How will I know LECA has soaked long enough

[whalloper]

Hi everyone,

Today I recieved my shipment of LECA and its been soaking for about 3 hours in RO water and Superthrive. When I pick up the pellets, they dont seem to have absorbed much water...is that normal for them to still feel very lite when you pick them up? Is 8 hours going to be enough time?

[janet_a]

i usually do it at least for 24 hrs (more if they need to be rinsed). you can also wait until they all sink (i usually have some that float at first).

[E-Jag]

Most of the knowledgeable types here recommend cleaning it good and letting it sit overnight. I've noticed some people who have switched to Hydroton let it sit in water until it sinks to the bottom of whatever container it's in. Either way, 8 hours may not be enough time for the leca to absorb what it can. Not a big deal, though - just water more often until the leca pellets catch up, as they eventually will.

[whalloper]

Originally Posted by janet_a

i usually do it at least for 24 hrs (more if they need to be rinsed). you can also wait until they all sink (i usually have some that float at first).

thats a great idea...I think they are all floating, so ill add more water to the bowl and wait for them to sink!!

[Marissa]

I put mine in boiling water when I can't wait 24hrs.

[syndywindy]

I've got some soaking right now and its been about 30 hours so far. I wait at least 24 hours. by the time I get around to potting up what i want, it will probably be close to 2 days, but thats ok. longer is better.

[Dendian]

I usually let mine soak until they sink, or only use the ones that sink when I am potting the plants up.

I found that when they sink before potting they don't try to float when I water, and prevents them from dislodging the plant which I just planted.

It sometimes takes days for them all to sink. Once it took a week for the last one to drop.

I first wash it out real well to get rid of all the dust and tiny particles, then disinfected it, then put plain water back in and a lid to prevent anything from falling in while they sink. I don't add the rooting hormone or the superthrive until I bring in the sunk ones to use for potting up. Don't want anything else growing while it is covered up.

Marissa: I was wondering if using hot water would make them sink, does it? It would make potting up a lot faster if I could get them all to sink and not have to wait, and then I wouldn't have to disinfect or keep so much in the water. I was just worried about them breaking from using boiling hot water and so have not tried it.

Dian

[Marissa]

Originally Posted by Dendian

Marissa: I was wondering if using hot water would make them sink, does it? It would make potting up a lot faster if I could get them all to sink and not have to wait, and then I wouldn't have to disinfect or keep so much in the water. I was just worried about them breaking from using boiling hot water and so have not tried it.

Dian

A few still floats when I drop them. And no, they don't break, they just make a funny popping sound once you drop them and they start absorbing the water. My Mom was wondering what kind of dish was I cooking when she saw them...

[janet_a]

-giggle- yeah, the last batch i got from ray fizz when i soak them. it's kind of cute.

[Rivka]

i soaked my hydroton till a lot of them sank and then used those first, it took over night for a good handful to sink and a week for most all of them. those that never sank i scooped out and labeled as such, they weren't that many an i think i will use then in other decorative ways , not in s/h

yeah i think that it is worth it to have them sink, it does stop them from floating as much later.

[Ray]

It's all about porosity and how well they absorb water.

Good communication with the surface, and the pores fill rapidly and sink. Poor communication with the surface and they don't.

However, that's not the only consideration: in the manufacturing process, there are additions to the clay to get the stuff to roll up in balls (like making a snow man), and to tailoring the porosity size and shape. After firing, some of those additives remain in the clay body as soluble, inorganic salts, and they need to be leached.