How to Transition Plants from Soil to Leca: The Root-Free Method

Are you ready to transform the way you grow your plants? Transitioning plants from soil to leca (lightweight expanded clay aggregate) is a game-changer for plant enthusiasts. This guide will introduce you to an exciting method of moving plants into leca by removing all the roots. Let’s dive into how this works and why it might be the best approach for your plants.

Why Transition to Leca?

Leca has gained popularity among plant lovers for its ability to provide an ideal growing environment. Unlike soil, leca provides excellent aeration and drainage, ensuring roots have access to both water and oxygen. It also reduces the risk of pests and soil-borne diseases. But what happens if you completely remove the plant’s roots before transitioning it into leca? Let’s explore this method and see how it compares to traditional ways.

The Root-Free Method: Getting Started

The first step in this experiment is choosing your plant. For this demonstration, two beautiful Philodendron Golden Tiger Tooth plants were used. One plant would follow a more common method, with its roots intact, while the second would undergo the root-free method—removing all roots before planting in leca. The goal is to test both approaches and determine which method results in better growth.
Before getting your hands dirty, make sure you have everything prepared. You’ll need pruning shears, gloves, pots, and clean leca that has been soaked in water for at least 24 hours. Soaking the leca ensures that it can provide enough moisture to the plant, especially one without any roots.

Step 1: Removing the Plant from Soil

Begin by gently removing the plants from their current soil. A gentle squeeze of the pots will help release the plants without damaging the roots. If the soil is dry, it may crumble more easily, making the process smoother.
Once the plants are free from their pots, it’s time to clean off the roots. Wash away all traces of soil from the roots of both plants. This is crucial because soil residue can cause problems in a semi-hydroponic environment like leca. You want a clean, fresh start.

Step 2: The Big Decision—To Cut or Not to Cut

Now comes the critical part of the root-free method: removing all the roots. Yes, it may sound a bit nerve-wracking, but this step is important. Soil roots aren’t designed to thrive in leca, and many of them would eventually die off. By cutting them off right away, you’re allowing the plant to focus on developing new, leca-friendly roots.
Use clean pruning shears to cut off every single root. Be ruthless! You can leave a small stem, but all the soil roots should go. This way, the plant will generate new roots that are primed to grow in a semi-hydroponic system.
For the plant following the traditional method, you’ll leave the roots intact, only trimming away any dark, unhealthy-looking roots.

Step 3: Preparing and Potting in Leca

With the roots cleaned or removed, it’s time to pot your plants. Begin by filling each pot about one-third of the way with soaked leca. For the root-free plant, carefully place it in the pot, ensuring that it stands upright even without roots. For the plant with roots, spread the roots evenly before filling the rest of the pot with leca.
Remember, it’s crucial that your leca has been properly soaked for at least 24 hours. This is especially important for the root-free plant since it will rely on the moisture in the leca to stimulate new root growth.

Step 4: Adding the Nutrient Solution

To give your plants the best chance of success, it’s important to provide them with a nutrient solution. A popular choice for this is Clonex Clone Solution, which is designed to promote root growth. Fill the plant’s reservoir with this solution, ensuring that it covers about a third of the pot. Make sure it doesn’t touch the base of the plant to avoid over-saturation.
Both plants should be placed in a warm, well-lit area. For optimal results, place them on a heat mat and provide plenty of humidity. Check the water level regularly and refresh the nutrient solution weekly to keep your plants happy and healthy.

Step 5: Waiting for Results

The root-free method is an experiment, so patience is key. Over the course of several weeks, monitor your plants for signs of new growth. You might feel nervous, especially with the plant that has no roots, but stay patient! Plants are resilient, and with the right care, they will begin developing new roots tailored for leca.
After about 50 days, you’ll start to see results. In this experiment, both plants looked healthy, with no visible differences between the one with roots and the root-free plant. The leaves on both plants were vibrant, and new growth was evident. Surprisingly, the root-free plant began developing strong, fuzzy white roots—a clear indication that this method works!

Step 6: The Final Reveal

After nearly two months, it was time to remove the plants from their pots and see what had been happening below the surface. The root-free plant had grown several new, healthy roots, perfect for thriving in leca. Meanwhile, the plant that had retained its roots had very few new roots, suggesting that keeping the old roots may have hindered the growth of new, leca-appropriate roots.
This was a surprising result! The root-free method not only worked but also seemed to encourage faster root development, making it an excellent option for transitioning plants into leca.

Conclusion: Root-Free for the Win?

The root-free method of transitioning plants from soil to leca might seem extreme, but it’s clearly effective. By removing the old soil roots, you give your plant the opportunity to grow new, stronger roots that are better suited for semi-hydroponics.
If you’re hesitant to try this method on your favorite plants, start with a less valuable plant and see how it goes. For those who want to play it safe, there’s always the long method—where you allow the plant to develop water roots before moving it to leca. If you want to learn more about that process, check out this informative video: Transitioning Plants to Leca: The Long Method.
In the end, it’s all about experimenting and finding what works best for your plants. Whether you go root-free or keep the roots intact, transitioning to leca is an excellent way to boost your plant’s growth and create a healthy, pest-free environment.