Trouble starting seeds in rockwool

[Red1026]

Trying to start seeds in rockwool, they germinate fine. They die or never sprout out of the rockwool. Starting for hydro grow. Soaking rockwool in RO, sprouting seeds works fine. Transfer sprout to rockwool , one fail to grow other never stuck its head out of wool.HELP please.

[Retiredoldguy]

I do just like you except I poke a small hole all the way thru the rockwool from top to bottom…the size of the seed hole…then I place the seed in that hole just below the surface and gently push the top around the seed… then place in a room temperature area…

[Red1026]

so you don’t ph the water off the rockwool? Sorry forgot to mention we are poking the rock wool.

[Retiredoldguy]

@Red1026

so you don’t ph the water off the rockwool?

I soak the rockwool in my seedling nutrient solution that I will be using for the first 3 weeks…

[Ed43758]

I had the same experience in rockwool, i only tried them 3 times. Then I switched to rapid rooter, and been using them 5 plus years.

[Retiredoldguy]

I guess I am lucky … for all of my hydro growing time I have always sprouted in the cubes…the only time I have a hard time with sprouting is when I am using old seeds…for them I soak in water for about 4 hours then put into the cubes…soften the shell is my theory because old seeds don’t have the same energy packed in them as when they are fresh…

[Storm]

Small tutorial. Works perfect. Good for all mediums. Hydro/coco/soil.

Easy germination

Here is a simple germing method for new growers. Bowl. Ph down or up. Calmag. A seed. Rockwool. Solo cups. Propagator. [1000007673] [1000007672] [1000007682] [1000007688] [1000007687] [1000007674] Ph the water to between 6 and 6.8. Add a touch of CalMag. Soak rockwool for an hour or so in it. [1000007679] [1000007680] [1000007677] [1000007676] [1000007675] [1000007678] Burn 4 holes in solo on bottom. Sqeeze out rockwool till just damp/slightly wet. Pick seeds. I used bag …

[Retiredoldguy]

something else I do is after soaking the cube and putting the seed in it… I put a plastic cup over the top to keep the moisture in and until I see the seed start to push the cap/helmet up I do not water any more… the rockwool and the cup cover hold just the right amount of moisture needed …

[Ed43758]

Thats the way I feel about rapid rooter plugs. Whatever works, I got the rockwool free with my hydro system like 5 years ago, had a bad experience, I probably put the seed in too deep it, and drowned it. I bought rapid rooter, and never had a problem since, never tried rockwool again.

[Retiredoldguy]

yep so many ways to do the same thing…

[Red1026]

I am sure I will be an expert after we get the first one out the ground!