Author: Aqua Gardening

What Are Expanded Clay Balls?

Expanded clay balls

What are Expanded Clay Pebbles?

Clay Pebbles are a name given to LECA (Light Expanded Clay Aggregate) or Clay Balls. Clay Pebbles are made by baking pure natural clay at 1200 degrees Celsius for 3 hours. They are also known as clay balls, hydro pebbles etc.  We've tried many types of clay balls but been disappointed with excessive floating and sharp/angular stones. At Aqua Gardening we currently stock the highest quality clay balls, Canna Aqua Clay Pebbles, in our Brisbane Hydroponics store.

Clay balls are a versatile product, useful for many applications, most notably in the Horticulture industry (as a planting medium) and the building industries (as an insulators). Clay balls have the following uses:

  1. Planting medium for vegetables
  2. Planting medium for flowers
  3. Great ventilation for roots of plants
  4. Lightweight medium for roof gardens
  5. Insulating Material
  6. As primary ingredients in light-weight concrete, replacing gravel

Expanded Clay Balls as a Hydroponic Medium

Canna aqua clay pebbles pebbles bag

Due to the neutral nature (no acid or base/alkaline qualities) of expanded clay, along with other properties it is perfect for growing plants, especially indoor plants. The pebbles provide an ideal balance of moisture, food and air to your plants.

Capillary action on the surface of the lightweight pebbles allows nutrient solution to be carried to the plants. Root rot is eliminated due to the space between the pebbles allowing all-important oxygen to get to the roots.

Clay Balls in Aquaponics

Expanded clay is an excellent media for Aquaponics grow beds due to their neutral and stabilised pH, high pore space for micro-bacteria, and ease of use when planting and harvesting your plants. They are all almost perfectly round making it easy to push your hand into the grow bed to pull out roots or plants. They also have a long life - for instance at Aqua Gardening we have clay balls in a grow bed which have been used over and over for the past 10 years.

As an Insulator

Clay balls have a low thermal conductivity coefficient, giving it the property of a heat insulator. Clay balls are also used to make #50-#150 aggregate concrete, a construction product. These properties make clay balls suitable for several uses, including:

  • Roof insulation
  • Ground Damp Proof
  • Inner walls in Chimneys
  • Heatproof Component in Kilns and Stoves

Expanded Clay Pebbles For Sale in Brisbane

Light expanded clay pebbles are for sale at Aqua Gardening Brisbane. If you are interested in purchasing small to large quantities see our clay balls in our online store.