control gives an indoor gardener confidence, and above all, peace of MY mind.
Different grain sizes and types of carbon are used to attain the most efficient absorption (Activated Carbon shown above).
by Dr. Ed Hardwood
Are Aeroponically Grown Foods
Safer?
In a list of the “Ten Most Dangerous Foods” published this year in Time Magazine, leafy greens (including spinach, lettuce, cabbage, arugula and kale) came in at number five, just ahead of rhubarb leaves. The reason: 363 separate outbreaks were linked to leafy greens last year, involving unsavory contaminants such as Nirovirus, E. coli and Salmonella. According to an organization called the Environmental Working Group, leafy greens are not alone. The group publishes its own list of the “dirty dozen” foods based on levels of pesticide contamination. A person who avoids the Environmental Working Group’s top 12 most dangerous foods, according to the authors of the survey, lowers their pesticide intake by a shocking 80 per cent. According to the organization’s data, apples, strawberries, bell peppers and, yes, lettuce, are all highly contaminated. And the absolute most contaminated food? Peaches. Increasingly, the safety of the food that we put into our bodies (and our children’s bodies) daily is becoming an issue that keeps people awake at night—and one that the media takes notice of. One extreme example was China’s tainted milk scandal in 2008, which affected some 300,000 people and left 860 babies hospitalized. A subsequent investigation uncovered how a corrupt political system had enabled some two dozen companies to sell products containing questionable chemical additives. In the wake of the scandal, heads literally rolled: food industry executives were arrested, and two were even executed. In the United States, as well, food safety is considered an under-regulated area. Our food system is largely open to the risk of contamination, intentional or accidental.
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According to data collected by the Environmental Working Group, peaches ranked as the most highly contaminated by pesticides.
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Are Aeroponically Grown Foods Safer? The inspection system is way underfunded and traceability is lacking. Genetically-engineered food, grown from laboratory-developed seeds, has many positively frightened. Some of these problems are the result of economic changes that have occurred in recent years. Consolidation in the food industry, for example, and production on an ever larger scale, are two trends that have had increasingly unpredictable consequences for our food supply. One such consequence is the increased use of pesticides. Large-scale homogeneous crop systems and large greenhouse operations are vulnerable to diseases and insect infestations. Unlike traditional agriculture, which utilizes a diversity of crop types and seeds to fortify the overall system (much like a natural ecosystem), largescale industrial agriculture compensates for its lack of diversity by heaping chemical pesticides on crops. Some, but certainly not all of them, are eventually washed off by the consumer.
“Consolidation in the food industry...and production on an ever larger scale, are two trends that have had increasingly unpredictable consequences for our food supply.� Ironically, some of the safety measures that large commercial farms take to address underlying sources of contamination eventually become contamination hazards themselves. Well known to sanitarians is the issue of burden, the dirt that builds up in the cleaning solution and prevents it from maintaining bactericidal activity. Imagine how easy it is to have this happen with thousands of pounds of lettuce being washed. It has to be safer to not wash because your product doesn't get dirty. Industrial produce is also transported over great distances, leaving it vulnerable to terrorism, weather-related events and sabotage. These long supply lines also make a considerable contribution to global climate change. For many consumers, the solution to questions about food safety is to go organic. Organic food, according to the conventional wisdom, is safer than industrially grown food. With no chemical fertilizers and pesticides to worry about, organic food is much less risky. The truth, however, is that this is just not so. Beyond the lack of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, organic food is not inherently safer than non-organic. For one thing, organic food is often fertilized by manures. When not properly managed, these can become a source of potential contamination. 126
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Are Aeroponically Grown Foods Safer?
Last year, 363 separate outbreaks were linked to leafy greens, involving unsavory contaminants such as Nirovirus, E. coli and Salmonella.
Salmonella
Organic produce, especially when it is grown in one place and sold (out of season) in another, also tends to be transported long distances, making it just as environmentally damaging as conventional produce. And not every consumer can afford the higher price that comes with organic fruits and vegetables. These days, many agricultural producers are thinking beyond the old conventional-organic dichotomy, and exploring new ways to
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produce food that is at once safe, affordable and environmentally sound. One school of thought now believes that the safest and most accessible food may in fact be produce grown in controlled environments, using methods like aeroponics. According to Rick Donnan, vice president of the Australian Hydroponics and Greenhouses Association, hydroponically grown produce is better for consumers’ health, due to the fact that it does not come into physical contact with the ground. This, he says, reduces the risk of contamination by organisms living in soil and manure. “In practice,” says Donnan, “the major health problems from vegetables have been associated with the external contamination of produce, rather than from what’s inside them.”
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Are Aeroponically Grown Foods Safer?
“Hydroponically grown produce is better for consumers’ health [because] it does not come into physical contact with the ground.�
Advocates of controlled-environment agriculture like Donnan point to a number of potential benefits of farming using these methods. Aside from the fact that soil-based contaminants are virtually eliminated, the prospect of smaller and more decentralized farms reduces many of the risks involved with large-scale production. Less water is required, as well as less pesticides. Controlled-environment agriculture is also a better method for the home gardener. Methods like aeroponics allow just about anyone to grow food indoors, in a clean environment without the unnecessary mess caused by soil. Since weeds and weeding are taken out of the equation, maintenance is also greatly reduced. Indoor, controlledenvironment agriculture is also cheaper, more productive and, according to some, even produces more nutritious food. In this age of uncertainty regarding our food supply, agriculture in a controlled environment is simply a safer and better way to feed our families. MY
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BEGINNER’S CORNER
by Charlotte Bradley
Photosynthesis: It‘s the Same for Hydroponic Gardens
Plant cells with visible chloroplasts.
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All plants need air, light, water and minerals to thrive. Each one of these elements has reliable qualities that make them able to sustain plant growth. Depending on the type of plant, the air may be dry or humid, the light may be strong or weak, the water may be plentiful or sparse, the temperature may be specific and the soil may be acid or alkaline.
How Much Light is Enough for Hydroponic Gardens? Outdoor gardening is pretty self-sufficient in terms of regulating the air and light flow. There’s not much you can do to adjust wind and sun; however, hydroponic gardeners have to provide air and water flow, intensity and interval of light and the quantity and range of minerals. Without this, photosynthesis will not occur. Photosynthesis is as important to a plant as digestion is to humans. Photosynthesis begins when the right kind of light hits the green pigment in the plant’s leaves called chlorophyll. When the light interacts with the chlorophyll, it mixes with carbon dioxide and water to make oxygen and sugar. The sugar is oxidized through a process called respiration, which converts carbon dioxide and water into energy. Other micro-nutrients present inside the growing medium are absorbed by the root system. These contribute to the plant’s strength. The by-product of photosynthesis is oxygen, which the plant releases into the atmosphere. The fact that humans require oxygen to survive makes the human-plant relationship symbiotic.
thermometer and a hydrometer to track the heat/humidity levels in the air, you can keep the environment in the range for your type of vegetation and the plants will do the rest of the work. MY
Is Hydroponics Complicated? When a plant respirates, it emits carbon dioxide. Tiny openings on the underside of the leaf, called stomata, absorb carbon dioxide and emit oxygen or vice versa, depending on whether the plant is photosynthesizing or respirating. Because carbon dioxide exists in the atmosphere in very small quantities, the stomata have to be wide open during the hours that the leaves are absorbing light (photosynthesis). If the humidity is too low, this can cause evaporation of the plant’s moisture. The root system needs extra water to compensate for this. If water is sparse, the leaves will suffer and look wilted. This is called transpiration. To avoid transpiration, hydroponic gardens need an atmosphere that is humid enough for the plant to achieve a balance between respiration and photosynthesis. Sounds complicated? It isn’t really. As long as you have a
Tomato leaf with open stoma.
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YOU TELL US
Maximum Yield (MY): What products in the GH line are you most passionate about right now? Adam Hanscom, Tigerlilly and Luke Silverman, three eco-minded experts from industry leaders General Hydroponics, take us on a tour through their world of organics, community activism and their own version of web-based social media for hydro lovers.
Adam Hanscom
Adam Hanscom: The General Organics (GO) line of products is definitely our focus right now. We are constantly observing and learning more about the multitude of biological relationships and interconnecting ecosystems that need to work in harmony in order for plants to flourish. The GO line fits perfectly into this natural method of cultivation and has translated into a whole new passion for our team.
MY: How can growers find out about the newest and most innovative products available from General Hydroponics? Adam: There are a number of ways growers can learn about our products. Our website and blog at www.genhydro.com are great starting points for anyone looking to access product information. Our network of distributors and GH reps visit retailers to help educate their employees on new products. We also provide them with samples and product literature. Our head office in Sebastopol, California fields dozens of calls per day from end users who receive expert advice from our customer service reps and tech advisors. We utilize industry tradeshows, festivals and industry publications as well. The Grow GH Blog connects growers from around the globe through the sharing of information and experiences.
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MY: What strategies has GH implemented to lessen their environmental impact on our planet? Tigerlilly, GH Blog: General Hydroponics is based on firmly held ecological ideals that we actively uphold. Our business practices have always reflected a desire to preserve the earth’s natural resources. We make our choices not just on Earth Day, but every single day of the year. Ingredients are sourced with integrity and with the utmost regard for the impact on the earth. Tigerlilly We run on solar energy and our founder drives a natural gas vehicle. Our packaging is made from recycled materials. Our manufacturing team worked hard to reinvent our packaging methods with a goal of reducing waste and reducing the use of fossil fuel for shipping. GH also brings the stories of environmental successes to the airwaves as the sponsor of Natural Heroes.
General Hydroponics is the founding sponsor and executive producer of the breakthrough PBS TV series devoted to explaining ecological issues.
MY: What is General Hydroponics’ role in actively supporting local causes and community building?
putting together a curriculum to teach hydroponics, or activists converting urban spaces to community gardens. From rooftop garden programs in downtown Oakland, the agricultural department at U.C. Davis and a third grade classroom in New York, we do our best to help all of these projects with products, information and guidance.
Luke Silverman, customer service rep: At GH we strongly support local communities and educational programs that endeavor to create local, sustainable gardens, and teach people about hydroponics. We often receive calls from educators
MY: What growth has been achieved in the online growing community through the GH Grow Blog?
In 2005, a solar array was installed on the roof of the GH warehouse in a bold move toward more sustainable business practices.
Luke Silverman
Tigerlilly, GH Blog: The Grow GH Blog was conceived as a way to connect with growers. We have created a community of growers from around the globe who look to us everyday for knowledge and inspiration. The blog is our place to share information that will enrich the reader’s hydroponic experiences. With nearly 500 posts, and 1,000 comments, our site is a major resource for anyone with an interest in learning about the world of growing and the science of hydro. Beyond developing our own audience, the GH blog has influenced the future of the hydroponic market. Since our launch, the hydro industry as a whole has really embraced the online movement. Two years ago many stores didn’t even use e-mail, let alone have websites. Now, in 2010, stores everywhere have their own blogs, make money with online commerce and use social media. GH will continue to lead by always looking to the future to find tools for enhancing our community and our industry. MY
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PRODUCT spotlight
Continued from page 44
See it. Want it. Find it at your favorite indoor gardening store.
Active Eye Green Lamps Hydrofarm continues to bring gardeners the tools they need to succeed with our new Active Eye line of Green Lamps. They are the perfect tools for checking on your garden without interruption of the photoperiod cycle. They are available in four models, all featuring high intensity LEDs for long life and optimal illumination. The models are: • LED Flashlight – compact with nine LEDs • LED Cap Light – fits on the bill of most caps for hand’s free gardening with six LEDs • LED Headlight – comfortable and adjustable with 17 high intensity LEDs • LED Work Light – use free standing, this rechargeable work light delivers maximum light with 78 high intensity LEDs Active Eye Green Lamps are now available at an authorized Hydrofarm retailer near you.
