Zeolite for plants

On the pages of rukodelie.net/plants, we have repeatedly mentioned such a component as zeolite in the composition of soils for indoor plants. Let's take a closer look at what it is.

Zeolites are a group of minerals, aqueous calcium and sodium aluminosilicates, capable of giving back and reabsorbing water depending on temperature and humidity. Of the physical properties, they are characterized by glass or pearlescent shine. Zeolite is of natural origin - it is a product of volcanic lava and rock crushed by gas and steam, as well as ocean water. Zeolite has found very wide application: it is used in household water filters, in fillers for cat toilets, as well as in medicine and construction.

Advantages of adding zeolite to substrate

• Zeolites are capable of ion and cation exchange, and therefore, when added to the soil composition for flowers, they contribute to the preservation of Mg2 +, Ca2 +, K + cations for 2-3
years.
• Zeolite contains potassium, calcium, magnesium, boron, zinc, manganese, molybdenum, silicon in form available to plant.
• Zeolite granules mixed with soil increase its porosity, prevent particles from sticking together (cementing the soil), and therefore increase access to oxygen roots. Due to the high drainage of the soil, better root formation is ensured.
• Zeolite in the composition of soil mixtures for cacti and succulents allows you to bring the structure of the soil as close as possible to the requirements of these plants.
• It regulates the moisture capacity of the soil, allows you to reduce the frequency of irrigation and prevents overdrying (to a certain extent).
• Zeolite acidity is optimal for plants pH 5.5-5.6.

Why not vermiculite and sand?

Of course, we used to get by with other baking powders, such as: coarse sand, fine gravel, fine expanded clay, broken red brick, agroperlite and vermiculite. But zeolite against them has advantages:

• river sand is too fine, particles less than 2 mm cement the soil, reduce the respiration of the roots, i.e. you need to sieve it, take particles larger - actually small pebbles, size 3-5 mm
• vermiculite is more moisture-intensive, since it is very heterogeneous - there are a lot of dust, medium and large particles in one package, substrates based on it dry out longer, it is more expedient to use it only for sowing and picking seedlings, perlite and even worse - over time it leaches to the soil surface
• broken brick is good, but requires preparation: prick, sift, and as a result, a lot of waste in the form of dust
• small gravel is difficult and long to collect and it is heavier
• zeolite in the fillers is already the size we need, it remains only to rinse it - the least fuss

Coconut, peat and bark are components for a completely different purpose and cannot be compared with zeolite, but if you get a good large, calibrated vermiculite (without dust), it is no worse than zeolite, perhaps only more expensive.

Where to get zeolite for plants

Plant zeolite can be purchased as:

• The finished component of the substrate, for example, CeoFlora releases ZeoFlora moisture-saving soil as a natural soil enhancer, plant growth stimulant. Its advantage is that the zeolite created on the basis of natural zeolites of the Khotynetskoye deposit (Oryol zeolites) has already been prepared for planting - the particle sizes are calibrated, there is no debris, impurities, dust. Price 2.5 kg for about 250 rubles (price 2016):
• Cat litter, for example, the most affordable and popular Barsik Standard and Barsik Effect. Their advantage in price - packaging for 4.5 liters costs about 70 rubles (price in Auchan 2016). But the toilet filler must be washed and the particle size in it can be from 1 mm to 5 mm:

Let's say right away that comparing zeolite granules, we give undoubted preference to Barsik! He will be discussed below.

What cat litter to use for flowers

The most common and inexpensive are Barsik Standard in green packaging and Barsik Effect in orange. Considering that there can be a lot of colors at home, and the consumption of zeolite is 1/3-1/5 of the volume of soil, we may need more than one package, and in this regard, Barsik's economy captivates.

But if not Barsik, then Which? Buy any cat litter that clearly says "zeolite is a natural mineral of volcanic and sedimentary origin" and does not fit! There should be no more additives in the composition. But before applying it, make sure you buy exactly what you need. Let us recall that volcanic zeolite has a shine, in a dry state it is covered with dust and no shine is visible, but it is worth washing it and the zeolite becomes like river pebbles, only sharp, faceted.

Therefore, any filler, if in doubt, check for solubility: fill with water, wait 5-10 minutes, rub in your palms. If the granules continue to prick the hands - excellent, if saponified, become smooth - you cannot use for plants.

