We're open!

We're open today! This is New York, we're not scared of a little snow. Plus there's free parking today (and every Saturday until Christmas)!

DECEMBER SALES & SPECIALS

We're continuing our sale on 1000W HPS Hortilux Bulbs, 1000W Nanolux Ballasts, Sunlight Supply "Trifecta" systems, Hydrofarm Reflectors and 15% off all Advanced Nutrients until the end of 2013.

Our new sale items for December are:

General Hydroponics FloraNectar - 30% OFF

A versatile carbohydrate additive (contains Cane Sugar, Malt Extract AND Molasses) that increases fruit size, increases the natural oil production of a plant and enhances flavor and aroma.

Ebb Monster - Complete 5 Gallon 6-Pot Hydroponic

System 

MSRP - $699.95 SALE PRICE - $460.00

Can be expanded up to 12 buckets

3-Pack Expansion Kits - MSRP - $99.95 SALE PRICE - $66.00

8" Grodan Expert Rockwool Slabs (20/75 - 8"x3"x36")

Case of 12 - MSRP - $115.59 SALE PRICE - $72.00

Added to our Hortilux Bulb sale: 

600W HPS Hortilux Bulbs - MSRP - $124.95 SALE PRICE - $75.00

Hydrofarm's Agrosun Red 1000W HPS Bulbs - MSRP - $129.95 SALE PRICE - $75.00

All seed packets are 50% off!

100% Organic, Non-GMO, from High Mowing Organic Seeds in VT.   

Great stocking stuffers for the gardener in your life.

Powertrip Lighting Bundles

Dimmable Electronic Ballast, 6" Air-cooled Reflector, Dual Arc Bulb, Adjustable Light Hangers

600W - MSRP - $519.00 - SALE PRICE - $185.00

1000W - MSRP - $649.00 - SALE PRICE - $195.00

Limited Edition Product: Bluelab Grower's Toolbox

For a limited time, Bluelab has made a Grower's Toolbox, which includes a:

- Bluelab pH pen
- Bluelab ppm pen
- Bluelab Grow Book
- Bluelab pH & Conductivity Probe Care Kit (which includes cleaning and calibration solution for both pens, sample cups and cleaning tools)

The price of the box is $199.00, which is a great value since the items separately normally cost over $240.00.  It is currently in stock at both locations.

Thanksgiving Schedule

Here is our schedule for the upcoming week of Thanksgiving:

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday (11/25-11/27) - OPEN

Thursday & Friday (11/28 & 11/29) - CLOSED

Saturday (11/30) - OPEN

As we say every year, we are thankful for all of you!  Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families!

Clonex Rooting GEL - Now approved for all crops!

We've just received a very important update on our best selling cloning gel, Clonex.  It is now registered with the EPA and is approved for use on all crops, INCLUDING food crops!  So to everyone who saw the warning on the bottle, "This product is not intended for use on food crop sites" and was worried, now you don't have to be.  Along with the registration, the name of the product will change from "Clonex Rooting Compound" to "Clonex Rooting Gel."  Don't worry, there will be no change what-so-ever to the actual product itself.

Aptus Plant Tech

Aptus is a Dutch company that specializes in high end, highly concentrated additives that push your plants to their maximum potential, without sacrificing quality.  Since they only make additives, their products are compatible with any line of nutrients.  Call or come in to find out more about their products and how to incorporate them into your current nutrient regimen.  

Come to the Nyack store on Tuesday, November 19th, 11:00am-12:00pm, for Aptus' "Grower Education Class," speak to their reps directly and receive free product!

8 Bridge St.

Nyack, NY 10960

(845) 348-8811

November Sales & Specials

Here are our specials for the month of November:

ALL ADVANCED NUTRIENTS - 15% OFF

HORTILUX 1000W HPS BULBS - $75.00 (MSRP: $129.95)

12" & 14" CAN-LITE CARBON FILTERS - 20% OFF

12" - $276.80 (MSRP: $346.00)

14" - $309.60 (MSRP: $387.00)

SUNLIGHT SUPPLY LIGHTING SYSTEM

1000W SWITCHABLE BALLAST, 1000W HPS BULB AND REFLECTOR

$195.00 (MSRP: $239.95)

NANOLUX 1000W DIMMABLE ELECTRONIC BALLASTS - $280.00 (MSRP: $339.95)

The summer reflector sale was successful so we're bringing it back!

