lava rock to improve drainage?

barbc · 06-06-2016, 01:16 PM

Hoping to kill two birds with one stone. We have some soil that has red lava rock mixed in. 1" size. Can I add lava rock to my potted banana medium instead of say perlite, or in addition to, to improve drainage? I hate spending so much on perlite because it feels like you're buying a bag of air for $4.50, even at Walmart (cheapest I can find so far).

Richard · 06-06-2016, 01:56 PM

Lava rock can improve drainage when mixed with non-clay soils. However, use it in moderation. It is impervious to roots, so any volume you add is less volume for roots.

Tytaylor77 · 06-06-2016, 05:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barbc

Hoping to kill two birds with one stone. We have some soil that has red lava rock mixed in. 1" size. Can I add lava rock to my potted banana medium instead of say perlite, or in addition to, to improve drainage? I hate spending so much on perlite because it feels like you're buying a bag of air for $4.50, even at Walmart (cheapest I can find so far).

Try a local feed/farm/ranch store. One here orders me the 4 ct big bags for 14$. Sunshine I think is the brand. Just call around. Has to be way cheaper than the little retail bags at the big box stores.

a.hulva@coxinet.net · 06-06-2016, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barbc

Hoping to kill two birds with one stone. We have some soil that has red lava rock mixed in. 1" size. Can I add lava rock to my potted banana medium instead of say perlite, or in addition to, to improve drainage? I hate spending so much on perlite because it feels like you're buying a bag of air for $4.50, even at Walmart (cheapest I can find so far).

I my opinion yes the lava would enhance the drainage. It would be better to crush into smaller pieces. The more rock or sand you use the more frequently you need to water. Every two to three day. Not a lot just to keep moist. Mulch helps retain the moisture

barbc · 06-07-2016, 12:16 AM

Thanks for the tips. Will try my local feed store and also crushing the lava rock. Our mini backhoe ought to do the trick nicely.

Botanical_Bryce · 06-07-2016, 05:37 AM

Our property is part clay and part sand. The clay parts are hard and compact. I use biochar and heaviest where drainage is worse. No more swimming pools around my home and far better medium for plants. I don't think lava rock would engance the overall soil texture like biochar. I just make it at no cost in a cone pit. Can also be made in planting hole if the hole is big enough.

sputinc7 · 06-07-2016, 09:12 AM

Specifically, how do you make it? Burn till all hot glowing coals then water?

Tytaylor77 · 06-07-2016, 11:02 AM

I burn then after the fire is going good I throw an inch or so of dirt over most of it. It will smolder under the dirt and burn slowly. I'm sure there is better ways but I don't make a lot.

barbc · 06-07-2016, 11:44 AM

Just any wood for the biochar? We have a lot of punky wood we need to burn and it's easy to make a huge bed of coals.

Botanical_Bryce · 06-07-2016, 12:13 PM

I dig the cone pit and put paper and cardboard in the bottom of the cone. I pile sticks tee pee style. Even small logs. Once every thing collapses down I pile small sticks leaves and mulch to smither it. I give it some smother time then start watering it. Cone pit and cone trench is my favorite way. Ash and charcoal play important roles in nature and in the garden. Even if ( soil tests prove otherwise) the biochar provided no nutrient value the conditioning and bio support is worth it. I never use punk wood because I hunt for that stuff and use it as potting soil and backfill. I use any and all sorts of wood.

barbc · 06-07-2016, 01:23 PM

Excellent. Thanks for the tips!

Caline · 06-08-2016, 04:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Botanical_Bryce

I dig the cone pit and put paper and cardboard in the bottom of the cone. I pile sticks tee pee style. Even small logs. Once every thing collapses down I pile small sticks leaves and mulch to smither it. I give it some smother time then start watering it. Cone pit and cone trench is my favorite way. Ash and charcoal play important roles in nature and in the garden. Even if ( soil tests prove otherwise) the biochar provided no nutrient value the conditioning and bio support is worth it. I never use punk wood because I hunt for that stuff and use it as potting soil and backfill. I use any and all sorts of wood.

