Okay I just product a lot of products . I love it . I have 23 plants and bought your pebbles, water gauge, and pro tech solutions . Love it! Better then soil which rot my plants. Your video is very helpful. Thank you so much 🙏🏾👏🏾
You make this look easy breezy... Soon as I get some extra money I am going to buy this I would like to switch some plants (to start) to this hydro system very clean looking.
I was under the impression that most plants could be grown hydroponically wit their roots completely submerged in water, but my aloe vera disagrees. I'll have to give this method a try!
Do you have any tips for removing soil from fine root systems such as the African violet or calatheas? I recently transferred a Calathea to LECA but was not able to remove all the dirt, and was afraid to be too aggressive.
Many plants have delicate roots. Removing the soil is a little easier if you soak then in water before removing the soil. But I try to get all of the soil off - even if it means damaging a few roots. Then I plant them a little deeper in LECA and water from the bottom. Bottom watering is: 1) Use the water gauge as a handle and lift the plant out of the outer pot. 2) Pour about 1/2" of water (or KLN Rooting Solution) in the outer pot 3) Return plant to outer pot. Then wait until all the water is used up before watering again. I would do the same with calathea.
Technically everything is "bottom watering" because when you pour water over the pebbles it passes through to the bottom of the pot. The real watering happens when the LECA pebbles wick the moisture up to the plant. I refer to bottom watering when I lift the plant up out of the reservoir and then pour water (or nutrient solution) into the reservoir (saucer or outer pot) - and then return the plant to the pot or saucer. This avoids spilling water on the leaves.
Yes I treat Alocasia different - they don't seem to like me very much so I avoid them! I suggest cutting back on the water. Water by taking plant to the sink and just running water through the pebbles and then return back to the outer pot with no standing water at the base. Repeat 1-2 times a week. After several weeks when plant looks like it's happy start watering with the water gauge - watering only to 1/4 on gauge. Wait until plant is completely dry before rewatering. Good Luck!
So for the first 4-6 weeks, you water with the rooting solution mixed with water. Then you move on to using the nutrient-water solution? You mentioned that you might water every 2-3 weeks eventually but I'm wondering just by running the water through like that is enough for the plant? How can you tell when to water when you dont use the bottom watering method?
Growing new roots is job #1. New roots aren't ready for nutrients. That's why I recommend KLN Rooting Solution for the first couple of weeks. Just running water (or KLN Solution) through the pebbles 1-2 times a week is actually enough water for plants that don't like wet feet - like cactus and succulents. Roots need air to grow! After 4-6 weeks the plants should be adapting to hydroponics - then you can start using the water gauge to measure how much water - usually 1/4 on gauge. Be sure to wait until system is completely dry befre rewatering 9 that can be 2-3 weeks). Water gauges are the critical tool to measure how much water is in the reservoir.
Thank you for the explanations! Do you have any specific advices for a mini monstera in Leca? I just transplanted mine, it's doing fine but any advices that would prevent me from killing it are welcome :)
First, I hope you have it in a grow pot with drainage and a water gauge. I suggest allowing enough time for the LECA to dry out between waterings. This can be 2 weeks or more. New roots need air as much as they need water to grow.
I think you're probably keeping the plants too wet. Roots need air as much as they need water to grow. I ALWAYS want the system to dry out between waterings. Even with new transplants, if they haven't used up the water in 2 weeks I dump it out and force a dry period for several days before rewatering. On the other hand, some plants simply abandon their existing soil roots and grow new hydroponics roots. These plants need a little TLC to get going. If I suspect root rot I remove the plant from the grow pot - wash away all the mushy roots - and then replant a little deeper. Water by simply pouring water through the pebbles once a week - no standing water at the base.
When it comes time to repot a plant that might be root bound, do you have to remove all the LECA from the root ball or can you leave it and just place in a larger pot and add more LECA to fill it in?
