iz

Is it safe to use/mix packaging styrofoam with dirt in edible vegetables growing in pots? I broke the styrofoam in pieces and added some perlite, and put it in bottom of pots to help easy drainage for my edible bananas. I wanted to know is it safe or toxic...could it be observed in edible fruits or vegetables?

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Going banana 4 bananas,
iz

sunfish

john_ny

I don't know if it's still available, but some greenhouse supply companies once sold bags of shredded styrofoam for use in potting mix,

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John

Richard

Styrofoam is a great medium for growing algae and fungi.

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Olafhenny

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momoese

Why not use perlite (expanded rock)?

Olafhenny

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iz

You guessed it! I receive( not buy) a lot of Styrofoam, and instead of filling up my trash can why not use them if its safe for the edible plants; thats what I would like to know. I'm not too sure if the Styrofoam and the Perlite are one in the same ingredients; are they? If not, well I'll just have to dig deeper in my pocket and trips to the hydrophonic store-I go.

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Going banana 4 bananas,
iz

sunfish

iz

"Hmm..doesn't say anything about safety issue on the styrofoam, but like this info.:"

Typical ingredients in a potting mix may include:Packaged Potting Media

Peat moss - organic product mined from decomposing plants, most often mosses, in a boggy area. The characteristics of the peat may vary slightly depending on the species of plant that was growing in that area.
Sphagnum moss – several species of moss that inhabit bogs. It may be sold as green and living, or brown and dried, and is used for plants requiring moist growing mediums with excellent aeration. Most often it is encountered dried and milled in seed starting mixes because of its antifungal properties.
Bark products – ground and/or partially composted by-products of the timber industry. This is a less expensive alternative to peat moss. Bark products have better aeration properties but they dry out quicker than peat moss.
Perlite – white, volcanic rock that was crushed and heated. The heating causes it to expand. It is non-toxic, sterile and odorless. Perlite is used to improve drainage and aeration.
Styrofoam – an inexpensive substitute for perlite. Beads of styrofoam help aerate potting mixes and serve as a space filler. Being extremely lightweight, they tend to float to the surface when watered. Also, unlike perlite, styrofoam will compact over time.
Vermiculite – very light, greyish puffy substance that forms when mica chips are heated. Contains some potassium, magnesium and calcium that will slowly become available. Used to increase moisture and nutrient retention in mixes.
Water retention crystals – small translucent granules that can absorb many times their weight in water, maybe up to 500 times. Non-toxic, non-biodegradable and pH neutral polymer that has a lifespan of about 5 years. They are used to reduce the frequency of waterings. If adding to an existing potting medium, always moisten before using and add in accordance to the manufacturer’s directions.
Coarse sand – large sand particles added to improve drainage and weight to a potting mix. It is most often found in potting soils used for succulent species (e.g. cacti). Only washed or horticultural grade sand should be used in potting mixes.

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Going banana 4 bananas,
iz

Olafhenny

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The reason I joined this forum was to share experiences,
my own and those of others and to learn from them.