Converting Plant to LECA (Passive-Hydro/Semi-Hydro) | How To Convert Plant to Soil Free

[@KnotDude]

I didn't actually give the breakdown of the Super Thrive Mixture or how I use it. I use Super Thrive per the recommended dosage. I mix 1/4 tsp in a gallon of water. I use this for starting a plant in passive hydro and I also water my plants in soil with this water mix all year round. This mix is also great for water propagations!

[@richardjasonminehart3198]

Ok great thanks 👍

[@sandrakephart7131]

Thank you for all the info.🎅

[@mercedesluisa7835]

How often do you flush and add nutrients to your plants in Leca. Love all of your videos and your sense of humor. 🌿

[@leeadickes7235]

Super thrive is snake oil. Get rid of it

[@rrahbit]

Ok question. You didn t use the six week method. So. 1. How often do you water with superthrive ? 2. How long dies the superthrive last in the gallon container? 3 what if the plant itself is in the water ?

[@EyeStabbingYum]

Can you do an update on your plants converted to LECA and what you learned over the past couple months. TYYYY

[@Womynxx]

I’m getting into Leca now. The irony of figuring out ways to poke holes in hole-less pots just to turn around and have to figure out ways to plug those holes up. 🤣The things we do for our plant babies. Thanks for the info!

[@marymorris9421]

Your explanation of the reason that removing all of the soil from the roots was very beneficial. Your step by step demonstration is very much appreciated 💚

[@beckyrunk4330]

omg im so glad i watched this bc i didnt even think about not rinsing balls in the sink LOL. im going leca tomorrow and thought i was prepared. thank you for saving my drains!!!!!!

[@marleebee1820]

I've been doing passive hydro all wrong and could never find the proper instructions on how much water to put in the reservoir, how much leca to add etc..THANK YOU. Im re-doing all of my plants currently in leca tonight and doing it the right way.👍

[@kriskrischi7571]

I love minimalist Cali! I've been watching her for a minute now.

[@KnotDude]

SHE IS SO GREAT!

[@minimalistcali]

Kristie Bihm 💛💛

[@YardGyal28]

You have made this so easy to understand . I see the mistakes I’ve made. Thank you for making this process so simple. Glad I found you.

[@WanderingWhittles]

Annnnd, I'm officially going to start converting my smaller plants to leca! Thanks for the info. I've been curious about this for a while! New subscriber here!

[@KnotDude]

Wandering Whittles best of luck and let me know if you have any questions!

[@kathygilbreath6073]

Enjoyed your video very much. I might have to try it. Thanks for sharing. Loved the ending. You are soo funny.

[@KnotDude]

Thanks Kathy! Not a lot of people watch until the end so I am enjoying adding surprises.

[@MadsCozyCorner]

first time watching your videos, gotta say what a great start! got a new follower!

[@ethanssplenderificyoutubec7091]

Just getting into leca. I had a ton of plants and we got fungus gnats!!! 😤🤬 A week into Leca and THEY HAVE ALL GONE!!!!! Seriously was instantaneous! Converted 🙌❤️

[@minimalistcali]

hahah I feel you on the terms.. I'm sticking by "semi hydro" since I started calling it that from the start! Thanks for the shoutout Adam, love this video! 🤗

[@KnotDude]

its just so much easier to say! I appreciate all your content and your help with my questions! Youre the best!

[@minimalistcali]

Knot Dude no you da best!

[@Wreinie]

@@minimalistcali , Knot Dude... You both da best! Next time... Get it right :P

[@carmenwhitehead]

So glad you made this video! I've been wanting to try this in the new year and now I'm feeling much more comfortable taking that leap. Thanks!

[@KnotDude]

Its fun and educational. You kind of feel like a mad scientist! Best of luck Carmen!

[@taylorhainstock4220]

The max fill line trick is BRILLIANT. Exactly what I was looking for :) Thank you!

