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The Coco-Coir Experiment Thread
- Thread starter -VT-
- Start date
Great job, PGW 
it takes a lot of time and effort to document a grow...let alone an experiment....were it not for trailblazers like you folks posting in this thread...it would be an abject failure...
Good observation on the Co2 raising pH....I'm wondering if the aerated media will dry out faster....very interesting experiment!
Looking forward to future updates....keep up the good work!
it takes a lot of time and effort to document a grow...let alone an experiment....were it not for trailblazers like you folks posting in this thread...it would be an abject failure...Good observation on the Co2 raising pH....I'm wondering if the aerated media will dry out faster....very interesting experiment!
Looking forward to future updates....keep up the good work!
PGW
Member
Thank You -VT-! I'm just trying to contribute something positive to the Cannabis knowledge base.
A couple of observations:
1. At this early point in the experiment, there doesn't appear to be any significant changes. Neither negative, nor positive. However, I see that as a positive in itself, since the experiment is not an instant failure.
2. I had hoped that the airstones would certainly dry out the medium faster, allowing more frequent feedings. However, this does not seem to be the case either. A moisture meter would probably show a slight change, but I cannot see, nor feel a change. So, for now the feedings/waterings will remain at once daily.
Stay tuned for more, after a word from our sponsors........hehe.
A couple of observations:
1. At this early point in the experiment, there doesn't appear to be any significant changes. Neither negative, nor positive. However, I see that as a positive in itself, since the experiment is not an instant failure.
2. I had hoped that the airstones would certainly dry out the medium faster, allowing more frequent feedings. However, this does not seem to be the case either. A moisture meter would probably show a slight change, but I cannot see, nor feel a change. So, for now the feedings/waterings will remain at once daily.
Stay tuned for more, after a word from our sponsors........hehe.
PGW
Member
Great idea VT! I'll be watchin this one for sure.
Airstone update....My EPK girls have all suffered an issue of some sort. I think I've boiled it down to an inadequate flush when I reused this coco. What I did was simply put the pots w/out plants (of course) in the shower, and let the shower give them a steady flush for about 30 minutes. I would have thought that would have been good enough, but the leaves have been in a steady state of curling under. Growth however, has been steady throughout this curling, with some plants growing more than others obviously.
Anyhow, I flushed the plants last night with 4X the pot volume of water ph'd to 6.0. The airstones have been pulled out until they are all nursed back to health. Otherwise there's no way to discern the worth of the added airstones. This ain't over!!! lol I'll get em back to health in the next few days, then replace the airstones and update this thread with proper pics.
Stay tuned y'all.....
Airstone update....My EPK girls have all suffered an issue of some sort. I think I've boiled it down to an inadequate flush when I reused this coco. What I did was simply put the pots w/out plants (of course) in the shower, and let the shower give them a steady flush for about 30 minutes. I would have thought that would have been good enough, but the leaves have been in a steady state of curling under. Growth however, has been steady throughout this curling, with some plants growing more than others obviously.
Anyhow, I flushed the plants last night with 4X the pot volume of water ph'd to 6.0. The airstones have been pulled out until they are all nursed back to health. Otherwise there's no way to discern the worth of the added airstones. This ain't over!!! lol I'll get em back to health in the next few days, then replace the airstones and update this thread with proper pics.
Stay tuned y'all.....
Thanks for the update, PGW....I'd be most interested in what happens in the media proliferated with roots anyways...so the best is yet to come....keep up the good work!
The pics I posted are old....we could not upload when I wanted to post them....so there has been some growth....I also have two more TW's that are not topped (but just rooted...and same age)...so there will be 4 plants in this comparison...
I'm looking for pH stability....and growth rates....so far the "water as needed" has fell behind...but she is due for a watering soon....and will have a burst of growth....
My hypthesis is that they both grow at the same rates more or less...just that the wet/dry approach has a large burst...and the daily approach is steady growth, minus the big spurts of growth...cancelling each other out in the end, far as growth rates are concerned...this is my hypothesis
***root mass : container size ratio plays a role here...I won't let the "water as needed" plants get rootbound...as that would obviously skew the results
With one "set" of these TW's, I'll use the same size container for both...in the 2nd set...I'll use a larger container for the "water as needed" to see if I can equal yield with less rootzone and daily fertigation
peace
The pics I posted are old....we could not upload when I wanted to post them....so there has been some growth....I also have two more TW's that are not topped (but just rooted...and same age)...so there will be 4 plants in this comparison...
