Questions About Coco/ Watering

A general question about coco and watering. I have searched the forums on this site and others, and there seems to be little agreement on a standard watering schedule. What I mean by this is, some people say they get by watering once every four days, and others say they get by watering once every other day, and still others say they water twice daily with excellent results.

I understand that environment, amendments to the medium, nutrients, and any other number of variables play a key role in determining how often to water.

I understand also that coco is a medium that is best kept moist at all times, that if it is allowed to dry out there is risk of raising the salt content to toxic levels.

What I want to know is: are there any visual cues on the plant that indicate the plant needs water?

To clarify:

In soil, the leaves on a healthy plant that has just been watered will reach for the light in a 'Y'. When the leaves begin to level again, that is an indicator that the plant will need water soon.

Can this same visual cue be used as a standard of when to water for coco as well? The reason I ask is that if coco is best kept moist, then the roots will always have access to water, and the leaves will (ideally) always reach for the light. Correct?

And if the leaves do begin to level, is this an indicator that the medium has become too dry to the point of danger (i.e. toxic salt build-up)?

This all may sound a bit obsessive, but if plants are anything like humans, then the problem (deficiency or pH imbalance in plants: virus/ infection in humans) will exist in the system well before the plant gives any visual signs of distress (hours or days in plants: days or weeks, sometimes months or years, in humans).

I'm new to using coco, and would like to know more about it. For any sound advice and knowledge, much thanks in advance; it's appreciated.

I too had a lot of questions about growing in Coco when I first got it and found it was quite difficult to gauge out what I should and should not do due to the fact that so many people have there own different growing styles, techniques, and methods. Here is my honest answer to you. KEEP IT SIMPLE. If you pH your water correctly (5.5-6.2 optimal for Coco) your plant WILL NOT have any problems. I used Canna A & B, as well as Rhizotonic. I water every day, and by the end of the week I tend to spread it out about a day in between to let it dry out somewhat. My Coco is moist 90% of the week, and I promise you my plant is thriving. The great thing about Coco is that it stores water so well and has micro air pockets EVERYWHERE so that there is almost always a perfect water to air ratio so that your roots are not drowning and can still intake both water and air. Coco is made to be fool proof. It is nearly impossible to over water and actually HARM/KILL your plant while growing in Coco. I recommend hand watering everyday for 2-3 days, then every other to finish that week. Rinse and repeat until your harvest day.

And when you water, do you water to 20% runoff each time?

3 gallon pot: .75 gallon water?
5 gallon pot: 1 gallon water?
7 gallon pot: 1.5-2 gallon(s) water?
10 gallon pot: 2-2.5 gallon(s) water?

If coco stores water well, and maintains air-pockets for the roots, and if it flushes easily, then will the medium hold only the amount of water it needs (i.e. *hypothetical* pass five gallons of water through a 5 gallon bucket, and the coco will only hold the last gallon or so, and the rest will have been pushed out)?

bseabuds said:

And when you water, do you water to 20% runoff each time?

3 gallon pot: .75 gallon water?
5 gallon pot: 1 gallon water?
7 gallon pot: 1.5-2 gallon(s) water?
10 gallon pot: 2-2.5 gallon(s) water?

If coco stores water well, and maintains air-pockets for the roots, and if it flushes easily, then will the medium hold only the amount of water it needs (i.e. *hypothetical* pass five gallons of water through a 5 gallon bucket, and the coco will only hold the last gallon or so, and the rest will have been pushed out)?

Click to expand...

Yes.

It will also help to reset the medium should there be an over feeding issue.


I've found the best time to water in my grow room is when the top of the coco has become dry and dusty. Obviously there is plenty of moisture just below the top to keep the coco moist.

I water with around 30% runoff each time. No perticular reason other than my water container size.


Water to air ratio of coco is 73/23.

This is of coco allowed to fully drain of any excess water.


I personally love coco but I cut mine with 20% perlite just to lighten my perticular brand (B'CUZZ).



J

Oh I forgot to mention I add perlite in also to help for aeration and quicker flush. If you use just coco times for drying and flushing might be a little bit longer. For vegetation stage I mix about 20%perlite to 80% coco. For flower I mix 40%-45%perlite, the rest is Coco which allows for quicker drainage and more aeration. Basically, the more perlite you add the faster the water will drain, the more you can feed. Done deal that way.

Good advice here!