Frequent Watering vs. Once Daily: HUGE Difference

[NPK]

So, I recently put ten Shit seedlings in my veg space. I only had nine one-gallon pots, though, so the tenth stayed in its 4x4 pot--too small for a dedicated feed line. I've been hand-watering that one for the time the plants have been vegging (about ten days).

These plants started out the same size, but they sure didn't stay that way:

No doubt about it: frequent watering is extremely effective!

 

[Guest]

Nice!!! I'm switching from hand to drip watering after harvest and was wondering about this. Nice to confirm what I was already thinking.

Ya gonna keep the thread going throughout the grow? If so I'm getting a front row seat.

 

[Ono Nadagin]

I agree coco will take freq waterings and shine.... should try a clone side by side

 

[BlueHaze]

I might have to try and see for my own self. Not doubting you. I like hands on experience. Good comparison.

 

[NPK]

Yeah guys, it's been an eye-opener. The are eight other larger plants that also testify to the effectiveness of more frequent waterings. Granted, they also had more root space to spread out in, but I still think the more frequent watering speaks for itself! It can surely shave several days off one's veg time.

Mojo, my little ole outdoor thread is enough to keep me busy here; this is more of a quick "check it out."

 

[Guest]

So, I recently put ten Shit seedlings in my veg space.

hahahahahaha....

 

[aeric]

you should be nicer to your plants and tell them you love them after calling them that lol.
plant on right: OMG! why are you so mean?
plant on left: whatever dude...im blowin this popsickle stand!

 

[SEEDYNONO]

is it mr. nice Shit?

 

[dusto2k3]

well, they look like Shit...LoL

 

[jojajico]

two things the plant is def bigger lol but the internodes dont look as tight... maybe watering has an effect on stretch and finding the right water pattern is the key to getting good size and tight nodes.

 

[aeric]

I've always been an advocate of more frequent watering cycles, but in the old days by slightly underpotting and adding more perlite to a peat soil, or with rockwool. Now with coir it's simply the best way to do it. At least once a day, if not 2-3 via auto drip. Nice comparison NPK. I think Gaius first brought this up....with long wet dry cycles in coir you just don't get the same benefits, not much different from a good soil.

 

[Neptune]

hard to tell what the cause and effect actually is when it is not a controlled test.

the pot size is a critical factor here, and becuase they are different sizes... it is unclear what effect the frequent watering actually had on the plants.

plant 2 identical clones in same sized pot, same medium, right next to one another. one gets hand watered, one on a multi-daily dripper. that would show you what the multi daily dripper vs. hand water does

no doubt there is an effect, but exactly what the effect is can only be seen in a true controlled scientific test! It is my opinion that the pot size is more important than the watering

 

[B.C.]

I agree with Neptune

I agree with Neptune

It woulda been more fair in the same sized pots.I can tell ya from exp with soil grows the more ya can water the faster and bigger they'll grow,it increases the amount of air they get.This is why I've always suggested ta cut yer soil with perlite and add a ton of holes to yer container/pot.This is key ta growin in any medium (the more air the better).But from what I've read ya need ta keep the coco wet or it will tend ta lock out K,mag and cal(?).Somethin ta keep in mind.Take care...BC

 

[NPK]

Hey guys, thanks for checking in.

you should be nicer to your plants and tell them you love them after calling them that lol.
plant on right: OMG! why are you so mean?
plant on left: whatever dude...im blowin this popsickle stand!

Ha! I hafta say, Shit isn't the best product name. Easy to remember though.

is it mr. nice Shit?

Correct, sir. I can already smell the skunk parentage and haven't even started flowering 'em.

hard to tell what the cause and effect actually is when it is not a controlled test.

the pot size is a critical factor here, and becuase they are different sizes... it is unclear what effect the frequent watering actually had on the plants.

That's a good point about the pot size Neptune...probably did have an effect on the outcome. Still, since automating a couple of months back with 4-5x daily waterings I've been amazed by the speed of the growth rate. It's faster than anything I've ever seen before. I've actually had some problems rotating my perpetual harvest (and controlling my canopy) because of it--had bigger plants sooner than I expected, and no space for them.

