Can i use verminculite as substrate in my reptile habitat for a chinese water dragon?
I do. The reason is water retention. The creator of SF gardening, Mel Bartholomew always said that he strongly recommended course vermiculite mixed in with the soil because it won't break down as quickly as medium or fine vermiculite. With course vermiculite you may not have to change your soil for 3-4 years. I also especially like using vermiculite with SF gardening because with this method your beds are more like a container garden and so will have a slight tendency to dry out a little faster than beds which are directly in the ground would. There's a reason the soil of all potted plants has vermiculite. It also offers a bit of an insurance policy against forgetting to water the beds on time... I like to use it. It does make some difference, and if you don't find the cost prohibitive than why not.
If you are going to be digging/turning over these beds a couple of times each year vermiculite is not recommended. The beads will eventually break and turn to very fine dust making any clay problems worse. Try pumice (trade name Zeolite). It's ground up volcanic rock. It keeps soil loose and aerated. Absorbs, holds and releases water as the soil around it dries out. It also absorbs and holds toxins from the soil. It does not break down over time. It's also relatively inexpensive. I use a combination of sharp sand (grit) and Zeolite. and I only water my veggie garden twice each season. This is on the Canadian prairie; semi-arid desert.
I only use vermiculite for starting seeds. Compost alone fortified with slow release fertilizers and a mineral source should be all you need.
Hi, I used sand instead of vermiculite. I used this formula 1/3 potting soil, 1/3 peat moss, 1/3 sand...I started my garden a few days ago...many seedlings have sprouted. Seems to be working well for me. Lauren
