Finally! A straight to the point simple video. I've watched loads and they look so complicated and it was off putting but this is great. Tap water and only 2 nutrients and no drilling holes this is exactly what I was hoping for as a beginner nice and easy. Thankyou!
the more and more watch and read on leca, the more i just wanna go leca tbh. Soil indoors is just such a big pain in the a.. to be honest. working with soil, having your entire apartment full of soil... and also next year when you repot... well have fun then, also you re constantly repotting stuff and throwing away old soil or when you have pests you have to get rid of the soil and use some new and soil is also very heavy on transportation in large bags. if you could just reuse your stuff over and over again...
You don't have to go full on. You can try it with a couple plants, or take some cuttings and start there. Although this video is designed to be a basic conversion, I have found less maintenance using self watering pots.
This was so helpful . I am currently changing from soil to leca for all of my indoor plants ! I have over 300 so it is a task for sure ! This video helped me so much !!!
Leaving for even a few days becomes difficult when you live in a climate that gets below freezing and you have no central heat. Basically when your heat source is a woodstove your house can get cold enough to kill your plants. I have lights to help keep the plant warm and I have heat mats hooked up to thermostats that help keep my plants warm. I have seen thermostats fail and cook plants though. I have seen equipment fill in the opposite direction as well. We’re just plain doesn’t keep the plants and they die from the cold.
Thank you for making this so simple! I'd love to get into leca to deal with less pests and just... soil is such a pain for so many reasons. I've left my props in water for years because they're easier to keep alive, but of course their growth halts from the lack of nutrients, so it's time I get into this!
I'm new to plants and have really enjoyed your educational videos. I like that they are to the point. Hope you have much success in your family run business.
This was a great video, and I’m glad you said you’ve been doing this for 14 years, too! A lot of people don’t mention their timeframe and it’s like, we don’t know! 😂 they could be blowing hot air… and obviously we know some UA-camrs are. Lol, so thanks. Also, it’s interesting how you said plants grow 30-40% faster in LECA & semi hydro than in soil, as I have had the same experience (in both Pon and LECA), yet a lot of people say soil still gives the best growth, overall. I’m torn on that one, and it depends on the plant I guess. I have some large vining poles of aroids, monstera, philos, etc. and they’re all in a potting mix I’ve created. I couldn’t possibly switch them without risking the whole plant and the years of growth. And that’s fine. I think it’s the soil nutrients that are giving them that growth.. and yet I’ve also had a _Monstera adansonii_ in LECA do phenomenally well and get huge. Every node had a leaf, and vice versa! Smaller cuttings and baby plants, placed in semi hydro SOONER rather than later, tend to be the strongest plants imo.
Thank you for this informative video! I’ve watch a few lecca videos and I always felt still confused. Your video encouraged me to just go for it! Definitely ordering ur products as well :)
Awww thank you Kim! I’m really glad this helped you and cleared any confusion! LECA is very rewarding and can be simple 😄 We’ll get everything shipped out tomorrow!!
Thank goodness for this video. I have been searching for something this straight forward, omg. It was like the best kept secret lol. No one would get to the point. Thank you!
Well I'm glad I watched this video. I just purchased some leca after seeing these pebbles around and got curious. I was just going to put my cuttings( that I usually keep in glasses of water) straight into it after rinsing the dust off. Didn't think about adding things to the water as well!
I loved the simplicity of your leca.....iam new to this process & still learning. if you were to use a long method whereas you would you place your cleaned root plant into water for 2-3 wks prior to leca....could i still use your liquid system? and how?
Yes! Transitioning into LECA is fine for plants coming from any media! So if they are in water propagation, it’s totally fine to bring them over to LECA 😄
Should the roots sit on water? or at least the tips? Thank you so much for such an informative video! I am a noob when it comes to LECA so I really appreciate videos like yours. :)
Ideally the roots don’t sit in the water unless the water is bubbled with an air pump. If no air stone, give them about 1” away from the water so they tap down into the water 😄
@@Vfjz999 No need to drill the vase! Just make sure to not overfill your container with water(just below the longest roots). And change the water often!
Thanks for the information great vid dude.Okay so I been a full time plant mom for like 2yr plus and I always use soil which I dnt mind. Just that I live in a NYC apt and in the summer I get a lot of bugs, gnats in and by my plants.I cnt stand it omg so I'm thinking bout switching over to LECA MEDIUM to try out.Looking at your vid I thk it's a great idea for my 🏠.The only thg the clay pebbles are not cheap like the soil lol..
I totally get this-it’s a pain especially if you have lots of plants! You don’t have to use LECA to do “soil-less” / “semi hydro” growing. You can use perlite, vermiculite, other different mediums. Also, make sure your soil is free from gnats to begin with (usually it comes inside the bags). Also, use bti to remove the larvae from the soil, and keep them out (it’s a safe bacteria found on mosquito bits, but you can get it in a 15x stronger version: prettyingreen.com/products/gnatrol-half-ounce?_pos=3&_sid=e30062132&_ss=r
I've been watching your Monstera videos and I'm really impressed-well done! I'm about to order your LECA kit and wanted to ask a quick question. If I use a wicking system pot, can I just dump the water out every two weeks? Also, how much hydrogen peroxide should I add if I get nutrient build up or any funky stuff? I have a Thai Constellation in soil and want to move it to LECA; she is in a 6-inch pot; do you recommend upgrading the size. Thanks!
