How To Clean LECA (Clay Balls) For FIRST Use: ULTIMATE Guide

Make the most out of your new LECA balls! Dive in to learn the 5 must-know cleaning steps before planting.
👉 The Leca Addict Blog Post: www.lecaaddict.com/leca-infor...
✅ VIDEO CONTENTS:
00:00 Introduction
00:15 Leca Cleaning Blog Post LecaAddict
00:58 Leca Cleaning Misconceptions
01:36 Why Does Leca need to be Cleaned?
03:22 Leca Cleaning Steps
03:51 Tools for Cleaning Leca
05:03 Step 1: Rinse Leca
05:47 Do you need to Boil New Unused Leca?
06:56 DIY Leca cleaning Bucket
09:01 Step 2: First Soak
09:12 Measuring TDS of Tap Water
12:15 24 Hours after First Leca soak
12:31 Measuring TDS of Water 24 Hours after FIRST leca soak
14:05 Step 3: Second leca soak
14:31 24 Hours after Second Leca soak
14:41 Measuring TDS of Water 24 Hours after SECOND leca soak
15:10 Dry and Store or Use leca
15:21 Soak leca in Reverse osmosis water
17:59 Measuring TDS of Water 24 Hours after Reverse osmosis soak
18:58 Soak leca in nutrient solution
The video is about How To Clean LECA (Clay Balls) For FIRST Use but it also tries to cover the following subjects:
How to remove soil from a plant with delicate roots
African Violet Care
Potting an African Violet in Leca
TITLE: How To Clean LECA (Clay Balls) For FIRST Use: ULTIMATE Guide
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✅ About The Leca Queen :
Nora here! Welcome to The Leca Queen channel.
I love all things indoor PLANTS. I enjoy growing my plants in SOILESS media; yep, no soil! I primarily use LECA (clay balls) to grow my plants using hydroponics (semi-hydroponics).
I show you how my beautiful plants grow in LECA and help you achieve the RESULTS that I have. I cover a TON of leca growing tips, a very comprehensive leca 101 where I hold your hand and help you navigate the world of semi-hydroponics.
I love to experiment and discover different ways of taking care of plants. There is no right or wrong way, just the way that works for you and your plants. Join me on my many plant adventures.
FREE GUIDE How to grow BIG plants checklist: www.thelecaqueen.com/the-grow...
I hope you enjoy it and subscribe: / @thelecaqueen
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#leca #cleanleca #moistureretention #clayballs #indoorplants #leca #prepareleca
Disclaimer: We do not accept any liability for any loss or damage incurred from you acting or not acting as a result of reading our publications. You acknowledge that you use the information we provide at your own risk. Do your own research.
Copyright Disclaimer: Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational, or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use
© The Leca Queen

[@80PercentScottish]

So glad this didn't say to boil it. I see so many people boiling their brand new leca... Yes if you've had a plant with root rot and want to re-use it, then boiling could be necessary. I prefer to soak in dilute hydrogen peroxide solution though when that happens.

[@motorsportguy]

I personally boil in my third soak, and do a last forth soak. I totally agree with our leca queen and 100% trust her experience. But prior to finding her, I was doing lots of research and they talk about the heat from the boil “potentially“ helping remove any contamination deep within. Like LQ says probably totally over kill, but I’m a better do more than less, over kill type of person. Funny you say diluted HP cause I was asking LQ about that exactly thru intsta Dms when she was filling this video…. Lol I totally think HPncan be a good idea and boiling is absolutely needed when it’s used leca, but use this amazing guide as a great resource like she implies and I 100 believe and constantly stress for all areas of life. Don’t hate the different ways others might do things, love their path and celebrate their journey🎉

[@TheLecaQueen]

Boiling new leca in my opinion does not serve any purpose but like I said in the video if people wanna boil, they are gonna boil!😄

[@motorsportguy]

@@TheLecaQueen what I was trying to say is I believe you are correct it’s not needed but I’m an old stubborn man. When I learn someone one way I’m very slow to adapt even if it takes more time…. Lmao I guess one day if I’m in a rush or lazy I’ll skip that unnecessary boil, things will be fine and maybe than I won’t waste more time… ??? Like preparing new leca can be rushed anyways… lmao!!! lmao! I’m a old old man designed as a 38 year old… lol

[@TheLecaQueen]

@@motorsportguy you are too funny 🤣 😆

[@alfredarogers5197]

Oh that laundry bag tip is absolutely brilliant! Didn’t even cross my mind to use it. So glad you stay on top of these tips for us. 🌿💚

[@TheLecaQueen]

Glad it was helpful!

