Horticultural charcoal is different from normal barbecue charcoal in the way it is produced. At 900 degrees Celsius or 1300 degrees Fahrenheit the wood is burned in combination of low oxygen and steam under high pressure. The steam under pressure created billions of small microscopic chambers in the charcoal making it an absorption champion.
So Horticultural charcoal can absorb and hold moisture extremely good. Charcoal is very high in natural potassium which is essential for plants. It creates airpockets in the soil which make roots grow stronger as they get more oxygen. It also houses billions of good soil bacteria. Because of the absorption ability organic fertilizer doesn't drain away as excess is stored in the coal and only released when the plants and soil need it.
Biochar or Horticultural charcoal got renewed global attention when scientists discovered that the pre Colombian civilization used biochar in making non fertile rainforest extremely fertile.
I myself came across it when I was reading the1850 rose manual from Robert Buist. He tells how the 19th century Victorian rosarians used Horticultural charcoal as a potting material for their potted Tea roses. So this is when it became very interesting to us, rose lovers, as so many of us cultivate roses in pots.
Buist's potting soil mix is made up of:
60% potting soil (peat free if you find it)
10% river sand
20% farmyard manure
10% Horticultural charcoal
Biochar or Horticultural charcoal is widely available online so you can easily make your potting mix and plant some roses in it.
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