Wow! It really recovered!
Oh ya, I forgot, I did have a few volunteer dill plants and then I threw some seeds in there too.
Yeah, but a lot depends on how much per light you put in! At this moment, I am watering Mine probably every day and a half! But I use a lot of perlite. And since I raise them up off the ground, they are drying back quick! And that’s just what I wanna see! The plants are loving it! But it is a little more work water wise. And when the plants get bigger, they contribute very significantly to drying those pots out! I’ve gotten to that point! Maybe you have also! In my opinion where I am at good fast solid dry back is gold! I depend on dry back to keep my roots cool! On 105° days like today! And tomorrow and the day after and the day after! Lol! Just make sure you don’t overwater them! That’s hard to do when the plants get big! Hang in there, sister!
Yeah, one thing worth trying for these hot pot conditions is vermiculite instead of perlite. Vermiculite is supposed to hold water a bit, whereas perlite sheds it. Both are used primarily to keep the soil from compacting. But yeah, maybe it won't make an appreciable difference, but I'm using it on patio pots that get awful hot and watering like once every three days.Yeah, but a lot depends on how much per light you put in! At this moment, I am watering Mine probably every day and a half! But I use a lot of perlite. And since I raise them up off the ground, they are drying back quick! And that’s just what I wanna see! The plants are loving it! But it is a little more work water wise. And when the plants get bigger, they contribute very significantly to drying those pots out! I’ve gotten to that point! Maybe you have also! In my opinion where I am at good fast solid dry back is gold! I depend on dry back to keep my roots cool! On 105° days like today! And tomorrow and the day after and the day after! Lol! Just make sure you don’t overwater them! That’s hard to do when the plants get big! Hang in there, sister!
Perlite Vermiculite
Perlite vs Vermiculite – At a Glance| Feature | Perlite | Vermiculite |
|---|---|---|
| Water Holding | Low | High |
| Drainage | Excellent | Moderate |
| Aeration | High | Moderate |
| Best For | Cacti, succulents, cannabis | Seedlings, moisture-loving plants |
| Weight | Lighter | Heavier |
| pH | Slightly alkaline (~7–7.5) | Neutral to slightly alkaline (~7) |
Rule of Thumb
Thanks so much, this makes sense. Guess I got spoiled with the low grade Miracle Gro in the blue bag. But their product has gone down hill big time and I wanted a better soil for cannabis."
ChatGPT said:
In indoor planting, perlite and vermiculite serve different but sometimes overlapping purposes. Here’s a clear breakdown of their uses, differences, and when to choose one over the other:
What it is:
White, lightweight volcanic glass that’s been superheated to expand into porous granules.
Primary Use Cases:
Ideal For:
- Aeration: Keeps soil loose and oxygen-rich.
- Drainage: Improves drainage, helps prevent root rot in overwatered plants.
- Rooting Cuttings: Useful when mixed with peat or coco coir for propagating plants.
Downside:
- Succulents, cacti, cannabis, and plants that hate “wet feet”
- Hydroponic mixes (often part of a soilless medium)
- High-performance potting mixes where airflow is critical
Dries out quickly, doesn't hold much water—better for drier-loving plants.
What it is:
Mica-like mineral that's also heat-expanded into spongey flakes.
Primary Use Cases:
Ideal For:
- Water Retention: Holds water and nutrients well.
- Seed Starting: Helps keep seeds moist without drowning them.
- Soil Lightening: Loosens heavy soil but still retains moisture.
Downside:
- Seed germination
- Moisture-loving houseplants (e.g., ferns, peace lilies)
- Mixing into peat-based media to make it more absorbent
Can hold too much water for some plants, leading to soggy soil.
Feature Perlite Vermiculite Water Holding Low High Drainage Excellent Moderate Aeration High Moderate Best For Cacti, succulents, cannabis Seedlings, moisture-loving plants Weight Lighter Heavier pH Slightly alkaline (~7–7.5) Neutral to slightly alkaline (~7)
- Use more perlite if your mix needs to dry out faster or breathe more.
- Use more vermiculite if your mix needs to stay moist longer or hold nutrients for seedlings."
So this is accurate but AI saves me typing it. Nice tables too, thanks AI!
Small vermiculite water resevoir layer in the soil build? As a pure strata? That could work.
Think about watering 4 x's a day or more? Even with 4 gallons pots of coco they dry out every 2 hrs in the heat BUT what you said about the dry back and oxygen to the roots all apply here just on a much shorter time frameYeah, but a lot depends on how much per light you put in! At this moment, I am watering Mine probably every day and a half! But I use a lot of perlite. And since I raise them up off the ground, they are drying back quick! And that’s just what I wanna see! The plants are loving it! But it is a little more work water wise. And when the plants get bigger, they contribute very significantly to drying those pots out! I’ve gotten to that point! Maybe you have also! In my opinion where I am at good fast solid dry back is gold! I depend on dry back to keep my roots cool! On 105° days like today! And tomorrow and the day after and the day after! Lol! Just make sure you don’t overwater them! That’s hard to do when the plants get big! Hang in there, sister!
You have to at least get an inch of rain to water your pots for a day I've been doing this for years
Don't think there's a wrong or right way. I just added a top to one I have caged in garden fencing. . Mine wasn't necessarily made for training, more than it was for supporting the limbs, when they go int flower. We get some nasty weather down here in my parts of Ohio. U know what I mean.
I do know what you mean by those high winds/weather. That cage looks like it will stand up to it.
I had bad luck with this one but the one with a pH setting was much more accurate. However only for moisture as the pH function was inaccurate and the light sensor thing was fictional.
I use that exact one except with a 12 inch probe! Does the trick!
