Leaching of nutrients from the new substrate

[kukac]

Greeting

I apologize for the possibly stupid question.
I made a DIY Octopot and would like to try it with one plant. As far as I know, I need a nutrient-free substrate, and I can't get it where I am.
Can the nutrients be washed away by classic rinsing with a lot of water? Without screwing up other characteristics of the substrate?
Finally I would rinse with RO water with adjusted ph.
Thank you

 

[exploziv]

Can you get substrate for seed planting or rooting cuttings? Those should be unfertilised.

 

[kukac]

No
Each has a certain amount. Those with the least nutrients have an extra fine structure, and I would need a coarser one
@exploziv

 

[stiff]

Can't you just use coco in it..or perlite? Or even clayballs?

 

[kukac]

I have seen some problems with coco coir in Octopot. And I would like to avoid that.
Perlite alone does not have enough wicking ability. Usually 40% perlite is added to the soil
@stiff

 

[goingrey]

Why would you need nutrient free media?

This is what they say on the Octopot website.

 

[kukac]

I always prefer to look at experiences, rather than what the manufacturer says.
Experience shows that the substrate with nutrients for some reason reduces the progress of the roots into the reservoir. And when the substrate draws nutrient solution from the reservoir, it could be too hot.
Simply, the plants grow better and healthier
Sunshine 4 and Pro mix performed best. Both are without nutrients. And without problems
With coco coir, the amounts of calcium and magnesium need to be adjusted too often.
@goingrey

 

[goingrey]

I always prefer to look at experiences, rather than what the manufacturer says.
Experience shows that the substrate with nutrients for some reason reduces the progress of the roots into the reservoir. And when the substrate draws nutrient solution from the reservoir, it could be too hot.
Simply, the plants grow better and healthier
Sunshine 4 and Pro mix performed best. Both are without nutrients. And without problems
With coco coir, the amounts of calcium and magnesium need to be adjusted too often.
@goingrey

Ok I see.

Well I think the issue is that the prefertilized soils will have slow release fertilizer which might be a chore to flush out.

Maybe you can recreate the Sunshine mix?

Ingredients:
Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss
Perlite
Dolomite Lime
RESiLIENCE® (silica)
Wetting Agent

 

[exploziv]

I would say fine potting soil + coco + perlite is fine and easy to come up with. Even coco + perlite will work. There is a diference between the nutes measured in soil mixes and those added, you just need one that doesn't have them added. It's normal for any mix to have some nutes. The ones with added ones that are slow release I would never consider them fit for cannabis anyway. We want to feed our nute formula to our plants, not their slow release nutes that are tailored for flower planters to last weeks without nutes.

 

[stiff]

Why not trying a seed raising mix..they usually come with very little fertiliser. I personally would probably stick with coco/perlite and the calmag

 

[kukac]

Thanks everyone for the answers.
I think I will try it with the soil that is available to me and mix it up
Soil: coco coir: perlite in a 3:3:4 ratio.
We'll see
Thanks again