Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate (LECA) Soil Replacement

Usage Instruction: When it comes to the fields of agriculture, the importance of quality soil for planting cannot be overstated. As the medium that holds plants in place and provides water and nutrients, the soil is literally the foundation of every kind of growing and propagation.

You may think of the practices of hydroponics and aquaponics, in which plants are grown outside of natural soil or in water, and think they are exempt from the need for soil. But it is not so! Plants grown in hydroponic and aquaponic setups need media and nutrient sources just as much as plants cultivated through more orthodox means.

However, it is indeed true that soil and water can be difficult to manage in such setups. A new solution comes in the form of Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregates, manufactured and distributed by SMaju Agro Venture! Otherwise known as hydroton or LECA, these clay aggregates serve as an absorbent medium that allows plants to take firm root and receive all the nutrients they need.

Lightweight expanded clay aggregates can seem strange at first, but using them to grow small, everyday plants is really quite easy. Whether you are familiar with planting or not, here is an easy way to get started:

1) Prepare the clay aggregate, clean water, a pot constructed of material such as clay or concrete, and a net pot (a smaller pot with holes in the bottom, used in hydroponics)

2) Dust off the quantity of LECA you plan to use and rinse them off 24 hours in advance of use.

3) Dry the LECA under the sun.

4) Add liquid fertilizer to the amount of water you plan to use.

5) Rinse the LECA with this fertilized water.

6) Fill the net pot one third (1/3) of the way up with the rinsed LECA.

7) Place the plant you wish to transplant on top of the LECA.

8) Fill the net pot the rest of the way with the rinsed LECA.

9) Fill the larger pot with the rest of the fertilized water, to around the level where the openings of the net pot will be.

10) Place the net pot into the larger pot, allowing the lower 1/3rd of the LECA to touch the water, and watch your plant grow.

Just like that, you have a potted plant planted in LECA, that will soon grow strong and healthy thanks to the benefits of lightweight expanded clay aggregates!

Packaging Information: SMaju Agro Venture’s Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate is packaged in individual, transparent plastic sacks for shipping and storage. When you place your order, the LECA will be shipped to you in a quantity sufficient to fill a standard 20ft container load, or a less-than-container load (LCL) that can be negotiated at the time of placing an order.

Storage Instructions: As each pack of Clay Aggregate is transparent and the LECA pebbles themselves are water-absorbent, you should store each package in shaded areas free of humidity or liquid water. This will prevent mold or water expansion from affecting the LECA before use, as well as causing breakdown under excessive sunlight or heat.

Certifications & Mentions:

1. Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) Registration: As one of the essential overseers of businesses and industries in Malaysia, the SSM has certified SMaju Agro Venture as a registered firm. This ensures that all operations of SMaju Agro Venture, including the manufacture and distribution of Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate are carried out with the appropriate regulations and oversight.
2. Women-Focused Business Development: With a focus on promoting the opportunities of female bumiputra agro-entrepeneurs in particular, SMaju Agro Venture continues to expand and take many local businesses involved in the agricultural and aquacultural fields under our umbrella.
3. Persistent Industrial and Scientific Advancement: Through its connection to agricultural businesses locally and abroad, SMaju Agro Venture pays close attention to technological and industrial developments that could expand the effectiveness of agricultural products and practices. This spirit of advancement empowers not only the entrepreneurs, but individual consumers of products and services in the field.
   

Overview of Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate

Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate has had a long precedent of use in indoor and hydroponic planting, whether for decoration or large-scale farming. But what makes it so much better than ordinary soil? First off, the construction of clay aggregate makes it highly durable and renewable, unlike natural soil. As it does not carry nutrients to plants on its own, LECA cannot be depleted by the natural processes of plants and therefore does not need renewing nearly as often.

Furthermore, as a manufactured material, LECA can vary in the density and size of each pebble, allowing a gardener to tailor the grade of clay aggregate to the specific needs of the plants they grow. This is not to mention that Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate is not only highly absorbent, it also gradually releases that water to plants when needed, as if it were a sponge.

This solves two major challenges that exist when using loose soil in indoor gardening: drainage issues that result from less dense soil, as well as mold or root rot that results from overwatering plants that have taken root in soil.

In fact, LECA solves the issue of overwatering almost entirely! As Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate does not clump or stick when watered, it has no chance of “drowning” plants, and releases moisture into the roots of plants only gradually, as the plants need it.

There’s certainly still a place for soil-based planting, particularly when you have outdoor space. But if you’re looking for a way to make planting easier indoors or in unsteady soil, why not use Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate from SMaju Agro Venture?

Specifications of Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate

- Lightweight Expanded Clay Aggregate manufactured and distributed by SMaju Agro Venture in Malaysia
- Clay balls used as medium for planting
- Highly absorbent and endlessly reusable
- Optimal for hydroponic and aquaponic growing