Rockwool vs Aerocloner

Traditionally plants are propagated using a medium.

 This means the plant material is placed in soil or soilless container like coco, oasis, rockwool, or just plain dirt. If deciding between aerocloner and rockwool, check out some pros and cons for each before you make the leap into the dirt, or out of it.

Aerocloning are an aeroponic propagation technique where a slice of plant matter is rooted using no medium. Only water, air and Nutrients.

Aerocloner

Pros

1. Cost per cutting is as low as it gets.
2. Can show roots in as little as three days, one of the fastest rooting techniques.
3. Huge route mass with small plants.
4. Requires only water to root, but rooting hormones greatly increase aerocloner’s effectiveness.

Cons

1. Higher maintenance costs.
2. Correct water temperature is crucial. If it’s just a few degrees too warm, bad bacteria and biology begin to grow reducing your rooting effectiveness.
3. You have to keep your aerocloner clean, but don’t use abrasive cleaners as they will contribute to increased bacteria growth.
4. Can be expensive to purchase the initial equipment.
5. Without a rooting medium, transplant shock can reduce the effectiveness of the technique.
6. Requires constant monitoring.

Rockwool

Pros

1. Set it and forget it. If you have the correct environmental controls (high humidity, and warm route zones) Reading clients could not be easier. Flood the tray, stick the cuttings, wait two weeks.
2. Very forgiving. This medium is made to be moist so you can overwater it if you have to, and it will keep plants alive in its driest state.
3. Next to no transplant shock.
4. Very traditional and easy to train employees to use and maintain it

Cons

1. Algae. It’s unsightly, but not unhealthy. It does indicate an alkaline water source, as well as overwatering.
2. Greater technique is required. Rock wool needs to be flushed of contaminants and pH balanced, and then set with a nutrient solution. A little effort, but not that hard.
3. As much as $.15 plug to route a cutting
4. Abrasive on the skin for some people
5. Unsightly to dispose of. After all it is a fiberglass product.

Both aerocloner and rockwool have their benefits, but also downsides. For a cleaner but more expensive option, aerocloner may be best. For a more forgiving and less technical approach, rockwool can work extremely well. As with any decision between two options, it’s all a matter of preference!

Come into Cultivate and ask which will work best for your experience and budget!