Expanded clay hydrogranules or LECA - Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate/expanded clay (exclay) - are obtained by heating the clay to a temperature of 1200℃. The high temperature causes the clay to expand, forming a honeycomb structure, with multiple properties appreciated in hydroponic cultures.

The hydrogranules of clay (LECA) are presented in the form of round, prorous, light and inert granules, neutral from a chemical point of view, with a neutral PH, ecological (no additives are used in the production process) and non-toxic. They do not burn and cannot be affected by insects.

Benefits:

- they can have both a decorative and a practical role

- it provides a very good aeration of the roots and a very good drainage

- behaves like some reservoirs of water and nutrients with gradual release

- they can be used as an inorganic substrate - they do NOT decompose. They can even be sterilized and reused.

Hydrogranules of clay (LECA) are not affected by insects. They are ecological, non-toxic, fire-resistant and chemically neutral.

Possible disadvantages:

• clay hydrogranules can be unstable during plant movement, also causing a certain degree of destabilization of the plant's root system
• in the warm season, frequent watering is necessary, because the water evaporates quite easily
• clay hydrogranules are not always suitable for plants that require constant (high) humidity at the level of the root system

Hydrogranules are also successfully used in the composition of substrates (e.g. Cattleya substrate).

Placing a layer of hydrogranules in the pot, before adding other types of substrate, ensures good water drainage. Thus, possible problems of the root system, caused by water stagnation, can be avoided.

Careful! For hydroponic crops, special fertilizers are used, usually with gradual release (to avoid burning the roots) and more complex content of micro and macro nutrients (so that the classic substrate can be successfully replaced).

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