[jimjay]

1kindpup
If you are using 1 rez then i would go with one strain. Or maybe you have run these together before?
The slabs you are asking about are coco with rockwool cubes.
And about the dripper i use stakes in stead of drippers. If you gave a plant # maybe i could try and give you an idea for the right pump.
I haven't used those boss blocks before but i would imagine they could handle a 2 ft plant.

[gaiusmarius]

Originally Posted by Indica Sativa

Hey gaius, have ya heard anything through the grapevine about these Canna COGr slabs? https://www.canna.nl/english/index1.html

Hi Indica Sativa,

the coggr slabs are similar to the coco, with some advantages and some disadvantages in my opinion. coggr comes dry and compressed, making transport very easy and convenient as they are very light (no water) they also contain quite a bit more medium then the average coco slab specially more then in canna's own coco slabs. before i go further i have to say, that i never grew with coggr, as my research didn't convince me to change. the main reason being that coggr is totally sterilized and has no trichoderma or beneficials in it, which the coco does. but the biggest reason for me is the convenience of being able to slap my slabs on the table and use them right away, without any messing about with soaking and buffering of slabs. but if the advantages of coggr speak to you, then you can just add your own trichoderma etc.

Originally Posted by Farmer John

I have a few slabs somewhere here, maybe I'll give it a try, do I get any success with GH Flora series?

i have heard a few people complain about the high salt content in the gh slabs. but that can be taken care of with a good flush. as for the gh nutes, i really don't know from personal experience, so i'll leave some one who has used them on coco to answer.

Originally Posted by 1KindPup

I would like to start by adding some more thanks to all the contributors of this thread, especially gaiusmarius. It seems that you have a very good understanding of growing in coco. This has always been my idea of the ideal system, but a few factors have limited me to simple and cheap soil growing setups, until now. I believe that I am finally ready to venture out into the world of coco, and have a decent idea of the setup that I intend to build.


I would like to hear any constructive criticism or any ideas that would help me with my setup, as I have learned everything I know about growing from free online web forums. Something about that satisfies me; to know that I don't have to pay $5 for a copy of High Times or some other magazine designed around selling products, but instead I can discuss these topics with people I have never even met and yield extraordinary results. Again, I thank everyone who has had a positive impact towards our community.


Here is my grand idea:

Grow Cabinet: Mill's Pride C-24 Wardrobe Closet, 47"wide x 20"deep x 60"tall (growing space)

Lights: Veg: 324w T5 daylight. Flower: 300w HPS + 216w T5 warm.

Growing trays: "Dutch Leech Tray"

Coco Blocks: "Boss Block 6" "

Nutrients: Canna Coco

Strains: Bogglegum, MK Ultra, Strawberry Cough, NL.

Drip System: Pressure regulated drippers 2 per block, adequate water pump, runoff into separate tank.

I think that I will be able to figure out the watering needs and times, but I have a few questions:

Is there any recommended drip rate for the drippers? Faster drip/shorter cycle. Slower drip/longer cycle.

Will those 6" blocks be sufficient for full grown (2-3 ft. tall) plants? I am used to growing in soil and many of my plants become root bound in 1 gallon pots even before flowering, and those 6" blocks are smaller than those pots.

Also, I noticed in some pics on this thread that people are using those coco blocks on top of something else that looks like a coco slab of a larger size. I may be totally wrong here, but that may answer my previous question.

Again, any ideas or corrections are encouraged, and again I thank all of you who make this awesome practice possible.

it seems to me like you did your research, your system would do a great job. it really doesn't matter whether it takes the pump 10 minutes to make run off or 4 minutes. just so long the drip is steady enough that you can rely on it and don't need to have it on for hours till run off. otherwise you will get very bored waiting for a flush, lol. having a second tank to collect run off is a great way to allow you to do both, run to waste and recirculate depending on the stage of growth of the plants. to begin with you might want to throw away the return, although it really isn't that difficult to recirculate the nutrient solution for most of the grow if not all the way till flush.

with coco and drippers, combined with a short veg phased sog type grow, you can get away with a very small amount of coco per plant. specially if you give them plenty of horizontal room like in slabs. but those 6.5 lt. pots work real well too filled with coco and drip fed.

peace
gm

[Dalton]

[quote=gaiusmarius]the slabs have holes on one side the bottom,lol.

Thanks Gaius. I think I had more wits pre harvest. I wound up just using pots
I ordered the leather hole punch for later I still have 90 more to go, so that should come in handy. I couldn't find an inline filter, I'm probably going to have to order it. So for now I have panty hose on the drain line and I have my pump in knee highs. My setup looks sexy as hell but do you think this will hold for a few weeks?
thanks Dalton

[gaiusmarius]

i'm really not sure Dalton, how about getting a paint filter bucket and putting your pump inside it? although a few layers of panty hose or nylon stockings, should do the trick i guess. but use a lot of layers, because fine dripper lines will block quickly if coco particles get through.

[jimjay]

Need some opinions-
I started my new grow and have switched from small sq. pots to 6'' round pots w/ mesh bottoms. I also put a 1/4'' coco mat down. I am feeding every 4 hrs in veg(5times a day) for 1 minute. I do get run off. Do you think i could get away w/ alot less waterings since i am using a mat now? I was thinking maybe 2-3 times a day. I also started recirculating.
These aren't slabs but seem similiar so hopefully this is the right thread.

[gaiusmarius]

anything from 3 to 5 waterings a day, is still gonna result in a hydro ponic type grow. so it's really up to you, i give them 5 waterings a day in veg and 4 a day in 12/12.

[Caligrown]

Hey JimJay - Man, you should start a thred with the use of that mat. I have been very curious to see the results on the yeild using a small amount of medium for the roots. It would seem limiting but once the roots hit the mat they can go horizontally.
It sounds like you will be handling this like a hydro grow with multiple daily waterings ? Why are you wanting to reduce your watering schedule? Are you doing it to promote rooting?
I'll be looking out to see how it goes.

BTW-how thick is that mat?


Peace - Cali

[jimjay]

Caligrown-
1/4'' inch mat. I was thinking about lowering the feedings because the mat will keep the roots moist so more feedings wouldn't be needed. But i didn't end up changing the schedule, 5 waterings a day. In this sort of grow i don't think lowering the feedings would promote root growth but i could be wrong.
take care

I am learning so much in this thread. Thanks Gaius- you're doing a great job. I am planning a switch from hand watering soil to a recirc coco in pots dripper system. This thread and some help from a friend are going to insure my first try is successful.

[gaiusmarius]

Hey Caligrown,

yeah i'd like to know more about those mats too. looks like it would make a great layer for under the coco slabs. must ask my supplier about that stuff next time i go.


Hi jimjay

you only give less water right in the beginning to promote root growth. once you start watering 5 times a day, you should stick to it, as the roots will have adapted to it, making the whole system hydroponic. you really should do a thread about this mat, would be cool to get a handle on documenting it.


Yo Shmokin,

that's real nice to hear man. i do believe coco will give you the best chance of a good harvest right off the bat. specially, if you have done the research reading.

don't hesitate to start a thread about your grow, so we can tag along and help out when needed.

grow info

i am using my slabs for the 4th run and have had to fight the gnat larva from day one of this run. even though i still have adults about, i couldn't find any gnat larva in the coco anymore, so the solbac i have added to the tank must have helped with the gnat larva. despite that, today i did a drench with a stronger mix of sol bac, i took my garden hose hooked to a pump from plant to plant and just drenched that coco with solbac and rhizotonic water at a ph of 6.0. hope that gets the gnat population right down.

peace and good growings