“FerSol® offers growers the opportunity to work safely and responsibly, without compromising on results.”
Traditional chemical products release harmful chlorine fumes
Gerald Aukes is Relationship Manager Ornamentals at Mertens. He speaks with growers daily and notices a shift in the conversation. Where it used to be mainly about effectiveness, the focus is now increasingly on safety. “HR is involved. As a company, you can no longer justify using products that release harmful fumes.”
During a crop rotation, everything needs to be cleaned: cultivation floors, glass, gutters, trays – everything must be free of algae, organic debris, and pathogens. At the same time, cleaning itself comes with risks. High humidity makes floors slippery, and traditional chemical products release chlorine fumes that are harmful to both people and plants.
“This makes the search for alternatives more urgent,” says Aukes. “Especially in greenhouses where crops are still growing while you want to clean another section. Then you need something that is safe to use.”
Alternative to chlorine-based products
“FerSol® is a perfect alternative to chlorine-based products,” Aukes believes. “In vegetable cultivation, it has played a major role in reducing cucumber green mottle mosaic virus on a large scale. But there’s also growing demand for it during regular crop rotations. FerSol® is used for entire greenhouse setups, essentially on everything you want clean and ready for the next crop,” Aukes explains.
These days, companies with short crop cycles, such as seed multipliers or breeders, especially benefit from its quick application. “You use FerSol®, rinse it off, and can immediately continue. There’s no need to shut down entire sections, and it’s safe for your other plants. It perfectly fits the way growers operate.”
Easy to use, great results
According to Aukes, it’s mainly a matter of companies becoming familiar with the product. “FerSol® is still unknown to many growers. And unknown often means unloved. But once they try it, they usually don’t want to go back. It’s cost-effective, there’s no need for hot water, and it doesn’t release fumes. That makes it both safe and effective.”
To lower the threshold, Vivochem demonstrates the product in practice. “William conducts an audit and shows on-site how it works. Once people see and experience it for themselves, trust follows naturally. The product proves itself.”
An industry in transition
Aukes observes that greenhouse horticulture is increasingly moving toward safe, practical solutions. “We’re in a sector that needs to accomplish a lot in very little time. A product like FerSol® is simply practical. But it goes beyond that. It aligns with how the industry wants to work: responsibly, safely, and future-ready. And when the time comes that you’re required to switch,” he concludes, “you’ll be glad you’re already familiar with the product.”
