Watering tips

[Guest]

We all know the importance of watering thoroughly until 100% saturation all the way through,but remember when transplanting or using a new container to make sure all the holes are "punched out".On a lot of new containers you'll need to take a pair of scissors to either cut off the excess plastic blocking the hole or make the hole yourself.If you have a "sidehole" blocked up in any way where it wont allow runoff to occur you will end up with a nice "dry spot" on that side of the container thats blocked.It may sound trivial but its really not if you want a good even watering/feeding.

 

[jcsmooth]

Good tip
On a lot of the plastic pots I buy, a clean cut was never made (what do you expect when you pay 50 cents or whatever?). I like to make a few more, depending on how many come before I touch it, with a nail and a hammer, or a screwdriver and some force. I find having smaller, more frequent holes to be advantageous. Makes things even and less soil will leak out.

One tip I'd like to add is bottom feeding. Often times when the soil parts all around the pot, water can immediately drain through when you first pour it on top. Don't be fooled thinking it's proper run-off (lift the pot up to see how heavy it is). I like to let my pots sit in their run-off for about 20 minutes, and often times I'll come back to see it all absorbed. Bottom feeding works because the water in areas lower in concentration pull up the water from areas of higher concentration. I guess it's a form of osmotic homeostasis?

Soak those babies wet, and then let them fully dry out.

JC

 

[Tunefull]

Goood tips guys*smiles*

Got a question about adding extra holes....

Do/Would you Add Holes along and up the sides of the pots?
Thinking to give the roots some air....Or would it be harmfull at all?

 

[stretchpuppy]

Before each soil feeding we go around the tops of our pots, and the edges, and smooth out any roughed up soil to make an even surface. Even fill in the parts around the sides it forms as the soil dries. This seems to help keep the water in the container when watering and not let it run right down the sides and out the bottom as jcsmooth mentioned.

Usually do a once over after it's wet as well.

 

[jcsmooth]

Tunefull....I wouldn't add any along the sides.
You don't want to treat the roots on the top, side, middle, bottom and whatever else there is all the same. By having the water flow from the top all the way to the bottom, you can rest assured that everything is equal.
Plus, roots don't like light, so having the holes on the bottom of a pot makes no difference to them. I'd imagine the more holes you have on the side, the more light would penetrate the soil, and this inhibit growth in those areas.

This is all just coming from the top of my head (logic), but if anyone says otherwise I'd be inclined to listen.
Hope this helps,
JC

 

[Maj.PotHead]

i prefer to add extra drainage holes in bottom and holes in the sides of container this allows for proper air flow through the root zone. also if you block up the bottom of containers say 1.5-2 inch this insures proper air flow around plant and through soil


{ I'd imagine the more holes you have on the side, the more light would penetrate the soil, and this inhibit growth in those areas. }

ive never experinced slow root growth because of holes in the sides of my containers


when i water i gently pour water over soil evenly i pour untill it just starts to drain. now when its fully done draining i lift container this is my plants approx weight fully watered, every day i lift container as each day pass you'll feel the moisture level lower. when plant feels light i water again, depending on plants size and containers size depends on how often to water. plants i just cut where watered every other day during flower in 1 gal bags, ive growen in 6 gal square planters and had to do the same after few wks. water everother day



this container has 20 holes around the sides and as many in the bottom all 3/8 th size holes no advers effects from all the holes

 

[jcsmooth]

There ya are
I guess holes in the side of a pot poses no risk. I guess just no huge gaping holes. Who likes a gaping hole? Err...uhh...nobody reply to this message!

JC

 

[Maj.PotHead]

There ya are
I guess holes in the side of a pot poses no risk. I guess just no huge gaping holes. Who likes a gaping hole? Err...uhh...nobody reply to this message!