Hey!! Thanks for the kind words and considering ordering our kit :) Yes, you can dump the reservoir every 2 weeks (this is the common practice in hydroponics!) Feel free to throw the old water onto outdoor soil plants/less sensitive indoor plants. Add up to 1 fluid ounce of 3% peroxide per gallon of water. If I ever get funky smells or sludge, I just squirt a bit into the reservoir from the top. Typically hydro can house more roots per unit of volume, so you may get away with 6" pot, but it really depends on root mass. The roots just need little gaps to continue to grow. But I've seen plants FULLY fill out a 6" pot and be happy in semi hydro! Something that would never happen in soil! I really hope this helps, and THANK YOU for the support!!
@@prettyingreen , thank you so much for the reply and great advice for a LecaNoob. I already ordered my kit and waiting for it to arrive to start off my Leca journey.
Great video! When bringing home a plant from the store that’s in soil how long would you wait before transferring it to Lecca? Thank you for your time!
Great question! I would get the new plant into your home, and situate in space, then watch nothing happens for 2-3 days. If it looks strong, that’s the point at which I’ll swap into LECA!
Do you have any experience with using grow stone (recycled glass) for growing, as opposed to leca? My experience with it for orchids is that it is more root friendly for growing but a nightmare when it is time to repot as the roots cling to it very tightly making removing any dead roots extremely difficult without damaging live ones. I still prefer it to leca if I am growing an orchid in semi-hydro because they do not desiccate new root tips at the surface when dry.
Thank you for this video ❤️ I think I'm going to buy your products. I plan to get a Calathea someday. Maybe an Orbifolia or a Makoyana. Do Calathea do well in Leca or would my first plant experience be easier with a Hoya?
Question! What do you do about the water temperature? Whenever the leca is in contact with water, it always go cold. What do you usually do about that?
New subscriber. Great video for a newbie like me. I will be switching over my orchids to The LECA way of life ad ordered the A and B products. Can’t wait for their arrival. 🌺🌸🌺
Awesome video and great content overall!! Is there a big difference to other mineral based nutrient solutions compared to your fertilizer? Do you cover up your glas containers to prevent algea?
Hey thank you! The main difference is I can tell exactly what’s in the fert for aroids, as opposed to others being a bit of a mystery. I currently don’t cover my pots, but use peroxide to keep algae at bay
Love the video and my order came today. Please clarify when you say to replenish with plain water. I thought you use nutritional water always. I just don't want to mess up. Many thanks. Wish me luck.
Awesome!!! Thank you for supporting a family business 🙏 To clarify: I add water when I see my water level has been evaporated or drank within 2 weeks of the brand new water being put in. If it’s an old batch of water (2+ weeks), I’ll discard it away and refill with fresh water! I hope this helps and feel free to text us on the business line for a fast response from myself or Krista! 🙏 Good luck!! You’re gonna do great!!
Technically, I've seen it been done, but I would be very very careful with that. I definitely wouldn't recommend 'passive' hydroponics where the water sits in the vase with sansevieria. Would definitely need to exchange the water back and forth!
@@prettyingreen thanks for your response. Have been growing senseiveria in water, it grows well and propagates as well. However, keeping it stable is a struggle that's why was wondering about leca. Will try it with a single stem and share results
Hi I just purchased the LECA kit.. does it come with directions on what goes first and how to use it? Or is it just what is on the website when you order?
Hey! Thank you for the order 😊 Each bottle will have instructions, but add the Part A to the water first, then Part B, vitamins, couple drops pH down! If you’re giving your plants lots of light you can go up to 7mL part A, 14mL part B. But 5mL A, 10mL B is a good starting point! We’re always here if you have any questions: hello@prettyingreen.com
New subscriber...Great video! I am currently transitioning to Leca. I want to place an order, I looked on your site does the B1 come in just the vitamin solution kit? I only saw the 2 nutrient bottles.
Nope! No need to drill the glass (I’ve never done it successfully). But the vase just holds the water as a reservoir 😄 New oxygen is introduced with the water changes
Great video I want to start growing oxygenated plants indoors. when you change the water every 2 weeks do you still use the nutrition mix water or regular tap water?
Yes always change the water with fresh tap/filtered/distilled water PLUS nutrients, because LECA doesn’t contain any food for your plants! Hope this makes sense ✌️
@@prettyingreenit would be a complete disaster. How dare you forget . I thought I read something about the roots not touching the water but there’s so much information out there it’s confusing.
Why use leca and not just straight up water culture? Also I heard for some plants hydroponics it will not reach optimal growth compared to soil - pilea as an example, not sure your experience with that.
Thanks for the video, I live in Spain, do you have international shipping? I really wanna buy the nutrients for the water. In case you don´t, which products do you recommend for me to use? Thank you!
Ola Infelizmente não domino o inglês falado. Seria possível activar as legendas, pois fiquei curiosa e você falou dos produtos além da leca, que acho bastante necessário, o que normalmente não falam. Muito obrigada.
I think white stuff(calcium buildup) will attach on glass. Is there a way to prevent calcium buildup. Also because glass is transparent, water can get light, and it can cause algae too. I wonder if there is a way to prevent it. Thank you.
can I use LECA with a wick self-watering pot and succulents? I bought some food to add to the water too... but I noticed the balls dried out so I've been adding water at night and draining off the excess that gathers in the cup below but those balls don't stay wet
Yes! But like you said, you'll have to water from the top down occasionally. Wicking systems work great when the media has a high water holding capacity (like soil). So you could even add 10% coco coir, peat, or soil, to fill in the leca cracks and make sure the moisture climbs vertically! I hope this makes sense!
