Blaze & Daze

[DarkWeb]

I reuse mine. I throw out the thickest part of the root ball, then shake out and keep the rest. It saves like half of a pot. It breaks down eventually and gets a little sludgy. Since I don't use perlite if it gets too sludgy they get overwatered. I hadn't noticed it before. And I think that's why I overwatered my last batch of seedlings!

Perlite is great......roots love oxygen.

 

[shnkrmn]

I reuse mine. I throw out the thickest part of the root ball, then shake out and keep the rest. It saves like half of a pot. It breaks down eventually and gets a little sludgy. Since I don't use perlite if it gets too sludgy they get overwatered. I hadn't noticed it before. And I think that's why I overwatered my last batch of seedlings!

Isn't perlite essential?

 

[Rsawr]

Isn't perlite essential?

Not in my experience. I haven't used it in years, and aside from my last batch of plants have never overwatered a plant in coco. It was very clear the medium was too sludgy this recent go around though, I just hadn't yet experienced it and got quite a shock. I know what to look for now, and will be less cheap and toss it after 3 or 4 uses

 

[Rsawr]

Perlite is great......roots love oxygen.

Nah.

 

[shnkrmn]

I don't reuse promix for cannabis. But anything else I'll grow in it. It gets mixed in to my outdoor potted plants and vegetable garden.

Previous roots were hanging out the pot when I stuffed these in. It's just good organic matter, lol, plus the Pro Mix is precharged from the previous grow so win!
Recycling a recent rootball.

 

[DarkWeb]

Not in my experience. I haven't used it in years, and aside from my last batch of plants have never overwatered a plant in coco. It was very clear the medium was too sludgy this recent go around though, I just hadn't yet experienced it and got quite a shock. I know what to look for now, and will be less cheap and toss it after 3 or 4 uses

Nah.

It's not about over watering......it's oxygen. And when you have a medium that can get fresh exchange of oxygen more often it's better for the plant.

 

[StareCase]

... Are those peat based? ...

They are both peat based. Basically a mix of sphagnum peat, dolomitic and calcitic lime, mycorrhizae, varying sized perlite and wetting agents. SM also contains some silica.

... plus the Pro Mix is precharged from the previous grow so win! ...

I was thinking of getting a big garbage pail and putting all the used PM/SM into the pail and letting nature flush the old stuff out over the course of a few months. So I don't have to let nature do it's own flush?

 

[Laughing Grass]

my old coco goes in a dumpster.

 

[Rsawr]

It's not about over watering......it's oxygen. And when you have a medium that can get fresh exchange of oxygen more often it's better for the plant.

Sure. But for me, I experienced results I was happy with without spending the extra money. No seedlings died. No plants suffered (til I pushed it). I don't need to spend an extra 150 bucks a grow to get an ounce more off of each plant. I'll agree that maybe if I used perlite and watered more I would get a higher yield. But my plants are usually healthy and happy. To each her own, and mine is saving a large amount of money for very low loss.

 

[TCH]

It's not about over watering......it's oxygen. And when you have a medium that can get fresh exchange of oxygen more often it's better for the plant.

That's why you feed multiple times per day in coco. Feeding multiple times per day is all about pulling fresh oxygen into the coco. I too have ditched the perlite and I could not be happier about it. I hate the stuff.

 

[TCH]

my old coco goes in a dumpster.

Mine goes right into the firepit with rootball and stems.

 

[Dboybudz]

How often do you reapply?

We just spray during winter lasts up to 3 to 4 months different stuff same stink

 

[Rsawr]

Mine goes right into the firepit with rootball and stems.

Sounds staaaaanky

 

[Laughing Grass]

I bought coarse perlite this time. It’s like little stones and way less dust

 

[Dboybudz]

I plant them on the windward side of the garden, so everything benefits from the odour.View attachment 5346978

That's a nice raised bed garden we do exactly same plantings with marigolds just like that for tomatoes too

 

[shnkrmn]

I bought coarse perlite this time. It’s like little stones and way less dust

View attachment 5347089

That's the best!

 

[curious2garden]

Previous roots were hanging out the pot when I stuffed these in. It's just good organic matter, lol, plus the Pro Mix is precharged from the previous grow so win!View attachment 5347076View attachment 5347077
Recycling a recent rootball.

Mine goes to my raised beds.

Mine goes right into the firepit with rootball and stems.

Be careful with the off gassing of salts. I'd stay out of the smoke plume

 

[TCH]

I bought coarse perlite this time. It’s like little stones and way less dust

View attachment 5347089

Next run, you should do 1 pot with no perlite and change nothing else. I bet there's little to no difference.

 

[DarkWeb]

Sure. But for me, I experienced results I was happy with without spending the extra money. No seedlings died. No plants suffered (til I pushed it). I don't need to spend an extra 150 bucks a grow to get an ounce more off of each plant. I'll agree that maybe if I used perlite and watered more I would get a higher yield. But my plants are usually healthy and happy. To each her own, and mine is saving a large amount of money for very low loss.

$150 !? I get it in 15# bags and it's not anywhere close to that. You know how much perlite it takes to make 15#........a whole freaking lot lol

 

[StareCase]

... my old coco goes in a dumpster ...

... Mine goes right into the firepit with rootball and stems ...

My used shit goes into the entrance of the forest right behind us. When The Little Spud and I walked back there, he loved to piss on the old piles.