Perlite, Rockwool, Coco Peat, Growstones...Which Should You Use and Why?
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- Опубликовано: 27 авг 2024
- There are a TON of different types of hydroponic media out there and sometimes it's tough to know what to use. I've used a bunch in my growing and have collected a lot of reader input as well to make this definitive guide to hydroponic media...enjoy and grow on!
In this video, we cover:
- Perlite
- Rockwool
- Coco coir
- Growstones
- Starter plugs
- And many, many more types of growing media.
IN THIS VIDEO
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I used clay pebbles the first year of my experimenting with hydroponics. Found that the pebbles are not all the same size and many small size pebbles were going thru the holes in the net pots, floating in the water and eventually clogging up the tubes and creating problems in the filters. Also found that pea gravel - about 1/4" to 3/8" stone aggregate, washed and rinsed before the first use, works just as well, and is lot cheaper than clay pebbles. Saw no difference in plant growth between growing in clay pebbles vs. stone aggregate. Also, at the end of the growing season I was able to recover almost 90% of the gravel for reuse, but only about a half of the clay pebbles.
THx good advice
I just got a hydroponics setup for Christmas… I’ve only been growing in raised beds for 3 years. Been following you since I started. And I am so thankful I can come back to these for this new strange hydro garden world lol. Thank you , Kevin!! 💕
I have recently starting Aero Garden to start my seeds and then transfering to my Garden Tower. I discovered after two cycles of getting aphids over taking my plants (indoors) that the peat moss starter plugs I bought were infested in aphid eggs. A warning to everyone! Once you have them its nearly impossible to get rid of. I even at end took all my seedlings and soaked them in soapy water for 20 minutes, then rinsed them well...Today I looked and low and behold my swiss chard wee plant had an aphid. Where there is one there are more!!!! So into the garbage they went. Now praying that the rest are clean!! So moving forward I will bake my peat moss plugs in the oven for 30 minutes!!
It’s impossible to drown your plant in coco coir. It holds water but always has a rough 30% buffer/permeable air pocket.
You can add vermiculite and perlite to aerate further.
I use homemade worm casting for starter plugs. They actually hold together well along with the roots and can be transplanted to net cups with clay pebbles. I will not use coco coir because palm oil, made from both coconuts and palm nuts, is one of the main causes of the wholesale destruction of rainforests in many parts of the world, especially in Indonesia.
how do you make them?
@@bowler8 If you are using 2 inch or smaller net cups, you can just pack the casting in the cups and germinate the seeds directly. Some commercial growers use regular potting mix to start seedlings this way. Don’t let the bottom of the cups touch the nutrient solution. Depending on your conditions, you might have to hand water a few times before the roots will take over. If you are using larger net cups, this method is impractical. I use small 6 cells seedling starter trays and pack them with worm castings. Pack the cells somewhat tightly, like making soil blocks. Transfer the plants to the net cups and hold them in place with clay pebbles when you see roots appear through the bottom. The roots generally will hold the plug together. You can wrap a small piece of paper towel around the plug to keep it together and to keep the castings from migrating into the nutrient solution.
Coconut husk is traditional soil garden 101 actually it’s been used everywhere like wood nuggets. They also mix it in the soil to loosen it and help retaining moisture. It’s also something you can’t live without if you’re into orchids 🥰
Yes, it's fantastic for orchids :)
Couldn't it plug a pump in a hydro system?
@@robinworkman3621
Yes. It would for sure
I was working with some perlite today and was watching the dust and thought mesothelioma from asbestos I believe it is made in the same fashion and basically rocks also..I held my breath
Yeah, always good to wear mask
I am new to gardening and really new to hydroponic gardening. I have been reading and watching a ton on this subject. Your's is the best for learning why things work the way it does. Others just cover how to. Kudos to you. I am building my first DWC in the next few weeks. Will do strawberry.
Moonlight Computing Thanks. Appreciate it, means a lot! What else can I make that will help you?
