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Maximum Yield USA July 2015

Published by baggieyeung, 2015-10-26 23:31:40

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Along with durability, you’ll also need to make sure thesiding allows enough light to shine through. What reallycounts is the amount of daily light integral (DLI) enteringthe greenhouse. The accumulation of an adequate amountof this photosynthetically active light is vital for properplant growth. There are a number of meters available thatcan help you determine if your plants are getting what theyneed. Being able to easily clean your siding will help youmake sure your plants get as much sunshine as possible.Additional EquipmentYou will likely need some heating and ventilation or cool-ing equipment within your greenhouse. Don’t forget tofactor these into your budget! In Las Vegas, for example, thesummers are extremely hot, but the air is dry. In this type ofclimate, evaporative coolers in dry climates can do wondersfor both you and your plants, keeping the stress levels of allparties to a minimum. Shade cloth might also be useful ifyou grow plants that don’t require much direct sunshine.Planning a new greenhouse should be fun. The more youthink through and enjoy the planning, the greater thesatisfaction you’ll get from your greenhouse when it is com-pleted. In the search for maximum yields, the benefits of awell-designed greenhouse should not to be overlooked. Maximum Yield USA  |  July 2015 149





GROWERS KNOW Growing Blue Blue: and Purple by Raquel Neofit Potatoes One of the great things about growing your own food is the ability to grow cool heirloom varieties of your favorite fruits and vegetables that are often hard to come by anywhere, even at your local farmers’ market. Take potatoes, for example. The blue and purple ones are particularly striking and fun to grow. Read on to learn more about these delightfully colored goodies and how to grow them in your garden.152 Maximum Yield USA  |  July 2015

Health Benefits feed them regularly. Most growers agree a granular nutrient works best.Blue and purple potatoes are excellent Weeds shouldn’t be a problem because as plants mature, they form a canopy of leaveschoices for growers because they boast more that should keep weeds at bay. Keep in mind that heavy soil can encourage potatohealth benefits than their white counterparts. scab. If you buy seed potatoes, ensure they are certified as disease-free to protect yourThe golden rule with any fruit or vegetable soil and your crop. Tubers should be planted about 1-ft. apartis the darker and deeper the color, the more and about 5-in. deep, and then covered with about 1 ft. of mulch. As they start to grow,nutritional benefits it packs. They contain add more soil over top to keep them covered, without covering the top 6 in. of leaves. Thiscarotenoids and the color comes from their is important—if the growing potatoes are exposed to light, they’ll start to turn green.PU“RPLEflavonoid content. If you find some out-of-this-world potatoes These potatoes are high in carbohydrates, you would like to cultivate, allow the potato low in fat, high in potassium, and contain to sprout slightly, then cut it into chunks so a small amount of iron and a moder- there are one or two “eyes” per chunk. Lay ate amount of dietary fiber, which the pieces out for one or two days to dry— can help regulate blood sugar and they should callous over slightly—then plant prevent high cholesterol. They also with the eyes facing up. have anti-inflammatory properties. When it’s time to harvest, make sure you Blue potatoes also contain remove all of the tubers from the ground; thisSPOOTAUTOTEHS AARME NEATRIVIECTAO anthocyanins—an immunity- year’s tubers are a sure way to invite disease building antioxidant that fights into next year’s crop. Also avoid plantingAND THEY BOAST A free radicals, reducing the potatoes in the same place year after year. risk of cardiovascular disease,PURPLE-PIGMENTED stroke and cancer. The Pests skin, rich in vitamin C andBL„UISHVARIETIES,SKIN AND FLESH THAT, FOR MOST polyphenols, also helps seal When conditions are dry, you will probably in the nutrients while cooking, find potato moths lurking. They lay eggs atCHANGES TO A so try to leave it intact. night on the foliage and tubers. To avoid an infestation on the tubers, make sure theyCOLOR ONCE COOKED. Culinary Uses are always covered. Purple potatoes are native to Harvesting South America and they boast a purple-pigmented skin and flesh You can begin harvesting your potatoes when they start to flower. Harvest by hand and as that, for most varieties, changes to often as you like. You can scout smaller ones from underneath without disturbing the rest. a bluish color once cooked. The Once harvested, dry them quickly in a dark place. If exposed to excessive light, they will strange and unusual appearance of start to turn green and green potatoes are poisonous. The best thing about potatoes is blue and purple potatoes makes them you can pretty much harvest all year in a good climate. Enjoy! a great addition to any meal and a Raquel Neofit is a freelance writer for the horticulture, brilliant talking point. Serve them up travel and lifestyle industries. She has a background in business and radio, and is an avid believer that in your favorite potato salad, as a side hydroponics is the way of the future. Follow Raquel’s writing at My Food Story on Facebook. dish with chicken, or mash, roast or fry them. Get creative! Growing Conditions Potatoes love a pH between 5 and 6. Late spring is the best time to plant potatoes.You’ll need about 3 gal. of soil per pot andpotatoes love a 50:50 mix of compost andpotting soil. They need 60-90 days of frost-free growing, making them great to startin bags in a greenhouse. Potatoes don’tneed that much attention once established.Make sure you weed young plants regularlyto avoid having them fight with other plantsfor nutrients, keep them well-watered and Maximum Yield USA  |  July 2015 153

by Andrew Schell Scientists are learning more and more about mycorrhizae, the symbiotic associations between fungi and plant roots, and the benefits these relationships can have on plants. Here’s everything you need to know about incorporating this age-old partnership into your gardening practices.154 Maximum Yield USA  |  July 2015



