Quote:
|
Originally Posted by UncleAl
I always add activated charcoal to potting mix. It's inexpensive by the bag. Cacti and epiphytes are especially appreciative. You want a porous fraction in soil anyway - sand, pearlite - to aid aeration and drainage. As in an aquarium water filter, activated charcoal provides a porous, high surface area matrix for biology to happen and reach equilibrium.
|
___Good info Al. Activated charcoal is charcoal that is high heated in the absense of oxygen thus driving off volatile contaminants & leaving more porosity. Activated charcoal operates by not
obsorption, but
adsorption. Besides aeration, activated charcoal binds many organic chemicals such as chlorine & others found in pesticides.
___Over time, activated charcoal is used up because all the cavities have filled. Periodically float the particles to the top of soil & discard, then add new.