I have ordered my first DWC bucket and will start using it next week. I have strawberries germinating now. I would like to know more about lighting. I have read about it but not sure if the LED 24w light I purchased for this DWC (1 bucket) will be enough. Also a little unsure about how much nutrients to give and type of nutrients to give.
I’ve found coco core a delight because as with weed letting the plant run dry as in a similar to soil watering schedule is best, that’s for small home tents. This makes the mess factor small. So does never having to touch the grow medium itself instead of adding stuff to dirt which is again dirty. You can learn exactly how much water a pot holds and runs off with zero runoff which is clean and neat. This is perlite adjusted for airation. Taste test reveal you can’t tell which medium soil or dirt the plant came from. it’s the phenotype or individual plant genetic expression that effects most judgment.
really good guide thanks allot, thanks allot, it really helps understanding that a growing media is not just a magical substance sold in grow shops but something you can make if you have excess to coconuts or if your creative make it from sea weed or something .
Totally! Lots of variety, remember you don't HAVE to buy medium - the Earth is full of it ;)
I think people are missing something obvious when it comes to cleaning /sterilizing grow stones and L.E.C.A. Both of those products are made at over 1,500 to 2,500 degrees F. Dry plant matter ignites around 400 to 600 deg F. I hypothesizes that if you put them in a steel can and set that in a hot fire it would burn out any organic mater in the stones while leaving the stones intact. setting them directly on burning charcoal might also work. I am just starting out on hydroponics so when I need to clean some I will give it a try. IMHO its best to not mess around with strong acids out side of a lab and wearing full PPE. They will bite you before you know it.
+Scott S. Please be sure not to do this to any rocks that have been soaking in water (river/creek/beach rocks). When the heat goes up, the water turns to steam and can turn them into bombs. Fortunately no permanent damage.
+Scott S. Precisely what I was thinking. I see all these people using laborious methods using lots of water and fiddling around with potentially hazardous chemicals. I live in South Afrrica, water is a very precious resource here, especially with the big possibility now for a drought. Will give this burning thing a try as well after my first harvest.
Also I would stay away from using Vermeculite. It gets soggy after a few times of watering (drowning the plants).
How do you figure charcoal ash is poisonous? The only way it will have poison would be if the tree grew in soil contaminated with a heavy metal. Mind you I am not talking about the briquettes.
Ash and water makes lye which is very caustic. Wood it's self can make
water very acidic and is used to tan hides. if you get any ash or coals
into the rock you will have to wash them well with water before using
them.
Bullshit, there will be the smallest amount of ash left in the grow stones. The micro grams of ash left would make negligible amounts of sodium and potassium hydroxide. Both highly water soluble. What wood are you talking about. Just how many chemistry classes have you taken?
It's worth trying charcoal chips. When done with them they can be added to the compost. Check out "terra preta". It might be possible to sterilise and . Can be ground down in an old meat grinder with a coarse plate to roughly the size of regular perlite.
I'd be cautious with vermiculite. Some grades can contain asbestos. That might just apply to insulaton. but I'd rather be safe than sorry, especially when there are much better alternatives.
More often then not,- cheaper ones are unfiltered/defected bags and the more exspencive ones are pH controlled
Great info bud!! Just a tip for you should you want to reuse your GrowStone. Soak it in a solution of H202. I would avoid anything under 30% since they add alternative substances to stabilize it. The 30% goes a long way when diluted down to 5 or 3% which is more than enough to kill off any unwanted bacteria.
Thanks for the tip. Food grade h2o2 is definitely the secret hack of sterilization!
I concur! Glad you know about it! Happy gardening!
Back at you!
Yeah, when I took horticulture and did hydroponics back in the 90s, in college, they mixed perlite and vermiculite, and it was always such a hot mess. They also recommend mixing it in with regular potting soil in indoor gardening.
I'm with you on the hot mess description!
For the porous rocks, you can maybe burn it and rinse for reuse. Although I'm a gardening beginner, but rocks and glass stay the same unless the temp is in the thousands (if they were dry when you start burning).
