Water not penetrating soil!

Hi I’m having a problem I’m growing gorilla bomb in 26 litre fabric pots they were left to dry to much the soil pulled away from the pot as it was so dry the water didn’t seem to be soaking into the medium like it’s staying dry a finger depth down any suggestions?? Thanks

Red4twenty said:

Hi I’m having a problem I’m growing gorilla bomb in 26 litre fabric pots they were left to dry to much the soil pulled away from the pot as it was so dry the water didn’t seem to be soaking into the medium like it’s staying dry a finger depth down any suggestions?? Thanks

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Use a drop of dish soap in your water, it will help.

yucca extract sounds good. once I read Dawn was the best soap to use. don't know why that stuck in my head.
https://www.rollitup.org/t/alternative-wetting-agents.567354/
https://www.rollitup.org/t/organic-friendly-surfactant-wetting-agent.457896/

Lol everyone had there methods and they all work. I use this stuff.... They have another version that's used as a surfactant for foliars.

Grow More 8016 EZ Wet Soil Penetrant 26%, 1-Gallon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CLVQF46/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_E61-BbBTXBYGF

I've had the same problem, I think. The bags are dry on top and around the sides for maybe 2 inches or more and still moist around the plant. When you try to water them it just goes to the sides and leaks out.

This is what I did even after being told it wouldn't work. I use 7 gal fabric bags with Super Soil.
If you spray the top of the soil to moisten it and wait for a little while for it to soak in enough to get it damp the water will soak in easier. In order to git even moisture in all the soil I slipped the pots into 13 gal kitchen trash bags. They fit almost like skin. This will slow the evaporation through the sides. Use a moisture gauge to check for consistency. When The moisture starts to even out just pull the bags down. When you water after that pull the bags up. Use your finger and make a ring about a inch deep just less than half way from the side to the plant. Spray it. Water it. Check it. Pull the trash bag down when the moisture is fairly even.

I have also found that if I don't do something like this there will be a 5 gal root in a 7 gal bag. The roots don't want to go where it's dry.

This works for me. Might work for you. Btw, I was cautioned a couple of times about mold between the fabric and plastic but haven't had any. If it gets damp it would only be for a short time, from a couple hours to a day.

The biggest problem with grow bags is that the roots grow out like an umbrella, until they " air prune ". The water literally drains across the top of the root mass and out the side. Drip systems help, and like dances ^ said, watering a little and waiting to water more helps a lot too.

A 6" stick of aloe vera per gallon of water works nicely for me.

Put the pot in a pan or saucer and fill the pan up with water. Keep filling it as the soil wicks it up.

Aloe or soap either will break water tension as well.

macsnax said:

Drip systems help

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Do you use a drip system? If you do would you describe it? And, would you put it closer to the side than the plant?

DancesWithWeeds said:

Do you use a drip system? If you do would you describe it? And, would you put it closer to the side than the plant?

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I do in my greenhouse, most pots have multiple heads. If it is just one, I put it right next to the base of the plant.

If you have some aloe vera growing, you can use the gel insides mixed with water as a wetting agent.

When you let your medium dry out like that, it becomes hydrophobic in an attempt to retain the last water it has left.
Don't do it again

Red4twenty said:

Hi I’m having a problem I’m growing gorilla bomb in 26 litre fabric pots they were left to dry to much the soil pulled away from the pot as it was so dry the water didn’t seem to be soaking into the medium like it’s staying dry a finger depth down any suggestions?? Thanks

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Get a stick, small diameter, put a pointy thing on one end, less than a pencil size (shish kabob skewer) aerate the soil (poke a bunch of holes into the soil all the way down) to get a channel for the water to go into instead of sitting on top.

Bernie420 said:

Get a stick, small diameter, put a pointy thing on one end, less than a pencil size (shish kabob skewer) aerate the soil (poke a bunch of holes into the soil all the way down) to get a channel for the water to go into instead of sitting on top.

Click to expand...

Thanks for all the reply’s yh this is what I had in mind but it does seem like there’s moisture further down into the pot it’s just the top has Dryed a lot and shrunk back I have been having trouble with temps though hoping to flip em to flower this week but obviously want to fix this problem first as I want them going into flower stress free also the soap liquid is there any particular one surely some contain stuff not good for plant growth? Thanks

This is one of my gorilla bombs a few days back if u zoom in to the lower left leaves on some plants I’m getting yellow blotches and the leaves that are suffering feel quite dry only a few of them and maybe one or 2 leaves on each didn’t look drastic but don’t want it progessing any ideas?

Has anyone ever tried mulching a fabric pot?

How does this sound. A drip system from a bucket with some aloe and something to poke holes in the soil. From the post here that sounds pretty much like the whole thing. I may do that this evening unless there is some reason not to (?).

Mine weren’t to bad after all I brought a wetting agent from the hydro shop gave them all a quick spray to moisten them up a bit then went round a gave them a good feed poked a few holes to make sure my feed penetrated all the way and it seems fine and by the weight of the containers they have held the water lol did get quite a bit running off at first though

Don’t think it’s a problem poking holes I just get slightly paranoid I’m aggravating the roots don’t wanna tear any roots while poking holes

All depends how solid your root ball is I spose mine ain’t long been transplanted so roots haven’t filled the fresh soil yet so was alright about poking around

A drop of sunlight helps. You can also scuff up the surface with your fingers first. Add just a bit of water and let it sit on the surface till absorbed. Then slowly add the rest of the water as the soil drinks it. Also you can water in the top of a rubermaid or some other water catcher and let the pot sit till it absorbs the water.

Cheers