5 reasons why I gave up on LECA
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- Опубликовано: 3 мар 2023
- I still love LECA and semi-hydroponics, but through a series over oversights and poor choices, I just couldn't handle it anymore. I hope to try LECA again another day when I can do it in a much less time consuming way.
Big thank you to @SheffieldMadePlants, @petevsplants7516,@PlantsNTings, and @TheLecaQueen for their help with this video. If you're hoping to start LECA the right way, make sure to check out @TheLecaQueen.
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Special thanks to Sheffield Made Plants, Pete vs Plants, and Plants & Tings for help with this.
Remember to check out Nora The LECA Queen if you want to start LECA the right way.
All excellent channels 😊💯💚🪴🌱🇨🇦 I'm subscribed to all them and highly recommended always great content & excellent clear informative information 👍
Thank you Lee! Another great one out of the park 👏 🙌
You’ve got to do more with them! Some kind of challenge or something. I love all of you so much ❤😂
All favorites!
Fantastic collab. I really enjoyed this video. Well done. Thanks.
Love the interaction between you and other RUclipsrs. I watch Sheffield made plants (he’s local to me) but haven’t caught up with the others so thank you for the introductions! You are my favourite though! But don’t tell the others
Is it because we have the same name?
What a small world, sheffield made plants is local to me too! :)
That was great! Love seeing the two cameos at the end.
I appreciate that you're so open and honest about your struggles.
I'd love a video on the basics of fertilization. It can be pretty overwhelming.
Agree on both!
You mean..."syringe" lmao
I’ve been using Dynagrow Foliage and my plants have been thriving! It’s just one teaspoon per gallon .
I just wanted to say that this channel has really helped me take better care of my houseplants.
Thanks for all that you do.
Thank you! 🌱🌱
Love it when other plant creators make cameos. Can't wait until you assemble your avengers
I always enjoy your videos! I love how instead of presuming to be some kind of perfect expert, you reveal the mistakes you've made and what you've learned from them (which is a huge part of growing plants!). It's very refreshing and enjoyable to watch.
I am glad I finally found your channel. No nonsense plant care advice with a sense of humor. Short, sweet, and to the point.😊
Included my other 2 fave plant guys! Thanks for sharing your experience, it's greatly appreciated and helpful 🙂
Reminder: its spring, the best time to take cuttings, propagate, obtain new plants and repot, they will make it the best now, especially picky ones. Remind your viewers about that, nobody should miss it.
Your videos are MY ABSOLUTE FAVORITE!!! I am so glad to see your subscribers rising!!!! ❤❤
Thank you so much!!
What a great, informative and fun video!
i love your videos so much, thank you for always teaching us what you know!
You are welcome!
I love your vids and the collabs, very entertaining as I watch all of them too!!!
did not know this was the collab i needed
Very cool video. Thanks!
Yey! Collaboration with Richard! What a nice community, I love both of you! 😁
Thanks for sharing your struggles, it's very helpful for us looking to maybe expand into soil free alternatives/leca 😊
General Hydroponics Maxi Gro is $20 for 2.2lbs in Canada. It's a dry 1-part, has cal-mag, 5.8-6.0 PH every time, and lasts longer than the GH 3-part kit which costs 2-3 times more.
I started with LECA last summer but after The Leca Queen experienced problem after problem with Alocasia, in a panic move I aborted my journey. The three or four plants in Leca were moved to water and perlite until suitable for soil.
Today I love LECA. I use it in my decorative pots/planters. I cover the bottom with single layer of Leca balls then place the plant/nursery pot inside.
I don't have the science behind it but know that my plants are responding positively to Leca or should I say, being raised by Leca.
Thanks for the updated video. I watched your video from a year ago " u are not ready for leca". Then I jumped into the Leca pool anyway. Guess experience is the best teacher.
Great one, thanks for the heads up on your LECA journey! Definetly something to think about. Loved the skits as well, you guys were hilarious. My experience with trading was pretty similar unfortunately, it's difficult to find someone who is willing to trade and if you find them you struggle to find the right plants to trade. Selling is just less laborious in my opinion.
Have a great one Lee 😊
If I had the time and space to sell that would be great. Maybe one day.
