Bottom-feeding coco - EC suggestions?

EuforicMAN

New Member
Hi guys!

I would like to ask about your opinions on my oncoming grow. I already ensured it should work, but I would like to read more opinions before I start... Especially, I would like to read more suggestions about EC levels...

Setup:

Indoor
1) Dutch Passion Euforia (8 weeks flowering)
2) AutoPot 25L - (!! this is the key element - if you dont know what AutoPot is, than google it before you post your opinions pls !!)
3) Medium = pure coco 45% + perlite 45% + 10% Plagron peat (containing worm castings)
4) Advanced Hydroponics of Holland fertilisers (bio-mineral based, suitable for coco, suitable for AutoPot system)


Another key thing is, I will be bottom-feeding (bottom-watering) after roots establish inside the pot. I will not be top-watering any more till the end.

I will only change water inside the AutoPot reservoir probably once a week or two to adjust pH and EC properly according to my EC plan.
I found some EC guides for coco, but those are for top-feeding/hydroponics... I did not find any EC guide for bottom-feeding coco and I am not sure, if it should be the same as for top-feeding or not.

So far, I put my own EC plan according to some coco guides:

Seedling Stage:
400 to 500 uS/cm

Vegetative Stage:
Week 1: 600uS/cm
Week 2: 800uS/cm
Week 3: 1000uS/cm
Week 4: 1200uS/cm

Flowering Stage:
wk1: 1200uS/cm
wk2: 1200uS/cm
wk3: 1350uS/cm
wk4: 1450uS/cm
wk5: 1600uS/cm
wk6: 1450uS/cm
wk7: 1300uS/cm
wk8: 500uS/cm


I know It also depends on specific strain and other things, but I will not be present every day to watch changes... more likely twice a week. So I dont want to hurt the plant, because I will not be able to check her every single day...

What do you think guys? Is it ok or too high for such setup?
 

loftygoals

Well-Known Member
I would just go with 1000 us/cm all through the grow.

Coco will accumulate nutrients over time and not release them in runoff. You can easily get burn and not realise what's going in.

I grow my plants in perlite/vermiculite hempies (which are similar to your bottom fed passive hydro) and feeding 900-1100 seems perfect with runoff around 1400 after 6 weeks. Previous grow I fed 1200-1400 and runoff climbed to 2400 at 4 weeks with some tip burn so I had to do some plain water feeds to bring it down.

Edit: I also grow mothers in Autobots at 1000 us/cm and they are going strong 4 months later with no signs of nute burn or deficiencies.
 

EuforicMAN

New Member
What about flushing? Some ppl claim it is not necessary or even not good if using coco... Should I top-flush / bottom-flush / not flush at all?
 

loftygoals

Well-Known Member
To flush or not to flush... That is the question!

My thoughts are flushing with plain water is cheaper than running nutrients. People are also happier knowing their weed was flushed (whatever that means to them). Does it make any difference to quality? Possibly, possibly not, there is no conclusive evidence either way.

So I've decided to flush for 7-14 days due to it being cheaper and it means I can tell people the weed was "flushed" in good conscience.
 
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