Mastering Leca: The Ultimate Guide to Growing Plants in Leca

[@AhmadAsrafHashim]

I use pumice as my hydroponic medium in self watering wicking pots, with slow release fertiliser, watered with half strength seaweed liquid fertiliser every watering. Used to use LECA but I found that the medium is too big and pots get too enormous as plants grow up. Not using Pon as it's too expensive 🤣 For plants who want to dry out, I allow the reservoir to dry out 3 days before watering.

[@irairod5160]

I have about 50 plants in passive hydro (mostly PON, but a few in LECA, or in a mix of the two) and 100% agree with you: it's a lot easier to transition cuttings rooted in water, or divisions of younger plants, into passive hydro than it is taking a mature plant and "ponverting" it into a wet, rocky substrate. The transplant shock, for those, is real!

[@RachelStreeter-y1b]

Da

[@SLee-vc9gd]

I appreciate you and your channel so much!! You always break things down so thoroughly, I can use your videos to try new things and rarely need to reference anything else. Another great video!!💚✌🏽

[@dora9368]

Love your so very true comment 😊❤

[@AlohaPlantLife]

That’s always my goal💚

[@aplantprocess]

I’ve been growing plants in LECA for 2 years. I loooooove it. Your advice lines up with general guidance and I 100% love that you encouraged people to grow roots out in water before transferring to LECA. Syngonium roots are great because dirt doesn’t cling to them. *I grew cuttings in only dirt before transferring them and they clean up amazingly well. Clear cylinder vessels are great. Upsizing is simple. Algae can be reduced by adding Hydroguard (or a similar product) to the mix. Blocking the strong light from the moist LECA helps too. Starting with lower water levels (but never letting the LECA dry), is a great way to reduce the risk of root rot for plants that like a wet/dry cycle. I transfer from water as soon as new roots start taking off, I don’t wait for secondary roots. I used full strength nutrients from day one on plants with healthy roots to start (which is how I start my plants in LECA). I use RO water and I don’t find any buildup on my LECA. But I water more like I would with any plant in any substrate. I let things run dryish and then water again with the amount of nutrient water that will last around a week. I never flush out water, it just dries out. My roots barely die off but if they do, I leave them until I upsize. I use clear acrylic rods in these setups and they work really well (especially with taller vases). There are a ton of options but it can be soooo easy. I love LECA.

[@craniumrex4614]

No nonsense, clear, well scripted and presented. Wow, my new planty channel! I found your channel because I was actually considering a sort of hydroponic situation by making planters out of egg crate and putting them in my aquarium. I would actually prefer the roots not to sit in the tank (lots of people do but I have a couple of big fish who already destroyed $150 of aquatic plants - ergo why I want to use houseplants to consume the nitrates and keep the water cleaner). Learning a ton from you about which of my 70 or so houseplants I could use and how best to transition them. I’m thinking I might actually be able to have the planters above the tank and pump water through it, keeping the water moving to help with oxygen for roots and plants filter the aquarium water on the way. All my plants are currently in soil or soilless mixes - you’ve helped me figure out which are the best candidates and I might need to water prop them first. Thank you for this highly informative and engaging content. New sub!❤

[@AlohaPlantLife]

So glad I could help!💚

[@treysimmons2179]

I'm 9 minutes in and already really impressed with how much I've learned. This is a great resource. Thank you so much for making this.

[@AlohaPlantLife]

Glad it was helpful!💚

[@Dieppaloveplants]

All my plants are in pon or leca my anthuriums and my alocasias and hoyas love it

[@pudik2008]

You did an amazing job at explaining this topic, it was easy to understand and thoroughly researched. 💚🌿🪴👏🏻👏🏻

[@AlohaPlantLife]

Thank you so much!💚

[@popbuff]

This is honestly the most comprehensive and informative video I have come across for anyone like myself - a leca adopter. Thank you so much for your research and work!

[@lealewis7509]

Agree! I really appreciate your thorough content! The information is no bs.. Explanation of the successful use of this new media is awesome.. I’m just learning about LECA & also interested in PON.. 61 years old diving into my house plants.. looking towards more plant success

[@keithgwinn8710]

You are a fountain of information! Thank you! I am a plant enthusiast and was gifted Leca for Christmas by my son. I can't wait to use it now. Angie

[@AlohaPlantLife]

What a great gift!

[@dora9368]

I wondered about Lecca, but was an afterthought when I got Pon. I too bought a bigger bag than needed. 🌿🖤🌊

[@irairod5160]

I usually mix LECA and PON to grow my plants in.

