Product information "Vermiculite

(Expanded mica)"Vermiculite was discovered near Millbury in Worcester County, Massachusetts, USA, and described by Thomas H. Webb in 1824. Because the mineral swells into worm-like shapes along the crystallographic c-axis when heated to 200–300 °C, Webb named it after the Latin word vermiculor, meaning “worm breeder.”In horticulture, it is used for: seed-starting mixes, improving soil structure, regulating heat, and improving nutrient supply. It is structurally stable, heat-insulating, elastic, sterile, and has a high absorption capacity. The pH value:is neutral.Due to its valuable properties, vermiculite is increasingly used in both professional horticulture and home gardening. As a clay mineral, it can absorb and release cations and therefore plays an important role in nutrient supply. It makes ammonium (nitrogen), potassium, calcium, magnesium, and iron more readily available to plants.Vermiculite is also often used as a seed-starting substrate. In particular, it shows off its heat-insulating properties during germination, making it a fantastic covering medium.When used with perlite, it helps absorb excess water and improves aeration. Gardeners with clay-rich soils that are prone to waterlogging can use vermiculite to loosen the soil while also regulating its water balance. Vermiculite works especially well in combination with our Eifel pumice