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Offlinetedoro
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Coir Field Capacity dependent on hydration technique...
    #26428137 - 01/11/20 01:37 PM (4 years, 1 month ago)

Hi Ya'll.

I've been exploring different coir hydration techniques and discovered something.

I have found that if coir is methodically mixed during its hydration process with boiling water, that it can absorb noticeably more water - less water to squeeze out on testing.


Example #1:

1 bucket, cut up 650g of coir, add 3.25Q of boiling water. Cover with blanket and let sit overnight.

next morning... lift lid, mix it up, and squeeze test. I might be able to squeeze out 2 or more cups of water from the whole batch. The Coir is dense and wet.


Example #2:

Same as above, but twice, I open the bucket and move the bottom contents to the top with a small rake. First at 20 minutes, and second at 90 minutes.

lift the lid the next day and the coir is fluffy, light and I can't squeeze any water out.




Most teks mention mixing, I just didn't realize its affect on the field capacity test. Likely the Coir would eventually even out over time, but many of us adjust our water content at spawning.

Perhaps try to make your mixing procedure consistent and see how it affects your field capacity. and report back.


--------------------
--------------------
Deep pour soft agar plates-->bags of WBS-->Low Profile Monos
Clean spawn thread | Put a thermometer on your PC


Edited by tedoro (01/11/20 01:49 PM)


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OfflineEdmunter
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Re: Coir Field Capacity dependent on hydration technique... [Re: tedoro]
    #26428447 - 01/11/20 04:16 PM (4 years, 1 month ago)

Quote:

tedoro said:
Hi Ya'll.

I've been exploring different coir hydration techniques and discovered something.

I have found that if coir is methodically mixed during its hydration process with boiling water, that it can absorb noticeably more water - less water to squeeze out on testing.


Example #1:

1 bucket, cut up 650g of coir, add 3.25Q of boiling water. Cover with blanket and let sit overnight.

next morning... lift lid, mix it up, and squeeze test. I might be able to squeeze out 2 or more cups of water from the whole batch. The Coir is dense and wet.


Example #2:

Same as above, but twice, I open the bucket and move the bottom contents to the top with a small rake. First at 20 minutes, and second at 90 minutes.

lift the lid the next day and the coir is fluffy, light and I can't squeeze any water out.




Most teks mention mixing, I just didn't realize its affect on the field capacity test. Likely the Coir would eventually even out over time, but many of us adjust our water content at spawning.

Perhaps try to make your mixing procedure consistent and see how it affects your field capacity. and report back.




Same bricks should create same results.  I was thinking of getting a tumbler for the mixing processes.  I always have some verm sitting by so in the event its too wet I can add that till its perfect.

Each different batch of bricks always need a new adjustment for me.  I


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Offlinetedoro
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Re: Coir Field Capacity dependent on hydration technique... [Re: Edmunter]
    #26428456 - 01/11/20 04:22 PM (4 years, 1 month ago)

You think that my two examples, if identical bricks were used, should have the same results?


--------------------
--------------------
Deep pour soft agar plates-->bags of WBS-->Low Profile Monos
Clean spawn thread | Put a thermometer on your PC


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OfflineEdmunter
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Re: Coir Field Capacity dependent on hydration technique... [Re: tedoro]
    #26429040 - 01/12/20 01:44 AM (4 years, 1 month ago)

Quote:

tedoro said:
You think that my two examples, if identical bricks were used, should have the same results?





You would hope so
Quote:

tedoro said:
You think that my two examples, if identical bricks were used, should have the same results?




You would think so wouldnt you.  Im going to test it.


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InvisibleYogiBear
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Re: Coir Field Capacity dependent on hydration technique... [Re: tedoro]
    #26429139 - 01/12/20 05:17 AM (4 years, 1 month ago)

Check the link in my signature on field capacity. It's the best I've seen.


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OfflineHighHarles
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Re: Coir Field Capacity dependent on hydration technique... [Re: YogiBear]
    #26429177 - 01/12/20 06:15 AM (4 years, 1 month ago)

Quote:

YogiBear said:
Check the link in my signature on field capacity. It's the best I've seen.



Havent stumbled on this yet, thank you.


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InvisiblebodhisattaMDiscordReddit
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Re: Coir Field Capacity dependent on hydration technique... [Re: HighHarles]
    #26429199 - 01/12/20 06:39 AM (4 years, 1 month ago)

Field capacity doesn't need to be so complex you figure it out by feel and sight after making substrate 3+ times and like riding a bike you'll never forget how to do it.

Worry about results not # of drips. Everyone's hands are different anyway.


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Re: Coir Field Capacity dependent on hydration technique... [Re: bodhisatta]
    #26429208 - 01/12/20 06:44 AM (4 years, 1 month ago)

im thinking that youre losing a fair bit of water as vapor each time you open the lid and stir. the way to test your hypothesis here would be to weigh each bucket after adding the water and again the next day before you squeeze out the excess from the overnight bucket. i doubt they weigh the same.


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Re: Coir Field Capacity dependent on hydration technique... [Re: trubblesome]
    #26429210 - 01/12/20 06:46 AM (4 years, 1 month ago)

Even a pot of water at a rolling boil on a stove loses like maybe an ounce a minute. I doubt you'd even be able to measure the loss from stirring on a scale big enough to weigh your bucket.


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OfflineEdmunter
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Re: Coir Field Capacity dependent on hydration technique... [Re: bodhisatta]
    #26429224 - 01/12/20 06:56 AM (4 years, 1 month ago)

Quote:

bodhisatta said:
Field capacity doesn't need to be so complex you figure it out by feel and sight after making substrate 3+ times and like riding a bike you'll never forget how to do it.

