kovidkough
Well-Known Member
It seems many new growers are finding challenges in coco coir. I found a site that has an amazing and extensive guide to using coco coir. I will copy and paste it all here for reference and for others to possibly find some solutions to their problems
these are not my words but I have followed this information with success
Coco Coir is a Horticultural Wonder
Coco coir has many properties which make it a horticultural wonder. It is easy to manage, offers plants excellent growing conditions, and does not interfere with nutrition. Among the most important horticultural properties of coco coir is its air to water ratio.
The Air to Water Ratio
Plant roots require both oxygen and water. If the roots are starved of oxygen, they will turn brown and die. Soil based growing media become oxygen depleted when they are saturated with water. This means that the roots are unable to get enough air for some time after each watering. Growers need to wait for soil to dry out before watering again because otherwise the roots will not get enough oxygen and they will die.
One of the miraculous things about coco coir, especially when its mixed with perlite, is that it is nearly impossible to over-water it. Unlike soil, coco maintains sufficient oxygen in the root zone even when it is at field capacity (completely saturated with water). This is due to the physical shape and characteristics of the coco fibers which retain air even when the media is saturated with water. As a result, we can keep the coco wet and not worry that we are drowning the plant roots. Indeed, in coco, when the media is wet, the air to water ratio is ideal.
Coco is Not Soil
The fact that coco retains enough oxygen when it is saturated largely eliminates the risk of over-watering. Because of this, coco is far easier to manage for new growers than many assume. In soil, it takes experience to know when to water. Plants in soil are moving between being oxygen starved after a watering and being water deprived as the soil dries between events. In coco, on the other hand, plants never need to suffer, and growers don’t need to worry about over-watering. All you need to do is water frequently to maintain the perfect ratio of air to water all the time.
How to Grow Cannabis in Coco
In many ways growing in coco is like growing in soil. It almost looks like soil and we put it into pots just like soil. We water from the top, can stick stakes in the pots and do other things that are just like soil grows. All of this makes coco a comfortable and familiar media to work with. If you are just getting started, be sure to read our article, “How to Grow Cannabis Seedlings in Coco Coir”
The main difference between growing in coco and growing in soil is the fertigation strategy. Growing in soil requires lower frequency fertigation because of the air to water ratio. However, in coco, we can ramp up the frequency and get truly explosive growth. Plants grown in coco under high frequency fertigation will grow as fast or faster than plants grown in any other medium. A well-managed coco grow cannot be beat.
Plants Grow Best Under High-Frequency Fertigation
Delivering fertilizers through the irrigation water is the most efficient form of fertilization. It allows growers to supply plants with the exact nutrients that they require in forms that are easily accessible. Plants do not have to invest energy to obtain the nutrients, which leads to more vigorous growth.
The air and water retention properties of coco enable us to practice high frequency fertigation. In horticultural science, high frequency fertigation is recognized as offering the best possible growth. It is defined as having fertigation intervals of less than 24 hours – or fertigating at least once per day. However, often the interval between events is only a few hours.
High-frequency fertigation with drain to waste allows growers to provide plants with the precise nutrition that they require and maintain tight control on the nutrient element ratio (NER), Electrical Conductivity (EC), and pH. Growers can consistently add fresh nutrient solution that is set to the ideal NER, EC, and pH. Plants grow best when conditions are consistent and high frequency fertigation provides the best method to maintain all those variables.
How Frequently Should You Fertigate?
Ideally, mature plants should be fertigated 3-5 times per day. This may sound daunting to new coco growers, but it does not need to be as tough as it sounds. Automatic watering systems make growing in coco with high frequency fertigation incredibly easy, but they are not required. If you are watering by hand, there are simple adjustments which allow you to fertigate only once or twice per day.
Fertigation frequency is related to plant and container size. In smaller containers, plants need to be fertigated more frequently because the media holds less water. In larger containers the fertigation frequency can be reduced because the media is able to hold a larger store of water for the plant. We have specific guidelines for determining the best fertigation frequency for your grow in our tutorial, “How to Water Cannabis Plants in Coco”.
Hand-Watering Cannabis in Coco
It is possible to practice high-frequency fertigation in coco when hand-watering, but it requires a commitment. Coco should not get dry; therefore, it is important to fertigate at least once per day. If you are hand-watering, you should think carefully about your ability to commit to once or twice daily fertigations. However, if you are willing to commit to at least once daily fertigation, you can start to unlock the magic of coco.
When hand-watering you should plan for a 5 or 7-gallon final container. These are large enough to allow you to maintain an acceptable EC and NER balance with only once or twice daily fertigation. If you can manage twice daily fertigation, then the 5-gallon final containers are best. If you think the most you can do is once daily fertigation, then use 7-gallon final containers. Be sure to read our article “Transplanting Cannabis Plants: Why, When, and How”.
