Is coco superior to rockwool? - Growing in Coco Coir - International Cannagraphic Magazine Forums

STFU · 01-26-2011, 06:52 AM

Talked to some peeps down at the grow shop today and they have completely spun my head around. Saying that this coco stuff is just plain superior to rockwool in every way. Could anyone enlighten me? Im going to start reading this forums from the top down. Starting with the stickies.

scurred · 01-26-2011, 12:24 PM

yeah everyone here seems to love coco, even the heads seeds and reservoir seeds breeders have switched to it and promote it

what i like about it is the simplicity... its a hydroponic soilless medium that you can water by hand, use with a drip system, or some other type of irrigation system. so you can keep it simple, or rig up a fully automated system.

don't have to worry about pumps failing and stuff.

but i have never tried coco or rockwool so i cant comment on the comparison, but i too have been researching coco for awhile now and like what i've read and the results i've seen

Harinama · 01-26-2011, 10:10 PM

short answer: Yes
longer answer: YES in every way.

01-26-2011, 10:32 PM

Coco coir is a renewable medium,it can be reused,is compostable/recyclable,you can get it compressed so it is easier to carry,has a better water retention,is it cheaper then rock wool and it has the same cation exchange. A simple test to check for quality is to flush distilled water through the coco and measure the runoff. Tried it once didn't go back

Lazyman · 01-26-2011, 10:35 PM

I agree with the above posters, yes in every way. Better for the environment, healthier product to make, and much cheaper/more portable (compressed bricks are COOL.)

I even clone into coco/perlite, I can generate a tray of cuttings for about $0.50 of coco, vs $8 a slab for rockwool cubes. So now I do tons of extra clones cuz they're damn near free to make!

mriko · 01-26-2011, 10:36 PM

Never tried rockwool, and probably never will for coco is simply great (and way more eco-friendly than rockwool) !

Irie !

DocLeaf · 01-26-2011, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STFU

Could anyone enlighten me?

Coco is usually more expensive to run,, but has a better taste than NFT

Otherwise the cats at the shop will usually tell you anything,, if they stock it!

(normally ,, a bunch of ****s , the lot of them!)

peace

STFU · 01-27-2011, 02:27 AM

Haha yah thats for sure. Seems like every time I go in (which is rare I go with a list of shit i need) they have some sort of new product that is a must have for my grow. But all this talk of coco is getting me excited. I've heard that some types of coco husks may have too high salt content. But I assume you would only get screwed this way if you bought coco that wasn't specifically marketed for growing. I've seen bricks sold at stores and I've always wondered how much water would it take to fully expand one of those bricks? Im trying to figure out if I need a bathtub to get the job done or a large trashcan etc. Thanks for all the responses guys

FoCo(No.Co) · 01-27-2011, 02:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by STFU

Haha yah thats for sure. Seems like every time I go in (which is rare I go with a list of shit i need) they have some sort of new product that is a must have for my grow. But all this talk of coco is getting me excited. I've heard that some types of coco husks may have too high salt content. But I assume you would only get screwed this way if you bought coco that wasn't specifically marketed for growing. I've seen bricks sold at stores and I've always wondered how much water would it take to fully expand one of those bricks? Im trying to figure out if I need a bathtub to get the job done or a large trashcan etc. Thanks for all the responses guys

Most all coco except the expensive bagged stuff needs to be flushed before use. Sounds like a pain in the ass(and it kind of is), but it allows you to 'charge' the coco with the proper nutrient levels and the plants love it.

The bricks take about a gallon of water to moisten and expand into about 2.5 gallons of medium(pick the biggest bricks at the store and you'll get more for your money... not sure why they are slightly different sizes). I like to expand the bricks in a 5-gallon bucket and then flush the coco in the containers that I am using for planting. Flushing one brick properly takes about 4 gallons of solution.

ambertrich · 01-27-2011, 02:51 AM

STFU, it would depend on how much you need. A brick takes about 3/4-gallon of water to expand and gives 8 or 9 liters of expanded product. A five gallon bucket works great for this. Once it has absorbed the water you will need to break up any large chunks by hand but it is easier than breaking dirt clods.
I just expanded a 5kg block and I used one of the plastic mixing tubs from Lowes(the ones you see people using for DIY ebbnflow setups-the larger one24"x36" roughly). Put the block in, add around 5 gallons of water and let it soak it in and expand and break up into a uniform mix. That 5 Kg block fills that container just a couple inches shy of the top (70 liters or so). It filled 15 1 gal smart pots, plus 3 x 3 gal smart pots plus still have some left over and had used some already.
And that block cost $10 from the local hydro shop. As long as you don't have diseases/infestation of the coco it can be used again up to 3x's.

Get yourself a brick of a good quality product (Botanicare or GH for bricks) for a couple bucks and give it a try on a small side project. I promise you will be hooked if you do.

