How to add perlite?

I have two plants' whose growth are being stunted because they're in potting soil. The soil is too coarse for their roots to get enough air. I want to add perlite so that I can get them some more air. Do I just sprinkle it on top, or dig a bit around the plants to try to submerge a lot of the perlite? Should I water right after adding it? I'm about to go to the store to by some. Thanks!

This is only my 2nd post - but I think I know the answer.

I don't think you can really ADD perlite to a plant after it has already ran into a problem. Perlite is usually added into the mixture of your soil. Not something added later. It helps add aeration and holds water. Without tearing apart the root structure or maybe transplanting, there might not be a way.

MAYBE if you could pull the plant out, put some on the bottom, and then lay the plant on top?

Putting it on top wouldn't do much more than help hold water at the top of the plant. I don't think the oxygen / air would just go down into the plant.

yea he has the right idea....i would start a fresh pot and mix in some perlite.....pull em up and re pot em and hope for the best

you need to mix the perlite in before you plant the seed.

you might try mixing up some perlite with some potting soil and transplanting the plant, but be prepared for a couple of weeks slow growth as the plant recovers from shock.

you could always just deal with them being small and use em as mothers to get babbies from it wouldnt be a loss then