Grodan has developed a patented vermiculite-free solution for high-tech propagation of tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers. The new plugs and blocks improve the sowing process while maintaining optimal germination rates and top-performing plant quality in both the propagation and cultivation phase. These innovative, industry-first vermiculite-free products are aligned with the growing needs of propagators – and their customers – for a cleaner greenhouse environment and more homogeneous crop, without having to compromise on sowing speed, germination success and plant quality.

For decades, vermiculite has been a reliable aid in germination, protecting seeds from drying out or receiving too much light. Yet its granular nature could pose some challenges: particles disperse easily, clogging irrigation systems, filters and transplanting machines, while also creating slippery, potentially hazardous conditions on greenhouse floors.

In today’s high-tech, large-scale and increasingly automated propagation, efficiency and cleanliness are more important than ever. Grodan’s new patented vermiculite-free Funnel M plugs for tomatoes and peppers and the vermiculite-free block for cucumbers remove these barriers – delivering results equal to conventional working methods, but without the drawbacks. By removing vermiculite, propagators benefit from a cleaner and safer work environment. It also reduces time and costs linked to cleaning and maintenance, while helping ensure strong, homogeneous crop development right from the start.

Grodan’s Funnel M plugs have been designed for compatibility with most modern sowing machines, supporting quick and accurate sowing at scale. Their optimized seed holes enable easy visual checks of seed placement, while no foil cover is required after sowing – saving both time and materials.

Next to the Funnel M plug, early trials with cucumber growers confirm that the new vermiculite-free block delivers excellent plant development, with strong stem stability, robust biomass and high germination success.

The products were developed in close collaboration with Grodan’s customers. Large-scale trials with propagators have demonstrated that the transition is straightforward, low-risk and delivers immediate benefits.

Key benefits of a vermiculite-free approach:
• Less time and money spent on cleaning, maintenance and repairs: A vermiculite-free approach supports a cleaner, safer and more efficient production environment, both for propagators and high-tech growers using young plants raised from seedlings.
• Savings on labour and materials: No vermiculite means no need to cover the plugs with foil after sowing. As a result, a vermiculite-free approach saves propagators valuable time and money.
• Improved sowing process: Eliminating the need to apply vermiculite simplifies and speeds up the sowing process, improving the propagator’s efficiency.
• Equally high germination rate: Extensive trials have demonstrated no difference in germination rate between our vermiculite-free solutions and the traditional approach.
• Reduced risk of overwatering: There is no vermiculite to form clumps and ‘suffocate’ the seeds if too much water is given. Therefore, propagators using vermiculite-free plugs can be more generous in their watering strategy in the germination phase, without fear of harming the crop.
• Uniform and robust plant development: Vermiculite is difficult to spread uniformly over a batch of seeds. In contrast, vermiculite-free plugs assure propagators of a more homogeneous crop right from the start. Moreover, in trials, plants on vermiculite-free blocks have developed outstanding stem stability, improving their robustness to cope in automated setups.

For more details about Grodan’s new vermiculite-free solutions, visit our Plantop page: www.grodan.com/global/plantop