I understand the use of perlite, that's why I use it. I don't understand the preference of chunky perlite over normal perlite when it comes to growing in coco. Horticulture grade perlite seems to work just fine for me.
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Re-using Coco
- Thread starter Woody
- Start date
I use GH micro/bloom 6/9, following the Rezipe. Stop by my thread to see my plants. I'll be updating tonight, with girls in weeks 5-7 of bloom.
IMHO, organics is best for the outdoors. Decomposition seems to attract bugs in my experience, and that's what making teas is. Not to mention is smells like shit.
IMHO, organics is best for the outdoors. Decomposition seems to attract bugs in my experience, and that's what making teas is. Not to mention is smells like shit.
playboy420
Member
Hi, does anyone recommend reusing coco that MIGHT have fungus gnat eggs in the coco? I have had gnats almost the entire grow and was thinking about pre-treating before I reuse with some A+B Cal/Mg and Gnatrol so there is some BTI in there for the larvae to eat.
Anyone think Id be better off getting new coco?(the new coco will probably still have eggs in it anyways!!)
Anyone think Id be better off getting new coco?(the new coco will probably still have eggs in it anyways!!)
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coconaut
bobblehead, the people who suggest amending coir with chunky perlite (grades #3 & #4) are inaccurate. Grades #3 & #4 have their place, they can be used in the bottom of a container to assist with drainage, or used with similar sized grades of other mediums to create a chunky medium.
The reason large perlite isn't ideal in a coir-based medium is mainly because roots don't grow into perlite. Large perlite has less surface area then an equal amount (by volume) of small perlite.
With large perlite, you're just wasting space in your pot.
Coco chunks on the other hand are a great amendment to coir, as roots can grow into and out of the chunks.
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coconaut
Ya man, it's still good to reuse. I would personally treat by drenching the media with a combination of pyrethrin and neem, then follow up with some BTi products.
or get some mosquito dunk and drench the coco with it. or some bti based product. in the end the coco develops it's own defenses to fungus gnats if you reuse it a few times. i never do much if i see a few gnats here and there, but if i scratch the surface and see lots of yucky maggot things or hopping insect things in the coco, then i will drench with a bti product, ideally add it to your tank and let it run for a few days with normal watering as well.
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coconaut
aren't mosquito dunks just another BTi product?
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coconaut
Oh, maybe you meant "or some other bti based product."
Thanks a lot for the info,
I guess the same would apply with soil...the soft spot etc...Like I said I am just now making the full complete switch.
I use the small perlite and so far things seem to be just fine so far.....
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Carl Carlson
ah the sour spot.
Look folks, gravity pulls the water down to the bottom of the pot. What water doesn't drain out completely is concentrated in the bottom, in the perched water table. Next time you water a plant, let it drain and than pick it up and hold it at an angle. You'll eliminate the perched water table and see more dribble out.
I think the people that have found "sour spots" are using containers that are way, way too shallow.
Look folks, gravity pulls the water down to the bottom of the pot. What water doesn't drain out completely is concentrated in the bottom, in the perched water table. Next time you water a plant, let it drain and than pick it up and hold it at an angle. You'll eliminate the perched water table and see more dribble out.
I think the people that have found "sour spots" are using containers that are way, way too shallow.
I found that when I was in soil that the sour spot being talked about happened to me when I did not have enough perlite. Same apply here? I just made the switch so that is why I ask. Still torn on weather or not to keep using perlite with the coco.
Thanks...
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Carl Carlson
I just want to be clear here. So you're saying there was a pocket of soil in the middle of the container that held more moisture than the soil in the rest of the container, even the bottom? I've never seen anything like that in containers of soil or soilless medium.
Why don't do you half with perlite and half without and see what you like best?
Why don't do you half with perlite and half without and see what you like best?
It seems to me that the middle of the container always holds more moisture. That's where the root ball is, I have always had it where the plant pot drys out from the outside-in...maybe I am just confused about what it is that you are talking about. I may have been doing this for a while, but I do not have the knowledge that a lot of peeps on the site have. And as for the perlite/coco mix, I had no idea how big the debate on the site was on this topic. I think I will take your advice and do just that. Thanks for the convo...
