Fox Farm Big and Chunky Perlite

[Thomkal Vwalaa]

Blessing and irations to the Ic-Ination. My local store was out of the normal perlite. I don't remember the name just that the bags have blue letters. I brought home some foxfarm big and chunky instead because it what they had.

Any noticeable difference with this stuff?

Here's the description:

"Big & Chunky Perlite
Why do we call it Big & Chunky? Because we use extra-big chunks of perlite that provide the best drainage for superior root aeration. Use it in containers with our Ocean Forest® or Happy Frog® Potting Soil to improve drainage, keep roots oxygenated, and prevent plants from becoming waterlogged.

Hydroponic growers know that Big & Chunky is the ultimate hydro grow medium. Use it as a stand-alone product or combine it with our Light Warrior® Agro-Ponic® Grow Medium, and enjoy the added benefits of mycorrhizae. These beneficial fungi species promote root growth and enhance fertilizer uptake.

Garden Tip: In containers, spread Big & Chunky Perlite in a one-inch layer along the bottom of the pot, then mix one part Big & Chunky with four parts potting soil. Water thoroughly and allow soil mixture to settle before planting.

In hydroponic systems, fill pot with Big & Chunky, and position plant properly so its root system is supported in the medium. For seed starting and propagation, mix one part Big & Chunky with three parts Light Warrior®. Go here for a hydroponic feeding schedule.

Item Size Pcs/Case Pallet Count
7 52289 41104 5 4 cubic ft. - 30 bags"

Fight Babylon!

 

[milehighmedical]

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[MHHSP]

Yep this is a better product, larger chunks mean more air for your roots, just a bit more expensive.

 

[geopolitical]

I use the same stuff, except I buy a bale for $10 and it's marked as "agricultural perlite, coarse grade 3". Coarse stuff is great, but it does separate and float to the top a little easier if your mix will be heavily flooded on waterings.

 

[Thomkal Vwalaa]

oh word

oh word

I use the same stuff, except I buy a bale for $10 and it's marked as "agricultural perlite, coarse grade 3". Coarse stuff is great, but it does separate and float to the top a little easier if your mix will be heavily flooded on waterings.

coarse grade 3" : thanks for that.

This perlite also seems to have way less perlite dust, which is brutal on the mucus membranes.

The consensus seems to be that this is a good product.

What about a 2" layer of perlite on the bottom of the container as suggested by fox farm? And 20% seems low, Im used to seeing 30% on premix, like the brand new potting media from humboldt nutes.

 

[milehighmedical]

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[Thomkal Vwalaa]

3 grade not inches LOL

3 grade not inches LOL

I think you may have accidentally misread that. The " symbol was the end of a quotation, not to be confused with "inches". It's just... coarse grade 3, not 3 inches.

And yes, the dust is miserable... try to breath through your shirt, or tie a bandanna around your face. It's not as bad as the regular either. As for the 20-30%... I meant additionally. I add 20%, additionally, to the soil mix which already has perlite mixed in, right out of the bag.

Aaand, last thing, don't ever take advice from Humboldt Nutrients. Not that they're necessarily wrong, but they're not a trust worthy company, and so you'd be better off just ignoring them to begin with. They have a couple decent products, but they are ethically questionable.

I thought 3 inches didn't sound right.

I was asking about percent perlite because the base media I am testing, Bio Terra Plus, has zero perlite and I want to lighten it up. I think other peat/perlite media also use around 30% perlite content, like light warrior or sunshine #4, not sure about that tho.

Yeah, HN don't have enough certifications for me, not that certs mean everything. But they have one or two products that I like, and this new potting mix that I just started seeing is interesting. Always interested in new media mixes

Thanks all

 

[geopolitical]

Perlite comes in different grades, unfortunately they're not really standard across countries, let alone among manufacturers. Grades generally refer to screen sizes and pass percentages. So a fine grade will pass say a 10 mesh screen at 100% while a corase grade might manage 10-20%. But that's not the only bit. A big chunk of what makes perlite work great (and carbon if you add some to soil like I do) is that massive surface area due to it's porosity.

Some producers of perlite use a rating system that is a combination of size, variation in size (more uniform sized perlite is more useful in filter beds, etc), porosity and other physical properties. So 4 companies producing perlite could all have completely different rating systems. There are quite a few standards, but from my experience they're pretty much ignored.

Best bet in my opinion is to ask 'em. It's what I did.