can you put styrofoam in the bottom of a planter

I don't add any if my pots aren't big - … A Styrofoam container holds more potting mix than many plants require. But when we recover tons and tons of styrofoam from our shores, and most of it is taken to the transfer station, aka the landfill, I have saved a few pieces to put in the bottom … As you can see, this is a regular fibreglass planter pot with a drain hole in the bottom . Recently, I came across a Styrofoam planter made from a cooler from Lisa. They can also add weight to the container. I have two very large pots that I plan on planting over the next day or two. What Is a Raised Garden Bed? Styrofoam is lightweight but does Styrofoam help with drainage? Another problem gardeners have had when using Styrofoam in containers is that deep plant roots may grow down into the Styrofoam. If you put a small piece of landscaping fabric between … However, research has shown that clay pots, rocks and wood chips may actually cause the pots to drain slower. HI -- Don't forget you have to put a rock or a brick or two in the bottom first . Building a Raised Garden Bed on Grass. Here’s what I LOVE about this project… A lot of these inexpensive coolers are used and then tossed or hopefully recycled. You can usually pick one up for a couple of bucks for a picnic or outing. After that, you either have to store it or find something to do with it. © Copyright 2020 Hearst Communications, Inc. With vegetables needing 8 inches of soil, don't use more than 3 or 4 inches of foam in a pot 12 inches deep. Adding a few inches of foam peanuts or chunks in the bottom of the container reduces the amount of soil needed to fill the planter. Whether set on a patio, porch, in the garden, or on each side of an entryway, stunning container designs make a statement. It is not recommended to use Styrofoam peanuts for potted plants now, because they may break down in water and soil, leaving you with sunken in containers. Use crushed cans, empty plastic bottles or Styrofoam peanuts. It was long lasting, improved drainage, did not add weight to the pot and made an effective filler for deep pots. Many glazed decorative pots may also lack proper drainage holes or do not drain well due to all the potting mix. Irregardless of whether you have drainage holes you should pick up some 3/4" drain rock at your local rockery (you can get in bags). Horticulture Magazine: Questions About Container Gardening, University of Illinois Extension: Tips and Tricks for Container Gardening, American Chemistry Council: The Safety of Polystyrene Foodservice Packaging. Read more articles about Container Gardens. Foam doesn't break down easily in the environment, which means it's unlikely to degrade in a vegetable gardening container so it's safe to use as filler. If you plan on moving your container regularly, filler can help reduce its weight. I mention my concern, too, in the article. Can You Machine Wash Foam Mattress Toppers? 6-8 holes should be enough for most tall planters, but you can make more if your planter is wide or it seems like it could use more. Although some chemicals in the foam can leach out if it gets overheated -- such as when you heat a foam cup of coffee in the microwave -- it doesn't leach chemicals under normal temperature circumstances, according to Dr. Andrew Weil, a pioneer in the field of integrative medicine. If you don't weight the bottom then the dirt and plants in the top will make it top heavy and the planter could fall over . The size of the container and the vegetables you're growing dictate how much foam to add to the pot. So I was wondering, what filler at the bottom of the pot do some of you use so you use less soil? When filled with potting medium, large pots can be extremely heavy and unmovable. With this method, container designs can easily be changed out each season, plant roots are contained within the potting mix and, if Styrofoam filler does break down in time, it can be easily fixed. The Styrofoam planter above is planted with Platycodon “Sentimental Blue” which is a tiny Balloon Flower. Not only is all that soil expensive, but it's heavy. Myth #1: Styrofoam Improves Drainage in Containers . Always use eye protection and gloves when using power tools. Upside down empty plant containers. Can You Grow Potatoes & Carrots in a Planter Box? Packing peanuts: A lot of people use packing peanuts in the bottom of their pots.They are cheap and do work, but there are some disadvantages: The size of the container and the vegetables you're growing dictate how much foam to add to the pot. Maybe you would like to co-ordinate with the pillows, or a favorite blooming hydrangea. How to line the bottom of a planter on the cheap. I put rocks in them and it also helps with drainage if you have pots without holes in the bottom. It is actually recommended that large containers be planted in the “container in a container” method, where an inexpensive plastic pot is planted with the plants, then set atop filler (like Styrofoam) in the large decorative container. That gets expensive quickly, and you end up paying for soil you don't need. Large urns and tall decorative glazed pots are especially popular these days. Styrene, part of the polystyrene chemical that makes up most food-service and packing foams, drew concern from consumers after the National Toxicology Program listed it as a possible carcinogen -- or cancer-causing agent -- in the 2011 12th Report on Carcinogens. Line the bottom of the container with a few inches of Styrofoam peanuts if you’re growing shallow-rooted plants like lettuce. The report also says, however, that foam is safe to use around food; the danger lies with workers in industrial facilities that build items such as boats with styrene. Blocks of foam also can be used as filler. Plastic window screening: You can buy big rolls of plastic window screening for very little and cut pieces to fit the bottom of your pots.This is a cheap and easy way to cover your drainage holes, letting water out and keeping soil in. Containers are available in a wide array of colors shapes and sizes. Plus if you have