How do I use perlite?
These white, grain-like things have various horticultural, industrial, and agricultural uses. In my case, I was interested in its horticultural uses, specifically for making my own potting mix. Just like vermiculite, perlite is generally used to provide good aeration and drainage. You can mix it with soil to loosen it and prevent compaction (so your roots can will not have to “fight” through densely compacted soil). Since it has so many air pockets, it can “hold” moisture, nutrients, and oxygen until plants need them. Moisture and oxygen flow freely to roots, but excess moisture is drained away. It is very light, so it does not weigh down your pots, making them heavy. Perlite by itself can also be used as a seed-starting medium, though some people mix it with some sphagnum or peat moss. I have not tried this, so I cannot comment on the effectiveness. This stuff is pretty white, so you can even place it on trays underneath plants to reflect light (it has a refractive index of 1.5). Duri
