Biochar is a very versatile soil amendment and can be used in a number of ways, depending on your desired outcome and the time of year. Below is a quick guide to biochar and some tips and tricks on how to use it!
Biochar Quick Guide
Golden Rule! – Avoid putting Pure Biochar directly onto established plants, biochar is highly active within the soil and will out compete your plants for the available water and nutrients.
It’s best to use Pure Biochar in the colder months, allowing it to absorb the decomposition fluids in your growing system, turning it into Charged Biochar for use the following Spring and Summer.
When using Pure Biochar during the growing season, we recommend that you add it to soil, compost, or manure for at least a week prior to adding it to your plants.
The recommended application rate of biochar is between 2 – 10% by volume of soil. I.E. Put 1L of Pure Biochar in with a 50L bag of compost! (2%)
Biochar Tips and Tricks
- In Autumn and Winter: (Sept – Mar)
- Add Pure Biochar to your compost pile
- Add Pure Biochar to your growing area at the end of the season
- Use Pure Biochar as part of a green manuring cycle
Biochar is perfect for collecting the decomposition materials at the end of the growing season, so use it like a ‘sponge’ to store helpful nutrients for when you’re planting in the Spring!
- In Spring and Summer: (Mar – Aug)
- Add Pure Biochar to a bag of compost – water it heavily and turn it through – wait for at least a week so it can get accustomed to the soil, then:
- Use it in seed beds for germination and propagation
- Put a layer below the roots when transferring out plants
- Use it as a top dressing for mature plants
Biochar can be added in many ways, so get creative and see incredible results!