Need Help With Soil

sunfish · 06-17-2008, 11:58 AM

I HAVE SEARCHED THIS FORUM AND OTHERS FOR POTTING SOIL. MOST PEOPLE HAVE THIER OWN IDEAS OF WHATS BEST. I HAVE POTTING SOIL THAT IS TO HEAVY, HOLDS TO MUCH WATER. THIS IS STORE BOUGHT BAGS .IF I ADD ENOUGH PERLITE WOULD THIS SOLVE MY PROBLEM? I KNOW EVERYONE HAS THERE OWN MIX THAT THEY THINK IS BEST. ALL I AM CONCERNED WITH IS GETTING THE SOIL I HAVE TO DRAIN BETTER.THANKS FOR THE HELP.

Bananaman88 · 06-17-2008, 12:01 PM

Perlite is a good choice and you may consider adding something like charcoal (not like you'd cook with) or bark like is in orchid mix.

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.

sunfish · 06-17-2008, 01:11 PM

Chong

I Dont Know What Happend But Your Post Is Not Showing For Me. I Can Go And Find It At Post You Have Do , But It Does Not Show On Main Banana Forum. Somehow Me And Mason Are Both Logged On At The Same Time With One Computer. Banana Bucks Go Up And Down.

sunfish · 06-17-2008, 01:13 PM

Your Post Just Showed . Thanks

sunfish · 06-17-2008, 01:19 PM

Thank You For The Advice. The Perlite Is Expensive. I Bought 3.5 Cubic Ft. Home Depot $18. Lava Rock Should Be Easy To Find Here In San Diego , I Will Try That. Thanks Again.

Bananaman88 · 06-17-2008, 02:43 PM

Good advice from Chong.

turtile · 06-17-2008, 08:42 PM

Perlite will definitely help. Its most likely one of the best things you can use. Pine bark may also help depending on what is currently in your potting mix.

mskitty38583 · 06-17-2008, 09:49 PM

perlite is 2.17 for 8 quarts at walmart. and it is a little more at lowes....

natedogg1026 · 06-17-2008, 10:40 PM

Pure compost for me baby.

06-17-2008, 11:58 AM	#1 (permalink)
sunfish Banned sunfish's Photo Gallery Location: San Diego Find me on the map! Zone: 9-11 Name: Tony Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 18,429 BananaBucks : 1,161,382 Feedback: 8 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,210 Times Was Thanked 20,592 Times in 7,760 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,716 Times	Need Help With Soil I HAVE SEARCHED THIS FORUM AND OTHERS FOR POTTING SOIL. MOST PEOPLE HAVE THIER OWN IDEAS OF WHATS BEST. I HAVE POTTING SOIL THAT IS TO HEAVY, HOLDS TO MUCH WATER. THIS IS STORE BOUGHT BAGS .IF I ADD ENOUGH PERLITE WOULD THIS SOLVE MY PROBLEM? I KNOW EVERYONE HAS THERE OWN MIX THAT THEY THINK IS BEST. ALL I AM CONCERNED WITH IS GETTING THE SOIL I HAVE TO DRAIN BETTER.THANKS FOR THE HELP.

06-17-2008, 12:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
Bananaman88 Bananaculturist Bananaman88's Photo Gallery Location: Houston, TX area Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Brent Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 3,019 BananaBucks : 248,668 Feedback: 22 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,339 Times Was Thanked 2,263 Times in 1,178 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 191 Times	Re: Need Help With Soil Perlite is a good choice and you may consider adding something like charcoal (not like you'd cook with) or bark like is in orchid mix.

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 : 104,900 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.

06-17-2008, 01:11 PM	#4 (permalink)
sunfish Banned sunfish's Photo Gallery Location: San Diego Find me on the map! Zone: 9-11 Name: Tony Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 18,429 BananaBucks : 1,161,382 Feedback: 8 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,210 Times Was Thanked 20,592 Times in 7,760 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,716 Times	Re: Need Help With Soil Chong I Dont Know What Happend But Your Post Is Not Showing For Me. I Can Go And Find It At Post You Have Do , But It Does Not Show On Main Banana Forum. Somehow Me And Mason Are Both Logged On At The Same Time With One Computer. Banana Bucks Go Up And Down.

06-17-2008, 01:13 PM	#5 (permalink)
sunfish Banned sunfish's Photo Gallery Location: San Diego Find me on the map! Zone: 9-11 Name: Tony Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 18,429 BananaBucks : 1,161,382 Feedback: 8 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,210 Times Was Thanked 20,592 Times in 7,760 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,716 Times	Re: Need Help With Soil Your Post Just Showed . Thanks

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06-17-2008, 01:19 PM	#6 (permalink)
sunfish Banned sunfish's Photo Gallery Location: San Diego Find me on the map! Zone: 9-11 Name: Tony Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 18,429 BananaBucks : 1,161,382 Feedback: 8 / 100% Said "Thanks" 3,210 Times Was Thanked 20,592 Times in 7,760 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 2,716 Times	Re: Need Help With Soil Thank You For The Advice. The Perlite Is Expensive. I Bought 3.5 Cubic Ft. Home Depot $18. Lava Rock Should Be Easy To Find Here In San Diego , I Will Try That. Thanks Again.

06-17-2008, 02:43 PM	#7 (permalink)
Bananaman88 Bananaculturist Bananaman88's Photo Gallery Location: Houston, TX area Find me on the map! Zone: 9 Name: Brent Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 3,019 BananaBucks : 248,668 Feedback: 22 / 100% Said "Thanks" 1,339 Times Was Thanked 2,263 Times in 1,178 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 191 Times	Re: Need Help With Soil Good advice from Chong.

06-17-2008, 08:42 PM	#8 (permalink)
turtile Junior Member turtile's Photo Gallery Location: Delaware Find me on the map! Zone: 7a/b Name: John Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 235 BananaBucks : 47,207 Feedback: 0 / 0% Said "Thanks" 34 Times Was Thanked 181 Times in 108 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 0 Times	Re: Need Help With Soil Perlite will definitely help. Its most likely one of the best things you can use. Pine bark may also help depending on what is currently in your potting mix. __________________ http://www.unusualplants.net/

06-17-2008, 09:49 PM	#9 (permalink)
mskitty38583 banana junkie mskitty38583 's Photo Gallery Location: north carolina Find me on the map! Zone: 7b Name: mskitty Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 4,071 BananaBucks : 229,319 Feedback: 26 / 100% Said "Thanks" 82 Times Was Thanked 890 Times in 617 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 136 Times	Re: Need Help With Soil perlite is 2.17 for 8 quarts at walmart. and it is a little more at lowes.... __________________ WELCOME TO THE GATOR NATION

06-17-2008, 10:40 PM	#10 (permalink)
natedogg1026 Banana addict natedogg1026's Photo Gallery Location: Pittsburg, Kansas Find me on the map! Zone: 6b Name: Nate Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 640 BananaBucks : 313,350 Feedback: 2 / 100% Said "Thanks" 139 Times Was Thanked 176 Times in 110 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 3 Times	Re: Need Help With Soil Pure compost for me baby. __________________ Banana's are a safe addiction. Right?Maybe I need classes.

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