Maximum Yields Best of Trade Directory 2015

2015 Best Of 11th AnnualINTERNATIONALTRADE DIRECTORY 250+ new ListingsFREE Retailers Distributorsmaximumyield.com Manufacturers International Listings 2015 seattle chicago los angeles boston





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How To Use 11th Annual This Directory VOLUME 11 • 2015 This directory has several color-coded sections. Below is a brief description of each section. Best of Maximum Yield and International Trade Directory is published annually byA Best of Maximum YIELD Articles aSnitdbiancfko,rmrealatixveanadrtiecnlejosypsuobmlisehoefdtihneMmaoxsitminutmereYsietilndg.......................14 Maximum Yield Publications Inc. 2339A Delinea Place, Nanaimo, BC V9T 5L9p Product Category Listings Phone: 250.729.2677; Fax 250.729.2687 Ereafseirlyenaccecdesaslpphraobdeutcictaclalyt.e..g..o..r.y...l.i.s..t.in..g..s.............................................50 No part of this magazine may be reproducedr Retailer Listings without permission from the publisher. Ereafseirlyenaccecdesaslprheatabieletirclaislltyi.n..g..s......................................................... 198 If undeliverable please return to the address above.m manufacturer Listings The views expressed by columnists are a rEeafseirlyenaccecdesaslpmhaabneutfiaccatlulyr.e...r..l.is..t.i.n..g..s............................................... 232 personal opinion and do not necessarily reflectd Distributor/wholesaler Listings those of Maximum Yield or the Editor. Ereafseirlyenaccecdesaslpdhiastbreibtiuctaolrly/wbhyocleosuanlterry.l.i.s..t.i.n..g..s.................................. 248 Publication Agreement Number 40739092. 6 BEST OF MAXIMUM YIELD & INTERNATIONAL TRADE DIRECTORY 2015 Printed in Canada PRESIDENT/PUBLISHER Jim Jesson GENERAL MANAGER Don Moores BUSINESS MANAGER Linda Jesson editorial [email protected] Editor-in-chief Linda Jesson Assistant Editor Julie McManus Assistant Editor Jenn McGarrigle ADVERTISING SALES Sales Manager Ilona Hawser - [email protected] Account Executives Kelsey Hepples - [email protected] Katie Rey - [email protected] Jed Walker - [email protected] Robyn Jesson - [email protected] DESIGN & PRODUCTION [email protected] Art Director Alice Joe Graphic Designers Jennifer Everts Dionne Hurd Jesslyn Gosling ACCOUNTING Tracy Greeno - [email protected] Katie LaFrance - [email protected] USA DISTRIBUTION Aurora Innovations • BWGS • Florida Hydroponics General Hydroponics • Humbolt Wholesale Hydrofarm • Tradewinds National Garden Wholesale/Sunlight Supply Nickel City Wholesale Garden Supply CANADIAN DISTRIBUTION Brite-Lite Group • Eddis Wholesale Green Planet Wholesale Greenstar Plant Products Inc. • MegaWatt Quality Wholesale • Hydrotek UK DISTRIBUTION Direct Garden Supplies Nutriculture UK • Dutchpro AUSTRALIAN DISTRIBUTION Dome Garden Supply • Holland Forge House N’ Garden • Growlush Plant Symbionts • Way to Grow Hydroponic Generations



FROM THE EDITORLinda Jesson Welcome to the 11th Annual Best of MaximumYield InternationalTrade Directory! We are proud to present this one-of-a-kind collection of the finest companies in the industry. With more than 250 new listings, this year’s compilation of manufacturers, distributors and retail shops from around the world offers the most comprehensive database of indoor gardening experts. Search by name or by product category to find service providers, links to company websites, company information and more.You have a global resource in the palm of your hand. The 2015 InternationalTrade Directory is an invaluable year-long reference. Its user-friendly, color-coded layout makes it easy to find just what you need, from accessories to ballasts to nutrients and more. Be sure to let people know you found them in the directory! Along with more than 6,000 listings, we feature a collection of a few of the best articles we have published this year, which we know you will enjoy. Endless hours have been spent producing this International Trade Directory, with much effort gone into the accuracy of the listings. However, it is possible we may have inadvertently missed some companies. If this is so, please email us and we will gladly add your listings to the next edition. Enjoy this edition and take advantage of the valuable links and connections that will help your business grow globally! The 2015 MaximumYieldTrade Directory—Connecting Manufacturers, Distributors and Retail Shops Globally!8 BEST OF MAXIMUM YIELD & INTERNATIONAL TRADE DIRECTORY 2015



ARTICLES 30 40 contributors 14 Chris Bond is the horticulturist at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, 34 Ohio. His primary role is coordinator of the university’s Farm Food Program. His 14 The Rules of Growing research interests are beneficial insects, biological pest control and alternative by David Kessler growing methods. He is a certified permaculture designer and nursery 20 Basics of Plant Diseases technician in Ohio and a certified nursery professional in NewYork. by Dr. Robert G. Linderman Grubbycup has been an avid indoor gardener for more than 20 years. 24 What Grow Medium is Right for You? His articles were first published in the United Kingdom, and since by Matt LeBannister then his gardening advice has been published in French, Spanish, Italian, 30 Growing 101: The Basics of Plant Lighting Polish, Czech and German. He is also considered one of the world’s leading by Grubbycup authorities on crochet hydroponics. 34 An Organic Primer Eric Hopper’s past experiences within the indoor gardening industry by Chris Bond include being a hydroponic retail store manager and owner. Currently, 40 Control Yourself he works as a writer, consultant and product tester for various indoor by Dr. Lynette Morgan horticulture companies. His inquisitive nature keeps him busy seeking new 44 Optimizing Supplemental CO2 technologies and methods that could help maximize a garden’s performance. by Eric Hopper David Kessler heads research and development at Atlantis Hydroponics and writes for their popular blog. David has more than two decades of experience and multiple degrees from the State University of NewYork. An accredited judge for the American Orchid Society, he travels the world judging events. Follow his blog at atlantishydroponics.wordpress.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. Dr. Robert G. Linderman is a retired research plant pathologist and former research leader at the USDA-ARS Horticultural Crops Research Laboratory in Corvallis, Oregon. He is also a courtesy Professor Emeritus at Oregon State University. He’s been in the industry for nearly 50 years and is currently the science guy for two companies: Plant Health, LLC and Santiam Organics, LLC. 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 several hydroponic technical books. Visit suntec.co.nz for more information. Become a Maximum Yield contributor and have your articles read by readers everywhere. Maximum Yield is the largest free-to-consumer indoor gardening magazine in the world. Every issue is available on maximumyield.com, which gets thousands of unique visitors monthly.10 BEST OF MAXIMUM YIELD & INTERNATIONAL TRADE DIRECTORY 2015



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tHe rULes oFGrowiNGby daVid Gardening is an activity for everyone. It is a reconnection with nature and a time where we can think in peace. No matter your schedule orKessLer living situation, there is a type of garden that will t your lifestyle, and the rules on how to run it are the same from garden to garden.14 BEST OF MAXIMUM YIELD & INTERNATIONAL TRADE DIRECTORY 2015

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A No matter your schedule or living situation, there is a type of garden that will fit your lifestyle.” Many of us live a technology-packed, fast-paced life with Achieving the proper temperature inside this cave garden took six months. constant notifications influencing our behavior as we walk down the street—our pockets constantly buzzing, Urban Gardening dinging and ringing as we sync our busy schedules from phone to tablet to desktop. It is no surprise that more The Closet Garden – For anyone with a closet to spare. than a few of us have lost touch with Mother Nature. Protect the floor, reflect the light (more on that in a Whatever the excuse for our lack of connection with minute), add grow lights, soil and some seeds, and you the Earth, the fact remains that sometimes what we can be a year-round farmer. need most is our hands in the dirt as a reminder that all of our scientific innovations and accomplishments still The Grow Tent Garden – The simplest and fastest way pale in comparison to the magic of a seed sprouting and to create a garden that meets your needs, as well as growing into food that sustains our bodies. Gardening the needs of your plants. A perfect fit for every space is for everyone. It is a reconnection with nature, a time (they come in many different sizes), with all of the where we can think in peace, pound our frustrations forethought already built in, a grow tent will make your into the soil and regain a Zen state of being. No matter garden a lush cornucopia in no time. your schedule or living situation, there is a type of garden that will fit your lifestyle. The Vivarium – These terrarium-style gardens can be designed to meet the needs of more exotic plants, and Traditional Gardening are designed to be tiny working ecosystems behind glass. Attractive and compact, a vivarium is a perfect fit for a The Backyard Garden – Simple and easy. Find a sunny high-rise apartment overlooking the concrete jungle, spot in your yard and dig away. Any size plot will do, just adding a bit of nature back to your brick bastion. stick your shovel in the ground and start turning the soil. Add plants or seeds and you have a garden. The Out-of-the-Box Garden The Raised Bed Garden – For the DIYer, or those of us The Trailer Garden – Although not every gardener’s cup who have less than ideal soil, simply buy or build a of tea, this type of garden is proving to be perfect for raised bed, fill it with soil and start your seeds. doomsday preppers and businessmen alike. It’s essen- tially a re-purposed shipping container transformed into The Square Foot Garden – For the space challenged, a cash cow, or an end-of-the-world Eden. Check out our the urban gardener or the balcony bound, just select a friends at podponics.com in Georgia for a more in-depth container, or a few pots of soil along with a little plan- exploration of this contemporary take on farming. ning and some organic seeds, and you are on your way to food self-sufficiency. The Cave Garden – I admit this one is a bit of a stretch as most of us do not have a vacant cave in our real estate 16 BEST OF MAXIMUM YIELD & INTERNATIONAL TRADE DIRECTORY 2015 portfolio, but this is really cool. What can you do when

