I've Stopped Using Soil for Plants. You Should Too.

[@yattydiaz3414]

I truly love your videos, beyond informative and everything you speak about is always explained so well. Now, I love your moss poles, however my question to you is does the moss ever fall out when it dries into the leca pot and have you ever had a problem with rot from the moss that flakes off. I really want to try a few of your pole ideas but I don't know what kind of affect will flakes of moss create in my leca pots. please advise 🙏 😊

[@TheLecaQueen]

Thank you very much! I don't really have an issue of the moss falling into the leca as it is contained in the mesh. Checkout how I po tup my plants in leca. I always make sure that the 2 sides of mesh are attached so that the moss does not fall bout.

[@yattydiaz3414]

@@TheLecaQueen Thank you so much 💗

[@Laquea]

In order for all the dirt to be removed ,I’ll soak it in water before transferring to leca ❤Iit works every time

[@c.murakami6307]

This video autoplayed and I've already been using LECA since 2011 but I watched anyway and had to stop by to say you are a really articulate speaker. You would be a great public speaker I'm sure...no wonder you're a KZbinr!

[@TheLecaQueen]

You are too kind, thank you 😊

[@aryiawendling9895]

The only thing that I could add to the con side, and important to be aware of, if you have small children, or have small children visit your house. Leca can be a choking hazard, as they are very small and tempting to play with, if your plants are where they can reach them.

[@TheLecaQueen]

That is a very important perspective, thank you for pointing that out.

[@c.murakami6307]

15:10 Also if you want to remove the deposits on the LECA for reuse, boil it in a pot w/ some citric acid (I found a jar at Walmart by the canning stuff but most groceries, even Amazon carry it cheapy). Some people do a minimum 24 hour soak (non-boiling, room temp). Then I like to rinse it really well and boil it again in clean water for 10m or so to get any remaining acid out.

[@lastantagonist]

Leca is so much better for indoor gardening! Less messy, no pests, easy water management. The biggest hurdle is the initial cost and transferring things from soil to leca, but my plants that have adjusted to leca and all of my propagations in leca are doing amazing

[@kenisha127]

So glad I found your videos and I’m now going to switch all my plants to leca because I think it would definitely work for me since I have 50+ plants that I absolutely love and want to keep healthy for a long time. Thank you so much for your videos and sharing all your knowledge with us. 💚

[@grassyshock]

Just moved to an apartment and definitely think leca will be my best bet soil gets messy quickly so I am 80% sure I'm making the transition to leca after this video!

[@speaksvolumes1]

Thank you so much for your reply. I think it’s worth trying to use LECA in my current system in place of the soil I now use. I’ll let you know how it goes! BTW, you can turn any ceramic pot with a drainage hole into a cache pot by plugging the hole with food grade silicone sealing material - comes in a tube. Works like a charm! Thank you sharing your knowledge here. I’ve learned a lot!

[@pawsitiveleader8710]

I went back to soil on most, because the constant, nettie pots, making net pots and finding no drain pots for the second layer that fits properly for each plant was such a pain

[@TheLecaQueen]

I can understand that. Finding pots for semi hydro is one of the barriers alot of people face. I do simple nursery pot and any pot that does not have a hole. And by any pot I mean any container or plastic tub that can work.

[@pawsitiveleader8710]

@@TheLecaQueen true, but if they dont fit perfectly, hard to get net pot out, or plant lopsided etc. i had some leca and pon. even with fertilization, they seemed to have smaller leaves, roots and grow slower. I recently swtched back all to chunky peat based soil. Its true with-in 2 weeks i was fighting more pestes than usual. Proffesional soil base was supposed to be free of pest eggs. i think somebody was lying. lol. the regime begins on one room.

[@vikkirountoit497]

Great video:) Time to move my zz to leca. I switched to leca about a year ago for several of my plants and I'm really loving it. I often get white deposits on the top balls - I take those off and replace them with newly soaked leca, and I just leave the removed ones soaking in water that I change out now and then. Eventually I'll reboil and reuse. I think my plants are much happier growing some of their roots into the nutrient solution and having excellent air access throughout the moist leca. I just moved a small pointsettia into leca - fingers crossed it survives the move.

