the indoor gardener magazine volume 2—# 6 (may/june 2007)

4THE INDOOR GARDENER VOLUME 2 ISSUE 6

Photos: D.R

., Esoteric Hydroponics, Brasil Connects &

Guy Boily

CREDITS

Volume 2 Issue 6May / June 2007

Published by: Green Publications

Publisher: J.M.

Managing editor: Bruno [email protected]

Contributing editor: Helene Jutras

Art Director: Anna Kanaras

Editorial coordinator: Bruno Bredoux

Collaborators in this issue:

Anne-Marie, C.A., Kari Bayne, Eve Bettan, Guy Boily, Pierre Bonnard (CityPlantes), BrasilCon-nects, Bruno Bredoux, Y.D., Jean-Pierre Daim (CityPlantes), Stan Daimon, Olivier Dubois, Eso-teric Hydroponics, Daniel Fortin, A.G., V.G., Katharine Gunkel, J.-R. H., Paul Henderson, Helene Jutras, Rob Kelly, R. LaBelle, B. Lachance, Estelle L.-Lacroix, E. Magne, Josh Morell (Growing Crazy Hooked On Hydropon-ics), L. Murphy, Soma, William Sutherland (Growing Edge Technologies/B&B Hydroponics Garden), vieux bandit.

Sales & advertising: Stan [email protected]@tigmag.com

Distribution: See the list of our distributors on our website.

Translation/Copy editing: Helene Jutras, trad.a.

Cover design: Anna Kanaras after a photo by Josh Morell

Illustrations: Anna Kanaras and Christopher Shepperd

Administration: R. [email protected]

Information: [email protected]

THE INDOOR GARDENER MAGAZINEP.O. Box 52046, Laval, Quebec, H7P 5S1, CANADAPhone: 450-628-5325 Fax: 450-628-7758www.tigmag.comISSN: 1715-0949

2007, Green Publications, Montreal, Qc, CanadaArticles, iconographic representations and photographs contained in this magazine cannot be reproduced, in whole or in part, without the written consent of the Publisher.

Legal deposit: Second Quarter 2005. National Library of Canada. Bibliothque nationale du Qubec.

Printed in Canada by DMP Communications 2000

Conversion TableLinear Measure (imperial to metric)1 inch 2.54 centimetres1 foot (=12 inches) 0.3048 metre 1 yard (=3 feet) 0.9144 metre

Linear Measure (metric to imperial)Imperial 1 millimetre 0.0394 inch 1 centimetre (=10 mm) 0.3937 inch 1 metre (=100 cm) 1.0936 yards

Volume (imperial to metric)Metric 1 (imperial) fl . oz. (=1/20 imperial pint) 28.41 ml 1 (US liquid) fl . oz. (=1/16 US pint) 29.57 ml 1 (imperial) pint (=20 fl . imperial oz.) 568.26 ml 1 (US liquid) pint (=16 fl . US oz.) 473.18 ml 1 (imperial) gallon (=4 quarts) 4.546 litres 1 (US liquid) gallon (=4 quarts) 3.785 litres

Volume (metric to imperial)Imperial 1 millilitre 0.002 (imperial) pint, 0.176 pint 1 litre (=1000 ml) 1.76 pints

Mass (imperial to metric)1 ounce (=16 drams) 28.35 grams 1 pound (=16 ounces) 0.45359237 kilogram 1 stone (=14 pounds) 6.35 kilograms

Mass (metric to imperial)Imperial 1 milligram 0.015 grain 1 kilogram (=1000 g) 2.205 pounds

Temperature To convert Fahrenheit to Celsius, subtract 32 degrees and divide by 1.8. To convert Celsius to Fahrenheit, multiply by 1.8 and add 32 degrees.

ERRATA Volume 1 Issue 6,

page 61: Following

numerous calls from

readers who noticed that

we gave no information

on where to get the

Hydro Fogger presented

on this page, here are

the proper references

The companys site:

http://www.hydrofogger.

com. Postal and

phone coordinates:

Hydrofogger.com, P.O.

Box 1294, Simpsonville,

SC 29681 USA, Toll free:

1-866-77 HUMID, Local:

(864) 286-1239, Fax:

(864) 234-7544,

[email protected].

Volume 2 Issue 2,

page 22-27: Most of

the photographs of

hydroponic systems used

for this article were taken

in the B &B Hydroponics

Garden store or taken

from their catalog. For

any information regarding

these systems, visit www.

bandbhydroponics.com or

call 613-723-2132

(fax: 613-723-3507).

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the

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56

TABLE OF CONTENTS

8 INTRODUCTION: USING FERTILIZERS, A MATTER OF OBSERVATION How Do You Know How Much Fertilizer To Use? Observe The Plant... By J.-R. H.

12 AEROGROW AEROPONIC PLANT GROWING SYSTEM FOR IN HOME CONSUMER USE AND OTHER NOTES & NEWS By B. Bredoux, E.-L. Lacroix & K. Gunkel 18 HORTICULTURAL LIGHTING: Light Movers and Lighting Accessories By W.S. and Esoteric Hydroponics

22 CROTONS (CORDIAEUM VARIEGATUM) By Daniel Fortin

24 INTERNATIONAL FLORA MONTRAL SETS THE STAGE FOR THE SUMMER OF 2007 IN THE OLD PORT Photos by Guy Boily

26 PORTRAIT The Woman Behind the Creation of The Institute for Simplified Hydroponics for Mexico By Olivier Dubois

30 GALLERY: PHOTOS FROM THE EXHIBIT IMMAGINI NERE DEL BAROCCO BRASILIANO & FUNNY (AND SEXY) CARROT CROPS

36 AIR QUALITY AND VENTILATION How to maintain clean, fresh air and ozone control in your grow room By W.

40 CARBON DIOXIDE AND THE SET-UP IT REQUIRES IN A GROW ROOM By W.S. (with additional reports by B.B., K.B., P.B. and J.-P.D.)

46 HYDROPONICS CLASSICS III: PRODUCTION WITH THE AQUATOP A Traditional Hydroponic and Aquaponic Ebb & Flow Table By Y.D.

50 GROWING EXPERIMENT: INDOOR AND OUTDOOR CULTIVATION, IN SOIL, WITH NUTRITIVE SOLUTION RECIPES, STEP BY STEP By Bordy Lacance

56 DISCOVERY AS LONG AS THERE WERE FORESTS... WE COULD MAKE: 1 A VIKING FLEET! By Bruno Bredoux

THE TRIP BEYOND KALAALLISUT OR GREEN LAND By B.B.

66 Q & A: CO2 EDITION By C.A.

AND OUR USUAL FEATURES:

CREDITS AND ERRATA (4) EDITORIAL (6) ORDER FORM (6) TIPS & TRICKS (16 TO 21) THE HYDROPONIC WORLD OF NORTH AMERICA (59 TO 61) INDUSTRY NEWS (60 AND 65) SHOPPING (62 TO 64)

VOLUME 2 ISSUE 6 / MAY JUNE 2007

ORDER PAST ISSUESor SUBSCRIBE TO 6 ISSUES FOR $29.40* (taxes and shipping & handling included)

VOLUME 3 ISSUE 1,

July 2007,WILL BE AVAILABLE

AT THE END OF June 2007.

SOLD OUT

*for Canada and USA or $95.00 for international orders

see our order form on the back of this page

Photos: Bruno BredouxEDITORIAL

It has occurred many times now.

While fl ying above the United States,

I see, through the planes window,

some gigantic cultivated plots of land

that are perfectly circular. Judging by

the elevation of a plane in fl ight and

by the size of the circles seen from the

plane, their diameter must be as large

as many football fi elds placed end to

end. Intrigued by what could be thus

cultivated as well (if not more so) as by

the reason why farmers create these

excessively large, perfectly circular

plots, I did a quick search online, but I

found nothing to give me the slightest

starting point of a satisfying explanation regarding these crops.

In fact, the plots look more like the famous crop circles that

are attributed to possible extra-terrestrial landings than like

something manmade.

Looking back on the different fl ights I took fl ying over the U.S.

territory, I believe these crops to be located somewhere in South

Dakota, Wyoming or northern Utah. I even think I saw some on

the borders of California and Nevada. I am thus sending out a

request to our U.S.-based readers. If one of you could give me

information on these circular crops, I would be extremely happy.

I am the kind of person who seriously racks his brain over this

type of crop, and I must admit that these perfect circular plots

have earned me, since I learned of their existence, many nights

of insomnia and as many nightmares. If someone could give

me the beginning of an explanation, I am certain I would sleep

better and I would be eternally grateful!

I also wish to express all my gratitude and gratefulness to Dr. John

A.A. Thomson and to his team at North Hollywoods Vitamin

Institute. I particularly want to thank Trishia and Travis Thomson

for their warm welcome during my recent trip to California.

I was lucky enough to spend an hour in the company of Dr.

Thomson. What he has to say about his career and the various

uses of his SUPERThrive product since it was commercialized

in 1940 is absolutely surprizing and fascinating. You will fi nd

excerpts from this interview in our next issue!

Bruno Bredoux

The Indoor Gardener

April 2007

o Payment: postal money order or certified bank cheque made to the order of: Green Publications.o USA: PAYMENT IN US or CANADIAN DOLLARS THROUGH INTERNATIONAL POSTAL MONEY ORDERo *International fee with all taxes and shipping included.o Qubec residents, shipping and handling, GST and QST included.o &Other provinces, with GST only = $4.55 per issue (GST included) or 6 issues for $27.30 (GST included + add your provincial tax).

