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Growing Media Association

The GMA is concerned with the development, production, marketing and sale of growing media and soil improvers in the UK and Ireland and the ingredients used to manufacture these products.

The objectives of the Association are:

  • To promote and be a source of sound advice and information about the use of growing media.
  • To foster and encourage the development of effective, safe and environmentally sound growing media in the UK and Ireland.
  • To establish and maintain safety and quality standards for growing media in the UK and Ireland.
  • To represent the interests of the growing media industry to Government, Government bodies, consumers and other organisations.

Why growing media?

When plants are grown in containers, (rather than the soil), a fundamental requirement for healthy growth is a growing medium or substrate that supports a healthy root system.

Plant roots in a container have access to a much smaller volume of substrate than they would when grown in the soil therefore the air and water capacity of the medium used is much more critical.

The GMA and its members are committed to the provision of high quality growing media for the millions of containerised plants grown in the UK every year, whether they are grown by gardeners on their patios or by commercial growers.

If you chose the right growing medium for the plant type and growing situation you are making a good start towards growing a healthy, happy plant. If you get it wrong it can be difficult to correct problems later!

Within these pages you will be able to find information on the history of growing media, the ingredients we use to make them and topical information on issues such as reducing peat use in growing media.