Light Frequent Watering vs Spaced Out Heavy Watering

[GET MO]

Ive heard conflicting views on this. Some say one way, some say the other....
I usually would water real heavy and deep every 3-4 days, every 2-3 days during hot spells.
My folks tell me to water every day and just water less, never tried this, so figured Id ask the outdo fams opinion...

 

[usually]

never get into the passenger seat of a car with someone who says it doesn't matter.

usually day 3 after a heavy watering is when you see them look the best. so if it takes 30gals that means 10 gals per day keeps you at day 3 moisture levels and gets you better growth rates then someone with a spaced out watering program. i wouldn't call it light if it ends up being the same amount in the end.

 

[GET MO]

my concern with the frequent watering would be too much moisture, drowning out the roots and whatnot. Day 3 moisture levels would be allmost dried out with heavy waterings, day 1 or 2 seems more like what every day moisture levels would be.
I also dont see my plants looking the best at day 3. They always look the same level of goodness... lol!
Im going to give every day a try maybe for a week or so and see how they do, its hard to tell tho becuase they are at the stage of vigorous growth anyways so wouldnt really know whats causing it. Apreciate the chime in, lookin forward to more peoples opinions/experience.

 

[usually]

I also dont see my plants looking the best at day 3. They always look the same level of goodness... lol!
e.

lol.

day 1 or 2 seems more like what every day moisture levels would be.

depends on temps i guess. if you only water once per week then there is a big difference between the last two days and the first two days.

 

[cbcool]

I water 13-18 gallons per plant per day, if I don't water by 10am some of the girls start to look upset, but it's all relative. It depends on your soil, altitude, temps, wind , humidity, plant size, etc. ..

My dad used to flood irrigate once a week with raised beds, but he used to tell me listen to the plants they will tell you what they need. I still haven't fully figured out what he meant, but I know he knew a lot.
I guess it really depends on individual circumstances, knowing your plants, your your land , your water, your soil, I suppose it's different for everyone.

 

[WelderDan]

I think it depends on a number of things. How well the medium drains, relative humidity, airflow, temp, what stage of growth the plant is in, and what strain it is etc.

Some plants really hate wet feet. Roses are like that. They like a good soak, and then to dry out somewhat. Some strains of cannabis definitely are like that. They like a good soak, then to almost dry out.

Some strains can tolerate wetter feet longer than others. So I guess I'm saying it's dependent on strain and overall environment.

 

[MJPassion]

I water every other day & every day during hot weather.

If what you do is working for you, why change.

Shallow watering makes for less soil being usable. Especially in dry areas that get little rain.

 

[Stone House]

Like others have said, there are many variables.
In my case I use a long probe to get an estimate of soil dampness.
I try to keep my soil damp but not wet, the best way for me to accomplish this is to water very deep about every four days and water lightly (top few inches) every day in warm to hot weather. I do this in an attempt to keep the microbes on the soil surface healthy.
I still use my meter to test soil moisture before I do a heavy watering.
I get morning and late afternoon shade so I use less water than those with full sun.

 

[Top_shelf_farms]

My 300gal. smart pots need 30 gallons a day but in my raised beds I like to alternate a deep watering with a real light one when the soil dries out completely.

 

[dank.frank]

I like to give them the Goldilocks watering. That just right amount right at lights on so that after 12 hours the top of the soil is starting to dry out and the bottom still feels heavy - by morning, the whole container is light and ready for water again.

This is very dependent upon plant size vs container size. When I first transplant into new containers, I may only have to water every 3rd day or so.

I personally think that cannabis likes a good cycling between wet and dry periods and constant or over saturation always seems to have a negative impact. I'd rather have to water daily then have a plant get sluggish because I over watered.



dank.Frank

 

[HillMizer]

Heavy water less frequent watering to promte root growth after plant is established in pot. Followed shortly thereafter by frequent watering at whatever level it takes to stay in the zone. This depends on the medium, plant to pot size ratio, environment etc.

Everyday for full season plants that are at least as wide as 1/2 the pot diameter. Before I used mulch I would water twice a day to get the moisture I wanted, if I had big late day sun I'd probably still be doing it.

My opinion is that the plant grows best at a particular oxygen to water ratio and growth is slowed when soils are saturated or when the become too dry. Why not maintain the money zone?

I'll admit that my 14-16" deep beds are pretty tough to over water.

