Results 1 to 6 of 6
  1. #1
    Just an Egg
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Castle Hill, NSW
    Posts
    38

    Rockwool on Plant Roots. Good or bad?

    Hi Folks,

    Just wondering what impact rockwool may have on water quality. I purchased some plants a few weeks ago and they came wrapped in that rockwool stuff. The roots were so imbedded that I thought i would do less damage to just leave the rockwool on. I have planted in to clay pots with gravel substrate.

    Can the rockwool have any impact on my water quality? Should i dig them out and remove the rockwool?

    I have not noticed any impact, but just thought the other day, maybe it was not a good idea to leave it on.

    Any thoughts? Thank you.

  2. #2
    Free Swimmer
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Am I supposed to be somewhere???
    Posts
    422
    Ok....

    So I googled "rockwool" and the only thing that I could find that pointed to a "negative" is as follows......

    pH PROBLEMS - Rockwool has a high pH which means you have to adjust your nutrient solution low so that the root zone is neutral. Rockwool is also susceptible to pH shifts meaning a bit more routine maintenance to keep the pH levels correct.
    ( courtesy of http://www.simplyhydro.com/growing3.htm )

    If it were me.....

    I think that I would err on the side of caution and remove the "rockwool", but that is just MHO.

    HTH
    "I am not the chicken plucker. I am the chicken pluckers son, and I'll be plucking chickens till the chicken plucker comes!"

  3. #3
    Just an Egg
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Castle Hill, NSW
    Posts
    38
    Thanks Fishpimpin,

    I think i will remove it just in case.

  4. #4
    Free Swimmer
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Am I supposed to be somewhere???
    Posts
    422
    NP

    'tis what we do!
    "I am not the chicken plucker. I am the chicken pluckers son, and I'll be plucking chickens till the chicken plucker comes!"

  5. #5
    Moderator
    Join Date
    Feb 2004
    Location
    Mulgrave, Melbourne
    Posts
    2,047
    Never heard of it before, intresting...

    Scott AKA - Flukes

  6. #6
    Moderator kalebjarrod's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Tamborine, Farm Boy
    Posts
    2,478
    Rock wool is a product you use in the prop of plants

    it is meant to be inert but this raley happens

    it also has no nutrient holding capacity, better to have a clay based substrate around the root ball to allow great "cation exchange" (the ability to hold nutrients and relaise them back upon demand)

    the rock wool will do nil for growth

    somthing like eco complete would be best if you can lay your hands on it
    RYAN --- DIY ROCKS!

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •