Happy Aloha friday gang! Lets get into some hardcore science today. Today’s topic is Micro-Propagation / Plant Tissue Culture.

If you have ever wondered what kind of plant science you would be doing if you were in a university program for Horticulture, BAM, this is it. I recently discovered this technique because we had a plant tissue kit that was begging for someone to use it. My curiosity got the best of me and later that night I found myself deep in the throws of a full on academic endeavor. All I can say is, after 20 years of taking cuttings, our community now needs this level of precision, technology, and science. I am so excited about this knowledge and I look forward to sharing it with you guys now.

What is Micropropagation?
Micropropagation is a way to clone plants axenically (sterile). Terminal buds collected from branches of mature plants are surface sterilized and placed in test tubes containing a specific nutrient medium. The different media we are experimenting with usually contain a carbon source, vitamins, plant hormones and antibiotics. Plantlets grown from buds of the same plant, barring mutation, will be clones (i.e., genetic replicates) of the plant from which they were cut. Once we are able to maintain rapidly multiplying plant stocks in the lab, we can use them as a source for additional micropropagation or subculturing. Subculturing involves dividing sterile plantlets into smaller segments and growing plants from these pieces. This is how we grow Widgeon-grass (Ruppia maritima) in the lab, and we are in the process of developing this technique for Shoal-grass (Halodule wrightii). Widgeon-grass is the easiest seagrass to micropropagate; other species, such as Shoal-grass (Halodule), Manatee-grass (Syringodium filiforme) and Turtle-grass (Thalassia testudinum), are increasingly difficult. We are focusing on one species at a time.

Why Use Micropropagation?
Compared to standard nursery techniques, micropropagation has the potential to produce more plants in less time. Fewer stock plants are needed because an explant can supply a great amount of material from which clonal material can be subcultured. Also, not having to rely on seeds and other propagation methods ensures greater uniformity in plants produced. Clones can be screened for different attributes and used for specific applications, or genetic variability can be assured by mixing different clonal strains in restoration projects. Another advantage to micropropagation is the contamination-free condition of the plants produced and the ability to produce microbially fit stocks that resist pathogens.

We have plant tissue kits available, give us a call 1-866-PGS-GROW

Video walkthrough of our Sebastopol location. This was our very first store, and continues to provide the same great service and equipment it always has for the last 6 years!

Then your going to need some serious reliability when it comes to turning all those lights on and off. We strongly suggest the MLC-24 Lighting Relay. If your looking for rock solid manufacturing and a product made by people who back up their products with quality control that means something, you will be super stoked with this solution. 1-866-PGS-GROW

The MLC-24X represents the latest in large scale lighting control. It is the best device for controlling up to 24 lights from one time-clock or controller. You run 120 (MLC-24X) amp power to the MLC, and all of the outlets are controlled by one 120 volt trigger cable. You can plug the trigger cable into a standard 24 hour timer or lighting controller. The MLC-24X feature a 120/240 volt style outlets, which allows for running your ballasts at 120/240 volts without having to change out your ballast power cords. The MLC-24X contains 6 banks of 4 lights. Dual trigger cables are also available to split 2 series of 4 lights. Each bank of 4 lights is protected by a 20 amp circuit breaker. The MLC-24X’s are rated for 120 amps @ 120/240 volts.

Video walk through of our Santa Rosa warehouse. We keep our shelves stocked and our knowledge fresh! Please come in, call, email, comment anytime and join our cultivators community.

1-866-PGS-GROW

General Hydroponics has been the industry standard for as long as anyone in this business can remember. It’s been kind of mystifying that they have not come out with an organic nutrient line until now. The PGS crew was at the indoor gardening expo this weekend, and GH announced and showcased it’s organic plant food line, simply called, General Organics. It was honestly the most exciting part of the show for me personally only because I’ve been waiting for GH to do this for 20 years, since I first used their 3 part formula in soil (works great BTW).  I can’t wait to try it for myself, and I will be sure and do a full report, until then here is what GH have published on their blog. We will have General Organics on our shelves soon. 1-866-PGS-GROW

From General Hydroponics Blog

Our new line is launching soon, and this week I will be sharing profiles of each product, as well as information about organic methods and regulations. I also hope to any questions you might have. I want to start today with the backbone of the line, BioThrive Grow and BioThrive Bloom. These products have been created by the same team that brought FloraNova to the market. In fact, our head of research and development, has a strong background in sustainable agriculture, and this line is just the beginning of his vision of pure organic hydroponics.

The General Organics line is a total departure from the conventional rules of hydroponics. Right out of the bottle the products can be mixed and hand watered on plants growing in soil, or soil less media. However, keeping these nutes in a reservoir is much more technical. During this upcoming release, Jessica Lilga and I will be putting together tons of information and recommendations so that the experienced grower can achieve success.

