layers of solil solution to increase plant health?

[Hennessy1414]

A friend told me that when i transplant my plants to 5 gallon buckets i should put down a layer of soil and then crushed up lava rock(or whatever the balls are called that are used as soil for hydro) than another layer of soil and then so on. he says it creates a very healthy plant growth. is this true? anyone ever used it?

[stinkyattic]

Pointless. You want a soil lightener, use perlite. Mix it into your soil EVENLY. A layer of hydroton will not make your soil lighter, it will make that LAYER less dense, while the rest of your medium remains as soggy as it would have been otherwise.

[Hennessy1414]

Pointless. You want a soil lightener, use perlite. Mix it into your soil EVENLY. A layer of hydroton will not make your soil lighter, it will make that LAYER less dense, while the rest of your medium remains as soggy as it would have been otherwise.

im using pretty good soil now. cost me 22 bucks for a bag of the stuff. something about how it has crushed up coral. should i add perlite to my soil?

[blink_inc]

check the density by squeezing a handfull. It should break apart loosely with a light poke. If it is too dense add perlite and vice versa.

[Hennessy1414]

check the density by squeezing a handfull. It should break apart loosely with a light poke. If it is too dense add perlite and vice versa.

na its pretty loose. thanks folks!:D