[@ruthstevens3720]

Love ur video. What I do is the same as u do but I put the amount of water in the pot into a measuring cup and that helps me know how much water it needs. Happy planting! 🪴🌱

[@AgothicaryGardens]

This might sound silly, but I feel so proud of myself that wash my Leca with a strainer and bucket like you do. I watched this and felt like I did something right 😂

[@esmewarmuth8780]

This is so helpful! Thank you! Also I love your nails - green nail polish is the prettiest

[@yolyrom7233]

Really enjoyed watching your video, it was informative. You have a good, straight forward personality too. The Leca Queen KZbin channel, is by far my go to for using these clay pebbles. But I also enjoy watching other vids too. All her (“very tall, beautiful, huge leaves”) plants are in Leca. She teaches you how to convert the roots before you use Leca. Js

[@kyrstyn9746]

i love your vibe my dude, you are so calming to watch

[@nenitafranco7003]

Right, we can try & observe. Everyone has different situation, environment is just one of them. Tks

[@mollynv]

wow so many great tips! measuring the fill line with another 1/3 leca filled net pot is big brain stuff

[@MariaPerez-hd6tw]

Just learning and transferred my first soil to leca yesterday!!!!

[@beachpurls]

i freaking love you! you're so easy to watch and gain information from, keep doing what you do!

[@MelWatchesYT]

TY for explaining the side drain hole! I've been seeing a bunch of people insist on this hole and I see others not even bother with it and I'm sitting here like... "What?! Why no hole? Is the hole necessary!? Someone tell me about the HOLE!!!" >.

[@azizurkhan1153]

Excellent vedio presentation. Thanks for sharing and your honesty.

[@gretchenward9674]

Thank you for this video, after watching it I put my Hoya obovata that was suffering root rot into leca and you should see the roots now!

[@DouTuber]

No one: Absolutely no one: . . . Knot Dude: I only wash my balls with the hose outdoors.

[@KnotDude]

like a true mountain man.

[@jaclynns.jungle]

😂😂

[@davediaz4873]

RIGHT??? To funny, lolol

[@happylittlebush9541]

Great video! Glad to see you back in your pro setting, though I am loving the vlogs! Also, thank you for showing us how you wash your balls! Also, I use the hole method, I make sure to make two small holes ⅓ of the way up from the bottom of the pot. Make sure to start small and work your way up in drill bits, and if you are working with a harder pot, invest in drill bits made for drilling that material. I put two holes 1 inch apart, the roundness of the leca will often block the holes, I use a second as a fail-safe. This method makes it a lot more like traditional soil, as you water them until water runs out the holes, but the holes are on the side. Haha! With this method I do not use netpots, I just fill the cachepo with leca. I highly recommend the general hydroponics system. It's fairly accessible, and lasts a while. It's what is shown in some of minimalist cali's vids. Hope if anyone had that question this helps. :) Missorchidgirl also has info about this method for her orchids in leca vids.

[@KnotDude]

I use the GH nutrients! I also will likely try the hole method here soon! Thanks for your info!

[@kristinachin8384]

Yay I was waiting for this video! I've been converting plant semi hydro for 3+ month now I love it especially for my hoyas! All my plants transition well except my ivory coast alocasia it the only one that seem to not take the transition well it shed a TON of roots a shocking amount and it drop a ton of leaves but I've learn to stop checking the root even though it's easy to do so it shock and setback the plant

[@KnotDude]

oh dang, ive never been able to keep an Alocasia happy EXCEPT my Ivory Coast. Its doing so well in hydro. I hope yours turns around for you! They are so beautiful!

[@elianabriones9365]

I find that cleaning the roots is the most important part for real!! A plant can die If is not really clean I also like living the plant in water with super trive before converting! Love your channel! Hi ...from Canada

[@ukgrant48]

Perfect timing of the video. I have a few little philodendrons i just received as Christmas presents that I’ll try this with.