01-26-2011, 06:52 AM	#1
STFU Reppin The Bay Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 124	Is coco superior to rockwool? Talked to some peeps down at the grow shop today and they have completely spun my head around. Saying that this coco stuff is just plain superior to rockwool in every way. Could anyone enlighten me? Im going to start reading this forums from the top down. Starting with the stickies. __________________ C.R.E.A.M
	Quote

01-26-2011, 10:35 PM	#5
Lazyman Overkill is under-rated. Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Norcal Posts: 5,186	I agree with the above posters, yes in every way. Better for the environment, healthier product to make, and much cheaper/more portable (compressed bricks are COOL.) I even clone into coco/perlite, I can generate a tray of cuttings for about $0.50 of coco, vs $8 a slab for rockwool cubes. So now I do tons of extra clones cuz they're damn near free to make! __________________ I'm fairly busy so please excuse my absence or slow responses to PM's! All about Growroom cooling:* Keepin' it cool man (my 1st published article) How to automate reservoir top offs or most anything water-related The only UV-B lighting thread worth a damn CO2 for dummies Big grow: The 36KW medical/perpetual basement
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01-26-2011, 10:36 PM	#6
mriko Green Mujaheed Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Free Republic of Mrikostan - 50°N Posts: 1,968	Never tried rockwool, and probably never will for coco is simply great (and way more eco-friendly than rockwool) ! Irie ! __________________ "To forbid or even seriously to restrict the use of so gracious an herb as hemp would cause widespread suffering and annoyance and to large bands of worshipped ascetics, deep-seated anger. It would rob the people of a solace in discomfort, of a cure in sickness, of a guardian whose gracious protection saves them from the attacks of evil influences, and whose mightly power makes the devotee of the Victorious, overcoming the demons of hunger and thirst, of panic, fear, of the glamour of Maya or matter, and of madness, able in rest to brood on the Eternal, till the Eternal,possessing him body and soul, frees him from the haunting of self and receives him into the Ocean of Being." Indian Hemp Drugs Commission Meet the Green Man ! "Never doubt that a small group of people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has." Margaret Mead "I can, I shall and in the future I will have done" C. Montgomery Burns
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01-27-2011, 02:27 AM	#8
STFU Reppin The Bay Join Date: Dec 2010 Posts: 124	Haha yah thats for sure. Seems like every time I go in (which is rare I go with a list of shit i need) they have some sort of new product that is a must have for my grow. But all this talk of coco is getting me excited. I've heard that some types of coco husks may have too high salt content. But I assume you would only get screwed this way if you bought coco that wasn't specifically marketed for growing. I've seen bricks sold at stores and I've always wondered how much water would it take to fully expand one of those bricks? Im trying to figure out if I need a bathtub to get the job done or a large trashcan etc. Thanks for all the responses guys __________________ C.R.E.A.M
	Quote

01-26-2011, 12:24 PM	#2
scurred Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 360	yeah everyone here seems to love coco, even the heads seeds and reservoir seeds breeders have switched to it and promote it what i like about it is the simplicity... its a hydroponic soilless medium that you can water by hand, use with a drip system, or some other type of irrigation system. so you can keep it simple, or rig up a fully automated system. don't have to worry about pumps failing and stuff. but i have never tried coco or rockwool so i cant comment on the comparison, but i too have been researching coco for awhile now and like what i've read and the results i've seen
	Quote

01-26-2011, 10:10 PM	#3
Harinama Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 166	short answer: Yes longer answer: YES in every way.
	Quote

01-26-2011, 10:32 PM	#4
rick shaw Guest Posts: n/a	Coco coir is a renewable medium,it can be reused,is compostable/recyclable,you can get it compressed so it is easier to carry,has a better water retention,is it cheaper then rock wool and it has the same cation exchange. A simple test to check for quality is to flush distilled water through the coco and measure the runoff. Tried it once didn't go back
	Quote

01-27-2011, 02:51 AM	#10
ambertrich Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: West Coast of the East Posts: 1,534	STFU, it would depend on how much you need. A brick takes about 3/4-gallon of water to expand and gives 8 or 9 liters of expanded product. A five gallon bucket works great for this. Once it has absorbed the water you will need to break up any large chunks by hand but it is easier than breaking dirt clods. I just expanded a 5kg block and I used one of the plastic mixing tubs from Lowes(the ones you see people using for DIY ebbnflow setups-the larger one24"x36" roughly). Put the block in, add around 5 gallons of water and let it soak it in and expand and break up into a uniform mix. That 5 Kg block fills that container just a couple inches shy of the top (70 liters or so). It filled 15 1 gal smart pots, plus 3 x 3 gal smart pots plus still have some left over and had used some already. And that block cost $10 from the local hydro shop. As long as you don't have diseases/infestation of the coco it can be used again up to 3x's. Get yourself a brick of a good quality product (Botanicare or GH for bricks) for a couple bucks and give it a try on a small side project. I promise you will be hooked if you do.
	Quote