In this video I show you how to use Fluval Stratum for houseplants! Facebook Group: / 564153768425443 Fluval Stratum: www.amazon.com... My Etsy Shop: www.etsy.com/s... Follow Me on Instagram: / queencitytropicals
I'm SO glad you made a video about this stuff! I heard you mention it a few times, so I tried looking up "flugal" as I thought that's what you were saying😂🤦 anyway, I love learning about new and different substrates! Experimenting is my favorite part about owning houseplants so I'm sure I'll be buying a bag of this stuff too at some point😁👍💚
Fluval is the brand name, its an aquarium company that makes nearly everything in the PetSmart fish aisle. Stratum is the product name. Great video, thank you!
Happy Sunday! I picked up a 8 pound bag today in person from Petco. I paid 30 dollars with tax. Ouch! I should have placed my order online...I would have gotten twice the amount for 10 dollars more. Live and learn!
I've been using it a while, I used to use it on my planted tanks and figured it should work well with low pH loving house plants so I gave it a try, I like it because of how easy it is to see when plants need water like you showed with the change of colour.
So I shouldn't fill mine up all the way with water? Only about half way? I'm using a Mason jar with my monster Albo leaf cutting with some roots. I had it in leca and water but ive had it for over 6 months and no new leaf growthage.
I just ordered it off Amazon and there was a 40% off coupon if you use the subscribe and save option. And just put it out for 6 months and cancel it before the 6 months is up. So you get it for less than $30 for 18 pound bag
Wow you use it straight! I just found out about it last week from another channel and she uses it in making pon. I purchased it and I love the fact that it doesn't crumble. I am hoping to see success with it. Can you tell me where you got that strainer from?
Hi, thanks for watching! The strainer came with a set of bowls from At Home. I’ve tried it mixed with a few things but I definitely just prefer it straight! But of course different things work for different people it’s all about experimenting!
Thanks for this video - I bought this product to fill two of my fish tanks - to grow aquatic plants and also shrimp need more alkaline environments - I miscalculated and bought too much - luckily I wanted to grow some house plants and wanted to know if I could use this for house plants - thank you
No lol she really was just hoping for a snack! I doubt there could ever really be a 100% success rate with plant propagation but this definitely gets it closer!
I jus bout a 4lb bag today. Im determined to get rid of this damn soil in my house. I so hate dirt with a passion haha. Ps your 18lb bag cost same as my 4lb bag lol
Thinking putting a plowmanii in to this… I’m afraid cause I had root rot recently and this is a new plant I don’t know why I thought this would be like leca :-s
When I’m using fluval I prefer to use no drainage holes but I typically use it only for propagation these days then eventually move it to soil with drainage holes but it’s all personal preference! I know people have success with or without drainage holes! 🪴❤️
You don’t necessarily have to rinse it and a lot of people prefer not to! For me rinsing is a preference and I like to reuse the water for other plants. I bet your cuttings will be just fine! And you could always take them out and rinse it and put them back if you want to! 🪴 good luck with your cuttings I hope they do great for you!
So i bought a bag of this recently and am struggling for how & when to use it. I get using it for prop, but I was hoping i might be able to use it in combo with Pon and perlite, layered in a glass pot, so i can see black and white stripes kinda. 🤓 My concern after seeing your video, is that you say its not like Pon/Leca… Is it in fact soil (so an organic substrate???)… meaning if i use it in combo with Pon to prevent fungas gnats, it will defeat the purpose of using Pon because I’m adding organic matter?
That would look really cool!! I bet if you made sure that the pon was at the top you probably wouldn’t have many issues with gnats. I feel like the main issue would be the fluval breaking down/being squished by the pon might make it muddy. But hey it sounds like it would be worth a try for sure! Worst case scenario you have to repot if it doesn’t go as hoped! 🪴
Thanks for watching! I don’t know that you’d need to get it completely clean but I would avoid being too harsh with it to avoid crushing the little pieces and creating more dust. I just try to avoid having too much muddy sludge type of stuff because I find that to be too dense and leads to rot for me.
I just received an expensive plant in this medium from an online shop. I am struggling to find watering and care details! Perhaps I missed it in the video but- do I just water this substrate once it looks dry? Soak it and then dump the water? Thank you. I will continue my hunt for answers
I usually water it once it starts to look a little dusty/more gray & keep it in a clear container so I can see the moisture level too. And once I water it I don’t dump it out unless I accidentally get way too much I just fill it up so there is just a little water line at the bottom and let it dry out over time. I hope that helps!
I rinse it to get rid of the dust, I find it’s just a little bit too dense and rots more easily if I don’t rinse it. The nutrients would still be present in the soil though! And I don’t rinse it frequently just the one time before I use it.
