Plug production is a vital initial step of many horticultural crops. Successful plug development provides the foundation for healthy, vigorous plants. By optimizing every aspect of this process—substrate selection, watering practices, and nutrient management—you can ensure uniform growth, robust root systems, and successful transplants. Here's a guide to achieving plug production excellence.
The foundation of quality plugs
The substrate is the backbone of plug production, offering structural support and delivering nutrients and water to seedlings. Choose a soilless mix that balances aeration and water retention, critical for root oxygenation and consistent hydration. Adjust substrates to the needs of specific crops, ensuring uniformity throughout the crop.
Watering practices: The substrate is the backbone of plug production, offering structural support and delivering nutrients and water to seedlings. Choose a soilless mix that balances aeration and water retention, critical for root oxygenation and consistent hydration. Adjust substrates to the needs of specific crops, ensuring uniformity throughout the crop.
Nutrient management
The choice of fertilizer impacts seedling growth rate and root health. In plug production, balanced nutrient delivery is essential to avoiding excessive elongation, nutrient deficiencies, or burning. Strategies include periodic fertilizing (applying concentrated solutions (e.g., 100–200 ppm N, depending on crop and stage) every 7–10 days), and constant feeding (providing a consistent, lower concentration of nutrients (e.g., 25-50 ppm N) at every watering. This strategy provides more stable nutrient availability, preventing spikes or deficiencies, fostering steady and predictable growth).
Avoid overdoing it. Overwatering and fertilizing can result in overly soft, leggy growth, making plants prone to diseases. Instead, maintain a balance that encourages root development and compact shoots, optimizing plants for later transplant.
pH and EC Management
Regular pH and electrical conductivity (EC) testing of irrigation water and growing media helps to ensure optimal nutrient availability. The Pour-Thru method is highly effective for plug trays, allowing for accurate measurements without disturbing seedlings. Other tools, like pH and EC pens, offer quick and easy monitoring on the spot.
Adjusting growing media pH levels within the range ideal for specific crops (typically 5.4–6.2 for most plugs) prevents nutrient lockout. Similarly, monitoring EC helps ensure nutrients are neither excessively concentrated (causing root burn) nor diluted (leading to deficiencies).
Source: Plant-Prod