Garden Culture Magazine UK 23

UK EDITION · ISSUE 23

2018

FREE COPY FREE COPY

THE ART OF URBAN GARDENING AND INDOOR GROWING

A SEA OF GREEN IN 2018

Tel: 01949 839 727 ¡ sales@highlighthorticulture.co.uk

HORTI KING

GEAR

HortiGear Ballast - Lamp Control Gear For HPS - MH Lamp

KING

OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLLERS VOTED BEST CONTROLLER BY

6

1

7

2

8

3

4 5

9

1 BACKLIT LCD DISPLAY

4 POWER CONNECTOR

• Green display to reduce stress on the plant • Displays current temperature, target

temperature, fan power percentage and current humidity

2 STATUS INDICATOR • Shows the status of your grow room • Features temperature warning

3 AC POWER INTAKE FAN • Socket for the conventional intake fan • Can power any AC fan up to 550W

• 3 metre power cord

5 EC INTAKE FAN SIGNAL • Intake connector for digital EC fans • EC and Hyper Fans

6 POWER INDICATOR • Mains power indicator

7 MENU DIAL • Control and program all features using a

single dial / button

www.ghc-controllers.com

8 AC POWER EXHAUST FAN • Socket for the conventional exhaust fan • Can power any AC fan up to 550W

9 EC EXHAUST FAN SIGNAL • Exhaust connector for digital EC fans • EC and Hyper Fans

KING

OF CARBON FILTERS

VOTED BEST CARBON FILTER BY

www.carboair.co.uk

CONTENTS

BRINGING MORE LIFE TO YOUR GARDEN

more plants

fewer accidents

44

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHTS

15

54 WHO’S GROWING WHAT WHERE

grow room analytics

65 20

GROW ROOM TECHNOLOGY

I N THIS ISSU E OF GA R D EN CU LTU RE :

20

13 Foreword

44 More Plants, Fewer Accidents

15 Product Spotlights

50 5 Cool Finds

20 Grow Room Analytics

54 Bringing (More) Life to Your Garden

24 The Great Analysis

58 Fermented Head: Ferment Fed

30 Agriculture and Technology

65 Who’s Growing What Where

36 5 Top Tips on Using Tech

70 THCv Made Easy

40 Printable Ponics

76 Taking Shape: Morphogenesis

Th e

Great

hydro store 2 018

analysis

24 GARDENCULTUREMAGAZINE.COM

9

millspaysthebills_uk www.dnamills.co.uk

HYDRO

Light + Fan control New

Gavita Master controller EL F Get enhanced control of your grow room with the second generation Gavita Master controllers.

The Gavita Master EL F is the latest addition to our controller line-up. You get everything the upgraded second generation Master controllers offer, plus fan control. With the integrated fan controller, it can directly control your lights and fans for a stable temperature in your grow room.

• Switch, dim, and boost your fixtures from a central unit • Independent cycle programming (EL2 only) • Separate sunrise and sunset settings • Direct control of EC fans (AC fan control with optional EFM1 module) • Fan control based on intelligent, self-learning PID algorithm

For more information about the Gavita Master controllers visit www.gavita.com

FOREWORD & CREDITS

FOREWORD

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23

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SPECI A L TH A N KS TO: Albert Mondor, Catherine Sherriffs, Dr Callie Seaman, Evan Folds, itators ot im Mary Minchin, Matt vators, n InnoMountain, Nico Hill, Rich Hamilton, Stoney Tarks, and Theo Tekstra

D E N G A R

I

usually star t these talking about the topics in the issue

CREDITS

ION · ISSU E 23

the past couple of months.

PRESIDENT Eric Coulombe eric@gardenculturemagazine.com +1-514-233-1539 all new

HydroCoco

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First and foremost, a massive thank you to Tammy Clayton, who over the past four years, has been the senior editor for the magazine and blog. She was vital to our survival in the early days and was always a pleasure to work with. We wish her all the best in her future endeavours.

ARDENC

Grow Sla

E X C U T I V E E DinfI T O R Celia Sayers celia@gardenculturemagazine.com +1-514-754-1539 Contact

preferred

distributor

abel.nl o@goldl

us for your

Second, we are very proud to announce the appointment of our new editor, Catherine Sheriffs. A graduate of Concordia University’s journalism program, Catherine worked her way up the news ladder in English Montreal media, first as a repor ter and ending as the late-night news anchor on CTV. After becoming a mother, she eventually made the tough decision to prioritize her family-life, leaving television to raise her two young children.

2018 felt like the right time for her to jump back into a new challenge and we couldn’t be happier to have her on our team.

Catherine brings a wealth of knowledge and professionalism to Garden Culture that will help us in our goal of becoming a leading information resource on indoor gardening.

ED I TO R Catherine Sherriffs cat@gardenculturemagazine.com

In this edition, we look at technology: man-made and made by Mother Nature. That might sound like a contradiction but the complexity of nature can sometimes be as interesting as the most amazing invention. Evan Folds takes a look at how technology and agriculture are inter twined, while Dr Callie Seaman gives the low-down on the gear that is “splurge-wor thy” for your grow room. On the other spectrum, Bringing Life to the Garden explains why beneficials should be a par t of every grow and Nico Hill gives step-by-step instructions for making the best ferments from locally sourced ingredients.

ADVERTISING ads@gardenculturemagazine.com

DESIGN Job Hugenholtz job@gardenculturemagazine.com D I G I TA L & SO CI A L M A R K E T I N G CO O R D I N ATO R Serena Sayers serena@gardenculturemagazine.com +1-514-754-0062

PUBLISHER 325 Media 44 Hyde Rd., Milles Isles Québec, Canada t. +1 (844) GC GROWS info@gardenculturemagazine.com GardenCultureMagazine.com

Happy gardening,

Eric 3

@GardenCulture

@GardenCulture

@GardenCultureMagazine

@Garden_Culture

D I ST R I B U T I O N PA R T N ER S • HydroGarden • Maxigrow • Highlight Horticultur e • Nutriculture DGS • WHG UK

© 325 Media

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, electrostatic, magnetic tape, mechanical, photocopying or otherwise, without prior permission in writing from 325 Media Inc.

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

13

You Deserve the Best and So Do Your Plants

WHAT’S CHANGED Two new stronger, black powder-coated frames in 16mm & 25mm tempered rolled steel All new metal corner connectors New quick lock, push & click pole assembly New ventilation - 20% bigger ports all round to accommodate acoustic ducting The new BudBox features a green viewing window All new inspection doors - (from XL up) Ground level irrigation ports - (from XL up) Strong door clips & new branded, high quality zips Two new tent sizes - XL plus & XXL plus The Titan range has no intrusive vertical or ground poles

environment is ever ything

Distributed in the UK by:

Quality is not an act, it’s a habit

Aristotle

www.budboxgrowtents.com

GROWING PRODUCTS

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHTS In-store now

The Growers G uide UK Passive Water Systems Learn how to grow in passive watering systems from star t to finish in book 4 from The Growers Guide series.

Book Book Book Book

1 2 3 4

– – – –

Coco and soil, hand feeding, run to waste.

Bubblers DWC (deep water culture).

Organics.

Passive Watering systems.

w o r G i r e t s a m n Su d Ballasts

Controller an

The Sunmaster iGROW controller enables growers to control lighting, just as Mother Nature intended. The iGROW’s Dawn to Dusk feature mimics natural sunrise and sunset, ensuring that plants aren’t exposed to instant bright light or plunged into darkness. The Dawn/Dusk feature keeps your plants growing strong and healthy in a stressfree environment. The iGROW’s gradual lighting shut down reduces problems associated with high levels of condensation and humidity when compared to a basic on/off switch.

• • • • •

Manage the complete growth cycle simply and efficiently with one iGROW Controller Easy programming with full-text display and a real-time clock DAWN/DUSK simulation reduces shock to plants ensuring healthy, happy plants Control up to four iGROW Ballasts with one iGROW Controller Adjustable, programmable power modes from 250W to 660W at 6W increments

To find your local retailer visit Maxigrow.com/where-to-buy/

Alpha Coco Growth Technology introduces the most complete nutrient for all types of coco and coco mixes.

Alpha Coco is a twin-pack available in a Universal Grow & Bloom formulation. It contains a full profile of minerals providing instant availability of crucial nutrition for plants grown in coco (coir), as well as specific organic nutrients to provide slow release nutrition for the plant through different growth phases. Acting as a food source for beneficial microorganisms. L-form amino acids boost growth metabolism, reduce stress, and increase production of crucial phytohormones. Pure organic plant extracts enhance plant growth while Humic and fulvic acids provide natural chelation and better uptake of essential elements, encouraging root growth and boosted enzymatic activity in the plant.

Find your local stockist by visiting GrowthTechnology.com

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

15

GROWING PRODUCTS

Event Spotlight

Holland’s HydroFest Holland Hydroponics is recreating the magic of their 20th Bir thday Bash with the UK’s first annual pop up Grow Show – Holland’s HydroFest.

Manchester, England June 16, 2018

All the biggest brands will be on-site showcasing their latest products and tech, alongside the best reps in the business offering exper t advice and happily answering any burning questions you have.

And if you’re in the market for some cheeky free samples, amazing prizes and awesome discounts, then there’s only one place to be on the 16th June 2018 - Holland Hydroponics, Manchester. The day star ts at 11 am, wraps up at 4 pm and entry is FREE. Learn more: www.hydroponics.co.uk

Dual Spec • • • •

Sunmaste r

trum Delu

1123μmol/s Photosynthetic Photon Flux (Higher output than leading competitors) 600W Dual Spectrum 400V PHOTONIC, enhanced spectral stability at lowered and overdriven power levels Fully compatible with magnetic and digital ballasts

x e la m p

600W ,400 V

Demon Nutrients Demon Nutrients is a British born, Birmingham based nutrient manufacturer whose goal is to provide greenfingered individuals with a range of no-nonsense nutrients.

A simple and highly effective solution, for every method of growing. Developed over a number of years, countless trials and feedback have led to the formulation now being refined to an unparalleled level. The aim at Demon Nutrients is to provide the grower with the ability to achieve the highest yields and quality possible, without charging the ear th for it.

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

17

GROWING PRODUCTS

Green Sensation 4-in-1

M O R E t h a n a b o os ter

1. PK-fertiliser - Improves flowering, plant resistance and end product quality.Your plants need extra phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) in the flowering stage to achieve their maximum potential and Green Sensation makes sure they have the right amount of PK (9-10).

2. Enzymes - Prevent symptoms of deficiencies, stimulate soil life and combat oxygen wastage. Contains enzymes that are specialised in breaking down the woody, dead plant materials. Deficiencies and oxygen wastage don’t have a chance.

3. Enhancer - Triggers nutritional reactions in the plant for the best taste and yield.

Green Sensation makes sure that the sap flow contains the nutrients needed to activate the processes for increased yield and taste.

4. Booster - Provides active nutrients, the GS PowerParticles, which help with resin production, sugar transport, and essential oil production.

