I nearly lost a sprout today from frustration with this damn coco. I decided that since I already have a ton and half of hydroton that I was about to throw out I would do an another experiment. I have been reading about similar problems from others and all the solutions entail breaking up the coco into larger chunks. It was suggested mixing hydroton and coco together was a winner of a combo so I went ahead and tried it. During the transplant I learned what my problems have been.

I discovered that nearly all my clones which had some root development to begin with, hadn't really grown that many new roots after being moved into coco. At least in certain pots I would soon discover. In the pots where the plants were smaller I learned that only a couple of roots developed throughout the length of the pot, my guess is to follow drainage, but then right below the main shaft was a highly dense and nicely developed root ball. A small root ball with long tap root tails. Very odd. At the tops of the coco layer it was dryer and slightly warmer which as I understand it, is exactly why coco is so ideal, and then as I approached that root ball it became a garden of eden if you will. I mean seriously, it was cool, moist, lovely all around. I think the problem is that it's too nice in there. Why do they need to search for a new water source or food source when it's so darn lovely right here in the middle all the time.

I think my pots were too big given the root development at that time. I would later discover that those plants that already had a bigger root structure before going into the coco, wound up with nicely developed roots, through out the pot. Bottom line, I think there is an appropriate pot size to use for plant size. Put another way, you wont get root development by sticking clones in large pots. They need to be small pots and they need to be able to dry out reasonably quick. As the plants get bigger, then use bigger pots and thus more coco. It's weird but if there is too much coco compared to the amount of roots, then it like creates too much insulation or something.

Maybe I am doing something differently then most. I have two pot sizes, a 6 and 8" square. Both hold so much coco that given my environment they don't dry out for days. I think that could be one benefit of coco for sure, the ability to hold water for long periods of time. However, if your not growing mothers, or growing out doors, then I'm wondering if less coco isn't better for vegging and flowering. Don't we want as many flood cycles as possible? Coco is supposed to be so good as flushing away old water and replacing with clean during the cycles, but if my damn pots never dry out then I don't get to flood.

One of my experiments involves a 2" net cup filled with coco and I use a bubbler underneath as a way to soak the coco. I started doing it 6 times a day for 15 minutes, then 4 times and now 1 time. Still that freaking coco is so wet all the time that neither the sprout or the clone or the seed that I have in that system are willing to grow roots. Am I using too fine of a coco perhaps for my hydroponic tendencies? Is it possible that the finer coco is really more for the soil type grower? In my plate experiment I have a pile of coco with a few seeds sticking in the middle. That coco too never drys out and tend to pack. I started running a stick through it to kind of break it up better and although it makes me feel better, I have yet to see a difference.

As of now I have all of my plants, clones, veggers and sprouts in a mix of hydroton and coco. If I understand the concept correctly, by creating cavities and whatnot inside the container using the mix, then the coco wont pack as easily, allowing for more air flow, dry out quicker and thus faster root development. I believe that unless your coco is capable of drying out, to what extent yet I don't know, but until it does dry out, I don't think you get good root stimulation. Finer grade coco's pack too easily for recirculating systems. I need bigger chunks I think. Not as big as hydroton though, I think that's too big. If the chunks get too big then wouldn't that defeat the whole insulating, piece of coco?