THE FEARLESS GARDENERS TOP TEN GROWING TIPS

By keeping in fine tune with the indoor horticulturalists in B.C. and their most popular growing methods, we are most proud to reach out and make 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 of High Performance Horticulture, B.C. indoor growers stand proud to be the leaders in producing the very finest plant nutrients, growing systems and techniques that make a better world. These Fearless Gardener Top Ten Tips are a tribute to a great era in High Performance Indoor Growing.

1. To get high performance professional results first let your water quality determine the most suitable growing method.
   
   A high performance growing system such as NFT or Aeroponics will only produce undesirable results if the water quality is unsuitable. In the case of lower water quality, lowering the performance level of your system to match your water quality can provide you with the results your looking for.
2. With the latest techniques in growing it is very important that a custom buffered plant food is used for professional results. Plant food that is specialized to your growing method (application rate and growing medium) can make a dramatic difference in results as nutritional requirements are affected considerably. There are now custom buffered high performance plant foods available for organic soil and soiless mix flood and drain hydroponics and nutrient flow technique and aeroponics.
3. Organic soil growers can supplement their feeding program with high quality plant food by root feeding once per week or once every two weeks to achieve dramatic results.
4. The Fearless Gardeners Soiless Mix Layering Method can really increase productivity for soiless mix growers. This ingenious method uses a high performance bottom feeding program that guarantees consistency and also, readily available materials to mimic Mother Nature. This unique layering method increases the performance of container growing several fold. You get absolute beautiful hydroponic results with all the forgiveness of soiless mix. This method is responsible for many flower show awards for largest flowers and most productive plants. Flower enthusiasts have known for years that it was practically impossible to even come close to growing a flower in a container indoors and achieving results compared to the wild flowers found in their natural habitat. All until the natural layers of the soil was mimicked along with a high performance-feeding program could comparable results be achieved. This is definitely worth looking into for soiless mix lovers. The Fearless Gardeners Soiless Mix Layering method and Principles of Watering and Feeding are in the Nov/Dec 2000 and Jan/Feb 2001 issues of Maximum Yield. They can also be viewed at www.fearlessgardener.com.
5. The Fearless Gardeners Crop n Chop method is yet another way for indoor growers to really increase their growing performance. This method takes advantage of your artificially controlled environment by regulating the plants nutrients and photoperiod to trigger your plants to re vegetate after harvesting, then to take them around for another harvest or more. Several tips in the article show how to keep your root zone healthy for longer periods, and how to really promote quick vegetation or flowering by the use of foliar feeding. The Chop n Crop method will fill up those wasted areas of light in your grow room as you continue your crop. Your plants will turn into bushier, more productive plants then they were before. Look for the Fearless Gardener Chop n Crop method coming soon in Maximum Yield or at the website listed above.
6. Rockwool - Flood and Drain Growers can use furnace filter material to put on the bottom of their flood tables. This not only provides better drainage for your cubes but also adds more stability to the plants and also rolls up easily after harvest and drying out. Nice and quick and compact for disposal. This material is readily available; ask for material for a hammock filter.
7. Leaching or flushing your plants with a high quality leaching solution not only rids your plants root zone of unwanted compounds but also forces out stale air and brings in fresh oxygenated atmospheric air. This is how plants do so well outside after a good rain.
8. More sunflower resin (crystals) will be produced in the ripening stage when 1 phosphor-coated bulb is put in with every 3 or 4 high pressure sodium bulbs.
9. High quality mineral salts not only leave less residue and build up, but also contain much higher levels of oxygen, which is very beneficial to your plants.
10. Hydroponics is becoming more practical every day. The Fearless Gardener has a growing kit that meets today's criteria. This one kit can be run at any performance level to suite your water quality. For serious high performance results, The Fearless Garden has a built in food reservoir and is powered by air which eliminates electrical hazards. It's even safe for children. Many options and accessories are available to meet everyone's needs, even an optional solar panel so that your Fearless Garden could sustain itself remotely, completely off of the sun!