Reusing a seed pod

Though you can purchase a Master Gardener Deluxe Kit from AeroGrow that will allow you to use your own seeds, AeroGardeners often choose to reuse the included seed pods. Here are a few methods of reusing a seed pod.

Replace the sponge

Sponge Alternatives

Rockwool Growing Cubes

Rockwool can be used in place of the growing sponges.

Things you'll need

• A tray of Rockwool cubes, get a tray of small 1” cubes (starter cubes)
• pH Testing Kit
• Lemon Juice (bottled is cheaper)

Where to buy

You can get rockwool at lawn and garden shops, nurseries, etc. 100 cubes for about 10$.

Compatibility

Not all members have had success using Rockwool cubes in their AGs.

• "I used Grodan Rockwool this summer to start seedlings in a tray for planting outdoors. That part went really well. But I had already decided that I would not be using Rockwool in my AG when I saw the sediment left behind after the Rockwool had been soaked for 24 hours to reduce the pH. Rockwool flakes and particles come off the cubes. I checked with other members and they reported the same. I would not want this sediment running through my AGs. During the same period a couple of members were trying out Rockwool in their AGs and the grows were a failure because the Rockwool remained too wet." [1]

Procedure

1. The first step is to pH balance the Rockwool cubes. The pH scale runs from 0 to 14 with 7 being neutral. Any reading above 7 is alkaline, any reading below is acidic - tap water tends to be alkaline and reads around 7 or above. Plants prefer a slightly acidic solution to grow well, the ideal range is between 5.5 and 6.5
2. Fill a 1 litre container with tap water, take a small sample of the water using your pH testing kit and add the stated amount of drops to the sample (2-3 drops). Shake the sample tube and compare the colour to the pH chart – it will normally be green, pH 7 to 8. Add a few drops of lemon juice to the 1 litre water container – lemon juice, being acidic, will lower the pH down to make the water slightly acidic; we need to get the pH down to 5.5
3. Repeat this procedure of sample taking, adding lemon juice and testing until you arrive at a pH of 5.5 to 6 – once you have done it a few times it will be much easier and you will know how much to add. Important: do not let the water dip below 5 as, when we add the Rockwool to soak, it will damage the fibres – if the water dips below, just add more water to raise the level back up again.
4. Once the water is at 5.5 to 6, put the Rockwool cubes in the water and soak for at least 1 hour. This stabilises the Rockwool, we need to do this as Rockwool has too high a pH - usually 7.8 We don’t want to plant our seeds directly into this as it’s outside the ideal growing zone (pH 5.5 to 6.5).
5. When the time is up take the Rockwool, squeeze a little water out of it, and put it in the AeroGarden plastic growing container to check for size. I found that I needed to cut the bottom quarter off the Rockwool cube so it fits better. Always do this when the Rockwool is wet, don’t do it when dry as the fibres are not healthy for you!
6. Choose your seeds and insert the seeds into the small hole in the top of each cube. If there is not a pre-made hole then make a small hole a quarter inch / 0.75cm deep. Cover the hole with a bit of Rockwool so the seed has a dark place to sprout from. If it’s too awkward to get the seeds into the hole when in the container, then plant them with the Rockwool removed to make it easier.
7. Place the container in your AeroGarden and you’re all done.[2]