Never let the soil dry out completely?

I am sorry to have to ask this question but the faq didn't really talk about it.

"Once vegging starts do you want to water until you see it come out the bottom holes of the pot and repeat this religulously as the soil starts to dry out but never let it dry out completely?"

Please someone give me some guidelines.

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Always after watering let the top 3 ince of your soil dry out,too many people get into the routine of robot watering if you let your plants dry out during all your growing you will have far better root system.If a plant is watered too much the roots will prematurely get root bound when alot more roots could have grown in the pot.Let them dry before re~watering put your finger in to see if the top few inces are dry.Healthy roots bigger yield you want nice white roots but about the 3 week into flowering they will start to darken.water in this way untill roots show at the bottom of the pot.Once the plant's are in the final pot has big has you can use and the roots show just put another pot slide it onto you poy to are useing with planty of drainage holes in the bottom you can even add a extra few inces of your grow medium so the root will grow through the drainage holes in your final budding pot into the one underneath.good luck bro.

save yourself some hassle and get a $5 soil moisture meter from lowes. You just stick in the soil and water your plant when the reading is in the red/dry zone. This meter measures the moisture of the soil around the roots (not only the top inch), so imo it works way better than your finger. Eventually you will just know when to water, but until then get a meter.

I like to use the pot lifting method. It was a little hard to get used to it at first but eventually you will be able to lift the pot and know. I let mine dry out pretty good between waterings and feedings. Sometimes to the point of a little leaf drooping. Not to worry, the jump back up 15 mins after watering. I also always water well until the water/nutrients are running out of the bottom of the pot. In this way I am able to water/feed less often allowing the roots to reach out and search for water/nutrients. I also perimeter water. This is a method of watering/feeding by adding the solution around the perimeter of the container also forcing the roots to go on a recon mission in search of the solution. I hope that helps.

put the finger in the soil methiod. if it wet when you pull it out don't water.

Put your finger in it? What is wet? Moist? Damp? Clumping? I was notoriously known for getting a grow perfect for 80% of the time...there are so many ways to f$%# it up and I am doing it well....someday I will get good...no such thing as failure...as long as you learn from mistakes.

Over-wet soil is a liability. We all know this.

What I've always wondered is how drying helps things. Microbes go dormant when there's no water. Some figure this must help.

Maintain a constant moisture level in a highly aerated soil.

Look at your plants to see if they are thirsty, they will lose turgor. The tops will start drooping and leaves and branches getting more limp, Watering them will have them back to normal so fast you can sit and watch the heads pick up.

the problem im having is over watering how much is too much really i grow out doors

An 8 year old thread?

You couldn't have asked the question? It would take less time then looking all the way back to 8 year old posts...

jamaicankush said:

the problem im having is over watering how much is too much really i grow out doors

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Depends on plant size and how well the soil drains.....If it's natural rain - the plant should recover on it's own...

" New Member "

Dr. Who said:

Depends on plant size and how well the soil drains.....If it's natural rain - the plant should recover on it's own...

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yeah but its the rainy season here and i lost 1 due root rot

You in Jamaica? Where on the island?

Go to festival this year?

nope i live in montego bay

Rrog said:

Over-wet soil is a liability. We all know this.

What I've always wondered is how drying helps things. Microbes go dormant when there's no water. Some figure this must help.

Maintain a constant moisture level in a highly aerated soil.

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Dormant is different than dead. I am dormant, my great grandfather is dead

jamaicankush said:

the problem im having is over watering how much is too much really i grow out doors

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Grasshopper - keep in mind the natural habitat of Cannabis, not a rain forest, but some dryness is good. Let it dry, but not wilt

I let young plants dry out completely, but once they are in flower, the medium should always stay moist.

bullSnot said:

Dormant is different than dead. I am dormant, my great grandfather is dead

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They're the same in that nothing productive is going on in either scenario. Microbial efforts and benefits come to a halt

I can't find a citation to support my belief but I think that changes in soil moisture affect soil pH. Since mineral availability is enhanced at different values I think it is likely advantageous to do wet/less wet. I agree that a dry pot is not going to support vibrant soil biology.