Grodan Improved GR32 – 6 x 6 x 6 Inch Hugo Block

Grodan Improved GR32 – 6 x 6 x 6 Inch Hugo Block

The Grodan® Hugo™ (6″ x 6″ x 6″) Gro-block is a popular choice for growing larger plants. The block allows a grower to transplant a cutting into a final block configuration that will carry plant growth through harvest. Created as a slab alternative for home growers, this block has become popular among commercial and hobby growers alike. Due to the large volume of water this substrate can hold, careful irrigation practices must be employed to avoid delays in plant development and encourage uniform root colonization. Employing the best practices outlined below will allow you to maximize the performance of your Hugo blocks quickly and efficiently with minimal input.

How to Use:

Start with a healthy, vigorous cutting that has a well-developed root system. Weak or stressed cuttings with under-developed root systems are not ideal candidates for transplant into Hugo blocks due to the large volume of media the roots must colonize. Select healthy and uniform cuttings with roots present throughout the starter plug. These cuttings should already be accustomed to
daily irrigations with a well-balanced nutrient solution that has a minimum of 1.5 EC and a pH of 5.5 – 6.5. Because rockwool is completely inert, nutrients are needed from the onset to provide the essential fuel for plant growth. Condition the Hugo with the same strength nutrient solution you were applying to the cuttings prior to transplant. Apply the nutrient solution with a watering wand
using a course spray to wet the media multiple times until fully saturated. Alternatively, you can submerge the block in the solution for about 30 seconds. After initial saturation allow excess nutrient solution to drain away. Check the weights of the blocks (water content (WC)) to ensure they are uniformly saturated. Insert your rooted cutting in the Hugo block and apply an initial
irrigation using the same nutrient solution used to condition the block.

After the initial, transplant measure the weight of the block to determine when to apply the next irrigation. Wait to irrigate until the block weighs 20%-30% less than its initial weight at first saturation. If using Grodan GroSens to measure volumetric water content, you should wait until WC is about 55%-65% before applying the first irrigation. Work to apply 1 or more irrigations per day for the first 1 to 2 weeks to steer the plant vegetatively and grow more leaves and stems.

View Grodan Basics – Precision Irrigation

View Grodan Rockwool Hugo Block – Wetting Instructions