Packing peanuts

[lysol]

I saw in an orchid video they put packing peanuts in the bottom of the pot, I was wondering if anyone has tried this? If not I might give it a go depending on how DWC works out for me. Supposedly helps with keeping the moisture and aeration optimal

 

[Greyskull]

cheaper than hydroton...
a friend has been using it for a few years now and he finally shared that 'secret' with me.

 

[Zeinth]

styro?

styro?

what size foam..smaller the better??

 

[Greyskull]

the standard 'peanut' sized are what my friend uses

 

[Jedi]

I was thinking bout puting some rockwool at the bottom of my soil bags or pots..!
because my plastic seems to waterlog the bottom layer of soil

what do u ppl think...??

 

[feltonmuggs]

I personally spend the extra $8 and use medium sized coco peanuts in the bottom of the 5gal buckets.

There's something about an all organic grow. Styrofoam? I don't think so.

 

[Greyskull]

the rockwool will retain a lot of moisture.... whereas something like the packing peanuts or hydroton will simply be washed over.

you could also use plain old river rocks if you want something truly organic that will not hold onto any moisture so the pots truly drain. and you only have to buy them once.

you gte the drainage - however you do it doesn;t matter

 

[lysol]

cool. at least using peanuts puts those damn things to good use, they never biodegrade.. all organic? so your containers have to be organic plastic too? lol

and what are coco peanuts? google shows me recipes to cook with. Another trick I saw in the video was they were taking a net pot and putting it upside down at hte bottom before they put the medium ontop, allowing a large pocket of air for the roots to grow near. Keep in mind these are orchids but still cool.

Here is an "oxygen core dual pot" for example, built a lil differently. probably more efficient. http://www.repotme.com/orchid-pots/Oxygen-Core-Dual-425.html I dont think the clear pot would be that big of a deal or you could just spray paint or do a DIY version.

That site also sells like 59 different potting mediums lol http://www.repotme.com/orchid-media/index.html a bit expensive but would be a good way to experiment.

 

[FreezerBoy]

I was thinking bout puting some rockwool at the bottom of my soil bags or pots..!
because my plastic seems to waterlog the bottom layer of soil

what do u ppl think...??

I wouldn't. Rockwool needs a lot of oxygen. Either multiple flood and drains or highly oxygenated water. I'd think it would slow the drain of your bags which is what supplies your roots with oxygen.

 

[geopolitical]

I've tried rockwool and it works poorly. Styrofoam peanuts do work well and I've used them in the past. So does a solid layer of perlite. I've actually set up grow beds indoors with a 1" layer of perlite covered in geotex with air pumped into the soil via this layer.

 

[Jedi]

Cool for the Thumbs down on the Rockwool at the bottom....!
I wont try it then....

 

[yortbogey]

I've been taking old scrog netting...trim to fit pot size and bundel UP...to piecies of net.....I use plastic net/fencing from walmart.......

I wad UP 2 pieces of the net to create a air layer on bottom and a air pocket within the container........So FAR....killer resultz.............

I'm gett'in better drainiage....using less medium....and the plants like the air gapz....w/ the net giving sumthang for rootz to grab and hold on to........

 

[foo_bird]

test the packing peanuts they do make bio-degradable one's that
melt when wet

 

[geopolitical]

Yeah the starch ones are no good, they'll just clog up everything and melt on contact with water.

 

[ibjamming]

Yeah the starch ones are no good, they'll just clog up everything and melt on contact with water.

Aren't most packing peanuts made from rice now? I wouldn't use them...

 

[KnuckleHedd]

I used broken up styrofoam in my pots back in 1973. Several people all but laughed me out of town, so I never thought about it again. So, now it's cool? I've got garbage bags full of styro peanuts.

 

[overmyhead]

test the packing peanuts they do make bio-degradable one's that
melt when wet

Yep, I never would've thought to test, sure enough the ones I was going to use were starch and melted right away.

 

[yortbogey]

bump

 

[Shiva Blaster]

I think a lot of people in here are overthinking it. A nice layer or coarse perlite at the bottom of your pots is all you need and works great. Provides tons of drainage and allows lots of oxygen to the roots.