My Good Green Earth has seen some remarkable growth in both the Canadian and US markets, thanks to a quality product, amazing partnerships, and some milestone industry certifications. According to My Good Green Earth’s founder and CEO, Gary Crowell, their exponential growth has been spearheaded by the tremendous work done by their exclusive distributor, GreenPlanet Wholesale. This is what he had to say on the company’s expansion and partnership with GreenPlanet:
Thanks to GreenPlanet, we’ve been able to grow our reach beyond Canada, and we’ve expanded into the US marketplace. We’re now trusted by customers in high-value agriculture, community gardens, and individuals that want to use natural fertilizer for use in their gardens
Gary Crowell, Found & CEO, My Good Green Earth
GreenPlanet Wholesale specializes in the wholesale distribution of quality impact products for the indoor gardening hydroponic, and hobby greenhouse market. With over 25 years of experience in the hydroponic industry, they use their knowledge and experience to select the very best innovation to elevate not only the cultivation community but the retailers supporting them. With this philosophy in mind, Bokashi Pro-Gro was a perfect addition to their wholesale catalogue.
We couldn’t be happier to continue our partnership with the producers of Bokashi Pro-Gro. From community gardeners to commercial cannabis producers, Bokashi provides our clients with the reliability and results you can expect from a GreenPlanet Wholesale partner. We’ve seen a lot of success with this product so far – and with the recent federal certification and approval, we trust that the demand for Bokashi Pro-Gro in Canada will continue to grow.
Mark Walman, COO, GreenPlanet Wholesale
We got the chance to interview the Bokashi Pro-Gro team at at Lift Vancouver 2020. Check it out!
Recent Approvals and Certifications
Over the last year, My Good Green Earth has gained product approval and certification by:
The Oregon Department of Agriculture
The California Agriculture Department Approval of Soil Fertilizer (CDFA)
Health Canada
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
Good Green Earth is an amazing company to represent, and they offer the perfect products for our retail customers. We’re now seeing their products in over 100 stores in Canada, with over 25 stores in New Mexico, Oregon, Colorado, California and Oklahoma. And we will not stop there!
Gary Crowell, Found & CEO, My Good Green Earth
My Good Green Earth’s in-demand product line includes Bokashi Pro-Gro Organic Soil Amendment for retail buyers and commercial applications. “I truly feel that we offer a feel-good product. I love that we have been able to spread that feeling as far as we have, and I’m excited to see what the future holds,” added Crowell.
About My Good Green Earth
My Good Green Earth shares your desire to nurture strong and healthy growth in our gardens and in our communities. We are passionate about creating products that allow you to make a positive and sustainable choice for growing. Our mission is to improve the quality of gardening practices through research and innovation. This can only be done by developing products that are natural, organic and free from toxins and pesticides. Gardeners like you deserve the knowledge, tools and ability to revitalize your soil and maximize your plants’ full potential.
The process of properly drying and curing cannabis presents growers with a variety of new challenges. Similar to ageing fine wine or spirits, the drying… Read more: 5 Tips on Drying and Curing Cannabis
If you’re familiar with AutoPot Watering Systems, you’re probably aware of their newest cultivation device: the AquaValve5. This innovative piece of hardware affords the use of liquid organic nutrients in new and existing AutoPot systems and helps protect against blockages, sediment build and unforeseen hazards. With an increased internal diameter of 66%, there are few challenges the AquaValve5 can’t handle. Even better than permitting the use of organic fertilizer, the AquaValve5 is compatible with a variety of existing AutoPot systems, including the 1Pot, 1Pot XL, XL SmartPot, and easy2grow systems. Want to learn more? Find out how to upgrade your AutoPot system with the AquaValve5 below!
What is the AutoPot AquaValve5?
Like the original design, the AquaValve5 is an intricate float-valve that regulates the passive flow of water into the saucers of the AutoPot self-irrigation system. However, unlike the original float-valve, the AquaValve5 has an increased inlet size of almost 66% compared to the original device and allows gardeners to use a wider variety of organic and mineral-based nutrient systems. Other expected benefits of the new design include faster flow rates, increased reliability and protection against sediment blockages and build-up.
Upgrade Your System With the AquaValve5 Module Accessory Pack
AutoPot Accessory Packs now come standard with the AquaValve5, 9mm, 9-16mm, and 16mm pipe-work and fittings. However, the best news is that all existing AutoPot systems will accommodate the newly designed AquaValve5 float-valve, 9mm hose and 9mm fittings. With this in mind, there is no reason to invest in an entirely new system altogether. Accessory Packs are now available at GreenPlanet Wholesale and contain all the necessary components to upgrade your existing AutoPot to the AquaValve5.
See what’s included in the 1Pot Accessory Pack!
Including parts like a 16-9mm Tee Connector, a 16-9mm Cross Connector, a 9mm Tee Connector, pipework, and of course, the AquaValve5 device, the Accessory Pack will be light work for any grower with AutoPot system experience. Existing reservoirs can also be adapted to work with the AquaValve5; 9mm top hat grommets, golf-filters and inline-taps are available as spare parts to reconfigure hard plastic or FlexiTank reservoirs.
