Garden Culture Magazine: UK 8

H O W T H E U . K . H Y D R O M A R K E T

I S E V O LV I N G

UK EDITION - ISSUE 8, PRICE: £3,99

UK EDITION · ISSUE 8 · 2015

History of Hemp · Plant Hormones30-31 MAY

TheGreatUK

PURE BLEND® PRONatural & organic based plant food

SWEET®

All natural mineral supplementLIQUID KARMA®

Plant growth enhancer

PURE BLEND® TEAOrganic-based compost solution

CAL-MAG™ PLUSCalcium, magnesium & iron

KIND®

Plant nutrient systemOptimal blend of minerals & organics

Botanicare® premium plant nutrients now available in the UK. Distributed by: Down to Earth Kent LTD.downtoearthkent.co.uk | +44(0)1233 500 633

BOTANICARE.COM

Distributed in the UK by:

PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT 10

CONTENTS I GARDEN CULTURE

IN THIS ISSUE OF GARDEN CULTURE:

WHO’S GROWING WHAT WHERE

5422

14

70

JALOPEÑOHEAVEN

30

CALCULATING WITH LIGHT

76

7

86ENZYMES

GARDENCULTUREMAGAZINE.COM

PLANT HORMONES

FOOD PATENTS

9 Foreword

10 Product Spotlight

14 Home Grown Expo 2015

21 Urban Grow

22 The great UK hydro store survey

30 Plant auxins and cytokinins

34 California crops – un unquenchable thirst

36 Plantingbythemoon

39 Fivecoolfinds

40 Higher levels of plant nutricion

45 Visit our new site: gardenculturemagazine.com

46 Just beet it!

48 Industrial hemp

53 Column: expert believers

54 Who’s Growing What Where

56 What is humidity

60 Gettingtothetruth

64 Proper watering techniques

68 Podcasting:NPKlive

70 Jalapeño heaven

74 Canning isn’t expensive

76 Calculatingwithlight

80 Roundup’snewclassificationoutragesMonsanto

86 Why should we use enzymes?

TheGreatUK

FOREWORD

The Homegrown Expo is upon us again.

Be there, May 30 and 31st, at the Ricoh Arena in

Coventry. What a great show it was in 2014, and

this year will be no different. If you are serious

about indoor gardening, and want to learn more

- this is the event to attend. Maybe you are there

right now, reading this at the show. If you are,

come visit us in booth B9.

Another winter has passed, and green life will rise again from the earth. Spring is a magical time of year. After a cold, dreary winter in the UK, you cherish the warmer weather, and the chance to get your hands dirty again. Canada and England have a lot in common, but I still needed my cultural advisors to clarify many points. I realized, despite my years of experience in the UK there was still so much I didn’t know about the inner workings of Scottish, Welsh, English, and Irish indoor gardening shops. I decided to find out. I spent over 2 months calling shops, talking about business, politics, and growing. It was easily the toughest, and most enjoyable “work” that I have done since starting the magazine. The survey takes a close look at what is going on in indoor gardening shops from the store owner’s perspective. I hope you find it as interesting as I do. This edition is chock full of great gardening tips. From how to water your plants, and hang your light, to detailed explanations of what those expensive supplements are really doing for your plants, and so much more. Life goes by so quickly, and we’re all so busy juggling the multitude of things we want to get done. Sometimes we need to slow down, put down some roots, smell a flower, and relax. 3 Eric

CREDITS

Garden Culture™ is a publication of 325 Media Inc.

E D I TO R SExecutive Editor:Eric CoulombeEmail:[email protected] Editor:Tammy ClaytonEmail - [email protected]

V P O P E R AT I O N S :Celia SayersEmail:[email protected]. 1-514-754-1539

D E S I G NJob HugenholtzEmail - [email protected]

Special thanks to:Our writers Tammy, Evan Folds, Theo Tekstra, Judd Stone, Jim Oates, Stephen Brookes, Wendy Denney, Kyle Ladenburger, Amber Fields, Darryl Cotton, Brian Burk, Stephanie Whitley, Grubbycup, My beautiful wife and partner Celia, Maya and Kees, Job, Callie Coe, Agent Green.

P U B L I S H E R325 Media44 Hyde Rd., Milles IslesQuébec, Canadat. +1 (844) GC GROWS w. www.gardenculturemagazine.com Email - [email protected]

A D V E R T I S I N GEric Coulombe Email - [email protected] t. 1-514-233-1539

D I S T R I B U T I O N PA R T N E R S• Down to Earth Kent• Maxigrow• Nutriculture DGS• Team Hydro

Website: www.Gardenculturemagazine.com facebook.com/GardenCulture twitter.com/GardenCulture

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

9

FOREWORD & CREDITS I GARDEN CULTURE


freshproduct spotlight

Canna 20%

Canna 59%

Quality is one of the most important values of CANNA.We also value our customers for helping us be the best selling nutrient in the United Kingdom for 20 years! We always strive to develop and manufacture the highest quality products. Our research department team is constantly busy developing, and improving the CANNA product line. All the products are registered, and fulfill country specific laws and regulations. CANNA products are specifically designed for what the plants need. If you grow in soil, coco, a run to waste system, or a recirculating system - CANNA has something for you! For more information about CANNA, and its products visit their website www.canna-uk.com.

CANNA quality proves itself!

What is your

Favorite Nutrient?

In this edition we will feature

the winners of the survey.

Winners

10

Survey

Who is your preferred

What is your Most Sold Nutrient?

hydrostoresurvey

TheGreatUK

HydroGarden is thrilled to be recognised as the UK

retailers’ preferred hydroponic distributor. We work hard

to offer great customer service, expert technical advice,

timely deliveries, and a wide variety of market-leading

products.

We continually seek to develop new, innovative

hydroponic solutions, and improve our ranges. The

imminent launch of the new VitaLink sees a combination

of stunning recipes for better growth, and appealing

product designs to attract customers.

….And that’s not all, we’re also at the cutting edge

of vertical farming technology, increasing awareness of

the benefits of different types of hydroponic techniques,

while seeking to improve the availability of locally grown

fresh vegetables

distributor?Hydrogarden 27%

freshproduct spotlightBuddahs Tree 19%

Buddhas Tree is a UK-based family-owned company. Created

from one man’s vision, and driven by passions built up over a

lifetime of growing. They’ve set the benchmark for the future

with their aim of producing unique additives of the highest

quality and safety - and without compromise.

Buddhas Tree has blazed a trail with their best selling PK 9-18.

This unique bio-mineral flowering stimulator has gained its

own reputation with growers simply through the quality and

yield of the fruits and flowers that it produces. They were

one of the first companies to advocate a 1:2 ratio of P and

K in their formula to suit

the most popular varieties

of fast flowering plants.

This enables much heavier

fruiting, whilst the bio base

helps the plants to build

essential oils, and at a huge

increase.

What is your preferred bulb

brand and wattage?

MagneticMaxibright 22%

We are proud to have ranked #1 - thank you to all who participated.It is through our commitment and passion that we have earned a reputation for being specialists in this field. Delivering excellent and consistent service, we strive to accommodate all our customer’s needs, whilst being fair in all our business activities.

All products are continually scrutinised for quality, and value for money. All our products are manufactured to CE, British Standards, and are RoHs compliant. This is to make sure that you as a purchaser are buying the best quality products; legally, and safely. All Maxibright products go through rigorous in-house end-of-line testing. Our internal systems and procedures, integrated with well-trained staff ensure that our quality is second to none. We want you, as the end user of Maxibright products, to rest assured that they have been designed with safety, and reliability in mind.

What is your

11

GARDEN PRODUCTS I GARDEN CULTURE

What is your Favorite

Supplement/Additive?

distributor?

Favorite Ballast?

Sunmaster 38%

Developed by distinguished physicists, and leading agricultural

researchers, the Sunmaster line has been built on the marvelous

versatility and flexibility of metal halide technology. By blending

specific halides in the arc tubes, we’ve created lamps that

offer significantly more usable light energy for hydroponics,

and horticultural gardening. Each Sunmaster lamp has been

customized to meet the diverse nutrition requirements of

plants at various stages of their growth cycles.

So, while the sun may come and go, Sunmaster lamps are sure

to consistently provide new levels of quality, and productivity.

Welcome to the future of light... Welcome to SUNMASTER.

All Sunmaster lamps are designed to operate on electronic

ballasts


12

product spotlight

Bluelab 59%

Our products are people-friendly. We place great emphasis on simple design, and straightforward functionality. We’re sticklers for accuracy, reliability, and ease of use. When you can test something easily and accurately, you can manage it. That small, but important job will enable you to get the most from water-based plant growing systems.It’s not just about products. Open information-sharing, reliable service, individual responsiveness – these matter a great deal. They’re a big part of the unique Bluelab promise.

Adjust-A-Wing 30%

Adjust-A-Wing’s Avenger Reflector Range has been our

flagship product since 2003. We vapor coat our surfaces with

molten glass, titanium dioxide, and PVD/Ceramic. The result is

the most reflective, and most durable surface known to science

- 95 to 97%! It will maintain full reflection for up to 20 years.

Our NEW Enforcer reflector range possesses the same

essential features as the Avenger models, save for the “glass-

coated” finish, and the high-end price tag. The finish on the

Enforcer Wings is 85% reflective, and guaranteed for 3 years.

The word on the street is that these

reflectors throw a huge light footprint,

run nice and cool, produce killer yields

- and have gained the respect and

admiration of all who use them !

Rhino 35%

Rhino filters are highly effective at cleaning air of dust, debris, and odours before it

leaves the grow room. The activated carbon in Rhino filters has been ground to a

fine powder so there are no air pockets in which odours can remain, instead plant

and fertiliser odours are trapped, and absorbed.

The carbon has been positively charged, so it attracts

organic particles like a magnet! Every filter is checked

and certified to confirm the source and quality of the

carbon. Both our Pro and Hobby filter ranges use

virgin granulated carbon, and are made from lightweight

aluminium for easy handling. The only difference is that the carbon bed is deeper in

the pro filter for a longer life.

What is yourfavourite

reflector?

What is your preferred

brand of carbon filters?

What are your favorite pH and EC meters?

product spotlight

CONTACT US TODAY: WWW.HYDROGARDEN.COM [email protected] +44 (0)24 7665 1500

HYDROPONIC DISTRIBUTOR

The UK’S

Preferred

11306_HydroGarden_Advert_05-05-15.indd 1 05/05/2015 14:47

Indoor gardening equipment keeps getting better. In

this rapidly evolving industry, innovations in lighting

technologies, nutrients, and environmental control

equipment are constantly evolving what the perfect

indoor garden is. The entrepreneurial spirit is strong in

this industry, and people look at every angle in an effort

to create that one of a kind product, or get an edge on

the competition. This is where you will see the latest and

greatest first.

Here are 6 reasons why you should go:

1. Build Stronger Relationships

Attending the HGE gives you the opportunity to engage

in relationship building with others in your industry –

including influential decision makers

2. Face-to-Face Contact

This is your only opportunity to meet the people who

make the products that you sell or use. They are a wealth

of information.

3. Product Demonstrations

Indoor gardening can be very technical. Trade shows are the

perfect place to see new equipment in action. Technicians

and sales reps are on hand to demonstrate their products,

and explain how they work.

4. Educational Opportunities

Education sessions can help you better understand the

challenges of indoor gardening. Whether it’s onsite

seminars, or in booth explanations - it’s all about teaching

people how to maximize their harvests, and minimize the

effort.

5. Share Expertise

Explore your opportunity to participate in the ‘Speakers

Corner’, or share your knowledge with others. We are all

learning, and eager to hear the experiences of others.

6. Find Out What’s New

What new products are people talking about? This is a

great way to learn about what’s hot, what’s fading, and

what you need to try next.

I love our industry’s trade shows. In fact without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today.

We have limited networking opportunities in our industry. These shows are the only

events where we get together as a single group; manufacturers, wholesalers, stores, and

growers all under one roof. The Homegrown Expo is your chance to learn from the best, to find out exactly

how certain products work, from the people who make them. You might teach them a thing or two in return.

BY ERIC COULOMBE

14

Homegrown Expo 2015

the biggest indoor gardeningevent in the UK

UK Survey Says…As you may have noticed, I did a rather large survey in the

UK, which appears in this issue. Out of 100 stores called,

56% went to the Homegrown Expo last year. The overall

feeling was very positive about the show, and most said

they would be back. Of the 44% who did not attend last

year, many said it was only because they were too busy,

and would attend this year. It was obvious from the UK

store owners I spoke to that they view this show as an

important, and exciting event.

It’s Not All WorkPeople in this industry like to party. US and Canadian hydro

trade shows are known for their parties, and here in the

UK, you are no different.

Last year, event organizers reserved the entire onsite bar

just for us. The big fight was on and after, we enjoyed free

drinks at the bar. The place was packed, maybe even too

packed as it took a few minutes to get a drink. There was

an excellent magician walking around the room amazing us

with his sleight of hand

tricks. After several

hours in the bar, the

remaining partygoers

retired to the casino

through a secret back door, with a 5-pound chip in our pocket

courtesy of Hydrogarden. It was a great night.

This year’s party is looking like another night you will not

want to miss. The feature will be the Cirque du Cabaret,

so expect a night of dark cabaret, burlesque, and sultry

circus. Throughout the years, industry parties have been one

of the things I most look forward to. Like the show itself, the

parties are a unique opportunity to network with customers

and suppliers - giving you the chance to bring your working

relationship to a new level.

15

HOME GROWN EXPO 2015 I GARDEN CULTURE


your chance to learn from the

best

venue, advertising, free parking, and of course... the party.

Drop by their booths and say hello, or express your thanks

for a great product.

The Homegrown Expo is the biggest indoor gardening

event in the UK, with over 50 of Europe’s top brands and

all the UK’s major distributors. You are sure to find all

of your favorite products, and have the chance to speak

to the people who make and sell them. There is a lot of

science behind some of these products. They’ve done years

of research, and endless field-testing to perfect nutrient

recipes or hydroponic systems.


17

It is thanks to their investment that these shows can

happen. Yes, they are trying to get the most exposure for

their companies, but they are also investing in the industry.

They provide the necessary funding for the awesome

The Sponsors


19



you won’t want to miss the

party

The Speakers Corner You’ll find a new feature this year situated on the main

floor of the show. The organizers have created a space

where speakers will have an opportunity to discuss

issues such as nutrients, lighting, environmental control,

and more. This exchange of ideas is open for all to listen,

learn, and participate.

Feature GardenLast year the organizers built a 72 sq. meter feature

garden showing off hydroponic and aquaponic gardens

in one section (courtesy of GHE, Hydrogarden and

Nutriculture). There was also an English style garden

planted in Autopots and Smart Pots. We planted roses,

datura, foxglove, wildflowers… and had a couple of park

benches to sit and relax amid the flowers.

“This year we will change it up,” said event organizer,

Richard Dennison, “displaying working gardens is an

important part of the expo.” This year the feature will

again occupy 72 sq. meters, but it will be under a roof.

Buddahs Tree will sponsor the polytunnel garden that

mixes traditional greenhouse gardening and hydroponics

technologies. What are they growing in there? We’ll

have to wait and see.

Garden Culture and myself will be in stand B9 with the

boys from NPK Liverpool. They’ll be podcasting live

from our booth all weekend. Please drop by, grab a copy

of the magazine, and tell us what you think.

Whether you are an indoor garden store owner,

commercial farmer, or a first time hydroponic gardener

there is something for you at the Homegrown Expo.

Come see what’s growing on. 3

the feature garden mixes traditional greenhouse

gardening and hydroponics”

CHO

CHOCHO

CHO

CHO CHO

CHO

CHO CHO

CHO

CHO CHO

URBAN GROW I GARDEN CULTURE

Adaptable to most environments, the project uses mobile

racks fitted with gully trays designed for easy crop growth

and harvest. They’ve installed Valoya LED lights above

each level for optimum crop growth lighting conditions. A

slight incline in each gully ensures thorough circulation of

water, and nutrient solution.

Controlled via tablet or PC, they’ve outfitted the system

with fans, ventilation equipment, and the room is fully

insulated for temperature control. This system is non-

crop-specific, making it suitable for most salad crops.

“Urban Grow is an exciting development for the vertical

farming industry,” says HydroGarden’s Stephen Fry. After

two years of working on creating, and fine-tuning this

project, they now have a reliable, accurate, easy to use, and

technologically advanced system that’s perfect for crop

growing in urban environments. Since the government

recently announced its increasing spend on locally grown

food by £400 million in 2017, the September 2014 launch

timing is spot-on.

They introduced the system last fall at the Vertical

Farming and Urban Agriculture (VFUA) conference at

the University of Nottingham. Kevin Frediani, a keynote

speaker at VFUA, and the head of sustainable agriculture

at Bicton College commented on the system during his

presentation describing it as; “As good as a system gets

currently.”

Extensive trials continue on different processes to see

where they can take it next. The continued rapid advances

in technology mean that the possibilities are endless. They’re

poised to help revolutionise food production in the UK at

HydroGarden - the Urban Grow cuts the seed to harvest

time almost in half.

Feeding the ElephantsTwycross elephants won’t forget their first hydroponic

meal... a free lunch courtesy of HydroGarden. Rapidly

growing 2,000 lettuces in the Urban Grow System brought

them to donate most of their November harvest to the

Twycross Zoo. Elephants love lettuce, so the greens were

especially enjoyed in the Elephant Creek neighborhood of

the Leicestershire zoological park.

The gift of 1800 heads of lettuce delighted zoo staff. Even

a small zoo goes through an incredible amount of produce

every day. Julian Chapman, Team Leader of Large Mammals,

visited HydroGarden to see the project in action, and was

very impressed. “It’s great to see how far hydroponics has

come,” he says. “We’re looking forward to keeping in touch

about future projects. It’s even better when our animals get

treats as a result!”

Learn More: www.hydrogarden.co.uk 3

HydroGarden in Coventry has entered

the world of vertical farming equipment.

They’ve developed a versatile, modular,

and fully controlled environmental system

to establish a new industry standard in

hydroponic farming.

