Using Perlite in the Garden

Growing a garden? How would you like an easy way for your plants to thrive? It all starts with the soil and mixing in a naturally occurring mineral. Learn how using perlite in the garden can help promote robust plant growth.

What’s Perlite & How Does it Help?

The mineral perlite comes from volcanic obsidian. It’s lightweight, porous features make it ideal for enhancing soil mixtures because it’s:

• Not easy to compact or break down
• Sterile
• Neutral pH
• Ready to use

Soil is naturally made up of minerals and organic material, but it also requires enough air and water to flow through it to optimize plant growth. However, soil can become compacted over time, limiting the flow of essential nutrients to plant roots and negatively impacting growth.

But when you mix porous perlite into the soil, it doesn’t compact, so it leaves room for air and water to flow and properly drain. Since it doesn’t decompose, it also doesn’t affect nitrogen levels in the soil. Its sterile nature won’t transfer weed seed, disease spores, or pests to your plants. Plus, the natural, stable elements of perlite continue to benefit the soil and plants year after year.

Perlite for the Commercial Growers

Perlite is one of the most desirable minerals in commercial growing media. Its consistent nature enhances any organic material it’s mixed with, including peat moss, compost, bark, coir, or native soil.

Because of its performance, cost, and eco-friendly elements, perlite is highly sought after in horticultural markets for its ability to improve soil conditions and promote robust plant growth. This is why you’ll often find perlite in ready-made soil mixes. Next time you look at your store-bought potting mix, look for the white pieces in the dark soil. This is most likely perlite.

How to Use Perlite in the Lawn & Garden

You can easily improve the soil in your own backyard and enhance your landscape by mixing perlite in potted plants, raised garden beds, or your lawn. Here’s how to enhance each area of your yard with perlite.

Vegetable and Flower Gardens

1. Condition soil by cultivating by hand or with a roto-tiller
2. Mix equal parts perlite with peat moss or compost
3. Combine mixture with the soil
4. Add plants

Lawns

1. Layer perlite under new sod, or
2. Aerate established lawn
3. Rake perlite into fresh holes

Planting Trees and Shrubs

1. Dig a hole deep and wide enough to give roots room to grow
2. Add perlite to the hole to cushion plant roots and improve water retention
3. Stand up plant within hole
4. Fill hole with soil/perlite/peat moss or compost mixture

Planters

1. Blend perlite with potting soil
2. Add plants for indoors or out
3. The lightweight mixture makes it easier to rearrange pots even when the soil is saturated.

Perlite improves the structure of any soil type. Add fine grade perlite to boost moisture-holding capacity. Coarser grades of perlite helps improve aeration. The increase of water and air flow promotes healthy growth of whatever you’re planting—from flowers and grass to veggies and herbs.

Where to Get Perlite

You can find perlite already mixed into some soil blends or on its own in garden centers. But if you want it straight from the source, look to Harvest Hero.

Our Enhanced Perlite Soil Mix works well for growing cannabis, vegetables, or any other potted plant. This 3-in-1 formula combines the following materials for optimal plant growth:

• Horticultural perlite helps prevent compaction, improve drainage, and increase airflow
• Essential nutrients promote robust, vigorous growth
• Diatomaceous earth increases nutrient uptake, improves water retention, and provides an abiotic stress-resistant foundation for your crops.

If you’re looking for something specifically for hydroponic systems, we offer a superior soil substrate that can be used in containers and garden plants. This sterile growing medium delivers excellent drainage while cutting down on watering.

Another option to help improve soil conditions is to use our Perlite+ Silica soil substrate that provides all the benefits of perlite, plus the plant cell wall-strengthening power of silica.

Each product has been expertly mined and refined by chemists, engineers, horticulturists that share a passion for finding the perfect blend of ingredients to create the ideal environment for your plants.

Whether you’re a commercial grower or oversee a backyard plot, there’s a perlite product that’s ready to improve your soil, plant growth, and crop yields. Contact us for more information about our perlite product lines and how we can help you grow a better garden.