Keep Gardens Safer® Safer® Brand End All Insect Killer is an effective, ready-to-use spray that kills 45 different insect species in any stage of life, from egg to adult. It’s effective against 45 different insects including aphids, various beetles (including Japanese beetles), caterpillars and larvae (including gypsy moth caterpillars and tent caterpillars), harlequin bugs, leafhoppers, mealybugs, stink bugs and whiteflies. OMRI®-listed Safer® Brand End All can be used up to the day of harvest on ornamentals, trees, shrubs, fruits, vegetables, flowers and houseplants. Compliant for use in organic gardening, this product dissolves in the soil with no residual! OMRI Listed® and compliant for use in organic gardening, Safer® Brand Garden Dust effectively kills caterpillars, corn earworm, bollworm and more than a dozen other types of worms. Once ingested by the wayward pests, the active ingredient, Bacillus thuringiensis, kills them within a few days. Ask for it now at your local grow shop or garden center.
Grozone Control SCO2 – The Simple One The Grozone Control SCO2 is the most simple and affordable CO2 monitor on the market. The SCO2, or ‘The Simple One,’ is the newest product in the Grozone Control line of environmental controllers. Known for their exceptional quality and second-to-none return policy, Grozone Control SCO2 doesn’t compromise on quality. The Simple One features: • 120/240 volt compatibility • feature for high altitude • range of 0 to 5,000 ppm • full no-hassle three year warranty • easy to use and set up The Simple One SCO2 is now available at indoor gardening stores across the country.
MY
You can find all of our products online at www.maximumyield.com. Each month your favorite new product profiles will be featured on our website. Get the latest information on what will make your garden grow.
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Do you want to be included in the product spotlight? Contact the editor at 1-250-279-2677 or email editor@maximumyield.com
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TALKING SHOP
GROWING FOR THE FUTURE AT A GLANCE Company: GreenLeaf Hydroponics Owners: Eric Stewart, Mike Keough and Bruce Keough Location and Phone: South Bay of Los Angeles - 2212 Artesia Blvd., Redondo Beach, CA (1-310-374-2585) Orange County - 1839 West Lincoln, Anaheim, CA (1-714-254-0005) Web: www.GreenLeaf-Hydroponics.com Motto: “Growing for the future.”
To all of you Southern California hydro enthusiasts, GreenLeaf Hydroponics is finally here! We are a fully stocked hydro store where you can crack open a cold drink and “talk shop” with all of your hydro buddies. GreenLeaf Hydroponics Redondo Beach and GreenLeaf Hydroponics Anaheim are here to serve you. GreenLeaf Hydroponics was the brainchild of co-owner Eric Stewart. Eric, a plumber by trade, was a weekend horticulturist who had a hard time finding a store that stocked all of his hydroponic needs in the South Bay area. He saw a need for a comprehensive hydroponic store in the area and the seed for what would become GreenLeaf Hydroponics was planted. Eric and his partners Mike and Bruce Keough set to the task of finding a location for their dream shop. None of the guys had ever owned, let alone worked in, a retail store before, but they were committed. They envisioned a shop that would be highly visible in the local shopping area, not hidden in an industrial complex. They found a prominent location on Redondo Beach’s Artesia Boulevard and began the task of bringing their dream to life. The building was painted two bold shades of green; the counters were designed and built by the owners; and a graffiti mural was painted behind the counter to bring an urban feel to the shop.
From left: Eric Stewart, Bruce Keough and Mike Keough.
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The shop is green and alive with plants thriving in hydroponics throughout the store and a graffiti mural behind the counter reflect the urban feel of the environment.
GreenLeaf ’s regular customers love to come into the shop, pull up a stool and spend time learning the tricks and tips to becoming better urban gardeners. It is not uncommon for customers to hang out for an hour or more just swapping ideas with employees and other customers. Our employees are local hydro enthusiasts, many that started off as customers. The staff is a family made up of experienced urban gardeners that also includes Patrick Keough and Dylan Ellis. The staff and owners learn from each other and share ideas that have made the store the success that it is today. This 2,500 square foot store stocks all your hydroponics and indoor gardening needs including complete hydro systems, pest and disease control, lighting solutions and bulbs, a comprehensive line of nutrients and much more. The items stocked in store were chosen by the customers. When customers make a request for a specialty item they can count on us to have it available for them. Without the recommendations from the local growers, we would probably not offer such a diverse line of merchandise. GreenLeaf Hydroponics also offers building and system design assistance as one of the owners is a mechanical engineer and can assist you with your hydro system, mild to wild. We can help you create the hydro system that meets both your needs and your budget. After the shop opened in September of 2009, Eric, Mike and Bruce threw a big grand opening celebration for their customers. The celebration lasted for two days with a huge 25 per cent off sale. Customers, family and friends were treated to tacos for lunch and live entertainment that included a DJ. Hundreds of people came through the shop that weekend. GreenLeaf was recently featured in the Green Issue of the
Beach Reporter. The shop was praised for its support of the environment and the community. The shop gives back to the community often, donating produce grown at the shops to local churches and soup kitchens. The South Bay location has been so successful that GreenLeaf has expanded. We are proud to announce the opening of an Orange County location. The new 3,100 square foot Organic County location shop opened in May 2010. The shop will have the same urban feel as the Redondo Beach location and will serve the needs of the Orange County horticulturist community. We are excited to welcome the new store and staff to the GreenLeaf family. So whenever you’re in South Bay or Orange County, please take a minute to stop by and talk shop. Not in Southern California? Visit us on our website at MY www.greenleaf-hydroponics.com MAXIMUM YIELD USA - June 2010
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MAX-MART
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LLC
Phone: 510.903.1808 Fax: 510.764.1246 13762 Doolittle Drive, San Leandro, CA 94577
www.hydrogardendelight.com
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MAX-MART
GrowCo Garden Supplies Max Double Spot
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MAXIMIZE YOUR EXPOSURE WITH
MAX-MART
Get your Max-Mart ad into the next issue! Call Maximum Yield at (250) 729-2677 for more information. MAXIMUM YIELD USA - June 2010
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COMING UP IN july
Defining Green
An influx of new, green marketing terms has caused mass confusion for consumers and retailers alike. Learning the differences between the terms will make you better able to navigate the marketplace.
Micronutrient Power
Although some are only needed in minute amounts, micronutrients contribute to healthy growth and the successful completion of a plant’s lifecycle.
Root Chillin’
Heat caused by intense light, small spaces and limited air exchange can contribute to heat build-up in your plants’ rootzones. Stay in control with these chillin’ tips.
Seaponics
In this second of the series, David Yarrow examines what Dr. Maynard Murray found to be true years earlier—that proportions of trace minerals and elements present in sea water are optimum for growth and health of both land and sea life. Plus: Exclusive industry interviews, new contests, latest news, grow systems, tanks, meters and lamps.
www.maximumyield.com July will be available July 1 for FREE at selected indoor gardening retail stores across USA and on maximumyield.com I N D O O R
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G A R D E N I N G
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DO YOU
know? 6
7 8 9 1 By weight, 3.5 per cent of seawater is made up of solids.
or sugar levels in many fruits and 2 Brix vegetables are highly dependant on light levels,
Foods grown using sea solids have significantly more minerals (ash content), vitamins (25 per cent more vitamin C in tomatoes; 40 per cent more vitamin A in carrots) and sugars.
Plants absorb and store plutonium—but plutonium is not an essential element.
All parts of the medicinal herb Hieracium pilosella (Mouse-Ear Hawkweed) can be used to treat ailments.
A sulfur deficiency and nitrogen deficiency look very similar in plants, the one distinction being a sulfur deficiency shows up as overall yellowing of the plant, rather than yellowing of the older leaves first.
10 Oxygen is not very soluble in water, and the DO
level is dependant on temperature, with a cooler solution holding as much as 12 to 13 ppm of DO, and a warm solution holding as little as six to seven ppm.
EC, nutrition, cultivar, temperature and plant health.
3 Experienced growers find that using Staggered
Crop Lighting methods, they can achieve yields within 10 to 20 per cent, using ¼ of the ballasts normally used to achieve similar yields.
4 In nature, photoperiod— the relationship
between the light phase and the dark phase—is based on a 24 hour cycle and varies according to latitude and the seasons.
5 Peas and beans have the dual purpose of
drawing atmospheric nitrogen from the air into the soil by means of nodules upon their stems, thereby further enriching the ground.
