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Growfoam Is Gearing Up For The Next Revolution In Controlled Environment Agriculture
The agricultural market stands on the verge of a true revolution and Growfoam is destined to pave the way for growers around the globe. Their mission? Enable growers to grow Greener, Safer and Faster
The agricultural market stands on the verge of a true revolution and Growfoam is destined to pave the way for growers around the globe. Their mission? Enable growers to grow Greener, Safer and Faster.
Rising demand for fresh & healthy vegetable crops.
With an increasing global population and rising global welfare, the fruit & vegetable market is expected to increase towards 260% in 2050, compared to current levels.
This rise in demand for fresh & healthy crops has resulted in a boom of investments towards greenhouse projects (e.g. in China and the US) and a steep rise in VC investments in AgTech Scale-ups. Such a swift market development offers the AgTech industry both a challenge, as well as an opportunity: we need to push ourselves in growing Greener, Safer and Faster.
Growfoam knows it is possible to sustainably feed a growing population. They contribute to this goal by continuously innovating their growing media and collaborate with growers around the world. This way Growfoam enables growers in cultivating their crops Greener, Safer and Faster.
Future-proof farms aim for de-risking the value chain
The horticultural industry continues to offer consumers fresh produce at increasing quality standards while maintaining efficient pricing. This trend will be further enabled by emerging technologies such as vertical farming, hydroponic cultivation, big data, and autonomous greenhouse cultivation. The next big leap for farms across the globe will be to de-risk the entire fruit & vegetable value chain.
Vertical Farms and other Controlled Environment Agriculture technologies are already enabling this by growing their produce locally near end-consumers while utilizing stable and predictable year-round cultivation methods. And it doesn’t stop at just predictable year-round cultivation, improved technologies such as automation and completely clean starting materials (e.g. clean Growfoam growing media) enable growers to further de-risk the value chain by offering traceable, pathogen-free and thus fully safe healthy greens.
These de-risked and highly efficient future-proof farms offer added value for the entire value chain by producing safer produce.
Reducing operational costs (OPEX) is key to farm success
The last major hurdle for vertical farms and hydroponic cultivation techniques is to increase production efficiency and reduce OPEX.
Although many important breakthroughs (e.g. lowered CAPEX/m2 farm, optimized growing methods, increased automation) have been realized in overcoming this hurdle, there is still much to win. One major enabler in reducing OPEX is the correct choice in growing media: most of the growing media available on the market today are less suited for vertical farms and hydroponic cultivation techniques.
Loose-fill growing media offer significant challenges in automation, increasing labor costs as well as maintenance costs. Growing media consisting of organic components such as peat and coir offer significant safety challenges by introducing potential pathogens into the farm and are destined to be banned completely over time. They increase risks of crop failure due to high variation in batch-to-batch consistency and increase logistical risk due to limited resource availability due to swift expansion of the horticulture industry.
Non-degradable growing media increase waste disposal costs when disposing of the growing media after crop cultivation. These waste disposal costs can be easily reduced and sometimes even be avoided by utilizing biodegradable alternatives such as Growfoam..
New website and brand identity
Today Growfoam unveiled its new brand identity. This premiere marks the start of a new era for Growfoam, to match the ambitious and innovative nature of the Growfoam products and signifying the evolution of the company from an innovative startup to an exponentially growing scale-up. Growfoam has created a cross-platform brand experience that is future-proof and authentic, focusing on their main client groups; vertical- and hydroponic farmers.
‘The new Growfoam brand design marks the start of great things to come,’ says Martin Tietema, CEO and one of the founding partners of Growfoam. ‘By formulating new content, sharing knowledge and with out-of-the-box solutions for growers all over the world, Growfoam is enabling a fast transformation towards a future with full circular possibilities for every vertical- or hydroponic farm. Now is the right time to make the new attitude of our brand visible to the outside world.’
The brand promise ‘grow greener, grow safer, grow faster’ can be seen and experienced in the design and production of the Growfoam products, in customer contacts, and the brand presentation as a whole.
Growfoams Chief Commercial Officer, Niels Steenvoorden, explains: ‘We have created a new global brand experience on all channels and across all touchpoints.. Our aim is to truly connect with our clients, grow with them, share knowledge and enable them to do what they do best; grow great crops.’ ‘We invite growers to contact us and join us on our journey to establishing the perfect grow zone for their crops. Enabling them in growing Greener, Safer and Faster.’
The new visual brand language will be very different from that presented by Growfoam to date. It will be bolder, more colorful and the focus will be on real-life situations and actual challenges of the controlled environment farmers.
An abstract representation of the foam bubbles they produce is incorporated in their new logo. The bold and bright colors they use are a direct link to both the RGB lights in vertical farms as well as the water used in hydroponic farms.
The strategic foundations for the new brand identity were laid by a joint team of Foamplant and JEEN, a marketing agency in Agri and food, over the last few months.
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The Top 5 Hydroponic Growing Mediums You Should Use
Hydroponics is a farming method that doesn’t require soil to grow plants or foods. Soil is not used in this form of farming
Hydroponics is a farming method that doesn’t require soil to grow plants or foods. Soil is not used in this form of farming. Other hydroponic growing mediums are used instead. This article is going to cover the five best hydroponic growing mediums to use for your garden.
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Selecting The Right Growing Medium
In this episode, Joe and Nick will discuss the right growing medium for greenhouse and indoor hydroponic farming.
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TURKEY: Vegetables Will Be Grown In The Geothermal Greenhouse Established on 60 Decares In Sivasta
The first seedlings were planted for the products to be grown in the geothermal greenhouse established on 60 decares of land in Sivasta Hot Çermik region
The first seedlings were planted for the products to be grown in the geothermal greenhouse established on 60 decares of land in Sivasta Hot Çermik region.
120 thousand tomato seedlings were planted in a 60-acre glass greenhouse, which was started to be built a year ago in the region and will be heated by geothermal water, which cost about 40 million lira. Sivas Governor Salih Ayhan, Mayor Hilmi Bilgin and former Sivas Mayor businessperson Sami Aydın Stating that Sivas has gained a great value, Ayhan said: “I congratulate our company, which has brought a very high technology and a seminal service to Sivas, for its courage,”.
I can say that it is one of the projects that excites me the most. Sivas is developing in every field, but there is a completely different development in agriculture. I can say that Sivas has gained a very good momentum in agriculture. We use Thermal not only for health tourism but also for visual and cultural purposes. This place almost added value to the region. Saying that the greenhouse will open a vision for Sivas, Bilgin thanked Sami Aydın for bringing a modern, world-class greenhouse to Sivas. The Çermik Region has been distributing healing for years. I hope Sivas will be a cluster with this greenhouse project.
Sami Aydın also said that they have accomplished a first in Sivas and implemented the thermal smart greenhouse project. Stating that he was happy to realise the first seedling planting of such a facility, Aydın said, This is the first greenhouse project in Sivas, a smart greenhouse. While hot Çermik water has been healing for health until today, it will also be healing for agriculture from now on.
In the seedling planting done in accordance with the social distance rules, the protocol members passed through the disinfectant cabin one by one and were taken to the greenhouse area.
The Top 5 Hydroponic Growing Mediums You Should Use
Hydroponics is a farming method that doesn’t require soil to grow plants or foods. Soil is not used in this form of farming. Other hydroponic growing mediums are used instead
Hydroponics is a farming method that doesn’t require soil to grow plants or foods. Soil is not used in this form of farming. Other hydroponic growing mediums are used instead. This article is going to cover the five best hydroponic growing mediums to use for your garden.
Perlite
Perlite is a volcanic rock that is exposed to high heat to turn it into a lightweight, porous medium. You can mix perlite in with other mediums or use it on its own. This porous medium is well known for its high water retention ability, and it is effective at retaining oxygen due to its porousness. The downside to perlite is that it is lightweight, which can cause it to float in high water settings like with ebb-and-flow systems. It’s better to use perlite in hydroponic systems with draining systems.