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I just found this other interesting article from GH on organic certification, with all the changes and drastic actions taken by OMRI, I think this is some vital information and I appreciate the attempt to clear the air a bit.

PGS plans on doing a full post on the complete line once we carry it all.

Pro gardening Systems represents at the indoor gardening Expo over this last weekend. Thanks to all the sponsors and friends that showed us love !! It’s amazing to see how our industry has grown, the future is bright! Here to many more years of success for all of us.

Happy Aloha Friday guys! PGS is gearing up for the “Growing Your World Green” horticultural trade show in San Fran. We will be on hand to learn about new products and new technologies that have developed over the last year from all the biggest names in cultivation. If your in town or at the show, please say hello to us. We will have Pro Gardening Shirts

I would like to personally thank all the people who come into the store and write to me saying how much they love the PGS Growers Blog! I really enjoy sharing the knowledge that is collectively accumulated not just by me, but by all of us here at PGS and through hours of research on the net. There are so many great resources for learning, and we want to find them all and absorb them into our database.

Being from NYC myself, I am really excited about today’s ALOHA Friday post. I just found this video on Youtube about a barge in NYC on the Hudson river, that has an off grid hydroponic food producing facility that is creating a sustainable way to grow food for people locally. BRAVO to them and I think this kind of concept is going to be “the way” soon.

Keeping agriculture sustainable increasingly means keeping it local. Besides the environmental benefit of reducing reliance on fossil-fuel guzzling transportation, eating local food is a more seasonal and often healthier experience. With concern about food security growing, it might turn out to be safer, too. The folks in charge of the Science Barge, a new urban farming experiment in New York, are bringing local food production closer than ever. In this video Vanessa Rae learns about the floating greenhouse facility, which is designed as a demonstration of how urban space, especially rooftop space in big cities like New York, can be used to efficiently produce food. Self-powered by solar panels, wind turbines, and a biodiesel generator, the Science Barge uses state of the art computer technology and an agricultural technique called hydroponics to grow fruits and veggies using much less water and space than field farming. Watch out, city slickers. Farm country is coming to your neighborhood.

Super Huge thanks and respect to RIVERWIRED.COM for the video and the green vision they have.

There is a nice variety of hydroponic trays available on the market. We carry a wide range of styles, sizes, and colors. A white tray will increase the overall brightness in your room. ( as will white pots instead of black ) I recently changed from using white trays with white pots, to using black trays with black pots and there is a HUGE difference in light. Two of the best hydro trays we have come in two sizes

3′x6′

4′ x 8′

Made from 40 percent recycled food grade plastic, they are called “tray huggers”. Anyone looking for the best quality hydroponic trays possible will be super pleased with these. We have them in stock and ready to go at our retail locations, and our online store. 1-866-PGS-GROW

Lets face it (I love to say that), pests in our gardens can seriously hold us back from having the kind of crops we all want and wish for. Anytime you use a pesticide spray of any kind, you instant set the stage for a need to spray all the time. Bugs become resistant to sprays and they become harder and harder to combat. Beneficial Nematodes are a brilliant way to address your pest problems.

Nematodes are microscopic living creatures that can be found in your soil. The Beneficial Nematodes are an organic gardeners dream because they are hungry predators that feed on the larva of some of our nastiest garden pest. When you release this Beneficial, they lay and wait in the soil for the larva of crane fly, fleas, root weevils, grubs, cut worms, borers, gnats, and a wide range of other pests. The good news is that they leave hard working worms alone and they don’t harm birds, pets, or humans.

At PGS, we celebrate this organic and green way of ridding your garden of pests. We carry Koppert brand nematodes and they will knock out your fungus gnats, thrips and any other soil born bugs. Foliar on your leaves and the nematodes will attack the leaf born bugs too.

Don’t let yourself fall into the trap of chronically spraying chemicals on your plants to fight insects! Everytime you spray, your killing not only the bad bugs, but all your beneficial microorganisms, that are so crucial to your success!! Try a pack of Entonem today and watch your bug problems disappear!

KNOW YOUR ENEMY!

How do you make your plant nutrient solution? Chances are you pour your nutrients into your reservoir, stir them around and then measure your PPM and PH and adjust accordingly. This is the minimal one should be doing! Check out this great article from Maximum Yield and Bob Taylor. It goes into great detail on how to precisely dose your plants!

Dosing Procedures for Nutrients and Additives

Nutrient performance is far more complex than simply using a quality brand. Although growers typically blame the nutrient for poor plant performance, the failure to follow basic dosing procedures is the cause of many problems.

Step 1.

Volume of nutrient solution: As a guide, allocate at least 2.5 gallons of nutrient solution per large plant (e.g. tomato), or around a ½ gallon for smaller plants (e.g. lettuce).

