LECA vs AROID Mix - Which Should YOU use?
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- čas přidán 29. 08. 2024
- LECA Kit: prettyingreen....
Aroid Mix: prettyingreen....
BTi for Gnats: prettyingreen....
0:08 Overview
0:57 Pros and Cons of LECA
1:10 Much Less bugs with leca
1:40 Less Root Rot with LECA
2:07 LECA is more expensive
2:15 LECA is reusable
3:15 LECA grows 30% faster than soil!
3:47 Plants with thick roots love LECA
4:19 Chunky Aroid Mix
4:40 Plants consume aroid mix
5:10 Gnats are much more of a problem in aroid mix
5:22 Aroid Mix is Forgiving
6:00 Avoid Soil based mixes
6:25 Aroid mix is relatively cheap
6:45 Aroid Mix will grow slower vs LECA
7:15 Far more damping off in young plants in aroid mix
7:46 Pros and Cons of LECA Vs Aroid Mix
8:12 Please subscribe to the channel!
LECA A+B: prettyingreen....
Aroid Mix: prettyingreen....
BTi for Gnats: prettyingreen....
Neem Concentrate: prettyingreen....
Slow Release Fert: prettyingreen....
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In this video we go over:
LECA or Aroid Mix
Should I use LECA
Should I use aroid mix
Aroid mix recipe
#leca #aroidmix #rareplants
I do earn a small amount money from amazon affiliate links if purchases are made (and I mean pennies). This does not create incentive to make videos like this. My goal is to make reliable, honest, plant content viewers can trust.
Our A+B Leca Kit: prettyingreen.com/products/leca-kit?_pos=1&_sid=a4b471276&_ss=r
the subtle upgrades of your set up in the background is awesome, love this video 👏🏾!
Thank you!! The setup has taken a long time 😅😆
This is pushing it far... but bro, i loves you! Thank you for this video.
I've been so curious (but bashful to ask plant pros) the difference btwn the 2 mediums!! Most importantly you answered my key question above gnats!!
Love your lesson learned videos, too!!
I'm totally stalking your channel now!
So happy you liked the video! Both media are great to use -- just in different instances / types of use! Thank you for watching :)
Still prefer aroid mix over leca . I like the watering schedule better, I use orchid pots in another pot so no water mess, cheaper to feed, no root rot yet(knock on wood) and I have gotten the little flies from leca.
Fair point! Orchid pots are great for it. Much cheaper to feed!
If using soil/aroid mix I use my own home-made compost that has a high level of fungus and have never had root rot. The key is to having healthy microbiology bc it’ll self-regulate the pests and anaerobic bacteria that causes issues.
Leca works great too and have used it successfully in hydro, aquaponics and teaponics
lol thanks for making this. I know I've bothered you a bit about this. Also, framing looks perfect since you moved back 👍
Lol you were right! It looks better putting the camera a bit further back! Easier to edit too 😄
@@prettyingreen Also shows off that lovely space better, we can trust what you're saying since we can see your results behind you.
And now you have the ability to zoom in and crop when you want to, given that you have the extra frame to work with. (more excuse to shoot in a higher res like 4k so you can cut down and keep resolution). Looking forward to seeing this channel grow.
@@silenc3x Really appreciate that! Been wanting to splurge on 4k cam -- but can't really justify it yet! Maybe early next year
I saved a few of my plants by transplanting them from soil to leca, they thrive so much better! but I haven't thought of adding perlite together with the leca...maybe I'll try that!
I still have a few plants that are in a aroid mix.
That’s awesome to hear!! LECA can be revolutionary for some plants! Aroid mix is also great-they both just have different applications
Thanks for another informative video as always! A couple questions if you please:
1. Why combine 50:50 Leca to Perlite? I believe both are airy on their own.
2. When you mention how well Monsteras do in Leca, are you referring to 100% L, or the 50:50 L/P combination?
3. Have you considered Pon? I know you experimented with Stratum for instance. I vacillate between Leca vs. Pon. Any thoughts on it?
Hey! Happy to answer questions!
1. The LECA alone require nearly daily watering; adding in the perlite extends that watering window to 7-10 days or so. It’s simply for convenience
2. I’m referring to both, but I find Monstera prefers 100% LECA. Or about a 70/30 Leca/perlite
3. I have considered pon and have a bag arriving (video to come). But I think of it as a perlite rock/pumice, that contains perlite. That’s my analysis before trying it, but we’ll see! I think Pon is appropriate if you don’t want to mix nutrient water
Hope this helps!
