living soil aeration

I

i-keepBurningMyBeard

Member
I want to use Coot's Mix(from clackamascoot.com) and I've heard stories of perlite breaking down inside the soil and pretty much becoming sandy material. I'm looking for an alternative to perlite. I thought about hydroton( seen it on "grow your greens" youtube channel) but I've also heard about lava rocks and other inerts. Plus I want to use air pots for root pruning capabilities but I also heard that coot's 1:1:1 ratio isn't compatible in small containers because the EWCs that he uses are OP af. Using scrog in a 2x2 and wanted to know best aeration plus best pots to use for no till or if its even possible in small air pots( maybe 5-7 gallons).
 
G

Growitpondifarm

Well-Known Member
i-keepBurningMyBeard said:
I want to use Coot's Mix(from clackamascoot.com) and I've heard stories of perlite breaking down inside the soil and pretty much becoming sandy material. I'm looking for an alternative to perlite. I thought about hydroton( seen it on "grow your greens" youtube channel) but I've also heard about lava rocks and other inerts. Plus I want to use air pots for root pruning capabilities but I also heard that coot's 1:1:1 ratio isn't compatible in small containers because the EWCs that he uses are OP af. Using scrog in a 2x2 and wanted to know best aeration plus best pots to use for no till or if its even possible in small air pots( maybe 5-7 gallons).
Click to expand...

I’m at about 4 years with my current potting mix which was made with perlite and it keeps getting better and better. While I don’t doubt there are better options for perlite I wouldn’t worry to much about it, I think a lot of the perlite breaking down fears is fueled by the forums. Some of the growers on here who have been using the same mix for longer than me may have different results to report regarding the perlite but if it were me I wouldn’t think twice about using it. Also, I know coots swears by using all EWC for compost in the mix but I like to use a chunkier compost along with some EWC. Good fresh compost will add drainage to any soil, EWC tends to want to turn into concrete if allowed to dry out and used in large amounts
 
Hollatchaboy

Hollatchaboy

Well-Known Member
i-keepBurningMyBeard said:
I want to use Coot's Mix(from clackamascoot.com) and I've heard stories of perlite breaking down inside the soil and pretty much becoming sandy material. I'm looking for an alternative to perlite. I thought about hydroton( seen it on "grow your greens" youtube channel) but I've also heard about lava rocks and other inerts. Plus I want to use air pots for root pruning capabilities but I also heard that coot's 1:1:1 ratio isn't compatible in small containers because the EWCs that he uses are OP af. Using scrog in a 2x2 and wanted to know best aeration plus best pots to use for no till or if its even possible in small air pots( maybe 5-7 gallons).
Click to expand...
pumice.
 
Dr. Who

Dr. Who

Well-Known Member
It takes a few runs for the perlite to wear out.....
Yup, lava based pebbles is a great choice for extended use soil's.

Now then. As far as air into your soil/media goes. Learn to simply water a metered amount everyday. Enough to carry you to the next day at lights on, and re-water. That gets plenty of O2 to the roots.

I don't understand air pruning and the use of water only soils! There is and area of the pot that no grow is being done. Your loosing all that nutrition form the zone not being used by the plant. Cloth "air pots" are the worst for this!

Do the daily thing and you have no "need" for any type of "air pot".
 
Hollatchaboy

Hollatchaboy

Well-Known Member
Dr. Who said:
It takes a few runs for the perlite to wear out.....
Yup, lava based pebbles is a great choice for extended use soil's.

Now then. As far as air into your soil/media goes. Learn to simply water a metered amount everyday. Enough to carry you to the next day at lights on, and re-water. That gets plenty of O2 to the roots.

I don't understand air pruning and the use of water only soils! There is and area of the pot that no grow is being done. Your loosing all that nutrition form the zone not being used by the plant. Cloth "air pots" are the worst for this!

Do the daily thing and you have no "need" for any type of "air pot".
Click to expand...
What about root bound plants?
 
