Run-off Watering Q for Seedling and Young AUTOS

[nanners1]

So I know you can transplant an autoflower, but that it is not advised. having that in mind, if i start my auto in the pot i plan to finish (3 or 5 gallon bucket) wont i root rot if i water to run off? im doing peat based medium and feeding every watering a dilute general nute (the newbie bandwagon method: bugbee).

Or how can I water to runoff safely? ive seen some say to only water a small circle around the plant until runoff... will that do it?

 

[jfarrismu]

I would question the general consensus that you can't transplant autos. Plenty of people do it. It's going to be pretty hard to control moisture otherwise.

 

[nanners1]

I would question the general consensus that you can't transplant autos. Plenty of people do it. It's going to be pretty hard to control moisture otherwise.

thats my thinking too, but ive never grown so, i want to cover these issues before i face them

 

[Budzbuddha]

It would more of an issue of watering such a young plant REGARDLESS of the container size.

If you flood the entire container to runoff with a small seedling then expect it possibly damp off because of it.

 

[quirk]

I germ my autos in peat pellets and transfer to pre-moistened, elevated, final 5 gal. container day after sprout. Thereafter, when medium becomes dry, I water with a 16oz. condiment bottle in a circular, outward radiating fashion, usually less than two bottles for the first two weeks. After that, I'll water to a very slight run-off (3-4 bottles) when medium gets dry. The key is not to water too often. You can't overwater a well draining medium. The problems come in when you water too often, keeping medium saturated, depriving roots of life giving oxygen. I use the bottles for 4 weeks or so then switch to a jug because the plant are sucking down 2 qts. every other day. This method gives me zero water related defects. Good luck.
Organic soil auto grower.

 

[nanners1]

I germ my autos in peat pellets and transfer to pre-moistened, elevated, final 5 gal. container day after sprout. Thereafter, when medium becomes dry, I water with a 16oz. condiment bottle in a circular, outward radiating fashion, usually less than two bottles for the first two weeks. After that, I'll water to a very slight run-off (3-4 bottles) when medium gets dry. The key is not to water too often. You can't overwater a well draining medium. The problems come in when you water too often, keeping medium saturated, depriving roots of life giving oxygen. I use the bottles for 4 weeks or so then switch to a jug because the plant are sucking down 2 qts. every other day. This method gives me zero water related defects. Good luck.
Organic soil auto grower.

thanks! although if you are an organic soil auto grower, its a little different isnt it? because, in my case im trying to avoid salt build up when watering (thus runoff) but in your case there is no build up from watering, right?

 

[Soul Dwella]

I germ my autos in peat pellets and transfer to pre-moistened, elevated, final 5 gal. container day after sprout. Thereafter, when medium becomes dry, I water with a 16oz. condiment bottle in a circular, outward radiating fashion, usually less than two bottles for the first two weeks. After that, I'll water to a very slight run-off (3-4 bottles) when medium gets dry. The key is not to water too often. You can't overwater a well draining medium. The problems come in when you water too often, keeping medium saturated, depriving roots of life giving oxygen. I use the bottles for 4 weeks or so then switch to a jug because the plant are sucking down 2 qts. every other day. This method gives me zero water related defects. Good luck.
Organic soil auto grower.

Love the ketchup bottle!