Watering frequency for coco with a dripper?

Timer on times:

  • One feeding 6 minutes a day

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Two feedings 3 minutes a day

    Votes: 1 20.0%

  • Three feedings 2 minutes a day

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Six feedings one minute a day

    Votes: 3 60.0%

  • -Also feed only over the Lights On time

    Votes: 4 80.0%

  • -Also feed at night like normal

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • Total voters
    5
  • Poll closed .
Big Perm

Big Perm

Well-Known Member
Hello,
I run a coco mix of 60/40 with perlite. I have a dripper system set up and can control it by the minute. Right now 6 minutes of dripping is about the right amount of watering every 24 hours.
I've been watering once a day by hand, but that's because I'm lazy that way. I've heard that coco likes multiple feedings, and that makes sense to me. Now that I have this dripper I'd like to take advantage of that.

Also, I was thinking of having the last feeding of the day be right before lights out, and have it go the night without a feeding. Then another feeding right before lights on, and put the other 4 feedings throughout the day. It will go overnight without a feeding no problem. Thoughts?

I water just to runoff. How should I set up my timer?
 
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gr865

gr865

Well-Known Member
Once you have established a good root system, multiple watering's are what you want. But you have to have a good root system or you will be hurting your efforts by over watering and allowing the roots system to develop poorly.
 
Big Perm

Big Perm

Well-Known Member
I guess I should have mentioned week 4 into flower with 6-7 weeks left. I'll shoot for multiple watering's. Thank you.
 
gr865

gr865

Well-Known Member
upnsmoke13 said:
water before lights on, with runoff
halfway through, no runoff
just before lights out, no runoff
Click to expand...
Can you please explain, I am not understanding your comments.
Water before lights on.
Maybe I am mistaken, but you should never water with the lights off.

Runoff halfway through, no runoff
Not sure what this means.

Just before lights out, no runoff.
Don't you need water with enough time left on the lights and let it runoff so as not to have the roots sitting in saturated coco.

I run 4 cycles during the 12 hour lights on period, 9 PM to 9 AM.
1st - 9:05 PM, 1.5 minutes, 20% runoff.
To flush the salt buildup from the last cycle of the night.

2nd - 12:30 AM, 1 minute, minor runoff
3rd - 4:00 AM, same as the 2nd
Minor or no runoff

4th - 7:05 AM, 1.75 minutes, approx. 30% runoff.
To flush the salts from the two cycles prior.

Without runoff aren't you allowing the roots to sit in a build up of nute salts?
Doesn't runoff pull Oxygen into the root system?

GR
 
Big Perm

Big Perm

Well-Known Member
gr865 said:
Without runoff aren't you allowing the roots to sit in a build up of nute salts?
Click to expand...
It's a little tricky.
I can't runoff, because I don't have anywhere to runoff to. Id get a tray but screw those prices (I would have needed 4 of them), and I'm tired of DIY'ing for a bit. So, I water to runoff. I use a drip tray, and I'm pretty good at getting that thing about half full. An hour later it's gone, so it's either evaporating pretty fast, or the roots are sucking it up.
I have to account for that. I feed on the lighter side. I do have the ability to take a plant out and flush it if I have to. Normally I can flush after Veg, and at the end of flower I'm flushing again anyway.
This will be my last coco run for a while. I'm going to convert my other tent over to RDWC also after these are done.
I used to water once by hand when the light came on. I was just going to play around with these dripper manifolds because I have them.
 
U

upnsmoke13

Well-Known Member
1st feeding is at dawn, with runoff - because it sounds like a nice way of starting the day!
2nd feeding around mid day, no runoff - shouldn't need flushing & who wants to miss lunch!
3rd feeding at the end of the day, nope still no runoff cause I'll flush'em in the morning!

If you can suggest me a better schedule I WILL listen! You should know, remember the Bayite pump! This is the reason I give short replies, most of the time they're not dissected to the point of explaining each word! My way is not the best & im not comparing but if i can help someone I'm gonna try, without expectations!
So, if i add a feeding, without runoff(), and another, with runoff, two hours before lights off I will harvest more & hopefully have better quality.

That's easy & very doable! Thank you. Do i get a money back guarentee? I'm 2.5 weeks into flower!

OP, I'll probably be running 4 feedings a day, idk!

Edited to say > @gr865 even if you have the right information, your delivery needs some work!
 
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gr865

gr865

Well-Known Member
Hey Buddy,
Not going after your methods, just want to know why and maybe learn something. I am not the perfect grower, by all means, but I at least explained how and why.
I am not one wanting to piss anyone, so if I offended, I am very sorry. Just posted what I do and ask for your reasoning. Always want to learn.

"1st feeding is at dawn, with runoff - because it sounds like a nice way of starting the day!
2nd feeding around mid day, no runoff - shouldn't need flushing & who wants to miss lunch!
3rd feeding at the end of the day, nope still no runoff cause I'll flush'em in the morning!"

From all I have read, they, being the general public, it is best to get 20 plus percent runoff. I don't do that all the time, but it does make sense.
Then there is the O2 to the root system, good or bad?

Edited to say > @gr865 even if you have the right information, your delivery needs some work!
I am sorry if my delivery methods are not softened, but I spent my career writing and reading reports, I am a stickler for more info! :)

I do hope you have great harvest and yields, that is the goal of us all!