I

i-keepBurningMyBeard

Member
Growitpondifarm said:
I’m at about 4 years with my current potting mix which was made with perlite and it keeps getting better and better. While I don’t doubt there are better options for perlite I wouldn’t worry to much about it, I think a lot of the perlite breaking down fears is fueled by the forums. Some of the growers on here who have been using the same mix for longer than me may have different results to report regarding the perlite but if it were me I wouldn’t think twice about using it. Also, I know coots swears by using all EWC for compost in the mix but I like to use a chunkier compost along with some EWC. Good fresh compost will add drainage to any soil, EWC tends to want to turn into concrete if allowed to dry out and used in large amounts
Click to expand...
What size and kind of container are you using for this 4 year no till?
 
G

Growitpondifarm

Well-Known Member
Im not a strict “no till” grower I guess. I used to grow in 7 gal plastic pots with this mix, then got sick of watering frequently so I dumped all my pots into a bed roughly 4 x 4.
 
Dreminen169

Dreminen169

Well-Known Member
i-keepBurningMyBeard said:
I want to use Coot's Mix(from clackamascoot.com) and I've heard stories of perlite breaking down inside the soil and pretty much becoming sandy material. I'm looking for an alternative to perlite. I thought about hydroton( seen it on "grow your greens" youtube channel) but I've also heard about lava rocks and other inerts. Plus I want to use air pots for root pruning capabilities but I also heard that coot's 1:1:1 ratio isn't compatible in small containers because the EWCs that he uses are OP af. Using scrog in a 2x2 and wanted to know best aeration plus best pots to use for no till or if its even possible in small air pots( maybe 5-7 gallons).
Click to expand...
IMO Rice Hulls or lava rocks in place of the perlite
 
N

Northwood

Well-Known Member
I've not witnessed this phenomenon of perlite breaking down in a person's lifetime. If you crushed it into a sand like texture, it would likely drain even better by separating more soil particles. I personally think it's a myth from my experience. I bet I have perlite that's been recycled for 10 years in my current growing pot. Surprise! It's still there. Lol
 
Dr. Who

Dr. Who

Well-Known Member
Hollatchaboy said:
What about root bound plants?
Click to expand...
Why are you letting a plant get rootbound?

So feed it more!

We have had solo cup challenge runs and I've seen over 2 ft tall plants is solo's, and their doing just fine. over 4 ft tall ones in 1 gallon pots, etc,etc.

It's all about how big you let it get before flowering. Simply use the right pot for the size you plan on running.

Cloth "air pots", Meh, I tested those for a certain company before they released them. I told them they suck (basically). Because they make the root grow into this super dense "ball" in the center of the pot. This is surrounded by an area of unused media. If your doing organic water only soils. Your loosing aorund 30% of the available nutrition in that spoil, by it being unutilized by the plant.
Not to mention that you water this super dense ball and you get an "umbrella effect". The water simply runs over the root ball and much of it goes right out the sides of the pot. After this test run, I cut a root ball in half after a watering. The center of the "root ball" was dry.
You sure don't want to let the pot sit in the run off and soak it up, or at least you shouldn't.
 
Hollatchaboy

Hollatchaboy

Well-Known Member
Dr. Who said:
Why are you letting a plant get rootbound?

So feed it more!

We have had solo cup challenge runs and I've seen over 2 ft tall plants is solo's, and their doing just fine. over 4 ft tall ones in 1 gallon pots, etc,etc.

It's all about how big you let it get before flowering. Simply use the right pot for the size you plan on running.

Cloth "air pots", Meh, I tested those for a certain company before they released them. I told them they suck (basically). Because they make the root grow into this super dense "ball" in the center of the pot. This is surrounded by an area of unused media. If your doing organic water only soils. Your loosing aorund 30% of the available nutrition in that spoil, by it being unutilized by the plant.
Not to mention that you water this super dense ball and you get an "umbrella effect". The water simply runs over the root ball and much of it goes right out the sides of the pot. After this test run, I cut a root ball in half after a watering. The center of the "root ball" was dry.
You sure don't want to let the pot sit in the run off and soak it up, or at least you shouldn't.
Click to expand...
I wasn't aware of all that. Thanks for the info.
 
