Styrfoam (Peanuts) bottom of pots

by Maureen
(Cincinnati, OH)

Is it bad to use styrfoam (peanuts) in bottom of your plants in pots. I thought it would make them lighter to move and use less dirt/.

Doug says that it does indeed make them lighter to move.

It also reduces the soil volume the plants have to grow in. So as long as you compensate for that with increased watering and care, you'll be fine.

But I never use these kind of things. I want my soil all the way to the bottom for the best drainage conditions (putting something on the bottom to "improve" drainage is an old myth).