Maximum Yield Modern Growing | UK/EU Edition | March/April 2017

MODERN GROWING
MAR/APR 2017
UK/EU EDITION • maximumyield.com
GROWING THE FUTURE
THE AUTOMATED UBERGARDEN OF THE FUTURE | SUPPLEMENTAL CO 2
BIOCONTROL | COMPARING HYDROPONIC SYSTEMS

MODERN GROWING
MAR/APR 2017
FEATURES
22
Supplemental CO2: The
Next Step to Ridiculously
Good Plants
by Eric Hopper
Your crops are on a killer nutrition
regimen and living in an indoor
growroom with on-point lighting,
temperature, and humidity. What’s the
next step towards getting ridiculously
good-looking and well-performing
plants? Bring on the CO2.
28
Ready, Tech, Grow:
Emerging Technology
in Agriculture
by Cory Hughes
Technology has created a new kind
of farm and a new kind of farmer.
Utilising automation, artificial
intelligence, and agbots, the role of
the grower is evolving.
6 first feed

first feed
8 from the editor
10 contributors
tapped in
12 ask the experts
14 max facts
18 good to grow
grow cycle
32 Comparing Various Water Culture
Hydroponic Systems
by Frank Rauscher
38 Conduct Yourself Accordingly:
Measuring Electrical Conductivity
for Bigger and Healthier Plants
by Austin Yeany
42 Wintertime Greenhouse Gardening
by Kent Gruetzmacher
46 The Light that Binds: Lighting for Young Plants
by Eric Hopper
52 Biocontrol: A New Age of Pest Management
by Lacey Macri
groundbreakers
you tell us
54 DryGair Energies Ltd.
movers & shakers
56 P.L. Light Systems Inc.
10 facts on... Acid
58 by Philip McIntosh
62 max mart
64 distributors
first feed
7

first feed
from the editor
No matter where you
live, the city or country,
the practice of growing
food is changing in
many exciting ways.”
For the 75-plus per cent of Europeans who reside in
urban areas, it is easy to believe that technology
is reserved only for those who live in the city. Our
city lives, after all, are immersed in technology.
We’re connected by smartphones, transported along
our roads by vehicles with sophisticated computer
systems, and we rely on myriad apps that automate
virtually everything we do. This technological
revolution isn’t reserved just for urbanites, however.
Technology in the field of agriculture is also moving
swiftly forward.
While the modern farmer still maintains his or her
stereotypical elements—they still rise at ungodly
hours—the tools they use are as sophisticated as
any employed in the city. In this issue of Maximum
Yield, we explore the changing face of agriculture
and its emerging technology. Cory Hughes provides
us with a 10,000-foot view of some of the new
advancements in traditional agriculture, including
automated agriculture, artificial intelligence, and
the rise of agbots.
Of course, not everybody is a techie. For many, the
pursuit of growing still means getting their hands
dirty in some soil or maintaining an indoor hydro
system. We’ve got those individuals covered too
with Lacey Macri’s piece on biocontrol and Frank
Rauscher’s comparison between deep water and
NTF systems.
No matter where you live, the city or country, the
practice of growing food is changing in many exciting
ways. As always, thanks for reading Maximum Yield
and if you have any questions or comments, feel free
to email us at editor@maximumyield.com.
March/April 2017
GENERAL MANAGER
Ilona Hawser
EDITORIAL
editor@maximumyield.com
Toby Gorman
Jessica Skelton
Julie Chadwick
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AUSTRALIAN DISTRIBUTION
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8
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#maximumyield
Win CANNABOOST!
Enter to win with CANNA! Some
lucky fans will get the chance to win a
0.25-liter, 1-liter or 5-liter bottle of their
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Competition ends Feb. 28, 2017.
contributors
ERIC HOPPER’S past
experiences within
the indoor gardening
industry include being
a hydroponic retail store
manager and owner.
Currently, he works as
a writer, consultant, and product tester for
various indoor horticulture companies. His
inquisitive nature keeps him busy seeking
new technologies and methods that could
help maximise a garden’s performance.
CORY HUGHES
is a former police
officer turned full-time
commercial grower in
Denver, Colorado.
Grand Prize Winner
Getting your feet wet in hydroponics
is not easy. However, when my local
shop gave me a copy of your informative
magazine, it answered a lot of questions
on how to get started and what I needed. I
am hopelessly hooked on Maximum Yield
now. I'm totally pumped about winning the
grand prize and will most likely use it to
upgrade my old magnetic ballast grow light
with a more energy efficient unit. Thanks!
Michael Forsberg
Editor’s Note: Michael has won Maximum
Yield’s 2016 I’m a Fan grand prize of
$1,000 to spend at his favourite indoor
gardening shop, St. Louis Hydroponic
Company, in St. Louis, Missouri, for telling
us why he loves Maximum Yield.
Why I love doing what I do...
@austinyeany
LACEY MARCI works
as head of sales at
CleanGrow Ltd., focusing
her time on business
development within the
company. She received
a bachelor’s degree in
communications and psychology from the
University of California, Davis in 2011,
where she worked at the California Aggie
student newspaper on campus.
FRANK RAUSCHER is
a certified horticulturist
and consultant for
the hydroponic and
landscape industry
with a background in
product development.
Frank is a member of the Southern Nevada
Landscape Association and active in the
Southern California green industry, where
his focus is drought-tolerant xeriscapes. He
specialises in discovering the “root-cause”
of plant stress.
While we were on vacation our
window garden plants were quite
busy! @Max_Yield
@RHoskieWMES
AUSTIN YEANY has
been professionally
involved in the
agriculture and
hydroponics industry for
five years. He operates
a business known
as VGSorganic, where he engineers
custom-made gardens. He is also currently
studying agricultural science.
#ScienceSunday - Healthy roots =
healthy plants = happy farmer.
“Maintaining Healthy Hydroponic Root
Systems” by Dr. Lynette Morgan. Article can
be found on the @maximumyield website.
@nomad.farms
editor@maximumyield.com
@maximumyield
@max_yield
@maximumyield
@maximumyield
maximumyield
KENT GRUETZMACHER
is a California-based
freelance writer and the
west coast director of
business development at
Mac & Fulton Executive
Search and Consulting, an
employment recruiting firm dedicated to the
indoor gardening and hydroponics industries.
He is interested in utilising his Master of Arts
in humanities to explore the many cultural
and business facets of this emerging industry
by way of his entrepreneurial projects.
10 first feed

tapped in
ask the experts
Q
I am growing several types of lettuce in my indoor vertical farm. I
am interested in switching to organic fertilisers so that I can become
Certified Organic. Along with several sources of organic micronutrients,
I have the following organic sources of N-P-K on hand already: Sodium
Nitrate Allganic (16-0-0), Tennessee Brown Phosphate (23 per cent P 2
0 5
),
and Potassium Sulfate Soluble Fines GSL (0-0-50). All of these ingredients
are OMRI approved. How would I go about mixing them to the correct N-P-K
ratios? I have a 20-gallon tank and I am using LED lights and coco coir. I
only want to use plant-based or mined minerals—no animal products—and
I want my homemade hydroponic liquid fertiliser be 8-15-36. If my N-P-K
percentages need to be changed, I am not opposed.
Page
Hello, Page. Thanks for
the detailed information.
Unfortunately, it’s not just
a case of simply switching
A
from normal hydroponic
fertiliser salts to organic
products in a recirculating
system; there are many
factors to consider.
First, although you have the N-P-K
information for the organic products
you want to use, check to see if they
contain the other essential macro
elements required for plant growth,
mainly calcium and magnesium.
Calcium in particular is difficult to
obtain in a readily soluble form for use
in organic hydroponics; most organic
calcium fertilisers are slow release.
So, the organic fertilisers you have
might provide sufficient N-P-K, but
the plants may still not thrive due to a
lack of calcium and magnesium. Also,
without knowing the composition of the
liquid micronutrient products, it’s not
possible to say if these provide all the
trace elements in the correct levels. For
example, iron can be difficult to obtain
in sufficient amounts and in the correct
form for hydroponics.
Second, the sodium nitrate product you
have, while it may be considered organic,
would be fairly toxic in a recirculating
system growing lettuce. It not only
provides nitrate, but also a considerable
amount of sodium that would build
up rapidly in the recirculating system,
eventually causing major growth issues.
Sodium nitrate typically contains 16
per cent nitrogen and 27 per cent sodium,
which is why there are restrictions on
the use of sodium nitrate in organic
production. Often, organic regulations for
producers only allow 20 per cent of total
nitrogen to come from sodium nitrate, so
another source of nitrogen is required.
Next, the phosphate product you have
is unlikely to be very water soluble
and is likely to originate from rock
phosphate. While rock phosphate is
organically allowable, it isn’t intended
to be a slow-release form of potassium
and is usually not soluble enough for
use in recirculating, NFT-type systems.
Potassium sulphate, however, is
soluble and is also used in non-organic
hydroponics, so it can be used as a
potassium and sulphur source.
The ratio of the three organic
products you have listed would be
required, theoretically, at the following
percentages to give the approximate
N-P-K you requested:
• sodium nitrate – 28 per cent
• phosphate – 36 per cent
• potassium sulphate – 36 per cent
This would give an N-P-K of 4-8-18 (as
elements) and 200 grams dissolved into
100 litres of water would give 90 ppm N,
166 ppm P, and 360 ppm K. However, as
pointed out above, it would also give a
toxic level of sodium, and the phosphate
is unlikely to be readily available for
plant uptake due to insolubility.
To make a usable organic nutrient
formulation for hydroponics with a source
of nitrogen that is not sodium nitrate,
many growers start with an organic
liquid base nutrient that is based on fish,
blood, bone, or similar materials because
they contain amino acids/proteins that
are organic sources of nitrogen. The
microbial actions in the substrate or soil
break them down into nitrates for plant
uptake. Alternatively, there are commercial
organic liquid nutrient concentrates
already on the market that could experimented
with in an organic lettuce system.
Kind Regards,
Lynette Morgan
12 tapped in

Q
Hello,
I grew cucumbers the last two winters in my hydroponic
set-up and noticed that the flavour more resembled water
than cucumber. I suspect the temperature in my growing
area is not warm enough. It’s around 24˚C. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Scott
Hello Scott,
Unlike tomato fruit,
cucumbers don’t tend to
A
develop a particularly
strong flavour: however,
they shouldn’t taste like
water. There can be a
number of causes for a
lack of that distinctive cucumber-ness,
and they are largely related to genetic
and/or growing conditions and nutrition.
Firstly, flavour strength—which is made
up of sugars, acids, volatiles, and other
compounds—varies somewhat between
the different types of cucumbers. Older,
open pollinated varieties and types tend
to have a stronger flavour, but are prone
to bitterness. Greenhouse, hydroponic
hybrids, on the other hand, are milder
in flavour, unlikely to become bitter,
and higher yielding.
Growing environment also plays a role
in the development of flavour compounds.
A temperature around 24˚C is fine
(optimal temperatures are 22-28˚C) unless
the nights are much colder than this.
Nutrients play a significant part in
cucumber quality, too, as the plant has a
high requirement for potassium (K) in the
fruiting stages. It’s recommended to use
a K booster or high-K fruiting formulation
during fruit development, along with some
additional calcium. Also, run a higher
EC in winter (around two to 2.2). Some
growers have found the addition of silicon
to the nutrient solution assists flavour and
fruit quality in cucumbers, too. However,
silicon supplements can push the pH of the
nutrient solution up, so that requires extra
monitoring and adjustment.
Avoiding overwatering and saturation
of the growing medium also assists with
improving compositional fruit quality
and flavour strength. Light may be
another issue; cucumbers need a lot of
light, and if sufficient light is not present
for maximum photosynthesis, the fruit
won’t get enough sugars. This can result
in poor flavour. Similarly, if the plants
are carrying a high fruit load, then the
supply of sugars (assimilate) allotted to
each individual fruit is restricted. In this
case, pruning fruitlets to reduce numbers
may be beneficial.
Finally, the stage at which the
cucumber fruit are harvested and
how they might be stored also plays a
role with flavour. Cucumbers that are
harvested fairly immature tend to have
a milder, less developed flavour, while
those that are over mature develop a
watery, sometimes bitter flavour. Once
harvested, cucumbers should be eaten
as soon as possible. They do store well
under refrigeration wrapped in plastic,
but if storage is more than a couple of
days, this does reduce compositional
quality. The cool conditions in the
refrigerator are likely to effect volatiles
that contribute significantly to that
cucumber flavour.
Hope that helps, and good luck
with the next crop.
Kind regards,
Lynette Morgan
Dr. Lynette Morgan holds a B. Hort. Tech. degree
and a PhD in hydroponic greenhouse production from
Massey University, New Zealand. Lynette is a partner
with Suntec International Hydroponic Consultants and
has authored several technical books on hydroponics.
Visit suntec.co.nz for more information.
tapped in
13

tapped in
maxfacts
growing news, tips, & trivia
Powdery Mildew Could Hitch Rides on Bamboo Stakes
There is a body of anecdotal evidence that suggests it is possible to infect plants with powdery
mildew transferred by bamboo stakes. Bamboo is known for disease resistance, but it is not
exempt from carrying mold and mildew spores. The spores lie dormant in bamboo culms until
growth is triggered by moisture, and bamboo stakes in soil are constantly exposed to moisture.
Also, bamboo stakes often arrive at stores with active mildew growth from “cargo sweat”, the
tropical damp climate created in a closed shipping container. It may be beneficial for a grower
to weigh the risks of bamboo against other non-porous alternatives that might be slightly more
expensive but not prone to fungus infections.
- scrogger.com
Learning to Farm on Mars
Shipping food to Mars could cost nearly $1 billion per person per year—so
if people want to live there, growing food on the planet is a necessary
step. It’s a challenge that NASA and the European Space Agency are
working on. However, a non-sanctioned group of urban farmers, food
entrepreneurs, bio-hackers, etc. who call themselves the Mars Farm
Odyssey thinks it can also help in the quest to figure out how space
farming should work. “The collective hive of humanity has more ideas
to offer than a research team buried in a bunker somewhere,” says
member Karin Kloosterman. “And this know-how can be applied
on Earth, too, so young researchers can employ the hive to start
experimentation even without the gravity or resource limitations
one would experience in space.” In a recent meeting in Tel Aviv, the
group focused on developing a citizen science kit that will crowdsource
how particular plants grow, making it possible to build controlled “food
computers” that recreate the climate and nutrients that a crop needs.
- fastcoexist.com
New Research Links Poor Eating and Asthma
Having plenty of fruit and vegetables in your diet could prevent you from
developing asthma, scientists claim. Children living in an area with a lack
of healthy options are 53 per cent more at risk of having the common
condition, says new research from the American College of Allergy,
Asthma, and Immunology. Experts say the findings are a worry as around
one in 10 children live in ‘food deserts’—a poorer area with no fresh
products for a mile. Around 21 per cent of children who lived in a food
desert had asthma—compared to 17 per cent of youngsters living in areas
with closer access to fresh goods. Figures suggest 5.4 million people
in the UK suffer from asthma. Nutrient-rich foods help ward off the
condition by boosting the immune system, it is believed.
- dailymail.co.uk
14 tapped in

