Perlite Hydro?

[Murphio]

Has anyone used perlite as their hydro medium. My next cycle I'm thinkin about switching from clay pellets to course perlite. Have any of you guys tried this? I would imagine that it would be very similar, yet inexpensive so that way I wouldn't even bother cleaning it, I would just buy new perlite each time. I'm realizing that clay is a bitch to clean, and if you didn't clean it well enough it could carry over bugs from a previous grow
What are your guys thoughts about only using perlite in hydro?

 

[superstoner1]

Why use any media? Collars and netpots cost me 13¢ per plant. And no mess or hauling bags.

 

[Murphio]

Why use any media? Collars and netpots cost me 13¢ per plant. And no mess or hauling bags.

How big of net pots do you use, and don't you use a small amount of media in the basket? I thought about that sort up for the little clones before I put them into my main flower tent. Got any pics?

 

[fookey]

It all depends on your setup. Aeroponic setups do not need media since the nutrients are being sprayed directly onto the roots. 2 inch netpots with collars work fine. Then again I don't know your current set up.

 

[Praetorian]

Dude - check out the 'world of hempy' thread in the hydro section. Hempy is passive hydro in different mediums, such as perilite, perilite/vermiculite mix, mapito, etc. The container you use will have a hole at the bottom, about 2" from the base of the pot or bottle, that allows for a small reservoir for the plant to pull water from... IMO, perilite is too dry of a medium to use as a stand-alone, you will want to add about 1/3 by volume some vermiculite for moisture retention and medium rigidity.

Hope to see you in the world of hempy thread soon, good growing.

 

[Murphio]

Dude - check out the 'world of hempy' thread in the hydro section. Hempy is passive hydro in different mediums, such as perilite, perilite/vermiculite mix, mapito, etc. The container you use will have a hole at the bottom, about 2" from the base of the pot or bottle, that allows for a small reservoir for the plant to pull water from... IMO, perilite is too dry of a medium to use as a stand-alone, you will want to add about 1/3 by volume some vermiculite for moisture retention and medium rigidity.

Hope to see you in the world of hempy thread soon, good growing.

Thanks for the info.
You said that you think perlite is too dry of a medium as a stand-alone, my current setup is drip feed hydro so couldn't I just increase the number of water intervals to make up for the inceased drainage?

 

[bseeds]

use crush gravel

 

[superstoner1]

I use 2" netpots and collars from start to finish in dwc and aero. No transplanting or media spoiled everywhere. Nothing to clean, store and reuse.

 

[Evo8Emperor]

In a drip system it will work. I use straight perlite with two different scenarios. I have four plants in 3gal buckets full of perlite with holes on the bottom and then that goes inside a 5gal bucket to there's a res at the bottom and a hose connects the four buckets back to the res and pump.

while I have another 9 plants in air pots with straight perlite in a flood table.