You're right, burning off the root matter would probably help
If you're using hydrotons for a soil medium, definitely DO NOT do that. Microbial health in porous substances is of the upmost importance. If you're looking for a blank canvas or clean slate then fire away
Clay pellets (hydroton) are best. They are clean and reusable. Coco coir vermiculite and perlite will spill everywhere and cause your grow area to get dirty. It minimizes pests like fungal gnats which you’ll get from coco coir.
DWC is best for rapid growth with hydroton. You need a chiller for best results but can use hydrogen peroxide to avoid root rot.
Also need to monitor your pH daily.
First buy is your Best Buy. Go hydroton with air stones and a chiller if you can afford it.
I'm a BIG fan of hydroton as well :)
Been using regular old gravel for a decade. Just wish it was lighter.
How do I stop my mineral wool and clay pellets from getting small white spots of mould?
I understand using coconut coir as a replacement for other media. But how could an organic substance have an enviromental impact? It’ll compost back into soil amendments.
If your'e referring to peat moss, it's because it's non-renewable in the span of human life. It takes millions of years for organic matter to become peat!
Epic Gardening I'm talking about your comment on coconut coir if it wasn't used for media it would have an environmental impact. I know about peat moss taking a long time to make. We're you saying that coconut husks if not repurposed would harm the environment? Or did I misunderstand? I'm just saying shuck the coconut compost the coir or use it for media but either way it's really not hurting the earth.
What do think about actual lava rock (smaller pieces of course) like from lowes?
They work, but I prefer growstones as they are like lava rocks but designed for hydroponics use.
They work, but I prefer growstones as they are like lava rocks but designed for hydroponics use.
I do it some times
Lava rock is used in more climate controlled areas hence in Jamaica they used lava rock as a bace in an old tyer for breeding or even 5-8ft trees if they don't get caught
Cool video! I'm inexperienced, but maybe a solution to cleaning the growstones would be to hit a pile with a propane torch or throw them on the grill/oven and burn the roots? I happen to have a lot of perlite, some coco coir and a small amount of rockwool. Do you think using a cutting from rockwool (thin standing rectangle in the middle of the netcup) with the seed in it, surrounded with a mix of coco coir and perlite around it would do alright?
The disadvantage of hydroponics is that you must purchase "plant food" or nutrients and supplements that can be expensive.
I think you can make Compost tea, which would be full of nutrients.
+Jacqueline C. Marsh spam
if you use any type of manure for your tea or just simple compost it will foam up and smell
Jacqueline C. Marsh people commenting on something they have no idea about is a disadvantage- to humanity. Eventually soil will run out of nutrients and need to be replenished.
Would about expanded peat pelets
Didnt expect to see gravel lol
thats what i use, i was broke a few years ago when i first got my system
and thought, hey, gravel. washed, boiled and used.
used it every since, the shit works fantastic!
Gravel: the cheap and easy option :)
What happens to coconut husks in the tropics is that they are not thrown into land fills but are levt to decay and degrade in the environment.
Some people use the coco husk split in half for orchid pots.
These things are not fast food wrappers nor disposable diapers and are 100% biodegradable.
A question … can you use a bell siphon in an ebb and flow hydroponic
Downside of Perlite is also bloody messy, gets everywhere in a DWC system, used it once, never again lol, I live in japan and EVERYTHING is hard to get, its like living in the past where hydroponics hasn't been invented yet, Hydro fert I can get from the net but for a small GH kit im looking at $60+ lol, got a lot of veg on the grow inside now as its cold but they are not growing as fast as expected as i cant get the right fert, any suggestions for alt fert for a DWC system would be welcome, love the vids dude, thanks ;)
Very true, I like to mix it in with stuff (if I use it at all). Spent some time in Japan and I can only imagine how hard it is to find hydro stuff!
I found some bags of Hydroton about a year ago in two separate locations. My local hydroponic store says that Hydroton is still making LECA...
