COCO PROBLEM

[John c]

I've been trying to grow in coco and so far and I am struggling to understand its worth.

 

I have found that with 2 pots of identical size one with soil (potting mix n worm castings) the other with Pure coco and coco specific nutrients

 

that the soil grown plant is a much stronger looking healthier plant and the coco version is very stemmy/elongated and not very bushy etc.

 

The coco versions grow about 20% faster, however they pack out the pots (almost root bound) they are growing in very quickly and you need to upgrade to a bigger pot.

 

I am thinking that you need to have very large pots (atleast 50 liter +) to get a good yeild from coco as the roots just go crazy and the part of the plant above the pot is pretty average looking.

 

Could the experienced COCO growers shed some light on this?

 

Do people use very large pots and/or are spending a lot on multiple bags of coco ??just for one grow ??

 

P.S I hand water

[marching band]

50 - 80 litres

[raven6]

Mmmm i have had the same problem too...long spindly plants....also have had some very bushy ones too...very strange

[loylty gets u nothing]

i get 2.5 oz of skunk 1

from a 9 ltr pot of coco

its trial and error

remember indoors light only penetrates so deep

having huge plants arent really an indoors growers idea of fun

long spindly bits??perhaps light isnt close enuff??

maybe ph is off...do u have any pics?

take care

bil

[John c]

Plenty of Light 400w hps in a 800x500x1800mm box

 

I didn't check PH I can only assume it was pretty close to optimum as plants looked healthy and I flushed

 

2.5 oz of skunk thats pretty good for 9 liters of COCO.

 

Well I'll have another shot this time with a 50L pot

[Reverend]

Plenty of Light 400w hps in a 800x500x1800mm box

 

I didn't check PH I can only assume it was pretty close to optimum as plants looked healthy and I flushed

 

2.5 oz of skunk thats pretty good for 9 liters of COCO.

 

Well I'll have another shot this time with a 50L pot

 

What do you class as optimum? PH has brought a lot of grows undone.

[Radic]

big roots systems can support more and bigger budz

does that make sence??????

here is a PH chart

somewhere between

5.8 n 6.8 is the sweet spot you want

eact strain is different

you can find it and maintain it

by trial and error

 

http://i83.photobucket.com/albums/j320/ineffable420/pHNutrientChart.jpg

 

irey guidance

[nitram]

Hi JC,

 

John c Posted Jun 2 2009, 10:16 PM

 

Plenty of Light 400w hps in a 800x500x1800mm box

 

I didn't check PH I can only assume it was pretty close to optimum as plants looked healthy and I flushed

 

2.5 oz of skunk thats pretty good for 9 liters of COCO.

 

Well I'll have another shot this time with a 50L pot

 

Don't waste Coco JC .......... I flower in 7"x9" square pots and depending on the amount of veg size I get to I pull a decent yield using 98% Coco & 2% hydrotron cay balls.

 

A few very crucial hints for you when using near 100% Coco

 

1. Initial importance on drainage (some use perlite) I use minimum of 2" hydrotron clay fired pebbles.

 

- The roots grow well in the bottom 2" layer @ the bottom and the drainage holes allows for free oxygen access.

 

2. Do not over-water - let dry out completely until you see 'droop' indicating "drink-time".

 

- The center of your Coco in the pot can remain water-logged.

 

- It is important to use you common sense. Having small pots & Coco being so light, I simply the

pot up to feel how heavy the pot is (very accurate - there is no substitute for 'hands on gardening').

 

3. PH when using Coco should be higher than the mostly conventional 5.8 in other mediums.

 

- Veg I set @ approx PH=6.2 & flower @ approx PH= 6.8.

 

Goodluck JC

Nitty.

[John c]

Given every ones reply's I can only think that maybe I have not been applying enough nutrients and/or need to improve my watering/nutrient application and check PH? Is there some sort of a probe PH meter you can just stick into the pot to get a reading from the coco ?

[Reverend]

Do you have a PH meter that you test your water/nutriment with? To see whats going on in your pot test what is coming out this will give you a good indication of what needs to be done.