What Is a Greenhouse Liner?

Types of Nurseries

• To better understand what a liner nursery is, you must become familiar with the different types of nurseries and the order in which a plant is started, grown on, finished and finally sold. Liner nurseries are the first step in the assembly line of propagation. Many wholesale nurseries have specialized in starter plants. These small starter plants are then shipped to the wholesale grower for further growth and finishing. Wholesale nurseries then sell to a retail nursery to be sold to the general public.

Types of Liners

• Most liner material is made up of perennials and woody material, such as shrubs and trees. Annuals are often grown in plugs. Liners can be grown in containers of various sizes or in the ground. Container sizes vary with the needs of the plant, many looking like a black nursery tray with several holes. Some liners are grown in individual pots of various size. In-ground liners are plants that are propagated directly in the ground and later undercut and shipped as bare root material to wholesalers.

Oppurtunities for Liner Production

• Plants can be propagated by seed, cuttings or tissue culture. Focusing on one method and a small species selection will give the grower an advantage over large scale production. Liner production can be very profitable, but there are many management techniques that need to be addressed in growing young plants. Adequate heat, light, drainage, moisture and nutrient needs are all areas that are species-specific. A good liner producer will know and invest in proper equipment to provide the necessary care.

Planting Liners

• When planting a greenhouse liner in larger containers or in the field, make sure that the top-most root is positioned close to the soil surface. Roots should be loosened so that the roots are facing away from the trunk. Remove all roots growing up towards the soil, as these can lead to substantial problems in the future. Roots should not grow parallel to each other or cross. Every liner will have a different root system, and should be inspected on an individual basis before planting.