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Contents:
I. Research Plan
IV. Abstract
Hydroponic Clay Pebbles As An Alternative
Researcher
Aldrin F. Ramilo
Research Adviser
RESEARCH PLAN
The common problem in having a normal soil is having not enough nutrients, it makes a
lot word for you, being messy and dirty, you have to cultivate the soil, sometimes plants
suffocate and find it difficult to grow under the soil. But if you are going to use hydroponics clay
pebbles it is 10x better because first it retains moisture when you are trying to do planting in a
water scarcity location, clay pebble can make the most out of your irrigation facility. It is a great
way to retain the water and keep your plants hydrated along with any intent minerals or nutrients
poured in there. It absorbs water and stores it inside for plants to take in as per their needs.
Second Clay pebbles are lightweight and porous which holds air in them and increases the
aeration for the root system of the plant. The structural formation of these hydrotons is such that
it is light in weight and has enough space inside to capture the air and let it release whenever the
plants or harvest needs it. Plants grow better when receives proper air, water, and sunlight.
B. Research Questions, Hypotheses, Expected Outcomes
Generally the study aims to have a better alternative soil for indoor plants and make the
plants get more nutrients and grow bigger and healthier. It answers the following question first,
what are hydroponics clay pebbles? They are hydroponic substrate with units about the size of
marbles or peanuts. Clay pebbles can be used in both hydroponic and aquaponic systems.
Second, Do clay pebbles hold water? Clay pebbles don't have good water holding capacity, or
WHC. Since WHC is what allows a substrate to stay moist even after being drained, low WHC
means that crops can get dry and wilted if not watered often enough.
Hypothesis
The expected outcomes is making the plant bigger and healthier using hydroponics clay
pebbles and the goal of the study is always take care of the plant and compare it with a normal
soil.
C. Materials and Procedures
a red clay, plant, water, pot, watering can, soil, shovel, hammer, charcoal
We have to have a lot of red clay, two plants, two pot and from that materials we can
First we have to have red clay, second we have to round the clay, third we have to burn
the clay for a while in the charcoal and wait until the fire is gone. Fourth get the clays and rinse
them, fifth you have to put them into water for a whole day, lastly remove the clays and it turned
Data Analysis
Data will be obtained in the observation in normal soil and hydroponics clay pebbles,
https://university.upstartfarmers.com/blog/pros-cons-hydroton hydroponics#:~:text=Clay
%20pebbles%20or%20hydroton%20
(sometimes,size%20of%20marbles%20or%20peanuts.&text=Clay%
20pebbles%20can%20be%20used%20in%20both%20hydroponic%
20and%20aquaponic%20systems.= meaning of hydroponics clay pebbles
https://www.construction21.org/articles/h/5-benefits-of-using-clay-
pebbles-in-hydroponic.html= Benefits
https://hydrobuilder.com/learn/grow-medias-clay-pebbles-vs-growstones/
=Difference of normal soil and hydroponics clay pebbles
https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/mauisoil/a_comp.aspx#:~:text=The%
20typical%20soil%20consists%20of,is%20very%20complex%20and%
20dynamic.= Normal soil
II. Project
Data
Logbook
Hydroponic Clay Pebbles As An Alternative
Researcher
Aldrin F. Ramilo
Research Adviser
. The hydroponic clay pebbles retain moisture when you are trying to do planting in a
water scarcity location, clay pebble can make the most out of your irrigation facility. Plants grow
better when receives proper air, water, and sunlight, Clay pebbles are lightweight and porous
which holds air in them and increases the aeration for the root system of the plant. Hydroton is a
loose media, so it’s easy to transplant and pull plants out of after harvest. This is how you make a
hydroponic clay pebble the first step is gathering all the materials, next roll the clay into any size
and circle it. Next place the pebbles next to charcoal on your grill while you burn it. Once the
day has passed collect all the burned clay pebbles in your grill and rinse them with water. Make
sure to clean it properly. Results of weeks the ficus microcarpa survives in a hydroponic clay
pebble. In the first and second week of observation the plant survives in hydroponic clay pebble.
