GreenCoast Hydroponics Blog

Bio growing, when done correctly, as briefly mentioned before, gives you the best of both the hydro and soil growing worlds. You get the aeration of a hydro-based environment and the minerals, humates, enzymes, hormones, carbohydrates, and other organic materials of a soil based one.

To really grow a Bioponic based show, you will need to use a super aerated medium. Coco is perfect for this. It has a capacity to hold 60% - 70% water and 30% - 40% air. (By itself, it hlds just as much – if not more air than Rockwool – and is pH’d balanced already.) It has naturally occurring enzymes which are just now being uncovered and properly investigated which are amazing for root growth, and it has a natural habitat which is great for (and in many cases already houses) Trichoderma ( a beneficial Fungi which does a plethora of great Things for the roots - grows, protects, synthesizes hormones, etc.) and other beneficial micro-organisms. Mychorrizae also thrive and colonize at a very rapid rate in Coco. And Oh! There is so so SO much to say about those beautiful little creatures. . .but I digress.

Coco is amazing, yes! But still it needs to be mixed and cut with other materials. It is just a soil substitute. There is no longer any need for Soil. No need. Coco will do all that soil will and do it better. But, no seasoned soil grwer will just grow with soil alone; just potting soil. Nope, not at all. . .A mix must be created. Here are some examples of mixes that get the job done right:

1. Simple Performance Coco Mix
50% Coco
50% Perlite--- This will be closest to a Hydro Mix and can be used in any hydro - based system. You can mess with the ratio a bit and go for 60% - 40% either way. More coco more water holding - more Perlite more aeration.

2. Coco - Bio Mix
40% Coco
40% Perlite - Pumice mix
20% Compost (Organic - with Redwood Bark - Mychorrizae love the bark - they eat it up endlessly grow.)
5% Bonus - Biologicals

3.Bio CocoPeat Mix
40% Coco Peat
40% Perlite - Pumice mix
20% Compost (Organicw/redwood bark - Mychorrizae love bark - they eat it up & endlessly grow.)
5% Bonus - Biologicals

Biologicals?
You have GOT to add biologicals - both bacterial and fungal to this mix. It is what makes it ALIVE. They will ward off invading pathogens, they will help absorb those beautiful nutrients, they will even create enzymes and hormones to help speed up the metabolism of your plants. Just think a soil ALIVE and buzzing - Thriving with microbial life all working to help your plants create more bigger, stronger, better Fruit, and Flowers.

You can blend in a lot of other good stuff in this mix. The compost will act like th glue which holds it all together. The compost will hold some nutrient as well as earthworm castings, and guanos - they all have different mineral rations and can be combined to create an amazing mix

To add these beneficials you can use PreMix (from BioBizz to add these beneficials) or you can use BioLive and Down To Earth Soluble Root Growth Enhancer.

To Really do it right, use a Bio Filter
As far as feeding and watering goes with BioBizz - As mentioned above it must be used as a drain to waste based system. BioBizz can only sit in an aerated reservoir (which must be maintained at 68-72 deg. F with plenty of air stones, a mixing pump, and even a powerhead.) for up to 4 days. After that it will begin to ferment - and once this happens it can either way - good or bad. So, in short it is not worth the risk.

To the BioBizz mix we really recommend inoculating the res with some beneficial micro-organisms such as those found in Subculture - We recommend using it at 1 teaspoon per 10 gallons. Then we also recommend hooking a BioFilter up to this reservoir. BioFilters have been used in the Aquarium industry for years and there is a variety of them. The best we have found are cartridge based ones, filled simply with a media called BioBalls. These filters simply provide an aerated environment for water (containing the inoculated micro-organisms) to flow from the reservoir to the filter - trickling over the BioBalls The BioBalls house and support this microbial life. This facilitates micro bios to be fed to the plants every time you water. When feeding make sure you saturate your media all the way to the bottom with a 5% run-off.

ALSO: Very important make sure all your containers - or raised beds have plenty of good drainage at the bottom - This is done best by including 1-2" of rocks at the bottom of any container. Hydroton grow rocks are perfect for this. In this way you will make sure that you will not have any water-logged containers deprived of available O2 which will harm and eventually kill your precious roots.

Remember - The most important thing beyond a base level of nutrition and water (to your roots) is Oxygen. It alone is what is going to give your plants that rapid vigorous growth that we covet SO much. So make sure you have properly aerated your mix and container or bed.

ALSO NOTE: Most root rot pathogens are anaerobic and thrive in an environment deprived of O2 and are very opportunistic - taking advantage of any opportunity to take over and inflict damage to already damaged roots. More to come on what additives to use with Bioizz - what the additives do, and how to feed. . .