Grow Pots & Media
The right grow pots and media and are essential elements for successful cannabis cultivation. We firmly believe that coco (coconut coir) is an excellent choice for growing cannabis. So, we provide our top recommendations for the best coco products to use in your grow.
In addition to recommending the ideal coco media, we offer guidance on how to prepare it effectively. Ensuring proper preparation is crucial for creating a favorable growing environment for your plants.
When it comes to containers, we provide a range of options for different stages of growth. We offer recommendations for the best transplanting containers. This will allow for smooth and seamless transitioning of plants. We offer suggestions for the best pots to use as final containers. Additionally, we share our preferred choices for saucers and plant elevators. These contribute to the overall convenience and success of your cannabis cultivation.
By selecting the right grow pots and media, you can optimize the growing conditions for your plants and promote healthy, vigorous growth throughout their lifecycle.
Coco and Other Media
Brick Coco Coir
When you buy brick coco, you are responsible for turning it into a superior growing medium by rinsing, buffering, and mixing with perlite as we describe in Preparing and Buffering Coco Coir.
10 Pound Brick of Coco
Once buffered and mixed with perlite, these coco bricks will yield approximately 30 gallons of media, providing an ample supply for your cannabis cultivation. It’s important to note that various brands of coco bricks may be available in different markets. The products we have linked are the options we would personally choose in each respective marketplace.
However, what truly matters is the process you follow to prepare and buffer the coco . The product you start with is less significant compared to the careful steps you take to buffer and transform it into a superior growing media for cannabis. By diligently following the proper buffering procedures and incorporating perlite as recommended, you can optimize the quality and performance of the coco, creating an ideal medium for your cannabis plants to thrive in.
11″ Perforated Strainer
If you choose to get a brick of coco and prepare it yourself, then you will need a strainer to rinse the coco. This is the best strainer that I have found to do the job. The holes are plentiful and just the right size. The strainer itself is as large as it can be and still fit in a 5-gallon bucket.
See the Complete Shopping list for Buffering Coco
Prepared Coco Coir
For those seeking a more convenient approach to their coco grow, there are pre-rinsed and buffered coco products available. While these products come at a higher price compared to dehydrated coco bricks, they offer the advantage of skipping the laborious rinsing and buffering steps.
Opting for pre-rinsed and buffered coco saves you time and effort, allowing you to dive straight into your cultivation process. While the cost may be higher, the convenience and ease of use can be well worth it for growers who prefer a hassle-free experience. Ultimately, the choice between dehydrated bricks and pre-rinsed products depends on your individual preferences and priorities in your coco grow journey.
Royal Gold Coco Fiber
I am currently utilizing Royal Gold Coco for my grow, and I have been highly satisfied with its performance. My confidence in this product was further reinforced when I had the opportunity to meet their senior product specialist at a conference, where I was impressed by their knowledge and the meticulous processes they employ. The specialist kindly provided me with a sample, and I have experienced excellent results using Royal Gold Coco.
One noteworthy advantage of this coco medium is that I have completely avoided “CalMag problems” typically associated with other coco grows. The well-balanced mix of fiber sizes in Royal Gold Coco also promotes improved water distribution, contributing to the overall success of my cultivation endeavors.
It is important to note that Royal Gold Coco is currently available exclusively in the United States. Therefore, if you are interested in using this specific coco for your grow, I recommend seeking local suppliers to avoid the high shipping costs associated with ordering online. However, if local availability is limited, there are other cost-effective online options worth considering as alternatives.
Roots Organics Cocopalms
This particular pre-buffered coco product is highly recommended. It is competitively priced in the US market, making it an excellent option for growers. However, please note that the price in Canada may be prohibitive, and unfortunately, it is not available in the UK.
Each package of this coco product contains approximately 42 liters, which conveniently provides an ideal amount for four 5-gallon pots when mixed with perlite. This balanced ratio ensures optimal drainage and aeration for your plants, promoting healthy root development and overall growth.
