Just a friendly thought , i use to germ in rockwool , then pull away 90% of the rockwool off, leaving just the little bit around the tap root because I hated rockwool ph problems. This works but very slow at first. Since then I learned hygrozyme conditions rockwool(or plugs) perfect (per label ). So now I use ethier rockwool or spongy plugs from hydro guy. Put them into hempy with only clay pebbles . This gives far faster initial growth. Also use root boost. Next grow Im going to seperate the small pebbles and use them right under the plug (or small chunks of plugs or rw or perlite).