Find out more: GreenSensation.com

Ma xibright Xpert

ic B 400W Magnet

The Maxibright Xper t 400W ballast is a Genuine Power magnetic ballast built using quality components and control gear from Venture Lighting. The Xper t’s vented design offers good heat dissipation and the unit is wall mountable using the keyhole slot on the underside of the unit.

To find your local retailer visit Maxigrow.com/where-to-buy/

• • • • • • •

400W Genuine Power Quality components from Venture Lighting Precision wound ballast Wall-mountable, high gloss, vented enclosure Matched igniter Flying lead with IEC connection Runs high-pressure sodium or metal halide lamps

GroLab Truly in

allast

or gr o d n i r u o y r ion fo t a m o t u a t n te l l i g e

ow!

UK’s first all-in-one fully automated grow-on-the-go system, GroLab is bringing urban growing environments into the 21st Century. This cutting-edge technology is available in an assor tment of easy configurations for all growing mediums, including Hydroponics, Aeroponics, Soil, Coco and Rockwool.

Use your existing equipment with the GroLab system to control everything from climate and irrigation to nutrient dosage and security. It enables you to choose what combination of variables you want to control to test and optimise the environment for the best crop yield possible.

GroLab allows you to scale and adapt to any type of environment, whether you are growing small crops in an urban environment or growing large crops in a commercial operation.

Have complete control anywhere, anytime using either a laptop or mobile phone via the intuitive GroLab software provided. Grow with confidence and add a level of unparalleled freedom and control to your grow.

Find out more by visiting GroLab.co.uk.

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

19

DR CALLIE SEAMAN

grow room a n a ly t ic s

20

GROW ROOM TECHNOLOGY

In a n y indu s t ry, you w il l f ind l ow-budge t p roduc t s, a s w el l a s high-qua l i t y, more e x p ensi v e one s. Bu t is pay ing big mone y w or t h t he in v e s t men t f or w h at your requiremen t s a re ?

O

ften, samples such as plant material or nutrient solution are sent to independent, accredited laboratories for elemental analysis to diagnose nutrient deficiency and toxicity. Microbial testing is also done for both phytopathogenic and human pathogenic fungus and bacteria, pesticide presence, along with primary and secondary metabolite

concentrations. The testing procedures require different methodology, instrumentation and expertise.

Often, samples such as plant material or nutrient solution are sent to independent, accredited laboratories for elemental analysis to diagnose nutrient deficiency and toxicity. Microbial testing is also done for both phytopathogenic and human pathogenic fungus and bacteria, pesticide presence, along with primary and secondary metabolite concentrations. The testing procedures require different methodology, instrumentation and expertise.

automatically when sensors have detected that it has gone out of range.

These have even elevated to the next level, where they are now using cloudbased artificial technology, which will build profiles based on the data feed by a number of different users over time.

The technology also monitors the environmental conditions such as temperature, humidity and lighting schedule.

Therefore, a feed regime can be prescribed based on the plant’s growing environment to produce optimal results. Incredibly practical, the user can change the environment from a remote location in order to improve the growing conditions. There is still a long way to go with this type of technology, as it relies on the users sharing their data and profiles, but it will not be long before more and more is automated, and plants no longer have a need for hands-on human intervention!

For the everyday hobby grower, an increasing number of instrumentation and tests are becoming available for purchase

Having worked in labs for over 15 years, I have seen my fair share of instrumentation, ranging from half million-pound mass spectrometers to 50 quid pH meters. Both measure different things; not only physically different, but different levels of accuracy and sensitivity.

Within the analytical labs, equipment is regularly maintained through servicing, calibration, and just regular use, thus giving more reliable and reproducible results. However, even if they are regularly maintained and calibrated, these high-value pieces of equipment can produce what is known as false positive and false negative results. These are, in a nutshell, results which are wrong, and can often cause confusion.

For the everyday hobby grower, an increasing number of instrumentation and tests are becoming available for purchase.

Many of these claim to measure microbial content, terpene content, elemental concentrations and other metabolites.

But are these pieces of equipment worth the money, and are they really that accurate?

So, how do we get around this? The best thing to do is speak to the lab you are using; ask them about their methodology and ask if anything present in your samples could cause interference with the tests you are requesting. Also, use accredited, independent and reliable labs that follow GLP.

Before purchasing any analytical or automated equipment, ask yourself these following questions:

In commercial greenhouses, nutrients are dosed via pre-programmed dosing machines. Over the last decade, these have grown leaps and bounds with online monitoring of the elemental content now available, and therefore dosing based on the plant’s needs. The pH can be altered

•

• • •

• •

What will I gain from knowing this piece of information?

Will I regularly use this piece of equipment?

Will I be able to maintain the equipment through calibration and servicing?

Do I have the skills and knowledge to use this piece of equipment?

How accurate do I need the results to be?

What will it cost me if I do not have this piece of equipment?

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

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GROW ROOM TECHNOLOGY

W h at w il l i t c o s t me if I do no t h av e t his p iece of equip men t ?

K eep in mind, t he equip men t you p urch a se mu s t a l s o be w i t hin your sk il l se t The results you obtain are only as good as the equipment you measure it with. If you don’t have the time or the patience to maintain the equipment, do not bother wasting your money. Remember; without proper maintenance, false results can be produced. Also, if you are not going to regularly use the equipment, then it is not worth the effort.

Sometimes, the simplest of equipment will yield the best and most reliable results

Keep in mind, the equipment you purchase must also be within your skill set. Some of the equipment available today requires significant training in order to perfectly understand how it is programmed. The results obtained may be more accurate, but do you really require precision results for what you are measuring? If you do not understand the equipment and find it difficult to operate, you are not going to utilize it. Sometimes, the simplest of equipment will yield the best and most reliable results, as less operator error occurs. An example is humidity and temperature; a simple max/min thermometer can be enough to be aware of what is happening in your grow room when you are not

present. It may not be as high-quality, but it will inform you of the range the plant has experienced, as opposed to an in-depth, minute-by-minute analysis.

The big question is, what will it cost if you do not have this piece of equipment? What will it cost in terms of yield value, crop health or time? So, do your research before slashing out on some of this new fancy equipment; make sure it is fit for purpose, and find out what its maintenance needs are. Just because it looks high-end, does not mean that it will give you the results you want. 3

Dr. Callie Seaman is a plant obsessed Formulation Chemist at AquaLabs – the company behind SHOGUN Fertilisers and the Silver Bullet plant health range. She has been in the hydro industry for 15 years in research development and manufacturing and had previously worked on the VitaLink range. She has a PhD in fertiliser chemistry and a BSc (HONS) in Biomedical sciences and loves nothing more than applying this knowledge to pushing the boundaries of nutrient performance.

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

23

BY ERIC COULOMBE

The Results Are In! RETAIL

INDOOR GA RDEN

G ROW SHOP

GROW STORE

Great e h T

hydro store 2018

analysis The survey is done and the feedback has been amazing. Especially from the UK, where we received the most love and hate mail. The word “hate” is a little strong, but there were a couple of people who weren’t convinced that I wasn’t paid off by the winners. That never happened, but I did call over 100 stores, most of them, completely at random. In the USA, all of Hawthorne’s acquisitions did very well; I can assure you again, it was not by design. But it does show that they purchased the market leaders.

24

95% male

HYDRO STORE SURVEY

The North American market is very different in many ways from the UK but almost identical in others. Let’s check out the survey results:

Question #1

What is Your Favourite Nutrient?

USA/Canada UK General Hydroponics 14% Canna & Mills Canna

10% Plant Magic Botanicare 8% General Hydroponics Europe

11% each 9% 6%

The big brands are still the most popular in this category. There were 34 brands named in USA/Canada, and 37 named in the UK. One thing is for sure in both markets; the leaders are holding on, but there are more and more companies fighting their hardest for a small piece of the pie.

Mills is the only newcomer to the group. Breaking into the nutrient game in either market is very difficult.

Question #2

What is the most sold nutrient?

USA/Canada UK General Hydroponics 42% Canna 60% Advanced Nutrients & Foxfarm 12% each Dutch Pro 5% Botanicare

9% It is not a coincidence that that oldest brands in their markets come in first place. Changing nutrients is a hard choice for many serious indoor gardeners. If you have spent years getting to know a fertilizer, understanding how it works and how to use it, trying something new comes with many risks. It is the unknown that we fear. Trust is a key ingredient; trust that the product will work as promoted and will be consistent. All top players are also very active marketers and promoters. They have strong and active salespeople and are constantly reminding you in stores and magazines why you should be using their products.

Question #3

What is your favourite supplement or additive?

Small guys are making some headway when it comes to favourite supplement or additive in the UK. In the USA and Canada, the big guys are still on top but only by the slimmest of margins and there are many new companies in both countries gunning for more market share.

USA/Canada GH 14% Xtreme Mykos 11% Botanicare, Canna 5% each & Terpinator

UK Buddhas Tree & Ecothrive Charge 11% each Xtreme (Mykos/Azos) 10% Canna Boost

8%

The numbers are very similar in questions 1 and 3, and in both cases, the USA’s winner had 14%, and the UK’s 11%.

These are no great victories for the big companies who are desperately trying to hold onto their market share with new products being born every day. The big difference is the growth of biologicals, and the acceptance by growers to try new supplements. Xtreme is an obvious winner as it came in second in both markets. It was one of the first companies to introduce beneficial biology products to the UK. Small companies like Ecothrive Charge and Buddhas Tree are successfully competing with top brands; who knows if anyone will be able to crack the same nut in North America.

GA R D EN CU LT U R E M AGA Z I N E.CO M

25

HYDRO STORE SURVEY

Question #4

What is the most sold supplement?

The most sold supplement is very different in the two surveys. North Americans love calcium-magnesium supplements.

It could be due to the prevalence of R/O water filtration, or it might be the popularity of coco substrates.

USA/Canada UK Botanicare Calmag 25% Canna Boost 38% GH (mix of products) 10% Buddhas Tree 16% Any CalMag Supplement 9% Atami Bloombastic 6% In the UK, Canna is still the leader and by quite the margin. The top three boosters there are what I call ‘metabolizer additives’. They all serve a similar purpose. Once again, the top brands in the USA are Botanicare and GH.

Question #5

What is your favourite carbon filter?

USA/Canada UK Can-Filters 58% CarboAir 22% Phresh (Sunlight Supply) 23% Mountain Air 17% Phat (Hydrofarm) 9% Can-Filters 13% This category presents a major difference in these two markets. In the USA, Hawthorne Group, who now owns Sunlight Supply and Can-Filters, dominates with a combined 81%. In stark contrast, CarboAir, a very young company, has managed to top this poll in the UK. It’s surprising for the main reason that the filter has hardly been out long enough to determine if it is, in fact, more effective or efficient than its competitors. Enough can’t be said for good sales and marketing campaigns. I do think that Can-Filters and Rhino do better (sales) in the UK than this survey indicates.

Another big difference is not having a favourite; in the UK, 21% say they have no preference, compared to just 2% in the USA/Canada.

Question #6

What is your favourite controller line?

