Well rotted woodchips in planters...

I have been using a pile of well rotted woodchips as mulch, and in an enriched potting mix. Some woody chips are still obvious, but it is mostly a dark crumbly humus. 2 full years of sitting in a heap since the tree came down.

Plants seem to be loving it as a top dressing, or enriched in a potting mix (4:4:1 chips:biochar:chicken manure).

I’m trying some straight chips now in a few planters, including some 200 litre strawberry barrel planters.

Early observations, after 3 days. They can absorb a HUGE amount of water, with no water draining from the bottom. I’m anticipating long periods between watering which is good news.

If they end up looking low on nitrogen I can add dilute some pee and add to the top.

Any thoughts on straight rotted chips for planting?

I am interested in your results. I planted a pepper and a tomato in wood chips this year that are about half rotted. It is going poorly... Both plants are small and sparse. I have given the pots some urine and some compost tea and even a splash of tomato fertilizer but they just don't seem to like their situation. Both are planted in 25-30 gallon black pots. In fact one of my theories is that the pots are getting too hot, although the plants I had in them last year seemed ok, with soil. I am actually really excited to dig them up at the end of the year to see what the roots look like.

So yeah, I hope you have better luck than me!