Separate grow stage soil or mixed together soil?
Are you mixing the three? Hadn’t thought about using coco for the drainage improvements and just wondering.
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For seedlings, I use Happy
For veg I use Half and half of Happy and Loco and the other 50% Ocean
For flower I use straight Ocean
I layer it when transplanting and I always add 25-30% extra perlite with no nutrients. Some perlite actually has nutes in it.
I have mentioned before I am big on transplanting so these are her homes and I do not start feeding her until she is in the 10 gallon.
Happy is used in the small green pot
The mixture layered is in the 2 middle black pots and straight ocean in the biggun.
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Coco Loco is not just coco. It has no more than 50% coco and whatever soil they mix with it. I asked, didn’t answer. The rep said it is also closer to 30-40% coco not 50-60% as it states on the bag. I love incorrect printed info.
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That’s all great info, thanks!
I plan to start them in root booster plugs and then just transplant directly to 10 gallon pots once the outgrow the germination dome. I shake and have messed up too many plants in the past when transplanting.
I’ll have to look into the Coco loco more for sure.
If you told me this and didn’t mention additional perlite I would assume it’s for drainage but what’s the reason for the HF/Coco mix instead of running just straight HF on top? I over watered early but honestly blame my technique because the OF straight from the bag does actually seem to drain about on schedule with what people reference as early stage watering windows. I just kept thinking the combo of well draining soil and bag was drying them out quicker and would water a day earlier than I really should have. Are you also battling high humidity in your grow space that bumps up drainage needs?
I see Happy as microbial and the Loco as a transitioning soil since it has a bit of aged forest products. Soft and easy on the babies with just Happy and then through veg with the mixture in my mind gets em ready for the full on Ocean which we all know is loaded with stuff. I am proud and will throw up a pic in a heartbeat. This mixture was used to the T once I switched to the 10 gallon.
Durban x Cindy99 - 11.8 zips dry.
I do not battle with humidity high or low. I have a good evaporative humidifier and have not needed a dehumidifier since I am in the Mile “High” we have low humidity anyway. Does get worse in the Winter when we start running the heater.
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Nice! I just moved from Denver a few months back. We’re in MI now and I probably land somewhere between you and DeepDiver on the RH scale.
I’m 3/4 of the way through my first grow and just went direct sow to OF. They’ve done pretty well especially with some of my training and pruning fumbles but I noticed they lagged the same plants that were sewn into plugs I got from the seed bank as part of my kit. So I had decided to go with a starter soil for the top layer and was recommended a minimum perlite amount to mix in. I was honestly already a little worried given how quickly it felt like the bag soil alone in fabric felt dry to me pretty fast. I did over water to start though and really cool to see great results with that much watering insurance built in. I’ll definitely have to shoot for that 30 ish percent amount instead. I’m going with 2 10 gal photos in a 4x4 next grow so they should have excess soil really anyways I guess. Definitely wasn’t trying to send shade just trying to understand the recommendation in relation to what I’ve seen in my climate. Here’s my girls in 5 gal fabric and OF on week 5-6 of flower right now. Would love to see the bud density you’re getting on my next grow.
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Where you land in Mi ? I am about 32 miles south of the Mack east of 75.
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Nice! That’s cool. We’re over near Torch Lake. The wife’s from here but I’m TN born and bred. It’s a beautiful area.
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Nice area, trimmed a couple of the mansions on the lake, was a fun time there in the summer, my Daughter moved back up home from Tenn this will be her second winter, they are from Shelbyville area.
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@Bonjoyle Yes, for sure.
I appreciate your taking the time for a definitive answer.
Soil porosity is my biggest downfall, after PH issues.
I thought I was mixing enough perlite, until I found what 4 cuft looks like (twice the size of 1.5cuft dirt).
4-1 ratio (soil/perlite) by volume, not looks.
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