Preparing LECA (Clay Pebbles) For Plant Propagation
Once you have your LECA, you’ll want to rinse them clean. After they’re clean, let them soak in water for a couple of hours.
Reusing LECA (Clay Pebbles)
If you already have LECA and want to recycle it, all you have to do is boil the LECA. You can add a bit of hydrogen peroxide to the water while you boil it to get it really clean. After you boil it for 30 minutes, rinse it clean, let it dry and then have it soak in water for a couple of hours.
How To Propagate Plants in LECA (Clay Pebbles)
You’ll want to select a container. I recommend a glass container or clear plastic container so you can see how full your reservoir is and whether your cutting is rooted or not.
Place your cuttings into the LECA. It should be deep enough for the cutting to stand up. The water will work its way up from the base of the container, through the LECA (Clay Pebbles) to the top. It’s important to always maintain 1″-1.5″ of water at the base of the container or the roots will dry out. As time progresses, you’ll start to notice roots growing from the cuttings around the LECA.
What To Do When Your Plants Have Rooted In LECA
There’s a few things you can do. But I recommend either leaving it in the LECA, since it’s already growing that way, it won’t go through any shock with a substrate change. However, if you want to put it in soil, then just place the rooted plant, the attached LECA and surround the roots with your soil mix.