Dumb Question About Watering Frequency

[BenitoCereno]

O.K. As I've mentioned in other posts, I've switched from DWC to soil as a flavor experiment.

7 days ago I transplanted into 1.5 gallon buckets for vegging. At that time I did a complete feeding/water.

My moisture meter still reads that the soil is moist.

There is proper drainage. I know that. The plants are not sitting in mud.

Is it normal for plants to go 10 days or more without a watering?

 

[sproutco]

You soil sounds heavy. The plants roots have not grown into the soil yet so it may take along time for the pot to dry out. You can, with soilless mix, feel the weight of the pot by lifting and know how much water is in there.

 

[ebbnflow]

it depends how big they are, if there in flowering, or veg.

 

[ebbnflow]

If the plants are ALOT smaller than the container , it could take them awhile to drink all the water in the soil.

 

[highasakite]

i always wait for the dirt to dry out on the top like the first inch or so i have killed plants by over watering

 

[420KushMaster]

if the soil holds water for 10 days then ur good but they will start to die if no water is to be found as soon as 3 days. i was wondering how long it would take for them to start to show death and it was three days of no water and going down hill fast. they were only 1 1/2 feet tall im sure bigger plants can last longer. ect

 

[BenitoCereno]

Hmmmm...

Ocean Forest Soil with liberal amounts of chunky perlite and vermiculite...

Top of soil is bone dry but if you fork it up it is moist after an inch or so...Maybe I just transplanted too soon and the vermiculite is doing its job too...

 

[highasakite]

you will know when the plants need water. they will wilt give'em water and they will perk right up. i use the same soil you do the weed tastes fanphukintastic. i water every 3-4 days depending on the heat.

 

[bostrom155]

Hmmmm...

Ocean Forest Soil with liberal amounts of chunky perlite and vermiculite...

Top of soil is bone dry but if you fork it up it is moist after an inch or so...Maybe I just transplanted too soon and the vermiculite is doing its job too...

I think OF is peat based, which holds water, the verm is doing the same. I would leave out the verm and add more perlite. I bought a huge bag when I started now it's just used in my wick cloner. 10 days in a 1.5 gal, either your temps are very, very low or like sproutco said mix is too heavy. Measure out your perlite in gallon or whatever containers when you mix it up, then when you get a mix you like, you'll know the recipe

 

[Guest]

I would definately say that vermiculite is the culprit,10 days is too long for the soil the be wet every 4th or 5th day is about right.I use ocean forest also with some perlite and dolomite lime,my soil dries on the 4th day normally.Of course as the plant grows I'll find myself having to water every 3rd day then every other.It cant be too good for the roots for the soil to stay wet too long without drying out

 

[Teadaemon]

I would definately say that vermiculite is the culprit,10 days is too long for the soil the be wet every 4th or 5th day is about right.I use ocean forest also with some perlite and dolomite lime,my soil dries on the 4th day normally.Of course as the plant grows I'll find myself having to water every 3rd day then every other.It cant be too good for the roots for the soil to stay wet too long without drying out

If it is the vermiculite that's holding all that water, then the soil shouldn't be sodden. That's the whole point of using vermiculite as opposed to pure perlite - the vermiculite can hold the water and allows it to wick back into the soil as the soil dries out.

In my experience it's not uncommon for plants to go this long after watering the first time they're transplanted into big containers. I'd be guided by the condition of the plants - they'll show you if they're getting too little water, in plenty of time to do something about it.

Incidentally, the longest time I've ever left plants between waterings and had them survive was 17 days (in 7" pots as well). I don't recommend it (they produced a harvest, but a fairly small one), but since I'd just left them in partial sunlight indoors whilst I went off on my honeymoon and fully expected them to be dead and shrivelled, it was a nice surprise to see them perk up when I gave them a speculative soaking on my return.