[@KnotDude]

Great! Sending good hydro vibes your way Grant!

[@paultheplantparent2702]

I love your vids!!! The ending on this one is epic!!!!

[@makinMYway75]

Yoooooo I thought your polish was black but it looks like a metallic green I love it

[@aviabad]

Thank you. Going to channel you mentioned get more info. Much appreciated. 🌱❤🌱❤

[@breacherb3739]

Thanks for the information and the simplicity. Straight forward and smoothly done. Thanks!

[@sandyg8794]

Hi Adam! I purchased LECA on Amazon quite a while ago after watching Michael's Orchids. I haven't taken the plunge yet, but plan on trying it next year. I, also, watch minimalistcali. You're video is very helpful, too. I need to save up to get the Super Thrive and General Hydroponics nutrients all at once. Hopefully soon! I want to at least try my Hoyas and Orchids in it, then try other plants. Thank you so much for sharing this! BTW, loved the ending! You're just too cute for your own good!

[@KnotDude]

Best of luck! Keep me posted on how it goes. My Hoya have done so well in LECA.

[@lessleymendoza7843]

I LOVE how you have the neon monstera leaf light placed, totally looks like its growing out of the pot!! SUPER CUTE, SUPER CREATIVE! No way that was an accident lol

[@MelissaWalker82]

Something I sometimes do now is just take cuttings from plants I buy, root them in water, and then go into leca with them. It’s almost fool proof that way. I’ve also successfully converted several but starting them over is my fav.

[@KnotDude]

I love that too! That's been most successful with String of Hearts for me! Water prop and passive hydro 💚

[@Thankful_.]

Great tip!

[@MelissaWalker82]

Knot Dude my bf’s mom can’t understand why I don’t want to buy ‘big plants’ and go for the small ones instead and, sure, SOME of it is bc I’m cheap 😂 and I do love watching them grow, but it’s also just more challenging to convert a fully mature plant.

[@tammyjohnson7401]

Very well done. A++. I'm a soil person. But will try this at some point I love science projects. Merry Christmas.

[@KnotDude]

Merry Christmas Tammy!

[@lulu486]

Super informative video! Thanks ❤️

[@Shopgirl2731]

Great video ! I’m currently working on this

[@sunshiny_botany]

I came for the plant content and your fun personality, and I stayed for the impromptu Britney performance. 😆 Thanks for another great video. Happy Holidays! 🎄

[@gerardshorticultureculture7579]

Leca is great , perfect how to. I can't wait till spring I have some great fert I want to add to the water.

[@KnotDude]

Thanks Gerard. I have been loving the LECA life.

[@bwilliams6552]

Thank you for this super informative video. I am not going to go hydro wild but I want to try at least one or two finicky plants in hydro to see if I have better luck with growing them. The water level information was a particularly important step.

[@a_noble_one1091]

That max fill line is genius 👌🏼👌🏼

[@steelpen99]

I am not near any big box stores that carry leca. I am near a store that carries lava rock. Could I try this for semi hydro of my Philo or Pothos? Also was wondering if I can use for my Swiss cheese plant.. thanks for your suggestion!

[@koalafei]

A lot of good tips, thanks

[@amylynnzen]

Just the info I needed. You’ve got a new subscriber here! Thanks for the information. 😊

[@prettyinplants9580]

YES! Thank you tons for this vid! Totally agree about IKEA, seems to be the go-to place for semihydro stuff. Also, if you want more stability, there's GROW IT on Amazon, it's a generic leca, but it comes in odd shapes instead of perfectly round balls. The odd shapes are better at stabilization.

[@ninety-ff1mc]

Omg thank you for telling me about ikea. Haven’t been able to get quality leca online and the pet store just has mini balls

[@CorpseBride64]

Keep in mind that IKEA often keeps bags of Leca dotted around the displays. When I found none on the floor, I found 6 bags in display boxes. Don't ask me why they do this, but they do. So, if the sales person tells you they must be out, start looking inside stuff in that general area.

