Hi all. Thoughts on mixing vermiculite and/or perlite with bonsai mix. Is one better than another, can you mix both, or even just use one as potting mix? Thank you Peter. 

Perlite is lighter and more buoyant. New perlite floats to the surface and even overflow the pot when watered heavily. The white color also makes it less atractive. Both these cons with perlite disapear given time. I only use perlite for bonsai if I have old from other projects to reuse. Perlite also breaks down in transport, some bags is just fine pouder. Always sift it well before use. I have heard the dust is dangerous to inhale, so do it outdoors and use appropriate PPE.

And the benefit of perlite......It is cheap. Also, if weight is an issue, that is also a pro.

Vermiculite have similar water retention as perlite but none of the cons assosiated with perlite. Out of the two, I would shose vermiculite. Both of them only exists around me in fractions too small to my liking. The only reason I use any of them in my bonsai is that I use it for other plants and reuse everything for my bonsai mix. I would not consider buying any of them for the purpouse of mixing bonsai soil.