4" Rockwool cube questions

[Ganjohn420]

Hi there everyone, I have a couple questions about 4" rockwool cubes, first I was wondering how big I can veg a plant in it before it needs to be transplanted? They will be on flood tables and I've been told they can easily be 4 foot, but I'm concerned about the roots. Also can anyone give me some advice on transplanting the vegged plants in the cube into 2 gallon ebb and gro buckets with expanded clay? I've seen something about just planting the bottom inch or two below the flood line. Will it be a problem if half the cube dries out above the flood line? I feel like this is a better idea than what I've been doing which is planting the whole cube under the clay level with the top of the bucket. And should I not water for a day or two to let the roots search? Any advice is appreciated!

 

[medicalmj]

Hi there everyone, I have a couple questions about 4" rockwool cubes, first I was wondering how big I can veg a plant in it before it needs to be transplanted? They will be on flood tables and I've been told they can easily be 4 foot, but I'm concerned about the roots. Also can anyone give me some advice on transplanting the vegged plants in the cube into 2 gallon ebb and gro buckets with expanded clay? I've seen something about just planting the bottom inch or two below the flood line. Will it be a problem if half the cube dries out above the flood line? I feel like this is a better idea than what I've been doing which is planting the whole cube under the clay level with the top of the bucket. And should I not water for a day or two to let the roots search? Any advice is appreciated!

Flood table: When the plants get that big they can get quite a mass of roots. So be sure to flood several times per day AND make sure you have a good draining table, no standing water after drain.
Buckets: I always planted them high, lol. And high enough so that only about 1/2 (or less) of cube is beneath flood line. I top watered daily until roots were established. This can be automated but be sure the pump for top feed does not come on during flood cycle, or you'll have a flood. The solution will collect in the controller and be pumped back to main res.

 

[Grow4Flow]

i veg in 6" hugo blocks until they are about 2' tall and bushy then i sit them right on top of my greentrees buckets full of hydrocorn, you don't need to bury them at all, just flood to the top of the clay balls and the roots will work their way down in a day or two.

 

[tenthirty]

I veg for 10 days or 6" tall and they end up about 2 feet tall.(sog)
Also they get watered every other day. Think wet/dry cycles.

If you are not top feeding, the cubes will get salt buildup. Less is more!!
I flush with .6 EC at the 30 day mark and feed the last 30 days at .9-.6 EC.

Get one of the growdan needles to test the cubes.

If the plant gets too big it can fall over. (not good)

 

[Ganjohn420]

Flood table: When the plants get that big they can get quite a mass of roots. So be sure to flood several times per day AND make sure you have a good draining table, no standing water after drain.
Buckets: I always planted them high, lol. And high enough so that only about 1/2 (or less) of cube is beneath flood line. I top watered daily until roots were established. This can be automated but be sure the pump for top feed does not come on during flood cycle, or you'll have a flood. The solution will collect in the controller and be pumped back to main res.

Thanks mj, so after the roots have established in the ton it is safe to discontinue top watering and is it safe to let the cube dry out after i have good roots in the ton? I just want to be sure

 

[Ganjohn420]

i veg in 6" hugo blocks until they are about 2' tall and bushy then i sit them right on top of my greentrees buckets full of hydrocorn, you don't need to bury them at all, just flood to the top of the clay balls and the roots will work their way down in a day or two.

Thanks Grow, when you put your blocks in there are they pretty well moist still?

 

[Ganjohn420]

I veg for 10 days or 6" tall and they end up about 2 feet tall.(sog)
Also they get watered every other day. Think wet/dry cycles.

If you are not top feeding, the cubes will get salt buildup. Less is more!!
I flush with .6 EC at the 30 day mark and feed the last 30 days at .9-.6 EC.

Get one of the growdan needles to test the cubes.