Return this form to: Green Publications, Subscriptions, Postal Box 52046,Laval, QC, H7P 5S1, CANADA

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ATTENTION: EXPIRES AT THE END OF July 2007 (Source: T.I.G. Vol.2 Issue 6)

PAST ISSUES (check off the issues above) - Price per issue: $4.90 or $15.95 for international orders

YES, I will subscribe! (6 issues for $29.40, shipping & handling and taxes included for Qubec)

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ISSUE 1 - APRIL 2005

ISSUE 4 - DEC. 2005ISSUE 2 - AUGUST 2005

ISSUE 5 - MARCH 2006

ISSUE 6 - MAY 2006

VOL.2 Issue 2 - SEPT. 2006VOL.2 Issue 1 - JULY 2006

VOL.2 Issue 3 - NOV. 2006

VOL.2 Issue 4 - JAN. 2007VOL.2 Issue 5 - MAR. 2007VOL.2 Issue 6 - MAY 2007

Strange Cultivated Plots Seen From Above

Unidentifi ed circular crops in the United States (South Dakota?), March 31, 2007.

Unidentifi ed circular crops under snow in the United States (Wyoming?), March 31, 2007.

VOL.3 Issue 1 - JULY 2007


Photo: Josh Morell

INTRODUCTION

I recently got a call from a friend who had decided to get some information out of me: You must help me, he said with some insistence. I have just planted seeds for a new purple bell pepper variety for indoor cultivation, and I want to do this right, so very quickly, he continued. Tell me how to fertilize them as well as possible.

Sit down, I said. And for the next three hours, I gave him as many details as possible about everything he wanted to know on the fertilization of young bell pepper plantlets. The problem with fertilizing new plants is that plantlets absorb nutrients so quickly that you may feel as if you are never giving them enough. Plantlets absorb more nutrients than any other growing plant. Most gardeners know this and tend to go beyond the limit. Over-fertilization will destroy your plants faster than anything, and an insuffi cient fertilization will leave them stunted.

How Do You Know How Much To Use? Observe The Plant.Many factors can infl uence the quantity of fertilizer absorbed by the plant. Each plant is genetically different and nutrient absorption varies from one plant to the next. Light plays an important role. A plant getting a lot of light and whose growth is quick will absorb nutrients very rapidly, whereas a plant with a slower growth will absorb less. In this case, if precautions are not taken, the plant could end up over-fertilized.

Using Fertilizers: Using Fertilizers: A Matter Of ObservationA Matter Of Observation

By J.-R. H.By J.-R. H.

Fuschia fl ower grown under a single 100 watt metal halide lamp in Fox Farm Ocean Forrest soil (photo by Josh Morell).

Phot

o: B

roth

er

INTRODUCTIONThe required quantity of fertilizer can be easy to determine. A soils analysis, whether chemical or electronic, can be a worthwhile investment. Analysing soil samples taken a few days apart during plant growth will allow you to maintain a rigorous inventory of the appropriate nutrient input without risking to over-fertilize the plant. If you live in the country, the local agricultural coop may have an analysis offi ce that could test the samples for you. Explain the nature of your crop so that you can get a detailed analysis of the elements that are most relevant to it.

So... Organic Or Chemical?Whether organic or chemical, the nutrient type has little consequence for the plant. Some experts swear by organic nutrients, saying that chemical fertilizers are poisonous and can damage your plants. In truth, there is no difference between organic and chemical nutrients, and their impact on the plant is only perceptible if all the nutrients required for its growth are available. As long as plants benefi t from it, a nutrient is a nutrient, and that is all that matters.

Like all plants, bell peppers need large quantities of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Bell peppers also require small quantities of magnesium and calcium, and very small quantities of iron, copper, boron, sulphur, manganese, molybdenum and zinc. For the plant to be healthy and strong, all of its nutritional needs must be met. Regarding more complex questions to come, the nutrient proportions required for the plants will need to be modifi ed during the growth cycle. You will also need to balance them out for the plants to prosper. Whether organic or chemical, almost all fertilizers on the market bear a label with three numbers related to the NPK system (N for nitrogen, P for phosphorus and K for potassium).

AeroGrow Aeroponic Plant Growing System for In Home Consumer Use

AeroGrow International, of Boulder, Colorado, has invented and developed the worlds fi rst aeroponic plant growing system for in home consumer use. Using a method developed by NASA, indoor plants grow faster and better, using a combination of air and water mist to produce healthy

lettuce, herbs, fl owers, berries and other vegetables organically inside the home. Epcot Center has a large aeroponic display as well. Until recently, this technology was too expensive and cumbersome to be used in homes, but AeroGrow has developed a system that is both affordable and foolproof.

Available for one year now (the fi rst model was commercialized in the spring of 2006 in leading specialty retail stores), home units are shipped with starter seed packets and organic fertilizer. Once the unit is set up and the container is fi lled with water, fertilizer and seeds, it will grow lettuce and herbs many times faster than in nature. Specially designed light and timers will simulate night and day conditions and the right amount of humidity for rapid plant growth. Home cooks can have a fresh herb or salad garden available for constant harvesting on their countertop. Fresh herbs like cilantro and basil may be clipped and re-grown in a constant cycle. Other crops available in custom designed seed packages include tomatoes, lettuce, strawberries, fl owers and more to come.

Bang-Knudsen is among the fi rst representative agencies to present the companys revolutionary home growing system to specialty retailers, and AeroGrow has appointed Bang-Knudsen, Inc. as exclusive manufacturers representatives for the Pacifi c Northwest region. The AeroGrow system was introduced at the Bang-Knudsen Seattle Showroom in January 2006, and later at the National Housewares and Gourmet Cookware show, and has been a growing success since then.

Source: http://www.bang-knudsen.com/newproducts_2.htm

Labels That Are Perfect For Gardeners!Are you already impatiently awaiting the next gardening season? Are you waiting for warmer days by preparing cuttings, bulbs and seeds so

that everything will be ready to be planted? Are you so

enthusiastic that youve already forgotten what you have seeded in which pot? Discover Brothers P-touch electronic labelling systems, which allow you to created neat, clear and long-lasting labels for all of your gardening activities.

Outdoor conditions have always been a challenge for the identifi cation and labelling of equipment. You need labels that can withstand diffi cult conditions, whether to label your equipment, to make identifi cation posters, to label pots, toolbox compartments, your workbenchs shelves, roots in the refrigerator or bags of seeds. Brothers P-touch labels are specifi cally designed to withstand outdoor conditions: even submerged, frozen or in conditions of extreme drought, Brothers indestructible laminated TZ tapes will not get erased or torn.

Since it is important to do things right from the start, the laminated TZ labels are designed to be permanent. With its thermal transfer printing ink sealed between two layers of rugged polyester, the adhesive-back P-touch label is extremely thin yet durable and can resist most meteorological conditions. To get such results, Brother submits its labels to extreme tests that measure the tapes durability in diffi cult conditions. These tests include abrasion resistance, exposition to chemicals, adherence capacity as well as resistance to humidity and discolouration. P-touch labels can be frozen and handle temperatures as low as -50C or as high as 200C without damage.

Since the arrival on the market of the P-touch in 1988, Brother has manufactured over 13 million P-touch systems and sold over 25 million tape cartridges. If we multiply this number by the length of the tape in each cartridge, eight metres, we can go around the earth approximately 50 times! To discover the full range of P-touch labelling systems, visit Brothers website: www.brother.ca, or call toll free: 1-800-361-6466, tel: 514-685-0600, fax: 514-685-0701

Estelle L.-Lacroix

Pastries: A Second Life In The MuseumCommon sense is to eat pastries as quickly as possible, while their freshness retains the softness of the crust and the humid texture that make our mouths water. Some pastries,


Photos: Brother &

AeroG

row

NOTES & NEWS

Phot

o: D

.R.

NOTES & NEWShowever, withstand the test of time. Right now, two slices of Queen Victorias wedding cake are visible in a display at Windsor castle. These slices, cut from the regal cake baked 167 years ago, have withstood time and are now part of an exhibit entitled Regal Cakes. You can eat them with your eyes until the end of March 2008. The cake slices were kept in small cardboard boxes bearing the royal seal and the inscription Buckingham Palace, February 10th, 1840, day of Queen Victoria and Prince Alberts wedding.

I was recently told another story about British cake through the ages. Last fall in Brittany my friend Marie-Rose Rouxel was moving the content of her great-aunts house, which she had just put up for sale, when she found in the attic two tin boxes, hermetically closed and bearing the seal of the Royal Air Force. Thinking she would fi nd ammunition, Marie-Rose opened one box, and found very well preserved shortbread cookies, apparently dating back to WW2 and which were, unfortunately, the cause of her great-aunt Marie-Franoises murder in 1944, as she was suspected by the German occupants of sheltering a few British parachutists when the Gestapo found various British objects in her house. Marie-Franoise, terrorist maid, was burnt alive without a trial. And two boxes of shortbread escaped the gathering of evidence.

Not discouraged, Marie-Rose organized a Special WW2 party featuring shells, cartridges and other British military relics and served to her guests her old British shortbreads along with a bottle of British sherry from the 1940s, also found in the attic. The guests found the cookies still very good. We could get offended by my friends attitude, eating the cookies that caused a true family and historical tragedy, but let me reassure you: she donated the second box to the Muse de la Rsistance in Saint-Marcel, Brittany. You can now go admire them, if you cannot eat them

B.B.