21

Project Urban Grow“AN EXCITING DEVELOPMENT

FOR THE VERTICAL FARMING INDUSTRY”

Modular racking and gullys used inside Hydrogarden’s vertical farming system -

Project Urban Grow

Lettuces growing in Project Urban Grow at HydroGarden

Elephant enjoying the first taste of urban agriculture

BY SARA JELLY


22

H O W T H E U . K . H Y D R O M A R K E T

I S E V O LV I N G

BY ERIC COULOMBE

hydrostoresurvey

I want to personally thank each store that participated. I was a stranger to 95% of the people I called. You still took

the time and gave me your trust without hesitation in almost every case. What once seemed like a mountain of

work is now finished and I kind of miss those early morning calls to Wales and Scotland. But don’t worry, I’m going

to keep on calling and reaching out to storeowners and managers. I’ll see you in Coventry.

TheGreatUK

GARDENCULTUREMAGAZINE.COM 23

HYDRO STORE SURVEY I GARDEN CULTURE

2 stores chose not to respond to this question

THE FIRST THING TO THINK OF WHEN MAKING A SOIL MIX

IS MICROBES

I have spent the past 13 years working in the indoor gardening/

hydroponics industry. I have visited almost 1000 stores across

Canada and the USA. Countless trips and tradeshows left me

with a very good understanding of the North American hydro

market.

But how well did I know the UK market? The truth was I had

limited first hand knowledge of the day-to-day operations of a

UK based hydro shop.

I decided to start calling random stores in the UK and get

myself more acquainted with the people at the front lines.

After about 10 good calls I felt I needed to document this

information. So, I started the survey. 15 simple, straightforward

questions about their business and what products they like

best.

What a great experience! I should have done this ages ago. I

don’t know if they would have taken my calls or answered the

questions if it wasn’t for the magazine, but they did. 100 stores

in total completed the survey. I tried to select stores to evenly

represent the actual store density across the UK. Apart from

about 20 stores that I researched as being leaders in the UK

the others were called randomly.

Below are the results from the survey. They are not meant to

be the definitive numbers to determine market share in the

UK. They are the opinions of the people who run the shops.

If you read between the lines you can better understand how

the UK market will evolve

TheGreatUK

How is business going? On a scale from 1 to 10

10 being the best and 1 you are about to go out of business.

Breakdown

4 or Lower Between 5-7 8 AND UP

7 43 48

Storeowners seemed to be more than satisfied with the

way things were going. The majority were busy when I

called and they had to take time away from something

else to talk or I had to call back. The overall opinion on

how things are going in the UK market is very positive.

There were some who were not doing well of course,

but not one store said they were going out of business.

The UK market has been growing steadily for the past

20 years, with about half of all new stores opening in the

past 5-6 years. Increased competition and price erosion

were the primary concerns of most shop owners. They

complained that with so many new shops, and many

using lower prices to attract new customers, the times

of making proper margins is over.

7.34

GenderThe Survey

was the average

5% Female

95% male

Q u e s t i o n # 1

Q u e s t i o n # 2

was the average

How many years have you been in business?

As I was calling only 100 stores I wanted them to be more

established in general. This may skew the numbers in some

ways from the true national averages but it will also provide

respondents with more experience and a better understanding

of the intricacies of indoor gardening. The average was 5.66

years but 71% 6 years or under.

Breakdown

3 and under 4 to 6 7 to 9 10 to 14 15 and up

39 32 9 12 6

Q u e s t i o n # 3

Did you attend either of the 2 indoor gardening tradeshows in the UK last year Homegrown Expo – Coventry May 2014 or Grow Expos - London Sept. 2014?

Breakdown

Coventry only London only Both Neither

16 14 39 30

Even though the UK market is 20 years old, quality trade

shows are still relatively new. Urban Garden Magazine had

“Grow” 2010 in Manchester, it was the first of its kind in

the UK. The show was a success, and UK storeowners and

gardeners had their first taste of a proper indoor gardening

expo. Under new management after the first, the subsequent

shows in Manchester the “Grow Expo” and “Grow Expos”

were not as well received. The promoters decided to move

their show to London in 2014. Meanwhile in the summer of

2013, the Homegrown Expo was born. A group of industry

companies (Down to Earth Kent, The Grind Magazine and

yes, Garden Culture Magazine) began planning an expo to be

held in the spring of 2014 in Coventry UK. What!!! 2 expos in

the UK? No one was sure if the market would support it. But

it did. I attended both shows and can say personally I enjoyed

each, and for different reasons. But what counts is did the

stores go? And were the exhibitors happy with the quantity

and quality of engagement with visitors? In both cases and at

both show I received mostly positive feedback. But now after

speaking to all these stores it is obvious. Indoor gardening

Expos are popular in the UK and should only grow in the years

to come.

70% of all respondents attended at least one of two shows and

39% went to both. I am not saying that 70% of all the stores

in the UK attended trade shows. But this very high number

certainly indicates a very positive trend towards UK stores

finding value in the information and networking that these

expos provide. It is also noteworthy that several of the 30%

who didn’t attend wish they could have but were too busy.

5.66 years

T r a d e S h o w s

How many shops are there in the UK?

The retail hydroponics industry in the UK began about

21 years ago. In 20 short years the market has boomed

to over 400 stores. Some believe the number to be over

500, but my sources (100 stores), estimate it to be closer

to 400 real shops. The majority of which have popped up

in the past 5 years. Every growth market must mature

eventually. To serve today’s market there is little room

for more players. But, changes in our food and medicine

culture may lead to an indoor green revolution where

millions of families decide to grow their own in their

homes. This reality of course increases the size of the pie

1000 times.

24

2 stores chose not to respond to this question

25 25

Who is your preferred distributor?

117 votes Some storeowners choose multiple companies

Top 3

Hydrogarden 26%

Highlight Horticulture 16%

Growth Technologies 15%

2 stores said they had no preferred distributor

7 other distributors had a single vote (FHD, BLT Lighting,

Century, DB Wholesale, FC Worldwide, Dutch Garden

Supplies and Canna…) Canna?

Breakdown

Hydrogarden Nutriculture Highlight Growth Tech Maxigrow Erith

30 16 19 18 8 5

Down to Earth Ikon Eden Space 2 Grow Buddhas Tree

4 4 2 2 2

Canna is not a distributor I know, and when I told that to the

guy he said he knew but wanted Canna anyway. I asked if they

sold direct, he said no but they are paying his way to Barcelona

and sending him to the biggest football match of the year, let’s

just say he was happy with Canna.

As we have mentioned the UK market has matured and

competition is an issue at all levels.

Distributors are also faced with the

challenges that expansion and competition

bring. 18 different companies were named

as favorite. That is a lot of companies

fighting for their piece of the pie. The top

four represent 70% of the total vote. In

general store owners were satisfied with

the service they receive. The older more

established companies are holding on to

the majority of the market, but new players are aggressively

working to take their share too.

What is your favourite Nutrient? I specifically asked for their preferred brand, not necessarily

the best seller in the store. 100 votes

Top 3

Canna 20%

House & Garden 11%

Dutch Pro 10%

23 brands named as favorite. Wow, that’s is a lot of brands. Canna

received almost double the next brand so it appears they are clear

winners. But with 80% of the stores choosing another brand,

competition is fierce. Many owners are finding new nutrients that

they can call their own. Having exclusive territories has motivated

many storeowners to be more open to selling new nutrients.

Breakdown

Canna House & Garden Dutch Pro Shogun Plant Magic Hydro Tops Botanicare HESI

20 11 10 8 7 5 4 3

Green Haze Field Marshall Vitalink Gold Label Biobizz Ferro Advanced Nutrients Metrop

3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2

7 brands had 1 vote. Humboldt, GET, FHD Holland’s Secret, Dutch Master, GHE, Ionic, Biogreen. 4 Stores said they had no preference

and 2 said they just don’t grow, I included them because they had good product knowledge, they just didn’t use it.

Q u e s t i o n # 4

Q u e s t i o n # 5


Q u e s t i o n # 6

What is your favorite additive or supplement? 105 votes

12 Brands received one vote: Organic Rescue Mist, Aptus Regulator, Foxfarm Chaching, Plant Magic CaMg, HESI Supervit, Greenfuse, AN Carboload, Botanicare Liquid Karma, Plant Magic MagiCal, Plagron Green Sensation, Biobizz Root Juice and Go 12-12 from Field Marshall

A modern day hydro David

and Growliath story.

Buddhas Tree coming in #1 and

more than doubling the next best is

impressive, and the biggest surprise in

the survey. This small company, founded

in 2010 with a handful of additives and

a good chemist, have made their mark

in the UK market with ninja like stealth.

So who is second? Hard to say, Atami

Bloombastic, Dutch Pro Explode,

Canna Boost and Roots Excelurator

had 8 or 9 votes. I suppose the Dutch

tax collector would have been the real winner here. Shogun

Sumo also did well with 8 votes. The Shogun line is different.

Shogun was created by and is partially owned by 2 of the UK’s

largest retail store chains. Growell and Holland Hydroponics. But

they don’t want to keep it all to themselves . It is currently being

distributed to shops across the region through Ikon International.

Once again we see even more brands with 27 nominated as

favorite. Apart from Buddha Tree’s impressive 20 votes, which

shows that storeowners are willing to accept new products.

The next 6 brands are virtually tied at 8 or 9 votes and the 21

remaining brands equal only 40% of total.

Both the nutrient and supplement markets are divided into many

small pieces of pie. Big brands divide equal shares almost equally,

and some unassuming stars emerge from the gardens to take the

lead. Remember these numbers are the brands that storeowners

preferred, not that they sold the most of.

Growers however have a clear preference.

26

Top 3

Buddhas Tree PK 8-19 19%

Atami Bloombastic 8.5%

Dutch Pro Explode 8.5%

Breakdown

Buddhas tree

Dutch Pro Xplode

Bloombastic

Shogun Sumo

H&G Roots Excellerator

Canna Boost

CX Hydroponics

Hydrotops Triple F

GHE Ripen

Extreme Mykos

Terpinator

Rock Resinator

Solar Green Power

Sugar Babe

Ecothrive Charge

20

9

9

8

8

8

6

5

4

3

3

2

2

2

2

supplements

Q u e s t i o n # 7

What is the best selling Nutrient line in your shop? 121 votes

Top 3

Canna 59%

Dutch Pro 10%

House & Garden 7%

Breakdown

Canna Dutch Pro H&G BioBizz Plant Magic

71 12 9 6 5

Gold Label Vita Link Ionic HESI

2 2 2 2

10 brands received 1 vote. Atami, Power Feeding, Ferro,

Plagron, Hydrotops, Shogun, Bionova, Botanicare, Field

Marshall and Advanced Nutrients all had 1

Canna is King!

If there was ever a clear winner, here it is. Canna is #1 by a

landslide. With so many players in the race and the obvious

trend for shops to support unique/exclusive brands it is

amazing to see such supremacy. Canna has been the UK’s go to

brand since the beginning. 20 years of stable, quality products

and reliable service has been their recipe for success. With

all those years at #1 comes a price, Canna has become at the

center of a price war. Canna Boost in particular. Stores say

they are making less and less on Canna and don’t know what

to do. This problem is not exclusive to Canna and product

discounting is an unfortunate reality in hydroponic stores.

The reason I heard the most from the stores as to why Canna

is their best seller is that when a grower uses Canna for the

first time or the 100th, as long as they follow the instructions,

they are guaranteed a good result.

Q u e s t i o n # 1 0

27

Digital Magnetic 50/50

28 63 9

Magnetic wins hands down, but the digital tide is turning.

It was clear, magnetic ballasts are still a hot item in UK grow

shops. Of the 28% who answered digital, many said that is was

a newer trend and they were still selling plenty of magnetics,

especially for larger garden setups. Even though magnetics

are still the first ballast of choice the feeling is that the digital

trend will continue to grow in the UK. North American

markets have embraced digital technology, I am not sure of

the numbers, but would guess that it would be at least 80% of

ballast sales in total are digital.

Q u e s t i o n # 8


Do you sell more digital or magnetic ballasts? 100 votes

Q u e s t i o n # 9

Do you have a preferred ballast type/brand? 102 votes

Top 3

Maxibright #1 Ballast 22%

Gavita #1 Digital Ballast 16%

Dimlux 12%

Breakdown

Maxibright Gavita Dimlux Lumii Lumatek Sunmaster

22 16 12 9 8 8

Nanolux Digilight pro Progear Omega Ajustawatt

5 3 3 3 3

3 companies received one vote: Darkstar, Grolux and

Cannatronics. 7 said they had no preference

Maxibright is #1 choice for ballast.

Coming off the ballast victory it is no surprise to see a

magnetic win as favorite ballast. Maxibright is definitely the

go to company for magnetic ballasts. What is interesting is

that every other brand mentioned is digital. Maxibright has a

strong hold on #1 for magnetics but the battle for the emerging

digital market is going to be fierce. Gavita has grabbed the #1

digital position and is working hard to earn more. It will be an

interesting story to follow for sure.

What is your preferred bulb brand and wattage? 100 votes

Top 3

Sunmaster 38%

Phillips 20%

Sylvania 19%

Breakdown

Sunmaster Phillips Sylvania Omega

38 20 19 4

3 Companies had 1 vote: Gavita, Hortilux and BLV

16 had no preference

UK indoor growers love their 600 watts

600W 1000W 315W 400W LED

81 5 2 11 1

Sunmaster is choice for price and quality combo.

The 600W Sunmaster, almost equaled its two nearest rivals.

Lighting giants Sylvania Osram and Phillips are massive companies

to contend with. But Sunmaster is a veteran manufacturer of HID

lighting specifically designed for horticulture. As is the case in most

of Europe 600W are the go to wattage for serious gardeners. Unlike

the 1000W loving North Americans who scoff at anything less.

16 people had no preference. That is a high number compared to

other questions. It shows a general lack of interest in branding in the

bulb market. Price and value was a word I heard a lot when talking

about bulbs.

LED note: Even though LED’s received 1 vote they did come up

often. Many people spoke quite highly of them, but when it came

to preferences the cost still out weighted the benefits. I predict as

the cost of LEDs decreases and the quality of the light increases this

developing technology with gain a larger share of the lighting market.

Q u e s t i o n # 1 1

What is your preferred method of growing? 100 votes

With almost 60% of the vote it was

clear, Hydro is the preferred method

of growing. It was described as the

cleanest and easiest way to grow

plants.

9 different hydro methods made the

list. Deep water culture or DWC

was most popular. The general

consensus was that DWC grows

the biggest plants. As popular as

it is with storeowners DWC was

not their biggest seller. Flood and

drain tables, NFT, and systems like

Wilma or homemade systems are

more popular with the average grower. I see a definite trend

towards more DWC sales in the UK

Coco mediums and specific coco nutrients are very popular

also. I know growing in coco is hydroponic but we wanted to

give it its own category. Some do it pure some mix with perlite

or clay pebbles either way growing in coco has become one of

the top growing methods. I believe it will also continue to gain

in popularity over the next couple of years.

Soil growers were rare, and even more rare was the organic

gardener. Although small in numbers they are a passionate

people who are vocal about the benefits of organic gardening.

28

Top 3

Hydro 59%

Coco 25%

Soil 16%

Hydro Breakdown

DWC

NFT

Flood n Drain

Wilma

Bubbler

Ecosystem

Dutch Bucket

Aeroponics

Pebbles

21

13

8

5

3

2

2

2

2

Hydro is big winner Q u e s t i o n # 1 2

What is your preferred brand of carbon filters? 108 votes

Top 3

Rhino 35%

Phresh 19%

Can Filters and Mountain Air each received 17%

Breakdown

Rhino Phresh Can Filters Mountain Air Prima Klima

38 21 18 18 7

4 Brands received 6 votes: Kaizen with 2 and Ram, Bulldog,

Scorpion and Flowfilter received 1 vote.

The carbon filter market is divided into 2 groups, Rhino and

everyone else. With an impressive 35% of the vote, Rhino

stands alone at the top. Phresh, Can and Mountain air are

sold as premium filters and have a strong following with a total

of 57% of total sales. This shows that, as a whole perceived

quality is more important than price. It also shows that for a

large portion of the market price is still a huge factor.

100% of stores sell carbon filters. Most had at least 2 brands.

Breakdown

Hydro Coco Soil

59 25 16

Coco 25

Coco coco/clay

19 6

Soil 16

Organic Not organic

6 10

Q u e s t i o n # 1 3

Do you sell water filters (RO filters)? 100 votes

Before I was in this

industry, I used to sell

water filters. When I

began selling them to the

indoor gardening industry maybe a third of the stores

in North America sold them, and they were not big

sellers. Today they are sold in almost every shop

across the USA and Canada. The UK is where North

America was 13 years ago. 2 new filter brands have

arrived on the market in the UK and I predict that

like in the US and Canada water filters and reverse

osmosis systems will become a necessity for serious

indoor gardeners. Why wouldn’t you want to start

with pure, clean water?

NO YES

67 % 33 %

29

Q u e s t i o n # 1 4


What are your favorite pH and EC meters? 123 votes

Q u e s t i o n # 1 5

What is your favorite reflector? 103 votes

Top 3

Adjust-a-Wing 29%

Euro Shade 14%

Parabolic 10%

Breakdown

Top 3

Bluelab 59%

Essentials 27%

HM Digital 11%

With the smallest amount of companies vying for the market

his question received the most amount of total votes. Bluelab

was the clear winner but Essentials is pHecking at its heels.

The majority of votes for Essentials were explained like this,

“I pick Bluelab for EC, and Essentials for pH”. Both products

were described as reliable. But people were looking for

a less expensive pH alternative. HM is a newcomer to the

UK market but has gained some ground with their “quality

product at a competitive price” approach.

Adjust- Euro Parabolic Air Goldstar Gavita Sunlight Supply a-Wing cooled AC/DE

30 14 10 7 6 6 5

Mantis Ecotechnics Lumii Supernova F1 Hortiline Alpha Optics

5 3 2 2 2 2

conclusions1. The myth that UK growers are cheap is just

that, a myth.

They will spend more on a product if they feel the results are

guaranteed. Adjust-a-Wing, Canna and Bluelab win hands

down because they are simple, they work and they have been

consistent for a long time. Not because of price. In fact they are

all considerably more expensive than several alternatives. It was

said so many times, stores want to back quality products they

can be proud of.

