Perlite

Perlite has been recognised as a powerful gardening tool for centuries. It has a porous texture similar to popcorn with tiny air pockets.

Benefits of perlite

• Tiny air pockets help to channel away excess water from roots to prevent them from getting waterlogged, while its porosity enables roots to 'suck back the water' if they need.
• Perlite helps to better aerate the soil, reducing the chances of compaction and root rot.
• It also captures nutrients and stores them before they can get leached away. 

Add a good handful or two per pot, mixing it in with fresh potting soil.

What is perlite? 

Straight out of the ground, perlite is a dense, amorphous volcanic glass with a very high water content. It is superheated, causing it to expand like popcorn.  As it's heated, the water turns to steam and escapes leaving the tiny air pockets.