Watering question

Hey everyone. I just transplanted my plants from 1 gallon smart pots to 5 gallon smart pots 4.5 days ago. One has looked pretty droopy - not sure if it's overwatering during the transplant or just transplant shock. I've just been giving the plant time, but there hasn't been much improvement. I'm not too concerned because the plants have all continued growing the past few days, but I'd really like to see this one plant perk up again. Any thoughts/suggestions?

Also regarding watering - I have a water meter and at the bottom of all 5 gallon pots it says "wet", but the top 4" or so is showing "dry". Basically the entire 1 gallon of soil/roots that I transplanted is now dry, and the rest of the new soil in the 5 gallon pot is still moist. Should I water a little around the stem? What should I do? I'm about 3wks into veg. Oh, and I have the smart pots raised about 1" from the floor to aerate the bottoms.

Here's one pic of the 4 plants and a closeup of the one in question. You can see a happy plant next to her.

yeah. i just have to decide whether to water the top where the roots are now, or not water and make the roots stretch deeper where the water is...

i always like to let them really dry out a bit after up-potting so that the roots go searching. but i also really soak them good right after the transplant too.

UncleBuck said:

i always like to let them really dry out a bit after up-potting so that the roots go searching. but i also really soak them good right after the transplant too.

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is the roots searching thing stoner folk lore or a proven fact?
i think letting them "really dry out" would be detrimental, killing off fine root hairs.

am i wrong? do you use plastic or fabric pots?

I'm using fabric. The former 1 gallon portion is bone dry and compacted. But the plant itself doesn't look dry. I don't know. I was thinking maybe I'll try lightly watering one plant and see how it does.

vinny2times said:

I'm using fabric. The former 1 gallon portion is bone dry and compacted. But the plant itself doesn't look dry. I don't know. I was thinking maybe I'll try lightly watering one plant and see how it does.

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i was asking the other fella. i think the 1 gallon portion being bone dry is a problem.

water and spray with some seaweed extract.

CANNA rhizotonic or some such.

I think you're right. I just gave them each a cup or two of water with some seaweed extract just around the stem and the old portion. Going to see how they respond in the morning and if they look better I'm going to give a little more with some root treatment. Thanks for the advice.

Snooty said:

is the roots searching thing stoner folk lore or a proven fact?
i think letting them "really dry out" would be detrimental, killing off fine root hairs.

am i wrong? do you use plastic or fabric pots?

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Do roots search for water? Are you serious???

vinny2times said:

I'm using fabric. The former 1 gallon portion is bone dry and compacted. But the plant itself doesn't look dry. I don't know. I was thinking maybe I'll try lightly watering one plant and see how it does.

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Did you water them in after the transplant? If you did I wouldnt water untill the whole pot dries up some, if you didnt i would give each plant a little water around the stem

I watered them in their 1 gallons a day before transplant. Then I put them into 5 gallons of moist soil. That was 5 days ago. That's what I just did. Just a little water around the stem.

vinny2times said:

I watered them in their 1 gallons a day before transplant. Then I put them into 5 gallons of moist soil. That was 5 days ago. That's what I just did. Just a little water around the stem.

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You live and learn. Next time transplant your plants drier so the soil isnt so heavy( roots break less and less likely to get transplant shock this way) then water them into the new pot untill runoff

evergreengardener said:

Do roots search for water? Are you serious???

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in that context, yes i was being serious.
have you seen plants growing in DWC set up? they live in water and have more roots
in the same space than you'd have in a soil or coco pot.

Snooty said:

is the roots searching thing stoner folk lore or a proven fact?
i think letting them "really dry out" would be detrimental, killing off fine root hairs.

am i wrong? do you use plastic or fabric pots?

Click to expand...

yeah, there's video of it and everything. it's cool to see.

Hey everyone. The plant actually just needed some water. The old 1 gallon portion was just thirsty. Here I thought it was overwatered but it was underwatered. Thanks for all the replies.

UncleBuck said:

yeah, there's video of it and everything. it's cool to see.

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Links? Would be cool to see.