Thank you for all the info, looking to transition to leca. What about rain water, I live in Florida and the tap water is terrible. I do use rain water for my soil potted plants but what about adding it to leca?
Rain water should work fine as a base! Maybe just add a splash of hydrogen peroxide to it (1oz/gal water) to sterilize it, and keep the oxygen in it! 😄
The plants don’t need much fluoride(not sure if they need any at all), and they don’t need the chlorine for nutrition, but instead to keep the microbes out of the root zone. About 2ppm of Free Chlorine (about 0.5mL/gallon of water). It should smell a little less than a pool does
My question is once I switch from dirt to leca and I use part a and b, when I have to change the water or refill it am I going to refill it with plain water or must I continue to use the formula A and B when refilling it?
Hey! Great question-once you remove the dirt from the roots, there won’t be anymore nutrients for the plant, so you’ll need to supplement them into the water with the A & B 😄
Hi .. loved your video here & thanks a lot.. May I ask, can I use leca for rooting fig cuttings alone by itself because I had problem with root rots, imbalance of water in the media either over water or my cutting dies off due to not enough dampness, & also I had problem with white spots fungus growing on my fig cuttings?? That's why I tried to avoid using organic media as I heard that leca although it's organic it doesn't invite fungus gnats & those kind of soil insects & worms.. please advise here, & thank u..
Hi! Yes you can use LECA for fig cuttings, just be careful with the moisture levels. You might want to add in some perlite mixed with the Leca at 50/50 and hand water in containers with drainage!
When you say to splash the hydrogen peroxide over the entire planter, do you mean rinsing the leca and the roots with it as well? Or do you just mean the outside of the container?
Hi! The plant should always be in water that contains LECA nutrients (assuming it is getting light). For some reason if it is in dark/ very low light use little to no nutrient as it won’t be photosynthesizing.
Hi , After I watched your video , I’m motivated to start working with Leca, and buying your products. Unfortunately I couldn’t find the option to ship to Canada? Do you ship to Canada?
Hi! Yes some form of nitrate for leaf production is required! But if you’re referring to organic vs. inorganic: inorganic fertilizer is preferred in LECA due to less biology in the water and media
New Subscriber here🙋♀️.i have a question,can i use leca to my Node cutting Thai Con.Monstera? I just bith it Online,and i dont know what to do if i put it to the Water first or with Leca? Thankyou
You have to be super careful with Thai Con nodes-they are very susceptible to root rot. Look into our stratum video. Possibly mix at 50/50 with perlite. Once you have big enough roots, then into LECA
Thank you! I haven’t done so, but be careful with succulents in LECA. It does best with tropicals and semi tropicals (like Fiddles). Jade roots might be too small :/ maybe try perlite/sand/pumice with hand waterings every couple days. It probably won’t like sitting in water. But I’m also just guessing 😅
@@prettyingreen great. Thanks for the input. I have put a cheap/small jade in leca to experiment with. Let's see how it turns out. I'm in Bangalore, India where the weather is mostly dry so hope it works :) will let you know
I didn't get the part about hydrogen peroxide and bleach - when and where to add. I ordered the A and B. But I am a beginner and have no idea what I am doing,
Thank you for your order! The hydrogen peroxide can be added in with your water - at 1 fluid oz per gallon of water. Bleach can also be used with your water at 3 drops per gallon. Between plantings, and to sterilize your roots and vase, a sterilization procedure can be quickly used to cleanse out any potential root rot. Hydrogen peroxide is best for this, and I dilute it about 4 to 1, water to hydrogen peroxide, and just do a temporary rinse over my roots to get rid of algae, then rinse off with plain water. Hope this makes sense!
About the hydrogen peroxide . You said a splash.... is that every time we change the water? Do I add a "splash" and rinse container, then add nutrient water again? Please explain .
Yup, every water change I’ll rinse the container with hydrogen peroxide to kill back the algae. And then in the new water I’ll add about 1fl oz of h202 to the gallon of water for more oxygen.
Dark colored vases decrease the chance of algae growing on the vase, which would decrease oxygen levels in the water, and attract bugs/biology like gnats 😄
Wow you have so much awesome plant experience! I just came across your video because it was suggested to me. Thanks for breaking it down the way you did and making it super easy to understand! New subscriber jere because I have sooo much to learn about leca! I’m just starting my own leca journey!
Hey! Absolutely - just resent the shipping confirmation from yesterday 😄 Let me know if the email doesn’t come: hello@prettyingreen.com But also check spam/junk folders. We appreciate your order!!
Your videos are awesome, so much info and easy to understand. I'm just getting into the plant thing, lol. I've had plants, but I didn't know shit. Now, because of people like you, I'm learning, and your products are so affordable. Just purchased this kit 🤞I appreciate your knowledge!!!!
Hey!! So glad the videos are helpful and make sense 😄 Thank you so much for getting the kit! We’re on our way in to start shipping right now! Appreciate you very much 🙌
Hello, after a root rot is it possible to switch to leca? Does the time to start new roots necessarily require nutrients or leca and water are enough? I have no possibility of having these nutrients and it would be just the time for her to make new roots. Thank you
Hi! You can restart in LECA, but you need to grow roots first. For this, plain water without nutrients is best. Potassium can eventually help with this (kelp/seaweed are good sources). But primarily sterilize water, splash of hydrogen peroxide in a glass of water (depending on the species). Good luck!
