Pioneer Times photo/Gloria Austin
NEW TECHNIQUE — Bill McCluskey and Stephen “Bink” Porter have opened Hy-grow Organics on the North Road. The business offers organic and synthetic products to be used in growing vegetables, plants or flowers. Hy-Grow Organics specializes in hydroponics. Ready to offer advice and service to customers is McCluskey, center, with his daughters Amaya, left, and Lea.
By Gloria Austin
Staff Writer
When growing a garden — vegetable or flower — gauging temperature and irrigation are out of a person’s control. But, Bill McCluskey at Hy-Grow Organics has the perfect solution.
“When people move inside after their outside gardens are done, hydroponics is geared for [growing] inside in confined areas,” McCluskey said. “That is not to say everything we have cannot be used outside, as well.”
Hy-Grow’s fertilizers and soil amendments can be used both indoors and outdoors.
“Typically, many of the nutrients are not common around here,” explained McCluskey. “People do not realize they could be enhancing their crops by minimal use of the products we sell — organic or synthetic.”
Hy-Grow Organics is located at 355 North Road adjacent to Houlton Power Sports and operated by McCluskey and Stephen “Bink” Porter.
“We are all about organic and hydroponics indoor and outdoor growing,” McCluskey explained. “All of our soil is organic. Many of our soil amendments are organic. But, we also have non-organic nutrients as well.”
Hydroponics is a system of growing vegetation without relying on dirt. There are several mediums to choose to grow with including, the most popular clay pellets and cocoa fiber.
“Both mediums are reusable,” said McCluskey. “The clay pellets can be used forever. All you have to do is rinse them out. The cocoa fiber is just husk off coconuts. They can be reused three to five times.”
Hy-Grow has all of the equipment needed to begin cultivating with hydroponics or soil from lights, plant holders, nutrients, fertilizers, soil amendments to hydroponic kits.
HIGH QUALITY — Hy-Grow Organics carries a line of lights used for growing hydroponically. The business has a variety of sizes in stock.
“We have stocked everything to get someone started in hydroponics,” said McCluskey. “You can grow hydroponically outside, but it is usually done inside or in a greenhouse.”
Many people who just want to give hydroponics a try may start with a tabletop setting kit, which comes complete with lights, nutrients and everything needed for a success. The only ingredient to be added is the plant and a light.
Hy-Grow Organics stocks a wide variety of fertilizers and nutrients; hydro net pots; fabric pots or smart pots, ballast, reflectors from the basic lights to the more industrial and designer, as well as fans, timers, greenhouse light controllers and pH meters.
“It has been a pleasant surprise that people are growing hydroponics in the area and that others are interested in organic hydroponics,” McCluskey added.
There are benefits to hydroponics, including growing your own vegetables, which may in turn be easier on the grocery bill and unlike an outdoor garden, hydroponics can be year-round.
“People usually get a bigger yield in a shorter amount of time,” said McCluskey.
STOCKED — Hy-Grow Orgnaics has its shelves stocked with all the equipment, nutrients, soil and amendments needed to start growing hydroponically.
Growing hydroponically, a tomato or pepper plant can be grown under lights in two months or less time from its fruit or flower stage. Nearly all tomatoes are grown hydro in greenhouses for fresh consumption.
“You become Mother Nature,” said McCluskey of hydroponics. “Nationwide, it is huge.”
Hy-Grow has been open since April and McCluskey has been pleased with the volume of interest from the community.
“In the fall, we will have an expert coming to give Hydroponic 101 lessons,” he said. “We want to teach people about hydroponics. And, we will be growing [vegetation] with hydroponics in-house so people can come in and see the actual process and ask questions.”
Hy-Grow Organics is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. For more information on Hy-grow call 232-7421.
