First...how do I do it right?
Water so much that a little water runs out of the bottom of the pot every time you water it (drain).
Water evenly so that the whole surface is evenly covered with water.
After watering, lift the pot to see how heavy it is.
Then wait until it has become noticeably lighter (at least half) and only then water again.
A rough guideline for the amount of water to water is about 1/3 of the volume of soil, i.e. 2.5 - 3 liters of water should fit into 9 liters of soil per watering before water running off can be seen at the bottom of the pot.
So that the soil can absorb enough water, it should be compacted a little by hand when potting, especially the bottom third. You can tell that you have potted it correctly when 1/3 of the volume of water fits in the pot before it drains.
When potting or repotting, always water thoroughly and then determine the starting weight. "Watering thoroughly" specifically means: letting the soil soak up and saturate with water so that there are no dry spots in the soil. Dry soil cannot be accessed by the roots.
Good day, dear forum members.
After I discovered that the most common mistake (even before over-fertilizing) in plant care is incorrect watering, this calls for a short guide that can be linked in such cases.
There are several watering methods that work and I will only describe one that has proven itself in practice and is easy to follow even for beginners. This can be practiced from the moment the seedlings are born. It should be noted that freshly germinated plants
need a correspondingly longer time to use up the water from the first watering due to a lack of root mass.
One week to 10 days is not uncommon here.
But first, let's look at the possible symptoms that plants show when they are watered incorrectly. A very common type of damage is...
1. Over-fertilization.
The tips of the leaves turn yellow or the middle/upper leaves show yellowish discoloration, which increases from the inside to the outside.
Cause: Watering too often or watering too little.
Example:
11L pot capacity, watering 0.5L every day, no drainage (no water running off the bottom of the pot). Since every grow or potting soil is pre-fertilized by the manufacturer, the salts collect in the lower part of the pot and lead to over-fertilization. This is particularly difficult for beginners to recognize, but even advanced gardeners sometimes wonder why their plants show signs of over-fertilization even though they have not fertilized at all or only very sparingly.
...
The time it takes for the pot to become lighter can vary greatly and depends on the situation of the plants.
Examples: Plants that have been freshly repotted and well watered towards the end of the veggie season do not need any water for 8 days. For plants that are in the middle of the flowering stretch under 600W, the pot can be so light after just 48 hours that it needs to be watered again. The only thing that matters is the weight of the pot and not the time between waterings! This also applies 1:1 to young plants and seedlings. If seedlings are freshly watered, then depending on the conditions, they may not need any water for a week to 10 days. Experience has shown that Jiffys do not retain moisture as long as potting soil and should be checked after 2 - 3 days. Proper watering also helps to prevent pests, as fungus gnats in particular love soil that is constantly moist. If fertilizer is administered, it should be mixed well with the watering water before watering so that it is evenly distributed in the pot. Large amounts of fertilizer on dry soil should be avoided. Do not leave the excess water in the saucer, pour it away. Let's move on to the second most common symptom... limp, yellowish drooping leaves, the plant looks "sick" overall. These are the
typical consequences of...
2. Overwatering. In a later stage, the leaves turn brown and spotty, the plants stop growing completely.
Cause: Due to the constant "underwater state", the plant lacks oxygen in the soil and the roots rot.
Remedy/avoidance: see instructions above.
Too little watering also happens, but is very rare indoors, as growers (especially beginners) always mean too well with their plants... too much water, too much fertilizer or both. It feels like 90% of all "deficiencies" for which advice is sought can be traced back to this.
If the plants have not been watered for too long outdoors or indoors in pots, the following things should be observed:
A so-called . "Pouring edge", i.e. a gap is created between the soil and the pot at the edge of the pot...the wider it is, the drier the soil is (shrinkage).
Semolina edges
this is written from legendary european grower! not from me!