This is especially important for re-circulating systems because larger nutrient volumes will undergo smaller changes in concentration (EC) and pH. In hot weather, insufficient nutrient volume could result in EC soaring to toxic levels, which could seriously damage your plants. Larger nutrient volumes will also reduce how frequently top-up water is needed.

Step 2.

Dosage rates: The dose rate depends upon your growing medium (soil, expanded clay, etc) and the phase of growth – seedling, vegetative or flowering. Refer to the manufacturer’s dosage chart.

Figure 3.1 A white precipitate forms when the separate ‘parts’ of a two or three part are combined in too little water.

Step 3.

Add the majority of water before adding nutrients and additives: Never mix nutrients and additives together in small amounts of water.

With two and three-part nutrients, the “parts” are kept separate for good reason. When these parts are mixed together in concentrated form (or in too little water), a white precipitate will form – as is often seen in nutrient reservoirs (Figure 3.6b and 3.1).

Step 4.

Thoroughly stir the nutrient: Always stir immediately after adding each nutrient and additive (or even top-up water). This eliminates regions where less soluble nutrient species are concentrated. It also removes regions of extreme pH (either high or low), thereby preventing the destabilization of nutrients that are unstable outside of the pH window of 5.0 to 6.5.
Step 5.

pH control: Do not leave pH unchecked for a long period of time. Quickly add all nutrients and additives then, after thorough mixing, immediately check pH and adjust if necessary. Allowing pH to rise above 6.5 is a common cause of white precipitate in nutrient reservoirs.

Step 6.

Maintaining nutrient concentration: (Does not apply to ‘run-to-waste’ systems). As plants grow they simultaneously remove both water and nutrients from the nutrient solution. This may cause the nutrient strength to either increase or decrease – depending on which is being consumed at the faster rate. Typically the nutrient concentration tends to increase, especially in hot weather because water loss can be excessive due to both plant uptake and evaporation. Therefore, ensure the water level is kept relatively constant. When this is done, the concentration or conductivity (EC) will be relatively predictable. (Concentration will slowly decrease as the plants consume nutrients). Check the EC about every second or third day and if necessary add sufficient nutrient to stay within the target range.

NOTE: High salinity (salty) make-up water may cause EC to increase.

Figure 3.6 This is what can happen when an undiluted, high pH additive is added to the working nutrient solution (see 3.6a). Unless pH is quickly corrected to below 6.0 – 6.5 the precipitate will remain (see 3.6b). A similar result can also be expected when other dosing techniques are not followed.

Step 7.

Further notes:
+ Beware of high pH additives: The best dosing technique to adopt with additives that increase pH significantly (silica, PK additives) is to add them to the water and adjust the pH down to 6.0 prior to adding the nutrient.

The less preferred but simplest alternative is to pre-dilute the additive in a separate volume of raw water. Then once this solution is added to the nutrient solution, quickly lower the pH to below 6.5. Note: A white cloudy precipitate (calcium sulphate) may form where the pre-diluted additive initially merges with the nutrient solution. However, because the initial particle size of the precipitate is small, it will usually re-dissolve if the pH is immediately re-adjusted (Figure 3.6a).

+ Two and three part nutrients: Avoid “roughly measuring” out the nutrient dose – always add the correct amount of each part. In the case of a two part, ‘under’ dosing part ‘B’ for example, could cause a deficiency in over half the nutrients required (i.e. P, K, S and all of the trace elements – except iron).

Hey gardeners…. Hope you had a terrific weekend, and I really hope your summer garden is prospering. If you ever want to fight disease, improve growth, increase yield, and enhance flavor naturally, come grab some of our fresh brewed Bountea brand compost tea. We run a rigorous quality control agenda and brew our tea with the highest standards. Compost tea has a very limited shelf life, and we make sure our teas are fresh and totally Aerobic goodness. Check out my other blog posts on compost teas and see for yourself what the tea can do for you today. So many people come in and ask us what they can do about a myriad of problems they are experienceing. If there has ever been a blanket solution that would work for almost any problem, it is compost tea. They virtually can’t be over applied, they fight and prevent, molds, viruses, blight, insects, and enviromental issues. We now have fresh teas ALWAYS stocked, with the brew date on the bottle. Come on in and grab a gallon today for $20. 1-866-PGS-GROW.

Happy ALOHA Friday everyone. Hope you had a productive week in the garden. Looking at the quickly building database of articles we have going here at the PGS Definitive Growers Blog, I realized that we don’t have any good information on CO2 enrichment. CO2 is a crucial part of plant growth, with or without extra CO2 added to your room. Air outside has larger amounts of CO2, and is one of the reasons why outdoor plants do so well. Just bringing in more fresh air from outside will increase CO2 levels naturally. CO2 enrichment with a generator or a tank can greatly increase yield, strength and vigor but needs to be addressed carefully….. Here is a great article from UrbanGardenMagazine on the topic…. Have a fantastic weekend!

Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound composed of one carbon and two oxygen atoms. It is often referred to by its formula CO2.  Carbon dioxide is an end product in organisms that obtain energy from breaking down sugars, fats and amino acids with oxygen as part of their metabolism, in a process known as cellular respiration. This includes all plants, animals, many fungi and some bacteria. In plants using photosynthesis, carbon dioxide is absorbed from the atmosphere.

What is in the air?

99% of the air consists of nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%).  Only a small amount of the remaining 1% is made up of CO2.  In fact, the air only consists of 0.03% CO2.  In spite of this low concentration, CO2 is the basis of life.  Humans and animals are just part of the big cycle – in short, we eat plants, breathe out CO2, and the plants use that CO2 for photosynthesis!

The basis CO2 for sugar and amylum

The first step of photosynthesis is the joining together of two parts of carbon dioxide.  After this step the first organic molecule is created.  Three of these units are one sugar molecule.  There are six CO2 molecules, one sugar (C6H12O6).  Amylum is the name given to lots of sugars attached to each other (poly-sugars).  It is precisely by forming these sugar chains that plants manage to store energy from the sun.  All this occurs during the daytime, with light acting as the ‘motor’ and water as the ‘fuel’.

How does CO2 get into the plant in the first place?

Leaves have pores which can be actively opened and closed by the plant.  Water evaporates through these pores and a constant stream of water is maintained from the roots to the leaves.  Air comes in through these pores and spreads more or less unhindered in the plant.  CO2 is not dependent on special pores and is transported by leaf calls or with the perspiration water.  By using CO2 in the plant, an under-pressure of CO2 is found in the leaf pores and around the plant that can be immediately compensated by the endless amount of air.  That is why the photosynthesis is on full speed, in spite of the small concentration of CO2.

The penetration of CO2 into the plant depends on the leaf pores.  During the night the pores are closed.  If the sun rises or, as in the case of indoor growers – the lights are turned on, the plant opens it pores, the water begins to flow and phososynthesis starts.  Sometimes a plant closes its pores in the daytime.  If the sun gives so much power that the products of photosynthesis (sugars and amylum) are produced in too large quantities they can not be transported away and a surplus develops.  This is a sign for the plant to close the pores to stop the supply of CO2.  When the traffic-jam is over, the leaves open their pores again and a healthy photosynthesis commences once again.  Another reason for the plant to close its pores during the daytime (and prevent the penetration of CO2) is a massive lack of water and too high temperatures.

If you are growing indoors in a closed room CO2 deficiencies are possible (this could never occur outside because of the endless supplies of CO2 at a guaranteed concentration of 0.03%!)  Deficiencies can happen if the intake of the air is not well calculated and there is not regular air refreshment.  Take care that the intake and the outlet of the air is optimal – too much is better than too little – so the concentration of CO2 is always at least at normal air-level.

In the smaller grow room, the CO2 quantity can also fall as a result of inadequate ventilation.  Sufficient ventilation and mixing of the air in the room is crucial for healthy plants.  If you grow resin-producing plants then take note that resin increases leaves’ resistance to light – this is supposed to be a reason why plants produce more resin when exposed to more light.  The light that falls on the surface is reflected by a protective layer of resin.  And not only the intake of light – but also the intake of air is prevented by hairs.  So, if your plants are hairy and resinous, you really must invest in strong ventilation!  Not only are you refreshing the air around your plants, but you are also ventilating away any high temperatures.  You might well be surprised at the amount of air movement your plants will enjoy – and it also promotes a thick stable stem!  Plants that are grown in poorly ventilated or windless rooms are often found lying on the floor during the later blooming period due to weak stems.

Most of us simply rely on extraction and fresh air inflow to introduce more CO2.

The average level of CO2 in the atmosphere is about 350 PPM [parts per million]. However, the optimum level is in the 1000-1500 PPM range. Growers who inject extra CO2 into their grow-rooms to achieve these levels have reported a 25-40% increase in yield!

Thanks to Urban Garden Magazine for the Article Photos inserted by Pete, Original Page Here

As a part of our commitment to educating our customers and ourselves, we present our third video podcast. This is an ongoing educational series on indoor gardening and more… This time around we have JD from Technaflora Plant Nutrients sharing some seriously valuable information with us. Not just about Technaflora products either. He goes into detail about plant food chemistry in general. Big Thanks to Technaflora and JD for everything.

