reducing outdoor watering times for autos in 5gals?
- Thread starter Unwanted
- Start date
DankBudzzz
Well-Known Member
Perlite isn't good for water retention but is excellent for drainage. I would say put a layer of gravel on the bottom and mix 25 % perlite, 25% vermiculite, 50% soil. That's what I'm doing as I found 50% perlite, 50% soil leaves me watering often
pabloesqobar
Well-Known Member
How many autos are you putting in a 5 gallon pot? Last year I had one Easyryder in a 3 gallon pot using FFOF. Because autos are so small, it went at least a week between waterings. My rootball never came close to filling up the pot. One autoflower in a fully watered 5 gallon pot would be good for quite awhile. Of course, it also depends on the weather where you're at.
veggiegardener
Well-Known Member
Gardening 101.
Mass amounts of Perlite or Vermiculite is a WASTE!
It holds neither water or nutrients.
All it really does is make the soil fluffy.
Clay is the #1 medium for water retention.
A 100% clay soil holds water so well, it will drown your plants, BUT a good potting mix(sans perlite or vermiculite) mixed with 10% to 25% clay soil provides adequate drainage and enormous surface area from which feeder roots draw water and nutrients.
I learned this when my beds varied widely in soil components, fifteen years ago.
The more clay in the soil, the bigger the plants(up to about 25%).
Take it for what its worth.
Mass amounts of Perlite or Vermiculite is a WASTE!
It holds neither water or nutrients.
All it really does is make the soil fluffy.
Clay is the #1 medium for water retention.
A 100% clay soil holds water so well, it will drown your plants, BUT a good potting mix(sans perlite or vermiculite) mixed with 10% to 25% clay soil provides adequate drainage and enormous surface area from which feeder roots draw water and nutrients.
I learned this when my beds varied widely in soil components, fifteen years ago.
The more clay in the soil, the bigger the plants(up to about 25%).
Take it for what its worth.
veggiegardener
Well-Known Member
Two weeks between waterings in a pot is too long.
At a minimum, check the moisture twice a week.
A hot sun on a windy day can suck ALL the moisture from a plant in a black pot.
A thick layer of mulch on top of the soil will reduce water consumption by around 25%.
veggiegardener
Well-Known Member
Use potting mix but add a shovel full of clay or native soil to each pot full of soil. Most potting mixes contain no clay.
Instead of rocks, I line the bottom of the pot with a couple sheets of newspaper.
This helps keep your soil in the pot, and lets the water drain slowly from the pot.
Using White pots, or painting your black pots white will substantially reduce soil temperatures, and evaporation. Or, you can place the pots so that no sunlight hits them directly. Small pieces of plywood can make this easy.
veggiegardener
Well-Known Member
Mold could be a real issue if the soil gets very little ventilation. The mulch will be enough.
Leave the mulch an inch or two away from each plant's stalk. Split a toilet paper roll and place it around the trunk to maintain a space.
pabloesqobar
Well-Known Member
As a growing medium, vermiculite's main purpose is water retention. Many potting mixes contain vermiculite. Including FFOF (Fox Farms Ocean Forest potting soil) which I use. With mild summers and decent rain fall, you could easily get by with watering once a week. I grew autoflower in a 3 gallon pot, in Southern California, and watered about once a week. With your climate and a 5 gallon pot, two weeks may very well be possible. Don't get too hung up on that lid idea, the suggestion of just using a layer of mulch sounds better.
Most people who grow in 5 gallon pots are growing plants as big as the pot will allow, usually 5 foot and bigger plants. Of course those will need to be watered more frequently. But you're growing a plant that will average 18 to 24 inches. Big difference in the amount of water needed.
Take the guess work out of it. Fill a 5 gallon pot full of your soil mix, plant a tomato, bell pepper or whatever, completely soak your soil, and see how long it takes between waterings.
The autoflower grow I did in the 3 gallon pot last summer is in the bottom link in my signature. That grow is towards the end, so you may want to start at the last page and work your way backwards.
Best of luck.
Most people who grow in 5 gallon pots are growing plants as big as the pot will allow, usually 5 foot and bigger plants. Of course those will need to be watered more frequently. But you're growing a plant that will average 18 to 24 inches. Big difference in the amount of water needed.
Take the guess work out of it. Fill a 5 gallon pot full of your soil mix, plant a tomato, bell pepper or whatever, completely soak your soil, and see how long it takes between waterings.
The autoflower grow I did in the 3 gallon pot last summer is in the bottom link in my signature. That grow is towards the end, so you may want to start at the last page and work your way backwards.
Best of luck.