what can I use instead of rockwool

I can't find any rockwool locally. Can I put seedlings directly into lava rock? I am afraid of damaging the wee seedling Is there anything else that I can use that is easily obtained?
I will have a 2 plant stealth cabinet grow with DWC and CFL's.
I only got 5 seeds from the best outdoor I grew this season and I started them in papertowel earlier today and then found out that I am missing the rockwool.

The cabinet isnt finished obviously, I plan on adding mylar and a muffler for the inline fan I hope to be done the cabinet monday night and I will be posting pics of both the cabinet and the grow on this site.

Please help me

I use peat pellets...you can find them everywhere..walmart etc....or you can put the germed sprout directly in your soil in a pot.

use potting soil

Thanks for the response but I'm using a DWC or bubbler hydro system with lava rock

You should paint your box black so that no light gets in...

You can use a piece of good sponge like they sell for car washing. I would cut a vertical slit in to the center to open up a root channel. The ones with large pores are better.

Illegal Smile said:

You can use a piece of good sponge like they sell for car washing. I would cut a vertical slit in to the center to open up a root channel. The ones with large pores are better.

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Thanks for the great idea, I've seen your posts before, always great. The seeds thank you, as do I.

beautiful, I never thought about a sponge.