Growing toms in 5 Gal Construction Buckets

[My Foot Smells]

Sandlike granule, I don't think it will break down like powdered sugar. It is snow white.

[Ed of Somis]

Adding things like perlite to potting mixes is fine...but it is still very important to use the right things in the rest of your mix. Adding perlite to a heavy garden soil...will still not make it a decent mix...for example. Drainability of a cup of pudding will never be good either...no matter what you add to it. The "other" website has some great info regarding potting mixes.

[nniemiec]

what is the "other" website?

[Gerardo]

Originally Posted by My Foot Smells

Nice mixology.

Q: I've got a free source of perlite minus bag (pic), but it is the small granule. This guy works for chem company that ships liquids and they use the coarse perlite for packing. He gets the rubble, and has a mountain (literally) of the stuff over a 20 yr. span. I can bring my trailer and load up.

Is the small granule stuff even worth the effort? I've tossed a few wheelbarrow loads here and there. But getting interesting in mixing my own batch for buckets and pots, as the aftermarket bag of potting mix is $$$.

Attachment 65004

Sounds like you've got two of the major components already covered. The dust perlite will work just fine.

My advise is score some of that high quality horse manure, turn it over a few times over the winter, and it'll be ready for next year.

All you need to procure now is the peat moss, or coco coir, or vermiculite, or whatever substrate holds moisture.

I do it one wheelbarrow at a time, a concrete mixer sure would help.