A different story about LECA

[Fairorchids]

I have used LECA as mix ingredient for orchids going back to the late 1960's.

While in the service (in Denmark, Civil Defense = 4th uniformed service), I participated in a search and rescue exercise. I was placed in the basement of an old LECA factory, pretending to be an unconcious accident victim.

As the rescue team came down the stairs, they saw the 'victim' at the other side of the basement. They started to run across the 'floor' - which was actually LECA nuggets floating on top of 4.1/2 feet of water.

[DirtyCoconuts]

Hahaha I bet the first step was a real surprise!!

[neophyte]

Reminds me I still haven't checked off "running on pool covers" from my to-do list.

[Ray]

Shifting to a “use of LECA” bent for a moment, my first exposure to it was in the ‘90s, with a product called “Aliflor”, which was manufactured in Brazil (I think).

Growers had a terrible time with it. It smelled “oily”, the particles were bumpy, being spheres with tiny spheres adhered to the surface, and plants just didn’t do well in it.

I later learned that the manufacturer use diesel fuel as the binder, which - if properly fired - would all burn out, but apparently a shipping container or two made it to Miami that were underfired.

[DirtyCoconuts]

Ewwww that is gross, Ray!

Maybe I am just scared from my recent bleach experience but diesel and bleach and harsh chemicals have no place near plants lol