2. They are still a frugal bunch.

A pattern throughout the survey was, brand names or premium

products usually had the most votes but there was always a

good percentage that voted for the value options. I was told

that a large percent of end users come in with barley enough

money to get started. They simply cannot afford expensive

equipment. For these customers or for the other group who

simply is cheap, stores feel in order to be competitive they need

to carry inexpensive options.

3. Is the UK market still growing?

I would say yes and no. It is close to saturation levels for

retailers for now. Some geographic markets could sustain

2 brands received 1 vote: Power Plant and Renovado

7 people answered that they have no real preference.

13 different brands of reflectors made the list, whether or

not Adjust-a-Wings are the best reflector is not the question.

They are the most popular and outscored the next branded

product 5 to 1. With the next 3 most popular choices being

generic reflectors and 7 saying it doesn’t matter it is clear that

many store owners do not see reflectors as an important

element in the garden.

This question may seem less relevant than some of the others

but it isn’t. These numbers reveal much about the inner psyche

of the UK indoor gardening market.

more growth while others need to shed some weight. The number

of products being offered to stores has sky rocketed over the past

5 years and storeowners have to choose which products they will

support. But the gardeners are another story. As our society shifts

towards a broader acceptance of indoor gardening, both for food

and medicine, we should see a massive influx of new end users.

4. Last, is my personal reflections of this endeavor.

I have observed something about hydro storeowners worldwide.

There is a particular life ideology that is common in hydro people.

A grass roots, slightly revolutionary attitude that is often served

with humor and wit. I feel more akin to you “strangers” than I do to

some people I have known for ages. I appreciate every call and every

answer, I have achieved my goal of getting to know you better and

so much more. Sorry this was so long but it seemed important.3

HM Digital nutrient meters and pH testers will help your plants grow bigger and faster than you ever imagined.

Proper pH levels are critical for optimum plant health.

Use the PH-80 for quick, easy and accurate pH testing.

Available at your local hydro store and distributed by:

the pH hydrotestermodel PH-80

fast and accurate

simple to use

auto digital calibration

water resistant

durable

large display

low cost

www.hmdigital.comwww.hmdigital.com

BY GRUBBYCUP

Plant auxins are hormones that help guide plant

growth. They work in conjunction with, but in op-

position to cytokinin hormones. They are both re-

quired, and the ratio of one to the other will either

promote root growth (if the ratio has more auxin),

or promote shoot growth and inhibit root growth (if

the ratio has more cytokinin).

IAA (indole-3-acetic acid) and IBA (indole-3-butyric acid) are

the two primary natural plant auxins. Two other natural plant

auxins used by some plants are 4-Cl-IAA (4-Chloroindole-3-

acetic acid), and PAA (2-phenylacetic acid).

The primary (but not the only) flow of IAA is from the growth

tips down through the phloem (transport tubes in the stem)

toward the root tips. The effect is additive, so the effects of

the auxins are least at the top of the plant, and most at the

root tips. The apical (top) budding site generates IAA but

doesn’t get any from above itself, so is the least affected by it.

This causes the top node to grow unhindered, and therefore

generally larger. Anything below it is in part influenced by

the IAA the apical site produces. You can see a similar effect

on the last node on a branch, which tends to be larger than

other sites along that same branch.

A common tactic in pruning is the removal of the top growth

tip or bud, which also removes the IAA it was producing.

This gives the bud nodes directly below it the advantage of

not being hindered, allowing them to develop larger. This is

commonly known as pinching, because the tips are “pinched”

Plant Auxins and Cytokinins


off, although in practice using something sharp such as scissors

is usually preferred.

In tall plants the normal growth pattern is often a large central

top. By pinching off the top growth tip, the next highest buds

will tend to increase in size, and they in turn will produce IAA

to inhibit growth below themselves. Energy that would have

gone into increasing the size of the top bud is now divided

between the new topmost nodes. This is often done to

promote a bushier plant.

The top growing tip need not be removed to take advantage of

this phenomenon, alternative methods involve simply bending

the top down to the same level or lower than the next highest

budding sites. Benefits to using these methods include a

reduction in stress from pruning, and they prevent the loss of

the budding site, but these are more labor intensive, and they

do require more ongoing maintenance.

Sometimes the normal auxin flow will get sidetracked in

response to stimuli such as light (turning the plant toward

the light) or gravity (turning roots downward). It does

this by concentrating in an area on the inside of the

turn to inhibit growth, allowing the opposite side to

grow normally, and thereby curve the stem or root in

the desired direction. One way to visualize this is to think

of toothpaste being squeezed from a tube. Place a fingertip

on one side of the stream, that will inhibit flow

(growth) on that side, and the toothpaste flow will

curl toward the fingertip.

BY GRUBBYCUP

HORMONES T HAT HEL P GUIDE PL AN T GROW T HPlant Auxins and Cytokinins

PLANT HORMONES I GARDEN CULTURE

AUXINS PROMOTE ROOT

GROWTH.CYTOKININS ENCOURAGE

BUSHY GROWTH

THANK YOU EXHIBITORS!we are already looking forward to seeing you

again in 2016!

30-31 MAY 201530MAY:PUBLIC DAY 31MAY:TRADE DAY

SO MUCH MORE THAN A

GARDENING SHOW

RICOH ARENA COVENTRY HEART OF WEST-MIDLANDS

Main Sponsors:

GARDENCU LT U R E

Media partners:


PLANT HORMONES I GARDEN CULTURE

ADDING BOTH AT THE SAME TIME IS

COUNTERPRODUCTIVE

One reason cuttings need to have an

exposed growth node is so that the

node can send auxins down to form

roots, which will send cytokinins back

up to the growing tip to promote leaf,

stem and branch development. Rooting products generally add

auxins near where they’re needed, namely on the stem where

you want root development. Along with the natural auxins,

these hormones encourage the undifferentiated meristem

cells to become root cells, forming first callouses and then

roots on the stem.

Since IAA is not suitable for packaging and storage,

most commercial rooting products use either IBA, or a

synthetic auxin, such as NAA (1-naphthaleneacetic acid).

Not all auxins are good for plants; some synthetic auxins

are used as herbicides. These auxins send the plant into an

uncontrollable growth spurt that the plant can’t keep up with,

quickly overdriving it to death.

Broad leafed dicot (two seed leaved) plants are more easily

influenced by auxins than narrow leafed monocot (single seed

leaved) grasses. Certain synthetic auxins take advantage of

this to selectively affect broad leafed plants. An example of

this is an auxin-based herbicide that kills the dicot dandelion

without killing the surrounding lawn monocot grass.

Agent Orange is a 50/50 mix of the synthetic auxins

2,4,5-T (2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid) and 2,4-D

(2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid). They have discontinued the

use of 2,4,5-T in most places due to medical concerns, but 2,4-

D is still one of the most commonly used herbicides.

Some GMO crop plants are specially designed with even more

resistance to the effects of such auxins, intentionally making

them very well-suited for using auxin-based herbicides in the

growing program.

Cytokinins are the opposites of auxins

in more ways than one. Just as using

auxins promotes root growth, you

can use cytokinins to encourage bushy

growth over root development, and

they’re used in some PGR (plant growth regulator) products.

As stated above, auxins start at the growth tips, and travel

down the phloem towards the root tips to encourage roots

to grow. Cytokinins start at the meristem cells located at

the roots, and travel up the xylem to encourage shoot cell

division (growth). Because of this, damage to the growth tips

will reduce the auxins needed for root development, stunting

the roots, and damage to the roots will reduce the cytokinins

needed for shoot development, stunting the growth tips.

Having an understanding of the interaction between auxins and

cytokinins is helpful when pruning plants, training branches,

trimming roots, or applying rooting compound. It should now

be obvious why adding an auxin to a cutting is conducive to

rooting, but applying a cytokinin would be counterproductive,

and that it is the ratio between auxins and cytokinins that

matters, so adding both at the same time is counterproductive,

and potentially a waste of money. Use one or the other to

promote either root or shoot development depending on the

desired results. 3

NOT ALL AUXINS ARE GOOD FOR PLANTS

Molecular model of Auxin

THANK YOU EXHIBITORS!we are already looking forward to seeing you

again in 2016!

30-31 MAY 201530MAY:PUBLIC DAY 31MAY:TRADE DAY

SO MUCH MORE THAN A

GARDENING SHOW

RICOH ARENA COVENTRY HEART OF WEST-MIDLANDS

Main Sponsors:

GARDENCU LT U R E

Media partners:

BY AMBER FIELDS

34

The pinch California’s feeling from severe drought is actually increased phenomenally with the persistent

unsustainable agricultural practices in place, along with mismanagement of precipitation and runoff. Yes, it’s a

sizeable part of the state’s economy, but not the majority, and the choice of crops grown is very unwise for

an arid climate.

crop grown there - it’s an agricultural mecca with endless

sunshine and warm temperatures.

On top of this excessive exploitation of resources, nature

never intended to support 40 million people living there.

Residents in Palm Desert, and Palm Springs where the

water-use is at over 200 gallons a day per person - almost

double what other community capita consumes. It really

can’t continue. Drastic change needs to take place in both

farming and lifestyles.

But Governor Jerry Brown’s emergency residential water

restrictions levies 25% cuts statewide, with some places

getting a 35% reduction. How will this help when this

represents less than a quarter of water use in California?

There is little to no restrictions on agriculture, and while

low earning fields haven’t been planted, water-hogging

nuts and grapes, and other big money crops continue to

get ample water. The state’s water system recently cut off

supply to municipal agencies, earmarking their dwindling

reserves for? We can only guess.

Drilling deeper wells isn’t the answer. The water table

has receded to 50-feet or more below ground. In some

places the ground has sunk a foot in the past year as

long emptied water veins cave in, causing road buckling,

and compromising bridge structures. Some suggest that

a pipeline from the Great Lakes should be built, which

is absurd. Why destroy a massive ecosystem so that

The intense lingering drought has farmers in a well-

drilling fever, trying to keep lucrative vine and tree crops

producing, and in prime condition. These woody fruit and

nut bearing plants don’t allow the grower to let the field

go fallow until the weather decides to coöperate again.

Throughout this dryer than normal period, the planting

of new long-term water demands - orchard and vineyard

expansions continue without hesitation.

It’s not that no one is aware that California has an arid

climate. The population continues to grow, the average

resident uses 100-200 gallons of water a day, and farmers

pump billions of gallons up to the surface to facilitate high-

dollar crop harvests. Millions of pounds of produce, and

nuts still steadily ship out of the state... as if no drought

existed. As if running out of water isn’t possible.

AGRICULTURE CONSUMES 80% OF THE WATER HUMANS USE

IN CALIFORNIA.

Feeding the world’s appetite for almonds from an arid land

could make it uninhabitable, especially with sucked dry

underground waterways collapsing. California produces an

average of 2 billion pounds of almond meats annually in

the past few years. A feat that requires over 1900 gallons

of water per pound, and this is just the second largest

California Crops


California can continue to waste water, and mismanage

precipitation and runoff? Additionally, the Great Lakes

belong to TWO countries. If they want to grow thirsty

crops, perhaps they need to a) relocate their farm to a

place where it is sustainable, or b) invest in desalination of

all that water next to them in the Pacific Ocean.

By the way, this isn’t the first, or the worst mega-drought

to hit California. And it isn’t due to global warming. It’s a

natural, recurring event, though the population explosion

is not helping the situation, nor is all this unsustainable

agriculture. In truth, the 20th century has been the

wettest period ever there. From 900 A.D. - 1400 A.D. the

region was under drought stress so severe that the native

forests died. The stumps of these trees still are present

underwater in the lakes. See: bit.ly/ancient-droughts, and

bit.ly/medieval-droughts.

It never rains in Southern California... you know what that

means? Drought. History shows this could be a humdinger

of a dry spell too. It could take a decade to correct the

extravagant use of water by conventional agriculture. The

water may not last that long.

Perpetual summer isn’t the perfect climate. To have a

never-ending supply of water you need lots of cloudy days,

damp weather, and more ice and snow than is pleasant.

That’s what keeps the Great Lakes from going dry. 3

A N U N Q U E N C H A B L E T H I R S TCalifornia Crops

“THE CHOICE OF CROPS GROWN IS

UNWISE FOR AN ARID CL IMATE”

DROUGHT I GARDEN CULTURE

CALIFORNIA CROPS WATER USE:1929 gallons = 1 lb /.45 kg of almonds

< 100 gallons = 1 lb /.45 kg of grapes

34 gallons = 1 glass of wine

146 gallons = 1 lb /.45 kg of corn

26 gallons = 1 lb /.45 kg of tomatoes

1112 gallons = 1 lb /.45 kg of walnuts

1326 gallons = 1 lb /.45 kg of pistachios

401 gallons = 1 lb /.45 kg of figs

67 gallons = 1 lb /.45 kg of oranges

77 gallons = 1 lb /.45 kg of lemons

61 gallons = 1 lb /.45 kg of grapefruits

258 gallons = 1 lb /.45 kg of asparagus

361 gallons = 1 lb /.45 kg of olives

50 gallons = 1 lb /.45 kg of strawberries

260 gallons = 1 lb /.45 kg of nectarines

154 gallons = 1 lb /.45 kg of apricots

<100 gallons = 1 lb /.45 kg of kiwi fruit

141 gallons = 1 lb /.45 kg of avocados

36

Indoor hydroponic gardening is still not a mainstream idea, although most people eat hydroponic lettuce

regularly, or even have a traditional outdoor garden - the idea of growing food or medicine in their basements

has never really crossed their minds. For the most part food and medicine is something you buy in a store, or

your doctor prescribes it.

BY JUDD STONE

moonMOONplanting by the

the newest thing to make your garden better


LUNAR EFFECT I GARDEN CULTURE

Not you, reader of Garden Culture, you not only know about

indoor agriculture, you’re hungry to learn more. You want

to know what’s next? What is the newest thing that is going

to make your garden better? The answer is anything you

are willing to observe. Participating in garden forums and

discussions with other gardeners has been a treasure trove of

thought-provoking information for me. Yes, there is tons of

bogus claims out there, lots of misinformation, but buried in

countless posts there are rare gems of information.

I have to admit, I’m not much of a gardener of faith. I rely on

scientific facts - tried and true methods to shape my gardening

expectations. How my different plants will progress through

their seasonal cycles is completely predictable, and 100% in

my hands. The tenure of experience built is what leads to

irrefutable knowledge of what one can

expect... at least that’s what I thought.

About a year ago I was participating

in a discussion online about cutting

edge urban farming concepts. Again,

being the cause and effect gardener

that I am, I scoffed at someone’s

assertion that the moon had

some effect on her ability to root clones. This

seemed to carry a level of mysticism that was enough for me

to almost totally discredit the concept. Almost, but curiosity

got the better of me - I needed to know more. Maybe there

was something about the gravitational pull having a bio-

stimulating effect on the plant making it easier to grow during

certain moon phases. You know, some scientific facts to help

connect the dots. So I did my regular Google searches, asked

my peers what they knew on the subject. I couldn’t find even

one scientific study that proved that the moon had any effect

on germination. I did find several less scientific articles filled

more with anecdotal evidence than research that believed in

the moons powers. I wasn’t satisfied.

I started making my own observations on my seeding and

cloning of plants throughout the following year. My results

were less than coincidental, and did support the original claims

that this woman on the thread had tried to relay to me. Over

several months I started dozens of clones and seeds. I observed,

when taking clones between 10 to upwards of 20 days before

the full moon in a controlled environment, regardless of lead

time, they seemed to hang up, or readily root by, or around the

full moon. I honestly was hoping to find the opposite results, and

go back to my science loving ways. But no, the fairytale proved

itself not a myth, but a reality via observation. The concept now

deserves a little credit.

Planting crops according to the moon’s phases is almost older

than dirt - a concept older than the farmer’s almanac itself.

Recordings of planting crops by the moon phases go back as far

as early civilization. It’s not just a metaphysical idea, there is some

underlying practicality.

They used the full moon for its most simple, and obvious

purpose... light. The full moon lit the fields for the advantageous

farmer of old, to enable working into the night planting the crops

needed to sustain the village. Obviously this early in the season,

daylight hours are short, and dry days

are usually less likely than wet ones. So

a nice dry day around the full moon at

the beginning of the season affords the

opportunity to get everything planted

at once.

Fast forward to today, and there are

further observations being made

about the advantages of planting and cloning with the moon

cycle. Is there something to it? Hard to say at this point beyond

my own observations, there are very few scholarly articles

that even take a look at it, but some are found in the Oxford

Journals, which for the most part are inconclusive, yet admit,

that more is known today than when the practice took root.

Based on that knowledge, and modern understanding of the

moon, answers to some of these questions are closer than

ever before, because the moon’s effects are predictable day-

to-day, and all that’s required now is a scientific and studious

observation. Naturally, this takes a lot of time, and a lot of

trials based on eliminating other factors that may take effect

on the outcome of observation.

We are well on our way to legitimizing lunar effect research as

we continue to ponder all the unknown forces that affect all life

on this planet. I gained a great lesson from this. Science does help

me define why, and how certain inputs will affect plant growth.

But, science can only answer a question that it chooses to, and

sometimes it simply cannot, or will not. Keep an open mind.

Earth remains full of countless unknowns - mysteries that beg

investigation. 3

science can only answer a question that it chooses tomoon“the fairytale proved itself

not a myth, but a reality”

the newest thing to make your garden better

“I rely on scientific facts -

tried and true methods

G R A S S F U R N I T U R EAwesome outdoor seating

built to order by master

craftsmen in Yorkshire at surprisingly

reasonable prices. No maintenance!

You can leave it out year around.

Brush to clean, won’t rust or stain,

and water-resistant. Options of

sheared or shaggy fake grass covers

over solid wood chair and settee for

kids or adults, plus a storage cube

that doubles as a table...

bit.ly/hello-poppy.

cool finds

S U N S H I N E I N A J A RCompletely weatherproof solar lights

in a classic jam jar are perfect for

indoor night lights, and illuminating the balcony,

patio, or deck. The controls are all inside the jar,

and the battery is easily replaced. Solar lighting

forever. Choice of 3 colors. Charges in just 5 hours.

Automatic and manual switches. Too cloudy to

charge? Pop the battery into a charger...

bit.ly/sun-jars.3

B E T T E R H E R B P R E PStill chopping your garden fresh herbs

with a kitchen knife? Stop bruising

your delicate harvest. It’s easier, and faster with a

double-bladed mezzaluna. This one comes with

a lovely granite herb chopping board that will

last a lifetime. Sleek

and stylish with

soft touch handles.

