Effective (so far) replacement growing sponges

[lml Frank lml]

I was responding to a few threads, and I figured instead of copy/pasting over and over again, I'll just put my work on this thread.  So for those that haven't checked the other threads, I'll repeat the skinny:

I read around here before making my own discovery.  I have tried car wash sponges and realized they don't really absorb water....at all.

I've read about one woman's bad luck with kitchen sponges, and so I avoided that.

Then I remembered something, my mom used a certain type of sponge that looked more like swiss cheese than anything else, giving me the hint that it might be able to drain water rather well.  So, she gave me an old shower one, which reeked of perfume-type smells, so I didn't use it.  I didn't want the risk of any chemicals from fragrances to mess up any germination.  Regardless, I knew it was able to soak up rather well, and she told me to check Bed Bath and Beyond, and lo and behold, they had it.  It cost me $15, but anyone who's anyone who shops there knows they give out 20% off coupons like there's no tomorrow, so I took one, and bought it.  I figured it's a quick way, and even if it's a little more money and work, I don't have to wait for the shipping to have it delivered. 

Anyway, point being, you'd want to find something to the nature of this sponge:

http://www.bedbathandbeyond.com/product.asp?order_num=-1&SKU=15030771

They don't have the exact one I bought displayed online, but this is the same exact material.  You might get a little less on this one, being it is cheaper, but still, I used something of this nature, and cut it up into segments with an xacto knife, and cut a slit in the top deep enough so that when stuck in the aerogarden (I have a 6-pod by the way), the water would soak up and make contact with the seeds at that level.  I couldn't make perfect cylinders, as that's pretty impossible with the way the sponge is shaped and the flow of the grain, but when it's dry, it's pretty easy to make cuts.

Don't try to cut it when it's wet, then it just turns to mush, you'll understand what I mean.

With all that said, here are a few pics of the results.  The first pic was a sprout I pulled out of one of the sponges in the aerogarden, since I put a few seeds in and they all sprouted and I didn't want to have to kill some, so I tried to move it into its own sponge.  I think that sprout might have died later on though.  No biggie, the last 4 pics you can see my developments, and so far those sprouts are about 2-3 inches a piece.  Also you can see my toothpick trick in the background of a few of them.  I have a birds of paradise seed in there so I'm hoping this one will actuall germinate, I just hate waiting 2-3 months to see if it's a failure or not.

[bab43]

Very interesting and informative post - thank you! 

The birds of paradise plants are very beautiful, but they're too tall for the AG?

[lml Frank lml]

Haha, well, they might be, I was never successful in growing one of the seeds I have, and I normally like waiting less than 2-3 months for a seed to germinate, but, I use my AG mainly as a seed starter, since they need a lot of water and light, and this gives both at regulated levels.  Just like these pepper plants I showed the pictures of, once they grow another inch or so when I'm confident they're stable enough, I'm going to take them out and transplant them.  I just want the BoP seed to sprout, and then I'll move it once I see it's growing.  So far what I have in my AG collection is a pod of Starfruit seeds, some Passionfruit/Passionflower seeds, the BoP seed, and the 4 pepper plants I had sprouted.  I'm not sure which is which but, I put in some white habaneros, ghost chilis, and chocolate habanero seeds.  I just had multiple sprouts and started putting them in their own pods to isolate them from other sprouts.

If anyone has any tips on Birds of Paradise, Starfruit, and Passionfruit seeds, I wouldn't mind hearing some tips for success, but I normally just pop them in and play the waiting game to see what happens.

[peznin]

I did think of this option as well.  I think that even with the 20% off coupon it's not the most cost effective sponge replacement - not when you can buy a huge bag of either sponges or the peat pods online for anywhere between $10-20.  But this is definitely a cool experiment!   

[lml Frank lml]

Like I said, I didn't want a whole bag of those perfect start sponges lying around, and I was impatient to wait for shipping, no less pay for it, or have to spend enough to get free shipping.  This is for anyone who just wants to get started asap, and further proof you can use items located at a store normally within town, if not the next town over.  My main goal of this thread was to prove how they were effective in not only absorbing water, but allowing the roots to grow through them.  I have plenty of these little sponges now, but the perfect start ones do look appealling, as they're already symmetrically cut.  Mine aren't, but a growing sponge is a growing sponge, so long as it can replicate the properties of the ones given in the AG seed kit sponges. 

