1
Tropical Fruit Discussion / Re: Mulching with grave rock?
« on: July 23, 2017, 06:49:36 AM »
It's hydroton or hydrocorn in gardening centres Oscar. I use the 2cm to 3cm diameter LECAs for hydroponic pots (so they don't fall off the pot holes) but the smaller rejects are cheaper - the broken ones or those that didn't expand too well they're like little beads around 5-15mm diameter all mixed in one bag - I put those in flood and drain grow beds instead. The LECAs that failed to properly expand (can't hold too much air inside the balls) don't usually float. You can rinse them in a bin of hot water and let it stand for half an hour or so and the ones that float get used for hydro growbeds but those that sink go into the pond
I've heard some tradies call it exclay (expanded clay) pellets and yes - they're pellet shaped instead of the normal round balls for garden use. It's primarily for insulation and comes in standard 25kg bags at our local Bunnings but haven't checked the price. Had some leftover and tested the pH - both exclay pellets and hydroton are in the neutral range.
IMHO since the clay is strip-mined in "poor" countries and shipped halfway across the globe - a bit pricier alternative would be growstones? From recycled glass.
I've heard some tradies call it exclay (expanded clay) pellets and yes - they're pellet shaped instead of the normal round balls for garden use. It's primarily for insulation and comes in standard 25kg bags at our local Bunnings but haven't checked the price. Had some leftover and tested the pH - both exclay pellets and hydroton are in the neutral range.
IMHO since the clay is strip-mined in "poor" countries and shipped halfway across the globe - a bit pricier alternative would be growstones? From recycled glass.