MYCORRHIZAEUNDERSTANDING EC, TDS & PPM “We know more about the movement of celestial bodies than about the soil underfoot.” —Leonardo da Vinci Scientists and farmers have uprooted an ancient partnership between plants and fungi. This mutualistic association, called mycorrhizae, has been around for more than 400 million years—basically as soon as plants found their way onto land. More than 90% of plant families form these symbiotic relationships at the root level with fungi. This sustainable partnership is essential to the circle of life. Plants supply fungi with energy in the form of carbohydrates that are produced during photosynthesis. Fungi are unable to produce their own food from the sun as they lack pho- tosynthetic pigments such as chlorophyll. In return, fungi increase the survival and growth rates of plants by expanding the surface area of roots so more water and nutrients can be absorbed. The fungal network can transport water and nutri- ents over large distances and deliver them to the vascular tissues of plants. Roots with this network display an increased uptake of typically insoluble compounds, particularly phosphorus. The fungi also modify amino acids and carbohydrates for storage, or transfer them to where they are needed, and help plants cope with many environmental issues such as high salinity, drought and pH fluctuations. Mycorrhizal fungi help plants combat harmful pathogens, including the fungus-like genus pythium that causes root rot, by manufacturing and releasing particular enzymes and antibiotics as plants require them. Individual plants are connected with other plants through this mycorrhizal network, and can even share nutrients, sugars and water. The fungal network is embedded in the vegetative fungal tissues known as mycelium. Multiple species of fungi and plants can be connected through the mycelial network. This enriches the local community and also extends to interactions with earthworms, bacteria, nematodes and other organisms. Plants supply fungi with energy in “ the form of carbohydrates that are ”produced during photosynthesis.156 Maximum Yield USA  |  July 2015

For example, nitrogen-fixing rhizobium bacteria in nodules “ The fungal networkof legumes require mycorrhizal fungi to supply the phos- can transport water andphorus needed for the nitrogen-fixing process. In manyinstances, fungi harbor nitrogen-fixing bacteria if nitrogen nutrients over largelevels in the soil are low. distances and deliverT ypes of Mycorrhizal Fungi them to the vascularThere are two main types of mycorrhizal fungi:endomycorrhizal and ectomycorrhizal. ”tissues of plants.Endomycorrhizal Fungi Ectomycorrhizal FungiEndomycorrhizal fungi are called vesicular- Ectomycorrhizal fungi­(EM) form associations with rootsarbuscular mycorrhizae (VAM) in the scientific community. without penetrating the root cells. They do this via a hyphalThese fungi connect internally with plants by penetrating network that surrounds root cells and forms a fungal-rootthrough the epidermis of root cells. The fungi produce a network in the surrounding rhizosphere. The mycelium ofprotein called glomalin that improves soil fertility and also certain species of EM can form fruiting bodies that we knowacts as a sealant, sealing the walls of the fungal network so as mushrooms or puffballs, which harbor and disperse thetransport is the most efficient it can be. These associations reproductive spores of the fungi. EM only form mycorrhizal associations with 2% of plant species—woody perennials are found in the roots of nearly all flowering plants, and thus are extremely relevant in an indoor gardening discussion. Maximum Yield USA  |  July 2015 157

