Aeroponic cloning and growing, is an offshoot of . Typically, these methods of growing are used in well-controlled environments such as indoor grow rooms and greenhouses. Given the ability to control all the parameters and create an ideal growing environment, one is able to exceed conventional standards and produce superior results. By growing indoors, it’s easy to monitor and adjust your plants, seedlings and clones to ensure they are receiving the optimal conditions suitable for each stage.

Instead of rooting your cuttings in a rooting medium, like Rockwool, Coco Coir, Vermiculite, Jiffy Plugs, or Rapid Rooters, an aeroponic cloning machine allows your cuttings to root in a fine mist, thus freeing you from the typical expense of buying a medium (and the time necessary to prepare & pre-soak it). Typically, a submerged pump drives a nutrient rich solution, into low pressure misters, distributing water to the base of your clone cuttings. In as short as 7-14 days, you will have cuttings with a strong, healthy roots base, that are ready to be transplanted into your garden!

Propagating aeroponically is arguably the best and easiest way to preserve your genetics, multiply crops, and save yourself time and money. During the aeroponic cloning process, no medium is used and your cuttings produce roots suspended midair, making it very easy to see their progress. The perfect convergence of air, moisture and temperature produce roots that can be transplanted into any medium you so choose.

Unfortunately, as with all plant cloning, there is a chance of failure, most likely due to bacterial infection and pathogens resulting in root rot. While a thorough cleaning process and the use of disinfectants does minimize such tragedies, it is still up to you the grower to make sure everything is done to avoid this.

EZ-CLONE has spent the last few years extensively researching the true effectiveness and benefits of the use of an air pump in aeroponic systems. We have discovered that there are no benefits to using an air pump. We have concluded that the air pump can simply become a vessel for introducing harmful bacteria and pathogens into a closed system.

Remember, we are dealing with aeroponic cloning, which means our cuttings/roots are in midair, therefore absorbing all the oxygen they require. Furthermore, as the system cycles water via misters, the water is naturally oxygenated. Air stones and air lines are just another thing to clean and can become a hassle. On your next cloning cycle, eliminate your air line and see for yourself. Results don’t lie!

Editor’s Note: Aeroponics is the preferred hydroponics method by NASA, since it doesn’t require carrying heavy or space-consuming materials, and plants don’t experience transplant shock when they are placed into soil after being raised aeroponically.

Resources:

Want to get in touch with EZ-Clone? They can be reached via the following methods:

1. Website: http://www.ezclone.com/
2. Phone: 916-626-3000
3. Email: info@ezclone.com

One key concept in soil ecology is the importance of communities over individual species. No single species functions alone in nature; rather, groups of plant and microbial species often form consortia of closely interacting species that need each other for survival. Soil microbes communicate with each other by emitting and detecting small molecules. A microbial consortium is a true partnership of closely interacting species.

In natural and agricultural systems, plant success is driven by the ecological interactions between plants, microbes, and soil or soilless media. A true microbial consortium is a group of two or more different species that work together and function at a higher level than they could alone. There are several reasons why consortia can be more powerful and robust than single bacterial species or groups of bacteria that don’t closely interact.

First, there are many soil functional processes that require more than one microbial species to complete a process. For example, some aspects of nitrogen cycling require separate reactions catalyzed by different types of bacteria. Likewise, no single bacterial species can complete the whole process – and each metabolic product is handed off to another species to complete the next step. This is similar to the division of labor in an assembly line, where skilled workers complete specialized tasks and each step is critical to the process. In nature, many microbial processes are structured in a similar manner!

Second, microbial consortia can be more robust to support plant health than single species. For example, consortia are more resistant to invasion by competitors and better able to withstand environmental fluctuations. In part, this is because the different members of the consortia thrive under different conditions to maintain critical soil nutrient cycling when other members may be under stress.

There is no ‘single solution’ when it comes to growing cannabis; it truly takes an integrated management system to succeed. When developing microbial solutions for cannabis cultivation, we think holistically about the ecology of the different belowground processes that are important for plant growth. Incorporating the power of microbes into sustainable management systems allows plants to maximize their phenotypic potential for quality and yield. Other benefits of utilizing microbial consortia include the fact that they work well in many different systems. Furthermore, beneficial microbes are often compatible with other microbial inputs and complement healthy soil food webs in organic soil systems.

Soil microbes are critical for plant success in nature. Growcentia believes that adopting microbes into cultivation practices is one of the best ways growers can sustainably increase plant quality and yield.