Automatic Watering Systems
Automatic watering systems are an excellent idea and are almost required to increase beyond twice daily fertigation. It is only reasonable to fertigate 3-5 times per day if you have an automatic watering system installed. Automatic watering is easier and less expensive to set up than most growers assume. We have a complete “Guide to Automatic Watering for Indoor Cannabis”, which explains everything you need to know to set up and run your system. We also have plans and instructions to build your own “DIY Automatic Watering System”. It is not something that you need to start, but it is something to keep in mind
these are not my words but I have followed this information with success
Coco Coir is a Horticultural Wonder
Coco coir has many properties which make it a horticultural wonder. It is easy to manage, offers plants excellent growing conditions, and does not interfere with nutrition. Among the most important horticultural properties of coco coir is its air to water ratio.
The Air to Water Ratio
Plant roots require both oxygen and water. If the roots are starved of oxygen, they will turn brown and die. Soil based growing media become oxygen depleted when they are saturated with water. This means that the roots are unable to get enough air for some time after each watering. Growers need to wait for soil to dry out before watering again because otherwise the roots will not get enough oxygen and they will die.
One of the miraculous things about coco coir, especially when its mixed with perlite, is that it is nearly impossible to over-water it. Unlike soil, coco maintains sufficient oxygen in the root zone even when it is at field capacity (completely saturated with water). This is due to the physical shape and characteristics of the coco fibers which retain air even when the media is saturated with water. As a result, we can keep the coco wet and not worry that we are drowning the plant roots. Indeed, in coco, when the media is wet, the air to water ratio is ideal.
Coco is Not Soil
The fact that coco retains enough oxygen when it is saturated largely eliminates the risk of over-watering. Because of this, coco is far easier to manage for new growers than many assume. In soil, it takes experience to know when to water. Plants in soil are moving between being oxygen starved after a watering and being water deprived as the soil dries between events. In coco, on the other hand, plants never need to suffer, and growers don’t need to worry about over-watering. All you need to do is water frequently to maintain the perfect ratio of air to water all the time.
How to Grow Cannabis in Coco
In many ways growing in coco is like growing in soil. It almost looks like soil and we put it into pots just like soil. We water from the top, can stick stakes in the pots and do other things that are just like soil grows. All of this makes coco a comfortable and familiar media to work with. If you are just getting started, be sure to read our article, “How to Grow Cannabis Seedlings in Coco Coir”
The main difference between growing in coco and growing in soil is the fertigation strategy. Growing in soil requires lower frequency fertigation because of the air to water ratio. However, in coco, we can ramp up the frequency and get truly explosive growth. Plants grown in coco under high frequency fertigation will grow as fast or faster than plants grown in any other medium. A well-managed coco grow cannot be beat.
Plants Grow Best Under High-Frequency Fertigation
Delivering fertilizers through the irrigation water is the most efficient form of fertilization. It allows growers to supply plants with the exact nutrients that they require in forms that are easily accessible. Plants do not have to invest energy to obtain the nutrients, which leads to more vigorous growth.
The air and water retention properties of coco enable us to practice high frequency fertigation. In horticultural science, high frequency fertigation is recognized as offering the best possible growth. It is defined as having fertigation intervals of less than 24 hours – or fertigating at least once per day. However, often the interval between events is only a few hours.
High-frequency fertigation with drain to waste allows growers to provide plants with the precise nutrition that they require and maintain tight control on the nutrient element ratio (NER), Electrical Conductivity (EC), and pH. Growers can consistently add fresh nutrient solution that is set to the ideal NER, EC, and pH. Plants grow best when conditions are consistent and high frequency fertigation provides the best method to maintain all those variables.
How Frequently Should You Fertigate?
Ideally, mature plants should be fertigated 3-5 times per day. This may sound daunting to new coco growers, but it does not need to be as tough as it sounds. Automatic watering systems make growing in coco with high frequency fertigation incredibly easy, but they are not required. If you are watering by hand, there are simple adjustments which allow you to fertigate only once or twice per day.
Fertigation frequency is related to plant and container size. In smaller containers, plants need to be fertigated more frequently because the media holds less water. In larger containers the fertigation frequency can be reduced because the media is able to hold a larger store of water for the plant. We have specific guidelines for determining the best fertigation frequency for your grow in our tutorial, “How to Water Cannabis Plants in Coco”.
Hand-Watering Cannabis in Coco
It is possible to practice high-frequency fertigation in coco when hand-watering, but it requires a commitment. Coco should not get dry; therefore, it is important to fertigate at least once per day. If you are hand-watering, you should think carefully about your ability to commit to once or twice daily fertigations. However, if you are willing to commit to at least once daily fertigation, you can start to unlock the magic of coco.
When hand-watering you should plan for a 5 or 7-gallon final container. These are large enough to allow you to maintain an acceptable EC and NER balance with only once or twice daily fertigation. If you can manage twice daily fertigation, then the 5-gallon final containers are best. If you think the most you can do is once daily fertigation, then use 7-gallon final containers. Be sure to read our article “Transplanting Cannabis Plants: Why, When, and How”.
Automatic Watering Systems
Automatic watering systems are an excellent idea and are almost required to increase beyond twice daily fertigation. It is only reasonable to fertigate 3-5 times per day if you have an automatic watering system installed. Automatic watering is easier and less expensive to set up than most growers assume. We have a complete “Guide to Automatic Watering for Indoor Cannabis”, which explains everything you need to know to set up and run your system. We also have plans and instructions to build your own “DIY Automatic Watering System”. It is not something that you need to start, but it is something to keep in mind