Energy: No Vegetable Oil In French Motors Without Government ApprovalA French town that uses pure vegetable oils as biofuel for its communitys cars is being sued... by the French government, which wants to implant beet-based ethanol as an alternative

This cardboard box contains a piece of the wedding cake of Britains Queen Victoria

fuel. The public powers wish to promote ethanol and do everything to avoid the emergence of an alternative denounced an elected representative of the small town

from Lot-et-Garonne, Villeneuve-sur-Lot, which is facing the parisian government. He adds: Its production and distribution are already controlled by petroleum groups that the government wants to keep on pleasing, as well as by the rich beet growers of Northern France. Its a pot of dirt against an iron pot. Finally, the representative considers the

suit even more incomprehensible since, on December 1st, 2006, the Agriculture minister from the same government has given a green light to the use of pure vegetable oils in the vehicles of the communities. The Villeneuve-sur-Lot mayor continues vehemently: We will not turn from a freely decided policy that represents common sense and the future. He will have to consider, however, that even with the decision of the minister of Agriculture, the government has not yet approved this agreement on principles, because no acceptable protocol has been fi nalized regarding the use of pure vegetable oils as fuel. This leaves the departments 17 unoffi cial producers of pure vegetable oil, as well as the 600 to 700 throughout France, awaiting the opening of a market that remains closed for now. Even more so since a recently voted amendment has made the price of one litre of pure sunfl ower oil higher than that of one litre of gasoline.

B.B.

North Korea: Giant Rabbits Against Hunger

German retiree Karl Szmolinky, who recently won an agricultural prize for a 10.5 kg and 74 cm rabbit was contacted by North Korean diplomats who dreamed of importing the genetic line developed by the breeder to solve their countrys hunger problem. The North Korean offi cials visited Karl on his farm and

were able to evaluate that each rabbit from the line offers 7 kg of edible meat. The breeder fi nally accepted to sell them two males and four females to begin experimental breeding in North Korea. According to the producer of the German giants, a female can give birth to up to 112 babies each year. That is enough to invade North Korea and enough... to put someone off eating rabbit!

B.B.

Viva Viagra, Viva Amor?Fraudulent enhancement medecines have once again fl ooded the market. A recent poll has shown that as much

as 90% of male enhancement pills sites out there are selling cheap knockoff versions of the original product! Dont be fooled by fl ashy sites or fabricated testimonials! Also, dont be fooled by some of the very fraudulent sites which do not hesitate to use the very same poll to certify that their products are the true and only ones. Canadian Pharmacy is currently sending thousands of spams asserting they are the only trustable company out there. At The Indoor Gardener Magazine, were getting between 5 and 10 spams from them a day. It is time to fi ght back! And nobody needs these pills here at the offi ce... yet! Anyway, we would prefer to test a plant-based product fi rst. Yohimbe, anyone?

K. Gunkel

Acajou 2000: Exotic, Warm, Affordable Mahogany

The Qubec-based company Acajou 2000 offers the prestige of natural wood furniture for the price of laminate! Specializing in mahogany furniture and offi ce furniture, Acajou 2000 also offers, aside from this West Indian wood, products with a cherry or maple fi nish. The North American tradition of mahogany furniture started at the beginning of trade with the West Indies. Mahoganys commercial fortune on the continent stems from the fact that the heavy tree trunks were hoarded on ships as ballast to serve for the duration of the trip. Importing it was thus quite cheap. Transporting the heavy wood on the continent, however, was almost impossible, and only cabinetmakers in port cities such as Halifax, Amherst, St.John, Qubec, Trois-Rivires and Montral could get it cheap. Mahogany remained the only imported wood in Canada in the 18th century, and until the fi rst decade of the next century. After the 1812 war, other essences were imported in the Maritimes and Qubecs regions that were reachable by boat, such as lemon tree and rosewood. In Upper Canada, however, mahogany only appeared as of 1830. Canadian furniture usually has a pine structure, with hard wood used for the exterior and for inlays. That is the Canadian tradition which Acajou 2000 is attempting to perpetuate since 1998, combining skill and high quality research. To see the various mahogany product lines offered, see: www.acajou2000.com. Tel: 1 866 973-2212.

B.B.


Photos: D.R

. & A

cajou 2000NOTES & NEWS

French Energy Minister Thierry Breton in an ethanol-powered car

Photomontage of a digitally and genetically modifi ed giant rabbit being saddled at a Nevada ranch

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Photos: Soma &

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TIPS & TRICKS

Growing With Bat Guano By Soma

The prize I seek is the best quality homegrown plant. I still like to grow my own vegetables, that way I know they are organic to my specifi cations. I only grow organically: I use 2-15-2 guano, neem oil for insect control, seaweed for foliar feeding, and citric acid for pH regulation. I dont like the taste most bottled foods give to plants. Its true that many will give you a bigger yield, but for me it is all about taste. I want to truly enjoy the vegetables Ive grown. To really achieve organic quality, there are a few key factors which I will briefl y discuss. When growing indoor plants, pathogenic insects are everywhere and must be dealt with in some successful way. Most indoor gardeners use pesticides, but that is not how you grow vegetables or fruits you will eat. Neem oil is a safe, organic, effective product that does the same as pesticides, but without the negative side effects.

Dont overkill your plants with food. Just like humans, plants can only consume food to a certain

degree. If you give your plants too much food, it turns into poison, so use a light hand. My favorite additive is guano. Nothing makes plants grow and taste better than guano. I have tried every known plant food out there, and have found nothing more organic or effective than guano. The guano product I like to use is Guanokalong 2-15-2 High Phosphorus powdered guano. I make a tea with 100 grams in two litres of water. I then add half a litre of the tea to 10 litres of pH-balanced water. This gives me all I need.

The word guano originated from Peru and means the droppings of sea birds. As the word is used today, guano describes both bat and sea bird manure. Our interest as gardeners lies solely in bat guano. To harvest this expensive fertilizer, workers basically vacuum the guano from the fl oor of ancient caves, home to millions of bats. Bat guano is considered by many to be the best fertilizer for the cultivation of indoor plants. Guano supplies fast and slow released nutrients. Gardeners both in hydroponics and soil are fi nding that guano is a

natural alternative to chemical solutions.

Guano is aged and comes ready-to-use. Two types of bat guano are available: one is harvested from a species that thrives on insects, while the other comes from fruit-loving bats. What the gardener must know is that the fi rst type is high in nitrogen, while the second one is high in phosphorus. Use nitrogen guano for growth and/or phosphorus guano for fl owering or fructifi cation. The typical composition (may vary signifi cantly) is:

Bat guano high nitrogen: nitrogen: 10%, phosphorus: 3%, potassium: 1%.

Bat guano high phosphorus: nitrogen: 0%, phosphorus: 18%, potassium: 0%.

Check out the companys website at www.guanokalong.nl (site available in Dutch, English, French, German, Italian and Spanish. Editors note)

When it comes to watering, I like to pretend that I am the plant: I stick my fi nger in the soil to see how moist it is and think to myself, Is this wet enough, or is this too dry? Once you are used to working in a specifi c garden and know exactly how long it takes the soil to dry out, it is easy to fi gure out a watering schedule so that you keep your plants in a happy medium, neither drowning in water nor drying out.

Knowing exactly when to harvest is truly an art. So many growers pick their plants too early, missing the best part. It takes patience to grow good fruits and vegetables and you cant push the river. I dont follow calendars: I always look to the plants. There are certain instances when your plants can be stunted by things like over-watering, over-fertilizing, cold or hot temperatures and insect damage, which can throw your calendar dates off. Always study your plants closely at the time of harvest to make sure that they are truly ripe: only then will you get all their goodness.

THE INDOOR GARDENER VOLUME 2 ISSUE 616

Neem oil after it has been heated.

Liquid Guanokalong extract: Dont hesitate to grow with bat shit!

Guanokalong 2-15-2 High Phosphorus is my favourite plant food.


Photo & Illustrations: B&

B Hydroponics G

ardenTIPS & TRICKS

Lighting is a crucial element in any indoor garden. If the lamps give off too much heat, your plants will fry. If they dont give off enough light, you will wait in vain for fl owering and will harvest disappointing results. Light movers can help you, but there are a few things you should know to be able to use them well.

Light movers get the light down between the plants. Since there is no wind in an indoor garden to move the branches, light movers allow the light to get in between the branches. By changing the angle at which the light hits the plants, you can get more light to reach down to lower leaves. See the three graphs below.