By observing the plant there is no sign of the plant dying like color of the leaves turning yellow,
wilting, exposed roots and dropping leaves and there is no sign of growth. And in the seventh
and eight week of the observation the plant still survives in the hydroponic clay pebbles. Nothing
has change since last week Therefore the plant can indeed survive in a hydroponic clay pebbles
INTRODUCTION ...................................................................1
METHODOLOGY .....................................................................3
CONCLUSION .........................................................................22
Recommendation .................................................................22
Bibliography ........................................................................25
Acknowledgement ................................................................29
Appendices ...........................................................................30
ABSTRACT
. The hydroponic clay pebbles retain moisture when you are trying to do planting in a
water scarcity location, clay pebble can make the most out of your irrigation facility. Plants grow
better when receives proper air, water, and sunlight, Clay pebbles are lightweight and porous
which holds air in them and increases the aeration for the root system of the plant. Hydroton is a
loose media, so it’s easy to transplant and pull plants out of after harvest. This is how you make a
hydroponic clay pebble the first step is gathering all the materials, next roll the clay into any size
and circle it. Next place the pebbles next to charcoal on your grill while you burn it. Once the
day has passed collect all the burned clay pebbles in your grill and rinse them with water. Make
sure to clean it properly. Results of weeks the ficus microcarpa survives in a hydroponic clay
pebble. In the first and second week of observation the plant survives in hydroponic clay pebble.
By observing the plant there is no sign of the plant dying like color of the leaves turning yellow,
wilting, exposed roots and dropping leaves and there is no sign of growth. And in the seventh
and eight week of the observation the plant still survives in the hydroponic clay pebbles. Nothing
has change since last week Therefore the plant can indeed survive in a hydroponic clay pebbles
. The hydroponic clay pebbles retain moisture when you are trying to do planting in a water
scarcity location, clay pebble can make the most out of your irrigation facility. It is a great way
to retain the water and keep your plants hydrated along with any intent minerals or nutrients
poured in there. It absorbs water and stores it inside for plants to take in as per their needs.
Second Clay pebbles are lightweight and porous which holds air in them and increases the
aeration for the root system of the plant. The structural formation of these hydro tons is such that
it is light in weight and has enough space inside to capture the air and let it release whenever the
. Plants grow better when receives proper air, water, and sunlight The difference is that the
nature of soil-based minerals is slow release whereas hydroponic minerals are fast release with
fast up-take, thus optimal results & faster growth. Sometimes, plants suffocate and find it
difficult to grow under the soil. Clay pebbles are lightweight and porous which holds air in them
and increases the aeration for the root system of the plant. Larger aggregates like hydroton, pea
gravel, and crushed granite have much larger space between each rock or pebble than perlite,
sand, and other small particles. While the biological surface area isn’t usually as high, the pore
space is much higher. Hydroton is a mineral and not considered a pollutant, we still don’t want it
to end up in a landfill. Luckily, they are reusable almost indefinitely. You usually want to rinse
any built-up silt or organic matter from it before reusing it, but unless you have an extreme salt
build up in it.
Hydroton is a loose media, so it’s easy to transplant and pull plants out of after harvest.
Don’t underestimate how much time this can save you in wrestling with plant roots and
separating root balls from the media surrounding them. The best thing about hydroponic clay
pebbles is that you can reuse over and over again you just have to rinse it to clean it. Hydroponic
The study aims to answer the question, can plants survive or grow in a hydroponic clay
pebbles. And is it better to have a ordinary soil or a hydroponic clay pebbles. It answers the
following question first, what are hydroponics clay pebbles? They are hydroponic substrate with
units about the size of marbles or peanuts. Clay pebbles can be used in both hydroponic and
aquaponic systems. Second, Do clay pebbles hold water? Clay pebbles don't have good water
holding capacity, or WHC. Since WHC is what allows a substrate to stay moist even after being
drained, low WHC means that crops can get dry and wilted if not watered often enough.
The expected outcomes are using hydroponics clay pebbles to grow a plant and to make a
plant survive for 2 weeks and the goal of the study is making a hydroponic clay pebbles, and to
grow a plant using a hydroponic clay pebble. This result will be beneficial to plant lovers so they
This section describes the materials and methods used in making hydroponic clay pebbles.
It can be summarized in four section namely preparation and gathering of materials, Procedures
in making a hydroponic clay pebbles, procedures in planting a plant in a hydroponic clay pebbles
You must gather the following materials in order to make a hydroponic clay pebbles. First is a
clay that mineral made when rocks break down. Second is a charcoal that is needed for burning
the clay pebbles. Third is a grill so you can input all the charcoal in the grill. Fourth is a pot so
you place for your plant. Fifth is a water for rinsing and to water the plant. Lastly a plant.
The first step is gathering all the materials, next roll the clay into any size you want and
circle it. Then let the pebbles dry for 1 week to let all the moisture evaporate. Next place the
pebbles next to you your charcoal on your grill while you burn it. Make sure to be careful and
don’t burn it next to something easily burned and always wear a gloves. When the charcoal is red
hot cover your pebbles with the charcoal and lest it cook until the next day. Make sure that you
add a lot of charcoal or wood. Always check and watch your grill to make sure everything is
fine. Once the has passed collect all the burned clay pebbles in your grill and rinse them with
water. Make sure to clean it properly. And that’s your hydroponic clay pebbles. You have to
Rinse the pebbles thoroughly before using. Skipping or skimping on this step may lead to
more expensive problems down the road. Take the time to do it thoroughly from the very get-go.