By changing the water or by adding in an air stone! We’ve actually updated our primary method for growing in LECA where we mix 50/50 with perlite too and water about 1x a week-we have a video on it!
🌱 our Fert LEAF LUX is on Prime:
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Finally! A straight to the point simple video. I've watched loads and they look so complicated and it was off putting but this is great. Tap water and only 2 nutrients and no drilling holes this is exactly what I was hoping for as a beginner nice and easy. Thankyou!
Yes that was exactly the point of this video!! Still working great today!!! Plant from the video a little over 6 feet tall now
the more and more watch and read on leca, the more i just wanna go leca tbh. Soil indoors is just such a big pain in the a.. to be honest. working with soil, having your entire apartment full of soil... and also next year when you repot... well have fun then, also you re constantly repotting stuff and throwing away old soil or when you have pests you have to get rid of the soil and use some new and soil is also very heavy on transportation in large bags. if you could just reuse your stuff over and over again...
You don't have to go full on. You can try it with a couple plants, or take some cuttings and start there. Although this video is designed to be a basic conversion, I have found less maintenance using self watering pots.
I'm the Plant Parent in our house but your videos have converted my husband lol so, thanks bc now it's a hobby we enjoy together.
This was so helpful . I am currently changing from soil to leca for all of my indoor plants ! I have over 300 so it is a task for sure ! This video helped me so much !!!
Glad it was helpful! YOU GOT THIS!!! 🙌
Leaving for even a few days becomes difficult when you live in a climate that gets below freezing and you have no central heat. Basically when your heat source is a woodstove your house can get cold enough to kill your plants. I have lights to help keep the plant warm and I have heat mats hooked up to thermostats that help keep my plants warm. I have seen thermostats fail and cook plants though. I have seen equipment fill in the opposite direction as well. We’re just plain doesn’t keep the plants and they die from the cold.
Thank you for making this so simple! I'd love to get into leca to deal with less pests and just... soil is such a pain for so many reasons. I've left my props in water for years because they're easier to keep alive, but of course their growth halts from the lack of nutrients, so it's time I get into this!
Can’t you just fertilize the water? I see plants thriving in water.
I'm new to plants and have really enjoyed your educational videos. I like that they are to the point. Hope you have much success in your family run business.
I’m so happy the videos have been helpful! Thank you for the kind words and donation!!!! 🤗
Can you use an aerator and/or fish tank filter to recirculate the water and keep it fresh so that you don't have to change it every week or two????
This was a great video, and I’m glad you said you’ve been doing this for 14 years, too! A lot of people don’t mention their timeframe and it’s like, we don’t know! 😂 they could be blowing hot air… and obviously we know some UA-camrs are. Lol, so thanks. Also, it’s interesting how you said plants grow 30-40% faster in LECA & semi hydro than in soil, as I have had the same experience (in both Pon and LECA), yet a lot of people say soil still gives the best growth, overall. I’m torn on that one, and it depends on the plant I guess. I have some large vining poles of aroids, monstera, philos, etc. and they’re all in a potting mix I’ve created. I couldn’t possibly switch them without risking the whole plant and the years of growth. And that’s fine. I think it’s the soil nutrients that are giving them that growth.. and yet I’ve also had a _Monstera adansonii_ in LECA do phenomenally well and get huge. Every node had a leaf, and vice versa! Smaller cuttings and baby plants, placed in semi hydro SOONER rather than later, tend to be the strongest plants imo.
Thank you for this informative video! I’ve watch a few lecca videos and I always felt still confused. Your video encouraged me to just go for it! Definitely ordering ur products as well :)
Awww thank you Kim! I’m really glad this helped you and cleared any confusion! LECA is very rewarding and can be simple 😄 We’ll get everything shipped out tomorrow!!
Check out mine to...I hope my videos aren’t confusing. Lol
Thank goodness for this video. I have been searching for something this straight forward, omg. It was like the best kept secret lol. No one would get to the point. Thank you!
So glad this was to the point and you found it! There’s a variety of info on LECA-we try and keep it simple! Thanks for checking out the video 😄
I received my kit today. Can't wait to try the nutrients. I will let you know how things are "growing"
Amazing! Please do! Make sure to scale up nutrient levels to 6/12 once you have large roots and lots of light!
Well I'm glad I watched this video. I just purchased some leca after seeing these pebbles around and got curious. I was just going to put my cuttings( that I usually keep in glasses of water) straight into it after rinsing the dust off. Didn't think about adding things to the water as well!
Yes!! Gotta give em some food to get big and strong 😄
@@prettyingreen that makes sense! Thank you so much for your video
You’re welcome ☺️
@@prettyingreendo you add the nutrient every time you flush or how often?
I e been waiting for someone to simplify this for two years now
😆🤗
I loved the simplicity of your leca.....iam new to this process & still learning. if you were to use a long method whereas you would you place your cleaned root plant into water for 2-3 wks prior to leca....could i still use your liquid system? and how?
Yes! Transitioning into LECA is fine for plants coming from any media! So if they are in water propagation, it’s totally fine to bring them over to LECA 😄
I just learned about leca. Great tutorial thank you
Always love to have LECA , I always using it into my indoors plants .
It’s my favorite media! 😄
I love that the science is so clear! What are the nutrient formulations?
We’re now using Leaf Lux for all of our LECA plants!
