FAQs
We are going to be posting Frequently Asked Questions from our customers here. If you have a question, please email us and we will answer it the best we can and post them here!
Q - In your video you said that the seed roots won't grow out to the edge of the
cube like it would in a plastic cup. Why is that?
-P in Ontario
A - To answer your question, when a seedling sends out its roots, it will sense the
density of the soil and the air surrounding the soil cube. The roots will not grow out into
the air!!! They die when they are exposed to open air and sunlight and they know it, so
they instead, stop just before the edge of the soil cube, and then, concentrate on the
secondary root growth inside the cube. This is the secondary and tertiary hairs that grow
off of the main roots... There is more volume of soil in a cube compared to a cylinder, so
the roots really stack up in the cube. Once you put the cube out in the garden, the roots,
again, sense that there is soil surrounding it to grow into... and they do! Right away!
Therefore, there is no root-shock like the container grown seedlings that hit the soil
with their root ball exposed... Faster growth! One more point that I forgot to mention...
Because the soil cubes are surrounded by air instead of plastic, the
roots benefit by more oxygenation in early development as well... another factor in
much better for root development! John Jeavons observed that wild plants
grow better in landslides rather than compact soil... why? More oxygen and less resistance for the roots! I hope this answers it!
Q - How do you water these? Seems to me they would melt. I'm sure you've worked that out and I look forward to your answer.
A - That is a great question. I use a pump up sprayer that you get from the garden center. that way you can get a good soaking on the cubes and you would be suprised at how much water they actually soak up! I is a lot easier than using a spray bottle with a trigger... very tiring. This is especially true when you start having hundreds of cubes in production! And finally, no, the cubes don't "melt" I have been watering the cubes below twice a day with the sprayer for 10 days... and there is no sign of melting!!
