LECA - A Stylish and Trendy Planting Medium
If you are active on social media, you might’ve seen pictures of people growing their plants in tiny brown balls. It’s a trend that’s been gaining a lot of traction and is probably here to stay.
These little brown balls are called LECA, short for Light Expanded Clay Aggregate. It is entirely neutral, making it a great medium to grow plants. Before I go over the best ways to use LECA, let me explain the pros and cons of using it as a planting medium.
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PROS:
Unlike soil, you never need to change it
You can easily move your plant to a larger pot
If grown in a clear container, it’s effortless to watch and monitor the roots
Less chance of root rot
Pests do not use it as a breeding ground as they do with soil
Easily water and prevent overwatering
CONS:
You need to add nutrients to the water since the LECA does not provide any of its own
Occasionally need to rinse it to prevent salt buildup
More expensive than soil
You can’t use it straight out of the bag. It must be rinsed and soaked overnight before use.
Do not do this initial rinse in your sink because the clay dust that comes off the LECA can build up in your drain and cause issues.
You can’t use a pot with a drainage hole since you need water to stay in the pot for the LECA to absorb.
If you have weighed the pros and cons and decided LECA is suitable for you, there are three good ways to use it. Depending on which way you choose, different types of plants will thrive in it. I believe this is why some people have tried and failed to successfully grow plants in this medium.
The three best ways to use LECA are:
An entirely hydroponic grow style (keeping the roots in water at all times)
Treat it like a “normal” medium and allow it to dry out between watering like you would with soil.
Use a two-pot system to separate the LECA from the water. You would plant your plant in a net cup and then place it in a larger water container.
A breakdown of each strategy:
The first strategy is the one I generally use. It works best when growing plants that will grow successfully in hydroponics. These plants are typically plants that love moist soil and high humidity. I have found success growing multiple types of Alocasia and have been experimenting with a few other types.
I let the water get down pretty low, but when I refill it, I fill the container all the way up. Every few times I do this, I dump out all the water and rinse everything well. I fill it all the way up, lightly cover the top of the container with my hand while supporting the plant, and dump it out again. I do this a few times to ensure everything is rinsed and all the old water is replaced.
These pictures are of some plants I’m growing. They all seemed to go into shock for a short period after transitioning into LECA, but they bounced back and have been great ever since. I only need to water them every week or two when the water gets low, but it’s very easy to tell when it needs a refill which is a massive benefit of the clear container. I’m all about making plant care as easy as possible.
The second strategy works well for pretty much any plant that would thrive in soil that dries out between waterings. The LECA can be treated the same way and will allow most common houseplants to grow in it. When you see the LECA is dry, fill up the bottom of the pot with some water so it can be soaked up again. This should be done as often as necessary to keep your plant happy.
Some people find this strategy the easiest to transition to because the care is similar to using soil. Allow it to dry out, then water again.
I know people have success using this method, but I have found Pon to be a better medium if this strategy works best for you.
If you haven’t read my article on using Pon as a growing medium, check it out below!
The third strategy is excellent if you are worried about stagnant water, algae growth, or have super hard water. It is essentially the same strategy as the first method, but you keep your plant in a container called a net cup, as shown in the picture below.
The net cup is slotted enough to keep the LECA from spilling out but easily allows water in. You can use any pot with drainage holes or slots as the inner cup, but net cups work super well. You keep the outer container filled with water but can easily remove the inner cup to rinse and clean both containers.
I believe this to be the superior method for growing plants in LECA, but I generally use the single pot method instead because I find it has a cleaner look, and I don’t live in an area with really hard water.
There are many mediums you can use to grow your plants successfully. Some people have a major preference for one type of medium, and others, like me, choose to use different types for different plants. In my opinion, there is no “best” medium to grow plants in. Certain kinds work best for some people or plants, but you can succeed using many mediums.
I have been slowly transitioning my plants to non-soil mediums due to the ability to use self-watering planters since I travel a lot. Preventing some annoying pests like fungus gnats is also a plus.
If you decide to try LECA, you can buy some for very cheap at IKEA. They call it ODLA, and it’s only about $5 for a nice-sized bag.
Final Notes
If you are going to try something new, make sure you try it on a cheap plant you won’t mind losing and aren’t attached to. I have lost many plants trying new strategies. That’s how you learn. Just start small and change things as needed. You’ll be a pro in no time.
This Week’s Happy Planter Submission
Started as a small cutting from a friend's plant and has grown this big in 2 years!
Thank you, @SamSch1971, for your submission! I’m very impressed by your plant. Those can be quite difficult to care for, and yours looks incredible!
That’s all for now!
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-Houseplant Hobbyist