Latest Hydroponics News

Guanokalong Bat Guano now back in stock!

3CH is pleased to announce that this superb soil improver is back in all our shops. A 1kg Tub of GuanoKalong Powder retails at only £10.00

Be sure to grab some of this ever-popular product at this price before we sell out again!!!

 
Eating Tomatoes Can Help Ward off Depression!

 Harvested Hybrid F1 Tomatoes at Dartford Hydroponics Shop 

This week’s big news from Chinese scientists is that they have proven by research that eating tomatoes regularly can reduce the chances of suffering from depression by 50%!!

Researchers in China looked at the eating habits and health records of almost one thousand people over the age of 70. They discovered that the people who ate tomatoes between 2 and 6 times every week were 46% less likely to have suffered from depression than those who ate tomatoes once a week or less often.

Tomatoes ready to be picked at Dartford Hydroponics Shop

So it is a scientific fact that eating tomatoes can cure the Blues!

And what does this mean for Hydroponics growers?

It means that by growing tomatoes year-round using our Hydroponics systems, we can eat our favourite home-grown anti-depressant salad vegetable all over Christmas.

QED: Hydroponics can help beat the Christmas Blues!!!

 Rare butterfly orchid found on Bodmin Beacon

The greater butterfly orchid has greenish white coloured flowers

An orchid in decline for more than 100 years has been recorded on a nature reserve in Bodmin for the first time.

Ken Preston-Mafham, from Bodmin, discovered the greater butterfly orchid while walking around Bodmin Beacon.

The orchid has greenish white-coloured flowers with a vanilla scent that gets stronger at night to attract moths.

Cornwall Council said the discovery was "really rewarding news" and it would work to ensure the flower could breed.

In recent years, several conservation measures have been carried out on the beacon by Bodmin Town and Cornwall Council, who jointly manage the site.

Coralie Barrow, from Cornwall Council, said: "Many of Britain's orchids are threatened and good land management practices are key to reversing this worrying trend.

"To discover we have greater butterfly orchids on the Beacon is really rewarding news."

Other rare species in the area include snipe and climbing corydalis.

Our Thurrock and Waltham Abbey store are currently selling plants.

Waltham Abbey Essex grow shop are selling halloween chilli plants and Thurrock are selling herbs!

All plants currently only £1. Tesco and morrisons all sell little bags of chillies for 90p so grab your self yet another type of bargain with 3CH.

 
As some of you may have already seen some of our retail assistants and managers are sporting rather dashing tashes at the moment. This is to raise awareness for testicular cancer. Please give what you can in the pot every little helps or check this site out.

uk.movember.com

 Great news this week for all you hot-headed hydroponics chilli growers!

3CH in in the process of putting together a number of great value complete hydroponics chilli growing kits. These chilli growing starter kits are put together to suit all growing spaces and all budgets.

Check out the first 4 of these superb complete hydroponics packages...at these prices, they are sure to get your mouth watering!

Organic Chilli CFL Package - only £185!

Chilli CFL Hydroponics Starter Kit - only £210!

Classic Tent 60 Organic Chilli Grow Kit - only £240!

Chilli CFL Coco Grow Kit - only £195!

Lumatek have released a new type of bulb for use with your Lumatek dimmable ballasts and are now available at your local 3 Counties Hydroponics shop.

These bulbs are high quality and are especially designed for use with the dimmable ballast. They are for use during the flowering period and lean heavily towards the red spectrum providing your garden with lots of summer sun.

The 400w version is currently priced at £30

Key Specifications
 Bulb: TD46
 Power Voltage: 230V 50Hz
 Current (A): 4.6
 Power Factor: .88
 Rated Hours: 24000
 CCT (K): 2100
 Luminous Efficiency (lm/W): 137.5
 Luminous Flux (lm): 55000

The 600w version is currently priced at £35

Key Specifications
 Bulb: TD46
 Power Voltage: 230V 50Hz
 Current (A): 6.2
 Power Factor: .92
 Rated Hours: 24000
 CCT (K): 2100
 Luminous Efficiency (lm/W): 150
 Luminous Flux (lm): 90000

To get these superb new bulbs at a discounted prices, consider purchasing one of 3CH’s specially priced Lumatek Lighting Kits:

400w Lumatek Dimmable Euro System
600w Lumatek Dimmable Euro System

What is Vermiculite?

