Coco holding too much water. Pots wont dry and roots turning brown

[stoned40yrs]

How far along should they stay in solo cups? Not time-wise, but how can you tell the plant is ready? From what I understand, you can really fill those cups up with roots in coco and they don't seem to mind.
Is there a good way to tell?
And then going into 2 gallon pots- Would you do that as they're going into 12/12?

Thanks!

I always wait till the roots spread out in the 2 gal pots before going 12/12. I use Rootpouch 2 gal Black ultra thin fabric containers. Like 74 cents each and are the best. Roots grow right out of the sides and bottom so you can see when you have established a good root system.

 

[dribbled]

I always wait till the roots spread out in the 2 gal pots before going 12/12. I use Rootpouch 2 gal Black ultra thin fabric containers. Like 74 cents each and are the best. Roots grow right out of the sides and bottom so you can see when you have established a good root system.

What do you use for 1 gallon containers?

 

[stoned40yrs]

I use square plastic 1 gal. Look for roots coming out the bottom to gauge how good it fills in. I'm seeing 3 to 5 days for roots to exit. No water during this time but let me explain further on never letting the coco dry out. When I transplant I put a few inches of coco in new container, mash it down and then dump about 1/2 cup of feed around the middle. Feed the plant in the solo cup or 1 gal container before transplant. Then let them go 3-5 days before feeding again. Easy to see the action using thin rootpouches, when some roots poke through around 5 days you can start watering everyday. The object is to get a good root system fast, seeing dry light brown coco is not the way to do this. It's wet and slightly moist coco not wet and dry coco.

 

[dribbled]

I use square plastic 1 gal. Look for roots coming out the bottom to gauge how good it fills in. I'm seeing 3 to 5 days for roots to exit. No water during this time but let me explain further on never letting the coco dry out. When I transplant I put a few inches of coco in new container, mash it down and then dump about 1/2 cup of feed around the middle. Feed the plant in the solo cup or 1 gal container before transplant. Then let them go 3-5 days before feeding again. Easy to see the action using thin rootpouches, when some roots poke through around 5 days you can start watering everyday. The object is to get a good root system fast, seeing dry light brown coco is not the way to do this. It's wet and slightly moist coco not wet and dry coco.

Excellent post! Thank you!

 

[stoned40yrs]

Use the fist test to gauge if your coco has the right moisture content for planting and transplanting. If it's bagged coco it already is at the right moisture content. If you hydrated blocks then you grab a handful and squeeze as hard as you can- you should be able to squeeze out a drop or few drops of water if it's at the correct moisture content. Roots will grow perfectly at this moisture content- spread out and fill your container.

 

[stoned40yrs]

Rootpouch Thin Blacks- 75 cents. I use once and throwaway-biodegradable. Takes the quess work out of knowing how your roots are doing.

 

[RubeGoldberg]

Its cyco coco. Ive used in past but it didnt hold so much water.


One thing that i did different tree is go from rockwool to 4x4 pots instead of solo cups. Always pretty cautious about over watering tho.

Their coco has RHP certification, but I don't trust those whacked out Aussie bikers to have decent quality control.

 

[Old Toker]

Their coco has RHP certification, but I don't trust those whacked out Aussie bikers to have decent quality control.

So far it seems OK. Haven't had/seen any bugs and the seedlings look OK....so far. The fibers just seem to be very fine. Of course what do I know.....I'm a newb and haven't used any other coco. I'm probably going to add 10-15% perlite when I up pot. Can't imagine that will do any harm.

 

[chronosync]

coco being too fine can ruin shit. think mud. worse even because its COCO.... normally coco rules and is an amazing grow stuff. roots tear through it, it holds tons of air and pretty much no matter what it can be reset, recharged, flushed and leached, and generally manipulated.

i prefer straight coco, i didnt believe it until i tried because i started with perlite and isnt perlite suppose to always help with drainage and aeration? well it does, but its a pain in the ass and honestly ive done much better without it. i dont believe coco needs much improvement when it comes to texture. CEC dynamic? maybe but WTF do i know that subject is pretty vast. shit.

if your coco is muddy after you bring it to *field capacity (exactly like stoned40 said) then its shit and will most likely cause you problems. have you thought about GRADING it? i bet a thrift store sieve and steel pot or bins or buckets would fix that stuff up

good luck!

***

oh yea, nothing wrong with adding some perlite though, it will help alot if all you have is the cyclo, maybe its fine anyways

 

[Old Toker]

...have you thought about GRADING it? i bet a thrift store sieve and steel pot or bins or buckets would fix that stuff up...

What do you mean "grading" it? Not sure what or how that's done.
Cyco is the only coco I have right now. But I'm fairly sure I have a week or two before I need to up pot......and certain that my hydro store has at least one other option (not sure what brand(s)). Of course there is also Amazon.
Any recommendations on GOOD coco that has a better texture than Cyco coco? I am only planning to add perlite if I need it for aeration/drainage.
Thanks!

