Looking for advice to make my soil more airy.

[Photosynthesis]

They look great. I use 5 gallon fabric pots, and only water twice per week. When I do water, it is only 2 plastic beer cups of water per pot. For a total of 4 plastic beer cups per pot per week. Been doing that for many years now.

Your pictures look really good. I wouldn't change anything.

 

[DJXX]

They look great. I use 5 gallon fabric pots, and only water twice per week. When I do water, it is only 2 plastic beer cups of water per pot. For a total of 4 plastic beer cups per pot per week. Been doing that for many years now.

Your pictures look really good. I wouldn't change anything.

I may go up the the 5 gal smarties....using two and three gal smarties now...like that regiment..DJXX

 

[Photosynthesis]

I may go up the the 5 gal smarties....using two and three gal smarties now...like that regiment..DJXX

My moms are in 2 gallon fabric pots, and I only give them 1 beer cup of water twice per week. It's all in the soil mix. I have noticed as the soil gets older on my mom's(around 3 months) I have to either replant, or give them 1.5 beer cups per watering.

 

[Therealzemi]

Thank you so much for the kind words on my grow !

Interesting to read the replies. Ive gotting so used to hearing "watering every 3 to 4 days" is the norm. But what i see in my grow room, and from what you guys say. This does not have to be true.... Right?
On that note, i have another question. I know i know. This dude keeps asking questions... Hehe. This is only my second organic grow. I used the same soil before i swapped to organics. Is there any connection there? I saw way more roots with the standard nutes, than with organics. But it seams to not matter, as the stuff abbove the soil is thriving, and is way better in quality.
I dono.... JKust trying to learn

 

[Terpz]

Looks like you've utilized all your space. Nice work on cleaning them ladies up, the bottoms look nice. As far as transplanting goes, there is really no right or wrong way (as long as the plant thrives). I personally like to pack them in tight to avoid any air pockets and make sure the plant stands up straight. I do this by lightly pushing down 'around' the stem or rootball (be sure not to put pressure on roots) until the plant is sturdy and set in the medium i.e.. You don't want the plant falling over or moving around each time you water.
As for the size of container... I have successfully flowered many strains in dixie cups with no problem (other than constant feeding), don't be afraid to go too small. However, I am not recommending that size. I like to use the 5week rule of thumb... if watering everyday at week5, do not go smaller. You said your plants are hardly root bound at week 4 so maybe experiment and try a few in 8L and see how they do. Good Luck!

 

[MrBungle]

I wish my 5 gal smarties only took 2 beer cups of nutes twice a week.... I'm giving em a gallon every other day it seems

 

[Photosynthesis]

I wish my 5 gal smarties only took 2 beer cups of nutes twice a week.... I'm giving em a gallon every other day it seems

Check out my threads, and use my soil mix from the recipe leak thread.

Then you can do the lazy watering thing like me.

 

[Chrondiddle O]

Add the following for great drainage and 'airyness'
vermiculite
perlite
LECA
sand (believe it or not)

I used to use a mix of the above (no recipe,by eye) and got great results.You can get into problems with the medium floating if you amend the soil too heavily,and of course your pots will dry out quicker and need more frequent irrigation.

 

[Granger2]

I don't think drainage is what DJXX is after. He wants air in the mix. Sand speeds up drainage, but doesn't hold that much air. Vermiculite holds water. -granger

 

[Therealzemi]

Gonna see this grow through, and then judge if i can go down a bit in pot size. But for sure planning on adding another 10% perlite.
Girls are looking real good though. And if things stay on track, i think i'm in for a personal record crop

 

[highcountrygrow]

do 1 part soil 1 part coco

 

[Therealzemi]

do 1 part soil 1 part coco

No.... Just no. The way coco mixed with soil is super soggy in the beginning, makes me not want to go down that road again

 

[MrBungle]

I've heard of folks using rice hulls... never used them personally, but maybe someone who has can chime it

 

[highcountrygrow]

No.... Just no. The way coco mixed with soil is super soggy in the beginning, makes me not want to go down that road again

I respectfully disagree. Doing 1 part soil 1 part coco you must let the medium dry out then you can feed the plants as you would almost in pure coco, but still get some of the benefits of soil organics.
=====

 

[highcountrygrow]

No.... Just no. The way coco mixed with soil is super soggy in the beginning, makes me not want to go down that road again

by the look of your grows i think you should maybe try another method bro

 

[olekingkole]

Even if their roots haven't filled the pots, your plants look great. Must be that the bioactive medium is preventing anaerobic bacteria from taking over the bottoms of the pots.
Rather than altering the medium, have you considered doing the final transplant from larger pots? When I transplant just before 12/12, I like the penultimate pots to be 1/2 or at least 1/3 the size of the final pots. Filling out all the pot with roots will get you the oxygen exchange you want for bigger buds.

 

[highcountrygrow]

If you stick to top name brands of coco, like Canna, Botanicare, BCuzz, you'll get coco that is long strands, not dust. It won't compact much at all.

But for adding air, I'd stick with perlite, or hydroton, or small lava rock, etc. Good luck. -granger

agreed

 

[Therealzemi]

by the look of your grows i think you should maybe try another method bro

Confused here. What do you mean by "the look of my grow"?

And i am NOT looking to imitate a hydro grow. I am as mentioned earlier, hand watering.
And i am not the only one with the experience of soggy soil with that 1/1 mix.... In the start of the grow that is.

 

[Therealzemi]

Even if their roots haven't filled the pots, your plants look great. Must be that the bioactive medium is preventing anaerobic bacteria from taking over the bottoms of the pots.
Rather than altering the medium, have you considered doing the final transplant from larger pots? When I transplant just before 12/12, I like the penultimate pots to be 1/2 or at least 1/3 the size of the final pots. Filling out all the pot with roots will get you the oxygen exchange you want for bigger buds.

My current grow method is a learning proces. Including the topping, training and transplanting. But i agree. I need 1 more step before the final transplant.

 

[highcountrygrow]

Confused here. What do you mean by "the look of my grow"?

And i am NOT looking to imitate a hydro grow. I am as mentioned earlier, hand watering.
And i am not the only one with the experience of soggy soil with that 1/1 mix.... In the start of the grow that is.

50/50 coco/super soil is not necessarily imitating hydro. I only water my large plants (35 gal) once every other day. hand watered. But clearly you have it all figured out homie