Part 1 – Part 2 – Part 3

Lets face it, we need to be there for our gardens, everyday, to make sure they have water and all the things necessary for it to be happy. Sometimes, life has other plans for us. Family, Pets, Work, Passions, Health Issues Etc… These are all things that can take priority over your daily garden chores, and can lead to neglect and/or stress or worse (plant death). Automating your garden has always been a risky venture if you plan on “setting and forgetting”. Clogged drip lines, power outages, and other unforeseen circumstances can arise and wipe out an entire crop in one fail swoop. Any automated room should be carefully monitored to ensure that every detail is going off without a hitch. Even then issues can arise…. All of this is leading up to today’s post on an amazing product I have known about for a long time, Blumat. Blumat takes a fresh new approach to automation, one that uses an old technology, ceramics….. Check it out…. PGS plans on carrying Blumat soon. Let us know if you would find this product helpful.  1-866-PGS-GROW.

How the Tropf-Blumat System Works

A Tropf-Blumat ( “tropf” = drip) consists of a ceramic sensor and watering head fitted with a membrane. The membrane is set in motion by subpressure, it opens and thereby stops the passage of water with a squeeze valve. This subpressure, the so-called suction tension, develops in dry soil. The Tropf-Blumat works on the tensiometer principle; it uses the same process as professional tensiometers.

Water is sucked out of the ceramic sensor through the suction force of the dry earth. Suction tension develops in the Tropf-Blumat, the flexible membrane is pulled downwards, thereby allowing the passage of water, the drip tube begins dripping.

If the earth is moist enough, then the subpressure in the sensor causes the water to be sucked back into the cone, the membrane returns to its original position and squeezes the drip tube closed with a rod, the passage of water is stopped.

The point at which the valve closes is set with an adjusting knob. This determines when the drip tube is closed and by which suction tension (i.e. by which degree of dryness) the watering should begin.

Typical drip watering systems deliver water to the plants via a computer controlled time plan which does not take the actual moisture level of the soil nor the differing watering needs of individual plants into account.

The Tropf-Blumat functions differently. Neither electricity nor a computer are necessary. Tropf-Blumat works without energy input and solely on demand. Each sensor reacts to the amount of moisture surrounding it and delivers just the amount of water that is required at the time. Every Tropf-Blumat is, at the same time, a sensor and a dripper.

Because of the slow, moderately dosed supply of water being delivered, the plants always receive aged, not too cold water. In addition, the water can disperse much better in the soil. The sensor also helps save water by supplying only the amount that is needed and then stopping the delivery.

The fully automatic trickling system for watering plants!

This watering system, which can be adapted flexibly to
any kind of plant, is suitable for your balcony, terrace,
winter garden, greenhouse, allotment or roof garden,
large size container, ……….

All I can say is, miricles do happen. After 20 years in the indoor horticulture business, Sunlight Supply has finally answered the call of indoor growers across the globe. Introducing, Rope Ratchet Light Hangers! Yes, it’s true, a heavy duty, reliable solution for hanging your reflectors is now availible. We just stocked up on a bundle of these babies and they are flying out the door. I personally bought a case myself. If your tired of all the sub-par light hanging solutions, you need not fret another day. It’s amazing that there hasn’t been something as heavy duty as this till now.  Measure your reflectors height and make adjustments safely and easily. Gone are the days of carpenters wire, chain, and unsafe, jerry rigged setups. Take complete control of your lights NOW with these professional rope ratchet light hangers. Another way to dial in your garden to perfection, keeping your lights at optimal distances from your plants is a major success factor! Let the good times grow….. 1-866-PGS-GROW

Good morning cultivators! Hope you had a fantastic weekend as usual. We had a particularly fun spirited Aloha fri. that set a mood for the whole weekend. Every team member at PGS is valued and important to us. Cameron was one of our first sales associates and he finished his 2nd year of school this year and is now heading abroad to study for a year. To show our love, we had a farewell BBQ with a cake to let Cameron know how much we appreciate him. If you read this Cam, always remember your PGS family over here, we love you! keep in touch big guy!

Happy ALOHA Friday gang! It’s been a product filled week here at the PGS blog, so I am going to have some fun today and share a vital video with everyone. Along the same line as our “Fungi can save the earth” post featuring Paul Stamets. Here is an amazing project that worked to “green” the desert.

Looking deeper into this, I saw a pattern and a correlation between what Paul Stamets had to say, and the technique used here. My curiousity was peaked and I saw a comment from some random person on youtube on this video, saying “ah yes, the Fukuoka Farming method”. A quick search online turned up a gem!

Let me introduce you to Masanobu Fukuoka. He was born in 1914 in a small farming village on the island of Shikoku in Southern Japan. He was educated in microbiology and worked as a soil scientist specializing in plant pathology, but at the age of twenty-five he began to have doubts about the “wonders of modern agriculture science.”

While recovering from a severe attack of pneumonia, Fukuoka experienced a moment of satori or personal enlightenment. He had a vision in which something one might call true nature was revealed to him. He saw that all the “accomplishments” of human civilization are meaningless before the totality of nature. He saw that humans had become separated from nature and that our attempts to control or even understand all the complexities of life were not only futile, they were self-destructive. From that moment on, he has spent his life trying to return to the state of being one with nature.

