Perlite and beyond: the pros and cons of various drainage and aeration amendments

[big_daddy]

I found this product today at a local garden supply: Espoma Soil Perfector. Its too dark to go out and read the bag, but I'll check it out tomorrow to see what it is exactly. I bought some to try instead of the #3 perlite I've been using to amend heavy red clay soil (that I can only find at the dang pot growing store). It is very much heavier than perlite, but you won't have to worry about it floating to the top in heavy rains. I bought 4 bags for about $13 a bag. I figure about a bag per hole (guerrilla outdoor), plus some organic ferts and guano would be worth a try...

http://www.espoma.com/p_consumer/perfector_overview.html

stratmandu,

The Soil Protector product you linked is an expanded slate product aka PermaTill. I have a grower friend in the southeast US that swears by it. It looks to have similar properties to pumice/perlite.

On Permatill's webpage they do reference Espoma's Soil Perfector as the same product that makes it more regionally available.

I think you got a great aeration amendment with this product.

b_d

 

[stratmandu]

Good info to know. Thanks!

 

[Batboy]

Need a perlite substitute for my conditions

Need a perlite substitute for my conditions

I have a deck that has raised beds built in and planters, where I "try" to grow vegetables and herbs. Unfortunately the deck is very exposed and nearly always windy. Last year, in addition to losing many many young plants who couldn't handle the sunny, windy conditions, my soil (soiless) blew EVERYWHERE. I used LC#2 mix (promix, EWC and perlite) and it proved far too light for my conditions. Pro-mix and perlite were a fixture on the deck all last season, with mounds of the stuff building up in the corners. I'd sweep it up one day and it would be back the next (the non-gardening wife was not happy). It also dried out far too quickly in the windy conditions.

What can I use to make my mix heavier, to add water retention and to replace the aeration benefits of perlite? I cannot find calcined DE anywhere in my area (only the powder) and I'm not sure what other amendments would serve me well.

 

[SweetnSourMad]

Does anyone know of the Speedy Dry stuff the use in the states for cleaning up spills of water to oil would work, its like Kitty litter? I believe its made up of baked clay, but sounds similar to some of the other things discussed here.

 

[jaykush]

i believe mads test was soak it in water overnight, if it doesnt disolve its good to go.

 

[bonsai]

O

I have a deck that has raised beds built in and planters, where I "try" to grow vegetables and herbs. Unfortunately the deck is very exposed and nearly always windy. Last year, in addition to losing many many young plants who couldn't haindle the sunny, windy conditions, my soil (soiless) blew EVERYWHERE. I used LC#2 mix (promix, EWC and perlite) and it proved far too light for my conditions. Pro-mix and perlite were a fixture on the deck all last season, with mounds of the stuff building up in the corners. I'd sweep it up one day and it would be back the next (the non-gardening wife was not happy). It also dried out far too quickly in the windy conditions.

What can I use to make my mix heavier, to add water retention and to replace the aeration benefits of perlite? I cannot find calcined DE anywhere in my area (only the powder) and I'm not sure what other amendments would serve me well.

You're trying to solve the wrong problem - your soil is good but you have too much wind and sun. A 1-2ft high barrier of shade cloth around the edge of the beds will provide sun protection for seedlings while they become established and wind protection for your soil.

 

[SweetnSourMad]

Thanks, I think I'll just look into the calcined DE because of the added benefits it has, but seeing as I live in a small town, and the nearest "city" with Walmart being the biggest store around. There is a locally owned feed store where I found a bottle of Neptune's Harvest liquid organic fertilizer...maybe they can order what I need...Thanks again!

 

[SilverSurfer_OG]

I found this stuff in my local supermarket and hardware store.

Kitty litter's DE, the bbq stuff is zeolite and coco

Really like the kitty litter. It fizzes and crackles as it gets wet... sounds real cool after a bong or two

 

[TACOE]

I was able to locate rice hulls.. after weeks of searching. One of the microbreweries near by finally reopened from vacation. They use 'em in their brewing. Didn't have enough on hand to sell me a bale (his price is 20$ for the 50 lb. compressed bale) so he put me on to his distributer (what a ripoff) and a home brew store about an hour away. The home brew fellas got it for 1$ a lb, but since i'm buying bulk they said they'll do it for 30$.. sounds expensive to me.. would it be fair if I asked him to do it for 20-25 when i go out there today?

 

[Bullfrog44]

I would get "organic" rice hulls.

