Grow Mediums Canna Coco and Cal/Mg initial supplement

[GCase]

Canna coco recommends pure/clean "0" ec/ppm water as a base. Canna is silent about supplementing. And if one does not the nute levels have to be sky high just to get to the recommended PPM range. It is like a piece of the puzzle we are left to figure out.

Somewhere in A & B there is both cal and mg.

In an effort to cut down on RO decided to blend purified tap water. Local water is hard at about 300 ppm and 7 PH. Both drop marginally with gravity water filter.

Last week used mid-200's. Now, worked the mix down to pre-nute level about 150-175 give or take a bit. That is in my case--3 gallon RO to 2 gallon filtered.

PH takes more acid to bring down from 150 ppm with filtered/RO water than just RO with cal/mg supplement. Leads me to believe that the water with the natural conductivity seem to be more efficient and plants show no deficiency. Shall see how flowering needs go and report back.

Put this up just in the event that the cal/mg issue might have a better solution without having to initially dose with cal/mg. Us coco growers are always batting cal/mg issues around.

Cheers

 

[yodabuds]

Gcase :tiphat: hope You are doing well my friend... I'm at a loss For the best way to start off my seeds in a fresh pot of coco... I usually start with some mosquito dunks crumbled up and have tried all sorts of varying amounts of ec levels to "charge" The coco and all of my plants of lately have suffered severe stunting... I use the entire canna line up for Nutes and their coco as well.... Can I ask what you do when you are first preparing a pot to drop a bean in?
:Sharing One:
PS I've been flushing with just plain unfiltered un ph'ed tap water and haven't seemed to have a problem.. Really would love to get this coco Dialed in...

 

[GCase]

Howdy Yoda--really long time no see.

Yes--the prep is real important and the timing.

1. Use RO at 5 ml cal/mg per gallon. Important----PH to 5.5. According to Canna this sets the buffer and PH will be good all the way thru when run at 5.8 to 6.2. Run thru pots with coco to 10% overflow. Allow to get about 70% or so dry.

2. Use RO again and add 5 ml cal/mg--PH to 6.0.
Add 2 ml A and B then PH again to 6.0. Once again pour thru pot to a slight overflow.

3. Allow to set for a day or so. Place damp pots under your lights for the day/night and should be ready next day. This will get air (oxygen) circulating around the coco, assist in drying a bit and getting soil temperature up (temp could be a source of stunting with coco).

4. Germ and then plant seeds about 1/4 inch. They need a good taproot going straight to coco. And then use your old technique of misting until big enough for first watering.

I too had a bit of trouble four weeks ago. My fault for being impatient and planting seeds with barely a taproot.

Now, Waira suggested, and I did so with soil--is to hollow out a cup or so and fill with starter mix. I may try this next time--to give them a good push down with nutes. This may help avoid stunting and get roots around with less resistance.

The first week of watering is the tease around the parameter to get roots going. Yes, stunting is possible and thought mine were too--ok now could be just smaller due to pot size.

In the bottom of my pots (prefer fabric with coco) layer clay pebbles for stability of the plant (roots attach) and to give some room for roots to pickup some extra water and to regenerate as they hit the bottom. Just something I am assuming happens--you know we are like alchemist.

I am sold on coco--for now--used for about 1.5 year of so. And will be growing a bunch in one gallon in late Dec or Jan. Probably smaller but with the fabric pots might get away with a gallon or two. Tons of watering--for sure.

Cheers