Does anyone grow new seedlings in straight perlite?

17 years ago

Hi all :)

I think I remember seeing a picture of someone who had a seedling that was planted in straight perlite.

I just have this thing thinking seedlings should be planted in soil.. if you do use perlite only, can you tell me the advantages? Does it improve damping off statistics?

I appreciate the repsonses, I am starting to wonder if I just imagined the whole thing.

Thanks,

Marleah

Comments (4)

seaglassic
17 years ago
I had great luck with a 50/50 blend of perlite and play sand, for the cuttings I took last year, from my golden chain tree...I have new baby trees with leaves coming out now..so, it's next on my list this week, to do the same with the rose cuttings.
I know I'll be using a rooting hormone and sticking them right into the pot, with that mixture in it.

I don't like to try and get roots from leaving them in water..
if it wasn't for so many other cuttings of other things that I'm doing right now...(apple blossom and photinia) I would be out there doing the roses.

Becky
joeysmum
16 years ago
I just used straight perlite on my first try.
I saw it online somewhere, and it worked for me! It is supposed to hold water better, and I guess thats what its all about, keeping roots damp. I'll try it again. I also read straight sand works well.
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george_mander
16 years ago
EXCERPT FROM MY ARTICLE :(Cuttings from Cuttings.....

Here is a link that might be useful: Cuttings from Cuttings, from Cuttings...
george_mander
16 years ago
Sorry, my excerpt did not go in !
Hope it works now ?
1. I am now using a special, ready made, commercial planting mix which comes in bales like peat moss. I believe this mix has made the difference in getting 100 % rooted cuttings. It is called " Sunshine Mix Aggregate Plus #4 ". It's major components are Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss, Perlite, Dolomite Limestone (pH adjuster) and a wetting agent. In Canada it is made by "Fisons Horticulture Inc." and in the US by "Sun Gro Horticulture Inc." [Web site: www.SunGro.com]. My damp-off losses are way, way down to only 2-3 %, some varieties 0 %, since I now use only this mix for all my seed germination and for potting up my seedlings.