Recycled Bottle Greenhouses are Helping
Students Learn Lessons About Sustainability
In Suffolk, students from Laxfield Primary School children have made a
greenhouse out of recycled bottles. Under the school’s “food for life”
program, pupils are encouraged to understand how food is grown and
how a combination of good nutrition and physical activity contributes to
a healthier life. Each child has their own space
in the garden and they design their own
planting schemes and then plant their
chosen vegetables, which includes
tomatoes, chillies and peppers.
“Building the greenhouse was a real
team effort,” says Lucy Hammond,
head of school. “The parents
collected hundreds of bottles
for the school to build it. It was
a fantastic recycling exercise for
the children.” Produce from the
school’s garden was recently
served to parents and invited
guests as part of the popular
Aldeburgh Food and Drink Festival.
Staff and pupils served pumpkin soup,
vegetable curry, and apple crumble.
- hydroponics.com.au
Underground Garden in London
to Sell to UK Supermarkets
Enter the lift at 1 Carpenter’s Place, a few minutes’ walk from Clapham Common
tube station, and descend 30 metres below London’s bustling streets and you
will be transported to London’s first underground farm. Set in tunnels used
during World War II as a bomb shelter for London
residents, Growing Underground is a 2.4-acre,
£1 million crowdfunded project launched
in June 2015. Since its launch, it has
undergone rapid growth and now uses
a sophisticated lighting and irrigation
system to grow a range of crops
including pea shoots, radish,
mustard, coriander, red Amaranth,
mizuna, celery, parsley, and rocket.
Owners Steven Dring and Richard
Ballard started by selling to local
restaurants and just announced their
first venture into the retail market. “Now
we supply various large food service
distributors, including Compass and
BaxterStorey,” says Dring, who spent several
months in talks with UK supermarkets. “By May
2017, we will be selling to all the major retailers.”
- fginsight.com
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15

max facts
Flying in Emergency Salads from US after Spanish Floods
Severe flooding in Spain has led to shortages so bad in the UK that some supermarkets are
flying produce in from the United States. If you live in the United Kingdom and have made
a New Year’s resolution to eat more salad in 2017, you might have to rethink your strategy.
Britain is experiencing a significant shortage of green vegetables in its grocery stores,
including iceberg and gem lettuces, broccoli, celery, and citrus fruits like clementines and
satsumas. At this time of year, these fresh foods are typically imported from Murcia, a key
growing area in southeastern Spain that provides 80 per cent of Europe’s produce during
winter months. Extreme flooding and incessant downpours, however, have reduced much of
the harvest to 30 per cent of what it usually is. Celery is down by 40 per cent. Many seedlings
have been lost in the flooding, which means that scheduled harvests in February and March
will not happen, leading to inevitable further shortages.
- theguardian.com
French Parks and Public Gardens
Bid Adieu to Pesticides
France has officially given the boot to harmful chemicals in outdoor places
where young children, crucial pollinators, and the general public frequently
gather. As reported by the Associated Press, France's pesticide ban
applies to all public parks, gardens, and forests, including famed Parisian
green spaces like Jardin des Tuileries, Bois de Vincennes, and Jardin de
Luxembourg. For now, pesticides can still be freely used—but one would hope in
respectful moderation—at French cemeteries. The manicured turf found at sports
stadiums is also off the hook and can continue to be treated with pesticides. In 2019, the law will
expand from public green spaces to private gardens when the over-the-counter sale of pesticides
to non-professionals becomes a thing of the past. While private residential green spaces are
generally more compact than their public brethren, instances of abuse and misuse of pesticides
by amateur gardeners is common.
- mnn.com
Precision Farming Market to Reach $7.8 billion, by 2022
The Precision Agriculture Market Report, published by Allied Market Research, forecasts that the global market is expected
to garner $7.8 billion (£6.2 billion) by 2022, registering a compound annual growth
rate of 14.9 per cent during the period of 2016 to 2022. Precision
agriculture is a farming technique associated with application of
different technologies and solutions to enable efficient farming
and improve crop yield. Precision agriculture technologies include
GPS, GIS, telematics, variable rate technology (VRT), and remote
sensing. North America presently leads the market, on account of
high investment in agriculture technologies, high awareness levels
and wide internet penetration. Within North America, the US
constitutes over 80 per cent of the market revenue. Furthermore,
Asia-Pacific is likely to exhibit the highest growth, on account of
the increasing adoption of advanced agriculture technologies
such as VRT and drone, mainly in countries such as China and
Japan. It presents significant potential in enhancing food
productivity while at the same time providing sustainable
management of resources.
- whatech.com
16 tapped in

Refugees Plant Roots in new
Hydroponic Community
Garden in Tel Aviv
A new project in Neve Sha’anan,
a neighbourhood of Tel Aviv, is
attempting to connect people
to their food traditions using
a hydroponic community
garden. The neighborhood is
low-income and has attracted
thousands of refugees and
migrants from East Africa. The
idea of the new project Rooftop
Gardens, is to connect all the
parts of this community to one
common denominator: real food
from home. Leading the project is urban farming
consultant Lavi Kushelevich, who is leading more
than a handful of projects to rejuvenate Tel Aviv
and to turn it into a food-producing engine. “We
have now given the residents tools to grow their
own food,” says Kushelevich, “and taught them
about hydroponics, while we bring them seedlings
with tastes of flavours from all over the world where
these people once called home.”
- greenprophet.com
Schools Urged to Go Green For 2017
Schools across the county are being urged to ‘go green’ for 2017 to save
energy, money, and cut carbon emissions. Bucks County Council (BCC) is
offering schools a package of new lighting along with heating and energy
controls as part of its Re:fit scheme—a three year programme launched
in 2015 to reduce energy consumption and cut carbon emissions by 10
per cent. Four schools in Great Harwood, Waddesdon, Hazlemere, and
High Wycombe took part in a pilot scheme which saw an investment of
£115,000. Annual energy cost reductions of more than £11,000 at the
schools will save BCC around a quarter of a million pounds within 25
years. The schools have LED lighting and sensors and Millbrook Combined
School in High Wycombe has had efficient heat and pool pumps fitted.
The RE:fit programme is now open to all schools and the up-front costs
come from interest-free
government-funded loans.
- bucksfreepress.co.uk
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17

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good to grow
ask for these products at your local hydro shop
Dewey Mister 14-Site Cloner
Whether you are propagating from seed or cloning a cutting, Dewey Mister’s 14-Site Cloner
outperforms other units on the market. The 14-Site Cloner is a two-gallon food-grade bucket
topped with a specially designed, 14-site sturdy lid that’s fitted and has a built-in channel to
allow the air tube to fit nicely with no crimping and no leaking. Each cloning site is recessed
and sized to fit a MisterSert, which is made of flexible, food-grade material for easy cleaning
and reuse. Say goodbye to neoprene inserts and net pots that make transplanting difficult.
The Cloner is powered by a Dewey Mister, which means no water pumps or air stones are
needed and there are no spray nozzles to ultimately get clogged. Use less water and less
nutrient solution and get better air infusion and faster cloning with an easy-to-use, costeffective
Dewey Mister Cloner.
Dutchpro Starter Pack
for Hydro/Coco
The Dutchpro Starter Pack for
Hydro/Coco provides all the
nutrients and supplements
growers need for grow and
bloom in one box, including
one large bottle of Original
Grow Hydro/Coco, one large
bottle of Original Bloom Hydro/
Coco, and one small bottle
each of Take Root, Explode, and
Multi Total. Grow schedules and
instructions are also included.
This authentic, Amsterdamdesigned
canal house starter
pack is the perfect introduction
to Dutchpro nutrients and additives and
provides the opportunity to give the award-winning
Dutchpro range a try at a significantly reduced price.
ExHale CO 2 Bags
ExHale produces CO 2 for a minimum
of six months to offer a 20 to
30 per cent increase in yield.
Trusted by garden enthusiasts,
ExHale costs only cents a day;
a small investment to make for
guaranteed results in your indoor
garden. ExHale is maintenance-free,
produces no heat, and doesn't
require electricity. With their
award-winning genetics, ExHale
helps take your garden to the next
level of success: healthier plants
and a better finished product.
Proudly made in the US by fellow
gardeners, the staff at ExHale stand
behind their products 100 per cent
and think it’s time growers give their
garden what it wants and needs.
Florafelt Vertical Gardens and Living Walls
Florafelt Vertical Gardens and Living Walls present a whole new way to think about
gardening. Grow a living wall is easy with the Florafelt System. The handmade
pocket planters and robust Pro Systems are designed to use the micro fibres in PET
felt so that all the plants are watered equally. Florafelt is made from recycled plastic
bottles, a nylon non-toxic fibre that is indestructible. This amazing material provides
a safe growing medium that is pH neutral and non-reactive so you can garden
organically right on your wall. It’s especially safe and suitable for vegetables and
herbs. Roots grow right into the felt, which comes alive thanks to the microbiology
in the soil. Planters also come with a customizable Root-Wrapping system that lets
you change and arrange your living wall at will, while maintaining the integrity of
every plant in its own soil.
18 tapped in

AgroLED iSunlight T5 LED
Repower your fixture with Sun System’s new iSUNLIGHT T5, a first in horticultural
lighting. Using the T5 platform, you can easily upgrade your lighting from
fluorescent to LED by switching lamps. The iSUNLIGHT T5 LED is a 41W, 5,500K,
T5 HO replacement LED lamp, and a superior choice for the propagation and
veg cycles of your plants. The iSUNLIGHT T5 lamp is an intelligent LED that is
specifically designed to work with your existing T5 HO fluorescent fixture. The
iSUNLIGHT T5 LED produces more than 5,100 lumens with only 41W of consumed
power. These are environmentally friendly, mercury-free grow lights.
Dutchpro pH- Grow
Dutchpro pH- Grow reduces the pH value in a garden during the growth
stage. This product contains 38 per cent nitric acid, so caution must be used
while handling and storing. To use, growers add small amounts of pH- Grow
during the growth stage until the desired pH level is reached, keeping in mind
the recommended pH level for most plants during the
bloom stage is around 5.8. Dutchpro pH- Grow comes in
a wide variety of sizes and is compatible
with many types of media.
Titan Controls Apollo 18 Two Outlet
Dual Schedule Timer
Imagine running two different timing schedules
from the same timer. Growers have been asking for
this timer for some time and Titan has delivered,
with their new Apollo 18 Dual Outlet Timer. The
Apollo 18 has two separate timing schedules
and can operate two different appliances
simultaneously. This timer features up to eight
total timing schedules. Easy-to-use, built Titanreliable,
and affordably priced, this is a must-have,
breakthrough product for indoor gardeners. The sturdy enclosure resists dust, rust,
and moisture in the often-damp garden environment. This precision digital timer
provides the grower with the perfect timing solution to operate cloning machines,
CO 2 systems, pumps, fans, or other 120V appliances. 15A/60 hertz.
tapped in
19

good to grow
Current Culture H 2 O Under Current and Cultured Solutions
The Under Current systems and Cultured Solutions premium hydroponic nutrients
have combined to create a proven production system. Designed for prolific yields,
quality, and increased efficiency, the revolutionary Under Current system delivers your
best harvest yet. The Under Current system adapts to all growing applications from the
home grower to greenhouse and commercial operations. Made from the highest-grade
greenhouse components, the Under Current system is expandable and accommodates
multiple configurations. The revolutionary Sub-Current Culture technology delivers high levels of
oxygenated nutrient solution throughout the root zone. This results in explosive growth rates and
increased quality and yields. Current Culture's cup-winning Cultured Solutions premium hydroponic
nutrients use the finest materials, resulting in one of the cleanest, pH stable, highly-soluble nutrient lines
available. Cultured Solutions nutrients’ complete line up features VEG A & B, BLOOM A & B, UC ROOTS,
BUD BOOSTERS, and COCO CAL. Cultured Solutions works in all types of applications.
Dutchpro Leaf Green
Dutchpro Leaf Green is used to
achieve good leaf development
in plants, giving them a healthy,
vital look. It is especially
recommended for plants that
have noticeable difficulties
with their development.
Leaf Green also gives plants
with a yellowish tinge a fresh
green color. It’s also great at
improving nutrient uptake. Leaf
Green is non-ammonia-based
and comes ready to use as a
spray-on liquid. Apply at least
three hours before the lights
go on. Dutchpro nutrients are
stable, clear, contain organic
elements, and are available in a
variety of sizes.
Automation GrowSystems
Automation GrowSystems is a technology company
that uses patent-pending hardware, software, and
process control to provide controlled environments for
grow facilities. Its systems decrease costs and allow for
repeatable and tracked growing processes. The system’s
hardware consists of a programmable logic controller,
with low voltage switching, and state-of-the-art sensors
to report and control cycle management. The software
consists of a program code developed specifically for
the grow industry. It allows technology to process the
complete growing cycle from start to finish. An HMI
touchscreen user interface allows for precise control
of adjustable parameters, complete reporting, and
remote access. Automation GrowSystems—Profit Growth
Through Automation.
BudBox Grow Tents
With 14 years of hydroponic engineering experience behind them, BudBox has been
continuously innovating new products from the very start. The first to feature oversized
air ports, electrical and irrigation ports, a flower-friendly green viewing window, militarygrade
zippers, reinforced cover corners, micro mesh passive vents, a fully waterproof
one-piece catchment tray, and a fully clear floor growing area puts BudBox at the top of
the game. With super strong 25-millimetre tempered steel frames, the whole product
range is available in four height options, 18 floor plan sizes, two weights of Mylar (210D
and 600D) and two colours: pro white and silver, with seven per cent more PAR reflectivity
than their nearest competitor. With unprecedented customer support, BudBox delivers
the highest-quality tested, trusted, and certified grow tents. Exclusively available via a
select group of authorised professional partner stores within Europe, the US, and Canada.
20 tapped in

grow cycle
supplemental CO 2
SUPPLEMENTAL CO 2
: THE
NEXT STEP TO
Ridiculously
Good Plants
Your crops are on a killer nutrition regimen and
living in an indoor growroom with on-point lighting,
temperature, and humidity. What’s the next step
towards getting ridiculously good-looking and
well-performing plants? BRING ON THE CO 2 .
BY ERIC HOPPER
22 grow cycle

supplemental CO 2
The greatest advantage of indoor horticulture is having
ultimate control over light cycles, nutrition, and
atmospheric conditions. A grower should do everything in
his or her power to make sure their growroom’s lighting,
nutrition, temperature, and humidity are precise and
consistent. After all, it is only when a plant has access to
sufficient light and balanced nutrients, and is provided
with the appropriate atmospheric conditions, that it will
be able to achieve its full potential.
Once an indoor horticulturist dials in these crucial factors,
he or she can take the next step toward maximizing the
garden’s productivity. This can be done by supplementing
CO 2 into the garden’s atmosphere. Higher levels of CO 2 have
been shown to significantly increase plants’ growth rates
and, therefore, the garden’s yield. On average, ambient air
has around 350-450 ppm of CO 2 (it can be greater in urban
areas with more air pollution). A grower who wishes to
gain all the benefits associated with enriched CO 2 levels
will typically increase CO 2 levels to 1,000-1,500 ppm. This
enrichment can be achieved by a few different methods
combined with specialised CO 2 control devices.
CO 2 AND PHOTOSYNTHESIS
Plants are unique creatures because they can directly
convert light energy into usable energy for growth. This
phenomenon is known as photosynthesis, which can be
using the chemical equation:
6CO 2 + 6H 2 O + light energy = C 6 H 12 O 6 + 6O 2
In the first part of the equation, there is CO 2 (carbon dioxide)
and H 2O (water). When plants have access to these compounds
in addition to light energy, they can produce the second part
of the equation: C 6H 12O 6 (glucose) and O 2 (oxygen).
A grower who
wishes
"
to gain all the benefits associated
with enriched CO 2 levels will typically
increase CO 2 levels to 1,000-1,500 ppm.
It may look and sound complicated, but don’t be alarmed;
you do not need a degree in chemistry to be a successful
grower. Still, it is important to note that photosynthesis is a
chemical reaction. Like other chemical reactions, photosynthesis
can be affected by factors like temperature and the
proper chemical compounds.
One of these crucial chemical compounds is CO 2. Plants
absorb carbon dioxide through the open stomata on their
leaves. Transpiration, which helps keep plants at an even
temperature, occurs when the stomata are open. However,
transpiration results in the loss of water (another significant
chemical compound for photosynthesis); so, to conserve water,
plants regulate the amount of time the stomata are open.
When a grower enriches the environment with CO 2, the
amount of CO 2 available for absorption increases for the
length of time the stomata are open. In other words, the plant
can absorb more CO 2 while still limiting water loss through
24 grow cycle

