Hydroponic seed starting. Starting seeds in rockwool.

In this video I share my tips and tricks on the best way to germinate seeds for hydroponics. Starting seeds in rockwool for hydroponic seed starting is simple and allows room for mistakes!
An automated hydroponic garden tower is for anyone who wants to grow vegetables indoors in winter and year round inside or out. Anyone who wants to garden in small spaces with less manual labor and resources. Anyone interested in an indoor salad garden system, and those trying to fight food inflation by creating their own self sufficient garden.
You will want to invest in a simple but complete seed-starting kit for the greatest success. Thankfully, you don't need a greenhouse or complicated and expensive systems! Here are a few options that have worked for me.
Interested in purchasing a Tower Garden.
smormino.towergarden.com/shop
Amazon sells rock wool but I have found the sizes vary and many are too big to fit into a tower garden grow port. For rock wool it's best to purchase here.
smormino.towergarden.com/shop...
A simple seed starting set up.
amzn.to/3x47esZ
Vermiculite.
amzn.to/3ZOfyKi
If you just need a grow light that covers a little more surface area. This is for starting 20 or more seedlings at a time.
amzn.to/3XxGRHm
If you just need a heat mat. I highly recommend this for starting peppers, eggplants and tomatoes.
amzn.to/3HmTJKL
Water conductivity meter. If you ever notice brown tips on your plants it is usually due to too much sediment in the water. This will tell you if you conductivity is correct or off.
amzn.to/3WxIVxu
Follow me on Instagram at / theaeroponictowerchannel
Website at theaeroponictowerchannel.com/

[@FalcutaMihail]

Finally a video with a lot of answers to my questions regarding seedling for hydroponics. Great stuff here!

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

Thanks! I have an entire playlist on seed starting with some more updated information as well. kzbin.info/aero/PLEKlr_MzLdtB63mGMf1JxHa5BT7j8D20I

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

Here is the seed starting playlist. kzbin.info/aero/PLEKlr_MzLdtCzzH10fojsdtC_UDlR3QwY

[@Oozmacappabruderhood]

Yay I’ve been waiting for someone to show how they do their seeds specifically for the garden tower some of my seeds don’t germinate and i think i transplant too early

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

I hope this helps! I will be sharing videos on specific seeds as the weeks go on since every plant can be a little different.

[@Oozmacappabruderhood]

@@theaeroponictowerchannel that's awesome! Thank you very much you are appreciated 👍🏿

[@GrumpyUke]

Great video, thanks for doing this. I’ve been really struggling with my starts

[@dangeaghan172]

Awesome video. Thank you for taking your time to share your expertise with us!!

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

Thank you!

[@astrigal18]

Very helpful. Thanks for taking so much time to go over everything. Brings me both knowledge and confidence to keep going.

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

You can do it!

[@1turf32]

Thank you for the video. Loved it

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

Thanks!!

[@351countrygirl]

Love this video , it’s giving me confidence to start things right and see what I’ve been doing wrong ( leaving the rock wool in water with the seeds in it 😢) Thank you so much I can hardly wait to start some lettuce and spinach seeds

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

I'm glad it's helpful! I have a seed starting playlist with many videos.

[@puppyna]

I am a very new beginner to gardening and even newer to hydroponics. I was so excited to get my seedlings grow, but they were long & leggy! Thanks for explaining! I plan on buying the lights & heat pads, cuz I had kept my seedlings in the dark & neutral heat. Thanks so much for these tips!

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

I have a free seed starting course coming out in the next week. It walks through each step. A proper seedling station makes all the difference!

[@vincentpcappello4512]

Love your videos

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

Thank you for that!

[@Kitties4321]

So glad I found your channel and love all the videos I have seen so far. Would you happen to have a video that shows how to use the tower garden clips on let's say a sugar snap pea plant?

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

The clips are for holding roots of quick turn over plants like lettuce. Are you trying to come up with trekking ideas?

[@Kitties4321]

Ahhhh...ok. yes, for vining plants

[@rogerbainbridge3431]

When a seed doesn't germinate, I let the rock wool dry out, dig the bad seeds out and reuse the rock wool.

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

Great idea!

[@joybrown9600]

Very VERY new. Thanks for your videos! Would I need a heat mat in Florida?

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

For winter and for seeds you want to start inside. Sometimes Florida is too hot to start seeds outside, like lettuce, but can be too cool to create that green house effect inside without the heat mat.

[@aisha-stayalive7401]

Newbie here! Thank you so much. Much appreciated!! Have you ever done cucumbers in the tower?

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

Yes! I prefer to grow dwarf varieties so the are easier to manage, and they produce so amazing on a tower. I have several fruiting now so there will be a YT on them soon! If you find my Epic seed haul video I share the varieties I grow and where I purchase them.