Sounds like a simple and efficient way to make biochar. Unfortunately for me, my townhouse HOA would probably not go for it.

Maybe I could buy a cheap BBQ, use that and pretend I'm firing up for a big hamburger grill.

Lydie

Botanical_Bryce · 06-08-2016, 04:55 PM

If done right it makes almost no smoke. You can also buy bagged natural lump charcoal instead of briquet.

cincinnana · 06-25-2016, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barbc

Hoping to kill two birds with one stone. We have some soil that has red lava rock mixed in. 1" size. Can I add lava rock to my potted banana medium instead of say perlite, or in addition to, to improve drainage? I hate spending so much on perlite because it feels like you're buying a bag of air for $4.50, even at Walmart (cheapest I can find so far).

I use perlite in all of my soilless mix's over anything else.....for the weight reduction.
However the sand mixs and ratios work just as well and I do recommend them.
.

Snarkie · 06-27-2016, 07:53 AM

One inch is kind of large. If you could pulverize it, it might work a lot better.

FTR, the red stuff is cinder cone. Lava is black and pumice is gray.

saxybill1 · 08-21-2016, 05:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tytaylor77

Try a local feed/farm/ranch store. One here orders me the 4 ct big bags for 14$. Sunshine I think is the brand. Just call around. Has to be way cheaper than the little retail bags at the big box stores.

Taylor, what is the product CALLED
THANKS

Tytaylor77 · 08-21-2016, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by saxybill1

Taylor, what is the product CALLED
THANKS

Perlite. Any banana that goes in a pot I mix 50/50 perlite and potting soil. It lightens the mix and makes the soil fluffy and prevents it from compacting. Bananas love it.

06-06-2016, 01:16 PM	#1 (permalink)
barbc Location: Eastern Washington State Zone: 7b Name: Barb Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 54 BananaBucks : 18,040 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 176 Times Was Thanked 62 Times in 32 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 56 Times	lava rock to improve drainage? Hoping to kill two birds with one stone. We have some soil that has red lava rock mixed in. 1" size. Can I add lava rock to my potted banana medium instead of say perlite, or in addition to, to improve drainage? I hate spending so much on perlite because it feels like you're buying a bag of air for $4.50, even at Walmart (cheapest I can find so far).

06-06-2016, 01:56 PM	#2 (permalink)
Richard un-Retired Richard's Photo Gallery Location: Vista, CA Find me on the map! Zone: USDA 10b Name: Richard Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 9,674 BananaBucks : 552,453 Feedback: 9 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,636 Times Was Thanked 12,543 Times in 4,721 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,685 Times	Re: lava rock to improve drainage? Lava rock can improve drainage when mixed with non-clay soils. However, use it in moderation. It is impervious to roots, so any volume you add is less volume for roots. __________________ Back in business at plantsthatproduce.com

06-07-2016, 12:16 AM	#5 (permalink)
barbc Location: Eastern Washington State Zone: 7b Name: Barb Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 54 BananaBucks : 18,040 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 176 Times Was Thanked 62 Times in 32 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 56 Times	Re: lava rock to improve drainage? Thanks for the tips. Will try my local feed store and also crushing the lava rock. Our mini backhoe ought to do the trick nicely.

06-07-2016, 05:37 AM	#6 (permalink)
Botanical_Bryce Location: Inverness, Florida Zone: 9a Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 881 BananaBucks : 79,455 Feedback: 4 / 100% Said "Thanks" 7 Times Was Thanked 1,459 Times in 636 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: lava rock to improve drainage? Our property is part clay and part sand. The clay parts are hard and compact. I use biochar and heaviest where drainage is worse. No more swimming pools around my home and far better medium for plants. I don't think lava rock would engance the overall soil texture like biochar. I just make it at no cost in a cone pit. Can also be made in planting hole if the hole is big enough.

