Little root growth.

Strains: OG Kush, Vanilla Kush, Critical Kush.
Lighting:
Pots: 6"x6"x9" square.
Medium: Botanicare Coco Coir / Sunleaves grow rocks 70/30.
Nutes: Half I used Jacks Professional 10-30-20 with CaMg supplement. Other half I used GH Flora lucas formula and a CaMg supplement.
Water: RO ph adjusted to 6.0 after nutrients are mixed.

I will post my problem first, then my method to the best of my abilities while under the influence. My problem is that my root development is horrible since switching to coco. As a result, of course, my yield is suffering. I am averaging approx 5 grams per plant and this is unacceptable. My roots are not close to filling the containers, in fact they look as if they wouldn't even be root bound in a 16oz solo cup.

The overall appearance of the plants and flowers are excellent. Dark green and very frosty buds, no matter the nutes I used, they have shown no signs of deficiency. That being said, I cannot figure out why my roots are not developing to the point they need to in order to produce good yields.

My method is as follows. I clone in 1.5" rockwool cubes. Once rooted (approximately 1.5-2 weeks) I transplant into 9oz solo cups and place them under the T5 lights 24/7 for 14 days. I run a very light nute mix during this stage at 400ppm. Anything more tends to burn them, so I have found a mix that they like.

After the 14 days, they are lollipopped, transplanted into the 6"x6"x9" square pots, and placed 4 per square foot in my flower room which exchanges air every 10 mins and is at a constant 75 degrees. Relative humidity is between 40%-50%.

The Critical Kush is the only strain that tends to stretch. The other strains stretch maybe a few inches and begin to bud. The bud development for the next 8-9 weeks is not what I would expect growing in coco, in fact, coco was so highly praised by the people growing in it, I switched for the yields and ease of growth that I heard so much about.

I slowly up the nutes to right about 900 ppm over the first few weeks, and at week 6 I flush and only feed sweet + ph adjusted water. I feed with every watering, which is every other day, allowing for a 20-25% runoff. The small buds that I do achieve are nice and frosty, and pretty dense, but the yield just isn't there. When I examine the roots, as I have said before, they are not close to becoming root bound, and probably wouldn't even be root bound in a 16oz solo cup. In addition to this, my stalks tend to be very weak as they stay extremely skinny and cannot support the super small buds I get on my main cola.

The question is, what do I need to do to increase the size of my root ball so I can at least pull 7g per, though I would rather pull 14? I would love to continue to run coco, as I have tons of it and all of my pumps and such are locked away in storage for ebb and flow. I forgot to mention that I do add super thrive to the nutrient solution when I transplant.

All advice will be greatly appreciated. If I left something out that you need to know, please ask. I apologize about the book, I just wanted to put as much detail in there as I could so you guys/gals could hopefully help me out here.

Step your light game up would be my suggestion. Cloning with two T5 is cool, but I wouldn't flower with them. Just my opinion bro. I go cuckoo for coco puffs!!

cassinfo said:

Step your light game up would be my suggestion. Cloning with two T5 is cool, but I wouldn't flower with them. Just my opinion bro. I go cuckoo for coco puffs!!

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I flower with 2 1000W HPS and 1 Blackdog LED Platinum XL-U. The T5 are just for vegging so the roots take hold in the coco after they are cloned in rockwool.

I guess maybe I will feed super thrive a little while longer. Maybe introduce some silica? I am at a complete loss here.

Bro you got all the bells and whistles , nice set up with the avengers. All this and you use cheap medium. Coco coir is no good you need a professional coco mix designed for growing dope. Those blocks are about $4, the bag of Terra is $40. Everything else is great.

Also get some cooltubes for the 1000w, if the temps are getting over 80 on a reg basis this will make buds stringy, soft and stemmy.

I would also use some type of mycorr. Like great white for example. After using this my root ball almost doubled.

after i root my clones and go to transplant i either sprinkle a dusting on the roots, or make a concentrate with it and soak them. Also try letting them get a bit bigger roots before you transplant, it made a world of a difference when i started out.

your stems should be getting very hard and low to the medium almost like a slight bark.

i also use a custom blend of fully organic living soil.

IMO you can't beat soil. Hardly ever fertilizer if you make your own soil, no ppm checking and all that, much better bud and for me at least the highest yielding. I used to do something very similar to you but a slightly longer veg time and would flower in 2 gallon equivalent air pot. I would yeild 25-35grams per plant

Get some mycos and try out zeatin. Ph your coco to 5.8. My buddy kills it with a similar setup

Maybe you're keeping it too wet?
And too high ppm's.
This has happened to me.
My ppm's don't go much higher
Than 650 in coco when I use synthetics.

Oh, and maybe quit the super thrive.

I agree with angry white man, you are to wet. Every other day is to often unless you are growing a huge plant in a small pot. Slow down that water and feed schedule and your roots will grow in search of more water. Don't be alarmed when the top layer of coco gets dry.. a lot of people fall into this trap. I always saturate and then let dry out almost completely. This is blasphemous to some, but it's worked great for me.

Your pulling the trigger too soon 14 days is not enough veg time and your flowering right after a transplant so your screwing yourself.Your plant is flowering when it should be growing roots. give them at least two or three weeks after you transplant in to the 6"x6"x9" square pots before you flower.

Dr.Pecker said:

Your pulling the trigger too soon 14 days is not enough veg time and your flowering right after a transplant so your screwing yourself.Your plant is flowering when it should be growing roots. give them at least two or three weeks after you transplant in to the 6"x6"x9" square pots before you flower.

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I am aiming for a single cola plant though. Everything I have read has told me to use as little veg time as possible. That is why I just stick them in the pots and leave them to veg so the roots get a hold of the coco. I do not want to grow trees. 1 month of veg time seems like a lot for a SoG method.

blowingupjake said:

I agree with angry white man, you are to wet. Every other day is to often unless you are growing a huge plant in a small pot. Slow down that water and feed schedule and your roots will grow in search of more water. Don't be alarmed when the top layer of coco gets dry.. a lot of people fall into this trap. I always saturate and then let dry out almost completely. This is blasphemous to some, but it's worked great for me.

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Thanks. I will back off on the watering schedule and see if this works. I like to go the cheapest route first. Great White, sounds like a nice additive though from what I have read.

Should I wait until I see drooping leaves? Or is that too dry? My plants never show signs of over watering. Just horrible root growth.

bump your ph up 6.3to 6.5 after adding calmag and nutrients to the water solution and try a longer veg time after you transplat to the bigger pot.

rlb05g said:

Should I wait until I see drooping leaves? Or is that too dry? My plants never show signs of over watering. Just horrible root growth.

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Keep a close eye on it you dont have to let it droop just dig your finger in about two or three inches if its dry water it. pay attention to how much your pots weigh before and after watering.

are you growing clones or seedlings?

Dr.Pecker said:

are you growing clones or seedlings?

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Clones. They root in about 2 weeks, then into solo cups for 2 weeks to veg and take root. Then into the 6" pots into the flower room.

I asked because seedlings need a deeper pot. than clones I would let it veg a week or two before you flower and look at the ph and watering habits

Thanks, I think everyone has me convinced it is my watering habits. I heard somewhere though, the more you water coco the better. I guess that was all just BS. I am going to cut back and let you all know how it goes. Thanks for all the input, very greatly appreciated.