Coco Coir
Coco coir is one of the hydroponic growing mediums that has become more popular to use. Coco coir is grounded coconut husks and is a reusable medium, which helps create less waste. This medium effectively retains water to help hydrate your plants and is a great medium for beginners since it looks like soil. However, it isn’t soil and still requires nutrients and a controlled pH level.
Clay Pellets
Clay pellets are another popular hydroponic growing medium because of its porous material. A benefit of using clay pellets is that they are pH neutral, and they quickly soak up excess moisture. Clay pellets are reusable as long as you clean them between every growth cycle. It’s best to use clay pellets when you’re having issues with draining, but be careful clay pellets can drain and dry very quickly, which may dry out your roots.
Starter Plugs
Starter plugs are a newer hydroponic growing medium that is made from organic compost. This sponge medium is useful when you are growing seedlings or cloning, so you can later incorporate them into your hydroponic systems.
Rockwool
Many hydroponic growers use rockwool as their go-to medium. Rockwool is a melted rock that’s spun to create thin, long fibers, which are pressed into a cube shape. You will have to balance its pH before using it by soaking it in pH balanced water. Since it retains water so effectively, you will have to make sure it doesn’t oversaturate your plants. It’s an effective medium to use to ensure your plants get a majority of the necessary nutrients. However, it isn’t a biodegradable medium, and you do have to balance the pH before each use.
Knowing which hydroponic growing mediums to use can be a tough choice since there are so many options available. If you want to learn more about innovative farming methods, sign up for our microgreens class to learn more! Or, you can become a patron member to See Behind the Greens, where you’ll witness how food can be grown in closets, kitchen counters, living rooms, and more so you can learn how to do it too!
#hydroponicgrowingmedium #hydroponicgrowingsubstrate #bestmediatogrow #growmedia #rockwool #starterplugs #cococoir #perlite #claypellets #growingmedium #growmedium #growsubstrate
The Best Growing Mediums For Microgreens
Growing microgreens is an easy and sustainable process that you can do from the comfort of your home. You can grow all kinds of nutritious microgreens that will enhance the flavor of your foods
Growing microgreens is an easy and sustainable process that you can do from the comfort of your home. You can grow all kinds of nutritious microgreens that will enhance the flavor of your foods. These special vegetable-like plants grow from 1-3 inches and are vibrant additions to your foods. They are also jam-packed with vitamins and antioxidants. We're going to discuss the different growing mediums you can use for your microgreens.
Soil
Using soil as your growing medium is a popular and effective choice. Soil will provide you with the best yields over any other medium. We believe the Sunshine #4 by Sunshine Aggregate is the best, and the Black Gold Potting Mix is a close second. Each of these soils are extremely sterile, which is ideal for indoor growing. While these soils can cost more (about $1 per 10x20 tray), they provide the best results. But, don't worry. You can compost and sterilize your soil to re-use it for future grows.
Burlap
Burlap is another popular growing medium because it's cheap. For .25 cents a tray, you can't beat the price. It is made from the jute plant, which is used to make nets and ropes. But burlap is an incredibly difficult growing medium to use. The perfect growing conditions for burlap include 72 degrees Fahrenheit, 65% humidity, and a good micro-dose fertigation plan (fertilizer + irrigation). If you can populate these results, then you can achieve yields and results that match soil mixes.
But be mindful that this takes a lot of practice and time, which is why using burlap is better for expert growers. If you don't get the growing conditions right, then your yields will suffer. We recommend using larger seeds like Pea Shoots and Wheatgrass when using burlap. These seeds will thrive with a burlap growing medium, and you will get bountiful results.
Coco Coir
This growing medium comes from coconut fiber. It's perfect for holding in moisture and is difficult to over-water. It is cheaper than soil (about .60 cents a tray), but it's just as messy. Coco coir has a better yield average than burlap, about a 25% to 30% better average. You will find this growing medium in dehydrated blocks. When you add water, they will expand way past their original size. You can use coco coir with an ebb and flow hydroponic method.
Jute Pads
This growing medium is derived from jute fiber. It's able to transport water evenly through your microgreens and maintain a near-perfect water/air ratio. It holds in water very well, which means you'll have to feed your microgreens less. Kale and broccoli grow especially well in jute pads.
What's the Best Growing Medium?
This entirely depends on your growing intentions. What are you planning to grow and how much effort are you willing to put in? We're going to cover the main questions you should ask yourself that will help you make this decision.
Feeding Your Plants: If you want to water your plants by hand, then we recommend soil and coco coir. But if you're able to feed your plants on a timer, then go for burlap or jute pads. It can be a better option because it's cost-effective and can still get the job done.
Choosing Your Seeds: What kind of microgreens do you plan to grow? If you're growing broccoli or kale, then we recommend buying jute pads. Do you want to grow a wide variety of seeds? Then choose soil or coco coir as your growing medium.
Messy Vs. Clean: Do you hate cleaning up messes? Then it's best to steer clear of soil and coco coir. Go with jute pads since they're easy to handle and clean.
Choosing your growing medium ultimately boils down to what you're planning on growing and how much effort you want to exert. We hope this list helped you understand what kinds of growing mediums there are and how they can help you yield the best results.
We are the microgreen growing experts. We're even working with NASA to help figure out how to get microgreens safely into space for astronauts to use! We meet once a month to discuss a variety of topics about microgreens. So, keep reading our blogs and watching our informative YouTube videos. There will always be exciting news coming your way.
#growing #medium #growingmedium #growingmedia #microgreeneducation #microgreensfarmer #microgreens #microgreen #bestmediatogrow #SmartNaturals #growmedia #growmedium #growingmicrogreens
It’s Fine If You Litter This Container, Because It Just Turns Into A Plant
This concept egg carton shows that, with a little ingenuity, packaging can be regenerative instead of wasteful
07.09.19
This concept egg carton shows that, with a little ingenuity, packaging can be regenerative instead of wasteful.
When you’re ready to throw out this new type of packaging, it shouldn’t go in the recycling bin. Instead, the carton is designed to be planted in your backyard, where legume seeds embedded in the material can start to grow, improving soil health and helping the dirt sequester more carbon from the air.
“Recycling is important but costs money, time, and electricity,” says George Bosnas, the Greece-based designer who developed the concept for the Biopack. There are other problems in broken recycling systems: Occasionally, items that are picked up from recycling bins aren’t actually recycled, as in cities that struggled to adapt when China stopped importing low-quality recyclables. When they are recycled, they might be “downcycled” to a lower-grade material. While some startups work on trying to solve those problems, Bosnas saw an opportunity to bypass the recycling system completely.
[Photo: courtesy George Bosnas]
The package, conceived for a circular economy design competition, is a simple egg carton. Bosnas wanted to focus on a common item that often ends up in the trash. (In Greece, egg cartons are usually made from plastic; in the U.S., where cartons are often made from paper, someone with access to composting could compost a carton if they wanted to circumvent recycling.) The package is made from paper pulp, flour, starch, and legume seeds. After use, it’s meant to be planted in the ground and watered, and then the seeds will sprout.
[Photo: courtesy George Bosnas]
“I chose legumes because they are used as nitrogen fertilizers in nature,” says Bosnas. The plants make the soil healthier. Though Bosnas wasn’t specifically focused on climate change, his product can have an additional benefit: boosting the amount of carbon that is stored 30% more carbon in the ground. Studies suggest that legumes can store soil than other plants. On farms, proponents of “regenerative agriculture”—who plant legumes among other methods to improve soil health—argue that these techniques are an important tool in fighting climate change. Most of that work has happened on farms, but it could also happen in backyards.
