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 The Old Farmer’s Almanac Seed — Old Farmer’s Almanac Purely Organic Products — Purely Organic Products Nature’s Way Seeds — Nature’s Way Seeds The Clayton Farm — The Clayton Farm Ferry-Morse Home Gardening — Ferry-Morse Seed Co. Bonnie Plants — Bonnie Plants, LLC D. Hill Nursery — D. Hill Nursery Greenhouse PCA — Greenhouse PCA California Tropicals — California Tropicals Humble Roots — Humble Roots Green 4 Ever — Green 4 Ever

Dr. Russell Sharp explains how melatonin — a molecule known for human sleep and stress regulation — is produced by plants and acts as a powerful antioxidant and growth regulator. In hydroponics it can enhance root growth, improve stress tolerance under high light or unstable conditions, delay leaf senescence, and support photosynthesis and secondary metabolite production. Applied as a foliar spray, seed priming, or added to nutrient solutions at micromolar concentrations, melatonin is water-soluble and allows precise dosing in soilless systems. Research shows benefits in crops like tomato and lettuce, with increased root-to-shoot ratios and higher antioxidant levels under stress. https://eutrema.co.uk/shop/fertiliser/liquid-gold-unique-complete-fertiliser/ Russel Reiter — University of Texas Health Science Center Dun-Xian Tan — University of Texas Health Science Center Rakesh K. Singh — Banaras Hindu University Nasser Al-Aghbar — King Abdulaziz University Rajeev K. Varshney — International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) Chao Zhao — Nanjing Agricultural University Wei Wei — Zhejiang University Dun-Xian Tan — University of Texas Health Science Center Russel J. Reiter — University of Texas Health Science Center Sergiu F. Chivu — University of Bucharest Guang-Yu Chen — Zhejiang University Xing-Guo Lu — South China Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences Shuang-Qing Peng — South China Agricultural University Dun-Xian Tan — University of Texas Health Science Center Russel Reiter — University of Texas Health Science Center Wei Meng — Zhejiang University Natalia Reiter — University of Texas Health Science Center Chunhua Zhao — Nanjing Agricultural University Javier Martinez — University of Granada Ana Cano — University of Granada Russel J. Reiter — University of Texas Health Science Center Dun-Xian Tan — University of Texas Health Science Center Debabrata Chattopadhyay — Bose Institute Fanyue Meng — Zhejiang University Chao Zhao — Nanjing Agricultural University Bin Xu — Nanjing Agricultural University Wei Wei — Zhejiang University Maria Reiter — University of Texas Health Science Center Sergey Kvetnoy — Russian Academy of Sciences Jian-Kang Zhu — University of California, Riverside Chunhua Zhao — Nanjing Agricultural University Xiaohong Zhu — South China Botanical Garden Dun-Xian Tan — University of Texas Health Science Center Russel Reiter — University of Texas Health Science Center Iwona Zielenkiewicz — Polish Academy of Sciences Yali Zhang — Zhejiang University Fang Fang — Nanjing Agricultural University Xinyue Wang — South China Botanical Garden Sonia Reiter — University of Texas Health Science Center Gonzalo Reiter — University of Texas Health Science Center Javier Martinez — University of Granada Ana Cano — University of Granada Dun-Xian Tan — University of Texas Health Science Center Russel Reiter — University of Texas Health Science Center Yi Li — Zhejiang University Chunhua Zhao — Nanjing Agricultural University Wei Wei — Zhejiang University Dun-Xian Tan — University of Texas Health Science Center Russel J. Reiter — University of Texas Health Science Center Rajeev K. Varshney — ICRISAT Rafael Guerrero — University of Granada Juan Pablo Martínez — University of Granada Natalia Reiter — University of Texas Health Science Center Chunhua Zhao — Nanjing Agricultural University Wei Wei — Zhejiang University Dun-Xian Tan — University of Texas Health Science Center Russel Reiter — University of Texas Health Science Center Javier Martinez — University of Granada Ana Cano — University of Granada Chao Zhao — Nanjing Agricultural University Fang Fang — Nanjing Agricultural University Xinyue Wang — South China Botanical Garden Maria Reiter — University