soil is draining horribly

[medicineforpatients]

Is there a such thing as too much perlite? I was starting to notice my seedlings looking like they were over fert'd so I did a flush. and I noticed my soil sucks at draining. I already have a shit ton of perlite on the way. Gonna add a shit ton as well. Im thinking 50-60% perlite. is there a such thing as "too much"?

 

[BWG707]

Make sure you get the course perlite. The finer grain perlite tends to float to the top of your soil. I made that mistake when all I could find was the small, fine grain stuff. Now I have a layer of perlite on top of my soil, which probably isn't bad. I've heard it will retain moisture in the soil and that bugs don't like to walk over it, don't know how true that is. As for %, I'm using FFOF soil, which already contains a little perlite, and I add at least 1/3 perlite. But I don't know if that optimum. I've read that perlite is very often over used. If you do a search you could probably find some articles that would better explain how much would be best.

 

[fir3dragon]

I use the red party cups to mix my soil from bag to bucket, I do 4 cups of dirt to 1 cup of perlite. Add a little more if u want.

 

[Fazer1rlg]

With a lot of perlite he water should run right through

 

[medicineforpatients]

Make sure you get the course perlite. The finer grain perlite tends to float to the top of your soil. I made that mistake when all I could find was the small, fine grain stuff. Now I have a layer of perlite on top of my soil, which probably isn't bad. I've heard it will retain moisture in the soil and that bugs don't like to walk over it, don't know how true that is. As for %, I'm using FFOF soil, which already contains a little perlite, and I add at least 1/3 perlite. But I don't know if that optimum. I've read that perlite is very often over used. If you do a search you could probably find some articles that would better explain how much would be best.

yup mine did the same. I have a layer of perlite at the top.

 

[medicineforpatients]

With a lot of perlite he water should run right through

good cause my soil is like sludge...really pisses me off.

 

[fir3dragon]

good cause my soil is like sludge...really pisses me off.

My soil takes a bit to drain. It isn't like you can pour constantly and never have buildup inside the pot. Plants look fine so I just dal with it lol.