Is LECA and Hydroton the same?
Clay pebbles or hydroton (sometimes referred to as LECA—light expanded clay aggregate) are a hydroponic substrate with units about the size of marbles or peanuts. Clay pebbles can be used in both hydroponic and aquaponic systems.
What is LECA used for?
LECA is an acronym that stands for lightweight expanded clay aggregate. It is made up of little balls of clay—a growing medium—and used in place of soil. It is commonly used in hydroponic gardening.
What can I use instead of Hydroton?
The Industry Standards
- Rockwool/stonewool. Made from rock that has been melted and spun into fibrous cubes and growing slabs, rockwool has the texture of insulation and provides roots with a good balance of water and oxygen.
- Perlite/Vermiculite.
- Expanded clay pellets.
- Sand.
- Gravel.
- Sawdust.
- Coconut fiber.
- Oasis cubes.
Which is better Hydroton vs perlite?
The air-holding capacity of perlite is arguably one of its biggest advantages as a growing medium. Cheaper than Hydroton: Perlite is much cheaper per square foot than Hydroton, which makes it a suitable choice for larger hydroponic systems or commercial setups where the cost of Hydroton might become prohibitive.
Can I put LECA on top of soil?
LECA can even be added on top of soil to protect your indoor plants. By adding a layer of aqua clay balls on top of your potting mix you can also greatly reduce the risk of indoor plant pests. LECA is particularly effective against fungal gnats, as they hate landing on and laying their eggs on inorganic material.
Is LECA good for Monstera?
LECA balls dry out faster than soil, so this is a great option if you tend to love your monstera to death by overwatering it! LECA balls are also sterile, so the fungus and bacteria that can cause infections like root rot aren’t present. Excellent root aeration.
Is LECA heavy?
Lightweight expanded clay aggregate (LECA) or expanded clay (exclay) is a lightweight aggregate made by heating clay to around 1,200 °C (2,190 °F) in a rotary kiln. LECA is used to make lightweight concrete products and other uses.
Is lava rock good for hydroponics?
Both Hydroton and Lava Rocks have their own unique advantages and disadvantages in each type of hydroponic setup. They both have a limited water-holding capacity, so they should only be used in hydroponic systems that deliver a steady supply of moisture to the growing medium.
What are Growstones made of?
Growstones are a substrate for growing plants that can be used for soilless purposes or as a soil conditioner. This substrate is made from recycled glass. It has both more air and water retention space than perlite and peat.
Can you mix perlite with LECA?
Ebb & Flow: 2″ of LECA at the bottom; top up with 50/50 Coco & Perlite. Dutch Buckets: Fill with 50/50 mix of Coco & perlite; add 1-2″ of LECA balls on top to cut down on algae growth.
Should LECA float?
Many LECAs float (because they’re full of air); that doesn’t make them a “bad” medium, although floating LECA can be quite disruptive (for obvious reasons) in S/H culture. Some people simply discard the floaters, and/or use them for something else.
Can succulents grow in LECA?
Prepare your growing medium. Lightweight expanded clay aggregates, or also known as LECA, are the most commonly used growing medium for this type of setup. Before potting your succulents, you first need to rinse your LECA pellets with clean water until you no longer see orange-ish particles coming off of them.
How is Leca expanded clay expanded into hydroton?
Leca/Hydroton is made by heating certain clays to a high temperature of almost 1200°C in a rotary kiln. This process expands the volume of material by 4-5 times creating ceramic pellets having a cellular inner structure.
Is it OK to use clay for hydroton?
Not much clay is used to make a cubic foot of hydroton, and clay is abundant, so most people consider it an environmentally-friendly medium to use. Compared to many media used in greater amounts that are more demanding of the earth’s supply, hydroton is very friendly to the environment.
Which is better for ebb and flow hydroton or perlite?
Perlite is not recommended for an ebb and flow system as it will wash away too easily during flooding. both are made to hold water and have a certain amount of water wicking ability. Although perlite has more cracks and crevices, Hydroton stays moist longer because of its higher absorption ability.
How does hydroton work in an aquaponic system?
Hydroton rarely becomes clogged or blocked, so water drains very effectively. This makes it a great option for ebb-and-flow systems and aquaponic media bed systems.