USA April 2011

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FEATURES

DEPARTMENTS10 From the Editor

12 Letters to the Editor

14 MaximumYield.com

20 Simon Says

22 MAX Facts

32 Product Spotlight

76 Beginner’s Corner

90 Avant-Gardening

110 Tips and Tricks

122 Green Thumb Gardening

126 Growing for Health

136 You Tell Us

162 Talking Shop

166 Max Mart

170 Coming up in May

171 Do You Know?

172 Distributors

April 2011CONTENTS

78

46 Boosting the Bloomby Lee McCall

56 Growing Japanese by Dr. Lynette Morgan

68 Strong Stems, Healthy Plantsby Matt LeBannister

78 Are You Ready for 4G Acceleration?by Brian Chiang and Josh Puckett

92 Are Plants Conscious? by Peter Vakomies

98 In Search of the Perfect Growby Casey Jones Fraser

112 How to Grow Mustard and Cress by Emma Cooper

116 Consider Using Citric Acidby Donald Lester

128 Growing Plants in Organic and Inorganic Systemsby Dr. Carole Ann Rollins and Dr. Elaine Ingham

142 Backyard Gardening Hydroponicallyby Jack Van Camp

148 pH Management for Optimal Resultsby Bob Taylor

156 Composting: Is it Just a Load of Rubbish? by Steve Cownley

90

68


FROM THEeditor jessica raymond

contributorsJessica Raymond, Editor

[email protected]

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

Lee McCall graduated from Johnson and Wales University with a concentration in Culinary Arts. Culinary school opened the door to research and work with hydroponics and organic production. Currently, Lee attends business school in Denver and focuses on continuing advancements with Maximum Yield and indoor gardening technology.

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

Brian Chiang has worked for DiCon Fiberoptics, Inc., an advanced technology company based in California, for the last 13 years. Brian received his bachelor’s degree in physics from UC Berkeley and master’s degree in physics from UC Davis. He is currently the managing director for Kessil Lighting, a DiCon business division.

Josh Puckett earned his bachelor’s degree in biology with an emphasis on plant biology from Sonoma State University. He currently works at the UC Davis Foundation Plant Services. He has years of experience in the horticulture and agriculture industries. He also serves as an advisor for the Kessil Research team.

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

Emma Cooper is the voice of the Alternative Kitchen Garden podcast and writes about kitchen gardening and environmental issues. An edible plant geek, she tries to grow her own food sustainably with the help of a reluctant husband and two pet chickens. Visit http://coopette.com for more information.

Peter Vakomies, BSc, has 17 years experience as a professional silviculture grower, vegetable grower and horticulturist. He graduated from Simon Fraser University where he studied photosynthesis in nursery and field settings. Living and working in British Columbia, Canada, Peter participated in growing over 550 million tree seedlings for reforestation programs.

Dr. Carole Ann Rollins co-owns Nature Technologies International LLC, producers of organic alternatives. She co-authored Adding Biology for Soil and Hydroponic Systems and has compiled and edited The Field Guide I and II for Actively Aerated Compost Tea. Contact 1-415-898-5895, [email protected], www.nature-technologies.com

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

Jack Van Camp has been working for Homegrown Hydroponics. He has years of hands-on hydroponic gardening experience and will answer all of your questions through the Homegrown Hydroponics website at www.hydroponics.comHe loves to share his knowledge with eager gardeners both locally and around the world.

Bob Taylor is the chief chemist of Flairform (www.flairform.com) - an Australian based manufacturing company. Bob was an approved NATA signatory and an official registered analyst for the government’s chemical analysis monitoring program of all fertilizers registered in Western Australia.

Dr. Elaine Ingham is president of Soil Foodweb Inc., an international laboratory system that assesses beneficial balance in materials. The major emphasis of her work is to return health to soil, so that natural nutrient cycling and disease suppression mechanisms are present. Contact 1-541-752-5066, [email protected], www.soilfoodweb.com

Become a Maximum Yield contributor and have your articles read by 250,000 readers throughout USA, Canada, UK, Australia and New Zealand. Maximum Yield is the largest free-to-consumer indoor gardening magazine in the world. Every issue is available on maximumyield.com, which has thousands of unique visitors monthly.

Welcome to our special 11th Anniversary issue of Maximum Yield USA and our Ultimate Denver Expo Guide. Over 186 pages await you with the latest new products and some of the best articles on organics, fourth generation LEDs, composting, conductivity and the perfect grow room. Over the last 11 years we have seen amazing growth in the industry, great advance-ment in products and technologies and more and more individuals who share our love and passion for growing their own healthy food. Industry education and awareness will continue to be our focus, along with sharing the latest advancements with gardening enthusiasts globally.This issue kicks off our 2011 Maximum

Yield Indoor Gardening Expo tour and if you are unable to visit Denver, you need not worry as we have world-class events lined up

in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in May, San Fran-cisco in July and Long Beach in October, which will offer a first hand look at the industry’s latest and greatest. Check out www.indoorgardenexpo.com and make plans now to visit one of our expos, which will forever change how you grow.


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Maximum Yield reserves the right to edit for brevity.

We want to hear from you!Write us at:Maximum Yield Publications Inc.2339A Delinea Place, Nanaimo, BC V9T 5L9or Email us at: [email protected]

LETTERS TOthe editor

Buzzin’ About Maximum Yield“Man I love this mag. I work at a supply shop in Montana and the info from your mag helps me better explain procedures and products.” - Bo Stephens“Thanks for all of the great articles and valuable information! Education is the way to achieve

maximum yields. Keep on keeping the growers on top of the latest industry news.” - SD Hydro“Just got the February USA issue and the Jan/Feb Canada issue in the mail today. Looking forward to reading both of them!” - Emily Walter“Stop in to Autumn Bloom Hydroponics for your free copy of this amazing magazine! We are Central Illinois premiere hydroponic/organic gardening store!” - Autumn Bloom Hydroponics

Peat Moss in the MixI really enjoy your magazine, especially the article that Casey Jones Fraser wrote in the January issue titled “Soilless Salvation.” The article stirred up some questions for me. As a fellow soil grower I’m always on the lookout for a good and easy recipe. My question is regarding the peat moss mentioned in the article. Can I pick up a peat moss mix at my local garden center?

Anthony Arballo

In “Soilless Salvation” I list one of the ingredients as “a peat-based mix.” That means any potting mix that is largely made up of peat moss. If you use plain peat moss, the soil will hold much more moisture than if you were to use a peat-based mix. I pre-fer a well-draining mix, so I don’t use plain peat moss.Another detail I would like to point out: this is not soil, but

rather a soilless mix. True soil comes out of the ground, and you never know what’s in it. With a soilless mix, you can check the ingredients list. Soil is all guesswork, but there is no guessing here. With this recipe, I have tuned in perfect levels of pH, water holding and drainage. No guessing...I know exactly what’s in it!

Maximum Yield Contributor: Casey Jones Fraser

Studious Hydroponic EnthusiastI am interested in any and all literature that you have on hydroponics and getting started in hydroponics.

Thank YouLeah Larsen

Maximum Yield magazines are a wealth of knowledge on all things hydroponics, indoor gardening and organics. I encourage you to pick up the latest issue of Maximum Yield at your local indoor gardening shop for free (a distributor listing is available at the back of every magazine).All of our publications are available for free online at

www.maximumyield.com, including 12+ years of articles related to modern gardening topics. I also invite you to follow us on Twit-ter (twitter.com/Max_Yield) and on Facebook (Facebook.com/MaximumYield).

Win Big…Grow BigThis is awesome, plus today is my birthday! Thanks for having such a great contest. If you have any extra light bulbs around, send them my way. Namaste. - Jessica Potter, Broomfield, CO, USA

Thanks so much! - Darin Sanddar, Whitehorse, YT, Canada

This is awesome. - Anthony Jones, New Haven, CT, USA

Thanks very much for your happy news. I am really excited; I never win anything. - Dave Bassi, Hamilton, ON, Canada

I’m so excited. Much thanks to you Maximum Yield. Great magazine! - Catherine Lee, Oakhurst, CA, USA

Wow, this is great news! - David Wilkey, Falls Church, VA, USA

I am so excited to win. I can’t wait to try out my new grow pot. Your magazine is great and you have very informative articles. I really enjoy and look forward to reading your upcoming issues. I always learn something new. Well keep up the good work and thanks for having this contest and giving out some great free stuff. Going green in Cali. - Paul Garces, Modesto, CA, USA

I wanted to thank Maximum Yield for the Geo Humus soil conditioner that I received as part of the Win Big...Grow Big contest. I have already put it to good use. Thank you once again. - Alfredo Cardoch, Raleigh, NC, USA

My goodness! Thank you so much! - Curtis Ingleton, Hamilton, ON, Canada

This is awesome! I am so excited I won. - Katie Hilton, Hilliard, OH, USA

And you can win too. Visit http://maximumyield.com/contests.php and enter by

April 15 for your chance to win the latest grow gear.

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USA DISTRIBUTIONAurora Innovations

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I N D O O R G A R D E N I N G

VOLUME 12 – NUMBER 1 April 2011

Maximum Yield is published monthly byMaximum Yield Publications Inc.

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Connect to MaximumYield.com instantly from your Smartphone with our Quick Response (QR) Code, found on the cover

of every issue of Maximum Yield. Now you can access the best products, the most in-depth articles and information and the latest news, at high speeds. Simply download the QR Code Reader software compatible with your Smartphone, scan the QR Code and your phone’s browser will automatically launch, redirecting you to www.maximumyield.com. It’s that simple!

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uPCoMinG EvEntSVancouver, B.C. Expo 2011

Maximum Yield’s 2011 Indoor Gardening Expo tour will be making a stop in vibrant Vancouver, British Columbia—the host of this past year’s world-class Olympic Games—May 14 to 15, 2011 at the PNE Forum. This event offers education and entertainment rolled into one. We look forward to seeing you all in

Vancouver in May. Countdown with us to this first-class Canadian event on indoorgardeningexpo.com

ContEStSJust 15 days remain to enter for your chance to win Boldtbags 20 gallon, eight bag kit; Orca Grow Film, Sunshine Systems GlowPanel 45 LED and a subscription to Maximum Yield. Enter online at MaximumYield.com/winbig

lAtESt nEWSSalad slaves, floating gardens, calorie crops and tomatoes that live longer on the shelf are highlighted in this month’s latest news online.


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SIMONsays

An interesting question Craig, and I can see where you are coming from. The short answer

is that humic acid cannot replace

carbon dioxide. You are correct in the assess-

ment that humic acid can provide carbon dioxide but it’s in an indirect

manner, not directly from this carbon based

substance. Humus is a de-graded form of organic material

high in carbon; in essence it is fully digested organic material that resists fur-

ther decay. However, soil microbes can be stimulated by its presence and this activity will release

low levels of CO2 as the soil

life breathes. Continue adding carbon dioxide to your growing

area in the range you are trying to achieve, and don’t adjust for the microbial increase. If you want to, it is possible to measure activity in

the soil with specific equipment but in an indoor growing area

Hey Simon,It’s my understanding that humic acid is a great source of carbon for plants and that it’s readily absorbed by plant roots. If one is using humic acid in their nutrient stock tank, can they cut back on the amount of CO2 injection in the grow room atmosphere?

Thanks,Craig

it is unlikely that microbe activity would provide more than a negligible level of CO

2.

It is absolutely correct that humic acid is beneficial to plants’ roots (and functions), but also to soil and microbes. Humic acid is an extract derived from ancient deposits of organic matter. In current top soils it exists as humus, and both humus and humic acid are great for plant roots. Humic acid has an extremely high cation exchange capacity and this alone is of great benefit. In its simplest terms humic acid gathers a variety of nutrients and then shuttles them into the plant very efficiently.On top of this, new research suggests that if the substance

moves through the root system and into the plant it has similar effects to some plant hormones. Although the mecha-nism still eludes us, this is a very interesting development in understanding this complex substance. The biodiversity in the rhizosphere expands more rapidly in its presence, which pro-vides vast indirect benefits due to microbial secretions such as growth regulating substance, organic acids, disease suppressing compounds and unique carbohydrates such as glomalin.On a related point, if you are trying to create an aerobic

compost tea for disease prevention, new research suggests you should be taking out the molasses and using a blend of humic acid and kelp as the catalyst for bioactivity.When choosing a humic acid there are many options but

for those of you running a true water system I would choose a low molecular weight humic fraction product generally referred to as fulvic acid. For more information be sure to check in at your local shop to review the variety of brands and extrac-tion methods available. MY



botanicareFULL PaGe

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hydroponic news, tips and triviaMAXfactsCalorie Crops: Planting a Garden to Feed a FamilyAs more and more of us turn to local, small farms, CSAs or our own garden plots to fulfill at least part of our di-etary needs, there are a few things we should all be growing to provide ourselves with more than just salads. Salads are great, but “calorie crops” are the way to go if the goal is feeding yourself and your family more often from your own garden.

CAlorIes CroPs INClude:• Potatoes• Corn• Beans• Wheat• Winter Squash

What’s so great about calorie crops?1. They fill you up: a potato or a half of a baked winter squash will give you more energy than a plate of lettuce.2. They are generally less work: plant them, water them occasionally and harvest them; these crops work for the gardener.3. They are endlessly versatile: Potatoes can be stored for quite a while and then used throughout the year in a variety of

ways—even ground into flour. Corn can be eaten fresh, canned or dried and ground into corn meal or corn flour. Winter squash stores well for months and can be used in a variety of ways. Squash can even be dried to make for an even longer storage time. And beans will keep for years in jars in your pantry, ready to be cooked into soups, stews or as a meal unto themselves.(Source: www.treehugger.com)

Plants and PetsOur gardens are places where our pets spend much of their time, but

often the two do not go together. There are hundreds of commonly grown plants that are highly toxic to dogs and cats. Pets are curious, exploratory

and they love chewing a large range of plant material. Just because we can eat something does not mean that it is safe for our pets. For example, Maca-damia nuts, although delicious to us, are toxic to dogs.

Check out these links:Plants toxic to dogs (www.dog-first-aid-101.com)

Plants poisonous to cats (www.cat-world.com.au)(Source: www.warmearth.com.au)

Floating GardenA new system devised by horticul-turists at the University of Florida makes growing vegetables hydropon-ically simple and easy. The Styrofoam-based Floating Garden grows crops above ground for a grit-free harvest. Visit http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs184 for more information on how to build a floating garden. (Source: www2.tbo.com)


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hydroponic news, tips and triviaMAXfactsA Fertile World Anniversary Celebration

Humboldt County’s A Fertile World retail shop celebrated their anniversary with a high flying act from Humboldt Nutrients’ sponsored pro free-style motocross rider, Julian Dusseau. A Fertile World was proud to make this a com-munity event in Humboldt County. Leading industry reps from Hydrofarm, BWGS, Hum-boldt Nutrients, Smart Pots, Gold Label, Gavita Lighting, VermiCrop and many more were on hand for the extrava-ganza. A Fertile World has

three convenient locations spread out in Humboldt County and has just recently opened their fourth shop in beautiful Marin County, CA. You can see this great new location from the major Interstate 580 in San Ra-fael, CA. Visit www.afertileworld.com to learn more.

Julian Dusseau

ultraviolet light Boosts Carrots’ Antioxidant valueExposing sliced carrots to UV-B, one of the three kinds of ul-traviolet light in sunshine, can boost the antioxidant activity of the colorful veggie, according to preliminary studies. The carrot investigation suggests that a moderate, 14 second dose of UV-B can boost fresh, sliced carrots’ antioxidant capacity by about threefold. The dose is energy-efficient and does not significantly heat or dry the carrots.Scientists have known for at least a decade that exposing

plants to UV-B may cause what’s known as abiotic stress. That’s what probably happened with the sliced carrots. Plants respond to the stress by revving up their production of two natural enzymes, one with the tongue-twisting name of polyphenylalanine ammonia-lyase, and the other known as chalcone synthase. As production of those enzymes increases, levels of phenolic compounds—antioxidants syn-thesized by the enzymes—also increase.(Source: www.ars.usda.gov)

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hydroponic news, tips and triviaMAXfacts

live Happier by living HealthierIn Denton, Texas Colbie Dunn and Rachel Walker, owners of Organic Garden and Feed, are dedicated to spreading the

incredible advantages of growing food and herbs sustainably with hydroponics and organics. Address: 3801 N. Interstate Hwy. 35, Suite #126 in Denton, TexasWeb: www.OGandF.comPhone: 1-940-381-9890

Earth Will be “unrecognizable” by 2050A lot has changed in the last 40 years and ac-

cording to researchers, in another four dec-ades things will be markedly different, too—

unrecognizable, even. Earth in 2050 will be home to an estimated nine billion people, and the planet will be forced to change in order to accommodate them all.

What can we all expect from a fu-ture with more than a few additional planet-mates:•The swelling population will exacer-bate resource depletion.• Incomes are expected to rise over the

next 40 years, tripling globally and quin-tupling in developing nations, adding more

strain to global food supplies.•People tend to move up the food chain as their

incomes rise, consuming more meat than they might have when they made less money. (It takes around seven pounds of grain to produce a pound of meat, and around three to four pounds of grain to

produce a pound of cheese or eggs).

“More people, more money, more consumption, but the same planet.” -Jason Clay of the World Wildlife Fund(Source: www.treehugger.com)

tangerine tomatoes Surpass Reds in Preliminary lycopene Study

Ounce for ounce, heirloom tangerine toma-toes might be a better source of a power-ful antioxidant called lycopene than are familiar red tomatoes.

(Source: www.ars.usda.gov)

Quick-Growing vegetables for the impatient GardenerAll of these quick-growing veg-etables are sure to satisfy even the most impatient gardener. Best of all, by adding them to your garden, you ensure that you will always have something to harvest.

MesCluNGreat addition to salads

rAdIshesProject for kids

AsIAN GreeNsExotic foliage

WheAt GrAssSuper nutritious

Bush BeANsPerfect for containers

(Source: www.treehugger.com)


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hydroponic news, tips and triviaMAXfactsWould Millennium Consumption Goals Help Rich nations Reduce their Eco-impact?Millennium Consumption Goals, as suggested by World-watch Institute:1. Halve obesity and overweight rates by 2020. This will

reduce mortality, morbidity and economic costs, as well as reduce ecological pressures driven by over-consumption of food.

2. Halve the work week from the current 40+ hours per week to 20 hours per week. This will better distribute jobs, wealth, promote healthier living and reduce eco-nomic activity, which is essential in our ecologically taxed world.

3. Better distribute wealth by raising taxes on the wealthiest members of society. To those given much, much is expected in return. The days of extreme wealth spent on luxurious living must draw to a close. The Earth can't handle it any longer.

4. Double the rate of use of non-motorized transport (bikes, walking, etc.). Increasing these forms of trans-port will improve health, reduce fossil fuel and mate-rial use and make for safer cities.

5. Guarantee access to health care for all. A minefield in the USA, but standard procedure in most industrial countries so that'll be an easy goal for most countries to achieve.

The goal for Worldwatch is to add three more to that list. Some already suggested are: creating new measures for assessing the economy; internalizing externalized environ-mental and social costs into consumer prices; halving the amount of meat consumed; halving the number of coal-fired power plants; and more.(Source: www.treehugger.com)

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MAXfacts hydroponic news, tips and trivia

demand for Greens leading to Salad SlavesLast week The Guardian exposed one of the dirty secrets of Europe’s insatiable demand for fresh salads 52 weeks of the year. In the south of Spain, thousands of hectares of arable land are covered with greenhouses, and inside those green-houses, the under-employed of Africa and Eastern Europe labor at low wages to help deliver those hothouse veggies to the colder cities of the North. It’s an industry worth €2 billion annually to Spain, making it unlikely that it will go away any time soon.But is it any different here in the U.S.? In any supermarket,

even the beautiful, packed-with-organic markets, the acres of sparkling produce include lots of fruits and vegetables import-

ed from hundreds, if not thousands of miles away. Generally, that produce is harvested by farm work-ers making a lot less than minimum wage in any of the countries the veggies and fruits are destined to end up in. MY(Source: www.treehugger.com)

Finding a Polyamine Way to Extend tomato Shelf lifeTomatoes spend so much time on shelves and in refrigerators that an estimated 20 per cent are lost to spoilage, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Source: www.ars.usda.gov)

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PRODUCTspotlightYOUR GUIDE TO THIS MONTH’S HOTTEST ITEMS Ask for them at your local indoor gardening store.

Baseline liquid From vital landscapingBaseline Liquid is an incredible, stand alone compost tea (in a bottle). It is a great microbial inoculant, as well as an excellent source of humic, fulvic and ulmic acids. Baseline Liquid will increase your beneficial micro-organisms, which will strengthen your plants’ immune systems and fight disease, pests and pathogens. When using Baseline Liquid you will notice the plant’s ability to uptake nutrients will increase, and therefore need less NPK based fertilizer to achieve better results. Baseline Liquid can also be added to an existing nutrient program and as an ingredient in compost teas or extracts. Visit an indoor/outdoor garden shop to learn more.

new 55 Gallon drum now Available at Authorized Hydrofarm Retailers

Hydrofarm’s high quality multi-pur-pose 55 gallon blue drum comes with a solid natural cover and bolt ring closure. These drums are brand new and have never been used; they are undrilled and are excellent for stor-age purposes, reservoirs or even re-verse osmosis systems. These drums have a 55 gallon nominal capacity and a 57 gallon actual capacity with a wall thickness of 2.2 millimeters. They are made of a high molecular weight high-density polyethylene and FDA-

approved resin. For more information visit an authorized Hydrofarm retailer near you.

new From nutriculture - EF100 low level Ebb and Flood SystemFrom Europe’s #1 hydroponic system manufacturer comes a new take on the tried and tested four by four ebb and flood table. The EF100 system features a four by four table set directly on a low level, 22 gal-lon reservoir. At just nine inches tall the system offers maximum headroom under lights, allowing plants to grow big. The table features strengthening ribs for ultimate stability and security when using heavy pots and growing media. The EF100 is one of the most flexible systems on the market. You can set floods on a timer to suit the lifestage of the plants. EF100 is a great vegging system for large scale growers and the ideal full cycle system for smaller scale, one lamp growers. For more information visit your local indoor gardening shop.

Botanicare launches Hydrolite™ Grow Media AmendmentBotanicare’s popular nutrients and fertilizers provide commercial and urban growers with valuable, long-lasting nutrition resulting in vigor-ous yields. Now, Botanicare® has developed Hydrolite™, a new grow media amendment that works like a plant’s nutrient storage bank, help-ing manage the availability of nutrients essential for plant growth.Hydrolite is a highly porous, non-toxic and reusable aggregate

grow media composed of natural crystalline structures that acceler-ate growth by optimizing root oxygen levels through absorption and

release of nutrients as needed by plant roots. Available in 12 quart and one cubic foot bags in four to six millimeter and 15 to 20 millimeter stones. Ask your local indoor gardening shop for Hydrolite today.


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PRODUCTspotlightExpedite Filtration With the Small Cone Kit From BoldtbagsThe Boldtbags Small Cone Kit speeds up filtration with the total micron lining and tapered construction. They’re made with the same full micron spectrum as the regular Boldt-bags. Available in three, four and eight bag kits, the small cones fit standard five gallon buckets. Order Boldtbags’ Small Cone Kit from your local gardening shop today.

Maverick Sun Puts its Biggest Foot ForwardSize does matter. The long

awaited Big Foot Reflector is here for 2011.The Big Foot is

designed to give a big eight by eight foot footprint. The Big Foot features a

44 by 31 inch computer designed reflector system that

will give users great cross pene-tration between plants. Designed for

medium to large grow spaces. Hinged with heavy duty safety chains to easily change lamps and clean your reflector. Completely air tight for controlled en-vironment grow rooms. Comes in six and eight inch ducts. The rubber silicon gasket gives years of quiet operation and no air leak. Glass and cord included. Visit your favorite gardening shop for more information.

Bucket-less Filtration With Boldtbags Suspension KitThe Boldtbags Suspension Kit is es-sential for easy bucket-less filtration using five, 20 or 32 gallon bag sets. Military-grade nylon webbing and reinforced stitching guarantee its strength. The three foot extensions simply connect to the grommets of Boldtbags, with a nine foot length to secure over your leverage of choice. Order Boldtbags’ Suspen-sion Kit from your local gardening shop today.

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PRODUCTspotlight Your guide to this month’s hottest items.

the new SunBlaster t5Ho lampsThe new edition Sunblaster T5HO lamps have been reengineered incorporating the most advanced on-board electronics in the indus-try. T5HO lamps are now driven at optimum temperatures, lowering heat production and extending lamp life. These improvements ensure every SunBlaster T5HO provides maxi-mum performance and light output. Plus, pair the new T5 High Output Lamp with SunBlast-er’s NanoTech T5 Reflector and you have the most advanced T5HO lighting system avail-able today. The end result? Bigger, healthier plants faster. Even we were amazed by their combined performance. Ask for the SunBlaster T5HO Lamps from your favorite indoor gar-dening store today.

Clear Royale From Microbrewed FertilizerClear Royale is a premium flush-ing product designed to aid in the correction of over feeding and salt buildup in your grow-ing medium. The Microbrewed Fertilizer Company uses a special blend of chelating and sequester-ing agents that are combined in a formula to give our Clear Royale

a claw-like effect that actually binds to minerals and allows you to flush them out. This specially blended solution al-lows other mineral ions to stick to its unique structure and carries them out of the plant or growing medium. When Clear Royale is used in a more concentrated form it is a perfect product to clean emitters, pumps and other grow-ing equipment. Visit your local indoor gardening store for more information.

one ounce Pump dispensersLet us offer you a world of convenience with our one ounce Pump Dispensers. Offered in two sizes, simply attach the dispenser to your favorite one gallon or 2.5 gallon jug of nutrients or liquid plant food and pump away. A single pump dispenses one ounce of liquid. It’s as simple as that! Constructed from polypropylene and stainless steel for durability and maximum chemical compatibility, these dispensers offer a threaded body for easy disassembly and sanitary cleaning. These one ounce Pump Dispensers offer you the ultimate in flexibility for providing your plants with the perfect amount of liquid nourishment. Visit your favorite gardening shop for more information.

Gaia Green Joins Greenstar’s line-upGreenstar Plant Products is always thrilled to promote organic products as a great alternative to the many chemical products currently on the market today. Gaia Green is an exciting addition to our organic fertilizer offerings. Gaia Green Products Ltd. has been manufacturing a complete line of premium organic fertilizers and soil amend-ments since 1990. Their fertilizer blends are formulated using the finest organic and mineral inputs to ensure a complete balance of nutrients, resulting in the ultimate in plant vitality. All products are free of synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. All Gaia Green Fertilizers are environmentally friendly, acceptable for organic certification and GMO free. Gaia Green’s top sellers include All Purpose 4-4-4, Power Bloom 2-8-4, Gla-cial Rock Dust and Living Soil. For more information visit your local indoor/outdoor gardening store.


http://www.ncwgs.com/



For xtreme Gardening® odors use odor-x Carbon FiltersBrite-Lite’s Odor-X carbon filters are made from RC-48, the largest granulate size of Australian activated certified carbon. Anything smaller adds weight and reduces airflow. With lightweight aluminum bases and tops and a slim, compact design, handling, installation and adjustments are a breeze. All Odor-X filters include a custom fit, high-quality pre-filter. Competitively priced and available in a large variety of sizes, the Odor-X eliminates all types of odors. If you want an odor-less grow space, ask for the Odor-X brand of carbon filters from Brite-Lite. Visit your favorite indoor gardening shop for more information.

vital Fish Hydrolyzate new From vital landscapingOur Vital Fish Hydrolyzate is an incredibly affordable and versatile nutrient. It is rich in omega fatty acids with a very high oil content. This fish oil is an incredible food for beneficial micro-organisms in the soil. Having a balanced microbial population is obtainable when using a compost tea or biological extraction program. Our Vital Fish Hydrolyzate also has a 2.0–0.5–0.3 NPK, which provides nutrients that are readily available to your plant. You feed the microbes, which in turn makes the NPK more available for the plants to absorb. Visit your favorite in-door/outdoor garden shop for more information.

oakton Enhances 6+ Series Handheld MetersRedesigned and even easier to use, these compact meters are an economical choice for testing the quality of wastewater, surface water, ground water or drinking water. The updated 6+ Series meters offer fast and accurate results in a light, compact design. The Oakton pH 6+ Meters feature up to five point push-button calibration with auto-buffer recognition and easy-to-use display of pH, mV and temperature. The Ion 6+ Meters offer a direct readout of ion concentration, with pre-programmed ion calibration points. The CON 6+, TDS 6+ and SALT 6+ Meters supply auto-ranging conductivity or TDS with temperature measurements. The DO 6+ Meters have a low-maintenance, galvanic probe that requires no warm-up time. Visit an indoor gardening retailer to learn more.

