There is a fine balance between pee retention for flora uptake between irrigations and maintaining optimum air place of 25 - 50 % to promote root external respiration in a container . There are a number of ingredient that can mold these parameters . The components of a substrate are the most ordinarily attributed factor when think weewee holding capacity . Often there is a with child focus on particle size , mass incorporation charge per unit , and substrate make-up . In general peat and coconut coir have a greater water property capacity when compared to Grant Wood roughage , however , the particle sizing of each component must also be consider . Additionally , totality such as perlite , bark , and woods bit , can be incorporated to increase drainage within a substrate . Smaller subatomic particle size will allow the substratum to hold onto more water when compared to declamatory speck size substrates due to the little stomate between the particles . However , when utilizing a substrate that consists of a all-embracing variety of element growers must consider how all parts of a substrate blend interact with the various sum and particle sizes of each component . While substrate composition and particle size of it distribution are of import factors in urine retention and drainage container height is also an important factor to consider .

Factors such as container mental ability and gentle wind space within the substratum vary depending on container height and mass ( Fonteno , 1988 ) . However , full porousness may stay the same across containers of various sizes as long as the bulk concentration stays the same . When the container elevation increases the air blank will increase which can leave in a broken container capacity ( the amount of water a substrate can bind after gravitative drainage ) . Taller containers also help avoid a post - irrigation perched water table that is common with shorter container . When using a shorter container with a substrate composed of fine particle size of it , deficient airspace may be detect , potentially resulting in increase occurrent of root rot or plant desiccation .

Recently when visiting a cultivator , we observed marigolds grown in a 4 " throne but that was considerably ( 5.0 " tall ) grandiloquent than a traditional 4 " potentiometer ( 3.75 " tall ) . While this taller pot does have heavy volume resulting in more substrate being required compared to a shorter pot of the same diameter , the uncommitted air space is much greater . base on the pairing of container geometry and substrate utilized 2 agriculturist must alter their growing practices to admit for the difference of opinion in aviation space available and where the roots are within the pot .

Read more ate-gro.org

Frontpage photo : © Song Yang | Dreamstime