Bad Coco ( Flora Flex)

[Capt. C]

Okay i am experiencing problems with this coco. @macsnax warned me about it because he knew i had some. He experienced a gnat infestation because of it so i treated the coco with BMT prior to using thinking this would make it fine. Wrongo i am experiencing slow distorted growth. The only thing i can think of is it might have a very high salt content but guessing. I transplanted some cuts 2 weeks ago from the cloner. Half of the transplants have barely moved and are exhibiting distorted growth. I have flushed them 3 times in the last two weeks the last on yesterday was a very heavy flush and light feeding with Recharge mixed in. Hopefully they will start to grow normal soon.

 

[macsnax]

Man there's just something off about it and I'm sure you can see the quality isn't that great too. I didn't have as many issues but I can totally see how it could be giving you a hard time. My biggest problem with these were the fungus gnats. Never had em that bad but the stuff you turned me onto (can't remember name) is doing work. They're all but gone withing a week ?. User beware with the floraflex coco for sure though.

 

[Capt. C]

Man there's just something off about it and I'm sure you can see the quality isn't that great too. I didn't have as many issues but I can totally see how it could be giving you a hard time. My biggest problem with these were the fungus gnats. Never had em that bad but the stuff you turned me onto (can't remember name) is doing work. They're all but gone withing a week ?. User beware with the floraflex coco for sure though.

You think it might be a high salt content @macsnax ? I transplanted into 1 gallon containers 2 weeks ago and usually would be close to transplanting to 3 gallon by now. Will be at least another 2 weeks easy. I am optimistic they will pull thru i flushed the heck out of them with with tap and h2o2 yesterday. The crazy thing is the White diesel seems to be powering thru it. The Mac and the GP4 are having a hard time. I broke one of the Mother Earth large bricks of coco last week and it looks great! That big brick made 2 totes worth of coco with 40% perlite added.

 

[macsnax]

It does seem to take a lot of rinsing/runoff to

You think it might be a high salt content @macsnax ? I transplanted into 1 gallon containers 2 weeks ago and usually would be close to transplanting to 3 gallon by now. Will be at least another 2 weeks easy. I am optimistic they will pull thru i flushed the heck out of them with with tap and h2o2 yesterday. The crazy thing is the White diesel seems to be powering thru it. The Mac and the GP4 are having a hard time. I broke one of the Mother Earth large bricks of coco last week and it looks great! That big brick made 2 totes worth of coco with 40% perlite added.

Night and day difference is those two Coco's man lol. It's the best I've used imo. The h202 is taking care of any unseen issues so after they get going from that flush maybe you'll see some better looking plants, I hope so for your plants sake. My plants took off pretty slow with that stuff too now that I think about. Couple weeks behind the regular scheduled program lol.

 

[Capt. C]

It does seem to take a lot of rinsing/runoff to

Night and day difference is those two Coco's man lol. It's the best I've used imo. The h202 is taking care of any unseen issues so after they get going from that flush maybe you'll see some better looking plants, I hope so for your plants sake. My plants took off pretty slow with that stuff too now that I think about. Couple weeks behind the regular scheduled program lol.

I am used to explosive growth at this stage that i am not seeing. This is the first bad coco i have encountered. Got to wonder what the hell Flora Flex's buyer was thinking buying that load. I guess it's not too hard to figure it's the almighty dollar. I would think something like this could really hurt the launch of the new product line.

 

[macsnax]

I am used to explosive growth at this stage that i am not seeing. This is the first bad coco i have encountered. Got to wonder what the hell Flora Flex's buyer was thinking buying that load. I guess it's not too hard to figure it's the almighty dollar. I would think something like this could really hurt the launch of the new product line.

I know it really doesn't take long for plants to take off in coco. I heard something about FF addressing the issue but, imagine a big op having that issue from them. That's bad biz for sure, heard nothing but good about their nutes and irrigation products. They botched they're coco gig though lol.

 

[519HomeGrown]

I used to use any coco and after a gnat problem i went to canna coco bricks. Its a bit pricier but they are nice and each square is about 2 1/2 to 3 gallons of coco (4 in the pack that snap off like a piece of a chocolate bar).