 

[Dropped Cat]

Sifting the dried coco thru a steel coarse mesh screen,
about 8 threads per inch.

Lots of dust is left behind, I mix the leftover dust in with
my outdoor vegetable garden mix.

Perlite mixed with coco reduces pure coco to a slightly inert blend,
however many growers add perlite without any noticable decrease
in growth or yield.

Sifting coco is an extra step that ensures a light airy medium
that eliminates the need to dilute your coco with perlite.

 

[Old Toker]

...Sifting coco is an extra step that ensures a light airy medium that eliminates the need to dilute your coco with perlite.

Excellent!!! Really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience/knowledge with me/us. Thanks!

 

[chronosync]

i meant you could go through and sift out the fine stuff, a sieve or a window screen even over a bucket...... probably a bit labor intensive but hey, i grew up poor.

canna is the standard around here i suppose, i plan on getting their brick coco and expanding it with hot water to kill any egg. just in case. plus its a bit cheaper and wont sit around all ready to host new bugs or whatever

 

[chronosync]

I use square plastic 1 gal. Look for roots coming out the bottom to gauge how good it fills in. I'm seeing 3 to 5 days for roots to exit. No water during this time but let me explain further on never letting the coco dry out. When I transplant I put a few inches of coco in new container, mash it down and then dump about 1/2 cup of feed around the middle. Feed the plant in the solo cup or 1 gal container before transplant. Then let them go 3-5 days before feeding again. Easy to see the action using thin rootpouches, when some roots poke through around 5 days you can start watering everyday. The object is to get a good root system fast, seeing dry light brown coco is not the way to do this. It's wet and slightly moist coco not wet and dry coco.

ace advice stoned40

hey, on those rootpouches, are they by any chance thick enough or fine enough? to keep gnats out? i mean before your roots explode and tear through! YA

 

[Old Toker]

canna is the standard around here i suppose, i plan on getting their brick coco and expanding it with hot water to kill any egg. just in case. plus its a bit cheaper and wont sit around all ready to host new bugs or whatever

Thanks Chronosync! Ordered a couple Canna bricks from Amazon and they should be here in a week. I also grew up poor....but can now afford decent coco instead of going through all that sifting stuff. Thanks for the suggestion/ideas!

 

[stoned40yrs]

Canna coco if you can get it. Bag or blocks. I've tried lots and it's the best. Lots of fibers to keep the coco in uniform moistness. I use the blocks, just as good as the bag.

 

[stoned40yrs]

Thanks Chronosync! Ordered a couple Canna bricks from Amazon and they should be here in a week. I also grew up poor....but can now afford decent coco instead of going through all that sifting stuff. Thanks for the suggestion/ideas!

Ignore the instructions on the blocks. They say you can hydrate with straight water. They also have how much water it takes wrong. To get the correct moisture content it takes 1 gal per block. 4 blocks in a pack so 4gal. Don't use straight water. Take whatever feed you are going to use and cut it with 50% water so it's half strength. Hydrate with that and it will work better than straight water. Use a tote and put the 4 blocks and water/feed on top. Let it soak over night then go back and mix it all up by hand. Make sure the water/feed is around 5.8ph.

 

[Old Toker]

Ignore the instructions on the blocks. They say you can hydrate with straight water. They also have how much water it takes wrong. To get the correct moisture content it takes 1 gal per block. 4 blocks in a pack so 4gal. Don't use straight water. Take whatever feed you are going to use and cut it with 50% water so it's half strength. Hydrate with that and it will work better than straight water. Use a tote and put the 4 blocks and water/feed on top. Let it soak over night then go back and mix it all up by hand. Make sure the water/feed is around 5.8ph.

Thank you! This is VERY helpful information. I understand why the PH should be 5.8.....but why the half strength nutes? I am currently using 1/4 nute strength (TDS 250) and planned on upping it next feeding to about 1/2 (350 TDS) the veg suggested amount. Do you think it will be a problem if I prep the coco with a nute formula this weak?
Thanks again for all the help!

BTW - after seeing your user id I thought about how long I've been getting stoned.....50+ years and still going strong.

 

[Old Toker]

I like atami. Seems to have worked well for me over the years.

Thank you for the suggestion WaxyTaxi! I currently am waiting on my Canna brick order but will keep the Atami brand in mind if I need to change in the future.

 

[stoned40yrs]

Thank you! This is VERY helpful information. I understand why the PH should be 5.8.....but why the half strength nutes? I am currently using 1/4 nute strength (TDS 250) and planned on upping it next feeding to about 1/2 (350 TDS) the veg suggested amount. Do you think it will be a problem if I prep the coco with a nute formula this weak?
Thanks again for all the help!

BTW - after seeing your user id I thought about how long I've been getting stoned.....50+ years and still going strong.

51 years myself now Use your 1/4 strength to hydrate the coco. That will work just as well. Reason I do this instead of straight water clones and seedlings take off better after transplant or popping seeds. I don't give them any water/feed for 5 days and a little feed when hydrating the coco makes them happier IMO