I am switching to lecca and because I hate walking around and a random gnat tries to fly up my nose lol. Thanks for the informative video
Yes!!! So many less gnats with LECA! 😄
You have made this so simple. Thank you.
I love this! Went to your website thinking I might be able to grab the nutrients but unfortunately you only have shipping for USA only. 😢
Great video on potting with Leca - where do you get the little pots with open sides for rooting in water? Thanks
Purchased my kit, thank you!
Should the roots sit on water? or at least the tips? Thank you so much for such an informative video! I am a noob when it comes to LECA so I really appreciate videos like yours. :)
Ideally the roots don’t sit in the water unless the water is bubbled with an air pump. If no air stone, give them about 1” away from the water so they tap down into the water 😄
You mentioned changing the water but how often should we wash/change the leca. TYIA
So every 2 weeks add the fertilized water and add plain water each time water level goes down in between then right? Very helpful video thank you!
Correct! Leaf Lux is the fert we're using for it now :)
Sold! Hahaha looove it! Thank you for this video I just add my order 🙌🏼 Can’t wait!
Awesome! Thank you! You're gonna love LECA -- it's incredibly simple and very very low maintenance :)
@@prettyingreen I just got my kit but I have questions 😨 now I’ve seen videos where people drill the vase , do I have to do that too? I’m confused :(
@@Vfjz999 No need to drill the vase! Just make sure to not overfill your container with water(just below the longest roots). And change the water often!
you can also let some of the top roots be in the air to get their oxygen instead of submerging them
Definitely!
Do we have to soak the lecca first before using?
Thanks for the information great vid dude.Okay so I been a full time plant mom for like 2yr plus and I always use soil which I dnt mind. Just that I live in a NYC apt and in the summer I get a lot of bugs, gnats in and by my plants.I cnt stand it omg so I'm thinking bout switching over to LECA MEDIUM to try out.Looking at your vid I thk it's a great idea for my 🏠.The only thg the clay pebbles are not cheap like the soil lol..
I totally get this-it’s a pain especially if you have lots of plants! You don’t have to use LECA to do “soil-less” / “semi hydro” growing. You can use perlite, vermiculite, other different mediums. Also, make sure your soil is free from gnats to begin with (usually it comes inside the bags). Also, use bti to remove the larvae from the soil, and keep them out (it’s a safe bacteria found on mosquito bits, but you can get it in a 15x stronger version: prettyingreen.com/products/gnatrol-half-ounce?_pos=3&_sid=e30062132&_ss=r
I've been watching your Monstera videos and I'm really impressed-well done! I'm about to order your LECA kit and wanted to ask a quick question. If I use a wicking system pot, can I just dump the water out every two weeks? Also, how much hydrogen peroxide should I add if I get nutrient build up or any funky stuff? I have a Thai Constellation in soil and want to move it to LECA; she is in a 6-inch pot; do you recommend upgrading the size.
Thanks!
Hey!! Thanks for the kind words and considering ordering our kit :)
Yes, you can dump the reservoir every 2 weeks (this is the common practice in hydroponics!) Feel free to throw the old water onto outdoor soil plants/less sensitive indoor plants.
Add up to 1 fluid ounce of 3% peroxide per gallon of water. If I ever get funky smells or sludge, I just squirt a bit into the reservoir from the top.
Typically hydro can house more roots per unit of volume, so you may get away with 6" pot, but it really depends on root mass. The roots just need little gaps to continue to grow. But I've seen plants FULLY fill out a 6" pot and be happy in semi hydro! Something that would never happen in soil!
I really hope this helps, and THANK YOU for the support!!
@@prettyingreen , thank you so much for the reply and great advice for a LecaNoob. I already ordered my kit and waiting for it to arrive to start off my Leca journey.
Great video! When bringing home a plant from the store that’s in soil how long would you wait before transferring it to Lecca? Thank you for your time!
Great question! I would get the new plant into your home, and situate in space, then watch nothing happens for 2-3 days. If it looks strong, that’s the point at which I’ll swap into LECA!
@@prettyingreen awesome! Thanks so much!
Great video. How long is the gallon water with the ingredients good for?
Hi! About 1+ years. The water will go bad before the nutrients inside :)
Do you have any experience with using grow stone (recycled glass) for growing, as opposed to leca? My experience with it for orchids is that it is more root friendly for growing but a nightmare when it is time to repot as the roots cling to it very tightly making removing any dead roots extremely difficult without damaging live ones. I still prefer it to leca if I am growing an orchid in semi-hydro because they do not desiccate new root tips at the surface when dry.
Good idea with the strainer
😄
Hi, I’m from Toronto Canada. Is there anyway to purchase your produce from here? 😢
Thank you for this video ❤️ I think I'm going to buy your products. I plan to get a Calathea someday. Maybe an Orbifolia or a Makoyana. Do Calathea do well in Leca or would my first plant experience be easier with a Hoya?
Awesome!! Love both the Orbifolia and Makoyana (find the Orbifolia to need lots of humidity). I think they’ll both do good in the LECA/Perlite mix!
Thank you for this video. I want to get rid of my soil for your leca, is it ok to just replant them in leca? Will they go into shock?
Yup that’s totally OK to do-just follow as I did in this video and rinse off all the soil before going to LECA!
I’m so happy 😀 just placed my order for your kit 😍
@@rebeccaduggan6801 Awesome!! We'll pack this up ASAP!!! Thank you for the support :)
Thx for an informative video! :) I wonder why having a net pot is ideal for hydroponics?
