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5 Things to Consider When Starting Your Community Garden Project

You’re thinking about starting or organizing a community garden project. Good for you! You are about to embark on an incredible journey that will bring people together and help your entire community! 

But, after your initial excitement for the idea, you might get discouraged when you step back and take a look at the sheer amount of work that needs to be done. You will start to second guess everything and ask questions like:  

  • Can I really do this?  
  • Is this really worth it?  
  • Am I going to rally enough people to make this work? 

Yes, you can! Fight your way through the early stages of doubt and push on. It may seem daunting at first, but all worthwhile endeavours seem that way when you start. Remember, you’re about to do an incredible thing for your local community and your environment. They need you to do this! Just keep these things in mind:

1. Understand How Allotment Plots Work

Most community gardens are established as allotment plots. This simply means this land has been made available for individual, non-commercial gardening, or the growing of food plants. A lot of community garden plots belong to people and families that rent the space, personally buy all the materials, and take care of all the maintenance.

Sourced from spacingOttawa

2. Plan the Layout Obsessively

The more time you spend obsessing over the layout of your garden beforehand, the more you will thank your obsessive self down the line. It’s okay to catch a mistake or potential issue on a piece of paper during the winter months when you’re in the planning stage. It’s a lot more frustrating to catch these issues in the summer months when you’re actually there in person.

Sourced from myallotmentgarden.co.uk

3. Be Patient, With People and Plants

At this point, we probably don’t have to sell you on the virtues of patience in the world of gardening and what a crucial prerequisite it is. You need to offer this same level of patience to the people who will help you. Some community gardens have a buzz and a high level of support before they even start, and a big mob of people show up on Day 1. Others do not. Others will see slow growth. Don’t be discouraged if pictures of your community garden don’t go viral and make you an overnight success. If you build it, they will come. They may come at their own pace, but they will come! You will get the help you need to achieve all your goals.

10 awesome allotment blogs, by Thompson & Morgan

4. Consider Organic Fertilizer

Your project is all about the community, so why not skip synthetic fertilizers and go with an organic fertilizer that’s better for your community as a whole. Organic fertilizers are a much more environmentally-friendly option for your local soil, air, and water. You are also simply going to see much better flavour, colour and yield.

5. Get the Most From Compost

Using a natural product like My Good Green Compost System can turn your food scraps into liquid gold. It’s a proven and predictable way to give yourself nutrient-rich soil. We have recently seen First Nations communities switching to Bokashi composting systems so they can maintain complete control over what they put back into their soil. The communities are also embracing the entire Bokashi product line, including the Pet Compost Kits.

Ever since our community was introduced to Bokashi, some of the local residents took it upon themselves to experiment with Bokashi. Some found that feeding a scoop of Bokashi a day to their dogs got rid of that awful wet dog smell and gave their loved fur animals, a healthy and shiny coat.

Gail Jacko, 2021, Whitefish River First Nation

We are proud to be used by a number of community garden projects across the US and Canada. If you have any questions about how our products can help your project, click here to contact us any time!

This blog was written and provided in partnership with MyGoodGreen

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Indoor vs Outdoor: How to Maximize Your Garden

While a successful harvest is possible for both indoor and outdoor operations, there are major differences to expect when comparing the quality, quantity and use-value of dry flower cultivated in either environment. For example, there appears to be an industry consensus that flower cultivated in a controlled indoor environment has superior quality to that of an outdoor garden. However, while outdoor gardens may lack an edge in quality over indoor operations, they arguably have the most potential to produce large, heavy flowers, and harvests which produce more dry weight for a smaller investment. 

And, with a divide in quality and quantity, the “use-value” of flower, a term which describes the purpose of a product in the market, evidently changes for each crop. For example, with a recent interest in “value-added” products, like edibles, infused drinks, tinctures and oil, cultivators of outdoor gardens have found it more economical to process flowers into concentrate forms of THC and CBD. Conversely, indoor farmers, who value quality above all else, still produce a variety of products for connoisseurs and general consumers alike. With these outcomes in mind, let’s look at some of the factors which go into maximizing both indoor and outdoor gardens. 

Quantity-Driven Outdoor Gardens

Outdoor Genetics

Getting to harvest during the outdoor season is no easy task, as potential hazards, early frost, flash-floods, pests and misconduct can all easily forecast failure. However, by focusing on important elements of a successful garden, like genetics, environmental considerations and plant nutrition, any gardener can achieve the benefits of a quantity-driven garden. Follow the points below for tips to consider while growing outdoors:

In any garden, plant genetics are the number one factor that contributes to predicting a maximum yield. However, in an outdoor garden, the importance of plant genetics are maximized. To reach a harvest during the outdoor season, plants must be reliable, resilient, and easy to manage. Among other genetic features to inspect, the most important characteristic of a plant to examine is the time it takes for the strain to reach maturity. 

For experienced growers, it is a well-known fact that all strains have different and sometimes unexpected lengths of flowering. For example, the sativa, Red Congolese, has an average flowering time of 11 weeks; this means that in an outdoor garden, the Congo wouldn’t reach full maturity until mid-November. Depending on your geographical location, the goal of growing the sweet and spicy Congolese outdoors may be obtainable; however, for everyone growing above the 49th parallel, the Congo would have a hard time surviving the cold nights and early morning frost of late autumn.

For a more reliable, resilient and manageable strain, consider an outdoor classic like Northern Lights. Known to be resistant to heat, cold, pests and disease, Northern Lights is the low growing, indica-dominant plant that’s sure to reach maturity with little or no issues

Red Congolese, Hytiva.com
Northern Lights, Hytiva.com

Environmental Considerations

Since we have no control over mother nature, it is in the gardener’s best interest to mitigate hazards and predict windows of opportunity. Depending on the season, a garden can thrive outdoors for approximately four months. However, in case of a rainy, or slightly colder June, it’s a good idea to establish plants as seedlings and cuttings inside, before attempting to transplant directly outdoors. Similarly, watch out for storms, heavy winds, drops in temperature and signs of pests or disease. If these problems arise, plants may need to be provided temporary shelter, or treated with pest and disease controls. For reliable control against unwanted pests, check out High Yields Products Lock Down Pads

Plant Nutrition

Because the outdoor season is so long, growers have begun to move towards fertilizers that are more economical and easier to use. While still boasting impressive results, slow-release fertilizers are among the best choice for outdoor gardens. For example, GreenPlanet’s Back Country Blend (BCB) is a highly affordably slow-release fertilizer that saves time and labour upon application. Back Country Blend is packed full of essential elements and comes in multiple parts for growing, flowering and hardening. Apply BCB during any stage of growth at the recommended rate, and watch your plants thrive. For more information on the Back Country Blend feeding program, click here. 