It’s not clear how much this type of packaging could replace traditional alternatives, or what happens when someone doesn’t have a yard or runs out of room to plant new containers. But something like this might work for some applications, just as others, such as architect William McDonough, have talked about the concept of wrappers that could be safely littered by the side of the road to decompose. Bosnas says that he’s already in talks with potential producers. He points out that it could also be a better experience than just recycling. “Besides [being] ‘more than biodegradable,’ it’s actually fun watching plants grow from packaging,” he says.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Adele Peters is a staff writer at Fast Company who focuses on solutions to some of the world's largest problems, from climate change to homelessness. Previously, she worked with GOOD, BioLite, and the Sustainable Products and Solutions program at UC Berkeley.
Lead Photo: courtesy George Bosnas]
GP Solutions Creates New "Living Soils" For Consumers, Gardeners and Farmers
GP Solutions created a unique growth medium called "Prolific" that contains no native soil. Prolific is composed of a diverse population of beneficial bacteria and fungi, which create an ideal environment for abundant, healthy crops of all types
New Bio-Technologies Give Rise To A New Product Formulation That
Will Disrupt The $262 Billion Organic Food Market
CORONA, Calif., July 22, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- GP Solutions (GWPD), a leading developer of modular automated micro-farms, has created a category-disrupting, proprietary lineup of premium "living soils."
GP Solutions created a unique growth medium called "Prolific" that contains no native soil. Prolific is composed of a diverse population of beneficial bacteria and fungi, which create an ideal environment for abundant, healthy crops of all types.
An article in The Scientist reported, "Plants are populated by a cornucopia of diverse microorganisms," and that adding beneficial microbes in the form of a "plant probiotic" could produce healthier, more robust harvests.
A research study published by Microbial Biotechnology, confirmed that these probiotics enhance crop production.
"Plant-associated microbiomes have tremendous potential to improve plant resilience and yields in farming systems," the scientific journal reported.
GP Solutions developed this proprietary growth medium with accountability and traceability for each ingredient.
"As consumers become aware of the differences between dirty farming, which contains contaminated human and sewage waste byproducts in the soil, and clean farming, which contains a diverse beneficial microbial population that produces mineral rich crops, the demand for our living growth medium will increase exponentially," said George Natzic, President of GP Solutions.
GP Solutions will be providing Prolific to customers of GrowPod™ automated farms, as well as to the general public within the near future.
"This is not just disrupting the organic and farming industries, it is the dawning of a new era in agriculture," Natzic added.
For information, visit: www.growpodsolutions.com, or call (855) 247-8054.
ABOUT GP SOLUTIONS:
GP Solutions developed "GrowPods" – portable, modular, automated indoor micro-farms that provide optimum conditions for plant cultivation with total environmental control.
Forward-Looking Statements
This release includes predictions or information that might be considered "forward-looking" within securities laws. These statements represent Company's current judgments but are subject to uncertainties that could cause results to differ. Readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on these statements, which reflect management's opinions only as of the date of this release. The Company is not obligated to revise any statements in light of new information or events.
Connect:
Email: info@growpodsolutions.com
Website: www.growpodsolutions.com
Facebook: facebook.com/GrowPodTechnology
Twitter: @GrowPodSolution
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Use of Coco Coir To Grow Substantially Over The Next Decades
Since its introduction, over 20 years ago, coir has gained ground rapidly in North, Central and South America, as well as Asia.
With a history of only 25 years, coco is a relatively new product in the horticultural industry. Its popularity has been on a continuous rise and is expected to keep on growing over the next couple of years. “The European growing industry was very peat minded, but this has changed. Nowadays peat and coco are fully compliant raw materials being used in the production of potting soil”, Geerten van Eldik with Fibredust tells us. That’s why the company recently joined Growing Media Europe – the first coco producer to do so.
The global substrate market is always on the move. Since its introduction, over 20 years ago, coir has gained ground rapidly in North, Central and South America, as well as Asia. Making it possible for growers to start hydroponic cultivation in an affordable way, and therefore offering higher yield levels and the possibility to avoid diseases while still mono cropping, the use of coco grew alongside the use of hydroponics. In Europe, the rise of coir hasn’t been as mad, as many growers were already familiar with substrate growing when coco entered the industry.
“Currently about 12.5% of global growing media being used is coir, as researched by Wageningen UR and RHP”, Geerten continues. This percentage is expected to grow further. Wageningen UR researcher Chris Blok estimates the amount of coco being used, currently 5 million m3, might even multiply by seven over the next couple of years. With both the production and the use of peat being limited more and more, an alternative is needed. And coco could be it.” Nowadays soft fruit is changing the industry. “In America, the market for coco slabs is growing thanks to the popularity of the product in crops such as soft fruit and cannabis. In Europe, bulk is key and since peat is a complete raw material, it's of good use in this industry. The use of slabs could grow in the next couple of years, but nowadays we see coir is being used as an alternative to peat in the mix of potting soils”, Geerten explains."
FibreDust India production location Anar Coir. About 40 hectare drying and processing facilities.
Team Fibre Dust India - Anar Coir - visited by Geerten
The USA sales team
Challenges
Being a reusable product, a product of nature and an easy to use substrate, coco is favored by more and more growers. However, coco is facing challenges as well. As a product of nature, the residual product from the coconut growing industry, coir had to deal with supplying issues due to climate circumstances in production regions in India and Sri Lanka.
By spreading their production over various Indian and Sri Lankan facilities and investing in the production chain, Fibredust has been able to solve the issues and secure their supply for the future. “Drying the raw material is an important topic. We’re testing this thoroughly and are nearly there, but it’s a complicated matter: you do not want to adjust the internal quality of the material. We’re looking for the perfect way to ensure our buffering quality whilst maximizing the output and keeping an eye out on the energy costs.” In the production chain, water and transport are also of concern. “With a special system we collect a lot of rainwater, which can be used in the process. By using a reverse osmosis system, we are able to re-use the water and since the buffering process is optimised, we can buffer large amounts of peat in a short time. With investments like these we want to keep investing in the sustainability of the industry. We expect this will result in an RHP certificate in 2019 as well.”
The USA sales team
Geerten with Satheesh Rao
Coco is bought based on trust
“Coco is bought based on trust”, Geerten continues. “On the outside, you cannot see if a product is good or bad, and since the delivery time is four weeks, the problems are big when there’s something wrong with the product. That’s why to us, trust in the company is valued highly.” Certificates like SA8000 and ISO14000, ISO9001 and OMRO are examples of this – but there’s more. This year Fibredust joined Growing Media Europe, the body representing the growing media industry and known for being a rockwool-peat organization.
“The European growing industry was very peat-minded, and peat and coco were even competing, but this has changed. Peat and coco are fully compliant as raw materials being used in the production of potting soil, and the choice is for the grower to make.” With the importance of coco growing, the interests of the coco industry have grown as well. “The industry needs to be represented”, says Geerten.
For example, the import of coco material into Europe has attracted interest from the European Commission. “With coco being officially a plant waste, it was said every consignment had to be tested separately before it could be imported. With thousands of containers being imported, that would be an immense setback. Thanks to the effort made by the coco industry and the network and support of Growing Media Europe, this plan was torpedoed. We’re proud to be a part of this. Of course we’re Fibredust and are a commercial company, but the major issues of the industry concern us as well. If the industry flourishes, we flourish as well.”
For more information
FibreDust LLC
T: 860-613-0077
Hort Americas And VegBed Team Up To Offer New Microgreen Medium For Farms
Hort Americas partnering with VegBed to offer their sustainable bamboo fiber microgreen mats
NEW YORK, NY [February 12, 2019]
Hort Americas, North America’s top commercial horticultural supplier, and VegBed, the leader of innovative hydroponic growing mediums have announced today an exciting new partnership to offer microgreen farms a sustainable medium to grow with.