Hudson Bak-Pak® Four Gallon Sprayer now at Authorized Hydrofarm RetailersThe Hudson Bak-Pak® four gallon sprayer has many professional grade features including an extra large fill opening to prevent spills and a braided power sprayer style hose. The sprayer also boasts an extra long 20 inch spray wand a bonus nozzle system with four spray settings (single cone, double cone, single fan, double fan) and a large poly shut-off valve that’s com-fortable and thumb operated for ease of use. Perfect for all your bigger jobs, the sprayer has a powerful piston pump that allows for left or right handed use. For more information visit an authorized Hydrofarm retailer near you.


http://www.hydrodynamicsintl.com


http://www.hydroint.com/



Sun Blaze® t5 very High output (vHo) Fluorescent lighting FixturesSunlight Supply®, Inc. is pleased to announce the release of the new Sun Blaze T5 Very High Output (VHO) Fluorescent Lighting Fixtures. These four foot fixtures come in four and eight lamp configurations. Each fixture includes wire hangers and can be installed for vertical or horizontal operation. Both fixtures offer a 12 foot power cord and an on/off switch for easy operation. The eight lamp model offers two on/off switches to allow the user to run four or eight lamps at one time. Free pre-installed Spectralux 6500° K VHO Lamps are included with each fixture. VHO lamps offer 7,200 lumens at 95 watts each. Visit your favorite indoor gardening shop for more information.

Frosty Mug i.P.A.Frosty Mug I.P.A. from Microbrewed Fertilizer is a craft brewed formulation designed to give our cus-tomers a noticeable edge in overall finished quality and an increase in yield. This high end flowering booster uses natural plant stimulants to maximize the aroma and intensify the taste of fruits. Frosty Mug dramatically increases sugar produc-

tion and noticeable results can typically be seen within three to four weeks from flower formation. The end result is a premium product with a savory taste. Frosty Mug combines perfectly with our flagship high powered Black Magic Extra Stout. A synergy is realized when the high energy value of the Black Magic is combined with the un-common flowering stimulators found in our Frosty Mug. Visit your local gardening shop for more information.

the new nanotech t5 Reflector by SunBlasterSunBlaster Lighting engineers used the most advanced reflective surface available for this reflector. Made possible only through the ap-plication of nanotechnology, this revolutionary reflective surface has the ability to capture lost light (99 per cent), and simultaneously convert that light into the brightest, most brilliant light we have ever produced. The metallic crystal layer within the reflective surface helps spread the T5 light across the plant canopy diffusing it deep into the plant foliage. The NanoTech T5 increases lumen availability up to 300 per cent. The NanoTech T5 Reflector is made exclusively for the New SunBlaster T5HO. Order the Na-noTech T5 Reflector from your favorite indoor gardening retailer today.

vital Earth 1-1-17 Kelp new From vital landscapingThis soluble kelp extract is an amazing multi-functional ingredient that is a must for every gardener’s tool box. It can be used as a stand-alone foliar spray. It is a necessary ingredient in compost tea, and a perfect addition to your regular fertilization schedule. Ascophyllum Nodosum is a species of kelp found only in certain regions of the Atlantic Ocean. It is an in-credible microbial food and also an extremely soluble source of potassium. Your plants will respond to the application of this kelp immediately. Simply add the dry kelp powder to your tea or reservoir and it will dissolve instantly. Visit an indoor gardening shop to learn more.


PWx240S Sequenced Power Expander From Solatel

Control six 1,000 watt, 240 volt lamps with the PWX240S Se-quenced Power Expander from Solatel. A six foot, 10 gauge pow-er cable connects to 240 volt 30 amp service. The six foot trigger cord plugs into 120 volt controller or timer (not included) drawing very little current. Trigger switches current from power cable to outlets. Outlets are sequenced with 20 second on and five second off delay between pairs. This reduces power line problems. Visit your favorite gardening shop for more information.

Pure Food Gardening introduces Brand new Microclone Rack tray

The Microclone Rack Tray fits into standard chrome and steel

racks and holds prop trays neatly in rows of as many as four per shelf. Fluorescent fixtures, especially T5s, fit naturally in the plant shelves. Until now, growers watered and drained trays by hand. Clone trays can now be removed, replaced and moved with ease. The Microclone Rack Tray is 45 by 25.5 inches to fit all common rack units. The Rack Tray has a flat bottom and thin raised ridges for plenty of drainage and easy cleaning. Dual drain wells in the two front (or back) corners allow for optional drain/watering systems. A single shelf or an entire rack can be outfitted with rack trays, drain fittings and tubing for easy-drain watering. Ask your local indoor gardening shop to carry the new Microclone Rack Tray.

Continued on page 154

http://www.azasol.com/


http://www.humboldtwholesale.com/

by Lee MccaLL

Boosting the

Bloom

In “building the veg” (february 2011) I dem-onstrated how vigorous rooted cuttings could be encouraged to evolve into powerhouse adolescents with strong structure and flawless foliage. This article will take us to the next

level—we’ll see how these same plants can now tran-sition, stress-free, into flowering, supplemented with

only the highest quality nutritional elements engineered to stimulate overall fruit/flower mass and essential oil pro-duction. The end result, if carried out correctly, should be strong insect- and disease-free plants that possess healthy, dense foliage and plenty of potential fruit sites, and that will eventually yield heavy, copious harvests of high-quality, prime-grade produce.



http://www.sunblasterlighting.com/


TransitionThe initial transition from vegetative growth into flowering may induce stress on certain varietals and hybrids. Grow room factors such as ventilation, carbon dioxide enrichment and lighting may influence various growth patterns as well. Flowering is often autonomous in many different crops, though, and these types may not exhibit shock symptoms from light deprivation, transplanting or switching base nutrients from grow formulas to those intended for flowering/fruiting/blooming.Initial root health is always a major

contributing factor to what will be produced as a final product. Ensuring there is plenty of room for root expan-sion once a plant is induced into the flowering phase is imperative for allow-ing it to grow and mature, as bigger roots are needed to support the mass quantities of blooms and foliage that are produced during crop flowering cycles. If root growth is restricted, growth is stunted and yield may ultimately suffer.Growers using container gardening

techniques with soil, coco or soilless mixes may benefit from conducting the initial (seedling or cutting) vegetative growth cycle in smaller volume contain-ers (one half gallon to one gallon), and later upgrading to larger ones as needed for mature (three to eight week-plus) plants that become root bound. Once a plant is root or pot bound, overall growth is slowed dramatically. A variety of aeration containers are available in both fabric and injection molded types to prevent root circling, the main cause of root binding. These containers promote feeder root growth through root prun-ing, a technique that uses air to singe off root tips as they pierce through the fabric walls or into open pockets in the injection molded containers. As the root tips die off from the air, the resulting effect is dramatic feeder root stimulation. This technique is similar to topping and

cropping plants in order to achieve more tops and fruiting sites.Transplanting may be performed the

same day that the crop is induced into

flowering, or delayed so that the plant has time to adjust and settle into its ‘new home’ prior to beginning the bloom phase. Hydroponic growers mak-ing effective use of grow blocks, hydro-ton, silica rock or PET-1 as their choice of grow medium may achieve much larger plants and yields with much less grow medium in comparison to soil or soilless grow substrates. Depend-ing on the style

of system and method implemented, transplanting may also be completely unnecessary. For example, many DWC (deep water culture) and aeroponic systems are engineered to harbor small and large (six foot-plus) plants with-out having to transplant at all, due to self-contained reservoirs able to hold adequate amounts of nutrient solu-

tion over a given period of time. In drip irrigation and the occa-sional flood and drain system, four inch and six inch grow blocks will usually accumulate prolific root masses over the course of a two to four week veg cycle.

“Depending on the style of system and method

implemented, transplanting may...be

completely unnecessary.”

boosting the bLooM

50

These root bound blocks may be placed on grow slabs, coco coir mats or PET-1 mats in order to allow the roots extra room for growth and to provide simultaneous protection from light and direct air. Mesh-bottom containers and net pots full of other grow mediums may also be placed on rooting mats in order to promote the same effect as grow blocks.A mycorrhizal inoculant or a compost

tea heavy in beneficial bacteria, nema-todes and protozoa should be incor-porated in order to promote rapid root growth and healthy disease-free foliage and to deter transplant shock. Granular forms of Mycorrhizae are recommended for soil, coco and soilless container gar-

dening applications, and powder forms are available for

hydroponic systems. Always use a de-

chlorinator and a

sediment filter on the water source to preserve the activity and concentration of all microbial inoculants and teas. Tap water may not render these ‘live’ addi-tives completely useless, but the chlorine, chloramines and heavy metals found in municipal water supplies will definitely ensure the possibility that the additive or inoculants being utilized might not perform to their fullest potential.Finally, shower the garden with a high

quality seaweed (Ascophyllum nodosum) supplement when inducing the switch from veg into bloom. This luxuriant sea plant has been known to encourage fruit site development and bud sets in many crops—compared to controls without treatment—when first introduced into a flowering regimen. Many plants will triple in size once set into flowering as long as they are given desirable conditions and adequate space for the roots and foliage to grow into.

Bulking with P/KsIn weeks two through eight of the flowering stage it is impor-tant to be consistent and ensure that the crop does not fall victim to pest and mildew infes-tations, nutrient overdoses or de-ficiencies as their root masses grow.

Any one of these important factors—along with others—could be responsible for the failure of what might have been a bumper crop. Bloom-boosting products that incorporate plenty of L-amino acids and high-to-low ratios of phosphorous and potassium to nitrogen will fuel weight gain and aroma in blooms and stimulate sugar production in leaf tissue. ‘Carbo-loading’ is always beneficial dur-ing heavy fruiting phases. For growers using beneficial inoculants, these simple and complex sugars boost the levels of microbiological activity in the rhizo-sphere as they act as a food source for the micro-organisms. In sterile hydroponic

“Organic options may be derived from raw materials

like sugar cane, fruit ex-tracts, molasses or malt.”

boosting the bLooM

Maximum Yield USA | April 2011


applications, carbohydrates will enhance flesh density of the produce grown and encourage flavonoids, the metabolites in plants responsible for coloration that also act as antioxidants. Carbs are found in many different natural and synthetically pro-cessed forms. Organic options may be derived from raw materi-als like sugar cane, fruit extracts, molasses or malt. ‘Synthetically treated’—but not necessarily inorganic—products comprised from deoxyribose, lyxose, ribose, xylulose and xylose are some of my favorite products for bulking up produce and adding weight to the end result. Super-concentrated synthetic P/K boost-ing powder additives are also very popular for incorporat-ing into the feeding during the last weeks before harvest. High percentages of phosphorous and potassium such as a 0-50-30 mix will encourage ripening and last minute bulking in flowers, fruits and vegetables. These additives ‘trick’ the plant (so to speak) by overdosing its system with high amounts of P/K. This effect encourages early flower set when used in the transition weeks of the flowering stage and stimulates essential oil production in the last weeks. Many of these formulas are extremely concentrated, sometimes calling for as little as one teaspoon per five gal-lons of nutrient solution. Organic guano-based additives will provide similar effects with lower concen-trations of N-P-K, an option which might appeal to those who wish to garden completely free of synthetic additives and chemicals.In terms of atmospheric conditions, make sure that there is

boosting the bLooM

“Synthetically treated’—but not necessarily inor-

ganic—products...are some of my favorite products for

bulking up produce and add-ing weight to the end result.”

http://direct-hydro.com/


always plenty of fresh air exchange and control over intake and exhaust of the growing space: the ability to control these factors allows the grower complete automation for fine-tuning crop production. CO

2 enrichment is also always a plus if available.

Whether using compressed gas in bottles or propane/natural gas generators, aim for approximately 1,500 PPM around the plants. Even inducing these conditions in the garden just once a day will benefit your crop—CO

2 enrichment will generally increase

factors such as growth and overall weight by upwards of 15 per cent. And although not mandatory to achieve incredible results, the introduction of CO

2 never hurt anything if properly set up

and utilized.

ConclusionIn conjunction with simple routine maintenance—

like regularly replacing grow lamps, keeping the grow room clean and above all being consistent—

the information found in “Building the Veg” and “Boosting the Bloom” should

prove to be a useful reference to increase your ability to execute bumper crop produc-

tion. Moving forward, always conduct controlled experiments with

plenty of documentation so that all influential factors can be recorded to determine any gains or

losses from new techniques or products thrown into the mix. The information you record over the years as

you learn from your mistakes and figure out what works and what’s a waste of time and money will be your most

important tool as a grower—and one you might just be asked to pass down to your kids or grandkids one day! MY

http://direct-hydro.com/

ALONG WITH WASABI THERE ARE A NUMBER OF OTHER JAPANESE HERBS AND VEGETA-BLES THAT ARE QUICK AND EASY TO GROW INDOORS AND JUST A LITTLE BIT UNUSUAL.

Fiery green wasabi paste is well known to many a sushi lover, and its flavor and heat can become almost addictive. This exotic and expensive Japanese herb has a reputation as being difficult to grow, requiring high-quality cool run-ning water, specific conditions and just the right climate to thrive. In reality, however, wasabi is an almost perfect crop

for hydroponics, as in its natural habitat it grows on stony riverbanks and is considered to be semi-aquatic. Hydro-ponics set-ups that include flowing nutrient (which can be chilled if necessary), coarse-grade growing mediums and control over the environment are just about ideal for this eastern delicacy.



http://www.dyna-gro.com/

GroWING WAsABIWasabi japonica, also known as Japanese horseradish, is a member of the crucifer or mustard family, which contains other common-ly grown plants such as watercress, cabbage, cauli-flower, broccoli, mustard and horseradish. Wasabi has the typical mustard or horseradish heat, but it also has a subtly differ-ent and distinctive flavor, which is released from the stem tissue when it’s prepared or grated for eating fresh. The flavor of freshly grated wasabi is far superior to that of the processed product sold in ready-to-use tubes, but fresh wasabi stems are an expensive (often over US$100 per pound!) item with a limited shelf life. It is also thought that wasabi contains the cancer-fighting isothiocyanate compounds common to the cruciferous family, many of which may have medicinal and pharma-ceutical applications.

growing Japanese

Misome plants growing in an NFT system.

“Fresh wasabi needs to be eaten within 20 minutes of preparation, as the volatile

compounds released by grating dissipate rapidly.”

Both the leaves and smaller, lower-quality stems of the wasabi plant can be processed into a paste, while the larg-

est, higher-quality and thicker stems are usually sold whole, with three to four top leaves still attached. Fresh wasabi needs to be eaten within 20 minutes of preparation, as the volatile compounds released by grating dissipate rapidly. Since fresh wasabi has such a limited shelf life, wasabi lovers want to be able to harvest a suitably sized stem from their hydroponically grown plants and be consuming this within an hour in order

to get the greatest kick of flavor from the distinctive volatile compounds before oxidation occurs.

hYdroPoNIC sYsteMs For WAsABIFor a small wasabi system growing just a few plants, the ideal set-up is one that replicates the natural environment wasabi plants evolved in. Wasabi prefers condi-tions similar to those we might provide for orchids or ferns: a cool shady area with good air movement under and through the plant’s foliage, and moderate humid-ity levels with no direct sunlight or bright overhead lights. For those growing indoors this means that wasabi is a crop that doesn’t need a lot of expensive high-in-tensity grow lamps, and production under compact fluorescents is usually ideal. Think of the conditions under a dense canopy of well-developed trees on a moist, cool riv-erbank, and that’s what wasabi will thrive in. Wasabi prefers temperatures in the 50 to 68°F range, as conditions warmer than these result in leaf wilting during the day and reduced growth rates, with the plants

tending to decline as a result of tempera-ture stress. Wasabi prefers a rela-tively low EC in the nutrient of 1.0 to 1.2, or slightly lower during warmer weather. Standard grow or vegetative nutrient formula-tions are usu-

ally fine, although this is a crop that needs regular com-plete solu-tion changes every week for optimum growth. It seems that wasabi is one of those crops that



produces a lot of organic root exudates, which accumulate in recirculating systems, and growth seems to be boosted when the nutrient is replaced regularly.

ProPAGAtIoN oF WAsABIOnce there are mature plants in the system, propagation is rela-tively easy—mature plants usually produce a number of small off-shoots around two to three larger main stems. These can be gently cut or pulled away from the main plant and planted up for new stock. Many of the young wasabi plants or plantlets being sold are grown from these offshoots when the main stems have been har-vested. Wasabi can also be grown from seed, although this can be slow and unpredictable as the seed is dormant at harvest and needs a period of cool storage before germination will begin.

“For a small wasabi system growing just a few plants, the ideal set-up is one that replicates the natural environment

wasabi plants evolved in.”

http://www.hydro-organics.com/


Red and green perilla or `sushi herb’.

“Perilla is raised from seed, but the seed must be relatively fresh as viability falls with age and older seed may have low

germination rates.”

Wasabi plants can also be raised in tissue culture, which is particularly good for preventing some of the fungal pathogens which can be transferred when offsets are used for propagation.Large-grade wasabi stems suitable for harvest develop over an

18 to 24 month period; however, smaller stems and leaves can be harvested before that for immediate use, and will still have that distinctive wasabi flavor—although not the same degree of heat as a mature stem. As the older leaves develop and age they fall from the stem of the plant, leaving a leaf scar, and it is this increasing length of leafless stem that is the harvestable portion of the plant. Stem thickness ranges from 0.4 to 1.2 inches, and length at harvest is usually at least 5.9 inches.

other JAPANese herBs ANd GreeNsFast-growing greens such as mizuna, mibuna, misome, kom-atsuna and mustard are all well suited to the same hydro-ponic systems and conditions that are used for lettuce and other salad crops. Generally these greens are all incredibly

growing Japanese



Wasabi plants at 10 months old.

fast growing—producing dense clumps of attractive green foliage within a few weeks—and are a nice complement to have alongside wasabi. Perilla, also known as shiso, or the sushi herb, is available in attractive green and reddish purple forms with its appearance resembling that of ornamental coleus plants. Perilla is an essential Japanese herb commonly used as a garnish of whole leaves, sprouted seeds or seedling leaves with cooked dishes, pickles and raw fish. The flavor of perilla is similar to basil, although often milder, with over-tones of cilantro.Unlike many other Japanese greens, perilla is not cold-tolerant

and requires warm conditions and reasonably high light levels for maximum color development. Temperatures in the 64 to 79°F range produce good growth rates, and in Japan the crop is produced in winter in greenhouses with heating and artificial light. Perilla is raised from seed, but the seed must be relatively fresh as viability falls with age and older seed may have low germination rates. Seedlings for hydroponic systems can be grown in much the same way as basil transplants; in grow cubes or small pots of media with between two to six seedlings per cube being sown. Perilla crops grown hydroponically also need a higher EC

than would be used for most herbs: EC levels of 1.6 to 2.0 help



Mature wasabi plant showing main harvestable stem and small off-shoots, which are used to propagate new plants.

develop and maintain intense red coloration and help keep the plants compact and well flavored. In Japan, perilla is commonly grown as a seedling crop and cut at the 35 to 40 day stage, but plants grown for home use can be cropped for longer, so that the edible flowers can also be used in Japanese cuisine.

Other intriguing Japanese vegetables include the radishes, which hold a special place in Japanese cuisine and have mul-tiple uses. Daikon, aomaru, koshin and minowase are all large radish types that can be grown hydroponically, and generally the flesh is succulent, crisp and well flavored if grown rapidly. The long white daikon radish is a large plant, with the root reach-ing over two pounds in weight in many cases, and is best suited

growing Japanese

“In good growing conditions, smaller Japanese radishes can be harvested

in as little as 50 days from sow-ing, and can then be used grated, steamed, pickled or stir fried for a

distinctive hot/sweet flavor.”

http://www.horticontrol.com/


sources of information and plantlets:www.richters.comwww.mountaingardensherbs.com/specialties.htmlwww.cityfarmer.org/wasabi.html

Harvested hydroponic wasabi stem ready for use.

to large, deep media beds of coco fiber or similar material, which won’t restrict the expansion of the root. The smaller, round green- and purple-fleshed Japa-nese radishes take up less space and will grow well in temperatures of 61 to 79°F at shorter day lengths or lighting cycles, as the plants are prone to going to seed (bolting) if long days are encountered. In good growing conditions, smaller Japa-nese radishes can be harvested in as little as 50 days from sowing, and can then be used grated, steamed, pickled or stir fried for a distinctive hot/sweet flavor.We are no longer restricted to growing

growing Japanese

Japanese radishes make a great condiment.Young wasabi plantlets being propagated from seed.

those plants and vegetables suited to the climate and the soil of the area we live in—indoors we can now create pretty much any growing environment a plant is likely to need. Now we are able to

replicate the conditions of a cool, shady Japanese mountain stream, where we can grow succulent wasabi and fresh exotic greens as well as ferns and many other beautiful and relaxing plants.MY

http://www.horticontrol.com/


http://www.vermicrop.com/


http://www.dutchmaster.com.au/

STRONG STEMS,HEALTHY PLANTS

bY MATT LEbANNiSTEr

The three main culprits of weak or stretched stems and ways to toughen them up.

There are many variables that must be considered when setting out to grow consistently healthy plants. When growing indoors, gardeners must take responsibility for meeting all of their plants’ needs. However, having the right knowledge can give indoor gardeners a big advantage over outdoor growers, because while traditional outdoor gardeners are more or less at the mercy of their local soil and weather conditions, indoor growers have the ability to maximize crop potential by customizing the growing environment to meet their plants’ specific requirements.



http://www.xtremenutrients.com/


Controlling temperature indoors means there are no unexpected spring frosts or protracted heat waves, while having the abil-ity to feed plants frequently with a nutrient solution specifically designed for each stage of growth allows the indoor gardener to fully meet the plants’ nutritional needs. Natural sunlight is replaced by light bulbs de-signed to mimic the sun, but also to give plants the perfect intensity and spectrum for their particular stage of growth. Plants can be watered fre-quently and allowed to drain, keeping them from drying out or drowning. The only real disadvantage facing indoor gardeners, in fact, is that they are in complete charge of their crops—if something goes wrong, it’s because they did something wrong, and they can’t blame it on the weather.Weak, limp, discolored or stretched stems are major symp-

toms that indicate one or more of the needs of your plants are not being met. Weak stems will not transport water and nutrients efficiently throughout the plant, greatly diminish-ing potential yield. They cannot support large leaves, fruit or flowers and can be damaged easily.Certain conditions affecting the overall health of the plant

tend to manifest themselves as afflictions of the plant stem. Most stem problems can be treated and all can be prevented, though—with a little knowledge and foresight.

The most common cause of weak or stretching stems is an inadequate source of light. When plants do not receive light of sufficient intensity for their growing phase they can begin to grow thin and spindly as they stretch towards the light source. The stems of plants left growing on the furthest edge of the range of a light source will often begin to reach toward the middle, and will be noticeably weaker than those directly under the light. This can be remedied a number of ways. Rotating the plants periodically so that they each get equal time directly under the light can help keep stems from stretching. Sometimes just adding reflective material—either mirrored or flat white—around the edge of the growing area can help to keep light in, or you can install an apparatus

called a light mover to move the light source around over the garden, effectively distribut-ing light evenly to all your plants.

Sometimes all your plants can begin to stretch. This is most likely because the light is simply not strong enough. Fast-growing plants in their vegetative stage require lights that can provide them with 2,500 lumens/foot candles of light for 18 uninterrupted hours a day in order to maintain vigorous health and strong stems. Flowering plants need 10,000 lumens/foot

candles of light for 12 uninterrupted hours

“Weak stems will not transport water and nutrients efficiently throughout the plant, greatly diminishing potential yield.”

strong steMs, heaLthy pLants


http://www.sunpulse.com/

a day to produce fruit and flowers to their maximum potential.Each different wattage and type of bulb

will have a different output, and since light diminishes exponentially over distance, these two variables must be factored in when determining the right bulb for you and the correct distance to hang that bulb from in order to effectively light your plants. For exam-ple, plants growing two feet away from the light source are receiving four times less light than plants one foot away from the light source receive. To tell how much light in lumens your plants are actually receiving from the light source, divide the light output by the distance squared.Nitrogen is another factor that is

highly important in leaf and stem development as well as overall plant health. It is a macronutrient that plants need in relatively large amounts—although less so when fruiting or flowering. Nitrogen is largely responsible for the chloro-phyll in leaves, making it essential for photosynthesis, and also plays a signifi-cant role in the production of certain amino acids and enzymes.


When nitrogen reaches toxic levels within the plant, how-ever, certain adverse symptoms may become pronounced. Plants may appear overly green and lush, yet growth will be stunted and fruit may have trouble setting. Stems will be-come weak and can be easily damaged. They will also be able to be bent over with little resistance, and the tissue in the stem that transports water throughout the plant will begin to break down, restricting the uptake of water by the plant.There are a few causes of nitrogen toxicity. There could

be too much nitrogen present in the growing medium or hydroponic solution, in which case flushing the growing medium with straight pH balanced water or with a clearing solution can help rid the medium and plant of the built-up nitrogen. You should also use a quality plant nutrient for-mula like pine tree oil extract, which is a natural source of nitrogen and relatively safe compared to other nitrogen-rich nutrient additives because the risk of toxicity is low.There is another relatively common disorder that affects

the stems of plants during their seedling phase, known as Pythium wilt or damping-off. Seedlings that are afflicted will seem to rot at the point where the stem and the grow-ing medium meet. This is a fungal infection of the plant tis-sue that will eventually cause the stem to be unable to take

up water and nutrients from the roots, causing the seedling to eventually fall

over and die.

“Nitrogen is largely responsible for the chlorophyll in leaves, making it essential for photosynthesis.”



http://www.solis-tek.com/

To prevent Pythium wilt from afflicting your seedlings, plant them in well-drained soil with plenty of light. If the air becomes too stagnant or humid, damping-off is likely to occur. Humidity domes can be used to keep the air and root zone humid while seedlings or cuttings grow, helping to prevent the fragile roots from drying out. Humidity domes should be ventilated or removed once a day for 10 minutes to allow the seedlings or cuttings to be exposed to some dryer air, thus reducing the risk of them damping-off.Using a sterile growing medium can also help

prevent Pythium wilt. To sterilize your own soil—this is best done in mid-summer—simply place it in a clear plastic bag and leave it in direct sunlight. The sun will heat up the soil, killing any harmful pests and bacteria. Soil can also be baked in an oven at 350°F for 10 to 15 minutes.Adding a layer of dry material along the soil line will help

to keep the surface dry and also reduces the likelihood of fungal growth. Sand, perlite or fine sphagnum moss is ideal for this.Once a couple of weeks have passed, plant stems will

toughen up enough for them to no longer be at risk of contracting the damping-off fungus.Another fungal infection that can cause stems to be weak

and droop is verticillium wilt. This disorder can affect plants in every stage of growth, although the symptoms of verticillium wilt will most often first appear on the lower and outer parts of the plant. Stems and leaves will become weak and begin to droop, and the interior of the stems may become discolored.Cleanliness is the best way to prevent verticilli-

um wilt. Thoroughly cleaning equipment between crop rotations can help, and sterilizing tools when taking cuttings is essential to prevent the spread of the fungus from one plant to another. This is important since plants are at their most vulnerable when being cut—with the stress involved, and the fact that there is an open wound created, through which the fungi could find easy access to the plant’s vital systems.

Keeping your grow room well ventilated and making sure plants are not spaced too closely together can also reduce the risk of verticillium wilt. There is no cure for this infection, so plants that are noticeably afflicted must be destroyed in order to prevent the transfer of the disease to the remaining healthy plants.There are a number of reasons your plant stems may

seem stretched or weak, although insufficient light inten-sity, nutrient toxicity and disease are the most common

culprits. Keep these factors in check and you’ll go a long way toward preventing plant stem problems from ever oc-curring—which will lead to generations of healthy plants with strong stems. MY

“Keeping your grow room well ventilated and making sure plants are not spaced too closely together can also reduce the risk of verticillium wilt.”




http://www.house-garden.us/

BEGINNER’S CORNER

BY Mike TaTTersall

»How toKILL Indoor Gnats


Gnats are commonly found in house-plants and are attracted to ripe fruit and vegetables in your kitchen. In fact, they are in the same family as fruit flies. To keep pesky gnats at bay, follow these simple guidelines.Houseplants that are infested with

indoor gnats need to be taken outside. Once outside, take off the top layer of soil and replace with new soil. Gnats breed in the soil, so once you remove the old topsoil, you are effectively eliminating the eggs that will otherwise become more hungry little gnats. Be sure not to overwater your houseplants, unintentionally creating the conditions that gnats love to breed.To kill the indoor gnats that are hang-

ing around your kitchen, there are several things you can do. First, place any fruit and vegetables inside your refrigerator and do not leave food on your counters. Food, especially fruit and vegetables that are left out in the open, are like a big, flashing welcome mat for

Gnats. these tinY Yet harMless insects are a coMMon pest nuisance inside the hoMe, especiallY durinG WarM Weather of sprinG and suMMer When conditions are ideal for their survival. While there MaY not be a WaY to avoid theM coMpletelY, You can treat the probleM once these uninvited Guests set up caMp in Your hoMe.

gnats. Simply put, gnats need food to survive. If you take it away, they will die.Be sure to

store your trash in a sealable container or within a cabi-net. If gnats can easily access the food located in your trash, they will continue to feed and thus stay happily satisfied in your home. Take the trash out regularly to keep the old food out of your home and away from tempting hungry gnats.To trap and kill persistent gnats that

are still indoors, fill a bowl with vin-egar. Gnats love the smell of vinegar and are attracted to it. Seal plastic wrap over the bowl and poke a few holes into the wrap, to create a trap for the

gnats. They will find their way into the vinegar but not be able to get out and will soon die. Refill the

bowl with new vinegar as needed.

Ammonia can be effective for keep-ing gnats away from

the drain in your kitchen sink where rotting food is likely

to be. Pour a little down the drain and do

not use your sink for a few hours so the scent is not washed away.Indoor garden stores sell sprays that are

specifically formulated to kill indoor gnats. Because these sprays contain pesticides, be extra cautious where you spray them and avoid spraying them in areas where food is served or consumed.(Source: www.howtodothings.com)

Maximum Yield USA | April 2011 77

4GAre You reAdY for AccelerAtion?

