Coco vs Promix

When i addeed perlite i was using less coco, and had more bulk media. but honestly with perlite vs no perlite. i saw no difference. only thing i saw was that i was able to fill more pots. I am actually using the rest of my promix and just bought some more coco. i had a 3.8 bale of promix so i did 2 trays coco vs 2 trays of promix. i'll post up more updates in a few weeks. i just transplanted from 5"x5" pots into 3 gal pots. i also had a tray of runts so i threw them into 2 gal pots. I'm doing 12 pots per light. Again ill post up some side by side comparisons. But remember this is an experiment with my strain. and my conditions. NOT YOURS so if u try to replicate this experiment. YOU WILL PROBABLY GET DIFFERENT RESULTS. I am just documenting what my experience will be.

The plants when they were in 5"x5" pots grew in Promix HP as well. So that is another variable. Next time i do this i will probably use COCO from 5"x5" pots into Coco again. I MIGHT TRY 2 TRAYS PROMIX and compare results.

But thank you all for your input!!!!!!!! Please continue to post! and please if you have experiences with both TELL US ABOUT IT!!!!!!!!!!

As far as coco being more work. All it is to my knowledge is just adding the cal.mag. That's not much work. xD i use Gen. Organics Cal.Mag at 5/ml per gal. Problem solved. still using R/O. no problem. Coco is probably the closest thing to rockwool without it being rockwool. But I've had GREAT results for rockwool. But I HATED poking holes into the rockwool when i use tm-7 and molasses and the top gets hardened. I have switched to using bud candy in flower. that should help. But i just love working with coco even more. it's just way more forgiving. But ROCKWOOL IS GREAT. i loved it. it's just i rather work with coco. because it's my preference. I know i can achieve the same results. just learning the curve atm. but ROCKWOOL has it's ups n downs.

imo. COCO. straight. no perlite.

Can someone explain the extra work with coco...I’m n promix now anD thought they worked the same

Fatleg77 said:

Can someone explain the extra work with coco...I’m n promix now anD thought they worked the same

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Im guessing they are refering to always making some run off when watering so salt doesn't build up, because coco is so easy i couldn't possibly see any other issue. Obviously with coco and especially with led, you will need to give a tad bit more calmag but thats not any harder than giving any other nutes.

i've used both, if you feed them right they grow just as well in promix as coco, just have to experiment and figure out what's different, and what's the same. i don't actually have a real preference, it's just a lot easier to find promix here, coco doesn't seem to be popular in this area for some reason, and i just like the convenience of being able to go pick it up when i want it

Only difference ive seen so far is watering. Pro mix holds water longer like soil. Coco seems to dry much faster IMO. This is my first time full coco, Normally I mix 30% coco to Promix HP and have always had great results. Other thing I noticed but could just be me, seems like coco has less buffer than Promix. With Promix if I over nute it would slowly show signs, this run with coco shows signs same day. Poor GG#4... lol

MATTYMATT726 said:

Im guessing they are refering to always making some run off when watering so salt doesn't build up, because coco is so easy i couldn't possibly see any other issue. Obviously with coco and especially with led, you will need to give a tad bit more calmag but thats not any harder than giving any other nutes.

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Ok..that's basically the same tbint as promix as well

With a fully rooted out pot coco grows should be needing waterd 2 or 3 times a day in flower. If not your using too big a pots and not getting the advantage coco has over soil.

zypheruk said:

With a fully rooted out pot coco grows should be needing waterd 2 or 3 times a day in flower. If not your using too big a pots and not getting the advantage coco has over soil.

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So basically it will not hold any moisture what so ever?

Fatleg77 said:

So basically it will not hold any moisture what so ever?

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coco will hold water, the advantage he's talking about is being able to water it three times a day, which means feeding it three times a day, which is how you get hydroponic results from using coco.
if you put the plant in too large a pot the coco will hold water, and won't dry out as quickly, so the plants won't eat as much

Roger A. Shrubber said:

coco will hold water, the advantage he's talking about is being able to water it three times a day, which means feeding it three times a day, which is how you get hydroponic results from using coco.
if you put the plant in too large a pot the coco will hold water, and won't dry out as quickly, so the plants won't eat as much

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3gal pots seem ideal for Coco?

That seems insane to me...why not just run a top fed dwc....who wants to hand water a plant three times a day?

most people use drain to waste with coco, its just about the perfect medium for it, but many people do use drip feed systems

Fatleg77 said:

That seems insane to me...why not just run a top fed dwc....who wants to hand water a plant three times a day?

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If a person is in a situation where they can't keep the reservoir cool enough without a chiller in DWC - coco is a perfect alternative. Some people enjoy hand feeding their plants multiple times a day.

MF,I agree with that.. I had 2 plants in 5 gal sq plastic containers that were about 5 weeks into flower.. They were sitting a 23 gal plastic cement mixing tray.. Bad news on the doorstep. I had to make a 1200 mile trip, each way, to Tx.. I would be away for a week, and no one to care for the plants..
I removed the 600 hps light and replaced it with a DS 200 led [185 watt draw].. Next i mixed up 8 gals of half strength solution and poured it in the tray.. It came up about 4 inches on the pots.. That was the best i could do for them. When i returned a week later there was a little less than an inch of water in the tray.. The plants were doing great.. No sign of waterlogging or signs of stress... Only coco/perlite would have wicked the water like that.. saved my ass.
Jorge C did a piece for High Times [years and years ago], on a sog grow in one gal containers.. It was on a large level floor with sides to contain a flood of water about an inch deep.. It was flooded again when it was mostly gone.. One way to avoid daily watering..
Never used straight coco, sorry about that.. not really..

Roger A. Shrubber said:

most people use drain to waste with coco, its just about the perfect medium for it, but many people do use drip feed systems

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I use drip feed, draining too waist in coco.

I seen a difference using the promix bales vs loose,the bales gave me poorer results because of the heavy packing it involves.