Quote:
Originally Posted by v1rtu0s1ty
Thanks for that great idea!!! 
What about the dry hay or the thing that they lay on top of ground for newly seeded grass, can they be used instead of dry leaves? It's because they're available at Home Depot or Lowes.
Thanks. |
I believe that Austin is just suggesting that you get some materials that may be available in your yard or nearby greenbelt, etc. Leaves are the first thing that come to mind because they are plentiful in the fall. One maple tree in the front of our property, for example, will yield at least 85 bushels of leaves. However, if your are going to purchase anything, I'd suggest that you use something that has greater insulating value - Styrofoam popcorn(the one used for packaging). They are available from most office supply stores, or even places similar to UHaul. Make sure to get the
white Styrofoam, not the colored ones. Colored ones tend to emit gases, when they get wet, that may be harmful to the plant. It was suggested to me several years ago, and I found this to have some validity to it. The plants that I had that I used the colored Styrofoam for drainage at the bottom of the pot grew a lot slower, or even died, compared to the ones with the white Styrofoam.
I have used that concept similar to Austins sketch, only I used chicken wire and clear plastic (visqueen) as a cage and filled it with white Styrofoam. There were several 3/4" holes around the lower and upper perimeter to allow the plant to breathe.