RootMaker
® Wholesale Propagation Trays exceed expectations of nursery owners and farmers who are on a mission to help each plant thrive. Patented and backed by decades of research, RootMaker
® propagation trays are designed to efficiently direct roots to openings in the cell. When this occurs, the root tip dehydrates (essentially cauterized) and stops growing, and creates secondary roots that are more horizontal in growth. These secondary roots are also dehydrated when they reach the cell openings and create additional root branching. What does this mean for the plant? The plant is equipped with more active new root tips and a greater root tip surface area for water and nutrient absorption – just like in nature. Nature never planned on transplanting, nor for the root loss or shock to plants that follow. RootMaker
® propagation trays plan for the transplanting WITHOUT the shock or the loss.
RootMaker® Propagation Tray Design
Each cell is designed in a descending tier shape with a series of ledges containing small hole openings at each corner. The cell depth of 4” follows the 4-inch rule of pruning. After pruning plants, new growth typically occurs 4 inches back from the cut. This is true for roots as well. When the tip of the taproot is dehydrated from the air pruning, secondary branching occurs 4 inches back near the seed. Air root pruning occurs at the sidewall as well.
RootMaker® Wholesale Propagation Tray Options
There are 3 styles of RootMaker
® propagation trays to choose:
- Standard Tray (18-, 32-, 60-cell) Continuous tray fit a standard 10” x 20” mesh bottom / open-sided flat
- Pull-Apart Tray (18-, 32-cell) Perforations between individual cells allow for easy separation
- Express™ (18-cell) Individual propagation cells make sorting, grafting, and grading a breeze. Use the Rootmaker® Shuttle™ tray to neatly hold 18 Express™ or Pull Apart cells
Also available are RootBuilder® II Propagation Pots in 1 pint and 1-quart sizes.
RootMaker® Propagation & Container System
The RootMaker
® System is designed to be a successive method of container root pruning that accelerates plant growth and increases efficiencies. With RootMaker
® the container prunes the taproot first which increases root branching exponentially. Much like trimming a hedge, when a root is pruned properly, it produces numerous secondary roots. The result is an abundance of horizontal and vertical roots and a healthier plant that is easily transplanted for a strong start and a stronger finish. Container options of the RootMaker
® system include:
- Propagation
- Liners
- Field planting
- Above Ground Growing
- Finishing
What plants can be propagated in RootMaker® Trays? Everything. Trees, annuals, perennials and vegetables.
Do RootMaker® Propagation Trays require a special location? In order for complete air flow through all openings, it is recommended to place propagation trays 10”- 12” off the ground if growing outdoors; 16’ – 24” if growing indoors. The amount of air movement at your location is the determining factor. If you see roots extending even just a short distance out of the air-root-pruning openings, then you do not have sufficient air circulation thus you should position the trays higher off the ground.
How long should seedlings remain in the propagation cells? The answer is specific to each growing location. As a rule, it is always better to remove seedlings early, even if small amounts of soil mix fall away, versus leaving the plants too long. A rule of thumb is to transplant seedlings just as the root ball can be easily removed. While times vary, typically plants remain in trays 2 to 4 months.
It is recommended to use a soilless mix for the RootMaker® Propagation Containers. The following recommended recipe is
based on a cubic yard of mix before adding fertilizer etc.
- Peat and Perlite mix (40/60 by volume) or Peat, Perlite and Pine Bark mix (30/20/50 by volume)
- Micromax® micronutrients (1 pound)
- 8-6-12 Oscocote® (6 pounds ) NO SUBSTITUTIONS
- Dolomite (3 pounds)