I had trouble growing in the Rapid Rooter plugs, the roots of my seedlings had a hard time getting thru the plug, the seeds I planted either were stunted or died or they were were far behind jiffy pot disks. I found the same to be true with the sacred rockwool, I had roots that just circled the top indention with very poor results. I finally started slicing the plugs and the rockwool so that the roots could get thru them, and even that was not very good. Not sure what I will use next time, but thank you for giving this report, I will use it!
I have coconuts readily available to me. What can i do with it? I just rip off the husks and compress it? Thanks in advance
+jeremy Del Castillo I don't have experience making coconut coir from the husk, only buying it premade and using it. Sorry I can't help there!
what about just normal sponge cubes??? cleanest way with no ph problems
Coconut husks have a number of uses and are actually in high demand. Not much Eco value as pretty much all is recycled.
How about marbles i need to fill a 4 by 8 tray but don't want to spend to much on hydrton. I know the the media needs to be ph balanced, so how about marbles, shouldn't impact pH, and they don't float, and not easy to break like hydrton. Let me know if anyone tried this yet.
Haha I use marbles and gravel I also use recycled foam from sofas instead of rockwool both work just as good as the real deal
I would like your take on Shale, you did not mention it and it is becoming a big player in the hydro and aquaponics field.
Shale is legit. I haven't used it yet though.
this might be a fool question, but why not using soil for hydroponic?
No question is a fool question! Hydroponic specifically means growing plants WITHOUT soil, so as soon as you start adding soil in, it no longer becomes hydroponic gardening! Hope that helps.
question. I heard we can fill a netcup up halfway with the hydroton and then top it off with coco coir. What i need to know is if it holds TOO much water >?
Greetings from Canada. Could you please clarify if rockwool can easily be disposed of? The reason I ask is because I notice in your notes under rockwool that i see that rockwool can be difficult to dispose of but the advantage of rockwool highlights that it is easy to dispose of - hence the clarification. I am studying soilless grow mediums and find this very informative.
Right, that is a typo! It's easy to dispose of in the sense that you can just throw it in the trash, but it doesn't really break down easily in a landfill or change its structure at all, so in that sense it's never really "gone." I hope that clears things up!
I use buck wheat husks all the benefits ....it just works 👍
I know this vid is from 2013 but still wanted to leave a comment i live in thailand lots of coconut farming the husks are allways burned or illegally dumped
Yeah, sourcing good quality coconut coir is definitely an issue. I just wrote about that in article on coconut coir actually: epicgardening.com/coconut-coir
Do you use coco peat for your micro greens? What’s your take on the AeroGarden?
Currently got a coco coir and soil mix iv been using for around 2 years, not only to recycle but to upcycle, iv used it on every thing from tomato's to root veg, but as now its coming to the point if being neutral in pH ect I think I might have to start making plugs from it but would coconut husk *fresh that it* be an advantage
Great video
I used Rapid Rooter and although my seedlings did well at first, they became infested with thrips. They were everywhere. I had read somewhere that thrip eggs could be found in coco coir and to my understanding Rapid Rooter is made with coco coir. Anyway, I took my remaining plugs and baked them in the oven at 200 degrees F for 30 mins, cooled them and planted again. Although my seedlings did better, no sooner were they 6 inches high that I got thrips again. I can’t understand why anyone would want to use coco coir if thrips seem to be inevitable. Suggestions anyone?
I use a kratky type system.I was to GS3 was the best thing.I was using the clay pebbles.I just dont get how the growstones mixed coco is going to work.coco just falls thru the net pot.am I missing something?
Was wondering the same thing
I've done it, you just press it down. I use one net cup and press it down into the filled one, then make the hole in the middle (to put in a seed or stem). Then wipe off the (out) sides where it pushed out of the holes a bit. So it's packed, but not solid. Look at khang starr's videos.
somebody knows if you can use smooth inert material like glass marbles?
i am building a hydroponic tower and the pod holder are too big for my coco seedling pods. i want to fill the holder a bit more and help the plant "catch" more water. its my first hydroponic setup.
Very informative, thank you.
You're welcome!
What is good hydroponic system for growing roses
I'm not sure, sorry! I have never grown hydroponic roses.
