Vermiculite & Perlite, (no soil..) :)

[tristan1986]

Just wondering if anyone has heard of growing in just a perlite / vermiculite mix and no soil what so ever!

I have a mate doing this with success although i would like to hear what you guys think about this? or whether any of you guys have done this before..

[crabbyback]

And fungus gnats don't like it. :thumbsup:

[irydyum]

I'm sure as long as you get the ph figured out for it, and feed it more like hydro you could get some great results.

[Dutch Pimp]

And fungus gnats don't like it. :thumbsup:

well...I'll reduce my soil % a lot more next grow: 33% soil- 33% perlite - 33% vermiculite....and 1% bullshit....:D

[Greenthing]

I know someone that uses that method for clones and has good results:hippy:

[FreeDaHerb]

If it's a constant drip or a various type hydro system then it's fine...alot of people use various things to suspend the plants roots in...heck you can use marbles or lego's if you want...does'nt really matter much as long as they stay moist and have balanced nutrients and the roots have ample space to grow. In a pot though growing like "soil" I would say definitely add more to the mix like coconut fiber and/or spaghnum peat moss otherwise you will surely have some imbalances and it could dry out too much and stunt or kill the plants plus it does'nt offer much support to roots as it's extremely lightweight and overly porous. Best bet is to use a high quality potting soil for your "pot" ;)

[ForgetClassC]

OMG is that what those gnats are? fungus gnats? how do you get rid of them, one of my plants has gnats all over it, but its doing pretty fine, Ive been worried about it, just don't know what to do, how do I fix it?

[FreeDaHerb]

fungus gnats spread diseases and they will become a bigger problem trust me...get a vacuum and just suck em' up...then use an organic & natural insect egg killer on the moist part of the grow media where they are hatching from, don't let these things get out of control you will regret it!

[crabbyback]

well...I'll reduce my soil % a lot more next grow: 33% soil- 33% perlite - 33% vermiculite....and 1% bullshit....:D
You can also try topdressing with about an inch or two of perlite, which I do with my mothers because they are in a peat based mix. Also, yellow sticky traps are the bomb! I never get eradication (at least not in warm weather) but the combo of traps and perlite functions quite well as population control. Although, now that I think about it, 1% DP bullshit might do the trick too. :D


If it's a constant drip or a various type hydro system then it's fine...alot of people use various things to suspend the plants roots in...heck you can use marbles or lego's if you want...does'nt really matter much as long as they stay moist and have balanced nutrients and the roots have ample space to grow. In a pot though growing like "soil" I would say definitely add more to the mix like coconut fiber and/or spaghnum peat moss otherwise you will surely have some imbalances and it could dry out too much and stunt or kill the plants plus it does'nt offer much support to roots as it's extremely lightweight and overly porous. Best bet is to use a high quality potting soil for your "pot" ;)

I'm sorry FreeDaHerb, I have to disagree with some of your information and specifically your last statement. ;)

I'm a lifelong gardener, inside and out, and most of that time I've practiced organic gardening. I'm a huge proponent of organic practices and avoidance of 'cides and the like. That being said, however, growing inside, growing outside, and growing a short crop intensively are significantly different things.

The practice of growing in perlite/vermiculite (ratio 3:1 or 4:1) falls under the category of "wick hydroculture". The p/v mixture has the perfect ability to "wick" up the water and nutrients from a small reservoir in the bottom of the pot. More information can be found under "hempy bucket".

The main reason I changed from soil to perlite/vermiculite was for fungus gnat control for my blooming plants although I found many other reasons after I made the switch. My blooming ladies never, ever get gnats, no matter what the weather or if the other soil based plants have them. Its foolproof as long as you don't f***up when mixing water and nutes (an unfortunate problem :stoned: that I seem to have). I water manually every two days. No automation/tubing/pumps required.

[Dutch Pimp]

I get gnats because their eggs are in the potting soil I buy.

me and the dog kill them individually...:stoned:...or at the same time...:thumbsup:...It gives us something to do.

...that dog hates anything that flies...:glugglug:

[crabbyback]

I get gnats because their eggs are in the potting soil I buy.

me and the dog kill them individually...:stoned:...or at the same time...:thumbsup:...It gives us something to do.

...that dog hates anything that flies...:glugglug:

(Bold and blue by me)
Amen to that Dutch. I can't remember the last time I got any potting soil, anywhere, that was clean. Can I borrow your dog? My dog only likes to eat bugs that have some "meat" on them (big bumblebees or cicadas). Oh the joys of living in the south...:dance:

[Dutch Pimp]

Pixie likes cicadas. She can't catch a bumblebee. Her favorite kind of flying bug; is those big, slow, can't fly right, bugs..:thumbsup:

[oldmac]

I think the real reason Crabby uses v/p mix is because it makes the containers sooo much lighter. You know a lot of older people have back problems.

