Professional Growing Media

With many government agencies asking growers to reduce peat and move to more ‘sustainable’ substrates, it is up to suppliers and growers to work together to produce the same high quality plants the market expects. Choosing ICL as your growing media and nutrition partner can have a host of major benefits, from the quality of raw materials and nutritional products, through to the exceptional service received from the ICL team and distributors.

It is hugely important to remember several key factors when growing in peat free and/or peat reduced growing media and this guide will help you identify the key components which ICL provide in order to keep your plants healthy and of the suitable quality for resale.

Things to remember when growing in peat reduced and peat free

• It is important to adapt irrigation to reflect the potentially lower water holding capacity of peat free substrates
• Extra nitrogen will be required to compensate for nitrogen lock up with the peat free growing medium, particularly if containing wood based products
• Peat free materials generally have a much lower buffering capacity than peat growing media, meaning nutrients are easily leached
• With peat based compost lime is used to adjust the pH of the growing media, this also provides essential calcium and magnesium. Peat free growing media requires less lime to correct the pH and consequentially provides less calcium and magnesium which will need to be supplemented in other ways.

Did you know?

It is important to use peat free materials as close to delivery as possible. Natural materials can continue to break down and create challenges the longer you hold on to them prior to potting