Advancements in led technology are moving for-ward at lightning speed. As led light output records are broken in rapid succession, it’s no wonder that leds are swiftly overtaking traditional methods of lighting across various industries. in fact, leds are now projected to eventually become the primary il-lumination source for most lighting applications.

SpectrAl HAlo BrinGS ledS up to SpeedBY BriAn cHiAnG And joSH puckett


79Maximum Yield USA | March 2011

http://www.getbluelab.com/


Moore’s law and Haitz’s lawToday’s LED lighting revolution is often compared to the digital revolution that started in the late ‘60s. Intel’s co-founder Gordon Moore predicted in 1965 that integrated circuits (or computer CPUs) would go on to double in complexity about every two years. This prediction later became known as ‘Moore’s Law’, and 45 years later it remains the standard that manufactur-ers in the semi-conductor industry strive for. Consumers enjoy the benefits of this ever-increasing digital processing power on their desktop PCs, their laptops and now their numerous mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets and miniscule digital music and video players.Dr. Roland Haitz, a scientist from Agilent Technologies,

made a similar prediction for LED technology. He proposed in 2000 that LED light output efficiency would double roughly every two years. Known by people in the LED busi-ness as ‘Haitz’s Law’, this prediction is being closely moni-tored by industry insiders.Haitz’s Law has held up in the past decade, and countless

companies have rushed into the LED field for a chance to stake out this new frontier. The energy crisis, in addition to other environmental concerns, has caused governments worldwide to invest in this LED ‘gold rush’. Many governments are now set-ting policies and allocating research funds to aid in the develop-ment and acceleration of this advanced technology.Four important factors—the amazing potential of the tech-

nology, enormous market opportunity, massive private-sector investment and public incentive programs—have contributed to

Four 4G LED grow lights over cucumber plants.

are yoU reaDy For 4g acceLeration?

So what is the history of the led move-ment and where is it heading? More im-portantly, though—what does all this mean for the indoor gardening industry?


unprecedented and explosive growth in the LED industry. With better, brighter and more cost-efficient LED lighting products appearing every day, consumers everywhere are now able to reap the fruits of this movement.

led grow lights for indoor gardeningLED lighting can be roughly divided into four different levels of applications: decorative lighting (Christmas lights), general light-ing (white light), professional-level lighting (stage and theatrical lights) and spectrum-specific lighting (bio and machine vision applications). Each level has its own set of requirements and technical challenges. For decorative lighting, light output is not as much of an issue as cost. When considering general lighting, LED efficiency is the main concern. In professional-level light-ing, uniformly mixed colors from different LED chips is a must. And finally, for spectrum-specific lighting, industry requirements come right down to the precise calibration of each wavelength of light.

LED grow lights are at the top end of spectrum-specific LED lights. Not only does wavelength mix matter, light intensity is also critical. On top of that, the environment the lights are expected to perform in may not be the most ideal, so there are many engineering considerations that must be taken into ac-count when designing an LED lighting product for the indoor gardening industry.

Great expectationsMost indoor gardeners are extremely passionate about optimiz-ing the efficiency of their operations, and their influence has caused the industry to drastically improve hydroponic grow-ing methods in the past 30 years. When LED grow lights first appeared on the market a few years ago, in fact, it was chiefly the indoor growers who quickly and bravely embraced this new innovation because of their strong desire to see meaningful progress in the science of growing.Unfortunately, many LED grow light sellers understood this

mentality and took full advantage of it by making outrageous claims about LED grow light performance. Some vendors published marketing slogans that promised gardeners would be able to “replace a 1,000 watt HID with a 90 watt LED!” Many growers jumped on board with high expectations, but after the LEDs did not perform as warranted, they were left broken-hearted. Not only did these LEDs not save on energy, many were poorly made, causing them to break down quickly instead of lasting the expected thousands of hours.Growers who bought products in this first wave of interest in

LED grow lights were often left with such a bad taste in their mouths that many swore never again to use another LED prod-uct. Hydroponics storeowners started to call LED salespeople ‘snake oil salesmen’ because LEDs could not possibly live up to the marketing hype. However, the industry is currently under-going a rapid transformation, with better companies and vastly improved products now beginning to dominate the market.

What’s next? from christmas lights to 4G spectral haloThe personal computer (PC) revolution of the ‘80s went through many stages. Intel came out with countless generations of processors: x286, x386, x486, Pentium, Pentium II and so on. Each new CPU represents another upgrade in computing power


Vegetative experiment set-up involving Husky Red cherry tomatoes.

“When considering general lighting, led efficiency is the main concern. in professional-level lighting, uni-formly mixed colors from different led chips is a must.”

http://www.mygreenplanet.com/


and requires a new set of hardware (motherboard, memory chip, etc.) to work with. The same holds true for wireless communi-cations. From the little pager/beeper of the ‘90s, we now have a fully integrated smartphone that can run HD videos on the next generation 4G network.Commercially available LED grow lights have also undergone

significant generational changes. The first generation (1G) of LED grow lights in the market were little more than decora-tion. A mom-and-pop company put together some red and blue LEDs while citing NASA’s LED grow light experiment results and proclaimed a new, energy-efficient way of growing. Growers who experimented with this 1G light were uniformly disappointed with the poor results.When one watt high-brightness LEDs started to appear on

the market, a few more companies joined in. These second generation (2G) LED grow lights offered better light output, but the higher-wattage LEDs also gave off more heat. Many of the poorly designed


Husky Red cherry tomatoes under deep purple tomatoes.

http://www.growstone.com/


http://www.vitalearthsproducts.com/


grow lights had not taken this into consideration and would burn out quickly, often in a few months. Growers who tried the 2G lights were able to see some benefits in using them, but were frequently discouraged by their unreliability.Through field trials and grow experiments, LED grow light

suppliers have now begun to accumulate a better understanding of spectrum as a concept. Together with technology improve-ments, the third generation (3G) grow light made a drastic leap. Changes were seen in two key areas: larger companies brought in higher-wattage LEDs with active fan cooling, and the con-cept of spectrum instead of color alone became the focus. In this generation, dense matrix LED technology emerged on the market and became an option for growers who required high- intensity lighting. At this point growers really started to pay attention to LED grow lights, noting positive results during the vegetative phase in particular.With more reputable companies in the market, growers are

also now better able to distinguish the good apples from the bad ones. The shift to LEDs really got started in this third generation and now it seems they’re poised to dominate the industry. Many are asking, what is after 3G? Is there something new coming out? What will a 4G LED grow light bring?The new dense matrix LED platform is now here. In the 4G

LED grow light, a much higher-powered dense matrix LED will deliver significantly greater light output and penetration. To


“With more reputable companies in the market, growers are also now better able to distinguish the good apples from the bad ones.”

Husky Red cherry tomatoes from the fruiting experiments.

http://www.capcontrollers.com/

http://www.gurugrowlights.com/



manage this high-power device, a brand new cooling system has been introduced and is integrated into the grow light. A specially designed vapor-cooling chamber quickly removes excess heat from the LED core to achieve maximum thermal efficiency. Just as a turbo engine in a car requires an advanced cooling system, the thermal design in the 4G LED grow light must be extremely sophisticated. In addition to this advancement in technology, the range of color in 4G LED lighting has been further refined, with more optimized spectra for different stages of plant growth.

4G led grow light experimentWe did several experiments using 80 watt 4G LED grow lights with Husky Red cherry tomatoes. Featuring the special vapor-cooling technology to draw heat away, this light puts out more than 2.5 times the light intensity of the grow lights we used in previous studies. For this lab study, we grew the Husky Red cherry tomatoes and collected data during both the vegetative and reproductive phases of growth. Experiments were conducted in standard four foot by four foot grow tents, and conditions were monitored on a daily basis.

Using the 4G grow light, a deep purple spectrum was created for the vegetative phase. This spectrum has a higher concentra-tion of blue wavelengths, to promote vegetative performance. We used four deep purple LED grow lights and compared the results against conventional lighting systems of higher wattage.Plants grown beneath these LED units displayed larger stem

widths, higher rates of branching, higher vegetative biomass and reduced plant height due to internode shortening—which all equates to denser vegetative growth. By emitting PAR-specific wavelengths that cater to chlorophyll produc-tion, plants growing beneath these units exhibit a healthier, darker green color than usual.For the reproductive tests, we selected 4G LED grow

lights using an optimized magenta spectrum. In the perfor-mance comparison against conventional lighting systems of more than twice the wattage, results under 4G LED grow lights showed increased flower production and higher rates of fruit onset and came out ahead in overall yields. In some cases fruit ripened at a faster rate in crops growing under the 4G LED grow lights; in another experiment, bigger fruit was generated.

Results of the vegetative experiments.

A 4G LED grow light. The green represents the new vapor chamber.

“plants grown beneath these led units displayed larger stem widths, higher rates of branching, higher vegetative biomass and reduced plant height due to internode shortening—which all equates to denser vegetative growth.”

The results from growing under 4G LED lighting systems have been very promising, and these successes have encouraged researchers and lighting manufacturers to forge ahead with steps to usher in the next generation of LED grow lights.

the spectral revolutionWe’ve written quite a few articles on LEDs in the past 12 months. Some readers might be wondering—are you guys done yet? Not only are we not done, we’re just at the begin-ning! Take hydroponic growing—30 years from its inception, manufacturers still come out with new and better nutrients every year. Growers everywhere continue to test and refine novel growing techniques. By the same token, there are infi-nite possibilities to be explored with the wavelength-tuning ability of LEDs. LED light output efficiency will continue to increase, and useful new spectrum combinations will contin-ue to be discovered and implemented. So what are you wait-ing for? Get on board and join the spectral revolution! MY


http://www.sierranaturalscience.com/

AVANT- GARDENING

Although the calendar tells us that ev-ery new year begins in January, it’s hard

to argue that from a gardener’s point of view the year begins with the first new

buds of spring. But everything good that comes out of your garden at harvest time grows from the careful planning and hard work you put in months before, and early spring is the perfect time to put in the effort to ensure success in the months ahead. A small amount of plan-ning now can help provide a continuous flow of food from your

garden this coming season.This month also begins the season of dor-

mant pruning of your fruit trees, cane berries, bush berries, grapes and roses. I recommend researching correct

pruning techniques for each variety before cut-ting anything, due to the variety of responses from species to species and the different types of cuts to be made.Take the opportunity of plant dormancy to

do hard woodcuttings. This method is the most cost-effective and foolproof way to propagate deciduous woody perennials. Try lilacs, roses, figs and grapes, to name a few.Winter is the best time to mulch and top dress but early

spring works too—a thick top dress is always a good idea dur-ing late winter rains. A blend of humus concentrates, guano mix, earthworm castings and organic compost will provide your soil and plants with the nutrients they need when getting ready for a new season. You can prevent erosion and protect

soil structure by mulching exposed soil, especially if it is sloped. Wood chips, cardboard, straw and newspaper can all help pro-tect bare garden soil from the power of Mother Nature.Environmentally conscious gardeners should be aware of the

effects of their garden additives. With miles of aisles of syn-thetic pesticides and fertilizers to choose

from it can sometimes be hard to resist quick and easy answers, but there

are solutions out there for healthy non-toxic garden systems. The

biologic method of making compost extract and active

aerobic compost extract

PLANNING A GARDEN FOR SPRING

by Robbie Martin

Take the opportunity of plant dormancy to do hard wood-cuttings. This method is the most cost-effective and fool-

proof way to propagate deciduous woody perennials.

the following easy-to-implement eco-solutions will help you

prepare your garden for spring.



will enliven any soil, from an urban backyard to mono-cropped industrial agricultural acreage. Any reputable local grow store should be able to provide all of the proper equipment for pro-ducing your own compost extracts to ensure the best results.Extractor bags enable you to instantly make compost extract in any

type of container. Comprised of quality mesh screen, extractor bags are sized for microbial and nutrient extraction. Directions and recipes are usually included with these long-lasting durable products.

If active aerobic compost extract is what you’re after, complete kits for making your own compost extract in seven, 15, 55, 300 and 1,000 gallon sizes are available on the market now. These kits include durable, easy-to-clean components that are effective at extracting the most from your compost.Spring is in the air all around us, and now is the time to get

your garden ready for the warm weather and abundant harvests ahead. A well-prepared gardener is usually a successful garden-er—and isn’t that the kind of gardener you’d like to be? MY

Extractor bags enable you to instantly make compost extract in any type of container. Comprised of quality mesh screen, extractor bags are sized for microbial and nutrient extraction.

http://www.delta9nutrients.com/

Are Plants ConSCiouS?by Peter Vakomies

Most gardeners would agree that plants

are influenced by their environment,

but how many of us feel that plants are

also conscious of their surroundings?



Animals move quickly, have emotions and react instinctually. Animals—to a greater or lesser degree, depending on their so-phistication—think and plan, remember and respond. What do plants do to demonstrate similar levels of awareness?

Are plants “awake” in the day and “asleep” at night?Consider how a plant reacts to day and night. “Waking up” is a big change for a vascular plant. The moment the lights turn on in a greenhouse or grow room, crops undergo a grand shift in molecular and anatomical processes. In C3 plants’ stomata are closed in the dark, so after sunrise they open wide and begin to release moisture into the air. Transpiration starts in the morning, and this could be considered a physiological sign that plants are now awake. At night the stomata close, and the humid exhala-tion of water vapor stops.Once light levels are high enough, the green photosynthetic

membranes inside cells repolarize and metabolic pools recharge and replenish. Chloroplasts heat up and become photoelectric battery (i.e. ATP) chargers and, with the first morning light,

daytime biosynthesis begins. At night, with stomata closed, plants cease making proteins that consume energy and

enzymes that drive photosynthesis and most other biosyn-thetic pathways—they reduce metabolism to almost zero as

they “sleep”.

http://www.hydrohuts.com/


to other plants via these airborne bio-chemicals to increase their immune de-fences before the pests reach them. This is an example of how plants are aware of what is happening above ground in their whole ecosystem. These volatile compounds have a direct effect on gene expression—new proteins and molecules are made in response to these volatile cues. It seems clear that in this way plants have a broadcast method of communicat-ing to the whole community of plants around them.Below ground as well, a similar ex-

change of molecules is going on all the time at a very intimate level between individual plants and Mycorrhizae, which are the symbiotic fungi growing inside and between the roots of plants. Sepa-rate plants exchange metabolites and chemical resources through their roots using the bridges created by the mycelial growth of Mycorrhizae. These include biomolecules made in the leaves of one plant that are carried via the subter-ranean network to another plant’s roots. This below-ground movement of bio-synthesized molecules between plants is a second form of biochemical communica-tion—the exchanges represent expres-sions of active growth from the canopy above the ground and are plant-secreted signals that are broadcast underground.

Plant hormones versus neuotransmittersPlant neurobiology, a new field of sci-entific research, assumes plants possess most of the same fundamental capaci-ties animals use to be conscious. Plant neurobiology is the study of how plants transmit information via fast-acting electrical signals, vessicle-mediated auxin

are pLants conscioUs?

Many of us have seen how sunflowers will track the sun west-ward until sunset, but did you know they reorient themselves to face eastward before dawn?”“

One of the biggest contrasts between day and night for plants involves the concentrations of hormones called phy-tochromes. These are light-sensitive hor-mones found in all leaves that essentially wake up the plant’s genetic mechanisms to face the new day when the lights come on. They also control the genetic switches that direct growth by plants, and determine all growth responses such as when plants grow vegetatively or whether they bloom. Phytochromes are the time-keeper hormones in plants, just as melatonin secreted from the pineal gland regulates the sense of time in ani-mals. Although plants have not evolved endocrine glands and neurons, they do sense time in a remarkably similar way using their phytochromes. We can see by this similarity that at least on some level plants share with animals the ability to tell night from day and to measure time in a meaningful way—certainly both ba-sic functions we recognize in “conscious” organisms.

CommunicationWe know that plants can communicate using chemical signals, but does this sig-nify actual consciousness? The ability to communicate—information being sent, received and processed—would seem to imply at least a basic level of chemical awareness in plants.There are two kinds of plant commu-

nication that operate by the exchange of chemical signals—above-ground and below-ground. Above-ground commu-nication happens when a wounded shoot causes the release of volatile phenolic compounds such as jasmonic acid and water-soluble salicylic acid. When a plant is attacked by an insect predator it signals


transport from cell to cell and long-distance communication via volatile phenolics.Plant hormones like auxins, cytokinins and giberellins are used

by plants in ways that are identical to how neurotransmitters or neurohormones are involved in animal nervous systems. Aux-ins are especially comparable to plant neurotransmitters—the molecular structure of the auxin molecule is very similar to mammalian tryptamine neurotransmitters such as serotonin, melatonin and others secreted by the brain. Interestingly, plants also synthesize melatonin and serotonin, which are key animal neurotransmitters.Plant neurobiologists study how hormones like auxins travel

up the plant’s cellular network in concentrated waves, form-ing zones of high auxin content separated by gaps of less auxin, moving at measurable rates of inches per hour. These waves of auxin are perceived by the target tissues all along the distance they travel. After travelling many feet, auxin-waves reach the tips of shoots as pulses of information—information that was sent from the root tips concerning how to grow. Imagine the entire root system as an underground network that communicates to its shoot tips by a variable frequency of slow auxin pulses. Deep underground, the root system’s meristematic tips communicate to the organism’s extreme other end with pulses of hormones, all the way down the stem to where fruits and flowers will eventually form. In higher plants these two ends of the organ-ism are linked by a watery vascular system in which the cell-sap, the cytoplasm, is often fused into a continuous apoplasm, a long and very electrically conductive gel, separated by vascular elements and sieve-plates. This vascular network both inside and outside cells is the plant’s nervous system, conducting both neurohormone and electrical signals.

Plants cells as nervesIt’s easy to imagine auxin-waves slowly moving up the plant as a primal type of neurotransmission that is “slow” relative to animal nerves. However, plants also use electrical action poten-tials to send signals. Because of the constant stimuli present in nature, plants are riddled with electrical impulses communicat-ing between cells and tissues. Studies have shown that the fast electrical impulses travelling from a stressed point on a root or leaf cause the genes in other cells in the plant to turn on and make more protective kinase enzymes. These electrical messages are sent within the injured plant and communicate danger along vascular tissues all over the plant from root tip to shoot tip well in advance of the volatile jasmonate warning signals soon to follow in the air.

Plant movementAny intentional movement—such as growing towards or away from stimuli—suggests plants are at least to some degree conscious. Plants move toward light and are affected by gravity and touch through the mechanisms we have worked out called positive phototropism, geotropism and thigmotropism, and each of these movements and growth responses by plants involves the pulsating redistribution of hormones like auxin.

http://www.phatfilter.com/


Many of us have seen how sunflowers will track the sun westward until sunset, but did you know they reorient them-selves to face eastward before dawn? In

July, when the buds are just starting to form, they are especially phototropic. After midnight, when it is still fully nighttime and dark, Giant Russian

Sunflowers already know to swing their apical floral buds to face 180 degrees the opposite way. It is the auxin pulses in the stem that control this movement, and this vivid example of phototropism does suggest that sunflow-ers know where to be looking for the sun long before it appears.

Do plants remember?Other expressions of plant growth form massive storage reserves underground—imagine perennial roots as a plant-consciousness memory bank. A type of vegetal “brain” would be multiple plants growing close together, such as a green-house crop or a natural ecosystem of

are pLants conscioUs?

The most invasive plant species, like bamboo and morning glory, send exploratory roots through house foundations and under streets and grow shoot meristems all along their length.”“

http://www.sunlandgarden.com/


plants. Any biodiverse eco-system sustained by plants has a vegetal brain, and the more species present, the smarter the vegetal brain in that area.Root growth under-

ground is often the longest-lasting part of the plant organism, the last

part to die or fade. Could roots be like a kind of mem-

ory? Root tips are also explor-atory sense organs, looking for

water, nutrients and symbionts, and over time this map of root explora-

tion forms a gradually increasing trace or “knowledge” of the soil substrate. Roots could be “learning” about their subsoil environment as they grow, and using their exuded chemi-cal signals to cooperate with

symbiotic creatures and to avoid stress and pests as they memorize

the area underground for exploit-able resources.

Are they conscious?The most invasive plant species, like bamboo and morning glory, send exploratory roots through house foundations and under streets and grow shoot meristems all along their length. Single plants or colonies of clones form a vegetal network of “plant experience” in all environments they are connected to—some trees even send roots into our homes following drainage water courses. Do they “know” what they are after, can they tell friend from foe or are they just blindly reaching for resources?If plant consciousness is like ours, then we should see some-

thing that resembles consciousness in their growth habits. For example, can we see something like a plant memory? Do they sleep, do they communicate, are there fast electrical and neu-rohormonal types of cell-to-cell signaling systems in plants? It would seem that plants do in fact possess all of these traits to some degree. But what about the higher functions of con-sciousness? Do plants show any ability to predict the future, and do plants “decide” the best choice or course of action? We just don’t know. After growing a few plants anyone might feel intui-tively that consciousness is present, but for now it’s in the hands of the plant neurobiologists. MY

http://www.organicairfilter.com/

In Search of the Perfect Grow

(indoor garden beds, soilless mixes and saving money)

by Casey Jones Fraser

If you are looking to simplify your gardening experience while simultaneously producing outstanding yields, keep reading.



In Search of the Perfect Grow

http://www.hydrofarm.com/


Have you ever noticed how plants grow in nature, versus the way we grow plants in gardens? You won’t find any plastic buckets in a field or a forest. Plants certainly don’t require the con-tainers and pots we grow them in—we only place plants into individual con-tainers for moving and sorting reasons. People are always asking me what is the best size of container for flowering. The answer is almost always, “Bigger than what you are using!”

“Most indoor gardeners grow annuals (plants that don’t come back each year), such as tomatoes, peppers and basil. The nature of annual plants involves rooting for one season.”

in search oF the perFect grow

Overhead view of soilless bed. Four by four foot flood tray with four by four by one foot tray liner.

So let’s talk about the ‘perfect con-tainer’. It depends on how you grow your plants. For ebb and flow gardens and for those who prefer aeroponic or deep water culture, the ideas discussed here will not apply.Most indoor gardeners grow annuals

(plants that don’t come back each year), such as tomatoes, peppers and basil. The nature of annual plants involves rooting for one season. Trees and other perennials cre-ate long, deep root systems to survive the

harsh winter, but annuals root differently. In nature, your annual plants would typically produce roots that grow one foot or more down into the ground, but which might grow several feet outward in diameter. When we place these plants into small containers, or containers that are taller than they are wide, we are fighting nature.Another aspect of allowing wider root

growth is the development of branches. When a plant has wide roots, it will respond by putting more weight onto

http://www.econutrients.com/


sUn Land Garden

ProdUctshaLF PaGe

http://www.hannainst.com/


the outer areas. Growers who use tall skinny pots tend to grow taller, narrower plants. The plant structure somewhat mimics the root structure, so if a plant doesn’t have wide roots, it won’t produce wide branches. In order to survive, the plant concen-trates growth on the center to keep from falling over. With a wider root system, large bushy plants can be grown without that concern. So don’t fight evolution—allow the roots to grow in all directions, and the plant will grow that way as well.Now let’s consider practical applications. How do you grow

roots in all directions inside your grow room? That’s where the garden bed comes in. I’ve explained why this will give you bigger, shorter, fatter plants—now I’ll show you how to build it, get bigger yields and save money.You will continue to grow your young plants as you normally

would in the vegetative phase. Some growers use a small con-tainer of soil or soilless mixes, while others use fibrous blocks. Once vegetative plants are ready to be transplanted for flowering, then you can plant them into


A four by four foot flood tray lined with a four by four by one foot soft-sided fabric container and filled with commercial soilless mix.

“Some growers use a small container of soil or soilless mixes, while others use fibrous blocks.”

http://www.hydroponics.com


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garden beds.The beds will be the same length

and width as your normal garden space, and require eight to 10 inches of well-draining soilless mix. One of the easiest ways to construct this is with a large reser-voir. I had a three foot by three foot table with a 35 gallon reservoir for ebb and flow. The reser-voir was about three feet by three feet by one foot. With a quarter inch drill bit, I put 100 holes in the reservoir bottom. I sat the reservoir into the ebb and flow table—instead of underneath—and filled. Once in place, I grew successful harvests in that system for two years! Every time I harvested I would pull the root balls, treat the soil and replant in the same reservoir. Yes, you can reuse the same soilless mix, but we’ll

get to that later.You could build the same garden for a four foot by four foot space using

a 75 gallon reservoir, although you would only need about 50 gal-lons of soilless mix. Just drill out the bottom of the reservoir for drainage and set it into a four foot by four foot flood tray. You will need to use drains and a bucket to catch the runoff.There are some popular 40

gallon reservoirs that fill out a two foot by four foot area, and

I have drilled these out and used them successfully as garden beds.

In fact, after years of use, they are still churning out high-yield harvests today. I have also drilled out two foot by four foot flood trays and dropped them into identical two foot by four foot flood trays to catch the runoff.Another option is to create a drainage


A hydroponic flood tray with a four by four by one foot tray liner. Tomatoes vegged for three weeks in an ebb and flow system and now it’s time to flower in the soilless bed.

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layer at the bottom of the bed, with a drain on one end. For ex-ample, take a 75 gallon reservoir (48 inches by 48 inches by 12 inches) and add a couple of ¾ inch drains on one end. Then add a two inch layer of perlite and a coconut mat or fabric tray liner. From there, add the eight to 10 inches of soilless mix. Make sure the bed sits at a slight incline so all of the runoff goes down the drains.

reuSInG the MIxGardeners who use beds should take their vegetative plants (in small containers or soilless blocks) and insert them into the bed before the first week of flowering. Vegetative plants will then quickly root out into the soilless mix and begin flowering. After harvest, remove the large root balls at the base of each stem. Your soil must be rinsed of old nutrients and salts before the soilless mix can be reused. Using a rinsing supplement, run gallons upon gallons of water through the bed, then catch some of the runoff and test the ppm with a digital meter. The total dissolved solids should be less than 300 ppm—keep rinsing the soilless mix until it is clean.After thoroughly rinsing the mix, let it drain for several hours.

From here you will need to add an enzyme product to break down the leftover root matter. Use the enzymes at twice what the label recommends. This would be a waste for live plants, but you need high concentrations of enzymes to break down the leftover roots. After watering in the enzymes, till the entire bed with a shovel or hoe, turning the mix thoroughly. Complete this


same process once a day for three days. Now you are ready to replant a fresh crop.

SavInG MoneyGardeners who use a hydroponics system in a four foot by four foot area will typically use 40 gallons of nutrients or more, and change that 40 gallons once a week. A four foot by four foot soilless bed will require only 10 gallons of nutrient solution once or twice a week. Your total nutrient usage will be cut in half! With that kind of savings, you can afford the highest-quality nutrients and supplements for the best results.With regard to the cost of the soilless mix, although you might

be spending twice what you would on soil or hydro mediums for the same size garden, you can continue using that same batch of soilless mix, harvest after harvest. After a couple of harvests, you are now saving serious cash on your growing medium. Instead of buying a whole new batch of soil or soilless media, all you have to buy is a bottle of enzymes.As far as disposal goes, only the central root ball is thrown

away. This makes gardening easier and more friendly to the environment. No one likes throwing away trash bags full of soil or hydro growing mediums.So you save money, you work less and you get bigger

plants. What’s not to love? I haven’t even mentioned the fact that pH adjustment and checking your reservoir have become history. You mix up your batch of nutrient solution

A hydroponic flood tray with a four by four by one foot tray liner. Tomatoes vegged for three weeks in an ebb and flow system and now it’s time to flower in the soilless bed.


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right before you water it into the bed, so its not sitting around fluctuating. Instead of holding the solution in a res-ervoir, there is enough soilless mix to hold gallons of water. So instead of daily pH adjustment, you are mixing a nutri-ent solution once or twice per week.The best soilless mixes for a garden bed are loaded with perlite,

up to 50 per cent. My favorite mix includes one part each of the following items: coco coir-based potting mix, peat-based potting mix, mini grow cubes and chunky perlite. This mix will give you perfect pH and excellent drainage, while still holding plenty of water.I started with a small bed in the corner of a large indoor

garden. The results were so amazing that I soon converted the entire flower garden to soilless beds.Try it out—I am convinced you will love the results! MY


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ConduCtivity in HydroponiCs

TIPS & TRICKS


CRoP eC value

LavenDer 1.0 - 1.4

Leek 1.6 - 2.0

LettUce - Fancy 0.3 - 0.8

LettUce - iceberg 0.6 - 1.4

MeLons 1.0 - 2.2

Mint 1.0 - 1.4

MUstarD/cress 1.2 - 2.4

onion 1.8 - 2.2

parsLey 0.8 - 1.8

passion FrUit 1.6 - 2.4

pea 1.4 - 1.8

pUMpkin 1.4 - 2.4

raDish 1.2 - 2.2

rhUbarb 1.6 - 2.0

roses 1.8 - 2.6

sage 1.0 - 1.6

spinach 1.8 - 3.5

siLver beet 1.8 - 2.4

sqUash 1.8 - 2.4

strawberry 1.8 - 2.5

thyMe 1.2 - 1.6

toMato 2.2 - 2.8

tUrnip, parsnip 1.8 - 2.4

watercress 0.4 - 1.8

CRoP eC value

aFrican vioLet 1.0 - 1.2

asparagUs 1.4 - 1.8

avocaDo pear 1.8 - 2.6

baLM 1.0 - 1.4

banana 1.8 - 1.4

basiL 1.0 - 1.4

beans 1.8 - 2.5

beetroot 1.4 - 2.2

bLUeberry 1.8 - 2.0

borage 1.0 - 1.4

broccoLi 1.4 - 2.4

brUsseL sproUt 1.8 - 2.4

cabbage 1.4 - 1.8

capsicUM 2.0 - 2.7

carrot 1.4 - 2.2

caULiFLower 1.4 - 2.4

ceLery 1.5 - 2.4

chives 1.2 - 2.2

cUcUMber 1.6 - 2.4

DwarF roses 1.6 - 2.6

egg pLant 1.8 - 2.2

enDive 0.8 - 1.5

FenneL 1.0 - 1.4

kohLrabi 1.8 - 2.2

Electrical Conductivity (EC) is a parameter that gets ignored quiet often among growers in North America who tend to use parts per million (PPM) more than they do EC. In fact, EC is the true measure of electrical conductivity whereas PPM is the quantity of what’s being measured. EC meters can’t actually read PPM. Get a jump start on further understanding conductivity.

