Broseidon
Active member
Hi fellow bros and brodettes,
I obtained some rockwool cubes (Grodan 4x4) that I wanted to try out for propagation, as many others suggested, since I had some recent issues with jiffy plugs.
Now to my 2 questions:
1) I read that you no longer need to rinse Grodan cubes because they changed their manufacturing process and the limestone residue from manufacturing that caused them to have a high PH, is no longer part of the equation. Meaning they no longer need to be rinsed with PH 5.5 water to bring overall PH down to ~6-6.5 ... Can anyone confirm this?
2) Since I grow all organic, rockwool cubes don't really fit into my overall setup and I have no bottled nutes on hand.
I want to use the RW cubes for propagation of seeds and cuttings only and then transplant into my regular organic soil mix when roots show.
But most people seem to suggest to soak them with a nutrient solution from the start.
I believe seeds can probably make due with just water in the RW cubes, as the seed contains enough nutrients for the starting of the seedling. But I wonder if it will be enough for the seedlings to grow strong/large enough that the roots actually show through the RW cubes, so I know I can transplant them to my organic soil.
If the roots do not protrude the RW cubes before I transplant them, I am worried that not enough nutrients will reach the root zone inside the RW cube once transplanted, as basically the only nutrients coming through would be from organic soil directly on top of the RW cube that "drips its nutrients down into the RW cube" when watering...
With cuttings I basically have the same worry only amplified because I believe that cuttings need more nutrients than seedlings. What with them being bigger already and having no seed that affords them any nutes...
I was hoping that something like a bottle of Rhizotonic will do the trick here.
But would obviously be glad if plain tap water would work ...
Or maybe some aloe vera juice mixed in or something.
Any experience and feedback welcome.
Stay frosty my friends
I obtained some rockwool cubes (Grodan 4x4) that I wanted to try out for propagation, as many others suggested, since I had some recent issues with jiffy plugs.
Now to my 2 questions:
1) I read that you no longer need to rinse Grodan cubes because they changed their manufacturing process and the limestone residue from manufacturing that caused them to have a high PH, is no longer part of the equation. Meaning they no longer need to be rinsed with PH 5.5 water to bring overall PH down to ~6-6.5 ... Can anyone confirm this?
2) Since I grow all organic, rockwool cubes don't really fit into my overall setup and I have no bottled nutes on hand.
I want to use the RW cubes for propagation of seeds and cuttings only and then transplant into my regular organic soil mix when roots show.
But most people seem to suggest to soak them with a nutrient solution from the start.
I believe seeds can probably make due with just water in the RW cubes, as the seed contains enough nutrients for the starting of the seedling. But I wonder if it will be enough for the seedlings to grow strong/large enough that the roots actually show through the RW cubes, so I know I can transplant them to my organic soil.
If the roots do not protrude the RW cubes before I transplant them, I am worried that not enough nutrients will reach the root zone inside the RW cube once transplanted, as basically the only nutrients coming through would be from organic soil directly on top of the RW cube that "drips its nutrients down into the RW cube" when watering...
With cuttings I basically have the same worry only amplified because I believe that cuttings need more nutrients than seedlings. What with them being bigger already and having no seed that affords them any nutes...
I was hoping that something like a bottle of Rhizotonic will do the trick here.
But would obviously be glad if plain tap water would work ...
Or maybe some aloe vera juice mixed in or something.
Any experience and feedback welcome.
Stay frosty my friends