your mine shuts down,and you are left with amaze of tunnels windinginside the earth? Oneoption is to turn it into anunderground farm. Goto birdsbotanicals.comto see how one gardener a grow tentmade an environmentwithout sunlight into a will make yourhorticultural oasis. garden a lush cornucopia inThe Rooftop Garden –With a strong movementtowards locally grownproduce and a desire to no time.”reduce their carbon foot-prints, many gardeners have A rose grower has chosen to use high pressure sodium lights totransformed their urban rooftops grow roses indoors.into productive and profitable farms.So what do these different gardens have in common? AirBasic needs. All plants have five basic needs that need to Air is a category that encompasses several factors includingbe met: light, air, water, fertilizer and substrate. Let’s now carbon dioxide, temperature and humidity. All of these areexamine how these needs are met by growers using the critical to plant growth and are all important to account forvarious gardening methods previously mentioned. in any type of garden. Carbon dioxide naturally occurs in theLight air we breathe (and by the air we exhale), but the more than 400 parts per million in the air might not be sufficient if thereLight provides the input of energy for the chemical is not enough air exchange or air movement in the garden.process of photosynthesis that turns carbon dioxide and Outdoor gardeners have it pretty easy in that the naturalwater into sugar and oxygen. Outdoor gardeners simply movement of air ensures they always have enough CO2.use the sun as their light source because it is free and Indoor growers who have constructed rooms, as well as groweffective on all but the cloudiest of days. Indoor grow- tent gardeners, must actively work to ensure their plantsers, such as the closet gardener, may employ a variety of receive adequate levels of CO2. For a grower just starting out,light sources to provide energy to their gardens, includ- a grow tent can be a good option. Grow tent manufacturersing fluorescent, HID, LED, MH and plasma lights. All build in all of the same universal and necessary features of aof these provide the energy necessary for photosynthe- growroom, affording a novice grower a well-designed growsis, but some might be better space without the years of experience necessary to design asuited to your needs. Talk to growroom on their own.the associate at your localgarden or hydroponicsstore to find the bestlight for you. BEST OF MAXIMUM YIELD & INTERNATIONAL TRADE DIRECTORY 2015 17

A This rooftop herb garden relies on rainwater for irrigation. many gardeners One of the best things about grow tents is that the manu- facturers know that CO2 is necessary and have designed have transformed ventilation holes for both the intake and exhaust of air. their urban rooftops Exhausting the air with an inline fan creates negative pres- into productive and sure inside the tent and allows for the passive (or active if profitable farms.” a second fan is also used) flow of fresh, CO2-rich air from outside via the intake flaps. A gardener can also choose to Humidity supercharge their indoor garden by using either bottled or bagged CO2 or a CO2 generator to increase the avail- Humidity is sometimes overlooked by gardeners, but a neces- able amount of CO2 in the room to 1,500 ppm. sary factor to be aware of and mitigate. Plants will grow in a wide range of humidity levels but some are more finicky than Temperature others. High humidity can result in an environment that is overly hospitable to mold and bacterial infections, while low Temperature requirements vary with the plant, and levels of humidity can stress a plant as it tries to replace mois- although most plants can survive for a short time ture constantly lost to transpiration. The vivarium gardener outside of their ideal temperature range, longer must keep a watchful eye on humidity as the small volume exposure to extreme temperatures will slow growth and of air in the garden allows for rapid swings in humidity with possibly kill them. Some orchids like the Phalaenopsis, slight increases in temperature. Often both a humidifier, which is the second most popular potted plant in used to raise the humidity, and an exhaust fan, used to lower the world, prefer a minimum of 65°F, but prolonged humidity, are built into the design of a vivarium. exposure to temperatures below 50°F will cause severe damage or even death. That is why I must tip my hat Water to the ingenuity of David Bird, the cave gardener. He knew that the ambient temperature of the cave, Water is necessary for all life. Fresh water can be provided being in the mid-50s, combined with HID lights, from any number of sources including streams, reservoirs, would increase the temperature by more than 15°F, ponds, aquifers and wells. One of the simplest and best providing ideal temperatures for his tropical plants. sources of water is rainwater. Using a simple rainwater collec- Cooling is accomplished with fans pulling colder air tion system and a rain barrel allows our rooftop gardener or from unheated areas deeper inside of the cave, while square-foot gardener to provide fresh water to their garden. simultaneously exhausting the warm growroom air. When it comes to water, the question isn’t just the source, but how to use it. For plants growing in either soil or soilless mix, the best advice comes from a sage old orchid grower who said, “You can never water too much, only too often.” 18 BEST OF MAXIMUM YIELD & INTERNATIONAL TRADE DIRECTORY 2015

When it An impressive garden built inside of a shipping container. comes to water, the organic kitchen waste by tossing it into the compost question isn’t just bin. It takes just a few months for free, super-charged, the source, but how rich compost for their gardens that feed the plants an organic diet rich in minerals and nutrients, while to use it.” improving the quality of their soil. No time or ideal space to make a compost? There are plenty of nutrientWhat he meant by that is, if you water a little bit every day, solutions available from your favorite gardening store.the growing medium will stay wet and the roots will rot.If you water a 1-gal. pot with 20 gal. of water, the growing Substratemedium will be fully saturated and as long as you wait untilthe growing medium dries out appropriately, your plant will The chosen growing medium can have a significantnot suffer. In fact, heavy watering will help prevent fertilizer impact on the success of any garden by influencing severalbuildup in your growing media. factors: moisture, pH, drainage, fertilizer retention (CEC) and oxygen content in the root-zone. There are manyFertilizer growing mediums to choose from, such as soil, soilless, LECA stone, diatomite, perlite, vermiculite, coconut, red-There are 16 elements that plants must have, although wood fiber, sawdust, recycled glass, volcanic rock, gravel,some would place that number at 20 or more. There are stonewool and even air. Each of the growing mediumsmany brands and formulations of fertilizer to choose listed here—and by no means is this an exhaustive list—from, and none of them are the best. That is because have attributes and differences that will make them moredifferent plants, growing mediums and growing environ- or less effective in a particular application.ments all require different fertilizer choices. So, whatdo our square-foot and backyard gardeners do? Many Regardless of the type of gardener you are, the style ofmake their own fertilizer using grass clippings, leaves and gardening you practice or the crops you grow, the five basic needs of plants will always need to be addressed. The better you are at meeting the fundamental needs of your plants, the greater amount of attention you can devote to the details that differentiate a good gardener from a great one. With so many gardeners and innovative methods of farming coming into practice, remember the basics of growing remain the same. BEST OF MAXIMUM YIELD & INTERNATIONAL TRADE DIRECTORY 2015 19

Basics of Plant Diseasesby Dr. Robert G. LindermanAlmost everyone who grows plants, whether for their ownenjoyment or professionally, will encounter plant diseaseproblems at some point. Dr. Robert G. Linderman’s introductionto the basics of plant diseases will help growers recognizethe signs and symptoms of various plant diseases so they willbe better able to diagnose and research solutions to problems.20 BEST OF MAXIMUM YIELD & INTERNATIONAL TRADE DIRECTORY 2015

