Using 100% Perlite as medium question.

MATTYMATT726

Well-Known Member
I ran out of my Royal Gold Tupar and it was going to take close to 2 weeks to get more delivered and i was ready to start plants, so just used perlite with rapid rooters to start seeds. Been a rough go on some of them since they dry so fast. I have no drip rings as I've almost exclusively grown in Coco/Tupar and need a easy way to keep them watered until roots hit the bottom(they're being bottom fed). Any ideas that could probably be made from home without a shopping spree? I'm thinking of taking 2 smaller Ziploc bags and punching a few pin size holes and putting them in their to slowly drip. Does this seem viable, and what else could be rigged up? Thanks.
 

Larry3215

Well-Known Member
I ran out of my Royal Gold Tupar and it was going to take close to 2 weeks to get more delivered and i was ready to start plants, so just used perlite with rapid rooters to start seeds. Been a rough go on some of them since they dry so fast. I have no drip rings as I've almost exclusively grown in Coco/Tupar and need a easy way to keep them watered until roots hit the bottom(they're being bottom fed). Any ideas that could probably be made from home without a shopping spree? I'm thinking of taking 2 smaller Ziploc bags and punching a few pin size holes and putting them in their to slowly drip. Does this seem viable, and what else could be rigged up? Thanks.
Mini hempy buckets. They have a small reservoir built in just by the way they are made. Ive done that with every thing from small dixie cups to 3 gallon buckets - all with 100% perlite.

By the way, thats how I start all my seeds. Just soak them then stick in the perlite. No rooters or anything else. Works great.
 

MATTYMATT726

Well-Known Member
Mini hempy buckets. They have a small reservoir built in just by the way they are made. Ive done that with every thing from small dixie cups to 3 gallon buckets - all with 100% perlite.

By the way, thats how I start all my seeds. Just soak them then stick in the perlite. No rooters or anything else. Works great.
I'm familiar with hempy, but that doesn't solve the problem of the perlite drying out so fast before the roots get to the bottom. I should've just waited, but always trying manage the free space. This is where they are at. 1 went in today and the other 2 days ago. Just trying to not have to water 4 or 5 times a day for a few weeks.20220307_123104.jpg
 

Larry3215

Well-Known Member
I'm familiar with hempy, but that doesn't solve the problem of the perlite drying out so fast before the roots get to the bottom.
The roots dont need to get to the bottom. The perlite wicks water all the way to the top. In fact, the roots are happiest if they dont get to the bottom.

They will get the perfect mix of water and O2 ABOVE the water line. Thats the whole point of hempy buckets. Once the roots hit the water, they have less O2 and are less happy. :)

Like I said - I start ALL my seeds in mini hempy buckets. They are perfectly happy from the get go - with NO rooters or rock wool cubes, etc. None of that is needed.

I transfer them into my areo chamber long before the roots get down to the water level in the dixie cups.
 
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Larry3215

Well-Known Member
This is my first hempy grow that I started from seed - in these same containers. Best to use light proof buckets. These were about 2 quart containers I had laying around. Wrapped them in garbage bag plastic to keep light out of the roots. These were small autos.
 

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ANC

Well-Known Member
There is no need for perlite in potting soil, it just takes up space. This looks cute though, have you flowered like this?
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