How do you prepare LECA balls?
Prep leca Soak, rinse, and soak the leca balls. Soak the leca balls for one hour, rinse the leca balls in a colander to let the excess dust and residue fall through, then soak the leca in water for 6 hours. Rinse the leca balls through a colander once more prior to using the leca with your plants. LECA for Plant Propagation Rinse and Soak LECA Balls: Rinse the balls to remove dust, then soak them in water for about 24 hours to ensure they are fully hydrated. Set Up the Container: Use a clear, clean container without drainage holes. Fill it with the soaked LECA balls, leaving some space at the top.The Pitfalls of LECA If the plants have sturdy roots and come from an airy soil mix, they are easier to switch, while plants with finer roots may have trouble adapting. Also, larger plants may not grow to their maximum size if planted in LECA and may have trouble supporting themselves.Place the needed amount of LECA in a plastic bucket. Fill with water, swish it around and dump it – that will help get rid of the dust, and some of the surface residues. Refill the bucket with clear water, and add about a teaspoon per gallon each of calcium nitrate and magnesium sulfate (Epsom Salts).If LECA isn’t soaked properly it can cause a plant to grow a lot slower than it should. Over the past year of LECA growing, I’ve also noticed well-soaked LECA requires a lot less flushing than not-soaked LECA.Leca can be reused over and over and when using it for your plants you just need to rinse it or flush it at least once a month to clean off the mineral build up from water and nutrients. Forever 🫶 It’s doesn’t degradate like other substrates.
Which plants are good for LECA balls?
Many houseplants will thrive in LECA, including monstera, orchids, and snake plants. Some drought-tolerant plants that do not mind roots on the dry side may do well in LECA since the balls dry out faster than the soil. Try these plants with LECA: Philodendron. Plants that work well with a good mixture of air and water tend to do well with LECA balls. This makes LECA balls a great choice for plants like peppers, tomatoes or other heavy blooming/fruiting annuals.What plants are good to grow in Leca? Plant families often grown in Leca include Monstera, Sansevieria, ZZ Plants, Alocasia, Spider Plants, Syngonium, Orchid and Begonia.
Can all plants grow in LECA?
Some plants simply don’t transition well from potting mix to Leca, although even those often do great shifting from water to Leca. If LECA isn’t soaked properly it can cause a plant to grow a lot slower than it should. Over the past year of LECA growing, I’ve also noticed well-soaked LECA requires a lot less flushing than not-soaked LECA. If you are a lazy LECA user, make a conscious choice on how you want to be lazy here.Potting up your plants in LECA The water level must only fill about 1/4 of the cache pot. The plant roots can’t touch the water or this will lead to root rot.One of the reasons cleaning roots is so important is because any dirt that is in contact with the roots will cause excess moisture in the LECA environment and can cause root rot.Once your plant’s settled in and doing great, maintenance for Leca is minimal. A flush water or flush shower about monthly is usually all that’s needed, as well as topping up with nutrient water when needed in-between flushes.
Is LECA better than perlite?
He strongly advices clients to use leca instead of perlite and the reason is that perlite turns into lime after a year or so that does more damage to the soil than good. Stops its drainage use and the soil becomes more alcaline that can pottentialy harm plants. CONS OF USING LECA:- Now Leca has it’s set of disadvantages. No nutrition- Leca is a soilless medium and doesn’t provide any nutrition to the plants. Hence regular feeding is necessary for optimal plant growth.Why Big Green Leavesâ„¢ and Grow Goodiesâ„¢ are the Best Fertilizers for Your Plants in LECA. Unlike many commercial fertilizers, Big Green Leavesâ„¢ and Grow Goodiesâ„¢ provide a complete set of macro and micronutrients that your plants need to grow and thrive.