First grow! Need tips about drainage in soil

**munny** · 11-05-2009, 10:38 AM

So, my first plants are a few days into flowering. This is the first time I do this and I overlooked one thing. I bought pretty decent soil but I did not put any small rocks or whatever people put for better drainage. It's just 100% soil. So, are my plants going to die? Should I change the soil and put something in it or should I just leave it as it is? 3 out of 4 plants seem to be doing well, one looks a little weak all of a sudden.

Thanks.

**racerboy71** · 11-05-2009, 10:52 AM

some people like to aerate their soil with either vermiclite or perlite.. you can use about 1/4 of either in a soil mix and it should be plenty to help with drainage and added aeration.. i wouldn't go changing yours now though.. just let them be.. just make sure that you are not overwatering or anything and you should be good..
i just bought fox farms ocean forest soil and i also got some perlite for it,but i had noticed that the soil had already had some perlite in it.. i did add a lil more, but it wasn't really a necisity...
perlite and vermiculate allow more oxygen to get to the roots, which will help in growth. if you don't pack your soil tightly when you put it in the pots it will help out some as well.. you can always gently turn your soil by hand.. just the top several inches.. make sure you don't disturb any of the roots when you do this.
good luck with your grow..

**munny** · 11-05-2009, 10:53 AM

Originally Posted by racerboy71

some people like to aerate their soil with either vermiclite or perlite.. you can use about 1/4 of either in a soil mix and it should be plenty to help with drainage and added aeration.. i wouldn't go changing yours now though.. just let them be.. just make sure that you are not overwatering or anything and you should be good..
i just bought fox farms ocean forest soil and i also got some perlite for it,but i had noticed that the soil had already had some perlite in it.. i did add a lil more, but it wasn't really a necisity...
perlite and vermiculate allow more oxygen to get to the roots, which will help in growth. if you don't pack your soil tightly when you put it in the pots it will help out some as well.. you can always gently turn your soil by hand.. just the top several inches.. make sure you don't disturb any of the roots when you do this.
good luck with your grow..

Thank you for your answer.

**growone** · 11-05-2009, 10:56 AM

if you've gotten to flowering, that's a pretty strong sign that you have sufficient drainage
rocks at the bottom help drainage, but aren't absolutely necessary, if your drainage holes are located in the right places, and the pot bottom is sloped properly, you probably will be ok
big thing is to check the moisture at the pot bottom, inspect the drainage holes as best you can, should be damp soil but not soggy, this could be tricky to do

**racerboy71** · 11-05-2009, 10:57 AM

no problem munny.. welcome to the world of growing and good luck with your grow and have fun.. don't forget to flush your plants with plan old water for the last week or so of flowering to get rid of any built up salts, nutrients, and for a smoother, better tasting smoke..

**racerboy71** · 11-05-2009, 10:59 AM

good info growone.. i forgot all about the drainage holes, and when i did remember them, you had beaten me to it, lol...

**munny** · 11-05-2009, 01:39 PM

Thanks everyone, I'm stoked by your quick and accurate answers.

I actually have one more question. Watering. How much should I water each time? I know you should water when the first one or two inches are completely dry, but I really have no clue if I'm watering to little or too much each time.

I have 10L pots, plants are about 10" tall. Are we talking 100mL, 200mL, 500mL?

PS: Excuse me if I'm not being clear, I don't live in an english-speaking country.

**racerboy71** · 11-05-2009, 01:46 PM

i am sure your english is better than my whatever you speak, lol... and to be honest, a lot better than some people on here for whom english is their first language.. just water untill you see some run-off coming out of the bottom of the pots.. not too much.. just some. and you got it down about watering when the first inch or two feels dry.. any more ?'s and we will see if we can help out any..

**strain stalker** · 11-05-2009, 01:54 PM

...being that your a newbie, your more then likely goin to have overwatering issues, I had perlite in my soil and I still overwaterd my plants my first grow...LOL, but...your not me, so....I hope you walk eggshells enough to make it clean...LOL, we all go through it, but, your not giving yourself a fair chance here...LOL Be berry, berry careful!

...and good luck. I'd transplant into some 1/3 perlite mixed soil myself, or maybe try to get the plant out of the pot and spread some large perlite across the bottom of the pot...the roots at the bottom of the plant are the first to drown ...the perlite spread across the bottom would help alot I'd say.

**strain stalker** · 11-05-2009, 01:57 PM

...try this, once the plant is watered/ferterlized...start a count of the days it takes for the plant to dry and wilt. Take a mental note of this, and the trick is to water the plant the day before they start to wilt. MJ needs to dry out because the roots need air....too much water = dead plant...too less water = a thirsty plant that lives. Good luck bud.