The British-made Air-Pot system has been chosen by The Clean Plant Center Northwest (CPCNW) in Washington USA to help boost its vital supplies of virus-tested plants.
CPCNW, part of the US Department of Agriculture-funded National Clean Plant Network, is using the Air-Pot containers to grow plants with healthy non-circling root systems, making them more disease resistant.
Marketing & Sales Representative at Air-Pot® in Edinburgh, Georgie Single explains: “The healthier, faster growing plants from Air-Pot containers are better for biosecurity and the environment, as well as offering much better result for growers; whether that’s a healthier tree sequestering more CO2 and slowing climate change, or a plant that is grown to help feed us.”
The unique design of Air-Pot containers has evolved since 1990, constantly improving to guarantee that plants only develop healthy fibrous roots, with no circling.
The design also ensures perfect drainage and aeration of the growing medium, creating ideal conditions for healthy bacteria to release more nutrients to the plant.
Production Manager at CPCNW, Pieter Kowalec says: “Our philosophy of ‘start clean, stay clean’ emphasises the importance of planting with clean materials, to ensure high-quality production from orchards, vineyards and hop yards.
“The clean plant material is provided to nurseries, growers and research agencies. The clean ‘mother’ plants at the centre are a cornerstone of state certification programmes for the US pomme and stone fruit, grapevine and hop industries.
“Our Air-Pot containers are proving a wonderful growing environment for hops and grape vines, which are thriving. Top quality hops are vital for breweries and wineries seeking the highest quality ingredients, as healthy hops and grapes make better beer and wines!”
The shape of the Air-Pot container’s wall guides each root towards an air hole where increased air in the growing medium dehydrates the tip, pruning it and stimulating root branching. The process repeats until there is a mass of healthy fibrous roots.
Georgie adds: “Healthy roots mean faster growth and better uptake of nutrients and water.
“Made from recycled HDPE, our Air-Pot containers are sturdily built and reusable many times, even in tropical sunshine. We manufacture with the minimum possible environmental impact. Central to this is our use of recycled plastic.”
For further details, please visit www.air-pot.com/nursery/. To find out more about CPCNW, please visit https://www.cpcnorthwest.com/s/.