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Re: Rockwool media<<for seeds

At 12:39 PM 4/28/97 -0800, you wrote:
>Can Rockwool be used for starting seeds?  If so, can you place the blocks
>directly into the soil when you transplant?  Also, I've seen it used for
>hydroponics, if you aren't doing hydroponics, how do you keep it wet
>enough?

Yes rockwool can be used for seeds.  I seed most of my "cool" houseplants
plants in rockwool.  I wouldn't bother for most seeds destined for the
outdoors (bedding plants for instance).

Yes when the seeds have sprouted the cubes can just be transplanted into
soil.  Just be sure to cover the entire cube with dirt because it dries out
at a different rate than soil.  If the plants are to stay inside, the
seeded cube can be placed into a larger cube (usually 4"x4").  Looks kind
of weird around the house but it can AMAZE your friends. Ha ha

Actually, for seeds you can also buy rockwool plugs.  They fit into
standard plug trays.  This is the easiest way to seed large numbers. 

As for watering, just water as you would soil.  Overhead by hand is fine if
you only have a few flats to water otherwise automated misters or flood
benches work great for larger amounts.  The rockwool holds a large amount
of water and really doesn't require anymore waterings than would soil
plugs, maybe less actually.  My Datura seedlings in rockwool seem to only
need watering every 4-5 days whereas some of my plants in soil plugs
require watering everyday.

Experiment with a few at first and see how you like it.  

BTW: one thing I forgot to mention in my original post is that you should
try to avoid contacting the DRY rockwool with skin.  Like fibreglass it
makes you itchy.  Most cubes have a plastic wrapping that allows handlind
as well as directs the roots downward. Don't worry though, once it is
wetted its fine to touch and play with.

Have fun!!

=================================================================
Brad Estergaard
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, BC, Canada
=================================================================
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