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There’s a YouTuber called Bebee plants who has her plants in LECA... she uses https://www.amazon.com/Dyna-Gro-Dyna-Gro-Foliage-Pro-Quart/dp/B01G0PW68W which is a single bottle. I havnt personally used it but she seemed to have minimal issues with her plants in LECA. Honestly as long as it’s hydroponic fertilizer it works for LECA
> The con for me is that it’s harder to check the water levels for me.
That was my only con for opaque cache pots too, but I solved it with these when I prepare a pot I fill it 1/3 with leca, water level indicator and water, and then mark the proper "full" level on the indicator (since it's different depending on the pot you can't rely on the marks the indicator comes with). This way I can glance at my opaque pots and immediately know if it's due for water.
I’m not an expert, but from what I understand the soil roots will eventually shed as the plant grows more water adapted roots. Just keep changing water, daily or every other. Filtered, not distilled or softened if possible. I use physan-20 on nearly all my plants, soil-rooted, leca, orchids, etc to prevent mildew and algae. My old house is not very well insulated or sealed, so bugs and spores and different things seem to happen more frequently here than when I was in a high rise apartment. Combined with pyrethins for gnats, the physan seems to work
As long as you refresh the water regularly (so there's lots of oxygen) the roots can grow outside the net pot. Only downside is if you let it go too long you'll eventually have to cut the roots or the pot. I just had to chop half my spider plant roots because there was such a mess of roots that even cutting the pot wasn't going to work.
Depending on the plant a pot screen may prevent them from leaving the net pot. Only works for big roots though
I’ve gotten two bags of these clay balls and they’ve been great so far. Not a lot but I’m only using it for rooting tiny cuttings https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08GHF2VM7/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glc_fabc_a193FbVXM17DS
i only use MaxiGro and my plants seem to like it. i don’t do the PH balance either. i just got a gallon of water, put the little scoop in, mix it and when i’m ready to use, i use half water and half vitamin mix. maybe down the road i’ll dabble into 3 step solution, for now, this seems to be doing the job.
If my pots have a drainage hole but no plug stopper, I just line the pot with plastic wrap to cover the bottom and sides and then fill with water. I haven’t had any leaks so far. You can get some orchid pots/net pots off amazon in a bunch of sizes. I have these
Flora series at low dilution at every watering. You no longer water with water, you water with a prepared nutrient mix (and hopefully pH correct as well). I bought one of these pitchers,, dark to discourage algae growth. It's 64oz and I use 1 tsp of each of the flora series.
These are my go to pots: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08SQF72K4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
yes water and leca has no nutrition in it so plant will die without it. I use general hydroponics 3 part series, it takes a bit of time to mix. If i was to buy fertilizer again I'd get foliago pro, since you don't have to mix 3 fertilizers together, it's just one jug:https://www.amazon.ca/Dyna-Gro-DYFOL008-Foliage-Pro-8-Ounce/dp/B003SUT6VS
you'll also need Ph measurement droplets as water PH changes throughout the week, I test Ph when i create the fertilizer and then a week later when it swings outside 5.5-6.5 range.
Ignore the fruit fly on the last image, that is an escapee from when I was feeding a pet jumping spider.
I flush and change nutrient solution once a week.
I just started switching from distilled to tap water 2 weeks ago because my tap water has good PH. Maybe that was a mistake.
I've been using Dyna-GRO DYFOL008 Foliage Pro and following the directions on the back for non circulating hydro.
I don’t think this particular fertiliser is fit for semi hydroponic use. Sadly you can’t just use any fertiliser because most of them contain stuff that’s not water soluble, which most likely causes mould/rot problems. Do you live in Germany? Then my recommendation would be this long-term fertiliser. I use it for all my plants and personally think it’s great
When I went away I placed all of my plants in a large tub of water filled to the normal height with water. I did have my housemate check every now and then.
You could also have something similar to the cat or dog automatic water refillers to keep the level up. https://www.amazon.com/Noa-Store-Automatic-Replenish-Dispenser/dp/B081F24ML6
Keep the plants is low light to keep transpiration to a minimum, and make sure that the air doesn't get too dry. The bigger the tub the better.
Maybe consider getting a pet sitter to come once or twice.
I used an amazon grow light for my grow tank. It's pretty strong light, and the purple kind but my plants seem to like it.
LED Grow Light, Roleadro 75W Grow... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01IVQ96KY?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
This is the self watering pot self-watering pot I use for all my bigger plants.
