A recent addition to the Hortifeed range of products is Fytocell – a unique substrate designed to improve the water and air holding capacity of any compost.

The product has been available to the landscaping fraternity for some time and has become the substrate of choice for roof gardens where its light weight has proved a major benefit.

Now Hortifeeds are introducing the product to commercial growers in slab form for hydroponic growing and in flake form as an additive for compost. The recommended rate is 20% by volume. Fytocell is produced from an aminoplast resin and incorporates small open cells which are connected to each other. This structure helps to deliver a near perfect air/water ratio for growing plants.


Used as a compost additive Fytocell Flakes create an excellent growing environment by increasing the pore volume of the substrate, enhancing its moisture capacity improving aeration and increasing fresh and dry weight. The primary advantage of Fytocell is that it helps ensure good oxygen content throughout the substrate – and while it’s easy to add water, it’s very difficult to add air. It also ensures an increase in available nutrient elements – especially nitrogen and potassium.

Fytocell is completely sterile, environmentally safe and is biodegradeable. Edinburgh-based R&D Nurseries, which grows a range of crops including hardy ornamental and ericaceous plants plus trees and shrubs will be trialling Fytocell over the next few months. Ron Mason, who runs the nursery, commented that they decided to trial the product after seeing what he desribed as a fantastic crop of Rhododendron grown in Fytocell in Germany.

In addition, Hortifeeds is currently organising a number of trials on 20 litre strawberry growing bags which are ready mixed with Fytocell. Richard Cameron, the company’s area manager for Scotland and North East, said that it is still early days for Fytocell but they are confident the trials will deliver the right results. “Fytocell is already widely used by commercial growers on the continent and we’re sure it will achieve similar success in the UK.”

Updates on Fytocell trials will be provided in future editions of this newsletter and on the company’s website at www.hortifeeds.co.uk Anyone who is interested in trialling the product or requires further information should contact us on 01522 704404.