Is Your Soil Lacking Aeration? Can Brunnings Perlite Improve Drainage Instantly?

April 4, 2025

Say Goodbye to Soggy Soil and Hello to Happier Plants

Ever stood in your garden, scratching your head, wondering why your plants were looking droopy even though you watered them just yesterday? Or worse—watched them wilt away in a pot that somehow manages to stay wet for days? If soil could talk, it’d probably be crying out, “I can’t breathe!”

Here’s the truth most beginner gardeners learn the hard way––watering isn’t about how much you pour on top. It’s about how well your soil holds and drains that water underneath. Aeration plays a massive role in that. And if you’re wondering if it’s your garden’s missing piece... trust me, you’re not alone.

This is something I found out the messy way. A few years back, I planted this adorable row of succulents on my patio. I gave them all this loving attention. Little sunbaths in the morning. A soft mist every couple of days. Yet one by one they went mushy. I’d unknowingly created a swamp in their little pots. That’s when a lovely team member introduced me to something that honestly changed the game for me…

What Is Brunnings Perlite and Why Should You Care?

If your plants are gasping and your soil’s holding water like an overused sponge, Brunnings Perlite might be just the answer. Imagine little fluffy puffs of volcanic rock that get heated until they pop into white, airy balls. Magic, right? These tiny marvels get mixed into your soil and do a few handy things that matter a lot more than they first appear to.

Improves soil aeration – It’s like giving your soil lungs! Oxygen flows better, letting roots breathe instead of suffocating in clumps of wet soil.
Boosts drainage – Water moves freely through the gaps created by perlite, which means it doesn’t linger and drown your roots. Think “well-draining,” not “well-drenching.”
Super lightweight – It doesn’t weigh down your pots or dig into your back while you’re preparing mixes. Easy to pour, mix and manage—even if you’ve just stepped into gardening.
Great for propagation – Perfect when you're starting cuttings or clumsy with seed starting (been there!). It gives delicates a soft, breathable home to grow strong.

Is Your Soil Too Tight and Wet?

How can you tell if you’ve got a drainage and aeration issue? If the top of your potted plant’s soil feels sticky hours after watering—or water pools and sits there like soup—then yep, your mix might be holding on for dear life.

Garden beds are a bit trickier since surface textures can fool us. Try digging a small hole after watering and check. If it’s soggy further down but dry at the top, your drainage setup needs help making water move evenly.

For beginners and new homeowners, it’s common to pick potting mixes or bagged soil without really knowing what goes into them. Too often, they come jammed with bark or peat that compacts easily. That means air gets squeezed out—and root problems roll in.

How to Use Brunnings Perlite in Everyday Gardening

This is where the magic gets practical. Mixing in Brunnings Perlite is as simple as this:

For pots: Mix one part perlite to three parts soil. Gives indoor plants room to breathe.
For garden beds: Fold in perlite where soil has stayed wet in the past. Especially around vegetables or herbs.
For propagation: Go all in! Use neat perlite for cuttings to help them form roots without drowning.

The change can be felt almost right away. Water that used to sit still now drains nicely. Roots spread faster. Leaves perk up. And best of all—you don’t live in watering fear anymore. I still remember watching my lemon balm perk up a week after re-potting it with some perlite tucked into the mix. That plant taught me that soil matters just as much as sun and water. Maybe even more.

Still Unsure If You Need It?

If you’ve lost a few plants recently and you've been blaming your watering schedule, it might actually be your soil’s structure working against you. Brunnings Perlite is one of the few things you can add that causes no harm―even if you’re unsure. There’s no guesswork. It’s clean, non-toxic, and fabulous for beginners just trying to get their hands dirty and experience the simple satisfaction of happy, growing greenery.

Whether you’re potting up your first herb box or taming a stubborn patio tree, a little perlite goes a long way. When your soil breathes, your whole garden starts feeling more alive… and so do you. 🌱

Ready to give your roots a break? Grab a bag, mix it in—and be prepared for your plants to say thank you in full, upright leafiness.

Happy gardening,
—Candeece