Independent trial looks at use of Growcoon

In 2024, an independent trial was conducted at the Research Institute for Horticulture (LVG) in Hannover-Ahlem, Germany, examining the cultivation of pot and bedding plants using Growcoon. This biodegradable cultivation plug proved to be a complete replacement for conventional plastic pots.

Independent trial with strong practical relevance
The trial focused on bedding and patio plants, such as primroses, in a 10.5 cm pot size of the Growcoon ‘Progressive’. The plant cultivation was carried out partly in Growcoon alone and partly in combination with lightproof pots or trays. Later in the cultivation process, the plants were planted outdoors or in containers together with the Growcoon to simulate common bedding and patio crops.

The results show: The cultivation in Growcoon is feasible and works very reliably under practical conditions.

Good plant quality, intact root ball
The plants developed vigorously in almost all cases, sometimes even more so than in conventional pots. Notably, the Calibrachoa, Euphorbia and Plectranthus crops cultivated in lightproof trays demonstrated the best root penetration and very vital plant structure. The roots developed preferentially at the bottom of the pot, which is crucial for further transplanting into the plant bed.

© Klasmann-Deilmann

Sustainable, plastic-free and marketable
With Growcoon, pot and bedding plants can be cultivated entirely without plastic pots from potting to final use in plant beds. Sales and planting take place together with the fully biodegradable net pot, eliminating the need for disposal. Growcoon thus offers a practical solution for plastic-free, low-waste plant production, which is in high demand from retailers and consumers alike.

‘The results from LVG Ahlem show that pot-free production with Growcoon can be implemented without compromising plant quality or cultivation management,’ says Raymond van Ispelen, Growcoon Product Manager at Klasmann-Deilmann. ‘This underlines our strategy of developing product solutions that offer sustainable and future-proof innovations to the horticultural industry.’

Areas of application are expanding
Growcoon has been well-established for years in cutting propagation and young plant cultivation. The successful use of larger pot formats is opening up new applications, particularly in the production of perennials, pot herbs, seasonal plants and also forestry plants, that are later planted outdoors.

You can read the trial results here (in German).