Leca no longer available?

[fotofashion]

I hope I am not spreading an unsubstantiated rumor here but last night at the HOS meeting one of the growers told me leca was going to be unavailable shortly. Other details missing. I went out this morning and started picking up the ones I could find from repotting.
Anyone confirm this?
Beverly A.

[Leafmite]

That is really weird. I use lava rock because I don't have a source of leca but what would hydroponic's stores do?

[WhiteRabbit]

hmm ... perhaps a particular brand is being discontinued?

[pipsxlch]

I recently bought some in a pet shop packaged for terrarium/paludarium use. It came from a major reptile product company, so should be commonly available.

[Bud]

LECA is an abreviation of Lightweight Expanded
Clay Aggregate....Fired Clay Pebble
Hydroponic Growing Media .... it is very easy to manufacture and make....there is no monopoly or factory exclusively making this; maybe somebody patented it but it doesnt mean the manufacturing of this can be stopped or controlled....if you know how to do ceramic clay pots as a hobby, you yourself can make this in the privacy of your home....

[DavidCampen]

The hydroponics store near me had lots of 10 and 40 liter bags of Hydroton in stock when I visited the other week, also large bags of #4 Pearlite.

[tucker85]

The speaker at our orchid society meeting told us that Aliflor has already been discontinued and the company that makes Hydroton is going out of business. There are still some rock alternatives. Sta-lite, Prime Agra, Dyna-Rok II and lava rock should all still be available as far as I know. I've grown orchids in several of those and they all work as well as Hydroton.

[Ray]

Originally Posted by tucker85

There are still some rock alternatives. Sta-lite, Prime Agra, Dyna-Rok II and lava rock should all still be available as far as I know.

Dyna-Rok II is Maidenwell diatomite from Australia, and my understanding is that they are no longer producing. It is a major ingredient in "Aussie Gold", and the eastern manufacturer has told me they can no longer get it.

I've grown orchids in several of those and they all work as well as Hydroton.

...under your growing conditions. Just because something works for you, doesn't mean it will work for folks with different growing conditions. You have it pretty ideal in south Florida, compared to many of us, so can probably do well in pretty much any medium.

[keithrs]

I perfer to use washed crushed rock over hydroton anyway. Easer on the wallet!

[RosieC]

So Ray, is your PrimeAgra still available to everyone in the USA?

I would be surprised if they stopped selling it overhere. The hydroponics store I buy it from sells a LOT of it. Mostly to people who don't like to say what they use it for... but the place has massive stocks and it's one of the main things they sell.