If you've ever pulled a seedling from a standard tray and found a tangled, spiralling root ball, you'll understand why root architecture matters. The TS-45F is a professional-grade propagation tray designed to solve that problem from the start — using air pruning to produce dense, healthy roots that establish quickly and perform strongly after transplant.
How Air-Root Pruning Works
Each square cell has side-slot openings that expose root tips to air as they grow outward. When a root tip reaches the air gap, it naturally stops elongating — prompting the plant to branch out and develop more lateral roots instead. The result is a compact, fibrous root ball that transplants with minimal stress and gets growing faster in the ground.
At extraction, tapered slots release the root ball cleanly with minimal force, and sharp edges at the top of each slot shear fine roots as the plug comes out — a tidy finish that takes no extra effort.
What Makes It Different
- Square cells air-prune on all four sides simultaneously — more thorough than round-cell designs
- 93 cc cell volume — suited to woody plants, trees, shrubs, and native species that need room to develop
- 540 plants per m² — efficient use of bench or growing space at home or in the shed
- UV-stabilised virgin HDPE — built to last through many seasons of use
- Ideal for Australian natives, ornamental trees and shrubs, hardwood cuttings, and forestry seedlings
Specifications
| Tray Dimensions | 385 × 216 × 85 mm |
| Cell Dimensions | 41 × 41 × 85 mm |
| Cell Volume | 93 cc |
| Plants per m² | 540 |
| Material | UV-stabilised virgin HDPE |
| Best For | Woody plants, Australian natives, hardwood cuttings, forestry seedlings |
Frequently Asked Questions
What plants is the TS-45F suited to?
The TS-45F works best with woody plants that benefit from a deeper cell and strong root development — Australian natives, ornamental trees and shrubs, hardwood cuttings, and forestry seedlings. The 93 cc cell volume gives roots the space they need without being oversized for smaller species.
Why does root architecture matter at transplant?
A spiralling or circling root system doesn't straighten itself out after planting — it keeps growing that way, which can restrict the plant's development long-term. Air-pruned roots branch outward naturally, so when the plug goes in the ground, the root system is already primed to spread and establish quickly.
How do I extract plugs without damaging the root ball?
The TS-45F's tapered cell slots are designed for clean extraction with minimal force. Push up from the base and the plug releases without pulling or tearing the root ball. No tools required for most plug sizes.
