Coco not drying up after flush

[showstpr]

Hey guys,

Well I flushed my plants 6 days ago and switched to 12 - 12 yesterday. What worries me is my coco still has not dried up. Only the top 1/2 inch is dry. I'm growing in 3 gallon pots pots, flowers are about 18 inches. Using pots similar to this

Hydroponics Organic 3 Gal. Nursery Pots (1-Pack)-VHPP3-1 - The Home Depot

Is this problematic for the roots? Should I not water till it's a bit more dried up?



Thanks

 

[showstpr]

Also one more question, Im growing 5 plants in 3 gallon pots. Is 1000W HPS overkill? I was thinking of dimming down to 600 or 750.

 

[Mr. Krip]

Hey guys,

Well I flushed my plants 6 days ago and switched to 12 - 12 yesterday. What worries me is my coco still has not dried up. Only the top 1/2 inch is dry. I'm growing in 3 gallon pots pots, flowers are about 18 inches. Using pots similar to this

Hydroponics Organic 3 Gal. Nursery Pots (1-Pack)-VHPP3-1 - The Home Depot

Is this problematic for the roots? Should I not water till it's a bit more dried up?



Thanks

Also one more question, Im growing 5 plants in 3 gallon pots. Is 1000W HPS overkill? I was thinking of dimming down to 600 or 750.

How old are your plants? Do they appear healthy? It sounds like you're hand-watering and NOT doing hydro, correct?

Assuming the plants are relatively young, there may not be enough roots yet to have taken in all the water from the flush, and the coco holds a lot of water. One of the biggest mistakes new growers make is overwatering (the leading cause of death of seedlings & young plants!) so, if the roots are still moist, you don't need to re-water. Just don't let the roots dry out completely.

As for the lights, there's no such thing as overkill on lighting when it comes to MMJ!!!

Again, as long as the plants don't complain and your wife doesn't shoot you over the electric bill, more is ALWAYS better. If the plants complain, you can try raising the light instead of decreasing it. If the wife shows up armed, THEN dial down the watts!

 

[showstpr]

Plants are now 4.5 weeks old (clones). I just fed them yesterday, once lights go up I will post a picture, they're not very bushy, I have tried pruning but this is my first grow so I am still learning.

Haha, yeah no wife in the picture so as far as the bills it's a non issue, although I would prefer to keep cost lower. The reason I am thinking of switching to 750 is because the 1000 emits too much heat. I have a cool tube hooked up to a 6 inch inline exhausting out of the room, even with fresh air vented to the tent the temps are steady at about 84 with 60% humidity.

 

[MickFoster]

Contrary to what Mr. Krip said above - growing in coco is a form of hydroponics whether you hand water or use drippers. You never let coco dry out - ever. The plants should be fed everyday with at least 10% run-off everytime. As long as the roots are established (and yours are) you cannot overwater coco. When coco has been thoroughly saturated it still holds 30% oxygen. The idea of feeding daily is to push out the old nutes and bring in fresh nutes. As it drains it also pulls in fresh oxygen to the roots.

Also - why are you flushing 6 days before you switch to 12/12? As a matter of fact - why are you flushing at all?

 

[Densenug]

Listen to Mick Foster, good info. I grow in coco and most are getting watered/feed 2 times a day, small ladies in veg 1 time a day. The only time I flush is right before harvest. Check out my journal and treat your ladies like there in hydro. KIG

 

[Mr. Krip]

Contrary to what Mr. Krip said above - growing in coco is a form of hydroponics whether you hand water or use drippers. You never let coco dry out - ever. The plants should be fed everyday with at least 10% run-off everytime. As long as the roots are established (and yours are) you cannot overwater coco. When coco has been thoroughly saturated it still holds 30% oxygen. The idea of feeding daily is to push out the old nutes and bring in fresh nutes. As it drains it also pulls in fresh oxygen to the roots.

Also - why are you flushing 6 days before you switch to 12/12? As a matter of fact - why are you flushing at all?