9 mm Tee Connector
16-9mm Tee Connector
16-9mm Cross Connector
Performance and Reliability
With the AquaValve5, no job is impossible. Growers buying new, or upgrading their existing systems with the AquaValve5can rest easy knowing that AutoPot representatives have officially approved the device for use with constant, organic liquid-feed programs – something they have never recommended before. Along with improved nutrient performance, growers can expect faster fill rates and less maintenance associated with mainline blockages and sediment build-up. In discussing the “proof of concept” surrounding the AquaValve5, AutoPot’s representatives had this to say on the motivation behind engineering the new design:
Staying on top means staying alive to how growers grow. We’d never tangle with the proven principles and mechanics of our systems. However, we are always alive to the possibility of adjustments that might optimize them for contemporary use. How about a huge 5mm AquaValve inlet to accommodate the increasingly diverse range of nutrients favoured by growers? Bigger fittings and pipework to serve the new AquaValve, delivering visibly faster flow to the modules for an astoundingly quick fill? All of this new kit compatible with existing trays, lids, and pots.
(AutoPot R&D, 2020, para. 1)
Want to upgrade your AutoPot system with the AquaValve5? Contact a member of GreenPlanet Wholesale today! For all other inquiries about products and services offered by GreenPlanet Wholesale, contact our team or your local garden supply store for more information.
Works Cited
AutoPot R&D. (2020). Proof of concept – AquaValve5. Retrieved, February 17th 2021 from https://www.autopot.co.uk/
The process of properly drying and curing cannabis presents growers with a variety of new challenges. Similar to ageing fine wine or spirits, the drying… Read more: 5 Tips on Drying and Curing Cannabis
Since its initial release, AutoPot Watering Systems have taken the Canadian market by storm. By passively automating watering cycles, gardeners who have opted for AutoPot solutions have enjoyed an array of advantages in all sectors of cultivation. At GreenPlanet Wholesale, we have been consistently proud to partner with companies that offer the best of technology. With the shared goal of fostering a healthier, greener planet, the research and development team at AutoPot Watering Systems have outdone themselves again.
Canada, meet the AutoPot AquaValve5: a new, innovative piece of hardware that affords the use of liquid organic nutrients in existing AutoPot systems, and helps protect against blockages, sediment build-up and unforeseen, head-scratching hazards. Follow the passages below for more information on this, and other benefits of AutoPot’s latest cultivation device.
Much like the original design, the AquaValve5 is an intricate float-valve that regulates the passive flow of water into the saucers of the AutoPot self-irrigation system. However, unlike the original float-valve, the AquaValve5 has an increased inlet size of almost 66% and allows gardeners to use a wider variety of organic and mineral-based nutrient systems. Other expected benefits of the new design include faster flow rates, increased reliability and protection against sediment blockages and build-up. Read more below for details on AutoPot’s development of the AquaValve5:
Larger Inlets and Hose for Liquid Organic Fertilizer
The most distinguishing feature of the AquaValve5 is its size. With a 5mm internal diameter inlet, and options for either 9mm or 16mm mainline hose, the AquaValve5 makes easy work of viscous, organic and mineral fertilizers. Before releasing the AquaValve5 to the European market, the research and development team at AutoPot thoroughly tested the efficacy of the device in their UK-based R&D facility. For example, in a liquid organic feed test on asparagus peas, the AquaValve5performed with amazing results. Eight 1Pot AutoPot modules made up the control for the test and were given varying doses of plain, reverse osmosis and organic fertilizer irrigation.
AQUAvalve5 – Liquid Organic Feed Test on Asparagus Peas. Read more.
With no surprise, the AquaValve5handled the varying doses of fertilizer and water with no issues. So, the researchers took the test a step further and set-up a ninth 1Pot module to a standalone reservoir, this time letting the system run with a constant flow of liquid organic fertilizer. Based on the data available from our partners at AutoPot, this “wild-card” module performed with excellent success, had no clogging issues or sediment build-up and maintained steady growth rates compared to the control modules.
AutoPot Watering System Accessory Packs now come standard with the AquaValve5, 9mm, 9-16mm, and 16mm pipe-work and fittings. As mentioned above, this option gives growers a much wider variety in fertilizer choice and helps protect against issues of sediment blockage and build-up. If you already have an AutoPot system and want to experiment with liquid organic fertilizer, your existing 1Pot, 1Pot XL, XL SmartPot, and easy2grow trays, pots and lids will all accommodate the new AquaValve5, 9mm and 16mm pipe-work. Existing reservoirs can also be adapted to work with the AquaValve5, as 9mm top hat grommets, golf-filters and inline-taps are available as spare parts to reconfigure hard plastic or FlexiTankreservoirs.
A Word From AutoPot
AutoPot continues to innovate the hydroponic landscape with designs that elevate the potential of a garden. Now with the AquaValve5, no task, method or system is impossible to manage. In discussing the “proof of concept” surrounding the AquaValve5, AutoPot’s representatives had this to say on the motivation behind engineering the new design:
Whether ‘results’ are defined by flavour, size, yield, health, purity or enjoyment, nothing is more important to a grower than ‘results’. If a grower’s preferred means of getting results isn’t open to them they will surely find another way. Hence the changes we’re about to make – changes that keep our systems in line with contemporary use and allow our growers to get exceptional results however they grow.
(AutoPot R&D, 2020, para. 9)
Want to get growing with AutoPot? Contact a member of GreenPlanet Wholesale’s team today! For all other inquiries about products and services offered by GreenPlanet Wholesale, contact our team or your local garden supply store for more information.
Works Cited
AutoPot R&D. (2020). Proof of concept – AquaValve5. Retrieved, February 17th, 2021 from https://www.autopot.co.uk/
The process of properly drying and curing cannabis presents growers with a variety of new challenges. Similar to ageing fine wine or spirits, the drying… Read more: 5 Tips on Drying and Curing Cannabis
As a beginner, committing to a growing system, whether it be in soil, coco or hydroponics can be a daunting and complicated task. However, while aspects of growing systems may appear difficult, there are simple steps and processes that can be researched, mastered and put to the test upon entry into the world of indoor growing. If you’re thinking about getting started, or, just want to brush up on some tips and tricks, follow the article below on skills that will lead any gardener towards a successful harvest in soil, coco and hydroponics.
