Perlite v clay pebbles

[ButtyBach]

Hi folks, a newcomer here.

can anyone tell me why in the coco mix tutorial. You use perlite and not clay pebbles.

[ButtyBach]

Just in case anybody out there was wondering. Here's the reply I received from Sirius.

Can't believe I had a reply. This really does look like this site is every growers dream.

Hello,


We use perlite because it's super airy (much more than clay pebbles by volume), it helps with drainage, it's available everywhere and it's cheap. I know that coco/pebbles will work, but I think you'd probably get better results using a mixture of coco/perlite if only because the roots will have a better environment. Good luck and happy growing!

Sirius
GrowWeedEasy.com

[Nartak]

I believe he has covered it all matie!!

Also welcome to the forum!

[ButtyBach]

Thank you Nartak, he certainly has.

I've been using pebbles for the past 4yrs. I mentioned in the grow shop not long after starting in Coco, about using perlite instead and they looked at me as if I had two heads. So I never followed it up.

Pebbles are too much hard work mun. Never mind they are a thing of the past. Grabbed myself 50ltrs of perlite today so I'm off mixing.

[Nartak]

Dunno bout mixing pebbles,i tried on an experimental grow and don't like the outcome in terms of look,drainage nor work to be done! Im happy with pebbles in wilma as i can run a pump through the whole grow without worrying about anything but 2 numbers,EC - PH!Thats all adjustable for me within ten minutes!The one big downside i find in this particular system is the cleaning,if you don't plan early you will get backaches quite soon in the veg stage!!11lt pots x4 full of pebbles and a 30lt tank to be spotless every fortnight is more than a handful trust me!!If i had the extra cash right now i would honestly go for fabric/smart pots and a soil mix i have found adding some perlite extra if needed!!

[ButtyBach]

I was using a Wilma with the 18ltr pots. I know what you mean about the cleaning. In the end its the fluctuations in the pH. Done me in. I don't know what to make of this new system. I think once I figure out feeding schedule it'll be OK.

[Nartak]

What system is this you have now?

Man honestly people just praise the wilma so much i think i want to join every forum and ask them one thing..WHY?? the piping for it is a 1m tubing with a stop switch and the rest is just plastic!!! Nothing new or smart to see here...The hole for the pump is so small an EHEIM 1000 COMPACT version barely goes in with one hand to attach the feeding hose! For 4 autos yes,it is ideal!For photoperiod plants its no good even when manifolding because the tank and pots put up together a well 60cm above floor level!

All in all i believe it need a lot of work to own and run a wilma the good way to have results and is in now way a starters pack as recommended by Atami!

Been checking out a new system for me if i wanted hydro..I want a RDWC system so i dont bend over to fix the nutes and check the tank,i can space the pots further away thus able to scrog and sog easier and to top all that up,most RDWC systems are expandable if you can pull and push hoses into eachother!!

I found what i might just use the tank as it is with drilling bigger holes in the tray and using it as the typical hydro (roots in water) system!!

Either this : http://eu.ledhydrosolutions.uk/led-g...ot-rdwc-20ltr/

or this : http://eu.ledhydrosolutions.uk/led-g...ot-rdwc-20ltr/

for a 5x5 the 4pot sounds perfect!!Upping my lights to 2x 900w(Compares to traditional 1000 watt HPS/MH while consuming only 405 watts! )