Hydroponics Daily

Dr. Russell Sharp exposes a growing problem of fake plant listings and AI-generated seed scams on Amazon and other marketplaces, showing how buyers are being misled by impossible varieties (like bright blue hostas) and foreign drop-shippers. He explains how to protect yourself—check seller and nursery credentials, prefer reputable nurseries or local stores—and shares a real seed mix-up story to contrast honest mistakes with deliberate fakes. https://eutrema.co.uk/shop/fertiliser/liquid-gold-unique-complete-fertiliser/ More reputable growers and seed sellers: Burpee — W. Atlee Burpee & Co. Ferry-Morse — Ferry-Morse Seed Co. Botanical Interests — Botanical Interests, Inc. Seed Needs — Seed Needs LLC Outsidepride — Outsidepride, Inc. Eden Brothers — Eden Brothers Seed Co. Harris Seeds — Harris Seeds Park Seed — Park Seed Co. Renee’s Garden — Renee’s Garden Seed Co. Seeds of Change — Seeds of Change, Inc. High Mowing Organic Seeds — High Mowing Seed Co. Sow Right Seeds — Sow Right Seeds HOME GROWN — Homegrown Garden Open Seed Vault — Open Seed Vault Survival Garden Seeds — Survival Garden Seeds Mountain Valley Seed Company — Mountain Valley Seed Company David’s Garden Seeds — David’s Garden Seeds Everwilde Farms — Everwilde Farms, Inc. Southern Exposure Seed Exchange — Southern Exposure Seed Exchange Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds — Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Co. Territorial Seed Company — Territorial Seed Company Johnny’s Selected Seeds — Johnny’s Selected Seeds Livingston Seed — Livingston Seed Company Lake Valley Seed — Lake Valley Seed Company Seed Savers Exchange — Seed Savers Exchange Annie’s Heirloom Seeds — Annie’s Heirloom Seeds Indigo Instruments (Sprout People) — The Sprout People Handy Pantry — Handy Pantry True Leaf Market — True Leaf Market NatureZ Edge — NatureZ Edge Islas Garden Seeds — Islas Garden Seeds Organo Republic — Organo Republic Sereniseed — Sereniseed CZ Grain — CZ Grain Gardeners Basics — Gardeners Basics The Dirty Gardener — The Dirty Gardener Marde Ross & Company — Marde Ross & Company Food to Live — Food to Live NOW Foods — NOW Health Group, Inc. Frontier Co-op — Frontier Cooperative Starwest Botanicals — Starwest Botanicals, Inc. Nature Jims Sprouts — Nature Jim’s Sprouts Sproutman — Sproutman Publications Back to the Roots — Back to the Roots, Inc. Tumbleweed Plant Co. — Tumbleweed Plant Co. Costa Farms — Costa Farms, LLC Proven Winners — Proven Winners North America, LLC Altman Plants — Altman Plants LiveTrends — LiveTrends Design Group Shop Succulents — Shop Succulents Succulent Studios — Succulent Studios The Sill — The Sill, Inc. Hirt’s Gardens — Hirt’s Gardens American Plant Exchange — American Plant Exchange Plants for Pets — Plants for Pets Brighter Blooms — Brighter Blooms Nursery Perfect Plants — Perfect Plants Nursery Nature Hills Nursery — Nature Hills Nursery, Inc. Bloomify — Bloomify House Plant Shop — House Plant Shop JM Bamboo — JM Bamboo Florida Foliage — Florida Foliage Green Promise Farms — Green Promise Farms Rooted (Rooted Plants) — Rooted Easy to Grow — Easy to Grow Bulbs Van Zyverden — Van Zyverden, Inc. Holland Bulb Farms — Holland Bulb Farms Breck’s — Breck’s Colorblends — Colorblends Wholesale Flowerbulbs Eden Brothers Bulbs — Eden Brothers Gurney’s — Gurney’s Seed & Nursery Co. Stark Bro’s — Stark Bro’s Nurseries & Orchards Co. Spring Hill Nurseries — Spring Hill Nurseries Wayside Gardens — Wayside Gardens White Flower Farm — White Flower Farm Monrovia — Monrovia Nursery Company Logee’s — Logee’s Plants for Home & Garden Wellspring Gardens — Wellspring Gardens Brighter Gardens — Brighter Gardens Blue Ribbon Plants — Blue Ribbon Plants Green Escape — Green Escape Golden Gate Palms — Golden Gate Palms FastGrowingTrees.com — Fast Growing Trees, LLC Brussel’s Bonsai — Brussel’s Bonsai Nursery Eastern Leaf — Eastern Leaf, Inc. Seedville USA — Seedville USA Seeds2Go — Seeds2Go Nature’s Blossom — Nature’s Blossom Garden Republic — Garden Republic Th

