[Loc Dog]

I am growing seeds directly in coco, and wondering when to start giving nutrients, and when to give recommended early veg feeding strength?

I have been giving 100 PPM to just sprouted seeds, and 300 PPM when second set of leaves. Wondering if that is too strong.

[t99]

That's about what I do. After the first week or two you can raise it up a little, then tell you when they need it. Just water carefully so you don't damage them, I use a shot glass for the first week

[WaxyTaxi]

i give mine 400 from the get with no problems...

[TanzanianMagic]

Originally Posted by Loc Dog

I am growing seeds directly in coco, and wondering when to start giving nutrients, and when to give recommended early veg feeding strength?

I have been giving 100 PPM to just sprouted seeds, and 300 PPM when second set of leaves. Wondering if that is too strong.

The way I've grown them many times, is use 0.2 EC of basic nutrient (say Canna Coco A+B), and add 0.2 EC of high P/K late flowering nutrient (Plagron Green Sensation 0-9-10, Atami B'Cuzz 0-20-30). The phosphorus stimulates root growth, the potassium stimulates stem growth, increases the plant's metabolism and general health. PH should generally be 6.0 until very late in the grow.

You should add a drop of trace elements (B'Essentials for instance) and if you're using filtered water some cal/mag source (I like to let R/O water sit in magnesium lime for a day or so, and then dilute with more R/O water 1:3.

During early flowering add magnesium and sulfur to increase the plant's smell. Try for a higher K ratio during the ripening phase, and extra silica (resin is made from silica, which also protects the plant from insect and fungal attack). Potassium increases the plant's resistance to disease too.

And that's basically it.

When you start a new plants, water with the 0.4 EC solution, then plant the seeds. You can plant in any size container, however I find that it is easiest to just start them in their final container. As long as the plants have enough phosphorus to build a large root system, having a large container is actually beneficial, because it stabilizes the root environment. Wide containers allow the plant's roots to breathe more, which increases metabolism, and also signals to the plant that it has enough support to branch out rather than grow tall.

Also, when plants have a healthy well developed root system, you will find they need much less nutrients, because of the efficiency of uptake.

You should keep the roots in good health by:

- having a drainage layer of enough perlite or grow rocks to cover the drainage holes in the pot

Both should be put in a tub and rinsed until they float (let stand for 10 minutes or more) and all the dust is gone, before use.

- use enzymes and mycorrhizal fungi

This should prevent any botrytis or similar from infecting the roots. Enzymes dissolve diseased tissue, while the mycorrhizal fungi take up the place of pathogens.

- Foliage

You should protect foliage by spraying neem oil. Mildew is treated with baking soda to kill it, and then neem oil to keep it from returning.

- Tip

If you can grow plants outside in full sun, you can do so right from seed. All you need to do is put agricultural fleece over you plants (folded once for new seeds, just a single layer when they have their first real leaves) - and they'll explode with growth. It's really astonishing to see. I think they like the filtered/scattered light the fleece creates.

[Loc Dog]

Originally Posted by WaxyTaxi

i give mine 400 from the get with no problems...

Thanks!! Was worried I might be giving too much, since one seedling had twisted leaves.

[Loc Dog]

Originally Posted by TanzanianMagic

The way I've grown them many times, is use 0.2 EC of basic nutrient (say Canna Coco A+B), and add 0.2 EC of high P/K late flowering nutrient (Plagron Green Sensation 0-9-10, Atami B'Cuzz 0-20-30). The phosphorus stimulates root growth, the potassium stimulates stem growth, increases the plant's metabolism and general health. PH should generally be 6.0 until very late in the grow.

You should add a drop of trace elements (B'Essentials for instance) and if you're using filtered water some cal/mag source (I like to let R/O water sit in magnesium lime for a day or so, and then dilute with more R/O water 1:3.

During early flowering add magnesium and sulfur to increase the plant's smell. Try for a higher K ratio during the ripening phase, and extra silica (resin is made from silica, which also protects the plant from insect and fungal attack). Potassium increases the plant's resistance to disease too.

And that's basically it.

When you start a new plants, water with the 0.4 EC solution, then plant the seeds. You can plant in any size container, however I find that it is easiest to just start them in their final container. As long as the plants have enough phosphorus to build a large root system, having a large container is actually beneficial, because it stabilizes the root environment. Wide containers allow the plant's roots to breathe more, which increases metabolism, and also signals to the plant that it has enough support to branch out rather than grow tall.

Also, when plants have a healthy well developed root system, you will find they need much less nutrients, because of the efficiency of uptake.

You should keep the roots in good health by:

- having a drainage layer of enough perlite or grow rocks to cover the drainage holes in the pot

Both should be put in a tub and rinsed until they float (let stand for 10 minutes or more) and all the dust is gone, before use.

- use enzymes and mycorrhizal fungi

This should prevent any botrytis or similar from infecting the roots. Enzymes dissolve diseased tissue, while the mycorrhizal fungi take up the place of pathogens.

- Foliage

You should protect foliage by spraying neem oil. Mildew is treated with baking soda to kill it, and then neem oil to keep it from returning.

- Tip

If you can grow plants outside in full sun, you can do so right from seed. All you need to do is put agricultural fleece over you plants (folded once for new seeds, just a single layer when they have their first real leaves) - and they'll explode with growth. It's really astonishing to see. I think they like the filtered/scattered light the fleece creates.

Thanks for the tips!! I gave up on coco, and have just moved to RDWC. I bought a bunch of seeds, and want to grow them out in coco, to make backup seeds, and take clones to move to RDWC of the best plants.

My biggest problem with coco was that the GG4 I micro managed the runoff PPM/PH was the best grow I had. Everyone said to just feed correctly, and ignore runoff, but when I did that I had lame results. Without checking and adjusting for a few weeks, on some plants 600 PPM and 6.2 PH went in, and 2500 PPM, and 4.7 PH came out. I like the RDWC because just need to adjust reservoir and that is it. Only problems with it is, all plants on same reservoir need to have same feeding needs, and keeping water below 72F.

Thanks again!!

[noyd666]

yo loc dog these seedlings are getting 4 to 600 no problems. taller ones were on 800

[Loc Dog]

Originally Posted by noyd666

yo loc dog these seedlings are getting 4 to 600 no problems.View Image View Image taller ones were on 800

I will try upping my emerged seedlings with 2 leaves starting tomorrow. What do you feed before they emerge. I was giving them about 100 PPM, so they had something. Do you feed young seedlings more than once a day? Is your PPM meter on the .5 or .7 scale?? I have .5, where 50 PPM is .1 EC.

Thanks!!

P.S. How hot is it there??? Must be pretty warm.

[seeded]

I start seedlings in coco/perlite flushed with 1/4 strength nutes at 6.3pH. My truncheon died eons ago so I forget what that measures out as but they like it well enough for a few weeks and then half strength feeds are needed until flowering in most cases.

[noyd666]

Originally Posted by Loc Dog

I will try upping my emerged seedlings with 2 leaves starting tomorrow. What do you feed before they emerge. I was giving them about 100 PPM, so they had something. Do you feed young seedlings more than once a day? Is your PPM meter on the .5 or .7 scale?? I have .5, where 50 PPM is .1 EC.

Thanks!!

P.S. How hot is it there??? Must be pretty warm.

only water for 3 days or so.
once , more if needed. just a small amount with the cups I use.
blue lab trun, ec. no nice warm weather here but now raining , tomorrow prob be nice, I like the breeze up a bit , lol hides lots of noises.