of Texas Health Science Center Sergey Kvetnoy — Russian Academy of Sciences Jian-Kang Zhu — University of California, Riverside Fanyue Meng — Zhejiang University Guang-Yu Chen — Zhejiang University Shuang-Qing Peng — South China Agricultural University Debabrata Chattopadhyay — Bose Institute Iwona Zielenkiewicz — Polish Academy of Sciences Yali Zhang — Zhejiang University Xiaohong Zhu — South China Botanical Garden Fang Fang — Nanjing Agricultural University Yi Li — Zhejiang University Rafael Guerrero — University of Granada Juan Pablo Martínez — University of Granada Russel Reiter — University of Texas Health Science Center Dun-Xian Tan — University of Texas Health Science Center Javier Martinez — University of Granada Ana Cano — University of Granada Natalia Reiter — University of Texas Health Science Center Maria Reiter — University of Texas Health Science Center Chao Zhao — Nanjing Agricultural University Wei Wei — Zhejiang University Chunhua Zhao — Nanjing Agricultural University Guang-Yu Chen — Zhejiang University Fanyue Meng — Zhejiang University Sergey Kvetnoy — Russian Academy of Sciences Jian-Kang Zhu — University of California, Riverside Debabrata Chattopadhyay — Bose Institute Iwona Zielenkiewicz — Polish Academy of Sciences Fang Fang — Nanjing Agricultural University Xinyue Wang — South China Botanical Garden Yi Li — Zhejiang University Rafael Guerrero — University of Granada Juan Pablo Martínez — University of Granada Russel Reiter — University of Texas Health Science Center Dun-Xian Tan — University of Texas Health Science Center Javier Martinez — University of Granada Ana Cano — University of Granada

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 Minnesota Andrew Taylor — University of Nottingham Russell Keast — Deakin University Charles Spence — University of Oxford Harrison Schmitt — Virginia Tech Morten Møller — University of Copenhagen John Hayes — Penn State University Qian Janice Wang — Aarhus University Marcia Pelchat — Monell Chemical Senses Center Barry Smith — University of London Linda Bartoshuk — University of Florida Paul Breslin — Monell Chemical Senses Center Danielle Reed — Monell Chemical Senses Center Barry Green — Monell Chemical Senses Center Thomas Hummel — Technical University of Dresden Alan Hirsch — Smell & Taste Treatment and Research Foundation Susan Schiffman — Duke University Molly Birnbaum — Freelance Food Writer Harold McGee — Freelance Food Writer Kantha Shelke — Corvus Blue Tim Hanni — Master of Wine Institute Geoffrey Talavera — Freelance Flavor Consultant Peter Schieberle — Technical University of Munich Thomas Hofmann — Technical University of Munich Corinna Dawid — Technical University of Munich Veronika Somoza — University of Vienna Morten Andersen — University of Copenhagen Christophe Lavalle — AgroParisTech Stéphane Guichard — INRAE Thierry Thomas-Danguin — INRAE Erich Leitner — Graz University of Technology Hans-Georg Schmarr — University of Hohenheim Elke Pawelzik — University of Göttingen Michael Witting — Helmholtz Zentrum München Ralf Zimmermann — University of Rostock Francesco Capozzi — University of Bologna Giovanni Capuano — University of Naples Federico II Maurizio Servili — University of Perugia Rosa Lo Scalzo — CREA Italy Paolo Masella — University of Parma Fidel Toldrá — Instituto de Agroquímica y Tecnología de Alimentos María Dolores del Castillo — Spanish National Research Council Dolores Coreta-Gomis — University of Valencia Juan Fernández-García — University of Granada Ana Bayarri — University of Valencia Marta Corredig — Aarhus University Marina Heinonen — University of Helsinki Anu Hopia — University of Turku Kees de Graaf — Wageningen University & Research Gerry Barker — University of Leeds Jean-Marie Lehn — Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research Wilfried Meyerhof — German Institute of Human Nutrition Maik Behrens — German Institute of Human Nutrition John Prescott — University of Otago Anna M. Di Monaco — University of Naples Federico II Catherine Barry — University College Dublin Aurelio Lopez-Malo — Universidad de las Américas Puebla Rosario Zamora — Institute of Advanced Chemistry of Catalonia Isabel Hernando — Polytechnic University of Valencia Dolores Torres — University of Zaragoza Jean-Pierre Cotter — International Organization of the Flavor Industry Robert Hall — Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association Hervé This — AgroParisTech Arielle Johnson — Independent Flavor Researcher Dave Arnold — Museum of Food and Drink Ali Bouzari — Pilot R&D Peter Barham — University of Bristol François Chartier — INRAE Gérard Trystram — AgroParisTech

