The hidden root system helping greenhouse crops perform under pressure
Source: HD.com
Substrates dry out faster during warm periods, irrigation windows become smaller, and every liter of water and every gram of fertiliser needs to be used as efficiently as possible. "By increasing access to water and nutrients already present in the root zone, plants are better equipped to maintain growth and remain resilient when growing conditions become more challenging." Building resilience from below For greenhouse growers, consistency is everything.
Our goal with Vici Fix is to help plants make better use of the water and nutrients already available, creating stronger, more resilient crops from the root zone upwards." Proven across multiple crops The biological principle behind Vici Fix translates into measurable improvements across different horticultural crops In strawberry propagation trials, treated tray plants produced 18.77% more commercially usable plants, 59.77% more total biomass, and 62% fewer calcium deficiency symptoms. In chrysanthemum, growers achieved 5–10% higher branch weight and 7% more harvested branches.
Even under root-knot nematode pressure, treated plants maintained a 3% increase in branch weight compared with untreated crops. "The result is a clean, water-based liquid formulation that is easy to apply through drip irrigation, irrigation systems or substrate incorporation, while delivering consistent performance from batch to batch." © REKA A biological foundation for modern horticulture As greenhouse growers continue to optimize water use, fertilizer efficiency, and crop robustness, biological solutions are becoming an increasingly important part of integrated cultivation strategies.
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.
