How to use the Hydropot
1. Remove soil from plant roots.
When transitioning a plant from soil to a soil-free growing medium (like LECA or Pon), it's important to remove soil from plant roots to avoid root rot. If soil is left on the roots, it can retain excess moisture, creating a very damp environment. This can lead to root rot because the wet soil clinging to the roots stops them from getting air, depriving them of oxygen.
2. If using LECA, soak.
Before using LECA, rinse the pellets to remove any dust. Then, soak them overnight to ensure they are fully hydrated. Dry LECA can draw water from plant roots, harming them.
3. Fill half of the clear pot with soil-free medium.
When planting into the clear pot component of our Hydropot, it's important to place the plant roots at the midpoint of the pot. This is because the inner pot will sit in water, with the water level about one-third of the way up the clear pot.
By positioning the bottom of the plant roots at the midpoint, you avoid root rot as the roots that were previously growing in soil are not submerged in water. These soil-adapted roots will die from lack of oxygen if submerged. Over time, the plant will grow water roots down into the water reservoir. These water roots are specialized to thrive in water, so they won't suffer from root rot.
4. Fill the rest of the clear pot with soil-free medium around the plant roots.
5. Fill the outer pot with water and nutrients, up to the marking lines on the interior of the pot.
Add water up to the fill lines on the interior of the outer pot. These are vertical lines, and you should fill to the top of these lines. Make sure to mix the water with a hydroponic fertilizer since the soil-free medium doesn’t contain nutrients like soil does.
6. Place the clear pot into the outer pot. The water level indicator will read full.
Place the clear pot into the outer pot that contains the water and nutrients. The clear pot will now sit in the water, about one-third up its height, allowing water to be absorbed into the soil-free medium and wicked up to the plant roots. After placing the clear pot in the outer pot, the water level indicator on the front of the planter will read full, with the float rising to the top of the window opening.
7. Once the indicator reads empty in 1 - 3 weeks, refill.
Over time, the water in the reservoir will be used by the plant and lost through evaporation. The size of the plant, the amount of light it receives, and the humidity in the air can all affect how long the water reservoir lasts. On average, it takes about 1-3 weeks for the water reservoir to become empty. As the water level decreases, the indicator will read empty, with the float at the bottom of the window opening.
Once the indicator reads empty, there is still a small amount of water left in the reservoir. We designed it this way to give you a buffer of about 2-5 days before the reservoir is completely dry. This ensures you have some time to refill the reservoir before the plant runs out of water completely.
It is also perfectly fine to top up the water and nutrients regularly instead of letting the reservoir get empty.
8. Periodically flush the soil-free growing medium.
Over time, the soil-free medium will accumulate excess salts and minerals from the water and fertilizers used. In LECA, this appears as white mineral buildup on the surface. These salts can harm plant roots by interfering with nutrient absorption and creating an unhealthy environment.
To maintain a healthy growing environment, periodically flush the LECA to remove these excess salts. This can be done by running water through the LECA to wash away the buildup. We recommend doing this about once a month, though you might be able to extend the interval depending on your specific conditions.
9. Enjoy a happy houseplant!