All about growing mediums
Growing mediums play a key role in supporting the health and development of crops – everything from fruit and vegetables to flowers. And they do this by providing support and stability to the root system, absorbing and retaining water to deliver to the plant when needed, and supplying air and important nutrients. To ensure growing success, it’s vital that the optimal growing medium is selected for the crop in question.
Choosing the right growing medium for the right crops, weather, environment and stage in a plant’s life is really important for the health and success of a yield. Let’s explore each medium and its uses below.
Peat
Peat is a dense growing medium that results when organic materials – mostly sphagnum moss – partially decompose in wetland areas like bogs and swamps. The reason these materials don’t break down entirely is that air, a key element of the decomposition process, is almost completely lacking in the waterlogged conditions in which peat is formed. Peat is harvested from peatlands which cover just three percent of the total land surface of the earth and are largely located in Canada, Alaska, Northern Europe, Southeast Asia, Western Siberia, and the Amazon Basin.
The benefits of peat
Peat retains water extremely well, ensuring that the roots of the plant are sufficiently nourished. It is also sterile – it doesn’t contain any harmful microorganisms or weeds – making it the perfect choice of substrate for seeds and young plants that are vulnerable to disease.
Crops that love peat
Peat works well to support blueberries, pieris, heathers, azaleas, camellias and tomatoes
Coco peat
Coco peat or coir is a renewable growing medium that is extracted from the husk surrounding the coconut seed. It can be used on its own – typically for hydroponic applications – or added to other mediums to create customised growing environments.
The benefits of coco peat
Coco peat has excellent porosity and is often added to soil to keep it well aerated – this stimulates better root growth, which in turn leads to improved plant health and higher yields. The porosity of coco peat, together with the growing medium’s water retention capacity, ensures that over- or underwatering of the crop is avoided.
Crops that love coco peat
Coco peat is the perfect medium for a range of crops including flowers, berries, cucumbers and tomatoes.
Blends
Blends typically include a combination of peat and coco peat together with other natural materials like clay, fertiliser, and pearlite. They can be mixed in different ratios to meet the specific needs of the crop.
Crops that love blends
Blends are deal for blueberries, cannabis and raspberries.
Our suppliers
Our carefully selected manufacturers and suppliers bring us the growing mediums that have been tried and tested by expert growers and endorsed by leading agronomists.
Kekkilä Professional
We’ve teamed up with Kekkilä Professional to supply growers throughout Southern Africa with a wide selection of products for all types of plants and growing conditions.
The Kekkilä Professional range of substrates is produced using the highest quality sphagnum peat, which contains naturally occurring biological active agents, and has been developed to help growers achieve exceptional results season after season. Find out more about Kekkila Peat.
Riococo Coir
Riococo Coir was brought to market in 2004 after years of extensive testing, research and development. Today, Riococo is one of the world’s largest suppliers of coir fibre products, which originate from Kurunegala in the heart of Sri Lanka’s coconut triangle. Find out more about Riococo Coir.
Planning a greenhouse nursery project?
Vegtech Netafim has extensive experience in designing and constructing hi-tech greenhouse nurseries. If you’re planning a greenhouse nursery project and need a partner who will understand your needs – and deliver real results for your business – get in touch today.
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