The substrates are the places that serve as seating for a plant that is not cultivated in the soil. They provide the water necessary to oxygenate the roots of the crops and to achieve the appropriate development of the plant. The substrates allow a great influence to be exercised on our crops to obtain a harvest of the highest quality.

Coconut fibre:

Coconut fibre is a 100% natural support, formed by organic matter free of chemical additions, and 100% biodegradable. It has a porosity of 94.6% and its water retention capacity is 7.9 times its dry weight, i.e. 7.9 gr/ gr of dry matter, with which the water consumption is achieved. It has a pH of 6.6, with an appropriate degree of acidity, and its content in salts is very low.

For its characteristics it is used with indoor and outdoor plants, vegetable cultivations, nurseries, garden beds, golf courses, hydroponic cultivation, etc. It is a material with a high porous space content for retaining air and water. It has good drainage, a good rewetting capacity and low apparent density. It is light and easy to handle. It has a three-year average duration and, being completely biodegradable, it disappears ecologically.

Rock wool

Rock wool is prepared from the smelting of diabases at 1600 ºC, volcanic rocks that are found in nature in large quantities. The fibre structure of rock wool allows perfect conduction of the roots and good growth.

It controls the humidity and the pH of the plants assuring the quality of their fruit in each campaign. It is a natural product that acts as a perfect base for the development of cultivations of diverse fruit and vegetable varieties, as well as for the cultivation of flowers under optimum conditions. It is a chemically inert substrate, of high aeration capacity, completely free of pathogens, perfectly homogeneous and adapts perfectly to the different horticultural areas.

Pearlite:

Pearlite is an alumino-silicate obtained from volcanic rocks. The crushed mineral is treated until forming a spongy material: a particulate being obtained of 10-20 times the original size, extremely light, white in colour with a porosity of more than 95%. Also, it has a large surface area that allows it to retain water on its surface. Pearlite is used, alone or in a mixture, in substrates for soil-less cultivation, production of plants in nursery and market garden, multiplication by cuttings, filling of containers, conservation, rooting and bulb transport.

The advantages of pearlite are many: it is a totally sterile material without pollutants or soluble salts harmful for the plants; it has a low apparent density and pH neutral. It is physically stable and chemically inert. It improves the aeration and drainage and provides an optimum retention of moisture and nutrients available for the crop. It is an odour-free material, light and for safe; it also acts as insulation and reduces extreme temperature fluctuations in the ground and it is very easy to handle.

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• APR System Greenhouses
• Special products