Need help setting up your garden? Read our series of blogs on creating the perfect environment.
Creating the Perfect Environment Part 1: The Grow Space
Creating the Perfect Environment Part 2: Air Movement and Ventilation
Creating the Perfect Environment Part 3: Lighting Systems
After you’ve assembled the internal workings of your garden, it’s time to choose a method of cultivation. When choosing this method, consider a few things before committing to a specific system in the garden. For example, rely on your experience, basic knowledge and available equipment to guide you towards the “right” system. For the highest rate of success, it’s recommended that novice growers stick to the basics. In this case, the “basics” could be described as a minimalists approach in the garden and may require a smaller investment as opposed to more complicated systems. So, if your just beginning your long career as a cultivator, mediums like pre-amended soil or peat moss will be your best bet for early and headache-free success. If you’re experienced, but like to take a relaxed approach in the garden, browse our selection of pre-amended soils like Fox Farm Happy Frog and Ocean Forest potting soils.
On the other hand, if you’ve had multiple successes in the garden over the years, more complex systems of growing, such as coco, rockwool or hydroponics, shouldn’t prove to be too much of a challenge. Keep in mind, however, that more intricate systems usually involve advanced equipment. For example, a completely water-based hydroponic garden typically requires the use of digital measuring and stabilizing equipment like pH monitors, PPM/TDS testing kits and automatic water-chillers. So, while the potential benefits of an advanced system are immense, keep in mind that the investments of time, research and equipment are fundamental to the success of a technologically inclined garden. With these considerations, let’slook at some of the most popular types of gardens in the industry, and discuss some simple tips that guide growers towards a successful harvest.
Growing in Soil and Peat Moss
As stated above, growing in a dirt-based medium like potting soil or peat moss is perhaps the easiest way for beginners to utilize, develop and experience success in the garden. While it may be the “easiest” method of gardening, soil gardens can experience misconduct, and later, failure. So, to ensure growing is one of the more positive experiences in life, read the list below for tips on growing in soil and peat moss:
Invest in a high-quality potting soil, and read the “ingredients list”. Good potting soils will contain a pH buffering agent, like dolomite lime or oyster shell flour, and typically house inherent materials like worm casting, rock dust and perlite.
Irrigate peat moss at a pH range of 6.0 – 6.5.
Saturate soil in buckets until “run-off”. Water your plants until 10-20% of the irrigated water runs out of the bottom of your pots.
If possible, irrigate plants with cool or room temperature water.
Wait until the soil is dry and light before saturating again.
Growing in Coco Coir
Coco coir occupies the grey area of media between soil/soilless and hydroponic gardening. While it may feel like a soil, coco acts and performs much like a hydroponic system. The following list is comprised of simple tips and considerations for growers in coco:
Coco can be purchased in brick and/or in loose form, such as Royal Gold Coco. Bricks may cost less, but they require the gardener to expand the coco in bulk. Want to speed up the expanding process? Try using hot water!
“Pre-charge” your coco coir with a low dose of nutrients and a calcium-magnesium supplement before transplanting. Try GreenPlanet Nutrients Pro Cal for the best results!
Continue to use high doses of calcium-magnesium supplements during vegetative and flowering growth.
Irrigate coco coir at a pH range of 5.8 – 6.2.
Much like soil systems in a drain to waste garden, water coco coir until “run-off”.
Treat your garden like a hydroponic system. While in the flowering period, coco may require several irrigation cycles a day; so, to ensure the root-zone always has enough to drink, consider automating your watering system.
Growing in Hydroponics
While having the greatest potential for impressive yields, hydroponic gardens can be the most challenging to manage. For tips on optimizing the inputs of your hydroponic garden, follow the list below:
Choose one of the following popular hydroponic systems: flood and drain (ebb & flow), drip irrigation, aeroponics, deep water culture (DWC).
Invest in a high-quality, concentrated and water-soluble fertilizer.
Buffer your recirculating reservoir to a pH range between 5.8 – 6.2; and, to make sure your pH is stable, constantly monitor the pH of your reservoir.
Invest in equipment to manage the inputs of your garden. For the latest in technology, browse GreenPlanet’s selection of TrolMaster’s monitoring solutions.
Keep a stable water temperature of approximately 65 degrees Fahrenheit. To maintain an adequate water temperature, consider investing in a water-chiller.
Research your system, and choose the plant genetics that performs the best under specific conditions. For example, if you want to grow large plants in a DWC system, pick plants that are capable of growing to massive heights.
Whatever your plans are for your garden, the team at GreenPlanet Wholesale is here to help! For more information about the products mentioned above, please contact GreenPlanet Wholesale directly. For all other inquiries about products and services offered by GreenPlanet Wholesale, contact our team or your local garden supply store for more information.