A) Linear Light MoversUsing light movers is a very popular way to grow more with fewer setup costs and running costs. Basically, the light is hung on a long rail (how long is up to you). The light is moved from one end to the other, using a silent low wattage motor. When the light gets to one end, it stops for approximately one minute before making its return journey. In effect, one light does the job of two or three. This light rail will reduce running costs by half to two-thirds, depending on the setup. The SmartDrive 3.5 (see b) below) is an upgrade from the SmartDrive 3 and now features adjustable time delay at no extra cost. The SmartDrive 3.5 is a US design. The Jupiter 2 (see c) below) is an Australian gadget.

a) The Light Rail 3.5 from Intelli-DriveThe Light Rail 3.5 from Intelli-Drive is the most reliable light mover in the industry. The variable travelling distance allows you to use the Light Rail 3.5 in a garden of any size. Just cut or extend the rail. The picture below shows (red arrows) where the three pins will align the two rails together. A built-in time delay device stops the motor at each end of the rail for one to sixty seconds. Use it to achieve a more even growth of the canopy. The lamps may be placed much closer to the plants. I do not recommend moving the light more than 84 centimetres from the center of the rail. Use a straight wood board to stop the track from warping; it will also make it easier to mount it to the ceiling.

b) Linear USA SmartDrive 3.5, 1.5m Light Mover With Built In Delay Linear Light Mover And Extender Rail

Distribute light evenly over a rectangular area with the linear light mover. Encourage bushy growth, rather than straggly and spindly growth. The light mover can be adjusted and extended to allow any hydroponic light to travel any distance up to three metres. The light mover pauses for approximately one minute at each adjustable stopper before traveling in the opposite direction. To add the linear light mover to your system, secure the lightweight rail to the ceiling above the hydroponic system. (If you are placing refl ective sheeting on the ceiling, create the fi xation holes before stapling the sheeting.) If you have an uneven ceiling, you may want to secure it to a beam of wood. 10 cm x 5 cm wood is suitable, but take into account that the majority of

Horticultural Lighting: Light Movers And Lighting AccessoriesBy W.S. & Esoteric Hydroponics

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TIPS & TRICKSthe weight will come from your refl ector. Comes with the Linear USA SmartDrive 3.5, 1.5 m Extension Kit

c) Jupiter 2, 1.5m Linear Light Mover With Fixed Internal

DelayAustralia designed and built. Comes with the Jupiter 2,

1.5m Extension Kit.

d) Other Linear Models From B&B Hydroponics- Light Rail 3 6 rpm;- Light Rail Pause 6 rpm;- Light Rail 3 Motor 6 rpm;- Light Rail 3 Pause Motor;- Light Rail 3 Pause 10 rpm;- Light Rail 3 Motor 10 rpm;- Light Rail 3.5 Intell 6 rpm;- Light Rail 3.5 Intell 10 rpm.

B) Circular Light MoversHave you ever seen a houseplant that grows towards the sunlight? Imagine how plants grow in a hydroponic system

if the light doesnt move. Adding a light mover to your system encourages bushy and uniform growth and allows you to make the most of your existing lights. The circular light mover is available in four versions, the two arm version (see picture at the bottom of next page), the three equally spaced arm version, the four cross bar version, and a fi ve light version allowing a central light to be suspended between four lights. All versions allow the positioning of the lights to be extended and lowered. Extending the lights allows the light to reach further in a large grow room. Lowered lights can be raised as the plants grow, maintaining the maximum transfer of light energy without burning the plants.

a) Two Arm SunCircle Light MoverUSA designed and built. It uses a principle similar to that of a linear light mover but harnessing two lights, normally one

Photos: Esoteric Hydroponics

TIPS & TRICKShigh pressure sodium and one metal halide, to give perfect blue and red spectrum that mimics the sun for unbeatable results. It moves around in a circle, again mimicking the Earths natural rotation around the sun. There is also a three bulb version, with a suggested use of one metal halide and two high pressure sodium lights (see below).

b) Three Arm SunCircle Light MoverCircular US-made light mover with three arms. Similar to the model above but allowing the use of three lamps (one MH and two HPS).

c) Four Cross Bar SunCircle Light MoverAdd the combination of lamps you desire for growth or fl owering phases. Allows you to get just one lighting set-up for both phases.

d) Five Lamp SunCircle Light MoverThis one uses a similar principle than the four cross bar light mover, but there a connection at the center of the cross for a fi fth light that you can adjust above your garden.

C) Light Accessoriesa) Lamp Diffuser (Grow Light Heat Shield)The Heat Shield has been designed specifi cally for tubular lamps to shield plants and prevent leaves burning from the hot spot which can often be created below horizontally mounted lamps. The Heat Shield will also help spread light more evenly across the growing area.

- allows lamp to get closer to the plant;- protects plants from burning;- evens out plant growth;- increases yield;- easy to install;- fi ts most horizontal refl ectors;- two sizes, small up to 600 watt, large 1000 watt;- inhibits phototropism (stem elongation);- economical;- ideal for Adjust-A-Shade.

b) Pro-Trac Accessories From B&B Hydroponics- Pro-Trac 2: 1.5 m chain driven light mover;- Pro-Trac 5: 1.3 m cross bar extension. Ability to hang two

lamps 65 cm apart;- Pro-Trac 10: 2.6 m cross bar extension. Ability to hang

three lamps 1.3 m apart;- Pro-Slave: Allows you to add another light and connects

inline with your Pro-Trac 2.

c) Easy-Roll Re ector Hangers Easy-Roll hangers make life easy when it comes to hanging your refl ectors. Simply lift the refl ector gently and it will


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automatically lock into place. Adjustable tension and a maximum load of 10 kg per pair of Easy-Roll hangers. Can also be used to hang adjustable Mylar and other grow room equipment.

d) Other Accessories From B&B Hydroponics- Add-A-Lamp Kit;- 1.5 m Rail;- Rubber O-Ring;- Rubber Ring only;- Set of four carrying wheels;- Smart Box kit.

Sources: www.blunt.co.uk & www.bandbhydroponics.com.

a) Esoteric Hydroponics, 8 Martyr Road, Guildford, Surrey, England, GU1

4LF, UK, International Telephone: +44 1483 596484, International

Mobile: +44 7958 698152, International Fax: +44 1483 596490.

b) B&B Hydroponics Garden, 110 Anne St, Unit 9, Barrie, ON, Canada,

Telephone: 1 705 730-6601 or Toll-free: 1 866 205-5196.


Photos: Daniel Fortin

BOTANICAL GLOSSARY

The Codiaeum genus of the Euphorbiacea family is mostly known for one species, C. variegatum pictum. The croton, as it is called, is divided into a large number of cultivars with a particularly decorative foliage. In its natural habitat, it is a shrub that can reach up to two metres in height, and the same in girth. You can see very nice specimens when going to a tropical resort.

This plant is easy to identify: its leaves are smooth and leathery, spotted, blotched or richly veined in various colours. Depending on the cultivar, the leaves can be long and narrow, wide and oval, lanceolate or intricate; some cultivars have an undulate or spiral-twisted foliage. The colours richness is exceptional: those who enjoy foliage plants will fi nd cultivating its various cultivars very satisfying. Many of the cultivars have a colourful foliage that remains unchanged even as it ages, while others bear leaves that change colour over time.

Once mature, crotons produce an elongated and bending infl orescence, bearing rather uninteresting tiny white fl owers. In pots, the plants do not generally grow higher than 1 to 1.2 metres and not wider than 60 to 90 cm in diameter (and much less for small slow growth cultivars), but by increasing the pots size, you can achieve larger plants. Although they are rarely sold under their cultivar name, many gardening centres offer different specimens. For a potted garden bushy from bottom to top, you can get a slow growth cultivar and another, larger one, and plant them in the same container. You can also choose very different foliage to achieve a more interesting look.

Among the new cultivars, let us mention Iceton Yellow, with its creamy white to very pale yellow leaves, veined with a very interesting green, and Miss Peters, with its magnifi cent red, orange and yellow foliage a cultivar to look for.

Cultivation RequirementsA bright light and, if possible, two to three hours of sun each day are the best conditions for crotons to keep their bright colourful foliage. If the light is average or low, the plant will wilt and lose its colours. It is a warm climate tropical plant: it does not handle well temperatures below 12C. During

its growth phase, its water needs are constant and the

substrate must be kept slightly moist. Beware

however: this plant will waste away if

its roots bathe in water for too long; it is thus

recommended to empty the saucers

a few hours after each watering.

Croton (Codiaeum variegatum)

By Daniel Fortin

Codiaeum variegatum pictum


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tinBOTANICAL GLOSSARY

If crotons enjoy warmth, they do not enjoy the too dry atmosphere often found in our homes. It accelerates the shedding of bottom leaves and the development of spider mites, one of the relatively frequent pests found on crotons. During the winter, when there is less light in our houses, it is wise to give crotons a period of rest by reducing the temperature in the room where they are and by reducing the frequency of waterings. In early March, when light is again abundant, restart their growth by increasing the temperature, the frequency of waterings and by starting fertilization again. If it is required, that is the ideal time to re-pot the plants.

Between mid-March and the end of July, applying a liquid fertilizer every 15 to 25 days will stimulate plant growth.

MultiplicationIn the spring, take 15 to 20 cm cuttings at the top of the plants to ensure multiplication. These cuttings will be placed in a rooting

substrate: soil enriched with sphagnum moss, perlite and/or vermiculite: keep it slightly

moist at all times. It is advised to cover this pot with a translucent plastic fi lm to ensure that the rooting cuttings get a suffi ciently high atmospheric humidity. Place them in a spot where the light is bright, but not under direct sunlight, for fi ve to eight

weeks. Once the roots are well developed, re-pot the plantlets.

Air LayeringThe largest specimens, whose stems are at least two

centimetres in diameter, can be multiplied by air layering. Make a one centimetre incision on each

side of the stem; apply rooting powder on the wound, and wrap a plastic sheet around the stem, forming a pocket, tying it under the cut; fi ll this pocket with moist sphagnum and close it at the top. From time to time, make sure that the sphagnum remains moist and

add water. When the roots have developed in the sphagnum and fi ll the pocket, cut the stem

under the roots and place the cutting in its own pot.


