72-Cell Deep PS Plug Tray | 2.17″ Root Depth

Why Deep Cells Matter

Deep-rooted crops need vertical root space. In a shallow tray, tomato and pepper roots hit the bottom early. They circle, tangle, and stall. The result is root-bound seedlings that struggle after transplant. Standard 72-cell trays rarely offer enough depth for crops with a 5-to-8-week nursery cycle. Thin trays also crack under deep soil columns, and uneven cell depths cause patchy germination. One tray with uniform deep cells removes all three problems at once.

Meet the 72T: Our Deepest PS Plug Tray

The 72T gives you 5.5 cm (2.17 inches) of root depth in every cell. That is the deepest cell in our PS range. Seedlings grow straight down instead of circling at the bottom. When transplant day comes, the plug slides out as one intact unit with almost no root damage. We thermoform each 72 cell plug tray from a single sheet of premium polystyrene. The walls stay uniform even at the deepest draw, so cells resist cracking under wet growing medium.

72 Square Cells, 6 x 12 Layout

Each tray holds 72 square cells in a 6 x 12 arrangement. The top opening measures 4.0 cm (1.57 inches) and tapers to a 2.2 cm (0.87 inch) base. Square cells give you roughly 15% more root area than round cells of similar width. The tapered shape guides roots downward and makes plug removal easy. Every cell also carries a single drainage hole, so deep medium drains evenly and never stays waterlogged.

Fits Your 1020 System on Day One

The 72T measures 54 x 28 cm (21.3 x 11.0 inches), the standard 1020 footprint. It nests inside 1020 watertight trays for bottom watering. It also sits flat on mesh benches and stacks neatly with other 1020 trays. You do not need to change benches, irrigation, or handling equipment. Because it runs the full standard footprint, it stacks and handles like every other tray in your range.

Built for Automated Seeders

Drum seeders, needle seeders, and vacuum lines all demand tight tolerances. We form the 72T with consistent cell pitch, opening size, and tray flatness. Every cell rim is clean and smooth, so needles and nozzles never snag. The rigid profile also resists flexing at high speed. That means fewer mis-picks, fewer jams, and more trays seeded per hour.

Light to Ship, Easy on Margins

Each tray weighs just 185 grams. That low weight cuts freight cost directly. A pallet holds 3,200 trays, and a 40-foot high-cube container loads 70,400 units. For high-volume propagation, PS trays offer the lowest landed cost per cell. The deeper draw adds value at the cell level, but the tray still ships light.

Best Crops for the 72T

• Tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants
• Strawberries and geraniums
• Crops spending 5+ weeks in the nursery
• Growers who want maximum root depth in a thermoformed PS tray

Material, Safety, and Reuse

We make every 72 cell plug tray from food-grade expanded polystyrene (PS #6). The trays are BPA-free with no intentionally added lead, cadmium, or heavy metals. Many municipal and commercial facilities recycle PS #6, so we recommend partnering with a local recycling program. These trays work best for single use or 1-3 careful cycles. If you need trays for repeated washing and multi-season use, take a look at our PP range instead.