Is perlite a necessity? Outdoor coco grow.

Mo9000

Mo9000

Active Member
Hey guys, so I'm not very experienced with with coco, I've always been a soil guy, but I grew my first coco plant a little while back just to try it out and was super happy with the results.
So I wanted to try grow some coco outdoors now, but I'm on a bit of a budget so I want to save money wherever I can, and perlite is quite pricey where I live. So id rather avoid buying any if I can as I'm planning on growing quite a lot.
So my question is, can you grow in straight coco, or is this a bad idea?
And also if anyone has any tips or tricks for growing in coco outdoors and are willing to share, I'd be super grateful.
 
JohnDee

JohnDee

Well-Known Member
Hi Mo,
A greenhouse...cool. On the perlite...it depends a bit on the coco you use. Coco has various grinds and some of it can be super fine and pithy. The pithy stuff gets really saturated and doesn't drain as well. I use growstones and hydroton mixed in...because that's what I have laying around.

If you can get good draining coco...or are willing to flush out some of the pithy stuff...then yes, you can forget the perlite.
JD
 
gr865

gr865

Well-Known Member
JohnDee said:
Hi Mo,
A greenhouse...cool. On the perlite...it depends a bit on the coco you use. Coco has various grinds and some of it can be super fine and pithy. The pithy stuff gets really saturated and doesn't drain as well. I use growstones and hydroton mixed in...because that's what I have laying around.

If you can get good draining coco...or are willing to flush out some of the pithy stuff...then yes, you can forget the perlite.
JD
Click to expand...
JD.
I have used all three, Perlite, Hydroton, and Growstones.
The Hydrostones did not seem to do much for the mix.
The Growstones absorbed too much water, IMHO!
Just started using Perlite, on my second grow with it and I like it a lot. Mine is the #3 grade, so fairly course but still had to wash out the fines.
But I agree with you that if all is good with the coco you don't need any aeration additives.
 
JohnDee

JohnDee

Well-Known Member
gr865 said:
JD.
I have used all three, Perlite, Hydroton, and Growstones.
The Hydrostones did not seem to do much for the mix.
The Growstones absorbed too much water, IMHO!
Just started using Perlite, on my second grow with it and I like it a lot. Mine is the #3 grade, so fairly course but still had to wash out the fines.
But I agree with you that if all is good with the coco you don't need any aeration additives.
Click to expand...
I believe there was actually a commercial coco with hydroton. It was called chow...or maybe that was just the name that guys used when they mixed them together. But it seemed to work ok.

And I haven't noticed that growstones absorb much water. I like them because the leach silica...so there's an actual nutritional benefit.
JD
 
TintEastwood

TintEastwood

Well-Known Member
Oh it works. Be careful what you ask for. ;)
With or without perlite.
Don't try this at home. :fire:
Started a bit early....super noob. :wall:
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I like to cook but.....I accidentally baked a couple of my pots in the sun, and lost the plants to root issues. :dunce:

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Mo9000

Mo9000

Active Member
JohnDee said:
Hi Mo,
A greenhouse...cool. On the perlite...it depends a bit on the coco you use. Coco has various grinds and some of it can be super fine and pithy. The pithy stuff gets really saturated and doesn't drain as well. I use growstones and hydroton mixed in...because that's what I have laying around.

If you can get good draining coco...or are willing to flush out some of the pithy stuff...then yes, you can forget the perlite.
JD
Click to expand...
Okay cool, thanks, yeah the coco I use is a bit on the course side, and the drainage seems good. I'll wash out the finer stuff just to make sure.
 
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