Considering its pre-buffered nature, this coco product offers convenience and ease of use, allowing you to focus on other aspects of your cultivation process. It is a reliable choice for growers seeking a high-quality growing medium for their plants.
Perlite
Whether you use a prepared coco product or a dehydrate brick, you should mix your coco with perlite.
Hoffman Horticultural Perlite
This perlite is lightweight and natural. It has a good mix of particle sizes, which help to improve drainage and aeration.
Germination Media
Germination media is very helpful to give plants an easier experience for the first few days. It provides a good buffered media for the plants to start their lives. For information on germination see our article titled, “Beginner Guide to Germinate Cannabis Seeds“.
Jiffy Pellets
I personally prefer using Jiffy Pellets as my germination media. My germination process involves initially sprouting the seeds in paper towels and transferring them to the Jiffy Pellets within 36 hours, once the seeds start developing their tails. This method ensures that the seedlings have a smooth transition as I can carefully guide the root downward and prevent any potential issues of the seed becoming lodged in the hole. Once the root emerges through the Jiffy pellet, I transfer the seedlings to their designated seedling pots filled with coco.
For growers in the US and Canada, the Jiffy Pellet kits we have linked come with trays that serve as useful humidity domes, creating an optimal environment for seedling growth. As for those in the UK, the best option available is a bag of 100 Jiffy pellets, providing ample supply for multiple germination and seedling cycles. It’s a fantastic deal, although you may need to grow a significant number of plants to fully utilize the quantity.
By utilizing Jiffy Pellets, you can ensure a successful germination process and promote healthy seedling development in a convenient and efficient manner.
Pots: Growing Containers
Seedling Pots
Ventilated Solo Cups
Ventilated Solo Cups are the good choice for a starting pot, properly ventilated they create an ideal environment for early root development and offer convenience during transplanting. When it’s time to transplant, simply cut open the cup and slide the root ball and media into the fabric pot.
Second Containers
1-Gallon Transplanter Pots
The transplanter pots feature a convenient Velcro seam along the edge, enabling effortless removal of the pot during transplanting. This set includes five 1-Gallon transplanter pots, and they are also offered in a 2-Gallon size.
Final Containers
When selecting the final containers for your plants, it’s important to take into account the type of growing media you’re using. In coco grows, proper drainage is a key consideration. Smaller containers offer better drainage but require more frequent watering. For most coco grows, we recommend using 3 or 5-gallon final containers as they provide an optimal balance.
In soil grows, the availability of root space is more limited, necessitating larger pots for larger plants. For soil, we suggest using 5-10-gallon final containers to accommodate the plant’s size and root development.
Regardless of the chosen media, we highly recommend using either Air-pots or fabric pots. These containers excel at promoting good drainage and creating an ideal environment for root growth, whether you’re using coco or soil.
#3 Air-pot
We are still testing growing with these pots using coco with an automatic watering system. Early testing has shown great potential, and we will provide our findings in a future article.
#5 Air-Pot
Air-pots are a bit more expensive than fabric pots, but we are hoping they are worth it. If you want to grow giant plants, these #5 air-pots may be what you want.
These containers are suitable for both coco and soil grows. When using coco, it is advisable to feed your plants between 2 and 5 times per day, while for soil grows, daily fertigation is recommended. Currently, I personally use these containers with coco, and they have been instrumental in my positive experience with Air-Pots. The root development in these pots is truly remarkable and indicative of healthy plants.
Although Air-Pots may be slightly pricier compared to fabric pots, I genuinely believe they are worth the investment. The benefits they offer in terms of root health and overall plant growth are outstanding.
3-Gallon Fabric Pot
Three-gallon fabric pots are a great option to use with coco. However, due to the breathable nature of these pots you will need to feed your plants often to keep the media from drying out.