NEARLY 50% OFF!

HYDROFARM DAYSTAR REFLECTORS

DAYSTAR w/ Socket Assembly and cord set - $83.00 

(MSRP: $159.90)

DAYSTAR 6" AIR-COOLED - $88.00 (MSRP: $169.95)

HYDROFARM RADIANT REFLECTORS

RADIANT - $83.00 

(MSRP: $159.95)

RADIANT 6" AIR-COOLED - $98.00 (MSRP: $189.95)

RADIANT 8" AIR-COOLED - $98.00 (MSRP: $189.95)

Prices valid at both locations.

We also take phone orders and ship.

Growing Garlic Indoors (and Out) in Containers

Garlic is one of the most commonly used ingredients in the kitchen, and it's really easy to grow at home in containers.

Like with all crops, it's important to grow garlic that is ideal for your climate.  There are 2 main types of garlic, hardneck and softneck.  For indoor gardening you will want to grow softneck garlic, because it is able to grow well in milder climates (indoors) and typically matures faster.  Softneck garlic is commonly what you find at the grocery store.  Hardneck garlic is a lot more flavorful, grows a hard woody stem which later develops scapes, and grows better in northern climates where the tempertaure gets below freezing in the winter.  Hardneck garlic will not grow well indoors.

We're growing a softneck variety, California Early White (Artichoke garlic), which we picked up when we were in Gilroy, CA (the garlic capital of the world, AKA: Heaven), and a hardneck variety, German White (Porcelain garlic) that we got from a farm in Sullivan County, NY.  The California Early White will stay indoors all winter, while we'll put the German White outdoors over the winter so it can get a freeze.

What you need:

- Soil with good drainage, preferably with a decent nutrient charge so you don't have to do as much work by adding your own nutrients from the start.  We like Roots Organics' Original Potting Soil.  If you prefer to add your own nutrients/fertilizer, Canna's Terra Professional Plus works well.

- Containers.  Garlic is a bulb so most of the growing is done below the surface of the soil.  You want a container that's at least 12" deep and wide enough to space the seeds 4" away from each other and the sides of your containers.  For 7-8 bulbs, we recommend 7 Gallon Root Pots from Aurora Innovations.  We like the root pots because they have a good width & depth and allow for the roots and bulbs to get air (garlic can be prone to fungus if the soil is too wet and the bulbs/roots can't breathe).

- Garlic Seed.  You can purchase seed garlic from a seed company (we like High Mowing Seeds, they're organic and we sell their fruit and vegetable seeds) or you can purchase garlic from any market or farm.  The garlic you use for cooking is the same garlic you can grow.

- Saucers (optional) - You can use plastic saucers to catch the run-off from when you water your garlic.

- Light.  If you're growing indoors we recommend using a T5 fluorescent fixture.  They don't use much energy and you can put them almost anywhere.  We're using the bottom shelf of a shelving unit to grow our garlic.

- Nutrients/Fertilizer.  Garlic needs to be fertilized.  Even if you start with a pre-charged soil, you will still need to amend with a general purpose fertilizer later on.  For organic gardening while using Roots Organics soil, after about a month we prefer to top dress the soil with some earthworm castings or Super Bat Super Tea (garlic doesn't need much phosphorus or potassium at all, just a moderate amount of nitrogen).  If you prefer liquid fertilizer, Bio Vega from Canna Nutrients works great, too (and it contains no chemicals or animal byproducts).

- Mulch or hay (when growing hardneck garlic outdoors).

Fill containers about 3/4 of the way with soil.

Take your garlic, break off the cloves, DO NOT PEEL.  Plant the cloves with the pointy side upward (root side downward), leaving about four inches between each clove and the sides of the pot.  This will allow enough room for each head of garlic to develop.

Cover cloves with about 1-2 inches of soil, water them (gently, making sure not to disturb the spacing of the garlic), and place them under your grow light.  Make sure to keep your soil moist - not soaked because garic can rot/not produce under very wet conditions.  For hardneck garlic, you may want to get some mulch/hay and cover the top of the container to protect from the cold over the winter. 

