I don't know about that. My 9 year old generic root tone is still doing its job.I've got my clones in preparation for planting I've only old clonex and no other rooting powder?
Do I leave till Monday and get fresh clonex or go ahead without it?
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Predick-tive text.I don't know about that. My 9 year old generic root tone is still doing its job.
Apologies again t the app. I derail em all. Hope we addressed your issues and gave some other useful tidbits.
Yes , your right , it won't last . I am at 90% perlite and 10% coco coir . I learned by dumb luck , that is have pure perlite in the bottom one or two inches of a slightly tall pot , that I can put a cup of water under the plant pot , I can fill the bottom cup with enough water to keep the pot with the plant in it , so that the bottom 1 or 2 inches of the plant pot always in water , that the wick action will creep up into the root zone and keep the plant happy . It is alot easier than watering my 90% perlite every hour . As long as the roots don't go all the way down to the bottom of the pot , the plant doesn't seem to be bothered by the bottom 2 inches of the plant pot being constantly submerged in water.Perlite does hold water but it wouldn't be a 1st choice if holding water was essential, i used 100% perlite for a number of years in smart trays, it's basically a pot sitting in nutrient using capillary action.
P.S. It seems now that the plant root zone and perlite needs to dry for a while after letting water go wick up into the root zone using wicking action . I am liking 90% perlite and 10% coco coir . At this point I am going to invest in an Ebb and Flow system that takes the water level up into the bottom of the perlite and allows wicking action to feed the roots ; and then have the system drain the entire plant container and allow the perlite in the pot to dry . Seems to grow faster that way . The only potential problem I foresee is losing electrical power .Yes , your right , it won't last . I am at 90% perlite and 10% coco coir . I learned by dumb luck , that is have pure perlite in the bottom one or two inches of a slightly tall pot , that I can put a cup of water under the plant pot , I can fill the bottom cup with enough water to keep the pot with the plant in it , so that the bottom 1 or 2 inches of the plant pot always in water , that the wick action will creep up into the root zone and keep the plant happy . It is alot easier than watering my 90% perlite every hour . As long as the roots don't go all the way down to the bottom of the pot , the plant doesn't seem to be bothered by the bottom 2 inches of the plant pot being constantly submerged in water.
Halman9000
Halman9000 Says to Star Dog ; The reason I like perlite as a grow medium , in that you can be agressive with treatments or nutrients without locking out other nutrients . I know this is just a theory of mine , but say I am pumping tons of calcium into my test plant using amino acids to facilitate the uptake of calcium into the plant , then perhaps I won't cause locking out other nutrients . Of course , perlite probably would hold calcium for a short period , but hopefully I could flush my perlite with water before giving nutrients to my plant . I am not sure if nutrient lockout can happen within the plant itself . I fertilize with a product that contains all of the primary , secondary and micro nutrients all in the same feeding . Not sure if that is a good thing . I guess I am giving a broad range of nutrients each feeding because that is probably what happens with organic soil farmers .Perlite does hold water but it wouldn't be a 1st choice if holding water was essential, i used 100% perlite for a number of years in smart trays, it's basically a pot sitting in nutrient using capillary action.
same here...20 year old rooting powder from walmart. works the same as fresh gel. If you got healthy moms and a good method , you dont need any hormones to help with rooting. I use the powder or gel when its handy but if i cant find it at that moment , then i dont use anything. ive never personally noticed a difference between: 1. Nothing 2. Real honey 3. Clonex gel 4. Walmart rooting powder/old/newI don't know about that. My 9 year old generic root tone is still doing its job.
Apologies again t the app. I derail em all. Hope we addressed your issues and gave some other useful tidbits.
I have to give root tone a rating around 95-100%. All the rest 85-90%. Plant health and cloning method and environment are the real factors at play. LOL. They will figure it out.same here...20 year old rooting powder from walmart. works the same as fresh gel. If you got healthy moms and a good method , you dont need any hormones to help with rooting. I use the powder or gel when its handy but if i cant find it at that moment , then i dont use anything. ive never personally noticed a difference between: 1. Nothing 2. Real honey 3. Clonex gel 4. Walmart rooting powder/old/new
To be scientific about the issue , I will do a side by side experiment using 100/0 , 90/10 , 80/20 , 70/30 , 60/40 , 50/50 , 40/60 , 30/70 , 20/80 ,10,90 , 0/100 . I am going to see at what point does my overwatering habit cause root rot . I can also compare root mass at all percentages .@Star Dog says 70% coco with 30% perlite is the best medium for pot growing, this is confirmed by nearly half of the more advanced members of Riu using 70/30 rather than 90/10, but if it works for you great but 70/30 works for me.
Since perlite eventually rises to the surface, thereby reducing aeration it was meant to provide, I used red lava rock in my living soil mix. Had to break up 4 bags of it into little pieces, which was alot of work, but it should last and it aerates well.Can someone remind me what the other volcanic medium is , it's spongy/cork like texture usually sold along with perlite?
Since perlite eventually rises to the surface, thereby reducing aeration it was meant to provide, I used red lava rock in my living soil mix. Had to break up 4 bags of it into little pieces, which was alot of work, but it should last and it aerates well.
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Lol you deserve a bit extra weed for the work involved breaking up 4 bags, that's enthusiasm for you!Since perlite eventually rises to the surface, thereby reducing aeration it was meant to provide, I used red lava rock in my living soil mix. Had to break up 4 bags of it into little pieces, which was alot of work, but it should last and it aerates well.
I'm not familiar with red lava I'm quite happy with perlite, if you look at it with loupe or scope You’ll cease to have any doubt about its aeration capabilities.
What do you mean perlite rises to the surface? Seriously, I am curious. I have filled many pots with a 70/30 perlite mix and the only perlite that was on the surface started there.Since perlite eventually rises to the surface, thereby reducing aeration it was meant to provide, I used red lava rock in my living soil mix. Had to break up 4 bags of it into little pieces, which was alot of work, but it should last and it aerates well.
it dont rise to the surface in the small amount of time we use it. That only happens if you try to use it outside , on the top of your top soil.Since perlite eventually rises to the surface, thereby reducing aeration it was meant to provide, I used red lava rock in my living soil mix. Had to break up 4 bags of it into little pieces, which was alot of work, but it should last and it aerates well.