MYCORRHIZAEMycorrhizal Species like conifers and oak trees. Most species will only inoculate the roots of the one specificThese mycorrhizal fungi species are commonly found in indoor plant species it has evolved with. EM cangardening products. By no means is this a comprehensive list. actually inhibit the growth of endomycorrhizal fungi and compete for resources with otherEndomycorrhizal Fungi species. While their role in helping flowering plants is miniscule, ectomycorrhizal fungi areThere are more than 150 species of endomycorrhizal fungi that ecologically and economically significant onform relationships with more than 200,000 plant species. These a global scale, as they are required for thefungi help with increased phosphorus uptake—in fact, uptake rejuvenation of forest soils and reforestation.of insoluble phosphate in soils is not possible without them—and plants show a 5-20% increase in photosynthetic rates when Mycorrhizal Fungi in Indoor Gardensthe root zone is colonized by endomycorrhizal fungi. Theycolonize roots quickly after application, which is ideal for short- Mycorrhizal fungi spores are available in manycycle indoor gardening, and form a thick network of mycelium. products available in hydroponics shops. The most common forms are the water-solubleGenus: Gigaspora Glomus claroideum Gigaspora albida Glomus clarum MYCORRIZpowder form and the granular slow-release Gigaspora gigantea Glomus deserticola Gigaspora margarita Glomus etunicatum form. Unfortunately, many products con-Genus: Glomus Glomus intraradices tain species that are irrelevant to flowering Glomus aggregatum (fast-acting: spores are actually plants. These will still be effective overall, Glomus brasilianum, produced inside plant tissues) but for your indoor plants, try to stick to a Glomus monosporum mix of purely endomycorrhizal fungi and a.k.a Paraglomus brasilianum Glomus mosseae SHELLbeneficial bacteria. A product should also beEctomycorrhizal Fungi trichoderma-free. Trichoderma is an antago-Unlike arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi, most species of nistic fungi that benefits plants by controllingectomycorrhizal fungi are specific to one species of plant. disease, but at the expense of inhibiting manyThese types of fungi are great for forest rehabilitation and species of beneficial fungi. Read companywoody perennials, mostly conifers and oaks. websites and labels, but keep in mind thatGenus: Laccaria Genus: Pisolithus 3.75sometimes a label will not list all the species it Laccaria bicolor Pisolithus tinctorius Laccaria laccata contains because of regulations and permits, or they are a trade secret. Ask a rep at a tradeGenus: Rhizopogon show and contact a company over the phoneSpecific to pines and firs, this genus, which forms fruits and ask for the ingredients. Or, best of all,known as false truffles, is as important to forest ecology as thetrees themselves. More than 150 species have been identified. “ Individual plants areThe mushrooms eaten by humans and animals are activated connected with other plantsmore in the gut, which helps spread the spores. through this mycorrhizalRhizopogon amylopogon Rhizopogon luteolusRhizopogon fulvigleba Rhizopogon roseolus network, and can evenGenus: Scleroderma share nutrients, sugarsScleroderma form relationships with trees and shrubs.The spores of some species are toxic to animals and the ”and water.mushrooms can be poisonous as well. This genus is perfectfor nursery seedlings and starting certain trees.Scleroderma aurantium Scleroderma verrucosumScleroderma cepa Scleroderma vulgareScleroderma citriniumGenus: SuillusThis genus is specific to pine trees. It is a source of naturaldyes and forms edible mushrooms.Suillus granulatusSuillus punctipes158 Maximum Yield USA  |  July 2015

“ For your indoor plants, try to stick to a mix of purely endomycorrhizal fungi and beneficial bacteria. ”fork out the big bucks for laboratory testing. One common myth in the indoor gardening industry is that mycorrhizal fungi do not have an application in hydroponics. The truth is that endomycorrhizal fungi do not require soil media to inoculate a plant’s roots. The fungal associations thrive in hydroponic systems as well as the roots of aquatic plants. It is important to supply high-grade carbohydrates to your nutri- ent regimen if you are using mycorrhizal fungi, as the fungi require carbohydrates for energy and they obtain them from the plant if there is not a sufficientZAEamount in your feed water. Feed the fungus, or it will take valuable energy from your crop. Endomycorrhizal fungi also help with the remedia- tion of depleted soils like the peat-based and recycled mixes now common in the indoor gardening industry. Harnessing the power of mycorrhizal fungi in the garden is a key step in moving forward from the out- dated paradigm of global agriculture. Force-feeding our crops with industrial nutrients, herbicides and pesticides is not only unhealthy and unsustainable, it is unnecessary. With proper gardening techniques and beneficial micro-organisms, we can use less chemicals to get the same results. Thanks to modern research and technology, we are gradually shedding some light on the underground microcosm we walk on. Maximum Yield USA  |  July 2015 159

Gr owing Tomato esIN C NTAINERS There’s nothing tastier than a juicy, ripe, homegrown tomato, picked fresh for your salad. And the good news is you don’t need a backyard and lots of soil to grow tomatoes, they grow well in containers, too! Read on for some tips.160 Maximum Yield USA  |  July 2015

In a recent gardeners’ survey, the FIND A LARGE POT USE A SUITABLE SOIL MIXtomato took first place in the home-grown vegetable popularity contest. And, Even small tomato varieties have Be sure to purchase a potting mix thatno surprise, it wasn’t even a close con- substantial root masses. The minimum is specifically designed for tomatoes.test—cucumbers and peppers, in second container size for a patio tomato should Or you can make your own mix. Ohioand third place, were 40 points behind! be 14 in. in diameter, with a capacity of University recommends 25% eachThe fresh-picked tomato experience at least 5 gal. For best results, go with a potting soil, perlite, peat moss andis not just for those who own a sunny 17-20-in. pot that holds 15-20 gal. compost. Several healthy handfuls ofplot of rich soil. You can successfully And try to avoid black; it may cause worm castings also help.grow tomatoes in containers on a patio, the soil to overheat. The larger thedeck or even a fire escape, as long as it pots, the easier it will be to keep your CHOOSE AN APPROPRIATE VARIETYcaptures at least six hours of sunlight a plants from drying out, which willday. Another option is growing indoors help prevent blossom-end rot. A large There are many tomato varietiesunder artificial lighting. Here are some pot will also help prevent you from suitable for container growing, withtips on growing tomatoes in containers. becoming a slave to the watering needs new patio tomatoes being introduced of your potted tomatoes. each year. Look for varieties labeled“ determinate, or those described asYOU CAN SUCCESSFULLYGROW TOMATOES INCONTAINERS ON A PATIO,DECK OR EVEN AFIRE ESCAPE.” Maximum Yield USA  |  July 2015 161