USA/Canada

UK Sunlight Supply’s - Titan 37% SMS & Global Air’s GHC 23% each Grozone 17% Control Freak 19% Hydrofarm’s Autopilot 16% Ecotechnics 11% Another big difference between the UK and North American markets is climate control. The top three products are fan speed controllers, and fancy ones too. Air conditioners are the primary mechanism for cooling a room in North America. The UK, however, is not the warmest place and cooling with fans makes sense for most growers. Of course, temperatures change outside all the time and that is why they have developed the best and most sophisticated fan speed controllers in the world. In the USA and Canada, we seem to use controllers with more features.

Question #7

What is your preferred pH-EC Meter?

A big hats off to a little company from New Zealand! From so far away, Bluelab has managed to be the biggest winner in these two markets, and the only one to win in both surveys.

USA/Canada UK Bluelab 55% Bluelab 79% Hanna 26% Essentials (Hydrogarden) 11% HM Digital 10% Great job, Bluelab! EC and pH meters are tricky instruments; Bluelab has been able to create reliable products with the low prices our market demands. Its Truncheon EC wand is the #1 EC meter worldwide. Hopefully, more apps and 27 automation will soon be developed so we can see our water values and correct them from anywhere.

27

95% male

Question #8

What is your favourite Ballast/Light?

USA/Canada UK Gavita 16% Maxibright 19% Galaxy (Sunlight Supply) 13% Maxibright Daylight 315 CMH 13% Nanolux 11% Gavita & Dimlux

11% each These two markets have always differed on lighting. The main difference used to be the USA/Canada preferred 1000W, and the UK used 600 and 400. Over the past 5 years, CMH has been gaining ground in both markets, and over the past 12-18 months, it has become the UK’s hottest seller. CMH didn’t score too high in USA/Canada, but it was chosen as the favourite new product/technology. For now, DE HPS 1000 systems are tops in North America. I predict that will change soon, as CMH and even LED technology improves.

Maxibright dominated in the UK, winning both first and second place for a total of 32%. Hawthorne also has quite a share; between Gavita (16%), Galaxy (13%) and Sun System (7%), they have 36% of the vote in the survey.

Question #9

Who is your Favourite Distributor?

USA UK Canada Sunlight Supply & Hydrofarm 34% each Highlight 33% Biofloral 38% BWGS (Bloomington’s) 22% Hydrogarden 16% Green Planet 19% There are a couple of similarities in this category. The first place position in the USA, Canada and UK differ by just 5 %. No one company controls more than 35 % of any given market.

All the top picks are full-service providers. They offer all of the top brands and thousands of other products. In-house brands in lighting, carbon filters, and environmental control are also popular with the big distributors. The UK’s Highlight is the only exception, which doesn’t have any.

The main difference between the distributors is positioning. In the USA, Hydrofarm and Sunlight have held the top two positions for as long as I can remember, and Bloomington’s was always in third, holding the majority of its strength in the East and Middle America. This hasn’t changed in 20 years and the barriers to compete at this level are massive. For the first time in the USA market, the Titans are going to battle. With Hawthorne’s purchase of Sunlight Supply, there is no telling what will happen next. The UK has also had two leaders for 20 years with Hydrogarden and Nutriculture. But unlike in North America, there has been a big change; Highlight Horticulture has surged in the past three years to take over as the market leader and shows no sign of slowing down.

Canada is split in two, with the east and west being ruled by completely different companies. Biofloral rules eastern Canada, and Green Planet did well in the west. Each market has its set of distributors, and while some try to sell in all regions, they are usually met with resistance and end up with a small %age of the market.

Ques t ion #10

What is your preferred trade show?

USA/Canada

UK None 39% Autopot 54% MJ Bizz 21% Spannabis 34% This was pretty interesting; in the UK only The Autopot show exists, and it’s more of a get-together than a trade show. In terms of networking and spending quality time with the major players in the UK market, it is brilliant and really fun. Otherwise, the Brits head over to Barcelona for a little work and a great time at Spannabis.

North America is the polar opposite. People used to attend as many May Yield shows as they could in one year. Now, that show is dead and there are so many options available. You would think the stores would all have their pick, but that’s not what’s happening. The stores are not interested in Cannabis shows, because they sell growing equipment. Basically, the community that once was hydro has been smashed into the wild and wonderful world of medical and recreational cannabis, and we have lost our identity. See for yourself: 39% don’t go to shows, and 12 % picked a show that doesn’t exist anymore! In the UK, 11% don’t attend shows at all either.

28 28

HYDRO STORE SURVEY

Q u e s t i o n # 11

What is your preferred growing method?

USA/Canada UK Coco/ Coco mixes 37% Coco/Coco Mixes 36% Hydroponic 30% Hydroponics 25% Organic 18% Organic 12% This was a complicated question, as we discussed the preferred method and media of both the stores and their customers.

It was really interesting and insightful.

The similarities are amazing: Coco’s indoor growing media has become the first choice worldwide. The hydroponic category was either clay pebbles, Rockwool or no media at all. Although it came in second on both surveys, respondents said they like hydroponics but their customers seem to gravitate back to pots and are using coco more than ever. Finally, there was, organic, which was more popular in the USA, particularly the West Coast. Still, this method is definitely growing in popularity in the UK as well.

Q ue s t ion #12

What is your favourite new product?

USA/Canada UK None 22% Mammoth P 16% CMH 18% Maibright’s Daylight 315 CMH 12% Mammoth P 14% None 10% It is amazing that with so many differences between the two markets, this question got the same three answers but in a different order: nothing, CMH and Mammoth P. Mammoth P is the big product winner, as it was the only brand to get the top mention in both surveys! CH is also taking off in both markets, and with so many options to pick in this category, apathy is also a big winner as so many people just don’t care about new products.

What does it all mean?

I did these surveys to provide you with some industry statistics and my feeling on what they mean. Of course, everything I wrote is open to your interpretation. These are not facts, just opinions. The winners are only winners here; this survey in no way is meant to be a definitive statement of the market, but merely to show trends and give us more insight as to what is going on in the world of indoor and progressive gardening.

The future is in the numbers; how clearly we can see depends on how we interpret them. 3

Great e h T

hydro store 2018

analysis

Eric

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BY EVAN FOLDS

A Dialogue on

Agriculture and technology “The reigns of technology and agriculture operate from a protected centre in the sole interest of shareholders, rather than as decentralized agents for the betterment of humanity�

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echnology and agriculture are inextricably tangled. In their essence, they may seem worlds apar t, but in their human application they complement and track one another intimately. In fact, you could even call agriculture one of the original human technologies.

AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY

How did it happen that technology and agriculture are being leveraged against us?

At present, both technology and agriculture are totally out of control.

They are dominated and built out of an artificial and algorithmic nature that feeds the monster of profit at all costs and at the expense of the average person. This, a result of the checks and balances we have put into place being either explicitly or implicitly owned by corporate interests that cannot be satiated.

The reigns of technology and agriculture operate from a protected centre in the sole interest of shareholders, rather than as decentralized agents for the betterment of humanity. Why does equity for all have to be mutually exclusive with business and profit?

The lever of power here lies in the realm of incentive.

As a result, taxpayers are paying billions of dollars to subsidize already prosperous farms, many with corporate of fices in Manhat tan

Jaron Lanier, one of the pioneers of artificial intelligence (AI) and Silicon Valley, said recently in an interview, “There’s this question of whether what you’re fighting for is something that’s really new and a benefit for humanity, or if you’re only engaged in a sort of contest with other people that’s fundamentally not meaningful to anyone else…I think the fundamental mistake we made is that we set up the wrong financial incentives, and that’s caused us to turn into jerks and screw around with people too much.”

The same is true in agriculture. The Farm Bill is one of America’s largest corporate welfare programmes. Although farm subsidies are justified as helping family farmers make ends meet, the majority of subsidy payments go to the largest high-income farms. Current farm subsidy policy allocates somewhere around two out of every three dollars to the top 10 percent of subsidy recipients, while completely shutting 60 percent of farmers out of the programme altogether. As a result, taxpayers are paying billions of dollars to subsidize already prosperous farms, many with corporate offices in Manhattan.

How did it happen that technology and agriculture are being leveraged against us? And what can we do to change it? Let’s explore.

Humans are not animals because we have an ego, we can recognize ourselves in the mirror, and we have the unique ability to say “I”.

With this blessing of consciousness comes great responsibility to be fair, to own the repercussions of our ideas, and decide the construction of a societal order that reinforces the better angels of our existence.

No matter how many cards are stacked against us, we always have a choice.

We evolve outside of the evolutionary balance of population and we attempt to use our ideas to compensate. This, we call technology. Technology is a tool, and in typical human fashion we have the ability to use our powers for good or we can use them to destroy ourselves.

Maybe the greatest and most potent idea in the history of humanity is agriculture. In fact, the history of agriculture represents the dawn of humanity, moving us from hunter-gatherers to a societal organization that allows the specialization and opportunity to pursue our passion and life’s purpose. When the first seed was planted, not unlike the first email, the world would never be the same.

The freedoms that flowed from this revolutionary concept of growing food in fields literally created the world around us. Considering less than 2 percent of Americans identify as farmers, without agriculture there would be nothing to eat. In this light, agriculture paved the way for the modern world.

Digital technology is getting a bad rap these days with memes of kids burying their heads in their cell phones, the invasion of our personal privacy, the perceived disruption of our elections by Russian bots, and the like; but it is important to recognize that the world no longer works without digital technology. Everything from stop lights to space flights relies on the technological power of automation and Big Data.

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AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY

There is, of course, some truth to the degenerative influence of digital technology on humanity

Take Facebook. It is free, but its purpose is making money for its shareholders. How does it do this? By selling advertisements to companies who want your data.

Sure, people should know they are putting a window into their private world when signing up, but the fundamental flaw is that it can be used for bad because it is not working for the greater good.

Food science has done an incredible job engineering food to be produced ef ficiently and stay on the shelf longer, but in doing so it has tricked the human body into believing it is being nourished

This is the goal isn’t it? Were we born onto Earth to work a job we hate for a boss that cares more about his bottom line than our current race to the bottom? Is it acceptable that we live in a world where children starve on a daily basis and have to walk miles to find drinking water? What else are we doing here but trying to achieve happiness and create an equitable global civilization for all?

Some may call the idea that we can achieve this sort of fairness in the world naïve, but I call it a worthy and achievable goal. Buckminster Fuller said it best, “Make the world work, for 100% of humanity, in the shortest possible time, through spontaneous cooperation, without ecological offence or the disadvantage of anyone.”

There is hope! The question for me has always been, how do you get entities who have power to give up power?

I struggled with this idea until I discovered blockchain technology.

Blockchain is a form of decentralized technology that has the power to make open source and properly incentivize just about anything. Rather than being owned by the few, with blockchain it can be owned and leveraged by the many.

If you have not yet researched blockchain do yourself a favour; it is the future, and so much more than just Bitcoin.

There is, of course, some truth to the degenerative influence of digital technology on humanity.

Just at the time when we need to be rethinking our relationship with nature and our planet, we and particularly our children are increasingly diverted into the counterfeit reality that technology presents; but the reasons for this are more nuanced than the current dialogue acknowledges.

