Clay Pebbles for Hydroponic Growing
What Growing Medium is Best for Hydroponics?
Clay pebbles are one of our favorite hydroponic grow mediums. Also known as expanded clay aggregate or Hydroton (one of the brand names available), clay pebbles are popular in hydroponic and aquaponic gardening because of their excellent aeration and drainage properties. They work especially well in Artisun Technology's Recirculating DWC Deep Water Culture hydroponic systems and Dutch Bato Bucket hydroponic systems and are also one of the better media choices for providing support and stability for growing plants.
How Do Clay Pebbles Work?
These small, round balls are made by heating clay to high temperatures, causing them to expand and form a porous structure. This porosity allows clay pebbles to absorb and retain nutrients and water efficiently, making them an ideal hydroponic growing medium.
Initially, clay pebbles have a neutral pH, but from reuse over time, as they continue to absorb nutrients and minerals from the hydroponic nutrient water solution, their pH can increase. When you reuse clay pebbles, a thorough cleaning is essential to remove residual nutrients, salts, and organic matter. This is necessary to ensure optimal plant growth and should be performed every new grow cycle. If clay pebbles are continually reused without being properly cleaned, the rising pH can hinder nutrient uptake by plants, leading to deficiencies and poor plant health.
In our experience, we found that that healthy seedlings would turn pale green, wilt and die when planted in reused clay pebbles that needed cleaning. This issue was traced back to the buildup of residual nutrients and salts in the clay pebbles which negatively affected the plants.
How Long Do Clay Pebbles Last?
When cleaned and flushed regularly between grow cycles, clay pebbles can used many times. FloraKleen by General Hydroponics is a solution specifically designed to flush out accumulated salts and residual fertilizers. Soaking the clay pebbles in FloraKleen helps to dissolve and remove these unwanted materials more efficiently than water alone. After using FloraKleen, the pebbles should be rinsed again thoroughly with clean water.
What is the Best Way to Clean Clay Pebbles?
Soak the clay pebbles in a 5-gallon bucket. Connect an air stone to an air pump and place underneath the clay pebbles so that air bubbles up through them. This will continuously move the water and add dissolved oxygen. Add 5ml of Southern Ag Garden Friendly Herbicide (Bacillus Amyloliquefaciens) beneficial bacteria. Add 25ml of General Hydroponics FloraKleen. Always rinse the clay pebbles well before using.
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Artisun Technology is a supplier of innovative hydroponic systems for growing indoors and outdoors.