H2Gro 2018

Get a grip of your water usage

Now Available from ICL Professional Horticulture and good distributors

www.icl-sf.co.uk / www.icl-sf.ie

The Ultimate wetting agent for ornamental crops 3 IN 1

H2Gro is a unique blend of surfactants formulated into the most advanced wetting agent designed specifically for growing media. H2Gro uses the latest technology to maximise the water holding capacity of substrates for improved wetting-up, spreadability and re-wetting even in water repellent materials.

It's all about the science Due to one end of the H2Gro molecules having a strong non-polar charge, it attaches itself to organic matter in water repellent particles.

There are three different chain lengths: Short (4-6 weeks), Medium (6-10 weeks) and Long (complete season). As the medium and long chain molecules breakdown, they re-attach themselves to the non-polar sites.

Features and Benefits

• 3 in 1 mode of action - wetting and spreading

agent, penetrating agent and re-wetting agent

• Manages water issues • Granular product gives long lasting effect • Effective, efficient and reliable • Guards against plant stress • Plants stay in healthier condition after they are sold • Safe to beneficial microbes • Less dried out (hydrophobic) areas • Improves the uptake of nutrients and many other products

• Offers the plant 100% of the horticultural media to grow in

ACTION 1

Wetting up

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Spreading and penetrating

3

Re-wetting

Application

Reason

With irrigation

Maintain optimum levels of wetting agent, particularly in longer term crops, to maximise irrigation efficiency, conserving water and optimising nutrient uptake.

Prior to shipment

Maximise the effect of final watering, ensure growing media is fully wetted up to increase the shelf life.

Interior plantscapes

Distributes water evenly throughout pots reducing chances of overwatering and increases water conservation.

Misting cuttings

Ensures fine mist particles that remain on the leaf surface reducing the number of misting cycles required.

Did you know...

H2Gro is added as standard with all Levington Advance, Levington Advance Sustain and Levington Advance Solutions growing media mixes.

Getting more from your water with H2Gro why we need a wetting agent °°

°°

H2Gro breaks the surface tension of water and negates preferential flow of water Wetting Agent

Water repellent growing media particles

Non-polar

• When H2Gro is added to the water, the water is no • Water is di-polar with positive and negative ends • Water is repelled by hydrophobic conditions causing problems with water penetration and run off

°°

Water

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longer repelled by the growing media, increasing penetration, reducing water logging and run off and increasing water around the root zone of the plant

• The non-polar portion of the wetting agent bonds

with non-polar hydrophobic particles, whilst the polar portion bonds with the water providing a link

°°

Water + H2Gro

Water

Water

Water + H2Gro

H2Gro reduces surface tension and spreads the water over a larger surface area and therefore improving infiltration and spreading the flow of evenly throughout the pot.

2

Water + H2Gro

H2Gro’s blend of surfactants allow for lateral movement within the growing media providing a larger area of water availability in the root zone of the plant. This means no dry patches and good even distribution for root growth.

H2Gro helping on the nursery Drip Irrigation

Water

3

Water + H2Gro

Overhead Irrigation

Water

Water + H2Gro

Capillary Irrigation

Water

Water + H2Gro

As well as being a wetting and penetrating agent, H2Gro is the most effective re-wetting agent on the market.

Suitable for all crops including long term nursery stock.

H2Gro has significantly reduced our watering man-hours ®

David Golding and Barry Townsley, Arden Lea Nurseries, using H2Gro® as part of their water management programme Arden Lea Nurseries at Hesketh Bank - between Liverpool and Preston in the North West of England - grows predominantly peat-free in coir supplying quality plants to the multiple garden retailer B&Q, as well as premium supermarket chain Booths. Having trialled H2Gro two years ago to improve water management issues, head growers David Golding and Barry Townsley now rely on the unique wetting agent to simplify crop management while helping to reduce labour, water and feed costs.

“Before using H2Gro it could prove challenging to keep the coir sufficiently wet, whereas now we can water less frequently. We water everything by hand and, being heavily reliant on soluble feeds, tend to feed most of the time. H2Gro has significantly reduced our watering man-hours and resulted in less water and, more importantly, less feed being used.

“Easy to use - a single application of H2Gro lasts the lifetime of the pot. It also means we are watering less often when plants are flowering, results in less spotting and fewer man hours on the dispatch line removing damaged blooms.”

As to customers, Barry points out H2Gro will benefit retailers and consumers by helping extend shelf-life in-store and prior to potting out. “For the future we’re interested in looking at the liquid formation of H2Go as well,” he says. “Applying at a high rate pre-dispatch is likely to be a great advantage to customers.”

Summing up David says; “H2Gro has not only simplified the management of our crops, it means we are using less water and feed, with all the benefits that incurs while getting the same, if not better, quality of plants.”

Application Guidance Tool Liquid Application Rates available in 5ltr bottles and IBC's on request.

