Q. What type of Vermitek (Exfoliated Vermiculite) do we typically use for seedlings ?
Medium grade Vermitek is typically used for agriculture and horticulture purposes. Vermitek retains moisture and nutrients in the root zone of plants.
Vermitek can be combined with other materials such as peat or compost to produce a soil free growing media for the professional or home gardeners.
These mixes promote faster root growth and gives quick anchorage to young roots. The mixture helps retain air, plant food and moisture, releasing them as the plant requires them.
Q. What is the most heat that the Vermiculite based boards can take?
Vermiculite based boards can take temperatures up to 1000 degrees Celsius.
Vermiculite fire proof Boards can be used for:
- Fire place installations
- Partitioning
- Insulation of furnaces
Q. Is vermiculite safe to use in animal feed and why?
Exfoliated vermiculite is used in animal feed as a support and carrying medium for a range of nutrients such as fat concentrates, vitamin preparations and molasses because it is free flowing, soft, sterile and absorbent. Vermiculite can act as a slow release agent for the active ingredients carried and will also provide extra roughage.
Because of its absorbent capacity vermiculite allows a high volume uptake of the appropriate liquid and thus a greater yield is attained while retaining good handling characteristics; this allows ease of mixing with other materials. Feed grade fats, vegetable oils, choline chloride (as a methyl donor), amino acids, saccharide, polyoxyethylene (to control bloat in ruminants), propionic acid and formalin are compounds that all benefit from being ‘carried’ by vermiculite.
Q. Perlite vs Vermiculite - what's the difference?
Perlite is directly comparable to another mineral additive called Vermiculite. Both have overlapping functions and help with soil aeration and seed starting.
Perlite has more air porosity than vermiculite, and better drainage effects as well. Vermiculite, on the other hand, retains water much better than perlite. Perlite is better suited for succulent plants, while vermiculite is better for tropical plants that need more moisture retained in the soil.
A perfect blend for young plants is 50% Perlite (Perlitek) and 50% Vermiculite (Vermitek) - this gives you the best of both Worlds and is a widely growing media used in the horticultural industry.