At the time of his revelation, Fukuoka was living in a Japan that was abandoning its traditional farming methods and adopting Western agriculture, economic and industrial models. He saw how this trend was driving the Japanese even further from a oneness with nature, and how destructive and polluting those practices were. As a result, he resigned his job as a research scientist and returned to his father’s farm on Shikoku determined to demonstrate the practical value of his vision by restoring the land to a condition that would enable nature’s original harmony to prevail.

Through 30 years of refinement he was able to develop a “do-nothing” method of farming. Without soil cultivation such as plowing or tilling, chemical fertilizers, pesticides, weeding, pruning, machinery or compost, Fukuoka was able to produce high-quality fruit, vegetables and grains with yields equal to or greater than those of any neighboring farm.

Fukuoka wrote:

“If a single new bud is snipped off a fruit tree with a pair of scissors, that may bring about a disorder which cannot be undone…. Human beings with their tampering do something wrong, leave the damage unrepaired, and when the adverse results accumulate, work with all their might to correct them.”

“To become one with nature — agriculture is an occupation in which a farmer adapts himself to nature. To do that, you have to gaze at a rice plant and listen to the words from the plant. If you understand what the rice says, you just adjust your heart to that of the rice plants and raise them. In reality, we do not have to raise them. They will grow. We just serve nature. A piece of advice I need to give you here. When I say gaze at a rice plant or stare at its true form, it does not mean to make an observation or to contemplate the rice plant, which makes it an object different from yourself. It is very difficult to explain in words. In a sense, it is important that you become the rice plant. Just as you, as the subject of gazing, have to disappear. If you do not understand what you should do or what I am talking about, you should be absorbed in taking care of the rice without looking aside. If you could work wholeheartedly without yourself, that is enough. Giving up your ego is the shortest way to unification with nature.”

He grew two seasonal crops – rice in summer, barley and rye in winter – using just the straw of the preceding crop, a cover of clover and a sprinkling of poultry manure for fertilizer. Instead of planting seeds and transplanting seedlings as in traditional rice cultivation, he broadcasts clay pellets containing seeds on unplowed soil, sufficiently loosened by nature’s own undercover agents, the earthworm and other such creatures.

The use of white clover reduces the amount of time the field is flooded for rice to one week. Weeds are allowed to sprout, controlled by nature’s checks and balances, including natural predators, which also take care of pests. “Nature, left alone, is in perfect balance,” asserts Fukuoka with a confidence that comes from personal experience. Each rice stalk yields 200 to 300 grains, which compares very favorably with the yield of other forms of cultivation; labor is cut to one-fifth.

He also grew vegetables and fruits for market using similar techniques.

In his 60’s, Fukuoka sat down to document what he had seen and done. In 1975 his first book “One Straw Revolution” was released and has had a profound impact on agriculture and human consciousness all over the world. “One Straw Revolution” was followed by “The Natural Way of Farming” and then by “The Road Back To Nature.”

Since 1979, Fukuoka has been touring, giving lectures and sowing the seeds of natural farming all over the world. In 1988 he was given Deshikottan Award, and the Ramon Magsaysay Award. In 1997 he received the Earth Council Award.

To Masanobu Fukuoka, raising food is not necessarily the primary goal of farming.

“The ultimate goal of farming is not the growing of crops,
but the cultivation and perfection of human beings.”

To Fukuoka, farming is a spiritual path.

Dr. Merle H. Jensen is Assistant Dean for Sponsored Research and Associate Director of the Arizona Agricultural Experiment Station at the University of Arizona and Professor of Plant Science. He is a graduate of California State Polytechnic, Cornell and Rutgers Universities. He has been involved with numerous programs for research and development of new methods of food production, including serving as team leader to develop the agricultural systems for “The Land” at EPCOT, Walt Disney World and helped researchers at NASA. Dr. Jensen is one of America’s leading agricultural scientists on the subject of controlled environment agriculture and future opportunitiesfor food production. He has published nearly 100 research and technical articles, and his research and development projects have been featured in many popular publications and television programs.

Boris,

Just a quick note to let you know we now have several clients using Hygrozyme on a regular basis. Hygrozyme (H/Z). When used for Hydroponic Lettuce Production, results in faster growth rates with reportedly improved shelf life. These are observations coming from our growers. Further more, Hygrozyme is a great additive for crops experiencing root disease problems – H/Z seems to arrest the development of the disease, and continued application has seen crops recover from root disease problems and prevented the re-occurrence of the disease on younger crops growing within the same system. Two most memorable example of success with H/Z include:

2. Another commercial hydroponic lettuce grower experienced some miss-hap – some how the roots on his recently planted (4 days) lettuce seedlings had ‘gone down’, the roots had all turned brown and things were looking grim. This concerned grower called me, and we decided to apply 4 liters of Hygrozyme to 4000 liters of nutrient solution, (servicing about 15,000 plants), followed by an additional 200ml Hygrozyme per day. Again, the results were very pleasing. New white roots had developed within two days after application of H/Z, and a lettuce crop which had appeared to have almost completely failed in the very early stages, had recovered and grown into a crop the grower was proud to call his own. “The Hygrozyme is good stuff. It may be a bit pricey, but when it saves your crop its very cheap!”.

