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
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The substrate for peat free & peat reduced growing media
Fibagro Advance is a perfect base for peat free growing media as well as complementing peat for peat reduced plant production. Manufactured from FSC certified raw materials, Fibagro Advance is created from wood chips which are thermo-mechanically processed. During this process the wood chips are put through extremely high temperatures allowing unwanted substances to escape as gas, ensuring that Fibagro Advance is free of any kind of chemical or physical additive and is sterile.
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Grow, nurture, protect your future
Levington Advance has been the go to supplier for growing media for over 50 years, not only because people trust the product to provide them with the best results, but also because of the constant research and development that goes into making sure Levington remains on top of its game. 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.
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Providing a step change programme towards more sustainable raw material use
ICL Professional Horticulture’s Levington Advance Services (LAS) is designed to future-proof your business. Levington Advance Solutions is the full solutions package to grow nurture and protect professional plants, with world-leading technical advice; high quality inputs such as Osmocote; delivered alongside Levington Advance (peat based) and Levington Advance Sustain (peat free) growing media, Levington Advance Solutions is the ultimate custom mix programme. Grow ICL technical advisors will recommend the highest quality peat reduced and peat free growing media, with the highest quality substrates available, all manufactured at ICL’s growing media facility in Anan. Nurture Incorporated in to the growing media are the most technologically advanced nutrition packages available within the professional horticulture market. Protect ICL provide plant protection and health products, which can be incorporated in to the growing media to keep plants looking good throughout the growing season.
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Safe, reliable, peat free growing media
Born from years of research, development and experienced gained from years of working within the ornamental industry, ICL’s Levington Advance Sustain provides growers with the ultimate in sustainable growing media. Carefully produced for the professional growing industry ICL have a range of products that can be used as standard or as part of a custom mix programme. Tailor Made Solutions Our team of highly qualified advisers provide you with specific recommendations regarding the correct nutrition for your crops and which inputs can be added to customise your growing media mix. This is all the more essential when growing in a non-peat based growing media. Our advisers are there not only at the outset but provide advice continually throughout the growing season making sure that you maximise your crops quality and profitability.
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