Noobie Coco Grow

DrDankness

Well-Known Member
Hey guys! I have about 4 years experience growing and ive grown multiple strains. Right now im running 12 Vanilla Kush under 1 600w and 1 1000w (better than 2 600w). Ive always grown in soil (miracle grow, i know, i know) and this is my first time in coco or hydro. Any tips would be appreciated. I was wondering though, is this enough area thats getting watered?? I was under the impression the whole pot needs to get wet when fed. I ran my pump till about 10% runoff. Im running Canna A + B, Cannazym and Rhizotonic right now. Thanks!
 

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hicountry1

Well-Known Member
If I'm reading your post correctly you are having 10% runoff from the top. If this is the case then yes the area you are watering is fine. Coco has fantastic absorption so that should work. Are you having any issues or just asking to make sure?
 

DrDankness

Well-Known Member
Im meaning 10% run off out the bottom of the buckets.It seems that the water has made it all the way to each side of the pots. Its amazing how this coco absorbs fluid. No probs with nutes right now i dont think but i checked today and i have some little white things laying on the very top of the coco. I can provide pics if needed. Just concerned it may be bugs of some sort. Also starting in coco, i should be watering like every 2 days? Because thats my schedule now. Ive been sticking my finger about 4-5 inches down and when its dry, i water. This sounds about right? Sorry to ask so much but im kinda scared of messing up an entire crop. Ive done lots of research but now that they are actually in there ive gotten a little nervous.
 

hicountry1

Well-Known Member
The ideal way to use coco is to water multiple times a day w a mild nutrient solution. While the plants are small I do like to let the coco dry out a bit to encourage rooting, but once they really take off up the watering frequency. Make sure to not overwater, you don't want the coco soaked all the time as the roots need oxygen but you do want to water as often as possible.
 

DrDankness

Well-Known Member
Im running a 5.8 ph and around 400ppm atm. The coco stays moist for 2-3 days from one feeding at 10% runoff. Im gonna veg for 3 weeks. What week do you usually have to start feeding once a day? Im running straight coco, no perlite or anything with a layer of hydroton pebbles in the bottom for drainage.
 

hicountry1

Well-Known Member
The purple could be genetic and normal, or likely a P deficiency. It also can be from cold temps. Sounds like if your plants aren't drinking but every 2-3 days you may need to increase temps and air flow.

In early flower my girls drink a gallon+ per day through mid bloom.
 

DrDankness

Well-Known Member
Temp stays 74-77 degrees during the day. I have lots of airflow too. I have a squirrel cage fan as my intake, another one blowing around the room and another fan moving air all around the room. The purple Isnt genetic with vanilla kush i dont think. I havent had any purple the last 3 grows of it. I was under the impression the Canna nutes would pretty much take care of deficiencies if used correctly... Sorry to be a pain, but this is my first time doing hydro or coco in 4 years of growing.
 

hicountry1

Well-Known Member
I think you need to raise your ph. Coco requires more Cal and Mag which are more readily available at higher ph's in the 6.2 - 6.5 range. I always have great luck in those ranges.
 

tightpockt

Well-Known Member
With 100% coco I like one big feeding right at lights on but I think it's personal preference.
I noticed that your feeding out of a single tube right to the base of the plant...the water will drain right through the coco to the bottom, the surrounding coco might absorb some from the center but it's not really getting watered and flushed at ever feeding. Also, that could create water channeling.
Maybe use a ring instead? Just a thought
 

Yodaweed

Well-Known Member
I think you need to raise your ph. Coco requires more Cal and Mag which are more readily available at higher ph's in the 6.2 - 6.5 range. I always have great luck in those ranges.
Coco isn't soil, that is PH for soil. Coco's PH range is between 5.5 and 5.9 keep between those.
 

Yodaweed

Well-Known Member
Im running a 5.8 ph and around 400ppm atm. The coco stays moist for 2-3 days from one feeding at 10% runoff. Im gonna veg for 3 weeks. What week do you usually have to start feeding once a day? Im running straight coco, no perlite or anything with a layer of hydroton pebbles in the bottom for drainage.
I feed my coco every single day, 1 gallon each plant drinks almost all of it and they grow huge and green no burn. Coco isn't dirt so don't treat it like dirt, do not let it dry out at all, you are in hydroponics you should be feeding at least every other day or every day.
 

hicountry1

Well-Known Member
Coco isn't soil, that is PH for soil. Coco's PH range is between 5.5 and 5.9 keep between those.
If you look at the pics posted you will see he has what looks to me like a calmg issue raising the ph slightly should remedy this. Try running the ph at 6.2 and I am sure they will green up.
 

DrDankness

Well-Known Member
Ok. I will try upping the ph slightly. But I have always heard 5.8 is where you wanna be in coco. I will however start watering every other day. I thought it looked llike a cal issue. They probably just Arnt fed enough. Again Im at 410ppm.
 

hicountry1

Well-Known Member
Ok. I will try upping the ph slightly. But I have always heard 5.8 is where you wanna be in coco. I will however start watering every other day. I thought it looked llike a cal issue. They probably just Arnt fed enough. Again Im at 410ppm.
Yes I would up the food as well, you can pump them way harder than 400ppm, try 600-800 and keep going up from there. I hit them as hard as 1500 at their peak
 

Yodaweed

Well-Known Member
If you look at the pics posted you will see he has what looks to me like a calmg issue raising the ph slightly should remedy this. Try running the ph at 6.2 and I am sure they will green up.
No that's not right he needs to add a calmag supplement , like calimagic or calmag+ or something like that. Raising the PH is just going to cause more lockout problems.
 
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