{"id":10034,"date":"2022-07-22T10:13:16","date_gmt":"2022-07-22T15:13:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.berger.ca\/en\/?p=10034"},"modified":"2024-03-28T14:26:48","modified_gmt":"2024-03-28T19:26:48","slug":"perennials-looking-at-the-substrate-and-other-best-practices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.berger.ca\/en\/grower-resources\/hints-and-tips\/perennials-looking-at-the-substrate-and-other-best-practices\/","title":{"rendered":"Perennials \u2013 Looking at the Substrate\u2026 and Other Best Practices"},"content":{"rendered":"

Perennials \u2013 Looking at the Substrate\u2026 and Other Best Practices<\/h2>\n

Pauline Portal and Annie Girard <\/em><\/p>\n

Perennials are an important part of the floriculture market. The increased interest we have seen over the past years is linked to their longevity and general ease of care: If their basic needs are met, perennial plants provide outside arrangements with diversity and colors that come back year after year.<\/p>\n


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What to Look For<\/h3>\n

To provide healthy perennials to consumers, growers need to create an optimal environment for them to grow. This starts with a good growing media, in which the roots can have easy access to everything they need: water, nutrients, air, and physical support. Substrates with a higher particle size are preferred because they provide good porosity (air space) and drainage, allowing oxygen to rapidly return to the growing media, thus preventing the soil from becoming waterlogged.<\/p>\n

Drainage is especially critical for perennials, as they are often grown outside and may be exposed to heavy rain and unpredictable weather. This is also the reason heavy components such as bark and even sand are often included in the substrate of outdoor productions: They ballast containers and keep them from toppling over.<\/p>\n

Traditionally, and still today, mixes with high percentages of bark (95-100%) are often used. Locally available in many areas, bark (either composted, aged, or even fresh) typically has a large particle size, excellent drainage, a high density, and a low cost. However, the soil structure these mixes create may not be optimal for plant growth.<\/p>\n

The Benefits of Peat Moss<\/h3>\n

While being an interesting material for perennial crops, bark does have several disadvantages. If used fresh, at very high percentages or if not properly aged or composted, it will tie up nitrogen, which significantly impacts plant growth and overall quality. Some of bark\u2019s characteristics also come with a downside. For instance, heavy weight means expensive shipping, and the superior drainage it offers will force growers to irrigate much more during dry spells. Moreover, excess leaching of fertilizers is not only bad for the environment, but it also hurts your bottom line.<\/p>\n

Sphagnum peat moss can be used to increase water and nutrient retention in perennial mixes. A recent trial on rudbeckia conducted by Berger highlighted the benefits of using a fraction of peat in substrates intended for perennials. Compared to a 100% bark mix, substrates with up to 60% sphagnum peat moss showed better root development, and a more abundant and greener top growth. This can be attributed to more access to water and nutrients, most notably nitrogen. Surprisingly, some of these benefits could already be seen with as low as 5% peat moss in the substrate, showing the undeniable beneficial impact of sphagnum peat moss on plant growth.<\/p>\n

Trial Highlights<\/h3>\n

Products specifically aimed at perennials market have been tested by Berger, using rudbeckia.
\nSeveral parameters were evaluated over a period of two months, including nutrient levels, density, particle size, pH, roots development, shoot dry weight, etc. Tested products:<\/p>\n

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Recipe A:<\/span><\/h4>\n