We just added to our inventory the Green Pad CO2 Generator.  This is an awesome product for so many reasons, but the greatest benefit we have experienced is giving our customers the ability to try and test CO2 without the costs — and best of all see the amazing benefits CO2 has to offer their plants.

What we posted on The Green Pad site:

We are from Palmdale Hydroponics and we have been selling the pads now for about 6 months now and according to our customers they see tremendous differences in growth when adding the Green Pad to their grow area.

They have told us that their plants look healthier and are larger than ever.
We always say that CO2 is a must have, but it is a big expense and sometimes it is nice to try it out first. Before the Green Pad we could only sell CO2 tanks or even seltzer water as the alternative. Now, with the Green Pad we can have customers trial CO2 with small plants so they can see the difference before taking a big step with a CO2 tank. We have customers who have trialed with the Green Pad and now have upgraded to the tanks, but with out the Pad we do not know if they would have done it.

Check out more and give it a try at hydroponicsunlimited.com .

I stumbled upon a section on Co2 in the “How to Supercharge Your Garden” book written by Graham Reinders and illustrated by Marseene Mainly. I thought I’d share a piece of the chapter as it kind of made me laugh inside, but also displays our innate relationship with nature and the plants that we grow. See below and enjoy;

“People laughed when it was claimed that playing music to plants made them grow better.  It really did because the sound vibrations actually strengthen the stem fibers, shorten the internode length, and cause stress growth reactions  from the plants.”

(Go figure.  I wonder which genres produce best results.  It might depend on the plant…)

“Then people laughed when it was claimed that singing to plants made them grow better.  However, it is true.  The CO2 from human breath actually makes plants grow faster.  If you and a few gardeners stay in the indoor garden area during the light period, the plants would do very well.”

(So I’m not that crazy after all.  I knew my tomatoes loved a morning serenade.)

“It is thought that the massive plants that developed millions of years ago had lived in an environment with much more carbon dioxide in it.  In their evolution, the plants will maintained the capacity to use much more carbon dioxide than the world has now.”

(So create more CO2? Not so sure on this one…)

“Luckily in smoggy cities, the CO2 level can be as high as 500 PPM, and by just having a good circulating fan, the plants should have enough CO2 for a medium-light indoor garden.”

(Yes luckily.  And we’re located just outside of LA, so we’re very lucky!  So smog is good?)

“A high-light garden with the carbon dioxide amount increased from an ambient level of 300 PPM to a high level of 2,000 PPM can nearly double plant growth.”

(Bring on the Co2)

This book is a great resource and walks you through a number of areas dealing with both growing in general and hydroponics.  A must read for anyone interested in growing.

Check it out…