For me, technology is not to blame. Instead, I think the culprit is malnourishment. In 1924, the great Rudolf Steiner identified nutrition as the source of our inability to rectify the social and political issues that we face. He said, “Nutrition as it is today does not supply the strength necessary for manifesting the spirit in physical life. A bridge can no longer be built from thinking to will and action. Food plants no longer contain the forces people need for this.”

Could it be that the resolution to so many of the issues we face in the modern world is proper nourishment?

Let’s look at some statistics on health. According to a recent study, approximately 85 percent of Americans are missing essential vitamins in their diet, and almost 60 percent of what people eat is processed food. An estimated 7 out of 10 Americans take a prescription drug regularly. The US spends $3.5 trillion on health care annually, more than any other nation on Earth, yet consistently scores as the sickest.

And to make matters worse, our food is empty. Research tells us that we would need to eat 26 apples to get the same amount of iron as a single apple, and eight oranges to get the equivalent vitamin A as compared to 1950. If you extrapolate this across agriculture, no wonder we are trying harder and getting sicker. In

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AGRICULTURE AND TECHNOLOGY

The world is moving at light speed and evaluating humanity generationally no longer works

other words, just like with technology, we have been conducting agriculture for the wrong reasons.

This logic also applies to the way in which we use technology in agriculture. Food science has done an incredible job engineering food to be produced efficiently and stay on the shelf longer, but in doing so it has tricked the human body into believing it is being nourished. In other words, we can eat fast food every day and be calorically full, but our body does not receive the nutrients it requires to thrive and we do not experience deficiency until we get sick, or in other words, until it is too late. This is no different than growing obese plants with budget, artificial fertilizers, only to have them attract pests and disease.

The use of genetic modification technology in agriculture is a similar story. The dialogue around genetically modified organisms (GMO) is that they will help feed the world, when the reality is that the overwhelming majority of GMO tech is used to grow crops that fuel cars and feed cows; and even if GMOs were a positive thing for humanity, they result in inordinate increases in the use of toxic biocides.

Not only have we been conducting agriculture and utilizing technology at the expense of ourselves, we have been using technology in agriculture for the wrong reasons.

Rather than technologizing the food we eat, we should apply our technological efforts towards enhancing the diversity, efficiency, and profitability of the growing, harvesting, and distribution of whole foods. Roughly one-third of the food produced in the world for human consumption every year gets wasted, much of it because we are lazy, or as Steiner would say, malnourished.

The raw power of our ideas can mould the Earth to our ideals faster than we think. I recently ran across a concept on social media that rings true: “Humanity is to Nature as Light is to Darkness�.

At first, this statement may feel backwards to some, particularly given the reality and seeming consensus that people are parasites destroying the Earth. But by recognizing our unique spiritual nature and owning the responsibility we have as stewards of the Earth, I believe that we can come to a much more positive and productive posture.

The world is moving at light speed and evaluating humanity generationally no longer works. Whether you are a Baby Boomer or a Millennial, we are now all part of the (Re) Generation. It is up to us to ensure agriculture and technology work for people, not just profit. We do this by nourishing ourselves through the regeneration of the soil, because if we fix the soil, we fix ourselves.

As humans, we know that it is better to turn on the light than it is to curse the darkness. We can easily turn the wrong reasons into the right ones if we demand proper incentive, seek equity for all, and prioritize the life force of food that can help us bring our will into action. 3

Bio

Evan Folds is a regenerative agricultural consultant with a background across every facet of the farming and gardening spectrum. He has founded and operated many businesses over the years - including a retail hydroponics store he operated for over 14 years, a wholesale company that formulated beyond organic products and vortex-style compost tea brewers, an organic lawn care company, and a commercial organic wheatgrass growing operation.

He now works as a consultant in his new project Be Agriculture where he helps new and seasoned growers take their agronomy to the next level.What we think, we grow!

Contact Evan at www.BeAgriculture.com or on Facebook and Instagram @beagriculture

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BY STONEY TARKS

TOP TIPS To Add Tech Into Your Grow Rooms

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GROW ROOM TECHNOLOGY

How you maintain your grow room environment is the difference maker in how your plants will grow during both the vegetative and flowering stages

M

any growers are oblivious to what new gadgets are available for their grow rooms, let alone the benefits of each one.Technology is one thing, yet understanding all the fundamentals to run a successful indoor garden is an entirely different ball game. Below are five tips on what to consider when looking to upgrade your indoor garden.

Carbon Dioxide Plants utilize carbon in many different forms, however, CO2 is essential to their performance and growth. The function of photosynthesis is based on plants using CO2 and feeding through tiny stomata, which are located on the surface of the leaf tissue. When levels are low, the metabolism of the plant will begin to slow down and adapt to the nutrients and lighting available.

Outdoors, the CO2 count is around 400 ppm, and while cannabis plants can comfortably absorb levels of up to 1500 ppm, it is not always possible when venting air from an outdoor source into the grow room. Investing in CO2 tanks will ensure that you are meeting plant requirements, as well as providing peak levels of 1500 ppm.

You should also consider that the temperature of the grow room should be above 30°C (86°F) for the plants to fully-utilize the available CO2.

Many problems can arise inside a grow room if the water contains too much acidity or alkaline, just as if the nutrient solution is too strong or too weak

The state of CO2 as a gas is heavy, so oscillating fans will keep the air circulating around the tops and bottoms of your plants. This is very important, as it will remove any stagnant air and allow the stomata on the leaf to feed. It is crucial that the leaf transpire while the temperatures are above 24°C, so making sure your temperature and humidity are in accordance will play a huge role in the integrity of photosynthesis, and increase fruits and vegetables by up to 200 percent.

CO2 CONTROLLER

Temperature and Humidity Replicating the outdoors in your grow room can be challenging, however, once you have dialed in your temperature and humidity, your plants will be under the impression they are at a specific point of a particular season.

From springtime until the beginning of summer, outdoor conditions will be mostly warm and wet, with humidity levels increasing to 75 percent and above.

Between summer and winter, the environment will decrease humidity levels by nearly half to about 30 percent. Temperatures will also drop significantly, allowing fruits, flowers, and vegetables to become ripe and ready to harvest. Bearing this in mind, how you maintain your grow room environment is the difference maker in how your plants will grow during both the vegetative and flowering stages. It can also determine how secure your garden is from threats of plant disease such as powdery mildew, Botrytis and an infestation of unwanted insects.

The rule when growing indoors is to replicate the following conditions: when in the growing stage, (more than 12 hours of light) there should be a temperature of 24°C (75°F). Humidity levels should be 75 percent, which means that the water content available in the air is close to 2/3.

TEMP/HUMIDITY CONTROLLER

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GROW ROOM TECHNOLOGY

The attraction to switch to hydroponics can sometimes become too tempting EC/PH PEN

Fans, Carbon Filters, and Air Flow There has never been a set rule of when to turn off the lights, carbon filters and fans inside the grow room. Many growers have different methods; however, most believe “lights-off” merely means everything goes off. This is not good practice. At night, your precious plants will be converting light energy they worked so hard to store throughout the day. Even though the lights will be off, keeping consistent air flow is essential.

Apart from the grow lights, I personally keep everything on permanently. This ensures that air within the grow room throughout the night is still being replaced at a rate that is equal to the daytime. Stomata on the surface of the leaf will only open 60 minutes after the lighting period has begun, so for this instance of the darkness period, a supply of CO2 is not necessary.

There are many benefits to keeping the air flowing during dark periods. In addition to cleaning the air around the tops and bottoms of the plants, mould and mildew will not be able to attach themselves to the surface of the leaves. Constant airflow will also strengthen the plants and deter insects, which thrive in high humidity.

VENTILATION + TEMPERATURE OONTROL

Many problems can arise inside a grow room if the water contains too much acidity or alkaline, just as if the nutrient solution is too strong or too weak.

Using pens to regulate pH and EC is an excellent way to make sure you are working clinically, and will help you observe the changes in the plant’s metabolism and food needs.

Hydroponic Systems The attraction to switch to hydroponics can sometimes become too tempting, especially after working with dirt and enduring the backbreaking work of filling pots. The trips to the local tip to dispose of your previous grow medium might be taking its toll, along with bringing unwanted attention. To top it off, hearing how commercial farmers achieve yields that are almost 300 percent more than the yields of organic growers, the two styles of growing can quickly become unequivocal.

Knowing which hydroponic system to invest in must be wellresearched, depending on which fruit or vegetable you shall be growing, also to what scale you want to produce. Considering the use of hydroponic nutrients may also play a factor. For this reason, N.F.T systems and dripper systems are the most popular choice amongst commercial farmers growing largescale tomatoes, peppers, chillies, cabbage, lettuce, spinach, kale, cucumbers, peppers, eggplant, squash, broccoli, and cauliflower.

Deep Water Culture will use the most amount of nutrients.

In the cannabis industry, this system is the most often used for growing huge plants. There are, however, multiple formats of hydroponic systems which will require specific medium from Rockwool, hydroton, perlite, vermiculite, and coco. It is recommended to research before investing, as one system may be better-suited for a variety of factors, including logistics, production, and usability. 3 DWC HYDROPONIC SET

pH and EC Perhaps you are new to growing hydroponically and have not come across pH or E.C before. When growing in water, testing the amounts of potential hydrogen and electric conductivity available determines the uptake of nutrients to the plant roots. A significant part of growing hydroponically will also indicate if your water source is hard or soft. You will also be able to determine what mineral content there may be in reverse osmosis water. pH will determine the level of acidity or alkalinity present in your water source. When growing organically, there is a sweet spot of 6 pH; however, when growing hydroponically, the sweet spot can fluctuate between 5.8-6.8, aiming to average 6.3 pH. There are many variables to consider that even a bottle of the most expensive pH will not solve, such as polluted water, the available lighting, nutrients, CO2 , as well as what life stage the plant is in.

BIO Stoney Tark is a freelance writer with over 15 years experience in the canna industry. Specializing in plant science, tutorials, howto-guides, top tips, microbiology, breeding and all fundamentals cannabis-based. Living in Amsterdam and the resident writer for Soft Secrets, as well as Hightimes and Garden Culture Magazine.

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BY RICH HAMILTON

W

hile the technology has been around for a while, recent advancements have meant that 3D printers are now much more affordable and attainable. In fact, it has been repor ted that some low-end 3D printers and materials have dropped in price by up to

90 percent in the last four years, meaning most households can afford to purchase one. This is a huge game changer in the way that par ts and products can be made; instead of buying or ordering them from an outside supplier, the possibility exists to produce them at home. The list of items that can be ‘printed’ is growing all the time, and includes car chassis, boats and even houses!

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PRINTABLE-PONICS

Technology must come up with ways to meet the demands for food supply, while also combatting various environmental challenges.

3D printing offers many solutions to these complex problems

3D source code can be written at home if you know how, or it can be easily downloaded for a minimal cost, or for free. The online 3D printing community is growing all the time and made up predominantly of people who believe that source code or “open source� should be free and available for everyone. It is so refreshing to see a movement that is all about sharing, learning and progressing.

Interested In Printing Your Own Hydroponic System?