Quality-Driven Indoor Gardens

Unlike outdoor operations, the main advantage of growing indoors is the increased control growers have in all aspects of the garden. In short, there are no seasons in an indoor garden; so, if a grower’s genetics, environmental controls and plant food are quality-driven, then the end result is bound to be a cut above the rest. Need help getting started? Read the first installment of our series on creating the ultimate indoor garden: Creating the Perfect Environment Part 1: The Grow Space.

Indoor Genetics

While an outdoor gardener may select genetics on the basis of hardiness, ease and flowering time, there is no limit to the potential of successful strains indoors. For example, talented indoor growers might specifically select strains on a few identifiable characteristics including pigmentation, taste, output, terpenes, and cannabinoid profile. However, if there is anything to consider when choosing a strain for your indoor garden, refer to your own skills as a gardener. For instance, strains that have complicated dietary requirements or prolonged flowering times have a higher chance of pests, disease or error affecting the outcome of a harvest. So, if your controls in the garden aren’t ideal, consider choosing an easier plant to grow. For a complete list of popular, classic and trending strains, review online resources like Leafly or Wikileaf.  

Environmental Control

Controlling your environment is one of the most advantageous aspects of gardening indoors; and, next to supreme genetics, an ideal environment is the most important factor to consider when attempting to cultivate quality-driven produce. In general, most strains will thrive with lights on temperatures of 80-85 degrees Fahrenheit and average humidity levels of 50-60%. What’s important to understand about a controlled environment, however, is the lengths at which gardeners can tweak the garden in order to maximize yields. For instance, plants typically enjoy higher temperatures and humidity levels during vegetative growth. So, while it would be impossible to manipulate the weather outside, an indoor gardener may choose to elevate levels of temperature/humidity during this period of growth to produce new roots, shoots and increased foliage. To manage your garden from a distance, consider the most advanced digital technology – TrolMaster Hydro-X Pro Control System and modules.

Plant Nutrition

If your goal is quality, nothing will provide your plants with better nutrition than liquid plant food. However, with so many options available to consumers, choices, brands and styles can often confuse, if not discourage education on the subject of plant nutrition. For tested, easy and reliable liquid plant food, browse a selection of GreenPlanet’s liquid feed programs. Want to learn more about GreenPlanet Nutrients? Read the blog titled: Understanding the Parts of GreenPlanet Nutrients Base Fertilizer Programs

Understanding the Parts of GreenPlanet Nutrients Base Fertilizer Programs

By following the considerations above, a successful harvest is possible both inside and out of a simulated environment. Whatever your plans are for your garden, the team at GreenPlanet Wholesale is here to help! For more information about the products mentioned above, please contact GreenPlanet Wholesale directly. For all other inquiries about products and services offered by GreenPlanet Wholesale, contact our team or your local garden supply store for more information. 

Work Cited

  • Lewis, D. Untitled Marijuana Picture. Retrieved February 1st, 2020 from Unsplash.com

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Feed Your Crop Organically with the AutoPot AquaValve5

Since its initial release, AutoPot Watering Systems have taken the Canadian market by storm. By passively automating watering cycles, gardeners who have opted for AutoPot solutions have enjoyed an array of advantages in all sectors of cultivation. At GreenPlanet Wholesale, we have been consistently proud to partner with companies that offer the best of technology. With the shared goal of fostering a healthier, greener planet, the research and development team at AutoPot Watering Systems have outdone themselves again.

Canada, meet the AutoPot AquaValve5: a new, innovative piece of hardware that affords the use of liquid organic nutrients in existing AutoPot systems, and helps protect against blockages, sediment build-up and unforeseen, head-scratching hazards. Follow the passages below for more information on this, and other benefits of AutoPot’s latest cultivation device. 

What is the AutoPot AquaValve5?

Much like the original design, the AquaValve5 is an intricate float-valve that regulates the passive flow of water into the saucers of the AutoPot self-irrigation system. However, unlike the original float-valve, the AquaValve5 has an increased inlet size of almost 66% and allows gardeners to use a wider variety of organic and mineral-based nutrient systems. Other expected benefits of the new design include faster flow rates, increased reliability and protection against sediment blockages and build-up. Read more below for details on AutoPot’s development of the AquaValve5

Larger Inlets and Hose for Liquid Organic Fertilizer

The most distinguishing feature of the AquaValve5 is its size. With a 5mm internal diameter inlet, and options for either 9mm or 16mm mainline hose, the AquaValve5 makes easy work of viscous, organic and mineral fertilizers. Before releasing the AquaValve5 to the European market, the research and development team at AutoPot thoroughly tested the efficacy of the device in their UK-based R&D facility. For example, in a liquid organic feed test on asparagus peas, the AquaValve5 performed with amazing results. Eight 1Pot AutoPot modules made up the control for the test and were given varying doses of plain, reverse osmosis and organic fertilizer irrigation.

AQUAvalve5 – Liquid Organic Feed Test on Asparagus Peas. Read more.

With no surprise, the AquaValve5 handled the varying doses of fertilizer and water with no issues. So, the researchers took the test a step further and set-up a ninth 1Pot module to a standalone reservoir, this time letting the system run with a constant flow of liquid organic fertilizer. Based on the data available from our partners at AutoPot, this “wild-card” module performed with excellent success, had no clogging issues or sediment build-up and maintained steady growth rates compared to the control modules.

AQUAvalve5 – “Wildcard” Module. Read more.

Fully Compatible with Existing Systems

AutoPot Watering System Accessory Packs now come standard with the AquaValve5, 9mm, 9-16mm, and 16mm pipe-work and fittings. As mentioned above, this option gives growers a much wider variety in fertilizer choice and helps protect against issues of sediment blockage and build-up. If you already have an AutoPot system and want to experiment with liquid organic fertilizer, your existing 1Pot, 1Pot XL, XL SmartPot, and easy2grow trays, pots and lids will all accommodate the new AquaValve5, 9mm and 16mm pipe-work. Existing reservoirs can also be adapted to work with the AquaValve5, as 9mm top hat grommets, golf-filters and inline-taps are available as spare parts to reconfigure hard plastic or FlexiTank reservoirs. 

