50/50 Coco/Peat mix for base super soil

[_EQ]

Hey yall, I have been thinking about bases for a super soil build I have planned. I see many mixes from others contain peat, very few with a 50/50 mix of peat and coco. I would love to hear your 2 cents. Is there any potential issues id run into using a mix like so? Thanks

 

[skink#1]

Sounds good to me. You just need some amendments now.

 

[green_machine_two9er]

I would not do that at all Pic one or the other

The base for living, super, organic whatever you want to call it soils should be equal parts spagnum peat moss, aeration, and highest quality casting or compost money can source

 

[_EQ]

I would not do that at all Pic one or the other

The base for living, super, organic whatever you want to call it soils should be equal parts spagnum peat moss, aeration, and highest quality casting or compost money can source

What’s the reasoning behind that tho, you can still do equal parts aeration, drainage, compost. So long as the aeration mix is still equal to the other parts. If I intend to have 30 gallons of soil. I can still do 5 gal coco + 5 gal sphagnum peat, and than I’ll have 10 gal drainage, 10 gal compost/ewc. My question is what are the potential risks factors I’d run into. Not what’s supposed to be the guideline to follow.

 

[7CardBud]

I don't see an issue using that mix, just add pulverized dolomite at about 5% of the total weight of peat for buffering.
Base will be coco-peat-lime.
Then whatever aeration you want, perlite-vermiculite-rice hulls-fine pummice...etc.
Last the organics you choose, EWC-granular fert-compost-guano...etc.

 

[_EQ]

I don't see an issue using that mix, just add pulverized dolomite at about 5% of the total weight of peat for buffering.
Base will be coco-peat-lime.
Then whatever aeration you want, perlite-vermiculite-rice hulls-fine pummice...etc.
Last the organics you choose, EWC-granular fert-compost-guano...etc.

Yeah so my idea is gonna be a mix of peat/coco, rice hulls + perlite, and EWC. Plus an assortment of dry meals, and rock dusts.

 

[HydoDan]

Cation-exchange capacity - Wikipedia

 

[_EQ]

Cation-exchange capacity - Wikipedia

So from my understanding coco locks out Ca+Mg. Both of those are vital elements for cation exchange. Basically coco is high in sodium, and potassium cations, which is the reason for locking out Ca and Mg cations. So if I were to use a 50/50 mix of coco/peat. I would need to make sure I buffer the coco first by washing it thoroughly to get rid of the high sodium and potassium cations, than buffer it with a solution of Calmag in order to prevent nutrient lock out. Am I on track with this thought process?

 

[7CardBud]

That's why you add dolomite(calcium magnesium carbonate) to the mix, it buffers the peats acidity and adds the Ca and Mg.

 

[Billy the Mountain]

So from my understanding coco locks out Ca+Mg. Both of those are vital elements for cation exchange. Basically coco is high in sodium, and potassium cations, which is the reason for locking out Ca and Mg cations. So if I were to use a 50/50 mix of coco/peat. I would need to make sure I buffer the coco first by washing it thoroughly to get rid of the high sodium and potassium cations, than buffer it with a solution of Calmag in order to prevent nutrient lock out. Am I on track with this thought process?

After an initial soak/buffering with CalMg, Na+ and K+ are exchanged for Ca+ and Mg++ and you go about your growing.

Mixing Peat and Coco is not the synergistic mixture some portray. Coco coir doesn't need any amendments and works exceptionally well by itself. Adding peat doesn't provide any tangible benefit and needlessly complicates things.

 

[_EQ]

That's why you add dolomite(calcium magnesium carbonate) to the mix, it buffers the peats acidity and adds the Ca and Mg.

Okay so by adding the dolomite, it’ll prevent the high sodium/potassium cations in the coco from locking out the C

After an initial soak/buffering with CalMg, Na+ and K+ are exchanged for Ca+ and Mg++ and you go about your growing.

