Perlite and vermiculite make the perfect combo used by themselves for hydro, or mixed with soil or other substrates to make a more free-draining, custom mix for your indoor and potted garden plants.

Quite different products - often confused - but when blended together, you get the best of both worlds. Egmont Hydromix in this handy 5 litre size bag is an ideal blend of approximately 50/50 perlite and coarse grade vermiculite (you can get fine grade vermiculite by itself too, or perlite by itself).

One bag measures about 35cm long x 16cm wide x 10cm deep. An easy size to store with your potting supplies.

What is Hydromix used for?

Popular used by itself for hydroponic gardening (soil-less gardening in water), for seedlings and propagation to get the perfect balance of oxygen and water for root development, or mixed with other substrates to create your own custom soil or soil-less mix.

Much safer than using straight potting mix for many of our indoor plant faves who are prone to root rot if stuck in dense potting mix. Adds aeration to dense, compact soil for a more free-draining mix. 

What's the same about vermiculite and perlite?  

Perlite and vermiculite are both lightweight. Both used for soil-less potting mixes. Both used to improve aeration and texture in heavy, compacted soils. Both have no odour, are sterile, non-toxic, free of disease, insects and seeds. Neither will break down, rot or decompose. Both are popular for seed germination and propagation, hydroponics and container gardening. Both are common ingredients in custom soil mixes adjusted to suit the plant being potted up.

What are the differences between vermiculite and perlite?  

The differences come in how they retain water, how much water they can retain, and for how long, making them suitable for different uses, and very popular when combined.

Vermiculite actually 'sucks in' water like a sponge, holding on to it for longer, and taking longer to dry out. Whereas perlite captures water in its surface layers, but doesn't absorb it as such, so dries out much faster.


Vermiculite by itself is the better choice for plants that enjoy lots of moisture and don't handle drying out. Perlite dries out too quickly for moisture-loving plants. However the amount of water that vermiculite holds would be too much for cacti, succulents and other plants that prefer substrates on the much dryer, more free-draining side of life.

For many popular indoor plants a combination of both is best to get the balance right between retaining some moisture and nutrients, not drying out too fast, but also keeping that mix free-draining to help avoid dreaded root rot. Popular mixed in with potting mix for Philodendron, Pothos, Peperomia and more. Just adjust the ratio of Hydromix with potting mix to create the perfect blend at home. 

Why mix perlite and vermiculite together?

Perlite by itself doesn't hold much water - about 1% on average - so is best used with other more moisture-retaining substrates. That's what makes vermiculite such a popular buddy to combine with perlite. Vermiculite are little teeny weeny sponges. It retains way more water. From between 30% to 50% of its volume - and 200% to 300% per cent of its weight. Yep, it sucks ;) (sorry, couldn't resist). When you mix vermiculite 50/50 with perlite (like this Egmont Hydromix), you get a perfect blend of oxygen to water. Roots can breathe but also not suffer drought. Win win.