A coco ebb-n-flow proposition

[JackKerouac]

Let's say a fella want to do ebb and flow using coco using a 2x2 Megagarden and a 400 HPS.

Would you suggest coarse coco to prevent it from going into the res?

How often would the bed be flooded?

Would a cocotek mat be beneficial for roots to grow into and to prevent substrate in the reservoir?

Would you offer any other suggestions?

 

[ViktorVaughn]

Ebb and FLow

Ebb and FLow

I used a 3x3 flood table with Canna and botanicare coco in 1 gal coco pots with no trouble with particulate coming through or so many roots growing through that I required a coco mat. I was flooding Flora nova nutrients 3 times daily for 15 minutes each. Maybe this helps?
Vik

 

[aeric]

I would think the coarse coco would tend to float during the flood, just because it is slower to absorb and looser in the pot than the regular fibrous coco. Its almost like packing peanuts in that regard. Perfect for drip IME, not so much for flood IMO, just speculating though.

 

[-VT-]

Would a cocotek mat be beneficial for roots to grow into and to prevent substrate in the reservoir?

Would you offer any other suggestions?

This came up in another thread....could use a container big enough to make a root mat unnecessary....

An alternative to the root mats is AC/Furnace filter material, which is very inexpensive and ubiquitous.....

I got that tip from an IC'er at his dro shop (shared it in the coco thread up yonder last year)... with fine grade coco, no media (hydrotron, lava, river rocks, broken ceramic, etc...) lining the bottom of the container,(which was a netpot)....and I had no problems...ended up with roots poking out from all sides and the bottom........that Calizahr ended up being a male (so I guss I did have a problem....lol).....but it was a cool experiment...

 

[Guest]

i've been looking from moving over from dirt to e&f w/ coco and i was motivated by this thread from colaforniakid. check it out i think it should answer some questions...

http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=48518

 

[pumpkin2006]

My word is not the gospel, but here's what I do. 10" square pots that are 5" tall, filled with 60% sunshine brand, prewashed puffed coco and 40% FF Big n' Chunky perlite on 1/4" root mat with hydroton filled to the top of every pot, inbetween the pots... maybe give you some ideas

 

[JackKerouac]

I only have 2x2x4 to work with. The Megagarden only floods 2-3", so I have to use smaller pots. The hydroton on top is a really good idea.

Thanks guys! Any other ideas?

 

[Guest]

I'll tell ya right now, coarse coco (i.e. profit disks, sunleaves chunky) do not float. The long strands of coir are almost interwoven when in their pots, making them basically immobile.