How to use Biochar with Houseplants Houseplants do more than provide beauty and a touch of nature to indoor environments. Their presence can help lower stress levels and purify the air. You want to keep your houseplants healthy and flourishing. Thatโs where Wakefield BioChar comes in. Our premium biochar for houseplants helps supercharge your indoor plants. What Is Biochar and How Does It Benefit Houseplants? What is biochar and how does it enhance soil health? The use of biochar dates back more than two millennia and the Terra Preta, or Black Earth, of the Amazon Basin. Indigenous people likely created Terra Preta by adding char, ash, and organic materials to soils. The mix was then set afire and allowed to smolder. While the origins of this form of biochar remain a mystery, the results are clear. To this day, this rich black soil remains extremely fertile, even though low-fertility jungle soils surround it. Biochar is created by heating biomass, or organic matter, at high temperatures in an environment without oxygen in a process known as pyrolysis. During pyrolysis, weed seeds, insects, and other items that can harm plants are destroyed. At Wakefield BioChar, we use virgin wood in the form of tree scraps from paper mills to create biochar. Biochar benefits all types of plants, and houseplants are no exception. Learn more about the many advantages of biochar. Enhancing Soil Health With Biochar Our compost and biochar for houseplants increases soil fertility. Combining biochar with compost supercharges the mix, boosting soil health considerably. Water Conservation and Moisture Regulation Biochar helps the soil retain moisture. That means you can water your houseplants less frequently. Biochar helps with moisture regulation, so there is less concern with overwatering and underwatering and the consequences of excessively wet roots or too much dryness while making less work for you! pH Balancing and Nutrient Buffering Using biochar for houseplants regulates the pH levels in the soil. It can lower soil acidity levels and help soil retain nutrients. Promoting Beneficial Microorganisms Biochar promotes beneficial microorganisms in the soil. These microorganisms perform a variety of functions, including: Increasing nutrient availability Boosting plant immune systems for disease resistance Making hormones to increase growth Reduced Fertilizer Dependency and Environmental Impact The positive environmental impact of biochar cannot be overstated. With biochar, the need to fertilize your houseplants is reduced significantly. Biochar lasts indefinitely, so reapplication is not necessary. Enhanced Indoor Plant Growth and Development Biochar increases soil aeration, which enhances root growth. Your indoor plants should experience accelerated growth and development and better health. Biochar as a Sustainable Soil Solution Because biochar sequesters carbon, the primary component of the greenhouse gases driving climate change, it is one of the most sustainable soil solutions. Since it is made from organic โwasteโ products, biochar repurposes biomass that might otherwise be thrown away. Improved Nutrient Retention and Availability Your houseplants are better able to retain nutrients due to biocharโs porous structure. Like a sponge, biochar soaks up vital nutrients such as nitrogen, calcium, and phosphorous and stores them so they are always available to plant roots. How to Use Biochar for Houseplants How can biochar help your houseplants thrive? After using biochar for houseplants, you should notice growth improvement, more vibrant foliage, and better overall plant health. Hereโs a guide on the best practices when using biochar for indoor plants: How much biochar to use Houseplants do not require much biochar to obtain outstanding results. The amount used depends on whether you top-dress biochar on established plants or mix it with potting soil for new plantings. For new plantings and best results, make biochar about 10-20 percent of your high-quality potting soil. For the next five to seven days, water often enough to keep the soil moist. Adding more than the recommended amount of biochar to your indoor plants will not harm them, but it does not provide additional benefits. Keep in mind that in your biochar applications for houseplants, biochar can substitute for vermiculite or perlite as a substrate for water drainage. Unlike these common substrates, biochar can store water and nutrients. When to apply biochar You can use biochar for indoor plants at any time of year. For flowering plants, you may want to apply biochar in the late winter or early spring to achieve the most beautiful blooms. How to apply biochar When using biochar indoors, itโs best to wear a mask because this soil amendment can be dusty. Wear gloves as you would whenever you are working in the garden or with plants. Before potting or repotting plants, mix biochar into the potting soil thoroughly. With established plants, you can top-dress biochar by sprinkling a thin layer over the soil. As you water, the biochar will travel down into the substrate. Learn More From Wakefield Biochar At Wakefield Biochar, we know that soil health is the most critical issue facing the planet. Biocharโs ability to improve soil structure while sequestering carbon makes it among the top components in the battle for reclaiming degraded soils. Better Soils, Better World!