perlite vs. vermiculite

yotetrapper · February 13, 2010

What's the difference? Don't they both generally serve the same purpose? Yet many soil mixes have both in them. I'm confused....

svalli · February 13, 2010

I am not absolutely sure about this, but I think that vermiculite is used to improve the moisture holding and perlite aerates the soil.

gardenpaws_VA · February 13, 2010

Quote:

Originally Posted by svalli

I am not absolutely sure about this, but I think that vermiculite is used to improve the moisture holding and perlite aerates the soil.

Right - when I'm starting cuttings, often I'll use a 50-50 mixture of both, as vermiculite by itself is apt to get soggy, and perlite by itself doesn't hold the moisture evenly throughout the container.

mtbigfish · February 15, 2010

yes and I use white pumice instead of perlite as it doesn't breakdown or float like perlite does
Dennis

Ruth_10 · February 16, 2010

What Svalli said. Perlite keeps the soil aerated and vermiculite holds water.

February 13, 2010	#1
yotetrapper Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Oakland MS Posts: 231	perlite vs. vermiculite What's the difference? Don't they both generally serve the same purpose? Yet many soil mixes have both in them. I'm confused....

February 13, 2010	#2
svalli Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Vaasa, Finland, latitude N 63° Posts: 838	I am not absolutely sure about this, but I think that vermiculite is used to improve the moisture holding and perlite aerates the soil. __________________ "I only want to live in peace, plant potatoes and dream." - Moomin-troll by Tove Jansson

February 16, 2010	#5
Ruth_10 Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: MO z6a near St. Louis Posts: 1,349	What Svalli said. Perlite keeps the soil aerated and vermiculite holds water. __________________ --Ruth Some say the glass half-full. Others say the glass is half-empty. To an engineer, it’s twice as big as it needs to be.

February 15, 2010	#4
mtbigfish Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Chillicothe Ohio - left Calif July 2010 Posts: 451	yes and I use white pumice instead of perlite as it doesn't breakdown or float like perlite does Dennis