If the plant gets too big it can fall over. (not good)

Thanks 1030, hoQ Mny cubes do you do in a sog? i have a few 3'x6' tables if i were to do rw would you pack the table full or leave space? and whats the yeild per one usually run? Im planing on doing an 82 sog but with 5 inch pots and expanded clay so i dont have to get rid of all the rw, but i was gonna go from clone to flower. is that basically what you do besides the 10 day veg? Sorry for not multi quoting these, i just saw the button for it

 

[LyryC]

Hi there everyone, I have a couple questions about 4" rockwool cubes, first I was wondering how big I can veg a plant in it before it needs to be transplanted? They will be on flood tables and I've been told they can easily be 4 foot, but I'm concerned about the roots. Also can anyone give me some advice on transplanting the vegged plants in the cube into 2 gallon ebb and gro buckets with expanded clay? I've seen something about just planting the bottom inch or two below the flood line. Will it be a problem if half the cube dries out above the flood line? I feel like this is a better idea than what I've been doing which is planting the whole cube under the clay level with the top of the bucket. And should I not water for a day or two to let the roots search? Any advice is appreciated!

Hey man! Welcome to ICMag! You'll love it here - I do.

Rockwool is hydro - you should be watering EVERY day ESPECIALLY in bloom(12/12) if not feeding more than once a day.

When you water you hear this snap crackle pop - like rice crispies right after you pour milk into your bowl.

You don't need or want a dry period - this causes stress on your plants and restricts them from valuable time to create energy/food for themselves which is your yield ultimately.

You can flower in the 4x4x4 cubes but I would flower from clone for sativas/longer flowering strains. I'd veg for maybe 2 weeks tops to allow for roots to establish themselves.

Just look under the cube at hte roots and you'll be able to tell when they need to be transplanted - but realize these roots can stay put as is and used that way - but I advise to allow the plant to have a large root mass - will boost yield and contribute to better health.

For transplanting just stick the cube in the net pot then add the hydroton. For something even easier just buy hugoes(6x6x6) or Big Mamas (8x8x8) and literally just put the 4" cube ontop of the other cube - of course after proper preparation/charging the cube.

Its also a good idea to try and not move the plants for atleast 3 weeks to have really strong roots settled in.

As for planting into rock wool - I would water only once the first week - or until its dry - then water even if its wet to refresh the medium/get oxygen to move around. After 2 weeks you should be seeing roots on the bottom of your 4" cubes and thats the beauty of rockwool - u can just pick that shit up and throw it across the room lol!

Ask away buddy - i'll try and help my best!

 

[medicalmj]

Thanks mj, so after the roots have established in the ton it is safe to discontinue top watering and is it safe to let the cube dry out after i have good roots in the ton? I just want to be sure

It's basically making sure you get some thick callous cord roots in the cube before you can began to let it dry out. Depending where the flood line is the cube may still wick up some moisture, but as tenthirty mentioned the cube can also build up salt. You could simply take a pitcher and scoop out some nutes from the res and pour over the cubes every couple or few days and you'll be fine until they develop enough to let them dry out.

With smaller plants you may never get em to that point where you can let the cube really dry out. But if you're growing some large ones they should develop big enough cord roots in the cube to let them dry out.

 

[Ganjohn420]

Hey man! Welcome to ICMag! You'll love it here - I do.

Rockwool is hydro - you should be watering EVERY day ESPECIALLY in bloom(12/12) if not feeding more than once a day.

When you water you hear this snap crackle pop - like rice crispies right after you pour milk into your bowl.

You don't need or want a dry period - this causes stress on your plants and restricts them from valuable time to create energy/food for themselves which is your yield ultimately.

You can flower in the 4x4x4 cubes but I would flower from clone for sativas/longer flowering strains. I'd veg for maybe 2 weeks tops to allow for roots to establish themselves.

Just look under the cube at hte roots and you'll be able to tell when they need to be transplanted - but realize these roots can stay put as is and used that way - but I advise to allow the plant to have a large root mass - will boost yield and contribute to better health.

For transplanting just stick the cube in the net pot then add the hydroton. For something even easier just buy hugoes(6x6x6) or Big Mamas (8x8x8) and literally just put the 4" cube ontop of the other cube - of course after proper preparation/charging the cube.

Its also a good idea to try and not move the plants for atleast 3 weeks to have really strong roots settled in.

As for planting into rock wool - I would water only once the first week - or until its dry - then water even if its wet to refresh the medium/get oxygen to move around. After 2 weeks you should be seeing roots on the bottom of your 4" cubes and thats the beauty of rockwool - u can just pick that shit up and throw it across the room lol!

Ask away buddy - i'll try and help my best!