Why 3D Printing Is Relevant To Hydroponics Consider this: there are expected to be more than 9 billion people in the world by 2050, but the resource of land for farming remains the same. There are serious concerns about how future populations will be fed. Natural resources are being depleted at an alarming rate, many farming methods are seen as unsustainable and climate change is upon us; technology must come up with ways to meet the demands for food supply, while also combatting various environmental challenges. 3D printing offers many solutions to these complex problems.

image credit: https://3dprint.com/61551/3dponics-rhode-island/

Be sure to check out 3dponics.com. This website has some really informative content, and the company is leading the way in the field. You can currently download source code and print several different hydro kits from their site for free! One of the available models is a simple dripper system which can be attached to a bottle, creating a basic hydroponics system. This kit is ideal for small spaces such as balconies and kitchens. It is also great for beginners and can be used as a teaching aid in the classroom for the next generation of growers.

On display at HomeGrown Expo 2015 in Coventry, UK, a printed venturi in action. photo: Garden Culture Magazine

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PRINTABLE-PONICS

it would eliminate the need for ever buying a replacement part or new system at the local grow shop On a commercial level, with the source code for all machinery parts pre-downloaded on a computer, it would reduce the need for ‘tooling’ several different components for the same machine.

In essence, the machine could be created for one specific job, thus overall reducing the manufacturing process with less cutting, drilling, milling, refining, assembly, etc. The flexibility of creating 3D source code means that parts can be customised and modified if unforeseen circumstances arise. Plus, with the ability to print parts wherever a 3D printer is available, more work could be done at one site, perhaps closer to where the demand for the product is. The end result is a positive one with a much lower carbon footprint: less waste of energy, raw materials and packaging, as well as fewer transportation and storage requirements.

For the hobbyist hydroponic grower, it would eliminate the need for ever buying a replacement part or new system at the local grow shop. By either buying or creating the source code for the particular part that you need, you would never have to buy that part again! Creating items yourself means you would also be reducing your carbon footprint by cutting down on unnecessary waste from packaging and raw materials, as well as by reducing the amount of plastic entering the environment.

3D Printing And The Environment Some might argue that 3D printing (especially at home) increases energy usage and brings more plastic into the world. However, the impact on the environment is certainly much less than creating and purchasing parts via conventional means. The 3Dponics system, for example, costs only around a penny a day to run! The plastics used in 3D printing are also eco-friendly with PLA plastic being the most popular choice. It is corn-based, and emits fewer toxins during the printing phase, creates less waste, and is much better at disposing of products no longer useful.

The Indian government has introduced a massive roadside planting program called the National Green Highway Mission.

Environmental concerns aside, many consider “3D hydroponics” a food production revolution! By creating the very thing that will help you grow food at home, you are assuming complete control of your own personal food chain. There is something to be said for knowing where your food comes from and exactly what is in it.

The demand for sustainable, organic, locally-sourced foods is constantly on the rise; people want “clean” food and are prepared to pay for it. So, it comes as no surprise that 3D hydroponics is drawing new interest from big restaurant chains, small, independently-run eateries, executive chefs, as well as food magazines and critics.

This Is Just The Beginning...

Imagine what’s around the corner? In another 15-20 years, it might be possible to print an entire working hydroponics system for multiple plants. It could be adapted to meet specific needs by either customizing the code before printing or by mixing parts from different systems, creating a unique, tailor-made growing tool.

What a time to be alive! 3

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BY ALBERT MONDOR, HORTICULTURIST AND BIOLOGIST

More Plants, Fewer Accidents

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GREEN ROADS

W

hat’s up with the constant mowing next to many Nor th American highways? When you think about how these plants add value in so many ways, it doesn’t make sense to cut them back – worse yet, doing so can be dangerous.

Scientific studies have shown that roadside greenery can substantially reduce the number of traffic accidents. This is par tly because the plants act as a wind barrier, preventing drifting snow and ice on the road surface in winter.

Scientific studies have shown that roadside greenery can substantially reduce the number of traffic accidents

In the United States, less than 1% of all traffic accidents involve roadside trees. One study showed a 46% decline in collision rates on urban streets and highways after roadsides were planted.

The Indian government has introduced a massive roadside planting program called the National Green Highway Mission.

As surprising as it might seem, it has been shown that roadside trees and plants tend to calm drivers, lower their stress levels and actually slow them down. Not only that, but any cars that do skid off the roadway will be cushioned by the bushes and sturdy herbaceous plants. Take common reeds, for instance; tall, fast-growing grasses found along many North American highways.

Plants Actually Protect Roads Despite what you might think, trees and plants rarely damage road and highway infrastructures. In fact, some studies have shown that asphalt lasts longer when it is shaded by tree leaves because it suffers less UV, rain and wind damage. Maintenance costs are also cut in half when the pavement is shaded by trees. Lastly, plants reduce air pollution and improve roadside air quality. In addition to trapping CO2 and converting it into oxygen, a single tree can remove 7,000 soot and dust particles from a litre of air!

Underpass Park was built in Toronto beneath a highway overpass.

A futuristic green highway imagined by artist Gonzalo Golpe.

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GREEN ROADS

Asphalt lasts longer when it is shaded by tree leaves because it suffers less UV, rain and wind damage The Max Juvenal overpass, in southern France, is an example of a road that’s perfectly integrated into its environment

The High Line allowed a whole community to flourish.

The Seoul 7017 Skygarden project saw a former highway overpass in South Korea’s capital turned into a park and green pedestrian walkway

Greening Bridges and Overpasses Road infrastructures are not usually very attractive or wellintegrated into the urban environment. One of the best ways to make these huge concrete eyesores blend into their surroundings is to cover them with greenery.

Just imagine cars, buses, bicycles and pedestrians all travelling through a fabulous green oasis high above the ground or a river! There’s no doubt about it – a planted bridge or overpass can be a powerful architectural statement and a real source of pride for city residents. It can make a name for a city and boost its international visibility.

As the High Line did for New York City, a planted bridge or overpass can help revitalize a neighbourhood. In addition to being greatly valued and well used by residents, the High Line has given a great economic boost to the neighbourhoods it passes through. Dozens of new businesses and real-estate projects have sprung up near the elevated park, which has generated more than $2 billion in spin-off since it opened. The High Line attracts seven million visitors a year, making it the city’s most popular cultural venue.

> The Chapultepec Project, a huge elevated garden, is to be built soon in the heart of Mexico City

Just imagine cars, buses, bicycles and pedestrians all travelling through a fabulous green oasis high above the ground or a river!

Both a symbol and a catalyst, the High Line has inspired elected officials in cities around the globe to propose similar projects. People in Chicago, London, Mexico City, Philadelphia, Rotterdam, San Francisco, Seoul, Toronto and a few other cities may well see some amazing elevated gardens take shape in their midst in the near future. These innovative projects, with their countless benefits, are allowing us to change our vision of road and highway infrastructures and to enhance our definition of green spaces. 3

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GREEN PRODUCTS

cool

finds 1

Bli ste rs B e Go n e

Kiss blisters, aches and pains goodbye with a pair of gardening scissors that feel like they were made for you! The HRB1 Trimming Scissor is touted as the coolest thing to happen to garden tools since the industrial revolution.

They are actually customizable to the shape and size of your hand, spreading pressure evenly for added comfor t. Sizes range from XXS-XL and can be ordered for both left and right-handed users. The SK-5 blades are razorsharp; and the handles are equipped with a heavy-duty spring as well as a built-in shock absorbing cushion, making it ideal for harvesting herbs and flowers over long periods of time.

Easy-to-use and lightweight at only 8.1 oz, the trimming scissors are 9.25 in long. Increase your productivity by working more quickly and comfor tably.

Ships worldwide from Herbavoretools.com

2

Spi ke S h oe s The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence‌ or is it? Get a more beautiful, healthier-looking lawn without breaking your back or the bank with these Lawn Aerator Spike Shoes by TIMESETL. The concept is easy; slide the plastic-base sandals over your shoes, and adjust the straps and metallic buckles for a perfect fit. The bottom of each sandal is equipped with 26 spikes, so as you walk or mow the lawn, you’ll be puncturing the holes needed for aeration.

Allowing air, water, and nutrients to feed the grassroots has never been so easy! Ships throughout the UK from: amzn.to/2HL0rvW

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PIONEER

Grow Books “Two indispensable books” GARDEN CULTURE MAMAPUBLISHING.COM

NEW

GREEN PRODUCTS

cool

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Go od Grasp

Make your hands look like they’ve never done a day’s hard work with this set of ergonomic hand leaf rakes. The heavy-duty claws are fairly large and deep, allowing users to scoop up large amounts of leaves or garden debris at once.

Not only will you reduce chore-time, but you’ll keep your hands clean and safe from thorns or other sharp things. The hand leaf rakes are extremely light and easy to clean thanks to their smooth surface finish. Enjoy them at a low cost from HarrodHorticultural.com

4

Lig hten The Lo ad

There’s no doubt gardening can be a source of exercise, so protecting your back is a must.

This summer, easily lift heavy flower pots, shrubs, rocks, and other heavy gardening material with this pot lifter. Designed for two-person use, this hauling device will get the job done safely and efficiently. Self-cinching straps adjust around objects up to 6 ft. in circumference.

The textured handles ensure a good grip, allowing a pair to easily lift up to 200 lbs without stooping or straining.

Why endure hard labour when there are things to make it easier? Ships throughout the UK from Quickcrop.co.uk

5

Sit t i n g Pret t y

Don’t let a sore back, bad knees, or arthritis pain keep you from your garden. Enjoy digging around in the dirt and planting in comfort with this Garden Kneeler Seat by SONGMICS.The kneeler provides cushioned padding for your knees and saves your clothing from dirt and grass stains. The extended arms make standing back up easier. Turn the kneeler over, and you instantly have a bench that’s just the right height for gardening. As an added bonus, a handy pouch attaches to the side so your garden tools are always close by. This 2-in-1 beauty also folds flat for easy carrying and storage.

Forget the pain and focus on your gardening. Order from Amazon: amzn.to/2HKAcWG 3

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Rare Dankness Industries, Denver - CO - USA

BY MATT MOUNTAIN

Bringing (more)

life to your garden

*PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT: If you have ever lost a crop because of Pythium, Fusarium or similar, and do not currently use beneficials, stop reading now and buy some immediately.

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BENEFICIALS

“Ever y commercial greenhouse I have visited in the last 15 years throws some white powder on the roots before repot ting any thing and ever y thing”

why ‘beneficials’ should be part of every grow*

T

here are as many opinions on how to grow plants as there are plants, but indoor gardening often divides into two camps. Mineral growers often believe they have the fastest, biggest, most efficient systems, and can control inputs and outputs in a way organic growers cannot. Organic growers often

believe they have more environmentally-friendly ingredients and methods and can deliver crops with taste and intangible x-factors that mineral growers cannot.

Generally, these assumptions are proved correct. Ish. But they are absolutely not set in stone: the opposite of each of those assumptions can also be true. So, which philosophy do we follow? Who is “right”?

One potential (if unlikely) beacon of hope is, I would contend, industry standards.

