As you no doubt know, substrate is sensitive to compaction. Of course you already take this into account when you order a new medium, but are you aware of what else influences substrate compaction and consumption?

Consciously hoard
Proper potting forms the basis of successful cultivation and is more than just controlling consumption and costs. Proper hoarding can lead to significant yield improvements and cost efficiency. The potting method influences the air content of the substrate, and thus also the moisture characteristics of the substrate medium. The way in which you pot up can therefore influence the physical and chemical properties of the substrate and thus influence the growth and development of the plant. When using a coated fertilizer, it is therefore certainly worthwhile to calculate how much fertilizer is actually in the pot, and how this relates to the supplier's advice.

Inadvertently potting too tightly can lead to cultivation problems, such as root dieback or a crop that is more susceptible to diseases. If you consciously hoard, you can avoid these kinds of problems. The optimal growing conditions contribute to a successful cultivation.

The influence of substrate raw materials
In addition to proper potting, the type of substrate and the associated choice of raw materials have a major impact on the actual consumption and compaction of the substrate.
Take, for example, a substrate with a lot of peat and wood fibre. Due to the properties of both raw materials, such a substrate will be relatively sensitive to compaction. In consultation with your Lensli account manager, you can select raw materials that reduce this effect and therefore ensure less compaction. The addition of bark fractions, perlite, pumice stone, rice husk or coconut products can have a beneficial effect on consumption during potting and ensure that your crop can grow healthier and stronger.

The effect of the potting machine

It is always advisable to take a closer look at the potting machine you use, and therefore the processing of the substrate, when changing the substrate. The effect of readjusting the potting machine to achieve the desired density is often underestimated. Ask yourself the questions “How is your machine set up?” and "How much potting soil is in a pot? "

When potting, a number of properties of the substrate in the pot are determined. The firmness of potting, for example, strongly determines the way in which the root ball retains water and admits air. Once the jar is filled, it cannot be changed. It is therefore important that you determine in advance with what density you will pot, so that you can choose a suitable substrate for an optimal cultivation result. Hoarding on feeling is a thing of the past. Measuring is knowing! The packaging used, the loosening of the substrate and the addition of water in the hopper can also have a major influence on the final substrate consumption.

RHP Calculation Sheet Potting
Without insight, (expensive) mistakes are often made during hoarding. The RHP Foundation has developed a measuring method to check whether the substrate is not pressed too loosely, but above all not too tightly. To determine this, RHP developed the calculation sheet 'potting'. You can download this via this direct link at RHP: download files – RHP

Once you have measured the density that is achieved after potting, you can also use this insight very well as soon as a substrate adjustment or change takes place. By comparing the data of the old situation with that of the new substrate, very useful insights generally emerge, with which better cultivation results and more efficiency can be achieved.

Look here to see an example of the effect of good potting and loss in poinsettias. (Source RHP)

Want to know more about volume, potting behavior or the European method to indicate the volume of raw materials (EN)? Please contact your Lensli account manager or our Technical Product Manager Substrates Nick Vollmer, via email n.vollmer@lensli.com or telephone +31 (6) 51269415.

Our team of dedicated, enthusiastic specialists is happy to help!

Team Lenslic