Growing without rockwool

[NewtoMJ]

I was wondering, has anyone ever started their seeds in a dwc setup without the rockwool? Just a seed placed within the expanded clay. I read a few times in a few threads about people doing it, and I was wondering if it would be a viable option.

 

[~CReePeR~]

Whats the point, you could lose the seed, Rockwool will help keep the seed moist

 

[NewtoMJ]

Whats the point, you could lose the seed, Rockwool will help keep the seed moist

Honestly I have a hard time with the rockwool. I either go too moist or too dry, like it's messing with my head.

 

[panhead]

Fuk rockwool i hate that stuff & have zero luck with it , i grow flood n drain using clones grown in root riot sponge cubes vs rockwool , you can plant seeds directly into root riot sponge cubes,wet the cubes one time then put them into a sealed humidome someplace warm, just look at the cubes once a day & its easy to see with the naked eye weather the sponge cubes are still moist or not , just keep the cubes moist with a spray bottle & in the humidome & your all set .

Leave the sprouted seedlings in the humidome & keep moist until roots are sticking out a few inches from the sponge cubes then put the sponge into net pots & fill the pot with hydroton or your medium of choice & your ready to go , ive had excellent & reliable results using Root Riot sponge cubes & being the cubes are less than an inch round its nearly impossible to over water .

 

[superstoner1]

Forget the rw and the stones, use a netpot and a foam collar, works perfect

 

[twistedwords]

Forget the rw and the stones, use a netpot and a foam collar, works perfect

Yup,,, just start the seed in a paper towel and after it is about 2 to 3 inches long, grab a neoprene collar and presto done. No need for rapid rooters, plugs or rockwool

 

[Spanky84]

I started my tomatoes in rockwool and it was a disaster. It soaked too much water once it was put in a system (18W air pump is a bit overkill for 5 gal res) and roots started drowning. I got them out and straight into hydroton and they are starting to recover slowly. Next time I'll cut just a small piece of rockwol to dig my seed in, put it in a netpot with hydroton, and water it by hand untill roots are established in hydroton. I'll then just break rockwool apart carefully and put plants into DWC.

 

[superstoner1]

Tomatoes? This is weed we grow here.

 

[Spanky84]

Ah, sorry, I thought you all grew tomatoes

 

[THZZELJR]

I used to go clone in neoprene pipe wrap from Lowes 3 bucks makes a hundred or so collars. Been trying to figure out how to get a seed in there myself

 

[superstoner1]

Drill a small hole in center(big enough for tap root) and then use a larger bit to drill about 70-80% through and then slice through one side from center out to be able to open it like a pacman. This creates a hollow where popped seed can be placed with tap hanging down by opening the slice.

 

[I2icho]

Once the rockwool has been soaked it will hold enough water for days, after a few days just water like 5ml of water over the rockwool.
Sounds like they drowned

 

[natasdaisy]

I had a bad rockwool experience just recently and ive been using it for years. Lost a couple good seedlings. Put the rockwool to close to the bottom of the netpot in dwc never got a chance to dry Blamo! Root rot.
Been looking for this info thanks guys. Gonna maybe try root riots