Vermiculite is a natural mineral with a wide variety of uses. In the shipping and packaging industry, it’s mostly known as a loose fill material with good absorbent properties. But it’s also almost as popular in the garden as it is in the warehouse.
That’s right—you’ll find this mineral being used to grow everything from roses to lettuce in gardens around the world. Why is vermiculite a common gardening component, and where can you get pure vermiculite for an affordable price? And what are the basics of using it in your garden? Air Sea Containers has the answers you need.
What is Vermiculite? The Basics
Vermiculite is made from a combination of iron, magnesium, aluminum, and silicon. It’s a member of the mica family and, like other micas, cleaves easily into smaller pieces.
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Vermiculite gets its name from the Latin root word vermiculare, meaning “to breed worms.” That might sound nonsensical, but if you ever see vermiculite heated to a high temperature, you’ll understand—it expands in a way that resembles a wriggling worm.
Vermiculite is also a common packaging material for all kinds of goods. It’s extremely lightweight and absorbent, but it doesn’t rot or decay. It’s also recognized as a great choice for hazmat shipping because it doesn’t form chemical reactions.
Vermiculite in Gardening
So, why do gardeners use vermiculite? It turns out that the desirable properties of vermiculite are also very useful in gardening. These include:
- Its absorbent qualities help your soil retain water and nutrients.
- Natural sterility means it won’t provide a hospitable home for mold or pests.
- It doesn’t rot, meaning that you won’t have to worry about it decomposing and affecting your soil’s nutrient content.
Different sizes of vermiculite are used for different tasks in gardening. Small-grain vermiculite is good for germinating seedlings, while coarse-grain vermiculite is an ideal substance for aerating and structuring soil. Vermiculite also makes a good compost additive, for the same reasons that it’s good for potted plants—it helps soil retain water and nutrients more effectively.
Note: Vermiculite generally isn’t recommended for heavy clay soils. These soils already retain water well, so vermiculite may simply make the soil soggy and waterlogged. Vermiculite can work in any kind of climate, but it’s best suited for hotter climates with sandy soil that has trouble retaining water.
The Basics of Using Vermiculite
The magic ratio for vermiculite in soil is around 25 percent vermiculite to 75 percent soil. It’s easiest to achieve this ratio by measuring the vermiculite out into an empty pot, then adding soil on top until the pot is full.
You’ll need to mix the vermiculite into the soil, which is best done by hand. You’ll want to add it before you plant to avoid accidentally causing damage to the roots of your existing plants. Mix the vermiculite and the soil together until they’re thoroughly mingled. Then, pot your plant as normal, making sure to cover the roots completely.
Air Sea Containers Is the Best Option When It Comes to Where to Buy Vermiculite
If you’re interested in using vermiculite to germinate seeds, the key is to place a layer of vermiculite directly on top of the seeds. Make sure to use a finer grain, as it will help retain the moisture that the seeds need to flourish and grow.
Finally, note that since vermiculite retains water so well, it makes it more important to avoid overwatering. If you’ve added vermiculite to a potted plant, carefully and gently tilt it to the side to drain excess water out of the soil after watering it for the first time.
Vermiculite from Air Sea Containers
If you’ve been looking for where to buy vermiculite for sale, Air Sea Containers offers low prices on vermiculite for businesses and hobbyists alike. Our vermiculite is available in grade 4A extra-coarse, which is ideal for soil aeration, and grade 3A and 3C coarse, which offers more water retention.
We offer two package sizes of vermiculite, two cubic feet (perfect for indoor gardeners) and four cubic feet (great for an outdoor vegetable garden or flower bed). Don’t forget to pick up some 5-gallon buckets to make your repotting and soil amending a snap.
More questions about our vermiculite? We’re always glad to help—just call Air Sea at (866) 596-9448 or contact us online.
