Using leca to propagate your plants

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LECA (Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate) is a growing medium made of expanded clay pellets. These pellets are lightweight, porous, and ideal for plant propagation due to their ability to retain moisture and provide aeration to the roots.

• LECA pellets
• Clean water
• jb-plants propagation glass
• Healthy plant cuttings or seedlings
• Nutrient solution (optional)

1. Prepare the LECA

• Rinse the LECA pellets: Place the LECA pellets in a colander and rinse them thoroughly under running water to remove any dust and debris.
• Soak the LECA pellets: Soak the cleaned LECA pellets in water for 24 hours. Rinse the LECA thoroughly again and repeat the soaking for another 24 hours. Rinse them again and then soak in a mixture of water and water-soluble plant fertilizer for a final 24 hours. This helps the pellets to become fully saturated, ensuring they can provide adequate moisture and nutrients to the plant roots.

2. Prepare the Plant Cuttings

• Select healthy cuttings: Choose healthy, disease-free cuttings from the parent plant. Ensure that each cutting has at least one node, which is essential for root development.
• Prepare the cuttings: Remove any lower leaves to prevent them from rotting in the water and trim the cutting to the desired length.

3. Plant the Cuttings in LECA

• Fill glass with LECA: Fill the bottom ⅔ of the glass with a layer of LECA pellets.
• Place the cutting: Position the plant cutting in the glass, ensuring the node is in contact with the LECA pellets.
• Add more LECA: Gently fill around the cutting with more LECA pellets until the glass is almost full. Make sure the cutting is supported and stands upright.

4. Placing the glass

• Place the glass: Select your favorite jb-plants propagation station and gently place the glass in it.
• Add water: Fill the glass half full (or half empty) with water. This allows the LECA pellets to wick up moisture to the plant roots.
• Maintain water level: Keep an eye on the water level and refill as necessary to ensure the LECA pellets remain moist but not waterlogged.

5. Monitor and Maintain

• Check moisture levels: Regularly check the moisture levels of the LECA pellets. They should be consistently moist but not soaked.
• Change the water: Leaving the LECA and plant in place, place your hand loosely over the top of the glass, gently tip the glass so that the water empties out. Refill the glass as instructed above. Perform this water change every 1.5 - 2 weeks. 
• Add nutrients (optional): If you choose to use a nutrient solution, follow the manufacturer's instructions for dilution and add it to the water reservoir. This will provide the necessary nutrients for the plant's growth. Do this during your water change every 3-4 months. 
• Monitor plant growth: Keep an eye on the cutting for signs of root development and new growth. This may take several weeks, depending on the plant species.

6. Transplanting (if necessary) 

• Transplant to soil (optional): Once the cuttings have developed a robust root system, they can be transplanted into soil if desired. Carefully remove the plant from the LECA, rinse the roots gently, and plant them in a pot with soil.

Using LECA for plant propagation is a simple and effective method that promotes healthy root growth and reduces the risk of overwatering. With proper care and maintenance, you can successfully propagate a wide variety of plants using this versatile growing medium.