Grow Mediums Mom's Autocob, Autoflower, Autopot Grow

[Mañ'O'Green]

24hrs later and both Gorilla babies had wonderful tap roots sticking out of the bottom of the riots. I planted them into little 4" pots filled with coco pre-moistened with distilled water & a little bit of Recharge, AN B52 and Earth Juice cal/mag. I hope I am doing this right!

NOW....some say water till runoff then let pot dry to feather-light before next water. Some say no...water a little each day. Im confused.


I dont want to over-water at this point as I'm wondering if it is the reason I always stunt my plants.(??) I have a 42W 6500 CFL about 5" above the babies. Usually I have it about 2" above, but I want to see some stretch.

Still no sign of the (3) Glueberry OG babies, but I'm not surprised. The Gorilla babies had a 2 day start over them.

View attachment 836785

Mom:

I am not a coco guy but I think the idea is the same as with rockwool cubes. You get the medium totally saturated with PHed nutrients at the strength you are using for the first week of life and transplant the seedling. Then you do not water for 7 - 10 days. The idea behind this is to get the roots to grow into the entire container seeking fertigation where it can find it. Watering too frequently in the beginning stimulates "Lazy Roots". This is what the GroDan rep called them. It made sense to me and I have been doing it this way. I don't want lazy roots!

 

[MassMom]

Do you have the first set of leaves too? That is one thing people look for before the move to pots. Myself I am going to wait a few days before I move to pots.

I was told that once a large tap root is sticking out of the root riot to transplant into a pot immediately, regardless of how many leaves the baby has. Then once transplanted in a solo cup (or other container) don't transplant into final container until there are 4-5 sets of leaves OR roots are coming out of the bottom of pot, whichever comes first. You never want roots exposed to light. But, that is what I was told. Thoughts guys???

 

[MassMom]

We're on a similar path. I do have 8 autopots now and 2 rez. But I only want to grow 6 at a time. I'm in the early days of switching to autopots and trying to figure out what my perpetual plan will be and all the details like how I germ and when to put in autopots. Right now I have 2 plants in autopots that are coming up on 4 weeks. And I love these pots based on what I'm seeing with these two plants. Then I have 2 more waiting in the wings which I'll have some plants in a few days. Then I'll wait a bit and let the last two in fabric pots finish and then switch to all 6 autopots with 2 spares. And call it perpetual or staggered growing, but I plan on having my plants grow in pairs of 2. so I could have one pair as seedlings, one pair veg and one pair bloom. Or some combination of. Its going to be interesting to get to the point where I know what I'm actually doing! lol. It's going to be fun no matter what though. Really enjoy growing with the autopots. They add some structure to what I'm doing for some reason.

I know exactly what you are talking about. I love thinking about different ways to grow, to stagger grows, etc. But I also have a habit of driving myself crazy!

I will say "ok this is the way I am going to do it" then I will see someone elses grow and say "oh man, I want to try that!". I am like the SYBIL of growers. ha ha

I guess I am searching for the best way for ME. How I feel comfortable and can actually get good grows. I am trying to "dial it in" I suppose! One thing I HAVE learned to to journal or write things down. That way when a plant does awesome you have it documented and dont say to yourself "I cant remember what I did with that one, damnit!!"

 

[MassMom]

Mom:

I am not a coco guy but I think the idea is the same as with rockwool cubes. You get the medium totally saturated with PHed nutrients at the strength you are using for the first week of life and transplant the seedling. Then you do not water for 7 - 10 days. The idea behind this is to get the roots to grow into the entire container seeking fertigation where it can find it. Watering too frequently in the beginning stimulates "Lazy Roots". This is what the GroDan rep called them. It made sense to me and I have been doing it this way. I don't want lazy roots!

Lazy roots, could be half my issue for stunting! I am going to try the "water till slight runoff then let pot almost dry out method" until it is time for them to be transplanted into the autopots. I have never done it that way. My name is MOM and I am an over-water-aholic.

I will have to literally sit on my darn hands and not water. Lets see what happens. Coco dries out faster so I will keep a good eye on their little pots, but NOT WATER unless they are feather light.

 

[MassMom]

FYI: For those using Recharge~ Manufacturer says NOT to PH water. It messes with the beneficial bacteria and organisms in the Recharge. Just let it be.

