Page 2 - Griffin Gazette Issue 3 - 2018

GRIFFIN GAZETTE
vol. 35 • Issue 3 | 2018

GRIFFIN
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MORE TO SEE ONLINE
See the digital Gazette on our website Improving Water Utilization
for bonus articles on plants, technical
support and more!
All articles and material featured in this in Container Production
Gazette cannot be duplicated without
written permission. Copyright © 2018
Griffin Greenhouse Supplies, Inc.

By Fred Hulme, Ph.D., T&O Technical Service,
ICL Specialty Fertilizer
Water is critical to plant production. Not only are plants composed
of over 90% water by weight, but water maintains plant turgor and is
involved in virtually every physiological process including photosynthesis
and nutrient transport. In containers, water plays a central role in
delivering almost all production inputs to plant roots including fertilizers,
pesticides, PGRs and anything else mixed in the growing media or
applied to container surfaces. Anything that disrupts water relations in a
container will wreak havoc on crop quality.
Some weather factors such as high heat, drought or heavy rains cannot
be controlled. One of the most impactful decisions a grower can make
to prudently manage water use is to select a high-quality growing media.
The physical structure of the media (total porosity, water and air holding
capacity) will determine the potential of a mix to hold the correct amount
Cover Photo: Snackabelle Red Bell Pepper of water and air while providing adequate drainage to optimize plant
growth. Once you settle on a growing media with consistent physical
2 | GRIFFIN GAZETTE 2018