Coir and Foliage Pro in self watering containers

4 years ago

I understand that plants grown in coir need to be provided with nutrients. I have 3 plants that I just repotted in self watering hydro containers. I surrounded and topped the original roots and soil with coir. Since I wont be flushing the soil, I was wondering if I should alternate FP feedings to once every other watering, or bring it down to 1/8 tsp/Gallon per watering, or both.
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I've also repotted my thyme in a coir/perlite 50/50 mix, also in a self watering container. The same question applies there as well.
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Please, PLEASE, don't start by telling me I need to change containers. It wont be helpful, since I will not do it. The reason I went with self watering is that I simply do not have the time for anything else, right now. My mother and my brother passed away within 25 days of each other, and I'm crumbling under the weight of everything I have to deal with at this time, and topped with grief as heavy as a mountain. All my plants almost died twice, because I simply could not remember to water them. The self watering pots stay until further notice.
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God bless,
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Atheen

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Comments (3)

seasiderooftop
4 years ago

My condolences @Atheen - 7a - in Maryland, USA

I can't even fathom how difficult it must be to face two losses like that in such quick succession.

I think in time, caring for your plants can bring some solace, but at the moment I am sure it is a burden you'd rather not have to think about.

I put two of my indoor plants in Lechuza self watering pots this year. The soilless potting mix they came with contains slow release fertilizer granules, so I am using a different system, but here's what I found on the Dyna Gro website:

"Interiorscape technicians can conveniently mix on

site 3 squirts per gallon of water (3 sqirts equal 1/4 tsp.).

Since Foliage-Pro® is a liquid, no messy stirrers are required.

If you use self-watering planters, you will find Foliage-Pro

and any self-watering planter to be a marriage made in

heaven. In fact Dyna-Gro Foliage-Pro is recommended by

the makers of the leading self-watering containers."

They don't say to lower the dose in a self watering system. I think that reflects their claim that the product doesn't cause salt buildups. So it seems the regular dose should be fine.

Now, my two cents: personally, I would go full strength, but every other watering. If that isn't enough, you can always bump it up.

https://dyna-gro.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/Foliage-Pro-Sht-2014.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwj2y4P4yrj0AhUji_0HHcIYD8YQFnoECEcQAQ&usg=AOvVaw2NOHJKJmWq2KPcg3sGJ1N7
Atheen - 7a - in Maryland, USA thanked seasiderooftop
Atheen - 7a - in Maryland, USA
Original Author
4 years ago
Thanks you for replying and for the link. You are right about not needing any aggravation right now. I'm just unsure about the coir. Its supposed to do great with hydroponics, but I think I remember a Tapla post a while back mentioning it interferes with nutrients consumption. I can't remember. I'm so tired.

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Atheen.

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seasiderooftop
4 years ago
I did some searching and yeah, it does seem that coco coir does lock out some nutrients. There are specifically formulated fertilizers for growing in coco coir, I can't recommend any because I don't use that medium alone but there are some from Advanced Nutrients, Plagron, etc.

Basically it seems to come down to a need to boost calcium, magnesium and iron. So those coco-specific fertilizers make up for it by having a higher amount of those.
Atheen - 7a - in Maryland, USA thanked seasiderooftop