Watering Frequency for 5 Gallon bucket?

This year is supposed to be quite dry in August, September, and October... I was just curious how long my plants will be able to go without water in 5 gallon buckets..

1 day, unless your bucket is sitting in a swamp

Hey man im in aus but im sure it's not to different. We had a hot dry summer and I watered once and fed once a week outdoors, so like I would feed on Tuesday and water on Saturday. What ever you do just stick to the schedule and dont over water. You dont want root rot

I used 5 gallon pots last year and it was usually weekly but they defiently coulda gone for twice a week... they looked pretty sorry every watering day when it hadn't rained

Every strain has different preferences, see if your soil is dry w/ your finger and watch how your plant's leaves react to heavy waterings and dry periods - you'll get a sense of when they like to be watered. I like to give my plants periods of dry soil to make the roots start growing faster; and when I water them I know that they're really using any nutes I add to the water. GL

I agree with doublejj. If it is very hot you can expect to water daily or every other day. 5 gallons isn't a lot for outdoor plants. If that is your limit, I would start the plants later and keep them smaller. That's one of the reasons I prefer to grow plants in the ground. It is a lot more work digging holes, but soil in the ground stays cooler and you are only limited by how much you feel like digging. In either case, a thick layer of mulch will help to retain water. I used a water retaining polymer cryster called Soil Moist and that also helped save on watering

Thanks for the feedback everybody. Perhaps i'll look into getting some polymer crystals.. found a really good deal on them too. http://www.berriesunlimited.com/northern-blueberries/garden-saver-1-pound/prod_646.html $7.50 for 1 lb of polymer crystals.. hoping that is enough for like 6 plants.

BeastGrow said:

Thanks for the feedback everybody. Perhaps i'll look into getting some polymer crystals.. found a really good deal on them too. http://www.berriesunlimited.com/northern-blueberries/garden-saver-1-pound/prod_646.html $7.50 for 1 lb of polymer crystals.. hoping that is enough for like 6 plants.

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That seems like a good deal. One pound will be enough to last you the next 10 years! You don't need much. A few tablespoons per plant is plenty. Just follow the directions on the pack. I tend to play it conservative when I'm using products like that.

Had a few I started in Mid May last year from seed for a little extra smoke in 5 gal buckets. Just used some fluffy mix soil I got from a local nursery. They would fall under the post by sonar about starting later. During June only had to water them once a week. In July and August I hit them with a good water every 3 days after sundown just to be on the safe side of things. I could go a week though. There was one point in late August I was gone for a good 12 days and when I got back they were looking rough. It was hot though for sure. 90s to low 100 temps Another 2 days and they would have been done for.
In September and October I just hit them with their feedings once a week. Didn't have to water other than what was mixed with the plant food. The soil would get pretty dry in October though due to the larger root mass drinking it up. If they would have been put in there a month or so earlier I'm sure they would have had some issues. I doubt they would have even survived my absence in August if that were the case.
I'm giving the polymer crystals a try this year as well. Going strait in the ground though but I'm sure they'll help

I heard those polymers crystals were a no go for consumable vegetables and herbs... You guys notice any effects on taste and such

hey man i had 3 plants in 5 gallons a few years ago, watered them friday afternoon, And went back Monday mid day. 1 plant was deader the dead, and the other two weren't much better, 5 gallons are good and all but you gotta water them a hell of a lot.

I'm working on a way to set up a drip system for Nine 3gal pails grow some autos outside, never have to check on them.

Polymers are an absolute necessity.......you need to think about water retention more, i.e. mulch on top of the buckets and organic matter in your mix (which also helps retain moisture). Watering everyday outside sucks and it's labor intensive. The more you do to prepare early on, the less work will be necessary later on.

be ez said:

I heard those polymers crystals were a no go for consumable vegetables and herbs... You guys notice any effects on taste and such

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I never heard that before. As far as I know it is completely inert. I don't see how it would impart a nasty flavor. According to the manufacturer it is completely non-toxic and safe. I love the the stuff.

The brand Soil Moist also makes a product called Soil Moist "Natural" derived from cornstarch.

maybe i'll camo up some milk jugs and put a couple needle sized holes in the bottle so it will keep them waterred another day or 2 between waterings.

Last summer I had to water once or twice a day in 5 gallons and about every other day in 18 gallons

like doublejj said, once per day. I have personal experience with 5 gallons for the last 3 years. On the hot days, they can and will wilt considerably if a day one watering was skipped! Especially with the black plastic pots.. dries out really fast

it depends, just figure it out. if the plant looks a lil droopy and the soil is dry, you should probably water it. but usually it's every day to 3 days