Mastering Leca: The Ultimate Guide to Growing Plants in Leca

Aloha! Join me as we take a look at how to grow houseplants in leca. We will be covering everything including the different leca methods, how to transition plants to leca, maintaining plants in leca, plus I'll be sharing my personal experience with leca and my preferred method.

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TIMESTAMPS:
0:00 Intro
0:39 What is leca
0:56 What is passive hydroponics aka semi-hydro
1:42 The benefits of leca
2:41 Three methods for growing in leca
2:43 Leca submersion no drainage method
3:21 Leca submersion with drainage method
3:47 Leca with drainage and wicking method
4:39 How to prep leca for use
5:11 Cleaning leca
6:10 Presoaking leca
7:16 Prepping plants for leca
7:28 Potting water props up in leca
8:43 Houseplants that can grow in leca
10:32 Transitioning houseplants from soil to leca
22:07 Potting up houseplants in leca
23:30 Watering plants in leca
25:31 Nutrient solution for leca
26:50 Important note regarding leca nutrient solution pH
28:40 Avoiding nutrient lockout
30:24 How to use @prettyingreen leca nutrient solution
31:34 Maintaining houseplants in leca
32:39 Flushing houseplants in leca
36:03 Quick kitty visit from Scooter
36:21 Pros and cons of leca systems
39:43 How to know when to repot houseplants in leca
41:35 Repotting houseplants already in leca
42:21 Reusing leca
43:21 My preferred leca method
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"Aloha Plant Life" is a channel produced by me, Drea Williams, featuring all things plants. The purpose of this channel is to educate, entertain, and discuss anything and everything related to plants. I believe everyone is capable of having a "green thumb", so let me help you find yours while having some fun along the way.

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[SLee-vcgd]

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!!💚✌🏽

[irairod]

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!

[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.

[craniumrex]

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!❤

[treysimmons]

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.

[aplantprocess]

I’ve been growing plants in LECA for 2 years.

I 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.

[pudik]

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

[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!

[Dieppaloveplants]

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

[keithgwinn]

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

[dora]

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

[dora]

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

[rhi]

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!

[dora]

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

[MySuperman]

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.

[cindywannamaker]

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

[StarrQ]

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

[barneymiller]

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.

[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.

[chrislynch]

🇦🇺 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.