Ebb/Flow Medium

[MasterS]

Apparently I do need to give a reading comrehension lesson.


"hello all I'm looking for a new medium for my ebb/flow. I'm looking to move away from hydroton and rockwool cubes/floc." - I want a new medium not a new style of growing which is what no medium would entail. I've grown many ways and am interested in ebb/flow only.

"What medium do people recommend and why". I've gotten some recommendation so thank you. Also happy to hear warnings from people.

"I'm hoping to find something cheaper and lighter" hey, oh mah gosh this is what I was looking for.

"Buying a 50L bag of hydroton every 2 weeks isn't fun haha. I used to clean/sanitize but is not longer worth the time and buying and disposing of so much is a hassle."
- actualy closer to every week. This is me bitching about hydroton and the hassle of disposing of SO MUCH weight (remember that lighter?) the clean and sanitize is regarding reusing hydroton. It says that.

"not sure your going to avoid cleaning/disposing of the medium." -never said anything about AVOIDING it. Nothing to do with what I asked.

Yes I did mention cleaning and disposing of a medium. What about it? Never said I didn't say that. Never suggested avoiding the step.



English wasn't my first language people what's your excuse? I put down words with intent, they mean something, if you are reading what you want to read that isn't my fault. I'm not a perscriptivist but I do apply current definitions to the formulation of my sentences.

Thank you for adding to the warning Rodman.

I'm extra short because I'm forced to respond to these forums on a phone, doing that is obnoxious enough.

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Clearly you mentioned both cleaning AND disposing of a medium.
And to reiterate, dont move towards STG.

 

[Highhopes99]

Hey, I'm on the same search for a great medium and was hoping perlite would do the trick.
It is pretty much free draining and would be nice and light also cheap. I can't figure out how people have good results with rockwool. But homebrewer makes it work. Rockwool always gives me root issues.

 

[BeaverHuntr]

Hey, I'm on the same search for a great medium and was hoping perlite would do the trick.
It is pretty much free draining and would be nice and light also cheap. I can't figure out how people have good results with rockwool. But homebrewer makes it work. Rockwool always gives me root issues.

Rock Wool is tricky dude, it retains so much water that it actually causes your roots to stop growing because they arent in search of any water. If you can dial in rock wool its pretty easy just takes a couple tries.

 

[panhead]

Hey master stay away from stg its a nightmare to deal with! Looks simple but it aint.
As for a new medium ive been trying to get fytrocell its the medium AL B uses.
But for whats easyest in the US I think coco is another good alternative.

I hated coco,lotsa work with that shit.

I too thought flytocell would be great,took me alot of shit to even get the stuff & when i did i wasnt impressed at all,might just as well use perlite.

If you dont like perlite you will not like it either.

 

[MasterS]

Dang, I was hoping Fuct's recommendation of Fytocell was the answer. I tried to get it, guess it was a good thing my shop couldn't. I actually use 1/3 rockwool floc mixed with 2/3 hydroton since I stopped reusing my hydroton I wasn't worried about the gunk it turned into. It allows me to flood once a day. Guess I'm stuck with my $120/month routine of hydroton/rockwool floc.

Recently I started growing for other patients so the cost finally became an issue and am trying to cut all corners to help me, and my back haha

With coco I am worried about how it'll react to my H2O2 not to mention the mess it'll leave. Has anyone tried to use coco in a mesh in the pot to prevent the bits breaking down from leaving the pot? Right now I'm considering it.

Perlite with the floating would drive me insane and since I'd have to do the same thing I suggested with coco I'd rather go coco.

Repelling floc and absorbent floc mixture piqued my interest but not as cheap as it should be.

Meh, guess I'll go tried and true. Dyna-Gro already cut my nutrient costs a lot and first run I had much better success.

 

[Highhopes99]

Anyone ever tried Styrofoam packing peanuts? i was thinking a mix of rock flock and peanuts might have some benefits? maybe too much static..

 

[MasterS]

See$sike it would float hold virtually no water and take up space roots can't use. I'd rather go xoarse perlite.

 

[panhead]

When i used perlite i had a hella time keeping it in the net pot,i ended up pulling a section of womans panty hose over the net pot,it kept the stuff in pretty good so i used the panty hose on all the other mediums i tried.