7 Answers

Using perlite in the Dutch bucket systems

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Posted In: Dutch bucket hydroponics Jan 06,2020
7 Answers
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Posted In: Dutch bucket hydroponics Jan 06,2020

Using perlite in the Dutch bucket systems

Brand new, getting ready to start dabbling with hydroponics. Question.

I see people using perlite in the Dutch bucket systems but one video a guy mentioned using gravel. I can get small gravel for free at the sand lot next door. If I clean the sand off of it and use straight gravel in my Dutch buckets, will it cause any issue?

Free media will drastically increase how big my system can be financially but, I’m not trying to set up to fail. Thanks.

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Cavin Anderson
Cavin Anderson

Growing in stones/pebbles will work, but may cause issues because they're minerals which can breakdown and effect ur water. Also unlike perlite there is very little buffer time if your power goes out because the pebbles will retain little to no water.

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    • James Reynolds

      makes sense. Anything you can think of you’d maybe mix with the gravel keeping it cost effective? Or just scrap the idea all together and go with perlite?

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Brian Bullock
Brian Bullock

Smooth screened gravel between 5-12 mm is perfect, heavy maybe , and as long as it’s stable and not limestone or acid. Neutral pH would be great.

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Daniel Sidor
Daniel Sidor

I prefer using leca and I reuse after each crop doing a bleach wash followed by H2O2 wash and 3 good rinses.

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    • James Reynolds

      this method seems to be crazy expensive, at least on enitial google searches for purchasing it ????????‍♂️ is there an inexpensive place to buy it in larger amounts?

    • Daniel Sidor

      leca is around 22usd for a 30 litre sack, bleach is a couple buck a gallon, and H2O2 is under 100usd per 5 gallon jug and it really goes a long way, 5 gallons lasts me with over 400 plants years.

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Lloyd Long
Lloyd Long

Test the gravel for lime alkaline by pouring vinegar on it if it foams don’t use.

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John Correia
John Correia

I wouldn't use either. Pebbles, lava rocks, hydroton, perlite. Use rockwool. Or just suspend roots in a neoprene netpot cover. Super easy. No crap to clean or tote around breaking your back. Hydroton is the worst.

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Cavin Anderson
Cavin Anderson

Rock wool is expensive large scale. Every medium has it's spot in the market for a reason

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Brian Dunning
Brian Dunning

Not sure I've ever seen or heard of anyone using rovkwool in Dutch buckets. But seeing what cubes cost, I cna image over $100 in wool in each bucket. Whew.

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