The preparation and handling of the plants for delivery or moving to their final position.
- Water content and EC: when delivering the plants the target water content should be 55% to 65% in the cubes. If the cubes are too wet there is more chance of root damage (secondary root diseases). Heads can break if the plants are delivered horizontally. The EC in the cube needs to be at least 4.0.
- Selection: selection should be by size. Separate the smaller plants, the plants with very uneven shoots or with pinched plants the ones with only one shoot.
- Handling: make sure you compress the cubes as little as possible and handle carefully. This is also to avoid root damage and secondary infection.
- Keep the time between picking up from propagation and putting out in the greenhouse as short as possible.
- Size and packing: plant selection is best done before loading the truck.
- Hygiene: always use clean trays and trolleys. Trays and trolleys must be washed and disinfected before use. Always wash before disinfection, otherwise disinfection won't work. Also disinfect the truck that is transporting the plants.
- The temperature of the delivery truck is important especially if the plants spend a long time in it. This should be at 17 to 18 °C.