‘Industry standard’ things can be good, like the Technics 1210 or BMW 5 series rear legroom; bad, like British cars in the 1970s, or neutral, like beige. But, by definition, they are always large-scale examples to study and learn from.

And when crossing a massive data set with another (more obvious) beacon of hope, namely peer-reviewed scientific research, great things can be achieved: take the lessons from industry and inspiration from research.

Advanced gardening is no different. Most right-thinking people wouldn’t want to imitate industrial farming techniques, but, the fact remains that companies in hyper-competitive sectors are pushed hard to ensure things work, and deliver results for every penny spent.

They also have the resources, scale, and controlled environments to run tests in a way that home or small commercial gardeners cannot.

So, what can we learn from big growers while we wait to see if LEDs have finally managed to beat CMH for crop quality?

Well, most of us are still overlooking the next most effective ingredient available after water and nutrients and a high-quality fulvic acid: beneficial microorganisms.

Despite using many shamefully nasty PGRs and pesticides, every commercial greenhouse I have visited in the last 15 years throws some white powder on the roots before repotting anything and everything. That white powder is dried Trichoderma genus fungi. They do this because despite using harsh, cheap fer tilizer, use of so-called ‘beneficial’ fungi (called Mycorrhizae) and root zone colonising bacteria (often called rhizosphere bacteria) provides improvements in germination, propagation, growth, pathogen resistance, and yield (1).

Yes, lots of products have marketing that says they do this. What they don’t have is decades of commercial use and peer-reviewed studies from universities around the world to back those claims up. So should we all be doing this too? Is it wor th it? The shor t answer is: yes.

“Beneficials” boost plant health and performance in a variety of ways, from directly predating on pathogenic fungi, to affecting gene expression in their hosts and optimising pathways within the plant. In return, beneficials can benefit from an abundance of fungal prey. In the case of fungi such as Trichoderma spp, it can direct connections into plant roots, providing sugars which plants can produce in abundance through photosynthesis, something nonphotosynthetic fungi would have difficulty manufacturing.

To be clear: this is not a parasitic relationship; it is a beneficial symbiosis which helps plants in almost every situation they encounter. Even the energy cost to the plant of the association seems to be covered by the increases in photosynthetic and metabolic efficiency that Trichoderma provides (2).

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BENEFICIALS

credit: Wendy Fabiola Izquierdo Estevez

credit: gardenerspantry.ca

“Beneficials” boost plant health and performance in a variety of ways, from directly predating on pathogenic fungi, to affecting gene expression in their hosts and optimising pathways within the plant

Trichoderma harzianum

Mycorrhizal fungi

The most common Trichoderma species is harzianum, although many species and mixes are used, each with their own specificities. In fact, despite early uptake, one of the major fails in the use of beneficials comes from the commercial sector where a large percentage of sales are still of just one Trichoderma strain.

Trichoderma is not the only organism that is useful in culture, however - far from it. At Les Sourciers in the south of France, where marketing is wor th nothing if crops fail and customers are let down, a mixture of Trichoderma fungi and Streptomyces bacteria is used to effectively protect crops in re-circulating hydroponics over the summer when reservoir temperatures regularly reach 30 oc and root pathogens are rife. Streptomyces is the most prolific producer of antibiotic and antifungal compounds in use today, and appropriate strains for gardening such as Streptomyces lydicus and Streptomyces griseus confer additional protection from Pythium, Fusarium and other common root pathogens than Trichoderma alone can provide.

Going fur ther, bacteria that improve Phosphorus availability/metabolism are now available, and strains that help process faster or improve tolerance to a wider (or narrower) range of biotic and abiotic pathogens and stressors will be with us very soon - so why isn’t everyone using them?

I think a major factor is the perception that in a clean, well-controlled hydroponic grow, we want to minimise biological inputs. This isn’t wrong in many senses, but adding an organism such as Trichoderma isn’t going to do anything negative if pathogens aren’t present. In fact, it helps break down dead cells from roots and other plant matter that inevitably circulates in even the cleanest system and otherwise forms a home for exactly the kind of pathogens we want to avoid. And, of course, adding beneficials also brings all the metabolic advantages outlined above.

Another factor may be marketing. Beneficials rarely promise “explosive growth” or “1000% more yield guaranteed*” and when it comes to handing over hardearned cash, it can seem like a waste to put money into something described as “insurance”. But here’s the thing: whether you are growing with organic feed, pure mineral or a hybrid, beneficials aren’t insurance: they are major performance boosters that can also save your entire grow from some of the most common and persistent pathogens in gardening.

The downside is that being living organisms, beneficials do not work instantly; they need to establish (although this can be as little as 72 hours), and when you have a heat stress or root rot problem, panic often ensues and an immediate fix (chemicals) looks tempting. That’s not a reason not to use beneficials, but why you should seriously consider making some of that ‘industry standard’ your own standard every time you star t a grow. 3

(1) Multifunctional fungal plant symbionts: new tools to enhance plant growth and productivity - Gary E Harman - New Phytologist 2011 Salinity tolerant Trichoderma harzianum reinforces NaCl tolerance and reduces population dynamics of Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. ciceri in chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) under salt stress conditions Laxmi Rawat , Y. Singh , N. Shukla & J. Kumar Improved nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) by plants (Harman & Mastouri, 2010; Shoresh et al., 2010) (2) Trichoderma strains increase photosynthetic rates ⁄efficiency in plants whose roots are measured by several different parameters (Vargas et al., 2009; Mastouri, 2010; Shoresh et al., 2010).

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Korean

BY NICO HILL

Nat ural F arming

Fermented Fed

Ferment Head Bypass the marketing smokescreens (and high cost) and make yourself inputs that are more ‘organic’ than anything you will find in a plastic bottle

I 58

f you’re looking to get into a more truly organic form of farming, then you are in the right place, my friend. Korean Natural Farming puts the ‘fun’ in the fundamentals of organic gardening. Okay, that might be an embarrassingly weak pun, but you know what I mean.

FERMENTATION

Woollen Eyes

SFF (Start Foraging Fools)

Stepping into the realm of true organic farming is an exciting prospect, one that puts you back in touch with the natural world. The simple definition of organic is a funny one though; does a fancy-looking stamp from a governing body really mean it is organic? Some would even argue that if you are feeding your plants from a bottle you bought from a store, then you are far removed from being truly ‘organic’ (i.e., you cannot manufacture ‘natural’).

Before deciding what to ferment and how to use it, you should first think about nature and the materials that you have to work with. The natural farming purist will argue that the material you are fermenting should come directly from the natural world around you. However, for some of us city-dwelling natural farmers, this isn’t always easy. If you do head-out into the natural world, try to go at the crack of dawn; the water storage in the plant itself will be at its highest point, and the beneficial bacterial content should be a lot greater at this time of day.

Then, of course, you have the problem of how marketing teams come up with descriptions for their brands to appear and sound organic, further muddying the waters along the way. Using terms like ‘biosynthetic’ or ‘all-natural ingredients’ to make you think one thing, when in fact, it’s another. It is not just using words cleverly here and there in advertisements either; entire brands are built on the premise of all of their products being organic. Often, one or two of them may genuinely have an organic stamp, but the rest of the sometimes extensive lines do not, disguised as salty wolves in some organic sheep’s clothing.

first think about nature and the materials that you have to work with

Bottles are for Babies You can bypass the marketing smokescreens (and high cost) and make yourself inputs that are more ‘organic’ than anything you will find in a plastic bottle in your local hydro shop. Fermenting organic material is a fantastic way to unlock the naturally occurring nutrients, aminos and enzymes contained within plant material. In fact, it is the basis on which a lot of commercial additives are built upon; many of the really expensive ‘boost’ products are simply a natural plant ferment, refined for mass production.

It is fairly easy, and probably the first of everything that KNF has to offer that you should try. The entire process takes roughly a week and you can easily integrate it alongside whatever organic regime you may already be doing. Referred to as Fermented Plant Juice (FPJ) or Fermented Fruit Juice (FFJ), you can either ferment plant material directly, (i.e., leaves, shoots, buds and flowers) or you can choose to use fruits instead. Of course, there is somewhat of a difference between which material you use to ferment, and therefore, when and how they should be used.

Purchasing from stores does give you access to a wider range of material to ferment. However, keep in mind you will be missing most of the natural bacteria, as the produce is usually cleaned and treated before being put on the store shelf. So, in a nutshell, plants and fruits harvested directly from the natural world are the most ideal. Only in the event of inaccessibility should you go to your local organic farmer’s market, or worst-case scenario, the supermarket.

What to Ferment and Why Do not only think of ferments as a source of nutrients.

The hormones, aminos and enzymes you extract in the process are just as (or even more) crucial to capture and use correctly. But what does that mean to the process as a whole? FPJ and FFJ are actually very similar, but have a slightly different approach.

Plants In terms of an FPJ, it can be beneficial to select and ferment sections of plant that relate to the stage of growth that your plant is in. For example, if you are in a vegetative stage of growth and want to encourage branching and more shoot growth, harvest the side branches from a vigorously growing plant. These side branches will naturally have a higher level of the type of nutrients, hormones and aminos that promote side-branching, and will likely pass that quality on to the crop you are feeding. Harvesting the buds and young flowers of various crops will mean a high-level of flowering hormones in the ferment you make – ideal for use on a crop during its flowering cycle. Finally, harvesting and fermenting the roots of dandelions, for example, should be great to use in the vegetative period, encouraging rapid and healthy root production.

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www.cellmax.eu

FERMENTATION

^ Dandelion roots, from harvest to FPJ, great for use during vegetative period

Fruits

Nutrient-dense Fermenting fruits is a very similar fruits, such process and mindset, as bananas or but there is a slight mangoes, can be a difference.

The wonder ful source ripeness of the fruit you are fermenting of elements for a impacts the stage in heav y-feeding which you want to fruit plant be using it. Underripe fruits should be fermented and used towards the early flower cycle. Use ripe fruits towards the middle of flower, then over-ripe fruits towards the end of the flowering cycle. The aim of the game is to tailor the ripeness of the fruit to the stage of growth you are feeding. Nutrient-dense fruits, such as bananas or mangoes, can be a wonderful source of elements for a heavy-feeding fruit plant, and an excellent addition to a KNF regime.

Hannibal Was Onto Something One of the most effective ferments you can give to your plant, is the actual crop you are growing. It will already contain everything that exact plant needs and/or uses in a completely organic form. For example, ferment some tomato plants to use as feed for another tomato plant. The resulting ferment will contain elements unique to that plant and crop, offering so many things the plant requires and would otherwise spend energy creating itself.

OK, I’m game. How do I do it?

To create your own ferment, you will need: • Some weighing scales • A glass mason jar (or another appropriate container) • Some plant/fruit material • Natural dark brown sugar • A strainer (cheap way = women’s tights; pro-way = fruit press) • Optional LAB

Step 1: Weigh your plant material. Stick to one type of material at a time. (i.e., do not combine fruit and leaves/flowers in a single ferment – do them separately).

Step 2: Weigh out the same amount of brown sugar.