Well, I would say coco is a soil-less medium, but not necessarily "hydro". That being said, I do agree that IF the root system is developed enough, you really can't overwater coco because it will only hold so much. However, on young seedlings, while I wouldn't let the medium dry out completely, I would not be keeping it "waterlogged" until the plant had some roots.

 

[MickFoster]

Well, I would say coco is a soil-less medium, but not necessarily "hydro". That being said, I do agree that IF the root system is developed enough, you really can't overwater coco because it will only hold so much. However, on young seedlings, while I wouldn't let the medium dry out completely, I would not be keeping it "waterlogged" until the plant had some roots.

Sorry to disagree - but you're wrong. You can look it up if you like. Coco is a soil-less medium which in itself makes it hydro. Hydro nutes are used, regular/daily feedings are necessary,and pH is adjusted to hydro requirements. NFT, DWC, etc. are not the only types of hydro. He said the plants were 4.5 weeks old - not seedlings - they have roots.

 

[Mr. Krip]

Fair enough!

Technically speaking, because the plants are not grown in soil, I'll concede it will meet the definition of hydro, just like a hempy. However, just like hempy, hydro nutes are NOT a requirement for coco.

That being said, he did not answer my question as to the age of the plants before I specifically said:

Assuming the plants are relatively young, there may not be enough roots yet to have taken in all the water from the flush, and the coco holds a lot of water. One of the biggest mistakes new growers make is overwatering (the leading cause of death of seedlings & young plants!) so, if the roots are still moist, you don't need to re-water. Just don't let the roots dry out completely.

So, that was all under an assumption that the plants were "relatively young" and, I'll maintain is 100% accurate.

 

[santb]

My "soil" mixes are about 30-50% coco. I do not consider it hydro or soil-less. I water about once per week in about 20lt pots, and my soil is always moist. But, when younger, I like to let the plants dry out as it encourages roots to grow. MJ seems to like this a lot.
Lots of ways to use coco. It's great stuff. But don't be 'told' how it should be... It is what it is to you; how you use it is what counts.
Let it dry out a bit. You can tell by the weight. Your roots will still be growing while the plants stretches. They need water and food, but they don't need to be constantly moist..
As Mick and deprivation say, it's almost impossible to over water coco; one of the great things about it. But your plants are not using it... So why bother. The plants will tell you when they need water. Just don't let them get BONE dry and you'll be fine.
Good luck!

 

[Mr. Krip]

My "soil" mixes are about 30-50% coco. I do not consider it hydro or soil-less. I water about once per week in about 20lt pots, and my soil is always moist. But, when younger, I like to let the plants dry out as it encourages roots to grow. MJ seems to like this a lot.
Lots of ways to use coco. It's great stuff. But don't be 'told' how it should be... It is what it is to you; how you use it is what counts.
Let it dry out a bit. You can tell by the weight. Your roots will still be growing while the plants stretches. They need water and food, but they don't need to be constantly moist..
As Mick and deprivation say, it's almost impossible to over water coco; one of the great things about it. But your plants are not using it... So why bother. The plants will tell you when they need water. Just don't let them get BONE dry and you'll be fine.
Good luck!

You have a soil/coco mix, which is neither hydro or soilless. I believe the technical definition of hydro is that the plants are grown in a nutrient solution instead of soil. I personally equate this to some reservoir, which you'll even find in a Hempy, and without the reservoir, I consider it a soil-less mix. MickFoster disagrees, which is fine and maybe technically correct, and asserts no soil equals hydro. Not worth arguing that point. But, once you introduce the soil, it's definitely not hydro!

 

[santb]

Exactly, Mr Krip! It all depends on how you use it. To me it's a major, versatile amendment to my "soil" and nothing more. Hydro is hydro, even simple ol' hempy (which I wanna try), hand watering and all..
For me, correctly or not, "soil" is a pretty broad term. But hydro is always hydro..
My next mix will have a lot more perlite as I am currently battling high RH and want my pots to dry out faster.. And again, the coco will be what guarantees the plants don't dry out too fast.. Great stuff!