Hydroponics Daily

Can Norway Grow Avocados? Inside the Hydroponic Experiment

Dr. Russell Sharp examines whether warm‑climate perennials like avocados can be grown economically indoors in cold countries. He reviews a Norwegian research trial using waste heat, cheap hydroelectric power, LED greenhouses, and micropropagation to produce local avocados, and discusses pollination, growth timelines, and energy costs.
The episode weighs the trade-offs between long production times and local quality/supply benefits, shares practical hydroponic lessons, and invites listeners to share unusual crops they’ve grown.
https://eutrema.co.uk/shop/fertiliser/liquid-gold-unique-complete-fertiliser/
 
Yara  
Oslo
Jonas Gahr Støre
Erna Solberg 
Jens Stoltenberg
Erling Haaland
Martin Ødegaard
Ole Gunnar Solskjær
John Arne Riise
Svalbard
Agrinos
Nobel Prize
Jo Nesbø
Edvard Munch

Fertilizer Falsehoods: The Myth of 90+ Elements in a Fertiliser

Dr. Russell Sharp exposes claims that fertilizers contain 60–90+ elements, showing many listed elements are impossible, radioactive, or toxic and explaining that plants only need a small set of essential nutrients.
He evaluates sea-mineral and rock dust products, warns listeners to question extravagant element lists, and urges asking manufacturers to provide an exact element breakdown.
https://eutrema.co.uk/shop/fertiliser/liquid-gold-unique-complete-fertiliser/
 
 
 

Larry Ellison’s $500M Hydroponic Dream: Sensai Farms’ High-Tech Failures

Dr. Russell Sharp examines Sensai Farms, Larry Ellison’s high‑profile hydroponic project in Hawaii, funded with hundreds of millions but hampered by cost overruns, design flaws, failing AI and robots, and unreliable power systems.
The episode covers how these problems drove up production costs, affected local access to affordable produce, and forced Sensai to pivot from large‑scale growing to licensing its technology, raising questions about tech solutions in agriculture.
https://eutrema.co.uk/shop/fertiliser/liquid-gold-unique-complete-fertiliser/
 
Tony Blair
Sadiq Khan
Nigel Farage
Kemi Badenoch
 

Meet 'Thriller' — The Pumpkin That Looks Like It's Ripped Open

Dr. Russell Sharp highlights the eye-catching new pumpkin variety "Thriller": a dual-purpose edible and decorative squash with orange interior and green-striped exterior, set for commercial release in 2026.
 
https://eutrema.co.uk/shop/fertiliser/liquid-gold-unique-complete-fertiliser/
 
Halloween pumpkins
Squashes and gourds
Hampton Court Flower Show
Soil Ninja
The Plant Rescuer 
Tony Le Briton
 
 

Why Is My Rhododendron Flowering in Autumn? The Truth About Precocious Blooming

Dr. Russell Sharp explains why plants like rhododendrons and other ornamentals sometimes flower in autumn — a phenomenon called precocious flowering caused by stress or unseasonal warmth. He outlines how this early bloom reduces spring displays and can ruin fruit crops.
The episode discusses implications for hydroponic and indoor growers (especially strawberries and perennial crops), the need for cold treatment in some species, and practical considerations for vertical farming and controlled environments.
https://eutrema.co.uk/shop/fertiliser/liquid-gold-unique-complete-fertiliser/
 
Azalea
Camellia
Hydrangea
Skimmia
Pieris
Skimmia
Vaccinium
Hosta
Heuchera
Astilbe
Japanese Maple Acer palmatum acer japonicum
Leonardslee Lakes
Borde Hill Garden
Sheringham Park
Botanischer Garten Bremen
Alan Titchmarsh
Chris Beardshaw
Sarah Raven
Nigel Dunnett
Joe Lamp’l
Costa Georgiadis
Peter Cundall
Kazuyuki Ishihara
Frank Ferragine
Louis Benech
Capability Brown
Gertrude Jekyll
Vita Sackville-West
Christopher Lloyd
 
