"tilling" soil...

[bigbull52]

This is the first time I've heard of "Tilling"...

All the way until the probe hits the bottom of the planter. I push down 5 or 6 times around the container. Several days later I do it again in different spots. I'm not carving the roots up, just severing some roots. The new and finer tips - 2 to 4 - then take up water and nutrients easier than one big one.

I posted my question on that thread, but apparently Organics are to good to answer it...

So hopefully, some one here will....

While "TILLING" the soil, and severing roots, if you do not remove the torn roots cant they get root rot, and disturb the balance of the soil?

 

[Bakatare666]

The small ones that Hotrod is speaking of, are not enough of, and large enough to make a noticeable impact.

 

[AimAim]

I do not see any reference to "tilling" in your citation to HotRodHarley.

Anyway tilling simply means stirring up, breaking up, the soil surface. Pretty simple.

 

[bigbull52]

I do not see any reference to "tilling" in your citation to HotRodHarley.

Anyway tilling simply means stirring up, breaking up, the soil surface. Pretty simple.

"All the way until the probe hits the bottom of the planter. I push down 5 or 6 times around the container. Several days later I do it again in different spots."

That is about tilling.

I understand what it means and understand the method.

The question was not what is tilling, the question was, will the ripped up roots rot if left in soil, and if so wont it off-set the balance of the soil?

Thank you...

 

[prosperian]

This is the first time I've heard of "Tilling"...I posted my question on that thread, but apparently Organics are to good to answer it...

So hopefully, some one here will....

Yeah, you will get answers here...not necessarily correct answers, but they will respond. Just kidding guys, I couldn't resist!

I guess the answer you haven't really got is will it damage the plant. I think of the experienced growers are saying it won't. Every book I read says to break up the surface of the container grown plant 2-3" deep. The stabbing deep into the bottom probably can't hurt for oxygen. Am I hoping to cut off a large root on the way down, not with a pointed screw driver.

Good luck getting your answers.

 

[drolove]

"All the way until the probe hits the bottom of the planter. I push down 5 or 6 times around the container. Several days later I do it again in different spots."

That is about tilling.

I understand what it means and understand the method.

The question was not what is tilling, the question was, will the ripped up roots rot if left in soil, and if so wont it off-set the balance of the soil?

Thank you...

rotting root material can have several negative effects yes. also disturbing the roots in such a way will stress the plant which can slow growth and also lead to a hermie. tilling should be done to the soil before anything is planted. and smaller roots do no better than big for nute and water uptake.

 

[prosperian]

That's not tilling by the way. That's aeration.

 

[AimAim]

That is about tilling.

I understand what it means and understand the method.

The question was not what is tilling, the question was, will the ripped up roots rot if left in soil, and if so wont it off-set the balance of the soil?

Thank you...

Yep ripped up and rotting roots left in the soil are the basis of organic gardening. Decomposing organic matter is good, even if it is root matter..

 

[prosperian]

Make sure you qualify your answers in this discussion. THIS IS ORGANIC SOIL. Hot stuff designed to use up broken dead roots.

We are not talking about hyrdo where dead plant matter can screw with your ph.

 

[bigbull52]

Im talking about soil as well, and was wondering if the root rot would mess up the pH...

that was the question.

Im aware it slows growth stresses plants blah blah.....


I guess no one knows the answer so never mind.... thank you riu...

 

[bigbull52]

rotting root material can have several negative effects yes. also disturbing the roots in such a way will stress the plant which can slow growth and also lead to a hermie. tilling should be done to the soil before anything is planted. and smaller roots do no better than big for nute and water uptake.

Ok, but if some one were to Till after planting, and ripped up roots by mistake, root rot wouldnt alter the soil pH?

 

[drolove]

well im no professional but the rotting is supposed to be done in the compost and then used once done composting. rotting material around your growing roots COULD potentially cause a problem.

 

[prosperian]

For those of you following this from earlier this morning...learned about my little fungi friends reading this article in the Organics section. Follow link

It might help here too.

 

[bigbull52]

Yeah, you will get answers here...not necessarily correct answers, but they will respond. Just kidding guys, I couldn't resist!

I guess the answer you haven't really got is will it damage the plant. I think of the experienced growers are saying it won't. Every book I read says to break up the surface of the container grown plant 2-3" deep. The stabbing deep into the bottom probably can't hurt for oxygen. Am I hoping to cut off a large root on the way down, not with a pointed screw driver.

Good luck getting your answers.

No answer I get on RIU is taken as "the correct answer" Im on three other forums with same posts, and I look on other sites for more indepth reasoning since RIU is all opinionated answers.

imo.

 

[drolove]

Ok, but if some one were to Till after planting, and ripped up roots by mistake, root rot wouldnt alter the soil pH?

it could if there was enough rotting material. a little here and there probably wouldnt hurt anything but its really not going to help either. if you wanted the effects of turning your bigger roots into smaller ones look up "root pruning" but i still think the negative effects out weigh the positives either way you do it.

 

[prosperian]

from the article about organic soil and the work the soil does 24-7 not just in the compost pile.

linked above: "As said before, fungi break down hard materials, like bones, phosphorous, copper, zinc, etc. As you can probably now tell, fungi are very important. It is also important to note that the best defense against harmful fungi is beneficial fungi."

 

[AimAim]

"ripped up" roots left to rot in the soil would be an organic additive. What "balance" would it "off-set".

Seriously, decaying organic matter is a major part of healthy living soil.

 

[prosperian]

No answer I get on RIU is taken as "the correct answer" Im on three other forums with same posts, and I look on other sites for more indepth reasoning since RIU is all opinionated answers.

imo.

Always a good idea to get a consensus. And maybe as a gardener, go with your instincts.

 

[bigbull52]

"ripped up" roots left to rot in the soil would be an organic additive. What "balance" would it "off-set".

Seriously, decaying organic matter is a major part of healthy living soil.

Yes, but the roots do not DECAY within the 3 months the plant is in the soil, if im not mistaken.

well im no professional but the rotting is supposed to be done in the compost and then used once done composting. rotting material around your growing roots COULD potentially cause a problem.

Thank you for being the only person who gave some kind of answer to the posted question, it is appreciated.

 

[bigbull52]

it could if there was enough rotting material. a little here and there probably wouldnt hurt anything but its really not going to help either. if you wanted the effects of turning your bigger roots into smaller ones look up "root pruning" but i still think the negative effects out weigh the positives either way you do it.

I dont plan on cutting up roots or anything, but read that tilling helps with drainage and since I recently had a drainage issue, was thinking if it happens again i would try this. But was concerned about the rotting...

I know dead stuff decays in the wild all the time, but i am not leaving my plant here for 5 years to let the material decay to get the benefit.