Grow Mediums Trying Coco After Soil

[MIAutomatic]

I use the Mother Earth 11 lb coco bales. They cost around $12-$13 shipped and once they expand, they fill quite a few 5 gallon fabric pots. Never counted but probably about 6 pots or so. I rinse and then puff it up with some cal/mag water.

I do mix the coco with about 20% perlite, 10% vermiculite and then to that I add about 15% or so soil for a little retention.

I don't do anything really special other than that. I use FloraFlex nutes currently as they are local. And really like it. My smallest auto last run yielded about 10 oz.

Be careful with super cheap EC/PPM meters though. I had one that would shoot to 1000+ PPM whenever my nute bucket went over 300 and there was no way to calibrate it. I ended up buying one of these, and it works flawlessly for the past couple years:

Amazon product

I can’t speak to the exact specifications of other brands of coco, like the Mother Earth, but I do know that you don’t need to add anything additional to canna coco pro.

Coco naturally holds a lot less water(about 10x/weight) than soil or peat mixtures (up to 20x/weight). It also doesn’t compact the same way as compost, soil or peat. Coco keeps almost the exact same airy texture when saturated, even after many weeks or months of watering in a container.

There are lots of different way to process coco, so it’s possible that with some brands you do need to add some additional drainage substrate. But let’s look at the mix GreanBean is using: 55% coco, 30% additional drainage substrate (perlite and vermiculite have almost no water or nutrient holding capacity), and 15% soil (up to twice the water holding capacity of coco). The additional drainage that would be provided by 30% perlite and vermiculite is basically negated by the 15% soil, since the soil holds approximately twice as much water as the coco coir. Having less coco in the mix should make it possible to use less calmag in your nutrient solution, but because of the added drainage and soil it will have a broader impact of the overall cation exchange rate of coco coir. Not picking on GreanBean, all of these factors can be managed to grow beautiful plants with a mixture like he is using. I would argue that it’s not necessary to add all that extra stuff to coco, but it also probably doesn’t do any harm. I don’t mean to pick on GreenBean, just the example at hand.

He is absolutely right about getting a better quality ph and EC meter, money well spent.

 

[draxcel]

I can’t speak to the exact specifications of other brands of coco, like the Mother Earth, but I do know that you don’t need to add anything additional to canna coco pro.

Coco naturally holds a lot less water(about 10x/weight) than soil or peat mixtures (up to 20x/weight). It also doesn’t compact the same way as compost, soil or peat. Coco keeps almost the exact same airy texture when saturated, even after many weeks or months of watering in a container.

There are lots of different way to process coco, so it’s possible that with some brands you do need to add some additional drainage substrate. But let’s look at the mix GreanBean is using: 55% coco, 30% additional drainage substrate (perlite and vermiculite have almost no water or nutrient holding capacity), and 15% soil (up to twice the water holding capacity of coco). The additional drainage that would be provided by 30% perlite and vermiculite is basically negated by the 15% soil, since the soil holds approximately twice as much water as the coco coir. Having less coco in the mix should make it possible to use less calmag in your nutrient solution, but because of the added drainage and soil it will have a broader impact of the overall cation exchange rate of coco coir. Not picking on GreanBean, all of these factors can be managed to grow beautiful plants with a mixture like he is using. I would argue that it’s not necessary to add all that extra stuff to coco, but it also probably doesn’t do any harm. I don’t mean to pick on GreenBean, just the example at hand.

He is absolutely right about getting a better quality ph and EC meter, money well spent.

I Will try to keep It simple because It Is overwhelming at the Moment.Yes I bought a decent pH Meter from what I read,but if things go ok I Will invest in a very good One of course.I would only add perlite.

 

[Olderfart]

Thank you @Olderfart ❤
I have a general idea atm.I also tested my cheap EC Meter and the bottled water label differs only by 3 to 10 ppm max from my measurements.I think I Need only a good pH Meter and to choose between CANNA and Megacrop.Yes I am Reading cocoforcannabis a lot

The cheap EC meters work just fine if you take care of them. Cheap pH meters are a waste of money. I recommend that you get an Apera PH60. It works well and will continue to work well for a couple years. Once it's response slows too much for your patience, a new probe will make it as good as new again for half or so of the price of a new meter. You have to store the probe in storage solution. Never let it dry out.

I tried the drops for pH, and they probably avoided me killing my plants outright, but they are a poor tool for the job. The color differences needed to identify the pH are difficult to interpret. A digital meter is a huge improvement in both accuracy and convenience.

 

[GreenBean]

I can’t speak to the exact specifications of other brands of coco, like the Mother Earth, but I do know that you don’t need to add anything additional to canna coco pro.

Coco naturally holds a lot less water(about 10x/weight) than soil or peat mixtures (up to 20x/weight). It also doesn’t compact the same way as compost, soil or peat. Coco keeps almost the exact same airy texture when saturated, even after many weeks or months of watering in a container.

There are lots of different way to process coco, so it’s possible that with some brands you do need to add some additional drainage substrate. But let’s look at the mix GreanBean is using: 55% coco, 30% additional drainage substrate (perlite and vermiculite have almost no water or nutrient holding capacity), and 15% soil (up to twice the water holding capacity of coco). The additional drainage that would be provided by 30% perlite and vermiculite is basically negated by the 15% soil, since the soil holds approximately twice as much water as the coco coir. Having less coco in the mix should make it possible to use less calmag in your nutrient solution, but because of the added drainage and soil it will have a broader impact of the overall cation exchange rate of coco coir. Not picking on GreanBean, all of these factors can be managed to grow beautiful plants with a mixture like he is using. I would argue that it’s not necessary to add all that extra stuff to coco, but it also probably doesn’t do any harm. I don’t mean to pick on GreenBean, just the example at hand.

