Hints and Tips

Frequently Asked Questions Guide on Wood Fiber by Brian Cantin, Senior Grower Advisor

All you need to know about pH in growing mixes The pH in soilless growing media is a crucial element for a successful production. Berger offers growing media with a buffered pH and our quality control system guarantees that this pH is within a specific range upon reception. However, certain factors must be managed properly to make sure that the pH of the media remains optimal throughout the production. Watch the video to find out how you can manage your pH!

Garden Mums: Controlling Height An essential consideration in producing mums is that the final height and shape of the plant is greatly affected by the final spacing of the plants. A crop of proportionally shaped and well mounded plants begins with adequate spacing. For fall plantings, I prefer 18- to 24-inch on-centre spacing for 8-inch diameter containers or larger. With ample spacing, adequate light and air movement can penetrate the lower canopy, providing a healthier environment and sturdier growth for a major portion of the growing period. Space the plants so that they are barely touching each other when they begin to bloom. I have found that if the plants fill in their space too soon, leaves that overlap from one plant to another signal competition for space, which can result in undesirable growth. When estimating the final height of […]

Garden Mums: Fertility Management Programs Although there are a variety of fertilizer programs that work well for garden mums, I would be remiss not to mention that fertilizer is not the exclusive answer when it comes to producing quality plants. Water management, especially in the early stages, is crucial in determining the final size, shape and quality of garden mums. It would be better to say that the desired outcome results from integrating both feed and water practises. Growing a desirable quality plant of a specific size and sturdiness requires a balance between feed and moisture conditions. Regardless of the fertilizer formulation and rate of application, stress due to dryness – particularly during the early growth period – can result in woodier stems and smaller plants of lesser quality. Keeping cuttings actively growing during the first five weeks of the […]

In 2012, Berger was the first substrate producer in North-America to introduce wood fibers into its line of professional growing media as a renewable aggregate. Find out this renewable component benefits.

Berger pays attention to every detail in order to provide high-quality products, which includes all the components that are used to produce their growing media.
Whether they are produced by Berger or supplied by a manufacturer, all these ingredients are submitted to rigorous quality control.
Numerous ingredients can be added to peat in order to create specific characteristics in growing media.

Varietal Selection Choosing the right varieties to suit your production style is always a challenge. Take the time to select the right combination of early and late finishers. Based on your previous experience growing various cultivars, you’ll be able to label each cultivar as tall-, medium- or short-growing, which will facilitate PGR applications appropriate for the vigour of the plant. Timing and Scheduling Timing and scheduling of plant production is dependent on many factors. Night temperatures, day length, planting dates as well as pinching dates should all be taken into account when planning your production schedule. This is a good time to remind yourself about the phenomenon of “heat delay”. Although beyond your control for the most part, as it is due to excessively high night temperatures, be aware that it can delay flowering beyond the expected flowering dates. Early […]

Here are the best practices that will allow Berger to perform rigorous analyses for any or all of these types of samples and get you the most representative results. Proper sample identification is very important to ensure the adequate traceability of the results.

When it comes to the things we know we should do, yet never seem to find the time, the old saying holds true: “There’s no time like the present”!
We know that a good preventive maintenance program will help avoid problems. Greenhouse owners and managers should work in close co-operation with their staff to ensure that all mechanical, electrical, plumbing and environmental control equipment have been serviced and are ready for use once spring production is in full swing.

4 Ways to Optimize Your Potting Practices A grower can get a lot of advantages from optimizing his potting practices. Berger’s products are manufactured to benefit growers, but they need to be handled properly to maximize results. The following information can help growers improve their potting practices and get the most out of Berger’s products. Proper management of the growing media before, during and after container filling is critical to maintain these attributes during production and optimize the root environment. Watch the video to find out the best potting practices!