You don’t have to be a commercial grower to enjoy the benefits of IHORT products—they’re perfect for hobbyists, too! Whether starting seeds for a backyard garden, growing with hydroponics, or nurturing houseplants, IHORT’s innovative horticultural solutions can help you achieve professional-level results.
Our stabilized rooting media is designed and formulated to make plant care easier and more efficient, even on a small scale. IHORT allows hobby growers to enjoy healthy plants, strong roots, and sustainable practices without needing large-scale equipment or expertise. It’s all about making gardening accessible, enjoyable, and successful for everyone.
Hobby Grower Applications for IHORT Plugs
Upon first glance, many think our products only work in a commercial setting or large scale, but this isn’t the case. As a hobby grower, IHORT plugs offer versatile applications.
- IHORT plugs and plug trays are perfect for seed starting. They offer a nutrient-rich, well-aerated medium that promotes fast and uniform germination. The plugs retain just the right amount of moisture while providing excellent drainage, preventing issues like overwatering.
- IHORT plugs and trays are ideal for rooting cuttings, providing a balanced environment with the perfect mix of moisture and aeration to encourage strong, healthy root development. Simply insert your cuttings into the pre-formed holes in the plugs, keep the plugs consistently moist, and watch as roots establish quickly with minimal effort. Their design reduces transplant shock, making your plants’ transition to soil or hydroponic systems seamless and stress-free.
- IHORT plugs are an excellent choice for hydroponics enthusiasts. They provide a clean, soilless medium that supports healthy root development in water-based systems. Their structure allows for optimal aeration, ensuring roots receive the oxygen they need to thrive. Their excellent buffering capacity maintains a steady pH, keeping nutrients available in the solution for plant uptake.
- IHORT plugs and trays are a fantastic option for container gardening, helping hobbyists grow strong, healthy plants in limited spaces. They provide a stable, pathogen-free medium that promotes robust root development while keeping the roots well-aerated for optimal growth.
Benefits for Hobbyists
Switching from loose-filled trays to bonded growing media, such as the Q Plug or Excel Plug, offers several advantages. IHORT plugs simplify your setup, are incredibly easy to use, improve efficiency, and help optimize root growth and plant health.
Ease of Use & Efficiency:
- Bonded plugs are easier to handle than loose-filled trays, especially during sowing, transplanting, and transportation.
- The Q and Excel Plug are designed to fit neatly into trays, maximizing space use when starting seeds or rooting cuttings.
- Using our bonded growing media can save time and labor during propagation. The uniformity of plugs streamlines seeding and transplanting activities, making the process more efficient.
- Bonded plugs typically result in less substrate waste compared to loose-filled trays. The controlled size and composition of each plug optimize substrate usage.
- Transplanting seedlings or cuttings grown in IHORT plugs causes less root disturbance than planting in loose-filled trays. This reduces transplant shock and helps the plants establish more quickly after transplanting.
Consistency: Our bonded media plugs ensure uniformity across a tray or growing system. This controlled composition helps manage pH and nutrient availability, contributing to better plant health.
Improved Plant Growth: IHORT plugs create an optimal environment, fostering robust root and plant growth.
- IHORT’s bonded growing media is designed to have an optimal air-to-water ratio, promoting good drainage and aeration for root development. This balance is crucial for healthy plant growth.
- The bonded media in Q and Excel plugs reduces the risk of contamination with pathogens or weed seeds. The plugs’ controlled and sterile environment minimizes the chances of introducing unwanted elements that could affect plant health.
- Our innovative bonded media paired with the correct open bottom cell tray can promote air pruning, which encourages the development of a more fibrous and healthy root structure. A robust, extensive root system leads to better plant establishment upon transplantation.
The Power of IHORT in Retail Bags
Our patented Q Plug, introduced by Gary R. Hartman in 1982, is a stabilized media scientifically proven to enhance root growth through advanced technology and a specialized soil-handling process. Designed to accelerate root development and protect plants at every stage, the proprietary bonded soil allows growers to handle plants at any age while maintaining the plug’s shape from propagation to harvest. By eliminating the need for plastic grow cups, the Q Plug maximizes crop yield and cultivation success and reduces environmental impact.
IHORT offers retail bags of Q plugs in different sizes for our hobbyists to meet your growing needs. Whether you are transplanting into a loose mix, growing in containers, or using a hydro/aero/ aquaponic system, it is designed to handle the task.
Our Promise to You
IHORT is one of the leading suppliers of stabilized soil media for commercial and hobbyist applications. With decades of experience, we have become the premier innovator in bonded media and are the authority in plant propagation. We are committed to providing the best, most innovative solutions that help create an optimum environment for healthy and vibrant plants.
No matter your needs, the IHORT team is here to help you grow! Contact us today to learn how our premier bonded propagation products can help you grow!