violently. Exercise the necessary precautions when handling liquid around the bulb.
Reflective Material
Using reflective material on the walls, ceiling and even the floors of the grow room increases the efficiency of light usage. The three most common types of reflective material are white plastic, Mylar, and flat white paint. The advantages of white plastic are that it is relatively inexpensive and easy to use. The disadvantages are that it is not as efficient at reflecting light as Mylar or flat white paint. The advantages to Mylar are that it is super reflective, relatively easy to use and it also blocks many of the rays detectable by infrared scanners and scopes (where that type of security is an issue, that is). The disadvantage is its cost. The advantages to flat white paint are that it is cheap and easy to use and also the best overall reflector of the three. The disadvantage is its permanence. These products help maximize the efficiency of any light source by directing otherwise unused light back to the plants.
Using Sunlight
I cannot let this piece end without putting in a word for good old sunlight. Let me state for the record that in my humble opinion there is no complete substitute for our beloved Sol when it comes to producing light, especially when it comes to plants. And the Sun is out there for anyone to use free of charge each and every day. There exist windows, skylights and now even “solar tubes” that are used for bringing sunlight indoors. This light would work perfectly for general plant production. The solar tube is an amazing device that is capable of collecting the sunlight and delivering it in full glory to the indoor environment. A solar tube could be built into a small private area such as a closet or pantry. The tube can also be opened or closed so that flowering manipulation could be easily maintained. It is also possible to control light cycles with windows and skylights by using a common shade and, unless some form of automatically timed device is used, a bit of daily discipline.
If a person lives on a relatively private piece of land, or has an area unseen by prying eyes, putting plants outside in buckets and bringing them in every day is another option to utilizing the Sun. This method has worked well for many people. Moving the plants in and out everyday by hand is done to force early flowering, especially in southern areas. This allows a person to grow outdoors yet harvest well before the traditional harvest time. It is a discipline. This method also allows more harvests per year than if strictly grown outdoors.
A person with a barn or garage, or even a shed, could install a translucent piece of material in a south-facing roof (north-facing in the southern hemisphere). This would allow enough light in for adequate plant growth while also keeping the garden “secure.” In the garage or barn, a loft could be constructed beneath the translucent piece (or pieces). Be creative and innovative! And always keep sunlight in mind when considering a light source for plant production.
4
Growing Medium and Nutrients
Hydroponic Media
The two main types of medium for plant growth are hydroponic and soil. My preference for soil is already known, so I will only briefly discuss hydroponics systems. Hydroponic medium is any sterile medium that will hold some water, but allow water and air to pass through. Gravel, perlite, rockwool, volcanic pumice, “rock corn” and sand are some examples of hydroponic media. Hydroponic systems provide nutrients via the water that is supplied to the medium several times daily. Exceptions are passive units such as wick systems that have constant access to a nutrient-rich reservoir. Most systems consist of a reservoir, a pump, tubing to carry the fluid to the plants, the pots and medium that hold the roots of the plants, and some way for the water to return to the reservoir. Water soluble nutrient is mixed with the water in the reservoir and delivered to the plants. Most systems are automated using a timer.
Hydroponics systems are famous for producing the largest amount of foliage and fruit. The plant does not have to put as much energy into roots and therefore has more energy for foliar and bud growth. The roots are regularly aerated and thus have excellent oxygen exposure. I think that the incessant regimen produces a bland finished product. Entrepreneurs in the hydroponics industry are striving for more natural hydro systems, and are experimenting with many new nutrient products. I have yet to sample a hydroponically grown product that surpassed a soil grown product in overall quality and flavor. The same can be said about indoor versus outdoor growth. That is, when grown outdoors in the right environment, the product is usually superior to an identical plant grown indoors.
Soil
To date, the best indoor products are soil grown. This may be because soil is not a sterile medium. Soils are alive and thriving, and they interact with roots. Some potting soils are not organic and may contain unwanted chemicals. Shop around, read labels, ask questions to salespeople and friends and get familiarized with the brands available in the local market.
Even the good manufacturers sometimes skimp on their ingredients. This is why I like to supplement commercial soil. The two main supplements I use are worm castings and a bat/seabird guano mix. For soil used in the vegetative stage I like to add more worm castings than bat/seabird guano. For soil used in the bud cycle it’s the opposite—more bat/seabird guano than worm castings.
Here’s a recipe for a soil mix that works well. The bulk of the mix—about 70% of the finished product—is made up of equal parts peat or sphagnum moss (I prefer coarse-cut sphagnum moss) and perlite. Then worm castings are mixed in to about 15% of the finished product. About 10% of the finished product is organic compost. The final 5% is made up of a mixture of about equal parts trace mineral elements, granulated charcoal and washed sand. Then I add worm casting concentrate if the soil will hold a plant in vegetative cycle. For flowering I add powdered bat guano. The perfectly moistened mix will hold together as clumps when squeezed but will not release many drops of water.
Selecting Nutrients & Supplements
My preference is for the most natural nutrients and supplements. Many fertilizers are produced using industrial chemicals and do not, in my opinion, produce the highest quality bud. I prefer nutrients produced naturally, such as worms, fish, bats, birds, plants and seaweed. Green manure, or composted plant matter, is another excellent source of food for plants.
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