Maximum Yield USA December 2016 | Page 154

STRENGTHENING YOUR PLANT’S ROOTS “BECAUSE THE ROOTS ARE GENERALLY HIDDEN FROM A HORTICULTURIST’S VIEW, THEY CAN OFTEN BE FORGOTTEN.” I ndoor horticulturists constantly strive to find techniques and products that will help increase their garden’s yields. Common sense will tell you that a plant with a strong and healthy root structure is more likely to have strong and healthy stems, leaves, and flowers. Simply put, healthy roots will equate to more bountiful harvests. Unfortunately, indoor growers do not always give a plant’s root system the attention it deserves. It is like the old saying, “out of sight, out of mind”. Because the roots are generally hidden from a horticulturist’s view, they can often be forgotten. Horticulturists who focus some of their energy on making the plant’s root system thrive will usually have better yields and less problems overall. There are a few different ways for an indoor grower to help stimulate root growth and maintain a healthy root mass. OXYGEN Many horticulturists don’t think about the important fact that plants need oxygen to thrive and survive. Most of us think of plants as living organisms that produce oxygen during photosynthesis (a process that requires CO2) and not as organisms that also need oxygen to grow. Like other organisms, plants need oxygen to perform cellular respiration. Roots grow like other parts of the plant, but since they are under soil or contained in a hydroponic system, they are not exposed to light and cannot photosynthesize. 152 Maximum Yield USA  |  December 2016 Instead, they gain energy for growth by cellular respiration, which requires oxygen and releases CO2. This is why a plant’s root mass must be exposed to some form of oxygen. For soil growers, the soil’s texture will determine the amount of open spaces for air (oxygen). In hydroponic systems, such as deep water culture where the plant’s roots are submersed in water, the roots will rely on dissolved oxygen found in the nutrient solution. This dissolved oxygen will need to be replenished as the plant uses it. In both soil and hydroponic systems, if there is not a sufficient supply of oxygen, the roots will not be able to survive and will die off, eventually killing the entire plant. How to Increase Oxygen for the Root System in Soil To increase a soil’s oxygen capacity, a grower can add a variety of soil amendments. Perlite, pumice, hydroton, or any other porous substance can significantly increase a soil’s ability to harbor oxygen. Coco coir is another soil amendment praised for its ability to not only hold oxygen, but also have good water retention. Most prepackaged soil mixes will contain at least one amendment aimed at increasing aeration. However, it is not a bad idea for indoor growers to add more aeration amendments to a soil mix. In fact, well-aerated soil can provide two advantages. First, well-aerated soil increases