cannabineer
Ursus marijanus
When I do stuff like that I wonder if I'm displaying skill or just luck.
The myth of Rockwool
- Thread starter tannaberton
- Start date
CannaBruh
Well-Known Member
It depends on the moisture content of the vermiculite at the time and it all boils down to how much idiocies the plants are able to put up with and still thrive, they're resilient little things. No leaning on luck. Leave the plants be or know what you're doing by learning by doing
also hate rockwool, but have friends in large facilities and that's all they use from seed to harvest
Bearijuana
Well-Known Member
I use it as a starter and have had great success. I soak it in ideal solution for 24hr, relolacing water a few times. Never squeeze.
I germ them in a generic tray that allows excess water to pool under. I don’t water until It looks dry, and usually it’s soon after we move into hydroton baskets.
I germ them in a generic tray that allows excess water to pool under. I don’t water until It looks dry, and usually it’s soon after we move into hydroton baskets.
Turpman
Well-Known Member
RW is very easy to over water. Probley your issue.
I use it to clone with. Cut 1x1x2" cube. Soak in PHed H2o or very light nute mix with 1ml/L h2o2. Then spin in a salad spinner to get most of the water out without damaging the RW. Cut clone, cut on 45 or so, use some alovera plant. Cut a piece off and dip the cutting in the gell, into hole poked RW. Water with any eye dropper or pipette sparingly. Have been trying rapid rooters but seem to have faster rooting in RW.
I use it to clone with. Cut 1x1x2" cube. Soak in PHed H2o or very light nute mix with 1ml/L h2o2. Then spin in a salad spinner to get most of the water out without damaging the RW. Cut clone, cut on 45 or so, use some alovera plant. Cut a piece off and dip the cutting in the gell, into hole poked RW. Water with any eye dropper or pipette sparingly. Have been trying rapid rooters but seem to have faster rooting in RW.
5BY5LEC
Well-Known Member
Starting right into hydroton would be great. I really believe less is best with seeds. The only grow I have ever done I just soaked them overnight, put them in peat cubes and into the net pots they went. They stayed perfectly moist from the aeration spash and the wicking action of the hydroton/peat.
The only thing I would do different next time is add some hydroguard to the water I soak the seeds in, and soak the peat/hydroton in hydroguard also.
Hugo Phurst
Well-Known Member
I feel some of you guys need some better rockwool teachers. 
Over the few years ive used them ive got great results. I'm Not a fan of the small cubes, root riots instead never fail. I use 3"/4", atop 6", either then transplanted into 1 metre slabs with Dutch trays, or placed in a pot with croutons. Overwatering causes algae growth. I really enjoy growing in this medium, just need to figure a good way to incorp blumats or something. Hand watering isn't most efficient.
Over the few years ive used them ive got great results. I'm Not a fan of the small cubes, root riots instead never fail. I use 3"/4", atop 6", either then transplanted into 1 metre slabs with Dutch trays, or placed in a pot with croutons. Overwatering causes algae growth. I really enjoy growing in this medium, just need to figure a good way to incorp blumats or something. Hand watering isn't most efficient.
Airwalker16
Well-Known Member
As I've stated, for a mature plant with aggressive growth and a large and well developed root system, rock wool can be a great medium. It's just, as you said yourself, not the best propagation medium. Like...at all... It's always overrated and the roots just peter out and lose all motivation to continue to stretch and seek water.I feel some of you guys need some better rockwool teachers.
Over the few years ive used them ive got great results. I'm Not a fan of the small cubes, root riots instead never fail. I use 3"/4", atop 6", either then transplanted into 1 metre slabs with Dutch trays, or placed in a pot with croutons. Overwatering causes algae growth. I really enjoy growing in this medium, just need to figure a good way to incorp blumats or something. Hand watering isn't most efficient.
I mean yeah you're right, if I am to use rockwool my best method would be to cut the 1 inch cube open and lay the tap root in it with some bennies for best results. You're right though my issues were always over or under watering, ended up resorting to humidity domes to keep em just right and that's just something else to do. Much prefer root riots as they stay at the right wetness.
A good tip if you don't wanna cut it open is to use a cocktail stick and poke almost all the way through in several places and put some root booster/bennies of your choice in there. If you can load up rockwool in this way you'll get some nice root formation from the offset- again, another thing to do
Also, you can put them on top of a blumat to self wick water as and when needed
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Delztronics
Well-Known Member
Don't forget that rockwool is terrible for the environment.
It can be dissolved at low pH, a few other ideas here too, but yes throwing it to landfill is probably not great
https://grodan101.com/sites/default/files/leaflets/Recycle_ENGLISH_lo-res.pdf
Delztronics
Well-Known Member
Thats interesting. The majority of them are thrown in a landfill though.
GBAUTO
Well-Known Member
Why is that?
Gquebed
Well-Known Member
Delztronics
Well-Known Member
Gquebed
Well-Known Member
Ah. So it would sit in a land fill for forever. Much like the rock and chalk would anyway. So thats a wash.
But the process is energy intensive so ill give points for that.