A very important point to note with these success stories is Hygrozyme, being an organic product, presents itself as a safe and effective means of protecting the crop, and removed the risk of problems associated with chemical residues where alternative chemical remedies may be considered.

Other hydroponic lettuce growers have had great results with maintaining continuity of supply through the winter months. Most hydroponic lettuce production in Australia is performed outdoors and as a result, crops are exposed to temperatures as low as 0 to -2 degrees Celsius, even cooler in some areas, leading to a dramatic decrease in growth rates, and subsequently lower production. Hygrozyme, when used at 1 liter per 1000 liters of nutrient solution, has given winter crops a significant boost, and has shortened the harvest interval in the winter period by two weeks. Similar results have also been obtained with hydroponically grown bok choi.

More recently, we have observed a great result with a hydroponic strawberry grower. Hydroponically grown strawberry plants treated with Hygrozyme at 1.5ml per litre of nutrient solution showed superior root development compared with untreated plants. The Hygrozyme treated plants were larger with larger leaves and larger fruit – but furthermore, the larger fruit were also significantly of better quality with respect to taste and shelf-life when compared to untreated plants.

We have also observed, in our own nursery, the strawberry cuttings/runners treated with H/Z immediately after planting, developed roots much more rapidly, and were saleable 2 weeks before untreated plants.

There is obviously something very beneficial to plants in the Hygrozyme formula delivering increased growth rates, better shelf-life and disease-shielding benefits, and also has the added bonus of being an organic product.

Boris, we have some scientific data that we should be able to forward to you in the next month. By then we should also have results carried out with Hygrozyme trails on greenhouse capsicums, tomatoes and cucumbers.

Dr. John Vella

PHDAgrBSc Agr (Hons)
Leppington Speedy Seedlings & Supplies Pty Ltd
PO Box 167
35 Riley Road
Leppington NSW 2179

This stuff is fantastic guys, particularly for rooting cuttings, and vegetative plants. Flowering plants will benefit also. So many reputable sources have confirmed the science of Hygrozyme. I have seen it react negatively with guano’s so be aware of that potential conflict. The “proven success” part of Hygrozymes marketing is the best part. They have gone through extensive testing on their product, and it really does work AND it’s organic! 1-866-PGS-GROW

Thanks to Hygrozyme for the article – Original Page Here

There are a serious amount of magnetic HID ballasts available these days. Most of them are good quality however even the best of them can fail at the most inconvenient times. Most ballasts come with a 2-5 year warranty and companies will charge you a premium to fix it after this time frame. Xtreme Ballasts from CAP offer a LIFETIME WARRANTY. This is unprecedented in our industry, and CAP stands behind it. When it comes to magnetic ballasts, this lifetime warranty is super valuable. Magnetic ballasts tend to run hotter and are more prone to trouble then electronic ballasts. So they do fail more often. ( I will do a post on the major differences of magnetic verses electronic ballasts soon ) Additionally, if 5  years go by and you suspect trouble with an Xtreme ballast you can have CAP fix or rebuild it for you for free. Take it from someone who has the same magnetic ballasts in use after more then 10 years, they fail all the time and only my Xtreme Ballasts make it back into my garden, the others go to recycling. Over all I strongly suggest these ballasts to anyone who wants a lifetime warranty, a solid performing ballast, and doesn’t want to spend a fortune on a electronic ballast. The price on these are really great too! 

CAPS Statement on their Xtreme Ballasts:

The Xtreme Ballasts fom Custom Automated Products are the best garden lighting ballasts available. The cases are extruded aluminum to provide cool operation. They have a vibration dampening system for noise reduction. They are very quiet. All C.A.P. Xtreme Ballasts can be run at 120 or 240 volts. No rewiring is necessary. 240 volt power cords are available below. They will all run either M.H. or H.P.S. bulbs (with the exception of 600w which will run H.P.S. bulbs only.) They come with a 120 volt power cord. Xtreme ballasts carry a Lifetime rebuild or replace warranty.

1-866-PGS-GROW

Hey guys, ok I have something really HUGE and exciting for you to check out. Ever considered going BIG with commercial crop production? I bet you never imagined this big. Bringing you something totally different, new and exciting, PGS continues to search for innovations and this is something so HUGE we thought it must get shared with you guys.