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MAXIMUM YIELD distributors
ALABAMA Alabama Organics 3348 Bethel Road, Valley Head, AL 35989 256-635-0802
ALASKA Brown’s Electrical Supply 365 Industrial Way, Anchorage, AK 99501 907-272-2259 Far North Garden Supply 300 Centaur Street, Wasilla, AK 99654 907-376-7586 Far North Garden Supply 2834 Boniface Parkway Anchorage, AK 99504 907-333-3141 Holmtown Nursery Inc. 1301 - 30th Avenue, Fairbanks, AK 99701 907-451-8733
ARIZONA ACI Hydroponics 1325 South Park Lane, Tempe, AZ 85282 800-633-2137 Homegrown Hydroponics 601 East Broadway Road, Tempe, AZ 85282 480-377-9096 Homegrown Hydroponics 1702 East Prince Road, Tucson, AZ 85719 520-323-1212 Natural Pools & Gardens 2143 North Country Suite C, Tucson, AZ 85716 520-323-2627 Sea of Green Hydroponics 815 W. University Drive, Suite 110, Tempe, AZ 85281 800-266-4136 Sea of Green West 2340 W. Bell Road, Suite 116, Phoenix, AZ 85023 602-504-8842 Sea of Green Hydroponics 402 North 4th Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85705 520-622-6344
ARKANSAS Fermentables 3915 Crutcher Street, N. Little Rock, AR 72118 501-758-6261 Mickey’s Mercantile 1303 Highway 65 South, Clinton, AR 72031 501-412-0214 Old Soul Organics and More 1771 Crossover Road, Fayetteville, AR 72701 479-444-6955
CALIFORNIA 3rd Street Hydroponics 636 3rd Street Oakland, CA 94607 510-452-5521 805 Hydroponics & Organics 1785 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevard Thousand Oaks, CA 91362 805-494-1785 A+ Hydroponics & Organics 1604 Babcock Street, Costa Mesa, CA 92627 949-642-7776 A Fertile World (Eureka) 65th Street, Eureka, CA 95501 707-444-0200
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A Fertile World (Fortuna) 610 7th Street, Fortuna, CA 95540 707-725-0700 Abundant Hydroponics LLC 1611 Shop Street, #1-A, South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 530-54 HYDRO Advanced Garden Supply 2660 Lake Tahoe Boulevard, Building C, Unit 9, S. Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 530-541-4769 Advanced Garden Supply 3113 Alhambra Drive, Unit F, Cameron Park, CA 95682, 530-676-2100 Advanced Hydroponics 17808 Sierra Highway, Canyon Country, CA 91351 661-299-1603 AG Natural 403 Idaho Maryland Road, Grass Valley, CA 95945 530-274 0990 All Seasons Hydroponics 17614 Chatsworth Street, Granada Hills, CA 91344 818-368-4388 Alternative Hydro 3870 East, Colorado Boulevard, Pasadena, CA 91107 888-50-HYDRO Always Sunny Hydroponics 708 W. Swain Road Stockton, CA 95207 209-473-9827 All Ways Hydro 2220 Eastridge Ave. Suite C Riverside CA 92507 888-HYDRO98 American Hydroponics 286 South G Street, Arcata, CA 95521 800-458-6543 Anthony’s Garden & Lighting Supply 30 Ridge Road, Suites 8 & 9 Sutter Creek, CA 95685 209-267-5416 Anything Grows 10607 W. River Street, Building 3 Suite C, Truckee, CA 96161 530-582-0479 Atlantis Garden Supply 2851 A Whipple Road, Union City, CA 94587 510-487-8007 Atwater Hydroponics 3350 Glendale Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90039 323-663-8881 Auburn Organic 4035 Grass Valley Highway, Auburn, CA 95602 530-823-8900 B & S Gardening Supplies 590 Commerce Court, Manteca, CA 95336 209-239-8648 Bakersfield Hydroponics 2408 Brundage Lane, Suite B Bakersfield, CA 93304 661-323-7333 Bare Roots Hydroponics 1615 East Cypress, #5 Redding, CA 96002 530-244-2215 Beginning Hydroponics PO Box 1232, Corona, CA 92787 951-735-4446 Berkeley Indoor Garden 844 University Avenue Berkeley, CA 94710 510-549-2918
Berkeley’s Secret Garden 921 University Avenue, Berkeley, CA 94710 510-486-0117 Best Coast Growers 4417 Glacier Avenue Suite C, San Diego, CA 92120 800-827-1876 Best Yield Garden Supply 3503 West Temple Avenue, Unit A, Pomona, CA 91768 909-839-0505 Better Choice Hydroponics 610 S. Washington Street, Senora, CA 95370 209 533 2400 Better Grow Hydro Pasadena 1271 E. Colorado Boulevard, Pasedena, CA 91106 626 737 6612 Better Grow Hydro Los Angeles 5554 Bandini Boulevard, Bell, CA 91106 323-510-2700; 877 640 GROW Brentwood Hydroponics & Organics 560 Valdry Ct #85 Brentwood, CA 94513 925-634-6704 BWGS West 2247 North Plaza Drive Visalia, CA 93291 888-316-1306 California Hydro Garden 1043 South Glendora Avenue, Suite A West Covina, CA 91790 626-813-0868 California Hydroponics 310 Coral Street, Suite C Santa Cruz, CA 95060 831-423-4769 Central Coast Hydrogarden 1951 Santa Barbara Street, San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 805-544-GROW Citrus Heights Hydrogarden 8043 Greenback Lane Citrus Heights, CA 95610 916-728-4769 City Farm Hydroponics 8903 Laurel Canyon Boulevard, Sun Valley, CA 91352 818-767-2076 City Farmer’s Nursery 4832 Home Avenue, San Diego, CA 92105 619-284-6358 Clover Hydroponics & Garden Supply 43 Soda Bay Road, Lakeport, CA 95453 707-263-4000 CNG Garden Supplies 22 Ricknbacker Circle, Livermore, CA 94551 209-836-5550 Coca’s Central Valley Hydroponics 116 West Orangeburg Avenue, Modesto, CA 95350 209-567-0590 Concord Indoor Garden 2771 Clayton Road, Concord, CA 94519 925-671-2520 Conejo Hydroponics 3481 Old Conejo Road #106 Newbury Park, CA 91320 805-480-9596 Conrad Hydroponics Inc. 14915 Unit E, Olympic Drive, Clearlake, CA 95422 707-994 3264
Constantly Growing 6200 Enterprise Drive, Suite A Diamond Springs, CA 95619 530-642-9710 Constantly Growing 4343 Hazel Avenue, Fair Oaks, CA 95628 916-962-0043 Constantly Growing - Davis 123 D Street Davis, CA 95616 530-756-4774 D&S Garden Supplies 17-130 Doolittle Drive San Leandro, CA 94577 510-430-8589 Dazey’s Supply 3082 Redwood Drive, Redway, CA 95560 707-923-3002 Direct Hydroponics Wholesale 14228 Alberts Way, Chino, CA 91710 909-606-5885 Dirt Cheap Hydroponics 17975 H Highway 1, Fort Bragg, CA 95437 707-964-4211 Discount Hydroponics 4745 Hiers Avenue, Riverside, CA 92505 877-476-9487 Eel River Hydroponics & Soil Supply 164 Dinsmore Drive, Fortuna, CA 95540 707-726-0395 El Centro Hydro & Brew Supply Inc. 591 main Street, Suite N-2 El Centro, CA 92243 760-235-4985 Elite Horticulture Supply 22330 Sherman Way, C13, Canoga Park, CA 91303 818-347-5172 Emerald Garden 8249 Archibald Avenue, Ranch Cucamanga, CA 91730 909-466-3796 Emerald Garden 13325 South Highway 101, Hopland, CA 95482 707-744-8300 Emerald Garden 307 East Perkins Street, Ukiah, CA 95482 707-463-2510 Endless Green Hydroponics 25 Enterprise Court, Suite 3 Napa, CA 94558 707-254-0200 Evergreen Hydroponics 923 N. Central Avenue, Suite B, Upland, CA 91786 909-946-7100 Everything Green Hydroponics 915 Texas Street, Fairfield, CA 94533 707-432-0774 Everything Green 448 Georgia Street, Vallejo, CA 94590 707-647-0774 Extreme Hydroponics 11479 San Fernando Road C, San Fernando, CA 91340 818-898-0915 EZ Green Hydroponics 7017 Reseda Boulevard, Reseda, CA 91335 818-776-9076 Farm Hydroponics, The 1950 Lake Tahoe Boulevard #3, S. Lake Tahoe, CA 96150 530-541-3276 Foothill Hydroponics 10705 Burbank Boulevard, N. Hollywood, CA 91601 818-760-0688
Foothills Hydrogarden 3133 Penryn Road, Penryn, CA 95663 916-270-2413 Full Sun Supply 3535 Industrial Drive, Unit B-3 Santa Rosa, CA 95403 877-FULL-SUN Funny Farms Hydroponics 963 Transport Way, #12 Petaluma, CA 94954 707-775-3111 G & G Organics and Hydroponics 901 W. Victoria Street Unit D, Compton, CA 90220 310-632-0122 Garden Connection, The 2145 Park Avenue, Unit 2 Chico, CA 95928 530-342-7762 Garden Depot, The 203 Commerce Street, Suite 101 Lodi, CA 95240 209-339-9950 Garden Highway Garden Supply 598 Garden Highway #22 Yuba City, CA 95991 530-755-2877 Garden Shed, The 1136 El Camino Real San Carlos, CA 650-508-8600 Garden Spout, The 44800 Highway 101, Laytonville, CA 95454 707-984-7260 Garden Spout, The 630 S. Main Street, Willits, CA 95490 707-456-0196 Garden Warehouse 6355 Scarlet Court, #2, Dublin, CA 94568 925-556-3319 Gardening Unlimited 60 Old El Pueblo Road, Scotts Valley, CA 95066 831-457-1236 Go Big Hydroponics 4501 Van Nuys Boulevard, Sherman Oaks, CA 91403 818-789-3341 Go Green Hydroponics 15721 Ventura Boulevard, Encino, CA 91436 818-990-1198 Golden Gecko Garden Center, The 4665 Marshall Road, Garden Valley, CA 95633 530-333-2394 Golden Harvest Hydroponics & Garden Supply 8626 Lower Sacramento Road #48, Stockton, CA 95210 209-951-3550 Gonzo Grow 2550 Guerneville Road, Suite C, Santa Rosa, CA 95401 707-546-1800 Gottagrow Garden Supply 769 Wilson Street, Santa Rosa, CA 95404 707-544-7782 Grass Roots Hydroponics 31875 Corydon, Suite 130 Lake Elsinore, CA 92530 951-245-2390 Grass Valley Hydrogarden 12506 Loma Rica Drive, Grass Valley, CA 95945 530-477-2996 Green Acres Hydroponics 1215 Striker Avenue, Suite 180, Sacramento, CA 95834 916-419-4394 Green Coast Hydroponics 3560 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93105 805-898-9922
Green Coast Hydroponics 2405 Mira Mar Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90815 562-627-5636 Green Coast Hydroponics 496 Meats Avenue Orange, CA 92865 714-974-4769 Green Coast Hydroponics 11510 Whittier Boulevard Whittier, CA 90601 562-699-4201 Green Door Hydro and Solar 830 Traction Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90013 212-625-1323 Greenfire Sacramento 3230 Auburn Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95821 916-485-8023 Green Gopher Garden Supply 679 Redwood Avenue, Suite A, Sand City, CA 93955 831-899-0203 Green Joint Ventures 61 Tarp Circle, Salinas, CA 93901 831-998-8628 Green Lady Hydroponics 4879 Newport Avenue, San Diego, CA 92107 619-222-5011 GreenLeaf Hydroponics 2212 Artesia Boulevard, Redondo Beach, CA 90278 310-374-2585 Green Logic Garden Supply 860 Piner Road, #38, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 707-843-3156 Greenmile Hydroponic Garden Supply 1480 South E. Street, Suite D, San Bernardino, CA 92408 909-885-5919 Green Thumb Hydroponics 35 Quinta Court, Suite B, Sacramento, CA 95823 916-689-6464 Green Thumb Lighting & Garden 1647 W. Sepulveda Boulevard, Unit 5, Torrance, CA 90501 888-326-GROW Greentrees Hydroponics Inc. 2581 Pioneer Avenue, Unit D Vista, CA 92081 760-598-7551 GreenWay Hydroponics 11510 Whittier Boulevard, Whittier, CA 90601 562-699-4201 Grodan Inc. 5152 Commerce Avenue, Moorpark, CA 93021 541-646-8245 Gro More Garden Supply 2937 Larkin Avenue, Clovis, CA 93021 541-646-8245 Grow A Lot Hydroponics, San Diego 1591 N. Cuyamaca Street, El Cajon, CA 93612 619-749-6777 Growers Choice Hydroponics 1100 Carver Road, Modesto, CA 95350 209-522-2727 Growers Choice Hydroponics 16754 East 14th Street, San Leandro, CA 94578 510-278-6200 Grow It Yourself Gardens 401 Sunset Drive, Suite L, Antioch, CA 94509 925-755-GROW Grow Light Express 5318 East Second Street suite 164, Long Beach, CA 90803 888-318-GROW
