How to Clean Hydroton For Reuse (Easy Guide)

Hydroton clay pebbles is my favorite medium for hydroponics. Although they don’t cost much, they are a lot more expensive than Rockwool. A few years ago I was curious if it was possible to make these clean hydroton clay pebbles and then reuse them.

We need to clean hydroton clay pebbles in order to reuse them. To do this, stir the pebbles in hot water and then boil them for disinfection. Finally, rinse them and dry them. This will prolong the life of the pebbles and make them more usable. However, pebbles that are damaged or disintegrated should be thrown out.

What are Hydroton Clay Pebbles?

Hydroton clay pebbles are tiny pieces of clay that have been exposed to extreme temperatures. These clay pebbles can then be expanded to make them suitable for hydroponic gardening.

How to Clean Hydroton for Reuse?

Because it is light, sterile and easy to harvest, hydroton clay pebbles is a popular media for hydroponics and aquaponic gardens.

You can find hydroton clay pebbles at most garden centers and stores. Although they are expensive, the fact that they can easily be re-used makes them an affordable growing medium for hydroponic gardens.

Hydroton clay pebbles should be soaked for at least 24 hours before you place them in your hydroponic gardening garden. After that, rinse them off to remove any dirt, dust or debris from their pores.

Add some growth solution to your hydroponic garden before you put them in.

Can Hydroton Clay pebbles be reused?

Properly cleaned and maintained, hydroton clay pebbles can be 100% reused. Hydroponic growing media are either reusable or retain moisture. Hydroton clay pebbles is able to retain moisture and can be re-used.

You might be tempted to think that hydroton clay pebbles can’t retain moisture well. They look hard, flat, and smooth. You will be amazed at how well they retain moisture if you take a closer look. They are equipped with tiny pores that retain moisture.

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Why clay pebbles should be cleaned

You can save money by using hydroton clay pots as a grow medium because they are reusable. If you intend to reuse clay pebbles you will need to clean them. This is especially important if the plant you were using has passed away or is not growing anymore. The clean hydrotone clay pebbles will be appreciated by your new plant.

How do you know when your hydroton calcium stone is dirty? You should check for any debris or salt deposits on clay pebbles. Hydron clay pebbles can be used as a great growing medium but it must be properly cleaned.

You can reuse them after a quick wash with fresh water and drying them for 24 hours.

How to wash Hydroton clay pebbles in order to reuse

The clay pebbles is washed to remove dirt, dust and other debris. Over time, phytotoxicity builds up. A buildup of phytotoxicity could cause your plants to become sick or starve.

Clay pebbles can be cleaned by removing impurities and cleaning out their pores.

1. Preparation

Cleaning your clay pebbles takes a little over 24 hours. You will need an additional set of clay pebbles in order to replace the ones that you are cleaning. You will need two sets of alternate clay pebbles.

2. Take out the clay pebbles that have been used in the hydroponic gardens.

If your plants are still alive, be extra careful. Clay pebbles can get stuck in roots. Be careful when removing clay pebbles. Don’t pull the roots out of the clay pebbles or cut them off.

If the clay pebbles get entangled in roots, this is a sign that your plants are using them. You should not forcefully remove the roots that are attached to clay pebbles.

Check the quality of the clay pebbles. Verify for any deposits or residue. Clay pebbles can be cleaned and reused, but they may need to be washed often. You can still use them and reuse them for many years.

3. Place the clay pebbles into a large pot. Then, heat water to submerge them.

Make sure you have a vessel that can submerge your clay pebbles in water. Use hot water to cover the pebbles. Warm tap water can be used or boiling water.

While filling the pot with hot water, shake it or move it. Fill the pot with hot, boiling water until all clay pebbles have been submerged.

4. Mix the clay pebbles.

Mix the clay pebbles with your hands around the pot. This is done in order to remove as much dirt, dust and debris as possible. Some impurities can be removed by soaking clay pebbles in water, while mixing them will get rid of those from the outer layer.

To loosen even more, you can rub the clay pebbles’ sides. You can stir the pebbles for a while until they get dirty.

5. Strain the pebbles, and then repeat step 4.

Use a colander to empty the container. It will show you how much debris has been removed from your pebbles.

Rinse the pot, then replace the pebbles. Re-add warm water. Step 4. Rinse the clay pebbles with water for approximately 4 hours.

6. Place the clay pebbles into the boiling water.

After you have rinsed the pebbles, return them to the pot with fresh water. Boil the pebbles. Pebbles are used for high temperatures and can withstand boiling water.

Although rinsing, draining, and washing have removed all buildup, boiling will remove all particles. It can also sterilize clay pebbles. Any bacteria buildup will be eliminated by sterilization.

Make sure to sterilize all clay pebbles. This is similar to washing your hands with soap and water without sanitizing or sanitizing. Clay pebbles are the same. You have not cleaned the pebbles properly, only washed and disinfected them.

As the clay pebbles boil, you will see a cloudy substance form on top of the water. These are the impurities and powders that remain after the hydroton clay pebbles boil.

This is a crucial step. Even though you’ve removed the clay pebbles from the pebbles, there may still be some heavy impurities.

Boiling removes any impurities remaining in the pores of the pebbles. Any bacteria that remains in clay pebbles can be killed by cooking. Boil the pebbles for 15 minutes.

