Perlite size?

rudylr · January 28, 2016

I can get on amazon 50 liter bags of perlite that says on the bag 1/4 to 1/2 inch size for about 35 bucks. I can also get 100 liter bags for about the same price but they don't give the size. They both say super course. A couple reviews on the 100 liter bag says its about 1/8 to 1/4 inch. I've heard bigger is better but your going to get twice as much of the smaller stuff. Whats the best way to go here? Thanks

Worth1 · January 28, 2016

I bought at Home depot a Vigoro 56 liter (2 cubic feet) bag that looks like it is from little to around 1/4 inch it works for me.
It was about 16 bucks I think.
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...hOUGXBvA1HoF6A

jillian · January 28, 2016

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ilpage_o00_s00

If this is the one you are wondering about, I purchased this a couple weeks ago. I only got one because I wasn't sure of it. I am very pleased and will be ordering more. It isn't nearly as dusty as the smaller size.

TightenUp · January 28, 2016

i always look for "chunky" or "coarse"

Gerardo · January 28, 2016

It seems the coarser the better, however, the dust seems to do the job just fine too.

I used to buy the HD ones like Worth did, this turned out to be a better deal from a local company in Escondido, CA.

Nice big chunks. I think it was 13 or so for 4 cu ft, it took me a long time to go through it.

escondido perlite aztec.jpg

AlittleSalt · January 29, 2016

The first time me and my wife saw perlite and vermiculite - we honestly thought it was pieces of Styrofoam. This has been a long time ago, but I remember saying to her, "How can Styrofoam be considered organic?" We quickly learned what perlite and vermiculite are.

I have seen both Perlite and Vermiculite in 1/4 inch or lesser size. I am curious to why larger sizes might be better?

Marcus1 · January 29, 2016

A good place to look for perlite is brick suppliers, they use it to fill cinder block walls for insulation. The last time I bought some it was $10 for 4 cu. ft. bags.
Marcus

Cole_Robbie · January 29, 2016

Interesting. I buy vermiculite insulation at Menard's. I didn't know perlite was also used as insulation.

Worth1 · January 29, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cole_Robbie

Interesting. I buy vermiculite insulation at Menard's. I didn't know perlite was also used as insulation.

Yeah just cut into a wall some time and have it all come running out.

What a frigging nightmare.

Worth

clkeiper · February 2, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cole_Robbie

Interesting. I buy vermiculite insulation at Menard's. I didn't know perlite was also used as insulation.

Yep... when we built our addition in 2000 I walked all the walls pouring perlite through the block before we put the sill plate on.... I hope we never have to cut through the walls for anything... ever.

Gerardo · February 2, 2016

I got my annual bag a few days ago, Aztec perlite. Pretty coarse, ranges from 1/8 to 1/4 in. 14.76 USD for 4 cu ft.

rudylr · February 3, 2016

I'll have to check out our local Concrete Supply for perlite. Can only get 8 qt bags around here. Gerardo was looking at your large grow list. Mind sharing what mix you use to fill all those containers?

Gerardo · February 3, 2016

Quote:

Originally Posted by rudylr

I'll have to check out our local Concrete Supply for perlite. Can only get 8 qt bags around here. Gerardo was looking at your large grow list. Mind sharing what mix you use to fill all those containers?

SUre. I start with the kellogg raised bed container mix from HD and add to it. Peat moss, perlite, coco coir, more biomass via a 50:50 blend of sheep manure and tobacco (pasteurized), worm castings, and some bark fines (which I define as last years mulch that has been worked on a bit).

I also add some powders, because they do matter: alfalfa, crab, tomato tone, dol lime, epsom salts.

It all gets mixed in a wheelbarrow and allowed to rest in the final container a few days before I place the plants in there. When I pot up I make sure it coincides with a batch of vermicompost tea for the initial watering.

I arrived at this mix based on trial and error and lots of container post-mortems....

clkeiper · February 3, 2016

Try a building supply not a concrete supply place. I got mine a small locally owned one so I don't know what/where to recommend but mine came in a 50# grain bag size bag... hardly weighed anything, though. and if I recall, the size was pretty uniform, but small. Or try a hydroponic supply place if you have a local one.

BajaMitch · February 3, 2016

Wow, Gerardo. Your mix sounds expensive. Have any idea on the cost per gallon pursuant to your recipe? I have gotten my mix to cost between $.84 to $1.35 per gallon of mix.

January 28, 2016	#1
rudylr Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: nebraska Posts: 30	Perlite size? I can get on amazon 50 liter bags of perlite that says on the bag 1/4 to 1/2 inch size for about 35 bucks. I can also get 100 liter bags for about the same price but they don't give the size. They both say super course. A couple reviews on the 100 liter bag says its about 1/8 to 1/4 inch. I've heard bigger is better but your going to get twice as much of the smaller stuff. Whats the best way to go here? Thanks

January 28, 2016	#4
TightenUp Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Jersey Posts: 1,183	i always look for "chunky" or "coarse" __________________

February 3, 2016	#14
clkeiper Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: ohio Posts: 4,350	Try a building supply not a concrete supply place. I got mine a small locally owned one so I don't know what/where to recommend but mine came in a 50# grain bag size bag... hardly weighed anything, though. and if I recall, the size was pretty uniform, but small. Or try a hydroponic supply place if you have a local one. __________________ carolyn k

January 28, 2016	#2
Worth1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Den of Drunken Fools Posts: 38,539	I bought at Home depot a Vigoro 56 liter (2 cubic feet) bag that looks like it is from little to around 1/4 inch it works for me. It was about 16 bucks I think. https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...hOUGXBvA1HoF6A

January 28, 2016	#3
jillian Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: North Carolina Posts: 880	http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ilpage_o00_s00 If this is the one you are wondering about, I purchased this a couple weeks ago. I only got one because I wasn't sure of it. I am very pleased and will be ordering more. It isn't nearly as dusty as the smaller size.

January 28, 2016	#5
Gerardo Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: San Diego-Tijuana Posts: 2,598	It seems the coarser the better, however, the dust seems to do the job just fine too. I used to buy the HD ones like Worth did, this turned out to be a better deal from a local company in Escondido, CA. Nice big chunks. I think it was 13 or so for 4 cu ft, it took me a long time to go through it. escondido perlite aztec.jpg

January 29, 2016	#6
AlittleSalt BANNED FOR LIFE Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 13,333	The first time me and my wife saw perlite and vermiculite - we honestly thought it was pieces of Styrofoam. This has been a long time ago, but I remember saying to her, "How can Styrofoam be considered organic?" We quickly learned what perlite and vermiculite are. I have seen both Perlite and Vermiculite in 1/4 inch or lesser size. I am curious to why larger sizes might be better?

January 29, 2016	#7
Marcus1 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Colorado Posts: 124	A good place to look for perlite is brick suppliers, they use it to fill cinder block walls for insulation. The last time I bought some it was $10 for 4 cu. ft. bags. Marcus

January 29, 2016	#8
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	Interesting. I buy vermiculite insulation at Menard's. I didn't know perlite was also used as insulation.

February 2, 2016	#11
Gerardo Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: San Diego-Tijuana Posts: 2,598	I got my annual bag a few days ago, Aztec perlite. Pretty coarse, ranges from 1/8 to 1/4 in. 14.76 USD for 4 cu ft.

February 3, 2016	#15
BajaMitch Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: California Posts: 84	Wow, Gerardo. Your mix sounds expensive. Have any idea on the cost per gallon pursuant to your recipe? I have gotten my mix to cost between $.84 to $1.35 per gallon of mix.