I am seriously considering using dunks preemptively forever just to be on the safe side...or sprinkle some bits in each pot.

Slow growth can definitely be salt leftover in the coco. Some of the products need a serious rinsing and soaking and even then they start off all screwed up.

For the floraflex square things to not be good would be surprising though...maybe they should pony up and use canna coco too.

 

[macsnax]

Floraflex addressed the issue a while back and said they're working on a new coco source. I'm sure they had a few complaints lol. Cheap doesn't always get ya where you need to be. Literally the worst looking coco I've ever used but I gave it a whirl anyway. Wouldn't doubt if they have better coco soon, the price might change though.

 

[thenotsoesoteric]

I had a similar issue with royal gold's tupur mix a couple years ago. No bugs but anything I put in that stuff went to shit. Was depressing actually, thinking it was something I was doing.

I transplanted everything into canna coco and problems went away. I've since switched to roots organic bricks for ease of transport. The roots organic in nice but not as clean as the canna but not too shabby

 

[macsnax]

I had a similar issue with royal gold's tupur mix a couple years ago. No bugs but anything I put in that stuff went to shit. Was depressing actually, thinking it was something I was doing.

I transplanted everything into canna coco and problems went away. I've since switched to roots organic bricks for ease of transport. The roots organic in nice but not as clean as the canna but not too shabby

What do you think it is when a bad batch of coco pops up? Salt content messing with CEC, microscopic bad guys, just straight poor quality, all of the above ????? ?

 

[Capt. C]

I had a similar issue with royal gold's tupur mix a couple years ago. No bugs but anything I put in that stuff went to shit. Was depressing actually, thinking it was something I was doing.

I transplanted everything into canna coco and problems went away. I've since switched to roots organic bricks for ease of transport. The roots organic in nice but not as clean as the canna but not too shabby

I think i am getting ready to do the same thing ( repot everything). I am not sure how much flushing it would take to clean this coco as i have flushed multiple times in the 3 weeks they have been in the bad coco without any good results. So much for perpetual. This coco will put me a month behind at least.I am still getting retarded type growth from the plants. The plants i am concerned about are in 1 gallon containers. I was thinking of taping the root ball into my hand and just lowering it into a tub of water to try to rinse the majority of the coco off. At that point just replant into good coco with some mycrohaze and start over. I guess they will grow out of the retarded growth. I have not done this before so if any one has any ideas they would be welcomed.

 

[thenotsoesoteric]

I think i am getting ready to do the same thing ( repot everything). I am not sure how much flushing it would take to clean this coco as i have flushed multiple times in the 3 weeks they have been in the bad coco without any good results. So much for perpetual. This coco will put me a month behind at least.I am still getting retarded type growth from the plants. The plants i am concerned about are in 1 gallon containers. I was thinking of taping the root ball into my hand and just lowering it into a tub of water to try to rinse the majority of the coco off. At that point just replant into good coco with some mycrohaze and start over. I guess they will grow out of the retarded growth. I have not done this before so if any one has any ideas they would be welcomed.

That's what I had to do, wash the roots off best i could. I flushed that shit so much and it didnt help. I still dont know what went wrong.

 

[Capt. C]

That's what I had to do, wash the roots off best i could. I flushed that shit so much and it didnt help. I still dont know what went wrong.

I wish i would have made this move 2 weeks ago. Just keep thinking they would grow out of it. I not sure what could be in the coco probably salt but guessing. I am somewhat surprised it has not killed the cuts (although this is not over yet) all green just distorted growth. The strange thing is one of the strains is powering thru it (White Diesel). The picture i am posting is almost 3 weeks since transplant. The Diesel is in the back row. The Mac and the GG up front.

 

[thenotsoesoteric]

What do you think it is when a bad batch of coco pops up? Salt content messing with CEC, microscopic bad guys, just straight poor quality, all of the above ????? ?

I have no idea really. I flushed it a lot. Try more nutes, less nutes.

I think it was old sitting out in the open or something. But it sure was fun trying to explain to the local grow shop workers that I'm fully aware of how to grow chronic.