[@cindywannamaker5299]

Great video! So far, have only used the wicking method and only done with props. I haven't transferred a mature plant to Lecca or Pon. Im too scared to ! Lol

[@MySuperman78]

How well young coffee plants do in LECA? I’m wanting to start a small transplant in it then eventually transfer to hydroponics DWC setup.

[@barneymiller4088]

I have been using a lot of LECA with wicks and I don’t see the drying problem. I don’t used the loop like you do, but instead run the wicks to 2/3rds the way up the pot. For me, the wicks move more water than the LECA and not having to transfer water from LECA ball to ball can move the water farther. I also cover the LECA with sphagnum moss to reduce evaporation.

[@AlohaPlantLife]

Thanks for tips!💚

[@dora9368]

I always enjoy your videos Drea. You're one of the best and one of my favs. Stay well and God bless 😊

[@rhi963]

you're my new favorite planty youtuber! your content is so perfect and I love how scientifically minded you are- I am the same exact way so its very familiar. you often answer my questions organically as they come up as well! I have yet to watch a video of yours that I dont eat up. keep doing what you're doing!

[@AlohaPlantLife]

Wow, thank you so much!💚💚💚

[@dora9368]

My What A Pretty Syngonium You Have. 👍🌄💐🌿

[@AlohaPlantLife]

Thank you!💚

[@chrislynch1011]

🇦🇺 Firstly, 👀 THOSE ROOTS 👀🤯 Secondly, thank you for using the term passive hydro 🌟 You've beautifully showcased why I trust your channel so much, the research you do is so evident. The way you present is so logical and informative. Pumice is my substrate of choice, it was cheaper to have delivered when I started so I've simply continued. I had some issues with rot when I started, but it was because I didn't spread the roots out properly. Lesson learnt. I have ferns, Begonia and even peperomia in passive hydro. I found with begonias if you remove the bottom 2/3 of soil and sit that on top of the passive hydro substrate they're quite happy, they get the best of both worlds. I use a nutrient solution that is 'buffered' apparently that means checking the ph isn't necessary... Blindly following what's on the bottle! There's been no adverse reactions so it seems to be ok. I don't even propagate in water now, I soak perlite and put cuttings in that with a tiny amount of water in the bottom. Thank you for the effort you put into your segments Drea, ensuring we have the facts, options and your personal experience makes it so much easier for us.

[@mwatson4970]

Hey Drea! I have waffled on Leca and dabbled before, but ultimately just cannot remember to add nutrients and don't have a lot of closed pots. My compromise is that I use a mix of half leca/perlite or aqua soil/perlite under props. I place their nursery pots with mix of semi hydro rocks (like lava and vermiculite) and soil on top of the perlite mix, top water so water drains to perlite mix reservoir, and plants like alocasia seem to love this! Found they grow strong water and soil roots that help them grow in either semi hydro OR my amendment-heavy alocasia soil mix. Just gives me more options. Thanks for the great video!!❤

[@Planted386]

I like Leca as a reservoir in no drainage for my anthuriums!

[@msscamp100]

Great video! I have been curious about LECA, and really appreciate you walking us through all things LECA. I think I will stick with soil, though. I don't have the time, the organizational skills, or the ability to keep track of which plants need to be flushed on which day. I really enjoyed your presentation, though!

[@StarrQ8]

Just a note to say I think you are amazing, very knowledgeable, and straightforward!

[@AlohaPlantLife]

Thank you!💚

[@alan_whoneedstiedye]

I've been interested in the leca approach for a week now and watched several videos. Your video has been the most practical and helpful. Thank you. Subscribed.

[@AlohaPlantLife]

Glad I could help!💚

[@yourteacher458]

Another excellent video!A few years ago "my" orchid community turned to LECA and I didn't because I am a little cautious about things not tested"enough".Now,I keep growing orchids in bark,but I have marantas in pon and a few syngonium in seramis...after watching your presentation I will try some hoyas...I have a lot of cuttings in water,sure they will love it.Thank you💚

[@imaginarydreamer]

I'm still fairly new to leca, but I love it-when it works out. I have had some yellowing and shriveling with a couple syngoniums, but they bounced back. My hoyas and spider plants were just like "Huh, this is new. I'm gonna keep growing." But I cannot seem to get aglaonemas to work in leca. I've tried it with every method (no drainage, drainage, wick, etc), and the roots (yes, healthy water roots) just shrivel up and the whole plant turns yellow. Not sure what I'm doing wrong or if the plants I used were just divas. For plants with finer root systems (begonias, marantas, peperomias) I've started experimenting with adding perlite to the leca (roughly 30% perlite to leca) to retain more moisture, and I've had great results so far. My silver frost peperomia I nearly lost to thrips last year is just two tiny stumps but he's plump and growing back nicely now! I may just try this experiment with an aglaonema (P.S it's messy😂)

[@jeannettemaw2882]

Scooter!! What a cutie!! Love that he got his own time stamp. :) Thanks for the leca introduction! I feel much more confident about using it now.

