How I Make My Nutrient Solution for LECA | What I Use for my Passive Hydro Nutrients

[@hhef83]

I saw one of your videos a couple years ago about Leca and it inspired me to change my plants from soil to leca. I'm in love. In love with my plants that is. Before changing things, I was continuously committing manslaughter on my plant babies. I had the hardest time keeping some of my house plants alive. Even with a PH/moisture meter to help me identify if the soil was where it should be, half of them still had soil that never seemed to dry out. It was always wet. Always getting root rot. Always led to their untimely death. I live in Oklahoma, so the majority of the year it's warm and humid. If I could, I'd sell my house solely to live in a better state merely for my plants. Instead of going to the extreme of selling my house over my plant babies, I ended up converting my mud room into a plant room. I did what I could to change and maintain a better environment in that room for the plants I do have and for the future ones I can't stop collecting. Leca is a game changer! Thank you for putting out great plant content for us obsessed plant lovers.

[@caitymorse5128]

I have watched this twice already and will probably watch it a million times more, so helpful :)

[@SSaaNNddYY77]

You have a wonderful talent for plants and video making! Really enjoy your content. Hope you'll continue to make videos.

[@sashaoliviaart]

How long does the gallon jug of nutrients stay good for?

[@cooter1352]

Week

[@yaswickramasekera7352]

Hi Adam - thank for this video. once you mix up a gallon of nutrient- can you keep any remaining mix to use later? thanks a heap!

[@aimeehodgin6359]

Whistle sound! You hair is fab! & with a Lab Coat...AWESOME! Nutrients & Bourbon!! Thanks Adam! Have an awesome weekend!

[@KnotDude]

Thanks Aimee! I appreciate your support!

[@MyCleanLeaves]

This was perfect! I’m happy to know I’m doing this process the same exact way your are (PHEW) and now I’m very intrigued to look into Costco water services. The salt build up drives me nuts. And, lab coat = 🙌🏼

[@sunshiny_botany]

Excited for the Hydro series! Started converting some of my plants as well. Enjoy your day ☀️

[@gustavo31313131]

Omg so good, love your new hair style! I bought dynagro grow, have been using that for passive hydro for a while and it’s making things grow lol 🌱

[@rachelbegay7614]

i just started converting my plants...and using the same materials from hyroponics. Im currently reside in Flagstaff... been a little nervous converting but its definitely a learning process. lucky to say im already have root growth! yay! i learned and got inspired from minimalistcali, pretty in plants, and you! thank yoU

[@cooter1352]

Meters let you know when you need to flush ir leach with ph water to lower salts. You have different ppm/ec ranges for different stages of growth. You stay with range and ph. This is why a cheap meter is important so you know if your getting to salty or under feeding. Prevents nute burns and lockouts.

[@ashleymia991]

Ok first of all - I am a little too interested in your hair! It's like - the best hair!!! Looking smooth dark stranger!! ♡. Secondly - I'm like completely blown away by your process here. I dont know if I trust myself with all of these details. Maybe some day. I hate the water here! Its horrible! We are looking into getting a new house and I was hoping for a well but I'm thinking we will still be hooked up to city water 🤨. Keep killin' it man!!

[@KnotDude]

you literally have the best hair so I feel insanely flattered.

[@ashleymia991]

@@KnotDude Aww 😍! That's the best compliment ♡♡♡

[@Revelation21.4]

This is so helpful! Trying to gather supplies slowly for my first conversion, its not the cheapest but seems like it all lasts a really long time with how small the doses are. I wish there was more information out there, but between you and a few others I think I've got the general idea. 💚

[@devonnepotter9045]

Do you make a new jog of nutrient water every 2 weeks? Or can you use the same jug for several watering cycles? I also saw another KZbinr mix her nutrient solution in a watering can with equal parts water. Is that what you are supposed to do?

[@arie_rogers87]

Thank you so much. Superthrive is amazing when getting cuttings I swear it helps them survive after a long trip bare rooted through the mail lol but 100% your plants need more once in leca. Thank you so much for helping us see what you choose

[@silvannamk8339]

This was so helpful. I am transferring plants out of soil this weekend and I have everything except that type of peroxide. I hope I won’t need it. I’ll watch the other video and then this one again in case I missed anything.

[@sherryporsch9349]

Very helpful too those of us using Hydro or semi hydro !! 😍

[@frankiedarling6947]

Learning so much from you!!! Thanks Adam! ❤️

[@esther-j]

I use SUPERthrive Grow and Pro-TeKt (silica). The funny thing is when I adjust the PH of my tap water or filtered water down to 6-7 I get more root rot than if I leave it higher around 7.25-7.5.