However, sometimes (particularly when making FFJ) you may need to use more sugar if there is a lot of juice from the material. This is very much a ‘play it by ear’ situation.

Step 3: Mix it all until the sugar is evenly distributed around the plant/fruit material (add LAB at this point if you are using it). The sugar then begins to draw-out the juicy plant goodness through osmotic pressure.

Step 4: Fill your storage container with the mixed material, pressing the lid down to slightly compact and level it off. Add a small layer of pure sugar to the surface to act as both a cap and slight weight.

Step 5: Cover with a breathable lid. Use a rubber band to attach some greaseproof paper or paper towel. DO NOT SEAL THE CONTAINER WITH AN AIRTIGHT SEAL – IT NEEDS TO BREATHE!!!

Step 6: Leave it for 5-7 days, sometimes longer. The ambient temperature of the environment will impact the speed of fermentation, but generally, in a normal cool and dry storage area, 5-7 days is adequate.

Step 7: Separate the liquid material that has been produced.

This is either a case of squeezing it out through a pair of women’s tights or by using a fruit press to make sure you get every last drop of goodness out of it.

Step 8: Place in a storage container with a breathable lid like before.

Step 9: Use it! Usage guidelines are fairly broad, with each ferment, of course, having its own unique characteristics. Anything from between 1-2.5ml per litre will do you proud. Obviously, increase or decrease accordingly as your plant develops.

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FERMENTATION

Many organic growers who have conver ted to KNF have noticed a significant increase in the aromas, flavors and ef fects of their final crop

^ Hops flowers, from harvest to partially Fermented Fruit Juice (FFJ) Forever Blowing Bubbles One thing you will need to keep then you can resort to pouring in an eye on is any bubbling that some high percentage alcohol, like begins from your liquid. If it starts vodka, which should stop it in its ferment some to bubble, you need to add more tracks. Then, of course, you can tomato plants to use sugar. It’s a good thing because it pour one for yourself as part of the as feed for another means it is highly active, but also self-congratulatory process. tomato plant bad because the more it bubbles, the more it degrades. The extra That is pretty much it. Of course, sugar acts as a drying agent within this is a very brief guide to ferments; the liquid and reduces the availability the ins and outs could be discussed of water to the fermentation process. In a super-active at length, but hopefully, this gives you a good idea about ferment where no amount of sugar will stop the bubbles, how to build it. It is an extremely cheap and easy process to go through, and producing your own additive to use alongside your existing organic regime (or as part of the full KNF suite) is extremely satisfying.

Nico Hill - Hydro Nerd at InfiniteMonkey.com Nico has been a keen gardener for many moons. Bitten by the hydroponic bug back in 1998, and hasn’t looked back since! After many years as a hobby, Nico’s career in Hydroponics had its start working for Aquaculture in Sheffield, the UK’s largest and most forward-thinking grow shops of the time. He was then hired by Hydromag, responsible for the hydroponic content. From there, he has worked with CANNA, as editor of CANNAtalk, author of the research articles, and delivering seminars throughout the UK to grow shops on the finer details of cultivating in a hydroponic environment. Nico is now writing for companies in the hydroponic industry.

Bio

Besides being fun to do, many organic growers who have converted to KNF have noticed a significant increase in the aromas, flavors and effects of their final crop. Whether this is a placebo effect or not is hard to prove, but with similarly consistent testimonies seen by natural farmers from all over the globe, it is one that is hard to argue. Plus, it did make for a catchy title… 3

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WHAT’S GROWING ON

Who’s Growing

t a h W Wh

ere

1.

in the UK

Devon, South West England

Sprouting Seeds

Credit: SkySprouts

What began in a few jars on a kitchen windowsill is now the largest producer of organic sprouts and seeds in the UK. Brett and Kathy Kellett founded SkySprouts in 1984. Looking for a healthy way to feed their growing family, they planted gardens with organic vegetables and bought some chickens for organic eggs. Soon, they began experimenting with growing organic sprouts in the kitchen; the health benefits were plentiful, people couldn’t get enough, and the rest is history. SkySprouts prides itself in growing great quality food while keeping the planet in mind; no chemicals or pesticides are ever used on the farm. Today, the company is run by two of Brett and Kathy’s daughters, who operate the same way their parents did: they only deal with organic suppliers, refusing to do business with supermarkets. In fact, they still deliver by hand once a week to the shops in Devon.

2.

Keeping it old school. Learn more: skysprouts.co.uk

Howard Estate, Bury St Edmunds

Gardening has long been said to be incredibly therapeutic; a theory the Greener Growth community interest group certainly stands behind. Working in harmony with the natural environment, the organization has helped dozens of families through the loss of a loved one with a memorial garden. In mid-April, 150 people of various ages and backgrounds came together to remember the people they have lost. A total of 40 fruit trees were planted in the Howard Memorial Orchard; bringing new life to help with the healing process. Greener Growth has several projects underway, working closely with various communities, schools and prisons. It has a commitment to helping those in need, but also to growing foods using organic methods that enhance soil fertility and increase biodiversity.

Helping people heal and make healthier lifestyle choices…

Learn more: greenergrowth.co.uk

Credit: Greener Growth

Memorial Gardens

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WHAT’S GROWING ON

’s o h Wrowing G

t a h W Where

Wirksworth, Derbyshire

A Willow Armchair Model, now in the permanent collection at the National Museum of Scotland

Highlighting cooperation between nature and craftsmen, Full Grown is patiently growing trees into chairs, tables, lamps and other household furniture items. Designer Gavin Munro first hatched the idea as a young boy, after coming across an overgrown bonsai tree that looked like a chair.

The process requires a lot of time, but is actually quite simple: trees are planted and watered well, their shoots eventually trained and grafted around a furniture frame. This completely eliminates the need for most of the machinery used in traditional furniture-making. Once the desired piece of furniture has formed, it is left to thicken for several years before harvesting. It takes four to eight years to grow a single chair, all the while emitting oxygen, absorbing CO2, and sustaining birds, bees and other wildlife. Full Grown estimates it uses about 25 percent of the energy needed to conventionally produce a wooden chair. The company’s first chairs are expected at the end of 2019, while some lamps are already for sale.

Credit: Full Grown

Conversation Piece

Photo credit National Museum of Scotland

3.

in the UK

Using the air, soil and sunshine as source materials…

Learn more fullgrown.co.uk

Tree Huggers

London, England Credit: Courtesy of www.treecouncil.org.uk/Our-Work/Green-Monuments

4.

Living in the city doesn’t mean one must lose complete touch with nature. The Tree Council is busy reconnecting urban-dwellers with the natural environment through its “Wild Hedges for Urban Edges” program. The charity group is planting and maintaining 20 wild hedges in four different urban areas of Britain. The fruiting hedges not only beautify the cities they are planted in; they are also a source of free and sustainable food, and a way to bring communities together for planting and harvesting. As an added bonus, the hedges will boost wildlife biodiversity in the areas.

Turning grey cities green… Learn more: treecouncil.org.uk 3

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BY MARY MINCHIN, AUTHOR OF CBD MADE EASY!

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THCV

THCV made easy I’d like to introduce you to a little known, but extremely fascinating cannabinoid that is making researchers sit up and pay attention: THCV. Perhaps you are familiar with Larry Smith; he’s an excop suffering from Parkinson’s Disease whose story went viral when his severe dyskinesia (uncontrolled movements), loss of voice and tremors calmed within minutes after taking a few drops of cannabis oil under his tongue.

According to research, there is a possibility that one of the main cannabinoids responsible for reducing Smith’s tremors is tetrahydrocannabivarin, or THCV. This intriguing little cannabinoid has been nicknamed ‘The Sports Car of Cannabinoids’, and researchers are only just beginning to discover the vast medical potential it holds.

What is the relation between THC and THCV? If you look at the molecules side by side, you will see that THCV has the same molecular structure, except it has its tail chopped off; It is missing a few carbon atoms. These few atoms make a lot of difference in the psychoactive effect of THCV. THC activates CB1 receptors in the brain, (this is called working as an agonist- think of a key opening a lock) and this gives the psychoactive effect it is well-known for.

Does THCV get you high?

Well, yes… and no. Or actually, no… and yes. In low doses, THCV acts in reverse to THC; as an antagonist (it blocks the lock so the key cannot open the door) against the CB1 receptor. It stops any psychoactive effect , and will not get you high. However, in high doses, this effect can reverse and THCV can then act as an agonist , just like THC. The ‘lock’ will then open, enabling the psychoactive effect. Although the chemical difference is subtle, THCV can produce very different effects than THC.

THIS INTRIGUING LITTLE CANNABINOID HAS BEEN NICKNAMED ‘THE SPORTS CAR OF CANNABINOIDS’

Possible Health Advantages Not only has it been shown to reduce tremors associated with diseases such as Parkinson’s, THCV also has been found to reduce anxiety and is currently being studied for its ability to reduce and possibly block panic attacks. In Israel, studies are being conducted to assess THCV in the treatment of PTSD. Pure THCV is also getting some interest to help combat obesity. There is some evidence from animal trials that the isolate of THCV has been shown to be an appetite suppressant and will help reduce food intake. Although, when combined with THC, the effects were found negligible.

The potential for diabetes treatment is gaining momentum, however. According to a study conducted

by E.T Wargent et al, THCV is a new potential treatment against obesity-associated glucose intolerance, and in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial conducted by the University of Nottingham, School of Medicine, they discovered THCV lowers blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes. This has gained the attention of GW Pharmaceuticals, which is currently working on a cannabis-based drug, utilising CBD and THCV to lower blood sugar levels between meals and improving insulin protection.

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THCV

“ Although the chemical difference is subtle, THCV can produce very different effects than THC. “

This fabulous little cannabinoid has also been found to stimulate bone cell growth and has potential in the treatment of osteoporosis and similar ailments.

Researchers believe it has potential in the treatment of Alzheimer’s, and it has been documented that it reduces the number of seizures in those suffering from some forms of epilepsy.

Now for the bad news...

Unfortunately, most strains of cannabis only contain trace amounts of THCV. With its popularity growing, high THCV strains might soon appear more abundantly.

For now, according to Steep Hill Labs, the best way to find THCV currently is in African Sativas. THCV is still illegal in many countries, but this doesn’t make it any less interesting to sit back and watch science discover more about the many cannabinoids of the cannabis plant! 3

BIO Mary Minchin is a former pharmaceutical employee & advocate of CBD and its many benefits. She is in her fourth year of her science degree, majoring in biology & chemistry. She recently switched her focus from pharmacy to science to pursue other more meaningful passions. The book CBD Made Easy was written with the purpose of simplifying how CBD works in the human body, listing all the currently known ailments CBD can alleviate, then directly referencing the related medical studies in one short publication. www.cbdmadeeasy.xyz Contact Mary at: cbdmadeeasy@gmail.com

Sources 1. Gwpharm.com/about-us/news/gw-commencesphase-i-study-thcv-potential-treatment-obesityand-related-metabolic 2. Cannabis-med.org/index. php?tpl=page&id=7&lng=en 3. Psychiatryadvisor.com/ptsd-trauma-and-stressorrelated/medical-marijuana-cannabis-ptsdtreatment/article/415709/

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TAKING SHAPE:

MORPHOGENESIS

T

he last “Fake or not” was more like an ar ticle instead of a claim. The question at hand: does the spectrum of a grow light influence photosynthesis? The answer was no, it doesn’t, but it does influence morphogenesis, which in turn can influence photosynthesis.

