Looking for advice to make my soil more airy.

[Therealzemi]

Greetings. As the title says

I am using Biobizz light mix, but find it to compact a bit too much after some watering. I always keep the top layer "fluffy".
This soil comes with 30% perlite added. Would it help my goal of getting a more airy soil, if i add more perlite. And if so, how much more would you add?
I tried adding coco to the soil in 1 grow. That is something i'm never doing again. The soil was way too soggy (especially in the beginning), and root growth was way off normal pace. Would more perlite do the same?

Thanks for reading

 

[Therealzemi]

Any advice/ideas on how to make it more airy is welcome btw. As long as it is aproved for organic growing

 

[DJXX]

you can add more perlite......some people grow in hempy buckets which is all perlite so adding more is no problem...just ck your PH no matter what you add...hydroton works well too...looks like puppy chow with the hydroton in it..DJXX

 

[Terpz]

Perlite, cococoir chips and clay pebbles are a few options. 70/30 seems like a good starting point. If you are already at 70/30 and not happy, try adding 10-15% more aeration. I'm not sure of your method of water delivery, but I would be careful not to add too much as you could be hand watering 2-3x a day in late bloom. Good Luck!

 

[MicroRoy]

MorePerlite. I mix mine50/50. At times even more.

 

[trichrider]

gypsum...

 

[Photosynthesis]

Rice hulls. Won't get soggy. Will add silica as they break down. Will help retain moisture.

 

[Therealzemi]

Thanks for the replies guys

I am hand watering yes. Atm growing 16 plants in 11L pots. Each topped and trained to have 4 main colas. I am thinking perhaps the pots are too big. 1x1m and 600 watt hps.

Basicly i guess i'm looking to add more air, with a product that holds as little water as possible (to avoid getting soggy in the beginning).
Does rice hulls have different properties than perlite, hydroton etc?

 

[Photosynthesis]

Thanks for the replies guys

I am hand watering yes. Atm growing 16 plants in 11L pots. Each topped and trained to have 4 main colas. I am thinking perhaps the pots are too big. 1x1m and 600 watt hps.

Basicly i guess i'm looking to add more air, with a product that holds as little water as possible (to avoid getting soggy in the beginning).
Does rice hulls have different properties than perlite, hydroton etc?

I switched to rice hulls 4 years ago, and still use them.

 

[Ratzilla]

I also have been using rice hulls.
Their shape lends to providing more air pockets, that is if you use enough that they lay on each other.
Diatomaceous earth is another thing to make for a loamy mix but it will soak up water , it's a lot like kitty litter!
Gypsum has been mentioned but its really the calcium that is in gypsum that fluffs up the mix. On the other hand Magnesium tends to tighten up a mix.
Coco coir is good as long as you get the chunky kind,what they
call the mesocarp = the middle layer of the coco nut.
You want the chips. Most coir is the pith or dust and it compacts horribly.
If you want a nice loamy mix keep all your organic matter , humus, worm casting etc.to 20% or under.
As you add these things know that they hold much moisture.
Another thing is I see newbies substituting vermiculite for perlite, one holds no water and the other soaks it up.
Ratz

 

[Granger2]

If you stick to top name brands of coco, like Canna, Botanicare, BCuzz, you'll get coco that is long strands, not dust. It won't compact much at all.

But for adding air, I'd stick with perlite, or hydroton, or small lava rock, etc. Good luck. -granger

 

[Hold Your Fire]

I'll add buckwheat hulls, it hasn't been mentioned.

 

[Jhhnn]

Chunky coco coir works well. I just buy one of the big blocks of coir, put half in a wash tub. stick the hose in it, set it to overflow a little bit overnight. Then use my hands like a strainer to get the coarse stuff out of the water to use.

Leaf mold is good stuff, as well, if not generally available commercially.

I wasn't getting the results I wanted w/ commercial soil & bottled nutes. Fortunately, Eighths-n-Aces befriended me, introduced me to a mix made from scratch & also to blumats. I jokingly refer to it as the most expensive potting soil in the world but the results from using the two together in 5 gal pots are pure freaking dynamite. I go seed to harvest adding nothing but an occasional ewc tea, mostly for the microherd.

The cantaloupe skunk in my albums was the first crop using this method.

 

[Therealzemi]

You guys are the best

I am too scared to try adding coco again just now. It was pure hell going through that grow with soggy issue all the time

So if i understand this correctly. Adding more perlite, will not make my soil more soggy in the start? I am thinking to add another 10%, so it becomes a 60/40 mix.

Another thing related.... Packing pots. When transplanting, i only lift the pot a bit and stump it on the table. And then after a few waterings i top up with more soil as it settles. This is the way to do it yes?

 

[Therealzemi]

Adding a couple of pics to let you see how i grow. Mostly to point you to the pot size i'm using. Do you think 11 liters (2,9 galons) is too big for this grow style? I am asking, because i generaly only need to water once every 5-6 days....Sometimes 7 (with a few exceptions). And they are nowhere near rootbound after 4 weeks of flowering. Plants are super healthy and vigerous though....

 

[DJXX]

if you go smaller containers or add more perlite then you have to water more often...those 11L containers look fine...i would say just leave em alone cause they look pretty good to me and on your next grow make adjustments...i think if you were to tear them apart and repot them, the stress on them would be even worse...nice training..DJXX

 

[Therealzemi]

Hi DJ. I have no plans on changing anything on this grow. The girls are doing just fine. I am planning ahead for the next grow
My concern, is to get enough oxygin to the roots. But with the semi long watering intervals, i am worried the roots dont get enough.

 

[Rubber Chicken]

Worms?

 

[DJXX]

Hi DJ. I have no plans on changing anything on this grow. The girls are doing just fine. I am planning ahead for the next grow
My concern, is to get enough oxygin to the roots. But with the semi long watering intervals, i am worried the roots dont get enough.

just make sure they have good drainage and they will be fine....your grow looks awesome...good luck..DJXX

 

[TastyTrichomes]

just make sure they have good drainage and they will be fine....your grow looks awesome...good luck..DJXX

have to agree with the DJ
everything looks awesome. a job well done.