rockwool

Does anyone know where to purchase rockwool for rooting plants?
Barbara

You can usually buy it at any store that sells hydroponic stuff. I've started a lot of hard to start plants in a hydroponic tray with rockwool in the little baskets. I have also found that coco fibre works really well and is cheaper.

I hope you find some soon, Barbara, you have great plants! brugcrazy uses it.

Barbara, I sent you an email with a place in British Columbia that has rockwool. I'm sure you can order it from them.

There is a company called Sonne-Gro here that sells rock wool. It is expensive. Their number is 1-800-Sonnegro.(that's the only way I can remember it)They are a green house supply that also sells to the public and ships anywhere.
We use rockwool for things that are really hard to root, they even have little preformed cubes with holes in the centers and special trays to put them in.

Cala, it's expensive here too. You get a flat of 50 cubes for about $20 canadian if I remember correctly. The flat is about the size of plant tray or a bit larger with one inch cubes.

Brugcrazy, that's it!! I will call tomorrow and see how much they are here, but I think they were about that much. They also have bags of rockwool, but I don't know if it had other stuff mixed in or not.

Don't know how the prices compare but this place has a large selection http://www.hydroponics.net/_scripts/_lists/list.asp?c=38

Poppysue, those prices look pretty good to me!!

Poppysue, those prices are very good. Good prices on the halide and sodium bulbs.

Jeanne and Cala, what size do you use for brug cuttings? I'd like to order some.

Brugie, I've not ever used it for brugs. We've used it for geraniums and NG Impatiens. I guess the size we use is the 1.4 X 1.4

Thanks. I just wondered if I should use a little larger due to the size of the cuttings. Some of them get pretty large. Maybe Jeanne will jump in here and help too.

Brugie, I was looking at that larger size, but then I thought sand might be the best thing for those. We get rooted poinsettia and mum cuttings in that have been rooted in sand.

Maybe for those difficult to root cuttings I better stick with the Agrasoak crystals. During the summer months, I don't have any trouble with any of my cuttings, but I'm going to have a couple of plants that might need some special help. I've never tried sand. I'm game to give anything a shot.

Thanks!!

Brugie, the heat mats seem to help in the winter too. I've found that the tea tree oil keeps things from rotting so bad too.

Calalily - getting forgetful here. I have the Tea tree oil but can't remember the proportions for spray and drench. Help!

Liz
I usually use a couple of drops in 4to8 oz of water. If I'm using a drench, I use 1/4 teaspoon in my 2 gallon container. I don't think you can get too much, but it sure does smell bad if you use much more than that!!

Calalily,
Is their a brand name for the Tea Tree Oil? Is it a fungicide?
Barbara

Barbara, I buy it at Wal-Mart in the vitamin section. It's an oil from the mellaluca tree. It's got fungicidal properties. It is sold as treatment for bruises and cuts and also for dandruff. I used it when I stumped my toe and it really helped. There was a girl on another forum that told me last year about using it on plants and I've been experimenting. I tried it on passion vine cuttings and they rooted twice as fast without rotting. I used it for some powdery mildew, and it worked on it too. Someone told me it would kill fungus gnats, so I tried it for that too. It's got a funny smell that takes some getting used to, but hey if it works, I'll get used to it.
I mixed it with lavender, rosemary and lemon oils and it kept the fleas off my dog.

It has nearly eliminated my fungus knat problem. I don't even mind the smell. It soon dissipates.

Brugie: I use the 1.4 x1.4 inch cubes. I have a hydroponic tray set up that I made. It's actually more like an aeroponic tray. The cubes sit in baskets on the top and hang down inside a rubbermaid container which hold water and nutrients and has a pump for circulation. It worked great for starting the knightiis and other hard to start brugs. It also provides lots of humidity for the greenhouse.

Thanks Jeanne,

Just repotted about 40 brugs today and the ones you sent are doing well except flava. Guess I needed some rockwool for it.

Shirley

Shirley, Hopefully my Flava's will continue to grow down here and as soon as these sprouts are big enough you are welcome to some cuttings. Probably grow much better for you up North than for me down south.
Brugmansia

Thanks Eric,

I would appreciate getting a cutting or two at some time. I'm learning more each day, so maybe I can get some to root next time. Today I repotted all the cuttings you sent. Dr. D didn't make it but all the others did well, I now have four of the Pink Velvets. Can't wait to see them all bloom. Thanks for sharing.

Shirley

I think that is supposed to be Frosty Velvet not Pink Velvet.

This message was edited Thursday, Jan 10th 5:06 PM

Ahh, too bad-Dr.D and Amber Rose were two of my favorites. Only a very few people recieved Amber Rose though last year.

Dr. D was a huge log. I probably should not have cut it in half, but put one half vertical and one half horizontal. Neither of them even formed nubs. I don't know what I did wrong, but definitely something. That is okay though, Eric, as I'm sure I'll be able to get a cutting from someone down the line. I have never seen Amber Rose. I'll bet she is a beauty. I'm going to get Pink Beauty. I really like the looks of it. Two or three months and I won't be spending as much time on here. Can't wait to get my hands dirty and break a few nails.

Shirley

had one flava and it didn't make it. soooooooo sad, I've done so good with cuttings, but I just didn't have the touch with this one. But with the 'logs' I have had great luck. I really should have cut them even smaller, but they are all doing wonderfully.

I saw the "logs" that TiG had rooted and I was impressed. I had not ever tried that method, but think I will now.
I killed Dr. D too and I don't know what I did wrong. The others are doing great.

Dr D and Amber Rose are two of my best growers. Those and butterfly.

If rock wool works why wouldn't plain fiberglass insulation work as well?I think I'll try some and see.

G2S, I was wondering that too. Do you think it would be too "itchy"?

Doesn't rockwool eventually break down in the soil? I don't think fiberglass would - but maybe it doesn't matter.

Okay, tiG.......look who is begging now. How about a cutting of Dr. D and Amber Rose sometime? Do you have a picture of Amber Rose in bloom? You know I'm going to have some new stuff to share next fall, so I can wait that long if you are going to be taking cuttings.

S.

It would take years for fiberglass to break down but the stuff is absolutely inert.Could be itchy though.