MAXIMUM YIELD USA - June 2010
151
MAXIMUM YIELD distributors
Grow Your Own 3401 Traval Street, San Francisco, CA 94116 415-731-2115 Grow Zone 718 Willow Rd. Menlo Park CA 94025 650-326-4769 Grunder Family Organics & Hydroponics 12321 Magnolia Avenue, Suite C, Riverside, CA 92503 877-468-7974 H20 Gardening 355 West 7th Street, San Pedro, CA 90731 310-514-1416 Hahn’s Lighting 260 E. VA Suite 1, San Jose, CA 95112 408-295-1755 Harvest Hydroponics 6650 Merchandise Way Suite B, Diamond Springs, CA 95619 530-622-5190 High Desert Hydroponics 13631 Pawnee Road, #7 Apple Valley, CA 92308 760-247-2090 High Street Hydro 180 Cleveland Avenue, Auburn, CA 95603 530-885-5888 Hi-Tech Gardening 5327 Jacuzzi Street, #282, Richmond, CA 94804 510-524-4710 Hollywood Hydroponics and Organics 5109 1/2 Hollywood Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90027-6105 323-662-1908 Home Life Hydroponics and Organics 1745 East Vista Way, Vista, CA 92084 760-643-2150 Hooked Up Hydroponics 339 S. Golden State Boulevard, Turlock, CA 95380 209-668-1300 House of Hydro 224 Weller Street, #B, Petaluma, CA 94952 707-762-4769 Humboldt Electronics 2547 California Street, Eureka, CA 95501 707-443-9408 Humboldt Hydroponics 1302 Union Street, Eureka, CA 95501 707-443-4304 Humboldt Hydroponics 2174 Pine Street, Redding, CA 96001 530-241-7454 Humboldt Hydroponics 601 I Street, Arcata, CA 95521 707-822-3377 Humboldt Hydroponics 2010 Tunnel Road, Redway, CA 95560 707-923-1402 Humboldt Nutrients 65th Street, Eureka, CA 95501 888-420-7770 Hydroasis 2643 S. Fairfax Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90232 888-355-4769 Hydrobrew 1319 South Coast Highway, Oceanside, CA 92054 760-966-1885; 877-966-GROW
152
MAXIMUM YIELD USA - June 2010
Hydro Depot 5665 Redwood Drive, #B, Rohnert Park, CA 94928 707-584-2384 Hydrogarden Delight 13762 Doolittle Drive, San Leandro, CA 94577 510-903-1808 Hydrogarden Mendocino County 1240 North Main Street, Fort Bragg, CA 95437 707-962-9252 Hydro King 105 Hartnell Avenue, Suite C and D, Redding, CA 96002 888-822-8941 Hydro King 2540 South Whitman Place, Chico, CA 959282 530-893-GROW (4769) Hydro-Logic Purification Systems 2825 Mattison Lane, Suite 103, Santa Cruz, CA 95065 888 H2O LOGIC HydroPacific - Hydroponics & Garden Supplies 351 C Hastings Av., Ukiah, CA 95482 707-467-0400 Hydroponic Connection Warehouse, The 1995 Evans Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94124 415-824-9376 Hydroponics 4 Less 41669 Winchester Avenue, Temecula, CA 92590 800-A1-HYDRO Hydroponics Plus 2250 Commerce Avenue, Suite C Concord, CA 94520 925-691-7615 Hydroponics Unlimited.com 2728 E. Palmdale Boulevard #121 Palmdale, CA 93550 661-266-3906 Hydrostar Hydroponics & Organics 1307 W. Sixth Street, #211, Corona, CA 92882 951-479-8069 Igrow Hydro 2280 Veatch Street, Oroville, CA 95965 530-534-4476 Igrow Hydro 9000 Atkinson Street, Roseville, CA 95678 916-773-4476 Inland Empire Hydrogarden 1301-C South State Street, San Jancinto, CA 92853 886-72-HYDRO Inland Empire Hydrogarden 28822 Old Town Front St. #206 Temecula, CA 92590 886-74-HYDRO Innovative Growing Solutions (IGS) 7922-B Miramar Road, San Diego, CA 92126 858-578-IGS7 Kaweah Grower Supply 1106 1/2 N. Ben Maddox Way, Visalia, CA 93293 559-625-4937 Kern Hydroponics 2408 Brundage Lane, Suite B, Bakersfield, CA 93304 661-323-7333 LAX Hydro 10912 S. La Cienaga Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90045 310-337-6995
Lazy Gardeners Hydroponics ‘N’ More 14626 East Whittier Boulevard, Whittier, CA 90605 562-945-0909 Let it Grow 1228 2nd Street, Crescent City, CA 95531 707-464-9086 Let it Grow 160 Westwood Center, Arcata, CA 95521 707-822-8733 Liquid Gardens 21752 Devonshire Street, Chatsworth, CA 91311 818-718-7624 Long Beach Hydroponics & Organics 1772 Clark Avenue, Long Beach, CA 90815 562-498-9525 Lumatek Digital Ballasts 33 Commercial Boulevard, Suite B Novato, CA 94949 415-233-4273 M&M Garden Supply 2509 West Lane, Suite B Stockton, CA 95205 209-939-0664 M&M Garden Supply 22540 D Foothill Boulevard, 2509 Westlane Suite B Stockton, CA 95205 Marin Hydroponics 1219 Grant Avenue, Novato, CA 94945 415-897-2197 Medicine Man Farms 1602 53rd Avenue, Oakland, CA 94601 707-980-0456 Mendocino Garden Shop PO Box 1301, 44720 Maint Street (at Hwy. 1), Mendocino, CA 95460 707-937-3459 Mendocino Greenhouse & Garden Supply 900 East School Way, Redwood Valley, CA 95470 707-485-0668 Merced Hydroponics 1809 East 21st Street, Merced, CA 95340 209-726-4769 M.G.S. 22540 D Foothill Boulevard, Hayward, CA 94541 510-582-0900 Mighty Garden Supply 4780 Mission Gorge Pl. #A-1, San Diego, CA 92120 619-287-3238 Monterey Bay Horticulture Supply 224B Reindollar Avenue, Marina, CA 93933 831-38-HYDRO Monterey Bay Hydroponics and Organics 81 Hangar Way, #1, Watsonville, CA 95076 831-761-9999 Myron L Company 2450 Impala Drive, Carlsband, CA 9210-7226 760-438-2021 Mystic Gardens 8484 Florin Road, #110, Sacramento, CA 95828 916-381-2464 National Garden Wholesale/Sunlight Supply 1950 C South Grove Avenue, Ontario, CA 91761 888-888-3319 Nature’s Secret Garden and Supply 41469 Albrae Street, Fremont, CA 94577 510-623-8393
New Leaf Hydro 34150 123rd Street, Parablossom, CA 93553 661-944-2226 NorCal Creations PO Box 28, Cedar Ridge, CA 95924 Nor Cal Hydroponics 4837 Geary Boulevard, San Francisco, CA 94118 415-933-8262 Northcoast Horticulture Supply 60 West 4th Street, Eureka, CA 95501 707-444-9999 Northcoast Horticulture Supply 357 Main Street, Fortuna, CA 95540 707-725-5550 Northcoast Horticulture Supply 1070 Highway 101, Crescent City, CA 95531 707-464-1200 Northcoast Hydrogardens 3450 North State Street, Ukiah, CA 95482 707-462-7214 No Stress Hydroponics 7543 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA 90046 323-845-9874 One Stop Hydroponics 12822 Victory Boulevard North Hollywood, CA 91606 818-980-5855 Oracle Garden Supply 5755 Oberlin Drive, Suite 100 San Diego, CA 92121 858-558-6006 Orange County Hydroponics 12687 Beach Boulevard, Unit H, Stanton, CA 90680 714-893-9493 Organic Bountea 1919 Dennis Lane, Santa Rosa, CA 95403 800-798-0765 Orsa Organix 111 Willow Street, Redwood City, CA 94063 650-369-1269 Pacific Beach Hydroponics 1852 Garnet Avenue, San Diego, CA 92109 858-274-2559 Pacific Coast Hydroponics 4147 Sepulveda Boulevard, Culver City, CA 90230 310-313-1354 Pacific Garden Supply 128 H Carlos Drive, San Rafael, CA 94903 Palmdale Hydroponics 2728 East Palmdale Boulevard Suite 108, Palmdale, CA 93550 661-266-9908 Palm Springs Hydroponics 4651 Ramon Road, Palm Springs, CA 92264 760-327-ROOT Plant It Earth 2279 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94114 415-626-5082 Plant Life 32 Race Street, San Jose, CA 95126 408-283-9191 Plant-N-Grow 1602 53rd Avenue, Oakland, CA 94601 707-980-0456 Precision Hydroponics 132 Kennedy Avenue, Campbell, CA 95008 408-866-8176 Pro Gardening Systems 3715 Santa Rosa Avenue #2, Santa Rosa, CA 95407 707-585-8633
Pro Gardening Systems 4936 Highway 12, Santa Rosa, CA 95472 707-538-8402 Pro Gardening Systems 765 Petaluma Avenue, Sebastopol, CA 95472 707-829-7252 Redway Feed Garden and Pet Supply 290 Briceland Road, Redway, CA 95560 707-923-2765 Redwood Garden Supply 55 Myers Avenue, Myers Flat, CA 95554 707-943-1515 Reforestation Technologies International 1341 Daton Street, Units G&I Salinas, CA 93901 831-424-1494; 800-RTI-GROW RH Distribution 1751 S. Pointe Avenue Ontario, CA 91761 888-545-8112 Roots Grow Supply 1330 North Hulbert, #101 Fresno, CA 93728 559-840-0122 Sac Hydroponics 9529 Folson Boulevard, Suite C Sacramento, CA 95827 916-369-7968 San Diego Hydroponics East County 11649 Riverside Drive, Suite 141, Lakeside, CA 92040 619-562-3276 San Diego Hydroponics Beach Cities 4122 Napier Street, San Diego, CA 92110 619-276-0657 San Diego Hydroponics North 802 N. Twin Oaks Valley Road #108 San Marcos, CA 92069 760-510-1444 San Francisco Hydro 123 Tenth Street, San Francisco, CA 94103 Santa Cruz Hydroponics & Organics - West Side 815 Almar Avenue, Unit K, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 831-466-9000 Santa Cruz Hydroponics & Organics - East Side 4000 Cordelia Lane Soquel, CA 95073 831-475-9900 Santa Cruz Hydroponics & Organics - North 6241 Graham Hill Road, Felton, CA 95018 831-335-9990 Santee Hydroponics 7973A Mission Gorge Road, Santee, CA 92071 619-270-8649 SB Hydro 1109 W. 190th Street, Unit #F, Gardena, CA 90248 310-538-5788 Seaside Hydrogarden 1070 Highway 101 North, Crescent City, CA 95531 707-465-3520 Shadow Valley Aquatics 75 Kimick Way, Red Bluff, CA 96080 530-526-0479 Skywide Import & Export Ltd. 5900 Lemon Hill Avenue, Sacramento, CA 95824 916-383-2369 Socal Hydroponics 1727-B Oceanside Boulevard, Oceanside, CA 92054 760-439-1084 South Bay Hydroponics and Organics - Mtn. View 569 East Evelyn Avenue, Mountain View, CA 94041 650-968-4070
