Looking for a way to germinate your seeds? Try Rapid Rooters

Germination of seeds is a tough process unless the proper temperatures, growth media, and lighting conditions are provided.

There are 2 types of such growth medium, one being loose and sold by weight. For example plotting mix, peat moss, perlite, and compressed clay pellets.

The other kind comes in the form of cylindrical cubes known as starter plugs. It is also known as the growth plug. 

What exactly is a growth plug?

As per the ANSI Nursery Stock Standards published by the American Horticulture Industry Association, the term indicates the seedlings and rooted cuttings removed from the container but kept intact with the medium.

 For example Rockwool, horticubes, oasis, and Rapid Rooters.

What are Rapid Rooters?

An initiative under General Hydroponics, Rapid Rooter is a type of polymer-bound Starter plug. The growth medium here is bound by a polymer. The intactness of the medium provides the conditions needed for germination.

Rapid Rooters can be utilized for developing seeds, cloning plants, or as a developing mechanism for aqua-farming and aeroponics. 

When you have effectively made a seedling with a Rapid Rooter, it very well may be relocated into basically anything, be it soil, perlite, supplement arrangement, or significantly more peat greenery. 

What are the components of Rapid Roosters?

Rapid roosters comprise Peat Moss or tree bark along with a binder. Peat moss happens to be a soilless natural substance made of decomposed matter like Sphagnum moss. This peat moss, being highly water absorbent, ensures compactness with its high air-water density.

This growth medium and polymer combination has shown optimal air-to-water ratio in the plug’s matrix, thus resulting in explosive early root development.

So do Rapid Rooters have any nutrients in them?

Rapid rooters are made of peat moss which is just a soilless organic substance. Even though peat moss can retain a lot of moisture, thus providing enough oxygen to the plants, it doesn’t comprise the essential nutrients.

However, while soaking the rapid roots, which is the very first step of using it, you can soak them in a nutrient solution. Just ensure to check the PH of the nutrient solution. This will even boost the growth of the seed.

Why should you use Rapid Rooters?

Rather than mixing medium with different ingredients and packing it in a tray, simply take Rapid rooster and put your seeds in it. They are designed to make the growth process smoother. 

Also the compactness of Rapid Roosters ensures that they don’t easily break apart unlike the loose media which simply falls off. Thus they can be used easily in any hydroponic system.

This growth medium and polymer combination has shown optimal air-to-water ratio in the plug’s matrix, thus resulting in explosive early root development.

Using Rapid Rooter To Germinate Seeds For Your Hydroponic Set up

The three important things for healthy germination are darkness, moisture, and warmth. Apart from that, you will need a starter plug, tray, and tray warmers like a mat to provide the optimum warmth.

Step 1:

Rapid Rooters need to be soaked for about 12- 24 hours in diluted water or nutrients before their usage. Just ensure to check the PH of the nutrient solution. This will even boost the growth of the seed. Post soaking, place all the plugs in a  growth tray.

A growth tray is essential because these starter plugs cant stand out well easily hence some support is needed. Once you put them in a tray, you can water them easily without any disruption.

Step 2:

Each cylindrical structure has a tiny hole in it where the seeds need to be placed. Tear a piece of the bottom of the root plug and keep more than one seed in each hole to ensure successful rates of germination.

In case if you don’t want to use seeds, you can take clones from adult healthy plants. To clone a plant, just cut a healthy branch, pull the leaves off and put the Rapid Rooter.

Also, this keeps the seed in the entire darkness which is also an important aspect of germination. This is because some seeds may grow initially faster than others and get exposed to light. Meanwhile, other seeds, yet to sprout can still get the darkness.

Step 3:

The next step is to fill the grow tray with about a quarter-inch of water. The holes at the bottom of the tray will allow the wick-up water and help them stay moist. Once filled, cover it with a moist cloth, dome, or saran wrap.

Ensure to keep adding 16 fluid ounces of water in the tray for every two to three days as needed. However, there should be a regular supply of water.

