Discover the Best Plants for LECA to enjoy an off-beat gardening experience that’s easy to grow and adds a boho touch to your space!
How wonderful would it be to grow plants without the fuss of soil and the worries of watering? These Plants for Leca cultivation are the most suitable options to start with!
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Why Grow Plants in Leca?
Growing plants in LECA (Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate) is becoming popular due to its ease of usage. Firstly, LECA provides excellent drainage, reducing the risk of root rot, a common issue in traditional soil gardening. This medium also facilitates a more consistent delivery of water and nutrients, ensuring plant roots receive just what they need.
Additionally, LECA’s lightweight nature makes it ideal for indoor gardening, as it’s easier to handle and move around compared to heavy soil. The airiness of LECA beads promotes healthy root growth and oxygenation. Moreover, it’s a reusable and clean alternative, making it an eco-friendly and low-maintenance option for those looking to simplify their plant care routine while still enjoying lush, healthy greenery.
Best Plants For LECA
1. Swiss Cheese Plant
Botanical Name: Monstera deliciosa
The Swiss Cheese Plant is everybody’s favorite due to its unique, large, glossy leaves that develop natural holes, resembling Swiss cheese. This plant enjoys the consistent moisture and air circulation that Leca provides, promoting healthy root growth and vibrant foliage, all without the fear of being overwatered.
2. Philodendron Brasil
Botanical Name: Philodendron hederaceum
This variant of Philodendron sports heart-shaped leaves with stunning green and golden-yellow variegation. It’s well-suited for growing in Leca, as the medium supports its love for humid conditions while preventing root rot, common in over-watered Philodendrons, ensuring a lush, trailing growth.
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3. Pothos
Botanical Name: Epipremnum aureum
Pothos feature heart-shaped, glossy leaves, often variegated with splashes of yellow or white. They are ideal for Leca because it mimics their natural epiphytic habitat, allowing roots access to both moisture and air, resulting in robust growth and reducing the risk of overwatering.
4. Alocasia Polly
Botanical Name: Alocasia amazonica
Alocasia Polly stands out with its striking arrowhead-shaped leaves, marked by bold veins and a glossy texture. In Leca, this plant benefits greatly, as it prefers a well-aerated root environment and consistent moisture, conditions that Leca naturally creates, encouraging vibrant growth.
5. Spider Plant
Botanical Name: Chlorophytum comosum
Recognized for its grass-like, variegated leaves and cascading stems of baby plantlets, the Spider Plant is a hardy species. Growing it in Leca helps maintain the ideal moisture level, crucial for its growth, and reduces the risk of root rot, making it a low-maintenance choice.
6. ZZ Plant
Botanical Name: Zamioculcas zamiifolia
The ZZ Plant, with its waxy, dark green leaves, is a hardy plant that loves well-draining environment. When grown in Leca, the plant benefits from the consistent moisture and reduced risk of overwatering, ensuring the robust health of this already hardy plant.
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7. Peace Lily
Botanical Name: Spathiphyllum wallisii
The Peace Lily is a graceful plant featuring glossy, dark green leaves and white, sail-like flowers that add a touch of elegance. It thrives in LECA due to its preference for consistent moisture without waterlogging, which apparantly supports healthy root growth and ample aeration.
8. Snake Plant
Botanical Name: Sansevieria trifasciata
Renowned for its sturdy, upright leaves with striking patterns, the Snake Plant is a hardy and low-maintenance choice. Its adaptability to a range of water conditions makes it ideal for growing in LECA, ensuring well-drained roots and reduced risks of rot.
9. Calathea Orbifolia
Botanical Name: Calathea orbifolia
With its large, round leaves beautifully striped in various shades of green, the Calathea orbifolia is a visually stunning plant. It grows well in LECA, which provides a stable environment to maintain the consistent moisture levels this humidity-loving plant desires.
10. Wax Plant
Botanical Name: Hoya carnosa
The Wax Plant is admired for its thick, waxy leaves and star-shaped flowers. Its preference for well-draining soil and susceptibility to overwatering makes LECA an excellent growing medium, offering optimal root aeration and moisture control.
11. Fiddle Leaf Fig
Botanical Name: Ficus lyrata
The Fiddle Leaf Fig is a popular ornamental plant, boasting large, violin-shaped leaves with a leathery texture. Growing it in LECA helps prevent root rot, a common issue with this plant. Plus, the large foliage complements the rustic look of leca balls really well.
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12. Wandering Jew
Botanical Name: Tradescantia zebrina
Featuring striking purple undersides and zebra-like patterns on its leaves, the Wandering Jew is a fast-growing and vibrant plant. Its preference for moist but not soggy soil makes it one of the best plants for leca cultivation, ensuring balanced moisture retention and root health.
13. Dumb Cane
Botanical Name: Dieffenbachia seguine
With its broad, variegated leaves displaying a mix of green, white, and yellow, the Dumb Cane goes really well with the leca balls. Plus, its robust nature and tolerance for varying water levels further cements its place among the most ideal plants for leca.
14. Dracaena Marginata
Botanical Name: Dracaena marginata
Dracaena Marginata, with its slender, arching stems and red-edged, sword-like leaves, is a chic choice for LECA cultivation. Growing this plant in leca supports its root structure and provides the right moisture balance without the risk of overwatering.
15. African Mask Plant
Botanical Name: Alocasia amazonica
Alocasia amazonica, known for its striking dark green leaves with contrasting white veins, is a bold choice for LECA. Its preference for well-draining, consistent moisture conditions makes LECA an ideal growing medium, mimicking its native environment.
16. Zebra Plant
Botanical Name: Haworthia spp.
The Zebra Plant is a hardy succulent with rosette of thick, dark green leaves adorned with white, zebra-like stripes. LECA beads are perfect for this plant as they provide excellent drainage, hence dealing root rot—a common issue in succulents.
17. Chinese Money Plant
Botanical Name: Pilea peperomioides
Loved for its unique, round leaves perched on slender stems, resembling coins, the Chinese Money Plant adds a playful charm to the leca setting. Additionally, its adaptability to various environments and moderate water needs make it a great candidate for leca cultivation.
18. String of Pearls
Botanical Name: Senecio rowleyanus
This eye-catching trailing plant, with its bead-like leaves, creates a stunning cascading effect. LECA is an excellent choice for the String of Pearls, as it helps in maintaining the delicate balance between moisture and drainage, crucial for its health.
19. Chinese Evergreen
Botanical Name: Aglaonema spp.
With its lush, patterned foliage in shades of green, silver, and sometimes red, the Chinese Evergreen is a delightful visual treat. Its hardy and low maintenance nature are complemented by LECA, which aids in consistent moisture delivery and root support.
20. Nerve Plant
Botanical Name: Fittonia spp.
The Nerve Plant is known for its vibrant, veined leaves in a variety of colors. It thrives in high humidity and consistent moisture, which makes leca the perfect fit, providing a stable and humid environment that encourages its lush growth.
