There were a couple of posts asking for clarification of the question and other posts that suggested other methods of growing....

We've probably scared Alisa away, hope she didn't go away mad. One more opinion on the inorganic pellets for seed starting, I'd be afraid to be stuck with that lump of inorganic stuff around the stem of my plant forever, too. IF it was a shrubby plant like marijuana, or even a tomato that got a big husky stem, you'd have to carefully cut the stuff away, wouldn't you?

If its a large plant, the rockwool will just get grown through and around and it would be a very small thing right in the middle of your tree or tomato. For small plants, that could be the entire rooting system. I got an orchid that had been started in rockwool cubes and it was a mess to get out.

If Alisa is planting from rockwool to soil, it seems silly to start with rockwool. As I stated way back there somewhere, it is used in soilless systems where the introduction of soil would be a problem.

I am using rockwool cubes right now to root ghost pepper cuttings but its my last ditch attempt. As the peppers will be permanently in pots or in a hydrosystem, I am not worrying about the little annoying cubes.

I am also trying to get desert peach seeds to sprout in rockwool - another last ditch effort.

I certainly apologize to Alisa if I made her upset. I know I get impatient at times but I did apologize for that. The fun thing about this forum is that we all get involved and add all our cents (sense). Sometimes we do over-run the original poster with our enthusiam but a question was asked. Of course, we would give our opinion even if a question was not asked.

So Alisa, please come back and join the dialog. We'd like to get to know you.

Daisy

That is a beautiful Thanksgiving cactus that you have! Please do come back and join us here.

I asked the question because in the Portland area recently, A glass company uses chemicals that polluted the air and the ground. All the food and gardens are contaminated now and maybe for years. Some community gardens that was feeding the homeless in the area was effected too! I throught Hydoseeding could be answer! Until ground is tested to be clear! I was wrong! I am glad I asked the question. I learned a lot on how to use Rockwool blocks and the limited use!

Purplebloomcactus said:I asked the question because in the Portland area recently, A glass company uses chemicals that polluted the air and the ground. All the food and gardens are contaminated now and maybe for years. Some community gardens that was feeding the homeless in the area was effected too! I throught Hydoseeding could be answer! Until ground is tested to be clear! I was wrong! I am glad I asked the question. I learned a lot on how to use Rockwool blocks and the limited use!

No...please don't tell me you are wrong...everyone has their own take on things. You did your research...time will tell successes and/or failures. Keep on trucking, girl! I'm behind you 100%.

Wow! Those are not the chemicals you want running around.

http://www.oregonlive.com/envi...

The contaminants are probably not in the air anymore but they are in the soil. The amount of heavy metals picked up by vegetable plants will be negligable but don't eat the fish in the neighborhood ponds. If you are concerned, its time to go into container or raised garden mode.

Daisy