Comes with a blade

guard for safer

storage... bit.ly/herb-

chopper.

B R A N D YO U R H A R V E S TFrom sharing that garden abundance

with neighbors, friends, and coworkers to getting

your produce peddling scheme rolling - a custom

stamp and inexpensive paper tags are just the ticket.

Pick between garden tools, and a wheelbarrow

with the pre-designed offer, and up to 3 lines of

text you create. You can also have it made with

your own graphic image... bit.ly/garden-stamp.

1

2

3

4

5


R E C YC L E D V E R T I C A L P L A N T E RHerbs are great for softening a wall, but

you don’t want them to flower. Add a pop of color

to your balcony or patio herb garden with this

vertical pocket garden. Made from woven Fairtrade

sacks, so pouches should drain nicely without lots

of soil escaping. A great looking planter design by

Ellen Mary Gardening: 65cm tall by 30 cm wide...

bit.ly/wall-garden.

GREEN PRODUCTS I GARDEN CULTURE

If you have grown a garden then you have used fertilizer. Fertilizer is a human

invention that supports the greater part of success in modern agriculture and

home gardening. Used properly, fertilizer can provide complete nutrition, and

produce premium plants, but did you know that fertilizer is not the only way

you can nourish the plants that you grow?

A L L F E R T I L I Z E R I S N O T T H E S A M E

BY EVAN FOLDS

40

LEVELS OF

HIGHER

Higher Levels of Plant Nutrition

BY EVAN FOLDS

All fertilizer is not the same. There are macronutrients and

micronutrients, or you can clearly define fertilizers as artificial

or organic. Where, how, and when you use a fertilizer can

make a major difference in the results you can get growing your

garden, but there is a ceiling. In other words, most fertilizers

are a different path to the same place.

Fertilizers are the raw materials plants use to make their own

food. If carbon dioxide, water, and balanced essential elements

are available, plants, with the aid of solar energy, can synthesize

all the different metabolites they need for their existence.

This ability to make food for themselves is extraordinary and

unprecedented on Earth, and thankfully so. The phenomenon

of photosynthesis that occurs inside green plants is the basis

of the entire food chain, and results in the vital conversion of

carbon dioxide into oxygen that supports aerobic life.

But there is more to plants than photosynthesis and fertilizer.

Plants convert the sugars manufactured in photosynthesis

into all sorts of metabolites we will call “biocatalysts”, such as

enzymes, amino acids, and hormones.

With knowledge of how plants grow, and access to products

that contain these biocatalysts, it is possible to help focus plant

energy towards the type of growth you cannot accomplish by

simply switching fertilizers. The idea is that instead of relying

on plants to manufacture their own biocatalysts, we can sup-

plement them directly, and allow them to choose where to put

their vital energy. The result is less responsibility on the plant

to grow, and higher yields.

Carbohydrates are organic compounds composed of atoms of

carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a ratio of 1:2:1, respectively.

Some carbohydrates are relatively small molecules; the most

important is glucose, which has 6 carbon atoms, and is the end

product of photosynthesis.

Carbohydrates are the driving energy force behind plants.

After producing carbohydrates, a plant uses them as energy,

stores them, or builds them into complex energy compounds,

such as oils and proteins. All of these food products are known

as photosynthates.


PLANT NUTRITION I GARDEN CULTURE

Plants expend an enormous amount of metabolic energy on

manufacturing carbs throughout the late vegetative and early

flowering stages. Carbohydrates play their most critical role in

the weeks just before harvest. It is during ripening that fruits

make their biggest weight gains while burning through those

precious energy reserves.

Once ripening sets in, carbohydrate production all but stops,

and plants must rely almost solely on their carbohydrate

reserves. Plants have a finite reserve of space to store car-

bohydrates for use, supplementing will ensure that they can

maximize this reserve, and even enhance it. The more carbo-

hydrates available to a growing plant - the higher the yields.

If carbohydrates are raw energy, amino acids could be called

the building blocks of life. There are twenty known amino acids

used by cells to manufacture proteins. Proteins are a primary

constituent of life, and involved in practically every metabolic

function performed by plants.

Plants synthesize amino acids by combining carbohydrates

with nitrogen obtained from fertilizer, the surrounding envi-

ronment, and configuring themselves into limitless formations

using all the elements in Nature. Amino acids have a chelating

effect on micronutrients, as well as a beneficial effect on cell

permeability, amongst myriad other functions.

Even though plants have the built-in capacity to biosynthesize

all the amino acids that they require from nitrogen, carbon,

oxygen, and hydrogen, the biochemical process is quite com-

plex and energy-consuming. Applying amino acids allow plants

to save energy on this process, which they can dedicate to bet-

ter plant development during critical growth stages.

C A R B O H Y D R A T E S A R E T H E

D R I V I N G E N E R G Y F O R C E

B E H I N D P L A N T S

T H E R E I S M O R E T O P L A N T S T H A N P H O T O S Y N T H E S I S A N D F E R T I L I Z E R

start with PURE waterthe secret to top-shelf yields is now available in Europe

the best selling filters in north america for over 10 years

#1 in customer support

#1 in hobbiest filters

#1 in commercial reverse osmosis

To get the maximum benefit from nutrient formulas, professional growers only use filtered water.

emeraldimports.net hydrologicsystems.com

Now Available in Europe

Extra-High Capacity De-ChlorinatorAnd Sediment Filter

High Capacity Pre-Filter for Evolution-RO TM

De-Chlorinator and Sediment Filter

There are even products that compartmentalize the amino

acids desired in different stages of growth to root, grow, and

bloom formulations. Applying amino acids is a well-known way

to increase yield, and overall quality of crops.

Specialized proteins known as enzymes facilitate biochemical

reactions. Even the simplest of or-

ganisms have hundreds of enzymes in

every living cell, catalyzing reactions

that are crucial for life. We are con-

stantly finding more, so the number

that exists is not known in any firm or

definite way.

Enzymes are biological catalysts that

work like a lock and key for most, if

not all, plant metabolic processes.

We define them by specific elements

known as “co-factors”. Enzyme pro-

duction involves every element on the

periodic table in some way, which is

a major reason it is so important to

use kelps, rock dusts, sea mineral

supplements, and other broad spectrum mineral products in

the garden. Enzymes lower the amount of activation energy

required by the plant for metabolic processes, and help the

plant upbuild.

Plants use energy via active transport and other processes

to move water and nutrients through cells up to the leaves

where, through the process of photosynthesis, they convert

these elements to sugars and starches which are, in turn, sent

back down to the root zone for potential storage.

Plants must produce the enzymes necessary to manufacture

and move water, nutrients, and metabolites through cells, and

up and down its organism to support healthy growth. These

processes require much energy, and amount to lots of heavy

lifting. An acre of corn gives off about 110,000 - 150,000 liters

of water each day, and a large oak tree can transpire 150,000

liters per year.

Now consider how much extra energy your plants could use

for other vital processes if we supplemented a good portion of

the enzymes needed to make it happen?

With a healthy diet, plants should be able to manufacture all

the vitamins needed to grow, and thrive. But if conditions are

not ideal, supplementing with vitamins can go a long way to-

wards ensuring healthy results, and there is evidence to show

that vitamin supplementation can have a beneficial result over

and above natural production levels.

Vitamins are also co-factors for enzymes involved in carbohy-

drate metabolism, and the biosynthesis of higher molecules.

Vitamins such as thiamine (B1), riboflavin (B2), pyridoxine (B6),

Vitamin C, and Vitamin E have all been shown to benefit plant

growth on some level, particularly in times of stress, such as

transplanting, or taking clones.

Then there are hormones. Hor-

mones act as signals that control the

growth and development of living or-

ganisms. In the same way hormones

regulate height and sexual develop-

ment in humans, hormones in plants

regulate rooting, vegetative growth,

and flowering.

As with other metabolites, plants

naturally produce them, but unlike

other biocatalysts these are very dif-

ficult to synthesize in a stable form.

Typically, plant growth regulators

(PGRs) accomplish the hormone ef-

fect in the garden, which are artifi-

cially produced substances designed

to replicate hormones to be applied to plants to influence

growth and development. The only readily accessible form of

natural hormones comes from liquid kelp, which you can use

as a PGR if applied in higher concentrations, and can show radi-

cal results in the garden.

The five major plant hormones can be divided into three basic

categories:

• growth hormones - auxins and cytokinins

• stress hormones - ethylene and gibberellins

• shock hormones - abscisic acid

All three types of hormones are similar in that they fall within

the classic definition of an intracellular hormone. They are all

made by a cell, and meant to affect the behavior of other cells,

either in nearby tissue, or at the opposite end of the plant.

Use PGRs with care, and be mindful that you can easily tram-

ple the boundaries using these powerful substances. Too much

can certainly do damage. Just imagine dosing a man with too

much estrogen, or vice versa. You get the idea.

The takeaway here is that growing a great garden involves

concentrating the natural process of plant metabolism for hu-

man benefit. There is more to getting maximum results than

using fertilizer and letting plants figure it out for themselves.

Regardless of what stage of growth you want to enhance, using

biocatalysts is a great way to accomplish dynamic results. 3

43

PLANT NUTRITION I GARDEN CULTURE

“ F E R T I L I Z E R S A R E T H E R A W M A T E R I A L S P L A N T S U S E T O M A K E T H E I R O W N F O O D ”

E N Z Y M E S A R E B I O L O G I C A L C A T A L Y S T S

T H A T W O R K L I K E A L O C K A N D K E Y

start with PURE waterthe secret to top-shelf yields is now available in Europe

the best selling filters in north america for over 10 years

#1 in customer support

#1 in hobbiest filters

#1 in commercial reverse osmosis

To get the maximum benefit from nutrient formulas, professional growers only use filtered water.

emeraldimports.net hydrologicsystems.com

Now Available in Europe

Extra-High Capacity De-ChlorinatorAnd Sediment Filter

High Capacity Pre-Filter for Evolution-RO TM

De-Chlorinator and Sediment Filter

ADV_UK_CORP_QPI_GARDENCULTURE_A4.indd 1 30-04-15 11:54

45

SHORTIES I GARDEN CULTURE

Giant green beans, pods that were left on the

plant too long are still edible. The pod, and the

beans inside. Roast them whole and get rid of their

woodiness. Shell them, and toast in

a skillet with a little butter turn-

ing them into something like a nut.

The shelled bean is like a fresh lima

bean. You can even freeze them for

winter use. Of course, if they’re an

open-pollinated variety, and not a

hybrid, you can dry them for start-

ing a new crop too.

World’s Smallest SeedTiny seeds do make sowing a number of popular food

crops a pain. Just try getting good spacing when dealing

with something as big as ant’s teeth. None of them are

as small as celery seed though, which has no doubt been

the cause of a great deal of

muttering, cursing, and

frustration since we

began cultivating it in

the late 1600s.

monster

AGAINST THE GRAINTHE SOCIAL – POLITICAL SIDE OF FOOD

TECHNO GARDENS: Aquaponics, Hydroponics, Vertical Gardening

HIGHLY EFFICIENT – CUTTING EDGE

GOOD TO KNOW: How-to, TroubleshootingUSEFUL GROWING SOLUTIONS AND IDEAS

BEYOND THE GARDENFYI, URBAN FARMING, SUSTAINABILITY, LOCAVORE, EARTH-FRIENDLY…

GARDEN INPUTS: Growth media, Nutrients. PropagationSCRATCHING THE SURFACE

GROWING ENVIRONMENT: Environmental Control, Grow LightsINDOOR GARDEN CLIMATE CREATION

beans


GROWOLOGY: Grow Your Own, In-door Garden Design, Soil and OrganicsOUTDOOR AND INDOOR GARDEN-ING METHODS

46

After concluding my Master’s in Public Health

Nutrition at the University of Chester, I threw myself

completely into learning more about plants, the

methods of growing them, and every other nuance

associated with horticulture. The botany bug bit

me big time, and I was hooked. Taking such a small

entity as the seed, providing the ideal conditions for

germination, and watching as this tiny pod of life

became a fully matured plant captured the child and

the scientist within me.

BY STEPHEN BROOKS

“potential medicinal effects of beetroot juice on high blood pressure”

My old university contacted me 3 months ago about growing

some beetroots for them. An easy task by no stretch of

the imagination, but not when they want beetroots with as

little nitrate as possible! The reason for this is the potential

medicinal effects of beetroot juice on people with high blood

pressure (hypertension). Early research has shown that

beetroot juice reduced blood pressure in people who exhibit

chronic high blood pressure, and therefore, may have an effect

on reducing incidents of cardiovascular disease.

The Deep Science Part Dietary nitrates, like those obtained from eating beetroots

could be a source of the biological messenger nitric oxide,

which tells the endothelium of arteries to trigger smooth

muscle and vasodilation, which increases blood flow… This

basically means the body’s cells get increased blood flow, and

therefore, more oxygen. For this reason (increased oxygen to

the muscles) cyclists have also been exploring beetroot juice

to improve their speeds and times.

Just It!Beet


BEETROOT EXPERIMENT I GARDEN CULTURE

“testing coco vs. soil and nute against nute in one grow”

BY STEPHEN BROOKS

“they want beetroots with as little nitrate

as possible!”

The GrowingI set up 24 pots in a 2.4 x 1.2 grow tent, with 12 in Gold Label

soil, and 12 in Plagron coco. The beetroots were all from F1

Bolt Hardy type seed, and the seedlings were all transplanted

into bigger 3 litre pots, and finally into taller 12 litre pots.

On the 12 in soil, I used Hydrotops Solo Grow and Bloom on

6, and Just Bloom on 6. During the first 4 weeks of growth

the soil grow was used at a dose of 1.5 ml per litre, which

gave me an EC of 0.8, this was increased to 2ml per litre in

weeks 5-6 which gave an EC of 1.2. I then lowered the dose

of the soil grow to 1 ml per litre in week 7-8, as I started using

the soil bloom at a dose of 3ml per litre

which gave me an EC of 1.5. In the final

4 weeks I stopped using the soil grow

completely, and just used soil bloom at a

rate of 5 ml per litre, which gave an EC

of 1.8 maximum.

In the coco, I used the Hydrotops coco

nutrient, watered 6 on coco grow and

bloom, which is a 2-part nutrient with

A+B grow, and A+B Bloom. The other

6 in this group were grown using only

coco bloom. I followed a similar pattern

as the soil grow so will not repeat here

to avoid repetition.

The reason for splitting the beetroots

into 4 groups was twofold; it would be

interesting to see the effect of minimal nitrogen on developing

beetroots in soil and coco, but also to see if the lack of

nitrogen helped in our test to produce a beetroot with low

levels of nitrates. The test was carried out over 3 months, and

the results were quite interesting.

The ResultsThe soil grown beetroots developed nicely, even those grown

on Just Bloom, although they were significantly smaller. The

coco beetroots on Grow and Bloom also did well, but the

beetroots on just bloom feed did very poorly, developed deep

purple leaves, and what can only be described as a pebble of

a beetroot.

DiscussionThe results have pointed out something that was quite

interesting, and should make you think about your medium of

choice in the future. Soil is a very forgiving medium to work

with, even when I technically ‘messed up’ by just watering

bloom feed, it produced an edible crop, although much smaller.

Coco is a much less forgiving medium, and

when stressed will punish the grower, but

if treated well will reward with great yields,

and good flavour. However, something I

would look into before the next round

of growing is to measure the background

Nitrogen levels of the soil, which would

make the tests much more accurate, and

help in developing the final technique for

growing low nitrate level beetroots.

The beetroots are now in a lab being

analysed by the university, and I should

have some results on the nitrate levels

shortly. From these results we can adapt

the growing methods, and improve on our

quest to grow a low nitrate beetroot. I have

a few tricks up my sleeve to inhibit nitrogen

uptake, but most of them will definitely

impact the plant negatively in one way or another- so this trial

could last for the foreseeable future. I will keep you all updated

when we come up with the solution. 3

Further Reading:Lundberg, J.O.; Carlström, M.; Larsen, F.J.; Weitzberg, E. (2011).

“Roles of dietary inorganic nitrate in cardiovascular health and

disease”. Cardiovasc Res 89 (3): 525–32.

Hobbs, D. A.; Kaffa, N.; George, T. W.; Methven, L.; Lovegrove,

J. A. (2012). “Blood pressure-lowering effects of beetroot juice

and novel beetroot-enriched bread products in normotensive

male subjects”. British Journal of Nutrition 108 (11): 2066–2074.

Just It!

BY KYLE L. LADENBURGER

The Rise, Fall & Resurrection of an American Industry

48

industrial

HEMP I GARDEN CULTURE

Cultivating Hemp (Cannabis Sativa L.) has provided the people of the earth a sustainable

source of f iber for thousands of years. The oldest known human artifact is a piece of

hemp fabric from ancient Mesopotamia dating back to around 8,000 BC. The products

manufactured from the hemp plant are so numerous that they cannot all be named in a

single article. Throughout the centuries people used hemp for making paper, clothing, sails,

ropes, fuels, medicines, and even plastics - just to name a few. However, this incredibly

useful crop became inaccessible, steeped in controversy.

200 years - Americans could actually pay their taxes with

it. Many of the United States founding fathers, including

George Washington, grew hemp on their own land, and

encouraged others to follow suit. Thomas Jefferson penned

the first drafts of both the Declaration of Independence,

and the U.S. Constitution on hemp fiber paper.

The undeniable importance of hemp in early American

history is hard to understate, and its prominence

unmatched as an industrial fiber until 1865.

I N D U S T R I A L H E M P S E E S A D E C L I N EFollowing the Civil War the world saw the rise of the

steamboat, making hemp sails and other similar ship

accessories nearly obsolete. Around the same time

other domestic materials such as cotton and tree fiber

began to replace hemp in products like

clothing and paper. Michigan, Illinois and

Kentucky continued to grow industrial

hemp until the late 1800s. Demand

continued to drop though, and by the

1900’s Kentucky was the only state

to continue an active production of

the crop until the start of World War

I, when an increase in production

occurred due to demand.

During this same time period advancements in the

production and use of petroleum products led to their

extended use as both fuels and oils. This furthered the

diminishing use of the hemp plant, which was and still is,

an adequate material for products ranging from biofuels

to plastics. Though domestic production of hemp was

declining, there was still a need for hemp, and its products.

