Vitro Plus, The Fern Firm
Vitro Plus, The Fern Firm, was founded in 1990 by John Bijl. As the son of a grower, he set out to propagate ferns through tissue culture and spores, creating ferns that align perfectly with customer needs. This goes beyond propagation and cultivation alone. Vitro Plus develops a complete product, where insight and guidance on the growing process and marketing play a key role. Every element must be right, from innovation to quality and personal service.
This ambition has evolved alongside the company. Today, Vitro Plus has nearly 40 years of experience and has grown into an international organisation with 85 employees, exporting over 200 fern varieties worldwide.
‘The origins of ferns date back to prehistoric times,’ says John Bijl. ‘That makes the challenge of propagating these plants even greater. We do this using the latest technology in a controlled, clinical environment. It may sound contradictory for such an ancient species, but it works exceptionally well.’
The advantages of Growcoon for us
- Protects the roots during transplanting
- Easier, earlier and safer transplanting
- Freedom to choose our own substrate
A controlled and manageable process
‘If you want to standardise or automate, you need ease and reliability in your process. Although we are still in the testing phase and not yet automating, we already require every plug to be uniform and stable. The substrate must not fall off. That is exactly what Growcoon delivers.’
‘Growcoon is a valuable addition to the propagation process, especially for high-value crops that are difficult to root, such as certain fern varieties. Rooting improves thanks to the air buffer created between the plug and the tray wall.
Growcoon also adds value during sorting. Plants can be sorted faster within a Growcoon, even when rooting is slower. It provides an immediately stable plug that is easy to remove from the tray. The result: less root damage and significant time savings. Ultimately, the additional investment more than pays for itself.’
‘Customer response to Growcoon is very positive. On its own, Growcoon is already highly sustainable due to its biodegradable nature. The new brown colour further strengthens this sustainability profile. And that is becoming increasingly important.’
Growth ambitions
‘We are now also testing Growcoon in a new segment: more hardy ferns for outdoor use. We call this line 'Cedar House Ferns'. These ferns are intended for gardens and parks, targeting the retail and consumer market.
Sustainability is a core part of this concept. We aim to use raw materials as efficiently as possible and minimise our impact on nature. We grow peat-free, avoid plastic packaging, apply selective crop protection methods, and are testing a larger Growcoon.
We transplant these into a cardboard pot. Both are biodegradable, allowing the plant to be planted directly into the ground without removing the pot. This is not only sustainable, it also adds significant convenience.’
Growcoon as pot replacement
‘Using Growcoon as a pot is also highly promising for landscaping and maintenance,’ says John Bijl. ‘There is a major efficiency gain when you no longer need to remove plastic pots and can plant in a single movement. Growcoon plays a key role in this process and drastically reduces plastic waste, especially at scale.’
Klasmann-Deilmann
It’s impossible to get a result without a good substrate, which is why Growcoon and Klasmann-Deilmann have joined forces. Klasmann-Deilmann is the market leader in substrates, so its experts know exactly what your crop needs. They work with you to maximise yields from your cultivation. When you decide to switch to the Growcoon, they can help you on your way.
Request a free trial kit now
If you’d like to find out what the Growcoon can do for you, request a free trial kit. Together, we’ll determine which Growcoon is best for your system. We’re happy to help.
