Maximum Yield Australia/New Zealand March/April 2019 | Page 61

While automation is a huge
part of indoor growing,
outdoor soil cultivators
can also take advantage
of technologies like
controllers and fertigation
injectors to cut down on
labour and overall costs.
N
by Kent Gruetzmacher
O P T I O N S
I
ndoor and outdoor horticulturists
enjoy certain perks of their respective
practices, and these perks are generally
interrelated with gardening labour
and work environment. For indoor
growers, access to conveniences such
as electricity allows for the use of
technology related to environmental
controls, lighting systems, and
irrigation setups. These workplace
bonuses generally make the day-to-
day routine of the indoor grower more
enjoyable, as they lighten the workload
and allow for the precise monitoring
of the indoor garden atmosphere.
Conversely, outdoor gardeners grow
their crops under the expanses of blue
summer skies, breathing fresh air with
their hands in the dirt. For outdoor
growers practicing organic cultivation,
these natural environments blend
seamlessly with a deep appreciation for
the living biologics of soil growing.
Looking at the perks of both indoor
and outdoor growing, one must ask:
Can’t I enjoy the benefits of both? While
it goes without saying that indoor
cultivators can’t enjoy the freshness of
the outdoors, who says outdoor growers
can’t make their lives easier with some
technological advancements? With
that, Maximum Yield decided to look
into automation options for outdoor soil
gardens to ensure that, over the long
summer, outdoor gardeners have ample
time to bask in the rays of the summer
sun. For those outdoor enthusiasts
looking for a technological boost in
their operations, here are a few options.
Maximum Yield
61