Polystyrene curls

[mrshopeful]

Hi all

I know you should put stones at the bottom of planters to help with drainage but I've just had a delivery that was packed with loads of the little polystyrene curls( if you know what I mean, they're just under an inch long and a sort of figure of 8 shape) and wondered if these could be used instead of stones or if anyones knows if they'd contain some sort of damaging chemical which means they can't be used?

[mendacious dog]

Hi all

I know you should put stones at the bottom of planters to help with drainage but I've just had a delivery that was packed with loads of the little polystyrene curls( if you know what I mean, they're just under an inch long and a sort of figure of 8 shape) and wondered if these could be used instead of stones or if anyones knows if they'd contain some sort of damaging chemical which means they can't be used?

A few years ago I bought a polystyrene tray of bedding plants for my garden. I've used the empty tray (broken into multiple pieces) to line the bottom of my containers for quite a while now, with no ill effects!

The broken tray bits are pretty good actually, as they are shaped in kind of little squares that can be placed over the drainage holes and thus keep all the soil in (whilst letting the excess water out).

Anyway, I would give it a go - test the veg on your next-door neighbour first if you are concerned!

Woof

[pdblake]

I would dip some in water first to make sure they don't dissolve. Some of the packaging we get here look a bit like white wotsits but the melt on contact with water.

[Flummery]

I've used it. It's nice and light for the bottom of large containers. The problem comes when you want to use the old compost on your soil and the roots are entangled with the polystyrene! When, after a struggle, you free it, it starts blowing around the garden. Words have been said over this!

[mrshopeful]

Anyway, I would give it a go - test the veg on your next-door neighbour first if you are concerned!

lol

I would dip some in water first to make sure they don't dissolve. Some of the packaging we get here look a bit like white wotsits but the melt on contact with water.

Thanks, I'll try them in some water tonight

I've used it. It's nice and light for the bottom of large containers. The problem comes when you want to use the old compost on your soil and the roots are entangled with the polystyrene! When, after a struggle, you free it, it starts blowing around the garden. Words have been said over this!

Thanks for the warning, think I'll give it go but be prepared for the frustration at the end of the season. Think my husband would probably find it hilarious to see me chasing round the garden to catch them

[blue411]

I use them all the time, never had any problems, but like flummery said they get wrapped around the roots so be ready to un wrap them!!

[Sue]

I'd echo the tangled problem, given up using the small bits for this reason and as others say this might be the non-polystyrene sort you've got. Big bits are OK to use though.
Also if you've got animals these small chips have some strange attraction, have to be really careful that both hens and cats don't get hold of them, fed up with rugby tackling cats and prising open jaws to rescue the offending polystyrene.
Sue

[Florence Fennel]

Thanks for this - I took a delivery packed with the bits on Friday and wondered if I could use them in containers for drainage. I'll give it a go now.