Hi
Has anyone heard of this product and or know anything about it.
It is supposed to help with drianage and air circulation.
Annie
Better than Rocks
I've never heard of it, but if it's something that you stick in the bottom of pots to supposedly help with drainage, I doubt if it's any better than rocks, and rocks aren't good. (check out tapla's threads at the top of this forum on water movement in containers for an explanation of why having a "drainage" layer in your pots actually hurst rather than helps)
You didn't name a product. Or is Better Than Rocks its name?
I was thinking the same exact thing, leaflady.
I've heard of it but haven't used it.
http://www.betterthanrocks.com/pages/products.html
It looks great to me! I've been using styrofoam peanuts, but I'm about to give up on that! (My dogs got into a bag of them, scattered them all over the entire yard, and now I can't seem to get them all up. It's driving me nuts!) I would definitely try it, but they don't list a dealer in LA and I couldn't find an online distributor.
I was going to put the hyperlink in but goldfinch4 did it for me. Thank you as I have never put a hyperlink in and was trying to figure how to do it. Now I can wait till the family geek shows me how. I have (impulsivily) ordered two orange trees and some southern recommended highbush blueberries and now I am in a mild panic on how to treat them as I have never grown things in containers except EBs which are so self contained I don't need to know much. All help will be appreciated. I did learn a lot from tapla post but not if this product is a good thing or a rip off.
Annie
Ashley - Kinsman sells it - here's the link:
http://www.kinsmangarden.com/products.asp?dept=1154
thanks goldfinch! i have a lot of pots and would need the roll...$53. ouch! but i think i might give it a try.
I use leaves and wood chips. This does a great job. The water can drain, the soil stays, and all the nutrients are there for the roots to grow into and break down.
Bob
ashleykelly
The web site for Better than Rocks sells it for $35 and $5 shipping.
Go to- where to buy- then under where it wants your zip code there is a very small line that says to order on line click here. I am still trying to decide but I will have to make up my mind soon. The plants have been ordered.
Annie
Please be sure to let us know how it worked.
Before you all run out and buy this stuff, please read tapla's sticky threads at the top of this forum on water movement in containers--this stuff will raise the perched water table just like rocks or styrofoam peanuts or whatever else you use to make a "drainage" layer in the bottom of a container. None of them create a great situation for your plants, you're much better off not using anything like that. But don't take my word for it--read Al's threads, he explains it much better than I can.
ecrane3
I read the sticky and I still don't know what to use but I have decided to try throneofyord's suggestion of wood chips and leaves mainly because I don't won't to spend that much money on something I really don't know that much about. Container gardening has never been very good for me
except for the EBs and for some reason cactus. I imagine it is my fault
for not knowing enough about it. That's why I am trying to find out about everything I can.
Annie
Stuff like that are not needed, it's a waste of money IMHO.
I mostly need something to take the space up in my larger pots. I know I should put a smaller pot in the larger pot, but I haven't found the best system for this yet.
Would a smaller pot work? I'm just not getting the advantage of the product.
I think ashlykelly and I have the same problem. We understand the importance of drainage and aeriation but we just don't get how to get it with thiings we are familiar with. I am a complete novice at regular container gardening but because I have a problem with shade, it will have to be containers. But I will keep reading and listening and not go for the quick answer.
Annie
Annie, shade is prime real estate in my yard! LOL I will be reading the sticky threads at least 3 more times before I feel like I have an ounce of understanding. But my biggest obstacle may be whether I can find the fine pine bark.
Tapla's data and observations make great sense, and I am going to try a few things this year based on his information.
One thing that a couple of inches of wood chips and leaves can give you is a good mix of air and moisture. A lot of plants really like this, but rosemary for example needs more thorough drainage. But if you are looking for good slow release nutrients, fairly good drainage, and reducing the loss of soil when you water, leaves and wood chips are a great and inexpensive choice.
Bob