What is Lava Stone

Lava stone is formed when erupted lava cools down. The air bubbles pop as it dries and makes it porous in nature. The minerals present in the rock and the cooling process determine its color. The reddish-brown tint appears only if the iron in the lava begins to oxidize when it is cooling down.

Lava Stone for Fire Pits

•       Withstands high temperatures:

The fact that it’s volcanic means that it is tough enough to withstand high temperatures. Hence, it could be used safely in barbeque pits and fireplaces.

•       Long-lasting:

If using lava stones in a barbeque pit, you are looking at about 2-3 years of regular use before they start to disintegrate.

Lava Stone for Landscaping

•       Absorbs and Retains Moisture: 

Lava stone's porosity makes it a perfect conduit of moisture. Its absorbency, on one hand, allows for better drainage which prevents pooling water and rotten roots; while on the other hand, retains moisture and nourishes the plants when needed.

•       Lightweight:

Lava stone is quite lightweight because of the air pockets in it, which makes it ideal as inorganic mulch. Lying on the surface, it neither sinks into the soil -- so to act better as a protection to prevent soil erosion and slows down the evaporation; nor compress it -- leaving enough air spaces in the soil.

•       Low Maintenace: 

Unlike organic mulch, lava stone does not disintegrate or decompose. It lasts a very long time and requires almost no maintenance.

•       Visually Appealing:

Not only practically appealing, lava stone is quite a popular decorative material in yard landscaping. The reddish-brown lava stone can add a much-needed pop of color to the yard. Unique and eye-catching, it works wonderfully as a focal point. While the black stone adds a wonderful contrast. Using that in the landscape cannot only add texture but also enhance the colors of the plants and flowers in the garden.

•       Best Plants on Lava Stones:

Succulents, tomatoes, orchids, spleenwort, rabbit’s-foot fern, air plants.

Lava Stone for Aquariums

•       Helps the Nitrogen Cycle: 

Thanks to its porous nature, lava stone is capable of being a safe harbor for colonies of beneficial bacteria and aids in the nitrogen cycle, which greatly enhances the quality of the water and allows an aquarium to be maintained as an ecosystem.

•       pH Neutral for Fish Safety:   

Most types of lava stone are naturally pH neutral, which means they will not shift the pH of the aquarium water one way or the other. For species of fish and invertebrates that are sensitive to pH levels, this is an important consideration when hardscaping a tank.

•       Aesthetic Beauty:

It looks fantastic to add real rock and wood features into a tank to emulate the natural environment of the animals. It also helps to break up lines of sight across the tank that might otherwise trigger aggression between fish.

Lava Stone Diffuser

•       Porosity:

Its porous surfaces makes lava stone a perfect aroma diffuser. Just place a few drops of your favorite essential oil in the stone’s porous surface, and allow the oil to diffuse slowly into the air. Reapply again, after about six to nine hours, if you notice you don’t smell it anymore.