Coco or soil, that is the question

[eatyourhartout]

I used just basic potting soil and nutrients to grow weed, but wasn't 100% happy and want to buy a grow medium and nutrients actually made for cannabis.

I'm trying to decide between buying soil that's made for weed like Fox Farm soil with Fox Farm nutrients, or getting coco coir and using General Hydroponics nutrients.

What is your favorite grow medium for growing weed and why? What nutrients do you think are the best?

 

[golfnrl]

I started in FF soil and FF nutrients. It didn't work out well. I switched to coco/perlite 5050 blend. Have grown using that medium for 5-6 years. I switched to CX Horticulture nutrients when I went with coco and have used them ever since. I grow in the autopot system but I have grown out a plant or two top water feeding. I'd stick with my choice of medium and nutrients even if I stopped using autopots. I like having the control of when and what the plants get. There's no guess. CX for coco is very easy to use and reliable.

 

[Oliver420]

Being a newbie take the way I did it with a grain of salt lol. But I opted for 50/50 foxfarm happy frog and coco loco. Im trying autoflowers so wanted something that contained nuits while not sacrificing the airy soil that they love. I think I might try ocean forest next or try Bioflower like Mr Grow it does on youtube. Depending on how this soil does. Also I have the foxfarm dirty dozen, that I mainly bought for photos and then bought the Cronk Bonnie and Clyde for the autos with maybe some add nuits for foxfarm only if she tells me. Like I said newbie here so I dont know what im doing. Trial by error. #Learnthehardway

 

[golfnrl]

Understood. One of the reasons my soil grows didn't work out was I couldn't get it in my head that the nutrients were being used up during veg and I wasn't feeding correctly during bloom.

 

[Oliver420]

Understood. One of the reasons my soil grows didn't work out was I couldn't get it in my head that the nutrients were being used up during veg and I wasn't feeding correctly during bloom.

Honestly thats what I fear, is giving her the nutrients that she needs at the time she needs it. So hopefully it works out on my part. If not it's a learning experience. Trying to document everything this grow in case I mess up I hopefully have a idea of where to correct it on the next time.

 

[Ckbrew]

I use coco-perlite 70/30 and GH trio nutes with calmag and pH down. I'm a bit of a control freak when it comes to the grow. I can measure out what I want when I want for nutes. I follow the GWE dosing tables with my own modifications. I also like the coco because there are no bugs. Sometimes there are a few fungus knats and that is minor. It works and is easy, and easy is how I like it.

 

[Beeman]

I’m no expert by a far site. But.. I tried fox farm frog and the ocean mix , pro mix and sunshine mix #4. Sunshine mix 4 is pretty much the same as pro mix. I quit using fox farm soil just for the fact of$$. 3 year ago when I started it was 17.99 for 2 cubic now it is 27.99 for 2 cubic. So now I use pro mix or sunshine 4. I can get a 4 cubic bag of sunshine mix for 24.99. At me-nards the other day at Wally World the garden center was closing out promix2 cu bag @ 10$. I bought 12 bag. Nutrient wise I prefer general hydroponics flora nova series one bottle for veg one bottle for bloom. Only complaint is they are a little thick and need a good shake to mix. This year outdoor grow I’m using sunshine mix and home grown compost and Gaia green. Pretty much a mix in soil and add water simple. I kiss it.. keep it simple stupid. Sample picture Frisian dew grow outside this year.

 

[Allotrope1000]

Hi.
Absolutely and with no hesitation at all, I recommend first time or newer growers should use 50%/50% coco/perlite, in a fabric pot set on a riser in a saucer. GH Flora Trio (half strength per GWE's guidance), CaliMagic and pH Down.

Why?
50/50 coco/perlite is ideal. Light and airy. Almost impossible to over water. With fabric pots plenty of essential O2 available for roots. Not insect friendly. Reusable grow after grow - dry, remove old roots and fluff up.
Easy to maintain/adjust pH to +/- 6.0. Best reason is GREAT control over all the many things that could go wrong.
Soil mixes lose nutes, can harbor bugs and get pricey buying for the next grow.

GH grow products work well. No need to get confused by all the bottles in the hydro store. Simply buy and use.

Caution: Growing medium and nutrient choice is only a part of planning your grow. You must plan your space, buy a pH pen, jeweler's loupe, trimming scissors, storage jars etc, etc.

Once you are getting good yields, then start experimenting.

 

[Chipmunk]

Being a newbie take the way I did it with a grain of salt lol. But I opted for 50/50 foxfarm happy frog and coco loco. Im trying autoflowers so wanted something that contained nuits while not sacrificing the airy soil that they love. I think I might try ocean forest next or try Bioflower like Mr Grow it does on youtube. Depending on how this soil does. Also I have the foxfarm dirty dozen, that I mainly bought for photos and then bought the Cronk Bonnie and Clyde for the autos with maybe some add nuits for foxfarm only if she tells me. Like I said newbie here so I dont know what im doing. Trial by error. #Learnthehardway

I have used the happy frog and coco loco 50/50 plus about 10% course perlite added for growing autos, it works well. I would stay away from the ocean forest for autos tho! It's hot and if you get nitrogen toxicity in those first 3 weeks it will ruin your auto grow. Good luck!

 

[Oliver420]

I’m no expert by a far site. But.. I tried fox farm frog and the ocean mix , pro mix and sunshine mix #4. Sunshine mix 4 is pretty much the same as pro mix. I quit using fox farm soil just for the fact of$$. 3 year ago when I started it was 17.99 for 2 cubic now it is 27.99 for 2 cubic. So now I use pro mix or sunshine 4. I can get a 4 cubic bag of sunshine mix for 24.99. At me-nards the other day at Wally World the garden center was closing out promix2 cu bag @ 10$. I bought 12 bag. Nutrient wise I prefer general hydroponics flora nova series one bottle for veg one bottle for bloom. Only complaint is they are a little thick and need a good shake to mix. This year outdoor grow I’m using sunshine mix and home grown compost and Gaia green. Pretty much a mix in soil and add water simple. I kiss it.. keep it simple stupid. Sample picture Frisian dew grow outside this year.

I may have to try that out as well especially if the price is right.

I have used the happy frog and coco loco 50/50 plus about 10% course perlite added for growing autos, it works well. I would stay away from the ocean forest for autos tho! It's hot and if you get nitrogen toxicity in those first 3 weeks it will ruin your auto grow. Good luck!

I appreciate the advice. I will definitely try to stay way for ocean forest while growing autos. Just curious since im only on day 7 of the grow using that happy frog and coco loco mix. How long before you added nutrients? I figure probably around 3 weeks until I needed to start.

 

[Chipmunk]

I go by what the plant is telling me it needs. If your plant is growing well, by that I mean it has good color its stretching well and getting budlets. Note that often times the autos will start budlets in 3 weeks. With that being said I would just start bloom nutes only around weeks 4-5 at half strength to start and work your way up from there. Some growers make it thru a complete auto grow w/o adding any nutes. I know my autos do best w/the addition of bloom nutes. Most of my auto yields are about 2.5-4oz/plant. Good luck

 

[Bluey]

Coco is my choice for indoors. Id use soil outdoors though.

I used soil exclusively outdoors for 30 years and coco indoors for the past 5 years.

Coco is better for yields indoors, without question. Also better for pests.

Go with those nutes for coco.