Grodan / Rockwool Wall Trial

[Jmbaum]

Separating this from my cool growing terrarium build thread.

Anyone else try a Grodan/ Rockwool wall?
I ran across one in a greenhouse some time ago on a random facebook but haven't seem and post on using it for a vertical surface here other than DirtyCoconuts I have finally made a WET mount

I know it works as a medium, but testing it structurally. I've attached window screen to the glass with silicon as you can see below, and now try a sheet of grodan over top using more silicon. I'm using the cress mat to save on space and keep it lighter weight when saturated with water and moss over top.

fingers crossed, but we will see tomorrow after it cures, and I wet if it all falls off... or just falls apart.

Anything thoughts on ways to secure it should it fail tomorrow? I'm wondering if a wide rigid grid over top, or maybe just a few of DC's gutter guards to reinforce?

[Ray]

My “Grodan experience” is only with the cubes, but they pull apart relatively easily.

[Jmbaum]

I’ve just soaked it, so will find out soon if it can firstly support its own weight

[DirtyCoconuts]

Very cool idea

I think screening or gutter guard on the front would help to support it
The trick is to hold it without compressing it too much

Looking forward to see how this works

[Jmbaum]

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

Very cool idea

I think screening or gutter guard on the front would help to support it
The trick is to hold it without compressing it too much

Looking forward to see how this works

Thanks, gutter guards were on my list from your wet post. I fully intended to use them but the coating didn’t allow silicone to stick well.

I the single panel soak test went well so i just ended up doing a running bond of the cress mats on the main back panel… using an entire can of silicon 😒 Felt wasteful but I will say the test even soaked felt really secure. I’ll be adding more dimension/ tree like growth surfaces so that will further secure it.



On the bottom just put a couple grodan plates on inverted flat With a foam rock. The idea is something that I can grow standard masdevallias on that is physically independent of the background… so I can just pull it out for maintenance. Going to do a couple more items for the other side.

[DirtyCoconuts]

the removable bottom is very clever...i would mix in lava rock or leca bc the grodan WILL compact and lose its abilities over time and you will be VERY rooted into it by then....just a problem i predict that you can mitigate (slightly) in the build phase

[Jmbaum]

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

the removable bottom is very clever...i would mix in lava rock or leca bc the grodan WILL compact and lose its abilities over time and you will be VERY rooted into it by then....just a problem i predict that you can mitigate (slightly) in the build phase

In my wildest dreams I imagine carting the little panel over to an orchid show… once it has plants.. and lots of moss. The rock is foam freebie from the people who sold me they tank for absurdly low price. I was toying with adding more medium, but I want to keep it really light weight since getting it out becomes more difficult. Going to have to be careful not to damage what’s growing in the wall. Because the whole bottom of the tank will be circulation cold water, I’m hoping that the Masd. root through the flat securing themselves… they can also dip into the water if they like as well.
I’m overall trying to balance the permanence of the plants in the space and how much I can make it look ‘in situ’ rather than a bunch of mounts lined up on a wall. That said, if I need to move a plant or the tank, it’s going to be a headache and difficult on the plants once established… but like nature I suppose. Thinking of using the gutter mesh in small lengths as a base for the grodan, like a reverse of your wet tube. Atleast I can move them easily before the root into the wall grodan, also a greater amount of vital roots will be in the removable panel. Moss loves grodan, so it will obscure the boundaries relatively quickly.

Do you think it can be “uncompacted”? Like pulling the layers apart again? I was sort of feathering it with exacto, wonder if that would do the trick.

I have so many more questions too for other forums… trying to get a realistic expectation of clearance I need for some of the pendulous and Dracula spikes. No use building a ledge if it is too low to appreciate the flowers, or worse have the
Grow right into the water.

---------- Post added at 11:07 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:55 AM ----------

Originally Posted by DirtyCoconuts

.just a problem i predict that you can mitigate (slightly) in the build phase

Very into any early mitigation, thanks!

[DirtyCoconuts]

so here is my expereince with the grodan rock wool..it does not "degrade" but it becomes sort of glass sand over time. I feel (not knowledge, just gut) that trying to feather it would only make it worse. it is spun glass fiber so the more it is manipulated the more the fibers break and then the more they will compact into each other.


if you have ever had a store bough phal and you see the layers of sphag as the plant was repotted...the center is typically an old grow cube that is completely smashed to sand and all the roots inside are dead....the plant has moved on and is great but the growcube is not viable as a medium at this point.

you have to avoid that and i think you are in the right direction with not smushing it...i imagine that roots growing through it would keep it open