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By Sandy, on February 26th, 2009
A few days ago, a friend asked me how often and how much should she water her plants when planting in crystal soil. I would say we should add water to the crystal beads whenever the beads shrink to around half of its size or to a size that cannot stably hold up the plants anymore.
Continue reading Watering Plants in Crystal Soil
By Sandy, on February 18th, 2009
I have a friend asked me if she could plant her basil and mint in these colorful crystal soil beads. Although crystal soil is suitable for many indoor houseplants, especially foliage plants, I wouldn’t recommend my friend to plant her herbs in crystal soil. This is because while most herb plants love sunlight, crystal soil is not suitable to leave under direct sunlight for a long period of time.
But if you want to grow a plant that needs lots of sunlight with crystal soil, you can cover the crystal beads with a dark cloth to avoid them from drying out too quickly. However, this may have defeated the decoration purpose in the first place.
Many plants that thrive in crystal soil are hydroculture plants. For example, many foliage plants that like shade and humidity are the most suitable to grow in crystal soil or to root in water. And here are some examples.
Continue reading Suitable Plants for Crystal Soil & Hydroculture
By Sandy, on February 16th, 2009
While there are complete hydroculture kits (with inner and outer pots, water level indicator, fertilizer and such) available in many shops, we can save the money, set up and grow plants in hydroculture by ourselves.
Of course, the hydroculture kit can make your life easier in some degree, but, by ourselves, setting up one that doesn’t have a water level indicator, and using it to grow plants, isn’t rocket science either.
Here, let me show you how to pot plants in hydroculture.
Continue reading How to Pot Plants in Hydroculture
By Sandy, on February 9th, 2009
Instead of soil, I have used crystal soil as the growing medium for this tabletop garden – Ocean Breeze. Crystal soil makes good home decorations. It involves no dirt, is pest free, and easy in maintenance. And with food coloring, you can make the clear crystal soil beans in any color you want.
Continue reading Tabletop Garden – Ocean Breeze
By Sandy, on February 5th, 2009
Here, let me show you how to pot a plant with crystal soil (aka soil moist).
Put a teaspoon of crystal soil into a container.
Add water and soak them for a few hours according to the instruction on the package. I always add more than enough water for I will drain any excess water with a strainer afterwards. If you use clear crystal soil and want some color crystal beads, you can add food coloring now.
Continue reading How to Pot a Plant with Crystal Soil
By Sandy, on February 5th, 2009
This is like a method of growing plants that goes in between hydroponics and the traditional way of planting in soil. Same as soil, these crystal soil beads hold up the plant and its root system, absorb and release water for the plant. But like hydroponics, it involves no dirt, is pest free, and easy in maintenance.
Continue reading Using Crystal Soil as Growing Medium
By Sandy, on February 5th, 2009
We simply add a small amount of crystal soil (aka soil moist) into the potting soil. In this case, the crystal soil is a soil additive for potted plants. Crystal soil functions as a water storage that retains moisture around the plant’s roots, constantly nourishes the plant with water.
I have asked other gardeners in different gardening forums, and it seems that the gardeners in the U.S. (and probably in other western countries as well) uses crystal soil only as a soil additive. Continue reading Using Crystal Soil as Soil Additive
By Sandy, on February 5th, 2009
Crystal soil (a.k.a. soil moist) is water absorbent polymer beads, which can absorb and hold up to 80-150 times of its volume of water for a long period of time. As a reservoir, crystal soil stores water and releases the water whenever the plant needs it.
Crystal soil can be used . . . → Read More: What is Crystal Soil?
By Sandy, on January 31st, 2009
Hydroculture (a.k.a. passive hydroponics) is the practice of cultivating plants without the use of soil. Because of the ease of maintenance and its many other advantages over soil, it is a perfect way for indoor gardening.
So why is hydroculture so good?
Healthier
- Reduce allergy – no more spores, mold, mildew that are found in soil
- Pest free – no centipedes, sow bugs, worms or other soil pests
- Reduce odor
Continue reading Why is Hydroculture So Good?
By Sandy, on January 31st, 2009
Here are the five main components of a hydroculture system.
Plant
Many houseplants can grow nicely in a hydrocultural environment.
Continue reading The 5 Components of Hydroculture Kit
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