What are the white things in potting soil?

The small styrofoam-like particles in your potting soil are a mineral called perlite. It's made when lava rock from volcanoes cools, trapping tiny quantities of moisture inside. Initially, it looks like glass (usually because of the crushing weight of the Earth on top of it).

What are the white bits in my soil?

This white deposit is called mycelium. It is a naturally occurring fungus whose job it is to breakdown organic material. You'll find it on bits of wood buried in the soil, on rotting straw or woody bits in compost heaps, on leafmould and manure in the soil - the list is almost endless.

Are the white balls in potting soil?

The white balls found in soil are most likely perlite balls used as a soil amendment for better drainage and aeration. However, in some cases, those balls could be the eggs of lizards, slugs, snails, and other insects. Perlite balls do not break down over time while eggs take between 1 week to a month to hatch.

What is the purpose of perlite in potting soil?

While it does also help retain some water, perlite is primarily used to aerate compost. It excellent for creating a free-draining potting compost for plants that need good drainage, such as cacti and succulents. It can also help create an airy compost for seedlings.

What is the white stuff on top of potting soil?

A white mold growing over the surface of houseplant potting soil is usually a harmless saprophytic fungus. Although the fungus doesn't damage the plant, it is unsightly and indicates that there is a problem.

What Is the White Stuff in Potting Soil?

What are soil mites?

Mites (Acari) The soil mites, Acari, are chelicerate arthropods related to the spiders. They are often the most abundant microarthropods in many types of soils. A 100 g sample may contain as many as 500 mites representing nearly 100 genera.

How do I get rid of mycelium in my soil?

Boiling water will kill fungus in the soil. You can take the soil you want to use and then pour boiling water over it. If you use enough boiling water, the soil will now be sterile, and you could use it for potting. Please remember that the boiling water will have also removed many of the nutrients your plant requires.

Is perlite harmful to humans?

Worker health studies provide direct support for the conclusion that perlite is a safe product. For example, studies by Cooper (1975; 1976), Cooper and Sargent (1986), and Weill (1990; 1994) indicate that perlite poses no significant respiratory health risk to workers.

Why are there Styrofoam balls in potting soil?

For decades, container gardeners have used Styrofoam for drainage. It was long lasting, improved drainage, did not add weight to the pot and made an effective filler for deep pots.

Why is perlite white?

Perlite softens when it reaches temperatures of 850–900 °C (1,560–1,650 °F). Water trapped in the structure of the material vaporises and escapes, and this causes the expansion of the material to 7–16 times its original volume. The expanded material is a brilliant white, due to the reflectivity of the trapped bubbles.

What do slug eggs look like in the soil?

They are coated with a slimy substance that is slightly gummy. The eggs are slightly gelatinous and of no perfect shape. Sometimes they are laid on vegetation but usually are harder to spot when laid on soil. Look for brownish-gray, slimy bundles when identifying eggs of slugs or snails.

Is mycelium in soil good?

Benefits of Mycelium

Mycelium is an essential part of the planet's ecosystems. Without mycelium, soil structure would break down, leading to further erosion and multitudes of other problems. By breaking down organic matter, mycelium helps create new and fertile soils.

What are white pellets?

To date, investments in pellet conversions have been focused on regular, industrial wood pellets, sometimes called white pellets. Advanced wood pellets, often called black pellets due to their appearance after thermal treatment, have long been touted as a superior fuel to conventional white wood pellets.

Are soil mites harmful to plants?

Soil Mites are completely harmless to both indoor and outdoor plants, feeding only off the compost's properties and avoiding the plant's healthy tissue. Indoor gardeners often remove the infestation purely on a visible aspect, as seeing small white or brown critters rambling across the soil isn't a pretty sight.

Is perlite just Styrofoam?

Myth #2: Styrofoam Helps Keep Soil Loose and Aerated

The white, foam-like balls in your potting soil are there to help keep soil loose and aerated, but they are most commonly made from a naturally occurring volcanic glass known as perlite.

What are slug eggs?

Slug eggs are tiny jelly-like roundish balls that stick together in a slimy gum. They can be brown, grey, white, yellow, pearl, or even look a little transparent. The eggs are usually found in dark, moist places such as under leaf litter, the underside of low-growing leaves, or on the soil.

Is vermiculite and perlite the same thing?

The biggest difference between vermiculite and perlite is moisture retention. When making the perlite vs. vermiculite decision, keep in mind that differences between the two include the fact that vermiculite contains nutrients such as potassium, magnesium, and calcium, which perlite doesn't have.

Is there asbestos in perlite?

Does Perlite Contain Asbestos? There has been growing concern that perlite may be contaminated with asbestos, making perlite a dangerous product. According to the Perlite Institute, and their continuing tests, the answer is no. The two substances are rarely found together in volcanic rock, according to a 2002 report.

What happens if you breathe perlite?

IARC (2012) concluded that respirable crystalline silica in the form of quartz or cristobalite dust is carcinogenic to humans (Group 1). Occupational exposure to crystalline silica can cause silicosis and increase the risk of pulmonary tuberculosis.

Can you breathe perlite?

According to the US National Institutes of Health (not politicized yet, thankfully), perlite dust is NOT hazardous.

Is mycelium bad for potted plants?

Mycelium will help plants absorb water and nutrients, as well as build up the immunity of the trees and plants. This is called the mycorrhizal network, but I don't worry about that sort of technical jargon. Just remember that Mycelium is the helper of life.

Is mycelium good for potted plants?

The net of mycelia may be associated with the roots of the plant growing in the pot. In most cases the mushroom, and its mycelia are helping the plant in a symbiotic relationship.

Is mycelium fungus safe?

Mycelium can appear off-putting as it can present as white fuzz that looks like mold. While we would never recommend eating anything moldy or eating mushrooms without knowing that they are safe for human consumption, most mycelium is safe to eat and totally edible.

Are white soil mites harmful to humans?

For the most part, soil mites are harmless to humans and plants. They are very beneficial to the decomposition process that plants and humans rely on.