Gardening - helps with water retention, soil aeration, and drainage. ), seed, then cover the entire area with ¼ inch (6 cm.) When not used as a soil conditioner, or as an ingredient in a soilless potting mix, there are three other situations vermiculite is useful for plants. We recommend pairing with an All-Natural, preferably organic, potting soil. Vermiculite is an organic, asbestos-free soil amendment that promotes faster root growth and gives quick anchorage to young roots. Fill in with a mix of vermiculite and the removed topsoil. Vermiculite is perfect for plants that enjoy lots of water, such as some irises and forget-me-nots. When ground, into a powder it can be used in auto paints and lacquers. Vermiculite can be found in potting soil or purchased by itself in four different sizes for gardening with vermiculite. Packing material - commonly used when shipping hazardous liquids. Even newly seeded lawns can benefit from an application of vermiculite. There is little risk of root rot or damping-off (. When mined by the Zonolite Company, Libby Amphibole asbestos (LAA) contaminated the product, creating health and safety concerns, especially with vermiculite being used in attic insulation and as raw materials in many other construction products. Vermiculite is used widely in the horticultural industry for potting mixes, seed raising and hanging baskets. Vermiculite makes the soil ‘fluffy,’ thereby helping improve air circulation and drainage, as well as regulating moisture. After mining, the ore is separated from other minerals and screened to classify it into different particle sizes. Vermiculite mixed half and half with soil, peat or compost eliminates packed down soil in flower pots and houseplant containers while allowing excellent aeration, reducing watering frequency and allowing root spread. The vermiculite will hasten germination and increase the number of seeds that germinate while maintaining moisture and protecting from drying and heat. Vermiculite added to the garden or vermiculite in potting soil increases water and nutrient retention and aerates the soil, resulting in healthier, more robust plants. Use perlite when you are growing plants that benefit from the growing media drying out completely between waterings (succulents, orchids); use vermiculite when you are growing plants that prefer to be kept moist such as tropical plants. larger than the plants roots. Unfortunately, while they have some similar properties they act very differently. They are the best choice for plants that needs water. Vermiculite retains a lot of water, expanding up to 3-4 times its size when saturated. The biggest difference between the two products is that perlite helps increase the drainage, while vermiculite increases water retention by absorbing water in its plate-like structure and holding it in the root zone for plant roots. Vermiculite interacts with potassium, calcium and magnesium in your soil. It will not rot, deteriorate, or mold and is enduring, odorless, non-toxic and sterile. It can be used alone or mixed with other media to create potting mixes. 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. Layer bulbs in-between vermiculite before storing. Read more about Soil, Fixes & Fertilizers. Holds onto too much moisture for some plants. WHAT IT CONSISTS OF: 5-8mm Vermiculite - safe and strong water-retaining, which is the most suitable mineral for hydroponic plants. Most comfortable with soil under her fingernails, Amanda has an enthusiasm for gardening, agriculture, and all things plant related. Use vermiculite alone or mixed with soil or peat for seed germination. Not unlike perlite, vermiculite adds a plethora of nutrients to the plant, including calcium, magnesium, and potassium. We all know that plants require soil aeration, nutrition and water to thrive. The Libby cleanup project has been one of the largest, longest-running, remediation projects to date. Germinate seeds using the smallest size of vermiculite as a growing medium and the largest size for improved soil aeration. Used as the sole growing media in containers, or a component of potting soil; also used as a soil amendment for garden soils. This soil is odorless, non-toxic, and sterile and it will not rot or mold. Lastly, vermiculite can be used when arranging flowers. This will allow seeds to germinate more rapidly. Perlite would dry out too rapidly for water-loving plants. Similar in nature to perlite, vermiculite is formed by the weathering or heating of biotite or phlogopite. This eliminates the need to change the water, eliminates spills and keeps blooms fresh for day. The sponge-like quality of the vermiculite will absorb any excess moisture and prevent rot or mildew while protecting them from temperature fluxes. On the mechanism of exfoliation of ‘Vermiculite’. The germinating medium you use greatly influences seed germination and young plant growth. For plants that grow in well-drained soil, vermiculite is not a suitable choice for the soil. Its sterile nature makes it highly suitable for starting seeds. In the horticulture industry, the advantages far outweigh the downfalls. Unlike standard packing peanuts, it breaks down naturally in landfills. When to Use Vermiculite vs. Perlite . To transplant using vermiculite, dig a hole 6 inches (15 cm.) It is also ideal to keep your house plant’s soil well-drained. Difficult to find in the retail home gardening marketplace. Here are other uses for vermiculite: Read more articles about Soil, Fixes & Fertilizers. Perlite may also be found in potting soils, but vermiculite is far superior for water retention. Both treated and untreated vermiculite are used across a variety of industries, for many different purposes. Again, this allows for root spread, provides moisture control and protects the roots from drying out due to sun or wind. The amount of water that vermiculite holds is too much for plants like cacti, succulents, or rhododendrons, which need a well-draining soil. Expanded vermiculite is versatile and unique: it is lightweight, it is non-combustible, compressible, highly absorbent, pH neutral, inert, and non-reactive to all but very strong acids. Vermiculite, although less aerating than perlite, is the amendment of choice for water-loving plants. It is very lightweight and mixes easily with other mediums. Highly absorbent so it will