With softneck garlic, in a week or two you will begin to see green sprouts coming out of the soil (hardneck garlic tends to sprout a little later, then goes dormant over the winter and new shoots usually start coming up towards the end of the winter/beginning of spring).  Some people like to grow garlic just to cut and eat these shoots (you can use them the same way you would chives) but for the growth of the actual garlic you should leave them alone.  They process light and bring nutrients to the garlic bulbs.

When fertilizing with a dry fertilizer, top dress your soil with your earthworm castings or guano every 3-4 weeks.  Water like usual.  When using Bio Vega, mix the liquid fertilizer into your water once a week and water like usual.

With softneck garlic, in about 7-10 months the leaves will turn yellow and brown and dry out.  When this begins to happen, stop watering.  You want to give them about two weeks to dry out, and then it's time to harvest!  Pull up garlic, brush off soil and allow to dry.  Once dry, softneck garlic can store for 6-10 months (when kept in a cool, dark, dry place). 

Hardneck garlic is a little different.  They produce scapes, which are string-bean-looking things that come out of the center of the plant and curl.  Most people cut these off, because it distributes energy back down to the garlic bulb and tends to produce larger bulbs.  Usually garlic is ready to harvest 2-3 weeks after cutting the scapes (like with softneck garlic, the leaves will start to die).  After harvesting, curing and drying your hardneck garlic, you will need to use it within 2-4 months since it does not have the long shelf life that softneck garlic does.

*UPDATE*

Here is our garlic 8 months later.

SALE: HORTILUX 1000W HPS LAMPS

Now through 12/31/13, Hortilux 1000W HPS Lamps - $75.00 (MSRP: $129.95)

Intro to Canna's COCO Line - Special Offer

Canna's COCO growing medium and nutrient line is one of the most popular choices of our customers due to its ease of use, high quality and great results.  A lot of people are hesitant to try it, though, because coco is still a fairly new medium.  It's not soil, but it's not going to be used in a hydroponic recirculating system, so what is it?  Coco is basically the fibers from a coconut husk.  These fibers act as capillaries, or sponges, and absorb and store the water/nutrients you give them so your plants can take them as needed.  Salt from nutrients don't build up quickly like they do in soil, so flushing is rarely necessary.  You still put the coco in containers and top feed like you would with soil, but the growth of your plants is rapid like it is in hydroponics.  We always say, quality of soil, speed of hydroponics - Coco is the perfect "in-between" medium.  It's also not like soil where you use it once and you have to throw it away and buy more, you can reuse Coco up to three times.  

  

Not all Coco is created equal!  Canna Coco is the best of the best when it comes to the quality of the actual coco medium.  It is harvested from a private area, and it is the only RHP certified UN-STEAMED Coco substrate.  What that means is that it is 100% natural and comes with all of the naturally occurring species of beneficial fungi, specifically a species of trichoderma, an aggressive fungi that protects your roots from harmful bacteria and pathogens that can cause root rot.  You will not find that species in any other product because they cannot be exported when separated from their natural living environment.  All other RHP certified mediums steam their product which kills all of the beneficial microbes. 

Canna has done extensive research and they have designed a line of nutrients to work specifically with their Coco medium.  The base nutrient is a 2-part formula, Coco A and Coco B, that is used in both the vegetative and flowering stages of growth (there aren't separate "Grow" and "Bloom" formulas).  Their 4-additive system is simple and easy to use, and provides all of the specific ingredients for different stages of growth.  It is a complete line that provides high yields and superior quality.

If you haven't yet, now is the time to try Coco.  All you have to do is grow a couple of plants using their line and you will see the difference.  We're offering an introductory package with everything you need to complete a full plant cycle (and still have plenty left over) including:

(2) 1 Gallon Premium Containers
(2) 5 Gallon Nursery Containers
(1) Bag of Canna Coco
1 Liter of Canna Coco A
1 Liter of Canna Coco B
1 Liter of Cannazym
1 Liter of Rhizotonic
1 Liter of PK 13/14
1 Liter of Cannaboost
Canna Coco Info Guide and Feeding Chart

Normal Retail Price: $303.67 / SPECIAL INTRO PRICE: $250.00 

LABOR DAY WEEKEND

We will be closed Saturday, Aug. 31st - Monday, Sept. 2nd in observance of Labor Day.

