Welcome, Dr. Brecht! Thank you for taking the time to speak with us today. Our readers love information from industry pros such as yourself and I have no doubt the details you have about Marrone Bio Innovations will be met with the same enthusiasm.

But before we dig into specifics, I'd like to get into a little background on the company.

Can you give our readers some information on who Marrone Bio Innovations is? When did you get started? What’s your philosophy with regard to pest control?
Sure, Marrone Bio Innovations Inc. (MBI) (NASDAQ: MBII) provides biological based solutions for agricultural crops, turf protection, seed treatment, plant health and waterway systems. We're a leader in alternatives to conventional pesticides, and MBII has a proven go-to-market strategy. We're on the cutting edge of developing the types of biological products in which today’s farmers are increasingly interested. We've been doing it since we were founded in 2006.

Can you tell our readers about some of the changes you’ve seen in the industry? How is Marrone Bio keeping up with those changes?
Our focus is around finding new and alternative ways to include biological products to help meet society’s food and textile needs in the present without compromising future generations. BioUnite™ is Marrone Bio Innovations’ solution for both conventional and organic growers. Bring together the power of biological products with the performance of chemistry in your tank mix with BioUnite.

Is it challenging to offer a cannabis related product in a climate such as the USA with different regulations in each state?
Yes, there is no consistency between states on what products are allowed to be used on cannabis. Companies like Marrone Bio have to spend a lot of time and energy with each county to ensure compliance.

Marrone Bio has products for all kinds of crops, was it a difficult decision to begin marketing in the cannabis space?
No. Marrone Bio is focused on providing sustainability. Cannabis is part of that. Our product portfolio supports both the cannabis and hemp markets.

Our Canna Cribs team has noticed that a lot of professional cannabis growers we speak to are using your line of IPM solutions. What do you think is the key to success they’ve discovered with your products?
Our line of Cultivated Garden (CG) products helps customers around the globe control pests, improve plant health, and increase crop yields while reducing the environmental pesticide load, decreasing chemical residues and fighting the development of pest resistance. The key to our products is performance. Marrone Bio has harnessed the power of biology to perform in a number of challenging grower situations.

What is the most common misunderstanding for the new grower trying to develop an IPM program?
Many new growers are challenged with how to effectively use organic solutions to control insects and diseases when growing cannabis in large production systems. Legal states often have limited choices in organic active ingredients and they are not consistent between states. Also many growers are incorporating beneficial insects into their IPM program which also can be challenging at first to learn and incorporate with their spray programs.

Your products are OMRI listed. Why is this beneficial to a grower? Is there a real advantage?
Yes, all of Marrone Bio’s current Cultivated Garden (CG) product line are OMRI listed. The OMRI Listed Seal assures the suitability of products for certified organic production, handling, and processing under the following conditions:

• For certified organic farmers, the product must be included in the operator's approved organic system (farm) plan.
• Product use must be in accordance with any restrictions described in the OMRI Products List© under the product's category.

In addition, Marrone Bio submits all CG products to quality control testing.

Do you have any new products in the works that you can share with our readers?
Yes, but we can’t share at this time.

Fair enough, I won't press you on the "secret sauce." What are the biggest changes you’ve witnessed in the industry since you began?
Cannabis production has stepped out of the underground black market and into large commercial agriculture. Fertilizer and chemical companies are responding by bringing new products that offer growers better results at reduced costs.

Is there anything we didn’t touch on that you’d like our readers to know about Marrone Bio?
Marrone Bio has invested heavily into both research and development as well as into a team of highly knowledgeable sales and technical representatives. Many have advanced degrees in chemistry, microbiology, engineering, entomology and plant pathology. For instance, as the Key Account Manager for the Cultivated Garden product line, I have a Ph.D in Plant Pathology, and I am able to help anyone who wants to find out more about Marrone Bio's IPM solutions and our cultivated garden product line.

Growers Network would like to once again thank Dr. Brecht and Marrone Bio Innovations for taking the time to speak with us today. What did you think readers? Let us know by hopping onto the forum and starting a conversation! Not a member of our forum? Click one of the "Join Now" buttons on this page and sign up. See you there!

Quick Look at the Best Garden Trellis Netting:

1. Best Green Trellis to Camouflage Your Plants: Grower's Edge Green Trellis Netting
2. Best Trellis for Grow Tent Kits: Hydrofarm Modular Trellis Netting
3. Best Soft Mesh (gentle) Nylon Trellis for Small Gardens: Grower's Edge Soft Mesh Trellis Netting
4. Best Soft Mesh (gentle) Nylon Trellis Bulk Rolls: Grow Strong Soft Nylon Trellis Netting 
5. Best Plastic Trellis Netting for Small Gardens: Hydrofarm Trellis Netting
6. Best Plastic Trellis Bulk Rolls: Grow Strong Plastic Trellis Netting

Note: Our recommendations are based on customer reviews and conversations with growers. Growers Network is not paid to recommend any particular product.

What is Trellis Netting?

Trellis netting is a special kind of flexible netting used to train plants by gently holding them in place, allowing the grower to control the shape and growth direction of the crop. This gives the cannabis grower the power to maximize grow space and light penetration. Often made of nylon, polyester or plastic, it can be used for a variety of garden plants. Trellis netting can be used either vertically or horizontally depending on the grower's needs. Cannabis growers often use trellis netting for supercropping, SCROG, or to create a "sea of green," i.e. a nice flat canopy that maximizes light efficiency.

