Air stones to help soil?

I have been working on reinvigorating some used soil with a combination of compost and various amendments, allowing it to “cook” in a 30-gallon plastic bin in my garage for the last few months.

I have been aerating it with a shovel periodically, but – in addition – I’ve got a small air pump (the size you’d use for bubbling compost tea) oxygenating it through a couple of air stones buried at the bottom of the bin.

Has anybody else tried that? I wonder if it makes any difference to the microbes. Maybe it’s good, maybe it’s disruptive.(?)

My usual soil stuff: https://overgrow.com/uploads/default/optimized/4X/d/c/0/dc05de1e9baf93df116b3d81985d015dee112f5c_2_375x500.jpeg

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I’m a chronic over waterer.

I’ve had a similar idea of burying 1/4 inch drip tube in two concentric circles every 2 or 3 inches of pot depth. To help dry the soil if needed.

Might be able to water with this also.

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I like chunky perlite/lava rock in soil and drill/melt holes in plastic pots.

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Hmmm… That’s a novel approach! Like Airpots on steroids!

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I’ll add perlite (and other soil components) into the mix once I’m ready to start filling pots wth soil. At this point, I’m just trying to get the old soil as healthy as possible before it gets added to the mix.

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I like adding compost/manure to used soil.

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If your running plastic pots, airlines would assists some if the soil is airy and loose. If it is compacted not sure it will do much good. I will advise in a plastic pot (other than auto pots) the area the stone will emit its air from will get dried out some, without any outlet for air quickly. It could harm the plant more than help. In autopots the flow comes from below, so air stones work well in this situation even with soil, but even better with coco.

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Hey MrGreenJeans!!
I did ponder on this one for a spell, I agree with Fladawg01 reply.
I think I would add some Hydrogen Peroxide to my water jag, right at watering time.
I’d add 1 TBLS H2O2, to a gallon or so of water, it basically is enriched water, as it has more oxygen in it.

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