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FREE: crystal soil

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Description

The listing, crystal soil has ended.

I bought a a full pound of crystal soil and quickly discovered that there was no way on earth that I could possibly use all of it, not in my lifetime. a pound of crystal soil makes about 50 punds, hydrated :) so I took about half the bag, emptied it, and I am offering the rest here for free. basically, you add water, let it expand to 50 times its dry size, and use it as soil. Or add water and scented oil and use it as liquid potpourri. or add color and plant stuff in it. One caution: you can never dump it down the drain. interesting stuff. FREE! you just pay the 5 bucks shipping and handling. paypal only.

Questions & Comments

You can actually sow seeds right into it?

Mar 14th, 2010 at 7:11:54 AM PDT by

I think you can, but I have never tried that. I would sprout the seed first and transplant it. However, if you are mixing it into potting soil, you'd hydrate it first, mix into the soil, and then sow seeds in it. I do know it works very well for that.

Mar 14th, 2010 at 11:40:38 PM PDT by

wow! sounds like fun:)

Mar 13th, 2010 at 3:08:27 PM PST by

sorry - see below for my actual reply :))

Mar 13th, 2010 at 11:14:46 PM PST by

yeah, it comes in handy if you do hydroponic gardening, for sure. I forgot to mention that you can mix this with regular potting soil and it extends watering time by about 2 weeks. Note also that I am in Denver where it is so dry that cactii grow up through the snow :)) it would probably be really effective in a wet climate!

Mar 13th, 2010 at 11:14:22 PM PST by

How much would one use if wanting to grow a tomato plant just using this?

Mar 14th, 2010 at 7:13:42 AM PDT by

sprout it first, then fill a gallon pot with crystal soil and transplant. Hydrate it first to know how much you'll need. I'd say that a tablespoon would probably do it.

Mar 15th, 2010 at 12:28:42 AM PDT by

Is it re-usable?

Mar 14th, 2010 at 7:13:56 AM PDT by

completely. Forever.

Mar 15th, 2010 at 12:28:56 AM PDT by

How do you know when to water?

Mar 14th, 2010 at 7:14:14 AM PDT by

your crystals will start looking less uniform and more separated. Also, the volume level in the pot or jar will decrease as water is used or evaporates. then you just add more water. That's all.

Mar 15th, 2010 at 12:30:14 AM PDT by

I should add: crystal soil is not ideal, if used alone, for pots with drainage holes. It is best utilized in clear glass jars.

Mar 15th, 2010 at 12:31:51 AM PDT by

http://www.gardeningoncloud9.com/category/indoor-gardening/indoor-gardening-crystal-soil/

mine are not beads, but actual crystal soil. However, this link will show you what to do with crystal soil.

Mar 15th, 2010 at 12:37:16 AM PDT by

Thanks, good information

Mar 15th, 2010 at 3:27:07 AM PDT by

Hawaii, you can't put oatseed directly into it, lol, and I tried some herbs, like chives and basil and they didn't do to well either. I've got about half a pound of this stuff, too, but hadn't thought of listia to get rid of it, lol. I still haven't decided what to do with the leftover. Every single thing madamemaledicta has said is excatly right about this stuff. I did the same thing and bought a pound not realizing how much I was getting. OMG. It does work fantastic for bamboo plants though. They grow fine in just the crystals. I tried an ivy, a philodendron and a dracaena, all directly in hydrated crystals, and they didn't make it. Maybe if I'd mixed the crystals with soil they would've but I was trying to avoid the dirt.

Mar 19th, 2010 at 10:45:17 PM PDT by

sweetestmorgan, thanks for replying! I appreciate that. from what I understand, you can put just vermiculite and some glass pebbles in with it if you want to plant herbs in the medium. this gives the roots something to hold onto, if you get me.

With the other things you tried, they *will* work, given the right conditions. If you were to make a cutting of any of the following, and then water root the cutting in a clear or colored transparent jar, then add crystal soil to the water it is *already* growing in, it would work:
dracaena cut at an offshoot joint (BTW, closely related to bamboo)
Fiddle leaf fig (offshoot joint as well)
Philodendron
pothos
all varieties of ivy except xeriscape ivy
vinca vine

I can vouch for all of these, as they grow well in my apartment, even in what I consider poor light (north window, west window, bathroom).

there are more, but basically, if you can root it in water, it *should* grow successfully in crystal soil.

Mar 20th, 2010 at 12:20:11 AM PDT by

Right, but make sure you have a plant and not just seeds, and make sure there's some roots or an appropriate cutting. There might be some seeds, by themselves, that will take in crystal soil, but I haven't discovered them yet. Oats don't becuse they can't handle too much moisture, which the crystal soil does give them. Then they rot instead of germinate.

Mar 20th, 2010 at 1:11:27 AM PDT by

Wow, I'll give up now, and leave it to Hawaii. She's a Super-Listian bidder! Thanks for offering this nifty auction, Madamemaledica. :-)

Mar 20th, 2010 at 9:36:19 AM PDT by

I'm thinking of bidding (again) but was wondering if you could ship First Class. If it is only half a pound (8 ounces) you should be able to tape it up securely in a manilla or bubble envelope and ship it for $2.

OR, you could just ship me half a pound of it, if you have more, and re-list the remainder. I probably couldn't use more than that anyway!

I spend about $50 a week shipping out my auctions, so I would really rather have my wins shipped to me free, if you can consider it. You can do it with stamps, and drop it in a mailbox if it is less than 13 ounces.

Mar 20th, 2010 at 12:39:29 PM PDT by

crystal soil is in the Home & Garden | Other Home & Gardening Items category