A lady on another group told me she worked in a nursery, She told me to use packing peanuts at the bottom of my bucket so it would not be so heavy and I would not need to use as much dirt. Then plant my flowers as usual.
When I woke up this morning, my bucket was only half full! My dirt and plants sunk!! How is that possible? What a disaster! The peanuts were all mixed in with the dirt. I threw all of it out and got new dirt and transplanted my flowers.
Did I get schnookered - not sure that is a word - by this lady? I feel like such a fool!
i've always used the packing peanuts in the soil...helps drainage...i've also used them to plug some of the holes up too, if that's needed.
the biodegradable peanuts have been out for a few years...so i do the same tongue test now to be sure that what i'm adding isn't that kind.
if anyone has a bunch and they wouldn't mind sending them (i'd reimburse for postage), i can use them for the 'dig box' for the ferrets...they're a very safe item to use just because they melt when they are hit with moisture!
Have never heard of cornstarch packing peanuts. What an interesting article and concept. I remember getting one package with green packing peanuts. Wish I would have saved them instead of putting them in the recycle bin.
Are cornstarch packing peanuts green only? Or, are they also white? Are those posters that touch their tongue to the packing peanut referring to the green item or either color item?
I do know when using any material in the bottom of a container to fill space it should be filled a quarter of the way with soil, then watered to allow for settling. May need to repeat several times so the air in spaces gets filled with soil.
Hello: All I have to say is, I'am guility of the same thing. Not knowing any difference I used the Bio Nuts the first time also, but now I do use the reg nuts, and always test them first to be sure they are not Bio. DO NOT use your tongue to test the peanuts, if you knew where they have been the last place you want these filthy little creaters is in your mouth. Just go to the sink and put some water on them and see what happens. Your health is way more importent then saving a little potting soil and weight.
Donnie
Sometimes I wake up grouchy,other days I just let her sleep,while I'am outside in the garden she is counting sheep. (%$#@%*#&@) sorry honey,I didn't say that...honey put down that hoe... :(
we call the white bio nuts "ghost poop" at our house, 'cause the first time we saw them, the kids were of the age to say "those look like turds" so i said "yes, it is poop. ghost poop. go put some under water and see what happens"
i bet a whole box of peanuts went down the bathroom sink that day
and i too use them in my pots... works great, and if i get the bionuts mixed up by accident, i just add a little more soil as i go!
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