Tear open a bag of commercial-grade potting soil and you immediately see a mixture of rich blacksoiland bloodless chip . That blanched stuff is n’t there by accident — it ’s in all likelihood perlite , and it ’s an essential addition that makes the soil more suitable for plant growth . Perlite promotes soil drainage , so plant base do n’t become water - log .
" It increase pore space in growing media , which is vital for aeration [ perforate the soil with sac of air ] , water drainage and root word growth , " emails Jon Traunfeld , director of the University of Maryland Extension Home & Garden Information Center . " It does n’t change the pH of growing media . Plus , it is sterile and lightweight , making it easy to wield and cheaper to ship . "
If you ’re not an ardent gardener , you might not have a clue what perlite is or where it comes from . You might also be surprised to hear that perlite ’s often call in " popcorn for your soil . "
It ’s definitely not popcorn , though .
What Is Perlite?
Perlite is a type of form of amorphous volcanic glass that contains roughly2 to 5 percent water . It ’s a spate like pumice stone , but denser . Both types of glass are formed as liquefied lava slowly cool off . Composition varies a second , but perlite is made up mostly ofsilicon dioxide ( 70 - 75 percent),aluminum oxide ( 10 - 15 percent ) , plus smaller amounts of Na oxide , potassium oxide and other mineral .
mineworker distil perlite from the earth using explosives and/or machinery . There are large mine in countries like Armenia , China , Greece , Japan , Turkey and America . The U.S. importsroughly one - thirdof its processed perlite while getting the rest from domestic mine in Arizona , California , Idaho , Nevada , New Mexico and Oregon .
Once perlite is occupy from the undercoat , processing plant beat out the material into small pieces that are more worthy for a variety of purposes . Then , the magic set out . Workers heat up the perlite to roughly1,600 degrees Fahrenheit(871 degrees Celsius ) , make the water within to expand into vapor . This " popping " reaction is where the " Zea mays everta for your filth " moniker comes into play , and it ’s the same principle that causes the kernels ofpopcornin your microwave to expand into a delicious treat .
The remainder solvent is what ’s called flesh out perlite , and this process ensue in a material that’s20 times its original volume , while being40 times less impenetrable . Before it is popped , perlite is ordinarily gray , but it can be brown , green , blue or red . Once it ’s expanded , perlite is generally light gray to white .
Structurally , expand perlite is light and windy , withtiny bubble and holes throughout . Its primary selling point is its dispirited density and low price , which make it ready to hand for a variety of applications .
Uses of Perlite
In expanded form , perlite ’s used for lightweight poultice , detachment , roof tiles andconcrete . It ’s perfect for noise insulation , too , and the fact that it ’s non - flammable makes it safe for usage in many types of expression . Perlite is also wide used in the beverage industry as a filtration broker , particularly for beer . In its puff up mannequin , it assists filtration by fighting clogs that would otherwise contract a filter ’s life .
For most people , perlite ’s alone properties are most evident when it comes to horticulture , and about10 percentof the world ’s perlite usance travel toward gardening every year . " Perlite is unimaginative , lightweight and contains lot of bantam air spaces , increasing air in the soil and improving drain , " saysMelinda Myers , a horticulturist and horticulture expert , via email .
" When making my own potting mix I used one part perlite , one part compost and one part peat moss , " she says . " You may involve to try a few mixture to see what best meet your horticulture and watering style . Like any recipe , the proportions may be adjust for the way the gardener like to water and care for plant and the type of plant they are growing . "
Traunfeld advocate making perlite 10 - 33 percentage of your potting admixture , depending on the intended utilization and other ingredients you have . " For example , higher percentage are helpful in seed starting mixes and for develop plant life with root rot proceeds , " he enunciate .
ascendent rot is like a shot related to water drainage . Aeration is another — and it ’s critical , because around 98percent of the O that works suck from their environment happens through their root system .
That ’s why a fortune of savvy homeowners also scatter perlite over their lawn . Perlite naturally works its way through the soil , preventing antecedent bunkum and increasing aeration , resulting in healthier , more live dope increase .
Perlite is n’t the only agency you may amend your soil quality . Pumice , Elmer Reizenstein hulls , vermiculite , and pumice stone have similar qualities , but they have feature that vary look on the issues you ’re wrestling with . Perlite , for example , is best for situation where you want very good aeration and drain , as well as full urine retentivity .
Depending on your needs , you may blend perlite with a smorgasbord of substrate to make soils that are perfect for dissimilar plant species . Myers says that peat moss , pine barque and coir ( coconut character ) are all usually pair with perlite .