transpiration. Some experiments have also shown that when
provided with an increased amount of CO 2, plants will not
open the stomata as wide, thus reducing the amount of transpiration.
All in all, increased CO 2 levels will increase the efficiency
of a plant’s water use. Assuming the plant has access
to the necessary nutrients and light energy, the additional CO 2
absorbed, combined with the increased efficiency of water
use, will increase the plant’s rate of growth.
METHODS USED FOR CO 2 ENRICHMENT
There are a few different ways to increase the level of CO 2 in
the garden. For large spaces, the preferred method is generally
a burner. CO 2 burners are fueled by propane or natural
gas. As the fuel is burned, CO 2 is created as a by-product of the
combustion. There are many different burners available and
the size required generally depends on how large of an area
a gardener is trying to enrich. Unfortunately, these devices
also create heat in addition to CO 2. This is usually viewed as a
disadvantage of CO 2 burners because most growers work hard
to remove unwanted heat that is created by the intense lighting
systems. Still, in commercial gardens or in very large growing
facilities, burners are the most effective way to produce the
large amount of CO 2 necessary to enrich the environment.
Another common way to increase CO 2 levels is to use
pure CO 2 contained in a tank or cylinder. This method of
enrichment utilises containers of compressed CO 2 teamed
in commercial gardens or in very
"
large growing facilities, burners are the most
effective way to produce the large amount of
CO 2 necessary to enrich the environment.
with a CO 2 emitter. The emitter regulates the rate at which
the CO 2 is released from the tank and is normally combined
with a timer or controller to determine when the CO 2 should
be released. A compressed tank system is a great choice
for many hobby growers because it is not only effective at
increasing CO 2 levels, but also will not create additional
heat in the garden’s environment.
The final method of CO 2 enrichment commonly used by
indoor horticulturists is mycelium-based CO 2 systems.
These devices can be purchased in buckets, bags,
bottles, boxes, or mats, all of which contain strains of
fungus combined with a food source for that fungus. As
the fungus creates its mycelium (its equivalent to the
vegetative process), it releases CO 2 as a by-product. This
type of CO 2 enrichment is great for small areas, such
as closets or small bedrooms. They are also relatively
inexpensive, which allows a grower to experiment with
CO 2 enrichment without making a huge investment.
grow cycle
25

supplemental CO 2
CONTROLLING CO 2 CONSISTENCY
A grower should team a CO 2 device with some sort of
controller so the emission rate of CO 2 can be regulated
(mycelium-based CO 2 products are the exception as they can’t
be controlled). Using automation devices that control the level
of CO 2 within the room is imperative to both the efficiency
and the effectiveness of the CO 2 system. Many atmospheric
controllers come equipped with built-in CO 2 control systems.
There are also stand-alone systems available.
A good CO 2 controller will essentially automate the
CO 2 system, controlling both the concentration (usually
expressed in ppm) and the appropriate times for operation.
Plants thrive in consistent environmental conditions
and the concentration of CO 2 is no exception. The amount
of CO 2 in the environment is detected by a ‘sniffer’, which
will periodically sample the atmosphere’s concentration of
CO 2 and send a signal to the controller. If the concentration
falls below the system’s set-point, the controller will then
trigger the CO 2 device to turn on. On the other hand, a good
controller will stop the CO 2 unit when exhaust fans are in
operation so the CO 2 is not being removed from the garden
as soon as it is emitted. Newer, software-based control
systems offer additional control features, such as remote
access to the devices and data logging. Data logging of CO 2
levels can provide valuable information over the course of
a few garden cycles and can help a gardener determine the
optimal concentration of CO 2 for their particular crop.
IN GENERAL
Increasing the amount of CO 2 in the atmosphere of an
indoor garden or greenhouse can increase growth rates
when all other factors are considered. This will not only
equate to faster vegetative growth, but also larger yields.
For some growers, increasing the rate of vegetative growth
will allow them to start fruiting or flowering more quickly. A
shorter vegetative cycle can mean more garden cycles per
year and a more profitable garden.
Growers who want to invest in CO 2 equipment should go
all-in. In order to reach the full potential of a CO 2 enriched
environment, growers will not only need equipment for
creating the CO 2, but also the adequate control devices
to automate the system for efficiency. Without the full
package, CO 2 enrichment can be a disappointing venture
with little gained in terms of overall financial investment.
CO 2 enrichment should be viewed as icing on the cake. In
other words, CO 2 systems should be something that growers
add to an already fully functional and productive garden.
The basics of lighting, ventilation, and nutrition should
always be the first priorities for any indoor grower striving
for success.
an indoor garden
enriched
"
with CO 2 will have a slightly
higher optimal temperature range.
TEMPERATURE AND NUTRIENT REQUIREMENTS
As previously mentioned, photosynthesis is a chemical
reaction and, like other chemical reactions, it can be
affected by temperature. A typical indoor garden will have
an optimal temperature range of 21-27°C. An indoor garden
enriched with CO 2 will have a slightly higher optimal
temperature range (usually around 24-29°C).
It is also common for growers to increase the nutrient
concentration in growrooms with increased CO 2 levels.
This makes perfect sense because if the rate of growth
increases, the nutrient requirements will increase as
well. Since nutrient requirements vary, there is no perfect
way to tell the exact nutrient concentration needed. That
being said, a grower can expect to increase his or her
garden’s nutrient concentration by five to 15 per cent when
enriching the atmosphere with CO 2.
26 grow cycle

grow cycle
emerging technology in agriculture
by Cory Hughes
EADY, TECH, GROW:
Emerging Technology in Agriculture
Life on the farm isn’t what it used to be. Where there used to be farm hands and back-breaking
labour, today there is automation, artificial intelligence, and agbots. Cory Hughes explains how
today’s technology has created a new kind of farm and a new kind of farmer.
28 grow cycle

Technology has always been a major
contributing factor in how our lives
are led. It impacts how we communicate,
how we travel, and even how we eat.
Advancements in agricultural technology
are changing how we grow our food and
manage its production. The ultimate
goal of technology in agriculture
is to increase yields, slash harvest
times, and ultimately reduce costs
and environmental impact. Emerging
technologies not only impact farming
on a small scale, but have a drastic
effect on the large-scale system of food
distribution as well. As new technology
becomes integrated with modern
farming, it results in improved production
and easier supply chain management.
Automated Agriculture
Automation is the true focus of
technological advances in agriculture,
and it is already employed on farms
around the world. Automation has come
a long way since the days of mechanical
timers, as modern automation requires
very little assistance from humans.
Systems are being created that can
monitor, feed, and harvest crops from
seed through to sale. Automation
combines the use of a wide array
of sensors, computers, feeding
mechanisms, and everybody’s favourite:
robots. Complete automation is a nearly
self-sustaining system that can handle
all day-to-day activities on the farm.
It all but removes the need for human
staffing, which can be good or bad
depending on how you look at it. One
of the core resources of automation is a
vast network of sensors.
Crop, air, and soil sensors are expected
to be the backbone of future automated
farming. While sensors are currently
able to determine basics like pH, the
sensors of tomorrow will be able to do
much more than that. Soil and crop
sensors will not only be able to read
nutrient levels and EC, they will be
able to perform more detailed analysis
using infrared, electromagnetic, and
acoustic means. Having more data can
save crop growers time and money by
allowing them to break from strict feed
schedules to take a more as-needed
approach. Equipment sensors will also
be used to relay information from smart
technology to a central control unit in
order to warn of potential machinery
failures or malfunctions. Just about any
metric that can be measured will have
a sensor constantly communicating
with a centrally controlled artificial
intelligence system.
“
The ultimate goal of
technology in agriculture is to
increase yields, slash harvest
times, and ultimately reduce costs
and environmental impact.“
Artificial Intelligence
The use of artificial intelligence, or AI,
will make automated systems more
adaptable to shifting conditions. Not
only that, AI agricultural systems will be
able to analyse, diagnose, and prescribe
proper treatment programs for crops at a
level of efficiency unmatched by humans.
Now, we’re not talking about The
Terminator when we talk about AI. For
the time being, AI is simply a complex
computer system that has the ability
to adapt to new stimuli. AI systems in
agriculture work to better coordinate
mechanical systems, create feed schedules,
diagnose illness, and ultimately
increase yields and productivity. How do
they do this? One of the more exciting
technologies that will be coordinated by
AI in agriculture is that of drones.
grow cycle
29

emerging technology in agriculture
Drones are popping up everywhere.
They are cool and fun and seem to
have way more practical uses than
anyone could have imagined. Farmers
can fly a surveillance drone over acres
of crops and take real-time photos
and video. They can also be fitted to
monitor crop temperatures in the colder
months. Currently, drones are being
used on farms not only for surveillance,
but application as well. Cropspraying
drones are one of the latest
iterations of unmanned aerial vehicles
(UAVs) found on today’s modern
farm. Crop-spraying drones can apply
pesticides or fertilisers and are unimpeded
by rough terrain. Aerial drones
aren’t the only ones having all the fun.
Autonomous robots are also having an
impact on modern farming.
“ Today, drone-like
autonomous robots
are starting to be used
to perform tasks like
planting seeds, tending
crops, and harvesting.“
The Rise of Agbots
The farms of tomorrow may no longer
need people to grow crops at all. Today,
drone-like autonomous robots are being
used to perform tasks like planting
seeds, tending crops, and harvesting. A
variety of drone farmhands are starting
to hit the market. Micro-seed planters,
drone tractors, and weed-eating robots
are slowly creeping into the agricultural
mainstream. The idea is to create
a swarm of automated robots controlled
by a central AI that removes the possibility
of human error and adapts to
conditions to maximise yields and
drastically cut time and increase efficiency.
Automated farming machines
work much like driverless cars. They
are coordinated by GPS technology that
precisely controls their locations and
functions. The use of GPS technology
is part of a much larger
trend in farming known
as precision agriculture.
Precision agriculture
has a few different
names, including satellite
farming and sitespecific
crop management
(SSCM). Precision agriculture
takes the most
precise readings in
topographic data
and then combines
it with sensor data
on the ground
to give a precise
picture of crop needs. It is
broken into four phases: data
collection, analysis of variables, development
of strategies, and implementation
of practices. In the end, precision
agriculture looks to maximise efficiency
through precise data analysis using
cutting-edge technology.
Automation, however, does not solve
the problem of space. Along with
modern technology, new systems of
agriculture, such as vertical farming,
are gaining in popularity as ways
to maximise yields in a fraction of
the space that traditional farms
take up. As technology progresses,
its contribution to securing our
food supply has been undeniable.
New technology allows us to better
understand our land, the soil, and
ultimately, our crops. It is with this
better understanding that we can
refine our methods and techniques
that will ultimately lead to more
efficient systems of production.
30 grow cycle

grow cycle
water culture hydroponic systems
by Frank Rauscher
COMPARING VARIOUS WATER CULTURE
HYDROPONIC SYSTEMS
Water culture hydroponics is one
of the fastest growing segments
of hydroponics, but there are a
number of factors to consider
when choosing a system. Water
culture expert Frank Rauscher goes
deep to explain the differences
and help determine which system
may best suit your needs.
32 grow cycle

water culture hydroponic systems
Though the history of hydroponics
goes back to the Hanging Gardens
of Babylon, around 500 BC, this soilless
plant growing technique was advanced
by a number of distinguished individuals,
including Francis Bacon and
Wilhelm Knop. In 1929, a man named
William Gericke at UC Berkeley created
a more modern example: water culture
hydroponics. This hydroponic method
goes without growing media at all,
simply immersing root systems into
water with nutrients and added oxygen.
Understanding Water
Culture Systems
Recirculating deep water culture
(RDWC), static solution culture, and
deep water culture (DWC) are all
hydroponic systems classified as
water culture. Within the RDWC
group, there are a few primary
recirculating systems: nutrient film
technique (NFT), top feeding, and
underflow RDWC systems.
Static solution and DWC systems are
similar to each other, but differ in key
ways. Standard DWC uses a mesh
pot to contain the roots and aggressive
aeration of the nutrient water,
but static solution does not require
these techniques. Basic static solution
systems are mostly used by hobbyists
growing plants that do fine with
minimal oxygen in the water—take
the beta fish in a tank with a peace
lily as an example.
When the nutrient water can be
recirculated and shared between
larger quantities of plants, it is
conveniently possible to control
nutrient and oxygen levels for
the whole crop. If each grow
bucket is separate from the others
for the crop, on the other hand,
maintenance can be cumbersome,
especially when there are a large
number of plants. In standard DWC,
each grow bucket is separate. This
is primarily why more deep water
systems are set up as RDWC.
Nutrient film technique is an RDWC
method where the tubing, channel,
or trays holding the nutrient water is
sloped at about a 2.5 per cent drop, and
the water is pumped at a moderate rate
of around 0.3 gallons per minute so that
water runs across the roots at a very
slight depth. Obviously, the feed rate
and slope would be adjusted according
to the thickness of the roots.
This still leaves us with top feeding
and underflow recirculating systems,
as well as NFT systems, to look at. In
a top feeding system, such as bubbleponics,
the recirculated nutrient and
oxygenated water is initially fed to
the top of the root system. This is most
often done with seedlings and younger
plants whose roots do not yet extend
deeply and, therefore, there is a desire
to have the heaviest concentration of
oxygen at the surface. As these plants
mature, the roots will grow and search
for additional water and nutrient.
Usually within a couple weeks, they
will become large enough to reach the
reservoir and gain access to that larger
source, so top feeding would be less
advantageous.
Often, there is a desire to recirculate
nutrient water, though the
input is not needed at the top as
with more mature plants. The water
is then infused at the bottom of the
grow pots. This is known as underflow
systems.
There are several ways to connect this
oxygen-rich water to multiple mesh
pots. The size of the mesh pots holding
a plant’s roots will determine whether
that pot can be placed in a four-inch PVC
tube or require a grow bucket. The large
PVC tube can be used as the underflow
connector with no need for a bucket when
the smaller mesh pot size is sufficient
for the type of plant to be grown. Buckets
with underflow connector tubing are
needed for larger plants.
Production Advantages Within
These Water Culture Systems
It is due to the high concentration
of oxygen in the nutrient water that
most water culture systems exercise
superiority over other systems using
grow media. The roots are immersed
in and saturated with nutrified and
oxygenated water all the time. Properly
balanced and maintained RDWC
systems will provide maximum yield.
With well-oxygenated root systems,
the plant can convert sugars and
starch into energy for plant vigour.
Though photosynthesis occurs only
during daylight hours for a plant,
respiration occurs (and needs to
occur) all the time. Therefore, it
is the recirculating water culture
systems that will typically dominate
this category. It becomes easier
to boost oxygen levels and keep
it that way for a large number of
plants. Root volume and water
uptake requirements are primarily
determined by plant transpiration
demand. So, the amount of light
“PROPERLY BALANCED
and maintained RDWC
systems will provide
maximum yield.”
34 grow cycle

provided is also a major contributor
to obtaining greater production.
So, which of these WC systems will
be more productive than the other? It is
clear that most static systems are going
to be limited in the capacity to provide
concentrated amounts of oxygen and
nutrient continuously. The NFT and
four-inch PVC recirculating systems
are appropriate for smaller plants and,
if designed properly, are capable of
providing just as great a concentration
of oxygen and nutrient as the other
systems. The single-bucket DWC system
can also provide these concentrations,
but may be cumbersome to maintain
proper levels if a large number of plants
are involved. The RDWC underflow
system would be the choice for a greater
number of large mature plants, while
the top feeding would be optimum for
seedlings and younger plants. With
all the DWC systems (except static), a
well-designed and properly maintained
system will be capable of producing
maximum crop yield over basic grow
media techniques.
Trade-offs for the Various Types of
WC Systems
It is difficult to state which system
outproduces the other. Success is not
really that simple. There are many different
viewpoints regarding how to succeed
with your crop.
DISEASE is a big concern when the
root systems for one plant share the
same water as others. This is true for
most recirculating grow media systems,
as well as DWC systems. When using a
system where water is shared between
several or many plants, greater care
must be given towards cleanliness
and the observation and interception
of root disease. Various pathogens
such as pythium, fusarium, phytophthora,
botrytis, and rhizoctonia are
common. Knowing and understanding
the disease is key to preventing and
controlling it.
Fusarium is a fungus and thrives in
very wet conditions. A symptom plants
may exhibit when infested with fusarium
is leaf wilt. An inspection of the roots
will confirm their unhealthy nature by
displaying a brownish or beige colour
instead of the white observed on healthy
roots. Botrytis, also a fungus, is found
nearly everywhere, even the greenhouse
and hydroponics. Commonly called gray
mould, this disease must have some food
source before it invades plants. Often,
wounded or dying tissue can become
this source.
Rhizoctonia is also a fungus that often
is responsible for root and stem rotting.
Damping-off and leaf blight are two
frequently seen symptoms.
Pythium is often referred to as water
mould because it thrives in watery
places. Though sometimes called a
fungus, it is not; rather, it’s an oomycete.
It’s found in poor-draining, overwatered
fields and greenhouses, as well
as hydroponic systems. Phytophthera
is also another oomycete like pythium.
When a plant is infected by this disease,
that plant will not be able to absorb
nutrients or water due to extensive dead
root tissue.
CONTROLLING DISEASE and
preventing root rot is vital with DWC
systems. Fungicides are generally only
effective for short-term applications,
and do not have much impact on nonfungi
infestations. There are a number
of effective fungicides and other specific
treatments available. Check the reference
QR at the end of this article for
more information. Phytophthera, not
being a fungus, is very difficult to
control. Often, if detected, it is best
to discard and destroy all infected or
contaminated plants and then sterilise
the entire system before replanting.
Maintain a high level of oxygen in the
water for WC systems as this will reduce
“THE AMOUNT OF light
provided is also a major
contributor to obtaining
greater production.”
grow cycle
35

