Described herein are several embodiments of a handling apparatus for plant growth substrates and associated methods of use. For example, in one embodiment, an apparatus for separately and automatically dispensing plant growth media includes a media guide and a media guide regulator. The media guide can define a channel through which media is movable. The media regulator can include a media penetrating member that is positionable within the channel at a first location and a media stopping member that is positionable within the channel at a second location spaced-apart from the first location. The media regulator can be operable to reciprocate between a media penetrating position in which the media penetrating member is positioned within the channel to penetrate media and a media stopping position in which the media stopping member is positioned within the channel to restrict media from movement in at least one direction along the channel.