this post was submitted on 21 Sep 2025
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Struggling with Seed Germination in Rockwool - Drowning Issues (lemmy.zip)
submitted 3 months ago by original_reader@lemmy.zip to c/hydroponics@slrpnk.net
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I've been germinating seeds in rockwool cubes and while they sprout just fine, they consistently end up drowning after a while. I struggle to managing the water balance correctly - they're either too dry or too wet. I am currently in a dry climate.

Has anyone else dealt with this? Any tips on how to maintain the right moisture level?

Would love to hear what’s worked for others using rockwool (or anyrhing else, really) for germination.

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[–] papertowels@mander.xyz 5 points 3 months ago (1 children)

Do you have the rockwool on a tray with channels for the water to sit?

[–] original_reader@lemmy.zip 2 points 3 months ago (1 children)

An ice cube tray with holes drilled at the bottom. Starting small. 🙂 Then I place that on a container for drainage. So they never sit in water.

I am hoping the roots will eventually grow through these holes and the container can hold the water they need. But so far they die before the roots can get long enough.

Was thinking of adding small pieces of wood like toothpicks or coconut fibers to the bottom of each cube.

[–] papertowels@mander.xyz 2 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) (1 children)

So I've always used a seedling starter tray like this, which worked for me.

In your case, I wonder if adding some wicking material for each cell would help prevent dry out?

EDIT: I think one thing to also try is to cover the ice cube tray with clear plastic. All the seedling trays I've seen come with a clear plastic cover with a vent, which helps to recapture moisture.

[–] original_reader@lemmy.zip 2 points 3 months ago

Thanks for the tip. Am looking for some plastic dome. Maybe this large plastic water bottle will see another purpose after all. 🙂