Pumice v Perlite

[Patrick Palms]

Would you guys say that Pumice is better than Perlite ? for indoor palm soil mix ?

 

 

[PalmatierMeg]

All things equal I'd choose pumice. But pumice is unavailable in FL and many nurseries don't even know what it is. I get what I need to pot my rare cacti from a place in CA: $27 for a 15 lb bag so not cheap. Pumice is a bit heavier than perlite and less likely to float up or separate in a potting mix. I buy perlite in 4 cu. ft. bags for about $25-30 each and I use a lot of it. Finally, despite what some people say both additives are very dusty so you should wear a face mask when mixing with them. I have asthma and must be very careful around them.

[Silas_Sancona]

Pumice... The best by far, hands down... 

Perlite is horrible. It's so light that it has a tendency to work its way up and out of soil mixes, Pumice usually stays put, or does so more than Perlite. Pumice has a natural water/ nutrient holding capacity, Perlite doesn't. Stuff can be really bad to breathe in also.. Soil mixes w/ Pumice also breathe better than soil that contains  -the other stuff.  

Threw the *Perlite option* out the window about a decade ago. Never looked back.

Will drive 15+ miles to obtain/ purchase bags of Pumice if closer sources for it are out of stock.  If i can't find it anywhere / cost too much to have X quantity shipped to me, i'll substitute with Calcined Clay / Seramis / Turface MVP.. (Different names, same basic product) or the smallest sized lava rock / gravel i can find..

[Patrick Palms]

What mix do you use, when adding Pumice? I was thinking of using Pumice, coco peat, and a good compost.    With more tropical plants, making a Humidity tray. 

[Silas_Sancona]

21 minutes ago, Patrick Palms said:

What mix do you use, when adding Pumice? I was thinking of using Pumice, coco peat, and a good compost.    With more tropical plants, making a Humidity tray. 

For me personally, i base the amount of pumice ( Or lava gravel / Seramis - Calcined Clay, etc) in the mix on the plant's needs.  I have even gone as far as seeking out stuff like calcium sand, or added pieces of crushed Limestone, Serpentine, or Gypsum to follow what X plant might prefer growing in naturally.. 

On a more basic level, for things that can handle soil that will stay moister longer, use less Pumice and more Coco Peat & Compost .. maybe add something like Fir Bark or chunky Coconut chips to such a mix also, depending what is available to you..  Sensitive to wet soil?, use more Pumice, or other additives that help drain away excess moisture.  I stopped using stuff from the stores years ago when they stopped stocking quality bagged products, which i add to at home.. 

The biggest thing about adding chunky/ gritty things like Pumice in your soil mix, is to help keep the soil mix light and allow air movement through it. Overly wet / dense soil conditions can encourage root rot, especially during the cooler months here / anywhere winters might be cooler and wet.

A majority of my palm / other seedlings start out in a soil mix that works out to something like 30% Pumice, 30% Coco Peat, 20% good compost, with the remaining 20% or so being things like Calcined Clay, maybe a little sand, and / or Fir bark / Coir chunks. Has performed well..

Cacti, and other stuff that likes it gritty and well drained?.. soil mix for them can contain as much as 70% Pumice with only 10% of the mix being compost / Coco peat, other organics. Soil of few things i have are all grit and contain no organics at all.. Regardless, here in the desert, i do have to water more during the summer.. Trade off is less cool soil / wet condition issues during the winter. Soil mix retains enough moisture through our cooler months that i don't need to water much.