In my experience, many people who grow to capacity. Examination of the root system Above: Root rot on a juniperplants, whether for food, pleasure or profit, may reveal that many of the roots are brown plant that diminishesoften see problems with their plants show- and dead-looking instead of white and root function, causinging poor growth, blemishes on leaves, dead robust. Thus, the problem may be local- discoloration of the above-or dying branches, or outright plant death. ized in the roots but causing stunting of the ground plant by limitingWhen that happens, the following questions above-ground part of the plant. Another water and nutrient uptake.come to mind: “What is causing the problem? thing to consider is whether all the plantsWhere did it come from? How do I get rid of exhibit the same symptoms or only a few Below: For an infectiousit? And, how can I prevent it from happen- here and there. If the latter is the case, I disease to occur, threeing again?” As a plant pathologist for many usually try to determine what is different fundamental elements aremoons, I have asked these questions privately between the sick and the healthy plants. required: a susceptiblefor my own plants, grown for food and land- If the symptoms you observe are on young plant, a pathogen capablescape beauty, and professionally for commer- seedlings that came up and then fell over of causing disease and acial nurseries and farmers. As gardeners, both (called damping-off), or the seeds never favorable environment.outdoors and indoors, I judge that most of germinated in the first place (called pre-you have asked these questions, too. pathogenemergence damping-off), you should seeenvironment In this article, I present the basics of plant that as a sign of an infectious agent thatdiseases in hopes that you can better address attacks seeds or young seedlings. If theany disease problems that may crop up with plant suddenly wilted and died after grow-your plants. I focus on how to determine ing for a while, then you should considerwhether the problem you observe is either an other so-called wilt or root rot diseases.infectious disease or a non-infectious prob- Sometimes the foliage exhibits somelem brought on by some growth factor in changes in coloration or some twisting oryour soil or growing environment. other deformation of the foliage. The color pattern may be a mosaic ofThe Disease Triangle green and yellow, or some other symptom, such as a leaf mottlingFor an infectious disease to occur, three fun- or streaking, often occurringdamental elements are required: a susceptible with most of the plants. Thisplant, a pathogen capable of causing disease suggests the possibility thatand a favorable environment. If any of these the causal agent is insideelements are missing, no infectious disease and throughout theoccurs. On the other hand, if no patho- plant, and that thegenic agent is present, but the plants exhibit disease is caused by asymptoms such as poor growth or yellow or virus. Virus diseasenecrotic leaves, and those symptoms occur symptoms may beon most of the plants, then a non-infectious confused withdisease is likely. those caused by nutrientSigns and Symptoms deficiencies.When you suspect something is wrong with hostthe way your plants are growing, the first stepin diagnosing the problem is to character- =infectious diseaseize the symptoms you see. Symptoms may belocalized, such as leaf spots, or systemic, suchas stunting or off-color foliage. In my experi-ence, stunting can be a general response to aweakened root system that is not functioning “When you suspect something is wrong with the wayyour plants are growing, the first step in diagnosing the problem is to characterize the symptoms you see.” BEST OF MAXIMUM YIELD & INTERNATIONAL TRADE DIRECTORY 20154 21

A “The wilt diseases, caused by either fungi or bacteria, enter the roots and grow into the vascular system-the water and nutrient-conducting cells.” Where plants are close to each other, What if your plant wilts, but there are no tell- such as in lawns, the disease may occur on multiple plants and appear to be spread- tale symptoms in the stems that would point to ing from one plant to its neighbors. In examples involving turf grass, the plants fusarium wilt? Check the roots and see if they are very close and symptoms will be expressed by the group of plants. look healthy or diseased. If enough of the roots When individual plants suddenly wilt in spite of the soil being adequately look rotten, that may be enough impaired root irrigated, one might suspect that the plant contracted a disease from the function to cause the plant to wilt when water soil. The wilt diseases, caused by either fungi or bacteria, enter the roots and becomes limited. If the roots look good, then grow into the vascular system—the water and nutrient-conducting cells. the cause may be due to some cultural prob- Mosaic disease on the leaf of The pathogen can grow up the vascular lem, such as too little water. On a side note, it is a cucumber plant, caused by cells and build a blockage that impairs well known that plants with mycorrhizal fungi the cucumber mosaic virus. movement of water up from the soil into the plant. Generally, individual amongst their roots can withstand soil drought plants exhibit wilt symptoms unless the pathogen has been well dispersed in the much better than plants without. planting soil and infects multiple plants. Such wilt diseases are unlikely to occur Root examination might also reveal the roots in soilless media where the pathogen would not be present. In a few plants are not so brown, but they have swollen areas that we know of, the pathogen is seed- borne, including spinach and basil. or knots on them. That would be a tell-tale sign Diagnosing Problems the plant has root knot nematode infection. from Symptoms and More Nematodes are tiny worms that infect the roots Diagnosing a plant problem may be done based on symptoms alone in some cases. to complete their life cycle, and in so doing, Take the fusarium wilt disease, for exam- ple: a single tomato plant in your garden disrupt the root function enough to cause A patch of turf grass where suddenly wilts in spite of adequate irriga- stunting and even wilt. multiple plants are showing tion. Sometimes the wilting occurs on only Take another example, tomato leaf spot. Your the signs and symptoms of one side of the plant and if you slice down- tomato plants looked good in the early part of a disease, compared to the ward into the stem of that branch, you may see brown streaks, which could indicate a the growing season, but then spots started to healthy plants surrounding vascular wilt disease. A cross-section of the appear on the leaves. You are sure your over- the patches. stem might also show browning in spots. Most tomato plants from nurseries have head sprinkler system is working to keep the built-in resistance to fusarium wilt, but you may be growing an older variety that does plants well watered, but the disease continues not have that resistance. Sending your wilted tomato to a diagnostic lab where the to spread to more leaves as the plants grow— pathogen can be isolated and identified would be the clincher in diagnosis. and it is spreading fast. Your plants could have fungal leaf spot caused by the fungus septoria. When leaves become infected, the fungus produces many new spores that splash onto other leaves when the sprinklers come on. The spores germinate, penetrate the leaf tissue and begin to kill the cells. Eventually the tomato fruit will also have those spots. This disease is on a rampage, and only two things will slow it down. First of all, change your irriga- tion system from overhead sprinklers, as standing water on the leaves allows “Virus disease the spores to germinate and begin infection. Keeping leaves dry during symptoms may the day will stop those new infections. be confused with Next year, or next time you start a those caused tomato plant, avoid overhead irriga- tion. Secondly, clean up all of the by nutrient fallen, infected leaves on the ground deficiencies.” as they will be the source of next year’s infection. 22 BEST OF MAXIMUM YIELD & INTERNATIONAL TRADE DIRECTORY 2015

Some foliar diseases are obvious when Further Reading Wilt of a tomato plant causedyou see symptoms of infected leaves by the fungal pathogencompared to non-infected leaves. For To better understand the basics of fusarium. Left: foliage wiltexample, some maple trees grown in plant diseases, a working knowledge symptoms. Center: vascularlandscapes are susceptible to powdery of the pathogens themselves will come browning that blocks watermildew. This fungus disease causes in handy. Pathogens are grouped as transport. Right: cross sectionsuperficial infections on leaves, but the fungi, bacteria, viruses and nematodes, of infected stem showingtell-tale symptom is the production of and knowing the life cycles of these brown vascular tissue wherewhite, powdery masses of spores on the agents in enough detail for you to get water transport is impaired.infections. Some infected landscape a sense of the enemy and its potentialplants, however, lack the abundant to cause plant diseases is worth noting.sporulation that would distinguish the The most likely pathogens to cause dis-problem as powdery mildew. The pow- eases in gardens are fungi or bacteria.dery mildew pathogen, and some other Find more information about plantdiseases caused by fungi, such as rusts diseases at maximumyield.com, and beand downy mildew, cannot be cultured sure to consult the expert gardenersin the lab, so diagnosis has to be done you know as well.by symptoms alone and observing sporeproduction under the microscope. “If enough of the roots look rotten, So, what if your plants do not exhibit that may be enough impaired rootany of the tell-tale symptoms discussedabove? Perhaps most of your plants function to cause the plant to wiltshow the same stunting or yellowing when water becomes limited.”discoloration, or maybe the plants arestill green but are not growing as wellas you would like. Assuming there havebeen no environmental extremes, oneshould consider irrigation and wateringpractices. Overwatering can damagethe roots enough to impair their func-tion; under-watering can simply causethe plant to experience drought stress.During drought stress periods, plantsare not able to function well, andgrowth can be slowed as a result. What about fertilization? Too fewnutrients in the soil could deprivethe plant of needed elements. Forexample, the needed phosphorus inmany soils is unavailable because it isbound to clay particles or has formedan insoluble precipitate. That meansphosphorus is immobile in the soil.Once again, the solution is to add morefertilizer to meet your plants’ needs, orinoculate your plants with mycorrhizalfungi during planting. These symbioticfungi colonize roots and help the plantacquire phosphorus from more distantplaces and pipe it back to the plant. BEST OF MAXIMUM YIELD & INTERNATIONAL TRADE DIRECTORY 2015 23

What Grow Medium is Right by Matt LeBannister For You? Matt LeBannister discusses the attributes of various hydroponic grow mediums and which systems they are ideal for.24 BEST OF MAXIMUM YIELD & INTERNATIONAL TRADE DIRECTORY 2015

