Grow Mediums First Time Using Autopots...How Important is PH monitoring with Coco/Perlite?

[HotCheetos]

I haven't grown marijuana before and I just had a multi-month long fiasco with bubble buckets that I'm just aborting, I'm punting on that for now. I decided to go with something with a physical media and AutoPots look like a good way.

I want to do an AutoPot XL grow. I currently purchased a product that is fifty percent coco coir and fifty percent chunky perlite and BioTabs material to use with this. Can just tap water be used here without damaging the plants too much?

Also, how do you suggest seeds be started to put into an AutoPot? Ideally I want to just start it into the Coir/Perlite mixture that will be charged with BioTabs stuff. Is this possible? Thank you in advance.

 

[NewDream]

I haven't grown marijuana before and I just had a multi-month long fiasco with bubble buckets that I'm just aborting, I'm punting on that for now. I decided to go with something with a physical media and AutoPots look like a good way.

I want to do an AutoPot XL grow. I currently purchased a product that is fifty percent coco coir and fifty percent chunky perlite and BioTabs material to use with this. Can just tap water be used here without damaging the plants too much?

Also, how do you suggest seeds be started to put into an AutoPot? Ideally I want to just start it into the Coir/Perlite mixture that will be charged with BioTabs stuff. Is this possible? Thank you in advance.

You can use tap water but make sure the ph of the water is right. Test it and adjust it if necessary before using it. I’ve read that most tap water is fine for cannabis, but in some cities the ph is higher than others. For example my city water ph is 8-8.5 which is too high for cannabis which should be between 6 and 6.5. Some growers go slightly higher and some slightly lower on ph but I’ve read and used 6-6.5 and it works.

Autoflowers don’t like to be transplanted so starting in the pot is okay and probably better if growing autos. As a matter of fact, Autopot sells propagation domes for the 3.9 gallon pots. I’m using rapid rooters plugs and cowpots to start my next grow, but starting in the Autopots is ok too.

 

[BII]

There seems to be general agreement that starting seeds in their final container is overall the best way. Close to this, I use a Rapid Rooter or equivalent plug and tap water to start the seeds, with the plugs providing a much more protected environment for the very first roots vs. loose coco/perlite. As soon as any root or stem shoots out at all, the plug goes directly into its final container in my tent, into 85/15 coco/perlite charged with about 1/3rd dose MegaCrop or AN pH Perfect Connoisseur Coco A&B. I put a clear plastic cover over them for 2 days, then they are on their own.

Using coco/perlite, you are running hydroponics and will need to check and likely adjust feed water pH.

AutoPots with BioTabs will certainly work, in this case presumably just feeding water. But you will still need to use, or at least have on hand when needed, such things as bloom boosters, Ca/Mg supplement(s), a Bt product, and beneficial microbes.

 

[HotCheetos]

Okay, yeah, the thing that was bad for me was the PH of the tap water is in the eights and I tried using PH down and testing the PH but I can't get it right. And I hate the damn hydroton, I did rinse it and soak it but it always does weird things to the PH. I was hoping to be able to get away from needing to worry about this. Thanks for the advice. I tried Root Riot before and I didn't like it, now I'm trying these Rapid Rooters out. I wish I could just buy some plants without this seed starting thing before. I hadn't done this before when I gardened and it seems goddamn impossible for me.

 

[bushmasterar15]

I'm using straight coco, I germ the seed soaking in small containers with water for 24hrs normally by then they have a small tail starting and direct plant 3/8" down into precharged autopot. So far I've never checked PH on any of my grows, I've used R/O water and recently switch to well water without any adverse affects.

 

[HotCheetos]

So what is pre-charging the coco? Is that putting the Bio-Tabs products in there and then putting the seeds in there? I also got the Silicium Flash product too. So pre-charge is put the stuff in the mix, and then put the orgatrex in the mix and then put the germinated seed into a place with the Mycotrex in it, right?

 

[bushmasterar15]

So what is pre-charging the coco? Is that putting the Bio-Tabs products in there and then putting the seeds in there? I also got the Silicium Flash product too. So pre-charge is put the stuff in the mix, and then put the orgatrex in the mix and then put the germinated seed into a place with the Mycotrex in it, right?

I haven't tried Biotabs. But for precharging on my grows I'm using coco bricks so I rehydrate with a light nute and calmag solution day or two before and fill the pots. Then right before I place germed seed I rewater each pot with 1.5L of the same solution.

 

[HotCheetos]

Okay cool, yeah, that makes sense. I got some calcium and magnesium stuff that I'll put in there, too, they say coco needs that right?

 

[bushmasterar15]

Okay cool, yeah, that makes sense. I got some calcium and magnesium stuff that I'll put in there, too, they say coco needs that right?

I do add calmag throughout the whole grow.