Perlite alternatives

[Rootsruler]

I wouldn't the powdery silt will collect on the bottom and choke out your roots.

[apacin0]

I've done 100% coco coir before and it works. I used a small pot, I can see it getting more expensive with big pots. Fluffing the coco up with some other medium I think does help with total cost for larger volumes. I think if you're going to reuse your mix, the clay pebbles are the better route.
..Also get some dang new coco lol. The stuff I buy is very fibrous and full, not powdery. Maybe mix that powdery stuff with new coco, if you really want to save it.

[Allenpro]

Yes you can grow in pure coco coir but from the times I have tried it (2) for the price of perlite/Hydrotron I would use one or the other

[DabberDog]

Dangit! You said it. I was wondering about using straight coco.
I just emptied a bag of third generation coco, and it was fair powdery. Much more so than new. I can see foregoing perlite if the coco bits are large enough. But after a while, I can't see using coco without perlite.

[Bluey]

100% coco works fine

[Allenpro]

Yep those will work too

[Rootsruler]

Sorry. You're right. I was in the middle of messaging someone else and got confused. My bad.

[DabberDog]

I dig those little balls but what I see is washing them for reuse.

[apacin0]

I used hydroton (clay pebbles) with great success. It aerates and improves drainage (not that coco doesn't have great drainage by itself) just like perlite, but it's heavier. It stays in place in the coco, doesn't sink or float. It's not as cheap as perlite, but it doesn't degrade easily and can be reused.

I'm currently using perlite, but I'd use hydroton again. I'm thinking about ordering it for at least one or two DWC buckets.

[golfnrl]

My understanding is the perlite allows aeration by the texture and makeup of the mineral itself. There's gaps and spaces along the surface of the perlite that give room for roots to breathe.

[DabberDog]

Huh? Every other source I see says coco holds 10 time its weight in water and is excellent for water retention. That's pretty much its thing.

[Rootsruler]

You are correct except for one thing. Gravel will sink to the bottom of the pot into the perched water table and raise it making overwatering more likely. Perlite will stay mixed in the soil for the most part unless it is near the surface. Perlite floats so that is why you see pictures on here with tons of perlite on top.

[Rootsruler]

Vermiculite has the same size and spacing properties as perlite with the added bonus of better water retention. If I was in a peat/coco mix then perlite all the way. The peat will be responsible for water retention but coco has very little water holding capacity so the vermiculite can help in that respect.

[DabberDog]

Back to my question about how perlite aerates if it is kept in wet coco.

[DabberDog]

Umm... in my case it would be dab rig water. In either case, no.