The agreement complements the current growing media product lineup at Hort Americas and strengthens the distribution reach of VegBed's sustainable microgreen mats. It will give farmers a new option and allow them to speed up their production process by growing their microgreens efficiently and cleanly.
VegBed Bamboo Fiber Microgreen Mat (Photo: VegBed)
The demand for soil-alternative growing mediums and more efficient growing methods have been increasing over the past few years, with Hort Americas being the premier supplier to many CEA farms.
VegBed’s microgreen mats fit industry standard 10” x 20” trays and leave no residue. The bamboo fiber is highly absorbent and 100% biodegradable, preventing trays from drying out quickly. The mats will be available on Hort Americas website on [date] and farms can take advantage of a bulk discounted rate.
Commenting on the agreement, Albert Lin, founder of VegBed said "We are thrilled to be partnering with Hort Americas to supply the industry’s growing needs for sustainable microgreen mediums. We are set to increase our presence in the growing medium space and plan to expand in 2019 with new materials and designs. The partnership with Hort Americas is a great addition for our distribution channels and will help both of our companies to continue to grow."
Chris Higgins, founder at Hort Americas adds "Hort Americas is always looking for new, innovative and sustainable products for the commercial greenhouse, vertical farm and hydroponic industries. We tested VegBed at the Big Tex Urban Farm and were very happy with the results we achieved with a product that comes from a renewable resource and is easy to dispose of. We are excited to add this to our ever growing portfolio of grower solutions."
For more information on Hort Americas and their full line of products please visit www.hortamericas.com
To learn more about VegBed growing mediums contact Albert Lin at (646)-247-1783 or email, info@vegbed.com, or visit www.vegbed.com.
About Hort Americas
Hort Americas is an innovative leader in North America’s controlled environment agriculture industry (CEA). Hort Americas strives to innovate agriculture via premium technical support, professional salesmanship, unmatched customer service and outstanding products to our customers in the United States, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.
About VegBed
VegBed provides the cleanest and easiest to use grow medium for hydroponic farms and other horticultural applications. We currently offer 3 products – foam grow cubes, bamboo fiber microgreen mats and a bamboo fiber microgreens roll.
VegBed can custom size their products for many application types – aeroponics, deep water culture, nutrient film technique, floating raft, vertical, flood & drain and many more. We work with commercial farms, hobby growers and are headquartered in New York,
How-To: Microgreen Growing
Make the right decisions while growing healthy and nutritional microgreens.
November 15, 2018
Nick Greens
Photo courtesy of CropKing
Are you interested in growing microgreens indoor year round, or for the winter months? This post will help you make the right decisions while growing healthy and nutritional microgreens. Microgreens are most commonly harvested from leafy greens such as kale, arugula, radish greens and herbs. The taste of microgreens depends on the original vegetable. Microgreens have a very strong and concentrated taste of the original vegetable. This means that cilantro microgreens will still taste of cilantro, but with a stronger taste and condensed format.
Here are your instructions:
1. Get a 10 x 20 tray or container. 10 x 20 trays are the best, but my personal favorite are those clear plastic salad containers with a lid. It’s a little harder to harvest, and you may not get ideal air flow, but the lids are nice for keeping the seeds moist while in the germination stage.
2. Get a growing medium such as bio strate, burlap or soil. Pre-moisten your growing medium by soaking in a 5 gallon bucket or a big bowl. Keep the medium soaking for a couple of hours.
3. Place the growing medium in the tray and make sure to flatten the medium with your hands.
4. Sprinkle seeds over the top of the medium. Don’t worry about spacing. You’ll be harvesting so soon that a nice little carpet is what you’re going for. For best results use a spice shaker to spread the seeds evenly.
5. Spray your seeds with a spray bottle or water lightly and then spray the inside of your humidity dome. Cover your tray with the humidity dome and place in a dark location. Covering the tray helps keeps in the moisture, and the darkness helps the seeds to germinate.
6. Remove cover after seeds sprout, which should take a few days. Remove the cover and place in front of a sunny window sill.
7. Carefully water your microgreens. The best option is to bottom water, which is setting your tray with drainage holes in a sink of water and letting the microgreens soak it up. If you top water, be careful not to flatten the tiny greens.
8. Cut your microgreens with a sharp knife, most are delicious after they develop their second set of leaves, and are about 2 inches tall.
9. Eat your microgreens! You can eat them on sandwiches, in stir fry, on pizza, in green smoothies, in salads, or as a garnish or other ingredient.
These are simple and easy instructions for growing microgreens year-round. Microgreens can be a refreshing addition to your food in winter months when fresh produce isn’t always as available as it might be in the summer. If you have any questions don’t hesitate to reach out.
What’s The Difference: Hydroponics Vs. Aquaponics Vs. Aeroponics
Three distinct systems – all vying for the top spot in the niche of alternative growing systems.
May 9, 2018
By Heather
Three distinct systems – all vying for the top spot in the niche of alternative growing systems.
What differentiates these three systems from one another? What makes them work? These are the areas that we will be tackling today.
Hydroponics vs. aquaponics vs. aeroponics – which one is the superior system?
Hydroponics
What Is It?
The principle of hydroponics is the oldest among the three because the use of soil-less setups has been around since the age of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
A hydroponics system has two main parts: the grow beds and the reservoir.
The reservoir contains the nutrient solution or the water mixed with various nutrients that plants need in order to grow successfully in the media bed. The grow beds, on the other hand, contain the media and the ‘cups’ that will hold the plants in place.
To clarify, growth media will replace soil in a hydroponics setup. There are many kinds of growth media to choose from: coconut coir, perlite, organic-polymer composites, rockwool, etc.
Among the beginning enthusiasts market, the most popular is coconut coir because it’s 100% organic, expands tremendously with water and can accommodate plants easily – with spectacular results.
Perlite, on the other hand, is hailed as a near-perfect medium for growing plants but it is particularly light, which makes it problematic for flood and drain systems as it can easily float away along with the small current of the water in the grow bed.
Organic-polymer combos/composites like Perfect Starts are becoming increasingly popular because they’re easy to use and are not deformed when germinating plants are transferred from the growth trays to the main growing beds.
And finally, we have rockwool. Rockwool is a type of reusable media as it can be sanitized with steam washing after every growing season.
Rockwool is actually melted rock spun into slabs and other shapes/sizes for the purpose of growing plants.
The main point of contention with rockwool is that it’s not very environmentally friendly and thus, it goes against the main principle of switching to a more environmentally friendly method of cultivating plants.
The type of media used in a hydroponic system is so important because it will dictate the efficiency in which plants will be able to absorb the nutrients from the solution.
One of the key problems with hydroponics is that roots sometimes succumb to low oxygen levels, which predisposes crops to premature death.
A solution that growers have found effective in dealing with poor aeration and oxygen zone issues is combining two kinds of media to get the best attributes of each one.
Our personal recommendation would be to combine 50% coconut coir with 50% perlite.
Perlite is amazing when it comes to absorbing and delivering moisture plus it also improves the overall aeration of the plant’s root area. Both are highly regarded in the hydroponics community and both are also widely available to growers everywhere.
Tip: Coconut coir can be made more effective with the addition of perlite.
Hydroponics Pros And Cons
The main advantage of hydroponics is it’s designed for long-term cultivation of almost any kind of crop.
Commercial hydroponic growers harvest hundreds of kilograms of crops easily using large rockwool slabs.
The system simply works and can be easily expanded if you want to make money off your hydroponics system.
The downside is that with the booming interest in hydroponics in recent years, the price of the chemical compounds needed to create a viable nutrient solution has been steadily rising due to the over-mining of these minerals.
