Cultilene OptimaXX Slab Stone Wool Hydroponics Growing Medium

Stone wool slabs provide a neutral solid basis to get the most out of your crop by optimizing the root environment and root activity.
Water content in the medium and root uptake, oxygen and carbon dioxide air content, pH, electrical conductivity EC, temperature, microbiological life and essential nutrients availability, the crucial parameters for optimal plant balance, a healthy and active crop and good harvest production of hydroponics agriculture are taken into consideration during the manufacturing process.
The water buffer growing substrate is easy to control and delivers a constant supply of enriched water to the plant rhizosphere to maximize micronutrient and macronutrient uptake capacity for ideal rooting patterns and vegetative and generative growth, a steering range for your crop at every developmental stage.
Designed to enable large scale water savings, lower energy bills, less nutrient usage through water and fertilizer reuse to strive for a world without raw material depletion and without waste, reduce the amount of crop protection products used and higher yields per square metre.
Helps food production by increasing quality and quantity of crops while decreasing costs and inputs.

• For hydroponics propagation, potting up, cultivation of vegetables, herbs, fruits and  flowers.
• Stone wool slab made of basalt with the X-fiber technology so that the fibres are orientated in all directions throughout the substrate.
• Rapid root development is supplied by the vertically oriented fibre structure and a better root volume throughout the substrate is made possible by the horizontally oriented fibre structure.
• Very good and fast control over EC and water content.
  
• Optimal plant balance through good steering ability.
  
• Even distribution of water and diluted nutrients.
  
• Place plug into cube holes and place cube on top of slabs for efficient sequential potting up, eliminating transplant shock.
  
• Use small and frequent waterings to help keep the water you apply in the slab and at the top.
• Large nutrient solution doses will push the water to the bottom of the slab and quicker to the drain point, it is important to use a dose size factor of 20 or lower if possible within the limitations of your system.
• The target level for moisture content is between 50%and 80% of the volume.
• Slabs must be completely saturated with water before use. Leave the slabs for 24 hours to 48 hours fully saturated with water at the EC and pH prescribed for your crop. 
  
• Then make the drainage slits within 24 hours before planting.
• Minimize fluctuations in water content and EC distribution throughout the whole slab by correctly positioning the drainage slits and supplying the appropriate dose size for good root distribution and plant growth.
• To get a homogenous water content and EC throughout the slab, make drainage slits at the lowest point on both ends of the slab.
• For an even drainage pattern throughout the slab so that water and fertilizers can be refreshed more effectively efficiently, locate the drainage slits located between the ends exactly between the cubes.
• If the slab is not absolutely level when using hanging gutters, drainage slits can be made on
  both sides to ensure drainage is the same throughout the slab.
• All drainage slits must run to the bottom of the slab and have to be high enough, 3 to 4 cm, in order to prevent the roots from restricting the flow of draining water.
• Never make a drainage slit under a dripper as this can lead to false drainage.
• Use within two years of the delivery date.

Technical specifications:

• Time required to sink: Class 1 RHP < 25 sec.
• Nominal water content - at drainage: 90%.
• Nominal water content - pF1: 55%.
• Control range: 50 – 80%.
• Organic matter: 1.0 – 5.5%
•  Bulk density at delivery: 45 kg/m³.
• Relative compressions RC: ≤ 30% at 5 kPa.
• Recovery capacity: ≥ 98% ± 2% at 5 kPa.
• Pore volume: ≥ 95%.
• EC: ≤ 0.5 dS/m.
• pH value in stone wool: 5 – 6.5.
• RHP, ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certified. 
• Made in the Netherlands for professional vegetable cultivation.