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Selecting a growing media might seem like a \u201cone and done\u201d decision. But, like many aspects of horticulture, innovations in growing media are bringing a higher level of precision to the growing process. These innovations are prompting cultivators to consider whether it\u2019s time for a switch in their traditional substrate.<\/p>\n
As the essential \u201cgroundwork\u201d for cultivators\u2019 operations, growing media allows plants to develop their roots and access water, air, and nutrients. <\/p>\n
From a control perspective, the selection of medium can contribute to consistency and repeatability from plant to plant and harvest to harvest. With harvest quality and cultivating consistency in mind, here are a few questions that can help growers evaluate whether it\u2019s time to make a growing media switch in 2022.<\/p>\n
Amid historic disruptions in the supply chain and delivery delays, the origin of the growing media should be considered. <\/p>\n
No cultivator wants to delay a harvest because essential production components are stuck at a port of entry. Selecting a growing medium produced entirely in North America can help manage the risk of supply chain delays.\u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n
You\u2019ll find a wide variety of growing media available in the marketplace. Some are new to the industry, others are developed through generations of horticultural experience. <\/p>\n
Owens Corning is using its decades in horticulture to create varieties of mineral wool with different performance properties, including changing its interaction with moisture to either repel or retain water. <\/p>\n
These insights prompted the development of Hydro-Xtend water dispersion technology, which enables a precision-based approach to nutrient delivery. The system of growing medium consists of plug, block, and slab components and has a water holding capacity of 80-95%. \u00a0<\/p>\n
Material matters when it comes to nurturing a plant and defending against threats like algae and UV light infiltration. Selecting a growing media with tightly wrapped slabs can help keep nutrients and water in desired parts of the plant. <\/p>\n
Similarly, using blocks equipped with UV protection can reduce a plant\u2019s exposure to light while also guarding against algae and bacterial growth. <\/p>\n
Finally, consider the material composition. Choosing a mineral wool manufactured with at least 70% recycled content can help contribute to growers\u2019 environmental sustainability efforts.<\/p>\n
Material matters and in a volatile labor market, ease of handling is essential when working with a growing medium. There are many varieties of substrate to choose from, each with their own benefits and limitations. <\/p>\n
Mineral wool, for instance, is lightweight, quick to set up, and some providers can offer optimally-spaced precut holes to reduce the labor required to set up a room.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Some types of mineral wool can be used comprehensively with plants moving from plugs, to blocks, to slabs as they develop. If you\u2019ve been considering a switch in growing media in 2022, these questions should help you better understand your options and make an informed decision.<\/p>\n