Another problem with hydroponics is that it uses relatively more water because after a time the buildup of salts becomes too much for the system and water has to be replaced so as not to kill the plants.
Also, there is a need to check the electrical conductivity of the water every day to make sure that the pH of the water is just right. Fluctuations in the pH level of the water can damage plants and eventually cause a die-off.
Aquaponics
Aquaponics is a hybrid system that combines the best of aquaculture and hydroponics. System-wise, it looks like a hydroponic system, but instead of relying on a main reservoir that contains a nutrient solution, the source of nutrients will be a vat of live, swimming fish.
How does this work? When you feed fish, the fish will naturally excrete waste. The waste mixes with the water, increasing the ammonia levels.
Obviously, this waste has to be mediated and reduced, so as not to kill the fish. Normally, fish tanks are regulated by biological filters and other types of filters that neutralize ammonia and reduce the impact of feces on the fish.
In an aquaponics setup, water from the fish tank is recirculated throughout the system so that it passes through the grow beds, where crops are steadily being cultivated.
The plants absorb dissolved nutrients in the water and process ammonia, which is highly toxic to fish in increased levels.
Bacteria residing the in the roots of plants, as well as good bacteria from the gut of fish work together to establish a balanced ecosystem where both fish and plants will survive.
After about half a year, the mini-ecosystem formed by an aquaponics setup will begin to show signs of high-level, self-regulation.
This will be the time when both fish and plants will begin to truly flourish. There will be great increases in both fish yield and plant yield, and the maintenance of the system will become even easier.
Tip: Be sure to check the roots of plants for signs of rot.
Aquaponics Pros And Cons
The best thing about aquaponics is you will be essentially hitting two birds with one stone – you will be raising fish and growing crops at the same time.
Fish waste, which is something that is regulated in aquaculture, will no longer be considered a problem because it becomes a sought-after source of nutrition for the plants.
Without fish waste, plants wouldn’t have nutrients.
The plants, on the other hand, will serve as a 24/7 ammonia control center for the fish tank, reducing the ammonia load and preventing toxicity in the water.
Fish are sensitive to ammonia and even a small increase in the ammonia content in the water can cause stress, shock, and disease.
Additionally, aquaponics growers now add red worms to the grow beds to increase the efficiency of waste breakdown and subsequently, the distribution of nutrients to plants.
Red worms are first grown on soil and upon adulthood, they are then soaked/washed and then transferred to the growth bed of an aquaponics setup.
The process of breaking down physical waste into smaller particles through the digestive action of red worms is – you got it right, composting!
Yes, it is amazing to imagine that you can actually compost organic material on a grow bed, on stuff that isn’t actually soil.
But there you have it – red worms do the job quite splendidly.
In addition to helping improve the nutrient levels of the water being fed to the plants, there is another big reason why red worms are now being regularly included in aquaponics systems: e. coli.
E. coli is a common pathogen/bacteria found in fish feces. E. coli infections can bring down a full-grown, healthy adult and bring him to the hospital.
Imagine what a widespread e. coli outbreak can do to a tank full of fish, with no other place to hide from the swimming bacteria.
E. coli colonizes fish feces, so these need to be broken down more quickly to prevent an e. coli outbreak from taking over the system.
Red worms can do this perfectly because they need to eat fish feces to survive.
Is there a downside to an almost perfect system? One of the downsides of aquaponics culture is you have to be very specific with the design of the system so you won’t have to shut it down during the winter.
Obviously, you can’t move large equipment and vats indoors, unless you have a really big house (or garage) but all the same, it’s an issue since frozen water can easily kill fish and winter does the same to plants.
Another downside to the system is even if you only want to grow crops for consumption or sale, you still have to tend to your fish well enough so they don’t continually die off.
Fish care can be learned and if you are a natural hobbyist and if you don’t mind looking at another component in a system, then tending to your fish won’t be much of a problem.
Aeroponics
What is It?
Aeroponics is a variation of hydroponics, but instead of using a grow bed filled with media, the plants are instead suspended, with roots facing a sprinkler system connected to the main nutrient reservoir.
Depending on the plant and the design, aeroponics systems generally use little to no media at all.
Now, you may already be wondering – what is the point of all this?
Why not just use media like everyone else? Why do you have to install a sprinkler system that periodically sprays the roots of plants with the nutrient solution?
It all boils down to oxygen. Believe it or not, even if the roots of the plants are down there in the soil, these still need oxygenation in order to thrive.
One of the limitations of hydroponics is because the roots are also submerged in water and the media, there is often poor oxygenation, which hampers plant growth.
Aeroponics solves this problem by completely liberating the roots of the plants and allowing it to come into contact with pure air.
The results are astounding.
Crops grow two to three times their normal size and yields are simply amazing.
Root formations are also incredible. Normally, the taproot of plants only have a moderate amount of root hairs around them.
In plants grown using the aeroponics method, the roots flourish widely and the root hairs become really thick – a tangle of healthy root hairs just enjoying the exposure to oxygen.
Aeroponics Pros And Cons
As with any system, aeroponics has its own set of ups and downs. The main advantage of this system is crops grow incredibly quickly and the yields are high.
If you are after high yield and shorter growing periods, aeroponics is certainly something to think about, especially if you are already investing in equipment and space for this endeavor.
Aeroponics also uses the least amount of water over time and all excess water that isn’t used by the roots of the plants are simply drained back to the nutrient tank.
Tip: Always have backup power and an extra pump in an aeroponics setup.
The nutrient tank is checked daily, much like a conventional hydroponics system.
The pump and spray system is submerged in the water and through a simple timing mechanism, is able to deliver short mists of water to the roots of the plants.
And now for the downsides. Room air doesn’t store water, even if it’s really humid. Humidity is not enough to sustain the roots of plants at all.
Aeroponics is extremely dependent on the misting system. If something should happen to the misting system, then the plants can die easily as a result of dried up roots.
To avoid this, you have to plan ahead. The misting system needs to have backup power and you need to have a backup misting system too, in case the first one fails for some reason. This usually means having an identical pump waiting in store to replace the main once it breaks down.
The misting heads also need to be checked periodically for clogs. We recommend replacing these misting heads instead of just cleaning them to get optimum results.
Remember – your plants are at the mercy of the misting system. They’re not submerged in water and plants are like fish out of water when there’s periodic misting taking place.
Cotton Wool Mats Used To Grow Microgreens
Did you grow cress on cotton wool on your window ledge when you were at school? That is exactly the principle that Simon Macaulay followed when he first talked to Chris Moncrieff of Van Heineken Brothers (VHB) in Angmering, (now a housing development) Sussex in the late 1990s. Chris and Peter Walls, who ran the herbs business at VHB, were innovators. Simon takes up the story:
“I had recently taken over from my dad at Anglo and an old contact at M&S had told me that VHB used felt to grow cress. I took the 6 hour drive down to VHB and the lady I was due to see had forgotten I was coming. Luckily Chris is a very kind man and he took pity on me and had a chat. He was indeed growing cress on a felt but it was made from virgin materials and he liked the idea of maybe using a blend of virgin fibre offcuts - using cotton/wool and polypropylene. Growfelt was born.”
“For the first 6 years we supplied exclusively to VHB. In return they helped us to bring our factory up to food grade standard and to set in place a testing regime for Salmonella E-Coli and Listeria.”
"However in recent years we have broadened out our customer base and now offer a core of three products to meet the different needs of customers across Europe, the Middle East and the Far East for Growfelt, be it for retail presentation and appearance or water holding. We can offer rolls cut to your bench width or small pads to fit your punnet requirement."
"We are the largest manufacturer of mats for microgreens in Europe and we are never standing still."
Over to Managing Director Andy Hall: “As we expand our customer base we are constantly getting sent new challenges. A customer in the Philippines wanted a mat 10mm thick as the ambient temperature demands increased water availability for the herbs. I am regularly talking to my customer in the Middle East as he is expanding rapidly as the demand for fresh salads grown in the area.