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A Peat Moss Choosing the right grow medium is an essential part Peat moss is a relatively inert organic grow medium. It retains a of gardening. With so many varieties of grow media lot of moisture while allowing for plenty of oxygen to be present available to the modern indoor hydroponic gardener, in the root zone. Peat moss is mainly used in passive hydroponic it can be difficult to know which will work best for systems or in containers for plants such as orchids or Venus you. You must choose one that suits both the needs of flytraps as these plants need a medium with no nutrient value. the plant and the needs of your system. Water reten- Peat moss is not ideal for any other type of hydroponic system, tion, aeration and pH balance are all aspects that vary as it falls apart easily and needs to be replaced periodically. depending on the medium and must be considered when making the final choice. In this article, I will Coco Coir discuss the attributes of some of the most common grow mediums and which systems they are ideal for. Coco coir is an organic, inert grow medium derived from frayed and ground coconut husks. It is close to pH neu- Expanded Clay tral and retains water while allowing for a good amount of oxygen for the roots. Coco coir is mainly used in container Expanded clay is a popular grow medium. It is gardening and in passive hydroponic systems. It is available exactly as described—small bits of clay that have as a loose potting material, as starter disks for seeds and cut- been fired in a kiln and popped or expanded tings, and larger cubes for placement in hydroponic systems like popcorn into small, round, lightweight, or transferring to larger containers. Coco coir is also a renew- porous balls. Expanded clay is ideal for use in able and under-used source of grow medium. Coco coir can deep water culture, nutrient film technique and be used in expandable drip and flood and drain systems but expandable drip systems because of its ability is not ideal as it is dirty, can clog pumps and drippers and can to wick up water to the roots without retaining contribute to the buildup of reservoir sludge. too much water and allowing for the maximum amount of oxygen to be present in the root zone. Expanded clay is inert, generally pH neutral and is not an ideal place for root-borne insects to live and lay eggs. It can be reused if cleaned and sterilized between crops. Since expanded clay does not retain water for long, it is not ideal for flood and drain systems because it will dry out too fast, leaving roots vulnerable to damage. Expanded clay must be washed thoroughly before use to prevent clay dust from entering your system and clogging pumps or drippers.“Coco coir is mainly used in containergardening and in passive hydroponic systems.”26 BEST OF MAXIMUM YIELD & INTERNATIONAL TRADE DIRECTORY 2015

“Gravel will not absorb and retain moisture—it actssimply as an anchor for the roots of the plant to cling to.”Gravel stonewoolGravel can be used in all types of hydroponic systems. It will Stonewool is one of the most popular grow mediums. Itnot absorb and retain moisture—it acts simply as an anchor is made by heating and spinning certain silica-based rockfor the roots of the plant to cling to. This makes gravel into a material much like cotton candy. The end prod-more ideal for passive, expandable drip and nutrient film uct is a firm material that when used will have the idealtechnique systems since they keep the roots of the plant in ratio of water to oxygen for the plant’s roots to thrive in.constant contact with water so the roots won’t have a chance Stonewool is also relatively pH neutral and helps resistto dry out. It is not ideal for flood and drain systems. root-based insects from growing and reproducing. Gravel is sometimes used as a bottom layer for any potting Stonewool comes in a variety of sizes and shapesmix in a pot or container. Having an inch or two of gravel at and is most commonly used in cube form. One-inchthe bottom of your container will ensure the plant has better starter cubes are great for starting seeds and rootingdrainage. Proper drainage is essential to container gardening. cuttings. The starter cubes can then be transplantedWithout proper drainage, salt from the nutrient solution can into larger cubes that have a 1-in. hole to perfectlybuild up in the soil or potting mix. These salts will eventually fit the starter cube into. Stonewool cubes are used inreach levels that are toxic to the plant, causing burnt roots and many hydroponic systems such as flood and drain.leaves. Nutrient toxicities lead to disorders and can lock out The smaller cubes are often used to start plants thatother essential nutrients. If nutrient toxicities persist, plant are then transferred into other grow mediums such asgrowth can be hindered and it can lead to the death of your expanded clay for drip, deep water culture and nutri-plants. Some gravel can be jagged and may damage roots. Use ent film technique systems. Many people use them tosmoother gravel to prevent this. Gravel can sometimes have start clones that will be planted in outdoor gardens ordifferent minerals or salts that can leech out. Check with the indoor container gardens.manufacturer beforehand. Make sure to thoroughly wash the Stonewool also comes in lengthy 36-in. by 8-in. slabs thatgravel before use. It can be reused if washed each time. are mostly used for drip and occasionally flood and drain systems, and it can be found in a loose, chunky form forSand those gardening with containers indoors who don’t want to use messy soil or potting mix. The loose stonewool is ideal because it can be used for all container sizes. Sand is often used as a grow medium. It can be used on its own or mixed into soil, vermiculite or some other grow medium. Sand can retain enough moisture while providing excellent drainage, but only use river sand, never ocean sand. BEST OF MAXIMUM YIELD & INTERNATIONAL TRADE DIRECTORY 2015 27

A Diatomite PerlitePerlite is made by heating glass or quartz sand. It is a soil Diatomite is formed by the skeletal remains of microscopicor potting mix amendment, meaning that it is not to be algae. Light and porous diatomite makes for a great growused on its own, but rather to improve upon an existing medium. It will retain moisture while allowing the roots togrow medium. When added to a potting mix such as peat grow in an oxygen-rich environment. It also helps discour-moss or coco coir, perlite can greatly improve the drainage age root-borne insects from laying eggs, which becomeand aeration of the mix. This will prevent nutrient buildup harmful larvae and adults that feed upon the plant.and subsequent toxicity issues while providing an oxygen- Diatomite is a versatile medium. It can be used in deeprich environment for roots to thrive. Perlite comes in three water culture, nutrient film technique, flood and drain,grades: fine, medium and coarse to meet the various needs of expandable drip and passive hydroponic systems.gardeners. Perlite should never make up more than a thirdof your potting mix, otherwise it will float. glassVermiculiteVermiculite is mica expanded by heat. Like perlite, vermicu- Recycled glass foam is a highly porous medium made fromlite is a soil and potting mix amendment. Vermiculite is used recycled glass beverage containers. This is a non-toxic growto improve the water retention of soils and potting mixes. medium and a great soil aerator engineered to deliverIt is also often used in combination with perlite for its wick- the proper air and water balance in the roots withouting abilities in passive hydroponic systems. Vermiculite also the danger of over watering. Recycled glass foam can becomes in three grades: fine, medium and coarse. customized to fit a wide range of plants and climates as well as different growing systems.“When added to a potting There are so many grow mediums to choose from, each with their own unique characteristics. Choosing the right grow mix such as peat moss or coco coir, medium can make the difference between success and failure perlite can greatly improve the in the growroom. Here we have laid bare the basics of some of drainage and aeration of the mix.” the most common grow mediums. For more detailed informa- tion on these or other grow mediums, visit maximumyield.com and check out the digital archives.28 BEST OF MAXIMUM YIELD & INTERNATIONAL TRADE DIRECTORY 2015

maximumyield.com At Maximum Yield, it’s always garden o’clock. INDOOR GARDENING Print │ Digital │ USA │ CAN │ AUS │ NZ │ UK │ EU │ Industry News │ Hydrolife BEST OF MAXIMUM YIELD & INTERNATIONAL TRADE DIRECTORY 2015 29

A Plant LightingBasicsThe ofGrowing 101: by Grubbycup At the start of your new indoor garden journey, you selected what you'll grow, where you'll grow it and what you'll use to grow it in. Now comes the most important decision of all: choosing your lighting system. The lighting system is one of the most important and expensive components of an indoor garden. Read on for some basic things to keep in mind as you make your indoor lighting selection. 30 BEST OF MAXIMUM YIELD & INTERNATIONAL TRADE DIRECTORY 2015

Plants need light to undergo a process known as pho-tosynthesis, which converts water and carbon dioxideinto a sugar called glucose that plants use for growth.Photosynthesis makes use of a special, green plantpigment called chlorophyll to collect light energy.Chlorophyll absorbs and makes use of red and blue-indigo light, but it reflects green light, which is whatmakes plants green. It’s also why indoor garden lampsoften put out much of their light in the red and bluespectrums. Outdoor gardens can make use of the sunfor their lighting needs, but to meet the lighting needsof indoor gardens, artificial lighting is used to convertelectricity to light.Light IntensityLight intensity is an important factor for indoor garden-ers to consider. Low light levels slow photosynthesis, andhigh light levels encourage it—to a point. The amount ofenergy a light fixture uses is measured in watts. In general,the higher the wattage, the more light and heat a fixturewill produce. For example, a 1,000-W HPS lamp is bothbrighter and hotter than a comparable 400-W HPS lamp.The lighting requirements of your indoor garden willdepend on the type of plants you are growing and howlarge of a space you need to cover, among other things. \"Outdoor gardens can make use of the sun for their lighting needs, but to meet the lighting needs of indoor gardens, artificial lighting is used to convert electricity to light. BEST OF MAXIMUM YIELD & INTERNATIONAL TRADE DIRECTORY 2015 31

