dubious muckheap treasures

[kaberett]

I understand the presence of plastic toy horses in the allotment muckheap. The manure's delivered from local stables; I've been the kind of small child who carries wee toy horses around with me everywhere as a comfort object.

I'm significantly more confused by the small ?terracotta orbs, lots of small bubble-esque indents on their surfaces, which keep showing up. I've collected most of a ramekin of them at this point; I have absolutely no idea what they think they're for. They almost look like baking beads.

I pretty much just find the chafer grubs charming, now that I know what they are.

Comments

[ewt]

Sounds a lot like expanded clay pellets used in hydroponics. If so, it might be something they're putting on a clay stable floor to improve drainage.

Our muck comes from police stables, so no toy plastic horses yet. :-(

[katzenfabrik]

That’s what I was going to say too: Blähton. Thereza uses it a lot for pot plants.

[kaberett]

THOSE ARE THEY PRECISELY. THANK YOU.

I've been collecting them up and sort of going "might they... come... in useful...?" and I am DELIGHTED to have had them identified.

[haplocke]

Yus! I have them to give extra drainage to succulents! :)

[kaberett]

Oh, good shout, thank you.