Some of the growing media used in hydroponics can become expensive. because of this, gardeners are always on the lookout for alternatives. one of the most popular growing media you can choose is rockwool, which is a man-made product where they take rock and sand and heat it to extreme temperatures before they sin it into fibers.. Rockwool hydroponics is totally not a natural material despite a similar substance is naturally made by volcanoes. rockwool is in fact made by heating chalk and rock to 3000 degrees fahrenheit. it is then spun and cooled which turns it to the materials sold as rockwool hydroponics online and in stores..