Growing Plants in Leca 101 | Pros & Cons of Leca | How to Transfer Plants to Leca

[@bridget.esther]

i’m thinking about switching to leca because i’m tired of getting fungus gnats! (and don’t wanna get other pests either) i’m gonna start off with my propagations so they have an easier time transitioning. if it works well, i’ll try with my pest-prone plants. for my bigger and older plants, i’ll keep it in the soil, but top them off with leca. the one thing im scared of messing up is the nutrient part, but either way, im excited to try this!!

[@gsm7983]

I've watched and listened to lots of ppl explain this process. You did it best. Thank you for sharing., Marta

[@StingraySteve]

I had a little meeting with all my plants and they voted no on the leca ball transfer amendment (LOL) . But thankyou for sharing all your experience using them. Its good to know about these strange balls other people have ha ha !

[@GloriasPlants]

LOL I'm sure if I asked my plants they probably wouldnt want to go through the leca transition either and be stressed..but I just couldn't keep up with the plantcare and upkeep so leca has been a lot less work for me!

[@suzettebouleyistre9147]

I just learned a lot about leca . Thanks so much for sharing all the information.

[@saulsaul467]

Your Plants are Drop Dead Gorgeous

[@andriasinde6796]

I can’t wait to switch over. I’m having the hardest time keeping my my succulents happy in soil . This seems so much better to me !

[@michaelibk418]

I am 50 and I remember when I was a child Leca was all over my friends houses with plants. It was absolutely common. I really don't get the hype during the last years about Leca. Maybe its like fashion everything comes back;-)

[@akayeee]

I keep coming back to this video because it’s seriously so helpful as a beginner to Leca!

[@GloriasPlants]

Glad it was helpful! thanks for watching!

[@marysunshine389]

so much good information. For most filtering systems using a carbon filter, it takes 5 gallons of water to make 1 gallon of filtered water so you might be using up the money saved from buying water and adding it to your water bill. For 1.29 gal I found it a money saver to buy water.

[@GloriasPlants]

ah good to know. i never really calculated based on cost but I use a brita filter if that makes a difference.

[@marysunshine389]

Unfortunately I don’t have any information for a Brita. I was really surprised when I found out my reverse osmosis tank and wanted to share.

[@MrGeemonty]

@@marysunshine389 Reverse osmosis wastes water because of how it works, it also consumes electricity. Carbon filters, like the Brita that Gloria is using, are passive systems so don't require any electricity and all the water you put into it you get out, there is no waste water. The only thing required is changing the filter as needed. If you have city water the only thing you really need removed is chlorine, which the Brita filter should do with no problem. You should be able to get a water report from your city to see whats in it. This is helpful for adjusting your nutrient solution.

[@Bexsar92]

I just transfered three of my plants to leca. So scary, but hopefully they won't all die. This is my trial run. Great and very informative video.

[@GloriasPlants]

thanks for watching! hope your plants do well in semi hydro

[@sirvartartinian5944]

how are you plants doing now ?

[@nurias4962]

Omg thanks for changing the background. The last one made me so claustrophobic.

[@GloriasPlants]

Glad I found a space where there’s good lighting and a cleaning background! Had to move some stuff around LOl

[@nurias4962]

@@GloriasPlants it looks great!

[@michellecastro2475]

Love how you explain everything. I'm going to try this.

[@DonnaDenim]

Pon is more forgiving with soil roots, for me. It was also hard to find this year in Canada, but they’ve restocked on the main site. Like another commenter, you have revived my love for Leca. Great, honest video!

[@GloriasPlants]

Thanks for watching! Yah I wanted to try pon but now that I still have some leca I don’t want to waste it and buy another medium 😥. Will one day try it though!

[@ThePlantedCarlyflower]

I love PON too. All my Hoyas are in either a diy PON mix or in leca. It all works really well for me.

[@YellowPineappleHoyas]

I also live in Canada and just got two small Hoyas in a tiny cup of leca and no clue where to get more leca at an affordable rate. Where have you found Pon? And do you use it like soil?

