Vermiculite for horticulture
Type:expanded vermiculite
Size:0.3-1mm1-3mm2-4mm3-5mm3-8mm4-7mm4-8mm ,etc
Color:silver white and golden yellow
Our vermiculite products:Raw vermicultie ,expanded vermiculite ,vermiculite powder ,vermiculite board.
1.What is Horticultural vermiculite
Horticultural vermiculite is a light, absorbent material that is chemically inert and odorless. It is made from flakes of a mica-like hydrated silicate of magnesium-aluminum-iron. The flakes are flash heated to 900 degrees centigrade. Water quickly evaporates as the vermiculite expands like an accordion. This process, known as exfoliation, balloons the flakes to twenty times their original size. With an essentially neutral pH of 7.0, horticultural vermiculite helps with soil aeration and retains moisture, fertilizers, other nutrients and plant treatments.
2. Horticultural vermiculite Benefits
Horticultural vermiculite is versatile, clean and sterile. While its neutral pH of 7.0 trends toward alkaline because of carbonates in the product, it does not have the pH lowering effect of peat. When combined with peat or composted pine bark, the resulting mix provides faster root growth. Because of its expanded size and light weight, it helps aerate mixes while retaining moisture and nutrients. Horticultural vermiculite is also used to bulk up mixes and lessen compaction.
3. Horticultural vermiculite Usage
According to The Vermiculite Association, starting with seed germination, vermiculite can be used alone or mixed 50/50 with peat or soil. When used alone, 1 tbsp. of soluble fertilizer per gallon of water is recommended. When used as a mix, no fertilizer is recommended. Root cuttings can be inserted directly into watered vermiculite. Houseplants benefit from looser soil and less watering. Moving to the outside garden, horticultural vermiculite adds air pockets and loosens the soil. For sandy conditions, vermiculite helps retain moisture.
4.Horticultural vermiculite kinds :golden expanded vermiculite and silver expanded vermiculite
5.Vermiculite chemicals
Composition | SiO2 | MgO | Al2O3 | Fe2O3 | CaO | K2O | ph |
Percentage | 37-42 | 11-23 | 9-17 | 3.5-18 | 1-2 | 5-8 | 7-11 |
6.Physical properties
Bulk density | 90-180kgs/m3 | Moisture | 0.1%max |
Thermal Conductivity | 0.045 - 0.069w/m °C Under ambient conditions | Asbestos | None |
Hardness | 1-1.5 | Compressive resistance | 100-150 Mpa |
Melting point | 1320°C-1370°C | Corrosion resistance | Alkali-resistant |
Solubility | Insolubility (most liquid ) | Reactivity | Non reactive (except in very stong acids) |