APPS PORTAL
Growing Media
Growing media is a core component in any containerised production system and has the capacity to apply considerable influence upon the quality of plant stock grown. Issues such as nutritional health, water availability, plant morphology and pest and disease prevalence can all be affected by the growing media.
The development of growing media is a specialised topic, and a large number of varying inputs can be used, each with their own characteristics which can be formulated to provide the best results for particular situations.
The following resources will assist growers in furthering their understanding of growing media.
Documents
| Title↕ | Description↕ | Updated↓ |
|---|---|---|
| Growing media: Is your growing media right for you? (June 2023) | Growing media is a fundamental component in containerised production systems and can have a significant impact upon the quality of plants grown. The selection and importance of an appropriate growing media in relation to plant performance is critical for crop success. This Nursery Paper covers a range of topics including air filled porosity, water holding capacity, wettability, water retention efficiency, mean application rate, bulk density, shrinkage, phytotoxicity, optimum pH range, electrical conductivity, nitrogen drawdown and storage. A pH nutrient availability chart is also included. | 3 Feb 2026 |
| Coir or coconut fibre | Coir is a ‘peat like’ byproduct produced from the processing of coconut husks. Its characteristics are described, including water holding capacity, wetting and rewetting capacity, air-filled porosity, cation exchange capacity and physical stability in containers. | 3 Feb 2026 |
| Effect of pH on the availability of plant nutrients in soils and media | These two figures showing the availability to plants of nutrient elements are extracted from "Growing Media for Ornamental Plants and Turf" by Handreck.and Black. | 3 Feb 2026 |
| Water retention | Water retention | 3 Feb 2026 |
| Growing Media for Container Production 2020 | Growing Media for Container Production 2020 | 3 Feb 2026 |
| Calibrating pH and EC meters | PH and Electrical Conductivity (EC) meters are extremely useful pieces of equipment used to measure and monitor basic chemical characteristics of water and growing media. | 3 Feb 2026 |
| Calculating Air Filled Porosity 2010 | Calculating Air Filled Porosity 2010 | 3 Feb 2026 |
| Air Filled Porosity Testing 2013 | The air filled porosity (AFP) of a growing media is the percentage of its volume that is air after being saturated with water and just after it has stopped draining. This is the method used in the Australian Standard for Potting Media for testing AFP. | 3 Feb 2026 |
| Growing Media Nursery Paper 2010 | In this month’s Nursery Paper, NGINA Industry Development Officer, Michael Danelon provides an overview of growing media and the importance of selecting the most appropriate media to achieve optimum plant performance. | 3 Feb 2026 |
| Water Management Best Practice Guidelines | Water Management Best Practice Guidelines | 3 Feb 2026 |
| Soil pH - Nutrient availability chart | How soil/media pH effects nutrient uptake by plants | 22 Jan 2026 |
| Coir properties [Video] | Coir, coir fibre pith or coconut fibre is a one hundred percent natural, sustainable and renewable product. Coir is a ‘peat like’ byproduct produced from the processing of coconut husks, and is composed of the fibrous material found between the hard, internal shell and the outer coat of a coconut. Coir is lightweight, retains moisture and is an affordable growing media substrate or component for adding to growing media blends, producing stronger, healthier and more fibrous root systems. | 20 Jan 2026 |
| Growing Media pH and EC Testing Video [Video] | Knowing the pH and Electrical Conductivity or EC of your growing media can help you to grow better and more consistent crops. Testing procedures aren’t difficult and can be done at minimal cost. This video shows a process for carrying out a practical on-site pH and electrical conductivity test on growing media. | 20 Jan 2026 |
| Growing Media Air Filled Porosity Testing Video [Video] | Plant roots require air as well as water to remain healthy. The amount of air held within a growing media is referred to as Air filled porosity or AFP . Testing procedures for AFP aren’t difficult and can be done at minimal cost with simple equipment built from readily available materials and a little bit of time. This video shows a process for carrying out a practical on-site air filled porosity test on growing media. | 20 Jan 2026 |
| Growing Media Wettability Testing Video [Video] | The ability of a growing media to take up water effectively once it has dried out is critical to the growth of plants and the ability of the media to become wet again. This is known as wettability. Testing for wettability isn’t difficult and can be done at minimal cost with some basic equipment and a little bit of time. This video shows a process for carrying out a practical on-site wettability test on growing media. | 20 Jan 2026 |
| Growing Media Water Holding Capacity Testing [Video] | Knowing the amount of water held within a growing media, referred to as Water Holding Capacity (WHC) of your growing media can help you manage irrigation scheduling more effectively and ensure plants have adequate moisture. Testing for Water Holding Capacity isn’t difficult and can be done at minimal cost with some basic equipment and a little bit of time. This video shows a process for carrying out a practical on-site water holding capacity test on growing media. | 20 Jan 2026 |
| Soil pH - Nutrient availability chart | How soil/media pH effects nutrient uptake by plants | 1 Dec 2025 |