Outdoor coco attempt. Advice please

[Sir PsychoHashy]

Hey TT, you won't go wrong with some SSS beans outdoors, should go great.  40l pots buried in the ground works fine, but you will be surprised at how much water they go through mid summer if they are a decent size.  If you want monster plants though, you will want to go bigger, and would be better off digging a widish hole about 80-100cm deep and lining it.

 

I used 40l pots in the ground last season, and got decent results using Tropf Blumat drippers, probably the max size pot I'd want to use with that system.  To go bigger (plants and/or pots) you'll need an irrigation setup capable of supplying at least 20-40l/day.

 

Now, I used coco/perlite.  But, I also amended it with about 30% organic matter.  The reason for this was so that if we had extended rain (wishful thinking) there would still be something in the medium for the plants to get some nutrition out of.  I ran a coco nutrient solution at an ec of 1.2, worked well, with healthy plants.  If you can stop any rain from watering the pots, then coco/perlite at 70/30 would be fine, but if not I recommend adding some organics into the mix, or making a good soil mix instead, in which case coco and perlite can still be good amendments to lighten up the mix.

 

Both Crowsange and Husky did SSS strains outdoors last season, so best place to look would be their diaries, they got very impressive results.

 

And yes, there is a difference between Bummings coco and the more expensive pre buffered stuff.  I use the Nutrifield bricks as they are not much more expensive, but are cleaner and pre buffered ready to grow, can't say I've had any problems with it either, whereas an attempt I made with the Brunnings crap after washing the shit out of it didn't go overly well.  Lou did a tute on prepping the cheap stuff if you want to go that way.

Edited July 16, 2015 by Sir PsychoHashy

[Rosey]

Yeah that brunnings coco is super salty, I did a slurry test on it and it came out at ec 6.5. I guess that is why they do specify it as a 'garden soil amendment'.

 

I would stick with the expensive bagged coco designed for hydroponics for growing in pots outdoors preferably mixed with premium potting mix 50/50. The potting mix will supply nutrients and keep a pH buffer in the mix and allow you to water with plain water more often rather than nutrient solution every time, which is what you need to do when growing in pure coco. With this mix you get the best of both mediums, water retention and vigorous root growth of the coco and controlled release nutrient and pH buffering ability of the potting mix.

 

oh yeah, 40 litre pots are small for outdoors so don't plant too early! I would suggest early December so you can keep a healthy fast growing/flowering plant all the way to the end (Late march - april)    

[torrietree]

Hey TT, you won't go wrong with some SSS beans outdoors, should go great. 40l pots buried in the ground works fine, but you will be surprised at how much water they go through mid summer if they are a decent size. If you want monster plants though, you will want to go bigger, and would be better off digging a widish hole about 80-100cm deep and lining it.

 

I used 40l pots in the ground last season, and got decent results using Tropf Blumat drippers, probably the max size pot I'd want to use with that system. To go bigger (plants and/or pots) you'll need an irrigation setup capable of supplying at least 20-40l/day.

 

Now, I used coco/perlite. But, I also amended it with about 30% organic matter. The reason for this was so that if we had extended rain (wishful thinking) there would still be something in the medium for the plants to get some nutrition out of. I ran a coco nutrient solution at an ec of 1.2, worked well, with healthy plants. If you can stop any rain from watering the pots, then coco/perlite at 70/30 would be fine, but if not I recommend adding some organics into the mix, or making a good soil mix instead, in which case coco and perlite can still be good amendments to lighten up the mix.

 

Both Crowsange and Husky did SSS strains outdoors last season, so best place to look would be their diaries, they got very impressive results.

 

And yes, there is a difference between Bummings coco and the more expensive pre buffered stuff. I use the Nutrifield bricks as they are not much more expensive, but are cleaner and pre buffered ready to grow, can't say I've had any problems with it either, whereas an attempt I made with the Brunnings crap after washing the shit out of it didn't go overly well. Lou did a tute on prepping the cheap stuff if you want to go that way.

Hey Sir PH

 

Thanks for dropping in with the advice. As much as I would love monster plants. I will be content with average sized. Since I'm so noob maintaining small to average plants shouldn't be beyond my talents.

 

I was going through 16l per plant every two days at the peak of summer last year so I'm guessing that's the reason I didn't do so well. Now I need to figure out how I can get a trickle system set up. Was it you that had the bush shower systems buried to supply water?

 

I have read through Lou's tute and also Ange and husky's grows. They are the main reasons for giving SSS a go this year.

 

By organics do you mean worm casting or more along the line of manures?

 

I have access to a heap of horse manure but limited funds when it comes to extras beyond that, but open to hearing what I should/could be using.

 

I went shopping the other day and couldn't find any Nutrifield so I had to grab some brunnings premium blocks and some perlite.

