Are you thinking about using expanded clay as drainage but unsure what happens to the material when it gets wet? In our guide you will find out why damp expanded clay poses no danger to your plants or to you.
Is it problematic if expanded clay gets wet?
It is completelyunproblematicif expanded clay gets wet. The material remains stable in every respect over a very long period of time and isresistant to all pathogens, so that no fungi, for example, can settle on the clay balls.
Can damp expanded clay become moldy?
Wet expanded claycannot get moldybecause the material isinorganic. During the manufacturing process, the initially natural, organic clay pieces are heated strongly. All organic components in the material burn.
Note: Don't worry if you suddenly notice a whitish coating on the clay balls. This is definitely not mold. Rather, the deposits ares alt residues from the nutrient solution. These are absolutely harmless to he alth.
Does expanded clay retain moisture?
Expanded clay does become moist when watered, but contrary to some descriptions on the internet it isNo water storage The clay balls have a ceramic-solid, closed surface, which is why they can hardly absorb any water. They shouldn't do that at all. Rather, the expanded clay balls serve to allow the irrigation water to drain away reliably in order to prevent waterlogging.
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The longevity of expanded clay
One of the biggest advantages of expanded clay is its enormous dimensional stability. The clay balls do not change their properties even after a long time. In addition, you can reuse expanded clay multiple times. All you need to do is clean the balls before using them as a drainage layer for another plant. All of this makes expanded clay a particularly sustainable solution for drainage.
