A houseplant can be grown in LECA in many ways using a technique called “Semi-Hydro.” One of the most crucial phases in growing a healthy plant in a semi-hydroponic system is selecting the appropriate type of pot.
Finding hydroponic pots may be challenging, and picking the incorrect one can be catastrophic. We have compiled a list of some of the best pots for Semi Hydroponics to help you find the ideal pot for your plant, whether in an opaque outer pot or if you’re looking for hydroponic plants.
Understanding Semi Hydroponics
Table of Contents
Semi-hydroponics, also known as hydroculture, is a technique for cultivating plants without needing peat moss, soil, bark, or other organic material. The growing medium, lightweight expanded clay aggregate, or LECA, is powerful, incredibly porous, and absorbent.
Making plant care effortless is one of the main reasons why people choose semi-hydroponics for plants.
This form of plant cultivation aids individuals in avoiding both over and underwatering. Semi-hydro plants differ from hydroponics since it draws water and nutrients from a reservoir through wicking action or capillary.
Plants grown semi-hydroponically are placed in a two-pot system. Inorganic components are kept within one container (the inner pot), serving as the plant’s foundation and aiding in water absorption.
The other container — which is the outer pot — serves the role of a water reservoir. The base of the upper container has tiny drain holes.
The plants absorb the water they require during watering, and any excess water flows from the first container to the second. The roots of the plants function as wicks, drawing water from the reservoir as required.
Best Pots for Semi Hydroponics
Here is a selection of pots that would be ideal for Semi Hydroponics.
Self-watering Pot
Self-watering pots provide many benefits to the plant and its owners. They give the plant an endless supply of water without the risk of overwatering and allow the plant owner not to worry about over or underwatering their plant.
The fundamental goal of growing a plant in Leca is offering your plants’ roots a liquid nutrition reservoir while maintaining root oxygenation.
The Leca takes in nutrients and moisture and transports them toward the roots of the plants. The roots absorb the nutrition they require while taking in a substantial amount of oxygen for breathing.
In a self-watering pot, the Leca is positioned in the middle of the pot, right in the liquid nutrients. The roots are placed around the bottom third upwards of the pot since experts advise against planting them near the liquid nutrition region.
You’ll discover that the plant’s roots are not affected when you elevate the drainage pot from the liquid. This makes it more convenient because you can quickly drain the pot while conveniently monitoring the roots of your plants.
The roots spread across the LECA clay balls with time and take advantage of a blend of liquid nutrients and oxygen, which helps the plant flourish and grow.
When the roots descend further into your reservoir, they must be cut back to maintain their health and avoid problems such as root rot — which may occur when your plant’s roots are exposed to more water than they need.
Wick Watering Pot
Wick watering is the method through which Leca draws moisture using a wick. The nutritional components within the reservoir are wicked up towards the LECA using a microfiber cloth piece or a thread of cotton.
Growing plants in wicking pots have been the subject of countless scientific investigations, all of which point to it as an effective method of cultivating plants.
Growing plants in wick-watering pots have several benefits, including improved control of the growing medium’s general dryness or dampness through the wick placement.
Using this method to grow your plants in LECA offers several benefits, e.g., it allows you to monitor the nutrient liquid. You get accessibility to the nutrient liquid and can raise the pot carrying the growing medium to check the pH levels of the nutrient liquid and ensure your plant enjoys a pH-balanced liquid.
The submerged design makes it difficult to do so, even though there may be an exception in some cases.
Net Pot or a Nursery Pot in Cache Pot
One of the most preferred methods for growing plants within LECA includes using net pots or nursery pots inside cache pots. By controlling the quantity of water that touches LECA in this configuration, you can significantly reduce the chance of root damage and overwatering.
The main advantage of this method is how simple it is to flush your medium anytime necessary. Typically you will need to flush your LECA once per month. However, you can do it whenever white particles accumulate on the medium.
The process of thoroughly washing the LECA to remove any deposit from the liquid’s minerals, additives in the liquid, or nutrients is known as flushing.
Vases
Another common approach to using LECA is putting it in vases without any net pots.
You can utilize some beautiful clear vases throughout your home or purchase some inexpensive ones rm your local thrift store to create a distinctive and visually appealing look to display your plants if you value having attractive planters for your plants and appreciate the distinctive appearance of the LECA balls.