Conductivity is the total soluble salts contained within a liquid solution. Pure water has a conductivity measurement of zero because it does not contain salts. By adding soluble elements to the water, electricity is able to move through the solution giving it a conductivity rating.So why is conductivity important? Us-

ing hydroponics as an example, different crops grow well at different nutrient strengths (Electrical Conductivity - EC or CF). Controlling this nutrient strength is all important in providing the best conditions for your crop. Without proper measurement your crop could fail from root burn brought on by too high a nutrient level, or death by natural causes from not receiving the vital elements they need to grow.

To the left is a list of crops with the ideal EC value the crop is grown at in a hydroponic system for optimum per-formance. Although there are ideal EC values for each plant type, this does not mean that a range of plants, all technically requiring different strength nutrients, cannot be grown in a home situation to-gether. The grower simply lists the range of EC values and picks an average value. For most home systems this value is between 1.2 EC and 2.0 EC depending on the requirements of the predominant crop types being grown. MY


ArtiCle Contributed by bluelAb CorporAtion limited

It’s early spring and still cold outside with not much going on in the vegeta-ble garden and you want some easy and ultra-fresh salad greens; or you want a rainy day project to help keep the kids occupied; then try growing mustard and cress. These are easy plants to grow with the help of the tips found in this article. You’ll have a flavorful salad mix in no time.

1. Buy some seeds. You need garden cress seeds or mustard seeds. Both plants have quite a lot of flavor, with mustard being hotter than cress. If you want something a bit milder, look for oilseed rape (canola) seeds—they are grown the same way.

by Emma Cooper

How

to G

row

2. Find a tray. You’ll need a plastic

tray to sow your seeds, without drainage holes. You can recycle one that was used as food packaging, as long as it is clean.

3. Find some tissue. Mustard and cress are usually grown on damp tissue rather than compost. You can use cot-ton wool, too.

4. Put them together. Put a layer of tissue in the bottom of the plastic tray and make it damp. You can dribble water in, or use a plant mister, but you don’t want too much water—no puddles.

5. Sow your seeds. Sprinkle your mustard and cress seeds onto the surface of

the tissue. You can crowd them in—they’re not going to grow big enough to

need any space—and you want plenty to harvest.

Grow easy salad greens without even going outside

Mustard and Cress


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If you want to grow mustard and cress to harvest them at the same time, then you need to sow the mustard three to four days ahead, because mustard seedlings grow faster.

6. Check back in a few hours. If you sow your seeds in the morning then they may have started to germinate by bed-time—small white roots will be visible. By the next morning, some of the seeds will be growing tiny shoots as well.

7. Keep an eye on the water levels. If the tissue dries out then your seedlings will die. Check in the morning and the evening, and add more water if necessary.

8. Check for mold. Cress seedlings sometimes go moldy before they’re ready to harvest. If they do, throw them on the compost heap and start again. Keep things nice and clean and if it’s chilly in your house, try a warmer room.

9. In a week your seedlings will be an inch and a half tall and ready for harvesting.

10. Snip the stems to harvest your cress when you want to use it; it doesn’t keep long once it has been cut.

Mustard and cress are great in sandwiches and salads or as a garnish. If you’re growing them with kids, then try using some unusual containers. If you wash out empty eggshells, you can draw faces on the front and grow ‘egglings’ with cress hair.MY

About the Author: Emma Cooper produces a weekly inter-net radio show called “The Alternative Kitchen Garden”. You can read regular updates on her garden on her blog at http://coopette.com/blog

how to grow MUstarD anD cress

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Knowing the ways citric acid works in a variety of situa-tions can bring you closer to understanding its benefits in greenhouses, indoor gardens or protected cropping systems.

Citric acid has many uses in hydroponics and greenhouse environments. In green-houses and farming operations, citric acid can be used to acidify water or nutrient solutions—and remove calcium deposits, scale and other hard water buildup from tubing, pipes, drippers, tanks, cooling pads, nozzles, glass, equipment and other surfaces. If run through the irrigation or drip system citric acid not only clears and removes hard water, calcium and scale deposits, but over time it can reduce the pH of the soil as well.

Consider Using Citric Acid

by Donald Lester

by Donald Lester


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Citric acid is responsible for the sour taste we experience when eating lemons, limes, grapefruits, oranges or other citrus fruits. As an ingredient, citric acid is used in many industries you would not expect. Citric acid is a good general cleaner, and is the active ingredient in many bathroom and kitchen cleaning solutions—a solution with a citric acid content of six per cent will remove hard water stains from glass without the need for scrubbing. In industry, citric acid is also used to dissolve rust from steel. Here is another example: tobacco is a leafy green plant with high levels of chlorophyll, which is alkaline or high pH. This alkalinity gives cigarette smoke a harsh flavor. Citric acid is added to tobacco during processing to reduce the alkalinity of the leaves. Citric acid is also added to cigarette paper to control the rate at which it burns, allowing the paper and tobacco to burn at the same rate.Many people confuse citric acid with Vitamin C (ascorbic acid),

but the two are different, if only slightly. Chemically, the only difference between ascorbic acid and citric acid is that citric acid has one additional oxygen atom. Vitamin C tastes very bitter, just like most vitamins, so citric acid is used as a flavoring in many preparations of Vitamin C to mask the bitter taste of ascorbic acid.

At room temperature, citric acid is a white crystalline powder that resembles table salt

and readily dissolves in water.Acids have different strengths. The acids

commonly used in hydroponics and green-houses—nitric acid, phosphoric acid, sulfuric

acid and hydrochloric acid—are all considered to be strong acids, whereas citric acid, acetic acid (vinegar)

and ascorbic acid (Vitamin C) are considered to be weak acids. Citric acid may be weak, but the citric acid in a lemon is strong enough to power a clock. Those LED clocks plugged into a lemon at children’s science fairs are powered principally by citric acid reacting with the metal in the wires to create a crude battery. Citric acid is also used in beverages and candies, and although it is considered to be a weak acid, it is known to be capable of dissolving away tooth enamel over time. In fact, it is said that the citric acid in lemon juice will even dissolve a pearl.

“At room temperature, citric acid is a white crystalline powder that resembles table

salt and readily dissolves in water.”

consiDer Using citric aciD

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There have been several articles written about the basic principles of pH—how low pH is acidic and high pH is alkaline (or basic)—so I will not review that here. But if a solution (or the water for the solution) is high in pH, then the way to reduce that pH is to add an acid. Citric acid products for growers and greenhouse applications usually come as pH-reducing additives, with tables supplied to assist in approximating the amount of product needed to adjust the pH from a given level to the desired level. These tables are helpful, but it is generally better to use a pH meter to ensure accuracy.Perhaps the central issue in mixing any

nutrient solution is the pH or acidity of the water and finished mix. Citric acid is ideal as an acidifier for nutrient stock solutions and pesticide solutions because it is much less likely to react with fertilizer salts or pesticides than other acids. Use citric acid for acidifying water used to make concen-trated fertilizer stocks and pesticide solu-tions, because high-pH water can hydrolyze or degrade pesticides that are added. By adjusting the pH beforehand, pesticide solutions last longer and their effectiveness is maintained.Some acids used for water acidification

also supply a plant nutrient in conjunc-tion with the acid. For example, nitric acid supplies nitrogen and phosphoric acid supplies phosphorus. The nutrient supplied can be beneficial to plant growth if not supplied in excess, but it can also react with fertilizer salts in concentrated stock solu-tions or with pesticides if mixed into spray solutions. Growers who acidify their water should adjust their fertilization program to account for any nutrient supplied by the corresponding acid. For example, if using phosphoric acid, growers need to make sure to reduce the phosphorus fertilizer they add

accordingly to account for the phosphorus supplied by the acid. These calculations may be too complicated for a beginner, so using citric acid can simplify the process.With the growth of the organics mar-

ket over the years, citric acid has become popular because it is principally made from natural sources and certified as suitable for use in organic food production. Industrial-scale citric acid production originally began in 1890, based on the Italian citrus fruit industry. However, microbial production of citric acid did not become important until

“Growers who acidify their water should adjust their fer-tilization program to account

for any nutrient supplied by the corresponding acid.”

Citric acid helps reduce the buildup of lime scale.



World War I disrupted Italian citrus exports. Today, most citric acid is produced commer-cially on a large scale by feeding sugar to the bacteria Aspergillus niger.Citric acid is a weak acid that is relatively

safe compared to the strong acids like nitric acid, phosphoric acid and sulfuric acid. Because citric acid reduces the pH of solu-tions it is also a good disinfectant, and it is sometimes used as a cut-flower preservative in vases to reduce the pH of the water to 3.5 to prevent the growth of micro-organisms.Citric acid is

relatively safe to use, inexpensive,

versatile in its uses, natural, widely available and certified for use in organic food production. With all of these benefits shouldn’t you consider using citric acid in your greenhouse, indoor garden or protected cropping system? MY

“Citric acid is relatively safe to use, in-expensive, versatile in its uses, natural, widely available and certified for use in

organic food production.”

consiDer Using citric aciD

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Whether to fertilize an organic garden or not is always going to be a debate in many organic gardening circles. Concentrated fertilizers have always served as a bone of contention between purists. The two groups are firmly divided on this issue. The one side claims that adding fertilizers to organic gardens is unnecessary if soil conditioning, planting and cultivation and crop rotation principles are adhered to. The other side feels that

by Larry Gildea

GREEN THUMB GARDENING

fertilizing will enhance and improve their crops, and staunchly use only organic products for fertilization.Every gardener, whether organic or not, agrees that at times,

plants need a little extra help, and that certain nutrients need to be present in soil in order to produce desirable results and crops.The main principle in organic gardening is feed the soil, not

the plant, and such high fertility soils are achieved by regular

To Fertilize or Not toFertilize?


addition of organic matter from a wide variety of sources. Plants utilize materials as they are required.

Fertilizers are needed for a number of situations and circumstances. Some of these reasons may include:• You may not have access to manure or

compost materials• Your soil may be extremely deficient

in one or more vital nutrients.• Organic gardeners may wish to in-

crease the amount of fruits or veg-etables they produce.

There is nothing wrong with using fertil-izers in your organic garden as long as those fertilizers are of organic nature.Below is a list of the most common types of organic fertilizer and how they work.

BONE MEALPromotes root growth because it is high in phosphate.

CALCIFIED SEAWEEDRaises oil pH and adds calcium.

FISH, BONE AND BLOODGeneral fertilizers that are usually ap-plied in the spring to encourage root and shoot growth.

GROUND LIMESTONEAlso raises pH and supplies calcium.

GYPSUMSupplies calcium to the soil, without altering pH.

HOOF AND HORNSlowly releases nitrogen.

ROCK PHOSPHATEAddresses phosphate deficiency.

SEAWEED MEALHelps to increase humus levels in the soil.

WOOD ASHIs rich in potassium.

Organic gardening purists have always argued the subject of concentrated fertiliz-ers. Adding fertilizers to organic garden is unnecessary if soil conditioning, planting, cultivation and crop rotation principles are adhered to. The other side says that fertilizing will improve their crops, and staunchly use only products for fertiliza-tion that are organic in origin. MYMY

ABout tHe AutHor: Dr. Larry giLDea has aUthoreD severaL articLes on garDening as weLL as these garDening websites, www.gardeningbonanza.com anD www.organicgardensystems.com.

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GROWING FOR HEALTH

for GreenS HAterSBY BarBara PleasanT

from arugula to turnips, every season is a great season for growing beauti-ful and nutritious cooked greens, indoors or out. is there someone at your house who hates greens? the 10 ways to cook greens outlined here may convert them. even if they are not swayed by Sicilian-style polenta with kale or Swiss chard strata, we greens lov-ers can always use fresh ideas to make their plates a little more flavorful.

A casserole bound together with egg and stale bread, called a strata, is easy and delicious when made with fresh garden greens. Layer stale bread with chopped wilted greens, caramelized onions and fontina (or another nice melting cheese) in a buttered casserole dish. Pour in a mixture of three eggs and one cup milk, with a little cheese and bread crumbs on top. Bake until bubbly and set, and you have a great one-dish meal.Making the most of the soft texture of

cooked greens, Italians often enjoy them over polenta. My version of polenta is a half and half mixture of grits and coarsely ground whole cornmeal, cooked in lightly salted water until it stiffens; it makes a fabulous bed for a mound of greens, roasted sweet peppers and grated hard cheese.Medium-sized leaves picked from chard,

kale and some types of mustard can be used as wrappers for green wraps (similar to cabbage rolls). Make a mixture of rice and meat, or rice and beans, or bulgur and mushrooms; roll it up in trimmed greens leaves; and place the rolls seam side down in a greased baking dish.

Cooking Greens

127Maximum Yield USA | April 2011 127

Cover tightly, bake for about 45 minutes, and serve with a spicy-sweet condiment or mustard.Speaking of condiments,

fruits like apple, pear, raisins or currants make great flavor companions for cooked greens, or you might serve homemade chutneys with your greens. When making warm dressings for wilted salads, use balsamic vinegar to add a touch of sweetness.When you’re short on time,

try one-pot pasta or rice. Have a bowl of clean, chopped greens ready to stir into hot pasta or rice just as it gets done. Put on the lid, let it steam a few minutes, and add additional ingredients (like chopped olives or roasted

walnuts), maybe some salad dressing or simply top with feta cheese and maybe some crisp crumbled bacon.My last tip is to gob on the

garlic. Three big cloves are not too many. You may want four or five when seasoning a large pot of greens or a casserole. Don’t want garlic? Try a half teaspoon of fennel, dill or anise seeds instead. In addition to adding flavor, they tame the aroma of simmering greens, which is greatly appreciated by people who hate them. Fi-nally, why not mix and match your greens? Chard, turnips, arugula, mizuna and other greens can be chopped and cooked together in endless combinations. MY

ABout tHe AutHor: barbara pLeasant is a garDen writer who Lives in FLoyD, virginia. visit barbaraPleasant.com to Learn More.

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There are fundamentally two types of systems for growing plants in soil and soilless media.

inorGanic/sYnthetic sYsteMsorGanic/bioloGical sYsteMs

There are endless permutations of both systems, because many site-specific factors will result in tweaking the timing and kinds of applications. However, the basic philosophy of the two sys-tems needs to be understood and recognized and only then can the most sustainable option be easily chosen.

inorGanic/sYnthetic sYsteMsIn synthetic or inorganic soil or soilless growing systems, the view is the nutrients that the plants take up are strictly inorganic salt-based ionic forms such as ammonium nitrate, potassium ni-trate, calcium sulphate (gypsum) and all the micronutrients that come in completely inorganic preparations.Macronutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium; mi-

cronutrients such as calcium, iron, sodium; and trace minerals such as boron, copper and zinc have to be complexed as a salt form as they are extracted and purified from a source material.When inorganic nutrients are added to water, the inorganic

compounds disassociate in the water, thus reducing the availability of water to the plant. The concentration of salt, in whatever form that might happen to be, can reduce the availability of water for the plant. Then that plant will suffer from lack of water, even if the plant is sitting in a pot that is dripping water out of the bottom.Dissolved inorganic nutrients enter the plant through the

root cell wall via a process of simple diffusion. The inorganic

approach takes the view that nutrients can be mixed together precisely to provide the plant what it requires to meet its nutri-tional demands during growth.Of course, since we can’t know on a day-to-day basis what

the plant actually lacks, as growers we do not do a good job of supplying exactly what the plant needs, and in the form that the plant requires. If a plant needs nitrogen and the only form of that nitrogen is potassium nitrate supplied as an inorganic salt fertilizer, then the plant will take up that potas-sium nitrate, whether the plant needs that potassium or not. This can lead to uptake of excess potassium, which is toxic to the plant. The plant will develop symptoms of browning around the edges of the leaf, wilting leaves and susceptibil-ity to disease. People interpret these symptoms as the plant lacking water and begin to over-water the plant, making the problem worse instead of better.

Growing Plantsin Organic and InorganicSystemsby Dr. Carole Ann Rollins and Dr. Elaine Ingham

Laurie Keit of Seasonal Celebrations Landscaping applied organic biological products to this fuji apple tree in Pacifica Cali-fornia. On the left is the apple tree before treatments, and on the right, after treatments with leaves starting to come out. (Photo courtesy of Seasonal Celebrations).



To avoid this situation, it is better to add chelated nutrients. Chelating a nutrient means that instead of complexing the inor-ganic nutrient to another inorganic substance, and thus making a salt, the nutrient is complexed with a protein, which is a better form of the nutrient for the plant to uptake.Nutrients in a chelated form can be more efficiently taken up

by the plant. Proteins are biological in origin, but they can be extracted and purified to make a more beneficial form of plant food. Chelated nutrients can’t be called fertilizers because the legal definition of fertilizer requires strictly inorganic forms. But, they do the same things for plants that fertilizers do, with much less damage. In addition, a much lower amount of a nutrient in a chelated form is needed than the strictly inorganic form. This is because the chelated form is much less likely to leach and be lost from the soil. This means there is an overall savings for the grower who uses chelated nutrients.Considering that chelated forms of nutrients are what is the

norm in a healthy soil, where do these chelated forms come from in the natural world? These chelated forms come from the interactions of bacteria with protozoa, and from the interactions of fungi with nematodes and micro-arthropods. Is there really a reason to have to constantly add plant foods, or the less-desirable inorganic fertilizers? If you maintain a healthy set of soil food web organisms that interact with and work with your plant, then they will provide the constant production of chelat-ed forms of nutrients that are healthier for your plant. Normal nutrient cycling in soil, done by bacteria, fungi, protozoa, nema-todes and micro-arthropods, provide the plant with everything it needs. This occurs as long as the plant feeds the bacteria and fungi by releasing exudates into the root system.

Camillas: Before (top) and after (bottom) organic applications of compost tea, worm castings, humate and sea kelp. Notice the im-provement in fullness of leaves and branching. Seasonal Celebra-tions, a landscape management company in Pacifica, supervised these treatments (Photo courtesy of Seasonal Celebrations).

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growing pLants in organic anD inorganic systeMs

probleMs With inorGanic/sYnthetic sYsteMsThe inorganic approach seems very straightforward and simple. Ex-cept that excessive amounts of nutrients typically have to be placed into the non-biological root system in order to force the plant to take up nutrients that aren’t in the right form for the plant. Imagine if you wanted to eat chocolate, except the only form of chocolate available was wrapped in a layer of jalapeno peppers inside some-thing that tasted like the shell of pecan? Something very similar to that is what is going on with inorganic fertilizers.Since people don’t really know what balance of nutrients the plant

precisely needs on a daily basis, we just put down excessive combi-nations of nutrients. What if your plant doesn’t need more sodium, but it does need more nitrogen? For example, if the only form of nitrogen fertilizer applied was sodium nitrate, the plant has no choice but to take up something it doesn’t want (sodium), and will be harmful to it, in order to get the nutrient it does need (nitro-gen). The plant has to figure out something to do with this excess sodium. So it stores that excess in the leaves, or fruit or seed. What effect does that have on the people that eat that chemically grown plant material?We use excessive amounts of any inorganic fertilizer because we

know it will leach as water moves through the soil. This means there will be known losses of nutrients into surface and ground waters. Eventually, that translates into enormous problems as that salt-laden water moves through the environment.Because the plants are being force fed in inorganic systems, they

take up excessive amounts of some nutrients and not enough of others. The plant becomes weak and highly susceptible to disease and pest attacks. While the plants may visually look tasty - weak, stressed and nutritionally imbalanced plants lack the nutrients re-quired by the animals and humans who eat them.

The response to the disease and pest problems that develop in inorganic systems is to apply more and more toxic chemicals to try to kill the pests and diseases that continue developing. These approaches do not solve the disease or pest issues. What happens is that the pests and diseases are selected to become resistant to that

Microarthropods: Microarthropods can carry nematodes, protozoa, bacteria and fungi from place to place, serving as taxicabs for ben-eficial organisms. Microarthropods also feed on fungi, or on other arthropods, and release nutrients in plant-available forms in organic systems. The arrows point to nematodes riding on the back of microarthropods in both the left and right photos. (Photo courtesy of Soil Foodweb, Inc.)

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toxic chemical. If all of the susceptible pest and disease organ-isms die, but the resistant ones survive, then the next genera-tion will be resistant also. As a result, nastier and stronger toxic chemicals have to be found to deal with these ever-increasingly resistant pests and diseases.The toxic chemicals that kill the pests and diseases do not

stay just where they are applied though. These toxic chemi-cals are moved into other systems by water. These toxics en-ter the groundwater, lakes, streams and rivers and move into drinking water systems. The impact is an ever-increasing concentration of stronger toxic chemicals in our environ-ment and food crops.If inorganic fertilizers are used, which are toxic in high

concentrations, damage to the environment occurs. The initial damage is not highly noticeable, because in a healthy system, reduction of 10 to 20 per cent of the beneficial organisms may not be highly apparent right at first. But after 10 years, or 20 years and certainly by 30 years, most of the beneficials are gone, and serious problems develop. The proper scientific tools have to be used to measure the loss of these beneficial organisms. The tools used in the previous generation were incapable of de-tecting the damage, but just because damage was not observed using those inappropriate tools does not mean the damage did not occur.The different types of damage that can occur without the cor-

rect balances of beneficial organisms in soil or soilless media are:

Ability to Hold Water DecreasesWater is no longer held in soil or soilless media. This means organic matter and the structure that the organisms build in soil or soilless media is gone. With no structure and/or no organic matter, the water drains rapidly out of a sandy soil or extremely slowly in a clay soil, to the compaction zone. Erosion then results as that water moves laterally along the compaction layer and soil, nutrients and water loss increases.

Ability to Hold Nutrients DecreasesWithout the proper set of organisms in the soil to hold nutri-ents and build structure to keep nutrients in place, nutrients no longer cycle normally. When nutrients are not cycled into the right forms for plants to take up, the only way to grow plants is through the use of inorganic fertilizers. Except, you never really know how much, or which kind of inorganic fertilizer to use.

Flats in a Greenhouse: Flats of flowers and vegetables in a greenhouse in Northern California in a completely organic/bio-logical growing system maintained with compost tea and com-post. There were no disease or pest problems and great roots developed. No pesticides or synthetic nutrients were used. (Photo courtesy of Nature Technologies International, LLC.)


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Excess is the practical solution, except this hinders the ability to hold those nutrients in the soil because the benefi-cial life in that soil is gone. Of course in this scenario, the disease organisms aren’t gone, resulting in environmental damage to everything downstream.

Pests, Diseases and Toxic Conditions IncreaseHabitats developed through the use of inorganic nutrients cater to disease organ-isms, pests and weeds. Conditions develop that select for disease, pests and early suc-cessional, “disturbance-selected” or weedy, species. Plants in chemical systems must be put into intensive care to even grow, if the beneficial organisms are not present. The consequences are stressed, unhealthy plants, which will not contain the nutri-tion that animals or humans require to stay healthy.Make no mistake - poisons and toxic

chemicals will kill diseases and pests, but they also kill the beneficial organisms. If the normal controllers of pests and diseas-es are killed, the natural nutrient cycling system cannot function. Those organisms that supply nutrients from natural sources cannot do their jobs if killed by the toxic materials used in inorganic systems.

orGanic sYsteMs/bioloGical sYsteMsBiological systems address disease and insect pest problems through the natural system of control. As long as the food web remains intact, outbreak condi-tions will not occur. All non-beneficial organisms are controlled via a number of mechanisms: (1) through competition for food, water and nutrients, (2) by occupy-ing space where the pest would normally grow, (3) by maintaining environmental conditions such as plenty of air, water in balance and nutrients cycling that select against disease and pest growth and (4) by inhibiting growth by making compounds that suppress growth of the non-benefi-cial organisms.Consumption of non-beneficial

organisms, through management of the

habitat, is an important factor for growers to recognize and use. Instead of just trying to mask symptoms of stressed plants by using poisonous chemicals to kill the un-desired pests and diseases, we need to understand that it takes a whole village of healthy soil organisms to raise a plant, just as it takes a whole village to raise a human child in a healthy fashion.Beneficial organisms have to be fed prop-

erly. Plants must, therefore, be in the system in order to provide the food, either through root exudates, or through dead plant mate-rial that will be decomposed by the bacteria and fungi.The balance of beneficial bacteria and

fungi, protozoa and nematodes/micro-arthropods, determines: (1) the soil pH, (2) the pre-dominance of form of nitrogen and (3) how much plant available potassium, phosphorus, calcium and boron there is pres-ent in the soil.Making nutrients available for plants to take

up is an environmentally friendly, biologi-cally mediated process. It is not a question of whether this organic/biological system can work, but rather the practical stumbling blocks of how to achieve the goal of having the right sets of organisms present. Research in this area is accelerating rapidly.Organic/biological nutrient cycling systems

have been in existence ever since preda-tors of bacteria and fungi developed about three billion years ago, according to the fossil record. But, human understanding of these biological processes of turning nutrients into the proper plant-available forms was not un-derstood until a few years ago. With this new understanding, biological cycling systems combine the best of chemistry, physics and biology with sound soil and hydroponics management practices. MY

Ciliates: These micro-organisms are a type of protozoa that graze bacteria, but tolerate reduced oxygen conditions. Therefore, high numbers of ciliates in plant growing systems in-dicate conditions where the competitive aerobic protozoa are not present, and thus the ciliates can reach extremely high numbers. (Photo cour-tesy of Nature Technologies International, LLC.)

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Maximum Yields talks with Global Garden Friends’ founder and CEO Mike Donaldson about their patented Ultimate Plant Cage™, biodegradable plastics and greener products for a cleaner planet.

Maximum Yield (MY): What made you decide to develop the ultimate Plant Cage™?Mike Donaldson: I spent years in the trenches of the indoor and outdoor gardening, frustrated with the lack of products that supported and nurtured plants. After about seven years of research and development, I created and patented the Ultimate Plant Cage™ (UPC) and its accessories. Once the product was developed, I wanted to be sure that the UPC, and future products, would be earth sensitive. I researched green certification eventually partnering with ENSO Plastics LLC, manufacturers of ENSO™, an organic, non-starch based and non-destructive additive that renders plastics biodegradable.Synthetic plastics don’t easily break down

in the environment because they are made from organic compounds called monomers.

Scientists found a way to combine mono-mers into long molecular chains, called polymers. Polymers do not exist in nature, and this is what makes plastic so useful. But it also creates a problem. As a result, regular plastic does not easily biodegrade and will last in the environment for centuries, maybe forever. Until now.

MY: What material is the ultimate Plant Cage made from that makes it so environmentally friendly?Mike: Global Garden Friends’ premier product, the Ultimate Plant Cage ™, is made of high density polyethylene with ENSO, which is added to help Mother Nature accelerate degradation of the plastic in a two to five year period when placed in an active landfill. This product is revolutionary in its design and material, plus it’s 100 per cent American made and 100 per cent certified biodegradable.

When ENSO™ is mixed with raw plastic at one per cent mixture rate; it allows the plastic to break down when placed in a microbe rich environment, such as our landfills.

MY: What is eNso™ technology?Mike: ENSO™ technology is a process that enables the microbial organisms in our landfills to metabolize the molecular structure of most common plastics into an inert humus-like form that is harmless to the environment. ENSO™ process takes organic compounds, mixed with nutrients to enable the biodegradation of polymers. After space is created within the plastic’s matrix, ENSO™ attract colonies of micro-organisms that metabolize and neutralize the plastic through intense quorum sensing rapidly increasing the time frameof biodegradation.

MIKE DONALDSONFOUNDER AND CEO

JEANNIE VANDEWEG


YOU TELL US

MY: What features of eNso™ will excite end-consumers?Mike: It provides the best of both worlds. The plastic is useful, durable, safe and convenient, which customers appreciate. At the same time, they can rest assured they are not leaving a nightmare for their children’s children. We have to remember that what we do today does matter tomorrow.

