I have started to screen my perlite after having one year having issues with my soil staying too wet when up-potting my figs and citrus. I currently just use a piece of regular window screen. What do you use to screen? Did you make your own and how? Do you do it wet or dry?

Although I could probably just make something, I was looking for something I could buy to make it a little easier to sift. I ran across this. What do you think? Since I am not familar with screen sizes, I would hope the smallest of the 3 sizes here would be similar to window screen.
http://www.amazon.com/Soil-Sieve-Stainless-Steel-diameter/dp/B0007P4JAU/ref=cm_cd_al_qh_dp_i

Not me!
I would be more concerned about any inhaled [silica?] dust - please do wear some mask.

Yes, I do wear a mask! It is amazing how much dust is in a bag of perlite, and I even buy the coarse stuff!

Christy, that would probably work well..  I started using this strainer, but it's really to fine.  It gets the dust/powder out but keeps the tiniest of pieces.  But it takes forever.  I need to get a mask.  Right now I go outside and stand upwind.

Agree on the dust thing.  Every time i do it i can't breath for a few days and my eyes burn.  I really need to invest in a mask of some sort.  As far as the product, it looks like it would work.  I built my own with wood and window screen but its clunky and imperfect.  I wonder though if the sides aren't high enough on that product and on a windy day the perlite may just blow right over the sides and you end up losing 1/2 of the good stuff on the ground.

I hate it and avoid screening at all costs. I used to pour the perlite out into another container with an exhaust fan blowing so that the dust was carried away. It works OK for the chunky stuff after some practice. The fine grade I just use as is for larger containers because it is a real pain to get out the dust.

But lately for cuttings I have been using NAPA #8822 and growstones, which can both be rinsed to remove the dust. The growstones are really pricey but also a much better product than perlite IMO.

I have not done this yet - but I will try it next time mixing my potting medium.

Make a couple of drain holes in the bag of perlite and add some plain water.
Pure perlite should drain very quickly.
Moist perlite will be dust-free (dust just sticks to bigger junks) and it will be better for mixing.

I screen to get the biggest stuff to use for cuttings and uppotting to 1 gallon.
The rest goes to larger pots
 I use a 1/4" screen with a wood frame

I purchase very coarse perlite and do not screen. I’ve used the miracle grow perlite in the past and did not screen and it has given nothing but problems. I can’t wait to pot those trees up. I have to be very carefull watering them, the fine perlite has acutally clogged the soil more. 

Defiantly wear a N-95 mask! The fine dust is very bad (same reasons as asbestos) and perlite mines often do contain trace amounts of asbestos. 

>>> I have started to screen my perlite after having one year having issues with my soil staying too wet

I would just add more perlite to your soil mix...
I have done  1:1  -  4:1   potting-soil/perlite mixes [for rooting fig twigs].
The  2-3 :1  ratio seems to work best for me.

Of course, perlite is the rigid white stuff.
Stay away from 'spongy' vermiculite [water retaining].
(Yes, I used to be confused by them two names.)

I don't for soil plants but I did when I dabbled in hydroponics. I hate handling the stuff and usually put the 20 lb bag in a trash can and wet it down. Its also bad for your eyes.

I used to sift it with a colander from the dollar store. I would to it outside and usually stand so the wind blows it away from me. Now I don't bother and I just measure it out an add it in. I haven't noticed any difference. I am using a bulk bag of course perlite from a nursery supply.

I do screen mine.  I was about to start a thread with a bit of a warning...

I recently bought a 4cuft bag of Perlite from a masonry supply store for $10.50.  I had called the day before I purchased it and was told me it was screened through a #6 screen (about 3mm).  I opened it up last night, and it's almost all powder.  I think this is the stuff that passed through the screen and not what was left behind.

Christy,
Here's a topic from last year... http://figs4funforum.websitetoolbox.com/post?id=6284562
I screen my Perlite for the cutting mix, but not the regular potting mix. The screens are wood frame with mesh similar to the linked topic and the procedure is done outdoors with dry Perlite while wearing a dust mask.

James,
Masonry perlite is not the same as Horticultural perlite, it has much more fines and no large particles its a finer grade. Horticultural grade is coarse and more expanded (aerated) chunks.

Old potting mix from root pruning goes into veggie garden and tilled in roots and all.
What stuffs in a new bag does not get screened and just put into containers.
Process repeated every couple years.
I KISS.

Ref post #12;  71GTO said it all:
"I haven't noticed any difference."
[sifting or not]

After all, any good potting soil is an aggregate of a multiple of the right 'stuff'.

Thanks for the links to the strainer and the post regarding screened perlite!

I have within the last year, purchased 4 different bulk sized nursery quality perlite, all labelled either coarse or super coarse, and all have still contained a large amount of powder. Actually, the latest bag, I bought a huge 4 cube bag that was a special order from a good nursery around here, labeled as Super Coarse, so I thought I would be getting some good stuff. The bag had more powder in it than any other perlite I ever bought!!

If you do not screen your perlite, please consider it, and pick up those cheap masks from the hardware store. I took me a while to figure out why my mix was staying too wet and it was the perlite. Especially when cupping up cuttings, it really does help to keep the mix unpacked. I now have found a source for Fafard 52 mix, which is the best mix ever right out of the bag for figs and citrus, which finding such a mix is not easy for citrus on the east coast, so I do not have much of an issue anymore as when I was making my own mixes.However, I still like to add a little screened perlite to the mix, depending how young the trees are: younger plants = more perlite to the mix. I have had the best results with the Fafard 52. If you can locate it, it is worth it.HINT, it is not usually a mix that is for sale for the general public, and is mainly made for nurseries to buy in bulk, but if you find a nursery that buys it, they will usually sell it to you.

Go for beans meant for bean bags. The beans are large enough to enhance good drainage.
All the beans are same size. No need to wear mask. I bought my beans at Walmart.

screen? what's that? i don't need any screen. my cuttings have done just fine with MG perlite and horticulture medium perlite that comes in 4 cu ft.

I bet the dust and and fines occur during transport. I imagine thise bags get thrown around a lot.

For freshly rooted cuttings I used the mix 65% Beans to 35% Top soil. Please note - its an estimation.
I water the soil, squeeze out most of the moisture and mixed the beads in. Thereafter I used this mix
as my potting mix. I placed my rooted cuttings in a humidity chamber. I used an aquarium as if it is a
green house with a heat mat at the bottom. I cover the top of the aquarium with plastic sheet or a
large garbage bag.

I do screen religiously but found a way to do it safe and easy.  Always outside of course and with a breeze so the dust is not an issue.  I think the sifting makes a HUGE difference.

<power_tool_envy> WillsC -- that's a great rig!  But where am I going to find a cardboard box like that?!?!? ;-) ;-) ;-) </power_tool_envy>
Jim

Perhaps I should post this to "you know you're an addict when...", but here goes. Last night I had a dream about this post and Wills screening machine. I came online this morning to post a link, but he beat me to it.

Jim, buy a new dishwasher, and they will throw in a pretty cool box you will be able to use for free.