Why do you want to pot succulent into hydro pot?

I live in a small studio apartment where I would rather avoid soil altogether. I also want a huge snake plant as part of the apartment ambience and hydro grows faster.

Also, I am trying to use the plant to purify the air for health reasons. NASA did studies proving that with a special kind of pot you can certainly do this, but the more plant matter, the better. The kind of pot that I have is hydroponic.

http://www.plantairpurifier.com

NASA study:

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://go.nasa.gov/1WsmEAC&ved=0ahUKEwjbyJ3Ft6nSAhXKh1QKHUOqCOwQFggqMAE&usg=AFQjCNENI1P7tfcjAyoUFmjSuPAGvEg8EA&sig2=zt5WPAE01VgJoY7hPoCq0g

Succulents do not need soil, actually I use doesn't have any in it. Plants do not need to be in hydroponic container in order to purify the air.

Are you saying that you are going to grow them hydroponically?

It's true, any regular plant in a lot purifies the air.

But the roots are responsible. Not the foliage. Add airflow to the roots,

And now you have a plant in one pot equivalent to 60 plants. Hydroponics makes air purification even more efficient.

More airflow to the roots, the better. But the plant can only handle a certain amount.

There are also these products:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/628579643/clairy-the-most-amazing-natural-air-purifier/comments?cursor=12918896

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/airy/airy-bio-active-air-filtering

NASA did the research. These products fulfill that need for a product.

They add airflow to the roots.

The roots purify the air. A normal pot gets very little airflow.

Thanks for that image though, I think I'm just going to use just one of the snake plants....it will take longer, but I think it should eventually fill the whole planter over time.

I went to the website and it says, "Removes, dust, danger, mold, and allergens" I call BS.

I have a question though, so in my larger plant, where it is split basically into four plants,

There will be rhizomes under the soil.

My question is,

If I pull it up out of the soil, will all four parts be connected?

Do rhizomes just reach out and try to connect to each other?

I want to transfer the bigger plant. But I was afraid that when I pulled it out if the planter, it would all fall apart.

But the roots are responsible. Not the foliage. Add airflow to the roots

I don't know about roots purifying the air, but I know that the foliage of plants definitely play a role in whatever air filtration does take place.

Hi Kevin,

Some of us heard seen/heard of these NASA studies. I just quickly rescanned it & saw comment about plant root-soil area. I took that to mean the soil may assist in this as well. I agree w/ most who think the foliage has a lot to do w/ the air purifying.

I note the report is dated 1989. So we've certainly learned oodles more in the intervening 25 yrs+. as to how these things work. Am certain it's in the power of the leaves, at least in both, not just the roots.

I think your plants look great, all I'd do is amend their mix w/ more perlite/pumice (like 50/50 w/ the soil).

Forgive my being so blunt, but you're being sold a lot of marketing.

If you're intent on growing them Hydro, all you need is media (I had Leca stones) & netted pots, that all (pls. search 'Netted Pots' as I have no pix of the empty pots). It's originally posted from its leaf start at the Sansevieria Forum nearby, but here's some recent pix.

It's probably 6 yrs. old now. Here's a better look at the Leca stones (porous fired clay balls).

The roots grow down into the balls at the bottom of which is the water, just a couple of inches. Here's its lovely roots.

I shared these pix earlier in the year when I thought I'd have to move & was considering cutting this in 2. Haven't had to move thank G_d , but the plant can't grow sideways so now it's growing upwards. Here's a shot of where I might have separated it.

I have to order some larger netted pots. I hadn't realized how top heavy this would get.

Your Question abt roots or rhizome, you may find either or both as Tiffany's plants.

Here's a plant that recently came my way, has both, rhizome & roots.

Wow Tiff great pix!!! I remember the pix of roots all twisty every which way from the pot. I don't recall seeing the pic of the straight-line growth (from the yard I assume). Fascinating comparison, TFS w/ us!

It is my understanding that the bacteria in the soil is what actually can clear the air of VOCs by digesting them. Similar to some air purifiers that oxidize VOCs.

But also the foliage does play a role by humidifying the air, and gas exchange (CO2 for oxygen).

I guess I'll just have to wait and see if VOCs in my apartment decrease.

I certainly have a reliable set of air quality meters that will tell me if there is a difference.

Maybe NASAs study indicates an incorrect conclusion I do not know,

You would be correct in saying that whether or not the root theory is correct, it is inconclusive at the moment.

I'm just excited to see for myself :)

I see that you can make your own hydroponic houseplant pots.

But it looks like the kratky method to me.

Eg. No electricity needed, just a pot with water, a net and media.

But does this work for houseplants that you want to keep alive long term??

I heard with a method like the kratky method, you are limited to short term plants like herbs.

Because you CANNOT refill the water?

Because if you do, the "air roots" will drown.

I heard you can only fill it once, and once the pot is out of water, the plant had better be done, because adding more water will drown the roots that are now exposed to air, and kill the plant.

I guess I just heard it's impossible for roots to convert back from air roots, to water roots.

Am I wrong? That would be great if I am. I'd love to make my own houseplant pots.

Sorry, but what's "kratky".

Is 6 yrs. short term to you? May I pls ask if you have prior gardening experience?

Sounds confusing btwn soil grown roots w/ water grown roots. I top up the water from time to time & things are just fine. I haven't heard about air roots you're talking about.

I have a small Schefflera growing hydro at my office. I found its water dried out yesterday, I just added water to it & it's fine. I expect to go in on Mon. & find it remains fine.

I'm not sure how else to say this, but I wouldn't be so quick to believe so much of what I "hear". Most of all, I'd suggest experimenting, then you can see for yourself.

Karen

Kratky method (non circulating) -explained here- named after Mr Kratky...

Kevin

There is nothing wrong by using hydro or semi-hydro method.

I am also not sure what you mean by:...'Because you CANNOT refill the water?'...I understand that water doesn't circulate if using Kratky method, but refilling or changing water if needed should be very easy.

There's no reason why water can't circulate. Use a small air pump with an air stone in the water under the LECA. That would solve the problem of the mucho expensive pot vs DIY. The point being there is no reason to buy a hydro setup if you are dead set on having one. You can make one just as easily and probably a lot cheaper. You also have the luxury of picking out better looking pots. FYI there isn't much difference between soil grown plants in a unglazed clay potand hydro plants except if you may have allergies to the soil itself.

good soil and little water .Yes it will work- you'll need a decently big pot

High tech ?

Please now, capillary wicking is as old as Methuselah