MY: What makes eNso™ a “green” material?Mike: First ENSO™ is made of a renewal natural resource. Second after the product has completed its useful life, if it is not recycled, which we hope it is, it gets thrown into the trash. Then it begins biodegrading and ENSO™ begins to work. It allows microbes to break down those synthetic polymer chains into organic monomers that they can feast on. It does this by expanding the molecular structure of the plastic, scissoring the polymer chain and adding in nutrients that attract the microbes to colonize in and around the plastic. These microbes secrete acids that further break down the long molecules. Like any organic material that is biodegradable, the plastic creates

by-products, including humus and methane. In fact, landfills all over the country are beginning to tap the methane from the natural breakdown of organic materials to reduce our dependence on foreign energy sources. This biodegradation process can take place aerobically or anaerobically. It can take place with or without the presence of light, heat or moisture. The physical properties of plastic products remain the same during their useful life. Only when disposed of does the difference manifest itself.

MY: how can you be so sure this eco plastic works as you say?Mike: The American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) and ISO test the biodegradable plastics. These tests show that under anaerobic and aerobic conditions, ENSO™ biodegradable additive works in most major polymers.

MY: What makes eNso™ different from other degradable plastics in the market?

Mike: Many of these products use catalysts that are heated up at variable rates. These products do not attract microbial communities to the plastic in order to break down the polymer’s molecular structure, but rather are broken down by light, heat, mechanical stress and moisture. This can take ages depending on the polymer’s weight and mass. Other products are starch based plastic substitutes that simply do not have the same superior characteristics of plastics, and some depend on raw materials that must be grown on farm land that could be used for food production.ENSO™ biodegradable plastics are

the answer to environmental concerns related to traditional plastics. Now manufacturers can make products with the same physical properties, tensile strength and in some cases improved performance of their current products. It’s exciting stuff! MY


How to Growrosemary indoorsGrowing rosemary indoors can be tricky. Many good gardeners have tried and, despite their best efforts, end up with a dry, brown, dead rosemary plant. Know-ing the secrets to proper care of rosemary plants grown indoors will help you keep your rosemary plants growing happily indoors all year long.

Once your rosemary moves indoors, make

sure that you place it in the brightest window in

your house.



Once your rosemary moves indoors, make sure that you place it in the brightest win-dow in your house

TipsThe four most common reasons rosemary plants die when grown indoors are:

• lack of sunlight• poor watering practices• powdery mildew• pests

If you can avoid these issues, your rosemary plant will live happily inside. Let’s look at how to avoid each.

Lack of sunlightLack of sunshine is the most common reason for a rosemary plant growing indoors to die. Often rosemary plants are brought indoors without any acclimation. They go from six to eight hours of strong, direct light to four to six hours of weak or indirect light. The rosemary plant is unable to produce enough energy to stay alive on this amount of weak light and simply dies.The first step to preventing rosemary light starvation is to put

your rosemary on a sunlight diet before you bring it indoors. Several weeks before you bring the rosemary inside, move the plant to gradually shadier areas of your yard. This will force the rosemary plant to grow leaves that are more efficient at turning light into energy, which will help it cope with weaker indoor light when it moves inside.Once your rosemary moves indoors, make sure that you place

it in the brightest window in your house, which is normally a south facing window. If your rosemary plant is not getting at least six to eight hours of light a day, place an indoor lamp as close as possible to the plant to help supplement the sunlight.

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Poor water-ing practicesThe second most com-mon reason for an indoor rosemary plant to die is poor watering practices. Often, indoor rosemary plants are wa-tered too little or too much. Make sure that the drain-age on the container with the

rosemary is excel-lent. Only water the soil when the top is dry to the touch. That being said,

never let the soil dry out completely.

In the winter, rosemary plants grow much more

slowly and need much less water than they do in the summer. Watering too often will cause root rot, which will kill the plant. On the other side, if the soil of the rosemary plant is allowed to dry out completely, the roots will die back and the plant will not have enough roots to support itself.

Powdery mildewIndoors or outdoors, rosemary plants are very susceptible to powdery mildew. Most homes do not have the same air circula-tion as the outside world, which makes this an even worse problem for the plant inside.The best way to drive away powdery

mildew on rosemary plants is to increase the air circulation around it. Letting a fan blow on it for a few hours a day or taking it out of more high humidity rooms, like the bathroom or kitchen, will help im-prove the air circulation. You can also treat the plant with a fungicide to help keep away the powdery mildew.

PestsWhile pests may get the blame for killing a rosemary plant, most pests will only infest a plant that is already weakened. Unfortunately, most rosemary growing indoors, despite all best efforts, are grow-ing in a somewhat weakened state. The more strict you are about making sure your rosemary plant is watered properly and gets enough light, the less likely pests will bother the plant.If your rosemary plant is infected with

pests, use a houseplant pesticide to remove them. Since rosemary is an herb and it is mainly grown to be eaten, look for organic pesticides. One that is growing in popularity is neem oil, as it is very effec-tive against pests but is completely harm-less to humans and pets. MY

For more gardening tips and Rosemary tricks visit www.gardeningknowhow.com or check out their Q&A section at www.gardeningknowhow.com/questions

The best way to drive away powdery mildew on rosemary plants is to

increase the air circula-tion around it.

how to grow roseMary inDoors

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Every once in a while someone comes along and shows you that something you thought was com-plicated, is really quite simple. Lane Burman is one of these people. Lane lives on a quiet street on the north side of a moderate city. A 30 foot by 11 foot area in his backyard is where he built his hydroponic garden.

Lane approached me in the winter of 2009 and asked what I thought of his plan for a backyard hydroponic garden. I thought it was brilliant and offered my advice and donated materials—such as fittings and nutrients—for the project.The first thing to do was choose the

plants for the garden. He chose seven different types of heirloom tomatoes, cucumbers, loufa, pumpkins, beans and orange Blenheim melon. Four varieties

Backyard Gardening HYDROPONICALLY

by Jack Van Camp

of lettuce were also sown to be grown remotely in soilless mix in a styrofoam cooler. All the seeds were started in April 2010 and physically planted into the system in the middle of May as there was no frost present in the hydroponic system, yet frost was still in the ground. The system Lane chose was a drip system with an 80 gallon garbage container for 10 tomatoes and a 30 gallon container for the rest of the plants. Friends donated three and a half gallon kitty litter con-tainers and eight - four gallon pails as

Lane Burman


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growing vessels. The drippers would be pushed by 600 gallon per hour submers-ible pumps and they would run 12 hours

a day. One dual electrical outlet was needed to run both pumps.Next on the agenda was to build a

bench around the perimeter of the garden against the fence. The bench ran along the fence on two sides of the garden for the four gallon pails to sit on. Two saw horses held a two by four frame for the kitty litter pails to sit in and one kitty litter pail was placed inside another with a brick set inside for countering the weight of the tomatoes with fruit. Three quarter inch holes were drilled in the bottom containers and half inch fittings were installed and the hoses attached. The kitty litter containers were filled with pea gravel and two gallon per hour drippers were attached to the top hose. (You could also use expanded clay pellets, perlite or vermiculite and sand). The rest of the garden was assembled with half inch fittings (straights “Ls” and “Ts”), gardening twine, trans barbs and various three quarter inch clamps. The whole process of building the garden

backyarD garDening hyDroponicaLLy

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took approximately 20 to 25 hours. The garden was set up

and ready by the middle of May. All he had to do was

add water.The garden area was positioned

north to south and was well lit all day. The spring of 2010 was pretty normal but the summer was brutally hot at times. There were sustained temperatures of over 99°F for days at a time. The containers were white for this reason. The reservoir was hidden under the tomato plants and kept cool in the shade. If the containers or the reservoirs are dark in color the water will become far too hot for the roots to handle and the plant will shut down. The reservoirs were topped up when needed and the nutrient refreshed weekly. He used a two part nutrient solution full strength with a vegetative fortifier. The A and B nu-trient formula was used half strength

for the lettuce and peppers in the soil-less mix. The A and B nutrient can be used in any hydroponic system very successfully.The tomatoes were all heirlooms and

were purchased at the local market from a co-op as cuttings. The tomato varieties were Margo, delicious, green zebra and black krim. These tomatoes are all non-hybrids and are not GMO (genetically modified organisms). At one point in the summer Lane spotted blossom end rot on the bottom of the tomatoes and added extra calcium to the reservoir and it cleared up immedi-ately. The only other problem was the weight of the tomatoes and keeping the plant upright, especially on windy days. Trying to set tomato cages in the

pea gravel proved problem-atic because they did not dig in deep enough to be effective. This year he will lower the garden and try some sort of trellis system with gardening twine to physically tie the plant to. As the hot and sunny summer wore on, Lane realized he would have to construct some sort

“If the containers or the reservoirs are dark in colour the water will be-come far too hot for the roots to handle and the plant will shut down.”



of shade cover for those extreme days when the plants would visibly suffer in the heat. Being closed in on three sides of the garden made stagnant air a bit of a problem on calm, hot days, so some sort of fan arrangement will be set up in this year’s garden. Ideally solar fans and pumps could be run on 12 volts for all the energy they use.All in all, the garden was a great success.

All the plants produced copious amounts of quality fruit the whole summer. The tomato plants averaged 16 pounds of fruit per plant. This is not surprising. Plants in hydroponic systems can produce two to three times more produce than in soil. Plants absorb and transpire ⅓ less water than a field crop and use less space over-all. Reservoirs were topped up every two

or three days at the most and only four or so gallons at a time.In a sunny corner on his deck, Lane

grew six or seven types of hot peppers in containers with soilless mix. These peppers thrived and produced lots of hot fruit. He gave me a couple of plants that I grew in my yard. They were called “friars hat” from Portugal and they were very hot. Over the winter he has been buying pepper seeds on E-Bay. Here you can purchase rare seeds from around the

backyarD garDening hyDroponicaLLy

world. Planting these seeds in the drip containers this year should give him a good harvest. He plans to retain the seeds from what he grows and in turn, sell them on E-Bay.Lane knows a farmer who grows

lavender near a lake in the southeast of town. This fellow expressed an interest in growing lavender hydroponically after seeing pictures of Lane’s results from last year. He wants to use a combination of French and English lavender to attain a

“Plants in hydroponic systems can produce two to three times more produce than in soil. Plants absorb and transpire ⅓ less water than a field crop and use less space overall.”


unique fragrance to be used in perfumes and aromatic oils. They will be getting together in the next few weeks to firm up plans for his system.A total of 95 per cent of all greenhouse vegetables are grown

hydroponically here in North America. Field crops run gener-ally about 40,000 to 60,000 pounds per acre. Top growers in the United States and British Columbia using hydroponics can get upwards of 650,000 pounds per acre. A small area on someone’s backyard can help feed a family and friends and neighbors quite easily. With plenty of sun energy, no drought and no searching for nutrients, edible plants can’t help but thrive. And besides, there’s no weeding. MY

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by bob taylor

pH ManageMent

for optiMal results

this article explains how to keep the ph of nutrient solutions between 5.0 and 6.5. this helps make sure all nutrients are available for root up-take, and minimizes the risk of plumbing blockages.

optiMuM pH for nutrient solutionsFor nutrients to remain dissolved and, therefore, available for uptake by roots, it is critical to maintain the pH between 5.0 and 6.0 - with an absolute maximum of 6.5 (figure one). High pH values, or those above 6.0, are to be avoided more than low values of 4.5 – 5.0. The effect of low pH upon the stability of nutrients is relatively insignificant.The precise pH at which precipitation of

macro-nutrients starts is determined by the combined concentrations of calcium and sulphate. Except for fertilizers low in cal-cium and sulphate this problem commonly occurs at pH 6.5 where the net* EC is 2.5 mS, or pH 7.0 for 1.5 mS solutions. Hence, to avoid precipitation, higher nutrient con-centrations generally must be held at lower pH values.*Assume make-up water has nil EC.

In spite of this precipitation problem, some references advocate pH values well above 6.5 for some plant varieties - condi-tions which risk depleted concentrations of the above mentioned elements. This is incorrectly justified by quoting the chart in figure two as proof.

pH recoMMendation of 6.2 - 6.3?Although this is a popular recommenda-tion, it has no scientific basis. It appears to have gained mythological status from the early days of hydroponics when the only cheap means of measuring pH was the common ‘bromothymol blue’ pH indica-tor used for testing fish tank water. Inter-estingly, the lowest pH value able to be determined by that indicator is about 6.2. Hence, this value has unfortunately become an entrenched recommendation in some sections of the hydroponic industry.



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Figure one: This is what can happen to a working nutrient solution when pH is above 7.0: Calcium, sulphate (and the trace elements copper, iron, man-ganese and zinc) can precepitate and become unavailable to the roots, and cause plumbing blockages.This freshly made ‘bloom’ nutrient solution (EC 2.5mS) was at pH 7.5 for less than one hour. To help prevent this, use a nutrient that possesses a high ph buffering capacity.

It is best to adopt a pH maintenance regime that prevents pH from getting too high. If pH is too high for a long enough period of time, the resultant precipitate usually cannot be re-dissolved (figure one).

How to MiniMize pH fluctuation1. Use a nutrient brand that is highly pH buffered, particu-

larly when using highly alkaline water.2. Supply at least two gallons of nutrient for each large plant.

Failure to do this will magnify pH (and EC) fluctuations, especially during hot and dry weather where water uptake and evaporation are excessive. Note, to avoid excess water uptake and evaporation; keep air temperature below 86°F and relative humidity above 50 per cent.

How to adjust pHStep 1. Measure the pH: Use either a liquid pH indicator or an electronic pH meter. Before measuring the pH, ensure that the nutrient is well stirred and that the sampling container is clean.Step 2. Choosing a target pH: Note that it is inconvenient and unnecessary to hold pH at a single point value. Therefore, choose a target pH that minimizes the amount of pH maintenance:Step 3. Adjusting the pH: Add a small amount of pH down or up product*. Then stir well and check pH. Repeat this process

ph ManageMent For optiMaL resULts

adjusting nutrient pHThe working nutrient pH should be checked at the following times:1. When working nutrient solutions are first made.2. After the addition of top-up water or additives - especially if

they are highly alkaline.3. In re-circulating systems, pH should be checked on a daily

basis because the uptake of water and nutrients causes pH to change. TIP If your pH tends to continu-

ously rise (the most common trend), then at each adjustment reduce the pH to about 5.0 using a pH down product. This will give you a much larger pH “safety” margin than if adjusting to, for example, 5.8.If pH tends to continuously fall, at each adjustment increase the pH to about 6.0 using a pH up product.

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until the target pH is achieved.*Important: Pre-dilute the dose into

one quart (or at least 100 fold) of water before adding to nutrient, then rapidly stir the nutrient as you add this mixture. Failure to do this may cause permanent precipitation of essential nutrients. Also, if accidental overdosing to above 6.5 oc-curs, reduce the pH back to below 6.0 as quickly as possible using pH down.

Handy Hints for adjusting nutrient pH

1Add “high pH” (alkaline) additives before adding nutrient: Most additives will affect nutrient pH at least slightly. The

best technique to adopt with those that elevate pH significantly is to add them to the water and adjust the pH down to 6.0 prior to adding the nutrient.The less preferred but simplest alter-

native is to pre-dilute the additive in a separate volume of raw water. Then once this solution is added to the nu-trient solution, quickly lower the pH to below 6.5. Note that a white cloudy precipitate (calcium sulphate) may form when the pre-diluted additive initially merges with the nutrient solution. However, because the initial particle size of the precipitate is small, it will usually re-dissolve if the pH is immedi-ately re-adjusted.

2Do not pre-adjust pH of raw water: Note that the pH values being discussed here are the values of the working nutrient

solution - not your make-up water. Unless your make-up water has a high alkalinity, do not bother attempting to adjust its pH prior to the nutrient being added. If you attempt this procedure you will typically get wild pH swings either side of the pH target without ever landing on the target value.

3Estimating the volume of acid (especially for larger systems):Step 1. Take a one quart sub-sample (or known volume) of

working nutrient.Step 2. Add a few drops of pH indicator (figure five ‘a’).Step 3. While stirring this solution, measure the volume of acid required to turn this solution yellow – figure five ‘b’ (Yellow indicates a pH of 6.0 with most broad range liquid indicators).Step 4. Multiply the volume of acid by

the volume of nutrient in your reservoir. That calculation will give you the vol-ume of acid required to adjust the entire volume down to pH 6.0, for example.

Measuring pH witH ‘indicators’pH indicators are undoubtedly the sim-plest and most reliable method of mea-suring nutrient pH. Although they will

not distinguish between, for example, a pH of 5.2 and 5.3, wide range indicators with good colour resolution can be: • fast and user friendly• extremely accurate and reliable• economicalIn comparison, pH meters require con-

stant up-keep (i.e. cleaning, calibrating and correct storage), but even then may not give reliable readings.pH indicators work on the principle

that the color produced by the particular dye used in the indicator formulation is dependant on the pH of the solution (figure six).Experience shows if you are aiming to

adjust pH to 5.5 (orange) then an ac-curacy of +/- 0.2 is achievable. Because of their fundamental accuracy, reliability

Figure four: This is what can happen when an undiluted high pH additive is added to the working nutrient solution (left). Unless pH is quickly corrected to below 6.0-6.5 the precipitate will remain (right).

A B

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Figure five: pH indicator’s are useful for determining how much acid needs to be added to the nutrient reservoir.

and easy of use, wide range pH indicators are the preferred method for measurement of pH in nutrient solutions. Note that pool and aquarium pH indicators are usually not suitable because unlike broad range indicators, they do not operate below pH 6.0.

taking pH readingsStep 1. Before measuring the pH ensure that the nutrient is well stirred, especially after pH up or down products are used. This is one of the most common mistakes made when testing pH (or conductivity). Also, ensure that the sampling con-tainer is clean.Step 2. Using the sampling vial, remove a small sample of nutrient from the nutrient reservoir, add a drop of the indicator, mix, and then compare the final solution colour with those on the coloured reference chart (figure six).Step 3. If the pH is not between 5.0 and 6.5, adjust it immediately.

Figure six: This is the colour range produced by a wide range pH indicator within the opti-mum pH range 5.0 to 6.5. Note the ease with which pH change can be detected.

If this volume is very small (most likely if a highly concentrated acid is used), to ensure accuracy you

will require the use of a finely graded pipette. A better method is to allocate a portion of acid specifically for conducting this calculation and dilute it by a known

amount - for example 10-fold. Ensure to compensate for this dilution when calculating how much of the con-

centrated acid to add to the reservoir.

TIP

ph ManageMent For optiMaL resULts

Measuring pH witH pH MeterspH meters employing a glass electrode are useful for precise pH measurement in nutrient solutions but require fre-quent calibration, proper storage and handling to ensure accuracy and reliabil-ity. The principle on which such meters operate is based on the fact that when glass of a certain composition separates two aqueous solutions having different hydrogen ion concentrations, a voltage is developed between the two faces of the glass. The electronic meter is simply a very sensitive voltmeter which measures that voltage but is calibrated in terms of pH units instead of volts.

Total volume of nutrient ÷ Volume of sub-sample x volume of acid


with distilled water. Store the electrode in a proper storage solution when not in use. MY

Figure seven: Thoroughly stir nutrient reservoir before sampling. Then leave the electrode in the sample for a few minutes before switching the metre on and taking the measurement. Do not immerse the electrode deeper than ~20mm.

obtaining pH readingsStep 1. Make sure the meter is calibrated.Step 2. Remove a ‘representative’ sample from the nutrient reservoir (figure seven):• Stir the nutrient thoroughly prior

to sampling.• Ensure the sampling container

is clean.Step 3. Rinse electrode in distilled water before immersing in the sample. Wait a few minutes before switching the meter on and recording the pH. Wait longer if the sample’s temperature is significantly different from 77°F.Step 4. If the pH is not between 5.0 and 6.5, adjust it immediately.Step 5. When complete, rinse the electrode

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Biofloral introduces FloraSun HPS 1,000 Watt BulbFloraSun is a super horticultural lamp, specially designed to provide maximal lumens to your plants from the blooming stages through to maturity. This bulb’s ex-clusive and innovative spectral distribu-tion (color repartition) makes it the most efficient product of its kind on the market. For more information visit your favorite indoor gardening shop.

Brighten Your lights With the Rebel Magnetic Ballast Series, new From Brite-lite GroupThe Rebel magnetic ballast series from Brite-Lite has arrived. Available in an open box, closed box or as a ballast kit, these economical ballasts pro-vide high quality UL components, materials and workmanship to ensure optimum lamp performance and longevity. Rebel switchable ballasts al-low you to run 1,000 watt MH or HPS lamps; simply screw in the bulb and flip the switch. All units are dual voltage compatible (120 or 240 volts), and assembled with high temperature capacitors in the U.S.A. to keep things cool. For more information visit an indoor gardening retailer near you. For strength, durability and performance, try Rebel magnetic ballasts; they’re the new black.

Stay Clean With Boldtbags utility ApronsThe Boldtbags Utility Apron is the ultimate splashguard made of durable PVC-lined material that’s just a wipe away from clean. It fea-tures a large pocket and loop to keep a filter sheet and mixer handy and rustproof nickel plated grommet details for long-lasting strength. Order Boldtbags’ Utility Aprons from your local gardening shop today.

Hudson Weed’n Bug Eliminator Sprayer now at Authorized Hydrofarm RetailersFor home, lawn and garden rely on Hudson Sprayers to protect against insects, weeds and plant diseases. The Weed’n Bug Eliminator one gallon compression sprayer is Hudson’s most economi-cal, light-duty sprayer. It features a translucent poly tank for easy viewing of liquid levels and has a wide, deep funnel for faster, no-spill filling. It also comes with a standard locking on/off switch control valve, 12 inch poly spray wand and an adjustable poly cone nozzle, which adjusts from fine mist to long distance stream and a T-handle pump. For more information visit an authorized Hydro-farm retailer near you.

Continued from page 43


the Rest is Just “dust in the Wind”Who doesn’t want the gale force of a celestial being in their grow space? Maver-ick Sun introduces their new line of fans, The Wind Gods. With CFMs that match up to or exceed the best of brands out there, this amazing product more than lives up to its name. With features like excellent decibel ratings and industry quality bearings, these fans will run quietly and deliver the CFMs we list, as well as provide years of reliable service. The Wind God features an exterior junction box with a 120 volt power cord attached. The handy mounting bracket makes fan placement a breeze. Comes in four, six, eight and 12 inch ducting. Don’t let this item blow past you. Give your grow space the air it deserves, give it the Wind God!

liquid MojoLiquid Mojo is a high strength, concentrated plant fertilizer that contains all the required elements for optimal vegetative and reproductive growth. This microbrewed formulation blends a high powered NPK ratio with pure organic stimulants to produce a healthy balanced feeding regime for your favorite variety. The addition of organic bio-stimulants in our craft brewed base nutri-ent formulation gives the grower that extra punch that seems to be missing in most of the mass produced product lines of today. The concentration of this product makes it very economical for large farm operations and the high qual-ity plants it produces makes it very desirable for boutique hobby gardeners. Visit your favorite gardening shop for more information.

Sun System® digital Grow light FixtureThe Sun System® Digital Grow Light Fixture is the newest addition to Sun System’s complete system line-up. This state-of-the-art digital fixture offers an integrated Gal-axy® electronic ballast allowing operation of both metal halide (MH) and high pres-sure sodium (HPS) lamps. This proprietary Smart Volt® ballast operates at either 120 or 240 volts (120 volt cord included) and with the flip of a switch, the Sun System® Digital will run either a 250 watt or 400 watt bulb. Vented ballast housing allows for ef-fective heat dissipation and the highly reflective aluminum insert keeps light focused where it matters most—on your plants. Lightweight and easy to set up, the Sun Sys-tem® Digital offers powder coated steel housing that is attractive and durable. Visit your favorite indoor gardening or hydroponics retailer for more information.

Growing Accessories new From Future Harvest development (FHd)FHD square growing pots provide greater capacity for growing mediums, and fit better in flood and drain tables. These commercial greenhouse quality pots are made of durable and recyclable black polypropylene. Available in one, two and three gallons. An eight inch square saucer is available to help retain your valuable nutrients. Round saucers are also available in eight to 14 inch diameters to fit most containers. Complimenting these new products is our heavy duty 1020 trays, with twice the thickness of standard 1020 trays. Available with a reusable 1020 vented dome. Order the new FHD growing accessories from your local indoor gardening shop. MY

Composting Is it Just a Load of Rubbish?

by Steve Cownley

To compost or not to compost, that is

the question.There’s no doubt about it, composting is a beneficial practice that any self-respected gardener should know how to do. We have been told that composting can be done with any organic material. However, there are a several organic materials that should not be included in the compost pile unless you know how to do it properly and there are other materials that should never be added. To compost or not to compost, that is indeed the question.



Home com-posters have a variety of compostable materials available in our own homes and backyards. Let’s begin with some-thing our front lawn is always dy-ing to dispose off: excess grass. Grass clippings from our lawn can be put to better use in a backyard compost pile. Hay clippings are also acceptable. Be sure to use green hay, which still has a lot of nitrogen in it.Other compostable materials include

kitchen wastes such as vegetable peels, fruit rinds, tea bags, eggshells and cof-fee grounds. These substances contain high levels of nitrogen. Make sure to keep pests away from your kitchen wastes. A compost bin intended for kitchen waste works great or you can simply bury your waste in eight inches of soil. It is best to avoid scraps of meat, milk products and leftover bones because they attract pests.Wood chips, wood shaving, saw dusts,

paper and other wood products are generally acceptable for a compost pile. However, be sure to stay away from chemically-treated wood prod-ucts. Arsenic is a highly toxic chemical that is sometimes used to treat wood.

Using sawdust from such treated wood products is a no-no since the chemical will leak into the soil causing more harm than good. Plants that died due to a dis-ease should not be included. There is still a possibility that the disease that caused death might infect your future plants.Similarly, human, dog and cat wastes

should not be composted because they contain organisms that could cause dis-ease. Such disease might cause sickness in people or they might negatively affect your plants.Even though grasses can be used for

composting, it is best to avoid weeds like morning glory, ivy, sheep and kinds of grasses that could grow in your compost pile. The weed’s seeds can survive the composting pile, which can be carried to your new garden. Choosing the right materials will determine how successful your compost pile will be.

Top Reasons for Composting1. The materials are free and readily available.2. Compost provides nutrients and min-erals needed by my plants.3. Compost benefits the soil structure. When applied to soil, compost improves the soil’s resistance to erosion, improves its retention of water, and in some types of soil (like clay), it can reduce the chance of compacted soil. This is also important for farmers since compost can make the soil easier to till, conserv-ing time and fuel.

Is it Just a Load of Rubbish?

“Even though grasses can be used for composting, it is best to avoid weeds like morning glory, ivy, sheep and kinds of

grasses that could grow in your compost pile.”

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With the right composting technique, you can kill trou-blesome weeds, pests and disease-causing organisms. High temperature composting will do the trick. However, this technique is not meant for backyard compost piles but rather a laboratory or industrial-type pile.Studies indicate that using compost can suppress the growth

of diseases in crops. Other studies show that crops grown over compost-rich soils can better resist pests and insect at-tacks. Observations in the field also show that crops grown using compost bare produce that can be stored longer.Using compost together with the soil can build soil car-

bon, which will eventually reduce the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.Compost works well as an antidote for soils that are toxic

with agricultural chemicals. Compost can balance the levels of soil acidity, and help farmers switch to organic after years of using synthetic agricultural products.

Composting MythsComposting is a natural and simple process and yet it has been complicated by fallacies, misinformation, myths and misunderstandings. Let’s discuss some of the more widely known composting myths.

Myth: Composting requires a lot of workTruth: Composting is a natural process. All you need to do is gather the materials and let nature do her job. Composting is a low maintenance activity as well. You only need to turn the compost pile every once in a while to keep the air flow-ing to quicken the decomposition process.

“Compost works well as an antidote for soils that are toxic with agricultural chemicals. Compost can balance the levels of soil acidity, and help farmers switch to organic after years

of using synthetic agricultural products.”

coMposing is it JUst a LoaD oF rUbbish

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Myth: Composting is limited to farms and wide open spaces

Truth: On the contrary, people living in urban areas with limited space can create their own compost-ing bin from a trash can. How much space would that take up? Another technique you can use is vermicomposting,

which involves feed-ing your table scraps to

red worms that are kept in a contained bin.

Myth: Composting needs precise measurements

Truth: Even though compost-ing ideally is best achieved with the right combination of green and

brown elements, exact measurements is not necessary. Compost piles work

the same if you pile them haphazardly.

Myth: You need specially formulated chemicals as starters or activators

Truth: Despite claims that applying chemicals or activators to the compost pile

speeds up the decomposition process, they are not necessary. Simply adding some finished compost into the newly formed compost pile serves as an activator to get things started.

Myth: Adding yeast will boost the compost’s performanceTruth: This is not true. By adding yeast to your compost pile, you are simply wasting your money.

Myth: Compost smellsTruth: Compost should not smell. If your compost smells bad, then you likely did a poor job picking the materials for the compost pile.MY

Enjoy your composting

“Simply adding some finished compost into the newly formed compost pile serves as an activator to get

things started.”

coMposing is it JUst a LoaD oF rUbbish

ABout tHe AutHor: steve townLey is an experienceD saLesperson anD Marketer anD web Designer anD bLogger. Learn More aboUt steve by visiting his bLog at httP://infoblog.net78.net/. reaD More at www.articlesbase.com


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TALKING SHOP

at a Glance

Company: acme hydroponics

Owners: Kristen biron and Jason pozzi

Location: 300 nickel street, suite broomfield, colorado

Phone: 1-720-524-7306

Email: [email protected]

Web: www.acmehydroponics.net

Motto: “Grow healthy.”

Kristen Biron and Jason Pozzi, owners of Acme Hydroponics in Broomfield, Colorado, reveal the history behind their love of gardening and share their wise words to live—and grow—by.

