C. Rothschild
Well-Known Member
Seems like most of the perlite stores sell you can't see in the bag. Is Miracle grow safe to mix in with bark for Paphs? I could buy a different brand but it's probably crushed just from being stacked and stuff.
Crushed perlite?
- Thread starter C. Rothschild
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I use 'jumbo' size to help with aeration of the mix. I wash out the 'fines'.
if you squeeze the bag a bit you can often tell how chunky it is; if it doesn't feel lumpy to your fingertips it's likely potting soil perlite that won't really help for orchids. when you squeeze a bag of sponge rock you can usually feel the individual chunks
C. Rothschild
Well-Known Member
Yeah I guess I'll just try a different brand I want the chunky perlite.
kiwi
Well-Known Member
I replaced perlite with pumice as it does not produce the nasty dust IMHO. Seems to work well.
troy
Well-Known Member
Got it from cal west tropical supply in sac. Ca. John the owner has been growing orchids for 20 years great guy
where do you get that? Is it 'clean and washed'?
MattWoelfsen
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Instead of perlite, I use "Growstone" it is recycled glass. It is supper heated and baked. It has the same porous texture as perlite but more durable. It also absorbs water.
At one time I could get it at lowes/home depot; they sold it as flame diffuser for barbecue grills or you can order from Hawaii or other hort places they list it
Elmer Nj
kiwi
Well-Known Member
Get it locally here clean, graded and washed for $15 per 50 gallon bag.
kiwi
Well-Known Member
Sorry meant per 50 L bag
Is there a brand I could look for in Oz? What size,grade is it?
kiwi
Well-Known Member
I get it in an unmarked bag but happy to find out the actual source and let you know.
consettbay2003
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Growstones hold less water than perlite but considerably more air. The only drawback with this product is the need to condition the 'stones' as they
will spike up the ph.
Thanks.
Happypaphy7
Paphlover
I had the same experience.
A large bag of perlite for just around $4 from HD.
I think it was Miracle grower brand.
Let's just say, I had to wear a mask not to breath in the white dust. lol
but it's so cheap and most of the content was usable.
It's just annoying how dusty it is and how I have to deal with it and all, but yeah, if there's a cleaner one with less dust or crushed one, I will take that over cheap big bag.
A large bag of perlite for just around $4 from HD.
I think it was Miracle grower brand.
Let's just say, I had to wear a mask not to breath in the white dust. lol
but it's so cheap and most of the content was usable.
It's just annoying how dusty it is and how I have to deal with it and all, but yeah, if there's a cleaner one with less dust or crushed one, I will take that over cheap big bag.
There is no permanent "conditioning" of Growstones. It's made from soda-lime glass, so will always be alkaline in pH. You can passivate the surface, but that's quite temporary.
I also use GrowStone mixed with milled sphagnum moss and use 10 mL/gallon of lemon juice with my watering/fertilizing to deal with the pH effect. Also get the other magic benefits of lemon juice that there are several chains about. Without the lemon juice addition, my pour through pH will be about 7.5. With the lemon juice the pour through pH is about 6.2. The GrowStone is giving some silica to the plants and I think an extra little boost of Ca as well.
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With perlite the dust can cause major permanent lung problems; a way around is to poke a few holes and hold it under water somehow or poke hole top and bottom in bag and input water until it's all damp (or can wash out the fines)
