The Fearless Gardener

... with the chop 'n crop method Revegetate your crop
... then chop 'n crop 'n chop 'n crop ...

After practicing the techniques of the Fearless Garden Soiless Mix Layering Method, I've increased my productivity like night and day just by using readily available materials used to mimic the plants root zone in it's natural habitat. I realize more and more, that the more natural, makes all the difference in the world!

By combining the soiless mix layering method and the chop 'n crop methods, you can take full advantage of your artificially controlled indoor soiless mix garden by dramatically improving it's performance and also by regulating the photo period and nutrients to trigger your plants to re-vegetate after you have harvested them. they will grow stronger and more productive than the time before.

Start off by using the highest quality soiless mix. To harvest, trim the plants' desired material only and let the rest of the plant re-grow. There are a few important things to keep in mind about keeping the root zone healthy for a longer period of time because as the plants mature it will be able to produce larger and more flavorful flowers, it will just keep getting better. Every time you cut the plant back it grows back in bushier. By the third, fourth and up to five crops the plant will have transformed into a highly productive oozing monster that you'll be sure to be proud of. The only trade off is the work it takes to leach, rather than move large amounts of growing medium in and out having to purchase new soiless mix every time. To get the best results, closely follow these important tips:

To keep the root zone healthy for a longer period of time you must prevent build up of elements by using high quality water. Filtering water before adding plant food may be considered. To ensure that your plants have all the available elements and vitamins necessary without impurities, contaminates or unwanted levels, which can rapidly build up, you must use only the highest quality plant food available that is designed specifically for each stage of growth. Also, if the plant food is custom buffered for soiless mix will make a huge difference in absorption. High quality pure plant food contains quality minerals which themselves contain a high oxygen content. This will keep your grow medium healthy, crop after crop.

The use of a high quality leaching agent on a regular basis and especially before re-vegetating the plant to prevent build up of elements on roots and growing medium is also necessary to ensure the best results possible.

The Soiless Mix Layering Method allows for improved drainage, which allows more thorough leaching and also aeration which keeps the medium fresh.

After harvesting you'll find out that it was worth it to move 25 bushy plants in a seven gallon pots into the basement shower on top of a milk crate. It really rinse-out the growing medium after letting the leaching agent soak for about 20 minutes. It will grab on to the unwanted elements and wash them away. You can always use a dolly or a wagon to help move them around or devise a run off system for a large number of plants. Now you can switch the light back to 18-20 hours and feed with a custom buffered gro formula for soiless mix. You may want to treat the plants like they are recovering in the hospital for about two weeks, foliar feeding will be most beneficial. They will take another week or two to revert and start to show vigorous signs of vegetative growth. When using the Fearless Gardener CHOP N CROP indoor gardening method, always use a pure nutrient that you can run at low levels and get great results. This eliminates unwanted compounds in the growing medium. Run about half strength until new signs of growth first start to appear, then only feed them relative to their growing activity and don't try to push it. Instead, let off a little at the end, especially when using bud enhancer additives. As long as you follow these few important tips and keep a regular feeding and leaching program, you can always use this method to keep a full productive grow room even if it means only keeping the strongest healthiest plants around for another turn. With some healthy new rooted cuttings, you can take a whole crop around for another harvest.

Remember its all up to you. What you put into it is what you can get out of it. By keeping in fine tune with the indoor horticulturalists of British Columbia, Canada and their most popular growing methods, we are most proud to reach out and make a life better. The valuable information obtained by the Fearless Gardener reflects current activities, trends and techniques that have rapidly gained popularity in a region that is known to be at the very top in the world. The Fearless Gardeners Soiless Mix Layering Method* and Chop 'n Crop Method are a tribute to a great era in high performance indoor gardening.

* The Fearless Gardeners Soiless Mix Layering Method is in the Nov/Dec 2000 issue of Maximum Yield - also refer to principles of Watering and Feeding in Jan/Feb 2001 issue of Maximum Yield.