Good for you! Saving money and the environment at the same time. I believe this has been a recommendation mentioned in the forum before, so you seem to be doing nothing out of the ordinary..... :)

Nancy

Yep, I use it too! If I've been short of orchid mix when re-potting, I've often added some to what I mix I actually have to extend it. I also use lots to fill up the bases of large planters and wall baskets when planting them up with smaller rootballed plants for the summer....it makes the compost go further and they are not so heavy either. Why fill a tall planter with expensive compost only to plant things that will root into the top third?? Good for you!!
Gill from the UK.

Brodyjames & greenclaws , Well let me start with this, it was good to hear that others have tried using s/f in the mix. i would check to see if anyone was watching me, it seemed to make scense, s/f does'nt breakdown or retain water, will allow air & drainage. lets try it! no nutrients but a excelent filler. Have a blast today thanks.

Been using it for several years,and you're right it doesn't break down,also keeps pots lighter in weight,and that's a bonus.
Kathi

Why can't there be a "like" button? ;)

Nancy

What size is styrofoam popcorn?

If it's the size of popcorn, wouldn't the heavier elements of your soil mix migrate to the bottom of the pots, and the styrofoam to the top of the pots, every time you water your plants?

If it really is that big, it doesn't seem suited for cacti/succulents.

-R

land-3499 OK, these are some Big kernals of popcorn alright, lets say like around the size of quarters maybe even a 50 cent piece and I'll be honest, I've actually used large pieces too. I took a large piece that was shaped like an accordian (sizzor pieces) and I sat them at the bottom of a large pot packed them in about 12 inches high and the other 12 inches with soil mix and that too has worked fine and dandy for me, so as far as the popcorn it's not actually popping up like popcorn either thats just the name of it LOL, but it has been making my pots easier to move around from place to place, like sun, shade, full sun and undercover for winter. I used to just fill the whole pot up with soil and then having to move them was a workout, this is a good idea you might want to try as a experiment your plants wont mind either. :D have a great day my friend.

hijole, thanks for your response.

What other elements have you used in your popcorn mix?

Does your popcorn mix work for both cacti and succulents?

Can it be used year around?

Is it a coincidence that you keep posting to ensure that your ridiculous posts mentioning the candles that your wife sells are at the top of this forum?

-R

Ok, sounds like i hit a sore spot, sorry again, wasnt trying to sell wax either. i thought it was a sutle note. thanks for clearing the air. Yes it works fine all year around even in hostile enviroments (the weather) I was was mentioning the subject only to get other opinions, some were others who tried it an had good results and im sure others besides yourself thought it was silly, 0ne thing is for sure i'll make it a point to only mention important points that can help everybody and just a few :] Land3490 Im just enjoying life & I even lol reading your post really, looking for a jab or two so bring it on. cuz i think its funny. Peace.

Land3499- Ok, let me try this again so I can move on, the other nutrients I used are the ones that are in the mixes already such as sunshine #4 mix and, or E.B. Stone cactus & Succulent mix. I really didnt think I would sell a candle but I thought maybe someone else maybe sells them and it would strike a chord. (you never know, small world) anyway I do respect everyone's opinions and I dont mean anything but fun. hope I didnt upset the cart by mentioning them. So with that being said How is everyone doing out there this beautiful day?

Robert,

Glad to see you back in form and, if I thought he was advertising here, I'd too be on that like white on rice - I don't think he was.

Hijole,

If you can't get pumice, I guess what you're using is OK - given the choice, I like my styrofoam in packing, not in my soil. I don't think it's the best long-term component in soil, but there are plenty worse ones.

Best to leave the candle references at home, though - I'm already having enough problems getting GW to remove egregiously-SPAMed messages.

I'm with Jeff and others... I know polystyrene packing material is lightweight and that you have a free source, and I've definitely heard of people using it in orchid culture (with bark). I think I even used it myself once or twice before I discovered perlite.

But polystyrene is not inert. It does leak chemicals into soil. Maybe not huge amounts, but I just don't want it in my soil. All I'd say is... Do a little bit of reading about it before you use it for everything.

Perlite is cheap, lightweight (overly so), and doesn't leak plasticizers or other chemicals. It's as close to packing material as I want to go.

Experimenting is good. Economizing is good. It's just... it's also a good idea to look for some background information on the subject, too.

Packing peanuts are too large to contribute to the soil structure. Mainly they'll just take up space, effectively reducing the pot size. If that's what you want, I'd just use a layer of them at the bottom of your pots. I don't know what kinds of chemicals they might leach, as amanzed suggested.

As for the candles, I'm pretty sure most people realize that you were just explaining why you have so many packing peanuts, and that no one is making any sales with a passing comment like that. So don't worry about Robert (land3499). This is not the first time he has rudely suggested ulterior motives where there are none. Perhaps he is the paranoid type.

>So don't worry about Robert (land3499). This is not the first time he has rudely suggested ulterior motives where there are none. Perhaps he is the paranoid type.

Maybe I am, but may I explain myself?

Hijole could just as easily have said, "I have lots of styrofoam popcorn," without mentioning his wife's business. And since Garden Web doesn't give us any way to sort threads by when they're first posted, I thought this was his first, especially since he just registered recently.

Since internet marketers are much cleverer these days (they don't say "BUY MY WIFE'S CANDLES," but rather slip references to products into related posts on forums), I jumped to the conclusion that Hijole was trying to do some marketing.

Now I see that he has done other posts and I was wrong. Apologies to hijole.

-R

Yeah, I guess the spammers make everyone a little more suspicious. I wish GardenWeb could stay on top of them better.

No worries land3499 I understand , and will look forward to hearing comments from everyone in this Ginormus family here on the G/W. All the info. (411) is fun, interesting and very educational plus it's nice to have all the years of experience combined here for us to take advantage of so I have no problem whatsoever. :) thanks though the apology was kind.

cactusmcharris- thank you also for the thoughts also. out