GROWING TOMATOES IN CONTAINERS“ bush, dwarf or short-season tomatoes. and nurseries) mixed in with the Some container varieties, sometimes top several inches of the soil. ItIN GENERAL, referred to as tumbler-type tomatoes, should have a balanced ratio ofVARIETIES WITH are cascading rather than bush N-P-K (5-5-5, for example). WhenSMALL- TO growers, which eliminates the need your plants begin flowering, this for staking. These are suitable for is your cue to begin supplemental MEDIUM-SIZED window boxes. feeding every few weeks. Look for FRUITS ARE It is possible to grow tall, vining a balanced, soluble fertilizer that BETTER indeterminate garden favorites in will provide both the macro- and CONTAINER containers, but keep in mind that micronutrients your tomatoes CHOICES large vines require roomy quarters— need; a combination of fish at least a 15-20-gal. pot—to sustain emulsion and liquid seaweed is a THAN LARGE the roots and to accommodate stakes good, non-chemical, inexpensive BEEFSTEAKS.” or cages. In general, varieties with standby. Be sure to properly mix small- to medium-sized fruits are better and apply the fertilizer according container choices than large beefsteaks, to the label’s directions. and choosing a hybrid variety with good resistance to diseases is helpful. WATER FREQUENTLY STAKE EARLY Try not to let your tomato plants wilt. Water your seedlings well, and keep the Don’t wait to stake potted tomatoes. soil moist, but not sopping wet. Early in Include 2-3-ft. stakes or cages when the season, this might mean watering you plant your container, as even bush once or twice a week, but once your varieties will need support for their plants size up and the weather heats branches and heavy fruit sets. up, you’ll probably be watering every day. If you plan to go away, it might FERTILIZE REGULARLY make sense to purchase an inexpensive container drip system and a timer. Start your tomatoes off with a slow- release fertilizer (certified organic Home Garden Seed Association as well as conventional fertilizers ezfromseed.org are available at garden centers WHAT ABOUT THOSE UPSIDE-DOWN CONTAINERS? REALITY CHECK: You will have to work a lot harder to be successful. Some commercial upside-down containers have a capacity well under 5 gal.—too small to be practical. Like all hanging planters, they dry out rapidly in sunny weather, so your plants will require even more constant watering than they would in standard pots. Also, the soil in a hanging container heats up quickly, causing stress. Gardeners using light-colored, 5-gal. plastic buckets report having some luck. For the best chance of success with this method, choose only small- fruited varieties and start out with big, tall, vigorous seedlings so they can be planted deeply (that is, with roots very close to the top). It’s critical to hang the containers on a strong support— they will get heavy!162 Maximum Yield USA  |  July 2015

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TIPS & TRICKS Simplified.CO2 Supplementation, By Garrett Cropsey One of the easiest ways to provide indoor plants with extra CO2 is by using mycelial CO2—a byproduct of growing fungi in your garden. Maximize your efforts using this method of supplementation with these tips. Plants grown indoors often consume more carbon dioxide than what enters the grow space naturally. These same plants become more productive when CO2 levels are maintained at higher levels than atmospheric concentrations. For these reasons, indoor gardeners provide supplemental CO2 to their growrooms using a variety of methods. Compressed tanks, burners and the gardener’s own breath are all effective at providing extra carbon dioxide, but mycelial CO2 production is the easiest and most cost-effective means of maintaining beneficial levels in gardens up to a certain size.164 Maximum Yield USA  |  July 2015

