is it possible to have too much perilite?

[FRIENDinDEED]

well first of all i wanna say whassup to everyone, i havent really been on IC like i used to. had a grow diary going and just lost the will or "moxy" to stay in tune with the commnity, felt like i wasnt gettin what i really wanted from IC, but i guess the level of socialism i was lookin for is not gonna happen from here, but thats cool. . . .

anyway. . .

the question is, is it acutally possible to have too much perlite in a soil mix? i guess another question would be is: whats a good soil to perlite ratio in general?

ive got perlite in my soil but when my soil gets dry its gets hard, and theres a problem trying to water it when its like that.

right now i would say my mix is about 70/30 (soil/perilite) but maybe closer to 60/40.

i just have a feeling that my soil shouldnt be that "type" of dry where the soil becomes hard as opposed to dusty/ or crumbly. help me out here folk.

im gonna be swapping out my 400's for something more floro based with a lil' HPS and smaller overall until i get some bigger issues taken care of?

 

[rasputin]

In peat based mixes 20-30% works well.

The watering problem is not uncommon with peat, the fibers bind together when they dry to a point and water just beads off so the perlite ain't the only one to blame, though it certainly plays a part. Has a lot to do with how long you go in between waterings and/or how quickly the mix dries out, which can be influenced by the environment too. I wouldn't use less of perlite or an equivalent, I'd water more frequently. YMMV.

When you feed/water start off with some water, go slow until the water goes right down into the mix without pooling up on the surface. Now its ready for you to pour cups on them and they'll just soak it right up.

 

[mean mr.mustard]

Ask Hempy!!



The answer is no. 100% works if you're feeding it right.

I use 0-30% with coco depending on what I'm working with.

 

[treefrog]

I use 30% too.

You can mulch the top of your containers with straight compost and spray it every day with a little water, kelp mixture. It keeps the soil moist, microbes happy and you won't get the pooling, run through action. I've wondered if moss would work well.. It would certainly look cool!

 

[SuperConductor]

You don't need any, takes up space that could be filled with roots! Also it's hardly organic, perlite is a hydro medium it has no nutes in it. If 30% of your mix is perlite that's 30% less roots you have and as we all know roots = buds. If your compost drains poorly without it make or find one that drains well. I realise this goes against the grain of this board but I grew 'organic' for ages without perlite or any kind of drainage problems and I know plenty of people who still do the same.

 

[GMT]

I agree with superconductor 100%.

 

[treefrog]

Not organic, but it is inert.
Of course it's possible to not use it and with good results too. There is no perlite in their native habitat! I have a buddy who would never use perlite. His plants are fab. He has better luck using coir, instead of peat.

I think the no perlite would work fine in even a dense mix, but I would force the roots to fill up the pot with a dry cycle, at least initially.
Having said that, the perlite is a good buffer for watering mistakes. I wouldn't suggest not using it to a new grower.

 

[NUG-JUG]

. I realise this goes against the grain of this board but I grew 'organic' for ages without perlite or any kind of drainage problems and I know plenty of people who still do the same.

Well you must have been using pumice...or had a good amount of sand in your compost..

 

[jaykush]

. I realise this goes against the grain of this board but I grew 'organic' for ages without perlite or any kind of drainage problems and I know plenty of people who still do the same.

its ok, i grow in straight compost all the time. no perlite needed as long as your compost is good and fluffy.

 

[GMT]

thats not actually necessary, standard fruit and veggie compost works well on its own, and doesnt look as suspcious when dumped in your garden after use either.

 

[mean mr.mustard]

So, in short, to answer the initial question: NO.

I love how long threads get with opinions when they were initiated to find facts.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with perlite.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with not using perlite.

Damn....

 

[John Deere]

Run a batch straight next time and see how you feel about it. Or run 1 plant straight and 1 with perlite. I've done it a few times and I prefer a perlite mix but YMMV. I run approx 25% perlite.

 

[GMT]

lol MMM you are right, though the 2 bring their own problems. If you use 100% perlite, then you need to get the feeding perfect, if you use none, then you need to get the moisture content within certain limits, if you mix both, you could say you get the best of both worlds, but also lose space that could be used to grow with and create a problem with dumping the compost after the grow.

 

[treefrog]

perlite's round and white..
is using too much wrong
as long as pretty flowers
end up in my bong..

ask a simple question
the thread gets very long
hippies makin' poems
or maybe even songs..

 

[Microbeman]

its ok, i grow in straight compost all the time. no perlite needed as long as your compost is good and fluffy.

Same here.

 

[FRIENDinDEED]

perlite's round and white..
is using too much wrong
as long as pretty flowers
end up in my bong..

ask a simple question
the thread gets very long
hippies makin' poems
or maybe even songs..

true, true it is all about the flowers

 

[FRIENDinDEED]

Run a batch straight next time and see how you feel about it. Or run 1 plant straight and 1 with perlite. I've done it a few times and I prefer a perlite mix but YMMV. I run approx 25% perlite.

to be honest, i have some left over premier bales from when i was helping my wife get her square foot garden together and i was gonna use one to cut my mix straight in half.

i was looking at my mix the other day and it just mad me feel like there was just too much perilite in it, i've ran grows with it, so once i get things started again i'll just straight up try it the other way. theres gonna be some perilite in it but jsut not as much this time around

 

[FRIENDinDEED]

So, in short, to answer the initial question: NO.

I love how long threads get with opinions when they were initiated to find facts.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with perlite.

There's absolutely nothing wrong with not using perlite.

Damn....

i know what you mean, but this one of the longest running thread Q's ive ever had!! lol so i guess it has some importance to some degree, hopefully it will lead into other positive notations or questions

dont mind the thread gettin jacked as long as its positive!

 

[FRIENDinDEED]

Not organic, but it is inert.
Of course it's possible to not use it and with good results too. There is no perlite in their native habitat! I have a buddy who would never use perlite. His plants are fab. He has better luck using coir, instead of peat.

I think the no perlite would work fine in even a dense mix, but I would force the roots to fill up the pot with a dry cycle, at least initially.
Having said that, the perlite is a good buffer for watering mistakes. I wouldn't suggest not using it to a new grower.

as i was looking at my mix, as i had mentioned in another response, i thought about that aspect of there being too much perilite as well, that maybe the roots would do better in some way.

i'll see for myself once i get things started again. its gonna be a smaller grow this time, so i'll have a greater ability to make note of any differences. ive grown with my mix for so long that i'll know whatever differences i see/spot right away.

gotta swap some lights, spray everything down, clean things out, and get it all up and running soon enough.

i would do a side by side but i need the bud more than i need the results of an experiment (lmao)

 

[guest2012y]

Nothing wrong with perlite....only continuing to pay for it. Been recycling the perlite in my mix for quite a while now,then switched to adding pumice as the perlite begins to erode into smaller and smaller particles.
Good drainage is critical,yet good water holding capabilities are equally critical...Balance is key.