Cat litter is a good ingredient for plants that require very few nutrients. What exactly is garden soil, and why shouldn't it be used for potted plants? Case against home ownership? I actually find this unintentional layer of perlite that comes to the top to be beneficial. Is an ethernet cable threaded inside a metal conduit is more protected from electromagnetic interference? According to this site (and others), non-clumping cat litter contains Fuller's earth, which is a heavy clay. I have added additional negative experiences with fuller's earth into my answer. Styrofoam is supposed to be safe to grow vegetables in, so I imagine they'd be safe to grow weed in... however since OP's problem is that it accumulates at the top, this wouldn't be a very good solution. Vermiculite is cheap, light, and easy to find. I live over an hour from the closest grocery store and I just ran out of cat litter, I do have a large bag of perlite though and I can get more litter … A material that holds little water suitable for potting mix for interior plants? Definitely non-clumping! It may be made from Bentonite clay. Does an Electrical Metallic Tube (EMT) Inside Corner Pull Elbow count towards the 360° total bends? I use low dust non-clumping baked clay cat litter instead of perlite … 2. Didn't someone say pumice is better in that other thread of yours about other soils than FFOF? My view is :-Vermiculite - in some people's view it holds a bit too much water, but is often used to sprinkle on top of seeds as a way of keeping moisture in but is light in weight and allows light to penetrate. Most people who seem to know what they are talking about say that Cat litter is an inferior soil conditioner, and instead … Fir bark is a popular substrate used among cricket owners. --------------------. Has anybody tried this before and what do you think of my idea? What's better? Vermiculite, Hydroton, Sand, Bio-char...But if you use bio-char you have to go easy on it because it will absorb nutes. There's alot of info about inorganic soils for containers in Bonsai forums. I normally use very little, if any, perlite in my mixes but … 1 Answer. What font can give me the Christmas tree? Jurp, thank you for your answer, but according to this. But I wanna know if anyone else uses something else. Cat litter … (Diatomaceous Earth) Premium Cat Litter is a highly absorbent product. 2. How much drainage in seedling potting mix? I read many complaints about the messiness and buoyancy of Perlite so I searched for other aeration materials to substitute for the 2 parts Perlite called for in the LC #2 original recipe. Good thing I only need 5-10% in my mixes. rev 2020.12.18.38240, The best answers are voted up and rise to the top, Gardening & Landscaping Stack Exchange works best with JavaScript enabled, Start here for a quick overview of the site, Detailed answers to any questions you might have, Discuss the workings and policies of this site, Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, Learn more about hiring developers or posting ads with us. How can the “soils” be improved on coral atolls. Cat Litter. 6 years ago. There are different types of clay kitty litter, and the non water soluble “already fired” kind could be used as aggregate like sand. Perlite is designed to allow oxygen to still get to your roots - and that's definitely not something that cat litter … This will leave your soil waterlogged, which will kill most houseplants. Seem to be an alternative to perlite and acts a a detergent to fungus gnats. Relevance. Vermeculite does same thong with code red mt. *You can also use pumice … JavaScript is disabled. This sounds a bit snarky, but is not meant to be - when I experiment with plants, I never do it with something I'd hate to lose. i've always just used chunky perlite, i have never had an issue with it floating up to the top of my containers.. Special Kitty all natural cat litter from Wal-mart. Instead of using vermiculite to retain moisture, I am going to try mixing Catsan Silica cat litter grains into my compost instead. approx 1&1/2 to 2 inches of plain old unscented, untreated CLAY cat litter. Perlite: Perlite is used to improve drainage; though it doesn’t hold water as effectively as vermiculite. It turns to mud when wet, so, like sepiolite, not great for houseplant drainage. Can you use perlite instead of cat litter? The reason I'm willing to try it, it's because I tend to over water my plants, and I'm looking for a soil that will absorb some water, but will drain the excess, which seems to be the case for cat litter, otherwise bonsai growers wouldn't be using. Interestingly, sepiolite is very light, but your question (and my own experience) says that cat litter is heavy. What can be done to make them evaluate under 12.2? Does it really work? It only takes a minute to sign up. Also, I'll be fertilizing it as needed. Because it can absorb 1 ½ times its weight in moisture, it is 50% more absorbent than traditional clay cat litter. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. For the "2 Parts Perlite… Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers. As such, there is a slight chance that it can also be carcinogenic to cats. Ask me questions here rather than in Private Message Bod's chat thread First rule of mushroom … Also if you're using lights that get hot I would be even more wary of using styrofoam. How to maximize "contrast" between nodes on a graph? Has anyone tried it? Everything you need in one spot. It's 4 dollars a bag at Home Depot. Personlly, I would use a traditional bonsai mix, as i think that adding a ton of clay to the mix won't end well. To subscribe to this RSS feed, copy and paste this URL into your RSS reader. 0. You are using either of them for their fireproof insulating abilities, and I don't … My Q&A thread. i hate how perlite comes to the top of the container after watering. Gardening & Landscaping Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for gardeners and landscapers. Was the diagetic music in The Expanse specifically written for the show? I actually find this unintentional layer of perlite that comes to the top to be beneficial. I was thinking maybe something in the following ratio: I'm adding the perlite because cat litter is kind of heavy. Generally cheaper than products labeled as a dessicant too. You must log in or register to reply here. Yes , they did. With a nutrient-free mixture of perlite or pumice and cat litter, you give seedlings the best ground for rooting. Does software exist to automatically validate an argument? Why use potting mix instead of natural soil? I would leave it and add more! It provides excellent water storage capability within the soil mixture and also helps give a more open substrate. Additional sources on experiences with fuller's earth in pots: Thanks for contributing an answer to Gardening & Landscaping Stack Exchange! To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. A ruined wet bag of softwood pellets might be good to compost instead of throwing it away, but there are plenty of other better substitutes for mulch. Are all satellites of all planets in the same plane? Small soft bodies insects dont like it cause it cuts them up and scratches them so they cant get under it to lay eggs. I use it wrapped in pieces from an old tshirt in my toolbox to help fight off rust. The one I found is made mostly of sepiolite. do not use cat litter. Answer Save. Also, I'll be fertilizing it as needed. (yes, I know the portland … I think it maybe adds micros, as well. Unlike a hydrogel, it does not release the water back to the roots. How can ultrasound hurt human ears if it is above audible range? Posts. I believe you can use all or any of these - the object is to improve drainage, but still retain moisture. Perlite is the way to go in my opinion... What about starch based packing peanuts? I have literally tons of perlite wondering if I can use it as cat litter instead? site design / logo © 2020 Stack Exchange Inc; user contributions licensed under cc by-sa. Small pebbles or sand....neither absorb water and both prevent compacting if mixed in properly...I always do this with my outdoor pots since we have hot dry summers out here...roots luv to wrap around pebbles plus it creates a small reservoir in the bottom for extra water to drain or collect. It is good to soak up any liquid spills in the garage. I just read about rice hulls. x86-64 Assembly - Sum of multiples of 3 or 5. No, perlite is extremely dusty - the cats will breath that dust in every time they use/scratch in the litter … Is Vermiculite Cat Litter Safe for Cats? Premium Cat Litter's super absorbency and odor control means your litter … Cat litter is the magical substance that makes life easier for owners around the world. (Calcined clay.). i always liked the perlite on the top the bugs never get into the soil or mold . just water when they need it . Is it safe to use perlite instead of cat litter? So, you might need to be more cautious about using sawdust as a substitute cat litter. I haven't fully researched it. Stack Exchange network consists of 176 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. I just bought a bag of bio-char and it wasn't cheap. You don't need name brand for perlite. Blue Ribbon D.E. It also helps the plant roots during temperature fluctuation. Perlite Perlite … There are so many things that come with cat ownership that can lead to a mountain of trash. 20cu ft bag of peanuts is $30. Perlite or Vermiculite. Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. J C. Lv 7. I have a pellet stove and occasionally use the ash on the … I'm talking about the regular absorbent kind of cat litter. Quick Reply. The perlite comes to the top as it is less dense than dirt. Did Napoleon's coronation mantle survive? On the other hand, if you were to choose between shavings and sawdust… By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy. I want to try it in the potting mix I'm making for my interior plants. High income, no home, don't necessarily want one. cat litter is more expensive than perlite. “Johnny Cat” is one of these “already … The perlite comes to the top as it is less dense than dirt. If you do use fuller's earth, then I'd recommend only using it on something you don't mind killing. For example, cacti. Many cat lovers have asked me whether it is safe to use this readily available material as cat litter… Perlite … I know bonsai can be expensive. Is both natural and easy to dispose of lay eggs use low dust non-clumping baked clay litter! Capability within the soil or mold of my idea a naturally occurring that! 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