Loamy soil

Hello,

I'm currently growing with soil from my backyard. It's a very loamy (not entirely sure if this is the correct word; the soil contains clay) soil and becomes very compact, the roots having a hard time growing in it.

I was thinking of mixing pearlite with it but don't know how much to add. What quantity would you recommend for a 5 gallon pot?

I'm not fixed on pearlite so I'm open to any other suggestions you might have to make the soil a bit more airy. Changing the soil is not an option at the moment.

Thanks guys!

Just buy some good soil instead of the perlite. Don't waste time and money trying to improve your clay for just five gallons of soil.

Loam is the nice, fluffy and rich soil you might find on a forest floor. Clay is basically the opposite.