Host Dr. Russell Sharp tackles a Twitter claim that hydroponic crops lack micronutrients and are artificially flavoured, explaining why those assertions are incorrect and how micronutrient levels can be measured (e.g., atomic absorption spectroscopy). He reviews research on manipulating flavor through nutrient levels, light, and biostimulants, notes the limited and mixed evidence, and concludes there is no solid proof of intentional artificial flavouring in hydroponic produce; soilless systems can match or even enhance some flavour-related compounds. https://eutrema.co.uk/shop/fertiliser/liquid-gold-unique-complete-fertiliser/ Gary Reineccius — University of MinnesotaAndrew Taylor — University of NottinghamRussell Keast — Deakin UniversityCharles Spence — University of OxfordHarrison Schmitt — Virginia TechMorten Møller — University of CopenhagenJohn Hayes — Penn State UniversityQian Janice Wang — Aarhus UniversityMarcia Pelchat — Monell Chemical Senses CenterBarry Smith — University of London Linda Bartoshuk — University of FloridaPaul Breslin — Monell Chemical Senses CenterDanielle Reed — Monell Chemical Senses CenterBarry Green — Monell Chemical Senses CenterThomas Hummel — Technical University of DresdenAlan Hirsch — Smell & Taste Treatment and Research FoundationSusan Schiffman — Duke UniversityMolly Birnbaum — Freelance Food WriterHarold McGee — Freelance Food WriterKantha Shelke — Corvus Blue Tim Hanni — Master of Wine InstituteGeoffrey Talavera — Freelance Flavor ConsultantPeter Schieberle — Technical University of MunichThomas Hofmann — Technical University of MunichCorinna Dawid — Technical University of MunichVeronika Somoza — University of ViennaMorten Andersen — University of CopenhagenChristophe Lavalle — AgroParisTechStéphane Guichard — INRAEThierry Thomas-Danguin — INRAE Erich Leitner — Graz University of TechnologyHans-Georg Schmarr — University of HohenheimElke Pawelzik — University of GöttingenMichael Witting — Helmholtz Zentrum MünchenRalf Zimmermann — University of RostockFrancesco Capozzi — University of BolognaGiovanni Capuano — University of Naples Federico IIMaurizio Servili — University of PerugiaRosa Lo Scalzo — CREA ItalyPaolo Masella — University of Parma Fidel Toldrá — Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de AlimentosMaría Dolores del Castillo — Spanish National Research CouncilDolores Coreta-Gomis — University of ValenciaJuan Fernández-García — University of GranadaAna Bayarri — University of ValenciaMarta Corredig — Aarhus UniversityMarina Heinonen — University of HelsinkiAnu Hopia — University of TurkuKees de Graaf — Wageningen University & ResearchGerry Barker — University of Leeds Jean-Marie Lehn — Max Planck Institute for Polymer ResearchWilfried Meyerhof — German Institute of Human NutritionMaik Behrens — German Institute of Human NutritionJohn Prescott — University of OtagoAnna M. Di Monaco — University of Naples Federico IICatherine Barry — University College DublinAurelio Lopez-Malo — Universidad de las Américas PueblaRosario Zamora — Institute of Advanced Chemistry of CataloniaIsabel Hernando — Polytechnic University of ValenciaDolores Torres — University of Zaragoza Jean-Pierre Cotter — International Organization of the Flavor IndustryRobert Hall — Flavor and Extract Manufacturers AssociationHervé This — AgroParisTechArielle Johnson — Independent Flavor ResearcherDave Arnold — Museum of Food and DrinkAli Bouzari — Pilot R&DPeter Barham — University of BristolFrançois Chartier — INRAEGérard Trystram — AgroParisTech

In this episode we examine why carnivorous plants and bonsai often struggle in coco grow media — coco (coir) can contain high sodium and is frequently buffered with calcium nitrate, resulting in elevated calcium and nitrogen compared with peat. The host suggests a fix: use raw high-sodium coco and flush it with Liquid Gypsum (calcium sulfate) to remove sodium without adding nitrogen, creating a peat-free grow medium suited to carnivorous plants and bonsai and a potential niche business idea. https://eutrema.co.uk/shop/soil-conditioners/liquid-gypsum/ Ryan Neil — Bonsai Mirai Bjorn Bjorholm — Eisei-en Bonsai Michael Hagedorn — Crataegus Bonsai Peter Chan — Herons Bonsai Walter Pall — Freelance Bonsai Artist Mauro Stemberger — Italian Bonsai Academy Kimura Masahiko — Kinbon Bonsai Garden Takeyama Takashi — Fujikawa Kouka-en Shinji Suzuki — Kaizen Bonsai Boon Manakitivipart — Bonsai Boon Jonas