Perlite - Soil Conditioner
Dora Agri is committed to research on materials for soil conditioners to help farmers build organic farming.
What's Perlite?
Perlite is a white granular material with a honeycomb structure inside, which is made by preheating perlite ore and instantaneously roasting it at high temperature to expand its volume by 10-30 times.
Perlite is often mixed into soil to improve the soil environment. Because it retains water and is breathable, it can absorb 2-3 times more water than itself. Mixing it into the soil can improve the breathability of the soil. When perlite is filled with water, most of the water remains on the surface. Since the water tension is small and easy to flow, perlite is easy to drain and aerate. Perlite is lightweight, porous, insulating, and has a temperature-control halo, which weakens the damage of temperature to plant roots and controls fertilizer efficiency.
The porosity of perlite promotes plant root growth and development. Compared with vermiculite, perlite has a slightly lower PH value and is more neutral, making it more suitable for plants that like acidic media. Perlite is non-toxic, harmless, contains no organic matter, and is insoluble in water, which can effectively prevent mold from growing on it.
Benefits of Perlite
1) Water-retaining and breathable. The water absorption capacity of perlite can reach 2-3 times that of itself. Mixing with soil can create voids to improve air permeability.
2) Lightweight, porous, and thermally insulating. The porous structure gives it a natural temperature-control halo, which weakens the damage to plant roots caused by temperature changes and also plays a role in controlling fertilizer efficiency and fertility.
3) Conducive to plant root growth. The porosity of the product greatly promotes the growth and development of plant fibrous roots and promotes the fixation of plant roots.
4) Non-toxic and harmless. Its chemical properties are stable, the pH is neutral, and it will not cause harm to plants. It does not contain organic matter and is insoluble in water. Molds cannot survive on it and form disease isolation zones, which can inhibit the spread of diseases over a large area.
Perlite Effect on Soil
Perlite is a soil conditioner that helps solve many problems in indoor and outdoor farming, here are some of the soil problems it can help solve.
1, It can loosen heavy clay soils and prevent soil erosion.
2、Aerates any type of soil and helps roots get enough oxygen and nutrients.
3, Facilitates root growth.
4, Protects plants from stress by insulating the soil from temperature fluctuations.
5, Make the soil light, well ventilated and well drained. Such soil helps prevent growth problems such as root rot, fungal or bacterial diseases.
How to Use?
“Requires loose, breathable, well-drained soil”
“Requires well-drained sandy soil…”
Yes, isn’t this the advantage of perlite? In the preparation and use of the medium, we can mix an appropriate proportion of perlite as an auxiliary to make the soil loose, breathable and well-drained. When mixing and arranging, pay attention to the size of the perlite particles to be used. Generally, the larger the particles, the more suitable it is for growing larger plants.
Notice
1). Perlite is easily powdered, avoid kneading and pinching when using it. Although its powder is non-toxic, avoid inhaling it when using it.
2). Due to its light texture and easy to float when watered, use plastic film, etc., to prevent it from being blown away by the wind.
3). Freshly purchased perlite contains a lot of powder, rinse with water before use;
4). Perlite is not suitable as a substrate for flowers that like alkaline, for plants that are drought tolerant but not flood tolerant, and not for plants that like to grow in a humid environment.
5). It is not suitable to match with other soil too much, you can mix perlite according to the ratio of 4:1.
Consult For "Soil Conditioner"