South Bay Hydroponics and Organics - San Jose 1185 South Bascom Avenue, San Jose, CA 95128 408-292-4040 South County Hydroponics 22511 Aspan Street, Suite E Lake Forest, CA 92630 949-837-8252 South Valley Hydroponics 320 Kishimura Drive, #3 Gilroy, CA 95020 1-866-848-GROW Sparetime Supply 208 E. San Francisco Avenue, Willits, CA 95490-4006 707-459-6791 Specialty Garden Center 1970 East Vista Way, Suite 10, Vista, CA 92084 760-758-4769 Stop N Grow 340 Pine Avenue, Goleta, CA 93003 805-685-3000 Stop N Grow 4160 Market Street, Unit 11 Ventura, CA 93003 805-639-9489 Stop N Grow 640 S. Frontage Road, Nipomo, CA 93444 805-619-5125 Sun-In Hydroponics 1257A Cleveland Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA 95401 707-578-5747 Sunland Hydroponics 8300 Foothill Boulevard, Sunland, CA 91040 818-352-5300 Supersonic Hydroponic and Organic Garden Supply 850 Shasta Avenue, Suite B Morro Bay, CA 93442 805-772-5869 Supersonic Hydroponic and Organic Garden Supply 3850 Ramada Drive, Unit D2 Paso Robles, CA 93446 805-434-2333 Super Starts PO Box 732, Bellmont, CA 94002 650-346-8009 Surf City Hydroponics 7319 Warner Street, Suite B Huntington Beach, CA 92647 714-847-7900 Sweet Leaf Hydroponics 1611 Sebastobol Road, Santa Rosa, CA 95407 707-575-GROW (4237) Sylvandale Gardens 1151 Evergreen Road, Redway, CA 95560 707-923-3606 Tahoe Garden Supply 645 Westlake Boulevard, Suite 2, PO Box 487 Tahoe City, CA 96145 530-581-3200 Tell 2 Friends Indoor Gardening 62 Sutherland Drive, Auburn, CA 95603 530-889-8171 The Green Shop 66420 Mooney Boulevard, Suite 1 Visalia, CA 93277 559-688-4200 The Hydro Source 671 E. Edna Place Covina, CA 91723 877 HYDRO 82; 626-915-3128 The Hydro Shop 1365 W. Olive Avenue Porterville, CA 559-781-4769 The Shop 6542 Front Street, Forestville, CA 95436 707-887-2280
MAXIMUM YIELD USA - June 2010
153
MAXIMUM YIELD distributors
The Urban Farmer Store 653 E. Blithedale Avenue, Mill Valley, CA 94941 415-380-3840 The Urban Farmer Store 2833 Vicente Street, San Francisco, CA 94116 415-661-2204 The Urban Farmer Store 2121 San Joaquin Street, Richmond, CA 94804 510-524-1604 Thrive Hydroponics 70 A West North Street, Healdsburg, CA 95446 707-433-4068 Thunders Hydroponic Center 1729 Yosemite Boulevard, Medesco, CA 95354 TNC Supply 9490 Main Street, P.O. Box 763 Upper Lake, CA 95485 707-275-9565 Tower Garden Supply & Organic Nursery 403 W. Olive Avenue, Fresno, CA 93728 559-495-1140 Tradewinds Wholesale Garden Supplies 1235 Striker Avenue #180, Sacramento, CA 95834 888-557-8896 Tulare County Growers Supply 435 W. Noble Avenue, Unit A, Farmersville, CA 93223 559-732-8247 Turbo Grow 1889 San Pablo Avenue, Pinole, CA 94564 510-724-1291 Two Chix Garden Supply 1230 Yuba Street, Marysville, CA 95901 530-923-2536 Under The Sun 12638 Foothill Boulevard, Clearlake Oaks, CA 95423 707-998-GROW (4769) Urban Gardens 22516 Ventura Boulevard, Woodland Hills, CA 91364 818-876-0222 Urban Gardens Unlimited 704 Filbert Street, San Francisco, CA 94133 415-421-4769 US Orchid & Hydroponic Supplies 1621 South Rose Avenue, Oxnard, CA 93033 805-247-0086 Valley Garden Solutions Inc. 15650 Nordhoff Avenue, Suite 104, North Hills, CA 91345 818-336-0041 Vital Landscaping Inc. 12817 Loma Rica Drive, Grass Valley, CA 95945 530-273-3187 Wai Kula Hydrogardens 5297 Linda Vista Road, San Diego, CA 92110 619-299-7299 Weather Top Nursery 44901 Harmon Drive, Laytonville, CA 95454 707-984-6385 We Grow Hydroponics 3350 East Los Angeles Avenue, Simi Valley, CA 93063 805-624-4566 West Coast Growers Hydroponics 13481 Colifax Highway, Grass Valley, CA 95945 888-924-4769
154
MAXIMUM YIELD USA - June 2010
West Coast Hydroponics, Inc. 27665 Forbes Road, Unit 10 Laguna Niguel, CA 92677 949-348-2424 Western Auto 1156 Main Street, Fortuna, CA 95540 707-725-1189
COLORADO Bath Nursery & Garden Center 2000 E. Prospect, Fort Collins, CO 80525 970-484-5022 Big Tomato, The 14440 E. 6th Avenue, Aurora, CO 80011 303-364-4769 Big Tomato, The 3000 Main Avenue, Durango, CO 81301 970-375-1238 Boulder County Caregivers PO Box 7406, Golden, CO 80403 303-495-2195 Boulder Hydroponics 1630 N. 63rd Street, #5, Boulder, CO 80301 303-415-0045 Cultivate Hydroponics & Organics 7777 W. 38th Avenue, #A120A, Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 303-954-9897 Denver Hydroponic & Organic Center 6810 North Broadway, Unit D Denver, CO 80221 303-650-0091 Desert Bloom Hydroponics 445 Pitkin Avenue, Grand Junction, CO 81501 970-245-6427 Ever Green Hydroponics Inc. 1131 Francis Street, Suite A, Longmont, CO 80501 303-682-6435 Garden Tech 737 Garden of the Gods Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80907 719-278-9777 Go Green Hydro 1005 Caprice Drive, Castle Rock, CO 80109 303-688-0599 Greenhouse Tech 917 East Fillmore, Colorado Springs, CO 80907 719-634-0637 GroWize 3225 S. Wadsworth Boulevard, Lakewood, CO 80227 303-986-2706 Grow Store South, The 5050 S. Federal Boulevard, #37, Englewood, CO 80110 303-738-0202 Grow Store, The 8644 W. Colfax Avenue, Lakewood, CO 80215 888-510-0350 GWS Hydroponics 7025 Highway 82 Building 4B, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 970-384-2040 Head Start Hydroponics & Organic Gardening Emporium 34500 US Highway 6, Unit B-9, North Edwards, CO 81632 970-569-3139 Hydro Grow Supply 644 Peterson Road, Colorado Springs, CO 80915 719-596-2600
Hydro Planet 711 Washington Avenue, Golden, CO 80401 303-279-6090 Hydro Shack, The 220 Main Street, Suite E Frisco, CO 80443 970-668-0359 Indoor Garden Warehouse 8100 S Akron St., Suite 322, Centennial, CO 80112 720-496-2110 Indoor Paradise Hydroponics 309 S. Summit View, Unit 17, Fort Collins, CO 80524-1462 970-221-3751 Lyons Indoor Gardening 138 Main Street, Lyons, CO 80540 720-530-3828 Mile High Hydroponics 37 Strong St. Brighton, CO 80601 303 637 0069 Olympic Hydroponics Supply LLC. 1530 S Nevada Avenue, Colorado Springs, CO 80906 719-635-5859 Rocky Mountain Hydroponics and Organics 15985 S. Golden Road Golden, CO 80401 720-475-1725 Rocky Mountain Lighting and Hydroponics 7100 N. Broadway, Suite 3D Denver, CO 80221 303-428-5020 Way To Grow 3201 E. Mulberry Street, Fort Collins, CO 80524 970-484-4769 Way To Grow 6395 Gunpark Drive, Boulder, CO 80301 303-473-4769
CONNECTICUT Harvest Moon Hydroponics 775 Silver Lane, East Hartford, CT 06118 860-568-4067 LiquidSun速 CT 10C South Main Street, East Windsor, CT 06088 860-254-5757 Organix Hydroponics 749 Saybrook Road, (Tradewinds Plaza) Middletown, CT 06457 860-343-1923
FLORIDA 3D Hydroponics and Organics 7139 US Highway #19, New Port Richey, FL 34652 727-847-3491 Advanced Hydro Gardens 4960 NW 165 Street, Suite B-4, Miami, FL 33014 866-97-HYDRO Atlantic Hydroponics 430 Count Street, Melbourne, FL 32901 321-821-1535 Best Hydro 4920 Lena Road, Bradenton, FL 34211 941-756-1928 Blossoms Experience, The 7207 NW 54th Street, Miami, FL 33166 866-452-4769 Cultivating Eden Hydroponic Supplies 946 18th Avenue SW, Vero Beach, FL 32962 772-564-8880
East Coast Hydroponics & Organics 461 Forrest Avenue, Suite 105 Coca, FL 32922 321-243-6800 Eden Garden Supply 5044 N. Palafox Street, Pensacola, FL 32505 850-439-1299 Esposito Garden Center 2743 Capital Circle NE, Tallahassee, FL 32308 850-386-2114 Falero Hardware & Hydroponics 6758 W. Flager Street, Miami, FL 33144 305-266-8878 Florida Garden Supplies 2692 W 79 Street, Hialeah, FL 33016 1-800-931-5215 Florida Garden Supplies 8020 Belvedere Road, Unit 4, West Palm Beach, FL 33411 561-333-1088 Future Farms Inc., The 14291 SW 120th Street, Suite 105 Miami, FL 33186 305-382-2757 Gardener’s Edge Gainesville 5000 NW 34th Street, Suite 13, Gainesville, FL 32605 352-375-2769 Gold Coast Hydroponics 1539 SW 21st Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312 1-800-780-7371 Gold Coast Hydroponics 4241 SW 71st Avenue, Miami, FL 33155 1-800-780-6805 Grace’s Hydro-Organic Garden Center 8877 North 56th Street Tampa, FL 33617 813-514-9376 Green Thumb Hydroponics Supplies 13482 North Cleveland Avenue, Fort Meyers, FL 33903 239-997-4769 GreenTouch Hydroponics Inc. 5011 S State Road 7, Suite 104 Davie, FL 33314 954-316-8815 Green Winters Inc. 147 Tomoka Avenue, Ormond Beach, FL 32174 386-235-8730 Grower's Choice & Hydroponics 11855 North Main Street, Jackonsonville, FL 32218 904-683-4517 Growing Garden Inc., The 12811 SW 42nd Street, Miami, FL 33175 305-559-0309 GrowSmart Indoor Garden Centers 14587 Southern Boulevard, Loxahatchee, FL 33470 561-429-3527 Harvest Time Hydroponics 14414 N. Florida Avenue, Tampa, FL 33613 813-264-7101 Healthy Gardens and Supply of Florida, Inc. 196 East Nine Mile Road, Suite F, Pensacola, FL 32534 850-912-4545 High Tech Garden Supply 2975 West New Haven Avenue, Melbourne, FL 32901 321-821-0853 Hydro For Less 9545 Southwest 72nd Street, Miami, FL 33173 305-598-4311 Hydroponics International Inc. 7029-10 Commonwealth Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32220 904-693-6554
Hydroponics of Tampa 120 W. Bougain Villea, Tampa, FL 33612 813-333-6828 Hydro Terra Corp. 924 North Federal Highway, Hollywood, FL 33020 954-920-0889 Palm Beach Hydroponics Supply, Inc. 968 N. Congress Avenue, West Palm Beach, FL 33409 561-296-6161 Simply Hydroponics & Organics 7949 Ulmerton Road, Largo, FL 33773 727-531-5355 Simply Hydroponics & Organics (North) 3642 South Suncoast Boulevard, Homosassa, FL 34448 352-628-2655 Stoney Hydro @ Schiro's Barn n Garden Supplies 7812 Causeway Boulevard, Tampa, FL 33619 813-626-0902 Sunshine Hydroponics Garden Center 1420 East Altomonte Drive, Altamonte Spring, FL 32701 407-830-GROW Sunshine Hydroponics Garden Center 5561 S. Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, FL 32809 407-859-7728 Sunshine Hydroponics Garden Center 6100 Hanging Moss Road, Suite 500, Orlando, FL 32807 888-833-GROW Urban Organics & Hydroponics 5325 Fairmont Street, Jacksonville, FL 32207 904-398-8012 Worm’s Way Florida 4412 North 56th Street, Tampa, FL 33610 800-283-9676; 813-621-1792
GEORGIA Atlantis Hydroponics 1422 Woodmont Lane, #4, Atlanta, GA 30318 404-367-0052 Atlantis Hydroponics 2561 West Point Avenue, College Park, GA 30337 678-510-0032 Flora Hydroponics Inc. 2475 Jefferson Road, Suite 600 Athens, GA 30607 866-404-0551 Savannah Hydroponics & Organics 4107 Eighth Street, Suite C Garden City, GA 31408 912-349-4030
HAWAII Aqua Plant Hawaii / Kahala Hydroponics 4224 Wailae, Suite 1A, Honolulu, HI 96816 808-735-8665 Eco-Island Supply 810 Haiku Road, #394 Haiku, HI 96708 808-575-9171 Green Hands of Aloha 1713 Mary Street, Honolulu, HI 96819 808-847-4263 Ohana Greenhouse & Garden Supply 300 Hukilike Street, #2M, Kahalui, HI 96732 808-871-6393 Pahoa Feed & Fertilizer 15-2754 Old Government Road, Pahoa, HI 96778 808-965-9955
IDAHO Boise Hydroponics 614 North Orchard Street, Boise, ID 83706 208-344-3053