Resources:

Want to get in touch with Mammoth Microbes? They can be reached via the following methods:

1. Website: https://mammothmicrobes.com/
2. Email: info@growcentia.com
3. Phone: (970) 818-3321

Hi Everyone! Dr. NPK here, at it yet again. Today’s blog topic is about chelation: a very chemistry-ish topic! Chelation is a very important chemical principle that is important in a variety of industries, including cleaners, water purification, and oil & gas. But, most importantly, chelation is important in growing cannabis.

Chelation (pronounced key-lay-shun) is defined as: “the process of chelating” … thanks for the useful definition, Merriam-Webster.

Anyway, the act of chelation is a type of bonding between a metal ion and a ligand (A ligand is a type of molecule that has an affinity for the metal ion). An analogy of this would be to imagine your significant other in a crowded room. If he/she was asked to give ONE person a hug in the room, hopefully they’d hug you. That’s how ligand/chelants work. These chelating agents have different affinities based on their size and ion type. For example, calcium has certain attractions to chelants that iron does not. The generic equation for a chelant is this: M + L = ML (M = metal, L = ligand). Once the ligand binds to the metal ion, it is usually chemically unfavorable for the ligand to separate from the metal. This means the reaction is not easily reversed. Once you make “ML”, it’s really hard to split them up. Imagine the chelating agent “biting” the metal and holding on.

It’s cool that chelation is an important principle in a lot of industries, but how is it relevant to cannabis?

If you recall, I mentioned that chelation is important for metal ions. Macronutrients like potassium, sulfur, and nitrogen do not require chelation to be taken up by the plant. Cannabis plants need a variety of nutrients, many of which are metal ions. These include most of the micronutrients found in Elite Base Nutrient A, like iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu).

Unfortunately, these highly charged species get “caught up” by other ions present in the tank or soil. The scientific term for this is “double displacement reaction.” These positively charged metals mentioned above react with the negative species found in your tank (such as sulfate, or phosphate), and create an insoluble metal mixture. An insoluble mixture is not taken up as easily by the plant, leading to a micronutrient deficiency!

In the case of iron, a heavily oxygenated environment causes the iron to be oxidized into rust (Ferric Oxide), making it water insoluble and unusable to plants. By using a chelated metal, you ensure that the chemical identity of a micronutrient stays the same (i.e., does not interact with the negative species found in your tank), ensuring that the micronutrient is delivered in plant-usable form.

There are a variety of chelant chemistries available; but one stands head and shoulders among the rest. I am referring to EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid). EDTA is an attractive chelating agent because it is cost effective and has broad-pH stability. When I say it’s pH-stable, that means that the chelated complex of the metal+chelant does not separate at a specified pH. EDTA is the chelant of choice in hydroponics for most applications; the one exception is really, really, hard water that’s slightly alkaline (pH >7.0). If your water is this hard (my condolences), consider adjusting the water’s pH prior hitting it with nutrients. If you are seeing a super red “blood-like” color in your nutrient mix, it is likely oxidized iron that is not plant-usable. Otherwise, if you are running your res at a normal pH range, EDTA should be good to go. There are some naysayers that say EDTA is harmful; I disagree with those people. EDTA is a common chelating agent in the pharmaceutical industry (Wax, P. J. Med. Toxicol. 2013, 9, 303–307) and its metabolism in chickens (Darwish, N. M.; Kratzer, J. Nutr. 1965, 86, 187–192) and cells (Kluner, T.; et al. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology 1998, 49, 194–201) has been studied. I can buy a bottle of calcium EDTA from any grocery store, which feels pretty safe to me.

Chelation is an important chemical principle in hydroponic growing. Fortunately, for most growers EDTA is the best solution for your chelated micros due to its availability and general stability. If your water is outside the normal pH range for EDTA, consider pre-treating your water with pH up/down to get to a normal range prior to treating with nutrients.

Resources:

Want to get in touch with Elite Garden Wholesale? They can be reached via the following methods:

1. Website: https://www.elitegardenwholesale.com/
2. Email: info@elitegardenwholesale.com

When it comes to photomorphogenesis, the most understood developmental processes are those controlled by the red and far red light spectra. For the purposes of this discussion, we will refer to red (R) light as the spectral region around 660 nm and far red (FR) light around 730 nm. In order to better understand the influence that these two spectral regions have on plant development, you need to first understand the significance of the pigment known as phytochrome, which is responsible for R and FR light mediated responses.

Phytochrome is a pigment protein which exists in two interconvertible forms – a red light absorbing form (P_r) and a far red absorbing form (P_fr). Phytochrome converts from one form to another upon absorbing the corresponding light until an equilibrium is established, with the relative amount of each phytochrome form depending on the ratio of R to FR light in the light spectrum. To put it another way, when P_r absorbs R light it is converted into P_fr, and when P_fr absorbs FR light it is converted into P_r. There is some overlap in in the spectra of both forms, and phytochrome does absorb some blue light as well, but for the sake of this guide, this will not be discussed.

