|
|
Post by poncirusguy on May 15, 2022 10:01:33 GMT -5
How much oxygen does my 30 gallon 6 foot tall by 3 foot diameter Fukushu kumquat tree on C35 roots need compared to my pet mouse. I was arguing that my pet mouse needs much more oxygen than my large Fukushu Kumquat tree. Are there any charts on how much oxygen tree roots need to thrive. As breathable as my 5-3-1 soil is it doesn't inhale and exhale as we do.
|
|
Boris
New Member
Posts: 26 
|
Post by Boris on May 16, 2022 15:32:53 GMT -5
Hi, poncirusguy!
The crown is engaged in gas exchange, the roots suck the solution. Oxygen is needed in the substrate not so much for the roots, but for the development of the right bacteria and the death of the wrong ones. If there is no oxygen in the substrate, it will be populated by anaerobic bacteria engaged in oxygen-free rotting. and the hay bacillus and other useful things will die. well, these putrid bacteria will start killing everything edible. for example, roots.
How much of it is required? Probably not very much. It is necessary to find out from soil scientists or microbiologists, perhaps they can calculate this task. But why do we need these numbers? One thing is clear, oxygen must penetrate into every piece of the substrate, so the soil must be aerated.
|
|
|
|
Post by poncirusguy on May 17, 2022 10:10:23 GMT -5
.My reason is for potted citrus trees. It seems that 5-1-1 is pushed as the best but I found that top soil from my garden mix 50% with compost from my compost pile worked really well. In the winter I could go 2-3 months without watering but I used a vacuum cleaner to pull fresh air through the roots daily when the soil was just watered ans soaking wet and as the water was used by the tree I vacuumed it less often until I submerged my tree in a laundry tub till soaked. It was when my trees started hitting 30 gallon pots that I went to 3-2-1.
|
|
Boris
New Member
Posts: 26
|
Post by Boris on May 17, 2022 13:44:38 GMT -5
A good idea with a vacuum cleaner. There's probably a benefit in pulling out excess water. How long do you vacuum after watering? Do you have one hole in the pot?
Perhaps immediately after watering, oxygen from the air can be replaced with another oxygen - you can try watering with a weak solution of hydrogen peroxide or potassium permanganate. It will be necessary to experiment on some seedlings. Maybe someone has already tried?
|
|
|
|
Post by poncirusguy on May 17, 2022 17:36:52 GMT -5
After a 1 hour soaking I let it drip for an hour then Pull air through the roots for about 10 seconds. I repeat 5 times.After this I will pull air 1 time for 10 seconds per day for a week then a couple of times a week till next watering
|
|
Boris
New Member
Posts: 26
|
Post by Boris on May 18, 2022 1:47:23 GMT -5
Have you seen improvements since the introduction of this technology? Have the plants started to grow more actively?
I see that kumquats are your favorite citrus plants))
|
|
|
|
Post by pagnr on May 18, 2022 7:03:48 GMT -5
The mouse needs a constant supply of oxygen, I guess a few minutes without O2 will be goodnight mouse.
A plants roots also need oxygen without the same critical time constraints.
However processes will occur that negatively impact the roots with decreased oxygen levels.
And as Boris said, the soil biology will start to alter.
Soil does "breathe", the atmosphere in the soil is fully exchanged something like each 24 hours.
Plants like mangroves have specialised air roots to supply air to the roots.
|
|
|
|
Post by poncirusguy on May 18, 2022 8:05:18 GMT -5
Have you seen improvements since the introduction of this technology? Have the plants started to grow more actively? I see that kumquats are your favorite citrus plants)) With Meiwa kumquats It is the difference in living and dying. It prevent Hydrophobic areas in the rootball by allowing me to soak for an hour first. I get 2-3 foot well branch trees in the first year. Bald cypress trees have knees that breath above the swamps they live in.
|
|
