What is rockwool?
Rockwool is a mixture of rocks (basalt and dolomite) melted at high
temperature to form a molten matrix, which is then passed through an
air stream that cools the material and forms long fibrous strands.
These strands are bonded together to form slabs, blocks, plugs,
cubes and granulates (non-bonded). The material is chemically and
biologically inert and free from plant pathogens.
Rockwool is 97% (by volume) air
(which means):
- You can control the air / water
ratio in the substrate
- The greater volume of air will
enhance root growth
- There will be less fluctuation
in pH and EC compared with other growing mediums
- As water and nutrients drain
from the rockwool or are taken up by plants, the pores of the
material again are filled with air
Why use rockwool?
More than 95% of the world’s greenhouse vegetable production is on
rockwool!
- Rapid rooting of cuttings and
seeds and maximum yields
- Allows optimum control of air /
water ratio, pH and EC
- Rockwool products come in a
variety of shapes and sizes that allow the grower to utilize it
in many different types of hydroponic systems
- The most consistent production
and highest yields in commercial production of vegetables occur
on rockwool