SUMMER SALE - Hydrofarm Daystar Reflectors

Daystar Reflector - Complete with Socket Assembly and 15' Cordset - MSRP - $159.90, SALE PRICE - $95.00

Daystar 6" Air-cooled Reflector - With built-in 6" flanges and removable glass lens - MSRP - $169.95, SALE PRICE - $99.95

Over 40% Savings!

On sale until August 30th or while supplies last.

ANNOUNCEMENT: SUMMER HOURS

JULY 4TH - LABOR DAY

CLOSED SATURDAYS

Nyack - Monday - Friday 11am - 6pm

Queens - Monday - Friday 11am - 7pm

Work during the week?  Call us and we'll do our best to accomodate you.

Indoor Gardening in the Summer

Many indoor gardeners believe that once you grow indoors, you never go back outside.  Gardening indoors gives you complete control over your environment and conditions - nothing is left up to chance or Mother Nature.  There is always an answer to a negative outdoor condition (air conditioners and heaters, humidifiers and dehumidifiers, backup generators for power loss, etc.), but there's no denying that the conditions outdoors definitely affect what we need to do indoors to create the perfect environment.  Growing indoors in the summer has many challenges, hopefully these tips will help you avoid having to deal with them.

- Air conditioning.  A must.  You cannot have a successful summer growing season indoors in the tri-state area without it.  A lot of the most common fruits, vegetables and herbs require growing temperatures no higher than 80 degrees fahrenheit.  In a CO2 enriched environment plants can take higher temperatures, but it should still never exceed 90 degrees.  Using HID lights, with outdoor temperatures in the 80's, 90's and sometimes 100's, the ideal temperatures are nearly impossible to maintain without air conditioning.  If you already have an air conditioner, make sure it's in proper working order before the summer starts.  You don't want to be taken by surprise on that first hot day and have your plants suffer.  A little late for that last piece of advice now, but it's good to keep in mind for next year.

  

- Have a hygro-thermometer in each room that records the minimum and maximum temperature and humidity readings.  That way if a piece of equipment is not operating properly and causes a change in your environment, you can catch it as soon as possible even if you're not there when it happens.  Sunleaves makes a great hygro-thermometer that comes with an external sensor, so you can monitor the temperatures in two rooms at once.  Autopilot makes one that measures the temperature, humidity and CO2, and also records the readings every 30 minutes (and stores them for 24 hours), so you know exactly WHEN things changed (which can be very helpful when trying to diagnose a problem).

- During heatwaves, electric companies sometimes reduce voltage to help lessen the strain on their power systems.  When this happens, you're not getting your full power input.  High wattage lights may not get their full "juice" so they will work harder to power up, which can damage the ballasts and/or bulbs.  They can also be damaged when the power jolts back to its full potential, which is one reason why surge protectors are so important.  They're relatively inexpensive when compared to the costs of new ballasts and bulbs.  You may even lose partial power (some of your lights may work while others don't).  If this happens, don't panic.  Wait until the heatwave passes and then test your equipment once voltage is fully restored.  If your equipment still isn't functioning, some of the damage incurred may be covered under warranty.  Bring it in to the shop and we'll take a look at it.

- Water temperature is very important in hydroponic gardening.  The perfect water temperature range is 65-68 degrees.  Low 70's can be ok, but once it climbs above 72-73 you run the risk of harmful bacteria, fungi and pathogens breeding and infecting your root zones.  High water temperatures are the main cause of root rot, and unfortunately sometimes once you get it, there's no getting rid of it.  If you're having a hard time controlling your water temps, seriously think about investing in a water chiller.  They aren't the cheapest pieces of equipment but sometimes they're the only answer in successful hydroponic gardening (especially in the summer).  You can use products like H2O2 or Botanicare's Aqua Shield to help treat your water and prevent disease, just be careful when using H2O2 because it will kill any beneficial bacteria and fungi you may be adding to your nutrient solutions. 

- Air-cool your lights.  By creating a sealed line, where cool air is being pulled from an unused room with an in-line fan, through your lights via ducting, then out of the room (either into another room or directly outside), you can bring down your room temperatures considerably (typically 5-10 degrees).  This will ease the load on your air conditioner and help lower your cooling costs, since fans use less electricity than A/C's.  The sealed line is important because you don't want to waste the cool air from the A/C that you're already putting into your room by exhausting THAT air through the lights, or waste your CO2 if you're using it.