[@janicejoyner3946]

I’ve been using leca from the beginning of my plant mom journey, it’s been 3 years now and that’s the only way I clean my leca the laundry bag was a game changer.

[@Wellbaby94]

You are my inspiration! Because of your wonderful and informative vlogs, I have successfully transferred 17 house plants from soil to Leca and they are so happy and I am too!

[@TheLecaQueen]

That is awesome!

[@devilmecare]

I collect rain water and use it on my plants. The TDS meter shows it's 0 to 3. My tap water was 134. I let it set for 24 hours and no change on the meter. It's made such a difference in my plants health. I'm now starting some plants in leca and rain water. Such great information.

[@devyndavidson375]

I am so impressed with the laundry bag tip. I'm buying one now thanks Nora!!

[@-Boone]

Woah, "very, very good water" is honestly an understatement! I got a tds and ph meter today (looks like same one you got actually lol) and I kinda went on a measuring spree >.< My tap was about 200ppm and my town actually boasts about having good quality drinking water, ha (ph was like 8.2 too, so very glad I got the meters). The kicker though, I also measured Dasani, and it sat at 29ppm! Higher than your tap! That's wild, they also list Na on the ingredients, so I wouldn't dream of using that on any of my plants. My local grocery stores have their own brand water and I was surprised. The big box store was 12ppm and the more local place, I believe must use RO, because it was only 2ppm and perfect 7.0ph. Happy with results since the local place is also cheapest and tastes pretty dang good imo. Gonna go pick up another brand later that's even cheaper if I bring my own jug, hopefully it's decent for my sensitive plants. But I'll stick to my ph adjusted tap for most.

[@kaylakitty3814]

The use of the mesh laundry bag is genius! Will definitely be using that tip next time I wash my LECA.

[@alfredarogers5197]

Happy New Year Nora! This video was absolutely amazing. I really love the idea of putting the Leca in a laundry bag. Brilliant! Looking forward to your tips in 2023💚🌿

[@TheLecaQueen]

Happy new year!! Ready for 2023!

[@TehAru]

I got my first bag of leca for Christmas; this is very well timed!

[@3SiameseCats]

Same!

[@TheLecaQueen]

Fantastic!!! I can't wait for you to try it!

[@TheLecaQueen]

@@3SiameseCats The leca train is moving, climb on aboard!

[@homeonhanna]

Well the Queen has spoken! I will give this a go. Thank you!

[@TheLecaQueen]

Andy is that you with the clean balls?

[@EnderSam20]

Amazing video! Really instructive!

[@TheLecaQueen]

Thank you very much, I am glad you enjoyed it! To be instructive was the plan and I am glad it worked!

[@KoasPlantCorner]

This video was super informative!🙏🏾💕 I'm a soil girlie, but lately, I've been venturing into semi-hydro. Next year, I'll be giving LECA a try, and I'll be using these tips!🥰

[@TheLecaQueen]

I am so glad to hear it! All the best with your LECA journey!! Please keep us posted.

[@montanaplants]

I love the laundry basket idea! I can't find one with small enough holes, but I have an empty storage bin and a soldering iron, so I will get to work on this tonight!

[@TheLecaQueen]

Isn't a soldering iron just the best?

[@GmamaGrowz]

Awesome cleaning tips 🤩 Thanks for sharing!

[@TheLecaQueen]

You are so welcome!

[@motorsportguy]

Funny it’s like you made this video JUST for me, when I’m just starting to splash around and wade in the hydroponics world… lol ❤❤ looking amazing as always, and great content as usual, thanks!

[@TheLecaQueen]

Thank you for the lovely words Logan! But, I did make the video JUST for you!😍

[@cubanmama4564]

Thank you for this video. I am building an orchid terrarium and your wisdom on leca has helped me immensely

[@TheLecaQueen]

Glad I could help!

[@adatrias2688]

Hi Nora! Thanks for that video, i think i saw all the videos in your channel and all my plants are happy thanks to you! I learn so so much from you! I still did not find a video in the whoooooool KZbin channel talking about how to dry and store the leca when no using it. And also, when your leca have root rot between the pebbles how to clean those bad roots that are some times attached to the leca. Do you have any recommendations? Thankyou x 1000!!!!

[@marjorielewis645]

Thank you for this great tutorial.

