New Grower Hydroton bottom or top?

[ganjalf]

Hi there,

I usually fill the first two inches of my pots with hydroton for better drainage.
However, Ive read somewhere roots closer to the surface develop for better oxygen intake while the ones at the bottom are drinkers. So my noob logic tells me to put hydroton to the top for better aeration and prevent surface disturbance caused by watering. Drainage can be achieved by using sand, perlite etc. more homogenously.
What do you guys do?

 

[Chester]

Unless you're using 5 gal buckets I think 2 inches is too much ... I used hydroton for drainage in a 3 gal pot yesterday and put about 1/2-3/4" in the bottom and then covered w/ a plastic netting/grid to reduce soil pass thru ... I use up to 50% perlite in my soil so that there is always good drainage and plenty of O2 to the roots ...

:tiphat: