What a $150 Water Test Revealed About My Semi Hydroponics Setup

If your semi-hydro plants are struggling despite good care, your tap water chemistry could be the reason. This video breaks down a professional water test, covering pH, EC, calcium, magnesium, sodium, chloride, and heavy metals, and explains what each result means for growing plants in LECA and semi-hydroponics. ------------------- 👉 *Buy my book Plant Parenting For Busy People* https://geni.us/FOi8mWu (Amazon Affiliate) 👉 *Join my FREE Facebook Group* https://www.facebook.com/groups/thelecaqueen/ 👉 *Exclusive Bonus Content* https://thelecaqueen.com 👉 *Buy me a coffee* https://buymeacoffee.com/thelecaqueen -------------------- *PRODUCT RECOMMENDATIONS:* 🌱 *Nutrients* GT Foliage Focus 👉 https://tinyurl.com/5xb9t39x GT Silica 👉 https://tinyurl.com/mrxhtmbb GT CCS Clone Cutting Solution 👉 https://tinyurl.com/4wetft5s GT Rootzone👉 https://tinyurl.com/yks8z8vv Use code *Thelecaqueen* for a *10% discount* -------------------- 💡 *Grow lights* *Soltech Grow Lights* 👉 https://glnk.io/0lyv/12 *Barrina Grow Lights* 👉 https://barrina-led.com/collections/led-grow-lights?ref=THELECAQUEEN *Mars Hydro* 👉 https://marshydroau.com/?ref=thelecaqueen -------------------- 🔍 *Light Meter* House Plant Journal LTH Meter 👉 https://www.houseplantjournal.com/ref/4 -------------------- 🪴 *Plant care and accessories* *Leafy Brand* 👉 https://theleafybrand.com?bg_ref=7WGqMaFlgH *Wavy Leaf Pots* 👉 https://wavyleaf.co/discount/thelecaqueen *Planthaul* 👉 https://planthaul.peachs.co/a/thelecaqueen *Vego Garden* 👉 https://glnk.io/vzw5/thelecaqueen Some of the links above are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you shop through them, at no extra cost to you. For some brands, a discount may be applied automatically at checkout when you use the link. Thank you for supporting my content. -------------------- 🛒 *AMAZON STORE* 👉 Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/thelecaqueen (Amazon Affiliate) 👉 List of recommended products https://kit.co/thelecaqueen -------------------- 👉 *VIDEO CONTENTS:* 0:00 – The Foundation of Semi-Hydroponics 0:45 – LECA vs. Soil: Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) Explained 1:53 – pH & Nutrient Availability: The 5.5–6.5 Range 3:14 – How High pH Causes Micronutrient Lockout 4:18 – Alkalinity & Bicarbonates: Why pH Drifts 6:18 – Understanding EC (Electrical Conductivity) for Houseplants 7:34 – Nutrient Strength: Light Feeders vs. Moderate Feeders 8:27 – Why Fertilizer Bottle Instructions Often Fail 9:18 – Calcium & Magnesium in Very Soft Water 11:22 – The 5% Calcium Guideline & Supplementation 13:10 – Maintaining Nutrient Balance (The Cal-Mag Ratio) 16:01 – Sodium & Chloride: Preventing Nutrient Antagonism 17:46 – Why Fussy Plants (Alocasia & Calathea) Hate Chloride 18:50 – SAR (Sodium Absorption Ratio) & Flushing Frequency 21:55 – Heavy Metals: Safety for Bore, Well, and Tank Water 25:23 – Is Professional Water Testing Worth the Cost? 27:05 – Preview: Mixing Your Nutrient Solution Step-by-Step ------------------- 👉 *Follow me on social media* Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/thelecaqueen/ TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@thelecaqueen Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/thelecaqueen Pinterest → https://www.pinterest.com/thelecaqueen/ ⚠️ *Disclosure* Some of the links in this description are affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you) if you make a purchase. Thank you for supporting my channel!