My question is....can we use it in res with autopots?? hmmm.....

 

[SPZ]

FYI: For those using Recharge~ Manufacturer says NOT to PH water. It messes with the beneficial bacteria and organisms in the Recharge. Just let it be.

My question is....can we use it in res with autopots?? hmmm.....

LOL, we are on the same trajectory! I was literally reading the recharge instructions this morning before I set up my pots. The instructions on the Real Growers web page say "Recharge can be tank mixed and added to your usual water / nutrient solution. We suggest adding Recharge last, after you adjust your pH." Are you hearing otherwise? I guess it depends on your initial pH but my understanding is the first waterings with coco are pretty critical. If you look at the Hans bricks grow he does an initial heavy watering with pH'd water and calmag and then doesn't water again five days or so. This is actually one of the only times he bothers pH'ing, and I think it has to do with the initial buffering of the coco but I'm still learning the science behind it.

I too am using recharge with autopots for the fist time this grow. I'm not planning on putting it in the reservoir because it is organic and thick and goopy and could definitely clog the valves. I had a clogged valve on my last grow so I know it can happen. Also, Real Growers say that Recharge mixed with water is supposed to be fed to plants within 24 hours and I usually leave water in the res for up to a week.

 

[MassMom]

@SPZ Yikes, that is what I meant. Do not PH after recharge is added.

I am also not going to add the recharge to the res....I think it might mess with the tubing and lines. And you are correct, we dont want recharge sitting in our reservoir for days and days. Good thinking. Are you going to stop recharge once you turn autopots on...or are you going to topfeed?

Speaking of...I went into my tent last night and the whole bottom was full of water. Both my aquavalves were stuck fully open and water was going all over the floor of my tent. Both fully open? weird. You know what saved me? my elderly mom uses "chair pads" (they are very absorbent). I had a couple on the floor of my tent in case of any spills. Thank god they were there, I think they absorbed over a gallon of water!!! HAHAAAAA

LOL, yeah I'm twisted. So anyhoo...I took the big girls off the res for now as they will be chopped this weekend anyways. I am going to clean all pots, the res, the aquavalves, and get new tubing for next set of babies.

Also, my son gave me xmas present a few weeks early (I asked for money to buy another @BigSm0 COB light) It should be here within the week, yeah! I am hoping (2) in the tent will be enough for four plants, but as time goes on I will get more and more. I just love growing!!!!

 

[Mañ'O'Green]

Lazy roots, could be half my issue for stunting! I am going to try the "water till slight runoff then let pot almost dry out method" until it is time for them to be transplanted into the autopots. I have never done it that way. My name is MOM and I am an over-water-aholic.

I will have to literally sit on my darn hands and not water. Lets see what happens. Coco dries out faster so I will keep a good eye on their little pots, but NOT WATER unless they are feather light.

I just had a thought as I was reading this: if coco gets dry is it hard to rehydrate? I know that with the Hugos (rockwool blocks) I have to water many times with small amounts over the day to rehydrate to runoff without creating "Channels" through the block. You really need to talk/chat with the coco guys about this so I don't send you down the wrong path.

 

[Autoflower420]

I love DP seed's there autos are unreal look at my thc coverage after 3 weeks of flower and only getting 12.12

Sent from my SM-G930F using Tapatalk

 

[Nosias]

24hrs later and both Gorilla babies had wonderful tap roots sticking out of the bottom of the riots. I planted them into little 4" pots filled with coco pre-moistened with distilled water & a little bit of Recharge, AN B52 and Earth Juice cal/mag. I hope I am doing this right!

NOW....some say water till runoff then let pot dry to feather-light before next water. Some say no...water a little each day. Im confused.


I dont want to over-water at this point as I'm wondering if it is the reason I always stunt my plants.(??) I have a 42W 6500 CFL about 5" above the babies. Usually I have it about 2" above, but I want to see some stretch.

Still no sign of the (3) Glueberry OG babies, but I'm not surprised. The Gorilla babies had a 2 day start over them.

View attachment 836785

The root riots will hold a bunch of water. Yes we do not want to overwater. There are many "right" ways to grow. You'll find yours.