Growing Pleione on rockwool slabs.

[Pascal B]

Pleione formosana grows in a similar fashion on rocky slopes in the wild despite the fact it can grow in a pot in a heavy soil. Pleione hookeriana I have only seen as epiphytes in the wild. Pleione praecox can be found on moss covered branches of trees as well as in the humuslayer of the forest floor.

[LarsB]

Well, both formosana, hookeriana and praecox has done fairly well, so has specios(pleiononides). Plione bulbocoides and limprictii has not done well on the slaps. I've mainly experiemented whit hybrids, but i next year i'll mount more species on rockwool.

[AndyStuart]

Seems like an odd way of growing them... Good odd, not bad odd
Does this method attract any extra creepy crawlies?

[LarsB]

Hi Andy,

It might be odd but it does have advantages. It is a bit more difficult for the crawling visitors to get to the plants, including the slugs, and they are easier to see. The constantly damp slap do attract some small gnat/moskitoes that i don't know the English name for, but they are relatively harmless. There is a theory that they attach the roots, but i haven't experienced any root damage that i could contribute to them.

[BenEiben]

Hello,
     I am brand new to this forum.  Lars, your post made me join  .  I am just starting to really get in to moss culturing.  I have had decent success growing moss on various capillary mats but am very intrigued by this compressed rockwool.  Looks like it could have very nice moisture retention properties.  I have been searching for the past couple days as to what this particular rockwool is used for.  Is it sold as a "fire break", acoustic insulation?  I cant find a product that has the compressive characteristics without hydrophobic properties.

I am located in the US.  Any hints would be very much appreciated.


Sincerely,
Ben

[johnw]

Ben  - Google Fibrgro rock wool.   I'm sure they produce it in the USA as well as  Canada.  It is used by cucumber growers and comes in various shapes including slabs.

late PS  - If this company has closed down I will see who is supplying a similar product now. Will check at work tomorrow and photograph.


johnw

[Maggi Young]

Hi Ben!
Try this .... http://grodan101.com/products
http://grodan101.com/knowledge-center/rockwool-growing-substrate-hydroponic-systems


Distributors across USA.
for instance:
Baltimore Hydroponics, Essex, MD
Boston Gardener , Baltimore, MD
Commerce LLC, Baltimore, MD
Maryland Hydroponics - Kensington, Kensington, MD
Maryland Hydroponics-Laurel, Laurel, MD
Maryland Hydroponics-North Bethesda, North Bethesda, MD
Meadowview Feed & Garden Center, Pasadena, MD
Purple Mountain Organics, Takoma Park, MD
RePotme.com, N. Potomac, MD
Urban Organics Hydroponics, Elkridge, MD

[johnw]

Yes Ben, Maggi is correct. Grodan is indeed the replacement for Fibrgro. The name had slipped my mind.

johnw

[BenEiben]

Thanks everyone for the quick responses.  I am familiar with the grodan rockwool products.  It looked like to me in the original pictures that the material in question was more dense than the grodan formula.  I am looking for something that has a higher compressive strength such that it could be occasionally walked upon. (think like a moss garden).  Grodan is formulated to support vascular plants and therefore has a density to maintain a higher air to water ratio than would be necessary for moss growth where water retention is the most important.  I have found some mineral wool products that seem to have these characteristics but all are coated with a hydrophobic coating.  Maybe what i am searching for does not exist .  Sorry for the slight thread highjacking.

Ben

[Maggi Young]

Hope someone can help Ben with this search......

[LarsB]

Sent you a mail, Ben.

[BenEiben]

Thank you Lars!