The prevalence of one form or the other (which depends on the R/FR spectral ratio) can stimulate or inhibit a number of developmental processes such as: seed germination, leaf unrolling, chlorophyll formation, and stem elongation. Additionally, phytochrome is the controlling factor of promoting (or suppressing) flowering in photoperiodic plant species. For the sake of brevity, and to discuss important applications related to horticulture lighting systems, we will focus on the influence that phytochrome has on flowering and stem elongation.

Two important blue light photoreceptors are cryptochromes and phototropins. Blue light is important for a variety of plant responses such as: suppression of stem elongation, phototropism, chloroplast movement within cells, stomatal opening, and activation of gene expression, some morphogenic genes and others not. Stomatal opening and height control are of particular relevance to horticultural lighting systems. A low overall blue light content (e.g. less than 10% of the total photon flux) can lead to leaf edema (swelling of the leaves) and developmental problems in several plant species. The absolute content of blue light has a progressively stronger effect on plant height reduction. This may be desirable in some cases (e.g. to produce more compact seedlings and reduce transportation costs) but generally leads to a lower photosynthetic efficiency. A high relative content of blue light reduces the plant leaf area and may be undesirable for that reason. Near UV light has an effect similar to blue light, with further reduced photosynthetic efficiency, especially below 400 nm (although the other effects may be stronger by comparison). It also affects the biosynthesis of compounds responsible for the flavor of certain fruits, increased anthocyanin concentration, as well as that of other compounds which are not directly produced by photosynthesis alone. Whenever the use of near UV light is necessary to control a corresponding sensory mechanism or the production of a specific molecule of interest by the plant, a trade-off may have to be reached, similarly to that for far red light.

The least understood spectrum related to photomorphogenic responses in plants is green light (500 – 600 nm). The control effects of green light are generally opposite those of red and blue light. For example, green light has been shown to reverse blue light induced plant height reduction and anthocyanin accumulation. The phytochrome and cryptochrome photoreceptors mentioned earlier are also responsive to green light, though to a significantly lesser extent than to red or blue light. So far, all efforts by researchers to find photoreceptors responding primarily to green light have given no definitive results. However, it should be mentioned that the addition of green light into the spectrum of horticultural lighting systems has demonstrated to be beneficial to the growth of several plant species. Similar to far-red light, green light penetrates deeper into leaves and canopies than red or blue light, and can significantly increase the rate of photosynthesis. The addition of green light also significantly improves the color rendering index (CRI) of a horticultural lighting systems, which allows growers to effectively monitor crops for disease or nutrient deficiency/toxicity symptoms, without the use of specialized glasses.

In horticultural lighting systems, there are a number of choices – especially when it comes to using LED lights -- which can range from narrow-band spectral composition (i.e. pink or purple) to broad spectrum, otherwise known as white light. Depending on the crop you are producing, selecting an LED horticultural lighting system with the appropriate light quality is critical, not only to drive photosynthesis, but to achieve the desired morphological responses.

Resources:

Want to get in touch with Fluence? They can be reached via the following methods:

1. Website: https://fluence.science/
2. Email: info@fluencebioengineering.com
3. Phone: 512-212-4544

Plants grown in a hydroponic system need dissolved oxygen (DO) in their water to thrive and provide optimal yields; in hydroponic systems, most oxygen absorbed by plant roots comes from the nutrient solution you provide.

Plants receive nutrition via two different conduits: The aerial environment, in which photosynthesis and respiration occur, and the rhizosphere, the “below the surface” environment. It’s just as important to pay attention to what happens below the surface as it is to what happens above. If you don’t give plant roots the oxygen they need, your plants – and harvests – could suffer.

Without adequate oxygen, roots become less permeable and can no longer absorb nutrients or water effectively. If left as is, plants begin to starve. This can mean stunted growth and even plant death.

In your grow room’s hydroponic system, you’ll be controlling how much oxygen your plant roots get. They need from 7 to 10 PPM. (The water you use should be as pure as possible before your nutrient addition; the purer the water, the more DO it can hold.)

Plant roots like to be covered with a fine “blanket” of tiny oxygen bubbles in a hydroponic system, for best absorption of DO and nutrients. However, not all methods are created equal: Be careful what you use.

Don’t use:

1. Hydrogen peroxide

I list this first because this is one of the most commonly used methods of DO production but it is NOT suitable for your plants’ DO needs. Here’s why: Hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) has an extra oxygen atom vs. water (H₂O). H₂O₂ converts to water (H₂O) plus an oxygen atom with a negative charge (O₂-). That O₂– atom is a free radical that will indiscriminately damage healthy plant tissue. Stay away from hydrogen peroxide, and instead opt for the method below.

