Anyone use Pumice for their Organic Hempy Buckets?

[Aotf]

I am going the high desert this winter and now that I have read most of the Organic forum [only took 2 weeks or so]. I am wondering about using pumice as an organic medium?

I can literally go out and dig a truck full and then I just have to screen it.

Is washing it a good idea? It does stay fairly dry all year [it is the High Desert] which helps, but may harbor some nasties still???


Mucho gracias

 

[SeaMaiden]

I say use it. I've discussed media options with many other growers, and more than a few old timers have talked about how they used crushed lava rock, or the rock that's sold as mulch (lava).

I would wash it, just because if you don't you could end up clogging stuff up otherwise.

 

[Swayze]

Aotf,

I'm with SeaMaiden. I say try it out and if it doesn't work out to your liking, at least you tried and you can tell us about any hiccups you came upon.

SeaMaiden,

Any pro/con's to using the dust that comes with the pumice or lava rocks? I've collected some by rubber banding a gallon ziplock bag to the bottom of a big net cup and pouring the rocks in a little at a time. I add a little to soil mixes and worm/compost bins.

 

[FunTimesIndeed]

I don't think water will wick its' way up the rocks the way a hempy needs. I would add some peat to those buckets, but who knows? Try it!

 

[SeaMaiden]

FunTimes, one of the mentors, DHF, has used lava rocks in a hempy tub scenario. There's really no good reason why it shouldn't work if you can get them packed in well enough to allow for wicking, and the water level can perhaps be played with to allow for the difference between the lava rocks and, say, perlite (have done perlite hempy tubs, very easy, but heavier than I expected).

Aotf,

I'm with SeaMaiden. I say try it out and if it doesn't work out to your liking, at least you tried and you can tell us about any hiccups you came upon.

SeaMaiden,

Any pro/con's to using the dust that comes with the pumice or lava rocks? I've collected some by rubber banding a gallon ziplock bag to the bottom of a big net cup and pouring the rocks in a little at a time. I add a little to soil mixes and worm/compost bins.

Pros in my world, there are minerals that microbes can break down and make available (feed the soil, not the plant, right?) and rock dusts are an important part of well-mineralized soil. The finer they are the easier they're gotten at.

 

[FunTimesIndeed]

Sounds good. I toyed with the idea of hempy buckets a few years ago, but lost interest when I came across my holy trinity of peat, compost and lava rock. I don't actually have any manner of hydro experience---guess I'll stfu.

 

[rickyjack9]

agreed if rinsed. luv it rinsed for my enf