Connoisseurus Rex
Well-Known Member
Container size is everything with coco. Just watched a guy overwater seedlings in coco because they were in a 5 gallon pot (auto grow). It can be overwatered if you don't know what you're doing.
switching from soil to coco, amendments?
- Thread starter papa canna
- Start date
lawlrus
Well-Known Member
It's absolutely possible to overwater coco, even coco and perlite mixed, with a young seedling, a plant in a large container without an established root system, etc. Generally speaking it is very difficult to overwater a mature plant, particularly if you have your environment dialed in, but absolutely not "impossible."
rshackleferd
Well-Known Member
Pure coco coir i have no idea but with perlite i couldn't do it and i tried it on a couple of mexi bag seedlings. It might be because my coco coir could be considered fiber and not coir. I buy the cheap stuff from amazon.
Connoisseurus Rex
Well-Known Member
You probably kept your pot size right to your plants stage. That's where most new growers eat a bullet.
rshackleferd
Well-Known Member
The coco coir i have is mixed up real good with perlite, as soon as i flood it with water it instantly drains and leaves air for the roots. There is no standing water, in fact it feels lighter than a sponge right after i flooded it. It might be the type of coir i use from amazon because the expensive coco coir from the pet store does absorb water.
Connoisseurus Rex
Well-Known Member
What's your ratio?
30% perlite is normal from what I understand. Gives good drainage but still retains a fair amount of water in a 3-5 gal pot for a few days.
rshackleferd
Well-Known Member
80% coir 20% perlite, Sometimes ill put in a little more perlite, Its all an estimation
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mwine87
Well-Known Member
Anyone use the Bush Doctor Coco Loco? Soil-less Coco base with amendments. Can use it right out of the bag. Fox Farms liquid trio nutes after initials are used up. So far loving it. Feels, looks, acts like soil, but all the benefits of Coco. Growth is definitely faster and more robust. Used FFOF and Happy Frog before hand, so it feels similar. Think I'll be mixing my own, next time.
Connoisseurus Rex
Well-Known Member
Maybe it's your coco. I use Cocotek from General Hydroponics. It seems to retain a fair amount of moisture for a while. Really soaks up the water. I run it in a 50/50 with soil.
Do you let your coco suck up the runoff?
rshackleferd
Well-Known Member
Nope just let it run on through, .
"Maybe it's your coco. I use Cocotek from General Hydroponics" Thats probably why, my stuff has more stems and large pieces that doesnt absorb as much water.
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Connoisseurus Rex
Well-Known Member
Why? If you don't mind me asking... Just seems like a waste of nutes and increased dry time, at least to me.
rshackleferd
Well-Known Member
I think it does a good job absorbing the water, it doesnt flow through like a drain it takes a good while for the water to go through it and you might be right in that I could save some of the nutes and water. Im just a lazy bastard, too much work to recycle
Connoisseurus Rex
Well-Known Member
You don't even recycle it. Just put a tray underneath your pots. It'll fill the tray and then soak into the coco as it dries. Kitty litter tubs work well.
Hell, if you're going to mix it, ppm it, and ph it you might as well make it go the distance haha.
rshackleferd
Well-Known Member
I dont like the idea of roots being under water for too long. When i was running hydro if the bubbler stopped bubbling i would start running into problems within hours..
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Connoisseurus Rex
Well-Known Member
With established plants it won't last long. It's just preference really. Just a thought.
Happy growing.
a mongo frog
Well-Known Member
How did you know about Cornell University?
papa canna
Well-Known Member
The advanced formula has always had coir in it