How to get better flavor growing in coco?

[Stroke1]

I'm using 3 gallon smart pots and 2 3500k autocobs from cobshop.net. I decided to only run 2 plants to see what happens. In the future I will probably buy a larger tent and run 4 plants with 4 cobs.

Have you considered using a coco/soil/perlite mix to get the best of both or at least closing the gaps? I am considering that for a couple reasons. The one you mentioned about quality vs quantity but also to have something that can buffer and keep the nutrient need from watering lower and more organic. Less chance of erratic swings to ph and ppm.

I have considered it, but me and soil don't get along. I've run plants in soil five times and I always end up with an issue. Typically nutrient burn and yellowing bottom leaves. I also have an issue with over and under watering. I think that to be successful with soil you need experience and good plant intuition. I have neither lol. So, I wanted to try something different. So far, growing in coco and pearlite has been set it and forget it. I check on the plants every day to document temps, ph, ppm, rh, do some leaf tucking etc. But for the most part I can set it and forget it for a week.

I figure, the coco might help me do some process of elimination and help me figure out if my stunted plant growth caused by my environment, nutrient regiment or both.

When I get a few successful harvests under my belt, I will probably go back to soil.

 

[Stroke1]

I’ve got 4 3500K Autocobs and a 600W HPS in a 4x8 tent. I had the 4 cobs in a 4x4 tent before that. They are great lights. I have grown in coco and perlite from the start with decent success. I have thought of trying an organic soil run to find out the difference in flavour but not just yet. You have a good setup and one that will get you a pound + from a 4x4 tent. Good luck to you, I’ll be over checking out your grow.

Thanks man. I will try not to screw it up.

 

[Stroke1]

I grow hydro and have now for the last five years. These are the things that improved the favor: starting with UVA light. This made the single best improvement in the terpene profile of any of the other things that also worked. I run 2 - AgroMax UVA Plus 10,000K 48" florescent lamps from the second week of flower through harvest. If you do not live in the USA you cannot get these bulbs The idea though is UVA light.

Next is Mykos, Humic Acid and Kelp. The Mykos is used at transplant for me but mixing some in the hole before you plant works also if the unthinkable happens and you are forced to flush. Use some in the last rinse. Use the Humic Acid 5:2 Kelp with every feeding.

It has been a long time since I grew in real soil so I cannot reliably make a comparison statement. I know that all of my friends like my weed!

All good info help in here!

Just my 2 cents as i used to grow a lot using coco, I found that during the last 2 weeks phase of watering (with no nutes), if i PH'd the water down to the correct level, every weed would taste the same (what i describe as the metalic PH down taste).

Problem was solved by not PH the water at all during the cleansing (14 day) phase.

Hope this helps!

Thanks Blue! Any advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[Proph]

Simple.. Sulfur and Mag Sulfate are two of the main minerals that can effect/enhance the flavor of cannabis. Potassium Sulfate is another. Any of these can be added to a res... Read up on their benefits and their organic sources (like Epsom salt).. A good soil will have all three in it. Coco won't naturally have any of them.. So it's up to you to add them. Week 4-5 of flower is a good time for a sulfur/potassium boost. With autos that's around day 55 or 60 on a 85 80 day finish.

 

[Stroke1]

I grow hydro and have now for the last five years. These are the things that improved the favor: starting with UVA light. This made the single best improvement in the terpene profile of any of the other things that also worked. I run 2 - AgroMax UVA Plus 10,000K 48" florescent lamps from the second week of flower through harvest. If you do not live in the USA you cannot get these bulbs The idea though is UVA light.

Next is Mykos, Humic Acid and Kelp. The Mykos is used at transplant for me but mixing some in the hole before you plant works also if the unthinkable happens and you are forced to flush. Use some in the last rinse. Use the Humic Acid 5:2 Kelp with every feeding.

It has been a long time since I grew in real soil so I cannot reliably make a comparison statement. I know that all of my friends like my weed!

I haven't looked into UVA lights yet, but I've heard about them enough to peak my curiosity. Also I don't use Mykos but I do use recharge every week which has humic acid, fulvic acid, aminos, kelp and other goodies in it like mycorrhizae and trichoderma fungi. They should put me on payroll LMAO!

