Vermiculite Vs. Perlite

The Red

The Red

Active Member
So I went out to get some perlite today and my local garden store only carried perlite with nutes already in it which I do not want. I wound up buying vermiculite because it didn't have any nutes. Is vermiculite worse/same/better than perlite? This is for an indoor grow, mixing into soil.
 
I've seeing this a lot recently. Many people think perlite and vermiculite serve the same function as a soil amendment. They do not.

Vermiculite is used to for water retention. Perlite holds very little water, however, it's purpose is aeration and drainage. It also helps prevent compaction. Basically, perlite makes a soil "lighter."

What kind of soil are you starting with? With you are using a commercial bagged mix, chances are it has enough verm and perlite already in it.
 
sonar said:
I've seeing this a lot recently. Many people think perlite and vermiculite serve the same function as a soil amendment. They do not.

Vermiculite is used to for water retention. Perlite holds very little water, however, it's purpose is aeration and drainage. It also helps prevent compaction. Basically, perlite makes a soil "lighter."

What kind of soil are you starting with? With you are using a commercial bagged mix, chances are it has enough verm and perlite already in it.
Click to expand...

I'm using miracle grow organic choice because it was cheap and had very little nutes already in it. I've had my plants in starter cups for a little over a week and the drainage is TERRIBLE already. I'll keep looking for perlite then, I don't really want to use perlite that has nutes already in it.
 
They pretty much do the opposite.

Why would you buy a completely different product in place of the one you went for? And one that you knew nothing about at that. A google search would have saved you some cash.

Not trying to be a dick I just cant comprehend some of the posts around here where people go out and buy random grow supplies and then ask if theyre ok to use. Why not do some research, make a list and buy the right stuff the first time? I mean, in a lot of cases we are talking about a potential felony conviction here. Why someone would completely half-ass it is beyond me.

If youre going to rob a bank at least case the joint for a few days. Shit.
 
The amount of nutes in the MG perlite is minute, to the point it's completely insignificant in my opinion. If you are really worried just rinse it off well.
 
MYOB said:
They pretty much do the opposite.

Why would you buy a completely different product in place of the one you went for? And one that you knew nothing about at that. A google search would have saved you some cash.

Not trying to be a dick I just cant comprehend some of the posts around here where people go out and buy random grow supplies and then ask if theyre ok to use. Why not do some research, make a list and buy the right stuff the first time? I mean, in a lot of cases we are talking about a potential felony conviction here. Why someone would completely half-ass it is beyond me.

If youre going to rob a bank at least case the joint for a few days. Shit.
Click to expand...

I think you might be going a bit overboard, the front of the bag says clearly "Improves Drainage" and that's what I'm looking for right. I've done a good deal of research but some things can only be found out from people who have had first hand experience with them. I try to help out around here as much as I can because I like to ask questions also.
 
If it makes you feel beeter, i bought 3 bags of perlite that was not my usual brand (i usually get shultz) which was miracle gro perlite. Thinking to myself perlite is perlite, I didnt know that miracle gro put nutes in the perlite....I was just about to rip the bag open and mix it it with 50L of coco and saw the nutrient values on the back....wtf now I have 3 bags of perlite I will never touch...you live, you learn
 
The Red said:
I'm using miracle grow organic choice because it was cheap and had very little nutes already in it. I've had my plants in starter cups for a little over a week and the drainage is TERRIBLE already. I'll keep looking for perlite then, I don't really want to use perlite that has nutes already in it.
Click to expand...

In a pinch you can use some sand for additional drainage. Many mixes use a small percentage of sand or "agricultural grit"
 
Vermiculite Vs. Perlite....
Nutes in perlite ? Read the MG sack it came in... Those are "Trace" amounts .04-.01-.06
So, if you use a 20% perlite mix with your MG or other soil...
Do the math...
20% of the NPK = of your complete mix from the perilite= .008-.002-.012...
Please...

Personally, I use Perlite 30% and Vermiculite 30% MG Potting soil 40% Everytime on my clones... Since I switched to this mix a month ago, I can clearly see better root growth on the clones...

You guys that are afraid of MG products...
I laff my ass off...and trace numbers of NPK...fear of trace? read up...
Too funny...me say... what me worry...
Word...
 
If you can't find decent soil go to any Ace Hardware and get some pro-mix. If they don't already carry it, they will gladly order it for you. Especially this time of year.

The people running the counter are usually 17 and have no clue what you are taking about so tell them to punch these numbers in:
7008634 - for 1 cu ft loose bags
7136385 - for 3.8 cu ft bales

Lowes and Home Depots can also order pro-mix for you also. That miracle gro organic is pretty heavy. Too much pine bark and crap. It would probably benefit from some perlite.
 
I use the MG perlite, its fine....as already said you people need to do some reading, the nute amounts are NOTHING.You should always wash the stuff anyways to get rid of the dust, that crap is horrible to breath in and will also clog up all sorts of things in your room.
 
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