the indoor gardener magazine volume 2—# 5 (march/april 2007)

Vanuatu:Thousands of New Species

Who’s Afraid of Camellias?

Fungus Control Part 2:Make Your Own Natural, Plant-Based Fungicides and Antifungal Products

Horticultural Lighting:• Light Guides Plant Life• The Right Distance Between

Lamps and Plants• Alternate MH and HPS to

Obtain Bigger Flowers

Volume 2 — Issue 5www.indoorgardenermagazine.comISSN: 1715-0949 – Bimonthly

Gallery:A Collection of Photos by Shane Passmore-Crawford

March/April 2007

Growing Experiment:Growing Experiment:Lighting Ideas for Your Grow RoomLighting Ideas for Your Grow Room

TABLE OF CONTENTS

4THE INDOOR GARDENER VOLUME 2 – ISSUE 5

Photos: D.R

., B.B. &B

ayerCREDITS

Volume 2 – Issue 5March / April 2007

Published by: Green Publications

Publisher: J.M.

Managing editor: Bruno [email protected]

Contributing editor: Helene Jutras

Art Director: Anna Kanaras

Editorial coordinator: Bruno Bredoux

Collaborators in this issue:

C.A., Kari Bayne, Pierre Bonnard (CityPlantes), Bruno Bredoux, M.B., P.B.-K., André Courte (MegaWatt), Jean-Pierre Daimé (CityPlantes), Stan Daimon, Olivi-er Dubois, Daniel Fortin, Vertuda Green, Paul Henderson, Helene Jutras, Rob Kelly, R. LaBelle, Rose Laforêt, Fred Leduc, Theo Monk, Josh Morell (Growing Crazy – Hooked On Hydroponics), Ra-jan Radunovich, Ch. Rémy, Shane Passmore-Crawford, D. Pol, Jesse Ruiz (Coachella Valley Water Dis-trict), Christopher Shepperd, Wil-liam Sutherland (Growing Edge Technologies/B&B Hydroponics Garden, vieux bandit.

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

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

Translation/Copy editing:

Helene Jutras, trad.a.

Cover design: Anna Kanaras after photos from Daniel Fortin, DannyVendramini and Shane Passmore-Crawford

Illustrations: Anna Kanaras and Christopher Shepperd

Administration: R. LaBelle

Information: [email protected]

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

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

Legal deposit: Second Quarter 2005. National Library of Canada. Bibliothèque nationale du Québec.

Printed in Canada by DMP Communications 2000

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ERRATUM On the cover (and in

the table of contents at

page 5) of our last issue

(Vol. 2 – No. 4), one

of the article titles was

misspelled: you should,

of course, have read

“Fungus Control – Part 1”

(instead of Fugus Control

– Part 1). Our apologies!

– The Editors

Q&AWe apologize to our

readers who request this

feature and to those who

have sent us questions in

the last two months, but

due to production delays

for this issue, we were

unable to include herein

our usual Q&A. Fear not:

it will return in the next

issue.

– The Editors

On

the

cove

r: C

amel

lia ja

poni

ca L

., B

egon

ia, V

anua

tu F

low

ers a

nd S

anse

vier

ia la

uren

tii.

8 BIODIVERSITY: FIVE MONTHS IN VANUATU, THOUSANDS OF NEW SPECIES “The most ambitious scientific mission ever led on biodiversity” By Bruno Bredoux

22 INVESTING IN AN EXHAUST FAN TURBINE, OR THE SECRETS OF DYNAMIC VENTILATION… Learn why an exhaust fan is a long-term investment and an indispensable one. By Paul Henderson

24 HORTICULTURAL LIGHTING: Light Guides Plant Life By Jean-Pierre Daimé and Pierre Bonnard (CityPlantes)

26 FLUORESCENT LIGHTING AND THE RIGHT DISTANCE BETWEEN LAMPS AND PLANTS IN YOUR INDOOR GARDEN By W.S. (B & B Hydroponics)

30 GROWING EXPERIMENT: How To Obtain Larger Inflorescences By Alternating MH And HPS Lighting By Theo Monk (With the collaboration of C.A.)

32 GALLERY: A COLLECTION OF PHOTOS By Shane Passmore-Crawford

38 FUNGUS CONTROL – PART II Make Your Own Natural, Plant-Based Fungicides and Antifungal Products By Bruno Bredoux

44 ENJOY THE GREEN: HAPPY SAINT-PATRICK’S DAY

46 SEEDS: DORMANCY AND GERMINATION By Fred Leduc

48 HEALTH AND NUTRITION: THE IMPACT OF GMO DISCOVERY ON HUMAN NUTRITION By Roxanne LaBelle

53 BOTANICAL GLOSSARY: GMO EDITION By Roxanne LaBelle

54 WHO’S AFRAID OF CAMELLIAS? By Daniel Fortin

AND OUR USUAL FEATURES: CREDITS/ERRATUM (4) EDITORIAL (6) ORDER FORM (6) NOTES & NEWS (12 TO 16) TIPS & TRICKS (18 TO 22) DISCOVERY (56) SHOPPING (57 TO 59 AND CONTINUED ON 66) INDUSTRY NEWS (60) THE HYDROPONIC WORLD OF NORTH AMERICA (61) COOKING (64)

VOLUME 2 — ISSUE 5 / MARCH — APRIL 2007

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

VOLUME 2 ISSUE 6,

May 2007,WILL BE AVAILABLE

AT THE END OF April 2006.

SOLD OUT

or $95.00 for international orders

see our order form on the back of this page…

20

30

64

56

Participate in

our contest,

p..44!

TABLE OF CONTENTS


Photos: D.R

., B.B. &B

ayer

CREDITS

Volume 2 – Issue 5March / April 2007

Published by: Green Publications

Publisher: J.M.

Managing editor: Bruno [email protected]

Contributing editor: Helene Jutras

Art Director: Anna Kanaras

Editorial coordinator: Bruno Bredoux

Collaborators in this issue:

C.A., Kari Bayne, Pierre Bonnard (CityPlantes), Bruno Bredoux, M.B., P.B.-K., André Courte (MegaWatt), Jean-Pierre Daimé (CityPlantes), Stan Daimon, Olivi-er Dubois, Daniel Fortin, Vertuda Green, Paul Henderson, Helene Jutras, Rob Kelly, R. LaBelle, Rose Laforêt, Fred Leduc, Theo Monk, Josh Morell (Growing Crazy – Hooked On Hydroponics), Ra-jan Radunovich, Ch. Rémy, Shane Passmore-Crawford, D. Pol, Jesse Ruiz (Coachella Valley Water Dis-trict), Christopher Shepperd, Wil-liam Sutherland (Growing Edge Technologies/B&B Hydroponics Garden, vieux bandit.

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

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

Translation/Copy editing:

Helene Jutras, trad.a.

Cover design: Anna Kanaras after photos from Daniel Fortin, DannyVendramini and Shane Passmore-Crawford

Illustrations: Anna Kanaras and Christopher Shepperd

Administration: R. LaBelle

Information: [email protected]

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

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

Legal deposit: Second Quarter 2005. National Library of Canada. Bibliothèque nationale du Québec.

Printed in Canada by DMP Communications 2000

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

ERRATUM On the cover (and in

the table of contents at

page 5) of our last issue

(Vol. 2 – No. 4), one

of the article titles was

misspelled: you should,

of course, have read

“Fungus Control – Part 1”

(instead of Fugus Control

– Part 1). Our apologies!

– The Editors

Q&AWe apologize to our

readers who request this

feature and to those who

have sent us questions in

the last two months, but

due to production delays

for this issue, we were

unable to include herein

our usual Q&A. Fear not:

it will return in the next

issue.

– The Editors

On

the

cove

r: C

amel

lia ja

poni

ca L

., B

egon

ia, V

anua

tu F

low

ers a

nd S

anse

vier

ia la

uren

tii.

8 BIODIVERSITY: FIVE MONTHS IN VANUATU, THOUSANDS OF NEW SPECIES “The most ambitious scientific mission ever led on biodiversity” By Bruno Bredoux

22 INVESTING IN AN EXHAUST FAN TURBINE, OR THE SECRETS OF DYNAMIC VENTILATION… Learn why an exhaust fan is a long-term investment and an indispensable one. By Paul Henderson

24 HORTICULTURAL LIGHTING: Light Guides Plant Life By Jean-Pierre Daimé and Pierre Bonnard (CityPlantes)

26 FLUORESCENT LIGHTING AND THE RIGHT DISTANCE BETWEEN LAMPS AND PLANTS IN YOUR INDOOR GARDEN By W.S. (B & B Hydroponics)

30 GROWING EXPERIMENT: How To Obtain Larger Inflorescences By Alternating MH And HPS Lighting By Theo Monk (With the collaboration of C.A.)

32 GALLERY: A COLLECTION OF PHOTOS By Shane Passmore-Crawford

38 FUNGUS CONTROL – PART II Make Your Own Natural, Plant-Based Fungicides and Antifungal Products By Bruno Bredoux

44 ENJOY THE GREEN: HAPPY SAINT-PATRICK’S DAY

46 SEEDS: DORMANCY AND GERMINATION By Fred Leduc

48 HEALTH AND NUTRITION: THE IMPACT OF GMO DISCOVERY ON HUMAN NUTRITION By Roxanne LaBelle

53 BOTANICAL GLOSSARY: GMO EDITION By Roxanne LaBelle

54 WHO’S AFRAID OF CAMELLIAS? By Daniel Fortin

AND OUR USUAL FEATURES: CREDITS/ERRATUM (4) EDITORIAL (6) ORDER FORM (6) NOTES & NEWS (12 TO 16) TIPS & TRICKS (18 TO 22) DISCOVERY (56) SHOPPING (57 TO 59 AND CONTINUED ON 66) INDUSTRY NEWS (60) THE HYDROPONIC WORLD OF NORTH AMERICA (61) COOKING (64)

VOLUME 2 — ISSUE 5 / MARCH — APRIL 2007

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

VOLUME 2 ISSUE 6,

May 2007,WILL BE AVAILABLE

AT THE END OF April 2006.

SOLD OUT

or $95.00 for international orders

see our order form on the back of this page…

20

30

64

56

Participate in

our contest,

p..44!

Photo: Bruno BredouxEDITORIAL

It’s warm out, huh? Just in case you

haven’t noticed… Ah, you live on

the West coast? I know: poor you, it

snowed on the beaches of Northern

California. Here, in the East, it’s okay.

We strolled through the woods under

the sun for Christmas – not wearing

winter boots, but sneakers. And the

same happened in Europe. Norway

has seen no snow since the onset of

winter, buds are springing in Denmark

and the fi rst blackberries are ready to

appear in the Netherlands, beating

crocus by a long shot. In Andalusia,

there was a caterpillar invasion in the

middle of January and the reports shown on TV transformed

this exceptional event into a true horror movie (Jeannot

Szwarc’s “Bug”, anyone?). Everywhere we turn, we hear “In

my days (granted, when people begin a sentence thus, things

are going very, very badly!) there was snow up to my balcony,

and even up to my bedroom window…”

You will answer me that scientists will fi nd a solution. In any

case, they are trying! 2007-2008 will be the fourth Annual

Polar Year (after 1882-83, 1932-33 and 1957-58). Yup, it took

us fi fty years to get the same idea again. And it was now or

never, because who can say if the planet will still have two

polar ice caps in 50 years! At least this time, the Inuit, the fi rst

concerned, will be “research partners” instead of “research

subjects”, as one of the scientists of Canadian project ArticNet

diplomatically put it. Canada is home to most of the 150,000

Inuit dwelling in the Arctic, and as such it is the leader when it

comes to funds allocated to the polar year (CA$150M), followed

closely by Scandinavian countries, Denmark (for Greenland)

and the USA (for Alaska, with CA$60M), Russia (for Siberia,

which is much more diffi cult to access than the Canadian Great

North) and France (for its great tradition of polar expeditions),

with its TARA Arctic Project. In all, 500 million Canadian dollars

(or US$440M) will be injected into these various projects.

Results are expected to be published in late 2009 or in early

2010. Meanwhile, we can ask ourselves the following question

(which is not reassuring, but at least it can put a smile on the

faces of members of our industry): what if global warming was

the best chance for hydroponics? Where better to fi ght the

weather’s insanity than in an indoor garden?

Bruno BredouxThe Indoor Gardener MagazineMarch 2007(Sources: France 2 news broadcast, www.tsrinfo.ch and www.taraexpeditions.org).

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

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

Name/First name: __________________________________ Age (optional): _____ Phone: __________________ Email: _______________________

Address: _____________________________________________ Apt.# ________ City: ________________

Province: ____________________ Postal Code: _______________________ Country: _______________________

ATTENTION: EXPIRES AT THE END OF May 2007 (Source: T.I.G. — Vol.2 Issue 5)

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

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

I am a resident of Québec• I am a resident of Canada&

I am a resident of the USA§ I reside elsewhere (6 issues for $95.00)*

I would like my subscription to begin with issue:_______

_______ issue(s) X $ 4.90 or $ 15.95 = $__________

One issue: $4.90*

(includes taxes &

shipping & handling)

*Canada only

ISSUE 1 - APRIL 2005

ISSUE 4 - DEC. 2005

ISSUE 2 - AUGUST 2005ISSUE 3 - SOLD OUT

ISSUE 6 - MAY 2006ISSUE 5 - MARCH 2006

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

VOL.2 Issue 3 - NOV. 2006VOL.2 Issue 4 - JAN. 2007VOL.2 Issue 5 - MAR. 2007VOL.2 Issue 6 - MAY 2007

2007-2008: Fourth International Polar Year

Photo: Bruno Bredoux

EDITORIAL

It’s warm out, huh? Just in case you

haven’t noticed… Ah, you live on

the West coast? I know: poor you, it

snowed on the beaches of Northern

California. Here, in the East, it’s okay.

We strolled through the woods under

the sun for Christmas – not wearing

winter boots, but sneakers. And the

same happened in Europe. Norway

has seen no snow since the onset of

winter, buds are springing in Denmark

and the fi rst blackberries are ready to

appear in the Netherlands, beating

crocus by a long shot. In Andalusia,

there was a caterpillar invasion in the

middle of January and the reports shown on TV transformed

this exceptional event into a true horror movie (Jeannot

Szwarc’s “Bug”, anyone?). Everywhere we turn, we hear “In

my days (granted, when people begin a sentence thus, things

are going very, very badly!) there was snow up to my balcony,

and even up to my bedroom window…”

You will answer me that scientists will fi nd a solution. In any

case, they are trying! 2007-2008 will be the fourth Annual

Polar Year (after 1882-83, 1932-33 and 1957-58). Yup, it took

us fi fty years to get the same idea again. And it was now or

never, because who can say if the planet will still have two

polar ice caps in 50 years! At least this time, the Inuit, the fi rst

concerned, will be “research partners” instead of “research

subjects”, as one of the scientists of Canadian project ArticNet

diplomatically put it. Canada is home to most of the 150,000

Inuit dwelling in the Arctic, and as such it is the leader when it

comes to funds allocated to the polar year (CA$150M), followed

closely by Scandinavian countries, Denmark (for Greenland)

and the USA (for Alaska, with CA$60M), Russia (for Siberia,

which is much more diffi cult to access than the Canadian Great

North) and France (for its great tradition of polar expeditions),

with its TARA Arctic Project. In all, 500 million Canadian dollars

(or US$440M) will be injected into these various projects.

Results are expected to be published in late 2009 or in early

2010. Meanwhile, we can ask ourselves the following question

(which is not reassuring, but at least it can put a smile on the

faces of members of our industry): what if global warming was

the best chance for hydroponics? Where better to fi ght the

weather’s insanity than in an indoor garden?

Bruno BredouxThe Indoor Gardener MagazineMarch 2007(Sources: France 2 news broadcast, www.tsrinfo.ch and www.taraexpeditions.org).

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

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

Name/First name: __________________________________ Age (optional): _____ Phone: __________________ Email: _______________________

Address: _____________________________________________ Apt.# ________ City: ________________

Province: ____________________ Postal Code: _______________________ Country: _______________________

ATTENTION: EXPIRES AT THE END OF May 2007 (Source: T.I.G. — Vol.2 Issue 5)

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

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

I am a resident of Québec• I am a resident of Canada&

I am a resident of the USA§ I reside elsewhere (6 issues for $95.00)*

I would like my subscription to begin with issue:_______

_______ issue(s) X $ 4.90 or $ 15.95 = $__________

One issue: $4.90*

(includes taxes &

shipping & handling)

*Canada only

ISSUE 1 - APRIL 2005

ISSUE 4 - DEC. 2005

ISSUE 2 - AUGUST 2005ISSUE 3 - SOLD OUT

ISSUE 6 - MAY 2006ISSUE 5 - MARCH 2006

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

VOL.2 Issue 3 - NOV. 2006VOL.2 Issue 4 - JAN. 2007VOL.2 Issue 5 - MAR. 2007VOL.2 Issue 6 - MAY 2007

2007-2008: Fourth International Polar Year


INTRODUCTION

From August to December 2006, the island of Espiritu Santo (or Santo), the largest of the Vanuatu archipelago (South Pacifi c) with its 4,010 km2 served as the location of the most extensive inventory of biodiversity ever done to date in the world. The expedition, named Santo 2006, included 160 scientists from over 20 countries, under the leadership of the Muséum d’histoire naturelle de Paris, of the Institut de recherche pour le développement(www.ird.fr) and of the non governmental organization (NGO)

Pro-natura International.

Who and Why?In the expedition were naturalists looking for rare bird species, ethologists specialized in animal behaviour, alongside other naturalists looking for solitary wasps, an ornithologist who can imitate the calls of the Espiritu Santo birds to entice them to come out of hiding, an entomologist who never forgets his butterfl y net, which he uses to catch both shrimp and fl ying and crawling insects: such were the characters forming this never-seen-before expedition!

Reporter Vincent Tardieu, from the French daily Libération, followed different members of the expedition step by step to bring back to his newspaper many captivating articles. If Vanuatu’s glory in the Pacifi c rests with its rich aquatic fauna, one must also know that its avifauna includes over 120 surveyed species, of which only ten or so are strictly

endemic to Vanuatu. Aside from birds, the archipelago is host to an exceptional variety of butterfl ies, reptiles and crustaceans. And it of course includes an invaluable colony of corals… to be protected.

It is thus easy to understand why, after Panama and Australia, Vanuatu was chosen for this gigantic inventory.

Many species found in Vanuatu are known for their gastronomic qualities: the famous robber crab, the fl ying fox, an exotic bat with a delicate fl avour, as well as the nautou (a ground pigeon) and the tuna, barracuda, shark, spearfi sh, swordfi sh and bonito that populate the territorial waters… Local reptiles have the advantage of being inoffensive, be they the green lizard, the Pacifi c boa or the grey lizard. The Banks Islands are even host to a few caimans, which are well protected because their reproduction rate is declining rapidly. Cows, pigs, hens and horses are found there as well, but they are not indigenous. They were imported by colons during the fi rst explorations of the islands. The island’s complex geography, nonetheless, hides many unknown species that must still be listed, analyzed and referenced.

Flora is not to be neglected. Whether indigenous or found in local gardens as decorative fl ora, it merges perfectly into the dreamy landscapes of Espiritu Santo, with its white sand beaches bordered by coconut trees. The same dense and varied fl ora is found on the many little islets seen only a few meters from the shore. It seems obvious that there is, indeed, work for more than one naturalist. At the center of the isle, a dense jungle covers splendid mountains with subterranean caves and humid and luscious ravines and chasms, displaying natural riches never seen before by the scientists. The tropical forest hosts a multitude of birds and

Phot

os: R

ocke

t Gui

de to

Van

uatu

INTRODUCTIONinsects and is also the preferred location of gorgeous orchids that still have not been adapted to indoor cultivation.

Day to Day with ScientistsThrough its geography, Espiritu Santo island offers a unique terrain for the observation of insect habitats. While sifting through a terrain sample, ethologist Bruno Corbara explained to the Libération journalist: “the strength of this program is to work at four altitudes, from the soil to the trees’ canopy, with about ten methods (covered traps, interception nets, bait, pulverisation, manual collect on trunk…) aiming for different groups of arthropods.” The jungle is so dense that one can still fi nd the rusting carcasses of old B-17 and Dakotas that fell in combat during WWII. The remains of the Quonset huts that sheltered the 100,000 soldiers based on the island during the Pacifi c War can still be seen at the edge of a clearing, forming the main habitat of the suburb of Luganville, the island’s only urban centre.

The collection of insects occurs under a torrential tropical rain, but this does not stop the entomologists. A specifi c vehicle was designed to allow the scientists to explore without danger the canopy of trees they have carefully selected as theoretically harbouring the most species possible. Botanists, with the help of their entomologist colleagues, identifi ed the habitats. Each supports the others and uses this type of aircraft, working on helium and dubbed “Arboglisseur” (tree glider). The work is done in common and all discoveries are shared. Pete Lowry, a botanist sent from the Missouri Botanical Garden ( www.mobot.org, St. Louis, MO) explains to Vincent Tardieu: “[The method is], to play collectively and not to only harvest your favourite critters or plant family!” The insect samples collected locally are then sent to laboratories for identifi cation purposes.

The expedition’s ant specialist, Hervé Jourdan, is enthusiastic when he speaks to the French journalist about the Espiritu Santo island’s diversity: “The plantations, the pastures, the houses have multiplied the ecological niches that many

i i ii i iPhotos: V

irtual Tourist, Laughlin Web &

Santo 2006


INTRODUCTION

From August to December 2006, the island of Espiritu Santo (or Santo), the largest of the Vanuatu archipelago (South Pacifi c) with its 4,010 km2 served as the location of the most extensive inventory of biodiversity ever done to date in the world. The expedition, named Santo 2006, included 160 scientists from over 20 countries, under the leadership of the Muséum d’histoire naturelle de Paris, of the Institut de recherche pour le développement(www.ird.fr) and of the non governmental organization (NGO)

Pro-natura International.

Who and Why?In the expedition were naturalists looking for rare bird species, ethologists specialized in animal behaviour, alongside other naturalists looking for solitary wasps, an ornithologist who can imitate the calls of the Espiritu Santo birds to entice them to come out of hiding, an entomologist who never forgets his butterfl y net, which he uses to catch both shrimp and fl ying and crawling insects: such were the characters forming this never-seen-before expedition!

Reporter Vincent Tardieu, from the French daily Libération, followed different members of the expedition step by step to bring back to his newspaper many captivating articles. If Vanuatu’s glory in the Pacifi c rests with its rich aquatic fauna, one must also know that its avifauna includes over 120 surveyed species, of which only ten or so are strictly

endemic to Vanuatu. Aside from birds, the archipelago is host to an exceptional variety of butterfl ies, reptiles and crustaceans. And it of course includes an invaluable colony of corals… to be protected.

It is thus easy to understand why, after Panama and Australia, Vanuatu was chosen for this gigantic inventory.

Many species found in Vanuatu are known for their gastronomic qualities: the famous robber crab, the fl ying fox, an exotic bat with a delicate fl avour, as well as the nautou (a ground pigeon) and the tuna, barracuda, shark, spearfi sh, swordfi sh and bonito that populate the territorial waters… Local reptiles have the advantage of being inoffensive, be they the green lizard, the Pacifi c boa or the grey lizard. The Banks Islands are even host to a few caimans, which are well protected because their reproduction rate is declining rapidly. Cows, pigs, hens and horses are found there as well, but they are not indigenous. They were imported by colons during the fi rst explorations of the islands. The island’s complex geography, nonetheless, hides many unknown species that must still be listed, analyzed and referenced.

