Best hydro for coco, or would coco in a hydro setup useless.

[bender420]

Hey Guys,

I am currently growing in an ebb n flow setup using coco as my medium.

I have some questions which I am sure the experts could answer.

I recently transplanted to a 10in sq pot from a 5 in sq pot and the flood level is quite low for the large pots. In the smaller pots I could see the get wet on top. For these big pots, the top part seems not to get wet, the further i stick my finger in the wetter it is. I am not sure how good the cocogro from botanicare will wick the nutes and water from the bottom. Please give me some input on this issue. Oh yeah I also blocked the holes in the bottom with coco tek mat to prevent the coco from leaking out, I don't think the coco tek mat is stopping the coco from getting wet.

Do you guys think it might be better if I just hand feed / water the plants in coco or should I try to convert my current ebb n flow into a top drip system.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Cheers.

 

[copperheadrd]

yo bender do yor plants look good? if so go for it.drippers are the common method it seems tho.keeping the coco lightly moist is what ive been reading ,easier to do with drippers for sure.happy growin.

 

[BlindDate]

Maybe try using a surfactant like SM90 or Wet Betty, that might aide the wicking action. Or, maybe flood for a longer period. Or, install a wick into the pots like a nylon rope or microfiber towel.
I like the idea of not needing a bunch of spaghetti lines all over the place. Looks cleaner.

 

[Lazyman]

A couple drops of dish soap per bucket will help act as a surfactant and is much cheaper than anything from the hydro store. I agree with blinddate on the longer flood, I get pretty deent wicking with my coco if they can sit in the water for about ten minutes every 1-2 days.

 

[Lazyman]

Oh yeah, and if you want to convert to top drip, you gotta try the Tropf blumat auto-waterers, no pumps or timers, and the valves keep whatever level of moisture you want in the pot. Got a couple buddies to try them and I'll be adding some to my grow next round.

 

[BlindDate]

Do you have a link?

 

[resinryder]

TIP---Next time use Smart Pots. Keeps the coir in place and air prunes the roots when they grow through the pot. Use a 50/50 mix of coir and chunks for better root growth and explosive plant growth.

 

[Marshmello]

While using the E&F, if you aren't flooding the table 3-5x's a day,
you are failing to recognize the true potential of the system, imo.
A couple inches depth should be plenty to feed them...are they looking like they are lacking in some way?
If you aren't gonna flood it, switch to top drip.
$.o2

 

[tejashidrow]

Hey Marsh...
You are flooding 5-6 times a day???
How long your flood cycles and what medeium???
I allways heard to flood only twice a day with coco.....

 

[Marshmello]

I flood my table 3x's a day for 20 minutes, 420a, 1220p & 820p.
(*edit~I use Coco, Bcuzz, straight from the bag.)

The E&F is designed to "push" used oxygen from the medium while flooding, in turn,
it will "pull" fresh oxygen into the root zone while draining.

How does flooding once daily, utilize this concept?
Where's the proof you're asking?

Enjoy Brah: http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=139811

(I'm following his regime to the T.)

 

[Marshmello]

...also, in justification of my "3-5x's daily" comment.
My Buddy Snake Staxx is too paranoid to join here, but,
He floods his tables 5x's a day for 15 minutes, 100% coco.

 

[PoopyTeaBags]

didnt read everyone responses but coco wont wick really unless it compressed.... you can always add a wick or two to each pot so it soaks the top

 

[Marshmello]

didnt read everyone responses but coco wont wick really unless it compressed.... you can always add a wick or two to each pot so it soaks the top

My experience, limited as it may be, does not agree with your statement.
My pots are loosely filled and only packed enough to keep the plant standing when potted.
They work just fine and the coco is completely wet after being flooded.
Also, on my table, I have the drain set on the lowest setting and it only fills 2-3 inches deep.
$.o2

 

[bender420]

Cheers for all the responses. Sorry didn't get a chance to post, my back was way too inflammed the last couple of days. Bud was helping but not that much. Anyhow i am back.

So I hung in there with coco and ebb n flow. I was flooding 4 times a day when i was in 6 in square pots, now i am in 10 inch sq pots and flooding only twice a day, since it seems to retain water pretty well. I have some pretty explosive growth. A decent difference can be seen everyday. I wanted to push the nutes till I started seeing very slight signs of burn. I seem to have found that point to be 2.4 EC, my babies tips got a tad yellow, and i topped the water the next day with plain pH adjusted RO and the burning is almost all gone.

pic 1 and 2 are about 3 weeks after i received clones that were almost dead.

pic 3 and 4 are about 3 weeks later when i transplanted

pic 5, 6, and 7 are 5 days later, so happy they got pretty explosive growth. I almost ready for flowering. probably one more session of FIMMing.

 

[johnurse]

i like coco, my second grow (1st bio hydro) was with coco but i used expanded clay pellets about 10% in my mix

 

[bender420]

pic 5, 6, and 7. five days after the transplant to bigger pots shown in pic 3 and 4.

 

[magiccannabus]

Check out something called Organic Bubble Bath Tubs(OBBT), they're soil, coir, and hydro all in one.

 

[CuZZn BooBerry]

The girls are looking great! Coco is the shiznit