Gold Label Hydrocorn - very random shapes, from pea size to the 'normal' round ball size. Designed to be more interlocking than spheres & less 'floaty'
https://www.amazon.com/Hydrocorn-expanded-clay-pellets-cubic/dp/B01FIM1JPE
I'm interested in knowing this answer. I bought the Aerogarden Brand and I am reluctant to open it just in case I find that there's something better available. It was $35 at a local store. I was hoping to find something locally but this is all I could find that is for hydroponics. But will it be good for semi-hydro using leca? aerogarden fertilizer using leca?
I got these from Amazon - 10" pot in pot and they're pretty. I admit, they're tricky to open and close, but I don't do it all that often. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09YRRR632?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details
Pon, self watering planter without wick. something like this
It’s this 3 inch net pot https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086PZD13B?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
And this half pint Ball/Mason jar: https://www.doitbest.com/shop/housewares/canning-equipment-and-supplies/canning-jars-and-lids/canning-jar/ball-collectors-edition-12-pint-regular-mouth-aqua-vintage-canning-jar-4-count?SKU=614024&gsf=t&gclid=Cj0KCQjw5ZSWBhCVARIsALERCvyfAe_...
You could use weed barrier fabric (not sure on the exact translation but I mean something like this)
I've used this for a couple plants myself with leca to fix the same issue. It lets water through very well while not allowing the leca or pon through and you can just cut it to the size you need to cover the bottom of your pot (though it will fray a bit at the edges).
The main downside is that you won't be able to flush your plant to get rid of leftover biological material, but as long as your plant is healthy that shouldn't be too big of an issue.
From Amazon - here's the link. I think I'm happy with it. My only concern is the "net" pot isn't clear, and that pot sort of links into the reservoir pot, so it may be hard to separate them since the plant is so large, for things like flushing. That said, it is plenty big enough, which was my biggest concern, and it has a nifty spout for adding the nutrients.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09YRRR632?psc=1&ref=ppx_yo2ov_dt_b_product_details
I found these for my 2 gal plants and put holes in them with a drill. My 4 ft monstera has a ton of room to grow.
You can get one of those translucent gallon ice cream buckets, burn your own holes in them, making sure to do it in a well ventilated area. Then paint another one as your cache pot.
For my largest plants, I use a black 5 gallon bucket as a reservoir, and a 6 inch net pot lid (https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B09JB6GG52?\_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&ref\_=cm\_sw\_r\_cp\_ud\_dp\_QEBR0YPZ9AQVK63W3FVA). It's black, but it has enough holes where you can kind of see the roots. In this case, the roots grow out of the net pot and into the reservoir very quickly, and it becomes more of a hydroponic setup than a semi hydro setup. You can look up kratky hydroponics if you want more info on this. I have several Thaumatophyllums, Monsteras, Colocasias, etc in this setup.
Absolutely, but you can use SO many things initally. I use self watering pots off of amazon. Try these.
i got it from amazon, pretty cheap at $6. Minimum order is 2 for whatever reason.. but its so cheap and it'll last me a while as I'm just throwing cuttings in them. It was more pricy for the bonsai jack lava rock and the pumice, I've got a lot less of it left over than the zeolite after mixing equal parts into some tupperware lol
Your experience could be different from mine!
My plants are in all kinds of cache pots in generic net or orchid pots I got on Amazon; I don't think I have any specifically matching sets with the exception of a few Aglaonemas in these planters (which are not actually net pots are all, so go figure 🤣). I also took a drill to the walls of random plastic nursery pots which serves the same purpose.
this one is pretty cheap foe the amount and you’ll literally ever need to buy it again (just make sure you get the pro kind - the other one is smaller grain and more like cat litter so really annoying to work with)
There are a ton of self watering pots that work well on Amazon. I’m currently using these and I’ve been a big fan so far.
This brand has some nice ones. This set you get three 7" pots for $30 & can choose from 5 colors. I bought their hanging pot for my spider plants and really like it. There are rectangular ones like that too from other brands on amazon. I just searched "self watering pot" and looked for ones with the glass gauge.
Yeah you overpaid.
Hydroton 10l is $15 on Amazon and 25l is $25
Mother Earth Hydroton Original Clay Pebbles - 10 Liter, Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01KYYZ9DE/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_V2S61BKTTY3HCTXMRS8F
big fan of this stuff created by a college lab - mix the provided spool sized scoop into a gallon of water and put it in the reservoir. i use it with all waterings but don't care if i'm feeling a bit lazy and use unfertilized water every once in awhile either. there's a lot of cool science behind it that i don't understand, but if you go to their website they go into their reasoning behind their formulae.
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I have the medium and small sets of these, but any self watering/wicking planter where the inside pot can be lifted out should work.
