I always pretreat my coco with a 1500ppm (3.0 EC) buffer solution of calcium nitrate, magnesium nitrate, magnesium sulfate & iron sulfate (I make my own).
This effectively rearranges the base saturation in favor of more ca/mg.
Before pretreat:
Potassium and sodium occupy 96% of the base saturation, while calcium, magnesium and iron occupy ONLY 4%
After pretreat:
Potassium and sodium NOW occupy 71% of the base saturation & Ca/Mg/Fe NOW occupy 29%.
So in essence, by readjusting the base saturation in favor of more calcium and magnesium I don't have to supplement with any cal/mag products, which over time slowly creates deficiency and/or toxicity problems. When the cation balance is established between the plant and substrate, my nutes only act to replenish the coco. "
Here's what I do to pre-treat my coco:
Mix up a concentrated mix of 290g calcium nitrate, 280g magnesium nitrate, 10g magnesium sulfate (epsom salt) & 2g iron sulfate. I usually keep my concentrate in one of those liter sports bottles from Target.
So once you've hydrated and flushed your coir, prepare a buffering solution of 1500ppm (3.0 EC) using the same source water you plan on using to mix up your nutes. I use my regular tap, as it will only add to the Ca and Mg already in your buffer solution. Dump it in your coco and let it sit for 24hrs. Also, lock in the ph you want for your coir because this solution WILL change the ph.
The Botanicare blocks I use come out to about 6.3-6.5 ph after I hydrate and flush all the leach-able salt. My buffer/pretreat solution is ph'd to about 5.3-5.5 and it'll pull the coir down to 5.7-5.8. I verified this by blending 5:1 water/coco in a blender and testing and using an EC meter.
This effectively rearranges the base saturation in favor of more ca/mg.
Before pretreat:
Potassium and sodium occupy 96% of the base saturation, while calcium, magnesium and iron occupy ONLY 4%
After pretreat:
Potassium and sodium NOW occupy 71% of the base saturation & Ca/Mg/Fe NOW occupy 29%.
So in essence, by readjusting the base saturation in favor of more calcium and magnesium I don't have to supplement with any cal/mag products, which over time slowly creates deficiency and/or toxicity problems. When the cation balance is established between the plant and substrate, my nutes only act to replenish the coco. "
Here's what I do to pre-treat my coco:
Mix up a concentrated mix of 290g calcium nitrate, 280g magnesium nitrate, 10g magnesium sulfate (epsom salt) & 2g iron sulfate. I usually keep my concentrate in one of those liter sports bottles from Target.
So once you've hydrated and flushed your coir, prepare a buffering solution of 1500ppm (3.0 EC) using the same source water you plan on using to mix up your nutes. I use my regular tap, as it will only add to the Ca and Mg already in your buffer solution. Dump it in your coco and let it sit for 24hrs. Also, lock in the ph you want for your coir because this solution WILL change the ph.
The Botanicare blocks I use come out to about 6.3-6.5 ph after I hydrate and flush all the leach-able salt. My buffer/pretreat solution is ph'd to about 5.3-5.5 and it'll pull the coir down to 5.7-5.8. I verified this by blending 5:1 water/coco in a blender and testing and using an EC meter.