GR
 
Big Perm

Big Perm

Well-Known Member
gr865 said:
From all I have read, they, being the general public, it is best to get 20 plus percent runoff. I don't do that all the time, but it does make sense.
Then there is the O2 to the root system, good or bad?
Click to expand...
I'm not the authority on the mater, either.
The 20%+ is more for nutrient delivery, than O2. IMO
It helps wash out the last feeding so the current feeding is what is available.
The O2 is a nice side benefit. Yes the water pushes out the air and when the water dries, fresh air comes to take the water's place. You don't need 20%+ for that. Once it is 100% saturated, that's it. the excess runs out the bottom. Kind of like a lung. full of water it has exhaled. as it dries out in inhales. The more watering times a day, the more breaths of air it takes. In a way. It was much easier to visualize when I grew in rockwool.
If you don't do runoff. You run the risk of building up salts because nothing gets a rinse. I account for that by backing down my nute ppm's as time goes on. That will get me through veg, then a nice flush and into flower. I can ride flower out that way also because I feed just water the last two weeks anyway, so I'm pulling it off, but it isn't ideal. Two weeks may seem like a long flush at the end, but it isn't really a 2 week flush. The first week of that 2 it is using up all the stuff I didn't flush out. Then it starts to only get water the last week.
 
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gr865

gr865

Well-Known Member
Big Perm said:
I'm not the authority on the mater, either.
The 20%+ is more for nutrient delivery, than O2. IMO
It helps wash out the last feeding so the current feeding is what is available.
The O2 is a nice side benefit. Yes the water pushes out the air and when the water dries, fresh air comes to take the water's place. You don't need 20%+ for that. Once it is 100% saturated, that's it. the excess runs out the bottom. Kind of like a lung. full of water it has exhaled. as it dries out in inhales. The more watering times a day, the more breaths of air it takes. In a way. It was much easier to visualize when I grew in rockwool.
If you don't do runoff. You run the risk of building up salts because nothing gets a rinse. I account for that by backing down my nute ppm's as time goes on. That will get me tthrough veg, then a nice flush and into flower. I can ride flower out that way also because I feed just water the last two weeks anyway, so I'm pulling it off, but it isn't ideal. Two weeks may seem like a long flush at the end, but it isn't really a 2 week flush. The first week of that 2 it is using up all the stuff I didn't flush out. Then it starts to only get water the last week.
Click to expand...
I agree completely on nutes vs O2, was just saying that without enough pull there little replacement.
The more watering's the more breaths, I like that!
Totally agree on the salt build up, live and learn.
I run very low EC, < 1.0 in veg and no higher than 1.4 in flower, and that is only during the week of the KoolBloom addition. Will be 1.2 +/- till harvest.
But I do believe that a slight runoff at the beginning of the cycles is good, as is the last cycle, it should have enough runoff to help cleanse the system.
I start my flush using only RO, Cal/Magic and pH adjustment two weeks prior to harvest with runoff. I like what I get out of it.

I hope you did not feel I was critical of your comments. I enjoy learning what others do, that is how we learn.
Peace my Friend,
GR
 
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Big Perm

Big Perm

Well-Known Member
I took no offense, we're all just sharing opinions. I don't think anyone does anything the same. I don't like doing my method, my method is out of necessity. After I get these girls through it won't be a problem any more.
 
U

upnsmoke13

Well-Known Member
I posted what has been working for me. If you have experience that's beyond my info then move along & be confident, don't worry about proving how wrong someone is - gives people the wrong impression! I took offense because I was misquoted & his whole statement was to expose my lack of knowledge - why else would you pick apart someone's post, line by line. I think i could learn from his knowledge but we'll need to figure out who's teaching who! I'm not a professional and I'll add that to my signature!
Ps. I'm not disagreeing with the info here, in fact I'll adjust my feeding time & add a feeding/ w runoff.
Op, good luck with your grow, dude!
 
gr865

gr865

Well-Known Member
Sorry to piss you off dude, not my intention.
So I am very sorry.

I would hope you can learn from me like I would like to learn from you. I am learn with every grow, and the folks here have helped a lot.
 
U

upnsmoke13

Well-Known Member
It's all good.
gr865 said:
I am learn with every grow, and the folks here have helped a lot.
Click to expand...
Very much agree!

I understand the logic of runoff before going to sleep & have adjusted my schedule. I believe the media should keep a "fresher" environment, we'll see! I do appreciate the idea.

@Big Perm did you get that timer setup?
 
Big Perm

Big Perm

Well-Known Member
upnsmoke13 said:
@Big Perm did you get that timer setup?
Click to expand...
I have it on an app. I've been turning it on and off with that manually, trying to keep track of how long in between and trying to get a feel for the times. Seems to be about 3 hours. I'll make sure and then set up the schedule for it. So I'll water before lights on, then every 3 hours during the day. I have about a month to go and then when these are done I'm putting an rdwc in.
 
Big Perm

Big Perm

Well-Known Member
Here's what I ended up going with. I went with every two hours. It looks like it's working well. My lights are on at 1130 and off at 0030.
Screenshot_20181120-151009_Smart Life.jpg
 
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