Hempy buckets...is all perilite of equal quality?

[stillanoob]

Ok, we all know there's a massive difference in some big box store miracle grow soil and some high quality stuff, but what about just when it comes to pure perilite? Is there something intrinsically different as far as chemical makeup or nasty contents in the store bought (miracle grow for example) brand and something that you might get elsewhere?

 

[stillanoob]

1 more thing, is it better to use the small pellets or the big chunks? i'm assuming the small pellets.

 

[intotheunknown]

in my opinion all perlite is not equal.
im not a fan of miracle grow products whatsoever.

my preference is fox farms chunk perlite. im not a fan of fox farms products either. however their chunk perlite is of superior quality.

 

[nugsauce]

Dont use MG perlite, it has their fertilizer all over it. Get a big bag of plain perlite from your local grow shop. I prefer the small pieces to the big and chunky as the roots seem to grasp it better and create an actual rootball. Before switching to organic soil, I grew in perlite/coco hempy buckets for years, but started out using straight perlite. Be prepared for extremely fast growing plants and huge yields.

 

[stillanoob]

MG perlite has fertilizer on it? wtf, you sure about that or is that just an assumption based on hearsay? Is there any good kind you can get at a chain store, we don't really have grow shops around here where I am

 

[nugsauce]

I said I grew in hempy's for years, in straight perlite. I have a ton of experience. Go read the bag, it's clear as day. It lists NPK on every bag of MG perlite.

 

[soursmoker]

hes right, ive seen it with my own eyes.

 

[toastfighter2]

MG has fertilizer in it, just looked at a bag of it yet other day at lowes. Everything that I have read about perilite recommends getting the chunky mix of it, apparently it gives the roots a better foot.
If you are stuck using the MG crap, pop a couple small holes on the bottom of the bag and rinse the hell out of it to flush out the nutrients that are in there(also a good idea for the regular kind as well, the dust causes major lung damage)

 

[stillanoob]

well that sucks balls. so is the idea to find "pure" perlite? is that what i'm looking for?

 

[toastfighter2]

Any decent nursery, or farmers supply will have it, or worse case order it on the internet. I haven't tried it myself, but Napa (yeah the car parts place) supposedly sells a mix of perilite and vermiculite for cleaning up spills that a few people on here have used.

 

[stillanoob]

Well that sucks, I thought one of the joys of Hempy buckets was going to be able to just grab any old bag of perlite. I guess that I will have to find a bag that specifically says "no fertilizers added" and not just "100% pure"............let me know if any of you ahve found something suitable at a chain store will ya?

 

[Hydro-Soil]

Anything NOT from MG will most likely be 'plain' perlite.

No matter what grade you get... make sure you rinse the dust off before you use it. Most folks skip that step and end up with harsher bud from perlite dust floating around. Done it myself once...

Stay Safe!

 

[stillanoob]

What do you do to rinse to dust off? Just soak it in a bucket and the drain it?

 

[highonmt]

What do you do to rinse to dust off? Just soak it in a bucket and the drain it?

Yep just pour off the water. I would go to a nursery or grow store and try to find the coarse perlite or even extra chunky if they have it. I think you can find perlite at most of the big box stores too.
HM

 

[dubwise]

you can find bulk pure perlite at a local agricultural store very inexpensively and it can be cleaned and reused...

 

[Jellyfish]

Anything NOT from MG will most likely be 'plain' perlite.

There it is. Just get the kind that's about the consistency of aquarium gravel (is that the chunky?). And you don't have to go to a grow store.

 

[Doobie Ninja]

I have been using fine perlite for a few years, just this last transplant cycle I moved all my moms into buckets with chunky perlite. So far I am liking the chunky stuff better.

Its seems that the buckets with finer perlite take longer to dry out between feedings which means I feed those plants less which means they grow slower and are more prone to root problems from not drying out as much.

As far as rinsing perlite I stab a bunch of holes in the bottom of the bag, stick it in the spare shower and run some water through it, then it sits fro a few days to dry. when I am filling buckets I just sprinkle water in the bag as needed to keep the dust down

 

[whitelight]

I order four foot cubic bags for my local nursery, rinse with 20 gallons of pH correct water. I believe I'm only paying 30 dollars per four foot cubic bag. I also re-use it after its been cleaned and sterilized with 200 degree pH correct water.