Easy Guide to Work on Your Versatile Hydroton Hydroton grow rocks are gaining fame in hydroponics due to their reliability and usefulness as a growing medium.
You would be surprised to know that these economical growing mediums are not rocks at all; they are expanded clay products.
Due to its high absorbance and reusability, hydroton has earned popularity amongst the hydroponic as well as soil gardeners.
Hydroton is the most admired growing medium in hydroponics due to its adaptability.
It works very well with deep water culture, drip system, and ebb and flow system.
Just that we have to keep in mind that hydroton floats and therefore avoid using them in systems that flood the roots.
If you're intending to cut down your medium expenditure, then you should know how to care for your hydroton pebbles so that you can effectively reuse them.
Here are some guidelines as to how you can maintain and use them for a longer duration to get a fabulous yield each growing season:

• Thorough Clean Up With Isopropyl Alcohol- Thorough cleaning of the hydroton pebbles after use will surely help you to trim down your gardening cost.
  Quickly washing them off after using in hydroponic system would least help, that's why it is advisable to wash them carefully with isopropyl alcohol.
  This will not only remove any salt deposits formed from hydroponics nutrients but also chuck out any organic material stuck inside.
  After that, rinse them with pH-balanced water to eliminate any traces of alcohol entering into hydroponics system.
  
• Using Smaller Pots Helps- Due to the limited absorbency of the hydroton pebbles, it would be good if you use smaller pots while using hydroton nutrients.
  In larger containers, even distribution of the nutrients becomes difficult in such medium giving rise to some dry spots at the top.
  
• Mix It Up- Unlike other reusable medium, hydroton is good in absorption.
  However, to hold the moisture and nutrients more efficiently, you would have to mix it up with some other growing medium like coco coir.
  This will not only withhold hydroton nutrients but also impart benefits of dual growing medium to the plants.
  
• Go Cheap but Check Porosity- Though hydroton is inexpensive still going too cheap can hit hard on your pocket sometimes.
  The best hydroton pebbles are baked at very high temperatures that imparts them their well-known porosity.
  Compromising with the cost might not fetch you the right porosity of the pellets, which can affect its functionality.
  

Benefits Hydroton is known for its perfect water retention capacity; this prevents overwatering.
It sustains oxygen exchange giving healthy roots.
Hydroton is a pH neutral sterile product and you can use it in your hydroponics system to grow your valuable flowers and vegetables affordably and conveniently.