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coconaut
Justin, I have seen what you describe.
In containers where a plant has been transplanted and the soil of the old rootball and the new soil have different water holding properties.
Other than that I cannot think of a reason for that.
As for perlite, some people use it, some people don't. Those that do, use different amounts.
Everyones conditions are different, pots in one location will dry at a different rate than another location. You just gotta find what works best for you.
In containers where a plant has been transplanted and the soil of the old rootball and the new soil have different water holding properties.
Other than that I cannot think of a reason for that.
As for perlite, some people use it, some people don't. Those that do, use different amounts.
Everyones conditions are different, pots in one location will dry at a different rate than another location. You just gotta find what works best for you.
Hey coconaut,
If I want to reuse coco will I have stop using perlite? Or can there be older used perlite in the used coco? I totally agree with you when you say everyone's conditions are different....I honestly think I am going to dump the perlite, it seems with the coco available to me that it must be high end. I do not think I have to rinse it, the 3rd brick I just cracked open had a run off of 320 ppm....it's not chunky and seems to look just like ground coffee with some hair in it here and there...and with the perlite they are drinking like there is no tomorrow....
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coconaut
No reason to stop using perlite if reusing coir. Perlite is completely inert, it's not going to break down and release anything harmful.
My only concern would be, that over time perlite will get crushed, more will need to be added.
Over time, perhaps the course of maybe a couple years, perlite dust could accumulate, those small 'dusty' particles will fill in the gaps between pieces of coir. The coir will then hold more water and less air.
However, not many people reuse coir for that long, either they replace completely or are doing partial changes between grows.
Coir only has a lifespan of about 3 years anyway
Plus if you're rinsing coir between grows, that can wash away some dust.
My rinsing buckets have many 1/4" holes in them, and I often wash away a lot of the smallest coir pith, perlite dust should rinse easy.
My only concern would be, that over time perlite will get crushed, more will need to be added.
Over time, perhaps the course of maybe a couple years, perlite dust could accumulate, those small 'dusty' particles will fill in the gaps between pieces of coir. The coir will then hold more water and less air.
However, not many people reuse coir for that long, either they replace completely or are doing partial changes between grows.
Coir only has a lifespan of about 3 years anyway
Plus if you're rinsing coir between grows, that can wash away some dust.
My rinsing buckets have many 1/4" holes in them, and I often wash away a lot of the smallest coir pith, perlite dust should rinse easy.
well with coco i have never had a drainage problem, and after many testings i find just straight canna coco out produces coco with perlite and coco with coco chunks. the best thing i have done is quit watering everyday and water everyother day. bigger tighter buds and way better yield. go figure.
after testing with higher ratios(ie. 60/40), i'm at 85/15 coco/perlite now. While i dislike perlite to deal with, i like the porosity it gives to the coir(i use pretty fine coir). I "should" do a test without, but oops just made the last of my mix which will last me for a LONG time.
I use down-to-earth coir, which i rinse moderately well in a pillow case. I then mix it 5-1 with my perlite. I store this until use, and then water through thoroughly with nutes & additives to runoff. After the first watering, i do not overwater any more, and thus have very little runoff if any. Clearex/dripclean fixes any salt buildup.
additives(veg&bloom): calmag, superthrive, humic nectar, clearex
I run hempy, so have 1" of straight perlite in the bottom of the 3.5gal buckets.
i love reusing coir/perlite mix, i just add a little more coir to up the ratio again.
I use down-to-earth coir, which i rinse moderately well in a pillow case. I then mix it 5-1 with my perlite. I store this until use, and then water through thoroughly with nutes & additives to runoff. After the first watering, i do not overwater any more, and thus have very little runoff if any. Clearex/dripclean fixes any salt buildup.
additives(veg&bloom): calmag, superthrive, humic nectar, clearex
I run hempy, so have 1" of straight perlite in the bottom of the 3.5gal buckets.
i love reusing coir/perlite mix, i just add a little more coir to up the ratio again.
