Some advice requested.

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dirtyweeds

New Member
So I had started some seeds in rockwool. They all sprouted and grew really well for the first few days. It now appears they all got root rot and really slow growth rates. I pulled them and am going to be starting a new set of seeds next week. I have a few questions that perhaps you all can help me with. First off my water is ran through an R/O filter to remove the water softener salt and other components and when I test it with my TDS pen I show 001 ppm. To that I've been adding some calmag plus and superthrive. The PH of my water once ran through the R/O filter is quite low and I have been using PH UP on it to get it around 6.0 PH. I have a small aquarium air pump in the water itself pumping air through two 3" disc air stones. The entire tray sits about 4" from my t5 florescent lights. The rockwool cubes sit in a red tray designed to keep them mostly out of the water itself. I keep the water levels near the bottom of this. I would appreciate any advice you could give me on ensuring the second batch of seeds doesn't suffer the same effects.
 
superstoner1

superstoner1

Well-Known Member
Seedlings do not need food for many,many days after popping. They have their own stored food, let them use this to make roots grow to find food.
 
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dirtyweeds

New Member
I have done research, and more research. I'm not sure what you expect, but I can tell you I have spent days reading and watching instructional video's on the subject. I'm honestly just looking for tips on ways in which I can improve. If that is too much to ask, I'd appreciate you not responding in the future.
 
alwaysgreen420

alwaysgreen420

Active Member
My best advice. Skip using rock wool for seeds. And just plant in to dirt after germination. Or don't keep constant water under them. When I use rock wool for cuttings I get them wet the initial time and don't wet them again till roots pop. Of course using a humidity dome. I think too much moisture is ur enemy

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Rollitup mobile app
 
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bluerock

Active Member
dirtyweeds said:
So I had started some seeds in rockwool. They all sprouted and grew really well for the first few days. It now appears they all got root rot and really slow growth rates. I pulled them and am going to be starting a new set of seeds next week. I have a few questions that perhaps you all can help me with. First off my water is ran through an R/O filter to remove the water softener salt and other components and when I test it with my TDS pen I show 001 ppm. To that I've been adding some calmag plus and superthrive. The PH of my water once ran through the R/O filter is quite low and I have been using PH UP on it to get it around 6.0 PH. I have a small aquarium air pump in the water itself pumping air through two 3" disc air stones. The entire tray sits about 4" from my t5 florescent lights. The rockwool cubes sit in a red tray designed to keep them mostly out of the water itself. I keep the water levels near the bottom of this. I would appreciate any advice you could give me on ensuring the second batch of seeds doesn't suffer the same effects.
Click to expand...
Rockwool should be completely drained off after watering. For seeds and cuttings, you don't want any standing water on or near the starter blocks. I know that Grodan has sometimes recommended to have a layer of water in a 10x20 flat, but they are very wrong on this point. If the starters are constantly wet, you will get root rot just as you described. As for starter nutrients, use a 1/4 strength (or less) and scrap the superthrive. Superthrive does not do a damn thing to improve either seed germination or cutting roots.
 
zem

zem

Well-Known Member
you have been over-watering your rockwool cubes. you must allow them to drain. Also, you really do not need to use R/O water at the start. Simply, tapwater has microelements which the seedling appreciates but no ferts to burn them. I you are worried about chlorine, let it sit overnight until it evaporates, but i never worried about that. Also Ph adjusters at the start are useless. Just water seedlings with normal tapwater until they grow a bit, then begin adding low dose fertilizers, add up. once they are grown and feeding full strength in an automated system with a decent sized res, you can begin using R/O water. before that, it is just not needed.
 
Malevolence

Malevolence

New Member
the water in your seedling tray is not going to stay clean. if your roots are in the water in that seedling tray like a dwc they will be exposed to algae and shit. there is light that shines right through the unused cups and I seriously doubt you are running bennies or sterilizers in that thing. just hand water the cubes with plain tap water once or twice a day until they get going.
 
nameno

nameno

Well-Known Member
Thanks ss,I needed to be reminded of that.

Dirtyweed, in your reading don't believe everything on a forum,look at their growing pictures
and time in growing before you make changes based on what you were told. GL.GG,&HY
 
waterdawg

waterdawg

Well-Known Member
"i advise research, you have to do the homework if you expect to succeed, no-one is gonna hold your hand."

Are we all not here to lend a hand for people to hold lol.
 
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