Dessicant as a fertilizer?

sjoella · February 3, 2014

my coworker's wife sent me in a grocery bag full of dessicant packs...I have no plans on using this in my garden. I have never heard a single person stating anything beneficial by using this

thoughts? am I missing something????

Cole_Robbie · February 3, 2014

http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/...002028704.html

It sounds more useful for storing seeds.

simmran1 · February 3, 2014

sjoella, There might be a hidden message there... but nontheless, normally dessicant packs are great for use in your seed envelopes, seed drawer, etc. to absorb moisture. I have had pepper seeds (i assume not properly dried) that turned black with rot w/o using these, so now I have them on hand. -
Randy

Doug9345 · February 3, 2014

I can't see Silica Gel having any fertilizer value by itself. Its basic chemical make up is silicon dioxide, in other words sand. It just is manufactured in a way that makes it highly porous.

RayR · February 4, 2014

Quote:

Silica gel is produced from sodium silicate and sulphuric acid, dependent on the end product sometimes aluminium oxide is added to make the material water-resistant. During the process micro-crystal openings are generated that contain a large number of at random distributed pores with different sizes.

SEE HERE

Yep, good for storing seeds, that's about it.

sjoella · February 4, 2014

I agree about the storage of seeds and I have some in my seeds storage container.

I was completely stupid if there was some sort of a benefit to adding to soil...like I said...I was not considering it in my soil...my soil is pretty gosh darnoodley consistent I had planned on doing much of the same thing this coming season.

Thanks for the assurance!

edit... gosh darnoodley... i am at a loos for words on this autocorrect....

kurt · February 4, 2014

Great for cartridge ammo,black powders, smokeless powders for us reloaders.

Worth1 · February 4, 2014

I have a big dryer filter of it for my air compressor that I run my dedicated spray painting hose from.
When the crystals turn pink they get removed and put in the electric oven on a cookie sheet to dry.
When they turn blue they are ready to go in the dryer again.

Worth

February 3, 2014	#1
sjoella Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: chesapeake, virginia Posts: 89	Dessicant as a fertilizer? my coworker's wife sent me in a grocery bag full of dessicant packs...I have no plans on using this in my garden. I have never heard a single person stating anything beneficial by using this thoughts? am I missing something????

February 3, 2014	#3
simmran1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Iowa Zone 5 Posts: 305	sjoella, There might be a hidden message there... but nontheless, normally dessicant packs are great for use in your seed envelopes, seed drawer, etc. to absorb moisture. I have had pepper seeds (i assume not properly dried) that turned black with rot w/o using these, so now I have them on hand. - Randy __________________ Tomatovillain

February 3, 2014	#4
Doug9345 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Durhamville,NY Posts: 2,706	I can't see Silica Gel having any fertilizer value by itself. Its basic chemical make up is silicon dioxide, in other words sand. It just is manufactured in a way that makes it highly porous. Last edited by Doug9345; February 4, 2014 at 06:22 PM.

February 4, 2014	#7
kurt Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Homestead,Everglades City Fl. Posts: 2,500	Great for cartridge ammo,black powders, smokeless powders for us reloaders. __________________ KURT

February 3, 2014	#2
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	http://forums2.gardenweb.com/forums/...002028704.html It sounds more useful for storing seeds.

February 4, 2014	#8
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	I have a big dryer filter of it for my air compressor that I run my dedicated spray painting hose from. When the crystals turn pink they get removed and put in the electric oven on a cookie sheet to dry. When they turn blue they are ready to go in the dryer again. Worth