How to start seeds in Hydroponics

#hydroponics #aquaponics #plantingseeds

If you do any form of hydroponics, you may need to start plants from seed. In this video I compare the 3 types of hydroponic growing medias I've used, along with advantages and disadvantages of each growing media.

[goto]

In Australia those packets of rockwool cubes are expensive too. I found out that slabs of rockwool used by commercial growers of hydroponic tomatoes, cucumbers etc... are much cheaper. From an agricultural store slabs 1metre x 150mm are about $5 which you can get around 180 cubes from. As Australia is a pretty high cost country i am sure it would be around the same in the US or cheaper.

[afreezaphorogiancossack]

I think rockwool prices have come down since this video. I paid about 20 for 3 flats of 50 cubes a few weeks ago. You can find prices that low pretty easily online. You go to a store you will pay more like the price cited in the video.

[haroldgreen]

I have several large hydro beds filled with clay pellets. I use rock wool only on seeds that I intend to grow out in soil or potting mix. Plants that will go into my hydro beds I always start in potting mix. When the plants reach the size where they are big enough for the hydro system I remove them from their pots and wash all the soil off the roots and then make a deep hole in the clay pellets and place the bare plant in the hole getting the roots down far enough to be in dampness. My beds are ebb and flow and get flooded twice a day and then quickly draining back down to allow oxygen into the beds. It's actually an aquaponics set up with a six hundred gallon fish tank providing nutrients for the system. It's been running for six years now without issue. I would not put any type of rock wool or soil in my hydro beds. You get more humus in the system than you want simply from plant roots that break off when you remove the finished plants.

[FGM]

Thank you for an informative video. I have a few thoughts.

I’m glad to see you mention the importance of sterilizing your pruning shears.

I’m not in a position to have an outdoor Dutch bucket set up yet but I specifically liked the tip about root pruning.

I noticed that you didn’t mention pruning suckers. I know that there are differing thoughts on that practice.

I appreciate the tip about the timing on eliminating nitrogen in the nutrient mix.

In my climate white flies are either non-existent or we are plagued with swarms of them. We usually introduce a trap crop of yellow flowers since white flies seem to be attracted to the color yellow. That may not be a viable solution in a green house set up but I’ve found it effective in an outdoor environment. Yellow sticky pads are an option in a small backyard system but would not be practical on a larger scale system.

[MikeHoffman-ym]

Another consideration between Rockwood and oasis is that oasis is Ph neutral. Needs no Ph adjustment before use, where rockwool needs to be adjusted.

[tanergenc]

I had no idea I didnt have to use soil. About to dive into the world of Hydroponics now!

[gioknows]

Very informative. Cheers from Tulua, Colombia 🇨🇴

[drewrodrigues]

Thanks so much for these videos. They are very helpful and are well produced. Keep up the great work!

[patrickpikacha]

Thank you for this video. It is very helpful to see the comparison in media for propagating seeds.

[DaveSstation]

I recommend washing and soaking cubes in a bucket of nutrient enriched water first

[montanateri]

rockwool... wear gloves. I was using rocvkwool, then inadvertently rubbed one eye. I was fogged out blind in that eye for 3 days. A rockwool sliver went into my eye, got stuck in the inside of the eyelid... so every time I moved my eye, it scratched the eye.
Use rockwool.. great. Don't touch anything afterward until you throughly wash your hands, I mean scrub your hands -- even under the fingernails, all of that.
Just like handling fiberglass insulation. Damn stuff needs a caution label!!

[keiyeanliang]

Thank for the video. I learnt some knowledge about the growing media. Do you mind to share some experience about using potting mix for seed germination in hydroponic ? What have to be concern on this method ?

[trippin]

I bet you could use aquatic soil as well, like fluval stratum. I bet it would ultimately be less messy(just by its appearance) than soil, but im not sure since ive never worked with it.

[Battlemnk]

Having low germination & slow growth with Oasis XL cubes. Not sure why.

Previously been using rapid rooter peat plug for a long time and they work very well.

[alyssarossnagelschear]

Interesting note about fish water. What about coco coir/husk? Thanks

[tkx]

Do I have to fold the rockwool over on the seeds? I have no medium to fill the holes after putting the seeds in or will they be fine. Thank you for the information mate.

[billdelaney]

Does rockwool pose a threat for root rot in a leaky system

[Санчес-ят]

Please tell me about perlite. How to germinate seeds in it?

[yancydulin]

I'm just getting into growing but I know you can cut the costs of the rockwool by buying the actual rockwool insulation and cutting the cubes yourself .. .

[marygreen]

I use paper towel method to germinate seed first and then transplant to rockwool.