Greenthumb Greenhouses 5895 Ensign Avenue, Boise, ID 83714
ILLINOIS Aerostar Global 824 South Kay Avenue, Addison, IL 60101 Alternative Garden Supply 615 Industrial Drive, Unit A Cary, IL 60013 800-444-2837 Big Grow Hydroponics 9225 Trinity Drive, Lake In The Hills, IL 60156 847-854-4450 Brew and Grow 359 W. Irving Park Road Unit E, Roselle, IL 60172 630-894-4885 Brew and Grow 3625 N. Kedzi Avenue, Chicago, IL 60618 773-463-7430 Brew and Grow 3224 South Alpine Road, Rockford, IL 61109 815-874-5700 Brew and Grow 2379 Bode Road, Schaumburg, IL 60440 630-771-0555 Brew and Grow 181 Crossroads Parkway, Bolingbrook, IL 60194 847-885-8282 Fertile Ground 463 West MacArthur Drive, Cottage Hills, IL 62018 618-259-5500 Goldman's Grow Show 910 Greenwood Road, Glenview, IL 60025 847-657-7250 Green Fields 8137 N. Milwaukee, Niles, IL 60714 847-965-5056 Grow Big Hydroponics 7817 B North 2nd Street, Manchesney Park, IL 61115 815-637-4769 Hydrocork 20647 Renwick Road, Crest Hill, IL 60435 815-838-0100 Kreation’s Indoor Gardening Center 3427 Old Chatman Road, Springfield, IL 62704 217-341-0821 Let it Grow - Carbondale West Main Street, Carbondale, IL 62908 573-450-5401 Prairie House Garden Center 15151 South Harlem Avenue, Orland, IL 60462 708-687-3131 Water Works Indoor Gardening 1900 South Dirksen Parkway, Springfield, IL 62703 217-553-6929
INDIANA BWGS 7854 North State Road 37, Bloomington, IN 47404 800-316-1306 Five Point Gardens 56555 Oak Road, South Bend, IN 46619 574-287-9232 Frogs Lilly Pad, The 706 Citation Road, Carmel, IN 46032 317-846-4610 Harvest Moon Hydroponics 4200 S. East Street, Indianapolis, IN 46227 317-780-8070
MAXIMUM YIELD USA - June 2010
155
MAXIMUM YIELD distributors
Hops & Harvest 4616 E. DuPont Road, Suite Q, Fort Wayne, IN 46825 260-918-3035 Magic Bulb Garden Center 6229 Allisonville Road, Indianapolis, IN 46220 317-202-2852 Sunleaves Garden Products 7854 North State Road 37, Bloomington, IN 47404 888-464-9676 Worm’s Way Indiana 7850 North State Road 37, Bloomington, IN 47404 800-598-8158
KANSAS Green Circle Hydroponics 6890 W. 105th Street, Overland Park, KS 66212 913-642-3888
KENTUCKY Garden Grove Organics 29 East 7th Street, Covington, (Cincinnati Metro), KY 41011 859-360-1843 Grow Shop, The of Lexington 2320 Palumbo Drive, Suite 130, Lexington, KY 40509 859-268-0779 Louisville Hydroponics 3471 Taylor Boulevard, Louisville, KY 40215 502-366-4000 New Earth Garden Center 9810 Taylorsville Road, Louisville, KY 40299 800-462-5953 Worm’s Way Kentucky 1360 Donaldson Hwy. Suite A, Erlanger, KY 41018 800-669-2088
LOUISIANA Geaux Hydroponics! 2126 O’Neal Lane, Baton Rouge, LA 70816 225-751-4769 Laughing Buddha Nursery 4516 Clearview Parkway, Metairie, LA 70006 504-887-4336 Ourcrazydeals Hydroponics 201 Angus Drive, Yungsville, LA 70592 337-303-6146 Urban Organics 285 St. Claude Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70117 504-352-4709
MAINE Green Thumb Indoor Gardening 19 Stage Road, St. Albans, ME 04971 207-938-5909 Urban Garden Center 235 Lewiston Road, Toposhan, ME 04086 207-373-0990
MARYLAND East Coast Organics 2800 Sisson Street, Baltimore, MD 21211 Healthy Gardens and Supply 5001-F Harford Road, Baltimore, MD 21214 443-708-5144 Maryland Hydroponics Inc. 10051 North 2nd Street, Laurel, MD 20723 301-490-9236
156
MAXIMUM YIELD USA - June 2010
Maryland Hydroponics Inc. 12130 Nebel Street, Rockville, MD 20852 240-551-4625 Meadowview Feed & Garden Center 1202 Meadowview Road, Pasadena, MD 21122 443-817-0018 Purple Mountain Organics 100-7010 Westmoreland Avenue, Takoma Park, MD 20912 877-538-9901
MASSACHUSETTS Greenlife Garden Supply 481 Boston Road, Unit 4, Billerica, MA 01821 978-262-9966 Green Path Garden Supply 276 West Main Street, Northborough, MA 01532 508-393-4181 Harvest Moon Hydroponics 29 Washington Street, Route 1 Foxboro, MA 02035 800-660-6977 LiquidSun® MA 8 Lynwood Avenue, Holyoke, MA 01040 413-539-6875 New England Hydroponics 15 D Coolege Hwy. (Rt. 10), Southampton, MA 01073 888-529-9025 Worm’s Way Massachusetts 121 Worc-Providence Turnpike, Sutton, MA 01590 800-284-9676
MICHIGAN BIg Creek Hydroponics 555 Old Little Lake Road, Marquette, MI 49855 906-249-5297 Cultivation Station of Michigan Inc., The 23529 Little Mack Avenue, St. Clair, MI 48080 586-775-9485 Cultivation Station of Michigan Inc., The 6540 Allen Road, Allen Park, MI 48101 313-383-1766 Cultivation Station 3 Inc. 46912 Gratiot, Chesterfield, MI 48051 586-949-7453 Flo-N-Grow. 214 N. 2nd Street, Niles, MI 49120 269-683-1877 Gro Blue Indoor Gardening Supplies 270 W. Liberty Street, Ann Arbor, MI 48104 734-913-2750 Grow Store, The 721 W. Blue Star Drive, Traverse City, MI 49684 231-421-5191 Growco Garden Supply 1042 Michigan Street, NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503 877-939-6900 Growing Consultant 2260 Apple Avenue, Muskegon, MI 49442 231-773-5600 Home Grown Hydroponics 8075 Gratiot Road, Unit C, Saginaw MI 48609 989-781-1930
Homelight Gardens 3471 S. Huron Road, Bay City, MI 48706 989-922-0088 Horizen Hydroponics 1614 Leonard Street, NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504 866-791-1664 Horizen Hydroponics 4646 W. Main Street, Kalamazoo, MI 49006 269-567-3333 HotHydro® 5245 Jackson Road, Suite F Ann Arbor, MI 48103 734-761-5040; 877-893-0716 Hydroharrys.com 24500 Dequindre, Warren, MI 48091 800-461-8819 Hydro Heaven 73647 W 8th Mile Road, Detroit, MI 48235 313-861-0333; 877-823-2076 Hydro Grow, The 8210 Telegraph Road, Taylor, MI 48180 313-633-0641 Hydrospot 34236 Michigan Avenue, Wayne, MI 48184 734-722-1285 Indoor Garden Superstore 2570 Dixie Highway, Waterford Twp., MI 48328 248-673-2200; 877 22 HYDRO J&L Growco 206 S. Michigan Avenue, Big Rapids, MI 49307 231-796-1528 Kalamazoo Indoor Garden 450 W. Maple, Kalamazoo, MI 49001 269-344-2550 Light Green Water 3661 Highland Road, Waterford, MI 48329 248-681-0001 Stealth Hydro 15 E. Cross Street, Ypsilanti, MI 48198 866-998-1916 Sunnyside Hydroponics 24930 Gratiot Avenue, Eastpoint, MI 48021 586-777-2528 Sunshine Supply Co. 5800 East Pickard Street, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858 989-775-3700 Superior Growers Supply 19582 Middlebelt Road, Livonia, MI 48152 248-473-0450 Superior Growers Supply 4870 Dawn Avenue, East Lansing, MI 48823 517-332-2663 Urban Gardening Center, The 2520 22nd Street, Detroit, MI 48216 313-898-0200 Van Hydro 7480 N State, Davison, MI 48423 810-653-8267 Wild Child 7740 M 72 East, Traverse City, MI 49690 866-711-GROW
MINNESOTA American Garden Supply 601-6th Avenue, North, Princeton, MN 55371 763-631-0543 Brew and Grow 8179 University Avenue, Fridley, MN 55432 612-780-8191 Duluth Hydroponics 26 W 1st Street Duluth, MN 55802 218-341-7253 Eco Garden Supply 800 Transfer Door 25 in rear St. Paul, MN 55114 651-647-1896 Eden Indoor Organic Gardens 831 Highway 75 North Moorhead, MN 56560 218-477-EDEN (3336) Indoor Gardening 10 NE 3rd Street, Faribault, MN 55021 507-209-1546 Interior Gardens 115 -1620 Central Avenue NE, Minneapolis, MN 55413 800-498-4178; 612-870-9077 Midwest Hydroponics 3440 Belt Line Boulevard, Suite A, Minneapolis, MN 55416 888-449-2739 Still-H2O Inc. 14375 North 60th Street, Stillwater, MN 55082 651-351-2822
MISSISSIPPI Indoor Garden Shop LLC 1310 Bienville Boulevard, Ocean Springs, MS 39564 228-875-3725
MISSOURI Divine Hydroponics 301 North Bishop Avenue, Rolla, MO 65401 573-426-2348 Grow Your Own Hydroponics 3617 Saint John Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64123 816-241-2122 Green Circle Hydroponics 12 East Missouri, Kansas City, MO 64106 816-421-1840 Green Thumb Organics 249 Mid Rivers Mall Drive, St. Peters, MO 63376 636-397-4769 (GROW) Heartland Hydrogardens 5695 E. Clark Lane, Suite L, Columbia, MO 65202 HYDROGARDENS 573-474-GROW (4769) Let It Grow - Springfield 2519 E. Kearney Street, Springfield, MO 65803 417-862-GROW Let It Grow - Girardeau 879 S. Kings Highway, Cape Girardeau, MO 63703 573-803-0628 U-Grow 1724 North, 13th Street, St. Louis, MO 63106 314-452-6368 Worm’s Way Missouri 1225 North Warson Road, St. Louis, MO 63132 800-285-9676
MONTANA Alpengrow Nursery Supplies 238 Highway 93 S., Eureka, MT 59917 406-882-4496
NEW MEXICO
Bizzy Beez LLP 5875 Highway 93 S, Whitefish, MT 59937 406-863-9937 Cornucopia Grow Your Own 127 Stoner Creek Rd., Lakeside, MT 59922 406-709-1076 Dr. Green Thumbs 1106 West Park, Livingston, MO 59047 406-222-7440 Heightened Harvest 2018 Main Street #4, Billings, MT 59105 406-252-4311
AHL Year Round Garden Supply 1051 San Mateo Blvd. SE, Albuquerque, NM 87108 505-255-3677 AHL Year Round Garden Supply 9421 Coors Blvd. NW Suite K, Albuquerque, NM 87114 505-899-0592 Common Shaman 1319 San Mateo N.E., Albuquerque, NM 87110 505-255-6463
NEW YORK
NEBRASKA Advanced Hydro-Ponics 10711 Mockingbird Drive, Omaha, NE 68127 (108th and L-Q) 402-991-6630 Paradigm Gardens 8949 J Street, Suite 5, Omaha, NE 68127 402-339-4949 Patio-Ponics 3255 Cornhusker Highway, Suite 4 Lincoln, NE 68504 402-466-9218
NEVADA AAA Indoor Organic Garden SuperCenter 2101 S. Decatur Boulevard, #21, Las Vegas, NV 89102 702-450-4769 Advanced Gardens Hydroponics 3111 South Valley View, (on Desert Inn West of Valley View) Suite V103 Las Vegas, NV 89102 702-257-4769 All American Hydroponics 2675 East Patrick Lane, Unit 8, Las Vegas, NV 89120 702-894-9888 Anything Grows 190 West Moana Lane, Reno, NV 89509 775-828-1460 Carson Valley Hydroponics 2520 Empire Ranch Road, Carson City, NV 89701 775-884-4769 Lorraine Ink 290 Spear Court, Fernley, NV 89408 775-575-7757 Nevada Hydroponics 4700 B Maryland, Suite 1, Las Vegas, NV 89119 702-798-2852
NEW HAMPSHIRE Hydro World 17 White Birch Lane, Lincoln, NH 03251 603-745-3030
NEW JERSEY 77HYDRO 37 Fairfield Place, West Caldwell, NJ 07006 877-774-9376 Claraqua 4 Redwood Court, West Windsor, NJ 08550 East Coast Horticultural Supply 1652 Hurffville Road, Swewell, NJ 08080 856-228-5290 Garden State Hydroponics 511 Avenel Street, Avenel, NJ 07001 888-300-8711 Green Touch 2 Hydroponics Inc. 888 Route 33, Unit 1, Hamilton, NJ 08619 HYDROPONIC S 609-570-8829
greentouch2 INC .
