Coco medium for tree grow

[Junior Capsula]

Looking for input on swapping out my soil mix (amended) for coco. Been running the soil with organics, vertical of course yet I feel like I'm hindered in pushing the plants as far as feed hence less of a yield. Looking to be able to push the bitches a bit more, for a better yield, yet maintain the quality of soil. Reusability is a factor also, currently getting three grows out reused amended soil.

I know a lot of you guys favor coco mixes so I figure ya'll will set me straight. Will be going in ten gallon pots, either 4-8 pots along the lines of Freds "five light, four trees" setup, dtw with either GH 3 part or jacks soluble. Atmosphere and lumens per square foot will be on point, just trying to get the substrate down. Any help will be greatly appreciated fellas.

 

[Mister_D]

What size plants are you trying to grow?

 

[Junior Capsula]

At least 6 footers out of those 10 gallon containers

 

[watts]

100% coco

 

[Junior Capsula]

Aiming for 3-4 lbs'ers wet from each 10gal pot. D mentioned that's too large a container for coco, drying and drainage issues. Visited a friends site couple years ago in LA, he was running 5 gal smart pots with coco/perlite sandwiches (perlite,coco,perlite), would that be able to sustain the root mass/weight of of a tree this size?

 

[PoopyTeaBags]

Everything is possible

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i ran this setup so i didnt have any issues on the runoff water. 10 GAL pots got up to 1 3/4# a plant dry.i prefer the smaller size now adays though. i only flower in 1 gals.


you can get 6-8 zips off a 1 gallon e z though in coco...

 

[Mister_D]

I'd recommend 5 gal pots for your goals with coco. Plenty of peeps around here and elsewhere getting 1-2lbs per plant in a 5 gal. container with coco and mixes of. I suggest you look into chow mix also, especially if you want to use 10 gal. pots.

 

[Junior Capsula]

Whats the norm with coco D , 50/50 with perlite? How much feeding and how often can be expected with coco in a 5gal once done stretching in flowering, I'd water aggressively on soil and it'd go for about two to three days in my 5 gallon gro pros.

 

[Born Loser]

I used perlite in the mix... But never again!
Roots brand Coco bricks and Coco chips (in bricks) mixed 50/50.
The best Coco I've ever used. No rinse, no fuss.
For 1 lb plants I'd use 3 gallon pots. I have some 6 footers in 1 gallon pots and they do great, but have to be stabilized so that they don't tip over.
The bigger pots aren't tipping.
Once or twice a day watering.

 

[watts]

what plastic containers are those poop, and what are the plants sitting on? Are those drip lines 1/4" open feed?

 

[Born Loser]

Looks like a Lowes tub with a fluorescent light diffuser spacer/grid.

 

[Junior Capsula]

You scrog those 3 galloners?

 

[Mister_D]

Whats the norm with coco D , 50/50 with perlite? How much feeding and how often can be expected with coco in a 5gal once done stretching in flowering, I'd water aggressively on soil and it'd go for about two to three days in my 5 gallon gro pros.

Most people that do chow mix (or what's usually considered chow mix), use 80% hydrotron/clay balls to 20% coco. This allows for 2-3+ feedings per day. With a 50/50 coco perlite (floor dry is much better and cheaper than perlite. I suggest you use it instead, doesn't float like perlite) mix I'd expect to water 1-2 times per day. Really depends on how you want to treat the media. Coco can be treated like soil (abit with better air capacity), and watered every few days. Or you can treat it as a hydro media and water once to multiple times per day. It's very versatile, that's why there is so many opinions on what works with it. Thing to remember is you have to be consistent with your treatment. Can't treat it like soil during veg then switch to multiple feeds in flower. This is because you either grow hydro roots or soil roots. Choice is up to you .

 

[Junior Capsula]

I remember you having a post about extra silica in the floor dry, what did that result in D?

 

[Coconutz]

Im loving the addition of coco chips.
You should be able to find a compressed brick of it at your local shop.

 

[RetroGrow]

Try coco in Hempy buckets for largest yield in small buckets. Two gallon buckets can produce one pound with two month veg, if fed daily. 5 gallon buckets is actually overkill with Hempys, but will work well with trees, as smaller buckets tend to tip over with tall plants.

 

[Mister_D]

I remember you having a post about extra silica in the floor dry, what did that result in D?

Same thing adding it in the form of protekt or whatever does (stronger stems and branches, with improved pest resistance). The floor dry's silica content only lasted a few weeks however, then it was back to adding it to the res.

 

[Born Loser]

You scrog those 3 galloners?

if that's meant for me, no, just straight-up trees. try to hit the ceiling.LOL. Some do. I just snap the stem over so the top is sideways if it gets too tall. I run vert 1000w bulbs in the middle, with smaller 'wing' reflector 400w-ers (hung vert on the outside to hit the sweet spots)where I deem a spot 'worthy' ( where its gonna pay off!).

 

[Junior Capsula]

Thanks Loser, my idea behind the larger containers is to minimize plant numbers, not to beat the dead horse.

 

[Coconutz]

The only thing a larger container will do is reduce the frequency that you NEED to water. You can water more often and yield more in a smaller pot.
If you want to use perlite and chips I recommend more than a 3 gal pot if you cant water ATLEAST twice a day