How to apply perlite to plants

A very frequent problem of gardeners is too dense soil, which practically does not allow air and moisture, preventing plants from developing. Agroperlite will be a real salvation for such a case, the properties and application of which we will discuss below.

What is perlite and its characteristics

Perlite is widespread in horticulture and gardening, so everyone should know what it is. In fact, perlite is one of the volcanic rocks, which in its structure and appearance has similarities with glass.

Each piece of perlite contains from 2 to 6% of bound water, which is why, during heating, perlite can increase in size by 4 or even 20 times. Perlite, or agroperlite, as it is also called, can also explode. However, this is only possible when heated to 870 ° C.

The chemical composition of perlite is multicomponent:

• 65-75% is silicon dioxide;
• 10-16% - alumina;
• up to 5% - potassium oxide:
• up to 4% - sodium oxide;
• up to 3% - iron oxide;
• up to 1% - calcium oxide;
• 2-6% - water.

Perlite may differ in its color. Often white or transparent perlite is used in agriculture, however, black, reddish brown, green and brown are found. From the color of perlite does not change its properties and application.

Perlite Types

There are several types of perlite, which are used in different areas, but the most popular of them is expanded and lamellar.

Expanded perlite is used only in agriculture, whereas in the construction industry, the oil industry, metallurgy, medicine and the food industry the most common is perlite resin. Let us consider them separately, which will make it possible to understand why each type of perlite is needed for plants and construction.

Expanded perlite

Expanded perlite - it is natural perlite, which is burned under high temperatures in special furnaces. Due to the impact on the rock temperature from 850 to 1250 ° C, it swells and unfolds as popcorn. Depending on the size of the expanded perlite, it can be grainy or resemble rubble.

Another name for expanded perlite is agroperlite, because it is used by farmers.

Expanded perlite has the following characteristics:

1. Durability.
2. Fire resistance (up to 900 ° С).
3. Thermal insulation.
4. Soundproofing.
5. The good absorbing ability (absorbs up to 400% of the weight).
6. Biological resistance (the expanded perlite has no tendency to rotting, microorganisms, insects, rodents do not live in it).
7. Ecological purity and sterility.

Very often, expanded perlite is used for seedlings, which require a lot of moisture and are very sensitive to temperature fluctuations. But still, floriculture remains the most demanded area of ​​use, since perlite for flowers is both a drainage system and a system for preventing the drying of topsoil in a pot.Perhaps similar due to the fact that perlite has the ability to accumulate moisture, and then give it to the soil.

Plate Perlite

Plate Perlite has a wider scope of use, and the question of why it is needed, first of all leads us to the construction industry. By adding perlite to the composition of building materials, it is possible to significantly increase their resistance to fire.

Moreover, thanks to perlite building structures are becoming more durable, lightweight and less voluminous. Apply perlite in such industrial branches:

1. Mining of oil and gas. Since perlite is a good adsorbent, it is used to absorb fuel oil and gasoline, which are then simply burned from it.
2. Housing and communal services. Perlite is used for water purification in the city water supply.
3. Food industry. Perlite is used as a filter for the purification of sugar syrups and vegetable oils.
4. Ecology. Thanks to perlite, active cleaning of reservoirs and lands that have suffered from industrial pollution is carried out. For this purpose, expanded perlite can also be used.
5. Metallurgy.By adding perlite to the alloys, it turns out to achieve the pearlite structure of steel.
6. The medicine. Perlite is used as a filter for medical preparations.

How useful perlite for plants

The described characteristics give a hint for what they use perlite in agriculture. Due to its structure and ability to preserve its shape, not to clog up and not to be compacted, it is widely used to loosen the soil and enhance its qualities such as air and water permeability.

Perlite is also suitable for indoor plants, and how to apply it in this case is not difficult to guess - it is perlite that is poured at the bottom of the pots to perform the drainage function. When perlite is used in floriculture, there is a marked improvement in the growth rate of plants, as well as their flowering.

Agroperlite is added to the soil, even before sowing lawns on football fields, as well as when preparing golf courses. How to use agroperlite correctly, we will describe below.

Rules for the use of perlite for plants: how to properly use perlite

Even if you understand what perlite is, you can use it in gardening and indoor floriculture in different ways:

1. Like drainage. In this case, a layer of 3-5 cm of pure agroperlite is simply poured on the bottom of the pot.
2. For rooting. Many gardeners are interested in the question of how to use perlite for rooting plants that show poor growth in ordinary soil. In this case, it is necessary to use pure perlite, watering it abundantly beforehand. Due to the absence of any microorganisms in the pearlite, the probability of rotting of the roots of young shoots will be excluded.
3. As an additive to the soil mixture. A similar soil mix with perlite is recommended for flowers and plants that are distinguished by a weak root system. For its preparation in equal parts perlite, chernozem and peat are mixed (can be replaced with humus).
4. To increase the humidity of the air that tropical plants need. In this case, you need to place additional trays with wet perlite near the flower pots.
5. For sowing very small seeds.Due to the mixing of seeds with agroperlite fines, it is possible to achieve their uniform distribution throughout the area or box.
6. As mulch. If you close the surface of the perlite flower pot, it will prevent the topsoil from drying out and allow air to flow regularly to the root system of the flower.
7. As a basis for fertilizers. To do this, it is enough to pour perlite with mineral fertilizer diluted in water and sprinkle the soil around the plants with it. Over time, perlite will begin to give moisture along with fertilizer to the soil.

Advantages and disadvantages of using perlite

Having understood that such a perlite for plants, it is worthwhile to dwell in more detail on the advantages of this breed and the disadvantages that it also has. Let's start with the advantages:

1. Perlite is a biologically pure substance, thanks to which it is possible to effectively combat diseases and pests of plants that winter in the soil.
2. Perlite is indispensable in cases where the soil in the garden is too dense and plants with a weak root system cannot grow on it.
3. Perlite is able to accumulate moisture and feed plants for a long time.
4. Perlite is not caking, which means that even after a long period of time it is not capable of reducing the water and air permeability of the soil.
5. Perlite provides good thermal insulation.

However, when using perlite, you will also have to face such disadvantages:

1. Perlite is poorly distributed in the sale, and the cost of this breed is quite high. It is for this reason that he won love only with flower growers, while gardeners and gardeners try to resort to cheaper analogues of perlite.
2. Perlite has a neutral pH.Therefore, with its intensive use, the level of soil acidity may increase, which is undesirable for most garden and indoor plants.

Given all the disadvantages of perlite, you can use its analogues, which can sometimes even be free. We are talking about expanded clay, brick chips, sand and vermiculite. However, keep in mind that each of these analogues also has its drawbacks.

We hope that the question, why add perlite to the soil, has become completely clear for you? and now you can fix all the flaws in the soil in your garden. However, keep in mind that the use of perlite in horticulture is not always rational and in some cases can have negative consequences.