 

[TACOE]

Batboy-

aside from physical barriers..
Heavy mulching? with compost. and trying to keep the surface moist.

 

[bonsai]

Kitty litter's DE, the bbq stuff is zeolite and coco

Interesting! I will have t grab some zeolite and check it out. Bunnings?
I get great quality DE from a wholesale orchid nursery and they have three different sizes, pre-screened at good prices. Their source is in QLD. If you've got an orchid nursery remotely near by it's worth checking out.

Ever found an AU source of rice hulls?? I'm a huge fan of home-made biochar now and would love to try char'd rice hulls in combination with the DE I'm already using. From the research I did a few months back there seems to be a couple rice farms in NSW, but that was a dead end for the kind of tiny quantities a home gardener needs. Hope your outdoor went better than mine this year, flooded roots turned to mush... pretty much a write off!


[edit] Found rice hulls in Australia... if you're willing to pay $1/kg for a 15kg lot. hm.. http://www.coprice.com.au/our-stockists

 

[SilverSurfer_OG]

Gday bonsai

The kitty litter and the bbq stuff is from my local woolworths. They do sell the bbq stuff at bunnings and the coco.

Yeah cool i will ask around about the orchids. The lavalite kitty litter is only around $6 which i found comparable with the bulk amounts i looked at once freight is added. I also have started using it as a mulch indoors which i reckon will sort out any fungus gnats... its now my 'perlite' of choice.

Rice hulls would be nice but i am surrounded by bush so its a shame i reckon not to utilise local branches and twigs etc. They tend to break up as they char which is nice.

Outdoors this season was a bit of a struggle with the weather but not as bad as you guys got it on the mainland... just harvesting a decent amount of sticky buds the day

Cheers mate.

 

[mad librettist]

Boo!

remember folks, if you are using DE/Turface, it needs to be the right size, about 1/8th inch. Use bug screen to get the fines out.

 

[TACOE]

Hey madlib, good to see you here... sorry to read your sig

How many of you rice hull users opened the bag, looked at the hulls, and questioned how in the hell those thin little things were going to replace perlite in the mix!? They are so thin, small and breakable... more importanltly they look like they will break down (compost) really fast. nothing like i imagined they would be.

Just got back from an AWESOME homebrew store in the far northeast.. scored a huge sack. 50 lb for 30 bucks (I'm sure it can be had for cheaper, but the guys were so young and cool, I didn't really wanna haggle with them. If anyone up here needs to source 'em, wait till I have enough posts, and PM me ;P

Wonder how long this huge brick will last. I read somewhere that the peak balance of water/air retention is at 25%... and that one of those aspects begins to diminish at more than 30%.. sooo, I will be start at about 20% of my mix.. check the tilth, and work my way up slowly.

I will let you know how it feels once i mix it up.

Photo's just for kicks..
1. look at these little fuckers
2. look at this huge fucker
3+4. Just had to share my favorite Mandala #1 so far. Branchiest one. 10/10 germ.. broke soil surface 3/7/11. They began to give off a nice weedy odor starting a day or 2 ago.

 

[mad librettist]

you are gonna love that mandala. I got 2 keepers out of 5 popped

 

[TACOE]

I am really excited about the M1, healthiest plants I have grown to date. I'm lookin for a good daytime smoke keeper

Only problem is.. I got some sour bubble in the mail that I'm even more anxious to get going.


Edite: just noticed the mad libs in the background... lol

 

[jaykush]

Boo!

remember folks, if you are using DE/Turface, it needs to be the right size, about 1/8th inch. Use bug screen to get the fines out.

the stuff im getting has no fines. got it at auto zone.

 

[SilverSurfer_OG]

So.... why are the fines bad?

I noticed the DE will crush up relatively easy, especially once wet.

 

[mad librettist]

Perlite and beyond: the pros and cons of various drainage and aeration amendments

So.... why are the fines bad?

I noticed the DE will crush up relatively easy, especially once wet.

soak test failed! don't use that stuff. calcined DE should be very hard and impervious to water and strong vinegar. it shouldn't fizz or bubble.

the reason it needs to be about 1/8th" is that as it gets smaller it acts as a moisture retention amendment more than anything. I believe what happens is that it starts holding water on the outside. those big chunky pieces hold it on the inside.

same goes for turface.

actually, the same principle applies to silt and clay. as your particles get smaller you retain more water.