Also we are undertaking trials to find a fully biodegradable product that meets micro and growth challenges but allows my customers to reduce their landfill costs. Not an easy one to solve but we are confident we will. We stay close to our customers, developing variants for their bespoke requirements. They are mainly small businesses like us and we try and help each other.”
For more information:
Anglo Recycling Technology
Tong Lane
Whitworth
Rochdale
Lancashire OL12 8BG
U.K.
Sandra Burdekin
+ 44 (0)1706-853513
sandra.burdekin@anglorecycling.com
http://www.growfelt.com/growing-media/
Publication date : 10/16/2018
Author:
© HortiDaily.com
A Quick Guide To Growing Plants In Coco Coir
Takeaway: Coir is commonly used in hydroponic media. Here’s a bit more about where it comes from and how to use it in your grow room.
Coco coir is a natural product made from the inner fiber of the thick husk that surrounds a coconut. It’s rot-resistant, durable, and lightweight. These characteristics perfectly serve the species, Cocos nucifera, because they help coconut trees find new habitats by allowing the giant seeds float across the sea to distant beaches.
Most imported coir comes from the southern coast of India and from nearby Sri Lanka, where it’s a byproduct of harvesting coconuts for food and fiber. Inexpensive and sold in compacted bricks, coir is used to make products like thick doormats, brushes, rope, upholstery-stuffing, and planting baskets. It is also increasingly popular as a soil amendment.
Coir has some nice advantages as a soil amendment. (In soil mixes, use up to 40 percent coir fiber.) It lasts longer, and it’s naturally free of bacteria, plant disease, fungal spores, weeds, seeds, and pathogens.
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Coir has a great water-holding capacity, too. It holds 30 percent more water and is easier to rewet than peat moss. In addition, it creates airspace and allows better drainage in formerly compacted soils. In loose, sandy soils it holds nutrients to prevent them washing out.
Coir is also slightly alkaline, with a pH of 5.8–6.8. This reduces the need to use dolomite lime to neutralize acidic soil in the garden. The pH is ideal for release of its nutrients to roots. Coir is rich in potassium and micronutrients, including iron, manganese, zinc, and copper.
The high potassium content means that a gardener could use a fertilizer lower in potassium and still get good results. The other nutrients are a bonus; kind of like adding a vitamin pill to their diet. Because the pH of coir is more neutral than that of peat, some gardeners may find that coir does not work as well for acid-loving plants, such as azaleas and blueberries.
Coir can also be far more user-friendly than peat moss or rockwool. Rockwool, which was used for insulation before the creation of fiberglass batts or rigid foams, can lead to tiny particles getting into a grower’s eyes, mouth, nose, and lungs if proper protection isn’t worn.
It also requires a lot of energy to produce and take a long time to degrade when trashed. Peat moss is healthier, but mining peat disrupts wetland bog environments. As mentioned above, coir, on the other hand, is renewable.
Before use, compressed coir bricks must be soaked in a big container as they expand five to seven times in volume. A five-kilogram block, rock hard and impossible to cut, turns into 60 liters of fiber. A knee-high bucket per block works well, and a child’s inflatable wading pool is perfect for large bales. Soak the bricks for an hour, or overnight, then pull and tease it apart. Any coir you don’t use will retain its properties for many years, so just store it in a dry place.
Of course, coir is not perfect for all growing purposes. It tends to build up salt levels over time, so try to find coir labeled as “low-salt.” Also, if substituting coir for another amendment, be aware of the differences if produces. You might also need to increase nitrogen and decrease potassium when fertilizing. Still, don’t hesitate to try coir. It’s low cost, good for the environment, and can solve some grow media issues.
Written by Barbara H. Shaw
Barbara Shaw gardens, writes, and makes junk art in Oregon. She earned degrees in zoology, physiology, and journalism, and writes about science, health, growing things, and energy management. She also delights in reading, cooking, photography, eco-travel and has visited 60 countries. Married to a sports journalist, she embraces being a grandmother.
6 Places Where Soil-Less Farming Is Revolutionizing How We Grow Food
by Greg Beach
If it seems like “hydroponic systems” are everywhere, that’s because they are. Hydroponic farming is one efficient way to grow fruits and vegetables in small spaces without the use of soil. Instead of dirt, plants grow down into water, to which farmers have added the necessary nutrients for plant growth. These are then absorbed, along with water, through a plant’s roots. Light is provided either by the sun or specially designed grow lights, with many sustainable systems powered by renewable energy sources. Aquaponic farming incorporates fish into the soil-less system, using the closed-loop nutrient cycle from fish digestion to their advantage. Some systems even feed nutrients to plants through the air! From water-less deserts to the sun-less underground, soil-less farming is offering new possibilities to feed an increasingly urban, growing global population in a more Earth-friendly way.
1. Stores
Target has collaborated with MIT to create a hydroponics garden in several of its store, offering produce directly to customers.
With consumers increasingly conscious of their environmental impact, many stores have realized that going green is good for business. Big-box store Target began a series of trials in spring 2017 in which vertical, hydroponic gardens were installed in various Target locations to provide customers with the freshest possible produce. In collaboration with MIT Media Lab and Ideo, Target designed a system that is capable of growing leafy greens and herbs with minimal water usage. The company hopes to someday branch out into other crops, such as potatoes, zucchini and beets. MIT may even offer Target use of rare heirloom tomato seeds for its project. Meanwhile, IKEA has teamed up with Denmark-based SPACE10 to design high-tech hydroponics systems in-stores and in homes.
2. Deserts
Sundrop Farms uses solar energy to desalinize water that is then fed into its hydroponics system.
In preparation for a future dominated by climate change, in which oil becomes a lesser part of the world’s energy diet, Saudi Arabia has taken several major steps to build a more sustainable system in its challenging desert region. One such move is the rethinking of many traditional farming practices, especially focused on reducing water usage. A farm in the town of Jeddah uses neither water nor soil, rooting plants in mid-air while providing their nutrients through a mist. Designed by AeroFarms, the system is the first aeroponic farm in the Middle East and hopes to someday acquire all its water needs through capturing humidity in the air.
Related: The future of food: how dry farming could save the world
If a desert farm chooses to go hydroponic, there are ways to grow without draining freshwater supplies. In arid South Australia, SunDrops Farms grows 15% of the country’s tomato crop through a solar-powered hydroponic system. To eliminate the use of precious freshwater, SunDrops sources its water from the nearby saltwater gulf, which is then desalinated through the reflected heat of the sun.
In a very different kind of desert, soil-less farming helps growers from the Arctic to Antarctica make the most of a short growing season.
3. Cities
Farm 360 grows sustainable, local food in a hydroponic system that provides local jobs.
As the global population becomes more urban, cities are investing in more local food production systems that offer economic development opportunities and reduce a city’s carbon footprint. In a warehouse on the Near East Side of Indianapolis, Farm 360 are growing vegetables on a hydroponic system that is exclusively powered by renewable energy and uses 90 percent less water than traditional farming methods. The harvest is sold in local grocery stores while the farm supports dozens of living-wage jobs to residents of the neighborhood.
In even the most isolated urban areas, soil-less farming finds a home. With its ability to receive vital supplies and support a functioning economy severely restricted by the Israeli blockade, Gaza has stepped out onto the rooftops to grow its own food. Beginning in 2010, a United Nations-funded urban agriculture program equipped over 200 female-headed households with fish tanks, equipment, and supplies to build and maintain an aquaponics growing system. This initial spark has encouraged others to create their own and to teach others of this valuable skill.
4. The Underground
Tiny mushrooms sprouting at the underground farm La Caverne.
