Question about coco coir and smart pots

newguy123

Well-Known Member
I'm thinking about growing in 70% coco and 30% perlite and using smart pots but I don't know much about them.
So I have a couple of questions.

1) It says that you can reuse coco, but how the hell do you get the roots of the previous plant out of the coco?

2) Since coco is lighter than soil and you need a smaller pot when using it, won't the plant just fall over when it gets in flowering?

3) Since smart pots are made out of fabric, doesn't it dirty everything when you water the plant?

4) Are coco and smart pots really worth it?
 

Growdict

Well-Known Member
i can answer a few of these
1. put a 1/2x1/2" screen stapled to a wood frame over a tote
2. some people put a bit of plain gravel at the bottom, if that is a concern
3 no, it still collects in tray. however, you do need to water more slowly to prevent it coming out the sides. i use 2gph drippers in a gravity manifold
 

bryan oconner

Well-Known Member
i tried coco personally i did not like it . there are zero natural nutrients in it . that brand i used any ways . soil you dont have to worry about adding nutrients for at least a few weeks with small plants . smart pots i use those in 20 gallons . i also use plastic bags see zero difference at all in the plants and roots . actually like plastic over the smart pots . smart pots will leak water out on the sides and get moldy . plastic pots leak water out the bottoms never noticed mold . fabric is a mold magnet . its white mold not harmful this is my opinion what i have seen there will be a lot of opinions . its personal preference . for using old coco i never did like how it looked when it was that time . i used very fine coco with no perlite added . but i do use old soil i just pull the stem hard out comes the root ball . and i let it sit for a month before use . stir it up very well and the small roots will mix in with the new soil you add . this will not hurt any thing . i think its actually beneficial . saves the pocket change for sure . if your only doing 1 or a few plants why bother recycle the coco. there are a lot of you tube videos coco vs soil check it out . the soil wins because of the natural nutrients my opinion if you fed the coco it would do just as well as soil . there are a lot of people that love using coco do your research .
 
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