Codiaeum variegatum

pictum Mammy


Photos: Guy Boily

GARDEN EXHIBIT

A Revisited ConceptInternational Flora Montral Garden Festival a spectacular showcase of the fi ne art of gardening from June 29 to September 3, 2007, at the Lock Gardens of the Quays of Old-Montreal will be once again a unique and unforgettable experience. The latest excitement and innovations in the world of gardening will be all over the place. Most of the superb 2006 garden exhibits will be returning, many of them modifi ed by their creators to make their design, shades and colors more exciting and appealing than ever. Floras

second edition will also feature many original creations that will complement the splendid exhibition which thrilled over 175,000 spectators in its fi rst year. The visitors of the 2007 edition will experience a new conception of the site: fi rst, intimacy while promenading through the site and then, greater interactions with the gardens.

Floras Social and Green CommitmentFor the love of children, Team Flora has decided to support the Sainte-Justine Hospital Foundations fundraising efforts. This year, the Hospital is celebrating its 100th anniversary and the Foundations goal is to improve the quality of the childrens life and that of their environment by creating

International Flora Montral Sets The Stage For The Summer Of 2007 In The Old Port

Urban Romance (Centre de formation horticole de Laval).

Between Earth and Sky (Catalyse Urbaine).

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GARDEN EXHIBIT

special gardens for their delight and enchantment. International Flora will twin with the Hospital Foundation in its fundraising efforts to promote public awareness of the Hospitals enviable reputation throughout America and the rest of the world. To further highlight its implication in Sainte-Justines endeavors, International Flora has decided that this year, admission to Flora for children 12 years and under is free to ensure an all-around family experience.

Flora Spe cial EventsTo enhance the main themes of its mission, International Flora 2007 has created four major events that will make up the main body of its programming:

July 6 to 15 Art Rendez Vous in the Garden or The encounter of the artist and the garden;

July 27 to August 12 Fifteen days of Residential Gardens or An opportunity to learn and share on the experience of creating a garden;

August 17 to 26 Gourmet Garden Feast or From garden to table, discover the joy of cooking with a green thumb;

August 30 to September 3 Kyoto in My Garden or The essentials for sustainable development in the garden.

Source: Julie Mailhot, Press Agent, International Flora Montral 2007,

514 282-0222.

J=M (H20) Garden Amnagement Denis.


Photos: carbon.org

As this Mexican proverb expresses, a woman, and not the ground, is sometimes required to support a house. It is a proverb we can rightfully associate with Peggy Bradley, whose impressive rsum (www.carbon.org/microfarms/peggy.htm) informs us of her unequalled expertise in hydroponic cultivation. With many associates, she instigated a project of simplifi ed hydroponics as particularly applied

to the agricultural situation of Mexico (but also valid for any other developing country). The Institute for Simplifi ed Hydroponics for Mexico is a non-governmental organization (NGO) founded in the United States and whose constitution goes back more than ten years, the fi rst legal form of the association dating back to 1995. The Mexican division was launched on May 2, 2001.

The Mexico Institute of Simplifi ed Hydroponics is in

fact a direct result of the second conference of the Mexican hydroponics association, held in 2001 in the city of Toluca, Mexico. The Mexican hydroponics association has played a big part in the support and foundation of the project for a Mexican Institute on simplifi ed hydroponics, which then founded its own offi ce in Tehuacan, in the Puebla area and started acting on its own, slowly disengaging from the infl uences of the old association to set up its own projects, subsidiaries and action plans to offer knowledge and

support to urban simplifi ed hydroponics in underprivileged zones.

The fi rst mission of the new simplifi ed hydroponics institute was, in 2001, to translate to Spanish the famous book Home Hydroponic Gardens and to fi nd a Mexican publisher willing to add it to his roster and to make it available to the general public in Mexico. Similarly, to sensitize the often poor and illiterate populations to the benefi ts of simplifi ed hydroponics for their immediate survival, the translation into Spanish of the board game Hydroponica was begun. Playing this interactive game with farmers has had more of an educational infl uence than any lecture or in situ experiment could have had.

Jose Martin Atela Echevarria was named Director of the Peggy Bradley-founded NGOs Mexican division. From 2001 to 2003, Peggy helped set up, elaborate training and teach at the fi rst training centre opened by the International Institute of Simplifi ed Hydroponics in Tehuacan. The offi ce was set up in a 24 square meter building, fully renovated for this purpose, and whose various outbuildings throughout Tehuacan share a total surface of 3,000 m2 in gardens and crop lots dedicated to the Institutes experiments and demonstrations. Peggy also greatly contributed to a fundraiser that ended up collecting over $100,000, a sum quickly spent on the projects infrastructure, but a part of which was set aside to translate books and basic brochures into Spanish. Documentation on the topic is cruelly scarce in Cervantes language.

The Institute quickly started offering classes attended by a great number of Mexican students, but also by students from all over Latin America. Peggy Bradley remains the Director

The Woman Behind the Creation of The Institute for Simplifi ed Hydroponics for Mexico

The house doesnt stand on the ground, but on a woman (Mexican proverb)

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of the International Institute for Simplifi ed Hydroponics, the 501-C-3 NGO she founded in 1995. Thanks to her doctorate in civil engineering, she perfected her knowledge of urban hydroponics and specialized herself in the latest technologies related to hydroponics so that she could take advantage of

them to cultivate fruits and vegetables without soil and hence meet the needs of third world populations while helping them reduce the negative impact of using chemicals for the environment. She has even created a certain number of experimental integrated systems which use both plants and animals (for urban domestic breeding) and have allowed her to reach her goals in the fi eld of ecological-vocation hydroponics.

She has developed and managed organic and inorganic simplifi ed hydroponic systems and has established, designed and documented many scientifi c experiments linked to hydroponics. For a while, she even specialized in the identifi cation of vegetable biological disorders and in the physical and biological control of endemic plant pathologies. Her scientifi c research has led her to collaborate with farmers, businesses, manufacturers and governments who wished to test specifi c systems or products. She has also acted as an international consultant, offering her services and know-

how throughout the world.

As the author of simplifi ed hydroculture books and magazine articles, she has reaped both scientifi c and popular success. Her various projects have led her to produce CD-ROMs, videos and DVDs on urban hydroponic agriculture. She has contributed to the development of projects around the world, regrouping simplifi ed hydroponic installations

in regions affl icted by extreme poverty or famine, in Zimbabwe, the Philippines, Mexico and even in the poorest and most arid regions of the United States and Israel.

Finally, Peggy is still an honorary member of Bradley Hydroponics (created in 1982), a consultant agency specializing in hydroponics both for the design of new projects and for the examination of particular cases. The consultancy offers complete practical and technical,

PORTRAIT


Photos: carbon.org

commercial and domestic support for all hydroponic farmers. The know-how accumulated by Bradley Hydroponics is now quite thorough, from experience providing advice and opportunities for commercial growers to the design of potential hydroponic systems and the improvement of existing ones. The company also offers counsel on choices of crops, cultivars, water analysis methods and on the day-to-day management of a hydroponic crop. Bradley Hydroponics has also done many commercial audits for small-scale domestic-use hydroponic cultivation experiments.

Finally, one of the most original creations from Peggy Bradley is, without a doubt, her line of commercial products, including hydroponic kits and board games related to the topic. Her program takes the shape of an educational Science Kit which proposes four scientifi c and hydroponic experiments for students 12 and up. This educational kit has received the grand prize of the Educational Science Materials in 1997. A variation on the project was launched under the name Childrens Kit: it is an educational kit, but this one for children aged six and up. The elements of the kit sensitize the children to the imperatives of hydroponics in underprivileged and urban areas. The kit includes the colouring book A Garden For Josie, with text translated into Spanish, and has become one of the most-used tools for youth in programs for the development of underprivileged or homeless youth in the dispensaries of Latin America.

The Home Garden Kit is offered in two versions: one proposing a hydroponic vegetable project for the households needs and the other on the setup of a small commercial hydroponic garden

that could provide additional revenue. A translation of the book Home Hydroponics Gardens is found in this kit, offered in English, French and Spanish. The Hydroponica

game, discussed above, is also one of her creations. The game, available in English and in Spanish, undertakes to teach simplifi ed hydroponics in a playful way. Tests done to date in four different countries have been conclusive. Kits for merchants and hydroponic stores are also available, each with a specifi c theme: greenhouses, medicinal herbs, culinary herbs, salads for the indoor garden, etc.

To get back to the Institute for Simplifi ed Hydroponics for Mexico, it is important to note that this structure, even with its high profi le, is a not-for-profi t association which is always seeking means and help, be they donations, subsidies or volunteering. The Institute has put its Hunger Plan online, at www.carbon.org/Mexicoish/mexicopapers.htm, and mostly needs, in the immediate, the following equipment:

a small utility vehicle (an ATV would do); a few computers, as well as laptops; a video camera to document classes and place advice

online on the training centers Intranet. fi nally, it needs to complete its annual US$70,000

budget, of which only 15% has been raised to date (mid-February).

Contact: the Institutes webmaster at [email protected].

PORTRAITPages from the book

A Mexican family and the harvest it got from simplifi ed hydroponics.

A Mexican family and the harvest it got from simplifi ed hydroponics.

Jose Martin Atela Echevarria, Director of the Institute, demonstrates the Hydroponica game to his students.

The Hydroponica game

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To contact Peggy by email: [email protected].

