Hi everyone, I'd like to chime in here if I may. This is actually my first contribution to this forum. If you can't find pumice, you might want to try lava rock or LECA, for aeration. Im am about to try that myself by mixing it with soil, after crushing the LECA into smaller pieces though. I have seen people grow plants in nothing but LECA, I believe its considered semi hydro. But the LECA and LAVA ROCK are quite porous so they are good for working with microbes. I am going to try this this growing season.
If you are having hydrophobic issues, try using an organic wetting agent!
It's very important that we use the term BIOCHAR and not charcoal before someone gets the wrong idea and goes out and buys the wrong stuff. I have been looking for some but as I understand you must not add it to your garden until it has been saturated with nutrient or it could end up leeching nutrient from your soil leaving your plant with less. So I don't know if it is sold with nutrient already added or if its something we have to do ourselves once we buy it. Also, I have used ash from my father in laws fire place last year and my plants did really well. I expect that it adds an amount of sulphur and calcium to the soil. I don't have a concrete reason NOT to use it again but Biochar from what I hear is VERY good.
