{"id":1737825,"date":"2022-02-02T12:10:12","date_gmt":"2022-02-02T18:10:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/?p=1737825"},"modified":"2022-02-02T12:10:12","modified_gmt":"2022-02-02T18:10:12","slug":"how-to-garden-with-perlite-potting-soil","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tasteofhome.com\/article\/how-to-garden-with-perlite-potting-soil\/","title":{"rendered":"How To Garden with Perlite Potting Soil"},"content":{"rendered":"Those little squishy white balls in your potting soil aren't styrofoam. They're actually perlite, AKA volcanic popcorn. In the building industry, perlite is used in ceiling tiles and lightweight masonry fillers. In gardening soil, it's an inexpensive additive with a wealth of benefits.\r\n\r\n\"When chosen correctly, perlite can easily help flourish a garden and become a gardener's best friend,\" says Brittany Cowan, expert gardener and inventor of the Drain Away Drain Tray<\/a>. \"Most of all, perlite helps store nutrients and retain moisture that plants need.\"\r\n

What Is Perlite Soil?<\/h2>\r\nIn nature, the mineral perlite comes from water-saturated obsidian, a volcanic glass mined primarily in Greece, the U.S., Turkey and Japan. To turn it into a garden ingredient, it's crushed and heated to around 900 F.\r\n\r\n\"As the steam escapes, it expands into the substance we recognize in soil mixtures,\" says Cowan. \"It becomes quite porous, and those cavities help store nutrients and some moisture.\" That volcanic popcorn is then sold as a soil additive, or mixed in with potting soil and seed-starting mixes. Hydroponic gardeners also use it.\r\n\r\nSpeaking of additives, should you use coffee grounds in the garden<\/a>?\r\n

Benefits of Perlite Soil<\/h2>\r\nPerlite's main benefit is its high porosity. That's why it's so popular in gardening. Other benefits include:\r\n