It may seem counterintuitive, but as long as we provide the nutrients they need, indoor plants don’t need soil to grow. Hydroponic methods replace soil with media such as clay balls or perlite, which provide enough structure for roots to hold onto. Nutrients are then added to water that soaks through the soil-less media.
There are many advantages to growing this way, including discouraging fungus gnats! There is also no soil mess, a bonus if you don’t have much space to garden in, plants need less water, and monitoring moisture levels is easy. It even helps them look after themselves when you need a holiday!
Clay balls:
Also known as LECA, which stands for lightweight expanded clay aggregate. These are porous, baked balls of clay with lots of air and water pockets. They have excellent drainage and can dry out quickly, so are perfect for plants such as epiphytic anthuriums, philodendrons, and dracaenas that thrive in a loose mix and don’t like wet feet. Before using new clay balls, always soak them overnight in water to remove any dust or loose clay particles.
Perlite:
This is volcanic rock that has been heated to high temperatures and then rapidly cooled. This is ideal for plants that need more moisture such as vegetable seedlings, ferns, and alocasias It can hold up to four times its weight in water and is also lightweight and affordable. Always wet the perlite before use, to prevent breathing in the dust.
Both mediums can be reused many times, simply wash thoroughly and soak with boiling water to help clean and sterilise before potting up again.
Transferring plants to hydro:
Plants growing in soil need to have their roots washed before you transfer them into a hydroponic system. Use clean water and very gently knock as much soil off the roots as you can, being careful not to break them.
Two pot system:
Tammy’s simple method uses two plastic pots. The first pot should have no holes as this will hold the water. The second pot should be netted or have lots of holes on the bottom and sides. This will hold the clay or perlite and the plant.
Fill the netted pot with a shallow layer of clay balls or perlite. Pop in your plant with clean roots, then fill the rest of the pot to the top with your chosen media.
Nutrients & water:
Water the plants so that the outer pot is about one-third full. Let this sit until the water has been absorbed up through the clay or perlite. It’s important that they are not sitting in too much water constantly or roots can rot. You can simply lift up the inner pot to check if they are moist or dry.
Water-soluble fertilisers designed for hydroponics are available at many nurseries and specialty stores. They have low NPK values compared to usual fertilisers and dissolve well. Follow product instructions to measure out the right amount and add to the water every few weeks.
Tap water is fine to use but to optimise nutrient uptake, check the pH of your water. It can be different depending on where you live and can be altered with a pH change kit to be close to neutral, or 7, before adding fertiliser.
Flush the whole pot every few months with fresh water to reduce the build-up of salts and sediment to keep plants healthy.
This is a simple way to experiment with going soilless and finding the perfect conditions for your precious plants!
Featured plants:
DRAGON TREE – Dracaena reflexa var. angustifolia
PHILODENDRON – Philodendron cv.
CRYSTAL ANTHURIUM – Anthurium cv.
ELEPHANT EAR – Alocasia cv.
___________________________________________
Gardening Australia is an ABC TV program providing gardening know-how and inspiration. Presented by Australia’s leading horticultural experts, Gardening Australia is a valuable resource to all gardeners through the television program, the magazine, books, DVDs and extensive online content.
Watch more: http://iview.abc.net.au/programs/gardening-australia
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/gardeningaustralia
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/gardeningaustralia
Web: http://www.abc.net.au/gardening
___________________________________________
This is an official Australian Broadcasting Corporation YouTube channel. Contributions may be removed if they violate ABC’s Online Conditions of Use http://www.abc.net.au/conditions.htm (Section 3).