I'm curious about the benefits of different soil toppers like sand, perlite, vermiculite, and zeolite. They all seem to enhance appearance more than they help the plants. My main reason for using them is to combat fungus gnats, as it worked for me before. Does anyone have insights or experiences with these toppers? Thanks!
4 Answers
Honestly, toppers are great for reducing evaporation. If you're struggling with gnats, that suggests your soil might be too wet, which points to a bigger issue. So, definitely consider your overall watering habits!
For dealing with fungus gnats, I've found that Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) works well. As for toppers, I actually don't use them much, but I have top-dressed a few pots that squirrels just won't leave alone, they kept digging them up! Top dressing can look nice, but it can also cause issues depending on your plant's moisture needs. Just be careful with what you choose!
I've heard that Bt is effective, but does it also manage mealybugs? I used to rely on imidacloprid, but since it's banned in my area, I'm looking for alternatives.
People often use soil toppers mainly for aesthetics; they want their plants to look tidy. However, depending on the plant, they might actually cause more harm than good by retaining moisture that some plants don't like. I've had my share of issues playing around with toppers until I realized that sometimes less is more! It's important to find what works for your specific plants!
I personally use red lava rock and pumice as toppers. Some plants get a full topping, while with others, I mix it into the soil. Always include some perlite, and a bit of sand can help too! It adds a nice texture while reducing moisture retention. Just find the right balance for your plants!
I recently got some cuttings without roots, and I mixed perlite in the soil and used it as a topper. I'm waiting a week to water them since I'm worried about them dying off like my other plants did before because of gnat issues.