Perlite Available from Viragrow

Viragrow manufactures soil mixes by using two different composts made from waste products. In one of Viragrow's higher-end soil mixes perlite is added for a variety of reasons.

What are the advantages of Perlite in a soil mix?

• It is inert. It does not alter the chemistry of the soil mix when added.
• It adds aeration to the soil mix. It opens the cracks and crevices in a soil mix so that more air can enter it.
• It doesn't hold water or fertilizer. When rapid changes are needed in a soil mix, either chemical or structural, perlite helps make changes more rapid.
• It reduces the "bulk density" of a soil mix. In other words, the soil mix is lighter depending on how much and what grade (how coarse it is) of perlite is used.

Three grades of perlite; horticultural (#2, left), and #3 and #4, the largest.

Viragrow is selling all three grades in bags and cubic yard totes if you want to make your own soil mix or have some other use for it. 

How is perlite used in other applications?

Decreasing weight

Plant propagation

Rooftop gardening

Filtration

Lightweight mortar and concrete

Hydroponics

Postharvest storage of bulbs and corms

Source of silicon

Container soils

Interchangeable with vermiculite when retention of water and fertilizer is not wanted

Insulation

 Viragrow Delivers!

Perlite Available in Bulk at Viragrow

Viragrow makes the soil mixes and one of the ingredients it uses is perlite. Perlite is made from volcanic rock that is mined, milled and then heated to very high temperatures where it "pops" like popcorn. This expanded mineral is light in weight and has some interesting properties for soil mixes. One of these properties is it's very light weight and substitution for sand and a soil mix.

Perlite can be screened to accommodate several different grades or sizes. On the left is size #2 called horticultural grade and used in soil mixes. Other grades include #3 on the bottom right and #4 on the top right.

Perlite can be purchased in 1 1/2 and 3 cubic foot bags as well as in cubic yard totes.