water culture hydroponic systems
the opportunity for disease to start.
Clean and disinfect between grows and
anytime possible when sign of infestation
might be visible.
ENERGY COSTS are higher for continuously
recirculating systems. The oxygen
level in DWC systems drops off rapidly if
circulation stops. This is not an issue for
most grow media systems. There are also
additional pieces of equipment to run,
such as an air pump and water chiller,
in addition to the water pump. Often, the
air infused into the system will warm the
nutrient solution and may then require
chilling to allow the solution to retain the
dissolved oxygen better.
START-UP and maintenance costs can
be higher for WC systems. Leaks can be
a catastrophe. To have a reliable system,
source and purchase only reputable
components and accessories for your WC
set-up. The more accessories that you
incorporate into your system will add to
maintenance, as well as improve how you
can control the growing environment.
SPACE UTILISATION AND FLEX-
IBILITY is always valuable to most
every grower. If overall yield is a goal,
then you will want to be able to grow
more plants in the same space. Being
able to relocate plants as needed
throughout the growth cycle is important
to harvest or maintain the crop
you have. Water culture systems can
provide excellent space utilisation
if designed properly as the focus is
optimum production. Modular water
culture systems are available and offer
the flexibility of being able to relocate
or remove specific plants while keeping
the rest on the system.
Water culture is capable of awesome
crop production when designed and
maintained correctly. As with most
any grow technique, you will want to
do your homework first, then carefully
design and plan your system and your
protocol for plant care. As each crop
matures, always take notes to make
future crops are even better and your
success more certain.
“MODULAR WATER
culture systems are
available and offer the
flexibility of being able to
relocate or remove specific
plants while keeping the
rest on the system.”
36 grow cycle

grow cycle
electrical conductivity
BY AUSTIN YEANY
MEASURING ELECTRICAL
CONDUCTIVITY FOR BIGGER
AND HEALTHIER PLANTS
One often-overlooked aspect of growing is electrical conductivity,
or EC, which measures the quantity of available nutrients in
your soil. As affordable soil conductivity and temperature meter
technology develops, it adds one more tool for farmers and
gardeners to monitor, collect, and catalog this data directly.
38 grow cycle

electrical conductivity
Most gardeners or farmers start
their journey of food production
through trial and error: observing which
conditions work, noting which ones
don’t, and experimenting with how they
can be improved. They begin with one
or two potted tomato or pepper plants,
then a couple of raised beds, then
eventually every square inch of usable
space on the property.
With each experience of success and
failure, growers eventually start to feel
more in tune with the environment:
the gradual climate changes,
incoming storms, early signs of season
change, insect mating rituals, even
a sensitivity to ambient temperature
and relative humidity. At the very
least, the effect these environmental
changes might have on the crops can
be predicted.
For me, this process of learning has
been a profound evolution and journey:
this newfound connection to plants
has changed my life. However, within
all this wonderment and child-like
discovery, I quickly caught on to the
fact that hard, data-driven facts and
scientific analyses would minimise my
failures and bolster my success.
What is Electrical
Conductivity and Why is it
Important to my Plants?
Electrical conductivity (EC) is a quick,
simple, and inexpensive way that
farmers and gardeners can check
the health of their soils. Whereas pH
is a good indicator of the balance
of available nutrients in your soil,
electrical conductivity can be viewed
as the quantity of available nutrients
in your soil. It is important to note that
only nutrients that are dissolved in
the soil water are available for crops
to take in.
In the soil, EC reading shows the level
of ability the soil water has to carry
an electrical current. The EC levels of
the soil water is a good indicator of the
amount of nutrients available for your
crops to absorb.
The major and minor nutrients
important for plant growth take the form
of either cations (positively charged
ions) or anions (negatively charged
ions). These ions that are dissolved in
the soil water carry an electrical charge,
and thus determine the EC level of your
soil. Knowing your soil’s EC allows
you to make more educated farming
“
on to the fact that hard,
data-driven facts and scientific analyses would
minimise my failures and bolster my success.”
decisions about adding fertilisers to
particular crop locations, or the rotation
of your plots.
This instrument also lets you know if
your soil conductivity is too high, which
can cause issues with normal soil and
plant functions like respiration, decomposition,
nitrification, and denitrification.
Conversely, a lack of nutrients
in the soil can create plant nutrient
deficiency, which could lead to plant
disease and susceptibility to certain
pests and pathogens.
Factors to Consider Regarding
Electrical Conductivity
Each plant has unique needs to be as
healthy as possible: the correct ratio
of nutrients, the correct temperature of
the soil, and the right amount of watering
and fertiliser. While it’s important
that each plant receive the nutrients
it needs in order to be healthy, having
too much of any one nutrient leads to
slower growth, lower yields, and even
toxicity. To avoid nutrient buildup,
plants require their soil to be flushed
at every scheduled opportunity. Even
this requires proper timing, as flushing
40 grow cycle

While it seems like common sense to keep
plants hydrated, too much watering can lead
to mould problems and weaken plant defense
systems. Likewise, an overabundance of fertiliser
can also lead to lower yields from unhealthy
plants. The amount each plant needs will vary,
as crops such as tomatoes will need more water
to sustain themselves. This in turn affects how
frequently plants need to be watered—tomatoes
will need to be tended more often than plants
adapted to drier climates.
All of the aforementioned factors can be
observed with tools like an EC meter. With their
ease of use, they can be tested quickly and
frequently. The amount of testing done is vital
to the health of your plants, as changes that
need to be made are best realised sooner than
later. Remember, your EC meter will only be
able to read conductivity in the medium/soil; it
cannot distinguish between available and nonavailable
conductive-ness. It’s up to the farmer
or gardener to know what type of plants they
are growing, what nutrients are available in the
soil, and what type of nutrient concentration the
crops will best thrive in.
“
soil EC
meter helps farmers tailor their
feeding and flushing schedules
to individual plant needs.”
too often will leave plants nutrient deficient.
Using a direct soil EC meter helps farmers
tailor their feeding and flushing schedules to
individual plant needs.
Meanwhile, the temperature of soil needs to
be regulated so plants will be incubated but
not overheated. As with nutrients, temperature
requirements vary with each plant:
some plants like peppers enjoy a hotter soil,
while plants like cucumbers enjoy a much
lower soil temperature. Soil temperature not
only depends on climate, but also watering
frequency and the size of the plant’s container:
more watering leads to lower temperatures,
whereas smaller, shallower containers build
up heat more quickly.
Finally, plants need certain amounts of
watering and fertiliser to remain healthy.
grow cycle
41

grow cycle
wintertime greenhouse gardening
by Kent Gruetzmacher
The Basics of
Wintertime
Greenhouse Gardening
The financial benefits of utilising sunlight as opposed to
artificial lighting in cultivation operations can be staggering.
That said, many horticulturalists still opt to move their grow
operations indoors during the winter months, even if that means
footing exponentially large electrical bills. Nonetheless, for the
industrious gardener, it is possible to utilise the winter sun to
reap bountiful, sun-fueled harvests in a greenhouse.
42 grow cycle

wintertime greenhouse gardening
Driven by ever-expanding technological
innovations, the complexity
and sophistication of greenhouse
cultivation operations are practically
boundless. However, it is safe
to assume that increased automation
is jointly tied to increased expenses
and decreased labour. The less money
one is willing to spend on a wintertime
greenhouse crop, the more human
attention it will require. With these
notions in mind, here are a few guidelines
covering the basics of wintertime
greenhouse gardening.
CLIMATES AND
GREENHOUSE FRAMES
The primary factor in deciding how
to construct, control, and cultivate a
prospective winter greenhouse operation
is which sort of climate is being
engaged. Correspondingly, the colder
a geographical location is, the less
options there are for growing a successful
crop. Along this line of thought, for
both cold and temperate climates, ‘hot
frame’ greenhouses are the only option
for wintertime cultivation.
Hot frame greenhouses are generally
permanent structures that can hold up
to the intense demands of wintertime
gardening, providing the platform
and infrastructure for effective climate
control. Greenhouse frames can be
custom built by professional carpenters
and builders, but the majority of
horticulturalists prefer the simplicity
of greenhouse kits. In conjunction,
wintertime gardening requires wellinsulated,
thick, greenhouse walls.
Depending on one’s budget, these walls
can be constructed with fibreglass,
glass, Sollex, and polycarbonate.
The more money
one is willing to spend
on automation, the
more effectively one
can maintain an ideal
atmospheric equilibrium.”
HEAT SOURCES AND
SUPPLEMENTAL LIGHTING
When planning a wintertime cultivation
operation, it’s crucial to understand
that controlling a constant greenhouse
temperature is extremely difficult.
Again, the more money one is willing
to spend on automation, the more
effectively one can maintain an ideal
atmospheric equilibrium. With a wellinsulated
greenhouse, wintertime
cultivators must balance climactic
requirements with both heating methods
and supplemental lighting.
In the design of a greenhouse heating
system, gardeners need to weigh both
ambient temperature and root-zone
temperature against the demands of
their desired crop. In geographical
locations where temperatures are cold
enough to freeze the ground, keeping
root zones warm is an essential
practice. Root zones can be protected by
growing in raised beds off the ground,
using heating mats beneath pots, and
running hot water in tubing beneath
pots. Finally, ambient temperature in
a greenhouse can be controlled with a
variety of methods which are dependent
upon greenhouse size, outdoor climate,
and budget. These can range from
a simple electrical space heater for
your novice operation to thermostat
controlled, industrial propane heat
sources for a large-scale operation.
For cultivators interested in growing
light-intensive crops in the midst of
winter, supplemental lighting is a
must. Generally speaking, HPS (high
pressure sodium) and DE (double
ended) lights are utilised in wintertime
greenhouse gardens to supplement
sunlight on cloudy days and to extend
growth periods on short winter days.
Supplemental greenhouse lighting has
two serious implications for the wintertime
gardener. To begin with, HPS and
DE lights emit a large amount of heat—
this heat must be balanced with the
ambient temperature in the greenhouse
during both day and night. Secondly,
these lights are expensive to operate
and should be utilised under consideration
of a cost/benefit ratio. For growers
in northern regions, this ratio makes it
obvious that it’s less practical to grow
light-intensive plants in greenhouses
than indoors during the winter.
For horticulturalists in warm and
temperate climates, however, wintertime
greenhouses are economically viable.
To further illustrate the challenges and
benefits of wintertime growing in a
temperate climate, I asked Matt Johnson,
a northern California greenhouse expert,
for some detailed advice.
MAXIMUM YIELD: Is expensive automation
a necessity in wintertime greenhouse
cultivation?
MATT: That’s totally dependent upon
your goals and lifestyle. If you have an
industrial-size grow operation, it’s a
must. Otherwise, it’s going to be a really
hands-on experience 24/7.
44 grow cycle

MY: How do you deal with the extreme
temperature fluctuations of greenhouse
growing?
MATT: I have an industrial propane
greenhouse heating system, which
is run by a thermostat. This is
used in conjunction with industrial
dehumidifiers so that we exhaust the
greenhouse as little as possible. In this
way, the exhaust system doesn’t pull in
cold air from outside and push out the
warm air from the heating system.
MY: How much do your supplemental
lights really have to work?
MATT: We have 20 DE lights in a
30x96-foot greenhouse that we use
during both the vegetative and flowering
cycles. During the veg phase, we run the
lights from 4 p.m. until 1 a.m. to provide
18 hours of light during the short winter
days (currently the sun rises at 7 a.m.
and sets at 4:45 p.m.). Once we reach
flower, we use our lights only on cloudy
days. But, when it’s sunny, like it is most
days in California, we don’t need to turn
the lights on at all because the short
days trigger the 12/12 photoperiod. So I’d
say, during flower, we use the lights on
one-third (33 per cent) of the days.
MY: What are your estimates on power
savings when compared to traditional
indoor growing?
MATT: You have to consider the size
of your canopy against what you
are paying in electric bills. It’s tough
to give an exact figure because the
amount of time we use our lights
(during flower) is totally dependent
upon the weather. However, our canopy
is 1,720 square feet (86x20) with 20,000W
in electricity. When you compare this
figure against an indoor operation
canopy at 400 square feet (20x20) and
16,000W of electricity, the savings per
square foot are already quite evident,
even during vegetative growth. When
it comes time to flower and we only
run the lights one-third of the days, the
savings are astronomical.
The primary
factor in deciding how to
construct, control, and
cultivate a prospective
winter greenhouse
operation is which sort of
climate is being engaged.”

grow cycle
lighting for your plants
THE LIGHT THAT BINDS
Lighting
FOR
Young Plants
BY ERIC HOPPER | Building a strong foundation
for a plant’s healthy growing cycle is shaped
during its cloning/seedling and early vegetative
stages. The most important influence during this
time is lighting. Eric Hopper offers his insight on
the best type of lighting and duration during this
very delicate time in a plant’s life.
46
grow cycle

lighting for your plants
The lighting system of an indoor
garden is the main driving energy
behind all plant growth. In other words,
if a grower uses an inferior lighting
system, he or she will have lower yields
and a lower return on investment. Of
all the equipment used in an indoor
garden, the lighting system is the equipment
that should be given the most
consideration. After all, the lighting
system will directly influence the rate
of growth, the health of the plants, and
the crop’s final yield. When an indoor
horticulturist asks me about ways to
improve yields or a garden’s efficiency,
I always revert to the garden’s lighting
system. Small changes to the lighting
system can result in big changes in the
garden. First and foremost, a grower
must understand the importance of
lighting. Once that concept has been
buried deep in the grower’s mind, he or
she can assess, maintain, and upgrade
the system to better suit the garden. For
example, most indoor gardens consist
of multiple rooms for different stages
of growth. It is common for indoor horticulturists
to have a dedicated cloning/
seedling room, a dedicated vegetative
room, and a dedicated flowering/fruiting
room. Each room will have very
different lighting needs depending on
the type of crop being grown and the
grower’s overall goals.
Of all the equipment
used in an indoor
garden, the lighting
system is the
equipment that
should be given the
most consideration.”
Foundation of Growth
A plant’s entire growing cycle will be
shaped during the cloning/seedling and
early vegetative stages of growth. In
other words, these stages are the foundation
and will directly influence the rest
of the plant’s life cycle. One way to build
a strong foundation is to provide proper
lighting during these critical stages.
There are many horticultural lighting
technologies available that can promote
plant growth, but the key to finding the
best lighting system is to look at both the
effectiveness and efficiency. Put another
way, there may be lighting technologies
that are effective, but are so inefficient that
they cut into a grower’s return on investment.
On the other hand, there are lighting
systems that are inexpensive, both
to purchase and to operate, but lack the
ability to promote healthy plant growth.
The Cloning/Seedling Stage
The cloning/seedling stage is one of
the most important stages for an indoor
horticulturist to master. If the grower
wishes to have a perpetual garden, a
high cloning success rate is imperative
for success. Horticulturists who
grow from seed will also need to have
a high success rate to have a productive
outcome. Some seed varieties are
very expensive, so low germination
rates are simply not an option. Along
with keeping the atmospheric conditions
consistent (crucial for success in
the cloning/seedling stage), choosing the
proper horticultural lighting system is
imperative. The proper lighting system
in this stage will not only help increase
success rates, but will also increase the
rate at which the plants can be rotated
into the subsequent stages.
High Intensity Discharge
High intensity discharge (HID) lighting
systems (including metal halide
and high pressure sodium) were once
the industry standard for all stages of
growth, including the cloning/seedling
stage. Although HID lights will work
during this stage of growth, they have
a few disadvantages that make them
less than perfect. During the cloning/
seedling stage, plants do not need the
48 grow cycle

