I have some questions about perlite

[BaboKoyanggi]

Hello to all,
Living in a foreign country can be a pain in the ass sometimes. Finding basic food is difficult enough, but finding basic grow materials can be next to impossible.

Good soil is really hard to find for me. I found some Pro-Mix about two years ago, but it has since been discontinued and now is unavailable. The next best thing is Floragards MKS--2 instant. It is really just peat moss and some nutes.
I want to switch mediums, like a 50/50, perlite/ vermeculite mixture. I have been looking for perlite and vermeculite for over a year now and finally found perlite, in 100 liter bags. It should be here this week.

The vermeculite remains elusive for me.

My question is this, could I just do a perlite grow? Or does it need something else? I know the vermeculite holds more moisture, could I substitute vermeculite for peat? Would a MKS-2 and perlite mixture be fine?

The MKS-2 I am using now, the plants seem really happy, but man is it hard to water and feed. The water and nutes seem to pool on the surface, then just run through the pots, and out the bottom. After watering, the pots still feel real light

What do you guys think?

Peace to all

 

[ElAhrJi]

Have you checked any pet-stores...?

Vermaculite is used for hatching spider eggs......

 

[chosen]

I usually grow hydro but you can use perlite by itself. It is a passive hydroponic or soilless media that you are using then. Handwatered hydro. I do it with dwc, flood and drain, and even aeroponics. So, YES...
Welcome to Hydro. YOU could have posted that on indoor hydro.

 

[EZlistener]

perlite is excellent to use especially mixing with soil, can be used by itself but can be a pain if you flood/drain as it floats, i use it solo only when i do cuttings, don't forget to rinse it before use, i recommend clay pellets/hydro balls if you can find them

 

[TGT]

If you are really strapped for soil, you could dig some soil from outside and bake it in the oven for an hour. Then mix half soil with half perlite. This should be good to use and saves you a bit of money. I've done it before a few years back and it worked great. Just a suggestion. Good luck!

TGT

 

[BaboKoyanggi]

EIAhrJi: The pet stores in this country ,mainly focus on dogs. It's hard to find cat food and litter here for my kids. Only a few shops carry supplies for cats. The pet stores here are not full pet stores. By that I mean they don't have cats, dogs, fish, reptiles, rabbits, hamsters, mice and all the supplies that go with those animals. Certainly No supplys for insects at all.


Thanks for the idea, I will keep my eye out.
Peace

 

[BaboKoyanggi]

Chosen: I first posted my question in the indoor-hydro forum, but was told it was the wrong place, I was told to come here. So here I am, with people who seem eager to help me.

Shit, I'm going hydro and I did not know it.
My 100 liter bag of perlite showed up today!!! It's huge!! I will be taking my first cuttings this week. The adventure begins!!

Peace man

 

[BaboKoyanggi]

EZListener: I have been searching along time for this bag of perlite for the sole purpose of taking cuttings. I am happy beyond belief.

Why do I need to rinse it before use? What do I need to wash off?

Clay pellets/ hydroballs are everywhere here, can I mix the two? What would be a good ratio? 50/50? Is that OK?

Any advice you can give me is appriciated.
Peace man

 

[BaboKoyanggi]

TGT: An Oven that would be great!!!! They are not really used here. Most people do not have ovens and if they do they are rich, or at least well off. Space is at a prime here and traditional cooking methods do not use ovens.

I do have a microwave oven, it would do basicly the same thing. Most of the soil around here is really red and seems very clay filled.

Thanks for the ideas, I will keep them in mind.

peace

 

[Andyo]

clay balls

clay balls

hey babo check the ph of the clay balls 15mm size best for flood drain .perlite is good but let cuttings make rootball in 50mm pot of perlite then transfer from pot to clay balls .
Also can re use clay balls again

 

[Blackvelvet]

The Cornell Peatlite mix B (developed at Cornell university in the U.S.) consists of peat moss and perlite in equal proportions. You will need to add about 2 teaspoons powdered/pulverized dolomitic lime per gallon (4 liters) of soil mix to counteract the acidity of the peatmoss. Best ph in this mix is 5.6 to 6.2

.

 

[TGT]

I have to ask, what country are you from? I'm not asking exact location, just basics - nothing to give you away. I am very curious to what country you are from to not have ovens and stores like we have here. Sorry for my curiosity, I guess I take things for granted here in Canada. Also, sorry it's a little off topic. Hope your perlite works out well for you - good luck!

TGT