- Most people opt for CO2 enrichment over bringing in fresh air during the summer months, due to the fact that the fresh air you'll be bringing in is probably hotter than the room itself (and CO2 helps plants combat the heat).  However, if you must, (and this goes for all times of the year, not just the summer) make sure to protect your garden by using an intake filter!  Bugs and molds are alive and well outdoors.  The last thing you want to do is bring them in to your sterile environment where they can (and will) thrive.  If you're in the city, don't think you're immune.  They're everywhere.

- If it's an option for you, scale back.  Even when you have the required equipment, running it all can be expensive.  If you go full bore all year long and you don't feel like fighting the heat, cut back.  Use half of your growing space during the height of the summer.  You'll save money on cooling costs and give yourself a little break.  You worked hard on your garden all year, you deserve it!

Back in Stock: Bloom/Yellow Bottle Silica

After having been backordered since August, Bloom (also known as Yellow Bottle and/or Advanced Floriculture) Silica is finally back in stock.  Potassium silicate plays an important role in your plants' structure and overall health, strengthening cell walls, creating thicker stems and branches and allowing your plants to naturally protect themselves against pests, disease, heat and drought.  Silica can also be used in place of pH Up, so not only will your plants be benefitting from the product itself, you will effectively be adjusting the pH of your water and nutrient solution.  With an NPK of 0-0-31.2, and 21% Silica, this is by far the strongest, most effective and most economical potassium silicate product on the market.  Compare with Advanced Nutrients' Rhinoskin (0-0-0.4 / 0.15% Silica), Dynagro's Pro-TeKt (0-0-3 / 7.8% Silica), Botanicare's Silica Blast (0-0-0.5 / 2% Silica) , even the new General Hydroponics' Armor Si (0-0-4 / 10% Silica) and Hydrodynamics' Silicate (0-0-5 / 11% Silica).

New Product: EZ-CLONE Classic Cloning Systems

EZ-CLONE, the most effective and popular cloning machine, has been redesigned.  The new EZ-CLONE Classic cutting system has 75+ improvements over the original model, most notably:

-the change in material from ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) to HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) which is UV Resistant, doesn't conduct as much heat (meaning your water will stay cooler), is more environmentally friendly and is FDA, NSF and USDA approved for contact with food.

- shallower and slightly smaller holes for cloning collars and 2 finger recesses for easier removal and less chance of damage to your cuttings

- smoother finish for easier cleaning (cleanliness is key when cloning, the tiniest bit of bad bacteria/fungus and you won't get roots)

- more sites in each unit (32, 64, 128) and the addition of a smaller, 16 site unit

- lower price

To see a complete list of all of the updates and changes made, click here.

If cloning from multiple plants at the same time, print out EZ-CLONE's cloning diagrams to document and keep track:

EZ-CLONE 16 - EZ-CLONE 32 - EZ-CLONE 64 - EZ-CLONE 128

We now have all sizes, in stock.

Canna's TERRA line of nutrients

With the outdoor gardening season officially here in the northeast, most people are turning to soil as their growing medium.  With so many options for fertilizing, it can get confusing.  Some people choose to build their fertilizer into their medium (with guanos, "meals"- bone/blood/fish/kelp/alfalfa etc., earthworm castings, compost, or a time release fertilizer).  Other people choose to stick with a liquid nutrient that they mix into their waterings.  For that option, Canna has designed their Terra line of nutrients specifically for use with soil.  Terra is a one-part base nutrient (you use Terra Vega in the vegetative stage, Terra Flores in the flowering stage).  Whether you use it as a stand-alone nutrient or in conjunction with Canna's additives (check out their Grow Guide to make your custom feeding chart), it is excellent for use with all soils.  If you're looking for an organic option, try their Bio Canna line (made with no animal ingredients whatsoever).

Back in stock: Advanced Nutrients' Connoisseur

After being sold out for a couple of weeks, Advanced Nutrients' Connoisseur ("pH Perfect" formula) 2-part flowering-stage base nutrient is fully restocked in both stores.

Red Russian Kale Harvest

Today we harvested the Red Russian Kale we've been growing in the Nyack store.  It was grown in an ebb & flow hydroponic system using Canna's Aqua Pebbles and Aqua nutrients.