I'm looking for pH stability....and growth rates....so far the "water as needed" has fell behind...but she is due for a watering soon....and will have a burst of growth....
My hypthesis is that they both grow at the same rates more or less...just that the wet/dry approach has a large burst...and the daily approach is steady growth, minus the big spurts of growth...cancelling each other out in the end, far as growth rates are concerned...this is my hypothesis
***root mass : container size ratio plays a role here...I won't let the "water as needed" plants get rootbound...as that would obviously skew the results
With one "set" of these TW's, I'll use the same size container for both...in the 2nd set...I'll use a larger container for the "water as needed" to see if I can equal yield with less rootzone and daily fertigation
peace
PGW
Member
I like your hypothesis. It DOES seem to be accurate in theory. Also, it was a keen observation on your part to allow a larger pot size for the "water as needed" plant. I agree, that should certainly bear true.
I sure am enjoying this thread, and doing the testing, even if I really don't have the capacity to be strictly scientific about it.
I sure am enjoying this thread, and doing the testing, even if I really don't have the capacity to be strictly scientific about it.
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Quick Update w/ pictures
Quick Update w/ pictures
You hit the nail on the head for many of us...as many of us are merely closet growers trying to find ways to cut costs and labor...with increased yield...(or determining if a superior yielding method is worth the increased equipment/labor)...
hands down the labor is much less intense with the "water as needed" approach....also the cost savings in nutes...one thing I have learned for sure...with the passive approach I cannot feed as aggressively as I can drain to waste daily.....I have to feed less.....or I get burns...the "water as needed" gets diluted with 33% of water (I do it by eye..."feel"...no meters...no choice)....
The set in the yogurt quart containers go to bags soon...and their lil' sisters will replace them....all four goin' bloomin' in about 3 weeks...their positions under the T-5 are rotated daily.
It's been more than 3 days since I watered the "water as needed" plant...she still has moist coco fibre media at the upper layers (RH is 60%-70%)....both have roots crawling out the bottom...need to transplant them soon
Quick Update w/ pictures
You hit the nail on the head for many of us...as many of us are merely closet growers trying to find ways to cut costs and labor...with increased yield...(or determining if a superior yielding method is worth the increased equipment/labor)...
hands down the labor is much less intense with the "water as needed" approach....also the cost savings in nutes...one thing I have learned for sure...with the passive approach I cannot feed as aggressively as I can drain to waste daily.....I have to feed less.....or I get burns...the "water as needed" gets diluted with 33% of water (I do it by eye..."feel"...no meters...no choice)....
The set in the yogurt quart containers go to bags soon...and their lil' sisters will replace them....all four goin' bloomin' in about 3 weeks...their positions under the T-5 are rotated daily.
It's been more than 3 days since I watered the "water as needed" plant...she still has moist coco fibre media at the upper layers (RH is 60%-70%)....both have roots crawling out the bottom...need to transplant them soon
-VT- said:
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Transplanting the topped Trainwrecks
Transplanting the topped Trainwrecks
Got around to the transplant...oh, and I obviously fertigated the "water as needed" also...
"Daily" rootball on the left...."as needed" rootball on the right
1st they go Into the 1 gal growbags....
then...on to the 'big house'...where the HID resides
"daily" on the right in this pic..."as needed" on the left...they'll rotate positions daily
The "daily" roots are more prolific to the eye...but it's not very significant...after the next transplant (which will feature more explosive growth under the HID) to 2 gal bags we'll get a better contrast...
Transplanting the topped Trainwrecks
Got around to the transplant...oh, and I obviously fertigated the "water as needed" also...
"Daily" rootball on the left...."as needed" rootball on the right
1st they go Into the 1 gal growbags....
then...on to the 'big house'...where the HID resides
"daily" on the right in this pic..."as needed" on the left...they'll rotate positions daily
The "daily" roots are more prolific to the eye...but it's not very significant...after the next transplant (which will feature more explosive growth under the HID) to 2 gal bags we'll get a better contrast...
