Hydroton vs Cocopeat for Ebb & Flow.

Hey guys,

Currently I am using 100% Canna Coco for my Ebb n Flow set up. I have been reading around a lot and it seems that a lot of people prefer growrox (hydroton) over pure cocopeat because it is less mess and the hydroton also dries quicker allowing for more flood.

I have never grown in hydroton before so I am not sure if what I have been reading is correct, can any of you guys confirm this?

Also with coco I notice that I could have a really low flood in my table because the coco and wick all the water with nutes all the way to the top of the pot. I am doing 4 floods a day (15 min / flood) in veg w/ 24 hour light.

My question is that how good is hydroton and wicking, if I use hydroton would I have to flood almost to the top of the container of can I still get away with flooding 1.5in for a 6in square container with a height of 6 inches.

Anyhow the bottom line, which of the two do you guys prefer and why.

thank you fellers.

Anyone out there with some input.

what is hydrotron like rockwool?

hydroton is clay rocks or pellets. i tried the mats but had to much root rot from them retaining to much water. i haven't tried the crouton in a pot...maybe next time. I have great luck with the hydoton and no ph flux. i water 4 times 15 mins to a little over hlafway up the pots using 4x4 e/f trays.

i just use rock wool till roots grow through it an flood the whole thing then i change the hieght of my overflow pipe so the rockwool aint getting saturated flood every 2 hours works a treat

im in 4th week of first grow going to flower in 2 days

guitarzan420 said:

hydroton is clay rocks or pellets. i tried the mats but had to much root rot from them retaining to much water. i haven't tried the crouton in a pot...maybe next time. I have great luck with the hydoton and no ph flux. i water 4 times 15 mins to a little over hlafway up the pots using 4x4 e/f trays.

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Thanks mate.

Quick question, so you flood halfway up the pot, does the water travel wick up to the rocks that are above the water level, do they get wet.

Sorry if my questions are annoying, i have never grown in hydroton before.

jzs147 said:

i just use rock wool till roots grow through it an flood the whole thing then i change the hieght of my overflow pipe so the rockwool aint getting saturated flood every 2 hours works a treat

im in 4th week of first grow going to flower in 2 days

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thanks for your input mate. For a SOG all the rockwool can get quite expensive

hmmm yeah pebbles are nice and cheap. i might try 3 plants in pebbles and 3 in rockwool next time see how i go.

with my system as soon as the roots grow through net pots i dnt let my second tub get flooded to the point that the rock wool is getting wet. just flood the tub so the roots getting wet seems to work and i have noticed i go through less nutes

I have six Hawaiian Konas under a 250 w HPS in a 2 x 4 table full of hydroton.. They are doing great! 2.5 weeks into flower. Mamma was sprouted in rockwool and is also in hydroton.. I vegged the kona clones in 4 inch rockwool! DO IT!!

I am watering 3 x a day for 30 minutes.. I have a 4 inch riser on the ebb & flow drain.. I would suggest filling more than 1.5 ". The hydroton seems to evaporate fluid faster, so give them a good soaking!