Gel-based horticultural plug
A gel plug comprised of a gel may be used for growth of plants. The gel may include two polysaccharide components, with a second of the two components providing increased rigidity Plants may be grown, including from seed, in the gel plug.
1. A medium for germination and/or growth of plants, comprising:
a plug with a lower surface, an upper surface, and a sidewall interconnecting the lower surface and the upper surface;
the plug comprising a gellan gum and chitosan, the plug comprising 0.0007% to 0.3% chitosan by weight.
2. The medium of claim 1 , wherein the plug comprises 1% gellan gum and 0.0075% chitosan by weight.
3. The medium of claim 1 , wherein the plug comprises 1% gellan gum and 0.0008% chitosan by weight.
4. The medium of claim 1 , wherein the plug comprises 0.2% to 3% gellan gum by weight.
5. The medium of claim 1 , wherein the plug further comprises activated charcoal to decrease passage of light though the plug.
6. The medium of claim 1 , wherein the plug is a gel plug.
7. The medium of claim 6 , further comprising a seed, for germination, on or at least partially within the gel plug.
8. The medium of claim 6 , further comprising a plant growing in the gel plug.
9. The medium of claim 6 , wherein the gel plug is in a plant tray, the plant tray including cavities for a plurality of plants.
10. The medium of claim 6 , wherein the lower surface is of a different shape than the upper surface.
11. The medium of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of plugs each comprising a first polysaccharide and a second polysaccharide, and a plant tray including cavities for the plug and the plurality of plugs, with each of the cavities having a one of the plug or plurality of plugs therein.