Worry about results not # of drips. Everyone's hands are different anyway.




This!!!!

Have a jug of water and a bag of vermiculite by the side and you cant go wrong.  If you didnt want to use verm you could add more ground coir.


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Offlinerido
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Re: Coir Field Capacity dependent on hydration technique... [Re: YogiBear]
    #26429460 - 01/12/20 10:33 AM (4 years, 1 month ago)

Quote:

YogiBear said:
Check the link in my signature on field capacity. It's the best I've seen.



Thank you! Descriptions of field capacity seem so straightforward, but that video really makes it clear. Turns out I've been making substrate way, way too wet.


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InvisibleYogiBear
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Re: Coir Field Capacity dependent on hydration technique... [Re: rido]
    #26429485 - 01/12/20 10:51 AM (4 years, 1 month ago)

Quote:

rido said:
Quote:

YogiBear said:
Check the link in my signature on field capacity. It's the best I've seen.



Thank you! Descriptions of field capacity seem so straightforward, but that video really makes it clear. Turns out I've been making substrate way, way too wet.




Just keep in mind that everyone squeezes differently. I'm old and my 3-4 drips is probably more like 5-6 drips for young bucks in their prime... but it is an eye opener when you have a good example like that.


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Offlinetedoro
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Re: Coir Field Capacity dependent on hydration technique... [Re: YogiBear]
    #26429632 - 01/12/20 12:45 PM (4 years, 1 month ago)

I hope you all aren't missing my point that the mixing thoroughly vs very little mixing during hydration allows more more water at field capacity.

I propose you test it yourself

and there would be next to zero water loss from evaporation.


--------------------
--------------------
Deep pour soft agar plates-->bags of WBS-->Low Profile Monos
Clean spawn thread | Put a thermometer on your PC


Edited by tedoro (01/12/20 12:47 PM)


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OfflineEdmunter
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Re: Coir Field Capacity dependent on hydration technique... [Re: tedoro]
    #26429636 - 01/12/20 12:50 PM (4 years, 1 month ago)

Quote:

tedoro said:
I hope you all aren't missing my point that the mixing thoroughly vs very little mixing during hydration allows more more water at field capacity.

I propose you test it yourself

and there would be next to zero water loss from evaporation.




So what you are saying is take identical blocks and add the same amount of water mix one of them up and leave 1 and that one feels wetter.  I know why that is though........

Its similar to when u cook grains and the middle isnt cooked....with this the centre is less hydrated..........


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Offlinerido
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Re: Coir Field Capacity dependent on hydration technique... [Re: YogiBear]
    #26429642 - 01/12/20 12:57 PM (4 years, 1 month ago)

Quote:

YogiBear said:
Quote:

rido said:
Quote:

YogiBear said:
Check the link in my signature on field capacity. It's the best I've seen.



Thank you! Descriptions of field capacity seem so straightforward, but that video really makes it clear. Turns out I've been making substrate way, way too wet.




Just keep in mind that everyone squeezes differently. I'm old and my 3-4 drips is probably more like 5-6 drips for young bucks in their prime... but it is an eye opener when you have a good example like that.




Yeah, my coir was just dry enough that it wouldn't drip without any squeezing. A squeeze as tight as in the video would have produced a small stream, not just a few drops. Luckily it was just on my first grow which was a couple pints of grain spawned to bulk.


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Offlinetedoro
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Re: Coir Field Capacity dependent on hydration technique... [Re: Edmunter]
    #26429679 - 01/12/20 01:25 PM (4 years, 1 month ago)

Yes, the coir gets more thorough contact with the warm water when the settling water is forced to be on the top, twice, by mixing.


--------------------
--------------------
Deep pour soft agar plates-->bags of WBS-->Low Profile Monos
Clean spawn thread | Put a thermometer on your PC


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Offlinetedoro
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Re: Coir Field Capacity dependent on hydration technique... [Re: tedoro]
    #26447983 - 01/23/20 10:58 AM (4 years, 24 days ago)

Some of you were already suspicious... but this (my) whole idea of mixing coir hydrates it better is bullshit. It was happenstance with the coir I purchased. For a second it seemed like a thing, but nope.

My apologies.


--------------------
--------------------
Deep pour soft agar plates-->bags of WBS-->Low Profile Monos
Clean spawn thread | Put a thermometer on your PC


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Offlinemigraineur
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Re: Coir Field Capacity dependent on hydration technique... [Re: tedoro]
    #26448063 - 01/23/20 11:56 AM (4 years, 24 days ago)

I use Damion5050's tek but I use 4.5 litres of water instead of 4 quarts as I find it helps to hydrate the coir better and pasteurise the coir better.

https://www.shroomery.org/forums/showflat.php/Number/11916595


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OfflineNobodycare
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Re: Coir Field Capacity dependent on hydration technique... [Re: migraineur]
    #26448100 - 01/23/20 12:16 PM (4 years, 24 days ago)

I also use Damion5050's tek but I follow it to the T. My mixture doesnt drip at all when squeezed but seems to work fantatstic for me so im not changing anything.


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OfflineEdmunter
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Re: Coir Field Capacity dependent on hydration technique... [Re: Nobodycare]
    #26448139 - 01/23/20 12:39 PM (4 years, 24 days ago)

Quote:

Nobodycare said:
I also use Damion5050's tek but I follow it to the T. My mixture doesnt drip at all when squeezed but seems to work fantatstic for me so im not changing anything.




Ive tried, 50:50, mudas improvement, boiling water, cold water, Bods take on it and my conclusion......It depends on the culture and the cleanliness of your spawn........ Same spawn used with all these method, apart from timings will produce the same results and not contaminate......


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