Depends on the plant. I'm usually pretty aggressive removing the soil. But sometimes the root ball is too tight. Soaking the root ball over night will help. Or use the "terraponics" approach and leave the root ball intact. See more on terraponics at: www.easygrohydro.com/terraponics-index.html
@@thehydroponicsguy2379 Thanks for your reply! What I meant was actually for plants that have already been converted to semi hydro and if they become root bound after a couple years and need to go up a pot size - do you have to remove the LECA pebbles within the root ball or it doesn't matter? Cheers!
@@AmyElizabethNelsonBlain LECA pebbles are ceramic and they won't decompose or decay. You can move the entire root ball into the new pot - and leave the pebbles and roots as they are.
I flush the system after transplanting to get everything started. Then I ALWAYS want the system to dry out between waterings after that. So I never "top it off".
@@thehydroponicsguy2379 huh so interesting. A lot of the semi hydroponics community leave a reservoir with water at all times. I've even seen orchid growers using this method freak out when the reservoir dries out for more than a day. It's wild how all these methods are used and our plants are ok, they sure are resilient.
@@evepoeschl2348 I know what you mean. I go by the experience I've gained from 20+ years of converting houseplants and orchids - both commercially and as a hobby. Roots need air to grow and I've always had better success when I allow the system to dry out between waterings. Some of my orchids actually sit dry for a least a week between waterings in winter when they're not actively growing.
Okay I just product a lot of products . I love it . I have 23 plants and bought your pebbles, water gauge, and pro tech solutions . Love it! Better then soil which rot my plants. Your video is very helpful. Thank you so much 🙏🏾👏🏾
Your videos are the best on youtube for. noobs just learning how to grow and care for plants.
You make this look easy breezy... Soon as I get some extra money I am going to buy this I would like to switch some plants
(to start) to this hydro system very clean looking.
I was under the impression that most plants could be grown hydroponically wit their roots completely submerged in water, but my aloe vera disagrees. I'll have to give this method a try!
Thank you for all your nice videos 💚🌻
Could you possibly put the relevant websites for these products in the video description? Thank you!
Good idea!!!
For info: www.easygrohydro.com/hydroponics-for-houseplants.html
for products: www.easygrohydro-store.com/
Beautiful sharing 👍👍👍🌹🌹🌹
Can I do this with a monstera deliciosa? Mine is currently in soil but I'd like to let in go in water alone.
How about the sunlight. After the transplanting, do we leaves the plant under direct sunlight?
thank you so much for this knowledge!
Do you have any tips for removing soil from fine root systems such as the African violet or calatheas? I recently transferred a Calathea to LECA but was not able to remove all the dirt, and was afraid to be too aggressive.
Many plants have delicate roots. Removing the soil is a little easier if you soak then in water before removing the soil. But I try to get all of the soil off - even if it means damaging a few roots. Then I plant them a little deeper in LECA and water from the bottom. Bottom watering is: 1) Use the water gauge as a handle and lift the plant out of the outer pot. 2) Pour about 1/2" of water (or KLN Rooting Solution) in the outer pot 3) Return plant to outer pot. Then wait until all the water is used up before watering again. I would do the same with calathea.
@@thehydroponicsguy2379 thanks so much!
@@Handlehere256 you're welcome
When do I switch from KLN to Dyna grow? How many weeks?
What is the rationale to bottom water vs pouring water over top and leaving reservoir?
Technically everything is "bottom watering" because when you pour water over the pebbles it passes through to the bottom of the pot. The real watering happens when the LECA pebbles wick the moisture up to the plant.
I refer to bottom watering when I lift the plant up out of the reservoir and then pour water (or nutrient solution) into the reservoir (saucer or outer pot) - and then return the plant to the pot or saucer. This avoids spilling water on the leaves.
Do you treat Alocasias differently for their watering post-transplant? My Polly has been losing leaves ever since her transplant. Thanks!
Yes I treat Alocasia different - they don't seem to like me very much so I avoid them! I suggest cutting back on the water. Water by taking plant to the sink and just running water through the pebbles and then return back to the outer pot with no standing water at the base. Repeat 1-2 times a week. After several weeks when plant looks like it's happy start watering with the water gauge - watering only to 1/4 on gauge. Wait until plant is completely dry before rewatering.
