The second problem that I have with pure perlite is that it does not provide strength for the roots and the whole plant. There’s several absorbent products at hardware stores such as “Oil-Dri” that are calcined clay, exactly what I use. These plants don’t like too much water. I like to use coco coir which rehydrates quickly, doesn’t compact, and is slow to break down (so not too organic) as an additive for water retention. I hope this helps especially for those who are just started their succulent garden. It sounds to me like the amount you added is just fine. It insures better drainage and aeration which results in a larger, healthier root system. So far my plants seem to be liking it. Of course, the decision to use perlite … maybe i'm just not aware of what turface looks like? The following tools will be used for mixing all the ingredients together. I’m in the U.K. and I get my turface equivalent in the pet shop, sold as baked clay cat litter. Those of you who love to plant succulents will especially appreciate pumice, as it not only helps absorb and slowly release water, but it helps aerate the soil at the same time. They open doors for experiments. IME Pumice doesn’t float much or crumble to dust like perlite, and because it’s such an unfriendly surface and quite airy, it resists rot and pathogens. So adding perlite is a great addition to the succulent soil mix. One way to amend it is by adding a coarse sand. New comments cannot be posted and votes cannot be cast. Click Image to View Gallery. As far as I’m aware it’s only one specific brand sold at Pets At Home. Related: Do Succulents Require Special Soil? You don’t want the other stuff that has the feed in it. I highly recommend using a soil with a large particle size, roughly 1/4″ or 6mm. However, because perlite does not have enough nutrients that succulents need, mixing perlite with soil is a great option. -naturally occuring The information I've found on perlite and vermiculite is somewhat inconsistent and incomplete. These ingredients are easy to find. It is a generic unit being applied to all ingredients in the mix. In my case, I always start with the soil mix, especially when propagating leaf cuttings. I personally use chicken grit. They will rot quickly. I've read that it will compact after awhile, so would it only work temporarily if at all? Perlite is a natural mineral made from volcanic glass. Perlite is great for seed starting mixes and blending your own custom potting soil mix This is because makes the soil easy to crush. Since indoor environments don’t offer as much air circulation around indoor pots, I’ve found that using the right soil is extremely important for the health of indoor succulents.. Can I mix perlite with potting soil?eval(ez_write_tag([[336,280],'succulentsgrower_com-leader-3','ezslot_9',111,'0','0'])); Yes. Disclaimer: I'm in sunny Arizona, so any advice I give may not apply in your circumstances. I mix about half pumice with half cactus soil. GPP ships smaller bags and various sizes specifically for gardening—I especially like the smaller size (3/16”) for things with finer roots like mesembs and Echeveria; and plants that are in pots, and larger sizes for plants in the ground. Perlite is common and easy to find anywhere. This is because succulents don’t need many nutrients to survive. In other hydroponic gardens, plants grow in some kind of soil substitute, such as peat moss, coir (coconut fiber), aged bark, perlite, or clay pebbles. This might explain the slower draining, but there are some other factors. If you use pumice, I would stick with the same amount you were using with perlite and experiment. Soil. Aside from pathogens these sands have, they are too compact for succulents’ soil mix. Hey, i usually mix potting mix with granite and sand. anyone have any tips, recommendations, mixes with perlite, granite, and soil, or comments would be gladly appreciated! The only problem I’ve had with it is that when I treated my collection with a neem oil soil drench it got clogged up with oil and no longer hissed and my soil mix became hydrophobic. It’s definitely possible to get soil that dries out too fast though I think the rates are about the same between pumice and perlite. It’s under Dry-Stall as generic 40lb bags and I’ve previously ordered from General Pumice Products online. You garden in a wet or humid climate. Has anyone tried using ground up styrofoam as a substitute for perlite? I’ve used granite in my mixes but not alone. As the succulents grow bigger, they need something to anchor their roots on. Vermiculite is a light and airy rock that’s an important media in growing indoor and outdoor plants. In this post, I will share with you some tips... Are succulents good for indoors? But of course, the requirements of succulents may