Using Coco Coir For Growing Cannabis

CANNABIS & COCONUT COIR

Coco coir is a style of hydroponics that is growing in popularity among indoor cannabis growers. Used alone or modified with clay pebbles or perlite, it is an ideal growing medium for cannabis. Plants respond well to the soil-like texture and develop large, healthy root balls. Being regularly fed a nutrient mix customised for cannabis means optimal vigour during each phase of growth.

WHAT IS COCO COIR?

When processing coconuts for their many commercial uses, the thick outer husk first needs to be removed. This exposes the little crewcut bowling balls we all know as coconuts. The husk is lined with a fibrous pulp that can be up to 10cm thick. Coir is produced when the pulp is dried and the fibre is removed by a decorticating machine. This fibre has many uses, including as a world-class hydroponic cannabis substrate.

STARTING IN NEUTRAL

Coconut coir is an entirely inert substrate. Although it contains some beneficial trichoderma, coco coir has no nutrient profile at all. The grower is in complete control of the nutrient supply to the plants as they grow.

The trichoderma form colonies of beneficial fungi in the root zone and promote root growth. These colonies enhance the plant’s immune system while improving overall metabolism.

BENEFITS OF GROWING IN COIR

Coco coir is very soft, offering little resistance against roots. Large root balls are quick to form, making for vigorous vegetative growth. Rapid growth during the vegetative phase means larger plants if you have the room. If space is restricted, rapid growth means a shorter vegetation time before the 12-12 flip.

Coco coir is a very lightweight, loosely packed, and well-aerated substrate. The light texture and well-spaced matrix means efficient gas exchange in the root zone. Coco coir does not compact or striate like some other grow mediums.

It is reusable, and comes from sustainable sources that are friendly to the environment. Coco coir does not decompose, and when rinsed thoroughly, it can be used again.

Coco coir does not provide a very good home for insects. Many bugs and parasites that can affect soil growers cannot live in coconut coir.

Using contemporary hydroponic nutrients and additives gets the very best performance out of the cannabis plant. Coconut coir provides an enhanced environment for rapid root development and plant stability. It also allows for ideal nutrient uptake, boosting the potential of each phase of your plant’s growth.

Watering can be done by hand, or with an easily set up drip emitting system. This of course depends on the scale of your grow. It is easy to hand-water a cupboard, but tedious to hand-water a room.

DISADVANTAGES OF GROWING IN COCO COIR

It is difficult to describe any disadvantages of growing in coconut coir. You must mix your own nutrients and be the only source of food for your plants, but this is really the whole point.

Water pH and EC needs to be checked often to prevent any nutrient uptake problems. This is standard practice when growing cannabis indoors and out.

Some finer coir mixes can retain moisture, but this is easily overcome by adding 30% perlite or clay pebbles to the mix. This will increase permeability while providing a greater surface area for increased root development.

Plants grown in coir need more calcium and magnesium than other substrates. You will need to use a Cal-Mag supplement to ensure correct metabolism. Magnesium is a key element in photosynthesis and requires calcium to be absorbed properly. Calcium is a key element in strong cell wall formation and requires magnesium to be absorbed properly.

ENDING IN OVERDRIVE

Coco coir is a favourite grow medium among the best cultivators in the world, and for good reason. It provides a soil-like substrate for stronger roots and more robust growth. It also allows for nutrient customisation of the utmost degree throughout each phase of development.

Combined with contemporary growing techniques like ScrOG or main-lining, coco coir will provide satisfying (and resinous) results.