I used Eazy Plug to germination and it worked very well. I dipped one to water which ph was 5.9 and it took only 3 days to show first leaves and 5th day i transplanted it to final pot.
The Browning looks like a nutrient deficiency, PH is too high for coco should be between 5.5 and 6.2 with 5.8 regarded as the sweet spot. The ec is also little high 1.8 to 2.2 from feed charts.looking back through the veg stage in sure by having such a high ec and PH, the plant has nutrient burn and locked out.