modern growing.
Maximum Yield magazine covers topics such as hydroponics, aeroponics, aquaponics,
and organics as well as greenhouse, small-space, container, urban and vertical growing. Each
issue is focused on showing you how to reach your maximum yield with informative articles,
the latest products and technologies, how-tos and tips and tricks from indoor growing experts.
Maximum Yield is the longest running, industry leading, consumer uniting, grower informing,
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maximumyield.com

lighting for your plants
Most professional
indoor gardeners
prefer fluorescents
or light emitting
diodes (LEDs) for the
cloning/seedling
stage of growth.”
light to be as intense as in later stages
of growth. A lighting system that is too
intense can cause damage or retard
growth. HIDs emit light from a single
point on the bulb, which means plants
closer to the bulb will receive much
more light than plants farther away. In
other words, HIDs are terrible at creating
uniform light footprints for small plants.
Inconsistency during early stages of
growth can cause a whole slew of problems
later down the line.
Another disadvantage of HID lighting
for the cloning/seedling stage is the
immense amount of heat emitted. If not
addressed, this heat may be too much
for sensitive seedlings or tender clones.
Although it can get the job done, HID
lighting is probably not the best choice
for the cloning/seedling stage. HID’s
intensity and requirements for additional
ventilation equate to inconsistency
and inefficiency.
Fluorescents and Light
Emitting Diodes
Most professional indoor gardeners
prefer fluorescents or light emitting
diodes (LEDs) for the cloning/seedling
stage of growth. Both fluorescents and
LEDs offer a lower heat signature than
HID lighting and generally are available
in lower wattages. This is extremely
important because the amount of light
energy required by the plants is calculated
by the size of the garden space.
During the cloning/seedling stage, the
plants are much smaller, which means
they will not need as much light energy.
This, combined with the fact that they
simply do not need as much light
during this stage, means a low wattage
system is more suitable. A common rule
of thumb for light energy in an indoor
garden is 40W per square foot.
For the cloning/seedling stage, this
number can be cut in half, so 20W per
square foot is adequate for starting
seeds or rooting clones. LED and fluorescent
systems can be purchased in a wide
variety of wattages, so finding one that
fits the exact area of a cloning/seedling
space is not difficult.
Light Duration for
Clones/Seedlings
Although there is debate regarding the
duration of the lights on cycle for the
cloning/seedling stage, most professional
growers rely on a 24-hour lights
on cycle. One solid argument for the
24-hour lights on cycle is it makes it
easier to keep the temperature and
humidity consistent. If a grower decides
to give the plants a dark period during
this stage of growth, the plants should
still receive at least 18 hours of light per
24-hour cycle. This will ensure they are
conditioned for vegetative growth.
The Early Vegetative Stage
One crucial stage of plant development
that is often overlooked by horticulturists
is the early vegetative stage. The
early vegetative stage refers to the stage
of growth immediately following the root
development of a clone or the period of
growth right after the second pair of true
leaves appear on a seedling. The early
vegetative stage is the stage where rapid
root development occurs and is also when
the plants should be introduced to more
intense lighting. The most common lighting
systems used by professional gardeners
during the early vegetative stage are
T5 fluorescents. However, LED, HID, and
other horticultural lighting technologies
can be used effectively during this stage
50 grow cycle

Regardless of which
lighting technology
a gardener uses, it
really comes down
to light distribution
and consistency.”
as well. It is a good idea to introduce the
plants to a light intensity (per square foot)
similar to what they will experience for
the rest of the garden cycle.
For many indoor horticulturists, this
will be 40-50W per square foot of garden
space. During this stage of growth, the
lighting technology is not as important
as the amount of light the plants
are receiving. However, consistent light
intensity can make a big difference
during the early vegetative stage. This
is probably the biggest reason T5 fluorescents
are so popular for this stage
of growth. Due to their construction,
T5 fluorescents can supply the necessary
wattage per square foot in the
most consistent manner. Plants placed
directly under T5 fluorescent lighting
fixtures will get even light distribution
regardless of location. This equates to
uniform growth. Uniform plant growth is
crucial in the later stages of the plant’s
life cycle because an even canopy
allows for the most efficient use of artificial
lighting. Creating uniform vegetative
growth with T5 fluorescents is
almost effortless, but what about other
light technologies? HIDs and some
LEDs disperse light differently and, in
the case of small plants, unevenly. The
plants closer to the center of the bulb
will receive much more light energy
than plants farther away. This will cause
the plants to grow at uneven rates. Some
growers will remedy this by rotating the
plants on a regular basis to ensure more
even light distribution.
Light Duration for Early
Vegetative Growth
Early vegetative growth will require an
18-24 hour light cycle. Again, the optimal
photoperiod for this stage of growth
is continuously up for debate. Many
growers have success with a 24-hour
light cycle and many growers have
success with an 18-hour light cycle. My
personal preference is an 18-hour light
cycle. I believe that all biological creatures,
including plants, benefit from
rest. Providing my plants with a sixhour
dark period each 24 hours is my
way of giving them a break.
To have a smooth transition into the
vegetative and flowering stages, a
foundation must first be built during
the cloning/seedling and early vegetative
stages. The lighting system used
for these initial stages of the plant’s
life should be heavily considered. Not
only will choosing the correct lighting
system be better for the plants, it will
also make things easier for the grower.
Professional growers still prefer the T5
fluorescent technology when it comes
to the early stages of growth.
Regardless of which lighting technology
a gardener uses, it really comes
down to light distribution and consistency.
Plants provided with uniform
light energy during the early stages of
growth will continue to grow evenly
throughout the later stages of growth.
Maximising the performance of an
indoor garden is all about maximising
the performance of the garden’s
lighting system. It is also important
to remember that uniform canopies
equate to larger yields. In other words,
when plants are grown at a consistent
rate, it makes it much easier for
the grower to maximise the efficiency
of his or her growroom. One of the
best ways to ensure the plants will
grow consistently in the later stages of
growth is to create a solid foundation
from the very beginning.
grow cycle
51

grow cycle
biocontrol
BIOCONTROL
A NEW AGE OF PEST MANAGEMENT
BY LACEY MACRI
As the practice of controlling pests with their own natural
predators becomes more common in commercial agriculture,
the push for biocontrol from hydroponics cultivators is now
being looked at as an alternative to pesticides. Lacey Macri
explores the advantages and benefits of these pest control
methods and what they mean for hydroponic growers.
52 grow cycle

For many researchers and
agronomists, biocontrol is not
only the preferred method of pest
management, it is the exclusive means
to control crop damage by pests. This
is especially true for crops that are
certified organic. Modern cultivation
methods are advancing at record
speeds, and many young, highly
intelligent individuals and groups are
joining the revolution with a few key
principles in mind. Cultivators of this
new generation seek to optimise their
production practices using sustainable,
environmentally sound techniques, with
the health and safety of themselves,
their employees, the environment, and
consumers at the core of their concerns.
Biocontrol pest management practices
provide the resources growers need to
achieve this “green” method of growing.
WHAT IS IT?
The concept of biocontrol is referred
to by multiple names as it enters
the hydroponics market. Additional
keywords include ‘natural enemies’,
‘organic pest control’, and ‘beneficial
insects’. Ultimately, they are all the
same thing, with a few different modes
of action: to control pests by introducing
their predators into the same
environment. These predatory insects
pose zero risk to the health of plants
or people as they seek out their food
source. The majority of these beneficial
insects operate by consuming the
young offspring of the pests, typically
in the infancy of their development,
as they interrupt the life cycle of the
colony. This works to prevent further
spread. Because of this, biocontrol pest
management works best as a preventative
measure, as with a standing army
of beneficial insects already positioned
in the same environment, the pests
never have a chance to develop.
For crops that are especially
vulnerable to spider mites, biocontrol
becomes a lifesaver as mites are known
for reproducing quickly. That said,
there are still some biocontrol options
available to treat established colonies
of pests, but it can be more expensive
and less effective if the colony has
already spread uncontrollably. As it
consistently saves upwards of
10 per cent of your crop (or even up to
100 per cent, in severe cases), biocontrol
easily pays for itself by implementing
a customised pest management plan
right from the beginning.
TRADITIONAL PESTICIDES
ARE NOTORIOUS for losing their
effectiveness midway through cultivation.”
THE ADVANTAGES
There are many unique advantages
to biocontrol pest management over
traditional methods. Determining
which pesticides are safe to use is
a complicated task. Although most
pesticides that are commercially sold
must legally be registered by regulatory
bodies, the risk of toxic chemical
residue on consumable crops is
still very real. In some cases, there are
chemical treatments available that are
exempt from pesticide registration as
they are considered “low-risk”, as well
as additional products registered for
use on “unspecified green plants”. Still,
these nebulous and potentially dangerous
treatment methods can’t and won’t
hold a candle to safer, more effective
alternatives. The time and other
costs associated with the registration
process would be greatly reduced
for the certification and approval of
biocontrol, as there is no risk of potentially
dangerous chemical byproducts
from using the natural enemies
method. The integration and push for
biocontrol for all cultivation methods
and crops opens the door to additional
revenue streams through the taxation
of a higher-priced end product.
We already know that certified organic
crops often cost more due to improved
safety levels and production practices,
and many people are happy to pay
more for that peace of mind.
BENEFITS TO GROWERS
From an operational perspective,
cultivation facilities that use biocontrol
methods can eliminate restricted
entry intervals whereby growers
and their employees must wait a set
amount of time before re-entering the
grow space so they don’t risk inhalation
of the pesticide.
In some cases, certain organisations
are unable to implement pest management
practices and subsequently, a
portion of their yields are falling victim
to pests. Experts in the field of biocontrol
pest management report that these
methods are best used preventatively,
as even a small colony of pests will
have detrimental effects on the ultimate
harvest. Traditional pesticides are notorious
for losing their effectiveness midway
through cultivation, as many insects
build up resistance to the chemicals. This
lapse in efficacy is largely responsible for
reduced yields. Additionally, the repeated
use of chemical pesticides poses a risk
to the general health of the plant and
can actually reduce yield quantity and
quality, even when the presence of pests
has ceased. Conversely, biocontrol pest
management mimics the Earth’s natural
ecosystems, where plant pests and their
natural enemies interact to provide a
healthier environment for plants to thrive.
Typically, determining a biocontrol pest
management plan depends mostly on
square footage of grow space, crop type,
and which pests have been a problem
previously. These predatory insects
are usually only introduced into the
environment every two to four weeks,
depending on surrounding circumstances
when used preventatively.
Because of this, growers of all sizes can
benefit from this strategy, as the costs
are scaled proportionately.
Lacey Macri works as head of sales at
CleanGrow, focusing her time on business
development within the company. She
received a bachelor’s degree in communications
and psychology from the University
of California, Davis in 2011, where she
worked at the California Aggie student
newspaper on campus.
grow cycle
53

groundbreakers
you tell us
DRYGAIR
ENERGIES LTD.
8 Hamanofim St.,
Herzliya Pituach, Israel
Traditional methods of reducing humidity open up a greenhouse to
the influences of external conditions that can negatively affect a crop.
Israel’s DryGair, however, believes it has the solution to this problem.
WWW
6
+972-9-7730980
drygair.com
Years in business
"Making your
greenhouse greener"
DryGair takes humidity seriously.
So seriously, in fact, that the Israeli
dehumidifier company hopes its products
will solve the issues created by
heat and ventilation—the traditional
methods of reducing humidity in a
greenhouse—entirely.
“If you have a good solution that
you and your team believe in,
you can educate the market and
make it happen,” says Yonatan
Peretz, who works with DryGair in
marketing and sales.
Instead of relying on vents opened to
the outside world, DryGair units work
within a “closed and isolated” growing
environment. They remove water from
the air to keep humidity at optimal
levels, all without any influence from
external conditions.
By keeping the greenhouse sealed,
DryGair technology enables growers to
more easily maintain uniform conditions.
This leads to improved energy efficiency,
less pesticide use, better yields, and
plenty of financial savings, Peretz says.
The company’s first product—a dehumidifier
that can manage 500-4,000 square
metres worth of plants, depending on
the crop—was developed in 2010 by the
DryGair team in collaboration with Dr.
Avraham Arbel of Isreal’s Agricultural
Research Organization, Volcani Center. It
was Dr. Arbel who first came up with the
concept as part of his PhD thesis.
Even before it was available, the unit
piqued client interest. “Our first customer
was a grower who understood humidity
problems and came to hear about our
prototype,” says Peretz.
54 groundbreakers

The grower placed his plants in
DryGair’s experimental greenhouses,
sprayed them with water and left them
overnight. The next day, he came back
to find the plants dry and with healthy
leaves. “He immediately wanted to buy
the first unit, although it was still at a
prototype stage,” Peretz says.
Since then, DryGair has developed
several dehumidifiers to tackle the needs
of diverse greenhouse designs, crops,
growing methods, and climate conditions
around the world. Of course, the company
tested these products in real-life trials
in different countries with various
crops to make sure they would deliver
exactly what its end-clients wanted.
“Our end-customers are the plants, and
their needs are our top priority,” explains
Peretz, who adds that healthy plants lead
to happy growers.
And so far, DryGair has helped create
many a happy plant and grower. One
gardener contacted DryGair to tell the
company “he saved 15 per cent of his
crop” after using one of its units. Also,
the company says growers on average
reduced their energy usage by 50 per cent.
Today, the company sells its units in
Israel, Holland, Germany, UK, Norway,
Denmark, the US, and Vietnam,
with plans to expand. And there’s
no doubt the company can reach its
goal. It’s already capitalised on its
strengths of innovation and efficiency,
sustainability, flexibility, and team work
to expand from a three-person company
in Israel to an international exporter
that employs 10 people.
“Our employees believe in our solution
and therefore they are dedicated,”
says Peretz. “We have professional
conferences to deepen our agriculture
understanding and we try to widen
our horizons by introducing interesting
issues during our weekly team meetings,
during mutual breakfasts.”
“
If you have a good
solution that
you and your team
believe in, you can
educate the market
and make it happen.”
groundbreakers
55

groundbreakers
movers & shakers
P.L. LIGHT SYSTEMS INC.: THE LIGHTING KNOWLEDGE COMPANY
AT A GLANCE
BUSINESS:
P.L. Light Systems Inc.
LOCATION:
Beamsville, Ontario
PHONE:
1-905-563-4133
TOLL FREE:
1-800-263-0213
WEB:
pllight.com
From its origins in Holland to its visions of the future, P.L.
Light Systems has a long history of innovation and strong
customer service.
P.L. Light Systems Inc. is definitely not
the new kid on the block.
“We actually have a very long and
proud heritage,” says marketing manager
Lisa Jansen van Rensburg.
The horticultural lighting systems
company started 35 years ago with
the establishment of its Dutch parent
company, Hortilux Schréder, which
originally operated under the name
of Poot Lichtenergie. It then expanded
into North America under the name
P.L. Light Systems in 1981.
Today, the company distributes across
Canada and the US from its original
manufacturing facility in Beamsville,
Ont. This is also the base for the company’s
team of passionate, highly experienced
professionals, which continues to
help drive the steady growth of P.L. Light
Systems under the helm of managing
director Todd Phillips.
Over the years, this growth was often
showcased as innovations to the company’s
product line. Hortilux Schréder
unveiled its first supplementary light
56 groundbreakers

