The Easy Streets

[Snow Crash]

Hey everyone! It is high time that I participate in a

BASE...ace...ace...ace
NUTRIENT...ent...ent...ent...
GROWING...ing...ing...ing...
CHALLENGE...challenge...ange...ange... ange...​

To benefit the Cocommunity Keeping it Simple is the name of the game.

The point of this challenge is to demonstrate how simply, cheaply, and easily plants can be grown in coco. The challenge for me (if any of you are familiar with my reservoir antics) will be limiting the products to just 1-part base nutrients. I am allowing myself a bit of finesse by using period specific bases.

I'm also going to use some super basic equipment to show how you don't have to break the bank to get started. 400w lighting, 3x3x6 grow tent, and 4" ventilation. This whole grow (except the genetics) could be mimicked for under $600.

If there are any others who want to take part in the challenge with me (perhaps with MaxiGro/MaxiBloom, Lucas Formula, FloraNova, or any another inexpensive, simple, base system) then I would be more than happy to help them get situated with the product they need. Plenty of time to get ready! Flowering starts October 25th.

Setup: Botanicare CNS17 + CocoGro versus Botanicare PureBlend + ReadyGro
Genetics: DNA Genetics Kandy Kush x Skunk
Time line:

• Germination August 16th
• Cloning September 27th
• Flowering October 25th
• Harvest January 3rd

Process:
Starting 6 seeds. A female plant chosen to clone.
4 clones transplanted to 1/2 gallon fabric containers to establish.
Finished in 2 gallon fabric planters (about 6L of media).
2 week Veg and 10 week Flower.

Grow Space:
Secret Jardin DR90
Vortex 4" with speed controller
Galaxy Legacy 400w
Ushio 400w HPS (new)
EconoWing (new)

Group "O" - Organics (2 plants)
Products:
Media: Botanicare ReadyGro Moisture Mix 1.75cf
Container: Smart Pots 2 Gallon Black
Nutrient 1: Botanicare PureBlend Pro Grow 1qt 3-2-4 1%Ca 0.5%Mg
Nutrient 2: Botanicare PureBlend Pro Bloom 1qt 2-3-5 1%Ca 0.5%Mg
My Cost: $40

Group "S" - Synthetics (2 plants)
Products:
Media: Botanicare CocoGro
Container: Smart Pots 2 Gallon Black
Nutrient 1: CNS17 All Media Grow 1qt 3-1-2 3%Ca 0.5%Mg
Nutrient 2: CNS17 All Media Bloom 1qt 2-2-3 2%Ca 0.75%Mg
Nutrient 3: CNS17 All Media Ripe 1qt 1-5-4 1%Ca 0.5%Mg
My Cost: $33

 

[silver hawaiian]

Edit: Check, check, .. sibilance, sibilance..

Ok now I'm settled in

 

[WolfieCat]

Phenominal idea!

I just started ten seeds in Botanicare CocoGro. As for nutes, I'm using GH Flora series Micro and Bloom. This is my first run in coco, so I'm sure your info will prove valuable.

I'll be following along

 

[Snauseberry]

Very curious to see what happens. Im using PBP with karma, silica, sweet and koolbloom with zero complaints

 

[silver hawaiian]

I'll be starting my first coco grow soon here - convert from organic dirt, so I'm interested to see what's in store. Nice timing on the thread!

 

[Snow Crash]

I'll be starting my first coco grow soon here - convert from organic dirt, so I'm interested to see what's in store. Nice timing on the thread!

I wish I could get started right away! Thanks for coming by. Just took the first step and ordered the seeds today.

 

[papaduc]

Just one suggestion, list the NPK values of each nutrient for reference.

 

[Snow Crash]

Just one suggestion, list the NPK values of each nutrient for reference.

Very good idea. I just updated the original post with the NPKCaMg for the products. When I get to feeding I'll be going by the book and will make sure to share the ppm conversions.

While I might take a handful of EC and pH readings I do not plan on relying on them. I haven't used my Hanna Combo meter for more than a year, so I'll probably need to calibrate it... I want this challenge to demonstrate what a basic feed program will get someone without pricey testing supplies.

