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Watering germination/seedling in coco

V

Venkman

New member
Unfortunately my first attempt at growing in soil hasn’t gone so well. She’s still alive, and I haven’t given up on her yet, but I’m looking to get another grow on the go, and this time I thought I’d try coco.
I've thoroughly read Nebula’s guide to growing in coco coir a few times, and I do not doubt their knowledge at all, I just want to make sure I’ve understood it right.
If starting off directly into a 5 gallon fabric pot, should I be watering for 20% run off straight from the get go (during germination and seedling stage)?
I believe the watering till run off is necessary to prevent salt/nutrient build up, but it just seems a lot for a young seedling.
I’m going to be using Canna Coco Pro + with 30% perlite, GHE nutrients and VitaLink calmag (unless anyone thinks any of those are a bad idea lol)
Just want to make sure I get it right this time 😊
Thanks as always to everyone for their help
 
Will be using my purple queen auto seeds for now, as a friend recommended autos for my first grow. Although I think I might soon buy some feminised photos, as from what I’ve learned, you have time to recover from mistakes by extending the veg period
 
With autos it is best to go right to the final container, don't water to full run off, put a shot glass over the germinating seed with a little moisture until it sprouts then remove the shot glass. ones it has sprout start watering with a small Circle around the new plant, letting it dry out in between and gradually increase the circle until the plant is the size of the pot by then you achieve full runoff. Watering to runoff right now will overwatering your plant.
 
Thanks for the advice, there’s so much conflicting info on starting auto’s, but as my last was such a failure, I think I may start in a solo cup. Are they good to water to run off with a weak nutrient/calmag solution at PH 6?
 
The risk for transplant shock to a Autoflower for a new growers in its short life is just as high as overwatering a small plant in a big pot, if you had said Photoperiod plant I'd definitely would have said to start in a small pot and up pot them.

I key to growing autos in Coco and in soil is to not water so much that the pot or area around the plants roots doesn't dry out fast enough, start small and increase the water amount as the plant grows will yield a faster growing Autoflower than transplanting it.

If you haven't started the seeds then get some jiffy pucks to germinate in and once up put it in the final pot.

Can I ask why you are using 5 gallon for autos?
 
Thanks for the advice.
I’m going with 5 gallon fabric pots as I thought they’d be the best final container. Always open to advice or suggestions though 😊 (haven’t planted yet, waiting on my coco)
 
It’s a 2x2x5.5’ tent, indoors, with a spider farmer sf1000 and 4” exhaust fan with carbon filter. Temps are a consistent 25°c during the day and about 60% humidity. Only planning one plant at a time. Thanks for your help
 
3 gallon smart pot would be more than enough. 5 gallon would work but the plant may not grow into the pot. you would be able to control overwatering with the smaller pot and in its short life it would fill the pot with roots faster giving the plant a quicker road to flowering.

Get some Jiffy pucks to start your seeds, do you have a heat mat, tray and Dome?
 
Thanks, I’ll see if I can get hold of a 3 gallon.
I’ve got a tray with a grill over the top to keep the pot out of any run off and things around the house I can use as a dome. Not got a heat mat, but I’m hoping the consistent warm temp in the tent will be enough
 
See if you can find something like a large Tupperware container that can seal. Seeds like dark, moist, warm places, for the first 3 to 5 days. Make sure to open the container a couple times a day and refresh the air and moisture with a spray bottle and check on them. As soon as the seed sprout and drop the shell get them under low light and to the final container.
 
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If you are going into a 3 or 5 gallon, I'd recommend starting it in no larger than a 1 gallon. I know it's auto and I know there is a train of thought that says not to transplant them because of transplant shock. But in all my years, transplanting is a very simple procedure that can be done reliably with little (2-3 days) to no actual lost time in growth. The root system will develop more vigorously in the smaller pot because it can better go through the proper wet/dry cycles before transplanting, increasing root mass by the time it gets to flower.
 
Thanks for the advice, I really appreciate the help. I went in to this naively planning on spending £20 on a seed, pot and soil just as an experiment, but have found it so interesting and exciting, I really want to do it all as best I can. I’ve got some rapid rooters on the way, and given the issue I had last time with overwatering, I think I’m going to go the transplanting route, and next time definitely use photoperiods. Thanks again for the help and advice
 
Definitely the best of luck to you and happy growing, they're a hundred and one ways to do each stage right and when it comes down to it, it's the best way that works for you.

This forum is full of great Growers with years of experience that are very helpful, so stick around, ask questions when you need, and Read! Read! Read! It will get you past that first grow and beyond to your new found hobby with great success.

P.S. we love pictures.
 
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Mr.furley is correct, there are many ways to accomplish the same goal when it comes to growing. A lot of it has to do with experience level and personal style. There are definitely some mistakes you see repeated over and over again and when you've been growing long enough, you'll definitely make many mistakes along the way too. The fun part is learning from it and doing better next time.
 
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