Cleaning Off Mineral Build Up

[Corsetière]

Has anyone tried a product like FloraKleen to clean their LECA of salts? Or is there another method you use? Just wondering because I have a bucket of dirty LECA that I would love to reuse...

[mtorchid]

Here's a useful thread- be sure to read the post by "Ray". Haven't tried his recipe yet, my bucket of used LECA isn't quite full. ;-)

Flushing salts from Semi-Hydro media

[Orchid Smiles]

I have been using the S/H approach for almost two years now and had great success with most of my orchids.

My orchids are in a greenhouse with about 70% humidity, I flush the pots on a regular basis and I use RO water. But there is still mineral buildup on the top layer of the media in some pots.

Ray suggested this: “The best thing I could recommend is to soak the LECA in an acidic solution for several days, then rinse it thoroughly. Fairly concentrated citric acid is pretty good for that. If you have a decent grocery store nearby, it's called "sour salt". About a cup per gallon in hot water should be a good start.”

Following Ray's advice, I soak it in a solution of 1 Tablespoon of citric acid per cup of RO water for a week. This might be a bit strong, but I was determined to remove the salts and it is effective for me.

I also asked Ray if there would be a detrimental effect on the orchids when I re-used the LECA after treating it with the citric acid and he said, “The citric acid treatment is actually very mild. It is an organic acid, so is actually weak compared to the minerals in fertilizers that affect pH. In other words, if you've done a decent job rinsing, don't worry about it.”

Good luck!

[mtorchid]

Originally Posted by Orchid Smiles

Following Ray's advice, I soak it in a solution of 1 Tablespoon of citric acid per cup of RO water for a week. This might be a bit strong, but I was determined to remove the salts and it is effective for me.

This is what Ray wrote in another thread-
<put the removed medium into a solution containing about a tablespoon per gallon each of calcium nitrate and Epsom Salts, and just let it soak. The mineral residues will dissolve eventually, and the medium can be reused.>

So, maybe Ray can clear this up...citric acid, calcium nitrate, Epsom Salts, which is better or is it an "all of the above" situation?

[Ray]

All will work, but the rates will be quite different.

I'd say an acid is the preferable way to go, since the deposits will be pretty significantly mineral cabonates.

[33014orchid]

Great advice. Will try this for myself

[Orchid Whisperer]

Remember, if you are re-using leca, once you have cleaned it, you should also heat treat it to kill viruses. Following a thorough rinse and long air drying, I would put it in thexoven and slowly raise temperature to 500 F, leaving it at that temp for maybe a half hour. Let it cool in the oven overnight. This is most practical for large batches.