[@CAMDEC1217]

Great video. Thanks. For the grow trays you got on amazon, I got them as well but find my rockwool squares are too big and dont fit down to bottom of the tray inserts unless I push them down, and then they are like stuck. Do you do anything so they fit better or maybe you only use the green tray and not the clear insert with individual pockets? Hope this make sense.

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

I don't use the inserts. I just use the green trays. Here is my full seed starting playlist. There are some updated videos on here where I share more. kzbin.info/aero/PLEKlr_MzLdtCzzH10fojsdtC_UDlR3QwY

[@mydream2bhappy]

really good advice! thanks. I have just finished building my 4-tower grow tower, and getting ready to start seed growing. I have coco coir (for now). After watching your video, I'll change to the rockwool next batch. Most valuable is how you've explained the "lessons learned" part. SOO helpful!!! This is my "first go-round" so any tips to help in the germination process, the better. I've subscribed and look forward to watching more of your postings. Thanks again!!! Dave

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

Thank you! How exciting to get you grow towers going! I have a playlist of seed starting videos. A few more recent than this one with some other things I have learned along the way.

[@AnthonyClark-wu7fw]

Wonderful video thank you so much for posting 😀 Quick point in the video you say a Rockwool cube costs you 2 cents, but in the link you give Tower Garden sell 98 cubes for $21 which is 21 cents each ? But still love your content 😀 My first tower is coming soon excited to get started. Apart from the health benefits of growing your own. Organic vegetables in the UK are 2 to 3 times the price of non organic 😢

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

The cost of food is getting out of control! I did bad math in this video......I saw an eggplant here for over $9 and an artichoke for $4.98 yesterday. INSANITY. I have a facebook group you should join. facebook.com/groups/236045339111667/edit

[@stephabramowicz5282]

Thank You for the Video! Where can I purchase your light stand for the table? The one in the video is different from what Amazon is selling.

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

I really love these.....but they are pricey for the size. Here is the link. amzn.to/3LKFWQ9

[@mirianaloricchio6504]

This link doesn’t work

[@drcarline_louisjacques8899]

Very impressed with your towers. How many do you have? Have you placed your starter seed directly on your tower? w, your rockwool?

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

Thanks! I have 6. I do not start directly in the tower. I know it's possible but I have found that I can grow more food with a faster turnover if I start my seeds and let them get to a mature size before going in the tower. I have also found that the rock wool gets too wet and deteriorates too fast if they go into the tower too early which leads to slower growing produce that is prone to disease. I just made a short on the size I let my plants get before going into the tower. They are larger and super strong so they grow FAST when they go in the tower. Hope that makes sense! I did make a video on this topic here. studio.kzbin.infoLHT3Mc_Jcf8/edit

[@atomizer2665]

@@theaeroponictowerchannel Usng more than one seed doubles your chances of germination and if they both come up you can choose the strongest :)

[@geodegroot8310]

The paper towel method is definitely a winner every time on a heat source for many veggies...especially peppers. However, why would you start 3 of a kind, when you should go great Gonzo for your efforts?!!! You can always sell transplants at the Farmer's Market or trade with your friends! Hydro Helen has great ideas, but she thinks too small, and I am guilty of the same.

[@coletteeirich520]

Hi Steph do you leave the heat mat on 24hrs knowing the lights are off after 15 hours?

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

I do If the room temps are below 70.

[@CAMDEC1217]

Sorry lot of questions today. I bought the heat mat with your link several weeks ago but I see your heat mat has a temp control mine does not and I find my heat mat is a bit hot. I need to raise the trays up off of it or it is too warm. And if I put the dome on the tray, regardless of raising it up, it is way too hot. Any thoughts?

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

What is the temp inside your home? Also, can you check the rockwool temp with a thermometer? You want to be in the 70-80 range.

[@Jessewo]

Thanks for the video, we just got our first tower! The instructions said to always have 1/4 inch of water in the tray after you place the seeds in the cubes so that’s what we did 2 days ago. Our cubes are soaked but that’s what the instruction book said to do that came with the tower, that’s wrong? It also says do not cover so we didn’t?

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

I never read the instruction book. I start my seedlings differently than that. To grow things like peppers, eggplant celery....you will need a more advanced seed starting set up than what comes with the tower.

[@Jessewo]

@@theaeroponictowerchannel Thank you for the response, makes sense. Appreciate it!

[@801mom]

​@@theaeroponictowerchannelYou can grow celery in the tower??

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

Yes! It grows amazing in a tower. I have a video on it where I'm growing an entire tower for juicing. It grows faster outside of course but does well indoors too.@@801mom

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

Yes! I have a whole tower full I'm working on so I can juice it several times a week. @@801mom

[@801mom]

UPDATE: The BULK rockwool on the link is being sold for 9 cents not 2 cents now. ($250 a case)

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

Yes! Thank you! I did bad math, and inflation....

