Trilogy Float Tray
When you see the Trilogy Float Tray, you'll never go back to old styrofoam trays. The Trilogy Tray yields better plants with robust root systems; it's cost effective and better for the environment.
The Latest Advancement in Float Tray Technology
The Trilogy Tray is an injection molded plastic float tray made from recyclable material. Its patent pending design performs consistently from season to season and has a much longer lifespan than styrofoam trays. Trilogy trays are much easier and less costly to clean and sanitize.
Variety of Uses
The Trilogy Tray is used for greenhouse plants requiring float trays. Originally designed for greenhouse tobacco plants, the Trilogy Tray also works great for vegetable crops, and herbs such as Stevia.
Trilogy Tray Advantages
- Improved, consistent tray performance
- Quicker, more uniform germination
- Faster wicking and eliminates wicking problems
- Yields more usable plants
- Easier tray sanitation (less costly, more effective; no dipping, steaming, or fumigating)
- Sturdy construction with much longer life span (20+ years)
- Made from recyclable material and is recyclable
- Addresses issues with cleaning of trays and disease carryover
- Addresses environmental concerns of Expanded PolyStyrene (EPS) trays (disposal and NTRM)
- Easy handling and storage
- Click here to compare Trilogy Tray value to old styrofoam trays
Features
- Molded in both 288 and 338 cells
- Sturdy construction
- Works well with existing seeding equipment
- No pores that can harbor disease
Why Change?
- The Trilogy Tray is durable and cost effective.
- Sanitation of current EPS trays is costly and may be of limited effectiveness.
- Aging EPS trays have issues related to production, especially concerning disease management (“Old tray syndrome”).
- Environmental concerns with current EPS tray.
- Estimated 10 million pounds of EPS material in the environment from EPS trays.
- EPS fragments represent potential NTRM (non tobacco related material) that must be kept out of tobacco.
Tips for the Healthiest Tobacco Plants
- Choose a high quality potting soil mix with large particle size distribution and high air porosity such as Beltwide Gold.
- Follow up with a good fertility program based on water samples.
- Promote early root growth and development with Coastal’s Impact F Float Bed Program. Impact F in the greenhouse leads to a healthier plant with increased photosynthesis and fertilizer use efficiency.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the Trilogy Tray float level?
Yes, your Trilogy Tray will float level if you “place” it in the water correctly. The Trilogy Tray relies on air trapped under the tray to float correctly. This means you have to “place” the Trilogy Tray level in the water. If you place the Trilogy Tray level in the water, it will float level.
Will tobacco plants fall out of the Trilogy Tray?
A healthy transplant with a good root system will not fall out of the Trilogy Tray. To get the healthiest plants possible, choose a good potting soil mix with large particle size distribution and high air porosity such as Beltwide Gold. Follow up with a good fertility program based on water samples and Coastal’s Impact F Float Bed Program.
Are tobacco plants easy to remove?
Tobacco plants will not grow roots into the side of your Trilogy Tray making them easier to remove with less damage to the stems in the setting process.
Can I use my current seeding equipment?
Yes, you can use your current seeding equipment to seed your Trilogy Tray. The depth of the Trilogy Tray is less than that of older Syrofoam (EPS) trays on the market, but is the same depth as the newer Styrofoam trays being sold. You will have to adjust your seeder for a shallower tray whether it is the Trilogy Tray or a new Styrofoam tray.
Can I put the Trilogy Tray in the same float bed as the Styrofoam Tray?
No, do not mix your Trilogy Tray and Styrofoam tray in the same float bed. The Trilogy Tray is shallower than the “older” styrofoam trays. The Trilogy Tray will float a little lower in the water than the styrofoam tray and will be hard to mow at an even height. The best scenario is to have a whole greenhouse of the same tray. At a bare minimum, have a whole bed of the same tray.
How should I store the Trilogy Tray?
Your Trilogy Tray can be stored in the same way as the Styrofoam tray, with one exception. Make sure your Trilogy Tray is stored on a flat surface, such as a concrete floor, shipping container, or on pallets. Stacking your Trilogy Tray on a flat surface insures the tray will not warp or bend. The Trilogy Tray does have “memory,
Can I store the Trilogy Tray in the Greenhouse?
Yes, you can store your Trilogy Tray in the greenhouse if you stack them on a flat surface such as a pallet. Heat and sunlight could reduce the life of your Trilogy Tray just as it will reduce the life of a Styrofoam tray.
How do I clean the Trilogy Tray?
Cleaning your Trilogy Tray is simple. Wash your Trilogy Tray with a high pressure water hose or pressure washer to remove all soil and plant material. This is all the sanitation needed for your Trilogy Tray. Removing all soil and plant debris is adequate to sanitize the Trilogy Tray, even from Tobacco Mosaic Virus. Your Trilogy Tray will not have to be dipped, steamed, or fumigated.
Will the Trilogy Tray really last 20 plus years?
The Trilogy Tray is new to tobacco greenhouse production, but is not new to other greenhouse industries. The design of the Trilogy Tray has been used in other greenhouse industries with trays lasting for 20+ years. If proper care is taken with your Trilogy Tray, it will last for 20 plus years.
How do the Tobacco Companies feel about the Trilogy Tray?
Some companies are paying more attention than others. The overall response is positive. Obviously, anything that would remove a source of Styrofoam from a tobacco farm would be favorable to any tobacco company.
Resources
Coastal Green Cat
100% Soluble Calcium Liquid Fertilizer for the correction of calcium and sulfur deficiencies in float bed tobacco.
Trilogy Tray Information Sheet
A printable Trilogy Tray information sheet