But most of the hemp fiber was imported, which remained

the norm for the next hundred years.

Industrial hemp is a close relative of the modern marijuana

plant so well-known for the psychoactive effects caused by

ingesting it, along with THC, its cannabinoid compound.

Industrial hemp has almost no THC, usually much less

than 1% by weight. It’s used mainly for its fiber. Though

differing greatly in this aspect from marijuana, legislation

and public opinion have lumped the two together to the

extent that its outlawed the growing of industrial hemp in

the USA for almost a century.

H E M P CO M E S TO A M E R I C AHemp arrived in America during the 1600s aboard the

Mayflower ship carrying

the Puritans escaping religious persecution in Europe for

a better life in the “new world”.

Hemp was an invaluable commodity for ships of the

era due to its sheer strength, and natural resistance to

decay. Ropes, canvas, sails, netting,

maps, log book pages, and even the

flags the ships sailed under were all

manufactured from hemp fiber. Not

only was the Mayflower equipped with

hemp products, it carried a supply of

hemp seeds to supply the colonists with

a renewable source of strong fiber. In

fact, most ships in Great Britain’s fleet

were commonly stocked with a store of hemp seeds.

They distributed them throughout the colonies of the

empire, and colonial citizens were often compelled by law

to grow, and process the plant for industrial use. Colonial

America was no exception.

In the 17th century, citizens of Virginia, Massachusetts,

and Connecticut colonies could actually go to jail for

not growing hemp on their farms. This easily grown

fiber source was so immensely important that for nearly


THIS INCREDIBLY USEFUL CROP

BECAME INACCESSIBLE,

STEEPED IN CONTROVERSY”

50

the department. Anslinger was a key figure in the alcohol

prohibition campaign, and was unemployed due to the end of

prohibition. Anslinger was the final piece of the puzzle, and

the man they needed to help bring an end to industrial hemp

production in the US, but doing so would take a bit of finesse.

Enter into the equation the Mexican

Revolution of 1910, which created an

influx of Mexican immigrants into the

United States. The immigrants brought

along with them their tradition of

smoking the flowers from the cannabis

plant. As is true with other moments

in history, the immigrants were not

favorably welcomed, and Harry Anslinger

began using their cannabis use as a way

to demonize their population. He effectively created a

smear campaign equating Mexican immigrant recreational

cannabis use as a cause of the violent crimes, and socially

deviant behaviors committed by this “racially inferior” class

of people.

Feeding off the overwhelming popularity of racism,

Anslinger consistently spread, through articles in William

Randolph Hearst’s own newspaper publications, slanderous

unsubstantiated rumors that the use of cannabis by Mexican

immigrants was leading to rapes and murders throughout

the country. He even started using the Mexican slang for

cannabis, marijuana, when referring to the problem. Not

once did he ever make a plausible effort to substantiate

between marijuana and industrial hemp.

The smear campaign continued through the 1930s when the

Great Depression caused immigrant resentment to grow,

and solidified the hatred or fear of marijuana within the

minds of the people, and the way they viewed society. In 1937

congress passed the Marijuana Tax Act leading to extreme

regulation of industrial hemp, and eventually the modern

prohibition of the cannabis plant in the US.

A WORLD AT WAR: INDUSTRIAL HEMP AND NATIONAL DUTYIn 1942 the Japanese war campaign in the Pacific led to

invading the Philippines, which consequently cut off the Manila

GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY UNITE: A CONSPIRACY IS BORNThough the hemp industry was in noticeable decline, certain

industry moguls still saw the plant as a plausible threat to

their profits. Most notable of the bunch was the Dupont

Chemical Company, and William Randolph Hearst - owner

of Hearst Paper Manufacturing, a division

of Kimberly-Clark, and a growing empire

of newspapers across the country.

In the early 1900s DuPont was

manufacturing pesticides, the use of

herbicides and fertilizers was extensive

in cotton growing. In comparison to

industrial hemp, cotton requires much

more water and fertilization per acre, and

yields less usable fiber that is inferior to hemp fiber in many

ways. DuPont also held patents for the processing of oil and

coal into plastics, a process that Henry Ford helped prove

the hemp plant was highly capable of.

If hemp were to see another big surge in demand it surely

would not have been positive for DuPont’s bottom line.

Hearst also understood the threat that popularized hemp

production could have on his paper industry. His business

manufactured paper from tree fiber, and he understood that

hemp grew far faster, and could be manufactured cheaper

than the product he was producing. In order for Hearst’s

company to thrive he knew he must become the main

producer of paper in the USA, and with industrial hemp

looming as a possible alternative… He had to do something

to monopolize the market. But there was only so much

these two companies could do to prevent another rise in

hemp production.

As the adage goes, we get by with a little help from our

friends - especially if those friends are powerful. Enter into

the scenario, Mr. Andrew Mellon, the Secretary of Treasury

under President Herbert Hoover. Andrew Mellon was the

owner of Mellon Bank, the financial backer of both DuPont

and Hearst. As a man who undoubtedly understood the

woes of his constituents, and with these expressed concerns,

he then created the Bureau of Narcotics. He chooses none

other than the husband of his niece, Harry Anslinger, to head

IN THE 17th CENTURY YOU COULD GO TO

JAIL FOR NOT GROWING HEMP!

“FOR CENTURIES PEOPLE USED

HEMP FOR MAKING PAPER,

CLOTH, ROPE, FUEL, MEDICINE,

AND MORE”


HEMP I GARDEN CULTURE

hemp fiber supply destined for the US. Understanding how

important hemp fiber was to their own war efforts, the

US government decided to distribute 400,000 pounds of

hemp cannabis seeds to farmers from Wisconsin through

Kentucky. The effort was given the marketing slogan “Hemp

for Victory,” and the USDA even produced a film and

pamphlets outlining the importance, and need for industrial

hemp production. (See bit.ly/hemp-video.)

The government viewed industrial hemp such a major key

factor to the war effort that it even waived military service

duty for the farmers and their sons. When the war ended,

so did the production of hemp. The government ordered

all remaining crops be destroyed. The remnants of these

victory farms can still be seen on the edges of the fields they

once populated where the plant is casually referred to as

ditch weed, with most of the population not even knowing

the history of how the plant got there in the first place.

The final nail in the coffin of industrial hemp came in 1970

with the passing of the Controlled Substance Act, which

classified all types of cannabis - marijuana and industrial

hemp included, as Schedule 1 drugs, making them illegal to

grow or possess, and levying heavy consequences for those

caught doing so. At this point, industrial hemp production

was officially a thing of the past.

NECESSITY DICTATES CHANGE: INDUSTRIAL HEMP FINDS NEW HOPEAs the environmental effects of the over-consumption of

products made from limited resources, such as those made

from petroleum fossil fuels, and the widespread damage of

deforestation for paper production are becoming ever more

apparent - most people in the US and worldwide are looking

for a reliable resource that is easy to grow and renewable.

Without surprise, hemp is definitely one option that is

getting some serious attention, and the government isn’t

trying to stop it this time.

In 2014 the Federal Farm Bill included a provision allowing

for industrial hemp cultivation by state universities and

state departments of agriculture for research under an

agricultural pilot program, or if the state has already

passed a law allowing the for the industrial production of

hemp. Currently, 21 states in the US have enacted state

laws approving hemp cultivation for industrial or research

purposes.

These laws are all built around three major points:

(1) The laws strictly define hemp as different from marijuana.

(2) Regulated use by industry. Growers need a state license

and registration.

(3) Hemp is now excluded from the state’s’ Controlled

Substance list.

On the federal level, steps being taken to differentiate

between cannabis the drug, and cannabis the industrial-

use plant are backed by leaders of both main political

parties. Experts believe that this will inevitably lead to the

unrestricted cultivation of industrial hemp in the United

States. 3

A GOVERNMENT SMEAR CAMPAIGN

FUELED BY RACISM SOLIDIFIED THE

HATRED OR FEAR OF MARIJUANA

THE GOVERNMENT CREATED THE BUREAU OF NARCOTICS TO FURTHER THE INTERESTS OF DUPONT AND HEARST

INCREASE YIELD! REDUCE HEAT! SAVE POWER!

Please report all illegal and inferior copies to [email protected]

Manufactured by Hygro International Pty Ltd under licence from Hygrotech Pty Ltd Australia

The Adjust-A-Wings novel design features are protected by a range of international patents registered, accepted and pending with the I.P.O.

MEDIUM - 400w to 600w lamps LARGE - 1000w or twin 600w lamps

Twice the power and efficiency of most other reflectors.

The “Adjustable Light Spread” allows growers to create ideal lightingconditions across all stages of plant growth for increased vitality, health and yield.

Sold in 25 countries across 4 continents, Adjust-A-Wingsare the “reflectors of choice” for many of the world’s top growers.

Increase yield per lamp up to 50%.

Increase the growing area under each lamp by up to 75%.

The ORIGINAL Patented/Patents Pending

®

AVENGERGLASS COATED 97% REFLECTIVE ALUMINIUM

86% REFLECTIVE ANODIZED ALUMINIUMENFORCER

www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0AJwCpeEW8www.adjustawings.com

HIGHLY REFLECTIVE, TITANIUM WHITE, POWDER COATED H18 ALUMINIUMDEFENDER

COLUMN I GARDEN CULTURE

“What you believe may well be

different from the facts”

It doesn’t prove anything people! I don’t care what you

believe. I don’t care if you believe in god or not, if you

believe in reincarnation or in heaven and hell, in full

moon harvests, in LED or Metal Halide, in mineral or

organic nutrients. Just do not impose your beliefs on me.

If you want to impress me then convince me - show me

the research, and the results. You can be very intense,

full of confidence in your product, and sounding very

convincing on that YouTube video of yours, but if it is

wrong - it is wrong, even if you believe it’s right.

Choose your teachers well. Choose your sources well. And

really, do you believe everything they are saying? Where

is the science behind it? Yes, it totally grinds my gears,

and I spend hours to re-program my followers who get

brainwashed by these idiots. Get real people. Be informed,

instead of willfully ignorant - or get out of this business. We

don’t need you.

Your buddy probably don’t know shit.3

In this column Theo discusses observations in the

indoor garden culture. There is sometimes so

much legend, and so little science in this industry.

It’s time for some myth busting, to allow a fresh

breeze to move through the growing realm.

It is sad to see that so many people nowadays do not know

the difference between facts and opinions any more. What

you believe may well be different from the facts. You may

believe in Santa, but I know for a fact that he does not

exist. You may believe that as plants are green and reflect

green light, they do not use green light, but I know from

the research results that this is not true.

The worst thing is: people don’t care anymore what is true

or not. Telling a lie seldom has repercussions. People hear

it from politicians all the time. Within minutes the “fact

checkers” show they are lying, but people do not care

anymore. Look at the media, Fox News, for example. The

things they can say there are incredible, even a 12-year-

old could easily debunk most of their facts with some

research. But it’s accepted these days. We almost live in

an idiocracy.

You would think that with all the resources on the internet

today you would be able to do decent research, but people

on the internet are even worse! They ask questions on

social media that they could easily solve within 4 seconds

by typing it in on Google. And when they search, they do

not search for the facts from the most credible source.

No, they search for confirmation of their beliefs. And as

there are so many of us, it is very easy to find exactly that.

53

YOU KNOW WHAT GRINDS MY GEARS?

Expert Believers

INCREASE YIELD! REDUCE HEAT! SAVE POWER!

Please report all illegal and inferior copies to [email protected]

Manufactured by Hygro International Pty Ltd under licence from Hygrotech Pty Ltd Australia

The Adjust-A-Wings novel design features are protected by a range of international patents registered, accepted and pending with the I.P.O.

MEDIUM - 400w to 600w lamps LARGE - 1000w or twin 600w lamps

Twice the power and efficiency of most other reflectors.

The “Adjustable Light Spread” allows growers to create ideal lightingconditions across all stages of plant growth for increased vitality, health and yield.

Sold in 25 countries across 4 continents, Adjust-A-Wingsare the “reflectors of choice” for many of the world’s top growers.

Increase yield per lamp up to 50%.

Increase the growing area under each lamp by up to 75%.

The ORIGINAL Patented/Patents Pending

®

AVENGERGLASS COATED 97% REFLECTIVE ALUMINIUM

86% REFLECTIVE ANODIZED ALUMINIUMENFORCER

www.youtube.com/watch?v=O0AJwCpeEW8www.adjustawings.com

HIGHLY REFLECTIVE, TITANIUM WHITE, POWDER COATED H18 ALUMINIUMDEFENDER


OPINION PIECE

BY THEO TEKSTRA

MARKETING MANAGER GAVITA HOLLAND BV

54

1) Glasgow, Scotland

Urban MeatAn initiative launched by agricultural college graduate,

Reuben Chesters, The Croft is perhaps a spin-off of his

not-for-profit ethical food hub shop, Glasgow Locavore

that opened in 2013. Housed on 2.5 acres of wasteland

are now five 50m2 nano market gardens that grow fresh

produce for the shop and a CSA veg bag scheme, with

plans of expanding the growing space.

In 2014, they raised two piglets here to raise awareness

of where meat from the market comes from. They were

fed only the waste from the organic gardens and his

Locavore shop, proving there’s no need for commercial

feed and antibiotics used in modern meat production

for the food supply. A good share of the meat was pre-

sold with the rest purchased within days of the harvest.

It raised controversy with local vegans, but succeeded in

creating local awareness of the unwelcome things that go

into traditional store-bought meats.

A high five for reconnecting people to their food. Learn

more: GlasglowLocavore.org

Cre

dit:

Dai

ly R

ecor

d

2) Liverpool, Merseyside

Teaching Aquaponics Identified as a Community Interest Company, UrbanAg has

launched an aquaponics project on the grounds of Rice Lane

City Farm to grow fish and veg for community awareness

of the art, and to offer courses to the public. Located in

Walton, Liverpool the urban farm sits on 24 acres of forest

and open land enveloped by the city. They currently maintain

livestock and poultry, host social events for school groups

and families, and present the perfect spot for NorthWest

Aquaponics Courses.

The first session began in early March teaching the basics of

fish rearing, plant cultivation, as well as system construction

and maintenance. UrbanAg is covering childcare and

transportation costs for those who attend, making it

highly affordable for all that are eager to learn this growing

technique. The project gets support from the European Social

Fund, the Skills Funding Agency, and the WEA. Directors and

tutors Martin Fletcher and John Smith from UrbanAg shown

front left with their team.

Great idea! Future sessions are already anticipated. Learn

more: UrbanAg.org.uk

Cre

dit:

John

Sm

ith, U

rban

ag

GrowingWho’s

What Where

in

the

UK

Growing

55

WHAT’S GROWING ON I GARDEN CULTURE


Cre

dit:

Dai

ly R

ecor

d

4) Newtown, Powys

Growing SustainabilityCmw Harry Collective is a project in sustainable

community development that’s multi-faceted. They’re

growing food organically, marketing it locally, and

supporting other area growers in their food hub shop

and CSA program, but that’s just part of what it’s all

about. This group also involves the community in the

garden as volunteers, hold courses, houses micro

businesses, and lets micro allotments to those that want

to grow their own.

They’re into permaculture, trying new techniques

for increasing the harvest, maintaining soil moisture,

experimenting and always looking for ways to improve.

Included in the range of activities, this social enterprise

in Wales also focuses on making Newtown a zero-waste

community, generating compost from garden waste.

Incorporated are three community gardens.

The Cmw Harry project is working hard on supporting

each other, and building a local economy and sustainable

food system, along with a better place to live. Today’s

world could use a lot more of of this.

Good things growing on. Learn more: Cultivate.uk.com

3) Digbeth, Birmingham

Growing on WastelandEdible Eastside grows organic produce on top of an old

filling station on the canal. They also grow gardeners,

rent allotments in their raised bed scheme allowing local

eateries to grow their own produce, and welcome private

residents too. This polluted undeveloped quarter-acre plot

is temporarily home for the social project, but founder Jayne

Bradley has a rent-free 10 year lease with the development

company that owns it.

It all began several years ago when a friend had an idea. Today

the garden gives focused artists opportunities to develop

ideas, and sells its fresh produce to shops and chefs around

town. In October 2014, Jayne and team installed an organic

rooftop garden at Hotel La Tour to increase what they can

offer farm-to-fork on their menu. Edible Eastside maintains

the grill’s lofty garden, and the Aalto Grill continues as a

regular customer for allotment-grown harvests too. It is run

by Urban Grain, a Community Interest Company.

Yes, you can grow food anywhere. Learn more:

EdibleEastside.net

Cre

dit:

Birm

ingh

am P

ost

Growing

in

the

UK

Cre

dit:

Cm

w H

arry

Ski

lls

Growing

56

W H AT I S H U M I D I T Y ?

57

HUMIDITY I GARDEN CULTURE

Then we have the really hot days that we could just lay in the

sun all day, but stay relatively cool… That’s due to low humidity!

The air is quite dry, allowing any perspiration to evaporate off

of our skin, which keeps us cool. However, extremely low

humidity (25% and below) can

have detrimental effects on us

humans, such as dry skin, and

irritated eyes and respiratory

system.

The funny thing is that it’s the

same for plants. Humidity is

one of the most underrated

environmental aspects of

an indoor garden, and it’s

definitely something we need

to keep an eye on.

Before we get technical with relative humidity, and why it’s

essential to monitor and control it, the bottom line is that

we want to avoid extremes. A good humidity range during

vegetative growth is around 60-70%, because before a good

root system has formed, the plant will find it easier to maintain

equilibrium of water uptake and water loss. During the

flowering stages it is good practise to drop the humidity to 40-

50% to prevent any mould or pathogens from forming, but it

also ensures good movement of water, nutrients, and minerals

through the plant to the flowers or fruits. Cuttings are special,

and require 90% humidity to form new roots, whilst seedlings

do well at around 60%.

That’s the essential bit of information that we all need to know.

Now we can delve a little deeper into the technicalities of humidity.

Key WordsTranspiration: The rate at which the plant expels, and

absorbs moisture. This helps to cool the plant, and enables a

flow of water, nutrients, and minerals.

Stomata: These are the pores that regulate moisture within

the plant. They help protect it from dramatic changes in

moisture.