Farming without soil can often take place beneath the soil. In Paris, Cycloponics runs La Caverne, a unique urban farm that grows mushrooms and vegetables in an underground, formerly abandoned parking garage. The farm’s hydroponics system uses special grow lights to ensure the vegetables have what they need to survive. The mushrooms grow in a special medium and, through their respiration, provide valuable CO2 for the plants to thrive. La Caverne may have found inspiration from Growing Underground, London’s first underground farm. On 2.5 acres of unused World War II-era tunnels, Growing Underground produces pea shoots, several varieties of radish, mustard, cilantro, Red Amaranth, celery, parsley, and arugula.
Related: 7 agricultural innovations that could save the world
Honorable mention: shipping container farms. Although these may be mobilized on the surface, they may as well be underground due to the closed roof of most shipping containers. The solar-powered hydroponicsLA-based Local Roots can grow the same amount of vegetables, at cost parity, with 99 percent less water than traditional farming.
5. On the Water
GreenWave grows seaweed and shellfish in an innovative design system.
Some soil-less growing operations take it a step further, leaving the ground behind entirely and opting for a farm floating on water. Barcelona-based design group Forward Thinking Architecture has proposed a progressive solution to the decreasing availability of arable land by creating floating, solar-powered farms. Using modules that measure 200 meters by 350 meters, Forward Thinking’s design allows for expansion and custom configuration of farms. Each module has three levels: a desalinization and aquaculture level at the bottom, then a hydroponic farming level, topped off by a level of solar panels and rainwater collection. The company estimates that each module would produce 8,152 tons of vegetables a year and 1,703 tons of fish annually.
Related: NexLoop unveils water management system inspired by spiders, fungi, bees and plants
Greenwave takes an alternative approach to soil-less, floating farming by combining the cultivation of shellfish and seaweed, both profitable crops that also help to clean the aquatic environment and absorb greenhouse gases. The farm requires little external input, pulls carbon dioxide from the air and water, and consumes excess nitrogen that could otherwise result in algal blooms and dead zones.
6. Your Home
Urban Leaf offers a kit to turn glass bottles into miniature, soil-less gardens.
Yes, you too could get in on the soil-less action. Whether you prefer to DIY or you’d rather something more straightforward, there are options for every style.
Lead image via Depositphotos, others via MIT OpenAg, Sundrop Farms, Esther Boston, Cycloponics, GreenWave, and Urban Leaf
VegBed Releases Update To Popular Bamboo Microgreens Mat
VegBed Increases Mat Weight And Introduces Their Growing Medium In Roll Form
The new Bamboo Fiber Microgreens Roll now offered in 10” x 400” (Photo: VegBed)
New York, NY - Sept 10, 2018
VegBed.com, the leader in innovative hydroponic growing medium, announced the released updated versions of their popular bamboo fiber microgreen mats. The company has been working closely with microgreens farmers to help design the new product.
The mat weight has been increased from 160gsm to 200gsm to allow for even more water absorption. The normal 10” x 20” mat will be able to hold about 10X’s its weight in water. The new roll option now offers the bamboo fiber with dimensions of 10” x 400”, great for large scale farms.
“I am very excited to announce Version 2 of our product as well as the option to purchase the bamboo fiber as a roll. A lot of farmers have channels and different sized trays, so we created the roll to help accommodate the custom sizing. Now, our bamboo fiber microgreens mat will be able to work with a variety of systems”, says VegBed founder Albert Lin.
VegBed has been researching and producing easy to use, clean and innovative growing mediums for the hydroponic market since 2018. The company ships worldwide
To learn more about VegBed growing mediums, future plans, or to book an interview, contact Albert Lin at (646)-247-1783 or email, info@vegbed.com, or visit the website at www.vegbed.com
About VegBed
VegBed provides the cleanest and easiest to use grow medium for hydroponic farms and other horticultural applications. We currently offer 3 products - foam grow cubes, bamboo fiber microgreen mats and a bamboo fiber microgreens roll.
VegBed can custom size their products for many application types - aeroponics, deep water culture, nutrient film technique, floating raft, vertical, flood & drain and many more. We work with commercial farms, hobby growers and are headquartered in New York, NY.
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Using A Hydroponic System Vs Growing With Soil
by Stephen Campbell
June 08, 2018
Ah, one of life’s great debates: growing with a hydroponic system or with soil, an especially difficult question to answer for your first grow.
History has given us great success using dirt as a base, and in 1953, Austin Miller referred to soil as ‘the skin of the earth’. Throughout the years, the soil community has learned a few tricks. By adding nutrients, balancing pH, and enriching soil with organic ingredients, producers have made advanced planting mixes to ensure healthy plant growth.
So why consider a hydroponic system at all if soil has come so far? Well for starters, the advantages of hydroponics include offering the grower higher plant yields and automation, which for most people, are two very powerful motivations to switch away from the past, and move into the future. Let's take a more in-depth look at the two mediums:
HYDROPONICS
In a nutshell, a complete hydroponic system is simply growing plants without soil. There are many different types of hydroponic systems, we've listed some of these techniques below.
Aeroponics - The process of growing plants in an air or mist environment, without the use of soil or aggregate medium. Plant roots hang in the air, and a mist of nutrient-rich water is sprayed onto the roots periodically.
Aquaponics - The combination of aquaculture (raising aquatic animals such as snails, fish, or prawns in tanks) and hydroponics (cultivating plants in water) in a symbiotic environment. The waste produced by aquatic animals supplies nutrients for the hydroponic plants. In turn, these plants purify the water for the animals.
Drip Irrigation - Also known as micro or localized watering, small drip emitters deliver a constant drip directly to the soil. This ensures that the soil is always moist, but not over watered.
DWC (Deep Water Culture) - A type of hydroponics system where plant roots continuously sit in a highly oxygenated water and nutrient solution. Oxygen is usually supplied using an airstone that pumps air to into the water.
Ebb & Flow - In this process, plant roots sit in a coarse growing medium for support, while a water and nutrient solution periodically flows past the roots on a set time schedule. This is similar to the ocean's rising and receding tides. This allows for the aeration of the roots, while automating the job of watering the plants by hand.
Nutrient Film Technique - This technique involves running a continuous oxygen and nutrient rich film of water over the plants roots in an enclosed space or tube.
All of these different techniques have one thing in common: they don’t need the roots to spread out in soil to absorb nutrients. Instead, they are fed a concentrated solution of oxygen and nutrients. This allows the roots to be packed into much smaller spaces.
All of these systems allow you to be creative and in control. You decide what nutrients to add, how much, and when. This control contributes to the increased speed and yield of growth you will experience.
There are additional benefits to going the hydro route. With a hydroponic system, you are using less water, as it is being recirculated to your plants and only changed out every 7-12 days. No more watching 10% of your runoff go to waste each watering. You also have a secret weapon in your battle against bugs, since eliminating soil from your operation will also eliminate certain bugs that can attack your plants.
SOIL
When it comes to soil, there are many different types and blends of soil available. So what's what?
Sand - Formed from bits of rock including limestone, quartz, granite, and shale. Drains water quickly.
Silt - Fine particles of organic material combined with sand. Very fertile, drains water well.
Muck - Primarily humus from drained swamps or bogs. Dense with little potassium.
Clay - Fine crystals formed by chemical reactions between minerals. Very poor draining.
Loam - A combination of the above. Organic loams must contain at least 20% organic matter.
Compost - Decayed organic matter. Can contain good bacteria, fungi, insects, worms, and microorganisms.
So head outside with a bucket and shovel right? Yeah, not so fast.
You should always ensure that you are buying your soil from a bag and not just getting it from outside, as store bought product has been treated to remove all of the bugs and critters that can tear-up your garden.