[@heatherb1443]

@KnotDude do you have a video where you place the pump on the 5 gal water jug to mix nutrients in it to water plants? I was thinking about making a set up like that but kinda wanted to see how it was done first?! Thanks in advance!

[@tonelill76]

Love your video! I am all new in the Semi world, so thank you for the information :-)

[@cooter1352]

I highly recommend a ph and ec/ppm meter. More accurate. Also easier. Plus you can just add water if you need to lower ph from ph up to save money.

[@sandyg8794]

Hi Adam! This was a great video on what you use and how you use it. I added your advice to notes on my computer for reference when I decide to start this process with some of my Hoyas. You didn't mention how much of the Hydroguard and 34% Hydrogen Peroxide you added. Also, I wasn't clear on whether you add these to the GHP nutrients every time you mix it, or just use it for starting plants in water. Sorry! On the Superthrive, you said you use the recommended dosage, right? If I added it to the nutrient solution, is that what I should do? Sorry for so many questions, but when I make the "leap" to passive hydro, I want to do it right. I ordered a Hoya Microflora on line and it wasn't in great shape when I received it. I planted it in well draining soil in a Basalt Clay pot and it's looking worse. I reached out to the seller and they didn't comment on what to do. Should I take it out of the soil, rinse the roots and just try putting it in water for now? If so, would I need to use water with Superthrive in it? So sorry for all of this, but I trust your advice so much! Thank you so much for sharing this and I'm looking forward to future videos on passive hydro. Love your hair, too!

[@MariaRomero-jt8xm]

i would also like to know this algae grosses me out!

[@sarimosher]

Adam, you are so awesome!

[@mercedesluisa7835]

Love your videos!!!! Keep up the good work. 🌿

[@desrtangl]

Great video. As always, thank you for sharing. Here is my unsolicited tip: filter your own water. Don't pay for it!!! I currently live in Chicago, and the water here is very hard. Full of calcium and junk. I've lived here about 8 months and started to notice my plants reacting to the water. I have so many plants, a lot of which are pretty large, so purchasing distilled water would be far too expensive for me. I bought a Zero Water water filter that literally filters EVERYTHING out of your water. Far superior to Britta! You can pick up a large 1.5gal (aprox) jug with spout for around $30. My plants are loving it! I also purchased a second Zero Water filter for my humidifiers too. Because it filters out all the garbage in the water, when the humidifier vaporizes the water, you won't get all the "white dust" on everything! Granted, filling them takes FOREVER because the fill reservoir is smaller than the tank and the filter takes a bit to move the water through it, so it'll take a few fills to get the tank full, BUT IT"S WORTH THE WAIT! I've linked them. Let me know what you think! www.amazon.com/ZeroWater-Pitcher-Quality-BPA-Free-Certified/dp/B003QXM3U8/ref=sr_1_6?keywords=zero+water&qid=1582455692&sr=8-6 www.amazon.com/ZeroWater-ZR-0810-4-N-Round-Filter-Pitcher/dp/B083KZZGBH/ref=sr_1_21_sspa?keywords=zero+water&qid=1582456056&sr=8-21-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyQkFDQlVIMlMwQ1pYJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNDczMjQxMzVYQTFNWTg0MDhTMyZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwMzU1MTU4MVRFWkxGSE9PTDVBViZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX210ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

[@KnotDude]

Thanks for the tip! I was using. A filter for a long time, not this one, but decided to switch to delivery. With my Costco membership it just made sense for my needs right now. Im going to recommend your filter though! Thanks for watching!

[@desrtangl]

@@KnotDude hey, if that's what meets your needs, then bang-a-rang! 😎🙌

[@lerajuno]

Adam, you are just so darn handsome. Great video as usual.

[@KnotDude]

Oh you stop ☺️

[@eljardindelamorenita5863]

Just what was looking for 🤩💕🐝

[@geronimohrwego3227]

Hi! What great advice! Thank you for this video :) what’s the ratio that you mix in the hydrogen peroxide? Thank you!!

[@dany2034]

Great video! Careful with Hy-peroxide it can also kill beneficial microbes your adding in (hydroguard).

[@kirstenschlipf3745]

Do you always use nutrient treated water? Or is this something you do weekly/monthly and use just untreated purified water in between?

