Knowing where to buy activated charcoal for gardening will take your planting journey to the next level! This superfood for soil is widely available, but only the best stockists have quality products!
Activated charcoal has gained popularity in the gardening world over the last few years. At first, the health niche swooped it up, including it in everything from oral to digestive health. Now, the gardening community is reaping its benefits, and in this article, I’ll tell you why!
I also share how to use activated charcoal to maximize its effects and where to buy the best quality products.
Activated Charcoal For Gardening: Why The Hype?
When you start mixing activated charcoal in your planting soil, the improvements you’ll see will speak for themselves! Here are some reasons why you should start using it:
Improved Drainage
Activated charcoal is burned at a high temperature making it porous. When added to soil, it improves drainage.
If you’re planting in containers, you can add granular activated charcoal as one of the bottom layers, and if you’re working the soil of your gardening beds, you can mix powdered charcoal into it.
Overwatering is one of the primary causes of bacteria, fungus, and rot. Having activated charcoal in your soil will help get rid of excess water and save your plants.
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Improved Air Circulation
Just like leaves need fresh air to breathe, plant roots need it at their roots too. When soil becomes more porous, its ability to circulate air improves. Proper air circulation in the soil prevents humidity and moisture, leading to bacteria and mold.
Improves Soil Fertility
If you use activated charcoal and fertilizer, your soil will remain fertile for longer.
Activated charcoal absorbs the fertilizer in your soil and slowly releases it over time. This saves your plants from being over-fertilized, which can cause chemical burns, stunted growth, and ultimately the death of your plants.
Neutralizes Soil
Activated charcoal is a neutralizing agent and balances the acidic levels in the soil.
Another benefit of activated charcoal is that it will stay in your soil for years, so you don’t have to use it frequently. You can top your levels up every few planting seasons.
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Where To Buy Activated Charcoal For Gardening
Activated charcoal isn’t difficult to source, and you can buy it from nurseries, agro vets, pharmacies, online trade sites, and even herb shops.
When you’re buying activated charcoal, make sure it’s from a trusted brand and that it’s specifically produced for amending soil. Biochar and horticultural charcoal are typically used for this.
Reading reviews from other gardeners is also a must when searching for a reputable seller. There’s no better place to find out what works best than from other gardeners in your area!
You can also make your own charcoal to mix into your soil if you’re keen. Here’s how:
- Burn wood in a large metal pot.
- Wait for it to cool, and then wash the charcoal.
- Once it’s dry, grind the charcoal to a fine powder.
- Add some water and calcium chloride to the powder.
- Cook the mixture.
- Once it has cooled, use it in your soil.
How To Use Activated Charcoal In Your Garden
Activated charcoal can help you create a healthy garden! There are many ways you can use it, and below I list some of my favorites!
Soil Conditioner
The most straightforward way to use charcoal is as a soil conditioner. It has a high potassium content, which helps bring the pH in your soil to an optimal level.
When you add charcoal to your soil in its powdered forms, it moisturizes the ground and helps create better airflow.
Pesticide Removal
Activated charcoal has powerful absorption qualities, which makes it perfect for neutralizing the effects of pesticides. A gallon of water mixed with one ounce of charcoal can remove pesticide build-up in a 100 square foot radius.
You can spray your mixture over any area where organic pesticides were used.
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Fungi Protection
If your garden is home to many fungal infections, you can use activated charcoal to keep these at bay. Charcoal kills the mycotoxins created by mold, so adding it to your soil will effectively reduce the number of infections you see.
Mulch
Mulching with black charcoal effectively creates a protective covering over your soil and prevents moisture from escaping.
This also combats weed growth!
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Last Words
Activated charcoal dramatically changed the health and beauty industry, and it seems to be following the same pattern in the gardening niche. Because you can make a decent batch of gardening charcoal at home, it’s a cheap alternative to other soil additives.
Activated charcoal is packed with beneficial properties, and once you use it in your gardening soil, you’ll never look back! It will improve your soil quality, help fight unwanted bacteria, and multiply your potential harvest!
I hope you found this article helpful and that it’s inspired you to use activated charcoal in your garden. You might have to do some searching to find the best brand for your soil, but the trouble will be worth it once you do!
If you have any other questions about using activated charcoal in your garden, ask them in the comments, and I’ll get back to you.
Can I use any activated charcoal for plants?
Yes.
Activated charcoal is safe to use in planting soil and has a handful of benefits. It works great for container gardening too!
What kind of activated charcoal is best for plants?
The most popular type of charcoal to use for gardening is horticultural charcoal.
What is the difference between horticultural charcoal and activated charcoal?
The main difference between activated and horticultural charcoal is that activated charcoal is produced at higher temperatures making it more porous than horticultural charcoal.
How do you add activated charcoal to soil?
You can add activated charcoal to your planting soil by mixing it with your fertilizer and soil, or sprinkling it on top of your soil from where it can seep into the air pockets.
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