Using Rice As Desiccant

The Grinch

Well-Known Member

• Sep 6, 2009

• #1

G'day

Just getting ready to store some seeds in a vaccuum bag, and was wondering if anybody had used rice as dessicant.

Do you need to steralize or clean the rice first? Or can I use it straight out of the bag - it'll be plain white rice.

Cheers
Grinch

 

I

Illegal Smile

Guest

• Sep 6, 2009

• #2

Do you mean in a grow space or a drying area or a curing jar or what?

 

Boneman

Well-Known Member

• Sep 6, 2009

• #3

I've seen this posted several times over the past year and I dont remember anything mentioned about sterilizing or cleaning the rice.
Maybe someone will chime in here that has used it before?

 

growerboy

Active Member

• Sep 6, 2009

• #4

I always mix rice with salt to prevent humidity, it works well and the salt does not change flavor.
You have to do nothing with the rice (it is already clean enough in its bag), just pick & use it.

 

olishell

Active Member

• Sep 6, 2009

• #5

It's perfect.However I would bake it at about 250 for 15-20 min. to make sure it's moisture free.

 

I

Illegal Smile

Guest

• Sep 6, 2009

• #6

In a grow sopace of any size, I think it would take an impossible amount of rice to lower humidity significantly. I tried it and it didn't work for me. In a much smaller area like a box or jar it would work.

 

growerboy

Active Member

• Sep 6, 2009

• #7

Illegal Smile said:

In a grow sopace of any size, I think it would take an impossible amount of rice to lower humidity significantly. I tried it and it didn't work for me. In a much smaller area like a box or jar it would work.

Click to expand...

I think he just wants to store seeds.

Unless he have tons (literally) of them, rice would work good.

 

The Grinch

Well-Known Member

• Sep 6, 2009

• #8

Hey guys, thanks for quick replys.

Its just to store my seeds for long term, so a small bag with a 100 seeds, and some rice - and now salt.

What ratio of salt/rice/seeds to you go with?
Do you put the salt and rice directly in with the seeds, or in something first (cheescloth/stockings/etc)

Thanks again
Grinch

 

growerboy

Active Member

• Sep 6, 2009

• #9

The Grinch said:

Its just to store my seeds for long term, so a small bag with a 100 seeds, and some rice - and now salt.

What ratio of salt/rice/seeds to you go with?
Do you put the salt and rice directly in with the seeds, or in something first (cheescloth/stockings/etc)

Click to expand...

Sorry I wasn't able to explain well enough at first, but don't use salt.
What I was saying is that I use rice to store salt: the rice sucks the humidity out of the salt (so rice is a more powerful dessiccant than salt).

I'd say you can't go wrong if you store 50% seeds and 50% rice in an air tight container, and put it in a cool and dark place.

Of course, do let the seeds essiccate before storing (some weeks out in the air or even in the sun) if they're not dry already.

 

The Grinch

Well-Known Member

• Sep 7, 2009

• #10

thanks growerboy, just put rice and seeds in bags, and in the dark - see them again in 5-10