Saturation – When a gas (or a space) holds the maximum

water vapour possible at a given temperature, it is said to

be saturated. If you add extra water to a saturated gas, or

if its temperature decreases, some of the water vapour will

condense.

Relative humidity (RH):

It is the ratio of actual

water vapour content to

the saturated water vapour

content at a given temperature

and pressure expressed as a

percentage (%).

The air temperature is vital

to know when measuring

relative humidity. This is because,

the ‘relative’ part is essentially related to the temperature,

and how saturated the air is at its current temperature. For

example, if your grow room rises in temperature, the relative

humidity will drop, so at a RH of 50%, a temperature rise

from 20°C to 21°C will cause RH to drop by about 3%. The

digital thermometer that you should be buying from the local

grow shop, usually comes paired with a humidistat, and it’s an

essential piece of equipment, to say the least.

To understand how plants operate under different humidities

we need to understand how a plant works. All plants allow

carbon dioxide (CO2) to enter through their leaves via tiny

openings called stomata. They use this gas in photosynthesis.

The plant regulates it’s intake of CO2 by opening and closing

its stomata, and as it does this moisture in the leaf can escape.

If your grow room is dry (low humidity), it causes the plants

to transpire much more rapidly than in a higher humidity

environment. When this happens, the leaves become flaccid

and begin to wilt, and over a longer period of time the plant

will close its stomata, and reduce the flow of water out of

the plant. This is very effective at stopping water loss, but

BY STEPHEN BROOKES

You know those really hot days, when no matter what we do we just can’t cool ourselves down? That’s mainly

due to high humidity! When the air around us becomes saturated with water vapour, making it impossible to cool

ourselves, as the sweat from our skin can’t evaporate.

ONE OF THE MOST UNDERRATED

ENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS OF AN

INDOOR GARDEN


040515

[email protected]

WWW.BLOOMBASTIC.COM


HUMIDITY I GARDEN CULTURE

you want 60-70% humidity during

vegetative growth

Open stomata increase

transpiration to take place

unfortunately it also reduces the intake of CO2. Without an

adequate supply of CO2 the cells will begin to die, and the plant

will look tired and ill.

The key point to remember here is that dry air will remove

water from the leaves quicker than the roots can deliver it,

under these conditions it doesn’t matter how much you water

the plant, it won’t help. And overwatering will remove oxygen

from the root zone (rhizosphere), creating further problems.

When a plant has the right humidity for its stage of growth it

will thrive, the stomata will open completely, and the plant will

enjoy a good fresh supply of CO2, with controlled water loss

from the leaves.

This loss of water from the plant to the atmosphere is known

as evapo-transpiration. Plants regulate this loss of water by the

opening and closing of guard cells, but also something called

the vapour pressure gradient, which is the difference between

the water vapour content of the atmosphere, and the vapour

pressure within the sub-stomatal cavity. The reason this is

important is because it brings me to my next point, which is air

movement around your plants.

A layer of saturated, or partly saturated air will now have built

up around the leaf if the air is still. Slight air movement will move

this saturated air away and helps in the cooling of the leaves

because of the transfer of heat by convection from the leaf

surface. This movement of water away from the plant allows

more water molecules to move through the plants veins, the

stem, and the roots, creating a negative water pressure in the

root zone which allows the plant to ‘drink’. This process is

known as osmosis.

An important point to note though is that high wind

velocity from clip fans will move all the air away from

the leaf boundary, and result in a dry atmosphere that

increases water loss - something we don’t want too much

of during vegetative growth. Therefore we want our

clip fans on the lowest setting and we don’t want them

pointing directly at the plants, somewhere between the

tops of the plant and below the lights is the golden zone.

After all of that information, knowing where to

start may seem difficult. Here’s some top tips...

1. Remember that when the lights turn off, the

temperature will drop, and the relative humidity will

rise. It may be wise to keep the extraction running

after the lights are off or invest in some heaters so

the temperature drop isn’t too drastic. This will

prevent the water from depositing on the plants/

walls, and creating a breeding ground for pathogens.

2. When the lights ignite the temperature will increase,

and the relative humidity will drop. A good investment

to negate this drop would be a timed humidifier. One

that uses ultrasonic vibrations is better, so that the

water released is cool, and not steamed.

3. So keep those humidity levels in check, higher in

vegetative growth, and lower during the flowering

stage.

As we said at the start of the article, plants, just like

humans prefer environmental stability in their lives.

Whether it’s relative humidity or temperature swings,

prevent dramatic changes in short spans of time, and your

plants will metaphorically thank you. 3

dry air causes

plants to transpire

too rapidly

humidity increases when the lights go out

cuttings need 90% humidity to form roots

040515

[email protected]

WWW.BLOOMBASTIC.COM

Real News Revelations

BY CALLIE COE

60

Getting To The

truth

left CBS to regain her freedom to truthfully report a story.

I wasn’t expecting the book would prove as interesting as it

is. Stonewalled is well-written and packed with eye-opening

revelations anyone would find important, but this isn’t a

book review. It’s an article about who, or what, drives the

information published on popular online news

magazines and blogs. Some of the most highly

regarded news sites are actually supported by

special interests of different powers that be in the

industrial-political complex as spin or propaganda

broadcasters. Yes, the bloggers get paid to portray

things in favor of the interest that employs them. If you wanted

proof that there is money in blogging, here it is.

Media Matters, Mother Jones, Huffington Post, PolitiFact,

Mediabistro, BuzzFeed, Politico, Daily Beast, and even

Wikipedia are all involved in skewing what you know to

someone’s preferred reality, as opposed to the truth. And

today’s news broadcasts are largely repeating what they see

published on the above (excluding Wikipedia), in addition to

what they find on the New York Times, Washington Post,

L.A. Times, and other U.S. newspaper websites. And then

there’s perpetually positive slanted press releases that come

out of the White House PR machine.

Astroturf and Fairy Tales

Journalists note that in today’s Washington corruption

surpasses levels not seen in 40 years. Transparency? There

is none. The Freedom of Information Act is largely ignored

as the powers that be seek to maintain total control over

public perception. Sculpting what people think is paramount

for business and officials. They create fake grass roots groups

to support their interests. Any opposing information or views

are controversialized, discredited, or attacked by smear

tactics. But the spin cycle has a recipe that even you can

identify a propaganda campaign, and start separating truth

from calculated fiction.

SUSPECT THE NEWS IS SPUN AND NOT

REPORTED?

Read the news, and you’ll know. Right. How much do you really know from paying attention to mainstream

broadcast news? What’s been sugar-coated, or withheld completely... what’s the real story here?

If you suspect that mainstream media tells you only what those at the top prefer you to believe, that

the news is spun and not reported, you’re not alone. Many people don’t trust radio and television news.

More and more of them are turning to the internet in search of the truth, because they are keenly

aware that there is more to the story.

61

REAL NEWS I GARDEN CULTURE

Getting To The

Word On the Wire

In the weeks following the World Trade Center demolition it

became apparent to me that if you really want to know what

is happening in the U.S. - read foreign news sources online.

US news outlets seemed focused on prolonging the terror,

while world news reporting from London, Sydney, and other

major hubs beyond

information control

jurisdiction said more.

They had a lot more

information than what

today’s terror alert

color, heart-rending stories of families who lost loved ones,

and repetitious reminders that you need to fear for your very

safety.

Yes, it was a horrific event, but there’s a lot more to the story

than any of us really knows. Realities that may never come

to light, though there are plenty of suspicions, studies, and

theories.

That was the non-transparent Bush administration. Now a

decade and a half later, under the total transparency regime,

mainstream news content hasn’t improved, if anything it seems

to have further deteriorated, grown more slanted, and fluffy.

And so you turn to the internet.

But here you’re faced with the same dilemma. Some of the

most popular news blogs are actually paid to beat a partisan

drum, to further the preferences of special interest groups,

election candidates, and officials on The Hill. It doesn’t matter

whether you’re conservative, liberal, right wing, left wing, or

middle-of-the-road... social media works for them too.

The Inside Scoop

In the course of my work I run across all manner of interesting

things. A few weeks ago it was a TED Talk that led me to buy

a book. The speaker, Sharyl Attkisson, veteran investigative

journalist who after 20 years of Emmy-winning news reporting


mammoth tentspioneers in mobile rooms original manufacturer - designed in holland

Contact us for your preferred reseller

J.P. Poelstraat 1, 1483 G.C. De Rijp, The Netherlands

Tel:+31 299 675711 Fax:+31 299 671393

E-mail: [email protected]: www.kj-products.com

mammothtents.nl

The biggest mobile climate room on the market

The all new Mammoth EliteHC 900L9.0m x 4.5m x 2.4m / 40.5 square meters

Heavy Duty Frame - 100% Waterproof Floor - Modular

9m

4.5m2.4m

63

REAL NEWS I GARDEN CULTURE


While most know that ‘astroturf’ is fake grass, in this context

Attkisson is referring to an entire industry that exists in

Washington D.C. People who earn an excellent living helping

big business cover the money trail between them and the

government. This becoming well-known has sparked a surge

of fake grass roots, activities special interests use to disguise

themselves as the spinners publish blog articles and letters to

the editor, start nonprofits, create ad campaigns, and establish

a personality on Facebook and Twitter. They also spread their

spin commenting on other people’s posts and articles online...

all intentionally fooling the public into believing an average

person or grassroots movement is adding their voice to the

topic.

“The whole point of astroturf is to give the impression there’s

widespread support for an agenda when there’s not. Businesses

may fund fake astroturf ‘consumer campaigns’ against competitors.

Government may call upon its corporate partners to use astroturf

methods to discredit reporters who threaten their mutual interests.”

Recognizing Spin

Damage control and influencing is rampant, and when you

know what to look for you’ll realize it’s everywhere - online and

on the news. It features inflammatory labeling including: crank,

quack, nutty, paranoid, pseudo, truther, conspiracy theorist,

shoddy, and witch hunt. Don’t overlook ‘junk science’ - as in

Monsanto’s response to WHO’s press release announcing the

IARC reclassifying glyphosate as possibly causing cancer. By

controversializing the truth astroturf seeks to discredit, and

belittle political-industrial complex enemies.

The astroturfers claim to debunk myths that are actually

truths. They publish all manner of confusing and misleading

information just to make it virtually impossible to figure out

what is going on. The goal is to guide everyone into giving up

and ignoring the entire issue.

A special interest’s role can easily be camouflaged in the guise

of benevolent-sounding nonprofit or other third-party where

the co-opted or supported astroturfers peddle a spun story

that serves their business overlords. It gets reported as news

by unsuspecting journalists, or pushed into the broadcast by

management. If they don’t concoct a story, the special interest

nonprofit can also secretly defend the propaganda without any

disclosure of their financial ties to their benefactors.

Don’t Trust Wikipedia

In the past couple of years it has come to light that not only

can an outsider not edit references on this largely revered

free encyclopedia, Wikipedia has monetized itself by selling

PR space to corporate and political interests that is free of

conflicts of interest. Powerful

pharmaceutical interests

use this massive website for

propaganda distribution, and

exercise control over science

and journalism by controlling

biographical pages.

If it’s happening in these

known topics, you can be pretty certain that it’s afflicted

Wikipedia entirely. So much for the annual plea for donations!

Take your research elsewhere, because facts are no longer

available here.

There’s More To Know

The information provided in this article is just an introduction

to what is disclosed in Sharon Attkisson’s Stonewalled. It’s

an inside look at the hard-core investigations into a variety

of events and situations, and how unimportant facts and

witnesses are to mainstream media news - a much as it is a

revelation of what happens to those who dare to get to the

truth.

Whose special interests are served by these different news

sites mentioned? What is the whole story on Benghazi, gun

walking on the U.S.- Mexico border, Dreamliner battery

explosions, and other scandals, cover-ups, and corruption

cases in the past few years? How does government and

military roll these days?

Read the book. You may find that what you thought was the

worst case scenario pales in comparison to the real story. Both

new, and discounted used copies are available on Amazon. 3

ASTROTURF, FAKE GRASS

ROOTS GROUPS - SO MUCH FOR TOTAL

TRANSPARENCY

IN TODAY’S WASHINGTON CORRUPTION

SURPASSES LEVELS NOT SEEN IN 40 YEARS”

Stated as frankly as possible, water is the giver of life. It was the key component in creating life on earth,

and its importance in sustaining all life is insurmountable. This rings as true for the world’s smallest or-

ganisms as it does for its largest creatures. Without water this all ends, and the plants we grow are no

exception.

As plants living on Earth evolved, with a little help from

the sun, they adopted the ability to receive mineral

sustenance from the water. Elemental minerals in their

ionic form become dissolved in soil water solution, and

can travel along with it into a plants roots and vascular

system. A remarkable task in and of itself: the water

acts as courier to the minerals delivering them to the

plant to use in its developmental processes.

In today’s world, plants are grown using several different

methods, which have a common thread - they all require

water. However, with each unique method of growing

comes a different way to provide water in the most

effective way. The key to success is having an adequate

understanding of which watering technique is the most

efficient, and productive for the style of cultivation

being practiced.

Seedlings After seeds have sprouted, and the true leaves begin to

form, it is imperative that watering be done in a fashion

that promotes strong initial root growth. For seedlings

growing in soil-less potting mixes the key is to provide

enough water to allow for constant vegetative growth,

but not enough that the medium stays to moist for too

long. You can achieve this by watering thoroughly each

time, and then letting the medium dry out just enough

that it is not constantly wet throughout. Keeping the

medium perpetually moist will lower oxygen levels

around the roots resulting in poor root development.

By allowing the soil-less mix to dry out between

feedings it will cause the roots to create more lateral

development as it searches for remaining moisture. It’s

recommended to not let the seedlings sit in standing

water after the medium is adequately saturated. Also,

try to not let the medium dry out so much that the

plants are falling over from lack of water because this

can have negative effects on the plants’ early stages of

development.

Container GardeningThe proper watering technique for container growing is

directly correlated to the type of medium being used.

You can use soil-less growing mixes as they come, but

E A C H U N I Q U E M E T H O D O F

G R O W I N G H A S A D I F F E R E N T W A Y

O F W A T E R I N G E F F E C T I V E L Y ”

BY KYLE L. LADENBURGER

64

PROPER

TECHN IQUESWATERING

they can also be amended in several ways to reach a

certain consistency that a grower may desire.

Mixes that contain higher levels of organic material like

peat moss or coco-coir will undoubtedly hold or retain

water to a higher capacity when compared to mixes

fortified with different sized aggregates like pea gravel

or expanded clay pebbles (LICA). The more different

sized aggregates a mix has the faster it will drain, and

lose moisture. This means the grower will likely have to

water and fertilize more often.

Despite the obvious difference in water retention

the technique used to provide water and fertilizer

is generally the same for any container plant. The

important part is to water thoroughly, saturating the

growing medium in its entirety. Allow any excess water

to run-off, or drain, from the bottom of the container

making sure the container does not sit in the excess

water for too long.

Between watering allow the growing medium to dry

out, but not to the point where the plant wilts. A

wilted plant has gone into water conservation mode,

and the stomata has closed. With closed stomata the

plant will not perform transpiration, and the flow of

water and nutrients will be cut off. This can have a

negative effect on the nutritional status of the plant,

especially in regards to calcium intake. A plant requires

a constant unhindered supply of calcium to adequately


WATERING TECHNIQUES I GARDEN CULTURE

form all the various plant structures, such as leaves,

flowers, and fruits. When the plant stomata remain

closed, and the flow of calcium becomes hindered, it can

result in disorders like “blossom end rot” in tomatoes

and peppers.

Keeping the growing medium constantly damp, but not

waterlogged will allow for proper nutrient uptake, and a

rooting environment that can support healthy growth of

both roots and beneficial microorganisms alike. Never

grow in a container that has no drainage holes.

Outdoor Soil Gardens The composition and consistency of outdoor soils can

range drastically depending on one’s region, and the

history of the soil profile. They range from loamy, sandy

soils to dense, hard soils like those rich in clay. Though

the construct of the soil naturally varies from place to

place the central idea involved when watering is the

same: water slow and deep with as much consistency

as possible.

Applying water too quickly to outdoor soil causes it to

puddle up, all be it less so with sandy soils, and it runs

off to collect in the lower parts of the garden. As the

soil takes in the water it ends up accumulating more in

those areas, and does not provide an even distribution

among the plants. Much like a light steady rain, when

you distribute water slowly, and spread it consistently

over the garden, it is better absorbed throughout.

WATERLOGGED SOILS AND SOILLESS

MIXES CAUSE MANY PROBLEMS

PERPETUALLY MOIST MEDIUM RESULTS IN POOR SEEDLING ROOTS

oxygen residing in these pockets are arguably the most

important thing roots come into contact with. When

too much water stays within the growing medium it will

fill these holes, and the oxygen will become depleted.

A lack of oxygen in the root zone will certainly lead to

root death by suffocation, or devastating attack from

diseases that thrive in low oxygen environments, such

as pythium.

Roots aren’t the only thing that dies in such an anaerobic

environment: it will also take the lives of any beneficial

microorganisms that have colonized, as they too thrive

in an oxygen rich atmosphere. Plants grown in mediums

that remain waterlogged for prolonged periods of time

are almost certainly destined for loss of yields, if not

total failure.

Water is often taken for granted in our world. Yet, in

its absence, life itself would not be possible. When a

grower is supplying plants with this precious resource

it is important to do so in a cautious, and efficient way.

By paying close attention to a plant’s overall water

requirements a grower can adequately provide enough

water at the right times to ensure a healthy productive

plant. 3

You can accomplish this, with some finesse, using the

average garden hose sprayer attachment, but the most

efficient way is with some type irrigation such as drip

line or sprinkler systems.

So that is the slow and consistent part, the other part

of the equation is to water deeply. This means providing

enough water, delivered slowly, to ensure that moisture

is reaching 1 to 2 feet into the soil profile. Strong,

healthy plants outdoors have nice deep and expansive

root systems. Providing moisture at deeper levels will

encourage the roots to grow as far as they possibly

can. You should water an outdoor soil garden this way

about every 1 to 2 weeks, depending on the soil type,

and environmental conditions.

WaterloggedRegardless which of these growing techniques one

prescribes to there is always this common thread: Do

Not Overwater. A simple way to state it is to not allow

the soil or growing medium to become waterlogged.

Something that’s waterlogged is highly saturated, or full

of water.

