Over watering smartpots.

[JayTrinity]

I have classic overwatering where the new tops droop.
I had to shade cloth about 5 to keep em happy.

Its been very cool and mild so the plants did not use all the water.

Please help me break the cycle!
What im trying,

1. Turned off my drip system and went hand watering.
2. covered with shade cloth the droopers.
3. Used hygrozime to repair possible root damage.
4. Not feeding and flushing
5. Watering ONLY the large plants that are drooping from lack of water.

6. Misting down the plants early am and at night.

Help please, im unable to break the cycle of wet root mass dry on the sides smart pots!

 

[legalizeDK]

hi
i would just stop watering, and only water when the pot feels pretty dry and easy to pic up
if it is overwatering they will get better

 

[JayTrinity]

They are 65 gallon pots so I cant pick them up.
Only dry on the sides, I might put hay and burlap to cool the sides.

Big issue is the root mass and the bottom stays wet!

I was told emitters and smart pots = dry spots on the sides.

Iv quit the emitters!

 

[OrganicOzarks]

I see that you are doing this outdoor. I use smart pots indoor, and I noticed that a good mulch will help you extend your watering. I now water on Monday, and Friday in flower and veg. You should be able to look at the soil, the plant, and gauge if it needs water. I feel there is a learning curve with smart pots. If you have ever used grow bags, or plastic containers it is a lot different when you switch to smart pots.

 

[OrganicOzarks]

Do you have the tan, or black ones?

 

[JayTrinity]

I have black ones. The rep told me the tan is for gorilla grows and dont waist my money if I have black. My hydro shop wont even sell them.

ALso my tan bags are having water issue also.

Three of my friends in direct sun in smart pots are completely stopping watering for a few days, only my sativas fold up and get a quick drink.

In the photo, that plant just looks unhappy all day as soon as the heat comes out.
Others the tops completely droop where its new growth.

 

[OrganicOzarks]

I have switched form the black to the tan, and I grow indoor. You can order them straight form the manufacturer. http://www.smartpots.com/ I get a more even temperature, and I am watering less. I would think outdoor you would see a major difference in the amount of watering that you have to do. I don't feel that tan is for guerrilla. I feel they help with the watering issues, and also with heat related stress. I will be using the black ones in the dead of winter in my new greenhouse, and I think the extra heat will help the plants out immensely. I really can't imagine having black pots out in the sun all day, and not having issues with the plants in them.

 

[greengoldylox]

could you tell me about your medium and your watering amounts up until problem started. also frequency and any other details. do they look perky before the sun hits them and have the roots seem to have a hard time keeping up with the plants water requirements once heated up?

 

[JayTrinity]

Yeah the roots cant keep up.
I have to use a shade cloth and it "Saves the day"

Soil is premium and commercial 50/50 mix. I get it by the semi load and mix it with guanno and blood meal. about 16 bags of perlite. Good draining and the soil was loose when transplanted. I use pallets to keep the pot off the ground.

 

[greengoldylox]

Yeah the roots cant keep up.
I have to use a shade cloth and it "Saves the day"

Soil is premium and commercial 50/50 mix. I get it by the semi load and mix it with guanno and blood meal. about 16 bags of perlite. Good draining and the soil was loose when transplanted. I use pallets to keep the pot off the ground.

is your water good, hard water could be preventing water uptake. else i would guess it to be some sort of fungal infection in your roots. in which case id treat with mycostop and/or companion once i was certain this was the issue. want to get this figured out before flowering gets to far in as it will be very crippling if not figured out.

 

[JayTrinity]

The water is good, its city water and every one uses it, hydro store told me its fine.
PH level is fine.

 

[weednazi]

Give the plants some shade with agribon if you can to relieve the stress of full sun. I tried jute netting on the outside of smart pots to cool them down. Not sure it has any effect other than looking nice. I tend to let my smart pots go very close to dry, before soaking them. At first I was very cautious about going back over the edges with the hose after doing a drip to soak the entire pot, but have found that the drip alone provides more than enough moisture to the pot. Been running the drip only for the last 2 weeks and have not had any negative effect from uneven watering.

Would definitely let the pots dry up significantly and assess the plants again. If no marked improvement, then time to assess other factors that may attribute to the wilt, such as root rot, fungus, etc., which would cause the plant to block uptake of water... If the pots do not dry out within the week, that may be your next step. I only say this because I have been battling this type of wilt in several of my plants.

Depending on your soil composition and type of foods you feed (organic/non-organic) would determine the path of remedy... biological or systemic chemical fungicide.

Pic of the jute netting over smart pot attached.

 

[geoponics13]

cool thread peace

 

[guest4098]

How dry do you let them get? Have you been letting them wilt from lack of water?

 

[JayTrinity]

If any one is still watching the thread...

1. I let them dry out
2. Hand watered only the big ones.
3. Started 25% dose of hygrozime,
4. Aerated soil by stabbing it with bamboo.
5. Put Microhazles in the plant soil and sprayed water so it drained into the holes I poked.

Well almost 80% of the 6 droopers are fine. Two that were down and got an even hand water perked back up.

I think im in the clear!

Also the weather got HOT the last two days and the plants loved it.

Those darn 46f nights!

 

[MummyCat]

I had this problem last year, I think its the pallets. I started mine on pallets and had the exact same problem, I think water was pooling up in the bottom and causing root rot. As soon as I put the smartpots on the ground, the excess water was wicked into the soil beneath the pot instead of pooling up and the problem was solved. Good luck

 

[ChopperDodger]

Very helpful...have 50 gallon geo pots in greenhouse and after 3 days the soil is still very wet. It is winter and humidity levels are higher so expected some retention. Going to use your bamboo method and give it a whirl.

 

[Noonin NorCal]

Very helpful...have 50 gallon geo pots in greenhouse and after 3 days the soil is still very wet. It is winter and humidity levels are higher so expected some retention. Going to use your bamboo method and give it a whirl.

Throw a dehumidifier in your greenhouse... run it at night if you don't already have one

 

[Irotas]

This is why I don't like smart pots, unless you're bottom watering I think it can be better to stick with regualr pots. If you have moved the pots to much it's possible you have caused soil compaction.