Dupuich — Bonsai Tonight Sergio Cuan — Bonsai Empire Colin Lewis — Freelance Bonsai Artist Kevin Willson — Bonsai Willson David Easterbrook — Freelance Bonsai Artist Graham Potter — Freelance Bonsai Artist Mauro Di Lorenzo — Bonsai Studio Italiano Eric Schrader — Bonsaify Andy Smith — Golden Arrow Bonsai Tony Tickle — Yardley Bonsai Jim Doyle — Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt Kathy Shaner — Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt Kathy and Jim Doyle — Bonsai Garden at Lake Merritt Bill Valavanis — International Bonsai Arboretum Frank Mihalic — Bonsai Artist Nick Lenz — Freelance Bonsai Artist Dan Robinson — Elandan Gardens David Benavente — Bonsai Kai Pedro Morales — Bonsai Sur Salvatore Liporace — UBI Bonsai Jan Schlauer — Carnivorous Plant Society Europe Barry Rice — Carnivorous Plant Society Stewart McPherson — Redfern Natural History Andreas Fleischmann — Botanische Staatssammlung München Charles Clarke — Monash University Fernando Rivadavia — Universidade Estadual de Campinas Robert Cantley — Borneo Exotics Alastair Robinson — Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria Andreas Wistuba — Wistuba Carnivorous Plants Lubomír Adamec — Institute of Botany, Czech Academy of Sciences Peter D’Amato — California Carnivores Barry Meyers-Rice — International Carnivorous Plant Society Richard Nunn — Freelance Carnivorous Plant Grower Ivan Snyder — Freelance Carnivorous Plant Grower Thomas Carow — Green Jaws Marcel van den Broek — Carnivorous Plant Nursery Christian Klein — Kleins Carnivorous Plants Marcel van den Berg — Dutch Carnivorous Plant Society Brian Barnes — California Carnivores Tamlin Magee — Meadowview Biological Research Station Aaron Ellison — Harvard University Paulo Gonella — Universidade de São Paulo Kai Müller — University of Würzburg François Mey — Société Botanique de France Nicolas Riddick — Freelance Carnivorous Plant Grower Adam Karremans — Lankester Botanical Garden Kamil Pásek — Best Carnivorous Plants Christian Dietz — Freelance Carnivorous Plant Researcher Adrian Slack — Carnivorous Plant Author Paul McMillan — Freelance Carnivorous Plant Researcher Tony Tickle — Bonsai Artist Koji Hiramatsu — Shunkaen Bonsai Museum Kunio Kobayashi — Shunkaen Bonsai Museum Masahiko Kimura — Kinbon Bonsai Garden Naoki Maeoka — Japanese Bonsai Artist Taiga Urushibata — Japanese Bonsai Artist Ryuji Suzuki — Japanese Bonsai Artist David De Groot — Bonsai De Groot Andrew Robson — Rakuyo Bonsai Leo Eshkenazi — Freelance Bonsai Artist Jason Chan — Eastern Leaf Kevin Wilson — Bonsai Willson Mark Fields — Evergreen Gardenworks Brent Walston — Evergreen Gardenworks Michael Tran — Muranaka Bonsai Nursery Roy Nagatoshi — Royal Bonsai Garden Mas Iida — Iida Bonsai Nursery Peter Tea — Freelance Bonsai Artist Tony Remington — Freelance Bonsai Artist Harry Harrington — Bonsai4Me Damon Collingsworth — California Carnivores Mike King — Carnivorous Plant Nursery Andreas Fleischmann — Munich Botanical Collection Stewart McPherson — Redfern Natural History Productions Matt Opel — International Carnivorous Plant Society Bob Ziemer — Meadowview Biological Research Station R

Hello there, and welcome back to Hydroponics Daily, your go-to podcast for everything soilless cultivation. I am your host, Dr. Russell Sharp, the founder of Eutrema Limited, a company that makes truly unique fertilizers, biostimulants, and biopesticides that you won't find anywhere else. The technology is completely unique. And today, the topic of the podcast is what I would do if I was faced with a virus in my crop. Specifically a crop where you want to protect the genetic material and you can't just throw the plants away often when we say when you've got a virus the first thing you should do is just destroy all plant material but what if you've got a strain a variety a cultivar that only you've got or is protected or is endangered or you need it for a breeding program or something like that and you need to get rid of the virus what are you going to do you can't give plants tamiflu that technology is not available you can't just wait for their immune system to fight the virus off because they don't have immune systems and so there's only really one option that