water shortage
Last post 01-05-2009 8:24 AM by bogweevil. 3 replies.
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28/04/2009 07:53 PM
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- Jackie Major
- Algarve, Portugal
- 28 Apr 2009
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I would like to pass on my latest tip for saving water in pots and baskets etc. I have added large amounts of builders ROCKWOOL to the bottom of pots rather than using stones to help with draining, as it does drain, but slowly, and it keeps in the soils and foods. I have found my plants are really blooming, and with temps up to the high 20s already it's going to be a long summer. I would like to know if there are long term bad effects with this???
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29/04/2009 03:48 PM
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Builder's rockwool is said to have adverse chemical properties for plants, but not, it seems in Portugal. Horticultural rockwool is supposedly manufactured to be chemically neutral.
Boggy
Beware the bat-eared bogweevil
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30/04/2009 07:46 PM
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- Jackie Major
- Algarve, Portugal
- 28 Apr 2009
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5
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Thanks for your reply Boggy. 2 questions please. Could my plants be ok because the rockwool is old, has been left in the sun for some time and watered well????? (I have used rockwool at the bottom of seed trays etc and transfered it on with the seedlings). And 2) how will I know if my plants are being corrupted? (Will they just die or will I see colour change?) This has got me concerned as I have just used some rockwool as a base to an elderly potted shrub!
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01/05/2009 08:24 AM
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Well your rockwool seems ok so far so I woud not worry. You could test some by sowing lettuce seeds on a slab and if they grow all right there is probably no need to worry. Just because some builders rockwool is unsfae for plants does not mean it all is.
It certainly sounds possible that well weathered rockwool is plant safe.
Boggy
Beware the bat-eared bogweevil
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