[@DonnaDenim]

Liza Butcher I bought pon online at lechuza but they were sold out last I looked. I’ve been buying a mix from Kim’s until the pon is back. I have some plants in self watering but some are treated like they are in soil. Leca on Amazon wasn’t too bad a price, and I think ikea sells too.

[@suellendupuis4627]

@@YellowPineappleHoyas I live in Eastern Canada. I found leca at Halifax seeds and at a great price. An extra large bag for 34.00.

[@plan8plants418]

I use both pon and leca (separately). Personally I don't notice any significant difference between the two in terms of growth. For small cuttings I prefer pon as it's smaller and heavier so that I don't knock small pots as easily. For large established plants that are already in soil I usually let them be.

[@makinMYway75]

Omg thank u I never switch to leca because everyone made it look like chemistry class so I decided not to do it, but you definitely made it much more understandable n right uo my lazy alley lol so ill try it

[@GloriasPlants]

Hope it goes well for you! There’s a lot of trial and error in the beginning but it’s worth it in the end!

[@mekhibeckett7847]

instaBlaster...

[@alexr2375]

Well, if you're on a budget I got a 25 litre hydroton bag of leca for $22 amd OMG, nice variety shaped leca, not too big and some smaller pieces, also bought a small 8oz bottle of dynagro for 12$ and superthrive for $8 or something. So if you're not able to invest in larger quantity nutrients you can start with a small bottle that will still yield a lot of nutrient water.

[@GloriasPlants]

Thanks for sharing! I def find the start up cost to be a deterring factor for most people!

[@Sunshinenyc2]

Thank you so much for the simple version... whew that was a lot of info...but I'm glad you did it 😄 thanks again based on this video I subscribed 😀

[@GloriasPlants]

thanks for watching!

[@Kratkymethod]

glad i found this content very well explained

[@GloriasPlants]

thanks for watching!

[@zoiscozii9818]

Was thinking of switching over to Leca when I found your channel! Thanks the info! Definitely gona test this out on a few plants! 🙏🏽

[@jackieliu1232]

where do you buy your leca/saucers? They look great

[@leaflovelaughwmissy2334]

So helpful! Gonna try it with a syngonium first but I think I’m sold on leca.

[@GloriasPlants]

You should def try! it's great

[@HappiCamper]

I have a syngonium in pumice and water. It's so happy!

[@louisabyrd2289]

Is it better to root a plant with Lecca or plain water. Thank you.

[@glennfabian]

Very good video. Thank you.

[@okdubunf]

i just ordered some starter plants. any tips for starting plants in leca? (pothos, zz, and philodendron)

[@mayarada2059]

Proud of you by being look cute and just remind me my Daughter

[@ginasmitten7836]

When I change the water does it have to always have the fertilizer in it or are u only supposed to fertilize it like once a month?

[@Joey-vw1id]

Hello my name is joe and I just watched the new episode of crazy plant guy and I saw your channel on the video and I liked your attitude towards plants and you seem knowledgeable about plants and I thought that I would subscribe to your channel to see what you know that I don't.. I'm sure I'll love your channel!! Happy holidays and happy new year too!! Your new plant friend, Joe......

[@GloriasPlants]

Thanks for the support! Happy to always make new plant friends. Hope you enjoy my videos 😊.

[@veronicaglover5693]

Thanks for explaining, maybe it you could show the entire process as you explain it would be helpful :)

[@GloriasPlants]

i don't have any more plants to transfer into leca since i transferred most of them (if not all) already. I wanted to try out the process and tweak it here and there before i make an informative video to help my viewers! if i get more plants in the future will definitely do an updated version! thanks for watching

[@nikolarossova3932]

BREATHE! 😂 you are constantly without breath it’s okay we will wait for what you are about to say

[@GloriasPlants]

haha i know i always forget to just pause and speak way too fast!!!

[@laughlovelive15]

Where do I find the links for the nutrients, etc that you talk about?

[@GloriasPlants]

in the description!

