My restart from seed

[GrowTutor]

Yeah, the new growth looks good but you really should cover the tops of those rockwool cubes with hydroton and/or panda film to block the light. Next time, maybe bury them a bit deeper.

[Happyweedz]

Well........Actually I don't really like Rockwool..I initally ordered some when I started out, and when it is finished I will search out something else if I need it. In past grows it always gets real funky by the end of the grow... I have even bought the little white plastic covers for my net pots, but still the center gets nasty. Plus I have read that they are not really good for Aeroflo systems....so I am kinda trying something.

Isn't the purpose of the Rockwool to kinda cradle the sprout and provide steady moisture to it?? Once the seedling develops roots below the pot and green growth above the pot, what purpose does the Rockwool serve as it rots and grows algae? I wondered if some of my past issues might have been partially caused by use/mis-use of Rockwool.

So my idea is to try using the Rockwool to start sprouts, but get rid of it once the plant is established & rooted. That is why it appears so high in the pot.

What I did, after soaking some cubes, was cut the cube in half, height-wise....then took that half and cut it in half again width-wise. What you saw in the pics is actually only about 3/4" thick... I semi hollowed out a little space for the sprout in between the halves of the second cut. I purposely didn't bury the cubes, with the intent of removing them. I top watered multi times a day to keep them moist....and other than waiting too long to add my nutes, I think they are doing ok...

I had some time to spend with my girls this afternoon...so I tended my big girls (which are doing great!) & then tended my rescue tub (which are improving since being pulled from the shadows)....lol Then I turned my attention to the seedlings...All have nice green on top and nice white dangling below... I decided it might be the time to get rid of the Rockwool.....and what I was hoping to be able to do, I just finished doing!!

Because of the cube being at the top of the Hydroton and being split, it was easy to remove!! There were only a couple of very small roots, on the biggest seedling, that had embedded into the cube...other than that they came out of there pretty cleanly... As I had hoped, the majority of the roots took the path of least resistance...which was down, along the split, to the water below!!! After removing the halves of Rockwool I just filled the void with clean Hydroton and top watered em.

Won't removing this algae growing sponge reduce my chances of anything bad developing/growing in my pots??

BTW, all the clones in my salvage grow went into pots without Rockwool...just roots & Hydroton...and I am pretty please with their progress....so far.

Happy

[GrowTutor]

Checkout GH Rapid Rooters, they work great for seeds or clones and they don't have the pH/moisture issues that rockwool does. You still don't want to have them in standing water with plants in them though.

You could also use/build a cloner that works like aeroponics/dwc so you don't need RW/rapidrooters for clones at all. You'd still use the rapid rooters for seeds.

RW is just a soilless planting medium, like hydroton or perlite but because RW is made from spun molten rocks (basically lava) it has pH issues and has to be treated before use. RW also holds a LOT of moisture so you have to be careful that you don't rot roots/trunks, etc.

Usually, the roots will be wound all through it (so you can't remove it) but you seemed to get lucky with your timing, I guess. Yes, removing it now might prevent other issues that are moisture related down the road.

Covering the tops of the net pots to keep as much light out of the system as possible is still a good idea...

[Happyweedz]

Checkout GH Rapid Rooters, they work great for seeds or clones and they don't have the pH/moisture issues that rockwool does. You still don't want to have them in standing water with plants in them though.

You could also use/build a cloner that works like aeroponics/dwc so you don't need RW/rapidrooters for clones at all. You'd still use the rapid rooters for seeds.

RW is just a soilless planting medium, like hydroton or perlite but because RW is made from spun molten rocks (basically lava) it has pH issues and has to be treated before use. RW also holds a LOT of moisture so you have to be careful that you don't rot roots/trunks, etc.

Usually, the roots will be wound all through it (so you can't remove it) but you seemed to get lucky with your timing, I guess. Yes, removing it now might prevent other issues that are moisture related down the road.

Covering the tops of the net pots to keep as much light out of the system as possible is still a good idea...

Well hopefully I will get a few healthy Mothers from this batch & won't be starting from seed again until I introduce another strain...which I don't plan on until I get this one down! I chose to restart with AK-47 because, from what I have read, it is relatively easy to grow, good for beginners, supposed to grow well indoors...plus I liked it when I bought it in the past!

For clippings, I have a few aeroponic cloners already...I have more cloning capacity than growing capacity...lol The last batch I cloned, I left in the cloner until they had a good amount of root, then they went straight into pots with Hydroton. I read somewhere that Rockwool wasn't recommended for Aeroflo systems...so I am trying to get away from it, even though these seedlings will not be going into the Aeroflo.

I do think timing was key on pulling the Rockwool! I did it when the smallest seedling had 3 little roots reaching the water, and as I said, only lost a few from the largest...which has a bunch of roots! 50+ As you say, time will tell...but I think I will be alright.

Before the lights go out tonight I will dig out the covers and place them over the top of the Hydroton... I don't need to chance any more problems...

Thanx!

Happy

[rkymtnman]

hey happy,

i use my panda film for netpot covers. just cut a circle a few inches bigger than the netpot with a slit in them to the center. then make an "X" cut in the center for the stalk to go thru. they are really easy to remove compared to the white plastic ones that I tried.

RKY

[Happyweedz]

Thanx Rky! I have seen pics of that done...but, after buying the plastic ones...lol

Only about half get washed & re-used. A bunch get split or cracked cuz the stalk gets too big for them. And they area pain to put on and take off... So, like the Rockwool, they are slowly going away....Once they are gone I have some Orca scraps I can use for covers...

How you doing man?? Have you tried much of your most recent? Yours always looks so good!

You on break until 1st of the year? Does it feel a little strange? lolol

Happy

[rkymtnman]

hey happy,

doing good. just started smoking this past batch. it's good. nice and sticky too. but the hash is awesome. that 25 micron will put you on your butt.

with that AF, you could even cut one long strip and cut slits for each site. then you could put on/take off really easy.

i'm on break until end of Jan. we got mother in law for T'giving and then we're going to Mexico mid Jan. it will give me time to build and actually test my rDWC.

hope all is good your way too!

[Happyweedz]

Not really much going on with the babies. I changed the water tonight and think I may be able to start taking a clip or two next week!!

Here is a pic of one of the larger ones....most likely a male!! ha!

Happy

[GrowTutor]

Getting bigger! I see a little interveinal chlorosis on the bottom left which might be a slight mg def if you're keeping everything else where it should be. Maybe start with 1ml/gal if you want to try it.

Keep on keeping on...

[Happyweedz]

Yup!! I had noticed a little bit of spotting on a couple of leaves...that is why I changed the nutes.

I started these babies on GH Flora 3 part...just to use up some of the Flora GRO I have on hand, since going to LF for the Aeroflo I have no other use for it. I guess I just didn't change nutes soon enough. The other conditions all seem to be good...

When I changed water I switched them to LF as well so hopefully they will be getting everything they need from here on out.

The smallest is catching up a little & the bigger ones are getting bigger.... enough that I am thinking I might be able to start to clip some next week...maybe.

Happy