[@gailallen910]

Thank you for this information. I love, love, love Leca. I have been transferring all my plants to semi hydroponics and following your videos. My plants looks very happy and healthy. LecaQueenGirl!!1

[@TheLecaQueen]

Thank you. You are welcome!

[@NoBody-kv3yd]

That wenlandii is gorgeous

[@TheLecaQueen]

Really? Have you seen my latest Syngonium video where I moan about it?kzbin.info/www/bejne/hnmslIFoe7ShapI

[@LoveAll-q3l]

Thank you for all of the information about leca. I will continue to use soil. have a great day

[@jessberndt2527]

Thank you for your information. I’m constantly changing and dumping my soil due to fungus gnats. You’ll often find me washing the roots of my plants trying to get rid of the contamination, I always worry about the stress this causes my plants. I’m definitely going to follow your advice and start the transition to semi-hydro!

[@TheLecaQueen]

Wonderful! So glad to hear it!

[@GailDelilah]

Thank you for making this so easy. I am fighting pests and this may be my solution.

[@TheLecaQueen]

Glad it was helpful!

[@darkuriel59]

Basic chemistry but it's explained so well That anybody Will understand. Thank you for all those advices.

[@michellecastro2475]

Love your videos. So informative. Convincing me more to try leca and you even answered my question about using other plastic containers that are clear. Yogurt containers in abundance since my daughter loves it. So I won't go short on those. ☺️ Thank you Ms Queen

[@TheLecaQueen]

You are very welcome. You can use anything really!!

[@vishnumangalino893]

OMG 😱!!!!.. THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THAT YOU MENTIONED MY NAME IN YOUR VIDEO😊🤗 HAPPY TO BE ONE OF YOUR SUBSCRIBER💛💚 ALWAYS BE HYDRATED AND KEEP SAFE 💚

[@TheLecaQueen]

You are very welcome 😊

[@Sara-w4d7w]

What kind of fertilizer do you use

[@ssar2857]

you are a Plant Queen. sister watching from Canada. I like your hair with 2 ponytail kind in one show.

[@TheLecaQueen]

😊 thank you

[@lorifenner4048]

What is the negative effect of not cleaning the leca?

[@nvcken]

hi, do you leave some low level standing water on the bigger pot to serve the roots at the bottom to be hydrated?

[@TajmToCook]

Love your videos, Nora. I am just starting with plants, currently playing with pon and perlite for my propagations. I am definitely going to give leca a try as I feel that is the best way for me to go. A small 10L bag of leca is already on its way to me and my monstera adansonii will be probably the first one to go into leca. I am sure I will be ordering big bag not long after this one arrives 😁

[@TheLecaQueen]

You will love it! 🥰

[@TajmToCook]

@@TheLecaQueen I remember my mum was using leca for some of her plants but I was not interested in plants at that time at all so now I need to figure it all out myself, lol.

[@milkpiggie1304]

Do you have video showing how often and how much nutrient reservoir need per leca pot? I m interested in changing to hydroponic care. Would love to see more information you use for your plants.

[@TheLecaQueen]

The video is on it's way. I have talked about how much nutrient to use in alotof my soil to leca videos. check them out kzbin.info/aero/PLjZ0p9mB4l9eNeI6TMJc-FiUbCKI246jS

[@briluxedeluxeplants]

This is a great video! Very helpful and has me considering moving to leca. Is foliage pro the only fertilizer you use on your plants?

[@TheLecaQueen]

Thank you. I use Foliage Focus and sometimes put other additives.