I mean I have pots like this (10 Pieces - 4 inch Plastic Garden Mesh Net Pot, Round Heavy Net Cup Flower Pot, Hydroponic Basket Planting Nursery Grow Supplies, 11cm/4.3inch (White) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B089NBQD2Z/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_FWYSK3PRJ1Z0NNQ63FBJ?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1) but a decent amount of the media is small enough to go through the slots not to mention the larger bottom holes….
I use water level indicators for plants in opaque cache pots, but I always use net pots or orchid pots in them.
Up to 8" orchid pots are easy to find, and larger than that I tend to buy lechuza planters or sometimes searching for "self watering pots" well get you leca compatible pots
It’s a set I got from Amazon, I’m sure you could piece it together cheaper, but I’ve made a ton of things lately and liked it enough to pull the trigger. Here is the link…
Hi! You can get something like this depending on the size of your plant. I use something similar but I get it from a local dealer (I'm based in the Philippines). Then just find a bowl/pot with no holes to put it in where you can put your water/nutrient solution.
I hope that helps! Wishing you healthy plants!
I've just ordered the product below from Amazon. I'm new to semi hydro but I've seen many recommend the general hydroponics set in this sub. General Hydroponics sell under the brand Terra Aquatica in Europe.
Check this out at Amazon GHE SW Flora GRO, Bloom & Micro 1L https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B018680YA8/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_i_KQQ502RWZ52W4G91DTRY
I like the 3 bottle combo from General Hydroponics. My plants have been doing better since I started using it.
Super late to this post, but I’ve found this one:
Pot & Pebble Glass Indoor Planter with Wooden Base & Water Level Control: Transparent for Root Visibility (Suitable for Semi-Hydroponic or General Use) Easier Plant Care, Less Watering & More Growth! https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08T21T2KG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_NT5T5DTGCWZZFE07A52K
Cheap ones that are reusable/rewashable are the polyester filter fiber used in aquarium filters and hairnets. I would probably choose the hairnet between the two, so that when you flush your substrate, any organic matter will still pass through, and the elastic on the hairnet will be easy to place around the rim of your pot.
Coffee filters will degrade over time, but plastic mesh screens could work. I just like the ease of use of hairnets since you don't have to use glue or add anything else to it. Just make sure the elastic will fit the size of your pot.
I’ve been using general hydroponics’ flora series (flora micro/flora gro/flora bloom) plus their CaliMagic (1ts of each into a gallon of water OR 1ml of each into a liter of water if i don’t have many plants to water that day)and all my leca transfers and props seem to love it. I’ll drop the Amazon link, they have the best price for the series compared to my local hydroponics shop.
Hope this helps!
After buying every different set-up i could come across, i have come to really love these (in transparent) - they check all the boxes for me and don't include a fabric wick. the only downside is sometimes the drainage holes on the bottom of the inner pot aren't molded out completely from plastic injection, so i just go over them with a soldering iron or knife to make sure that the water flows freely
Santino Self Watering Planters Arte 4.3 Inch Transparent/Transparent Flower Pots Set of 4
I have a neon in water, leca, potting mix, and this blend.
The last one is best imo. I have to water more frequently than typical but it grows like crazy and is more forgiving than any of the other mediums.
I've been using MaxiGrow for the past year and most plants, including my several lucky bamboo, are doing great. Eyeballing where the water should be should be fine for plants like lucky bamboo.
I love these pots. You can use the cotton cord that comes with them to self wick water. But I actually just fill the water so that it’s about 1/4 of the way up the side of the inner pot! They work wonderfully with PON
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07MZLBHTC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_D48VZERV74NK9G3VQR5V
It's fine. I actually started using this kind for hydro and it's so convenient I'm using it for my soil plant now as well! You only need a tiny bit so this little bottle lasts forever
I can’t condense the link for whatever reason, but this is the fourth and most accurate one I’ve tried so far. I especially like the fact that it comes with the ph calibrating liquid. It’s nice that you can recalibrate whenever you need, since ph meters do seem to lose calibration rather quickly if you use them consistently.
APERA INSTRUMENTS AI209 Value Series PH20 Waterproof pH Tester Kit, ±0.1 pH Accuracy https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01ENFOHN8/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_RASBE6Z0812GBCZPM1BD?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
To answer your other question, I’m not sure what that webbing is but two of my plants had the same thing. What I did was take the leca out and give it a full soak and rinse. Then rinsed the plants leaves, stems, and roots very well under running water. Then repotted like normal. I haven’t seen any more webbing since, and that was a few months past. So I’m assuming the res change/shower took care of it! Pest management isthe best part of semihydro 😌
You can wait a little bit (a week or so) but a month is too long in my opinion. I bought a monstera about this size from a plant shop a few months ago and immediately transferred it into leca when I got home. I added nutrients right away, but just did a small dose.
