Do you also want to know how to grow succulents in semi-hydroponic and LECA systems? Let me explain to you how I use LECA and semi-hydroponics to cultivate some of my succulents (Semi-Hydro). I’ve been cultivating succulents for a while and have experimented with various growing techniques.
Succulents can be grown with LECA and semi-hydroponics, yes. A fascinating medium and method of cultivating plants, LECA and semi-hydroponics promises sustainability, a robust root system, fewer pests, and good plant growth. LECA is a flexible material that can be used to simulate the dry, natural environment that succulents prefer. In order to give the plants the proper air circulation they require, it also helps to create a healthy, robust root system.
How are succulents watered in LECA?
It is not at all difficult or expensive to set up your succulents in a semi-hydroponic system, but it does take a few extra steps than conventional container planting, such as:
1. A suitable container
Select a tall, narrow container rather than a short, wide one to keep your plant’s roots up and out of the water. You can use a glass container for your succulents, but most people choose to use plastic ones instead because they are less expensive, more effective, and simpler to drill holes in. They also include a lid that you can use to keep the humidity higher.
In semi-hydroponics, a plastic container is suggested to keep your plant’s roots up and out of the water.
2. two holes are drilled
Succulents in a semi-hydroponics system require the holes on the sides of the container rather than drilling drainage holes in the base because the holes on the sides form a reservoir in the bottom that wicks fertilizer solution up through the growing medium to the roots.
In a semi-hydroponics design, succulents require the holes on the container’s sides.
To accomplish this, merely drill two holes into the sides of your container using a hand-held drill (1.5 to 2-inches high from the bottom).
3. Get your growth media ready.
The most popular growing media for this kind of arrangement is lightweight expanded clay aggregates, or LECA. Since they are porous, they will wick water from the bottom reservoir up to the roots. In addition, LECA is affordable and recyclable.
Your LECA pellets must first be thoroughly rinsed with clean water before you can pot your succulents. This should be done until no more orange-colored particles are visible. After around 30 minutes of freshwater soaking, give them one final rinse. Fill your container with your LECA pellets until it is 3/4 full.
4. Plant the succulent.
The hardest aspect of the procedure is this. Start by carefully removing the succulent from its container, being cautious not to damage or break off any roots. Remove as much of the potting dirt as you can from the roots using your fingers. Once the majority of the growing media has been eliminated, lightly rinse the object under the faucet to get rid of any soil that may still be present.
Put your plant in the container, then fill it up to the brim with extra LECA placed around the roots. By periodically shaking the pot to allow the pellets to settle, make careful to fill in any gaps.
5. Make a hole in the lid of your container.
The last step is to use a pair of scissors or a box cutter to make a slit and a hole in the lid of your container. As a result, the container’s humidity levels will be higher and the water won’t evaporate as quickly.
Succulents can be cultivated in clay pebbles.
There is an alternative if the challenging process of concealing the soil surrounding your succulents sounds like more trouble than it’s worth: clay pebbles. These pebbles, also known as LECA (lightweight expanded clay aggregate), resemble rocks but have the capacity to absorb water and nutrients, supplying them gradually to the plants as needed.
Expanded clay pebbles have many advantages, including controlling moisture and requiring less upkeep. Due to the fact that the stones only take up water when necessary, they are perfect for gardeners who regularly overwater their succulent plants. Additionally, they let you use glass containers without being concerned about drainage problems.
Although slightly more expensive than standard succulent soil mix, clay pebbles provide the same planting appeal as rocks. They are also washable, which is a property that regular potting soil does not have, making them useful for different plants.
Rinse off any soil that may still be surrounding the roots of your succulents before planting them in a glass vase filled with clay stones. Keep the pot in a bright, sunny location with a small bit of water at the bottom.
Remember that the clay pebbles are a hydroponic media and do not contain any nutrients. Although you must add the fertilizers yourself to support your succulents’ growth, they will retain the nutrients you add to the water. To adjust the environment to your plant’s requirements, you can use a liquid fertilizer that has been diluted and added to the water or specialist hydroponic nutrients that are available online.
Cacti can grow in the LECA.
It seems unproductive to grow cactus or succulents in LECA or semi-hydroponically. Considering that a plant collector’s life frequently involves overwatering these plants When I first considered utilizing LECA with cactus and succulents, I figured it wouldn’t be successful. But even after a short time, I am absolutely surprised by the outcomes.
The short answer to growing cacti and succulents in LECA is an absolute YES.
Cacti semi-hydroponically were developed entirely out of desperation. My buddy is known for overwatering her plants, but she has a real soft spot for cacti. She had induced root rot in her cacti five times in the previous year.
Small River Pebbles
This company sells non-toxic, all-natural potting pebbles for succulents and other container plants. The stones have already been cleaned, making them safe to use. They are perfect for indoor and outdoor gardens and have brilliant colors that provide aesthetic appeal.
Can all plants be treated with LECA?
Although it would be ideal, LECA and soil cannot be used interchangeably for indoor plants. The best growth medium won’t depend on your personal preferences, but rather on what your plant requires.
Your plant is appropriate for growing in LECA if it possesses these characteristics. Stick to conventional potting soil if it doesn’t.
Your Plant Gets More Nutrients from Fertilizer Than Its Growing Medium
I’ve said this before, but I’ll say it again now. LECA doesn’t have any nutrients by itself.
When you fertilize your plant, the clay balls can absorb some nutrients from the water, but they are nutritionally devoid on their own.
You already know that a houseplant produced in LECA needs to be fertilized with hydroponic fertilizer, but I’ll outline the processes in the following section. Your plant takes in the fertilizer through the water, absorbs it, and then stores the nutrients in its leaves or stems.
