Which type retains the most water?
My initial answer is stone wool, but I would love to
see a trial between the choices. While water holding
capacity is important, I think a good adaptive zone and
attentive irrigation strategy is more vital. Oxygen getting
to the roots is crucial to healthy plants. Coco coir or stone
wool are great at providing a good balance of air and water to
the root zone. As with any of the medium choices, I think it comes
down to choosing the right distribution systems for the crop with
appropriately sized containers.
Which type retains the least water? Would this be the best
choice for growers in carefully controlled indoor settings?
It’s hard to say which of the media hold the least water due to the
different shapes and particle sizes we can get nowadays. More
surface area in the medium typically means more water holding
capacity. Container size also has a lot to do with how much water it
holds. That said, in a carefully controlled environment, I tend to not
want a big water holding capacity simply due to how easily you can
overwater plants, which stresses the root zone.
How does water retention in soilless media
affect nutrient uptake for plants?
Too much retention (due to poor choices concerning media, containers,
and irrigation) leads to waterlogged containers and root damage.
Maintaining aerobic conditions is critical to a healthy root system for
optimal nutrient uptake.
44
Maximum Yield
“
MORE
surface area in the
medium typically means
more water holding capacity.”