Grow Mediums What size air pots for a true Coco hydro experience?

[superphish]

After reading a great sticky by Truu on coco I realize that the 5 Gallon air pots I have purchased seem way to big for a real hydro in coco grow. Truu mentions if u want soil results in coco u can water coco like u do soil. But for a real hydro experience in coco go with smaller air pots and water multiple times a day.

What is the preferred size air pots for multiple waterings with a top drip to waste system? I'm guessing my 5 Gallon air pots aren't going to dry out fast enough using this method.

 

[A-Train]

I'm no coco expert but the info I have seen and the folks I see grow nice plants in coco the 3 gals are the tickets

 

[GCase]

In coco--depends on how much time one wants to devote. Two gallon will require a little supplement between every other day watering in late veg and early flowering then slowing a bit. And could require daily full waterings if warm and real hungry.

Three gallon are good for every other day feeding. About right for me with the fabric bags. Plastic pots may go 2.5 days if not too warm in tent.

Also--two gallon will keep big strains down to manageable size. Coco is like a nute pipeline and plants thrive.

Have fun. BTW--even one gallon will work but requires lots of attention. Generally--used if feeding via drip or flood etc.
Cheers

 

[superphish]

Thanks guys, I bought a couple 3 gallon air-pots online today. This is all new to me but I was thinking after 2-3 weeks when the root system is established to feed the plants multiple times a day with a diluted mix around 400-500 ppm using AN PH perfect for coco with a 10-20% runoff. I still need to learn how to test the runoff. Will 3 gallon air-pots limit the size of the plant even though it's being feed so often?

 

[GCase]

No your plants will grow like mad. Air-pots are favored by many. In coco there needs to be available water but not too much (stunting is an issue). Roots will still be searching out and rapidly growing at three weeks.

Tinker with watering for coco does allow for experimentation based on your conditions and environment.

Let us know when they start growing---photos--please--

 

[Hal 8999]

On hand watering coco, you should try to let it dry out some between watering. This has a number of advantages. You get to encourage more root growth when the medium dries. That is the time the roots branch away in search of water in new medium. You will help to eliminate mold and fungus gnats by allowing a bit of dry out. It will increase the oxygen content in the medium. You need to let it dry some to get air back in after a heavy watering. Then the biggest one, coco is a nutrient salt binder. If you are not getting a 15-20% runoff from the nutrient solution in bloom, you will get a toxic salt build up.

 

[Hal 8999]

If you are using pure coco, I recommend plastic grow bags. If you are doing a soil and coco mix, then I say air pot or smart pot. Pure coco will be in need of routine runoff during bloom. That is much easier to achieve a good drench with the plastic grow bag. The soil/coco mix really benefits from the extra air. Pure coco holds tons of air no matter what the container.

 

[Hal 8999]

Watering a three gallon pot multiple times in a day is asking for root rot. Then the fungus gnats set in. Coco holds eight times the water of soil, I think, so that would be overwatering. Lifting the pot is the best way to gauge the level and need for water.

 

[medic grower]

Well im Coco only Grower since ages and my experience over the Years with Coco is smaller Pots are better than Big ones. I prefer a 24-48 hr dry out cycle in my Grows and im using 6 Liter Airpots Atm. Would go up to 10 Liters(equivalent to the 3 gal ones) but not more. The Problem with big Pots and Coco is that you barely get the right dry out cycle in Big Pots. To reach the desired 20% run off theres a nice formula with Coco. Water 10% of the Size of Your Pots and youll be fine. Btw i managed to chop average 2 oz in 4l Normal round Plastic Pots with Coco so im Curious what this round in the 6l Airpots brings.

 

[GCase]

Coco is tricky and allows for some experimenting depending on ones environment. Mine feed/watering : 2 gallon when in warm environment = about every 24-36 hours/3-gallon = every 48 hours.

Both over watering and under watering cause problems. Big time in coco. This grow my outbound fan was unplugged for a day--one plant drooped. Pot was bone dry but it recovered within hours of watering. So we have to watch really keep an eye on coco and pot moisture--no matter what. Might have lost the plant if not on the ball (my grow room is next to my bedroom---).

Have a group flowering in an enclosed room in a big very inconvenient tent and it is warm. But--starting those seeds were problematic for temp was low and had to baby them along for weeks.

Noticed today--the two new seedlings transplanted from liter to two gallon are stalled. They are in another open room in an open tent at 24/0. Thought LED would heat up tent. At mid-60's--pot is still about same weight as transplant. Just a few minutes ago, to help them along placed a heating pad wrapped in plastic under pots to warm up soil. So easy to stunt and causes sexual identity issues----mine are fem.

Jorge Cervantes book has a little tidbit about warm/cold temps and promoting fem with regular seeds. Cold--promotes males. With fem seeds it is still possible to stress them sexually (intersex).

Those first four weeks are all about the roots. I now look at first four weeks as root period which sets the stage for veg and flowering.

Great discussion above.

Coco----is fun.

Cheers