[@Angela-lh3de]

From what I understand is they use us it all the time because the clay balls do not hold any nutrients as soil would

[@estelat8133]

Ty ty for making this and your other passive-hydro video! Do you think it would be ok to use rain water instead of purified?

[@scottcarpenter910]

Thank you, very informative videos. The bourbon 🥃 was a nice touch 👍🏻

[@myataylor4807]

Back at ya plant nerd!🤓

[@vkklynn88]

Lmao why did I forget he was drinking the liquor 🥃 and thought he took a shot of the nutrient solution 😱😨😰🤣🤣🤣

[@HHHorea]

how much water in the pot, 1/3 of the leca height? and regarding the pot in pot which is better because you can easily take it out for rinsing, thats cool, but isnt that a big issue when you will repot to a bigger pot because all the roots are tangled through that plastic pot?

[@anakalit4474]

That"s a lot of work thanks any way

[@eljardindelamorenita5863]

Love your channel 💕

[@cd7228]

How often do you do the hydrogen peroxide solution and what ratio?

[@Pickle_breath]

I want to try semi hydro so bad but I don’t know that I’m ready for all that work 😭 but this video is still super helpful for when I do try it!

[@KnotDude]

It is a bit of work but I love playing scientist

[@elizabethduecker1479]

Thanks. That was a great video. I am now more confident that I’m doing things correctly. Could you possibly do a slow pass by shot of your plants on the shelf. I would like to see them up close.

[@KnotDude]

Yes I really do plant to "tour" my plant corners.

[@katherinesanchez_]

Do you use Cal-mag with your semi hydro now? if so, when exactly do you add it into the solution. For example, do you add it in the beginning or after all 3 of the general hydroponics nutrients..

[@KnotDude]

I do not use Cal mag.

[@velmahunt301]

Hello... I may have missed it but how often should nutrients be added to water in leca jars? Every time you water or similar to fertilizer every few weeks ?

[@cindyvan635]

Great info, thanks so much!!!!💚🌱💚🌱

[@Sara-gk2eh]

Hi there! Love your videos. What type of plants do you use these nutrients on. I wanna switch my philodendron, anthuriums, and monstera to leca. Wondering if this is an all around good mixture for them too

[@yurygarcia986]

Hi, thanks for a very informative video. Quick question what’s your take on Hoyas in hydro? I recently received some cuttings and I’m thinking of using leca instead of soil to help them thrive. I would really appreciate your advice 💕

[@bellagrace9475]

Can I use the nutrients even if my Hoyas are in soil?

[@rickyt3961]

you've mastered this process! 🎖👍🏾 me... It’s a little too much 😂

[@arielleparkerfargnoli4452]

Hello, happy to subscribe! I’m subscribing because I like house plant babies, and also because @DouTube

[@KnotDude]

Dou is wonderful and I'm so glad you came over!

[@nitamacey7929]

❤❤❤

[@MariaRomero-jt8xm]

hi dude! thanks for this video! question time! you don’t mention water roots, some people wait to start nutrient water until the plant has some water roots do you just go with your 2 week rule to start adding the nutrients?? thanks!

[@zowiebee9744]

Hey. Do you do the flushing with purified water, too, or do you use tap water? Greetings and much love from Germany. 🌿

[@debihediger4760]

Lol.....love the safety glasses...!

[@KnotDude]

🥽🥽🥽

[@jojom.7711]

how about using aquarium water? will this do? thanks

[@KnotDude]

I haven't tried it myself but I have heard that aquarium water is great for plants!

[@morgancalvillo4503]

Hello. This is probably a stupid question….We have a water softener system, do you know if the water that comes out of my faucet okay to use for my plants?

[@KnotDude]

Not a stupid question. Most water softeners use salt to process the water so I don't think it would. You could buy a pH test kit to see what it is but my guess is you'll need some adjusting.

[@josiecostley7032]

Hi Adam! Do you only test pH when first mixing up the gallon of nutrients? Or do you have to periodically check the water reservoir pH too?

[@KnotDude]

I just check when I first mix it. I usually use the whole gallon and don't let it sit too long.

[@hannahwilliams5734]

you can go to the GH website and find which stores sell their products!!!

[@luisabyr3333]

Is purified water the same as distilled water

[@yingknudsen4408]

talk about flash - do you use Flashclean Terra Aquatica?

[@karinarosales4803]

Hi! I recently discovered your channel and I’m enjoying watching your videos! I have a question regarding watering my hoyas with leca. I haven’t used these nutrients before, but just wondering if watering using water from my freshwater fish tank would suffice. Do you think that switching to nutrient water would be a big difference?

