Coco Chips or Perlite?

[Weedgrodamus]

I went to local Brew and Grow to get my medium, they were out of Perlite but the staff said that Coco Chips were better than Perlite to be combined with Coco Pith.

I purchased both Coco Pith (which i'm told is the coir) and Coco Chips, after reading up on both I'm not sure there is a difference.

Or are the two kinds of Coco the same for what we do? Does anybody have experience with that combination of mediums?

[ZigZag]

I just did harvested a grow using coco and perlite, mixed 35% perlite and 65% coco. They worked great. When I went to purchase them they had two kinds of coco, one was in brick form and the other was in bags. The stuff I got in bags was already washed and broken up ready to go but when I tested it the outflow was PH 7.5 so I washed it with water at a PH of 6.0 till the runout was the same. The mix I used above drained very well but also held moisture for a few days (using 4 gallon buckets). No signs of nutrient burn or root rot. No bugs either, except for a spider who I was actually happy to have_ it would get other insects and wouldn't eat my plants_ win_win for us both. It was super easy. Just don't forget to make sure you use enough nutrients_ since the medium has none. Once this grow was fully into the veg stage I watered with 3/4 strength nutrients, then skipped a day and watered with water only, then repeated. No salt buildups or other excess minerals. The first two grows I did in soil required more attention than this last one in coco and no other issues as well. I'm going for a repeat. Hope yours is a great success too!

[ZigZag]

Just looked at the contents I have left in the coco bag....it has a variety of shapes and sizes_ a lot of texture....similar to composted soil but without any nutrients. So if a combination of the chips & pith gives you that it should probably work just fine.

[Gordo41]

I've been using the coco perlite mix for 10 years, and love it. I recently found a coco that is the best i've ever seen,, very fine and uniform and has micro nutes in it already. (Not NPK) i got it from Amazon 3 bags $23 ea and free shipping. I't call GROW!T big yellow bag. Check it out.

[Chemichael]

I just used 2 bricks and one 8 quart bag perlite and followed Nebulas direction / tutorial and made some really nice looking dirt. I'm leaning towards liking this medium. Very airy and fluffy. Just saying. Cheaper to make your own and easy to mix.

[Royal Nugs]

I'd go bricks too to save money but I'm blessed to have a great hydro store with some amazing prices. It's called grow green mi. They're cheaper than amazon with almost everything. I'm so spoiled

[Tika]

I like "saving" money too Royal but time is money! I don't mind spending 2 days outside softening/ breaking up the bricks in the wheel barrel with water , squeezing the coco out handful by handful putting in a tub, and then rinsing it all again to get the salts out, then mixing with perlite. And I like the fiber of Sunleaves bricks .Bricks do differ- think I have tried 3 Brands. It is all a labor of love.

[Green75]

Too much work....not simple

You should not be working that hard hun

[Chemichael]

Green go simple man. Took 10 minutes to make the mix. I'll swear by this it's the lightest softest most airy media and i can't wait to drop my autos in. I just bought calmag wasn't sure if i needed it. Looks like I'll add it to my regimen.

[Tika]

Yes caliMag for sure