LECA clay balls are one of the trendiest things to talk about among plant enthusiasts because of their unique qualities of being used as a growing medium for plants. If you're curious about LECA, keep on watching this story!
The term LECA stands for Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate. LECA has the shape of pebbles or small stones made by roasting clay at extremely high temperatures.
These small balls of clay are made by heating clay in a rotary kiln, then the material is shaped into little balls. Simply put, LECA is balls made of inorganic clay, which provides many benefits to the plant.
Due to having no organic matter, they are pH-neutral. Although the initial cost can be higher than normal soil if looked after properly, these small balls of clay can be used time and time again.
1 Reduced Risk of Overwatering When you are growing plants in LECA, one thing that you should never worry about is overwatering the plants. LECA is highly absorbent and easily absorbs all the extra moisture.
2 Provides Structural Support LECA provides the plants with structural support that traditional soil cannot give the plant. They keep the plant from falling over as it grows.
3 Equal Distribution of Nutrients As LECA has a hydroponic system, the pores in the clay pellets absorb enough water, which reaches the roots through capillary action. The roots of your plants equally distribute the nutrients throughout the plant.
4 Reusable Medium LECA balls are reusable. Soil does not stay full of nutrients forever, but you can use LECA balls indefinitely.
5 Aeration The biggest difference between using soil medium and LECA is that these clay balls don’t suffocate plants’ roots. LECA balls have pores and small spaces between them that allow the oxygen to reach the roots efficiently for proper root growth.
6 Low Risk of Root Rot Less water equals less risk of root rot. LECA clay balls keep the roots well-aerated without suffocating them. Hence preventing root rot.
7 Low Risk of Pests Using LECA means fewer pests. Pests are attracted to damp soil but don’t survive in LECA. The balls are made of inorganic material, and pests like spider mites and fungus gnats can’t lay their eggs on them.
Click on the link to learn how to use LECA for house plants.