Help, please. Top layer of roots are exposed when I water my coco grow bags.

[Spanky]

Hello. What do people use the keep the coco in place when watering? My plants are taking about a half gallon of water now and it is quite difficult to try to put in a little water at a time. Even when I accomplish that, the coco still gets moved which exposes the top roots below my plant's main stem. I have to pull it from the sides of the grow bag back over the roots. This doesn't seem to be hurting their growth, but I was wondering what others are doing.

I thought about laying some landscape fabric around the top, but I am concerned it might create conditions for mold to form. As my plant expands, it is harder and harder to even see the top layer of soil, much less manipulate anything under the nice canopy I have created.

I can't seem to find anything in the tutorials so I must be searching with the wrong question. Thanks for your ideas!

[9fingerleafs]

you can get some mulch or straw (what horses eat) to cover the coco, you could also use branches from previous grows if you have them, i wouldnt worry much anyway... it happens all the time with all kind of plants, just like how a tree ends up with the roots above the ground, the roots become hard and develop skin to protect from light, what i personally do its just after watering i move some soil to the center around the stalk or over the exposed roots.

[St.buds]

What he said

[DoctorJohnson]

A layer of perlite works well, and it reflects the light back up to the leaves.

[St.buds]

I also like doing this when I have the extra perlite works to protect and kill off fungus knats too

[Chefbjy]

That's what I would do Doc

[D.A.A.S.69]

All I do Spanky, is water real slow a found the stalk.

[Waltermelon]

Coco shouldn't mold. It's extremely resistant to bad stuff, except trich (trich in plant cultivation is a beneficial). It's used in mushroom cultivation for just that reason. I try to pour my water in as quickly as I can that way the loose coco floats and as the water flows out, it's left in a nice even layer over the roots.

[starramus]

Simply you could add more coco, or if you have an old grow bag you could cut a patch to put round the stem. It certainly would better keep the coco in place, and cover any exposed roots.

[Campesino]

How much Perlite do you have mixed in? I hand water my Coco/perlite and have not had the same experience. The top is now largely perlite, but stays in place, unless I pour water in just one spot.

[Spanky]

Wow! Thanks for all the responses! Would those little clay balls work? Or are they more for hydro?

My mix is about 60/40 coco/vermic. I couldn't find perlite at the time, but I plan to get some when it comes back to the stores. This might be the problem. Vermic is much finer. I will definitely try the perlite when I can find some.

Thsnks again!

[DoctorJohnson]

"Those little clay balls" (hydroton) will work for a top cover too. I've used both. It really doesn't matter. And as starramus, said, you could always just heap on some more coco.

60/40 coco/vermiculite sounds like an interesting mix.

[Spanky]

The mix is just a guess. I added vermicullite until I could see enough in the mix and until I thought it gave enough drainage.

I put more coco in today and watered more slowly which worked better.

I have been looking a perlite on line. Do you recommend a particular type? It comes in a corse and medium fine, etc. I am thinking larger particles will give more drainage a stay in place on top better?

[Campesino]

Spanky
I use this http://a.co/334TTAw
It is a good mix of sizes...
If you are just using it as a top layer you may want to get the coarse, but probably better to have a blend if mixing into Coco. Just M2c