rockwool seedlings - plant in hydroton with/without rockwool? - Aquaponic Gardening2024-03-29T09:23:47Zhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/forum/topics/rockwool-seedlings-plant-in-hydroton-with-without-rockwool?feed=yes&xn_auth=noMan, this is kinda ironic...…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2012-03-01:4778851:Comment:3003822012-03-01T01:02:08.901ZVlad Jovanovichttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/VladJovanovic
<p>Man, this is kinda ironic... but when I start seedlings (for any non-AP-media bed system...dirt garden, hydro, organic-hydro) I generally start them in a net pot or whatever container with <em>just</em> hydroton. This has worked as well as any other media I've ever used.</p>
<p>Lettuce sprouts ridiculously quickly in any medium, but for things like peppers, and toms where germination takes a good deal longer (I'm not real patient) I'll pre-soak the seeds in a solution of water with…</p>
<p>Man, this is kinda ironic... but when I start seedlings (for any non-AP-media bed system...dirt garden, hydro, organic-hydro) I generally start them in a net pot or whatever container with <em>just</em> hydroton. This has worked as well as any other media I've ever used.</p>
<p>Lettuce sprouts ridiculously quickly in any medium, but for things like peppers, and toms where germination takes a good deal longer (I'm not real patient) I'll pre-soak the seeds in a solution of water with a <em>little bit</em> of Hydrogen peroxide for a couple hours up to overnight. This seems to speed up the germination process a bit and has the added benefit of allowing you to weed out potentially cruddy seeds. I'll only use the seeds that sink to the bottom, and not the ones that float. One or two cap fulls of 3% peroxide to about a cup of water seems to do the trick. (Helps break down the coating a bit I think). Tannic acid can probably be used also. (This is the acid that is found in pine needles, oak leaves, driftwood, a cup of tea etc)... </p>
<p>The thinking here is that part of the reason why seeds that a bird shits out do so well, (in part) is that the acidic environment of the birdy's stomach helps eat away some of the seed coat, so that the seed can emerge easier/quicker.</p>
<p>This may or may not have something to do with your OP. IDK.</p> If you are able to seed direc…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2012-02-29:4778851:Comment:3000852012-02-29T21:33:43.518ZTCLynxhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/TCLynx
<p>If you are able to seed directly into the grow bed, why bother with the rock wool? Save the money and just direct seed. The use of seed starting media is generally more appropriate for when you can't immediately plant into the beds or when you are planting into a method that doesn't take well to direct seeding or if you need to provide extra warmth for better germination for certain crops and things like that.</p>
<p>If you are able to seed directly into the grow bed, why bother with the rock wool? Save the money and just direct seed. The use of seed starting media is generally more appropriate for when you can't immediately plant into the beds or when you are planting into a method that doesn't take well to direct seeding or if you need to provide extra warmth for better germination for certain crops and things like that.</p> Good suggestion. I'll try th…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2012-02-29:4778851:Comment:3001552012-02-29T15:40:03.766ZBill Moorehttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/BillMoore
<p>Good suggestion. I'll try that. Thanks. And you're right, I was putting them immediately in the medium which is running a pH 7.3 or so.</p>
<p></p>
<p>bill</p>
<p>Good suggestion. I'll try that. Thanks. And you're right, I was putting them immediately in the medium which is running a pH 7.3 or so.</p>
<p></p>
<p>bill</p> Ah, after re-reading your pos…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2012-02-29:4778851:Comment:3000642012-02-29T15:35:42.663Zclaude saundershttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/claudesaunders
<p>Ah, after re-reading your post, it seems you are putting the rockwool in your beds right away. I put the rockwool in a clear-plastic covered seedling tray (with drain holes), and let that sit under a light for about a week. Only once I have a good sprout with a couple solid leaves do I plant them in my grow bed. That may make a difference, since the cube can remain at 5.5 pH, whereas if you put in your grow bed, it's probably at least a point higher and maybe less warm.</p>
<p>Ah, after re-reading your post, it seems you are putting the rockwool in your beds right away. I put the rockwool in a clear-plastic covered seedling tray (with drain holes), and let that sit under a light for about a week. Only once I have a good sprout with a couple solid leaves do I plant them in my grow bed. That may make a difference, since the cube can remain at 5.5 pH, whereas if you put in your grow bed, it's probably at least a point higher and maybe less warm.</p> Hmm. Works pretty well for me…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2012-02-29:4778851:Comment:3003162012-02-29T15:31:26.483Zclaude saundershttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/claudesaunders
<p>Hmm. Works pretty well for me. The directions suggest soaking the cubes in 5.5 pH water, which seems to make a big difference. I tried to start a set of seeds in rockwool once and forgot that part, soaking them in our 8.0 pH tapwater, and they didn't germinate well. Also make sure the cubes stay moist (to state the obvious). And put them under a light to warm from above, or I think warming from below will work as well. Just some thoughts.</p>