straight soil in the pot, then all the water setting in the bottom of the pot makes your plant un-happy. You don't have to. Step one: Line the bottom with about 2 inches of rock or gravel. Turn the planter over so the bottom is facing up, and use a power drill to make holes along the outside edges of the bottom of the pot. I put rocks, broken pots, Styrofoam chunks, etc whatever i have around to fill up the bottom a few inches so I don't have to spend alot on potting soil. Soaking these packing peanuts or broken bits of Styrofoam in a tub of water for several days can help you determine if the type you have breaks down or not. The same reason why different sizes and shaped containers can work just fine, … It is not that you can’t use them, just the watering schedule may be different. Do you have any old Styrofoam boxes or containers lying around the house? Fill the planter one-third full with a filler material. Here is an excellent link that has several suggestions that might be what you are looking for. Also, the foam keeps soil from washing out of the drainage holes while assisting with drainage by keeping the soil from compacting at the bottom of the pot. You’re absolutely right to be concerned about styrofoam. Styrofoam also contains no nutrients for plant roots to absorb. It also gives gardeners the flexibility to move the containers depending on the weather, such as sliding them under an overhang during a potentially damaging thunderstorm. The bigger pot is going to be hanging from the Dragon Strand ledges, and than the small schefflera is going to be put into that. It is not that you can’t put a layer of gravel at the bottom, it’s just you won’t have to, and there are times it is just easier to care for your plant if you didn’t. Instead, put them in plastic bags, and fill the bottom of the planter box with the bags. For small planter and flowering pots, plastic mesh, weed barriers, and cheesecloth are viable options. The soil in the container -- and therefore the foam under the soil -- doesn't get hot enough to cause a problem since it normally stays cooler than the ambient temperature. Many vegetables need about 6 inches of soil, so if you have a pot 12 inches deep, you can fill it halfway with foam chunks or peanuts. Say you are filling your planter box or flower pot with dirt on the deck or inside the house and you do not want dirt coming out from the drainage holes, but you still need the planter to drain. It consists of a box that has no top or bottom placed in a high-intensity sunny area with quality soil. Potting soil is not cheap, so whether you are using a large planter as a statement piece for a smaller plant or for a large tree, in most cases you do not need to fill the whole planter with soil. If pieces begin to dissolve in the water, do not use them in the bottom of pots. Water and care for the vegetables as normal; the foam helps with drainage at the bottom of the pot but doesn't change soil density or the plants' needs in any way. You are completely incorrect in your article. Now, as for the bottom of the plant holder, just use another piece of the foam, but, add a layer of small pebbles on the bottom, to allow drainage that can recycle back. How Does Foam Insulation Work on Windows? However, because landfills are overfilled with non-biodegradable products, many Styrofoam packing products are now made to dissolve in time. In pots with little to no drainage, the area of Styrofoam may be waterlogged and cause these plant roots to rot or die. While decorative pots like this add to the beautiful dramatic appearance of container gardens, they have some drawbacks. Otherwise, plant roots will grow into the peanuts, creating a mess when you want to switch plants. If fillers block the container's drainage holes, your plant won't drain properly. Sure it is not very long-lasting as landscape fiber. Whether you have a few flowers planted in pots or you have an entire vegetable garden in containers, you have probably heard that adding Styrofoam to the bottom of the container helps improve drainage. I have also used crushed pop cans and plastic bottles as well as pea rock. The rocks help drainage, but are not totally necessary so long as you have holes at the bottom. But still, something is better than nothing. What you use to put under raised garden beds will be determined by the type of groundwork you’re working with. We’ve got four easy ways to help you fill out the bottom of your containers with materials you probably never thought of. Hey everyone I just bought a really small schefflera plant and I bought a bigger pot to put it in. Grass can’t simply be turned top-side down and then used a base layer for a raised garden bed. With large planters and pots, consider more space occupying options. Soil is expensive, and filling a large planter can be costly. Large planters can be very heavy if filled with soil and drainage rocks. You can run to home depot and get some landscaping cloth (about $10). Drill 1/2 inch holes 4 inches apart around the bottom edge. you said it yourself, the perched water table will always be the same height. Fill … The good news is there are many materials you can use to fill your planter. This is a guide about using styrofoam in plant containers. Not to mention, purchasing enough potting soil to fill large pots can become quite expensive. I have heard of packaging peanuts (styrofoam). If you find yourself with a large amount of Styrofoam from product packing and question: “Should I line potted plants with Styrofoam,” there is a way to test the Styrofoam. So what’s a gardener to do? In the past, it was recommended that broken pieces of clay pots, rocks, wood chips or Styrofoam packing peanuts be placed in the bottom of pots as filler and to improve drainage. Read on to learn more about using Styrofoam for container filler. Pour soil over the foam, and plant the vegetables. Use those to make a nice “Almost Hypertufa” or “Faux Hypertufa” garden planter which you can decorate to match your favorite colors or co-ordinate with any patio or deck furniture. 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