So confused!! Do I use rockwool or hydroton?

[Nyc_legend]

alright, so what i got from all this, is that i should use rapid rooters and transfer to hydroton. thats good to know. but I'm concerned that if i dont make my system a dripper system, the ebb & flow system would soak the rockwool (or rapid rooters) too much, and it'll hold all that water for way too long, and drown the plant. is that likely?

[tinytoon]

only way you would drown them would be if you water to much. couple of replies ago someone mentioned a 15 min flood time, 6 times in a 24 hour period. that should work very well :thumbsup:

[nycfunguy]

I've been experimenting with placing seeds directly in hydroton with a bubbler below the 3 inch net pot bottoms and so far every single seed has germinated within 3 days... no need for paper towel, no need for rockwool... just put seeds in below one layer of hydroton and believe me, it'll have plenty of support as the taproot works it's way through all the bends and turns it needs to make in order to find the water below.

The bubbles pop and pretty much soak the bottom 2/3rds of the hydroton and if you cover the top with one of those premade foam black inserts it keeps hydroton moist all the way to the top... perfect conditions to germinate... no extra warming pads needed either for some reason. I couldn't believe every one has popped. It may help to make sure seeds first sink in a small container of water but I bet even that is not needed.

this method really works. better than having your rockwool over soak.... just let all that moist air do the trick...peace to all

[Big len]

rapid rooters and hydroton for me in ebb and flow system.

[Italiano715]

I prefer Rapid-Rooter plugs over rockwool :thumbsup: ... rockwool has pH problems, that have to be overcome ... not difficult, but why not eliminate a potential situation ? ... the plugs can go directly from germination to either soil or hydro, with zero effort ... I love 'em :jointsmile:

Well I'll be damned...After reading this I don't even want to use RW that I planned on originally. Where can I purchase these RR plugs? Hardware store maybe?

S**t, I'll just google them suckers. Thanks for the tip!

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to the image reaper again. :thumbsup:

[help420me]

Use coconut coir. It's organic, retains moisture and nutes, blocks light, and it's cheap as hell. Before you use it, expand it with pHed water suitable for either a clone or seed. It expands greatly. Cut a chunk off a brick, stick it in the net pot, and expand it, it'll seal the net pot, but still allow water and nutes. Seed or clone, you're good to go.

I prefer fogponics, btw.

[khyberkitsune]

I second rapid rooters, though I use both those and rockwool.

I've done ebb and flow without any hydroton, just large 4-inch rockwool cubes. But you have to watch out for algae buildup in that sort of setup.