40/40 Plug Case

What the iHort 40/40 Q-Plug Is

The iHort 40/40 Q-Plug (SKU: Q40P162S) is an all-around propagation plug built for germinating seedlings and rooting cuttings in closely populated tray systems. Each plug measures 1.57″ × 1.57″ and is formed from a proprietary blend of sphagnum peat moss, coco coir, and coconut-shell biochar — fully biodegradable, with no perlite or vermiculite. The plug is pre-drilled with either a 1/8″ or 1/4″ dibble opening to accommodate smaller cuttings or larger-caliper stems and seeds respectively.

iHort (International Horticulture Technologies) has been producing Q-Plugs since 1982. The 40/40 is their flagship shape — widely recognized as the most replicated plug profile in commercial horticulture — and is manufactured in the USA.

Who This Case Is For

At 2,100 plugs per case, the Q40P162S is a commercial buy. It makes sense for licensed cannabis and hemp operations running dedicated propagation rooms or tissue-culture-to-clone pipelines, as well as nursery and greenhouse operators staging large seedling batches on a recurring schedule.

The plug's stable, non-slouching structure makes it compatible with automated transplanting and pull-and-pack workflows — allowing operators to double plant count per shipping box while maintaining accurate counts and a uniform grade. If your propagation program runs 50-, 72-, or 98-cell trays and you're pulling cuttings on a weekly schedule, ordering by the case (or pallet) eliminates the per-bag overhead of retail packaging.

Key Technical Attributes

The 40/40 Q-Plug is engineered for a specific balance of moisture retention and air porosity. The peat/coco/biochar matrix holds only as much water as the root zone needs, reducing the risk of oversaturation while keeping the plug damp enough to sustain root initiation. The plug's structure is designed to maintain its shape throughout the crop life cycle — minimal breakdown means less organic debris migrating into recirculating systems, which reduces filter maintenance in hydroponic and aeroponic setups.

Each plug contains trichoderma — a beneficial fungus inoculated into the media that promotes root structure and health, competes against pathogenic fungi and molds, and can enhance germination rates. This inoculation is built into the plug itself; no separate biocontrol application is required at the propagation stage.

Once cuttings have rooted or seedlings have germinated, the Q-Plug transplants directly into soil, coco, rockwool, or loose mix — and is also compatible with hydroponic, aeroponic, and aquaponic end systems. There is no need to remove or disturb the plug at transplant.

Ordering and Logistics for Commercial Programs

The Q40P162S case format ships 2,100 loose plugs per case and palletizes at 24 cases — 50,400 plugs per full pallet. For operations sizing out a season's propagation budget or establishing a standing replenishment order, the pallet-level format is the most efficient procurement path.

HSC supplies the iHort 40/40 Q-Plug case to licensed cannabis and hemp operators nationwide. Request a quote through HSC to discuss case or pallet volume, lead time, and delivery scheduling to your facility.