A Word From AutoPot

AutoPot continues to innovate the hydroponic landscape with designs that elevate the potential of a garden. Now with the AquaValve5, no task, method or system is impossible to manage. In discussing the “proof of concept” surrounding the AquaValve5, AutoPot’s representatives had this to say on the motivation behind engineering the new design:

Whether ‘results’ are defined by flavour, size, yield, health, purity or enjoyment, nothing is more important to a grower than ‘results’. If a grower’s preferred means of getting results isn’t open to them they will surely find another way. Hence the changes we’re about to make – changes that keep our systems in line with contemporary use and allow our growers to get exceptional results however they grow.

(AutoPot R&D, 2020, para. 9)

Want to get growing with AutoPot? Contact a member of GreenPlanet Wholesale’s team today! For all other inquiries about products and services offered by GreenPlanet Wholesale, contact our team or your local garden supply store for more information.

Works Cited 

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How to Grow Successfully in Soil, Coco and Hydroponics

As a beginner, committing to a growing system, whether it be in soil, coco or hydroponics can be a daunting and complicated task. However, while aspects of growing systems may appear difficult, there are simple steps and processes that can be researched, mastered and put to the test upon entry into the world of indoor growing. If you’re thinking about getting started, or, just want to brush up on some tips and tricks, follow the article below on skills that will lead any gardener towards a successful harvest in soil, coco and hydroponics. 

Need help setting up your garden? Read our series of blogs on creating the perfect environment.

Creating the Perfect Environment Part 1: The Grow Space
Creating the Perfect Environment Part 2: Air Movement and Ventilation
Creating the Perfect Environment Part 3: Lighting Systems

Consider Your Method, Experience and Equipment

After you’ve assembled the internal workings of your garden, it’s time to choose a method of cultivation. When choosing this method, consider a few things before committing to a specific system in the garden. For example, rely on your experience, basic knowledge and available equipment to guide you towards the “right” system. For the highest rate of success, it’s recommended that novice growers stick to the basics. In this case, the “basics” could be described as a minimalists approach in the garden and may require a smaller investment as opposed to more complicated systems. So, if your just beginning your long career as a cultivator, mediums like pre-amended soil or peat moss will be your best bet for early and headache-free success. If you’re experienced, but like to take a relaxed approach in the garden, browse our selection of pre-amended soils like Fox Farm Happy Frog and Ocean Forest potting soils.

On the other hand, if you’ve had multiple successes in the garden over the years, more complex systems of growing, such as coco, rockwool or hydroponics, shouldn’t prove to be too much of a challenge. Keep in mind, however, that more intricate systems usually involve advanced equipment. For example, a completely water-based hydroponic garden typically requires the use of digital measuring and stabilizing equipment like pH monitors, PPM/TDS testing kits and automatic water-chillers. So, while the potential benefits of an advanced system are immense, keep in mind that the investments of time, research and equipment are fundamental to the success of a technologically inclined garden. With these considerations, let’s look at some of the most popular types of gardens in the industry, and discuss some simple tips that guide growers towards a successful harvest. 

Growing in Soil and Peat Moss

As stated above, growing in a dirt-based medium like potting soil or peat moss is perhaps the easiest way for beginners to utilize, develop and experience success in the garden. While it may be the “easiest” method of gardening, soil gardens can experience misconduct, and later, failure. So, to ensure growing is one of the more positive experiences in life, read the list below for tips on growing in soil and peat moss:

  • Invest in a high-quality potting soil, and read the “ingredients list”. Good potting soils will contain a pH buffering agent, like dolomite lime or oyster shell flour, and typically house inherent materials like worm casting, rock dust and perlite. 
  • Irrigate peat moss at a pH range of 6.0 – 6.5. 
  • Saturate soil in buckets until “run-off”. Water your plants until 10-20% of the irrigated water runs out of the bottom of your pots.
  • If possible, irrigate plants with cool or room temperature water. 
  • Wait until the soil is dry and light before saturating again.

Growing in Coco Coir

Coco coir occupies the grey area of media between soil/soilless and hydroponic gardening. While it may feel like a soil, coco acts and performs much like a hydroponic system. The following list is comprised of simple tips and considerations for growers in coco:

  • Coco can be purchased in brick and/or in loose form, such as Royal Gold Coco. Bricks may cost less, but they require the gardener to expand the coco in bulk. Want to speed up the expanding process? Try using hot water! 
  • “Pre-charge” your coco coir with a low dose of nutrients and a calcium-magnesium supplement before transplanting. Try GreenPlanet Nutrients Pro Cal for the best results!
  • Continue to use high doses of calcium-magnesium supplements during vegetative and flowering growth. 
  • Irrigate coco coir at a pH range of 5.8 – 6.2. 
  • Much like soil systems in a drain to waste garden, water coco coir until “run-off”. 
  • Treat your garden like a hydroponic system. While in the flowering period, coco may require several irrigation cycles a day; so, to ensure the root-zone always has enough to drink, consider automating your watering system. 

Growing in Hydroponics

While having the greatest potential for impressive yields, hydroponic gardens can be the most challenging to manage. For tips on optimizing the inputs of your hydroponic garden, follow the list below: 

  • Choose one of the following popular hydroponic systems: flood and drain (ebb & flow), drip irrigation, aeroponics, deep water culture (DWC). 
  • Invest in a high-quality, concentrated and water-soluble fertilizer. 
  • Buffer your recirculating reservoir to a pH range between 5.8 – 6.2; and, to make sure your pH is stable, constantly monitor the pH of your reservoir. 
  • Invest in equipment to manage the inputs of your garden. For the latest in technology, browse GreenPlanet’s selection of TrolMaster’s monitoring solutions. 
  • Keep a stable water temperature of approximately 65 degrees Fahrenheit. To maintain an adequate water temperature, consider investing in a water-chiller. 
  • Research your system, and choose the plant genetics that performs the best under specific conditions. For example, if you want to grow large plants in a DWC system, pick plants that are capable of growing to massive heights. 

