For greenhouse and nursery growers, water availability, water quality, fertilizer efficiency, and environmental conditions are increasingly connected. “Pesticide residues and plant growth regulators can be common issues, especially in greenhouses that are recycling their water,” Meekins says. Systems that deliver water directly into the container with minimal leachate can reduce water loss, limit fertilizer waste, and improve overall water use efficiency. By applying smaller amounts of water more often, growers can keep more water in the root zone while reducing leachate. For growers facing tighter water supplies or more variable water quality, the path forward is not simply to cut back.