Rice Hulls ??

My Foot Smells · January 19, 2017

Saw where some suppliers are selling rice hulls (new this year). Never heard of this. The below mentioned is from Riceland (sold by supplier a..m. leonard for like 70$ usd), which is just over yonder from my shack. I'm sure I could get tractor trailer loads for free.

********

Description:

PBH Nature’s Media Amendment is a uniquely processed rice hull product from Riceland Foods, Inc. with multiple uses in the greenhouse and nursery environment. For greenhouse production, it is the perfect replacement for perlite in the growing mix. In nursery stock, PBH is used as a container topdress to prevent airborne weed seeds from reaching the growing mix. Highly compressed when packaged in your choice of a 30-cu.-ft. bag or a 50-lb.-bale, PBH Nature’s Media Amendment lowers freight costs, generates less waste and minimizes storage and handling. It is a natural by-product of rice and a renewable resource with much to offer greenhouse growers, nurserymen, consumers and the environment. PBH is OMRI Listed® and WSDA registered.

pmcgrady · January 19, 2017

My best friend (now passed away) used rice hulls at his cattle feedlot to mix in feed as a filler. He bought semi loads of it from Anheiser Busch cheap, it's a left over by product from brewing beer. As I remember the piles they dumped became quite hot, like a hot compost pile... enough to burn plants. If left to compost it would be a good soil builder.

My Foot Smells · January 19, 2017

interesting. sounds like it might make a nice additive for buckets and baskets.

zeuspaul · January 19, 2017

Rice hulls is a primary ingredient in Kelloggs Amend, Patio Plus and Growmulch.
http://kellogggarden.com/products/kellogg/soils/

My Foot Smells · January 20, 2017

Quote:

Originally Posted by zeuspaul

Rice hulls is a primary ingredient in Kelloggs Amend, Patio Plus and Growmulch.
http://kellogggarden.com/products/kellogg/soils/

interesting. might have to investigate, Riceland is big in Arkansas. already have a free unlimited supply of perlite but it is powder and not rock.

maxjohnson · January 21, 2017

I think it's very attractive as top mulch although not exactly effective as wood chips. For mixing I think it's very good, although it does breakdown overtime which is a good or bad thing depends on how look at it. I would use it if you can get it cheap locally, but personally I wouldn't spend a lot of money to get it shipped. Although I would make sure it is organic.

greenthumbomaha · June 3, 2020

I mixed 50/50 rice hulls with regular potting mix and it was a disaster. I tried to use it for seed starting and it stayed so wet and heavy that nothing germinated and I had to start over. I tried to use it again for potting up and it wasn't great in the beginning but the plants finally started growing.
So .. if you have used it, did I use too much? Using for container mulch would be great since I have 50 lbs!
It was from AM Leonard with free shipping. Hopefully organic!

- Lisa

Father'sDaughter · June 4, 2020

It's very popular with container growers in hot climates as a top mulch in order to keep the potting mix from drying out too quickly. As others have found, holds too much moisture to use as an amendment if container growing.

Tracydr · June 6, 2020

I would first do a plant or two. I tried using them one year in AZ. I used them just as a mulch In a couple of but nothing would grow for a long time.

greenthumbomaha · June 17, 2020

I have a few container plants that dry faster than the others. I's been soo hot this month and need multiple waterings per day. I should have gone for it.
Tracydr, when you applied the hulls, were the container plants small or already established? Maybe there is a trick to timing.

- Lisa

Tracydr · June 17, 2020

Quote:

Originally Posted by greenthumbomaha

I have a few container plants that dry faster than the others. I's been soo hot this month and need multiple waterings per day. I should have gone for it.
Tracydr, when you applied the hulls, were the container plants small or already established? Maybe there is a trick to timing.

- Lisa

I applied it to raised beds and a patio in-ground area. I wonder if they were pH adjusted in some way. They were sold as horse stall bedding and I just needed something as mulch to help with moisture and heat but nothing would And they were previously good beds.
I had such high ph there anyway that I always suspected they had lime or something else added for odor control for horse bedding.

January 19, 2017	#1
My Foot Smells Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Pulaski County, Arkansas Posts: 1,239	Rice Hulls ?? Saw where some suppliers are selling rice hulls (new this year). Never heard of this. The below mentioned is from Riceland (sold by supplier a..m. leonard for like 70$ usd), which is just over yonder from my shack. I'm sure I could get tractor trailer loads for free. ******** Description: PBH Nature’s Media Amendment is a uniquely processed rice hull product from Riceland Foods, Inc. with multiple uses in the greenhouse and nursery environment. For greenhouse production, it is the perfect replacement for perlite in the growing mix. In nursery stock, PBH is used as a container topdress to prevent airborne weed seeds from reaching the growing mix. Highly compressed when packaged in your choice of a 30-cu.-ft. bag or a 50-lb.-bale, PBH Nature’s Media Amendment lowers freight costs, generates less waste and minimizes storage and handling. It is a natural by-product of rice and a renewable resource with much to offer greenhouse growers, nurserymen, consumers and the environment. PBH is OMRI Listed® and WSDA registered.

January 21, 2017	#6
maxjohnson Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: OH 6a Posts: 592	I think it's very attractive as top mulch although not exactly effective as wood chips. For mixing I think it's very good, although it does breakdown overtime which is a good or bad thing depends on how look at it. I would use it if you can get it cheap locally, but personally I wouldn't spend a lot of money to get it shipped. Although I would make sure it is organic. Last edited by maxjohnson; January 21, 2017 at 12:38 AM.

January 19, 2017	#2
pmcgrady Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Central Illinois Posts: 1,836	My best friend (now passed away) used rice hulls at his cattle feedlot to mix in feed as a filler. He bought semi loads of it from Anheiser Busch cheap, it's a left over by product from brewing beer. As I remember the piles they dumped became quite hot, like a hot compost pile... enough to burn plants. If left to compost it would be a good soil builder.

January 19, 2017	#4
zeuspaul Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2007 Location: North County, San Diego Posts: 419	Rice hulls is a primary ingredient in Kelloggs Amend, Patio Plus and Growmulch. http://kellogggarden.com/products/kellogg/soils/

June 3, 2020	#7
greenthumbomaha Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Omaha Zone 5 Posts: 2,514	I mixed 50/50 rice hulls with regular potting mix and it was a disaster. I tried to use it for seed starting and it stayed so wet and heavy that nothing germinated and I had to start over. I tried to use it again for potting up and it wasn't great in the beginning but the plants finally started growing. So .. if you have used it, did I use too much? Using for container mulch would be great since I have 50 lbs! It was from AM Leonard with free shipping. Hopefully organic! - Lisa

June 4, 2020	#8
Father'sDaughter Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: MA/NH Border Posts: 4,919	It's very popular with container growers in hot climates as a top mulch in order to keep the potting mix from drying out too quickly. As others have found, holds too much moisture to use as an amendment if container growing.

June 6, 2020	#9
Tracydr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: May 2011 Location: Laurinburg, North Carolina, zone 7 Posts: 3,207	I would first do a plant or two. I tried using them one year in AZ. I used them just as a mulch In a couple of but nothing would grow for a long time.

June 17, 2020	#10
greenthumbomaha Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Omaha Zone 5 Posts: 2,514	I have a few container plants that dry faster than the others. I's been soo hot this month and need multiple waterings per day. I should have gone for it. Tracydr, when you applied the hulls, were the container plants small or already established? Maybe there is a trick to timing. - Lisa