Visitors to the stand can explore Hortifeeds’ latest fertiliser innovations and trusted products designed to support crop nutrition, establishment, and resilience across a wide range of growing systems and conditions.
Hortifeeds’ new range includes three advanced fertiliser options developed specifically for peat-free growing, to complement the characteristics of peat-free growing media. These products help growers navigating the challenges of peat-free growing by addressing the issues of crop establishment, nutrient management and availability, and stress resilience:
HortiMix Peat Free Soluble Fertiliser Range has been developed to provide calcium and magnesium, along with all other essential nutrients. This includes enhanced levels of nitrate nitrogen to overcome the effects of drawdown. The range includes high nitrogen and phosphate options, as well as a general ‘all year round’ feed. With the higher pH situation in most alternative media components, HortiMix Peat Free Soluble Fertilisers have been formulated with chelated trace elements, including iron chelated with DTPA for greater availability at a wider pH range. To increase nutrient uptake and availability to boost establishment, the range has been further enriched with humic acids, and amino acids to improve resilience and recovery from stress.
HortiTop Peat Free is a unique top-dress fertiliser, featuring slow-release nitrogen in four different forms for prolonged and consistent availability to counteract nitrogen drawdown. This formulation combines organic, mineral, and synthetic nutrients with seaweed, aiding crop establishment, stress relief and recovery. HortiTop Peat Free also boasts calcium and magnesium.
HortiBase Peat Free Base Mix - unlike generic base mix fertilisers - is formulated with low potassium for use with higher potassium substrates such as coir and bark. Featuring iron chelated with DTPA for increased availability across a wider pH range, it contains ample nitrogen to compensate for drawdown, phosphates to support rooting and establishment, and magnesium to boost photosynthesis. When switching to the use of more environmentally friendly growing media, use of the Hortifeeds sustainable wetting agent HortiHydrate Bio is the obvious choice, as it goes hand in hand with becoming more environmentally conscious but is as effective as synthetic products.
Use of the root biostimulant HortiPhyte will help to encourage and support strong root development, so it’s a perfect partner for use in peat free growing, particularly during the establishment phase.
The ‘Complete biostimulant’ HortiBoost will support establishment and help to protect crops grown in media from abiotic stresses such as heat and uneven water availability. It’s combination of seaweed, amino acids and humic acids will give crops increased stress tolerance and provide an ideal platform for sturdy and resilient growth.
Beyond these tailored solutions for peat free systems, Hortifeeds provides other innovative products designed to enhance crop growth and resilience, such as Marinure Extra.
Marinure Extra offers a concentrated liquid seaweed extract that is rich in biostimulants, combined with a nutrient complex. The seaweed contents are sustainably harvested from inter-tidal Ascophyllum nodosum, which is widely regarded as the finest source of seaweed-based biostimulant. This powerful combination supports enhanced plant growth, increased yields, and improved flowering and fruit production. Marinure Extra is a rich source of bioactive compounds, including alginic acid, mannitol, fucoidans, and betaines, which naturally boost plant resilience to abiotic stresses such as drought, waterlogging, and temperature extremes.
Incorporating Marinure Extra in the crop management plan will aid rapid establishment of all crops, maximise root development, enhancing nutrient uptake, encourage the development of strong plant structures, reduce crop stress, maintain green leaf retention, improve photosynthesis, and maximise crop potential.
In addition to this, growers should consider the value of silicon in improving crop stress resilience: this is where HortiStar can make a significant difference.
Silicon, ‘the forgotten element’ in plant nutrition, protects plants under stress, with benefits seen during drought, temperature extremes, and pest or pathogen attacks.
HortiStar is a highly effective, easily absorbed foliar fertiliser containing ortho-silicic acid, the most plant-available form of silicon, far superior to potassium silicate.
Silicon activates plants' natural defences and alleviates toxic effects from both abiotic and biotic stress. Its importance is demonstrated by the fact that the amount of silicon in healthy leaf tissue is similar to that of many major nutrients.
HortiStar helps regulate leaf water content, reducing drought, heat and salt stress. Plant productivity is maintained under conditions where water is in short supply or salt levels restrict uptake. Physically stronger epidermal cells resist direct heat damage.
It boosts phytoalexin production at infection sites, increasing resistance to pests and pathogens. As HortiStar converts to silicon dioxide and ethanol, silicon crystals form in and on the leaf, blocking fungal entry and insect feeding.
HortiStar has a physical effect on many insect pests including aphids, thrips, two-spotted mites and mealy bug. HortiStar is non-toxic and works through suffocation and desiccation only. Good contact and cover of insect pests is required and, as there is no persistent effect, repeated applications are required.
Visit Hortifeeds at Stand C79-80 at Four Oaks.
