Hi Nick! I've been adding perlite to my potting soil for a couple of years, thanks to you. I, also, add worm castings and charcoal. Thank you so much for sharing!
With some plants like Sansevierias that have large cultivars, using Pumice in place of Perlite can add weight to the pot and can help stabilize the plant as the roots grow. I grow a number of different Sansevierias that are large, fan-like plants, or that have long cylindrical stems which make them top-heavy. The pumice gives some weight to the soil which helps keep the roots in place, though even with pumice you'll need stakes (I've also found I can stabilize the plant with river rocks that I buy in a bag at the big box stores. Use enough to pretty well cover the soil surface to keep roots from popping out. These combined with one or two stakes can stabilize a top-heavy plant until the roots have grown to the point they anchor the plant. Some have taken six months to a year but then the stakes can be removed, though I leave the stones as they look nice and the soil surface isn't disturbed when watering).
Hi Nick, I am moving just about my entire collection into Pon, with and without self watering. I personally just cannot take the dirty mess of soil when reporting. Not to mention being able to sterilize and reuse the Pon. I know it's not for everyone, but I love it, and I love your channel, too. ❤❤❤
Pon. Even Google had no idea what I meant but I think I eventually got there.. Lechuza-Pon comes up? This reminds me of what I have my Bonsai trees planted in (lava rock, safe t sorb, pumice etc) but I'm not sure what the Pon is exactly.. "mineral stones" isn't helpful even in the least (what I see coming up). Love that this product can be sterilized and reused! I see some brands (like Lechuza) add slow release fertilizers which would be great for trees :D but they would run out, so you'd either have to repot with fresh Pon mix or reintroduce fertilizer over time. 🤔
Thanks Nick I love you straight forward and honest, passionate approach to plant care. I too love to have a selection of soil components in my potting bar so I can mix the perfect cocktail for my green and not so green little buddies. Whatever estranged plant I bring home I know I will always be able to provide them with the support they need. It is always interesting to compare plants, compost and prices between the US and the UK. I definitely prefer our prices 😜 As an English guy I live in the UK but still an avid follower of your channel.
Hi Nick from Australia 🇦🇺. Not sure what is available in the usa but I have recently discovered how good African violet soil is. After losing several peperomia caperatas with root rot and lot of other peperomia issues. I tried following and making my soil for them. Just didn't work. Now I have discovered African violet soil from Australia. I have reotted my remaining peperomias as well as all my pileas into this. Now no problems with watering root rot all anything else. They are all going well with this mix. Highly recommend if this is available in the usa if anyone is having issues with these 2 species of plants. Wish I had found it earlier and known it would work for these plants. I' wouldn't have lost the 4 I did before using it
I have used the African violets soil mix for African violets but not for any other plants,thanks for the tip.I wish it came in bigger bags. Cheers from SA.
I tried coco peat for a bit, but I'm making the switch to sphagnum peat. The coco peat, ime, dries inconsistently and is poor at growing roots. I'm guessing it has to do with the fact of the higher salt content in anything "coconut" and the fact that higher salt means less microbial activity. I find that I can easily manage the shrinking aspect of sphagnum by mixing non-organics into the substrates (perlite, small stones/gravel, vermiculite, etc.). Root growth tend to be more rigorous, and I'm not gonna unpot a plant years from now and realize that there's very little root growth over time.
I agree with everything 100%! Perlite, coconut coir, pine bark are my favorites as well, but I also like adding leca as well to my soil mixes! Horticultural charcoal is great as well, I just don't have anyone selling it for affordable prices in my area.
Hi Nick, love you content. Please could you do an update on your semi hydro video. I have recently moved my plants to semi hydro but I'm having a huge panic attack..lol
Very tempting! I’m a big “mix my own soil” kind of guy. I do use Fox Farm Ocean Forest as my base usually but this video has me interested to try a Coir base.
So.. Perlite tends to float to the top during watering, right? Because it's so light... How to stop that from happening? Or does it not matter so much..
You're so right about the soil + perlite as a base! It's really hard to go wrong with that! I also prefer smaller bark so I buy one for reptiles 😅 I use Cactus soil as a base (promix) for everything 😅 And I use perlitr, bark, charcoal and leca. TBH I use that soil with everything 😅 So far it works very well 😊 I did use Pon with Alocasias 😅
6:18 I hate perlite with a passion that is really not justifiable. I got tired of it washing up and sitting on the top of the soil, within a matter of months. It’s just annoying.
I have found Perlite superior to pumice when mixing with standard potting mix of either peat or coconut fibers. However, pumice is better for plants that require mostly a rock- based soil. For instance, Haworthias grow better in pumice or Lechuza-Pon. Those two have no organic component in the mix.
Nick, the plant to your right (the tallest one) can you tell me the name? I lost the tag, and I'm too forgetful to remember what it is. Also, can you tell me how to propagate it?
I’m rewatching this video because I’m about to repot several plants to bring to my office. Thanks for the tips Nick!
Hi Nick! I've been adding perlite to my potting soil for a couple of years, thanks to you. I, also, add worm castings and charcoal. Thank you so much for sharing!
With some plants like Sansevierias that have large cultivars, using Pumice in place of Perlite can add weight to the pot and can help stabilize the plant as the roots grow. I grow a number of different Sansevierias that are large, fan-like plants, or that have long cylindrical stems which make them top-heavy. The pumice gives some weight to the soil which helps keep the roots in place, though even with pumice you'll need stakes (I've also found I can stabilize the plant with river rocks that I buy in a bag at the big box stores. Use enough to pretty well cover the soil surface to keep roots from popping out. These combined with one or two stakes can stabilize a top-heavy plant until the roots have grown to the point they anchor the plant. Some have taken six months to a year but then the stakes can be removed, though I leave the stones as they look nice and the soil surface isn't disturbed when watering).