Thanks for the welcome man, i do love it here i have much studying to do that's for sure!!
I was watering the rw everyday but it seems to get too soggy, they stay pretty heavy with the once a day watering is this normal?
In your opinion would you let the plants get 3 feet tall in the 4x4s then transplant to an ebb and gro 2 gallon with hydroton for flower? my friend swears by this method with 7 foot plants under some 600s

It's basically making sure you get some thick callous cord roots in the cube before you can began to let it dry out. Depending where the flood line is the cube may still wick up some moisture, but as tenthirty mentioned the cube can also build up salt. You could simply take a pitcher and scoop out some nutes from the res and pour over the cubes every couple or few days and you'll be fine until they develop enough to let them dry out.

With smaller plants you may never get em to that point where you can let the cube really dry out. But if you're growing some large ones they should develop big enough cord roots in the cube to let them dry out.

Thanks mj, the plan is for bigger plants so i hope ill be alright to let them dry out eventually, should i wait a while before flipping to 12/12 after transplanting them?

 

[medicalmj]

Thanks for the welcome man, i do love it here i have much studying to do that's for sure!!
I was watering the rw everyday but it seems to get too soggy, they stay pretty heavy with the once a day watering is this normal?
In your opinion would you let the plants get 3 feet tall in the 4x4s then transplant to an ebb and gro 2 gallon with hydroton for flower? my friend swears by this method with 7 foot plants under some 600s



Thanks mj, the plan is for bigger plants so i hope ill be alright to let them dry out eventually, should i wait a while before flipping to 12/12 after transplanting them?

Immediatly after watering the ratio is 80% solution, 15% air and 5% RW. There's enough air in the media for awesome root growth. So frequency is not an issue.

My question is why can't you top feed once and a while?

I will say that once you get these really big the entire cube will be thick callous cord roots that really don't need water. But until then try and keep it moist.

Last, unless you're doing a vert grow 7 foot plants are a waste. You will get nothing valuable below a couple feet in the canopy and that's w a 1k. Instead try scrogging them and keeping them under a couple feet until flower. Then let them grow straight up. You'll have about a 3-4 foot plant with much less larf.

 

[Ganjohn420]

Immediatly after watering the ratio is 80% solution, 15% air and 5% RW. There's enough air in the media for awesome root growth. So frequency is not an issue.

My question is why can't you top feed once and a while?

I will say that once you get these really big the entire cube will be thick callous cord roots that really don't need water. But until then try and keep it moist.

Last, unless you're doing a vert grow 7 foot plants are a waste. You will get nothing valuable below a couple feet in the canopy and that's w a 1k. Instead try scrogging them and keeping them under a couple feet until flower. Then let them grow straight up. You'll have about a 3-4 foot plant with much less larf.

Alright I'm going to start watering once a day again, and i can definitely top feed every now and again i'm just trying to minimize my room for error.
I also thought that 7 foot plants would be a loss, but im going to give it a shot just to appease all parties involved. i would love to scrog them but am unable to veg in the flower room due to a heat issue, and a new a/c is another drop away at the moment.
Do you think it would be beneficial to lollipop or top the larger plants that way i can keep everyone happy and try to avoid the fluff?

 

[medicalmj]

Alright I'm going to start watering once a day again, and i can definitely top feed every now and again i'm just trying to minimize my room for error.
I also thought that 7 foot plants would be a loss, but im going to give it a shot just to appease all parties involved. i would love to scrog them but am unable to veg in the flower room due to a heat issue, and a new a/c is another drop away at the moment.
Do you think it would be beneficial to lollipop or top the larger plants that way i can keep everyone happy and try to avoid the fluff?

Since you have others to contend with I'd do a mild lollipop. Maybe leave a little more on than a true lollipop. But yes, definitely clean up the under brush. I found that unruly under growth hinders air flow, creates a mess (dead leaves)during flower, there are no real buds, and you get no net increase in yield.

 

[rbt]

A few questions for the forum. A newbie for sure. I am in to a EBB and Flow system 4'x4' cubes. I sprouted in a bark cubes and then in to rockwool. watering 2 times a day for 5 minutes, fill to half cube. I noticed that my PH sees to be climbing and my nuts are climbing as well. only been running this for a week now. Also I seen where have cut 6x6 cubes in half and set the 4" on top of the half to root has this been successful. I plan to scrogg so I don't think falling over would be an issue but I can be wrong