Bag seed in veg already budding?

qwizoking

Well-Known Member
it cheap, lightweight, inert, gives lots of oxygen, roots seem to grow faster, bugs don't care for it. just all around, I like it alot.
when I run soil I usually go 50:50, I like straight perlite as well for hydro
 

m3d1c1n3man

Well-Known Member
yea cheap, lightweight, inert... because it's nothing. basically styro foam for the plant world, and you wouldn't eat styro foam would you? Roots grow faster because they cannot eat perlite and therefore have to continue on. bugs don't care for because it's... styro foam. i did 50/50 one time and the plants became rootbound in no time, that's what i was saying, fill that space with good soil instead and your plants will like it.
 

qwizoking

Well-Known Member
well considering I pulled a lb out of 2 gallons of perlite, root bound didn't seem to be an issue.
it's supposed to be nothing, like expanded clay pellets. its just a medium for the roots. the roots as well as the plant grow faster In hydro or perlite because nothing is hindering the roots movement unlike soil the nutrients come from a nutrient solution.

straight soil? as in? there's no sand rock rice husk twigs etc for drainage? just compost then? you think none of that serves a purpose

I've been growing a little over a decade now and have tried many methods so leave your bull to yourself
 
Last edited:

m3d1c1n3man

Well-Known Member
i know it's supposed to be nothing. and i'm not talking about hydro. i just like to replicate mother nature and you've never seen a plant growing hydroponically in a creek.
 

qwizoking

Well-Known Member
Lol what does that have to do with anything?

straight soil/decomposed organic material is a dense compact medium that will hold way to much moisture. it has to be aerated wether the root ball of your last crop, perlite, rice husks etc. growing in straight perlite or otherwise increasing the ratio actually improves plant growth....
 

kagecog

Well-Known Member
I like alot of perlite
why is that? I like none.
I'd have to say, a middle ground of perlite is necessary. 50/50 perlite is a bit too much and will cause issues such as lowered ability to retain nutes making it so you're literally flushing away much of the nutrients you give, while having too little perlite (i.e. none) will cause drainage issues and you will not have have proper root aeration. Also, not having enough perlite will increase the risk of soil compaction which will cause all sorts of other issues. I would have to say the perfect amount of perlite is around 30%.

To the OP, about your fungus gnat problem, perlite is actually a better option than sand for getting rid of the fungus gnats.
 
Last edited:

Smootherpete

Well-Known Member
to: qwizoking & m3d1c1n3man

I get both your points of view, you are just both a little too extremist in your opinions. Yes too much perlite in soil is not good, you will lack nutrients for the roots if all they get is water. Yes you can grow huge plants with just perlite and hydroponic nutes. Never in nature has a plant requiring as much oxygen to it's root base grown directly in water.(correct me if I'm wrong)
I find the best combination is 50% CANNA coco(50L for 20$) and 50% perlite(if anything, I put a little less perlite than coco) then Canna A & B(30$) nutrients. Cheap, simple, can't over water, same price as good soil and and what you would buy to put in it. Great results if you give them the light and ventilation they need.
Plus you can reuse your coco, just cut out the root ball, flush well(untill run off ppm is under 300 at least). Let dry, empty the coco out of the pot, break it up, work some dolomite lime into it and reuse.
 
Top