" An idealistic coconut substrate has a percentage of air between 30 and 50 percent . But then , really , there ’s not much aid paid to the dispersion of the air , " says Wim Roosen from Dutch Plantin . " every bit important is maximizing the rootable loudness . " With this in brain , the company has developed the substrate Ozone .
Assessing the coarseness of a substratum by touch and sight actually gives a misleading picture , Wim notes . " For a long prison term , we built coconut substrates from pith , chips , and fiber . All three component are produced separately , and the intermixture is composed free-base on the customer ’s preference , " he explains .
" To increase air in the substrate , a higher percentage of silicon chip was often choose . But that gives a wrong impression . Chips indeed supply a higher air pct , but at the same time , they are a difficult - to - restraint product : they are cut piece of a nut , a rather solid ware . Some water can be absorbed , but it ’s hardly bufferable or washable . Moreover , there ’s hardly any gentle wind within the chip itself , signify antecedent can scarcely grow into them . "
He clarifies that the high air percentage in mixture with many chips in the main comes from the air between the chips . " The rootable volume , which is what you call for , remains limited . " He compares it to filling a container with one large marble versus 60 little marbles . " The percentage of breeze is the same , but the distribution is much more even when you conflate in smaller pieces . "
To address this , Dutch Plantin develop the Ozone blend , which utilizes microchips : ingredient ranging from 1 to 8 millimeters . " Smaller , shorter , or thin chips make all the divergence . These microprocessor chip are easier to soften and wash . " They are mixed with coarse coconut pith and short coconut palm fibers , creating Ozone : a substrate with an fair melody percent of around 40 % , count on the percent we add . " These new micro / mini chips are not well-off to grow , but they greatly heighten uniformness and consistency , which is what agriculturalist want . "
The substratum has been sky-high obtain by British strawberry grower in recent age and is now also being used on the mainland in greenhouse , such as by Belgian tomato growers . Wim require it to quick reach solid ground in pressed grow bags for veg and strawberries in the coming age .
The demand for lighter products is also visible in the on the loose bulk section in the Netherlands , for which Dutch Plantin modernise Softfruitmix . " A similar product : coarser than coconut pith , providing more line . "
Additionally , following the same concept , a cocoanut fiber mix has been developed for potting dirt manufacturer in the Netherlands and Germany : a coarser coconut with a high per centum of air . " It ’s all about an optimal air percentage aggregate with a maximal rootable book . That ’s what ultimately results in healthy cultivation . "
The pressed cocoa palm Cartesian product were on display this week at the Macfrut in Rimini . Wim is there for the first time due to increasing interest from Italy . " We work with various hemangioma simplex and tomato growers , but also with a kiwi plant greenhouse , for deterrent example . " need for static , character coconut meat is also increasing in other Southern European body politic . " Greece , but also in Spain , for example , " he says . " So , we ’re hand out to the client . "
© FloralDaily.com/Arlette Sijmonsma