A Light Meters Types of Lighting Inexpensive light meters can be used to determine the There are several options in indoor garden lighting intensity of the light reaching different areas of the technologies, with fluorescent T5s, high-intensity discharge garden. Just move the meter around to different areas systems (HIDs) and light-emitting diodes (LEDs) being the and take a few readings. Light meters often give read- three most common. ings measured in lux. A lux is the light from one candle at one meter away spread over a square area one-meter  Fluorescent – These lights include T5s (grow lights), wide. Direct sunlight is approximately 32,000-100,000 lux. T12s (shop lights), CFLs (compact fluorescent lights) and Full-sun plants usually need at least 25,000-50,000 lux to electrode-less (induction) lighting. While these each look do well, with increased productivity occurring when light different, they all use the same basic principle to operate: levels are near full sunlight. a current is applied to a sealed, phosphor-coated glass tube Light Reflection containing a small bit of mercury and an inert gas. The mercury is excited until it changes from a liquid to a gas. The Light bulbs give off light in all directions, so there are lamp mercury gas gives off ultraviolet light, which is converted to hoods designed to reflect light from the top and sides of visible light by the phosphor coating. One of the benefits of the bulb down into the garden. This is done to capture fluorescent lighting is that the bulbs don’t produce a lot of light energy that would otherwise be wasted. For this same wasted heat. The operating temperature of a fluorescent bulb reason, the walls of indoor gardens are often painted white is lower than HIDs, meaning the lamps can be placed closer or covered with a reflective film to reflect light back toward to the plants without causing heat stress. the plants. If a reflective film is used, care should be taken not to create a fire hazard as some reflective films are \"Inexpensive light meters can be flammable. Another notable property of light is that inten- sity drops off as an inverse used to determine the intensity square to the distance. For example, a plant twice as far away from the light only of the light reaching different receives 1/4 of the light from it. Trying to judge how much light is actually hitting the areas of the garden. plants just by looking at how bright they appear can be problematic because the human eye is much better suited for operating under a wide variety of lighting condi- tions than judging the intensity of those conditions. 32 BEST OF MAXIMUM YIELD & INTERNATIONAL TRADE DIRECTORY 2015

 HID Lighting – is another common garden lighting LEDs – are another lighting technology that cantechnology. The two most common forms of HID lighting be used by growers. Instead of using a charged gas toused for plants are metal halide (MH) and high pressure illuminate, light-emitting diodes are electro-luminescent,sodium (HPS). Metal halides use a variety of metal halides meaning they use small semiconductors to emit light.in an arc tube, similarly to the They have two leads, a positive and a negative, and whenmercury in fluorescents. current is applied across the two, light is produced.The resulting light fromthe arc tube contains They produce little heat and last longer than otherboth visible light types of lighting, but LED light fixtures tend toand ultraviolet be more expensive on a per-watt basis thanlight. An outer fluorescent or HID lighting.tube surround-ing the arc Whichever lighting system you choose, remem-tube confines ber, the amount of heat generated from yourthe generated lights must be taken into consideration. A 60-WUV light while T5 light can be used without cooling and can beallowing the kept as close to plants as a few inches away, but anusable light to uncooled, 1,000-W HID light can quickly causepass through plants heat damage if the light is kept too close.to the garden.For some people, Don't Forget the Ballastthe blue cast of metalhalides can be more pleasant Both fluorescent and HID lights use ballasts to condi-to work under than the harsher- tion and control the electricity supplied to the lamp.looking orange light of HPS One difference between fluorescent and HID lighting islamps. HPS lights use an inner the location of the ballast. In a fluorescent fixture, theand outer bulb similar to ballast is generally built in. In an HID light, the ballasta metal halide lamp, but and hood are two separate pieces. To help with heatthe long, cloudy arc bulbs management, HID ballasts should be kept outside of thecontain metal sodium growing space where practical. The bulb and the ballastand mercury instead of used to fire it must match each other. Keep in mind thatmetal halides. The light lamp sockets are made in general standard sizes. A bulbgiven off has a distinctive fitting into the socket is no indication of compatibility.amber-orange tint to it. The wattage and type of the bulb must be compatible with the output of the ballast. For example, only use a 400-W MH bulb with a 400-W ballast capable of firing MH lamps. Some HID ballasts have additional features, such as the ability to run at different levels, be controlled remotely and fire either MH or HPS lamps. Always check the ballast’s documentation for specific details on features. \"Lamp sockets are made in The lighting system is onegeneral standard sizes. A bulb of the most important and expensive components of fitting into the socket is no an indoor garden and is a indication of compatibility. critical factor in the success or failure of the plants under its care. Be sure to consult other growers or an indoor garden shop employee for more advice on your garden’s specific lighting requirements. BEST OF MAXIMUM YIELD & INTERNATIONAL TRADE DIRECTORY 2015 33

OAn rganicby Chris Bond Primer Soil building, cover cropping, companion planting and crop rotation are some of the hallmark practices of organic gardening. But what else does it mean to be an organic gardener? Chris Bond answers this important question and looks at the specific ways growers can control or prevent pests, diseases and weeds in their gardens using organic practices.34 BEST OF MAXIMUM YIELD & INTERNATIONAL TRADE DIRECTORY 2015

The word organic is one of those ambiguous words that To beseems to have several connotations and denotations. It usedto be a word most associated with chemistry; any carbon- granted organicbased organism, living or dead, is organic. In recent years, certification, a farm or foodorganic has become a way of defining our food, the methodsby which we produce it and the products used in its prepara- producer must meet thetion, nurturing, maintenance and harvesting. strict standards set forth Further muddying the waters are such words as natural, by the USDA’s Nationalall-natural, unrefined, unprocessed and non-GMO. When weare talking about meat, add catch phrases like free-range, Organic Program.”cage-free, grass-fed and hormone-free into the mix. Forany product or food producer to make these types ofclaims there is little or no oversight, but for any productor food producer to make the claim of organic, there areseveral hurdles they must pass to do so. In horticulture, products deemed as natural are gener-ally accepted as those that are procured from nature,minimally processed (or not at all) and then used in a formsimilar to the product’s natural state. These are not man-made or synthesized compounds. They may or may not becertified organic, but they are compatible with the practicesand principles of organic gardening. Some examples includemined materials like rock phosphate, plant oils and marinelife such as kelp. In many instances, the word natural can beused indiscriminately to describe a wide variety of productsand to support unsubstantiated claims. BEST OF MAXIMUM YIELD & INTERNATIONAL TRADE DIRECTORY 2015 35

A There are numerous organizations at federal, state and Soil building, cover cropping, companion planting, crop rota- local levels that have legal authority to confer organic status tion and avoiding GMO seeds and crops are some of the hall- onto products or practices. Many other private organizations mark practices of organic gardening. Organic gardeners seek are recognized as authorities on various facets of organic to minimize inputs over time and take the view that growing food and its production. The United States Department of food is not a seasonal activity, but a long-term proposition. Agriculture is the certifying agency for all farms and food Seeds producers that seek organic certification within the United States. To be granted organic certification, a farm or food The USDA and other agencies acting on their behalf can producer must meet the strict standards set forth by the grant organic status to seeds that have not been treated with USDA’s National Organic Program. Under these standards, pesticides and are not culled or collected from plants that food producers must adhere to standards regarding pesticide have been treated with pesticides. Seeds labeled as organic usage (no synthetic pesticides allowed) and GMO usage (not are not genetically modified or genetically engineered. They allowed). An audit trail must also exist between harvest from are open-pollinated and will germinate and produce true the field to the vendor or end user. to their type and parentage. Heirloom seeds are often certified organic, but not always. Heirloom variet- What Is Organic Gardening? ies of seeds and plants possess the same traits Organic gardening is the practice of Organic as their parentage and are often cultivated growing plants in methods com- commercially. Their sizes, colors and patible with prevailing organic fruit-ripening times are inconsistent or standards. Most organic garden- ing practitioners seek to feed and gardening is the practice staggered, making them difficult to cul- amend the soil, as opposed to tivate mechanically, ship in standard- feeding the plants directly. The soil surrounding a plant’s roots of growing plants in sized packaging or use in products acts as its digestive system in much methods compatible requiring homogeneity. The organic the same way the rumen in cattle status of seeds can also be conferred processes what the cow consumes before being distributed within it. with prevailing by the Organic Materials Review Institute. Many seed companies also organic standards.” voluntarily submit to the Council for Responsible Genetics’ Safe Seed Pledge. Products Foods marketed as containing 100% organic ingredients must contain a minimum of 95% certified organic content and the remaining 5% can contain no traces of animal waste or GMOs. “Made With Organic Ingredients” claims on labels must contain at least 70% certified organic material and the remaining 30% cannot contain any traces of animal waste or GMOs. Gardening products such as fertilizers, insect sprays and amendments must pass muster from the OMRI—not the USDA—to be labeled and sold as organic. The OMRI is a non-profit organization that reviews the components of products manufacturers wish to be labeled as organic. They also provide support and training for organic production professionals. The OMRI organic label is mostly applicable for consumer and retail products. Organic products manufactured for professional and industrial use are not always labeled as such by the OMRI. 36 BEST OF MAXIMUM YIELD & INTERNATIONAL TRADE DIRECTORY 2015

