AIR … Breathe in, breathe out. We all need it, including plants and plant roots! What combines with air for rooting fig cuttings? Up for partaking at a smorgasbord in the game of “What Roots Better”?
"A while back ago, I was looking up analysis reports of sparkling mineral waters."
- because, of course you were.
We have tried straight perlite several times and it works well, but not as well as our other treatments - this was over about a dozen containers and several hundred cuttings (pure sand worked better I believe). I think we did against pure DE also and the DE won.
There are other variables of course, like the amount of water, frequency, temp, humidity, etc.. but it will be interesting to take a look at the paper you linked.
Yeah, straight perlite isn’t one that I think works well outside of a regular misting system. It just doesn’t hold enough water. But then that brings up why use perlite at all with a misting system? You might as well do aeroponics. I can see why the DE would win because it does hold a lot more water than perlite.
Fantastic breakdown of the aeration paradox! That finding about 100% perlite having highest rooting initiation but shorter roots really captures why most propagators land on compromises. I've noticeed similar patterns with succulents where too much drainage speeds callousing but then roots stall without nutrient retention. The sparkling water experiment is wild though, kinda makes sense that dissolved CO2 could make minerals bioavailable but wondering if the sodium buildup becomes a problen with repeated use.
Thank you! Yeah, getting that balance is so key, swaying in either direction, while giving one sort of benefit, often can cause certain issues that have to be dealt with. I am definitely worried about the sodium in the sparkling mineral water. It’s probably one of those things where it’s great to use it from time to time, but not necessarily on a weekly basis.
"A while back ago, I was looking up analysis reports of sparkling mineral waters."
- because, of course you were.
We have tried straight perlite several times and it works well, but not as well as our other treatments - this was over about a dozen containers and several hundred cuttings (pure sand worked better I believe). I think we did against pure DE also and the DE won.
There are other variables of course, like the amount of water, frequency, temp, humidity, etc.. but it will be interesting to take a look at the paper you linked.
Doesn’t everyone look up water reports? 😂
Yeah, straight perlite isn’t one that I think works well outside of a regular misting system. It just doesn’t hold enough water. But then that brings up why use perlite at all with a misting system? You might as well do aeroponics. I can see why the DE would win because it does hold a lot more water than perlite.
Fantastic breakdown of the aeration paradox! That finding about 100% perlite having highest rooting initiation but shorter roots really captures why most propagators land on compromises. I've noticeed similar patterns with succulents where too much drainage speeds callousing but then roots stall without nutrient retention. The sparkling water experiment is wild though, kinda makes sense that dissolved CO2 could make minerals bioavailable but wondering if the sodium buildup becomes a problen with repeated use.
Thank you! Yeah, getting that balance is so key, swaying in either direction, while giving one sort of benefit, often can cause certain issues that have to be dealt with. I am definitely worried about the sodium in the sparkling mineral water. It’s probably one of those things where it’s great to use it from time to time, but not necessarily on a weekly basis.