HydraFiber Heroes: Fernando Hernandez, Colorpoint LLC, Illinois
Fernando Hernandez, operations manager at Colorpoint, LLC in Illinois, discusses how easy it was to transition to HydraFiber and the benefits of less dust and improved storage.
Fernando Hernandez, operations manager at Colorpoint, LLC in Illinois, discusses how easy it was to transition to HydraFiber and the benefits of less dust and improved storage.
“We were impressed, not only with its ability to retain water, but also its ability to have porosity at the same time, which almost seems like an oxymoron, but it definitely happens. HydraFiber holds water and doesn’t dry out as quickly, but at the same time, when it’s wet, it doesn’t turn into mud or mush.”
"We are using the 365WB HydraFiber material in our mix. The moisture content is about 55%, and the mix holds together like a loose snowball to give us the best 'loft' during filling. It rolls through the mixing line well and fill the pots nicely. Handling the new mix is a little different…but it's working!"
"The biggest efficiency is space savings. We're able to bring in 3 to 4 loads of compressed HydraFiber vs. 30 to 40 of perlite."
"The HydraFiber and AgriNomix teams were excellent to work with as we made the transition. We worked with them to get both our soil blends and the mixing equipment just right."
"After 30-plus years in the greenhouse industry, I’ve made the biggest changes in my substrate mixers with HydraFiber. After lots of trialing and tweaking, we’re at 55% peat, 25% coir, 25% HydraFiber and it’s working very well. We’re really getting a great, great root system that is going through that substrate, all the way down to the bottom of the pot. In all the years that I’ve mixed soil, I’ve never seen the root systems just permeate the soil ball like they are now. Get a good root system and the plant will come."
x