Soil Amendments and FertilizersMany of the widely available and inexpensive water-soluble fertilizers onthe market are petroleum based or otherwise synthesized from non-organicsources. Organic fertilizers and soil amendments are generally not water-soluble and are directly collected or derived from carbon sources. Theytend to be more costly and lower in nutrient value than their syntheticcounterparts, but because they are not water-soluble, organic fertilizers andsoil amendments last much longer in the soils. Much of the high concen-trations of nutrients in petroleum-based fertilizers are lost to leaching.Organic fertilizers and soil amendments may be mineral-based, plant-based or animal-based. Mineral-based amendments include macronutri-ents such as rock phosphate, potash and calcium in a variety of forms.Plant-based amendments include products such ascottonseed meal, kelp and peat moss. Animal-based products may be derived from eitherliving or dead animals. Blood meal andbone meal are common amendments Organicin organic gardening and are derivedfrom the blood and bone of animals—usually bovines. Manure is an animal- approaches to pestbased amendment that can be usedin organic production, so long as control are more widelycertain restrictions are observed. The varied than conventional,animals from which manure is col-lected must be on a certified-organic chemical ones.”diet and their manure should be com-posted or aged prior to its use.Pest ControlOrganic approaches to pest control are morewidely varied than conventional, chemical ones.Hand-picking the pests is the least invasive way of approach-ing organic pest control, but for smaller pests like aphids thiscan be impractical. This approach is better suited for caterpil-lars and beetles. Luring or intentionally releasing beneficial predators andparasitoids into your garden is another effective method of non-chemical pest control. Hundreds of species of beneficial insects feedon, or otherwise use, many of the pest species that plague gardens.Ladybugs are an excellent defense against aphids. They can consume50 or more a day. Praying mantids and beneficial nematodes are othergreat mercenaries that can be conscripted into the defense of your foodplants. These are often available at local garden centers. Plant-derived solutions and sprays registered for use with organicgardening are also available. Two common active ingredients are pyre-thrins, derived from the chrysanthemum plant, and neem oil, from theAzadirachta indica trees of India and Africa. Both of these ingredients arecommonly found in commercially available sprays labeled as organic. Theyoften kill pests by smothering their bodies or inhibiting their respiration orother vital functions. Watch for man-made versions of natural compounds.For example, pyrethroids, which are a man-made version of pyrethrinsand are not compatible with organic gardening. To further complicate thematter, some sprays contain certified organic active ingredients, but theirdelivery method is not compatible with organic gardening, such as in thecase of many propellants. If all else fails, remember to look for the OMRIlabel to know for sure if a product is indeed organic. BEST OF MAXIMUM YIELD & INTERNATIONAL TRADE DIRECTORY 2015 37

A Finely ground, fossilized dia- toms, known as diatomaceous earth, is another useful insect control measure for the organic gardener. Spread around the base of plants, diatomaceous earth inhibits many crawling insects such as snails and slugs. Good have many more options to combat weeds than merely using Disease Control old-fashioned baking soda The same principles used by organic gardeners to combat pests can be is an effective control for a glyphosate-based weed killer. applied to organic disease con- Smothering weeds, outside of many fungal diseases, trol as well. Some common dis- including powdery mildew hand-pulling them, is gener- eases such as powdery mildew are ally the best option. Numerous unsightly, but essentially harmless mulching options exist. Bio- to plants. Other diseases such as the and some leaf spots.” degradable plastic is a great bacterial wilts cannot be treated to a option as it can be placed in the salvageable point once the disease has garden like traditional plastic. set in. In these cases, it is best to remove As it is corn-based, it has the added the plant and all of its debris so it does not benefit of degrading over the course of decompose and go back into the soil. the season so there is no additional labor in Good old-fashioned baking soda is an effective control pulling it up at the end of the season. Other viable for many fungal diseases, including powdery mildew and options include cardboard, newspaper, shredded paper, craft some leaf spots. Mix 1 tsp. to 1 tbsp. of it with 1 gal. of water. paper, scrap paper, straw (not hay), hardwood mulch (aged), Include about a half teaspoon of mild soap to help the wood chips (aged), compost, leaves and grass clippings. Any baking soda stick to the leaves. Mix it well and spray it on paper products used as weed control should be wetted down the upper and lower surfaces of the leaves. It can be sprayed once in place so that they do not blow away. The inks used once every 7-10 days until the fungus is under control. Any on the paper were at one time a legitimate concern, as many solution with more than 1% baking soda can burn the leaves were metallic based, but now most are soy or vegetable based. due to the salt content. A little goes a long way. Planting a cover crop around your desirable crops is an Copper and sulfur have been an effective disease control even better option. A crop such as white clover will fill in on many food plants for decades. When combined with quickly, out-compete the weeds, can be walked on and adds lime and water, it is known as Bordeaux mix. It can be nitrogen into the soil. An added benefit of the clover is sprayed on fruit trees, berries, grapes and even ornamentals that it is a great food source for honeybees, which will be in the winter to prevent many fungal and bacterial attracted to your garden and improve the pollination of pathogens. Many plant diseases are spread by insects. An your other food plants. effective approach to prevent plant diseases is to combat For those who absolutely must kill weeds, there are the pests that spread them. If these organic methods are solutions. Vinegar, either of the type obtained in a grocery not effective, try a commercial version. store or of the horticultural variety, is an effective foliage Weed Control killer. This is a non-selective approach and any foliage the vinegar makes contact with will be affected. Do not use on a Weeds are as much of a nuisance for organic gardeners as breezy day to avoid unwanted drift. Boiling hot water is an they are for conventional gardeners, but organic gardeners effective foliage killer as well, as long as the same precautions 38 BEST OF MAXIMUM YIELD & INTERNATIONAL TRADE DIRECTORY 2015

are adhered to as with the vinegar. Either method might have adding nitrogen to desirable plants. Other products includeto be used repeatedly until the desired results are achieved plant and fruit oils such as citrus to kill weeds. Apply thebecause neither of these methods is likely to affect a weed’s same precautions with organic weed killers as you wouldroots. You will need to cause the roots to deplete their stores with conventional ones, which includes using the proper andto eradicate them. The continual replacement of the foliage required personal protective equipment.will wear them out in due time, and there is no negative There are some weeds that are actually good to have in yourresidual soil activity with either of these methods. garden, as they provide food and shelter for beneficial insects A controlled flame can also be used to burn the foliage of and their offspring. They also help keep the soil tempera-weeds. Several products, known as flame weeders, are avail- tures even and more humid. Many common weeds are alsoable on the market. As with handling boiling water, the same edible and are a great source of nutrition such as dandelions,precautions should be taken when using an open flame. purslane, mint, garlic mustard and chives. There are commercial, organic weed killers as well.Granular ones often contain corn gluten as their active The definition of organic varies from context to context.ingredient. Immediate results should not be expected with However, it is generally believed that the goal of organic foodthese products, but continued use over time will result in a production is to grow healthy, nutrient-dense crops withoutreduction of weeds. The corn gluten acts as an inhibitor of using harsh, synthetic compounds and with as few natural orboth root and seed development. It has the added benefit of organic compounds as is possible. Organic fertilizers and soil amendments may be mineral-based, plant-based or animal-based.” BEST OF MAXIMUM YIELD & INTERNATIONAL TRADE DIRECTORY 2015 39

YCoonurtsreollf by Dr. Lynette Morgan Understanding the Basics of Indoor Climate Control Whether you choose to manually monitor and control your growing environment, or you install the most sophisticated automatic controllers and climate adjustment equipment, indoor gardens need some degree of assistance to maintain good growth rates and healthy plants.40 BEST OF MAXIMUM YIELD & INTERNATIONAL TRADE DIRECTORY 2015

