What is growing medium media This presentation is

What is growing medium (media) ? This presentation is from Virginia Tech and has not been edited by Georgia Curriculum Office. • Material in which roots of plants can grow in – can be a variety of substances • Roles – provide nutrients (nutrient holding capacity) – provide water (water holding capacity) – anchor – provide air to roots (media porosity) August 2008

Different Types of Media • • • Soil Sand Perlite Vermculite Sphagnum Peat Moss Hydroponics – sand, gravel, or bag culture August 2008

Why can’t you just use it? • Consider what the plant’s needs are • Consider how much media is needed • Consider what type of media you are comfortable working with • Convenience? • Ensure that media is free of weed seed, disease, or residues August 2008

p. H Importance • Measures acidity or alkalinity in soil • Certain plants grow best in soils with certain p. H ranges • Influence plant health • Influence color of flowers August 2008

Soil Testing • Method of determining what and how much nutrients are in the soil • Should be done at least once every three years • p. H can be tested so that the grower can determine which plants will grow best – Lime raises p. H – sulfur lowers p. H August 2008

Importance of Fertilizers • • Any material that provides nutrients to soil Complete fertilizer - contains all three primary nutrients Elemental fertilizer - contains only individual nutrients Fertilizer application: – time – rate • Forms – liquid – solid ( granular) • Fertigation August 2008

Calculation of Media Volume • Media is always calculated on a volume basis • usually given in per cubic yard rate • Ex: how much peat and calcined clay is needed to blend a cubic yard of 2: 1 peat clay medium? August 2008