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A young plant’s chances of survival depend on a number of things, but a good growing medium sets the foundation. A high-quality growing medium mixed with the right fertilizer gives both the plant and the grower exactly what they need: carefree growing.
Growing medium blends are attuned to the type of plant, the growing conditions, and the grower’s specific requirements; which is exactly the expertise of Ton Groenewegen, Advisor at growing media supplier Van Egmond.
Ton has spent his entire career working in the horticultural sector and understands the different facets of the industry: He started as a growing manager and nursery owner, afterwards he worked as an advisor at a dealer, and today he advises on (and blends) growing media. Ton: “Everything starts with the growing medium, which is something that has always fascinated me. When I worked for the dealer Vos Capelle, I already mixed growing media for customers. I excelled at that, which is how I got my current position.”
Ton mainly advises tree and ornamental horticultural nurseries in his job at Van Egmond. He visits around 20 growers per week and mixes growing media blends according to the growers' specifications and requirements. He predominantly uses Osmocote in his growing media blends. Ton:“A whole lot of plants are grown with Osmocote in the Netherlands! It gives the grower one less thing to worry about.”
Collaboration with ICL Advisors
Although Ton has many years of experience using the controlled-release fertilizers of Osmocote, the support provided by ICL’s advisors is very much appreciated. Ton: “ICL’s support is very useful, especially in the case of technical questions. We are always open to new suggestions and I like discussing these with ICL. Sharing knowledge is important.”
of Growing Media Blends
The Science behind Growing Media Blends
Osmocote’s controlled release fertilizers (CRFs) form an important ingredient for most growing media blends that Ton mixes for customers. Ton: “I start with the needs of the plant: Which fertilizer blend is the most suitable for that specific plant? Additionally, I also consider the pot sizes and the type of grower I am advising: Is it a dry or wet cultivation, does the customer irrigate using a drip hose, does he/she grow indoors or in a container field outdoors? I have to know all these things before I decide on the best blend.”
Sometimes there can be reasons to adjust the growing media blend ‘recipe'. Ton says, “In collaboration with the grower, I look at the results and whether there are any problems we need to solve. I always want to improve. Growing media starts with trust. The grower relies on us to make the right mixture of growing media and CRF. No surprises, just consistent performance. It’s crucial, and for that reason we use Osmocote in at least 90% of our blends.”
Growing media manufacturer
Getting to The Bottom
“Growing media starts with trust. The grower relies on us to make the right mixture of growing media and CRF. No surprises, just consistent performance”
EC/pH Checks on Each Batch
Van Egmond is an independent supplier and in control of sourcing its own raw materials. This has a number of advantages, including 1) knowing exactly where the raw materials come from and being able to control quality, and 2) the ability to deliver faster than competitors. On top of the quality of the raw materials, Ton also monitors the quality of the growing media by taking samples for each customer. The company has its own laboratory where the products get tested. Ton: “We take a sample from the final products of each order to check the pH and EC levels. The samples are stored for 10 weeks, so in the rare case of an inconsistency, we can quickly trace any anomalies together with the grower.But luckily this almost never happens.”
Van Egmond is an independent supplier and in control of sourcing its own raw materials. This has a number of advantages, including 1) knowing exactly where the raw materials come from and being able to control quality, and 2) the ability to deliver faster than competitors. On top of the quality of the raw materials, Ton also monitors the quality of the growing media by taking samples for each customer. The company has its own laboratory where the products get tested. Ton: “We take a sample from the final products of each order to check the pH and EC levels. The samples are stored for 10 weeks, so in the rare case of an inconsistency, we can quickly trace any anomalies together with the grower.But luckily this almost never happens.”
EC/pH Checks on Each Batch
Although Ton has many years of experience using the controlled-release fertilizers of Osmocote, the support provided by ICL’s advisors is very much appreciated. Ton: “ICL’s support is very useful, especially in the case of technical questions. We are always open to new suggestions and I like discussing these with ICL. Sharing knowledge is important.”
Collaboration with ICL Advisors
Osmocote’s controlled release fertilizers (CRFs) form an important ingredient for most growing media blends that Ton mixes for customers. Ton: “I start with the needs of the plant: Which fertilizer blend is the most suitable for that specific plant? Additionally, I also consider the pot sizes and the type of grower I am advising: Is it a dry or wet cultivation, does the customer irrigate using a drip hose, does he/she grow indoors or in a container field outdoors? I have to know all these things before I decide on the best blend.”
Sometimes there can be reasons to adjust the growing media blend ‘recipe'. Ton says, “In collaboration with the grower, I look at the results and whether there are any problems we need to solve. I always want to improve. Growing media starts with trust. The grower relies on us to make the right mixture of growing media and CRF. No surprises, just consistent performance. It’s crucial, and for that reason we use Osmocote in at least 90% of our blends.”
The Science behind Growing Media Blends
A young plant’s chances of survival depend on a number of things, but a good growing medium sets the foundation. A high-quality growing medium mixed with the right fertilizer gives both the plant and the grower exactly what they need: carefree growing.
Growing medium blends are attuned to the type of plant, the growing conditions, and the grower’s specific requirements; which is exactly the expertise of Ton Groenewegen, Advisor at growing media supplier Van Egmond.
Ton has spent his entire career working in the horticultural sector and understands the different facets of the industry: He started as a growing manager and nursery owner, afterwards he worked as an advisor at a dealer, and today he advises on (and blends) growing media. Ton: “Everything starts with the growing medium, which is something that has always fascinated me. When I worked for the dealer Vos Capelle, I already mixed growing media for customers. I excelled at that, which is how I got my current position.”
Ton mainly advises tree and ornamental horticultural nurseries in his job at Van Egmond. He visits around 20 growers per week and mixes growing media blends according to the growers' specifications and requirements. He predominantly uses Osmocote in his growing media blends. Ton:“A whole lot of plants are grown with Osmocote in the Netherlands! It gives the grower one less thing to worry about.”
of Growing Media Blends
Getting to The Bottom
Growing media manufacturer