Well Balanced Fertilizer Program for Hemp and Cannabis

 Cannabis and hemp are moderately heavy feeders, especially enjoying a relatively high calcium supply. A rigorous and well-balanced fertilizer program can be achieved with any number of fertilizer inputs, but the most successful are tailored to an individual operation’s needs. Choice of fertilizer formulation should be made based on water quality, irrigation equipment and growing media, and type of production system.

First, evaluate water quality. Growers should understand the pH, EC, alkalinity, and general mineral salt content of their water source. Municipal water supplies may change in composition from season to season – these water supplies should be tested at least once or twice a year. Well-water may also change seasonally and should be tested initially to gain an understanding of the water quality, then monitored yearly for changes to ground water conditions. When using reverse osmosis (RO) water, regular service and monitoring should be performed to make sure the filtration system is functioning as expected. Water sample test kits can be ordered and sent to a variety of labs for very reasonable prices.

Second, take stock of your irrigation equipment and available labor. Are you hand watering or using a drip system? How much water are you using on a daily basis? Some fertilizer stock solutions can be stored on site for weeks without issue, while others must be consumed quickly, in a day or two. Next, what type of media are you growing in? Truly hydroponic systems require control of the EC and pH of fertilizer water using consistently performing products. The pH of peat-based or soil-based media is most affected by the alkalinity of the water. Low to moderate alkalinity often can be managed with the proper fertilizer choice.
Hemp and cannabis growers treat excess water alkalinity through the application of acid along with the fertilizer. Sulfuric acid is the number one choice for this crop. High-alkalinity water presents a special challenge to organic growers. The only OMRI approved acid is citric acid; high alkalinity requires large amounts of citric acid to neutralize the excess. Organic growers may consider purification systems when faced with poor water quality.

Fertilizer targets can be met through the use water-soluble fertilizers or liquid nutrients. Slow or controlled release fertilizer are additional options when growing in peat-based or soil-based systems. GGSPro can help you sort through options to identify the best program for you.

 Click here for Soil and Water Testing Addresses

 

Description	Size	Item Number
Jack's 5-12-26	25 lb	33-51226
Jack's 10-30-20	25 lb	33-103020
Jack's 15-0-0	25 lb	33-79080
Plantex MJ 12-8-26	25 lb	31-M12279
Plantex MJ 4-31-37	25 lb	31-M12280
Plantex MJ Spike (CaMg)	25 lb	31-M12310
Neptune's Harvest Hydrolyzed Fish	1 gallon	80120001
Nature's Source 3-1-1	4.7 gallon	67-0065
Biomin Calcium	1 gallon	16-03011
Sustane 8-4-4 All Natural	50 lb	67-30569
Sustane 4-6-4 All Purpose Slow Release	50 lb	67-30201
Sustane 16-4-8	50 lb	67-50551

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New Rearing Method Allows For Better Production Predatory Mite

BioPersi+ addition to the Biobee arsenal

Going against all odds, the scientific literature, and decades of practical recorded experience, a BioBee R&D team headed by R&D Entomologists Arnon Tabic and Tom Katz, developed a new technology for the predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis.

Traditional P. persimilis products are based on behavioral manipulation: the predatory mite is starved (at least partially) prior to harvest. As a result, it takes longer for the predatory mites to establish and start reproducing. The new product BioPersi+ arrives satisfied and physiologically stronger, thus able to seek and control hot spots faster and start laying eggs on the same day of application. BioPersi+ is produced using a new alternative food system which gives the persimilis key advantages. Additionally, although slow-release products of generalist predatory mites, such as sachets, have been available for some time, no such product was possible with P. persimilis. BioBee’s new technology makes the slow-release option of P. persimilis feasible. The BioPersi+ slow-release products are expected to be launched later in the 2021 year.

Another important difference is the age structure of the population. Whereas the traditional BioPersimilis product contains mainly adults, BioPersi+ product contains all the developmental stages of the mite (adults, juveniles, and eggs). This diversity creates a continuity of active mites in the greenhouses; assuring longer, uninterrupted spider mite control.

BioPersi+ Advantages

• White to red color change confirms active predation.
• Higher egg laying ability then traditional persimilis: females lay over 19 eggs within 5 days, under positive conditions.
• Better searching ability and control of hot spots.
• Diversity of life stages for longer prevention.
• Slow Release methods (Available later in the 2021 Year

Above: In a trial observing how many persimilis individuals made it to their targets, the new Persi+ outperformed the conventional persimilis product.

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What is Fogging?