You’ll be glad you did. Soak the pebbles for at least six hours or, even better, up to 24 hours.
Yes, the medium will be heavier but your plants won’t have to work hard to get to the water they
so desperately crave. Remove the plant and rinse occasionally. While these clay pellets are
known for their neutral pH and lack of nutrients, they can still absorb and hold onto the nutrients
you add along the journey. After time, phytotoxicity can build up and starve the plants. Watch
for any whitish residue on the top and rinse the plant and pebbles with a pH-adjusted liquid. You
can also leach the system with the liquid. Give starting your seeds a try using clay pebbles. You
can crush the medium to increase saturation or you can keep them whole, use small net pots, and
cover the seed with a couple of pebbles. Misters set to bursts lasting four to 10 seconds every
two or three hours will bring on germination. Just make sure you have soaked the pebbles
beforehand. If you don’t have misters, manual feeding will work fine, too, as long as you don’t
let the pebbles dry out. And don’t reuse the pebbles without rinsing, soaking, and sterilizing with
isopropyl alcohol or peroxide. Taking the time to do it right will save headaches later. Don’t let
the pebbles dry out. Don’t use a regular pot unless you have a dedicated water source. Using
regular pots can sometimes lead to algae and draining issues. Don’t use the pebbles as a
substitute for soil outdoors. You can certainly use them in conjunction with soil but not as a
Data will be obtained in the observation if the plant survives within two weeks and if the
plant grows on hydroponic clay pebbles, by observing how much it growth, and root mass that is
recommended as a final measurement as the plant must be removed from its growing medium in
Table 1. Results of weeks the ficus microcarpa survives in a hydroponic clay pebble.
In this table I will answer the question, can a plant survive in a hydroponic clay pebble.
Because normally a plant would only survive four to six weeks without a soil or alternative soils.
And if the hydroponic clay pebbles can be really used as an alternative soil. By observing the
color of the leaves turning yellow, wilting, exposed roots, and dropping leaves
YES NO
Color Of The Leaves Turning Yellow ✓
Wilting ✓
Exposed Roots ✓
Dropping Leaves ✓
Week 1-2 of Experimentation and Observation
In the first and second week of the observation and experimentation, the plant survives
in the hydroponic clay pebbles. By observing the plant there is no changes, there is no sign of the
plant dying like color of the leaves turning yellow, wilting, exposed roots and dropping leaves.
YES NO
Color Of The Leaves Turning Yellow ✓
Wilting ✓
Exposed Roots ✓
Dropping Leaves ✓
Week 3-4 of Experimentation and Observation
In the third and fourth week of the observation and experimentation, the plant survives in
the hydroponic clay pebbles. By observing the plant there is no changes in the color of the
leaves, no sign of wilting, there is no visible exposed roots and there is no leaves that drop.
YES NO
Color Of The Leaves Turning Yellow ✓
Wilting ✓
Exposed Roots ✓
Dropping Leaves ✓
In the fifth and sixth week of the observation and experimentation, the plant still survives
in the hydroponic clay pebbles. By observing the plant there is again no changes in the color of
the leaves, no sign of wilting, there is no visible exposed roots and there is no leaves that drop.
YES NO
Color Of The Leaves Turning Yellow ✓
Wilting ✓
Exposed Roots ✓
Dropping Leaves ✓
Week 7-8 of observation and experimentation
In the seventh and eight week of the observation and experimentation, the plant still
survives in the hydroponic clay pebbles. By observing the plant there is again no changes in the
color of the leaves, no sign of wilting, there is no visible exposed roots and there is no leaves that
drop. Therefore the plant can indeed survive in a hydroponic clay pebbles.
Table 2. Results of weeks the ficus microcarpa grows in a hydroponic clay pebble.
By looking at the color, measuring the height using ruler, number of leaves and the color
the researcher used the following agendas to answer the question can plants grow in hydroponic
clay pebbles on week 1 to week 8 of experimentation and observation . These are the following
agendas:
Excellent=5
Very good = 4
Good = 3
Fair = 2
Bad = 1
In the first and second week of the observation and experimentation, the plant show no signs
of growing in the hydroponic clay pebbles. By observing the plant, there is no difference in
In the third and fourth week of the observation and experimentation, the plant show no
signs of growing in the hydroponic clay pebbles again. By observing the plant, there is no
In the fifth and sixth week of the observation and experimentation, the plant show no
signs of growing in the hydroponic clay pebbles again. But there are some slight changes in
texture. By observing the plant, there is no difference in height, color of the leaves and number
of leaves.
