Girl! They sell these exact ingredients as premade mixtures on Amazon for reasonable prices! Sold as gritty mixes.. I’ve used them as Pon substitute and they work great!

@aprilbrooks

3 ай бұрын

Oh snapppp, send me the links on IG 👀

@jaybaptiste1999

3 ай бұрын

I just order 5lb for 20.00 on Amazon. Thanks for sharing.

@lisat4640

22 күн бұрын

Thanks for all the info! Is there a particular gritty mix that you would recommend?

I have the ideal recipe… for me. 1. Oil Dri-it’s legit the best semi-hydro substrate in my opinion. One 50 lb. bag is like, $29, or online you can get 120 lbs. for like $80. So it is cheaper online… there are huge amounts of it available too. Way more economical than any LECA or Lechuza Pon. Oil Dri is basically LECA but gray, smaller shards, used for auto shop floor spills (hence “oil dry”). It has such a nice look, too. Does not disintegrate, like similar products, does not clump like kitty litter would (but it can be used as kitty litter). I’ve even used it as a top dressing for potted plants, as a soil amendment, and even in my aquariums. It functions the same way as LECA. Just have to be sure the smaller pieces don’t fall through any drainage holes in your pots, but it’s physically the same size as Pon. 2. Zeolite/activated charcoal blend from fish/pet store. It’s like $12 at PetSmart, last I checked, for a pound I think? Blended zeolite and charcoal. 3. Osmocote pellets. I’ve also added pumice, perlite or lava rock to it, but those three are ideal. Oil Dri is my SHIT 😆

@aprilbrooks

3 ай бұрын

You always give me the most thorough advice, I appreciate ya ☺️🫶🏽🌱

@jyjrodriguez

2 ай бұрын

What ratio do you use for this mix? So you can use this instead of leca, or as a pon substitute? Thank u!!!

Yes girl, mask up!!! I do now also when im washing substrate or makin holes in my plastic pots with my soldering iron. Ps that red lava rock looks niice!!! I only have black, but imma look up some red ones. If i was from USA id buy from ur storefront 😊

@aprilbrooks

3 ай бұрын

omg I know! My masks were in my car and I didn’t feel like going to get them but I will next time for sure 😅 literally the best lava rock ever!

Came out really nice and looks pretty 😍

@aprilbrooks

3 ай бұрын

Thank you ☺️🫶🏽

She's back.. Think I will try this with my snow queen. 👍🏾

Hi April. Love. I’m sorry my phone rang in the middle of my text. I was impressed with the substrate you made up. I’ll be keeping up to see how well the plants do. As always thanks for sharing

@aprilbrooks

3 ай бұрын

Hi 🥰🌱

If I ever go to semi-hydro I will use my Bondsai Jack Grit mix. I think it would be perfect and cheaper than buying individual grit. It’s perfect for succulents I can’t imagine it not being good for our Alocasia’s going semi-hydro.

@thepurpletoast4283

2 ай бұрын

I use the same stuff for all my plants and they LOVE it. Definitely a good go to if you wanna go semi-hydro

@LeafyConversations

2 ай бұрын

@@thepurpletoast4283 Yes! Glad to hear someone out here uses it too! 👍🏻

You’re freaking hilarious 😂 you make my day ❤❤❤

@aprilbrooks

Ай бұрын

This made my day 🥰🫶🏽😝

Another great video

@aprilbrooks

3 ай бұрын

Thank you 🥰🌱🫶🏽

I’ve just been ordering the biggest bag of pumice, using some of my large perlite I already have, and zeolite. Most recently, I added lava rock to try in the mix and it seems to keep the pon cleaner (since it absorbs bacteria and is so porous).

@aprilbrooks

3 ай бұрын

Yeah I feel like all the ingredients aren’t needed haha I wanna try to put some plants in just pumice and lava rock to see what happens 🌱

@lukki7ster

3 ай бұрын

I have grown in 100% zeolite and it was super healthy (philodendron brasil). I also grow my pinguicula in 100% pumice 🥰

Love the bloopers at the end 🤣

@aprilbrooks

2 ай бұрын

😂😂🫶🏽

Love your videos! ❤❤

@aprilbrooks

3 ай бұрын

Aw thank you sm 🥰🫶🏽🌱

I mix 2 parts pumice, 2 parts lava rock and 1 part zeolite. Sometimes I add in chunky perilite and sometimes some leca.

@aprilbrooks

2 ай бұрын

I’m gonna use LECA next time, thank you 😇🌱

@69dogodon

2 ай бұрын

@aprilbrooks I would mix it in with the PON. Not by itself. I never had luck by itself.

