expanded clay pebbles
Some MAJOR Do’s
Rinse and Soak Before Use: For those familiar with expanded clay, the simple practice
of rinsing to remove debris and dust from
the factory may seem obvious. Rinsing
will provide a clean start that won’t cause
murky problems in your reservoir down
the road, and the lesser-known process
of soaking the pebbles is crucial to truly
maximize yields with expanded clay. Soaking for 6-24 hours, preferably with an air
stone, before planting allows water to percolate through the clay’s micro-pores, completely
saturating the media. After an adequate soak, you
will notice the media is heavier. In an airy media
like expanded clay pebbles, you want to ensure the
roots don’t have to travel too far to find water, or
wilting will occur. As a general rule of thumb, make
sure a 3-in. radius of pebbles around your plants is
always fully saturated.
“As a general rule of thumb, make
sure a 3-in. radius of pebbles around
your plants is always fully saturated.”
Add a Small Amount of Nutrients: After rinsing
the media, place it in a container and fill with a
nutrient solution with an electrical conductivity
of no more than 0.4. If you don’t have a ppm/EC
meter, use your base grow nutrient at one-quarter strength. You may also choose to use a
hydroponic plant enzyme to ensure a clean transition when you transplant.
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Maximum Yield USA | April 2015