(from Usenet, rec.gardens & misc.rural newsgroups): --*-- I'd like to recommend a magazine which I have found most helpful regarding growlights, hydroponics, and gardening in general. Its called "The Growing Edge" and has been around for a few years now, publishing quarterly. The byline reads "Indoor and Outdoor Gardening for Today's High-Tech Grower" and the magazine is just that. For example, here's a list of the articles in the Summer '91 issue: Thigmomorphogenesis - Plant Abuse as a Cultivation Technique Surfless and Turfless - A New Wave of Integrated Food Production Bioponics Part IV Good Vibrations - A 'Sound Diet' for Plants Drip Irrigation - The Basics New Efficiency for Home Lighting And there are a number of regular columns, one of which reports on recent scientific studies and what was discovered. Lots of good info on hydroponic methods as well. The magazine is thin and costly ($5 an issue) but quite informative. You might check your local university library, or you can call directly for a sample issue ($6.50 first class mail) 1-800-888-6785. Several of the garden shops in Seattle sell the magazine, as does one newstand. It appears to be quite popular. Actually, I don't have a subscription yet myself, as there is a local library that has it. The back issues are particularly informative. One other source of good information has been manufacturers catalogs. They often contain charts comparing light emission, talk about growing methods, contain advice, etc. If you are interested in growing under lights or growing hydroponically you may want to call and ask for some catalogs. Here are some numbers: Diamond Lights: 1-800-331-3994 General Hydroponics: 1-800-486-6001 Worm's Way: 1-800-274-9676 Light Manufacturing Co: 1-800-669-5483 --*-- Subject: Hydroponic gardening source A few weeks (?) ago someone was asking for info on hydroponic gardening. Today I came across the following: Hydrofarm Gardening Products 3135 Kerner Boulevard San Rafael, CA 94901 as an address to mail to for their free catalog (lights, hydroponic supplies, books, videos, etc.). I've never grown hydroponically nor have I ever dealt with this company, but I thought whoever was interested might wish to write them. --*-- >Does anyone out there have knowledge of a good source of information for >hydroponics? This would include product reviews of commercial kits, recipes >for nutrient solutions, instructions for DIY set ups. Thanks in advance. I don't know where to get reviews of commercial kits. Recipes for solutions can be found in a number of places, including Wyman's Gardening Encyclopedia, and in a book in the list below. I'm told, however, that unless you plan a large hydroponic garden, or just like to experiment, it is not worth it to mix your own nutrients. I have this book: "Beginning Hydroponics: Soilless Gardening" Richard E. Nicholls, Running Press, 1990. Paperback, 127 pp. ISBN 0-89471-741-3. $8.95. Has a bibliography and lists of sources for greenhouses, lighting and hydroponics supplies. It includes two recipes for nutrient solutions. The book "How to Build and Use Greenhouses" Ortho Books, 1978. $7.95. Has a section on hydroponics, including instructions for building growing beds and pump systems, as well as greenhouses and indoor lighting (does not include halide or sodium lighting; the book is somewhat old). A quick look in the latest National Gardening finds the following suppliers: Hydrofarm Gardening Products 1-800-634-9999 (Hydrofarm West, CA) 1-800-227-4567 (Hydrofarm East, PA) Worm's Way 1-800-274-9676 Diamond Hi Tech Indoor/Outdoor Gardening (HID lighting) 1-800-331-3994 In CA, (415) 459-3994 Superior Growers Supply, Inc. 1-800-227-0027 Cropking, Inc. (216) 725-5656 Aquaculture Magazine is a good source of advertisements from U.S. equipment suppliers. They have a reader response card you can send in for information from any of their advertisers. It costs $21 / year for 6 issues sent to Canada (less I think for the U.S.). There is also a yearly buyer's guide for $15. You can order using a credit card by calling 704-254-7334. Also call Argent at 1-800-426-6258 and ask for their free catalogue and their book catalogue. They have aquaculture chemicals and equipment, and an extensive selection of books. --*-- Best book I have found on aquaculture is Huet, Marcel. Textbook