rockwool or other?

[pudder]

Well see the main problem is this......I don't have a credit card or debit card to order with. Nor have I found a place to purchase prepaid cards in my area. I live in a really small town in the middle of no where do it makes finding things of that nature pretty hard. If ya know what I mean. So this is why I am searching for alternatives to doing things. So when I do need something I know what I can use. All the garden shops in my area are closed as of now because the season is over for gardening. Don't know why they close you would think they shoudl stay open a little longer but for some reason they do not. So with all this, this is why things are hard to find and I have a hard time ordering things. I could try asking a friend but would rather not but can do. If I could use there card if I paid them for it. I dunno.

[pudder]

Got some rockwool. Went and got a credit card. Now I purchase what I need. and its all on its way.......

[Opie Yutts]

NEVER, EVER USE ROCKWOOL.

Ever!

[SecondNut]

Well, since Opie popped in I guess I will too. Perlite is great for germinating and sprouting seeds. As Opie says, I don't recommend rockwool either (although a lot of people use it) for two reasons: it's natural ph is too high and too hard to control properly, and it retains too much moisture.

Get a couple of 12 or 16-oz styrofoam cups, poke a couple of small holes in the bottom, fill with perlite, set them in about 1/2-inch of water, deposit your seeds slightly below the surface, cover with plastic wrap to increase humidity, and your seeds will sprout in 3-5 days on average. I have about a 90% germination rate with perlite alone. You can even keep them in the cups for another week or longer, until you see roots starting to come out of the bottom holes, which allows them to have a root system and some growth under their belts before transplanting to a bubbler or pot. A teaspoon of vermiculite mixed in around the seeds will speed up germination slightly, with the sprouts showing about 1 day ahead of those without the vermiculite, but other than that it doesn't really increase success rate.

[Opie Yutts]

...WHen I check the PH of my res I will also take a sample of the water that is exiting 6" cubes...

...So I take a sample of this exit run off water. Depending on the lifestage and what I'm feeding the run off can be off as much as .2 for every feeding. This seems like a lot and it is...

...after 3 feedings or so I will adjust the PH of the Res (by this time it has also dropped) back to 5.8-5.9...

...I reset by uping the PH of the res and it starts over...

My condolences. I would chuck that shit immediately upon harvest clean-up. If you insist on starting seeds in 1" RW cubes, OK. But why don't you transplant them into clay pellets, or coco fiber, or an old T-shirt, or anything other than RW. Don't you think it would be worth it just to try once, and not have to always be wondering if your PH is alright?

[GodBud]

Rockwool sucks use hydroton in a net pot with a small cylinder of some sorts placed center in pot filled with vermiculite for the seed. Works everytime.

Peace

[OLDJIMMYBONES]

i personaly like rockwool, but no one else does

[Opie Yutts]

OLDJIMMY, do not despair. You are not alone. There are many people who use rockwool. I personally don't get it, but many people such as yourself do. You gotta stick with what works for you. On the other hand, you shouldn't be afraid to try different things as well, especially if a bunch of people recommend those things.

[OLDJIMMYBONES]

opie, what you think is the best? i alawys use rock wool surrounded in hydron rocks and prity much swear by it, its allawys good to me

[GodBud]

Yo Bones

Hey if it works dont try to fix it. IMHO I just think that rockwool is harder to judge regarding water scheduling. When using hydroton it takes out the over watering factor due to its high drainage factor thus allowing you to water accordingly without fear of over watering and gives you more control administering the nutes. Here is a photo roughly 3 weeks. Seed started in vermiculite placed in center. Roots are already bursting through the net pot. Plant looks very healthy!

Peace