If you have trouble watering your plant, Leca is better. hi, I just starting using leca yesterday for some of my rehab plants. So I decided to seek out LECA experts to determine if these clay balls are worth the hype. She’s been writing in the DIY space for over six years for major online publications. You can't really clean soil as you can with Leca unless you take some more extreme measures. This makes even the toughest plants easier to take care of. When you're using Leca and you find yourself wanting to reuse Leca you have already used for another plant, you're in luck. I’m considering using it but I wanted to hear more from people who have actually used it. ... Leca is a man-made stone which is very light in weight. 0 comments. Basically, it’s clay pebbles that have been heated (I’m guessing that’s when they expand). Leca isn’t as sturdy, so it’s pretty difficult to keep the moss pole straight. With soil, you might have to water your plant every week. If you have used fertilizer on your soil-based plants before and you still have a lot of it left, you might want to use that fertilizer for use with Leca as well. The initial cost to convert all your plants to a LECA medium isn't cheap. LECA (lek-ah) LECA is short for Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate and is growing medium which allows you to grow plants without any soil whatsoever. Whenever you repot a plant, you need to replace the soil. Leca is an alternative way to grow your plants, not using any soil. "LECA doesn't contain any live organisms, which means no pests." To remove the dust, thorough rinsing is necessary. As with any significant change to your houseplants, there's always some risk to the plant. When soil is too wet for too long, it'll start to rot and it'll take the roots of your plant with it. It can however be added to a soil mix to reduce compaction and improve aeration, or be added as a layer to the base of a plant pot that will then be topped with pure potting soil. The name is an abbreviation describing them: Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregates. Is it difficult? If you don't enjoy the cleaning process, it might feel like wasted time. Soil is really good at absorbing moisture and containing it. Okay. ... formation of these pebbles is structurally lightweight and has ample space inside to capture air and release it as the plant requires it. The humidity is needed to keep spider mites and other pests away and don't give them a chance to settle. Having your plants in leca makes it easier to shower off your plants. While these clay pellets are known for their neutral pH and lack of nutrients, they can still absorb and hold onto the nutrients you add along the journey. However, this is a bad idea. That sounds strange if you've never heard of it before, because how can plants grow without soil? This means you have to add nutrients to the water you're using to soak your Leca with. If you're in a situation where all of your pots have draining holes and you're looking into converting your soil-based plants to Leca, you will have to invest in a few new pots. Is it better than soil? Leca, because of the large gaps in between the clay balls, has plenty of opportunities to evaporate some of the moisture it contains. © 2021 Roelof Jan Elsinga, All rights reserved, The pros and cons of using Leca to grow your plants, What is Leca and why is it useful for plants. Lets put the advantages and disadvantages next to each other and help you figure out if Leca is right for you and your plants. It sounds very complicated, but it's quite easy to explain. In that post, we quickly brushed over a downside of using Leca. In this guide we'll go over these pros and cons: You can click on these links to navigate to the right section. LECA can be used as a soilless medium, meaning it doesn’t need to be mixed with soil. If that wasn't the case, everyone would already use Leca. Leca is a growing medium that allows you to grow plants without using any soil whatsoever. My question is about growing tomatoes and other plants in Dutch buckets using clay pebbles. As others have said, just about any plant should be able to grow like this. Showering off plants is a great way to get rid if spider mites. LECA. There are also pests that thrive in dry environments, like spider mites. Lack of oxygen is a major cause of plant loss, particularly for interior plants. Get daily tips and tricks for making your best home. Most plants will do well in Leca if they’re at the right temperature and have enough light and nutrients. Log in or sign up to leave a comment Log In Sign Up. Never miss a plant guide by signing up for my mailing list. This combination means that root rot is much less likely and this also keeps pests away. What does leca mean? Back to top It looks like small, brown pebbles and is available in several grades from large garden centres and nurseries. I watched a video that recommended a superthrive reservoir at the bottom for the first week. It could be a tough choice not to be able to use a specific pot anymore. For the LECA container, I keep them in 32oz deli cups with a drain hole about an inch from the bottom. These needs vary, so put a little time into research, so