Mixing Peat and Coco is not the synergistic mixture some portray. Coco coir doesn't need any amendments and works exceptionally well by itself. Adding peat doesn't provide any tangible benefit.

The main reason for adding coco to the mix is water retention and to balance off the acidity in the peat. I’ve read that peat can become hydrophobic if left to dry out too much. So I understand the importance of CEC and have a basic gist of how it affects soil chemistry. But I don’t need to be anal retentive in making sure both the peat and coco together have a perfect CEC?

 

[Billy the Mountain]

Okay so by adding the dolomite, it’ll prevent the high sodium/potassium cations in the coco from locking out the C

The main reason for adding coco to the mix is water retention and to balance off the acidity in the peat. I’ve read that peat can become hydrophobic if left to dry out too much. So I understand the importance of CEC and have a basic gist of how it affects soil chemistry. But I don’t need to be anal retentive in making sure both the peat and coco together have a perfect CEC?

Why? If you want to use peat, use peat; it alone has substantial water-holding capacity. Coco will not balance the acidity of peat, you need lime for that (as most commercial peat mixes already do).
I'm all for experimenting, but there really is no benefit to mixing coco and peat together.

Ignore CEC, it's simply a characteristic of the media and neither a high or low CEC is "better". Rockwool has basically no CEC, coco has plently; both work.

 

[_EQ]

Why? If you want to use peat, use peat; it alone has substantial water-holding capacity. Coco will not balance the acidity of peat, you need lime for that (as most commercial peat mixes already do).
I'm all for experimenting, but there really is no benefit to mixing coco and peat together.

Ignore CEC, it's simply a characteristic of the media and neither a high or low CEC is "better". Rockwool has basically no CEC, coco has plently; both work.

Well your answers are part of the reason why I asked! I don’t personally have experience with super soils, and when I took on this endeavor I definitely bit off more than I could chew. So now I’m left with a whole bunch of amendments that would just collect dust if I didn’t go and build my own! So pretty much if I were to add ANY coco at all it should be in a small amount to add a little more aeration to the mix?

 

[green_machine_two9er]

What’s the reasoning behind that tho, you can still do equal parts aeration, drainage, compost. So long as the aeration mix is still equal to the other parts. If I intend to have 30 gallons of soil. I can still do 5 gal coco + 5 gal sphagnum peat, and than I’ll have 10 gal drainage, 10 gal compost/ewc. My question is what are the potential risks factors I’d run into. Not what’s supposed to be the guideline to follow.

Coco and peat are not interchangeable mediums

one holds water one drains water, kinda like a cancel each other out if it were a math problem and you are left with nothing worthwhile

growing coco and small pots with good fertilizers

Or…. Grow in peat mix and use amendments and compost,

don’t try to both, they see not the same, don’t reinvent the wheel.

 

[7CardBud]

Here is my take on coco.
People use because it makes them feel good they are now more eco-friendly. It's also the new trendy thing.
Us old peat and cow manure growers are yesterdays story.
Coco costs 4-6 times as much as peat, even more if you buy the buffered type or factor in the cost of calnit and epsom to buffer yourself
and it "doesn't add any real benefits in a super soil" Quote BTM

I am growing in Sunshine #4 Advanced, a coco-peat mix this year as well as regular peat mix.
I can't remember what was planted in #4 and what is in BM6 because they both perform the same.
Being the frugal f$%@ that I am, the I only reason I bought the #4 was because it was on clearance
at a grow shop that went under. Normally it's twice the price. If coco was half the price of peat I would
be using a lot more of it.

That being said, do I think it will perform in a container mix with peat?....absolutely, but not much different than pure peat.
I'm all about experimenting and learning. You could even try making two mixes and then find out what the actual difference is.

I did the same this year, tried a little experimenting. I dropped four clones, three in the ground and one in either BM6 or #4 and the differences are quit staggering.

