Can we reuse leca media thats sterilized?

[sweta]

Hi Orchid pals,

I know its never a good idea to reuse potting media. But what about leca can we reuse leca that has been boiled in hot water. Lot of places on the internet I read that inorganic media can be reused after boiling or sterilization. What are your thoughts on this?

Sweta

[Theodoreorchidking]

I'm new to leca but this is what I would say. Boil it for an hour to an hour and a half. Then if you are to use it right away you can soak it for 24 hours in a rooting hormone. Also try to skim the the bad stuff out of the water. Good luck

[sweta]

👍Yes I do boil it for atleast 45 min-1hr. But I didnt get why to soak in rooting hormone?

[estación seca]

LECA may accumulate salts with time. Boiling may not be enough to remove them.

Boiling, even for a long time, does not inactivate all pathogens. For that pressurized steam is needed. A stovetop pressure cooker at the high pressure setting for 30 minutes will sterilize LECA. Electric pressure cookers do not produce as high pressure as do stovetop pressure cookers, so they do not sterilize effectively.

I reuse LECA. I sterilize it in my pressure cooker, using pure water (rain.)

[Ray]

An extended soak (many days) in water containing Physan or chlorine bleach will do a pretty thorough job of disinfecting it, but E.S.’ comment about removing residues is important.

LECA is quite absorbent and the absorbed and deposited minerals go deep into the microstructure, and precipitated mineral are more difficult to redissolve than are powders. Boiling certainly isn’t enough to extract them. Probably the most effective way to do so would be a very long (weeks) soak in an excess of pure water.

I do not reuse LECA any longer for that reason, as the time, space, and minimal cost savings just don’t justify the risk to the plants.