Coco Coir

[Ed Larkis]

I'm completely sold on this product called "Royal Gold". It holds so much more moisture it's unreal. They are coming out with a new product that has all the goodies added to get you through the first 3 months without fertilizing as well as containing coco chips which aerate the soil and hold even MORE water LONGER. Sweeeet!

Ed

[Old Toby]

I've been using Royal Gold since November and I love it too. I mix it 50/50 with perlite and it's just wonderful. It holds water perfectly.....cannot overwater, yet with reasonable sized pots, one can go 3 days between waterings. I heard the owner is working with labs to bring a wonderful organic fert line to market too!! :D

23

[Alaska]

Have you gents used the standard GH coco or just the royal gold

Thanks

A

[Old Toby]

OS, I was gifted a number of bags by the business owner. I think that he's got a couple distribution agreements, but they are all several hundred miles to the north of you. The Mrs and I had the owner over for some fatties a week ago, he said that the Botanicare is the most like Royal Gold. He suggests mixing it as light as 1:4. The plants will still thrive with a flood every 2 hours but if something goes terribly wrong(power out, bad pump, kinked hose,ect...) there is enough moisture in the pots to keep everything going for a day or 2. Thats the difference between a screw-up and a disaster.

Tobold Hornblower

[Old Toby]

I think so.....I'll introduce you to him in a month.

got the pm...get back to ya when I have some pics and a clue to my schedule.

[Alaska]

Thanks old Toby, I might try botanicare next time, but its coir is about 2x the price per pot to fill than soilless, so unless the one plant I planted in coir goes crazy, I will stick with soiless.

A

[Elohim is plural]

...coir will get cheaper and peat will get more expensive...thats a fact...i highly suggest every soiless grower to experiment with coco-ponics...

...and the fact that you can carry 5 bails worth of coir without breaking a sweat is pretty sweet...
EIP

[outdoordreams]

you can also reuse the coco so it will save you in the end......

[kephra]

I'm a complete coco convert. I've been using Canna coco with good results, glad to be rid of the promix personally.

Heya Ed, good to see you.

[Springs]

I went the cheaper route an am using a reptile bedding brand. No periltie added,
and im loving it. Now we just gotta grow our own cocanut tree's :sun:

[The Cannarchist]

Reptile bedding?

[humble1]

for real though, b-

reptile bedding?

[Joe King Park]

if growing with Coir i suggest using Horticultural Coir
cheap coir has more salt in it than horticultural grades
Canna COGR is also tip top www.canna.com
www.atami.com
Joe

[Old Toby]

To be sure, Royal Gold isn't the cheap coir. It is all fully rinsed and composted.

Old Toby

[joe_dirt]

I recently saw this product on the shelfs and love the fact it is worked coco and not just raw - compressed. Next round 1/3 of my standard Foxfarm mix becomes Royal Gold - until the Royal Gold Pre-mix is also available :D
Love the product update!
-joe

[joe_dirt]

Hey OldSog - are you soil less? What nutes?

What aboot the rest of you?

I was thinking of using RG to ammend my foxfarm ocean forest premix - allowing it to hold more water (danks ed) in the summer heat. We already add perlite to the bag to lighten it up a bit.

Hey Toby :smoker:
"power out, bad pump, kinked hose,ect..."
Like THAT ever happens :rolleyes:

Peace y'all
-joe

[marigyp]

Can someone tell me what the advantages would be of Coco over Canadian Moss? The Canadian peat moss has both fulvic and muric acid which is slow released over the period of the grow and retains water. What advantages does Coco bring to the table?

[joe_dirt]

Got my sack of gold today... and will be transplanting some girls into a misture of Foxfarm Ocean Forest and the Royal Gold coco...
Methinks 1/3 coco to 2/3 soil would be a good mix and will work well with the organic nutes. I use reular Pure Blend veg and Fox Farm bloom.
Thanks for the tip Old Sog.
-joe

[sky high]

Thanks for all of the ideas/recommendations folks. I've had a couple of blocks of coco (one Sunleaves, one Earth Juice) coir around here for quite awhie but haven't hydrated 'em/used em. However, this thread and the ideas you've all offered got me digging in the garage and I just finished hydrating and flushing the block of Sunleaves.

