Hydroton clay pebbles are my favorite ones to use as a growing medium for my hydroponic systems.
They don’t cost a ton either, but they do cost a bit more than, say, Rockwool. I used to wonder if there was a way to clean hydroton clay pebbles and reuse them.
To clean hydroton clay pebbles for reuse, we need to stir and strain the pebbles in hot water to remove debris, boil them for sanitization, and finally rinse and let dry. This will extend the life and usability of the pebbles, though any pebbles with visible damage or breaking apart should be discarded.
Keep reading for more details on this process.
To learn more about soilless systems, check out our detailed comparison of aeroponics vs. hydroponics vs. aquaponics.
Table of Contents
Steps For Cleaning Hydroton Pebbles
Remove Used Pebbles
The first step is to remove the clay pebbles from whatever container you’re using for growing.
Don’t simply reuse the pebbles without cleaning.
Bacteria and organic matter may be trapped there from the last plant.
This could infect the next plant you grow in the container.
As you remove the pebbles into a pot, go over them quickly.
If you notice pebbles with damage or are breaking apart, pull them out and discard them.
Pro-tip: Put them in your compost, and they’ll help it a lot.
Put Hydroton Clay Pebbles In Hot Water And Stir Around
Add hot water (not boiling at this point) and stir them around with a spoon or, better yet, your hands.
The goal here is to knock loose any remaining bits of the old plants or broken clay pebbles.
Strain The Pebbles And Rinse
Transfer the pebbles and water to a colander or strainer.
Rinse them pebbles with cool water and move them around again with your hand.
Look for any broken pebbles and throw those into your compost.
Boil The Clay Pebbles To Sanitize
With your clay pebbles cleaned off from physical debris, it’s time to sanitize them.
Bring water in a pot to a boil and carefully pour the clay pebbles back in.
When it comes to how long to soak clay pebbles, the generally accepted answer is 20-30 minutes.
I stay on the side of 20 minutes because I feel like longer encourages some of them to break down.
Strain And Rinse The Hydroton Pebbles
After the time has passed, put the pebbles back into a strainer and then rinse again.
This time I don’t put my hands in there as I don’t want to expose them to more bacteria, but I will give the pebbles a shake to make sure water rinses the exterior of each pebble.
Let The Clay Pebbles Dry
Once rinsed, spread the clay pebbles onto a cloth towel or paper towel and let them air dry.
Keep the pebbles in a single layer (not stacked on each other) for quicker drying.
Once a couple of them are dry to the touch, they’re ready for reuse.
Some people soak them in the nutrient solution for 10 minutes before reuse, but I find this isn’t needed, although it doesn’t hurt either.
It’s up to you!
Congrats! You now know how to clean LECA for reuse (LECA is one of the names for clay pebbles).
Is It Safe To Reuse Hydroton Pebbles?
Can you reuse clay pebbles? Of course, as long as they haven’t broken down and you clean them beforehand.
Reusing hydroton pebbles is a great way to save on money and keep your hydroponics hobby going forward.
There’s no reason not to. Some people worry the pebbles will pass bacteria to future plants, and they’re right!
But only if you don’t sanitize them.
With proper sanitization, as we discussed above, these are perfectly safe to reuse at least once.
Some people reuse them twice, though I recommend you don’t reuse them more than once.
A few hydroponic enthusiasts are into cleaning hydroton with hydrogen peroxide.
This does work, but it isn’t needed; boiling works just fine.
Benefits Of Hydroton Clay Pebbles In Hydroponics
Aeration
One of the big things any plant needs to grow is oxygen and aeration.
Clay pebbles are filled with tiny holes, which serves the dual purpose of bringing air AND water to the roots of whatever plant you’re growing.
If you use a Kratky jar method in hydroponics (a DIY type of hydroponics), you won’t have an air pump to help you get oxygen into the water.
LECA pebbles are perfect for helping make up this difference.
Learn more about this type of hydroponics by learning how to refill a Kratky jar.
Natural And Sterile
Some materials used in hydroponics are artificial, like the common Rockwool.
Others are natural but hold onto too much bacteria like many soils and dirt.
Hydroton clay finds a great middle-ground; it’s natural and still easy to sterilize.
Better yet, for those of us who like to be eco-friendly, clay pebbles are discarded into the soil, where they break down naturally.
Just put clay pebbles on top of the soil or mix it in.
Good pH Balance
They also have a good pH balance and don’t inhibit the growth of plants.
As the water goes through the hydroponic process, it tends to lose some of its acidity.
Plants need a little acidity to grow well.
We generally want the water between 5.5-7 for pH.
Some grow mediums lower it quickly. Clay doesn’t.
Allows For Good Water Retention And Drainage
Hydroponics is all about water (thus the “hydro-” in hydroponics).
Whatever medium you use has to be great at absorbing the nutrient water and bringing it to the plant.
Clay pebbles are one of the best mediums for this purpose.
Affordable Price
Hydroton clay isn’t the cheapest material out there, but it’s pretty close, especially if you start to use it twice after cleaning.
Perfect For Seeds
Starting seeds in clay pebbles isn’t as easy as you’d think, but it’s doable. You’re better of with a seed started pod or using Rockwool just for the seeds.