Flora is not to be neglected. Whether indigenous or found in local gardens as decorative fl ora, it merges perfectly into the dreamy landscapes of Espiritu Santo, with its white sand beaches bordered by coconut trees. The same dense and varied fl ora is found on the many little islets seen only a few meters from the shore. It seems obvious that there is, indeed, work for more than one naturalist. At the center of the isle, a dense jungle covers splendid mountains with subterranean caves and humid and luscious ravines and chasms, displaying natural riches never seen before by the scientists. The tropical forest hosts a multitude of birds and

Phot

os: R

ocke

t Gui

de to

Van

uatu

INTRODUCTIONinsects and is also the preferred location of gorgeous orchids that still have not been adapted to indoor cultivation.

Day to Day with ScientistsThrough its geography, Espiritu Santo island offers a unique terrain for the observation of insect habitats. While sifting through a terrain sample, ethologist Bruno Corbara explained to the Libération journalist: “the strength of this program is to work at four altitudes, from the soil to the trees’ canopy, with about ten methods (covered traps, interception nets, bait, pulverisation, manual collect on trunk…) aiming for different groups of arthropods.” The jungle is so dense that one can still fi nd the rusting carcasses of old B-17 and Dakotas that fell in combat during WWII. The remains of the Quonset huts that sheltered the 100,000 soldiers based on the island during the Pacifi c War can still be seen at the edge of a clearing, forming the main habitat of the suburb of Luganville, the island’s only urban centre.

The collection of insects occurs under a torrential tropical rain, but this does not stop the entomologists. A specifi c vehicle was designed to allow the scientists to explore without danger the canopy of trees they have carefully selected as theoretically harbouring the most species possible. Botanists, with the help of their entomologist colleagues, identifi ed the habitats. Each supports the others and uses this type of aircraft, working on helium and dubbed “Arboglisseur” (tree glider). The work is done in common and all discoveries are shared. Pete Lowry, a botanist sent from the Missouri Botanical Garden ( www.mobot.org, St. Louis, MO) explains to Vincent Tardieu: “[The method is], to play collectively and not to only harvest your favourite critters or plant family!” The insect samples collected locally are then sent to laboratories for identifi cation purposes.

The expedition’s ant specialist, Hervé Jourdan, is enthusiastic when he speaks to the French journalist about the Espiritu Santo island’s diversity: “The plantations, the pastures, the houses have multiplied the ecological niches that many

i i ii i i

Photos: Virtual Tourist, Laughlin W

eb & Santo 2006


Photos: D.R

. & D

any Vendramini

INTRODUCTIONspecies profi t from.” His colleague Bruno Carbara adds: “This method allows us to understand the systems and the interactions between species, and to restore a dynamic image of the site.” This perfectly characterizes this gigantic study of biodiversity: it is more about the inter-species interactions than about their mere presence on the site. The fact that humans have also introduced a non-indigenous fauna and fl ora plays a big role. How these have adapted to their new environment and how they reacted to local species or have made them react is just as important for

the scientists taking part in the expedition.

Birds That Won’t Cooperate…The group’s only ornithologist, Nicolas Barré, is not as lucky as his ethologist, entomologist and botanist colleagues. Even though the avifauna is everywhere on the island, few birds feel up to showing themselves to him. He must use ruse! Since the ornithologist recognizes birds from their calls, as he demonstrated to the French reporter (“Tip-tip, tip-tip: that is the Vanuatu white eyes, a small green bird only found on the archipelago. The one that just went by is the long-tailed triller. Listen: chui-chuiii, chui-chuiii.”), he soon learned to imitate their song to get closer to the birds. His ear has learned the gentle hiss of Pacifi c birds, and vice-versa. His vocal cords have become the birds’ and he “speaks” their language. He will still require much patience and many a “chui-chuiii” to bring, for example, the Vanuatu

fl ycatcher out of its hiding place… If it will speak to him, it will not necessarily show its white face. The dialog with this bird, only found in Vanuatu, can last a while and the day may yet end with a disappointed ornithologist.

The ornithologist’s scientifi c method is to determine “listening points” in various locales on the island. With local guides, he defi nes precise sites where listening is performed every 15 minutes. By compiling bird sounds heard over a day, he can establish a local abundance index and calculate by comparison the presence of species in the studied sites. Bad weather sometimes creates diffi culties; after a torrential storm, he complains to the journalist: “birds hide and the rain covers their song. Two to three individuals per site, that’s not so great.” His fi rst fi ndings are taking shape, however, even though they do not yet have scientifi c value: “Of the 39 species of terrestrial birds observed on the island, 100% are found in the zone that is the most anthropised, around an agricultural station, but only 65% in the Boutmas forest.” The fi rst exhaustive survey of Vanuatu birds was only done in 1989 and there is much work yet to be done (and perhaps new birds to discover).

The results of the various research modules of Santo 2006 (“marine”, “forests, mountains, rivers”, “karst”, “wild land and aliens”) are published on the web site www.santo2006.org. To see the discoveries made day after day by the scientists, visit the expedition’s blog at www.ird.fr/recherche/santo2006/blog (in both French and English). The sea bottom of Vanuatu has already revealed 15 species of fi sh unknown until now, as well as 200 new species of crustaceans, for a total of almost 1,000 new marine species (fauna and fl ora together). Since only 10% of the species currently living on earth are known and since many are endangered, there is much work to be done before complete sections of biodiversity perish forever! The race has already begun …

– B.B.

Ref.: articles by Vincent Tardieu: “Écoute-le : chui-chuiii, chui-chuiii...” and

“Ne pas ramasser que ses plantes fétiches”, November 2006, Libération,

Paris; “La faune du Vanuatu”, on www.vanuatuparadise.com; “L’île

d’Espiritu Santo” on www.vanuatutourism.com; Televised news, France 2

Nov. 23, 2006, and the press kit of Expédition Santo 2006, online at: www.

ird.nc/actualites/060901_santo_presse.pdf.


Photos: D.R

.NOTES & NEWS

One Kilo of Kashmir Soap Berry, One Year of Clean Clothes

The soap-nut tree (Sapindus mukorossi) could, in the

short term, cause the bankruptcy of laundry detergent

manufacturers. Its fruit, the Kashmir soap berry, contains

10% natural saponine. Because of this high concentration,

one kilogram of soap berry suffi ces to make enough

laundry detergent to cover the annual needs of a family of

three or four (which is equivalent to using two or three nut

shells per machine over a period of a year). This money-saving and 100%

environmentally-friendly laundry detergent is already offered in Europe,

for example in Germany and France.

– B.B. (Source: L’Express)

When The Sahara Bloomed

A team of German scientists has just published,

in Science journal, the results of its analyses,

performed on over 150 archaeological sites

studied within the Sahara desert. According to

the fossils and other natural remains that were

unearthed, researchers have concluded that,

starting in 9500 B.C., heavy rains fertilized the

Sahara, transforming it into a green tide where

fl owers, fruit and plants thrived. The rain seasons,

however, stopped without an explanation around 5300

B.C. This forced the populations to leave their villages and to allow the

sand and dunes to take back possession of the land.

– B.B. (Source: Science Magazine)

Chocolate That Does Not Melt At 50°CSpeaking of deserts, since they are now a sought-

after tourist destination, on your next trek you will be

able to take along some chocolate bars that will not

melt! Nigeria’s Cocoa Research Institute has recently

developed a chocolate that resists to heat. With 10%

added corn starch, it looks a little like milk chocolate,

but its taste remains that of cocoa. According to the

results of the trials done by the Nigerian teams, this

chocolate maintains its texture when the ambient temperature goes up

to 50 °C. What are our convenience stores waiting for? They could sell

us this kind of chocolate, rather than a liquid Mars bar in the middle of

summer!

– B.B.

North American Union – An Unavoidable Social System?Without much media attention, the internationalist elite from the three

North American countries met in Banff last September (strangely enough

on and around the fi fth anniversary of 9-11) to prepare, on the sly, what

they call the North American Union and would look like what was set up in

Europe with the European Community that includes 25 countries. In North

America, the deadline could be as close as 2008.

The idea is discussed more and more in the USA. Some members of

Congress are quite opposed to it, while the public is kept ignorant, being

certain that such an event is not planned for tomorrow. Yet bills are being

introduced. Lou Dobbs discussed it recently on CNN. The Canadian and

American government heads support the new Mexican government, which

is also in favour of such a union. The “Three Amigos” are setting the board

for a big game.

Meanwhile, a brawl erupted in the Mexican parliament because Felipe

Calderon, Mexico’s new president, has, according to the representatives,

stolen the election. George Bush Senior and Arnold Schwarzenegger,

California’s Republican governor, attended his investiture. Stephen Harper

should also have been there, since he was the fi rst to recognize Calderon’s

victory, and hence to support him.

Note that before his election, Felipe Calderon pressed then President

Vicente Fox to solve the grassroots insurrection movement in Oaxaca, a

pacifi c and civil movement of hundreds of thousands of persons who had

been requesting the destitution of their governor for six months. A few

days before the elections, the movement was broken and its head was cut.

Arbitrary “disappearings” occurred and paramilitary troops terrorize the

population.

All this for the North American Union plan to go ahead, in spite of the

opposition of workers and left-wing opposition parties, both in Mexico

and elsewhere in North America. The “Three Amigos”, Calderon, Bush and

Harper, are quietly abetting these reprisals. From what we can guess as of

now, the plan goes more or less as follows.

The Democrats should win the elections in the United States in 2008. They

are affi liated to the same internationalist and underground entity as the

Republicans, as we witnessed during the last electoral campaign. John

Kerry and George W. Bush both admitted, on national television, that they

belonged to a secret society called “Skulls & Bones” and could not discuss it.

This society was, among others, behind the creation of the UN (a prototype

of international government).

In the policy of a right-wing man like Bush, it is surprising not to see harsher,

better enforced immigration laws. He had promised to regulate the status of

illegal immigrants. It is surprising… unless it is part of a larger plan to put the

question of immigration at the heart of the American debate in 2007-2008.

the Democrats, if they gain power in 2008 as is likely, will have to solve the

Phot

os: D

.R.

NOTES & NEWSproblem. Following the internationalists’ plan, this will only further weaken

the borders between the three countries, but mostly along the American-

Mexican border.

This will probably trigger an economic crisis that will greatly weaken the US

dollar. It has already started: it is at its lowest rate in 15 years. In London,

a group of economists is already calling for the creation of the

“amero”, a unique North-American monetary system based on

the euro’s model. According to them, immigration and economic

problems will be solved by the creation of the North American

Union and that of the amero, along with the end of our current

currencies, the end of our borders and of our sovereignty. The legal

systems will be harmonized for all three countries. And banks will

play a vital role.

North American banks are privately-owned companies. The Federal Reserve

is a private bank, the Bank of Canada is another, and they are under the

protection of the Bank of England, another private bank. They are the only

ones profi ting from economic crises. They should thus be responsible for the

decline of North American currency and should offer a chance to save them

through the creation of the amero and of the North American Union. David

Rockefeller himself, in his biography, admitted that if he was being accused

of wanting to destroy the USA and of being in favour of an international

government, he was guilty! He belongs to the family who donated the land

for the UN in New York. He is also an architect of the FTAA (Free Trade

of the Americas Area) and one of those behind the North

American Union.

Many artists, activists and politicians are opposed to this kind of

internationalist society in North America. On www.infowars.

com, you can see Alex Jones’ movies, such as Terror Storm.

It is a three-hour long movie that explains 9-11, the police

state and the internationalist government that are coming. The

fi lm (Desinformation studio) is among the top-ten best-sellers on Amazon.

com. See also the following sites: www.jonesreport.com,

www.prisonplanet.com, ww.infowar.com, http://video.google.com.

Another important fi lm regarding this debate is America, from

Freedom to Fascism, by Aaron Russo, which lasts 1h50. It explains

how central banks and income tax are frauds, the hidden

objectives of the upcoming North American Union, sabotaged

elections, etc. It can be viewed on http://video.google.ca. Since

December 12, it is also available on DVD (Cinema Libre studio).

Everyone must see these fi lms. After these fi ve hours of crucial

information, you will understand everything. We must also ask

the following question: what will be the repercussions of the

North American Union on agriculture, the agri-food industry

workers, the world and the North American hydroponic market?

So many questions we must all face.

– Olivier Dubois

Sahara mustard: a memory of the desert as it was nearly 12,000 years ago?


Photos: D.R

.

NOTES & NEWS

One Kilo of Kashmir Soap Berry, One Year of Clean Clothes

The soap-nut tree (Sapindus mukorossi) could, in the

short term, cause the bankruptcy of laundry detergent

manufacturers. Its fruit, the Kashmir soap berry, contains

10% natural saponine. Because of this high concentration,

one kilogram of soap berry suffi ces to make enough

laundry detergent to cover the annual needs of a family of

three or four (which is equivalent to using two or three nut

shells per machine over a period of a year). This money-saving and 100%

environmentally-friendly laundry detergent is already offered in Europe,

for example in Germany and France.

– B.B. (Source: L’Express)

When The Sahara Bloomed

A team of German scientists has just published,

in Science journal, the results of its analyses,

performed on over 150 archaeological sites

studied within the Sahara desert. According to

the fossils and other natural remains that were

unearthed, researchers have concluded that,

starting in 9500 B.C., heavy rains fertilized the

Sahara, transforming it into a green tide where

fl owers, fruit and plants thrived. The rain seasons,

however, stopped without an explanation around 5300

B.C. This forced the populations to leave their villages and to allow the

sand and dunes to take back possession of the land.

– B.B. (Source: Science Magazine)

Chocolate That Does Not Melt At 50°CSpeaking of deserts, since they are now a sought-

after tourist destination, on your next trek you will be

able to take along some chocolate bars that will not

melt! Nigeria’s Cocoa Research Institute has recently

developed a chocolate that resists to heat. With 10%

added corn starch, it looks a little like milk chocolate,

but its taste remains that of cocoa. According to the

results of the trials done by the Nigerian teams, this

chocolate maintains its texture when the ambient temperature goes up

to 50 °C. What are our convenience stores waiting for? They could sell

us this kind of chocolate, rather than a liquid Mars bar in the middle of

summer!

– B.B.

North American Union – An Unavoidable Social System?Without much media attention, the internationalist elite from the three

North American countries met in Banff last September (strangely enough

on and around the fi fth anniversary of 9-11) to prepare, on the sly, what

they call the North American Union and would look like what was set up in

Europe with the European Community that includes 25 countries. In North

America, the deadline could be as close as 2008.

The idea is discussed more and more in the USA. Some members of

Congress are quite opposed to it, while the public is kept ignorant, being

certain that such an event is not planned for tomorrow. Yet bills are being

introduced. Lou Dobbs discussed it recently on CNN. The Canadian and

American government heads support the new Mexican government, which

is also in favour of such a union. The “Three Amigos” are setting the board

for a big game.

Meanwhile, a brawl erupted in the Mexican parliament because Felipe

Calderon, Mexico’s new president, has, according to the representatives,

stolen the election. George Bush Senior and Arnold Schwarzenegger,

California’s Republican governor, attended his investiture. Stephen Harper

should also have been there, since he was the fi rst to recognize Calderon’s

victory, and hence to support him.

Note that before his election, Felipe Calderon pressed then President

Vicente Fox to solve the grassroots insurrection movement in Oaxaca, a

pacifi c and civil movement of hundreds of thousands of persons who had

been requesting the destitution of their governor for six months. A few

days before the elections, the movement was broken and its head was cut.

Arbitrary “disappearings” occurred and paramilitary troops terrorize the

population.

All this for the North American Union plan to go ahead, in spite of the

opposition of workers and left-wing opposition parties, both in Mexico

and elsewhere in North America. The “Three Amigos”, Calderon, Bush and

Harper, are quietly abetting these reprisals. From what we can guess as of

now, the plan goes more or less as follows.

The Democrats should win the elections in the United States in 2008. They

are affi liated to the same internationalist and underground entity as the

Republicans, as we witnessed during the last electoral campaign. John

Kerry and George W. Bush both admitted, on national television, that they

belonged to a secret society called “Skulls & Bones” and could not discuss it.

This society was, among others, behind the creation of the UN (a prototype

of international government).

In the policy of a right-wing man like Bush, it is surprising not to see harsher,

better enforced immigration laws. He had promised to regulate the status of

illegal immigrants. It is surprising… unless it is part of a larger plan to put the

question of immigration at the heart of the American debate in 2007-2008.

the Democrats, if they gain power in 2008 as is likely, will have to solve the

Phot

os: D

.R.

NOTES & NEWSproblem. Following the internationalists’ plan, this will only further weaken

the borders between the three countries, but mostly along the American-

Mexican border.

This will probably trigger an economic crisis that will greatly weaken the US

dollar. It has already started: it is at its lowest rate in 15 years. In London,

a group of economists is already calling for the creation of the

“amero”, a unique North-American monetary system based on

the euro’s model. According to them, immigration and economic

problems will be solved by the creation of the North American

Union and that of the amero, along with the end of our current

currencies, the end of our borders and of our sovereignty. The legal

systems will be harmonized for all three countries. And banks will

play a vital role.

North American banks are privately-owned companies. The Federal Reserve

is a private bank, the Bank of Canada is another, and they are under the

protection of the Bank of England, another private bank. They are the only

ones profi ting from economic crises. They should thus be responsible for the

decline of North American currency and should offer a chance to save them

through the creation of the amero and of the North American Union. David

Rockefeller himself, in his biography, admitted that if he was being accused

of wanting to destroy the USA and of being in favour of an international

government, he was guilty! He belongs to the family who donated the land

for the UN in New York. He is also an architect of the FTAA (Free Trade

of the Americas Area) and one of those behind the North

American Union.

Many artists, activists and politicians are opposed to this kind of

internationalist society in North America. On www.infowars.

com, you can see Alex Jones’ movies, such as Terror Storm.

It is a three-hour long movie that explains 9-11, the police

state and the internationalist government that are coming. The

fi lm (Desinformation studio) is among the top-ten best-sellers on Amazon.

com. See also the following sites: www.jonesreport.com,

www.prisonplanet.com, ww.infowar.com, http://video.google.com.

Another important fi lm regarding this debate is America, from

Freedom to Fascism, by Aaron Russo, which lasts 1h50. It explains

how central banks and income tax are frauds, the hidden

objectives of the upcoming North American Union, sabotaged

elections, etc. It can be viewed on http://video.google.ca. Since

December 12, it is also available on DVD (Cinema Libre studio).

Everyone must see these fi lms. After these fi ve hours of crucial

information, you will understand everything. We must also ask

the following question: what will be the repercussions of the

North American Union on agriculture, the agri-food industry

workers, the world and the North American hydroponic market?

So many questions we must all face.

– Olivier Dubois

Sahara mustard: a memory of the desert as it was nearly 12,000 years ago?


Photos: D.R

.NOTES & NEWS

China: 25th Annual Luoyang Peony Exhibit

The temperate climate and fertile soil of Luoyang, in the

province of Henan, are perfect for peonies. It was under

the Sui (581-618) that peonies were fi rst planted in the

Xiyuan imperial garden. Luoyang peonies are renowned

for their variety and bright colours.

Since 1983, peony exhibits have been held in Luoyang.

They are the perfect occasion to admire the magnifi cent

fl owers, but also to make contacts with regional

producers and to help the development of the city, with 6.28 million

residents on a 15,500 km2 area. Over 8 million visitors are expected at

the 25th Luoyang peony exhibit, which will be held in the spring of 2007.

The national institute of peony research now possesses a bank of peony

genes and cultivates over a thousand varieties in its 2,000 hectare garden.

Researchers from the institute have even found a way to grow and fl ower

peonies throughout the year!

– Source: Chine, Guide Touristique, Administration nationale du

tourisme de la République populaire de Chine, Beijing Xinglu

Advertising Ltd.

United Kingdom: Waitrose Food Stores Celebrate the Success of Their Ugly Fruits Section

At the end of June 2006, Waitrose food distribution

company launched a new section in its 57 supermarkets.

Nicknamed “ugly fruit” or “less than perfect fruit” by

the English press, they are fruit that do not meet the

perfection criterion of the merchants (grade A: perfect

curvature and shape, shiny skin, caliber and diameter

as large as possible, etc.). Oh, miracle! These “ugly”

fruit, sold at discount rates, are phenomenally popular.

According to Tom Richardson, buyer for Waitrose, customers realize that

less-than-perfect fruit are often tastier, more fl avourful than their perfect

counterparts.

These tainted fruit are mainly used by consumers

to be transformed in the kitchen. They are used for

jams, sauces, pies and other recipes that use raw

fruit. The National Farmers’ Union is happy to see

these previously thrown out fruit be commercialized.

Agricultural union leaders hope that other food

distribution companies will follow suit. In the past,

environmental associations and producer growers

have often criticized the bulk distribution industry because it forced

producers to destroy tons of misshapen or overripe fruit.

– B.B. (Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk)

United Kingdom: A Component of Green Tea Blocks the Action of HIVIn a study recently published, a team of scientists from Sheffi eld’s Baylor

College of Medicine has managed to demonstrate that a component of

green tea seems to block HIV’s capacity to invade and destroy immune

system cells. As of now, the experiment has only been done in a test tube,

and scientists insist to precise that it would be useless to drink litres of

green tea in the hope of healing or preventing AIDS.

The active ingredient found by scientists in green tea is one of the most

important polyphenols with anti-oxidant properties, named epigallocatechin-

gallate or EGCG. Until now, this fl avonoïd was used for its anti-infl ammatory

and anti-microbial properties in drugs used to alleviate certain forms of

cancer. The researchers’ new discovery, however, has proven that in the

lab, the EGCG molecule agglomerates with the T-cell receptor (or TCR), i.e.

the receptor which HIV looks for to enter into healthy cells. The association

of EGCG with the TCR would prevent HIV from destroying cells. The CD4

antigen located on the cell’s surface (the receptor) can link up with AIDS’

trimerous gp120 molecule. The EGCG molecule is just as tiny, if not more,

as gp120, and can link up more rapidly with the CD4 receptor of T cells,

without inhibiting the cells’ functions.

According to Dr. Nance of Baylor College and of the Texas Children’s

Hospital, the quantity of EGCG molecules required to inhibit the penetration

of T cells by HIV’s gp120 would be equivalent to that found in two cups of

green tea. Christina Nance, however, notes that an EGCG-based drug would

not be effective on its own, but would rather be associated to other drug

types, as is currently the case in AIDS triple-drug cocktails and HAART, for

its action to be 100% effective. Don’t stop yourself from drinking green tea,

though: it is good for a series of other reasons!

– B.B. (Sources: The Guide and The Houston Chronicle)

China, Japan, Canada: Poria Cocos or Subterranean Fungus (Fu Ling), A Good FungusIn China and Japan, and even here in Canada, a good fungus has been

extracted from clayish soil, and once bacteria-balanced, it is being used as

medication for bowel problems, against stomach or intestinal tumours and

cancer and is used in food. When used in soil, it prevents vegetable rot and


Photos: D.R

.

NOTES & NEWS

China: 25th Annual Luoyang Peony Exhibit

The temperate climate and fertile soil of Luoyang, in the

province of Henan, are perfect for peonies. It was under

the Sui (581-618) that peonies were fi rst planted in the

Xiyuan imperial garden. Luoyang peonies are renowned

for their variety and bright colours.

Since 1983, peony exhibits have been held in Luoyang.

They are the perfect occasion to admire the magnifi cent

fl owers, but also to make contacts with regional

producers and to help the development of the city, with 6.28 million

residents on a 15,500 km2 area. Over 8 million visitors are expected at

the 25th Luoyang peony exhibit, which will be held in the spring of 2007.

The national institute of peony research now possesses a bank of peony

genes and cultivates over a thousand varieties in its 2,000 hectare garden.

Researchers from the institute have even found a way to grow and fl ower

peonies throughout the year!

– Source: Chine, Guide Touristique, Administration nationale du

tourisme de la République populaire de Chine, Beijing Xinglu

Advertising Ltd.

United Kingdom: Waitrose Food Stores Celebrate the Success of Their Ugly Fruits Section

At the end of June 2006, Waitrose food distribution

company launched a new section in its 57 supermarkets.

