Rock wool question

[Red-Cricket]

G Evening all, When starting your cuttings in rockwool, Do you leave them in the rockwool when transplanting? Can you put a rockwool cube in a cup...fil in around the outside then dont have to transplant so soon?? Thanks All Red

 

[Tead]

yea.. the roots of the clone are going thru the rockwool. If you try to remove the clone, it will most certainly die.
Take the rockwool cube with the clone in it an place it in your soil or hydro system.
If soil cover it with the soil. If hydro, follow individual hydro directions.

Cheers!

 

[BWC BayArea]

Transplanting Rock Wool

I agree for the most part. However, I was taught to plant the rock wool cube slightly above soil level. the rationale being the water retention value of rockwool is so great that when u water/feed, the rockwool is full of moisture all around the stem and holds it for a couple days. This can increase chances of stem rot (caused by fungi). Now cover with soil and water retention is greater. Takes longer to evaporate. Make sure u get all of ur roots covered in the soil. This can't be the only way, but its how I was taught and quite effective. If u'd like to c what I'm talking about u can look at some soil level shots in my journal. Click the "Follow My Grow (completed)" link to get there.

 

[Tead]

I always cover mine with the soil. I was seeing allot of green algea growth on them when I left them uncovered. I think of the rockwool as having similar water retention properties as soil, thus see no real difference. I havn't run into any stem fungus or rotting issues in soil to date.

Cheers!

 

[BWC BayArea]

U were seeing algae on outside plants or inside plants' rock wool?

 

[Tead]

When I had the top of the rockwool above the soil, they turn green with algea growth fairly quickly. Perhaps this is a byproduct of my specific grow environment as my veg cab floats around 90 during the day.

Cheers!

 

[BWC BayArea]

After some thought, I came to the conclusion that my teaching may have been region specific. it never dawned on me to ask.

 

[Droopy Dog]

I always cover mine with the soil. I was seeing allot of green algea growth on them when I left them uncovered. I think of the rockwool as having similar water retention properties as soil, thus see no real difference. I havn't run into any stem fungus or rotting issues in soil to date.

Cheers!

+1

Other than getting the soil super wet at the initial transplanting (if the soil is drier than the rockwool, it will suck the moisture right out of the cube), the rockwool and the soil will reach a balance and retain moisture equally.

I also cover the RW with about 1/2" of soil to prevent algae and no rot problems. Just be aware of the wet/dry cycle and don't overwater.

DD