 

 

Thanks again for dropping in and everyone else for teaching this back water simpleton.

[Sir PsychoHashy]

Hey Sir PH

 

Thanks for dropping in with the advice. As much as I would love monster plants. I will be content with average sized. Since I'm so noob maintaining small to average plants shouldn't be beyond my talents.

 

I was going through 16l per plant every two days at the peak of summer last year so I'm guessing that's the reason I didn't do so well. Now I need to figure out how I can get a trickle system set up. Was it you that had the bush shower systems buried to supply water?

 

I have read through Lou's tute and also Ange and husky's grows. They are the main reasons for giving SSS a go this year.

 

By organics do you mean worm casting or more along the line of manures?

 

I have access to a heap of horse manure but limited funds when it comes to extras beyond that, but open to hearing what I should/could be using.

 

I went shopping the other day and couldn't find any Nutrifield so I had to grab some brunnings premium blocks and some perlite.

 

 

Thanks again for dropping in and everyone else for teaching this back water simpleton.

 

Yep, was me with the solar shower res's, but they just weren't well enough built for the rigours of an outdoor season so I ended up setting up some tubs instead.  Up to 20l/day mid summer got me 900 grams out of 2x475mm pots, and that's probably about the limit with that little water, but may have done a little better if it was all to just 1 plant.

 

I mixed some Searles premium potting mix and worm castings in with coco/perlite, about 30% organic matter all up, but I did supply coco nutes all season, so the suggestion of 50% is worth thinking about if you want to save some dollars, or live in a wetter climate, should even be able to get away with using Seasol or something similar at that ratio as well.  I also used to grab a bit of roo and goat shit for top dressing occassionally.

 

Unless you want to wash/flush the shit out of that coco, and pre buffer it etc, I'd leave that for the garden and go online and get some decent pre buffered stuff.  I get the blocks from ADHS in QLD, think it worked out about $20-25 each inc post for the 5kg mega bricks, well and truly worth it over that Brunnings crap IMO.  I'm iffy about the shitty perlite they sell at bunnings as well, can't remember the brand, but it's fine as, and some of those packaged perlites can be preloaded with ferts, but it's mainly how fine it is.  100l bag of coarse perlite from the nursery will last ages.

 

Don't worry about being a back water simpleton, just have a crack, worst that can happen short of getting busted is that you can learn from your mistakes.

[Greenstar]

Hi mate, I did coco in 30lt pots sunken in the ground with cane mulch over the top a couple of years ago. Used nutrifield products. My advice is don't go there unless you're time rich, meaning if you're married, got kids a job a dog and other hobbies all these will suffer and cause more problems than its worth. Stix87 mentioned he only had to water 2x a day at extremes and that's fine but a lot of water and mixing nutes and checking PH and so on. Sure you can mix up big batches of nutes but they can go off especially if you use nutrifield additives e.g cargo boost, full life, nfzyme. You might get away with a gravity fed drip system using a wheelie bin or something similar as a reservoir. Sure, it can be done, it's just a bit more hassle than it worth I reckon from my experience. P.s. Forget the "hot box". If you want some good germinating and grow advice check out mandala seeds.com. They give advice on indoor, outdoor, soil, hydro, nutes and product reviews and there less is more mantra rings true time and time again.

[torrietree]

Cheers for the extra info/advice guys

[reginald blumenfield]

Sir psychoshashy know's his coco and his advice is invaluable. Personally, I prefer using noviascotian spagnum peat moss. Its cheaper and mixes well with perlite, manures etc. I pick up 112L compressed moss for $38 so it works out heaps cheaper than buying RHP certified coco.

Edited July 25, 2015 by reggie kray

[Stix87]

When I had to water I just used a big round plastic rubbish bin around 100litres . Used a retractable hose stuck a pump on one end throw it in the tub and dragged the hose out and watered like that . It might of been time consuming but I pulled 5.5 pounds of 8 plants pot sizes from 4l to 65l

[Faith]

When I had to water I just used a big round plastic rubbish bin around 100litres . Used a retractable hose stuck a pump on one end throw it in the tub and dragged the hose out and watered like that . It might of been time consuming but I pulled 5.5 pounds of 8 plants pot sizes from 4l to 65l

 

Yeah in that bloody big forest you had out the back onyas Styx! (it deserved another congrats I reckon )

 

I never have tried the spag peat moss reggie...I had a look at some stuff yesty that was really light in colour, almost like sawdust.  Where abouts would I look for some in that kind of bulk block?

 

Man grow mixes are so varied...

 

Peace

Faith

[Frank Reynolds]

The lighter colour he peat moss the better quality it will be. Some of the bst found in Aus is canadian sphagnum afaik. Just careful as peat moss can become incredibly hydrophobic if allowed to dry out.