Blogue de Sun Gro

Restoration of Peat Bogs – Canadian Ingenuity at its Best

Peat and handMany horticulturists have little knowledge about the way that peat is harvested and even less about how peat bogs are restored after harvesting has ceased. For years the Canadian peat moss industry has supported and promoted the study of peat ecosystems and best-management procedures to restore a harvested peat bog back to a functioning peatland.  Since 1992, A little-known secret has been taking shape under the direction of Dr. Line Rochefort, the Industrial Chair for Peatland Management and founded the Peatland Ecology Research Group (PERG) at the University of Laval in Quebec, Canada. –Rick Vetanovetz
Read More in The Sun Gro’er Issue 7/1 (2012)
Leer más en The Sun Gro’er Issue 7/1 (2012) Spanish/Español

Got Fiber? A Critical Look at Using Digested Dairy Fiber

Digested dairy fiber
Digested dairy fiber looks like soilless media.

Does digested dairy fiber, a growing media product from cows, do plants good? This byproduct from dairy farms is emerging as a growing media for plants and is called by various names connecting « dairy manure + digestion or compost + fiber or solids. » The most common is « digested dairy fiber. » It also has a couple of trade names based on the way it is processed, and in some cases, in proprietary ways. –Shiv Reddy
Read More in The Sun Gro’er Issue 7/1 (2012)
Leer más en The Sun Gro’er Issue 7/1 (2012) Spanish/Español

"Dirt and Fert" for Basket Production

Potted plants in Greenhouse
Plants placed above may not receive as much attention as those below. Using CRFs may help avoid nutritional issues.

Interesting how some things don‘t change; hanging baskets are still big business! When you think about it, hanging basket culture is in a league of its own and deserves special
attention. The entire objective of growing a hanging basket crop is different than that of a pack or small pot. The objective is usually to grow big, full, overflowing plants that typically remain in the container. While the objectives for packs and small pots is to grow colorful, compact plants that are proportioned to the pot. When it comes to soilless media for hanging baskets, the initial challenges are to avoid keeping it too wet, depending on the production program employed. Thereafter, when plants are full and sized up, the major challenges are always moisture supply and weight.
–Rick Vetanovetz, Dan Jacques, Mark Thomas and Ron Walden
Read More in The Sun Gro’er Issue 7/1 (2012)
Leer más en The Sun Gro’er Issue 7/1 (2012) Spanish/Español

E Value: Find the Best Match Mix for Your Production Needs

As Technical Specialists, one of the common questions we receive is: « What is the best mix for me? » Of course everyone has unique wants and needs for a mix, but it’s our job to recommend one that will best fit a particular growing situation. We have to consider mix performance, plant nutrition, water quality, logistics and cost, then choose from the hundreds of mixes available, so we can very likely meet anyone‘s needs. But sometimes recommendations come with a bit of trepidation, especially when it comes to the mix performance issue. –Todd Cavins
Read More in The Sun Gro’er Issue 7/1 (2012)
Leer más en The Sun Gro’er Issue 7/1 (2012) Spanish/Español