Processing Method for Crystal Soil for Potted Flowers and Edible Mushroom Cultivation Techniques

Nowadays, the soilless cultivation technique for growing exotic flowers, namely the colorful crystal soil flower cultivation, has quietly emerged in the flower growing industry. The appearance of this colorful crystal soil provides the flower industry with a multifunctional product for decoration, horticulture, and potting, thus being able to largely replace traditional soil cultivation. It is both hygienic and beautiful, and can retain water for a long time. It also fundamentally solves the problem of pest damage to flower growth in soil, and can be widely adapted to indoor cultivation of various flower varieties, so it indeed has certain practical value. At the same time, this novel environmentally friendly green product, once planted with flowers, will rapidly expand and present a colorful appearance like multifaceted crystal particles, giving people a dreamlike transparent three-dimensional effect.

The colorful crystal soil is crystal clear in appearance, much like crystal beads, and can directly replace soil for growing flowers. The main ingredient of crystal soil is sodium alginate with additives, which after processing forms crystal granules, and by adding pigments of different colors, colorful crystal soil can be produced. This processing technique is not complicated; as long as the formula proportions are fully mastered, it is generally very easy to succeed. The main formula raw materials consist of sodium alginate, calcium chloride, preservatives, etc. Since the processing and production of crystal soil requires no special equipment and is entirely done by manual operation, its production cost is very low. To make it convenient for everyone to experiment, the production process is introduced here as a reference for your own experiments. However, some operating tools must be purchased, such as a balance scale, beaker, thermometer, stainless steel pot, plastic basin, etc. At the same time, it must also be noted that metal containers should not be used during the specific mixing operation, to prevent chemical reactions that would affect the quality and composition of the crystal soil.

First, put a certain amount of sodium alginate into a container, and add water at about 60°C (for every 10 grams of sodium alginate, 1 kg of water should be added). After adding the water, stir thoroughly and evenly, then let it stand and soak for 24 hours, after which the sodium alginate will dissolve into a paste and can be set aside for use.

The second step is to prepare another clean container, add a certain appropriate amount of clean water, then pour in calcium chloride according to the ratio, and stir thoroughly and evenly. Wait until it is completely dissolved in the water, then add a certain proportion of pigment according to the color requirement. Each batch should use one color, so as to form finished beads of different colors. After all the above work is completed, prepare a smaller plastic bucket, and drill several rows of small holes with a diameter of about 8 mm in the bottom of the bucket. Then pour all the sodium alginate that has dissolved into a paste into the small bucket. At this time, the sodium alginate gel liquid will drip down through the rows of small holes in the bottom of the bucket. All the droplets of gel that drip out fall into the already prepared calcium chloride solution water. When all the dripping is finished, they are all soaked in the calcium chloride liquid. After several hours of soaking, the sodium alginate will solidify and harden on its own, forming crystal-clear translucent crystal beads. At this point, they can all be scooped out of the calcium chloride liquid and rinsed clean in clean water, to thoroughly wash away impurities and chemical residue.

Through the above processing method, crystal-clear transparent colorful crystal soil is made. When crystal beads of several different colors are mixed in a transparent vase, teacup, craft glass jar, or other container, and different varieties of flowers are planted in it, then the prepared flower growth liquid is poured in, a pot of colorful crystal-soil-cultivated bonsai flowers can survive and be enjoyed for a long time. Of course, since crystal soil cultivation of flowers requires no soil, the preparation of the flower growth nutrient solution is also very important. Its formula mainly consists of potassium nitrate, calcium nitrate, copper sulfate, superphosphate, etc., mixed with water, with a concentration of about 0.1%. Of course, for convenience of future operation and use, the raw materials of the flower nutrient solution can also be added directly into the water according to the formula proportions to make crystal soil, so that after flowers are planted in the crystal soil, it is enough to regularly add clean water (specifically, add an appropriate amount depending on the evaporation of water in the pot). The greatest feature of this soilless cultivation bonsai is that it is beautiful and hygienic, with no pollution whatsoever, and can be placed anywhere in the room. It can both decorate and beautify the environment and has strong ornamental value.