Do you need rockwool to plant germinated seedling into a hydro setup?

I've grown before but the dry spell out here in my area has prompted me to grow again. Last time i grew plants was about 3 years ago. And now i've gotten a big boy job so money wasn't an issue this time around getting what I needed.

I have a simple one plant setup 5 gallon bucket made specifically for hyrdo setup. I got a bubbler, light hooks all that.

just waiting for seeds. Now my question is I see everybody starting their seeds in rockwool. But I asked the guy at the hydro store is it needed. He said no you can just put the germinated seedling right into the hydroton and it will wrap around the hydroton and create a root system.

but i'm looking at these circular rocks and i'm thinking uhh so do I just put the seed in the middle an inch down? i'm confused on how to start this. I watched a youtube video of people who have planted directly into hydroton and pulled out the plants to show you how the root system works.

it was perfection but with a 5 gallon tank i'm unsure if just plopping a germinated seed into the hydroton will work. or will it?

Use a peat plug or Root Riot/Rapid Rooter to start the plant in if you have misgivings.
Once the roots begin to grow out of the plug - into the hydroton the whole smear goes!

Yeah I prefer Rapid Rooters or alike. Rockwool is more touchy and straight in the hydroton would be touchier even.

alright i'm going to pick up some jiffy peat plug's from walmart they come in little cases and i can just start the seed in that. although I won't begin the grow until June I should have considered the timeline and even if i got the seeds next week from nirvana that's simply not enough time before I have to move out and into my new place by the end of June.

I mean I could probably have some crop but it'll be cut down way early and that's assuming nothing goes wrong. Rather just take my time with it. Sucks because i want it NOW! haha.

but i'll tell you what from soil grow to this one plant hydroponics system. I gotta say the lack of mess and transplanting into new pots like you gotta do with a soil grow is going to be pretty badass.

What strains did you get from Nirvana? I grew out their Blue Mystic, awesome smoke and really frosty plant/buds

Anon Emaus said:

What strains did you get from Nirvana? I grew out their Blue Mystic, awesome smoke and really frosty plant/buds

Click to expand...

haha that's what i ordered.

you know I went back to my post in 2014 and looked at my bubblelicious grow journal. it was only 10 weeks to a really good harvest i remember how good that weed was. i got 28g off of a 3 week veg cycle so maybe i can get from seed to harvest in 10 weeks which is the most time i can spend before i gotta cut down because i'm moving.

and i hear hydro can cut down on grow time by 1-2 weeks

and no matter what cut down at 10 weeks.

quick question in this question.

what are the benefits of germinating a seed? does it grow quicker? or it just eliminates the time wondering if your seed is viable?

In a F&D system using "floaty" hydroton, clay gravel and/or lava rock, place the seed in a small piece of rock wool and place it in the table.
I now use the soft rock wool that comes in bails at the lumber yard.
The soft rock wool can be suspended in the cloning bin with hydroton, etc.

Any construction sight will have broken pieces of rock wool laying around.
If you purchase a bail you'll be 97 years old and you'll still have half

keysmachine said:

haha that's what i ordered.

you know I went back to my post in 2014 and looked at my bubblelicious grow journal. it was only 10 weeks to a really good harvest i remember how good that weed was. i got 28g off of a 3 week veg cycle so maybe i can get from seed to harvest in 10 weeks which is the most time i can spend before i gotta cut down because i'm moving.

and i hear hydro can cut down on grow time by 1-2 weeks

and no matter what cut down at 10 weeks.

Click to expand...

Lol nice, you're gunna love it. It's a lighter on the yeild side strain but i think makes up for it with the high and bag appeal.

10 weeks is really close man, i'd say run 12/12 from seed if thats what you need time wise. I can say my blue mystic was very fast to transition to flower from veg and it was pretty quick to mature since it is more indica.

What kinda light you using?

keysmachine said:

quick question in this question.

what are the benefits of germinating a seed? does it grow quicker? or it just eliminates the time wondering if your seed is viable?

Click to expand...

What do you mean? All seeds have to germinate to sprout and grow, germination is that process.

Anon Emaus said:

What do you mean? All seeds have to germinate to sprout and grow, germination is that process.

Click to expand...

but what is the benefit of germinating in a cup of water or paper towel? does it make for faster plants? just curious because you can just pop an unpopped seed into soil or rockwool or whatnot and it'll germ in that.

what benefit do you have to put it in a moist towel or cup of water?

Anon Emaus said:

Lol nice, you're gunna love it. It's a lighter on the yeild side strain but i think makes up for it with the high and bag appeal.

10 weeks is really close man, i'd say run 12/12 from seed if thats what you need time wise. I can say my blue mystic was very fast to transition to flower from veg and it was pretty quick to mature since it is more indica.

What kinda light you using?

Click to expand...

i'm using a 125w cfl 4800 lumens in less than 1 square foot area. in fact it's probably only 10 inches by 10 inches. but i can grow up to 6 feet. i'm only growing one plant at a time as well.

i may hang some extra cfl's also as i have plenty from older grows. only this cfl has a reflector and light hanger on it which makes it nice

keysmachine said:

what benefit do you have to put it in a moist towel or cup of water?

Click to expand...

Taproots within 24hrs and within 36 hours you have a plant with the first green leaves, whereas in rockwool/soil you can wait weeks just to see a sprout.

keysmachine said:

but what is the benefit of germinating in a cup of water or paper towel? does it make for faster plants? just curious because you can just pop an unpopped seed into soil or rockwool or whatnot and it'll germ in that.

what benefit do you have to put it in a moist towel or cup of water?

Click to expand...

I honestly don't know because I just put it in Rapid Rooter and it sprouts consistently on day 5.

By budmans response it sounds like you can cut down a day or so if you soak. I never knew that but I'll be giving it a go now that I know!