roots in perlite

[Gen]

I'm really pleased with the results I got from rooting clones in perlite and planting seeds in it too. The clones never wilt and I don't use cloning gel or humidity dome or even spray with water anymore.

[Gen]

Plus I a put 4 sprouted seeds in a container and it was super easy to separate them. The top of the perlite got a little green, but the roots are nice and healthy.

[Dr. VanNostrin]

how moist do you keep the perlite and how big of a container do you use? is that the container in the pic?

[Gen]

No, this is not the container. I would use low shallow container like a sandwich plastic container. Any clear container would work. A plastic cup or drinking glass would only fit one clone. Put the perlite or pumice in the container till the container is 3/4 full. Perlite and pumice wick moisture up. I put 1/8 of an inch of water in the bottom of the container and keep it that way. I only add more water when I can't see any at the bottom. That is why a clear container is very important.

[FERMENTATION]

I have several little ones growing in strait perlite right now. I get green and brown on the top of the perlite too. No problem there, I was thinking it was from the microbes I am using. The plants are four nods high and just got a FIM job. I started the seeds in the perlite so they could be removed from the medium with minimal mess when they get moved into the aerochamber. Mine get sprayed by hand several times a day. I keep the roots moist but not soaked. Their containers (yogurt cups) have holes in the bottom and petri dishes to catch the moisture. They are sitting under a T5 fixture and the nodes are very close together. I keep them within an inch of the bulbs. I had never heard of anyone starting seeds in perlite but I have worked in a nursery where all our cuttings were in perlite, so I figured it would work alright for the time being. When I move them (within the next two weeks) I will rinse the roots clean of perlite then dip them in more beneficial microrganisms before putting them in there chambers.

Not meaning to highjack.

[latewood]

guys; that green is algae, so you could be introducing algae to your room when you transplant. perhaps from now on, you might cover the top.
As far as clear containers, you should use dark/opaque containers to keep algae from starting on roots.

light x algae = root problems/lower yielding plants
consider this, once algae is introduced you can only control it, you can't make it go away completly without killing plants.

for algae control, fountec or hth algaecide 30.
2 drops per gallon initally, then 1 drop per gallon for weekly
maintenance, goodluck.lw

[FERMENTATION]

latewood: The algae appeared on the top layer of perlite within the first couple of days after germination. How does that happen so quickly. I don't really expect an answer to that. I'm just amazed at how fast it showed up. Algae normally lives in the top layer of topsoil so I'm not to worried. The roots will be in complete darkness soon and there are tons of beneficials on these plants (endo/ecto myco and bacteria.) The algae won't be a problem if it doesn't get any light, right? Oh, and since my fertilizers arrived (AN Iguana series, mother earth, and organic-b) about a week and a half ago, the algae has faded away. I think this might have something to do with the beneficials in the ME which are being sprayed onto the surface of the perlite (the beneficals that were on there before were root and seed dips and they would have clogged the spray nozzle.) Wow, that is some longwinded crap. I'm going to go scrape a bowl since I'm all out of green :(

[Gen]

Please hijack away ferment. I love dialogue! My technique (if I may call it that) uses a container without drainage holes. Therefore water stays at the bottom all the time.

[latewood]

latewood: The algae appeared on the top layer of perlite within the first couple of days after germination. How does that happen so quickly. I don't really expect an answer to that. I'm just amazed at how fast it showed up. Algae normally lives in the top layer of topsoil so I'm not to worried. The roots will be in complete darkness soon and there are tons of beneficials on these plants (endo/ecto myco and bacteria.) The algae won't be a problem if it doesn't get any light, right? Oh, and since my fertilizers arrived (AN Iguana series, mother earth, and organic-b) about a week and a half ago, the algae has faded away. I think this might have something to do with the beneficials in the ME which are being sprayed onto the surface of the perlite (the beneficals that were on there before were root and seed dips and they would have clogged the spray nozzle.) Wow, that is some longwinded crap. I'm going to go scrape a bowl since I'm all out of green :(I hope it all works out...my opinion of what causes it so fast...bright white reflective perlite, light and air and moisture=algae

[latewood]

Please hijack away ferment. I love dialogue! My technique (if I may call it that) uses a container without drainage holes. Therefore water stays at the bottom all the time.
I've been thinking of doing a couple of hand watered plants,
has to be just enough to keep the plant fed, but not cause root rot...I think I will put a bubble bar in the bottom of a rectangular troth, then add nutes...I have project started, drains installed for leaching...later lw

It is so much fun when you have clones at your disposal!
experiment away!

[Gen]

It does work. I grew all my soil plants this way. Big bertha did fine. What I like about this method of growing is no mess running out the bottom. I've also used opaque containers too. Just don't overwater. Big bertha I kept really moist. Then she started to show signs of overwatering. So I backed way off and even took some paper towels to suck off some of the water. She wanted to stay pretty dry to finish off. Again watch the plant, they will tell you what to do.