As always a great video. The only thing I have ever used leca for is orchids and even then I mix it with other media. I have never had luck with it for my regular house plants. I soooo appreciate your honesty!!!!
He’s back!
Love your videos!
Omg the skits 😆 I also love the honesty!
I needed this
Great video. Entertaining as well 👍
I enjoyed this collaboration
So funny...
I always love it when I catch the cameos😀
I'm never going on buy/sell/trade groups again. 🤣
I can imagine the hard work that goes into the Leca when you don’t have a fertiliser that’s easier than a 3 part series.
That last bit was hilarious, I watch both those channels and Pete vs Plants is hilarious love his channel and he has some great plants 👍
"So I went on Facebook (gross)" damn that made me laugh, I had to go back and watch it again, twice, and I laughed every time 😂😂😂
I found putting putting the clay balls mixed into the potting mix works alot better than just a standard Ariod mix, especially on plants with delicate roots. I don't do hydro with them at all as the summer months (I actually live in the same state Pete vs plants lives) keeping them hydrated is just impossible for me. However mixing it through the potting mix allows there to be gaps that the plants can snake around and excess water can just easily pass through without leaving the soil too damp. It's helped my Thai monsteras recover to do this after reciving them and having to regrow roots after root rot issues in normal aroid & perlite mixs just straight up almost killed them. It might not work for everyone, but all the plants I've changed over to this method have been doing great so far.
Love the skit. 🤣 Their feedback was hilarious.
Kinda counter intuitive, but I found leca works really well for succulents. I'm just using some random cactus fertilizer and I let it dry out completely
I literally just used your promo for the Aspect on a couple of Vita bulbs. I’m so glad that you exist right now 😂😂
Thanks for using the link! Hope you love them as much as I do.
love the cameos haha!
Another great video. You are a treasure.
Love your honesty!!! I'm currently experimenting and making an all in one, all natural fertilizer! Will definitely take some time but that's my goal!! 😁
Good luck!!
Since watching your video I use a wooden dowel to check for soil moisture, I have also incorporated picking up the pot for weight which lets me know it's time to water.
Great video!
Glad you enjoyed it
I tried Leca, it was okay. I mostly just missed soil, mixing it, the smell. Soil is more fun. Loved this video with the two other RUclipsrs.
Thank you for your honest opinion. The plant community not only needs the good news, but also info about what can and will go wrong in certain setups. This video was really informative. I personally grow and breed succulents, so I don't have any leca setups. Still it's always nice to learn something new.
Haha love the cameos!
Thanks for sharing...
Omg I follow all 3 of you 🤣🤣 infact I found you from Sheffield plants lol. Great vid 👌
Love it!
Hehe good work, mate! Was wondering why I suddenly got a boost in subs and then got a few comments about the skit :D Great video!
😆 the people love it! Great job
Omg! This is hilarious and that little FB shade thrown in!😂
I hv the same expetiences with this product.. thank you for this info ..
I love these cameos!
Me too!
Foliage focus from growth technology works great in Leca! Single product and so much easier and faster
What if the water was moving? has anyone tried a small aquarium style set up?
All my non-fern and non-orchid plants are in leca. They are doing really well. I don't have algae issues as I keep each pot in a cachepot. I found a good way around the mixing the 3 nutrient solutions by diluting the grow and bloom into two old cups and I use the hose to mix it as it fills the bottle. I add the micro first, jam the hose in there and then add the other two that are already diluted in water into the bottle and just let it fill as I swish the hose around. It takes me about 2 minutes to do 2 giant bottles this way. I mix two giant bottles as I use one to fill and the other to top up over the next two weeks. I have bottles with little taps down the bottom, so it's much easier on the back.
Leca isn't for everyone and it is a costly enterprise initially and does require a different set-up. It is also very intimidating. There are nutrient solutions that don't require mixing different parts. Foliage Focus is one of them and I'm lucky as it's easily available in Australia, although I understand it's now being sold in some parts of the US as well. It's an all in one solution. I went with the 3 part series as I didn't know about foliage focus at the time. But I don't mind it as much and with time, I figured out a way to mix it without killing my back and wasting time or much effort and it's been over 1.5 years of growing in leca and I still have 3/4 of the bottles of nutrient solution left over, so it goes a long way. The one benefit for me with leca is that when I do get pests, I can hose the entire plant down, spray it well without fear that I'm causing root rot. Plus, zero fungus gnats. I've even bagged the pots in mesh bags and dunked whole plants into a tub to treat a severe thrip infestation. Do I miss soil? Sometimes. But I'm finding my plants are thriving with my current set-up and I'm loving the reduced amounts of pests and avoiding root rot. At the end of the day, we do what we can and find a system that suits us.