The stupid ass suggestions, do you let the get too dry or wet?, do you ph your water? You're gonna want a higher nitrogen ratio in veg...!?

Then I show them some pics and assure them I grow better bud then they own mommas!

But god damn if it ain't frustrating so hang in there @Capt. C

 

[macsnax]

I wish i would have made this move 2 weeks ago. Just keep thinking they would grow out of it. I not sure what could be in the coco probably salt but guessing. I am somewhat surprised it has not killed the cuts (although this is not over yet) all green just distorted growth. The strange thing is one of the strains is powering thru it (White Diesel). The picture i am posting is almost 3 weeks since transplant. The Diesel is in the back row. The Mac and the GG up front. View attachment 3525 View attachment 3526

They're definitely getting N and trying to do plant stuff, that coco is holding them back for sure. I think you have the right idea, time to throw in the towel on that coco. I bet you see a change after they get situated in new stuff.

 

[macsnax]

I have no idea really. I flushed it a lot. Try more nutes, less nutes.

I think it was old sitting out in the open or something. But it sure was fun trying to explain to the local grow shop workers that I'm fully aware of how to grow chronic.

The stupid ass suggestions, do you let the get too dry or wet?, do you ph your water? You're gonna want a higher nitrogen ratio in veg...!?

Then I show them some pics and assure them I grow better bud then they own mommas!

But god damn if it ain't frustrating so hang in there @Capt. C

Haha like listen here boy, I been growing since part of you was running down your mommas leg. I know that feeling. Everytime I walk into a pot shop and have to hear them tell me about strains. I never say shit though, let em talk lol...... I've been pretty fortunate with coco, haven't had anything dramatically affect my plants like what you guys are talking. And I can see how irritating it would be, I value my time too much to not get pissed off about something like that.

 

[thenotsoesoteric]

Haha like listen here boy, I been growing since part of you was running down your mommas leg. I know that feeling. Everytime I walk into a pot shop and have to hear them tell me about strains. I never say shit though, let em talk lol...... I've been pretty fortunate with coco, haven't had anything dramatically affect my plants like what you guys are talking. And I can see how irritating it would be, I value my time too much to not get pissed off about something like that.

The pot shop bro

A local shop here has black dog on the shelf so I ask to see it. I tried telling the weed clerk I grow the same strain and my pheno is straight blackberries but I might as well tried teaching her algebra.

The small talk failed so I smell the jar of black dog and its straight hay, lol. No cure no smell. I'm gonna bring in a sample of my black dog for them when it's done in 7 weeks. Show them why cure is important.

 

[macsnax]

The pot shop bro

A local shop here has black dog on the shelf so I ask to see it. I tried telling the weed clerk I grow the same strain and my pheno is straight blackberries but I might as well tried teaching her algebra.

The small talk failed so I smell the jar of black dog and its straight hay, lol. No cure no smell. I'm gonna bring in a sample of my black dog for them when it's done in 7 weeks. Show them why cure is important.

That black dog was good man. I can imagine the difference compared to dispo quality. You'll have to let me know what kind of reaction you get from them lol.

 

[Capt. C]

They're definitely getting N and trying to do plant stuff, that coco is holding them back for sure. I think you have the right idea, time to throw in the towel on that coco. I bet you see a change after they get situated in new stuff.

Transplant complete! I shook off as much of the bad coco as i could off in a bin. Then dipped good in a solution of filtered tap and h2o2 (added 10ml of h2o2 per gallon on the root rence) . First time i have washed the roots on a plant this old( 6 weeks old) and the most difficult transplant to date. Used Mother earth coco this time with added mycrohaze and azos. Everything is still standing so i am hopeful.

 

[macsnax]

Transplant complete! I shook off as much of the bad coco as i could off in a bin. Then dipped good in a solution of filtered tap and h2o2 (added 10ml of h2o2 per gallon on the root rence) . First time i have washed the roots on a plant this old( 6 weeks old) and the most difficult transplant to date. Used Mother earth coco this time with added mycrohaze and azos. Everything is still standing so i am hopeful.

Alright man, you'll be good to go I'm sure of it. Give em a minute and watch em grow ?