Coco perlite or clay balls

Fishbulb

Well-Known Member

• Dec 17, 2023

• #1

Hi everyone

Just wondering is there much difference between Coco perlite and Coco clay balls

I've always use Coco clay balls in my auto pot setup but there's a good deal on Coco perlite

 

coreywebster

Well-Known Member

• Dec 17, 2023

• #2

For the bottom two inch clay balls are a must.

For the rest of the pot it doesn't matter which , perlite or hydroton.. or neither.

No issue with using coco/perlite as long as you've got that 2" base of hydroton

 

Fishbulb

Well-Known Member

• Dec 17, 2023

• #3

I used to do the clay balls at the bottom but stopped the last two run and everything was fine.

I was a bit concerned that the perlite would act differently to the clay ball mix

 

Star Dog

Well-Known Member

• Dec 17, 2023

• #4

In your situation with the autopot it probably doesn't matter but fwiw Perlite has good capillary ability, 100% of perlite will wick/lift nutrient 12/14" without any priming (soaking) from the top, I doubt clay pebbles would have that ability.

Ime 100% pebbles needed treatment with low pH so I just don't use them now.

 

MickFoster

Well-Known Member

• Dec 17, 2023

• #5

I've always used a 70/30 coco/perlite mix without hydroton on the bottom and never had any issues.

 

ProPheT 216

Well-Known Member

• Dec 17, 2023

• #6

Star Dog said:

In your situation with the autopot it probably doesn't matter but fwiw Perlite has good capillary ability, 100% of perlite will wick/lift nutrient 12/14" without any priming (soaking) from the top, I doubt clay pebbles would have that ability.

Ime 100% pebbles needed treatment with low pH so I just don't use them now.

Click to expand...

Where you been brother?

 

Star Dog

Well-Known Member

• Dec 17, 2023

• #7

ProPheT 216 said:

Where you been brother?

Click to expand...

I had some family problems I had to deal with, thanks for asking buddy.

 

Fishbulb

Well-Known Member

• Dec 17, 2023

• #8

I got some seed booster by plagron as well.
I have a list of things to try

The one I'm most interested in is scarifing the seeds and a 1% hydrogen peroxide

 

Fishbulb

Well-Known Member

• Dec 17, 2023

• #9

Sorry brain fart I thought I was posting on my old seeds threed

I thing I'll try the perlite mix as is 7euro cheaper per bag and give it a bash

 

Fishbulb

Well-Known Member

• Dec 17, 2023

• #10

If your curious my set up check out my shed grow thread

 

coreywebster

Well-Known Member

• Dec 17, 2023

• #11

MickFoster said:

I've always used a 70/30 coco/perlite mix without hydroton on the bottom and never had any issues.

Click to expand...

On autopots?

 

Fishbulb

Well-Known Member

• Dec 17, 2023

• #12

coreywebster said:

On autopots?

Click to expand...

Again brain fart Coco clay balls no balls in the bottom last two runs simply because I didn't have them

As I said there is a deal on Coco perlite and I've 9 fabric pots and it adds up 5-6 bags

 

Star Dog

Well-Known Member

• Dec 17, 2023

• #13

@coreyhey buddy fwiw I set my autopot today, there's some perlite in it but not much.

I'm doing a autopot v dtw sbs

 

coreywebster

Well-Known Member

• Dec 17, 2023

• #14

Star Dog said:

@coreyhey buddy fwiw I set my autopot today, there's some perlite in it but not much.
View attachment 5352379
I'm doing a autopot v dtw sbs

Click to expand...

Oooh they look different.
Where's the aqua valve located ?

 

Star Dog

Well-Known Member

• Dec 17, 2023

• #15

@coreywebster they're in my veg/clone tent I'm hand feeding them atm to get roots out of the bottom then I'm putting them into the module to flower them.

There's a flaw in the design, after the pot has taken everything possible the valve doesn't open, it needs to be hand fed or you can use a piece of capillary matt at the bottom of the pot.