2016 - Page 2 of 2 - Cannabis Horticultural Association

Plants to the Rescue of Plants

“Maybe it’s because of their wine-making heritage, but the French are obsessed with fermenting various plants into special insecticidal, bactericidal, and fungicidal brews to use on…other plants.”

In a world gone mad with pesticides and fungicides, it’s time we take a step backwards and analyze what our ancestors have accomplished without the use of synthetically created chemicals. This synopsis from frenchgardening.com provides a clear example of different varieties of herbs and their unique control properties on pests or pathogens.

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Product Spotlight – OG BioWar

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OG BioWar is a product that has been used rather extensively by a group of conscious minded farmers here in Humboldt County. The root pack is a microbial inoculant. It is a blend of highly concentrated beneficial fungi and bacteria that perform many important functions in the rhizosphere. The root pack promotes plant health by boosting the immune system, increasing shoot and root growth, multiplying flower production and increasing essential oil production. The entire line of OG BIOWAR is worth checking out, definitely a CHA recommended product for biological controls.

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Sustainable Agriculture Techniques

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From Union of Concerned Scientists

“What is sustainable agriculture? What is regenerative agriculture? We will be covering these topics more in depth as we evolve our mission. This particular article, written by the Union of Concerned Scientists covers the basics of what it means to be sustainable. Clearly crop rotation will not suit the needs of cannabis farmers, but many other of their recommendations are worth considering. This is our open source science and we always welcome constructive criticism to expound upon this information. We will get into no-till a little bit later…” -CHA

Sustainable agriculture provides high yields without undermining the natural systems and resources that productivity depends on. Farmers who take a sustainable approach work efficiently with natural processes rather than ignoring or struggling against them – and use the best of current knowledge and technology to avoid the unintended consequences of industrial, chemical-based agriculture. One important result is that farmers are able to minimize their use of pesticides and fertilizers, thereby saving money and protecting future productivity, as well as the environment.

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Sustainable Agriculture Techniques Read More »

Homemade Plant Rooting Hormone – Willow Water

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It’s always a fascinating learning the DIY process. Mixed with failures and great rewards, it truly is inspiring to the pure cannaculturist. Here is a wonderful DIY article from Deep Green Permaculture. We have not yet experimented with this ratio but are looking for feedback from someone that has!

“Willow Water” – How it Works. By: Deep Green Permaculture

“Willow Water” is a homebrew plant rooting hormone that is easily made and can be used to increase the strike rate (growth of roots) of cuttings that you’re trying to propagate.

The way that it works can be attributed to two substances that can be found within the Salix (Willow) species, namely, indolebutyric acid (IBA) and Salicylic acid (SA).

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Homemade Plant Rooting Hormone – Willow Water Read More »

Why Every Gardener Should Consider Using EM-1

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Effective Microorganisms® Amendments For Agriculture

Effective Microorganisms® has been used in agricultural applications since 1982. Farmers have documented vast benefits of EM·1® on 6 continents, demonstrating that EM·1® Microbial Inoculant works in all soil types, all farming systems and all climates on Earth. Today, EM·1® organic soil amendments are used in over 120 countries in all sorts of farming systems from row crops to orchards to composting to aquaculture to solid and liquid waste management. Whether conventional, organic or sustainable, any farming method can benefit from using EM•1® to improve the efficiency of their operation. EM·1® Microbial Inoculant is approved for use without restrictions on Certified Organic operations (OMRI Listed).

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Why Every Gardener Should Consider Using EM-1 Read More »

Eating the Hand that Feeds You: Rhizophagy and Plant Nutrition

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Those crazy scientists have done it again, throwing generally accepted theories of life science out the window. A group of Australian researchers have shown that plants are able to consume whole bacteria and yeast cells. Prior to this, our understanding of the root/microbe relationship revolved around the idea that microbes provided nutrition to plants. Bacteria can make nitrogen available, as well as solubilize phosphorus, potassium and micronutrients into forms that are plant friendly. Fungi perform a similar role, directly transporting nutrients and water into plants via the mycorrhizal networks. These mechanisms are pretty well understood and accepted as common. What’s not so commonly known is that plants can eat whole microbes. Yes, plant roots are able to devour bacteria and yeasts. The term proposed for this newly discovered mode of nutrition is Rhizophagy (rhye-zo-fay-jee).

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Eating the Hand that Feeds You: Rhizophagy and Plant Nutrition Read More »

Advanced Light Deprivation

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Advanced light deprivation is by design, using the power of the sun while also being able to supply supplemental lighting during periods of rain or cloudy days in March/April runs. There has been a recent surge in this particular practice of farming, largely in part that supplemental lighting is not required at all during the summer months. This drastically cuts down on energy costs typically seen with HID lighting.

The quality of light deprivation cannabis, when mastered, can often match the quality of indoor cannabis. The cost ratio analysis is clear. By using the suns power, you drastically reduce energy costs. By maintaining quality, you still retain a higher price point. Simply from a capitalistic perspective, AAA+ light deprivation cannabis has a higher return on investment than indoor cannabis any day.

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Compost Tea

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Gardeners all know compost is terrific stuff. But there’s something even better than plain old compost, and that’s compost tea. As the name implies, compost tea is made by steeping compost in water. It’s used as either a foliar spray or a soil drench, depending on where your plant has problems.

Compost tea is a relatively old farming practice getting a modern makeover. Compost tea recipes range far and wide. Certain tea recipes can be tailored to remedy particular health issues or nutrient requirements for plants. Many adaptations of this brew involve products like compost, worm castings, humus, kelp, fish emulsion and a plethora of other ingredients added into the water. Along with the help of an air pump, they create a dynamic living brew.

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