Page 22 - Griffin Gazette - October 2026

Stone wool gives growers a high level of control, but that
control requires active management. The block should
be fully and evenly hydrated before transplanting. Irrigation
frequency and shot size must then be adjusted as roots
establish and plant demand increases. Because the block
responds quickly to irrigation changes, growers can use
it to guide the crop through different production stages
(e.g., veg, early flower, late flower, flush). Frequent irrigation
with smaller dry backs can support early vegetative
development. As plants enter flower, irrigation timing and
overnight dry back can be adjusted to create a more
generative response. The goal is not to dry the block as
much as possible. It is to create repeatable changes in
moisture content and EC without causing damaging stress,
root damage, or uneven rewetting.

PRO-MIX CX OFFERS A COIR-BASED OPTION
Premier Tech’s PRO-MIX CX provides another substrate
option for cannabis growers interested in crop steering with
coconut coir. Better yet, it comes in a convenient grow bag.
It is a 100% coir media made from a blend of coir fiber
GRODAN PROVIDES A HIGHLY
and coir pith. This provides medium-high water-holding
RESPONSIVE ROOT ZONE
capacity with high air porosity, allowing the bags to retain
Grodan stone wool has become a familiar crop-steering moisture while maintaining air space for root development.
tool in commercial cannabis and CEA crop production Growers will find that using a 100% coir product provides
because of its uniform structure and predictable response flexibility for irrigation-based crop steering and is a familiar
to irrigation. Grodan offers a connected system of plugs, choice for many operations. This formulation allows for low-
blocks, and slabs that allows growers with varying volume, frequent fertigation to maintain active vegetative
production strategies to maintain consistency from growth as well as stronger dry backs accompanied by
propagation through flower. watering to container capacity to encourage a generative
response.
The Grodan Gro-Block Improved Hugo is a 6-by-6-
by-6-inch block designed for larger plants and longer This high-quality coir substrate provides a low initial EC,
production cycles. Its size provides a substantial moisture giving growers control over the fertility program from the
buffer while still allowing growers to manage water content, beginning. Likewise, PRO-MIX CX does not contain a starter
EC, and dry back with precision. The Hugo block can be fertilizer or calcium-magnesium buffer. The initial hydration
used as the final production container, eliminating another and fertility program must account for this so that plants
transplant step. A rooted plug or smaller Grodan block receive the needed nutrients soon after transplanting. PRO-
can be transplanted into the Hugo, allowing the plant to MIX CX is available in compressed, prefilled grow bags
continue developing in a consistent media environment ranging from 1 to 5 gallons. Each bag includes a planting
and minimizing transplant shock. Given the chemical hole, dripper openings, and drainage points. Growers can
properties of stone wool, manipulating ECs with your place the bags in the production area, hydrate them, install
starting feed and leaching percentage allows growers to the emitters, and transplant directly into the expanded coir.
pivot quickly based on the crop response and stage of We covered the valuable labor-saving features of using this
production.

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