Buying Perlite

Last time I bought Perlite (100L bags) I got it from an online hydroponic shop 'coz they had a good price. But it was much more coarse than I was used to (probably ideal as a Hydroponics media, but I think too coarse as a mix with multi purpose compost for cuttings and general potting on).

Checking the bags the Grade from the Hydroponics Shop was P45, whereas what I had used before was P25

Any suggestions as best place to buy it? I guess I will use around 500L p.a. so I am happy to buy in bulk
Have bought previously from JFC Monro
http://jfcmonro.co.uk/search.asp?types=yes&type=Growing+Media+>+Perlite
which is £15 / 100L, but due to carriage cost they need a large order to be cost effecive

 

£95 for 500L delivered any good? http://www.lbsgardenwarehouse.co.uk/product.asp?pf_id=R-PERL&name=perlite&sfile=1&jump=0




@Kristen - But you'll probably get it cheaper if you can register for a trade account here http://www.lbsbuyersguide.co.uk/gateway and get a price for this http://www.lbsbuyersguide.co.uk/medium-grade-perlite-100ltr.html (I've got prices from them for buying pots by the thousands)

 

I've never bought perlite, always seems like an overpriced gimick to me.
Sharp sand is cheaper, and heavier.

 

I don't think sand 'opens up' the compost quite like Perlite does, if you take a handful and squeeze it hard you just can't compress it when there is Perlite mixed in, brilliant stuff I think I have been using it for years now, definitely worth the money in my opinion!!

Val

 

Interesting. Earlier in the year I had a bunch of cuttings to do and had run out of Perlite (which I normally mix with multi-purpose close to 50:50 - I actually think 50:50 is too much Perlite, but that ratio is often advocated).

So I used sharp sand. The pots were incredibly heavy, and I thought they must be getting far too wet under the mist propagator, but the cuttings rooted well. On potting on the compost is very fine - the sand has intermingled with the multi purpose to create a very fine media (maybe I rubbed it together well when mixing it, I can't remember). So it does seem to have done a good job. Dunno if I will damage more roots at potting on though - the mix doesn't fall off the roots as easily as Perlite.

Next time I have a large batch to do I'll try a half-and-half comparison.

For potting on I do find that the Perlite keeps the compost open. Its a bit of a two edged sword though, when next potting on the rootball can collapse, whereas my aim is to knock out of the old pot and pop into the new pot intact, and then put a couple of handfuls of compost around it. But, subjectively, I think that the plants prefer it and develop faster. Multi purpose compost has a habit of compacting through watering etc and Perlite seems to avoid that. Not tried sand in that scenario, but the 50:50 sand compost cuttings I am potting on are "dense"

Another option might be to try rooting in 100% Perlite. When I worked on a micro propagation nursery that's what was used - long benches of Perlite and Mist. We put the cuttings direct into the benches, and then after potting on we steam sterilised the Perlite for the next batch. So perhaps the perlite could be reused in a home / amateur environment (put in a Pyrex bowl with a little water can chuck in the microwave for a couple of minutes)

Its not far off is it At best £15/100L plus around £8 for delivery would make 500L around £83. I ought to investigate a Trade Account with LBS ... plenty that I do buy I buy in large enough qty to be "trade"

That begs the question whether I should set up a business and sell some plants ... could probably treat all consumables for the garden as a business expense then ...

 

OK ... I made an application

100L is £17.80 each (inc VAT) or £16.18 for 5-off which will do me I think

Thanks.

 

I agree that perlite opens up the soil, which is something most plants prefer.

What does annoy me about perlite though, is that when you water the pot, it tends to seperate from the other ingredients (particularly near the top) and floats to the top.

 

Yes it does, but the good things about it far outweigh the bad!!

Val