Description
Perlite appears as small, round white balls or specks among other components in soil. It is a non-organic product that is added to soil to create aeration and modify soil substructure by keeping it loose, well-draining and preventing compaction.
Perlite is a volcanic glass material that is heated to 871 degrees C, at which it pops in a similar way to popcorn and expands until it becomes around 20 times its original size, despite being incredibly lightweight.
Perlite is used by hydroponic as well as organic gardeners. “Successfully used in virtually all horticultural applications”
Benefits
- Horticultural grade perlite
- Perlite absorbs moisture on its exterior rather than inside the material, which makes it suitable in facilitating moisture to the roots of your plants.
- Root aeration is improved with the addition of horticultural grade perlite due to the increase in air-filled porosity of the growing medium. Perlite is a porous material and allows water to drain readily. This makes it suitable for plants that do not require a particularly saturated media, or plants that thrive in well-draining soil.
- Perlite's large surface area excellent capillary properties makes it a good choice for plants that require high levels of humidity. Evaporation from its surface area creates higher humidity than other materials used for aerating soil.
- Perlite reduces the likelihood of waterlogging in a growing medium due to its ability to absorb water and improve drainage.
- Perlite’s larger particle size reduces the effect of compaction in a medium which increases the ability for strong root growth.
- Perlite is sterile and inert - Perlite can be re-used once it has been sterilized
- Perlite does not decompose or break down in the growing medium like its organic counterparts, thereby ensuring that aeration to the plants roots is maintained.
Why choose our perlite?
- Green Houston's coarser/dust free grades of perlite improve root growth and allow for the formation of air pockets.
- ISO 9001:2015 certified
Our horticulture grade perlite is:
- Dried at 110°C for 1.5 hours.
- Tested at 1100 °C for 1.5 hours.
- Rinsed for dust.
Specifications
Typical Physical Properties
- Bulk Density: 80 - 100 Kg/m3
- Compacted Bulk Density: 95 - 110 Kg/m3
- pH: 6.5 – 7.5
- Moisture Content: 0.05 %
- LOI: 1.47 %
- Thermal Conductivity: 0.04 – 0.05 W/m· K
Typical Particle Size
- 50 % > 3.35 mm
- 5 % < 1.40 mm
- Typically 0.5 – 4.0mm
- Typical air-filled porosity: 43%
Typical Chemical Properties
- SiO2: 72 – 74 %
- Al2O3: 12 – 14 %
- Fe2O3: 0.6 - 0.8 %
- K2O: 4 – 5 %
- Na2O: 1.5 – 3 %
How to use
Soil Mix:
- We recommend 15% perlite(total soil mix) for better water retention and less nutrient leaching. Recommended dosage for outdoor/greenhouse use.
- Add 20-50% perlite(total soil mix) of total soil mix if you plan to use a lot of added liquid nutrients or supplements and are looking to get the fastest growth from your plants. Recommended dosage for indoor use.
Hydroponic System:
- Can also be used in a ratio of 1:1 of 1 part perlite to 1 part peat moss or coco peat.
1L (approx. 100g)
Helpful tips:
Rinse perlite before adding to growing medium - this will remove excess sediment.
Use goggles and a facemask when mixing to avoid breathing in fine perlite dust.