When people think of ‘ACME’, they typically think of the Roadrunner and Wile E. Coyote cartoons—Wile E. Coyote would open a crate labeled ‘ACME’ and pro-duce any number of mechanical contraptions designed to help him capture Roadrunner. At Acme Hydropon-ics in Broomfield, Colorado, they too strive to provide a myriad of products and services to the growers in the Denver area. The word ‘acme’ means ‘the highest point’, and in 2010 that was the guiding vision of owners Kris-ten Biron and Jason Pozzi when they established their grow shop. They wanted to be the best in every aspect of the business.Kristen and Jason, both East Coast transplants, came from

corporate customer service careers prior to opening the store. Both were used to working long hours and develop-ing strong relationships with their customers. Kristen, a former manager at Enterprise Rent-a-Car at Denver Inter-national Airport, and Jason, a general manager for Center-plate at Folsom Field in Boulder, were eager to focus their passion for excellent customer service on a business of their own. Their vision became a reality when they found the location at 300 Nickel Street in Broomfield, Colorado, and opened the doors to Acme.Kristen grew up on a farm in Connecticut. Her uncle,

Wayne Hackney, was well established in the pumpkin growing industry in New England, where he was also a pioneer in the field of competitive giant pumpkin grow-ing. An innovator in introducing hydroponic growing techniques to the field as far back as the 1970s, he has been a constant source of expertise and support for Acme.Jason developed his appreciation for the value of organic

foods while working for Whole Food Markets. His belief

Onwers of Acme Hydroponics, Kristen Biron and Jason Pozzi


in the importance of eating and living in a healthy way was behind his desire to start providing the necessary supplies and latest technology for the rapidly expanding hydroponic growing market—so the phrase ‘Grow healthy’ was a perfect fit for Acme.Acme carries seeds from Botanical Interests—who retail

organic and non-gmo seeds—and also offers organic nutrients, the latest name-brand products and the newest innovations to hit the industry. Kristen and Jason are constantly learning in an effort to keep their product knowledge current, and they continue to keep their customers informed as new products are introduced. Most of the products in the store have been stocked due to customer requests, and Acme solicits and respects customer feedback on everything they sell, making a point of sharing successes and challenges with various new products with all of their clientele.When they first opened their doors there seemed to be plenty

of room in the store, but they quickly set to work stocking the shelves with everything it would take in order to satisfy their customers’ needs. Now Kristen and Jason enjoy customer input on their great selection, and are especially gratified to hear comments from growers like “you really filled this place up” and “you guys have great prices!”Exceeding customers’ needs has been the ultimate focus for

Jason and Kristen since the store’s inception. They know that each grower has a unique garden, and they listen carefully to discover what is needed to bring each customer’s crops to the next level. It is not uncommon for them to ask customers to sketch a diagram of their equipment and garden layout to see where improvements can be made. For new or novice custom-ers, they are able to assist with a conceptual drawing of the ideal

layout. Focusing on customers’ needs is crucial in today’s economy, and Acme understands that customers want their dollars to go as far as possible. That’s why they offer a customer loyalty program, growing classes and a delivery service, and they’re always willing to help customers load up their vehicles.Acme is a welcoming and family-friendly retailer where cus-

tomers are encouraged to bring their children and dogs as they see to all their gardening needs. Jason’s two children (ages eight and six) love to hang out in the store.Kristen and Jason really enjoy helping

both novice and expert growers set up viable gardening environments, and they

love hearing customer success stories of how good it feels to feed their families food that they know is safe and healthy. We all know that eating healthy, organic foods results in natural energy, which in turn produces energetic children, stronger adults and better lives for all. Better health naturally.During the first year of operation Acme evolved to meet the

ever-changing needs of the growers they serviced, but as with any new business, they faced many challenges—some expect-ed and some unforeseen. However, they were up to the task, and as a response to ongoing technology they have designed, developed and implemented an e-commerce website to help customers take advantage of their services and products.Kristen and Jason have really enjoyed their first year in busi-

ness. “We are extremely thankful to all of our customers who have helped support us through our first year, and we are looking forward to expanding our customer base.”‘Grow healthy’ with Acme Hydroponics. MY


“[Jason’s] belief in the importance of eating and living in a healthy way was behind his desire to start providing the necessary supplies and latest technology for the rapidly

expanding hydroponic growing market.”


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MAX-MART


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Using Bumblebees in the GreenhouseHoneybees are generally thought of as the most common pollinator but bumblebees may be better for pollinating seed and food crops. Find out what makes them effective indoor pollinators.

Plant SteeringThe principles of crop steering—a useful technique employed by many commercial greenhouse growers that balances the veg-etative growing phase with the generative phase—is examined.

Hybrid HydroponicsIndoor growers in Europe have devised a system that produces fat plants in small spaces. This hybrid hydro set-up could be the ideal system for you.

LEDs – Making Your Investment WorthwhileSpend your grow light dollars wisely with these tips that serve to help you navigate the LED maze with ease.


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Gordon Moore predicted in 1965 that integrated circuits (or computer CPUs) would go on to double in complexity about every two years. Over 45 years later this prediction remains the standard that manufacturers strive for in the semi-conductor industry.

Wasabi japonica, also known as Japanese horseradish, is a member of the crucifer or mustard family.

Trees and other perennials create long, deep root systems to survive the harsh winter; in nature, annuals typically produce roots that grow one foot or more down into the ground, but can grow several feet outward in diameter.

Chemically, the only difference between ascorbic acid Vitamin C and citric acid—is that citric acid has one additional oxygen atom.

Granular form Mycorrhizae are recommended for soil, coco and soilless container gardening applications, and powder forms are available for hydroponic systems.

Fast-growing plants in their vegetative stage require lights that can provide them with 2,500 lumens/foot candles of light for 18 uninterrupted hours a day in order to maintain vigorous health and strong stems.

By emitting PAR-specific wavelengths that cater to chlorophyll production, plants growing beneath these units exhibit a healthier, darker green color than usual.

Despite being considered a semi-aquatic plant, Wasabi japonica does not seem to thrive in a continually submerged system or where the nutrient stagnates and excludes oxygen, which the root system needs in abundance.

You might spend twice the amount on a soilless mix than what you would on soil or hydroponic mediums for the same size garden. However, you can continue using that same batch of soilless mix harvest after harvest.

It is said that the citric acid in lemon juice will dissolve a pearl.

In Jamaica, 75 per cent of the nation’s food is now imported from other countries. There is over 50 per cent unemployment in Jamaica, and the average family spends over 50 per cent of their income on food.


MAXIMUM YIELDdistributors Retail Stores listed alphabetically by city in each state.

ALABAMAAlabama organics3348 Bethel Road,hammondville, AL 35989256-635-0802

ALASKABrown’s electrical supply365 Industrial Way,Anchorage, AK 99501907-272-2259Far North Garden supply2834 Boniface ParkwayAnchorage, AK 99504907-333-3141holmtown Nursery Inc.1301 - 30th Avenue,Fairbanks, AK 99701907-451-8733Anuway hydroponicsSuite #1 2711 W Walnutrogers AK 72756 USA479 631 0099Far North Garden supply300 Centaur Street,Wasilla, AK 99654907-376-7586

ARIZONAsea of Green Flagstaff204-C E. Route 66Flagstaff, AZ 86001928-774-SOGF(7643)homegrown hydroponics 2525 West Glendale AvePhoenix AZ 85051602-368-4005sea of Green West2340 W. Bell Road, Suite 116,Phoenix, AZ 85023602-504-8842ACI hydroponics1325 South Park Lane,tempe, AZ 85282800-633-2137homegrown hydroponics601 East Broadway Road,tempe, AZ 85282480-377-9096sea of Green hydroponics1301 E. University Dr.tempe AZ, 85281800-266-4136Gonzo Grow10297 W Van Buren Street,tolleson, AZ 85353623-780-GROW Natural Pools & Gardens2143 North Country Suite C,tucson, AZ 85716520-323-2627sea of Green hydroponics402 North 4th Avenue,tucson, AZ 85705520-622-6344

ARKANSASMickey’s Mercantile1303 Highway 65 South,Clinton, AR 72031501-412-0214old soul organics and More1771 Crossover Road,Fayetteville, AR 72701479-444-6955 Growfresh organics & More2600 S Zero St, Suite CFort smith, AR 72901479.648.8885Fermentables3915 Crutcher Street,N. little rock, AR 72118501-758-6261

CALIFORNIAGreenleaf hydroponics1839 W Lincoln Avenue,Anaheim, CA 92801714-254-0005

Grow It Yourself Gardens401 Sunset Drive, Suite L,Antioch, CA 94509925-755-GROWhigh desert hydroponics13631 Pawnee Road, #7Apple Valley, CA 92308760-247-2090American hydroponics286 South G Street,Arcata, CA 95521800-458-6543humboldt hydroponics601 I Street,Arcata, CA 95521707-822-3377let it Grow160 Westwood Center,Arcata, CA 95521707-822-8733Northcoast horticulture supply639 6th St.Arcata, CA 95521 707-826-9998sweet harvest hydroponics & organics1041 E. Grand Ave.Arroyo Grande,CA 93420(805) 473-0004Auburn organic4035 Grass Valley Highway,Auburn, CA 95602530-823-8900high street hydro180 Cleveland Avenue,Auburn, CA 95603530-885-5888Quail Mountain ranch230 Palm AveAuburn, CA 95603530-889-2390tell 2 Friends Indoor Gardening62 Sutherland Drive,Auburn, CA 95603530-889-8171Bakersfield hydroponics2408 Brundage Lane, Suite BBakersfield, CA 93304Green leaf hydroponics3903 Patton Way #103Bakersfield CA 93308661-245-2616Kern hydroponics2408 Brundage Lane, Suite B,Bakersfield, CA 93304661-323-7333the hydro shop3980 Saco RoadBakersfield, CA661-399-3336 Better Grow hydro los Angeles5554 Bandini Boulevard,Bell, CA 91106323-510-2700; 877 640 GROWsuper startsPO Box 732,Bellmont, CA 94002650-346-8009 Berkeley Indoor Garden844 University AvenueBerkeley, CA 94710510-549-2918Berkeley’s secret Garden921 University Avenue,Berkeley, CA 94710510-486-0117Brentwood hydroponics & organics560 Valdry Ct #85Brentwood, CA 94513925-634-6704Advanced Garden supply3113 Alhambra Drive, Unit F,Cameron Park, CA 95682,530-676-2100Precision hydroponics132 Kennedy Avenue,Campbell, CA 95008408-866-8176

elite horticulture supply22330 Sherman Way, C13,Canoga Park, CA 91303818-347-5172hydro International7935 Alabama AvenueCanoga Park, CA 91304Advanced hydroponics17808 Sierra Highway,Canyon Country, CA 91351Myron l Company2450 Impala Drive,Carlsband, CA 9210-7226760-438-2021661-299-1603san diego hydroponics North County Coastal 6352 Corte Del Abeto #JCarlsbad CA, 92011760-420-8934 NorCal CreationsPO Box 28,Cedar ridge, CA 95924Garden Connection, the 2145 Park Avenue, Unit 2Chico, CA 95928530-342-7762hydro King2540 South Whitman Place,Chico, CA 959282530-893-GROW (4769)Grow4less garden supply & hydroponics320 Trousdale Dr., Suite LChula Visa CA 91910619-425-GROWCitrus heights hydrogarden8043 Greenback LaneCitrus heights, CA 95610916-728-4769Conrad hydroponics Inc.14915 Unit E, Olympic Drive,Clearlake, CA 95422707-994 3264under the sun12638 Foothill Boulevard,Clearlake oaks, CA 95423707-998-GROW (4769)Gro More Garden supply2937 Larkin Avenue,Clovis, CA 93021559-348-1055G & G organics and hydroponics901 W. Victoria Street Unit D,Compton, CA 90220310-632-0122Concord Indoor Garden2771 Clayton Road,Concord, CA 94519925-671-2520hydroponics Plus2250 Commerce Avenue, Suite CConcord, CA 94520925-691-7615Beginning hydroponicsPO Box 1232,Corona, CA 92787951-735-4446hydrostar hydroponics & organics1307 W. Sixth Street, #211,Corona, CA 92882951-479-8069A+ hydroponics & organics1604 Babcock Street, Costa Mesa, CA 92627949-642-7776the hydro source671 E. Edna PlaceCovina, CA 91723877 HYDRO 82; 626-915-3128let it Grow1228 2nd Street,Crescent City, CA 95531707-464-9086Northcoast horticulture supply 1070 Highway 101,Crescent City, CA 95531 707-464-1200seaside hydrogarden1070 Highway 101 North,Crescent City, CA 95531707-465-3520


Pacific Coast hydroponics4147 Sepulveda Boulevard,Culver City, CA 90230310-313-1354dr. Greenthumbs hydroponic Garden supplies566 San Ramon Valley Blvd.danville, CA 94526925-314-9376Constantly Growing - davis123 D Streetdavis, CA 95616530-756-4774Constantly Growing6200 Enterprise Drive, Suite Adiamond springs, CA 95619530-642-9710harvest hydroponics6650 Merchandise Way Suite B,diamond springs, CA 95619530-622-5190Victory Garden supply1900 N Lincoln St #100dixon CA 95620707 678 5800Watch It Grow hydro9453 Firestone Blvd. downey, CA 90241562-861-1982Garden Warehouse6355 Scarlet Court, #2,dublin, CA 94568925-556-3319Grow A lot hydroponics, san diego1591 N. Cuyamaca Street,el Cajon, CA 93612619-749-6777el Centro hydro & Brew supply Inc.591 main Street, Suite N-2el Centro, CA 92243760-235-4985Go Green hydroponics15721 Ventura Boulevard,encino, CA 91436818-990-1198A Fertile World (eureka)65th Street, eureka, CA 95501 707-444-0200humboldt Nutrients65th Street,eureka, CA 95501888-420-7770humboldt electronics2547 California Street,eureka, CA 95501707-443-9408humboldt hydroponics1302 Union Street,eureka, CA 95501707-443-4304 Northcoast horticulture supply60 West 4th Street,eureka, CA 95501707-444-9999Constantly Growing4343 Hazel Avenue,Fair oaks, CA 95628916-962-0043tulare County Growers supply435 W. Noble Avenue, Unit A, Farmersville, CA 93223559-732-8247santa Cruz hydroponics & organics - North6241 Graham Hill Road,Felton, CA 95018831-335-9990eel river hydroponics & soil supply164 Dinsmore Drive, Fortuna, CA 95540707-726-0395the shop6542 Front Street,Forestville, CA 95436707-887-2280dirt Cheap hydroponics17975 H Highway 1,Fort Bragg, CA 95437707-964-4211hydrogarden Mendocino County1240 North Main Street,Fort Bragg, CA 95437707-962-9252

A Fertile World (Fortuna)610 7th Street,Fortuna, CA 95540 707-725-0700Western Auto1156 Main Street,Fortuna, CA 95540707-725-1189Northcoast horticulture supply357 Main Street,Fortuna, CA 95540 707-725-5550Nature’s secret Garden and supply41469 Albrae Street,Fremont, CA 94577510-623-8393roots Grow supply1330 North Hulbert, #101 Fresno, CA 93728559-840-0122tower Garden supply & organic Nursery403 W. Olive Avenue,Fresno, CA 93728559-495-1140Valley hydroponics207 E. Sierra Ave.Fresno, CA 93710 559-449-0426Grow Wurks hydroponics 765 S. State College Boulevard. Suite J Fullerton, CA 92831sB hydro1109 W. 190th Street, Unit #F,Gardena, CA 90248310-538-5788Golden Gecko Garden Center, the4665 Marshall Road,Garden Valley, CA 95633530-333-2394Probiotic solutions20889 Geyserville Avenue,Geyserville, CA 95441707-354-4342south Valley hydroponics320 Kishimura Drive, #3 Gilroy, CA 950201-866-848-GROWstop N Grow340 Pine Avenue,Goleta, CA 93003805-685-3000 All seasons hydroponics 17614 Chatsworth Street, Granada hills, CA 91344 818-368-4388AG Natural403 Idaho Maryland Road,Grass Valley, CA 95945530-274 0990Grass Valley hydrogarden12506 Loma Rica Drive,Grass Valley, CA 95945530-477-2996Vital landscaping Inc. 12817 Loma Rica Drive,Grass Valley, CA 95945530-273-3187West Coast Growers hydroponics13481 Colifax Highway,Grass Valley, CA 95945888-924-4769 M.G.s.22540 D Foothill Boulevard,hayward, CA 94541510-582-0900thrive hydroponics70 A West North Street,healdsburg, CA 95446707-433-4068emerald Garden13325 South Highway 101,hopland, CA 95482707-744-8300surf City hydroponics7319 Warner Street, Suite Bhuntington Beach, CA 92647714-847-7900dutch Garden suppliesPark Circle Suite 12 Irvine CA 92614949-748-8777

West Coast hydroponics, Inc.27665 Forbes Road, Unit 10laguna Niguel, CA 92677949-348-2424la habra1301 S Beach Boulevard, la habra, CA 90631562-947-8383Grass roots hydroponics31875 Corydon, Suite 130 lake elsinore, CA 92530951-245-2390south County hydroponics22511 Aspan Street, Suite Elake Forest, CA 92630949-837-8252Clover hydroponics & Garden supply43 Soda Bay Road,lakeport, CA 95453707-263-4000san diego hydroponics east County11649 Riverside Drive,Suite 141, lakeside, CA 92040619-562-3276total hydroponics Center Inc4820 Paramount Blvd lakewood, CA 90712562-984-GROW (4769)Weather top Nursery44901 Harmon Drive,laytonville, CA 95454707-984-6385CNG Garden supplies22 Ricknbacker Circle, livermore, CA 94551925-454-9376dl Wholesale6764 Preston Ave. Suite Dlivermore CA 94551510 550 0018National Garden Wholesale/sunlight supply6485 Brisa Street,livermore, CA 94550888-570-4678 (Southern CA) Garden depot, the203 Commerce Street, Suite 101lodi, CA 95240209-339-9950Valley rock landscape supply2222 N H Streetlompoc CA 93436P: 805 736 0841805 735 5921Green Coast hydroponics2405 Mira Mar Avenue,long Beach, CA 90815 562-627-5636Grow light express5318 East Second Street suite 164,long Beach, CA 90803888-318-GROWlong Beach hydroponics & organics1772 Clark Avenue,long Beach, CA 90815 562-498-9525Atwater hydroponics3350 Glendale Boulevard,los Angeles, CA 90039323-663-8881Green door hydro and solar830 Traction Avenue,los Angeles, CA 90013212-625-1323hardman hydroponics3511 Youree Dr., Shreveportlos Angeles 71105318-865-0317hollywood hydroponics and organics5109 1/2 Hollywood Boulevard,los Angeles, CA 90027-6105323-662-1908 hydroasis2643 S. Fairfax Avenue,los Angeles, CA 90232888-355-4769lAX hydro10912 S. La Cienaga Boulevard,los Angeles, CA 90304310-337-6995



sunland hydroponics4136 Eagle Rock Blvd, los Angeles, CA 90065323-254-2800Green Giant hydroponics7183 Hwy 49 Unit Blotus CA 95651530 622 4465deep roots Garden Center & Flower shop207 N. Sepulveda Blvd.Manhattan Beach, CA 90266Telephone: 310-376-0567B & s Gardening supplies590 Commerce Court,Manteca, CA 95336209-239-8648Monterey Bay horticulture supply218 Reindollar Avenue Suite 7A,Marina, CA 93933831-38-HYDROtwo Chix Garden supply1230 Yuba Street,Marysville, CA 95901530-923-2536Northcoast horticulture supply1580 Nursery WayMcKinleyville, CA 95519 707-839-9998thunders hydroponic Center1729 Yosemite Boulevard,Medesco, CA 95354Mendocino Garden shopPO Box 1301, 44720 Maint Street (at Hwy. 1),Mendocino, CA 95460707-937-3459Grow Zone718 Willow Rd. Menlo Park CA 94025650-326-4769Merced hydroponics1809 East 21st Street,Merced, CA 95340209-726-4769The urban Farmer store653 E. Blithedale Avenue,Mill Valley, CA 94941415-380-3840Mission Viejo hydroponics 24002 Via Fabricante Suite 502 Mission Viejo, CA 92691949-380-1894Coca’s Central Valley hydroponics116 West Orangeburg Avenue,Modesto, CA 95350209-567-0590Growers Choice hydroponics1100 Carver Road,Modesto, CA 95350209-522-2727Year round Garden supply11000 Carver Rd. #20Modesto, CA 95350Tel: 209 522 2727Green light hydroponics2615 Honolula Ave. Montrose, CA 91020818-640-2623Grodan Inc.Moorpark, CA 93021541-646-8245 supersonic hydroponic and organic Garden supply 850 Shasta Avenue, Suite BMorro Bay, CA 93442805-772-5869south Bay hydroponics and organics - Mtn. View569 East Evelyn Avenue,Mountain View, CA 94041650-968-4070redwood Garden supply55 Myers Avenue,Myers Flat, CA 95554707-943-1515endless Green hydroponics25 Enterprise Court, Suite 3 Napa, CA 94558707-254-0200Conejo hydroponics3481 Old Conejo Road #106Newbury Park, CA 91320805-480-9596stop N Grow640 S. Frontage Road,Nipomo, CA 93444805-619-5125

Valley Garden solutions Inc.15650 Nordhoff Avenue, Suite 104,North hills, CA 91345818-336-0041Foothill hydroponics10705 Burbank Boulevard, N. hollywood, CA 91601818-760-0688one stop hydroponics12822 Victory BoulevardNorth hollywood, CA 91606818-980-5855lumatek digital Ballasts33 Commercial Boulevard, Suite BNovato, CA 94949415-233-4273Marin hydroponics1219 Grant Avenue,Novato, CA 94945415-897-2197roots Grow supply 40091 Enterprise Dr.oakhurst CA 93644559 683 66223rd street hydroponics636 3rd Streetoakland, CA 94607510-452-5521Bloom hydro1602 53rd Ave. oakland CA 94601707 980 0456Medicine Man Farms1602 53rd Avenue,oakland, CA 94601707-980-0456Plant-N-Grow1602 53rd Avenue,oakland, CA 94601707-980-0456 hydrobrew1319 South Coast Highway,oceanside, CA 92054760-966-1885; 877-966-GROWsocal hydroponics1727-B Oceanside Boulevard,oceanside, CA 92054760-439-1084Cultivate ontario2000 Grove Ave #a110ontario, CA 91761909-781-6142Flairform1751 S Pointe Avenue,ontario, CA 91761213-596-8820National Garden Wholesale/sunlight supply1950 C South Grove Avenue,ontario, CA 91761 888-888-3319Palm tree hydroponics2235 E 4th St,Suite Gontario, CA 91764909-941-9017rh distribution1751 S. Pointe Avenue ontario, CA 91761888-545-8112Green Coast hydroponics496 Meats Avenueorange, CA 92865714-974-4769 Natural Pest Controls8320 B Hazel Avenue,orangevale, CA 95662916-726-0855

Igrow hydro2280 Veatch Street,oroville, CA 95965530-534-4476 orville organic Gardens5250 Olive Hwy Ste 1oroville, CA 95966530-589-9950us orchid & hydroponic supplies1621 South Rose Avenue,oxnard, CA 93033805-247-0086America’s Best hydroponics & Gardening Center641 W. Palmdale Blvd. Unit DPalmdale, CA 93551661-266-3906

hydroponics unlimited641 W. Palmdale Blvd. “D”Palmdale, CA 93550661-266-3906 Palm springs hydroponics4651 Ramon Road,Palm springs, CA 92264 760-327-ROOTNew leaf hydro34150 123rd Street,Parablossom, CA 93553 661-944-2226Alternative hydro3870 East, Colorado Boulevard,Pasadena, CA 91107888-50-HYDROBetter Grow hydro Pasadena1271 E. Colorado Boulevard,Pasedena, CA 91106626 737 6612supersonic hydroponic and organic Garden supply3850 Ramada Drive, Unit D2Paso robles, CA 93446805-434-2333Foothills hydrogarden3133 Penryn Road,Penryn, CA 95663916-270-2413Funny Farms hydroponics963 Transport Way, #12Petaluma, CA 94954707-775-3111 house of hydro224 Weller Street, #B,Petaluma, CA 94952707-762-4769turbo Grow1889 San Pablo Avenue,Pinole, CA 94564510-724-1291Best Yield Garden supply3503 West Temple Avenue, Unit A,Pomona, CA 91768909-839-0505emerald Garden8249 Archibald Avenue,ranch Cucamanga, CA 91730909-466-3796Greenleaf hydroponics2212 Artesia Boulevard,redondo Beach, CA 90278310-374-2585 shadow Valley Aquatics75 Kimick Way,red Bluff, CA 96080530-526-0479Bare roots hydroponics1615 East Cypress, #5redding, CA 96002530-244-2215dazey’s supply3082 Redwood Drive,redway, CA 95560707-923-3002humboldt hydroponics2010 Tunnel Road,redway, CA 95560707-923-1402redway Feed Garden and Pet supply290 Briceland Road,redway, CA 95560707-923-2765sylvandale Gardens1151 Evergreen Road,redway, CA 95560707-923-3606 humboldt hydroponics2174 Pine Street, redding, CA 96001530-241-7454hydro King105 Hartnell Avenue, Suite C and D,redding, CA 96002888-822-8941orsa organix111 Willow Street,redwood City, CA 94063650-369-1269Mendocino Greenhouse & Garden supply960 East School Way,redwood Valley, CA 95470 707-485-0668


eZ Green hydroponics7017 Reseda Boulevard,reseda, CA 91335818-776-9076hydro hills hydroponics19320 Vanowen St.reseda CA 91335Box of rain Inc.Po Box 302, rexford, CA 59930406-755-7245hi-tech Gardening5327 Jacuzzi Street, #282,richmond, CA 94804510-524-4710the urban Farmer store2121 San Joaquin Street,richmond, CA 94804510-524-1604discount hydroponics4745 Hiers Avenue,riverside, CA 92505877-476-9487 All Ways hydro2220 Eastridge Ave. Suite C riverside CA 92507888-HYDRO98Calwest hydroponics11620 Sterling Avenue, Suite A riverside, CA 92503 800-301-9009hydro depot5665 Redwood Drive, #B,rohnert Park, CA 94928707-584-2384 Igrow hydro9000 Atkinson Street,roseville, CA 95678916-773-4476Green Acres hydroponics1215 Striker Avenue, Suite 180,sacramento, CA 95834916-419-4394Greenfire sacramento3230 Auburn Boulevard,sacramento, CA 95821916-485-8023Green thumb hydroponics35 Quinta Court, Suite B,sacramento, CA 95823916-689-6464KY Wholesale8671 Elder creek Rd. #600sacramento, CA 95828 916 383 3366Mystic Gardens8484 Florin Road, #110,sacramento, CA 95828916-381-2464sac hydroponics9529 Folson Boulevard, Suite Csacramento, CA 95827916-369-7968skywide Import & export ltd.5900 Lemon Hill Avenue,sacramento, CA 95824916-383-2369tradewinds Wholesale Garden supplies1235 Striker Avenue #180,sacramento, CA 95834888-557-8896Green Joint Ventures61 Tarp Circle,salinas, CA 93901831-998-8628reforestation technologies International1341 Daton Street, Units G&Isalinas, CA 93901831-424-1494; 800-RTI-GROWNational Garden Wholesale / sunlight supply1900 Bendixsen Street , Bldg. 1,samoa, CA 95564800-683-1114 (Northern CA) Greenmile hydroponic Garden supply1480 South E. Street, Suite D,san Bernardino, CA 92408909-885-5919Garden shed, the1136 El Camino Realsan Carlos, CA650-508-8600

