Maximum Yield Magazine's Indoor Gardening Expo 2016 - San Francisco

I'll be honest, I don't know much about cultivation. I did work in an indoor Cannabis grow for quite a few months, and my family has been working the land and cultivating food for generations, but for some reason I just don't think I learned as much as I could have, but I guess that's what happens when things just seem like work. 

House & Garden Nutrients were one of the first booths we stopped at. I am familiar with their root accelerators, but not much else. It was nice to learn about the different kind of additives they carry, as well as different base nutrient mixes for different kinds of growing mediums.

In all agricultural fields, there has been a huge emphasis on organic growing  in the past few years. And I'm so happy to see that translated into Cannabis as well. In the black market days, harmful chemicals and pesticides were used in the cultivation of Cannabis. Since there were no standards for selling on the street, people didn't need to flush properly or test flowers for residual pesticides. I cringe at the thought of how much dirty weed I probably smoked as a kid.

Vital Earth was there was so many samples and so much information to hand out! It's kinda crazy when you think about the ingredients in organic fertilizers. Bat and bird poop, fermented fish, and dead worms!

Organics Alive who's motto was to 'bring biology back to it's roots' is a company that really intrigued me. They create compost teas using a very specific diet fed to Eisinea Fetida Earthworms to achieve a balanced, diverse and concentrated blend of microbiology to achieve 'dramatic yield  enhancing technology.'

Veg+Bloom is simple powder amendment 'containing all essential elements and beneficial additives your plants need to succeed.' It's part of a 4-part series by Hydroponic Research. Veg+Bloom, +Life, Push, and Shine.

Ed Rosenhal was there too! It was so exciting to meet a bit of a legend. I bought his Big Book of Buds and he signed it for me. He had all his books on display and for purchase, as well as his line of herbal and fungal combatives. 

Earth Juice is another brand I came across the seemingly does it all! Pest control to additives to complete nutrient systems. Plus, I am a sucker for good art, and they had it!

Terpinator is pretty hard to miss on a table. I don't know much about it, or anyone who uses it but I know it's filled with potassium sulfate to help make flowers more pungent and resinous. 

Fox Farm Ocean Forest was the potting soil I used the very first time I grew on my own! I was happy to see their products, the art is so cute!

I don't know why I never realized all the different kinds of soil mixes there are! WE saw lots of different companies selling similar soils with a variety of amendments added to each mix. Sanctuary Soils definitely caught my eye, because I liked their art. They are a California based company and produce more organic worm casting than anyone in North America! They use classic techniques to achieve the soil quality they desire. Like the Dutchman Ultra Premium Expanded Coco-Coir  'is produced under RHP style Dutch process to ensure quality and consistency.'

Royal Gold Soil made me so happy with these stickers for their Turpur mix. They are the first all coco based soil company in California, based out of Humboldt county.

EB Stone Organics is a family owned company a that made it's first soil blend in San Jose, California 100 years ago. Their newest creation is their only Cannabis specific soil blend, Recipe 420-Emerald Triangle Blend. It's definitely interesting to see what convential argiculural brands step into the world of Cannabis cultivation.

Can't talk about soil without mentioning Mills X DNA Genetics Cork Soil. I first saw this at the 2016 Spannabis in Barcelona. You know what they say, mills pays the bills.

Gavita sponsored the event, along with Greenplanet Wholesale, inews, NutiLife, ProMix, Quest, Sprout, and of course Maximum Yield. It made me happy to see a few products I've worked with commercially on display. Like Grodan! They were giving out little shot glass necklaces with little clovers planted in rockwool inside. The giant cubes at their booth made me happy too.

Dosatron is also a company and product I'm familiar with. The name of the product almost explains itself. They are machines that you can adjust to 'dose' your regular water supply with your additives. It's installed into the water pipes and sends your mix through the pipes and into your watering hose. Mostly used indoors, which is just what I'm guessing, for grows without reservoirs to mix in and water from. It was really cool to see this clear one at the show and see how it all works inside!

Hustle Butter Deluxe is a vegan, non petroleum based and all natural. It was originally created as a tattoo aftercare product, but has been discovered to have many uses. It's a great way to repel and remove resin from the hands and arms of trimmers and gardeners alike.

High Yield Products had their Lock Down Pads on display and they really caught my attention. After getting so many sticky fly traps caught on my arms and in my hair, it was nice to see that these pads didn't stick to you! Or leave any burning, sticky residue on your skin. 

Secret Jardin had so many different sizes of grow tents available, it really made me wish I didn't live in a tiny San Francisco studio so I could have my own secret garden. From vegetative tents, different lighting options, ventilation and even built-in trellis are all options one can use to personalize their tent as well.

I love not being able to go to any Cannabis related expo these days and not find a rosin press! Rosin Industries had a booth but unfortunately couldn't press any samples out, since the event wasn't prop 215 friendly. It just makes me happy to see a greater focus on solventless dabs. This expo really drove the idea of organic growing and sustainability home, and I appreciate that from this industry. 

Happy Cultivating!