Fox Farm Chunky Perlite

[Ganja D]

I swear by it as well. Small perlite sucks. I've used it for years. Sometimes I buy the smaller stuff if I can't find the FF and I'm never as happy with my soil mixes. Also isn't it just another 5 or 10 $ a 4 cubic foot bag?

 

[SweetIndica2]

For me, the smaller stuff is actually more expensive since i haven't been able to find big bags of it locally. Most of the bags are tiny so it would take 10-15 bags of the stuff just to make the 4 cubic feet i need. It's only $35 for a 4 cubic foot bag of the chunky perlite, i can't imagine the small perlite being much cheaper even in bigger bags.

And yea, i hate small perlite which i why i want to get some of this. Especially towards the end of my grows, the small perlite is completely crushed and the soil becomes way too dense, so this should definitely help.

 

[Stond_Face]

Chunky perlite is better for the lungs!

Chunky perlite is better for the lungs!

I run Hempys with Perlite/verm mix. I was using regular perlite for a couple years from the local farm store. Just got a big bag of Hydrofarm big perlite.

I would buy the chunky perlite just because it has NO DUST. The regular perlite would make so much dust I was scared to breathe LOL

Too soon for me to tell if the plants like it better though.

 

[Clackamas Coot]

It's only $35 for a 4 cubic foot bag of the chunky perlite

Sweet mother of Jesus Christ.

Wow! Simply amazing.

CC

 

[The End Is Near]

I don't know about small perlite, but I was able to recover most of my FF chunky perlite from a used peat mix by dumping it all in a tub of water and letting the perlite rise to the top, then skim it off with a colander. Makes sense that it would last longer than small perlite.

 

[Clackamas Coot]

The Perlite Institute is the group that sets the standards for perlite manufacturing and which is used in any number of applications unrelated to horticulture. The link that I posted has the various manufacturers of perlite and perlite-related products. They're all over the country.

RE: Fox Farm Perlite - it's a product manufactured by Supreme Perlite in Portland, Oregon. It's nothing special other than the Fox Farm label with the obligatory higher price because it's sold exclusively through indoor garden stores. 'nuff said.

HTH

CC

 

[SweetIndica2]

Sweet mother of Jesus Christ.

Wow! Simply amazing.

CC

lol yea, it's a huge bag. I believe it's like 36 Pounds or something. And you can always save some if you don't use it all, 4 cubic feet is enough for like 87 Gallons of soil mix if you are using it at a 30% ratio.

 

[SweetIndica2]

The Perlite Institute is the group that sets the standards for perlite manufacturing and which is used in any number of applications unrelated to horticulture. The link that I posted has the various manufacturers of perlite and perlite-related products. They're all over the country.

RE: Fox Farm Perlite - it's a product manufactured by Supreme Perlite in Portland, Oregon. It's nothing special other than the Fox Farm label with the obligatory higher price because it's sold exclusively through indoor garden stores. 'nuff said.

HTH

CC

I don't care about the brand, it's just that the closest hydro places which are still about an hour away only carry Hydrofarm "Super Coarse" Perlite and the Fox Farm "Big and Chunky" Perlite. Both are about the exact same price. The Hydrofarm is $31 for 3.53 Cubic Feet and the FF is $36 for 4 Cubic Feet. Which brand is better?

 

[Grass Lands]

I tend to like the smaller/coarse perlite...tried the FF chunky once and went right back to the Hydrofarm perlite...and its 15 bucks cheaper too.

 

[Clackamas Coot]

I don't care about the brand, it's just that the closest hydro places which are still about an hour away only carry Hydrofarm "Super Coarse" Perlite and the Fox Farm "Big and Chunky" Perlite. Both are about the exact same price. The Hydrofarm is $31 for 3.53 Cubic Feet and the FF is $36 for 4 Cubic Feet. Which brand is better?

Perlite is perlite. If the actual manufacturer is a member of the Perlite Institute then the products are about as identical as it can get.

Go for price for the size you feel best serves your growing needs.

BTW - the current price for 4 cf. bags at the wholesale houses in the Willamette Valley is $17.00 - $18.50 so the grow stores are making their usual killing.

At the very least check out the list I posted and see if there isn't a manufacturer close to you and then find their distributors.

HTH

CC

 

[ShroomDr]

I think particle size matters more than youre leading on. A 16oz cup of wet fine perlite is going to have a lot less airspace than the wet chunky stuff, all due to size and shape.

The small stuff is also going to weight more, again due to the irregular shape and airgaps between pieces.

Im not sure if one grows better than the other (i havent finished flowering with this mix yet).

 

[Clackamas Coot]

I think particle size matters more than youre leading on.

An interesting comment since I said absolutely nothing about size other than to offer this advice:

Go for price for the size you feel best serves your growing needs.

I was discussing the processes & materials used to manufacture perlite under the standards set by the Perlite Institute.

I stand by my statement that "Perlite is perlite" which has nothing to do with the size, i.e. the materials are the same and exact.

HTH

CC

 

[coconaut]

I think particle size matters more than youre leading on. A 16oz cup of wet fine perlite is going to have a lot less airspace than the wet chunky stuff, all due to size and shape.

This would be arguable if you were using only perlite. However almost everyone here is mixing perlite with soil or coir, either of which fills in said airspace.