I’ve been preaching for a while about the similarities between humans and plants as my research has lead me through study after study that supports sound comparisons. In these Covid-19 times, our immune response is of utmost importance. And just like with our own...
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Silicon, the Natural Way to Protect Your Crops
Cultivated plants are only able to realize less than 20% of their natural potential to protect themselves against stressors like insects, fungi, diseases, virus attacks, unfavorable climatic conditions, chemical pollution, nutrient deficiency, et al. Plant DNA has...
A Thread of Information About Nematodes
The name nematode is derived from the Greek, nemato, which literally translates to “thread-like.” These thread-like multicellular invertebrates (animals without a backbone) are so unique that they have their own phylum group called Nematoda. They are the most numerous...
Calcium, the Camp Counselor of the Soil
Most growers have soils deficient in calcium – in fact, very deficient. Calcium is the camp counselor of the soil, helping to marshal other nutrients, including trace minerals, to the plant. Nutrient-dense plants have improved health, fruit flavor and disease...
Soil Flocculation (Excuse Me!)
Flocculation is a property that causes soil particles to cling together. Flocculation is destroyed by long periods of drought and by washing away the magnetism in the soil. Magnetism in the soil? What the heck is that? Well, the level of magnetism is governed by...
Waiting for the Sun
I first want to say how much I applaud our farmers given the challenges that they are facing during these sobering times. We’re here to help in any manner we can. In a year of cooler temperatures and unexpected rainfall, it’s very important to help our crops catch up....
The Competing Hormones That Regulate Plant Growth
I’ve always tried to draw comparisons between plants and animals as there are more similarities than differences. Cytokines, for example. are primary messengers important in reducing neuroinflammation in animals. They activate a range of immune cells and promote the...
Priming the Pump with Salicylic and Jasmonic Acids
Plants have been evolving for millions of years, creating new and improved ways to protect themselves from attack. Plants protect themselves from pathogen attack through activation of innate immune systems, and plant immunity is a highly complex phenomenon with its...
Why Increasing Soil Organic Matter (SOM) is Critical
The soil’s ability to hold and release plant nutrients is key. One big factor in this is the Cation Exchange Capacity, or CEC, a measure of how many cations or positively charged ions, or cations, can be retained on soil particle surfaces. These cations can be swapped...
Movin’ On Up: How Nutrients Get Around in Plants
Seventeen elements have been identified as vital to plant growth. Three of them -- carbon, hydrogen and oxygen -- are non-minerals, and the other 14 are minerals. Carbon and oxygen enter plants through leaves as carbon dioxide. Oxygen also enters plants with hydrogen...