your particular plant will ensure it will thrive in its new environment. What advantages does LECA have over something tried and true? Does it work for any plant? Back to top This doesn't cost you anything and helps to keep our plant guides free. The roots of your plant get their moisture in small doses from the clay balls, so they're also not overwatered. Just posting to see if anyone has any advice on it or little tricks they have learned along the way. The Complete Guide to Leca; Ultimate Guide to Winter House Plant Care; Using Rocks for Drainage; Reviving Indoor Plants; How to find cheap (or free) house plants; 5 Ways You Can Propagate Indoor Plants; Pests & Diseases. While Leca® LWA (Light Weight Aggregate) is a simple product, our solutions are innovative. Many apparently healthy house plants will suddenly sicken and die when their compost has become saturated with water. This makes them a good variable to keep in the vase, but if you have a larger plant, usually an older plant, it will topple over to the side. This is something that's up to you to decide. Welcome to the House of Plants Your guide to curating plants for modern interiors spaces CURBSIDE PICK UP AVAILABLE (as well as Local Delivery) Tuesday- Friday 12pm-7pm & Saturday 10am-2pm Simple Pleasures Everyone can admire the beauty of a nature-based aesthetic because this attraction is seemingly innate. Once you've converted one plant from soil to Leca, it'll very a very easy and straightforward process. When you want to get started and have to get the supplies, it can feel like quite the investment and you might be wondering if this is all going to be worth it in the end. The soil has nutrients and is biodegradable. I use a net pot inside a no drainage lot. Back to top Leca follows the pace of your plant, so you might have to water just once per month for some plants. Yes, Leca is great at regulating moisture throughout the pot. One way to overcome this problem is to attach your moss pole to the bottom/side of the planter. Get your own products from the links below and support us in our mission to help people take care of plants like this. The good news is that most houseplants thrive in LECA, including monstera, orchids, and snake plants. When filled, the nutrient reservoir is kept at a 1/3 of the height of the inner pot, with the plants roots planted just above the waterline. By using The Spruce, you accept our, You May Have to Buy New Pots and Other Tools, Baltimore Yoga Teacher Shares His Plant Collection in Ep. Now that you know all the pros and cons of LECA, are you ready to take the plunge? I’ll… Leca is also mixed with Coco Medium and Soil to grow plants in Pot Culture. It’s purpose is to decrease the complication of plant care. Thanks! There is a very short answer for that question: it depends. All LECA does is take care of watering your plants; it does not provide any nutrients. 4 of 'In the Weeds', Hydroponic Gardens—the Lettuce Raft Method, Sphagnum Moss: What It Is and How to Use It. If you are reusing the clay balls for another plant, it needs to be washed thoroughly first. Watch for any whitish residue on the top and rinse the plant and pebbles with a pH-adjusted liquid. When selecting plants to transition from soil to LECA, it's helpful for beginners to start off using younger plants with less dense root systems or to use cuttings propagated in water. "You can use LECA balls over and over again," says Jefferson, "even forever if you maintain and clean it properly." Leca doesn't contain any live organisms, which means it won't start to rot when it's wet for too long. You keep the container about a ⅓ the way full of water to maintain a constant absorption. Plant parents were tired of dealing with fungus gnats and root rot, so they got rid of the soil and replanted their babies in LECA. You might hear some people refer to them as LECA beads or clay pebbles while others call them clay balls or LECA pellets. This is because of the simple fact that roots are less prone to root rot in Leca than they are in the soil. Leca pebbles are incredibly light weight. In the rainforest, these slits are used to help withstand the heavy winds and rainfall. You can't, or rather shouldn't, reuse soil for your plants. Didn’t. "Each plant has unique water needs whether grown in soil or hydroponic systems," says Jefferson, "so when changing over to a LECA growing system, you'll need to calibrate your watering and fertilizing based on the tailored needs of your plants." The Spruce uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. The soil is specific for the types of plants I own. If you want less maintenance week-by-week, then Leca is a better option. "It's good for busy people," explains Jefferson, "you can add a little extra water, and the system stays moist longer.". The baked clay balls soak up water and expand. Anyone used Leca for their house plants? That way there will be standing water in the bottom to keep the LECA moist and the roots can grow into that if they wish. If you notice that your plant starts to change color in some way, you now know that this is due to sunlight exposure. Leca is a collection of baked clay balls that expand when you soak them in water. Remove