im trying to start in rock wool cubes two seeds grew about 4 inches and then fell over and died one is about 1and a half inch and looks to be doing better.
how do you prevent them from growing too fast before they set the roots?any help will be greatly appreciated.

Put the lights as close to the sprouts as you can without the heat being too much. Compact fluorescents are realy good for this; they don't put out a lot of heat. The further away the lights are the further the plants will stretch to get more light.

how wet do you make the rock wool before you put the seed in it? is it supose to be soaking wet,damp oron the verg of dring out?

Put the seed in the rock wool and dip the rockwool into the water and squeeze about 70% of the water out. This is how I did it and my plants are not looking all that bad at this point.

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Switchin lanes with my knee cause I roll it while I drive.

Also, try germintating your seeds first before putting them in the rock wool....I dip my rockwool in half strength Nute solution and then the roots move quick...what he said about the lights too...

Germinate your seeds outside of the rockwool....good advice.

Soak your rockwool in water for at least 24 hours before you put anything in there.

After they have soaked for 24 hours, just drop the seeds in there all wet and everything. Question, how big of a rockwool cube are we talking about? We are talking about a starter cube here right? 1 Inch rockwool?

Don't plan on watering right away. Wait until the rockwool is pretty dry to water again, probably a full 24 hours, really depends on how hot your lights are.

I like starting with CFL's or tube floro's as well for little seedlings.

Water once a day for the first little bit, once they start poppin roots out throw the 1 incher into a 6 incher and bada bing, you've got plants.

Good luck.

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"It picked up some dandy-lion pollen or something from your yard and popped out a bastard seed. " --Anonymous
Current Grow(s):DP White WidowFucking Incredible

i would only start them in roockwool if i were going hydro. make sure they are not soaking wet and cold. also if you are on a heatmat put something between them, mats tend to be too hot. dont mist them as this will permote damping off as well as keep them from deriving water from there roots.

ok you guys are awesome i tried it again with most of the water out and now the root has come all the way out the bottom of the 1 inch rock wool and is looking like it is going to live. where im at it gets 100+ degreesF during the day it may be way too hot to be starting this now but i do have a much better root growing thanks to ya all ill let ya know how it goes and post some pics as soon as there is something worth looking at
any advice as to how to keep it growing would be appreciated also i dont have hydro im going to try to put it in pottoing soil once the seedling gets more roots. no $$$ yet

If you live in a secluded place or can find a secret spot, you can transplant it out side. You can visit it with water and nutrients or even go "au natural"
it will take longer but it will have plenty of room..lol

with some research you can find recipes for home made ferts and things but be advised...this can make it taste like poop from whAt i here.

any size Cfl bulb will work, keep it covered, a clear plastic cup works well.
if no bulbs find a window with the best light and no neighbors..,.

If it is humid where you live, poke holes in the cup so you dont get mold.

when it is a sprout and there is good root structure poking throught the bottom you may transplant it out side. if you can finsd a spot with a mellow breeze that would be good(it sounds hot where you live)

keep the rockwool moist but not saturated, it should feel heavy in your hand when you pick it up but it should not drip or be mushy.

if you buy dirt, i hear good things about foxfarm and promix, miracle grow is not suggested.

a home made "bubbler" hydro system is cheap and easy search the threads for plans and info, i think there is a video in newbie central forum as well

whew....hop that helps, good luck

If it were me and I didn't have a "hydro setup" I would just hand water in Rockwool Cubes. PH a bunch of water and add nutes per the instructions on the bottle (no PPM meter required). Start them out under some CFL's indoors where the temps can be controlled a little better and transplant to soil in a month or so. You'll be glad you did.

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"It picked up some dandy-lion pollen or something from your yard and popped out a bastard seed. " --Anonymous
Current Grow(s):DP White WidowFucking Incredible