[@mariapennylane]

Thank you so much for this! You’re a total lifesaver (well… saving the lives of my plants at least! 😂) I’m so happy I found your channel. I’ve been wanting to switch to LECA and I actually have some I’ve just been wanting to do some more research before trying to wing it. 😂😮 I’ve used ceramsite a bit and I like it but I know it’s different. I’ve seen a lot of videos about using LECA but you have so much really useful information all in one spot! Thanks again!!! Yay!! 🙏❤😊

[@TheLecaQueen]

You are so welcome! Lovely to have you on board 😀 👍

[@zulmabontiffe487]

Hi Queen, is it OK to just leave the leca in water SAY in a container so that it's always ready for use?? Thanks much.😊

[@cornertankcorner]

Love your videos! You are doing a great job! I am getting into this type of planting with moss poles and your videos and knowledge are helping me a lot. Thank you!

[@TheLecaQueen]

You are very welcome. Thank you for your kind words and support.

[@margaretfort8286]

Thanks will check out a past pot video

[@TheLecaQueen]

Hope you enjoy

[@daisybrey8840]

What do you do for the plants for nutrients since nutrients do not come from Leca?

[@TheLecaQueen]

I use hydroponics nutrients. See this video for more details: kzbin.info/www/bejne/oKiYiaGCjt12nc0

[@megharawal-84]

Is it necessary to use 2 pots for leca. I mean, one with holes & another filled with water. I need to know abt how to propagate Zeezee cuttings in leca exactly ?

[@dollycaldwell4938]

I am struggling with keeping my Star Shining Chinese Evergreen Plant - Aglaonema - alive. There are many healthy inner leaves popping up,, but the outside leaves are losing their color & yellowing out. I have them in a window with indirect light. Is my water level too high? do they need to dry out more? I love the look of this plant, should I possibly go with just a plain Chinese evergreen vs one with color?

[@zulmabontiffe487]

How do you store the leca after you wash it to remove the minerals off and you replace it with fresh??

[@vikkiannhood3510]

Hello Queen , ? Can you use a vase to grow plants with leca no holes in it.Thank you for your videos.

[@TheLecaQueen]

You can, but I do not. I prefer to use a pot with additional ventilation so the roots are healthy, or is also easier to flush and greatly reduces algae. If you do use a clear vase you will eventually get algae and flushing is more problematic.

[@vikkiannhood3510]

@@TheLecaQueen

[@vikkiannhood3510]

Thank you again I am In Awe watching your videos.

[@vanessabezzant]

I have several plants that I'm currently in the process of transferring to Leca. First, I want to say thank you so much for all your knowledge and amazing content! I am truly inspired by you and so excited for this transition. But tbh I'm also low-key, nervous, due to the fact that i have not had much experience with Leca. I'm watching all your videos and following them step by step but the problem/worry I'm facing currently is the solution to use since it's very hard to get the solution you use in the USA (or at least it feels like it cz everytime is out of stock for me) My question is, do you happe to know if Superthrive or Liquidirt is similar or comparable to what you use? Or is there something specific you would suggest I use, in the meantime, until I can get my hands on exactly what you use?

[@TheLecaQueen]

Hey Vanessa, thank you for your kind words and for your patronage. I was exactly like you, nervous to try leca, I did, and the rest as they say is history! I can not comment regarding SuperThrive and Liquidirt. I do not they they are not comparable to Growth Technology Foliage Focus. I have heard good things about the General hydroponics range and DynaGrow, maybe you can give them a try.

[@MT-co1io]

Nora, I am new in your channel and I really enjoy watching your videos. I have learned a lot so far. I would like to ask you to show us how to transfer a plant in soil to Leca. Thank you 🙏

[@TheLecaQueen]

Thank you for your kind words and for watching and subscribing, much appreciated! Checkout how I move my plants to leca here: kzbin.info/aero/PLjZ0p9mB4l9eNeI6TMJc-FiUbCKI246jS kzbin.info/www/bejne/qX-8o4N4Z6yGnas

[@speaksvolumes1]

What do you think about using a clay pot inside a cache pot instead of a plastic net pot? I currently have my houseplants in soil in clay pots inside decorative cache pots, bottom watered, with a small amount of nutrient water standing in the bottom of the pots. I think they are half-way to being semi-hydroponic and would like to switch to LECA.