Grower

AIM

AIM

Boosting wetting agent after potting

Application during crop-cultivation for optimized water spreading/water control

Applied by spraying/drenching

Applied by the irrigation system

Growing system

Drench after potting

Remark

Application

(ml per 100l water)

Cultivation duration up to 12 months (CNS crops)

Cultivation duration up to 6 months (pot plants) Cultivation duration up to 6 weeks (bedding plants)

Application rate

(ml per 1000l water)

100 - 150 ml

Maximum longevity (6 - 12 months) Severely water repellent

With irrigation

60 - 100 ml

Medium longevity (2 - 6 months) Moderately water repellent

Prior to consumer phase or shipment

40 - 50 ml

Short term activity (2 - 6 weeks) Moderately water repellent

Misting cuttings

Directions for use

Daily feeding, continuous stock solution (tank)

5 ml

500 - 1000 ml

Drench containers, hanging baskets and trays, prior to shipment to consumers

150 ml

Spray freshly struck cuttings with a very fine mist to the point of run off

For ease of application, use a dosatron diluter attached to a watering lance or irrigation line.

Dosatron example : To achieve 100ml per 100 Litre of water using a dosatron diluter set at 1:100 (1%):

Dosatron example : To achieve 5ml per 1000 Litre of water using a dosatron diluter set at 1:100 (1%):

Add 1 Litre of H2Gro per 10 Litre of water stock solution

Add 5ml of H2Gro per 10 Litre of water stock solution

Granular Application Rates - available in 10kg bags Amounts for own mixed application Production area Containers, long term production cycles Pots, hanging baskets, trays, modules, plugs and short term production cycles

Rate

Amount for topdressed and drenched in application Longevity requirements/ Growing Media Conditions

1kg/m3

Maximum longevity (9-12 months) Severely water repellent

500g/m3

Medium longevity (3-6 months) Moderately water repellent

Production area

Rate

Water volume

Containers, pots, hanging baskets

40g/m2

Water until container is thoroughly wetted

Other diluter setting combinations are possible, if in doubt ask an ICL TASM. Can be used in conjunction with ICL water soluble feeds such as Peters and Universol. Add H2Gro to stock tank after mixing the fertilizer.

The Professional Horticulture Team Providing you with ongoing technical support throughout the growing season to maximise the quality and return of your crops.

Dr Eleni Siasou Product and Development Manager Growing Media +44 (0)7867 691941 eleni.siasou@icl-group.com

Adrian Thirtle-Watts MBPR Sales Manager Professional Horticulture +44 (0)7778 603104 adrian.thirtle-watts@icl-group.com

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Technical Area Sales Managers At ICL we have a dedicated team who have worked with growers for a number of years, gaining vast experience in the horticulture field. We pride ourselves on our technical expertise and expect the highest of standards from our team, who are all FACTS and BASIS qualified (or training to be so). They are there to offer support to maximise your crops and yields throughout the year.

Ian Todd MBPR Technical Area Sales Manager +44 (0)7831 835889 ian.todd@icl-group.com

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Martin Donnelly MBPR Sales Development Manager (Horticulture) +44 (0)7785 976068 martin.donnelly@icl-group.com

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Carl Mason Technical Area Sales Manager +44 (0)7867 787315 carl.mason@icl-group.com

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Andrew Wilson MBPR Technical Manager Ferts and Plant Protection Products +44 (0)7768 903624 andrew.wilson@icl-group.com

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Colman Warde MBPR Country Manager - Ireland +353 877799527 colman.warde@icl-group.com

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Steve Hughes MBPR Technical Area Sales Manager +44 (0)7799 481489 steve.hughes@icl-group.com

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Dean Sandford MBPR Technical Area Sales Manager +44 (0)7747 196217 dean.sandford@icl-group.com

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To order your ICL products or get the latest information and advice Call +44 (0)1473 237 111 Email prof.sales@icl-group.com Web www.icl-sf.co.uk www.icl-sf.ie

Stuart Gammage MBPR Technical Area Sales Manager +44 (0)7920 084972 stuart.gammage@icl-group.com

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Jackie Hall MBPR Technical Area Sales Manager +44 (0)7778 603120 jackie.hall@icl-group.com

Attention As circumstances can differ and as application of products is beyond our control, ICL Specialty Fertilizers cannot be held responsible for any negative results. With this publication, all previously given recommendations expire. Before a new rate, product or application method is used, a small-scale trial is recommended. Ask your local ICL Specialty Fertilizers dealer or the ICL Specialty Fertilizers representative in your country or area for more information or recommendations. Consult www.icl-sf.com for your contact in the region.

Andy Hodges MBPR Technical Area Sales Manager +44 (0)7786 701268 andy.hodges@icl-group.com

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Steve Chapman Technical Area Sales Manager, South +44 (0)7342 057 122 steven.chapman@icl-group.com