He is absolutely right about getting a better quality ph and EC meter, money well spent.

Probably REALLY don't need to add anything to Mother Earth, although it's just a brick of straight coco. But I do it the way I do simply because I have found it works for me, and the way that I do things. Sometimes superstition trumps logic. Like my traditional exhale bag that quite possibly does - not much, if anything.

I did not think that you were picking on me, nor do I feel the need to "be right" all of the time. It is what it is. If what you do creates provable results for you, then who am I to say what works or doesn't. Likewise for myself.

In hindsight, I probably shouldn't have mentioned the way that I do things to the OP because there's really no need to confuse them.

 

[draxcel]

Probably REALLY don't need to add anything to Mother Earth, although it's just a brick of straight coco. But I do it the way I do simply because I have found it works for me, and the way that I do things. Sometimes superstition trumps logic. Like my traditional exhale bag that quite possibly does - not much, if anything.

I did not think that you were picking on me, nor do I feel the need to "be right" all of the time. It is what it is. If what you do creates provable results for you, then who am I to say what works or doesn't. Likewise for myself.

In hindsight, I probably shouldn't have mentioned the way that I do things to the OP because there's really no need to confuse them.

That Is fine @GreenBean no Need ti Say anything else,I loved your supporto and help,and of course your version of Coco stuff❤

 

[durbanpoisoner]

I've been using canna A+B in my first coco grow after coming from soil. I know people say you can't overwater coco but I'm pretty sure I did. Or at least, I overwatered it during the early seedling stages. Running mephisto gear on day 23 since I played the germinated seeds and they're all doing okay though I'm pretty sure I overwatered one because it's got a wilt to it. That said, one of them has just exploded in growth to the point where I really can't believe it. It was the mephisto freebie that I got and it's gigantic. Ironically I'm wishing it would flip into flower because it's already going to be too big. I ended up topping it around day 14 and had I known it was going to take this long to flower, I would've probably topped it again. But at this point it's too big of a risk with flower most likely starting soon.

I saw really amazing root growth using rhizotonic and I have a feeling that + coco was a big benefit. I see roots popping out of the bottom and side of all my pots and it got that way within two weeks. The only thing I'll say is make sure you (double) buffer it, use calmag with every feeding and keep an eye on EC.

I swear to god this one plant is going to take my tent over. I need it to flip. Been running 24/0 lights since the temps have been low.

 

[draxcel]

I've been using canna A+B in my first coco grow after coming from soil. I know people say you can't overwater coco but I'm pretty sure I did. Or at least, I overwatered it during the early seedling stages. Running mephisto gear on day 23 since I played the germinated seeds and they're all doing okay though I'm pretty sure I overwatered one because it's got a wilt to it. That said, one of them has just exploded in growth to the point where I really can't believe it. It was the mephisto freebie that I got and it's gigantic. Ironically I'm wishing it would flip into flower because it's already going to be too big. I ended up topping it around day 14 and had I known it was going to take this long to flower, I would've probably topped it again. But at this point it's too big of a risk with flower most likely starting soon.

I saw really amazing root growth using rhizotonic and I have a feeling that + coco was a big benefit. I see roots popping out of the bottom and side of all my pots and it got that way within two weeks. The only thing I'll say is make sure you (double) buffer it, use calmag with every feeding and keep an eye on EC.

I swear to god this one plant is going to take my tent over. I need it to flip. Been running 24/0 lights since the temps have been low.

Hi,friend.I do not have calmag from canna,but I have biobizz Calmag.Do not know if It should do the job.Also,a pro grower top notch guy here told me not use Cal Mag since my water has already good amount of It.I use Coco A and B,Maybe I should buy rhizotonic as I think they are too slow growing,or Maybe I am giving too much water at those days(3-5days old)

Oh,I forgot,I Fed 350ppm and 450Max,going back today to 250ppm to let It wash a bit of that 0.9 EC feeding I did.
Things are pretty straight,ph5,8 going in and 200-300 ppm -0,5-0,6Ec now inflow and Runoff too

 

[durbanpoisoner]

Keep doing what you're doing. I don't think the brand of calmag matters, but I know that with mine I had to supplement because I saw the deficiencies. Perhaps your water is different. I can't tell you if the rhizotonic will help but I know with mine, it was a big boon. Good luck!

 

[DCLXVI]

Test the runoff ppm/EC. If it's below input EC - increase strength. If I read correctly you are having the same EC in as out? Not a bad place to be. I'd advise letting the pH increase for a couple sessions if it seems like things are at a standstill. 6.0 for a couple days, even up to 6.2 is ok if you've been riding that 5.8 consistently. Could also be the plant preparing to explode on you..... coco plants are massive growers.

 

[draxcel]

Test the runoff ppm/EC. If it's below input EC - increase strength. If I read correctly you are having the same EC in as out? Not a bad place to be. I'd advise letting the pH increase for a couple sessions if it seems like things are at a standstill. 6.0 for a couple days, even up to 6.2 is ok if you've been riding that 5.8 consistently. Could also be the plant preparing to explode on you..... coco plants are massive growers.

Wow thanks friend❤
Yes I am having same readings at runoff.Equal or 10-15 ppm more than input,at times even less than input.I Will fertigate in a matter hours and update.I Always runoff to test.