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PGW
Member
Great Update -VT-!!! There is certainly a noticeable difference now. If the trend holds, there should be significant differences soon, I agree. What may become interesting here, is how those differences will display themselves. The "how" is what seems to be peaking my interest the most. Such as, will all growth on the "watered daily" plant be more prolific, or will there be similar bud growth and less stem growth (fiber)? Great job on this -VT-. I can't wait to see what happens.
very interesting VT. i appreciate your scientific approach. keep us updated at the next transplant.
i found that watering when needed provided more root growth.
clones that i flowered were watered once a day. clones in same size pot were left in veg and watered every 2-3 days and fed quite a bit less. veg plant's root mass was much more compact for the first few weeks. after a while the flowered clones developed more than the veg plants. now there are many other contributing factors that could of swayed things a bit. and having one set in veg and 1 in flower is not the best comparison.
basically what i learned from all that was, as needed waterings until the roots have filled out the pot, then water once a day.
i found that watering when needed provided more root growth.
clones that i flowered were watered once a day. clones in same size pot were left in veg and watered every 2-3 days and fed quite a bit less. veg plant's root mass was much more compact for the first few weeks. after a while the flowered clones developed more than the veg plants. now there are many other contributing factors that could of swayed things a bit. and having one set in veg and 1 in flower is not the best comparison.
basically what i learned from all that was, as needed waterings until the roots have filled out the pot, then water once a day.
G
guest5703
Lookin good bro, love that big plant in the huge coco bag! My bro has a TW mom that looks exactly like the two you've got above. Good work as always, PEACE
Update with pictures
Update with pictures
Thanks for the interest & input fellas
I've run out of room...blame their big sister....
so the two 'untopped' wrecks are gonna go next round...with a pair of Bubba Kush
Daily on the left, "as needed" on the right....
Update with pictures
Thanks for the interest & input fellas
I've run out of room...blame their big sister....
so the two 'untopped' wrecks are gonna go next round...with a pair of Bubba Kush
Daily on the left, "as needed" on the right....
Top
Side
Side
G
guest5703
Awwww you got the BK too????? I have wanted to get it back for sooo long, it was one of the best strains I have ever grown imo!!!! I have a buddy who just picked up two different cuts of the bubba, they are in veg but still I think one could be looking similar to my old BK!!! He just has to get rid of his bugs before I will take anything from him so I gotta wait. But I can't wait to see your Bubba bro, do you know what cut that is?? PEACE
Soon as these TW's hit flower phase--they transition in about a week--you will see lots of my Bubba Kush. I am unsure which Bubba Kush it is. All I know is that it's nute sensitive, slow--and in early veg is identical to a LAPK cut I had a while back. I'm growing it because a good friend of mine thought I'd like it, and I aim to find out 
I can now say, unequivocally, that the plant fertigated once per day is outpacing the plant treated as soil. The "daily" plant is branching big time now, shaping into a lil' bush
The plant treated as soil is growing--but not exploding--even after an irrigation, which they get twice per week
It's not even close--the next photo op imagery will reflect the disparity in growth rates--but the yield is the determing factor, so we got a ways to go yet
I can now say, unequivocally, that the plant fertigated once per day is outpacing the plant treated as soil. The "daily" plant is branching big time now, shaping into a lil' bush
The plant treated as soil is growing--but not exploding--even after an irrigation, which they get twice per week
It's not even close--the next photo op imagery will reflect the disparity in growth rates--but the yield is the determing factor, so we got a ways to go yet
it's a great expt VT-keep it up. I'm guessing that the daily plants will do much better in the long run
cheers
eddie
cheers
eddie
G
Guest
Coco + Biochar = The next step in evolution.
Speaking of coco + biochar heres a Reclining Buddah i grew outdoors here at 42 degrees south... shes in coco, charcoal and perlite and fed organically.
Coco & Charcoal...
Coco & Charcoal...
...truly amazing
I like your Terra Preta thread--the historical context in the lead posts was very interesting stuff
That Reclining Buddha is looking good as ever
Amazing how big she got in that container
Thanks for sharing
Coco & Charcoal...
...truly amazing
I like your Terra Preta thread--the historical context in the lead posts was very interesting stuff
That Reclining Buddha is looking good as ever
Amazing how big she got in that container
Thanks for sharing
