I need some hydroponic help...

[InspectahEX]

I have an aeroponic system, everything is set up and ready to go, i have my pots with grow rocks in them, problem is.. I dont have any rockwool cubes to put the newly sprouted seeds in, can I place the the seed and the little root directly into the grow rocks? or inside a cotton ball? can I use a spongue instead of rockwool? I dont have any of those little cubes, can I still do this without them? there must be some easy alternatives

InspectahEX Reviewed by InspectahEX on 09-25-2008. I need some hydroponic help... I have an aeroponic system, everything is set up and ready to go, i have my pots with grow rocks in them, problem is.. I dont have any rockwool cubes to put the newly sprouted seeds in, can I place the the seed and the little root directly into the grow rocks? or inside a cotton ball? can I use a spongue instead of rockwool? I dont have any of those little cubes, can I still do this without them? there must be some easy alternatives Rating: 5

[GoldenGraham84]

i think you'll have to order something... not too familiar with aeroponics... i definitely don't recommend puttin the seed right into the rocks though. rapid rooters are pretty cheap and IMO the best way to go. i think a 50 pack is like $15. if you aren't worried about losing the seed, or have some backup ones, go ahead and try the cotton ball thing. best of luck and happy growing!

[stinkyattic]

I'd avoid cotton balls. Rumor has it that fibreglass insulation can be soaked to correct pH and then used, but test it on bagseed first.

[SpaceNeedle]

why don't you just use a bit of soil and put the seeds on. So then once you have some roots there, just gently run the plant with soil under the water tap and clean the roots. You have to be gentle with it, but I've done it.

[GoldenGraham84]

damn SN you did exactly what i did. didn't mention it but yeah i used those peat pellets (kwik kubes) for pre-hydro setup. nice!

[InspectahEX]

ok i think i have some vermiculite and some soil, i think ill just make a little spot on top of the grow rocks with soil where I'll put the seeds in there, so then it can grow down into the rocks from there, i found some old soil i can use YAY

[stinkyattic]

I'd start in small cups instead, because the soil will simply fall down into the cracks between the rocks and be useless, plus fouling your pumps... eww.
Beware of old soil! If it is 'used' you may have problems with salts, pathogens, and insect eggs... FYI.
Another thing to try (test on bagseed first) is a very small bit of a sponge, again, soak it to pH 6.0 and squeeze out excess water.
You can be creative if you are careful to get the conditions right.

[InspectahEX]

yea i think im gonna go with some custom made spongue cubes

[stinkyattic]

TEST ON BAGSEED!!! Seriously...

[InspectahEX]

I live in the US, all i have is bag seed, but its all from good strains, i never go near dirt weed. Regular Spongues seem to work great, the seeds are already rooting into the spongues, looks just as if i was using rockwool