Maximum Yield Australia/New Zealand January/February 2020 | Page 41

They cut off the fertiliser supply or
switch the irrigation to water only so
that it cannot get any additional nutrients
and will be forced to invade its stores. It is
important to use pH-appropriate water during
this phase, so plants can be sure to absorb all
those available nutrients. Water with pH that is
too high or too low can make the present nutrients
unavailable to the plant even if the nutrients are
there in sufficient amounts. If growing hydroponically
and the grower wishes to do this, nutrients should be
withheld for only the last couple of days pre-harvest.
In between crop cycles, the choice to use agents is up to each
individual grower. In nature, the cycle of water flow usually
does an adequate job of keeping things clean. A growroom
or a hydroponic set-up is not exactly the spitting image of
a diverse, thriving ecosystem. Cleaning agents such as
bleach, hydrogen peroxide, vinegar, or any other number of
commercially formulated agents will do a more thorough job
of sterilizing your equipment and increasing its useful life.
“IN BETWEEN
CROP CYCLES,
the choice to use agents is
up to each individual grower.
In nature, the cycle of water
flow usually does an adequate
job of keeping things clean.”
PRECAUTIONS
Remember, if you are using anything other than plain water
there are safety considerations. Just because a cleaning
product is labelled as “natural” or “organic” does not
make it safe to use. Fire can be natural and organic, as is
quicksand, poison dart frogs, and salmonella. Be sure to
read the label of any product carefully and observe any
requirements for personal protective equipment and note
the signal word (Caution, Warning, or Danger). When it
comes to anything labelled as a pesticide, which includes
many industrial cleaners, reading the entire label’s contents
is not just good practice and common sense, there is a legal
requirement to do so. Wear gloves when handling any
cleaning material and if there is the potential for splashing
on your face or eyes, wear safety glass or a face shield.
Keeping a clean, sanitary and, when appropriate, sterile
system is critical for the health of your plants and those
that might be eating them, but it is not worth risking your
personal health to achieve it.
Maximum Yield
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