New Grower Germinating seeds for the first time, is rockwool good?

[Gadgetguy]

I have been growing for a while but being that it's been medical/legal here for quite a while I always grew from clones and have only done photo grows. I've got 10 regular Russian Rocket Fuel seeds on hand. I am growing in a 2'x4'x5' tent so I'll probably only pop 4 and see what happens.

I have rockwool on hand from previous cloning work and would like to use that if possible to sprout my beans. I did try the paper towel method over the summer as an experiment but had no success. Can I just soak my seeds for 12 hours, then stick them in my rockwool cubes (ph'd and soaked), wait for a sprout then stick them in my containers full of soil? I have a heat mat and a humidity dome so keeping warm temps in check etc. won't be tough.

Thank you!

 

[GodAmJT]

What's up man?? I use rockwool exclusively, and can tell you that I still use the paper towel method to germ my seeds, but then crack a 2" cube to place the happy tap-root into, and then I germ it a little longer until I have some roots emerging from the bottom f the cube.. After that, I transplant into a treated nursery pot full of the rockwool mini-cubes.. I don't use soil, and some day, I will try it, as well as coco, but for now, rockwool is my mistress and she does me well!! If you ever have any specific questions, let me know!!! I don't know too many folks on here who use rockwool the entire grow; most of the ones I've seen use the cubes as a starter and then switch to a DWC/hydroton base for their medium..

 

[Gooba]

I personally skip the pre-germination (soaking or using paper towels) & plant directly into the starter cubes. So far I have never lost a seedling.

1. Pre soak the starter cubes for 15 seconds in warm water, PH'd to 5.5. I always make sure the water has been aired for at least 24 hours to help the chlorine evaporate

2. Pop a seed in the hole & cover loosely with a fluffy piece of rock wool.

3. Place somewhere warm (22-25 degrees) under a CFL or dimmed HPS. I use a humidity dome with the top fully open until they sprout & wipe the inside of the dome down daily.

4. Keep moist either by using a spray gun or by quickly dipping the cubes into the PH'd water.

5. In 3-5 days they will sprout. As soon as they appear remove from the dome to avoid stretching or damping off & keep an oscillating fan on them (not too close) to start them off strongly.

I find that they are usually well rooted by the time that they appear & are ready to transplant into larger cubes.

Good luck.

 

[Gadgetguy]

Thanks Gooba, I'm going to give it a shot that way and see what happens.

 

[Gooba]

After a day keep the dome slightly ajar, as in not sitting correctly on its base, if you know what I mean. It keeps the humidity down (in the 60's for me) & you don't get the build up of moisture.

 

[Gadgetguy]

It seems to be pretty similar to taking photo clones so I'm picking up what you're throwing down right now :Cool bud:

 

[Gooba]

I was actually going through the process when i first replied. Day 3 started 12 hours ago & I have my first sprout! The other 3 will appear by tomorrow :gthumb:

 

[KsjAuto]

Side note on rockwool cubes.
It looks like you use the small cubes :smoke:

The small ones is super dense / hard, so root development is a little slower,
I also use the small ones, only cause i have like 150 of them,
But go up a size and you will see a big difference in speed. (faster)

Just my 2 cents,,
:Sharing One: