Three Cool Things At The 2011 Colorado Indoor Gardening Expo
The 2011 =”http://indoorgardenexpo.com” target=”_blank”>Colorado Indoor Gardening Expo was held March 31-April 3rd at the Denver Convention Center. This was at least the 8th year for the annual gathering of vendors, growers, and general public interested in learning about the latest in indoor gardening, greenhouse growing, and hydroponics, but it was a first for Denver. Other cities scheduled to host an Expo in 2011 are Vancouver (May 14-15), San Fransisco (July 16-17), and Long Beach (October 22-23). It was a perfect Spring day in Colorado; warm and sunny—too bad the expo was indoors!
There was no way I was going to miss it since I live only an hour away from Denver. I was fortunate enough to be able to attend on the industry day (Saturday, April 2nd) and it was well worth the trip. I got to have lunch with a grower friend and learn about some new and innovative ideas that have recently come on the scene. There was a lot of impressive technology on display, but here are my picks for “the three coolest things at the Colorado Indoor Gardening Expo.”
ExHale Homegrown CO2
Being a fan of all things fungal I was immediately curious when I saw a bag of what appeared to be mushroom mycelium on the floor just outside of the TERRAHYDRO booth. =”http://www.terrahydro.com” target=”_blank”>TERRAHYDRO is a supplier based in Sacramento, CA. Company owner Garrett Shaw was more than happy to tell me about this biological way of increasing the carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration in a growing environment to enhance plant growth.
ExHale bags contain what was described as a “non-fruiting mycelium” growing on an unidentified substrate, which looked like it could be some type of compost or very fine wood chips. The sample bag on display was well colonized so it was hard to tell exactly what the fungus was growing on. The biological theory behind it is simple: put a fungus in a bag of mushroom “food” and as the fungus metabolizes nutrients it gives off carbon dioxide gas (a waste product of cellular respiration) which passes through a one-way vent into the surrounding atmosphere.
According to the manufacturer, the bags should be hung just above the tops of plants. The resulting increase in CO2 concentration naturally is highly dependent on a number of factors including the volume of the growing space, air exchange rate, and plant type and density. Exact data are as of yet hard to come by but according to anecdotal reports, when applied at a rate of one bag for every four plants, the ExHales can increase CO2 in a growing space by up to four times the naturally occurring concentration.
The ExHale bags go for $25-$30 from a number of on-line vendors. Since the bags are suggested for use for up to six months before needing replacement, it seems like a reasonable low-tech alternative to mechanical CO2 enhancement systems.
I tried to learn exactly what kind of fungus was in the bag, but was informed that it was a secret. I bet I could figure it out.
HydroHut Estate
There were a number of enclosed growing environments on display, some rather large and others constructed on a smaller scale. One that really caught my eye was the =”http://http://www.hydrohuts.com/products.html” target=”_blank”>HydroHut Estate on display along with a lot of other stuff at the extensive =”http://www.hydrofarm.com” target=”_blank”>Hydrofarm booth. Its sturdy frame, heavy-duty zippered doors and windows, and ample feed-through ports for plumbing and wiring access all contributed to the quality look and feel of this product.
This 10ft x 10ft tent has no center poles so internal space is maximized. The ceiling and wall framing can support any conceivable load of lights, fans, or ducting—you name it, it can support it. The ceiling sagged only slightly at the center even with the large reflectors hanging in the demo unit, which attests to the rigidity of the tubular internal frame. The floor is removable for cleaning and an internal reflective surface eliminates the need for Mylar.
In case 10 x 10 isn’t big enough for you, multiple units can be zipped together to make any sized facility desired. At a suggested retail price of $1400, it would be hard to construct a similar set up with these features using materials purchased at a building supply store.
Arôma Garden
Patrick Rochefort is a Canadian inventor who spent three years developing and testing the =”http://aromagarden.ca/” target=”_blank”>Arôma Garden. The self-contained units (except for a nutrient supply system) are small (about 38 inches tall and 27.5 inches in diameter) and light enough to be stacked up to two high. They are rigid and sturdy enough to go three high, but then the plants become hard to reach. Casters allow for easy movement, making them ideal for use in a home or restaurant setting for the production of fresh herbs for daily use. Arôma Gardens are also well suited to growing small flowers.
All system plumbing and wiring is enclosed within the lightweight anodized aluminum tubular frame giving the units a very clean and modern appearance. Plants are grown in vertically mounted trays arranged in a circle facing two light sources with a removable reflector cap on top. The device opens on a hinge to allow access to the plants and for cleaning and maintenance.
The enclosed trays, which are UV resistant and made of recycled material, have openings for for three plants each and can hold any substrate—even soil. The outward facing surfaces of the trays feature placard space for mounting pictures or advertising, and that is not something normally seen in a hydroponic unit. Rochefort developed the system with the help of a grant from the Canadian government. According to him, the units have been popular with Mexican and Italian restaurant operators in Montreal who like to have fresh, renewable supplies of mint, cilantro and basil.
These unique systems retail for about $900 and the Denver Expo was the site of their first appearance in the U.S. market.
About the Author
Philip McIntosh holds a B.Sc. in Botany and Chemistry from Texas State University and a masters degree in Biological Science from the University of Texas at Austin. He has over 30 years of experience in science, engineering and industry. His work and writing has appeared in in Trends in Plant Science, Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Plant Engineering, Naturwissenschaften, The Growing Edge, Maximum Yield, Practical Hydroponics and Greenhouses, and others. He maintains =”http://mycorant.com”>MycoRant, a blog covering the world of mycology and his website is =”http://www.ndpmcintosh.com” target=”_blank”>www.ndpmcintosh.com. Follow him on twitter =”http://twitter.com/ndpmcintosh” target=”_blank”>@ndpmcintosh.
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