FERTILPOT

What is Fertilpot?

FERTILPOT is a biodegradable cultivation pot made of wood fibre. It is used by the horticultural industry for propagation of ornamental plants, vines and trees, as well as in the domestic gardening market.

FERTILPOT provides exceptionally good plant growth characteristics. Its unique composition allows water and air to permeate into the pot, thereby assisting growth. This combined with its high mechanical strength has established the reputation and success of FERTILPOT throughout the horticulture world.

FERTILPOT is designed for those looking for faster cultivation, an excellent root system and elimination of transplant shock.

FERTILPOT also offers an original solution for growers looking for "ready to plant" products that will not be harmful to the environment.

HOW IT WORKS

Impermeable containers, such as plastic, cause deformation to the plant root system. The most common problem is coiling of roots. Roots also can gather in corners, grow upwards and become crushed in impermeable containers.

When plants are grown in a FERTILPOT, the roots quickly penetrate the pot walls. Contact with the air stops the roots from elongating, root buds start to appear and secondary roots start to develop throughout the pot. This phenomenon is known as 'aerial root pruning'. The advantages of this are two-fold.

1. A dense network of root hairs develops throughout the whole pot. In containers with impermeable walls, a few very long roots dominate the root system, reducing overall root development. This difference in quality of the root system is the main explanation for the marked difference in development between two identical plants grown in a FERTILPOT and a plastic pot.

2. When a plant grown in FERTILPOT is planted or repotted (without removing the pot), the dormant root buds set during aerial containment are immediately activated. There is no shock from transplanting. This difference is particularly marked when ground conditions are difficult (cold, drought, adverse season). Finally, as there is no deformation in the root system, the plant establishes easily and settles into the soil quickly.

FERTILPOT is easily biodegradable and transforms into organic matter. The speed at which it degrades depends on different parameters, primarily linked with the intensity of microbial activity. With spring planting in a temperate climate, only a few fragments of the wall will still be visible after a few months.

Manufacturing Process

Composition
FERTILPOT is made up of four fifths wood fibre and one fifth light peat. Apart from a very small percentage of crushed limestone, there are no other added ingredients, either as raw materials or during manufacture.

FERTILPOT does not contain any additives, chemical product residues or printing inks. This is a 100% organic product. The wood is obtained strictly from thinning out, and has very specific characteristics. Additionally, the peat is not obtained from ecologically sensitive areas.

Process
The wood is heat treated to destroy any phytotoxic compounds. Then a pulp is obtained through a mechanical process, which is conveyed to the moulding machine to form pots. The pots are then sterilised by a dryer. The entire process is very environmentally friendly.

Quality Check
A large number of checks are carried out from receival of the raw materials and throughout the manufacturing process. All measurements taken are logged in a database and can then be retrieved from the code printed on the packaging.

Characteristics
The most important characteristics of FERTILPOT are its permeability to water and its mechanical strength.

Two simple tests can be carried out to see just how much better the FERTILPOT performs. Firstly, fill the pot with water and measure the time it takes to seep throughout the pot walls. The pot empties very quickly. This is the reason why FERTILPOT does not require drainage holes on the sides.

For the second test, crush the pot by hand. It should spring back into shape and remain intact. This suppleness prevents any breakage when the plant is repotted, and is a gauge of the pot strength while the plant is growing.

Please contact Greentech for further information about FERTILPOT.