In the first Horticulture Week Podcast for 2022, editor Matthew Appleby talks to ICL Technical Managers -  Andrew Wilson  and Sam Rivers  - returning to the hot topic of sustainable growing media.  

In this informative podcast, Sam and Andrew discuss the raw materials available to growers including Fibagro Advance woodfibre; how different components fit together to form a quality growing media mix; and outline the potential challenges relating to nutrition and water management.   

As well as technical product innovations to help overcome these challenges, Andrew provides tips on how to approach irrigation management, while Sam explains how biostimulants can help plants grown in sustainable growing media deal with biotic (living) and abiotic (environmental) stresses.    

For growers transitioning to sustainable growing media, Andrew ends by suggesting they go ‘back to basics’, approach it with an open mind, trial peat-reduced/free products and invest time in monitoring crops before upscaling production.