I prepared a soil for my plants a couple of weeks ago. I watered the soil (not ready to transplant yet btw) and while there is some water draining, I was under the assumption that water should be flowing through to the bottom faster. Am I correct in my assumption and if drainage will be an issue, is there a way that I can correct this now before I transplant?
Water drainage question from 1st timer
- Thread starter 215roller
- Start date
Nullis
Moderator
What kind of soil\materials did you incorporate into the mix? You can test the drainage by filling a container you plan to use with the mix and watering, which sounds like what you did; how long was it before you got run-off? Depending on the size of the container it could take up to a few minutes. Of course, with a small container it shouldn't take as long.
You don't really want it to piss right thru, though. And you're not really going to get any run-off unless you saturate the medium with enough water, more than it wants to hold.
You don't really want it to piss right thru, though. And you're not really going to get any run-off unless you saturate the medium with enough water, more than it wants to hold.
It's a 2.5 gallon pot. I used peat moss, EWC, lime, bone meal, perlite, Plant-tone and some vigoro commercial organic mix. It took about 2-3 minutes for me to see any run off..Im just being very cautious because I have run into enough problems getting seedlings right on my first grow. Should I be worried?
SpicySativa
Well-Known Member
My mix is based on roughly 1/3 peat, 1/3 perlite, and 1/3 EWC. About what percent perlite did you use?
It's about 15% perlite I added. The organic commercial mix also has perlite in it. Do you think maybe I need more?
Nullis
Moderator
I doubt it (that you should be worried, or add more perlite). IDK what ratios you used or anything, though. The structural components are the peat, earthworm castings and perlite. [Sphagnum] peat moss comes in varying consistencies and degrees of decomposition. Screened sphagnum is ideal, reminiscent of a good soil, it'll absorb 20x it's weight in water and retain air as well. Castings are a form of humus with a unique crumbly texture. They also enhance water holding capacity, and can help improve structure and drainage in the right amounts (10-30%). However, EWC are a dense material like humus in general, with a very fine particle size (like clay, although castings have this tendency to form aggregates) so too much can cause your mix to become too heavy and compact.
Perlite comes in chunky or larger pieces and the typical size. Chunky is preferable. It is very lightweight, mostly air and doesn't really retain much water. This makes it useful for improving drainage and aerating. Seems a tad over-used to me, that is 10% perlite is probably fine (can't see why anyone would need more than 15%). Perlite might currently seem abundant but it is actually a non-renewable resource.
Would recommend adding coco coir if it is available. Coir has an excellent air to water ratio; it drains good and holds water while retaining a lot of air. Coir is also an industry by-product and a renewable resource, even more so than sphagnum.
Perlite comes in chunky or larger pieces and the typical size. Chunky is preferable. It is very lightweight, mostly air and doesn't really retain much water. This makes it useful for improving drainage and aerating. Seems a tad over-used to me, that is 10% perlite is probably fine (can't see why anyone would need more than 15%). Perlite might currently seem abundant but it is actually a non-renewable resource.
Would recommend adding coco coir if it is available. Coir has an excellent air to water ratio; it drains good and holds water while retaining a lot of air. Coir is also an industry by-product and a renewable resource, even more so than sphagnum.