Does chipped up palm frongs good for a medium, mixed in with coconut husk?
hi so I can used wetoasis to put my plant on to stand in the solution i notice the root melting when I put it in the water solution
Perlite danger is inhaling its dust. Rockwool is dangerous to handle and breathe. Both require outdoors and a mask, rockwool also gloves.
I'm curious if anyone has tried using baked clay non clumping kitty litter or oil dry/saftsorb clay granules for hydroponics? If so what was your experience? I might experiment with it to see if that works.
Grow stones are the best!!
I'm in love!
Nah I'm in love with coco
Can sponge or foam is good media for hydroponics ?
Cuando escucharé el video en Español gracias
When should you switch from nutes to soil, or nutes can be used for whole growth ?
Ambie cedeno Nutes can be used for the whole growth!
Technically using Coco Coir to grow in is NOT hydroponics. Coco Coir retains water for days, Hydroponics is the art of growing plants roots in air with the water/nutrients being added at different parts of the daylight growing time frame. Coco Coir retaining water for days even with the addition of Perlite is no different than using mulch. You still must add nutrients but it is simply not right to state it is a hydroponic medium. Sorry.
What would you suggest?
Any thoughts on using aquasoil as a medium?
Epic dude, what would be the best for a newbie, using net pots, seeds and basically the Kratky Method? I have rockwool but have not opened the package yet because the pH thing seems like a pain and I also have a block of Coco Coir. Any suggestions?
Coco coir. 😁😁.. The future
I am using that noe coconut fibres
Too be honest idgaf about coconut husks going to waste...if they hit the ground they decompose slowly back into the earth dont they? lol
Not the worst thing in the world if they just decompose...that's how nature intended it anyways! But nice to use something like coco husks vs. strip mining the countryside for expanded clay if they carry similar benefits :)
That’s not how they do it in South America. Since they are on plantations out in the middle of the jungle they’ll typically burn or dump anything they can’t immediately use.
Makinghydroponics seems like challenging especially if you have no experience, but it isn't.
GROW STONE USED AS A BIO MEDIA IN A AQUAPONICS POLISHING FILTER?
Hey I know this video is old... so i hope someone sees this question. I am brand new, and looking for something that is 1. Economical, 2. Either reusable or compostable. I Have a large soil garden as well, and I would like to create a hydro system that is cooperative with the hydroponic system. Seems like the coconut medium is a good option. Thoughts?
Yup, coco is your best bet there!
Epic Gardening thanks! 🙏
Do the same thing on ph water nutrient on hydroponics media guide
Just released this one: ruclips.net/video/SvksjH9gedQ/видео.html
Bought some small lava rock to use. I do believe it will not alter the ph. Whats your thoughts?
Only one way to know for sure - put water in a bowl and test pH, then put rocks in, mix them around, and let settle for 5m. Then test again!
How about using pea gravel from big box store? and will it effect the ph and by how much
I've had friends who have done quite well with pea gravel, though I haven't used it myself. I'd make sure to rinse it thoroughly, then put a few gallons of water into a bucket, test the pH, add gravel, swirl, and test again to see if it has any result on pH.
Good info. Very basic.
Can I mix clay pebbles with coco husks or coco cubes?
thats my question. I heard we can fill a netcup up halfway with the hydroton and then top it off with coco coir. What i need to know is if it holds too much water or is it a good idea. I wonder why some of these people wont answer our questions??????????????
Dont make a video showing people your blog. Its difficult to read what is written on your blog because you are wiggling your page around too much
I currently live in the Maldives so can get coconuts but very difficult to bring any other items into the island... I really want to start a Hydroponic garden for the wellness centre on our resort... any tips would be good, have just subscribed to you too,,,, thanks heaps
Lisa Manser Hey Lisa, what would you like to learn more about?
Unfortunately, you can not grind up a coconut and plant weed in it. They soak the seed husks for up to one and a half years in freshwater to leach out the salts. Then some companies will neutralise the crazy appetite coco coir has for some chemicals with a Magnesium drench and balance ph to neutral. The strongest weed in WA was grown at Center Street Collective using coco coir.