Week 7-8 of experimentation and observation
In the seventh and eight week of the observation and experimentation, the plant show no
signs of growing in the hydroponic clay pebbles again. The texture remained the same after last
week. By observing the plant, there is no difference in height, color of the leaves and number of
leaves. In the researcher’s hypothesis it needs some more sunlight because the researcher’s plant
is an indoor plant and it depends on what the plant is. Ficus microcarpa takes time to grow and it
The study provided reasonable data and table are showed to conclude that the
hydroponic clay pebbles can be an alternative soil. Plants can indeed survive in a hydroponic
clay pebbles. But it takes so long to make a plant grow in a hydroponic clay pebbles. In addition
the results shows the positive and negative impact of a hydroponic clay pebbles. The positive
impact is that plants can survive in a hydroponic clay pebbles within 8 weeks of my observation
and experimentation. The negative impact is that it took so slow to make a plant grow on
hydroponic clay pebbles, according to my observation 8 weeks is not enough for the plant to
grow on hydroponic clay pebbles. I therefore conclude that hydroponic clay pebbles can be used
as an alternative soil.
Recommendation
In this study, hydroponic clay pebbles as an alternative soil were determined using
observation and experimentation. The study provided positive and negative outcome. This will
help gardeners if they want to use a alternative soil. I recommend that the plant you should be
using must be easy to grow and easy to survive. I recommend if you are going to make your own
hydroponic clay pebbles it should be natural clay. I recommend heating it as hot as you can make
in your charcoal and grill. This should help on growing a plant in a hydroponic clay pebbles as
an alternative soil.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
https://university.upstartfarmers.com/blog/pros-cons-hydroton hydroponics#:~:text=Clay
%20pebbles%20or%20hydroton%20
(sometimes,size%20of%20marbles%20or%20peanuts.&text=Clay%
20pebbles%20can%20be%20used%20in%20both%20hydroponic%
https://hydrobuilder.com/learn/grow-medias-clay-pebbles-vs-growstones/
https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/mauisoil/a_comp.aspx#:~:text=The%
20typical%20soil%20consists%20of,is%20very%20complex%20and%
First and foremost thank you God for keeping the researcher and everyone safe in the
process and area of experimentation. Thank you for the everlasting support of the researcher’s
parents for the financial support and the guidance they give to the researcher, as well to the
The researcher is also thankful to Sir Aldrin F. Ramilo for also guiding the researcher in the
process of publishing this paper, thank you for providing me your knowledge and being a great
teacher to the researcher. The students researcher also thanks the owner of the website and
information which the researcher used and based his research out of it. Once again the researcher
thanks the Lord for guiding the researcher and being safe and unharmed in process of
experimentation.
APPENDICES
Appendix A
Start
Leave it for 7
days
Water your
plant 5 times a
Preparation of day
Materials
Prepare your grill,
charcoal, water,
pot and plant. Observe the plant for
4-6 weeks if the plant
will show sign of
dying or growth.
Burn your clay for
1 hour change
your charcoal if
necessary.
Finish
Rinse it with
water for 15
minutes
Appendix B
Charcoal
Pebble form of the clay
Ficus Microcarpa
Week 1 of Observation
Week 8 of Observation
Title: Hydroponics Clay Pebbles As An Alternative Soil For Indoor Plants
ABSTRACT
. The hydroponic clay pebbles retain moisture when you are trying to do planting in a
water scarcity location, clay pebble can make the most out of your irrigation facility. Plants
grow better when receives proper air, water, and sunlight, Clay pebbles are lightweight and
porous which holds air in them and increases the aeration for the root system of the plant.
Hydroton is a loose media, so it’s easy to transplant and pull plants out of after harvest. This is
how you make a hydroponic clay pebble the first step is gathering all the materials, next roll
the clay into any size and circle it. Next place the pebbles next to charcoal on your grill while
you burn it. Once the day has passed collect all the burned clay pebbles in your grill and rinse
them with water. Make sure to clean it properly. Results of weeks the ficus microcarpa
survives in a hydroponic clay pebble. In the first and second week of observation the plant
survives in hydroponic clay pebble. By observing the plant there is no sign of the plant dying
like color of the leaves turning yellow, wilting, exposed roots and dropping leaves and there is
no sign of growth. And in the seventh and eight week of the observation the plant still survives
in the hydroponic clay pebbles. Nothing has change since last week Therefore the plant can
indeed survive in a hydroponic clay pebbles and it took a long time to grow a plant.