Mother Earth Large & Coarse Perlite #4

What Sets Mother Earth Perlite #4 Apart in a Mix

This #4 grade from Mother Earth is expanded perlite, made from a naturally occurring siliceous volcanic rock. Heated to about 1,600 °F, the rock pops like popcorn and expands up to 20 times its original volume. The kilning leaves a light, sterile white aggregate with a neutral pH of 7.0. The #4 size averages around 1 in per piece, which places it at the very coarse end of horticultural perlite. Pieces that large hold pore space open even after a mix settles and compacts over a long crop. The result is fast drainage and plenty of air around the roots. It carries no nutrients and does not break down, so it changes the structure of a mix without changing the feed. Each bag holds 4 cubic feet. The item number is HGC715009, and the UPC is 849969000184. Pallets ship 30 bags at a time.

Working With Extra Large Perlite

Extra large perlite shines where water has to move fast and air has to stay in the root zone. Blend it into heavy potting soil or compost-rich beds that tend to stay wet. Big containers and long-term raised beds benefit most, because fine aggregate slowly washes down and packs. In hydroponics it works as a free-draining media on its own or as the coarse fraction in a mix. A drainage layer of large pieces at the bottom of a pot also helps keep holes clear. Dry perlite throws off fine white dust when the bag is opened. Wet the bag through the top or mist the pile before mixing, and wear a dust mask in tight spaces. Rinse it in a screen or bucket if fines would clog drippers or a recirculating system. Because it holds little water itself, pair it with coco, peat or soil when the plants need a steady moisture reserve. Light pieces can float to the surface after heavy top watering, so top dress or water gently in the first weeks. Store opened bags closed and dry so they stay clean.

Key Features

• Extra large size: #4 grade, averaging around 1 in per piece.
• Sterile: Kilned at about 1,600 °F.
• Neutral pH: pH 7.0, no nutrient load.
• Lasting structure: Holds pore space as mixes settle.
• Fast drainage: Pulls air into heavy or wet mixes.
• Hydroponic use: Free-draining media or coarse fraction.
• 4 cubic foot bag: Pallets of 30 bags.
• Expanded volcanic rock: Expands up to 20 times when heated.

Technical Specifications