Watering Tips
- When first using coco coir, let it absorb as much water as it needs. Place it in a soaking container that’s large enough for it to expand. ...
- If you notice that a brick of coco coir doesn’t absorb water very well or fails to expand, there might be an issue with the way it was produced or stored. ...
- Don’t get rid of unused coir. ...
Can you over water Coco plants?
The surface of the coco should never get dry! If you are familiar with growing in soil, you will certainly feel like you are over-watering in coco. When you are watering coco, it should still be moist from the previous watering. If the surface of the coco is dry, your coco watering frequency should be increased.
Why do I need a coco coir watering schedule?
I include a coco coir watering schedule to help you set the timing of multiple daily fertigation events. This article is part of Dr Coco’s Guide to Feeding and Watering Cannabis in Coco. Be sure to read the complete series! When we water plants in coco, the water should always include nutrients.
How do you hydrate coco coir?
After hydrating coco coir, if you notice there’s still water pooling in the container, you’ve likely overwatered it. Simply place the coir in a container with holes in the bottom and strain the excess liquid. Once the coir has soaked up all the water and has acquired a soil-like texture, you can apply it immediately to your soil or pots.
What is coco coir and how do you use it?
Its natural air-to-water ratio helps nourish plants’ root systems without oversaturating them or putting them at risk of root rot. If you add hydrating coco coir to sandy or clay soil, it will break up hard earth and help that area retain water. It’s also easier to keep hydrated than other soil amendments such as peat moss.
How often do you water in coco coir?
WATERING COCO COIR A good rule of thumb would be to water every four or five days. You also need to use a pot that provides good drainage, as your coco coir requires air as well as moisture to promote healthy plant growth. If there's too much moisture inside, there won't be enough air.
Can you over water plants in Coco?
Coco can still be over-watered (never mind what you have heard). Even if over-watered your plants will still survive. They just will not be happy. So, make sure to let the medium dry out a bit before re-watering!
Should Coco always be wet?
Moisture of your Coco For healthy root growth and good drainage, your coco needs to be airy as well as moist. If it gets too moist, there won't be enough air.
Should I feed everyday in Coco?
At the beginning of your grow, you'll only need to water your plants once every one to two days. As your plants grow, feeding intervals will increase, so don't be surprised if you have to feed your plants more than once a day when they flower.
Do you water coco every day?
The frequency of watering depends on the evaporation and the water supply in the COCO. A common rule is; one daily watering is sufficient during the first few weeks under normal circumstances; then increase up to 2 times a day; 2 hours after the lamps have been turned on and 2 hours before they are switched off again.
How long do I flush in coco?
If you're growing in coco, flush your plants for up to one week prior to harvest. If you're growing in hydro, your plants only need to be flushed for one to two days.
Can you feed coco twice a day?
Many guides suggest that coco can be managed just like soil and that you can feed and water only once or twice per week.
Why is my coco not drying out?
Coco is a sponge, and like a sponge, when squeezed water comes out, but not all the water. The sponge will remain damp and coco can still appear wet without having enough available water to give to the plant. Constantly watering coco results in over-watering.
Can you get root rot in coco?
What causes Root Rot? Soil and coco growers will run into the issue of stagnant water. This old water pools at the bottom of your pots and your roots sit in it. Transplanting too Early - your young plant needs time to grow strong roots before you move them.
Should you use Calmag every watering?
Use with every watering as needed. Mix well and adjust pH accordingly. Shake well before each use. Add 1 tsp (5ml) per gallon of water, Mix well and adjust pH to 6.2-7.0 before application.
Should you feed with every watering?
Keep in mind that you will need stronger nutrient water if you're giving nutrients every other watering vs if giving nutrient every watering. If giving nutrients every other watering, you may be able to give the full recommended dose.
Is growing in coco better than soil?
When compared with soil, coco tends to dry out a lot quicker, meaning your plants will need to be watered more frequently. Key benefits of opting for growing in coco include high yields and quick harvest, additional room for root development and pH neutral values.
Can you overwater during flowering?
We all grow up knowing plants need soil, sunlight and water, but we often don't realize the importance of consistently watering flowers. A lack of moisture can cause a flower garden to wilt and produce very few – if any – blooms. Overwatering flowers can cause disease and the drowning of plants.
Why are my top leaves drooping?
Drooping leaves are often a result of overwatering. Too much watering drowns the plant's roots and causes abscisic acid to build up. Leaf stomata starts to close up and creates obstruction in photosynthesis and respiration.
What is coco coir?
Coco coir is a soil-less growing medium which gives the experience of growing in soil, you simply water your plants with nutrient water. Coco coir can be treated basically the same as soil for growing cannabis and is effective at holding onto moisture and nutrients for roots, but it also has a lighter texture that lets it hold onto more oxygen, this helps prevent over and under-watering. Growing in coco tends to promote healthy and fast root development compared to other potting mixes.
What to do if you don't have drainage in coco?
Let them dry out and reduce your watering/feeding schedule. Or, Add more perlite or hydroton rocks to your coco to air it out more and allow more drainage. Good luck.
Can you overwater a hempy coco pot?
Can't overwater a hempy coco pot, just sayin.
How to determine coco watering frequency?
Early in the grow, you should use look and feel along with volume to determine your coco watering frequency. However, as the plant becomes established and is growing rapidly, you should also consider EC. Adjusting the frequency of watering is our best tool to control the EC in the root zone and provide plants the best possible growing conditions.
What is the ratio of coco to water?
