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Perlite Vs. Vermiculite

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Smokenpassout

Well-Known Member
I just picked up a bag of vermiculite. I was going to get perlite until I saw it was fortified with miracle grow nutrients! My question.....is it ok to use vermiculite to thin out my soil and make it drain better..... just like perlite? I use happy frog and ocean forest, which already has a little perlite in it.
 
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GrowUrOwnDank

Well-Known Member
Smokenpassout said:
I just picked up a bag of vermiculite. I was going to get perlite until I saw it was fortified with miracle grow nutrients! My question.....is it ok to use vermiculite to thin out my soil and make it drain better..... just like perlite? I use happy frog and ocean forest, which already has a little perlite in it.
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I hear Verm holds more moisture. Perlite aerates the soil. Keeps it loose. I use the MG perlite in hempy. It's fine. There is so little nutes to start with, but I hate how small the MG perlite is. Would probably try to find something better.
 
vostok

vostok

Well-Known Member
vermiculite, is used by cats to pee and poop in
for those who can't get to the woods,
perlite is used by growers to aerate their soils,...
go figure?​
 
bertaluchi

bertaluchi

Well-Known Member
That is the basic difference, perlite not only retains moisture in you medium, it also keeps a good amount of oxygen in your medium. Vermiculite does not have the aeration effect that perlite does. I personally use perlite and I order the large grain stuff that is sold at all hydro stores. Here is a link to the stuff I use. 4 cubic ft. is less than $20.
http://www.urbansunshine.com/perlite-4-cubic-ft
 
ISK

ISK

Well-Known Member
I use a 3:1 ratio of perlite and vermiculite in my hempy grows

many use only the perlite, but I like the 3:1 mix, as I can go longer without watering when using vermiculite
 
Cpappa27

Cpappa27

Well-Known Member
My attic is insulated with Vermiculite. It not only holds moisture and nutrients in a well drained soil with added perlite, but is used as an insulation. Who woulda knew.
ISK said:
I use a 3:1 ratio of perlite and vermiculite in my hempy grows

many use only the perlite, but I like the 3:1 mix, as I can go longer without watering when using vermiculite
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panhead

panhead

Well-Known Member
Perlite is what you want for drainage & keeping a loose soil & has a low water retention ratio , vermiculite is designed specifically to retain moisture .

I dont like using vermiculite in indoor soil grows for several reasons , after its reached its max water retention the vermiculite becomes spongey , especially twords the bottom of the pot , the added water retention near the bottom of the pot increases chances for root rott because its very hard to allow all the soil to dry before rewatering .

Im sure some folks swear by it & like using it but IMO vermiculite is for outdoor garden grows .
 
panhead

panhead

Well-Known Member
ISK said:
yeah but it says it "may contain", which indicates this is not confirmed science and/or the PPM is rather minuscule....but something to consider
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The problem is that its not a commonly used modern insulation , chances are its a product from the 50's thru early 70's era's a most likely does contain asbestos fibers .

The big danger lies within the structure of the product , its natural state is dry , crispy & extremely dusty .

Asbestos is only dangerous when its NOT encapsulated by other compounds & is friable , vermiculite inso that does contain asbestos is one of the most deadly insulations of its day due to the dust & extremely friable nature of the product itself .

Being that i installed many different building products containing asbestos i'd be willing to bet the vermiculite in the attic does contain asbestos , it was main stream before spun fiberglass insulation ( pink panther type ) hit the market .
 
panhead

panhead

Well-Known Member
Cpappa27 said:
im gonna get it tested and change it this spring if that's the case.
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Dont want to be the guy who cries wolf but due to the high amounts of dust from asbestos vermiculite having your insulation changed wont be easy or cheap , if it tests positive it will have to be abated & disposed of in a rubber bag lined dumpster .

I'd be suprised if you could get a 1,500 sq ft attic abated for less than $10,000 , installing new inso wont cost that much .

You should have an air quality asbestos ppm test done on the living areas of the home asap ,the dust from that shit falls between cracks & can fill a home with friable asbestos fibers without anybody ever disturbing it in the attic .

That shit put a hurtin on many a school system in the 80's from bearing the costs of abatement .
 
G

GrowUrOwnDank

Well-Known Member
panhead said:
Dont want to be the guy who cries wolf but due to the high amounts of dust from asbestos vermiculite having your insulation changed wont be easy or cheap , if it tests positive it will have to be abated & disposed of in a rubber bag lined dumpster .

I'd be suprised if you could get a 1,500 sq ft attic abated for less than $10,000 , installing new inso wont cost that much .

You should have an air quality asbestos ppm test done on the living areas of the home asap ,the dust from that shit falls between cracks & can fill a home with friable asbestos fibers without anybody ever disturbing it in the attic .

That shit put a hurtin on many a school system in the 80's from bearing the costs of abatement .
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In the 80s? Crap I went to school in 70's too! OMG!
 
Cpappa27

Cpappa27

Well-Known Member
panhead said:
Dont want to be the guy who cries wolf but due to the high amounts of dust from asbestos vermiculite having your insulation changed wont be easy or cheap , if it tests positive it will have to be abated & disposed of in a rubber bag lined dumpster .

I'd be suprised if you could get a 1,500 sq ft attic abated for less than $10,000 , installing new inso wont cost that much .

You should have an air quality asbestos ppm test done on the living areas of the home asap ,the dust from that shit falls between cracks & can fill a home with friable asbestos fibers without anybody ever disturbing it in the attic .

That shit put a hurtin on many a school system in the 80's from bearing the costs of abatement .
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Oh good, that's just lovely.
 
beeralot

beeralot

Well-Known Member
Just thought i would throw my 2cents in on this one. I have been using vermiculite for 2 years now.!!! The shit you buy in the gardening section. I have had no probs so far with it as mentioned above i only veg indoors and flower out. !! But im going to try a half and half experment with 50 /50 perl-vermic with soil admenment with my next run of clones. to see if the extra oxygen will help with yield. As it stands im only getting 1.5 to 2 zips per plant 15 lt pots 3 gallons vegged for a month and a half. my best was 7 zips bigger pot size veged way longer. but still just soil and vermiculite. :) peace and happy growing.
 
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