Grow Mediums Coco Coir in Larger Containers: Multiple Feedings Daily OR Let the Coco Dry?

[BII]

There seems to be 2 different camps when it comes to feeding using coco coir by drain-to-waste (manual feeding). One group says multiple smaller feedings daily are best, withe constant oxygenation of roots, etc. With larger containers (e.g., I use 5 gallon/20 L Air-Pots), this means keeping the coco perpetually wet (holding a good amount of water). The other groups says cycles of letting the coco coir dry out (relatively) are best or needed, with this making the roots work (grow) more. These 2 goals appear to be irreconcilable - You can only do one, not both.

What are the community consensus and your views on this issue? Should we make it easy for the plant, treat them like babies, give them multiple daily feeds OR feed to saturation (a little excess/normal DTW) and then let it dry some? With a 5 gallon container and a small/young plant, this can mean going for up to a week (in my limited experience).

 

[Waximus]

There seems to be 2 different camps when it comes to feeding using coco coir by drain-to-waste (manual feeding). One group says multiple smaller feedings daily are best, withe constant oxygenation of roots, etc. With larger containers (e.g., I use 5 gallon/20 L Air-Pots), this means keeping the coco perpetually wet (holding a good amount of water). The other groups says cycles of letting the coco coir dry out (relatively) are best or needed, with this making the roots work (grow) more. These 2 goals appear to be irreconcilable - You can only do one, not both.

What are the community consensus and your views on this issue? Should we make it easy for the plant, treat them like babies, give them multiple daily feeds OR feed to saturation (a little excess/normal DTW) and then let it dry some? With a 5 gallon container and a small/young plant, this can mean going for up to a week (in my limited experience).

Hi, BII
I am firmly in the small pots/feed multi-feed camp lolol But, when I'm doing a test run of a new strain, I'll hand water, but only in 1 gal pouches. In my experience, anything much bigger becomes problematic. The largest I've grown, using coco/perlite, is 3 gal. To me, it seemed that it was harder to keep the roots in a sweet spot- they were either wet, or not wet enough.

With 1 gal pouches, running timed from a resevoir, the plant maximizes the benefit of high oxygen AND gets a frequent chaser of nutes, too- and they get crazy big! The first time I ran that way, I was stunned!! Those experiences made me a believer

 

[freedom4all]

Not to jack the thread but I to was looking at growing in coco this year I know the strains I want to grow and did them last year

Was looking at doing 4 7 gallon smart pots with coco and perlite and am hoping to do a feed Monday water Wednesday and feed Friday kinda thing that's about how I'll have time to do things with my work schedule but not sure if it'll work or not

 

[Roark]

I run coco in tables doing multiple feeds daily and I've let it dry out a little. Like short feeds. I've done coco in smart pots and redi root pots. I've feed the ones in pots about the same. Sometimes I feed twice sometimes skip a feed or lite feed. The point being....the plants let you know. Heavy over saturation on a regular basis can lead to bugs. Any which wway you go. If she's drying or getting lighter and your checking often, feed more.The roots will always be moist ish cause its coco.

I only do water when I see nute burn starting. Then adjust the rez and thin the nutes in the coco with some fresh ph'd aqua. there both camps reconciled. It can be done.