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chong · 06-17-2008, 12:39 PM

Perlite is great, but it's pretty expensive. I get mine wholesale, and they cost as much per cubic foot as the more expensive potting medium that I use. Another thing is that Perlite will float to the top of the soil, unless you use a soaker to water your plants.

If you have access to Pumice, it would be better. Get the 1/4" size, you can mix it to as much as 35-40% Pumice and 60-65% soil. If you can't get Pumice, you can substitute Lava Rock that's graded at 3/16" to 3/8" size. Lava Rock is red in color and a little heavier than Pumice, which is white in color. Landscape supply stores usually carry Lava Rock and you can buy them by the cubic yard. Last time I bought some, it cost me $32/Yd and a 54-mile round trip in a beat up pick-up truck. I did get 2.5 Yds just to make it worth the trip.

06-17-2008, 12:39 PM	#3 (permalink)
chong Senior Member chong's Photo Gallery Location: Seattle, WA Find me on the map! Zone: 8-9 Name: Chong Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 1,851 BananaBucks : 121,109 Feedback: 6 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,309 Times Was Thanked 1,702 Times in 759 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 991 Times	Re: Need Help With Soil Perlite is great, but it's pretty expensive. I get mine wholesale, and they cost as much per cubic foot as the more expensive potting medium that I use. Another thing is that Perlite will float to the top of the soil, unless you use a soaker to water your plants. If you have access to Pumice, it would be better. Get the 1/4" size, you can mix it to as much as 35-40% Pumice and 60-65% soil. If you can't get Pumice, you can substitute Lava Rock that's graded at 3/16" to 3/8" size. Lava Rock is red in color and a little heavier than Pumice, which is white in color. Landscape supply stores usually carry Lava Rock and you can buy them by the cubic yard. Last time I bought some, it cost me $32/Yd and a 54-mile round trip in a beat up pick-up truck. I did get 2.5 Yds just to make it worth the trip.