JC

honestly when i water very rearly dose water leak from the side holes and when it dose tis allways from the lowest set of holes 2 inch off bottom up on the side . why i pour slowly if i flood the soil yes a good chance water will leak from some holes, but the soil allways gets fully wet.

i even slit holes in the sides of my 1 and 2 gal grow bags now the pics of the plant i posted fact the last 3 clones harvested i abused P during early flower lost all larger fans and still got decent yields

 

[Tunefull]

jcsmooth
Hi m8(going to avoid your gaping hole)*smiles*

I would of thought the light that may get in thru the holes would go against me aswell...But seeing the Major's Plants i guess not*grins*

I guess the best way is to suck it and see....


Also another query i have...
Does anyone use Shallow depth pots?

Like my pots at mo are about 10 inchs tall(final pots)
If i could use a shallower pot(But Holding the same amount of soil)say about 5 inchs...That would give me 5 inchs more to grow(In a 4 ft hi area 5 inchs is a lot)*smileS*
I can imagine it would effect the tap roots growth,Would it adapt itself to a shallow pot tho?

 

[The Slickster]

For the Indicas, to promote dryer soil, watering the top just to wet it down when it gets dry (more frequently), rather than 1 big watering seems to do well even as seedlings. Then for about an hour, the moisture from the top evens out into the bottom half, water never leaking out, this is aside from the occasional flush where runoff occurs automatically as the result of good drainage. Could flush once a week, could once a month, with effective drainage, and seems to works best with lighter mediums for Indicas. This assists the established beneficial fungi on the roots to keep balancing nutrients in relation to watering. As overwatering amongst other things can damage delicate hairs that have already established outwardly. And yes, a shorter pot will also shorten the stretch of the plant so you can get the space off the pot and add half of that space from the pot plant itself. You might say about 7-8 more inches, with decreased vertical stretching and some expanded horizontal growth depending on side lighting and positioning amongst other common factors. You can use clear containers, often they show what is going on and can be interesting none the less. Should not be a problem, unless you shine light right at it and get some nitrogen stealing algae growing in which case you can simply re-pot into either the same size container or to it's next size; 1 cup to 1 gal to 3 gal, etc.

 

[KyMarDread]

what nutrients should you put in your water for your over all use?

 

[Guest]

A high nitrogen nute for vegetation and a high phosphorous nute for flowering

 

[Ncogneato]

I wait for my ladies to get thirsty and then I pour about 3 cups of water over the the top of the soil. Then I wait for 10-30 minutes to fully water my pots. I find that moist soil retains a lot more of the water than completely dry soil. By adding a little bit at first and waiting, it soaks in and distributes throughout the pot making its water absorbing qualities much better IMO. Less water/nutes/additives and whatnots are wasted by runoff.

 

[inflorescence]

Holes, you want holes?
Poeppelmans got it covered with their Megahole design. They also have built in raised exterior feet to allow air flow under the container as well as a tiered interior bottom.
These kick ass.

http://www.poeppelmann.com/teku_g/kompetenz/produktuebersicht.gb.html

 

[Guest]

thanks

 

[junglistni]

i was advised to get pots that have holes that run slightly up the side of the pot, rather than just around the bottom.

 

[fiveminuteslate]

Can someone help me? I am having problems with my soilmix maintaining moisture. The "initial" watering I thoroughly water the mix until it is completely wet. I wait until it is dry and the container feels its "dry" wieght until I feed again.

problem is, I think either my soil mix isnt right, or the temps are too cold because the plants are growing very slow and the soil NEVER seems to dry out...

(per 5 gal)
ProMIX
1 cup of bone meal
1 cup of blood meal
1 tsp of lime
30-40% perlite (i tried 25% but it was even worse)


the temps in my huts are 75-80

This only happens with smaller plants that come out of the EZcloner.... Once the plants are bigger the soil mix has no problems... I normally wait until there are about 7-10 inches of roots on the clones before putting them into small plastic cups (yes I have holes cut on the bottom)..

any suggestions?

-5minl8

 

[chronnaisseur]

Holes, you want holes?
Poeppelmans got it covered with their Megahole design. They also have built in raised exterior feet to allow air flow under the container as well as a tiered interior bottom.
These kick ass.

http://www.poeppelmann.com/teku_g/kompetenz/produktuebersicht.gb.html

I have used these. They are awesome.