Pumice.

I have never tried this, but I saw someone mention that they put their old mix in water, like a bucket, a scoop or two at a time. The perlite floats and they scoop it out, wash it and reuse it. I guess that would work, but I'd guess that if you have bark fines or other ingredients that also float it would be a mess.

I agree that pumice is a great alternative (and not readily available in my area), I just thought I'd "float the idea" for you to ponder. =:o

Also, I like to top my potting mix with lava rock or other top dressing to keep perlite from blowing away.

Crenda, that would mean that the perlite has floated it's way up from the mix, and it;s only being contained there by the top dressing. if so, what is the point of using it? The supposed benefit of perlite is that, mixed with soil, it helps create porosity, but if it has floated away from the mix and it's just sitting on top there's no point in using it

Other than pumice, maybe this: http://growstone.com/

Manuel, perlite doesn't actually float/move upwards within the mix when it's in a pot with a plant in it. The perlite at the very top will float if a lot of water is poured in when watering. Any perlite on the top of the soil can also blow away when it's dry. Crenda was mentioning how they mix old soil in a bucket of water and all the perlite floats up, but it doesn't do that in a soil mix. I've seen people mention that a lot. It might be confusing because of how it's explained (I don't mean Crenda), or they're misinformed.

I have to admit that I'm using perlite in two pots. One is a hanging Pothos. I used large perlite from RepotMe. I think I used too much, because I have to drench the pot 2 or 3 times a week. The plant is beautiful, long, and keeps growing. I also used it in a Peace Lily pot. Again, I must've used too much, because I need to water it almost every day or it wilts, so it does work for it's intended purpose, but not the dusty type

I started using more perlite in my houseplant soil and boy did that make a difference in the root growth. I repotted a Pothos a few months after I switched to that mix and couldn't believe the root growth compared to what it was with just potting soil (that has a paltry amount of perlite). I also have a Peace Lilly. I don't need to water them as much as you. I guess we have to adjust when needed. If repotting once a year, I would add some vermiculite, but many people really don't like that. I've seen it turn to mush and I don't need the water retention, so I don't use it anymore except for small African Violet pots that are drying out quickly like your other plants. I repot them regularly anyway.

I use Perlite mixed in w/ my Houseplants & Pumice mixed in w/ my Succulents (indoor grower only). I've never had a problem w/ this floating Perlite business. I simply don't understand the issue; I mix it up very well & it doesn't separate at all. (I use old coffee cans w/ lids in which to mix my components, I can mix them up really well that way.)

I've recently started using a mix roughly 1/3 each Perlite, C&S mix & Reptibark. The plants love it, in particular my Spaths (4), 1 Bromeliad & even a Sans I have growing at work.

Am going to try it on some Hoya cuttings next.

I also use a 1/3 each of perlite, soil, and bark for some Thanksgiving Cactus I started and they love it. I suppose they'd like anything porous, but I had a little bit of bark so I thought they'd probably like it because of some of them growing in crooks of trees in native habitat. It sounds like a nice idea anyway.

I do have to water them pretty often because they're in relatively small pots and don't need a lot of soil.

When I water houseplants, if I really pour the water on so that it rises up a half inch above the soil, some of the perlite on the surface will float up and can get on stems of leaves or whatever. I just water them slower. I imagine when watering outside using a sprayer, this might not be easy to do (or rain). My soil mix for succulents is porous enough that I don't see this at all.

I have used sifted decomposed granite which I scraped off the ground where it was used as a ground cover.

I do the same as Crenda. Pot the plant with the perlite in the mix then put a layer of pebbles about the same size over the top. It stops the top bits of perlite washing or blowing away.

I actually have more problems with the perlite blowing out of the pot. I go heavy with perlite (for weight reduction of pot) and granite grit for better drainage during my rainy summers. So a lot ends up on the top, even tho mixed in well -

I have a few large pots with a mix of perlite and c&s soil that I use for less touchy plants like plumeria, pineapple and Dracaena, some Aloes. This mix stays together nicely and I don't need worry as much about it blowing away.