[@marnieoverton2001]

YOU AMAZE ME 💚

[@yeseniarios3304]

I experimented with leca and lots of plants. My fast growing vining plants were a no. Thet did great but the stems kept coming put of the leca. Unless you put them in a deeper pot. My rhaphidophora is happiest in leca as well as all my syngoniums, my huge deliciosa and snake plants. One thing not many people mention about plants in leca and only filling to the 1/3 mark was what happens when the roots grow into the water. Well those roots are grown in water so they can stay in water. There is no need to constantly be taking plants out and repositioning the roots higher. The roots on my deliciosa are growing out of the bottom and they chill in my nutrient water. Thank you for all the super easy to understand video!

[@KnotDude]

Thanks for watching! Yea I've had the same experience with my adansonii and coming out of the pot. Thanks for your info here!

[@2001lemonlime]

I want your variegated monstera love love love it!!!

[@SuperUsername147]

I have an obsessive personality and converted 12 plants in my collection over the passes couple days. Pothos, monstera deliciosa, spider plant, money tree, snake plant, peperomia rosso, Cebu blue, cream splash philodendron, philodendron hope, angel wing begonia, goldfish plant and an attempt to root string of tears cuttings. Praying it goes well!!!

[@KnotDude]

Oh that's sooooo how I am too!

[@SickBoiRENegade]

Update?

[@SuperUsername147]

*Dani*Ryan * pothos and spider didn’t do well. I moved my pothos to lechuza pon and it’s doing much better. It didn’t exactly decline, but it completely stopped growing. I don’t own the spider anymore but moved it to water culture before getting rid of it. Everything else did fine (except the goldfish that was already mostly dead when I converted it). Even now I haven’t had any casualties and most of my plants are either in leca or lechuza pon. I have around 80 plants. I do have a nasty root aphid infestation on most of my plants right now though so if anything declines in the future, that will be the culprit.

[@Baetanical]

Thank you for demystifying the whole process! Love the tip about drilling holes into the cachepot so you can’t overfill and eff it up. Also IKEA: you betta sponsor KnotDude!!

[@KnotDude]

Yes Ikea. Send me stuffz

[@a.girl.has.many.plants3743]

🤣🤣”control this glass into my mouth...(snickering) great video thanks for the info

[@glendalynnejanacek7558]

I do this with my orchids and they love it

[@sonyagilfillan9886]

Great timing.Im just about to try leca balls for my orchids.Thanks for the tips.Its Xmas Eve here in Australia & I'll be plant shopping as well as cooking too much food .Hope you have a good one.Cheers.

[@KnotDude]

and now it is Christmas in Australia so MERRY CHRISTMAS! I wish you luck with your orchids in LECA, i hear that its pretty good with them!

[@PlantsPotsWhatNots]

Omg!! Dying!!!! 🤣🤣🤣 That closing was on point!!!

[@KnotDude]

Oops, I did it again! lol

[@PlantsPotsWhatNots]

@@KnotDude Merry Christmas to you too love. Xoxo

[@LillyCruzcaptivateurbeauty]

Great video! Great explanation. I use to keep some of my orchids in semi hydro but just like you said it will work with some plants and not so well with others. You just have to try it out for yourself and see what works.

[@KnotDude]

Orchid is one plant i have never owned. I need to fix this!

[@valbatrosss]

Thank you, thank you, thank you so much for this! I feel confident enough to try it now.

[@KnotDude]

YES! wishing you much success!

[@Propqueen]

Great video. I would love to see an update. Also... *cache pot 😝

[@megh6818]

Thanks so much for sharing your process! I'm excited to give this a try! Just curious though, what's your method for up-potting once a plant has become root bound in LECA?

[@MariaPerez-hd6tw]

Yes same question!