5-Gallon Fabric Pot
If you don’t want to feed that often or you want to grow very large plants in coco, you can use these 5-gallon pots.
7-Gallon Fabric Pot
If you are Hand-watering and limited to once per day watering, then it will be easier for you and the plants to grow in a larger container. 7-Gallon is suitable for once daily watering, and is the largest size that we recommend for indoor plants grown in coco/perlite.
Saucers Etc.
Saucers
You want a durable saucer that is thick and fairly rigid. Avoid the cheap flimsy saucers!
Hydrofarm 14″ Saucer
These Hydrofarm saucers are an essential addition to your growing setup. They are not only lightweight but also incredibly durable, ensuring long-lasting use. The deep design of these saucers makes them ideal for containing excess water and preventing any spills or leaks.
The 14″ model specifically is perfect for accommodating fabric pots up to 7 gallons in size, making it an excellent choice for your plants. Additionally, these saucers serve as a vital component for constructing self-draining saucers, which help maintain optimal moisture levels for your plants.
The saucers are conveniently available in sets of 10, providing you with a sufficient number for your needs. Even if you initially believe you may not require all of them, you’ll quickly discover the versatility and usefulness of having additional saucers on hand. They prove handy in various situations and can be utilized for different purposes throughout your growing journey.
Hydrofarm 12″ Saucer
The 12” model will accommodate 5-gallon fabric pots and #5 Air-Pots. However, they will not accommodate the plant elevators that I recommend below.
Plant Elevator
In the growing method we advocate, enhancing drainage and promoting adequate airflow are crucial. That’s why we incorporate perlite into the coco mix, opt for fabric or Air-Pots, and suggest using plant elevators.
The addition of perlite to the coco mixture helps improve drainage by creating air pockets within the growing medium. This ensures that excess water can easily flow through and prevents waterlogged conditions that can harm the plants’ roots.
Fabric or Air-Pots are preferred containers because they provide excellent aeration to the root zone. Their unique design allows for increased oxygen exchange, promoting healthier root development and overall plant growth.
To further optimize airflow and drainage, we recommend utilizing plant elevators. These handy devices elevate your pots above the saucers, allowing excess water to drain freely. This prevents plants from sitting in stagnant water and helps maintain a well-ventilated growing environment.
By incorporating these elements into your growing setup, you can enhance drainage, improve aeration, and create an optimal environment for your plants’ root health and growth.
Gro Pro 13″ Plant Elevators
Plant elevators provide an effective solution for optimizing drainage in your growing setup. Designed to sit inside the saucers, these elevators allow water to freely drain out of the bottom of the pots, preventing the fabric pots from sitting directly in the saucers.
Using plant elevators offers significant advantages over alternative methods or DIY options. They ensure proper airflow and drainage, preventing excess water from accumulating in the saucers and potentially causing waterlogging issues. By allowing water to drain freely, plant elevators help maintain a healthier root zone and reduce the risk of root rot or other moisture-related problems.
Having personally used and tested these elevators, I confidently recommend them for their effectiveness and convenience. They provide a simple and efficient solution to improve drainage and maintain a more favorable growing environment for your plants.
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About Our Product Recommendations
Here at 420 Grow Help, our primary goal is to assist growers in achieving the utmost success with their cannabis crops by providing accurate scientific information and sharing proven cultivation techniques. The products we recommend are the very ones we have personally chosen to purchase and use ourselves. We maintain a strict policy of not accepting sponsorships or advertising, and we only endorse products that meet our own high standards. For detailed product recommendations, please refer to our Product and Equipment Guide.
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Disclaimer:
The information presented on 420GrowHelp.com should not be regarded as financial, legal, or medical advice. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with and abide by the local laws and regulations pertaining to the cultivation, possession, and use of cannabis. Decisions regarding cannabis cultivation should be made in consultation with a lawyer or qualified legal advisor, while decisions regarding cannabis use should be made in consultation with a doctor or medical professional.
