substitute for rockwool? No hydroponics stores near me.

Igabod

Igabod

Member
I'm a very unfortunate being in that there are no stores near me which carry rockwool cubes or any other hydroponic gear for that matter. I'm attempting a DWC setup and have most of my materials collected but I'm unable to find ANY rockwool cubes or anybody that has even heard of rockwool before. The latter surprised the hell out of me when I went to a nursery and the owner of the nursery had never heard of it or stonewool.

Anyway, the question is, is there any substitute I can use for rockwool in a DWC setup? The only thing I can think of that is even similar is that green foam crap you see fake flowers stuck in all the time but I'm pretty sure this wouldn't work.

Please help! I'm eager to get this hydro grow started and this is the last obstacle.
 
Igabod

Igabod

Member
agent11475 said:
https://www.rollitup.org/hydroponics-aeroponics/45218-rockwool-cube-substitute.html

https://www.rollitup.org/hydroponics-aeroponics/275661-substitute-rockwool.html

https://www.rollitup.org/newbie-central/219856-there-another-substitute-rockwool-cubes.html

i dont want to be an ass but did you search before asking
Click to expand...

I didn't search, but even if I had those really didn't help me much. I can't have hydro gear mailed to me without angering the police who lives with me. I have to sneak it in. So ordering online isn't an option.

As for the jiffy pellets, those will fall apart in a DWC chamber will they not? If you're not familiar with DWC it means the growing medium and roots will be suspended in a bucket of water.

One of those threads linked by agent11475 mentioned using a sponge. Could I get some confirmation on this? Does this work?
 
tymtpunk

tymtpunk

Well-Known Member
I started one in Jiffy, but lava rocks impeded the roots, the pellet was just fine though. I am in the same situation, no hydro shops for hundreds of miles. Even if the pellet does disintegrate, you can just add more medium to compensate. Jiffys were my choice after researching your same dilemma.
 
A

agent11475

Active Member
i have seen people chop up a sponge into squares and then use it like hydroton kinda like a cross between hydroton and rockwool. the only problem is that sponges are organic and can grow mold and other nasty stuff. how do you plan on getting away with a bubbler if you cant even receive mail at your current location? what are you going to do about the smell?
 
dam612

dam612

Well-Known Member
Igabod said:
I can't have hydro gear mailed to me without angering the police who lives with me. I have to sneak it in.
Click to expand...
If you cant get a package what makes u think u can grow w/o getting caught?? Kinda stupid to grow with a cop around if you ask me
 
Igabod

Igabod

Member
agent11475 said:
i have seen people chop up a sponge into squares and then use it like hydroton kinda like a cross between hydroton and rockwool. the only problem is that sponges are organic and can grow mold and other nasty stuff. how do you plan on getting away with a bubbler if you cant even receive mail at your current location? what are you going to do about the smell?
Click to expand...
So if I use polymer based sponges I should be fine? I don't have to worry about the smell or anything like that, she doesn't care that I smoke weed. She just doesn't want to have it growing in the same house she lives in cause she's paranoid like that. Plus there are plenty of methods to cut down the smell.

I can get ahold of expanded clay pellets, would just putting the seed in a bed of this work? I didn't think it would but I'm open to try it.

dam612 said:
If you cant get a package what makes u think u can grow w/o getting caught?? Kinda stupid to grow with a cop around if you ask me
Click to expand...
Fortunately nobody asked you to voice your opinion as to the intelligence of my decision. I don't need rude comments like this. How about next time you see a question from me you just answer the question and leave it at that. Or just don't say anything at all, cause your insults are less than useful.

p.s. no I do mean an actual cop.
 
Igabod

Igabod

Member
could I just germinate in a jiffy pellet and then carefully remove all of the jiffy crap by soaking in a cup of water for a moment then put the seedling directly into the clay pellets?
 
dam612

dam612

Well-Known Member
wow dude way to get all hostile. Just not everyday you find a cop whos cool with you growing as long as you dont get rockwool delivered to your house.
 
