Does anyone have a good online source for Perlite?  In my haste to get supplies for rooting I bought 2 bags of MiracleGrow Perlite from HD.  Well it has MiracleGrow fertilizer.  OK, probably not the end of the world, but next time I'd like to get the coarse stuff (or at least Perlite without fertilizer) which I can't easily find in a big city like Houston, go figure.

Steve,
I have a giant bulk bag of Perlite from a nursery that I mix with my soil. But as far as rooting goes I use the Perlite stuff w/vermiculite. I do very well!

I use MG perlite and MG seedlings soil 1:1 for rooting. Almost 100% rooting rate. I use what's available at HD or Low''s.

Go to Amazon and search for perlite. Here is one example:  http://www.amazon.com/Therm-Rock-RP35CF-Perlite-Cubic/dp/B008JSP3ZM/ref=sr_1_7?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1352950780&sr=1-7&keywords=perlite

I don't know if it's the best deal - you'll have to search for that - but there is no extra shipping. The same bag costs about $10 less in my town, but I assume that is the built-in shipping charge. You might not need that much however.

I am trying Oil-Dri this year, mixing it with a small amount of compost.  It's a clay product.  You have to screen the fines out of it, but it's cheap, most of the big box stores carry it, and I have read that it works pretty good.

Home Depot, Lowes and Walmart usually carry 8 Quart bags of 100% Perlite for around $5.00. I mix 70% perlite and 30% Miracle Grow Seed Starting mix (also $5.00 for 8 quarts) for my best results.

I use the OIL-Dry or Fullers earth in the gallon and larger containers for the 5-1-1 mix.

Good Luck,

Hmm, maybe I need to try the MG perlite and fail (or succeed) before I go off in search of something different.

Thank you Pete.  I was just doing a search of the forums, and your post just now popped up.  I will probably try pearlite myself then, if it's that cheap and easy to find.

This is what I use;

http://www.amazon.com/Hoffman-16504-Horticultural-Perlite-Quarts/dp/B001V6WXEI/ref=sr_1_1?s=lawn-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1352952805&sr=1-1&keywords=perlite


I've spent hundreds of dollars only on Perlite. Non were "coarse" as advertised, almost %95 of them had fertilizer mixed in. The Hofman Perlite is the best. Its particles are coarse-medium and have no added fertilizer.


Navid.

Thanks for the link, Navid.

I buy 2 cu. ft. bags of 'Thermorock' from HD for years. My local HD did not carry it so I got the store SKU# , and ordered 4 bags for my square foot garden. They have been stocking it ever since .

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-202187623/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=perlite&storeId=10051#.UKR0JocdJMA

omotm - There are lots of sources of quality perlite out there. I use perlite from Gardner & Bloome which is available at a lot of the Nursery/Garden Centers in my area of Northern California.
http://www.kellogggarden.com/products?brand=gardnerbloome&category=gardnerbloome-horticultural
Try someplace other than HD. Most nurseries that sell potting soils & fertilizers should stock quality perlite.

I've purchased large bags from a local Agway before. Not sure if there's one in your area but I would think shipping would deter me from purchasing online.

Check out the Grower's supply places in you area. I get I think 4 cubic foot bags for around $13 at griffins. It is a good source for better soil mixes like Fafards as well.

http://www.griffins.com/locations/index.asp

Here is some info on perlite that I just purchased and a comparison with Miracle Grow. The large particles are Mother Earth #4. Unfortunately it only
comes in a 4 cu ft bag @34.99. No fertilizer. If you are interested you can get it from  http://atlantishydroponics.com/  which is located in College Park, Georgia. They are giving 15% off on Sat 11/17/12.