Absorbability...

[OPT]

Hey Guys,

I have had a steller past couple grows with my organic setup, but one thing that does annoy me is how much my soil sucks away from the sides of the pot when they get dry...

What can I add to my soil mix to ensure that my water will soak in better then run down the sides for the first half gallon or so?

Would adding extra perlite combat this?

My current mix starts with a base of Promix Ulitimate organic, along with some coco coir, EWC's, etc.

I don't seem to have this problem with the plants in my 2 gallon containers, but the ones in the 5 gallons seem to do this more often.

Thoughts?

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[trichrider]

smartbags? solution!

 

[jaykush]

mix some native soil in there, and get mulching.

 

[OPT]

I do mulch.... Cypress on the top and bottom, I'm just thinking maybe I have too much coco in there and I need to cut it more, either way it's working great, it's just annoying.

I have used smart pots before and the same thing happened, maybe I just didn't pack the pots enough? I never did have too many roots blow through the sides like I've seen in the past..

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[chefro420]

Couple inches of coco on top helps with more even drying

 

[mad librettist]

Napa 8822 or turface. These things hold much water, but don't expand and contract. They do not become hydrophobic when dry. I am experimenting with some containers close to 60% calcined clay.

Perlite will make your problem worse by reducing water holding capacity.

Jay's suggestion will also result in more components that do not change volume so much. And the silt and clay will increase your water holding capacity.

finally, a living mulch provides structure that renews itself constantly.

 

[OPT]

Need to get me some of that, thanks Mad, you put in at same rate you would perlite then? 30% give or take?

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[Scrappy4]

I'm surprised no one mentioned wetting agents. Perhaps they could help, and of course mulch, and I'm sure you know to water gradually....scrappy

 

[big_daddy]

I'm surprised no one mentioned wetting agents. Perhaps they could help, and of course mulch, and I'm sure you know to water gradually....scrappy

Yucca powder is a good wetting agent and in fact is used in some commercial soils. You can get a # for about 11 bucks here. It's also a good surfactant in a neem oil foliar.

b_d

 

[mad librettist]

Need to get me some of that, thanks Mad, you put in at same rate you would perlite then? 30% give or take?

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it works when used that way.

 

[heady blunts]

i've been using calcined DE (carquest 8033) after mad turned me onto it many moons ago. I LOVE IT. great aeration amendment, takes the place of perlite, but it also absorbs a huge amount of moisture without getting waterlogged. also apparently the microcritters like to hang out in and around it.

i use that and char and my plants have never been happier!

make sure you give it a good soak in some fish hydro or kelp or nettle FPE or something before adding it to your soil.

and wear a mask when you're separating the fines cause the dust can cause respiratory issues.

 

[OPT]

Water mixed with kelp extract then let the shit soak it up first then mix globally? Roger that.

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[OPT]

I went to the local parts store today and got the closest thing I could to the NAPA floor dry that you guys talk about....but..it's not made out of DE, it's made out of another natural mineral, and on the package itself it says can be used as a great soil conditioner.

Only cost me $3.00....

What do you guys think about this product as my perlite alternative? Click Here

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[mad librettist]

I went to the local parts store today and got the closest thing I could to the NAPA floor dry that you guys talk about....but..it's not made out of DE, it's made out of another natural mineral, and on the package itself it says can be used as a great soil conditioner.

Only cost me $3.00....

What do you guys think about this product as my perlite alternative? Click Here

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I've got a container that is about 60% that stuff. I can't tell which, but there are no standout failures.

I have a sneaking suspicion you can make a very long lasting medium with roughly 60% this stuff (screened to remove the fines), 20% compost, and 20% good local soil.

 

[Scrappy4]

I seem to remember an issue with aluminum in it possibly being chelated when using humic acids. So when looking it up I got sidetracked (normal for me) and found this interesting tidbit......

Montmorillonite is also known to cause micelles (lipid spheres) to assemble together into vesicles. These are structures that resemble cell membranes on many cells. It can also help nucleotides to assemble into RNA which will end up inside the vesicles and, under the right conditions, will replicate themselves.[7] This process may have led to the origin of life on Earth.[8]

 

[OPT]

I've yet to open the bag, but the initial feel of it seems like pretty good size particles in this, hoping there won't be very many fines at all. Will let you guys know! thanks

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[mad librettist]

if you don't screen the fines it can still work, just remember you have increased water porosity and lowered air porosity

 

[OPT]

Ya, there weren't many fines in it, mixed it into my soil mix already and blended it up...won't be using that soil for another month or so, still have to "cook"

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