What's a Good Alternative to Hydroton?

motoracer110

motoracer110

Well-Known Member
Im setting up my CAP EBB and Grow system and I really do not want to deal with Hydroton again and heard that COCO was good, but when the flood cycle turns on someone told me that the COCO will just float in the buckets. so What would you use?

My main reason for not using Hydroton is the time it takes to wash everything out and its hella expensive for 18 pots.
:weed:
 
CoralGrower

CoralGrower

Well-Known Member
I prefer Sun Leaves Rocks to Hydroton....by quite a large margin. Much less rinsing, heavier, easier to stake, much less rinsing, etc...
 
kpw555

kpw555

Well-Known Member
I use large chunk perlite that comes in big bags (like one cubic yard or something, enough for about 60 plants) for $30 and i don't re-use it at all. Not the small size but about marble size chunks. I line the pots with squares of cheap thin landscape fabric to help keep my tables and res clean.

My total potting cost is less than 60 cents per plant.

The only thing I reuse is the smooth river stones (4-5) in the bottom of the pot to keep it from floating, and the pot.

I considered using the hydroton at first but it was so expensive. I also couldn't think of a lazy stoner way to clean those things. So I went disposable and haven't looked back.

PS A friend of mine uses mostly all coco, is a mess but he has really good results with it
 
poindexterous

poindexterous

Active Member
coco/coir "chips" are supposed to be used like hydroton, I was gonna try them but haven't got around to it, so I can't vouch for em.
 
H

Hemlock

Well-Known Member
kpw555 said:
I use large chunk perlite that comes in big bags (like one cubic yard or something, enough for about 60 plants) for $30 and i don't re-use it at all. Not the small size but about marble size chunks. I line the pots with squares of cheap thin landscape fabric to help keep my tables and res clean.

My total potting cost is less than 60 cents per plant.

The only thing I reuse is the smooth river stones (4-5) in the bottom of the pot to keep it from floating, and the pot.

I considered using the hydroton at first but it was so expensive. I also couldn't think of a lazy stoner way to clean those things. So I went disposable and haven't looked back.

PS A friend of mine uses mostly all coco, is a mess but he has really good results with it
Click to expand...
i agree with this post
 
Scoopdizzle

Scoopdizzle

Member
I say use sure to grow medium!! Im using it now..its super low maintenance, and really easy to clean...however sure to grow doesn't hold water as good as some of the other meduims..but i think its well worth it!
 
rosecitypapa

rosecitypapa

Active Member
AdamBlack760 said:
easy way to clean hydro ton laundry bags dubbled up and washing machine
Click to expand...
If you use this washing technique, red volcanic landscaping rock can be had for $35 / half yard or $1 a 5 gal bucket. It's useful as a substrate if you decide to use beneficial microbes. In my grow, I do the biorocks thing and combine it with charcoal.

There's an idea of paramagnetic rock useful for accelerated root development. Red volcanic rock should have paramagnetic qualities. It's something I'm testing now.
 
sparkafire

sparkafire

Well-Known Member
Scoopdizzle said:
I say use sure to grow medium!! Im using it now..its super low maintenance, and really easy to clean...however sure to grow doesn't hold water as good as some of the other meduims..but i think its well worth it!
Click to expand...
Why would you want it to hold water? Hydroton holds none and lots of people use it. Sure to Grow is the up and coming medium for Ebb and Flow and DWC reasons being just like you said it is super low maintenance and easy to clean. Why would you fuck around with hydroton or rock wool that is finicky and hard to water. Remember the more often you can get fresh nutes to your plant the better off you are. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wGoi920Nyw
 
kpw555

kpw555

Well-Known Member
OMG $30 a cubic foot!?!?!? That's better than $10 dollars a pot, For that kind of scratch, it ought to cut and trim them for me.

Seriously, everything else on this thread but the perlite I mentioned is either heavy, dirty, costly, hard to clean (If it costs $30 a cubic foot you have tor reuse it, and to reuse it you have to clean it.) or some combination of them all.

I have tried many different types of grow media and the lowly perlite outshines them all by a long shot on every front.

Simplest and cheapest wins, period.

For those of you who still persist in the voodoo and magic rock vein. Can I have your email addresses? I would love to build a big list for the next big sucker sauce I make and hawk like it its God Juice.
 
i81two

i81two

Well-Known Member
All i know is that the 6x6 rockwool cubes work great for me.

My clones go directly into them and get shipped to veg with a dripper, then off to flower and set into an EG bucket where it fits snugly and is tossed out when im done.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top