It allows adequate flow of air and water back and forth from the top of the plant and down into the roots!
@@prettyingreen Okey. I think Im about to drown my Albo that I put in leca sadly. Leaves are getting heavy and a dark mark on one leaf has appeared :(
Question! What do you do about the water temperature? Whenever the leca is in contact with water, it always go cold. What do you usually do about that?
New subscriber. Great video for a newbie like me. I will be switching over my orchids to The LECA way of life ad ordered the A and B products. Can’t wait for their arrival. 🌺🌸🌺
Awesome!! Thank you so much -- will ship them ASAP!
Awesome video and great content overall!!
Is there a big difference to other mineral based nutrient solutions compared to your fertilizer?
Do you cover up your glas containers to prevent algea?
Hey thank you! The main difference is I can tell exactly what’s in the fert for aroids, as opposed to others being a bit of a mystery. I currently don’t cover my pots, but use peroxide to keep algae at bay
Love the video and my order came today. Please clarify when you say to replenish with plain water. I thought you use nutritional water always. I just don't want to mess up. Many thanks. Wish me luck.
Awesome!!! Thank you for supporting a family business 🙏 To clarify: I add water when I see my water level has been evaporated or drank within 2 weeks of the brand new water being put in. If it’s an old batch of water (2+ weeks), I’ll discard it away and refill with fresh water!
I hope this helps and feel free to text us on the business line for a fast response from myself or Krista! 🙏 Good luck!! You’re gonna do great!!
sorry, just to clarify..within 2 weeks you add only plain water, but after 2 weeks you change the water completely with new nutrient water?
Very interesting video. Can leca be used to grow senseiveria
Technically, I've seen it been done, but I would be very very careful with that. I definitely wouldn't recommend 'passive' hydroponics where the water sits in the vase with sansevieria. Would definitely need to exchange the water back and forth!
@@prettyingreen thanks for your response. Have been growing senseiveria in water, it grows well and propagates as well. However, keeping it stable is a struggle that's why was wondering about leca. Will try it with a single stem and share results
@@sakshibansal9539 Awesome! Yes, please share results. And just keep the water level on the lower side as to not oversaturate the roots! Good luck!
@@prettyingreen thank you for that tip. Will take care about it. Thanks so much
Do you only use these nutrients during spring/summer when the plant isn’t dormant?
All year. But with less light, use less nutrients. I use grow lights so I use same amount year round :)
@@prettyingreen ok I see thanks!
Thanks for such an educational video! Great tips !
Of course man! Thanks for checking out the vids!!
Hi I just purchased the LECA kit.. does it come with directions on what goes first and how to use it? Or is it just what is on the website when you order?
Hey! Thank you for the order 😊
Each bottle will have instructions, but add the Part A to the water first, then Part B, vitamins, couple drops pH down! If you’re giving your plants lots of light you can go up to 7mL part A, 14mL part B. But 5mL A, 10mL B is a good starting point!
We’re always here if you have any questions: hello@prettyingreen.com
New subscriber...Great video! I am currently transitioning to Leca. I want to place an order, I looked on your site does the B1 come in just the vitamin solution kit? I only saw the 2 nutrient bottles.
Hi!! The Vitamin B1 comes in the LECA kit, but in the Leca A+B fertilizer just has the two bottles and a pipette 😄
That is interesting. I would like to try it. What plants are good to grow in leca?
Tropical plants (specifically Aroids) do very well in LECA. But almost any higher water plant will do great in it!
Wow I'm new to Leca I'm going to purchase the kit
Awesome! Let me know if you have any questions! New LECA vid coming out tomorrow also about how to grow large plants with LECA!
Great! Thanks for sharing ! How much hydrogen peroxide.
1oz per gallon of water
Do you have to drill holes into the glass containers? I love glass but I am leery about drilling any glass! Great video!
Nope! No need to drill the glass (I’ve never done it successfully). But the vase just holds the water as a reservoir 😄 New oxygen is introduced with the water changes
Hi i have some question
1. Can leca be used to grow potato, onion, garlic
2. Can it used to grow plan such as tomato, eggplant etc
Tqqq❤
Great video I want to start growing oxygenated plants indoors. when you change the water every 2 weeks do you still use the nutrition mix water or regular tap water?
Yes always change the water with fresh tap/filtered/distilled water PLUS nutrients, because LECA doesn’t contain any food for your plants! Hope this makes sense ✌️
I had the same question! Thank you for the clear answer
You did not mention that the leca must be rinsed before using. You must include ALL the information need.
Oh noooo I missed that step. Imagine if you continued the process without the step of washing the LECA 😱
@@prettyingreenit would be a complete disaster. How dare you forget .
I thought I read something about the roots not touching the water but there’s so much information out there it’s confusing.
I love your video, It was so easy to understand it now I feel like a farmer =)
🤗🤗🤗
Why use leca and not just straight up water culture? Also I heard for some plants hydroponics it will not reach optimal growth compared to soil - pilea as an example, not sure your experience with that.
Thanks for the video, I live in Spain, do you have international shipping? I really wanna buy the nutrients for the water. In case you don´t, which products do you recommend for me to use? Thank you!
Aw we love Spain!!! Our family is there 😊 We unfortunately don’t ship there, but look for general hydroponics 3 part nutrient or advanced nutrient
Ola
Infelizmente não domino o inglês falado.
Seria possível activar as legendas, pois fiquei curiosa e você falou dos produtos além da leca, que acho bastante necessário, o que normalmente não falam. Muito obrigada.
