| How to use Soilteck Cocopeat Slabs | | | | the same amount of Calcium Nitrate. Eg. - If your |
| Below are two different guidelines for using Soilteck | | | | solution required 200kg of Potassium Nitrate and |
| cocopeat slabs. These come from experienced | | | | 250kg of Calcium Nitrate, you would replace the |
| growers who have been using Soilteck cocopeat | | | | 200kg of Potassium Nitrate with Calcium Nitrate. This |
| slabs for many years. Keep in mind that these are all | | | | would give you a total of 450kg of Calcium Nitrate |
| guidelines, and there will be variations depending upon | | | | and no Potassium Nitrate.o The bags are then filled |
| your greenhouse, and location. | | | | until they are full of water, and left for approx. 48 |
| Method No. 01 | | | | hours or longer, if possible. They are then cut at the |
| Preparing a fertilizer plan:o Fill a couple of slabs with | | | | bottom of the bag as per your drain holes.o Once |
| clean water.o Let those stand for 24-hours.o Drain | | | | planted the feed solution will return to normal, |
| those slabs.o 2 hours after draining add some clean | | | | however, it is recommended that the calcium level of |
| water on those slabs.o Catch this drain water for a | | | | the solution is increased by 20% for the first three |
| water analysis. | | | | weeks. |
| Filling slabs:o Based on those numbers you make a | | | | The recommended levels for pH and E.C. are as |
| fertilizer plan, without Potassium and 15% extra Iron | | | | follows:o pH = 5.8 as the coconut has a tendency to |
| and Manganese. Keep in mind the need for more | | | | be more acidico E.C. = 3.5 - 4.0o Recommended |
| Calcium.o Fill the slabs with this fertilizer plan.o Drip | | | | Nutrient Levels for Cucumbers in Coconut (in ppm):o |
| with an EC from 1.8 till 2.0 and pH from 5.6.o Drip till | | | | Chloride: 20 - 40o Nitrate: 250 - 350o Ammonium: 0.1 - |
| the slabs are saturated, or even a little bit | | | | 3o Sulfate: 300 - 500o Phosphorus: 50 - 75o Calcium: |
| overflowing out of the plant holes.o Drain the slabs | | | | 350 - 450o Potassium: 350 - 450o Sodium: 10 - 40o |
| after 12 to 24 hours.o Make sure that there are | | | | Boron: 0.8o Iron: 1.2o Manganese: 0.5o Magnesium: 50 |
| enough drain holes in the slabs, 1 between every | | | | - 80o Copper: 0.05o Zinc: 0.4o Molybdenum: 0.05 |
| plant, 1 at begin and end of the slab.o Drip after that, | | | | These levels may vary based on your level of |
| 1 litre a plant / dripper, with an EC value (fertilizer | | | | conductivity particularly in the major elements. Initially |
| plan), which you like to start off in the crop. | | | | the pH in the bags may fall to levels below 5.0. This |
| After Plantingo Bring 35% from the Potassium back | | | | occurs as the organic matter in the bag begins to |
| in the fertilizer plan (based on a regular fertilizer | | | | break down. Low pH has shown no adverse effects |
| plan).o Start off with a 0.2 higher drip EC.o Send | | | | on the crop, but it is recommended that the feed pH |
| after 2 weeks a new water sample out.o Make a | | | | be held on the higher side just below 6.0. as watering |
| new fertilizer plan on those results.o Give after | | | | amounts increase the pH in the bag will also increase. |
| planting in begin frequent water (short shots), so you | | | | Watering Strategy |
| prevent drying out of the blocks through the coco | | | | The watering strategy for cocopeat growbag differs |
| slabs.o When necessary to control the plant, you can | | | | from that of rockwool growing medium. Due to the |
| stop with dripping water for a couple of days, when | | | | nature of Coconut Coir and its capillary action the |
| the plants are fully rooted in. | | | | bags should be watered at low frequency and higher |
| During the seasono Drip during the season with | | | | duration times. Total water volumes will remain the |
| longer drip rounds.o Put always extra (15%) Iron and | | | | same or slightly lower but delivery of the solution will |
| Manganese in.o Keep an eye on the 1st drain of the | | | | be in larger volumes per watering. |
| day, coco start draining when it is 100% saturated, | | | | In early crop plantings it is recommended that |
| this means coco drains average later (rock wool | | | | moisture levels in the Cocopeat Growbags be kept |
| drains a little gradually).o Coco has over the average | | | | low as root development in Coconut Coir can be |
| a higher pH (don't worry).o The plants grow on the | | | | quite rapid and large. This may result in Odeima if |
| average more vegetative on coco; adjust your | | | | water levels are allowed to remain high in low light |
| climate to it.o Drip the double concentration of a | | | | conditions. After the plant is put on the bag it is |
| pesticide on coco then rock wool, when you have to | | | | recommended that watering should occur only until |
| use it, because the organic structure of the slab, | | | | the roots are established in the Growbag. Watering |
| coco binds pesticide.o Stop on the average a little bit | | | | should then stop until the roots are thoroughly |
| earlier with dripping at the end of the day then by | | | | established in the Growbag, reaching the bottom of |
| rock wool. | | | | the bag. |
| Method 2o Charging of Soilteck cocopeat slabs.o | | | | Once this has occurred, normal watering may |
| Cocopeat is very high in Potassium, but low in | | | | commence but with little leachate, about 10% |
| Calcium. It is therefore necessary to charge the bag | | | | maximum. When fruit development begins, water can |
| with high levels of Calcium to bring these levels in | | | | then be increased to a 20% leachate. Water |
| proper balance. To do this, charge solution is changed | | | | quantities per Growbag will depend on environment |
| so that the amount of Potassium used is replaced by | | | | and plant development. |