Pure Food Gardening/Microclone830 H Bransten Rd. san Carlos,CA94070-3338Green Gopher Garden supply679 Redwood Avenue, Suite A,sand City, CA 93955831-899-0203Modern Gardens26620 Valley Center Dr. santa Clarita, CA 91351661-513-4733Best Coast Growers4417 Glacier Avenue Suite C,san diego, CA 92120800-827-1876City Farmer’s Nursery4832 Home Avenue,san diego, CA 92105619-284-6358Green lady hydroponics4879 Newport Avenue,san diego, CA 92107619-222-5011home Brews & Gardens3176 Thorn Stsan diego, CA 92104619 630 2739Indoor Garden depot1848 Commercial St. san diego CA 92113619-255-3552Innovative Growing solutions (IGs)5060 Santa Fe St. Ste.Dsan diego, CA 92109858-578-4477Mighty Garden supply4780 Mission Gorge Pl. #A-1, san diego, CA 92120619-287-3238Miramar hydroponics & organics8952 Empire Streetsan diego CA 92126 858-549-8649oracle Garden supply5755 Oberlin Drive, Suite 100san diego, CA 92121 858-558-6006Pacific Beach hydroponics1852 Garnet Avenue,san diego, CA 92109858-274-2559san diego hydroponics Beach Cities4122 Napier Street,san diego, CA 92110 619-276-0657Wai Kula hydrogardens5297 Linda Vista Road,san diego, CA 92110619-299-7299direct hydroponics Wholesale1034 W. Arrow Hwy#Dsan dimas, CA 91773888-924-9376liquid Gardens1034 West Arrow Hwy.#Dsan dimas, CA 91773888-924-9376extreme hydroponics11479 San Fernando Road C,san Fernando, CA 91340818-898-0915Grow Your own3401 Traval Street,san Francisco, CA 94116415-731-2115 hydroponic Connection Warehouse, the1995 Evans Avenue,san Francisco, CA 94124415-824-9376Nor Cal hydroponics4837 Geary Boulevard,san Francisco, CA 94118 415-933-8262Plant It earth2279 Market Street,san Francisco, CA 94114415-626-5082urban Gardens unlimited704 Filbert Street,

a d v a n c e d h y d r o p o n i c s a n d g a r d e n i n g

7 0 4 F i l b e r t S t r e e t , S a n F r a n c i s c o , C A 9 4 1 3 3

UrbanGardenssan Francisco, CA 94133415-421-4769

san Francisco hydro123 Tenth Street,san Francisco, CA 94103the urban Farmer store2833 Vicente Street,san Francisco, CA 94116415-661-2204us Garden417 Agostinio Rdsan Gabriel Ca 91776626 285-5009Inland empire hydrogarden1301-C South State Street,san Jancinto, CA 92853hahn’s lighting260 E. VA Suite 1,san Jose, CA 95112408-295-1755Plant life32 Race Street,san Jose, CA 95126408-283-9191south Bay hydroponics and organics - san Jose1185 South Bascom Avenue,san Jose, CA 95128408-292-4040d&s Garden supplies17-130 Doolittle Drivesan leandro, CA 94577510-430-8589hydrogarden delight13762 Doolittle Drive,san leandro, CA 94577510-903-1808Central Coast hydrogarden1951 Santa Barbara Street,san luis obispo, CA 93401805-544-GROWhealthy harvest hydroponics and organics2958 S. Higuera St.san luis obispo, CA 93401805.596.0430san diego hydroponics North802 N. Twin Oaks Valley Road #108 san Marcos, CA 92069760-510-1444h20 Gardening355 West 7th Street,san Pedro, CA 90731310-514-1416Pacific Garden supply128 H Carlos Drive,san rafael, CA 94903san rafael hydroponics1417 Fourth Sreet san rafael, CA 94901415 455 9655 Green Coast hydroponics3560 State Street, santa Barbara, CA 93105805-898-9922Nutes Int’l204 N Quarantina Street, santa Barbara, CA 93103 805-687-6699santa Clarita Valley hydroponics25835 Railroad Ave. #26santa Clarita CA 91350661 255 3700661 255 3701California hydroponics310 Coral Street, Suite Csanta Cruz, CA 95060831-423-4769hydro-logic Purification systems370 Encinal St, Suite 150, santa Cruz, CA 95060 888 H2O LOGICsanta Cruz hydroponics & organics - West side815 Almar Avenue, Unit K,santa Cruz, CA 95060831-466-9000Full sun supply3535 Industrial Drive, Unit B-3santa rosa, CA 95403877-FULL-SUNGonzo Grow 2550 Guerneville Road,Suite C,santa rosa, CA 95401 707-546-1800



Gottagrow Garden supply769 Wilson Street,santa rosa, CA 95404707-544-7782 Green logic Garden supply860 Piner Road, #38, santa rosa, CA 95403707-843-3156organic Bountea1919 Dennis Lane,santa rosa, CA 95403800-798-0765Pro Gardening systems 3715 Santa Rosa Avenue #2,santa rosa, CA 95407707-585-8633sun-In hydroponics1257A Cleveland Avenue,santa rosa, CA 95401707-578-5747sweet leaf hydroponics1611 Sebastobol Road,santa rosa, CA 95407707-575-GROW (4237) santee hydroponics7949 Mission Gorge Road, santee, CA 92071619-270-8649Gardening unlimited60 Old El Pueblo Road,scotts Valley, CA 95066831-457-1236Pro Gardening systems765 Petaluma Avenue,sebastopol, CA 95472707-829-7252Better Choice hydroponics 610 S. Washington Street,senora, CA 95370209 533 2400Go Big hydroponics4501 Van Nuys Boulevard,sherman oaks, CA 91403818-789-3341We Grow hydroponics3350 East Los Angeles Avenue,simi Valley, CA 93063 805-624-4566Abundant hydroponics llC1611 Shop Street, #1-A,s. lake tahoe, CA 96150530-54 HYDROAdvanced Garden supply2660 Lake Tahoe Boulevard, Building C, Unit 9,s. lake tahoe, CA 96150530-541-4769Farm hydroponics, the1950 Lake Tahoe Boulevard #3,s. lake tahoe, CA 96150530-541-3276santa Cruz hydroponics & organics - east side4000 Cordelia Lanesoquel, CA 95073831-475-9900orange County hydroponics12797 Beach Boulevard, stanton, CA 90680714-893-9493Golden harvest hydroponics & Garden supply8626 Lower Sacramento Road #48,stockton, CA 95210209-951-3550M&M Garden supply2509 West Lane, Suite Bstockton, CA 95205209-939-0664 Pacific Ave Indoor Garden supply 4633 pacific Avestockton , CA 95207209-955-0945City Farm hydroponics8903 Laurel Canyon Boulevard,sun Valley, CA 91352818-767-2076sunland hydroponics8300 Foothill Boulevard,sunland, CA 91040818-352-5300 Anthony’s Garden & lighting supply30 Ridge Road, Suites 8 & 9sutter Creek, CA 95685209-267-5416

tahoe Garden supply645 Westlake Boulevard, Suite 2, PO Box 487tahoe City, CA 96145530-581-3200the otherside hydroponics19425 Ventura Blvdtarzana CA 91356818 881 hydro (4937)hydroponics 4 less41669 Winchester Avenue,temecula, CA 92590800-A1-HYDROInland empire hydrogarden28822 Old Town Front St. #206temecula, CA 92590886-74-HYDRO805 hydroponics & organics1785 E. Thousand Oaks Boulevardthousand oaks, CA 91362805-494-1785 Art of hydro2636 E. Thousand Oaks Blvd.thousand oaks, CA 91362805-230-2227 Green thumb lighting & Garden1647 W. Sepulveda Boulevard, Unit 5,torrance, CA 90501888-326-GROWlos Angeles hydroponics and organics3007-3009 W. Artesia Blvd.torrance, CA 90504310-323-4937Anything Grows10607 W. River Street, Building 3 Suite C,truckee, CA 96161530-582-0479hooked up hydroponics339 S. Golden State Boulevard,turlock, CA 95380209-668-1300emerald Garden307 East Perkins Street,ukiah, CA 95482707-463-2510hydroPacific - hydroponics & Garden supplies351 C Hastings Av.,ukiah, CA 95482707-467-0400 Northcoast hydrogardens3450 North State Street,ukiah, CA 95482707-462-7214Atlantis Garden supply2851 A Whipple Road,union City, CA 94587510-487-8007evergreen hydroponics923 N. Central Avenue, Suite B,upland, CA 91786909-946-7100tNC supply9490 Main Street, P.O. Box 763upper lake, CA 95485707-275-9565everything Green448 Georgia Street,Vallejo, CA 94590707-647-0774hydroponics Market15816 Arminta StVan Nuys, CA 91406818-305-6261886-72-HYDROstop N Grow4160 Market Street, Unit 11Ventura, CA 93003805-639-9489 BWGs-CA7530 W. Sunnyview Avenue Visalia, CA 93291888-316-1306the Green shop66420 Mooney Boulevard, Suite 1 Visalia, CA 93277559-688-4200Kaweah Grower supply1106 1/2 N. Ben Maddox Way,Visalia, CA 93293559-625-4937Greentrees hydroponics Inc.2581 Pioneer Avenue, Unit DVista, CA 92081760-598-7551

home life hydroponics and organics1745 East Vista Way,Vista, CA 92084760-643-2150specialty Garden Center1970 East Vista Way, Suite 10, Vista, CA 92084760-758-4769Monterey Bay hydroponics and organics81 Hangar Way, #1,Watsonville, CA 95076831-761-9999California hydro Garden1043 South Glendora Avenue, Suite AWest Covina, CA 91790626-813-0868No stress hydroponics7543 Santa Monica Boulevard,West hollywood, CA 90046323-845-9874hydronation2491 Boatman Drive, Suite BWest sacramento, CA 95691916-372-4444Flower hut Nursery603 4th StreetWheatland, CA 95692 530-633-4526Green Coast hydroponics11510 Whittier BoulevardWhittier, CA 90601 562-699-4201GreenWay hydroponics11510 Whittier Boulevard,Whittier, CA 90601 lazy Gardeners hydroponics ‘N’ More14626 East Whittier Boulevard,Whittier, CA 90605562-945-0909Garden spout, the260 Margie Dr Willits, CA 95490707-456-0196sparetime supply208 E. San Francisco Avenue,Willits, CA 95490-4006urban Gardens22516 Ventura Boulevard,Woodland hills, CA 91364818-876-0222ultra lo hydroultralohydro.com 937-252-8224Garden highway Garden supply598 Garden Highway #22Yuba City, CA 95991530-755-2877southern humbolt Garden supplies34919 Yucaipa Boulevard, Yucaipa, CA 92399 909-797-6888707-459-6791

COLORADONational Garden Wholesale/sunlight supply3550 B Odessa Way, Aurora, CO 80011866-877-4188 (Northeast) Nick’s Garden Center2001 S. Chambers,Aurora, CO 80014 303-696-6657Family hydroponics-Boulder2125 32nd StreetBoulder, CO 80301303-996-6100Polar ray5171 Eldorado Springs Dr.Boulder, CO 80303303 494 5773Way to Grow6395 Gunpark Drive,Boulder, CO 80301303-473-4769deep roots Garden supply1790 Airport Road, Unit 1Breckenridge, CO 80424970-453-1440Mile high hydroponics37 Strong St. Brighton, CO 80601303 637 0069


Brighton hydroponics839so.Kuner rd., Brighton Colorado 80601303-655-1427ACMe hydroponics 300 Nickel St Suite 3 Broomfield, CO 80020 720.524.7306Colorado Grow3400 Industrial Lane, Unit 10ABroomfield, CO 80020 (303) 465-GROW (4769)J&d organic Growing solutions217 1/2 Clayton Street Brush, CO 80723970-310-5408BIG BloomZ1005 Caprice Drive,Castle rock, CO 80109303-688-0599Indoor Garden Warehouse8100 S Akron St., Suite 322,Centennial, CO 80112720-496-2110Garden tech737 Garden of the Gods Road,Colorado springs, CO 80907719-278-9777Greenhouse tech917 East Fillmore,Colorado springs, CO 80907719-634-0637hydro Grow supply644 Peterson Road,Colorado springs, CO 80915719-596-2600 olympic hydroponics supply llC.1530 S Nevada Avenue,Colorado springs, CO 80906719-635-5859high tech Garden supply 5275 Quebec St.Commerce City, CO 80022720-222-0772roll-N-Green Farms horticultural supply25797 Conifer Rd #A-8Conifer, CO 80433303-838-5520 BWGs-Co 11685 E. 55th Avenue denver, CO 80239 888-316-1306 Chlorophyll3801 Mariposa St. denver CO 80211 303-433-1155denver hydroponic & organic Center6810 North Broadway, Unit Ddenver, CO 80221303-650-0091rocky Mountain lighting and hydroponics7100 N. Broadway, Suite 3Ddenver, CO 80221303-428-5020the Grow outlet4272 Lowell Boulevarddenver, CO 80211 303-586-5543 Way to Grow301 East 57th Ave.denver, CO 80216303-296-7900All seasons Gardening 434 Turner Drive, Suite 2B durango, CO 81303 (970) 385-4769Blue sky hydroponics1301 Florida Road Unit Cdurango, CO 81301970-375-1238Grow store south, the5050 S. Federal Boulevard, #37,englewood, CO 80110303-738-0202Alpenglow Garden supply2712 South College AveFort Collins, CO 80525970-266-8888Bath Nursery & Garden Center2000 E. Prospect,Fort Collins, CO 80525970-484-5022

Indoor Paradise hydroponics309 S. Summit View, Unit 17,Fort Collins, CO 80524-1462970-221-3751Way to Grow3201 E. Mulberry Street,Fort Collins, CO 80524970-484-4769hydro shack, the220 Main Street, Suite EFrisco, CO 80443970-668-0359 GWs hydroponics7025 Highway 82 Building 4B,Glenwood springs, CO 81601970-384-2040hydro Planet711 Washington Avenue,Golden, CO 80401303-279-6090rocky Mountain hydroponics and organics15985 S. Golden RoadGolden, CO 80401720-475-1725desert Bloom hydroponics445 Pitkin Avenue,Grand Junction, CO 81501970-245-6427Primo Gardens 1600 North Ave. Suite BGrand Junction, CO 81501970-241-1209 Greeley Nutrients700 11th Street Unit 101Greeley Co 80631970 673 8302GroWize3225 S. Wadsworth Boulevard,lakewood, CO 80227303-986-2706Grow store, the8644 W. Colfax Avenue,lakewood, CO 80215888-510-0350ever Green hydroponics Inc.1131 Francis Street, Suite A,longmont, CO 80501303-682-6435ultra lo hydroultralohydro.com 937-252-8224Victory hydro Gardening1387 E. South Boulder Rd.louisville, CO, 80027 Tel: 303-664-9376lyons Indoor Gardening138 Main Street,lyons, CO 80540720-530-3828head start hydroponics & organic Gardening emporium34500 US Highway 6, Unit B-9,North edwards, CO 81632970-569-313Cultivate hydroponics & organics7777 W. 38th Avenue, A120A, Wheat ridge, CO 80033303-954-9897

CONNECTICUTharvest Moon hydroponics775 Silver Lane,east hartford, CT 06118860-568-4067liquidsun® Ct10C South Main Street,East Windsor, CT 06088860-254-5757organix hydroponics749 Saybrook Road, (Tradewinds Plaza)Middletown, CT 06457860-343-1923

FLORIDAurban sunshine1420 E. Altamonte Dr .Altamonte springs, FL 32701407-830-4769Best hydro4920 Lena Road,Bradenton, FL 34211941-756-1928

Palm Coast hydroponics4490 N Hwy US1 Ste. 108Bunnell FL 32110386 246 4119east Coast hydroponics & organics461 Forrest Avenue, Suite 105Coca, FL 32922321-243-6800 Greentouch hydroponics Inc.5011 S State Road 7, Suite 104davie, FL 33314954-316-8815Absolute hydroponic Garden Center Inc1607 Old Daytona Steetdeland, FL 32724386-734-0696Gold Coast hydroponics1539 SW 21st Avenue,Ft. lauderdale, FL 333121-800-780-7371Biofloral6250 NW 27th Way,Ft. lauderdale, FL 33309 877 735 6725Green thumb hydroponics supplies13482 North Cleveland Avenue,Fort Meyers, FL 33903239-997-4769Gardener’s edge Gainesville5000 NW 34th Street, Suite 13,Gainesville, FL 32605352-375-2769Florida Garden Wholesale2692 W 79 Street, hialeah, FL 33016 1-800-931-5215hydro terra Corp.924 North Federal Highway,hollywood, FL 33020954-920-0889simply hydroponics & organics (North)3642 South Suncoast Boulevard,homosassa, FL 34448352-628-2655hydroponics International Inc.7029-10 Commonwealth Avenue,Jacksonville, FL 32220904-693-6554Grower’s Choice & hydroponics11855 North Main Street, Jackonsonville, FL 32218904-683-4517urban organics & hydroponics5325 Fairmont Street,Jacksonville, FL 32207904-398-8012simply hydroponics & organics7949 Ulmerton Road,largo, FL 33773727-531-5355Growsmart Indoor Garden Centers14587 Southern Boulevard,loxahatchee, FL 33470561-429-3527Palm Beach discount hydroponics – West14703 Sothern Blvd. loxahatchee, FL 33470561 296 8555Atlantic hydroponics430 Count Street,Melbourne, FL 32901 321-821-1535high tech Garden supply2975 West New Haven Avenue,Melbourne, FL 32901321-821-0853Advanced hydro Gardens4960 NW 165 Street, Suite B-4,Miami, FL 33014866-97-HYDROBlossoms experience, the7207 NW 54th Street,Miami, FL 33166866-452-4769 Florida Garden Wholesale 9545 Sunset Drive, Miami, FL 33173 800-931-5215Future Farms Inc., the14291 SW 120th Street, Suite 105Miami, FL 33186305-382-2757



Gold Coast hydroponics4241 SW 71st Avenue,Miami, FL 331551-800-780-6805Growing Garden Inc., the12811 SW 42nd Street,Miami, FL 33175305-559-0309Vitaorganix7921 NW 67th StMiami, FL 33166786 845 86333d hydroponics and organics7139 US Highway #19,New Port richey, FL 34652727-847-3491Florida Garden Wholesale8442 Tradeport Drive, Unit 200, orlando, FL 32827 urban sunshine6100 Hanging Moss Rd ste 50 orlando, FL 32807407-647-4769urban sunshine6142 S. Orange Aveorlando, FL 32809 407-859-7728Green Winters Inc.147 Tomoka Avenue,ormond Beach, FL 32174386-235-8730800-931-5215the healthy harvestSte. 126 21113 Johnson St.Pembroke Pines, FL. 33029Tel: 954-538-1511 eden Garden supply5044 N. Palafox Street,Pensacola, FL 32505850-439-1299healthy Gardens and supply of Florida, Inc.196 East Nine Mile Road, Suite F,Pensacola, FL 32534850-912-4545National Garden Wholesale/sunlight supply455 S. Andrews Avenue, Pompano Beach, FL 33069877-649-3567 (Southeast)hydroponic depot II2395 S Tamiami Trail #19Port Charlotte FL 33952941 255 3999t eZ Grow Green604 S.W. Bayshore Blvd.Port st. lucie, Fl 34983772-807-7755esposito Garden Center2743 Capital Circle NE,tallahassee, FL 32308850-386-2114evershine hydroponics1519 Capital Circle NE Unit #35tallahassee FL 32308850-765-0040Grace’s hydro-organic Garden Center8877 North 56th Streettampa, FL 33617813-514-9376harvest time hydroponics14414 N. Florida Avenue,tampa, FL 33613813-264-7101hydroponics of tampa120 W. Bougain Villea,tampa, FL 33612813-333-6828stoney hydro @ schiro’s Barn n Garden supplies7812 Causeway Boulevard,tampa, FL 33619813-626-0902Worm’s Way Florida4412 North 56th Street, tampa, FL 33610800-283-9676; 813-621-1792Monkey hydroponics940 West Oakland Ave. Unit A1 Winter Garden FL 34787 407 574 8495

Cultivating eden hydroponic supplies946 18th Avenue SW,Vero Beach, FL 32962772-564-8880Florida Garden Wholesale8020 Belvedere Road,Unit 4, West Palm Beach,FL 33411 800-931-5215 Palm Beach discount hydroponics – east968 North Congress Ave.West Palm Beach, FL 33409561 296 6161

GEORGIAAtlantis hydroponics1422 Woodmont Lane, #4, Atlanta, GA 30318404-367-0052Flora hydroponics Inc.2475 Jefferson Road, Suite 600Athens, GA 30607866-404-0551 Atlantis hydroponics 2561 West Point Avenue,College Park, GA 30337678-510-0032 savannah hydroponics & organics4107 Eighth Street, Suite CGarden City, GA 31408912-349-4030

HAWAIIeco-Island supply810 Haiku Road, #394haiku, HI 96708808-575-9171Aqua Plant hawaii / Kahala hydroponics4224 Wailae, Suite 1A,honolulu, HI 96816808-735-8665Green hands of Aloha1713 Mary Street,honolulu, HI 96819808-847-4263ohana Greenhouse & Garden supply300 Hukilike Street, #2M,Kahalui, HI 96732808-871-6393Aiyah’s Garden3-3122 Kuhio Hwy. unit B-2lihue, Hi. 96766808 245 2627Pahoa Feed & Fertilizer15-2754 Old Government Road,Pahoa, HI 96778808-965-9955

IDAHOBoise hydroponics614 North Orchard Street,Boise, ID 83706208-344-3053Greenthumb Greenhouses5895 Ensign Avenue,Boise, ID 83714

ILLINOISAerostar Global824 South Kay Avenue,Addison, IL 60101Brew and Grow181 Crossroads Parkway, Bolingbrook, IL 60194847-885-8282let it Grow - CarbondaleWest Main Street,Carbondale, IL 62908 573-450-5401Alternative Garden supply615 Industrial Drive, Unit ACary, IL 60013800-444-2837Brew and Grow3625 N. Kedzi Avenue,Chicago, IL 60618773-463-7430Fertile Ground463 West MacArthur Drive,Cottage hills, IL 62018618-259-5500

hydrocork20647 Renwick Road,Crest hill, IL 60435815-838-0100Goldman’s Grow shop910 Greenwood Road,Glenview, IL 60025

Inc.

847-657-7250Grow Masters4641 Old Grand Ave.Gurnee, Il. 60031(224) 399-9877 Big Grow hydroponics9225 Trinity Drive,lake In the hills, IL 60156847-854-4450Grow Big hydroponics7817 B North 2nd Street,Manchesney Park, IL 61115815-637-4769Gardinside618 S. Rt. 59 suite 104Naperville, IL 60540630-276-9885Green Fields8137 N. Milwaukee,Niles, IL 60714847-965-5056Autumn Bloom Alternative Indoor Gardening1020 Derby StreetPekin, Illinois 61554 309-642-6943Prairie house Garden Center15151 South Harlem Avenue,orland, IL 60462708-687-3131Brew and Grow3224 South Alpine Road,rockford, IL 61109815-874-5700Brew and Grow359 W. Irving Park Road Unit E,roselle, IL 60172630-894-4885Brew and Grow2379 Bode Road, schaumburg, IL 60440630-771-0555organic Garden Center 9223 Skokie Blvd.skokie, IL 60077(847) 675-2722Kreation’s Indoor Gardening Center 3427 Old Chatman Road,springfield, IL 62704217-341-0821Water Works Indoor Gardening1900 South Dirksen Parkway,springfield, IL 62703217-553-6929

INDIANABWGs-IN7854 North State Road 37, Bloomington, IN 47404800-316-1306sunleaves Garden Products7854 North State Road 37,Bloomington, IN 47404888-464-9676Worm’s Way Indiana7850 North State Road 37,Bloomington, IN 47404800-598-8158 Worm’s Way Mail order7850 North State Road 37 Bloomington, IN 47404800-274-9676Frogs lilly Pad, the706 Citation Road,Carmel, IN 46032317-846-4610hops & harvest4616 E. DuPont Road, Suite Q,Fort Wayne, IN 46825260-918-3035harvest Moon hydroponics1336 East Washington St.Indianapolis, IN 4620317-780-8070


Magic Bulb Garden Center6229 Allisonville Road,Indianapolis, IN 46220317-202-2852Five Point Gardens56555 Oak Road,south Bend, IN 46619574-287-9232

KANSASGreen Circle hydroponics6890 W. 105th Street,overland Park, KS 66212913-642-3888

KENTUCKYGarden Grove organics29 East 7th Street,Covington, (Cincinnati Metro), KY 41011859-360-1843Worm’s Way Kentucky1360 Donaldson Hwy. Suite A,erlanger, KY 41018800-669-2088 Grow shop, the of lexington2320 Palumbo Drive, Suite 130,lexington, KY 40509859-268-0779louisville hydroponics3471 Taylor Boulevard,louisville, KY 40215502-366-4000New earth Garden Center9810 Taylorsville Road,louisville, KY 40299800-462-5953

LOUISIANAGeaux hydroponics!2126 O’Neal Lane,Baton rouge, LA 70816225-751-4769laughing Buddha Nursery4516 Clearview Parkway,Metairie, LA 70006504-887-4336urban organics285 St. Claude Avenue,New orleans, LA 70117504-352-4709ourcrazydeals hydroponics201 Angus Drive,Yungsville, LA 70592337-303-6146

MAINEevergreen Garden Center301 Forest Avenue Portland, ME 04101207-761-2800 high tech Garden supply Maine178 Rand Rd.Portland, ME 04102Phone 207-899-4387Green thumb Indoor Gardening19 Stage Road,st. Albans, ME 04971207-938-5909urban Garden Center235 Lewiston Road,toposhan, ME 04086207-373-0990Greenlife Garden supply611 US Rt. 1York, ME 03909978 262 9966 MARYLANDeast Coast organics2800 Sisson Street,Baltimore, MD 21211healthy Gardens and supply5001-F Harford Road,Baltimore, MD 21214443-708-5144Maryland hydroponics Inc.10051 North 2nd Street, laurel, MD 20723301-490-9236

Meadowview Feed & Garden Center1202 Meadowview Road,Pasadena, MD 21122443-817-0018Maryland hydroponics Inc.12130 Nebel Street, rockville, MD 20852240-551-4625Purple Mountain organics100-7010 Westmoreland Avenue,takoma Park, MD 20912877-538-9901

MASSACHUSETTSGreenlife Garden supply481 Boston Road, Unit 4,Billerica, MA 01821978-262-9966harvest Moon hydroponics29 Washington Street, Route 1Foxboro, MA 02035800-660-6977liquidsun® MA8 Lynwood Avenue,holyoke, MA 01040413-539-6875Green Path Garden supply276 West Main Street,Northborough, MA 01532508-393-4181high tech Garden supply560 Boston Turnpike (Rt.9)shrewsbury, MA 01545508-845-4477New england hydroponics15 D College Hwy. (Rt. 10),southampton, MA 01073888-529-9025 Worm’s Way Massachusetts121 Worc-Providence Turnpike,sutton, MA 01590800-284-9676

MICHIGANCultivation station of Michigan Inc., the 6540 Allen Road,Allen Park, MI 48101313-383-1766Gro Blue Indoor Gardening supplies270 W. Liberty Street,Ann Arbor, MI 48104734-913-2750Grow show, the4095 Stone School Rd. Ann Arbor, MI 48108(734)-677-0009(734)-677-0509hothydro®5245 Jackson Road, Suite FAnn Arbor, MI 48103734-761-5040; 877-893-0716homelight Gardens3471 S. Huron Road,Bay City, MI 48706989-922-0088J&l Growco206 S. Michigan Avenue,Big rapids, MI 49307231-796-1528Cultivation station 3 Inc.46912 Gratiot,Chesterfield, MI 48051586-949-7453

h2o Grow supply3364 Arent Ct Coloma, MI 49038 269-468-3890 Van hydro7480 N State,davison, MI 48423810-653-8267hydro Giant 14455 Ford Rd,dearborn, MIhydro Giant 21651 W. 8 Mile Rd. detroit, MI (8Mile & Lahser)313-387-7700313-216-8888

hydro heaven73647 W 8th Mile Road,detroit, MI 48235313-861-0333; 877-823-2076ultra lo hydroultralohydro.com 937-252-8224urban Gardening Center, the2520 22nd Street, detroit, MI 48216313-898-0200superior Growers supply 4870 Dawn Avenue,east lansing, MI 48823 517-332-2663sunnyside hydroponics24930 Gratiot Avenue,eastpoint, MI 48021586-777-2528synthetic sun hydroponics, llC 799 S. Wisconsin AvenueGaylord, MI 49735989 731 8800Growco Garden supply1042 Michigan Street, NE,Grand rapids, MI 49503877-939-6900 horizen hydroponics1614 Leonard Street, NW,Grand rapids,MI 49504866-791-1664 Flower Factory, the2223 East Highland Road highland, MI 48356248-714-9292hydro Vision 2858 E Highland rdhighland, MI 48356holland hydroponic outlet 587-40 East 8th Streetholland, MI 49423616-298-7395synthetic sun hydroponics, llC9091 W. Lake City Roadhoughton lake, MI 48629989-422-2800hydro Vision 1247 e Grand River howell, MI 48843Green Forest Indoor Garden supply, llC.2555 N. State(M-66) Rd.Ionia, MI 48846 616-523-6111horizen hydroponics4646 W. Main Street,Kalamazoo, MI 49006269-567-3333Kalamazoo Indoor Garden450 W. Maple,Kalamazoo, MI 49001269-344-2550superior Growers supply19582 Middlebelt Road,livonia, MI 48152248-473-0450Northern lights hydroponic and Garden supply29090 Campbell rd.Madison heights, MI 48071248-439-6269BIg Creek hydroponics555 Old Little Lake Road,Marquette, MI 49855906-249-5297Growing Consultant2260 Apple Avenue,Muskegon, MI 49442231-773-5600sunshine supply Co. 5800 East Pickard Street,Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858989-775-3700Flo-N-Grow.214 N. 2nd Street,Niles, MI 49120269-683-1877



Green earth hydroponics8127 Portage Rd.Portage, MI 49002269-342-4190 home Grown hydroponics8075 Gratiot Road, Unit C,saginaw MI 48609989-781-1930hydro Giant19363 Eureka Rd, southgate, MI734.281.8888Cultivation station of Michigan Inc., the23529 Little Mack Avenue,st. Clair, MI 48080 586-775-9485high tech Garden supply7889 Telegraph Road.taylor, MI 48180313-908-7554hydro Grow, the8210 Telegraph Road,taylor, MI 48180313-633-0641Grow store, the721 W. Blue Star Drive,traverse City, MI 49684231-421-5191Wild Child7740 M 72 East,traverse City, MI 49690866-711-GROWhydro Vision 1910 West rd trenton, MI 48183hydroharrys.com24500 Dequindre,Warren, MI 48091800-461-8819Indoor Garden superstore2570 Dixie Highway,Waterford Twp., MI 48328248-673-2200; 877 22 HYDROlight Green Water3661 Highland Road, Waterford, MI 48329248-681-0001hydrospot 34236 Michigan Avenue,Wayne, MI 48184734-722-1285 synthetic sun hydroponics, llC 3218 W. Houghton AvenueWest Branch, MI 48661989-345-8800 stealth hydro15 E. Cross Street, Ypsilanti, MI 48198866-998-1916

