WATERING HELP: rule of thumb is 200 ml per 4 gallon container - thats too low - NO?

pkgrower

Member
The RULE OF THUMB I saw.:

VEG: 200 ml water/nute solution per 4 gallon container EVERY DAY
FLOWER: 200 ml water/nute solution per 4 gallon container EVERY OTHER DAY, then after 2 weeks, 300 ml EVERY OTHER DAY.

That seems way too low. Whats up with this?
 

mikmike

Well-Known Member
U water so a little comes out the bottom and then u wait 4 - 5 days. repeat, but lift of your bucket when u water her and feel the weight, then 4 days later and feel the weight. We do this so the plant drinks and tehn gets oxygen then drinks and so on an so forth :) hope that helps
 
if your plant uses more than 200ml/48 hours then your plants will dry out
if it uses less than 200ml then your plants will end up overwatered.

water your plants when they need watering - don't follow some set routine that has nothing to do with your growing conditions or your plants.
 

pkgrower

Member
I have been growing for a couple of years. I know when the plants need water, but never knew exactly how much to give.
I've heard the trickle out the bottom thing but I was looking for a bit more data, then I saw this video which had that rule.

According to that rule...(I have 7 gallon pots) My plants need 1/8 gallon of water and I give them about a gallon each. ...

Do I need to turn it down a bit?
 

Cloudz2600

Well-Known Member
The point everyone is trying to make is that there isn't a formula you follow. You water based on the plants needs. So many factors will affect how much water your plants drink each day, humidity, plant size and even strain. K.I.S.S is the only rule you should follow.
 

pkgrower

Member
thanks...and I completely get that cloudz, but perhaps you didnt see my previous clarification:

"I have been growing for a couple of years. I know when the plants need water, but never knew exactly how much to give.
I've heard the trickle out the bottom thing but I was looking for a bit more data, then I saw this video which had that rule.

According to that rule...(I have 7 gallon pots) My plants need 1/8 gallon of water and I give them about a gallon each. ...

Do I need to turn it down a bit?
"
 

scroglodyte

Well-Known Member
I have been growing for a couple of years. I know when the plants need water, but never knew exactly how much to give.
I've heard the trickle out the bottom thing but I was looking for a bit more data, then I saw this video which had that rule.

According to that rule...(I have 7 gallon pots) My plants need 1/8 gallon of water and I give them about a gallon each. ...

Do I need to turn it down a bit?
these guys are giving you good advice.........why don't you listen?
 

schtrudel

Active Member
I always water them when the top 2 inches of my soil is bone dry( it cracks when it is- mine does, maybe yours doesnt, but you can see if it's dry by sticking a pensil inside and churning it ). And i water it till it comes out the other end.
Tip: if you throw all your water in at once more will come out because it will have less time to be absorbed. I you "trickle" it i found that the soil can absorbe more water (this can be viewed as: all the soil absorbed water so it's fully saturated, not just the nearer parts to the place where water came first into contact with the soil).
Hope i got this clear and it doesn't sound retarded :D.
 

haight

Well-Known Member
I always water them when the top 2 inches of my soil is bone dry( it cracks when it is- mine does, maybe yours doesnt, but you can see if it's dry by sticking a pensil inside and churning it ). And i water it till it comes out the other end.
Tip: if you throw all your water in at once more will come out because it will have less time to be absorbed. I you "trickle" it i found that the soil can absorbe more water (this can be viewed as: all the soil absorbed water so it's fully saturated, not just the nearer parts to the place where water came first into contact with the soil).
Hope i got this clear and it doesn't sound retarded :D.
I'm with you. Finger it and if it's dry, water it.I'm flowering in three gallon containers and that 6 or 7 ounces every other day would leave my gals dying of thirst.
 

crazed1011

Well-Known Member
ya sometimes it seems like my girl wants water every 3 days and then other times it seems like 5 days... i donno if its just me but sometimes she will drink more then other times. everyone here is giving you really good advice. go with the flow, she sets the pace. your not gonna feed your self if your not hungry when its supper time just cause thats what time it is...
 

RioT83

Member
What you need to do is:

1. Wait for the top 1-2 inches of your soil to dry.
2. Once the the top 1-2 inces of your soil is dry, pick up the pot to see what it weighs to get the "Dry weight of the pot".
3. Mix up your nutrient solution.
4. Water the plant/pot untill you get some run off (about 1/10 of the water amount you've poured into the pot).
- Sometimes you might get runoff right away because sides of the pot are dry, just slow down pouring the water to let it soke up more.
5. Pick up the pot again once you've watered it enough to get the "Watered weight of the pot".
6. Start at step 1(you can skip touching the soil by picking up the pot to see if it's dropped down to the "dry weight".
 

MsJazzy

Active Member
I am finding for my 4 plants that are about a month old in vegetative stage, that I am not having to water often at all. I have them in 5 gal pots and under a 400W MH. I watered 6 days ago and the soil 2-3" down is still wet. Seems like every situation is a little different. I keep reading it is good to let the soil dry up between waterings, so the roots stretch??
 

crazed1011

Well-Known Member
ya so the roots search for more water was my understanding,
I am finding for my 4 plants that are about a month old in vegetative stage, that I am not having to water often at all. I have them in 5 gal pots and under a 400W MH. I watered 6 days ago and the soil 2-3" down is still wet. Seems like every situation is a little different. I keep reading it is good to let the soil dry up between waterings, so the roots stretch??
 

chronicis

Member
Everyone here is correct (almost everyone). Water when the pot feels light, not according to some schedule. She will tell you when she is thirsty.

Best of Luck
 

pkgrower

Member
Yes sir chronicis, my question was about exactly how much water...

I know how much my ladies need...at least I thought I did, until I saw this stupid rule of thumb. I was just asking if I was off or the video was off. From the answers here, it seems the video is off and that equation is low on water and will dry out most plants.
 
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