I love your videos and your honesty! I think it's important to give an honest review of one's experiences and simply find what works best for you and also allows people to weigh the pro's and the con's.
Not even to mix with soil/moss as a substrate or use as a drainage bottom layer? I used to keep terrariums with springtails and as a drainage they always seemed to work well.
I've been messing around with leca and for an entire year I basically had either no nutrients or just regular. Some alocasias got a little weird, so now I've gotten some hydroponic nutrients. It's only one part so it's really not a hazzle. But it's only been a couple of weeks so I'll see how it works in the long run.
How do you feel about hydroponics for food, like aerogardens, and not just houseplants? One of my units has a bunch of algae recurring and the other is absolutely fine. Loving growing my own greens, herbs, and tomatoes.
I think it can be an affordable way to garden indoors in a small space. Lots of different products out there.
I just use leca as a water prop medium, no fert. Gives something for the roots to hold onto and grow around, keeps the props in the glass, and looks nice!
It sure does!
Awesome video! I recommend maintaining a fish tank so you dont have to worry about mixing ferts and use that same aquatic life to manage the algae, maybe then you will find it less time consuming.
I’ve enjoyed watching videos on social media of people using leca. I never really studied it enough to understand how I can use it to my benefit in my current space.
If you have the expendable cash it's fun to experiment with.
@@KillThisPlant not yet.😆 maybe some time in the future.
What abour leca poles ?
I can buy single syringes from the drug store (Europe). It’s probably the same in the US? I use one to measure the nutrients as well
An example I would give of a trade group is offering something nice and getting offers of jade plant cuttings or spider plant babies or a beat-up looking aloe. But maybe that's just my area.
😖
Sorry, don’t mean to laugh😅
Did you consider bulk buying solid colored pails and putting the net pot inside? This will block out the light and reduce or completely eliminate algae growth. You can also supplement with a co2 booster as algae can’t process that but the plants can. It actually speeds up photosynthesis and they will outcompete the algae from the nutrients
I was a kid in the 80s and I remember leca from back then. I also remember that my mum and all her plant loving sisters having leca in all their pots and then NOT, and not a single leca ball has made it into my mum's house since then, so I am not even curious...
Otoh, maybe most of us just shouldn't go full leca, and it can be used well as a part of some soil mix or another, idk. I just know it's not for me.
Love your channel.
I never reached out for buy sell trade groups because those are usually people that are hardcore in the plant game. I just post my plants in fb marketplace and indicate on description I’m willing to trade with examples of what I’m into and sometimes I get someone to bite… just an idea
Don't know where you are but around here you can buy syringes at farm supply stores like Tractor Supply and every other feed and seed store. They generally sell basic vet equipment for farmers to do their own animal care and will often sell medium to large syringes individually. They do usually cost more per unit than buying in bulk from China or wherever but if you're just buying a couple the price is usually lower per transaction.
I just ordered some Foliage Focus. It either just became available in the US, or I just found where I could buy it. HUGE fingers crossed that it works. Mixing multiple bottles really isn't working out for me.
Once I switched to foliage focus It was like everything started making sense. Because my plants actually started growing lol.
Do you mind sharing where you ordered it from? I’d love to try it too.
I find it's a similar issue with Pon. I am starting to slowly move away from it and back to soil
I've never tried but it does just sound like fancy LECA 🥂
That’s was funny! I’ll trade you syringes for that monstera. I’ll even include fill needles, makes it easier to get in that bottle!
I’m kind of the same. The large particles of LECA only are suitable to some species. Mainly epiphytes or plants that can’t handle a lot of moisture let alone anaerobic conditions..,My question to you, is do you like Pon? I like making my own, and adding the slow release ferts is such a benefit… for saving time, less bottles and products, in physical labor, lol. Lasts six months!