Bronx Hydro & Garden 39 Bruckner Boulevard, Bronx, NY 10454 718-993-3787 California Hydroponics 27 Corporate Circle, East Syracuse, NY 13057 315-432-9387 East Coast Hydroponics 14649 Horace Harding Exp, Flushing, NY 11367 718-762-8880 Environmental Gardens 8 John Walsh Boulevard, Suite 310 Peekskills, NY 10566 800-254-0507; 914-736-6676 FutureGarden Inc. 59 Central Avenue, Farmingdale, NY 11735 516-420-0884 Greentree Nursery 308 Elmira Road, Ithaca, NY 14850 607-272-3666 Grow Room, The 8 Bridge Street, Nyack, NY 10960 800-449-9630 Harvest Moon Hydroponics Henrietta Townline Plaza, 3047 West Henrietta Road, Rochester, NY 14623 716-865-7353 Harvest Moon Hydroponics 340 West at 59, Central Nyack, NY 10960 Harvest Moon Hydroponics 147 Fourth Street, Troy, NY 10960 Healthy Harvest Organics and Hydro 163 Broadway, Fort Edwart, NY 12828 518-480-4698 Hudson Valley Hydroponics 217 Route 32 North, New Paltz, NY 12561 845-255-3633 Hydro Garden Center 1069B Lyell Avenue, Rochester, NY 14606 1-800-277-1322 Hydroponics of Buffalo 1497 Hertel Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14216 716-838-3545 Hydroponics Shops of America 2606 Erie Boulevard, Syracuse, NY 13224 315-251-2516 Indoor Outdoor Gardener 8223 5th Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11209 718-836-2402 KG Garden Supply 1327 Floyd Avenue, Rome, NY 13440 1-877-KG-HYDRO Saratoga Organics & Hydroponic Supply 19 Front Street, Ballston Spa, NY 12020 518-885-2005; 800-850-4769 Sunlight Solutions Hydroponics 2045 Niagara Falls Boulevard, Suite 13, Niagara Falls, NY 14304 888-GROWBOX
MAXIMUM YIELD USA - June 2010
157
MAXIMUM YIELD distributors
Sunset Hydroponics & Home Brewing 1590 West Ridge Road, Rochester, NY 14615 866-395-9204
NORTH CAROLINA Be Well Hydroponics & Urban Gardening 4732 Monroe Road, Charlotte, NC 28205 704-344-8010 BWGS East 4045 Perimeter West Drive, Suite 400 Charlotte, NC 28214 800-316-1306 Fifth Season Gardening Company 45 Banks Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801 828-253-4112 Fifth Season Gardening Company 106 South Greensboro Street, Carrboro, NC 27510 919-932-7600 Fifth Season Gardening Company 1616 D-3 Battleground Avenue, Greensboro, NC 27408 336-271-3373 Fifth Season Gardening Company 5619-A Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27606 919-852-4747 Flow & Grow Hydroponics & Organic Garden Center 4521 Cumberland Road, Fayetteville, NC 28306 910-423-FLOW (3569) High Tech Garden Supply 2712 B Freedom Drive Charlotte, NC 28208 704-697-0911 New Age Gardens 2236A US Highway 70, Swannanoa, NC 28778 828-299-9989 Progressive Gardens 6005 Oleander Drive, Wilmington, NC 28403 910-395-1156 The Family Tree Nursery & Garden Center 6033 Ocean Highway E.,(on mile marker 35) Winnabow, OH 28479 910-253-9200
OHIO Advanced Hydrorganics Indoor Garden Center 5204 Darrow Road, Hudson, OH 44236 234-380-1287 Akron Garden Center 434 W Wilbeth Road, Akron, OH 44314 330-724-2700 Cleveland Garden Center Inc. 727 East 185th Street, Cleveland, OH 44119 216-481-7868 CropKing 134 West Drive, Lodi, OH 44254 330-302-4203 Carefree Garden Center 134 West Drive, Lodi, OH 44254 330-302-4203 Dayton Hydroponics 3856 Miamisburg-Centerville Road, West Carrolton, OH 45449 937-859-3999 Garden Indoors of Ohio 4720 Indianola Avenue, Columbus, OH 43214 800-833-6868 Greenleaf Hydroponics 1805 Elm Road, Warren, OH 44483 330-372-1039
158
MAXIMUM YIELD USA - June 2010
Harvest Moon 9215 Market Street, Youngstown (North Lima), OH 44452 800-776-8399 Garden Grove Organics 29 East 7th Street, Covington, (Cincinnati Metro), KY 41011 859-360-1843 Grow Wizard, The 5700 Denison Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44102 216-961-2500 Herb-N-Garden Center 14901 Puritas Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44135 216-252-2001 Indoor Garden Worx 906 Blue Avenue, Zanesville, OH 43701 866-900-9679 Indoor Gardens 1222 Hill Road, North, Pickerington, OH 43147 614-866-6065 Kissed by the Sun Hydroponic 10740 Reading Road, Cincinnati, OH 45241 513-769-0159 Magic Home Gardens 209 Cemetery Road, Canal Winchester, OH 43110 614-837-2440 Magic Home Garden 4538 Indianola Avenue, Columbus, OH 43214 614-263-2440 Summit Hydroponics 1030 Kenmore Boulevard Akron, OH 44314-2114 330-753-5222 Sweet Greens 5540 Brecksville Road Independence, OH 44131 800-421-7084 Super Harvest 5956 A Colerain Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45239 513-385-5999 Toledo Hydroponics Ltd. 855 S. Holland-Sylvania Road, Suite 2 Toledo, OH 43615 1-877-893-0716 Trinity Hydro Organics 435 Woodman Drive Riverside, OH 45431 937-252-GROW Urban Gardens 671 E. Center Street Marion, OH 43302 740-375-2800 Worm’s Way Greater Cincinatti / N. Kentucky 1360 Donaldson Road (Route 236), Suite A, Erlanger, KY 41018 800-669-2088
OKLAHOMA AAAAHA! Hydroponics Unlimited P.O. Box 74, Oakhurst, OK 74050 Organics OKC Garden Supply 3620 N Pennsylvania Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73118 405-528-GROW Tulsa County Hydro-Organics 1928 W. Albany, Broken Arrow, OK 74012 918-259-HYDRO Urban Garden 3141 E. 15th Street, Tulsa, OK 74104 918-289-0018
OREGON American Agriculture 9220 Southeast Stark Street, Portland, OR 97216 800-433-6805 Anthony’s Garden & Light Supply 93779 B Troy Lane, Coos Bay, OR 97420 541-266-8822 Aqua Serene 2836 W. 11th Avenue, Eugene, OR 97402 541-302-9073 Aqua Serene 465 Applegate Way, Ashland, OR 97520 541-482-7600 Aurora Innovations PO Box 22041, Eugene, OR 97402 866-376-8578 Basin Indoor Gardening 1221 Main Street, Klamath Falls, OR 97601 541-273-2023 B.I.G.S. 155 SW Century Drive, Suite 401, Bend, OR 97702 541-385-5222 BIGS Warehouse 2606 SW 4th Street, Unit B Redmond, OR 97756 541-504-8886 Cascade Horticulture 39570 Pioneer Boulevard, Sandy, OR 97055 503-668-8242 Corvallis Hydroponics & Organics 5490 SW Philomath Boulevard, Corvallis, OR 97333 541-738-2820 Everybody’s Garden Center 2701 SE 14th Avenue, Portland, OR 97202 800-669-5483 Forever Green Organic Hydro Gardens 7530 Crater Lake Highway, White City, OR 97503 541-826-2946 Garden Spout, The 4532 South East 63rd Avenue, Portland, OR 97206 503-788-4769 Gorge Garden Center 1203 12th Street Suite H, Hood River, OR 97031 541-386-GROW Gorilla Garden Supply 1810 Virginia Avenue, North Bend, OR 97459 Garden Supplies 541-756-5005 Green Thumb Hydrogarden and Organic Supply 2021 West Main Street, Medford, OR 97501 541-779-8600 Grow America Garden Supply LLC 11511 SW Pacific Highway, Tigard, OR 97223 503-841-6868 Growing Crazy (Hooked On Hydroponics) 817 W. 2nd Street, Medford, OR 97501 H2organic LCC 620 NE 3rd Street, McMinnville, OR 97128 503-434-6107 Herb N’ Jungle Hydroponics 930 SE Textron Drive, Bend, OR 97702 541-382-4010 Homegrown Garden Supply 7112 NE Gilsan Street, Portland, OR 97213 877-EZ2-GROW
In and Out Gardens 1574 Skypark Drive Medford, OR 97501 541-858-3333 Indoor Garden Center 1697 SE 25th Street, Salem, OR 97302 503-566-7888 Indoor Garden Depot 15828 SE McGloughlin Boulevard, Milwaukie, OR 97267 503-786-2445 Indoor Garden Supply 536 SW 6th Street (rear alley), Redmond, OR 97756 541-504-7750 Island Flowers & Indoor Garden Center 909 N. Tomahawk Island Drive, Suite 103, Portland, OR 97217 503-546-3185 J-N-B Hydro 2 Go 155 West Central Avenue, Sutherlin, OR 97479 541-459-9211 Ladybug Indoor Gardens 3960 W. Main Street, Medford, OR 97501 541-618-4459 Lights Distributing 9843 SW 55th Avenue, Portland, OR 97219 Liquid Sun 1845 Southwest Highway 101, Lincoln City, OR 97367 541-994-7070 Moonshine Park Farm 135 South East 62nd, Unit F South Beach, OR 97366 541-444-2298 Northern Light and Garden Beaverton 9290 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway, Beaverton, OR 97005 503-297-7331 Northern Light and Garden Grants Pass 1203 Rogue River Highway, Grants Pass, OR 97527 541-474-1700 Northern Light and Garden Salem 1915 Lancester Drive, Salem, OR 97305 503-364-4769 Oregon Rainforest Co. 19949 E. Burnside Street, Gresham, OR 97233 503-465-9909 Paradise Supply Inc. 1409 N. Highway 99, Ashland, OR 97520 541-552-1037 Paradise Supply LLC 560 NE. "F" Street, Unit C, Grand Pass, OR 97526 541-955-7293 Rain or Shine 13126 NE Airport Way, Portland, OR 97230 503-255-1981 Roots Garden Supply 5426 North Gay Avenue, Portland, OR 97217 503-285-4768 Roseburg Hydroponics 853 SE Stephens Street, Roseburg, OR 97470 541-229-1420 SunInside Gardening Co. 665 Conger, Unit F, Eugene, OR 97402 541-686-9966 The Good Earth Organics 30088 Redwood Highway, Cave Junction, OR 97523 541-592-4496 Urban Flora 2865 South East, Portland, OR 97214 503-236-3344 Westcoast Organic and Hydroponic Supply 12410 SE 282nd Avenue, Unit C Boring, OR 97009 503-766-4106
