Blog – Hort Americas

Free Download: The Guide for Growing Tomatoes

Greenhouse production of hydroponic tomatoes is increasing worldwide every year. The reason? All the advantages provided by these growing systems! The principal advantages of hydroponic controlled environment agriculture (CEA) include high-density maximum crop yield, year-round production, more efficient use of water and fertilizers, consistent crop quality, minimal use of land area, and suitability for mechanization, disease and pest control.

Free Download: The Guide for Growing Leafy Greens

Commercial production of leafy greens is getting more and more competitive every year. Therefore, it is important to seek the best options in order to compete in this market. Production of leafy greens inside greenhouses and plant factory systems are great options to produce high marketable products. Why? There is one specific reason why customers will choose your product… Quality!

Wageningen University publishes energy usage research

We invite you to read the following study conducted by Wageningen University, one of the most complete we have seen over the years for energy usage.

The Role of Silicon as a Nutrient in Hydroponic Recipes

By Karla Garcia

Silicon (also known as silica, Si) is found in high quantities in open field production but is absent in hydroponic nutritional recipes. The lack of knowledge about the role of silicon (Si) in horticultural crops became apparent when using soilless / hydroponic systems.

Improved Daily Light Integrals with Satellite Data

Victoria, Canada – From its introduction forty years ago, the Daily Light Integral (DLI) metric has become an important tool for determining monthly daylight availability for crops and estimating supplemental electric lighting requirements for greenhouses. DLI charts for the continental United States have been available for nearly two decades, but it has only been in the past year or so that DLI information for geographic locations worldwide has been made available through various online DLI calculators.

GE Current, a Daintree company Donates Horticulture Lighting Fixtures to The Ohio State University

272 Arize Element L1000 LED fixtures are being gifted to OSU’s horticulture program to help bring light to a future greenhouse on campus
The greenhouse aims to be operational in 2021

New video on interpreting your irrigation water quality

A new YouTube video (https://youtu.be/lkSiSmDwIqw) by Dr. Paul Fisher from the University of Florida IFAS Extension describes how to sample, interpret, and solve chemical issues for water used to irrigate greenhouses and nurseries. Dr. Fisher introduces the free online WaterQual tool at cleanwater3.org to interpret your water quality analysis.

“A New Yield in Cannabis” webinar series

Last month, Current’s Senior Plant Scientist Hans Spalholz, Ph.D., led the first installment of “A New Yield in Cannabis” webinar series.

Using LED grow lights and less irrigation makes stronger plants

Written and originally published by Hortidaily.com
Author: Rebekka Boekhout

Hort Americas is currently working on a germination and propagation project of leafy greens and culinary herbs. The project is in collaboration with their demonstration greenhouse partners, The State Fair of Texas and the Big Tex Urban Farms. Big Tex Urban farms provide the labor needed to grow and manage plants on-site while Hort Americas provides advice and oversight.

Function and Management of Potassium in Hydroponics

By Karla Garcia

Potassium is recognized as a nutrient required to keep good quality in our plants and fruits. This nutrient has a huge impact on many plant processes due to its function as enzyme activator. Also, potassium has a strong role in stomata opening and closure due to its function as an osmotic regulator.

Function and Management of Nitrogen in Hydroponics

By Karla Garcia

Nitrogen is one of the most important nutrients in plant development. All vital processes in plants are associated with protein, of which nitrogen is an essential constituent. Therefore, Nitrogen management can have a huge impact on crop production.

Combining data and plant science

Combining data and plant science is more relevant than ever. If we apply it in the correct way, we could potentially grow fruits and vegetables more efficiently and sustainably, but how do you combine plant and data science?

Autonomous Greenhouse Forum on September 10

“Let’s talk about Autonomous Greenhouse”

How does testing your water save you money?

Before you dive into hydroponics one of the first things you should do is have your water source analyzed by a reputable lab. The water can be municipal, from a well or other source depending on your location. A quick internet search can be done to find a testing facility near you. They will provide you instructions for sending in your samples and tell you their cost for an analysis which normally ranges between $35-$55. If you are buying property, a water test can also help you decide if the property will work for your intentions, just like a farmer might get a soil test before buying farmland. Knowing if a water treatment system is needed before you get started can end up saving your crop and a lot of trouble in the long run especially in a closed or recirculating system.

Microgreens Production

Microgreens can be a great option when selecting a product to start a small business or to expand your current market. Why? Microgreens are relatively easy to grow in comparison to other crops and cycles are very short. Therefore, you can quickly learn and improve your production technique, correct mistakes and become a good microgreens producer.

What do you need to know before purchasing a lamp for horticultural lighting?

Lamp selection when speaking about plant production in the horticulture or floriculture field is a very important decision. Lamps can be a good investment when we ask ourselves the correct questions. When working with artificial lighting we first need to analyze the requirements of our growing system and our crop.

Grodan new whitepaper on mineral wool efficiency

Is there scientific proof that growing on mineral wool is more efficient in use of fertilizers than in soil or in organic substrates?

Continue reading Grodan new whitepaper on mineral wool efficiency

Kyle Barnett and Rob Spivock talk Ag Tech

In this two-part episode of the CropTalk series, #KyleTalksAgTech, Kyle Barnett speaks with Robert Spivock, Director of Technology at GE Current about what makes an LED horticulture light truly reliable, using cars as a reference point for the listeners.

Part 1

Part 2

Check out more of the Crop Talk Series!

GE Current whitepaper on cannabis yields improved by LED grow lights

Unlocking Potential

Small Test, Big Results: LED Grow Lights Help Bloom Show-Stopping Plants

Originally published by GE Current, a Daintree Company

Dominik Neisser has horticulture in his blood. His parents had a greenhouse in Germany while he was growing up and maintain it to this day, laying the foundation for a life spent studying and growing plants across the world. “This is how I was born and raised,” Neisser said. “I was always with plants and got to know the business around it, so I decided to join that branch and go into horticulture.”

Category: Blog

Free Download: The Guide for Growing Tomatoes

Free Download: The Guide for Growing Leafy Greens

Wageningen University publishes energy usage research

The Role of Silicon as a Nutrient in Hydroponic Recipes

Improved Daily Light Integrals with Satellite Data

GE Current, a Daintree company Donates Horticulture Lighting Fixtures to The Ohio State University

New video on interpreting your irrigation water quality

“A New Yield in Cannabis” webinar series

Using LED grow lights and less irrigation makes stronger plants

Function and Management of Potassium in Hydroponics

Function and Management of Nitrogen in Hydroponics

Combining data and plant science

Combining data and plant science is more relevant than ever. If we apply it in the correct way, we could potentially grow fruits and vegetables more efficiently and sustainably, but how do you combine plant and data science?

Autonomous Greenhouse Forum on September 10

“Let’s talk about Autonomous Greenhouse”

How does testing your water save you money?

Microgreens Production

What do you need to know before purchasing a lamp for horticultural lighting?

Grodan new whitepaper on mineral wool efficiency

Is there scientific proof that growing on mineral wool is more efficient in use of fertilizers than in soil or in organic substrates?

Kyle Barnett and Rob Spivock talk Ag Tech

GE Current whitepaper on cannabis yields improved by LED grow lights

Unlocking Potential

Small Test, Big Results: LED Grow Lights Help Bloom Show-Stopping Plants

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