ok dudes ebb and flow/flood

[POTUS]

Hydroton/rock mix.... why I didnt think of that... dudes I'm IN..

potus, where was you when I need ya lol

I was right here. I guess you just didn't know it. hehe

 

[POTUS]

What if some one mixed shredded rockwool and hydroton and made a mixed media... How well you think it would work???

The media you use depends on the conditions the plant needs or if necessary, the materials available. Shredding rockwool might not be such a good idea. The material might get sucked into your pump and harm it. It could become wrapped around the impeller and slow or stall the pump, causing catastrophic failure.

Thanks Potus... So say i want to use a 3' x 3' flood and drain table and i want to grow fresh rooted clones in it... Should i just fill the howl 3'x3 tray with hydroton and place the 3" rockwool blocks evenly threw out? I was thinking i could fit anywhere from 20-25 3" RW blocked clones... This sound right? Or do you have a better solution. You see i was planing to use rockwool like LYFR did... But if i can use hydroton instead it would be easier and cheaper to use in the long run plus i could have moor room for roots to grow and i hope they would grow a little faster than in the rockwool. And let me see if i can answer my own question...
1. Rockwool is good for drip systems, and hydroton is good for flood and drain?? Thanks Potus. I am just trying to gain a little knowledge...

You need to calculate the area needed for each plants canopy. The plant seedlings would have to be spaced accordingly. I cut the top and bottom from a large coffee can with a opener that doesn't leave a sharp edge and then push it into the hydroton. Then scoop out the hydroton, put the rockwool cube into the tray and GENTLY lift the can out of the tray. This allows the hydroton to ease back into the roots and around the seedling without damaging the tender little roots or stem. Then just move it to the next location. In an ebb and flow system, you want the water to drain fast and completely. Rockwool won't allow that. Hydroton will. In drip systems, you want the drip to be wicked into the media evenly to provide even feeding to the roots. Rockwool is very good for this.

I would suggest that the next $80 you have, that you find and buy:

Hydroponic Food Production
by Dr. Howard M. Resh

Publisher: CRC Press
Pub. Date: December 2002
ISBN-13: 9780931231995
568pp
Edition Number: 6th

Dr. Resh's book is considered by many in the field of Hydroponics to be "The Bible of Hydroponics".

The photos alone are worth the price of the book.

While reading this book, you'll have more ideas than Einstein on speed.

After completing the book, you'll fully understand the various forms of Hydroponics, how and why they work.

The 6th edition has many up to date references and methods.

 

[Timmyjg6]

Wow, thank you.... Ill check it out...