Fluval stratum doesn't have a large amount of macro nutrients in it, ADA amazonia is similar (buffers ph like the fluval) except contains large amounts of npk. I think the stratum is successful due to plants uptaking nutrients more efficiently in a slightly acidic environment.
@@lindylouwhovintage not much, just the addition of much more npk...the nitrogen being in the form.of ammonium...Mt Oso is partially responsible for what is known as the black tide that is responsible for.the extremely rich fishing in the Philippines and Southern Japan
PS the reason it’s for shrimp is because they have big problems with water changes and they need calcium to molt. And fluval is the number one successful soil keep the shrimp from dying.
I have looked at the pet stores around me and didn’t see it, but you never know they may have it where you are! And we’re getting close to better shipping weather! 😃💐☀️
I have tons of plants and wonder how I could try incorporating this to a few . I love experimenting. Just curious what the outcome would be. I just joined the facebook group you mentioned. What does it contains that plants benefit from? Do you know?..🙂
It's only available on one mountain?? Are there limits as to how much should be taken in order to keep the mountain in balance? Or am I just being paranoid? Thank you for telling us about it🌱🥰🇨🇦.
I’m guessing this specific brand “Fluval” gets it from that area but there are lots of different brands and it’s just volcanic soil so really it could come from a variety of locations. I’m just reading the info they have on their website and packaging so I’m not aware of any limits. Could be an interesting research topic though! Thanks for watching! 🪴❤️
So people call it stratum, its also called Tephra, your right fluval is the brand name, stratum is the product, now their is also Exo terra substratum for terrariums, same product different brand seller, i also wanted to say that i do not rinse my stratum and any loose water that the stratum leave behind i water other plants with it, nothing gets wasted, i will even use the water soaked in stratum to water root my cuttings, tjis stuff is awesome, thank you for your video
Oh that is a good idea! I’m going to have to try that too! Thanks for watching! (And clearing up some of my name confusion lol that’s definitely the best explanation so far!)
It’s actually the same seller which is Hagen. Fluval which is more dedicated to aquariums and exo terra which is more dedicated to reptiles and amphibians. I only know this because I used to sell there products 😅
I’m so glad I stumbled across your videos. I have sooo much of this left over from setting up my tank 🤣 now I’m using it for propagations and as a soil additive.
I'm picking some of this up tomorrow to hopefully save my Red Maranta plant. I saw in the FB group many ppl recommended putting leca or perlite on the bottom as a reservoir layer for water that will wick up to the stratum. Ppl also mix a little perlite in with the stratum to save money.
Hi which plants have you successfully propagated in fluval stratum? I have a Monstera & a few philodendron cuttings that struggled to root in other mediums?
In the aquarium hobby, we also use it damp, but not saturated about 3 inches deep in the dry aquarium cover the aquarium with plastic wrap, or a glass lid or plastic lid and use it to start our plants with an aquarium light on top full spectrum. to keep a constant humidity inside we put a plastic bottle. We cut the lid off of fill it with water and drop in a air stone plugged into an aquatic air pump
Thank You so much for all the information! I just bought some expensive cuttings & I want to make sure they thrive . I did pick up the Stratum but wasn’t exactly sure how to go about everything. 🙏
Great video! So glad you didn’t throw that liquid gold out! But why rinse? It doesn’t matter if it clouds plant water, but do rinse if using in an aquarium or you won’t be able to see your fish for 3 days!
Great video, thank you! I wondered about this product. How did it come out of the bag? Was it wet or dry? How should it store it? I see you just left it in its bag and since you didn’t mention anything special about storing it and I saw you scoop out a dry portion, then it’s probably best to treat it like a soil bag. I’m so glad you said, “nothing special, not hard, and just however is best for you.” Whew. The mystery has been put to bed. Thanks again!
Thank you! I store it in the bag, I also have put it in plastic totes with air holes in the lid and enjoyed great success either way! I feel like so many of us make plants so much more stressful than they need to be!
I would imagine you could, however the stratum is much softer than leca is so it could get smashed by it depending on how you do it. I haven’t tried it myself but it could be fun to experiment with!
It’s actually a pretty big debate in both the houseplant and aquarium communities as to whether or not you should rinse it. On the bag it does say to rinse it to prevent muddy water caused by pellets that have been damaged and broken down in transit. I’ve tried both ways and find it to be too dense and cause rot when I don’t rinse it. But ultimately it comes down to personal preference. :)
Thanks for watching! When I water I leave it in there, I don’t let it drain and like to see just a little bit sitting at the bottom. But I’m sure it would probably work either way!
@queencitytropicals I most certainly like dogs and plants more than people, but dog people are the best. I'd much rather spend time with a dog parent than a non-dog parent. 🤣🤣🤷♀️
