primeagra - Orchid Board

Dantheman · #1 10-04-2006, 05:43 AM

does anyone know a source for primeagra in australia

Ray · #2 10-04-2006, 08:57 AM

The PrimeAgra brand of LECA is currently only available in North America.

Tindomul · #3 10-04-2006, 03:43 PM

Are you telling me they don't sell expanded clay pellets anywhere else? I didn't know that. And here I was taking them for granted.
If you can't find those, then Im sure you can use pea gravel (For aquarium hobbies) in the same way. Its just gonna weigh a whole lot more.

Oscarman · #4 10-04-2006, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ray

The PrimeAgra brand of LECA is currently only available in North America.

Ray, are you the only supplier of PrimeAgra?

Heather · #5 10-05-2006, 06:51 AM

Also, Ray, can you talk a little about the "new improved" variety and why you improved it? We've been discussing it at Slippertalk, lately, and hoped you might chime in.

Thanks!
Heather

mere_dog · #6 10-09-2006, 02:02 PM

I use lava rock for s/h, so if you can't find anything like primeagra, this could be another option for you.

Marty · #7 10-09-2006, 08:06 PM

I'd also like to hear about the 'new and improved'

Tindomul · #8 10-09-2006, 08:09 PM

New and improved???

WEA · #9 10-10-2006, 03:12 PM

Related to Prime Agra not being available in Australia
I currently am switching from Hydroton to Prime Agra, because of minor issues with floating/blowing out of pots and possibly better wicking in the Prime Agra over Hydroton. That being said, the Hydroton worked for me for many years when I was just using it in clay pots and watering alot. Then it worked again in clay pots and saucers as reservoirs, before I knew about First Rays, Prime Agra and special semi hydro pots. I suppose its just a matter of getting used to the different media. If you can't get the Prime Agra, then Hydroton might be a fair second choice and it seems too be more generally available because of its wide spread use in hydroponics.

Ray · #10 10-11-2006, 09:33 AM

LECA - short for "Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate" - is a generic term that refers to any number of such materials produced all over the world, intended originally for use in making lightweight concrete. (The weight of concrete precludes its use in buildings beyond a certain height. If you make it lighter, you can build taller.) Hydroponic growers in Europe noted that it might make a good growing substrate, so it began to be remarketed for that purpose.

PrimeAgra is a registered trademark for a particular brand of LECA, selected specifically because it was made for horticulture, rather than remarketed to it, and therefore has properties that make it better for the application.

Over time, the particle size control of the original PrimeAgra seemed to wane, so I contacted the manufacturer with the intent of fixing that (size uniformity being an important parameter). As it was going to require some equipment upgrades anyway, which would extend the lead-time to get the new batches, the question arose if there was anything else that might be done to improve its performance, and that's what led to this "new and improved" version.

Basically, they keys to success are uniformly-sized and approaching spherical particles to maximize the free air space between them, a smooth surface to enhance the capillarity, very fine pores at the surface to quickly absorb water that might "bridge" the macropores without leaving large surface pockets that could do just that, and small, uniform internal porosity that absorbs and releases moisture quickly and steadily.

So by manipulating the clay/binder system and the firing profile, the manufacturer was able to enhance all of the above. Interestingly, and something I had not anticipated, the new material is actually heavier than the old stuff, which keeps it in the pot better and the plants seem to "lock in" faster.