vary depending on many factors. Avoid using soil base the retains water because it could cause rotting.eval(ez_write_tag([[250,250],'succulentsgrower_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_7',107,'0','0'])); Succulents don’t like compacting soil. Obviously, you can customize your substrate, according to the need of your plant. For plants like succulents that need excellent drainage, adding one-fourth to one-third perlite or pumice to the potting soil makes over-watering much more difficult. You’re repotting houseplants or plants that like to stay on the drier side. Using any the mentioned sands will only make the soil absorbs more water than not. The easy steps that I will share in this post only require three ingredients. This is a guide for those people who are starting in the world of succulents. In this post, I will share with you some tips that work for me and for most succulent growers. For year of growing succulents, I learned that there is no general rule as to how these plants be raised. See to it that the base soil is fresh, clean, and has all the elements that succulents need. I think a huge difference between what I created and the fancy stuff is that the particle sizes aren’t very uniform, but I did my darndest and it is incredibly fast draining. i don't have any gardening stores, nurseries, or hardware stores near me that carry anything like it! I usually mix 50% perlite, 25% regular potting mix and 25% rough coco coir(not the one for mulch, still smaller pieces than that) for my succulents, so could I use regular bark instead of coco coir since you said it hold even less water than coco coir and it's a lot cheaper (at least in my area)? link to Will Succulents in Office with No Window Survive? It’s basically like turface from what I’ve read; it’s just a lot easier for me to get. i've bought a bag of chicken grit (granite) as a substitute but experimenting with it a bit i'm not sure if the ratio would still be 1:1 like i usually did with perlite. If you are planning to grow succulents indoors, you might also ask the same question. Perlite is a white and lightweight material. About 50/50 soil and non-organic mix. Sometimes they are confusing. My base soil mix has a lot of bark in it as well. I’m a huge fan of baked clay; it doesn’t float to the top when watering, it doesn’t camouflage mealybugs and it looks good with terracotta as a top dressing. However, because perlite does not have enough nutrients that succulents need, mixing perlite with soil is a great option. "fat plants," welcome here! Alternatives to Vermiculite & Perlite Coconut Husks. Perlite holds less water and allows more soil aeration, so it should be used for plants with low water needs, such as cacti and succulents. It has a pH of 6.6 to 7.5. Horticultural sand is an ingredient found in some recipes for seed starting mixes, commonly mixed with peat and perlite.However, it can be difficult to find in some regions, and when it is available, it's often expensive and sold in smaller quantities than what may be convenient for you. But if these materials are not available in your place, you can choose perlite instead. If you’re looking for turface, searched calcined clay. Avoid using beach sand, garden sand, or sandbox. i filled a pot with black gold succulent soil and granite and gave it a go, and the water didn't rush out as fast as it usually does with perlite so i'm worried i'd accidentally drown/overwater my plants if i fully switched over. Vermiculite, also a volcanic byproduct, is a suitable substitute for perlite but is often more expensive. i've bought a bag of chicken grit (granite) as a substitute but experimenting with it a bit i'm not sure if the ratio would still be 1:1 like i usually did with perlite. I swear this isn’t sponsored haha. It helps keep the soil breathable and fast-draining. Sorry I can’t be of more help there. Bigger succulents may have weak root foundation if planted in straight perlite. While the Styrofoam is synthetic and will not dissolve. A good amount of perlite though could certainly help the soil become fast-draining and provide better aeration. In conjunction with perlite, the vermiculite will absorb water and nutrients to feed your plants, while the perlite will help drain the excess water away. Some articles on this site contain affiliate links. Does perlite hold water?eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'succulentsgrower_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_0',112,'0','0'])); Perlite does hold water but it also drains water. I grow lots of plants in containers and particularly in concrete mixing tubs sunken into the ground. I found that perlite improves drainage for all types of plants (I change the amount of perlite used within the soilless mix depending on