Using crushed granite as a growth medium!!!

[Tragic420]

Granite permits arsenic.....

 

[bird mcbride]

In the trough that my moms grow in I have about an inch and a half of crushed rock in the bottom and the rest is hydroton and lava rock grow pellets. I also busted up some barbecue lava rock and tossed that in there also. Works great.

 

[TexasHank]

For my freshwater aquariums and also my marginal plants for my pond, I use 1/8" crushed and screened gravel. I found that the plant growth was way more vigorous with the smaller screen size so I would say the smaller, the better. The only issue is still the lack of absorption of water and nutrients for hydroponic use.

I've never been real good with flood and drain hydro, but, I always had healthier roots with larger pieces.
I wonder what is is about the smaller size that got you better growth? Do you have an idea?

 

[TexasHank]

This is my favorite hydro media available right now..
It is not as cheap as bulk granite/river rock/pea gravel/etc, but, it is cheaper than most clay balls/kernels for sale.

For a bagged media, I love this stuff.

 

[FR33MASON]

I've never been real good with flood and drain hydro, but, I always had healthier roots with larger pieces.
I wonder what is is about the smaller size that got you better growth? Do you have an idea?

Surface area... When it comes to roots, the more, the merrier.

Also it provides more habitat for microbial life and it will retain more water through capillary action on top of absorption.

 

[FR33MASON]

Surface area... When it comes to roots, the more, the merrier.

Also it provides more habitat for microbial life and it will retain more water through capillary action on top of absorption.

That being said, you can go anaerobic quite easily with a finer media so you need to account for those aforementioned aspects. I grew aquatic plants and marginal plants from when I was a kid so I applied those techniques into hydroponics and it works really well for me.

 

[SableZen]

This is my favorite hydro media available right now..
It is not as cheap as bulk granite/river rock/pea gravel/etc, but, it is cheaper than most clay balls/kernels for sale.

For a bagged media, I love this stuff.

View attachment 2999034

I might want to try this - how does it compare to hydroton in weight, reusability and water retention? Is it less dusty than hydroton?

 

[Dr. Who]

This works good too.
http://4hydroponics.com/growstone-hydroponics-substrate-1-25-cubic-foot

 

[TexasHank]

It is quite a bit less dusty that hydroton. It is lighter than hydroton. Water retention is pretty good. idk, it's been a long time since I used clay balls.
I didn't think hydroton was available anymore.

 

[TexasHank]

That being said, you can go anaerobic quite easily with a finer media so you need to account for those aforementioned aspects. I grew aquatic plants and marginal plants from when I was a kid so I applied those techniques into hydroponics and it works really well for me.

That makes sense..
I almost said it in my post about this matter.... I think my problems with small media could have been solved by beefing up aeration and such

 

[Liddle]

why not use it like 50/50 with coco?

 

[TexasHank]

I work on crushed granite projects all the time.. weeds thrive in beds of the stuff.. even when heavily compacted.. i bet herb would grow in it.
I don't know about advantageous growth, but, it would grow.