Lightweight– Leca is far lighter than your typical river rocks or gravel and, therefore, far less likely to break your glass container. It helps with moving them around too!
Eco-friendly– It’s made exclusively from clay (which isn’t exactly endangered), and it’s completely inert and non-toxic. So it’s safe to use with all manner of plants.
Durable– Seriously, this material is even used in construction. If it can support roads, you can be sure it can support your plants and terrariums for years to come.
Reusable– Unlike soil, this medium never expires, and you can use it as many times as you need.
Pest resistant– No soil, no problem. Pests that reproduce in soil (fungus gnats, I’m looking at you) can’t get a foothold in a leca medium.
The ability toabsorb excess water.
In a drainage layer, this is aparticularlyhelpful skill.
After all, the counterarguments to the use of a drainage layer are:
The plant roots can eventually make their way down into the reservoir, where they can rot.
Excess water will wick back up the substrate if the reservoir fills to the top.