of Fish Culture: Breeding and Cultivation of Fish, Eyre & Spottiswoode Ltd at Thanet Press, Margate, UK 1971, ISBN o/85238/020/8 Has special sections on carp, pike, trout, perch, catfish, eels. And sections of building dams, feeding, and the usual. Organization: Iowa State University, Ames, IA Mike Campbell is a graduate student in the Agricultural Education & Studies department here. He has experience and a great interest in aquaculture, biodynamics and alternative agriculture. He is currently working on developing a curriculum in aquaculture under a fairly sizeable grant received by his department. He is not on the net, but if you wish to contact him, call the AgEdS main office here and ask for him: 515-294-5904. --*-- "Growing Edge" magazine, Indoor & Outdoor Gardening for Today's Grower This month's issue, Vol. 3 #4, Summer, 1992 is especially interesting; it has an article on combining aquaculture with hydroponics and another one on biologically-intensive waste treatment systems; + many other useful articles and advertisements. It's an amazing magazine albeit expensive/ size. For those interested in setting up electronic/electromechanical/ computer-based environmental control systems to handle such things as soil moisture/humidity/temperature/air gas levels, etc. there is an ongoing series of articles dealing with this topic complete with construction plans, computer software, whole systems design-construction- maintenance and materials/equipment/parts access info. Subscription info: The Growing EDGE P.O. Box 1027 Corvallis, OR 97339 1-503-757-0027 U.S. delivered via 1st class smail and Canadian: $24.95, 1 year/4 issues U.S. non-1st class smail: $17.95 - 1 year/4 issues $34.00 - 2 years/8 issues They also have interesting books for sale such as: "Gardening Indoors" George F. Van Patten "Gardening: the Rockwool Book" George F. Van Patten "The Hydroponic Hot House" James B. DeKorne -------- I need a publication dealing with greenhouse propagation of vegetable seedlings; let me know if you run across a good one. Article 780 (15 more) in bionet.plants: From: gilles.laberge@synapse.org (Gilles Laberge) ubject: Hydroponics & CO2 Date: 4 Jan 93 01:16:00 GMT Distribution: world Organization: SYNAPSE BBS - GATINEAU, QUEBEC - 819-561-4321 Lines: 23 To: mffowler@zeus.calpoly.edu (Michael Francis Fowler) From: gilles.laberge@synapse.org Date: 4 Jan 93 1am EST MF>Oh...Since I am here- I am curious what the effects MF>of supplementing Carbon Dioxide to my greenhouse MF>crop of flowers and vegetables. Any suggestions MF>about this is also greatly appreciated. Well I think that supplementing CO2 will increase the "Greenhouse effect" in the closed stucture which will increase the ambient temperature. This will throw off the flowers natural cycle and have an effect contrary to what your looking for (more growth, longer bloom periods). G.L. Ottawa,Canada Article 781 (15 more) in bionet.plants: From: ajt@rri.sari.ac.uk (Tony Travis) ubject: Re: Hydroponics & CO2Date: 4 Jan 93 10:28:32 GMT Distribution: bionet Organization: Rowett Research Institute In article <9313232241.MIN-LRPBa00330.bionet-news@uk.ac.daresbury> you wrote: : I am a Aeroponics/Hydroponics hobbyist. Currently I'm showing my ignorance here (again) but what is Aeroponics? : I study Horticulture in college. I am curious about : careers in these related fields. Any information : about these would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Did you cross-post this to bionet.jobs? : Oh...Since I am here- I am curious what the effects : of supplementing Carbon Dioxide to my greenhouse : crop of flowers and vegetables. Any suggestions : about this is also greatly appreciated. Elevated levels of CO2 are generally regarded as beneficial in a greenhouse but if you are burning fuel to produce the CO2 you should be aware that SO2 and NOX (various oxides of nitrogen) are also produced which may have an adverse effect on your crop. Even if you are burning 'clean' low-sulphur fuel you will get NOX production if the air in the greenhouse comes into contact with hot surfaces. This is one reason why the best greenhouses are heated by steam pipes. There was some work done at Fairfield Experimental Station near Kirkham in the UK during the 1970's concerning the relative merits of heating the greenhouse compared