Hydroton- discontinued

JamesL · February 26, 2013

Anyone use hydroton? In any capacity? Unbeknownst to me, they stopped production last year. Apparently the clay mine in southern Germany ran out. I only found out as of course, I needed some.
Still limited availability so stock up if you are so inclined.
http://eastwesthydro.com/content/gro...es-to-hydroton
I might try this recycled glass alternative - Growstone. Made in New Mexico.
Anyone familiar with it?
http://www.growstone.com/

Worth1 · February 26, 2013

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamesL

Anyone use hydroton? In any capacity? Unbeknownst to me, they stopped production last year. Apparently the clay mine in southern Germany ran out. I only found out as of course, I needed some.
Still limited availability so stock up if you are so inclined.
http://eastwesthydro.com/content/gro...es-to-hydroton
I might try this recycled glass alternative - Growstone. Made in New Mexico.
Anyone familiar with it?
http://www.growstone.com/

I thought you said hydrocodone.

Heaven forbid.

Worth

Cole_Robbie · February 26, 2013

I thought I had heard that another mine had re-opened.

I just looked at wormsway.com and it looks like they don't have hydroton at the moment, but do sell two similar products, Sunleaves "rocks" and "hydroCorn" http://wormsway.com/detail.aspx?sku=GLH317

**mdvpc** · February 27, 2013

Good thing I just bought a 40 lb bag of it on sale in Phoenix!

bwaynef · February 27, 2013

There are several alternatives. Hydrokorrel/Hydrocorn is one. I think its shape is more irregular, but you'd recognize it as Hydoton pretty easily.

I'm not all that familiar w/ Hydroton or its clones, but in my quest for a replacement soil component for bonsai (Akadama, ...which is shipped in from Japan), I went searching for Hydroton. I came away w/ Hydrocorn ...and it's just not going to work out.

davidstcldfl · February 27, 2013

Expanded shale works pretty well too. It is slightly heavier then hydroton.

JamesL · February 28, 2013

I thought you said hydrocodone. - Sorry Worth didn't mean to scare you!

Cole Robbie,
I don't think the 2nd mine worked out.

Good thing I just bought a 40 lb bag - Michael, I hope I have the same luck this weekend. Called my local hydro shop and they claim they still have it, but they are also hit or miss with accurate info when I call there. (in addition to being somewhat surly on the phone)

bwaynef,
Akadama - had to look that up. Why isn't the hydrocorn working out? Is it a simple case of the Japanese clay being better? I sort of had the same opinion about hydroton being a better product in that the Germans have such a high manufacturing standard.
The hydrocorn is a Dutch product, and it looks like a good runner up to hydroton.

David,
Expanded shale - I have looked at that too. I don't know if I can get it locally though.

Growstone - I like the idea of this recycled glass product, but I don't think I like this company so I doubt I will buy it.
There appears to be a "cloud" over the economic incentives they received and some whiffs of scandal.
http://newmexico.watchdog.org/tag/growstone/
Their initial marketing campaign last year also appeared to be based on primarily taking shots at hydroton.
"In order to get Hydroton to your plants, foreign-based companies come to the U.S. and Canada to blow-up mountaintops, tear down trees, and destroy animal habitats." A rather aggressively inaccurate statement since hydroton only came from one mine, and that was in Germany. Other LECA companies might be doing that here, but that's not who they are talking about.
This statement is a real winner as well:
"Growstones are dust-free, 98% recycled, non-toxic, chemical-free growing media that even researchers say are better than Hydroton clay. And researchers are super-smart."

bwaynef · February 28, 2013

As a replacement for Hydroton, Hydrocorn/Hydrokorrels will likely suffice nicely. As a replacement for Akadama it just won't do. Particle size, hardness, water retention, and nutrient holding in akadama is superior ...for its application in bonsai soil (where its a component of a mix of a couple other components).

Akadama would likely make a poor candidate for (traditional) hydroponics where Hydro[ton|corn] seems to excel.

JamesL · February 28, 2013

bwaynef,
That's interesting about the akadama. I am actually using the hydroton in a similar "mixed" application, as a replacement for the pine bark component in a soilless mix. It is (was) a very consistent product.

Baja_Traveler · March 1, 2013

I used Growstone in my aquaponic strawberry towers because it is much lighter than hydroton. The other claims I can buy, but "dust-free" is not one of them.
Since its a man made pumice like material, shipping and jostling around in the bag does grind some dust out of it, and it requires rinsing out.

JamesL · March 1, 2013

Baja,
I take it you have used hydroton as well? How would you compare the two?
Did the Growstone perform as advertised?

