I'm setting up my gardening boxes on my new sun porch . I brought in some of my compost , which is moist , dark , and seems too heavy to me . It wants to clump , if I squeeze a handful of it . I recalled that when I bought potting soil it had tiny white bits in it that looked like foam . My old microwave was shooting off sparks , so I bought a replacement , which came packed in styrofoam .Very light weight . To make a long story short . I've been cutting up a bit of the styrofoam and mixing that and some sand to lighten up the soil and hopefully provide improved drainage . Has anyone tried this ? Hint : don't wear navy fleece to cut up styrofoam - instand tiny white dots all over it .
I don't recommend the use of any plastic in your soil,ash, lime, straw or peatmoss work far better and help generate a healthy soil.
If your garden gets flooded the styrofoam will float to the top .
And end up as part of the sea of plastic in the worlds oceans.
What you saw was definitely vermiculate, as already said. But I have also used stryofoam, but never for food crops. Not sure of any toxicity threat, but just in case. I used it routinely in pkace of gravel at the bottom of potted rose pots. At 20 to 24 inch diameters, those monsters were already heavy enough without adding a layer of rock.
Styrofoam is definitely a little bit of a compromise, but it was one way for me to repurpose much of the packing material that tends to accumulate from all household items that come in cartons.
Nope... not styrofoam. I believe it's vermiculite.
Helps control water evaporation.
If it is irregular in form it will be vermiculite, if it is small round beads it will be perlite.
Seems like a great idea. I hope it works out for you!
Posted by FrostyJim...I have enough room for a few good people.
Posted by glennlabMy heavenly Blue Morning Glories have finally gotten their color.
Posted by glennlabMy heavenly Blue Morning Glories have finally gotten their color.
Posted by FernappleIts that season again, blue sky and golden leaves, nature is the greatest designer, a Ginkgo in my garden. Also posted in photography.
Posted by Diaco Black Sapote - The chocolate pudding tropical fruit! (2 videos) [youtube.com] [youtube.com]
Posted by Diaco Black Sapote - The chocolate pudding tropical fruit! (2 videos) [youtube.com] [youtube.com]
Posted by Diaco Black Sapote - The chocolate pudding tropical fruit! (2 videos) [youtube.com] [youtube.com]
Posted by Diaco Black Sapote - The chocolate pudding tropical fruit! (2 videos) [youtube.com] [youtube.com]
Posted by FrostyJimMaking my last batch of 2024 oven roasted tomato sauce on Oct. 10 ready to start filling jars.
Posted by FrostyJimMaking my last batch of 2024 oven roasted tomato sauce on Oct. 10 ready to start filling jars.
Posted by FrostyJimMaking my last batch of 2024 oven roasted tomato sauce on Oct. 10 ready to start filling jars.
Posted by FrostyJimI needed to preserve my bell peppers so I made Indian chutney last night.
Posted by FrostyJimI needed to preserve my bell peppers so I made Indian chutney last night.
Posted by FrostyJimMoose family munchin' on my Raspberries right now at about 8:30 on Tuesday night!
Posted by FrostyJim3 giants total over 3 lbs! Bush Early Girl hybrid grown in my Wasilla Alaska zone 4b greenhouse...
Posted by FrostyJim.