Nicknamed “ugly fruit” or “less than perfect fruit” by

the English press, they are fruit that do not meet the

perfection criterion of the merchants (grade A: perfect

curvature and shape, shiny skin, caliber and diameter

as large as possible, etc.). Oh, miracle! These “ugly”

fruit, sold at discount rates, are phenomenally popular.

According to Tom Richardson, buyer for Waitrose, customers realize that

less-than-perfect fruit are often tastier, more fl avourful than their perfect

counterparts.

These tainted fruit are mainly used by consumers

to be transformed in the kitchen. They are used for

jams, sauces, pies and other recipes that use raw

fruit. The National Farmers’ Union is happy to see

these previously thrown out fruit be commercialized.

Agricultural union leaders hope that other food

distribution companies will follow suit. In the past,

environmental associations and producer growers

have often criticized the bulk distribution industry because it forced

producers to destroy tons of misshapen or overripe fruit.

– B.B. (Source: http://news.bbc.co.uk)

United Kingdom: A Component of Green Tea Blocks the Action of HIVIn a study recently published, a team of scientists from Sheffi eld’s Baylor

College of Medicine has managed to demonstrate that a component of

green tea seems to block HIV’s capacity to invade and destroy immune

system cells. As of now, the experiment has only been done in a test tube,

and scientists insist to precise that it would be useless to drink litres of

green tea in the hope of healing or preventing AIDS.

The active ingredient found by scientists in green tea is one of the most

important polyphenols with anti-oxidant properties, named epigallocatechin-

gallate or EGCG. Until now, this fl avonoïd was used for its anti-infl ammatory

and anti-microbial properties in drugs used to alleviate certain forms of

cancer. The researchers’ new discovery, however, has proven that in the

lab, the EGCG molecule agglomerates with the T-cell receptor (or TCR), i.e.

the receptor which HIV looks for to enter into healthy cells. The association

of EGCG with the TCR would prevent HIV from destroying cells. The CD4

antigen located on the cell’s surface (the receptor) can link up with AIDS’

trimerous gp120 molecule. The EGCG molecule is just as tiny, if not more,

as gp120, and can link up more rapidly with the CD4 receptor of T cells,

without inhibiting the cells’ functions.

According to Dr. Nance of Baylor College and of the Texas Children’s

Hospital, the quantity of EGCG molecules required to inhibit the penetration

of T cells by HIV’s gp120 would be equivalent to that found in two cups of

green tea. Christina Nance, however, notes that an EGCG-based drug would

not be effective on its own, but would rather be associated to other drug

types, as is currently the case in AIDS triple-drug cocktails and HAART, for

its action to be 100% effective. Don’t stop yourself from drinking green tea,

though: it is good for a series of other reasons!

– B.B. (Sources: The Guide and The Houston Chronicle)

China, Japan, Canada: Poria Cocos or Subterranean Fungus (Fu Ling), A Good FungusIn China and Japan, and even here in Canada, a good fungus has been

extracted from clayish soil, and once bacteria-balanced, it is being used as

medication for bowel problems, against stomach or intestinal tumours and

cancer and is used in food. When used in soil, it prevents vegetable rot and

Photos: D.R

.

helps them last a whole month. As has been known in Chinese medicine

for centuries, Poria Cocos or Fu Ling fungus (from the Polyporaceae

family) is very good for the immune system and useful to decrease upper

gastrointestinal tract bleeding.

We know that bacterial culture from worms can be contaminated by manure.

There will soon be a product that contains a good fungus, balanced with

bacteria, that can be added to the soil as a mineral enhancement!

– Rajan Radunovich

Justice: A Kenaf Story That Goes On And On…

In September 2003 in Gulfport,

Mississippi, a crop of 500 kenaf

plants (Hibiscus cannabinus) grown

as deer fodder by Marion Waltman

was destroyed by the local sheriff

and his aides. They believed they

were destroying hemp. Does the

police need horticultural lessons?

Marion Waltman fi led a

US$255,000 complaint after having

discovered that his kenaf fi eld was

being destroyed… while watching

the news on TV! The very well broadcast hemp destruction operation had

been orchestrated by Sherrif George H. Payne Jr. He had spotted this fi eld

belonging to the Boarhog hunting club. He was ready for his fi fteen minutes

of fame! But he should have looked twice. The hunting club had loaned its

fi eld to Marion Waltman to grow kenaf for the area’s deer herds!

On August 10, 2005, two years after the facts, a Harrison county judge

declared that it was a human error and rejected Waltman’s claim. According

to him, “Virtually all of the law enforcement offi cers at the scene ...

mistakenly identifi ed the kenaf crop as marijuana. Thus, it was not objectively

unreasonable for Sheriff Payne to reach the same conclusions.” Collective

hallucination?

On September 4, 2006, Marion Waltman along with his lawyer decided

to appeal the ruling of Judge Louis Guirola. He still wishes to be entirely

reimbursed, but also for the sheriff and his men to publicly apologize: “I

want them to fi x the road and gate they destroyed, compensate me for my

plants, arrest the people that were trespassing and apologize to the hunting

clubs”. Unfortunately, as of now, four years later, Mr Waltman has received,

as compensation, only $351.66! The appeal verdict is still awaited.

– Sources: http://co.harrison.ms.us, www.dailykos.com

and www.sunherald.com.

Science: Stinky Flower, Solved Mystery!

The mystery surrounding the magnifi cent and gigantic Raffl esia arnoldii,

whose fl ower has a pestilential odour and measures a meter in diameter,

has been solved. Since its discovery in 1818 in a Sumatran rainforest,

scientists have wondered what to make of Raffl esia and its lineage. They

have fi nally succeeded. Are you ready? The Raffl esia is the parent of plants

beloved for their… tiny fl owers! It belongs to the Euphobiaceae (spurge)

family, which includes poinsettia, cassava, castor oil plants and crotons. If

Raffl esia has managed to puzzle experts for so long, it is because it is one of

a kind: it parasites a vine and only shows

its monstrous fl ower, a fl ower than can

weigh up to eight kilos. With no leaves,

stems or roots, without photosynthesis,

it steals the vine’s nutrients and manages

to confuse insects with its decomposition

smell so that they pollinate it. The team

of scientists who published their results

in Science Journal believes that Raffl esia’s

ancestors were born during the

Cretaceous, 100 million years ago. During

the second half of that era, the plant has allegedly developed a fl ower that

was almost 80 times as large as its original fl ower before becoming the plant

that we know (whose fl owering is feared by our sense of smell!)

– H.J., Source: Reuters

Science: Bionic Eyes For Gingersnap

Retinitis pigmentosa is a genetic disease, still incurable in humans. Its most

common result is partial or total blindness. Some hope, however, has sprung

up due to the successful treatment of this affl iction on cats. Dr Kristina

Narfstrom from the University of Missouri at Columbia presented the result

of her research in January. The happy benefi ciary of these new bionic eyes is

a gorgeous four-year old red-haired Abyssinian

cat affl icted with Retinitis pigmentosa

and named Gingersnap. According to Dr

Narfstrom, Gingersnap would have become

completely blind in one year. Thanks to special

silicon chip implants placed directly on her

retina, Gingersnap’s eyes’ photoreceptive cells

are able to perceive light again, “repairing”

the blind parts of her fi eld of vision. Gingersnap

is not the fi rst feline to benefi t from this new treatment, but she is the fi rst

one to make the news. And to bring hope to humans.

– B.B. (Sources: AP, JdM & www.saukvalley.com)

NOTES & NEWS


TIPS & TRICKS

Select vigorous, healthy plants.Select vigorous, healthy plants. When you shop for container-grown plants, look for plants with a vigorous appearance and a well-developed foliage. Avoid plants with roots growing out of the bottom of the container. Store plants in the shade until the time of planting. Keep plants watered daily until they are removed from their containers.

Avoid using any kind of fertilizerAvoid using any kind of fertilizer, except a slow-release type which will not injure new roots at planting time. Make a new fertilizer application only after the plants have been in soil for three to four weeks, and then use only an organic fertilizer.

Space plants to provide for mature widthSpace plants to provide for mature width and and heightheight to reduce competition for space and moisture and to reduce the need to control by pruning. Native plants need this attention to spacing to create a natural environment effect.

Plant as soon as possiblePlant as soon as possible. Plan to do your planting soon after purchasing to prevent the root ball from drying out. Prior to planting, fi ll the container several times to ensure a moist root ball.

Remove the plant from the containerRemove the plant from the container. If the container is made of metal, cut the sides just before you plant. If it is made of plastic, turn it upside down and knock the edge against a hard surface to allow the root ball to slip out. Handle the plant by the root ball – not by holding the stem – to prevent root injury.

Prepare a proper sized holePrepare a proper sized hole. Dig holes for new plants at least three times wider than the root ball, with sloping sides. Dig the hole only as deep as the root ball. In clay soils, it helps root growth if the ground is loosened beyond a tree’s drip line. Fill with water to pre-wet the surrounding

soil before planting. If water does not drain in an hour or two, dig a chimney drain off the center of the hole, two metres deep, to get more adequate drainage.

Prepare soil for Prepare soil for non-nativesnon-natives. Mix the soil dug out of the hole with q soil and 3 organic blend back fi ll. Place the mix under the plant and around the sides. Pack the soil around the sides of the root ball. Run water into the mix as you fi ll around the sides, to eliminate air pocket formation. After the soil settles, fi ll to the top of the root ball. For native plants, backfi ll with existing soil, apply organic mulch to the surface 5 to 10 centimetres thick.

Build a basin to Build a basin to hold at least eight hold at least eight centimetres of watercentimetres of water. Build a ridge around the planting hole, twice the size of the root ball, before applying water.

(From: the Coachella

Valley Water District

website www.cvwd.org, an

excerpt from the article

“Lush and Effi cient: A

guide to Coachella Valley

landscaping”, reproduced

with permission)

Gardening basics:Gardening basics:Follow steps to planting successFollow steps to planting success

By Jesse Ruiz (Coachella Valley Water District)By Jesse Ruiz (Coachella Valley Water District)

Left: Oasis pool garden — Palms on skyline: Bougainvillea (red in rear), Roses (front left), Cercidium fl oridum (tree at rear left), Citrus tree (rear right)

Photos: Robert Keeran & CV

WD

Public Information A

ssociate, B.B

. & D

.R.


Photos: Bayer

There is no season to treat weeds. Whether in a winter wheat fi eld or for early corn crops, one of the best products on the market is foramsulfuron. Beware: it does not work on its own, but must always be mixed with an additive (or mixing partner), as recommended by the manufacturer, in the watering reservoir. “Foramsulfuron is quickly absorbed through leaves and rapidly translocated throughout the plant. It inhibits acetolactate synthase (ALS) enzyme in susceptible plants. Tolerant species rapidly metabolize foramsulfuron. Its persistence is almost nil. Foramsulfuron is manufactured by Bayer CropScience.” Such is the defi nition from the Ontarian Ministry of Agriculture (www.omafra.gov.on.ca) for this herbicide, commercialized as OptionMD. This product is particularly adapted to protect corn.

Bayer’s OptionMD offers you more options to treat weeds that compete with your corn in soil. First, this herbicide offers a wide application window. An average corn plant bears eight leaves. By applying Option between the third leaf and the

fi fth, you can protect growth from the fi rst to the eighth leaf. The treatment stage will depend on the additive mixed in the reservoir. Foramsulfuron is the active ingredient in Option; it acts on contact and systemically, allowing it to control a broad range of graminaceae and broadleaved weeds, which is why it is so useful for corn. With its two action modes, it improves the weeding effect of its approved mix partners.

Corn is not the only plant involved. By choosing Option as a herbicide, your weeding program in one application will be more effi cient. It offers a four-month fl exibility in the rotation of winter wheat and a 10-month fl exibility for most other crops, including alfalfa, barley (spring), colza (spring), corn (sweet corn and fodder maize), beans, head cabbage, oats (spring), peas, potatoes, red clover, soy, sugarbeet, millet, tomatoes and wheat (spring). For each of these vegetables or grains, read the label to fi nd out which additive to use, as they vary for each crop. Always follow the instructions on

the label to prevent any dosage mistake or the association of incompatible products.

Eight additives have been approved to be mixed with OptionMD. You need only choose one for a simple weeding program, with one application per crop. These approved products include: AatrexMD Nine-0, AatrexMC 480, BanvelMD II, CallistoMD + Aatrex Nine-0 or Aatrex 480, DistinctMD, MarksmanMD, PardnerMD + Aatrex Nine-0 or Aatrex 480 and Peak PlusMD. Bayer also offers the Virtual PakMD, which combines Option with Marksman or Distinct and thus offers an excellent combined weeding program. Everything is included: the patented safety agent and the additive. Weeding is quicker and resistance to rain is improved.

Bayer CropScience manufactures OptionMD, PardnerMD and the combined Virtual PakMD. Banvel II, Marksman and Distinct are additives designed by the German chemical group BASF. Callisto was inspired by the Callistemon plant and is made by Callisto Plant Technology. Finally, Aatrex and Peak Plus are manufactured by Syngenta Crop. Each additive treats one (or more) specifi c type of weeds. Distinct, for example, is more specifi cally used against waterhemp (Amaranthus tuberculatus), Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) and ALS-resistant weeds. Callisto attacks waterhemp, velvetleaf (Abutilon theophrasti), ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L.), common lambsquarters (Chenopodium album L.) and pigweed (Amaranthus retrofl exus).

Foramsulfuron: Foramsulfuron: Bayer CropScience’s Option Bayer CropScience’s Option MDMD Herbicide for Corn Herbicide for Corn By V. GreenBy V. Green

TIPS & TRICKS


Phot

os: D

.R. —

Illu

stra

tions

: Fro

m th

e au

thor

mercury (inHg), used to measure air pressure. It should not be confused with the WC, inch of water column, used to measure water pressure. The inHg unit allows measuring of the pressure, initially defi ned as the pressure exerted at 0 °C by a column of one inch of mercury. One inHg is equivalent, in metric, to approximately 33.86 hPa (milibar, or 33.86 x 102 pascals*).* Defi nition given on www.convertworld.com: “The unit is named after Blaise Pascal. The name pascal was adopted for the SI unit newton per square metre. Uniform pressure that, acting on a fl at one square metre surface, exerts a total perpendicular force equivalent to one newton.”

Finally, the last tests performed by manufacturers before they commercialize an air exhaust are done using another type of manometer. This one is used to calculate the air pressure, in CFM, at the turbine’s exit (see Figure B). This sophisticated manometer is composed of 13 independent parts, allowing for readings at different places in the exit; each reading is independently communicated to the manufacturer. The average of all these independent data results will give the average actual value (taking restrictions into account), in CFM, of the exit output of each turbine. This is the device’s power, which will be transmitted to the customer by the device’s name itself (100 CFM, 125 CFM, etc.)

Figure A Figure B

Electricity ConsumptionThe turbine’s energy consumption is also generally tested. Thankfully, turbines are not very energy-consuming. It is important to know their energy requirements to manage the electricity usage in your garden. Turbines consume a different amount of energy according to the air entry restrictions applied, which is why energy consumption reports will vary for each indoor garden.

The more powerful the motor, the more effi cient it will be at producing CFMs, and the more energy it will use. Even the most powerful exhaust, however, will generally not consume more than 2,200 kilowatt-hours per year, even on an uninterrupted cycle, which is a rather low energy consumption for a full year of use!

To ConcludeBefore buying an exhaust fan, take into consideration:

• The CFM total average with restrictions, i.e. the average recorded CFM at the exhaust’s exit while a controlled restriction is applied at the entry (you will need to estimate it based on the CFM attributed by the manufacturer by adding approximately 25% of its value, depending on the length of the ducts you will require once the unit is installed in your garden).

• The amount of CFM generated for each watt used. This expresses the energetic effi ciency of your fan exhaust: the larger the number, the more the device uses its energy consumption to generate CFMs. An exhaust that generates 2 to 2.8 CFM for each watt is perfectly balanced for an economic use of energy.

• Its power and effi ciency with regards to restrictions: it is the average power, in percent points, generated by the exhaust when it is submitted to various restrictions at the point of entry. A percentage of 75% with air entry restrictions is suffi cient.

You are now able to make the right choice when buying your next exhaust fan. Frequent oxygen exchanges in an indoor garden are required for the plants’ proper development, and the air extractor is thus a key element of the cultivation site. This is why the exhaust fan is a long-term investment – an indispensable one.

Dynamic cooling ventilation is done by extracting and/or injecting air into a grow room to control its climate. Unfortunately, this operation is often neglected by gardeners in their home indoor gardens. Controlling the climate is, as you know, a major factor in horticulture, and has a great impact on the proper growth of indoor plants.

Why Invest in An Exhaust Fan Turbine?The vast majority of indoor gardeners use 400 watt (and above) metal halide bulbs and/or high pressure sodium bulbs. These lamps emit a lot of heat. One 1,000 watt bulb produces approximately 3,450 BTU (British Thermal Units) per hour – a lot! One BTU equals approximately 252 to 253 calories or 1,054 to 1,060 joules, or 16 °C (about 60 °F). With these lamps, the temperature in the indoor garden can increase quite rapidly, which can quickly kill your plants; without adequate ventilation, it is practically impossible to even think of gardening indoors during the summer. If one wants to attempt serious indoor gardening, it is imperative to manage the temperature and thus, to invest in a good air extraction system. This will allow you to manage the temperature and will considerably improve your chances of getting abundant and fruitful harvests!

It is unfortunately very diffi cult to move a large mass of air without noise. In the past few years, thankfully, many manufacturers have released exhaust turbines. The technology used in such turbines allows them to move a lot of air while minimizing the noise produced. An air exhaust should be able to empty the room’s air in less than fi ve minutes. To be truly effi cient, however, it should be able to do so in about one minute. This is why it is so important to calculate the indoor garden’s volume before buying an

exhaust turbine. The CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute) is the measuring unit used to describe the theoretical power of air exhausts. A 100 CFM exhaust is, in theory, capable of extracting 100 cubic feet per minute. This unit is written on the device by the manufacturer, and corresponds to the exhaust’s raw power, without taking into consideration resistance and restrictions created when the gardener adds aeration ducts.

Th e Garden’s Surface Determines Th e Choice Of Exhaust ModelThe buyer must know that some effi ciency will be lost when aeration ducts are added to the air exhaust. This is why, when you buy a turbine, you must keep in mind that the device’s power will be, on average, decreased by 25% when you add long aeration ducts. For example, in a 1.20 m x 0.90 m x 2.45 m closet (2.65 m3), in theory, the 100 CFM exhaust will be required. In reality, once the ducts are in place, the 125 CFM exhaust will be the one capable of refreshing the air once every minute.

Exhaust turbines found on the market are generally designed for 20-cm diameter ducts. Manufacturers generally test their products with highly precise instruments. The test is done by creating various resistances at the turbine’s entry point, and to then calculate the output in CFM to fi nally know the exhaust’s average power. The restriction at the entry to the turbine is created with an iris damper. It acts like the aperture of a camera: the smaller the opening, the more restriction is applied to the turbine’s air intake.

Very Serious Tests Done by CompaniesThis resistance is calculated with a manometer (or pressure gauge) placed at the opening of a blower, which determines the difference between the cylinders’ internal and external pressure (see Figure A) and an anemometer placed at the same blower’s exit (there are two kinds of anemometers: one measures air pressure, the other, its speed). The measure unit used to express this pressure is the inch of

Investing in An Exhaust Fan Turbine, Or Th e Secrets of Dynamic Ventilation…By Paul Henderson

Photos: Atm

osphereTIPS & TRICKS

Figure C

TIPS & TRICKS


Phot

os: D

.R. —

Illu

stra

tions

: Fro

m th

e au

thor

mercury (inHg), used to measure air pressure. It should not be confused with the WC, inch of water column, used to measure water pressure. The inHg unit allows measuring of the pressure, initially defi ned as the pressure exerted at 0 °C by a column of one inch of mercury. One inHg is equivalent, in metric, to approximately 33.86 hPa (milibar, or 33.86 x 102 pascals*).* Defi nition given on www.convertworld.com: “The unit is named after Blaise Pascal. The name pascal was adopted for the SI unit newton per square metre. Uniform pressure that, acting on a fl at one square metre surface, exerts a total perpendicular force equivalent to one newton.”

Finally, the last tests performed by manufacturers before they commercialize an air exhaust are done using another type of manometer. This one is used to calculate the air pressure, in CFM, at the turbine’s exit (see Figure B). This sophisticated manometer is composed of 13 independent parts, allowing for readings at different places in the exit; each reading is independently communicated to the manufacturer. The average of all these independent data results will give the average actual value (taking restrictions into account), in CFM, of the exit output of each turbine. This is the device’s power, which will be transmitted to the customer by the device’s name itself (100 CFM, 125 CFM, etc.)

Figure A Figure B

Electricity ConsumptionThe turbine’s energy consumption is also generally tested. Thankfully, turbines are not very energy-consuming. It is important to know their energy requirements to manage the electricity usage in your garden. Turbines consume a different amount of energy according to the air entry restrictions applied, which is why energy consumption reports will vary for each indoor garden.

The more powerful the motor, the more effi cient it will be at producing CFMs, and the more energy it will use. Even the most powerful exhaust, however, will generally not consume more than 2,200 kilowatt-hours per year, even on an uninterrupted cycle, which is a rather low energy consumption for a full year of use!

To ConcludeBefore buying an exhaust fan, take into consideration:

• The CFM total average with restrictions, i.e. the average recorded CFM at the exhaust’s exit while a controlled restriction is applied at the entry (you will need to estimate it based on the CFM attributed by the manufacturer by adding approximately 25% of its value, depending on the length of the ducts you will require once the unit is installed in your garden).

• The amount of CFM generated for each watt used. This expresses the energetic effi ciency of your fan exhaust: the larger the number, the more the device uses its energy consumption to generate CFMs. An exhaust that generates 2 to 2.8 CFM for each watt is perfectly balanced for an economic use of energy.

• Its power and effi ciency with regards to restrictions: it is the average power, in percent points, generated by the exhaust when it is submitted to various restrictions at the point of entry. A percentage of 75% with air entry restrictions is suffi cient.

You are now able to make the right choice when buying your next exhaust fan. Frequent oxygen exchanges in an indoor garden are required for the plants’ proper development, and the air extractor is thus a key element of the cultivation site. This is why the exhaust fan is a long-term investment – an indispensable one.

Dynamic cooling ventilation is done by extracting and/or injecting air into a grow room to control its climate. Unfortunately, this operation is often neglected by gardeners in their home indoor gardens. Controlling the climate is, as you know, a major factor in horticulture, and has a great impact on the proper growth of indoor plants.

Why Invest in An Exhaust Fan Turbine?The vast majority of indoor gardeners use 400 watt (and above) metal halide bulbs and/or high pressure sodium bulbs. These lamps emit a lot of heat. One 1,000 watt bulb produces approximately 3,450 BTU (British Thermal Units) per hour – a lot! One BTU equals approximately 252 to 253 calories or 1,054 to 1,060 joules, or 16 °C (about 60 °F). With these lamps, the temperature in the indoor garden can increase quite rapidly, which can quickly kill your plants; without adequate ventilation, it is practically impossible to even think of gardening indoors during the summer. If one wants to attempt serious indoor gardening, it is imperative to manage the temperature and thus, to invest in a good air extraction system. This will allow you to manage the temperature and will considerably improve your chances of getting abundant and fruitful harvests!