 

[skink#1]

I have made a coco peat mix before that rocked. Getting the aeration right is crucial. No calcium issues. You gotta add the right amendments in proportion.
I had or have photos on Marijuana growing.com under the name R the Cannasseur. The Skunk x Chocolope. If those photos exist thats a mix I called TLO light. Not sure if that forum even exists anymore. I have the photos but can't get them now.

 

[_EQ]

Why? If you want to use peat, use peat; it alone has substantial water-holding capacity. Coco will not balance the acidity of peat, you need lime for that (as most commercial peat mixes already do).
I'm all for experimenting, but there really is no benefit to mixing coco and peat together.

Ignore CEC, it's simply a characteristic of the media and neither a high or low CEC is "better". Rockwool has basically no CEC, coco has plently; both work.

Coco and peat are not interchangeable mediums

one holds water one drains water, kinda like a cancel each other out if it were a math problem and you are left with nothing worthwhile

growing coco and small pots with good fertilizers

Or…. Grow in peat mix and use amendments and compost,

don’t try to both, they see not the same, don’t reinvent the wheel.

I see, so there’s really no benefit for a completely balanced mixed base of coco/peat. I’m better off going with no coco at all or just a small amount to add a little bit of extra aeration I know that coco is a better medium for oxygen at the root zone, and that fungi attach to it better than peat. As I understand it atleast

 

[_EQ]

Here is my take on coco.
People use because it makes them feel good they are now more eco-friendly. It's also the new trendy thing.
Us old peat and cow manure growers are yesterdays story.
Coco costs 4-6 times as much as peat, even more if you buy the buffered type or factor in the cost of calnit and epsom to buffer yourself
and it "doesn't add any real benefits in a super soil" Quote BTM

I am growing in Sunshine #4 Advanced, a coco-peat mix this year as well as regular peat mix.
I can't remember what was planted in #4 and what is in BM6 because they both perform the same.
Being the frugal f$%@ that I am, the I only reason I bought the #4 was because it was on clearance
at a grow shop that went under. Normally it's twice the price. If coco was half the price of peat I would
be using a lot more of it.

That being said, do I think it will perform in a container mix with peat?....absolutely, but not much different than pure peat.
I'm all about experimenting and learning. You could even try making two mixes and then find out what the actual difference is.

I did the same this year, tried a little experimenting. I dropped four clones, three in the ground and one in either BM6 or #4 and the differences are quit staggering.

I was taught to grow and first started in coco. So I’m partially biased, that’s probably another reason why I thought it’d be a good idea for an equal mix of the two. That being said I also was basing my thought process off of the peat/coco mixes I see like Sunshine Mix, and Coast of Maine. I can see now that I’d have more headaches than anything trying to have an equal mix of the two. Adding more steps to something that I’ve never done before seems counterintuitive. Maybe I’ll run an 80/20 mix peat/coco and see how it runs. Another reason behind wanting to use coco is Subcools Recipe. I know there’s a million other recipes out there to go from but his is the one that i see the most, and it calls for organic potting mix with coco fiber.

 

[Soil Growth]

I like to add some coco chips to peat based soil. I like the big chunky pieces and gnarly fibers way more than dust-like coir. I feel like the different textures and sizes keep the peat based soil from getting too tightly packed and hydrophobic. And I feel like this makes it easier to water and keep plants healthy near the end of flowering.

 

[7CardBud]

I like to add some coco chips to peat based soil. I like the big chunky pieces and gnarly fibers way more than dust-like coir. I feel like the different textures and sizes keep the peat based soil from getting too tightly packed and hydrophobic. And I feel like this makes it easier to water and keep plants healthy near the end of flowering.

I could see replacing all or most of the perlite in a mix with coco chips and it working very well.
Again, my frugal nature and the fact I use over a dozen cu.ft. of mix per year would persuade me not to use coco.
Perlite and vermiculite cost me $25 and $35 respectively. My guess is 4 cu.ft of coco chips would be in the $125-$150 range.