Do I still need to PH the rockwool cube?

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Toke2Choke

Well-Known Member
I stayed up most of the night last night trying to find this out and keep coming across mixed results. I currently have my seeds germinating via paper towel method. When the taproot breaks through I plan to put it in the rockwool cube and put it in my 5 gallon dwc bucket. I am going to fill the bucket up to the bottom layer of the clay pellets so it keeps the rockwool cube wet/moist and eventually it should sprout.


Question is do I still need to need to soak the rockwool in the 5.5 PH since im not germinating the seed in it?
 
209 Cali closet grower

209 Cali closet grower

Well-Known Member
I didn't at first for clones, now I just soak them at 6.5 or 7 ph?? With low nutes 1-1-1.5

I have just used water with my rockwool and still made clones, if that helps

They say it's best to soak them at a low ph though? but I don't.
 
Moebius

Moebius

Well-Known Member
Toke2Choke said:
Question is do I still need to need to soak the rockwool in the 5.5 PH since im not germinating the seed in it?
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Ive germed hundreds of seed and produces thousands of clones.... I never have nor will ever ph water for seedlings or clones.
 
Sir.Ganga

Sir.Ganga

New Member
I run strictly rockwool and have found that if you do not start the rock off by soaking in a 5.0-5-5 solution you will notice that root production wiil be a lot less in you final medium then if you balanced it correctly. I run all my cubes at a rate of 400ppm to start but I also have cloner with rooted colnes that get transplanted, so they can take a little more nutes.

For my seedlings I use bottled water, why? well its right beside my germination table and why not?
 
Moebius

Moebius

Well-Known Member
Sir.Ganga said:
I run strictly rockwool and have found that if you do not start the rock off by soaking in a 5.0-5-5 solution you will notice that root production wiil be a lot less in you final medium then if you balanced it correctly. I run all my cubes at a rate of 400ppm to start but I also have cloner with rooted colnes that get transplanted, so they can take a little more nutes.

For my seedlings I use bottled water, why? well its right beside my germination table and why not?
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I clone using straight tap water. between 50 - 100 clones at a time. I'll ph my water next time. maybe drop it down to 6.1-6.5. .... usually my tap water is 7.3-7.5 maybe my roots will increase. it wont harm . although i have great success without.
 
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anvil1

Member
Im pretty new to all this but i have used used straight tap water before and it does work fine and i had not soaked my rockwool until this batch, Im only doing a few clones at a time but i decided to ph my water to 5.8 and also soaked my rockwool in 5.8 solution with a tiny amount of root feed. The difference between soaking and ph'ing my cubes has been quite a big difference about 2 days give or take a few hours, so for me ill be doing my soaking and ph at 5.8 every time from now on! Just my input but im sure someone else will have an opinion :)
 
Sir.Ganga

Sir.Ganga

New Member
Ya Moebius I soak the rockwool in ph balanced water because it needs to be buffered. My seeds get straight bottled water, i dont ph it or nothin, kinda like you said. ive done it with tap water before also but the water cooler is closer. Lazy? I guess.
 
Sir.Ganga

Sir.Ganga

New Member
anvil1 said:
Im pretty new to all this but i have used used straight tap water before and it does work fine and i had not soaked my rockwool until this batch, Im only doing a few clones at a time but i decided to ph my water to 5.8 and also soaked my rockwool in 5.8 solution with a tiny amount of root feed. The difference between soaking and ph'ing my cubes has been quite a big difference about 2 days give or take a few hours, so for me ill be doing my soaking and ph at 5.8 every time from now on! Just my input but im sure someone else will have an opinion :)
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Your first soaking should be done 24hrs before planting @ 5.5ish to condition the rock. It comes very high from the factory and needs to be brought down to the grow zone. Now with that said rock will climb back up faster then most other mediums so you have to watch your ph closely. Watering with 5.7-5.8 is ideal once the rock has been conditioned

I water daily to keep the ph in range not to feed.
 
T

Toke2Choke

Well-Known Member
thanks for all the replies guys. I have 2 seeds germinating right now and will just put them in the rockwool since people say its ok. This will be my first hydro grow so im working all the kinks out this time around anyway. I am going to start a grow Journal and try to update it once a week so if I run into any problems I can find a quick answer by 1 of the many informative people here.
 
Moebius

Moebius

Well-Known Member
Sir.Ganga said:
Ya Moebius I soak the rockwool in ph balanced water because it needs to be buffered. My seeds get straight bottled water, i dont ph it or nothin, kinda like you said. ive done it with tap water before also but the water cooler is closer. Lazy? I guess.
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Yeah, I dont think the dissolved solids will have much effect on the plants bio-mechanics at this stage. It would be interesting and very easy to try a side by side experiment. I'll give it a try... sometime.
 
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