perlite

American  

[pur-lahyt] / ˈpɜr laɪt /

Or pearlite

noun

Petrography.

1. a volcanic glass in which concentric fractures impart a distinctive structure resembling masses of small spheroids, used as a plant growth medium.

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perlite British  

/ pɜːˈlɪtɪk, ˈpɜːlaɪt /

noun

1. a variety of obsidian consisting of masses of small pearly globules: used as a filler, insulator, and soil conditioner

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Other Word Forms

• perlitic adjective

Etymology

Origin of perlite

From French, dating back to 1825–35; pearl, -ite ¹

Example Sentences

And with that he lifts his ’at as perlite as a lord, and walks away.

From Literature

Such blends are typically heavy on the bark and may contain ingredients like sponge rock, coarse perlite and charcoal.

From Seattle Times

I soaked the anemones and ranunculus for four hours then pre-sprouted them in a mix of potting soil and perlite for 12 days.

From Seattle Times

The sundews should be grown in a medium of four parts fertilizer-free peat moss to one part perlite.

From Seattle Times

He plants his in pots filled with a 60/40 mix of peat moss and perlite, because regular potting soil or even regular soil would be too rich and burn the roots.

From Los Angeles Times