The advantages of using perlite are faster germination and rooting of cuttings due to better air to water ratio. Faster growth due to increased nutrient uptake,better drainage and aeration. Perlite is completely sterile, neutral ph at around 7 and is from a natural source.
For propagation from cuttings
Mix equal parts of perlite and compost and place in your pot then firmly place in your cutting and keep well watered with a weak feed solution, once the cutting has rooted you can give it its first feed.
For propagation from seed
Mix one part vermiculite to nine parts perlite, this will give you a nice lightweight mixture. Put the mixture in your seed tray and sow your seed then cover with the same mixture. Water and then place on window sill once seeds have germinated give them their first feed.
Container planting
Use perlite instead of sand or gravel in your medium for the drainage and aeration. Just add a few handfuls of perlite to help with root growth, help protect against bad weather and help with re-wetting.
For cut flowers
It supports the stems, offers aeration when water is added and looks good too because you can change the colour by just adding food colouring.
Hydroponic growing
Perlite can be used for all your planting requirements from seeds to cuttings and is widely used in hydroponics. If you are wanting to use it for irrigation use at least three centimetres of perlite in the bottom of your tray taking the place of gravel or sand. If you are using a dripper system you should completely fill your pots with perlite remembering to use to cover base of pots with horticultural fabric, stopping particles blocking up your drip lines.If using beneficial microbes it is best to run the system for about twenty four hours to allow the microbes to colonise reducing the stress on the plants when they are added. When mixing perlite with a medium such as soil or coco fibre I would say to use a fifty fifty mix breaking up the density of the medium.
I would say that because of the many different uses perlite has, it has to be the best thing to add to your soil, the benefits for your roots are better drainage and aeration, its no wonder plants that have been grown with perlite are much stronger and healthier than ones without. Using perlite will transform the way your garden grows and make sure that you get the very best out of your plants.
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