Table of content
Growing cannabis in coco coir
Reasons to grow cannabis in coco
What's the downside of growing in coco coir?
What are the best nutrients for cannabis in coco
Steps to grow cannabis in coco coir
How to rehydrate coco coir
Coco for cannabis FAQs
Conclusion
You can grow weed in various mediums, but some are better than others. A popular option is using coco for cannabis. What is coco soil for cannabis? Many growers view it as a superior substitute for soil. It's created with ground up coconut.
There are multiple reasons for cultivating marijuana this way, but the main benefit is that coco can be used several times. Below, this comprehensive coco coir grow guide provides user-friendly step-by-step instructions.
We’ll also discuss the advantages and disadvantages of this substrate. You'll learn how to rehydrate coco for cannabis and which nutrients work best when growing this way. Let's begin.
Growing cannabis in coco coir
Growing in coco is a rising trend in 420 circles due to its wide range of benefits. It's made from mesocarp of coconut seed husks. Coco contains nutrients and organic material that helps your cannabis crops flourish and also offers the ideal pH level for weed.
Coco is a renewable resource and its usage is therefore sustainable.
When you cultivate cannabis using this method, you need to select the type of coco for cannabis that suits your needs best. There are three options:
- Fiber
- Pith
- Chip
Fiber
Fiber is stringy and therefore allows plenty of oxygen to reach the roots. The drawback is that it's not as absorbent as the alternatives.
To overcome this, growers often mix fiber with other substrates. The aim is to create coco for cannabis that's both aerated and has adequate water retention properties.
Pith
Many marijuana growers consider this to be the ideal type of coco soil for cannabis because of its more absorbent and has a similar texture to peat moss.
The main disadvantage with pith is that it doesn't drain well. The solution is to combine it with either perlite or other soil substitutes.
Chip
Coco chips are larger than the previous two options and retain water well. The main issue is that they cause more air pockets.
The most common way of cultivating cannabis in coco is to create a mixture with all three.
Reasons to grow cannabis in coco
Veteran growers who've had success cultivating with traditional methods might be hesitant to try soil alternatives. There are several reasons why we like growing in coco. Some of the benefits include:
- Optimal pH levels
- Water retention
- Aeration
- Sustainable and cost-effective
- Nutrients and microorganisms
- Pathogen and pest resistance
- Better yields potential
Optimal pH levels
A common issue with growing cannabis is nutrient deficiencies and in many cases, it's the result of a pH imbalance. Growing cannabis in coco reduces the chances of this.
Marijuana plants absorb nutrients adequately when the soil pH ranges between 6–7. Coco soil for cannabis naturally has levels that vary between 5.6–6.2, which is closer to the ideal.
Water retention and oxygenation
Coco for cannabis isn't as heavy as soil and therefore eliminates some of the drainage and oxygenation challenges that traditional growers face. Retention is also sufficient without sacrificing aeration.
Sustainable and cost effective
With climate change and society turning to environmentally friendly alternatives, many are adopting coco grow methods.
You can reuse coco up to three times and when you replace it, you can use it as compost. Coco coir is also biodegradable. The substrate is natural and therefore cost-effective too.
Nutrients and Microorganisms
When you cultivate weed, the main supplements you'll require are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K). When you use coco for cannabis cultivation, these nutrients are already present.
Aside from NPK, some growers may want to add calcium and other micronutrients. Growing in coco allows them to have better control over the quantities supplied to the crops.
There are also microorganisms like rhizobacteria present in coco coir that break down organic matter so that it's absorbed more easily by the cannabis plants. This adds to the overall health of the weed crop.
Pathogen and Pest resistance
Growing in coco offers your weed seedlings a higher level of defense against unwanted pests and pathogens. Coco has a natural resistance to fungi and bacteria, enhancing your crops' chances of thriving.
Better yield potential
Growers who've switched to growing cannabis in coco report beneficial results. Some even claim improved yields compared to growing in soil. Those who’ve had success combine using coco for cannabis with strict feeding schedules.
Some claim that their final harvest had improved by up to 25%, but the amount varies from one plant to the next. These generous yields assist you in avoiding weed drought.
What's the downside of growing in coco coir?
Like most cultivation techniques, using coco for cannabis growing does have a few drawbacks. The main two are:
- Incorrect mixtures
- Inferior products
Incorrect mixtures
As previously mentioned, not having the right mix of coco coir for your cannabis can affect drainage and oxygenation. Some growers combine all three options, while others opt to add perlite or vermiculite.
Inferior products
If you purchase coco of inferior quality, it could be contaminated due to faulty processing techniques. These products tend to have excessive chlorine and sodium content.