Mycelia are the fibrous, root-like In large growrooms “For those looking for more than justnetworks formed by fungi throughout containing many lights,a substrate. Fungi are more closely compressed gas or the additional CO2 in their growrooms,related to animals than to plants; burners remain the most mushrooms like oysters, shiitake, winelike animals, they exhale CO2 as they cost-effective means ofgrow, which is then available for use providing the extra CO2by plants. Mycelia come in small, plants need. However,pre-inoculated bags, buckets, pads there are ways to maintainor bottles already producing CO2,without giving off any excess heat or or even improve the cost- caps and lion’s mane not only produce CO2requiring complicated set-ups. effectiveness of mycelial while they grow, but can also be eaten.” While mycelial CO2 is low CO2 supplementation.maintenance, it is important to place Try adding them to a newit in the correct area in a grow spaceto get optimal results. Because CO2 is substrate or experimentingheavier than air, the product should beplaced high enough in the room so the with different species of CO2 while they grow, but can also beCO2 cascades over the plants instead of fungi, for example. eaten. All of these edible mushroomspooling at the bottom of the grow spacewhere plants cannot reach it. Some enjoy warm indoor environmentsforms of mycelial CO2 can be placedon or near the grow lights, which also The Extra Mile and provide delicious rewards for thehelps optimize mycelia productivity, as oxygen they get from the plants. Thesethis location increases heat and oxygen Mycelia eventually stop generating CO2 fungi can produce several flushes offlow to the bags. once they have consumed all of the mushrooms before they finish decom- For any supplemental CO2 to be effec- usable material within their package, posing their substrate, if they are giventive, it’s important to ensure the growth at which point they become inactive, more water after each flush.of your plants is not significantly limited but not “dead.” By providing myceliaby other variables. Considering mycelialCO2 doesn’t provide as much of the with a new food source, they become To recap, mycelial CO2 can be of greatgood stuff as compressed gas or burn- active again and are happy to continue benefit to indoor gardeners if useders, it is important to set your ventila- growing and producing CO2 while they correctly. Mycelia placed high in thetion fan to run only when the grow decompose the new material. Hay, grow space with minimal ventilationspace thermometer reaches the highest manure, coffee grounds, rye pellets will generate a helpful boost in CO2temperature tolerable by the plants. and many other materials are suitable levels for extended periods of time forThis ensures the CO2 produced by the for consumption by mycelia and can be smaller grow spaces without the needmycelia remains in the grow space long prepared/sterilized at home or bought for complicated, expensive equipment.enough to be taken up by the plants. pre-packaged. Older mycelia can be Mycelia can also be reused by addingIf the grow space contains multiple, broken down and mixed into the new them to new grow media and, withhigh-power lights, they should be water- media manually, or via a syringe if some extra effort, can even grow ediblecooled rather than fan-cooled to ensure adding liquid media to pre-sterilized mushrooms. Fungi and plants have anthe CO2 produced by the mycelia can bags. Gardeners using soil substrates ancient partnership and the gases theybe used up, while keeping the lights can also mix mycelia directly into the exchange throughout the grow spaceand the grow space from overheating. dirt before adding plants. They will pro- greatly benefit the plants within. Eventually, the size of a grow space duce more and more CO2 as they growlimits the effectiveness of mycelial CO2. throughout the lifetime of plants, and will remain active even when new crops Garrett Cropsey is a biologist currently living in are added into the mix. Boulder, Colorado. His love of nature began in For those looking for more than just Longmeadow, Massachusetts, where his first job the additional CO2 in their growrooms, was with the local parks department. He has a mushrooms like oysters, shiitake, wine degree in ecology and evolutionary biology from caps and lion’s mane not only produce the University of Colorado Boulder. Maximum Yield USA  |  July 2015 165

COOLHow to Part IIYour Greenhouse: Evaporate Your Problems Away by Jeremiah Robinson Summer is here, and as the temperatures soar, things can get out of control in the greenhouse. Last month, we learned howto manage solar radiation in the greenhouse. This month, as thethermometer rises, we learn some techniques to try when that’s no longer enough. It’s all about ventilation and evaporation.166 Maximum Yield USA  |  July 2015



CSTOOONLEINWGOYOOLUDROG'SRE&EDNOHNO'UTSSE One way to encourage evaporation is to raise the covers on grow beds and resevoirs and blow air over the water.In last month’s article on greenhouse cooling, welearned about the four methods of heat transfer Increasing the ventilationand how to manage radiation in a greenhouse. rate allows you toWith your solar radiation trained like an alpine bring your greenhouseSt. Bernard, you’ve limited the heat entering your temperature, on a sunnygreenhouse to the bare minimum needed for day, down to within 5°F ofplant growth, and kept out, kept off and bounced the outdoor temperature.”back the rest. Despite all this, when outdoortemperatures hit 100°F, your greenhouse will stillget hot. But don’t despair! We resourceful growersalways have a few more tricks up our sleeves. Thismonth we learn about the two fighting sisters ofgreenhouse cooling: ventilation and evaporation.VentilationThis is the one greenhouse cooling strategy that every-body knows about:Question: How do you keep your greenhouse cool?Answer: Roll up the sides and turn on the fan.Question: But what if that doesn’t work?Answer: You get a bigger fan. This works to a point. Increasing the ventilationrate allows you to bring your greenhousetemperature, on a sunny day, down to within 5°Fof the outdoor temperature. Going much beyond168 Maximum Yield USA  |  July 2015