Chelsea Flower Show
Roy Lancaster

Ferns in Hydroponics: From Victorian Mania to Modern Houseplant Gold

Dr. Russell Sharp explores whether ferns are a viable hydroponic crop, covering their limited edibility, high value as houseplants, and conservation concerns from historic "fern mania."
The episode explains fern biology and propagation—spores, gametophytes, divisions and micropropagation—plus humidity, foliar uptake, and practical hydroponic considerations for successful cultivation.
https://eutrema.co.uk/shop/fertiliser/liquid-gold-unique-complete-fertiliser/
 
Joe Swift
Home Grown
Marf’s Kitchen Garden
Nettles & Petals
Tales from the potting shed Adam kirtland
NPK Hydroponics
NPK Media
Kyle Kushman
Advanced Nutrients Big Mike Straumietis

Minecraft and Vertical Farms: Harvest London's Canary Wharf Operation

Dr. Russell Sharp explores Harvest London’s open, glass-walled hydroponic farm at Canary Wharf—an accessible vertical farm supplying leafy greens and microgreens to local restaurants and food stalls. The multi-tier, pesticide-free system is visible to the public, making hydroponics educational and tangible for visitors.
The episode highlights how public display boosts trust and perceived value, the site’s strict biosecurity and clean operations, and why integrating visible farms into food halls can be more effective than hidden rooftop setups.
https://eutrema.co.uk/shop/fertiliser/liquid-gold-unique-complete-fertiliser/
 
Harvest London
Canary Wharf
Canada Square
Pear Tree Kitchen
Pizza Pilgrims
Chelsea Physic Garden

Hydroponic Top Trumps

Russell introduces his hydroponics-themed Top Trumps card pack covering 32 pests, diseases and physiological issues, scored by damage, commonness, difficulty to treat and "bounce-back" ability. He outlines plans to print the cards, asks for feedback on entries, and notes podcast milestones and resources at eutrema.co.uk.
https://eutrema.co.uk/shop/fertiliser/liquid-gold-unique-complete-fertiliser/
 
Donald Trump
Melania Trump
Baron Trump
Chelsea physic garden
Kew gardens
Royal botanical gardens edinburgh
Brooklyn botanical gardens
RHS Wisley
RHS bridgewater
tender shoot garden club
Indy Rana
tender shoot garden club greenfulness

Secrets of Stomata: How Plants Balance Water and CO2

Dr. Russell Sharp explains how stomata—tiny pores on leaves controlled by guard cells—regulate gas exchange and water loss, why their opening matters for photosynthesis, and how stomatal conductance is measured and used to assess plant stress.
He also shares a simple, practical method for growers: the clear nail varnish peel technique to capture leaf impressions and view stomata under a microscope, plus notes on measuring limitations and applications for hydroponic systems.
https://eutrema.co.uk/shop/fertiliser/liquid-gold-unique-complete-fertiliser/
 
Chelsea Flower Show
Monstera
Philodendron
Autoflowers
Photoperiod
Autoflower
Alan Titchmarsh
Monty Don
Rachel De Thane
James Wong
Gardeners World
Horticulture Week
Gardeners Question Time
RHS Royal Horticultural Society
Garden Organic
Joe Swift
Soil Association 
Organic Farmers & Growers
Hampton Court Flower Show
 
 

Hardwood Cuttings: Cheap, Simple & Often Overlooked

Dr. Russell Sharp explains hardwood cuttings for deciduous woody perennials, why they’re useful in autumn and winter, and how they’re easier and cheaper than softwood cuttings. He covers methods—using sand, perlite or a heated propagator, basal heat, rooting hormone, tips for hydroponic transfers, species that root well (willow, mulberry, hydrangea, dogwood), and how to avoid problems like pythium. Practical advice for propagating and transitioning cuttings into hydroponic systems.
https://eutrema.co.uk/shop/fertiliser/liquid-gold-unique-complete-fertiliser/