The process of properly drying and curing cannabis presents growers with a variety of new challenges. Similar to ageing fine wine or spirits, the drying… Read more: 5 Tips on Drying and Curing Cannabis
Anybody who has grown plants indoors, on any scale, knows that one of the most tedious jobs is the mess and work associated with bringing dirt indoors. Not only are soils and soilless media cumbersome and messy, but they can also become downright expensive over long periods of time. Experienced growers may also be painfully aware that their growing media can be a source of problems, particularly when it comes to harbouring pests and their eggs – the two-spotted spider mite is the bane of the indoor farmer. In some instances, no amount of spraying may ever totally rid the grow room of these and other pests when they have plenty of room to hide and regroup in the growing media below the plant canopy. Additionally, the surface of the growing media may also hold mould spores; it is well-known that dirt media gives way to blights and mildews in the garden, as these potential hazards have a natural habitat from which to launch their crop-damaging assault. The list of the evident disadvantages of growing in dirt goes on – we haven’t even begun to discuss the hassle of removing and disposing of used, root-bound soil.
Hydroponic systems, particularly water-culture systems like the Under Current RDWC (Re-Circulating Deep Water Culture), help to eliminate the problems touched on above, while simultaneously offering a full spectrum of advantages not had by soil or other media-based gardens. Advantages such as crop quality, steer-ability, and economical savings are just a few potential benefits afforded to hydroponic systems. Indoor gardens supported by automated hydroponics can expect these advantages over soil-based gardens because water-based systems give bare-rooted plants a clean and highly aerated environment system in which to grow. A continuation of the potential advantages of deep water-culture systems are detailed in the list below.
Advantage #1: Crop Quality
The most agreed upon advantage of growing completely hydroponically is the tendency for a particular garden to produce higher quality crops than those typically grown in soil. While this tends to initiate some debate among growers, anybody who has sampled a true water-culture flower (flower produced without growing medium) is more often than not, blown away by the quality. When you taste water-culture grown crops you are tasting the plant, not the soil or funky crop nutrient additives.
Increased Taste, Colour and Terpene Profile
Most of what we like to taste in plants comes from the essential oils they produce. These are typically referred to as terpenes or “terps”. Terps are also highly sought after and valued by those in the business of producing or enjoying concentrates extracted from crop harvests. Professional level extractors often prefer working with clean water-culture-produced harvests because there is little in the way of impurities. Additionally, these crops produce the best colours, tastes, potency levels and other qualities in their final stages of extraction.
Trichomes produce the taste and flavours in your final yield.
A closer look at trichomes.
Water-culture grown flowers are often noted to have a more profound “nose” and better coloration. Again, from the simple fact that what you are enjoying is pure plant material with little to no impurities. That’s the key fundamental difference between growing in soil and growing in water, as water-culture is intended to bring out the very best in naturally occurring plant genetics by simply using clean water, oxygen and pure plant-available elements – no man-made extras needed.
Advantage #2: Crop Steerability
While soil and soilless methods of growing are about feeding the medium, water-culture growing is about directly feeding the plant. With this fact in mind, the benefits of water-culture are evident when attempting to produce a quality-driven harvest; additionally, having the ability to supply and manipulate crop nutrition gives the grower a significant advantage in being able to steer or direct crop development at any growth stage.
With nothing but clean water and a highly oxygenated nutrient solution, changes in the crop feeding program can be observed within hours, rather than days or weeks. By following a proven feeding program and utilizing high-quality nutrients like Cultured Solutions, the grower is in complete control of nutrient strengths, ratios and pH levels. When coupled with good plant genetics and a healthy growing environment, there is nothing but rigorous growth awaiting plants in water-culture. All of the plant’s needs are being met precisely and measurably, and good results are repeatable and transferable. One way to look at water-culture is that it is like a formula rather than a recipe. Known inputs and methods will result in a predictable and desirable outcome versus more “hit or miss” approaches associated with conventional growing practices.
Did you know: Water culture grown crops thrive at lower EC levels and do not require any flushing prior to harvest for a super smooth and clean tasting finish in the final harvest.
Advantage #3 Water Savings & Management
Just because you have a bigger reservoir doesn’t mean that you use more water. The larger volume of nutrient solution associated with water-culture systems adds stability for crops; furthermore, EC and pH fluctuations are buffered, lending to healthier growth and less incidence of deficiencies or imbalances. Water culture systems like the Under Current RDWC system are accurately classified as closed-loop recirculating systems. This means that almost every drop of water used in the system is taken up by plants. Little or no moisture is lost to the surrounding air in a closed hydroponic system. Not only does this stack up to near 50% water use reduction per crop, but it also means that the grower has better control of the aerial environment; for example, no unwanted water vapour is being added to the grow room or greenhouse air from outside sources.
Here is an example of the inner workings of the Under Current systems. Water circulates through all the modules, ensuring plants can easily uptake nutrients with no wasted water. Sourced from the 2019 Current Culture H2O Product Catalogue
Having a tight hold on moisture in the system also makes measuring daily water use an accurate and invaluable crop diagnostic and management tool. Daily water use is easy to chart, and with this tool available in the garden, growers can measure water intake consumed directly by the crop; there is no guesswork as to how much was lost to evaporation versus crop nutrient solution uptake.
CCH2O is always pleased to lend direct support for custom grow room design and installations – there is no project too big. And by working with our partners at GreenPlanet Wholesale, you can bet you’ll receive nothing short of professional excellence in service, both before and after you buy.
This blog was written and provided in partnership with Current Culture H2O.
The process of properly drying and curing cannabis presents growers with a variety of new challenges. Similar to ageing fine wine or spirits, the drying… Read more: 5 Tips on Drying and Curing Cannabis
Choosing a light source is perhaps the most important decision to make while creating the perfect environment. It will, among other variants, predict a variety of potential outcomes; these including, but are not limited to the prediction of quality, quantity, flower-size, trichome expansion, heat production and energy consumption. While choices of available lighting solutions are vast and vary from lower wattage fluorescents, traditional HID lighting, to the more technologically inclined LED fixtures, GreenPlanet Wholesale is committed to providing solutions to growers which not only perform but emphasize value. By maintaining partnerships with industry-leading manufactures of lighting solutions, we appreciate the concerns of any gardener interested in creating the ideal environment. Not sold on a particular system? Follow the article below for an examination of popular lighting solutions, and find the perfect light source for your environment. Just starting out? Read our previous blogs on creating the perfect growing environment!