Protected cropping, whether it’s an indoor garden orbackyard greenhouse, allows gardeners to create anoasis of plant life, nestled within a cozy and productiveenvironment. While that may seem relatively straight-forward, climate control within a hydroponic garden isa little more complex than simply providing four wallsand a roof. The factors that make up an optimal growingenvironment are all interrelated, tend to differ somewhatbetween plant species and not only affect growth, but alsofactors such as pests and diseases.The Protected EnvironmentA plant’s environment consists of four main factors thataffect growth and development: temperature, light, gasses(carbon dioxide and oxygen), and humidity or moisturelevels in the root zone and air surrounding the foliage.To complicate things further, these factors all interact witheach other. For example, if CO2 enrichment is providedto boost photosynthesis, optimal light levels are somewhathigher than if CO2 was just run at ambient levels, and it’sthis combination of increased light and CO2 that gives thegreatest boost in growth.Another example is the link between humidity and airtemperature. Cold air holds much less water vapor thanhot air. When growing plants, this means it’s not just a A well-controlled climate leads to rapid, uniform growth insimple case of aiming for one ideal relative humidity value. hydroponic systems.Temperature and light interaction is another com-monly misunderstood component ofenvironmental control. If light “Many common plant problemslevels are low, but the envi-ronment is warm, plants will are related to climate control issues,elongate with weak, stretched although these are not alwaysgrowth and thin leaf cuticles,making them prone to obvious to inexperienced growers.”disease. On the other hand,high light and cool grow-ing conditions canstunt growth and Some common physiological conditions seen in hydroponicproduce overly crops also have environmental causes. Blossom end rot ofcompact plants. tomatoes and peppers and tip burn of lettuce and otherHigh light levels greens are sometimes induced by high humidity and warmand high tem- growing conditions, which slows the rate of transpira-peratures may tion from the leaves, restricting calcium transportation upresult in scorched leaf through the plant and into new developing tissue.tips, small, thickened foli- Other lesser-known problems related to environmentalage and other physiologi- conditions include oedema, glassiness of leaves, leafcal problems in plants not roll, scorch of leaves and fruit, blotch, catface, russeting,adapted to these conditions. cracking and crazing of tomato fruit, flower desiccation,WGohaWtrCoanng? lack of pollination and fruit set, fruitlet drop, lack of flower development and many others.Many common plant problems are related to climate control Controlling the Climateissues, although these are not always obvious to inexperienced Within a protected growing environment, we have manygrowers. Pests such as mites are more prolific under warm, tools to control the range of factors influencing the climate.dry conditions and increasing humidity can be used to help At the simplest level this may consist of manually operatedslow population growth. Many fungal and bacterial pathogens vents or windows to give some control over temperaturessuch as botrytis (gray mold) need high humidity or even the and humidity while making use of natural light and ambientpresence of moisture on leaves to infect plant tissue. CO2. At the more advanced level there are totally enclosed BEST OF MAXIMUM YIELD & INTERNATIONAL TRADE DIRECTORY 2015 41

A air and drawing in cooler air is not an option when it’s growing facilities that finely control all aspects of climate with sweltering outside, even worse if that heat is combined heaters, chillers, air-conditioning units, humidifiers, dehu- with high humidity. In this situation growers have two midifiers, fans, full-spectrum artificial lighting, CO2 enrich- options. If the outside air being drawn in is of sufficiently ment, root zone electronic moisture meters and computer- low humidity, evaporative cooling can be used to lower integrated controllers and sensors that continually monitor temperatures. As water evaporates into the air, energy is and adjust the environment automatically. Most growers use lost, which causes the air temperature to fall. a level of climate control somewhere in between these two Common methods of evaporative cooling are fan and pad extremes based on their budget, the size of the growing area systems, or evaporative cooling walls in greenhouses where and crop requirements. air is drawn through or over wet absorbent pads. The cooled air is then circulated through the plants, lowering Heating and Cooling temperatures in the environment until it is vented out the other side. For fan and pad cooling in an indoor garden Hydroponic systems have been set up in some of the most to work at maximum efficiency, the growing area needs to extreme climates on the planet and a major key to the suc- be as airtight as possible so air being drawn in from the cess of these has been temperature control. Most plants we outside is forced over the wet pads. grow hydroponically have an optimal temperature range In climates where outdoor humidity is high, evaporative between 60 and 79°F, while outside temperatures can be dras- cooling cannot be used. In this situation, air-conditioning tically different from this. units are a good alternative and can also give a higher In a well-insulated indoor garden using HID lighting, degree of temperature reduction when required. Air temperature buildup is a common problem when the conditioning, however, produces relatively dry air so it may lights are on. Heaters with air mixer fans are relatively need to be re-humidified with a humidifier, wet pads or simple to install and use to warm the air. Heat removal, open pans of water before being circulated over plants. particularly in warm climates and under hot summers, needs additional equipment. Simply venting out the warm “In a well-insulated indoor Light garden using HID lighting, Light levels are a vital component of the indoor growingtemperature buildup is a common environment, particularly in indoor gardens where noproblem when the lights are on.” natural light is available. The most common problems many growers face is under-powered lighting systems that don’t provide sufficient light energy for maximum photosynthesis, or overly dense plantations that create a high level of shading within the canopy once plants approach maturity. Indoor gardens benefit from a wide spectrum of artificial lighting wavelengths. While blue (450-495 nm) and red light (629-759 nm) power photosynthesis, shorter wavelengths such as ultraviolet have been shown to produce a much greater accumulation of plant flavonoids and other beneficial compounds, as well as playing a role in increased resistance to pest and disease attacks, enhancing red coloration and producing more compact plants.Incorrect climate control can lead to significant plant growth problems. Humidity and Vapor Pressure Deficit Relative humidity (RH) is a commonly used measure of water vapor held in the air and a term most indoor gardeners are familiar with. However, RH is related to the temperature of the air with cool air holding much less water vapor than warm air. For example, air at 50°F can hold 0.33 oz. of water per 35 cu. ft., while air at 86°F can hold three times as much. When using RH, it’s hard to set one optimal RH value, particularly when temperatures vary throughout the day and night. For this reason, it’s more accurate to use vapor pressure deficit (VPD) as a measure of the water vapor content of the air and how this affects plant growth. VPD is a measure of the difference (or deficit) between the pressure exerted by the moisture currently in the air and the pressure at saturation. Saturated air will condense to42 BEST OF MAXIMUM YIELD & INTERNATIONAL TRADE DIRECTORY 2015

form dew or condensation and leaf wetness that can lead to Using CO2 monitors is one way of checking to see iffungal diseases. Plants don’t want an overly dry atmosphere depletion is occurring. Even a drop of 100-150 ppm from(high VPD) that sucks moisture out of the foliage, but they ambient levels will start to slow plant growth. Throughalso don’t want a wet environment (low VPD), which slows enrichment, CO2 levels can be as high as 1,500 ppm. Levelstranspiration and promotes disease. of more than 2,000 ppm start to become toxic to manyVPD is typically expressed in the units kPa (kilo-Pascal) with plants, and 5,000 ppm is the threshold for human safety.the range for most plants being 0.45-1.25 kPa with While there is much debate over which level of enrichmentthe optimum is ideal for each crop, plants will use more CO2 under warm,being around high light conditions than under dull, cool conditions.0.85 kPa. Most Climate Controllersindoor gardens arebest run at 0.8-0.9 kPa for Electronic climate controllers are widely usedhealthy mature plants with cuttings in commercial greenhouses to preciselyneeding a more humid environment control the growing environment 24 hourswith lower VPD values. Technically, a day. These days there are some excellentVPD more closely matches what the scaled-down models of controllers for useplant experiences in relation to in indoor gardening situations. Providedtemperature and humidity effects they are set up and run correctly, theyon growth and transpiration. It can take much of the worry out of climatecombines the effects of both control, particularly when you can’t behumidity and tempera- there to check that all is well several times a day.ture into one value, so Controllers range from the basic models, which simplyit’s easier to use when monitor and control one aspect of the environment, suchsetting environmental as heating when temperature falls, through to fully-integratedcontrols. The VPD can be models that monitor temperature, humidity/VPD and“The most common problems many CO2 while also running fans, evaporative coolers, air conditioners, heaters, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, ventilation systems and CO2 enrichment equipment. growers face is under-powered lighting Having a good understanding of climatesystems that don’t provide sufficient light control means understanding what a plant’s requirements are, how these energy for maximum photosynthesis.” climate factors interact and how they are best adjusted for maximum productivity in your protected growing environment.adjusted with the use of household humidifier and dehumidi- Catfaced or malformed tomato fruit caused by cold conditions during fruit set.fier units. Simpler options are to vent out overly moist airfrom around the plants and draw in drier air from outsidewhen possible, or use open pans of water or wet walls whenhumidification is required.Carbon DioxideThe gaseous component of climate control is often one that isoverlooked. Ambient air CO2 levels are around 340 ppm (or0.034% by volume) outside. However, in an enclosed gardenenvironment, if fresh air is not being continually brought in toreplenish CO2, these levels can be completely depleted throughthe process of photosynthesis. In the confined air volume of anindoor garden, and even in large greenhouses with restrictedventilation, CO2 depletion is a relatively common problem,particularly where there are many sizable plants, plenty oflight and rapid growth rates. Those who rely on ambient CO2levels have to ensure there is always sufficient fresh air comingin from outside to meet the CO2 requirements of the indoorgarden, even if that means venting out warm air and bringingin cold air from outside that must then be heated. BEST OF MAXIMUM YIELD & INTERNATIONAL TRADE DIRECTORY 2015 43