I listened to the stories here and eleswhere about salts/flushing/washing... and the various brands of coir out there...but since I don't have Royal gold on hand and have this blocked product instead and want to go ahead and give this medium a try (I will be mixing it with my current mix to start)....I decided to try this sequence--- I soaked/hydrated the block in a large tupperware tub. Once hydrated, I drained off all of the water and refilled the tub with water from the hose. (10 gallons or so) I then added 80 mls of Clearex and 80 mls of Final Flush and let it soak while I smoked a couple of bowls (the key to everything!). I then poured the Clearex/coco mixture into a 5 gal bucket that I had previously drilled out the bottom of to wash Hydroton in...and flushed each bucket really good with the garden hose....about 5 minutes per bucket. Each bucket was then allowed to drain...and now the entire mass is sitting in a black garbage bag out on the deck in the sun to burn some of the moisture off before I have to haul it down the stairs into my teeny-tiny space.

Before that/once it's workable, I'll add a bit of Happy Frog 3-4-3 w/mycorrhizae to it...along with some Diehard Biorush micro-organisms. I will then add some Big & Chunky perlite to the mix....all of which will then be mixed together with the spoils/soils from my last grow (minus the roots). This should lighten things up a bunch and allow full drainage when watering...but still hold enough moisture to last a few days between waterings.

I will also plant a few in straight coco/perlite to compare the growth rates, etc, as well as do a few control plants that are watered with a coco-specific nutrient formulation to see if I can see a difference in yeild/taste, etc.

Is there anything I've missed or should eliminate/change?

[Krink]

A few things things I have learned about coco, since I switched from peat based mixes.

Rinse the coco, whether it says it was or not.
Cut with perlite or hydroton rocks, at least 30% up to 50%.
Amendments like bone and blood meal or whatever else you like to add to a regular soil may be used. Lime may also be added...but not essential like peat based mixes.
Get some cal-mag supplement for flowering period.
Keep the coco moist. Don't let it dry out. I water everyday, whether with nutes or not. The plants love it.
Feed with 1/3 strength nutes every day or at least 3 times a week, and plain water the other days.
Run to waste is a good system for this medium, but not essential. I have great success without drain holes in 10G bins, 2 plants per bin.
The cal-mag shouldn't be needed until flower or maybe late veg.
A silica supplement works very well with coco.

I will never go back to peat after working out the bugs with coco. This is like Hydro, with the benifits of soil.

Cheers,
K

[Indica Sativa]

I never needed to flush Atami's coco coir. I cut with 50% perlite and about half a 50l bag of hydroton per bag of coir... I am able to fill up fourteen 3 gal pots with the recipe =]

[mjcannaboid]

yes humble1 and Cannarchist, reptile bedding. http://www.reptilesupply.com/product.php?products_id=444&ref=2&affiliate_banner_id=1 I use this in my terrarium. There's big chunk and small chunk and I went with big, pieces up to about1 inch square mixed with the Seed-Starting Mix from GA. don't remember how big the small pieces were but they were bigger than the Seed-Starting Mix http://www.gardensalive.com/product.asp?pn=1308 which is all I use coco for for this at this point for the babies though I did get some to try as worm bedding that I haven't looked at yet.

[Ed Larkis]

I heard the owner is working with labs to bring a wonderful organic fert line to market too!! :D

23

:yeahthat:

I've been using the new organic fertilizer you speak of this season. Proud to be a "guinea pig" for the owner of this great company. And REAL happy with the results! Some of the lushest, greenest plants I've ever seen. The owner/inventor was here this past weekend (as well as several other top notch growers) and all gave a big thumbs up to my humble efforts. :thumbsup: Can't wait to sample the fruits of my labor.