[@CAMDEC1217]

I don't grow as many seedlings as you so my trays may only have 2, 3 or 4 rockwool in them at a time. Does this expose the sides of the rockwool and thus the roots of plant to air and light, and create issues? I guess that is why I was using the plastic inserts but I find the inserts tend to keep the rockwool too wet. your thoughts?

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

I don’t use the inserts. It’s okay to have the rockwool exposed to air. I start just a few at a time in the trays as well.

[@jeremebrancheau4270]

Hi Stephanie, I bought a tower through your website and live in Houston. Do I need to use the heat mat for germination in such a hot climate and do you think 3-4 hrs of sun per day between 3-7 is sufficient on our porch? Thank you very much for your guidance:)

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

Hi! You can germinate outside. Will you email me please so I can add you to my private groups where I can be available to help more easily? I'm excited for you!! Thanks for using my link. [e-mail]

[@bevkelly2734]

What are hypotonic seeds

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

@@bevkelly2734 They are regular seeds started in a special medium used for growing food via hydroponics or aeroponics with water and minerals instead of soil.

[@dkroen17]

Great video. Sorry if i missed it, but how do you deal with Algea growing in rockwool?

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

I ignore it. Algae is just a part of hydroponics. You can tray a food grade hydrogen peroxide spray over the top. I plan to try this someday soon and document to see if it works.

[@dkroen17]

@@theaeroponictowerchannel Thanks. I'll let you know as well when I try it. I've noticed that the germination failures always were accompanied by a lot of algae.

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

Cut your moisture levels down too. I have found I get very little algae when I allow them to stay moist but not soppy. @@dkroen17

[@dkroen17]

I've had pH issues with my water. Not sure if you've had the same. I've used squirting a lemon to lower pH.

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

Thats a good idea. I don't worry about ph all that much honestly. As long as it's in the winter of 5-7. I have found if I let things settle a couple days ph tends to naturally balance. When I start to fuss with it too soon and too often it is hard to get it stable.

[@meganreid587]

I think algae happends also depending on where you live. I live in Colorado and it is super dry here and I almost never see algae on/in my TG or plants.

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

That is good to know! I don't get algae in my tower but I do get it on the rockwool. We are humid here in WNC mountains.

[@Juana4ev]

Hi, Hope all is well. What temp for the heating mat do you start your seeds? Since they’re mostly lettuce/greens, would you keep it cooler (70F?, 72F?) across the board for all plants or is it okay to go with a higher temp like 75F to help speed up germination? Learned a trick from another channel about moistening paper towels with a mix of 2 tsp Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide & 2 Cups Water to start Spinach seeds quickly

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

I keep mine around 70-75. I will have to try the spinach trick. I wonder why that works? So interesting!

[@Juana4ev]

@@theaeroponictowerchannel Thank you. Yes, it works. Same method like the paper towel method- moisten with solution, wrap & place in ziploc bag and keep in the dark on heating mat. Spinach seeds will germinate within 2-3 days and does well indoors with my LED lights

[@801mom]

The tower garden booklet states to start them with a quarter inch of water in bottom of the tray they give you and not to cover?? Ughh so confusing.

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

Yeah, I'm sure that works for the seeds they send with the tower. There are more than one way to germinate seeds, I have just not had a lot of luck with that method. I know that will not work for things like celery and cilantro.

[@kathrynford795]

I’m just getting started and my first set of plants are not looking well. They are lanky and not strong. I think that I will start my seeds again in your manner. I want this investment to work and so far not so much. My tomatoes are flowering, but not seeing fruit. Are you suppose to trim back to make them stronger and bloom?

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

Don't give up. There are some tricks but once you get it it's like riding a bike. Lanky sounds like not enough light. What type of tomatoes are they and are they inside? I grow very specific tomatoes on the towers for success reasons. Indeterminant tomatoes will need to be pruned because they get so big and don't stop growing. Do you follow my facebook? I do lives many days a week there and get into a lot more details in those live videos that might help. facebook.com/theaeroponictowerchannel

[@robertharris3276]

What is the optimal temperature to set your heat mat at for germination

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

70. Sometimes rockwool can get a little too warm at 70 depending on the airspace around you so you can check your rockwool temp with a meat thermometer and lower the heat mat if you have a heat controller. I have mine that don't have a temp control set up on a timer once my garage gets warmer so the rockwool doesn't get too hot.

[@patrickr9606]

Not sure where you get your ROCK WOOL but the link you provided is NO DEAL.

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

It's .085 per rockwool in bulk and .11 by the sheet. I did some bad math on this video....lol.

