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What is growing medium (media) ? This presentation is from Virginia Tech and has not been edited by Georgia Curriculum Office. Material in which roots of plants can grow in can be a variety of substances Roles provide nutrients (nutrient holding capacity)
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What is growing medium (media) ?This presentation is from Virginia Tech and has not been edited by Georgia Curriculum Office. • Material in which roots of plants can grow in • can be a variety of substances • Roles • provide nutrients (nutrient holding capacity) • provide water (water holding capacity) • anchor • provide air to roots (media porosity)
Different Types of Media • Soil • Sand • Perlite • Vermculite • Sphagnum Peat Moss • Hydroponics • sand, gravel, or bag culture
Why can’t you just use it? • Consider what the plant’s needs are • Consider how much media is needed • Consider what type of media you are comfortable working with • Convenience? • Ensure that media is free of weed seed, disease, or residues
pH Importance • Measures acidity or alkalinity in soil • Certain plants grow best in soils with certain pH ranges • Influence plant health • Influence color of flowers
Soil Testing • Method of determining what and how much nutrients are in the soil • Should be done at least once every three years • pH can be tested so that the grower can determine which plants will grow best • Lime raises pH • sulfur lowers pH
Importance of Fertilizers • Any material that provides nutrients to soil • Complete fertilizer - contains all three primary nutrients • Elemental fertilizer - contains only individual nutrients • Fertilizer application: • time • rate • Forms • liquid • solid ( granular) • Fertigation
Calculation of Media Volume • Media is always calculated on a volume basis • usually given in per cubic yard rate • Ex: how much peat and calcined clay is needed to blend a cubic yard of 2:1 peat clay medium?