[@kourtneys.plant.korner765]

That is a kick ass shirt. Merry Christmas

[@KnotDude]

Kourtneys. Plant.Korner thank you! Merry Christmas!

[@aliceschu7520]

Niiiice! I've been waiting for this! 😊

[@KnotDude]

Hope it helps!

[@erikabeca852]

Thank you for explaining everything so good! I watched a bunch of videos and no one explained this good the part avout level of water I have to pour.

[@erica_j1912]

Thanks for this! Gonna attempt converting mine soon 🤞🏼🤞🏼😁

[@maribootz2534]

You’re the best Knot Dude! I love your sense of humor! I bought a Rhaphidaphora Tetrasperma already in LECA. I’d like to propagate it in the same LECA pot. Do you have any suggestions? Like would I still keep the cutting above the 1/3 mark? Or maybe put cutting in water until i have some roots? I hope your holidays are as special and wonderful as you! 💚

[@KnotDude]

For cuttings I am trying to root, i always put a bit more water in than rooted cuttings. I would probably fill the reservoir 3/4, but that is just what I do.

[@elishaamos8612]

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 🎊

[@KnotDude]

Merry Christmas to you!

[@aracelibutler8411]

I’d love to see a closer look at how you secure the pole to the pot.

[@Lulusjungle]

How did I not find you before! Going to ikea asap!!! :) thanks!

[@KnotDude]

I'm glad you're here now! Ikea!!!

[@sherryporsch9349]

Love the singing at the end. Never tried lick-a, don’t know how to spell it, but it’s interesting. Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays!!

[@KnotDude]

its LECA :) Merry Christmas to you too!

[@Puffcroc]

Youre an ikea master. I see that ikea pasta strainer 👀 i have the same one

[@leahc7137]

Woah I have that same plant shelf and the same monstera lamp on my shelf!!! Great minds think alike 🌿

[@KnotDude]

No way! I love the shelves and the light. Great minds DO think alike!

[@MyCleanLeaves]

“I would discourage you from washing your balls in your kitchen sink...” 💀🤣

[@tamaracross9]

Good one 😝

[@rosemaryroot4026]

Is this now the permanent growing medium and if so...what about repotting when the roots fill the cache pot?

[@KnotDude]

Yes i will keep it in hydroculture permanently. I will repot it when the roots go into the reservoir, but since it isnt in soil, repotting is far less messy!

[@claudiasmith9117]

THANK YOU!! This is the best passive hydro video I have seen. You and I were friends in a previous life. Your step by step instructions were perfect. Question: Do you water with the Super thrive solution everytime you water? If not, how often? Just to get a guage...doesn't have to be exact. Cheers,

[@KnotDude]

I use superthrive on my recently conveyed hydro plants for 2 weeks and then I use the nutrient solution from general hydroponics. I do use superthrive everytime I water my soil plants though!

[@claudiasmith9117]

@@KnotDude Thanks for the reply. No soon did I type this and I saw you follow up to this video (general hydroponics video). Winnipeg is littered with hydroponics stores and I have already been to IKEA. I tag you on Instagram when we have root action. Cheers!🥃

[@knotjustknitsniagara]

That florida ghost(?) in leca behind you looks amazing! 🤤🤤

[@annad7062]

I had to rewatch it. I attempted to grow a mauna loa hoy in semi hydro but it didnt like it. It started to rot from the roots up. I had to cut it up & am trying to root propagate it again.

[@xueh5]

what’s wrong with using an indoor sink to rinse the leca? would the clay damage something? i’ve also heard you should boil it first-what are your thoughts? thanks!

[@KnotDude]

I explained that there is dust on LECA. Clay particles. If you let that down your pipes that clay can stick in your plumbing. I don't boil mine but I rinse it well. I only boil it after it's been in a plant and I want to sanitize to re use it for another.

[@ceeceerico3532]

I enjoyed your video, thanks for sharing. Question have you seen any insects of pests form in the bottom of your pots where the water is sitting. I want to know because the reason I want to transition to leca is because of bugs.