Pro – Tip: When it grows into seedling more water has to be given, but during germination, ensure not to make the plugs dripping wet. They should be moist.

Step 4:

Lighting is an important constituent for germination. Place the tray under low-intensity lighting and keep adding water to the plugs as needed. You can keep the tray 4-6 inches under the LED light for fluorescent lights. Also, you place a seedling heat mat under the tray to give a warm temperature.

Step 5: When are the seeds ready for Transplanting?

Once they start growing into seedlings, they can put under high-intensity light to get started towards light geared vegetative growth. Slowly when roots start popping out from the Rapid rooters it is the perfect time to transplant them.

Step 6:

Due to the versatile nature of Rapid rooters they can be transplanted in any growth medium, as long as the growth medium is specially designed for hydroponic setup. Once transplantation is done, go ahead with adding the required amount of nutrients.

Challenges with Rapid Rooters

Like every other fertilizer or growth medium, rapid roosters also face some challenges that need to be addressed.

Indeed, Rapid Rooters can go bad. 

If not stored as expected, parasites or different microorganisms can taint the item. For this situation, they ought to be tossed out. Another normal situation is that you open up a bundle of Rapid Rooters just to find that they have gone dry. For this situation, they are “awful,” however can be fixed. 

You can either dunk them in some water prior to utilizing them or adhere to the directions above on the best way to hydrate and add supplements to them all the while. 

Best practices: The best practice lies in checking for mold or mildew. When you remove packaging, ensure that the plug isn’t covered with a white layer on the top. This layer indicates mildew growth. 

Rehydration of Rapid Rooters

Rapid Rooters can be rehydrated – to a point. The polymer-bound substrate has an underlying surface that is similar to a sponge. While wet, the actual matter of the medium is adaptable and strong.

 Whenever it has dried out, it turns out to be significantly weaker. The breakage is on such a limited scale that it can straightforwardly affect the connections between the polymer and the medium, implying that even after rehydration it neglects to accomplish a similar surface. 

Pro – Tip: You can keep your Rapid Rooters quite moist by putting away them in an airtight holder, similar to a Ziploc pack. 

Rapid Rooter vs Rockwool

Rapid Rooters and Rockwool are both starter plugs utilized for seed germination and as a developing medium. They are basically the same, yet they do play the same role in various manners. 

Generally, they can be utilized reciprocally. Whichever you use boils down to individual inclination. That being said, here are the distinctions and advantages, and disadvantages of Rapid Rooters and Rockwool.

Rockwool is made of rock and has a slightly alkaline pH. It is Not biodegradable, Inexpensive with Good water retention, and is viable for transplanting, and as a growing medium. On the other hand, Rapid rooters have a neutral pH and contain some traces of mineral nutrients and important microorganisms,

Final Thoughts

Germination becomes a lot easier when Rapid rooters are used. Being simple to use and affordable as well, your hydroponic plants get a healthy start.

FAQs

How to know when my Rapid Rooters are ready for transplantation?

Ans: The first sign is the appearance of roots in your hydroponic system When they appear, transplant them to any growing mediums needed.

Is a growth tray needed for Rapid Rooters?

Ans: Yes any tray can be used. In case you don’t have one, you can use a small cup or some household utensils as well. A growth tray is essential because these starter plugs cant stand out well easily hence some support is needed.

Can Rapid Rooters be used in any other farming apart from hydroponic farming?

Ans: No, Rapid Rooters can be utilized for basically any sort of cultivating.  They are straightforward and adaptable developing tools.  Rapid Rooters can be utilized for developing seeds, cloning plants, or as a developing mechanism for aqua-farming and aeroponics. 

How Long Does It Take For Rapid Rooters Seeds To Germinate?

Ans: As long as you provide the optimum moisture, heat, warmth, and darkness, it can take about 2 to 5 days to sprout seedlings. Other methods usually take 5 to 15 days.

How Wet Should your Rapid Rooters Be?

Ans: To work effectively, they should be around 75% saturated. When it grows into seedlings more water has to be given, but during germination, ensure not to make the plugs dripping wet. They should be moist.