Rockwool soaked in Aeroponics system

Maletor

Active Member
Hello,

It has been 6 days since I started my seeds. Originally I started them in Perfected Starts (Composted bark, much like rockwool) with a heating pad a humidity dome and some water.

After 5 days I moved them over to my hydroopnics unit because they were showing tap roots.

Checking them now, the perfect starts are completely soaked and they have been completely soaked for about 48 hours.

Should I stop the pump and let them dry out?
You can see in the pictures it is competely soaked. This is not good right?
How should I remedy the problem so that I can still use my hydro unit?

One more note, there is a bunch of clay in the reservoir. It doesn't seem to be clogging the pump, so there is nothing to worry about there right?

(P.S. sorry for double post, posted in wrong section before)
 

Maletor

Active Member
The medium is bone dry now.

I'm considering misting them so they have some water. I can't imagine how having 0 water in the plug with the pump off could be healthy for the seedlings.

If I can just get the roots to grow down deep enough I could support them with popsicle sticks near the top of the pot so only the roots are getting sprayed. The tap roots are about .5in through the bottom on almost all of them.

Now is the time they need nutrients right? They have roots and were started from seed.

Should I try and tear the "perfect start" off the plant and put it in into a neoprene collar like I should have done all along? I feel like the risk of the plant dying would be too high.

Note to myself and others. Using rockwool is a bad idea in aeroponics systems.

Help! I don't know what to do.
 

Maletor

Active Member
Bump for good luck.

I have heard someone say they just dropped the plug into the cup and even though it was saturated it turned out fine.

What do you guys think? Ok?

Growth is back. They are healthy as can be, but are not a big fan of the HPS for vegging.
 

grodrowithme

Well-Known Member
yep pretty bad idea my brother and i were just dicussing switching to rockwool slabs. we run a SoG and use a DIY auto cloner we built with neoprene collars and 1.5" net pots. when they root we slide them out of the cups and collars an plant them in pots with rockwool FLECK. so to use the slabs and still use the cloner we have to find a way to root in the cloner in small cubes to put in big cubes to sit on slabs. put ur pump on a timer were it only comes on 1 or 2 times a day or every other day. you have to let it dry out a little to keep growth going
 

Maletor

Active Member
yep pretty bad idea my brother and i were just dicussing switching to rockwool slabs. we run a SoG and use a DIY auto cloner we built with neoprene collars and 1.5" net pots. when they root we slide them out of the cups and collars an plant them in pots with rockwool FLECK. so to use the slabs and still use the cloner we have to find a way to root in the cloner in small cubes to put in big cubes to sit on slabs. put ur pump on a timer were it only comes on 1 or 2 times a day or every other day. you have to let it dry out a little to keep growth going
What would be some good ideas to lift the rockwool higher in the net pot without clay or any other medium?

My only other option is to water the rockwool every time it gets dry. Eventually they will get big enough in about 4 - 6 weeks and I can clone them.

Then I'll put the clones in the system with neoprene and start anew.

On another note...

Why not just keep growing in the auto cloner?
You have an aeroponics system right there. Throw an airstone in the reservoir for when the tap root reaches it.

I just don't understand why you would take the plant out of the perfect growing system.
 

grodrowithme

Well-Known Member
because i run a Sog in 4 3x3 trays 24 plants per tray. with a flood and drain setup i have a 30 slot cloner i built and thats how i fill my trays. i also keep about 10 moothers
 

Badjem

Well-Known Member
Hello,

It has been 6 days since I started my seeds. Originally I started them in Perfected Starts (Composted bark, much like rockwool) with a heating pad a humidity dome and some water.

After 5 days I moved them over to my hydroopnics unit because they were showing tap roots.

Checking them now, the perfect starts are completely soaked and they have been completely soaked for about 48 hours.

Should I stop the pump and let them dry out?
You can see in the pictures it is competely soaked. This is not good right?
How should I remedy the problem so that I can still use my hydro unit?

One more note, there is a bunch of clay in the reservoir. It doesn't seem to be clogging the pump, so there is nothing to worry about there right?

(P.S. sorry for double post, posted in wrong section before)
I know this is a while back but was wondering how you start seeds best way for aero setup like stink buds I don't want to break open rapid rooter plugs
 
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