Originally Posted by aruzinsky

I use Riceland parboiled rice hulls (PBH) as a substitute for perlite. For most potted plants, I use 1/3 PBH plus 2/3 peat moss. An advantage or PBH over perlite is that PBH supplies slowly soluble silicate. Musa are silicate accumulators, e.g., see Effects, distribution and uptake of silicon in banana ( Musa spp.) under controlled conditions | Xavier Draye - Academia.edu. Silicate may increase disease and insect resistance. A disadvantage of PBH is that it biodegrades at about the same rate as peat moss.