"Leaching" is a essential practice adopted by hydroponic growers, to wash their growing medium, or more specificlly their "Rockwool". Because of "Rockwool" being constantly moist, and being availiable to adequete daily lighting, "algae" growth is going to form on the tops of the cubes. If we take a clone or plant a seed, and if roots develope it will become a healthy plant. But in only a short one weeks time a green algae is going to form on the cubes, and also on the tiny stalks of your plants themselves. This algae growth to your young plants can be deadly and cause your seedling or clones to wilt and die. This algae growth also feeds on the nutrients in your resovoirs solution There are a couple of preventative ways you can go about elimenting this algae growth altogether. Bigger plants and/or potted plants can be easially covered with a plastic covering, stopping the light from reaching the growing medium. Where there is no light no algae growth can occur. But with seeds and clones there may be a problem trying to individually wrap each small cube, esspecially if your going to be taking quite a few clones or planting several seeds. Lightly dusting the tops of your "Rockwool" cubes before planting with "Sulpher Dust" is a way to elimenate algae growth. This product is availiable over the counter and works extremly well. It helps to kill molds, prevents stem rot during rooting, and deters spider mites, gnats and whiteflys. Two great things to stop this fungus or algae growths altogether, but if you need to clean up a problem of severe, or mild algae growth, read on below.
Notice here in the above picture the four small young clones. You should never allow your clones, or seedlings to get as bad as pictured above, this was done to show the growth of this algae, and the cleaning process of this growth, or "Leaching" They have all rooted fine, and have punched their little roots out of their 1 inch Rockwool cubes. None of these clones were treated with sulpher dust and they were aloud to grow naturally under the lights. You can clearly see how the algae has grown here. It had already set in and was growing rapidly on the 1 inchers, and now you can see how this growth is spreading out onto the 4 inch cubes. More specifically in this picture above you can see how the algae has formed and began to grow on the stalks of the plant itself. Up until this point we never leached for this demonstration. But rememmeber, clones and seedlings started, should not be leached whatsoever, there must be a period of time where the seed, or clone, has had time to develope roots. Normally this takes about 5-10 day depending on the strains grown, just long enough fom algae growth to set in. So it is fairly acceptable to assume that after roots have developed, that you will be leaching your plants. If we leach before rooting has taken place, we will only disturb the cuttings new roots, possibly losing some clones. But as these plant have all been well rooted, we will put them through their first leaching or cleaning. We want to remove this algae growth, as it will create bacterial funguses, molds, and restrict air circulation of the plants themselves. If left to grow unattended they will contiune to build up, slowing your plants growth, and possibly even creating additional plant illnesses, and plant death. These algae/fungus buildups also create dank odurs in and around your growing room/area. There is no great science to cleaning off this algae growth. In a pail or sink with lukewarm water, we gently submerse the cube, and rub with a finger this algae growth off, it will disolve or dillute off into the water. We use lukewarm water as to not shock the young roots of the plants. A old toothbrush is a convenient and quick little tool for doing this job. It is exellent in removing the algae growth from in and around the little plants stalks, and is delicate enough not to damage the young plants. Be very gentle and carefull when brushing your clones, or seedings stalks clean. Sometimes and/or if left unattended this algae growth can make the base of your plant weak, very easy to damage, or bend over. Another advantage to "Leaching" is the cleaning of excess salts, and mineral build ups saturated into the cubes. Normally in young seedlings and clones the mixture of your nutirent solution will be half strength, so this washing of excess buildups is not of concern or a problem, more prevention. If rooted the plants will be ready immediatly for their new planting medium, for example, a drip irrigation system, or a pot to grow in. Once put into a new medium with a larger base surface area, we can control and elimenate any algae and fungus growths with a plastic covering. So this is the end result to cleaned or flushed clones, healthy and growing up in the world. Now that their well rooted and flushed, their ready for their final planting into a larger more permenent container. Once planted and covered with a dark plastic covering no algae or fungus growths will be able to form.
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Growing Tips 
