Compacted soil problems showing as over watering?

weedstoner420 · Feb 10, 2022

Mooregrow said:
Thanks for your reply how would I combat this? It’s been in the final container long before this happened, but I’m open to options to see what works

As others said some kind of wetting agent, and I'd either water a small amount several times until fully saturated, or let it sit in the runoff for a bit and soak it all up.

I got some bagged potting soil recently that was super dry and hydrophobic, took forever to get it rehydrated again...

Hollatchaboy · Feb 10, 2022

So OP, when you water your plants, does the water puddle up on the soil surface, or does it go right thru?

visajoe1 · Feb 10, 2022

agree with others that have mentioned, need to water correctly, with about 25% runoff, drench the pot. plants look irritated.

also needs food, feed 2.5ec on next wet/dry cycle.

then feed .75-2ec on every cycle, with runoff going forward

its ok to reuse soil, especially the kind you have, it just needs food

visajoe1 · Feb 10, 2022

also, this hydrophobic bs, is nonsense. i reuse my FFOF and it will be bone dry in buckets if not in use.

add water and it gets wet. wild, i know.

xtsho · Feb 10, 2022

"Many potting soils become hydrophobic—tending to repel water—when they dry out, and are difficult to re-wet. Gardeners may see water draining out the bottom of a pot and assume that means that the soil is saturated. But the water might be running between the side of the pot and the hydrophobic root ball instead, barely wetting the outer surface and leaving the center of the root ball dead dry."

Watering Hydrophobic Soil

Watering Hydrophobic Soil - UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County

mgsantaclara.ucanr.edu

Hollatchaboy · Feb 10, 2022

visajoe1 said:
also, this hydrophobic bs, is nonsense. i reuse my FFOF and it will be bone dry in buckets if not in use.

add water and it gets wet. wild, i know.

So you don't believe peat gets hydrophobic when dry?

visajoe1 · Feb 10, 2022

Hollatchaboy said:
So you don't believe peat gets hydrophobic when dry?

I believe my lying eyes more than the interwebs bro

xtsho · Feb 10, 2022

visajoe1 said:
also, this hydrophobic bs, is nonsense. i reuse my FFOF and it will be bone dry in buckets if not in use.

add water and it gets wet. wild, i know.

Rewetting dry soil in pots without plants is different than rewetting a pot with a plant in it where the center of the root ball has gone hydrophobic. The mass of roots and soil don't always soak up water from just top watering and will stay dry in the center no matter how much water you pour on the surface.

mudballs · Feb 10, 2022

bottom feed any media that's gone hydrophobic and in 1-2hrs it will be at perfect field capacity...no preservatives or additives, non-gmo, gluten free brah

Hollatchaboy · Feb 10, 2022

visajoe1 said:
I believe my lying eyes more than the interwebs bro

You may want some glasses.

PadawanWarrior · Feb 10, 2022

visajoe1 said:
also, this hydrophobic bs, is nonsense. i reuse my FFOF and it will be bone dry in buckets if not in use.

add water and it gets wet. wild, i know.

You're confused.

Hollatchaboy · Feb 10, 2022

mudballs said:
bottom feed any media that's gone hydrophobic and in 1-2hrs it will be at perfect field capacity...no preservatives or additives, non-gmo, gluten free brah

A saponin product will do that, and help build soil quality. My soil stays pretty soft, and I believe it's the saponin that's doing it.

mudballs · Feb 10, 2022

Thought it was capillary action?

PadawanWarrior · Feb 10, 2022

Hollatchaboy said:
A saponin product will do that, and help build soil quality. My soil stays pretty soft, and I believe it's the saponin that's doing it.

Gave mine yucca last night. My soil actually wants me to add it more often.

Milky Weed · Feb 10, 2022

I just read about this real cheap to make wetting agent in the korean natural farming called Jadam, seems like a good solution, but so far the peat i got with built in wetting agent has been working really well even when letting it dry pretty good.

PadawanWarrior · Feb 10, 2022

Hollatchaboy said:
A saponin product will do that, and help build soil quality. My soil stays pretty soft, and I believe it's the saponin that's doing it.

I think I just got the same one you use. Do you just add a little to the water or nutes, or do you premix it?

Hollatchaboy · Feb 10, 2022

PadawanWarrior said:
Gave mine yucca last night. My soil actually wants me to add it more often.

I add it every watering. I believe it's different for us with living soil though, but if your soil is peat based, you should probably use a surfactant at least once in a while.

PadawanWarrior · Feb 10, 2022

Hollatchaboy said:
I add it every watering. I believe it's different for us with living soil though, but if your soil is peat based, you should probably use a surfactant at least once in a while.

How much do you add each time?

Hollatchaboy · Feb 10, 2022

PadawanWarrior said:
I think I just got the same one you use. Do you just add a little to the water or nutes, or do you premix it?

I add about a quarter teaspoon to a gallon of plain water, but if I'm watering anything else (build a bloom, big 6 micros, compost tea), I add it to those also.

PadawanWarrior · Feb 10, 2022

Hollatchaboy said:
I add about a quarter teaspoon to a gallon of plain water, but if I'm watering anything else (build a bloom, big 6 micros, compost tea), I add it to those also.

This is the stuff you're using right?

BuildASoil Quillaja Saponaria Extract Powder 60%

Unlock natural potency with BuildASoil's Quillaja Saponaria Extract Powder 60. Our latest batch offers enhanced solubility and quality, sourced directly from Chile's finest. Ideal for gardeners seeking eco-friendly solutions, it's the premium choice for effective plant care. Order now and...

buildasoil.com

Compacted soil problems showing as over watering?

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