soak up any leaks that occur; non-flammable nature contains fires (when packaging items such as lithium batteries) to inside the container. Bar-Tal, A., Saha, U. K., Raviv, M., & Tuller, M. (2010). Known for its sterile, lightweight nature and ability to retain moisture, improve aeration, and increase drainage, vermiculite is an invaluable asset to the horticultural industry. When added to the soil, vermiculite acts like a sponge, trapping moisture close to the roots of the plants. Well-draining compost mixes have a greater amount of sand, perlite, and vermiculite … As a result, when adding water, your pots may feel heavy quite a bit. Three inches of vermiculite can also be used as mulch around shrubs and other garden plants like. We all hear about plants requiring “well-draining” or “free-draining” soil mixes, which really refers to the soil structure. Many who used vermiculite for gardening may be a bit worried about recent health scares related to vermiculite. Water Retention. If vermiculite is used without soil, feed the seedlings a weak fertilizer solution of 1 tablespoon (15 mL.) Again, many gardeners wonder if there is a big difference between vermiculite and perlite  and if they can be substituted for one another. Although more readily available than peat moss, it isn’t considered renewable like coconut coir. Tender varieties of bulbs are dug up in the late fall and then stored in a cool, dry place over the winter. It also helps to raise the pH slightly of your plants even though it’s a neutral pH of 7.0. This coarse grade vermiculite soil amendment has large pieces that don’t disintegrate. Herbs that prefer moist soils that thrive in vermiculite: Moisture-loving plants that thrive in vermiculite: One of the critical aspects of establishing a new lawn is keeping seeds moist while they germinate. chemical analysis of commercial vermiculite, largest, longest-running, remediation projects. Though I can’t confirm this, I have read that Vermiculite retains 200 to 300 percent moisture by weight. Vermiculite is used in the garden or potting soil to help aerate the soil and increase water and nutrient retention. Vermiculite is a natural mineral that is often placed in potting soil to enhance a plant’s growth by boosting aeration while encouraging water drainage. Vermiculite is used for special coatings and packaging, fire protection, loose-fill insulation, concrete screeds and plasters, swimming pool liners, and potting mixes or potting soils. Automotive - used to make brake and clutch linings, gaskets, and rubber seals. Plants that require moist, nutrient-rich soil grow better in vermiculite mixes, while those that prefer dry or quick-draining soil are more likely to thrive in a perlite-based mix. If you find that your garden soil is lacking in any or all of these arenas, there’s something that you can add to improve the soil structure — vermiculite. When seeding new lawns spread ¼” layer across the newly seeded area, then irrigate well. These rocks are considered phyllosilicates, containing high proportions of magnesium aluminum silicate mineral that resembles mica in appearance. When vermiculite is used with fertilizers it helps to retain water and nutrients, only returning to the plants when it requires it. Sprinkle the seeds on top of the moist vermiculite, cover with a thin layer of vermiculite, and then spray it with water. Asbestos exposure is incredibly dangerous, posing many health risks. It will soak up any excess moisture from the air or the surface of the roots and bulbs, without desiccating the roots and bulbs themselves. Vermiculite is available in fine, medium and coarse grades. If you have heavy, clay, poor-draining,... Rooting Cuttings. But vermiculite is useful to gardeners beyond functioning as one component in a mixed growing medium. degree in agriculture and over a decade of experience gardening, she combines her plant knowledge and knack for writing to share what she knows and loves. Perlite enhances aeration by releasing excess amounts of water. Just be sure to use horticultural vermiculite and not that sold for house insulation — it is treated to repel water. You can shop now on Amazon, Espoma is our favorite brand currently. This is because too much moisture will be captured, which may kill the plant… Reusable year after year since it doesn’t decompose. It will soak up excess moisture without desiccating the bulbs. Vermiculite. Water absorption strip - inserted in the four corners of the planting pot, with strong absorption, eliminating the trouble of water shortage of plants. The vermiculite deposit was found to have naturally occurring asbestos minerals directly alongside the vermiculite. Known to be inexpensive, effective, and safe for use, it is a great tool to keep in your gardening arsenal. "vermiculite for plants" Gro-Sure Vermiculite, 10 L. 4.7 out of 5 stars 849. The most commonly used sizes are 0–2, 2–4, and 4–8 mm in diameter (1). of soluble fertilizer per 1 gallon (4 L.) of water), once the first leaves appear. If perlite is used, the plant will dry out too fast. Vermiculite is best used for dampening out the soil for excessive drying or if it’s dry. Vermiculite is commonly used by those in the gardening trade to root cuttings. Vermiculite is the name of a group of hydrated laminar minerals (aluminum-iron magnesium silicates) which look like mica. Water absorption strip - inserted in the four corners of the planting pot, with strong absorption, eliminating the trouble of water shortage of plants. A typical chemical analysis of commercial vermiculite shows it contains 38-46% silicon oxide (SiO2), 16-35% magnesium oxide (MgO), 10-16% aluminum oxide (Al2O3), 8-16% water, plus lesser amounts of several other chemicals. Vermiculite can be added to poor quality soil to improve it. Perlite may also be found in potting soils, but vermiculite is far superior for water retention. Vermiculite is perfect for plants that enjoy lots of water, such as some irises and forget-me-nots. Just layer the vermiculite and the roots or bulbs, and store in a … Its scientific name is hydrated laminar magnesium-aluminum-iron silicate. In its natural form, vermiculite is flaky and metallic, much like mica. When heated, it expands up to thirty times its original size to produce the horticultural grade. 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