Soils and soil-less mixes have small pores throughout

that act like tiny pockets of air. The small amounts of


WATERI NG TECHNIQUES

WATERING TECHNIQUES I GARDEN CULTURE

“DO NOT OVERWATER”

“IN OUTDOOR SOIL

GARDENS WATER SLOWLY

WITH CONSISTENT SPREAD”

PODCASTING I GARDEN CULTURE

The idea to start the podcast came about because sometimes

people don’t have the time to watch a video, or read an

article. Podcasting is a great way to reach busy growers,

whether it’s in the car, during work, or whilst making the

dinner... you can always be learning, and improving your

indoor grow. On the show we talk about the issues that the

indoor gardener can face - from picking the right fan/filter

combo, choosing the right lights, keeping environment levels

optimal, and discussing different products on the market.

If you would like to see us recording live, we’ll be at the

Coventry Home Grown Expo on the 2nd May doing ‘Part 2

of Lighting’ with Theo from Gavita, and chatting with a host

of other companies during the two-day event.

If you would like to have a listen you can find us at http://

npktechnology.podbean.com - or on iTunes at ‘NPK

Technology Live’. 3

It began as an experiment to see what podcasting was all

about, how it worked, and if we would be any good at it.

What started out as a ‘bit of a laugh’ with friends and the

companies that we do business with, very quickly became

highly subscribed to with a listener base of 7,500 in the short

space of nine months. We were very lucky being picked by

Podbean (our podcast host

site) as one of the top ‘up and coming science’ podcasts, which helped us tre-

mendously. Now that we have published over 30 episodes, we’ve upgraded our

equipment, built a recording studio, and we have had to up our game to keep the

momentum flowing, and the subscribers listening.

Podcasting is a great way to reach busy growers, whether it’s in the car, during work, or whilst making the dinner... you can always be learning,

and improving your indoor grow

npk live

68

the best way to turn your jalapeno

chili plant into a perennial producer.

We don’t all have a greenhouse

out back, but it’s surprisingly easy,

and relatively inexpensive to grow

your own indoors. You’ll need the right lighting, a good

planting medium, nutrients, and water. You could grow in dirt

indoors, but I find the process cleaner, and more efficient with

hydroponics.

How I Did ItI like to experiment, so I grew two plants using different

methods; one aeroponic, and one deep water culture. I

started from seed, using organic seeds from Seeds of Change.

I sprouted the seeds in 40mm rockwool cubes from Grodan,

used General Hydroponics 3-part Flora Series nutrients, and a

600W metal halide for the lighting.

Growing in my basement in winter, where it’s cooler than

ideal for peppers, they took a little longer to fruit. I started

the seeds in late September, and harvested the first immature

fruits (green) in late January. My results from both methods

were impressive.

The jalapeno is a chili pepper of

the Capsicum Annuum species,

and is one of the most popular chili

peppers used in culinary dishes

around the world. With a heat index

ranging from 2,000 to 8,000 Scoville Units, the Jalapeno can

give you nice mild heat, or be a bit of a sweat-inducer.

Varying in size from two to six inches, depending on the

cultivar, and when they’re picked. What you’ll find most often

in the grocery store are immature, and green in color. Like bell

peppers, jalapenos are most often picked green, because the

time to harvest is shorter, reducing the risks associated with

leaving them on the plants longer than necessary.

With a bit of patience and care they will ripen fully to a deep

red color, and with that comes the sweetness of a red pepper

with an intensified kick of heat! The red jalapeno is a beautiful

sight to behold, and adds great color and flavor to your recipes.

Smoked, they’re known as chipotle peppers which give a

distinctly smoky and spicy taste to foods.

Contrary to the species name of Annuum, the jalapeno plant

is not an annual, and will grow and produce for several years if

kept in the right conditions. Indoor or greenhouse growing is

I’ve been growing hydroponic vegetables for just over a year now. It’s the most fun, addictive, and rewarding

hobby I’ve ever had. Jalapeno peppers have been one of my favorite things to grow. The plants stay relatively

small, at about 60cm in height. They also tolerate stress well, so while you’re learning you can correct course, and

still get a harvest! And if you like a little spice in your foods the fresh jalapeno just can’t be beat by anything you’ll

buy at the grocery store.

BY TIM MILLER

“ O N E O F MY F AV O U R I T E T H I N G S

TO G R OW ”

HEAVENJALAPENO

70

71

JALAPEÑOS I GARDEN CULTURE


T H E J A L A P E N O P L A N T I S N O T A N A N N U A L

The aeroponic setup used so much less water than the DWC,

but required more frequent maintenance, and adjustments of

pH and nutrient levels. Eventually I converted it to DWC as

well in order to provide more water/nutrient to the heavily

fruiting plant. It took a while, but finally in mid-March the first

fruits started to ripen. I had harvested and used several green

peppers over the previous month and a half, but the transition

and final product was magnificent! Bold, shiny red jalapeno

peppers in a sea of green leaves. I couldn’t wait to try them.

The sweetness of the red pepper and the heat of the jalapeno

are delicious together.

My five-year old son asked if he could try one once. He got a

milder bite the first time and claimed to love them. The next

bite he got was quite a bit hotter. After two tubes of yogurt

and a glass of milk, he claimed that it wasn’t

so bad, and he liked it. I offered him another

bite. He looked nervously at the pepper, and

coolly claimed he was full.

Abundance Is MineI had all these peppers, now I needed a plan. A co-worker

asked if I’d ever tried jalapeno jam, and offered to trade the

recipe for a jar of the finished product. It sounded terrific, so

I took her up on the offer. The jam was so easy to make, and

it’s delicious! All the peppers used in it were green, so it turned

out a nice deep dark green color.

HEAVEN T U R N Y O U R J A L A P E N O C H I L I

P L A N T I N T O A P E R E N N I A L

P R O D U C E RThe scary moment came when everything was in the pan, and

just starting to simmer to a nice low rolling boil. I turned my

back for no more than 10 seconds, and I heard it. The sizzle of

boiling over jalapeno jam hitting the burner below. My mind

instantly raced to the last thing my co-worker said to me, “Oh,

my brother said to be very careful not to let it boil over, because

the smoke is like pepper spray, and will burn your nose, throat,

and eyes.” After a brief panic and scramble to get the boiling

over pot off the burner, I waited for it. Luckily, it didn’t get to

the point where it created any smoke, and I was able to carry

on after a cleanup that was not fun. If you try the recipe, use a

pan that’s plenty big, and don’t turn your back on it.

For the second large harvest I decided to pickle them so I could

add them to salads, sandwiches, pizza, etc. I did a quick search

online, and found a very simple sounding

recipe that was similar to a refrigerator-

pickles-type recipe. Makes a smaller batch,

and doesn’t require all the canning equipment.

I was in. For this effort I now had a nice

mixture of green and red jalapenos. Again for something so

simple to do, the result is absolutely delicious. The mix of green

and red pepper rings is a fantastic flavor, and looks great in the

jars. With the slicing and everything included, this recipe took

no more than 30 minutes start to finish. Highly recommended.

Why is the SunSystem AC/DE air cooled reflector better than the rest? Scan here to watch the video or visit maxigrow.com

Specialist Horticultural Products maxigrow.co.uk

JALAPEÑOS I GARDEN CULTURE

“ I G R E W T WO P L A N T S

U S I N G D I F F E R E N T

M E T H O D S; A E R O P O N I C

A N D D E E P WAT E R C U LT U R E

If you like jalapeno peppers, it’s a great experience to

grow them yourself. It’s really nice to know

exactly where your food comes

from, and what went into it.

Fresh, pesticide-free, and fully

ripe; this is jalapeno heaven! I

hope you enjoy these recipes like

I did. Happy growing!

Jalapeno Jam• .45 kg jalapeno peppers, stems removed

• 118 mL water

• 354 mL apple cider vinegar

• 1.6 kg sugar

• 2 pouches liquid fruit pectin

• 10 jelly jars (will make about 9-10 jars)

Prepare jars and lids by boiling, then placing upright, empty,

in shallow pan with the boiling water.

Puree peppers with 236 mL cider vinegar in food processor.

Put in cooking pot and add the water, rest of the vinegar,

and the sugar.

Bring to boil dissolving the sugar. Boil for 10 minutes.

Add fruit pectin, let boil vigorously for one minute.

Remove from heat, ladle into jars. Wipe lip of jar clean.

Place lids and rings on jars. Remove from water.

Quick Pickled Jalapeno Rings• 180 mL water

• 180 mL distilled white vinegar

• 37.5 gr granulated sugar

• 18 gr kosher salt

• 1 clove garlic, crushed

• .5 gr oregano

• 10 large jalapeno peppers, sliced into rings

Combine water, vinegar, sugar, kosher salt, garlic, and

oregano in a saucepan over high heat. Bring mixture to

a boil, stir in jalapeno peppers and remove from heat. Let

mixture cool for 10 minutes.

Pack peppers into jars using tongs, cover with vinegar

mixture, place lids on jars, and refrigerate until needed. 3

72

“I had all these peppers, now I needed a plan”

Why is the SunSystem AC/DE air cooled reflector better than the rest? Scan here to watch the video or visit maxigrow.com

Specialist Horticultural Products maxigrow.co.uk

When I was growing up, canning was a season.

So, I’m amazed to learn that people are afraid to

can, think it’s too much hassle, or that you need

all kinds of equipment. They’re missing out on the

finer things in life.

74

Yes, it’s a lot of chopping, but it’s summer in a jar. You

really don’t have to invest in all kinds of special equipment

to do simple canning, and you can preserve the harvest in

small batches. You only need a pressure cooker for low

acid foods - not for pickles, jams, tomatoes, and simple

salsas.

My canning kettle - the

huge hot water bath pot

for processing jars in - was

found in the trash. Someone

made tomato soup and burned it. At the time

I had no money, so spending an afternoon

scouring the scorched tomato and milk out of

it was an affordable investment. I acquired the

jar rack at a garage sale for a quarter, along

with the jar funnel, the jar tongs, and even

some canning jars. As long as the rims are

smooth, and free of chips or cracks - you

can reuse them forever.

I’ve discovered the jar rack isn’t even necessary. Mine

was lost in moving, but I realized it at 11:00 pm with a

batch of salsa already boiling on the stove that needed

processing. I had to improvise fast. The rack serves two

purposes; to keep the bouncing jars from cracking as they

bounce together as it boils, and from direct contact with

the bottom of the pot.

I used rags to cushion them. Old wash cloths and dish

towels. Put the jar in the center, and pull the corners up

to form a pouch held in place with a rubber band that

hugs the neck of the jar, making sure the shoulders are all

BY TAMMY

ISN’T EXPENSIVE

canning kettle

jar tongs

jar funnel

75

CANNING I GARDEN CULTURE


covered. When I hastily concocted this temporary fix, I

intended to replace the rack, but I couldn’t find the rack

alone, and wasn’t about to buy a whole new kit. Years

later, I’m still using washcloths. They fit both pint and

quart jars nicely. I even invested in new ones that hold

less water - the cheap ones they sell in a bundle at the

dollar store.

You can do the cooking part in soup pots or stock pots

for large batches, which most people already have in the

cupboard. If you don’t want to can 12 pints at a time, or

don’t have a big enough pot, you can cut the recipe in

half, even thirds, though as you get into preserving your

harvest this way, anyone with a backyard garden will soon

discover that its more efficient to put up the abundance

in full recipe projects.

Scout thrift stores, estate sales, flea markets, and yard

sales if buying new is out of the question. Do a little

dumpster diving. If it’s functional, it will work. Lids are

cheap, and so are jars at the dollar store. I have used a

slotted cooking spoon to raise jars out of the water far

enough to grab them with a hot pad - before I located jar

tongs that fit my budget.

Thanks to the cold summer and soil-borne diseases,

last year’s garden didn’t produce enough peppers and

tomatoes for home-canned salsas. It’s the first time in 7

years I’ve had to buy salsa, and that stuff isn‘t summer in a

jar at all. But the jalapeno patch delivered enough for one

batch of Escabeche. It’s highly addictive. I have to hide it

from my son who devours it by the pint. 3

YOU DON’T NEED ALL KINDS OF EQUIPMENT...

Y O U D O N E E D A :

C ANN IN G K E T T L E ,

J A R F UNNE L , AN D

JA R T O N G S

Approximately 45 peppers in kilogram. For smaller

batches, cut amounts in half or thirds.

INGREDIENTS

●1.36 kg PLUS 6 extra jalapenos (deseeded and sliced)

●236.59 mL olive oil

●1.13 kg onions, thickly sliced

● .91 kg carrots, peeled and thickly sliced

●1 head garlic with cloves peeled & separated

●2.84 l apple cider vinegar

●108 gr kosher salt or sea salt

●6 bay leaves

●1.5 gr dried oregano

● .45 gr dried marjoram

● .75 gr dried thyme

●37.5 gr tablespoon sugar

DIRECTIONS Heat oil in a large soup pot. Add the carrots and fry over

medium heat for 4-5 minutes, turning occasionally. Add

chilies, onions, and garlic. Fry for 10 minutes, turning

occasionally.

Add the vinegar, salt, herbs and sugar. Bring to a boil.

Lower the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Make sure

chiles are cooked through before canning.

Pack 12 sterilized US pint jars with the vegetables and

juice and seal. Process in a hot water bath for 10 minutes.

**Metric jars: use 500mL size. Will probably fill 11 with a

little left over to refrigerate.

Let them cure for at least 2 weeks for best flavor.

Refrigerated opened jars will keep for 1-2 months.

Jalapeños en Escabeche

By Tammy Clayton

76

BY THEO TEKSTRA – MARKETING MANAGER GAVITA HOLLAND BV

YOU NEED TO MEASURE LIGHT PATTERN AND INTENSITY IN A 3 DIMENSIONAL MODEL

CALCULATING WITH LIGHTCALCULATING WITH LIGHTA 1000W HPS DOES

A 4X4 SPACE, RIGHT? .

It seems so easy. You have a few trays of plants, so what keeps you from just

hanging a few lamps above them? If you surf the forums, people are really clear

about how to do that - a 1000W HPS does a 4x4 space, right? Wrong.

WRONG

CALCULATING LIGHT I GARDEN CULTURE

77 GARDENCULTUREMAGAZINE.COM

It is not easy to make a good model. You need an

instrument that is capable of measuring the pattern and

intensity of the light in a 3 dimensional model. Such an

instrument is a photogoniometer.

The photogoniometer enables us not only to create an

electronic fixture model, but it also allows us to calculate

the efficiency of a reflector, as the meter integrates all

the light coming from the source. Compare that to the

output of the original light source, and you have the

efficiency of your fixture. It’s an invaluable tool when

you are developing a good reflector.

So let’s assume that we have the fixture measured at a

certified facility, and have obtained a good IEC file. What

now?

Lighting calculationsoftwareYou need software to calculate and visualize the effect of

light fixtures in a room. There are many different types

of software for different purposes. One thing they all

have in common: they do not automate placement of

the lights, they just show you the result for your choices.

Compare it to buying Photoshop: you do not become a

graphic artist suddenly by obtaining the software. So,

lighting design is a serious job, one in which software

assists you. Having a lot of experience helps, but it can

still be a tedious job, because rooms are never designed

to suit the effective throw of a fixture. It can really be

hard to find a good lighting solution for a room.

In this article we use a Philips program called Calculux.

It allows you to position fixtures in a defined room, and

calculate what the light levels and light uniformity will be

on a specific plane in the room.

In reality there is a lot of light wasted, and there are

many urban legends about how to deal with lighting.

Here are a few:

• You can position LEDs really close to the crop.

• A 1000W HPS lamp covers 4x4 (or 5x5 according

to some).

• An air-cooled reflector allows you to get really

close to your crop.

• The best way to light your plants is by hanging your

lamps right above your tables.

• The further away from your plants, the more light

you lose. Doubling the distance easily reduces the

light by more than 50%. Or even 75%.

Sounds familiar? Now let us take a look how it really

works in three simple steps:

1. Let us make an electronic model of our fixture,

which completely mimics how the light exits it.

2. Use that model in special light calculation software

to simulate different situations.

3. Do some crazy things to see what the result is, and

check our calculations in a real life situation.

Electronic modelsProfessional lighting manufacturers have what we call

IEC files at their disposal. They are electronic models of

their fixtures, which when used in simulation software

predicts how much light will be available, how it will

look, and how uniform that light coverage will be. They

use these models to design the correct lighting in offices,

museums, large-scale architectural projects, sport fields

and stadiums, studios and, of course, climate rooms for

plants. Now you can imagine that in a climate room or

greenhouse it’s not so much about the atmosphere, but

more about the light levels, and how uniform the light

levels are in a room. That’s why there are also specific

programs for those types of calculations.

TAKE YOUR LIGHT METER, AND DO THE MEASUREMENTS

WRONG

78

Then we need to know how much light we need. If it

concerns plants instead of office workers, then we need to

define that as PAR light, measured in photons per second

per square meter (umol s-1 m-2).

Now the real work begins. We are going to position the

fixtures in the model. First of all the designer needs to

select the right fixture, as not all fixtures will be suitable.

Some fixtures will need more distance to the surface

(which is possibly not available), and some just generate

too much light for a small surface. You need to take the

dimensions of the room into consideration and the amount

of fixtures you need to provide the right light levels. Many

times there are obstructions in the room, such as HVAC

units or vents, or structural elements.

A sample calculationTaking the surface and the desired amount of light, we can

calculate how many fixtures we need to light that room.

We will just take a straight clean room and will do this

scientifically. Wait... Let’s not!

I will now debunk a myth straight away: “a 1000W HPS fixture

covers a 5x5 area”. There you go, perfect 5x5 grid. We did not

calculate how many lights we needed, we just went by the “5x5

rule of thumb”.

Now look at the light level results and the uniformity in the room!

I would aim for about 1000 umol m-2 s-1 at >90% uniformity

with peaks no higher than

5-7% more than the desired

level. But no folks, that is not

what you are going to get.

Take your light meter, and

do the measurements - you

are way off!

Always take a good look at

the scale of the intensities!

And how big the steps on

the scale are. The larger the steps, the less uniform the light

is in the room. Also look for the peak levels: they are going to

become your “hot spots” as with light comes radiant heat.

ET need input!So let us start with a simple room. What do we need to

know about that room that will influence the light levels,

besides the dimensions?

