# Biological products in indoor gardens

- Link: https://rd2.co.nz/biological-products-in-indoor-gardens/
- Published: 2023-03-29T03:38:56+00:00
- Author: RSF Admin

Written by Donald Lester.

Biological products are beneficial living organisms sold to ou-compete detrimental
organisms. There are several good bacteria on the market that kill or out-compete
bad bacteria that thrive in water. This is particularly important in hydroponics
because bacteria thrive in water. If you can maintain a balance of good and bad 
bacteria, or establish a population of good bacteria up-front, then you can prevent
some pretty nasty bacterial diseases or even fungal diseases like the water mould
root rots Pythium and Phytophthora.

The concept of using one biological organism to fight another is called biological
control, and it is becoming more important in commercial agriculture. Biological
control is also happening in the food industry. Many types of yoghurt have beneficial
bacteria in them, known as probiotics. Many of the organisms sold for biological
control exist naturally, so why do you need to buy them? The organisms sold in the
marketplace are generally selected for their killing power, meaning you are buying
and adding a “big brother” to beef up your natural flora of organisms. And the good
part is that you can use these powerful tools in your indoor gardening program.

Arguably the most powerful beneficial bacteria is Bacillus subtilis. This bacterium
is so tough it can withstand severe pressure differentials; enough that NASA uses
this bacterium as a model organism for space research. Bacillus subtilis is well
known in the research world because not only can it out-compete other bacteria for
space and nutrients, Bacillus subtilis produces powerful enzymes and antibiotics
that it uses on competitors. Unlike fungal biological products that grow on plant
roots, Bacillus products have a small tail(s) or flagella, making them motile and
able to go on seek-and-destroy missions in your nutrient solution.

Biological products, overall, are better at preventing disease rather than curing
it. Therefore, it is important to establish a population of beneficial microorganisms
at planting time and maintain them through the growing cycle. There are several 
things you can do to stack the deck in your favour: select the proper organism, 
buy quality material, avoid temperature extremes, maintain hygienic conditions and
avoid the use of strong chemicals.

In shopping for biological products, first look for biological organisms, not extracts
of living organisms. This is an important distinction. Extracts can provide protection
for a short time, but a living organism is self-maintaining and can even grow in
strength under the right conditions. Another consideration is determining what pathogen
or detrimental organism you are trying to prevent. Hydroponics keeps the roots of
plants immersed in a liquid-growing solution. Poor hygiene and other factors can
lead to disastrous disease infections. Knowing your production history and problems
can help you out here. If you don’t know what disease is plaguing your operation,
seek help from your county extension agent or university. These professionals can
help you choose the right product to control the infection and guide you in selecting
the proper biological to use as a follow-up for maintaining a healthy growing system.

Biologicals are living organisms, so they do best in certain environmental conditions.
Use fresh products and avoid sterilizers, bactericides, fungicides and other strong
chemicals when using biologicals. The shelf life of biologicals can vary greatly,
so look for those that last 18 months to two years. Avoid using products that require
refrigeration; you don’t know if they got warm and degraded before you bought them.
Also, be sure the label has a guaranteed analysis, meaning a count of the organisms
is actually listed so you know what you are getting. Avoid products with more than
three living organisms; more organisms mean fewer of each and possibly a weak product.
And continue adding the product as the label indicates to maintain high levels of
beneficial organisms.

Biological products typically come as liquid or powders and are quite easy to use.
One of the big advantages to using biologicals is that they are completely safe 
for people, pets, children, houseplants and the environment. You can literally apply
these things with your bare hands and have no fear of hurting yourself. Moreover,
biologicals have no re-entry limits, no harvest intervals to worry about and no 
toxic residues.

With the marketplace moving toward organically grown foods, public demand for chemical-
free foods, safety and liability issues associated with conventional products and
the high cost of conventional product registrations, the future of plant pest control
is biological. Consider putting biological products to work in your indoor garden
today.

To view the original paper,[** click here. **](https://rd2.co.nz/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Pub-56-Biological-Products-in-Indoor-Gardens-Maximum-Yield-Canada-5-2009.pdf)