Everything You Need to Know About Stem Holder

What is stem holder?

Stem holder, also known as body hook, is greenhouse accessory, which is widely used in commercial greenhouses in order to fasten additional side shots to main stem, mostly in tomato plants.

Stem holder is made of plastic and mainly available in white color.

In which plants can stem holder be used?

Stem holder is usually used in tomato plants, but this can be utilized in other plants, such as cucumber, beans, roses and strawberry, depending on side shoot characteristics of plants.

Why do greenhouse growers need to use stem holder?

The primary benefits of stem holder are stated below:

1. Increase profit and efficiency. If grower decides to benefit from side shoots, he should care these side shots like main stem. In this case, additional twine hook and other accessories should be installed on additional shots, which means extra cost to growers. By using stem holder, side shoot is connected to main stem and it eliminates the cost of additional accessories. Grower should remember that the cost of one stem holder is less that one tomato, though there will be more than one tomato in additional shoot. As a result, using stem holder makes greenhouse growers better off at the end. Moreover, stem holder can be utilized for two growing seasons, which results with less cost to growers. It is very easy and quick to install, remove or adjust stem holder, because of flexible and strong design and this increases labor efficiency in greenhouses. Workforce time also diminishes as there is no need to install additional twine hooks for side shoot.

2. Protect plant. First of all, stem holder prevents side shoots or stems from bending or breaking and with that protects main stem. Secondly, stem holder saves lower clusters from contacting with ground, which results in rotting. Moreover, if side shoots grow without fastening to main stem, they will grow wild and obstruct ventilation in greenhouse.

How do greenhouse growers use stem holder?

Side shoots grow in the junction between main stem and branch of plant. When it is not pruned, it becomes another main stem with its own branches, clusters and yields. It is crucial for growers who want to get the maximum yield from plants and the right care is needed to get this yield. Stem holder is major accessory for growing side shoots. It fastens side shoots to main stems, eliminates usage of additional hooks and protects stems. Stem holder is installed during growing period, which is usually about third month. As stated above, it is very easy to install stem holder: grower just needs to connect grown side shoots with major stem, which is fastened to trellis system. The number of stem holder for each plant depends on variety of plant and the number of beneficial side shots that grow in the plant.