fixtures designed specifically for the
cultivation of flowers in 1978, and in
1999, Jansen van Rensburg says P.L.
Light Systems became “the first lighting
manufacturer to introduce supplementary
lighting products that enable the
year-round production of vegetables.”
“We also collaborated with a leading
lamp manufacturer in 2005 to pioneer
the development of the first 1,000W
luminaire with double-ended lamp technology,”
she adds.
Today, P.L. Light Systems continues to
offer a wide range of horticultural lighting
products using LED, high pressure
sodium (HPS), metal halide (MH) and
hybrid technologies.
“Since LED technology is still not
the best fit for certain applications,
our traditional HPS and MH products
also remain popular,” says Jansen
van Rensburg.
No matter what system a client chooses,
however, every one of the company’s
products is designed to “deliver optimal
lighting performance for plant growth.”
“Our underlying philosophy is based
on an unwavering dedication to
innovation that results in the delivery
of optimal lighting performance and
maximised yields for growers,” says
Jansen van Rensburg.
“I think what makes our products
unique is that every aspect of their
design is engineered specifically for
horticultural applications,” she adds.
“
AS MUCH AS I’M BURSTING WITH EXCITEMENT ABOUT THE MANY
EXCITING NEW PROJECTS WE HAVE IN THE PIPELINE, I CAN’T
DIVULGE ANY DETAILS JUST YET,” SHE SAYS. “BUT TRUST ME IN
THAT YOU’LL WANT TO STAY TUNED.”
“From the optical design that delivers
ideal distribution and intensity, to the
profile of the luminaire that addresses
the specific challenges of a given application,
to the light spectrum that elicits a
particular plant response.”
These product designs are based
on insights the company has gained
through its strong associations with
the grower community. “These relationships
have helped us to identify needs
often overlooked by existing products
and enabled us to develop innovative
solutions to meet those needs,” Jansen
van Rensburg explains.
This tradition of forging strong
relationships also extends to P.L Light
Systems’ clientele.
“At P.L. Light Systems, everything we
do revolves around delivering the very
best supplemental grow lighting for each
individual customer and application—
from custom light plans and calculations,
to mounting solutions, to research
and new product development.”
The company also offers local after-sales
support and several ancillary
services, including LightShine, an automated
reflector cleaning service, and
LightCare, a long-term lighting system
maintenance and testing service.
Looking to the future, Jansen van Rensburg
says it’s hard to predict how exactly
the company will continue to expand
over the next decade as the horticultural
industry is “evolving at such a rapid
pace.” Still, she expects it will continue
with its winning formula of product innovation
and relationship building.
“I see us making massive progress
in terms of developing products and
technologies that reduce energy consumption
and enhance lighting quality
for optimum plant growth. Another
likely area of growth for us will be the
introduction of additional value-added
service offerings.”
In fact, P.L. Light Systems already has
a number of plans in the research and
development stage – though Jansen van
Rensburg is keeping tight-lipped on
what those are exactly.
“As much as I’m bursting with
excitement about the many exciting
new projects we have in the pipeline, I
can’t divulge any details just yet,” she
says. “But trust me in that you’ll want
to stay tuned.”
groundbreakers
57

groundbreakers
10 facts on...
ACIDS
Acid washed. Acid rain. Acid fast. Acid test.
Okay, so what exactly is an acid?
IN THE SIMPLEST sense, an acid is a
substance that ionises to generate hydronium
ions (H+ cations) when dissolved in water.
This is known as the Arrhenius definition. It’s
not scientifically very useful, but for practical
understanding, it is used often enough.
H+
by Philip McIntosh
AN ACID can also be understood as a
substance that donates a proton (an H+ ion).
That is part of the Brønsted-Lowry definition.
THE ACIDITY of a solution
is described by its pH value.
pH is a measure of the H+ and
OH- concentrations in a solution.
WHEN THE number of H+ ions
equals the number of OH- ions,
water is formed and there are
few free H+ ions. In this case, the
solution is neutral, which is 7 on
the pH scale. Solutions with pH
values less than 7 are acidic.
OH-
ACIDS EXIST in a balance of
some kind with their chemically
opposite entities, the bases.
Bases generate OH- anions
readily when dissolved in water.
WHAT COULD be stronger
than an acid? A superacid.
Superacids have acidity greater than
100 per cent sulphuric acid and can
be trillions of times stronger. The
pH scale doesn’t properly work to
describe a superacid.
THE SOLUBILITIES
of many nutrient elements
are pH sensitive, with
acidic conditions
required for good
availability. This is why
grow system pH values
should be monitored
and maintained in
the 5.5-6 range for
most applications.
H 2 O
IT IS NO accident that when
H+ ions meet OH-ions, they
react to form H 2O—water.
A WEAK ACID does not
release all of its protons when
dissolved. A strong acid ionises
completely to release all of its
protons into solution.
58 groundbreakers

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Grow. Heal. Live. Enjoy.
MODERN GROWING

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THE FUTURE
OF GROWING
SAN JOSE, CA
June 3-4, 2017
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Convention Center
DETROIT, MI
Sep 30-Oct 1, 2017
Cobo Center
mygrowx.com | #growx2017

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groundbreakers
63

groundbreakers
distributors
retail stores listed alphabetically by city in each state
UNITED KINGDOM
1st Hydroponics
Unit 5 K-Line House, West Rd.
Ipswich, Suffolk
UK IP3 9FG
+44 (0) 1473 279829
Cell: +44 (0) 7847 468 837
1st-hydroponics.co.uk
21st Century Garden
9 Adrian Ave.
London, Greater London
UK NW2 1LX
+44 (0) 2083 614659
21stcenturygarden.co.uk
Ace Hydroponics
Luton St.
Keighley, West Yorkshire
UK BD21 2LE
+44 (0) 1535 958747
ace-hydroponics.co.uk
Acorn Horticulture
65 Deep Ln.
Sheffield
UK 55 ODU
+44 (0) 1142 458581
acornhorticulture.co.uk
Addloes Lighting &
Hydroponics
16-A Maple Rd.
Winton Bourmouth, Dorset
UK BH9 2PN
+44 (0) 1202 524525
addloEst.com
---------------------------------------------
Ahppy Hydro Hydroponics
Wheatley Hall Trade
and Business Centre
Doncaster, South Yorkshire
UK DN2 4QR
+44 (0) 1302 341 004
ahppyhydro.co.uk
---------------------------------------------
Animal and Garden
Supplies Ltd.
Unit 1 Eastlake Cl.
Litchard Ind. Est., Bridgend
South Wales
UK CF31 2AL
+44 (0) 1656 663030
animalandgarden.co.uk
Anglia Hydroponics
62 A Straight Rd.
Boxted, Colchester, Essex
UK C04 5RD
+44 (0) 1206 272677
angliahydroponics.co.uk
Aquatech Horticultural
Lighting
Unit 3F, Spa Fields Ind. Est.
New St. Slaithwait, Huddersfield,
West Yorkshire
UK HD7 5BB
+44 (0) 1484 842632
Ashton Hydroponics Ltd.
Unit 3 Pk. Parade Ind. Est.
Welbeck St. S.
Ashton-Under-Lyne, Manchester
UK OL6 7PP
+44 (0) 1613 391673
ashton-hydroponics.co.uk
---------------------------------------------
Avagrow Ltd.
29B Heaver Trad. Est., Ash Rd.
New Ash Green, Kent
UK TN15 7HJ
+44 (0) 1474 248286
avagrow.co.uk
---------------------------------------------
Avagrow Ltd.
Unit J2 Cuxton Industrial Est.,
Station Rd.
Cuxton Rochester, Kent
UK ME2 1AJ
+44 (0) 1634 787227
avagrow.co.uk
---------------------------------------------
B&M Farm Hydroponics
2A Hollin Hall Farm
Golcar, Huddersfield,
West Yorkshire
UK HD7 4PF
+ 44 (0) 1484 461053
Basement Lighting Ltd.
Unit 3, The Old Maltings, George St.
Newark, Nottinghamshire
UK NG24 1LU
+44 (0) 1636 650189
basementlighting.com
Belfast Indoor Gardening
50/52 Upper Queen St.
Belfast
UK BT1 6FD
+ 44 (0) 2890 232113
thebigshop.com
Big Stone River Garden
Center
Unit 1 East Gate
Grimsby, Lincolnshire
UK DN3 29BA
+44 (0) 1472 241114
---------------------------------------------
Bill & Ben’s Hydro World
Unit D15 & D16 Erin Trade Centre
Bumpers Way, Chippenham
Wiltshire,
UK SN14 6LH
+44(0) 1249 447796
billandbens.com
---------------------------------------------
Blooming Borders
Unit 3, Borders Bus. Pk.
Longtown, Carlisle, Cumbria
UK CA6 5TD
+44 (0) 1228 792587
Boss Hydroponics
Unit 79 (A) Carlton Ind. Est.
Barnsley, South Yorkshire
UK S71 3HW
+44 (0) 8456 445544
Bradford Hydroponics
95-97 Manningham Ln.
Bradford, West Yorkshire
UK BD1 3BN
+44 (0) 1274 729205
bradfordhydroponics.co.uk
Branching Out
Unit E, The Old Brewery, Durnford St.
Ashton Gate, Bristol
UK BS3 2AW
+44 (0) 1179 666996
Bright Green UK Ltd.
42-44 Princess Rd.
Hull, Yorkshire
UK HU5 2RD
+44 (0) 1482 341925
brightgreen-uk.co.uk
---------------------------------------------
Brit Crops Ltd
Unit 9 OJ’s Ind. Pk. Claybank Rd.
Portsmouth, Hampshire
UK PO3 5SX
+44 (0) 2392 669111
eastlondonhydro@hotmail.com
britcropshydroponics.co.uk
---------------------------------------------
BriteLite Hydroponics
Unit 11 Roman Ind. Est.
Croydon
UK CRO 2DT
+44 (0) 2086 834424
britelite-hydroponics-uk.com
Bub’s Allotment
The Rural Granary Bus. Ctr. Unit
18 North St.
Hellingly, East Sussex
UK BN27 4DU
+44 (0) 7528 098103
bubsallotment.co.uk
Bud-eez Hydroponics
137 Broad St.
Dagenham, Essex
UK RM10 9HP
+44 (0) 2082 203757
bud-eez.co.uk
---------------------------------------------
BudMaster LED
Glan Y Mor Rd. Llandudno
Junction Conwy.
Gwynedd North Wales
UK LL31 9RU
+44 (0) 8000 43LEDS
budmaster.co.uk
---------------------------------------------
Castle Hydroponics
Unit 31, Winpenny Rd. Pk.house
Ind. Est. East
Newcastle, Under Lyme
UK ST5 7RH
+44 (0) 1782 576308
castlehydroponics.co.uk
---------------------------------------------
Chesterfield Hydroponics
Centre
Unit 1-6 Ambrose Buildings,
Broombank Rd.
Chesterfield, Derbyshire
UK S41 9QJ
+44 (0) 1246 260874
chesterfieldhydroponics.co.uk
---------------------------------------------
Chrissie’s Garden
Unit 33 Portsmouth Enterprise Ctr.
Quartermain Rd.
Portsmouth
UK PO3 5QT
+44 (0) 2392 667887
chrissiesgarden.co.uk
Clockwork Horticulture
Unit 2 New Cravengate
Industrial Estate, Leeds
UK LS11 5NF
+ 44 (0)113 212 78 75
clockworkhorticulture.com
Concept- Indoor Grow Ltd.
Bay 15 Brittanic House, Stirling Way
Borehamwood, Herts
UK WD6 2BT
+44 (0) 7703 700300
indoorgrow.co.uk
Congleton Hydroponics
#3 Silk St.
Congelton, Cheshire
UK CW12 4DH
+44 (0) 1260 2794444
Crofters Bio Gardens
Unit 2 Bloomsgrove Ind.
Es.Ilkeston Rd.
Radford, Nottingham
UK NG7 3JB
+44 (0) 1159 782345
D-Teks Ltd.
Unit 28 & 29 East Coast Bus. Pk.
Kings Lynn, Norfolk
UK PE34 3LW
+44 (0) 1553 770177
d-teks.co.uk
Discount Hydroponics
1 Bus. Bldg. Waltergrave St.
Hastings, East Sussex
UK TN34 1SJ
+44 (0) 1424 428186
DS Progrow
Hydroponics Warehouse
Unit 16 Blaydon Business Centre
Cowen Rd.
Blaydon Newcastle
UK NE21 5TW
+44 (0)792 563 4520
dsprogrow.co.uk
---------------------------------------------
East London Hydro
Unit 12, 4 Raven Rd.
London
UK E18 1HB
+44 (0) 208 504 6644
eastlondonhydro.com
---------------------------------------------
Eastbourne Hydroponics
47 Upperton Rd.
Eastbourne, East Sussex
UK BN21 1LT
+44 (0) 1323 732241
Elements Hydroponics
44 Auster Rd.
Clifton Moor, York
UK YO30 4XA
+44 (0) 1904 479979
elementshydroponics.com
Enhanced Urban Gardening
152 London Rd.
Wokingham, Berkshire
UK RG40 1SU
+44 (0) 1189 890510
enhancedurbangardening.co.uk
Esoteric Hydroponics Ltd.
8 Martyr Rd.
Guildford, Surrey
UK GU1 4LF
+44 (0) 1483 596484
1-hydroponics.co.uk
---------------------------------------------
Essex Hydro-Garden
Unit 3a Tonbridge Works,
Tonbridge Rd.
Harold Hill, Romford Essex
UK RM3 8TS
44 (0) 1708 377617
essexhydro-garden.co.uk
---------------------------------------------
Equip2Gro
24/26 Godstone Rd.
Kenley, Surrey
UK CR8 5JE
+44 (0) 208 660 0467
Fast Grow Hydroponics
Unit 3 Webnor Ind.Est.
West Midlands Wolverhampton
UK WV2 2LD
+44 (0) 1902 404247
fast-grow.com
Forever Green Hydroponics
150 Westmount Rd.
London, Etham
UK SE9 1XA
+44 (0) 2088 500906
---------------------------------------------
Future Garden Ltd.
(Chelmsford)
15 Rob Johns Rd., Widford Ind. Est.
Essex, Chelmsford
UK CM1 3AG
+44 (0) 1245 265929
info@futuregarden.co.uk
futuregarden.co.uk
---------------------------------------------
Future Garden Ltd.
(Chigwell)
Brownings Farm, Gravel Lane
Chigwell, Essex
UK 1G7 6DQ
+44 (0) 2085 027722
info@futuregarden.co.uk
futuregarden.co.uk
---------------------------------------------
Garforth Hydroponics
B/O 11A Main St.
Garforth, Leeds
UK lS25 1DS
+44 (0) 1132 867444
garforthhydroponics.co.uk
The Golden Potter
25 Argyle Way,
Ely Distribution Centre
Cardiff, Wales
UK CF5 5NJ44
(0) 2920 593990
thegoldenpotter.com
Great Stuff Hydroponics
30 C Ellemeres Ct.
Leechmere Ind. Est.
Sunderland
UK SR2 9UA
+44 (0) 1914 474098
hydroponics-hydroponics.com
Great Stuff Hydroponics
24 Collingwood Ct.
Riverside Pk. Industrial Est.
Middlesbrough
UK TS2 1RP
+ 44 (0) 1642 224544
hydroponics-hydroponics.com
---------------------------------------------
Greater Manchester
Hydrogarden
7/8 Chanters Ind. Est.
Atherton, Manchester
UK M46 9BE
+44 (0) 1942 884612
gmhydrogarden.com
---------------------------------------------
Green Daze Hydroponics
Ashington
Unit 9 Waterside Ct.
North Seaton Bus. Pk.
Ashington, Northumberland
UK NE63 0YG
+44 (0) 1670 818003
greendazehydroponics.co.uk
Green Daze Hydroponics
Gateshead
10 Wellington St.
Gateshead
UK NE8 2AJ
+44 (0) 1914 789107
greendazehydroponics.co.uk
Green Daze Hydroponics
South Shields
79/81 Fowler St.
South Shields
UK NA33 1NT
+44 (0)1914 540746
greendazehydroponics.co.uk
---------------------------------------------
Green Fever
18 Hartshill Rd.
Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire
UK ST4 7QU
+44 (0) 1782 414448
green-fever.co.uk
---------------------------------------------
GreenKeeper Hydroponics
141 Brook St.
Chester, Cheshire
UK CH1 3DU
+(44 (0) 1244 630501
greenkeeperhydroponics.com
---------------------------------------------
Green Spirit Hydroponics Ltd.
Unit 6, Rockingham Bus. Pk.
Rockingham Row, Birdwell
UK S705TW
+44 (0) 1226 399837
greenspirit-hydroponics.com
---------------------------------------------
Green Spirit Hydroponics Ltd.
Unit 5-230 Woodbourn Rd.
Sheffield, South Yorkshire
UK S93LQ
+44 (0) 1142 753353
greenspirit-hydroponics.com
---------------------------------------------
Green Stream
12-14 Vivian Rd.
Harbourne, Birmingham
UK B17 ODS
+44 (0) 1214 262675
greenstream.co.uk
Green World
1618 Market Vaults
Scarborough
UK YO11 1EU
+44 (0) 1723 370900
greenworld.ne.uk
Greener than Life
575- 577 Holderness Rd.
Hull, East Riding
UK HU8 9AA
+44 (0) 1482 374201
Greengrass Indoor
Gardening Supplies
Unit 5A Alexander Ct. Hazleford Way
Newstead, Nottingham
UK NG15 0DQ
+44 (0) 1623 755055
---------------------------------------------
Greenhouse Effect
Unit 2 Eagle Farm Cranfield Rd.
Wavendon, Milton Keynes
UK MK17 8AU
+44 (0) 1908 585283
ghedirect.co.uk
---------------------------------------------
Greenleaf Systems
Unit 2, Millers Bridge Ind. Est.
Seymour Liverpool/Bootle Merseyside
UK L20 1EE
+44 (0) 1519 331113
greenleafsystems.co.uk
The Green Room
(Indoor Gardens) Ltd.
Unit 2, North Point Bus.
Est. Enterprise Cl..
Medway City Estate
Rochester, Kent
UK ME2 4LY
+44 01634 716764
thegreenroomvip.co.uk
Greens Hydroponics
Unit F Totterdown Bridge Trading Est.
Albert Rd.
St. Philips, Bristol, Somerset
UK BS2 0XH
+44 (0) 1179 713000
hydroculture.co.uk
Greenstream Hydroponics
12-14 Vivian Rd.
Birmingham, Harbourne
UK B17 0DS
+44 (0) 1214 262675
greenstream.co.uk
Greensea Hydroponics
Unit 1G Gregory Rd.
Mildenhall, Suffolk
UK IP28 7DF
+44 (0) 1638 715350
greenseahydroponics.co.uk
Greenthings Hydroponics
Unit 1, Adjewhella Chapel
Barriper Camborne, Cornwall
UK TR14 0QW
+44 (0) 1209 611870
greenthings.co.uk
Grotec Hydroponics
393 Manchester Rd.
Rochdale, Greater Manchester
UK OL11 3PG
+44 (0) 1706 750293
grotec.co.uk
Grotech Ltd.
Unit 21. Saddlers Hall Farm
London Rd.
Basildon, Essex
UK SS13 2HD
+44 (0) 1268 799828
grotechonline.co.uk
Grow 4 Good Ltd.
22i Beehive Workshops
Durham
UK DH1 2XL
+44 (0) 1913 757667
grow4good.net
Grow Better
Unit 76A, Wharfdale Rd.
Tyseley, Birmingham
UK B11 2DE
+44 (0) 121 707 7219
growbetterhydro.com
The Grow Den
2 Hothfield Rd.
Rainham, Kent
UK ME8 8BJ
+44 (0) 1634 239333
Grow Green Ltd.
15-17 Green Ln.
Castle Bromwich, Birmingham
UK B36 0AY
+44 (0) 121 241 6445
grow-green.co.uk
64 groundbreakers