Oi, deve haver um botão de legenda (cc) na parte inferior do vídeo que deve permitir o português :)
@@prettyingreen
Não consegui as legendas em português, mas em Inglês que já me ajuda.
Muito obrigada.💚🇵🇹
Can i grow asweet potatoe vine using this method?
I think white stuff(calcium buildup) will attach on glass. Is there a way to prevent calcium buildup. Also because glass is transparent, water can get light, and it can cause algae too. I wonder if there is a way to prevent it. Thank you.
can I use LECA with a wick self-watering pot and succulents? I bought some food to add to the water too... but I noticed the balls dried out so I've been adding water at night and draining off the excess that gathers in the cup below but those balls don't stay wet
Yes! But like you said, you'll have to water from the top down occasionally. Wicking systems work great when the media has a high water holding capacity (like soil). So you could even add 10% coco coir, peat, or soil, to fill in the leca cracks and make sure the moisture climbs vertically! I hope this makes sense!
Thank you for all the info, looking to transition to leca. What about rain water, I live in Florida and the tap water is terrible. I do use rain water for my soil potted plants but what about adding it to leca?
Rain water should work fine as a base! Maybe just add a splash of hydrogen peroxide to it (1oz/gal water) to sterilize it, and keep the oxygen in it! 😄
your awesome 💯
So you're only using the nutrient water every other fill ?
Sorry if you’ve covered this but why can’t you mix part a and part b together?
Great question! They coagulate together and can negatively interact/demineralize each other. Making each element less effective
How about orchids! Would I use same growing method, fertilizers?
I’ve heard lots of people growing orchids in LECA! I’ve grown a jewel orchid in the same fertilizer without any issues 🤗
How much fluoride and chlorine from the tap water do you think the plants need? I never boil mine because I'm not sure. Thank you.
The plants don’t need much fluoride(not sure if they need any at all), and they don’t need the chlorine for nutrition, but instead to keep the microbes out of the root zone. About 2ppm of Free Chlorine (about 0.5mL/gallon of water). It should smell a little less than a pool does
Nice video, what’s your EC level for the nutrient solution?
About 1000ppm
I just ordered the kit
Awesome!! Appreciate you 🙌
My question is once I switch from dirt to leca and I use part a and b, when I have to change the water or refill it am I going to refill it with plain water or must I continue to use the formula A and B when refilling it?
Hey! Great question-once you remove the dirt from the roots, there won’t be anymore nutrients for the plant, so you’ll need to supplement them into the water with the A & B 😄
Hi .. loved your video here & thanks a lot..
May I ask, can I use leca for rooting fig cuttings alone by itself because I had problem with root rots, imbalance of water in the media either over water or my cutting dies off due to not enough dampness, & also I had problem with white spots fungus growing on my fig cuttings??
That's why I tried to avoid using organic media as I heard that leca although it's organic it doesn't invite fungus gnats & those kind of soil insects & worms.. please advise here, & thank u..
Hi! Yes you can use LECA for fig cuttings, just be careful with the moisture levels. You might want to add in some perlite mixed with the Leca at 50/50 and hand water in containers with drainage!
@@prettyingreen thank u for sharing those links & also for your guidance .. very much appreciated, 🙏
@@robertng4286 Of course! Hope it helps :)
Why don’t you use a “grow” nutrient? Do you have a video breaking down different nutrients that you like/don’t like and why? Thank!
There’s already enough nitrogen in the micro where it doesn’t need the grow nutrient. I should do a video on that!
@@prettyingreen that would be awesome if you would! You have very educational content and I learn a lot on your channel! Thank you
@@prettyingreen That and if other plant supplements like Myco, silicon, kelp, … are worth it😘
When you say to splash the hydrogen peroxide over the entire planter, do you mean rinsing the leca and the roots with it as well? Or do you just mean the outside of the container?
The Leca, roots, and inside of vase; wherever root rot can develop. The outside won’t hurt either!
Are those extra-nutrients actually necessary? I thought that the LECA itself already added the nutrients to the plant...
Nope -- it's inert so it has no N P K on it! Pon has nutrients in it, but LECA it has to be added!
Great ! Thank you🌳🌷🌿
Hi how often is the solution added to the plant is it every two weeks or do I use regular water after the first time ..
Hi! The plant should always be in water that contains LECA nutrients (assuming it is getting light). For some reason if it is in dark/ very low light use little to no nutrient as it won’t be photosynthesizing.
Hi ,
After I watched your video , I’m motivated to start working with Leca, and buying your products.
Unfortunately I couldn’t find the option to ship to Canada? Do you ship to Canada?
Hi! Awesome! Yes you should try LECA! We are working to get it shipped there and should be able to do it if you email krista@prettyingreen.com
Hey Octavio! We just started shipping to Canada! :)
What type of monstera is that? I have a baby esqueleto i just repotted in soil. Would it be too much shock to turn around and switch it to leca?
This is adansonii. You could easily swap your esq to LECA. They’re very hardy and tend to have good root systems
Thanks but should I use nitrates A , B some PEOPLE don't uses appreciate
Hi! Yes some form of nitrate for leaf production is required! But if you’re referring to organic vs. inorganic: inorganic fertilizer is preferred in LECA due to less biology in the water and media
Is that a spring onion in leca? Interesting! Didn't know it can be done this way.
