perlite

[oscar freak]

repotted some of my cyms in a bark/perlite mix,the perlite is a fine grade.its my first time using perlite it seems odd to me,it never seems wet like its holding water.

[tucker85]

You're right, perlite doesn't hold much moisture but it provides aeration to the mix. I've always used the large perlite which is also called sponge rock, but I don't grow cyms so I don't know what's appropriate for them.

[Cym Ladye]

Cyms like #3 or #4 Sponge Rok. Definitely larger than the small or agricultural grade mentioned here. The smaller one is fine with seedlings as a combined mix with fine bark.

[oscar freak]

so what should i do now,i have one more cym to transplant?should i use a finer grade of bark or add some sphagum moss to the mix?

[WhiteRabbit]

I would not worry about it. Cyms don't seem to be very fussy. I have used smaller perlite without issue. It may not help anything, but it hasn't seemed to hurt at all.
I usually use a combination of fine and medium bark, and toss some styro pnuts in (just not the green ones!)

[billc]

Sonya, Why not the green ones??

Bill

[silken]

Some styro peanuts are env. friendly. They are made from cornstarch and dissolve when watered.

[Ray]

The dyes used in some styrofoam peanuts is phytotoxic.

The peanuts made from cornstarch are NOT styrofoam, but still should never be used in a flower pot, as they dissolve in water and form a gummy, root-suffocating mess.


Ray Barkalow
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[WhiteRabbit]

Green ones are meant for electronics, and have some anti-static treatment.

[Ray]

Actually pink ones are the super-static-eliminators. Green and blue dyes are used to indicate they are recycled, rather than new, and the green is a slightly-antistatic coating to aid in dry-climate packing, more than for electronics.