It is unfortunately very diffi cult to move a large mass of air without noise. In the past few years, thankfully, many manufacturers have released exhaust turbines. The technology used in such turbines allows them to move a lot of air while minimizing the noise produced. An air exhaust should be able to empty the room’s air in less than fi ve minutes. To be truly effi cient, however, it should be able to do so in about one minute. This is why it is so important to calculate the indoor garden’s volume before buying an

exhaust turbine. The CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute) is the measuring unit used to describe the theoretical power of air exhausts. A 100 CFM exhaust is, in theory, capable of extracting 100 cubic feet per minute. This unit is written on the device by the manufacturer, and corresponds to the exhaust’s raw power, without taking into consideration resistance and restrictions created when the gardener adds aeration ducts.

Th e Garden’s Surface Determines Th e Choice Of Exhaust ModelThe buyer must know that some effi ciency will be lost when aeration ducts are added to the air exhaust. This is why, when you buy a turbine, you must keep in mind that the device’s power will be, on average, decreased by 25% when you add long aeration ducts. For example, in a 1.20 m x 0.90 m x 2.45 m closet (2.65 m3), in theory, the 100 CFM exhaust will be required. In reality, once the ducts are in place, the 125 CFM exhaust will be the one capable of refreshing the air once every minute.

Exhaust turbines found on the market are generally designed for 20-cm diameter ducts. Manufacturers generally test their products with highly precise instruments. The test is done by creating various resistances at the turbine’s entry point, and to then calculate the output in CFM to fi nally know the exhaust’s average power. The restriction at the entry to the turbine is created with an iris damper. It acts like the aperture of a camera: the smaller the opening, the more restriction is applied to the turbine’s air intake.

Very Serious Tests Done by CompaniesThis resistance is calculated with a manometer (or pressure gauge) placed at the opening of a blower, which determines the difference between the cylinders’ internal and external pressure (see Figure A) and an anemometer placed at the same blower’s exit (there are two kinds of anemometers: one measures air pressure, the other, its speed). The measure unit used to express this pressure is the inch of

Investing in An Exhaust Fan Turbine, Or Th e Secrets of Dynamic Ventilation…By Paul Henderson

Photos: Atm

osphere

TIPS & TRICKS

Figure C

TIPS & TRICKS



Photos: City PlantesINDUSTRY

Plants use the light their leaves receive to make their food. If plants ripen, fl ower and die throughout the seasons, it is not so much due to their age or to the evolution of temperatures, but mostly due to the length of days. An extra light source can allow the horticulturist to transform short winter days into gorgeous summer days. With a few (six) hours of artifi cial light in the evening during the harsh season, indoor plants are splendid and fl ower while, outside, nature is resting.

I – Types of Bulbs for Indoor GardeningThe two types of lamps used by professionals today are available to the hobbyist.

• Metal halide lamps (MH) produce a white light that encourages plant growth. The light emitted resembles daylight, is becoming to green plants and fl owering plants, and can be used in an inhabited space. The strong proportion of blue in the emitted light spectrum of MH lamps is well suited to the vegetation or growth phase of plants.

• High pressure sodium lamps (HPS) produce an orange light and their light spectrum is best suited to fl owering or fruit-production. “Special” horticultural HPS lamps integrate “extreme red” to their spectrum, which the plants appreciate during fl owering. They can be used by themselves or as a complement to a white light lamp (MH) for superb fl owering.

II – What Gives Plants Their Green Colour?Plants absorb the blue and red of the light spectrum and

refl ect green. This is why we see them as green. To simplify, we can say that the blue part of the light rays make plants grow and turn green, while the red tones help them fl ower and fructify.

III – CityPlantes’ Team Recommends A Bulb/Refl ector/Diffuser Combo 1) The Fluo Cool-Light 125 W 4000°K BulbEnergy-saving Fluo Cool-Light bulbs emit very little heat, consume a limited amount of energy and are perfectly adapted to small gardens (50 x 50 cm). Cool-Light bulbs actually require 125 watts for 9,600 lumens and are the only ones on the market that come with a double ballast and two starters! With these innovations, the light emitted is more regular, does not degrade as much over time and

the bulb is not sensitive to sector current variations. These bulbs can be placed three to four centimetres away from the plants. Although they are not as effi cient as PL55 neon tubes (or as Fluo 2 x 55 watts lamps), they have the advantage of having an integrated ballast, which means they can be installed in most horticultural refl ectors with a simple supply lead.

Characteristics:• 125 watts fl uorescent bulb, strength of 4000°Kelvin; • E40 screw base, which requires the use of an E40 socket; • Spectrum adapted for growth;• Be careful: always hold the bulb by its base to screw it

in. Bulbs returned broken are neither reimbursed nor replaced;

• Weight: 1.1 kg.

a) Ceramic E40 socketThis type of socket is adapted to the majority of horticultural high pressure sodium and metal halide lamps. It has integrated metallic fi xation legs. It is very easy to install in most horticultural refl ectors.

Characteristics:• Ceramic socket;• E40 socket cap;• Weight: 0,2 kg.

b) Another option: 55 W “Red” PL820 fl uorescent tube at 2100°K from Plants & LightsThis tube delivers 4,800 lumens for 55 CMS! With its very red colouration, this tube triggers the fl owering of “short day” plants and reinforces those of “long day” plants. To used with a “Warm White” PL830 tube to offer fl owering plants a more balanced light spectrum.

Characteristics:• Red PL 820 fl uorescent tube, at a strength of

2100°K;• Colour spectrum: Red (very red light) specially

designed for fl owering;• Weight: 0.15 kg.

2) Adjust-a-Wings “Avenger Large” Refl ectorsAustralian Adjust-a-Wings Avenger Large refl ectors are a true technical breakthrough in the fi eld of horticultural lighting.

Phot

os: C

ity

Plan

tes

INDUSTRYUsed with their light diffuser, their shape compensates for any fl aw in the light spread caused by the design of high pressure sodium bulbs. Hot spots are cancelled and the light strength is perfectly spread on the entire surface. Plants grow faster, with no difference in size between the centre and the edges of the garden. The luminous rays penetrate the canopy better, and the result is close to what could be achieved with a stronger lamp and an ordinary refl ector. The Avenger model is also available in medium size.

Characteristics:• Hammered refl ector, two refl ecting sides;• Maximum dimensions 103.3 x 70 cm; • Pre-equipped with socket and cable gland;• Specially optimized for HPS 1000 watts or 2 x 600 watts

bulbs with the addition of a base and a socket; • It is imperative to add the Adjust-a-Wings diffuser for an

ideal performance (see below);• Beware: this original Adjust-a-Wings product (refl ectivity

rate is 98%) is not comparable to those offered at a lower price, which do not deliver the expected results;

• Weight: 3 kg;• There also is a face-to-face positioning model (still for

1000 watts or 2 x 600 watts lamps);• Associated to diffusers, they spread the light to

perfection...

Adjust-a-Wings refl ectors truly offer surprising performances compared to the competition.

3) HPS Medium Adjust-a-Wings DiffuserAustralian company Adjust-a-Wings offers a special diffuser for its medium-sized Adjust-a-Wings refl ectors. This type of diffuser is required to get the best from your refl ector. It spreads the light and directs it on plants while diffusing heat high above!

Characteristics:• Diffusing grill and assembly parts included

(easy installation);• Optimised for HPS 400 watts bulbs;

• Weight: 0.3 kg.

Light, water, nutrients: a plant placed in an ideal root support will prosper with little care once those three basic needs are met.

To fi nd out more: www.cityplantes.com or call 01133-1-46648359, or fax us your comments at: 01133-1-46647753.

Horticultural Lighting: Light Guides Plant LifeBy Jean-Pierre Daimé and Pierre Bonnard (CityPlantes)


Photos: City Plantes

INDUSTRY

Plants use the light their leaves receive to make their food. If plants ripen, fl ower and die throughout the seasons, it is not so much due to their age or to the evolution of temperatures, but mostly due to the length of days. An extra light source can allow the horticulturist to transform short winter days into gorgeous summer days. With a few (six) hours of artifi cial light in the evening during the harsh season, indoor plants are splendid and fl ower while, outside, nature is resting.

I – Types of Bulbs for Indoor GardeningThe two types of lamps used by professionals today are available to the hobbyist.

• Metal halide lamps (MH) produce a white light that encourages plant growth. The light emitted resembles daylight, is becoming to green plants and fl owering plants, and can be used in an inhabited space. The strong proportion of blue in the emitted light spectrum of MH lamps is well suited to the vegetation or growth phase of plants.

• High pressure sodium lamps (HPS) produce an orange light and their light spectrum is best suited to fl owering or fruit-production. “Special” horticultural HPS lamps integrate “extreme red” to their spectrum, which the plants appreciate during fl owering. They can be used by themselves or as a complement to a white light lamp (MH) for superb fl owering.

II – What Gives Plants Their Green Colour?Plants absorb the blue and red of the light spectrum and

refl ect green. This is why we see them as green. To simplify, we can say that the blue part of the light rays make plants grow and turn green, while the red tones help them fl ower and fructify.

III – CityPlantes’ Team Recommends A Bulb/Refl ector/Diffuser Combo 1) The Fluo Cool-Light 125 W 4000°K BulbEnergy-saving Fluo Cool-Light bulbs emit very little heat, consume a limited amount of energy and are perfectly adapted to small gardens (50 x 50 cm). Cool-Light bulbs actually require 125 watts for 9,600 lumens and are the only ones on the market that come with a double ballast and two starters! With these innovations, the light emitted is more regular, does not degrade as much over time and

the bulb is not sensitive to sector current variations. These bulbs can be placed three to four centimetres away from the plants. Although they are not as effi cient as PL55 neon tubes (or as Fluo 2 x 55 watts lamps), they have the advantage of having an integrated ballast, which means they can be installed in most horticultural refl ectors with a simple supply lead.

Characteristics:• 125 watts fl uorescent bulb, strength of 4000°Kelvin; • E40 screw base, which requires the use of an E40 socket; • Spectrum adapted for growth;• Be careful: always hold the bulb by its base to screw it

in. Bulbs returned broken are neither reimbursed nor replaced;

• Weight: 1.1 kg.

a) Ceramic E40 socketThis type of socket is adapted to the majority of horticultural high pressure sodium and metal halide lamps. It has integrated metallic fi xation legs. It is very easy to install in most horticultural refl ectors.

Characteristics:• Ceramic socket;• E40 socket cap;• Weight: 0,2 kg.

b) Another option: 55 W “Red” PL820 fl uorescent tube at 2100°K from Plants & LightsThis tube delivers 4,800 lumens for 55 CMS! With its very red colouration, this tube triggers the fl owering of “short day” plants and reinforces those of “long day” plants. To used with a “Warm White” PL830 tube to offer fl owering plants a more balanced light spectrum.

Characteristics:• Red PL 820 fl uorescent tube, at a strength of

2100°K;• Colour spectrum: Red (very red light) specially

designed for fl owering;• Weight: 0.15 kg.

2) Adjust-a-Wings “Avenger Large” Refl ectorsAustralian Adjust-a-Wings Avenger Large refl ectors are a true technical breakthrough in the fi eld of horticultural lighting.

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os: C

ity

Plan

tes

INDUSTRYUsed with their light diffuser, their shape compensates for any fl aw in the light spread caused by the design of high pressure sodium bulbs. Hot spots are cancelled and the light strength is perfectly spread on the entire surface. Plants grow faster, with no difference in size between the centre and the edges of the garden. The luminous rays penetrate the canopy better, and the result is close to what could be achieved with a stronger lamp and an ordinary refl ector. The Avenger model is also available in medium size.

Characteristics:• Hammered refl ector, two refl ecting sides;• Maximum dimensions 103.3 x 70 cm; • Pre-equipped with socket and cable gland;• Specially optimized for HPS 1000 watts or 2 x 600 watts

bulbs with the addition of a base and a socket; • It is imperative to add the Adjust-a-Wings diffuser for an

ideal performance (see below);• Beware: this original Adjust-a-Wings product (refl ectivity

rate is 98%) is not comparable to those offered at a lower price, which do not deliver the expected results;

• Weight: 3 kg;• There also is a face-to-face positioning model (still for

1000 watts or 2 x 600 watts lamps);• Associated to diffusers, they spread the light to

perfection...

Adjust-a-Wings refl ectors truly offer surprising performances compared to the competition.

3) HPS Medium Adjust-a-Wings DiffuserAustralian company Adjust-a-Wings offers a special diffuser for its medium-sized Adjust-a-Wings refl ectors. This type of diffuser is required to get the best from your refl ector. It spreads the light and directs it on plants while diffusing heat high above!

Characteristics:• Diffusing grill and assembly parts included

(easy installation);• Optimised for HPS 400 watts bulbs;

• Weight: 0.3 kg.

Light, water, nutrients: a plant placed in an ideal root support will prosper with little care once those three basic needs are met.

To fi nd out more: www.cityplantes.com or call 01133-1-46648359, or fax us your comments at: 01133-1-46647753.

Horticultural Lighting: Light Guides Plant LifeBy Jean-Pierre Daimé and Pierre Bonnard (CityPlantes)

Fluorescent Lamps – Main CharacteristicsFluorescent lights produce the most accurate color spectrums, but their light intensity is only suffi cent to grow short plants. Keep the fl uorescent tube about 8 centimetres from the growing tip. As the growing tips grow near the fl uorescent, raise the light 8 to 13 centimetres higher above the growing tips. Once the plants are taller than 40 centimetres, the light radiating from the tube will not be able to illuminate the lower leaves or fruit, and the plants will cease to produce. Fluorescent tubes are great for cuttings. They emit a stronger light in the middle and weaker light towards each end. Also, when the tubes become dark at the end, replace them.

Cool white fl uorescent tube spectrum

Warm fl uorescent tube spectrum

The Latest Technology: T5 Lamps

The latest technology to have reached the market in fl uorescent lighting is found in T5 lamps, producing an impressive 5,000 initial lumens. Older fl uorescent tech-nology only allowed about 1,200 initial lumens. Mix and match 3,000, 5,000, 6,500 or 10,000°Kelvin temperature lights to get the colour spectrum your plants need. Hydroponic stores carry special fl uorescent fi xtures for these lights, with a wide range of two, four, six or eight adaptable lamp fi xtures. For more information and to read our test, see The Indoor Gardener Vol. 2 – # 1, pp. 46-48.

26

Photo: T.I.G. —

Illustrations: B&B H

ydroponicsTECHNOLOGY

Illus

trat

ions

: B&

B H

ydro

poni

cs &

D.R

.

TECHNOLOGYCompact Fluorescent LampsCompact fl uorescent lamps produce two colour spectrums: 2,700°K and 6,400°K. They produce 8,900 lumens of light from 95 watts or from 125 watts. Metal halide (MH) lamps provide a white light that is excellent for growth: white light resembles outdoor summer light for growth. High pressure sodium (HPS) red light is used to duplicate the harvest sun during the fall. By increasing the red light, we trick the plants into thinking that winter is coming and that they have to produce enough fl owers to catch the pollen to form a seed.

High Pressure Sodium Coated LampI have found very little information about this lamp, but I did fi nd this chart regarding a HPS lamp with a phosphor-coating on the inside. Yes, the intensity is slightly lower, but there it has more red than a regular HPS bulb.

High pressure sodium coated lamp spectrum

The graphic below represents the typical light spectrum of the URSA and Mark III CRT lights from Thomas Electronics: “A broad spectrum, single phosphor, very fast decay screen creates no surprises in colorimetry or signal handling. High light output and small spot size give good signal to noise and fi ne detail.” This is the closest spectrum from high pressure sodium coated lamps we were able to fi nd. (Source: www.thomaselectronics.com).

Fluorescent Lighting and the Right Distance between Lamps and Plants in Your Indoor GardenBy W.S.

THE INDOOR GARDENER VOLUME 2 – ISSUE 5

Fluorescent Lamps – Main CharacteristicsFluorescent lights produce the most accurate color spectrums, but their light intensity is only suffi cent to grow short plants. Keep the fl uorescent tube about 8 centimetres from the growing tip. As the growing tips grow near the fl uorescent, raise the light 8 to 13 centimetres higher above the growing tips. Once the plants are taller than 40 centimetres, the light radiating from the tube will not be able to illuminate the lower leaves or fruit, and the plants will cease to produce. Fluorescent tubes are great for cuttings. They emit a stronger light in the middle and weaker light towards each end. Also, when the tubes become dark at the end, replace them.

Cool white fl uorescent tube spectrum

Warm fl uorescent tube spectrum

The Latest Technology: T5 Lamps

The latest technology to have reached the market in fl uorescent lighting is found in T5 lamps, producing an impressive 5,000 initial lumens. Older fl uorescent tech-nology only allowed about 1,200 initial lumens. Mix and match 3,000, 5,000, 6,500 or 10,000°Kelvin temperature lights to get the colour spectrum your plants need. Hydroponic stores carry special fl uorescent fi xtures for these lights, with a wide range of two, four, six or eight adaptable lamp fi xtures. For more information and to read our test, see The Indoor Gardener Vol. 2 – # 1, pp. 46-48.

26

Photo: T.I.G. —


ydroponics

TECHNOLOGYIll

ustr

atio

ns: B

&B

Hyd

ropo

nics

& D

.R.

TECHNOLOGYCompact Fluorescent LampsCompact fl uorescent lamps produce two colour spectrums: 2,700°K and 6,400°K. They produce 8,900 lumens of light from 95 watts or from 125 watts. Metal halide (MH) lamps provide a white light that is excellent for growth: white light resembles outdoor summer light for growth. High pressure sodium (HPS) red light is used to duplicate the harvest sun during the fall. By increasing the red light, we trick the plants into thinking that winter is coming and that they have to produce enough fl owers to catch the pollen to form a seed.

High Pressure Sodium Coated LampI have found very little information about this lamp, but I did fi nd this chart regarding a HPS lamp with a phosphor-coating on the inside. Yes, the intensity is slightly lower, but there it has more red than a regular HPS bulb.

High pressure sodium coated lamp spectrum

The graphic below represents the typical light spectrum of the URSA and Mark III CRT lights from Thomas Electronics: “A broad spectrum, single phosphor, very fast decay screen creates no surprises in colorimetry or signal handling. High light output and small spot size give good signal to noise and fi ne detail.” This is the closest spectrum from high pressure sodium coated lamps we were able to fi nd. (Source: www.thomaselectronics.com).

Fluorescent Lighting and the Right Distance between Lamps and Plants in Your Indoor GardenBy W.S.



ydroponics Garden

Distance from HID Lamp When growing with high intensity discharge (HID) lamps, plants should never be placed closer than 15 centimetres from the lamp’s outer glass. The farthest that a lamp should be placed from the plants is around 1.5 metres. A 1,000 watt lamp can be placed farther than a 600 watt, and a 400 watt will need to be even closer.

The Role of Refl ectors

When choosing the right refl ector to illuminate your indoor garden, know that delivering more than 350 watts per 0.9 square metres will tighten the fl ower formation and increase fruit size, but will return a lower yield. By calculating your garden’s area in square metres and delivering between 250 and 350 watts per 0.9 square metres, you will allow a maximum number of plants in the growing area. Adding more plants into a larger growing area allows for more fl owering sites.

For example, in a 1.2 m x 1.2 m growing room, you will have to do this calculation: (L) 1.2 x (W) 1.2 = 1.44 square metres. The amount of light per square metre will be: one 400 watt light, divided by 1.44 = 277 watts per square metre. This means one 400 W lamp will provide plenty of light, as long as the plants are not allowed to grow taller than one metre high (see fi gure 3). When the light source is placed too far above the plants, it reduces the amount of light delivered.

Vertical refl ectors can be placed closer to plants than horizontal ones. The cone shape of vertical refl ectors has been engineered to focus light downwards and sideways across the growing area. By placing vertical refl ectors side by side, about 60 centimetres apart, we can maximize the number of plants under the light source. If one of the lights in the room happens to be weaker, the light from the refl ectors beside it will help to even things out. This can also help if you are trying to blend two different colours of light sources together. Horizontal refl ectors concentrate light downward, leaving very little light to escape to the sides. Some refl ector sockets are mounted lower, allowing for the escape of light to the sides, but they have very little light penetration. Refl ectors that gather all the light and focus it downward will need to be raised higher to illuminate a wider area.

There is a choice to be made: either you have a very bright light concentrated on a few plants or you raise the light to cover a larger growing area.

A Selection of Refl ectors K Wing 46 cmMade from steel with a baked-on white enamel fi nish. Comes pre-assembled and has two eye bolts to suspend.

K Wing 61 cmMade from steel with a baked-on enamel fi nish. Comes pre-assembled and has two eye bolts to suspend.

K ShadowMade from steel with a baked-on white enamel fi nish. No assembly required.

K Northern-LightMade from steel with a baked-on white enamel fi nish. Tempered safety lens. Two x six in-line tubes for maximum ventilation. Comes with socket and 3.8 metres of cord and has two eye bolts to suspend.

Phot

os: D

.R. &

Nut

raD

ip™

K Silver-LightMade from stainless steel with mirror fi nish. Tempered safety lens. Two x six in-line tubes for maximum ventilation. Comes with socket and 3.8 metres of cord and has two eye bolts to suspend.

K Hi-LightMade from steel with a baked-on white enamel fi nish. Comes with eyebolts to suspend and galvanized bracket for socket and installation hardware.

K GlassTempered safety glass 61 cm x 41 cm.

Why Do You Need a Light Meter?Did you ever wonder when you should replace lights? Or whether alI the plants are being illuminated evenly? You can verify that using a light meter that reads aIl the light. Do not be fooled by cheap light meters that can only read one or two wavelengths of the colour spectrum. I strongly recommend the NutraDip™ Light Monitoring System (LMS – 100) with a wide range from 100 to 199,900 lux (with multiplication by 100 calibration).

The NutraDip™ LMS meter is very easy to operate. It is designed to measure the luminosity of light using lux as the base unit. It has only an on/off switch to display readings on a large seven-segment LCD display. The Light Monitoring System (LMS) is capable of measuring a wide range of luminosity of light for any hydroponic grower because in every greenhouse, density of light is a major factor for the plants. This meter uses the latest electronic technology and a silicon pin photodiode enhanced for blue sensitivity.

To know more about NutraDip™ measurement products, visit: www.nutradip.com.

Don’t forget to visit www.bandbhydroponics.com and www.growingedgetechnologies.ca.

Or call 613 723-2132 (fax: 613 723-3507).

[Fig. 1] Horizontal refl ectors gather the light and refl ect the light down.

Where the bulb is mounted will determine the cone of light. If it is

mounted higher up in the refl ector, the beam of light will be narrower.

If it is mounted lower, it will allow the light to reach farther to the

sides, but with no penetration. When burning lamps are horizontal,

we lose 25% of bulb life and 10% of brightness.

[Fig. 2] With no refl ector on the lamp, the whole room is illuminated.

[Fig. 3] Light becomes weaker the farther it travels.

[Fig. 4] Horizontal refl ectors gather light and concentrate it.

[Fig. 5] When using two or more horizontal refl ectors, you must align

them so that the light is even across the plant canopy.

[Fig. 6] Conical fl at refl ectors refl ect light down and across, evenly

distributing it.

28

TECHNOLOGY TECHNOLOGY


Illustration: T.I.G.

GROWING EXPERIMENT

Never Experiment Without ObservingThis way of proceeding is entirely experimental and the result of many attempts, at fi rst unsuccessful and some completely ruined, before it fi nally revealed its potential. We have set it up without worrying about purely scientifi c precision and without the kind of critical protocol that would have been required in a lab setting. It was born of observation, not of theory. It uses a farmer’s logic… which is probably quite accurate.

Of course, you should not embark on such an experimental attempt in the course of your fi rst gardening experience under metal halide (MH) and high pressure sodium (HPS) lamps. It is important to proceed only once you know and understand the cultivated plants’ life and fl owering cycle. Once this knowledge is integrated, you can intervene to modify it, to adapt is to your needs.

