hydroton clay ball vs pebbles

[Red1966]

They are exactly the same thing just shaped differently, Calcined Clay is Calcined Clay

Calcined clay is not baked calcined clay. Kitty litter will absorb water and turn to gooey wet clay. Hydroton is unaffected by water.

 

[RM3]

Calcined clay is not baked calcined clay. Kitty litter will absorb water and turn to gooey wet clay. Hydroton is unaffected by water.

Ahhh, no it doesn't, I have it in my pots as I type this and yes it is "baked" calcined clay
Google is your friend

Industrial clay mineral aggregates have been investigated with encouraging results. Calcined clays (like those used in cat litter) retain nutrients, encourage drainage, and enhance airspace while stabilizing pH. Clay is the product of extreme weathering that has broken large mineral rock structures down to particles less than 0.002 millimeters in diameter. Due to its large surface area and nutrient holding properties, clay is ideal for controlling nutrient leaching from pots and retaining water.
Research findings have shown that calcined clay usage in an 8:1 pine bark to clay mix can give the following benefits:

• Reduction of irrigation by 200,000 ga/acre in a season
• Increased available water for plants by 4%
• Plants with calcined clay remained turgid 48 hours longer than plants without calcined clay
• Container substrates contained 100% more phosphorus
• Reduced phosphorous leaching by 60%
• Some clay lots serve as fertilizers themselves by providing calcium and/or phosphorous
• Containers are 20% lighter

The use of calcined clay in potting mixes has been shown to reduce water and nutrient loss. It serves as a form of slow release fertilizer while reducing environmental impacts of highly nutrified runoff water.

From here,
http://www.clemson.edu/extension/horticulture/nursery/container_substrates1/alternative_substrates.html

 

[Red1966]

Fine, keep using kitty liter. I never have seen baked kitty litter. Then again, I don't have a cat. Do you really use 8 parts pine bark to 1 part clay mix?

 

[RM3]

Fine, keep using kitty liter. I never have seen baked kitty litter. Then again, I don't have a cat. Do you really use 8 parts pine bark to 1 part clay mix?

I base mine off Al Tapla's Gritty Mix which is more for containers

 

[Red1966]

So, is that a "yes" or "no" to the pine bark?

 

[vostok]

This is my first grow and i was wondering if I could use little fish pebbles instead of hydro clay? so i can help my soil medium to not be disturbed order to create greater or better root development...

Sorry to say ...but your grow is a mess
you can save this plant, with study and ...more study
first to my blog on the basics
relax its got pics
https://www.rollitup.org/Journal/Entry/12-week-grow-sceneario-by-jorge-cervantas.30164/
good luck​

 

[RM3]

So, is that a "yes" or "no" to the pine bark?

Yes, there is pine bark in it but different ratios

http://search.gardenweb.com/search/nph-ind.cgi?term=al's+mix&forum=contain&forum_name=Container+Gardening

 

[Heygurlll]

I started out mixin hydrtron in with my peat but later switched to unscented clay kitty litter as it was the same thing only WAY cheaper (25 lbs for $3 at wally world) I never understood usin perlite as it offers nothing for the plant while calcined clay slow releases sulfur and retains a tad of moisture

Ahhh, no it doesn't, I have it in my pots as I type this and yes it is "baked" calcined clay
Google is your friend

Industrial clay mineral aggregates have been investigated with encouraging results. Calcined clays (like those used in cat litter) retain nutrients, encourage drainage, and enhance airspace while stabilizing pH. Clay is the product of extreme weathering that has broken large mineral rock structures down to particles less than 0.002 millimeters in diameter. Due to its large surface area and nutrient holding properties, clay is ideal for controlling nutrient leaching from pots and retaining water.
Research findings have shown that calcined clay usage in an 8:1 pine bark to clay mix can give the following benefits:

• Reduction of irrigation by 200,000 ga/acre in a season
• Increased available water for plants by 4%
• Plants with calcined clay remained turgid 48 hours longer than plants without calcined clay
• Container substrates contained 100% more phosphorus
• Reduced phosphorous leaching by 60%
• Some clay lots serve as fertilizers themselves by providing calcium and/or phosphorous
• Containers are 20% lighter

The use of calcined clay in potting mixes has been shown to reduce water and nutrient loss. It serves as a form of slow release fertilizer while reducing environmental impacts of highly nutrified runoff water.

From here,
http://www.clemson.edu/extension/horticulture/nursery/container_substrates1/alternative_substrates.html

What do you recommend for someone on high calcium well water? Perlite?

 

[Youngleg3nd67]

still in 4 inch pot View attachment 3328970

Wow how many litres is that pot?
And how long had that weed being vegging for?