to just heating the solution used to irrigate the roots of plants grown using hydroponics. Sadly, Fairfield closed down years ago, but I'm sure the work was published. Tony. -- Dr. A.J.Travis, | Tony Travis Rowett Research Institute, | JANET: Greenburn Road, Bucksburn, | other: Aberdeen, AB2 9SB. UK. | phone: 0224-712751 From: Roland.Gronroos@sgen.slu.se (Roland Gronroos) ubject: Re: Hydroponics & CO2Date: 4 Jan 93 10:33:58 GMT Followup-To: bionet.plants Organization: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences In article <1993Jan03.232313.1313548@zeus.calpoly.edu>, mffowler@zeus.calpoly.edu (Michael Francis Fowler) wrote: > Oh...Since I am here- I am curious what the effects > of supplementing Carbon Dioxide to my greenhouse > crop of flowers and vegetables. Any suggestions > about this is also greatly appreciated. > Carbon dioxide (CO2) fertilization is a common way to increase growth in greenhouses. I have tested the effect of CO2 on pine seedlings (Pinus sylvestris) there was an increase in growth (DW increase) up to about 3500 ppm. The following examples is cited from a brochure from (snail mail adress) AGA GAS AB, S-17282 Sundbyberg, SWEDEN. They sell gas and equipment for CO2 fertilization. Plant ppm CO2 comment Tomato 1000-1500 faster growth, earlier and larger yield (25-30%) Cucumber 1000-1500 faster growth, earlier and larger yield (25-30%) Roses 1000 Larger yield, better stem and flower quality Saintpaulia 1000-2000 Faster growth (24-62%), 1-2 weeks earlier flowering , more flowers Atmosperic concentration is 300-400 ppm CO2. In a closed greenhouse will the CO2 concentration drop to about 100-150 ppm this retards growth. Effects on man can be observed at 20000-30000 ppm CO2 after some hours exposure. The authorities in Sweden regard 5000 ppm as safe for workers spending all their working-hours in greenhouse. ubject: Aeroponics From: mffowler@zeus.calpoly.edu (Michael Francis Fowler) Date: Mon, 04 Jan 1993 18:58:13 GMT Organization: California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo Lines: 10 Someone asked what aeroponics was. Well, it's the method, developed in Israel, that suspends the root system in an enclosed casing ( or whatever) and mists the roots. Larger plants with smaller root systems have been achieved by this method. I grow tomatoes this way and have been successful in growth of 3 inches per day and by doing this I have sped up the growth time a couple of weeks. But, this technique is even less forgiving than hydroponics. Any other comments anyone? Please add. mffowler@nike.calpoly.edu rticle 786 (12 more) in bionet.plants: From: samodena@csemail.cropsci.ncsu.edu (S. A. Modena) ubject: Re: Hydroponics & CO2 Organization: Crop Science Dept., NCSU, Raleigh, NC 27695-7620 Distribution: bionet Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1993 20:07:33 GMT Lines: 34 In article <1993Jan4.104210.24053@gserv1.dl.ac.uk> ajt@rri.sari.ac.uk writes: >In article <9313232241.MIN-LRPBa00330.bionet-news@uk.ac.daresbury> you wrote: > >: Oh...Since I am here- I am curious what the effects >: of supplementing Carbon Dioxide to my greenhouse >: crop of flowers and vegetables. Any suggestions >: about this is also greatly appreciated. > >Elevated levels of CO2 are generally regarded as beneficial in a >greenhouse but if you are burning fuel to produce the CO2 you should be >aware that SO2 and NOX (various oxides of nitrogen) are also produced >which may have an adverse effect on your crop. Let's remember a bigger threat: incomplete combustion may produce ETHYLENE......a plant hormone related to....undesirable "timing" effects in greenhouses. >Dr. A.J.Travis, | Tony Travis Article 790 (17 more) in bionet.plants: From: Roland.Gronroos@sgen.slu.se (Roland Gronroos) ubject: Re: Aeroponics Date: 5 Jan 93 08:03:09 GMT Followup-To: bionet.plants Organization: Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences Lines: 23 In article , timper@iat.holonet.net (Tim Perkis) wrote: > > Can you recommend any references on aeroponics? The review article: Therory and techniques for steady state mineral nutrition and growth of plants. T Ingestad & A-B Lund 1986. Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research 1:439-453. Matematical theory, culture and stock solutions, growth units and plants is described in this paper.