To effectively use this for growing in coco coir, you'll need to wash and leach it first. Quality products should have already undergone this process during processing, so check before you buy.
What are the best nutrients for cannabis in coco
When you're growing coco in cannabis, you need to regularly check the pH levels as it directly impacts the nutrient content. The cation exchange results in deficiencies of calcium and magnesium.
Adding these supplements along with a strict water schedule will enhance your chances of a bountiful yield. During the flowering stage, you may also need to add phosphorus and potassium.
Steps to grow cannabis in coco coir
Growing using this method also works well in a hydroponic setup. If you've never used coco for cannabis before, these detailed steps will serve as a useful guide.
Before you can reap the benefits of growing in coco, you need to properly prepare it. There are several steps:
- Rehydrating
- Rinsing
- Buffering
- Refreshing
- Mixing with perlite or alternative substrate
1. Rehydrating
First, flake off chunks of coco coir into a bucket and add water. Stir it so that water reaches all the particles.
2. Rinsing
Use a perforated strainer to rinse the coco and get rid of the dust (also known as coco peat). Once you've cleaned the coco for your cannabis, transfer it to a fabric pot.
3. Buffering
In a separate container, collect water and combine it with a calcium-magnesium supplement to make a buffering solution.
Place the fabric pot into a clean bucket and pour in the buffering solution. Ensure that you submerge the coco soil for cannabis completely.
This step ensures that the cation exchange site has adequate nutrients and releases sufficient amounts of sodium and potassium. Use a lid to cover your bucket and allow it to sit for eight hours or overnight.
4. Refreshing
Remove the fabric pot from the bucket and drain the excess liquid. Repeat the buffering process using a fresh solution. Double buffering prevents potential nutrient deficiencies at the cation exchange sites.
5. Mixing
The benefits of coco soil for cannabis are undeniable, but adding a substrate like a perlite further optimizes it. There are several recipes, and each grower's preference differs.
6. Growing
Plant your seeds directly into the coco for cannabis and keep them moderately moist. Monitor your cannabis seeds for signs of germination. Always keep your coco well hydrated to avoid them drying out.
7. Seedling stage
When seedlings first develop serrated leaves, supplement it with a calcium and magnesium product at regular intervals. Some growers also add fertilizer for marijuana at this stage, but it's not essential.
Place your seedlings in an area where they're exposed to enough light. When they develop three sets of leaves, you can transplant your coco coir cannabis into larger containers.
8. Vegetative stage
When growing in coco, it's best to employ a feeding schedule and check that there's adequate airflow in your growing area. It's during this phase of the plant's life that some growers choose to start training.
When the crops reach half the desired size, you can switch to the flowering stage. This usually takes three weeks. To trigger the flowering stage, change the light schedule.
9. Flowering stage
The flowering stage requires you to monitor the humidity and temperature levels in the grow area more strictly. This change isn't unique to growing cannabis in coco. Even weed cultivated in soil requires more maintenance during this phase.
Keep employing stringent environmental controls until the buds are ready to harvest.
How to rehydrate coco coir
Coco for cannabis typically comes in dehydrated bricks. It's fairly simple to hydrate it in three simple steps.
1. Setting up
A large bucket with a fabric container or pot and place the dehydrated coco for cannabis inside. Your fabric container should be slightly larger than the bucket so that it's easy for you to remove.
2. Rehydration
Poor water into the bucket and fill it about halfway. Tap water is fine for this step. After approximately 8–10 minutes, our coco for cannabis will soften. Mix it to break up any hard parts.
3. Drainage
Lift the fabric container from the bucket and let the water drain into it. Once all the excess liquid has drained, your coco soil for cannabis is ready for rinsing and buffering.
Coco for cannabis FAQs
Does growing cannabis in coco coir improve the overall yield of marijuana crops?
Many growers report that their coco-based crops produced more buds than when they used soil. This is largely attributed to the optimal route growth.
Why do I need to add calcium and magnesium to my coco?
Coco soil for cannabis has cation exchange sites and these tend to interfere with nutrition. The result is often a calcium deficiency. Buffering takes a preventative approach to ensure that marijuana gets all the nutes it needs.
Does coco dry faster than soil?
It's important to remember coco coir cannabis needs more frequent watering because coco dries faster. More H2O means that more nutes can be absorbed.
Conclusion
Growing in coco offers you a wide range of benefits. It allows you to cultivate your cannabis with complete control over the nutrients. It also has the ideal pH levels and is resistant to most pests.
Coco cannabis develops healthily. The substrate has optimal oxygenation and water retention properties for growing marijuana. If you follow the steps on how to grow in coco, employing this cultivation technique is easier than you think.
Use our coco coir growing guide as a reference point, grab a couple of weed seeds, and give growing in coco a try today.
