Grow Mediums Tips for 1st time coco grower?

[NorthernLights_420]

Oh, and I forgot. In response to the original question, if you have not studied carefully the information on Cocoforcannabis.com, you should do it. The site is focused specifically on growing in coco, and is in my opinion the best single source of information on the topic . It is a perfect prelude to sifting through the information and grow results that can be found here at AFN.

Thanks for the feedback

 

[NorthernLights_420]

I tried to grow in coco once.. enuff said

Haha I'm not discouraged. If I can grow in dwc hydro and soil. I feel I got this. Put on your seat belt

 

[Waira]

well put here in general,... NL420 the take home message is : a) do your homework on coco, a lot of pro's and con's involved with it; b) it cannot be treated like true soil, what works with soil usually doesn't with coco because it, as mentioned, is intended to be used as a hydroponic medium and not a "variation" on soil; coco is soilless just like peat based Promix and Sunshine#4.... c) be prepared to sweat pH and EC constantly (just like any hydro method), going in AND out, and if you're going to do stand alone hand water pots, there is a shit-ton of labor involved in direct proportion to the size of the plants... It's true, you can potentially grow monsters in small volume pots, but you'll be worked like petting zoo pony to do it...
Bottom feed systems seen to walk a fine line, despite seemingly being contrary to the whole "must-flush/high % run-off" advise you have with stand alone top feed pots.... No doubt it can be made to work, but if there's a problem, you're forced to yank it off the system and doctor it out of trouble....
Different cultivars will have different needs, tolerances, etc., and you gamble some growing different cultivars connected to such systems. One nute "size" doesn't fit all, that is to say the EC levels may be fine for some and problematic for others.... finishing times, timing of feed type switching are factors here to consider... Don't run a known fast girl with known long cycle one or you'll get jammed up one way or another....

 

[Olderfart]

well put here in general,... NL420 the take home message is : a) do your homework on coco, a lot of pro's and con's involved with it; b) it cannot be treated like true soil, what works with soil usually doesn't with coco because it, as mentioned, is intended to be used as a hydroponic medium and not a "variation" on soil; coco is soilless just like peat based Promix and Sunshine#4.... c) be prepared to sweat pH and EC constantly (just like any hydro method), going in AND out, and if you're going to do stand alone hand water pots, there is a shit-ton of labor involved in direct proportion to the size of the plants... It's true, you can potentially grow monsters in small volume pots, but you'll be worked like petting zoo pony to do it...
Bottom feed systems seen to walk a fine line, despite seemingly being contrary to the whole "must-flush/high % run-off" advise you have with stand alone top feed pots.... No doubt it can be made to work, but if there's a problem, you're forced to yank it off the system and doctor it out of trouble....
Different cultivars will have different needs, tolerances, etc., and you gamble some growing different cultivars connected to such systems. One nute "size" doesn't fit all, that is to say the EC levels may be fine for some and problematic for others.... finishing times, timing of feed type switching are factors here to consider... Don't run a known fast girl with known long cycle one or you'll get jammed up one way or another....

Every detail right on the money @Waira, in my admittedly limited experience. Mind you, I have run into every bloody one of your mentioned issues, maybe even a few more already...

I might argue a bit about SS#4 as soilless though. It seems to me to be a lot more like soil than coco is - more like a less predictable compromise between soil and coco in my opinion. It runs out of nutes eventually, but what you are left with, how that will interact with your nute mix, and when that happens, is a hell of a lot more of a crap shoot than with coco, again, in my limited experience. I doubt that I will be using SS#4 again after this grow. OTOH, others seem to grow with the stuff. No question that I have lots to learn.

 

[Mañ'O'Green]

@42

I feel like if I can do soil and hydro i will be able to pull off coco coir also. Then next will be learning organics outdoors summer grow. Woohoo. Then I will have learned everything I want to learn at that point and continue with what I liked doing the best out of all 4 methods. (DWC Hydro indoor, Soil indoor, Coco indoor, Organic Soil Outdoors) this summer will be my first 12 plant outdoor grow and first organic soil grow so 2 in 1 for that grow.

Now that makes me laugh, I have been growing all the methods mentioned in this thread and more over the past 55 + years . I learn new stuff every day. So will you.

 

[idiopathic neuropathy]

It's true, you can potentially grow monsters in small volume pots, but you'll be worked like petting zoo pony to do it...

Ain't this the truth....or a Saturday night puttana

 

[NorthernLights_420]

@42

Now that makes me laugh, I have been growing all the methods mentioned in this thread and more over the past 55 + years . I learn new stuff every day. So will you.

Lol. I have only been growing a few years so you got me beat there. I'm only 34. Lol just starting my journey here in Michigan. What curve balls have coco coir thrown at you?

 

[NorthernLights_420]

Haha I'm not discouraged. If I can grow in dwc hydro and soil. I feel I got this. Put on your seat belt

Sounds like maybe I better put my seatbelt on. Lol what did I get myself into? Now your all making me think why I didnt buy soil instead. Lol

 

[NorthernLights_420]

I got back up seeds so if it fails. I return the 2 bags I didn't open and buy soil. Worth a shot. I'm gonna give er my best tho. Lol

 

[Olderfart]

I got back up seeds so if it fails. I return the 2 bags I didn't open and buy soil. Worth a shot. I'm gonna give er my best tho. Lol

With your hydroponics experience, you should be good. Just leave the soil stuff behind it will do more damage than

Good luck with it.