Still, I'm tempted to do this as a real controlled experiment, as you suggest. I just might do it with the next run: six one-gallon pots getting five-times-daily waterings, and six getting hand-watered once a day. Be real interesting to see the results.

 

[jojajico]

Hey guys, thanks for checking in.


Ha! I hafta say, Shit isn't the best product name. Easy to remember though.



Correct, sir. I can already smell the skunk parentage and haven't even started flowering 'em.



That's a good point about the pot size Neptune...probably did have an effect on the outcome. Still, since automating a couple of months back with 4-5x daily waterings I've been amazed by the speed of the growth rate. It's faster than anything I've ever seen before. I've actually had some problems rotating my perpetual harvest (and controlling my canopy) because of it--had bigger plants sooner than I expected, and no space for them.

Still, I'm tempted to do this as a real controlled experiment, as you suggest. I just might do it with the next run: six one-gallon pots getting five-times-daily waterings, and six getting hand-watered once a day. Be real interesting to see the results.

very cool man we look forward to it. make sure to average the height and yeild of both groups instead of just takeing the best and worse from both groups. even clones dont grow exactly the same do to enviornmental issues.

 

[Guest]

anyone know what the leaf curl in the dripper fed plant indicates? I've been seeing these kinds of curling leafs with coco that i havent seen before growing in soil with the same strain....

 

[Guest]

OK, would someone mind helping me carry all my popcorn over to NPK's other grow? Apparently these are shit anyway. lmfao.

Thanks for telling me, hate to sit in the dark. lol

Peace

 

[WhiteWolfman]

I have a question pertaining to this subject.

I use a peat/coco/casting/perlite/amendment mix and was wondering if it is still okay to do such frequent watering if you have peat & castings in your mix?


or is this method for just pure coco?


pulling up a seat

 

[NPK]

very cool man we look forward to it. make sure to average the height and yeild of both groups instead of just takeing the best and worse from both groups. even clones dont grow exactly the same do to enviornmental issues.

Good point about clone selection, jojajico. I'm going to choose the most uniform ones I can. No favoritism here!

anyone know what the leaf curl in the dripper fed plant indicates? I've been seeing these kinds of curling leafs with coco that i havent seen before growing in soil with the same strain....

z0r, leaf curl usually indicates over-ferting, which is probably easier to do in coco than in soil. You're right--I hadn't noticed it before but there is a little bit of curl on a couple of the bigger one's upper leaves.

OK, would someone mind helping me carry all my popcorn over to NPK's other grow?

Hey man, my other thread is here:

http://www.icmag.com/ic/showthread.php?t=52998

I'm behind on updates, but that grow is going really well! Helps compensate for the powdery mildew I'm fighting indoors.

I use a peat/coco/casting/perlite/amendment mix and was wondering if it is still okay to do such frequent watering if you have peat & castings in your mix? or is this method for just pure coco?

WW, I can't speak with perfect authority to the watering frequency with your mix because I've never worked with one like that before. It sounds like it's made up of mostly soilless elements and therefore might take well to more frequent watering--you might want to just try it for a few days and see what happens. When coco is mixed in with soil, one should treat the medium like earth and water accordingly (every 2-3 days). When used alone, or cut with perlite, you'd follow a hydro watering schedule. In your case it's hard for me to say because you've got quite a lot going on in your mix with the worm castings and whatnot.

I started out using a coco/perlite mix; now I just use straight coco. It's simple and highly effective!

 

[-VT-]

Great job NPK!!

Great job NPK!!

Nice to see someone step up...and for those that feel something's lacking...step up and do the side by side yourselves
I'm surprised some doubt the findings The hydroponic approach to irrigation is highly superior....I'm shocked anyone would be in doubt

I might have to try and see for my own self. Not doubting you. I like hands on experience. Good comparison.

Agreed
Always is best to see things for yourself....I speak from experience

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