Coco mixed with perlite has the ideal air to water ratio when it is 90%-100% saturated. This means that when the coco has lost 10% of the water that it can hold you should water again. Since water is about half the total volume of saturated coco, the amount of water required should be about 5% of the container volume.
How often should I water my cannabis plant?
You should water cannabis in coco at least once per day. For this reason, it is important to always keep plants in appropriately sized containers. I start plants in pint sized containers. Initially, I water once per day, but will increase to twice per day while they are still in fabric seedling pots. You should only water seedlings that are in larger containers or plastic seedling pots once daily until the plant grows larger. Be sure to read our tutorial “ Transplanting Cannabis Plants: Why, When & How ”.
What is a fertigation in coco?
The technical term for this is fertigation, which simply means combining fertilizers with the irrigation water. Proper fertigation strategy is the key to getting the best results from your coco grow.
How much water should I use for a coco plant?
Therefore, when we water in coco, the coco is already 90% saturated and it cannot hold much more. As discussed further below, the ideal quantity of water per event is about 5% of the volume of the growing container . This is ideal, but the rule is that you need to always provide enough water to actually produce adequate run-off from each plant.
What does it mean when coco is too dry?
If it takes more than 5% of the container volume to produce run-off, it means that the coco has become too dry. The best remedy is to water more frequently. In coco, it is always better to err on the side of watering too much than not watering enough.
Why do we need automatic watering?
Automatic watering systems are preferred because they make it very easy to manage your grow. Not only do they make it easier, but they allow you to set the best frequency and timing for the plants. Automatic watering is less expensive and easier to set up than most growers think. We have a complete series of articles and tutorials for setting up and running your Automatic Watering System.
What happens if you let coco dry?
if you let it get to dry you will get salt build up i think. nutrients will get stored in the coco and the water will be gone eventually. making your nutrient solution in the coco much stronger than it should be. thats just what i imagine im a noob still.
How often should I water my coco plant?
I've no idea why some people are watering their coco plants everyday, let alone a few times a day. I start my coco plants off in 3 litre pots, and water them until runoff. They will be fine for 2-3 days before needing another watering. Usually takes just under 1 litre of water to get some decent runoff from the 3 litre pots.
Does coco dry out before watering?
Not sure why people are worrying about the top layer of coco drying out either. It happens the same with soil. You let it dry out before watering, at least i do. Never seem to have any problems.
How many times can you use coco coir?
Then the coco coir is ready to be used again. You can use your coco coir two to three times before you’ll need to get a new batch. The reason coco coir can be so easily reused is the lignin structure. The lignin makes the plant cells and the coco rigid and allows for reusability.
What can you use coco coir for?
You can use coco coir to grow everything from exotic plants, to even more common plants and flowers.
What Are The Best Coco Mixes For Growing Plants In?
Not all coco mixes are created equal - but luckily, we’ll help you choose the best coco mix for your grow.
What is coco coir made of?
Coco coir is a material that you might expect, given its name, to come from coconuts. And it does! This material is made out of coconut fiber. It is created when old coconut shells are cured for one week. After the curing process, steel combs go over the coconut and remove the fiber, and then the fiber is dried out.
What is the ratio of coco to perlite?
This mix is 100% natural, derived from the husks of coconuts combined with perlite to increase aeration and drainage. The ratio is about 70% coco to 30% perlite.
Is coco coir better than soil?
For the best results, you should mix coco coir and potting soil to find a perfect balance. But if you are growing solely with coco coir, then there are a few times where it can be better than soil.
Can you mix coco coir with regular potting soil?
If you mix coco coir with regular potting soil, you’ll be able to help supercharge your plant growth. Coco coir easily retains water and has very high wettability. Plus, the pH level is just about neutral compared to the more acidic option, peat.
What Are The Drawbacks Of Using Coco Coir?
Any grow medium has its limitations, and you have to understand the traits of coco coir to ensure you develop the best crop possible.
What is coco coir?
Coco coir is a byproduct of coconut fiber. It was first used in gardening in the West in the 19th century, but fell out of favor because the low-quality coco available at the time degraded when used for short-term growing.
How is coco coir made?
Coco coir is manufactured using fiber that’s torn from coconut shells. The tiny grains of coir are extracted from the coconut shell and pulverized into a packable growing substrate. First, the coconuts go through the retting process, a curing method that naturally decomposes the husk’s pulp.
Why is coco coir pH balanced?
Learn why maintaining a balanced coco coir pH is so important here. Minimizes harmful pathogens and reduces the risk of pests: This medium boasts antifungal properties, which keeps the roots happy. It can repel some pests, meaning your grow is easier to maintain.
What are the different types of coco coir?
Basic Types Of Coco Coir. There are three basic types of processed coco coir: pith, fiber or chips. Using a mixture of the different types has its benefits. Coco pith, or peat, looks similar to peat moss but is a rich, brown color.
How long does it take for coconut husks to decompose?
Traditionally, coconut husks were immersed in water for six months or longer to decompose. Today, the retting process can be completed in a little over a week using modern mechanical techniques. Next, the coconut fiber is removed from the shells by steel combs, in a process known as defibering. Once the fiber, or coir, is gathered from ...
Why do you treat coir bales?
Chemical treatment: At the end of the drying process, coir bales might be treated with chemical agents to ensure pathogens didn’t bloom inside. Learning how it was treated may help you manage your crop, since the chemical residue could affect plant growth. Read the product label or refer to the manufacturer’s website to learn more.