 

[Stroke1]

... I'd add Si to this, lots of reasons, but it also helps with other nute elements metabolism, much like some of the micronute's do... Plus, coco is devoid of it totally... keeping plenty of K and SO4 available for last part of bloom, these are vital for proteins/enzymes and terp's,.... ease off the heavy P doses last stage of bloom,.... kelp or a dedicated micronute supplement to keep supplies up on those as well...
Flushing, still hotly debated, but I'm seeing more and more new articles/tests that pretty much debunk it, with little exception.... The length of the period is a big factor there it seems, as is how heavy the feeds have been, troubles with EC in coco, that sort of thing,.... Organic grows don't need it at all. Check out the Myth Buster section here on this, some good stuff to consider there! Point is to have clean, non-chemmy tasting bud-
Some good folks turned me onto a good coco info site worth a read --- here
All this said, I'd still talk you over to the soil side! .... caveat being if you can get truly good soil... Are you in the USA? If so, look into King's Mix (Royal Gold), this company is typically a coco specialty but they made this true soil recently. It's very good, quite light, almost like coco (it has some in it of course), holds pH well, dries fast.... Soil is simply more tolerant and flexible, less labor too....

You make great points. I'm using a general hydroponics silica. I am in the USA and I try to support local. My current hydro shop sells king's mix. So many options, so little money to burn. If I bring one more new growing product into this house, my girls head is gonna explode.

 

[Stroke1]

Simple.. Sulfur and Mag Sulfate are two of the main minerals that can effect/enhance the flavor of cannabis. Potassium Sulfate is another. Any of these can be added to a res... Read up on their benefits and their organic sources (like Epsom salt).. A good soil will have all three in it. Coco won't naturally have any of them.. So it's up to you to add them. Week 4-5 of flower is a good time for a sulfur/potassium boost. With autos that's around day 55 or 60 on a 85 80 day finish.

I'm using House and Garden buffered soil, but I don't think it has sulfur or mag sulfate in it. Do you recommend any specific products?

 

[Stroke1]

Soil and coco... there are reasons there are soil growers and coco growers. They rarely play well. There is no best of both worlds. Once mixed, you are no longer able to treat as hydroponic, nor a true soil, you get some kind of redheaded step child that demands attention and then breaks your heart by not going to college.

There are a few growers that pull it off, but if you look thru the infirmary here alone, you'll see plenty of problems. And few people that can actually lend a hand with issues.

Think I've about tried most methods at least once. Some you don't need to try, watching others is enough.

@Arthur I hear you. I have a phone full of pictures of sad ass developmentally disabled plants I ruined that I can post up if you guys want. LMFAO!

 

[Stroke1]

Growing

I've been straggling on starting my first marijuana plant I have no idea that planting would be this complicated, a lot of things to consider. I'm trying to grow this. I decided to grow my own just for personal use and it's been very effective on treating my chronic back pain.

I feel you dude. I've been growing screwed up plants since 2016 and some good ones. I'm still trying to get it right. If I didn't enjoy it, I would have quit by now. It's proven to be an expensive hobby. I Just love the idea of growing medicine that has real significant effects. My girl had a blood clot in her jugular vein that was putting pressure on her brain. I was able to help her migraines and insomnia with a few strains that I kept in the stable. Auto Gorilla OG per @BigSm0 's recommendation back in the day and girl scout cookies from Royal Queen seeds. I'm hooked on growing.

 

[AJrexxx]

I have considered it, but me and soil don't get along. I've run plants in soil five times and I always end up with an issue. Typically nutrient burn and yellowing bottom leaves. I also have an issue with over and under watering. I think that to be successful with soil you need experience and good plant intuition. I have neither lol. So, I wanted to try something different. So far, growing in coco and pearlite has been set it and forget it. I check on the plants every day to document temps, ph, ppm, rh, do some leaf tucking etc. But for the most part I can set it and forget it for a week.

I figure, the coco might help me do some process of elimination and help me figure out if my stunted plant growth caused by my environment, nutrient regiment or both.

When I get a few successful harvests under my belt, I will probably go back to soil.

This is not impossible jto pull off if you mix, but like someone said earlier if you are not real good at adjusting it can give you problems. I have spent a lot of time and money mixing organic soils and nothing has came close to the dirt i dug out of the forest by my house and I added 4 tablesspoons of dr earth in the soil with rice hulls. Go figure.

You can get some good flavors from coco I think you just miss a little of the subtle flavors. Nirvana Blueberry Kush grown in coco with nothing but calimagic and maxibloom (just two things cost me about 30 bucks to be able to run for a year) still my favorite smoke I have ever grown.