To conclude, I would like to point out that this projects future is at stake. The controversial arrival to power of Felipe Calderon in Mexico last November will have political and economic consequences on the countrys poorest populations, which are also those who have the greatest need for the simplifi ed hydroponics information provided by the Institute. I will not go on and on about the ramifi cations of this political situation (see my article on the topic in the preceding issue of The Indoor Gardener and the two articles by Al Giordano and Greg Palast listed in the sources of this article); I did however want to end on this alarming note, while tipping my hat to Peggy Bradley and to all the people who help and support her in Mexico and all across Latin America. - Olivier Dubois

Sources: Mexico Institute of Simplifi ed Hydroponics and Organization

(www.carbon.org); Peggy Bradleys rsum (www.carbon.org/microfarms/

peggy.htm); articles: Potential of Simplifi ed Hydroponics to Reduce Poverty

and Hunger in Mexico by Peggy Bradley and Cesar Marulanda (www.

carbon.org/Mexicoish/mexico1.htm); The Coup dtat in Mexico by Al

Giordano (www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2006/12/357477.html) and Stealing

Mexico Bush Team Helps Ruling Party Floridize Mexican Presidential

Election by Greg Palast (www.gregpalast.com/stealing-mexico).

PORTRAITHome Hydroponic Gardens


Photos: from The Exhibit Im

magini nere del barocco brasiliano

BrasilConnects.GALLERY

Immagini nere del barocco brasilianoThis exhibit was fi rst presented during the Venice Biennale from June 7 to September 15, 2001 and, more recently, under the title Viaggio in Brasile: sul fi lo rosso dellidentit nera from September 3 to September 28, 2006, at Ouro Preto, historical capital of the Minas Gerais, 411 km north of Rio de Janeiro. The concept behind these photographs is to associate the texture of a Brazilian plant to that of fabric or architectural elements from the Brazilian baroque period. Photographs are from BrasilConnects, 2001-2007.

B.B. (with E. Magne, who gave us the photographs) B.B. (with E. Magne, who gave us the photographs)


GALLERYPhotos:

PCRP (Processing Carrot Research Program), Laurent Paillier, M

SNBC &

D.R

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FUNNY (AND SEXY) CARROT CROPS

GALLERYPh

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WHOS YOUR DADDY?

2007 Technaflora Plant Products Ltd.

SugarDaddyis distributed coast to coast by the following wholesalers:

Exceptional Value. SugarDaddy can be used in conjunction

with any Leading Brand of nutrients. Contains 2% Available Carbohydrates. Maintains Vigorous Growth rate through carbohydrate, protein and fatty acid synthesis. Provides 20 Amino Acids that plants can readily absorb and utilize. Maximizes Final Yield by enhancing plant structure.

SugarDaddy is a revolutionary product that provides plants with a wealth of essential components. In return, the plants produce lush flowers, fruits and vegetative growth with enriched fragrance and flavour for the gardener.

Photos: Atm

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PLANT HEALTH

1 Air Quality 1 Air Quality Clean, Fresh, Air and Ozone Control With Charcoal Filters Mother Nature creates clean, fresh air. Charcoal or ozone* clean the air. Charcoal is a natural substance produced by burning material. When

air is passed over it, it gets caught in the carbon pores, which catch unwanted odours, poisons, dust and pollens. Five grams of charcoal has the same surface area as a football fi eld. AIl carbon fi lters contain many pounds of activated charcoal, the best type of charcoal. Most of the self-contained activated charcoal fi lters have a built-in fan and speed control. Needless to say its ideal for removing tobacco and lingering odours in your home. They are built to look good, sitting in the living room as part of your dcor.

[* What is ozone? According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency : Ozone is a molecule composed of three atoms of oxygen. Two atoms of oxygen form the basic oxygen molecule the oxygen we breathe that is essential to life. The third oxygen atom can detach from the ozone molecule, and re-attach to molecules of other substances, thereby altering their chemical composition. It is this ability to react with other substances that forms the basis of [ozone generators] manufacturers claims. (Source: Article Indoor Air Quality at www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/ozonegen.html). By passing air over an electrically charged fi eld of energy, we zap the oxygen molecules of the basic composition of ozone, detaching the third oxygen atom from the ozone molecule and re-attaching it onto other molecules or substances.]

a) Carbon Air Filtersa) Carbon Air Filters* Atmospheres PROfilters (Reversible Carbon Filters)The PROfi lter reversible carbon fi lters revolutionize the odour control market with their innovative design, the new 3R system (Reversible, Refi llable, and Reusable). Most

can-type fi lters utilize 50% of the carbon available by only fi ltering through the top section of the carbon fi lter, leaving the bottom section unused. PROfi lter uses an innovative patented design allowing the user to reverse the fi lter, benefi ting from the use of 100% of the available carbon and effectively extending the units lifespan. Manufactured with only the fi nest TC940 virgin 3 mm grain-sized carbon, PROfi lter effectively removes 99.5% of odours. Rated for a continuous worry-free operation and available in seven different sizes and Cfm ratings, PROfi lter can be used for commercial or residential applications.

Model Cfm Height

Pro 45s 150 Cfm 45 cm

Pro 50 450 Cfm 50 cm

Pro 70s 400 Cfm 70 cm

Pro 75 640 Cfm 75 cm

Pro 100 900 Cfm 1 m

Pro 125 1140 Cfm 1.25 m

Pro 150 1300 Cfm 1.50 m

* MountainAir Carbon Filter is fi lled with purair7, an advanced activated carbon with excellent odour absorption properties. This fi lter is placed either in the garden, attached to an exhaust fan, or outside it. All air exiting the growing area must pass through the fi lter, which removes over 99% of odours and particles. MountainAir carbon fi lter is recommended for those concerned with ozone inhalation.

Air Quality Air Quality and Ventilationand Ventilation

By W.S. By W.S.


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.PLANT HEALTH

ModelCarbon Weigh

Maximum Cfm

Indicative Cfm

15 cm x 50.8 cm 6.8 kg 325** 265

20.3 cm x 50.8 cm 8 kg 430 360

25.4 cm x 50.8 cm 9.5 kg 535 430

30.5 cm x 50.8 cm 10.8 kg 660 520

15 cm x 101 cm 14 kg 600 580

20.3 cm x 101 cm 16.8 kg 890 810

25.4 cm x 101 cm 19 kg 1100 960

30.5 cm x 101 cm 21.7 kg 1390 1200

35.6 cm x 101 cm 25.4 kg 1820 1480

35.6 cm x 515 cm 35.8 kg 2650 2130

** Minimum airfl ow is of the maximum Cfm.

It will be years (2, 4 or more, depending on whether you use a dust sock on your MountainAir fi lter) before you need a MountainAir carbon fi lter refi ll!

b) Ozone Controllersb) Ozone ControllersOzone alters the molecular structure of offensive micro-organisms, to eliminate odours from plants, pets, cooking and smoke. It also kills mold, mildew and bacteria. Ozone is produced when oxygen is zapped with high voltage. Lighting creates ozone and is natures way of purifying the air we breathe.

For small areas, use Uvonair models. These units use a special ultra violet light and built-in and can just sit in a room.

* UV-80H Uvonair UV is an economical system that produces ozone using special ultraviolet light bulbs. Ideal for rooms as large as 141.5 m3. It fi ts into 20 cm duct but can be installed into other sizes using adapters. For larger areas, use an Uvonair CD model.

* Uvonair CD is a high output Corona discharge generator. The CD-1200 model wiIl treat all odours under most circumstances, exhausted by a 30 cm ventilation system for rooms up to 2,832 m3. The CD-800 model is intended for 20 cm ventilation systems in rooms up to 566 m3. The

CD-1000 model is intended for 25.4 cm ventilation systems

in rooms up to 1,133 m3. They all can be installed into other sizes of ducts with adapters. Set the adjustable output by monitoring the exhaust air for odours.

All Uvonair units come with a one year warranty. This company reaIly does look after your units. It is just too bad they came along after so many other company failures.

* Corona Discharge Ozone GeneratorTo replicate a jungle at home, a gardener must be able to take advantage of the plants without being bothered by the sometimes extremely persistent and obnoxious odours being generated, especially coming from some exotic plants. Although ozone is a powerful compound, its life cycle is very short. When ozone comes in contact with bacteria, viruses or odours, they are oxidized by one of ozones three oxygen atoms. The only by-product of this oxidation is... oxygen, O2! The environment is thus purifi ed.

There are two methods to do this effi ciently and to eliminate a maximum of residual odours in an indoor grow room: production by ultraviolet radiation and Corona discharge ozone generation. The best systems use the Corona discharge, which replicates the lightning phenomenon. Systems using UV technology are more seldom used: they are not as reliable and they are very expensive. UV light is also very dangerous for human eyes and skin. It is best to use a system that combines safety with effi ciency. The Corona discharge ozone generator is a professional and rugged piece of equipment, and it is used in hospitals, hotels, waste disposal centres and in most places where strong odours matter.

Properties:Adjustable fl ow: 7 mg/h to 40 mg/h (= up to 200 m3) Consumption: 12 watts 220 V Size: 265 mm x 115 mm x 80 mmIt can be set horizontally or affi xed to a wall (holes have been pre-drilled).The hood can be opened quickly with a quarter turn screw system. The casing has a glazed metal fi nish.

c) OdorXtractor Carbon Filtersc) OdorXtractor Carbon FiltersOdorXtractor carbon fi lters, manufactured in Germany, use pure virgin carbon, natures best odour remover, to eliminate odours effectively and economically. Simply connect to a centrifugaI fan which draws

37VOLUME 2 ISSUE 6 THE INDOOR GARDENER

Photos: Atm

osphere & D

.R.

air through the fi Iter to scrub out impurities and odour. They fi lter particles and absorb odours effi ciently for up to 18 months. They will operate even in very warm and moist conditions (up to 80% relative humidity). They remove all types of odours, whether organic or chemical. Compact, lighter weight units come complete with a fl ange for easy hook up to an extraction fan ventilation system, providing many months of worry-free operation. No maintenance required. No moving parts.