[@yeahivekilledthat719]

The thought of Knotdude ever washing his balls in the kitchen sink now has me visually scarred. Glad you finally did this step-by-step vid. A lot of great tips from a very knowledgeable grower and always available to answer questions and comments.

[@KnotDude]

Yeah, I've Killed That scarred or intrigued? Probably both!

[@o_o8203]

I haven't found the ODLA at IKEA in East LA for a while. A worker told me they have sourcing issues. I was easily able to find LECA on ebay for a slightly higher price.

[@KnotDude]

oh bummer, its still here in Phoenix. Also amazon has some. Im sure there is also a Hydroponics store you could find in LA!

[@sandrakephart7131]

Like how you wash your balls in a bucket lol. Also don't know anything about this but what is super thrive solution and can it be used in plants with regular potting mix? Thank you for sharing. Love all your videos!

[@paulabollers6396]

Yes, you can use it on your plants that are in soil. Superthrive is a fertilizer that you add to water. You can find it at HD or Lowe's. I was told to use it to for plants that arrived in the mail to reduce stress.

[@KnotDude]

Super Thrive is a mixture of vitamins for plants. Its great to use all year round and especially good to use on plants that are sick or need extra care!

[@sandrakephart7131]

@@paulabollers6396 thank you I have always used miracle grow.

[@cucar8363]

Hey, I missed you what you as Super Thrive mixture...water and...?

[@KnotDude]

super thrive is a product i add into the water.

[@alacoste111]

Where did you get the mesh pots that actually fit that Ikea cache pot??

[@elizabethduecker1479]

So interesting. I don’t guess you make house calls. Ha Ha I may start by doing this will any new plants I get. I don’t know where I heard this but, tell me if this makes sense. I seem to remember hearing or seeing, when you repot a plant, cut a little bit off the roots as it stimulates new growth.

[@KnotDude]

You can most definitely do that, i know that when you repot, just breaking up the root ball encourages the plant to explore its new home.

[@alethaturner517]

Should you presoak the leca and if you don't will it hard plants. What should you do if you didn't

[@NaNgNg0]

I've had success with all the plants I've converted except for my mature monstera. It ended up getting root rot and I saved whatever I could. It's not back in soil and thriving but other than that the other plants love it!

[@dani.p]

Very useful video! Thank you! I have 1 question tho, the roots are never in direct contact with the water? (considering filling just 1/3 of the pot) PS: THE END! OMG!!! Those songs are from my teenage years jajaja. And you have a nice singing voice! Hugs from Chile :)

[@MamaCookieMonsterz]

Ok so Question! I'm thinking of switching some of my plants to leca. But I also want to hang them as well. You said the leca is light weight so, if I switch and keep them hanging it should be fine right..🤔

[@tabithamichel3305]

Omg this video is very informative. I just bought some clay balls and would have never known to wash them first. Do you have to have a net pot? I watched another girl who didn't.

[@tabithamichel3305]

Oh wait .. she drilled holes like you said. Nevermind :)

[@andreasammon9082]

With your variegated monstera in the back there did you convert it into leca? That'd the one I'm most nervous about moving into it

[@jospring4424]

What is in the super solution aka water? Thanks

[@lorigierloff3071]

I have mostly hoyas and I would like to switch them to semi-hydro. I hear that some hoyas can be temperamental. Are there any that you would recommend that I do not switch to semi-hydro?

[@anakalit4474]

Thanks man appreciated

[@RebaLaDiva]

Can you sit a plant on a grate in a regular pot rather than double potting it?

[@herbsaint636]

Love the monstera neon light 💚

[@davidzerzycki7567]

what size net cups did you put in the ikea flowerpot.. and what size was them

[@KnotDude]

There are varying sizes of Ikea pots. I use 6 in, 4 in and 2 inch. I honestly took my net pots into Ikea to see how they fit in each pot.