Coco/Perlite Mix Help?

dizzydaizy

dizzydaizy

Member
Hey there.

I'm humbly asking for some serious guidance on understanding the best formula for my coco/perlite base. I'm using Botanicare nutrients and could easily follow the bottles instructions but I've read that it's better to dilute the formula. Currently I'm using 35 gal containers for my water. I def only fill them to about 30 gal. For the flowering cycle I use PowerSI, CalMagPlus (2-0-0), HydroGuard, LiqKarma, Pure Blend Pro (1-4-5 soil formula), and HydroPlex. Also, I've read conflicting suggestions on where to ph the water for coco/perlite mix. Currently I'm aiming for a 5.5 to 5.7 ph. Thoughts? Suggestions? I've been at this for just over a year. Looking forward to absorbing all the information I can from all of you.

Also, if there are any question you have to better assist you in your efforts to help I am eager to answer them.

Thanks!
 
Last edited:
Not familiar with your products

But Coco needs feeding daily with 1/4 strength nutes till runnof

Your ph target is spot on

Hope that helps some
 
BobThe420Builder said:
Hold on, I use most those in my dwc buckets

What is your base nutes?
Click to expand...
All of my nutes are from the Botanicare line excluding the silicon which is PowerSI. If I'm misunderstanding what you're asking, please forgive me. I'm still learning a lot of the lingo. Going from a consumer to a grower has been a gradual and enlightening shift. I didn't know what "larf" was until a month ago.
 
BobThe420Builder said:
I'd get the grow....it's designed for veg

It's a 3-2-4 ratio...

Then use the bloom in flowering
Click to expand...

Hmm...I should've added that into the original post. I am currently using the Gro for veg and will be using the 1-4-5 for flowering. My flip day is approaching and I wanted to get ahead start on the formula. Now knowing that I will be using the 1-4-5 for flowering, what would you suggest?
 
I've never had good success in Coco, fact is I hate it....lol

If your having good success how your doing it now don't change anything, start to switch to bloom nutes about week two after flip, and keep the amounts the same just replace the grow with bloom
 
BobThe420Builder said:
I've never had good success in Coco, fact is I hate it....lol

If your having good success how your doing it now don't change anything, start to switch to bloom nutes about week two after flip, and keep the amounts the same just replace the grow with bloom
Click to expand...
I understand the dislike of coco. I get a bit annoyed with the constant attention that it needs. However, I did notice an increase in size of the plants with it. But my biggest problem has been the yellowing crispy leaves towards the 5th or 6th week. I'm thinking that has more to do with the Cal-Mag interaction with the coco than anything though. And I'm doing some research on that to hopefully better understand the science behind all of that business.

Hey, thanks for interacting with my post. I appreciate it.
 
dizzydaizy said:
I understand the dislike of coco. I get a bit annoyed with the constant attention that it needs. However, I did notice an increase in size of the plants with it. But my biggest problem has been the yellowing crispy leaves towards the 5th or 6th week. I'm thinking that has more to do with the Cal-Mag interaction with the coco than anything though. And I'm doing some research on that to hopefully better understand the science behind all of that business.

Hey, thanks for interacting with my post. I appreciate it.
Click to expand...
I used Pure Blend Pro for many years with coco, I like it a lot. Offhand, I think I used around 15 ml per gal of bloom, but adjusted per strain. I also used a lot of calmag with it. And, I recall needing supplemental iron, so one of the calmags that have iron in it might be good to use. I like PBP, I've just been playing around with more 100% organics lately, but I would use it again.
 
Rurumo said:
I used Pure Blend Pro for many years with coco, I like it a lot. Offhand, I think I used around 15 ml per gal of bloom, but adjusted per strain. I also used a lot of calmag with it. And, I recall needing supplemental iron, so one of the calmags that have iron in it might be good to use. I like PBP, I've just been playing around with more 100% organics lately, but I would use it again.
Click to expand...


Thanks. Did you use the 15 ml per gal the whole 12/12? I noticed the suggested amount fluctuates throughout the 12/12. And also, I appreciate the iron suggestion for the Cal-Mag. I use the Botanicare CalMagPlus but I'm wondering if I might do better with the GeneralHydro CaliMagic. Any thoughts you're willing to offer on this?
 
dizzydaizy said:
Hey there.

I'm humbly asking for some serious guidance on understanding the best formula for my coco/perlite base. I'm using Botanicare nutrients and could easily follow the bottles instructions but I've read that it's better to dilute the formula. Currently I'm using 35 gal containers for my water. I def only fill them to about 30 gal. For the flowering cycle I use PowerSI, CalMagPlus (2-0-0), HydroGuard, LiqKarma, Pure Blend Pro (1-4-5 soil formula), and HydroPlex. Also, I've read conflicting suggestions on where to ph the water for coco/perlite mix. Currently I'm aiming for a 5.5 to 5.7 ph. Thoughts? Suggestions? I've been at this for just over a year. Looking forward to absorbing all the information I can from all of you.

Also, if there are any question you have to better assist you in your efforts to help I am eager to answer them.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
Lose the silica for flower. I personally have seen better plants in coco with a pH around 6.3. Idk know your nutes, plant depending I run 600-900ish ppm, always water to runoff and don't leave the plants in the runoff. Never let your coco dry out. If you're using R/O water or high powered LED's your plants will have a higher need for calmag, mainly Mg though. There's more, that's just off the top of my head.
 
macsnax said:
Lose the silica for flower. I personally have seen better plants in coco with a pH around 6.3. Idk know your nutes, plant depending I run 600-900ish ppm, always water to runoff and don't leave the plants in the runoff. Never let your coco dry out. If you're using R/O water or high powered LED's your plants will have a higher need for calmag, mainly Mg though. There's more, that's just off the top of my head.
Click to expand...

