What’s the best alternative to Pumice?

DankTankerous

DankTankerous

Well-Known Member
Hey folks,

Dank here, the shop I go to is out of pumice and I’m in a location where it’s nearly impossible to get it. I’m using Clackamas Coot’s recipe, which is fucking excellent btw. I could write a blog about how much it’s made growing easier. Anyways,with Clackamas coot’s recipe it’s 1/3 aeration 1/3 EWC/Compost and 1/3 Spagnum peat Moss. Aeration is super key and Perlite fucking sucks, it floats and doesn’t stay put (maybe user error). I have a bunch of hydroton, but wondering if perlite will actually work or if there is something else that works.

thanks y’all
 
PadawanWarrior

PadawanWarrior

Well-Known Member
DankTankerous said:
Hey folks,

Dank here, the shop I go to is out of pumice and I’m in a location where it’s nearly impossible to get it. I’m using Clackamas Coot’s recipe, which is fucking excellent btw. I could write a blog about how much it’s made growing easier. Anyways,with Clackamas coot’s recipe it’s 1/3 aeration 1/3 EWC/Compost and 1/3 Spagnum peat Moss. Aeration is super key and Perlite fucking sucks, it floats and doesn’t stay put (maybe user error). I have a bunch of hydroton, but wondering if perlite will actually work or if there is something else that works.

thanks y’all
Click to expand...
Lava rock.
 
green_machine_two9er

green_machine_two9er

Well-Known Member
keeping your soil at proper moisture levels from day one of cook is important. Living soil should never be so dry that anything can move around freely. If your recycling your soil every run you effectively mix airstion back in. Maybe add 10% perlite and casting a back in with plant bio mass. If your planning a no til container perlite can work as well. But pumice would be preferred. If you only have access to the perlite I wouldn't over think it. You can also sow something deep rooting companion crops to increase airation over time.
 
GrassBurner

GrassBurner

Well-Known Member
Alot of people smash the lava rock up. Im lazy, so I just dumped it right into the mix. I shovel my soil out of the pile and into a 20 gallon plastic container. Then I run my hands through and find the bigger lava rocks, and I use those to form a layer on the bottom of the pot. Seems to be working well. I was having issues getting my watering right, and this seems to have helped a lot, along with adjusting how I watered. Plants seem much happier with the lava rock and perlite, as opposed to just perlite.
 
Leeski

Leeski

Well-Known Member
green_machine_two9er said:
BIO char is a nice additive for numerous reason. But I get scared to exceed 5-10% char. No way it could replace airation needs. Plus it's so pricey for just raw biochar.
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I agree 100% that’s why I was careful in my wording as I have never used it think there’s some Element I find positive but also negatives I have brought a small amount and used labs to activate but only cause i wanted to see if it fired my compost only been a wk or so .....
 
DankTankerous

DankTankerous

Well-Known Member
Leeski said:
A few of my mates are also singing sweet songs about using Activated biochar instead of perlite and pumice but can’t really comment as haven’t used it my self yet ☮
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I’m worried activated charcoal would be too much of a buffer making it basic. What do your mates reckon? I do add it about 10% of my soil’s volume. I think I may go with the volcanic rock.I just need to see if my local shop has it.
 
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