Ridder expands possibilities with Hortimax Plus
Source: HD.com
This solution complements the existing Hortimax Go and Hortimax Pro climate computers and has been specifically developed for growers who want to automate essential climate, water, and energy processes in a cost-efficient and future-proof way. With the introduction of Hortimax Plus, there is now a suitable Hortimax solution for every grower and every greenhouse.
Ridder Hortimax Plus helps growers manage their greenhouse operations in a smart and structured way on a daily basis. It is an open and flexible climate computer that evolves with changing needs for managing additional technologies and applications.
This allows growers to invest step by step in the automation of their growing processes, while maintaining full flexibility for further growth. Kemal Özcan, Product Manager at Ridder: "The Hortimax Plus app gives growers real-time insight and control over their greenhouse.
Why this matters: For operators, this is a water-management story. The useful signal is that direct substrate measurements can help cut drain loss materially without giving up yield or fruit quality, which is exactly the kind of controllable efficiency gain a facility can build on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does substrate sensing matter in free-drain strawberry systems?
Because drain percentage tells a grower what already happened, while substrate moisture and EC data show root-zone conditions directly. That makes it easier to cut water loss without guessing.
What is the operator takeaway from this trial?
If the thresholds are understood well enough, growers can reduce drain water materially while protecting yield and fruit quality, which makes sensing an operational tool instead of a reporting tool.
