Stupid question I know, but im not sure exactly whats dry soil wise, i mean soil; comes slightly moist. If im waiting for things to dry out in between watering, back to about the moisture it was at the start, just barely damp? the top few inches get brown dried out and completely dry, seems like I wouldnt want the whole pot to get quite that dry?
what is dry?
- Thread starter saltesp
- Start date
strangerdude562
Well-Known Member
When it's barely moist is when you should water, r you can get an $8 moisture reader that let's you know when you should water.
la9
Well-Known Member
Water once a week, you will see the soil dry up way past your safety zone but the plant will be alright. It needs oxygen just as much as water and the better you get the 50/50 split the better off your plant will be.
I just got one of those cheap moisture meters to dial in exactly when to water but in the mean time once a week has worked for me for years.
I just got one of those cheap moisture meters to dial in exactly when to water but in the mean time once a week has worked for me for years.
gangjababy
Well-Known Member
forget about the moisture meters...
I tell by the weight of the pot, when it's light I water. You an also tell by sticking your finger in the soil and if the top 3 inches are dry water them. Just make sure not to keep the soil continually moist.
I tell by the weight of the pot, when it's light I water. You an also tell by sticking your finger in the soil and if the top 3 inches are dry water them. Just make sure not to keep the soil continually moist.
strangerdude562
Well-Known Member
Do not water once a week, that can stress the plant, make sure it's watered when necessary.
la9
Well-Known Member
Must not stress them too much with the results I get.
strangerdude562
Well-Known Member
la9
Well-Known Member
It really doesn't matter if you have the plant in the right size pot unless you have extreme heat problems. All the soil could go dry and the plant will maintain for a couple days afterwards. The soil needs to dry out so the oxygen can get to the roots, the roots get very little oxygen while the soil is moist so drying out is a good thing and a normal part of a plants life.
Plus the plant will wilt if it dries out too much, I guarantee most people will water way before this would ever happen, that plant recovers in about 5 minutes. I'd rather take a chance of underwatering the plant than overwatering, and I doubt a normally rooted plant in the right size pot is going to suck all the moisture out of the soil in less than a week, let alone stress it any.
Well, I am running big pots, not sure on the gallon size. but the top 3 ish inches are fully dried out. and its been 3 days since watering. when i dip my fingers in there all nice like, its moist, but not wet. bout the same if not dryer than fresh out the bag.
tallicagolf
Well-Known Member
Bad advice. What works for you doesn't mean it works for everyone, it depends on pot size, plant size, and heat. If I watered once a week my plants would not make it. I have to water every 2-3 days, and thats with the soil getting very dry.
OP, water when the top 2-3 inches soil are dry it's the general rule of thumb when it comes to watering around here.
la9
Well-Known Member
That is about as far from bad advice as you can get. Most people over water their plants and by watering once a week you narrow the chances of that pretty far. If your plants wilt between that time you how long you can go between waterings and adjust accordingly but if the plants don't show any signs of underwatering then you are good to go. Once a week gives the plants time to absorb the moisture from the soil and get the oxygen they need for the roots, simple as that.
la9
Well-Known Member
Most people in soil either start in a 5 gallon bucket or transplant accordingly as they go. It still won't make a difference because of the bigger size pot, bigger plant, bigger water retention.
You can definitely make it once a week, if the plant dries out by wilting then you can bump it up to twice a week. Usually you have to be generating a lot of heat for that to happen or aren't watering the plants very much to begin with.
Sounds, and looks, like you should be fine for another couple of days yet. It's best to forget how the soil originally felt in the bag, as this factor can vary wildly depending on type of soil, where it was stored etc.Well, I am running big pots, not sure on the gallon size. but the top 3 ish inches are fully dried out. and its been 3 days since watering. when i dip my fingers in there all nice like, its moist, but not wet. bout the same if not dryer than fresh out the bag.
Since those plants are small in comparison to the pots, you will not have to water as often, as they will only have roots in part of the soil area. As they fill the pots more, you will have to water more regularly.
You should allow the medium to dry out fairly well before watering. This encourages quicker root growth, and also ensures that the roots get access to oxygen. It takes far longer to kill a plants from underwatering than it does from overwatering. It's like the difference between suffocation and starvation for humans.
Don't water on a set schedule. Water based on the weight of the pot and/or the feel of the top few inches of soil, which should be dry, not moist. Water thoroughly until there is some run-off from the drainage holes, then don't water again until it needs it. This is known as a wet-dry cycle.
Overwatering has many risks that can mess your plant up, including root diseases, mold/fungus problems, infestations of various bugs etc. Underwatering, whilst stressful to the plant, has far fewer problems associated with it, and the plant usually recovers quickly. If ever in doubt, wait one more day.
jrizzle79
Active Member
I like the weight of the pot theory. When its dry the pot is very light. It needs water. 1 gallon of water weighs around 8 lbs. That should be easy to tell the difference between wet and dry just by several pounds of weight difference. Under watering is better than overwatering also.