Watering coco coir

I have an autoflower in which I started in a 5gal pot of coco coir and perlite. I pre watered the soil before any planting to make sure it's not dry for planting. I know 5gal seems a lot for a seedling, but everything I've read online says autoflower shouldn't be transplanted and should start and end in the same pot, between 3-5 gal. I chose 5gal because my last auto in 3gal didnt do well.

My question is, what should I do if the pot is still heavy with water after 3 weeks? My plant looks fine, so I'm not sure how to get it to dry out so I can get on a normal watering cycle. I'll attach a pic to show plant quality.

Only thing I can say is.let it dry if you can poke loads of little holes in the coco all over obviously not thought the roots and put a fan blowing on them and up your temp to around 84 should help it dry out faster.

Keeprollinup said:

Only thing I can say is.let it dry if you can poke loads of little holes in the coco all over obviously not thought the roots and put a fan blowing on them and up your temp to around 84 should help it dry out faster.

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Awesome, I have a water meter for soil that pokes holes so I will use that and aim the fan. Thanks so much!

And just for the record I've never had any issues transplanting an auto having a good root ball is key and I just disagree with all the don't transplant autos.

Erin,
When you put a small plant in a large pot...only water right around the plant. You already found out what happens when you saturate the whole pot.

You received some good advice on drying.
Good luck,
JD

JohnDee said:

Erin,
When you put a small plant in a large pot...only water right around the plant. You already found out what happens when you saturate the whole pot.

You received some good advice on drying.
Good luck,
JD

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Thats how I've been watering, but I think my problem is never letting it dry out originally. Thanks JD

Erinr8 said:

Thats how I've been watering, but I think my problem is never letting it dry out originally. Thanks JD

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Im a little confused.. is the coco still wet after 3 weeks, even though you havent watered?

blowincherrypie said:

Im a little confused.. is the coco still wet after 3 weeks, even though you havent watered?

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No. I have watered. Problem was that I didnt let it dry out initially, so the water I've done has just added to the point where it's never dried out

Erin, Damp coco doesn't hurt anything but best not to have it dripping wet. Just use lass water next time. Keep feeding the little gal and it'll work out.
JD

Erinr8 said:

I know 5gal seems a lot for a seedling, but everything I've read online says autoflower shouldn't be transplanted and should start and end in the same pot, between 3-5 gal.

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Even Mephisto, who specializes in autos only, recommends starting in a smaller pot and transplanting. The "don't transplant autos" is a bunch of crap perpetuated by an unknown idiot.
Good luck.

PS - I hope you're not using plain water.

Good morning Erin...and happy 4/20,
I up-pot coco all the time. I'm getting the hang of it. Trick is to let the roots fill the pot, wait till it's super dry and when I turn it upside down and slap the bottom...the whole intact rootball pops out with no damage to roots. I can't imagine that that would delay an auto...but I don't grow them...
Cheers
JD

MickFoster said:

Even Mephisto, who specializes in autos only, recommends starting in a smaller pot and transplanting. The "don't transplant autos" is a bunch of crap perpetuated by an unknown idiot.
Good luck.

PS - I hope you're not using plain water.

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Stoner Science

MickFoster said:

Even Mephisto, who specializes in autos only, recommends starting in a smaller pot and transplanting. The "don't transplant autos" is a bunch of crap perpetuated by an unknown idiot.
Good luck.

PS - I hope you're not using plain water.

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I'm not using plain water. I adjusted my nutrients and am on a schedule, it's always proper ph and added nutrients, bloom and foliage pro by dyna-gro. I have cut back on the cal mag because I got an ec reader and found that my tap water is high in calcium already.