Drain Guide
The Drain Guide
Drainage is crucial to prevent salt buildup in the medium. Here's how to properly water soil and coco.
SOIL
Soil buffers nutrients. Too much drainage can wash away important microorganisms.
10% - 15% Drain How often?Not necessary with every watering. A light drain every second or third watering is ideal.
COCO (Coconut Coir)
Coco is inert and aggressively stores salts. Drainage is vital here.
15% - 20% Drain How often?Mandatory with every watering. The medium should never dry out.
Why is drainage so important?
Plants absorb water, but often leave some of the mineral salts behind in the pot. Without drainage, the concentration of these salts (the EC value) in the medium will continue to rise until the roots can no longer absorb water (nutrient lockout).
Caution with Coco: If you water coco without drainage, you risk toxic salt accumulation within a few days!
Pro Tip: Occasionally measure the EC value of the runoff. It should not be more than 0.4 mS/cm above the value of your nutrient solution. Is it higher? Then water with more runoff next time (approx. 30%) to "flush" the medium.
