The New Lower Tray: A Step Forward
Curious about the benefits of a lower tray? Or why this change has a positive impact on Phalaenopsis? Read all about it in this article.
Since April 2025, Anthura has been supplying Phalaenopsis young plants in a redesigned, lower tray. Nearly a year later, the results are positive: the plants are healthier thanks to a drier microclimate at the top of the plug, and there is generally lower disease pressure in the greenhouse. We also understand that switching to a new tray may raise questions among customers. That is why we have summarised the main benefits and practical tips for you below. Should you have any additional questions or comments afterwards, your account manager will of course be happy to assist.
Why this new tray?
The lower tray promotes better drying at the top of the plug. A drier environment gives fungi such as Fusarium fewer opportunities to develop and helps make young plants stronger. This reduces disease pressure, contributing to prevention rather than treatment. It also aligns well with the sustainability goals of our young plant production. Ultimately, it helps ensure the consistent quality and vitality of our plants.
Experiences in Practice
Feedback has generally been positive due to the improved plant health. At the same time, we have heard that in some cases the tray requires a little extra attention during potting. This is because the plants sit more firmly in the cups. This is caused by certain varieties producing more roots, which can grow into neighbouring plugs.
Practical Tips for a Smooth Start
To make potting easier, we recommend:
- Watering the plants one day in advance; moist plugs are easier to remove.
- Using a machine that massages the plug cups to help release the plugs more easily.
- Removing the plugs from the tray beforehand if you want to maintain speed in the potting line.
- If pre-removal is not possible, use a tray holder so you can pot with both hands.
Continuing to Improve Together
Anthura continuously works on optimising cultivation and product development. We therefore highly value your experiences with the lower trays. Based on your feedback, we continue to investigate and test improvements in:
- Growing conditions
- Light settings
- Plug and tray optimisation
A Future-Proof Cultivation
The lower tray is an important step towards stronger, more resilient and more uniform young plants. By learning and optimising together, we help each other achieve better results every day and contribute to a future-proof cultivation process.
