"Is your coco already buffered? Is it already charged? And what nutrients should you feed first?” We hear these questions all the time. The good news? Our coco is prepped and ready to go—setting your plants up for strong, healthy growth from day one. Starting with the right foundation makes all the difference, giving your plants the best chance to thrive.

First, what do these terms actually mean? The term “buffering” is actually borrowed from soil and other substrates that lack the pH stability of coco coir. It refers to buffering the pH higher, usually with a liming product, for a substrate that is already acidic or is in active decomposition and will further acidify during use. Coconut coir does not have these properties, as it is very slow to degrade and inherently pH stable. “Charging” coco coir refers to the satisfaction of the required cations of the CEC (the actual capacity to exchange positive ions) to stabilize the nutrient contribution and chemical structure of the media. Many growers prefer to use a “Cal Mag” product, however we find that calcium nitrate is more than sufficient. More info about calcium and coco coir can be found at this blog post here: Coco + Calcium

HortGrow does in fact triple rinse our coco. The first 2 rinses are with a water source that is naturally rich in calcium carbonate, which assists in rinsing out any of the undesirables and stabilizing the pH of the coco. The final rinse is done using RO water which has been fortified with calcium nitrate and phosphoric acid, ensuring the coco is pH ready and has a good starting charge of calcium.

Now for the initial feed, should you feed more calcium? Low EC? High EC?...Well, it depends on a couple of factors. The variety that you are growing, the amount of light they will receive, how fast you will be ramping up that light, the environment and VPD of the growing area, and your source water, can all dictate the decisions that need to be made. Although our coco products are “charged” with some calcium nitrate, for most fast growing plants, this will not be enough nitrogen to get them started. This is especially true if the plants are in an environment with a high VPD and high light intensity. Generally, the greater the amount of light, and shorter amount of time that the light intensity is ramped up, the more nitrogen the plant will need. Therefore, it will be vital to begin with a High EC vegetative feed as soon as possible. Other growers may have a slow and steady vegetative growth plan or growing sensitive varieties, this may require extra care with lower EC feeds. In this situation, we do recommend rinsing with a stronger solution of calcium nitrate to further charge the media, and then beginning a lower EC vegetative feed. This will ensure that the plants are getting adequate calcium levels, while throttling the other nutrients.

Other outlying circumstances could be when growers are handwatering or don’t have precise control over irrigation, or when growers are dealing with unbalanced tap or well water. These situations may require stronger feeds to overcome the naturally present cation ratios in the water and may need to compensate with higher EC. Water analysis and/or filtration is advisable if growers are facing nutrient challenges with these circumstances.

By understanding these factors and adjusting feeding strategies accordingly, growers can create a stable and efficient growing environment. Starting with a well-prepared medium simplifies this process, providing a reliable foundation for plant health. HortGrow coco is triple-rinsed and stabilized to ensure consistency, reducing the need for additional buffering and allowing growers to focus on nutrient management rather than substrate preparation. Whether using a high EC feed for fast-growing plants or a more gradual approach for sensitive varieties, the key is to work with the natural properties of coco and tailor feeding strategies to the plant’s needs. With the right approach, growers can maximize their plants’ potential from the start.