State of the Growing Media 2014

• Coir and bark are gaining popularity.
• Growing-media expenditures are dropping.
• The U.S. has surpassed Western Canada for the No. 3 spot among regional sources of peat.
• Product inconsistency is now tied with fluctuating prices as the No. 1 issue facing growers with growing mixes.
• The use of custom mixes continues to fall, while the use of standard mixes continues to rise.
• An increasing number of growers are reporting using more than six mixes, though most growers continue to use just one or two growing-media mixes.
   

These are some of the trends from this year’s State of the Growing Media report. Here we provide you with a three-year comparison: 2012 - 2014. Since peat remains the prime growing media component, let’s begin here.
 

Peat still No. 1; U.S. sources gain

“A good quality peat moss gives you good aeration and porosity,” says Brian Cantin, a grower for 35 years and now a grower adviser for Berger. It should also provide good water-holding capacity and low pH. These are the reasons why its reported usage as the prime component (more than 50 percent of a growing-medium mix) has remained steady at around 60 percent the past three years.

The matter of regional sources for the material is of note this year. While peat companies based in Eastern and Central Canada continue to secure the No. 1 and No. 2 spots, the United States, for the first time since Greenhouse Management launched its survey in 2014, now lays claim to the No. 3 spot. According to George Kuepper, 17 states, including Alaska, Florida, Michigan, and Minnesota, are producing peat.

"At one of our facilities, we’re using as many as five different mixes because we’re growing an array of different crops and we like to fine tune the soil mix to the crops, such as calla lilies, gerbera, and geranium.  However, we’re trying to pare that number down because a higher number of mixes means more room for mistakes."

— Richard Wilson, CEO, Colorama and La Verne Nurseries

Spending trend reflects U.S. economy

Regardless of its origin, this year’s survey shows a continuing decline in the money growers are spending on peat, with 90 percent of respondents spending less than $25,000, compared to 68 percent in 2012. Meanwhile, more than 76 percent report that their overall annual growing media expenses are under $25,000, compared to 43 percent in 2012.

Some of this downward trend is due to a decrease in the number of grower “establishments,” according to USDA data published by the UF/IFAS Extension. The report shows that there were more than 59,000 grower establishments in 2004; 49,215 in 2008 (17 percent decline); and just 45,565 in 2012, a 23 percent drop.

Some of the decrease is attributable to industry consolidation toward large-scale operations. When this happens, larger producers enjoy lower per-unit costs, including growing media. The same report notes that our industry is still largely comprised of small growers and that the industry demand for crops will increase in coming years as the housing market improves.

There are other factors that come into play as well, says Ed Bloodnick, product development director for Premier Tech Horticulture. “Growers grow fewer crops on speculation. In the past, this practice might account for 10 percent of a grower’s crops.” And fewer crops means less material is needed. Also, not to be missed in all of this, says Bloodnick, is the effect the California drought is having on growers and retailers/homeowners that purchase plants. Less water means less growing.

The upside, however, remains constant: Quality sells. And as growers add diversity to their crop inventories, suppliers are adding more specialty products. For Premier Tech Horticulture, this means a wider offering of products. These include growing media with bio additives for growth enhancement and disease suppression, PRO-MIX HP-CC Mycorrhizae made with chunk coir for unique air/water properties for hanging baskets and organic products such as the PRO-MIX MP Organik for producers of edible flowers, herbs and vegetables.

“It’s really all about reducing plant loss from root diseases and improving plant quality in the greenhouse,” says Bloodnick. “With that in mind, we’ve stepped up our offerings and we are providing products with unique ingredients not offered in the market.”
 

Methodology
The total sample list consisted of 8,604 Greenhouse Management subscribers. An email invitation was deployed on May 1, 2014. A follow-up email was sent on May 6, 2014, 2014, to those individuals who did not respond to the first request. This research was closed on May 12, 2014. An incentive was used. Respondents were offered a chance to be entered in a drawing for 10 $25 VISA gift cards.

"We’re using a bark substrate that we blend with a nutrient package or amend with lime or sulfur. Our biggest issue is product consistence. We’ll send out samples to  measure pH levels and we’re always checking the water movement (permeability) of the materials."

— Todd Woodfield, Manager, Abby Farms

Worth watching

• Growers using more than six growing mixes went from just 1.8 percent of survey respondents in 2013 to 6.1 percent in 2014.
• Growers using U.S. sources of peat went from just 7.8 percent of survey respondents in 2013 to 15.9 percent in 2014.
• Growers cite fluctuation prices, inconsistent product, and minimum quantity orders as their top issues when it comes to growing mixes.
• Growers continue to look for alternatives to peat, with bark, compost, coir, and rice hulls heading the list.
• Growers overall report spending less on peat and growing media.
   

"It’s really all about reducing plant loss from root diseases and improving plant quality in the greenhouse. With that in mind, we’ve stepped up our offerings and are providing products with unique ingredients not offered in the market."

— Ed Bloodnick, Product Development Director, Premier Tech Horticulture

Alternatives

When it comes to “experimenting” with alternative growing mix components, pine bark, compost, and coir – a byproduct of the coconut fiber industry –are strong top contenders. According to an Iowa State University study, researchers found that petunias and marigolds planted in a mix of 80 percent coir and 20 percent perilite grew taller and heavier.

Another trend of note: an increasing percentage of growers report using more than six mixes, leading one to conclude, when it comes to dirt, growers remain determined to provide their plants and customers with nothing but the best.

"Years ago we used bark, but we experienced problems with fluctuating pH levels. We found that we prefer the consistency of peat, so that’s all we’re using--just peat."

— Dan Crees, Owner, Crees Garden Center