As stated above, by selecting different lighting solutions, varying outcomes can largely be predicted in the garden. Among other variations in light equipment, gardeners typically examine three features of a light source before investing: style, wattage and spread. Style is the type of light, whether it be a fluorescent fixture, HID or LED. The style of light will determine several things, but most importantly it will predict the heat production and energy consumption of the light source.
HID
Fluorescent
LED
For example, the industry has seen major advances in LED lighting over the past decade; so much so, that high-wattage LEDs have been labelled as fixtures capable of competing with the industry’s previous standard of HID lighting. While both of these lights have the potential to produce similar yields, the main difference between these lights, in terms of style anyhow, is the heat produced and energy consumed by both HID and LED fixtures. For instance, a high-functioning HPS bulb produces an average of 3,600 British Thermal Units (BTUs), while a full-spectrum LED fixture, like ThinkGrow’s Model-H, has a maximum BTU output of 2,149. So, in short, be sure to examine the style of the lighting system in the garden, as this feature will dramatically influence the construction and management of other environmental controls.
ThinkGrow LED Model-H Features:
Outstanding Efficiency at 2.7 μmol/J
Plug and Play for a quick installation
On-board Dimming and Adjustable Spectrum
External Controllability with 256 fixtures per channel
Group Control Capability
Wattage Potential
The next feature of a light source to consider is wattage. Although many varying factors go into producing a heavy harvest, there is a general consensus concerning the connection between wattage in the garden and dry weight following harvest. While notions of this conclusion aren’t as clear cut as they once were, again, because of the introduction of new, more efficient technology, you can still consider the following while examining a light source: higher wattage = higher yield.
“Footprint” or Light Spread
Finally, but not least important, is the spread of a fixture.In this case, the word spread is used to describe the “footprint” of light dispersed by a specific light source. If you’re trying to fill a 10ft x 10ft room with plants, for instance, your fixtures must be able to disperse light across 100 square feet; and, depending on the spread of each individual light, this feature will determine how many fixtures will need to be installed. With these considerations in mind, lets looks at some of the most popular lighting solutions available at GreenPlanet Wholesale:
Popular Types of LightingSystems
Ranging from Fluorescent T5 lights to high wattage LEDs, the following is a list of lighting “types” which can assist gardeners in creating the perfect environment. For the entire catalogue of lighting solutions available at GreenPlanet Wholesale, click here; otherwise, read the list to find out which lighting style works best for your garden.
Fluorescent Lighting
Fluorescent lighting is a great option for gardens that are limited on space and energy affordances. Unlike fluorescents you might see at the hardware store, horticultural-grade T5 fluorescents are smaller, highly efficient, and produce intense levels of light. Arguably the first choice for small gardens in tight spaces, tents or closets, T5 fluorescents produce little heat, and, when combined at scale, can produce impressive results. Interested? Check out Sunblaster’s selection of T5 fluorescents at GreenPlanet Wholesale.
HID Lighting
Coming in a variety of styles and spectrums, high-intensity discharge (HID) lighting is an industry favourite. HID lighting is made possibly by heat reacting with noble gases such as mercury and sodium under extreme pressure. The arc made by these reactions produces a chain of light that can illuminate a footprint of 3ft x 3ft – 6ft x 6ft, depending on variables like wattage, lamp and reflector. All the lamps listed below come in a variety of wattages including 315W, 400W, 600W and 1000W. Like fluorescent lighting, however, ballasts are required to operate HID lighting systems.
There are three types of HID lighting systems commonly utilized by the indoor gardener: High-Pressure Sodium (HPS), Metal Halide (MH) and Ceramic Metal Halide (CMH). Although these lights have similar properties, each lamp “type” has a different function in the garden. For example, HPS lighting has a low Kelvin rating of 3000K (a measurement that describes spectrum) and is typically used by gardeners in the later stages of flower to promote periods of autumn-like light, and intense red and yellow photosynthetic active radiation (PAR). MH lighting, on the other hand, has a higher Kelvin rating and emits blue light. Given the spectrum of MH lighting, most gardens utilizing HID lighting will choose MH lamps in periods of vegetative and early flowering growth to promote foliage expansion, general plant health, and tight internodal spacing. CMHlamps have a spectrum of 4000K, and therefore falls in the middle of the Kelvin range. This light has shown great success in both vegetative and flowering periods of growth and is arguably the best choice for gardeners who want both intensity and efficiency.
LED Lighting
Light-emitting diode (LED) technology has made major advancements in horticulture over the past decade. With these advancements, high-quality LED fixtures are now able to compete with HID lighting, not only in terms of efficiency, longevity, and energy consumption but also in output. Unlike HID lamps, which typically occupied a niche spectrum of colour and intensity, high-quality LED fixtures have a “mixed-spectrum” and are able to not only produce high levels of reds, blues and yellows but also have the ability to produce ultraviolet light (UV) in specific diodes. This leads gardeners, not to the assumption, but to the tested conclusions of the production capabilities of LED technology. If you’re interested in creating the perfect, long-lasting and environmentally conscious indoor garden, LED technology is probably a good fit.