Light doesn’t always reach the subject directly, some gets

reflected from the walls, the ceiling, or even the floor.

So it is important to know what the reflectance of those

surfaces is, and to define that in your model.

Secondly, we need to know where to measure the light. If

there are plants involved, then where are they in the room,

at what height? And will they be growing to a different

height? Will they be on tables? Based on that, we define a

few virtual measuring grids in the room. The software will

calculate for us the light intensities and uniformity at those

particular planes, given a specific position of our fixtures.

In flowering rooms that is usually the height of the plants

when they enter the room, when they are at half their

future growth, and at the finished height. In many cases

floor or table levels are also provided as a baseline.

SOME FIXTURES WILL NEED MORE DISTANCE TO THE SURFACE

CALCULATING LIGHT I GARDEN CULTURE

A HPS FIXTURE WITH A HORIZONTAL LAMP DOES NOT

HAVE A SQUARE FIELD

Now, near the walls you always have losses which influence

the light uniformity in a room, so in all fairness, we measure

about 50 cm from the wall, the center of my grow area

where the plants will be.

Want to see it for a 4x4? Here you go:

As you see where

the lights overlap the

levels get way out

of control. You will

also see that with

any configuration

the levels near a wall

are worse than in

the middle. That is

because you do not

lose light over distance, you lose it to the walls. Lights

overlap and compensate this way for the larger surface

they cover. That is also the reason you should not place

your tables against a wall.

So let’s clean this up, and let the light designer do his work.

He calculates how many fixtures he needs based on the

light requirements, the output of a fixture, and the losses

from the walls. This is the result:

As you can see a HPS fixture with a horizontal lamp does

not have a square field, but rectangular. You also see that

the uniformity is a lot better, and we reach over 90% in

every grid. Also notice that the light levels drop a bit, but

not as drastic as a direct application of the inverse square

79

law would suggest. I only lose less than 10% over double

the distance to the fixture. This is the effect of the overlap

of the reflector and its specific throw. Pretty amazing,

right? That is a second myth debunked. Remember that

this is only applicable for overlapping lights.

Lighting plants or lighting rooms?Now you have seen that using overlapping lights you get

an incredible horizontal and vertical uniformity. But how

about if I just position my lamps straight above my plants?

I don’t want to light the paths, right?

Well, that didn’t turn out as

hoped unfortunately. Only

with deeper reflectors (a

smaller exit angle) you can

clearly define a specific lit

area. Problem is though at

the edges the light will be

very much lower than in the

center. This is in particular

true for LEDs. Also you do

not have the advantage of

the overlapping lights, which give you much more uniform

light levels, and a far better horizontal penetration of

the plant. Remember folks, the sun is almost never just

straight above you.

Next time we will continue this “exposé” with an explanation

about air-cooled fixtures, useless grid measurements, and

the facts about air-cooled reflectors. 3


ROUNDUP I GARDEN CULTURE

glyphosate is now classified to ‘probably cause cancer’

“Monsanto said in its statement, “IARC has classified numerous

everyday items in Category 2 including coffee, cell phones, aloe

vera extract and pickled vegetables, as well as professions such

as a barber and fry cook.”

But the IARC classified most of these items at the less dangerous

2B level, whereas glyphosate is in the ‘probably carcinogenic’

2A category. Of Monsanto’s list, only emissions from high-

temperature frying and the occupational exposure experienced

as a barber are rated as 2A. “

Mind you the classification only includes glyphosate, and not

the molotov cocktail that comes from combining it with their

surfactant, also called an adjuvant. POEs are present in all

glyphosate weed killers, which are 3 times more toxic than

glyphosate, and never taken into account by these accepted

safety studies and lab tests, or the regulatory assessments.

One press source states that Roundup is only applied to

young plants early in the growing season, which is not true.

It is a recommended drying agent applied to any grain just

prior to harvest to allow the farmer to maintain a business

schedule without the increased cost of a drying service.

The Monsanto merry-go-round tilted the wrong way worldwide in March 2015. The World Health

Organization (WHO) issued an international press release on the 20th announcing that Roundup’s

active ingredient, glyphosate, is now classified to ‘probably cause cancer’. Naturally, this caused backlash.

Monsanto’s hackles are up, and the PR spin is in full swing. None of the studies used in the new

International Agency for Research on Cancer rating on glyphosate were Monsanto-approved. They

controversialize this report, labeling it ‘junk science’, just as they do all studies that find their products

unsafe. They demand a retraction, and rev up the disinfo machine.

Too late.

This took place during the EPA’s re-evaluation of

glyphosate as a registered pesticide, which naturally causes

Monsanto concern. The EPA has the IARC report, and will

now include the findings in their assessment of glyphosate.

Loss of EPA registration would halt the Roundup Ready

seed and pesticide sales... a devastating to corporate

health event.

There are those within the science community who also

have grave concerns over the hazards of this chemical.

Starting with those whose tests and reports were used

in this assessment of glyphosate that led to its new 2A

carcinogen classification. There were no industry-

presented studies included. The IARC considers only

government studies, and those published in peer-reviewed

journals.

Monsanto calls this cherry-picking, because it ignores the

results they prefer. The chemical giant rapidly gets damage

control underway spinning the reality to their favor in

the press. This quote from a Scientific American article

shows their twisting of facts to tilt the merry-go-round

back where they like it:

81 GARDENCULTUREMAGAZINE.COM

ROUNDUP’S NEW CLASSIFICATION OUTRAGESmonsanto

BY AGENT GREEN

ROUNDUP’S

The Glyphosate Task Force claims the IARC has gone about

this totally wrong. Naturally, this agency is comprised of

Monsanto and their agrochemical manufacturing cronies.

This self-appointed self-interest group asserts that the

evaluation has serious deficiencies - it’s not methodological,

and is inconsistent with all regulatory safety reviews.

Why would they find the IARC assessment satisfactory?

Glyphosate proponents toss-up the inconclusive evidence

that it causes cancer in humans. The only link to cancer

from exposure is with lab animals. Press coverage mentions

a huge health study done by the US government on cancer

among farmers due to pesticide use.

That report says nothing about glyphosate, yet it’s glowingly

pointed to as proof that it doesn’t cause cancer in humans. It

is unclear whether Roundup or glyphosate were included in

the study, which they conducted in two sessions: 1998 and

2003. This really wouldn’t prove conclusive today, because

Roundup Ready crops weren’t released until 1997 with the

soybean introduction, followed by corn in 1998. So that

first group of farmers would have had very little repeated

exposure to large amounts of glyphosate. Roundup Ready

cotton and canola also came out about this time.

What about that second round of farmers responding to

the 2003 survey? By this point in time Roundup Ready

Corn accounted for 90% of GMO corn grow worldwide.

Now there are 2,000 farmers afflicted with prostate

cancer, but the report not published until 2013 found the

only connecting link between a pesticide and their cancer

was malathion. We have no way of knowing if ANY of the

farmers who responded to the survey grew Roundup Ready

crops. The report is very brief, and no data collected is

readily available. It also notes that all these afflicted farmers

have a family history of cancer.

These are old studies conducted over a decade ago! Farmers

have broadcast billions of gallons of glyphosate on crops in

the last 12 years that are not included in this assessment. The

study subjects volunteered and answered survey questions

at a set location. No one followed farmers as is suggested

in the press. No one canvassed farm communities, or

studied much of anything beyond responses to pre-defined

questions. How is this conclusive proof?

Insufficient human testing will always be a convenient out.

They outlawed testing pharmaceuticals and pesticides on

people a long time ago. Instead we use rats, rabbits, and

guinea pigs, which are perfectly acceptable, unless the study

doesn’t sit well with the product manufacturer. Then they

claim the doses and exposure was excessive, but there are

hidden industry studies that have leaked out in recent years

with undesirable results.

Should the IARC be discredited?

No. They are the only agency not swayed by industry

presented studies and data. They follow strict guidelines in

assessing possible harm presented to humans by substances.

There was sufficient evidence that glyphosate alone

causes cancer in lab mammals that cannot be attributed to

hereditary factors, and would not have existed from other

means.

Science and health professionals around the world sounded

off, with the Science Media Centre in the UK quoting

credible experts like this one among those who feel there is

nothing wrong with glyphosate:

Prof. Andreas Kortenkamp, Professor in Human Toxicology

at Brunel University London, said:

”IARC have carefully assessed new evidence about the cancer

hazards of pesticides, and have now classified 5 pesticides

as either ‘probably’ or ‘possibly’ carcinogenic to humans. The

authorities in the EU must now consider whether existing

measures are sufficient to protect consumers and pesticide

applicators from cancer risks. This will be particularly

important for the widely used weed killer glyphosate, now

classified as probably carcinogenic to humans. Home

gardeners especially should exercise the utmost care when

they use weedkillers that contain glyphosate.”


83

Monsanto jumps on damage

control with spin and propaganda

the classification only includes glyphosate, and not the POE


“A highly anticipated book”MAXIMUM YIELD

“How to become the perfect indoor gardener”THE INDOOR GARDENER

“Outstanding drawings. I keep my reference copy close at hand”JORGE CERVANTES

“A richly illustrated bible of hydroponic gardening”HYDROPONEAST MAGAZINE

“William Texier is considered one of the most knowledgeable hydroponics experts worldwide”SOILLESS GARDENING

THE WORLDWIDE REFERENCE

Available from Growth Technology, Highlight Horticulture, Hydrofarm, BWGS and major distributors worldwide. MAMAPUBLISHING.COM

Tel: +44(0)1233500633Email: [email protected]

www.downtoearthkent.co.ukDown to Earth Kent Ltd

Beyond that, credible studies have determined that

glyphosate causes cell degeneration that can lead to

the onset of cancer, and that the chemical does not

disappear in a couple of weeks time. There are many

health and science professionals gravely concerned over

its persistent presence in the food, groundwater, air, and

precipitation everywhere.

Will this get glyphosate banned?

Only time will tell. The EPA also concluded glyphosate

caused cancer 35 years ago, an assessment they obviously

reversed. The agency’s most recent review for glyphosate

registration concluded as of early April with restrictions

being placed on the herbicide due to superweeds, not health

concerns.

WHO should not retract their statement, and it wouldn’t

matter if they did, because the truth is already out there

- a retraction would prove they are patsies who also bow

to corporate interests. Why has the EPA not sounded

off on this latest classification by the IARC? They’re not

done investigating yet, and this will soon be open to public

comment. The Glyphosate Task Force is also busy with

damage control in Europe battling the fallout from WHO

publishing the IARC report.

On top of that, the new restrictions on glyphosate will

result in fewer fields planted with glyphosate resistant GMO

crops, because about 50% of US farmland is now infested

with superweeds. Farmers were already finding it more

cost-effective to grow non-Roundup Ready crop varieties

last year when a return to traditional seed was noted by

seed dealers. If the US adopts the same approach to battling

superweeds as the UK has, the new guidelines will have

farms following a 3-year rotation on pesticides they can

apply, which would mean fewer fields growing glyphosate

resistant varieties.

This is far from over… everywhere. 3

85



What are they? Why are so many fertilizer companies adding enzymes to their ever-expanding list of essential supplements?

BY RICK LE RENARD

87

ENZYMES I GARDEN CULTURE


NATURALLY OCCURRING,

AND NECESSARY TO ALL LIFE FORMS

Enzymes are extremely small, yet powerful proteins made of complex chains of amino acids folded

in shapes reminiscent of Pac-Man. Simply said, enzymes have the power to chop things into smaller

parts. They are able to break down, modify, and even create things! Naturally occurring, and neces-

sary to all life forms, without them, there would be no life - not as we know it anyways.

ENZYMES

The digestive process is the most commonly known use of

enzymes. The various enzymes along our digestive tract

convert what we eat into essential substances our bodies

require to function. Starting with the amylase in saliva, which

breaks down starches into simpler sugars, and on to the

others responsible for breaking almost everything that we

eat. Basically, enzymes permit us to convert food into energy.

When we’re missing a certain type of enzymes, we are faced

with digestive problems. For example, those who have no or

low levels of lactase in their stomach have issues digesting dairy

products, or more precisely, the lactose they contain.

Their mysterious powers have been known, and studied for

centuries, while millenniums ago, early humans knew nothing

about them, but they were certainly taking advantage of their

powers using them in cooking, brewing, and production of

various foods, like cheese. In nature, bacteria, microbes, and

fungus excrete enzymes, and they live in symbiosis with other

living things. Their complexity, and almighty powers have even

been cited by religious creationist groups to deny the theory

of evolution. They claim that “Enzymes are so perfect, and so

essential to life, only God could have created them. Enzymes

are created within living organisms, it is therefore impossible

for life to have appeared on its own.” While debating with

creationists is an amazing waste of time, and in the past they

were right about mankind not being able to create enzymes.

For many years the very complexity of it all made it impossible

for even the best scientist to create enzymes. We were only

able to harvest them from living organisms. Unfortunately

for the creationists, recent technological breakthroughs have

made it possible to create enzymes from “scratch.” It is still

much more economical to extract them via fermentation,

and other processes with specific bacterial and fungal

combinations, than to manufacture them.

After alcohol production, the most common usage of

industrially harvested enzymes started in the early 1900’s in

making laundry and dish detergent. Industries were then able

to extract and isolate varieties that were good at breaking

down greases and dirt. Their presence helps in reducing the

need for phosphorous in detergent, hence helping in saving

our water supply from the cyanobacteria (AKA blue-green

algae). Enzymatic compounds are also widely used in septic

tanks to further break down what we didn’t break down

with our own enzymes. They are not relegated only to gross

cleaning jobs. We also use enzymes in very delicate medical

tasks, like purifying blood.

As complex as they are, enzymes are really limited in the

scope of actions they can achieve, each type being only able

to produce one action on one single thing. For instance, the

cellulase enzyme can only break down cellulose, nothing else.

Why should we use enzymes?


ENZYMES I GARDEN CULTURE

While enzymes may be able to repeat

their tasks millions of times they can

also be deactivated or even destroyed;

by other enzymes, change in pH,

temperature, etc. Naturally, these

variables make packaging enzymes for

retail sale a real challenge, particularly if

a product contains many different types.

The goal is that they stay activated or

useful. This is why sometimes we buy enzyme products,

and are rightfully justified to wonder if this actually does

something, because in many products out there the enzymes

are already “dead” in the bottle - long before they reach your

nutrient solution. Supplement makers can’t control what

happens between their loading dock and your garden.

What they do for you.What’s in it for us gardeners? Why should we use enzymes?

Are they all the same? What

is the difference between

different brands? Are they

safe for our plants, and the

consumables we grow?

There is no doubt, adding

enzymes to your feeding

schedule is beneficial to

plants. It aids in simple tasks

like getting rid of dead roots,

or very complex ones like helping the plant accelerate its

development by assisting in hormone biosynthesis.

Most manufacturers are quite guarded when it comes to

revealing the specifics about their product’s composition.

Often enzyme products use generic marketing words like

“improves plant health” and shy away from specific claims.

The most common reason for including enzymes in high

intensity gardening inputs is to keep the medium “clean.”

These types of enzymes act as a protection or an insurance

against disease. Some enzyme products break down roots,

others break down bad bacteria and other detrimental life

forms. In converting their targets into

sugars and minerals, they also improve

the soil structures by eliminating dead

material to create new air and water

channels before it rots, and attracts

pathogens. The all too popular chemical

alternatives can also keep things quite

clean, but leave a poisonous trail behind...

It may be very difficult to prove that the enzyme product

you bought really does anything. One simple DIY test to find

out if the product was able to break down two components

of dead root material, cellulose, and Hemicellulose. The

first by soaking a tiny piece of paper (cellulose test) and the

other with apple sauce (Hemicellulose). By seeing the paper

break down, and the apple sauce become liquid - we could

visually assess that at least those two enzymes were there,

and working.

However, if this test fails to break down paper, or liquefy

the apple sauce, it does not mean the enzymatic product

you bought is useless. It just means that Cellulase and

Hemicellulase are not present (or active). As said earlier,

there are many kinds of enzymes, each having a specific

function on a specific target. We know plants generate

enzymes for many functions, like creating hormones, and to

a wider extent making photosynthesis work. Sometimes it’s

good to combine various enzyme products together, certain

mixes when designed for specific growing techniques can

truly maximize a plant’s growth potential.

Some products sold as enzymes are not even enzymes, but

blends of microbes and fungi. When working properly, they

will populate and secrete various enzymes. But this is only

possible if the microbes are still alive, and able to reproduce

fast enough to be useful.

So we know enzymes are good for plants. There are

certain ones we can test for, but it is nearly impossible for

growers to test for complex enzymic actions, like bacterial

degradation, and hormone production. For this we will need

to have some faith in the manufacturers. 3

ENZYMES PERMIT US TO

CONVERT FOOD INTO ENERGY

Highlight will be exhibiting at the HOME GROWN EXPOStand G19-G21 Coventry Ricoh Arena 30-31 MAY 2015

We Keep You Growing Tel: 01949 839 727 E-mail:[email protected]

Highlight Horticulture are fast becoming the UK’s favourite horticultural wholesaler. With a long history in retail, and for several years now, in wholesale, our friendly and approachable attitude is why more and more people are looking towards Highlight . With many leading products, such as the nations favourite nutrient ranges (CANNA, BIO BIZZ, GHE) and

additives (BOOST ACCELERATOR, BUDDHAS TREE PK 9-18 & GEN200) amongst others, and a wide range of re�ectors, lighting, �lters, ventilation, tents and accessories make Highlight Horticulture the

wholesaler of choice.

gorillaboxBUIL

T FOR

STRE

NGTH

TM

www.goldlabel.nl

The Gold Standard for Growing...The only RHP certifi ed clay pebble specifi cally designed for growing. They hold much more water than round pebbles because of their porous structure. These are mixed with the cleanest coco on

the market, giving one of the best growing mediums available in the world.

Exclusively available in the UK from:

Direct Gardening SuppliesT: 01226 320850W: directgardeningsupplies.co.uk

MaxigrowT: 01246 221125W: maxigrow.com

NutricultureT: 01695 554080W: nutriculture.co.uk

Advanced GardeningT: 020 8443 2420W: advanced-gardening.com

The superior

hydro/coco mix

Garden Culture Magazine: UK 8

Documents

Transcript of Garden Culture Magazine: UK 8