Substrate coconut (or coconut fiber) an inert substrate (lifeless), which is used in different cultures, including that of cannabis. Coconut fiber can be presented in different formats. You can buy in the way they pressed brick (dehydrated, very economical and easy to carry) or in bags of 50 liters professionals CocoMix of Biobizz (hydrated substrate quality).
Coconut fiber is a highly aerated substrate. Possesses a water retention capacity superior, besides a better aeration. Coconut fiber facilitates root growth, resulting in faster growth of plants in a vegetative state compared with substrates such as soil.
Greater advantages Coco substrate:
Increased water holding capacity. (our stay longer pot with soil moist).
Better aeration of the substrate (our pot will be better able to avoid overwatering aeration and allowing lengthen the distance between waterings.
Maintaining a good balance between water retention and aeration capacity (very important to avoid root rots).
Higher porosity. The porosity of the substrate strongly influences the ability of root growth and root balls. Best estate packages will result in more rapid and vigorous growth, greater assimilation of nutrients and higher production.
High absorption capacity. This substrate rapidly absorbs the water leachate providing the maximum (root washings).
Great nutrient retention capacity. The coconut has an exchange capacity catónico high. Can retain and release nutrients slowly, avoiding the loss of these when watered excessively. This is also why it is always recommended to wash progressive with Enzymes (Cannazym, Sensyzym, etc..) To clean the substrate salt accumulations.
Inert substrate. Being a lifeless substrate, plants must be paid at each irrigation with the exact nutrients needed each variety. Pests are avoided in the substrate.
Clean. It is a substrate that leaves no trace, unlike what happens with the earth. Coconut shavings are easily sweepable, without leaving any stain.
Organic product, unlike wool, does not damage the environment. It is inexpensive and non-toxic.
Culture methods:
Coconut fiber is designed to be used in any part of the cycle. Rooting of clones from (or germinated seed) to bloom (or maintenance of mothers).
No need for a large amount of fertilizer to use, a simple basis of a specific fertilizer coconut, like canna coco A + B, or Hesi Coco among others, serves perfectly for proper growth of cannabis plants. We recommend adding some kind of root stimulator as Rhizotonic, NoShock or any of any brand of fertilizer to encourage maximum root growth. Recomiendamos always use mineral fertilizers (non-biological) mejr for quality and performance.
ESTIMULADORES DE RAÍCES
Also recommended the use of bacteria and fungi (Mycorrhizae and Trichoderma). Being an inert substrate, we will create life-bacterial micro adding these components. This new life of the substrate improves the properties of this thanks to the symbiosis between elements. Mycorrhizae and trichoderma live in the soil and feed on the remains undesirable providing food forming a cycle. This increased bacterial and fungal life generates cepellones spectacular full of roots, for which the plant can be fed faster and faster. Values such as higher growth and increased production are insured.
The most common advice for growing in coir is the use of mineral fertilizers. As the coconut substrate well absorbed inert organic fertilizers (called slow assimilation). The coconut, for their peculiarities offers better performance in combination with fertilizers rapid assimilation. Minerals, or biominerals.
For the subscriber in coconut, and yet be very simple, we recommend using pH meters and E. C. digital, to have more control over the changes in the nutrient solution. Commendable also use RO water (filtered by reverse osmosis filters). The quality of water used is probably one of the most important factors involved in estimating the final production. To increase production, the first thing to understand is that through the use of good quality water are possible increases of up to 150g/m2 (using 1 600w lamp).
P.H. values may range between 5 and 5.5. We recommend that there is some fluctuation between these values to better suit each stage of the plant. Irrigation with enzymes every 15 days will prevent the accumulation of salts (very high in coconut).
E.C. values are simple. For growing plants (or seeds newly rooted) recommend values of 1-1.2 based on specific fertilizantee nitrogen rich coconut. For more adult plants (more than 15 days old) and can reach 1.3 EC peaks. For mothers can even reach 1.4 EC, but always depends on the variety.
In bloom can reach 1.8 E. C. on the highest peak of flowering (week 6, 7th genetic flowering 9 weeks for cutting).
* Although achievable peaks 2 and 2.2 Ec as genetic diversity is something we discourage from here. Our experience tells us that plants not exceeding 1.8 Ec he developed perfectly, without any deficiency or blockade, coming to deliver better outcomes.
As in any other substrate recommend watering with water only two weeks before cutting. If we include a finisher as CannaFlush or Final Phase, accelerate washing and completely remove accumulated salts in the soil. Completely eliminating these salts influences positively on the smell and taste of dried flowers.
We hope these brief explanations will be helpful to new growers or those who wanted to use coconut substrate.