Well goodness... If anything else pops up I'm interested. I used to ph at 6.0...but like I mentioned I've read sooo many different posts about where to ph in coco that it begins to become a trial and error situation. I know that adopting the ppm approach is something I really need to learn how to do when working with coco. Science can be a bit overwhelming for me when left to learn it all on my own. I'm curious what the reason is for losing the silica - would you be willing to share? I never let my coco dry out and have even been looking at doing multiple waterings a day. I never let them sit in their runoff. Good info though. I appreciate the comment and will appreciate anything else you're willing to share.
 
dizzydaizy said:
Thanks. Did you use the 15 ml per gal the whole 12/12? I noticed the suggested amount fluctuates throughout the 12/12. And also, I appreciate the iron suggestion for the Cal-Mag. I use the Botanicare CalMagPlus but I'm wondering if I might do better with the GeneralHydro CaliMagic. Any thoughts you're willing to offer on this?
Click to expand...
I would say I averaged 15 ml during bloom, but I would push it higher if the plants responded well. The Botanicare schedule looks too hot to me, but I've heard of people following it successfully, but I would start low and use the schedule as the upper limit. If you are using straight PBP Bloom with no boosters, you'll probably use more than 15 ml as bloom progresses. I highly suggest searching IC Mag for PBP info, there is a lot of info there about it in Coco-a lot of people used to use it over there. Here is one thread, mostly about cal mag. https://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=226934. PBP was my gateway drug into using more fish and guano ferts, both indoors and in my actual tomato garden, it might not produce the most herb, but it's always primo quality.
 
dizzydaizy said:
Well goodness... If anything else pops up I'm interested. I used to ph at 6.0...but like I mentioned I've read sooo many different posts about where to ph in coco that it begins to become a trial and error situation. I know that adopting the ppm approach is something I really need to learn how to do when working with coco. Science can be a bit overwhelming for me when left to learn it all on my own. I'm curious what the reason is for losing the silica - would you be willing to share? I never let my coco dry out and have even been looking at doing multiple waterings a day. I never let them sit in their runoff. Good info though. I appreciate the comment and will appreciate anything else you're willing to share.
Click to expand...
Silica will produce a more rough harsher smoke. It's great for veg and through flower stretch to build a stronger plant with stronger branching, but it will decrease the quality of your buds in the end.
 
I've been growing in coco for a couple years now, and I'm honestly not sure where the confusion about it comes from. The biggest thing with coco is just making sure it is buffered correctly in the first place. Check out cocoforcannabis.com for guidelines if you need to. Once that is done it should be good to go. As others have mentioned you definitely don't need to go full strength with nutes, 1/4 or 1/2 strength of manufacturer guidelines is common. Watering with a little runoff is a good practice, but I've found even that isn't as essential as some people think it is, just don't overfeed in the first place. pH is good between 5.5 and 6.5, but if you can keep it closer to 5.7-6.3 is best Ive found. I figured out that my nute mix always ends up around 6pH so I only check once in awhile in case my tap water pH has drifted. I've also been soil pH testing the coco itself and found you dont need to overcorrect as much as you might think either, if say you're medium is drifting lower than 5ph, just watering it at 6.5 is fine, dont overcompensate too much. And dont pay too much attention to runoff PPM either, stopped checking that entirely myself. If in doubt, give it a flush and start feeding again at a low dosage and your back on track 99% of the time.
Not familiar with your brand of nutes so I wont touch that on that stuff.
Cheers
 
WintersBones said:
I've been growing in coco for a couple years now, and I'm honestly not sure where the confusion about it comes from. The biggest thing with coco is just making sure it is buffered correctly in the first place. Check out cocoforcannabis.com for guidelines if you need to. Once that is done it should be good to go. As others have mentioned you definitely don't need to go full strength with nutes, 1/4 or 1/2 strength of manufacturer guidelines is common. Watering with a little runoff is a good practice, but I've found even that isn't as essential as some people think it is, just don't overfeed in the first place. pH is good between 5.5 and 6.5, but if you can keep it closer to 5.7-6.3 is best Ive found. I figured out that my nute mix always ends up around 6pH so I only check once in awhile in case my tap water pH has drifted. I've also been soil pH testing the coco itself and found you dont need to overcorrect as much as you might think either, if say you're medium is drifting lower than 5ph, just watering it at 6.5 is fine, dont overcompensate too much. And dont pay too much attention to runoff PPM either, stopped checking that entirely myself. If in doubt, give it a flush and start feeding again at a low dosage and your back on track 99% of the time.
Not familiar with your brand of nutes so I wont touch that on that stuff.
Cheers
Click to expand...
I'm very familiar with cocoforcannabis.com. I plan on recycling my own coco some day because of that website...*daydreamer*. They were the first bookmarked website for me when I began researching all of this. I'm a part of the community as well but I'm on the look out for as much human interaction I can get about these things. I appreciate your calm approach. Thank you. It's a bit overwhelming to take over a garden and still be fairly new to it all.
 
macsnax said:
Silica will produce a more rough harsher smoke. It's great for veg and through flower stretch to build a stronger plant with stronger branching, but it will decrease the quality of your buds in the end.
Click to expand...
Hmm... very interesting information. Thank you for the share.
 
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