Salt build-up in LECA

[Fishmom]

Two days ago, a small phal den NOID, that was once nearly dead but has grown some in S/H, suddenly lost a leaf from the top of the small cane. I've been flooding the S/H containers with fresh water when I tend them, hoping to avoid the salt deposits, but I could see some light-colored film on some of the particles. So, in a panic, I repotted my 5 S/H plants with fresh LECA. All have shown good root growth, and the two larger ones, a Dtps. and an Onc. Sharry Baby have good top growth also.

Now I have a big pan of LECA, much of which has gray deposits on it, more visible now that it is all dry. Just swishing it around in a bucket does not seem to clean it, and I would like to avoid using gallons and gallons of water to rinse repeatedly (drought in Calif.). What can I do to clean the stuff, or is it now used up? I had the idea that I would be able to re-use LECA, but now I'm not so sure.

[articuno75]

I don't think that the deposit that you have is "salt" deposit, but HARD water deposit.

There has to be a larger problem to your Den. They just don't "drop leaves" from fert burn. Usually they show browning tips and it will be systematic, meaning all the leaves will have some effect. Not just one. Do you have a pic of the plant?

[jay]

It is hard to say what it is. I agree with Jenny, it could be hard water build up, which is essentially types of salt build up.

What kind of water/fertilizer are you using? How strong do you mix it? This might help.

As for the old media. I'm not sure. I would contact your local hydroponic store and ask if they have any suggestions. They might be able to help you there.

[Ron]

Now I have a big pan of LECA, much of which has gray deposits on it

Hi.
I do not know what "leca" is!
We use to have a product made out of expanded clay ball (made under high heat)
Often called "absorba" stone.
These were about 1/4 to 1/2 inch in size.
Big problem was after a year of so of using fertilizer on them they absorb a lot of salts and when they dried out it came to the surface of the rocks.
Some nursury lost huge among of plants when the roots got "Burned Off"
Myself I now just use treated bark or Co-Co nuggets.
It is organ and usually great products
Personally I would throw the Grey coloured Leca in the rubbish tip rather than try to clean it up.
I value my plants more than a few cents worth of rock
Ron

[articuno75]

Ron LECA is the same thing as the expanded clay.

[rcb]

If it is from hard water, vinegar soak should help redissolve the deposits, then rinse well.

[Fishmom]

As you can see, the remaining leaves are fine. No more yellow has developed, no black spots, no bugs in evidence. I did drench the poor thing in the cinnamon recipe just in case. I wish I had thought to take a shot of the dead leaf.

Hard water is a possibility. I use tap water and a balanced fertilizer with micronutrients, "weakly weekly". I don't think of our water as particularly hard, but over time that could be the answer. If so, though, it would amount to the same thing as salt buildup from fertilizer, wouldn't it?

[articuno75]

Kind of. The deposits that you see from tap water (hardwater) is caused from lime or sodalite, additives that the water company would put in the water to control the pH. I've got a couple of plants that have been in S/H for over a year and the Hydroton have the white deposits. (Now I do add some bottled water every now and then to my babies so that the water stands at neutral. ) I flush the water after so many fertilizations and I don't have any detrimental effects.

[Fishmom]

Thanks all of you, for the advice and information. The plant is still fine with the remaining leaves intact. Truly, I did not know what fertilizer burn would look like (thanks especially to Jenny) so I was worried. I'll be less concerned about cleaning the LECA (clay) particles now.

[janet_a]

mine get all ooky that way too; i even bought a couple gallons of distilled h2o a few weeks ago and flushed the pots for several waterings; no difference. we get our h2o from the potomac, which is high in cal-mag-iron, so i suspect that's what's on the leca. 3 out of 4 of the plants i've finally pulled out, cleaned out the algae/moss, given the leca a good rinse, and repotted back in the same stuff. so far no detrimental effects. i'll probably do the 4th plant sometime too.

[paphman910]

Check your water supply mineral contents by contacting your water works company. Hard water leads to white deposits on leca. The deposit will dissolve if the pH is lowered and with low salt water.

Paphman910

[vcuchick]

Originally Posted by janet_a

mine get all ooky that way too; i even bought a couple gallons of distilled h2o a few weeks ago and flushed the pots for several waterings; no difference. we get our h2o from the potomac, which is high in cal-mag-iron, so i suspect that's what's on the leca. 3 out of 4 of the plants i've finally pulled out, cleaned out the algae/moss, given the leca a good rinse, and repotted back in the same stuff. so far no detrimental effects. i'll probably do the 4th plant sometime too.

we have the same water supply...do you happen to know how the PH runs in our water? I use tap and I'm about to transfer everything over to S/H...