Holland Forge Wholesale Hydroponics

Supersedes Power Active.

Use for combating root diseases organically & optimizing nutrient uptake

When hydroponics was first introduced as a truly commercial proposition back in the mid ‘70s, one of the intriguing things about it was the presumed absence of micro-organisms in the root zone. Every attempt was made to keep the root zone free of these micro-organisms, good or bad. Generally speaking, this method of cropping was successful. There were, however, some spectacular failures with whole crops being wiped out by disease. These disease organisms were also present in other crops but were not having the same effect. What was the difference? Why did one crop succumb and yet others didn’t?

It was only after extensive research by scientists from many disciplines and different parts of the world that the discovery was made. That discovery revolutionized the understanding of the interrelated effect that micro-organisms have on each other. The scientists found that when there were no micro-organisms present in a system, then the first organism to be introduced would dominate that environment. If that introduction were a disease such as Pythium then the result on the crop would be devastating.

It took a long time but the answer has recently been found. It eventually became evident that all the organisms had an effect on each other. It seems that the available food supply is the key to the success or otherwise of each of the micro-organisms. When the carbohydrates and other substances exuded by the plant roots favoured the ‘bad’ bugs then these bugs multiplied. When it favoured the ‘good’ bugs they were the ones that thrived.

Now you, the indoor gardener, can take advantage of these findings. Canadian Xpress Bio Balancer has not only a number of ‘good’ bugs but also a supply of the food favoured by these ‘good’ bugs. You can now give nature a helping hand by balancing your hydroponic system. Bio Balancer is suitable for use in either cocopeat or recirculating systems of all types.

Tip the balance your way today and add Bio Balancer to your system.

Supersedes Quick Start

Use for increasing strike rate of clones

Your clones are the foundation of your crop. Too often, a crop doesn’t meet expectations because the clones didn’t get a good enough start in life. You may not have realized this and blamed other causes for lower yields such as pests and diseases; the nutrient’s no good; the lights are wearing out; the water has changed; maybe your meters are inaccurate etc, etc. How could you possibly have known that it was actually deprived clones that caused your low yields? Eliminate that possibility by using Clone Start from now on.

The fact is, when you cut a clone from the mother plant, you are taking away its ability to take up water and nutrients. However, this doesn’t stop the clone from continuing to use and lose water and nutrients. Both commodities can run out rather quickly and the clone wilts and dies. In order to prevent this long enough so the clone can strike roots, you put the clone in a humid environment to prevent water loss. You also add a rooting compound in order to speed up the process of striking roots. Both of these measures greatly help the process. Just try and take clones without doing these two things! Result? Zip. You will still find, though, that not all of your cuttings are as strong and vigorous as they could be even though you do everything right. Sometimes they just rot. At other times they just sit there and refuse to strike roots. The problem is usually one or both of two things. Either pathogens are attacking the clone or its energy has been used up and it hasn’t got enough energy left to properly form roots.

Now Clone Start gives you the opportunity to overcome these problems.

Firstly, Clone Start is packed full of nutrients and natural vitamins. As the newly cut clone has no roots it is not able to take up nutrients to carry out its normal processes. Clone Start ensures these nutrients are readily and fully available. Sprayed on the leaves, Clone Start contains a specialized carrier that penetrates the leaves and cuticles, carrying the full complement of nutrients directly to the plant’s cells. Secondly, Clone Start makes use of a brand new approach to diseases called Induced Resistance. This approach involves stimulating the plant’s own immune system so that it is more readily able to deal with pathogens. Naturally, the plant’s immune system is dormant when there are no diseases present. (You did choose only those clones showing no sign of disease didn’t you?) When diseases attack, the plant will start production of the antibody type substances which deal with the attackers. In the case of clones, however, they are suffering a tremendous amount of shock and are unable to produce enough of these chemicals. This is where Clone Start takes over.The clone is stimulated to produce these antibody chemicals and so protect itself.