Ed

[joe_dirt]

:thumbsup: Can't wait to sample the fruits of my labor.

Ed

Me either!

:smoker:

-joe

[joe_dirt]

The first round of Royal Gold ammended pots are ready to bloom.

Observations:
The plants grew in veg faster and bigger using the 1/3 Royal Gold to 2/3 Ocean Forest mix.
I put 100% FOXFARM Ocean Forest on the bottom - seems to gives the roots incentive to dig deep!
We fed light nutes as always and did not notice any yellowing (except early on when we noticed the plants were ahead of schedule and needed a transplant ASAP)
The veg growth is similar to the hydro "explosion" that I remember, but have not noticed in soil in the past 2 grows.

Even new clones seem to love the mix - they seem to take root better and faster and use the soil more efficiently - no more pockets of dirt without roots.

How is everybody else diggin' their coco?
-joe

[Ed Larkis]

How is everybody else diggin' their coco?
-joe

That Royal Gold is the BOMB ain't it! You know damn well how it's doing for me, so I won't brag! Well maybe a little...the top pic is a Shoreline cola and the bottom is a group of six of the girls at sunrise. From the left there is Cali O, Cat Piss, Genius and Cherry Lime Rickey front row and Shoreline and Sensi Star in the back. Both photos were taken today.

BTW...Next time put some perlite in there for maximum efficiency. 10% is working for me but some folks like more.

Ed

[simple]

question folks is there a link where one may purchase Royal Gold ? I've looked just don't seem to be able to find a link to it .

thanks

be well

simple

[kephra]

How is everybody else diggin' their coco?
-joe

i'm loving the Canna Coco big time. i'm finding it great in re-use. i've got three bins, 2 regular composting and 1 with red wiggler worms. some of the plants look better with the re-used stuff than the un-used brand new.

i don't think i'll ever go back to promix.

[Ed Larkis]

simple,

Right now Royal Gold is available at grow shops in and around Eureka, CA. It is gradually moving south as business grows. There is no on-line availability at this time.

Ed

[Indica Sativa]

There is no on-line availability at this time

that must be great for business...

[simple]

Thank you Ed Larkis , guess I won't be tryin that any time soon .

be well

simple

[Ed Larkis]

that must be great for business...

Everybody starts out small. The business is growing (no pun intended!) Also, don't underestimate how much coco coir the grow shops in Nor. Cal can sell :cool2:

Ed

[Alchemist]

HI yall,

someone mentioned they don't need as much lime in coco mixes, this is because it doesn't break down as quickly as peat moss which contributes to the acidity of the mix.

Coco is also said to be crawling with bennefcial fungi such as trichoderma which are supposed to help the plant get a good start and by means of competition leave less space for any pathogenic fungi that may be lurking.

I used coco years ago and loved it!!! I'm from the 3lb school of thought and would have to remix it if I were to use it again.

PEACE

[vapor]

gonna try some coco.,.,

[c-ray]

make sure it's gh, canna or botanicare

[vapor]

heard bcuzz was good too

[Alchemist]

im using some coco earth from greenstar

it comes already expanded in 35L bags, kinda bulky but easier to use than tha bricks

PEAS

[vapor]

http://www.horticulturesource.com/botanicare-cocogro-5-kg-p4173/?osCsid=5a613dc3fb375c6e058b4707ffb3e1b3

[c-ray]

PNW has gh 5kg blocks for 10 bucks, for folks in bc who are not afraid to shop there

[vapor]

wow

[nuggdigger]

did tc ever use up that skid?...he offered some to me a while ago..
;)

[vapor]

yea that stuff was shit man way to salty balls.,.,

[vapor]

yea so i am getting really rapid response with the coco more so then a regular soil mix.,. looks like this stuff is going to be alright, as long as there are no major kinks things looking great.,.,

[caddis]

Any perlite or coco chunks? Hydroton? I'm going 30% peat, 30% perlite, and 30% coco. 10% faerie turds......

