Hydroton Alternative?

I love growstones. I used them as a soil additive but they can also be used as a hydro substrate. They don't roll, they are a fraction of the weight of hydroton, and way more absorbant and porous.

outwest

http://www.growstone.com/hydroponic-substrate/

outwest said:

I love growstones. I used them as a soil additive but they can also be used as a hydro substrate. They don't roll, they are a fraction of the weight of hydroton, and way more absorbant and porous.

outwest

http://www.growstone.com/hydroponic-substrate/

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Thank you for your response - do you have a cost/liter for the growstone? I currently pay $20/50L for hydroton.

My hydro homies aren't liking the growstones guys .......they say they're a little too harsh on the roots.

I've used the smaller ones as a perlite replacement though ...seemed fine to me!

Im in my first run with the grow stones and my plants are just fine
There not as dirty as the hydroton and they dont roll

Hmmm can't speak comparatively to hydroton, but I'd bet growstones are more expensive for sure. If you're cash cropping and focused on the bottom line, growstones might not be a viable option. I believe the large bag is about $25.

outwest

I switched to growstones last run. I currently have some in growstones and some in hydroton, I see no to very little difference. Plants do seem to kick out roots faster from the stone pots.
They are a bit more expensive but that cost is washed away by the less work they take to prep. Also growstones are 100% recycled mat. and made in the USA. I'll pay a little more for that alone...

Sunleaves Rocks, hygromite and dyna-rok in air pots, been using that for a couple cycles now, happy so far. Not sure if the Rocks and Growstones are the same thing, heard bad things about growstones also. Throw out the pots every run, 5 gallon size only cost a couple dollars. Been thinking about using worms to try and recycle the Rocks, havent tried it yet though.

I like adding those Sunleaves Rocks to my soilmix too!

washed red lava rock. 3/8"

from the building supply store.

Soak in 10% bleach solution in large trashcan. DRain. Rinse.

Cheap. 7 bucks for a 50# bag. Put it in the landfill or the garden when you are done.

Capulator said:

washed red lava rock. 3/8"

from the building supply store.

Soak in 10% bleach solution in large trashcan. DRain. Rinse.

Cheap. 7 bucks for a 50# bag. Put it in the landfill or the garden when you are done.

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I wanted to try this... Thanks..

Capulator said:

washed red lava rock. 3/8"

from the building supply store.

Soak in 10% bleach solution in large trashcan. DRain. Rinse.

Cheap. 7 bucks for a 50# bag. Put it in the landfill or the garden when you are done.

Click to expand...

EXACTLY what I was looking for! Thank you so much.

Also, anyone use pumice stone? I can get that for free...

im thinking about trying some growstones this run in the UC.

that washed red lava rock sounds like a perfect replacement for the hydroton i put in the bottom of the coco pots. good lookin out Cap.

how long of a bleach soak are we talking? do you soak in regular water after or just rinse them off?

KennyPowers said:

im thinking about trying some growstones this run in the UC.

that washed red lava rock sounds like a perfect replacement for the hydroton i put in the bottom of the coco pots. good lookin out Cap.

how long of a bleach soak are we talking? do you soak in regular water after or just rinse them off?

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bleach is good for everything. They use it at the greenhouse at my old school to disinfect. It's safe for the plants, even if the lava smells a tad bleachy.

I soak for like a minute or two. I dump it in a trach can and swirl it around. Then I use a plastic pasta strainer to scoop it out and rinse it wish a hose. I have a yard though, this would not be as easy if you lived in a small apartment.

Capulator said:

bleach is good for everything. They use it at the greenhouse at my old school to disinfect. It's safe for the plants, even if the lava smells a tad bleachy.

I soak for like a minute or two. I dump it in a trach can and swirl it around. Then I use a plastic pasta strainer to scoop it out and rinse it wish a hose. I have a yard though, this would not be as easy if you lived in a small apartment.

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It's amazing what you can accomplish in small spaces with a little trial, error, and ingenuity!

outwest

Capulator said:

bleach is good for everything. They use it at the greenhouse at my old school to disinfect. It's safe for the plants, even if the lava smells a tad bleachy.

I soak for like a minute or two. I dump it in a trach can and swirl it around. Then I use a plastic pasta strainer to scoop it out and rinse it wish a hose. I have a yard though, this would not be as easy if you lived in a small apartment.

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sounds good, thanks for the tips. i got plenty of space for a bit of washing...might have me confused with someone else. no apartment grow tents here..

redwhiteblue said:

EXACTLY what I was looking for! Thank you so much.

Also, anyone use pumice stone? I can get that for free...

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where do u get pumice for free? i think it would make a great alternative. really lighteight and porous. but it floats like perlite which i find annoying.

cephalopoda said:

where do u get pumice for free? i think it would make a great alternative. really lighteight and porous. but it floats like perlite which i find annoying.

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I think it's heavier than the red lava rock...

Here's a DIY washer I put together for cleaning hydroton, a garden hose with valve hooks to the top of the drum. The discharge from the pump creates a swirling motion, After its loaded its just a matter of opening and closing valves and cleaning the filter. I wouldn't recommend running gro stones through it.

I'm using GrowStones for my next run E&F, I know this is UC forum but this is where the talk is. One question I got for other GrowStone users is are you having high pH problems in the beginning? I'm letting my GS soak in a tub of R/O water with air stones and set the pH low but with in hours pH goes past 7.0+. I've been doing this for a day now. I'm keep dumping more pH down until it stop rising and stabilizes to Ph 5.5 -6.0
I've got a friend that been using GS and he had the same high pH problem but once he gets the pH to stabilize his everything is fine.
Oh yeah don't wash the stones in the bag they come in even though the instruction tell you to poke holes in bottom of bag and insert garden hose. The bag falls apart instantly and rocks go everywhere.

Just read in another thread to mix in nutrients to help stabilize the stones and pH.