Vita Grow, Propagation Aids, Fertilizers, Water Conditioners.

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Professional Growers use Vita Grow

High Desert Growing. The Specialty Produce Greenhouse located in Tumalo, Oregon grows lettuce, basil and specialty herbs. It doesn’t take long for commercial growers to form opinions about the products they are using.
"After a year of trying different kinds of hydroponic growing systems and plant nutrients I chose Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) and Vita Grow plant food for the crops we grow", says Remy. "The NFT system worked out just as good or better than the water culture, drip feed and aero spray systems we tested." said Remy. The initial set up is quick and easy with few parts to deal with and breakdown for cleaning is surprisingly fast. There are no jets or nozzles to plug and the transfer of seedlings to the main growing system is quick and easy. The 30 inch inserts or tops of the NFT gutter have two inch holes to accommodate 2 inch net pots with rockwool or cocoa peat. They can slide from end to end or pop out to harvest. The plant food Remy chose (Vita Grow) is a three part nutrient with vitamins and hormones added for the stresses of quick growth and extreme climatic conditions. "I chose the dry fertilizer formula and then added it to a 55 gallon drum with warm water to make a liquid concentrate. This makes it easy for me to add to the reservoirs. Lettuce, Basil and medicinal Herbs will keep Remy busy all year long. While Remy is happy that buyers are lining up for great tasting produce without herbicide, fungicide and pesticide residue, he is also aware that they are asking their grocers where the produce comes from and if it comes from farms that have proper sanitary equipment in place. Not all farms make sure field workers wash their hands after going to the portable outhouses if they have out houses at all. Remy stated, "When we first started planning the Specialty Produce greenhouses we placed great emphasis on our sanitary procedures and made sure enough room was devoted to sanitary equipment. We then established written rules and procedures of sanitary conduct that are strictly enforced. There are no second chances, employees that do not comply are immediately discharged". The greenhouse growers of the future will be able to command their price for healthy produce as state and federal agencies start to crack down on field crop farmers that grow food without concerns to public health and create environmental hazards. It is a good idea to check city, state and federal building requirements before assembling your greenhouse.

Flowering with the Carbohydrate to Nitrogen Ratio Exposed

The carbohydrate to nitrogen ratio theory in relationship to plant flowering is quite simple to understand once you understand the changes that take place within the plant before it flowers. Nitrogen is often thought of as the key to vegetative plant growth because it initiates plant cells to reproduce over and over again creating the lush and intense vegetative growth we have all come to enjoy. It is this growth that uses carbohydrates (sugars obtained from photosynthesis) to supply food to the newly formed cells while leaves are forming . When nitrogen is reduced and new cell formation is slowed, the production of carbohydrates from photosynthesis is still active and sugars become abundant. It is at this point that hormonal changes occur and the excess sugars are used for the development of flowers and reproductive materials.

As an example, some time ago it was noticed that a Rhododendron could be made to flower by simply digging it up and placing the root system in a burlap bag. By reducing the root system the amount of nitrogen the plant normally used for new growth was reduced, thus, plant sugars made from stored elements could be used to produce flowers.

It is important to pick a plant food that lets you increase or decrease the amount of nitrogen the plants will be up taking. It is also important to be able to increase the amount of phosphorus and potassium when you wish to initiate the decrease of nitrogen or simply aid in the production of sugars associated with blooms and size of fruit.

Ask your sales person to show you how easy it is to grow professional quality produce every time using a quality fertilizer like Vita Grow plant nutrients. See the size of your produce dramatically increase while its taste and aroma will drive grocers wild!

