Maybe you are wondering “What is pon for plants?” after coming across the term. Pon is a potting soil substitute that resembles little stones. For many reasons, it has been in the news lately, and for all the right reasons.
Pon can provide better plant nutrition than normal soil and is a good lechuza pon alternative to the soil, but for some, it can be hard to find. This article details all you need to know about pon and some good alternatives you can use.
Contents
What Is Pon, and Why Do You Need It for Plants?
Pon is a fantastic plant-growing medium that most gardeners enjoy using (especially with hoyas). Pon comprises the minerals zeolite, pumice, and lava rock. It has an excellent air-to-water ratio of approximately 55 percent air to 45 percent water, promoting airflow, which decreases root rot and disease.
Pon minerals absorb water via capillary action, and they also stabilize the pH and may be a buffer for extra fertilizer and nutrients. The minerals’ small and irregular size promotes a strong branching but shallow root system, keeping plants in smaller containers than soil. Because pon is soilless, it is less likely to attract pests.
– How To Use Pon for Plants?
To use Pon, place the plant in the planter liner or straight in the planter with a pon and add water. Following the growing-in period, your plant will receive all the water it requires from the reservoir. When planting, cover the separator with the pon substrate provided.
– Can You Mix Lechuza Pon With Soil?
Yes, it is recommended that you mix Lechuza Pon with soil. As a drainage coat on the separator in the planter, add the LECHUZA-PON planting substrate. This is necessary to deliver the water from the reservoir to the plant. Then, on top, sprinkle some plant soil or additional LECHUZA-PON substrate.
– How To Water Plants in Pon?
Just water as you normally would daily, due to the plant’s roots needing to grow into the reservoir. When it’s time to water your plant, the pon will change color somewhat, but you can also test the moisture in the pon with your fingertips, just like you would with soil.
What Are Good Alternatives for Pon?
Good alternatives to Pon include coconut coir, perlite, vermiculite etc. Sometimes, when pon is hard to get, like when it is out of stock at the store there are some great alternatives they can try to get instead that work as well as pon itself.
– Coconut Coir
Coco coir is a soilless plant substrate that is very similar to peat moss but with the added that it is a renewable resource. It is formed from the coconut husk’s fibers and comes in various varieties based on the manufacturing procedure.
Unlike peat moss, coco coir, despite being organic, resists decomposition for an extended period. Because of this, it is a fantastic resource for producing slow-growing plants. Its pH is also quite close to neutral, which most houseplants require. The most incredible thing about coir is that it is high in plant growth hormones and stimulants.
– Perlite
Like the Lechuza planter, Perlite is a high-quality pure mineral soil alternative. It is a silica-based artificial product that can increase porosity in more compact soil alternatives such as sphagnum or peat moss.
Perlite is produced in four grades, ranging from ultra-coarse to fine. These varied varieties are utilized for various purposes ranging from seed germination and propagation to increasing soil drainage and aeration.
The benefits of including this substance in the potting mix include that it is non-toxic, widely available, and does not disintegrate. It will assist in breaking up and developing water channels whenever you feel your potting mixture is holding too much water.
– Vermiculite
Another common pure mineral plant soil substitute is vermiculite, a porous, silica-based material created from mined minerals, similar to Perlite. Adding to any potting soil increases porosity and air movement.
Another beneficial attribute is that it serves as a sponge within the soil. When you water the soil for the first time, the vermiculite particles instantly absorb a large portion of it. This helps a lot in reducing unnecessary water collection in the soil. When the soil loses water, the vermiculite particles release their water.
Vermiculite is sterile, safe, and completely neutral, so you can confidently add it to your soil mix. It also does not degrade, so a one-time investment is required.
– Hydroponics
Hydroponics is seemingly a cutting-edge and futuristic approach, but it has been around for decades. Its basic form entails growing plants in water rather than soil or another soil substrate, such as Lechuza Pon. There is more than one way of hydroponic gardening, and each is as effective.
The most basic hydroponic technology involves immersing a plant’s root network in water and growing it this way. Some plants, such as Philodendron, thrive on this strategy rather than lechuza or soil. A lot of stem cutting is done in nutrient-rich water-filled jars and containers.
– Hydroculture
Hydroculture is a brilliantly innovative technology that involves growing plants in an inorganic solid growth medium. These are typically known as LECA, which stands for lightweight expanded clay aggregates. These clay pellets are so hot that air pockets form within them during production.
You may effortlessly develop your plants with these clay pellets. They are not only porous enough to allow for efficient drainage, but they also allow for good root growth. They are significantly safer because they do not clump together like traditional clay.
Another significant benefit of using clay pellets is that they collect water and gradually release it over time. You will notice that you need to water this pon alternative less frequently.
– Rockwool Cubes
Rockwool cubes are a relatively unknown type of plant growth media. They are available in half-inch cubes and can be purchased anywhere. Rockwool works well in hydroponic farming, and it can be used at any stage of your plant’s life.
The best part about this material is that it gives you several Lechuza Pon benefits at a lot lower cost. It is also reusable, making it an excellent investment. Its fibers cause issues in certain persons, so be cautious.
– Peat Moss
Peat moss is the most widely used plant substrate substitutes for soil, and it is a 100 percent organic material generated deep within the northern hemisphere’s dying marshes. Sphagnum moss is the most widely available type of peat moss used in gardening.
There are various advantages to growing houseplants in peat moss rather than Lechuza. For starters, it has considerably superior water retention characteristics, as well as preventing overwatering by absorbing excess moisture and carefully releasing it back to the roots.
It also degrades slowly over time, providing nutrients to the roots. It does not clump together, allowing optimum drainage and growing area for the roots. Peat has also been shown in several tests to have anti-fungal properties in addition to its other properties.
Conclusion
There you have it, with tons of benefits. You can consider using Pon and Leca for different reasons and suitabilities. Therefore,
- Lechuza pon can bring air porosity to a soil environment for an extended time.
- Use can use plenty of alternatives to provide nutrition to your plants that are easily available anywhere.
- There are different techniques of using pon and other alternatives. Just make sure you understand which is the proper method for you and your plants so that your plants receive the proper nutrition they deserve.
Now you can have a thriving plantation quickly and easily!
- Grow Mango Tree Indoors: Best Tips and Tricks For You - September 21, 2023
- Are Lilacs Deer Resistant? 10 Other Deer Resistant Plants - September 19, 2023
- 7 Plants With Red Stems To Add Color to Your Garden - September 18, 2023