The advantage of using vases is that you can always check the root system and the water level. This allows you to monitor the water levels and verify they are not too high or low. High water levels may drown the plant, and low water levels may starve the plants.
Therefore, keeping an eye on the water levels is critical for growing plants in this configuration. However, since you are not employing a two-pot method, draining away, the build-up becomes more tedious when using vases.
Additionally, since tall plants that climb up may need support, vases make the perfect pot for tall plants. In contrast to other methods, where it might be challenging to employ supports such as trellises, placing a support rod within a vase is relatively simple to enable the plant to start climbing effectively.
Candle Jars
Many people like to grow semi-hydro plants in candle jars. Candle jars not only make aesthetically pleasing planters, but this is also an environmentally friendly method of recycling empty candle jars and will also help you save money since you won’t have to invest in new pots.
All you have to do is empty and clean out your old candle jar and recycle the jar into a plant pot.
Food Bowls
Another practical and attractive substitute for a LECA pot is a food bowl.
Furthermore, because they feature an open-top design, the plants can spread while staying within an enclosed space; they are excellent containers for spreading plants or cultivating herbs.
Wine Bottles
Wine bottles have also been used successfully to create semi-hydroponic pots. You can achieve this by cutting the bottles, removing the top, and drilling holes.
However, if you do this, make sure to wear appropriate safety gear to prevent injury to yourself.
Coffee Mugs
If you are a coffee lover, there is a high chance that you have several unused coffee mugs lying around the house.
Why not use those mugs as LECA pots?
Lunch Boxes
Lunch boxes also make great Semi Hydroponic Pots; you can easily drill holes and use them to grow healthy plants.
Moreover, since they are open at the top, they are also great for growing plants that like to spread.
Oil Bottles
Oil bottles can be efficiently used as aesthetically pleasing semi-hydroponic pots. All you have to do is empty them and remove any labels.
They make the perfect planters that can be used to grow tall plants that require support.
Tea Cups
If you like experimenting with unique planters, why not bring dainty teacups into the mix?
When using teacups as LECA pots, make sure that the cups are not too small that they suffocate the roots. The roots should always have enough room to grow. Teacups make great planters for infant plants.
Window Planters
Clear window planters make the ideal LECA pots, especially for people with a history of over-watering their plants. Clear pots allow you to keep an eye on the roots of the plant and ensure they are in optimal condition at all times.
Spice Jars
If you have an extra spice rack lying around the house, you can plant your smaller plants in the spice jars and display them in your spice rack. This is a unique way of displaying your plants and will efficiently win appreciation from your guests.
Tea Light Candle Holder
Almost everyone has tealight candle holders, which come in appealing shapes and designs. So if you have empty tea light candle holders, you can turn them into attractive planters.
Hanging Planters
Almost everyone has tealight candle holders, which come in appealing shapes and designs. So if you have empty tea light candle holders, you can turn them into attractive planters.
If you don’t want to be bothered with having to check the plant to ensure you are not drowning it, you can plant greens that prefer water into the hanging planters to reduce the chance of damage from over-watering.
Teapots
Using teapots as planters allows you to get creative and add a unique design element to your home. You can use your vintage teapots t give your plant collection a vintage feel or use colorful teapots to add color to your home interior.
DIY Semi Hydroponic Pots
As mentioned above, there are countless types of containers that you can turn into LECA pots. Moreover, if you want to make DIY pots of semi hydroponic, here is how you can do it:
Single Vessel
Drill a few drainage holes three-quarters of the way to the top of any container that appears suitable for use as a plant pot. Doing so will allow the LECA balls to deliver nutrients and get oxygen and moisture.
Double Vessel
You can also utilize any inner draining container to experiment with a two-pot configuration. A nursery pot or a net pot will do.
Any non-draining container that will fit your net pot can be used for a two-pot configuration. Growing orchids in net pots is a great idea, and LECA also works well for orchids.
According to experts, a two-pot configuration is much better than a one-pot configuration since it makes it easier for plant owners to maintain healthy plants.
Bottom Line
With the different pot recommendations mentioned above for the Semi-Hydro method of growing plants, you can turn most houseplants from the soil into semi-hydroponics. You can also make DIY semi-hydro pots with the help of the instructions mentioned above if you cannot find suitable semi-hydro pots for your plants.