Just my two cents, I ain't no rocket surgeon though.

 

[DuskrayTroubador]

I water 13-18 gallons per plant per day, if I don't water by 10am some of the girls start to look upset, but it's all relative. It depends on your soil, altitude, temps, wind , humidity, plant size, etc. ..

My dad used to flood irrigate once a week with raised beds, but he used to tell me listen to the plants they will tell you what they need. I still haven't fully figured out what he meant, but I know he knew a lot.
I guess it really depends on individual circumstances, knowing your plants, your your land , your water, your soil, I suppose it's different for everyone.

I take it what your dad meant was something along the lines of "Recipes no more make a cook than sermons make a saint."

What that means is a grower with a greenthumb doesn't just follow recipes or instructions to make things happen. They might start with those things to get an idea, and then come to a forum like this whenever things look abnormal or odd or changing, but the GOAL in becoming a real grower is learning or getting a feel for what it is in the plants/soil/environment that you're reacting to.

 

[cbcool]

I take it what your dad meant was something along the lines of "Recipes no more make a cook than sermons make a saint."

What that means is a grower with a greenthumb doesn't just follow recipes or instructions to make things happen. They might start with those things to get an idea, and then come to a forum like this whenever things look abnormal or odd or changing, but the GOAL in becoming a real grower is learning or getting a feel for what it is in the plants/soil/environment that you're reacting to.

My dad used to use similar analogies, you sound a lot like him, very wise man he was!

 

[theJointedOne]

Hillmizer I agree,

In the spring I was getting amazing growth rates from spaced out heavy waterings. As summer has peaked I've got huge ten by ten girls or bigger that droop hardcore if I don't water daily. At a different patch which was built this year, 60 ft x 6 ft beds with raised mounds, I've found the clay under the soil isnt draining or drying out evenly 12-18 inches down, leading to issues as the top dries but the bottom stays moist.

Its all a learning experience.

 

[Ottafish]

In smartpots I water every day when it's hot out.

 

[plantingplants]

Afaik there is no such thing as light watering. You're either watering all of the soil volume ('heavy wayerimg') or watering a portion of the top of the soil. Watering a gallon in a 100 gallon pot doesn't just water the whole pot with a gallon.

My opinion Or technique isn't very important since I'm new and not that good at growing but I agree with those that do occasional heavy waterings to get everything wet, along with light waterings to keep the upper layer moist in hot weather. Otherwise roots die. And I suppose microbes do too but I've never scoped it.

 

[rykus]

When the plant is small it's important to build it up so a you can stay on some sort of a cycle/program b because a plant without much roots in a shit ton of soaked medium is going to suffer and if it's really bad the medium could go sour too....

But by full size the plant will stay way happier with a nice steady moisture level, and will handle strong food or not burn in hotter soil if you don't let it get on the dry side IMO.

I like the smaller amount every day then let it go two days once a week if it gets behind.

Same with planting I give a smaller amount every day till the whole medium is saturated( usually a few weeks) then let her drink till its light on top and start again.

 

[z-ro]

Are the plants root or shoot dominant? root dom, less frequent, shoot dom more frequent. If you water super heavy you might experience nutrient imbalance as the soil starts to dry(rising EC)

 

[krunchbubble]

It really matters how well your grow room is running...

Rooms with high VPD, have to be watered multiple times since their plants are at full respiration...

Think the Jungle Boys do 10 seconds every 5 minutes or something to that effect....

 

[Hemphrey Bogart]

Indoors I run coco and I usually water every other day.

Outdoors, the plants I have in the ground usually get a heavy dose every 3 days and light waterings in between, if needed. When they get bigger, I try to water on the outer edges since my holes are sorta cone shaped and go down about 3-4' in depth. I try not to forget my lateral roots near the surface. During veg and preflower, I like to make sure the plants have to use their tap roots to seek out water deeper in the soil. Bigger roots = bigger fruits.

The plants in smart pots get multiple light waterings per week...like maybe every other day. I started using these big plastic saucers (they're actually supposed to be used under a water heater in case of leaks, but they fit 20 gallon smart pots nicely). Anyway, I put those under my smarties and I usually water until I see some runoff. The runoff eventually gets wicked up by the pots, but if not, the saucers have built in drains.

Of course this all depends on plant size, weather, varieties, etc.

HB.