Wizard's Garden, LLC 621 Spruce Street, Unit C, Myrtle Point, OR 97458 541-572-2333
PENNSYLVANIA 422 GROW 1775 North Main Street Extension Butler, PA 16001-1327 724-561-3777 Full Bloom Hydroponics 84 South 24th Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203 888-872-3602 Garden Indoors of Pennsylvania 208 Route 13, Bristol, PA 19007 800-227-4567 Harvest Moon Hydroponics 1239 South Airport Road, Allentown, PA 18103 610-432-4949 Healthy Gardens and Supply 1012 Lincoln Avenue, Prospect Park, PA 19076 866-32-HYDRO High Tech Garden Supply 20232 Route 19, Unit 6, Cranberry Twp., PA 16066 724-473-1113 Home Hydroponics of Pittsburgh 2008 Smallman Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 412-232-7030 Home Hydroponics of Pittsburgh 830 Route 119, Greensburg, PA 15601 724-836-1118 Hydro Ponics of Harrisburg 310 South 10th Street, Lemoyne, PA 17043 877-684-3808 PA Hydroponics & Home Gardening Supply 20 Quaker Church Road, York Springs, PA 17372 717-528-4175 RH Distribution POB 1417 Lansdale, PA 19446 888-545-8112
RHODE ISLAND Good To Grow 34 Nooseneck Hill Road, West Greenwich, RI 02817 401-392-3100 Hydro-Earth 1243 Mineral Springs Avenue, North Providence, RI 02904 401-305-5520 LiquidSun® RI 1179 Central Avenue, Pawtucket, MA 02861 401-722-2724 Oakworld Garden Center 39 West Street, Barrington, RI 02806 401-245-5705
SOUTH CAROLINA 247 Garden Supply 535 D Clemson Road, Columbia, SC 29229 803-788-4445 All Good Hydroponics & Gardening 6729 Two Notch Road, Columbia, SC 29223 803-708-4819 GreenSpirit Hydrogarden 1864 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC 29405 843-225-1GRO; Green Thumb Unique Gardening & More 1230 Rutherford Road, Greenville, SC 29609 864-271-8830
SOUTH DAKOTA Green Earth Products Inc. 5700 Highway 79 S.,Unit 1, Rapid City, SD 57702 605-342-1307
TENNESSEE Advanced Hydroponic Garden 783 French Mill Road, Dandridge, TN 37725 800-521-1643 Advanced Hydroponic Garden 6912 Clinton Highway, Knoxville, TN 37921 866-938-3318 All Seasons Gardening and Brewing Supply Co. 924 8th Avenue, South, Nashville, TN 37203 800-790-2188 Atlantis Hydroponics 1800 Rossville Avenue, #3, Chattanooga, TN 37408 423-752-5400 National Garden Wholesale/Sunlight Supply 126 Belinda Parkway, Mt. Juliet, TN 37122 888-265-9005 Perpetual Harvest 75 Riverport Drive, Jackson, TN 38301 877-422-3391 Sun City Hydroponics 2235 Whitten Road, Suite 104, Memphis, TN 38133 901-372-8100 Worm’s Way Tennessee 707 Rivergate Parkway, Suite E Goodlettsville, TN 37072 800-397-4153
TEXAS Abundant Harvest Hydroponics & Organics 3101 Avenue E East, Arlington Road, TX 76011 817-649-0100 Airline Hydroponics P.O. Box 980904, Trader’s Village #363, Houston, TX 77098 713-942-0484 Botani Hydroponics & Organics 7730 Highway 6 South Houston, TX 77083 281-575-1999 Brite Ideas Hydroponics & Organics 4360 S.Congress Avenue, #310, Austin, TX 78745 512-444-2100 Earth Organics 1360 Lee Trevino Drive,Suite 105 El Paso, TX 79936 915-591-9500 Field of Dreams Indoor Growing Supplies 5302 Slide Road Unit B, Lubbock, TX 79414 806-793-2901 GreenMaker Nursery 3030 Northwest Loop, Stephenville, TX 76401 254-965-7273 GroGreen Hydroponics 4015 Main Street, Dallas, TX 75226 214-370-9984 Happy Harvest Hydroponics & Organic 1500 Crescent Drive, Suite 202 Carrollton, TX 75006 972-466-1300 Houston Discount Hydroponics 9384 Richmond Avenue, Houston, TX 77063 713-464-9406 Hydro Mart 3841 Main Street, Rowlett, TX 75088 972-475-6114
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MAXIMUM YIELD distributors
Hydroponic Nation 9700 Almeda Genoa Road, Suite 108, Houston, TX 77075 281-501-9636 Innergrow Hydroponics 24451 Interstate Highway 20, Wills Point, TX 75169 866-475-4769 Jolly Green Hydroponics (Greenhouse Horticultural Supplies) 13628 Neutron Road, Dallas, TX 75244 (866) WE-JOLLY; 469-341-5555 Lone Star Hydroponics and Organics 1302 Motor Circle, Dallas, TX 75207 214-634-9376 Sol Organics & Hydroponics 1634 Babcock Road, San Antonio, TX 78229 210-366-9082 Texas Growers Supply 5990 N. Sam Houston Pkwy. E. #602, Humble, TX 77396 281-441-3739 Texas Hydroponics & Organics (Central Austin) 5126 Burnet Road, Austin, TX 78756 512-459-4769 Texas Hydroponics & Organics (South Austin) 2125-A Goodrich Avenue, Austin, TX 78704 512-440-4769 Texas Hydroponics & Organics (Dallas) 3400 Elm Street, Dallas, TX 75226 214-744-4769 Texas Hydroponics & Organics (Houston) 7730 A Park Place Boulevard, Houston, TX 77087 713-641-4769 Ultimate Hydroponic Garden Supply 6125 West Sam Houston Parkway, North Suite 206 Houston, TX 77041 713-856-8425
UTAH Salt Lake Plant & Hydro 60 West 3300 S. #6, South Salt Lake, UT 84115 801-488-3200
VERMONT Green Thumb Gardening P.O. Box 235, Route 15, Underhill, VT 5489 800-564-9376 Greenthumb - Vermont 394 Route 15, Jericho, VT 05465 802-899-4323 LiquidSun® VT 1 Bellows Falls Road, (Route 5 North) Putney, VT 05158 802-387-1100 Peak Hydroponic Garden Supplies 20 School Street, Plainfield, VT 05667 802-454-8000
VIRGINIA Blue Ridge Hydroponics & Home Brewing Co. 5524 Williamson Road, Suite 11 Roanoke VA 24012 540-265-2483 Clean & Green Technologies 196 Corning Drive, Christiansburg, VA 24073 866-694-1628
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MAXIMUM YIELD USA - June 2010
Hydroponics & Growlights 13400 Occoquan Road, Woodbridge, VA 22191 703-490-0700 I Love Hydroponics 612 N. Sheppard Street, Richmond, VA 23221 804-377-3020 I Love Hydroponics 368 Newtown Road, #105, Virginia Beach, VA 23462 757-490-5425 Inside-Out Garden Supply 6517 Backlick Road, Springfield, VA 22150 703-451-3259
WASHINGTON 509 Grow 2718 N Division Spokane, WA 99207 509-327-GROW(4769) Aqua Serene 3839 Stone Way North, Seattle, WA 98103 206-547-GROW (4769) Eco Enterprises 1240 NE 175th Street, #B Shoreline, WA 98155 800-426-6937 Garden Smart 500 Bond Drive, Castlerock, WA 98611 360-274-7960 Green Gardens Distributing 12738 Bel-Red Road, Bellevue, WA 98005 425-454-5731 Hydro-Tech 2121 Aurora Avenue, North, Seattle, WA 98103 206-547-2202 Indoor Garden Depot 6400 NE Highway 99, Suite H, Vancouver, WA 98665 360-993-7779 Indoor Garden Depot 1401 S. 324th Street, Federal Way, WA 98003 253-874-1112 Indoor Garden & Lighting 3839 6th Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98406 253-761-7478 Indoor Garden & Lighting 23303 Highway 99, Suite A, Edmonds, WA 98026 425-673-2755 Indoor Garden & Lighting 714 South Central Avenue, Kent, WA 98032 253-373-9060 Indoor Garden Supply LLC 1950b Belmont Loop, Woodland, WA 98674 360-841-8055 Island Hydroponic & Supplies 1515 5th Street #B, Marysville, WA 98271 425-299-5855 Kent Garden Supplies Ltd. 18817 East Valley Highway, Kent, WA 98032 425-251-9299 Kitsap Garden & Lighting 2130 6th Street, Bremerton, WA 98312 360-377-1277 Linda’s Gardening & Hydroponics 11522 Canyon Road East, Puyallup, WA 98373 253-531-9641
Liquid Sunshine Hydroponics 5087 Lincoln Road, Blaine, WA 98230 M & R Lighting 17238 Memorial Drive, Mt. Vernon, WA 98273 360-848-1080 M & R Lighting Unit C 22914 Highway 410, Buckley, WA 98390 253-891-4190 Mike's Indoor Garden Supply 6121 172nd Street NE #A, Arlington, WA 98223 425-346-6481 National Garden Wholesale / Sunlight Supply 5408 NE 88th Street, Building A, Vancouver, WA 98665 888-478-6544 Northern Light and Garden Vancouver 6305 NE Highway 99, Vancouver, WA 98665 360-993-7779 Northern Lights Gardening 4159 Hannegan Road, Bellingham, WA 98225 360-715-8585 Northwest Horticulture Supply 161 Hooker Road, #1, Sequim, WA 98057 360-582-0702 Renton Indoor Garden Center 207 Sunset Blvd. N, Building A, Renton, WA 98055 425-917-9000 River City Hydroponics 1514 East Francis Avenue, Spokane, WA 99208 509-464-0246 Sodo Hydro 1727 1st Ave. South, Seattle, WA 98134 888-904-9376 Solar Shop 306 West 4th Street, Tonasket, WA 98855 509-486-4508 Spokane Organic and Hydroponic Supply 4823 East Sprague Avenue E., Spokane Valley, WA 99212 509-534-4055
WISCONSIN Aric's Indoor Garden Supply 1104 West Wisconsin Avenue, Appleton, WI 54914 920-574-3258 Brew and Grow 285 N. Janacek Road, Brookfield, WI 53045 262-789-0555 Brew and Grow 3317 Agriculture Drive, Madison, WI 53716 608-226-8910 Grow BIG Hydroponics 954 S. Westland, Appleton, WI 54914 920-749-4769 Paradigm Gardens 4539 Helgesen Drive, Madison, WI 53718 608-241-3800
PUERTO RICO Tecno-Hydro Ave Campo Rico GJ17, Carolina, PR 00982 787-752-8252 Add your company logo to the distributor listings! Call 250-729-2677 or Email ilona@maximumyield.com
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