SEASONAL GROW TIPS
Out-of-town Automation
While traveling out of town for the holidays, temperature and humidity controllers are useful tools that
control fans, air conditioners, and other related equipment. If using a heater, be extremely careful while
choosing the model, as space heaters are one of the
main causes of fires in the home and indoor gardens.
Consider placing an automated fire extinguisher above
the heater, especially when vacationing. There are
also safer models available now so it is worth looking
into upgrading outdated electric heaters. To automate
watering tasks, consider having a reservoir on standby
that would fill your main reservoir on a set day of the
week. Many timers and various room controllers will
allow for this functioning.
Feeling Festive?
TRY A HYDROPONIC
CHRISTMAS TREE
Wanting to try upgrading your own tree with hydroponics to add a little more cheer this holiday
season? If you look around on the market you can
find hydroponic Christmas tree tools and kits. It is
actually quite exciting that the hydroponics industry has achieved such blooming success over the
years that there are now fun projects to do with
your Christmas tree. Many growers have thought
of this or have tinkered around in the past and
now there are plenty of ways to do this yourself
with simple gardening equipment like air pumps
and air stones, or you can really get creative and
set up an ebb and flow table or similar.
If you’re replanting a Christmas tree, why not
transplant it into a larger pot with a strong
amended soil so that during the holidays while
the tree is visiting inside the home it will thrive
and shine with that tinsel? By the time it is ready
to be planted outdoors, it will be that much better
along. By potting and wintering the tree inside,
rather than it being stressed, it can be ready to go
and thrive in the yard come spring.
To do things hydroponically, think of adding
some nutrients during the holidays and letting the
tree actually feed instead of beginning to die in
the living room. The nutrients just might offer the
tree some more life instead of encouraging dead
needles to fall off everywhere and get tracked
around the house. Remember to check the pH of
your reservoir and avoid overfeeding the tree so
you don’t burn its needles.
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Maximum Yield USA | December 2016
TO AUTOMATE
WATERING TASKS,
consider having a
reservoir on standby
that would fill your
main reservoir on a set
day of the week. Many
timers and various room
controllers will allow for
this functioning."
Online Monitoring and Control
The Internet of Things is a new and rising wave of
technology through which our electronic devices
communicate with each other and with us online to
offer a sophisticated level of monitoring and control
in growrooms and beyond. The technology is here and
many companies are improving existing products and
launching new products into the market. This is the
perfect tool for gardeners going on vacation during
the holidays. Try to imagine yourself 1,500 miles
away from your grow, yet you can monitor and control
devices in your garden via a smartphone app. These
devices are now available, so check out your local
grow store or trade show to stay in tune with these
companies and their products.