Rockwool Grow Media: Get the Information

One of the most popular hydroponic grow medium these days is Rockwool. When you look at the numerous benefits you will perhaps have no more questions about it. It retains moisture perfectly, so there is less chances of a plant remaining under-watered. It retains oxygen absolutely well, so there is less chance of over-watering. The fact that it comes in numerous sizes and shapes makes it suitable to accommodate just about anything you could want to grow. But with these advantages come certain special concerns that every user of rockwool grow media should take into account.

How is rockwool made?

The hydroponics grow medium, rockwool is a man-made mineral fibre. It is created from the rock that is melted and spun until it becomes fibre, much like fiberglass. These are then compacted and shaped into a slabs or smaller cubes depending on what shape wants to be made for the use. The good thing is that the rockwool fiber breaks apart easily and is perfect to be used since the first phase of seedling.

Tip - When breaking apart rockwool slabs or cubes, be sure to wear face protection because these are tiny fibres you’re handling and you do run the risk of ingesting the dust. Rockwool is not a natural material and is therefore not biodegradable.

Here are other special considerations when planning to use rockwool grow media:

· Environmental Concerns: Like it has been mentioned earlier on in the blog that rockwool isn’t really a natural material and doesn’t degrade on its own; therefore, it is not safe for the environment. If you are concerned about these environmental issues, but still want to get the benefits of rockwool in your hydroponic garden, you should try to avoid purchasing new rockwool grow cubes every growing season.

· Health Concerns: One should be extremely cautious when handling rockwool. It can cause irritation to the skin, eyes and the lungs. Even worse is that too much exposure to the skin might as well cause long-term effects. An understanding needs to be drawn towards the fact that skin irritation isn’t caused by any chemical danger in rockwool, but rather it’s physical makeup, much like how wheat or grass might cause irritation upon coming in contact with the skin.

· Ph Problems: Since rockwool is much more alkaline than other media, special adjustments have to be made to the nutrient solution pH to create an ideal pH for the root zone. This becomes a greater problem when multiple grow media are used and maintaining the Ph can be somewhat difficult. Another major problem is that rockwool can also shift its pH balance fairly rapidly, which means you may have to be extra vigilant about regularly checking your pH balances and making necessary adjustments.

· Pre Treatment: Unlike the case of most grow media rockwool needs to be treated before it is used for hydroponics. You should soak it in Ph treated water for about 24 hours before you actually transfer your plants into it. For most people this isn’t really a big concern, it just means you need a bit more labor than it would be needed for other hydroponics grow media.

Whether you’re using rockwool slabs or rockwool grow cubes the thing that you need to be most sure about is your safety – make sure you know exactly how the material is supposed to be used.