[@TheLecaQueen]

Tbh, I don't know. I am not sure about the wicking capacity of the clay pot and the pot does not have the air pockets leca does that is so important. The clay pot also probably has no holes so nowhere for the roots to go and flushing would be difficult.

[@suzetteaboud8014]

What nutrient solution do u use when transferring from soul to orca? And is that the only one throughout?

[@suzetteaboud8014]

Leca*

[@Li_ShuWei]

The most difficult part of transfering a plant into leca is get rid of the soil around the roots, especially when the soil are massive and the roots are dense, and if you don't have a backyard to rinse you'll have to do it in your bathtub or sink, and after you done, you have to clean the tub or the sink. This is a big factor that prevent me from doing leca. And for plants that have fragile root system is hard to stand in clay balls, for example I have a five-leaf fiddle leaf fig cutting, 2 old leaves from the mother, 3 new leaves from water propagation, their roots are ultra thin, it wabbles in leca, so I have to remove the big leaves. Also my last failure on Alocasia polly discourage me from doing leca. I found small plants are much easier, the work is less, the success rate is greater, but different plant reacts differently, I am a little bit nervous about root shock, some survive, some don't, other than what I mentioned above, I am a big fan of LECA.

[@TheLecaQueen]

Have you tried soaking the plant in water for a few hours to help get the soil off? That is also one way to go. I know what you mean about fragile leaves. It is a challenge but possible. I have 4 African Violets in leca. The roots have grown and the plants are stable. It was a bit tricky with stability at the start but manageable. It is certainly easier to work with small plants. I transferred my big Monstera Deliciosaand Bird of Paradise, it was not the easiest thing to do. Depending on the type of leca you have, if it is the light one it can be hard to achieve stability with heavier plants.

[@mariapennylane]

I get as much soil off that I can first, then I line my drain with a layer of paper towels. Then I can wash the roots til they’re good to go and let the water drain out (it’s slower than normal bc of the paper towel). I usually have to adjust the paper towel a few times by pulling up on the corners to get it to drain faster. Then I fold the paper towel up, squeeze the excess water, wipe the rim of the sink, and toss the paper towel. I don’t get much down the drain, if any at all. I use a lot of regular potting mix, cactus soil mixed with sand and perlite, or gritty mix and the paper towel does a good job. I really want to switch over to mostly LECA so I found a way to make it work. Haha. Just a suggestion! Hope you find something that works for you!! 😊

[@MandiSmash]

What is the difference between using leca and rocks? Does the leca do something that rocks or other inert materials don't do?

[@TheLecaQueen]

Leca is very porous, has lots of holes and allows air through. It also wicks water which are things other rocks may not do. That is why we use it.

[@frankw9836]

I got a venus fly plant last week. I put this plant in a new pot with a layer leca on the bottom then some coconut fibre on top , then the Irish peat moss "soil" a week later the plant is dead !! I think the problem was the leca layer ??

[@tett4486]

I love your video. I have a question . Can I use leco for violets and other blooming plants. Thank you very much for all your information.

[@TheLecaQueen]

Yes, absolutely! I have all my hoyas and African Violets in leca, check out my videos here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/r33ZmYqvf6eYmsU kzbin.info/www/bejne/n3iwgHebetCCn9U

[@mariasmith4972]

Nora i love all your plants,and thanks for the teaching about Leca

[@TheLecaQueen]

You are so welcome! Thank you.

[@CarmensOrchids]

Can i mix leca with pine bark? Im struggling to find substrate in my area

[@oceanocean1059]

How about planting string of heart in leca

[@margaretfort8286]

Nora, where do you buy the backing for the moss poles and the clear pots? I am in Western Australia. Thank you for all your videos love them.

[@TheAlexantube]

Officeworks sells them! :)

[@TheLecaQueen]

Thank you. Yes Officeworks

[@margaretfort8286]

Thanks I have checked, Not in Perth, Used to have it, no longer.

[@stephaniewick8232]

I have been in with plants for about a year and all the plants I had in soil died so I propagated them and they have all thrived in water I got to a point where they needed to come out of water and I put them back in soil well coco coir perlite and bark and they die but yet they thrive in water for me amd always die in coco coir as it's either to dry or to wet. Would you suggest lecca?