the plant from the pot, place the plant roots back into a bucket of clean room temperature water and agitate to remove most of the soil. Leca is great at regulating moisture, this helps you to consistently water your plant without overwatering it. If you've mastered the art of properly watering and fertilizing when using soil, there really isn't a reason for you to switch to Leca. Yes, Leca is great at regulating moisture throughout the pot. Also used in drainage layers in flower pots, roof gardens, for trees in an urban setting and sports grounds. It works because the clay pellets (LECA) provides two essentia… Vegetables, leafy greens, herbs, and houseplants will all work well. The only time you have to add water to the pot is when the Leca is no longer able to absorb any water or all of the water has been absorbed. So yes, Leca works for any plant. Indoor Plant Tips. You will also need to get pots without drainage holes and other gear such as pH monitors. While you're building up your LECA skills, start with those that aren't expensive or cherished plants. In essence, Leca extends the amount of time between two maintenance moments. Besides the high start-up cost, you need to purchase hydroponics fertilizer or liquid fertilizer specific to your plants. This provides abundant air and oxygen to the roots of plants. These are great questions to ask. The good news is that most houseplants thrive in LECA, including monstera, orchids, and snake plants. Your new plant will now also be affected. With LECA pebbles there's never any rot or decay and there's less repotting. Clay balls also go by other names: leca (an acronym), hydroton, expanded clay, aggregates or clay pellets and beads, just to cite a few. This works well because the plant can now decide how much water it needs to survive. If you don't want to spend an hour or two every few weeks to clean all Leca in your house, soil is a better option for you. All of these are valid reasons to use and not use Leca over soil and in the end, it's up to you to decide what matters to you. It comes with dust in the bags from the LECA rubbing against one another. I gave birth in October. Leca is an acronym and it stands for: Lightweight expanded clay aggregate. As I bounced through my numerous houseplant groups on Facebook, I kept seeing LECA pop up all over. Furthermore, roots propagated in LECA are already adapted to growing in a soil free media, making the move to a semi hydro setup much more seamless. Back to top It is commonly used in hydroponic gardening. LECA may seem like a miracle growing medium, but it does have its cons. "The clay retains the water and releases it for the plant's use a little at a time. In a previous post, What is Leca and why is it useful for plants?, we went over what Leca is and why you can use it to grow your plants. This is the number one reason for the switch from what I witnessed in my houseplant groups. Your gardening center or plant shop might not have any hydroponics fertilizer, so you have to go to other stores or order from the internet. As we've gone over in the last section, Leca regulates the moisture in your pot and the plant absorbs this moisture at its own pace. This works well because the plant can now decide how much water it needs to survive. I've spent years writing about outdoor gardening and have never used anything but soil to grow plants. report. NOTE: LECA propagation is a great transitioning step for moving a plant to semi hydroponics.The air spaces within and between the LECA, along with the constant supply of water, provide a balanced root zone environment ideal for root growth! They’re light … This takes one of the major causes for a dying plant out of the equation. After time, phytotoxicity can build up and starve the plants. This is used anywhere where extra drainage is required. So far I soak the leca overnight. If you're looking for more guides on specific plants, you can always request a plant guide or donate a plant in order to get a guide for the plant you have trouble with. There are plenty of great reasons not to use Leca and instead use soil to grow all of your plants. When you're using Leca, rather than soil, you'll be much less likely to have to deal with pests. "The LECA materials allow it to absorb water directly to the roots without suffocating them." When you're using Leca, you need to get special hydroponics fertilizer instead of normal plant fertilizer. Let's go over some of the cons and why you might stay with soil rather than switching to Leca. You'll need new tools (a pH testing kit and new pots, among other items) to get started, but these can be easily found online or at select local garden retailers. Your biggest challenge is now to give your plant the proper amount of sunlight. hide. All beginner-friendly plants to get you started. It has beautiful large green leaves that feature slits and fenestrations as it matures and not only is it a hardy, easy to care for plant, it also grows fruit! Back to top In this video, I am transferring and converting three of my pothos propagations into LECA. Jas Jefferson of Black Girls with Gardens and contributor at Plants.com shared her knowledge of LECA with me. LECA is the expanded clay balls in the photo above. No more decomposing dirt, mold, or bacteria. Leca is very easy to use, but it has a learning curve. Because of this, you can use Leca for very thirsty plants, but also plants that should be kept in a dry environment, like a Sansevieria or Succulent. After the initial soak, the clay balls are dust-free and ready to pot up. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series. This alone takes one of the biggest challenges of taking care of plants away from you. Let's go over the pros of using leca and answer those questions. When you order through these links, we receive a small commission. Monstera Deliciosa is probably one of the most popular house plants. "Houseplant pests such as aphids love to live in damp soil with rotting matter," says Jefferson. In the latter scenario the LECA acts as a … If you're always very excited to get a plant home, get it in a pot, and place it in the perfect spot, this could be a drag to do. Rather than watering your plant until water runs out of the bottom, you keep your plant and the leca in a net or nursery pot, and keep that in a cachepot (finally a use for all of those planters that don’t have holes!) Because of this, you might have to mist your plant to make sure its environment is humid enough. share. Even outside plants make your space feel more personal and lively. "It's ideal for an apartment or small-space gardeners," says Jefferson, "because it requires less storage than traditional houseplant growing methods. However, like always, there are also cons to using Leca, including the initial cost of Leca is much higher than using soil, it's more work to use Leca for the first time, you have more restricted pot choices, and you need to get special hydroponics fertilizer. Normal plant fertilizer is meant to be used with soil-based plants and not hydroponics. Bring home some character, big or small, with our plants and pots. From feathery ferns to spiky succulents and all the leaf varieties in between, house plants can help turn your house into a home. These pots are great for use with soil, as the excess moisture can escape and the soil will never be too wet for your plant. They’re produced by heating clay up to 2000°F (1200°C), making the gases inside expand to look like a sponge or honeycomb. With LECA, there's no need to purchase different soil for your orchids or succulents—it works for virtually every kind of plant. Because of this, you can use Leca for very thirsty plants, but also plants that should be kept in a dry environment, like a Sansevieria or Succulent. LECA is an acronym that stands for lightweight expanded clay aggregate. Hello, I’m new to hydroponic growing in my green house. It's important to remember that LECA provides water but not nutrients, so growing plants in this medium will require periodic applications of hydroponics fertilizer. 100% Upvoted. This helps the immediate environment of the plant to stay humid, even without misting. Sort by. If you do this as I recommend, letter the excess water escape from the soil to avoid watering problems, your plant will dry out again within a week or two in the summer. You can't use these types of pots with Leca. no comments yet. Woody or tall/top-heavy plants can be a problem as Leca is quite light and loose, so alone it will not support the plant. So it really depends on your preferences. This process could take up to 30 minutes. Scale. If you don't use fertilizer, reusing soil is not possible, because there is nothing for your plant to eat. My doctor cut me opened and pulled my (unwilling) baby from my uterus in what turned out to be a rather complicated incident. Back to top It is made up of little balls of clay—a growing medium—and used in place of soil. Liquid fertilizer (intended for hydroponic use) Composition. Two common categories of hydroponics are passive and active hydroponics. Together, we went over some pros and cons of using Leca rather than soil. That's quite a bit of extra work just to get a plant in a pot. But it'll only be cheaper after you've reused it 3 or 4 times. When the moisture can't escape easily, the humidity doesn't benefit the rest of the plant. Water from the reservoir enters the inner pot through the drainage holes and is drawn up through the LECA to supply the roots with nutrients and water. The difference is that thirsty plants need to be watered more often, but that's the same … "It provides all plants need to—grow, water and oxygen," says Jefferson. Back to top However, you do need to maintain your Leca. As your plant grows out of their containers, all you need to do is transfer it and the LECA to the new pot. LECA pebbles provide the ideal mix of air and moisture to the roots. Once you've exhausted your potting soil, you can toss it in the compost. The Leca will water your plant for you and all you have to do is make sure there is always water in the pot that the Leca can soak up. The pH level is crucial because it affects nutrient availability for your growing plants. Back to top Jefferson offers these tips to get started: Debbie Wolfe is an all-around lifestyle expert with over two decades years of hands-on experience.

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