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COOLING YOUR GREENHOUSE Changing the phase of a substance (e.g. gas to this is a losing proposition energy-wise. You liquid) removes a great could put a 52-in. exhaust fan in your 8- by 12-ft. deal more heat from it than greenhouse. While it would literally shear the changing its temperature.” leaves off your plants and plastic from the walls, it still wouldn’t get the temperature one degree To encourage evaporation in other ways, we below 100°F if it’s 100°F outside, although it will can increase the surface area of water exposed make your utility meter spin like a dervish! to air by removing the covers on our grow beds Using passive ventilation—putting vents in the and reservoirs. However, we still want to prevent ridge of the roof of your greenhouse—works radiation from getting into the water and media well if you only need minimal ventilation such as in a non-sunny climate. But when it’s sunny, in our systems. To overcome this dilemma, you won’t get anywhere near the outdoor raise the grow bed and reservoir covers a temperature. With active ventilation (fans), small amount above the water/media surface putting the fans on the roof helps a bit, but and blow air over the water with small fans. not as much as you’d think. The problem with ventilation concerns this ongoing feud. You see, This warm, moving air will evaporate water ventilation is always trying to thwart the efforts and cool your greenhouse. of her more powerful sister—evaporation. A more standard method for reducing Evaporation greenhouse temperature is using a cool- ing pad, which is essentially a large sponge Changing the phase of a substance (e.g. gas to you insert into a hole at one end of your liquid) removes a great deal more heat from greenhouse, then drip water onto. The it than changing its temperature. In a green- fans at the other end suck air through the house, the substance best-suited to changing phases is water. When water evaporates, it sponge, evaporating it into the greenhouse absorbs 970 btu/lb. This is a great deal of air. One farmer near me claims he keeps energy. Half of it comes from the air, half of his greenhouse at 75°F when it’s 100°F it from the body of water it evaporated out of. outside using this method. For example, if you evaporate 1 lb. of water in a 20- by 40-ft. greenhouse from a 1,000-gal. The Feud hydroponic system, you will lower the air tem- perature by 4°F and the water temperature by You can’t put ventilation and 0.05°F. The real kicker here is that it doesn’t evaporation in the same room. matter what the outside temperature is. It They fight. The problem is could be 100°F outside and 50°F inside. the air you cooled using Evaporate 1 lb. of water and you’ll get evaporation will, with the same temperature drop. the help of ventilation, During cold weather, we want leave the greenhouse to avoid evaporation, but when and be replaced with it’s hot, we want to encourage warm outside air. On it. To do this, expose as much the other hand, with- water to the air as possible. Our out some ventilation, plants help us with this through your greenhouse will the transpiration process, which become so humid, you is water evaporating through won’t be able to evapo- their leaves. We encourage rate any more water. transpiration by including large This requires some leafy plants in our gardens balance. To cool below when it’s hot out. Spritzing the outdoor tem- water on plant leaves encour- perature, with solar ages transpiration all the more, radiation controlled although spritzer valves are as best you can, move notoriously difficult to keep clean if you have hard water.170 Maximum Yield USA  |  July 2015



COOLING YOUR GREENHOUSE The air you cooled using evaporationair slowly through the greenhouse, and quickly over the will, with the help ofsurface of the water and the plants (or cooling pad). ventilation, leave theThis will maximize transpiration and evaporation, greenhouse and bethus cooling your greenhouse down. replaced with warm outside air.”A Neat Trick SummaryThere’s one more trick that canmake a big difference in your In conclusion, you can use the followinggreenhouse temperatures— ventilation and evaporation strategiesgetting ventilation and evaporation to keep your greenhouse cool:to work together. Ventilation andevaporation work together using • Ventilate to keep your green-something called a “climate house only a few degrees warmerbattery.” The climate battery than outdoor temperatures.fans draw the warm moist air Ridge venting can be more effi-from the greenhouse into cient than end-wall venting.pipes buried in the groundunder the greenhouse. Once • Evaporate water insidethere, the cool sides of the your greenhouse to lowertubing cause moisture to the temperature below thecondense. This dries outthe air in the same way a outdoor air temperature.dehumidifier does. You can do this using Once dry, the air is moving air though plantprimed to absorb more transpiration, evaporationmoisture from the water,further reducing greenhouse from your grow beds andair and water temperatures. reservoirs, and by passingThe magic of the climate air through a cooling pad.battery is that the earthhas a near-infinite ability • Transfer heat from yourto absorb heat. This is the greenhouse air to theprinciple that ground- earth using a climatesource (geothermal)heating and cooling battery, which allows youis based on. to store it until winter— At night, if the air when you’ll need it!temperature dropsbelow the ground Using these strategiestemperature, then will allow you to raisesome of that con- all manner of crops indensed water re- the heat of summer inevaporates and your greenhouse.the climate bat-tery is recharged.You can absorbso much heat inthe summer fromcooling that it willbe stored for monthsand can help you heat thegreenhouse in the winter.172 Maximum Yield USA  |  July 2015



by Eric Hopper +?= A Beginner’s Guide to Calculating Lighting Needs The lighting system is the heart of any indoor garden, providing plants with the energy needed to photosynthesize and develop, but just how much light is needed? And what type of reflector should you use? Eric Hopper answers these common questions and more in this back-to-basics guide to helping you figure out your lighting set-up.174 Maximum Yield USA  |  July 2015