It is!! Yup, can grow so many types of plants in LECA
New Subscriber here🙋♀️.i have a question,can i use leca to my Node cutting Thai Con.Monstera? I just bith it Online,and i dont know what to do if i put it to the Water first or with Leca? Thankyou
You have to be super careful with Thai Con nodes-they are very susceptible to root rot. Look into our stratum video. Possibly mix at 50/50 with perlite. Once you have big enough roots, then into LECA
So when you switch the water out every 2 weeks, you are replacing with the nutrient rich water you mixed with the A and B solutions?
Correct! The roots always remain in the nutrient rich water 😃
Great video. Can I grow crasulla Gollum/trumpet in leca?
Thank you! I haven’t done so, but be careful with succulents in LECA. It does best with tropicals and semi tropicals (like Fiddles). Jade roots might be too small :/ maybe try perlite/sand/pumice with hand waterings every couple days. It probably won’t like sitting in water. But I’m also just guessing 😅
@@prettyingreen great. Thanks for the input. I have put a cheap/small jade in leca to experiment with. Let's see how it turns out. I'm in Bangalore, India where the weather is mostly dry so hope it works :) will let you know
When I added nutrients to my pothos it starting getting brown
If a clear pot isn't ideal, how do you gage water level in an opaque pot?
Great question-it’s tough to! You can use a chopstick or other measuring tool… or use clear pots with a cover pot that you can slide on and off
So when you switch the water every 2 weeks, you're using unfertilized tap water? Or refilling with the same nutrient solution.
Yes swap water every 2 weeks with nutrient water
@@prettyingreenThanks 😊
I didn't get the part about hydrogen peroxide and bleach - when and where to add. I ordered the A and B. But I am a beginner and have no idea what I am doing,
Thank you for your order! The hydrogen peroxide can be added in with your water - at 1 fluid oz per gallon of water. Bleach can also be used with your water at 3 drops per gallon.
Between plantings, and to sterilize your roots and vase, a sterilization procedure can be quickly used to cleanse out any potential root rot. Hydrogen peroxide is best for this, and I dilute it about 4 to 1, water to hydrogen peroxide, and just do a temporary rinse over my roots to get rid of algae, then rinse off with plain water. Hope this makes sense!
Did I understand after the first cycle of nutrients and flush, do I add just plain water then wait 2 weeks to add more nutrients?
Sorry if that was confusing! Always keep nutrients in the water, but every few weeks, just rinse plain water through, and pour it out
@@prettyingreen ohhhh, I just wanted to be sure. Thanks for responding so quickly! 👍🏼
About the hydrogen peroxide . You said a splash.... is that every time we change the water? Do I add a "splash" and rinse container, then add nutrient water again? Please explain .
Yup, every water change I’ll rinse the container with hydrogen peroxide to kill back the algae. And then in the new water I’ll add about 1fl oz of h202 to the gallon of water for more oxygen.
why use dark color vases or containers for the plant? i tried looking through the comments to find the answer but i couldn’t find anything
Dark colored vases decrease the chance of algae growing on the vase, which would decrease oxygen levels in the water, and attract bugs/biology like gnats 😄
Can I use acrylic cylinders??? Glass cylinders are so expensive
That's a great idea! Yes, absolutely!!
-Hi! If you’re here in U.S they have tons of glass & cylinders in Goodwill & 2nd hand store. Some are even half price depending on the color of d day.
Wow you have so much awesome plant experience! I just came across your video because it was suggested to me. Thanks for breaking it down the way you did and making it super easy to understand! New subscriber jere because I have sooo much to learn about leca! I’m just starting my own leca journey!
Ahhhh thank you so much for the kind words and the Sub!!! Really appreciate it!! LECA is the best -- you're gonna have so much fun with it!!!
Hi I ordered the leca kit from your link, but I haven’t received email confirmation, can somebody help pls thank you
Hey! Absolutely - just resent the shipping confirmation from yesterday 😄 Let me know if the email doesn’t come: hello@prettyingreen.com But also check spam/junk folders. We appreciate your order!!
Your videos are awesome, so much info and easy to understand. I'm just getting into the plant thing, lol. I've had plants, but I didn't know shit. Now, because of people like you, I'm learning, and your products are so affordable. Just purchased this kit 🤞I appreciate your knowledge!!!!
Hey!! So glad the videos are helpful and make sense 😄 Thank you so much for getting the kit! We’re on our way in to start shipping right now! Appreciate you very much 🙌
@@prettyingreen thanks.. I'll lyk how it goes
Super quick, super informative! Thank you!!!
🤗 Exactly the goal! Thanks for checking out the video 😄
Hello, after a root rot is it possible to switch to leca? Does the time to start new roots necessarily require nutrients or leca and water are enough? I have no possibility of having these nutrients and it would be just the time for her to make new roots. Thank you
Hi! You can restart in LECA, but you need to grow roots first. For this, plain water without nutrients is best. Potassium can eventually help with this (kelp/seaweed are good sources). But primarily sterilize water, splash of hydrogen peroxide in a glass of water (depending on the species).
Good luck!
@@prettyingreen Thank you so muchhh
looks like the Lucas formula?
How do you make sure there is enough oxygen? Can you use club soda at times?
By changing the water or by adding in an air stone! We’ve actually updated our primary method for growing in LECA where we mix 50/50 with perlite too and water about 1x a week-we have a video on it!
Doesn’t the water covering a third of the root area cause root rot? Just like how water in soil cause rot
If it’s old water it can. You really want it just touching the lowest roots just barely… ideally add an airstone in too