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COCO COIR Stunted Growth, Mystery issue, Help Appreciated

Tough to say by looks of that pic, but Coco is not ideal on its own. Water and o2 retention properties are improved by mixing with Perlite.
I am not sure what the issue would be with the recycling reservoir... I drain to waste. People that I have seen with such systems certainly use perlite in their coco. Are you worried about the pumps?
 
Not as much the pumps as potentially clogging the 1/4" drip lines. i think the perlite would stay inside the smart pots therefore not be a problem.
 
Yeah, I use 1/4" lines for drain and just have little faucet screens guarding them. But I had Perlite in the saucers for RH reasons... it will not escape the pot.
You can do what you were trying to do with Coco... you just need perlite!
I mix 5qts perlite per 650g (dry) Coco. That's it. I cannot over-water my plants (with drainage). 7 gallon fabric pots take a quart or so per day in my environment, more during flower. Growth rivals hydro.
 
Hola Campesino, gracias compadre. Growth rivals hydro - I've always used 6" rockwool cubes - and I'm trying to beef up the harvest. will coco and perlite increase the harvest, or will that combo be very similar or equal to using 6" rockwool cubes? Thanks
 
I don't have experience growing in just rockwool, but I believe that Coco/Perlite is the best medium for growing cannabis. Harvest size depends on several factors, and Coco/perlite will allow you to reach the potential max.
 
Hi all, thanks for all your input. With your help I believe the original problem has been solved. This post is a conclusion to help anyone who may experience similar problems. (I also have a new question regarding the final picture of damage leaves)

Corrections for future grows:
1. add perlite to coco (don't grow in 100% coco)
2. carefully monitor coco, and only water when pot begins to dry out
3. I realize this is a given to most folks, but not to a coco newbie, despite years experience in 6" rockwool.

It appears the mom's are better - are no longer duds. over half the veg plants are better (and the other half on the fence), and the girls in flower are flowering, see pictures below.

1. Moms (pic 1): pure coco in 1gal smart pots. status: recovered. achieved by not watering daily. I allowed the pots to dry out for a few days before watering again, and at that point I flushed and I've been running weak nutrient solution 400ppm since. after an 18 hour light cycle they start to get dry, I'm watering just 1/day.

2. Veg plants (pic 2): same

3. Flower plants (picture 3): same - but these still look stunted. the pistols look good and I hope they'll pack on some weight.

4. new question: picture 4: weird discolored leaves - can't find any match on chart of deficiency's (pic 5). this came off of an auto white widow, wk 3 of flower. some of its sisters have the same issue. any ideas?
 

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The first 3 pics all look much better all I see is a bit of sagging probably pics right after or near watering, looking good.

As for the last pic it seems like a simple nitrogen defiency imo.
 
HF HI. I have never grown in coco ,just a dirt farmer. If they were mine just to eliminate one possibility I would prep a five gal. S.P. and to be as gentle as I could, I'd cut away the one gal and repot and water to runoff with pH'ed cal-mag/water. Then stare at it and think positive. Maybe.
 
nitrogen deficiency - interesting. because i've had comments regarding a potential nitrogen toxicity. The leaves in question (last picture from final post) have been on house + garden aqua flakes a+b, with zen in veg and now bud xl in flower, running at 600-1200 ppm. 1200 when I make up the res, and after three days its down to 600, where I add more nutes. flushed once per week. and it appears to be happening to the white widow in particular, not other strains.
 
I hear ya guys - and I did give regular calmag (GH) feedings 2/3 times a week. these plants Loved the calmag, slurping it down faster than the regular parts a/b. so if anything I upped feedings of calmag for these autos. I think the yellowing may be a leftover sign of over watering? not sure. hard to think its too little calmag with all the calmag i gave 'em through their close to 8 wks in veg
 
Every drop of water that touches my coco has Cal Mag. Coco grabs Cal and Mag and holds on to them in Cation exchange. Unless you overwhelm the Coco with Cal Mag, it will not surrender any to the plant. In Coco, it is recommended to add Cal Mag to all water until the final flush. Generally full strength in Veg and half strength in flower.
 
I'm still wondering why you're still in 1 gal pots. I would be concerned about not having enough root space. Especially late in flower. Root lock will give you some really odd issues like your having. I know root lock will be dismissed. But if you can't figure out what's happening and have covered all other bases...
Your system seems like it's fairly reasonable.... Except the tiny pots.
 
Campesino - thanks for the tip, I'll keep on going with the heavy calmag, 2ml/gallon through final flush

Waltermelon - yes, still in 1 gal pots for that one area. basically the girls in that room are giant and trellised, and there is no re-potting possible so I'm stuck in the 1gal pot till the end of this cycle. at which point i'll reconsider if i want to keep it up with coco or go back to 6" rockwool cubes.
 
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