i'm aware of and that's heat treatment so you when you're planting out cuttings tubers bulbs or seeds immersing them in hot water for a defined period can help with virus control. So we're talking about temperatures of 45 to 55 degrees Celsius. So you wouldn't keep plants, not many plants would live at that sort of temperature, they would soon die off, especially unless the humidity was really, really high. But the duration of which you give this treatment is only like 10 to 60 minutes. So in crops that's regularly, perennial crops, herbaceous perennial crops where they regularly suffer from viruses like sugar cane, sweet potato, banana, even grape vines and some ornamentals, you can do this and with success and control viruses. And you're best obviously doing it with smaller plants because smaller the plants, the more effective the treatment will be because of just the temperature profiles and things like that. Now obviously there's a big challenge there it could be phytotoxic it could just kill your plants from the heat but with a bit of experimentation you could find what is the sweet spot for your particular plant and in fact if I was going to do this if I had a plant that I needed to control the viruses I would do it until the plant breaks so I would get maybe 100 cuttings from a virus infected plant and I'd treat 10 at. What did I say the temperature was, 45 degrees Celsius for 10 minutes, and then all the way up to 10 that would be treated at 55 degrees Celsius for 60 minutes. No idea what that is in Fahrenheit, apologies for American listeners, but it's pretty warm, it's sort of like steam room temperature. So I would do a range and find out at what point did the plants die, and just go slightly below that, and really really stress it, because you don't want any virus particles in that new plant because it will be a source of infection and you will not get a chance to do this twice really so obviously seeds is the easiest but very rarely you won't go on to do that it's after that tubers something dormant a bulb they're going to be much more resistant much more tolerant of those high temperatures whereas a cutting is probably going to be the most sensitive but i would do it until it breaks if you're prepared to lose a few cuttings you could do it on unrooted cuttings and rooted cuttings i'd probably start with rooted cuttings see if you could get away with it because, severely stressing a cutting that's not rooted and then trying to get it to root you know you're not you you're in for a bad case there because you really struggle because it's all the cells are going to be weak and stressed from that heat treatment so i do it on rooted cuttings, newly rooted cuttings, not too much growing media around them. Okay, so that would be my. My suggestion, what are the success rates? If you're doing it on seeds, the sort of typical virus elimination you can ac

Dr. Russell Sharp explains how Dosatrons (water-powered dosing pumps) mix concentrated fertilizer like Gold Leaf/Liquid Gold into fertigation systems, describing the piston-driven mechanism, proportional injection, and why it maintains a constant concentration despite flow changes. The episode covers practical setup tips for off-grid hydroponics — solenoids, drippers, solar pumps, and how a Dosatron enables accurate, electricity-free dosing, along with limitations (not for powders, pressure loss, very viscous or abrasive chemicals) and a brief mention of Venturi injectors. https://eutrema.co.uk/shop/fertiliser/liquid-gold-unique-complete-fertiliser/

Dr. Russell Sharp explores advanced preservation methods for flower crops; from freeze-drying and glycerin sap replacement to citric acid treatments used for hops,cand how these techniques can create premium, display-ready products for shops, dispensaries, and e-commerce. This episode offers practical ideas for ornamentals and specialty growers looking to add high-value, long-lasting products to their lineup. https://eutrema.co.uk/shop/fertiliser/liquid-gold-unique-complete-fertiliser/ Ryan Hopkins — Yakima Chief Hops Karl VanEvanHoven — Yakima Chief Hops Bryan Pierce — Yakima Chief Hops Denis Gayte — Yakima Chief Hops Missy Raver — Yakima Chief Hops Cesar Silva — Yakima Chief Hops Aric Gamache — Yakima Chief Hops Dean Monshing — Yakima Chief Hops Salvador Benitez — Yakima Chief Hops Chuck St. Mary — Yakima Chief Hops Drew Gaskell — Yakima Chief Hops Jason Champoux — Yakima Chief Ranches Jason Perrault — Yakima Chief Ranches Tom Davis — John I. Haas Stephanie Conrad — John I. Haas Alex Barth — John I. Haas Stephan Barth — BarthHaas Alexander Barth — BarthHaas Oliver Bergner — BarthHaas Peter Hintermeier — BarthHaas Prof. Dr. Mirja Steinkamp — BarthHaas Dr. Philipp Ramin — BarthHaas Thomas Raiser — BarthHaas Nic Donald — BarthHaas X David Kerr — BarthHaas X Ian Clarke — BarthHaas X Kevin McCarry — BarthHaas X Enrico Prenni — BarthHaas X Sarah Goddard — BarthHaas X Maria Bailey — BarthHaas X Jim Solberg — Indie Hops Roger Worthington — Indie Hops Matt Sage — Indie Hops Gayle Goschie — Goschie Farms Glenn Goschie — Goschie Farms Gordie Goschie — Goschie Farms John Coleman — Coleman Agriculture Brandon Davidson — BC Hop Farms Ben Smith — B & D Hop Farms Dave Smith — B & D Hop Farms Blair Stewart — New Zealand Hops Glynn Rowell — New Zealand Hops Devin Biondi — New Zealand Hops Kerry Sutcliffe — New Zealand Hops Dr. Ron Beatson — New Zealand Hops Owen Johnston — Hop Products Australia Chris Price — Hop Products Australia Grace Irwin — Hop Products Australia Paul Corbett — Charles Faram Will Rogers — Charles Faram

Dr. Russell Sharp discusses the struggle of the UK and European hydroponic sector, focusing on recent enforcement in the Netherlands over continuous in-line dosing of hydrogen peroxide. He explains why regulators flagged the practice, the science behind peroxide breakdown, and his frustration with overly rigid enforcement. Russell also offers practical advice: avoid continuous peroxide dosing to protect roots and yields, keep systems clean, and use peroxide sparingly. He reflects on the wider impact of regulation on innovation and shares how his company adapts to EU rules. https://eutrema.co.uk/shop/fertiliser/liquid-gold-unique-complete-fertiliser/ Matthew Appleby — Horticulture Week Sally Drury — Horticulture Week Gavin McEwan — Horticulture Week Clare Foggett — The English Garden Vivienne Hambly — The English Garden Sue Fisher — BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Emma Crawforth — BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Kevin Smith — BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Miranda Janatka — BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Kay Maguire — BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine Daniel Haynes — Gardeners’ World Catherine Mansley — Gardeners’ World Sonya Patel Ellis — Gardeners’ World Kate Bradbury Greg Loades Veronica Peerless — Gardens Illustrated Kate Jacobs — Gardens Illustrated Tim Richardson — Gardens Illustrated Alys Fowler Jane Perrone Alexandra Campbell Alice Vincent Alice Lascelles — Financial Times Tom Heap — BBC James Wong Val Bourne Anne Swithinbank Bob Flowerdew Mark Diacono Cleve West Sarah Raven Annie Guilfoyle Andrew Timothy O’Brien Jonathan Buckley Tamsin Hope Thomson Nic Wilson Kim Stoddart — Amateur Gardening Alan Titchmarsh Monty Don Carol Klein Joe Swift Pippa Greenwood Paul Green Noel Kingsbury Marian Boswall Jack Wallington Alice Bowe Jane Courtier Rachel de Thame Lucy Chamberlain Carolyne Roehm Noel Kingsbury Nigel Slater — The Observer Anna Pavord Penelope Lively Beth Chatto Christopher Lloyd Vita Sackville-West Gertrude Jekyll Margery Fish Dan Pearson Tom Stuart-Smith Armitage Shanks (No, wrong) Toby Buckland Fergus Garrett Sarah Cuttle Lia Leendertz Matthew Biggs Peter Seabrook Bunny Guinness Alice Doyle Jamie Butterworth — RHS Guy Barter — RHS Helen Yemm — The Telegraph Jane Moore Debora Robertson Mary-Kay Wilmers Emma Townsend Jessica Damiano — Associated Press Adrian Higgins — The Washington Post Margaret Roach Ken Druse Jeff Lowenfels Doug Oster — Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Maria Rodale Danielle Sherry — Fine Gardening Jeremie Fant — Fine Gardening Caitlin Boyle — Fine Gardening Erin L. Schanen — Fine Gardening Lisa Negri — Fine Gardening Benjamin Vogt Roy Diblik Kelly D. Norris Nancy J. Ondra Allan Armitage Piet Oudolf Noel Kingsbury Michael Pollan Joe Lamp’l P. Allen Smith