Peat-dominating growing medium in Swedish horticulture

This is a review of the use of growing media (soilless culture) in Swedish horticultural production. There is no official recording of the amount and type of growing media used in Sweden. The data presented are obtained by interviews and by using statistical data of the production. Development of growing media for trade started in the 1960's. Today most of the Swedish growers buy their growing media ready to use. Peat and peat-based growing media are dominating in the production of pot and bedding plants, container-grown nursery stock, small forest plants as well as bulb forcing. For pot and bedding plants the medium is often a mixture of lighter and darker peat with sand and clay as common additives. Other additives used to a minor extent are perlite, expanded clay, compost and bark. In vegetable growing inactive media are used, mostly rockwool but also pumice and perlite. Peat is a domestic raw material and Sweden is more than self-sufficient on peat. Peat has established its position due to its many advantages. With the use and production of horticultural peat at the present level it is a sustainable growing media.