Grown Up Hydroponics
51 Edison Rd. Rabans Lane
Aylesbury, Bucks
UK HP19 8TE
+44 (0) 8000 842 843
grownuphydroponics.com
GroSupplies
Sovereign House, Ellen Terrace
Sulgrave, Washington, Tyne & Wear
UK NE37 3AS
+44 (0) 1914 153345
grosupplies.com
GroWell Hydroponics -
Birmingham Central
Unit 6, Birmingham One Ind. Est.
Clement St., Birmingham
West Midlands, UK B1 2SW
+44 (0) 8433 571650
growell.co.uk/birmingham-central
GroWell Hydroponics -
Bristol
Unit 1, The Commerical Ctr.,
Days Rd, St. Philips, Bristol
Greater Bristol, UK BS2 0QS
+44 (0) 8452 235088
growell.co.uk/bristol
GroWell Hydroponics -
Coleshill Supersore
Units 8-11, Coleshill Trade Pk.
Station Rd., Coleshill, Birmingham
West Midlands, UK B46 1HT
0845 344 2333
growell.co.uk/birmingham-coleshill
GroWell Hydroponics -
Dudley
Unit 52, Enterprise Trad. Est.
Pedmore Rd., Brierly Hill, Dudley
West Midlands, UK DY5 1TX
+0845 345 6991
growell.co.uk/dudley
GroWell Hydroponics -
Hockley Heath
Unit 4, Ivy House Farm
Grange Rd., Hockley Heath, Solihull
West Midlands, UK B94 6PR
+44 (0) 8433 571640
growell.co.uk/hockley-heath
GroWell Hydroponics -
Sheffield
Unit 3, Parkway Bus. Pk.
Parkway Dr., Sheffield,
South Yorkshire, UK S9 4WU
+44 (0) 8456 445544
growell.co.uk/sheffield
GroWell Hydroponics -
Merton
Unit 8, Chelsea Fields Ind. Est.
278 Western Rd., Merton, London
Greater London, UK SW19 2QD
+44 (0) 8453 455174
growell.co.uk/london-merton
GroWell Hydroponics -
Wembley Superstore
Unit 2, Brent Trade Est.
N. Circular Rd., London
Greater London, UK NW10 0JF
+44 (0) 0843 357 1642
growell.co.uk/london-wembley
Growing Life
#6 Newington Green Rd.
London
UK N1 4RX
+44 (0) 2070 339541
+44 (0) 800 083 3437
growing-life.com
Growlogic Horticulture
Unit 3 Stafford St.
Dudley, West Midlands
UK DY1 2AA
+44 (0) 1384 256159
growlogichorticulture.co.uk
H2gro
Unit 7, City Bus. Pk., Marshwood Cl.
Canterbury, Kent
UK CT1 1DX
+44 (0) 1227 766113
h2gro.co.uk
H2gro
Unit B, Jarvis and Rowell Est.
Burnham Rd.
Dartford, Kent
UK DA1 5BN
+44 (0) 1322 273444
h2gro.co.uk
Hackney Hydroponics
265 Wick Rd.
Hackney
UK E9 5DG
+44 (0) 20 8533 0497
hackneyhydroponics.co.uk
Halifax Hydroponics
20 Drakes Ind. Est., Shay Ln.
Halifax, West Yorkshire
UK HX3 6RL
+44 (0) 1422 381693
halifaxhydroponics.co.uk
Happy Daze Hydroponics
Unit 4, Craven Ct., Hedon Rd.
Hull
UK HU9 1NQ
+44 (0) 1482 224 299
Happy Gardens Ltd.
Unit 9, Kelham Bank Ind. Est.,
Kelham St.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire
UK DN1 3RE
+44 (0) 1302 761386
happygardensdoncaster.co.uk
Haverhill Hydroponics
Centre
Unit 14 Spring Rise Falconer Rd.
Haverhill, Suffolk
UK CB97XU
+44 (0) 01440709474
haverhillhydro.co.uk
Heavy Harvest Hydroponics
Dalweb Industrial Park, Unit 4
Gravel Ln.
Banks Southport, Merseyside
UK PR9 8DE
+44 (0) 1704 211805
hhhydroponics.com
HFM Pyrotechnics Ltd.
165A Londford Rd.
Cannock, Staffordshire
UK WS11 OLD
+44 (0) 1543 500800
hfmgroup.com
HG Hydroponics
Unit 4, Earlfield Cl.
Lincoln, Lincolnshire
UK 1N6 3RT
+44 (0) 8456 435523
hg-hydroponics.co.uk
Hi9THC Ltd.
Unit 34, Lillyhall Bus. Ctr., Jubilee Rd.
Workington, Cumbria
UK CA14 4HA
+44 (0) 7821 914646
hi9thc.co.uk
High Street Hydroponics
Unit 56 Hebden R., Berkley Ind. Est.
Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire
UK DN15 8DT
+44(0) 1724 857191
Hippy Heaven
26 High St. Ealing
London
UK W5 5DB
+44 (0) 2088 407717
ouchtattoo.co.uk
Holland Hydroponics
17 Rondin Rd.
Ardwick, Greater Manchester
UK M12 6BF
+44 (0) 8458 720570
hydroponics.co.uk
Holland Hydroponics
Handbridge Mill 5 Parliament St.
Burnley, Lancashire
UK BB11 3JT
+44 (0) 8458 720590
hydroponics.co.uk
Holland Hydroponics
Express
Unit 1 Flint Trade Pk., Holywell Rd.
Flint, Wales
UK CH6 5RR
+44 (0) 8458 720565
hydroponics.co.uk
Holland Hydroponics
Express
Unit 4 Leeds Rd. Trade Pk.,
Leeds Rd.
Huddersfield
UK HD2 1YR
+44 (0) 8458 720580
hydroponics.co.uk
Hollinwood Hydroponics
Unit A Bourne St.
Hollinwood, Oldham
UK OL9 7LX
+44 (0) 161 681 5151
hollinwoodhydro.co.uk
The Home Grower Ltd.
Unit 8, Oak Ct., Crystal Dr.
Smethwick, West Midlands
UK B66 1QG
+44 (0) 1215 411446
---------------------------------------------
Hulton Hydroponics
Wharton House, Wharton Ln.
Little Hulton, Manchester
UK M38 9XF
+44 (0) 7856 398 295
hultonhydroponics.co.uk
---------------------------------------------
Hydro2Grow- Crawley
Unit 15 The Stanley Ctr., Kelvin Way
Crawley, West Sussex
UK RH10 9SE
+44 (0) 1293 535157
hydro2grow.co.uk
Hydro2Grow- Sutton
299 Gander Green Ln.
Sutton, Surrey
UK SM3 9QE
+44 (0) 2086 443780
hydro2grow.co.uk
Hydro 1 Stop
Unit 35 Deykin Pk. Ind. Est.,
Deykin Ave.
Aston, Birmingham
UK B67HN
+44 (0) 1213 280876
hydroponics1shop.co.uk
Hydro Basement
Unit D, Hoyle Head Mills, New St.
Earlsheaton Dewsbury
West Yorkshire
UK WF12 8JJ
+44 (0) 1924 450086
hydrobasement.co.uk
Hydrodaze
Unit 9a, Treloggan Ind. Est.
Newquay, Cornwall
UK TR7 2SX
44 (0) 1637 850770
hydrodaze.co.uk
Hydro Hobby
Unit 4 Brook Farm, Stoneleigh Rd.
Gibbet Hill, Coventry
UK CV4 7AB
+44 (0) 2476 414161
hydrohobby.co.uk
Hydro Station Ltd.
Unit 10 Hillfoot Ind. Est., Hoyland Rd.
Sheffield, South Yorkshire
UK S38AB
+44 (0) 1142 491636
hydrostationltd.co.uk
Hydrodragon Ltd.
113-115 Alfred St. Roath
Cardiff, South Glamorgan
UK CF24 4UA
+44 (0) 2920 490333
hydrodragon.co.uk
Hydroglo Ltd.
The Top Store South Rd.
Towerhamlets, Dover, Kent
UK CT17 OAH
+44 (0) 1304 203199
hydrogloltd.co.uk
Hydrogrow Systems Ltd.
Unit 7, Acton Bus. Pk.
Fields Farm Rd.
Longeaton, Nottingham
UK NG10 3FZ
+44 (0) 1159 730007
hydrogrowsystems.co.uk
Hydrologic Hydroponics
2 Brewery St.
Skegness
UK PE24 5LG
+44 (0)1754 811 961
The Hydroponic Warehouse
Unit 15., Bay Airport Ind. Est.
Kingston Pk.
Newcastle, Tyne and Wear
UK NE3 2EF
+44 (0) 1912 862045
thehydroponicwharhouse.co.uk
Hydroponica
130 Doncaster Rd.
Wakefield, Yorkshire
UK WF1 5JF
+44 (0) 1924 362888
salehydroponics.co.uk
Hydroponica York
Unit 3 Oakwood Bus. Pk.,
Northfield Ln.
Upper Poppington, York
UK YO26 6QZ
+44 (0) 1904 768737
The Hydroponics Centre Ltd.
Unit 24, Port Talbot Bus. Units
Addison Rd.
Port Talbot
UK SA12 6HZ
+44 (0) 1639 888891
thehydroponicscentreltd.co.uk
Hydroponics Superstore
62 Lytham Rd.
Blackpool, Lancashire
UK FY1 6DY
+44 (0) 7852 513375
hydroponicssuperstore.co.uk
Hydroponic Whse
Unit 16 Kensington Bus. Pk.
Ilkeston, Derbyshire
UK DE7 5NY
+44 (0) 115 930 5444
Hydropower
255 Holton Rd.
Barry,Wales
UK CF63 4HT
+44 (0) 7725 551479
hydro-power.biz
Hydrosense
47 Scarrots Ln.
Newport, Isle of Wight
UK PO30 1JD
+44 (0) 1983 522240
---------------------------------------------
HydroZone UK
13 Delacourt Rd.
London
UK SE3 8XA
+44 (0) 20 8858 3503
hydrozoneuk.com
---------------------------------------------
Hygrow Hydroponics
Unit C -55 Sunningdale Rd.
South Pk.
Industrial Estate, Scunthorpe Lincs
UK DN17 2TW
+44 (0) 172 4842 212
Hygrow II
Unit 3&4, 30 Oslo Rd.
Sutton Fields, Hull
UK HU7 0YN
+44 (0) 1482 833643
hygrow.co.uk
Hygrow III
825 Hessle High Rd.
Hull
UK HU4 6QF
+44 (0) 1482 351990
hygrow.co.uk
Hytec Hydroponics
Old Wales Wood Colliery
Mansfield Rd.
Sheffield
UK S26 5PQ
+44 (0) 1909 772872
hytechydroponics.com
The Inner Garden Ltd.
Unit 14., Cornish Way
West, Galmington
Taunton, Somerset
UK TA1 5NA
+44 (0) 1823 274791
theinnergarden.co.uk
J.D.L Hydroponics-
Cheltenham
Unit 2A, The Runnings
Kingsditch Trad. Est.
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
UK GL51 9NJ
+44 (0) 1242 516131
jdlhydroponics.co.uk
J.D.L Hydroponics-
Gloucester
Unit 52 Space Business Pk.
Olympus Pk.
Quedgeley, Gloucester
UK GL2 4AL
+44 (0) 1452 887255
jdlhydroponics.co.uk
Junction 10 Hydro
Unit 55 Downs Rd.
Willenhall, West Midlands
UK WV13 2PX
+44 (0) 1215 686850
totalhydro.com
Kernow Grow Ltd.
11 D. Kernick Ind. Est.
Penryn, Cornwall
UK TR10 9EP
+44 (0) 3300 104420
kernowgrow.co.uk
King Of Green
18-24 Saint Helens Rd.
Westcliff on Sea
Westcliff, Essex
UK SS0 7LB
+44 (0) 1702 347536
kingofgreen.com
Kitbag Hydroponic
Warehouse
22 Pool Bank St.
Nunaeton, Warwickshire
UK CV11 5DB
+44 (0) 2476 641033
kitbagshop.org
Leeds HydroStore
Unit 5 Felnex Rd.
Leeds, West Yorkshire
UK LS9 0SS
+44 (0)113 249 4730
leedshydrostore.co.uk
Lothian Hydroponics
172 S Mid St.
Bathgate, West Lothian
UK EH48 1DY
+44 (0) 1506 650501
lothianhydroponics.co.uk
Maidstone Hydroponics Ltd.
Unit 6 Boxmend Ind. Est.
Maidstone, Kent
UK ME15 9YG
+44 (0) 1622 692669
maidstonehydroponics.co.uk
Manchester Hydroponics
Unit 1A, Reliance St.
Newton Heath, Manchester
UK M40 3AG
+44 (0) 1616 887333
manchesterhydroponics.co.uk
Med Gardener
Unit 11, Barton Bus. Pk.
Eccles, Manchester
UK M3O OQR
+44 (0) 1617 079860
Mellow Yellow Hydro Ltd.
Unit B1A Towngate Works, Dark Ln.
Mawdesley, Lancashire
UK L40 2QU
+44 (0) 1704 822609
mellowyellowhydro.co.uk
Midland Hydroponics
Russells Garden Ctr.
Baginton Coventry
UK CV8 3AG
+44 (0) 2476 639109
midland-hydroponics.com
Mousehold Garden Centre
63 Mousehold Ln.
Norwich, Norfolk
UK NR7 8HP
+44 (0) 1603 413272
mousehold.net
My Grow Hydroponics
35 Hill Lane Cl., Markfield.
Leicester, Leicestershire
UK LE67 9PY
+44 (0)1530 249 537
NASA—Nature and
Science Agriculture
Unit 4D Thornhill Industrial Estate
Hope St.
Rotherham
UK S60 1LH
+44 (0)1709 829 030
natureandscienceagriculture.co.uk
National Hydroponics
Unit 6, Lark St.
Bolton
UK BL1 2UA
+44 (0) 7754 228930
www.nationalhydroponics.co.uk
New Age Hydroponics Ltd.
Unit 1 Albert Place, Albert Mill
Lower Darwen, Lancashire
UK BB3 0QE
+44 (0) 1254 661177
newagehydro.co.uk
Norfolk Lights
& Hydroponics Centre Ltd.
Unit 2 Guardian Rd., Ind. Est.
Norwich, Norfolk
UK NR5 8PF
+44 (0) 1603 666199
norfolklights.com
---------------------------------------------
Northwich Hydroponics
Centre Ltd.
Unit-7, Kingfisher Ct., Denton Dr.
Northwich Cheshire
UK CW9 7TT
+44 (0)1606 215 585
northwichhydroponics.co.uk
---------------------------------------------
NPK Technology Ltd.
Unit 20, Commerce Way
Upper Parliament St.
Liverpool
UK L8 7BA
+44 (0) 151 228 8306
npktechnology.co.uk
NPK Technology Ltd.
Unit 11 Peninsula Business Park
Reeds Ln.
Moreton Wirral
UK CH46 1DW
+44 (0) 151 678 6000
npktechnology.co.uk
Oasis Hydroponics
Unit 34, Camp Hill Industrial Estate
John Kemp Way
Birmingham, West Midlands
UK B12 0HU
+44 (0) 121 753 5115
oasishydro.co.uk
One Stop Grow Shop
Unit C1 Fenton Trad. Pk.
Dewsbury Rd.
Stoke-On-Trent, Staffordshire
UK ST4 2TE
+44 (0) 1782 749955
onestopgrowshop.co.uk
Peterlee Hydroponics
9 Lister Rd. Peterlee
County Durham
UK SR8 2RB
+44 (0) 191 5861752
peterleehydroponics.co.uk
The Persy Grow Shop
4 Kings Mews
Brighton, East Sussex
UK BN3 2PA
+44 (0) 1273 777335
persygrowbox.co.uk
Plant Life World
Unit 11 Riverside Wy.
Ravensthorpe Ind Es.
Dewsbury, West Yorkshire
UK WF13 3LG
+44 (0) 1924 492298
plantlife.co.uk
The Plant Pot
69 Ratcliffe Gate
Mansfield, Nottinghamshire
UK NG18 2JB
+44 (0) 1623 422711
theplantpot.co.uk
Plantasia
Brill View Farm Ludgershall Rd.
Bicester, Oxfordshire
UK OX25 1PU
+44 (0) 8707 555225
plantasia.co.uk
Plantwell Hydroponics Ltd.
Unit 3, 50 Village Farm Rd.
Pyle, Bridgend
UK CF33 6BN
+44 (0) 1656 749593
plantwell-hydroponics.co.uk
Plantwell Hydroponics Ltd.
Unit 14, Ely Industrial Estate
Williamstown, Tonypandy
Rhondda, Cynon Taf
UK CF40 1RA
+44 (0) 1443 430045
plantwell-hydroponics.co.uk
Premier Grow Hydroponics
Unit S Tungsten Pk., Maple Dr.
Hinckley
UK LE10 3BE
+44 (0)145 5613888
premiergrow.com
Premier Grow Hydroponics
11 Pinfold Rd.
Leicester
UK LE4 8AS
+44 (0)116 2697580
premiergrow.com
Progrow-Exeter
5 Westwood Units, Alphinbrook
Rd.
Marsh Barton Ind. Est.
Exeter, Devon
UK EX2 8QF
44 (0) 1392 276998
progrow.co.uk
Progrow-Plymouth
Unit 63 Christian Mill Bus. Pk.
Tamerton Foliot Rd.
Plymouth Devon
UK PL6 5DS
+44 (0) 1752 771667
progrow.co.uk
Pro Hydro Washington
15 Whitworth Rd.
Armstrong, Washington
Tyne and Wear
UK NE37 1PP
+44 (0)151 4479299
Riverside Hydroponics
Riverside Ind. Est. Bridge Rd.
Littlehampton, West Sussex
UK BN1 75DF
+44 (0) 1903 713777
riverside-hydroponics.co.uk
Rootzone Hydroponics Ltd.
Unit 2 & 3., The Green Bus. Ctr.
The Causeway
Staines, Middlesex
UK TW18 3AL
+44 (0) 1784 490370
hydrowebshop.com
groundbreakers
65

