To: AL STERN
Subject: Plastic Packing Peanuts
AS>    In today's paper an article said: "Fill the bottoms of flower pots
AS>    with plastic packing peanuts instead of heavy rocks. It's a great
AS>    way to recycle them and help your plants thrive."
AS>    Do the "peanuts" actually provide nourishment to the plants?  Or
AS>    do they just improve drainage?
  Drainage only, Al. But rocks in the bottom serve another purpose -
  weight for balance. I keep most of my houseplants underpotted in order
  to restrict their size. (Some will take every cubic inch of soil you
  give them , and have hordes of offspring. :-)) With single-stalked,
  heavy-crowned plants, this can lead to them falling over just from
  vibration; so using a slightly bigger pot with stones in the bottom
  stabilizes the plants. I have been known to lay rocks on the surface
  as a counterweight to suicidal plants. 
                    ...Sandra...
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