RedCarpetMatches
Well-Known Member
Nick, the nozzle mod is on a forum I got banned from lol. I'm going to try to dig it up somewhere else.
Yeah, if you're planning a no-till then I think you need something in addition to the rice hulls. I like pumice but I can't find it around here for the life of me.I really like the coco...it works. I also like the idea of coco and peat! Keep us posted on that one I did have great aeration and retention with tho coco. I forget to mention a huge plus...NO F'N DRY SPOTS!!! My mix was 42% hydrated coco by volume.
Another thing I noticed was soggy rice hulls after around 100 days. I'm unfortunately going to have to re-amend. The positives being the Silica when hulls are broken down...plus I get a huge 50# bale for 25$ From local brewery! Wish I could find cheap small lava rock...
Same here. I ended up grabbing 4 cubic feet of perlite from a landscaping shop, $16. I have to go to walmart and grab another tarp.. I have to dump it and sort out the chunks from the powder. Rinse method didn't do to well..Yeah, if you're planning a no-till then I think you need something in addition to the rice hulls. I like pumice but I can't find it around here for the life of me.
That's the only reason I liked Roots 707. It was the only pumice I could get...small light pumice too! Lava rock is amazing, but too much exercise and makes pots heavy. Biochar is my fav (extremely porous) But you can only go 5/10%.Yeah, if you're planning a no-till then I think you need something in addition to the rice hulls. I like pumice but I can't find it around here for the life of me.
Perlite dust (crystalline silica) is VERY VERY VERY VERY bad for your lungs. I hope you've got a good dust mask for that nasty job. Google "silicosis" if you're curious. Nasty shit, perlite is. I still use some, but always handle it very carefully while it's dry.Same here. I ended up grabbing 4 cubic feet of perlite from a landscaping shop, $16. I have to go to walmart and grab another tarp.. I have to dump it and sort out the chunks from the powder. Rinse method didn't do to well..
I tie a t-shirt around my face like a ghetto ninja . I usually wear a painters mask. I don't have any right now.. Would some of it be good for silica in the soil.?. It seems to create pro longed gnarly wet spots in soil from what I have seen.Perlite dust (crystalline silica) is VERY VERY VERY VERY bad for your lungs. I hope you've got a good dust mask for that nasty job. Google "silicosis" if you're curious. Nasty shit, perlite is. I still use some, but always handle it very carefully while it's dry.
Another reason I despise perlite! I'll go DWC, before I use that floating shite! UGH!!! I digress...has anyone used coco chips? I'm really tempted to try a quarter biochar on some freebies.Perlite dust (crystalline silica) is VERY VERY VERY VERY bad for your lungs. I hope you've got a good dust mask for that nasty job. Google "silicosis" if you're curious. Nasty shit, perlite is. I still use some, but always handle it very carefully while it's dry.
you said you like roots 707. that has quite a bit of perlite in itAnother reason I despise perlite! I'll go DWC, before I use that floating shite! UGH!!! I digress...has anyone used coco chips? I'm really tempted to try a quarter biochar on some freebies.
white pumice bbreaks down but lava rock pumice does not. originates from the same place as perlite... volcanoesTo top what spicy has said. Perlite never breaks down. Therefore it can't be recycled. I like pumice/lava rock because overtime it breaks down releases minerals into the soil
Perlite actually "originates" in a factory. It's essentially "popped" glass. Like you would pop a corn kernel or a grain of rice for a rice cake.you said you like roots 707. that has quite a bit of perlite in it
white pumice bbreaks down but lava rock pumice does not. originates from the same place as perlite... volcanoes
it "originates" from volcanoes. its volcanic glass thats then taken to a factory and heated at 1600 degrees. Then it expands to 20 times its size. becoming more porousPerlite actually "originates" in a factory. It's essentially "popped" glass. Like you would pop a corn kernel or a grain of rice for a rice cake.
What do you use as drainage? Nobody's used coco chips?Hyroot, pumice is made from volcanic rock. It does break down. Volcanic rock nay take longer to break down due to size. But it will break down just like most all rocks. Perlite is pumice that has been heat treated to over 1800 degrees f. At that point it pops like popcorn. While Perlite can be harmful if inhaled so can most organic compounds. Volcanic rock and pumice over time release trace minerals into the soil such as rock dust. Wa state has lots volcanic rock/soil and it is very good agricultural wise
Think ya got the wrong guy. I'm not a fan of perlshite, and agree on the mask. I also have fungi spores that're horrible when inhaled.Redcarpet, I use pumice for drainage. Depending on what I'm using it for I add anywhere from 10-20% or 1/3 of my soil mix. Im not saying Perlite is bad if you wanna use it use it. But you DeF. Should wear a mask as inhaling it is horrible for you. But again working with many organic materials you should wear a mask while mixing. Inhaling anytime of blood meal, guanos, composts, etc. Can over time have adverse effects. Hell fungi can grow straight through your fingernails when working with it. If adding your spent soil to compost or an outdoor garden I have found it more preferable to not have Perlite.