Clay pebbles are a popular and versatile growing medium with a variety of uses. Use as a high performance, stand-alone hydroponic medium or add to your soil or coco for increased drainage and aeration. To make pebbles, the clay is heated to very high temperatures causing it to expand rapidly. Thanks to this process the pebbles have both a high porosity and air content; the perfect combination for the development of strong roots! These pebbles are also all a uniform circular shape and range in size from 8-16mm, this give them an advantage over 'jagged' shaped brands which can cause root damage and actually create less air pockets when used. This substrate is completely inert, does not rot and has a neutral pH, meaning complete control of your nutrients no matter how you use them. Canna Aqua pebbles are manufactured from a special type of clay that has a very low soluble salt content making them an ideal choice of brand to use. How To Use Canna Aqua Clay Pebbles The only preparation needed before using pebbles is rinsing them in water, this removes any dust and loose particles that may be present from transporting them in the bag. It is important to do this as these particles can cause blockages in your irrigation or hydroponic system. Clay pebbles have multitude of uses, here are some of the most popular ones: Hydroponic growing medium - Use pebbles as a stand-alone substrate in your hydroponic system. This method works particularly well in flood & drain systems but also can be used in drippers and is the preferred choice for DWC too. Using just pebbles allows you to water your plants very frequently whilst getting the maximum amount of oxygen to your root-zone; the ultimate recipe for fast growth and big yields! It is important to choose a 'hydroponic' nutrient when growing in just clay pebbles. If following the Canna schedule this would be usually be the Aqua range as most of the time clay pebbles would be part of a re-circulating system, however any brand of nutrient will work as long as it's designed for hydro. Aerating your substrate - Clay pebbles can be mixed in with your absorbent medium such as coco or soil to help with drainage and aeration to the root zone. There is no set rule on how much to add but common ratios of soil or coco/pebble are 70/30, 60/40 or 50/50. This method is commonly used in systems that feed from the bottom such as AutoPot or Easyfeed where it is important to do this to prevent the substrate from becoming waterlogged. If using another type of irrigation system or hand watering then remember the more pebbles you add, the less water the pots can hold and faster they will dry out meaning you will need to adjust your feeding accordingly. Drainage - Adding a 2-4cm layer of pebbles at the bottom of your potting mix can significantly help with drainage and also prevent plants from sitting in the run-off in their saucers. This helps prevent water-logging and the potential issues that come with it such as root diseases. Top-dressing - Another method of using clay pebbles is adding a layer to the top of your medium. This can work as a type of mulch, helping to seal moisture in to your pots for longer. Clay Pebbles can also be reused! Once you have harvested your crop and removed the bulk of it, soak them with a heavy dose of an enzyme product such as Cannazym to break down the remaining roots and dead plant matter. Then before re-planting wash them out with a solution of Liquid Oxygen to ensure they are sterile and clean. Canna Aqua Clay Pebbles are available in 20L and 45L bags.
