Watering Tips In Living Soil

[TankHankerous]

I have a couple questions for the experienced growers about watering. I'm in 5 gallon pots of ffof/perlite/ewc with dr earth ferts in the 2nd week since flip. Typically I water about 1 gallon in each pot and get minimal runoff every 3-4 days. I hear different theories on watering to runoff and the amount of water per pot size. The other question I had was if the pots feel light but the leaves are praying, should I water or wait until the leaves drop down a bit?

Thanks for any help

 

[Skopes120]

I transplanted to my mud a week and half ago and leaves are clawing and turning black from bottom up. Do you know anything about this?

 

[Tracker]

What is the environment like? Temps/humidity?

Were the plants hardened off to the outdoor conditions before you put them in the ground?

Have you closely inspected under leaves for pests or signs of pest damage?

What is your feed/water schedule like?

What's in the soil? Is it amended with anything? Do you know the pH?

Have you sprayed with anything?

More info is better.

 

[green_machine_two9er]

WAter everyday Less swing in moisture levels in more beneficial for soil.

 

[Hiphophippo]

I’d say water everyday or every other to keep consistent moisture in the soil. Like green machine said the microbes will work the best that way and having a little runoff is good just don’t flood it and have a bunch.

 

[TankHankerous]

Thanks for the responses so far! Ok so water more frequently with less volume. I heard something that cannabis enjoys a wet/dry cycle. How can i maintain this cycle while keeping the medium moist? Or does this only apply to non soil grows?

 

[CaliRootz88]

Fabric pots help aeration. Adding aerated material to your medium such as perlite or volcanic rocks will increase oxygen in the root zone.
@TankHankerous

 

[Tracker]

Thanks for the responses so far! Ok so water more frequently with less volume. I heard something that cannabis enjoys a wet/dry cycle. How can i maintain this cycle while keeping the medium moist? Or does this only apply to non soil grows?

Sorry my previous comment was a reply to @Skopes120.

I water as needed based on the weight of the pot. I fully saturate the soil when I water, then I let the pot get significantly lighter before I water again. I use FFOF with salt nutes for feed in the pots. I feed 1/2 to 3/4 strength nutes with every watering. I don't push hard on the PPM/EC. I use tap water that comes out at about pH 8.4 and 200ppm. I pH down with ascorbic acid. I use GH Maxi series for my base nutes.

 

[Rozgreenburn]

I have a couple questions for the experienced growers about watering. I'm in 5 gallon pots of ffof/perlite/ewc with dr earth ferts in the 2nd week since flip. Typically I water about 1 gallon in each pot and get minimal runoff every 3-4 days. I hear different theories on watering to runoff and the amount of water per pot size. The other question I had was if the pots feel light but the leaves are praying, should I water or wait until the leaves drop down a bit?

Thanks for any help

Pics will help us help you!

 

[Rozgreenburn]

The leave praying is a strong sign that you need some Magnesium. Try adding some Epsom salts or Cal-Mag with your water every 3-4 days.

 

[Hiphophippo]

Thanks for the responses so far! Ok so water more frequently with less volume. I heard something that cannabis enjoys a wet/dry cycle. How can i maintain this cycle while keeping the medium moist? Or does this only apply to non soil grows?

It does but think of a organic grow more or a soil grow the better maintained soil and healthier soil you have a healthier plant you’ll have. letting your soil dry out to a natural level is fine but when you dig your hand into loamy dry ground it’s dry on top but rich and moist two inches in that’s what you want with your soil you want a nice protective top environment and rich moist not wet soil underneath

 

[Kushash]

Thanks for the responses so far! Ok so water more frequently with less volume. I heard something that cannabis enjoys a wet/dry cycle. How can i maintain this cycle while keeping the medium moist? Or does this only apply to non soil grows?

In my experience watering everyday works best after a plant has filled the pot with roots and works best when not watering to runoff but learning to keep the lower half of the soil more evenly moist while the top soil will dry out quickly each day from being heavily rooted allowing for plenty of oxygen to the roots. In this situation you are still getting the wet dry cycle in the upper layer of soil.

 

[Rozgreenburn]

I keep a layer of EWC covered by 1/2" of hardwood mulch above my flowering pot builds. It keeps the soil below from getting bone dry and hydrophobic.

 

[TankHankerous]

Thanks again everyone. I posted pics today of the grow in this thread:

Strayfox Gradenz- GMO Jungle

Strain: GMO Jungle from Strayfox Gardenz Medium: Happy Frog Soil amended with Earthworm castings, dolomite lime, and perlite. I know that Happy Frog already comes with some of this stuff in it already but I read one of LC soil mixes I think it was. The one part I messed up is I didn't get the...

www.rollitup.org

. I wound up watering last night and the plants are looking ok, aside from the praying. I'll look into ways to feed magnesium organically.