The Plant Sauna
Because a successful crop starts with a healthy plant
“A successful crop all starts with a healthy plant. If the plant isn’t right from the beginning, nothing else matters. The Plant Sauna gives us — and our growers — the best possible foundation to build on. It was a significant investment, but for us there was no question. Our growers deserve the best we can give them.”
— Bert van Geffen, Bert’s Berry Farm
What is the Plant Sauna?
The Plant Sauna uses aerated steam at a precisely controlled temperature to treat strawberry plants — entirely without chemicals. The process gently exposes plants to heat, triggering their natural defence enzymes while eliminating pests and reducing the risk of disease at the same time.
After seeing the results firsthand, we haven’t looked back. Cleaner plants, healthier stock, and greater confidence in every order that leaves our farm.
What it does for your plants
✓ Chemical-free treatment
No pesticides or fungicides. Just steam — better for the plant and better for the environment.
✓ Reduces pest risk
Proven effective against cyclamen mites (Phytonemus pallidus), also known as strawberry mites, one of the most damaging pests in strawberry production.
✓ Reduces disease risk
Proven to significantly reduce or eradicate a range of fungal and bacterial diseases — see the full list below.
✓ Plants survive intact
99.9% of strawberry plants survive the treatment and go on to perform strongly in the field.
How we use it — two layers of protection
We built the Plant Sauna into the core of how we operate, at two key stages of our process.
Mother Stock Treatment
Every season, all our mother stock goes through the Plant Sauna before propagation begins. Clean mother plants mean cleaner daughter plants. It’s not an extra — it’s simply how we do things.
Pre-Delivery Treatment
Want that same level of protection for your order just before it leaves the farm? Add a Plant Sauna treatment to give your plants the cleanest, healthiest possible start on arrival.
Propagator in New Zealand with a Plant Sauna
Of our mother stock treated every season
Plant survival rate after treatment
Featured in HortiDaily
The Plant Sauna has been recognised by HortiDaily — one of the world’s leading horticultural news platforms. Read their featured article on sauna treatment for strawberries and the science behind it.
What the Plant Sauna is proven to treat
The Plant Sauna has been proven to significantly reduce or eradicate the following pests and diseases in strawberry production:
Pests
✓ Cyclamen mites / Strawberry mites (Phytonemus pallidus)
Fungal diseases
✓ Powdery mildew (Podosphaera aphanis)
✓ Anthracnose (Colletotrichum acutatum)
✓ Grey mould (Botrytis cinerea)
✓ Crown rot (Phytophthora cactorum)
✓ Verticillium wilt (Verticillium dahliae)
✓ Pestalotiopsis
Bacterial diseases
✓ Angular leaf spot (Xanthomonas fragariae)
Interested in the Plant Sauna add-on?
Ask us about adding a pre-delivery Plant Sauna treatment to your order. We’re happy to talk you through what’s involved and what it means for your crop.