MINNESOTAduluth hydroponics26 W 1st Streetduluth, MN 55802218-341-7253

Indoor Gardening10 NE 3rd Street, Faribault, MN 55021507-209-1546

Brew and Grow8179 University Avenue,Fridley, MN 55432612-780-8191

Interior Gardens115 -1620 Central Avenue NE,Minneapolis, MN 55413800-498-4178; 612-870-9077

Midwest hydroponics3440 Belt Line Boulevard,Suite A,Minneapolis,MN 55416 888-449-2739

eden Indoor organic Gardens831 Highway 75 NorthMoorhead, MN 56560218-477-EDEN (3336)American Garden supply 601-6th Avenue, North,Princeton, MN 55371 763-631-0543Qstill-h2o Inc.14375 North 60th Street,stillwater, MN 55082651-351-2822eco Garden supply800 Transfer Door 25 in rearst. Paul, MN 55114651-647-1896

MISSISSIPPIIndoor Garden shop llC1310 Bienville Boulevard,ocean springs, MS 39564228-875-3725

MISSOURIlet It Grow - Girardeau879 S. Kings Highway, Cape Girardeau, MO 63703573-803-0628heartland hydrogardens705 Vandiver Drive, Suite G Columbia, MO 65202 HYDROGARDENS573-474-4769Green Circle hydroponics12 East Missouri, Kansas City, MO 64106816-421-1840Grow Your own hydroponics3617 Saint John Avenue,Kansas City, MO 64123816-241-2122let It Grow - springfield 2519 E. Kearney Street,springfield, MO 65803417-862-GROWu-Grow1724 North, 13th Street,st. louis, MO 63106314-452-6368Worm’s Way Missouri1225 North Warson Road,st. louis, MO 63132800-285-9676 Green thumb organics249 Mid Rivers Mall Drive,st. Peters, MO 63376 636-397-4769 (GROW)

MONTANAheightened harvests2018 Main Street #4,Billings, MT 59105406-252-4311Magic City organic & hydroponic supply 812 Central Billings, MT 59102 (406)-245-LEAF(5323)one World – life Products906 BroadwaterBillings MT 59101406 839 9969heightened harvests3103 Harrison Avenue, Suite BButte, MT 59701 Alpengrow Nursery supplies238 Highway 93 S.,eureka, MT 59917406-882-4496Big sky Garden supply528 West Idaho, Kallispell, MT 59901 406-755-1465Cornucopia Grow Your own127 Stoner Creek Roadlakeside, MT 59922406-709-1076dr. Green thumbs1106 West Park,livingston, MO 59047406-222-7440

Bizzy Beez llP5875 Highway 93 S,Whitefish, MT 59937406-863-9937

NEBRASKAPatio-Ponics3255 Cornhusker Highway, Suite 4lincoln, NE 68504402-466-9218Advanced hydro-Ponics10711 Mockingbird Drive,omaha, NE 68127 (108th and L-Q)402-991-6630 Paradigm Gardens8949 J Street, Suite 5,omaha, NE 68127402-339-4949

NEVADACarson Valley hydroponics2520 Empire Ranch Road,Carson City, NV 89701775-884-4769lorraine Ink290 Spear Court,Fernley, NV 89408775-575-7757hydro store, the1014 W. Sunset Road,henderson, NV 89014702-434-7365AAA Indoor organic Garden superCenter2101 S. Decatur Boulevard, #21,las Vegas, NV 89102702-450-4769Advanced Gardens hydroponics3111 South Valley View, (on Desert Inn West of Valley View) Suite V103las Vegas, NV 89102702-257-4769All American hydroponics2675 East Patrick Lane, Unit 8,las Vegas, NV 89120702-894-9888Best hydroponic supply6818 W Cheyenne,las Vegas, NV 89108702-750-9300hydro store, the7145 W. Ann Road,las Vegas, NV 89130702-434-9376Nevada hydroponics4700 B Maryland, Suite 1,las Vegas, NV 89119702-798-2852Anything Grows190 West Moana Lane,reno, NV 89509775-828-1460everything Green hydroponicsP.O Box 34869reno, Nevada 89533

NEW HAMPSHIREhydro World17 White Birch Lane,lincoln, NH 03251603-745-3030

NEW JERSEYGarden state hydroponics511 Avenel Street,Avenel, NJ 07001888-300-8711Green touch 2 hydroponics Inc.888 Route 33, Unit 1,hamilton, NJ 08619609-570-8829 H Y D R O P O N I C S I N C .

greentouch2east Coast horticultural supply1652 Hurffville Road,swewell, NJ 08080856-228-5290 77hYdro37 Fairfield Place,West Caldwell, NJ 07006877-774-9376Claraqua4 Redwood Court,West Windsor, NJ 08550


NEW MEXICOAhl Year round Garden supply1051 San Mateo Blvd. SE,Albuquerque, NM 87108505-255-3677Ahl Year round Garden supply9421 Coors Blvd. NW Suite K,Albuquerque, NM 87114 505-899-0592 All seasons Gardening3600 Osuna Road, Suite 406 Alburquerque, NM 87109 505-508-4292Common shaman1319 San Mateo N.E.,Albuquerque, NM 87110505-255-6463 All seasons Gardening1228 Parkway, Suite E sante Fe, NM 87507 505-438-GROWsanta Fe hydroponics821 W. San Mateo Road, Suite 4,santa Fe, NM 87505505-467-8454

NEW YORKsaratoga organics & hydroponic supply19 Front Street,Ballston spa, NY 12020518-885-2005; 800-850-4769the Grape Vine4020 Hempstead TurnpikeBethpage,NY,11714516-731-1100Bronx hydro & Garden39 Bruckner Boulevard,Bronx, NY 10454718-993-3787Bklyn hydro & Garden3116 McGuiness BlvdBrooklyn NY 11222718-383-0095Brooklyn Farms51Hicks Street St.Brooklyn, NY 11231347-725-3491Indoor outdoor Gardener8223 5th Avenue,Brooklyn, NY 11209718-836-2402 hydroponics of Buffalo1497 Hertel Avenue,Buffalo, NY 14216716-838-3545harvest Moon hydroponics340 West at 59,Central Nyack, NY 10960California hydroponics27 Corporate Circle,east syracuse, NY 13057315-432-9387upstate hydroponics2026 Lake Rd unit Belmira, NY 14903607 483 9199FutureGarden Inc.59 Central Avenue,Farmingdale, NY 11735516-420-0884 east Coast hydroponics14649 Horace Harding Exp,Flushing, NY 11367718-762-8880healthy harvest organics and hydro163 Broadway,Fort edwart, NY 12828518-480-4698Greentree Nursery308 Elmira Road,Ithaca, NY 14850607-272-3666hudson Valley hydroponics217 Route 32 North,New Paltz, NY 12561845-255-3633

sunlight solutions hydroponics2045 Niagara Falls Boulevard, Suite 13,Niagara Falls, NY 14304888-GROWBOXGrow room, the8 Bridge Street,Nyack, NY 10960800-449-9630revolution hydroponics 309 West State St.olean NY 14760716.373.Grow (4769)environmental Gardens8 John Walsh Boulevard, Suite 310Peekskills, NY 10566800-254-0507; 914-736-6676harvest Moon hydroponicsHenrietta Townline Plaza, 3047 West Henrietta Road,rochester, NY 14623716-865-7353hydro Garden Center1069B Lyell Avenue,rochester, NY 146061-800-277-1322sunset hydroponics & home Brewing1590 West Ridge Road,rochester, NY 14615866-395-9204KG Garden supply1327 Floyd Avenue,rome, NY 134401-877-KG-HYDROhydroponics shops of America2606 Erie Boulevard,syracuse, NY 13224315-251-2516Green Zone hydroponics 2148 Niagara Falls Blvd. tonawanda, NY. 14150 716-693-9663 harvest Moon hydroponics147 Fourth Street,troy, NY 10960

NORTH CAROLINAFifth season Gardening Company21 B Westside Dr. Asheville NC 28806828-225-5007 Fifth season Gardening Company45 Banks Avenue,Asheville, NC 28801828-253-4112Fifth season Gardening Company106 South Greensboro Street,Carrboro, NC 27510919-932-7600Be Well hydroponics & urban Gardening4732 Monroe Road,Charlotte, NC 28205704-344-8010BWGs-NC4045 Perimeter West Drive,Suite 400,Charlotte, NC 28214 800-316-1306high tech Garden supply2712 B Freedom DriveCharlotte, NC 28208704-697-0911Flow & Grow hydroponics & organic Garden Center4521 Cumberland Road,Fayetteville, NC 28306910-423-FLOW (3569)Fifth season Gardening Company1616 D-3 Battleground Avenue,Greensboro, NC 27408336-271-3373Good harvest Garden Center 629 Oakridge Farm Hwy.Mooresville NC 28115704-658-9136Fifth season Gardening Company5619-A Hillsborough Street,raleigh, NC 27606919-852-4747

New Age Gardens2236A US Highway 70,swannanoa, NC 28778828-299-9989All season hydroponics890 South Kerr Avenue, Wilmington, NC 28410 Progressive Gardens6005 Oleander Drive,Wilmington, NC 28403910-395-1156

OHIOAkron Garden Center434 W Wilbeth Road,Akron, OH 44314330-724-2700summit hydroponics1030 Kenmore Boulevard Akron, OH 44314-2114330-753-5222 Campbells Indoor Gardening Supplies1721 Greenville RoadBristolville, OH 44402330-889-0049Magic home Gardens209 Cemetery Road,Canal Winchester, OH 43110614-837-2440eastside hydroponics550 Ohio PikeCincinnati, OH 45255513-528-GROWKissed by the sun hydroponic10740 Reading Road,Cincinnati, OH 45241513-769-0159Cleveland Garden Center Inc.727 East 185th Street,Cleveland, OH 44119216-481-7868Grow Wizard, the5700 Denison Avenue,Cleveland, OH 44102216-961-2500herb-N-Garden Center14901 Puritas Avenue,Cleveland, OH 44135216-252-2001Garden Indoors of ohio4720 Indianola Avenue,Columbus, OH 43214800-833-6868Magic home Garden4538 Indianola Avenue,Columbus, OH 43214614-263-2440Garden Connections3341 Centerpoint Dr.Grove City OH 43123614 871 0707Advanced hydrorganics Indoor Garden Center5204 Darrow Road,hudson, OH 44236234-380-1287sweet Greens5540 Brecksville RoadIndependence, OH 44131800-421-7084hydro Gardens and lights1144 N Memorial Drive lancaster, OH 43130 705-65 Hydro Carefree Garden Center134 West Drive,lodi, OH 44254330-302-4203CropKing134 West Drive,lodi, OH 44254330-302-4203urban Gardens671 E. Center StreetMarion, OH 43302740-375-2800 Indoor Gardens1222 Hill Road, North,Pickerington, OH 43147614-866-6065



trinity hydro organics465 Woodman Driveriverside, OH 45431937-252-GROW toledo hydroponics ltd.855 S. Holland-Sylvania Road, Suite 2toledo, OH 436151-877-893-0716Greenleaf hydroponics1805 Elm Road,Warren, OH 44483330-372-1039dayton hydroponics3856 Miamisburg-Centerville Road, West Carrolton, OH 45449937-859-3999harvest Moon9215 Market Street,Youngstown (North lima), OH 44452800-776-8399Indoor Garden Worx906 Blue Avenue,Zanesville, OH 43701866-900-9679

OKLAHOMAtulsa County hydro-organics1928 W. Albany,Broken Arrow, OK 74012918-259-HYDROAAAAhA! hydroponics unlimited P.O. Box 74,oakhurst, OK 74050organics oKC Garden supply3620 N Pennsylvania Avenue,oklahoma City, OK 73118405-528-GROWthe oKC urban Gardener3711 N. Western Ave. oklahoma City, OK 73118405-521-9300urban Garden3141 E. 15th Street,tulsa, OK 74104918-289-0018

OREGONAqua serene465 Applegate Way, Ashland, OR 97520541-482-7600rogue silicates Inc. POB 21,Azalea, OR 97410541-837-8590B.I.G.s.155 SW Century Drive, Suite 401,Bend, OR 97702541-385-5222herb N’ Jungle hydroponics930 SE Textron Drive,Bend, OR 97702541-382-4010Northern light and Garden Beaverton9290 SW Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway, Beaverton, OR 97005503-297-7331Westcoast organic and hydroponic supply12410 SE 282nd Avenue, Unit CBoring, OR 97009503-766-4106the Good earth organics30088 Redwood Highway,Cave Junction, OR 97523541-592-4496Anthony’s Garden & light supply93779 B Troy Lane,Coos Bay, OR 97420541-266-8822Corvallis hydroponics & organics5490 SW Philomath Boulevard,Corvallis, OR 97333541-738-2820Aqua serene2836 W. 11th Avenue,eugene, OR 97402541-302-9073 Aurora InnovationsPO Box 22041,eugene, OR 97402 866-376-8578

sunInside Gardening Co.665 Conger, Unit F,eugene, OR 97402541-686-9966Northern light and Garden Grants Pass1203 Rogue River Highway,Grants Pass, OR 97527541-474-1700Paradise supply llC560 NE. “F” Street, Unit C,Grand Pass, OR 97526541-955-7293Vital organix932-B SE “M” StreetGrants Pass, OR 97526541-226-9283oregon rainforest Co. 19949 E. Burnside Street,Gresham, OR 97233503-465-9909In & out Gardens 93484 Hwy 99 SouthJunctin City OR 97448 541-234-2342 Basin Indoor Gardening1221 Main Street, Klamath Falls, OR 97601541-273-2023Green Zone Garden Center & hydroponic supplies1845 S W Hwy. 101 Ste. 3lincoln OR 97367 USA 541 994 7070Liquid sun1845 Southwest Highway 101,lincoln City, OR 97367541-994-7070h2organic lCC620 NE 3rd Street,McMinnville, OR 97128503-434-6107Green thumb hydrogarden and organic supply2021 West Main Street,Medford, OR 97501541-779-8600Growing Crazy (hooked on hydroponics)817 W. 2nd Street,Medford, OR 97501In & out Gardens 1574 Skypark DriveMedford, OR 97501541-858-3333ladybug Indoor Gardens3960 W. Main Street,Medford, OR 97501541-618-4459Advanced organics & Garden supply290- B Merlin AvenueMerlin, Oregon 97532541-659-1466Indoor Garden depot 15828 SE McGloughlin Boulevard, Milwaukie, OR 97267503-786-2445h2organic lCC620 NE 3rd Street,McMinnville, OR 97128503-434-6107Wizard’s Garden, llC621 Spruce Street, Unit C, Myrtle Point, OR 97458541-572-2333Green Zone Garden Center & hydroponic supplies 454 S.W. Coast Hwy Newport OR 97365 USA P: 541-265-8252Gorilla Garden supply1810 Virginia Avenue, Garden SuppliesNorth Bend, OR 97459541-756-5005American Agriculture9220 Southeast Stark Street,Portland, OR 97216800-433-6805Bloom Garden supply518 NE 20th Ave.Portland, OR 97232(971)255-1336everybody’s Garden Center2701 SE 14th Avenue,Portland, OR 97202800-669-5483

Garden spout, the4532 South East 63rd Avenue,Portland, OR 97206503-788-4769homegrown Garden supply7112 NE Gilsan Street,Portland, OR 97213877-EZ2-GROWIsland Flowers & Indoor Garden Center909 N. Tomahawk Island Drive, Suite 103, Portland, OR 97217503-546-3185lights distributing9843 SW 55th Avenue,Portland, OR 97219rain or shine13126 NE Airport Way,Portland, OR 97230503-255-1981roots Garden supply5426 North Gay Avenue,Portland, OR 97217503-285-4768urban Flora2865 South East,Portland, OR 97214503-236-3344BIGs Warehouse2606 SW 4th Street, Unit Bredmond, OR 97756541-504-8886Indoor Garden supply536 SW 6th Street (rear alley), redmond, OR 97756541-504-7750Indoor Garden Center 1697 SE 25th Street, salem, OR 97302 503-566-7888Northern light and Garden salem1915 Lancester Drive,salem, OR 97305503-364-4769Cascade horticulture39570 Pioneer Boulevard,sandy, OR 97055503-668-8242Moonshine Park Farm135 South East 62nd, Unit Fsouth Beach, OR 97366541-444-2298J-N-B hydro 2 Go155 West Central Avenue,sutherlin, OR 97479541-459-9211roseburg hydroponics853 SE Stephens Street,roseburg, OR 97470541-229-1420Grow America Garden supply llC11511 SW Pacific Highway,tigard, OR 97223503-841-6868Forever Green organic hydro Gardens7530 Crater Lake Highway,White City, OR 97503541-826-2946

PENNSYLVANIAoakworld Garden Center39 West Street,Barrington, RI 02806401-245-5705Pocono hydroponic solutions25 Route 611Bartonsville, PA 18321Tel: 570-730-4544Garden Indoors of Pennsylvania208 Route 13,Bristol, PA 19007800-227-4567422 GroW1775 North Main Street ExtensionButler, PA 16001-1327724-561-3777high tech Garden supply20232 Route 19, Unit 6,Cranberry twp., PA 16066724-473-1113

the oKC urban Gardener3711 N. Western Ave. oklahoma City, OK 73118405-521-9300


home hydroponics of Pittsburgh830 Route 119,Greensburg, PA 15601724-836-1118Buds to Blooms Garden and supply Co., llC509 Orchard AvenueKennett square, PA 19348484-860-8056FlairformPOB 1417,lansdale, PA 19446215-395-6353rh distributionPOB 1417lansdale, PA 19446888-545-8112hydro Ponics of harrisburg310 South 10th Street, lemoyne, PA 17043877-684-3808New stanton hydro150 Post Ave.New stanton, PA. 15672724-635-0297Full Bloom hydroponics84 South 24th Street,Pittsburgh, PA 15203888-872-3602home hydroponics of Pittsburgh2008 Smallman Street,Pittsburgh, PA 15222412-232-7030healthy Gardens and supply1012 Lincoln Avenue,Prospect Park, PA 19076866-32-HYDROhome hydroponics of Pittsburgh9 North Main St.Washington, PA 15301724-222-0200Western Pennsylvania Innovative Gardening1177 Pittsburgh Road, Suite 103Valencia, PA 16059724 - 903 - 0800organic Garden Center800 Washington Blvd.Williamsport, PA 17701570-322-3120National Garden Wholesale/sunlight supply450 Grim Lane, York,PA 17406877-779-7111(Northeast) PA hydroponics & home Gardening supply20 Quaker Church Road,York springs, PA 17372717-528-4175

RHODE ISLANDsolar seed hydroponics, Inc.2406 Putman Pike,Chepachet, RI 02814 401-710-9010organically Grown768 Atwood AveCranston, RI 02920401-944-0549hydro-earth1243 Mineral Springs Avenue,North Providence, RI 02904401-305-5520liquidsun® rI1179 Central Avenue,Pawtucket, MA 02861401-722-2724 Good to Grow34 Nooseneck Hill Road ,West Greenwich, RI 02817401-392-3100Growin’ Crazy93 Kingston RoadWyoming, Rhode Island 02898401-284-0810

SOUTH CAROLINAGreenspirit hydrogarden1864 Meeting Street,Charleston, SC 29405843-225-1GRO;

247 Garden supply535 D Clemson Road,Columbia, SC 29229803-788-4445All Good hydroponics & Gardening6729 Two Notch Road,Columbia, SC 29223 803-708-4819All season hydroponics6729 Two North Road, 10B Columbia, SC 29223 803-708-4819 All season hydroponics1350 Hwy. 501 Business, Store 3&4Conway, SC 29526 843-347-9266Green thumb unique Gardening & More1230 Rutherford Road,Greenville, SC 29609864-271-8830Greenspirit hydrogardens3600 Unite 1 Hwy.17 S.North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582843-361-7777

SOUTH DAKOTAGreen earth Products Inc.5700 Highway 79 S.,Unit 1,rapid City, SD 57702605-342-1307

TENNESSEEAtlantis hydroponics1800 Rossville Avenue, #3,Chattanooga, TN 37408423-752-5400Advanced hydroponic Garden783 French Mill Road,dandridge, TN 37725800-521-1643Perpetual harvest75 Riverport Drive,Jackson, TN 38301877-422-3391Advanced hydroponic Garden6912 Clinton Highway,Knoxville, TN 37921866-938-3318sun City hydroponics2235 Whitten Road, Suite 104,Memphis, TN 38133901-372-8100National Garden Wholesale/sunlight supply126 Belinda Parkway,Mt. Juliet, TN 37122888-265-9005 All seasons Gardening and Brewing supply Co.924 8th Avenue, South,Nashville, TN 37203800-790-2188Worm’s Way tennessee901 Main Street, Nashville, TN 37072 800-397-4153

TEXASAbundant harvest hydroponics & organics3101 Avenue E East,Marshall, TX 76011817-649-0100Brite Ideas hydroponics & organics4360 S.Congress Avenue, #310,Austin, TX 78745512-444-2100texas hydroponics & organics (Central Austin)5126 Burnet Road,Austin, TX 78756512-459-4769texas hydroponics & organics (south Austin)2125-A Goodrich Avenue,Austin, TX 78704512-440-4769happy harvest hydroponics & organic1500 C rescent Drive, Suite 202Carrollton, TX 75006972-466-1300

GroGreen hydroponics4015 Main Street,dallas, TX 75226214-370-9984Jolly Green hydroponics (Greenhouse horticultural supplies)13628 Neutron Road,dallas, TX 75244 (866) WE-JOLLY; 469-341-5555lone star hydroponics and organics1302 Motor Circle,dallas, TX 75207 214-634-9376texas hydroponics & organics (dallas)3400 Elm Street,dallas, TX 75226214-744-4769 organic Garden & Feed3801 N Interstate Hwy 35,Suite126, denton Texas 76207 940-381-9890earth organics1360 Lee Trevino Drive,Suite 105el Paso, TX 79936915-591-9500Airline hydroponicsP.O. Box 980904, Trader’s Village #363,houston, TX 77098713-942-0484Botani Garden15120 Bellaire Blvdhouston, TX 77083281-575-1999houston discount hydroponics9384 Richmond Avenue,houston, TX 77063713-464-9406hydroponic Nation9700 Almeda Genoa Road, Suite 108,houston, TX 77075281-501-9636texas hydroponics & organics (houston)7730 A Park Place Boulevard,houston, TX 77087713-641-4769ultimate hydroponic Garden supply6125 West Sam HoustonParkway, North Suite 206houston, TX 77041713-856-8425texas Growers supply5990 N. Sam Houston Pkwy. E. #602,humble, TX 77396281-441-3739 Field of dreams Indoor Growing supplies5302 Slide Road Unit B,lubbock, TX 79414806-793-2901hydro Mart3841 Main Street,rowlett, TX 75088972-475-6114sol organics & hydroponics1634 Babcock Road,san Antonio, TX 78229210-366-9082GreenMaker Nursery3030 Northwest Loop,stephenville, TX 76401254-965-7273 Innergrow hydroponics24451 Interstate Highway 20,Wills Point, TX 75169866-475-4769

UTAHsalt lake Plant & hydro60 West 3300 S. #6 ,south salt lake, UT 84115801-488-3200

VERMONTGreenthumb - Vermont394 Route 15,Jericho, VT 05465 802-899-4323Peak hydroponic Garden supplies20 School Street,Plainfield, VT 05667802-454-8000



liquidsun® Vt1 Bellows Falls Road, (Route 5 North)Putney, VT 05158802-387-1100Green thumb GardeningP.O. Box 235, Route 15,underhill, VT 5489800-564-9376

VIRGINIAFifth season Gardening Company900 Preston Ave. Charlottesville VA 22903434-293-2332Clean & Green technologies196 Corning Drive,Christiansburg, VA 24073866-694-1628I love hydroponics612 N. Sheppard Street,richmond, VA 23221804-377-3020Blue ridge hydroponics & home Brewing Co.5524 Williamson Road, Suite 11roanoke VA 24012540-265-2483Inside-out Garden supply6517 Backlick Road,springfield, VA 22150703-451-3259I love hydroponics368 Newtown Road, #105,Virginia Beach, VA 23462757-490-5425hydroponics & Growlights13400 Occoquan Road,Woodbridge, VA 22191703-490-0700

WEST VIRGINIAPanhandle hydroculture800 East Moler Ave.Martinsburg, WV 25401304-240-7587

WASHINGTONIsland horticulture supply 8608 S March Point Rd.Anacortes WA 98221 360 293 0000Mike’s Indoor Garden supply6121 172nd Street NE #A,Arlington, WA 98223(360) 474-1900Green Gardens distributing12738 Bel-Red Road,Bellevue, WA 98005425-454-5731Northern lights Gardening4159 Hannegan Road,Bellingham, WA 98225360-715-8585liquid sunshine hydroponics5087 Lincoln Road,Blaine, WA 98230Kitsap Garden & lighting2130 6th Street,Bremerton, WA 98312360-377-1277M & r lightingUnit C 22914 Highway 410,Buckley, WA 98390253-891-4190Indoor tropics 5930 Sunburst Lane #B Cashmere, WA 98815 509-470-7782Garden smart500 Bond Drive,Castlerock, WA 98611360-274-7960

Grow Center, the615 South FirdeerPark WA 99006509-276-GROWhealthy Grow Indoor Garden supplies10 SE Everett Mall Way Suite Beverett WA 98208425-374-2227Indoor Garden depot1401 S. 324th Street,Federal Way, WA 98003 253-874-1112North West hydro supply1355Pacific Pl Unit 117Ferndale WA 98248-7824360-778-3254 Good 2 Gro3507 W Clearwater Ave. Kennewick WA 99336509 737 1313Indoor Garden & lighting714 South Central Avenue,Kent, WA 98032253-373-9060Kent Garden supplies ltd.18817 East Valley Highway,Kent, WA 98032425-251-9299KP Indoor Garden store8912 Key Peninsula HWY N Suite B lakebay, WA 98349253-884-SURE (7871)Indoor Gardening1158 Commerce longview WA, 98632 360-353-3851Indoor Garden & lighting20505 Highway 99,, lynnwood, WA 98036 425-673-2755Go-N-Green hydroponics1241 State Ave Suite #102Marysville, WA 98270(360)386-8230Island hydroponic & supplies1515 5th Street #B,Marysville, WA 98271425-299-5855M & r lighting17238 Memorial Drive,Mt. Vernon, WA 98273360-848-1080Northern lights Gardening 1524 Riverside Dr #2Mt. Vernon, WA 98273360-982-2217Indoor Garden & lighting8606 Preston Fall City Rd. SEPreston WA 98050425 222 9661linda’s Gardening & hydroponics11522 Canyon Road East,Puyallup, WA 98373253-531-9641renton Indoor Garden Center207 Sunset Blvd. N, Building A,renton, WA 98055425-917-9000eco enterprises1240 NE 175th Street, #Bshoreline, WA 98155800-426-6937Aqua serene3839 Stone Way North,seattle, WA 98103 206-547-GROW (4769)Grogro hydro12316 32nd AVE NE #103seattle, WA 98125hydro-tech2121 Aurora Avenue, North,seattle, WA 98103206-547-2202

sodo hydro1727 1st Ave. South,seattle, WA 98134888-904-9376Northwest horticulture supply161 Hooker Road, #1,sequim, WA 98057360-582-0702509 Grow2718 N Divisionspokane, WA 99207509-327-GROW(4769)Grow Center, the2808 W Sprague spokane WA 99202509-456-GROWriver City hydroponics1514 East Francis Avenue,spokane, WA 99208509-464-0246spokane organic and hydroponic supply4823 East Sprague Avenue E.,spokane Valley, WA 99212509-534-4055Green tree hydroponics and Garden12316 Pacific Ave Southtacoma, WA 98444 253-495-6757Indoor Garden & lighting3839 6th Avenue,tacoma, WA 98406253-761-7478 solar shop306 West 4th Street,tonasket, WA 98855509-486-4508Indoor Garden depot 6400 NE Highway 99, Suite H, Vancouver, WA 98665360-993-7779National Garden Wholesale / sunlight supply 4525 NW Fruit Valley Road, Vancouver, WA 98660 888-478-6544 (Northwest) National Garden Wholesale / sunlight supply5408 NE 88th Street, Building A,Vancouver, WA 98665 888-478-6544VM Indoor Garden supply 2903 NE 109th Ave Ste. D Vancouver, WA 98682 P: (360) 256-2933Indoor Garden supply llC1250 Atlantic Ave,Woodland, WA 98674360-841-8055

WISCONSINAric’s Indoor Garden supply1104 West Wisconsin Avenue,Appleton, WI 54914920-574-3258Grow BIG hydroponics954 S. Westland,Appleton, WI 54914920-749-4769 Brew and Grow285 N. Janacek Road,Brookfield, WI 53045262-789-0555Brew and Grow3317 Agriculture Drive,Madison, WI 53716608-226-8910Paradigm Gardens4539 Helgesen Drive,Madison, WI 53718608-241-3800

PUERTO RICOtecno-hydroAve Campo Rico GJ17,Carolina, PR 00982787-752-8252


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USA April 2011

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