[@TheLecaQueen]

You're very welcome!

[@Shediggsdirt]

Thank you! I love this. And I love the last idea I’m soaking in CCS I have lecca ordered and I am going to try it. I have only ever used lecca to add to my custom soil mix. So this will be fun!

[@TheLecaQueen]

You are so welcome!

[@margimorris7360]

Happy New Year and thank you for this information. I bought the same bag you have there a month ago and washed most of it a few times and then dried it in the sun so I can store it ready to soak before use. I find washing it and biggest pain about having Leca so wanted to get it over and done with. I have transferred all of my plants and certainly didn't do the washing/soaking 2 or 3 times, so I'm a little stressed as to what they are living in. I have decided I will go and fill my bucket of cleaned Leca and soak it a few times seems we have such hot weather in Melbourne. I went to the local baker and got a very large bucket to store the Leca and will go to them to get another one to store it before use. Very useful information 🌸

[@TheLecaQueen]

Hey Margi! Did you buy your bag from Garden World? I would not stress too much, plants are a lot more resilient than we give them credit for. Now you know and you can do that for next time. What is this bucket from a baker business? Am I missing a trick? Are there free buckets to be had from somewhere?

[@margimorris7360]

@@TheLecaQueen A bit a story to that. I have worm farms buried all over my garden to get rid of our own waste using garden worms instead of above ground worm farms. Ground egg shell is great for worm farms so I ask for some shells know they would have them due to all the baking they do and they gave me a 5 gallon bucket of them. It has proven very handy so when they come back from holiday I'll be asking for me. They don't mind because it's one less they have to get rid of.

[@ma-igarcia3061]

That laundry basket idea is so brilliant. Thanks for sharing all these helpful tips. You mentioned CalMag on the last part of this video. Do you mix it with Clonex cloning solution?

[@galejohnson8086]

Would the ppm ever go down below 150, as it probably is just clay? What does it hurt IF the dissolved solids are clay?

[@3SiameseCats]

Super informative! Now I know what the thing in my drawer labeled “tds” is for!

[@TheLecaQueen]

😆😆. Now you know!

[@MaryGatdula]

Soooo, what's it for? Yes I have to be nosy. LOL

[@3SiameseCats]

@@MaryGatdula She explained in the video. It’s the TDS tester

[@dakinikiss9413]

Amazing video! Thank you!

[@TheLecaQueen]

Glad you liked it!

[@dakinikiss9413]

@@TheLecaQueen New Subscriber! Your channel is awesome!!

[@TheLecaQueen]

@@dakinikiss9413 You are too kind!

[@MaryGatdula]

Nora, this video was SO on point! I have only purchased two bags of leca and from the same seller. I have to rinse it and rinse it and, well, rinse some more! Then I still find dust particles and tiny bits of leca in the reservoirs of my plants! UGH! I was beginning to wonder if this was normal or if I should buy my leca from somewhere else next time. I'm glad to know that all is normal. Thank you so much for this very informative video!

[@TheLecaQueen]

Hello!!! I am so very glad that this video hit the spot for you! I just thought this information was not too commonly available and have been meaning to make this video for ages! I finally did it! People need to soak their leca, and I wanted to show why!

[@johnbudd6072]

Love your videos, I've just started on my leca swaps on my plants, where do you get your clear pots from??

[@TheLecaQueen]

I get them from our local store here called Bunnings.

[@user-ct9uy8fn5d]

Hi Leca Queen, I’ve been watching and enjoying your videos for a week! I live in Virginia, the U.S. I purchased a Monstera Albo off Etsy. It had one long root. It was shipped in moss and the seller told me to leave it in moss until the moss completely dried out before watering again. I did, however, my plane started wilting and when I looked at the roots in the plastic container, the whole root was rotted. I took it to the expert at my garden center and she gave me some leca. Per her instructions, I washed the leca until the water was clear and let it sat in rain water for 24 hrs. I filled the glass jar with 1/3 rain water and sat the Albo on top. It’s not buried in the leca. It’s only been 3 days. I don’t have the Foliage Focus but I am about to order some. Did I do something wrong? It’s still wilting. Thank you. Jackie C.

[@mike22315]

Love your videos - we are in the process of moving several plants from soil to LECA. Right now they are in the water stage and we will be moving them to LECA shortly. The one question I have is how much CCS do you use in the last soak? Do you still dilute to 10 ml per liter?