Fogging, also known as ultra-low volume treatment, utilizes very fine particle sizes to greatly reduce spray volume when applying chemicals. These small particle sizes enable products to be applied uniformly and to reach areas in the crop canopy and the undersides of leaves that may otherwise be missed by hydraulic sprayers. Fogging reaches all surfaces within the greenhouse space including under benches to nooks and crannies in the floors and structures.

What might growers want to fog?

Sanitizers – Fogging sanitizers can cut down on labor associated with spraying for hard surface sanitation. Dramm Autofog and Mini AutoFog can be left unattended outside of normal work hours and allowed to fog a sanitizer throughout a workspace. Sanitizers such as ZeroTol 2.0 can be run through these foggers when using stainless steel spray nozzles.

Biological and other water-based pesticides – Using a Dramm Coldfogger, Dramm Turbo ULV, or the Dramm BioPulsFOG, products containing live active ingredients can be applied evenly and thoroughly throughout the production space. These types of products are often used to treat insects such as aphids, or foliar fungal diseases such as Botrytis, powdery mildew, or leaf spots. Additionally, Coldfoggers and thermal foggers greatly decrease the time required to spray when compared to hydraulic sprayers and AutoFog equipment.

What should growers avoid fogging?

Oils – Many oils are technically compatible with fogging, but the trouble lies in their mode of action. Oils work through suffocation, filling all the air openings of insects or mites. Fogging produces very small-sized particles, one of the strengths of fogging, which ensures a highly uniform but thin layer of pesticide without using large amounts of water. While ideal for most pesticides, this action works against the coating and suffocating action of horticultural oils. Fogging oils also covers equipment with a fine layer of oil that may be detrimental to things such as lights or other mechanical fixtures.

Sulfur – Fogging, burning, or atomizing sulfur may be an effective insecticide and fungicide, but this practice carries with it several dangers and detriments, as well as not being an EPA approved practice. Sulfur vapors represent significant human health hazards, and over time sulfur vapors erode the integrity of poly materials. Plastics become brittle and useable lifetime is significantly reduced.

To learn more about the types of fogging equipment available, reach out to your Griffin rep or the GGSPro team to find out how you can add fogging into your production process. 

Click here for our fogger FAQs sheet for more information on fogging.

Description		Item Number
Dramm Mini AutoFog with Stainless Steel Nozzle		41-1205
Dramm SLVH AutoFog 120V		41-6003251
Dramm LVH AutoFog 220V		41-6003201
Dramm Stainless Steel Nozzle for LVH		41-1263
Dramm Coldfogger AR 20-gal tank, 150’ hose		41-1488
Dramm Turbo ULV Fogger		62-6003261
Dramm Puls-Fog K-30 Standard Blue Frame		41-1121
Dramm Puls-Fog K-30/20 Bio Dual Tank		41-1122
Dramm Cart for K-30/20		41-1125
Dramm K-22 PulsFog GH Yellow Frame		41-1331
Dramm K-22-Bio PulsFog Yellow Frame		41-1332
Dramm Nutri-Fog carrier		74-2675

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Even Watering in CEA Crops with Drip Irrigation

Written by: Kurt Becker - EVP – Commercial Products, Dramm Corporation

There are a variety of media types used in cannabis and hemp production. When combined with different container sizes, achieving even moisture levels throughout the pot can be challenging. It is important to pair the right type of irrigation system with the media to ensure that the plants are watered evenly.

Media Types

Rockwool and coir have less water holding capacity than peat-based mixes and organic mixes. As holding capacity decreases, watering frequency will need to increase. Additionally, irrigation duration should decrease. Irrigation volume is also a factor. Drippers with higher outputs can cause channeling in more porous medias, leading to uneven moisture in the container and uneven root growth over time.

Wetting Agents

With media ranging widely in composition, the moisture-holding characteristics and ability of the media to wick water laterally can have a huge impact on evenness of the moisture level throughout the container. Wetting agents are employed to reduce surface tension of water and allow very dry media to rehydrate. These products can be added to media either prior to planting or with irrigation water.

Pictured: Very dry media or uneven irrigation can lead to channeling - dry pockets that water skips past

Container Size

Container size will also have an impact on moisture homogenization. Smaller containers are easy to fill, even with a more porous media. Larger containers need more water and multiple points of distribution. Multiple staked drippers can often be enough. For a combination of media that will not wick well and a large container, using multiple pressure compensated rings often works well. Multiple drippers also help keep a valuable plant alive when one dripper clogs. 

Dripper Output

Dramm offers emitters with a range of outputs from 0.5 gph (2 lph) to 3.0 gph (12 lph). This allows for a variety of options. As noted above, multiple drippers can help water a plant more evenly. However, be careful not to overdo the flow rate. High flow drippers often channel more. A combination of lower flow drippers in one pot can provide better watering and the speed needed to cycle through the facility.

