RedCarpetMatches
Well-Known Member
Nick, the nozzle mod is on a forum I got banned from lol. I'm going to try to dig it up somewhere else.
Recycled Organic Living Soil (ROLS) and No Till Thread
- Thread starter headtreep
- Start date
st0wandgrow
Well-Known Member
Yeah, if you're planning a no-till then I think you need something in addition to the rice hulls. I like pumice but I can't find it around here for the life of me.I really like the coco...it works. I also like the idea of coco and peat! Keep us posted on that oneI did have great aeration and retention with tho coco. I forget to mention a huge plus...NO F'N DRY SPOTS!!! My mix was 42% hydrated coco by volume.
Another thing I noticed was soggy rice hulls after around 100 days. I'm unfortunately going to have to re-amend. The positives being the Silica when hulls are broken down...plus I get a huge 50# bale for 25$ From local brewery! Wish I could find cheap small lava rock...
hyroot
Well-Known Member
Same here. I ended up grabbing 4 cubic feet of perlite from a landscaping shop, $16. I have to go to walmart and grab another tarp.. I have to dump it and sort out the chunks from the powder. Rinse method didn't do to well..
RedCarpetMatches
Well-Known Member
That's the only reason I liked Roots 707. It was the only pumice I could get...small light pumice too! Lava rock is amazing, but too much exercise and makes pots heavy. Biochar is my fav (extremely porous) But you can only go 5/10%.
SpicySativa
Well-Known Member
Perlite dust (crystalline silica) is VERY VERY VERY VERY bad for your lungs. I hope you've got a good dust mask for that nasty job. Google "silicosis" if you're curious. Nasty shit, perlite is. I still use some, but always handle it very carefully while it's dry.
hyroot
Well-Known Member
I tie a t-shirt around my face like a ghetto ninja
. I usually wear a painters mask. I don't have any right now.. Would some of it be good for silica in the soil.?. It seems to create pro longed gnarly wet spots in soil from what I have seen.
RedCarpetMatches
Well-Known Member
Another reason I despise perlite! I'll go DWC, before I use that floating shite! UGH!!! I digress...has anyone used coco chips? I'm really tempted to try a quarter biochar on some freebies.
snowboarder396
Well-Known Member
To top what spicy has said. Perlite never breaks down. Therefore it can't be recycled. I like pumice/lava rock because overtime it breaks down releases minerals into the soil
hyroot
Well-Known Member
you said you like roots 707. that has quite a bit of perlite in it
white pumice bbreaks down but lava rock pumice does not. originates from the same place as perlite... volcanoes
SpicySativa
Well-Known Member
Perlite isn't a significant source of silica for our plants. In it's crystalline form like that it's a lot like glass; VERY slow to break down.
While it doesn't break down chemically, it DOES break down physically. It's so fragile it kindof crumbles to dust eventually in a mix that gets reused/recycled repeatedly. Then you just have to add more. I recall a study that found it's actually more effective than pumice from a plant-health perspective, but it sure has it's drawbacks... Not sure where I found that study. I'll look around later if I have a minute to spare... I'm STILL trimming XJ. It's the trim that never ends...
While it doesn't break down chemically, it DOES break down physically. It's so fragile it kindof crumbles to dust eventually in a mix that gets reused/recycled repeatedly. Then you just have to add more. I recall a study that found it's actually more effective than pumice from a plant-health perspective, but it sure has it's drawbacks... Not sure where I found that study. I'll look around later if I have a minute to spare... I'm STILL trimming XJ. It's the trim that never ends...
SpicySativa
Well-Known Member
Perlite actually "originates" in a factory. It's essentially "popped" glass. Like you would pop a corn kernel or a grain of rice for a rice cake.
hyroot
Well-Known Member
it "originates" from volcanoes. its volcanic glass thats then taken to a factory and heated at 1600 degrees. Then it expands to 20 times its size. becoming more porous
RedCarpetMatches
Well-Known Member
Roots has coco and pumice to make up for the perlshite. I over watered in 1/3 perlite in coco due to those little floaters. I've never tried the large perlite...maybe bigger poo doesn't float as much 
snowboarder396
Well-Known Member
Hyroot, pumice is made from volcanic rock. It does break down. Volcanic rock nay take longer to break down due to size. But it will break down just like most all rocks. Perlite is pumice that has been heat treated to over 1800 degrees f. At that point it pops like popcorn. While Perlite can be harmful if inhaled so can most organic compounds. Volcanic rock and pumice over time release trace minerals into the soil such as rock dust. Wa state has lots volcanic rock/soil and it is very good agricultural wise
RedCarpetMatches
Well-Known Member
What do you use as drainage? Nobody's used coco chips?
snowboarder396
Well-Known Member
Redcarpet, I use pumice for drainage. Depending on what I'm using it for I add anywhere from 10-20% or 1/3 of my soil mix. Im not saying Perlite is bad if you wanna use it use it. But you DeF. Should wear a mask as inhaling it is horrible for you. But again working with many organic materials you should wear a mask while mixing. Inhaling anytime of blood meal, guanos, composts, etc. Can over time have adverse effects. Hell fungi can grow straight through your fingernails when working with it. If adding your spent soil to compost or an outdoor garden I have found it more preferable to not have Perlite.
RedCarpetMatches
Well-Known Member
Think ya got the wrong guy. I'm not a fan of perlshite, and agree on the mask. I also have fungi spores that're horrible when inhaled.
I have two finished worm bins that need harvested...not in the mood at all. Think I'll makes mounds on tarp with light, but this time with a small trail going down middle with new bedding and food.
snowboarder396
Well-Known Member
Redcarpet the first part was for you lol you asked what I irs for drainage. The rest was just me rambling on from before, thanks for reminding me to I keep forgetting I need to setup another worm bin.
RedCarpetMatches
Well-Known Member
Think I'm going to wear a bird costume and scare the worms into their new home.