GT Prospect Home&Garden 20L Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate Hydroponic Growing Medium Orchid Clay Pebbles

Lightweight expanded clay aggregate are a form of high-temperature burnt clay nodules. They are used for a very wide range of purposes, many of them in agricultural and hydroponic systems. Sometimes referred to as clay pebbles or clay pellets, Light expanded clay aggregates are considered a soil less growing medium when used alone in hydroponics. It can also be used to amend soil. This type of clay pebbles have three very desirable growing properties: It is extremely porous. This provides abundant air and oxygen to the roots of plants. Lack of oxygen is a major cause of plant loss, particularly for interior plants. The healthy roots are less prone to disease and rotting. It has capillary properties. This means that dry clay pebbles absorb water and wick it upwards (often 8-10” upward or more) to provide water to the plants. It does not compact or decay over time (organic-based soils do). This helps aid in the delivery of air to the roots of the plants. Light expanded clay aggregate is strong, durable, and is an excellent solution to many challenges faced by gardeners and indoor growers alike. Clay aggregates can be used in heavy soils to prevent compaction and enhance aeration, for instance. They are also be used in hydroponics as a stand-alone growing medium. When mixed with soil and/or peat, they help enhance drainage. However, they also absorb and retain water, meaning that they can help ensure healthy plant growth during dry periods of the year. These clay balls also retain heat very well, which makes them an excellent option for insulating plant roots during cooler periods of the year. Other qualities that make these pebbles a popular option with growers include the fact that this grow medium is completely natural and is not subject to dry-rot or wet-rot, the way many other substrates are. It is also not flammable.