Dr. Russell Sharp examines a warning from the UK Urban AgriTech group that a planned 94% increase in electricity network standing charges from April 2026 could dramatically raise operating costs for vertical farms and greenhouses, risking business failures, reduced domestic produce and higher food prices. The episode explains how horticulture is excluded from the energy-intensive industries exemption, compares UK energy costs with EU competitors, and outlines how razor-thin margins make indoor growers particularly vulnerable; calling for urgent policy review and industry engagement. https://eutrema.co.uk/shop/fertiliser/liquid-gold-unique-complete-fertiliser/ Leo Marcelis — Wageningen University & Research Erik Runkle — Michigan State University Neil Mattson — Cornell University Bruce Bugbee — Utah State University Roberto Lopez — Michigan State University Chieri Kubota — Ohio State University Youbin Zheng — University of Guelph Toyoki Kozai — Chiba University Genhua Niu — Texas A&M AgriLife Research A.J. Both — Rutgers University Peter van Weel — Wageningen University & Research Eugene Jones — University of Arizona Cary Mitchell — Purdue University Klaus Stanghellini — Wageningen University & Research Bert van Ruijven — Wageningen University & Research Frank Kempkes — Wageningen University & Research Ep Heuvelink — Wageningen University & Research Silvia Pampuri — Wageningen University & Research Simon Pearson — University of Lincoln David Llewellyn — Harper Adams University Paul Hadley — University of Reading Jeremy Burdon — Harper Adams University Mark Else — Cranfield University Graham Wallace — James Hutton Institute James Locke — USDA Agricultural Research Service Dewayne Ingram — University of Kentucky Michelle Jones — Ohio State University Kevin Folta — University of Florida Michele Montero — University of Almería Juan Fernández — University of Almería Kees van der Velden — Wageningen University & Research Artemis Koukounaras — Aristotle University of Thessaloniki Giacomo Tosti — University of Bologna Rita Maggini — University of Pisa Paolo Sambo — University of Padua Lorenzo Pardossi — University of Pisa Alessandro Ferrante — University of Milan Gabriele Costa — University of Bologna Luigi De Bellis — University of Salento Francesco Orsini — University of Bologna Michael Struik — Wageningen University & Research Andrew Neilson — University of Nottingham Zhenhua He — University of Florida Haijun Liu — Zhejiang University Yuanhui Zhang — University of Illinois Qingwu Guan — Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences Xiuming Hao — Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Bob Hansen — Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Xiaohong Yang — Nanjing Agricultural University Jianjun Chen — University of Florida Pramod Pandey — University of Illinois Arun Kumar — Indian Agricultural Research Institute Sanjay Kumar — Indian Institute of Horticultural Research Rajesh Kumar — Punjab Agricultural University Hiroshi Shimizu — Kyoto University Masaharu Kitano — Kyushu University Yasushi Ishigami — University of Tokyo Toshihiko Kozai — Chiba University Keisuke Omasa — University of Tokyo Hirokazu Takahashi — Tohoku University

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 Ron Determann — Meadowview Biological Research Station Tom Luecking — Freelance Carnivorous Plant Grower Richard Myers — Carnivorous Plant Society UK Adrian Yeo — Singapore Botanic Gardens Ch’ng Khoon Meng — Singapore Botanic Gardens Paul Harwood — Carnivorous Plant Society UK Jan Schlauer — Botanical Researcher Barry Rice — ICPS Peter D’Amato — California Carnivores Ryan McEnaney — Chicago Botanic Garden Kevin Wilson — Bonsai Willson Jonas Dupuich — Bonsai Tonight Bjorn Bjorholm — Eisei-en Bonsai Stewart McPherson — Redfern Natural History