Ogami-itto Posted May 1, 2016 Share Posted May 1, 2016 What are peeps using for aeration? Been looking for rice hulls but not that common online in UK and in the few places that do sell it, its like in 500g bags. Any organic, nice alternatives? I found oat husks in bigger bag sizes so would that work just as well? Peace 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fragg Posted May 1, 2016 Share Posted May 1, 2016 @@Ogami-itto I got a 20l bag of rice husks to try it out and went to check where from but they have sold out I'm afraid The power of these boards perchance? Oat husks if anything may help your mycorrhizal fungi I would think but cant say for sure as I've not tried them 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nudger36 Posted May 1, 2016 Share Posted May 1, 2016 (edited) A lot of people are using cork instead of perlite or vermiculite great stuff, all the good littele guys love to colonise it, water retention properties too and one of the greatest things for Co2 alongside bambooooo. Edited May 1, 2016 by nudger36 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ogami-itto Posted May 1, 2016 Share Posted May 1, 2016 @@nudger36 - is it bought chopped up or in what sort of state? @@Fragg I couldnt find 20kg bags anywhere - yes could possibly be these boards. How you get on with them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twigs Posted May 1, 2016 Share Posted May 1, 2016 (edited) can you use used coffee instead of rice or cork for drainage, water retention and aeration slow nute release..? Edited May 1, 2016 by twigs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fragg Posted May 1, 2016 Share Posted May 1, 2016 @@Ogami-itto just started with them so too early to say mate... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 2, 2016 Share Posted May 2, 2016 Not tried it myself but heard good things about Growstone no 2 for aeration. U.S. Product bit is available from UK hydro shops. About £15 I think. Link to the GS web site http://www.growstone.com/soil-aerator-2/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimboo Posted May 2, 2016 Share Posted May 2, 2016 what about biochar for aeration? 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muffintop Posted May 2, 2016 Author Share Posted May 2, 2016 (edited) Current tea recipes being used: apply once in veg:5 litres water1 teaspoon molasseshalf cup vermicompost1 teaspoon volcanic rock dust1 teaspoon seaweed meal1 teaspoon neem powder1 teaspoon flaxseed meal1 teaspoon insect frassapply once in flower:5 litres water1 teaspoon molasseshalf cup vermicompost1 teaspoon volcanic rock dust1 teaspoon seaweed meal1 teaspoon neem powder1 tablespoon comfrey meal apply during veg and once half way through flowering: alfala and seaweed meal:half cup alfalfa meal1 teaspoon seaweed meal Top dressing quarter cup malted barley powder per plant, instead of brewing a tea. Edited May 2, 2016 by muffintop 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 2, 2016 Share Posted May 2, 2016 @@nudger36 Cork ... Doesn't sound that sustainable, isn't that way we have these crappy plastic wine corks. Or maybe that's just the cheap crap I buy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ogami-itto Posted May 2, 2016 Share Posted May 2, 2016 @@bobnudd I read last night on some gardening forum that cork is just ok - you need to get the piece sizes right and they should be towards the bottom of the mix for maximum efficacy; otherwise he said they can actually do more harm than good. Sounds too finicky for me to try...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimboo Posted May 2, 2016 Share Posted May 2, 2016 (edited) somebody on here was doing a grow with store bought cork compost http://www.uk420.com/boards/index.php?showtopic=356143&hl=cork Edited May 2, 2016 by Jimboo 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
muffintop Posted May 2, 2016 Author Share Posted May 2, 2016 I use coco and biochar here, biochar is very good to have in your mix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
botanics Posted May 2, 2016 Share Posted May 2, 2016 can you use used coffee instead of rice or cork for drainage, water retention and aeration slow nute release..? Nitrogen fertilizer is coffee mate but got to watch for pushing the soil too acidic and needs to be used with caution (I've used it and got it from the high street for nada, good too and it has the added benefits of help dealing with Sciarid fly too, mixed in with some chilli powder 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted May 2, 2016 Share Posted May 2, 2016 (edited) @@Ogami-itto Agreed. @@Jimboo too much bio char can raise ph, but will be good for aeration. 10% seems to be a decent figure. Too much can also cause N lock out as the available N is used up to work on degrading he carbon. Can happen with other amendments if not composted. So if adding things like high N (alfalfa ) can be better to top dress rather than having it break down in the soil unless you mix has been left to age. Personally I find perlite works ok for. Will probably try some of them growstones and see how they work out. From what I can see with rice hulls they break down within a few runs. Edited May 2, 2016 by bobnudd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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