Coco help

[MPL]

Alright, so this forum is filled with posts. I've searched and searched and cannot find what I'm looking for.

What is so good about coco and how the hell does one use it? How do you fertilize it, do you mix it with other mediums, what's the deal with watering it (lots of talk about this)? I'm just very confused. A lot of people talking about it, but nowhere that explains the basic concepts. Even the sticky with the grow guide doesn't have this information, and as far as I know, I've read every post. It's just a grow log.

If I walked into a store, and you were selling me some Coco and had to explain how I'm supposed to make use of this, and why, what would you say? Why not go hydro or soil?

Thanks.

 

[NiteTiger]

Think of it like hydro soil. It's a neutral medium, like hydroton. It provides no nutrients on it's own. It can be used like soil though, mix with perlite (not strictly necessary) and put into pots. Then water with a hydro formula. I use FNB @ 8ml/gallon.

One thing about coco is that you've got to flush the living hell out of it. You reconstitute the bricks by adding water. I then take it and fill a two gallon bucket with holes drilled in the bottom, and run 15 gallons of water through it. Major flushing.

I'm very happy with the results so far from hand watering. Very simple and easy hydro.

 

[MPL]

Oops, I put it this in the wrong forum. Sorry. Can a mod put this in the coco forum? Thanks!

Oh, ok, I got it. Do you have to flush it just one time to get it to expand?

I've heard you need to mix it with something or it makes a very poor medium for growing. How often do you have to water?

What if I wanted to use a 5 gallon bucket? Use more than 1 brick? Does it take less space than soil?

What about issues I have heard concerning Ca and Mg issues with it because it isn't clean?

What are the pros and cons of coco?

Which brands are the best?

I'd like to try this, and am just trying to learn.

Thanks!

Think of it like hydro soil. It's a neutral medium, like hydroton. It provides no nutrients on it's own. It can be used like soil though, mix with perlite (not strictly necessary) and put into pots. Then water with a hydro formula. I use FNB @ 8ml/gallon.

One thing about coco is that you've got to flush the living hell out of it. You reconstitute the bricks by adding water. I then take it and fill a two gallon bucket with holes drilled in the bottom, and run 15 gallons of water through it. Major flushing.

I'm very happy with the results so far from hand watering. Very simple and easy hydro.

 

[treble]

I just started with the coir/coco. I am doing something a bit different and so far I have discovered this:

It expands a lot and the best way of filling pots I have found is to put the coco brick in a bucket and add water then let it sit and absorb the water. Then I try and break it down/mix it up until it resembles a kind of mulched soil. Then I fill my pots with it.

i put it in the pots first and wet it but it just expands out of the pot every where. This stuff expands about 2 times its original size.

It holds water pretty well....in spring (outdoors) a watering 1 or 2 times per week should be enough unless you are doing ebb and flow or something.

Drainage...need some drainage ability otherwise it just gets sodden or too damp. I nearly lost a sprout due to water logging.... put a fan on it for a day to dry it off a bit.

As for flushing, I didn't bother and I don't know that it really matters these days..perhaps it is a run off thing if you are recycling the water using a pump. The water running off is full of the fibers and such so it may clog a pump.

I am using this for mothers and use dwc for flowering my clones. Only just started with the moms but I like the lightness of it and the water retention. We will see how successful it is for moms.


yes coco forum is the place of all things wise relating to coco

peace
treb

 

[MPL]

What about something like Canna Coco that is already packed in bags, not in bricks? Does it expand too?

I think I may just go with Canna Coco and their Coco nute A+B stuff.

 

[NiteTiger]

Oh, ok, I got it. Do you have to flush it just one time to get it to expand?

You add water to make it expand. I put my coco bricks in a rubber maid and add water, and wait for them to expand.

I've heard you need to mix it with something or it makes a very poor medium for growing. How often do you have to water?

No, it makes a fine medium on it's own, but you can add to it just like soil. As I mentioned, I add perlite to mine. If it was a poor medium to grow in, we wouldn't be using it, now would we

What if I wanted to use a 5 gallon bucket? Use more than 1 brick? Does it take less space than soil?

You can use whatever you want. Once it's expanded, pretend it is soil. You can put it in whatever container you'd like. If you want to use more than one brick, then just expand more than one brick.

What about issues I have heard concerning Ca and Mg issues with it because it isn't clean?

The built up salts in coco is why you flush it. Flushing it removes those built up salts. Once the medium is flushed, use it with a hydro feeding regimen as I said above.

What are the pros and cons of coco?

Which brands are the best?

Those are matters of opinion, and you can find endless discussion about that through out the Grower's Forums. I personally like it because it is an easy transition from soil to hydro - I can treat it like non-fertilized soil, and get hydro results.

I'd like to try this, and am just trying to learn.

Thanks!

Learning is what we're all here for, and you're welcome!

Here's a shot of some of my coco during a transplant

 

[The Dopest]

i dont think there are any cons of using coco, imo its the best thing since sliced bread. i run mine straight coco with hydro nutes and absolutely love it, good luck!

at Nite Tiger!

 

[MPL]

Man you guys have pretty well answered all my questions. I guess the reason there aren't any big how-to guides or anything for Coco is that it is pretty easy. It sure seems like it.

I think I'll go with the Canna Coco then, it seems to enjoy the best overall reputation. Does anyone recommend a specific nute schedule/regimen? Are the Canna A+B for Coco pretty good?

Thanks again, I really appreciate all the great input!