I'm planning to plant some vegetables in a half barrel but don't want to fill the whole thing with topsoil due to the weight. I was considering using hardwood lump charcoal to fill half the barrel instead. Is that a bad idea? I'm curious if it could affect the plants or if you've got any better suggestions. Appreciate any expert advice!
2 Answers
I’ve actually used plastic water bottles with the caps on as filler in my containers, and it worked great! They’ve held up for years, and you wouldn’t even know they're there. It's a solid way to reduce weight without compromising on what you plant.
You could give it a shot, but be cautious! There might be issues with nutrient locking and pH imbalances if you use just charcoal. A more balanced approach would be mixing perlite and vermiculite instead; they help with drainage and aeration without adding too much weight.
Thanks, I'll look into those!
Good idea, thanks!