Whatever your plans are for creating the perfect indoor garden, the team at GreenPlanet Wholesale is here to help! For more information about the products mentioned above, please contact GreenPlanet Wholesale directly. For all other inquiries about products and services offered by GreenPlanet Wholesale, contact our team or your local garden supply store for more information.
The process of properly drying and curing cannabis presents growers with a variety of new challenges. Similar to ageing fine wine or spirits, the drying… Read more: 5 Tips on Drying and Curing Cannabis
At GreenPlanet Wholesale, we remain consistently committed to providing our clients with the best experience possible. It goes without saying that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected businesses in industries across the globe. These repercussions, much of which include new protocols, safety measures and workplace practices, have otherwise made it challenging to conduct “business as usual”. In response to the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, we at GreenPlanet Wholesale remain dedicated to the practices of protecting the well-being of our employees and providing our clients with the same trusted and reliable levels of service.
Due to the steps taken to safeguard the workplace, not to mention other determining factors brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, we are experiencing longer wait-times on processed orders. From manufacturing to distribution, we are doing our best to ensure orders are processed as soon as possible.
Below are some of the steps we have taken to limit exposure to the COVID-19 virus, protect our workforce, and ensure that all future orders are processed and distributed in a timely, efficient manner:
Adapting new digital technologies as outlets of communication.
Driving productivity from a distance.
Risk management.
Following prescribed guidelines in response to the pandemic.
Enabling workplace protocols like physical distancing.
Protecting employee’s mental health.
We appreciate the patience and continued support from our clients as we manage these new challenges, protocols and procedures in 2021. For more information on logistical delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, please contact our team at GreenPlanet Wholesale directly. For all other inquiries about products and services offered by GreenPlanet, contact our team or your local garden supply store for more information.
The process of properly drying and curing cannabis presents growers with a variety of new challenges. Similar to ageing fine wine or spirits, the drying… Read more: 5 Tips on Drying and Curing Cannabis
Current Culture H2O (CCH2O) is widely recognized as a world leader in the development, planning and use of active water culture systems. CCH2O incorporates the patented and proven principle of Re-Circulating Deep Water Culture (RDWC) in our famous Under Current series of RDWC systems – a concept refined and developed by company founders Daniel Wilson and Christian Long beginning before the company’s founding in 2006. More recently, CCH2O is gaining recognition for Cultured Solutions, a complete, economical and easy to follow crop nutrient system that excels in hydroponics, and that is also becoming widely adopted in media-based growing systems like coco or rockwool.
Crops grown in the Under Current RDWC systems with Cultured Solutions are often described as the highest quality harvests ever seen or experienced both by consumers and growers alike. The clean smooth tastes and intense fragrances in the final harvest are the results of plants assimilating pure forms of essential nutrients under highly oxygenated root zone conditions – as it turns out, people love to taste the plant, not the dirt. Naturally, the yields and growth rates get people’s attention too!
The Advantages of Growing with Current Culture H2O
Besides amazing results, one of the factors that have contributed to the wide success of the Under Current system is the level of scalability and ease of changing configurations; for instance, the adaptability as part of the growing evolution. This is one of the reasons Current Culture H2O is so excited to be working with GreenPlanet Wholesale. As the Canadian distributor of CCH2O solutions, GreenPlanet can supply growers at both the commercial and hobbyist level with easy access to their system components to build a garden that works for every space, budget and scale demand. And of course, as well as to deliver complete turnkey systems, whether as one of their ready to ship Under Current system packages or as a complete custom designed turnkey operation.
Hobbyist to Commercial Level!
All CCH2O complete systems and components are professionally designed, manufactured and packaged. We use the latest in CAD design not only in developing and making our systems and components, but all CCH2O systems come with highly detailed and easy to follow instructions for assembly, operation and maintenance. There is absolutely no guesswork required or luck involved for growers to attain exceptional cropping results. Whether it’s your first time growing a small crop at home, or the hundredth as a professional grower in a licensed facility, success can almost be guaranteed when selecting the Under Current series of hydroponic systems.
Justin chats to the Current Culture Team at the Lift & Co. Expo.
What to Expect when Using an Under Current System
Hydroponic systems are renownedfor saving growers time and money; so, If you’re a grower who wants to save significantly on time, water, power and plant food, switching to a CCH2O Under Current system is among the smartest decisions you’ll ever make in the garden. Listed below are some of the advantages to expect when switching to a closed-loop Under Current System:
Significant savings in water use; closed hydroponics systems lose very little water to air, allowing plant nutrient solution uptake to become an accurate diagnostic in the grower’s toolbox.
Using the principles of thermodynamics, it can be more economical for growers to heat or cool the nutrient solution of growing plants, rather than expend more energy in an attempt to cool or heat the air in the aerial growing environment. This feature offers growers a large potential reduction in power use.
Growth rates are exceptionally fast and healthy; save weeks in the vegetative growth phase to achieve the same sized plant at harvest versus traditional cropping methods.
Because there is little to no growing medium in the system, it is easier to maintain hygienic growing conditions reducing potential insect or pathogen pressures on the crop; the Under Current doesn’t give places for the bad guys to hide and reproduce
All Under Current systems are highly scalable and adaptable while saving big on labour; it’s easy to start at a smaller scale and add on as plants or your cropping needs grow.
Clean and Stable Hydroponic Nutrients: Cultured Solutions
Early on, Current Culture H2O began to recognize the need for very clean crop nutrients and additives that would be easy to use, and give great quality yields and results. Additionally, after extensive testing of other nutrient systems in the marketplace, CCH2O developed a line of nutrients that not only delivers great quality results but also creates a stable pH solution and avoids drastic spikes in EC.
