Expanded clay is a natural material made from clay or shale, fired in a kiln at a temperature of 1200 °C.
Growers use expanded clay as an effective drainage material.It allows you to make heavy soil more loose and airy.
Drainage for plants is very important. The health of the plant depends on its presence. Houseplants prefer soil to be 15% air, 35% water and 50% solids. All plants need to breathe, and with excess moisture (ample watering, rainy season, climatic conditions), water completely displaces air from the soil, preventing the roots from breathing. Bacteria begin to develop in anaerobic soil, which leads to rotting of the root system, flowers become sluggish, and plant growth may even stop.
Expanded clay is considered an excellent addition when planting plants, since its granules weigh little, do not interfere with air exchange and are able to accumulate and release moisture.
In winter, houseplants experience a lack of moisture in the air, as a result of which they begin to dry out and turn yellow. Expanded clay in this case can become a faithful assistant.
You can normalize the air humidity in the room by filling the trays with expanded clay granules and pouring them with plenty of water. After a few hours, the granules will absorb moisture and begin to gradually saturate the air in the room with it.