I use general hydroponics and started with a small dose of 1ml of each solution and slowly worked my way up. She’s taken to leca amazingly and she’s put out 3 big new leaves since!
You can also add some Superthrive. I just got it myself and haven’t used it yet, so I don’t have much advice, but I’ve heard it works wonders!
Get this https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084NRSRFV/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_dl_Y7XQNAN7AFFTH9XDT4BN?psc=1
Large LECA pots are hard to find. You can also get a large mesh planter and a ceramic pot. I hate plastics but for LECA they’re a good option
Cool! Thanks for the info on your experiments. Yeah, I have heard that the cotton wicks can sometimes go moldy and break down over time. I've seen someone recommend using this blanket yarn so I might look into that. It's polyester but apparently wicks quite well compared to other synthetic wicks that sometimes have a coating on them.
Thank you! This would be my first one, and I'm currently in the middle of doing some testing. One pole has a wick running into a separate reservoir and another just has leca touching the leca inside the pot.
Pole with 1/4" thick wick keeps the leca moist, while the un-wicked one doesn't have enough surface area to promote capillarity.
I did find that leca tends to retain moisture longer than sphagnum moss, even with active ventilation (fan blowing 24/7). I also found that misting only applies moisture superficially, and the moisture retaining qualities actually come from soaked leca.
One finding that I was not happy about was that the pot that had the wick gave off an off-putting smell, I'm currently trying to determine the source, whether if its from rotting soil roots (other plants currently in conversion doesn't smell this way), if its from the cotton wick, or some residue on the pot that I used (I didn't wash it, just wiped it down).
Luckily, the peru that resided in that pot had a lil water root bud popping out when I went to investigate the smell source. :)
I like the Advanced Nutrients set because of the pH balance, my plants seem to thrive in it.
The felt is quite big so it’ll last forever. I found the receipt and it’s 180cm wide and $11 a metre, the cutting charge was $10. I found out the felt from https://www.instagram.com/themellowpot/ who uses them to make totems (there’s a insta story highlight on it).
The rope I ended up getting was https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B07CHG8MF7/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&th=1
I use this 8" but it's shallow like an azalea pot (perfect for snake plant but not deeper rooted plants)
I mostly use these sorts of planters for larger leca plants though. I wish they were net pots but they work well.
I made the majority of them out of deli containers and wicking cord so they are self watering. That way I could keep an eye on the roots as they were transitioning. (They are light, though, so I place them inside of heavy pots to reduce the chance of tipping over). I’m slowly putting them in better looking purchased pots (link below) whenever I have the extra $$$ to buy them. I personally like the clear reservoir so I can keep a constant eye on water level.
4-Pack Large Clear Self Watering... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B097NXZZ7P?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
5 Packs 5.1 Inches Clear Self... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07W9JJ8B5?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
It's a self watering pot with a little window so you can see if there's water left, but I also use indicators like these in all my pots
I had to get creative! The clear pot is actually this 10 litre clear plastic bucket with holes made in the bottom. The cache pot is this one.
I know if you search "self watering" on amazon, you get stuff like this. I've never tried them bc I want clear like you haha.
I honestly reuse talenti gelato containers and just plop them in cache pots that are much bigger 😂 but I'm really interested to see what people do
As long as you're okay with it leaking because it definitely may, especially when you have to flush it.
I would just buy a self watering pot that fits inside the metal pot, personally. Something like this. As long as your monstera will fit in it
thank you! yes and no lol i bought the trellis off amazon (here’s the link) and i wrapped macrame rope around it :)
Yeah there are lots of big buckets but for small timers the only appropriate kind I've come across are packets example. Also I've seen multiple people on hydro forums say they use the regular granular forum, soaked, as a foliar spray.
But you can also find lots of other neo nic options like safari/active ingredient Dinotefuran, and there are more I don't recall off the top of my head.
How large of a pot do you need? I have a large snake plant in a 10" self watering planter, and a dracaena in a large nursery pot (12"?) inside a nicer looking trash can.
You could also use your bucket idea inside any sort of large decorative pot or a rope basket or whatever
Sure thing! Only the tiniest net pots would fit in this silly thing (like, a 2.5 inch might fit) so the plant, leca and gauge are potted directly in the container. I bought the gauge from Amazon. It's positioned such that the little red thing hits the top at the exact place where the reservoir should come up to, so it's easy to refill the right amount.
