Flushing Coco?

[stealthcflbox]

Hi Guys,

 

Just a quick question, I figured Nibbler can prob help me here, he seems to be to coco king, but others may know too!

 

How exactly do I flush coco properly? I am running NF Mega Coco brick with NF Coco A + B in a hand watered run to waste system under a 400w HPS. I had originally planned to flush every week, but after learning how long it take for this stuff to dry out completely, I am re-assessing this.

 

So I've read a fair bit on here so far, I'm watering/feeding to 10-20% run off only when the Coco is fully dry. I have now read I should flush at least right before I switch to flower, then prob every two weeks from there, until the final 1-2 week "starve" flush. I have also read (in one of Nibblers posts, I'm fairly sure) the flush show use approx 3 times the pot size of plain ph'd water.

 

So once I put this through, then check the run off EC and PH to make sure it's coming out clean, do I then leave the Coco to dry back out again (the 4-6 days it seems to take at the moment) before I feed again with nutes? Or, do I put some nuted water back into the soaked coco straight after the flush?

 

Thanks in advance guys, I'm only 8 days into this one, but deffo regretting every wasting the time on CFL or Soil!

 

Cheers,

 

Stealth

[The Hash Nibbler]

Heya Stealth =) , soz mate, got stuck into some full melt hash last night..... ......woke up this mornin in bed with a box of museli........hehe

Still better than gettin drunk and waking up next to an arm chew job......

 

Mate..... flushing.....its a bitch eh. Ya don't do it-ya get salt/nute build up....... ya do it-ya break ya back carting shit tonnes of water......probably the only downside to Coco besides fungas Gnats. With these tips make sure your using Coco specific nutes, otherwise you'll need to flush with a LOT more water, every week.

Rules always been 3 x the volume of the pot for a weekly flush...always seemed to be a bit excessive to me..... kind of a waste of water too.

To use this Method, dont smash em at full strength nutes, keep it at 50-75% strength, otherwise you will get build up.

Also if you have a product like drip clean or a salt/build up flusher, this will help reduce amount of flush water needed. I dont use it, yet......

 

Ok, Now I fugured ouy a better way, that seems to work fine.....

 

1) Mix up a batch of PH 5 water. Also mix up a batch of Nutes (Can be done after step 2 if ya only got the one resi) PH. 5.8-6. 50-75% of full strength.

2) Flush plants to 50% run off (more if you feel its needed) , with PH5 water.

3) Let pots Drain for a bit, then Nute them until you get your 10-15% run off.

4) Let them drain a bit , then back under lights.

5) Let pots dry out and rinse and repeat......

 

THis is where CFL's / LED's suck with Coco, sorry dude, but coco takes for friggin ever to dry out under them, under a HID it works well.

 

Note: For H&G users using Top booster I recommend a Good flush after using it for 3-4 days, before using the shooting powder, for best results.

 

The only BIG 3x pot volume flush you need is when your flushing before harvest, everytime you flush in this stage,do them to excess to get all the crap outta the coco.

Most Coco nutes are pretty clean, H&G recommend a flush of 3 days before harvest.......sweet..... but I still do mine for a week if I can.

Hope that helps. Peace. Nibbler.

[stealthcflbox]

Hi Nibbler, I knew you'd be the man to advise me!!

 

Heya Stealth =) , soz mate, got stuck into some full melt hash last night..... ......woke up this mornin in bed with a box of museli........hehe

Still better than gettin drunk and waking up next to an arm chew job......

 

hahahah for sure mate, sounds like a good night!

 

THis is where CFL's / LED's suck with Coco, sorry dude, but coco takes for friggin ever to dry out under them, under a HID it works well.

 

Just for the record I am now using 400w HPS, for veg and flower. (I wanted to change my screen name to reflect this, and figured it was possible I could do it after I FINALLY worked out you were GH72, but found the help thread last night saying only seniors have the privilege, damn!)

 

 

Rules always been 3 x the volume of the pot for a weekly flush...always seemed to be a bit excessive to me..... kind of a waste of water too.

To use this Method, dont smash em at full strength nutes, keep it at 50-75% strength, otherwise you will get build up.

 

 

Yeah this is what I had read and been working on, but after a feed (to 10% run off - still weak nutes, only early still) it takes a good 5 - 6 days for the medium to be anywhere near dry, even then when I poke a few inches down its slightly damp. So going by this theory they would only require 1 feed a week, the one after the flush? That is what i am thinking at the mo, am I on the right track or doing something wrong? The only reason I ask it the nute labels (NF Coco A& say "recommended for feeding 4-6 times daily, running for 1-3 mins"

 

Now this sounds to me like a generic label feed advice designed for other mediums, but perhaps I am missing something?

 

 

Thanks again for the reply, and in advance for your expert coco advice Nibbler!!

 

Cheers Stealth

 

P.s. I could post a couple of pics of my weak seedlings if it makes you more inclined to help?

[The Hash Nibbler]

Heya Stealth =) , No Wukkas mate, I'm no Expert, but if i can help I will .....if I'm not really bent.....then I just rock back and forth humming Koombya..........

 

Ok, Yeah flush em and re-nute like 30 minutes later, if ya wait till the flush water dries out, plants go a week without enuff food, not good.

 

Disregard label, it's for a recirculated coco set up. If your hand feeding, let em dry out, I've had em take a week to dry in winter....wont hurt em.

 

Keeping you pot size small and going up 2 sizes evry re-pot also makes sure you don't bog em down in wet coco for too long.

 

ASk away dude, info here is free.... and freely given to those who listen and learn =)

 

Peace. Nibbler.

[stealthcflbox]

Heya Stealth =) , No Wukkas mate, I'm no Expert, but if i can help I will .....if I'm not really bent.....then I just rock back and forth humming Koombya..........

 

Ok, Yeah flush em and re-nute like 30 minutes later, if ya wait till the flush water dries out, plants go a week without enuff food, not good.

 

Disregard label, it's for a recirculated coco set up. If your hand feeding, let em dry out, I've had em take a week to dry in winter....wont hurt em.

 

Keeping you pot size small and going up 2 sizes evry re-pot also makes sure you don't bog em down in wet coco for too long.

 

ASk away dude, info here is free.... and freely given to those who listen and learn =)

 

Peace. Nibbler.

 

You Sir, are a legend!

 

My starter pots are only 200mm (aboot 3lt I think??) but I cracked and emergency seed in a small little planter pot and I have noticed that dries out a lot quicker, maybe something to consider for next time.

 

They're due for a flush in a few more days so I'll follow the direction and report back, Thanks again Nibbler!

 

Stealth

[The Hash Nibbler]

No wuckas man =), yeah 200mm from memory is about 8.1Litres...so yeah, way too big, can start in plastic cups with holes in the bottoms (lots, like 12-15 holes), I use a soldering iron to make the holes fast. then after roots FILL the cups, move up to little litre pots, and so forth.

best of luck. Nibbler.