I have not tried pon. Do I want to make my own...I dunno sounds like work to me. 😅
You’re hilarious! Funny cuz it’s true! My exact experience with trading lol
Aw I’m sorry about your experience with leca. I’ve always felt intimidated by it and thought it was too much trouble. I’m in the process of switching my plants from soil to pon. That seems to be more manageable. Have you grown, or are you growing, any in pon?
Thanks for the post!
It really doesn't have to be this much trouble. I just chose the weirdest way to do this 🥲.
I haven't tried pon. I've heard good things though.
@@KillThisPlant Well… watching our Leca Queen, we could easily get the impression it’s easy enough, and when we see her gorgeous plants, of course we want the same! But I can’t let my plants consume more of my life and time than I’m happy to give. I don’t want it to become a chore I dread.
So…. I’m hoping that the lechuza pon is the answer!
@@ildikojones7073 I transfered a lot of plants to pon and while some do great like pothos or monsteras, most did not. I still think a good mix with enough air pockets is the way to go.
@@monalischen1746 Thank you. I appreciate your input. I’m going to give pon a go and hope I will not regret it…
@@ildikojones7073 Wish you luck! 🍀
I too would've given up hydroponic long ago if I had to do 3 part -- I thank my dyna-grow foliage-pro every day. I even have it in a squirt bottle so I just do 1 squirt every watering
I have only 2 plants in LECA still - a Dieffenbachia and a baby Parlour Palm - both for well over a year, maybe almost 2 years, both thriving. However, contrary to all other advice, my nutrient solution has always been Miracle-gro in rainwater (all 70+ of my plants get rainwater). I've never given them anything else, never bought fancy hydro mixes, as I could not justify the expense. Both are happy, but I have no interest in the medium going forward. I just prefer coco coir/peat based customized mixes. My other plants get micro-doses of fish emulsion in rainwater.
Unpopular opinion, but I'm not convinced the hydroponic mixes are entirely necessary, as the MG solution I use has all the same ingredients as one of the popular solutions (the one you featured).
I'm with you sir! I use LECA to plug up the holes at the bottom of my pots or amend the soil. LECA never worked for me. It was always dry. I moved to PON and that is the truth! I always love your collabs!!!! You always go to the superstars never us little peeps!
😂 😂 😂
I love these guys!
Yeah mixing nutrients is a pain. When I’m done my general hydroponics I’m going to dynagrow which is only one nutrient. I have a lot of space at my place so all my leca are in individual cache pot that prevent algae from building up.
I don’t know whether it’s because I am an outdoor gardener too, but I am one of those people that just likes being grubby I think. If I am not covered in dirt there’s something wrong 🤔!
Maybe after a few more leca Queen vids I might pluck up the courage.
Just out of curiosity Lee, have your ex leca plants coped well with moving into soil?
Yes. LECA to soil is the easiest transition.
@@KillThisPlant aah, great, thank you.
Hit the griddy
Soooo…considering trying leca and get the nutrients being essential BUT what would happen if you didn’t do the whole adjusting of the PH with phUp ??
Adjusting ph ensures nutrient uptake most effectively. Not a huge deal if you don't (depending on your water). A comparison is: you make a 4 course meal for someone and they tell you they're full after the appetizer.
@@KillThisPlant thanks! How do you feel about electronic ph meters?
I used leca but I dont use the three part series. i use a regular organic one part fertilizer and kangen water with a ph of 7. My plants are doing great. I dont care about fast growth. Mainly quality over quantity. I have a separate reservoir for each plant and I give the leca and the reservoir a rinse on a weekly basis. It has been working great so far. I will be switching the rest of my plants that are in soil to leca when the weather completely breaks.
Doing 100% LECA with a good system is pretty easy to manage when compared to soil. What fertilizer brand are you using?
@@KillThisPlant A local brand: Full Circle premium plant tonic. I use it about quarter strength as directed. I watched so many different leca videos and saw so many different processes that I just kind of did what felt best from what I saw.
@1:58 mercy the algae. Wow. As always, I love your videos and I doubt I could ever provide any real Feedback since you are one of the people I look up to for plant advice.
I can tell you first hand, those net pods need to be dropped into a solid color lid with holes cut out so that the grow light doesn’t shine on the water. I’ve grown a tremendous amount of plants hydroponically and it can be successfully done and cheaply. I also use a pH tester and ppm pen. Depends on what kind of plants I’m growing, but I usually don’t let the net pods get submerged in the water, but the air bubbles from my air bars are sufficient to maintain hydration.