So glad you are back in full swing. I am here for it❤
Hi Nick, I am moving just about my entire collection into Pon, with and without self watering. I personally just cannot take the dirty mess of soil when reporting. Not to mention being able to sterilize and reuse the Pon. I know it's not for everyone, but I love it, and I love your channel, too. ❤❤❤
I have an alocasia in pon that had a spider mite infestation. Do I need to wash the pin. I put it outside during recent heavy rains.
Pon. Even Google had no idea what I meant but I think I eventually got there.. Lechuza-Pon comes up? This reminds me of what I have my Bonsai trees planted in (lava rock, safe t sorb, pumice etc) but I'm not sure what the Pon is exactly.. "mineral stones" isn't helpful even in the least (what I see coming up). Love that this product can be sterilized and reused! I see some brands (like Lechuza) add slow release fertilizers which would be great for trees :D but they would run out, so you'd either have to repot with fresh Pon mix or reintroduce fertilizer over time. 🤔
@@NoDecaf7 I'm with you on your question. I don't get it either. 😢
Fantastic job explaining complex concepts in such a simple and engaging way. Thumbs up!❤
So glad to see new videos. I love your vibe, and thanks for coming back. I love my green babies.
Thanks Nick I love you straight forward and honest, passionate approach to plant care. I too love to have a selection of soil components in my potting bar
so I can mix the perfect cocktail for my green and not so green little buddies. Whatever estranged plant I bring home I know I will always be able to provide them with the support they need.
It is always interesting to compare plants, compost and prices between the US and the UK. I definitely prefer our prices 😜 As an English guy I live in the UK but still an avid follower of your channel.
Hi Nick from Australia 🇦🇺. Not sure what is available in the usa but I have recently discovered how good African violet soil is. After losing several peperomia caperatas with root rot and lot of other peperomia issues. I tried following and making my soil for them. Just didn't work. Now I have discovered African violet soil from Australia. I have reotted my remaining peperomias as well as all my pileas into this. Now no problems with watering root rot all anything else. They are all going well with this mix. Highly recommend if this is available in the usa if anyone is having issues with these 2 species of plants. Wish I had found it earlier and known it would work for these plants. I' wouldn't have lost the 4 I did before using it
I have used the African violets soil mix for African violets but not for any other plants,thanks for the tip.I wish it came in bigger bags. Cheers from SA.
I really like your show. I’m binge watching it.
I tried coco peat for a bit, but I'm making the switch to sphagnum peat. The coco peat, ime, dries inconsistently and is poor at growing roots. I'm guessing it has to do with the fact of the higher salt content in anything "coconut" and the fact that higher salt means less microbial activity. I find that I can easily manage the shrinking aspect of sphagnum by mixing non-organics into the substrates (perlite, small stones/gravel, vermiculite, etc.). Root growth tend to be more rigorous, and I'm not gonna unpot a plant years from now and realize that there's very little root growth over time.
I agree with everything 100%! Perlite, coconut coir, pine bark are my favorites as well, but I also like adding leca as well to my soil mixes! Horticultural charcoal is great as well, I just don't have anyone selling it for affordable prices in my area.
I do the same thing! Leca, coco coir, perlite, and orchid bark.
Great video. Are you learning how to play the harp? Love the puns too. So funny.
Yes, need harp info pls
Morning Nick. Another great video ....thanks
Hi Nick, love you content. Please could you do an update on your semi hydro video. I have recently moved my plants to semi hydro but I'm having a huge panic attack..lol
Nice sharing 😊
Good information
Very tempting! I’m a big “mix my own soil” kind of guy. I do use Fox Farm Ocean Forest as my base usually but this video has me interested to try a Coir base.
So.. Perlite tends to float to the top during watering, right? Because it's so light...
How to stop that from happening? Or does it not matter so much..
I layer my pots with a top 1" layer of pure soil. Then just water carefully
I don't use soil at all, but I watched the video anyway because you're funny and just too cute!
I’m sold on repotme soil! The best!
Thank you so much, very informative 😊😊
You're so right about the soil + perlite as a base! It's really hard to go wrong with that!
I also prefer smaller bark so I buy one for reptiles 😅
I use Cactus soil as a base (promix) for everything 😅
And I use perlitr, bark, charcoal and leca. TBH I use that soil with everything 😅
So far it works very well 😊
I did use Pon with Alocasias 😅
6:18 I hate perlite with a passion that is really not justifiable. I got tired of it washing up and sitting on the top of the soil, within a matter of months. It’s just annoying.
Nice info
That’s exactly what’s happened to mine now it’s like I can’t get the soil wet any more and my hanging pothos all look terrible! Thanks!!!!🤍🤍🤍🪴🪴🪴
I have found Perlite superior to pumice when mixing with standard potting mix of either peat or coconut fibers. However, pumice is better for plants that require mostly a rock- based soil. For instance, Haworthias grow better in pumice or Lechuza-Pon. Those two have no organic component in the mix.
Nick, the plant to your right (the tallest one) can you tell me the name? I lost the tag, and I'm too forgetful to remember what it is. Also, can you tell me how to propagate it?
I looks like an aglaonema silver bay
@@annissa485 Silver Bay. Thank you!
I'm going to send this to my friend who uses ONLY Miracle Grow and refers to her sansaveria as **the pointy guy**
Have you decided if you’re going to buy a house. That would be so much fun.