Should I Use Styrofoam Peanuts for a Filler for Large Pots?
Large planters can add the softness and color of flowers to a cement or field stone patio or give an area that's already filled with plants more visual dimension. Typically, however, they need a lot of potting soil. If you're filling more than one pot, this can get expensive, and plants rarely need that much soil to thrive. Using Styrofoam peanuts as planter filler can benefit the plants and your wallet. At the same time, reusing Styrofoam is an eco-friendly thing to do. Does this Spark an idea?
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Reasons for Filler
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Most plants root only in the top 8 to 10 inches of soil. Deeper soil in large containers provides minimal benefit to the plants and makes the planter heavier than it needs to be. Using a filler in the bottom of the container makes the pot lighter, so it's easier to move while also allowing you to save money on potting soil. The filler can also help water drain from the pot, because there is no compacted soil below the root zone of the plants.
Benefits of Styrofoam Filler
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Readily available and inexpensive, Styrofoam peanuts are a suitable pot filler in the right conditions. Using the peanuts in the planter keeps them out of the landfill. The peanuts have an irregular shape so they do not pack together quickly beneath the soil layer. Plenty of space remains for moisture to drain from the pot between the peanuts. These spaces also provide air pockets, which can supply oxygen to the soil.
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Problems With Styrofoam
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The peanuts will eventually flatten under the weight of the soil. The speed at which they compact depends on the weight but can occur in as little as one season. Styrofoam isn't biodegradable, so the peanuts must be disposed of in the garbage after they're used. Peanut recycling programs, sometimes sponsored by shipping stores, will not take back peanuts that have been soiled in a planter. Biodegradable peanuts aren't suitable for use as a filler, because they melt at the first exposure to water.
Using Styrofoam Filler
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Choose Styrofoam peanuts for use in large pots that hold annual plants. This allows you to replace the peanuts when they eventually begin to compress. They are also a good choice if you don't have a recycling program in your area, because putting them in the planter gets a little more use from them before they go to a landfill. Fill no more than the bottom third of the planter with the peanuts. Top with a sheet of hardware cloth or landscaping fabric before adding the soil. The hardware cloth keeps soil from seeping between the peanuts and compacting while still allowing moisture to drain.
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