Looks like it's time to revisit this thread, not that I've seen this one before but it is a good thread of MB, pros and cons.
I started using MB with coconut coir about 2019 and haven't looked back and why I probably missed this post originally but there's some good info here.
Someone talked about mixing/shaking bottles(?) No idea why. Here's the way I use the MB kit
I make 1 gallon of concentrate of each 3.
Measure out 76.8 grams of MB, 76.8 grams of calcium and 38.4 grams of epsom. Add each to a 1 gallon container and fill with water, tap water is usually best unless it is extreme. My tap is 7.0 pH and carbonate hardness about 220ppm. MB brings that pH down to around 5.8 and raises the hardness to 800+ ppm which is perfect for adult plants.
I don’t mix or even shake these jugs until I'm ready to use and then it's just a little each time to make sure all is in suspension.
For fertigations I fill a gallon container (I usually mix 20 gallon water jugs at a time and usually twice daily) 3/4 full of tap water and then add 1/2 cup of MB concentrate, 1/2 cup of epsom concentrate and then 1/2 cup of calcium concentrate IN THIS ORDER-ALWAYS. If you mix this out of order you'll experience nutrient lockout. Don't do it.
I also never mix or shake these jugs. Not needed, they are well mixed just by adding the concentrates and a little more water
I water (fertigate actually as it will always have nutrients) 3-5 x's a day and this can be set to water automatically. I've done it before and will do it again as this makes life very easy. I used 2 55 gallon drums, a pump and a timer and an aquarium air pump and defusers in the drums.
Plant growth will surprise you if you're use to soil growing and unlike soil you literally can't over water/fertigate. The more you fertigate the faster the growth.
Couple thoughts:
Never allow the coco coir to dry out. Keep it wet as it can be difficult to rehydrate. If it happens the best way to fix it is to put the pot in a bucket with fertigate water about 3-4" deep and allow the coir to suck that water up. Add more if needed.
This is huge: Always get 10-20% runoff when fertigating. Have I ever measured it? No, I guesstimate it and apparently I'm pretty good at it but if you need to measure it then do so to get an idea of how much runoff you need. More won't hurt the plants but it could dent your budget.
Be sure to have something to attach your plants to to keep them upright as they will quickly become top heavy. You'll be able to grow 5-6 footers in one gallon pots. 3-5 gallons will give you Trees and only suitable if growing outside.
The main negative of this style growing is all that runoff and what to do with it and no, you can't reuse it on your plants. I honestly don't know why but I've tried it and the plants begin to suffer within a few days.
I grow in a greenhouse and then flower outside and allow most of the runoff to go into the soil but you can collect it and use it elsewhere like lawns, garden beds, etc. just not everyday or you'll burn the grass/plants. Spread it around.
I've been gardening since I was a kid, some 60 years and I can't grow anything in soil near as well as coco and MB and I've grown pumpkins 5' diameter, 15' Sunflowers and many vegetable plants in that time but coco and MB put all that to shame.
I'm sure I'm forgetting things but I'll always try and be available to answer questions
just remembered this:
Thread 'Growing Cannabis in Coconut Coir with Hydroponic Nutrients'
https://www.thcfarmer.com/threads/growing-cannabis-in-coconut-coir-with-hydroponic-nutrients.162154/
Damn, I'm old and forgetful
Does coco and MB really work?
1 gallon fiber pots 2019 about 5' tall
Harvested a month ago (4 gal nursery pot) over 8' tall.
I can't see growing in anything else. I'm so impressed by the growth rate I no longer grow vegetables in soil and I grow veggies year round
and then i reduce calcium to half strength. I tried to eliminate it as there is some in the MB but there was too much fade.
