Curious to know about hydroponics? Let’s explore if you can really grow a snake plant in just pebbles—read along!
Hydroponics is quite the buzzword these days—most people know it involves growing plants in water. But have you come across hydroculture, where plants grow in pebbles or clay balls? Well, get ready for a surprise—snake plants can thrive in “pebbles,” also known as LECA balls. Let’s check out how!
Can You Grow a Snake Plant in Just Pebbles?
Sansevieria is famous for its toughness and ability to adapt to almost any condition. While you might already know that snake plants can grow in water without soil (maybe you’ve even tried it!), you might be wondering if they can grow in something else too. The short answer? Absolutely!
But we must clear up one thing. Snake plants cannot survive on just “pebbles”. They will not provide the plants enough nutrients or the right environment to survive, let alone thrive.
However, LECA balls are a different story. Growing snake plants by hydroculture is beginner-friendly, and it is quite easy to transfer such soil-growing plants to LECA. Of course, this is all because of their resilient nature!
LECA (Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate) balls are porous, which means they provide excellent drainage, boost oxygen around the roots, and reduce the chances of root rot. Since LECA is inorganic, it also attracts fewer pests than regular soil. Best of all, it strikes the perfect balance between airiness and water retention. So even if you forget to water now and then, your snake plant should do just fine!
And guess what? Since LECA doesn’t compact or degrade over time like soil, you won’t need to repot often—just rinse and reuse! It’s a low-maintenance setup perfect for busy plant lovers.
How To Grow a Snake Plant in LECA Balls?
Now for the main event—how do you actually grow a snake plant in LECA? Let’s break it down step by step.
1. Preparing the LECA balls
Don’t fetch your plants right away! First, you have to thoroughly rinse the LECA balls underwater to get rid of impurities. After that, you will need to soak them for at least two to three hours to get rid of any remaining dust on them. This step is also to ensure that the balls fully retain water.
Next, drain out any excess water, and voila, your LECA balls are ready for use!
Tip: Soaking overnight is even better, especially if your LECA is brand new. This gives it more time to absorb moisture and reduces the chance of your plant drying out too quickly at the start.
2. Ensure Your Snake Plant Roots Are Clean
You wouldn’t want to undo all that rinsing by placing dirty roots in your clean LECA, right? If your snake plant has been growing in soil, you’ll need to clean those roots thoroughly.
Gently remove the plant from its pot and loosen the soil around the roots. Take your time here—you don’t want to damage them. Once the bulk of the soil is gone, rinse the roots under running water. Massage the roots gently to remove any stubborn dirt, and if needed, use a soft brush to clean out hard-to-reach spots.
Also, inspect the roots closely while cleaning. If you notice any black, mushy, or foul-smelling roots, trim them off with sterilized scissors. Healthy roots should look firm and be white or light tan.
3. Put LECA Balls in the Pot
Now that your LECA balls and plant are ready, it’s time to seek out the pot. Though you can use any type of container, transparent or otherwise, glass jars are the best. With these, you will clearly be able to observe the root growth in this unique medium.
First, fill your LECA balls into the container about halfway. Then place your snake plant in the center and hold it steady while you add more LECA around it until the pot is full.
A Pro Tip: Place a few larger LECA balls at the bottom and smaller ones around the roots. This gives more stability and ensures better contact between roots and moisture.
4. Fill the Pot With Nutrient Water
While a super aerated and porous medium, LECA balls themselves cannot provide any nutrients to your snake plant. To supplement that gap, you will need to fill the jar with nutrient water. This nutrient water helps your plant’s roots transition into water roots. And that’s not all! It can even prevent mold growth in the setup.
At first, fill the jar with nutrient water until it just covers the bottom layer of LECA. After a few weeks, you can cut it back to about one-fourth of the jar.
But how to make this ‘nutrient water’ in the first place? Well, just dilute some liquid hydroponic fertilizer in water, following the dosage instructions on the bottle, and replace it every three to four weeks.
5. Sunlight, Temperature, and Humidity
This is no surprise that snake plants will thrive best in bright, indirect light. So, place your glass container near a south or west-facing window that also shields it from the direct, harsh sun rays. Prolonged direct sunlight can cause burning even in your resilient snake plant leaves.
In terms of temperature, snake plants do quite well in average room temperatures, which are between 70-90°F (21-32°C). This range is perfect for optimal snake plant growth. Though they can tolerate lower temperatures too, anything below 50°F (10°C) may cause leaf damage.
When it comes to humidity, snake plants grown in LECA prefer low to moderate levels. If things get too damp, you risk fungal issues. So make sure the area around your plant has good airflow.
6. Cleaning and Pest Control
Hydroculture is an up-and-coming trend, and without specific care routines, you might not get great results when growing snake plants in LECA. One step you must absolutely not miss is maintaining a clean and pest-free environment for your snake plant.
To ensure this, flush the container with fresh water every two weeks to help remove any salt buildup from the nutrient water or the LECA. This greatly reduces the risk of pests and also ensures that the clay balls retain enough water to sustain your plant.
Plus we have a bonus tip for you here, if algae begins to grow on the sides of your clear container, wrap it with decorative paper or fabric to block the light. This keeps the roots happier too!
And that’s all about growing snake plants in LECA. Easy right? Why don’t you try it out and let us know how it goes for you in the comments below!
