[AUDIO Only] Office Hours LIVE Ep 71: Crop Steering and The Role of Matrix Potential and Drought Stress

On this episode of Office Hours LIVE, Jason, Kaisha, and Mandy dive into a wide range of topics related to horticulture and plant growth. The conversation begins with a discussion on comparing LED fixtures designed to replace HPS fixtures.

Plus, aero cloners, rock wool, and other synthetic materials for growing clones, emphasizing the importance of light levels and water content in clone growth. We explore various factors that optimize clone growth, such as sterilization, humidity, and vapor pressure deficit (VPD), and explain how the choice of cloning method depends on the media used for transplantation.

Moving on to the concept of crop steering, the hosts explain how environmental factors can be intentionally modified to influence plant growth objectives, such as promoting vegetative growth or reproductive growth. They delve into the parameters that can be altered, including temperature, relative humidity, and irrigation amounts, highlighting the role of irrigation in fine-tuning these parameters.

The conversation also touches on the importance of pH levels, acclimating cells to different light levels, increasing PPFD levels during transition phases, and avoiding plant stress in hydroponic systems. The hosts stress the significance of understanding water content levels and EC interactions during the ripening stage, offering recommendations for achieving optimal results.

Technologies such as Ndvis, indoor cameras, and sensors for measuring stomatal conductance are mentioned as valuable tools for improving the environment and troubleshooting, although their application on a large scale can be challenging. The hosts also discuss different irrigation methods, including hand watering, flood and drain systems, and drip irrigation, weighing the pros and cons of each.

The episode concludes with a discussion on the benefits of having a technical and scientific background in horticulture and genetics, emphasizing the importance of education and continuous learning in the industry. The hosts share their personal experiences and highlight the value of horticultural classes in understanding plant biology and staying ahead of the learning curve.