Nope, I don't have that problem. I just harvested a few plants last week in 3-gal containers with completely filled roots. Proper dry backs are the only way to attempt crop steering at all.
From 70/30 coco to 100% coco
- Thread starter Mrkline006
- Start date
Nope, I don't have that problem. I just harvested a few plants last week in 3-gal containers with completely filled roots. Proper dry backs are the only way to attempt crop steering at all.
Try 1 gallon containers with straight coco. Without all that unnecessary perlite there'd be more room for roots.
Straight coco has perfect water retention and perfect aeration. If you're getting too much retention then your roots/coco ratio is off. If you do it right then there's enough roots to suck up everything you throw at them.
mikeross
Member
100% on point. I would go 100% coco in 1-2 gallon pots. You want to water multiple times daily then make sure you have enough root mass to dry those pots out daily on day 1 of flower. I would say 3 week veg step up to 2 gallon pots, anything less stick with 1 gallon.
I veg 3-4 weeks, strain dependent in 2 gallon pots. By week 1 flower I'm watering twice a day in straight coco... peak bloom 6 times a day.
I used straight coco for years before adding perlite. After adding perlite, growth was simply better. Also with crop steering, you really do need more aeration for proper drybacks. Maybe you haven't researched crop steering yet, but many growers are using it with great success. For me, I've tried coco both ways, and the results speak for themself.
ive only grown coco twice as i was a soil grower for years. first time ecothrive charge 70/30 with great results , second time 2 in the same and 2 100% coco and had better results with the 70/30. hand watering everyday
Around a QP I think, although honestly I don't really weigh anymore. Also, I just checked the bottom of the pots, and they are 2-gal square pots (1.91 gal technically speaking; 7 in x 7 in x 9 in), not 3. My mistake there.
These are all in 2gallon nursery pots 100% canna coco bricks fed 4x a day under 2 hlg led a550rspec and 600 rspec
Glaucksbacon
Member
I run 2 gallon hempy buckets drain to waste and water every 2 or 3 days, the hempy reservoir helps keep watering needs down, contemplating going to 3 or 3.5 gallon buckets but I don't need my plants to get any bigger in my 4x4 tent.
How long have you been running like that? What do your roots look like in “reservoir” area?
Glaucksbacon
Member
hey asher1er, been running the hempys for a few years now, the roots look like they've taken over the perlite res on the bottom, completely wrapping every bit of perlite, but super pearly white, I think the two gallons is as small as I'd like to go at 4-6 in a 4x4 tent, they do fine at 3-4 feet off the ground but when they approach 5 foot after stretch they seem to complain of rootbound a bit at the end.
The perlite in the res area is what is saving you.. i only asked because i ran that way in everything from 5-18g buckets but with straight coco no perlite in the bottom then i experimented in one room running regular drains and the other room with the hempy style and had much better results with standard drain. Either route i was watering multiple times a day tho as these where big trees and would dry out hempy style or not
Bio boy
Active member
I was pure coco. Then 7030 pearlite.
Then 10 clay base rest up 7030
Then did a 5050 by accident and was shocked.
So played around now i make 7030
Then i clay base few cm. Add 7030 halfway add plant and cover in pearlite and pebbles and bury in 7030 round the edge .
Basicly my plants sat in a 2litre like space in the middle of 7030 coco pearlite
Inuse a grasslin timer 6x 15second feeds . 1l each feed or 12 8seconds feeds for 500ish .
30 pcent runoff runs like a hydro
Then 10 clay base rest up 7030
Then did a 5050 by accident and was shocked.
So played around now i make 7030
Then i clay base few cm. Add 7030 halfway add plant and cover in pearlite and pebbles and bury in 7030 round the edge .
Basicly my plants sat in a 2litre like space in the middle of 7030 coco pearlite
Inuse a grasslin timer 6x 15second feeds . 1l each feed or 12 8seconds feeds for 500ish .
30 pcent runoff runs like a hydro
I run straight Canna Coco in 5 gal pots and water every other day. Switched from 70/30 with just as good results.
Solution is an irrigation system
Glaucksbacon
Member
Yeah the perlite bottom is essential in coco hempys, I try to follow what Hempy himself says to do and he had trouble with straight coco hempys.
Perlite is watering down your coco with a substrate that has no cec and as such want's different food. It's illogical.
Most garden centers are selling off their watering kits for hanging baskets. Many contain a good range of fittings and pipework for a good price. Add a timer and a pump with some way of catching your runoff and to stop any siphoning if required.
I'm not sure if you make up a bucket each day. I get a few days out of a kitchen bin which uses as much floor space. Get seen carrying a bin in and what will the neighbours think.
Most garden centers are selling off their watering kits for hanging baskets. Many contain a good range of fittings and pipework for a good price. Add a timer and a pump with some way of catching your runoff and to stop any siphoning if required.
I'm not sure if you make up a bucket each day. I get a few days out of a kitchen bin which uses as much floor space. Get seen carrying a bin in and what will the neighbours think.
100% coco or imho better off just doing the Promix. Newly transplanted will not need to be watered everyday but once the roots are established at lest once a day for best results. Don’t let it dry out once the roots are established. I’ve done every hydro and soils and soilless over past 30 years and I’ve landed on 100% coco. Done all manner of feed methods with trays w/o trays diff sizes you name it. I‘ve gotten over 7 zips in a 3/4 gal pot albeit needs multiple waters per day. Currently just hand watering once a day in 3 gallon pots with plants that are 2’ x 2’. Did a room tear down and Just didn’t have time to set up the trays and drip. Prefer DTW in trays.
Oh yeah and the room is edge to edge two layers of net trellis so how to water you ask? Well my buddy built me a piece of pvc (maybe 1 1/4”) with a funnel like fir beer bongs on end. The length is just enough to reach everything while I roll around on my craftsman seat fir working on cars. The end of the pvc has a curved rubber hose that I think is the drain that you use fir washing machine. Got my bucket of nute in a flat plastic thing w wheels and and 2 liter pitcher. Easy peasy.
Oh yeah and the room is edge to edge two layers of net trellis so how to water you ask? Well my buddy built me a piece of pvc (maybe 1 1/4”) with a funnel like fir beer bongs on end. The length is just enough to reach everything while I roll around on my craftsman seat fir working on cars. The end of the pvc has a curved rubber hose that I think is the drain that you use fir washing machine. Got my bucket of nute in a flat plastic thing w wheels and and 2 liter pitcher. Easy peasy.
