Scoria

[white_cluster]

howdy,

 

I'm wondering if anyone has used scoria before?? I seen it at bunnings for $8 a bag, so its way cheaper than clay balls, and seems to have the same kind of properties. Anyway I will be testing it my bubblers next grow just to see if it works as good unless some-one has had any bad experiences.

[Luke Skywalker]

Hi there white cluster,

 

I've never used the stuff before, so I'm only repeating what others have said to me... Some types have very sharp edges, which can cut and damage roots if compacted too roughly. This is only a problem if you've never transplanted a clone before though, and if you use growool cubes as clone starters, then drop them into the scoria, which I presume will be in a net-pot for bubblers, then you should have no probs.... I've also heard that aside from that, yes, it's a good media, of course depending on the type, and where it's from.... But dude, I find that not much compares to those expanded clay balls, couldn't you look in the local classifieds for people selling the stuff cheap if you're that cash strapped? And anyway, expanded clay doesn't cost that much, and they're proven winners. I don't know, I'm not trying to push you one way or another, but it seems that expanded clay wins for bubbler, or for that matter most hydro grows as a media. Give us a report on the scoria if you do go with it though, I'd like to hear more from growers who use it. Maybe it will work as an additive to other types of media in a mix? i.e. perlite, scoria mix, or mixing some with good soil?

 

Anyway, just my two cents. I hope it helps....

[happyherb]

ive got these bags made out of shade cloth that fit into the bottom of the pot .there round and a few inches high and are flled with scoria rocks,bought from a hydro shop..now i havnt finished the grow yet but many others have and have had no problems.im also using co co peat as the medium.hh.

[Guest Field_of_Light]

I suppose the other option is to sit there with a piece of scoria and file and smooth out all the edges....

 

Yeh I saw a few mediums when I was at Bunnings with the missus and thought to myself....they are pretty damn cheap....maybe try to experiement with one bucket when the time comes....

 

As for the scoria having rough edges....what about smallish pebbles with water running on them 24/7 as with the krusty methd I cant see why they wouldnt work....as they wont get water logged....

[white_cluster]

Im using scoria, works fine. 20mm scoria, cost like $7 a bag. needs alot more rinsing than clay balls.

[Guest Field_of_Light]

Wc imagine if it worked really really well and the hydro shops found out...hello to 30$ bag of scoria.....

 

They can be assholes like that sometimes

[white_cluster]

I should mention that I'm not really in a position to judge this though, my crop is fucked at the moment. My plants we're heavily nutrient burn damaged.

I was running em on straight water but they were'nt getting any better. Anyway I bought a truncheon and tested my water and the truncheon didn't work, caught the bus back to the shop, they test it and it works fine.

So I add some Nutrient to some bottled water and it works fine, So my water was totally off the scale, too high to be measured on a truncheon. I paid a bloke to go into a different town and fill a couple of tubs with water and got em home and now my crop is picking up and starting to get green again. Waiting for my RO filter to arrive now.

[Guest Field_of_Light]

SHit WC....r sure you arent using bore water?

 

I had a freind that lived in the middle of nowhere and had exactly the same sorts of water problems.....massive salt count in his water and little he could do about it...cept go for a RO system....but it was a rented house and he wasnt keen.....so he moved...

[wassily]

Man Cluster, that's heavy duty. You up in QLD somewhere? The water on the sunshine coast was way heavy. It's real clean here.

[WhiteSkunk]

hey WC

if your water is the prob ...for what eva reason

 

u can buy water sofeners and the like to fix it...

 

all u need do is fill up a 200ltr platic olive drum(blk ones)

 

add your sofeners and the like then check salts and ph

 

once addjusted and all is good add nuts do ph agian

 

and your ready to feed...........

 

where i am the water is very hard and harsh but doing as i stated above

 

i have ova come the prob.

 

if that fails then rain water dude cheers WS