Opening/HeightMax fl ow

recommended**

10 cm/40.64 cm 150 Cfm

15.24 cm /50.8 cm 250 Cfm

15.24 cm /76.2 cm 400 Cfm

20.32 cm/50.8 cm 450 Cfm

20.32 cm/76.2 cm 600 Cfm

25.4 cm/101.6 cm 770 Cfm

30.48 cm/101.6 cm 1060 Cfm

** Minimum airfl ow is of the Maximum Cfm.

2 Ventilation2 VentilationHave you ever walked into your garden and felt hot, sweaty,

dizzy, or just uncomfortable, and just wanted to get out as fast as possible? Your plants probably feel the same, but they have no way to get out of there. So they spend all their energy fi ghting the harsh elements and wasting valuable growing time.

Ventilation and fresh air is all they want. When fresh air is brought in from outside, the humidity, temperature, oxygen and CO2 are all brought back to normal levels.

If it is 32C outside and you are trying to get the inside temperature down to 22C, you will need to use some sort of air conditioning. (See vol. 2, issue 3 (pages 50-51) for Keep Rite refrigeration units.)

Calculate your cultivation room surface in cubic feet (length X width X height = cubic footage) and you will want to be able to remove all air in room within three minutes. 10 X 10 X 8 = 800 cubic feet. An ideal fan should be at least 400 cfm (cubic feet per minute). All of these fans are not designed to create a vacuum, so make sure that there is an adequately sized opening to allow the fresh air back in. Or place another fan of equal size in a window, blowing air in from outside. Make sure the exhausted air does not come back inside.

* Vortex Powerfans, VTX Series High Performance Inline Duct Blowers (From Atmosphere)

When these inline duct blowers were designed, reliability and effi ciency were the main goal. These high performance inline blowers feature superior steel construction with powder coated baked paint and convenient North-American sizes from 10 to 30 cm. Speed controllable and balanced motors with permanently lubricated ball bearings ensure a vibration-free operation. Made in Canada by Atmosphere, the Vortex Powerfan is also the fi rst industrial inline duct fan that comes with a power cord, ready to plug in, installed by the manufacturer. These blowers also feature a 10 year warranty.

* Tornado Squirrel Cage Blowers From Atmosphere

Atmosphere provides two models of Tornado blowers: Tornado G9-DD, with a capacity of horse power, 120 V and 60 hertz and Tornado G10-DD, with a capacity of horse power, 230 V and 60 hertz. Both Tornado blowers feature a three speed switch and a plug and play button. Atmosphere also distributes a great choice of accessories: fl exible insulated and non-insulated ducts, backdraft

PLANT HEALTH


Phot

o: D

.R.

dampers, speed control devices, exhaust and supply grills and clamps.

* PVP Fans are silent, powerful, and offer a fi ve year warranty. The electrical box mounts 90 cm away from the duct line, making them easier to wire or add a rheostat to control the ventilation speed. Extra large fl anges to connect duct work onto. These fans are meant to be installed inline.

Ducting is used to direct the vented air to where it is wanted. Hydroponic stores carry insulated and non-insulated ductwork from 11, 15, 20, 25.5 to 30.5 cm by 7.6 m in length.

* Continental AXC In-Line Centrifugal Duct Fans are ideal air movers. The quiet and effi cient airfoil impeller is capable of developing signifi cant pressure, and the in-line confi guration simplifi es installation. The unique motor design, combined with high quality materials and workmanship, result in a truly versatile fan.

* 2000 or 2800 Cfm Blowers move massive amounts of air. When the weather is really hot, only the big boys will do. Get a strong airfl ow over your plants to allow them to transpire a lot of water to cool themselves off.

Hydroponic stores have a special front plate that allows you to connect ventilation ducting onto your blower. They carry all types of ventilation accessories from ducting, reducers, Y pipes, back draft dampers, clamps, square to round fl anges, water and bug caps.

The use of thermostats allows us to set a temperature and when the heat rises to unwanted levels the fan will be turned on; once cooler temperatures are reached, the fan will be turned off, saving electricity.

PLANT HEALTH

Photos: CityPlantes & D

.R.

TECHNOLOGY & ENVIRONMENT

Why Do Plants Need CO2?

Not all plants use carbon dioxide (mushrooms and holoparasitic plants do not), but green plants plants that have chlorophyll and perform photosynthesis are plants that do use carbon dioxide. Photosynthesis is a chemical reaction that takes place in green plants during the day (under the sun or artifi cial light). Those plants are using solar energy or artifi cial light to turn carbon dioxide and water into sugar and oxygen.

This is what happens during photosynthesis. The green plants (their color comes from the green pigments found in chlorophyll molecules) require only solar energy, carbon dioxide, water, and a few minerals to make all the organic compounds necessary to keep themselves going and growing. Carbon dioxide, water and minerals are inorganic compounds. Water and minerals are easy to provide to plants. CO2, if naturally present in the room, is also easy to provide, but most of the time, the indoor gardener will have to reproduce this function of Mother Nature indoors.

Ninety percent of plants dry weight consists of atoms of hydrogen (H), oxygen (O) and carbon dioxide (CO2). Carbon dioxide is naturally found in the air at 300 to 450 ppm and plants can absorb all the CO2 in your grow room in a matter of hours. By venting out the stale air from the grow room, we bring in fresh outside air, which will keep plants growing properly. Enriching the grow rooms air quality to 1,500 ppm, however, will greatly increase plants growth and yield.

To maintain 1,500 ppm of CO2 in the grow room, automatic controllers can determine the CO2 level naturally present in the grow room and automatically turn on their controls to allow for CO2

enrichment when necessary. They will also keep the fans from venting out CO2 when injecting CO2 and turn the fans on when the temperature or humidity becomes too high.

Calculating The Right Timing To Release CO

2 In Your Grow Room

You can obtain CO2 from compressed gas. To do that, you will have to use different devices available in hydroponics stores, like CO2 regulators, time controllers, CO2 generators, etc. Regulators control the fl ow. Timers control a solenoid valve (Intermittent duty rotary solenoids convert axial motion into rotary stroke

and are rated for on-off applications at less than 100% duty cycles. Like other types of solenoids, they convert electrical energy into mechanical power [or in that case, compressed carbon dioxide, Editors note]. Source: www.sensors-transducers.globalspec.com/ Industrial-Directory /solenoid_co2). The solenoid valve releases CO2 into the

growing area. The best way of enriching the grow room in CO2 is by releasing compressed CO2 gas from a welding tank. By using a regulator that has a cubic fl ow meter, we can calculate the timing of the solenoid to release a precise amount of CO2 into the room.

A plant needs the carbon dioxide contained in 3,000 litres of air to

make a single gram of dry matter!*

Plants, under the action of light (photosynthesis) transform the airs carbon dioxide to make their food. Professional greenhouse operators use supplemental inputs of CO2 to accelerate the growth phase and get higher yields. The air near leaves is more humid and contains more oxygen than ambient air. It is also lower in CO2, since it is consumed by the leaves.

If the air is not renewed, growth slows until the plant fi nds better conditions. It is thus essential, in an indoor garden, to renew and move the air of the garden with extractors and fans.

* Source: D.Soltner: Les bases de la production vgtale, ditions Sciences et techniques agricoles, Sainte-Gemmes-sur-Loire, France.

Aeration, Atmosphere Management and CO2 Diffusion In An Indoor

Garden Equipment

Expansion device adaptor, disposable or refi llable bottle

Refi llable bottle, 3.7 kg of CO2

Refi ll, 3.7 kg of CO2

CO2 Easy computer

Cool Kit relay

Complete CO2 kit with manometer

Complete CO2 kit for refi llable bottle

DJBL disposable bottle, 500 grams of CO2

Dennerle disposable bottle, 500 grams of CO2

JBL CO2 expansion device with manometer for disposable bottle

Expansion device for refi llable CO2 bottle

CO2 solenoid valve

CO2 bubble counter

Special CO2 pipe

See CityPlantes catalog on www.cityplantes.com.

Carbon Dioxide (CO

2)

And The Set-Up It Requires In A Grow RoomBy W.S. (with additional reports by B.B., K.B., P.B. and J.-P.D.)

Aeration And Carbon Dioxide In PlantsBy P.B. and J.-P.D. (City Plantes)


Phot

os: C

ityP

lant

es, B

&S

lec

triq

ue &

D.R

.TECHNOLOGY & ENVIRONMENT

The fl ow meter accurately measures from 0 to 70 cubic feet of CO2. The unit is designed to handle the freeze-up that happens because of the frequent on and off switching of compressed CO2 release. Carbon dioxide comes out of a cylinder from a very cold regulator and 0 to 70 fl ow meter. You can buy this material separately or as part of CO2 complete kits.

On the other hand, a CO2 generator, like the Martin CO2 generator, burns propane. The burnt propane produces heat, water and carbon dioxide. The Martin CO2 generator will bring 80 cubic feet of space up to 1500 ppm of CO2 in one minute.

For example, if you have a growing space of 10 x 10 x 8, here is how to calculate the on time for CO2:

L 10 x W 10 x H 8 = 800 cubic feet.