 

[Bueno Time]

I just started a couple test clones in coco, my first time using coco and synthetics.

Im using RO water and Floranova Bloom, a couple days ago I just stopped using my pH meter since its a couple years old and was dormant for almost that whole time doesnt like to stay calibrated anymore. My tap ppm is 600+/-50ppm which is why Im using RO, plus I already had the RO filter for drinking water so it was already bought before hand.

Now all Im doing is testing EC with a $15 HM Digital meter and watering to a good amount of runoff. Going to see how that works without pH testing/adjusting. I frigging hate adjusting and testing pH, one of the great things I love about organic mixes no worries about pH. If I cant run coco hand watered DTW without adjusting pH its not for me lol. Seeing how she goes though for now.

 

[dansbuds]

YOU .... are just using 1 part nutes ??? lol
wassup brutha ?? you know i'm subbed & seated !!!
this should be interesting fer sure

PBP & CNS17 are great choices , curious to see how they do with the cocogrow & readygrow .

 

[Shoots]

Looking forward to this.

 

[Snow Crash]

YOU .... are just using 1 part nutes ??? lol
wassup brutha ?? you know i'm subbed & seated !!!
this should be interesting fer sure

PBP & CNS17 are great choices , curious to see how they do with the cocogrow & readygrow .

I know... right!?! And with the Garden Show in SF coming up this weekend I'm going to be loaded to the Mfing gills with all kinds of tempting new goodies.

The PBP in ReadyGro is something I've heard a lot about from a few guys I trust up north. They amend the mix a little bit and run a touch of Cal-Mag too.

What do you guys say? Can I have some Cal-Mag? Still under 3 bottles.

 

[dansbuds]

depending on your water , you may need a few amendments to keep the girls happy & healthy , so use what ya need brutha !!!
but if ya use any additives like calmag or whatever you need to keep the plants healthy .... i'd say write it out here why it was needed . not saying you will with the nutes your using , but no sense in having unhealthy plants if one of the nutes falls short of something .

 

[papaduc]

I know... right!?! And with the Garden Show in SF coming up this weekend I'm going to be loaded to the Mfing gills with all kinds of tempting new goodies.

The PBP in ReadyGro is something I've heard a lot about from a few guys I trust up north. They amend the mix a little bit and run a touch of Cal-Mag too.

What do you guys say? Can I have some Cal-Mag? Still under 3 bottles.

I think for the purpose of the thread there should be no calmag. It's my opinion based on hundreds of individual plants that no base nutrient should require the addition of calmag to support a healthy grow.

I think it's a myth that needs to be busted and if the purpose of the thread is to promote the simplicity of coco then knocking in the head the idea that you need to pay any specific attention to these two elements would be a great start.

 

[stoned40yrs]

I agree, if you use anything other than base nutes you went off the reservation.

 

[Snow Crash]

Sounds like a plan. No Cal-Mag it is.

I think that from grow to grow there are variables with water quality and water supply. I have been using my tap water unfiltered for about a year without any issues, but many people utilize RO filtered water. Maybe this challenge will help dispel some myths surrounding tap water use and get people away from filtering out their hardness then paying to add it back in.

My tap ranges from a 0.4ec to a 0.56ec depending on the time of year. A little on the hard side.

 

[Shoots]

I say use it.

 

[Shoots]

Nevermind me then. haha

 

[Snauseberry]

Im currently using 2.5-3ml of calmag in tap with PBP in coco. When i get my RO set up ill be using 5-7ml again.

Then again, i only use 10-12ml of PBP instead of whats listed on the bottle

 

[Snow Crash]

Im currently using 2.5-3ml of calmag in tap with PBP in coco. When i get my RO set up ill be using 5-7ml again.

Then again, i only use 10-12ml of PBP instead of whats listed on the bottle

I definitely want to stick with the labeled suggestions. Just so we have a definitive baseline to work off of. If I went with RO water I'd probably need the 2-3ml per gallon of Cal-Mag plus with the PureBlend in straight coco. Hopefully the ReadyGro mix can carry the distance through flowering if the system runs a little light on Micro.

Only one way to know!