[@cathyslaton9998]

I didn’t realise one had to do that 😢

[@juanitagordon5064]

Where did you buy a large bag of leca. I live in Chicago

[@zap4980]

Thanks for sharing 🪴

[@TheLecaQueen]

No problem 👍

[@renatecormick7399]

Glad you used a black laundry bag. I’d hate to see the colour of it after a few rinses of the leca. I still can’t understand how the inside is grey and outside reddish/brown. I must do some research into it, unless you know already Nora. Also, I believe that leca which has been soaking for a long time waiting to be used has a very high ph reading, therefore needing rinsing again, what do you know about that? Thanks for a great video Nora, best wishes for the new year ahead.

[@TheLecaQueen]

That bag would be terrible. Leca that has been soaking has a higher ph.....I have heard something about that. But you know what that means? Another experiment video for me and then we will really know!! watch out for it.

[@saraanderson4029]

Do you use a similar process for pon, perlite and other semi-hydro substrates? Amazing videos! Thank you

[@TheLecaQueen]

Hey Sara. What do you mean by process? I use the reservoir and pot system for all my substrates.

[@saraanderson4029]

Do you use the same 5 step cleaning process on preparing pon, perlite, ect? Do you still soak perlite and pon in clone x for 24 hours prior to using?

[@laylauk2654]

Happy New year Nora, from Layla 🇬🇧

[@TheLecaQueen]

Thank you Layla, same to you!

[@qtperfect1]

eek i didn’t realize all this. i just repotted a number of my plants in a mix containing leca. i rinsed it off, but that’s all i did. do i need to take everything out and redo it?? it’s semi hydro with no drainage.

[@mgnaky05]

What’s the calmag link?

[@amrita2024]

Hello leca queen ! Thank you for sharing all your tips it is very usefull. I am using leca for the first time and i am having some issue. I have soaked for many days my leca and also boiled them many times but the majority of it is not sinking. It keeps floating fter so mny days in water. What do you suggest ? I am looking forward for your answer since i am clueless of what to do...

[@TheLecaQueen]

Some leca floats others sink, it is not a problem at all.

[@amrita2024]

@@TheLecaQueen oh ok. I thought we should use only the sinking leca otherwise it will uproot the plant and the water with the nutrient may not be absorbed by the floating leca... Thank you for your reply. 🙏

[@SuperUsername147]

I used to use 3 drops of acid to correct 1 gallon of tap water. After my apartment complex did some work on the water system I now have to add 40 drops of acid to correct the ph. 😞

[@Engwadur]

Sometimes an aquarium shop will fill up a 5 gallon jug of R/O water for you for a small fee. Look for an aquarium shop that sells high dollar fish and see if they offer an R/O service. I have one in my town for 7 dollars I bough their water bucket and I can refill it for less than $3.

[@yl1645]

After the soaking process, could you soak leca in some fertilizer instead of rooting hormone?

[@TheLecaQueen]

You could.

[@Robrette74]

I love your earrings. Where did you purchase?

[@TheLecaQueen]

Thank you! I buy them from many different places. Hemleva and Etsy mainly. I have the Etsy ones custom made so that they are bigger! Cause bigger plants right!😁

[@roxannesmith6524]

What is reverse osmosis water

[@TheLecaQueen]

Reverse osmosis (RO) is a water purification process that uses a semi-permeable membrane to separate water molecules from other substances. I recommend this blog post: www.lecaaddict.com/leca-information/nutrient-solution-for-semi-hydroponics

[@user-ij1mp9mj2h]

meanwhile my tap water is over 300+ppm lol

[@3SiameseCats]

Ok so I tried this and it all went well, except when drying. I left it in its bucket and I guess it didn’t get enough air circulation because it smells funky. Currently boiling it to remove the smell, plan is to turn the oven on at a low temperature to dry them so I don’t have the same problem. I guess it’s just another chance to remove more dust particles 😂

[@TheLecaQueen]

We just keep grinding until we get the formula right.

[@muCephei_]

I live in a building and don't have access to outside water. The dirty water from LECA doesn't seem very sludgy or like it would clog the pipes imo. Better safe than sorry I guess.

[@TheLecaQueen]

My sentiments exactly, the leca water is not sludgy but then again, it would be a very costly mistake to make.

[@danielcollins7714]

My TDS is about 300 straight out the tap

[@TheLecaQueen]

Wow!!! That is pretty high compared to mine.

[@danielcollins7714]

@@TheLecaQueen should I use RO water for all washes? Or is it still worth while washing in my tap water for the first?