What is your watering regimen??

[Punisher 421]

I have always wondered if there is an actual "perfect" amount of water to use per cubic foot of soil. I understand that there would be many variables to consider into this equation but I'd like to know a ballpark figure to start out with.
I usually water when the soil feels a little dry, as my pots are huge and I cannot lift them to do the weight comparison between wet and dry.
So if everyone could list their watering regimen I would be grateful, as I know there is some sort of science to it.

 

[Punisher 421]

Everyone says people over water but no one wants to talk about water schedules? Hmm, interesting!!

 

[Punisher 421]

No one knows??

 

[corky1968]

Each plant is different even in the same garden.

I just water until the water comes out of the holes.

Then I water when they get dry again.

 

[prune]

Man, I wish i had a watering regiment cause it takes forever with a platoon…

 

[FoothillFarmer1]

Indoor, outdoor?

I have all my watering rates in my thread.

 

[Punisher 421]

Indoor and outdoor would both be beneficial foothill

 

[Punisher 421]

Man, I wish i had a watering regiment cause it takes forever with a platoon…

Regimen not regiment lol that's a good one though

 

[Punisher 421]

Anyone else want to chime in?

 

[I wood]

Every two days because that is how often I visit the garden, not too close to home.
Like corky said, every plant is different.
Perpetual garden with many, many cultivars.
I do not water to run off, if water comes out of the holes it is because I was impatient or over did it.

 

[St. Phatty]

That's about 1 1/2 cubic feet of home-made mix on the bottom,
and a bag of Foxfarm Ocean forest on top of that.

So 24 gallons of dirt total.

When I water it, I use recycled bathtub water.

Hand carry it in buckets.

Seems like the plant in the rolling garbage can gets about 3 gallons of water each day.

That one is HSO Purple Trainwreck x Apollo 11. About 24 inches tall today. Getting very bushy, not tall.

 

[corky1968]

Just come back from watering my guerilla plants.

I've increased their water to one gallon of water every 4 days.

I may up it to 2 gallons each in two weeks each time I water.

Outdoors you can sure water more than indoors.

 

[Punisher 421]

Very true corky

 

[Ratzilla]

Hi Guys and girls
I am a long time indoor grower.
I have tried many different watering schedules.
First off I try and think organically meaning thinking of the soil life.
We know that as the medium dries down the soil life expires.
I opine that this dry down kill is not a bad thing if a new herd of beasties is introduced with a nourishment tea.
That the new herd quickly makes use of the dead herd as a food source.
For many years I have thought that watering more often was better then longer watering cycles.
That it gave the caretaker better control over their plants.
So much comes down to how heavy is your mix.
When I say heavy I am talking about how much humus (organic matter)makes up the medium.
In my opinion if more then 20% of organic matter makes up the mix the bottom never wants to dry down making for anaerobic beasties , not a good thing .
I look at a potted medium in thirds meaning a top 1/3 a middle 1/3 and the bottom 1/3.
I try and have patience in allowing the bottom 1/3 to start to come off of wet before watering.
My medium is very loamy with much aeration (drainage) in mind and in many of my mix's this dry down usually takes around 7 days.
I have tried more fr

 

[Ratzilla]

Moving on
Like I was saying before I click on the post quick reply.
I have tried different watering cycles.
Like every 5 days instead of 7 and have seen no difference other then creating more work.
I use a surfactant (yucca) in making my water wetter heh heh heh
I always water twice both times to a slight runoff.
I always use rain water.
Ratz

 

[MrBungle]

I usually go by the weight of my 5 gal smart pot... if i can reach into my box and lift the pot easily with one hand that plant needs water... usually I start off giving them a gallon each. this way I know everything is watered down no dry spots... I usually check the weight every day cause some plants are guzzlers... the next watering is usually a half gallon, its enough to keep everything wet but allow some air flow to the root zone.... and from there it varies, but usually by the time I make a fresh rez those girls are ready for another big drink...
The big thing is to be flexible.... not all strains are going to dry out at the same rate... some like dryer conditions, some like their conditions more wet... let your plants tell you what they want

 

[Punisher 421]

Rat and Mr bungle those are both great responses!!! Thank you for sharing