Grow Mediums RQS Creamatic 30L Coco Airpot

[stonedBRO]

High there AFN:tiphat:

On our first run we started with 3 x 10L Bluematics in a 60cm x 60cm space but due to over crowding and one having poor genetics we ended up with 2 yielding about 45g after 16 weeks. They took a lot longer than expected but they did suffer trying to get the location, move, lights and feed all set up right, the cure dehydrated quick then we had wish also.

This time we are going to use the same 60 x 60 x 120cm space with just one 30L pot.

So a DS60 with speed controlled 5" clip fan, with 125w veg cfl 4.5" above pot, and 180w (60x3) LED UFO ready for flowering.

Rvk 5" speed controlled outtake fan with carbon scrubber and insulated acoustic ducting.

Coco is damp in centre but drying out around the edges of the 30L pot very fast.
We are slowly pouring about 1.5L in the morning and 1.5L at night.

Temp is about 30 degrees and RH is 50%.

This is the second seed I have had to germinate, the first attempt the coco in the pot was drying out to fast watering once a day, edges of the pot ended up bone dry, so we ripped her out and repotted a new seed, now watering twice a day.

This is Day 13 in the pictures below, watering with non ph'd water thats been left out over night at least.

Please, any advice on this grow would be welcome.
How much to water, when to add feeds, ph etc

Play safe, stonedBRO​

 

[Duggy]

Your little and often approach is ideal at this stage for watering as coco does dry relatively quick. You dont want to add to much water now, which encourages roots to grow to find more water. I wouldnt worry if the edges get a little dry once the centre remains a little moist. A Cal Mag additive will likely be needed with coco and LED..Good luck with the grow. If the coco contains no nutrients you will likely need to feed pretty soon...keep an eye that it remains nice and green.. Reducing temps by a couple of degrees will allow coco to remain moist longer too..:Sharing One:

 

[JAYAR]

BRO!! My two cents, I think you should hold back on the water... 3 liter/day at this stage is too much imo. I think you should water 1.5 liter every 2 or 3 days right now. Also if your coco has no nutes, I would start adding them now.

What kind of coco, nutes, etc are you using btw??

 

[stonedBRO]

Hey JAYAR, thanks for your input!

Thing is, if we try lowering the amount we water, the 125w cfl and fans dry the pot out so fast.
The coco was literally bone dry, we are trying to water it the very little we can, keeping it saturated.
Any less and the edges of the pot start drying out, and dry coco is not a good start for a root ball.
This is our second germination in the pot due to dryness, and we have now lowered the water amount to around 2L, trying to get the equilibrium right.

Will start a feed of 1ml Rhizo, 1ml Canna A/B and 1ml Cannazym tonight.
Mixed in a 2L feed, give one 1L in the morning, and 1L at night.
How does that sound?

Imo, 2 Litres at this stage is to much that I would prefer, but this monster pot just dries out to fast :firedevil:

I am trying to locate a 2L watering can with a small, rose nossle, so the water disperses slower, and is absorbed better, apposed to using a jug. Hopefully this is lower the amount of water we have to use.

All advice much appreciated !

Play safe,
stonedBRO

 

[stonedBRO]

Also as I will be adding feeds from now on, I should also start PH'ing the water down to 5.5?

 

[medic grower]

Hmm im sitting on 11l Coco Pods and i water exactly 10% of the pod volume. Works perfect for Coco and even with that feed she needs a good 2 max 3 days to dry out. The golden Rule Franco from Gh Teached me is if u run coco water 10% of the podsize to get a good 15-20% drain. And then let the pods really dry out before u water again so the roots can breathe. Giving them feed in the morning and at the evening in the early stage is way too much for them. I water all 3-4 days in Baby stage and not more than a 300 ml glass of water.

 

[stonedBRO]

I agree medic grower, I did my last run with 11L coco airpots.

However, 30L pots dry out much to fast, with both fans and the heat of the light.
And I have been told that the coco must be kept wet, and that letting the coco dry out will damage the roots.

The first seed I planed, we watered slowly, say 300-500ml but by the time we got home from work and check the tent, it had dried out so much.
With this second seed we are determined to keep the pot wet so the roots can form, I am sure that dry coco leads limiting how far the roots will reach.

What I need is someone who has started a seed in a 30L pot of coco to advise me on how much water to give a day to prevent drying out, but also avoid over watering.

If I water once in the morning, by the time I get back from work its too dry, so that why I am watering once in the morning and once in the evening, to keep the coco moist.
I will keep lowering the amount of water, till I find an amount the keeps it moist between feeds.
Also starting to add minimal nutes.

 

[medic grower]

Nope other way around to wet or moist Coco wil end up in small roots cause the roots dont need to search for water. My Purple Amnesia Auto rooted with the Dry out cycle in 16 days thru the whole 11l Pod. Compared to other grows where i kept it more wet this is Ussain Bold vs my 92 yr old granny on the Race Court.....

 

[nudd]

Stoned like you I have just started growing in coco (always used compost before) and from what I have read on here and many other forums is coco does not like plain water(it messes with the ph and the cation in the coco) and with your pots drying out fast try raising the light 4 or 5 inches and tilt the fan up into the light shade or move the 125w and fire up the led
hope this helps nudd

 

[JAYAR]

Also as I will be adding feeds from now on, I should also start PH'ing the water down to 5.5?

I think 5.8 or 5.9 is ideal, but coco can be ph'd at 5.5 to 6.2.. here's a handy chart I found on here.

View attachment 380303

My "My 2 cents" about the watering, it's good to have wet/dry cycles in the beginning to build up those roots then by week three she should be able to take whatever you throw at her. Cant wait to see the beast you grow bro!!! :Sharing One: