soil-coco 50-50 PH and pre-chgarge Qs

[the gnome]

I'm intrested in coco and want to add it to my FF OF....
like a 50:50 mix
do I have to **pre-charge** the coco with cal-mag and nutes even tho my soil is already loaded with amendments?

and how about Ph? keep it at 6.4 for soil since were not doing a strictly coco medium?

any other things or tricks of the trade with using coco with soil is surely welcomed

 

[the gnome]

anyone....

 

[northstate]

gnome-I have not gone as high a ratio personally, more like 70 soil : 30 coco with a little bit of castings thrown in the mix. Good results for sure with no pre-charge here. Fed normal with not much extra run off.NS

 

[the gnome]

thanks NS
just what I need to hear.
i don't have to do 50:50 just trying to get me feets wet with the coco thing

 

[TribalSeeds]

That wouldnt really be getting your feet wet with coco. Coco is easy, dont make it complicated. Some worm castings and rocks should work great, but 50% soil wouldnt be a coco grow at all.
Id rinse the coco and add some calmag anyway. It wouldnt hurt anything

 

[magiccannabus]

I do an organic grow using at least 30% coir, 15-20% peat, and a whole slew of other things mixed in(too lazy right now).

Long story short: At least 25% coir in your mix will prevent over-watering problems 99% of the time in my experience. Once you add coco to your soil mix you will never want to grow without it.

You should seriously investigate going organic. If you do, you can pitch your pH meter in the garbage. Organic is healthier and better for the atmosphere(sequesters carbon), and I've experienced a significant increase in yield despite conventional "wisdom".

 

[the gnome]

thanks for the replies.
i'm finding out with coco in the mix I don't have to water nearly as often as i did before.

a few weeks ago I mixed kelp-bone+blood meals into the 50:50 FFOF/coco mix and the growth is phenominal with the basil seedlings and tomato's I planted in it
plus I don't have to water nearl as often as I did using straight OF/perlite mix.

coco does a fantastic job and seems to defy logic by retaining *lots* of water while at the same time
keeping the mix very *lite and airy*
wonderfull stuff!