Soil not only provides a secure anchor for your plants and it’s roots, but it also aids in the retention and delivery of nutrients. Soil can act as a buffer for those nutrients, making it easier for the gardener to maintain a perfect nutrient balance.
One thing to watch out for is watering soil, as it can be surprisingly tricky. The number one issue new growers have is overwatering their precious plants.
New growers will try to be extremely attentive to their plants, and they normally want to get the most growth possible. This causes them to water too much and results in killing their plants. Over watering is dangerous because plant roots need to eat and breathe. Too much water logged in soil depletes oxygen, and thus the roots do not get enough oxygen to survive.
When you water your soil, it’s helpful to have some water runoff to ensure you have fully saturated your medium. Once watered, the soil needs to dry out, allowing the roots access to air before letting them drink again. It is a balance that once achieved, will produce consistent healthy results.
The Final Choice
In the end, whether you choose to use soil or hydroponics is, of course, up to you. There really is no right or wrong answer. Just weigh the pros and cons of each style and method, make a decision that works best for you, and then get growing!
Mexico: New DTS Plug-In Tray For Stone Wool Plugs
Production started
Mexico: New DTS Plug-In Tray For Stone Wool Plugs
INA Plastics designed a new tray for stone wool plugs based on the Double Tray Invention, the DTS Plug-In tray on the 60X40 cm footprint holding 240 stone wool plugs of 27 mm.
The cell design of the DTS Plug-In offers ideal air pruning and allows the fingers of robotic transplanters to pick up the plants, thus the tray works well in advanced automatic production lines and offers all the benefits of the Double Tray System: economy, hygiene, productivity, plant quality and environmental protection.
Although the cost of the DTS Plug-In tray allows it to be considered as a one-use tray, with all the benefits of this procedure, it can be reusable by reusing the bottom tray for at least three or four years, replace only the top tray in order to take all the advantages of the one-use tray at half the cost of any other alternative e.g. light EPS tray.
The new DTS Plug-In tray will be available before the end of this year and its presentation coincides with the decision of the company to start producing the DTS locally, close to the big markets. This became necessary in order to be able to cover the demand, to minimize transportation costs and to ensure the growers for the availability of the trays even in unforeseen circumstances and periods of extreme demand.
Following this commitment, the company will establish production facilities in the Guanajuato area, to service customers in Mexico, via its affiliate company, INA Insumos Agricolas SA de CV, for the sales, technical support and distribution of its products. The first stage of production operations will be the set-up with an automatic line, especially developed by Conic System, for the assembly of the DTS Plug-In tray with stone wool plugs. Conic System is in close cooperation with INA Plastics over the years and has already in the market a special automation, the Double De-stacker, for the assembly of DTS.
The aim is to establish, as of March 2019, production of the DTS Plug-In tray and other configurations DTS trays, for the Mexican and the US market.
For more information
INA Plastics SA
Jacob Tsonakis
117, Megaridos street
19300 Aspropyrgos
P.O. Box 64
Tel: +30 210 5580126
Fax: +30 210 5574731
jacob@ina-plastics.com
info@ina-plastics.com
www.ina-plastics.com
Publication date: 6/14/2018
Why Growers Choose To Grow On Coconut Fiber
Why Growers Choose To Grow On Coconut Fiber
Loco About Coco
Growing on coconut fiber is common in many countries. Other than Rockwool, reuse of the product is possible and the discarding costs are significantly lower. Moreover, many buyers of fruits and vegetables value their product being grown on a plant-based substrate and appreciate that a ‘waste product’ of coconuts is being used for the production of vegetables. But, how does this growth work? Wim van Wingerden of Botanicoir informs us on the use of coco.
Uniformity
When using coir as the substrate it is important for the slabs to contain a consistent mix. The water content of the coconut fiber mats is also very important for controlling the crop. Wim: "A mix of 70/30 is often advised. Depending on the mixing percentages the grower gets drier or wetter mats."
Botanicoir though has moved away from these figures quite some years ago already. "We do make clear which mix is available to the grower and what the possible humidity of the slabs is. The grower gets a clear description of which parts the coconut fiber mats actually consist of. Depending on the size of the parts and in what percentages they are used, the grower gets the best mat for his crops."
Washing and buffering
It is also important to wash the coconut fiber properly. If this is not done in the correct manner, too much sodium and chloride will remain in the mats. It is also possible to buffer the coconut fiber mats. Wim: "This means that when using calcium nitrate, the coconut fiber parts will contain even less of these elements. The drain water will be cleaner and almost immediately available for reuse."
More generative
For many growths, generative control is necessary for a large part of the year. For this purpose, a coconut fiber mix has been developed with the name Dry XD, Wim shows. "This mat has a beautifully open structure in which the water content (in % of the mat volume) is around 46%. Experiences with this mat have shown that control is much better and that the extra oxygen supply leads to improved root development with more root hairs."
It is also important that the coconut fiber contains as little too fine parts as possible. "This makes the water content of the material much more constant throughout the season."
Wim: "Many grower experiences show there are no disadvantages of coconut fiber from a growth point of view. Various tests and growers registration have shown that there is no difference in production between coconut fiber and other substrates."
For more information, questions, or remarks:
Wim van Wingerden
Biodegradable Growth And Seed Plug Processed Automatically
Flier Systems presents automatic Growcoon Dispenser
Biodegradable Growth And Seed Plug Processed Automatically
Flier Systems, a Dutch automation company for the horticultural industry, has expanded its assortment with the Growcoon dispenser, in which the biodegradable growth and seed plug Growcoon is automatically processed. With this expansion, Flier Systems is contributing to the rapid advancement of the seed plug that was introduced in 2015.
The entire Growcoon presentation during the GreenTech was handled by Flier Systems, Klasmann-Deilmann, and Maan. As title, they chose 'The road to optimal growth' and through various activities around GreenTech, they formalized this theme.
Optimal growth and combined techniques
'The road to optimal growth' has been chosen as a theme because the biodegradable growth and seed plug contribute to a fast, high-quality and uniform development of seedlings and optimal growth of the plant. The unique product characteristics of the Growcoon are strengthened by material and system suppliers. They integrate the Growcoon into their products to maximize the benefits of the plug. In the Growcoon stand various tray, technology and system suppliers presented the successful integration of the Growcoon into their own products.
Everything for the plant
"By using the Growcoon, crops are delivered quickly and the user achieves uniform growth. In addition, the waste in the cultivation process decreases, and production processes become more efficient. All these advantages come about at the development of the Growcoon." During this entire process, just one question is really important: what is best for the plant? "In addition to the compact binding of the root ball, the primary function of a growth and seed plug, the Growcoon creates a 100% natural nutrient medium."
For more information:
Flier Systems B.V.
info@fliersystems.nl
www.fliersystems.nl
Publication date: 6/21/2018
Riococo Expands Operations To Central Europe
Riococo Expands Operations To Central Europe
A new milestone for Riococo. The company, active in coir based growing medium, has recently expanded its operations to Central Europe. "Our new distribution office is just established in Vienna, Austria, and our staff will start to promote the Riococo products in Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary and North Italy", Shan Halamba says.
Riococo currently has clients in 52 countries, spread over all 6 continents. "We work closely with our clients and distributors to help each one achieve maximize production while reducing the inputs", Shan explains.
The company is to exhibit at the GreenTech in Amsterdam for the second time, in the technology innovations pavilion in booth 12.124. "This year we'll be not just showcasing our tried and true fresh produce growing media products, but also our fully organic product range, designed specifically for strawberries and other vegetable crops, microgreens and flowers"
At the exhibition, Riococo will bring distributors and sales teams from North America, Europe, South Africa and Russia. The company will participate in the organic route to the Organic Farmers Fair (TOFF) at the Greentech too.
For more information:
Riococo
info@riococo.com
www.riococo.com
Publication date: 6/7/2018