@@prettyingreen thanks for the detailed reply. Perhaps I can return the favor. I think you’ll like the Pon. It does a great job of keeping plant roots hydrated enough (customizable by how much water you wish to provide using reservoir, or pour over method), but without “wet feet”. It will definitely stretch the time between waterings. Most of my plants have adjusted well to this medium (from Syngoniums, Hoyas, Philodendron Painted Ladies, to Raph. Decursiva). Can’t speak to Monstera yet, but planning to give it a whirl. With Syngoniums, you need to make sure the humidity doesn’t get too high, but once you get it right it’s set it and forget it! The challenge with Monstera is the large size. Procuring inner self watering pots that fit into my nicer, large cover pots is a challenge. With larger plants, DIYing your own inner pot solutions present a hazard, because you cannot monitor the condition of the roots (unless you’re using a clear pot). A good way to “Macgiver” a large DIY pot is by using two nursery pots (one without drainage hole). You can place Terra Cotta/plastic pot feet between the two pots to create a reservoir space in between the two pots. The only problem is knowing when to top up water. I lift the inner pot, and if I don’t hear water drips, then I know reservoir needs to be topped up. That’s a pain though. A pot with built in water level is ideal, but pricey. Anyway, just thought I’d share a few tips in case it’s helpful. Feel free to disregard or ask clarifications if you’d like.
Please please please do an episode on how to repot seedlings and tissue culture straight out of nursery
Will do!
Hey Chris, I'm watching your videos about Leca, but I found some conflicting info. In other videos, you mentioned for 50/50 Leca/Perlite mix, you water them twice a week (Monday morning & Thursday night). However, in this video, you said once a week. Which watering schedule is better?
Hey Ray! Great point-let me clarify. I’m winter, I stretch out to 1x watering every 7-10 days. In summer I water once every 4-8 days or so. These intervals vary in my environment and will in yours.
Instead of using hard lines, use the weight of the pot, the color of the Leca at the top 2”, and the dryness at the bottom of the pot. Once my pot is lighter feeling and dry at the bottom, I water it 😄 this tends to be between 6-10 days on average. Hope this makes sense
Thanks for the comparison. How would you recommend to organize the watering in leca, when we are on a holiday for 1 month? I use watering balls for the plants in soil, but I guess it won't work in case of leca
That’s a great question. I did a video a bit back on self watering systems. I really like the Blumats or the wicking system: czcams.com/video/8pBbcrf7RwI/video.html
Thanks for sharing. It was very helpful. What do you think of mixing 50/50 leca/aroid mix? Mixing them together.
I think that would work fine! It would just dry out quite quickly! But that’s a good thing for growth!
Im sorry but your aroid mix doesnt contain any nutricients....? Coco coir has none. perlite neither. What is feeding it.
Slow release fertilizer! I mention it very quickly, but didn’t write it out. Or I use a liquid fert with every other watering! 😄
Thanks for the info!! Do you have a reservoir?
Yes!
Hi Chris! I’ve been doing leca since watching your videos. Could use your help identifying and should leca?
Hey Amy! Yeah happy to help! What's the question? :)
@@prettyingreen I’d like to send photos of my variegated monstera (I think it’s a monstera). It’s not the same size as other monstera so I’m not sure. It does have aroids. It’s in soil now and showing stressed.
I’ll try to email
Maybe this is a dumb question, but can I transplant my tissue cultures directly from agar to leca? I haven’t seen anyone else doing this… if not, what medium do you use for the in between stage after agar but before leca?
You can but it’s super tricky. I usually use perlite. I killed off 4 Thai cons last week trying this direct to Leca method 🥲
@@prettyingreen thank you for your videos and responses. They have been incredibly helpful!
What about using lecca in a chunky aeroid mix?
Absolutely! Love that idea. Adds even more drainage
If you are using Leca but not in a semi-hydroponic setup (so letting the water drain and watering on a schedule), can you use a slow-release fertilizer instead of the part A/B setup?
Yes! That’s a great idea. I haven’t tried it, but I’m sure it’s possible!
Hi! New subscriber here. Thanks for all the great information. I’m about to get into semi-hydroponics in leca with my plants so need all the tips I can get 😄🪴
Hey! Welcome! Semi hydro is awesome, and LECA is a great plant to start. Todays video might also be helpful on Pon vs LECA vs Perlite vs Stratum