Whatever your plans are for your garden, the team at GreenPlanet Wholesale is here to help! For more information about the products mentioned above, please contact GreenPlanet Wholesale directly. For all other inquiries about products and services offered by GreenPlanet Wholesale, contact our team or your local garden supply store for more information. 

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Ditch the Dirt with Water-Culture Hydroponic Systems

Anybody who has grown plants indoors, on any scale, knows that one of the most tedious jobs is the mess and work associated with bringing dirt indoors.  Not only are soils and soilless media cumbersome and messy, but they can also become downright expensive over long periods of time. Experienced growers may also be painfully aware that their growing media can be a source of problems, particularly when it comes to harbouring pests and their eggs – the two-spotted spider mite is the bane of the indoor farmer.  In some instances, no amount of spraying may ever totally rid the grow room of these and other pests when they have plenty of room to hide and regroup in the growing media below the plant canopy.  Additionally, the surface of the growing media may also hold mould spores; it is well-known that dirt media gives way to blights and mildews in the garden, as these potential hazards have a natural habitat from which to launch their crop-damaging assault. The list of the evident disadvantages of growing in dirt goes on – we haven’t even begun to discuss the hassle of removing and disposing of used, root-bound soil. 

Hydroponic systems, particularly water-culture systems like the Under Current RDWC (Re-Circulating Deep Water Culture), help to eliminate the problems touched on above, while simultaneously offering a full spectrum of advantages not had by soil or other media-based gardens. Advantages such as crop quality, steer-ability, and economical savings are just a few potential benefits afforded to hydroponic systems. Indoor gardens supported by automated hydroponics can expect these advantages over soil-based gardens because water-based systems give bare-rooted plants a clean and highly aerated environment system in which to grow. A continuation of the potential advantages of deep water-culture systems are detailed in the list below.

Advantage #1: Crop Quality

The most agreed upon advantage of growing completely hydroponically is the tendency for a particular garden to produce higher quality crops than those typically grown in soil. While this tends to initiate some debate among growers, anybody who has sampled a true water-culture flower (flower produced without growing medium) is more often than not, blown away by the quality. When you taste water-culture grown crops you are tasting the plant, not the soil or funky crop nutrient additives.

Increased Taste, Colour and Terpene Profile

Most of what we like to taste in plants comes from the essential oils they produce. These are typically referred to as terpenes or “terps”. Terps are also highly sought after and valued by those in the business of producing or enjoying concentrates extracted from crop harvests. Professional level extractors often prefer working with clean water-culture-produced harvests because there is little in the way of impurities. Additionally, these crops produce the best colours, tastes, potency levels and other qualities in their final stages of extraction.

Trichomes produce the taste and flavours in your final yield.
A closer look at trichomes.

Water-culture grown flowers are often noted to have a more profound “nose” and better coloration.  Again, from the simple fact that what you are enjoying is pure plant material with little to no impurities. That’s the key fundamental difference between growing in soil and growing in water, as water-culture is intended to bring out the very best in naturally occurring plant genetics by simply using clean water, oxygen and pure plant-available elements – no man-made extras needed.

Advantage #2: Crop Steerability

While soil and soilless methods of growing are about feeding the medium, water-culture growing is about directly feeding the plant. With this fact in mind, the benefits of water-culture are evident when attempting to produce a quality-driven harvest; additionally, having the ability to supply and manipulate crop nutrition gives the grower a significant advantage in being able to steer or direct crop development at any growth stage.

Here is an example of the Cultured Solutions feed program during flower. Sourced From cch2o.com/cultured-solutions-feeding-schedule/

With nothing but clean water and a highly oxygenated nutrient solution, changes in the crop feeding program can be observed within hours, rather than days or weeks. By following a proven feeding program and utilizing high-quality nutrients like Cultured Solutions, the grower is in complete control of nutrient strengths, ratios and pH levels. When coupled with good plant genetics and a healthy growing environment, there is nothing but rigorous growth awaiting plants in water-culture. All of the plant’s needs are being met precisely and measurably, and good results are repeatable and transferable. One way to look at water-culture is that it is like a formula rather than a recipe.  Known inputs and methods will result in a predictable and desirable outcome versus more “hit or miss” approaches associated with conventional growing practices.

Did you know: Water culture grown crops thrive at lower EC levels and do not require any flushing prior to harvest for a super smooth and clean tasting finish in the final harvest.

Advantage #3 Water Savings & Management

Just because you have a bigger reservoir doesn’t mean that you use more water.  The larger volume of nutrient solution associated with water-culture systems adds stability for crops; furthermore, EC and pH fluctuations are buffered, lending to healthier growth and less incidence of deficiencies or imbalances. Water culture systems like the Under Current RDWC system are accurately classified as closed-loop recirculating systems.  This means that almost every drop of water used in the system is taken up by plants.  Little or no moisture is lost to the surrounding air in a closed hydroponic system.  Not only does this stack up to near 50% water use reduction per crop, but it also means that the grower has better control of the aerial environment; for example, no unwanted water vapour is being added to the grow room or greenhouse air from outside sources.

Here is an example of the inner workings of the Under Current systems. Water circulates through all the modules, ensuring plants can easily uptake nutrients with no wasted water. Sourced from the 2019 Current Culture H2O Product Catalogue

Having a tight hold on moisture in the system also makes measuring daily water use an accurate and invaluable crop diagnostic and management tool.  Daily water use is easy to chart, and with this tool available in the garden, growers can measure water intake consumed directly by the crop; there is no guesswork as to how much was lost to evaporation versus crop nutrient solution uptake.

CCH2O is always pleased to lend direct support for custom grow room design and installations – there is no project too big. And by working with our partners at GreenPlanet Wholesale, you can bet you’ll receive nothing short of professional excellence in service, both before and after you buy. 

This blog was written and provided in partnership with Current Culture H2O.

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Creating the Perfect Environment Part 3: Lighting Systems

Choosing a light source is perhaps the most important decision to make while creating the perfect environment. It will, among other variants, predict a variety of potential outcomes; these including, but are not limited to the prediction of quality, quantity, flower-size, trichome expansion, heat production and energy consumption. While choices of available lighting solutions are vast and vary from lower wattage fluorescents, traditional HID lighting, to the more technologically inclined LED fixtures, GreenPlanet Wholesale is committed to providing solutions to growers which not only perform but emphasize value. By maintaining partnerships with industry-leading manufactures of lighting solutions, we appreciate the concerns of any gardener interested in creating the ideal environment. Not sold on a particular system? Follow the article below for an examination of popular lighting solutions, and find the perfect light source for your environment. Just starting out? Read our previous blogs on creating the perfect growing environment! 

