Symptoms of Aluminum Poisoning?

[TheGreenWizard]

A few weeks ago I thought it would be cool to do a bonsai grow in an altoid tin. Unfortunately I didn't realize the aluminum from the metal tin would be a problem until it was too late.

I believe my little plant has a case of aluminum poisoning. Do any of you know the symptoms of aluminum poisoning? Has anyone ever tried to grow in an aluminum soda can and noticed problems?

I'll take a picture in a few minutes and post it.

 

[Weedninja]

Do you have holes drilled in the bottom of the tin?
What medium are you using?

 

[TheGreenWizard]

I don't have holes in the bottom. I thought about drilling a few, but never got around to it. I figured if I'm very careful with watering it shouldn't be a problem. I make sure to add just enough water to dampen the entire soil mass. I don't add more water than is needed for fear of drowning the root mass (since there isn't proper drainage). Maybe I'm not careful enough, or maybe I'm not wetting the entire soil mass.

The medium is just soil from my backyard. I made sure to strain it and pick out any small rocks. It had occurred to me that maybe the pH of the soil is off causing nutrient lockout, but I haven't gotten around to testing it since I can't collect any runoff and I don't have a pH meter or test stripes. I doubt it's very rich in nutrients so I don't believe nutrient burn is a problem.

If it is aluminum poisoning I'm trying to figure out how it would leech from the tin.

 

[Weedninja]

It's a major no-no to not drill holes in any container that has plants. Even with a shallow tin, it's important to provide as much oxygen as possible to the roots. I think that is much more likely to be the problem than aluminum poisoning.

Aluminum is only mildly toxic to plants and aluminum sulfate is often used as a pH down. Even if aluminum poisoning is the problem, holes in the bottom of your tin would allow you to flush some of the toxins when you water.

 

[TheGreenWizard]

Do they really supply the roots with any appreciable amount of oxygen? I thought they were just for drainage purposes.

Maybe you're right though. I will look into drilling a few holes and seeing if this fixes the problem.

 

[Weedninja]

Does holes in the bottom of a container really supply the roots with any appreciable amount of oxygen? I thought they were just for drainage purposes.

Yeah, they do. Especially if the container is elevated so that it isn't sitting directly against a solid surface.

Some companies that make nursery pots cut L-shaped holes that extend up the side of the pot to enhance air exchange.

 

[Cruzin]

second weed ninjas emotion.

 

[Yes4Prop215]

Do they really supply the roots with any appreciable amount of oxygen? I thought they were just for drainage purposes.

Maybe you're right though. I will look into drilling a few holes and seeing if this fixes the problem.

when the water drains through the hole, it causes a vaccuum or some shit in the soil and it pulls oxygen into the roots, voila thats how you roots get oxygen.

YOU NEED RUNOFF!!