CALCULATING LIGHTING NEEDS There are several crucial things to con- consideration the crop’s particular light sider when you set up your first indoor intensity needs, you can determine garden. Ventilation, nutrition and the how many watts per square foot will be growing medium are all crucial, but the required. From there, you can purchase a most important factor affecting an indoor lighting system that will fit your individual garden’s overall performance is the light- needs. When growing lettuce or other ing system. The bulk of the energy that crops that have lower light requirements, fuels plant growth comes from the light- use a calculation of 20-30 W per square ing system. There are many different types foot of garden space. For example, a of lighting technologies available to grow- 1,000-W lighting system would provide ers, including high-intensity discharge and coverage for a 35-50-sq.-ft. area. If you LED lighting systems. Before you go out want to grow vegetables like tomatoes, you and buy your lighting system, there are a should calculate 40 W per square foot of few important things to consider first. The garden space. In this instance, a 1,000-W amount of light energy needed for the lighting system would cover 25 sq. ft. garden space, which type of reflector you of garden space. Keep in mind the cal- want to use, and how to set up multiple culated area is the actual garden space reflector cross-patterns are all things you (green space), not necessarily the physi- should know before going shopping. cal size of the room itself. If you want to maximize yields for certain crops, you can Calculating Light Energy push the wattage per square foot ratio up Needs for HID Systems to 60-70 W per square foot. However, for most fast-growing annuals, the point of There are a few different ways to diminishing returns falls between 40-50 W calculate the amount of light energy per square foot, so pushing the light levels needed to properly illuminate a far beyond that is inefficient. particular space. There are fancy devices that can help determine micro-moles Reflectors and also estimate the amount of PAR (photosynthetically active radiation), but Believe it or not, there was a time for most new gardeners, this information when most indoor growers didn’t use is not necessary. If you have free access light reflectors. Luckily, now there to expensive light measurement devices, are tons of lighting reflector options. by all means use them, but don’t feel Choosing a lighting reflector is an like you need to purchase a micro- important decision. Reflectors come mole light meter to determine your in small, medium and large sizes, garden’s best lighting set-up. and can be equipped with ventilation Most gardeners can determine their ports for air-cooling. Some reflectors lighting needs by calculating the desired are even water-cooled. You can gener- wattage per square foot. Taking into ally choose a reflector size based on The most important factor affecting an indoor garden’s overall performance is the lighting system.”176 Maximum Yield USA  |  July 2015



CALCULATING LIGHTING NEEDSthe wattage of your lighting system, so a 400-W light works By strategically placing thewell with a smaller reflector, a 600-W light works well with reflectors, you can createa medium reflector, and a 1,000-W light works well witha large reflector. Yes, there are always exceptions, but for cross-patterns that willnovice growers, this is a good guideline to follow. Choosing increase productivity andbetween an air-cooled reflector and a non-air-cooledreflector will come down to your ability to control heat. If maximize efficiency.”you have a small space that accumulates heat rapidly, youshould consider an air-cooled reflector. Also, gardens withmultiple lighting systems will generally benefit from air-cooling reflectors since the excess heat from all the lightscan build up in the growroom if not removed.Reflector Lighting Cross-Patterns LED light system advertised as a 1,000-W unit with an actual power draw of 400 W. This is confusing because a growerA reflector lighting cross-pattern is when two or more looking to set up a light system may believe the unit canreflectors’ light footprints overlap each other. To get the cover the same square footage as a 1,000-W HPS or MH.most efficient set-up possible, lighting cross-patterns must However, to get comparable results to that of HID lighting,be taken into consideration. When the light from multiple growers using LEDs should use around 40 W of actual lightreflectors is overlapped, the light energy is combined. When output wattage per square foot. For example, an LED unitthe light on the outskirts of a reflector’s footprint, which with a full-capacity rating of 1,000 W but an actual powernormally would not be powerful enough to promote large draw of 400 W would be sufficient for a 10-sq.-ft. area (40 Wyields, is combined with light from the outskirts of another per square foot = 10 sq. ft.). Even though LEDs producereflector, the overlapping portion becomes powerful enough higher ratios of PAR, to get comparable growth resultsto promote big fruits and flowers. to that of HIDs, most plants still require about the same By strategically placing the reflectors, you can create amount of wattage per square foot. The biggest savings withcross-patterns that will increase productivity and maximize LEDs are lower heat loads and extended longevity.efficiency. That being said, every growroom is different andso are, to some degree, each grower’s intentions. Some The lighting system is the heart of any indoor garden andgrowers will place reflectors close to one another to create provides plants with the energy needed for photosynthesis.higher watts per square foot in a given area. This allows them Novice indoor gardeners who grasp the concept of setting upto further concentrate the light which, in turn, equates to a lighting system and make the calculations will already belarger fruits or flowers. Some growers will place reflectors on the right path to creating an efficient, productive garden.much farther apart, trying to maintain a consistent watt- Seeing a return on investment is important to any grower. Anper-square-foot ratio throughout the garden. This type of indoor garden with the right reflector, an adequate amountset-up creates an energy-efficient garden that will produce an of light energy per square foot, and, when applicable, aabundance of medium-sized fruits or flowers. comprehensive cross-pattern set-up, will provide a larger and faster return on investment.Calculating Light Energy Needs for LEDsWhen calculating light energy needs for LED lights, growersmust first understand the way LED lights are manufacturedand marketed. To extend the longevity of LED lightingfixtures, most manufacturers produce LED lights that donot operate at full-wattage capacity—an LED fixture maycontain 5-W LED bulbs, but when the unit is operating, thebulbs only operate on 3 W each. An example of this is an178 Maximum Yield USA  |  July 2015



