It depends on the brand. Some are already rinsed multiple times and buffered. Some are not. I use Botanicare which is ready to go. There are a bunch of off brands on Amazon with labels that look like they were printed on an inkjet printer. I wouldn't use that stuff without rinsing real good and then buffering. I use the Botanicare mainly because it's what they carry at the shop down the road and it is washed multiple times and buffered.
I'm gonna have to disagree with your notion that coco bricks with salt and sand are a thing of the past. I buy 10-15 bricks per year of all different brands. As a matter of fact the last two I bought that are sitting in my living room are Botanicare bricks. I have never used this brand but have used many other brands that are always highly recommended. When I hydrate and rinse them I know they will be filled with sand. I did a review on Amazon and posted pictures of me taking hand fulls of sand that had settled on the bottom. Botanicare will be the same. These companies that sell coco coir sell the bricks by the pound or kilo. Sand is many times heavier that coco and therefore is in the manufactures incentive to leave copious amounts of sand in the coir from the processing. It's pretty easy to prove this. Hydrate brick of coir with 6-8 gallons of H2o. Let sit for a few hours or overnight. Then remove coir with a strainer of some sort and whalla, there will be at least a pound of sand settled on the bottom of your container. I have yet to find a brick that is "clean."
Exactly, the dust is another thing that will settle on the bottom. I strain all that crap out.
Really crazy how much you can flush. Just the little things ya learn to improve the grow.
How much did you pay for your 50L bag oof premium coco?
Hey Mtf,
Untested myself....Another member had suggested 5-gallon paint strainers. They were about a buck each for a 25pack on amazonian.
This is my exact findings also 400ish from the 5kg bricks of botanicare cocogro. I am gonna rinse and precharge in Future real soon. It's little things that make a great start. I've been unable to grow last few years and just got a home to start up
Hi Jimmy...seen guys post those numbers, but not sure what they mean? Maybe you just washed out all the calmag? lol Next brick I re-hydrate...I'm gonna taste the water. Be easy to detect salt.
I do compost/manure teas with them. Too fine a mesh. Need to go to a restaurant supply and see whats up.
www.webstaurantstore.com
I use one similar to this in a 5-gal plastic bucket. For me it's bagged Canna or eqiuv - and a simple 12-24hr bath in 800ppm of calimagic to buffer. Stir and mix well several times during the soak. The superfine chit gets left behind when I press the liquid out of the coco. Ending up with moist coco, not wet. Ready for use with fresh nutes. Easy to do for a little hobby 4x4 grow.I do compost/manure teas with them. Too fine a mesh. Need to go to a restaurant supply and see whats up.
Choice 13 Qt. Stainless Steel Colander with Base and Handles
This Choice 13 qt. stainless steel colander with base and handles is sure to increase the efficiency of your back-of-house operation, making it the perfect tool for any busy kitchen! An all-in-one tool, this colander can be used to wash, drain, and strain a wide variety of ingredients, including...
The shower idea is really good. I'm on a septic system. I've been googling around to try and see if coco could be damaging to a septic system but I've found nothing. Any reason to be concerned about rinsing a couple hundred gallons of coco a year this way?
No damage to the septic system, BUT, be sure you know how full your tank is. I have a tiny septic tank and I need to be very aware of how full it is at any given time. Always a good idea to take a peek before you dump a few hundred gallons of water into it.