[@katndj]

Is that a Oui yogurt jar with a net pot? And if so where did you get the net pot? Thanks!!

[@albabc8191]

Hi! Loved this video :) I have one question, though. Is it necessary to use those three nutrients together? Or can you just buy one of them and use that one alone?

[@Intensenina]

Can I Use rain water instead of tap or purified? Thanks x

[@BDThomas]

As long as you are not in an area that gets acid rain and it's not being collected from a toxic or contaminated surface, you should be fine.

[@micamicamicachoo]

Would you recommend this same solution for Hoyas that just live in sphagnum moss, I have several hoyas that just seem to love staying in sphagnum, and now I’m thinking my general purpose fertilizer is not cutting it

[@KnotDude]

Yes. People use these nutrients in soil as well (so I've heard) I have not so but in my opinion it would work.

[@micamicamicachoo]

@@KnotDude Awesome! Thank you for the reply!

[@Arialoverom]

Subbing because you look like Dave Grohl, and plants.

[@leah1465]

I have had several of my plants loose multiple leaves (they turn yellow) after I transfered. I have had them in for a month and use 1ml per gallon, do they need more nutrients? I also don't have super thrive does this help?

[@KnotDude]

I would just be careful of where your water in the cache Pot is sitting ok m reference to the roots of the plant and just be patient. Converting large mature plants can be tricky and they can go through a bit of shock.

[@chloek.5076]

Did you convert any hanging plants into Leca? I just converted a string of heart yesterday but I’m not so confident about it. Can you share your experience with that?

[@KnotDude]

So I have string of hearts in LECA doing great however they were water props that I moved to LECA. The ones I tried converting from soil to LECA didn't go well but a few strands survived.

[@chloek.5076]

Knot Dude mine not doing well after 1 week. I’m thinking I should just propagate whatever it’s left 😨

[@zetagundamzz]

So, like so many people who've been swept up in the plant craze, I bought too many plants too fast. I got sick and caring for my plant babies took a back seat and a lot of them died :( This might be a silly and simplistic question, but is this method easier than soil? It looks both more and less complicated at the same time, to me. lol Also, do you see fungus gnats with your passive hydro?

[@KnotDude]

It's all about how much time you want to spend caring for your plants and also lifestyle etc. It seems way more complicated, at first, but I'm finding it quite enjoyable. Fungus gnats cannot live ok not hydro conditions!

[@melscott5124]

@@KnotDude agreed. Passive hydro allows for you to "go away" a bit longer as the plant feeds itself. I'd say about a week depending on the size of the plant. So as long as you know when the reservoir gets dry you wont have to constantly be checking on whether or not it needs water.

[@bollwegsports]

How much of the hydroguard do you usually add to your solution?

[@melscott5124]

So I'm wondering about the watering process, is there a wet and dry period? I've had some hoya in leca and noticed the roots pulled off like root rot and am thinking I kept the plant too moist too long. How many days should I wait to refill the reservoir?

[@KnotDude]

I don't usually do a dry period although it could be fun to test. I've had some Hoya do that as well.

[@melscott5124]

@@KnotDude I've noticed they do better if they dont immediately get topped off... I'll wait until it's completely dry by a day and its seemed to resolve the root issue

[@01victoria1982]

I purchased Hydroguard to add to my nutrient solution. Do you add it in the recommended 2mL amount?

[@KnotDude]

Yes I do!

[@halfbakedplants9901]

Is it ok to premix the nutrient solution and store it for a few weeks? I can't seem to find a good answer for this online. Some people say there will be nutrient lockout if it isn't used right away. What has your experience been?

[@KnotDude]

I have mine sitting and use it over a week's time. I guess I haven't really conducted tests on this. Something to think about. Sorry that isn't very helpful.

[@SemihydroponicswithSma]

How did you managed to buy hydrogen peroxide 34%? In uk you need to have special certificate, i can remember how is called, to buy it...great info. You are doing everything right😊💚 love it

[@KnotDude]

That's crazy! It's in the hydro store here. Like no big deal. It's scary to handle though.

[@joelh6514]

Have you heard of using a nonporous stone to cap off the leca to help control evaporation? Do you think it would help keep the solution more stable?

[@KnotDude]

I think the evaporation is good so no i havent. I think one of the huge benefits of passive hydro is the porous stone. It needs to wick up the water.

[@laurenmuldoon3685]

Two+ years later (I’m new to your channel), is this still the nutrient system you use?!

[@KnotDude]

Yes it is!

