Sifting perlite

[Clawhammer]

pumice > perlite

[Lil Duck]

Originally Posted by Clawhammer

pumice > perlite

This
Unfortunately it is hard to get high quality pumice nowadays, the only size I frequently see is 1/4 inch which is only suitable for fine rooted orchids that like moisture. Sadly the only large pumice I can find online is Hyuga pumice which must be imported from Japan, all other vendors appear to be wholesale only or don’t ship.

[DirtyCoconuts]

i agree Duck, i cannot get it.

[Clawhammer]

I guess pumice is the only thing that costs less in the PNW. Proximity to volcanos I guess. I can get a huge 2cf bag for $7.99 at my local nursery. Take that Californians and Floridians that live so close to great orchid nurseries!

[Lil Duck]

I can find pumice quite easily where I'm at however it usually has lots of fines. Large Pumice (above 1/2 inch) is almost nonexistent.

[Roberta]

Amazon has this Amazon.com . Also some other brands that are 3/8". But it's definitely a whole lot more expensive than perlite (Amazon tends to bury shipping costs into products so the "free shipping" isn't)

[MateoinLosAngeles]

For those of you that punch holes in the bag and let water run through. Does storing the media while moist/wet create any issues?

I would assume that being inorganic and using RO water you could run water through the bag and it wouldn't necessarily cause a mold or algae problem (perhaps not only with perlite, but with lava rock or LECA too), but am I missing something? Do you let it dry out after the flush?

[estación seca]

It dries rapidly outdoors in Phoenix. I would think the same would happen outdoors in low-humidity Los Angeles Springs and Summers.