Soaking rockwool before using...

I had a seedling and it started off looking real good then it started to look real bad.

I read on another post that you should soak your rockwool overnight before using. If you don't your PH will climb and keep climbing. I am using a hydroponic setup constanly monitoring my PH and did notice my PH climbing.

The leaves on the seedling which stands about 1 inch tall are all dried up. I am using 2 26W 6500K CFL's.

You think this might be that cause?

I have one more seed and am going to do journal on it here cause it is my last seed and it can't die on me.


Thanks for your advice on this pre-soaking rockwool thing.

I soak rockwool cubes in ph adjusted nutrient solution, for about 20 minutes before I use them. I never have a problem. I don't even think that the 20 minutes is really necessary, but I can't say for sure until I've actually tried it.

As for the seedling, a photograph and description of your setup would help a lot.

flogger said:

I had a seedling and it started off looking real good then it started to look real bad.

I read on another post that you should soak your rockwool overnight before using. If you don't your PH will climb and keep climbing. I am using a hydroponic setup constanly monitoring my PH and did notice my PH climbing.

The leaves on the seedling which stands about 1 inch tall are all dried up. I am using 2 26W 6500K CFL's.

You think this might be that cause?

I have one more seed and am going to do journal on it here cause it is my last seed and it can't die on me.

Thanks for your advice on this pre-soaking rockwool thing.

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Yes you should soak it in ph balanced water.Ph climbing is a problem if you do not start with a low enough ph.I have found that starting my ph at 5.1-5.2 will keep it from going over 6.8-7.0 after two weeks when i change my water.Trying to start at 6.8 will work you to death trying to keep it at 6.8.
I never put my seedlings into my hydro system till the roots are growing outside of the cubes.Even then i hand water the plants with water from the tub till i see them growing out of the pot in the system.There will not be enough moisture to roots if you do not do this.I almost lost my first grow in hydro due to this.OPH

old pothead said:

Yes you should soak it in ph balanced water.Ph climbing is a problem if you do not start with a low enough ph.I have found that starting my ph at 5.1-5.2 will keep it from going over 6.8-7.0 after two weeks when i change my water.Trying to start at 6.8 will work you to death trying to keep it at 6.8.
I never put my seedlings into my hydro system till the roots are growing outside of the cubes.Even then i hand water the plants with water from the tub till i see them growing out of the pot in the system.There will not be enough moisture to roots if you do not do this.I almost lost my first grow in hydro due to this.OPH

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Old Pothead:
Man you are right. I started two seedlings using rockwool in a hydro system. They initially looked great and then a few days later they looked all dried up. I just had my second one yesterday do this to me. You are right, there isnt enough moisture getting to the roots. Aside from the pre-soaking the cubes, your statement about the roots not getting enough moisture initally has made me realize I need a different approach. Thanks for your comments.

Psychopassive said:

I soak rockwool cubes in ph adjusted nutrient solution, for about 20 minutes before I use them. I never have a problem. I don't even think that the 20 minutes is really necessary, but I can't say for sure until I've actually tried it.

As for the seedling, a photograph and description of your setup would help a lot.

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Just about every video or tek I've read about rockwool has said to do this!

To the OP...Granted I am a noobie (so you may want to take what I have to say as a grain of salt) and I'm not familiar with how old your plants are and how developed their root's are...but from what I've read and seen Jorge Cervantes do in your situation (rockwool/other growing medium with increasing PH) do is he recommends Flushing your system with either straight water or a 5% nutrient system. I really can't see how this would harm anything more than all those built up salts and nutrients that are fucking with your plants. Heres a clip with Jorge's solutions to the problem...(just so you don't think I pulled that info out of my ass)... http://tr.youtube.com/watch?v=ZE8Wt2fJe8U&feature=related