Could I mix Perlite and Vermiculite to get the same effect as Peatmoss and Vermiculite?

Question

I can't get hold of Peat moss, but have found Perlite and wondering if mixing them would be the same, or am i better off just using Vermiculite on its own to sow seeds? It's for a science project and I will be adding differing concentrations of fertiliser to each pot and measuring results

Answer 1

You're making your project way way harder than it has to be--and more inaccurate. In the first answer you got there will be too many variables--you won't know if the difference is due to the potting media or the different fert. concentration. Take the Perlite or Vermiculite. Both are almost nutrient-free. Then when you vary the amount of fertilizer you can see what difference there is in the plant's growth. This way you have only one variable--the conc. of fert.

Answer 2

Try this for your project. Plant seeds using only the Perlite, seeds using only the Vermiculite, seeds with topsoil only, and seeds using Peat Moss and Vermiculite. You will see a difference!!
Peat Moss or Sphagnum Moss is available at any local hardware or "box"store location. It is cheap but bulky. If money is the problem ask your neighbors for a small portion of any they have. Contact your local nurseries and explain what your situation is. I am quite sure they will not only volunteer to give you the materials but greatly assist you in your project. Use them and you'll get an "A". Good Luck.

Answer 3

I used to mix them but after the melamine scare for pet food and after hearing that styrofoam containers heated in the microwave can cause cancer, I'm less inclined to put anything that isn't naturally occurring in my soil or on my plants. I'm even getting concerned about putting genetically modified vegetable scraps in my compost heap. I am trying to purchase and exchange all seeds that have not been genetically engineered and plant them. I would suggest that everyone who is growing food plants to research the effects of all these pesticides and fertilizers on our environment. Remember that mutations occur and that even supposedly good genetically modified seeds have a 1 in four chance of becoming something toxic or problematic. Just look up basic genetics and basic blood types. If you have two blood types that O but one has positive antibodies and the other negative antibodies, there is a good chance that at least one will have have confused antibodies that are neither positive or negative but some combination of the two -- a genetic anomaly.

Why don't you expand your study and measure the soil acidity and composition effects on the acidity and PH balance of the plants and check the genetic make up of plants using genetically modified seeds and those plants that have no genetic modification in natural soil and with perlite and vermiculite added etc. Please post your paper on this website after you have it graded because I'd like to read your results. Or you can mail them to the organization below. We have people who are studying the effects of all these things and I know they would be interested as well. Please include pictures and your name and address and we'll respond.

Oh, and you can find natural peat moss in peat bogs near swampland. Just be careful not to sink into quicksand. Walk with a stick and poke the ground. Peat bogs are usually in wooded areas and when you walk on them they feel like you're walking over a hollow space, kind of like how beating on a big bass drum feels and sounds.

Answer 4

No, perlite is not the same as peat. Perlite is permeable but is not water retentive. You can replace perlite with coarse sand in soiless recipes like this:
4 parts peat
2 parts perlite
2 parts vermiculite

Vermiculite has high water permeability and retention as does peat. So yes you can start cuttings or seeds in this. Just remember hydroponics works without soil but roots need oxygen as well as water.
Seeds will start even on pure sand.

The reason for the mixes is to fake soil with out the weight. Loam is roughly equal parts clay, silt and sand with 7-10% organics. The three minerals have different particle sizes, water permeability and water retention factors.

Can you get coir? Coir is shredded coconut fiber and is the medium that professional rose growers use. It can be found in the pet stores (sold as lizard bedding). It can be used in place of peat moss. Coir dusts with a particle size similar to peat show comparatively higher aeration and lower capacity to hold total and easily available water. Coir is pH neutral while peat is acidic. With coir there is no crusting at the surface and even if it is left til nearly dry, it is easily re-wetted with no surface pooling or run-off.

Coir will not introduce pests like peat moss can. 'When starting seeds, coir deters fungus gnats by keeping the top surface of the containers dry; they are attracted to a moist soil surface. Peat based products are known to attract these pests. In this way the coir acts like a mulch on the soil surface, while distributing moisture evenly with its natural wicking action.' says Patsy Cunningham.

Patsy Cunningham also stated, "Studies have found that the percentage of seed germination is increased in coir, and was particularly helpful with the difficult seeds of woody plants. Germination also occurred more quickly in coir, compared to other mediums. Other studies have found that soil-less mixes with coir as an additive vs peat, produce plants with heavier growth of stems and roots. It is thought that there is an antifungal property also that prevents pythium from causing damping off. There are also significant amounts of phosphorus and potassium in coir.'

You could try a good sterile compost. The compost adds nutrition that the peat moss doesn't so may add variables to your fertilizing. Bagged compost should list its N-P-K or if you call the company they should tell you.

Sandy soils can grow excellent plants if adequate water and fertilizer are supplied. Grass growing in pure builders sand is popular for golf putting greens and football fields in pro and college stadiums because sand does not compact like loams, drains well even during heavy rain, and doesn't muddy uniforms.
Plant cuttings can be propagated in pure sand or sand with peat.
Cutting Potting mix
1 part peat
1 part sharp sand


Good luck with your experiment.

Answer 5

Yes and this is better for the environment. Since the new rage is peat moss hanging baskets and since peat moss has become the "in" thing to add to your plants and gardens, the natural peat moss bogs are being harvested to death. The cutters come in, dig out the moss, and the ecoenviroment of the bogs dies.