How to Transition from Soil to Coco Without Ruining Your Rhythm

If you’ve only ever grown in soil, but are thinking about switching to Coco, you’re not the only one. Once you’ve got a few runs under your belt, it’s natural to want more control. Control equals tighter feeding, faster feedback, and cleaner results. Plus, the more you grow, the more you know. So is it time to transition from Soil to Coco?

Coco gives you that edge. But it’s not just a medium swap. It’s a mindset shift. Treat Coco like soil, and it’ll trip you up before the week’s out.

Here’s how to make the switch smoothly, without losing momentum or wrecking your rhythm.

Transition from Soil to Coco: It Isn’t Just Faster — It’s Hungrier

Coco doesn’t hold nutrients like soil does. It doesn’t feed your plants on its own. That means you’re fully in charge, which is great, until you miss a beat. Feeds move through Coco quickly, and they flush out just as fast. Skip a session or let the medium dry out, and you’ll see the consequences in real time.

That’s why your nutrient system needs to run smoothly from day one. Mills keeps it simple:

• Start-R builds strong early root systems, even in fast-draining coco
• Basis A&B delivers full-spectrum, pH-stable nutrition that’s easy to dial in
• CalMag (especially with RO or soft water) buffers Coco’s tendency to strip calcium and magnesium

You’re not just feeding more, you’re feeding smarter.

Get Your Watering Rhythm Right: Transition from Soil to Coco

Soil growers get used to deep, infrequent watering. That won’t cut it here.

Coco likes little and often, enough to stay moist, never saturated, and never bone dry. If your medium’s drying out between feeds, you’re off-beat.

Keep it consistent, and your roots will stay happy. Bonus? Coco holds air well and doesn’t compact, which means a breathable, oxygen-rich zone where your plants will thrive.

Dr Mills’ simple trick to stabilise rhythm:

Skip the nutrients once a week and use just plain water with CalMag at 1 ml per litre, adjusted to pH 6.5.

That’s slightly higher than what Coco normally prefers (which usually ranges from 5.8 to 6.2), but this approach creates a buffer for the medium, preventing calcium and magnesium lockout and allowing for reset nutrient uptake without stressing the plant. It’s like your plants’ cheat day.

Dial in Your pH and EC Early On.

Humans are what they eat, and Coco is what you feed it, and if you feed it junk, it will not be happy. To keep your plants healthy, start by ensuring your pH is locked in between 5.8 and 6.2, and check runoff to catch any drift before it causes damage. The same goes for EC. Coco doesn’t store salts like soil, which makes it easier to adjust the feeding strength. If you’re paying attention, that is.

The Mills Nutrient Calculator helps keep you in range without second-guessing. Check it out.

Four Common Mistakes That’ll Slow You Down

• Watering like it’s still soil: Skip feeds or let the medium dry too far, and your plants will show stress fast.
• Ignoring CalMag: Coco loves to rob calcium and magnesium. Even though Basis A&B packs a decent hit, some setups still need the extra buffer.
• Pushing too hard, too soon: Just because Coco can handle more doesn’t mean seedlings should take the brunt of it.
• Not checking runoff: Your numbers won’t lie. If pH or EC levels drift, your roots are already feeling the impact.

Make the Switch. Keep the Rhythm.

Going from soil to Coco doesn’t mean starting from scratch. It means adapting. The transition from Soil to Coco is about adapting, not starting over. Coco moves and responds well and rewards those who put in the hours. Mills nutrients work seamlessly across both Soil and Coco, so we’re not taking sides on this one. It comes down to preference and resource. If you have the curiosity, time and patience, why not go loco for Coco?