<p>Hmm. Works pretty well for me. The directions suggest soaking the cubes in 5.5 pH water, which seems to make a big difference. I tried to start a set of seeds in rockwool once and forgot that part, soaking them in our 8.0 pH tapwater, and they didn't germinate well. Also make sure the cubes stay moist (to state the obvious). And put them under a light to warm from above, or I think warming from below will work as well. Just some thoughts.</p> So far, I have not had a sing…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2012-02-29:4778851:Comment:3003142012-02-29T15:23:02.955ZBill Moorehttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/BillMoore
<p>So far, I have not had a single seed germinate in the rockwool cubes I bought. Zero. I have tried them in both the Flood & Drain bed, the NFT cups and on a raft in the sump tank. I have far better luck just sowing in the hydroton. Any ideas what the problem is?</p>
<p>So far, I have not had a single seed germinate in the rockwool cubes I bought. Zero. I have tried them in both the Flood & Drain bed, the NFT cups and on a raft in the sump tank. I have far better luck just sowing in the hydroton. Any ideas what the problem is?</p> Natural forces. This is the b…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2012-02-22:4778851:Comment:2964822012-02-22T19:06:03.237ZEric Warwickhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/EricWarwick
<p>Natural forces. This is the best explanation I can give without my head being up my, well you know where.<img src="http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad93/ucsycybersmiley/3.gif"></img> <br></br> <cite>Bob Vento said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://aquaponicscommunity.com/forum/topics/rockwool-seedlings-plant-in-hydroton-with-without-rockwool?commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A296553&xg_source=msg_com_forum#4778851Comment296553"><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>By broadcasting do you mean sprinkling the seeds onto the Hydroton? What keeps the seed from washing…</p>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p>Natural forces. This is the best explanation I can give without my head being up my, well you know where.<img src="http://i925.photobucket.com/albums/ad93/ucsycybersmiley/3.gif"/><br/> <cite>Bob Vento said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://aquaponicscommunity.com/forum/topics/rockwool-seedlings-plant-in-hydroton-with-without-rockwool?commentId=4778851%3AComment%3A296553&xg_source=msg_com_forum#4778851Comment296553"><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>By broadcasting do you mean sprinkling the seeds onto the Hydroton? What keeps the seed from washing away into the fish tank in a flood and drain system?<br/> <br/><br/></p>
</div>
</blockquote> I actually did switch over to…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2012-02-22:4778851:Comment:2963812012-02-22T15:31:11.194Zclaude saundershttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/claudesaunders
<p>I actually did switch over to broadcasting (from rockwool), but not for everything. My lettuce seeds germinate really well (and quickly) by broadcasting, but some other things have not. I'm sure some of the seeds wash away, but hydroton has lots of little nooks and crannies and the seeds seem to stick. Either that or they "bob" until the tap root comes out.</p>
<p>I actually did switch over to broadcasting (from rockwool), but not for everything. My lettuce seeds germinate really well (and quickly) by broadcasting, but some other things have not. I'm sure some of the seeds wash away, but hydroton has lots of little nooks and crannies and the seeds seem to stick. Either that or they "bob" until the tap root comes out.</p> By broadcasting do you mean s…tag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2012-02-22:4778851:Comment:2965532012-02-22T14:16:35.868ZBob Ventohttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/BobVento
<p>By broadcasting do you mean sprinkling the seeds onto the Hydroton? What keeps the seed from washing away into the fish tank in a flood and drain system?<br></br> <br></br> <cite>Eric Warwick said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://aquaponicscommunity.com/forum/topics/rockwool-seedlings-plant-in-hydroton-with-without-rockwool#4778851Comment255918"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>Just stick them right in. <img src="http://www.bkserv.net/images/Grin.gif"></img> In the future just broadcasting the seeds will work. I've used this method in…</p>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote>
<p>By broadcasting do you mean sprinkling the seeds onto the Hydroton? What keeps the seed from washing away into the fish tank in a flood and drain system?<br/> <br/> <cite>Eric Warwick said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://aquaponicscommunity.com/forum/topics/rockwool-seedlings-plant-in-hydroton-with-without-rockwool#4778851Comment255918"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>Just stick them right in. <img src="http://www.bkserv.net/images/Grin.gif"/>In the future just broadcasting the seeds will work. I've used this method in my hydroponic system with a high germination rate. As for the pH, peat is acidic and you most likely neutralized the basic rockwool by sticking them in acid, so maybe. I don't think it makes much difference until you get to extreme high or low pH. </p>
</div>
</div>
</blockquote> ya what Eric Saidtag:aquaponicgardening.ning.com,2011-11-27:4778851:Comment:2559242011-11-27T00:39:52.580ZTCLynxhttps://aquaponicgardening.ning.com/profile/TCLynx
<p>ya what Eric Said</p>
<p>ya what Eric Said</p>