Styrofoam Peanuts
 

Anyone heard that Styrofoam peanuts can cause problems when used in a mix or as drainage at the bottom of a pot? I read an article some time ago that suggested they are not good for orchids - that the Styrofoam released formaldehyde, and that the newer the Styrofoam the more it released. The article also suggested that perhaps chemicals, chlorine, flourine, etc., which are added to water supplies reacted with the Styrofoam. Like to hear what others think.

wow...i hadnt heard that....i dont like the peanuts tho unless the plant is in sphagnum and i dont have many in that stuff....i like my bark mixes...

I haven't seen anything to back that up, but it makes some sense. They're chemicals, and as chemicals break down they release. The use of crockery (broken pottery shards) or sterilized rocks makes better sense to me.

Woah, thats interesting, never heard of that before- I was curious if using pink or different colored peanuts would be a problem ?

I like the spongey effect the peanuts have

i have heard that some peanuts have a starch base to em or something of that nature...and that it wasnt good for orchids/plants....pot shards are the way to go....

Personally, I prefer wine corks. They offer more support and as orchid roots seem to love wrapping around them. Not to mention they release some of the sugary goodness that is stored in the corks and then ofcourse theres the fact that obtaining them is the best part!!

I use wine corks too, from red wine. The plants seem to love the tanins and other stuff in the cork. I repotted a minicatt in a pot with a layer of corks at the bottom for drainage, and the roots are stuck to them tightly! I'm actually thinking about adding a few drops of wine to the water when I water this plant, as a sort of mini experiment....

I use styro peanuts, but only in certain pot types or shapes. They really help drainage in a pot with only one hole. Usually when I repot, the roots have grown all around, and even through the peanuts. They seem to love it. I don't know for sure that they're safe, but my experience has shown them to just fine. Just don't use the starch based biodegradable ones. They dissolve in water.

Styrofoam is made from plastics which don't react with water. If you squeeze the peanut and it makes a snap sound then it is mostly plastic and is safe to use.

Color can make a difference as well.

• Pure expanded polystyrene is white, and OK to use.

• Green ones are sprayed to indicate they are recycled, and they seem to be OK.

• Light blue (like you'll sometimes find in packages I ship) have a mild antistatic on them to make them easier to handle. They seem to be OK, too.

• The pink ones are sprayed with a strong antistatic chemical (for shipping electronics) that is supposed to be phytotoxic, so avoid them.

• The starch-based ones are probably the most environmentally-friendly (although I don't know the impact of their manufacturing process), but being water soluble, they should never be used in horticulture.