[@evita1643]

Why is the washing of lecca important? Is it for esthetics or what is the reason?

[@TheLecaQueen]

Hello, your question is addressed in full in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/iZ7MgWyGfbWtqZI

[@gwenethcoward4437]

Thanks for your valuable information, viewing from Barbados.

[@TheLecaQueen]

Thank you.

[@maricarol85]

Just wondering if leca will work for orchids, or is that a bad idea?

[@TheLecaQueen]

Orchids grow beautifully in leca

[@aviabad]

Thank you 🌱❤️🌱❤️

[@TheLecaQueen]

You are so welcome!

[@sahandmahdavi6134]

I have a question, can I move all my plants to LECA? I have Calathea, Philodendron and Alocasia, i really want a consistent way to keep them alive and clean

[@TheLecaQueen]

Of course you can. All the best!

[@theobillios6453]

Thanks great video

[@TheLecaQueen]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@cornertankcorner]

Once you clean you Leca, let's say by boiling. Do you need to let it dehydrate? My theory being, if it is dry and when you soak it in nutrients, it will absorb it better.

[@TheLecaQueen]

Hello I address this question in my latest Q &A session. I highly recommend watching it: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nqq1lXaddpqpqNE If you have any other leca question, I suggest watching some of my planting in leca playlists. You are also welcome to add a question to my Q & A so I can answer it in video format which I think is more effective.

[@gaetanefredette5418]

Would a Crouton do well in Leca,thank you!

[@TheLecaQueen]

I think so! I don't see why they would not. Give it a try!

[@gaetanefredette5418]

@@TheLecaQueen thank you!

[@3SiameseCats]

Where can I get LECA in bulk so I can transfer a lot of plants? Quite curious about this.

[@TheLecaQueen]

Hydroponics shops or Amazon

[@ConnieP92]

Hey Nora, did you use the long method with your ZZ plant or did you put it straight into leca? 😻

[@TheLecaQueen]

Straight into leca Connie. I soaked that leca in rooting solution (GT CCS) for days!!

[@ConnieP92]

@@TheLecaQueen Thanks Nora...I'm on it!

[@paulacraig8252]

I've never seen clear nursery pots. Are they prevalent in Australia?

[@TheLecaQueen]

That is interesting. Clear pots are available in Australia, not too hard to find.

[@liliancollins3627]

Yes bunnings has heaps. Very cheap.

[@yvettegreer2127]

I love your videos ❤

[@TheLecaQueen]

Thank you 😊

[@afiarae4292]

Do you also use other semi hydro mediums. If so, can you do a video about those? I have been interested in pon.

[@TheLecaQueen]

Unfortunately no. I only have access to leca.

[@Li_ShuWei]

2:05 Yeah I know what this is, one time a gnat almost flyed into my nosetril, I was so disgusted. And I have to hide my electric kettle into my cabinet because these nasty things cling to wherever that is moist.

[@TheLecaQueen]

They love flying into the nose. Ionce heard that they like the Carbon Dioxide concentration there 😮

[@shelialatham1622]

List some of product you use

[@TheLecaQueen]

Leca, leca, and more leca! Check out this playlist for some of the items I use regularly. kzbin.info/aero/PLjZ0p9mB4l9dCPhWA4gJZ7jPRB0EedS8L

[@ukaszs8994]

I prefer pumice than leca. Bigger plants have standing problems with leca

[@TheLecaQueen]

I agree getting bigger plants steady in leca is challenging. But I find it depends on the leca itself, some leca is lighter and bigger, and that gives trouble, the smaller more irregular leca I find works better. I find plants on moss poles tend to get better stability as well. The more the roots have grown the more stable the plant becomes in my experience. Happy planting!

[@allanis_the_great]

leca is not a natural plant substrate. can you find leca in nature?

[@TheLecaQueen]

What is your point?

[@roostershamogallohen3618]

👍👍👏👌💙❤

[@TheLecaQueen]

Thank you.