Grodan
Growing slabs and plugs, part of the ROCKWOOL group.
Material and brand
Is rockwool the same as stone wool?
A frequently asked question in horticulture. We explain the difference between the material and the brand name.
Paper Plug TraysEllepot FP 12+
The short answer
No. Stone wool is a material, ROCKWOOL is the brand name of a Danish manufacturer of stone wool products. Just like Kleenex and tissues, the brand has become so well known that it is often used as a generic name.
What is stone wool?
Stone wool is a mineral fibre material. Basalt, a volcanic rock, is melted at around 1,500 °C and spun into fibres.
- Natural mineral material
- Made from basalt rock
- Excellent water and air retention
- Widely used as a growing substrate
What is ROCKWOOL?
ROCKWOOL is a Danish company and brand that makes stone wool products for insulation and, through the Grodan brand, for growing.
- Danish company founded in 1937
- One of the largest producers of stone wool
- Makes both insulation and growing products
- Brand name that became synonymous with stone wool
Other stone wool manufacturers
ROCKWOOL is the best known, but not the only producer.
Cultilene
Stone wool substrates for greenhouse horticulture.
Paroc
Insulation and stone wool for growing.
Knauf Insulation
Stone wool insulation material.
Stone wool in horticulture
In professional growing, stone wool is mainly used as a substrate, with good properties for hydroponics.
- Vegetable cultivation in greenhouses
- Propagation of seedlings and cuttings
- Vertical growing systems
- Hydroponic installations
From material to propagation plug
For sowing and cuttings, explore our rockwool plugs in 84- or 104-cell trays. Compare plug sizes and box contents to choose the right version.
Getting started with the trays? Read our guide to using rockwool propagation plugs for practical information on propagation.
Knowledge base
Further reading
Paper Plug Trays
Stone wool plugs from Lumora
Our Paper Plug Trays combine stone wool with an Ellepot FP 12+ paper sleeve for a plug you can plant directly.