Malformed Flowers & Fruit Abortions 
The season for low humidity and high temperatures has begun! And already growers are experiencing high volumes in fruit abortion and fruit/flower malformations.

Fogging systems have always been the best method to both lower temperatures and also increase humidity. The challenge has been having systems with fine enough particles, so the crop does not get wet, and cost effective enough.

The new, and proven system, from Grower Technology solves all these challenges with a system that the grower can even install themselves. Contact us for a detailed technical specification.

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Water Shortages set to cost growers money and crops?  

The water shortage season is set to begin, or carry on for some growers.

There are many systems available which treat runoff from crops. These systems  are typically expensive, require ongoing chemical applications or have very high running costs. This in addition to how they typically affect the composition of runoff e.g. breaking chelate bonds and making iron unavailable to plants.

Biological filters have been used for municipal water supplies since the early 1900's but were not researched for hydroponic use until the 1970's .

Dutch research organizations have carried out extensive research and have found biological filters to be extremely effective in controlling pests and disease and potentially beneficially inoculating the crop.

We have biological filter systems, in hydroponic use, in Australia, which are proving very cost effective and can mean the continuance of a crop, when water supplies are short. Not to mention typically paying for themselves in one season.

pH calibration

The measurement of pH is a chemical process that involves a tiny electric current actually passing through the very thin glass bulb at the end of the probe into the nutrient solution. The current returns back via a wick at the side of the bulb into the electrolyte. This very delicate chemical process varies with time and so pH electrodes need to be checked for calibration frequently e.g. every 2 to 4 weeks.

To recalibrate, ensure that the buffer solutions are at a temperature reasonably similar to the nutrient temperature. They should also be clean and fresh. Renew them at least every 6 months and after using a small quantity in each calibration, dispose of the quantity used. It is not worth risking contamination of your stock solution.

Always calibrate at 7pH first (then repeat for pH4). Rinse the probe in clean water and place in the pH7 buffer solution. Gently stir to hurry along the chemical reaction. When the reading stabilizes calibrate at 7.00ph.

You can tell when pH probes are failing when they are slow to calibrate or loose calibration quickly.