[@mariavazquez2131]

So im new to leca. Actually in the process of ordering some online right now, so before I buy, if im using distilled water all the time i dont need the ph balance stuff? And my plants wont die? I mainly have pothos and a monstera Deliciosa and all are clipping starting to root so no soil transferonh for me. Lmk please!

[@148kmartinez]

I just changed my money tree into Leca about 1 week ago and her leaves are turning yellow. Help!! What’s wrong? Should I put it back into the soil?

[@Enn-]

Why do they need to be disinfected? Aren't they made by baking them in a kiln? I don't imagine they'd come in contact with anything organic between being fired in the kiln and packed in the bag you receive them in. Is contamination really a risk?

[@Joey-vw1id]

Thank you 😊

[@GloriasPlants]

Thanks for watching!

[@ThePlantedCarlyflower]

I’m so glad I found you! I’ve been feeling so “bleh” with my leca lately and this totally revived my excitement for it. 😁😁

[@GloriasPlants]

So happy to hear! I think semi hydro in general needs more love! So much easier to work with once you get the hang of it compared to soil!

[@ThePlantedCarlyflower]

@@GloriasPlants agreed. I’m having some issues with my Hoyas in leca that I haven’t had before. I’m sure it’s a winter thing or something. The leaves keep getting floppy. Then hard. Then floppy. No idea. This is my first winter in semi hydro and I am trying to ride it out and learn vs panicking and going back to soil. 😂😂😂 roots look good so I’m using that as my motivation to keep going.

[@GloriasPlants]

Ya winter is no fun 😫😫 plants always throwing tantrums!

[@KillThisPlant]

I'm going through my first winter with leca. Do you use a lower concentration of your fertilizer in the off season?

[@neonice]

@@ThePlantedCarlyflower Try adding some gold nectar aka. Fulvic acids by general hydroponics to the nutrient solution, it's like magic in fixing all sorts of problems.

[@you_r_my-world2288]

I like Lecca because I freaking hate gnat flies 😡 lol

[@GloriasPlants]

I hate fungus gnats too. I find they come out way more in the summer time or if you keep your soil too wet. Thank goodness for leca though..haven't seen a gnat in ages haha

[@6OceanSoul9]

I'm relieved to see that the ph check is not totally necessary, it looks like so much work

[@GloriasPlants]

yah i find that's just too much effort for me and not everyone cares about the pH!

[@tanyawaldner3715]

How much water should u put in the plant with lecca? Halfway? Up to where the stem meets the roots?past the stem?

[@GloriasPlants]

i usually only do 1/3rd of the way water and initially the roots shouldn't touch the water and only the leca wicks the water up to the roots

[@mapofthesoultagme7143]

Are they good for growing edible plants like common veggies and fruits?

[@GloriasPlants]

not absolutely sure as i don't have a backyard for outdoor gardening which is usually needed for growing vegetables and fruits! i've only used leca for indoor houseplants!

[@mapofthesoultagme7143]

@@GloriasPlants I don't mean using them outside. I have many fruits and veggies indoors too. Can leca balls work for those types of plants?

[@davetong]

Can you actually mix soil with leca for indoor plants like calathea? Thanks

[@GloriasPlants]

Yah you can use leca as extra drainage for when you have plants in soil!

[@davetong]

@@GloriasPlants thanks.

[@mayac2266]

It would be easier if there are demonstrations along with the explanation. Thanks for vid

[@GloriasPlants]

i didn't want to buy new plants just to transfer into leca as all my plants are currently in semi hydro already. and i only made this video once i was sure my technique worked for me so i could share my knowledge with my viewers :D

[@billyplant4064]

Hey Gloria, do I need to wait for the water reservoir to completely dry off before topping it or should I do it on a regular bases like once a week?

[@GloriasPlants]

i usually check every 4-7 days and when i see its low or empty then i refill it!

[@billyplant4064]

@@GloriasPlants Noted, thank you for the quick reply :)

[@mayra7185]

Do you refill with just water or nutrient water?

