Customer case

Streng Growers convinced of hybrid fertilisation in container cultivation

About this client

Name

Streng Growers

Sector

Substrates

Location

Boskoop (Nederland)

Tom Brand, responsible for cultivation and sales, shares his experience with hybrid fertilisation in container cultivation: "After four growing cycles of Passiflora and one complete growing cycle of Gaultheria, the results are better than with conventional fertilisation."

Streng Growers and sustainability as a sales argument

Streng Growers, based in Boskoop, is a family business specialising in the sustainable cultivation of climbing plants, fruit plants and seasonal garden plants. Its products are supplied to garden centres, exporters and retailers, with a strong focus on quality and a varied year‑round assortment. The team, led by Tom Brand, who is responsible for cultivation and sales, is continuously committed to innovation and the implementation of more sustainable growing techniques.

Sustainability plays an increasingly important role at Streng Growers. Tom Brand explains that making cultivation more sustainable not only helps reduce the ecological footprint but is also increasingly driven by market demand. For this reason, the company is continuously working to optimise both its operational processes and its cultivation methods. One example is the introduction of herb strips between and around the growing beds. These strips attract natural predators of pests and therefore help reduce the need for chemical crop protection products. According to Brand, sustainable cultivation not only benefits the environment, but also creates opportunities for innovation and further development.

Why does Streng Growers choose DCM

There is a growing interest in fully organic, RHP-certified fertilisers. The raw materials used in these fertilisers are sourced from by-product flows from the food processing industry and agriculture. As a result, valuable resources are reused rather than wasted, while the broad range of raw materials contributes to a high‑quality fertiliser. These organic fertilisers have been successfully used in container cultivation for decades, and the market is increasingly moving towards organic fertilisation. According to experts, this makes it advisable to start gaining experience with organic approaches step by step. What may seem like a small change in application can have a significant impact on both crop performance and environmental sustainability.

Streng Growers is always looking for ways to make its cultivation practices more sustainable. In 2025, a large-scale trial was carried out at Streng Growers using hybrid

fertilisation, a combination of organic and coated mineral fertilisers (CRF). The aim was to evaluate the effects of this strategy on plant growth and plant health. In the Passiflora crop, the results were immediately noticeable: the fertilisation ensured uniform development and a strong root system. At the same time, this approach supports soil life, making the cultivation both more sustainable and more efficient

The experience with DCM

At Streng Growers, part of the traditional CRF fertilisers has now been replaced by circular organic fertilisers. Tom Brand is positive about the results: "after four growing cycles of Passiflora and one complete growing cycle of Gaultheria, the results are better than with conventional fertilisation."

"

The results are better than with conventional fertilisation"

Tom Brand , Streng Growers

Hybrid fertilisation for efficient and sustainable cultivation

Hybrid fertilisation combines organic fertilisers with coated mineral fertilisers (CRF). Thanks to this combination, a complementary effect is achieved: organic fertilisers ensure an even distribution of nutrients in the substrate, which is essential for a strong start, while CRFs provide plants with nutrients over a longer period of time. In addition, organic fertilisation helps reduce nutrient leaching, resulting in a more efficient and sustainable cultivation process.

Tom Brand emphasizes that fertilisers are not only a source of nutrition for plants. They also play a vital role in supporting soil life, an aspect that is becoming increasingly important as growers have fewer crop protection products at their disposal. A healthy soil ecosystem and strong microbiological activity are essential for plant resilience and sustainable growth.

Conventional fertilisation

Hybrid fertilisation with DCM

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