Here's a fun gardening quiz.
Identify X.
X aerates soil, improves drainage, prevents compaction, promotes moisture retention and root growth. To sum up, X is a mineral that every soil needs. Any guesses?
Kudos, if your answer was perlite!
Wait, what's Perlite again?
Perlite is a white, lightweight granular substance obtained from solidified lava that spews out during a volcanic eruption. Gardeners use this mineral in potting mixes to make them well-draining. And why do we need this? Our soil becomes compact after frequent watering, which is suffocating for the roots. Perlite, with its porous nature, adds structure to our potting mix with its porous nature and prevents the soil from compacting.
The right way to go about this is:
Place a layer of perlite inside the planter before adding the potting mix. It will allow water to flow out of the drainage hole without letting the soil escape.
Most indoor plants require two handfuls of perlite, but succulents, sensitive to moist soil, need more perlite in their mix. For potted plants, loosen the topsoil with a trowel and mix in 2-3 handfuls of perlite.
And how does perlite help with soil aeration?
by creating air pockets in the soil for the roots to breathe easily. The right way to go about this is to place a layer of perlite inside the planter before adding the potting mix. It will allow water to flow out of the drainage hole without letting the soil escape. Most indoor plants require two handfuls of perlite, but succulents, which are sensitive to damp soil, require more perlite.
Loosen the topsoil with a trowel and mix in 2-3 handfuls of perlite for potted plants.
To make things easy for you, we have a ready-to-use potting mix that takes care of all your plant’s needs in perfect proportions. Try our 10L and 25L bags of potting mix!