Hydroponic Gardening DIY

Ok I am really having trouble with growing the bloody seedlings. Once they are about 3-4cm high they start wilting and pretty much die. This pa5rt of the growing process is done in a humidity dome. What else should I do or try as this is getting pretty frustrating.
 
Busy with my own hydroponic system. The building the system is not a problem. What I want to know is does anybody know of a place in pretoria where I can buy fertiliser or maybe mix it myself from various locally supplied combinations.
 
htpc said:
Busy with my own hydroponic system. The building the system is not a problem. What I want to know is does anybody know of a place in pretoria where I can buy fertiliser or maybe mix it myself from various locally supplied combinations.
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Not 100% sure in PTA, JHB has a couple of places. search for 'horticulture' shops
 
Well my biggest problem has simply been getting the seedlings to sprout and grow sufficiently strong enough so that they can be moved over. I just can't get them to to keep growing... They tend to wilt at some point and then it's game over...
 
Zenbaas said:
Well my biggest problem has simply been getting the seedlings to sprout and grow sufficiently strong enough so that they can be moved over. I just can't get them to to keep growing... They tend to wilt at some point and then it's game over...
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As soon as the seeds break surface - remove the dome and make sure they get some sunlight.Allow soil to dry out before watering again.
 
Batista said:
As soon as the seeds break surface - remove the dome and make sure they get some sunlight.Allow soil to dry out before watering again.
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Thank you will try that. Of course at this stage they are not in soil but are in the rockwool which is an inert substance for the most part.

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I was watching some youtube vids and I noticed something about the "rockwool" I have. When these guys wet their rockwool it absorbs the water and doesn't float on the water. The rockwool that I have basically looks like it is hydrophobic as it doesn't absorb any water and floats right on top. This seems to be a major issue to me...? For those of you that use rockwool...does this seem normal..? I ordered this rockwool from proponics.
 
Zenbaas said:
I was watching some youtube vids and I noticed something about the "rockwool" I have. When these guys wet their rockwool it absorbs the water and doesn't float on the water. The rockwool that I have basically looks like it is hydrophobic as it doesn't absorb any water and floats right on top. This seems to be a major issue to me...? For those of you that use rockwool...does this seem normal..? I ordered this rockwool from proponics.
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You got a busted batch of rockwool. i think it was on the shelfs too long. when you soak it in water, it should soak it up like a spunge.
 
Bizkit87 said:
You got a busted batch of rockwool. i think it was on the shelfs too long. when you soak it in water, it should soak it up like a spunge.
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I'll email the guy. He also still owes me the other half that he forgot first time around. :rolleyes:
 
Zenbaas said:
I'll email the guy. He also still owes me the other half that he forgot first time around. :rolleyes:
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*sigh*. Still no reply from supplier.

On a related note where do you guys buy your pH up and pH down from...? Cheapest I've seen locally is from Green thumb hydroponics.
 
Bizkit87 said:
You got a busted batch of rockwool. i think it was on the shelfs too long. when you soak it in water, it should soak it up like a spunge.
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This is the explanation given so far from the supplier :

The brand of Rockwool we use is a South African made product and so does not react the same as the more expensive over seas brand. The rockwool will need a squeeze under water like a sponge to absorb water, this allows the grower to fill the rockwool with water faster than leaving it in water over night.
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Zenbaas said:
This is the explanation given so far from the supplier :
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Test it out, but from personal experience, the rockwool should start absorbing water immediately.

Try it out with 1 or 2 blocks, then if it still doesn't work, ask for a refund
 
Bizkit87 said:
Test it out, but from personal experience, the rockwool should start absorbing water immediately.

Try it out with 1 or 2 blocks, then if it still doesn't work, ask for a refund
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I've tried it with a lot of them. Like I said he says this is how the locally produced rockwool behaves. If you basically "crush" the rockwool under water then it absorbs way more but you literally have to crush it before it absorbs anything..
 
right, all this ph & sponge talk, but what is being grown, has anything grown ?

sounds like it is easier just to grow whatever it may be, using old the skool way
 
grantza said:
right, all this ph & sponge talk, but what is being grown, has anything grown ?

sounds like it is easier just to grow whatever it may be, using old the skool way
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I'm growing some plants in soil as well at the moment. My issue was not being able to get my seedlings to grow sufficiently. Will see how it goes this round. Once they've rooted nicely then it should become much easier.
 
Zenbaas said:
I've tried it with a lot of them. Like I said he says this is how the locally produced rockwool behaves. If you basically "crush" the rockwool under water then it absorbs way more but you literally have to crush it before it absorbs anything..
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Bought some rockwool from the hortishop in JHB today and their rockwool behaves like rockwool should behave...like a sponge.The other rockwool has resulted in a few of my seedlings dying because it doesn't hold moisture properly. For those that have missed it here is another thread with a few growlight DIY things going on :D

Will update this thread once I get everything set up and try to post where I bought most of the things as it can become quite a pain.

EDIT: Does this thread really belong in food,cooking and recipes...?
 
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Zenbaas said:
*sigh*. Still no reply from supplier.

On a related note where do you guys buy your pH up and pH down from...? Cheapest I've seen locally is from Green thumb hydroponics.
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Lol dont waste money on that, use bicarb soda to raise and white vinegar to lower.What ph are you shooting for and what seedlings are you growing at the moment?
 
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