Pre-Soaking Rockwool Cubes In Alkaline Water Ok.?

Hello and good afternoon! I am attempting to plant a few Skunk#1 seeds into 1.5" rockwool cubes. I currently have the rockwool cubes soaking in Alkaline water(8.0) pH'd to 5.5-5.6.., will this be ok? After the 24 hours of pre-soaking rockwool cubes, I plan on rinsing off the remaining gum and gunk with distilled water with a pH of 6.0. Before placing seeds into rockwool cubes, I plan on spin drying the cubes with a bucket to remove excess moisture. Anything else I might have missed? Thanks in advance for any and all information you may provide.

That sounds good. It's what you do next that will matter

Sounds great, I'm glad to see someone reading up on Preparation before they get started.
I soak my airstones and hydroton too in pHed water.

I would say don't spin dry them. Just shake off the excess water. You should not have much "gum or muck".

An Ounce of prevention is worth a ton of cure!

Thanks to all who have responded so far. Ok, I will just trying shaking excess water off lightly. I will be dropping seeds into rockwool sometime between 8pm and 9pm pacific time. At that time, seeds will have been soaking in distilled water for 24 hours, and rockwool cubes as well. I am still uncertain whether to buy a new heat mat to place under tray. I bought a commercial heat mat and it hasn't worked out so well with it in the past. Gets way to hot! Any suggestions?

I use a homemade small DWC with a small fish tank heater in it.

Oh, no light on your seed until it has "sprouted"! They like darkness, until they realize they have reached the surface.

Best of luck.

Cool. Thanks StreetRider.

Texian said:

Thanks to all who have responded so far. Ok, I will just trying shaking excess water off lightly. I will be dropping seeds into rockwool sometime between 8pm and 9pm pacific time. At that time, seeds will have been soaking in distilled water for 24 hours, and rockwool cubes as well. I am still uncertain whether to buy a new heat mat to place under tray. I bought a commercial heat mat and it hasn't worked out so well with it in the past. Gets way to hot! Any suggestions?

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I soked my seeds 24 hours and they sprouted the very next day.

That heat matt is a waste.

Ok Roseman, thanks. I will not worry about it any longer. You obviously know what you are talking about. Good looking out.

If you are cloning or sprouting in a cool environment then a heat pad/mat will help. If you temps are mid 70's then you should not NEED one.

Ok StreetRider, got it. I live in the desert, but believe it or not, it gets cold at night during this time of year. My house temperature is 74. I placed a small oscilating heater inside room, set it on 78, and closed the door to the room to contain the heat. The closet door is shut, where I keep my seedlings, so the heat enters through the bottom of the door and rises up.