Oasis Grower Solutions releases two foam AeroSubstrates for hydroponic growers

Oasis Grower Solutions has released two new singulated precision substrates for controlled environment hydroponic growers.

Oasis AeroMax PlugTray and Oasis AeroSelect PlugTray are automation-ready engineered foam substrates with an open-celled structure and optimized for crop and environmental demands.

Developed specifically for precision hydroponic farming, like their predecessors in the OASIS AeroSubstrates line, the food-safe singulated substrates provide growers with input-responsive substrate options that target specific crops, water demands and seasonal or year-round climate conditions.

Oasis AeroMax PlugTray, ideal for hydroponic cultivation in mild to moderate climates, excels at supporting crops, climates and systems with lower water demand.

Oasis AeroSelect PlugTray targets water-demanding operational conditions; its higher water-holding capacity suits warmer climates, as well as crops and growing conditions with higher water demand, including finicky crops like spinach.

Vijay Rapaka, Oasis Grower Solutions director of global grower operations and research, was lead scientist on the team that developed the core technology behind the new additions to Oasis AeroSubstrates. He was also the driving force behind the Cradle-to-Grave Carbon Footprint Assessment that confirmed the engineered substrate technology’s low carbon footprint.

"Our purpose at Oasis Grower Solutions is to develop innovative solutions that solve problems for growers, from propagation and cultivation to sustainability," Rapaka said. "With Oasis AeroSubstrates, we brought precision growing into the root zone and made these next-generation substrates functional elements in the cultivation process. With new Oasis AeroMax PlugTray and Oasis AeroSelect PlugTray, both automated and manual growers of all sizes can now experience the benefits of these precision hydroponic substrates and grow more profitably and more sustainably."

The company said with Oasis AeroSubstrates, hydroponic growers can enjoy optimal root zone water-to-air ratios, uniform germination, rapid root penetration and unrestricted seedling growth.

The ready-on-demand, preloaded plug trays prevent root tangling during propagation, eliminate root breakage and damage during transplant and encourage superior post-transplant performance.

"Like our new Oasis RhizoPlug Tray for vegetative floriculture propagation, these next-generation Oasis AeroSubstrates for precision hydroponics also offer unprecedented cleanliness for hydroponic farmers," Rapaka added. "Food safe and free of pests and pathogens, they deliver a physically cleaner cultivation experience, from seeding through cultivation and harvest."

The substrates are available from national and international distributors in pre-dibbled and preloaded 72-, 105- and 128-count single- and multi-seed plug trays.

For more information, contact Oasis Grower Solutions at 855-585-4769 or visit oasisgrowersolutions.com.

Oasis Grower Solutions is a division of Kent, Ohio-headquartered Smithers-Oasis,  which manufactures and markets floral foam and floral media, postharvest products, growing media, floral sprays and dyes, and flower arranging supplies for the floriculture and horticulture industries.