Owderb Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 (edited) Quite frequently on the boards I see seedlings and clones that have just been transplanted into rockwool cubes looking a bit grim so I thought i'd put a guide up on how I used to prepare my cubes, and what worked for me I think bad preparation of the said cubes could be the main reason why some plants struggle. If you prepare your cubes correctly then at least if you do get problems you can rule this out 1. Soak your blocks, whether 1" or 6" in 5.5-5.6ph water for 24hrs, preferably with an airstone 2. Squeeze out most of the excess water, but not too hard that you damage the cube 3. For clones soak for another 24hrs in a weak nutrient mix with an ec of 0.6-0.8, ph 5.8, and your choice of rootstim 4. For germination(1" blocks) I just soaked for a second time with a rootstim, no nutes, ph 5.8 5. When you use the blocks, a light squeeze to leave the block 60-70% wet and you are ready to go. This way you shouldnt overnute them, the ph will be in balance, and drowning them shouldnt happen because leaving blocks sopping wet especially with seedlings can cause damping off 6. Leave the plastic wrapper on to stop the blocks collapsing Hope that helps and clears a few things up for you Owd Edited July 28, 2009 by Owderb 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Its Me Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 (edited) Thx Owdherb , i didnt do this and my ladies took ages to start . Will do this on my second attempt. p.s nice piece on supercropping , ive got small stumpy ladies , bushy as hell and im getting sweating on the leaves so i dont want rot r owt so just building up the courage to attack with the scissors . Edited July 28, 2009 by Owderb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 2hi2try Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 could watered down clonex be used as a root stim? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest hantshaze Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 n n n no. Canna rhizotonic is a good root stimulater and used on all mediums ie rw cubes. Hantshaze. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 2hi2try Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 looks like another trip to the GS i almost bought some when i bought the spreader mat but would have probably left that there to and come home with just a single pipette(like i did) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest hantshaze Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OeN Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 WOW Been looking all morning for this info and when i return you have posted it all, good stuff Owd Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest 2hi2try Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 you know i've copied and pasted this in my ever growing hydro info doc if thats ok? thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zielsko i koza Posted July 28, 2009 Share Posted July 28, 2009 Nice post Owderb and simple to follow. From my experience I have noticed that .8EC of organic mix burnt 2/3 of my clones and 1.9EC of GH nutes was just fine. So my conclusion is that the strength is product dependant. Also the strength of 1.9 is not needed for clones. A question for you, do you soak cubes in any nutrient mix prier to transplanting? (for ex. 1” into 3”or4”) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ex8724_uk Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 what about rockwool slabs..... whats the best way to prep them?........ anyone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owderb Posted August 5, 2009 Author Share Posted August 5, 2009 If it were me then i'd be finding a container to fit them in and do exactly the same or use the bath Owd 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr Mullen Posted August 5, 2009 Share Posted August 5, 2009 Nice post , Thanks for the info. Mrm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stan909 Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 Squeeze out most of the excess water, but not too hard that you damage the cube I put them in a colander inside a bucket. I then swing the bucket around 10 times so that the water drains out of the cubes by centrifugal force. I find this helps maintain the shape of the cubes (provided I'm careful) and drains them uniformally. Seems to work... Stan 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
syanide Posted August 7, 2009 Share Posted August 7, 2009 i was recently given a bottle of jump start advanced nutes its does the job but havent used Canna rhizotonic yet! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iky Posted October 29, 2009 Share Posted October 29, 2009 Quite frequently on the boards I see seedlings and clones that have just been transplanted into rockwool cubes looking a bit grim so I thought i'd put a guide up on how I used to prepare my cubes, and what worked for meI think bad preparation of the said cubes could be the main reason why some plants struggle. If you prepare your cubes correctly then at least if you do get problems you can rule this out 1. Soak your blocks, whether 1" or 6" in 5.5-5.6ph water for 24hrs, preferably with an airstone 2. Squeeze out most of the excess water, but not too hard that you damage the cube 3. For clones soak for another 24hrs in a weak nutrient mix with an ec of 0.6-0.8, ph 5.8, and your choice of rootstim 4. For germination(1" blocks) I just soaked for a second time with a rootstim, no nutes, ph 5.8 5. When you use the blocks, a light squeeze to leave the block 60-70% wet and you are ready to go. This way you shouldnt overnute them, the ph will be in balance, and drowning them shouldnt happen because leaving blocks sopping wet especially with seedlings can cause damping off 6. Leave the plastic wrapper on to stop the blocks collapsing Hope that helps and clears a few things up for you Owd Have you tried the peat disks soak them in willow water to expand them put them in a block tray and into the prop work every time.. no need for rooting hormone to make willow water soak willow cuttings in water 24 hrs. do not store always us fresh. .happy horticulture. eric 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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