airstones in soil?

[Weezard]

Just out of curiousity, how much of a difference would aerating your water prior to watering with an airstone make, compared to watering with tap water? It sounds like a pretty good idea, just makes we wonder why it isn't common practice

It is a common practice, 'round here, brah:rastasmoke:

And, I guess it would depend on where you get the tap water.
If you get it from a faucet with an aerator, you're all set.
If you get it from a hose bib, and let it sit, it will "go flat"
Lots of folks let their tap water sit in buckets for a while believing it will allow the Chlorine to dissipate.
Not true!
This just lets the dissolved air dissipate.
Then it makes it a good mosquito nursery!

Most tap water nowadays is treated with chloramine, a compound, not a gas. It will not dissipate.

Fortunately it does not hurt plants, (though it WILL kill fish).

You don't have to get all fancy with airstones and all, either.
Half filling a gallon jug with water and shakin' it like a red-headed step-child will do the job.


That said, putting an airstone in soil is an unknown.
Roots do not really use oxygen directly, as far as I know. (trust me, it's not all that far, so ya might wanna look that up,ya)?
I think they do need/use oxygen dissolved in water.
Conventional wisdom and common sense tell us that drying out roots kills them.
Konvict here, is willing to challenge conventional wisdom with an experiment..
Goodonya K. you just might surprise me here.
I'd like that.
Either way, it adds to the Gestalt of information.

Disclamer:
To the best of my knowledge, no red-headed step-children were harmed while composing this post.

Hail to all the :weedpoke:s.
And Aloha from the land up-over
Weezard

[ozzyleven]

Thanks Weezard, ya I just shake the shit out of my water jug for a couple minutes before it goes on. I was just curious as to whether airstones were some miracle for aerating water, but it seems as if shaking works just as well!

[Weezard]

Thanks Weezard, ya I just shake the shit out of my water jug for a couple minutes before it goes on. I was just curious as to whether airstones were some miracle for aerating water, but it seems as if shaking works just as well!

Unless we're talkin' 'bout a 40 Gallon hydro tub.
Then, I vote airstones!
And what I've seen 2 airstones do for a Tomato plant in DWC is just short of miraculous.
Just pouring it back and forth between 2 pails a few times will "liven" it up.
But, I'm a lazy guy with a belt and suspenders.
I half fill the jug from an aerated faucet, then shake it on over to the mudfoots.:jointsmile:

Aloha,
Weeze

[stinkyattic]

Listen to harddon.
If you want more aeration, add extra holes in the sides of the pot. Oxygenation of the soil is best done passively. An active system may interfere with soil chemistry, adn can desiccate the roots.

[konvikt419]

like i said im just expeiramenting :jointsmile: so we will see what happens in a couple weeks. im starting one with it will keep you guys updated.:thumbsup:

[texas grass]

if you want more air to the roots do a method similar to soma and stick a piece of pvc tubing into the pot to the bottom and that should give plenty of passive air to the roots

[Rusty Trichome]

Watering a plant (from the top of the soil) creates a suction, which draws air (oxygen) down to the roots. If you are not getting enough air, or are having problems with lower root zone always wet, either you can drill those holes in the sides, or add more perlite to the soil prior to potting, or both.

Additional air being pumped into the soil will create extremely low humidity air pockets, and roots will die. (like having a blow dryer on, inside your pot) Altho there are some good applications for air pruning, I'm just not one to stress my ladies like that.

[konvikt419]

no im not having problems for a change im planning my next grow and i have some room to play with so im trying to pick an expeirament to play with that wont affect the rest of the babies thanks for checking in though:jointsmile:

[jimbaker]

no im not having problems for a change im planning my next grow and i have some room to play with so im trying to pick an expeirament to play with that wont affect the rest of the babies thanks for checking in though:jointsmile:

using an airstone in the bottom of your soil container is one of the best things to do for your plant. no it will not dry out the roots and yes the roots absorb the oxygen. i tried the h2o2, i added co2, good ussage of nutrients, plenty of perlite with lots of holes drilled on the side. my fastest growing plant, by about 100% is in a small container with an airstone. i use less nutes and less water since there is no runoff. doing it this way is like having hydro growth with the benefits of using soil= doesnt dry out instantly if you miss a day or two of watering/smaller container needed for a bigger plant/100%+ growth rate. look up AIRDOME on youtube, same principal. i actually have a deep water culture plant going and its not growing anything like the one in the soil with an airstone. and the best thing with using this method is that you dont need resevoirs of water that need to be cleaned regularly. i havent changed the soil or container since i put it in. there is no root rot with too much water but best done like youre watering a regular soil plant.

if there is anyone out there that uses this method, please keep everyone notified, i want to know if anyone else is getting the same exact results.