Vermiculite has been used in various industries for over 80 years. It is used in the construction, agricultural, horticultural, and industrial markets including hydroponics.

Vermiculite is often called worm castings but the mineralogical name given to hydrated laminar magnesium-aluminum-ironsilicate which resembles mica in appearance. Vermiculite is found in various parts of the world. Locations of the predominant commercial mines are in Australia, Brazil, China, Kenya, South Africa, USA and Zimbabwe. Vermiculite mines are surface operations where ore is separated from other minerals, and then screened or classified into several basic particle sizes. When subjected to heat vermiculite has the unusual property of exfoliating or expanding into worm-like pieces (the name vermiculite is derived from the Latin 'vermiculare' - to breed worms). This characteristic of exfoliation, the basis for commercial use of the mineral, is the result of the mechanical separation of the layers by the rapid conversion of contained water to steam.

Uses of Vermiculite

Vermiculite's many uses in hydroponics and indoor and outdoor gardening:

• Germination of seeds
• Clones and Cuttings
• Potting Mixes including Coco.

Vermiculites beneficial properties include:

• Inorganic, and sterile.
• No known toxicity or fire hazard.
• High water holding capacity.
• Non-abrasive and non-irritant.
• Absorbs excess nutrients.
• Facilitates re-wetting.
• Low alkalinity.
• High cation-exchange capacity.
• Does not deteriorate in storage (if kept dry).
• Free from disease, weeds and insects.
• Will not mould or rot.
• Good air holding capacity.
• Insulates and minimizes soil temperature fluctuations.

For further information please visit our hydroponic information page.

Now in 3CH Grow shops or online today! Westlands plant bug killer. For lasting control of a wide range of insect pests on ornamental plants. Plant Rescue Bug Killer for Ornamentals is a fast acting bug killer which offers long lasting sysetmic protection for up to 12 weeks and contains added fertiliser for healthy plant growth. This handy ready to use formulation can be applied all year round for the control of spider mites, aphids scales, white flies and thrips.

http://3ch.co.uk/plant-aid/pest-control/plant-rescue-bug-killer/prod_1134.html 

For advice on pest please visit our hydroponic information page,

3ch.co.uk/hydroponics-information/info_43.html

Thank you to all our customers who contributed to our Breakthrough for Breast Cancer Go Pink week! Our customers came out in force to support this worthy cause and so did our staff! Once all money is in we will let you know how much was raised. 

We are still selling charity plants in some of our stores and will continue to do so if popularity demands. We will be growing herbs and plants you can grow easily yourself either in the corner of your grow tent or clone tent, patio, window sill or conservatory. Buy one today. They range from £1 to £3 and will be cheaper than B&Q plants and be provided with a better start in life.

These plants have been grown using the same nutrients you use ie Hesi and Canna so if you buy one of our basil plant it would be award winning!

All profits go to the charity

Breast Cancer: The Key Facts

• Breast Cancer is the collective term for all cancers that originate in the breast tissue. Breast cancer can affect both men and women.
• Cells normally multiply in a regular, orderly fashion, but sometimes they change and begin to grow and divide in an irregular, uncontrolled way.
• These abnormal cells can form a lump or tumour in the breast. In some cases, they spread to other parts of the body.
• It is the most common cancer in the UK.
• One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer.
• Nearly 48,000 women are diagnosed every year with breast cancer.
• Around 300 men are diagnosed with breast cancer every year
• Around 1000 women die from breast cancer every month.
• The good thing is more and more women are surviving thanks to better screening and treatments. Plus awareness of the condition which is one of the great thing about the GO Pink Campaign.
• Breast Cancer Awareness: Love your breasts. Be Breast Aware.
Touch your breasts. Can you feel anything unusual?
Look for changes. Is there any change in shape or texture?
Check anything unusual with your doctor.

