Grow Mediums wetting agent

[Olderfart]

I apologize if this has been dealt with elsewhere. I am using buffered coco from bricks, and would like to know whether I need to use wetting agent to make autopot irrigation work properly. The seedlings are in small pots with the coco mix, and there does not seem to be a problem. Thanks for any thoughts on the issue.

 

[Mañ'O'Green]

If you never let the coco dry out you should not need it yet based on many grow journals I have read drying happens all too often. I use Yucca powder in my rock wool grows. It is a natural surfactant and it helps the capillary action of water to keep the entire cubes wet. I think I would use it in coco for the same purpose.

 

[Olderfart]

Thanks for getting back to me Man o Green, I appreciate the help. I may pick up some of the yucca extract. I will check the local garden center to see whether they have any of the sm90 stuff around first, they have a few hydroponic bits and pieces, one never knows. I gather that a bit of wetting agent can't hurt, so if I get my mitts on some, I will use it.

 

[Waira]

Coco-Wet is my favorite! Soils, soilless (peat or coco) both can get dry enough to be sorta hydrophobic sometimes, creating dry patches in the pot... Using wetting agents takes the surface tension out of the solution/water so mediums can soak it up more evenly....

 

[Olderfart]

Thanks for getting back to me Waira, I appreciate the head's up. I had a look at it on Amazon which is the only way I can get it. Given the relatively small amount of growing I am likely to do, the near $50/quart price is a bit steep for me. For now, I will see how I get along without it. If I run into issues, I will order it for the next grow. Naively assuming that I will detect the problem of course.

 

[Arthur]

This is what I use, cant say it'll save you any $

 

[Sqwirlman]

I use coco wet and yucca extract. I put a few ml of coco wet per 5 gallons of nutrients. The recommended dosing is 12.5 ml per gallon but it bubbles up way to much. Yucca is from kelp for less and I add 1/16th or 0.3 mg per 5 gallons.