Grow Mediums Coco and soil mix

[Rbailey]

Hey, guys I have learned a lot from you all since I jumped back into the hobby. My seeds just got here, and lights are on their way soon. 4x4 tent with 2x 240w quantum boards and 5 plants. My current test plant is growing in ffof, and it hit me with ph swing and nute lock at week 5. Flushing today once I learn fully how to do it (2-3 buckets until soil ph is acceptable, no ec/tds meter yet, about to hit hydro store today and see what they have). I wish I'd have done my research on that beforehand. Anywho.

I want to grow with coco as I like that it's controllable and produces great results. A lot of people seem to do things like this: 1/3 perlite and 2/3 coco, a 50/50 mix of coco and soil like happy frog or super soil with a cup or two of added perlite. I work 55 hours a week, so I need a medium that is more forgiving. I've noticed a 50/50 haply frog and coco coir with perlite is a pretty good mix. Thoughts? Thanks!

 

[Sour D]

I was growing 1/3 perlite,2/3 coco for close to a year and recently started organic soil in SIPS. IMHO the sips are less maintenance- except for the amount of trimming you'll do. Unless you experiment and add a bunch of stuff it doesn't need, the soil will take care of the whole ppm/ec stuff. It's pretty hard to overwater.. earthbox My sip journal: DIY sip

 

[Rbailey]

Thanks a bunch, man!!!

 

[Proph]

Hey, guys I have learned a lot from you all since I jumped back into the hobby. My seeds just got here, and lights are on their way soon. 4x4 tent with 2x 240w quantum boards and 5 plants. My current test plant is growing in ffof, and it hit me with ph swing and nute lock at week 5. Flushing today once I learn fully how to do it (2-3 buckets until soil ph is acceptable, no ec/tds meter yet, about to hit hydro store today and see what they have). I wish I'd have done my research on that beforehand. Anywho.

I want to grow with coco as I like that it's controllable and produces great results. A lot of people seem to do things like this: 1/3 perlite and 2/3 coco, a 50/50 mix of coco and soil like happy frog or super soil with a cup or two of added perlite. I work 55 hours a week, so I need a medium that is more forgiving. I've noticed a 50/50 haply frog and coco coir with perlite is a pretty good mix. Thoughts? Thanks!

If you take a stroll through the coco section, you will find plenty of threads about Coco and soil mixed, and all of the issues it brings. We have long been warning growers about this. Soil and coco are two completely different mediums, that are intended to be treated completely different. I wouldn't and don't recommend mixing them. I recommend picking one and learning how to grow in that, then moving to the other.. If you are looking for a forgiving medium, coco is not the answer. Far from it. It's high maintenance and one mistake or slip can open a flood gate of issues. It does not forgive, it holds grudges, lol.

 

[Rbailey]

If you take a stroll through the coco section, you will find plenty of threads about Coco and soil mixed, and all of the issues it brings. We have long been warning growers about this. Soil and coco are two completely different mediums, that are intended to be treated completely different. I wouldn't and don't recommend mixing them. I recommend picking one and learning how to grow in that, then moving to the other.. If you are looking for a forgiving medium, coco is not the answer. Far from it. It's high maintenance and one mistake or slip can open a flood gate of issues. It does not forgive, it holds grudges, lol.

Aaaah I see. I looked through most of the posts, and concluded it could be done easier than just using soil. Maybe I'll revisit using a super soil. I'm willing to put in the work!

 

[automan2]

Being an organic grower, I've used a bunch of different soil-less mediums over the past 15 years...from plain miracle grow to pro mix... most trusted has been biobizz light mix. A recent shipment f-up forced me to use an alternative for a couple weeks to start a new round so had to buy some Miracle Grow Performance Organics...looks identical to light mix and so far, it has equaled anything I've used. May just be a replacement for light mix and its just a few miles away.
Soil-less mediums are forgiving and you just might like their offerings.

 

[Rbailey]

Being an organic grower, I've used a bunch of different soil-less mediums over the past 15 years...from plain miracle grow to pro mix... most trusted has been biobizz light mix. A recent shipment f-up forced me to use an alternative for a couple weeks to start a new round so had to buy some Miracle Grow Performance Organics...looks identical to light mix and so far, it has equaled anything I've used. May just be a replacement for light mix and its just a few miles away.
Soil-less mediums are forgiving and you just might like their offerings.

Awesome man, thanks for the info. This is what I was looking for moving forward!

 

[Groff]

I am currently running 50% reused coco, 25% allmix and 25% light mix. 16 plants, same feed for all. Had a few complaints, but all under control now. It can be done, you just need to be able to read your plants. No advised for newbies. Link in my sig.
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[Rbailey]

I am currently running 50% reused coco, 25% allmix and 25% light mix. 16 plants, same feed for all. Had a few complaints, but all under control now. It can be done, you just need to be able to read your plants. No advised for newbies.
_

Super. Sounds like I should go with something like bio bizz light instead of ffhf or coco.

 

[Groff]

Super. Sounds like I should go with something like bio bizz light instead of ffhf or coco.

I once emailed Biobizz asking if I could use their line with only coco. They replied with a resounding "NO! it won't work!" - I did it anyways, and had a marvelous crop. I have a diary somewhere here, around 2013 or 2014??

Of course, they did not recommend it because BB was not created for pure coco. Strangely, they sell BB branded coco themselves. OF course, they don't recommend for the regular hobbyist. CalMag and Sulphur will be needed as a constant supplement. Add LED's, double so. It can be done without issues. It just not recommend to avoid complaints from your generic hobby grower.
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