Perlite vs. Pumice Indoors - Indoor Grows - Soil - International Cannagraphic Magazine Forums

Thomkal Vwalaa · 11-05-2010, 12:51 AM

One love InI ganja promoters, smokers, and most of all GROWERS!

I've been looking into switching from perlite to pumice for my indoor and have found the negative side to pumice. It's raas clat heavy compared to perlite. I am the guy who lifts his pots to determine when to water. This is the best way IMO to know when to top feed containers. But the half of the garden with pumice instead of perlite was much harder to read. I may have overwatered some because they all seemed kinda heavy, and the difference between the wet and dry pots was not as obvious as with the perlite half. The perlite/peat pots are so easy to read as they are almost weightless when ready for water

Any of you indoor folks use pumice in your pots instead of perlite? Any tips on when to water with 30% pumice in your mix? Or is it time to bust out the probe?

rickyjack9 · 01-06-2017, 06:17 AM

with pumice, ive done ebb-n-flow ok.

DocTim420 · 01-06-2017, 02:14 PM

Research the water holding capacity and water tension characteristics of pumice and then compare them to other options. Pumice has large pores and as water tension increases--its water holding capacities decreases rapidly. Hence the water-holding capacity of pumice is tiny and will limit water and nutrient uptake by plants. It also has no buffering capacity and has a low surface charge due to its high level of carbonates and metal content.

Examine a pumice rock closely and you will see tiny holes on the surface that connect to cavities inside the rock. When water is inside (displacing air inside the rock's cavity)--it will take an incredible amount of suction power to (water tension) to pull the water out of the rock through that tiny hole. Also....new pumice has a goodly amount of sodium that should be leached before use.

All of a sudden, a bag of large grade perlite does not look so bad now, huh. That's what I use.

rickyjack9 · 01-29-2017, 04:55 AM

finer pumice better than lava or hydroton in enf, it holds more water, but coco might be equal if drip and add perlite to coco for more air, and enf may work. I got fewer buds in enf..so build roots
first

truck · 01-31-2017, 06:57 PM

use growstone its the best thing out right now. Its recycled glass its super light and eco friendly.

MTNMEN · 01-31-2017, 07:02 PM

I wonder if that turface thats sold at lowe's would do the job? I would link it but dont wanna be cyber bullied! I believe a rose gardener who has won awards worldwide said she switched out perlite for turface. May be worth a look ingo, then again i may be dead wrong and an asshole for even posting.

11-05-2010, 12:51 AM	#1
Thomkal Vwalaa Banned Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: 215 for life Posts: 745	Perlite vs. Pumice Indoors One love InI ganja promoters, smokers, and most of all GROWERS! I've been looking into switching from perlite to pumice for my indoor and have found the negative side to pumice. It's raas clat heavy compared to perlite. I am the guy who lifts his pots to determine when to water. This is the best way IMO to know when to top feed containers. But the half of the garden with pumice instead of perlite was much harder to read. I may have overwatered some because they all seemed kinda heavy, and the difference between the wet and dry pots was not as obvious as with the perlite half. The perlite/peat pots are so easy to read as they are almost weightless when ready for water Any of you indoor folks use pumice in your pots instead of perlite? Any tips on when to water with 30% pumice in your mix? Or is it time to bust out the probe?
	Quote

01-06-2017, 06:17 AM	#2
rickyjack9 Member Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 50	with pumice, ive done ebb-n-flow ok.
	Quote

01-06-2017, 02:14 PM	#3
DocTim420 The Doctor is OUT and has moved on... Join Date: Oct 2016 Posts: 1,192	Research the water holding capacity and water tension characteristics of pumice and then compare them to other options. Pumice has large pores and as water tension increases--its water holding capacities decreases rapidly. Hence the water-holding capacity of pumice is tiny and will limit water and nutrient uptake by plants. It also has no buffering capacity and has a low surface charge due to its high level of carbonates and metal content. Examine a pumice rock closely and you will see tiny holes on the surface that connect to cavities inside the rock. When water is inside (displacing air inside the rock's cavity)--it will take an incredible amount of suction power to (water tension) to pull the water out of the rock through that tiny hole. Also....new pumice has a goodly amount of sodium that should be leached before use. All of a sudden, a bag of large grade perlite does not look so bad now, huh. That's what I use.
	Quote

01-29-2017, 04:55 AM	#4
rickyjack9 Member Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 50	finer pumice better than lava or hydroton in enf, it holds more water, but coco might be equal if drip and add perlite to coco for more air, and enf may work. I got fewer buds in enf..so build roots first
	Quote

01-31-2017, 06:57 PM	#5
truck Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 146	use growstone its the best thing out right now. Its recycled glass its super light and eco friendly.
	Quote

01-31-2017, 07:02 PM	#6
MTNMEN Banned Join Date: Nov 2016 Location: In the pines, In the pines! Posts: 207	I wonder if that turface thats sold at lowe's would do the job? I would link it but dont wanna be cyber bullied! I believe a rose gardener who has won awards worldwide said she switched out perlite for turface. May be worth a look ingo, then again i may be dead wrong and an asshole for even posting.
	Quote