Compo

Sustainable alternative to expanded clay from COMPO

Illustration may differ slightly from the original. (Source: Compo)
Illustration may differ slightly from the original. 
01.02.2023

Waterlogging and root rot can be particularly hard on pot and tub plants. To prevent this, plant owners like to use expanded clay as bottom layer in balcony boxes or planters, because it is well suited as drainage. In the last three years alone, the demand for expanded clay as a drainage layer has doubled. But what many plant owners don’t know is: producing expanded clay is very costly and energy-intensive. The carbon footprint of conventional expanded clay is therefore very high.

 

(Source: Compo)

At the same time, sustainable gardening is an major concern for more and more hobby gardeners. The demand for environmentally friendly soils, soil protection products and organic plant care remains consistent. In order to also offer end consumers a sustainable alternative to conventional expanded clay, COMPO has launched a new product: from the start of the 2023 gardening season, COMPO BIO GRANUPLANT drainage and planting granules will complement the product range.

The natural pumice granulate is ideally suited as a drainage layer. It effectively conducts water capillary upwards to the roots and thus effectively protects plants from waterlogging and root rot. At the same time, the granulate has a long shelf life and high structural stability – and all this with 96 per cent less carbon emissions  than conventional expanded clay.

Pumice granulate is mined regionally in Germany. To quarry the volcanic rock, the overlying topsoil is pushed aside. After extraction, the area is recultivated with topsoil. Unlike expanded clay, pumice granulate does not require a drying or heating process; the raw material remains in its natural state.

COMPO BIO GRANUPLANT drainage and planting granules are versatile: in addition to its optimum suitability as drainage, the new product can also be used as a planting medium for hydroponics, can be mixed with soil or used as a soil cover: as a planting medium for hydroponics, the granulate features high water conductivity and air storage capacity. Mixing it with potting soil further improves the quality of the substrate. As a soil cover in planters, COMPO BIO GRANUPLANT drainage and planting granules look great due to the natural beige shades of the untreated pumice stone. At the same time, they protect the underlying soil layer from drying out.

As standard, COMPO focuses on sustainability, not only with the raw materials of the new organic product but also with the packaging. The film used for packaging is Blue Angel certified, consists of over 80 per cent recycled plastic and is 100 per cent recyclable.

www.compo.de

Back to homepage
Related articles
Read also