RollingStoned
New member
Been thinking of going all coco instead of a soil mix and was hoping I would be able to get by with hesi coco nutes and my PH meter, what do ya think?
Do I really need an EC meter to grow in coco?
- Thread starter RollingStoned
- Start date
G
Guest
RollingStoned said:
hesi do a nute calculator ,,if u follow it u should be ok ,,buy a metre in the near future ,it will definitely ease things
G
Greyskull
If you were to simply cut the dosages 50% you should be aok without a meter. You'd need to "watch" the plant and see if it wants more or needs less, but you'd be generally ok.
But the meters are the best way to be accurate.
But the meters are the best way to be accurate.
G
Guest
as someone who grew in coco without one, I'm gonna say no.......it is so way easier when you know exactly what your ppms are and how much they're eating.
However I did do it with some degree of success. If you can read your plants well and ya got the cojones to try it......don't let it stop you.
However I did do it with some degree of success. If you can read your plants well and ya got the cojones to try it......don't let it stop you.
G
Guest
If you do give it a try, maybe consider going with a well known nute such as floranova which tells you the ppm for each application rate listed on the bottle. I think that is a soild nute you can get by with and not have much of any problems as long as you dont go over about 10 ml per gal which is 1000 ppm. good luck and spring for a blue lab combo after this run.
G
guest5703
Whats an EC meter? .....lol 
jk but no I have never used one. Main thing is PH then youll grow the best weed in the world
jk but no I have never used one. Main thing is PH then youll grow the best weed in the world
caligreen said:Whats an EC meter? .....lol
Definitely. If your PH is right, you're good to go. The plant will show if you're feeding it too much or not enough, and you'll know to increase or decrease the concentration of the nutes next time. Keep the same ratios, you'll be all set.
Depending on how you're running coco you may or may not need a EC meter. If you're running drain to waste, then I'd expect you can go by just PH, but if you're recirculating you'd need an EC meter a lot more.
definitely not, im on my 5th grow using coco without any meters, even a ph. i use the ph dropper bottle but really only use it if im feeding straight water. this is handwatered and never had a problem producing great buds. not saying meters dont help but you definitely dont need them. KISS
RollingStoned you will be just fine.
Great point....that's why I don't have a rez (I mix my nutes each feeding) 'cause I cannot monitor ECbounty29 said:
A rez can be maintained by pH though....once the baseline pH is established...you can take pH readings to determine if you need more nutes...or water...
If pH rises (assuming the nutes are buffered well...which most seem to be...I've only used GH and PBP)...this generally means the solution is weaker...if it goes down...generally, it means the nutrient is more highly concentrated....
Having said all that...it's much easier to use meters...less margin for human error...I don't use them only because I have not had the money for meters...
If given a choice between an EC meter and a pH meter...I'd get a pH meter
I have a ppm meter, but I never use it anymore. I just keep a 4 gal res, using head's modified lucas formula. I monitor ph every few days. Generally the water gets used up within a week, and I make a new res. My plants look the healthiest I've ever seen them.
Southern_Candy
Member
Yes and No
Yes and No
I have one of the expensive digital ppm/ec/tds/ph/karma/whatever readers. It is great. However, I rarely need it. I check every batch of nutes I make, both in the rez and in the flood table. I have no idea why I do this, I don't need it. Seriously, I would be fine without it. If you can read your plants and you make it past a week or two of veg. (veg meaning, 2 real sets of leaves) then you are good to go.
I've read where coco balances Ph to a certain extent.
Yes and No
I have one of the expensive digital ppm/ec/tds/ph/karma/whatever readers. It is great. However, I rarely need it. I check every batch of nutes I make, both in the rez and in the flood table. I have no idea why I do this, I don't need it. Seriously, I would be fine without it. If you can read your plants and you make it past a week or two of veg. (veg meaning, 2 real sets of leaves) then you are good to go.
I've read where coco balances Ph to a certain extent.
I use no meters
Tony Danza
Member
bobblehead said:
yup, what he said. I was just about to write this exact post.
I guess bottom line is that it can be handy to have around from time to time, but isn't necessary at all... but if you can afford it, $20 on eBay will get you an EC meter that gets the job done. 
As an added side-note, electric pH meters aren't really all that useful especially for non-hydro applications, either. I absolutely love the 8oz bottle of GH pH tester liquid (under $20 out the door). I did find digital-output pH meters useful at one time (I've been through a few, even though I stored them properly in proper solution), but none more useful than "calibrating my eyes" to the dropper liquid colors, finding out what shade of what color means what pH. It's much easier and faster and more reliable than a cheap pH pen.
It's like... high-tech results through in low-tech methods... or something...
As an added side-note, electric pH meters aren't really all that useful especially for non-hydro applications, either. I absolutely love the 8oz bottle of GH pH tester liquid (under $20 out the door). I did find digital-output pH meters useful at one time (I've been through a few, even though I stored them properly in proper solution), but none more useful than "calibrating my eyes" to the dropper liquid colors, finding out what shade of what color means what pH. It's much easier and faster and more reliable than a cheap pH pen.
It's like... high-tech results through in low-tech methods... or something...
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