Floating isn't as much a problem for me and I've never had it separate out and float to the top. Just the top can be altered by the wind - for me, that is. I can usually find it in my pool!! LOL

BTW, as far as I see in the US, most 'C&S' soil is exactly the same as potting soil which is mainly peat moss, some bark and stick scraps and a bit of perlite--it just has some added sand. I just use peat moss for that portion when I'm using it. I don't want the sand except for some mesembs. Is there other C&S soil I'm not aware of? (Serious question--I might want to use it.)

Miracle Grow uses mostly composted leaf mold. And it said changes the mix depending on where it is sold or time of year. Peat is more expensive now. Peat has an anti fungus agent to it so it is some times better for house plants.

I have a large compost pile of mostly grass clippings and leaves. Very well composted over the years. Using it now for my plants. I used to use compost tea from my clippings but the smell is really bad.

For grit I buy Poultry Grit (decomposed granite) which comes in two sizes here. Small for hurenias and large for agaves, aloes and sanseveria. 50 lb. bags for about $8 to $10.

Stush, do you use the compost in any succulents? We have a compost pile that's probably about ready by now. It has a lot of food waste in it.

I think Miracle Grow peat moss is still very cheap. I don't like that it has fertilizer in it, but it doesn't end up being very much.

I have just started using my compost for all my plants. I use bone meal mixed in as well as Alafia meal. Mine is many years old and completely dark soil like. Funny, I didn't find any worms in it or bugs. That's a bad sign I think. Maybe they stay deeper in the pile.

If you use the meal, go lightly due to it drawing animals to eat it.

I have a big bag of MG peat I use to keep my cannas and dahlia roots in for the winter.

Growstone which is made out of recycled glass is denser than perlite.

From the video, GrowStone seems rather large. Wouldn't work for smaller plants

Manuel, no wonder it has higher aeration than perlite. :) I really don't know anything about it other than I saw a forum member who uses it. I wonder if there are different sizes, like what General Pumice offers.

Perlite is way too light for me. I grow exclusively outdoors - if I had perlite in plastic pots my guys would fly about whenever the wind blew. Coarse grit in Terracotta.

Jeff, there are different sizes for growstones.

Indeed there are. You'll need to scroll down a bit >>> here.

Jeff, there are different sizes for growstones. Those of you who live in the US may find that is the case - for many of us in 3rd world countries we just have to adapt wit what we can get - I use a coarse grit I get from a builders´ merchant.

But at least our kids aren´t going to be murdered in yet another school shooting.

With freedom comes at a price. I think it is showed so much in the news that it looks like only our problem. It happens all over the world.

But agreed, not here on this site.

Paul, what kind of spider is that in your picture?

I often use 1/3 perlite along with pumice to reduce cost. Using it like that seems to make it behave.

"But at least our kids aren´t going to be murdered in yet another school shooting."

That was a gratuitous pot shot (pun intended) SpanishFly. What has that got do with cultivating cacti and succulents? I am surprised at you.

SpanishFly : What a stupid comment to make. Where do YOU live? You have a very ugly soul to talk that type of trash in a forum where people from all over the world come together to share our love of plants. There's always a miserable hater in every group

Funny how silent SpanishFly became when questioned about where she lives. Ran away with her tail between her legs

Let it go.

Going back to GrowStones, I had looked at the video a few years ago, but only saw one size. I had also been intrigued by the idea of something light. Will scroll through the site again.

"Stush2049 Pitts. PA, zone 6(Zone 6)

Paul, what kind of spider is that in your picture?"

Stush, she was a Latrodectus variolus-- a northern black widow.

Thanks Paul, never seen one. Are they up in zone 6? I though it may be a type of tick.

Their range extends up into southern Canada as I recall. They're more common than most folks realize and not deserving of the extreme negative hype idiots in the news make them out to be.

I know most insect bites are mistakenly blamed on spiders. Almost all spiders have too tiny of fangs to penetrate most peoples' skin. When I was a boy, I used to collect spiders. I think I had about 10 different kinds. Just native types. That was before any info could be found on them. Ticks their close cousins are fare more worse.

When I go to the Reptile show in WhitePlains, they usually also have some huge spiders for sale. A breeder told me that it's best to use goggles when handling them. Even though we cant see or feel them, they shoot tiny hairs that can embed themselves in our eyeballs.

