I think I overwatered during transplant

vinny2times

Active Member
I transplanted from 1 gallon to 5 gallon smart pots 3 days ago. One plant still looks a little droopy. I'm thinking it's from overwatering. I moistened the new soil during the transplant, and ever since then it just hasn't looked right, although it's still growing. I keep my smart pots raised about 1" above the floor, and with the oscillating fan I'm hoping to dry it up asap, but there really hasn't been much improvement over the last 3 days. Is there anything else I can do? Besides not water anytime soon?
 

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OldMedUser

Well-Known Member
High Vinnie

You can't really overwater when you transplant. The new pot should be soaked completely then allowed to get almost dry before the next watering like usual.

It's likely just a little bit of transplant shock and considering how I treat my plants when I repot they should really show it but rarely do. I'll fill the new pot to the level that will have the soil level about an inch above the rim once the plant is installed as the soil will settle a couple inches after it's been soaked. The plant is already dried out to the point it was ready to be watered so the root ball holds together really good. I'll soak the new soil in the area the plant will sit then saw an inch off the bottom of the rootball with a bread knife to get rid of any long roots. Shave down the sides too if they are wound around on the outside. Then just fill the sides tamping it down with my fingertips and soak the whole thing down leaving it in the runoff for an hour or so to make sure that any dry spots in the pot have had time to soak up enough water. By the next morning they are looking like happy campers and really start growing fast.

Overwatering causes problems when the pot isn't allowed to get dry enough before it's watered again and that happens every time. It needs to dry out a lot so fresh air can get into the roots as they need oxygen to survive. When they are constantly soaked the water goes stagnant and then root rot can get going. When that gets bad the plant can't get water and it dries out which prompts new growers to water even more making it worse. The leaves look dried out and withered, not just droopy like what you are experiencing.

Hope that helps.

:peace:
 

vinny2times

Active Member
thanks for the reply. the other plants didn't show any transplant shock, so I'm surprised this one is still looking like that. It's been one of my healthier plants too. it's still growing - i looked at pics from 2 days ago and today and you can see some growth. i don't know... it's just being a little funny. nothing i can really do though huh...
 

Dynamo626

Well-Known Member
High Vinnie

You can't really overwater when you transplant. The new pot should be soaked completely then allowed to get almost dry before the next watering like usual.

It's likely just a little bit of transplant shock and considering how I treat my plants when I repot they should really show it but rarely do. I'll fill the new pot to the level that will have the soil level about an inch above the rim once the plant is installed as the soil will settle a couple inches after it's been soaked. The plant is already dried out to the point it was ready to be watered so the root ball holds together really good. I'll soak the new soil in the area the plant will sit then saw an inch off the bottom of the rootball with a bread knife to get rid of any long roots. Shave down the sides too if they are wound around on the outside. Then just fill the sides tamping it down with my fingertips and soak the whole thing down leaving it in the runoff for an hour or so to make sure that any dry spots in the pot have had time to soak up enough water. By the next morning they are looking like happy campers and really start growing fast.

Overwatering causes problems when the pot isn't allowed to get dry enough before it's watered again and that happens every time. It needs to dry out a lot so fresh air can get into the roots as they need oxygen to survive. When they are constantly soaked the water goes stagnant and then root rot can get going. When that gets bad the plant can't get water and it dries out which prompts new growers to water even more making it worse. The leaves look dried out and withered, not just droopy like what you are experiencing.

Hope that helps.

:peace:
masterful response. was going to say the same thing almost to the word. would like to add that microbes will help ease the shock. I find it helpful not to transplant until almost root bound then everything comes out in a plug. lastly every single time you water totally drench the soil. do not water again until almost totally dry. if you wait to long your plant will start to droop but when watered will perk back up within hours. overwatering creates a host of problems some that kill.
 

Dynamo626

Well-Known Member
thanks for the reply. the other plants didn't show any transplant shock, so I'm surprised this one is still looking like that. It's been one of my healthier plants too. it's still growing - i looked at pics from 2 days ago and today and you can see some growth. i don't know... it's just being a little funny. nothing i can really do though huh...
transplant shock comes from root damage or drastically changing the medium. going from hydro to soil, soil to hydro. its very likely that only one was damaged.
 

Chunky Stool

Well-Known Member
Good advice right there ^^
One thing that seems to help my transplants is applying microbes directly to the roots. I use a product called OregonismXL which is a gray powder.
 

Dynamo626

Well-Known Member
when it gets to ware i water every other day then its root bound. Easy to tell. Make sure its good and dry so there isnt a bunch of extra weight. Dont go smart pot untill final pot its harder not to damage roots when transplanting out of them. It takes practice even then its easy to fudge one up
 

vinny2times

Active Member
I keep my cool mist humidifier on to keep it around 50% RH. Without it, usually the humidity is around 40%. Should I turn it off? Or do I just have to wait it out.
 

Rolla J

Well-Known Member
I use botanicare rhizoblast during a transplant. I mix in about 1/2 tsp per gal ph water and water the new molded (shaped) transplant pot til runoff then transplant the next day. And water very lightly after the transplant Man i tell you they just take off! Good luck on your grow!
 

OldMedUser

Well-Known Member
I keep my cool mist humidifier on to keep it around 50% RH. Without it, usually the humidity is around 40%. Should I turn it off? Or do I just have to wait it out.
Keeping the RH up during veg and early flower is a good idea. You want to balance the RH to the temp so the plants don't suck up more water and nutes during low RH than they can process which leads to nute burn and toxic salts buildup. Or conversely not being able to draw up water and nutes because the RH is too high and the leaves can't transpire enough to get rid of water. Here's a nice little chart to help you keep the sweet spot for the best growth. My humidity is always too damn low so I've had to keep feedings on the low side.

bbm-chart-04-17-2017-resized.jpg
 

vinny2times

Active Member
interesting. my temp is 75 and i let my humidity drop to 45% thinking that would help. ill bring it around 60% and see if it helps. thanks man.
 
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