Very Nice 🪴Happy Planting🌿

18:17 I also do this all the time with my Alocasia, anthurium etc. As she came from soil mainly, have the water level incredibly low until she grows into the water ❤❤

@aprilbrooks

3 ай бұрын

Yes I planned on keeping the water level low. This gives me hope 😊🌱

The way I know my alocasias in semi-hydro, you will never get this Dragon Scale back out of that mason jar. It will have rooted through the entire jar in a week and then you won't get the root ball out through ne the neck :D

@aprilbrooks

3 ай бұрын

Lol orrrr I can just dump the substrate and pull out the plant 🤪

Zeolite is also a ph balancer I’ve bought 3-6 mm size on Amazon 12lbs for $12.39 so you could skip the brown rocks to save some $$ large pumice, lava rock and zeolite works great! :)

@aprilbrooks

3 ай бұрын

Thank youuuu 👍🏽🌱

@Ruthyramon

2 ай бұрын

I couldn’t find the big bag of zeolite. I buy the 2.1 bags 😢

Hi. Great video. I bought 2 items from your Amazon. I’m wondering about the slow release fertilizer, some ladies are saying if you put too much it kills your plants. How are yours doing with all that you added? I’m wondering. I’m scared to use it. I was so tempted to buy it from your store but I chickened out 😂😂 I thought I would ask first. Have a great day. Ruth from way down south Texas.

@aprilbrooks

2 ай бұрын

Lmaooo if my plants die from it I will literally convulse. 😂😂😂 I think they’re going to be fine, my dragon scale is the only one losing leaves but that is to be expected 😆 I’ve killed every dragon scale I own hahah

@Ruthyramon

2 ай бұрын

LOL! Thanks for the reply. I’m going to go to your Amazon and purchase it. I think I’ll start with my less expensive plants. If you can update us on how your plants are doing with that mixture it would be appreciated. This way I won’t be scared to put it in all my plants. I’ve been adding fluval stratum, but I’ve been drying my diy pon before I add it. God, you can’t wash that soil it never clears. So I found out it works great but I need to dry all my pon first. But also use the decorative stones you used on the last video when you made your own pon. Thanks again for the quick response

Ty for showing how to make pon! Your cebu roots😮 #rootporn 💚

@aprilbrooks

3 ай бұрын

I know I wish I would’ve taken a pic!!

yea my osmocote stinks too lol I still use it

@aprilbrooks

3 ай бұрын

Oh okay good haha

Nice vid. I made my own but found purchasing it better. The one I made, was too heavy.

@aprilbrooks

2 ай бұрын

Thank you 😇 I feel the same way lol

@tranquilitywithdd

2 ай бұрын

@@aprilbrooks Oh when we try to be cheap!

The outtakes 🤣

@aprilbrooks

3 ай бұрын

😂😅🤪

Have to admit I'm a bit over making up the nutrients. I have seen a lot of people that use PON still use a liquid fertiliser. Do you intend to do this?

@aprilbrooks

3 ай бұрын

Yup, I always use dyna gro foliage pro, cal-mag & superthrive 🌱

When I click on your Amazon link to the products it doesn’t show the products you are using to make pon.

@aprilbrooks

3 ай бұрын

Are you sure? I just clicked it and it was fine lol www.amazon.com/shop/aprilbrooks?ref_=cm_sw_r_apin_aipsfshop_aipsfaprilbrooks_M9JE1VMS2Y0HFGN81R57

the manny phantom rocks lmao & heavy on the "mind ur business" cuz i can do whatever i want w my utensils 😩

@frannypie.

3 ай бұрын

also loving your background music as always

@aprilbrooks

3 ай бұрын

Lmaooo I said what I said 🤣

Not finding links either. Can you do this with most plants?

@aprilbrooks

3 ай бұрын

Everything is linked in my amazon storefront lol it’s the link after “my planty finds” in the description box 💌

💪😍🌱

My Fluvial turned into mud. Is a little black balls and see do they turn into mud. I just did a video on mine.❤❤❤🎉

@aprilbrooks

2 ай бұрын

Omg yes and then it turns into dust! Lol

Hey girl, I watch all your content and love it. But you really should change the battery in your smoke detector. Every time I watch you and I hear the beep, I check to see if it's mine .

@aprilbrooks

3 ай бұрын

Lmaooo it’s not mine it’s in the hallway and that ain’t got nothing to do with me 😂🫶🏽

Thanks for your info. I’m not finding your Amazon list. Please help. Not even finding your planty things

@aprilbrooks

3 ай бұрын

Just linked 🌱🫶🏽

Hey April!

@aprilbrooks

3 ай бұрын

Heyyy 🥰

Damn you literally just eyeballed those portions? 😱😱😱😲😲😲😲😲

@aprilbrooks

3 ай бұрын

Lmao why not

You actually just need pumice ,lava rock and zeolith

@aprilbrooks

3 ай бұрын

I know lol I wanted to try the brown rocks 😝

@chall5353

22 сағат бұрын

Without any slow release fertilizer?

Hopefully that is a lot was like two dollars because I buy literal cat litter. It’s 100% zeolite. (I’m in Australia). 10/12L for $10. Over here, it’s definitely a lot cheaper to make my own ❤. I did order a 18 L bag for $118… However I did order pumice as I have lava rock and zeolite to try DIYing

@aprilbrooks

3 ай бұрын

Cat litter? Omg that’s so smart hahah

@KayBX

3 ай бұрын

@@aprilbrooksI asked a Bunnings plant group I’m asked about the cheapest zeolite and yeah. I don’t know if you have it over there but the brand is Smitten :).