The Experiment: SetupThe experiment was realized in an indoor garden that was 1.8 metres high, with a fl oor space of 2.4 metres by 5.5 metres. We were thus able to use lighting made up of two 600 or 1,000 (as desired, as long as both have the same intensity)

watt bulbs. Our plants’ growth cycle was done the classic way, under the white cold light of MH bulbs. The onset of fl owering marked the beginning of the experiment. The fi rst step is to change the lighting, and thus the bulbs themselves.

For this experiment, we need special equipment: two metal halide lamps of the same intensity as the two high pressure sodium lamps. Our experiment plays on the alternation of luminous intensity above the garden. It is performed from the onset of fl owering to its end, or to harvest in the case of fruit-bearing plants. We place our bulbs as indicated in the illustrations (the two HPS on the sides, with the third bulb, the MH, in the middle, and only activated at the beginning of the second week) by alternating each week the distance of the HPS bulbs with regards to the plants’ apex, for the entire duration of the fl owering cycle.

The Experiment: Sequence of EventsDuring the fi rst week, we lit our HPS bulbs following the manufacturer’s directions, which is to say the distance recommended for this type of bulb with regards to the plant canopy. During the second week, we shorten the suspending

Phot

o: B

.B.

GROWING EXPERIMENTcable by 30 to 45 centimetres, to raise the HPS bulbs. We place between those our MH bulb, which will remain at its usual height (that recommended by the manufacturer). Hence, the second week, the plants get a little extra light similar to that of their already fi nished growing cycle. This extra light from the MH bulb in the centre of the garden, sustained during the entire second week, recreates the white cool light of the fi rst growing cycle.

The plants should react with a growth spurt that will extend the space between the nodes (internodes), i.e. between the places on the stem where new branches develop. The following week, we put the HPS bulbs back to their initial spot for seven days. For the third week, we put them back up to where they were during the second week, and so on until the end of the fl owering cycle. Plants benefi t from the periods under the MH light to grow, while the alternating period under the dominance of high pressure sodium light will improve the potential of terminal buds and give you a much more impressive fl owering.

The Lighting CycleDepending on the plant variety you have chosen to cultivate, you have logically given them a daily light cycle of 24/0 or 18/6 hours during the entire growth cycle. For the purposes of our

experiment, we have induced the fl owering cycle by moving to a 12/12 cycle daily. The entire experiment could be done under these conditions. During the weeks when the metal halide bulb is closest to the plants’ apex, we also could have gone to a 14/10 cycle to allow the plants to take advantage of this mini-renewal of the growth phase. We have tested both possibilities and, to tell the truth, there was no signifi cant difference. I thus advise you to go through the entire process with a timer-programmed for a 12/12 fl owering cycle.

Convincing ResultsAccording to our own protocols, following such an experiment, we have obtained infl orescences twice as large as under regular conditions consisting of a fl owering light made up of two static high pressure sodium lamps placed at the manufacturer’s recommended height for the entire cycle. One only needed to think of it: artifi cially provoking the continuation of growth during the fl owering cycle to allow the plant to expand still more. If you feel up to it, attempt this experiment and send us pictures of the monster fl owers you will get by email at [email protected] or by mail, at P.O. Box #52046, Laval (Québec), H7P 5S1, Canada. We will be happy to publish them in our gallery.

How To Obtain Larger Infl orescences By Alternating MH And HPS LightingBy Th . Monk (With help by C.A.)

FLOWERING CYCLE

1st week of fl owering 2nd, 4th, etc. 3rd, 5th, etc.



GALLERY GALLERY

Shane Passmore-Crawford is a freelance photographer who started with a background in fi lm production. He graduated from Niagara College with a diploma in fi lm production and also attended Canadore College, taking in Television and Radio Broadcasting, winning awards for both directing and cinematography. He has worked on various documentaries and travelled across Canada to build his portfolio. Shane has always loved taking pictures, working at his profession and continuously tries to improve his skills and explore different aspects of photography. He currently lives on a small farm in Southern Ontario. Other examples of his work can be seen at www.spcphotography.ca.

36

GALLERY GALLERY



Photos: D.R

. & Bruno Bredoux

PLANT HEALTH

“Nothing is lost, nothing is created”, said chemist Lavoisier. Every solution is found in nature and sometimes, rather than applying to your plants all sorts of products containing strange ingredients, it is best to trust nature: it almost always can mend the havoc it creates! This second part of our fungicide review will thus offer a series of plants, fruits and vegetables that, once transformed into infusions, decoctions, once soaked or powdered, can naturally counter your indoor plants’ fungal diseases. A little work is required, and the dosage must be followed precisely, but in the end you will have the certainty of giving your plants an entirely natural treatment.

1 – Black Elder

Black elder (Sambucus nigra) is a berry tree, often found in the wild

in our country-sides. Its black berries are toxic when raw, but can make excellent jams and jellies (although the fruit and sugar mix should be strained,

because black elderberries contain an astonishing quantity of

tiny seeds). The black elder’s active properties are antifungal (in particular

against rose mildew) and repel some insects (caterpillars, aphids, etc.). Use leaves and stems (before the fruit appears, so before the end of August) as a decoction. To prepare it, boil 500 grams of black elder leaves and stems in 3.5 litres of water for 30 minutes. Filter and keep in a bottle (for a maximum of three months). Apply by spraying it directly on the plants that require treatment.

2 – Tansy

This perennial (Tanacetum vulgare) from temperate regions has antifungal

properties. It also deters some types of insects (in infusion against

phytophagous insects or as a decoction against codling moths). We

can choose to use the entire plant, freshly

cut, dried, or to only use its fresh or dried fl owers. The tansy infusion is made from 300 grams of fresh plant with 10% dried plant (30 g) for two litres of boiling water. Let it sit in the water for 12 hours before fi ltering. This must be diluted in four times its volume of water (8 litres) and you must add 16 ml dish soap (2 ml per litre) before use to make the product adhere to the foliage. The infusion, used as a foliar spray, is very effi cient against rust, mildew, etc.

To make the decoction, boil 300 grams of fresh fl owers (no whole plants this time!) with 10% dried fl owers (30 g) in 10 litres of water. Allow to cool for 12 hours before fi ltering. Use it (as a foliar spray) against codling moths, ants, onion maggots, carrot fl ies, cabbage maggots, etc.

3 – Field HorsetailThe fi eld horsetail (Equisetum arvense) contains active ingredients such as silica and equisetogenine (hence its Latin name, derived from equus, horse), iron oxide, tannins, resins, vitamin C, potassium chloride and aluminium. As a decoction, the dried and ground plant is used under leaves to fi ght against rust, on leaves against mildew and powdery mildew, on tomato plants against the Septoria nodorum fungus, etc. To make the decoctions, boil one litre of water and add 150 grams of fresh plants along with 10% dried plants and allow it to simmer gently for 20 minutes before letting it cool for a half day. Dilute this in fi ve times its volume of water before using it. The decoctions can be kept in an opaque glass jar, away from light, for at least one month. Powdered dried fi eld horsetail is good against slugs and cutworms. You need only spread the powder on the ground around the plants you wish to protect.

4 – Tomato

Tomato (Lycopersicon lycopersycum L.) stems and leaves, when macerated, are an excellent fungicide against rose bushes’ black spot. To prepare this mixture, macerate for 12

Phot

os: D

.R.

PLANT HEALTHhours about ten very nice tomato leaves, completely clean with no trace of insects or rot, with a chopped onion in150 ml of rubbing alcohol. Apply with a paintbrush to the rose leaves that need treatment, on both sides.

With another type of maceration (250 g of young tomato shoots

and young leaves put in a mixer and allowed to macerate for two hours in a litre of water) or an infusion (15 healthy tomato leaves infused for 24 hours in one litre of

boiling water), we can make very effi cient insect repellent.

This should not, however, be used on other plants from the tomato

family (nightshade family). They would not work and could be dangerous for the plant. Also avoid all contact between the product, even though it is natural, and your skin. With the second type of maceration or the infusion, we can treat plants in general (except for nightshades) against aphids, corn against corn earworm or cabbage against cabbage butterfl y (spray cabbage directly with the liquid).

5 – HorseradishHorseradish (Armoracia rusticana or Cochlearia armoracia L.) is a perennial plant cultivated around the world because its root is used as a condiment. Its long white fl eshy root looks like a large oriental radish and it is topped with foliage that can reach 40 to 60 cm, ending in heavy clusters of small sterile white fl owers. Its root is used directly, roughly chopped, to replace mustard because of its strong, peppery and spicy taste. Japanese horseradish, or wasabi, is of course the base of this green mustard we eat with sushi.

To make an antifungal product from a plant of horseradish, use its leaves and root (grated) and make an infusion. For one litre of boiling water, count 100 grams of a mixture of fresh leaves and roots and allow to infuse until it is completely cool before fi ltering. This infusion is ideal to treat young clones against damping off. Spray the soil all around the plantlets. It can also be used with success as a spray against botrytis (particularly on tomato plants).

Fungus Control – Part IIMake Your Own Natural, Plant-Based Fungicides and Antifungal Products

By Bruno Bredoux

For more information and ordering, contact: 1.888.747.4769 604.882.7699

or visit our web site:www.grotek.net

Re withlize TMTMTM


Photos: D.R

. & Bruno Bredoux

PLANT HEALTH6 – Mouse-ear-cressMouse-ear cress (Arabidopsis) is very common in Europe and Asia. It belongs to the same family as cabbage, radishes, mustard and rape (crucifers). It is generally found on the borders of cultivated areas, in ditches, dunes, uncropped lands and even on the walls of old ruins. A variety of mouse-ear cress, Arabidopsis thaliana, is the only plant in the world (found so far) to be naturally resistant to fungus disease. From this realization, scientists are working tirelessly to try and discover which part of the plant could be used against many fungal infections, such

as Botrytis cinerea (which causes botrytis), Colletotrichum destructivum (which causes anthracnose) or Peronospora parasitica (which causes mildew)… Unfortunately, information on the topic is exceedingly complex and, without understanding scientifi c vocabulary and all its intricacies, it would be diffi cult, both for the neophyte reader and for me, to report here even a brief summary of the use of mouse-ear cress genes against fungal infections. What’s more, up until now research has been more than experimental!

For those who are interested, however, a summary of Richard O’Connell et al.’s article “A Novel Arabidopsis-

Colletotrichum Pathosystem for the Molecular Dissection of Plant-Fungal

Interactions. Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions” is available online (in French: http://jjchevaugeon.cirad.fr and in English: http://lib.uky.edu).

As for a recipe… you will need to be patient, and wait until all of that is translated into ordinary language!

7 –Jalapeño PepperThe properties of the Jalapeño pepper (Capsicum, the Jalapeño pepper is a F1 hybrid of Capsicum Annuum L.), as well as those of the Habañero pepper, of Cayenne pepper and of pretty much all strong peppers are well known for the preparation of macerations with antiviral, insecticidal and repellent properties. Associated with Cayenne pepper, chopped white onion, a radish and orange, lemon and grapefruit zest (put in the blender and added to the juice of at least 10 Jalapeño peppers), it becomes an excellent repellent of spider mites (see The Indoor Gardener, Vol. 1 – Issue 2, at pages 18-19). In the same way, its antifungal properties are revealed and multiplied by the presence of other ingredients in the infusion recipe. In one litre of boiling

water, infuse fi ve millilitres of coarsely crushed Jalapeño pepper, three chopped garlic cloves and a medium onion, fi nely chopped. Let the mixture rest until it is completely cool and fi lter. Dilute the liquid obtained in four times its volume of warm water and add 30 millilitres of vegetable oil (canola, soy, corn, sunfl ower, sesame, etc.).

You can spray this solution directly on the foliage of rose bushes to fi ght rust and black spot.

8 – Apple (as Cider Vinegar)The apple is the fruit of the apple tree (Malus sylvestris L.), and is the ingredient of a fermented alcoholic beverage, cider, which gives a much-appreciated vinegar to be used as a culinary condiment. Cider vinegar has many agricultural properties: it acidifi es the soil, disinfects seeds (add fi ve millilitres of vinegar, 15 millilitres of molasses and 90 millilitres of water and soak the seeds into the mixture for 24 hours) by avoiding their wilt caused by bacteria. Put in an adequate trap, it attracts fl ies and can be used as bait for many other insects (in a rather concentrated dilution: 15 millilitres of cider vinegar for 250 millilitres of water). Sprayed on cats’ favourite plants, it will convince them not to return.

Used in a dilution (40 millilitres of vinegar for 1.5 litres of water), it is an exceptional antifungal agent to prevent black spot on roses and repel harmful beetles. If you add a few drops of cider vinegar in the water of your cut fl ower bouquets, it will prevent the development of fungi on the stems and will prevent the water from looking sludgy a few days later.

As a maceration, cider vinegar is used as an added ingredient in a mixture made up of 375 millilitres of compost maceration, 30 millilitres of cider vinegar, 30 millilitres of algae emulsion, 30 millilitres of sugar cane molasses, one teaspoon of sodium bicarbonate, the juice from three garlic cloves and four litres of water. This will give you a general antifungal agent that can be sprayed on all types of foliage.

9 – Sugar Cane (as Molasses)Cultivated for its stems from which sugar is extracted, sugar cane (Saccharum offi cinarum L.), originating from Melanesia, is the plant that is the most cultivated in the world. Its production reached a record volume in 2002 with 1.3 billion tons produced. Already cultivated in prehistoric times, it was

Phot

o: D

.R.

rediscovered and exploited by Arabs as early as the 8th century. Christopher Columbus introduced it to America and in particular in the Antilles, where it was discovered that a distillation of cane juice made a delicious alcoholic beverage… rum!

Molasses forms a thick, viscous syrup, the last residue from refi ning the sugar cane’s sugar. This culinary product, used in a dilution, is a great antifungal product, a safe bait and a surprising insect repellent. It is very simple to make a general antifungal product: dilute 500 millilitres of molasses in four litres of hot water. It is very important to take the time to dilute the molasses well by stirring the mixture with energy. Because it is viscous, it could otherwise clog up your sprayer when you apply the solutions to your plants’ foliage to treat them against fungal infections (apply every two weeks).

Molasses is also used to make a compost, vinegar, algae emulsion, etc., antifungal maceration. That recipe is given in the preceding point (apple).

To make a caterpillar bait to use on infested cabbage, mix 15 millilitres of molasses, 5 millilitres of soap and one litre of hot water. Leave the soap out, and it becomes a perfect liquid to trap grasshoppers. To trap earwigs, make a dilution with 30 millilitres of molasses and 30 millilitres of vegetable oil in a half litre of hot water.

10 – Seaweed (as Algae Emulsion) Seaweed (Fucus serratus) does not as

such have antifungal virtues when it is used on its own as an emulsion.

It must be associated to other components to get

a maceration that has a general use against pathogenic

fungi. Used in agriculture, algae emulsion is a biological amendment used to enrich the soil. This natural nutrient

is obtained with a solution of mixed algae that originally contained easily available

nutrients (1 to 2% of nitrogen, 2 to 4% of phosphorous and 18 to 22% of potassium) and over 80 trace minerals. Using algae emulsion is particularly recommended for young seedlings, which will very quickly assimilate the given nutrients and trace minerals, for freshly transplanted plants and for large crops. The emulsion, however, must never be sprayed during the day and especially not in full sun. Do it rather early in the morning or at dusk.

In Brittany and in other coastal regions, farmers spread seaweed right on their crops as an amendment.

PLANT HEALTH


Photos: D.R

. & Bruno Bredoux

PLANT HEALTHThe recipe for the antifungal maceration with algae emulsion is given in point 8, page 40.

11 – Potato (as Starch)Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) starch is used in the kitchen as a thickener. It is a powder and can be found in any grocery store. Used in a solution (by mixing 30 to 60 millilitres of starch in one litre of water with three drops of dish soap for adherence), it is a very effi cient antifungal agent to treat the top of cucumber leaves against cucumber powdery mildew. Beware, however,

to rinse out your cucumber plants a few days later to remove all residues. This solution is also good as an insecticide, in particular against spider mites, aphids, whitefl ies and greenhouse thrips.

12 – Other (Surprizing!) Natural Products With Antifungal PropertiesIn the end, we could keep on enumerating surprising natural products to use as antifungal products for pages and pages (and another 12 point article is already in the works). Nevertheless, we will here list a brief recall of some other products that do not come directly from plants.

Boric acid has antifungal and fungicidal properties (as is or in a solution consisting of 5 millilitres of boric acid, 90 millilitres of sugar and a half litre of tepid water); so does alum (dilute 40 grams in some warm water and add 10 litres of water), rubbing alcohol (to disinfect tools, thus avoiding the propagation of spores) and white and grey clay (to daub as is on wounds, leaves, bark, etc.).

Sodium bicarbonate (which we have seen as a maceration ingredient above) can also be used as is or in a solution to destroy spores. In a solution, dosage is 50 to 60 millilitres of sodium bicarbonate in four litres of water. Add 40 to 60 millilitres of dish soap for adherence.

Wood ashes and wood charcoal are also a very effi cient antifungal agent. Wood charcoal can be used as is as a supplement mixed into the soil of seedlings. it will protect them against damping off. Ashes can be used as is or in a solution. Wood ashes diluted in water are called “lye water”. To make lye water, soak a kilo of ashes into fi ve litres of water for three days; this will give you a solution with 25% limewash action. Respect the proportions, or you risk modifying the soil’s acidity by making the pH vary wildly. Do not mix:

the water should remain clear above the ashes. Use the clear maceration to eradicate soil larvae. As an antifungal

agent, lye water is very effi cient against clubroot caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae, mainly on canola plants.

Compost, in its macerated form, once spread on the soil, protects crops from dry rot, verticillium tomato rot, crown rot, raspberry and pea root rot and from root and stem rot. As liquid manure, it treats mildew, powdery mildew and botrytis.

Bleach, mixed in a proportion of 30 millilitres for 16 litres of water and 60 millilitres of mineral oil, is a very effi cient fungicide for lawns.

Dairy products such as milk, sour milk, whey (or lactoserum) or buttermilk can be diluted and used against fungal diseases. Milk must fi rst be diluted in an equal part of water. It can be used against black stem, mildew and some viruses, such as the mosaic of lettuce, cucumber and tomato.

Hydrogen peroxide in 15% solution (mix 45 millilitres into four litres of water) is recommended for dipping the freshly cut end of cuttings before transplanting them, and is great against mildew and leaf spot.

Salt (5 to 10 millilitres diluted in a litre of water or as is) and Epsom salt (60 millilitres dissolved in one litre of water or as is) have fungicidal properties (salt) and antifungal (Epsom salt) properties. Salt is used against asparagus dry rot. Sprayed Epsom salt (magnesium sulphate – MgSO4) will correct the magnesium defi ciencies of plant foliage, protecting them against mildew.

Talcum (magnesium bicarbonate) used as is or diluted (one millilitre in one litre of water) will treat grapevines against grey-mould rot (apply about fi fteen days after fl owering).

Finally, the urine of a healthy person not taking medication, used as is or diluted in four times its volume of water and applied to apple trees during the winter will prevent mildew and apple scab in the spring. Diluted urine can be sprayed in the spring on new fl owers or at the end of fl owering, or three weeks after buds appear, on the foliage to treat apple scab. Pure urine can be kept in the freezer for six months.

BEWARE: The entirely natural treatments are not always effective after the fi rst use. Repeat the application for two to three consecutive weeks, and you should get a fully satisfying result.Sources: Wikipédia, Jardinage.net, INIST-CNRS, INRA, http://universdelulue.

free.fr, www.rhums-aoc.com, www.homesteadorganics.ca, http://forum.

lamijardin.net, http://ecoroute.uqcn.qc.ca, http://pubs.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca,

article Potions et mixtures : les meilleures recettes maison by Roll Grenier

and André Pednault in the brochure Potions magiques pour un jardin en

santé, Collection Terre-à-terre (www.terreaterre.net).

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Illustrations: Christopher ShepperdCULTIVATION

When you look at a seed, it does not seem to be alive. It does not move or grow; in fact, it looks dead. Even if you tested it for metabolic activity, the seed’s metabolism is so slow that it would be hard to tell if anything is alive inside… but it most certainly is!

Seeds come in all shapes and sizes from about 400,000 seed bearing plants. The smallest seeds are

from the vanilla orchid. One seed weighs about 8 nanograms (0.0000008 grams) and it takes 35,000,000 seeds to make an ounce. These seeds are so small that they look like tiny dust particles. At the other end of the spectrum is the largest seed. It is from a palm tree, the Lodoicea maldivica

(sea coconut) and can take two years or more to germinate. The largest seed ever recorded weighed in at 17.6 kg.

A seed is produced when the right pollen comes into contact with the right fl ower. When the pollen makes contact with the fl ower’s pistil, the pollen produces a pollen tube that transports the nucleus of the pollen to the ovule. When the pollen nucleus enters the pollen tube, it divides and forms two sperm cells. One sperm cell fuses with the egg in the ovule to create the zygote which will become the embryo. The other sperm is transformed into the endosperm. The endosperm forms the stored nutrients in a seed.

A typical seed structure includes three basic parts. The outer layer is the seed coat. Inside is the endosperm and a dormant embryo. The embryo also has three parts: the cotyledon or seed leaf, the epicotyl that will become the shoot, and the radicle, which is the root.

Common garden vegetable seeds are generally ready to sprout when they are harvested; they are not truly dormant. All they need is some moisture and a warm enough

47VOLUME 2 – ISSUE 5 THE INDOOR GARDENER

Illus

trat

ion:

Chr

isto

pher

She

pper

d

CULTIVATION

temperature to allow its life as a plant to begin. Most seeds, however, do have a deeper form of dormancy.

Getting a seed to germinate can be simple or complicated, depending upon the means the seed uses to stay dormant. The most common ways a seed remains dormant are: a thick seed coat that can not be penetrated by water, insuffi cient development of the seed embryo or inhibitors such as abscisic acid and phenolic compounds.

A thick seed coat is the most common means to keep a seed dormant. The seed coat must be broken in some way to allow moisture in, to activate the metabolism of the seed. The process is called scarifi cation. In the wild, scarifi cation happens when an animal starts to eat the seed and gives up before getting all the way through the seed coat. Or the seed goes through the digestive tract of a bird or animal and the seed coat is weakened by the digestive juices. Strawberries and raspberries are good examples of this. Environmental conditions that can cause scarifi cation are exposure to

alternating freezing and thawing, fi re, abrasion from soil and sand, or rubbing on rocks in rivers and streams. In the garden, we must perform scarifi cation by mechanical means. There are many techniques for scarifying seeds with a thick coat. Individual seeds can be nicked with knives and fi les or rubbed on sand paper. For large numbers of seeds, a rock polisher with coarse sand works well. Another technique is to soak the seeds in sulfuric acid or boiling water. I use a metal fi le and rub individual seeds on it.

Insuffi cient development of the embryo and a lack of endosperm are common to orchids and other plants that don’t invest much energy in their seeds. These seeds must fi nd a certain fungus to feed the embryo inside the seed until the embryo has developed to a large enough size to germinate.

Many species use a hormone, abscisic acid, as an inhibitor to protect their seed from germinating when they fall to the ground at the end of the growing season. Abscisic acid inhibits the gibberellins that are responsible for germination and shoot development. Over time, at temperatures below 4°C, the abscisic acid is degraded. When the abscisic acid has been neutralized, the gibberellins are ready to trigger germination and seedling development. When germinating these seeds, a cold treatment (stratifi cation) will be needed

for 40 to 180 days. Stratifi cation can be as easy as placing a pack of seeds in the fridge for a few weeks, but it is not always that simple. A common stratifi cation technique is to fi ll a small tub with moist sand and to place seeds on the surface, covering them with a millimeter of sand and then covering the tub and placing it in the fridge. In a few weeks or months the individual seeds are removed and planted as they begin to germinate.

The function of phenolic compounds in plants is not fully understood, but they do inhibit germination and regulate plant growth. Desert plants often use phenolic compounds as inhibitors. Phenolic compounds are water-soluble: when the conditions are humid enough, phenolic compounds leach out and the seed sprouts.