If there are 300 ppm of CO2 naturally present in the growing space, the additional CO2 needed to obtain a maximum level of 1,500 ppm is 1,200 ppm: 1,200/1 million = 0.0012 for 1 cubic foot.

0.0012 x 800 cubic feet = 0.96 cubic feet.

0.96 cubic feet divided by a fl ow rate of 10 = 0.096 hours.

0.096 hours x 60 minutes = 5.76 minutes of on time to receive 1,500 ppm of CO2, i.e. 1,200 ppm + 300 ppm (already presentin the grow room) = 1,500 ppm.

By programming a one hour timer, we can deliver the right amount of CO2 every 10 hours. To do so, you will need two timers: one for the CO2 delivery and one for the air removal.

ln commercial greenhouses, indoor growers are now using 4,000 ppm of carbon dioxide to suffocate the bugs during the night. Plants do not use carbon dioxide during night cycles, so no harm is done to the plants. It is a great inexpensive way to get rid of bugs. Remove all the air inside the growing area before you go in. If you feel light-headed when you are working with carbon dioxide, turn on your fans to remove aIl of the air in the garden, or walk out of the room.

The Tree Toad As An Indicator Of CO

2 Levels? Yes, But Theres

Better Ways...In 1968, scientists showed that the O2 and CO2 exchange in the body of the Pacifi c tree toad (Hyla regilla) occurs through the skin, especially

and increasingly at temperatures above 20C, and the ability to obtain oxygen is related to higher temperatures. Unfortunately, the tree toad is very sensitive to climate changes. Some areas in the tropical rainforests, where tree toads live, are being affected by global warming. At Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, Costa Rica, clouds are forming higher, drying out some of the habitat and causing changes in the fl ora and fauna. About 1,500 tree toads were sighted in 1987 in the reserve, but now the breeding pools remain empty. The tree toad has not been seen since 1991 and is feared extinct. The tree toad and other amphibians and lizards studied by scientists in Costa Rica are in decline, apparently due to regional temperature increases that raise the level of clouds, effectively drying out the cloud forest moisture on which the animals depend.

According to www.worldviewofglobalwarming.org, Other big changes are being monitored in the tropics, too. Sixteen years of data on tree growth, tropical air temperatures and CO2 readings indicate that a warming climate may cause the tropical forests to give off more carbon dioxide than they take up. This would upset the common belief that tropical forests are always a sink for carbon, taking huge amounts out of the atmosphere. [...] In other parts of the tropics, even in places that have been undisturbed for more than 4,500 years, the rise in atmospheric CO2 appears to be changing the composition of the forest. In a paper in the March 11th, 2004 issue of Nature, William Laurance and colleagues document that many tree genera in Amazonia are growing faster than they were in the 1980s.

This would suggest that, in order to monitor the CO2 levels in your garden, you could have a tree toad pet living among your plants... But this would not only endanger your toad pets life, but all of your plants health, if you are unable to properly control the right amount of CO2 released in the room. So gardening experts have created some specifi c devices, designed to biologically monitor the levels of CO2 in your indoor garden. For example, the pump-activated CO2 boost bucket (see The Indoor Gardener, volume 2, issue 4, page 17) is a great way to produce natural carbon dioxide in your growing space. The devices pump plunges directly in the organic mixture that lives inside the bucket and produces a perfectly pure and natural carbon dioxide for your plants well-being. For more information on this product, on its wholesale or retail sale, visit the very beautiful web site of its manufacturer at www.co2boost.com (email: [email protected] or call toll-free 1 800 955-8384). On the next page, you will also fi nd a brief photomontage regarding its fabrication.

Harvest-Masters EASi CO2 Sensor and Controller: a CO2 Management System For Indoor Gardening

The EASi CO2 controller is intended for gardeners in closed spaces (greenhouse, indoor garden, etc.) who wish to obtain improved harvests in a shorter time. Under the hood, a pre-programmed computer is linked to a CO2 sensor and to a thermostat. Protected exits (external power relays, 15 A x 240 V) power the CO2 injection electrovalve, the air extractor and the cooling function.

The EASi CO2 is pre-programmed to: Maintain an ambient concentration of

1,500 ppm (parts per million) CO2 in the greenhouse;

Emit CO2 only during the day (automatic light detection);

Maintain the temperature under 39C by starting the extractor or the cooling system;

Self-calibrate the CO2 sensor every night.

CO2 Consumption StatisticsTwo exits allow the connection of air extractors and cooling units. External power relays 15 A x 240 V, sold separately, are required to feed the devices line current. The system records the CO2 consumption. By comparing with the autonomy of the previous reservoir, the system proposes an estimate of the CO2 percentage remaining. The user is alerted when the reservoir is almost empty.

Greenhouse Effi ciency:The system records the total time during which the optimal level of CO2 is maintained and notes the concentration decreases. This allows you to optimize your installation by detecting possible problems like a CO2 leak or the overly frequent triggering of extraction, and to correct them. The CityPlantes team recommends the Cool Kit relay offered separately (see next page), an indispensable tool to manage temperature with the Harvest Master EASi CO2 controller. It allows you to manage one or many extractors or cooling units. It is delivered with detailed instructions in English and French and comes with a one year manufacturers warranty.

J.-P. D. & P.B. (CityPlantes)

Horticultural NoveltiesCO

2 Edition

41VOLUME 2 ISSUE 6 THE INDOOR GARDENER

Photos: CityPlantes, CO2 Boost &

Supernatural

CO2Boost Manufacturing In Pictures

1. The CO2Boost bucket with the pump on top.

2. Organic compost is carefully selected by the company.

3. T he transport of raw materials is done under controlled conditions.

4. Plant where the product is manufactured.

5. The technology used is high-tech.

6. During the manufacturing process, organic procedures are followed.

7. The product is wrapped as it comes off the assembly line.

8. It is then stored in a way that allows it to remain stable.

9. A plantation where CO2 produced by the CO2Boost

is diffused.

Excellofi zz CO2 Pucks: A Cheap

Way of Creating CO2

SuperNatural Excellofi zz is sold in a fi ve pound bucket containing 15 puck tubs of

natural CO2 metered formula. (There is also a bucket with 50 puck tubs). SuperNatural Excellofi zz provides

reliable, accurate, worry-free CO2. The scientifi cally metered formula is simple and safe to use. It is 100% natural and very economical. You dont need any expensive equipment.

Simply put one packet into the tub provided. Slowly add 100 ml of room-temperature water onto the puck. Leave the lid off. CO2 gas emits for

approximately eight hours. Excellofi zz will greatly increase plant mass and fruit load.

With Excellofi zz, the CO2 released into your greenhouse atmosphere will allow leafy plant tissue to quickly and easily absorb carbon. Excellofi zz is to be reacted at least one

hour into the photoperiod, allowing enough time for the stomata in the leaf tissue to open. This gives the plant the ability to begin to absorb carbon. Excellofi zz pucks will react approximately fi ve hours into the photoperiod. They can be used through the vegetative stage and three

weeks into the fl owering stage.

Excellofi zz is safe to use around people and pets and will not raise the CO2 to dangerous levels. This product is economical for small to medium greenhouses and requires no expensive dispensing or monitoring equipment. It will not add heat or moisture to your greenhouse in fact, it will remove some. Each puck contains pure natural environmentally-friendly ingredients that can be safely disposed of. Excellofi zz is simple to use: just add water to activate.

Excellofi zz releases a refreshing fragrance of eucalyptus, which absorbs odors and may deter insects. Eucalyptus also kills airborne bacteria and dispels mites. Excellofi zz is designed for the smaller indoor grower. Use one package per day. See www.fearlessgardener.com. This product is also available in all good hydroponic stores accross North America.

Carbon Dioxide ControllersControllers adjust temperature and/or humidity by activating the intake exhaust fans whenever the grow room conditions exceed your settings. What temperature or humidity did the garden reach while you were gone from the growing area? Did it get too hot or too cold? Did the humidity get too high? Understanding what happens in your growing area when you cannot be there will help you understand how you can improve your growing conditions. On these very easy-to-use products, a push reset control button will allow you to know the highs and lows since the last time the unit was reset. All products feature a minimum/maximum thermometer and a minimum/maximum humidistat. In this fi eld, PlugnGrow has done a great job of making its controllers easy to program and very simple. Those are all excellent products!

PlugnGrow ControllersSee their ad in this issue, on page 11.

Ultimate Series Monitors The Ultimate Control CO2 MonitorThis electronic module automatically controls CO2, temperature and relative humidity.

continued on page 44

4 5 6

7 8 9

1 2 3

Harvest-Master Cool Kit RelayThis electric relay module is fantastic to manage the temperature with the Harvest Master EASi CO2 controller. It allows you to manage one or many extractors or cooling units. The kit includes:

Cool kit box, two CINCH connectors (relay connection) and RJ11 cable (to connect to the EASi CO2 controller);

CINCH cable for relay connection to Cool kit box;

Relay box with D.C. input and jack to connect to the Cool kit box;

Relay power: up to 12 amps with 240 Volts (approximately 2,800 watts non stop)

J.-P. D. & P.B. (CityPlantes)

Dennerle 500 gram CO2 Disposable Bottle

This disposable CO2 bottle is indispensable to complete your carbon dioxide control kit. Its small size allows the smallest garden

to benefi t from CO2. this product is the end of the hassles of the rechargeable bottle.

Characteristics: Recyclable steel

reservoir; Dimensions: 31 by

8 cm; Contains 500

the indoor gardener magazine volume 2—# 6 (may/june 2007)

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