So I was wondering if there's any rule out there when it comes down to watering. In the way of how much water to give it depending on the pot size it's in. Anyone got some ideas on this? Right now mine are in 1 gallon pots and i water with about 2 cups (500ml) each time. Does that sound out of place or off to anyone?
How much to water at a time?
- Thread starter EDB8888
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learing the ways
Well-Known Member
just water until it begins to flow from the drain holes, do it in small steps add like 500ml and see wat happens if it dont drain out the holes then add some more.also wen its watered enuff and draining pick it up and feel the weight of it, then in a few days see how dry the soil is and feel the weight again, eventually u get a feel for it. hope this helps.check my journal if you get time.
OregonMeds
Well-Known Member
Two cups? In a gallon of soil? Two cups is what you should be throwing away after it's soaked up all it can.
You don't want to water just a part or only until it runs out, that leaves dead spots in the soil. You stick that pot in a saucer or whatever and overfill it so there's plenty of runoff but let it soak 15-30 min so every inch of soil soaks up every drop of water it can. Then throw away the extra.
Multiple pots can fit in large trays to water all at once just by filling the tray and letting it soak up, but every so often you want runoff to just go away so you don't get salts built up from the nutrients you feed with. (mini flush)
Provided you let it go near dry before flooding you won't have problems with rot or overwatering or bugs.
Never ever only water a little bit.
You don't want to water just a part or only until it runs out, that leaves dead spots in the soil. You stick that pot in a saucer or whatever and overfill it so there's plenty of runoff but let it soak 15-30 min so every inch of soil soaks up every drop of water it can. Then throw away the extra.
Multiple pots can fit in large trays to water all at once just by filling the tray and letting it soak up, but every so often you want runoff to just go away so you don't get salts built up from the nutrients you feed with. (mini flush)
Provided you let it go near dry before flooding you won't have problems with rot or overwatering or bugs.
Never ever only water a little bit.
tusseltussel
Well-Known Member
i always went with tha water til 10% runoff thinking and i been thinking it and doing it for about 8 years
Biggravy22
Well-Known Member
I only give them 250 ml of water, and have never had any problems.
OregonMeds
Well-Known Member
Like I said it just creates dead spots in the soil. That means less roots, which means less growth on top.
You wouldn't know there was anything not performing 100% unless you tried both ways and could see the side x side difference in growth.
I admit though that the better the soil, the better it probably is already at redistributing moisture in the soil. Some do this well naturally, others you have to force to soak up water in the whole container. A mix with heavy draininge can run off most of the water before it has time to really even penetrate half the soil.
One of those YMMV things but when you follow a few grow contests and see those little things that make the differences, this is one of them.
You wouldn't know there was anything not performing 100% unless you tried both ways and could see the side x side difference in growth.
I admit though that the better the soil, the better it probably is already at redistributing moisture in the soil. Some do this well naturally, others you have to force to soak up water in the whole container. A mix with heavy draininge can run off most of the water before it has time to really even penetrate half the soil.
One of those YMMV things but when you follow a few grow contests and see those little things that make the differences, this is one of them.
panhead
Well-Known Member
Way too many variables for any experienced grower to give you a realistic answer,room conditions & plant needs play the largest role in watering.
Instead of trying to figure out an exact amount learn the signs of when to water,since your using soil as the medium you want the soil to dry about 90% between waterings,take your fingers & scarify the top inch or two of the soil,feel the soil for moisture content,then poke your finger down a few inches deeper into the soil,after a few times you'll develop a real feel for when the soil is dry.
After learning how to determine moisture content in the soil then you want to add water generously, until it flows freely from the drain holes.
The reason i allways reccomend the same watering technique to soil growers is this,the water needs of the plants will change on a weelky basis,they will also change drastically when the plants go into heavy bud production,learning to check moisture content is a much better way to be sure you water properly.
This method also has another benifit,every time you scarify the soil to check for moisture you dig up any bugs or larve that are below the surface,once exposed they bake under the HID's & die,this is extremely helpfull when you get attacked by spider mites.
Instead of trying to figure out an exact amount learn the signs of when to water,since your using soil as the medium you want the soil to dry about 90% between waterings,take your fingers & scarify the top inch or two of the soil,feel the soil for moisture content,then poke your finger down a few inches deeper into the soil,after a few times you'll develop a real feel for when the soil is dry.
After learning how to determine moisture content in the soil then you want to add water generously, until it flows freely from the drain holes.
The reason i allways reccomend the same watering technique to soil growers is this,the water needs of the plants will change on a weelky basis,they will also change drastically when the plants go into heavy bud production,learning to check moisture content is a much better way to be sure you water properly.
This method also has another benifit,every time you scarify the soil to check for moisture you dig up any bugs or larve that are below the surface,once exposed they bake under the HID's & die,this is extremely helpfull when you get attacked by spider mites.
perfect answer...
homegrwn
Well-Known Member
pan head knows his shit man listen to him... i use the finger in the soil and inch i do it all the way around this help with airation as well.. I know that you should water till you get h2o coming out of the bottom of the pot/cup/whatever your growing in... this could be more one day and less the next it wont probly ever be exactly the same... use your plant to guide you if it starts drooping dont use as much water the next time you water... and make sure make very sure its dry enough to water so you dont overwater... hense the finger in the soil an inch.