Zeolite plant analogues

Molding

In addition to zeolite, you can see feline litter based on sponge. Opoka is an ancient sedimentary rock formed from the skeletal parts of organisms (diatoms, radiolarians and spicules of flint sponges). Example: filler "Siberian cat" effect, "Kuzya," etc. Opoka is also practically insoluble in water, differs from zeolite in color - lighter and usually a larger fraction. The sponge filler must also be washed. The price is about the same as for "Barsiki."

Lechusa substrate

The Lechuz production line specializes in the manufacture of self-watering pots and landless substrate for them. They have two soil variants: Lechuza Pon (LECHUZA-PON), composed of: zeolite, purified pumice, volcanic rock + slow-release fertilizers; Lechuza Terrapon (LECHUZA-TERRAPON), consisting of: organic humus and mineral components (pumice and expanded clay). These substrates are of high quality, their flower pots are simply gorgeous, but the price is very high: Lechusa Pon 25 l - 2622 rubles, Lechusa Terrapon - 15 l - 1560 rubles.

For comparison, for 1 liter of zeolite Lechusa Pon will cost you 105 rubles, and Barsik Standard - 15 rubles. For many, this difference is very significant, so we will continue the story of the zeolite for plants from Barsik.

How to prepare zeolite for planting

The cat litter zeolite looks like ordinary pounding stones, only very dusty. It has a lot of sand, small particles, the size of grains of sand - we do not need them. Therefore, the filler must be washed. Care is required here - the zeolite from the filler dusts when poured. You don't need to breathe this. To reduce spraying, take a large bowl or basin, pour water and pour the zeolite from the bag, tilting it as low as possible to the water. At the same time, the cloud of dust still rises, you can hear the hiss (small), but the dust cloud is much smaller than when you pour dry filler with water.

So, they poured zeolite into the water, and now we pour it into a colander. All particles that are smaller than the colander hole must be thrown out. This is practically cement dust. For the entire package of filler, with a volume of 2.5 liters of dust-like trifles, there will be a little, a maximum of half a glass. I.e. there is not much waste.

It is better to wash the zeolite until it brightens, leave glossy spiky pebbles. Do not worry, the roots are not injured about them, we throw out the sand from washing.

Method of using zeolite for plants

Zeolite can and should be added to the earth mixture to all indoor and garden plants, including for growing seedlings of vegetables, as part of a substrate for sowing seeds, can be added to containers or planting pits with fruit trees and shrubs. The only plants that do not need zeolite are epiphytes: orchids and bromeliads, which are grown not in the substrate, but in the bark or with an open root system (on the block). Terrestrial orchids and bromeliads grown in the ground (vryesia, echmea, etc.) should also be added zeolite.

But the application rates depend on the type of plant, its needs for moisture and airiness of the soil. So, for succulents (kalanchoe, aloe, adenium, sediment, etc.), as well as forest cacti (Decembrist), it is necessary to add zeolite as part of the 1/4 part of the soil volume. All other cacti zeolite can be added in an amount of 1/3 of the soil volume. Indoor plants and flowers, as well as zeolite should be added to the soil for seedlings of vegetables in an amount of 1/5 of the volume of the soil (pot).

Zeolite completely replaces such a loosening component as river sand (or small pebbles, gravel crumbs). But zeolite and earth are not always the only components of the substrate: in addition to them, coconut substrate, pine bark, humus can be added to the soil mixture.

For example, if you plant anthurium, then the soil mixture for it can have the following composition: 1 part of the zeolite, 1 part of the leaf humus (universal earth), 1 part of the pine bark.

Also, the composition of the soil mixture depends on what kind of land will be at the base of the soil. So in store soils, the composition is almost always the same: horse and lowland peat in the mixture, sometimes only horse peat. And garden land can be sandy loam, loam, black soil or peat .

• If the base is sandy loam, we take it 2 part, zeolite needs to be added a little, a fairly 1 part, but be sure to add 1 part of the sheet (or peat land) and 1 part of the humus.
• If the base is loam, we take its 2 parts, zeolite can be added 1-2 part of the volume (the more clay component in the ground, the more zeolite to add) and 1 part of the sheet earth or coconut substrate.
• If the base is peat land, we take 2 parts, add zeolite in the amount of 1 part and 1 part of humus.