Adding light for an incr ease d y ield is not always the b es t s tr ateg y...

Enhancing The Plant By Shape When you compare light sources and spectra, you see significant differences in the plant’s growth rate, the leaf’s density, shape, thickness, size and positioning, as well as root development, the density of the stomata on the leaf, internodal distance, and so much more. This is because of the way a plant responds to different wavelengths of light.

Though net photosynthesis does not change very much with different light sources, a different plant shape can increase the light interception and total photosynthesis, resulting in a bigger plant with a better yield. However, adding light for an increased yield is not always the best strategy. For cultivars requiring less light per day, the biggest improvement could be seen instead with a better spectrum.

So, yes, you can “steer” a plant with climate control and a specific spectrum of light. The problem? No plant is the same.

Even within varieties, many cultivars will have different optimal spectrum and light requirements. There are, however, a few broad “rules” that are true for many plants.

Here are a few basics: light can be regarded as a flux of particles called photons, which have a charge or electromagnetic waves, that contain a frequency (and accompanying wavelength). The higher the frequency, the shorter the wavelength and the higher the energy. Visible light lies between about 380 and 780 nm.

76

PAR light is Photosynthetic Active Radiation (the colors that most drive photosynthesis) and lies between 400 and 700 nm (blue to red). You can measure light in energy, or in the number of photons per second (photon flux). As shorter wavelength photons contain more energy, the number of photons you get for your energy are fewer. This results in two types of graphs: energy weighted and photon weighted.

Make sure you know what you are looking at when you look at a spectral chart.

In 1972, Keith McCree not only published the first definition of PAR light, but he also did research as to which color was most effective for photosynthesis. The result is the wellknown “McCree curve”. A sharp cut off can be seen at about 680 nm (called the red cut off) while photosynthesis still takes place below 400 nm. Many scientists, therefore, discuss moving the edges to 350 nm and 750 nm.

MORPHOGENESIS

FAKE

OR NOT?

You c an “s teer ” a pl ant with climate control and a specif ic spec trum of light

ted i s i v re Later in this article, we will learn that you should not take this graph literally when you are defining an optimal light spectrum.

Adding blue light to red light increases the photosynthetic capacity dramatically. In some trials, it doubled after seven percent blue light was added. However, this increase is not linear and tapers off when adding higher amounts of blue light.

A few very important wavelengths can be distinguished:

1 Blue light Blue light is defined as the wavelengths between 400-500 nm. Some varieties do well with little blue light, but many plants like or need at least five to seven percent blue light for a normal, healthy development. A little bit more is nice, but not necessary. In conventional lighting, blue light is generally more expensive, as it takes more energy to produce than red light. For example, MH or CMH lamps are more expensive and less efficient than HPS lamps. Blue LEDs, however, are extremely efficient.

Blue light can keep the crop compact, which is one of the reasons why more of it is used in vegetative cycles. It can also increase the leaf thickness and opens the leaf stomata, which is very important. Stomata are the mouths of the plant; they open and close to regulate transpiration (evaporation of water) for cooling, and to take in CO2 for photosynthesis.

Stomata open through photosynthesis, but also directly with blue light. It’s important that climate and light conditions are optimized to keep the stomata open while the plants are being lit. Blue light helps achieve this goal.

Blue light plays an important role in the synthesis of certain enzymes, which in turn promote the same process for chlorophyll. In that respect, blue light also helps maintain the photosynthetic system of the plant, meaning plants stay greener.

This is by no means a complete overview of blue light plant response, and as mentioned earlier, the response is not the same for all varieties. But for most plants, lower doses of blue light is essential for a natural and healthy development. Using blue light to influence the compactness of plants has been studied as a way to regulate plant growth. However, this is generally an effect and is not yet a complete substitute for growth regulators in the cultivation of perennials, for example.

Blue light does have a distinct effect on morphogenesis and photosynthesis. Every plant light has some blue light in it, though some sources are somewhat deficient. Research does indicate that you do not need a lot of it, but you do need some.

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MORPHOGENESIS

Indoor pl ant s ne e d to b e intr oduc e d to U V light gr adually, in shade d env ironment s out of the dire c t sunlight

2 Red light The McCree curve suggests that red light, between 600 and 700 nm, is more efficient for photosynthesis than blue or green light. Indeed, there is a peak in sensitivity of the receptors in the red spectrum. In McCree’s method of measurement, he used low-light levels and single colors on single leaves. The McCree curve is not the response of a complete plant under high light levels, nor is it meant to be. You should be very careful to use this data when you define your lighting. The curve is not quite as steep under high-intensity, full-spectrum light, and the ratio of colors can influence the efficiency.

Red light, as it has a relatively long wavelength in the PAR spectrum, is efficient to generate (takes less energy than blue light) and is excellent for photosynthesis. Just a small amount of red light can trigger reactions in plants. It is not so much the energy of the photon, but the number of photons that drive the photosynthetic process. This efficiency makes red spectrum lamps, like HPS, an economical choice for greenhouses, and actually more suitable than blue light. The sun already provides an abundance of blue light, unless, of course, the greenhouse is being lit in the winter when natural sunlight is scarce. In many Scandinavian greenhouses, for example, metal halide is often used during the dark season.

Red light is also very important for flower induction, but not for the reason many people think; providing an abundance of red light will not make a plant flower. The pigment phytochrome is responsible for the flowering of plants with a photoperiodic flowering response. Generally, plants are very sensitive to low-intensities of red light; during the night, low amounts of red light can inhibit flowering of short-day plants, and promote flowering of some long-day plants.

3 Green light Green light lies in the spectrum between 500 and 600 nm.

Not so long ago, people took the fact that plants are green as evidence that they do not use green light. If plants appear to be green, then it must be the green light that is reflected, right? Actually, recent research has suggested green light is in fact efficient, perhaps even more efficient than red and blue light in high-intensity white light. Without going too deep, there are two major reasons for that:

1.

Red and blue light is mostly absorbed by the upper layer of the leaf, while green penetrates deeper. With the absorption of blue and red, a green leaf appears at the surface.

2. A lot of the green light goes through the leaf or is reflected into the plant, where it is used for photosynthesis. You might even say that using green light makes sure that the deeper leaves are better served.

If you measure the light spectrum under a forest canopy, you will most likely see two little peaks in the spectrum: green light and far-red light. These are the colors that transmit through the leaves or reflect deeper into the canopy.

So what are the effects of green light? In general, it causes a similar shade avoidance reaction as far-red light: it makes a plant stretch more. Not necessarily as violently as far-red light does, but it has a similar effect. However, it is mostly used for photosynthesis.

You need to remember one thing: the most abundant color in the sun spectrum is‌ green light! It would be a great mistake of evolution to not use it. There is currently no scientific proof, but there is horticultural research supporting the importance of green light.

4 Far-red light Far-red light lies just outside what we consider PAR light, which ranges from 400 nm (blue) to 700 nm (red). Far-red is around 730 nm, though the range is a bit wider. It does not have much of a photosynthetic response, but there is an enhancement effect when using far-red light with red light. When combined, photosynthesis is likely to occur. It is called the Emerson effect; two photosystems working in conjunction with a plant, one more receptive to red light, and one to far-red light.

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MORPHOGENESIS

Far-r e d light is no t f ully-ab sorb e d by the pl ant . In f ac t , much of it is tr ansmit te d thr ough the le ave s

A young pl ant ’s sensiti v it y to U V is ev ident when it is br ought f r om the indo or s to f ull sunlight . If the pl ant has never exp erienc e d U V light b ef or e, it s le ave s will wilt and die.

Far-red light is not fully-absorbed by the plant. In fact, much of it is transmitted through the leaves.

The ratio of red and far-red light influences photosynthesis.

For sunlight, the ratio R: FR is about 1. It differs from artificial light sources, which influence photosynthesis and the shape of the plant. Far-red light can make the plant stretch; taking it away can stunt its growth, making it more compact.

The stretching process is called “shade avoidance response”.

Basically, the plant will stretch in order to compete with other plants for sunlight. The same effect occurs when the leaves of young plants touch adjacent plants. That’s why you want to space them out so they stay compact.

Green light will also cause a shade avoidance response, though not as profound as far-red light does.

5

UVA and UVB

At the other side of the PAR spectrum, beyond blue, we find Ultra Violet (UV) radiation. First, there is UVA, followed

by UVB and UVC. These photons are very energetic; UVB can easily cause skin burn, and UVB and UVC can destroy DNA. So be very careful when dealing with UV radiation.

It can cause skin cancer, just as too much exposure to the sun can. Fortunately, the atmosphere filters out almost all the UVC from the sun, but electronic arc devices, like welding machines, and artificial light sources, such as metal halide lamps, can generate UVC in very high amounts. This is extremely dangerous to the eyes.

Though you should handle UV light with care, it plays an important role in plant lighting and has wonderful advantages when using it similarly to sunlight.

Firstly, UVA does contribute to photosynthesis, as seen in the response curve. It is not very efficient, but it does have an effect. The impact of UVA (315–400 nm) and UVB (280315 nm) is very different. UVB encourages the production of terpenes, flavonoids, and cannabinoids, for example, more

directly than UVA does. High dosages can lead to dwarfed flowers, curling or burned leaves, and damaged plant DNA. It is certainly very challenging, to dose UV with a direct source, and good meters are very expensive.

A young plant’s sensitivity to UV is evident when it is brought from the indoors to full sunlight. If the plant has never experienced UV light before, its leaves will wilt and die. New leaves will likely be resistant to UV, as they are developed through UV radiation. Indoor plants need to be introduced to UV light gradually, in shaded environments out of the direct sunlight. This is called the hardening process. The leaves will thicken under the influence of UV, also making them less vulnerable to fungal infections. Not only that; the plant’s rooting system will improve, and it will also see an increase in flavonoids, terpenes, and cannabinoids.

In the last week or two, some growers may have changed their lamps for what they call “finisher” lamps. Typically, these lamps give out very high levels of UVA and UVB, and sometimes even UVC. It works by stressing the plants and forcing a protective response from them by creating trichomes and anthocyanins. For optimized results, I prefer to have the right levels of UV during the complete grow period.

Be sure to take safety precautions when using these lamps, like wearing protective eyewear and shielding bare skin from the light.

There is one very important reason why plants should be outside in the sun: Though it has, in high dosage, the power to destroy DNA, in normal doses it actually can repair it. In fact,“old school” breeders have been known to bring their mother plants outdoors during the summer to revive them. 3

BIO Theo Tekstra is a recognized expert in the horticultural lighting industry.

As the marketing manager for Gavita he is involved in research programs and product development, and responsible for Gavita’s educational programs. A contributor to several magazines, books and publications, his “light matters” articles are a regular feature in Garden Culture Magazine.

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