06-07-2016, 09:12 AM	#7 (permalink)
sputinc7 Location: Palm Bay, Florida Find me on the map! Zone: 9b Name: Steve Join Date: Mar 2016 Posts: 1,394 BananaBucks : 107,978 Feedback: 3 / 100% Said "Thanks" 352 Times Was Thanked 2,430 Times in 971 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 295 Times	Re: lava rock to improve drainage? Specifically, how do you make it? Burn till all hot glowing coals then water? __________________ If you lose your head and give up, you neither live nor win. https://sputinc7.wixsite.com/covwc Varieties I supposedly bought: Manzano, Cavendish, Blue Java, Sweetheart, and Gros Michel. What it seems I actually have: Brazilian, Cavendish, Namwah, Dwarf Red, Gros Michel, Pisang Ceylon, Veinte Cohol and SH 3640, and American Goldfinger. FHIA 1, Paggi and FHIA 17... Always room for one more.

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06-07-2016, 11:02 AM	#8 (permalink)
Tytaylor77 Banana Plants for Trade Location: East Texas Find me on the map! Zone: 8b Name: Ty Join Date: Jun 2015 Posts: 1,367 BananaBucks : 49,405 Feedback: 11 / 100% Said "Thanks" 4,612 Times Was Thanked 3,726 Times in 1,185 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 424 Times	Re: lava rock to improve drainage? I burn then after the fire is going good I throw an inch or so of dirt over most of it. It will smolder under the dirt and burn slowly. I'm sure there is better ways but I don't make a lot. __________________ 150+ Varieties!!. See profile for list. Help me add more! CLICK HERE TO SEE PICTURES OF MY MUSA COLLECTION! www.bananapups.com

06-07-2016, 11:44 AM	#9 (permalink)
barbc Location: Eastern Washington State Zone: 7b Name: Barb Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 54 BananaBucks : 18,040 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 176 Times Was Thanked 62 Times in 32 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 56 Times	Re: lava rock to improve drainage? Just any wood for the biochar? We have a lot of punky wood we need to burn and it's easy to make a huge bed of coals.

06-07-2016, 12:13 PM	#10 (permalink)
Botanical_Bryce Location: Inverness, Florida Zone: 9a Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 881 BananaBucks : 79,455 Feedback: 4 / 100% Said "Thanks" 7 Times Was Thanked 1,459 Times in 636 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: lava rock to improve drainage? I dig the cone pit and put paper and cardboard in the bottom of the cone. I pile sticks tee pee style. Even small logs. Once every thing collapses down I pile small sticks leaves and mulch to smither it. I give it some smother time then start watering it. Cone pit and cone trench is my favorite way. Ash and charcoal play important roles in nature and in the garden. Even if ( soil tests prove otherwise) the biochar provided no nutrient value the conditioning and bio support is worth it. I never use punk wood because I hunt for that stuff and use it as potting soil and backfill. I use any and all sorts of wood.

06-07-2016, 01:23 PM	#11 (permalink)
barbc Location: Eastern Washington State Zone: 7b Name: Barb Join Date: Apr 2016 Posts: 54 BananaBucks : 18,040 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 176 Times Was Thanked 62 Times in 32 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 56 Times	Re: lava rock to improve drainage? Excellent. Thanks for the tips!

06-08-2016, 04:55 PM	#13 (permalink)
Botanical_Bryce Location: Inverness, Florida Zone: 9a Join Date: Dec 2015 Posts: 881 BananaBucks : 79,455 Feedback: 4 / 100% Said "Thanks" 7 Times Was Thanked 1,459 Times in 636 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: lava rock to improve drainage? If done right it makes almost no smoke. You can also buy bagged natural lump charcoal instead of briquet.

06-27-2016, 07:53 AM	#15 (permalink)
Snarkie The Cat Whisperer Location: Charlotte, NC Zone: 8b, pushing 9a Name: D.A. Hänks Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 2,119 BananaBucks : 161,186 Feedback: 5 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,218 Times Was Thanked 1,976 Times in 1,145 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 1,049 Times	Re: lava rock to improve drainage? One inch is kind of large. If you could pulverize it, it might work a lot better. FTR, the red stuff is cinder cone. Lava is black and pumice is gray. __________________ Doug (D.A. Hänks) http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2955582/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1 The Only Eastern Redwood Forest in America "Nuke my 'nanners, will you?!"

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