distributors
Rotherham Hydroponics
Centre
Unit 8, Springfield Cl.
Rotherham, South Yorkshire
UK S61 4RQ
+44 (0) 1709 252256
rotherhamhydroponicscentre.co.uk
---------------------------------------------
Rutland Horticulture
Unit 6 Station Court, Whissendine Rd.
Ashwell, Rutland
UK LE15 7SP
+44 (0) 1572 723 485
rutlandhorticulture.co.uk
---------------------------------------------
Sale Hydro
71 Dane Rd.
Sale Manchester, Lancashire
UK M33 7BP
+44 (0) 1619 739899
salehydroponics.co.uk
Sale Hydro - (Handforth)
Unit 11 Big Storage, Stanley Cr.
Bus. Pk. Earl Rd.
Cheshire
UK SK86 PT
+44 (0) 161 485 1728
salehydroponics.co.uk
Sea of Green UK
25 Eastcott Hill
Swindon, Wiltshire
UK SN1 3JG
+44 (0) 1793 617046
seaofgreen.co.uk
Seymour Green Hydroponic
Centre
Unit 4, Ford House Rd. Ind. Est.
Steel Dr.
Bushbury, Wolverhampton
UK WV10 9XA
+44 (0) 1902 782900
seymourgreenhydroponiccentre.com
---------------------------------------------
Somerset Hydro
Unit4 Technine, Guard Ave
Houndstone Bus. Pk.
Yeovil Somerset UK BA22 8YE
+44 (0) 1935 420720
somhydro.co.uk
---------------------------------------------
SouthCoast Hydroponics
Unit 8., Enterprise Ind. Est.
Enterprise Rd.
Horndean, Hampshire
UK PO8 0BB
+44 (0) 2392 598853
southcoasthydroponics.com
SouthCoast Hydroponics
269 Commercial Rd.
Portsmouth
UK PO1 4BP
+44 (0) 7899 368 461
southcoasthydroponics.com
Southern Hydro Centre
9 Mamesbury Rd.
Southampton, Hampshire
UK SO15 5FT
+44 (0) 2380 704080
southernhydro.co.uk
Southern Lights
19A Grace Hill
Folkstone, Kent
UK CT2O1HQ
+44 (0) 1303 210003
SRS Hydroponics
260 Manchester Rd.
Walkden, Manchester
UK M28 3TR
+44 (0) 1617 033691
srshydroponics.co.uk
Starlite Systems
226 Albert Rd.
Plymouth, Devon
UK PL2 1AW
+44 (0) 1752 551233
starlitesystems.co.uk
Sub-Garden Supplies
Unit 45J Leyton Ind.
Village Argall Ave.
Leyton, London
UK E10 7QP
+44 (0) 2085 399563
subgardensuppliEst.com
---------------------------------------------
Sunlight Gardens
Unit D3, Hastingwood Trad. Estate.
Harbet Rd.
Edmonton, London
UK N18 3HT
+44 (0) 20 3763 6052
sunlight-gardens.co.uk
---------------------------------------------
Sunrise Hydroponics
127-129 Newcastle St.
Burslem, Stoke on Trent, Staffshire
UK ST6 3QJ
+44 (0) 1782 813814
sunrisehydro.co.uk
Super Hydro Garden
Eagle Centre Way
Luton, Bedfordshire
UK LU4 9US
+44 (0) 1582 561154
TC Hydroponics
247 Camberwell New Rd.
Camberwell
UK SE5 0TH
+44 (0) 2072 773669
tchydroponics.co.uk
The Crop King Grow Shop
88 Trinity St.
Gainsborough
UK DN21 1HS
+44 (0)1427 612 938
thecropking.co.uk
The Green Room
(Indoor Gardens) Ltd.
Unit 2 North Point Bus. Est.
Enterprise Cl.
Medway City Estate
Rochester, Kent
UK ME2 4LY
+44 (0) 1634 716764
thegreenroomvip.co.uk
The Green Machine Ltd.
Unit 1A., Felin Puleston Ind. Est.
Ruabon Rd., Wrexham
UK L13 7RF
+44 (0) 1978 265090
thegreenmachineonline.com
The Growers Shop
Unit 7 Redcomb Bus. Pk. Desford Rd.
Enderby, Leicester
UK LE19 4AD
+44 (0)116 284 1091
thegrowersshop.co.uk
The Hydro Store
Unit B1 Tenterfields Bus. Pk.
Halifax, West Yorkshire
UK HX2 6EQ
+44 (0)1422 883290
thehydrostore.co.uk
Thetford Urban Gardens Ltd.
25 Brunell Way
Thetford, Norfolk
UK IP24 1HP
+44 (0) 1842 765566
thetford-urban-gardens.com
Top Yield Hydroponics
Unit 5, Oakleigh Farm, Rayleigh Rd.
Hutton, Brentwood, Essex
UK CM13 1SE
+44 (0) 1277 200665
www.topyield.co.uk
Trafford Hydroponics Ltd.
136 Higher Rd.
Urmston Manchester
UK M41 9AZ
+44 (0) 1612 227838
traffordhydroponics.co.uk
Triangle Hydroponics
Unit 6, Bournemouth Central Bus.
Pk. South Cote Rd.
Bournemouth
UK BH1 3SJ
+44 (0) 1202 556661
trianglehydroponics.co.uk
TRU: GROW
789 Lincoln Rd.
Peterborough, Cambridgshire
UK PE1 3HE
+44 (0)1733 891 525
trugrow.co.uk
Ugrow Organic- London
Studio12, Imperial Studios, 3-11
Imperial Rd., London
UK SW6 2AG
+44 (0) 2073 865559
u-grow.com
Ugrow Organic- Glasgow
11 North Canal Bank St.
Lanarkshire, Glasgow
UK G4 9XT
+44 (0)141 341 3352
u-grow.com
UK GroWorks
94 Upper Wickham Ln.
Welling, Kent
UK DA16 3HQ
+44 (0)208 854 5160
ukgroworks.co.uk
UK GroWorks
Unit 4 Belltower Ind. Est.
Roedean Rd.
Brighton
UK BN2 5RU
+44 (0)127 362 4327
ukgroworks.co.uk
UK GroWorks
Unit F16 Northfleet Ind. Est.
Lower Rd.
Gravesend
UK DA11 9SW
+44 (0)132 283 8131
ukgroworks.co.uk
Warehouse Hydroponic
Yielding
Unit 42 Bank Quay Trad. Est.
Slutchers Ln.
Warrington, Cheshire
UK WA1 1PJ
+44 (0) 1925 637837
warehousehydroponics.co.uk
Wednesfield Hydroponics
11 Bognop Rd.
Wolverhampton, West Midlands
UK WV11 2BA
+44 (0) 1268 784027
Wheatley Hydroponics
& Grow Shop
Wheatley Farm, London Rd.
Rayleigh, Essex
UK SS69ES
+44 (0) 1268 784027
www.wheatleyhydroponics.co.uk
WHF Garden Centre
Shetcliffe Lane
Bradford
UK BD4 6QJ
+44 (0) 1274 652 277
whf-hydro.co.uk
IRELAND
Bloom and Grow
16 Eyre St.
Newbridge County
Kildare Ireland
+353 (04) 543 7639
bloomandgrow.ie
Bloom and Grow
4A Slaney Court, Dublin Ind. Est.
Glasnevin
Dublin 11 Ireland
+353 (01) 860 3917
bloomandgrow.ie
Deep Route Gardening
16 Georges Quay
Cork City
Cork Ireland
+353 (021) 431 1064
deeproutegardening.ie
Deep Route Gardening
Unit 3 Mungret St.
Limerick, Ireland
+353 (06) 141 5810
deeproutegardening.ie
Get Up & Grow Cork
Unit H1 Marina Commercial Pk.
Center Park Rd.
Cork Ireland
+353 (021) 427 8958
getupandgrow.ie
Get Up & Grow Dublin
Units 2-3 Henrietta Pl.
Dublin Ireland
+353 (01) 872 7240
getupandgrow.ie
The Grow Shop
Ardsallagh, Navan
Co. Meath, Ireland
+353 (046) 902 0625
growshop.ie
The Grow Shop
1A Eklad Park, Malahide Rd.
Business Park, Coolock
Dublin Ireland
+353 (01) 867 4978
growshop.ie
The Grow Shop
Unit 1, Doughiska Industrial Estate.
Doughiska Rd.
Galway Ireland
+353 (09) 173 5617
growshop.ie
SCOTLAND
Abergreen Horticulture Ltd
Arch 8 Palmerston Rd.
Aberdeen, Granpian
Scotland AB11 5RE
+44 (0) 1224 574737
abergreen.co.uk
Edinburgh Organics
6C W. Telferton, Edinburgh
Scotland EH7 6UL
+44 (0) 131 669 0493
edinburghorganics.com
EZ Grow Perth
77 Scott St. Perth
Scotland PH2 8JR
+44 (0) 1738 624193
facebook.com/ezgrowperth
Glasgrow
15 Parnie St. Glasgow
Scotland G15RJ
+44 (0) 1415 527522
glasgrowhydroponics.co.uk
---------------------------------------------
Hamilton Hydro Ltd.
Unit 13&16 Murray Ct.
Hillhouse Ind. Est. Hamilton
Scotland ML3 9SL
+44 (0) 1698281148
hamiltonhydro.co.uk
---------------------------------------------
Hydra Hydroponics
41 Tower St.
Edinburgh Scotland EH6 7BN
+44 (0) 1315 611332
hydraonline.co.uk
Premier Hydroponics Ltd.
1 Horsewater Wynd
Hawkhill Dundee
Scotland DD1 5DU
+44 (0) 1382 202 556
premierhydroponics.com
Premier Hydroponics Ltd.
Unit 6, Freskyn Pl.
Broxburn
Scotland EH52 5NF
+44 (0) 1506 852199
premierhydroponics.com
Premier Hydroponics Ltd.
Unit 5 Evans Bus. Ctr., Harvest Rd.
Newbridge
Scotland EH28 8LW
+44 (0) 1313 332 777
premierhydroponics.com
Progrow Scotland
Unit 6., Nasmyth Square Houston
Ind. Est.
Livingston, West Lothian
Scotland EH5 45GG
+44 (0) 1506 430830
progrowscotland.co.uk
The Wee Hydro Shop
Unit #12 Carbery Pl.
Mitchelson Ind. Est.
Kirkcaldy, Fife
Scotland KY1 3NE
+44 (0) 1592 655611
HUNGARY
BABYLON grow
Csurgói street 15.
Budapest, Pest megye
Hungary
+36 (0) 20 381 2802
babylon-grow.eu
Gomoa Trade Kft.
Lágymányosi street 5.
Budapest, Pest megye
Hungary 1111
+36 (0) 20 566 1186
gomoa.net
Gomoa Trade Kft.
Petofi avenue 50.
Szeged, Csongrád megye
Hungary 6725
+36 (0) 20 406 2182
gomoa.net
Gomoa Trade Kft.
Kazinczy street 3.
Pécs, Baranya megye
Hungary 7621
+36 (0) 20 351 4294
gomoa.net
INTERESTED IN CARRYING MAXIMUM YIELD IN YOUR STORE?
Distribution is available by contacting Century Grow Systems,
Dutchpro, Easy Grow Ltd., Erith Horticulture, and Nutriculture UK.
Already a distributor? Call 1-250-729-2677 to update your listing.
66 groundbreakers