Question
I have acquired a large collection of fluoride-sensitive plants, therefore I am worried about adding perlite as a way to get better soil drainage; what can I use as a safer alternative.

Answer
Hi Nikki
The best alternative to perlite is small styroform bits that look just like perlite. A lot of commerical nurseries use this instead of perlite. The drawback is that it is hard to find.
Perlite usually does not release enough fluoride into the soil to cause a problem. Most of the time the cause of the problem is the fluoride in the water. Most cities in the United States add fluoride to their water. You can eliminate this problem by using distilled water.
If you still have a problem after using distilled water then the styrofoam is probably worth the effort to find it. Adding coarse sand to the soil as well as perlite is also good to improve drainage.
I hope this helps. If you have any questions just let me know.
Tracy