Charcoal Anyone?

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Jieroque Manila, Philippines Jan 20, 2008

My mom who has the greenest thumb ever - she just plucks something off of something without knowing what it is and sticks it into the soil and it grows.... swears by charcoal.

She uses it on orchids (without any soil, bark, nada) and they grow, sticking their roots unto the black blocks. She uses it on Anthuriums and they love it (though I suspect some soil underneath). What she does, I don't claim how it works, is she dumps the charcoal unto the pot, sprinkles some eggshells, inserts the plant, and then dumps more charcoal. (Maybe it's the type of charcoal produced here - natural soft wood, without any chemicals).

I just want to ask if anyone here has some experience with Charcoal, cause I'd like to use them as a top-covering for my houseplants so they keep the dirt in when it's dry (plus I heard it absorbs smells). Anyone use it?

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podster Deep East Texas, TX(Zone 8a) Jan 20, 2008

Interesting question ~ I wondered the same thing. Yes, I use charcoal mixed in the soil as it will absorb any odors.

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/641819/

I also asked about using it for a mulch... http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/641995/

If you are interested in reading those links. I am afraid I didn't gather a lot of info. Will watch your thread and see what you hear... I am also interested in your Mothers' methods too. Good luck.

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WeeNel Ayrshire Scotland, United Kingdom Jan 29, 2008

Hi Jieroque, you have really answered all your questions yourself, charcoal added to the bottom of pots/containers where plants will be in this for long periods of time is good for stopping the soil turn sour and going smelly due to added salts from the soil or feeds, it is also a feed in it's self as the burnt wood gives out nutrients that plants like, I have a wood burning fire at home and in the morning, I toss all the wood ash onto the compost bin as it helps add good stuff to the compost as well as adding drainage. Eggshells add calcium to the soil, plant roots like calcium and it stimulated good growth, flowers and colour to flowers, most of my indoor plants get a layer of charcoal added for drainage, food and as before, helps stop the compost turning fowl smelly, I'd use it with soil/compost, as for Orchids, I break the charcoal into much smaller lumps, add tree bark, grit and some Compost to this mix and the Orchids seem to enjoy it, when watered, they dont sit in water as this mix drains very fast. hope that answered some of your questions, I am sure there are some folks who could give you a more technical answer, but I have gone with the basics, learned from my dad who just seen to know what plants liked, I am sure, like you and me, this was purely passed on from previous generations, which is the best part of gardening you can learn. good luck. WeeNel.

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