Optimizing Supplemental 2 by Eric Hopper Want to maximize plant performance in the growroom this year? Providing your plants with extra carbon dioxide is one way to get faster growth and larger yields. Read on to learn how.44 BEST OF MAXIMUM YIELD & INTERNATIONAL TRADE DIRECTORY 2015

dioxide“Most growers Indoor gardeners provide their plants with light energy and plant nutritionshould only while mimicking the atmospheric conditions most conducive to plant growth.seriously consider To maximize the garden’s yield and quality, growers are continually seekingCO2 systems after methods to manipulate one or all of these factors. Carbon dioxide is used by plantsthey have tackled the during photosynthesis. Professional growers have been adding it to their gardens’lighting, ventilation atmospheres for years as a way to boost plant growth. When used correctly,and nutrition for supplemental CO2 is a great way to manipulate the atmospheric conditions in thetheir gardens.” growroom and increase the rate of photosynthesis. This increased rate equates to faster growth and larger yields. To get the most out of supplementation, growers must understand how to most efficiently use CO2 in their gardens. Whether or Not to Supplement When considering using supplemental CO2, the first thing a grower needs to do is analyze the growing environment to see if this will be cost effective. Fully automated growrooms—growing environments where light energy, plant nutrition and the atmospheric conditions are all in check—are good candidates. Growers should think of supplemental CO2 as the icing on the cake—one of the last additions to a growroom. For example, if a grower is debating whether to purchase an air conditioner to adequately cool the room or a CO2 system, they should purchase the air conditioner. It is far more important to provide the plants with the proper temperatures than additional CO2. Most growers should only seriously consider CO2 systems after they have tackled the lighting, ventilation and nutrition for their gardens; otherwise, the garden will suffer and the CO2 system will not be cost effective. Types of Supplemental Systems There are several ways a grower can provide additional CO2 to a growing environment. A closer look at some of the available options can give a grower an idea of which system, if any, best suits their needs. Mycelium-based Systems Mycelium-based CO2 systems come in all shapes and sizes, including buckets, bags, boxes and mats. These systems rely on a fungus and a food source for the fungus (usually some sort of compost). Mycelium is the vegetative part of a fungus and as it grows it produces CO2 as a by-product. Mycelium-based systems have a few advantages. They are relatively inexpensive, allowing a grower to try them out without making a large investment. Mycelium-based CO2 systems are usually lightweight, which means they can be placed or hung anywhere in the garden. They also do not produce any heat, which makes them perfect for small environments like grow cabinets or grow tents. The disadvantages of BEST OF MAXIMUM YIELD & INTERNATIONAL TRADE DIRECTORY 2015 45

Aburnerscompression tanks“Carbon dioxide mycelium-based systems are that they only cover a relatively small area, thereburners are the is no way to control their outputs and they need to be replaced every growmost expensive cycle. Generally speaking, mycelium-based systems are best suited for hobbyroute a grower gardeners growing in confined areas.can take forsupplementation, but Compressed Tanks and Regulatorsfor larger gardens,burners will quickly Compressed CO2 in aluminum or steel tanks is another method of carbon di-pay for themselves.” oxide supplementation. For this system to operate correctly, the grower needs to buy a regulator in addition to the actual tank. The regulator is a device that controls the rate at which the CO2 is emitted from the tank. Special regulators designed for horticultural purposes can be found at your local indoor garden retailer. The regulator is electronically controlled and can be connected to a timer or a monitor/controller. There are a few advantages to compressed tanks in comparison with other supplementation devices. The tanks hold a lot, which means these systems work for larger garden environments than mycelium-based devices. Compressed CO2 will also not add any heat to the garden space. These devices can be purchased for a reasonable price and, unlike mycelium-based devices, will not need to be replaced, just refilled. The refill costs associated with tanks are minimal. On the other hand, the tanks can be cumbersome and have to be moved in and out of the garden each time they need to be refilled. In urban areas, finding an indoor garden retailer or gas supplier is fairly easy, but for more remote locations it may be difficult to locate a place to get the tanks refilled. Burners CO2 burners are devices that burn propane or natural gas and produce CO2 as a by-product of that combustion. Burners come in many shapes and sizes and are most commonly used in large indoor gardens or greenhouse applications. One key advantage is they can easily cover a large area. Propane is readily available, making refills a snap, and natural gas CO2 burners can be even easier to main- tain because the natural gas can be run directly from the home or main line, which means the grower does not need to refill anything. The biggest disadvan- tage of burners is the excess heat they create. For most indoor gardeners, excess heat can be a problem as they are already operating extra hardware to cool lighting systems. The other disadvantage associated with burners is the initial cost. Carbon dioxide burners are the most expensive route a grower can take for supplementation, but for larger gardens, burners will quickly pay for themselves. aOpStuimppizleinmgeRnetatulrSnywsittehm Regardless of the type of system a gardener chooses to use, he or she must use it correctly to optimize the return. There are a few factors that46 BEST OF MAXIMUM YIELD & INTERNATIONAL TRADE DIRECTORY 2015

contribute to an effective supplemental CO2 system. systemsGrowers who understand these factors will not onlyobtain consistently large yields but will also quicklyrecoup their investment.AutomationA grower with an automated CO2 device will gain themost return on the equipment, with the exception ofmycelium-based systems, which cannot be controlled.Automation goes a long way in maximizing efficiencyand maintaining consistency. Plants will respond muchbetter over time to consistent levels of CO2 in theatmosphere. Carbon dioxide is only used by the plants automationfor photosynthesis when the lights are on. This is whymost controllers are equipped with a photosensor thatautomatically turns off the device during the dark cycle,reducing wasted CO2. Controllers incorporated into an atmo-spheric controller or able to be connected to an atmospheric “Automation goescontroller will take efficiency to the next level. These devices a long way inwill bypass the CO2 system while the exhaust fans in the ventila-tion system are running, stopping CO2 from being exhausted maximizing efficiencyout of the room and eliminating waste. The high-end control- and maintaininglers contain special microprocessors with built-in algorithmsfor learning the atmospheric conditions of a growroom. consistency.” BEST OF MAXIMUM YIELD & INTERNATIONAL TRADE DIRECTORY 2015 47

A 2 concentration These devices will intuitively make adjustments to maximize consistency. For “As CO2 levels example, let’s say every day at 4 p.m. there is a drop in the level of CO2 within increase, the the room. Over time, these devices will automatically increase the CO2 level at ideal temperature 3:45 p.m. to combat the reduction in CO2 at 4 p.m. for plant growth increases as well.” Concentration in the Atmosphere With an automated system, the grower is able to set the desired concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere. The concentration is usually measured in parts per million or ppm. In normal air, the concentration is around 300-400 ppm. This can be slightly higher in urban areas where there are higher levels of air pollution. Plants will respond positively to any amount above the ambient levels in the air. Growers new to CO2 supplementation can begin with a concentration of 700-1,000 ppm. For more advanced growers, a level of 1,100-1,500 ppm is the norm. Concentrations above 1,500 ppm are rarely used in indoor horticulture as it becomes counterproductive once the concentration gets too high. Temperature Another important factor in maximizing supplemental CO2 in an indoor garden is the temperature of the growing area. Think of photosynthesis as a chemical equation where each compound in that equation can affect the other. This is what happens with CO2 and temperature. As CO2 levels increase, the ideal temperature for plant growth increases as well. This means a grower supplementing CO2 will have to increase the growroom’s operating temperature to best use the increased amounts. Growers who choose a concentration of 700-1,000 ppm should keep the lights-on temperature around 75-82°F. More advanced growers who choose a concentration of 1,100-1,500 ppm should keep the lights-on temperature around 82-89°F. Growers with hydroponic systems who are supplementing the higher level need to take extra precautions to ensure the nutrient solution’s temperature is kept cool. Water chillers are essential for hydroponic growers looking to supplement the maximum amount of CO2. Final Thoughts Increasing CO2 levels within a growing environment is a great way for growers to increase growth rates and maximize a garden’s potential. There is no shame in starting out with a lower amount of it and then slowly increasing the concentration until you find what works best for your garden. For a well- functioning growroom, CO2 supplementation offers growers one more way to supercharge their gardens and enhance the growing experience. 48 BEST OF MAXIMUM YIELD & INTERNATIONAL TRADE DIRECTORY 2015

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