Hello GC, I am doing my first indoor grow, with a hydro system, and rockwool. So far, things are going well. I am at day 20, and roots are just starting to poke out the bottom. It may be late to ask this question, but here we go. Q: What watering schedule does rockwool use to avoid root rot? Thanks to all answers, Eu4ik"
Rockwool is pretty hard to over water.... It reserves about 19% room for air i.e oxygen..... I keep mine damp to the touch at all times and water it until a little drips out of the bottom... This has been working for me now for about 4 weeks.....
I agree with GrowingGold15. Only way to overwater rockwool is the keep it continually in water. you dont want it soaking wet, just moist and never dry.
Honestly it depends on what kind of system you're running. I use bubble bucket DWC w/ hydroton and once my roots drop into the water i stop watering the rock wool. The roots will keep it moist through osmosis once they can reach the water level of your rez as long as you have an airstone and pump in the rez for oxygenating your nute solution. Now for Drip systems in buckets you should keep on 15-30 min every 2 hours, make sure you continually top off solution with water, otherwise the salt build up can get ridiculuos fast! Aeroponic is self-explanatory with the cycle timer 1min on for every five off. Hope this helps to clarify a bit.
It's not dripping wet, but if I pick a cube up, and squeeze it, it drips. I have a drip system, and I was running it no where near that amount.. I think I did see salt all over, but wasn't sure what it was!
I use rockwool, and i would recommend getting some of those white covers to go on top, so the light won't hit the damp rockwool and cause algae. if you don't you'll get junk on the top of them and get it growing in your rez. when my plants are just hitting the veg. stage, I put them on 1 minute drip feeding schedule every 4 hours, and when they get bigger and that schedule doesn't keep them moist, I up the min. per feeding. good luck!
D- Thanks for the advice, next time i visit a hydro shop I'll look for some white covers Bob- I liked the chart, and saved it for future reference. thanks!