One of the most common ways of starting seeds for hydroponics is to drop the seeds into a cube of rockwool. Its really easy – although you do need to soak the rockwool in water first, but this video is not about HOW to use rockwool. The purpose of this video is to try to answer some concerns growers have about USING rockwool. What are the advantages and disadvantages to using rockwool?
Links to products used for growing in rockwool, Amazon affiliate links:
Rockwool: https://amzn.to/2VGLZuo
pH up/down: https://amzn.to/36MU9ru
My Bird Feeder: https://amzn.to/3lNydAW
buy rockwool from a Marijuana grow store if it is legal in your area I got 96 1.5 inch rockwool pods for $16 canadian so around $11 US
What about the formaldehyde and resin used in manufacturing? People should really beware of that when buying rock wool used for insulating.
You can throw the rockwool in the wood stove or bbq to burn the root fibres out of it
I can get the rockwool at a penny per cubic inch at my local hydroponics store. Cheaper when I cut it to size. I like it because I can put way more seeds in the 10×20 tray.
So just to be sure… is this the same rockwool that can be bought at places like Home Depot? If that's the case, I have almost an entire bale of rockwool (Roxul Safe n' Sound) in my closet left over from a construction project a few years ago. If that's the case… I gotta try this method with my plants and get slowly get my closet space back lol
I’m down the rabbit hole, watching all of your videos. Excellent info!! Thank you. Is there a reason to not use cotton balls instead of rock wool?
YouTube works in mysterious ways.. Landed here while documenting on the negative effects of rockwool. I feel compelled to drop a line, take it with a grain of salt, everybody is entitled to their own opinions, obviously. But – before making a video which intends to teach people to use a product for growing food at home, without usually testing it if it's safe for human consumption – for God's sake, first do a more thorough investigation yourself – read at least the safety instructions of the product you are advocating. The single most important issue you brought up, and mentioned you knowingly chose to ignore – was the "fibers". Vitreous fibers, longer than 5μm, with diameters less than 3μm. Yet you feel safe because you cannot see them. 3 micro-meters in diameter. Which means that the parts that break when manipulated – literally float, get in your lungs, and are unable to be expelled once in there. Cool. Do yourselves a favor, and at least wear the masks, that is even more important if you manipulate it in an unventilated environment. "It itches, causes irritation on skin"? Hmm.. d'ooh.. those fibers are basically thin basalt needles, they are flexible only because they are thin. But they can break off in shorter dust size which is easily stirred into the air. Then imagine what it will do in your lungs.. And no, it's not organic, so the body won't be able to break it down.. so it will stay there forever.. hopefully not causing something more sinister.. A somewhat similar "wonderous" substance was used on a large scale by humans some time ago, and it was naturally available, if it would have been discovered yesterday you would even call it "Eco" – maybe you heard about.. asbestos? Hell, these fibers could even get incorporated into the produce as it grows, and be ingested. Heard about micro-plastics found in human organs lately, even in the placenta of females giving birth? You can look into it. Totally tangential discussion, but nevertheless. Furthermore – please read a bit past the first sentence of a sale presentation. Rockwool is not just "spun rock". Yeah, the fibers are a mix of basalt, slag and other compounds, melted at huge temperatures. BUT – the fibers would not stay together in that simple form. They use a binding agent – which is the MOST dangerous part for such an application! It uses phenolic compounds, which release formaldehyde – which is highly toxic! You should get in touch with a bio-chemist to find out if that isn't transferred into the growing plant – even if it should break apart naturally in soil.. Formaldehyde itself is a known carcinogenic, and can cause even birth defects. It's all about concentrations, duration of exposure, quantities present in the binder – and if they are enough to act long term as a source that is in direct contact with the plant since it's very germination etc. You can read about it and make your own informed decision. But as such – you should refrain from offering the products you grow this way to other people. Please, grow it and consume it yourself, if you are at peace with your choice, or state these facts to whoever you sell it to. Stay healthy and safe!
Thank you
Uhm, do you use a green screen? It is kind of irritating because the sound atmosphere (empty room, echo) doesn't match the picture (lots of space outside, no echo expected, other sounds)
Other than that, nice video!
You do an absolutely amazing job of explaining it. I am so glad to have found you!
Hemp fibers, and hemp wool = way better and o natural!
If rock wool comes from rock then does it contain a mineral?
Before you open the bag cut a small hole in opposite corners then run through with water and open it then. The water washes out loose fibres and it’s ready to cut on the opened bag.
Thank you for your great on point explanation videos. Everytiome i learn something new. Keep up the great work. And thank you.
Seems like Jiffy peat pelllets would be better
I actually loved listening to your explanation while watching the birds at the feeder in the back. I subscribed. Keep up the work as I keep growing in rockwool.
why not use sphagnum moss
Thank you. I just purchased lettuce, grown in rockwool. Your video put me at ease as to its safety, for human consumption. Keep up the good work ✌
Personal I'd make 4 small cubes from 1 but thats down to perception, but if a 5mm thick sheet like cardboard existed this prosses would be more accessible with out price compromise
just because it has rock in it, doesn't mean it doesn't have other gross stuff as well. The wikipedia article you show says exactly that: "contain a binder, often a terpolymer, and an oil." Doesn't tell you much.
Micronutrient in the rockwool seems to be an unknown. But, it works better than mixing vermiculite, perlite, and peat moss.
Hi Tikki – can you use Stone Wool Insulation for hydroponics – (Instead of Grodan) ? I have tried searching the internet but to no avail
I love that the big bird defeated the feeder security.
thank you I had no idea!
I love your videos Tikki! I love how you experiment! Wish you were my neighbor!
I have been indoor gardening for a long time having raised beans , tomatoes, cukes , etc , but I am new to rock wool having just set up my first kratky jars of little gem and butter way a head.
Germination and growth took longer than I am used to to. Perhaps it is because I am still a greenhorn. While the seedlings are small, the roots are long and an inch or more out of the bottom of the cube. So I set it them up.
We shall see.
I normally grow in heavy trays with either soil or coco coir , BOTH have had excellent results although with soil gnat issues sometimes arise. ( this is why I am looking into hydroponic type methods). My fav is still coco coir.
Most recently I started a tray with many round sections and used potting soil. I planted the seeds on the 15th of OCT, /21 two weeks later I harvested six inch leaves in a clip and come again situation. I used Grow Big solution plant food ( not the hydroponic kind), the roots came through the bottom and are hanging in the tray, Before that I just sprayed water out of a spray bottle to keep it all moist. After that , bottom watered with the solution and the plants just took off!I saw growth daily! Awesome! I usually am eating lettuce two to three weeks after planting doing it this way , even when I solid seed. Of course there is thicker growth and you get more.
Today , I set up another big tray with just holes that I can put 32 , 2 inch net cups in each. I have big tray domes of course that fit this. I am trying rock wool in this set up just planted a medley of lettuce seeds.
Cross your fingers!
I also have great luck with a small hole insert in a full tray using coco coir and solid seeding the lettuce and grows like crazy! I have cut the lettuce up to 11 times and it all tasted great each time! More bang for your buck in my opinion. All in all this is in it's way a form of hydroponics since the root hang in those deeper trays.
I save my shallow trays for micro greens as they work best. I have even grown om food grade mesh , but didn't care for it.
And since we are all salad aficionados here, sprouts are about the easiest things one can grow needing no more than window light to green it up. A nice addition to the lettuce and other greens.