Use carbonized rice hulls instead of perlite. They're common ingredient in many professional soilless mixes in my country. They help with aeration, just like perlite, but unlike perlite they also have a little bit of CEC (cation exchange capacity) which helps retain more nutrients.
Thanks for the suggestion, I have gotten this suggestion a few times so I will try that next time! I did try crushed walnut shell and that was far superior to perlite, so now I will compare rice hulls and crushed walnut shell. I love these great alternatives!
Neither had I before I worked for the department of health, and since I've been working here and learning of their importance, I took the money and time to ensure that all of my hose bibs now have working vacuum breakers!
We make our own from shredded shipping boxes in a smokless stainless steel pire pit. Pack the paper shreds in tight and light from the top. In 30 minutes you have biochar
I've heard of rice hulls from either Gardeners World or Gardening Australia (probably Gardening Australia). I've never been able to find a supple here in the US, do you know of any?
You know I had a strong theory that high salt could be a possibility with cow manure and that might've been why it kept killing my plants. Thanks for confirming that!
Coconut coir can have high levels of salt. You should soak and rinse them 4x. Peat from Europe is poorly managed. The peat from Canada is well managed, however it is difficult to rewet after it dries out.
I've heard that, but I've never had issues with the coconut coir that I use and I've never rinsed it. I'm sure that it happens, it just hasn't been an issue for me yet.
@@ThePessimisticGardener : sensitive plants do better with the rinse. also, if you do a big pot on concrete outside, without rinsing it makes a brown mess over time as you water. so now i just rinse.
We cannot replace the peat biomass that we remove from a bog in a human being's lifetime, it's like cutting down old-growth forest for our gardens. Very Unsustainable
Peat reserves if well managed can replenish themselves. Of course it takes time, but peat reserves are massive, it's not like they're gonna run out of them any time soon even if people start using more or it. Plus, if you're concerned about the environment and live in a cold climate place, think about how much fuel was spent to bring that coco to your place. There are many gardening channels explaining the myth behind the idea that using peat is bad for the environment. Go check the channel "Garden Fundamentals" by Robert Pavlis. Using what's local is key. I live in the tropics and coco is affordable here, much more so that peat. In my place a washed bale of coco 3.8 cubic feet costs 10 dollars (7 dollars unsashed) while peat is 50 to 100% more expensive by volume depending on where you buy, cos they come from europe (pindstrup). Perlite is even more expensive, 27 dollars for a 3.8 cu ft bale, so instead of perlite I use carbonized rice hulls, 7 dollars for the same amount, with the added benefit that it doesnt disintegrate over time like perlite, charcoal basically lasts forever in the soil, plus it also adds to the mix's CEC helping to retain more nutrients.
Use carbonized rice hulls instead of perlite. They're common ingredient in many professional soilless mixes in my country.
They help with aeration, just like perlite, but unlike perlite they also have a little bit of CEC (cation exchange capacity)
which helps retain more nutrients.
Thanks for the suggestion, I have gotten this suggestion a few times so I will try that next time! I did try crushed walnut shell and that was far superior to perlite, so now I will compare rice hulls and crushed walnut shell. I love these great alternatives!
Never heard of a vacuum breaker.
Great video.
Neither had I before I worked for the department of health, and since I've been working here and learning of their importance, I took the money and time to ensure that all of my hose bibs now have working vacuum breakers!
From what I've learned, Perlite is good for drainage and Vermiculite is good for holding onto water. Adding it to the mix with help keep it moist.
We make our own from shredded shipping boxes in a smokless stainless steel pire pit. Pack the paper shreds in tight and light from the top. In 30 minutes you have biochar
i use crushed egg shells in place of perlite, it also adds calcium to the soil
Subscribed because I randomly found Kara and she immediately explained her friends are like mine… Peckerheads 😂
Thanks for the mixing video!
Rice hulls
For seed starting mix pumice for base soil .
Great suggestion, thank you!
I've heard of rice hulls from either Gardeners World or Gardening Australia (probably Gardening Australia). I've never been able to find a supple here in the US, do you know of any?
@@ThePessimisticGardener try Build a Soil
@@pauljulian9642 try a brewery shop. they use it in wine/beer brewing and sell it in bulk.
In the philippines we substitute perlite with carbonized rice hulls
Such a great idea! I'm going to see if I can find some to purchase here in the US, thank you for the recommendation!
Good video.
Steer manure is high in salt.
You know I had a strong theory that high salt could be a possibility with cow manure and that might've been why it kept killing my plants. Thanks for confirming that!
Coconut coir can have high levels of salt. You should soak and rinse them 4x. Peat from Europe is poorly managed. The peat from Canada is well managed, however it is difficult to rewet after it dries out.
I've heard that, but I've never had issues with the coconut coir that I use and I've never rinsed it. I'm sure that it happens, it just hasn't been an issue for me yet.
tells you on the packet that you should rinse it before use. i started doing so, as dont want all those tannins and salt.
Hasn't been a problem for me. My plants do great without rinsing it.
@@ThePessimisticGardener : sensitive plants do better with the rinse. also, if you do a big pot on concrete outside, without rinsing it makes a brown mess over time as you water. so now i just rinse.
We want to see the process
Kara seems like a good friend 😂
She is
Peat moss cheaper and the same thing if you not balling
We cannot replace the peat biomass that we remove from a bog in a human being's lifetime, it's like cutting down old-growth forest for our gardens.
Very Unsustainable
@@onegrapefruitlover Peatmoss is a completely different material, totally unrelated to peat from bogs.
Peat reserves if well managed can replenish themselves. Of course it takes time, but peat reserves are massive, it's not like they're gonna run out of them any time soon even if people start using more or it. Plus, if you're concerned about the environment and live in a cold climate place, think about how much fuel was spent to bring that coco to your place.
There are many gardening channels explaining the myth behind the idea that using peat is bad for the environment. Go check the channel "Garden Fundamentals" by Robert Pavlis.
Using what's local is key. I live in the tropics and coco is affordable here, much more so that peat. In my place a washed bale of coco 3.8 cubic feet costs 10 dollars (7 dollars unsashed) while peat is 50 to 100% more expensive by volume depending on where you buy, cos they come from europe (pindstrup).
Perlite is even more expensive, 27 dollars for a 3.8 cu ft bale, so instead of perlite I use carbonized rice hulls, 7 dollars for the same amount, with the added benefit that it doesnt disintegrate over time like perlite, charcoal basically lasts forever in the soil, plus it also adds to the mix's CEC helping to retain more nutrients.