[Lungus]

Now, can the faerie guano be used outdoors or is it sparkly and likely easily spotted from the air?

[vapor]

they move in the clouds lungus.,.,yea i mixed in 20 % perlite

[c-ray]

hey caddis let us know how the mix goes...in the long run I think coco is the way to go though because it can be reused, just need to keep topping up the faery turds every grow

[guest]

What about all these gnome dangelberries i collected? Are they good as well?
:whisper:

[caddis]

[/Now, can the faerie guano be used outdoors or is it sparkly and likely easily spotted from the air? QUOTE]

Great for outies, brings the other fairies in and if they like the strain will happily give them a yellow foliar....

[QUOTWhat about all these gnome dangelberries i collected? Are they good as well?
E] Need to compost first, too hot.

Down to Earth also sells some chunky coco which got thrown in also....

[Kali]

I just picked up a few blocks of cocogro (botanicare) $15 at the local shop

Canna had expanded bags but were way too much there 25 bucks (same as a bale of promix) and it was noticably less substrate

Never used this stuff before.

whats the best method for growing in coco? drip? table? top feed with the watering can

I'm thinking of adding to the coco; perlite, worm castings, dolomite lime and gia green 4-4-4 and some Myke when i transplant

Also chunky vs fine coir or mixed?
Anyone advise the use of coco specific nutes? Bio-terra (canna)?
Are normal organic teas used?

Sorry lotsa questions, I just want to make teh first go with this stuff as smooth as possible.

[vapor]

i notice my growth rate is way better in coco, for veg i am using nutrient way more, to get them green and healthy.,., i think it is going to rock for my veg i am using simple nutrients{pbp} and for flower i have a mix of guanos and such am reall stoked to see them go they have been a pleasure thus far.,.,

[Parabola]

:yeahthat:

[Kali]

[SIZE="5"][SIZE="5"]Coco Coir By: Erik Biksa
Courtesy of Maximum Yield Magazine

In North America, a trend in indoor gardening has been a shift towards soilless growing practices versus hydroponics. One of the primary differences in this cultural practice is that plants are watered manually. This is usually accomplished with the aid of a submersible pump, length of hose, and a watering wand delivering the nutrient solution from a reservoir/cistern where the nutrients are prepared. While in hydroponics, the nutrients are mechanically circulated to individual planting sights typically via emitters, sprayers, flood/ drain fittings, etc. Also in hydroponics, there is typically much less growing media which is usually inert, and the nutrients are most often re-circulated.

Traditionally peat based soilless mixes have been the most widely used by growers. Bear in mind that you are much more likely to encounter a peat bog in North America than you are a coconut plantation. Since the supply is already in our backyard, it has been the natural choice.

Peat is typically stripped from bogs. The composition of different peat deposits varies widely, depending on the vegetation from which it originated, state of decomposition, mineral content and degree of acidity (Lucas et al. 1971; Patek 1965). The colour may range from dark black to a light tan depending on the source, moisture content, and other parent material present. Basically there are three types of peat: Moss Peat, Reed Sedge, and Peat Humus. The one most commonly found in commercial soilless blends is the Moss Peat variety, which is most often milled from Sphagnum moss. It is relatively inert, light in weight, holds up to 10 times its weight in water, is acidic, has some cation exchange capacity (CEC), and contains little if any beneficial nutrients. Bogs are a relatively

[c-ray]

nice article, thanks!

[Monseigneur Stroganoff]

cocos is sooo 1997 lol


I like it for my mother plants with hydroponics nutes
so easy to maintain

[vapor]

^^ do you use it to flower aswell?

[vapor]

i have been buying different kinds, i found this kind called beats peat, it is cheap, the thing i have found with it is some batches are real good and others are course and not good at all,.. buyer beware....

[c-ray]

I am really liking this reindeer natural plant foods brand coco, 11 bucks a block locally and hydrates really quickly ( http://reindeersnatural.ca/coco_peat_block.htm )