In the beginning i was putting my hand over the leca and tipping the pot to empty/flush and it was somewhat annoying (I prefer net+cache pot), but the roots have grown and gripped the leca enough that I can actually pull the whole plant and root system out in one big clump, so it's much easier to flush and clean now.
So there was a learning curve in figuring out how to make it work but overall it's easy now.
I’ve actually started getting the clear wicking ones with a string (example below). They’re clear so I can see the water level, these no indicator that can break, and since the water is wicked up with the string and not directly in contact with the LECA I worry way less about wet/dry cycle. You can pull the string higher into the leca for plants that like to be wetter and vice versa. The reservoir is also larger.
3 Packs 7 Inches Clear Self Watering Planters Large Plastic Self Watering Pots Wick Flower Pots for Indoor Plants, African Violet, Ocean Spider Plant, Orchid, Clear and White https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07WLSH526/
Sorry, I mentioned at the end I don't want people to think I'm pushing a product, so I didn't include the link. Here it is :)
I bought 4 or 5 variations of this sort of pot but this one was my fav by far. But there are plenty of similar options if this one isn't perfect for you!
I got this insanely large bag from Amazon! It filled up all of the pots you see in the pictures plus a few others, and I still have some left Amazon Leca
These are what I'm referring too
I can vouch for them being quite porous.
That makes sense. Is the type of zeolite you use something like this? Also, what are the approximate ratios of zeolite to lava rock and pumice in your mix? Cheers!
Thanks! I recently just bought a large grow tent so I will be expanding this grow shelf haha. This shelf will not become my micro greens shelf.
As for the lights I got them off amazon. They are T8 led bars. T10 would be even better but honestly these plants have exploded since I have them under the lights for 12 hr on /12 off.
Here's the link
I got mine from amazon and I LOVE IT. I only have one plant in soil and it’s really helped me keep it alive! amazon moisture meter
These are the pots I used, you can see the hole from the top and attached plate which made plugging the hole easier. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07X6NL9Q7/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o08_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
I used something like this(link below) because it was a tube I could squeeze. The one you linked, you'd have to use a dispenser that attaches to the tube and pushes it out for you(added cost). The pots I used had an attached plate at the bottom, so I squeezed the silicone in from the inside of the pot and because it formed peaks when I pulled the tube away, I evened it out using a plastic knife. This is the type that I used, maybe not the exact brand but same qualities and container:https://www.amazon.com/GE-GE281-Silicone-Kitchen-Squeeze/dp/B016TQF65M/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=waterproof+tub+silicone+sealant&qid=1603658377&s=hi&sr=1-4
Are you referring to something like this, or like a caulk? Also did you just have the pot set on a table and squirt it in the hole or did you spread it around the bottom or anything?
Hm is that brand/type only in UK? Nothing is coming up for me (US) when I google. When I tried searching on Amazon this came up
Anyway I can try the smaller and see how that works
Could you just put a plastic saucer inside? Probably a lot of work plugging all the holes...plant saucer
Also if they are unglazed terra cotta the pot itself will soak up a bunch of water and be wet all the time, the saucer would prevent that as well. If glazed you are made in the shade : )
I think that's a great idea.
I'm currently using a mix of clear orchid pots, clear plastic buckets and . . . I kid you not, clear plastic disposable cups for tiny plants.
it’s a basic self watering planter! looks something like this
If you want cheaper nutrients I've been using jacks 3 2 1 at 1/8th strength and it's been working well enough. May try out a stronger solution (just not dilute as much), but getting decent growth with it. $10 and you'll have all you'll ever need.
KITADIN Self Watering Planter 3 Pack Decorative Planter Modern Garden Pot for Indoor Outdoor Plants Flowers Herbs Succulents (S, White) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0832XB434/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apip_kTbu3FlovZpRU
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PFHMNC9/ref=cm_sw_r_u_apa_i_1DkCFb6MWTEHM
I leave them on 12 hours a day. They have done great, I've had a bunch of new growth, leaves and roots. My apartment is a cave, so very minimal light. These definitely have made a difference.
Kind of way out there, but maybe you could reuse some containers? There used to be kind of giant containers of cheese puff rounds everywhere that were clear. You could cut it to the preferred height.
Pic to what I am talking about: https://www.amazon.com/Cheese-Balls-Real-Snack-Ounce/dp/B0001UXQ9Q?th=1
Edited to add: If you were willing to go opaque, coffee containers from Maxwell and/or Folgers are a good size too. I am planning on repainting a Folgers container to transplant an Oncidium that's outgrowing it's 64oz deli container.