How to use the Vita Grow formula for best results

Vita Grow soluble plant foods have been formulated for both the professional and hobbyist. It is a three part plant food. 1.The Vita Grow 'MICRO' or first part contains the micro nutrients plus the addition of basic NPK elements and compounds. 2.The Vita Grow 'GROW' or second part contains nitrogen and calcium only ( N&Ca ) and helps in the production proteins associated with the growth of foliage. This formula allows the grower to reduce or increase the amount of nitrogen a plant needs. It also allows the grower to force a plant into bloom by reducing the plants nitrogen uptake ( see the article Flowering with the Carbohydrate to Nitrogen Ratio Exposed ). 3.The Vita Grow ' BLOOM' or third part supplies only phosphorus and potassium ( P&K ). This formula helps to boost carbohydrate (simple sugar) production and at the same time it helps to control enzyme and hormone production vital to blooming plants. Vitamins have been added to the Vita Grow formulas to help initiate rooting and relieve stresses caused by transplanting, flowering and extreme climatic conditions. Our soluble vitamin formula makes Vita Grow a truly unique plant nutrient!

Figuring the plant foods strength using Vita Grow Liquid:

1 Teaspoon or 5cc's or 5 ml of liquid VG MICRO placed into 1 gallon of water would add approximately 375 Parts Per Million.

1 Teaspoon or 5cc's or 5 ml of liquid VG GROW placed into 1 gallon of water would add approximately 375 Parts Per Million.

1 Teaspoon or 5cc's or 5 ml of liquid VG BLOOM placed into 1 gallon of water would add approximately 112 Parts Per Million.

Application: Use 1 part VG MICRO to 1 part VG GROW to bring reservoir to the appropriate ppm. To induce flowering, rooting or seed production ( See rules of thumb ). Use 1 part VG MICRO to 1/2 part VG GROW and add 1 part VG BLOOM to bring reservoir to the appropriate ppm. For seedlings and cuttings use 1/4-1/2 Teaspoon of VG MICRO, VG GROW and VG BLOOM to each gallon of water.

Figuring the plant foods strength using Vita Grow Dry for all plant varieties:

1 Teaspoon of dry VG MICRO weighs approximately 3.33 grams and will yield a Parts Per Million of 633 when added to a gallon of water.

3/4 of a Teaspoon of dry VG GROW weighs approximately 4.5 grams and will yield a Parts Per Million of 733 when added to a gallon of water.

1/2 of a Teaspoon of dry VG BLOOM weighs approximately 3.33 grams and will yield a Parts Per Million of 450 when added to a gallon of water.

Commercial Vegetable Growers Note:

* Place 3/4 of 1 pound of VG MICRO ( 340 grams ) into 100 gallons of water to add approximately 633 Parts Per Million of total soluble elements.

* Place 3/4 of 1 pound of prilled Calcium Nitrate ( 340 grams ) into 100 gallons of water to add approximately 550 Parts Per Million of total soluble elements.

* Place 3/4 of 1 pound of VG BLOOM ( 340 grams ) into 100 gallons of water to add approximately 450 Parts Per Million of total soluble elements. ( Mono Potassium Phosphate may be substituted in place of Vita Grow BLOOM. )

These application rates are for you to construct and modify for individual plant needs. Use these rules of thumb when formulating plant nutrient strength:

Vegetables: Use 1 part VG MICRO to 3/4 part VG GROW.

Leaf lettuce 300 - 800 ppm.
Basil 600 - 1100 ppm.
Tomatoes 1000 - 1900 ppm.

Higher ppm values may be needed if plants are up taking nutrients at an accelerated rate beyond the nutrient flow capacity of the hydro system or the hydro system's construction can not deliver quality nutrients to each plants site .

Flowers and Roses Flowers and Roses Foliage use 1 part VG MICRO and 3/4 part VG GROW 600-1200 ppm. Bloom use 1 part VG MICRO and 1/3 part VG GROW 1 part VG BLOOM. 600-1200 ppm.

Higher ppm values may be needed if plants are up taking nutrients at an accelerated rate beyond the nutrient flow capacity of the hydro system or the Hydro's system ability to deliver quality nutrients to each plants site.

*Reduce the amount of GROW if you wish to induce flowering and or add BLOOM to help increase sugar production.

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