Grow Mediums Flood and Drain VS. Coco

[Alex Delarge]

Had great results with flood and drain, but was pain in the ass scaling my DIY setup, during growth phases. The one trick I learned towards the end, was to check reservoir to see if PPM was going up or down, to feed ideally. I deal seemed to be 50% of what GH Flora series recommended.

That is how I have been feeding coco, but not getting those hydro results. Does it need a much stronger solution, since it is not being fed every 3 hours????? Really do not want to test run-off. Sounds like major pain, and might go back to hydro, if it is going to be so much more work.

Thanks!!

P.S. coco, especially with air pots, creates roots like I have never seen. That could also be downside, and be where hydro excels, not wasting energy on roots.

 

[omnious]

No experience of F&D but I nute coco as [Canna] charts suggest.
I feed everyday 6-8dl/5l coco, now starting last phase of heavy feed (15ml A&B/5l) before, distant, flush week.

 

[Truu]

The more times you feed them in a day the less your nutrient strength. The less you feed the stronger it should be. You should also be feeding multiple times a day in coco (with small pots). They could be growing slow because they aren't drying out enough as well. What size pots are you using?

 

[Alex Delarge]

The more times you feed them in a day the less your nutrient strength. The less you feed the stronger it should be. You should also be feeding multiple times a day in coco (with small pots). They could be growing slow because they aren't drying out enough as well. What size pots are you using?

That must be the problem! Have heard transplanting with coco, is not recommended. This last batch, was started in 3.5 inch netpots, with hydroton, in an aeroponic setup. They were moved to 3 gallon air-pots, with 3 coffee filters on bottom, to prevent coco from falling out. Usually do not lose plants, but lost about 20%.

How many different size containers would you suggest??

Thanks

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The more times you feed them in a day the less your nutrient strength. The less you feed the stronger it should be. You should also be feeding multiple times a day in coco (with small pots). They could be growing slow because they aren't drying out enough as well. What size pots are you using?

That must be the problem! Have heard transplanting with coco, is not recommended. This last batch, was started in 3.5 inch netpots, with hydroton, in an aeroponic setup. They were moved to 3 gallon air-pots, with 3 coffee filters on bottom, to prevent coco from falling out. Usually do not lose plants, but lost about 20%.

How many different size containers would you suggest??

Thanks

 

[Truu]

I've never transplanted with coco, but I wouldn't recommend transplanting autos anyways if that's what you're growing. I try to stick with pots around a gallon in size, 2 being most for me. If you want hydro like results in coco you want small pots and multiple feedings a day. Small pots will help then dry out faster and you know why multiple feeds is beneficial since you've grown ebb and flow. In my 2 gallon pots they take a while to dry out a good bit, at least in the early stages. Thing about coco is that plants will generally not become root bound as fast as soil. So smaller pots are actually better.

In my own experience mixing hydroton in coco seems to increase the dry out time. I put a thin layer on the bottom of my pots to help with drainage and to help prevent coco from coming out.

My suggestion is that you allow a good 2-3 day drying period and see if they tend to perk up and grow a little better. Next go around try a smaller pot. Start off by feeding once a day or every other day. If they start drying out to fast up the feedings from there. Once the roots are established you can generally feed around 1000 ppm. Some like to go higher just depends on plant.

 

[Alex Delarge]

That helps a lot!!! Might try a parallel experiment, between the 2.

I am underfeeding then. With hydro I was running about 600 PPM every 3 hours with flood and drain.

Do you use air-pots???

 

[RebelRoy]

good info from Truu, here !

just wanted to put in. i never fed my last auto over 850 ppm.. you can have a look at the chart here of how much she was fed during the whole grow.

https://www.autoflower.org/f161/canna-coco-rewiev-rebelroy-30829.html # 13

:tiphat:

 

[Truu]

I dont use air pots, cloth pots are what I used to use. I'm using bag pots right now made of plastic. I'll probably be switching to a 6ltr square pot from here on out.

Rebel You're right I shouldnt have said 1000, as most strains are different. Most autos ive grown are hungry and take anything thrown at them. But each plant will tell you what they want.

 

[Roark]

Interesting stuff. Smaller pots more feeding, lower ppm. Never really thought about it. Great to know. Thanks guys, seriously.
My two cents......coco in hydro.....killer!

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Interesting stuff. Smaller pots more feeding, lower ppm. Never really thought about it. Great to know. Thanks guys, seriously.
My two cents......coco in hydro.....killer!