By adding Clone Start to your cloning program, you will guarantee yourself even more success

Use for boosting low nitrogen levels and stimulating vigorous growth

Are your plants looking a bit pale? This may well mean that they are lacking in nitrogen. It also means that they are lacking in chlorophyll which is the plant’s food factory. If they are lacking in chlorophyll then they don’t manufacture as much food as they should and the crop will be smaller than it should be. A low nitrogen uptake reduces the amount of proteins and amino acids created by the plant which reduces the quality.

So, is there enough nitrogen in the nutrient concentrates you buy? Yes, usually there is as long as you have bought a quality nutrient.

The problem is not only in the amount of nitrogen but also in the form as well as in the amount of other nutrients and non nutrient salts in the solution. For instance, total nitrogen levels should be 55% to 65% higher than calcium. Interestingly chloride (common in tap water) can inhibit the uptake of the nitrate form of nitrogen. Actual nitrogen loss (known as denitrification) can also occur from the nutrient solution, especially in warmer conditions. To further complicate matters the form of the nitrogen required changes from a higher nitrate to a higher ammonium requirement when plants move from the growing stage to the flowering stage. We are, of course, trying to supply our plants a balanced solution around the plant’s roots and this balance changes according to plant uptake. So while the nutrient concentrate might be well balanced at the start, the plant may have made the solution unbalanced. This means that the correct form of nitrogen may not be available according to the plant’s exact needs.

In twenty litres of freshly made up nutrient solution there is only about 2-6 grams of nitrogen. When you consider how much actual nitrogen there is in the nutrient solution it’s not hard to see how a small amount lost can lead to big changes in availability. By the time the plant has taken some up, the biological activity has consumed some and some has been lost through denitrification, it doesn’t take long before there is a serious nitrogen shortage in your system.

How can you correct this problem? Only Essential Nitro can do it. Our Hot Mix Technology allows us to sequester the nitrogen in solution to make it available only to the plant. A sustained release of nitrogen means that the plant will never be short of this essential element. Your plants will be greener and healthier than ever before.

Use for better quality and greater yield

Do you get high yields with high quality together? High quality can be very elusive, especially when yield increases and hidden factors have had their input into your final product. There are unfortunately a number of environmental and physical conditions that can reduce your quality.

When the yield is increased by inferior products it often means the plant has a higher water content, larger cells, thinner cell walls and lower desirable solids effectively diluting the quality of the plant. As a result you will most likely end up with lots of low quality end product. That is why it is not common to get both high yield and high quality together. Many growers get high quality at the expense of high yields or vice versa.

This is where Head Masta will transform your crop into a high yielding, high quality super crop. Head Masta acts in four ways to increase both yield and quality. Firstly, it simulates an internal plant hormonal signal that induces increased flower formation and additional flowering sites. Secondly, it pumps plant cells full of extra vitamins and minerals required by the plant to convert excess light and nutrients into the highest quality proteins, amino acids and carbohydrates. These plant made quality factors are produced way beyond normal levels and are the key to your increased quality. The third effect is to pump the flower cells with weight producing silicon and finally it increases the plants desire for potassium to a point where the plant becomes bound to the luxury consumption of this important yield enhancer.

Water is essential for the plant’s normal functioning as we know. Normally, a shortage of water is more dangerous than too much water. However, excess water in the plant upsets the plants internal osmotic balance which results in lower quality. Head Masta overcomes this disrupted osmotic balance and restores the correct ratio of solids to water.

Temperature differential is essential for quality production. If there is no temperature difference between night and day temperatures, or night temperatures are higher than day temperatures, then quality will suffer. In this context, day means when the lights are on and night is when the lights are off. Head Masta stimulates your plants so that they can overcome these problems. It provides an osmotic balance within the plant that doesn’t normally occur when conditions aren’t right.

Night temperatures should be at least 5-10°c lower than day temperatures.

Head Masta puts YOU in the driver’s seat where high quality can be yours with every crop. And that’s without sacrificing yield. In fact, independent testing shows that Head Masta treated plants outperform untreated plants in BOTH yield and quality.

