watering a small plant in a big pot question.....

JustCallmeMom

JustCallmeMom

Well-Known Member
I replanted my 23 day old Kush from her cup into a 5 gallon cloth smart-pot. When I replanted her into it I made sure all the soil in the pot was damp.

My questions are:
when do I water her again? When the whole pot is dry, or just the top few inches?
when I do water her, do I water just around her, or the whole pot again?



Thanks
 
Trich_holmes

Trich_holmes

Well-Known Member
JustCallmeMom said:
I replanted my 23 day old Kush from her cup into a 5 gallon cloth smart-pot. When I replanted her into it I made sure all the soil in the pot was damp.

My questions are:
when do I water her again? When the whole pot is dry, or just the top few inches?
when I do water her, do I water just around her, or the whole pot again?



Thanks
Click to expand...
If you had fairly damp soil when transplanted I'd wait till the pot is dry on top (maybe 4-5 days) and you can pinch it with two fingers and lift it a bit. When a 5 gallon smart pot is sufficiently wet it's like a cinder block and tough to raise. Once you feel both it's very noticable. And yes water all the way around and through. Prolly 3/4 to 1 gallon per 5 gal smartie. Hope that helps a bit.
 
FruitSpirit

FruitSpirit

Active Member
I use smart pots, you may find that if you soak the large pot with water there wont be enough roots to use that water which can then lead to oxygenless water in the soil and then to bad conditions for growth. Until the transplant is established i would just give it a litre every 4 days until it is established. Just go with when the pot feels light bro. Tip for watering using smart pots, always flood the top of the pot when watering to ensure the whole pot is being watered and no dry pockets form. When the soil dries and contracts its a good idea to move some soil from the top down the sides it will stop water flowing down and through the walls of the pot.
 
greg nr

greg nr

Well-Known Member
I also transplanted into 5 gallon fabric pots. It generally takes 3/4 gallon to get the soil uniformly moist. It will result in some drainage into the catch pan. I usually leave it (drainage) there for a few hours and then take it away with a sponge. It lasts up to 7 days before needing to be watered.

No ill effects from waiting to water. Pick the pot up a little, stick a finger in, use a meter to verify.
 
whitebb2727

whitebb2727

Well-Known Member
FruitSpirit said:
I use smart pots, you may find that if you soak the large pot with water there wont be enough roots to use that water which can then lead to oxygenless water in the soil and then to bad conditions for growth. Until the transplant is established i would just give it a litre every 4 days until it is established. Just go with when the pot feels light bro. Tip for watering using smart pots, always flood the top of the pot when watering to ensure the whole pot is being watered and no dry pockets form. When the soil dries and contracts its a good idea to move some soil from the top down the sides it will stop water flowing down and through the walls of the pot.
Click to expand...
That's not how water gets oxygen to the roots. Its the actual process of the water drawing air as it moves through the soil.
JustCallmeMom said:
I replanted my 23 day old Kush from her cup into a 5 gallon cloth smart-pot. When I replanted her into it I made sure all the soil in the pot was damp.

My questions are:
when do I water her again? When the whole pot is dry, or just the top few inches?
when I do water her, do I water just around her, or the whole pot again?



Thanks
Click to expand...
I put my seeds straight to 5-7 gallon pots when growing autos and sometimes photos.

We can't answer your question. Temp, humidity and even soil composition will effect how fast the soil dries.

Don't be surprised if it doesn't need water for a couple weeks.

Let the plant tell you. Over and under water both cause dropping. They are different.

If its over water the leaves will droop. If it needs water the leaf and leaf stem droop and leaves lay against the stalk and point down.

Just pick the pot up. If it feels heavy its good. If its light it needs water.
 
FruitSpirit

FruitSpirit

Active Member
whitebb2727 said:
That's not how water gets oxygen to the roots. Its the actual process of the water drawing air as it moves through the soil.

I thought the whole point of using an aerator on a hose was to get good oxygenated water into the roots? Even in hydro using an airstone to ensure good oxygenated water supply to roots?

That was my line of thinking, i am still learning though so this is more of a question rather than an attempt to debunk your statement.
Click to expand...
 
Wilderb

Wilderb

Well-Known Member
You'll find that any type of mulch will help. Keeping moisture from evaporating so much. I actually keep my soil fairly moist, microbes like it that way. In cloth pots, you can't really overwater.
I recently installed blumats and very happy with them. But prior to that, I was sprinkling water on them daily, water to runoff every two days. But my soil is organic and heavy with ewc.
The growth has been amazing. I will never let a pot dry out again.
Only thing is, add some bt so soil to keep bugs at bay.
Just my method, works for me.
WE
 
whitebb2727

whitebb2727

Well-Known Member
Wilderb said:
You'll find that any type of mulch will help. Keeping moisture from evaporating so much. I actually keep my soil fairly moist, microbes like it that way. In cloth pots, you can't really overwater.
I recently installed blumats and very happy with them. But prior to that, I was sprinkling water water on them daily, water to runoff every two days. But my soil is organic and heavy with ewc.
The growth has been amazing. I will never let a pot dry out again.
Only thing is, add some bt so soil to keep bugs at bay.
Just my method, works for me.
WE
Click to expand...
That coincides with the article I posted. The more organic the matter and the more porosity, the more diffusion and more oxygen.

Many variables for sure.

If the soil is porous enough then it can be watered daily. As you move to less porosity like clay soil the diffusion and less oxygen.

Let's take something like sand vs clay. Both can stay wet and one will kill a plant and one won't.
 
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