Here s a vocabulary list of what you can work with, followed by some simple potting recipes. It s extremely lightweight and provides no nutrients. What it does provide is drainage, which is essential to preventing a plant s roots from sitting in water. Vermiculite is similar, but unlike perlite it absorbs water and will eventually break down in the soil. It s better for water loving plants.
Pumice is crushed from volcanic rock.
Like vermiculite, it will absorb water. Use only very coarse sand for succulents and cacti. Fine sand, when wet, forms a sort of cement. By itself, it s not helpful. But when mixed with perlite and topsoil, peat moss will retain water without compacting the roots of the plant.