Back when I was new to gardening ( green , you might say ) , I walk into a plant baby’s room looking for perlite , as I ’d hunt down out of it for myDIY potting mix .
The nursery was out of stock , but the employee direct me to bags of vermiculite on the shelf and assured me it was the same .
“ This is what we expend in our glasshouse . It works the same way perlite does , ” he promised . “ you’re able to practice it in your potting mix . ”
It ’s true that vermiculite wasoneof the portion of my potting admixture , but could I really just deputize one for the other ?
In one regard , the employee was right-hand : vermiculite and perlite are mined minerals and partake very interchangeable machine characteristic . Heck , even their epithet fathom like they could be tie in .
Characteristics of Perlite vs. Vermiculite
But in another regard , the employee was off base . While vermiculite and perlite are both soil additives that better drainage and hold back wet , the key dispute inhow muchmoisture each retains can make or break out a gardening project .
Vermiculite and perlite are not the same thing , even though they maylookthe same on newspaper .
That twenty-four hours , I descend home with a bag of vermiculite and knock down it into my homemade potting mix so I couldtransplant all my seedlings .
Related : How to Repot Tomato Seedlings
Right away I noticed something : the potting mix was amply saturate and not draining as chop-chop as my late mixes did .
This might not be a big stack for outdoor container plants that lean to dry out quickly , but for houseplants , seedling , and press clipping , the surplus moisture can lead to root bunk , damping off , andpestsif you do n’t pay attention .
Here ’s what you call for to know so you do n’t make this error .
What is perlite?
nickname “ volcanic popcorn,”perliteis made by heat volcanic glass to super high-pitched temperature until it inflate and “ soda pop ” into the white , holey , lightweight rock that resembles niggling Styrofoam balls .
( Despite similarities in appearance , Styrofoam shouldneverbe used in gardens or as a relief for perlite . )
The cavern - like texture of perlite helps it shed water more readily than vermiculite , while at the same time stash away wet and nutrients for the plant life .
I bonk , it voice like a strange combo ( to retainanddrain ) , but these quality are what make perlite so good at providing oxygen to plant origin and improve dirt structure .
What is vermiculite?
Like perlite , vermiculite is a by nature pass mineral that expand when ignite .
Scientifically speaking , it ’s the name for a group of hydrous magnesium branding iron aluminum silicate minerals ( phyllosilicates ) that look like shiny , silvery gold to grayish brown flake .
During the heating process ( name exfoliation ) , the blunt flaky mineral is lucubrate to many times its volume into a scratchy , hexangular - shaped granule resemble a pebble .
These chunky granules are further processed into the common , medium , and fine grade of vermiculite that we see and know in gardening .
enlarge vermiculite is a lightweight , uninspired , and torpid textile that is non - combustible and non - responsive to all but the strongest superman . It ’s also non - toxic and good to use in a variety of applications .
These gadget characteristic give it unequalled insulating and vigor - saving properties for a kitchen range of industrial and commercial-grade uses , especially in mental synthesis and home and garden .
Vermiculite is used for extra coatings and packaging , fire protection , idle - fill insulating material , concrete screed and plasters , swimming pool liners , and potting commixture or potting soils . It ’s the same textile used in gas hearth with ceramic logs to help the flaming spread across the burner more evenly .
For horticultural utilization , vermiculite is observe in the following four unlike grades , or granule sizes :
Does vermiculite contain asbestos?
The short solvent : no .
If you ’re buying horticultural vermiculite sold in store today , then that vermiculite doesnotcontain asbestos and is not dangerous for your garden . ( Though it ’s recommended to wear a rubble masquerade party when handling enceinte sum of vermiculite , due to the fine speck . )
At one meter , however , vermiculite did have asbestos , and it may still survive in places like the attic insulation of sometime homes .
From 1919 to 1990 , about 70 percent of all commercial vermiculite in the United States fall from a mine in Libby , Montana . The bulk of it was used in insulation and sell under the brand name Zonolite .
The vermiculite from the Libby mine check a naturally happen asbestos yell tremolite - actinolite . After it was discovered , the mine shut out down .
These days , vermiculite is mine from rural area all over the macrocosm with vermiculite deposit , and producer test the vermiculite for asbestos to guarantee its safety .
But the fear seems to linger , which may excuse why vermiculite is not as easy found in garden centers or greenhouse . If you have trouble sourcing it locally , I ’ve tie my favorite brands below .
Perlite vs. vermiculite: how do you know which one to use in the garden?
Like perlite , vermiculite is an in force soil conditioner that can loosen compacted soil , provide drainage , and hold three to four fourth dimension its weight in water .
But — and this is an importantbut — vermiculite ismorecompressible andlessporous than perlite , giving vermiculite higher piss - hold capacity when it ’s used as a planting medium .
Vermiculite act more like a sponge in the way it soaks up water and hold on to it . Perlite entrepot pee on the control surface of all its nooks and crannies , which is also why it sheds moisture more easily .
Use perlite if:
Use vermiculite if:
Remember this general rule of thumb:
Useperlitewhen you need good drainage and aeration .
Usevermiculitewhen you want more wet retention .
Common questions about perlite vs. vermiculite
Can you use perlite or vermiculite in organic gardening?
Perliteandvermiculiteare both instinctive mined mineral . Although they go through some physical processing , they ’re both USDA - approve for use in certify constitutional Agriculture Department . So if you do organic gardening , then yes , perlite and vermiculite are weigh safe “ constitutive ” additives .
Can you grow plants in just vermiculite?
Because of its excellent water - keep electrical capacity , vermiculite works well on its own as a growing culture medium for seedlings that ask constant moisture without being oversaturated .
It ’s especially unspoiled forindoor seminal fluid startingas vermiculite promotes faster germination and help anchorperson young root system , whether it ’s used alone or as part of territory orsoilless mixes .
Can you mix perlite and vermiculite?
Yes , you may immix perlite and vermiculite in yourseed - starting mix or potting mix , since each ingredient has different functions and benefits .
Perlite acts as an aerator , helping the soil shed H2O . Vermiculite acts as a sponge to help the soil confine moisture . Both of them work in tandem to give your filth the right balance of drainage and water retentivity .
Can you use perlite or vermiculite in a raised bed?
you may use perlite or vermiculite directly in stir bed and in - ground garden seam to improve dirt structure .
fuse the perlite or vermiculite into your existing soil so each fixings makes up around 10 % to 50 % of the full volume of dirt , look on how much drain or water supply holding you necessitate .
What happens if you breathe in perlite and vermiculite dust?
The dust created by perlite and vermiculite are one of the liberal disadvantages of handle the materials . While they ’re modulate as a “ nuisance rubble ” by OSHA ( Occupational Safety and Health Administration ) and are not deliberate hazardous , recollective - term breathing in may make the lung more susceptible to aggravation or respiratory disease .
If you ’re sensitive to rubble or be after to deal large amounts of perlite or vermiculite in the garden , you may extenuate any problem by wearing a dust masquerade or cut across your nose and sassing with a bandana .
Where to buy perlite and vermiculite
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EspomaOrganic Grade 1 Fine Perlite| GROW!TGrade 2 Medium Perlite| Mother EarthGrade 3 Coarse Perlite| Mother EarthGrade 4 Super Coarse Perlite| EspomaOrganic Grade 1 Fine Vermiculite| PLANT!TGrade 2 Medium Vermiculite| PLANT!TGrade 3 Coarse Vermiculite| PLANT!TGrade 4 Super Coarse Vermiculite
This berth updated from an clause that in the beginning appeared on February 27 , 2020 .
