Clay balls know how to surrender indispensable in the garden as well as on the terrace or the balcony. They are widely used for growing plants in pots, tubs, pots, planters but also find their place in beds. In any case, these are real allies plant lovers, both outside and inside. Let’s find out what exactly these famous clay balls are on the rise, take stock of their many qualities and review all that can be done with them.
Clay balls: what are they?
These are small mineral balls made up of a raw clay extracted from various quarries. Their spherical shape is obtained by kneading the clay, then the beads are fired at 1,100°C.
Expanded clay balls have undeniable qualities allowing them to be used in the field of interior and exterior decoration but also in gardening.
They have the specificities following:
- Respect the environment,
- 100% natural,
- Lightweight,
- rot-proof,
- Durables,
- Stables,
- Resistant:
- at the time,
- at the water,
- have gel
- to drought,
- at extreme temperatures,
- fire,
- insects,
- to bacteria,
- to corrosive products,
- with pressure…
Expanded clay balls have become the must-haves at home and in the gardenand in view of their many advantages, we understand that we can hardly do without them.
1 – Facilitate drainage
Expanded clay balls are draining. This is why it is frequently recommended to deposit some at the bottom of the pots before planting plants there or at the bottom of the planting holes for a culture in the ground.
2 – Maintain good humidity
These small balls made exclusively of clay are able to preserve the humidity necessary for the health of plants. You can therefore place it on the substrate without worry or even put a flower pot or a planter on a tray containing a bed of clay pebbles. Then just keep it moist.
Due to their porosity, they capture rainwater or irrigation water and then release it gradually during their drying phase. They are therefore very useful for creating the humid atmosphere that many plants need, including those that die if they are in direct contact with water.
3 – Create a substrate
Some plants can grow in a substrate that is not necessarily made up of soil, but of clay balls associated with a little sphagnum, perlite or even coconut fiber. This substrate is perfect for many epiphytic plants such as theAnthuriumthem orchids or even the Guzmania and others Bromeliaceae…
Apart from epiphytic plants, cactus can also be grown in a substrate containing a good proportion of clay pebbles, and the same is true for bonsai.
For information, cultivating plants without aqueous support, without potting soil or soil is a specific mode of culture that is calledhydroculture.
4 – Lighten the planting soil
If the garden soil is too heavy, it may not be suitable for all plants. When planting or repotting, the best solution is to mix it with a handful of clay pebbles. This allows it to be aired while lightening it.
5 – Mulching
Place a layer of clay balls at the foot of a potted plant is useful because it can limit the process of evaporation of moisture. This surfacing further prevents weeds from developing. Plants grown in the ground can also benefit from a clay pebble mulch perfect for insulating their roots from the cold. Finally, due to their high resistance, these small 100% clay balls protect the soil against erosion.
6 – Decorate the beds
In addition to being useful on many levels, clay pebbles are aesthetichave a very regular shape, and their brick color bring an authentic touch to the garden. They find their place perfectly in beds, flowerbeds, rockeries which they decorate nicely… Spaces covered with clay balls have a particularly neat look.