Grow bigger plants using LECA | Semi hydroponics for houseplants

Using this complete guide to semi hydroponics for houseplants you can grow bigger plants using LECA. I've been growing indoor plants in LECA with passive and semi hydroponics for a few years and I'd like to share my process for how to mix your micro nutrients, adjust and pH balance your water, and prepare your plants for LECA.
Taking your plants over to LECA can be a lot of work but if you're looking for the best a most consistent growth from your indoor plants you should really consider using LECA. Chapters have been added so feel free to watch re-watch and skip ahead to the parts youre looking for as you start your journey with LECA.
0:00 Intro
0:36 Materials you need for semi hydro
1:56 How to mix nutrients for semi hydro
4:33 What is nutrient lockout?
6:36 How to prepare your LECA
7:23 Putting your plant in LECA for the first time
8:15 Adding nutrients to your plant
8:34 Refilling your nutrient reservoir
9:04 Cleaning and flushing your semi hydro plants
9:58 Transferring soil plants to LECA
10:19 Repotting and readjusting your plants in LECA
🌴🌴🌴🌴
USA/Canadian Affiliate links
*Products I Recommend:
Thank you for continuing to support this channel. These are affiliate links.
By purchasing products through these links I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Amazon USA
Nutrient series
General Hydroponics: amzn.to/37V7f5X
Superthrive: amzn.to/37DygKH
pH tester (digital): amzn.to/3xM81fI
pH Up/Down: amzn.to/3yKdJAf
LECA Grow !t: amzn.to/3m2rQgW
4” Mesh/Net pots: amzn.to/3iJwBtF
Self watering pots: amzn.to/3sfdE4Z
🌴🌴🌴🌴
Amazon Canada
General Hydroponics: amzn.to/3AJb5uX
Superthrive: www.canadiantire.ca/en/pdp/su...
pH tester (digital): amzn.to/3AFUIzA
pH Up/Down: amzn.to/2VTLHEb
LECA: amzn.to/2VOdTba
4” Mesh/Net pots: amzn.to/37HpgVa
Self watering pots: amzn.to/3g1GwZz
🌴🌴🌴🌴
contact me on instagram
/ kill_this_plant

[@Dylan-lt9eo]

Pro tip... adjust your ph AFTER you've mixes in your nutrients. Otherwise you've just thrown it all out of wack again and nutrients can only be utilized if the medium is in the right PH zone.

[@neonice]

Add fulvic acid aka. diamond nectar, no pH-adjusting needed. Your plants will grow even better.

[@Dylan-lt9eo]

@@neonice thanks for the advice. But saying no ph adjustment is needed is a bit of a false statement. Depends on the ph /hardiness of the water your starting with as well as what plants your growing. Some are far more sensitive than others.

[@ildikojones7073]

I love how thorough you are!!! Thank you.

[@TheMayerHarmanTeam]

Lee, your truly a fantastic dude. Thanks for the great info, keep up the great work!

[@eclectic_housewife]

You’re awesome, thank you for your content.

[@itcomesnatural2]

Thank you! You've answered all questions I had. New subscriber!

[@KillThisPlant]

Glad I could help! Thanks for subscribing.

[@amycoull1391]

Another informative video! I am not generally an adventurous plant mama and stick to basic techniques when it comes to soil and plant care. Your videos give great information and break it down to feel less overwhelming. I am excited to try some new methods while growing my lil plant babies and will definitely be coming back to your channel for reference. 🌱

[@cafeohlej]

Hi Lee. What a great video. You are really helping me with getting started with leca.

[@KillThisPlant]

Glad to help

[@precioustraveler]

So thorough!

[@bobbohata9641]

If you get anychemical in your eye, rinse with a strong jet of water immediately! Then call the paramedics (we would dial 911 here in "The States").

[@tracyjohnson3596]

Great video explained so well , i have just purchased everything you showed so im good to start my journey with semi hydro 🤞

[@KillThisPlant]

Best of luck to you!

[@RoseLe]

Really helpful Lee! The video is detailed and surprisingly you got all info under 12 minutes! I'm half way in getting what I need for growing my plants in Lecca. It does seem like a lot of work but I really hate soil....

[@KillThisPlant]

It is a lot of work to start and tough to manage plants in soil and LECA at the same time. But going all in on semi hydro and LECA is an easier time.

[@yolyrom7233]

Great informative video, thank you dear!

[@KillThisPlant]

Thanks for watching!

[@rebeccahenderson7761]

I am so glad I watched this, because now I know for sure Leca is not for me. I do have some in pumice though.

[@86Kera]

Man this was soo helpful! Tfs ! I’ll add gloves and safety goggles to my list

[@yolyrom7233]

After bingeing your channel, I’ve decided to sub. You really go into some vital details of what should be done. Would like to see much longer vids if at all possible that would show a lot more details. Thank you again!

[@flyingchic3n]

^ same

[@KillThisPlant]

I try to make my videos exactly how long they need to be but I'll always try to revisit topics.

[@chandrabronstrup845]

Thank you so much! This is fantastic information!

[@KillThisPlant]

you're welcome!

[@carbonsnail014]

New subscriber bro.