Lighting Systems: Information and Considerations 

Lighting System Styles

As stated above, by selecting different lighting solutions, varying outcomes can largely be predicted in the garden. Among other variations in light equipment, gardeners typically examine three features of a light source before investing: style, wattage and spread. Style is the type of light, whether it be a fluorescent fixture, HID or LED. The style of light will determine several things, but most importantly it will predict the heat production and energy consumption of the light source. 

HID
Fluorescent
LED

For example, the industry has seen major advances in LED lighting over the past decade; so much so, that high-wattage LEDs have been labelled as fixtures capable of competing with the industry’s previous standard of HID lighting. While both of these lights have the potential to produce similar yields, the main difference between these lights, in terms of style anyhow, is the heat produced and energy consumed by both HID and LED fixtures. For instance, a high-functioning HPS bulb produces an average of 3,600 British Thermal Units (BTUs), while a full-spectrum LED fixture, like ThinkGrow’s Model-H, has a maximum BTU output of 2,149. So, in short, be sure to examine the style of the lighting system in the garden, as this feature will dramatically influence the construction and management of other environmental controls.

ThinkGrow LED Model-H Features:

  • Outstanding Efficiency at 2.7 μmol/J
  • Plug and Play for a quick installation
  • On-board Dimming and Adjustable Spectrum
  • External Controllability with 256 fixtures per channel
  • Group Control Capability

Wattage Potential

The next feature of a light source to consider is wattage. Although many varying factors go into producing a heavy harvest, there is a general consensus concerning the connection between wattage in the garden and dry weight following harvest. While notions of this conclusion aren’t as clear cut as they once were, again, because of the introduction of new, more efficient technology, you can still consider the following while examining a light source: higher wattage = higher yield.

“Footprint” or Light Spread

Finally, but not least important, is the spread of a fixture. In this case, the word spread is used to describe the “footprint” of light dispersed by a specific light source. If you’re trying to fill a 10ft x 10ft room with plants, for instance, your fixtures must be able to disperse light across 100 square feet; and, depending on the spread of each individual light, this feature will determine how many fixtures will need to be installed. With these considerations in mind, lets looks at some of the most popular lighting solutions available at GreenPlanet Wholesale: 

Ranging from Fluorescent T5 lights to high wattage LEDs, the following is a list of lighting “types” which can assist gardeners in creating the perfect environment. For the entire catalogue of lighting solutions available at GreenPlanet Wholesale, click here; otherwise, read the list to find out which lighting style works best for your garden.

Fluorescent Lighting

Fluorescent lighting is a great option for gardens that are limited on space and energy affordances. Unlike fluorescents you might see at the hardware store, horticultural-grade T5 fluorescents are smaller, highly efficient, and produce intense levels of light. Arguably the first choice for small gardens in tight spaces, tents or closets, T5 fluorescents produce little heat, and, when combined at scale, can produce impressive results. Interested? Check out Sunblaster’s selection of T5 fluorescents at GreenPlanet Wholesale.

 

HID Lighting

Coming in a variety of styles and spectrums, high-intensity discharge (HID) lighting is an industry favourite. HID lighting is made possibly by heat reacting with noble gases such as mercury and sodium under extreme pressure. The arc made by these reactions produces a chain of light that can illuminate a footprint of 3ft x 3ft – 6ft x 6ft, depending on variables like wattage, lamp and reflector. All the lamps listed below come in a variety of wattages including 315W, 400W, 600W and 1000W. Like fluorescent lighting, however, ballasts are required to operate HID lighting systems.

There are three types of HID lighting systems commonly utilized by the indoor gardener: High-Pressure Sodium (HPS), Metal Halide (MH) and Ceramic Metal Halide (CMH). Although these lights have similar properties, each lamp “type” has a different function in the garden. For example, HPS lighting has a low Kelvin rating of 3000K (a measurement that describes spectrum) and is typically used by gardeners in the later stages of flower to promote periods of autumn-like light, and intense red and yellow photosynthetic active radiation (PAR). MH lighting, on the other hand, has a higher Kelvin rating and emits blue light. Given the spectrum of MH lighting, most gardens utilizing HID lighting will choose MH lamps in periods of vegetative and early flowering growth to promote foliage expansion, general plant health, and tight internodal spacing. CMH lamps have a spectrum of 4000K, and therefore falls in the middle of the Kelvin range. This light has shown great success in both vegetative and flowering periods of growth and is arguably the best choice for gardeners who want both intensity and efficiency.  

LED Lighting

Light-emitting diode (LED) technology has made major advancements in horticulture over the past decade. With these advancements, high-quality LED fixtures are now able to compete with HID lighting, not only in terms of efficiency, longevity, and energy consumption but also in output. Unlike HID lamps, which typically occupied a niche spectrum of colour and intensity, high-quality LED fixtures have a “mixed-spectrum” and are able to not only produce high levels of reds, blues and yellows but also have the ability to produce ultraviolet light (UV) in specific diodes. This leads gardeners, not to the assumption, but to the tested conclusions of the production capabilities of LED technology. If you’re interested in creating the perfect, long-lasting and environmentally conscious indoor garden, LED technology is probably a good fit. 

 

Whatever your plans are for creating the perfect indoor garden, the team at GreenPlanet Wholesale is here to help! For more information about the products mentioned above, please contact GreenPlanet Wholesale directly. For all other inquiries about products and services offered by GreenPlanet Wholesale, contact our team or your local garden supply store for more information. 

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Under Current Systems and Cultured Solutions Nutrients Available Through GreenPlanet Wholesale

Current Culture H2O (CCH2O) is widely recognized as a world leader in the development, planning and use of active water culture systems. CCH2O incorporates the patented and proven principle of Re-Circulating Deep Water Culture (RDWC) in our famous Under Current series of RDWC systems – a concept refined and developed by company founders Daniel Wilson and Christian Long beginning before the company’s founding in 2006. More recently, CCH2O is gaining recognition for Cultured Solutions, a complete, economical and easy to follow crop nutrient system that excels in hydroponics, and that is also becoming widely adopted in media-based growing systems like coco or rockwool.