Good Luck!
So for the first 4-6 weeks, you water with the rooting solution mixed with water. Then you move on to using the nutrient-water solution?
You mentioned that you might water every 2-3 weeks eventually but I'm wondering just by running the water through like that is enough for the plant? How can you tell when to water when you dont use the bottom watering method?
Growing new roots is job #1. New roots aren't ready for nutrients. That's why I recommend KLN Rooting Solution for the first couple of weeks. Just running water (or KLN Solution) through the pebbles 1-2 times a week is actually enough water for plants that don't like wet feet - like cactus and succulents. Roots need air to grow! After 4-6 weeks the plants should be adapting to hydroponics - then you can start using the water gauge to measure how much water - usually 1/4 on gauge. Be sure to wait until system is completely dry befre rewatering 9 that can be 2-3 weeks).
Water gauges are the critical tool to measure how much water is in the reservoir.
@@thehydroponicsguy2379 Thank you!
@@icecreambaby7121 you're welcome
Thank you for the explanations! Do you have any specific advices for a mini monstera in Leca? I just transplanted mine, it's doing fine but any advices that would prevent me from killing it are welcome :)
First, I hope you have it in a grow pot with drainage and a water gauge. I suggest allowing enough time for the LECA to dry out between waterings. This can be 2 weeks or more. New roots need air as much as they need water to grow.
@@thehydroponicsguy2379 thank you so much !!🥰
I've had 50% of my LECA transfers die with root rot- any suggestions on how to treat root rot?
I think you're probably keeping the plants too wet.
Roots need air as much as they need water to grow.
I ALWAYS want the system to dry out between waterings.
Even with new transplants, if they haven't used up the water in 2 weeks I dump it out and force a dry period for several days before rewatering.
On the other hand, some plants simply abandon their existing soil roots and grow new hydroponics roots. These plants need a little TLC to get going.
If I suspect root rot I remove the plant from the grow pot - wash away all the mushy roots - and then replant a little deeper. Water by simply pouring water through the pebbles once a week - no standing water at the base.
When it comes time to repot a plant that might be root bound, do you have to remove all the LECA from the root ball or can you leave it and just place in a larger pot and add more LECA to fill it in?
Depends on the plant. I'm usually pretty aggressive removing the soil. But sometimes the root ball is too tight. Soaking the root ball over night will help. Or use the "terraponics" approach and leave the root ball intact. See more on terraponics at: www.easygrohydro.com/terraponics-index.html
@@thehydroponicsguy2379 Thanks for your reply! What I meant was actually for plants that have already been converted to semi hydro and if they become root bound after a couple years and need to go up a pot size - do you have to remove the LECA pebbles within the root ball or it doesn't matter? Cheers!
@@AmyElizabethNelsonBlain LECA pebbles are ceramic and they won't decompose or decay. You can move the entire root ball into the new pot - and leave the pebbles and roots as they are.
@@thehydroponicsguy2379 that's great, thank you!
Where to buy your products
Do you ship to Hawaii?
Do you flush the plant at all or do you just top off the container?
I flush the system after transplanting to get everything started.
Then I ALWAYS want the system to dry out between waterings after that. So I never "top it off".
@@thehydroponicsguy2379 huh so interesting. A lot of the semi hydroponics community leave a reservoir with water at all times. I've even seen orchid growers using this method freak out when the reservoir dries out for more than a day. It's wild how all these methods are used and our plants are ok, they sure are resilient.
@@evepoeschl2348 I know what you mean. I go by the experience I've gained from 20+ years of converting houseplants and orchids - both commercially and as a hobby. Roots need air to grow and I've always had better success when I allow the system to dry out between waterings. Some of my orchids actually sit dry for a least a week between waterings in winter when they're not actively growing.
Very nice 🤩🤩
thanks!
🙏🙏🙏🙂