Sand instead of Perlite?

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pokesalotasmot

Well-Known Member
What up guys, first timer here. Been on the forum for a while now just lurking, and i have a question i can't seem to find an answer to.

I have FF Ocean Forest soil, and I read that some people like to mix a little perlite with it. I don't have perlite in my back pocket, and would have to drive +/- 45 mins to the nearest store to get some, however i have some sand.

So my question is, can I use the sand instead of the perlite? If so, what would be a good mix ratio? I also have some fine ground peat moss, should this be factored in as well? Pros/cons of each?

This mix I would only use for the early part of vegetative growth, and when i would transplant to a bigger pot, i would use FFOF straight up.

Thanks for reading, and any help you guys can give me. Happy toking :bigjoint:
 
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tokinman

Well-Known Member
no, get perlite. perlite keeps the soil more breathable/better drainage. sand mixed in with soil wont be near as good. i saw someone mix sand and soil once before and for some reason it seemed to drain worse that way than just plain ole soil. i have never tried it before though.
u must really be out in the stix to not have a place selling perlite. hardware stores sell it, wal mart type stores sell it.. home depot/lowes etc.
Good luck!
 
Kingb420

Kingb420

Well-Known Member
and its like $2 a bag.... well worth it, you can buy it and people dont ask how many pot plants your growing too..lol
 
KP2

KP2

Well-Known Member
sand+water=concrete.... shitty for roots, unless we're talking cacti...
 
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pokesalotasmot

Well-Known Member
so.....nobody knows, or am i asking a dumb question? lol

bump

edit: my timing is off :(

thanks for the input guys. yeah...i'm out in the stix....there's an ace hardware down the street, but even IF they would have it, they wouldn't this time of year. Guess i'll have to drive out to lowes tomorrow. :)
 
Woomeister

Woomeister

Well-Known Member
KP2 said:
sand+water=concrete.... shitty for roots, unless we're talking cacti...
Click to expand...
Sand +water = sand + water!!! Sand + water + cement = concrete!!!

I have a garden made up of heavy clay, so I mixed tons (literally) of sand into it and now when it rains heavily it drains away. Perlite is far more efficient than sand but a little bit of sand along with perlite and soil works excellently.
 
KP2

KP2

Well-Known Member
pokesalotasmot said:
so.....nobody knows, or am i asking a dumb question? lol

bump

edit: my timing is off :(

thanks for the input guys. yeah...i'm out in the stix....there's an ace hardware down the street, but even IF they would have it, they wouldn't this time of year. Guess i'll have to drive out to lowes tomorrow. :)
Click to expand...
pm me. i have about 10 cubic feet of extra perlite, and shipping is easy as it's light as hell. no biggie, i get 4' tall bags from the hydro store.
 
KP2

KP2

Well-Known Member
Woomeister said:
Sand +water = sand + water!!! Sand + water + cement = concrete!!!

I have a garden made up of heavy clay, so I mixed tons (literally) of sand into it and now when it rains heavily it drains away. Perlite is far more efficient than sand but a little bit of sand along with perlite and soil works excellently.
Click to expand...
ever grown cacti? ever used just sand?

sand compacts. when it does, it becomes solid (like concrete).

i promise i'm not an idiot, nor am i a moron. just someone who knows what the fuck she's talking about ;)
 
misshestermoffitt

misshestermoffitt

New Member
Sand will eventually sift through your soil and end up at the bottom of the pot, then your soil will end up rock hard. Go with the perlite.
 
misshestermoffitt

misshestermoffitt

New Member
I love to grow anything, got tulips, basil and onions in my veg cabinet. :mrgreen:

We pot growers are doing a public service by providing oxygen to an overcrowded planet.
 
Woomeister

Woomeister

Well-Known Member
KP2 said:
ever grown cacti? ever used just sand?

sand compacts. when it does, it becomes solid (like concrete).

i promise i'm not an idiot, nor am i a moron. just someone who knows what the fuck she's talking about ;)
Click to expand...
No need to get touchy, I was only messing about, and my garden loves sand because clay is awful without it!
 
Kingb420

Kingb420

Well-Known Member
misshestermoffitt said:
I love to grow anything, got tulips, basil and onions in my veg cabinet. :mrgreen:

We pot growers are doing a public service by providing oxygen to an overcrowded planet.
Click to expand...

im planning on starting some vegetables too, like peppers, tomatoes and some other shit. it will kinda give it away when i show up to work with some of the best home grown vegetables and growing anything has never came up...lol
 
misshestermoffitt

misshestermoffitt

New Member
but I don't think he's growing his weed in clay. Sand + soil = bad plan.

I have a list of veggies I'm growing this year, usually I only grow flowers, but I'm tired of chemically enhanced foods, I want some fresh from the garden unaltered food.
 
Woomeister

Woomeister

Well-Known Member
lol I know.....I did say in reference to his pot growing that sand isnt as efficient as perlite, after all you should only mix 9:1 soil to sand if you cant get perlite so the previously mentioned problems shouldnt arise.
 
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