Not all types of houseplants can accomplish this, or can do it very well. Those who are unable must have nutrients in their developing medium in order to survive. Instead of using LECA, you must grow these indoor plants in soil.
Your Plant Likes Oxygen-Rich Conditions
As I mentioned previously, there is plenty of area for oxygen in the space between LECA balls. Because they never lack oxygen, this is perfect for plants that need oxygen-rich growing environments.
However, not all plants require a growth medium that is high in oxygen. These plants frequently favor soil that is moist but compacted. For them, the LECA balls’ extreme airiness could upset their normal oxygen balance.
Since their care needs are already more than being satisfied in their current environment, plants with an excess of oxygen typically grow less.
Your Plant Grows Best in Acidic Conditions
Again, LECA has a pH range of 5.5 to 5.7. That immediately places it in an acidic environment. Many houseplants thrive in acidic soil or clay, yet an equal number prefer their growing medium to be more basic or neutral in nature.
Your Plant Doesn’t Mind Being Touched
It makes sense that some plants don’t like to be touched more than is necessary because they might be delicate objects. The least likely candidates for LECA are these houseplants.
The water the plant is growing in needs to be replenished on a regular basis. The LECA balls also need to be kept clean.
When switching your plant to LECA, you must also completely remove the soil from its roots, which calls for a lot of touching.
Let me now go on to a list of plants that will probably do the best when cultivated in LECA after highlighting the three key factors that can make plants poor candidates for LECA.
Which plants are ideal LECA candidates? Here are a few species to get you started:
Can you grow succulents hydroponically?
Get your cutting ready.
You can cut a Succulent right off the mother plant, take out the leaves below the rosette, and use that as your cutting if the plant has an offshoot (a new stem with a rosette). The mother plant’s stem should be cut an inch or two below the rosette if any of the succulents haven’t produced any offspring. The remaining leaves should then be removed. To promote rosette growth, make sure to keep the remaining leaves on the mother plant.
Snip a stem cutting off a succulent cutting using scissors or gardening shears. To prevent spreading infections to plants, be sure to use alcohol-sanitized scissors. Give the clippings a day or two to dry. Before placing the end of the succulent scab in water, it is crucial to allow it grow over. The succulent plant will absorb too much water if the end is not allowed to scab over. The cutting’s end should then be dipped in rooting hormone after drying out. The cutting should then be placed in a water-filled jar or vase and placed in a bright area. The succulent needs two to four weeks to establish roots, and water needs to be changed every few days.
Locate a succulent that will fit the hydro terrarium of your choice. Remove the succulent plant from the pot, then use water to completely wash away the soil that is still adhered to the roots. Bacteria may enter a damaged plant’s main structure or its roots, causing the plant to decay. To avoid damaging the succulent plant, carefully wash it. Cleanly remove the plant roots that had been developing in the soil before the earth is washed away, leaving about a half-inch of root still attached to the base. In this manner, the clipped ends will produce new roots that are appropriate for the hydroponics system. If you use precise plant shears, the plant can develop without its roots being damaged, but hydroponic roots will make the plant more stable. The hydroponic roots may take some time to form depending on the season, but if the cut ends are kept submerged in water, the plant roots will grow evenly.
After cutting the plant roots, let the cut ends completely dry. Depending on the time of year, this should normally take one to two days. After the roots have been trimmed, position the succulent in the center of the metal grid trellis on the top of the container. Try to control the water level to keep the cut ends submerged by adding water to the lowest portion of the container. Use tap water because it contains chlorine, which kills a variety of saprophytic bacteria, including the mildew that thrives in water and inhibits the spread of disease.
In a hydroponic system, succulents will require fertilizers to keep growing and thriving. Hydroponic substrates do not hold nutrients, in contrast to conventional soil cultivation. As a result, you will need to supplement the water in your system with nutrients. Succulents typically require weaker fertilizer solutions than other hydroponically cultivated plants. Succulents can be burned if you use a nutrition solution that is too potent. Until the plant roots begin to grow, your succulent cuttings do not need to be in the nutrition solution. Therefore, when growing succulents, do not bother about combining nutrient solutions.
Due to the plant’s inherent ability to purify itself, after the plant is hydroponically stable, the water may typically be kept without changing for extended periods of time. However, before the succulent plant stabilizes, it is advisable to replace the water periodically. It’s okay to simply top off the water without changing it so that the plant roots stay immersed as the water level decreases or evaporates. However, if the water is totally changed around once a month, the plant will develop the fastest and be the most stable.
Try to maintain the water around where the plant roots were severed to determine the proper water level. The growth will still be healthy even if the water is changed occasionally. Locations with adequate solar exposure are preferred by succulents. Make careful to place your plants in a sunny area.
Feeding for Succulents growing hydroponically
Before adding liquid feed to the hydroculture pot, let the substrate almost completely dry out to avoid drowning Succulent, which can kill it. But be careful not to leave the plant in a dry media for too long. The same nutrients required for conventionally grown plants are included in the hydroponic feeding solution. Macronutrients like calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, nitrogen, and potassium are needed in huge quantities. Minerals like iron, zinc, and copper are trace elements that are required in trace amounts. There are recipes available for you to make your own hydroponic feed, but purchasing a commercial mix is much easier. The company provides precise calculations of all the nutrient ratios as well as application instructions.
Nutrient requirement of hydroponic Succulents
- Hydroponically grown succulents need to be supplied nutrients on a regular schedule for growth.
- Always use fertilizer designed specifically for the hydroponics system when utilizing fertilizer.
- Always remember to dilute nutrients in the hydroponic system to half their original strength before adding them.
- On hydroculture, all the nutrients needed by plants growing in soil are also necessary.
- Choose a hydroponic liquid fertilizer from the many available options based on your plant’s needs.