Absolutely the best way to avoid algae. You're right.
The reason I haven't switched to leca is BC in my pay of Canada and my specific home, I can't maintain the temperature well enough in fall and and spring. We have a forced air furnace and that means the heat covers on at around 19 and shuts off at like 21 or 22, but the thermostat is in the livingroom. In the cold months the furnace is on far more often so the temp is more steady. However at this time of year I am fighting with space heaters around my plants BC the outside temp is around 0 so it's not cooling off as fast outside or in the livingroom to trigger the thermostat. I prefer to sleep with it a bit cooler but when I went to bed last night it was 21 in my room (where most of my plants are), when I woke up this morning, it was 17.4 in my room. I don't have the space heater on BC of the furnace had come in it would've made me too hot. Sooooo I've stuck with soil BC it seems to insulate the roots better than water would. My water on my nightstand feels like it's been pulled from a beverage fridge, I wouldn't want my plants with cold feet. I use LED grow lights so they don't give off much heat and either and I'm not looking the idea of needing heat mats for my collection BC of hydro... Never mind playing chemist like you said! While I would love Nora's results, I think Sydney plant guy is a good mix for my temperature needs. 🤷🏼♀️
Omg 17°? I would not survive that. Smart choice sticking with soil for insulation purposes.
@@KillThisPlant Centigrade, but it's still a little chilly.
@@fleabitz1474 oh I know. I'm in Toronto. I'm too cold at 21.
@@KillThisPlant Oh sorry! I am in the US and had to use a converter to figure it out. My bedroom gets down to (gets out the converter) 14.4 in the winter so I thought 21 sounded kinda luxurious. I don't keep plants in that room, though.
Lmaooooo not Mr Sheffield 😂
So I went on Facebook (gross)....
😂 I like your personality. Im happy I found your channel!
I love your site and Sheffields…….his accent is so fun. I learn a lot from y’all. What is LECA and why use it. Seems to be a giant pain!
It's great for having plants in a soilless medium. Usually you can have faster growth, better root systems, larger and healthier plants, along with many other benefits.
@@KillThisPlant thank you
Leca is where it’s at… I only have to “water” and flush them every other week.
I use Green Planet 2 step system plus other normal non organic fertilizer to boost growth.
Leca is great if you don't have a lot of plants! It's less work, easy to rinse off, reusable and I don't have to deal with soil pests (fungus gnats). I am using the 3 part ferts as well and it's not bad for the amount of plants I have. Imo any substrate/medium is fine, but leca or in general, semi hydro is definitely my way!
Indo is a Canadian brand and they make a all in one ❤
Just for future syringe uses: You can buy empty syringes in pharmacies in all sizes without needles for really cheap!
I was going to say the same. Sometimes they'll even give singles away for free (including in a certain big Ontario chain that shall remain nameless).
nah I f with regular coire/perlite/bark/charcoal with an occasional BTI soak for gnats. thats a better way to live than to mix up concoctions for leca and praying I know what im doing
Nora is not going to be happy about this
She's still mad from my moss pole video. 😆
Yes, it's freaking Pete!
Don't blame the nutes , it's user error.
I've also seen you feed your plants more pH down than actual nutes 😂😂.. 35 drops before nutes , 35 drops after nutes and 35, drops before every use..
Ghe tri part is actually pretty good , I generally mix directly to my main reservoir and it works well .
I only ever experienced a nute lockout during this grow in week 3 of flower and I started her from a seed .
I cleaned her roots up and did a water change and she has bounced back. We are in week 5 of flower now .
Humorous.
So funny that you can’t trade the Monstera! I can’t find one anywhere!
It's a really nice one too. Hard to grow though without intense light.
GREETINGS FROM ST.LOUIS , MISSOURI
👋🏾
You should have used goldfish water.
Was thinking about leca or soilless soil. This video made my mind up - couldn't get past the algae. Thank you for sharing.
A commenter suggested adding small amount of hydrogen peroxide can help with algae.
My Plant grows in water. My Monstera plant healthy. I wash once a month. No fertilizers. Just water , stone, lecca