[papercreters] Re: Papercrete as growing medium

Please provide more details.

Are you trying to make biodegradable pots?
or
Are you actually trying to grow plants in paper pulp instead of soil.

Either is possible.

For most garden type plants, I suggest simply composting. Most paper composts extremely well if mixed with nitrogen rich materials such as green plant trimmings/weeds, manure, etc. This is the method I recommend the most. I have composted a lot of nasty paper waste that had started to mold or stink. Adding the nasty stuff to my compost pile is a great way to turn a big mess into something worthwhile and get it out of my way at the same time. Given proper composting ratios, plus enough time, and paper will turn into great garden soil that can grow almost any plant.




Paperboard plant pots have been around for decades. You can make your own by simply pulping up a bunch of paper and compressing drained damp pulp into a flower pot shaped form. Then set your pots out to dry before using. They will hold their shape surprisingly well, but will break down and disappear in time. This type of plant pot can be simply buried in the ground along with the plant to become part of the soil when transplanting.

Using a similar procedure, paper with cement added can make a "somewhat" longer lasting plant pot, but will be far less biodegradable. It won't be a good pot to plant in the ground and it will wick moisture unless the pot is sealed with something like a elastomeric paint.

Growing plants in paper instead of soil can work, but you'll probably need to supply the plants with fertilizer to give them enough nutrition. It all depends upon what plants you are growing and what their nutrition requirements are. I'm no expert, but I suspect something like orchids, which hardly require any soil at all might fare reasonably well growing in paper pulp chunks with some air gaps in between. I've never tried this, though, so proceed with care. Try it on something easily replaceable to see how well it works before trying it on your last favorite prized orchid.





--- In papercreters@yahoogroups.com, "prrr.t21@..." <prrr@...> wrote:
>
> I'm intersted in the possibility of using paper pulp / papercrete as a growing medium. Added cement looks like an unideal choice because of chromium and who knows what else in it, so is there anything else that could provide enough strength to stop the paper pulp liquifying when soaked? The current plan is to reinforce it with sticks to hold it up, I just need it to not liquify in heavy rain or when saturated.
>
> Cost is critical, I'm looking for the cheapest option if possible.
>
> thanks
>




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