You are viewing the 6 Litre bag of 2-4mm LECA (also available in 2 L bags) 

**Pay for 4L and receive 5L**

 If you would like the following then Leca is the product for you:

• Improves root growth especially on collected trees due to ample available oxygen.

• Prevent excessive water retention

• Enhanced drainage and increased porosity for air (an essential factor for the proper growth of roots and plants)

• No release of salinity and does not change the pH factor of your growing medium

• A soil additive or medium which does not compact

• An additive which can be used time and time again - no decompostition.

What is it?

LECA is expanded fired clay designed specifically for bonsai, orchid, flower-growing, horticulture and gardening.

Its organic and can be re-used

LECA does not contain organic substances, does not decompose, and is rot-free and parasite-free.

Easy to use

LECA can be kept for an unlimited time, without ever changing. Supplied in bags it is easy to use, store, carry and dose.

LECA, in peat substrates limits excessive water retention, enhances drainage and increases the porosity for the air, an essential factor for the proper growth of roots and plants; a humid but not wet soil limits the formation of rotten roots and parasite fungus. LECA does not release any salinity and does not change the pH factor of the mixture, thanks to its low buffer power. LECA does not turn yellow, does not pack down, doesn’t change or decompose in time or due to humidity; it’s aesthetically nice to see.

The quantities for the LECA mixture with peat or sifted, milled bark generally ranges from 50% (1 part of LECA to every 1 of peat or milled bark) to 80% (5 parts of LECA every 2 parts of peat or milled bark).

References

"One of my experiments is a bougenvills and whether or not it is the medium, the tree has flourished over the past two weeks after having battled for ages in open ground. I will post a few pics in a few days. I like the mix and its early days but would certainly recommend its use, plus the added bonus is not breaking ones back moving trees around!" ~ Graham Leonard

"LECA- Light Expanded Clay Aggregate. LECA is fired clay which has expanded and "popped" under extreme heat. The result is a rough ball (2 -20mm) across which is full of air holes. This makes it extremely light. It has been used as a hydroponic medium for many years with great results. LECA holds a large amount of air but also water, both are needed for good root development, it has excellent drainage potential. It holds about 25% water when soaked, so therefore overwatering can not happen. The air spaces between particles is increased which means more air on the roots. LECA is a base medium and can be used on its own or with a mix of peat or bark, depending on water requirements.

The results are fantastic, Bonsai planted in the LECA medium have far outdone those that are in a normal bonsai mix. Experiments done with a pot half filled with leca be it on top or bottom and the other half filled with bonsai mix show that the roots stayed in the LECA half and only about 10% of the root mass was in the basic bonsai mix.

It also makes the medium extremely light so therefore the bonsai becomes light. It is also reusable as it does not breakdown, once a repot is done you toss the old mix in a bucket of water and the LECA will float. Scrape it off the top rinse with a light bleach mix and it is ready to be used again.

It has similar traits to that of akadama except it will not break down. Well known bonsai artist are using it and are raving about it.
I personally will never go back to the more traditionally bought bonsai mixes." ~ Brett Simon
 

Examples of enchanced growth on a garden collected Cotoneaster

Image above was taken in November 2012. All the foliage was removed in order to reduce loss of moisture through the leaves.

This image was taken 2 months later. A mixture of 40% Leca and 60% peat was used. The potential bonsai has transplanted well and have issued a lot of new growth. This is normally a relatively difficult species to collect.

 Another example of root growth enhancement

This tree was planted in a mix of 50% LECA and 50% sifted milled bark, in just a few weeks note the healthy new roots.

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