The stems!

Products we Love: 8" Max Fan HO - Variable Speed

The majority of companies that make in-line fans have a serious void in their product line-up.  Most 8" in-line fans push somewhere between 700-750 CFM (cubic feet per minute) and most 10" in-line fans push 750-795 CFM.  12" in-line fans typically start at 1100 CFM.  So what do you do if your airflow needs fall into the 800-950 CFM range?  You can always use a 12" in-line fan with a fan speed adjuster (an inexpensive add-on that can really help you dial in your airflow), but sometimes space is limited and doesn't allow for the use of multiple reducers (12"-10", 10"-8", etc.).  

To solve that problem, Max Fan has made an 8" in-line fan with a built-in variable speed feature:  Speed 1 - 750 CFM, Speed 2 - 850 CFM, Speed 3 - 932 CFM.  It is a powerful fan that surprisingly runs very quietly and has a 5 year warranty.  

Another great product from the same manufacturer is Max Duct, a high quality ducting featuring triple foil laminate, covered in white UV resistant PVC.  Since this ducting is so heavy-duty, it 100% reusable.  It comes in a variety of sizes (4"-20" diameters), in 25' rolls with two hose clamps.  If you're setting up a new ventilation system, it is a must-have.

Mention this blog entry and get 10% off on these products until June 1st.

Memorial Day Weekend

We will be closed this upcoming weekend, Saturday May 25th - Monday May 27th, in celebration of Memorial Day.  We will reopen Tuesday May 28th.

Earth Day 2013

In celebration of Earth Day, get a free pack of seeds with any soil/soilless growing mediums.

New Seeds are In!

Today we received our first batch of seeds for the 2013 outdoor season!  This year we've decided to switch from Seeds of Change to a smaller, independently owned, farm-based and more local seed company, High Mowing Organic Seeds (from Wolcott, VT).  We've used their seeds for years in our own gardens and in-store displays and we are very happy with their quality and germination rates.  Plus they are, of course, 100% certified organic and non-GMO.

We've chosen a selection of our favorites to start out the season:

Astro Arugula

Black Beauty Eggplant

Cherokee Purple Tomato (Heirloom)

Chives

Early Jalapeño

Genovese Basil

Greek Oregano

High Mowing Mesclun Mix

Hungarian Hot Yellow Wax Pepper (Heirloom)

King of the North Pepper (an early ripening bell pepper that is good for growing in the north east)

Lacinato Dinosaur Kale (Heirloom, a personal favorite - great for dehydrating and making Kale Chips)

Lemon Basil

Magnum Orange Habanero Pepper

Mountain Princess Tomato (Heirloom, these are perfect for container gardening and when space/height is limited)

Nautic Brussels Sprout

Optima Butterhead Lettuce

Rainbow Chard (see photos!)

Red Oakleaf Lettuce

Red Russian Kale (Currently growing at the Nyack store)

Renegade Spinach

Ring -O- Fire Cayenne Pepper

Sage

San Marzano Tomato (another favorite, great for sauce and salsa even though it's considered a "paste" tomato)

Santo Cilantro

Sugar Ann Snap Peas

Sweet Thai Basil

Thyme

Yellow Pear Cherry Tomato (Heirloom)

An in-store favorite, Rainbow Chard (aka Silverbeet) - photos from the last time we grew it in Nyack:

Even the roots are rainbow!

If there are any seeds you'd like to see us carry, we are open to suggestions!  Check out the High Mowing Organic Seeds website and let us know.  We also take special orders.

SALE - 1000W HPS/MH Complete Lighting System

Sunlight Supply's Trifecta lighting system includes one Econo Wing Reflector, one 1000W High Pressure Sodium Ultra Sun Bulb and one 1000W Switchable (accepts both Metal Halide and High Pressure Sodium lamps) HardCore Ballast.  The ballast has a 2 Year Warranty, the lamp has a 1 Year Warranty.

A la carte MSRP: HardCore Ballast: $143.95, Econo Wing Reflector: $37.95, Ultra Sun 1000W HPS Bulb: $61.95 - TOTAL: $243.85

Sunlight's Trifecta package MSRP: $239.95

Our Sale Price: $195.00