[@KillThisPlant]

💪🏾

[@my2wins]

Leca sounds like my worst nightmare. I regret my recent Amazon purchase made in the fuzzy thinking of a holiday weekend. Wish I watched your video first!!! 🤦‍♀️

[@BlackBackLioness]

Just to add, if you're changing your water/nutrient solution every two to three weeks you don't need to worry about the roots growing into the reservoir. A lack of oxygen is what causes root rot, by changing the water you're replenishing the oxygen in that water thus avoiding root rot. The roots in the water are water roots while the ones above it will be air roots - don't panic, just remember to refresh that water!

[@Bailey110489]

So well explained. Also watched your other video about adding airpump in nutrient water in a tub, that would also stop the rot when the root grow out too much?

[@KillThisPlant]

I wouldn't say it prevents rot outright but I do notice it helps the roots stay alive for longer. When they come out of the pot.

[@SAJK0KAT]

My only issue with switching from soil to leca was I have a hard time to make the roots clean from the soil. So my plant (alocasia dragon scale) got true a hard time. I did my best, put her in water, tried again to get everything off but yeah.. So some roots rotten and I took my plant up again and cut off the bad roots. Letting the good one be ofc. I have heard that sometimes the old roots make new roots (old roots to water roots) so cutting everything off is a bad idea. Let the plant have the roots but help it cut it off when the roots not look good anymore. ☺️ OR- put it in water for a while until they have new roots. My plant is doing great today! And her roots isn’t rotten anymore! :) (Sorry for my English.. I hope you understand anyways 🙈) When I get my cabinet I will put all my plants in leca. 😍 Maybe not the chili .. 🤔

[@KillThisPlant]

So glad to hear your plant recovered. It really is tough to make that transition.

[@akuhqta5591]

Hi, please suggest the alternate of flora grow fertilizer, cuz we dont have it in our city. Can I use Masterblend tomato fertilizer on my Leca (indoor aroids)

[@EmilyinCali]

Thank you for your thoughtful videos. Always informative. Question: Do you have a video on how to transition plants from soil to Leca? You mention in this video one way is to wash as much soil off the roots as possible and transfer it. Do you do just water first, or water and Superthrive for a while, before introducing nutrients? Or do you just put it straight into Superthrive and nutrients? Do you put it in awater for a while? And if there are a lot of soil roots, do you put them ALL in the water or Leca? sorry a lot of questions. thank you in advance

[@KillThisPlant]

I don't have that video. I recommend The LECA Queen kzbin.info/www/bejne/i3fOmqqrq6-Vas0 kzbin.info/www/bejne/rmevkJSwgNyiidE

[@Shaa808]

Great content! I have monstera cutting that I’m growing in water permanently. Can this nutrient mixture be use for a monstera plant growing in water? Thanks in advance!!

[@KillThisPlant]

Yes you can!

[@hrsjageryt6153]

Don't forget to read the instructions on the PH up and down bottle.

[@mariasidiqi3880]

Hi Lee! I didn't realize how much effort was needed for LECA, which means I've definitely been doing it wrong lol! I have the green general hydroponics flora gro but not the flora bloom, is the flora bloom necessary in conjunction with the flora gro? I also was wondering about the roots touching the water, I've read that the roots that eventually touch the water are water-acclimated roots, and can stay touching the water? When you repot your LECA plants to gather the roots from touching the reservoir and such once or twice a year or more regularly? TY!

[@KillThisPlant]

Thanks for the questions. -I try to maximize everything. The green one is a pretty balanced fertilizer and you'll be fine just using that. -Roots can do fine in water, but it really increases the chance of it rotting. Especially if there is no oxygen/motion added to the water. -I try to re arrange my pots and fix the roots more regularly (best practice is to not let them get acclimated to water). But also I get lazy and sometimes they run wild.

[@single_use_planet_]

Can I fill the reservoir with rainwater? Would that be good?

[@KillThisPlant]

You can but it won't replace using a nutrient solution.

[@ashleyrodriguez7430]

So I'm transfering my plants to leca can u write down the fertilizer detail for me. :)

[@farrarozan4325]

Are LECA only for decorative plants? Can I also grow edibles/veggies ?

[@KillThisPlant]

For the most part, it's actually made specifically for edible plants!

[@kadalgurun9447]

can you use slow realese fertilizer for semi hydroponics?

[@KillThisPlant]

It needs to be liquid

[@Sandman1255]

You can use it for pon. This looks over complicated

[@xaiuon]

No LECA for my plants and me. Too much work and expensive this way.

[@jamesjohnson-tk3gx]

Why in the world would you pH your water prior to making the solution the solution is the final product and what gets your pH buffers not the water

[@nurmayantcoates9436]

Leca too expensive

[@TheMayerHarmanTeam]

Tap water is basic! Pfft

[@KillThisPlant]

Not all of us can fill our well water with sliced lemons 🍋

[@susie_withe_sass]

How do you deal with roots that have grown too far down in the leca? I inherited a plant from someone and see a root peeking out from the bottom of the pot (self watering pot system). I know you’re supposed to let cuts cauterize in air so they don’t rot, but if the rest of the roots need water…. Are you left with devising some system where the cut root dries and the others stay wet?