Trillion Trees Australia is working in partnership with Greening Australia to trial ‘Growcoon’ technology to boost seeding success.
The Growcoon is a unique cutting and seed plug holder made of 100% biodegradable polymer material, that is designed to support and protect the root ball of a young plant in the early stages of its growth. The unique patented net structure was developed in Europe, and gives roots plenty of space to develop optimally and form a nice root ball. After transplantation, the Growcoon will degrade completely, leaving no waste.
Greening Australia has faced challenges getting several species established in their seed production area, with young plants struggling to survive the early stages of growth. This season, we’ve partnered with them on a new project aimed at improving outcomes. Focusing on three target species, the trial is exploring every step of the process—boosting germination, supporting early growth, and helping seedlings transition successfully into the field.
Greening Australia's Technical Specialist - Seed Science, Dr Edward Tsen, explains more:
"At Greening Australia, many thousand native plants are planted out as seedlings every year, both in restoration and for use in seed production areas (or SPAs).
Planting out is a key stress-phase for a seedling, with several points of manipulation and handling after being removed from their tray or tube. This means that they almost inevitably suffer some root disturbance when removed from their container and planted into the field. This root-shock can be a key driver of early-phase mortality, especially if the soil around root-ball has been broken, as sometimes happens when planting – especially with small seedlings.
Between SeeedX and Greening Australia, we have been establishing a seed production area at Jarrega Farm, to supply genetically diverse, climate-adapted Native seed for use in restoration. We are in the final stages of filling some tricky provenances in the seed orchard and have had some seedling mortality shortly after planting in previous years for certain planting lines.
Growcoons are a biodegradable seed-plug/nursery tray and tube slip, developed by high-throughput nurseries in the Netherlands. The idea is that the polymer mesh (derived from natural sources) sits snuggly inside the tube during seedling development and is otherwise treated as a normal seedling. Being a little slippery, it helps slide the seedling out of the tube with minimal breakage, and acts like a net when the seedling is out of it’s container, maintaining that critical root structure at the time of planting. This seems to dramatically reduce early-phase root shock and improves post-planting recovery and subsequent survival and growth. It also makes inspection of the roots much simpler at nurseries, as the seedlings can be gently popped up for a quick look and replaced with minimal root disturbance.
We wanted to give this year’s crop of seedlings the best possible start in life and wanted to trial the use of Growcoon technology to improve post-planting survival. We have heard that this approach is starting to be adopted in WA nurseries and wanted to give it a try at Trillion Trees."
The trial aims to produce over 3000 seedlings across three species and 11 provenances. The trial species are Eremaea pauciflora, Senna artemisioides and Banksia attenuata.
By growing seedlings in these Growcoon containers, we hope to reduce the root disturbance that often leads to stress and mortality when plants are transplanted.
Growcoons are made from 100% biodegradable material and can be filled with any potting mix. Their open, mesh-like structure gives roots plenty of room to spread and form a healthy root ball. Once the plant is ready for the field, the entire Growcoon can be planted along with it. Over time, it naturally breaks down into water and CO₂, leaving no waste behind.
By providing a gentler transition for seedlings, Growcoons may offer Greening Australia a practical, sustainable way to improve establishment and enhance diversity in seed production areas.
Assistant Nursery Manager Steven Orange checks the Growcoon seedlings for pests.
Senna artemisioides seedlings emerging inside their Growcoons