In upcoming issues, I will be taking a close look at germinating some diffi cult seeds. If you are having a problem germinating a particular seed, let me know and I will try to help. I can be reached through www.fredsmagicgarden.com.

Seeds: Dormancy and GerminationBy Fred Leduc

Vanilla orchid and sea coconut seeds (left)

Seed germination cycle


Illustrations: Christopher Shepperd

CULTIVATION

When you look at a seed, it does not seem to be alive. It does not move or grow; in fact, it looks dead. Even if you tested it for metabolic activity, the seed’s metabolism is so slow that it would be hard to tell if anything is alive inside… but it most certainly is!

Seeds come in all shapes and sizes from about 400,000 seed bearing plants. The smallest seeds are

from the vanilla orchid. One seed weighs about 8 nanograms (0.0000008 grams) and it takes 35,000,000 seeds to make an ounce. These seeds are so small that they look like tiny dust particles. At the other end of the spectrum is the largest seed. It is from a palm tree, the Lodoicea maldivica

(sea coconut) and can take two years or more to germinate. The largest seed ever recorded weighed in at 17.6 kg.

A seed is produced when the right pollen comes into contact with the right fl ower. When the pollen makes contact with the fl ower’s pistil, the pollen produces a pollen tube that transports the nucleus of the pollen to the ovule. When the pollen nucleus enters the pollen tube, it divides and forms two sperm cells. One sperm cell fuses with the egg in the ovule to create the zygote which will become the embryo. The other sperm is transformed into the endosperm. The endosperm forms the stored nutrients in a seed.

A typical seed structure includes three basic parts. The outer layer is the seed coat. Inside is the endosperm and a dormant embryo. The embryo also has three parts: the cotyledon or seed leaf, the epicotyl that will become the shoot, and the radicle, which is the root.

Common garden vegetable seeds are generally ready to sprout when they are harvested; they are not truly dormant. All they need is some moisture and a warm enough


Illus

trat

ion:

Chr

isto

pher

She

pper

dCULTIVATION

temperature to allow its life as a plant to begin. Most seeds, however, do have a deeper form of dormancy.

Getting a seed to germinate can be simple or complicated, depending upon the means the seed uses to stay dormant. The most common ways a seed remains dormant are: a thick seed coat that can not be penetrated by water, insuffi cient development of the seed embryo or inhibitors such as abscisic acid and phenolic compounds.

A thick seed coat is the most common means to keep a seed dormant. The seed coat must be broken in some way to allow moisture in, to activate the metabolism of the seed. The process is called scarifi cation. In the wild, scarifi cation happens when an animal starts to eat the seed and gives up before getting all the way through the seed coat. Or the seed goes through the digestive tract of a bird or animal and the seed coat is weakened by the digestive juices. Strawberries and raspberries are good examples of this. Environmental conditions that can cause scarifi cation are exposure to

alternating freezing and thawing, fi re, abrasion from soil and sand, or rubbing on rocks in rivers and streams. In the garden, we must perform scarifi cation by mechanical means. There are many techniques for scarifying seeds with a thick coat. Individual seeds can be nicked with knives and fi les or rubbed on sand paper. For large numbers of seeds, a rock polisher with coarse sand works well. Another technique is to soak the seeds in sulfuric acid or boiling water. I use a metal fi le and rub individual seeds on it.

Insuffi cient development of the embryo and a lack of endosperm are common to orchids and other plants that don’t invest much energy in their seeds. These seeds must fi nd a certain fungus to feed the embryo inside the seed until the embryo has developed to a large enough size to germinate.

Many species use a hormone, abscisic acid, as an inhibitor to protect their seed from germinating when they fall to the ground at the end of the growing season. Abscisic acid inhibits the gibberellins that are responsible for germination and shoot development. Over time, at temperatures below 4°C, the abscisic acid is degraded. When the abscisic acid has been neutralized, the gibberellins are ready to trigger germination and seedling development. When germinating these seeds, a cold treatment (stratifi cation) will be needed

for 40 to 180 days. Stratifi cation can be as easy as placing a pack of seeds in the fridge for a few weeks, but it is not always that simple. A common stratifi cation technique is to fi ll a small tub with moist sand and to place seeds on the surface, covering them with a millimeter of sand and then covering the tub and placing it in the fridge. In a few weeks or months the individual seeds are removed and planted as they begin to germinate.

The function of phenolic compounds in plants is not fully understood, but they do inhibit germination and regulate plant growth. Desert plants often use phenolic compounds as inhibitors. Phenolic compounds are water-soluble: when the conditions are humid enough, phenolic compounds leach out and the seed sprouts.

In upcoming issues, I will be taking a close look at germinating some diffi cult seeds. If you are having a problem germinating a particular seed, let me know and I will try to help. I can be reached through www.fredsmagicgarden.com.

Seeds: Dormancy and GerminationBy Fred Leduc

Vanilla orchid and sea coconut seeds (left)

Seed germination cycle


Photos: D.R

. & Bruno Bredoux

HEALTH & NUTRITION

Science never stops. Among the most recent ingenious discoveries,

we will discuss that of genetically modifi ed organisms. The

advantages and disadvantages of the discovery of GMOs* in human

nutrition raise diverging opinions and various emotions. GMOs are

organisms that stem from genetic manipulation* and, as such,

they present a potential danger for health and the environment.

It is thus crucial to establish a scale of the positive and/or negative

consequences raised by their use in human nutrition.

The use of organisms stemming from genetic engineering could be

the key to unlock the problem of world hunger. Does this use of

GMOs have the ability to change the world? And if so, is it a threat

to public health and to the environment, or a means to save the

world from hunger? Studies on the possible threats of GMOs are

as of yet non-existent. Yet these days GMOs are omnipresent in our

nutrition, in Canada and elsewhere.

1. The Advantages of GMOs in Human Nutritiona) GMOs Explained — the Advantages of This

Scientific DiscoveryThe fi rst food product stemming from genetic engineering was

commercialized approximately 10 years ago. It was in Europe that

this fi rst tomato with modifi ed genes was fi rst sold. It had been

modifi ed to slow down its ripening – it is possible to reduce or

eradicate a protein* found in the plant of some fruit to delay its

ripening, which allows the producers to harvest the fruit shortly

before they mature while allowing for a certain duration of

transport.

Genetically modifi ed organisms* really are organisms reconstituted

in a laboratory in the hope of improving their characteristics.

Thanks to genetic engineering, it is possible to take the DNA gene

from one living organism which has the desired qualities and to

integrate it to another organism. The genes introduced can come

from viruses, bacteria, fungi, yeasts, plants or animals. It is possible

to alter or transform vegetal or animal organisms as well as micro-

organisms*. The process leading to the creation of modifi ed living

organisms is called transgenesis.

GMOs thus come from transgenesis. According to the Conseil de la

science et de la technologie du Québec, “Transgenesis is a genetic

engineering technique that allows one to add one or more alien

genes (transgenes*) to the genome* of a living being, to provoke

one or many modifi cations of

its characteristics. (Ref: 1).”

It is what we more often call

gene cloning*. It was this

multiplication process that

gave its boost to genetic

engineering. Positions are

controversial when it comes

to GM food products*. The

potential of genetic engineering, however, is unbelievable. Among

other things, it may lead to practical solutions in countries affl icted

by hunger.

Thanks to genetically modifi ed organisms, plants grown for food

purposes can now be cultivated on soil types that were previously

hostile – this opens up the possibility for some people living in

desertic areas to feed themselves properly. To this day, agrologists

have promoted the practicality that stems from organisms modifi ed

in labs. Seeds modifi ed genetically are improved to produce their

own pesticides. This reduces considerably the use of herbicides,

which reduces labour and lowers the production costs faced by

farmers and also offers an environmental benefi t.

Genetically modifi ed living beings were fi rst designed to increase

agricultural production and alleviate human work. There is no

doubt, however, that plants with novel traits* are a source of

answers for the future, in particular for many environment-friendly

Phot

o: B

runo

Bre

doux

HEALTH & NUTRITIONimprovements, such as the correction

of tree bark resistance to decrease

the quantities of chemicals used

in the production of pulp and

paper, or through reinvented

plants that may be able to bypass

or to degrade soil contaminants such

as lead or pathogens. This will also give us

fruits and vegetables with novel properties, including a

longer lifespan, vegetables with pushed-back limitations, that can

be used as biofuels or tolerate draught or high salt concentrations

in the soil.

The potential use of GM vegetables for food is varied. The

transgenesis technique applied to edible plants could allow us to

produce more nutritious food products, or foods that contain more

elements essential to health. For example, the current applications

consist of enriching corn with vitamin E and wheat and rice with

iron and zinc. Transgenesis also allows us to produce functional

foods: in other words, food products that contain curative and/or

preventive compounds. This could allow the prevention of cancer

or other diseases. The presence of allergy-causing proteins could

be removed from the specifi c food, making it hypoallergenic. Such

foods are not yet on the market, but a few are being studied in

laboratories.

b) The GMO Revolution Remains DormantGMOs have not yet changed the

world. We are still waiting for

tomatoes that resist frost thanks

to fi sh genetic material, for plants

that resist the glacial winters of the

northern hemisphere and for those that

survive the excessive heat of some countries. After many

scientifi c breakthroughs, progress in this area seems to stagnate.

Governments, along with some social groups, are slowing the

impulses of the industry. The revolution is dormant. Consumers

have not seen their grocery bill decrease and hunger continues

to kill an incredible number of children across the planet. What’s

more, it seems that consumer groups, some ultraconservative

governments and environmental associations such as Greenpeace

are obstacles that prevent GMO manufacturers, such as the

powerful Monsanto*, from commercializing new products.

Some are even saying that the Californian company is keeping

some innovative transgenes in its labs for fear of hostile reactions.

In consequence, consumers are more and more preoccupied with

their health and the dangers inherent to genetically modifi ed

organisms. Buyers are also worried about the fact that product

labelling of GMO-containing products is still not regulated. As for

The Impact of GMO Discovery on Human NutritionBy Roxanne LaBelle

Photos: Bruno Bredoux & ©

PNN

L, 1985

Greenpeace, its role is to protect both

consumers and natural resources. On

top of that, international markets are

closing their doors to many Canadian

products because they stem from

genetic engineering. Faced with this

new protectionism, it is diffi cult for

businesses that specialize in transgenes

to commercialize new products, since

the pressures from other countries

have a great economical impact. The

fear of Canadians towards the negative

consequences that could be brought

about by the intensive use of GMOs is

also one reason of their slow rise. It is

not easy to accelerate the progression of

the revolution.

2. GMOs: Potential Danger for Health and Environment

a) The Dangers of GMOs and the Lack of Studies on This Topic

Allowing the sleeping revolution to lie seems, for some, the

best thing to do, since the dangers are real and their destructive

powers could be enormous. In reality, however, this has not yet

been proven. GMOs could lead to health risks, such as a greater

sensitivity to allergies. They could also

provoke a resistance to antibiotics,

and present toxicity risks. It seems

that recent tests of the water in the

St. Lawrence River have revealed the

discovery of a heavy contamination by

toxins coming from the transgenic Bt-

corn, which resists to the snout moth (a

winged parasite). The cultivation of this

transgene raises many environmental worries, mainly because of

the repercussions it could have on species that are not targeted,

such as the monarch butterfl y.

Although humans have been consuming products containing

GMOs for about 10 years in Canada, these

products are still considered to be harmful to

health by most consumers. According to many

specialists, the harmful effects of genetic

engineering, although unproven, could be

important. An additional worry is that GMOs,

once redistributed in nature, could cause

irreversible ecological damage, such as the

reduction or destruction of biodiversity. In

fact, it is suspected that GMOs can destabilize

ecosystems.

In all fairness, there have not been enough studies done to allow us

to estimate the negative effects of GMOs. Among others, analyses

would be required to establish the possible interactions between

transgenic plants and the environment. Many say that not enough

scientifi c works is currently devoted to eventual consequences on

human health or the environment. Canada, in fact, spends more on

genetic research than it does on measuring the impact that GMOs

could have on public health and the environment. Some of the

impact analyses are done by GMO manufacturers, which casts a

shadow of doubt on their total accuracy.

Genetic modifi cation also implies considerable advantages for large

businesses. Although the precautionary principle* is upheld by

many experts, GMOs are commercialized. In parallel, a Monsanto

Canada (international leader in the production and distribution

of transgenic seeds) spokesperson said: “We would have passed

on by many innovations that are signifi cant in our society if the

precautionary principle had been applied every time a novelty

wan discovered (Ref: 2).” On the other hand, the Canadian Health

Ministry assures us that the varieties currently commercialized in

Canada had been rigorously tested and are thus safe. Clearly, they

aim to reassure.

Although until now Canada has not reported any case of toxicity,

many consumer associations believe it is too early to reach a

conclusion about GMOs. The report entitled “OGM et alimentation

humaine: impacts et enjeux pour le

Québec”, published in 2002 by the

Conseil de la science et de la technologie

du Québec summarized: “In the current

state of scientifi c knowledge, it is still

impossible to determine clearly whether

transgenic crops destined to the food

supply present serious risks for health

or the environment, or not. (Ref: 3).” Yet

these substances are consumed in great

quantities in Canada and around the globe. It is neither rare nor

exceptional to fi nd GMOs in the human food chain.

b) Omnipresence of GMOs in Canada’s Food Supply

Canada is one of the most important producers of GMOs

– specifi cally the third power in the area. Right now in Canada,

genetically modifi ed organisms are found mainly in the derivatives

of corn, soy and canola. In truth, these raw materials are mostly

reserved for animal food products, and are hence transformed into

animal by-products. Be that as it may, GMO professionals say that

these genetically modifi ed substances are found in over 70% of all

transformed products found on the Canadian food market. New

tests have thus been performed by transgene-detection specialists

to detect traces of GMOs in our food. The method used, real-time

“…it is suspected that GMOs can destabilize ecosystems.”


HEALTH & NUTRITION

Photos: D.R

. & G

reenpeace

PCR* is to this day the most effi cient. The results were conclusive:

GMOs are present in the human food supply.

The number of approved and commercialised GMOs is restricted at

present. As such, 10 species of genetically modifi ed

plants are considered new food products

approved for commercialization in Canada.

The difference, however, between approved

GMOs and commercialized GMOs, should

be noted: not all GMOs approved by the

Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA),

Health Canada and Environment Canada

are exploited here, for climactic reasons. Even

with the experts’ determination to fi nd GMO

traces, the task is diffi cult, because the important

modifi cations undergone by a living organism make its genetic

code* almost undetectable. That is how those organisms, thought

by some to be unsuitable for human consumption, end up in many

commercialized products in grocery stores. It is surprising to realize

how many food products that contain GMOs are currently being

consumed. Even more surprising is that there often is no mention

of this on the label.

Note that in Europe, products containing

GMOs must be identifi ed as such for the

consumer to be warned. This is not the

case right now in Canada. Although public

opinion is requesting the labelling of GMO-

containing human food products, Canada

is allowing the food industry to decide or

not whether to indicate the presence of

GMOs in their products. The Canadian

norm states that a product must contain

less that 5% GMOs to be considered non-

transgenic. This percentage is so high that

it allows companies to commercialize their

genetically modifi ed products without informing the consumer.

Thus, many GMF* go unnoticed. In Europe, labelling is compulsory

as soon as a product contains more that 0.9% GMOs. Compulsory

labelling would allow consumers to make an informed choice

and researchers to adequately manage studies on the effects of

GMOs. According to a survey done by Greenpeace: “95% of the

population considers that it has the right to know if its food comes

from GM crops (Ref: 4).”

To ConcludeWhat would be an appropriate action? While products stemming

from transgenesis are ever more popular with farmers, consumers,

within the limits of their knowledge, are asking for fewer and fewer.

In fact, points of views are extremely clear-cut and opinions leave one

puzzled. Some even believe that in a few years the whole issue will

become a joke. Remember milk pasteurization or the arrival of the

microwave oven in our kitchens: did they not give rise to the same

fears? One thing is certain – informing the public is essential. Many

are ready to say that GMOs are without a doubt a dangerous threat,

and yet cannot exactly defi ne what they are. According to a study

done by the Canadian Press and Léger Marketing, “Most Canadians

(87%) do not know the meaning of the term GMO (Ref: 5)”.

Transgenesis is naturally present in the environment, via its

reproduction and exchange cycle from one being to another. What

we are discussing here is the domination of science on life. Without

contest, life is the end-result of a slow progression. By modifying

the genetic makeup of living beings, man, by his intervention,

accelerates the natural evolution process. As much as some see

this in a positive and futuristic light, others consider that we have

overstepped on the great principles established by scientists and

philosophers in the previous centuries. In fact, the precautionary

principle* is at the heart of the most ardent contemporary

scientifi c, technological and ethical debates. What’s more, the lack

of public knowledge and understanding of the GMO phenomenon

greatly slows the development of transgenesis. As in all other great

discoveries, the unknown raises more questions than answers.

Ref. 1: Québec (Province) Conseil de la Science et de la Technologie. OGM et alimentation humaine : impacts et enjeux pour le Québec, Sainte-Foy, Québec, Conseil de la science et de la technologie, 2002, 178 p. (Collection: avis Québec (province). Conseil de la science et de la technologie)

Ref. 2: Le Fur, Erwan, “Alimentation: Étiquetage des OGM : le point”, Protégez-Vous, January 2005, p. 21.

Ref. 3: Québec (Province) Conseil de la Science et de la Technologie, OGM et alimentation humaine : impacts et enjeux pour le Québec, Sainte-Foy, Québec, Conseil de la science et de la technologie, 2002, 178 p. (Collection: Avis Québec (province) Conseil de la science et de la technologie)

Ref. 4: Greenpeace, “Guide des produits avec ou sans OGM“, Greenpeace, Montréal, 2004, 12 p.

Ref. 5: Canadian Press and Léger Marketing, Étude sur les perceptions des Canadiens à l’égard des organismes génétiquement modifi és, 2001, p 2.

* All terms followed by an asterisk* are

defi ned on the next pages in our special

“GMO” botanical glossary.


Phot

os: D

.R.

BOTANICAL GLOSSARY

Amino Acid: Organic compound forming the basic unit of proteins*.

Cell: The smallest structural unit of live organisms that can grow and reproduce autonomously.

Cloning: In vitro cellular multiplication method allowing for the creation of exact replicas of the chosen cell. From a single cell*, we can clone an entire living being.

Functional Food: A functional food is similar in appearance to a conventional food product, is part of normal food and procures demonstrated physiological benefi ts and/or reduces the risk of chronic disease beyond its basic nutritional functions. Hence, the functional food has an additional “function” linked to health (according to Health Canada, www.hc-sc.gc.ca).

Genetic Code: Preservation and memory-encoding system of genetic information within living organisms. The information is included in the DNA and is used to make proteins*.

Genetic Manipulation: Group of techniques used to modify the hereditary baggage of a cell* through the in vitro* manipulation of genes.

Genetically Modifi ed Organism (GMO): Living organism whose genetic makeup has been modifi ed through genetic manipulation to grant it characteristics which it did not possess or which it possessed at a level judged unsatisfactory in its natural state, or to remove or attenuate some characteristics judged undesirable (according to the Science and Technology Council, www.acst-ccst.gc.ca).

Genome: Ensemble of genes found in each cell* of a specifi c species.

GM: Genetically modifi ed.

GM Food Product: Genetically modifi ed food product.

GMO: Genetically modifi ed organism*.

In vitro: Latin expression meaning “in glass”, qualifying any biological or biochemical reaction or experiment performed outside of a living being (for example in a test tube).

Micro-organism: Organism that is only visible through the use of a microscope. They include bacteria, viruses and yeasts.

Monsanto: International-scale GMO producing company (www.monsanto.com).

Plant with Novel Traits: Plant which has a new character or a new characteristic. A plant is considered to have novel traits:- if it has characteristics it did not have before;- if it no longer shows characteristics it used to have;- if it has one or more characteristics not belonging to the range of characteristics usually found in this type of plant (source: government of Québec website).

Precautionary Principle: In case of a risk of irreversible or serious damage, the absence of any absolute scientifi c certainty must not be used as a pretext to delay the adoption of effective measures to prevent the degradation of the environment. The precautionary principle stems from the questioning of scientifi c certainty when facing the environmental crisis of the 1970s. It was ratifi ed by the 1992 Rio Convention on Biodiversity (according to the Bibliothèque d’échange de documentation et d’expériences, government of Québec website, information source on genetically modifi ed organisms: www.OGM.gouv.qc.ca, 2004).

Protein: Molecule made up of one or more amino acid* chains. There are many types of proteins and they perform a variety of essential functions in cell growth. Proteins are essential to the structure and functioning of organs and tissues. Each protein has its own function (according to the Science and Technology Council, www.acst-ccst.gc.ca).

Transgene: Foreign gene introduced into the genome* of a living organism (source: www.acst-ccst.gc.ca).

GMO EditionBy Roxanne LaBelle

Definitions of terms with an asterisk in the article found on the previous pages.


HEALTH & NUTRITION


Photos: Daniel Fortin

BOTANICAL DICTIONARY

The Camellia genus has long been known and cultivated in Asia for its ornamental qualities,

notably those of Camellia japonica, but also for the

foliage of a particular species, Camellia sinensis. This species is also known under the scientifi c name Thea sinensis; its dried and

fermented leaves give a much appreciated hot

drink: tea. Even with their undeniable ornamental qualities,

decorative fl owering camellia are little cultivated as indoor plants. It is true that they do not appreciate the overheated atmosphere of our homes. With a little fresh air, however, their cultivation brings about good results.

Camellias are shrubs originating from South-Eastern Asia, Japan, Indochina, Eastern and Central China. China is believed to be the origin of most cultivated species. Introduced in Europe in the early 18th Century, Camellia japonica met with much interest due to the beauty of its fl owers. This species is the father of thousands of current cultivars, which are mostly cultivated in the temperate climate of Europe, Asia and the United States. Two other species, Camellia reticulata, from Southern China, and C. sasanqua, grown in Southern Japan, have also led to a certain number of cultivars. From C. saluenensis, a species from the Western mountains of China, British horticulturists made crosses with Camellia japonica to obtain hybrids (C. x williamsii) that are known for their abundant and lengthy fl owering and their improved rusticity. No matter where they came from, camellia cultivars are to be counted in the thousands, and indoor plant enthusiasts often do not care from where they came. What is more important to know is that the cultivars offered on the market present simple, semi-double, anemone-style or peony-

style, from six centimetres in diameter for miniature fl owers to over twelve centimetres in diameter for those that are very large. The petals are mostly white, pink, red or bicolour. Some species, much more rarely found on the market, have pale yellow petals.

CultivationIt is important to note that even though camellias are often seen in garden fl ower beds where the climate is warm and humid, they are not rustic under Nordic latitudes. The most rustic species and cultivars can handle zone 7, but most are grown in zones 8 to 10. This means that the most rustic species can tolerate a minimum temperature between -12 and -16°C and that other survive with minimum temperatures between -12 and -7°C. The ideal temperature for camellia cultivation and fl oral buds to develop is between 10 and 15°C during the day and between 5 and 10°C at night (I get interesting fl owering with higher temperatures in a greenhouse). Floral buds take shape in the fall for most cultivars, and fl owering extends from the end of fall to the end of winter for Nordic regions. Aside from temperature, these shrubs require constant humidity, generally higher that the average home or apartment. Some say to place camellia pots on large saucers fi lled with water and gravel to increase the ambient humidity, while others suggest you place a small humidifi er near the plants. Humidity is an issue for most amateur gardeners who grow tropical plants in a space where humidity must be controlled in order not to damage the building they live in. This can be achieved

relatively easily if one only turns down the heat by a few degrees during the day (15 to 16°C) and the night (12

to 15°C) in the rooms where the indoor plants are cultivated. An unheated or little-heated solarium

is the ideal spot to cultivate camellias, as long as the gardener chooses the most rustic cultivars

and that the minimum temperature does not drop below -16°C.

