High-quality expanded clay is expensive. We advise against cheap, low-quality clay balls, as they are usually not doing your plants or yourself any favors. Sometimes it doesn't necessarily have to be expanded clay. We present possible alternatives for various purposes.
What alternatives to expanded clay are there?
Possible alternatives to expanded clay are primarilyclay shardsandpebbles. Both ensure stable drainage in the flower pot, but cost significantly less than high-quality expanded clay. For hydroponics, however, there are no good alternatives to expanded clay.
When are potsherds a good alternative to expanded clay?
Pottery shards are a good alternative to expanded clay if you need a material withexcellent drainage properties. It is simply broken clay. The shards create many cavities in the flower pot that allow excess water to drain away reliably.
But: The capillary effect is lower with pottery shards than with expanded clay, so you may have to water more often to prevent the soil from drying out quickly. In addition, there can be even more problems with the pH value with pottery shards than with expanded clay.
Can you use pebbles as a drainage layer instead of expanded clay?
You can easily use pebbles instead of expanded clay if your sole concern isallowing excess water to drain away quickly. The small stones serve this purpose very well - and at a significantly lower price.
When is it not advisable to use alternatives to expanded clay?
Inhydroculture no material has proven as successful as expanded clay. That's why we recommend not even thinking about potential alternatives to clay beads when growing and growing plants in water.
Tip
Prevent waterlogging without special drainage
Drainage with expanded clay and other materials primarily serves to ensure good water drainage and thus prevent waterlogging. If you use good potting soil, you may also save yourself the need for drainage. Another option is to mix conventional potting soil with permeable coconut fiber soil.