[@18priyansh28]

what advantage do we get by doing the paper towel method for seed germination? and can it be done for all types of seeds?

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

So I do it for peppers and eggplant when I'm growing out of season. It's not necessary but because those can be hard to germinate out of season I do it so I don't waste rockwool. It's just a tool I use to make sure the seed germinates so I'm not wasting rockwool or having to over seed and then thin seedlings for plants where I only want one seedling. You don't want to use that method for everything. Most seeds are too small or delicate for this method in my opinion.

[@18priyansh28]

@@theaeroponictowerchannel thanks a lot keep growing 🙌🙌

[@HNA12615]

What is the light that can give heat and light for the seeds in the same time

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

Oh man, I don't remember the name. It was burning up my starts though.

[@agustindelatorre-uo9pn]

How do I use the heat pads?? How long?? 15 hours as well as the light?

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

I leave my lights and heat mat on 24 hours full time. I remove the heat lamp if temps are 75-80 or higher. Below 75 I just keep them on full time. It helps things grow more quickly.

[@tulsiramdagur9580]

Hello friends ❤

[@mj.sorrondegui]

Tower garden sells 30 sheets of 98 rockwools (total of 2940) for $250, so each rockwool is 250/2940=0.085. Where did you get yours for 2 cents? Thanks!!!

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

I did my math wrong! Sorry! I have no idea why I got .02 since per rockwool when I did the math back then. I know they raised their prices shortly after this on the minerals but I don't think it was that much.....I just did bad math.

[@mj.sorrondegui]

@@theaeroponictowerchannel oh no worries, it happens. 0.085 is still a good price compared to other vendors. Thanks for the reply!

[@Tina-fm9mp]

Do you have a seed brand that works the best for this type of hydroponic system?

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

I have a seed guide here. Scroll down and you will see it. You can use any seeds. Growing indoors requires choosing some specific varieties. I have an indoor growing book coming out next week. stan.store/Theaeroponictowerchannel

[@ryangierman4421]

Food Grade Hydrogen Peroxide. I found that I can reduce and haven prevent algae with small amounts of hydrogen peroxide added to the water

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

Awesome! I have used that a little as well. I'll have to try adding it to the water more.

[@kristinesutton846]

I'm courious, what about putting a timer on the lights?😅

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

I have a new light system now and still run them 24 hours. It just seems to work the best that way for me.

[@fitzroyhunter7310]

I like your setup send me the link.

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

Here you go. I have a free ebook on here as well that explains everything. stan.store/Theaeroponictowerchannel

[@mirianaloricchio6504]

Where’s the link to Rockwell?

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

Scroll down in my shop and you will see it. The cost is different than what is mentioned in this video. stan.store/Theaeroponictowerchannel

[@user-bs3sz8wp1l]

Where do you get rockwool for 2 cents per cube?

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

I buy it in bulk on this site. It's .85 per rockwool in bulk. I did bad math in this video. Plus a little inflation has happened. smormino.towergarden.com/us/en/shop/nutrients-and-supplies

[@agustindelatorre-uo9pn]

How often do I have to water the tray?

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

Every time it starts to show signs of becoming dry. I have a free seed starting course now with much better information than this older video.

[@agustindelatorre-uo9pn]

@@theaeroponictowerchannel where can I find that seed starting course? And thank you very much for answering all my questions!

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

@@agustindelatorre-uo9pn Sure! Here you go! I hope it helps! stan.store/Theaeroponictowerchannel/p/master-the-art-of-seed-starting

[@agustindelatorre-uo9pn]

@@theaeroponictowerchannel thank you very much!!

[@8ptorbetter]

What brand are your towers?

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

Here is the link. I use tower garden because you can grow most vegetables easily and add extensions. tm65675.towergarden.com/

[@jenniferackley1543]

@@theaeroponictowerchannel What size rockwool do you use?

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

@@jenniferackley1543 2" by 2.5" Tower garden rockwool has a special edge so it fits in the baby greens extension kit. You can see it here. tm65675.towergarden.com/shop

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

@@jenniferackley1543 This brand. It's 2.5X2 tm65675.towergarden.com/shop

[@drkwoods]

The link to the rockwool shows $21 per pack.. 100 pods for $21 is 21 cents each not 02 cents. Unless im not finding rock wool for 02 cents each ? no?

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

They are .08 cents each if you buy the large box now. I either did the math wrong in this video or they went up in price, probably both. I'm not certain. This video was while ago. Here is a link. I buy 30X98 at a time so 2,940 total for $250.

[@Subcoder]

That rockwool you linked is nowhere near 2 cents per square, it's more like 20 cents.

[@theaeroponictowerchannel]

Yeah, It's 8 now if you buy it in bulk....thanks inflation.