Hi all
Well after decimating my latest crop I'm considering a switch to coco for the next one.
My questions are
1 I grew with compost once,but couldn't pin down run-off levels due to bits in the drained liquid....will this be the same with coco? I'm assuming ph will be the same coming out as going in,but surely the ec will rocket due to the minute particles coming out in the drain-off.
How do you all check ec run off in coco?
2 What is the prefered watering schedule for growers?
3 Why do I need to use coco-specific nutes?...ie Ionic 1-part grow is for soil/coco/hydro, but many 2-part nutes need a coco specific formula why is this?
Many thanks.

.....right over my head that one man,,sorry..sure ul find ur ansa.

Why are you so intent on measuring the run off.

No need m8,my advice is try and keep it simple.

I think you should get a succesfull compost grow under your belt before trying coco,you must be doing something drastically wrong if you killed them

Also if you do use coco you must use coco specific nutes or your asking for more trouble

"Also if you do use coco you must use coco specific nutes or your asking for more trouble"

Not so, i have been using coco and canna aqua vega and flores with fab results for my last 4 gorws.
No problems at all, i cannot tell the difference between those and the coco nutes.

I water my plants 3 times a day for 1/2 hour but others do a lot less.

Measuring run off, i have a wilma 8 pot system so use an ec meter in the resevoir, an ph that and keep using it and then top-up when needed.

current grow is also coco using canna nutes again but his time no wilma system just home made dripper and a small res but no run off.

Anyway sorry if i have rambled that the nice thing about being very stoned

I think thats it iam off to attack th fridge.

SS

I cant see how you can advice a first time grower not to use coco specific nutes

You may well of got away with using other nutes in coco,but thats not to say that he will

Why risk a whole grow for the sake of £20

havin been growin in coco for some time i can say that most of the coco specific nutes are a load of crap..

what are you doing when you grow in coco? answer = hydroponics

why do manufacturers sell coco specific nutes? answer = so they can sell you waterd down shite

i currently use vita-link a+b nutes and i'm getting way better results than i was from coco specific nutes and i have tried canna, ionics, advanced nutes.

but each to their own... i will say 1 thing though canna's bags of coco is the best.

as long as you keep your pH at about 6.3 youll be fine.


oooohhh and if you dont get bugs you can and should re use your coco... its much better the second time round... just add 1/3 new 2/3 old when you riddle it.... reson being is that the old coco has locked up as much of the calcium and magnesium as it ever going to. plus you save money and the enviroment.