Soilless medium for hydro
- Thread starter Greenman
- Start date
Hushpuppy
Dr MadBud
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2011
- Messages
- 6,441
- Reaction score
- 313
I have used them both together interchangeably in hydro and soilless without issue. I don't think you would have to change feeding schedule unless you are going from hydro to soilless or vice-versa. The coco will require the addition of calmag as coco will lock up a considerable amount of it initially. I would use 1-2ml per gallon of water with every ffeed and water for the first 3-4 weeks then use it only with feeding after that. If in hydro setting, then use 2-3ml per gallon off water each time you set up a new rez. 
T
The Hemp Goddess
Guest
Your pH really has nothing at all to do with whether you will need Cal-mag or not. You absolutely will have to get your pH down though. If you are running hydro, you want your pH in the 5.5 to 6.0 range. I like to start low and let it drift up. Do you have a good quality pH meter?
zem
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Dec 6, 2009
- Messages
- 3,493
- Reaction score
- 1,303
i have read about 50/50 coco hydroton mixes, I personally would rather work with one medium and not mix them except if the coco happens to be very fine grade and not airy enough. I am currently in the process of trying coco and 3 types of hydroton side by side. it is my first such trial but if i wanted to bet on it, i would bet in favor of hydoton all in, but i'll have to wait and see.
T
The Hemp Goddess
Guest
If you are planning on running hydro, I don't think the GH pH adjuster kit is going to be accurate enough (I have one of those, too). You really need something that is going to give you accurate reading to a tenth. With soil it is not the issue that it is with hydro.
Hushpuppy
Dr MadBud
- Joined
- Mar 26, 2011
- Messages
- 6,441
- Reaction score
- 313
I have run 50/50 coco and hydroton, as has my buddy, and we neither one had any issues other than the coco bits getting into the res and stopping up the pump. My buddy put filter bags on his pumps to stop the problem, but I use coco mat liners or smart pot bags as liners to keep the coco coir in place. I personally found the smart pots to be the key trick to using coco coir in hydro setup to prevent the bits from getting out.
I agree with THG on the pH measuring. In hydro you really have to maintain a narrow spectrum of pH while following the pH drift and I just don't trust color coding as well as I trust a pH pen.
I agree with THG on the pH measuring. In hydro you really have to maintain a narrow spectrum of pH while following the pH drift and I just don't trust color coding as well as I trust a pH pen.
