[rabid]

Thanks Berry, I have an OLD truncheon meter but it only reads TDS and CF levels and I don't trust it anyway. What I meant to ask was if there is something like the litmus test strips to check liquids for salinity.

[BillowingBudMkr]

I'm curious, what's the best way to prep the coco for transplants. I'm coming from rockwool and I would usually soak it. Should you wet it so that's fully wet with a diluted 1/2 solution of my flowering solution. Thanks!

[wygram]

"To prepare the husk we first hydrate the bale in two 32 gallon containers at least overnight , and then transfer the hydrated husk and excess water to a second container that has had a large number of holes drilled into the bottom, and about six inches up the sides. After the husk drains, a steady stream of water is washed through until it appears to run clear from the container. Then the husk is again transferred back to the solid container and again covered with water with a few ounces each of Calcium Nitrate and Magnesium Sulfate (Cal-Mag in our case) added at least overnight. The draining and washing procedure is repeated again using pure water, with the final rinse being extensive. At this point measurements have revealed virtually no significant leachable salts and a pH just slightly below neutral. The conditioning with calcium and magnesium is done because of the moderate Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) of the coconut husk. Sodium (Na) and Potassium (K) ions are strongly bound to the CHC. Laboratory comparative analysis of extracts of coconut husk products using distilled water versus a barium chloride solution demonstrate that as much as 2/3 of the Na and K may not be leached by water alone. What then happens is that you cation exchange calcium and magnesium for sodium and potassium in your early fertilized irrigations, creating possible calcium and magnesium deficiencies and sodium and potassium excesses. If you irrigate heavily as we recommend, the problem is quite temporary and limited. Unfortunately, it seems to be more and more common to hear about people using less extensive irrigation practices, and under these circumstances problems may arise. The addition of calcium and magnesium in the wash stages allows for cation exchange to occur then, creating a more balanced state from the start."

[BillowingBudMkr]

If you're using Canna coco, are these steps necessary? I will be using Bionicare Pure Blend Pro with Cal mag. Should I just soak it with water,transplant it, and then water it with a 1/2 solution of nutes after the transplant (thinking of just hand watering for the intial watering). Should I just let it sit for the first day or two to make sure the roots settle, and stick my finger in the medium just to make sure it doesn't dry out.

[rabid]

That's good info wygram...thanks and tagged. Is this info ^^^^^ from you or ??? Is this a treatment for coco from local (Asian) sources or processed coco coir from distributors? Just asking for info...

Botanicare says their product CocoGro Coir is aged for 18 months and 3 monsoon seasons which sounds contradictory because three wet monsoon seasons = 3 years ...maybe it's 4 1/5 years old, I don't know. We've emailed Botanicare with this question but no reply so far. I'm not calling bogus on Botanicare ( I just received a complimentary 12 lb bale LOL) but maybe...?

Salt/K removal by washing/soaking is a time-consuming, labor-intensive method (when I have to do it, LOL). Do you or anyone else out there know of an alternate method (chemical or ???) to remove salt and potassium other than what you've described in your previous post? Hey, if it works I'll use it!

There is unlimited/free (fine & coarse) coco where we are and we would really like to continue using it but without the salt/K issues. Thanks

Originally Posted by wygram

"To prepare the husk we first hydrate the bale in two 32 gallon containers at least overnight , and then transfer the hydrated husk and excess water to a second container that has had a large number of holes drilled into the bottom, and about six inches up the sides. After the husk drains, a steady stream of water is washed through until it appears to run clear from the container. Then the husk is again transferred back to the solid container and again covered with water with a few ounces each of Calcium Nitrate and Magnesium Sulfate (Cal-Mag in our case) added at least overnight. The draining and washing procedure is repeated again using pure water, with the final rinse being extensive. At this point measurements have revealed virtually no significant leachable salts and a pH just slightly below neutral. The conditioning with calcium and magnesium is done because of the moderate Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) of the coconut husk. Sodium (Na) and Potassium (K) ions are strongly bound to the CHC. Laboratory comparative analysis of extracts of coconut husk products using distilled water versus a barium chloride solution demonstrate that as much as 2/3 of the Na and K may not be leached by water alone. What then happens is that you cation exchange calcium and magnesium for sodium and potassium in your early fertilized irrigations, creating possible calcium and magnesium deficiencies and sodium and potassium excesses. If you irrigate heavily as we recommend, the problem is quite temporary and limited. Unfortunately, it seems to be more and more common to hear about people using less extensive irrigation practices, and under these circumstances problems may arise. The addition of calcium and magnesium in the wash stages allows for cation exchange to occur then, creating a more balanced state from the start."

Holy shit, not only would I not use coco, but I would probably shoot myself if I had to do all that...

1 Botanicare 5kg bale

Add 5-7 gallons of water

Put it in your container

Add plants and food... thats it... same ease with canna coco

[rabid]

I agree Indica...I'm WAY too lazy to go thru all that crap...but I guess I will have to make some amendments to clean up this crummy coco I have at my unlimited disposal haha.

I'm still waiting on an answer ... was that ^^^ his reply or was he quoting someone else???

Indica, did you use any coco samples from South Asia (Sri Lanka, India)??? I'm thinking GH Clearex could be used to wash out some of the salt in this local stuff. But it would take a LOT to get it squeaky clean.

Got samples from just about every major coco exporter... almost all of them except Pele had a high EC... only solution is to flush, flush, flush

[rabid]

Thanks for the reply Indica. Is that Pele ... the Brazilian soccer star??? He's selling coco now ??? Jeez... everyone is jumping on the coco train... just kidding man, how was that stuff???

I've just hired 6 local girls to stomp the shit out of 200 lbs of coco in the shallow end of my swimmin' pool. That should keep 'em busy---for this afternoon at least...LOL.

In all seriousness, do you think there is any salt-removal agent I can use? Wygrams post ^^^ is appreciated but there has to be an easier way.

Hey mojo, I know you said it couldn't be done (removing the salt from local coco) but I'm a stubborn SOB and I like a challenge...am I pissing in the wind or what???

[rabid]

Looks like I'm answering myself LOL. The local chicks did their thing and I now have 180 lbs of clean coco with an EC of 0.3. I reckon that's about as clean as it's gonna get. Those girls were something else...it was fun. Now I have to clean the pool...

I'm rehydrating a brick of Botanicare CocoGrow coir and will try it out with the same program as the local coco. Maybe not a fair test but at least I tried haha.

Hey ThaiPhoon, I haven't forgotten you man. Thanks