Autos and rockwool slabs

**Loki** · 08-11-16, 01:54 PM

Hey Cunning, can't go wrong with auto's mate, normally a 9ish week turn around. Rockwool will be fine too, Pot size would be down to personal preference really, I use 20 litre maximum for auto's.

I've always started my off in 1 litre pots, then moved them to the 20 litre pots at around the 7-10 day mark, never had a problem.

**Cunning** · 08-11-16, 03:56 PM

Thanks for looking loki. I'm going to do these on rockwool slabs, drain to waste. I was just nervous the roots might not fill the slabs but if done properly they should be fine

Cheers

**Cunning** · 11-11-16, 12:16 PM

She's up

Currently sat in the 1.2m roof qube under an HS1. Temp is on the low side, only 21 but I'll switch on a 250W MH later and see what happens.

I've got no ducting at the moment and no cable to wire my 6" fan so I've just got a 4" resting in the extraction sock on minimum speed.

I've lost loads of kit since it's been out of action for such a long time

**Cunning** · 11-11-16, 03:16 PM

Crap, more things to buy. I've dug out some of my old bulbs that have been in a garage and they're not looking too pretty. I can't remember what the MH bulb looked like but it's damp on the outside and there looks to be some corrosion inside. I think I'm going to have to chuck all of them to be on the safe side

**M_C** · 11-11-16, 06:48 PM

Best be safe mate & new bulbs aren't bank breaking

**Cunning** · 12-11-16, 08:50 AM

Couldn't agree more M_C.

Day 1 for my doomed Toof Decay. I think I'll call her Hillary

EC 0.6 (background 0). Might be a bit strong and the light might be a bit high but we'll see how she gets on. Got the temp up to 24 using a tube heater. I'd like it a bit higher but I'll fire up the other HS1 when she has some leaves. No roots showing out the mini cube just yet

**Type M** · 12-11-16, 09:25 AM

Whoop. Game time.

Get an oscillating fan pointing at her if possible mate. Start strong

Sent from my HTC 10 using Tapatalk

**Wutang22** · 12-11-16, 10:02 AM

Hi @cunning mate. Before I start with my 2pence worth ha I'm no pro but have grown in rockwool once or twice, with regards roots in rockwool my current grow I've got 1 plant per meter slab (this is due to a few seeds not cracking), I have gone 3,2,3,2 in line with each other before and let them grow to 4-5ft with no issues with root bound=so I think your safe there !.
What I've found important using rockwool is .........
Make sure you slash bottom of slab (drainage)
Sit tray high on one end (drainage)
Decide how your going to feed (flood-drip or drip to waste)
If your running to waste build up of salts etc will be less than recirculating and you can run ec a little higher
If recirculating set ec low as it will rise as will pH so try to be aware
Set pH 5.5-5.8 (although I set mine at 5.2 (which rises before I change my water tank to 5.8-6.0)
I would try flush your rockwool at least once every third food tank change (I do this with just water,super thrive and Ritz) I would flood your trays, let them sit in solution for 30 mins then drain-change water tank to your desired ec strength and not feed for 48 hours before starting your feed cycle again (the drought time will change as plants mature and feed more in this case flood with low-0 ec till your happy there flushed enough)

Its a great medium mate and is quite forgiving except for major mistakes is over drying,

I'll tune in January gd luck mate
Just to add I've never grown an auto in my hobby time but I think the fundamentalis would be the same

**Cunning** · 12-11-16, 10:12 AM

Originally Posted by Type M

Whoop. Game time.

Get an oscillating fan pointing at her if possible mate. Start strong

Sent from my HTC 10 using Tapatalk

Good call Type M. One of the few things I have left

Originally Posted by Wutang22

Hi @cunning mate. Before I start with my 2pence worth ha I'm no pro but have grown in rockwool once or twice, with regards roots in rockwool my current grow I've got 1 plant per meter slab (this is due to a few seeds not cracking), I have gone 3,2,3,2 in line with each other before and let them grow to 4-5ft with no issues with root bound=so I think your safe there !.
What I've found important using rockwool is .........
Make sure you slash bottom of slab (drainage)
Sit tray high on one end (drainage)
Decide how your going to feed (flood-drip or drip to waste)
If your running to waste build up of salts etc will be less than recirculating and you can run ec a little higher
If recirculating set ec low as it will rise as will pH so try to be aware
Set pH 5.5-5.8 (although I set mine at 5.2 (which rises before I change my water tank to 5.8-6.0)
I would try flush your rockwool at least once every third food tank change (I do this with just water,super thrive and Ritz) I would flood your trays, let them sit in solution for 30 mins then drain-change water tank to your desired ec strength and not feed for 48 hours before starting your feed cycle again (the drought time will change as plants mature and feed more in this case flood with low-0 ec till your happy there flushed enough)

Its a great medium mate and is quite forgiving except for major mistakes is over drying,

I'll tune in January gd luck mate
Just to add I've never grown an auto in my hobby time but I think the fundamentalis would be the same

Thanks for the advice Wutang. I'll be running 3 plants per slab hopefully, run to waste. If I dial-in the irrigation times and get sufficient runoff then I'm hoping not to have to flush at all. I've been watching a lot of Everest Fernandez videos on YT. They are really useful

Thanks matey and we'll see what happens in Jan. Cheers

**Cunning** · 15-11-16, 04:46 PM

What are we on? Day 4 or 5 I think. I've a happy looking seedling above the rockwool but no idea what's going on inside it. Still no roots showing and it's certainly not because I am over watering... Quite the opposite in fact as I keep forgetting to moisten the cube and let it dry out...That could well be why I have no roots lol. More patience and care required!