Use for correcting poor root growth & preventing root disease

Do you know how many diseases are waiting to attack the roots of your hydroponic crop? The effect of root disease can be mild through to devastating. Most growers have had the experience of thinking that their crop is going to be great only to find that, within the space of a few days, the crop’s condition has degenerated markedly. For example, the leaves start to change color and it begins to wilt. Almost without exception, your crop has been attacked by one of the myriad root diseases that lurk in the nooks and crannies of most hydro systems waiting for an opportunity to start feasting on your plant’s roots. What are these diseases? There is Pythium, Rhizoctonia and Phytophthora which are the most common. In addition, there are several others which are less common but nevertheless very dangerous if they infect your crop. Among these are Thielaviopsis, Fusarium, Sclerotinia and Cylindrocladium.

Pythium is the most commonly found root disease in both hydroponic systems and in the soil. The symptoms are quite specific. If the plant’s roots go brown and smelly and the plants wilt when the lights are on, then you are probably dealing with Pythium. Before blaming a disease, however, check that the nutrient aeration is ok. Lack of oxygen in the system can cause similar symptoms.

When plants are growing strongly, they can usually fight off the effects of the disease. They are able to produce chemicals which attack the disease organisms. When the plants are under stress, however, they produce much less of these chemicals and the disease organism can take hold.

Stress situations can occur at any time but flowering is always a stressful situation and is the time that disease is the most likely to get the upper hand. This occurs also because the plant’s energies are going into flowering and root growth tends to be limited to replacement of dead roots only.

At Canadian Xpress, our scientists have isolated the battery of chemicals that the plant manufactures to defend itself. We have encapsulated these chemicals in a liquid formulation and when this is used in your nutrient solution they have the same effect as the plant’s own defenses and the result is healthy plants. This approach is known as Induced Resistance.

Use for increasing finished weight

Are you looking for heavier flowers? You’ve grown your crop through the vegetative stage and now you are ready to turn the lights down and let it begin its flowering stage. It is now, after the framework of the plant has been set during the vegetative period, that there is a massive surge in the plant’s requirement for more potassium to develop flowers. It is at this point that potassium in the solution can drop to critical levels. Plants are very adaptable, however and in the case of lowered potassium availability, will simply slow down their growth rate to match the available potassium. However, who wants the growth rate to slow down? It just means a smaller crop. And who wants to be changing their solution every couple of days just to make sure that there is enough potassium in it?

The answer is Superior Potash. Manufactured to exacting standards using our exclusive Hot Mix technology, Superior Potash will give you the peace of mind of knowing that the product is of the highest quality.

So why don’t we just put all of this extra potassium in the nutrient mix? We can’t, really, for two reasons. The most important is that everybody’s system is different. We make the nutrients to cope with a wide range of conditions and if we put in the extra potassium, some systems could become quickly out of balance. Adding the extra potassium is really fine tuning and we can’t assume that everybody’s plants are growing in the same way. Problems could occur because systems are managed by conductivity rather than chemical analysis. The second problem is a chemical one. Concentrated nutrients start to behave differently as the concentration increases and can start to ‘salt out’ under some conditions. We therefore maintain normal concentrations and recommend Superior Potash as an addition to your normal fertilizing regime.

Use for growing in coco medium & growing soil

The dynamic equilibrium which exists in cocopeat can work either for or against your crop. It creates its own set of demands that are different from growing in an inert medium.
Cocopeat, unlike inert media, has a buffering capacity for nutrients that consequently causes a dynamic equilibrium to occur when the plants draw nutrient from the solution. Furthermore, cocopeat begins to decompose from the time it comes into contact with the nutrient solution. This breaking down of the cocopeat actually uses up the nitrogen in the nutrient solution, stealing the nitrogen from your plants. This is commonly known as nitrogen drawdown. The dynamic equilibrium and the decomposition of the cocopeat create a very demanding environment; one that demands an auto responsive nutrient. Xpress Coco is a premium nutrient and is the only nutrient that utilizes Fusion Nutrition technology to meet all of these demands and promote vigorous growth in cocopeat. Xpress Coco has the latest slow release nitrogen technology that releases additional nitrogen into the nutrient solution in response to the nitrogen drawdown and an advanced equilibrium enhancer to ensure the best results every time. These features make Xpress Coco the ultimate choice for growing in the cocopeat medium.

The main difference between cocopeat and inert media is that cocopeat already contains nutrient elements and salts. It is for this reason that ordinary nutrients will not perform as well as Xpress Coco, a nutrient that has been designed especially for this medium. The Canadian Xpress Agronomists have scientifically devised Xpress Coco to provide everything a plant needs to flourish in cocopeat. A perfect example of Fusion Nutrition, Xpress Coco will deliver the cutting edge organic constituents, as well as the latest science has to offer in inorganic extremes. The result is an extraordinary liquid fertilizer solely dedicated to maximum plant production in cocopeat.

This revolutionary formulation has been stringently market tested by independent cocopeat growers world wide. It is with this confidence that we put forward the very finest cocopeat nutrient available. With years of testing completed, our Agronomists have identified and overcome the complications of cocopeat growing. The problem with cocopeat is that it varies in its consistency depending on its source and the grade of the product. However, cocopeat does generally have one common flaw, it contains unwanted salts. Non nutrient salts basically interrupt the desired uptake of nutrients by the plant. Xpress Coco contains a unique additive to specifically counter the salt problem inherent in all cocopeat and enabling luxury levels of nutrient uptake.

Our exclusive Canadian Xpress Hot Mix technology captures the powerful chemical energies that can only be attained using this technique. When you release this energy into your growing solution your plants will be supercharged with unrivalled vigour. It’s up to you to unlock the power within this bottle.

Use for growing in all types of recirculating systems & growing in all inert medium.

If the nutrient you are using in your hydroponic cropping doesn’t supply all the plant’s requirements, where will they get what they need? Seems an obvious question, doesn’t it? We’ve heard time and again people say that "a nutrient is just a nutrient,-they’re all the same". Well, they’re not. We should point out, though, that in our experience this is not said by the best growers. They are much more attentive to detail than that and consequently that attention to detail is part of being a better grower.

Xpress Hydro contains the full spectrum of trace elements-over sixty ‘fertility keys’ to keep unlocking the production potential of your plants. Whatever you do, do not underestimate the importance of these minor elements.

Use for preventing wilting & eliminating Pythium

There are a lot of challenges to be met when you grow a crop. This is especially so in the indoor garden as the crop is entirely dependent on you to provide it with all its requirements.

One of the major issues is that of root disease. The hydroponic environment provides the ideal conditions for your crop but ALSO provides the ideal environment for diseases that attack your crop.

While disease attacking the aerial parts of the plants is always noticeable, those attacking the root systems do their destructive work in the dark. One day you are admiring your crop, the next day you are wondering what is wrong with it. Half way into the flowering cycle the leaves have suddenly started to change color and they start to wilt. All you can do is watch while your plants deteriorate and you end up with half the crop you were hoping for-if you’re lucky. If you’re unlucky you’ll end up with nothing.

Why do these problems usually arise during the flowering period? The problem here is that plant roots virtually stop growing once flowering commences. They do manage to replace roots that die during the early stages but even that process slows down as the plant heads toward maturity. So it is vital to protect the roots and take every step possible to ensure their health and survival.

Is there anything you can do? Fortunately, there are a number of strategies you can put in place. Don’t be fooled, though, by claims of ‘miracle cures’. There aren’t any.

One of the first actions you can take is to add Wilt Guard to your nutrient solution at every solution change. Wilt Guard is a specialized form of potassium which is very readily assimilated in large amounts. Potassium is the element responsible for strengthening the osmotic pressure within the plant and for regulating water loss. Under stressful conditions, the guard cells on the outside of the stomata close to prevent water loss. The mechanism by which these guard cells operate is potassium based osmotic pressure. By using Wilt Guard, you are ensuring the best possible conditions for this process to take effect.