Checking google on spider bites, I guess I was lucky growing up playing with spiders. I always handled them with my bare hands.

Asclepiad-fan, Sorry for going off topic on your post.

"Stush2049 Pitts. PA, zone 6(Zone 6)

I know most insect bites are mistakenly blamed on spiders. "

Insects or bites from ticks.

.

"Stush2049 Pitts. PA, zone 6(Zone 6)

Almost all spiders have too tiny of fangs to penetrate most peoples' skin."

That is actually not the case. While there are many ... especially if one takes the babiies/juvies into account -- that can't, there are quite a few that can penetrate human skin. Rather, there are not many reasons a spider would bite a person and that the venom of most spiders would have little to no effect on a human. (There are even numerous reports of people by widows with no effect at all.)

By and large, spider venom is designed to be effective against its typical prey. As most feed on arthropods (insects, for example), venom is typically most effective or even only seriously effective on those organisms. Humans are not on the menu.

With "true spiders", the only reason to bite a human is when threatened -- grabbed or pinned against the skin. Such a reaction under those circumstances is totally understandable and can't be held against them. I recall reading a study in which a researcher was trying to research the effects of widow venom on humans with himself as a guinea pig. Trouble was the widow wouldn't cooperate and bite. He had to practically mutilate the poor spider before it would do so. Even the brown recluse -- whose venom can indeed have some horrible effects -- is not going to walk up to a person and bite them for no reason.

.

"Stush2049 Pitts. PA, zone 6(Zone 6)

Ticks, their close cousins, are fare more worse"

Worse by far and MUCH more common to boot.

.

"Stush2049 Pitts. PA, zone 6(Zone 6)

Checking google on spider bites, I guess I was lucky growing up playing with spiders. I always handled them with my bare hands."

Not really, Stush. Your risk level was extremely low. As mentioned above, there are few spiders whose venom would have had any chance of affecting you or anyone else. Further, most spiders would have no inclination to bite. People take far greater risks getting in a car or walking/jogging/cycling on or by a road but you don't see/hear the idiots in the media sensationalizing such issues or people trying to boycott/get rid of/destroy cars and trucks because of that.

For that matter, on the topic of googling for damage caused by spider bites, look for damage caused by auto accidents -- puts the spider damage to shame. Or even look up damage due to dog bites -- which is also more likely to happen than a spider bite. It's not pretty.

.

"hellkitchenguy Manuel

When I go to the Reptile show in WhitePlains, they usually also have some huge spiders for sale. A breeder told me that it's best to use goggles when handling them. Even though we cant see or feel them, they shoot tiny hairs that can embed themselves in our eyeballs."

Said breeder needs to get their head out of their arse and be more careful/precise in what they say.

1. "Spiders" encompass two main categories -- "true spiders" ... Infraorder Araneomorphae ... which includes all your garden variety spiders (funnel weaver, orb weavers, wolf, etc.) and "primitive spiders" ... Infraorder Mygalomorphae ... which includes tarantulas, trapdoor spiders and Australia's funnel web spider.
2. NONE of the "true spiders" have the hairs the breeder mentioned. ONLY the New World tarantulas have such hairs. (Old World Ts actually have stronger venom and far more defensive "bad attitude".)
3. As with venom, just how irritating the urticating hairs are depends upon the species, where the hairs come in contact, and, to some extent, the person involved. Typically the soft membranes of the eyes and sinuses and perhaps mouth/throat are most affected. If you get the hairs in such tissues, you WILL feel them. (That's the whole point after all. When you're large enough for many mammals to see you as a tasty meal, you need some defense to encourage them to reconsider.)
4. Handling with most tarantulas should be avoided as it stresses the animal which can lead to bites or injury or ill health of the T.
5. Unless one is dumb enough to have ones face in close proximity of the tarantula or handles the T and does not take the precaution of washing one's hands immediately after, getting said hairs in one's eye is almost impossible.

Thanks Paul. May I ask what your background is?

Biology/zoology background and hobbyist of plants and "creepy crawlies". ;-)

It shows Paul.