3 Counties are hosting Go Pink Events at all their grow shops around London and the South East. Please visit today and any donation that is received during this period will go to a great cause. Call 01727 895722 for further information and ask for Emily our hydroponics expert and charity co-ordinator.

Any online customers wishing to contribute to Breakthrough's Breast Cancer Awareness initiative can do so by adding a comment in the Customer Comments section of their order authorising 3CH to make a contribution on their behalf by deducting it from their credit/debit card.

Thanks in advance to all our customers for your generosity.

For more information on Breast Cancer Awareness visit Breakthough's website.

The staff and customers of 3 Counties hydroponics are proud to be taking part in Cancer Research UK's breast cancer awareness fundraising initiative this October.

From Monday Oct 22nd to Sun Oct 28th, all 3CH shops will be hosting pink-themed events in support of Cancer Research UK. All the dashing 3 Counties Hydroponics staff will be dressed up in pink. 

There will be a charity plant sale where we will be selling herbs, flowers, and chilli plants in store. Plants will be £1-£2 and every single penny of profit will go to Breakthrough for Breast Cancer. 

We will also be doing a week-long special offer to help raise awareness of the cause so please check back that week.

Every two minutes, someone is diagnosed with cancer. Cancer Research UK's work has saved thousands of lives, but there is still a long way to go. Their research is entirely funded by the public, so please visit 3CH and donate. Even the smallest donations are appreciated...and you may be helping to save a life.

So remember..this October, think PINK! Visit your local 3CH Grow Shop and support this great cause while grabbing your usual bargains.

Any online customers wishing to contribute to Breakthrough's Breast Cancer Awareness initiative can do so by adding a comment in the Customer Comments section of their order authorising 3CH to make a contribution on their behalf by deducting it from their credit/debit card. 

Thanks in advance to all our customers for your generosity. 

For more information on Breast Cancer Awareness visit Breakthough's website. 

Here at 3CH we are often asked by online purchasers if it is possible for them to pay via the popular Paypal method. Well, now you can!

3CH now has a presence on ebay. Our ebay name is 3ch-hydroponics. Purchase your hydroponics product from us through ebay, and you can use Paypal to make your payment. Prices are the same as on this website.

If a product listed on this site is not yet listed on ebay, give Hench T Herbie a call on 01322 273444 and he’ll get it up on ebay for you…nothing could be simpler!

3CH = The Home of Helpful Hydroponics People.

New Odour Control is now available at 3CH in the form of Pure Air Gel. It is similar to the Ona range of products, but with a wider variety of smells. It comes in four varieties: bubblegum, lemon, peppermint, pear drop and Cherry smell. Pure Air comes in 2 sizes: 1 Litre and 4 Litres.

As one customer put it "Its better my grow room smelling of Pear Drops than a man's urinal."

Lemon 4L size can be purchased here

If you are looking for a hydroponics grow tent set-up as a superb value starter kit, you have come to the right place!

These hydroponics kits are designed for both novice and experienced growers, whatever their budget. The 'budget' range is for those who want a quality hydroponics starter set-up at limited expense, while the 'deluxe' range is aimed at those who want the very best hydroponics growing products from the word go.

These are the Budget Hydroponics Starter Set-Ups:

Budget GCCT80 Hydroponics Kit - Only £350!

Budget GCCT100 Hydroponics Kit - Only £430!

Budget GCCT120 Hydroponics Kit - Only £530!

These are the Deluxe Hydroponics Starter Set-Ups:

Deluxe GCT80 Hydroponics Kit - Only £570

Deluxe GCT100 Hydroponics Kit - Only £720!

Deluxe GCT120 Hydroponics Kit - Only £750!

3CH...leading the way in hydroponics solutions and hydroponics value.