How to Use Trellis Netting

As mentioned previously, growers use trellis netting in both horizontal and vertical applications. In horizontal applications, the trellis netting is lowered over the top of the the canopy with the main colas poking through the mesh. The netting can be used for stability or to tuck in branches (supercropping) to create a flat canopy and ensure all of your plants are getting proper support and maximum light penetration.

Vertical applications for trellis netting are a little different. Utilized primarily by outdoor growers, vertical trellis netting can create a "living wall" as your cannabis plants climb the trellis like vines, using it for support and maximum growth.

If you’re a cannabis grower, you probably already know the advantages of using perlite in your media. This natural mineral has been getting extra attention lately as legal cannabis grow operations pop up all over the world. It’s water retention and draining benefits were even highlighted in the July 2019 issue of High Times. But what is perlite exactly and how does it benefit plants? Well, we’re here to get you up to speed on this mineral and even if you already know about perlite, I’m sure we’ll be able to let you in on a few things you may not have known.

What is Perlite?

Perlite is a natural occurring volcanic mineral that looks similar to Styrofoam. After it’s mined, perlite ore is sent for refining and expansion. Some perlite brands have different partners for each of these steps, while companies like Dicalite are vertically integrated and control all aspects of the process from mining to distribution to quality control of their Dicaperl brand (Psst - Dicaperl even offers free samples. Click the banner below to get yours).

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Whether vertically integrated or outsourced, the refining process is where perlite grows into its true potential as heat from the process converts water molecules in the perlite to steam, causing it to expand, similar to popcorn. Perlite’s expanded form has unique characteristics that make it a superb addition to any organic grow medium as the porous nature of perlite allows for not only maximum drainability and water retention to maximize your nutrient efficiency, but it creates pockets that allow air to penetrate the root zone.

A pretty pile of perlite.

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A closer look at perlite

Scanning electron microscope image of perlite.

As mentioned above, refining causes perlite to expand, and in the process, the evaporated water leaves bubble-like air pockets. Depending on the grade of your perlite, it can be used for challenges faced in arid and humid climates. Where water retention is crucial, finer grade perlite will allow media to hold water longer. On the flip-side, coarse grade perlite allows for maximum drainability when humidity is higher. These characteristics, coupled with the root zone benefits, make perlite a powerful mineral additive no matter what the climate of the grow operation.

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Benefits of Perlite over other soil media options

While every media type has its pros and cons, perlite offers some unique benefits not found in other media types.

1. Coco Coir

Sourced from the the interior of coconut shells, Coco Coir is a popular with hydroponic growers and has good water retention, deters some pests, and can be recycled.

Coco coir is sourced from coconut fiber.

Drawbacks to Coco Coir:

• Non-neutral pH
• Can come in pre-charged with salts
• High potassium content can inhibit calcium absorption by roots
• Lower drainability can lead to over watering

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2. Rockwool

Rockwool is made from melted basalt and chalk which are then spun to fine fibers and compressed into slabs or cubes. Rockwool is another media option popular with hydroponic growers and is both chemically and biologically inert.

Rockwool starter cubes

Drawbacks to Rockwool

• Non-Neutral pH
• Prone to over watering relative to other media types

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3. Wood Fiber

Would fiber is manufactured by putting waste wood or virgin wood through a screw press that converts the wood to a form resembling cotton. The result is a material that wicks fairly well and captures water better than peat alone.

High quality wood fiber is sourced from the Loblolly pine.

Drawbacks to Wood Fiber

• High natural pH requires frequent testing and adjustment.
• Uneven drying between exposed Wood Fiber and that deeper in the soil can result in over watering.

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While these other products have their uses, perlite has the advantage of both drainability and water retention depending on the grade. Additionally, it's pH neutral, dries evenly, and it won't hinder absorption of vital nutrients.

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Things to Consider when choosing perlite

Grade

The grade of perlite you choose depends on your growing needs. Again, large, coarse grade perlite is known for its advanced drainability, while fine grade perlite is useful for retaining water. What are you looking for from your perlite? Make sure you can answer that question and then choose your preferred grade accordingly.

Quality

Though perlite is a natural occurring mineral, there can be major disperity in the quality of perlite depending on the manufacturer. For example, if you are a grower interested in the drainability of perlite, you'd be smart going with the coarsest, largest grade, right? Wrong! Of course you want the right size, but large perlites can be easily damaged in transit so when you open up the bag, you'll find that your coarse perlite has been banged around, and as a result, your bag is full of smaller grade perlite than you were expecting or even dust! As mentioned previously, Dicaperl is a perlite product from Dicalite Management Groups, an international, multi-mineral manufacturer that mines, refines, and commercially markets agricultural and horticultural perlite, diatomaceous earth, and vermiculite products. While all perlite ore mines are unique, their perlite mine is believed to be the deepest known commercial perlite ore deposit in North America. Because of their vertical integration, all aspects of production are controlled, from mining to expansion, enabling a greater degree of quality control while offering a more consistent perlite product and cost savings to the customer.

Supplier

Choosing a perlite supplier is a major decision for any grower, commercial or small scale. Here are a few things to consider:

• Avoid a manufacturer that doesn't understand the needs and appropriate perlite grades.
• Ask for a free sample so you can see the results for yourself before committing to buy. Any company that stands behind its product should offer this as a way to create a long term relationship with their customers.
• Find out where the product is mined, refined, and expanded. These factors can impact price and delivery time.
• When deciding on a perlite supplier, make sure to ask questions and find out if their team has the perlite expertise you expect.

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So there you have it! Are you using perlite? Did you take advantage of the free perlite sample? Let us know in the comments below, or better yet, click on one of the "Join Now" buttons above or below and become a member of our cannabis community. See you there!