YOU TELL USBiology in aBottle Address: 12500 Network Blvd. Suite 201, San Antonio, Tx 78249 Phone: 1-210-558-4757 Web: micro-tes.com superorganicstimulator.com Top: President Bill Botto in the Micro-TES lab. Bottom: Lab manager Karen Shutes shows off some samples; Vice-president Richard Geisler with SOS products in different sizes. Micro-TES is a boutique biotech company that produces biological products for remediation, water quality, oil and gas, agriculture, hydroponics and aquaponics. President Bill Botto tells Maximum Yield about how the company got its start and why SOS, its premier product for the hydroponics industry, is known as biology in a bottle. 180 Maximum Yield USA  |  July 2015

The early years were very exciting. We were on the cutting edgeof the industrial side of the emerging science of biotechnology.” Using SOS Directions for Use in Directions for Use in Soil: Hydroponic Systems: SOS (Super Organic • Mix 1 oz. in 1 gal. of water and Stimulator) is the finest, • Add SOS to your reservoir apply evenly around root area. most biotechnologically at the rate of 2 tsp. per gal. superior bacterial inoculant of water. • Thoroughly water after on the market today. SOS is application to soak into root area.literally Biology in a Bottle. • SOS can be used in all stages of growth. • Apply when planting or transplanting, with each fertilizer • SOS can be used with application, or 3-4 times per any fertilizer. growing season.Tell us a little about how your company started. copious amounts of growth promoters, beneficial organic molecules and surfactants. An additional unique effect of usingMicro-TES, incorporated in 1991, was started to serve the needs SOS in your hydroponic system is that the surfactants producedof businesses that had contaminated soil and water. Rather by the bacteria dissolve the nutrient scale that builds up andthan send the soil and water to hazardous waste landfills, our clogs hoses, pumps and nozzles. Hydroponic systems using SOSclients can now bio-remediate hydrocarbon-contaminated run cleanly and efficiently. Hydroponic systems are literally smallsoil and water on site. The contaminants are destroyed by the biospheres. At Micro-TES our goal is to fine tune nature in thesemicrobes contained in Micro-TES’s biological product—LFS-1. small biospheres. By allowing our clients to “own” the biology inThe destruction of the hydrocarbons eliminates future liability their hydroponic systems, they can optimize growth, minimizefor our clients, as well as the need to place hazardous waste in maintenance and, to a large extent, keep root pathogens fromlandfills for future generations to deal with. compromising their plants.What were the early years like? Where do you distribute?The early years were very exciting. We were on the cutting edge Micro-TES distributes in the US through Hydrofarm, and inof the industrial side of the emerging science of biotechnology. Mexico, Columbia and Canada.Micro-TES was involved in finding new and unique microbesfrom niche environments in the US and abroad. How are your products environmentally friendly?What is your company’s philosophy? All Micro-TES products are natural, non-toxic and pose no danger to the environment.“Natural Solutions for a Clean Environment” is our basic philosophy.We look to nature to find new ways to solve old problems. Where do you see your company in 10 years?Tell us about the products you make for the indoor gardening Micro-TES is aggressively working on bio-pesticides, and isindustry and what makes them unique. currently testing several new biological treatments in Mexico. In the next 10 years, our goal is to move more into sustainableMicro-TES currently manufactures an excellent product for agriculture in hydroponics, aquaponics, commodity crops andthe indoor gardening industry—SOS. SOS is a liquid blend of specialty plants.naturally occurring, vigorous strains of beneficial bacteria thatmaximize the growth and nutrient uptake of hydroponically What else should we know about Micro-TES?grown plants. The bacteria in SOS promote root growth inseedlings, transplants, clones and adult plants. Plants grown Micro-TES also sells a sister product to SOS called SSB, whichwith SOS display increased biomass, health and vigor. SOS is is a microbial soil treatment. SSB is used on field crops, fruitunique in that Micro-TES isolated all the species contained in trees and specialty crops. We are pursuing organic certificationthe product from hostile field environments, where many other for both SOS and SSB, and we will also be launching a newspecies could not survive. These particular species produce product for aquaponic systems in the next few months. Maximum Yield USA  |  July 2015 181


































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