Does your media only shrink about 1 pt for 5 gallons over the course of the year?
My rain gutter buckets shrink and pack down a bit over summer to fall. That little bit of mass added would not replace it all for me. It might be that my medium shrinks so much due to the wicking? I add in probably 20-30 percent new each year. Since it is mostly compost added, it seems there are plenty of micronutrients that make it in, plus I add fertilizer and epsom salt. I do this when the long season crops are going in.
Over winter, the buckets are covered with leaves. In spring they are seeded or transplanted with spring crops without any repack at that time.
|