Vermiculite is a soft,spongy material made from super-heating mica. Perlite is made by breaking apart and super-heating volcanic glass, called obsidian, the result of quickly cooling magma that's come into contact with water. Like perlite, vermiculite is naturally sterile, so it won't harbor plant diseases. Perlite and vermiculite are both helpful minerals for gardening. It forms an expanded platelike structure that traps air, moisture and nutrients present in a potting soil mix. Vermiculite and perlite are two of the most commonly used incubation substrates across virtually all reptile breeders. Both perlite and vermiculite are used in the hydroponic gardening world to create a …

It’s holds lots of water, and the light texture is ideal for those tender new vegetable seedlings. Both products are inorganic, lightweight, … Perlite and vermiculite have been used for years to amend professional potting soils made from peat moss (called "soilless" mixes or artificial soils because they literally contain no soil). Perlite vs Vermiculite. Perlite Vs. Vermiculite: Which is Better for Your Garden and Why? Both are produced by expanding naturally available mineral materials, but despite this, the properties, uses, and appearance of these additives are not similar.

How To, Recommended Supplies.

Vermiculite comes from super-heated mica. Perlite can help water drain out of your soil, while vermiculite retains the water. Choosing the right incubation media could be the difference between successful and failed hatches of captive bred reptiles.

It is shaped like flakes when dry. Perlite is a hard, highly porous material made by super-heating volcanic glass. Curious on input from the community on what you'd suggest Perlite or Vermiculite mixed in with my soil for an indoor grow. Perlite and vermiculite are two inorganic soil amendments that help improve the quality of soil. by Eli Cain .

Perlite vs Diatomaceous Earth (DE) Scanning Electron Microscopy SEM Micrographs of Pure Perlite What is Perlite? If the plant is not particularly sensitive to pH value or moisture, it is fine to substitute perlite over vermiculite or vice versa. Both vermiculite and perlite are inorganic products, both are relatively sterile, and both are often used as soil additives. Conclusion . As rooting mediums, they offer this same benefit. I understand they both aid in soil water retention and aeration, but not sure how that affects marijuana specific indoor grows.

Perlite is formed from a volcanic magma flow of pure alumina silicate glass deposited onto the surface of the earth where the molten glass cools and subsequently hydrates water. For example, a pot containing 5 gallons of soil can be replaced with a 3 gallon pot of 50-50 soil/perlite – other growing conditions being equal. Typically, vermiculite will be tan/brown in color and perlite will be white. Compared to perlite, vermiculite is the better choice if you are looking for a material that helps retain water as well as aerate. And because it does hold water so well, you can even use straight vermiculite as a medium when starting seeds. (If you aren’t sure what your soil’s pH level is, our article “How to Test pH in Your Soil” can help.) You can pick which medium you want to use based on the unique needs of the plants that you’re growing.