50/50 Soil:Perlite not drying fast enough?

Swwert

Swwert

Well-Known Member
I'm using a 50/50 soil to perlite mixture for my plant but I have noticed that a few days after watering it, the soil is still moist... I have the plant close to the lights, good ventilation and the more perlite, the more often you have to water the plant, correct??

It's been 4 days since I watered and the soil is still wet. When I watered I DID see runoff.. Should I wait to water or go ahead???
 
Swwert said:
I'm using a 50/50 soil to perlite mixture for my plant but I have noticed that a few days after watering it, the soil is still moist... I have the plant close to the lights, good ventilation and the more perlite, the more often you have to water the plant, correct??

It's been 4 days since I watered and the soil is still wet. When I watered I DID see runoff.. Should I wait to water or go ahead???
Click to expand...

you have to tell us about your setup! temps, humidity, indoor/outdoor, pot sizes, what brand soil, pics ?!???
 
TommyHobby said:
you have to tell us about your setup! temps, humidity, indoor/outdoor, pot sizes, what brand soil, pics ?!???
Click to expand...

haha, sorry mate.

12/12 from seed
bagseed
2/3 gallon pot
2x42w 2700k cfl
1x23w 2700k cfl
1x14w 5000k cfl

Soil: MG Organic Choice with 50/50 perlite soil
Temps stay at 83-89
Humidity always at around 30-40
 
Swwert said:
I'm using a 50/50 soil to perlite mixture for my plant but I have noticed that a few days after watering it, the soil is still moist... I have the plant close to the lights, good ventilation and the more perlite, the more often you have to water the plant, correct??

It's been 4 days since I watered and the soil is still wet. When I watered I DID see runoff.. Should I wait to water or go ahead???
Click to expand...

Perlite is meant for both drainage and water retention and adding more will require more watering as the water drains from the pots.
I go for a 65/35% soil and perlite mix as the more perlite you add to the medium the slower roots will develop due to them having to grow around the perlite rocks. Water when dry then repeat this cycle as plants love a wet and dry environment and will grow quicker and stronger.
 
Swwert said:
haha, sorry mate.

12/12 from seed
bagseed
2/3 gallon pot
2x42w 2700k cfl
1x23w 2700k cfl
1x14w 5000k cfl

Soil: MG Organic Choice with 50/50 perlite soil
Temps stay at 83-89
Humidity always at around 30-40
Click to expand...

Pretty good setup. I'd suggest just wait until the soil is dry and re-water. Make sure you have plenty of drainage holes at the bottom of the containers!
As long as the plants look happy and healthy, you should be just fine mate !
 
SIR SMOKER said:
Perlite is meant for both drainage and water retention and adding more will require more watering as the water drains from the pots.
I go for a 65/35% soil and perlite mix as the more perlite you add to the medium the slower roots will develop due to them having to grow around the perlite rocks. Water when dry then repeat this cycle as plants love a wet and dry environment and will grow quicker and stronger.
Click to expand...

+1, perlite retains water well, it is very porous. The drainage enhancement it gives is two faceted; it loosens the soil so water has less tendency to develop channels through the water (it allows for more even saturation), and it acts as a buffer by absorbing water so the soil doesn't get soggy, but slowly releasing that back out as the soil dries.
I use a similar ratio, 3 part soil, 2 part perlite, 1 part peat. I water every 4-5 days usually. I don't look at how moist the soil is, if I did I would be watering more, I watch my plants closely and often and they pretty much tell me when they need more water.
 
Once you get your watering schedule worked out everything is fine.
Just use the lift pot method if you dont have a moisture meter probe.
 
SIR SMOKER said:
Perlite is meant for both drainage and water retention and adding more will require more watering as the water drains from the pots.
I go for a 65/35% soil and perlite mix as the more perlite you add to the medium the slower roots will develop due to them having to grow around the perlite rocks. Water when dry then repeat this cycle as plants love a wet and dry environment and will grow quicker and stronger.
Click to expand...
Thank you, I will keep a close eye and make sure they're happy

TommyHobby said:
Pretty good setup. I'd suggest just wait until the soil is dry and re-water. Make sure you have plenty of drainage holes at the bottom of the containers!
As long as the plants look happy and healthy, you should be just fine mate !
Click to expand...
this is what I'm going for, as long as they are happy.. I should just keep doing what works

gobbly said:
+1, perlite retains water well, it is very porous. The drainage enhancement it gives is two faceted; it loosens the soil so water has less tendency to develop channels through the water (it allows for more even saturation), and it acts as a buffer by absorbing water so the soil doesn't get soggy, but slowly releasing that back out as the soil dries.
I use a similar ratio, 3 part soil, 2 part perlite, 1 part peat. I water every 4-5 days usually. I don't look at how moist the soil is, if I did I would be watering more, I watch my plants closely and often and they pretty much tell me when they need more water.
Click to expand...

I'm thinking 5 days between waterings for now.. my baby looks healthy so eh.. why fix it if it ain't broke?

Thanks all!!
 
SIR SMOKER said:
Once you get your watering schedule worked out everything is fine.
Just use the lift pot method if you dont have a moisture meter probe.
Click to expand...

I've been using that method, but the pot still feels heavy after 4 days.. a little TOO heavy (but once again, this is my first use of perlite)
 
SIR SMOKER said:
Once you get your watering schedule worked out everything is fine.
Just use the lift pot method if you dont have a moisture meter probe.
Click to expand...

I forget about weight testing, I use sand to combat gnats, and my pots are too heavy to get a good idea of water content from weight. But it is a great way to tell if you can! Perlite heavy soil should be fairly light.

If you are real familiar with your plants you can see when they need water. the leaves will start to curl down slightly, and it will generally just kinda look droopy. I check mine frequently and at the first sign of this I water (I really drench them). They perk up, then actually get a little droopy from overwatering (this lasts a day usually) then look perfect for another 3-4 days, then the whole thing repeats. There are lots of ways but this works well for me :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

D
Suitable? Auto flowers HELPPP
Replies
9
Views
589
Dean6969$
D
T
Help identifying plant issues
Replies
13
Views
977
cage
C
Pksv
Anyone have any idea what might be causing this?
Replies
6
Views
384
yosim
Y
_EQ
High Frequency Fert Help
Replies
7
Views
461
_EQ
_EQ
Dirig0
Possible light stress/overwater/high EC?
Replies
8
Views
445
Hollatchaboy
Hollatchaboy
Back
Top