Igabod

Igabod

Member
dam612 said:
wow dude way to get all hostile. Just not everyday you find a cop whos cool with you growing as long as you dont get rockwool delivered to your house.
Click to expand...

I only get hostile when insulted for no reason. You could have expressed the same sentiment without the insult like the guy who posted before you. And like I said, she's not cool with it growing, just with me smoking it.
 
Igabod

Igabod

Member
agent11475 said:
i would try to germinate in a papertowel and then place the root with some moist papertowl into the expanded clay pellets inside your net and then pray

edit: there are people who start plants in soil then transfer them to hydroponic, never done it but its a thought

edit2: http://forum.grasscity.com/indoor-growing/375421-transfer-soil-hydroponics.html
Click to expand...
Awesome, thank you for your patience and for lending me your google skills which are obviously superior to my own. +rep for you.
 
DrSooS

DrSooS

Member
Igabod said:
So if I use polymer based sponges I should be fine? I don't have to worry about the smell or anything like that, she doesn't care that I smoke weed. She just doesn't want to have it growing in the same house she lives in cause she's paranoid like that. Plus there are plenty of methods to cut down the smell.

I can get ahold of expanded clay pellets, would just putting the seed in a bed of this work? I didn't think it would but I'm open to try it.



Fortunately nobody asked you to voice your opinion as to the intelligence of my decision. I don't need rude comments like this. How about next time you see a question from me you just answer the question and leave it at that. Or just don't say anything at all, cause your insults are less than useful.

p.s. no I do mean an actual cop.
Click to expand...
As with 99% of the forums on the web , when you ask a question you will always get more questions and comments than you will answers. I think its because some people just have to write SOMETHING and since they dont have an intelligent answer they just spout off about anything. I always add a comment to my questions stating that I am not interested in personal OPINION. Nor dose anyone need to ask "WHY" I want to do what I am asking. But until society in general can stop being so damn nosey about shit then we will juat have to suffer through it.
Whatever reason you have for not wanting certain things mailed to you is your business and should not concern anyone else....


I have used sponge before, any time you have moisture and air you have potential for molds and the like to grow so this is not just limited to sponges. Just keep an eye on things and keep em clean, clean clean. you should be fine. Good luck to ya.
 
DrSooS

DrSooS

Member
DrSooS said:
As with 99% of the forums on the web , when you ask a question you will always get more questions and comments than you will answers. I think its because some people just have to write SOMETHING and since they dont have an intelligent answer they just spout off about anything. I always add a comment to my questions stating that I am not interested in personal OPINION. Nor dose anyone need to ask "WHY" I want to do what I am asking. But until society in general can stop being so damn nosey about shit then we will juat have to suffer through it.
Whatever reason you have for not wanting certain things mailed to you is your business and should not concern anyone else....


I have used sponge before, any time you have moisture and air you have potential for molds and the like to grow so this is not just limited to sponges. Just keep an eye on things and keep em clean, clean clean. you should be fine. Good luck to ya.
Click to expand...
You can also use Floral Foam available at most hobby or floral shops. K-Mart Wal-Mart Lowes. anywhere with a garden or floral center should have it. You may heven already have it in your home if you have any artificial arrangements that you could scavenge from.
 
Jeffdogg

Jeffdogg

Well-Known Member
Fortunately nobody asked you to voice your opinion as to the intelligence of my decision. I don't need rude comments like this. How about next time you see a question from me you just answer the question and leave it at that. Or just don't say anything at all, cause your insults are less than useful.
Click to expand...
Well unfortunately for you this is not a private forum and we all reserve the right to say what we want as long as it dont break RIU's ToS. If you dont like what we say in your threads then simply stop making them problem solved. Either that or just go to a new forum cause people here and gonna say what they say. Just like now..:roll:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top