Use of Vermiculite / Perlite

Posts

• Zoomer44 Posts: 3,267

  February 2016

  I find vermiculite helps prevent damping off if sprinkled around seedlings when potting up for the first time.

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• Hostafan1 Posts: 34,888

  February 2016

  I have to confess , in all my gardening years, I've never used either.

  Devon.

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• BobTheGardener Posts: 11,384

  February 2016

  philippa smith2 wrote (see)

  Perlite is a good addition when making up seed or cutting compost.  Vermiculite is a lot lighter in texture......good for covering seeds which need light for germination.

  Beat me to it Philippa!

  A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  

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• GWRS Posts: 8,478

  February 2016

  Thank you all for the info , very interesting 

  Already sieve compost for seeds , like idea of mixing with perlite , will let you known 

  Never thought of covering seeds with vermiculite , have tried grit but wasn't happy with it 

  Do realise don't need any of this but always willing to try something different 

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• JerryBone Posts: 91

  February 2016

  Perlite and vermiculite are both used to improve the soils ability to retain water. If it is that you are trying to improve the water retention in the soil I would highly recommend adding organic matter such as we'll rotted compost as this will improve the soil as well as its ability to retain moisture, I always try to steal away from using vermiculite or pear lite as it creates an un natural look to the soil.

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