Crops grown in the Under Current RDWC systems with Cultured Solutions are often described as the highest quality harvests ever seen or experienced both by consumers and growers alike.  The clean smooth tastes and intense fragrances in the final harvest are the results of plants assimilating pure forms of essential nutrients under highly oxygenated root zone conditions – as it turns out, people love to taste the plant, not the dirt. Naturally, the yields and growth rates get people’s attention too! 

The Advantages of Growing with Current Culture H2O

Besides amazing results, one of the factors that have contributed to the wide success of the Under Current system is the level of scalability and ease of changing configurations; for instance, the adaptability as part of the growing evolution. This is one of the reasons Current Culture H2O is so excited to be working with GreenPlanet Wholesale. As the Canadian distributor of CCH2O solutions, GreenPlanet can supply growers at both the commercial and hobbyist level with easy access to their system components to build a garden that works for every space, budget and scale demand.  And of course, as well as to deliver complete turnkey systems, whether as one of their ready to ship Under Current system packages or as a complete custom designed turnkey operation. 

All CCH2O complete systems and components are professionally designed, manufactured and packaged.  We use the latest in CAD design not only in developing and making our systems and components, but all CCH2O systems come with highly detailed and easy to follow instructions for assembly, operation and maintenance.  There is absolutely no guesswork required or luck involved for growers to attain exceptional cropping results. Whether it’s your first time growing a small crop at home, or the hundredth as a professional grower in a licensed facility, success can almost be guaranteed when selecting the Under Current series of hydroponic systems.

Justin chats to the Current Culture Team at the Lift & Co. Expo.

What to Expect when Using an Under Current System 

Hydroponic systems are renowned for saving growers time and money; so, If you’re a grower who wants to save significantly on time, water, power and plant food, switching to a CCH2O Under Current system is among the smartest decisions you’ll ever make in the garden. Listed below are some of the advantages to expect when switching to a closed-loop Under Current System:

Significant savings in water use; closed hydroponics systems lose very little water to air, allowing plant nutrient solution uptake to become an accurate diagnostic in the grower’s toolbox.

Using the principles of thermodynamics, it can be more economical for growers to heat or cool the nutrient solution of growing plants, rather than expend more energy in an attempt to cool or heat the air in the aerial growing environment. This feature offers growers a large potential reduction in power use.

Growth rates are exceptionally fast and healthy; save weeks in the vegetative growth phase to achieve the same sized plant at harvest versus traditional cropping methods.

Because there is little to no growing medium in the system, it is easier to maintain hygienic growing conditions reducing potential insect or pathogen pressures on the crop; the Under Current doesn’t give places for the bad guys to hide and reproduce

All Under Current systems are highly scalable and adaptable while saving big on labour; it’s easy to start at a smaller scale and add on as plants or your cropping needs grow.

Clean and Stable Hydroponic Nutrients: Cultured Solutions

Early on, Current Culture H2O began to recognize the need for very clean crop nutrients and additives that would be easy to use, and give great quality yields and results. Additionally, after extensive testing of other nutrient systems in the marketplace, CCH2O developed a line of nutrients that not only delivers great quality results but also creates a stable pH solution and avoids drastic spikes in EC. 

This need gave rise to Cultured Solutions, hydroponic nutrient formulations they developed to meet their stringent criteria of minimizing hassles associated with hydroponic plant food, and the development of a nutrient system that would help growers get the most out of RDWC technology. After years under development, CCH2O is pleased to make widely available the proven nutrient line, Cultured Solutions, GreenPlanet Wholesale.  Made with the professional grower in mind, Cultured Solutions are highly concentrated and economical to use.  A low salt index means Cultured Solutions won’t plug up injector systems and irrigation lines while keeping the root zone and growing media clean and clear to maximize nutrient uptake for aggressive crops that taste great at harvest.

Because of the clean and stable nature of Cultured Solutions nutrients, growers using other types of systems including rockwool and coco continue to make the switch and join the following of hydroponic growers achieving next-level results. For more information about Cultured Solutions nutrient and additives and for detailed use in your type of system, please consult their crop feeding program page. For other inquires about Current Culture H2O, contact your GreenPlanet representative for questions, sales and purchasing information. 

This blog was written and provided in partnership with Current Culture H2O.

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Creating the Perfect Environment Part 2: Air Movement and Ventilation

Once you’ve established an indoor space for your garden, the next step is to design the perfect ventilation and air movement system for your environment. While there is no “right” way to install a ventilation system, as some features, equipment and styles of construction may differ from garden to garden, the basics of installation are the same; so, continuing with the goal of establishing the perfect growing environment, some of the tips discussed throughout this article will attempt to start you on the path to creating the ideal ventilation and air movement system in your garden. Furthermore, the ideas below, if anything, may save you some headache in the process of construction. 

Intake and Exhaust illustrative example.

Ventilation: Intake And Exhaust

There are typically three reasons to exhaust or intake fresh air into the garden. The first, and arguably the most important, is to manage the heat-load produced by lighting. The second being the movement of fresh air and Co2 in and out of the garden; the third, but not least important, is to manage the odour produced by flowering plants. Need ideas on how to maximize the efficiency of your ventilation system? Consult the passages below for calculations, considerations, and equipment needed to create the ideal ventilation system. 

Managing Heat

With major advances in high wattage, horticultural-grade LED technology, the need to rapidly cool the garden is slowly diminishing. However, in a garden that utilizes HPS lamps, for instance, these high-intensity discharge bulbs (HID) use a tremendous amount of energy, and in turn, produce high levels of heat, especially at scale. For example, if a grower has four 1000 watt HPS lamps in the garden, each producing up to 3,400 British thermal units (BTUs), the heat-load of the garden would be immense, and would nearly be as hot as leaving the oven door open while cooking a turkey. To maintain the ideal 80-85 degrees Fahrenheit that plants require for lights on temperatures, the garden would either need to be cooled externally by an air conditioner/chiller or internally by an intake/outtake ventilation system. 

To manage the heat load in a garden (without the use of an air conditioner), we highly recommend the use of two ventilation solutions: HyperFan and/or Tornado Inline fans. These inline fans are a great way to efficiently maintain optimal temperatures, and unlike squirrel cage fans, which are oversized, loud and expensive, inline fans are a hyper-efficient and affordable option for the intake and exhaust needs of a garden. For optimal use, install your inline fan close to the ceiling in your garden, and attach the power cord to a digital or analog thermostat. This tool will regulate the function of the fan, and turn it on/off automatically as the temperatures of the garden fluctuate. For remote environmental control, check out GreenPlanet Wholesale’s entire line of TrolMaster products, and regulate your environment from a distance!  

