Expert Advice on Getting the Most Out of Your Growing Media

Harvest Hero Poor Stored Potting Soil

When potting soils are not stored correctly, they lose fertility, as depicted in this picture of poor germination resulting from poorly stored soil that has lost all its nutrients. Photo: Harvest Hero

New soil and substrate mixes can undergo constant testing before they’re introduced to the market. Once growers start to use them, it’s important they do so properly, which is why the best education often comes the manufacturers themselves.

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Keep reading for insights from a range of suppliers on their best production tips.

“Do not over irrigate your production. A good media will hold moisture and doesn’t require irrigating as often.” — Bob Bollinger, CEO, ASB Greenworld

“I strongly believe that a proactive approach to soil and water testing can help avoid a lot of issues. It is definitely worth investing the time and effort. If you are only dusting off your pH/EC meter once an issue is underway, it may be too late to salvage. With routine testing, you can establish your baseline and take action way before things get out of hand.” – Pierre-Marc de Champlain, Director-Technical Services, Berger

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“Many growers tend to soak their plants, which means that the roots don’t get enough air. That’s why our best tip is a simple one: stop overwatering!” — Karoliina Moberg, Marketing Manager, Professional Growing Business Unit, Kekkila-BVB

“Focus on uniformity and consistency. Without these, it is difficult to make the right decision. A lot of variation in the media means a lot of variation in the plants. You want the ability to steer and control the substrate, so you can water at the right times.” — Phil Johnson, Business Support Manager, Grodan

“We’ve found there is no substitute for cleanliness. Clean environments produce healthy, disease-free growing conditions, which yield vibrant, robust plants. Keep spent plant debris such as dead leaves, old soil, and plant trimmings in a closed receptacle, preferably outside of the greenhouse or immediate growing environment. Always clean or disinfect cutting tools between plants. This will stop the spread of vascular diseases like wilts and blights, both bacterial and fungal.” — Eric Appelbaum, Director-Brand Engagement, Harvest Hero, a division of Dicalite Management Group

“If you want to improve the water holding capacity of your mix, increase the percent of fine particles. That extra water comes at the expense of air-filled porosity, so extra discipline is required.” — Miguel Meneses, Product Manager Substrates, Jiffy Group

“Growers need to walk their crops, observing and recording any possible problems. Clogged emitters, malfunctioning injectors, and insect/disease infestations need constant monitoring. Keeping good records on each crop and rotation allows the grower to constantly improve consistency.” — Mark Thomas, Sales Director, Klasmann-Deilmann Americas

“The best tip I would offer is to look at the individual plant varieties and the growing media you are using and use the correct water-soluble fertilizer based on the plant’s needs. A one-type-fits-all fertilizer approach is not going to give you the optimal results you will be looking for. Also, take advantage of testing services for water, fertilizer solutions, and media, so you are sure you have all the critical elements dialed in properly.” – Kris Warren, Horticultural Products Sales Executive, Masterblend

“Be sure the growing medium selected is the best for your application. It is best to try a formulation to see how it will work in your particular situation before switching an entire crop. Also, consider using growing media integrating biological active ingredients such as mycorrhizae and biofungicides. By using growing media with active ingredients, growers can also address the biological needs of plants to minimize diseases and grow better quality crops.” — Ed Bloodnick, Grower Services and Product Development Director, Premier Tech Horticulture

“The growers that struggle the most seem to be the ones that do not have data readily available to inform their decisions. In-house testing is critical; however, it is always a good idea to use a reputable lab periodically to check your in-house testing.” — Daniel Norden, Senior R&D Manager, HydraFiber

“Provide incentives for employees to take photos of any plants that don’t seem right, or any insects or diseases they may observe when working with the plants. It’s a great way to have many eyes on the crop and I have found that employees are great at finding potential problems before the grower has a chance to observe them.” — Michelle Miller, Senior Technical Specialist, Sakata Solutions

A Word on Nutrition

The fertilization done in the rooting period sets the stage for long-term health and success of your crop.

“Proper timing of the fertilizer specifically designed for starting the varieties you are growing is of the utmost importance,” says Kris Warren, Horticultural Products Sales Executive at Masterblend.

Blair Busenbark, Sales and Marketing Manager at Mycorrhizal Applications, also points out the value of mycorrhizae, which works with the plant to expand the absorptive area.

“The mycorrhizal hyphae are in fact better than roots at absorption,” Busenbark says. “Nutrient and water can be absorbed along the entire length of the hyphae compared with just the tip for roots and root hairs. On top of that, mineral nutrient uptake through hyphae can come from both the soluble and insoluble pool of nutrients.”

One of the more valued traits of mycorrhizae, Busenbark say, is their ability to find and modify nutrients found in the soil and transform them into a form the plant can use.

“A good example of this is when you apply an ammonium-based fertilizer, and the mycorrhizae transforms it into a nitrate form the plant can readily use,” Busenbark says. “Mycorrhizae also can transform low availability organic nutrients into forms the plant can use.”

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