This need gave rise to Cultured Solutions, hydroponic nutrient formulations they developed to meet their stringent criteria of minimizing hassles associated with hydroponic plant food, and the development of a nutrient system that would help growers get the most out of RDWC technology. After years under development, CCH2O is pleased to make widely available the proven nutrient line, Cultured Solutions, GreenPlanet Wholesale. Made with the professional grower in mind, Cultured Solutions are highly concentrated and economical to use. A low salt index means Cultured Solutions won’t plug up injector systems and irrigation lines while keeping the root zone and growing media clean and clear to maximize nutrient uptake for aggressive crops that taste great at harvest.
Because of the clean and stable nature of Cultured Solutions nutrients, growers using other types of systems including rockwool and coco continue to make the switch and join the following of hydroponic growers achieving next-level results. For more information about Cultured Solutions nutrient and additives and for detailed use in your type of system, please consult their crop feeding program page. For other inquires about Current Culture H2O, contact your GreenPlanet representative for questions, sales and purchasing information.
This blog was written and provided in partnership with Current Culture H2O.
The process of properly drying and curing cannabis presents growers with a variety of new challenges. Similar to ageing fine wine or spirits, the drying… Read more: 5 Tips on Drying and Curing Cannabis
Once you’ve established an indoor space for your garden, the next step is to design the perfect ventilation and air movement system for your environment. While there is no “right” way to install a ventilation system, as some features, equipment and styles of construction may differ from garden to garden, the basics of installation are the same; so, continuing with the goal of establishing the perfect growing environment, some of the tips discussed throughout this article will attempt to start you on the path to creating the ideal ventilation and air movement system in your garden. Furthermore, the ideas below, if anything, may save you some headache in the process of construction.
There are typically three reasons to exhaust or intake fresh air into the garden. The first, and arguably the most important, is to manage the heat-load produced by lighting. The second being the movement of fresh air and Co2 in and out of the garden; the third, but not least important, is to manage the odour produced by flowering plants. Need ideas on how to maximize the efficiency of your ventilation system? Consult the passages below for calculations, considerations, and equipment needed to create the ideal ventilation system.
Managing Heat
With major advances in high wattage, horticultural-grade LED technology, the need to rapidly cool the garden is slowly diminishing. However, in a garden that utilizes HPS lamps, for instance, these high-intensity discharge bulbs (HID) use a tremendous amount of energy, and in turn, produce high levels of heat, especially at scale. For example, if a grower has four 1000 watt HPS lamps in the garden, each producing up to 3,400 British thermal units (BTUs), the heat-load of the garden would be immense, and would nearly be as hot as leaving the oven door open while cooking a turkey. To maintain the ideal 80-85 degrees Fahrenheit that plants require for lights on temperatures, the garden would either need to be cooled externally by an air conditioner/chiller or internally by an intake/outtake ventilation system.
To manage the heat load in a garden (without the use of an air conditioner), we highly recommend the use of two ventilation solutions: HyperFan and/or Tornado Inline fans. These inline fans are a great way to efficiently maintain optimal temperatures, and unlike squirrel cage fans, which are oversized, loud and expensive, inline fans are a hyper-efficient and affordable option for the intake and exhaust needs of a garden. For optimal use, install your inline fan close to the ceiling in your garden, and attach the power cord to a digital or analog thermostat. This tool will regulate the function of the fan, and turn it on/off automatically as the temperatures of the garden fluctuate. For remote environmental control, check out GreenPlanet Wholesale’s entire line of TrolMaster products, and regulate your environment from a distance!
Air Exchange
Another factor to consider when setting up your ventilation system is the need to adequately exhaust and intake fresh air and Co2. One of the most important factors in producing a maximum yield is the enrichment of carbon dioxide; however, if a room is not “sealed” and the gardener is not enriching the grow room with pure forms of Co2, adequate levels of carbon dioxide must be maintained through sufficient intake and exhaust systems.
The same considerations for ventilation equipment referenced above will be suitable for remedying this growth-enhancing factor. Although, the tools for calculating just how much ventilation is needed, are slightly different. Unlike a ventilation system that attempts to cool the garden, an exhaust system that manages air exchange must be calculated to the volume of the room. So, if you’re curious about the size of the fan needed to exchange fresh air and Co2 in your garden, we must first calculate the volume of the space, and match this calculation with an inline fan that is capable of clearing the space every one to two minutes. To calculate the volume of a space, use the formula below:
VolumeCalculation: L x W x H = Grow Space Volume
Let’s do an example: If we have grow room 8 feet long by 12 feet wide and 10 feet tall, based on the formula above, the volume of the room would be 960 cubic feet. To ensure proper air exchange, we would need to match this growing space with an adequate exhaust fan, one which ideally would push 960 cubic feet per minute. Fortunately for us, GreenPlanet Wholesale has a wide selection of inline fans suited just for this purpose. For instance, a 12” Tornado Inline fan with a CFM capacity of 1060, would be nothing short of excellent for this job.
VolumeCalculation: 8 x 12 x 10 = 960 Cubic Feet (Grow Space Volume)
Volume Calculation example
Odour Control
The final factor to consider when creating the perfect ventilation system for your garden is how effective your equipment is against fighting odour. One of the most troubling, and in some cases offensive things your garden can produce is a powerful smell. While this may be a sign of a successful crop, the odour can be off-putting to people not used to the pungent, robust odours produced by a healthy garden. To combat this concern, there are several tools available at GreenPlanet Wholesale to control odour in the garden, including charcoal filtration, the utilization of “negative pressure” and the introduction of products that neutralize odour at the site.