Baja_Traveler · March 2, 2013

I wouldn't say that one is any better than the other - just different. The Hydroton being round and somewhat smooth makes it pretty easy to harvest as the roots don't tend to grab onto all the media as much as Growstone (where all the media wants to come with the roots).
As I mentioned before - huge difference in weight.
All in all, the Growstone did perform as advertised - my strawberries grow fine in it, though I have other issues with nutrient deficiency.

JamesL · March 2, 2013

Baja - Thanks.

Went to the hydro shop. Me - I was told you still have hydroton? Him - Sure we have it. Points to a stack of bags labeled Plant It. Me - That's not hydroton.
Him - Well, it all comes from the same place. Its the same thing.
Me -

Sigh. I bought it anyway.

February 26, 2013	#1
JamesL Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 1,992	Hydroton- discontinued Anyone use hydroton? In any capacity? Unbeknownst to me, they stopped production last year. Apparently the clay mine in southern Germany ran out. I only found out as of course, I needed some. Still limited availability so stock up if you are so inclined. http://eastwesthydro.com/content/gro...es-to-hydroton I might try this recycled glass alternative - Growstone. Made in New Mexico. Anyone familiar with it? http://www.growstone.com/

February 27, 2013	#4
mdvpc Tomatoville® Moderator Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: San Antonio, Texas Posts: 4,386	Good thing I just bought a 40 lb bag of it on sale in Phoenix! __________________ Michael

February 26, 2013	#3
Cole_Robbie Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Illinois, zone 6 Posts: 8,407	I thought I had heard that another mine had re-opened. I just looked at wormsway.com and it looks like they don't have hydroton at the moment, but do sell two similar products, Sunleaves "rocks" and "hydroCorn" http://wormsway.com/detail.aspx?sku=GLH317

February 27, 2013	#5
bwaynef Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Clemson SC Posts: 143	There are several alternatives. Hydrokorrel/Hydrocorn is one. I think its shape is more irregular, but you'd recognize it as Hydoton pretty easily. I'm not all that familiar w/ Hydroton or its clones, but in my quest for a replacement soil component for bonsai (Akadama, ...which is shipped in from Japan), I went searching for Hydroton. I came away w/ Hydrocorn ...and it's just not going to work out.

February 27, 2013	#6
davidstcldfl Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Central FL zone 9b Posts: 96	Expanded shale works pretty well too. It is slightly heavier then hydroton.

February 28, 2013	#7
JamesL Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 1,992	I thought you said hydrocodone. - Sorry Worth didn't mean to scare you! Cole Robbie, I don't think the 2nd mine worked out. Good thing I just bought a 40 lb bag - Michael, I hope I have the same luck this weekend. Called my local hydro shop and they claim they still have it, but they are also hit or miss with accurate info when I call there. (in addition to being somewhat surly on the phone) bwaynef, Akadama - had to look that up. Why isn't the hydrocorn working out? Is it a simple case of the Japanese clay being better? I sort of had the same opinion about hydroton being a better product in that the Germans have such a high manufacturing standard. The hydrocorn is a Dutch product, and it looks like a good runner up to hydroton. David, Expanded shale - I have looked at that too. I don't know if I can get it locally though. Growstone - I like the idea of this recycled glass product, but I don't think I like this company so I doubt I will buy it. There appears to be a "cloud" over the economic incentives they received and some whiffs of scandal. http://newmexico.watchdog.org/tag/growstone/ Their initial marketing campaign last year also appeared to be based on primarily taking shots at hydroton. "In order to get Hydroton to your plants, foreign-based companies come to the U.S. and Canada to blow-up mountaintops, tear down trees, and destroy animal habitats." A rather aggressively inaccurate statement since hydroton only came from one mine, and that was in Germany. Other LECA companies might be doing that here, but that's not who they are talking about. This statement is a real winner as well: "Growstones are dust-free, 98% recycled, non-toxic, chemical-free growing media that even researchers say are better than Hydroton clay. And researchers are super-smart."

March 1, 2013	#10
Baja_Traveler Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: San Diego, Ca Zone 10b Posts: 26	I used Growstone in my aquaponic strawberry towers because it is much lighter than hydroton. The other claims I can buy, but "dust-free" is not one of them. Since its a man made pumice like material, shipping and jostling around in the bag does grind some dust out of it, and it requires rinsing out.

March 2, 2013	#12
Baja_Traveler Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: San Diego, Ca Zone 10b Posts: 26	I wouldn't say that one is any better than the other - just different. The Hydroton being round and somewhat smooth makes it pretty easy to harvest as the roots don't tend to grab onto all the media as much as Growstone (where all the media wants to come with the roots). As I mentioned before - huge difference in weight. All in all, the Growstone did perform as advertised - my strawberries grow fine in it, though I have other issues with nutrient deficiency.