1 / 20

Growing Media

Growing Media . Why soilless. Physical properties Aeration Drainage Water holding capacity Support Chemical properties. Media Mix. Annuals Fafard 3B, Pro-Gro GPX, Pro-Mix BX Foliage & Hanging Baskets Fafard 3B, Metro 400, Pro-Mix BX Seedling

ismet
Télécharger la présentation

Growing Media

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Growing Media

  2. Why soilless • Physical properties • Aeration • Drainage • Water holding capacity • Support • Chemical properties

  3. Media Mix • Annuals • Fafard 3B, Pro-Gro GPX, Pro-Mix BX • Foliage & Hanging Baskets • Fafard 3B, Metro 400, Pro-Mix BX • Seedling • Redi Earth, Fafard Fine Plug Mix, Premier Germination Mix • Rooted Cuttings • Metro 360, Fafard #2, Pro-Gro 200

  4. Deficiency Crop Yield Visible Deficiency Symptoms Seen Nutrient Level

  5. Adequacy 95% Crop Yield Nutrient Level

  6. Excess Crop Yield Post-mortem! Nutrient Level

  7. Media Samples ? Testing greenhouse media provides an assessment of the material to adequately provide plant nutrients and provide a good rooting environment, i.e. low salt content and adequate pH.

  8. pH Drift 8.5 8.0 7.5 7.0 6.5 6.0 5.5 5.0 4.5 Alkaline Water pH “Optimum” Range NH4+ fertilizers Time

  9. Preventing High pH (Future) • Avoid NO3- fertilizers • Acidify water from 5.8 to 5.1 • Reduce lime charge in substrate

  10. Low pH Action Steps • Stop neutralizing alkalinity in water • Switch from NH4+ to NO3- • Apply flowable limestone products: • start with 1 quart per 100 gallons • mist solution off of foliage

  11. Preventing Low pH (Future) • Avoid NH4+ fertilizers • Inject potassium bicarbonate: • start with 13.4 oz per 1,000 gal • supplies 1.0 meq/L alkalinity • supplies 39 ppm K • Increase lime charge in substrate

  12. Monitoring Your Program

  13. What is EC?

  14. Electrical Conductivity • Fertility elements come in the form of charged salts such as potassium nitrate or calcium chloride. These salts are charged and hence can transmit electricity when in a sloution with water. The more salt, the more electricity can be conducted. EC meters measure electrical current which is directly affected by salt concentration!

  15. How to Monitor • Sample plants with different requirements separately • pH: acidic vs basic • EC: high vs low • Randomly select plants • Select plants from interior of bench

  16. Monitoring: the Key ... • Have a manageable plan • Consider monitor and managing to be your insurance policy

  17. Initial EC

  18. PourThru EC’s • Crops vary in requirements • Low: 1.0 - 2.6 mS/cm • begonia, cineraria, impatiens • Moderate: 2.0 - 3.5 mS/cm • Easter lily, geranium, kale • Heavy: 2.6 - 4.6 mS/cm • chrysanthemum, poinsettia

  19. High EC Action Steps • Decrease fertilization rate • Decrease fertilization frequency • Leach

  20. Low EC Action Steps • Increase fertilization rate • Increase fertilization frequency

More Related