Plants Information

The geographical location of Pistoia is particularly suitable for the quick development of outdoor plants: the mountains protect the plants from the cold northern winds and at the same time they are a source of water in abundance.  Pistoia is situated in an alluvial plane where the terrain is unique: it is both loose and clayey at the same time, perfectly suitable for the growth of the roots.

The climate, the geographical position and the terrain of our tree-nurseries allow us to cultivate various species and varieties of plants that are ready to be transplanted into gardens at the seaside, to flat ground or indeed to mountainous areas.  Such characteristics, in short, are some of the reasons for which Pistoia has been the worldwide tree nursery capital for over 150 years.

The tree nurseries
In the 5 production tree nurseries, which are located within different areas of the flatland of the Pistoia area, we apply all the appropriate cultivation techniques that are specific for each species. Some plants are cultivated in the ground, according to the traditional tree nursery techniques; others are cultivated in containers and in Airplant ^© in order to be ready for purchasing and in order to guarantee strong roots. 

      
nursery of   Masiano (400.000 mq) - Pistoia
(clic to enlarge)

The plants that are cultivated using the traditional methods, in the earth, are then available during the warmer periods thanks to the protection of the clod with Plant-Plast^©, a system that protects the clod of the plant and that stimulates the production of capillary roots, an extra guarantee that we offer to our clients.

nursery of   S. Pierino (80.000 mq) - Pistoia

THE AIRPLANT^© SISTEM

For the urban environment our range of plants grown with the "Strong Roots" Airplant system is particularly interesting. This cultivation technique takes place in special containers and allows the roots to develop vertically downwards and create a thick web of root nodules on the bottom of the container. The Airplant system helps avoid all problems deriving from cultivation in containers, like spiral roots or tendrils protruding outside the containers.

Airplant cultivations: nursery of Masiano (400.000 mq) - Pistoia

Advantages of the Airplant system

Simplified transplanting: remove the pot and plant the tree without having to untangle the roots and prune the foliage.

Quick rooting: after transplanting, in spring, the plant flourishes immediately.

Attractive appearance: the plants immediately look robust and healthy and require less maintenance.

Strong roots: the strong roots make the plants especially resistant to difficult ground, lack of humidity, parasites and weeds, and above all give the plant greater stability from the first year of transplanting.

The trees and bushes grown in Airplant can be planted at any time of year, even in summer.

A system to simplify planting in an urban environment.

The Airplant System Implanting Technique gives the plant abundant, fresh land for the whole of its long life, and the ideal features for root development.

     
a thick web of root nodules on the bottom of the container

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION

The plants are grown in containers which are open at the top and bottom with ventilation grids. Inside the container is an air chamber (rhyzogenic chamber**) deisnged to diffuse the air in the cultivation substrata. The container is raised from the ground on special support rails throughout the cultivation cycle.

Ventilation of the substratum favours abundant root development encouraging them to fall downwards into the soil mass, even in the central area not usually used by the plant, and a probable source of root infection. When they reach the bottom of the pot the roots protrude from the bottom grid to reach the natural earth (positive geotropism); their growth is halted by the air (airpruning) after a few millimetres. Thus the roots do not form a spiral or protrude from the container to damage the plant's potential future growth.

The roots repeatedly "cut" by the air form "scar tissue" on the ends which is useful when the plant is placed in its final situation because it makes the roots capable of a swift growth reaction once in contact with the earth. As this tissue is on the bottom it favours the development of active roots in the coolest part of the earth at a depth of about 40-45cm, giving the plant excellent stability from the beginning.

Magnolia grandiflora gallisoniensis, h m 10: nursery of  S.pierino (80.000 mq) - Pistoia

Citruses into Impruneta's Cotto: house piante Mati (25.000 mq) - Pistoia

If you need more information contact us at

* info@piantemati.it *

Piante MATI Pistoia - via Bonellina, 49 - 51100 Pistoia - Italy
tel. 0039 573 380051 - fax 0039 573 382361

© 2003 by PIANTE MATI PISTOIA^® -(Pistoia - ITALY