This invention relates to a horticulture additive comprising: (1) a wetting agent, wherein the wetting agent is a multi-branched polymer comprising at least one of an oxygen-containing and a nitrogen-containing polyfunctional base compound having at least three branches attached thereto, and (2) a humectant. The horticulture additive is advantageous for increasing plant survival of plants treated therewith when exposed to reduced watering conditions.

A plant growth media composition, articles made therefrom, and methods of making and using the same are described. The plant growth media composition includes a combination of one or more plant growth substrate materials and an additive such as cellulose fibers, clay, carrageenan, alginate, chitosan, or combinations thereof.

A horticultural growing medium including a support matrix, the support matrix present in an amount between 60 and 80% by weight and an inorganic component. The organic component includes a moss component including at least 50% by weight moss from the sphagnum genus is composed of at least 25% hyaline cells; between 30 and 50% by weight plant derived cellulose fiber component including alone or in any combination: coir, bamboo, hemp, cocoa fiber, rice hulls, and mixtures thereof; and between 0 and 15% cork fiber. The inorganic component includes a particulate igneous volcanic material component including at least one of amorphous volcanic glass, volcanic rock. The horticultural growing medium also includes an organic soil constituent present in an amount between 20 and 40% by weight that includes between 30% and 70% by weight humus soil; between 30% and 70% vermicompost; and up to 5% by weight mammalian derived fecal matter.

A horticultural growing medium including a support matrix, the support matrix present in an amount between 60 and 80% by weight and an inorganic component. The organic component includes a moss component including at least 50% by weight moss from the sphagnum genus is composed of at least 25% hyaline cells; between 30 and 50% by weight plant derived cellulose fiber component including alone or in any combination: coir, bamboo, hemp, cocoa fiber, rice hulls, and mixtures thereof; and between 0 and 15% cork fiber. The inorganic component includes a particulate igneous volcanic material component including at least one of amorphous volcanic glass, volcanic rock. The horticultural growing medium also includes an organic soil constituent present in an amount between 20 and 40% by weight that includes between 30% and 70% by weight humus soil; between 30% and 70% vermicompost; and up to 5% by weight mammalian derived fecal matter.

A method of producing leached compost casing may include washing compost to remove nutrients from the compost, drying the compost and using the compost as casing to grow plants. In some applications the compost may be pasteurized or sterilized while it is being leached.

A method of producing leached compost casing may include washing compost to remove nutrients from the compost, drying the compost and using the compost as casing to grow plants. In some applications the compost may be pasteurized or sterilized while it is being leached.

The present invention relates to the production of propagation plugs, primarily small blocks of sphagnum for the growing of cuttings and seed plants, and of the type consisting of a cylindrical block having an envelope of paper or a similar material and an associated filling of sphagnum or a corresponding substrate material. The paper is an air permeable composite sheet material comprising a) a biodegradable nonwoven sheet material; and b) a hot melt adhesive comprising at least 50% w/w of one or more biodegradable bioplastics. The hot melt adhesive is supplied to at least a part of a face of the biodegradable nonwoven sheet material.

The present invention relates to the production of propagation plugs, primarily small blocks of sphagnum for the growing of cuttings and seed plants, and of the type consisting of a cylindrical block having an envelope of paper or a similar material and an associated filling of sphagnum or a corresponding substrate material. The paper is an air permeable composite sheet material comprising a) a biodegradable nonwoven sheet material; and b) a hot melt adhesive comprising at least 50% w/w of one or more biodegradable bioplastics. The hot melt adhesive is supplied to at least a part of a face of the biodegradable nonwoven sheet material.

A method for making a growing medium includes a step of combining tree bark and/or wood components together to form an initial composition; heating the initial composition to a temperature greater than about 149? C. under steam in a pressurized vessel; processing the initial composition through a refiner with a plurality of opposing disks to obtain the fibrous growing medium, the refiner separating fibers from each other; wherein the growing medium has total porosity of 88 volume % or more.

A method for making a growing medium includes a step of combining tree bark and/or wood components together to form an initial composition; heating the initial composition to a temperature greater than about 149? C. under steam in a pressurized vessel; processing the initial composition through a refiner with a plurality of opposing disks to obtain the fibrous growing medium, the refiner separating fibers from each other; wherein the growing medium has total porosity of 88 volume % or more.