[@MrGeemonty]

You really should try and ph your nutrient solution. For hydroponics the optimal nutrient availability is 5.5-6.5. Plants will do way better. More than likely you don't have to adjust it but if you are too high or too low adjusting the ph will do wonders for your plants.

[@おひょいやほい]

Do you use any insecticide with Leca?

[@dsanford12]

Why do you have to sterilize it to just reuse it , Wasn't it fine a week ago before? You decided to pull this plant out and put in a new one ?

[@t3chTut0r]

Careful with flushing the Leca dust down the drain. I heard that someone clogged their drainage like that.

[@maramccormack127]

Oh my god. 30 dollars? It’s like 10 in Germany and it’s an even bigger bag. Anyway, I’ve just bought myself some leca and I’ve put my avocado in there. It seems to like it, but now I want to switch all my small guys to leca to.

[@GloriasPlants]

lucky it's so cheap in germany! the leca lasts quite some time since its reusable!

[@carolyngranda5152]

I did learn from this. However, I think a physical on camera demonstration would have been more helpful. You lost me when you were talking about transferring a potted soil to leca and something about the roots. The transfer was my main reason for watching the video.

[@GloriasPlants]

i have lots of other repotting videos on my channel that you are welcome to check out! I only made this video once I more or less had all my plants in leca so that I had experience with it before sharing my knowledge with others

[@michellereed479]

Instead of buying distilled water just fill up a bucket of tap water and let it sit for 48 hours, the chemicals will dissipate/ evaporate off the water. I've found my plants are equally as happy using this method than store bought distilled water.

[@GloriasPlants]

glad that works for you! i find when i leave out tap water it still might cause some discoloration in the super sensitive plants such as calatheas and certain anthuriums though!

[@mamabird2790]

I did this until I realized that oxygen leaves the water eventually. By the time I used all the water, I feel like it wasn't any good.

[@ah-ss7he]

@@GloriasPlants what about rain water?

[@mkit9235]

Do you have to use nutritions?

[@GloriasPlants]

yes because leca is just clay and doesn't have nutrients for the plant!

[@louisabyrd7439]

what do you do when lecca smells and can you still use it.

[@GloriasPlants]

if it starts to smell it usually means the roots are rotting which is a very distinct smell. I would repot the plant in fresh leca after using some hydrogen peroxide on the roots. the old leca should be boiled in hot water to disinfect!

[@annaskhan9771]

have u tried growing phal orchids in leca

[@GloriasPlants]

I have not. Mine seem to be happy in bark and moss mixture right now so I’m scared to move them 😣.

[@elizabethmuscatello3576]

So my main question is you said any of your plants 6in and under go into leca but once your plant needs to be reported do you change back to soil or stay to leca??

[@GloriasPlants]

I usually chop the roots if it grows too much and outgrows a 5-6 inch leca pot. I don’t really want super large plants. Plus if a plant gets too big it’ll be too too heavy to stay in leca so I prefer to use pon at that point!

[@wendyfit1]

Can you show us with an actual transplant from soil to Leca?

[@GloriasPlants]

i have previous videos where I transfer my plants from soil to leca - check out the melanochrysum one!

[@rozniatka6510]

Why do you need to use destiled water?

[@komalthecoolk]

Gloria, you are so cute!

[@Scotchmist13]

I was told it is only necessary to boil leca that has been used previously. Brand new leca only needs to be washed, not boiled???

[@GloriasPlants]

sometimes i get lazy to boil my leca especially if it just came out of the bag so i just rinse it thoroughly with hot water :P. but the best practice is definitely to boil it

[@Scotchmist13]

@@GloriasPlants Ok thank you :)

[@valariawhite647]

Isn't distilled water just tap water left in a jug over time

[@ah-ss7he]

Good question

[@CH-vm6cq]

No. It's boiled and the accumulated steam becomes the distilled water. It completely eliminates the minerals.

[@crowgirl7748]

3 of my little plants rotted and died when I transfered them :(

[@crowgirl7748]

But I am not giving up yet

[@GloriasPlants]

good i've def rotted my share of plants but it's important to keep trying and see what works for you!