Bare root cold storage facility root media - Ask Extension
Hello,
Our nursery is currently building a small cold storage room for bare root fruit trees.I would like to know if there are certain media that wor...
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Bare root cold storage facility root media #890320
Asked November 26, 2024, 12:08 PM EST
Hello,
Our nursery is currently building a small cold storage room for bare root fruit trees.I would like to know if there are certain media that work best for maintaining the proper levels of moisture around roots. I plan to use Doug Fir sawdust in totes. Also, does relative humidity need to be retained throughout the whole cooler space or just around the root area?
Thanks
Benton County Oregon
Expert Response
Hello Michael,
Sawdust is a great economical option; other potential media is clean/ sterilized well drained potting soil or wood shavings (these other options may cost more, and sawdust is the norm in our area). while the root zone is most important for relative humidity, keeping the whole space relatively humid is beneficial to prevent the stored bareroot trees from drying out.