Smart/Fabric pots and watering? Come read plz

[MountainBudz]

Ok I have another question about the smart pots. Since my deep full coverage watering my plants do look much better.

But, around the edges of the pots are already super dry and pretty far inward at that. The center of the pot (around the roots) are still moist. But I feel that if I water again I might begin the over watering cycle once more which I dont want!

Even though the center is wet or more moist is it okay to water the edges now? These things are bitches for uneven watering i'll tell ya that for sure! Hopefully i'll get em figured out before long.

 

[Buddyy]

watering smart pots does take a little experience and intuition.

There are many variables to consider so you have to be dialled in to your plants needs. Taking into consideration your soil mix for a start...perhaps some more organic material will help water retention.
Then there is the plant size and growth stage you need to consider.
Another one is strain, some strains use more water than others.
Another is % humidity in the room.
Stoned trout had a good point. Water in 2 stages as it helps to saturate better.
Another one is to water around the edges as the pots dry from the outside....especially pots that are near fans, dehumidifiers, heaters etc !!!
I would go for the 7gal smart pots as they are still easy enough to move around yet give the plants plenty of room for root growth.
Water till you see run off....if you have a good soil mix (living soil) it is very hard to overwater plants in smart pots IMO.
Mulch helps to keep the moisture in too.

 

[Ziggaro]

I think you're probably underwatering. I did it for a long time worrying too much about a wet-dry cycle. I read all I could before I started and when I did I took the ideas I had to the extreme. Wet dry to me meant that it gets soaked and once its practically bone dry I water again.
Its important for the microlife in your soil to have moisture, so allowing the outside edges of your soil to become dry is probably hurting your soil life.
Try weighing your pot on a bathroom scale when you're done watering and the excess runoff had drained. When it gets to approximately half of it's weight, water again. Try to remember what that weight felt and looked like with your hands.
Another popular suggestion is to fill your pot with fresh soil and when the pot gets to that weight, you should water again. The only problem with this is that some bags of soil are more moist or dry.

As long as the soil is not wet before you water again, you shouldn't have a problem with overwatering.

 

[larry badiner]

re: auto watering systems/irrigation

re: auto watering systems/irrigation

i use a drip setup, what you'll need is:

1/2 flexible tubing
1/4 tubing
x 1/4th barbs
optional: x T connectors
x drippers
1/2 end pieces
water pump
18 gal+ rez
optional: air pump for the rez
hole puncher for 1/2 flexible pvc tubing (ask around or check your hydro shop, i got mine at a hydro store)

how drip irrigation works is you punch out holes on the 1/2 tubing and place in a barb, connect 1/4th tubing and attach the drippers.

be sure to put the drippers near the center of the pot

the end of the 1/2 pvc, not the side where you added the end cap, but the other side. attach to water pump, opt. add bubbles, and you have a drip system

if you need more help, i can answer most questions