What will improve drainage and aeration...

[Manstien]

I have 80L containers and am using a 20% peatmoss based mix (60% organic soil, 10% perlite, 10% sand) after doing some tests on the soil I realized it retains ALOT of water...maybe to much I'm kind of worried about adding crystals...don't want the roots to drown....I'm wonder of ways that can improve drainage/air to the soil...

Asides from adding more holes with a drill/or slice with a razor on the side of containers.......and perlite...what can I add? I heard pine bark fines might work...and will rocks at the bottem of my container improve drainage/air to bottem of soil or screw up the capillary action of water draining? ...any other suggestions?

 

[Scrappy4]

You could put an upside down small net pot in the center of your soil container then fill the container around it. It creates a pocket of air, and you could arrange a drain hole directly under the net pot. Someone here posted a commercial version of this a while back, and I've seen simular designs in stores.....shredder

 

[mad librettist]

You could put an upside down small net pot in the center of your soil container then fill the container around it. It creates a pocket of air, and you could arrange a drain hole directly under the net pot. Someone here posted a commercial version of this a while back, and I've seen simular designs in stores.....shredder

that's just gonna rob you of root space.

my advice - install a wick or start over depending on what "60% organic soil" means.

 

[Maj.PotHead]

i'll take a 2 cft bag of fox farm ocean forrest soil and add a 12 quart bag of black gold perlite. i wind up with approx 40% perlite, i suggest add more perlite

 

[Manstien]

Wow, amazing idea....I always thought large to medium sized rocks would work too at the bottem of a container but I recently read this quote which made me wonder.

. "He said water drains (or is sucked out) via capillary action and that any air gaps will stop the capillary action, therefore large matter in the bottom wouldnt actually do anything." any truth to this?

seems like rocks or the netpot idea would work.....any other suggestions? about the "60% organic soil" its just that...that is what is on the bag ....

 

[mad librettist]

the link in my sig explains how drainage works

 

[Scrappy4]

that's just gonna rob you of root space.

my advice - install a wick or start over depending on what "60% organic soil" means.

He mentioned a 80 L. Container I figure he has lots of room.......scrappy

 

[Manstien]

Ok, I'll check it out......Maj I wish unlimited ammount of perlite could be sourced but I have only so many supply transportations and these 4cfu bags are huge.....I think if the medium stays too bogged down I'm going drill holes and possibly cover containers (allowing airflow) but stopping heavy rains......this is all theory though and the intense summer sun might actually stop this very very water absorbing medium.........

ML thanks, I like your style playa -- and enjoy reading your posts...Take care all and any other suggestions feel free to add....outdoor season is around the corner and I'm very unprepared.......one last question too would you guys add 2tps(28g) to a 20% peatmoss mix? .. Peace!

 

[mad librettist]

He mentioned a 80 L. Container I figure he has lots of room.......scrappy

but why give up any space to put in something that doesn't even help drainage?

the medium is holding the water, not the pot.

 

[Bullfrog44]

Pumice.

 

[h.h.]

wick it

 

[Manstien]

I wish I could access more perlite or pumice.......how would a wick system work? and would pine bark work? since supply lines are pretty hard and getting materials out there is difficult It would be sweet if bark would work....

 

[h.h.]

I wish I could access more perlite or pumice.......how would a wick system work? and would pine bark work? since supply lines are pretty hard and getting materials out there is difficult It would be sweet if bark would work....

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/contain/msg051614496802.html
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[Maj.PotHead]

try n drill evenly spaced holes around the sides of container this will add for better oxygen exchange in soil and root airation.

 

[soil margin]

little bit of sand and hydroton mixed in with my medium does wonders for aeration and drainage.

 

[Manstien]

Yeah Maj....I think this will be one of my main options if need be since my containers are plastic and I have a drill...the only problem is noise.......this peatmoss absorbs so much water its scary..I think my mix will do okay though in the summer heat/sun....60% organic soil, 10% sand, 10-15% perlite, 15-20% peatmoss....

wish I could add more EWC but it will only be around a litre of it mixed in.....also thinking of adding some rocks to the bottem of the container just worried that it will counter the drainage action of the water or does it improve drainage?

anyways if this bogs down I will be drilling holes...its just kind of annoying to drill a couple thousand holes...anyways one last question if anyone can answer: How much powdered/floured dolomite lime would you add to this mix? 2tps(28g) per gallon as BurnOne says?

 

[mad librettist]

What will improve drainage and aeration...

rocks in the bottom just moves your perched water higher in the pot.

you get the same result if you make the pot smaller instead.

to get the result you want you need something that pulls water harder than your medium, AKA a wick


you can use a strip of clothing provided it's synthetic. you don't need to bury the other end.

 

[Dreamz_Of_Green]

perlite perlite perlite

 

[hazy]

rocks in the bottom causing better drainage is considered an old wive's tale among most growers.

 

[h.h.]

I used a wicked reservoir last year and was quite happy with the results. After discussion with the Madman and reading up on a few links, I am pretty well convinced part of the reason for success was that the wicks were wicking water down as well as up. Now knowing, I think I can use them more efficiently.
I used an old seat cover. Something the wicks easy, yet releases the wicked moisture. Something that won't rot in the soil. As Mad said " synthetic"
What I want to try are tubes filled with DE, surrounded with soil, then removing the tubes leaving behind plumes of DE to do the wicking action. Perhaps an outer soil layer, on the sides, against the pot for heat insulation as well as wicking ability.