Reclaiming Perlite

Posts

• TenN Posts: 184

  June 2023

  In theory you could fill a big bucket with water and slowly shovel the dirt in, any of the good stuff will float. Take you a while though.

  0
• Pete.8 Posts: 11,340

  June 2023 edited June 2023

  The info in the post above (which is likely to soon disappear) seems to be right.
  Perlite breaks down over a few years to nothing visible.
  
  I use vermiculite if it doesn't need to last more than a few months.
  Perlite if it doesn't need to last more than a year or so.
  Horticultural grit for any long-term planting.
  
  

  mikezzvfIWZp said:

  One of the many benefits of using perlite in horticulture and agriculture is it is a mined mineral and permanent. When perlite is used in native soils research says it is extremely beneficial in several ways. When it's first added as a coarse particle it allows air to the root zone and helps to avoid over-watering. As it ages in place the particles will break down into smaller fragments due to freeze-thaw cycles and cultivation. As the particles get smaller they provide more adsorption of water and like sand keep the soil loose a friable. It also insulates the root zone helping the roots and the plant not suffer from extreme temperature fluctuations. 
  
  Here's an article about using perlite in urban landscapes. Some of the research is proving less need for irrigation up to 50% and current studies are focusing on less required fertilizers due to making the soil's natural nutrients available to the plant and the porous perlite particles retaining some of the fertilizer and nutrients in its structure.
  

  
  

  
  Billericay - Essex
  
  Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
  Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.

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