Low pH can cause serious production problems for growers. Learn steps to determining low pH in growing media, how to properly sample for accurate testing and the best options for raising growing media pH. This valuable knowledge will help growers maintain the right growing media pH for their crops to ensure reliable production results. Three… View Article
Read more about Managing Low pH in Growing Media for Reliable Crop Performance »
Most soilless growing media are composed of multiple components with distinct physical properties that fit together to form pore spaces of various sizes. Coarse particles create larger pores (macropores) that maintain air spaces and facilitate drainage, while fine particles create smaller pores (micropores) that hold available (and unavailable) water. Each component functions to meets a… View Article
Read more about Air Porosity and Water-Holding Ability of Media Components »
By Shiv K. Reddy – A recent study shows that irrigation water sources across the U.S. rarely provide sufficient sulfur for greenhouse plants. We searched our lab database, which contains analyses of water samples from all across the U.S, and created a map that represents results from the most comprehensive survey to date on sulfur… View Article
Read more about Sulfur On Tap »
By Dan Jacques and Ron Walden, Sun Gro Horticulture – The major role of a growing mix is to support the plant, while holding water and nutrients for the plant to use during growth. There are five main components commonly used in making growing media: peat moss, bark, coir, perlite and vermiculite. This article describes… View Article
Read more about Review of Major Growing Media Components »
A Q&A on trends in media mixes, with Sun Gro’s Dan Jacques, Technical Services, and Kathryn Louis, Research & Regulatory Services – What can you tell me about Sun Gro’s media mixes and components products for greenhouse growers? Sun Gro is the largest supplier of professional growing media in North America. We also are the… View Article
Read more about Trends in Media Mixes »
Silicon (Si) has been used for years in agriculture because of its many, well-documented benefits to plants. Si enters plant roots as silicic acid. Once inside the plant, it travels rapidly to active growing points, where it enters the cell walls, making them stronger. Stronger cell walls lead to stronger plants. Reported benefits of silicon… View Article
Read more about The Sun Gro Silicon Story »
Sun Gro Horticulture® is proud to introduce RESiLIENCE®, mixes enhanced with silicon. Available in select Black Gold®, Fafard®, Sunshine® and Sunshine Advanced® premium potting soils. Resilience is Sun Gro’s brand name for growing mixes enriched with beneficial silicon—a patented technology developed by the company’s own research horticulturists. These enhanced potting mixes offer IGC retailers, growers,… View Article
Read more about Boost Retail Sales with Resilience® Enhanced Mixes! »
Read everything that you need to know about horticultural silicon with this grower to Sun Gro technical specialist Q&A. Horticultural silicon is a water-soluble element that’s readily available to plants. I’ve been hearing about silicon in plants and want to discuss the subject. Isn’t silicon ubiquitous? True, silicon is the second most abundant element in… View Article
Read more about Time to Say Sí to Silicon — the Missing Element in Soilless Growing Mixes »
By Robert Steinkamp Reading fertilizer labels would be a good cure for insomnia. Most of you only dig into a fertilizer label only when the need arises and specific information is needed. Let us review what is on the label, why it is there, and the potential usefulness of the information. Most fertilizer bags are… View Article
Read more about What’s On The Fertilizer Label »
By Robert Steinkamp Summary: Limestone is added to growing media to adjust the pH to a desirable level, however other factors influence medium pH while a plant is growing—namely water quality and fertilizer usage. When considering a fertilizer’s influence on pH, a given material’s acid or basic reaction must be known. With water soluble fertilizer,… View Article
Read more about Fertilizer Changes Growing Mix pH »