[@AlohaPlantLife]

You are so welcome!

[@AcrylDame]

I have dabbled in semi hydro but I'm not fully convinced it is better. My soil plants seem to grow faster and I dislike the flushing, it's extra work in my busy schedule. Even though I use a hydroponics fertilizer, pH in the reservoir is really unstable and climbs up to 8.

[@GwenJebschmz]

Very informative as always. I love how you always do your research so thoroughly. I am on passive hydro probably 3 or 4 years ago since I transited all of my plants. Some were from water prop, and some were from soil to leca. What I found when I transited those plants from soil are those plants that you just watered and has new roots coming out (those white new roots), will have an easier time when transferring to leca and start growing water roots from those new roots. I am not sure why or how. But those fast growing roots plants will definitely have a more survivability when transiting to Leca as water roots will grow faster than soil roots dying off. I am using both kinds of Leca with Drainage and wicking. I have multiple types of Aglaonemas which are thriving in Leca, Dracaena (Massangeana, Marginata, Janet Craig Compacta, Sanderiana (Lucky Bamboo), Snake Plant, Ficus Elastica (Burgundy and Tineke), Syngonium, Peperomia Obtusifolia, ZZ plant, Pachira Aquatica (Money tree), Pothos, Philodendron Birkin and my newest addition - Monstera Adansonii. However, my Dracaena White Jewel is not doing so well in this passive hydro system. My Calathea also not doing well but I have seen others have calathea in leca doing great. So probably its just me. My Jade plant didn't survive in Leca; again, I think it's just me.

[@Planted386]

Hi drea! Thanks for the video! Love you and your channel and the kitties too!! Hope scooter is well. I hope someday my videos are as awesome as yours! For right now, I’m just happy to get one uploaded! 😂

[@tinapomfrey5412]

Thank you for the very comprehensive vid on LECA. For two years, I have had a bag of it in my supplies. I have been reluctant to pull the trigger, even though I have subscribed to Nora, the Leca Queen, for just as long. Have you tried it on any Alocasia? They are the ones that give me headaches, but I root the corms in perlite, with good success, so I don't know why I am procrastinating. Perhaps I'll experiment with syngonium first, as I always have them rooting in water. I think the maintenance of the nutrient solution is the factor that intimidates me, but since I have so many syngonium cuttings, what's the worst that can happen? I know where I can get more. I think, maybe, you have given me the courage to give it a go.

[@AlohaPlantLife]

Alocasia is actually the next plant I am going to try it on so stay tuned💚

[@monicacaliber3953]

I love your videos! Could you please also try Lechuza pon and share your experience?

[@dollycaldwell4938]

I am new to LECA. I have had some failures but many successes. I literally now cant stand my soil plants the the gnats!!! I found your presentation to be extremely helpful. what percentage of your plants are in LECA?

[@tessie7e777]

How did you guess I had just bought LECA and needed some advice? ☺️ Thanks for all the details!

[@AlohaPlantLife]

Happy to help!💚

[@judywilliams1863]

Great information. Thank you for taking your time to help us grow better plants.

[@AlohaPlantLife]

You’re welcome!💚

[@jannamozdzer4100]

Ive been wanting to try Leda but didn’t we at to do the research, so thanks for this! ❤

[@AlohaPlantLife]

Any time!

[@leahnelson771]

I need the confidence to try lecca. Thanks or the video

[@lisapowell1324]

This was very very helpful thank u

[@AlohaPlantLife]

You're welcome!💚

[@SLUGGA214]

this was really helpful.

[@AlohaPlantLife]

Great!💚💚💚

[@vickygubata4787]

OMG, Scooter has grown so much. How is he doing getting around? He is so cute!

[@charlottemccord2331]

Beautiful kitty 🐈‍⬛

[@AlohaPlantLife]

Thank you!

