Lechuza Pon alternatives are many and there is a great variety available in the market these days. Planting houseplants in common garden soil or clay comes with many problems.
Soil alternatives such as Lechuza Pon offer you the chance to grow these plants in much better potting conditions. Discover 7 other soil alternatives that you can use instead of Lechuza Pon.
Contents
Lechuza Pon Alternatives
Here is our list of the top Lechuza Pon alternatives available on the market.
1. Peat Moss
Peat moss is one of the most widely used plant substrate alternatives to soil. It is a 100 percent organic material formed deep within the decaying marshes of the northern hemisphere. The peat moss used for gardening is mostly of sphagnum moss variety.
The benefits of growing houseplants in peat moss instead of Lechuza are numerous. First, it is a material with far superior water retention properties. It prevents overwatering by absorbing extra water and later releases this water slowly back for the roots to take it.
It also breaks down slowly over time and provides nutrients to the roots. It also doesn’t clump together, giving the roots proper drainage and growing space. Some studies have also found peat to have beneficial anti-fungal properties.
One of the few downsides to using peat moss as a Lechuza alternative is that it has low pH that you will need to adjust before use. It also breaks down slowly but inevitably and will need to be replaced in a year or two. Sometimes, its breakdown process tends to produce chemical instability in the soilless growth system.
2. Coconut Coir
Coco coir is a soilless plant substrate that is consistent with peat moss but has the advantage of being a renewable resource. It is made from the fibers of the coconut husk and, depending on the manufacturing process, comes in various types.
Unlike peat moss, coco coir resists decomposition for a long time even though it is organic. This makes it an excellent resource for growing slow-growing plants. Its pH is also very close to neutral, which most houseplants require. The best thing about coir is that it is rich in growth hormones and growth stimulants for the plant.
Because of its decomposition-resistant nature, coir tends to be poor in nutrients, so you will have to fertilize the plant a lot. Moreover, high-quality coir is pretty hard to find. Most of the cheap options available online and in stores are high in salt content. This can end up harming your plant in the long term.
3. Perlite
Perlite is a high-quality pure mineral soil alternative similar to the Lechuza planter. It is a silica-based manufactured product that can be used to produce porosity in other more compact soil alternatives like sphagnum or peat moss.
Perlite is manufactured in four main types ranging from super coarse to fine-grade. These various types are used for various reasons ranging from seed growth and propagation to improving the drainage and aeration of the soil.
The pros of adding this material to the potting mix are that it is non-toxic, widely available, and doesn’t decompose. Whenever you feel like your potting mixture is holding water, it will help break it up and create water channels.
Negative points in comparison with Lechuza include that it is a non-renewable resource made up of volcanic rock. It also tends to fly up in the form of dust and cause allergies in susceptible individuals.
4. Vermiculite
Vermiculite is another popular pure mineral plant soil alternative. Like perlite, it is made from mined minerals and is a porous, silica-based material. Adding to any potting soil adds porosity and air circulation through it.
Another of its most useful property is that it acts as a sponge within the soil. When you first water the soil, the vermiculite particles absorb a lot of it almost immediately. This contributes quite a bit towards preventing needless water accumulation in the soil. Later on, when the soil starts to lose water, the vermiculite particles release their water back.
Vermiculite is sterile, safe, and totally neutral, and you can add it to your soil mix without any worries. It also does not decompose, so a one-time investment in vermiculite will go a long way.
The worst thing regarding vermiculite is that it is a non-renewable resource that leaves a big carbon footprint. If used too much, it might release too much water into the soil, which may lead to anaerobic conditions within the soil.
5. Hydroponics
Hydroponics sounds like such an innovative and futuristic technique but has been around for centuries. In its simplest form, it means growing plants in water instead of soil or another soil substrate like Lechuza Pon. There is more than one single method of hydroponic farming, and each is as effective as the next.
The simplest type of hydroponic technique involves simply putting the root network of a plant in water and growing it this way. Some plants like Philodendron grow better using this method than lechuza or soil. A lot of stem cutting is carried out in water-filled jars and containers with nutrients added.
Another method of carrying out hydroponic gardening at home is using a separate water container near and below the plant. This plant is planted in your typical growth medium. A pipe made up of some absorbent material connects the water container with the bottom of the pot. This way, water is provided to the roots of the growing plant in the required quantities.
6. Hydroculture
Hydroculture is a brilliant innovative technique that involves using an inorganic solid growth medium to grow your plants. These mostly grow by the name of LECA, which stands for lightweight expanded clay aggregates. These clay pellets are heated so much during manufacturing that air pockets develop within them.
You can easily use these clay pellets to grow your plants. Not only are they porous enough to provide good drainage, but they also provide roots with adequate space to grow through. The fact that it does not clump together like regular clay makes them far safer.
Another major advantage of using clay pellets is that they absorb water and slowly release it over time. You will find that you need to water this pon alternative less frequently than regular soil as well.
7. Rockwool Cubes
Rockwool cubes are a rather lesser-known form of growth media for plants. These come in half inch cubes in the market that you can buy anywhere from the market.
Rockwool works best with the hydroponic system of gardening. You can use it for all the stages of your plant’s life, from seed germination to growing an already established plant.
The good thing about this material is that it provides you with many Lechuza Pon advantages at a much more reasonable price. It is also reusable making it a rather good investment. Its fibers cause problems for susceptible people, so you must be wary of that.
Conclusion
Today we learned seven other soil additives you can use instead of Lechuza Pon to grow your plants. All of them have advantages and disadvantages regarding their costs, usage, and effectiveness.
We recommend you go for organic options such as peat moss or coconut coir as they provide nutrients and good drainage. Perlite and vermiculite are also easily available and can contribute to the roots’ good health.
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