top layer of perlite or vermaculite?

[Guest]

the soil is getting low in my plants from the weeks of watering. i was wondering if i could just use perlite to top off the pots, it would allow some o2 into the roots, but give it some cover. also its white so its a bit reflective (maybe 2%). but would that work. i have lots of the stuff, and thought it might work
z-

 

[Trancerdancer]

Sounds pointless to me. It won't get any o2 to the root zone. Next time just water your soil thoroughly after putting in pots then add some more.

 

[DRKN_MNKY420]

Actually, I have heard many growers use a half to one inch layer of perlite for a couple purposes. Mainly to keep bugs from forming in the soil. To fill in empty space. And because it does not retain water they top of the soil so that all the nutes and water go to where it needs to be and not just evaporate off the top.

So, I say do it, it wont hurt and it will keep flying creatures from forming eggs in your soil.

Good luck,
DRKN_MNKY420

 

[inflorescence]

the soil is getting low in my plants from the weeks of watering...

and? what's the problem. The stem will harden and everything will be fine.

Gardner's rule #1, never add additional soil to the top. It rarely if ever helps but almost certainly can hurt by causing crown rot.

When in nature is addtional soil ever applied to the top?

Top soil is constantly eroded away from most plants in nature.
They have figured out ways to deal with it.
They have to, their lives are on the line.

 

[FRANKENBLUNT420]

you can do this right b4 the next time you water:

-take the plant out of the pot, whether its flowering or not
-add how much ever soil or perilite or vermiculite you need to put the plant level with the top again
-(ofcourse) put the plant back in , and then water as you would normally.

* it workd for me, so it should work for you to, i actually got a couple more inches on my bottom of my palnts a couple days after doing it.

 

[DRKN_MNKY420]

Wow inflorescence, I have never heard that before. Crown rot? I will trust you though as you have a shit ton of experience. But I have read that if you have insect problems w/ your soil, you can add some perlite to get rid of them. Is that true atleast?

 

[Trancerdancer]

Only bad thing I wonder about is when you go 3-5 days in between waterings, they dry out and it seems as if that would be bad for mold, root rot, disease. They are not so dried out that they are dead but they don't look so hot. Frequent waterings every 2-3 days keeps em healthier.

Sounds like the roots are unhealthy from drying out. Usually root rot and mold thrive in over watered environments. Dry roots would be the argument against adding perlite to the top of your soil, from the start anyways. In zorkios case it shouldn't make much of a difference either way.

I'm sure though that you could make it work if you spray with a spray bottle every day or two.

Good Smokin

 

[inflorescence]

^Can't argue with that.

"It is the fool who will not accept when he is wrong."

I humbly change my opinion.

 

[Guest]

Just control the environment and there won't be mold, rot, fungus, gnats and flying things. And you won't have to do or use anything else to battle the demons.

I have never had negative results from topping off the soil level after transplant.

Ty-Stik

 

[lc00p4]

be careful with perlite! you don't want to be breathing in perlite dust, especially when it gets dry between waterings. the dust will irritate your lungs over prolonged exposure and can have harmful effects. you are breathing in microscopic shards! wear a mask if you handle a lot of it. as far as topsoil, diamateous earth works better for pest control, but perlite works fine. apply at least 1", i used less and had gnat problems, but i ran out!

 

[chosen]

Do both. Perlite does add oxygen to the roots. You usually want to mix some perlite for the bottom. Yet, on top adding perlite to the top does help with bugs and such. So, just do what I believe bog use to do. Get another pot. Load it with your soil mix and some perlite to avoid soil compacting. Cut bottom of the pot that you are using right now and stick it into the new pot part way down. It will expand the growing area for the roots without the shock. Then add some perlite to the top of the pot as you had hoped to do as well. And they are right. It's not good to breathe the dust.