Perlite substitute?
sekkei (Tue, 04 Jul 2006 11:43:01 PDT)

How about pumice? I have used it for many mixes here in California. The
brand I use is from UNI-GROW? It comes in two sometimes three grades. Some
batches need sifting, again respiratory precautions necessary. It is a
little heavier but works well for me.

Terence Hernstrom
Kimberly Crest House & Gardens
Redlands CA

-----Original Message-----
From: pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org
[mailto:pbs-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org]On Behalf Of John T Lonsdale
Sent: Tuesday, July 04, 2006 9:29 AM
To: 'Pacific Bulb Society'
Subject: [pbs] Perlite substitute?

For years I've used perlite in my bulbs compost, to very good effect. I use
Supercoarse grade and sieve it to get rid of the fines. Over the past
couple of years I've noticed a trend towards more fines and less Supercoarse
particles - to the point where, today, I spent 45 minutes sieving 8 cubic
feet of perlite and ended up with less than 50% by volume of sieved material
I can use. This seems to be a waste of time and energy and a
misrepresentation by the manufacturer of the perlite (Schundler).

Is there anything out there that anyone has practical experience with that I
can substitute directly for the perlite? I use about 50% perlite in my mix
and don't want to have to learn a whole new watering regime unless I have
to.

Thanks and happy 4th.

J.

John T Lonsdale PhD
407 Edgewood Drive,
Exton, Pennsylvania 19341, USA

Home: 610 594 9232
Cell: 484 678 9856
Fax: 801 327 1266

Visit "Edgewood" - The Lonsdale Garden at <http://www.edgewoodgardens.net/>
http://www.edgewoodgardens.net/

USDA Zone 6b

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