Do use both:

1. An air pump in combination with an air stone

Air will diffuse into water as soon as it comes into contact with it, and many growers use the combination of an air stone and air pump to add DO to their nutrient/water mixture. It’s an inexpensive way to increase DO levels. The air pump pumps air through food-grade plastic tubing that is attached to an air stone at the bottom of the receptacle. The stone “breaks up” the air into tiny bubbles, and they increase the DO levels of the water as they rise to the surface. (This method also keeps nutrients and water well mixed.)

And

1. A stirring pump

While the air pump/air stone combination for DO production creates exactly what plant roots need, it will also react with the CO₂-enriched air of the grow room and cause the pH of the fertilizer/water mixture to rise over time. Stirring the water continuously or at regular, timed intervals keeps the water’s DO concentration stable. Stirring also prevents stagnation and will help prevent harmful bacterial growth.

Resources:

Want to get in touch with Quest Hydro? They can be reached via the following methods:

1. Website: https://questhydro.com/
2. Email: info@questhydro.com
3. Phone: 877-420-1330

Resources:

Want to get in touch with Black Dog LED? They can be reached via the following methods:

1. Website: https://www.blackdogled.com/
2. Email: sales@blackdogled.com
3. Phone: (800) 380-2291

Because the legal cannabis industry is a relatively new industry, cooperation between growers has been limited. More than any other industry, this has been ingrained into cannabis culture, because the more one talked about their grow in the past, the more likely one was going to be discovered by law enforcement. However, today our grows are licensed and regulated. We no longer have to fear being discovered and having our plants destroyed (for the most part, anyway). This gives us the opportunity to share information and skills with our fellow growers as well as collectively troubleshoot issues we used to face alone.

I have worked in the ornamental horticulture industry for most of my adult life. Early on, most commercial growers only grew one variety of plants from stock. Retail stores had to buy from a multitude of different growers in order to have a sufficient variety of plants to sell. Over time that model shifted, so that independent propagators provide cultivars to industrial growers, who grow a wide variety of plants. Retail stores in turn, only need to go to an individual grower.

All growers have different areas of expertise; it’s extremely rare when one grower can do everything really well. Trying to be a retailer, edible producer, extractor, wholesaler, flower producer, trimmer, packager, marketer and propagator all at the same time is a daunting task, one that only the most talented business managers can pull off.

As growers we are accustomed to doing everything in-house, on our own. We build our own facilities, run with our own electricity, build our own plumbing, etc. However, in a legal grow setting, we have the opportunity to hire contractors, electricians, irrigation specialists and more. By breaking down what we do best and letting others do for us what they do best, we open up more time and energy to focus on what we want to do

Currently, many growers with limited space or few employees grow and maintain stock plants that require their own specialized feeding regime, taking cuttings that also require their own special environment and care. If you contract this job out to a trusted grower specializing in propagation, you could save yourself time, money, and space.

Growers that wish to build a good relationship with a propagator must work closely with the propagator to communicate their wants and needs. Give the propagator enough time and information to do the job you want them to do. What specs do the young plants need to meet? How tall do you want them? What nutrients do they need? Time to flower? Lay out your perfect scenario, so that the propagator can understand what you want and by what date, in addition to figuring out if your requests are possible to achieve in the timeframe you have requested.

The propagator in its natural habitat.

Do your research on the propagator too. Get to know them, tour their facility, see the plants they produce. Figure out the logistics of getting the young plants from their facility to yours. Understand that you and your propagator are now in a two-way relationship. If you have special genetics or phenotypes, contractual obligations can be written to protect your genetics and provide a steady supply of plants.

The relationship also benefits the propagators. Propagators have significant upfront costs such as, maintaining stock plants, maintaining specialized facilities, domes and environmental controls, liner trays, sterile soil, and more. Growers should always pay propagators a 10% deposit before cuttings are planted. This keeps everyone invested in a positive outcome, while still giving both the propagator and grower room if they need to bail on the agreement.

Propagators or young plant brokers should have friendly relationships with each other. Everybody experiences crop failure from time to time, and opportunistic behavior can have negative consequences on the industry. Don’t try to steal your competitor's customer. Help them out with a reasonable rate. Besides, if your competitor keeps disappointing their client, they will probably be looking for a new grower anyway. But you also never know when you amy need a favor yourself. If you’ve established yourself as a force for good in the industry, people may come rushing out of the woodwork to help.

Resources:

Want to get in touch with Pacific Green Growers? They can be reached via the following methods:

1. Website: http://www.pacificgreengrowers.com/
2. Email: info@pacificgreengrowers.com
3. Phone: 541-942-7041