Series: Eazy Plug versus Rockwool

This is a seed sprouting trial using Eazy Plug plugs versus Rockwool starting cubes. This should be taken as a historical record of a particular trial with a small sample size and not an indication or guarantee of future performance or indication of performance in other situations (In other words, this is what happened here, your milage may vary).

The trial will be primarily between Eazy Plugs and rockwool, although I may fill the remaining room in the trays with a small assortment of other sprouting cubes for comparison.

Both the Eazy Plug and rockwool packages come with instructions on how to prepare before use:

Eazy Plug prep instructions

(instruction text)

plug ‘n grow

Dried plant starter cubes with super fast water retention

It’s so easy!Just water and drain out excess water.

Eazy Plug will regulate the optimum moisture level automatically.

The Eazy Plug booklet has additional directions:

Allow the Eazy Plugs to fully suck up water with a pH of 5.8.

Let it drain out excess water. Do not squeeze out or dry the plugs.

Eazy Plugs are self-regulating and will only hold the water they need for an optimum moisture level and an optimum air-to-water ratio.

Rockwool prep instructions

The rockwool cubes also have printed instructions on the front of the package.

(instruction text)

Prior to planting fully saturate the B’Cuzz Mini-Blocks in a 1/3 strength nutrient solution adjusted to pH 5.5 and let stand to ensure the nutrient solution is evenly absorbed throughout the entire block. Drain excess nutrient solution and B’Cuzz Mini-Blocks are ready to use.

Water as needed – start with 1/2 strength nutrient and slowly increase nutrient strength with future watering, so that you end up with almost full strength just before transplanting to a B’Cuzz Rooting Block.

Following the directions, each sprouting area was prepared.

The first seeds up are tomatoes (approximately 5 to 10 days to sprout).

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This is day 3 and some of the tomatoes are already sprouting in the Eazy Plugs. Out of 8 plugs, 4 have sprouted. One noticeable trait of Eazy Plugs is their color difference between wet and dry, allowing for a visual indication of when they need watering. In the photo below, the light brown indicates areas where the Eazy Plug is dry, and the darker color shows where there is moisture. Later, once the sprouts have developed their roots enough to fill the plugs it will be time to transplant.

Sprouts are showing in 4 of the rockwool cubes as well. The rockwool cubes appear to hold moisture for longer than the Eazy Plugs. Quick drying growing mediums should be watered often. Growing mediums that don’t dry quickly enough are more prone to fungal issues and root rot can set in. Eazy Plugs seem to have a nice balance between the two. Rockwool tends to stay on the moist side so care must be taken to avoid overwatering.

Neither the Eazy Plugs or the rockwool cubes require any watering yet, as the are still moist from the initial soak. The sprouts appear healthy and are on their way to becoming seedlings. At the top of the sprout is the seed casing, which falls off as the sprout grows. These first seed leaves hold nutrition to sustain the sprout until the first “true” leaves” appear.

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This is the last installment of the Eazy Plug versus Rockwool series. At two weeks the tomatoes in both the EazyPlugs and Rockwool have developed their first “true leaves” (cotyledons), and root development is underway. No longer sprouts, these have developed into seedlings. The moisture of the sprouts are checked twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening, and water is added as needed.

Roots have appeared for both the Eazy Plug and Rockwool cubes. Easily seen roots are emerging from the sides of the plugs. The seedlings are ready for transplanting into Eazy Cubes or Mini Pyramids.

The Rockwool cubes have also sprouted roots.

The new seedlings are ready for transplant. The Eazy Plugs require slightly more frequent watering, but have less tendency to stay soggy than the rockwool cubes. The change in color (light brown when dry, dark brown when wet) is a helpful indicator as to the moisture level in the Eazy Plugs which also appeared to be less likely to develop algae on top.

Stay tuned! Future posts will feature some of the Eazy Plugs in Eazy Cubes, and some on Eazy Mini Pyramids.

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