Dripper Type

There are different manufacturers of standard PC drippers. One challenge these emitters can have is clogging. Every system needs to be protected by proper filtration. However, with many of the fertigation methods used by CEA growers, sometimes particulate still gets through. Dramm PCAS emitters are larger than other emitters. This allows the labyrinth that regulates pressure internally to be wider. A wider labyrinth can pass more particulate than a narrower one. 

Complete Systems & Expertise

Working with experts can help ensure success in your growing facility. The Dramm and Griffin teams work together, asking questions to understand your growing style and system, to help offer the right solution for your irrigation system.

Dramm Irrigation Products From Griffin

Product Name		Item Number
Dramm 36" Assembled PC dripper w stake 2 lph		44-5557
Dramm 36" Assembled PC dripper with Microvalve w stake 2 lph		44-5558
Dramm 18" Assembled PC dripper w stake 2 lph		44-5553
Dramm 16 mm PE tubing, 1000' Sunblock		44-5605
Dramm 10" PC Ring & 36" Leader Tube with Microvalve		44-5565
Dramm 4” PC Ring & 12” Leader Tube with Microvalve		44-5577
Dramm 4” PC ring & 24” Leader Tube with Microvalve		44-5579
Dramm 13” PC Ring & 36” Leader Tube with Microvalve		44-5573

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Hemp Field Readiness

By: Allison Justice, PhD
The Hemp Mine

Christmas season has passed, and planting season is right around the corner.  Now is the time to begin planning for the 2021 hemp growing season.  

There are many things to consider for field preparation, so let us prioritize:

Soil & water testing

This step is easy to let fall by the wayside but remember it is one of the most important things you can do for your crop.  Testing of soil and water sources should be done, at a minimum, annually.  State universities as well as many private testing labs will do these tests at a very affordable rate.  Most testing facilities will also aid on how to test and how to interpret results.  One soil test is not enough, there will be many areas of your field that need addressed differently.  Ask your lab for assistance.  

Pre-plant fertilizer

Once you receive results, you can then make an educated decision on field pre-planting amendments, such as lime or nitrogen.  After your field is treated and your soil rotated, you then can retest to understand the amount of liquid fertilizer you will need to apply throughout the season.

Irrigation planning & supplies

To get the most out of your crop and to avoid drought stress, irrigation implementation is key.  Some fields are trickier than others to lay out properly so contacting an experienced irrigation specialist can be helpful for design.  A common way for irrigation delivery is drip tape which is laid mechanically under plastic or biodegradable mulch.  Pressure, pump size, and injector capability should be determined for proper water distribution.

Mulching

Many hemp farmers choose to mulch their fields.  Mulching helps to increase water retention, reduce weed pressure, and alter temperature.  Additionally, when mulching is laid, the planting equipment normally can lay irrigation under the plastic as well as mound soil into beds.  Mounding is important in areas which have frequent rain because it contributes to proper drainage.  Mulch color can manipulate temperature and there are also great options for biodegradable mulch.  Biodegradable mulch can help reduce labor and the loss of topsoil at the end of the season. 

Genetics

The right genetic choice is 75% of the battle for a successful season.  Work with breeding companies that have a proven record and can provide you with more than just a certificate of analysis (COA).  Think about where these plants were bred and for what reason they may have been selected.  Ask the breeder for references and data from the previous year’s trials.    

Products to help you get started

Product Name		Item Number
LUMITE GCB 3' 300' Ground Cover Blue		78-2420
Blk/Wht 1.25 Mil 4' X 4000' Embossed		78-1032
Blk 1.25 Mil 3' X 2000' Embossed Mulch		78-1025
Netafim Figure 8 Line End		5011001
2Gph WPC Jr. P/C Woodpecker Dripper		5010013
Netafim 1000' .520-.620 Tubing Black		5010030
Netafim 2" FLEXNET PIPE 60" SPACING 328'		5010042
Netafim 1/2"MPT Elbow X.636TWD FLEXNET		5011006
Space-It 8Mil .4Gph 9000' Tape 12" Space		50183129
Streamline X 8Mil .2Gph 9000' 18" Space		5018618

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Greenhouse Lighting: Are Your Tired Grow Lights Letting Your Crop Down?

Researchers and growers alike recognize a lighting truth: A 1% increase in light levels returns a 1% increase in yield. Of course, this only applies when the light level is below the crop’s photosynthetic saturation point. The point at which light limits yield will vary with several factors, including the crop species, crop fertility, and temperature. 