Nice dog dutch, sounds usefull too.

One day I may post some pics of the animals I keep. Goat, donkey, 2 mini horses, a pony, assorted horses (my grand kids) and my house dog. He's a fat (neutered) white shepard about to turn 10 and is nothing more then a plush toy that moves, sometimes.

[oldmac]

I meant to ask you people with gnat problems from the get go...ever try sterilizing your grow soil? If it don't come outta the bag sterile (like pro-mix) maybe consider baking it or steaming it before amending and using it.:twocents:

[Dutch Pimp]

I meant to ask you people with gnat problems from the get go...ever try sterilizing your grow soil? If it don't come outta the bag sterile (like pro-mix) maybe consider baking it or steaming it before amending and using it.:twocents:

I figured the gnats were less of a problem, than the smell of cowshit baking in the oven...:D

[crabbyback]

I think the real reason Crabby uses v/p mix is because it makes the containers sooo much lighter. You know a lot of older people have back problems.

Hmmm, and here I thought you were a gentleman, sirrah. :wtf:

Nice dog dutch, sounds usefull too.

One day I may post some pics of the animals I keep. Goat, donkey, 2 mini horses, a pony, assorted horses (my grand kids) and my house dog. He's a fat (neutered) white shepard about to turn 10 and is nothing more then a plush toy that moves, sometimes.


I meant to ask you people with gnat problems from the get go...ever try sterilizing your grow soil? If it don't come outta the bag sterile (like pro-mix) maybe consider baking it or steaming it before amending and using it.:twocents:
In MY kitchen, in MY oven, in MY house? NFW! But if you're offering, what time should I be there? :S2:

[crabbyback]

Just wondering if anyone has heard of growing in just a perlite / vermiculite mix and no soil what so ever!

I have a mate doing this with success although i would like to hear what you guys think about this? or whether any of you guys have done this before..

It is possible to get excellent results with this mix using the hempy bucket hydro method and 3-part hydro nutrients. I use a tall, narrow container to help keep the plant stable.

[ForgetClassC]

I also found an awesome remedy. Manachevitz(spelling). Its concord grape wine, they love the sugars and such and the alcohol kills them. Put a dish of it near the plant that has them, and they go into it and die, works nice, smells..... not so nice.

[Mustelid]

For thrips and fungus gnats, I've had great luck with diatomaceous earth, it's a fine powder made from microscopic sea shells, so it's organic.

They can't get immune since the killing action is mechanical. As the larva move through the soil to try and become adults, the shells tear them apart.

Sprinkle it on top of the soil. You can get it at some nurseries, or better, swimming pool supply shops sell it to kill amoebas in water. You can get bigger bags cheaper at swimming pool supply places usually.

[savage7garden]

For thrips and fungus gnats, I've had great luck with diatomaceous earth, it's a fine powder made from microscopic sea shells, so it's organic.

They can't get immune since the killing action is mechanical. As the larva move through the soil to try and become adults, the shells tear them apart.

Sprinkle it on top of the soil. You can get it at some nurseries, or better, swimming pool supply shops sell it to kill amoebas in water. You can get bigger bags cheaper at swimming pool supply places usually.


DO NOT USE DIATOMACEOUS EARTH FOR SWIMMING POOLS!!!! It's very toxic!! Simply breathing the dust can cause irreversible lung damage.

ONLY USE FOOD GRADE Diatomaceous Earth. From their website:

â??Both swimming pool grade and natural diatomaceous earth come from the same fossil sources but they are processed differently. The natural grades are mined, dried, ground, sled and bagged. The pool grade is chemically treated and partially melted and consequently contains crystalline silica which can be a respiratory hazard. Thus, IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT ONLY NATURAL DIATOMACEOUS EARTH BE USED FOR INSECT CONTROL. This non-crystalline silica is not a hazard as the human body apparently can dissolve it. â??

Diatomaceous Earth (http://www.ghorganics.com/DiatomaceousEarth.html) follow this link for even more useful info about DE.

I use food grade DE in my growing medium and also sprinkle it in and around my grow room (or anywhere else I need pest control). It works especially well at eradicating indoor ants. I just locate their point of entry and sprinkle a little magic flour (DE) and just like that POOF! they are gone. highly recommend it. We also mix a tsp or so in our smoothies every morning. It kills internal parasites and provides trace minerals as well. 1,001 uses!! lol

good for the smoke and the smoker :S5: just make sure you get FOOD GRADE, got it? :thumbsup:

~savage

[Mustelid]

Whoa, thanks for the info, I'll avoid pool grade stuff.