Vermiculite is wide used by professional and unpaid gardeners . " Our concern over vermiculite ’s lack of sustainability , environmental and wellness impacts have take us to reconsider our enjoyment and attend for other products which can do the same job , " say UK - free-base grower Hardy ’s Plants . In this article , they share more entropy on vermiculite , the job , choice , and so on .
What is vermiculite used for?“Vermiculite has been used by our multiplication team to prevent mold and hold airfoil moisture for our seeds and cutting . "
Where does it follow from?“Vermiculite in the UK tends to have come from South Africa . "
So what ’s the problem?“As vermiculite comes from rock , it is a finite resourcefulness . It ’s not sustainable .
The mining and descent of vermiculite dissemble the local bionomics . While manufacturers take aid to minimize the shock of open - casting mining on air and weewee quality , the act of removing vegetation , soil , and John Rock badly degrades the landscape painting .
And although manufacturers take step to furbish up the landscape once the excavation has stopped . It can take many age for the landscape to yield to a pre - mined body politic . In some cases , the ecology never recovers .
The mining , descent , processing , and transportation of vermiculite require significant amount of money of DOE . All of which kick in to carbon emissions .
For those involve in the excavation and processing of vermiculite , pic to lechatelierite during the process can ensue in silicosis of the lungs . "
What ’s the alternative?“Here at Hardy ’s , we ’ve been trialing the use of ground cork as an choice to vermiculite .
Cork trees will regrow once peel , have in mind it ’s a sustainable product .
It direct less energy to invent , process , and transferral cork from the manufacturers , chiefly in Portugal , to the UK . carbon paper emissions relate with this product are low .
But those work in the cork industry still need to protect themselves against inspire cork rubble , which has been linked to respiratory unwellness .
Initial results propose that a sprinkling a layer of cork over our seed and cut is as effective as vermiculite in preventing mold and retaining aerofoil moisture . We ’re also trialing using a larger grade cork in our propagation planetary house . "
For more information : Hardy ’s Cottage Garden Plants[email protected]www.hardysplants.co.uk
