Finding quality organic products has become an important mission for many people in the cannabis industry. A significant number of growers look for ways to avoid using pesticides, herbicides, and other harsh chemicals. Growing organically not only aligns with these objectives but also enables producers to respond to the market's demands.
According to Deloitte in their 2019 survey Nurturing New Growth, "17% of consumers look for organic cannabis products—though organic products may be more important for those buying ingredients for home-made edibles".
In 2020, Premier Tech, under its PRO-MIX brand, began working on an organic growing media with the same qualities as its PRO-MIX HP product: high air porosity, improved breathability, and lower water retention. The goal was to develop the organic version of a product designed as a blank canvas for cannabis growers.
This blank canvas would allow growers and producers to create their own mix according to their unique recipes, with ingredients such as compost, organic fertilizers, bokashi, worm castings, etc.
Enters PRO-MIX HPO: an organic, superior, and consistent growing media base with the added values of Mycorrhizae and Bacillus, that growers can build upon using their own natural ingredients. PRO-MIX HPO offers low water retention and high air porosity, providing ideal conditions for strong root growth and thriving soil life.
Among many other benefits, PRO-MIX HPO is well-suited for low-light and high-humidity growing conditions, making it more difficult to overwater cannabis plants. Its high porosity also helps reduce the incidence of water-related problems (root diseases, algae, and fungus gnats) and holds less water for better leaching of fertilizer salts during the crop cycle.
Beneficial microorganisms for an organic growing media
PRO-MIX HPO contains two beneficial microorganisms that work together naturally to feed and protect plants: mycorrhizae and Bacillus. With them, cannabis plants are better equipped to deal with stressful conditions thanks to the symbiotic relationships with their roots. The soil also benefits from these microorganisms, experiencing improvements in its structure, filtration, and water-holding capacity, so growers can use less water.
Mycorrhizae are the beneficial associations between a mycorrhizal fungus and roots, which boost the plant's water and nutrient uptake. This increases the plant's resistance to environmental stresses such as drought, compaction, salinity, low fertility, and transplant shock.
Mycorrhizae:
- Expand root system growth
- Enhance nutrient and water uptake
- Increase tolerance to stresses
- Reduce transplant shock
Bacillus are gram-positive bacteria with high motility that colonize plant roots. They form a biofilm around the root system, creating a protection against pathogens. Bacillus also increases the plant's disease resistance, reducing the need for fungicide soil drenches while accelerating seed germination and plant establishment.
Bacillus:
- Increase the number of root hairs for better nutrient absorption
- Accelerate seed germination
- Increase plant growth
Moreover, the overall improvement of the plant's health enhances its natural defense mechanisms against pests and diseases, which help reduce mortality rates and the need for pesticides. This allows growers to find efficiencies for better cost management and higher returns on their investment.
PRO-MIX HPO is presented in a 3.8 cu ft. format, and it's available in the US and Canada.
For more information:
Pro-Mix
www.pthorticulture.com