DIVING INTO GROWING MEDIUMS

Introduction into Growing Mediums:

Choosing what medium to grow in when using a hydroponic set up is one of the most important things to get right. Growing mediums range from things like coco peat, rock wool and clay balls. We also have to take things like medium pH and medium maintenance when choosing our growing medium.


Expanded Clay Balls:

Expanded light weight clay balls are one of, if not, the most popular choice of growing mediums used today by small and commercial growers due to its ease of use and cost efficiency. These clay balls are processed at a very high temperature that produces a highly porous and highly effective growing medium. It's also important to note that clay balls are pH neutral, non-degradable and release almost no additional nutrients into your water solution. Its circular (spherical) shape provides a great balance of water and oxygen for your plant. Clay balls are also reusable, simply rinse and reuse, which is why a lot of growers opt for it as their growing medium.


Coco Peat/Coconut Fibre: 

Coco peat, like clay balls, is one of the most popular growing mediums out there on the market for growers to use. Coco peat is made from discarded coconut husks (the brown outer layer of the coconut) and is viewed as the most environmentally friendly growing mediums in hydroponics. Some advantages with growing with coco peat include; pH neutral growing medium, anti fungal, great moisture retention, slow to decompose and provides great aeration for your plants root system. Coco peat also mixes great with other mediums and is commonly mixed in with perlite or vermiculite.


Perlite and Vermiculite:

Perlite and Vermiculite are not usually used own their own (although you can) instead many growers use these two porous rocks as mixers or fillers in other growing mediums like coco peat and clay balls. Both are very similar to one another; both are composed of minerals that are synthesized under a high heating process that produces a highly porous, pH neutral and water and oxygen retentive growing medium. It's also important to note that vermiculite does retain water better than perlite does.


Rock wool:

Rock-wool is another popular growing medium used by all growers. Rock wool is made from granite or limestone which is heated, melted, spun and stretched to for long thing fibres. Rock wool is often used for germinating seeds but can also be used through out a plants full cycle. Like the previously mention growing mediums Rock wool is highly porous, sterile, easy to use and provides great oxygenation to your plants root system. Some disadvantages to using rock wool include; non degradable growing medium, and is naturally high in its pH level, which requires soaking in a neutral or lower pH tested water solution before using in your hydroponic set up.


Oasis Cubes (for Germination):

Oasis cubes are normally found attached together, giving growers the ability to germinate multiple seeds at one time in the same space. In recent years a lot of growers have made the switch from rock wool to oasis cubes, although they both provide the same elements in which your plant will grow in. Oasis cubes are highly porous, provide great oxygenation for root systems. Because of their open cell structure, oasis cubes can absorb air and water but are not as susceptible to becoming waterlogged like rock wool. Another advantage over rock wool is the pH neutral component of oasis cubes which does not require pre soaking.