Perlite may also be found in potting soils, but vermiculite is far superior for water retention. Use 1/3 to 1/2 vermiculite in your potting soil for containers or when building your raised beds, or improve your garden soil by adding it in the spring with your other soil amendments and compost. Vermiculite is hard for me to come by in large bags (a 90 minute drive out to Amish Country), and expensive on top of that. This is especially true in raised beds and container gardens, but also in the ground as well. Perlite or vermiculite for vegetables. After years of testing, I'm ready to share the most important elements that every self-watering wicking bed needs to have in it. It’s like perlite, as a natural mineral that has been heated up until it expands. Buy perlite and vermiculite designed for indoor gardening at HTG Supply. I'm getting my garden beds set up, doing a hybridized version of square foot gardening using raised beds and trying to make mel's mix. Just alternate layers of perlite and bulbs, cover with more perlite, and store in a cool, dark, dry place. There are many other soil amendments that have similar benefits to perlite, such as vermiculite… It can get quite difficult for first-timers. The classic soil-based mix for a raised bed incorporates equal parts garden soil, compost and sharp sand. The soil in raised beds tends to warm faster as well, which means you will get a head-start in the season for growth. Similar to mica, vermiculite looks like little clusters of fine layers, sometimes described as “accordion shaped.” Compared to perlite, vermiculite is the better choice if you are looking for a material that helps retain water as well as aerate. Perlite -- perlite dust is crystalline and can seriously choke you if inhaled. Plant health, moisture retention and proper drainage are all achieved with raised beds and also when you choose the right ingredients to fill your raised-bed garden. Maybe you will ask about perlite and vermiculite, how are these two additives different? If you’re going to build a raised bed above your existing land, the soil mix you use is critical. Perlite is also great for storing bulbs overwinter, to keep them fresh for planting in spring. Using perlite and vermiculite is one way to help your soil retain moisture and aeration. Airflow in the soil is greatly improved in a bed amended with perlite , and that’s necessary both for your plant’s roots to breathe and for any worms, beneficial nematodes, and … Vermiculite Vs. Perlite. Perlite vs Vermiculite – If you are looking for what additives are suitable to be incorporated into the soil in your garden. Remember that each serves a purpose in the garden, so one isn’t necessarily bad. Use 1/3 to 1/2 vermiculite in your potting soil for containers or when building your raised beds, or improve your garden soil by adding it in the spring with your other soil amendments and compost. Vermiculite is a popular companion to perlite as it does hold considerably more water. Tubers stored in vermiculite are protected from even the most extreme temperatures. I always hold my breath and change clothes after using. Vermiculite is used in the same way as perlite, pumice, biochar, and rice hulls. In the post Starting Seed – Seed Starting Mix I told you all about the grow mix I use to use, why I no longer use it, and what I was going to experiment with to start my seed. I planted a few veggies in a 1:1 ratio of peat moss and vermiculite and was planning on transferring them to a raised garden bed in Flagstaff soon along with some compost. Even in Amish Country, a 4 cu ft bag is about $15. With a raised bed, your vegetables benefit from a longer growing season because the soil warms-up earlier than soil in the ground and you benefit from less bending over to tend to your garden. 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