Soil aeration-scouring pad

I'm a newbie to the forums and growin things, I ordered an orange tree and am getting ready to mix up some potting soil. My ? is, since i need good draining and aerated soil I was also thinking of shredding a scouring pad (those green scrubbies you clean with) and mixing it in the soil??? Would this work, be bad, good or indifferent? Please, I am not looking for just yes or no but a little insight as to why or why not, like i said im new to this and want to understand why things do or dont work. I really appreciate advice, help criticism anyone's willing to offer

I answered your identical post over on GardenWeb, since that was where I was going to direct you anyway.
My reply, for others that may be interested, is
"Some of the best information ever is right at your fingertips in this forum- I refer you to tapla's posts on "Container Soils - Water Movement & Retention."
Link below-

Once you have read and digested that (it won't be quick) then simply browse the forum and read everything that looks relevant. Study. Learn.
A week or two of that and you might be ready to mix up some potting media :)"
http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/load/contain/msg1221344425812.html

Cant say I have heard of these kitchen aids being used in the way you are thinking about. I guess my answer would be that it all depends on what type of material the scourers are made from, if metal I would suspect they could rust and cause the soil to MAYBE alter, they could cut into roots as the roots start off as fine then grow larger / wider by being trapped within something that wont degrade / compost down, I would imagine the same would apply to nylon / plastic also. IF you add things to te soil you should always go for material that will compost down eventually and be of good to the soil.

As for helping to add drainage to the soil and allow air to be held within without causing air pockets that are no use to plant roots as air pockets allow the roots to dry out so the best way to add better drainage and prevent the plant sitting in water sodden soil would be thus.

As you mix the type of nutrients required and suggested on the plant label, I would use a mixture of HORTICULTURAL SAND (not building sand) building sand can burn or bring in diseases, the garden, horticultural sand is washed free of any impurities, also I would add some horticultural grit / small gravel as you mix, these both help with drainage and air in any soil for plants that require well drained soil, because I use both these products I would also add some Citrus feed recommended but, please never over feed, an extra mouthful to you and I at feeding is easy got rid off but plants cant stop taking up added feed, and over feeding can be as bad as no feed in fact worse as under feeding can be helped by adding half strength feed but over fed plants need to be removed for the soil they are in and re-potted again into soil that is free from added feed and there is no guarantee that will save the plant as in some cases the roots are burned or died due to too much feed, always go by the instructions on package and IF in doubt, use half the dosage recommended.
Also remember good drainage does NOT mean the plants don't require plenty water when soil is dry (stick your finger into soil for check)

Hope this helps you out a bit and get back to us IF your still needing help.
Best regards. WeeNel.

Thanks Cearbhail I saw your other post and responded.
WeeNel I can't thank you enough for responding to my ACTUAL question about the green scrubbies, someone else on a different site also mentioned it could girdle or cut into the roots. So looks like I won't be trying it with my only orange tree, however I got 25 strawberry plants coming and will try it in a few of those just to experiment. Again thank you, that was the kind of insight I was looking for!

Your more than welcome ProjectX, actually I would not use the scrubbie's in the soil at all, I am thinking that all the plants would find themselves trapped by those items, also when they get moved around a garden just by turning the soil over each year you never know where they will end up, I would save them for scrubbing out my flower pots when I want to be outside and the soil aint able to be worked either due to cold, wet or whatever.

But like every gardener, where would we be IF we never tried.
Good luck and best regards. WeeNel.

I would skip the scrubbies in the potting soil, and make the right blend of compost, sand and small amounts of fertilizer. That way, if you use the soil for other things (like starting seeds) you are not then adding the scrubbies to the garden when you plant out the seedlings.

As far as answering the ACTUAL question, I purposely linked to a soil composition discussion because you said "I am not looking for just yes or no but a little insight as to why or why not, like i said im new to this and want to understand why things do or dont work."
You sounded like the sort that wanted to learn- if not, sorry.

Hey this is a Beginner Gardening forum not an exam, don't see the point in stressing about any replies we give and why they are on another forum or the answers were miss-understood or whatever, It would be a shame to put any new member off the site because they don't understand how the site works or is laid out.
Were all here I hope for fun /pleasure, and keen to learn others idea's or points of view, Gardening is easy once you know how and I like to think by giving encouragement rather than irritation in an answer defeats that purpose and put's new members off, words of encouragement or praise sometimes is better than the actual help required. Were all different but we have gardening in common and that's why were here on the site. I've been gardening for over 50 years and still learning, even how this site actually works.
Best Regards, WeeNel.

Project,

Although your idea seems to have been voted down, you did give me a good idea. I use 15 gal Nursery pots for container growing and like to slow down the fast drainage, but still allow good slow drainage, and i think the courser pads placed over the large holes, will do a perfect job for what i want.

Thanks,
Ernie