Hollatchaboy

Hollatchaboy

Well-Known Member
Dr. Who said:
Why are you letting a plant get rootbound?

So feed it more!

We have had solo cup challenge runs and I've seen over 2 ft tall plants is solo's, and their doing just fine. over 4 ft tall ones in 1 gallon pots, etc,etc.

It's all about how big you let it get before flowering. Simply use the right pot for the size you plan on running.

Cloth "air pots", Meh, I tested those for a certain company before they released them. I told them they suck (basically). Because they make the root grow into this super dense "ball" in the center of the pot. This is surrounded by an area of unused media. If your doing organic water only soils. Your loosing aorund 30% of the available nutrition in that spoil, by it being unutilized by the plant.
Not to mention that you water this super dense ball and you get an "umbrella effect". The water simply runs over the root ball and much of it goes right out the sides of the pot. After this test run, I cut a root ball in half after a watering. The center of the "root ball" was dry.
You sure don't want to let the pot sit in the run off and soak it up, or at least you shouldn't.
Click to expand...
I don't let mine get root bound necessarily, but I'm keeping a few moms going, and I don't have room in the tent for 10 gallon pots. I've heard a lot of good things about smart pots, but this is my first time using them, so I don't have experience with them yet.
 
Hollatchaboy

Hollatchaboy

Well-Known Member
Dr. Who said:
It takes a few runs for the perlite to wear out.....
Yup, lava based pebbles is a great choice for extended use soil's.

Now then. As far as air into your soil/media goes. Learn to simply water a metered amount everyday. Enough to carry you to the next day at lights on, and re-water. That gets plenty of O2 to the roots.

I don't understand air pruning and the use of water only soils! There is and area of the pot that no grow is being done. Your loosing all that nutrition form the zone not being used by the plant. Cloth "air pots" are the worst for this!

Do the daily thing and you have no "need" for any type of "air pot".
Click to expand...
Ok, I think I'm understanding. I do water only, 10% water to soil volume. I get very lil run off, and I only have to water every other day. Am I doing it wrong?
 
osowhom

osowhom

Well-Known Member
Growitpondifarm said:
I’m at about 4 years with my current potting mix which was made with perlite and it keeps getting better and better. While I don’t doubt there are better options for perlite I wouldn’t worry to much about it, I think a lot of the perlite breaking down fears is fueled by the forums. Some of the growers on here who have been using the same mix for longer than me may have different results to report regarding the perlite but if it were me I wouldn’t think twice about using it. Also, I know coots swears by using all EWC for compost in the mix but I like to use a chunkier compost along with some EWC. Good fresh compost will add drainage to any soil, EWC tends to want to turn into concrete if allowed to dry out and used in large amounts
Click to expand...
EWC and Bat guano are my 2 main ones
 
N

Northwood

Well-Known Member
Dr. Who said:
Cloth "air pots", Meh, I tested those for a certain company before they released them. I told them they suck (basically). Because they make the root grow into this super dense "ball" in the center of the pot. This is surrounded by an area of unused media. If your doing organic water only soils. Your loosing aorund 30% of the available nutrition in that spoil, by it being unutilized by the plant.
Click to expand...
I agree with the fabric pot issue for no-till. In my first grow cycle I noticed that the biological activity within several inches of the side was non-existent. It just dried out too fast. And this fabric pot has a capacity of 150 gallons of soil (but 100 gallons in it), so it represented a huge volume of dead medium I could be using for growing or organic material cycling instead. I somewhat solved the issue by wrapping the outside of it tightly with several layers of plastic sheeting, allowing a couple inches uncovered at the bottom for drainage. It was a great improvement. I originally looked for a small kiddy pool as a pot, but I couldn't find one at the time with the dimensions and formfactor I was looking for.
 
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