So, ive only ever grown in soil but ive been reading lots of stuff here about growing in coco.
It seems like its a lot of extra unnecessary work.
So I was just wondering what are the benefits?
5 Likes
It’s (coco) a little less messy to me. I wash and reuse my coco. The coco allows root expansion as its not a compact as soil. The trade off there is more frequently watering. There are a ton of folk using soil as well. I think the one advantage would be the quick growth in the early stages.
10 Likes
The growth rate in coco is markedly faster.
11 Likes
As @SausageMahoney said it’s a liter medium so it allows more air flow to the roots helping promote healthier stronger root systems, you get to set the ppm range for your entire grow, and as was mentioned the trade off more frequent feedings but with that said you have faster reaction time to fix any nutrient or pH problems due to the coco drying out faster. Another plus it has a better not sure if this is the correct word but “Cleaner” smell compared to soil.
5 Likes
Growth rate. Not really anything different in potency or flavors. Slightly higher yields in the same time as soil because of growth rate, but not substantial.
8 Likes
Growth rate, medium dwelling pest are extremely rare and one of the biggest benefits is the control of your mediums PH and PPMs with a good feeding routine….you’re not chasing PH 
11 Likes
I am doing my first coco grow now. Prepping the coco is a pain, it has to be washed and bufferred. I mixed with 30% perlite.
I started my seedlings in coco on just water at beginning and transplanted to 5 gal cloth containers. The plants struggled big time in beginning compared to miracle grow, probably a nutrient thing.
Anyway it was 30 days after seeds broke ground before they started doing better. Mine are in late flower and are doing ok but not the size plant I am accustom to in miracle grow. Others growers do well in coco. I am thinking next grow I may do half coco and half miracle grow for a good comparison as my current grow could also have been effected by environment and plant genetics.
As of now I personally have not benefitted by going to coco. Miracle grow is pretty much ad water and actually nutes sometimes hurt the plant. Coco has no nutes so you have to feed with every watering.
I probably will start my seedlings in miracle grow as the plants thrive in it and makes for a good beginning.
I guess thats about it so far. I might look into reusing my soil, depends on how hard it will be separating old roots. We will see.
2 Likes
@OGIncognito happy cake day!
8 Likes
Grazzy Azz Grow Bro
5 Likes
These have been in one gallon pots one week, look at the root growth, they filled their solo cups with roots in a week also. Coco feels amazing as a medium, hard to explain but you can pack it hard as you can and it’ll just fall back apart. With perlite, it’s FAST, potting these up again today!
8 Likes
On point Doc, killing this coco run 
3 Likes
@Stever what nutrient line you using? i have had the opposite experience consistently . as soon as i switched to coco the plants took off at a ridiculous rate especially in the first 20-30 days. the coco4cannabis feed schedule using G.H. works very well and is cheap! Trying floraflex this time and it costs more and not seeming to be any better for the extra cost.
3 Likes
I am using Canna a and b but have also done some Jacks 10 10 10.
I would say Canna a and b is safe to use as long as checking ppm.
I have been growing autos so getting a late start in coco does not give much chance for correction.
I am doing photos for summer grow so they should get big and nice before sending to flower. Although I will be out doors so they will flower on their own
2 Likes
Thanks Brother, you get some credit for that, loving the coco and the MegaCrop one part so far. Growth is fast enough you can almost watch them grow. I potted the seed girls up to their 3 gallon homes after burning tons of holes in bottoms and sides with a soldering iron that I machined a 5/16 tip for, burns right thru and holes are reinforced by the melted plastic, these pots cost me less than a buck a piece… Girls seem happy with the bigger house and fed in at 1.4 EC and 5.95 ph. These will have to flip sooner than normal with this growth rate.
Chives are ready to trim back and dehydrate, they were literally dead two weeks ago, they like MC too, so do the lemon balm.
Extra girls put in the tent at 20/4 to help them get going. I picked the strongest of each strain for the seed run.
1 Like
Here is my setup, now in corner of garage, I have moved these from trailer to inside to my garage. I keep getting kicked put of spaces lol.
So now no heat or cooling unless I choose to, which I am not. Stays around 75 deg f
I have a variety of crops here, all very interesting
1 Like
I will say one thing about my 1 year experience. The best looking plant in beginning may not be best in end. The stressed out plant in beginning hits a homer in the end.
I had a plant break over from bottom trunk, propped it up and kept it supported and ended up with most trichomes of the 3.
I tossed about 4 plants from this grow as they had about 0 trichomes and not waiting, got summer grow coming.
3 Likes
Excellent update Brother, you have a lot growing on. Nice DIY on the 3 gallon pots
3 Likes
Happy cake day @OGIncognito
2 Likes
Once u go coco you never go back ( atleast I wont)
2 Likes
Pros
Coconut coir gives faster growth rates and has better drainage than soil mixes. This allows for better root growth and less chance of root rot due to over watering and soil compaction. If you mix it with perlite, you improve aeration and drainage even more.
Coconut coir is very light compared to potting mixes or garden soil. This makes it easier to move plants if you have to.
Coconut coir holds moisture really well. You can mix it with normal potting mix or soil to improve drainage and improve water holding capabilities of the soil.
Coconut coir can be sterlized with boiling water and re-used if it gets infected with pests or fungus.
Coconut coir can last for years and doesn’t break down as quickly as organic potting mixes do.
Cons
Coconut coir doesn’t have any nutrients in so you need to use a liquid fertilizer from day one. However, this gives you complete control over the nutrients going into the plant.
Coconut coir usually has sodium chloride in when you get it (due to the manufacturing process) and this needs to be washed out, which you do when first soaking it. You soak it in water that has a lot of calcium and magnesium in and these minerals help to displace the sodium ions and you get better plant growth due to no sodium.
1 Like