[psion128]

This is what I decide on using. It looks fine to use but I'm waiting for them to come in.

http://www.amazon.com/AOk-Starter-Plugs-starter-Stonewool/dp/B00168EO48/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1268712568&sr=8-2

[lml Frank lml]

I heard ups and downs about rockwool but if you've tried them, I'll trust your judgment, I just wish they had bigger pictures of it on amazon and whatever first few sites came up from a google search.  When they come in, mind taking a few pics?  Unless you have a few now you can show the progress of plants within them?  I wouldn't mind seeing these in action too. 

[ocarolina]

I have to agree with Julie, as they are cheaper, and it only took 3 days to get them.  Either way, you have extra sponges lying around, and the pods dry anyway for storage.  I am all for new ideas that work, but not if they cost me more money - you paid for shipping/transport costs when you got the sponge at BBB - you just don't realize it - transportation costs are built into all products - they have to get to the store some way.  I am glad that it is working for you, but I honestly prefer to save money where I can.   

Rockwool did not work for me - I use it in my home rig, where it is not submersed in water and it works. In the ag, either submersed in water in an ag6, or water trickling on it in an ag7, it gets mushy  and seeds rot. 

[lml Frank lml]

That's the same problem I keep hearing about rockwool, the seed/root rot factor.  And yes, perhaps I did indirectly pay shipping, BUT, to my defense, I was a little impatient about finding a viable solution, since AG doesn't just sell the sponges themselves, which would be the end-all solution, if the price was right. 

The main message I was trying to pass off, was the fact that the material worked for me, not the specific product from BBB.  I'm sure with a few google searches we could find a bulk clump of sea sponge, had someone liked the results I've shown.  I just feel that it's a great absorber, and stays moist most of the way (the top tends to dry up, but that doesn't matter, since the seed isn't lying on top).

I'm glad a lot more ideas have come in though since I started looking around this site, and as I said, once I run out of these, or feel the sponges aren't working too well for some seeds (I'm getting a white crust on some starfruit seeds, possibly from being too deep in a pocket I cut in one of the sponges), I'd definitely be keeping my eye on the perfect start sponges next.  I just want to figure out enough things to buy on amazon to get free shipping, so long as it's eligible.

Anyone have any tips as far as trying to germinate tropical seeds in this thing?  As I said, I'm attempting with passionfruit, starfruit, and birds of paradise seeds currently.  as far as the pics I've shown, those were all various pepper plants (Choc. Habanero, White Habanero, Bhut Jolokia), and they seem to do rather well given the amount of moisture contained, but might be too much for the other seeds.

[psion128]

Oh. I didn't know that the seeds will rot from the rockwool. I guess I'll have to make the sprout a different way before I put them in. Hopefully they do alright.

[bab43]

Oh. I didn't know that the seeds will rot from the rockwool. I guess I'll have to make the sprout a different way before I put them in. Hopefully they do alright.

Seeds will rot from rockwool that is kept too wet.  I've sprouted in rockwool using a wick system so the water soaks up into the rockwool from the bottom and all went very well.  I just don't think you can have water pouring over it for prolonged periods or keep it submersed in water.

[AeroKnipp]

I've sprouted in rockwool using a wick system

What did you use for wicking?

[bab43]

It was a seed tray using a capillary mat "http://www.leevalley.com/garden/page.aspx?c=1&p=44712&cat=2,44713,40757&ap=1".   I was sprouting for outdoor use.  Squirrels did dig up some of them, but left seedling, etc., intact.  I figured it was the moisture in the rockwool attracting them so stopped watering at night.

I purchased "http://www.leevalley.com/garden/page.aspx?c=1&p=53708&cat=2,44713" to do the same thing on a larger scale (not worked out yet) but plan to use a soilless mix for starting my seedlings this time rather than rockwool, using the mix in the instructions for the original seed tray - it's on the page for the seed tray above if you scroll down.

[AeroKnipp]

It was a seed tray using a capillary mat

Thanks, Marianne!

[bab43]

You're welcome!

At some point I may try some rockwool in my VeggiePro.  I can see why it would have a problem in the 7 pod machines with water pouring over it for long periods, but if it's not submersed too far in an AG6 I can't see why rockwool wouldn't work....

I was also worried about flaking in the AG7 - about rockwool particles getting into the pump or in the water flow areas inside of the deck.  But in an AG6 the airstone and plastic tube are easy to replace. 

[AeroKnipp]

I was also worried about flaking in the AG7

There is some flaking with Rapid Rooters as well, but it doesn't cause any problems with my AG7. I rinse/refill the tank and clean the sponge filter every 7-10 days. There is usually a bit of debris at the bottom of the tank.

[bab43]

Good to know about the Rapid Rooters - thanks!

[Sandy]

Aloha,
I am a new owner and member!
I heard that you could use foam hair rollers in the pods? Anyone tried?

Sandy