[@janekiceniuk1578]

Very informative video. I'm going to try putting my Prayer Plant prop(in water) in leca. I haven't had luck with them in soil, so I'm going to try 1 in leca. What is a good fertilizer to use for them? Thanks

[@garygilliam1890]

Can you use what they use in hydroponics or the rock they use in fish tanks

[@TarunKumar-tj9in]

Could we put the LECA in a suitable net before placing it in the vase? Makes for easier cleaning?

[@eatsalad728]

can i put my majesty palm in leca? its over 4 feet tall now. I have airstones, if that helps in anyway ☺️ thanks 🙌

[@lexmaariee96]

Can you use moss poles with Leca? Ie: monstera propogation rooted in water, want tto use leca to prevent root rot which happened when i transitioned the same cutting to soil, and had to re-propogate

[@AlohaPlantLife]

Yes you can but keep the moss above the leca

[@LeafyConversations]

Thanks for this educational video! I now know I won’t be switching because that is way too much work!

[@AlohaPlantLife]

lol!

[@fergusdangerfield156]

Hello , I've just found you while looking for info about leca. I am a vegetable gardener and often collect, spent compost that has been dumped by canabis growers. Lately, more of this is a mix of multi purpose compost and leca. I sieve this to give me a compost that I can revitalise with fertilizer and nutrients. I use this to grow my tomatoes and potatoes, both in containers. Do you think, if I clean the leca and use a diluted comfrey feed solution It would grow, tomatoes , cucumbers and maybe peppers or any other vegetables? Hope you don't mind this question, I have subbed to your chanel and am fascinated with your content. Thank you and have a lovely x.

[@dianepetrowski6437]

Great video!! I have been transitioning all my plants to LECA (Scale issue was driving me mad) and really love it . I LOVE seeing the roots!! You are the Calathea queen-I just bought my first one (white fusion) and watched your other videos about them-have you put any in LECA yet?! Any advice?? Thanks for the great info🪴

[@AlohaPlantLife]

I have not tried any Calathea in Leca. I just have a hunch that they probably are not going to be the biggest fan of it…..

[@ayannataylor11]

Will the plant grow bigger in leca than it would in soil?

[@misst5555]

Do you remove the leca balls from the rootbound roots if repotting into a larger pot filled with leca? Great video btw!

[@AlohaPlantLife]

No, no need to do that unless there’s a rot issue or something like that

[@misst5555]

Thanks 😊.

[@hayleydoherty9557]

Thank you so much you are brilliant a great video ❤

[@AlohaPlantLife]

You’re welcome!💚

[@erikabredahl5326]

Your hair is so puuuuurty!!!!! ❤

[@AlohaPlantLife]

Thank you!

[@shanicewoods-scott4724]

Will the following plants be okay in leca? 1. Monstera adansonii 2. Monstera deliciosa 3. Rubber fig 4. Prayer plant 5. Coffee plant 6. Pothos

[@soupspoon2188]

Hi! Your videos are so helpful! I just bought a little Thai constellation monstera and the roots are pretty small. I’m thinking leca might be best, but do you think I should propagate in water for a few weeks first? Thank you!

[@AlohaPlantLife]

Yes, I would put it in water first and wait until you continue to see new roots growing before you move it to leca💚

[@michelevenzen2758]

Can an Epiprium, strive in leca?

[@AlohaPlantLife]

💯

[@Pinochet1969]

Leca??! Back in the day, hydro weed growers called those “clay pellets”.

[@jissainsta]

Aloha, I tried presoaking my leca for 24 hrs but I don't know if that works as all leca was floating. Don't know what to do, the information iI found is mixed between leca floating is normal and not. Any advice? Thank you!

[@AlohaPlantLife]

Mine does not float but not all leca is 100% the same. Maybe leave it to soak a little bit longer like an extra day and see if it stops floating?

[@vinayaksharma5821]

can fittonia and Syngonium Wendlandii Plant grow only in leca

[@AlohaPlantLife]

The syngonium yes. The fittonia is probably not going to work well in leca.

[@kristiemowry3267]

A question. Don't understand why you soak leca if you are not using it for a while? Won't it just dry out while it is being stored?

[@AlohaPlantLife]

I don’t soak it if I’m not going to be using it for a while. But I still clean it when I first get it so I can store it and not have to clean it later. After I clean it I let it dry before I put it into my special storage bin.