Charcoal Filters
Among the other tools listed above, charcoal filtration is perhaps the most effective in neutralizing odour in the garden. Not only are these filters effective, but they are perhaps the easiest tool to use for odour control. For instance, if you’re using an inline fan to manage the heat and air exchange in the garden, a charcoal filter can be installed directly on the flange of the inline filter; by the processes of “negative-pressure”, the hot, odour-filled air will rise toward the ventilation system and pass through the charcoal filter before exiting the grow room; thus neutralizing any odour created by the garden.
Charcoal Filter illustrative example
Negative Pressure Rooms
Not only will negative pressure force air to pass through the charcoal filter faster and with reduced resistance, but this technique will also trap odour inside the grow room, and stop smells from leaking into your home through holes, cracks or intake ventilation systems. To maintain negative pressure, make sure you’ve formulated the volume of your grow room and have matched this calculation to an adequate exhaust fan. Furthermore, if you use an intake fan to supply your garden with cool air and Co2, be sure this fan is only a fraction of the strength of your exhaust system. Keep in mind that the goal of creating negative pressure is to force odour-filled air through your charcoal filter as it leaves the garden; this goal will be harder to fulfil if your intake and exhaust system are fighting each other’s function in the grow room.
When all else fails, sometimes the introduction of a new smell is a grower’s only option. For all of us who have tried every trick in the book, there is but one saving grace – ONA. ONA neutralizes odours naturally at the site and leaves spaces outside the grow room smelling fresh and clean. To avoid ONA neutralizing valuable terpenes inside the garden, place a bucket or jar of ONA directly outside the grow room to catch any unwanted odours. To speed up the process, attach ONA specific “Breeze Fans” to containers and distribute ONA evenly across open spaces. Want to give ONA a try? Browse a selection of ONA products carried by GreenPlanet Wholesale by clicking here.
Whatever your plans are for creating the perfect indoor garden, the team at GreenPlanet Wholesale is here to help! For more information about the products mentioned above, please contact GreenPlanet Wholesale directly. For all other inquiries about products and services offered by GreenPlanet Wholesale, contact our team or your local garden supply store for more information.
Work cited
Plantlady223. (2016). Two hydroponic cannabis plants. Wikipedia.org. Retrieved January 18th, 2020 from Wikimedia.org
The process of properly drying and curing cannabis presents growers with a variety of new challenges. Similar to ageing fine wine or spirits, the drying… Read more: 5 Tips on Drying and Curing Cannabis
Canadian growers looking for ultimate growth rates, yields, crop quality, cleanliness and turn over efficiency recognize Current Culture H2O (CCH2O) as a world leader in supplying innovative growing solutions, including the patented Under Current RDWC (recirculating deep water culture) hydroponic system. GreenPlanet Wholesale is your Canadian Authorized Dealer for CCH2O’s full range of highly sought after growing technologies, including Cultured Solutions nutrients and additives.
Current Culture H2O: Leading the Industry in Hydroponic Innovation
Current Culture H2O (Fresno, CA) was founded in 2006 with a singular goal in mind: Cultivate Hydroponic Evolution. CCH2O has been taking indoor farming to the next level ever since, including a growing expansion in offering total cultivation solutions for the savvy grower, building on their global success with the Under Current RDWC hydroponic system.
A big part of being successful at offering complete cultivation solutions means having the knowledge to support the technology supplied. Growers can take advantage, bringing their crops to the next level – not only in yields and growth rates, but also in quality and cleanliness through their entire cultivation facility. That’s one of the reasons GreenPlanet Wholesale excels with CCH2O – the needs of growers are truly understood and respected; we all grow together for success.
Justin chats to the Current Culture Team at the Lift & Co. Expo.
CCH2O prides itself on being a genuine innovator – they look at things from the cultivator’s perspective firsthand. They are a grower founded and operated company. Their knowledge and understanding of growing crops better have been hard-earned. With this experience, they are pleased to share it with growers in their continued efforts to supply smart cultivators across the globe with the leading edge in cultivation solutions, while also offering the support they need to make the most of it.
With GreenPlanet and Current Culture H2O – No Project is Impossible
GreenPlanet Wholesale has decades of experience working with growers and hydroponic retailers. Perfect for those who are less familiar with some of CCH2O’s latest technologies and that may prefer a hands-on approach in learning; it’s now easier than ever to check out CCH2O’s latest gear in-person across Canada.
CCH2O is always pleased to lend direct support for custom grow room design and installations – there is no project too big. And by working with GreenPlanet Wholesale, you can bet you’ll receive nothing short of professional excellence in service, both before and after you buy. Let’s all grow together in cultivating hydroponic evolution, eh!
This blog was written and provided in partnership with Current Culture H2O.
The process of properly drying and curing cannabis presents growers with a variety of new challenges. Similar to ageing fine wine or spirits, the drying… Read more: 5 Tips on Drying and Curing Cannabis
There seems to be a clear divide in the industry between those who hand-trim cannabis, and those who opt for trimming machines. Hand-trimmers argue that… Read more: Hand-Trimming vs. Machine-Trimming: Pros and Cons
The process of properly drying and curing cannabis presents growers with a variety of new challenges. Similar to ageing fine wine or spirits, the drying… Read more: 5 Tips on Drying and Curing Cannabis
Committing to a brand of plant food is perhaps one of the most important decisions to be made in the garden. Choosing a specific fertilizer,… Read more: 4 Types of Growers Who Should Use GreenPlanet Nutrients Dual Fuel