succulent, vegetable, perennial). I am a university teacher by profession, researcher, blogger, and gardener. Perlite. And that’s it. It is very important to note though that not all types of sand work in this case. Some succulents do survive in straight perlite. If you can’t find soil prepared just for cactus, a potting soil recommended for African violets is a good substitute. This is because succulents don’t need many nutrients to survive. Perlite helps plant roots breathe and is a light weight substitute for sand. Most succulent experts advise a good cactus potting soil. Edit: You will want to sift the granite like u/atozbotanicals said. Pumice is longer lasting and more superior. It’s probably a ~1:1:1 mix of the three components but this changes for each genus mostly according to forum posts about the plants. This guide covers everything you need to know about vermiculite including how it’s made, uses, safety, and how it compares to perlite. The soil ingredients. In this post, I share with you some truths about succulent... Hi, my name is Robinson. Both dry stall and GPP work fine IME. Perlite is a natural material from volcanic glass that will eventually dissolve over time. If you are new to growing succulents, you might suffer at keeping your succulent plants healthy. These uniquely processed hulls offer growers environmental, horticultural and … 3 parts of substitute for plants. Both vermiculite and perlite are used in potting soil to break it up, make it lighter, and to improve the absorption and retention of water. Now, you are ready to start making your succulent soil mix. So both have their own place in your garden, even in the same container or bed, but they’re not interchangeable. Like coarse sand, perlite provides better aeration and drainage for soil. You can always incorporate other materials such as turface, poultry grit, pumice, etc. These young and dynamic gardeners have recently acquired ownership of two California pumice mines and are here to help explain the differences between pumice and perlite. As a grower, you should not afraid of exploring strategies. Before you go on mixing the ingredients together, make sure that you already have a base. Pumice - Can be similar to perlite, but volcano chemistry is variable. That said, no single tip or recommendation can be applicable to all. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts. The ratios for either the clay or granite will be the same as if it were perlite. Shade-loving houseplants, succulents, and cacti do better with less water, so a potting mix amended with perlite helps prevent root rot and fungal disease. Other materials such as grit and gravel are also used to limit the amount of water the potting medium can hold. In other words, you only need one measuring container for all the ingredients.eval(ez_write_tag([[468,60],'succulentsgrower_com-leader-2','ezslot_5',109,'0','0'])); You can use any measuring container as long as it can provide accurate measure and ratio. Perlite is one of the best ingredients you can use to create the substrate for succulents, thanks to the characteristics of perlite. This is also the reason why some guides you found online are contradicting.eval(ez_write_tag([[300,250],'succulentsgrower_com-box-4','ezslot_11',105,'0','0'])); For instance, in preparing succulent soil, perlite is one ingredient. Back when I was started, I had the same experience. Note that perlite powder (released when adding it to the mix) can be hazardous to your lungs, so I wear a … Perlite is lightweight, odorless, clean, and easy to handle. No. Less soil and more grit for some succ’s, depending on their likes and grow situation. In the long run, succulents may suffer some issues of nutrients and stability. As a heart attack survivor, succulents help me feel good every day. In recent years, as greenhouse growers have embraced sustainability and looked for feasible ways to reduce production costs, the use of parboiled rice hulls in greenhouse growing media has become a popular substitute for perlite. Adding Perlite to your mixture helps with drainage. Styrofoam and perlite are two different materials although they have the same color. Anything and everything about succulents, a.k.a. Commonly referred to as "coir," shredded coconut husks are widely used as additions to potting soil mixes. A small amount of limestone, rich in calcium and magnesium, balances soil pH and makes soil nutrients more available to the succulents. The chicken grit is heaviest, I think. In straight perlite with your bare hand succulents don ’ t want the other stuff that the. T say anything about it vs other grit most succulent experts advise a good system. Hiss when watered, I always start with the soil mix to the. 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