Horticulturalists around the world make cost-effective decisions about lighting every day. In some places for some crops, crop quality during low-light times of the year is maintained by growing cooler and slowing the crop cycle. In other areas, supplemental lighting is added to keep consistent production and quality week after week. For indoor and warehouse cultivation, a stable environment is maintained year-round by sole-source lighting.

Greenhouse lighting plan

Sole-source lighting can be planned to provide consistent, uniform delivery of photons over the crop to provide a consistent harvest. This kind of lighting setup can be achieved with high-pressure sodium (HPRS), metal-halide (MH), or LED lighting technologies.

What happens when HPS and MH bulbs age? 

HPS and MH bulbs generally have a 10,000-hour life. You should expect their output to drop by 10% over this time. That means that a lighting plan initially providing adequate light to meet your yield goals will give you 10% less yield when bulbs hit their recommended end of life. Think about that. What does 10% less yield mean to your bottom line?

While we are thinking about this, what do 10,000 hours mean for a typical indoor production facility?

    • 12 hours/day: 2.25 years

    • 16 hours/day: 1.75 years

    • 18 hours/day: 1.5 years 

The easiest fix for diminishing photon output is to set a maintenance plan to replace your HPS and MH bulbs on a cycle that aligns with your use and sensitivity to decreasing yields. As we come to the end of the year, many operations can achieve tax benefits on Capex equipment purchases delivered prior to January 1, making this is a perfect time to replace your bulbs. 

Let us help you maintain your yields, so you continue to meet your production goals. Ask your Griffin salesperson about options for single end and dead-end HPS and MH replacement bulbs from leading manufacturers, including ParSource, Ushio, Hortilux, and Philips.

Griffin also offers a wide assortment of LED lighting technology. We can help you through the transition from HPS/MH to LED, both on the equipment and culture sides of the equation. 

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Why Are In Vivo Nematodes Beneficial?

Nematodes, specifically Steinernema feltiae, have an intense action against fungus gnat larvae and thrips pupae found in crop media. A popular choice among greenhouse growers of all kinds, this microscopic biological control agent (BCA) has wormed its way into many effective integrated pest management (IPM) programs. Currently, a global SF nematode shortage is affecting many suppliers, leading growers to explore other product options to fill this void.

Nematodes Alternative: Sanitation

Sanitizing surfaces surrounding the growing area can go a long way to controlling fungus gnat and thrips issues. Proper sanitation practices help prevent the spread of algae, which serves as a potential food source and breeding space for several pests such as fungus gnats and shore flies. Products such as ZeroTol 2.0, SaniDate 5.0, and PERPose Plus are often approved for hard surface sanitation and may be used at lower concentrations to reduce the occurrence of algae on soil surfaces or in irrigation piping and tubing.  

Nematodes Alternative BCAs

Though no other BCA is quite as effective as nematodes against fungus gnat larvae and thrips pupae, some preventative pressure can be maintained through strategic applications of different species. Atheta coriaria and Hypoaspis miles, two primarily soil-dwelling BCAs, prey on larvae and pupae at the soil level. These two insects may survive for long periods in the crop media when maintaining even moisture and avoiding incompatible pesticide drenches. Though unable to handle severe infestations on their own, these BCAs may be incorporated into a preventative regimen to keep thrips and fungus gnat pressures low. 

In Vivo Nematodes

Several suppliers offer In Vivo Nematode products. With classic nematode products, nematodes are grown using a fermentation process that occurs in a nutrient solution. In Vivo nematode products are produced following the natural life cycle in live hosts. While both production methods produce effective nematodes, the In Vivo nematodes generally release a more potent dose of the pest-killing bacteria upon infection. It is not uncommon for growers to see slightly faster and higher efficacy with In Vivo nematodes. 

Though global shortages are not currently impacting In Vivo nematode products, this type of production is more labor and time intensive. In Vivo, the application rate for products is lower and would be an appropriate knock-down treatment before beginning a preventative regimen combining adequate sanitation and alternative BCAs. Please reach out to your Griffin sales rep or the GGSPro technical team for crop-appropriate rates and usage tips. 

Products

Product Name		Item Number
Zerotol 2.0 5Gal		71-35481
Sanidate 5.0 5Gal		71-35151
PERpose Plus 5Gal		71-2690
DALOTIAforce 1k beetles		30DC1N
Staphyline 500 beetles		SB0061-01
STRATIOforce 25k mites		30SS25
Hypoline 25K mites		SB0091-04
Sentry 25M nematodes		70-7025
In Vivo NemaShield, 24M nematodes		NEW

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