DaveCoulier
Well-Known Member
The guys growing without drainage holes are only doing themselves a disservice. That's plainly idiotic.I mean salt deposits. It is everyone in my salt based hydro set up and I've seen it on pots where salts are used.
I know people who grow in boxes with no drainage at all, they tell me that there is never salt buildup because they don't use anything but RO water and compost.
Will they get salt buildup? If so, it appears to be very slow and the plants are growing fine so it doesn't seem like they are being underfed.
just to be clear, I'm not promoting organic or saying anything bad about salts, just looking to know a bit more...
I found a big bag of salts at my dad's and told him this is like poison, it will ruin the ground. This was about 2 months ago. Now I am glad I didn't do something stupid and throw it out. I actually now plan to use it in moderation, so I am changing my views, just want to learn what is really going on.
Regarding salt buildup. It doesn't happen overnight. They'll likely experience no problems with it, and not because they are using compost. I use mostly synthetic ferts plus tap water, and plants dont have any buildup on the soil, nor have they reacted in anyway that would make me think I have salt buildup in the soil. And this is with most of them never being flushed in the 2-4 months they've been in the pots.
By the slow nature of organic ferts breaking down, it will leave less salts behind.In the link you posted it says this:
Manures and composts contain inorganic salts, organic salts, and insoluble organic forms of nutrients. But their salt content per unit of nutrient may not differ much from fertilizer, since their nutrient content is a lot lower, and they contain salts not necessarily needed for the crop. Also, as they decompose, the nutrients turn into salts.
This is part of my answer... It says that composts and organic materials eventually become salts. Like you first had said.
my question is do organics leave less residue or spent salts behind?
Just checking my understanding, can you confirm this statement?
When a salt is in the right environment (correct pH) it gives off an ion to the root, right? the ion is replaced with Hydrogen then then new (not fert) salt is useless to the plant and needs to be flushed.
This will help you some:
http://www.staugorchidsociety.org/PDF/IPAFertilizers.pdf
Going from 1-2 is a waste of time. If you were using organic ferts, I think going from 1-5 would be best, as you now have 4 gallons of fresh soil to feed the plant as opposed to 3.I use smart pots if that matters (quicker drying)
If I plan to flower in five gallon pots, what should I veg in and do I need more than one transplant?
I have some 1 gallon and 2 gallon pots. It seems that going from 2 to 5 would be better than 1 to 5. Is there a good ratio to use for this?
Would it be best to go 1,2, 5? or even buy a different size to be in the middle for 3 transplants?