Extra perlite for extra drainage?!

[Bobby Budds]

I was recommended by a friend to add a whole extra bag of perlite to a soilless mix(sunshine, or promix) already containing perlite.

His reasoning is it adds aeration, plus oxygen and makes your plants dry out faster which increases your watering.

Right now it takes about 4 days for the 5 gallon containers to dry out so they are ready for another water/feeding.

With more perlite it would probably cut that time down. Obviously this will be more work and take more time. Would there really be any added benefits? Does anyone here do anything similar?

 

[frmrboi]

Does anyone here do anything similar?

I do, to Pro Mix. I recycle it after the grow by dumping the old soil into a tub of water and skimming it off (it floats !)
Whether it is a benifit or not I don't know, I'll continue to do it.

 

[knourgro]

well im not exactly sure, but i would say the benefit would be with your roots. when roots are sitting in water (or wet soil) they dont keep stretching to find water because they are in it. if your soil dries all the way out fsat, then your roots will constantly be stretching downwards in search of water. this is a very good thing because roots are the heart of the plant. the more roots you have, the more surface area of nutrient absorption you have. the key is just staying on top of your watering to make sure the roots are always searching, but never starving. if you can do that then yes its very beneficial.

it will also help prevent root rot, and bugs that like damp soil (gnats, mosquitos, etc..)

it wont hurt them to be left the way they are, its up to you weather you want to put in a little extra work for a little extra bud, you'll get what you worked for.

goodluck and keep us posted, wouldnt mind seein em myself