Hmm...No mention of expanded shale.
I'll be adding to this list!
Thank you very helpful
You're welcome!
Could you mix and use both coco and pebbles?
Makes a delicious breakfast cereal😋
Not the greatest review. Your words at times contradict your blog, even your blog contradicts your blog. You've written and stated that rockwool is not easy to dispose of then under benefits you've written, "easy to dispose of"... This didn't help me to understand what might be the best option for me because you haven't described your system(s) setup. You've presented the results and none of the context.
While it does say that, i think you're failing to understand his distinction. It could made more clear, granted, but i think he's talking about the difference between a personal disposal, that is, someone throwing it away in their trash can without any hassle as opposed to the material itself being disposable (breaking down) or disposed of into a landfill etc.
1330 no beach in iowa
Yeah shipping waste around the world is obviously better for the environment
Im using clay stones
How do you use growstones?
Same way you'd use something like hydroton :)
Epic Gardening thank you
how could u prevent coconut coir from drowning the roots? also, is it reusable?
The best way to do that would be to mix in some vermiculite or perlite - something light and airy that will break up the coconut coir a bit. Of course, you can closely monitor your watering as well. Most people do not reuse it, but it's not impossible.
It's possible to inject air with air pumps .
That works too! I just put out a piece on coco coir specifically that addresses SC prepper's question too: www.epicgardening.com/coconut-coir/
Coco coir always holds 2% air/o2. Hard to drown roots in that situation but I usually use 25% perlite in my coco. Plant roots grow like steroids were in it. Oh there are steroids in Coco. Best shit for non recirculating systems.
Do you use groestones? How?
I do use them! They're great.
Epic Gardening how do you use them?
Where those husk going 1min ? Oh no.
1 upholstery 2 furniture 3 bricks
Can Stone Dust that is used in laying interlocking stones be used safely as a medium.
Hmm. Maybe? I haven't tried it before. Give it a shot!
missadelaja as long as its not to tight, the particals must be ruff little rocks and big rocks half a cm to 2 cm long, you can use metal shaving alloy or stainless steal anything really coca husk are fucked its ph is 7.3 and a plant likes 6.1 ive had trouble with coco husk
missadelaja dont use rockwool it retains water to much and gets mold on the top best thing to use is little silver rocks or stainless steal or alloy its clean and easy to use and reflects light for the plants to and mold wont grow on it.
Use clay rocks and use somthing reflective on top of it like scared up foil. If during Rockwood use foil on top so no mold grows, I should no mate, mold does grow on wet shut.
1030 fiberglaaa
One thing that isn't mentioned I'm trying to find out about is lava rock it's cheap and light but how does it work for hydroponics?
Lava rock is OK but not great. It's extremely sharp, meaning moving plants can often cut roots. I would personally go with Growstones if you want to do lava rock
Can you start seeds in clay balls
I wouldn't recommend, not enough water retention and they're too big.
Great video. Mind if I link to it for my site?
sure, shoot me the link too! Brian Lewis
Awesome. Hit me up when it's live!
growing in plastic medium NOOOOO! horrid
+i Ruf yeah, I no longer use or recommend that one
100%
Rockwool works great until you get fungus gnats.
Like
Please Translate in Hindi
I will try!
@@epicgardening you can put the community captioning program on, then people can add captions.
Kumar, if you don't understand English well enough, you can use Google translate app, put it on Hindi to English, then press button for microphone and button to start video. It will listen to the video and translate for you. If you understand English but it's too fast, just put on English captioning (CC) and slow the speed in the settings.
The drawback to hydroponics is you have to purchase "plant food" or nutrients and supplements which are expensive.
You’re a phony shill trying to push your own business. Make you own effing videos!
Mike Masztal But she's right... That's a pretty significant drawback.
Really? Have you put together the cost and space involved for an aquaponics system?
That is the whole point of a hydro system daisy
Lol nutrients here is sold in packs for 5gal water that cost 17ph peso, thats like 0.30c in us dollar.