Adding a layer of perlite ontop of soil?

[beaner]

After doing my final transplant for my plants I wondered about this. I assume the white perlite would reflect light better and will keep soil from moving due to fans.

On the other side I believe after repeated direct contact with water perlite can get a yellow tint to it, and even though it drys out quickly I wouldnt want a layer to form that gives the soil a harder time drying.

If anyone has an opinion on this or more info I would like to hear it.

 

[Guest]

You'd probably green growth like algae all over it from it constantly being wet and subject to direct light,you're much better off mixing it in throrughly IMO

 

[Guest]

plenty of people i know do that for the purpose of soil-moisture longevity. also people use the clay balls(forgot the proper name ) ya know the ones used in hydro.but same purpose. the only downside is...as someone eluded to, the color will not stay white, but will be yellowish.

 

[Mackawber]

I used white gravel on top of mine. Seems to work good at keeping the watering from gouging holes and the white color seems to reflect light

 

[smokeymacpot]

is perlite supposed to soak up water? cos mine doesnt. maybe i should have got the other one which was vermiculite or something ??

and i wouldnt add extra perlite to cover the top, because it gets washed out of the soil and you get a layer of it anyway

 

[beaner]

Well I don't think I will try it just yet, but it doesnt sound like any real harm could come from it and that was my only worry.

Thanks for the replies

 

[Bulldog]

I did it before, but it was part of battling fungus gnats.

It deters them from burrowing into the soil to lay eggs.

I have never done it since.

 

[stretchpuppy]

I did it for gnats as well. Put about 1.5 inches on top.

No biggy, it was clean and fine, and no algae grew.

Looks nice and neat too.

 

[mysticls]

strech puppy how much that grow yield you? what size is your cab? 400w?

 

[beaner]

I did it for gnats as well. Put about 1.5 inches on top.

No biggy, it was clean and fine, and no algae grew.

Looks nice and neat too.

That is exactly what I needed, thanks for taking to time to reply

 

[Bulldog]

 

[Guest]

Man I guess I was 100% mistaken,I seem to remember having green growth problems some time back,but that was with peat pots which I dont use anymore.Sure is purty and shiny!

 

[stretchpuppy]

That is exactly what I needed, thanks for taking to time to reply

No problem, good luck.

strech puppy how much that grow yield you? what size is your cab? 400w?

Hey bud. I pulled just over 9 zips for 9 LS clones. 400w in a C13, my old flower cab.

 

[beaner]

Hey bud. I pulled just over 9 zips for 9 LS clones.

Nice!