I don't like perlite

I don't like perlite#372273

By Panman -  Wed Jan 20, 2021 9:01 pm
Location:  Atlanta, GA USA Zone 8a/8b
Posts:  6395
Joined:  Wed Mar 04, 2020 8:41 pm

- Wed Jan 20, 2021 9:01 pm #372273

This meme pretty much says it all. I hate how it keeps bubbling to the top and getting over my seedlings. I would really like to find something other than perlite to add to the peat. Any suggestions?

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Re: I don't like perlite#372274

By Edge17 -  Wed Jan 20, 2021 9:21 pm
Posts:  1
Joined:  Sat Oct 10, 2020 4:50 am

- Wed Jan 20, 2021 9:21 pm #372274

Sand

Re: I don't like perlite#372275

By steve booth -  Wed Jan 20, 2021 9:35 pm
Posts:  1238
Joined:  Mon Jul 18, 2011 11:15 am

- Wed Jan 20, 2021 9:35 pm #372275

Long fibre Sphagnum
Cheers
Steve

Re: I don't like perlite#372276

By optique -  Wed Jan 20, 2021 10:56 pm
Location:  Greenville SC
Posts:  1920
Joined:  Fri May 24, 2019 11:15 pm

- Wed Jan 20, 2021 10:56 pm #372276

use perlite wait two months use shopvac to clear top

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Re: I don't like perlite#372279

By Lyra -  Thu Jan 21, 2021 12:04 am
Posts:  237
Joined:  Wed Jan 01, 2020 6:38 am

- Thu Jan 21, 2021 12:04 am #372279

Me too, me too.
I use sand.

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Re: I don't like perlite#372294

By MikeB -  Thu Jan 21, 2021 2:56 am
Location:  Clayton, NC, USA - Zone 8a
Posts:  1908
Joined:  Sat Apr 25, 2020 4:13 pm

- Thu Jan 21, 2021 2:56 am #372294

I use a peat/perlite/sand mix for my plants and put a half-inch-thick layer of LFS on top. It subdues the perlite and also helps hold in water.

Re: I don't like perlite#372295

By Supercazzola -  Thu Jan 21, 2021 3:24 am
Location:  Merritt Island, FL
Posts:  1503
Joined:  Sun Nov 22, 2020 1:57 am

- Thu Jan 21, 2021 3:24 am #372295

Would Vermiculite be an option in small quantities ? How about small pumice ?

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Re: I don't like perlite#372301

By Panman -  Thu Jan 21, 2021 12:22 pm
Location:  Atlanta, GA USA Zone 8a/8b
Posts:  6395
Joined:  Wed Mar 04, 2020 8:41 pm

- Thu Jan 21, 2021 12:22 pm #372301

Vermiculite breaks down to quickly and in having a problem finding pumice.

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Re: I don't like perlite#372328

By DragonsEye -  Fri Jan 22, 2021 1:15 am
Posts:  1338
Joined:  Sat Oct 01, 2016 1:22 pm

- Fri Jan 22, 2021 1:15 am #372328

"I DON'T LIKE PERLITE"

Does anybody? If you can find Growstone it is a lot heavier and not nearly so annoying.

Blessed are the "cracked" ... for it is they who let in the light.

Re: I don't like perlite#372337

By Apollyon -  Fri Jan 22, 2021 5:17 am
Location:  Merritt Island, Florida
Posts:  1663
Joined:  Tue May 05, 2020 2:49 am

- Fri Jan 22, 2021 5:17 am #372337

If I had a line on pumice I'd bench perlite forever. I wouldn't use vermiculite personally because it's designed to absorb and hold water. Pumice is comparable to perlite in functionality with the added bonus of not floating to the top of your pot lol. Aesthetically it looks better. I should really try to find a place to get fine sized pumice.

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Re: I don't like perlite#372344

By steve booth -  Fri Jan 22, 2021 9:33 am
Posts:  1238
Joined:  Mon Jul 18, 2011 11:15 am

- Fri Jan 22, 2021 9:33 am #372344

Not wishing to be a pedant, is it really vermiculites fault that it floats to the top? or is it rather that that sneaky, neer do well peat, that goes downwards when top watered leaving the perlite high and dry and getting the blame for the peats bad behaviour

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Re: I don't like perlite#372347

By DragonsEye -  Fri Jan 22, 2021 2:55 pm
Posts:  1338
Joined:  Sat Oct 01, 2016 1:22 pm

- Fri Jan 22, 2021 2:55 pm #372347

Apollyon wrote: ↑Fri Jan 22, 2021 5:17 am Pumice is comparable to perlite in functionality with the added bonus of not floating to the top of your pot lol. Aesthetically it looks better. I should really try to find a place to get fine sized pumice.

Growstone is also and is nice from the standpoint of it being recycled glass so no mining needed. Finding fine sized could be an issue, though, I suspect.

Blessed are the "cracked" ... for it is they who let in the light.

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