A horticultural substrate conditioner includes a housing having an opening to receive a growing medium and an outlet to discharge the growing medium, a shaft arranged within the housing, the shaft rotatable relative to the housing, and a plurality of tines disposed on the shaft spaced apart from each other, the tines comprising a flexible material, wherein upon entry of a growing medium into the housing, the tines are capable of engaging the growing medium such that as the shaft rotates, the growing medium is broken apart and/or reduced in density and size to enable optimal distribution of the growing medium into a container upon discharge from the housing.