Coco?

[MgoKush]

What do you think about reusing coco 1- 2 or even 3 or more times? Kinda a running debate between a few of us.

[shishka]

As long as you flush the salts of your last crop.

 

I even use the same pot of coco. Cut the old trunk out along with enough coco that a solo cup transplant will fit back in and off and running.

[t-pain]

i'd say its good if using organic nutes.

 

if using synthetic, thats a tougher choice.

[MgoKush]

Yes we do. Running Canna nutrients and on the 3rd run with the same coco. Being told by one of our know it all friends that we shouldn't be doing this. This is from a guy still running soil. LOL Anyone run into any problems doing this.

[Guanotea1]

Hydroponic greenhouse operators sterilize (they got big machines and whatnot to accomplish this) or discard their medium after every run. So should you.

 

So... When millions of dollars of lower value crops are on the line growers sterlize. You have a few extremely high value plants so it's very clear that you should throw it out or sterilze.  From a labor and economic standpoint it probably makes more sense to throw it out every run. But if you want to save the world one coco fiber at a time be my guest ...

 

OK now WHY?

Throw it out cause It is difficult to sterilize properly without equipment. You gotta steam cleaner? Some people boil it. That's both time and energy (physical and electrical) energy down the drain.

Coco does not present much of an environmental problem if chucked back into nature.

Coco is a natural medium and it changes over time (it breaks down, cation exchange capacity changes, 3X runs is max WITH sterilization I recall)

 

Most importantly

Plant pest populations will grow over time in unsterilized medium

 

I've had great luck with perlite only, which is mad cheap . But based on your results I'd keep doing whatcha doin except toss out that coco every run. You are risking a minimum of [redacted] thousand dollars every 120 days and risking being a crummy caregiver just to save a few buxs on Coco that seems...... crazy. You only need 1 pregnant root aphid at the end of a run and you'd never know you had it and they can ruin the whole next crop if unchecked................

 

^Right there is all you need to know.

 

If you'd like references in professional greenhouse books I can provide them hows that for a Mr. know it all !! haha

Edited February 11, 2014 by Guanotea1

[t-pain]

sure there are pests and diseases to look out for.

 

the reason the big greenhouses sterilize mediums is because they have pest and disease problems.

[shishka]

Hydroponic greenhouse operators sterilize (they got big machines and whatnot to accomplish this) or discard their medium after every run. So should you.

 

So... When millions of dollars of lower value crops are on the line growers sterlize. You have a few extremely high value plants so it's very clear that you should throw it out or sterilze.  From a labor and economic standpoint it probably makes more sense to throw it out every run. But if you want to save the world one coco fiber at a time be my guest ...

 

OK now WHY?

Throw it out cause It is difficult to sterilize properly without equipment. You gotta steam cleaner? Some people boil it. That's both time and energy (physical and electrical) energy down the drain.

Coco does not present much of an environmental problem if chucked back into nature.

Coco is a natural medium and it changes over time (it breaks down, cation exchange capacity changes, 3X runs is max WITH sterilization I recall)

 

Most importantly

Plant pest populations will grow over time in unsterilized medium

 

I've had great luck with perlite only, which is mad cheap . But based on your results I'd keep doing whatcha doin except toss out that coco every run. You are risking a minimum of [redacted] thousand dollars every 120 days and risking being a crummy caregiver just to save a few buxs on Coco that seems...... crazy. You only need 1 pregnant root aphid at the end of a run and you'd never know you had it and they can ruin the whole next crop if unchecked................

 

^Right there is all you need to know.

 

If you'd like references in professional greenhouse books I can provide them hows that for a Mr. know it all !! haha

You also only need one pregnant root aphid in your new bag of coco...

 

I can guarantee my used coco has none, can you guarantee the same about store bought?

 

I will also note that Canna recommends reusing coco for a few crops which is funny as they are in the business of selling you new bags.

[MgoKush]

You also only need one pregnant root aphid in your new bag of coco...

 

I can guarantee my used coco has none, can you guarantee the same about store bought?

 

I will also note that Canna recommends reusing coco for a few crops which is funny as they are in the business of selling you new bags.

Exactly what sold me on reuse. The Company that sells it pitches reuse. As you said there in business to sell bags. Now if you ask a grow shop owner you'd probably get a different answer.lol