Have you ever looked at your potting soil closely?
You can find more information on our web, so please take a look.
If you have you may have noticed a white or off white granular material that's mixed into the soil. This is especially prominent when using compost to sow seeds, take cuttings or even re-pot a house plant.
These substances are Vermiculite & Perlite.
These two handy substances are a godsend to all gardeners. They can make compost drain better and also retain moisture, even though that sounds like a contradiction.
So lets dig into it, What is vermiculite? What is Perlite? What do they do? What's the difference? Which one should you choose?, here’s all you need to know...
Also known as "volcanic popcorn", Perlite is made of amorphous volcanic glass and is typically formed by the hydration of obsidian. It is a white granular material that is made by heating volcanic glass until it expands and ‘pops’, like popcorn. It is sterile, lightweight and has a neutral pH, so it’s very easy to work with.
Perlite for plants - When mixed with compost, it traps air pockets in the compost, which improves drainage. Perlite is often used in propagating cuttings, where free-draining compost is needed, or in sowing seeds.
Because it is porous, perlite soil absorbs water and can be used to improve moisture retention in compost, but its primary use is to improve drainage.
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Perlite is most often mixed with composts to improve drainage. Here are a few of the most common uses:
A 1:4 mix of perlite and compost makes a free-draining potting medium ideal for succulents.
Softwood and semi-ripe cuttings will root well in perlite. Part-fill, a plastic bag with moistened perlite, insert the cuttings and seal the bag. After several weeks, roots will start to form. Once the roots are well developed, the cuttings can be potted on.
Perlite is very dusty, so dampen it with water before using it to avoid inhaling the dust.
Vermiculite is produced by heating a naturally occurring mineral (magnesium aluminium iron silicate) so that it expands. Like Perlite it is also a naturally occurring mineral.
Horticultural vermiculite is used for planting looks like small golden-brown flakes. It can absorb up to four times its own weight in water and will also absorb some minerals that plants need, such as potassium, magnesium and calcium.
Vermiculite for plants - Its water retention means it's the best when it comes to water retention and is ideal for potting up plants that need moist compost. It is sold as medium or fine grade – medium grade is better used in cuttings composts and fine grades in seed sowing.
NB: Don’t get horticultural vermiculite (sold in garden centres) mixed up with the vermiculite insulation granules sold in hardware stores – they are not interchangeable!
Vermiculite is mainly used to improve moisture retention. Here are a few examples:
A 50/50 mix of compost and vermiculite is perfect for houseplants that need a lot of water, such as maidenhair fern.
30% medium-grade vermiculite added to compost makes a suitable medium for cuttings and potting on seedlings.
Scattering a light covering of vermiculite on compost after sowing seeds helps keep moisture in and reduces the risk of ‘damping off’ when seedlings are attacked by a fungus that causes them to collapse.
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Perlite and Vermiculite are very, very similar. But there are a few key differences.
Vermiculite is better for water retention, that also means in that moisture it retains key nutrients for your plants and cuttings to soak up.
Perlite works better to help drainage, this means its also better for loosening heavy, compacted soil. So if you have clay soil perlite will be your best friend throughout the winter months.
Both work well for blending into potting mixes, are approved for organic gardening and neither decompose in soil, so once added you will forever reap the rewards.
Vermiculite and perlite are just two of the many valuable products you’ll find in our centre.
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Vermiculite is a naturally occurring mineral (magnesium-aluminum-iron silicate) that is mined in various countries around the world, including the USA and South Africa. It gets its name from the Latin 'vermiculare', which means to breed worms, and the English suffix 'ite' which mean mineral or rock. When vermiculite is heated to very high temperatures, it expands into long strands resembling small worms.
AdVermiculite is lightweight, non-toxic and sterile and does not deteriorate over time. It has a neutral pH. It's used in the building industry, the car industry and in packaging. For use in horticulture, it's sold as lightweight, absorbent brown-gold flakes.
Vermiculite can absorb three or four times its weight in water and also attracts various plant nutrients such as potassium, magnesium and calcium. These qualities make it useful for propagation and for potting up plants that do best in moist compost, including house plants.
Vermiculite is sold in bags at the garden centre or online. Biological controls are often supplied in a small bag of vermiculite to make them easier to use. It is also used as an anti-caking agent in fertilisers.
Vermiculite helps to aerate soil while simultaneously retaining water and nutrients, which it then releases over time. Vermiculite is therefore useful in seed sowing and propagation. It can also be added to house plant compost. You may find different grades of vermiculite flakes available – use the finest for seed sowing and the larger sizes for potting on, cuttings and house plants.
Seeds of all sizes can be sown directly into 100 per cent vermiculite. Alternatively, you can use a 50:50 mix of vermiculite and seed sowing compost. You can also sow just using sowing compost, then cover the seed tray with vermiculite after sowing. Covering a seed tray with vermiculite helps to keep the compost moist and also helps to ward off the fungus that causes damping off. It also helps to insulate against temperature and humidity changes in the greenhouse.
A mixture that contains around 30 per cent vermiculite is ideal for pricking out and potting on seedlings. It's also a good mixture for cuttings.
As vermiculite holds water and then drains like a sponge, it's great for adding to the compost of house plants that always seem to need watering, such as the maidenhair fern (Adiantum raddianum) and peace lily. The plant roots can take up moisture when they need it. As vermiculite takes a long time to dry out, you'll need to water less. Vermiculite also aerates the compost, which helps to stop it compacting or crusting over.
A 50:50 mix of house plant compost and vermiculite is ideal.
Perlite is expanded volcanic rock and looks like polystyrene granules. While it does help retain some water, it's primarily used to aerate compost. It's excellent for creating a free-draining potting compost for plants that need good drainage, such as cacti and succulents. It can also help create an airy compost for seedlings.
Vermiculite is better for water and nutrient retention than perlite and is best used for plants that need more moisture to grow. Vermiculite also protects seedlings against damping-off and other fungal diseases.
You can use vermiculite and perlite together – mixing a little perlite into a seed sowing mix will ensure plenty of oxygen gets to the roots, while a topping of vermiculite will lock the moisture in.
Yes. It's mined around the world according to the strict industry protocols. As with any gardening medium, it's best to wear gloves when handling vermiculite. Store in a cool, dry place away from weedkillers and other garden chemicals.
AdMany years ago there was an isolated case of a mine where asbestos had developed alongside the vermiculite and contaminated it. These asbestos minerals are called Libby Amphibole Asbestos (LAA). This mine, located in Libby, Montana, USA was closed in .
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Vermiculite Gold Flakes. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.