Silica in perlite

[GreenGrowth]

Just a thought, if perlite is made up of silicon dioxide and aluminium oxide, would these properties be available to the plants grown in it?

 

[NewMexicannabisFarmer]

Just a thought, if perlite is made up of silicon dioxide and aluminium oxide, would these properties be available to the plants grown in it?

Yes, in fact, perlite can break down over time into a sandy texture and make watering very difficult. Not to mention Aluminum is toxic to plants and they can not regulate the uptake of it.

 

[FelipeBlu]

There’s a big difference between mechanical breakdown and chemical processes. The silica and aluminum are pretty tightly bonded, and there’s unlikely to be much available to the plant.

 

[PE636]

My understanding is Al is only soluble under a ph of 5 so not much to worry about there.

 

[NewMexicannabisFarmer]

It is available more so under pH 5.5, but even over a 7 it is uptaken because of organic acids that are excreted by plants that act as chelating agents.

 

[FelipeBlu]

Looks like it’s really not available within the typical pH range for both hydro and soil then.