7. Rinse the clay pebbles with tap water.

After boiling the clay pebbles, strain them. The clay pebbles should be soaked in hot water together with the strainer. Rinse once more.

Place the clay pebbles into a strainer. Now, run the water. Once the water has cooled to the touch, you can use your hands to move the clay pebbles. Move the clay pebbles with your hands. Rinse the clay pebbles thoroughly.

8. Rinse well, then add pH-correcting water.

The addition of pH-adjusted drinking water will ensure that the clay pebbles are free from germs and pathogens. This will extend the life span of clay pebbles. Drain the clay pebbles.

9. Allow the clay pebbles dry.

Allow the clay pebbles dry on a colander placed over the pot. This will allow them to drain. Clay pebbles will completely dry in 24 hours. Clay pebbles is a great growing medium as it retains moisture well. Therefore, clay pebbles will not drain quickly.

Allow the clay pebbles to dry before shaking them. This will speed up their drying time. The remaining moisture will be drained by shaking the clay pebbles.

10. Return the clay pebbles back to the hydroponic gardening or storage container.

Now the clay pebbles can be used again. They can be placed in a hydroponic container or in a bag.

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What to avoid when using reusable clay pebbles

These are some helpful tips for hydroton clay pebbles use in hydroponic gardens to make sure your plants get the best out of this growing medium.

Things you should to when reusing Hydroton clay pebbles

• Allow clay pebbles to soak for between 6-24 hours before putting them in the hydroponic gardening. Clay pebbles are heavier than clay pebbles, but they will provide more water for your plants because the pebbles retain their moisture.
• Soaking clay pebbles in water will remove any dirt, dust or debris they may have accumulated during their stay in the box.
• After soaking the clay pebbles, rinse them well. Rinse the clay pebbles well as you would with cleaning clay pebbles.
• Add nutrients to the clay beads after rinsing. For exact quantities or proportions, refer to the instructions on the package.
• To avoid phytotoxicity buildup, remove plants from the hydroponic gardens and rinse. Clay pebbles are by their nature low in nutrients and have neutral pH. They can absorb nutrients from hydroponic gardens, but they may become toxic if they do.
• Be sure to check for any whitish remains. Use a pH-adjusted fluid to rinse the clay pebbles and plant. This is important as phytotoxicity buildup can cause plants to become starved.

Things you shouldn’t do when reusing Hydroton clay pebbles

• Clay pebbles should not be used as a soil replacement for outdoor gardens. Clay pebbles can be mixed with soil, but it should not be used as a soil substitute for outdoor gardens.
• Do not allow clay pebbles dry out. Clay pebbles is very moist, but it can dry out as plants use it for water. When dry, hydronic clay pebbles can be harmful to plants.
• Clay pebbles should not be reused without being cleaned (soaking, sterilizing, and rinsing).
• If you don’t know how to use isopropyl alcohol or peroxide, do not clean clay pebbles.
• If you don’t have a water source, a regular pot is not suitable for hydroponic gardens. Algae growth can be caused by regular pots. This can also cause drainage problems.

Hydroton clay pebbles are a good choice for hydroponics

Aeration

Aeration and oxygen are two of the most important things a plant needs to thrive.

Clay pebbles has tiny holes that allow air and water to reach the roots of the plants you are growing.

You will not need an air pump to oxygenate your water if you use the Kratky Jar method of hydroponics (the DIY version of hydroponics).

This difference can be made up with LECA pebbles.

This type of hydroponics can be explored by learning how to fill Kratky jars.

Both natural and sterile

Hydroponics can use synthetic materials, such as regular Rockwool.

Some are more natural than others, but they retain too many bacteria like soil and dirt.

Hydrotonic clay is a wonderful environment. It is both natural and can be sterilized easily.

For those who are eco-friendly, clay pebbles can be dumped in the soil where it naturally breaks down.

Simply place it on clay pebbles over the soil, or mix.

Good pH balance

They are also pH balanced and don’t inhibit plant growth.

Hydroponics causes water to lose some acidity.

To grow well, the plant requires some acidity.

For pH, we prefer water between 5.5-7.

Some media are quick to discount it. Clay isn’t.

Good water retention and drainage

Hydroponics is all water (hence, the hydro-) in hydroponics.

Any medium used must be capable of absorbing nutrients and delivering them to the plants.

Clay pebbles are a great medium.

Affordable price

Hydrotone clay may not be the most affordable material, but it is very close.

Ideal for seeds

The initial seed in clay pebbles is not as simple as you might think, but it is possible. It is better to have a pod of seeds or use Rockwool only for seeds.

Final Thoughts

The most popular hydroponic media is hydronic clay pebbles. Because they retain water very well, your plants will always be able to access the water they require to grow and develop.

Hydroponic clay pebbles can be recycled, which is why they are so popular as a growing medium. Clay pebbles is not distinguished. They can be reused for a long time and can be cleaned repeatedly.

Clay pebbles don’t have a shelf life. However, you should throw them out if you are unable to clean salt buildup.

How often you clean clay pebbles will affect their lifespan. It is important to have a cleaning schedule. You should also have another set of clay pebbles for your hydroponic gardening garden to use while you clean the clay pebbles.

Cleaning hydroton clay pebbles to reuse is one of the many tasks that you will need to learn if you have a hydroponic garden. Your plants will thrive in a hydroponic garden that has a steady supply of fresh water and clean hydroton clay pebbles.