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jacquescousteau
Nomadery
Registered: 08/30/11
Posts: 14
Last seen: 5 years, 4 months
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Soil light absorption, subsequent drying, and how to prevent it?
#582550 - 08/31/11 09:16 PM (13 years, 3 months ago) |
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I've heard of people mulching the surface of their planters with various things, such as coco coir or certain rocks.
It seems rational to me that you would want to use a white stone to reflect as much light as possible.
Is this commonplace and I just don't know it? Because it seems a nobrainer that black soil is going to soak up light energy and dry out faster.
Do people just use perlite as a top layer, or is it some other kind of rock that I see in this role? And are there downsides?
-------------------- The sea is a symphony of coleurs!
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muse42
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Registered: 04/20/10
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Re: Soil light absorption, subsequent drying, and how to prevent it? [Re: jacquescousteau]
#582553 - 08/31/11 09:19 PM (13 years, 3 months ago) |
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Indoor, outdoor, or both?
-------------------- It looks like it's going to be another Gravity Bong type day...
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jacquescousteau
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Registered: 08/30/11
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Re: Soil light absorption, subsequent drying, and how to prevent it? [Re: muse42]
#582563 - 08/31/11 09:38 PM (13 years, 3 months ago) |
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Oh, my bad, I meant indoors under artificial lighting.
-------------------- The sea is a symphony of coleurs!
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muse42
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Re: Soil light absorption, subsequent drying, and how to prevent it? [Re: jacquescousteau]
#582569 - 08/31/11 10:01 PM (13 years, 3 months ago) |
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I don't see why white rock would not work. As long as it does not somehow effect the pH, like a limestone rock. Many people cover their pots with a white sheeted material or other reflective materials.
-------------------- It looks like it's going to be another Gravity Bong type day...
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jacquescousteau
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Registered: 08/30/11
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Last seen: 5 years, 4 months
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Re: Soil light absorption, subsequent drying, and how to prevent it? [Re: muse42]
#582601 - 08/31/11 10:49 PM (13 years, 3 months ago) |
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Cool... it seems pretty reasonable to figure out a way to utilize that space directly under the plant for light reflection! I could just cut some floating cd-shapes of reflecting material I guess... hmmm.
-------------------- The sea is a symphony of coleurs!
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muse42
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Re: Soil light absorption, subsequent drying, and how to prevent it? [Re: jacquescousteau]
#582846 - 09/01/11 07:32 PM (13 years, 3 months ago) |
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Correct
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Pernicious
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Registered: 05/12/11
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Re: Soil light absorption, subsequent drying, and how to prevent it? [Re: muse42]
#582986 - 09/02/11 06:57 AM (13 years, 3 months ago) |
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straw works really well and it breathes so your roots wont rot.
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jacquescousteau
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Registered: 08/30/11
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Re: Soil light absorption, subsequent drying, and how to prevent it? [Re: Pernicious]
#583139 - 09/02/11 08:42 PM (13 years, 3 months ago) |
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Quote:
Pernicious said: straw works really well and it breathes so your roots wont rot.
Thanks, this is the sort of thing i was worried about! Straw sounds like a good solution, thanks. I'll see if I can get some of the sea straw my mom was using to mulch her gardens when I go down there.
-------------------- The sea is a symphony of coleurs!
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muse42
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Re: Soil light absorption, subsequent drying, and how to prevent it? [Re: jacquescousteau]
#583170 - 09/02/11 09:45 PM (13 years, 3 months ago) |
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Make sure it is pest free.
-------------------- It looks like it's going to be another Gravity Bong type day...
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