Camellias require a soil that is rich in organic matter, slightly acidic

and well drained. Compact soil encourages root rot.

The shrub requires a

Phot

os: D

anie

l For

tin

BOTANICAL DICTIONARYbright to dimmed light, but

not necessarily full sunlight. During growth, watering must be done regularly and in abundance. The soil must remain somewhat humid, but the roots should never

be swimming in water. A short rest, after fl owering,

generally at the end of the fall or during winter, is required,

during which waterings will be spaced out for six to eight weeks. Do not hesitate to move your pots outdoors during the summer and early fall. First put them in a shady spot and progressively move them to a slight shade or a dimly lit spot during the season. When they are outside, check their water need daily and never allow the substrate to dry up. Bring the plants indoors as soon as night temperature dips below 7°C. From the spring until the fl oral buds are set, add a liquid nutrient every two to four weeks.

Pruning is not usually required, but you can prune the shrub after fl owering to control its growth.

Diseases and PredatorsRoot scales often invade the stems and buds of camellia. When you buy your plant, offer it a preventive treatment, and then regularly check it. If the buds fall off, the humidity level is probably too low. Root rot is a fungal disease that sometimes hits camellias. It is caused by a fungus (Amillaria mellea) that lives in the soil. It develops and propagates when the growth medium is stagnant with moisture. Good drainage is the best way to avoid this disease, because it is hard to treat once in place.

Who’s Afraid of Camellias?By Daniel Fortin

Camellia japonica L.


Camellia japonica ‘Chansonnette’

Camellia japonica

“Dr. Tinsley”


Photos: Daniel Fortin

BOTANICAL DICTIONARY

The Camellia genus has long been known and cultivated in Asia for its ornamental qualities,

notably those of Camellia japonica, but also for the

foliage of a particular species, Camellia sinensis. This species is also known under the scientifi c name Thea sinensis; its dried and

fermented leaves give a much appreciated hot

drink: tea. Even with their undeniable ornamental qualities,

decorative fl owering camellia are little cultivated as indoor plants. It is true that they do not appreciate the overheated atmosphere of our homes. With a little fresh air, however, their cultivation brings about good results.

Camellias are shrubs originating from South-Eastern Asia, Japan, Indochina, Eastern and Central China. China is believed to be the origin of most cultivated species. Introduced in Europe in the early 18th Century, Camellia japonica met with much interest due to the beauty of its fl owers. This species is the father of thousands of current cultivars, which are mostly cultivated in the temperate climate of Europe, Asia and the United States. Two other species, Camellia reticulata, from Southern China, and C. sasanqua, grown in Southern Japan, have also led to a certain number of cultivars. From C. saluenensis, a species from the Western mountains of China, British horticulturists made crosses with Camellia japonica to obtain hybrids (C. x williamsii) that are known for their abundant and lengthy fl owering and their improved rusticity. No matter where they came from, camellia cultivars are to be counted in the thousands, and indoor plant enthusiasts often do not care from where they came. What is more important to know is that the cultivars offered on the market present simple, semi-double, anemone-style or peony-

style, from six centimetres in diameter for miniature fl owers to over twelve centimetres in diameter for those that are very large. The petals are mostly white, pink, red or bicolour. Some species, much more rarely found on the market, have pale yellow petals.

CultivationIt is important to note that even though camellias are often seen in garden fl ower beds where the climate is warm and humid, they are not rustic under Nordic latitudes. The most rustic species and cultivars can handle zone 7, but most are grown in zones 8 to 10. This means that the most rustic species can tolerate a minimum temperature between -12 and -16°C and that other survive with minimum temperatures between -12 and -7°C. The ideal temperature for camellia cultivation and fl oral buds to develop is between 10 and 15°C during the day and between 5 and 10°C at night (I get interesting fl owering with higher temperatures in a greenhouse). Floral buds take shape in the fall for most cultivars, and fl owering extends from the end of fall to the end of winter for Nordic regions. Aside from temperature, these shrubs require constant humidity, generally higher that the average home or apartment. Some say to place camellia pots on large saucers fi lled with water and gravel to increase the ambient humidity, while others suggest you place a small humidifi er near the plants. Humidity is an issue for most amateur gardeners who grow tropical plants in a space where humidity must be controlled in order not to damage the building they live in. This can be achieved

relatively easily if one only turns down the heat by a few degrees during the day (15 to 16°C) and the night (12

to 15°C) in the rooms where the indoor plants are cultivated. An unheated or little-heated solarium

is the ideal spot to cultivate camellias, as long as the gardener chooses the most rustic cultivars

and that the minimum temperature does not drop below -16°C.

Camellias require a soil that is rich in organic matter, slightly acidic

and well drained. Compact soil encourages root rot.

The shrub requires a

Phot

os: D

anie

l For

tinBOTANICAL DICTIONARY

bright to dimmed light, but not necessarily full sunlight.

During growth, watering must be done regularly and in abundance. The soil must remain somewhat humid, but the roots should never

be swimming in water. A short rest, after fl owering,

generally at the end of the fall or during winter, is required,

during which waterings will be spaced out for six to eight weeks. Do not hesitate to move your pots outdoors during the summer and early fall. First put them in a shady spot and progressively move them to a slight shade or a dimly lit spot during the season. When they are outside, check their water need daily and never allow the substrate to dry up. Bring the plants indoors as soon as night temperature dips below 7°C. From the spring until the fl oral buds are set, add a liquid nutrient every two to four weeks.

Pruning is not usually required, but you can prune the shrub after fl owering to control its growth.

Diseases and PredatorsRoot scales often invade the stems and buds of camellia. When you buy your plant, offer it a preventive treatment, and then regularly check it. If the buds fall off, the humidity level is probably too low. Root rot is a fungal disease that sometimes hits camellias. It is caused by a fungus (Amillaria mellea) that lives in the soil. It develops and propagates when the growth medium is stagnant with moisture. Good drainage is the best way to avoid this disease, because it is hard to treat once in place.

Who’s Afraid of Camellias?By Daniel Fortin



Camellia japonica ‘Chansonnette’

Camellia japonica

“Dr. Tinsley”


Photos: D.R

.DISCOVERY

The PlantEchinocactus williamsii (peyote), also called Lophophora williamsii, belongs to the cactaceae family. It is a little, slow growth needle-less cactus with a maximum diameter of 15 centimetres, a height of about ten centimetres. It is roughly rounded, greyish and its surface is divided in ribbed lobes bearing a tuft of hair. It has a long carrot-shaped root. In its natural habitat, it fl owers in April: a single pink, yellow or white fl ower opens at the centre of the cactus and, after pollination, gives a pink berry.

Traditional UseEchinocactus williamsii originates from southern Texas and the central Mexican plateau, but in the last few hundred years it has expanded its reach, as its use reached new populations, notably in the USA. Following complex rules that vary from tribe to tribe, eating Echinocactus williamsii is linked to divinatory, therapeutic or religious practices. It has now spread to Mexico (Huichol, Tarahumaras, Coras, etc.) and the United States (Comanche, Kiowa, Navajo, etc.) in approximately fi fty different fi rst nations.

Peyote has a bitter taste. It must be chewed on for a long time, which can lead to nausea and, sometimes, vomiting. Its effects appear one to three hours after ingestion. They peak in two to four hours and slowly diminish over the next four hours. Just like pure mescaline, peyote provokes rich visual hallucinations. It is also called “the plant that gives wondrous eyes” and, during consumption rituals, man is supposed to communicate with gods. Unfortunately, extensive harvesting of peyote makes it a threatened species.

The Example of the HuicholFor the Huichol Indians of the Sierra Madre, located hundreds of kilometres from areas where the cactus grows, harvest leads itself to an annual pilgrimage at the end of the rainy season, the peyote “hunt”. Fresh slices are chewed on during the hunt and the rest of the harvest is brought back to the tribe. The heads of harvested peyote will be sliced and dried.

While drying, they form a sort of cap, the mescal buttons, which are eaten during important communal ceremonies, to ask for rain or healing, to name leaders, etc. the oldest plants, also the richest in mescaline, are particularly revered and sought-after. Peyote is considered to have a divine nature and is linked to the other essential elements of the Huichol mythology, just like deer and corn represent the god of winds who is responsible for the communications between humans and gods.

Echinocactus williamsii’s AlkaloidsPeyote contains about fi fteen alkaloids, the most important of which is mescaline. It also contains sedative alkaloids, such as anhalonine, anhalonodine and peyotline, and some toxic ones, such as lophophorine. Mescaline is responsible for peyote’s hallucinatory effects. It is active at doses between 300 and 500 milligrams taken orally. It is also found in another cactus, the San Pedro or Trichocereus pachanoi. Chemically, it is trimethoxy-3, 4, 5 phenylethylamine, an amphetamine derivative that can now also be synthesized.

Mescaline is a sympathomimetic compound: it slightly increases the heart rate, arterial pressure, sweating and salivation. Like other hallucinogens, it provokes an important mydriasis. At doses of 5 to 10 milligrams per kilo of body weight taken orally, its hallucinatory effects appear progressively, in a slower fashion


Phot

os: D

.R. &

Cyb

erSe

lect

& R

iche

r

DISCOVERY

X-10 Home AutomationYou’ve always dreamed of automating your indoor garden. Well here are the X-10 home automation modules, which will allow you to control your grow room through your computer. With these small modules, no endless plugging/unplugging of cables is required. You only need to plug in the component – fan, water pump, etc. – into the module, and to plug the module into a 110 volt outlet, and bingo, you are ready to automate the room. The module(s) is(are) linked to an interface with a USB port that plugs into your computer. You only have to confi gure the on/off hours. The computer is then no longer required, and you can shut it down and everything will work beautifully.

Each module is linked to the interface, but no cables are required. Every part of the system communicates through the house’s electrical wiring. The modules send signals that are decipherable only by other X-10 modules, so they do not interfere with the

other appliances plugged onto the same circuit. Many web sites sell X-10-compatible products: shop around! I saw some for $15 each – it is really worth it, since they cost about the same as a timer! Long life to the X-10 technology!

– P.H

Water-Cooled LED BulbsThere are 1000 watt water-cooled long life LED lights that diffuse a blue light (blue 454-484 nm) with a specifi c combination of wavelengths and the perfect intensity for the growth stage. Their technology is based on that of BlueWave® bulbs, the result of the latest clinical studies to relieve depression and improve sleep, and used in light therapy. They are still quite rare, since most indoor gardeners have their doubts about a system that uses both electricity and water while diffusing such high wattage, but their effectiveness is hard to beat. Using such a system allows the gardener to decrease the heat in the grow room, so much so that cultivating during the summer heat becomes a joke!

SHOPPING

than other hallucinogens, and peak approximately four hours later before declining in the following hours. The effects are characterized by psychedelic hallucinations, mostly visual – with particularly rich colours – but also auditory. As with LSD, kinaesthetic hallucinations and a feeling of empathy are

common, as are mystical episodes. Although users report that mescaline’s effects are less cold and cerebral than those of LSD, subjects who were given one or the other in a double blind study were unable to tell them apart.

Mescaline is not subject to abuse, since many other hallucinogens are more easily available on the clandestine market. Various derivatives, more active than mescaline, have been synthesized (escaline, proscaline, thiomescaline, trimethoxyamphetamine, etc.) but they are rarely seen on the market.

Author’s web site : www.users.imaginet.fr/~pol

Echinocactus williamsiiPart 1: Characteristics And Usage Part 1: Characteristics And Usage By Didier Pol

X10 UM7206 Universal module from CyberSelect Ltd, UK

LED Bulb Tube from Richer Lighting

Adult Echinocactus grusonii

Echinocactus williamsii crownsEchinocactus

williamsii roots

Flowering Echinocactus

grusonii


Photos: D.R

.

DISCOVERY

The PlantEchinocactus williamsii (peyote), also called Lophophora williamsii, belongs to the cactaceae family. It is a little, slow growth needle-less cactus with a maximum diameter of 15 centimetres, a height of about ten centimetres. It is roughly rounded, greyish and its surface is divided in ribbed lobes bearing a tuft of hair. It has a long carrot-shaped root. In its natural habitat, it fl owers in April: a single pink, yellow or white fl ower opens at the centre of the cactus and, after pollination, gives a pink berry.

Traditional UseEchinocactus williamsii originates from southern Texas and the central Mexican plateau, but in the last few hundred years it has expanded its reach, as its use reached new populations, notably in the USA. Following complex rules that vary from tribe to tribe, eating Echinocactus williamsii is linked to divinatory, therapeutic or religious practices. It has now spread to Mexico (Huichol, Tarahumaras, Coras, etc.) and the United States (Comanche, Kiowa, Navajo, etc.) in approximately fi fty different fi rst nations.

Peyote has a bitter taste. It must be chewed on for a long time, which can lead to nausea and, sometimes, vomiting. Its effects appear one to three hours after ingestion. They peak in two to four hours and slowly diminish over the next four hours. Just like pure mescaline, peyote provokes rich visual hallucinations. It is also called “the plant that gives wondrous eyes” and, during consumption rituals, man is supposed to communicate with gods. Unfortunately, extensive harvesting of peyote makes it a threatened species.

The Example of the HuicholFor the Huichol Indians of the Sierra Madre, located hundreds of kilometres from areas where the cactus grows, harvest leads itself to an annual pilgrimage at the end of the rainy season, the peyote “hunt”. Fresh slices are chewed on during the hunt and the rest of the harvest is brought back to the tribe. The heads of harvested peyote will be sliced and dried.

While drying, they form a sort of cap, the mescal buttons, which are eaten during important communal ceremonies, to ask for rain or healing, to name leaders, etc. the oldest plants, also the richest in mescaline, are particularly revered and sought-after. Peyote is considered to have a divine nature and is linked to the other essential elements of the Huichol mythology, just like deer and corn represent the god of winds who is responsible for the communications between humans and gods.

Echinocactus williamsii’s AlkaloidsPeyote contains about fi fteen alkaloids, the most important of which is mescaline. It also contains sedative alkaloids, such as anhalonine, anhalonodine and peyotline, and some toxic ones, such as lophophorine. Mescaline is responsible for peyote’s hallucinatory effects. It is active at doses between 300 and 500 milligrams taken orally. It is also found in another cactus, the San Pedro or Trichocereus pachanoi. Chemically, it is trimethoxy-3, 4, 5 phenylethylamine, an amphetamine derivative that can now also be synthesized.

Mescaline is a sympathomimetic compound: it slightly increases the heart rate, arterial pressure, sweating and salivation. Like other hallucinogens, it provokes an important mydriasis. At doses of 5 to 10 milligrams per kilo of body weight taken orally, its hallucinatory effects appear progressively, in a slower fashion


Phot

os: D

.R. &

Cyb

erSe

lect

& R

iche

rDISCOVERY

X-10 Home AutomationYou’ve always dreamed of automating your indoor garden. Well here are the X-10 home automation modules, which will allow you to control your grow room through your computer. With these small modules, no endless plugging/unplugging of cables is required. You only need to plug in the component – fan, water pump, etc. – into the module, and to plug the module into a 110 volt outlet, and bingo, you are ready to automate the room. The module(s) is(are) linked to an interface with a USB port that plugs into your computer. You only have to confi gure the on/off hours. The computer is then no longer required, and you can shut it down and everything will work beautifully.

Each module is linked to the interface, but no cables are required. Every part of the system communicates through the house’s electrical wiring. The modules send signals that are decipherable only by other X-10 modules, so they do not interfere with the

other appliances plugged onto the same circuit. Many web sites sell X-10-compatible products: shop around! I saw some for $15 each – it is really worth it, since they cost about the same as a timer! Long life to the X-10 technology!

– P.H

Water-Cooled LED BulbsThere are 1000 watt water-cooled long life LED lights that diffuse a blue light (blue 454-484 nm) with a specifi c combination of wavelengths and the perfect intensity for the growth stage. Their technology is based on that of BlueWave® bulbs, the result of the latest clinical studies to relieve depression and improve sleep, and used in light therapy. They are still quite rare, since most indoor gardeners have their doubts about a system that uses both electricity and water while diffusing such high wattage, but their effectiveness is hard to beat. Using such a system allows the gardener to decrease the heat in the grow room, so much so that cultivating during the summer heat becomes a joke!

SHOPPING

than other hallucinogens, and peak approximately four hours later before declining in the following hours. The effects are characterized by psychedelic hallucinations, mostly visual – with particularly rich colours – but also auditory. As with LSD, kinaesthetic hallucinations and a feeling of empathy are

common, as are mystical episodes. Although users report that mescaline’s effects are less cold and cerebral than those of LSD, subjects who were given one or the other in a double blind study were unable to tell them apart.

Mescaline is not subject to abuse, since many other hallucinogens are more easily available on the clandestine market. Various derivatives, more active than mescaline, have been synthesized (escaline, proscaline, thiomescaline, trimethoxyamphetamine, etc.) but they are rarely seen on the market.

Author’s web site : www.users.imaginet.fr/~pol

Echinocactus williamsiiPart 1: Characteristics And Usage Part 1: Characteristics And Usage By Didier Pol

X10 UM7206 Universal module from CyberSelect Ltd, UK

LED Bulb Tube from Richer Lighting

Adult Echinocactus grusonii

Echinocactus williamsii crownsEchinocactus

williamsii roots

Flowering Echinocactus

grusonii


Photos: Hydrofarm

& Sunleaves

SHOPPINGThe bulbs that are thus cooled emit so little heat that you can touch them without ever getting burnt. Such a system allows you not only to reduce the bulb-emitted heat almost to nothing, but it also allows you to place the lamps much closer to the plants, which increases light density and, hence, yield! I got such a lamp from a friend. I know there are different models for HPS and MS. The water used in the cooling system is in a closed circuit. They should not be used on an electrical installation higher than the average tension (1,000 volts). Never use damaged adaptors or outlets. Do not place any heavy objects on the electric cable. Information: www.sulekhab2b.com/Product /SearchCat / led-bulbs-tubes/1229.htm.

– P.H.

The Big Block from PargroThe Big Block from Pargro provides you even water distribution due to its optimum 10 cm height, making this “jumbo” block the best large block for Ebb & Flow and slab farmers. Pargro offers an economical alternative to other

rock wool products. Grooves along the bottom of the block allow for superior drainage and aeration, ensuring healthier roots. The Big Block is available from Hydrofarm (www.hydrofarm.com).

– M.M.

Autopots® Make Growing Easy Both soil and hydroponics gardeners will enjoy growing with self-watering Autopot® systems. Two, ten-inch pots sit inside a provided tray assembly that also houses a Smartvalve control unit. When connected to a master reservoir, the

Smartvalve fl oods the 61 x 29 x 20 cm Autopot® tray module and then waits for plants to absorb the contents before cycling in more nutrient solution. Gravity-fed design requires no electricity, pumps or timers for operation. The Autopot® Basic serves as an expansion set

to the Autopot® Complete which includes master reservoir, nutrient starter kit, growing media and more.

– K.B.

Next Generation Ballasts for Indoor Gardeners Covered by an outstanding eight-year manufacturer’s warranty, Sunleaves Pulsar 2.0 Ballasts have dual 120/240-volt capabilities and are available in metal halide (MH), high pressure sodium (HPS)

and two-way models. Ballasts are built to last and easy to use: gardeners unscrew the voltage-protection plate, twist and retighten for 240-volt functioning. Featuring aluminum-wired transformers, 120/240-volt operation and a fi ve-year

warranty, new HPS and two-way Sunleaves Luma 2.0 Ballasts offer the superior performance of a Pulsar 2.0 at more affordable price. A high-quality SunBrite Lamp Holder is recommended for use with all Sunleaves Pulsar and Luma 2.0 ballasts. Please visit www.sunleaves.com for additional information.

– K.B.

Low-Heat Lighting Great for Confi ned Spaces With 120-volt daisy-chain outlet and fi ve-year manufacturer’s warranty, the space-saving Sunleaves Pioneer

Jr. T5 Fluorescent Fixtures are half the length of their full-sized predecessors with all the same great characteristics. Self-contained units can hang vertically or horizontally and are available in two- and four-tube confi gurations: the Pioneer Jr. II includes 2, two-foot Sunleaves VitaLUME T5 tubes and the Pioneer Jr. IV includes 4, two-foot VitaLUME T5 tubes. Each of these high-output VitaLUME tubes emits 1,900 lumens and has a one-year manufacturer’s guarantee. Point your browser to www.sunleaves.com for more information on Sunleaves lighting products and to fi nd where to buy in your area.

– K.B.

Indoor Garden Tools from SunleavesSunleaves Garden Products is pleased to offer 30- and 40-cm Wall-Mount Fans in addition to three new sizes of durable Black-and-White Poly, all engineered to improve the effi ciency of your indoor garden. The three-speed Wall-Mount Fans can oscillate or maintain a fi xed position and help to strengthen plant stems and deter pest and disease infestations commonly found in stagnant environments. A fi ve-year motor warranty on both models assures dependable performance. Six-mil Black and White Poly provides dual functionality: the black surface is opaque to prevent light penetration while the white surface refl ects 90% of the light that strikes it. This waterproof fi lm is on-hand at year’round garden centers in ten-foot widths by 10-, 25-, 50- and 100-foot lengths:

both larger sizes come in fi ve-foot rolls while the smaller 10- and 25-foot sizes are conveniently folded into compact

packages approximately 2.5x2.5 square for easier handling.

– K.B.


Phot

os: H

ydro

farm

, Oxo

& S

unle

aves

SHOPPING

Top-Quality Humidity Dome Now AvailableMondi-brand Humidity Domes are made

of hard-wearing clear plastic and feature two separate sites on top for optional ventilation

control. Domes stand 18 cm tall and fi t any standard-sized nursery fl at. Start your seeds and cuttings off right; stop in your favorite year ‘round garden center and pick up your Mondi Humidity Dome today!

– K.B.

Water Plants With Oxo® Indoor Pour and Store Blue Watering Can

The Oxo Good Grips Indoor Pour & Store Watering Can features a spout that conveniently

rotates back toward the body allowing for easier fi lling and space-effi cient storing. Water levels in the

transluscent spout line up with the measurement markings on the body for easy measuring. The continuous soft, non-slip handle allows for a comfortable, secure grip when carrying and pouring at all heights. The Can’s 3 litres capacity is ideal for watering houseplants, windowboxes and container gardens. The Can comes with a removable rose attachment that provides a fi ner, more delicate spray and stores conveniently in the back of the fi ll hole of the Can.Characteristics:• 3L capacity • Spout rotates back toward the body for easier fi lling and

space-effi cient storage • Water levels in the clear spout line up with measurement

markings on the body for easy measuring • Continuous soft, non-slip handle for a comfortable, secure

grip when carrying and pouring at all heights • Removable rose attachment stores conveniently in the back

of the Can • Several other colors available. Available from: www.bang-knudsen.com. Call 206 767-6970 or e-mail at: [email protected].

– P. B.-K.

Oxo® Good Grips Mango SplitterMangos are sweet, juicy and delicious, but often a chore to prepare. Not anymore, with the Oxo Good Grips Mango Splitter, invented by Kevin Walzak of

Syracuse, N.Y., and recently featured on National Public Radio and the New York Times

Magazine. One simple press removes the seed and cuts the fruit in half.

The Mango Splitter slices cleanly through the fruit and leaves almost nothing

behind on the seed. Soft grips cushion while you press and the stainless steel blades are sharp and sturdy. Watch a video of the Mango Splitter in action on: www.npr.org/templates /dmg/dmg.php?mediaURL=/day/20050808_day_mango&mediaType=RM. Order through: www.bang-knudsen.com. Call 206 767-6970 or e-mail at: [email protected].

