Mother Earth #3 Perlite - 4cu ft - 1/2in

Mid-Grade Sterile Perlite for Standard Container Mixes, Grade #3

Container mixes that skew too fine compact over a season, while mixes that skew too coarse can drain so fast that watering becomes a chore, so the middle ground matters more than it might seem. Mother Earth #3 Perlite sits in that middle ground: kilned from naturally occurring siliceous rock and expanded up to 20 times its original volume, with granules landing around 1/2in.

At 4cu ft per bag, this is the grade most growers reach for when amending a standard container potting mix, since the 1/2in granule size adds drainage and aeration without dominating the texture of the finished blend.

Key Features & Benefits

• Expands Up to 20x When Kilned — produces a lightweight, sterile growing media from raw rock
• Neutral pH of 7.0 — will not shift the pH of the growing mix it is blended into
• Around 1/2in Granules — a middle grain size suited to standard container potting mixes
• Hydroponics Compatible — works as a rooting and germination medium

Who Should Use Mother Earth #3 Perlite

Growers amending a standard container potting mix, or improving drainage and aeration in a general soil or soilless blend, will find #3's mid-range granule size fits most everyday potting needs.

About Mother Earth

Potting soils, coco coir, and perlite make up Mother Earth's growing-media catalog, carried through Hawthorne Gardening Company's branded product lineup. Grade #3 is the mid-size option in its kilned perlite lineup, landing between the finer Coarse grade and the larger #4 grade in granule size.

Frequently Asked Questions

How big are the granules in #3 Perlite?

They measure around 1/2in, which places this grade between Mother Earth's finer Coarse grade and its larger #4 grade. That mid-range size is why #3 is the most commonly used grade for general container mixes.

What is #3 Perlite best used for?

It is well suited to amending a standard container potting mix, adding drainage and aeration without overwhelming the texture of the finished blend. Growers needing finer distribution for a seed-starting mix typically use the Coarse grade instead.

Does kilning make this perlite sterile?

Yes, the kilning process sterilizes the raw siliceous rock while expanding it up to 20 times its original volume, similar to how heat pops popcorn. That leaves the finished granules free of contaminants before they reach the bag.

Will #3 Perlite affect the pH of my soil?

No, it holds a neutral pH of 7.0, so it should not shift the pH of the mix it is blended into. Any pH management still needs to come from your water source or nutrient program.