Please show me your biggest plant grown in rockwool and the form of rockwool you used.

Below, from right to left, is 1) a uni-slab, 2) an 8"x8"x8" big mama (I'd sliced in half), and 3) a 5-gallon fabric grow bag I've filled with chunks of rockwool (i.e., ripped up blocks and uni-slabs). I've also used 6"x6"x6" delta blocks, and smaller blocks for seeds/clones. Going forward, I think I'll just buy big bags of rockwool chunks once a clone is large enough to be transplanted for the remainder of vegetation.

If you use rockwool, which form do you prefer for consistent replication of successfully growing large plants yielding at least 4 oz/plant (slab, block, combo of slab and block, or chunks)?

It's been hit & miss for me, so I'm trying to reduce the variability.

Just to keep things interesting, here's some not fully trimmed Cherry Pound Cake. Buds were small on that plant -- far too many (thin) branches.
Slight effervescence. Flowering time's 12+ weeks.

morning @Apostatize I would use the solid block and not the individual pieces....I grow hydro DWC and I use a 2 inch rockwool cube in a 3 inch net pot and grow 1 girl in each tote/reservoir

I use 4 inch blocks, ebb and flow.

First grow was the biggest individual plants, also overloaded nutes and burned the fuck out of them. Used coco mats to encourage root growth. Follow up is the single stalk Pineapple Fields in just the tray. Going to try LECA around the cubes at some point.

Tolerance Break said:

I use 4 inch blocks, ebb and flow.

First grow was the biggest individual plants, also overloaded nutes and burned the fuck out of them. Used coco mats to encourage root growth. Follow up is the single stalk Pineapple Fields in just the tray. Going to try LECA around the cubes at some point.

Click to expand...

How many week veg on those?

Midwestflowers420 said:

How many week veg on those?

Click to expand...

6, maybe 8 on the first grow, 2-3 weeks on the PF.

May I ask why 4oz per plant?

pegboy said:

May I ask why 4oz per plant?

Click to expand...

I'll take more than 4. Less than 4 seems like a waste of time. However, I'm aiming for a lolli-popped 4; I don't count the small stuff.

And from being on this website, it seems reasonable to yield 4 oz from a ~2' x 2' canopy (as a reference point, I'd grow larger time-permitting).

Really, I'm interested in achieving repeatable results (like a scientist). With different strains and other variables, results may vary -- 4 oz are like a benchmark or avg. If one strain yields more than 4 oz in 8-9 weeks, I wouldn't mind so much that another, perhaps more interesting, strain takes 12 weeks to yield 4 or less.

In another thread, I'd mentioned that I want a large enough veg space that I can put X number of mature plants in bloom every cycle without having to wait or put them in bloom before reaching a certain size or maturity. Make the most of plant limits (actual or self-imposed).

4x4 on top of a UniSlab Is my protocol.

assuming you have an automated fertigation system, you can grow a large plant in a 4x4 block, 3-4oz easy. But, you’ll need to water it 10x + per day, including overnight (which is not ideal). UniSlab gives me enough media volume to achieve proper overnight dry backs for generative steering and not worry about excessive dry backs, which can permanently reduce the field capacity/moisture holding ability of the rockwool. Plus, the UniSlabs are easy to pick up and move around, something you can’t do with the long slabs.

the downside? Freakin expensive. Starter block into a 4x4 onto a UniSlab is about $8/9 per plant.

Triplefastaction said:

4x4 on top of a UniSlab Is my protocol.

assuming you have an automated fertigation system, you can grow a large plant in a 4x4 block, 3-4oz easy. But, you’ll need to water it 10x + per day, including overnight (which is not ideal). UniSlab gives me enough media volume to achieve proper overnight dry backs for generative steering and not worry about excessive dry backs, which can permanently reduce the field capacity/moisture holding ability of the rockwool. Plus, the UniSlabs are easy to pick up and move around, something you can’t do with the long slabs.

the downside? Freakin expensive. Starter block into a 4x4 onto a UniSlab is about $8/9 per plant.

Click to expand...

Thanks. Agree, expensive. That's another reason why I want bigger plants/higher yield for each plant in rockwool. Two hydro stores that have pretty good prices are 1) Pasadena, CA's Boldly Grow Hydro (BGH) and 2) Grow Green Michigan. BGH sometimes uses another store in Michigan to fill orders. BGH usually gives you a discount if you buy a dozen or so units.

Has anyone mixed rockwool chunks with horticultural sand and clay?

Because drain-to-waste is easier for large numbers of plants than DWC, I'm considering keeping costs down by mixing sand and clay with rockwool chunks.

I buy my cubes in bulk from https://cropking.com.

I would use LICA stones or coco coir pellets if you feel the need. I run SOG and running half of my 4x4 od Tray capacity gives me a lot of weed.

First photo is my current grow with my lights at 50%, plants scrog'ed, below is my last grow, PF, traditional SOG.

Tolerance Break said:

I buy my cubes in bulk from https://cropking.com.

I would use LICA stones or coco coir pellets if you feel the need. I run SOG and running half of my 4x4 od Tray capacity gives me a lot of weed.

Click to expand...

Thanks -- below is what I mean by chunks:

I don't see why it wouldn't work, however I believe LECA can be reused, with a little bit of cleaning, where as rockwool is one and done.

Oh

Tolerance Break said:

I buy my cubes in bulk from https://cropking.com.

I would use LICA stones or coco coir pellets if you feel the need. I run SOG and running half of my 4x4 od Tray capacity gives me a lot of weed.

First photo is my current grow with my lights at 50%, plants scrog'ed, below is my last grow, PF, traditional SOG. View attachment 5312192View attachment 5312193

Click to expand...

that’s a beauty!!

Midwestflowers420 said:

Oh

that’s a beauty!!

Click to expand...

Thank you. I know the new grow is less of an eye popper than the last, but I am so very happy that the leaves aren't burned up and twisted. I am proud of every grow, but that step is one I hang my hat on.

I start my clones and seeds in rockwool and then switch to dwc. The cube never goes away so technically I'm kinda growing in rockwoll soaking in water....

I digress, I thought about doing buckets or pots full of rockwool but the price vs the price of water made it seem pointless to me

Tolerance Break said:

Thank you. I know the new grow is less of an eye popper than the last, but I am so very happy that the leaves aren't burned up and twisted. I am proud of every grow, but that step is one I hang my hat on.

Click to expand...

Oh man both look great I thought it was the same grow

Midwestflowers420 said:

Oh man both look great I thought it was the same grow

Click to expand...

The last grow was Pineapple fields from dynasty. She ran 12+ weeks and I ran the lights a little strong. This grow is Blueberry Muffin from HSC, and I'll be damned if it doesn't smell as advertised!

Tolerance Break said:

The last grow was Pineapple fields from dynasty. She ran 12+ weeks and I ran the lights a little strong. This grow is Blueberry Muffin from HSC, and I'll be damned if it doesn't smell as advertised!

Click to expand...

I like the blueberry favorite strain Bluedream