My good friend Ted from Omegagarden.com has recently sent us a bunch of new data on his products and its such an interesting concept for food and medical crop production. We will have a Volksgarden on display at the warehouse soon. You can order any Omega Product from us. 1-866-PGS-GROW

The Omega Garden™ Carousel is our answer to commercial-scale urban agriculture.

Each carousel carries six, 8ft. long Omega Gardens™; equaling as much as 1500 sq. ft. of greenhouse yet only using 150 sq. ft. of floor space, including access!

This is a fully automated system. Each rotating garden is in turn rotated on the carousel down to the water/feeding tray at floor level, minimizing plumbing, while providing easy access.

This unit can be operated in an insulated structure in any climate, with unprecedented efficiency.

To order an Omega Garden Carousel or contact with questions:

1-866-PGS-GROW

Thanks to Ted and Betty at Omegagarden.com for this article – Original Page Here

OGC Cylinder Design		OGC Cylinder Design Concepts
Lumen Principle The OGC ingenuously works with the Lumen principle for the optimal plant growth to light source relationship possible. All of the plants in the cylinder are within 24 inches of the light source, receiving the maximum light energy (lumens) from the lamps at all times, thus achieving maximum light efficiency.

Plant Growth, Geotropism & Orbitropism Geotropism relates to the effect of gravity on plant growth hormones called Auxins.  Omega Garden discovered that if plants are continually rotated horizontally top to bottom these Auxins are evenly distributed throughout the plant aiding in plant growth and strength. The distribution of Auxins due to plant rotation increases plant growth rates by several times that of a stationary plant assuming that all other factors are equal.  This phenomenon has been termed “Orbitropism” by Omega Garden Int.

Yields Based on Lumen efficiencies and Orbitropism, Omega Garden Int’s findings are that plant growth rates can be increased by many times. (Photo at right shows the increase growth rate of the Omega grown plant on left to stationary grown plant on right).
Energy Efficiencies Commercial greenhouse supplemental lighting as seen in the previous pictures represents 16 watts per sq ft of floor space and are engaged a minimum of 50% of the day and more on overcast days. Due in part to the light source/plant growth relationship previously discussed, there is a substantial reduction of energy required to produce OGC plants.  For example, one OGC system requires 3-6 Kilo Watt (KW) of light power using Compact Fluorescent lights (CFL), or 480-960 Watts of power using Light Emitting Diode lights (LED).
One OGC unit of 660 sq ft, when compared to a greenhouse flat configuration with 60% aisle space, would equal 1650 sq ft of greenhouse floor space. Adding in the growth rate increase from Orbitropism, which has been observed to be as much as 4-5 times, this can equal up to 8250 sq ft of flat growing area. This area requires 132KWH supplemental lighting at 9 hrs per day, for a minimum total 1188 KWH per day. Even at 1650 sq ft of greenhouse the supplemental lighting requirements are 237.6 KWH per day minimum. One 6 KW OGC system will use 115.2 KWH per day and that energy can be used for environmental controls as well. One LED OGC system will operate for 15 KWH per day.

Lettuce Case Study* CFL (6 Kilowatts per Hour (KWH)) 2 week total: 1646.4 KWH to produce 2160 units of Lettuce Per Lettuce Unit = 0.76 KWH LED (0.48 Kilowatt) 2 week total: 171 KWH to produce 2160 units of Lettuce Per Lettuce Unit = 0.079 KWH
Basil Case Study* CFL (6KW) 4 week total: 3292.8 KWH to produce 900 lbs Basil leaves Per lb. of Basil leaves = 3.7 KWH LED (0.48 KW) 4 week total: 342 KWH to produce 900 lbs Basil leaves Per lb. of Basil leaves = 0.38 KWH
*The above figures were generated in a facility without full environmental controls and using rock-wool as the root medium.  Growing with a reusable rooting medium such as stainless steel wool in a controlled environment, the system efficiency will increase substantially. Using green power sources coupled with local consumption of the goods produced, would generate close to zero fossil fuel inputs compared to the present system of production with farm tractors, pesticides, a 1500 mile farm to market transportation statistic per food shelf item, along with packaging, refrigeration, etc., all of which are heavily dependent on fossil fuel inputs.

Water & Irrigation Efficiencies There is no runoff water when using the OGC system.  Further watering efficiencies can be achieved by condensing plant transpiration for reuse. Estimated water use is decrease by 99% per yield.  Irrigation issues are simplified by the watering design.  A water tray sits above a reservoir at the bottom of the Carousel, watering all the plants as the cylinders rotate and pass through this watering tray. The OGC watering system with this simple plumbing design virtually eliminates plumbing malfunctions caused from plugged hoses and emitters, inherent in most conventional hydroponic greenhouse systems.  In addition, the OGC watering system with its’ simple open flow design, will accommodate the widest range of nutrient/fertilizer molecule sizes, allowing total feed requirement flexibility.