Bio-Char
Bio-Char is a chunky charcoal made for soil: a porous carbon that holds water, nutrients and microbes inside a potting mix or living soil. Add 5 to 10% to a mix, charged first so it starts full rather than empty.
At a glance
- Type: media, soil carbon and microbial habitat
- Grade: chunky
- Use for: potting mix, living soil, compost
- Rate: 5 to 10% of the potting mix
- Bulk: 500 kg and 1000 kg; email store@seaclifforganics.nz for a quote
What it is
Bio-char is wood or plant material heated without oxygen until only a stable, porous carbon is left. This is a chunky product. It has a very high internal surface area; grinding it finer does not increase the total surface area (the BET measure), it only changes the particle size, so we leave it coarse. It is the charged bio-char in our Living Soil v2 and Super Coco.
What it does
- Absorbs and adsorbs nutrients and water on its large internal surface and releases them back to the soil over time.
- Its pores are a habitat for beneficial microorganisms, protected from drying and grazing.
- It does not break down, so it stays in a recycled soil grow after grow.
How to use
- Use 5 to 10% bio-char in your potting mix.
- Charge it before use: add it uncharged to a compost pile, where it pulls in nutrients and microbes for later, or soak it in a nutrient or compost tea. Charged bio-char is already loaded with microbes and nutrients when it goes into the mix.
Watch out
- Uncharged bio-char pulls nutrients out of the mix around it until it is loaded. Charge it first, or expect the mix to feed the char before it feeds the plant.
- Most bio-chars are alkaline. Check mix pH if you use a lot.
Learn more in fifteen seconds
Handling and storage
- Wear a mask to avoid inhaling particles and open the bag in a well ventilated area.
- Wear gloves and eye protection, and wash hands after use.
- Once opened, keep the bag sealed and dry.
Shipping and returns
We ship nationwide across New Zealand. Orders are usually dispatched within 1 to 2 business days and rural delivery can take longer. Unopened products can be returned within 30 days.