Air Exchange

Another factor to consider when setting up your ventilation system is the need to adequately exhaust and intake fresh air and Co2. One of the most important factors in producing a maximum yield is the enrichment of carbon dioxide; however, if a room is not “sealed” and the gardener is not enriching the grow room with pure forms of Co2, adequate levels of carbon dioxide must be maintained through sufficient intake and exhaust systems. 

The same considerations for ventilation equipment referenced above will be suitable for remedying this growth-enhancing factor. Although, the tools for calculating just how much ventilation is needed, are slightly different. Unlike a ventilation system that attempts to cool the garden, an exhaust system that manages air exchange must be calculated to the volume of the room. So, if you’re curious about the size of the fan needed to exchange fresh air and Co2 in your garden, we must first calculate the volume of the space, and match this calculation with an inline fan that is capable of clearing the space every one to two minutes. To calculate the volume of a space, use the formula below: 

Volume Calculation: L x W x H = Grow Space Volume

Let’s do an example: If we have grow room 8 feet long by 12 feet wide and 10 feet tall, based on the formula above, the volume of the room would be 960 cubic feet. To ensure proper air exchange, we would need to match this growing space with an adequate exhaust fan, one which ideally would push 960 cubic feet per minute. Fortunately for us, GreenPlanet Wholesale has a wide selection of inline fans suited just for this purpose. For instance, a 12” Tornado Inline fan with a CFM capacity of 1060, would be nothing short of excellent for this job. 

Volume Calculation: 8 x 12 x 10 = 960 Cubic Feet (Grow Space Volume)

Odour Control

The final factor to consider when creating the perfect ventilation system for your garden is how effective your equipment is against fighting odour. One of the most troubling, and in some cases offensive things your garden can produce is a powerful smell. While this may be a sign of a successful crop, the odour can be off-putting to people not used to the pungent, robust odours produced by a healthy garden. To combat this concern, there are several tools available at GreenPlanet Wholesale to control odour in the garden, including charcoal filtration, the utilization of “negative pressure” and the introduction of products that neutralize odour at the site. 

Charcoal Filters

Among the other tools listed above, charcoal filtration is perhaps the most effective in neutralizing odour in the garden. Not only are these filters effective, but they are perhaps the easiest tool to use for odour control. For instance, if you’re using an inline fan to manage the heat and air exchange in the garden, a charcoal filter can be installed directly on the flange of the inline filter; by the processes of “negative-pressure”, the hot, odour-filled air will rise toward the ventilation system and pass through the charcoal filter before exiting the grow room; thus neutralizing any odour created by the garden. 

Charcoal Filter illustrative example

Negative Pressure Rooms

Not only will negative pressure force air to pass through the charcoal filter faster and with reduced resistance, but this technique will also trap odour inside the grow room, and stop smells from leaking into your home through holes, cracks or intake ventilation systems. To maintain negative pressure, make sure you’ve formulated the volume of your grow room and have matched this calculation to an adequate exhaust fan. Furthermore, if you use an intake fan to supply your garden with cool air and Co2, be sure this fan is only a fraction of the strength of your exhaust system. Keep in mind that the goal of creating negative pressure is to force odour-filled air through your charcoal filter as it leaves the garden; this goal will be harder to fulfil if your intake and exhaust system are fighting each other’s function in the grow room. 

Negative Pressure Example
Plantlady223, 2016, Wikipedia.org

Neutralize Odor at the Site

When all else fails, sometimes the introduction of a new smell is a grower’s only option. For all of us who have tried every trick in the book, there is but one saving grace – ONA. ONA neutralizes odours naturally at the site and leaves spaces outside the grow room smelling fresh and clean. To avoid ONA neutralizing valuable terpenes inside the garden, place a bucket or jar of ONA directly outside the grow room to catch any unwanted odours. To speed up the process, attach ONA specific “Breeze Fans” to containers and distribute ONA evenly across open spaces. Want to give ONA a try? Browse a selection of ONA products carried by GreenPlanet Wholesale by clicking here.

Whatever your plans are for creating the perfect indoor garden, the team at GreenPlanet Wholesale is here to help! For more information about the products mentioned above, please contact GreenPlanet Wholesale directly. For all other inquiries about products and services offered by GreenPlanet Wholesale, contact our team or your local garden supply store for more information. 

Work cited

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Creating the Perfect Environment Part 1: The Grow Space

In the process of creating the perfect indoor growing operation, identifying the potential advantages and limitations of a growing space is the first issue to combat when building a long-term garden. There are many options when it comes to constructing an indoor growing space. But whether you’re at home, or on a commercial scale, the basic principles of providing plants with a clean and stable environment are consistent across all levels of production. Whether you’re growing in a tent, a walk-in closet, or in a licensed facility, thanks to the quality products provided by GreenPlanet Wholesale, the complicated business of creating the perfect growing space has never been simpler. 

Identify Your Space

The first thing to consider when designing the perfect environment is to identify the space you want to dedicate to the garden. Mostly a consideration for home-growers, as large facilities dedicate entire buildings to indoor gardens, identifying your growing space will help you envision the realistic capabilities of your garden, and will likewise influence other decisions. Remember, because we are growing indoors, in theory, any space has the potential to be a garden. 

Once you have identified your space here are some things to consider:

  • Cost Of Equipment
  • Production Potential
  • Labour Requirements

With this consideration in mind, ask yourself a few questions when identifying a space for your future garden. For example, if you want to grow indoors, but occupy a limited amount of space, say in a small condo or apartment, growing in a tent, rather than dedicating an entire room to your garden, maybe a better option. However, if you have a larger property then there are more options when creating your own well-functioning indoor garden.

Once you’ve identified your space, you’re one step closer to designing the perfect environment for an indoor garden. For tips on effectively designing your room, consult the passages below. 

Designing a Grow Room 

For those of us fortunate enough to have an entire room dedicated to growing, there are a few simple, yet crucial elements to garden design to consider before filling your space with plants. Among the other important aspects of your space, like insulation, cleanliness and size, arguably the most important is reflectivity. If you choose to garden in a room of your home, or in some other “indoor” space on your property, ensure the walls of your garden do not absorb light, but rather reflect it. If the walls of your grow room are a dark brown colour, for instance, the light and radiated energy produced by your choice of grow lamps will be absorbed, rather than reflected, and in turn, the availability of light in your garden will diminish, and the output of your garden will suffer. 

Adapted from “Behaviour of Light” – sites.google.com

Choosing a Reflective Material

In hopes of quickly addressing this essential feature in the garden, there are a few simple and cost-effective remedies to solve the problem of low reflectivity. First, the designer of the space could decide to paint the walls of the grow room with high-quality white paint or primer. However, if the time and preparation to paint is not realistic for the grower, they may choose to rely on reflective material – black and white polyethylene. These sheets of solid black and white poly are extremely affordable, vary in size, and can be easily sanitized with cleansers during, or after each harvest.

Although, if gardeners want to ensure they are using a high-quality reflective material, then Easy Grow mylar is a great choice. With all the stability of poly, plus the added reflectivity of silver or diamond, Easy Grow mylar is the only choice for growers who want to produce quality above all else. Click here to browse the selection of Easy Grow products available at GreenPlanet Wholesale. 

Growing in a Tent

Not to be outdone by growing in a room, gardening in a tent is a great option for those limited by space. And, unlike the previous concern about the reflectivity of the walls in a room, most grow tents come fabricated with thick-walls lined with diamond, or dimpled mylar. Two grow tents that currently dominate the market, Gorilla Grow Tent and Baüx Industries, are sure to impress even the most experienced growers. Gorilla Grow Tent is praised across the industry for the quality driven materials which go into the construction of these tents. They vary in sizes from the unassuming 2’ x 2.5’ to the massive 10’ x 20′; and with a 360-degree entry-zipper, not to mention the most intake and outtake ducting ports on the market, Gorilla Grow Tent offer clients everywhere the most creative and reliable grow tent potential in the industry.

Justin Cooper of GreenPlanet Wholesale chatting to Gorilla Grow Tent at Lift & Co Toronto 2019

Just starting out? GreenPlanet Wholesale has the perfect solution for beginners – Baüx Industries Complete Grow Tent Kits. By combining essentials like a quality growing space, lighting systems, ventilation controls, and more, tent kits by Baüx Industries are a perfect fit for gardeners looking for consistent and reliable options for growing indoors. Baüx Industries Grow Tent Kits come loaded with assets that can take you from the grow store to the grow room, in less than a few hours. So, if you’ve ever thought of gardening year-round, your chance is finally here with the help of Baüx Industries

Learn more about the Baüx Industries Complete Tent Kit in our walkthrough video!

Whatever your plans are for creating the perfect indoor garden, the team at GreenPlanet Wholesale is here to help! For more information about the products mentioned above please contact GreenPlanet Wholesale directly.

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Licensed Producers Move to Lotus Nutrients Powdered Fertilizer

With cannabis cultivation moving from the black market to the stock market, licensed producers and professional growers are adapting the skills they honed over years of growing at home. Part of this process has been to re-evaluate growing supplies and techniques to ensure maximum profitability. This means producing top-quality harvests, with reliable products that effectively save time and money.

Lotus Nutrients: Changing the Way We Garden at Scale

Liquid fertilizers have reigned supreme in the home grown market for ages, however, growers in commercial spaces have been transitioning to powdered nutrients because of the cost-effectiveness and ease of use. Due to the difficulty in combining essential macro and micro-elements, most nutrient companies package them separately, forcing the grower to buy as many as a dozen separate products in order to obtain all of the nutrients cannabis plants need throughout their lifecycle. Due to the significant amount of water present in every bottle, and the sheer number of components needed, these liquid nutrient programs can be complicated and bulky. Maintaining these recipes becomes expensive very quickly and incredibly time consuming when administering at a large scale. 

A new powdered nutrient company out of SantaRosa, CA, Lotus Nutrients, is leading the way to a fundamental shift in how we feed plants at a commercial level. Lotus Nutrients blends all the essential nutrients into a simple three-step system formulated by medical growers, and specifically designed for medicinal plants. Their water-soluble powdered nutrients are quickly becoming the preferred choice for commercial agriculture and a great solution for new growers. Even more exciting, because of the high solubility of Lotus Nutrients products, their highly reliable 3-part system will perform equally well in all mediums including, soil, peat-based, coco and hydroponics. 

The Quality, Care and Craftsmanship of Lotus Nutrients

Lotus Nutrients Pro Series s feature a simplified 3-step powder-based formula that promises to outperform any 8, 9, or 10 part liquid recipe. The naturally formulated recipe is also free of dust, dyes, fillers and is formulated with anti-caking technology. To affirm the quality and care that is put into the manufacturing process, Rory Kagan, CEO of Lotus Nutrients had this to say on the subject of the company’s attention to detail: 

We worked tirelessly with our expert team of growers, scientists, and horticulturists to develop what is now known as Lotus Nutrients. Made using only the highest quality raw materials, Lotus provides everything your plants need to go from seed to harvest, yielding only the most impressive results.

Rory Kagan, CEO, Lotus Nutrients

Perhaps those who have seen the most success with Lotus Nutrients are those on the front lines of the industry. For instances, retailers in the United States have been overwhelmed with the positivity surrounding recent reviews of Lotus Nutrients; a sales representative from Ohio Hydroponics, had this to say about the expected results while using Lotus in the garden: 

I tested Lotus Nutrients in one of my rooms and was shocked to see over 2 inches of plant growth overnight. I’ve since switched all of my rooms over to Lotus and couldn’t be happier with the results.

Sales Representative, Ohio Hydroponics

Simplifying the Garden: Lotus Nutrients 3-Part System

Lotus Grow aids in producing thick stems, tight inter-nodal spacing, dense canopy development, and massive roots, while Bloom is designed to trigger rapid on-set of flowering by providing plants with all necessary components needed for strong development. Finally, Boost is the turbo-charged secret weapon that leads to an unsurpassed size and density of flowers while maximizing oil production for increased potency and taste.

Lotus Nutrients will be available in Canada, January of 2021. To experience the Lotus advantage for yourself, contact your GreenPlanet representative for sales, samples, or product information.

This blog was written and provided in partnership with Lotus Nutrients.

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