hydroton substitute ?????

[AlphaPhase]

Yeah, the fire retardant stuff you wouldn't want in the plant root zone I'd imagine. I'm not sure if all industrial Rockwool has it but I know all Rockwool is made the same. It's all going to make you itch regardless of horticulture grade or industrial grade because it is spun with metal (I'm pretty sure) and regular insulation is spun with glass. Horticulture Rockwool makes me itch just as bad as fiberglass, it's nasty stuff. But if there's such a thing as non treated Rockwool, I'm sure it's the exact same as horticulture grade, I'm guessing the only difference is the fire retardant on most industrial grade stuff.

I'm not sure about it repelling water, but that's a good thing if it does, for hydro, you don't want it soaking water up like a sponge or you're plant will die.

 

[monkey5]

i ended up going with river pebbles $5 for 3 cubic ft ...i rinsed it and left it in phd water overnight ..looks clean and it should do the job

 

[Aeroknow]

Yeah, the fire retardant stuff you wouldn't want in the plant root zone I'd imagine. I'm not sure if all industrial Rockwool has it but I know all Rockwool is made the same. It's all going to make you itch regardless of horticulture grade or industrial grade because it is spun with metal (I'm pretty sure) and regular insulation is spun with glass. Horticulture Rockwool makes me itch just as bad as fiberglass, it's nasty stuff. But if there's such a thing as non treated Rockwool, I'm sure it's the exact same as horticulture grade, I'm guessing the only difference is the fire retardant on most industrial grade stuff.

I'm not sure about it repelling water, but that's a good thing if it does, for hydro, you don't want it soaking water up like a sponge or you're plant will die.

Yeah bro, I used to have to handle thermafiber all the time, and it's not like wrapped cubes, or even them croutons. Well maybe like croutons if you took a handfull and rubbed it all over your arms i hate that shit. Did I say that yet? Lol
I would imagine it is manufactured about the same, but with the addition of the chemicals sprayed on it.

 

[Budley Doright]

Yeah bro, I used to have to handle thermafiber all the time, and it's not like wrapped cubes, or even them croutons. Well maybe like croutons if you took a handfull and rubbed it all over your arms i hate that shit. Did I say that yet? Lol
I would imagine it is manufactured about the same, but with the addition of the chemicals sprayed on it.

Yup its all made the same until they add the shit to it lol. My first post I was being polite lol. Dont use fucking construction rock wool, its not for growing, its for fucking building! K lol

 

[AlphaPhase]

Did anyone say marbles?

 

[AlphaPhase]

Oh,, one more thing. The spongy pads that go under carpet, kind of looks like hamster bedding. I used some stuff called mapito by x nutrients (not typical mapito) and it was legit shredded carpet pads/foam.

It worked OK to good. Not great but not bad.

Not sure if carpet pads have chemicals, I doubt it since pets sleep on floors and stuff.

 

[Beer Belly]

WTF? Marbles really? You want a substrate that has oxygen paths. Volcano rocks, Hydroton, growstone. Smother undergarments are great for sex but bad for a grow.

 

[Budley Doright]

WTF? Marbles really? You want a substrate that has oxygen paths. Volcano rocks, Hydroton, growstone. Smother undergarments are great for sex but bad for a grow.

Pretty sure marbles would have lots of paths for oxygen. I have heatd of a few growers using them in the net pots.

 

[AlphaPhase]

WTF? Marbles really? You want a substrate that has oxygen paths. Volcano rocks, Hydroton, growstone. Smother undergarments are great for sex but bad for a grow.

Yeah, what budley said. They work well. This is a hydroton SUBSTITUTE thread lol. If the op could get hydroton then this thread would be N/A

 

[AlphaPhase]

Also, if the medium doesn't hold water, then you can flood 10x more which would add so much more oxygen to the root zone than anything that does hold water, like rw or hydroton, which is actually much better than any medium. Aeroponics uses no medium, except to anchor the plant, correct and it is the fastest form of growing available.

 

[Budley Doright]

And probably easy to clean lol.

 

[Mithrandir420]

If your plan is to get all your hydro stuff at Home Despot then maybe you need to do more planning and research.

People have tried to do what you are doing since the 90's. You'll find as they did that there is no substitute for real hydro equipment/supplies. The right tool for the job and all that. Save your money, go to the hydro store or buy online.

 

[fishdeth]

If your plan is to get all your hydro stuff at Home Despot then maybe you need to do more planning and research.

People have tried to do what you are doing since the 90's. You'll find as they did that there is no substitute for real hydro equipment/supplies. The right tool for the job and all that. Save your money, go to the hydro store or buy online.

Agreed !