– P. B.-K.Active Aqua Water Chiller Series

Hydrofarm is pleased to add the Active Aqua Water Chiller series to its product line. These chillers are available in 150, 280 and 360 watt models. They are ideal to keep hydroponic solution in your reservoir at the perfect temperature.

They feature a user-friendly microcomputer control system and LCD display, and a temperature memory system. With their large refrigeration capacity, water can be refrigerated to any degree above 39°F in a short period of time. Additionally, they are Freon-free, environmentally friendly, and surge protected so they will turn off if there is a power surge.

– R.K.

Active Aqua Air PumpHydrofarm has added 4 new Active Aqua Air pumps to its line. These pumps are ideal for ebb and fl ow drip hydroponic systems. They are silent with multi-level muffl ers, and are made with special artifi cial rubber to keep a steady fl ow output and pressure that can be adjusted freely. With low power consumption, these pumps are good for the environment as well. Available in 3.2, 7.2, 10 and 16 liters per minute models.

– R.K.

Hydro Rx Water & Soil Analysis Test KitTired of guessing whether your water’s nutrient levels are adequate? Hydrofarm’s Hydro Rx Water and Soil Analysis Test Kit takes the guess-work out of water management. Hydrofarm Test Lab has developed a kit that lets you manage your plant’s nutrients with lab-tested precision. Hydro Rx is simple: just take a water or

Luma 2.0

Pulsar 2.0

continued on page 66…


Photos: G.H

. & M

egaWatt

INDUSTRY NEWS

UPDATE CHARITABLE DONATIONS[Brief recap: last September, Philippe Lefèvre-Potvin and Alex Marin-Roy worked in a garage when the object they were manipulating exploded in their faces. Alex died shortly after arriving at the hospital. Philippe survived his numerous burns and is now convalescing. After we published our fi rst add four months ago, donations started pouring in from The Indoor Gardener magazine readers and members of the industry. We wish to thank you and to give you, below, an update about Philippe.]

January 2007 photo: From left to right, Marie-Pier (Philippe’s girlfriend), Chantal Marin (mother of Alex Marin-Roy who sadly succumbed to his injuries in September) and Philippe.

Philippe Lefèvre-Potvin is recovering well from the injuries he suffered in a terrible fi re in September. He has had many skin grafts, and plastic surgery has greatly improved the eye area. At the beginning of December he was transferred to a rehabilitation centre in Montreal, where he undergoes daily treatment and is expected to do so for the next 18 months.

Philippe is a very courageous young man. He is currently helping other burn victims and is grateful for that opportunity. Generous donations from hydroponic industry members total $4,842 to date and have been forwarded to his family. Please mail your cheques in the name of Philippe Lefèvre-Potvin and send them to MegaWatt, 636 Rte 364, Morin Heights, Quebec, J0R 1H0.

Sincerely, André CourteMegaWattTel.: 450 226-2515Fax: 450 226-7843www.megawatthydro.com

News from General Hydroponics

• BioHavenBioHeaven is a specially formulated plant energy booster. BioHeaven enhances the translocation of nutrients and boosts up the anti-oxidant system of the plant, expelling toxins built up during periods of stress. In addition to L-amino acids, BioHeaven contains natural aged humus, one of the most versatile components in soil environments. This component, in combination with other operative substances in BioHeaven, increases the availability of minerals in the soil. Normally, the percentage of mineral uptake lies around 5 to 10%. The substances within BioHeaven can increase it to 95%.

– M.B.

• FloraBlendFloraBlend is a stabilized vegan ferment that is made from a select blend of plants, seaweeds, worm castings, micronized rock powders and leonardite. Our extensive fermentation process produces essential enzymes, metabolites, organic acids and carbohydrates, all in a liquid that immediately works with your plants to improve nutrient balance and vitality. FloraBlend encourages increased root growth and lush foliage with shorter internodes for more compact growth, resulting in a sturdier plant with the ability to support higher yields. During fl owering, FloraBlend promotes increased blossoms and heavier fruits, while enhancing the fl avor and aroma of your fruits and vegetables. FloraBlend will benefi t your plants in every stage of growth.

– M.B.

• A Newly Designed Feed ChartGeneral Hydroponics is proud to announce their newly designed Feed Chart. Whether you prefer recirculating or drain to waste systems, the new GH Feed Chart provides programs for either method. Available in English, Spanish, French and Vietnamese.

– M.B.

10051 North 2nd St.Laurel, Maryland

20723301-490-9236

866-MD-HYDROWWW.mdhydro.com

8484 Florin Road # 110 Sacramento, CA. 95828

Ph. (916) 381-2464Fax: (916) 381-2468

Opening soon1918 16th street

Sacramento, Ca 95814

PLANT’ IT EARTH2279 Market StreetSan Francisco, CA 94114(415) 626-5082www.plantitearth.com

PLANT’ IT EARTH1 Dorman AveSan Francisco, CA 94124(415) 970-2465www.plantitearth.com

BERKELEY INDOOR GARDEN

844 University AveBerkeley, CA 94710

(510) 549-1234Fax: (510) 549-2582

GREENMILE HYDROPONIC GARDEN SUPPLY

1035 South Mt Vernon Ave, Suite GColton, CA 92324Tel: (909) 824-9376

Boulder / Denver

Year-round Garden Supply

(formerly Growers Choice Hydroponics)

1100 Carver Road, #20Modesto, CA 95350

Tel.: (209) 522-2727Toll free: 1-866-788-0765

5561 South Orange Blossom Trail

Orlando FL. 32802 Toll Free(888) 833-4769

ROCKY MOUNTAIN LIGHTING AND HYDROPONICS

302 Main SterlingDenver, CO 80751

Tel: (970) 522-2250Toll free: (800) 886-5020

www.rockymountainlightin-gandhydroponics.com

132 Kennedy AvenueCampbell, CA. 95008

http://www.precisionhydroponics.com

Tel: (408) 866-8176Fax: (408) 866-8187

We specialize in CUSTOM DESIGN

116 West Orangeburg AvenueModesto, CA 95350

www.cocas-hydroponics.com

Monday to Friday: 10AM-6PM

Saturday & Sunday: 10AM-5PM

United States


20723301-490-9236


THE HYDROPONIC WORLD OF NORTH AMERICA

AHL Garden Supply1051 San Mateo Blvd SE

Albuquerque, New Mexico 87108phone 800-753-4617 / fax 505-

255-7417Read what other customers are say-ing about their experience with AHL

and ahlgrows.comat http://ahlgrows.com/kudos.html

e-mail: [email protected]

3839 6th AveTacoma, WA

(253) 761-7478www.indoorgarden.com

714 South CentralKent, WA


23303 Highway 99, Suite AEdmonds, WA


THE GROW ROOM8 Bridge StreetNyack, NY 10960Toll Free:

(800) 449-9630Fax: (845) 348-8811www.thegrowroom.com

38 Front StBallston Spa, NY 12020

Toll free (800) 850-GROW(518) 885-2005

Fax (518) 885-2754www.saratogaorganics.com

Canada 107 Falcon Drive (Hwy. 97 S) Williams Lake, BC V2G 5G7

Phone: (250) 398-2899 Fax: (250) 398-2896

Toll Free: 1-877-588-5855www.hallsorganics.com

AQUA GRO HYDROPONIC SUPPLIES101-2689 Kyle RdKelowna, BC V1Z 2M9(250) 769-7745Fax: (250) 769-7748

GREEN WONDER GARDENING INC.22 Waddell Ave.Dartmouth, NS B3B 1K3Toll Free:

(877) 845-6866(902) 466-1255www.greenwonder.com

2192 Route 102 Lincoln, New Brunswick, E3B 8N1

Phone: (506) 458-9208 Facsimile: (506) 459-1377 Email: [email protected]

"TIME IS MONEY, START GROWING TODAY

6 MONTHS NO INTEREST NO PAYMENTS!" "EXCLUSIVELY AT 21ST CENTURY GARDENING!"

Tracadie3717 Rue Principale506-395-6055

Edmundston 11 Crabtree 506-737-9982.

Dieppe 663 Malenfant Blvd. 506-388-9982

P.E.I.18790 Highway 1Desable, P.E.I.902-658-3182

St-John20 Bayside Drive506-657-9982

DEN HAAN'S GARDEN WORLD

exit 18 off 101Annapolis Valley, NS(902) 825-4722www.denhaansgardenworld.comwww.denhaansgreenhouses.com

www.AnthonysGarden.com

"Our Business Is Growing"Your Indoor Outdoor

Gardening Specialists

93779 Troy Lane - Coos Bay, OR 97420(541) 266-8822 Fax: (541) 266-9754

394 Route 15/P.O. Box 235Underhill, Vt 05489

Tel.: Toll free 1 (800) 564-9376www.hooked-on-ponics.com

Green Thumb Gardening

Grow Monster Plants

[email protected] sales and advertising, contact:

3132, Isleville St.Halifax, N.S.

902-454-6646B3K 3Y5

4 Ontario locations: Ottawa, Gloucester,

Mississauga, North York

1-800-489-2215www.hydroponix.com

Hydroponics, fertilizers, lightingHome of Optimum Hydroponix®

bma404 Maitland Drive #2Belleville, ON K8N 4Z5(613) 967-9888www.bmacanada.com


20723301-490-9236



THE HYDROPONIC WORLD OF NORTH AMERICA THE HYDROPONIC WORLD OF NORTH AMERICA

4-2133 Royal Windsor driveMississauga, Ontario

L5J 1K5(905) 403-GROW (4769)

1-877-263-6287www.secondnaturehydroponics.com

Place your ad hereContact Sales & advertising:

[email protected]

Eleven Years of Advanced Fertilizers• Advanced Nutrients’ Indoor Gardening Product Lines

Founded in 1996, Advanced Nutrient rapidly

became specialized in the development of

products specifi cally designed for indoor

plants. Its products are ideal for the home

gardener. They are recommended by many

American government agricultural specialists,

by professional horticulturists, by a Canadian

institute on medicinal plant research and

by various associations of horticultural

producers.

Advanced Nutrients has a team of fi ve PhD-

holding specialists, three chemists and 65 employees, all working

to provide you with the best nutrients, specifi cally designed for

indoor plants. The proof is plain to see. The company regularly

performs research, tests and studies, to ensure to gardeners sturdy

plants with an incomparable health and vigour.

Ask for Advanced Nutrients products at your local hydroponic store.

– A.G.

New From Hydrofarm• Hydrofarm Sprayers Hydrofarm has added two new sprayers to its line of quality

gardening products. The 32 oz. hand sprayer

and the 48 oz. compressed sprayer are both

made out of resistant super strong plastic. They

both feature nozzles that offer consistent fl ow,

and a user-friendly hand pump to pressurize the

unit. Additionally, the 48 oz. compressed air model

comes with both a regular spray nozzle and a 45°

angle nozzle to allow spraying under the leaf surface and in hard

to reach places.

– R.K.

• T5 Commercial Lighting System

Hydrofarm’s T5 Commercial Lighting

fi xtures deliver High Lumen Output

and energy effi ciency for greenhouse

professionals. These multifaceted refl ector

systems put out more than double the light energy

of normal fl uorescent lighting systems while remaining cool to the

touch. The systems are available in many confi gurations: 4 or 6

bulb, 2 or 4 ft. The feature lightweight aluminum housing, are low

profi le, and their silent bulbs will run up to 10,000 hours.

– R.K.

INDUSTRY NEWS

1555 Hurffville RdSewell, NJ 08080

Tel.: (856) 227-6300Toll free: 1-888-927-6300

Fax: (856) 227-2930www.tastyharvest.com

Photos: Advanced N

utrients & H

ydrofarm


Photos: avocado.org, U.S. D

uck Council and B.B

.COOKING

Spring is already here, and with it comes backyard gastronomy. Merchants

from various fruit and vegetable branches will thus attempt anew, as they

did last year, to promote their products by creating, quickly and from

absolutely nothing, new culinary trends with the help of advertorials and

demonstrations by famous chefs on cooking television channels. Last year

in the United States, the National Mango Board, in association with the

National Pork Board, put together a series of culinary messages broadcast on

local television stations that were not always identifi ed as “advertisement”

to promote their respective products, mangoes and pork meat, cooked as

mixed grills on the barbecue.

Grilled pork meat is nothing revolutionary,

but mangoes cooked on the barbecue are

surprising. The juicy slices of mango can

become caramelized quickly because of

the fruit’s sugar content, and they must

be carefully cared for, or they can quickly

become shapeless carbonized slices! In one

of the advertorials published last summer,

however, Chef Melissa Kelly said: “Adding

exotic fruit, such as mangoes, to lean meat

dishes, such as pork, is simply a suprising and

fl avourful delicacy.” To confuse consumers

further, the sources of those advertorials, or

even the mention that they are not editorial

content of the magazine in

which they are published,

are very often not to be

found. The producers of

such fruits, vegetables and

meats thus hope to see their

product sales increase during

the barbecue season by

fabricating a new “trend”.

From then on, anything can land

on the grill. Some suggest, for example, using avocados!

All sorts of precautions are required in order not to obtain a gooey blackish

green blob, but rather a bright green fruit with beautiful golden stripes…

For this, as you will have guessed, choose avocados that are barely ripe. As

for the taste, I must admit that I did not try it (nor do I want to), even if the

experiment seems to be technically feasible. As early as 1997, the BBC’s

televised series Ainsley’s Barbecue Bible, directed by Ben Warwick, allowed

West Indian Chef Ainsley Harriott to present his recipe of grilled banana and

tomato bruschetta, or his bittersweet mint eggplant done on the barbecue.

He also presented his famous desert, the Strawberry Hill Pineapple with Rum

Butter Glaze! I must admit this sounds fi ne. Even before having tasted it,

writing down these words together makes my mouth water!

Others have followed, barbecuing anything they could fi nd! Pears, grape

seeds, peanuts, nectarines, cherries, plums, citrus, etc. One of these

apprentice wizards, however, recently declared (on the road to redemption?):

“Anything can be cooked on the grill; it doesn’t mean that it should!” We

had understood: there is more bravado behind these strange associations

that there is a true desire to develop tomorrow’s gastronomy.

So, as purely as is possible in the style of this new culinary trend, I present

you with an adaptation of the famous recipe of the no-less famous Côte

d’Azur hotel chain Alp’Azur Hôtels, grilled young duck suprêmes with celery

and cherry in a bitter orange sauce. You will need:

• 4 young duck suprêmes;

• ¼ cup (60 ml) bitter orange sauce (made with ½ cup of

powdered sugar and ½ cup of white vinegar);

• 1 teaspoon of salt;

• ½ teaspoon of fresh grated ginger;

• 2 tablespoons (15 ml) of the alcohol of your choice (whisky,

cognac, kirsch, etc.);

• 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of fresh thyme;

• ½ cup of diced celery stems;

• ½ cup of pitted sweet and sour cherries;

• 50 g of butter;

• pepper.

First, to make the bitter orange sauce, mix the sugar and the vinegar. Bring

to a boil until the mixture is golden. Avoid letting the sauce caramelize, in

which case it would become unusable (it should remain liquid). In parallel,

pepper and lightly brown the cherries and celery in butter for three minutes,

without giving them time to cook. Singe them with a tablespoon of alcohol.

Prepare a marinade by mixing the still warm bitter orange sauce with the

fruit and vegetable, salt, ginger, thyme and the second tablespoon of

alcohol. Let the duck sit in the marinade for at least half an hour on each

side. Then, grill the meat for at least 15 minutes on each side under high

heat on the barbecue. When you fork the meat and see that the fl owing

juices are a pale shade of pink, the suprêmes are cooked. In parallel, you will

have reduced the marinade to a sauce over low heat. Coat the meat in sauce

and serve with wild rice. – B.B.

All For Barbecue, And Barbecue For

Everything!

Sources: The Wall Street Journal, Le Journal de Montréal, Amazon.co.uk, Marmitons.org and Lagarenne.com.


Photos: avocado.org, U.S. D

uck Council and B.B

.

COOKING

Spring is already here, and with it comes backyard gastronomy. Merchants

from various fruit and vegetable branches will thus attempt anew, as they

did last year, to promote their products by creating, quickly and from

absolutely nothing, new culinary trends with the help of advertorials and

demonstrations by famous chefs on cooking television channels. Last year

in the United States, the National Mango Board, in association with the

National Pork Board, put together a series of culinary messages broadcast on

local television stations that were not always identifi ed as “advertisement”

to promote their respective products, mangoes and pork meat, cooked as

mixed grills on the barbecue.

Grilled pork meat is nothing revolutionary,

but mangoes cooked on the barbecue are

surprising. The juicy slices of mango can

become caramelized quickly because of

the fruit’s sugar content, and they must

be carefully cared for, or they can quickly

become shapeless carbonized slices! In one

of the advertorials published last summer,

however, Chef Melissa Kelly said: “Adding

exotic fruit, such as mangoes, to lean meat

dishes, such as pork, is simply a suprising and

fl avourful delicacy.” To confuse consumers

further, the sources of those advertorials, or

even the mention that they are not editorial

content of the magazine in

which they are published,

are very often not to be

found. The producers of

such fruits, vegetables and

meats thus hope to see their

product sales increase during

the barbecue season by

fabricating a new “trend”.

From then on, anything can land

on the grill. Some suggest, for example, using avocados!

All sorts of precautions are required in order not to obtain a gooey blackish

green blob, but rather a bright green fruit with beautiful golden stripes…

For this, as you will have guessed, choose avocados that are barely ripe. As

for the taste, I must admit that I did not try it (nor do I want to), even if the

experiment seems to be technically feasible. As early as 1997, the BBC’s

televised series Ainsley’s Barbecue Bible, directed by Ben Warwick, allowed

West Indian Chef Ainsley Harriott to present his recipe of grilled banana and

tomato bruschetta, or his bittersweet mint eggplant done on the barbecue.

He also presented his famous desert, the Strawberry Hill Pineapple with Rum

Butter Glaze! I must admit this sounds fi ne. Even before having tasted it,

writing down these words together makes my mouth water!

Others have followed, barbecuing anything they could fi nd! Pears, grape

seeds, peanuts, nectarines, cherries, plums, citrus, etc. One of these

apprentice wizards, however, recently declared (on the road to redemption?):

“Anything can be cooked on the grill; it doesn’t mean that it should!” We

had understood: there is more bravado behind these strange associations

that there is a true desire to develop tomorrow’s gastronomy.

So, as purely as is possible in the style of this new culinary trend, I present

you with an adaptation of the famous recipe of the no-less famous Côte

d’Azur hotel chain Alp’Azur Hôtels, grilled young duck suprêmes with celery

and cherry in a bitter orange sauce. You will need:

• 4 young duck suprêmes;

• ¼ cup (60 ml) bitter orange sauce (made with ½ cup of

powdered sugar and ½ cup of white vinegar);

• 1 teaspoon of salt;

• ½ teaspoon of fresh grated ginger;

• 2 tablespoons (15 ml) of the alcohol of your choice (whisky,

cognac, kirsch, etc.);

• 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of fresh thyme;

• ½ cup of diced celery stems;

• ½ cup of pitted sweet and sour cherries;

• 50 g of butter;

• pepper.

First, to make the bitter orange sauce, mix the sugar and the vinegar. Bring

to a boil until the mixture is golden. Avoid letting the sauce caramelize, in

which case it would become unusable (it should remain liquid). In parallel,

pepper and lightly brown the cherries and celery in butter for three minutes,

without giving them time to cook. Singe them with a tablespoon of alcohol.

Prepare a marinade by mixing the still warm bitter orange sauce with the

fruit and vegetable, salt, ginger, thyme and the second tablespoon of

alcohol. Let the duck sit in the marinade for at least half an hour on each

side. Then, grill the meat for at least 15 minutes on each side under high

heat on the barbecue. When you fork the meat and see that the fl owing

juices are a pale shade of pink, the suprêmes are cooked. In parallel, you will

have reduced the marinade to a sauce over low heat. Coat the meat in sauce

and serve with wild rice. – B.B.

All For Barbecue, And Barbecue For

Everything!

Sources: The Wall Street Journal, Le Journal de Montréal, Amazon.co.uk, Marmitons.org and Lagarenne.com.

Photos: Hydrofarm

, Sunleaves & O

ppo

soil sample and send it back to Hydrofarm Test Lab in the enclosed mailing envelope, and within 2 to 4 days, you’ll receive a detailed analysis of your plant’s water. Test results are available online or by email.

– R.K.Super Coarse PerliteHydrofarm is pleased to add 50 and 100 liter Super Coarse Perlite to its line of growing mediums. The surface of each

particle is covered with tiny cavities that provide an extremely large surface area. These surfaces hold moisture and nutrients and make them available

to plant roots. In addition, because of the physical shape of each particle, air passages are formed which provide optimum aeration and drainage. Perlite is sterile and free of disease, seeds, and insects.

– R.K.

Tower of Power™ Power Strip – The Remedy for Packed Power Strips Say goodbye to over-crowded, under-utilized power strips.

Hydrofarm’s Tower of Power offers 6 outlets with enough room to accommodate even the bulkiest timers and adapters. The Tower of Power will handle all you can throw at it. In your home offi ce, it will organize all your computers and peripheral devices. In the shop, it’s sturdy

enough to power your tool array. And for the hydroponics gardener, the Tower of Power will accommodate all your timers.

The Tower of Power features:• 1.8 meters, 14/3 grounded, heavy-duty power cord delivers

electricity where it’s needed most.• Sturdy construction – can be mounted on walls or under

furniture.• Surge protection helps safeguard your electric device• 120 volt, 15 amp rated.To fi nd a Hydrofarm Authorized Retailer near you, visit www.hydrofarm.com.

– R.K.

AzatrolAzatrol is a broad-spectrum botanical product for the

control of insects and mites on indoor and outdoor ornamental plants, shrubs, fl owers, garden vegetables, fruit and nut trees. Azatrol offers an array of effects by acting as a repel-lent, anti-feedant, insect growth regulator and ovipositioning deterrent. As a moulting inhibi-tor, it prevents insect larvae from developing

into adults. Insects will feed less or not at all on treated

foliage, ultimately starving to death, and they will also fail to mature and reproduce. This complexity also makes it impossible for an in-sect’s resistance to develop. Low odor and OMRI listed. Azatrol is available from Hydrofarm (www.hydrofarm.com).

– M.M.Coco CroutonsMade from natural coconut fi bre and fresh water rinsed for no salt residue, Coco Croutons are the lightweight organic alternative to clay pellets and rocks. Coco Croutons are easy to use: simply plant directly in the croutons or mix with other media to grow your plant. Their porous structure promotes feeder root growth in any mix. Their neutral pH protects roots against mould and fungus as does their stable carbon source to resist breakdown. Add them to your mix to improve aeration and drainage. Coco Croutons are perfect for orchids and they are now OMRI listed. Visit www.hydrofarm.com (and fi nd a Hydrofarm authorized retailer).

– R.K.

MagiCal from Technafl oraSoil and hydroponics gardeners can use nitrogen-rich MagiCal from Technafl ora Plant Products to supplement magnesium, calcium and iron to their regular feeding schedule in addition to treating these specifi c growth-inhibiting nutrient defi ciencies. This unique blend is completely water-soluble for immediate plant availability during each stage of development and contributes to healthy leaf growth and improved fruit density and nutritional content. MagiCal is available in 1, 4, 10 and economical 20-liter containers at garden centers across the nation.

– K.B.

With www.OPPO.ca, Find a Pot For Every Occasion!OPPO Inc., located on Clark street in Montréal, has been a leading importer of pottery in North America for some years already. This wholesaler offers – in the store or on its website – one of the greatest choices in new decorative and utilitarian pottery trends for indoor gardening. Novelties from South East Asia (Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia) are side-by-side with the most sophisticated European designs, freshly arrived from Italy or Germany. Contact: [email protected] or by phone: (514) 937-1907, www.oppo.ca.

– B.B.


SHOPPING

the indoor gardener magazine volume 2—# 5 (march/april 2007)

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