[@LavenderDaisies]

Will African Violets grow in LECA? Thanks for all the information. I would love to hear a bit more detail which plants will grow well and which are likely to fail in LECA. I know there are a lot of Maybe’s. But perhaps the mail good and bad culprits. I want to start exchanging mine to LECA. I grow a lot in Water and love that. Is there a good website I can look up my all my plants to see if they might have good success or not?

[@TheLecaQueen]

African violets love leca.

[@AlohaPlantLife]

I see the QUEEN of leca has already replied to you and she is correct of course💚

[@AD-qj4pi]

I have one very important qs as a plant parent who has decided to transition to leca, watched many videos but din get this info anywhere. With leca, do we mandatorily need to use 'glass' and 'transparent' vessels? Can it be transparent but not glass (like transparent plastic jars)? Or can it be porcelain (which is kinda glass but not transparent)? Someone plz help me with the answer, I can not arrange so many glass vessels..

[@AlohaPlantLife]

It doesn’t have to be glass and it doesn’t have to be transparent honestly. I just like transparent because it’s easier to see what’s going on with the roots. Some of mine are in glass and some of mine are in plastic cups which I then place inside of opaque cover pots.

[@MarkLabelle]

can a spider plant be transferred to Leca?

[@AlohaPlantLife]

Absolutely💚

[@bethgood9668]

The nursery near me has these pots that I've never seen before; they look like fishbowls (in clear plastic) with net pots that fit in the top. They actually had a mini phalenopsis orchid they had just potted up in one the day before, in LECA, and it looked really cute. The gal there said all I needed to do was keep the water level in the bowl up to around halfway up the net pot--so essentially submersion with drainage. She didn't say anything about nutrients, and honestly I'm not sure that adding nutrients to a clear pot would be such a good idea--wouldn't it just encourage algae even more? So she talked me into it, and I also bought one that I planted an alocasia corm that had just put out it's first leaf. It's been 5-6 weeks now, and I haven't done anything beyond adding more water. The orchid looks fine; it hasn't grown, but hasn't died yet either, lol. The alocasia started to put out a second leaf but stopped when it was only an inch tall; it does have some roots growing into the water, so maybe it's just putting its energy into roots instead of foliage right now. Neither of them have algae in the bowls, which is good. So they seem to be ok, but I'm still concerned that they'll need nutrients somehow to grow their best. I know there's an orchid foliage spray--do you think that would make any difference at all? Would it work on the alocasia?

[@AlohaPlantLife]

They definitely need nutrients an algae will develop with or without nutrients so I wouldn’t concern yourself with that. You can always use the florakleen I talked about in the video to keep algae under control as well.💚

[@vanessalumbra9409]

I might be the only one, but I hate Leca. I can't count how many plants and/or cuttings I've killed in that stuff. They either rotted or dried the roots out. Too fussy for me. I do best propagating in water or potting my plants up in a chunky mix. I've got a whole big bag of leca just taking up valuable space.

[@c1h2r3i4s56987]

You can always use it to add drainage when you make your own soil or to stretch out your bags of soil It will wick up water when watered then provide humidity under the soil after runoff so less watering. Ratio of leca and soil will change depending on plant, and the soil you use. Or the full proof method you can fill the bottom of your potted plants with leca, and helps when you need to transplant

[@AD-qj4pi]

My syngonium will always have 10leaves. Whenever a new leaf shows up, the oldest one will start getting yellow and fall off 🙄

[@AlohaPlantLife]

It doesn’t put out multiple new leaves for each that falls off? The way you describe it sounds like it’s confused and thinks it’s an alocasia lol

[@turogers13]

Wow, what a painful process. 😒 I really can't fathom doing this for my 100 or so plants. Maybe one or two just for fun 😁 from a propagation. Thank you for all the information.

[@swimrbackss]

Do you think dieffenbachia would do well in leca?

[@cha0tickittie]

I've had one growing in water for a long time and transferred it in leca and she's fine

[@AlohaPlantLife]

Yes💚

[@Lela-plants]

My cats love leca. lol

[@AlohaPlantLife]

🤣🤣🤣Mine go nuts when I inevitably spill some onto the floor while doing leca flushes

[@xferme]

Why can’t we use normal fertilizers for this is beyond me :(

[@dora9368]

Hi Scooter. You're so cute 🥰

[@AlohaPlantLife]

👋

[@tude17]

Meh, fungus gnats are not an issue when you have carnivorous plants among your collection 👌🏻

[@wcdeich4]

Wow, complicated.

[@AlohaPlantLife]

When first learning, yes, but once you’ve been doing it for awhile it is super easy💚