 

[Suby]

I love that it's my turn to quote you Bostrom

I think OF is peat based, which holds water, the verm is doing the same. I would leave out the verm and add more perlite

I think verm. is useless in INDOOR soil grows, a freshly transplanted clone will take a week or so to really have roots in all the new soil so that too can dealy waterings.

Please don't wait till there's a crust at the top, if your going organic then dry conditions harm the microherd, this whole MJ likes wet/dry cycles is overstated and alot of nutrient lockout and salt buildup occurs when dry conditions are allowed to occur.

Peace

 

[bostrom155]

hey suby
even a blind squirrel finds a nut every now and then, me being the squirrel.
I like to help the little bit I can...lol

I think we need a couple stickys on the basics.
At least soil mixes, the basics to get started, etc. just thinking.

 

[dead_stoned]

i was useing a real heavy soil when my young plants became N deprived... i switched to Promix and i have 12 beautiful 2.5ft+ tall plants... you can get Promix at Ace Hardware's with a garden department. or a local nursery/greenhouse


i went from this



to this in four weeks

i have mine on a watering schedule, its a every four day thing with 1000ml a shot and it seems to be working fine... my bud sites are starting to look great.

 

[Guest]

how do i know when to water in a soilless mix? when i lift the pot im not sure how light it is supposed to be?

 

[Suby]

A totally dried up soil is very light so there should be significant weight difference when adequately moist, your trying to catch it before it reaches that dry weight, your going by feel here so it is a skill that requires a little actual growing to acquire.

A better way IMHO is to poke your finger in the soil, if it's dry water and as a rule water whenever the soil top is dry.

The reason dryer cycles are important in general is that equal amounts of ferts in a lesser volume of water means a greater fert concentration.
For organics this is a little different because of the use of a microherd to chew ferts for the plant, keeping the soil moist keeps the herd working.
I think alot of this has to do with improper amounts of hydroclay or better yet perlite, 30% by volume always.

Sub's

 

[BenitoCereno]

Thanks for all the responses guys...

I wish Jorge Cervantes' book was edited better!!! The information on watering in there is goofy.

I think that the transplant was the major problem. Next transplant I will not add any vermiculite to the mix. I have to leave on an ectended trip for a week so if my soil is a bit heavy at least I can leave with a clear concience...

 

[Guest]

BC try and get to a point where your plants are telling you when it needs water and transplanting,you do this by the frequency of waterings.Initially you should be watering every 4th or 5th day(in my experience) but as the plant grows and its root system expands,you find youself having to water more frequenty like every 3rd day or every other day.When my roots are sucking up the water every other day I know its time to transplant up a size.The whole idea is to forget about guessing,saturate the soil completely until you get a good amount of runoff,and see how long it takes until the soil dries and you have to water again

 

[cid420]

i dont think they will show signs of death too fast , i once had crop that never got waterd after the first month , lol forgot i planted them , yeah i smoke alot , anyway i found them again like 3 months later all budded and dry on the dead stems , not sure wether they got light or not im thinking not or passive light only though slots in the door to my micro grow , this was some time back and i didnt have internet back then so was bag seeds no idear what they needed other then light and water which they didnt get much of and still budded , wasnt much weed as i grew them to be starter plants in 4 ice cube trays yeilded 18 grams bone dry weed, and it was mid/high level stoned, more likly to kill your plants by too much water then to little

 

[glasspackedbowl]

O.K. As I've mentioned in other posts, I've switched from DWC to soil as a flavor experiment.

7 days ago I transplanted into 1.5 gallon buckets for vegging. At that time I did a complete feeding/water.

My moisture meter still reads that the soil is moist.

There is proper drainage. I know that. The plants are not sitting in mud.

Is it normal for plants to go 10 days or more without a watering?

I'd have to say no. THat means you did water the fresh(already damp soil) and its super soaked lol. I say that plants should go for 3 to 4 day and then need another watering. I usually wait for the plant to wilt/droop a little then I know its watering time.