[@IAMALEXANDRA8]

Adam!!! Question, do you add the hydrogen peroxide to your nutrient water? I have all my plants in glass containers, haven't gotten any algae yet but I'm wondering how you use the peroxide? Add the 3% straight in there then empty it? Add it and leave it? Add it to the nutrient water? Would you dilute the 3% even more or is that plant safe? Thank you! Love your videos! I myself am a big whiskey drinker.🍻

[@geoffreyrobinson9752]

Here is a link to the Guide for Use of Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) in Hydroponics: www.greenandvibrant.com/hydrogen-peroxide-hydroponics It recommends 2-3 tsps per gallon, but also suggests you start with a lower concentration and build gradually to allow your plants get acclimated to it.

[@threeqtrtime]

Can you use this mixture for plants in soil?

[@KnotDude]

No you would just use a fertilizer

[@Trblues22]

I don't have my system yet, but I wonder if the part of the reason for the algae bloom is because his plant food has too many nutrients for that plant.

[@KnotDude]

I doubt that. Algae grows in anything that lets sun in so all my clear cache pots grow algae. I've since switched out using clear containers and no algae issues.

[@whitneyg2160]

Where do you buy 35% H2O2 ??

[@hopedemonia]

They sell safety goggles at Menards and Lowes and places like that, year round ;) Also, hydrogen peroxide in a clear container straight up terrifies me.

[@alexiagross2801]

I’ve never read the back part that said floramicro first.. WHOOPSIE. My plants are fine so far thank god lol

[@joelh6514]

Can you include more details on how you use the H2O2?

[@epepper30]

Yes, this and hydroguard. Amounts?

[@ldshatiya]

Plant nerd.. subscribe... then the bourbon. Yeaahh I’m staying. Now let’s go revive some babies. Lol.

[@heathersplants5708]

💚💚💚

[@eliftuanainhan6887]

Yeah... but buying gallons of distilled water is also wasteful no? Any tips on obtaining distilled water without consuming so much plastic??

[@KnotDude]

I recycle all my plastics and have switched to a water delivery service that delivers 5 gal. water tanks now.

[@eliftuanainhan6887]

@@KnotDude wow amazing!!! Mybe you should make a video where you explain that.

[@Grimalkins]

Loving the haircut, but missing the teal! Glad you made this video, I’ve been using semi hydro for five years on my orchids and audibly said “uh oh” when the only thing mentioned in the other video was Superthrive (I’m a Superthrive sceptic). But then I thought, “no - his plants look lovely, he’s gotta have a secret sauce recipe” and here we are.

[@KnotDude]

I personally love superthrive. Tastes bad tho lol.

[@Grimalkins]

Knot Dude To be fair, I’ve only ever tried it on orchids, could be a whole other ball game for other plants. I don’t plan on drinking it though!

[@valeriesanchez3074]

Works great for growing brown slime algae. Lol 😆

[@KnotDude]

I don't use clear cache pots anymore so no algae issues.

[@chayalaf]

First, this is pee. I will use it. Second, What did you use to get the green shine in your hair. I need to know.

[@KnotDude]

I actually just used a green gel on my hair light but I WISHED my hair looked like that all the time!

[@cooter1352]

Cal-mag always

[@judymckerrow6720]

👍🏻💚🙃

[@granthawkins9142]

Yeah Phoenix water is the worst.

[@TangoR3D]

oof titration is bringing back bad memories from chem lab 😅

[@Liono68]

that was waaay more than 2ml of flora micro.

[@KnotDude]

Well I have bumped mine up to 3

[@KS-xs3oc]

Ok billy the butcher

[@cooter1352]

Man that looks painful. You must suck with a framing hammer. You think you'll lose all of them? When i got 3 fingers shut in all the way on my 3 fingers they went black just like that.

[@j-fp9075]

😂

[@lisagrais]

What happened to your hair?! Where's the color?

[@KnotDude]

It got cut off!

[@lisagrais]

@@KnotDude that happens, lol.

[@yeahivekilledthat719]

Had to watch this 3 times because there so much good info here. Using distilled (or rainwater) would certainly avoid tap water chemicals and make it easier to stabilize the pH. I have salty balls too. Rubberbanding that syringe to the bottle is genius because I'm always misplacing that damn thing. Transitioning plants to hydro slowly is so important. Some take to it right away, others throw a fit-alocasias-ugh. My favorite part of hydro is not having to water plants when going on vacay, etc. And those nutrients seem to last forever. Thanks for the education.

[@KnotDude]

🥰👍🏻