Hi, I'm a new grower and people have told me a lot of different things... I just want a straight answer from a professional. I have 2gallon buckets with 1 and a half week old seedlings in there. I use miracle grow soil and it drains pretty well, so I'm thinking about watering everyday, and maybe only nutrients a few times a week. I currently use GH Floralicious Grow ( 1 - 0.7 - 0.6 ). *Also if anyone can, tell me what other nutrients I need because I know just that won't suffice. Basically, I'd like to know how much is okay for normal watering (everyday) and how much nutrients to mix with my water also. Thanks ahead.
Watering Questions.
- Thread starter Peter421
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BigBudBalls
Well-Known Member
Which MG soil you using?
I have/am using the moisture control (with added perlite) in a 1 gal bag, and can water once a week with a 6inch(ish) plant.
The MG soil, if it has the time released nutes, doesn't need any nutes for like 2 months.
When you do start adding nutes check the pH after mixing. GH is typically for hydro and will probably wind up at 5.7. For soil, it should be 6.5
I have/am using the moisture control (with added perlite) in a 1 gal bag, and can water once a week with a 6inch(ish) plant.
The MG soil, if it has the time released nutes, doesn't need any nutes for like 2 months.
When you do start adding nutes check the pH after mixing. GH is typically for hydro and will probably wind up at 5.7. For soil, it should be 6.5
BigBudBalls
Well-Known Member
WAY too often to water them. (you said they were in 2 gal buckets?)
I hover around 78-81F (and on the dry side 30-40% RH) and still water once a week (or 5 days) ish.
I also found that the MG moisture control's pH was off. Had to add in a 16oz cup of dolomite lime per 4 gal to stabilize it.
Grab one of them $5 moisture meters. I water when it hits 3 on the scale 1/2 way down in the bucket. (clean off the probe when done. They tend to corrode and give false readings otherwise)
When watering water until water comes out the bottom.
jimdandy
Well-Known Member
I have a grow finishing in MG potting mix. 1/2 my plants died in the early stages due to the strength of the ferts. Those little fucking balls in there can burn the shit out of your plant. What I have found that works is to put 1/2 inch of perlite at the bottom of the grow container. Saturate until water runs out of drain holes. Then put your seed or seedling in. The moisture in the mix will sustain the plant for quite a while. When the plant is small it only needs a cup or 1/2 cup every so many days. Too much moisture will rot the roots. Use the container that you plan on finishing the plant in. Just my 2 cents.
BigBudBalls
Well-Known Member
Sorry to hear about the 50% loss! I've never had a plant die from the MG soil. My first seed was in the potting soil. (and one killer plant. ultra tight nodes, bushy as all get up. Glad I kept clones of her)
But great points! Root LOVE air, and like water here and there.
Think about you. You breathe more then you drink (well I drink a little too much, but thats a different story.
)
Keep that soil airy and loamy.
But great points! Root LOVE air, and like water here and there.
Think about you. You breathe more then you drink (well I drink a little too much, but thats a different story.
)Keep that soil airy and loamy.
Lately I've just been putting my finger all the way into the soil to check if its just moist or dry. I'm a little overprotective because I don't have any experience and I just don't want my plants to dry out like before. I had 2 seedlings dry up about 3 days ago. But that was in rockwool.. So I don't know.
BigBudBalls
Well-Known Member
Rockwool, ugh! I have yet to figure that stuff out, but its SO easy to drown a plant in it.
You have no pics up. But an idea is to water the plant. Then wait a couple days. Then see how many days it takes for the plant to wilt a little. Then subtract a day (maybe 2) and there is your watering time. (that will change as it gets bigger)
You have no pics up. But an idea is to water the plant. Then wait a couple days. Then see how many days it takes for the plant to wilt a little. Then subtract a day (maybe 2) and there is your watering time. (that will change as it gets bigger)
Ah, I'll be sure to check on that, I usually don't water nearly a cup, maybe 1/3 a cup, but I know it doesn't drain at the bottom. Its just the top gets a little crusty. I will post up some pictures soon, I just get lazy because its my camera phone and all that uploading crap. But hopefully you can tell me how my plants are, I think one MIGHT be stretching a little.
BigBudBalls
Well-Known Member
Its so cute! ( I just harvested a plant that was no more then 5 inches tall. Cute little bugger. Was just an experiment)Ok, Its very blurry but... Its from my camera phone.. Which shouldn't be too bad its 2.0 mega pixelsOh btw BidBudBalls, what kind of nutrients would you recommend me getting? I'm sure my grow nutes aren't enough.
Nutes? I've used the Fox Farm line. Now using the General Hydroponics (but thats because I'm away from home lot and hydro nutes keep mixed up better). Also the MG and Shultz. I've really got fed up with all the tinkering and just said fuck it, close enough. Plants are no worse off either.
Don't go crazy. Just get it to go all the way through. don't try to win the marathon, but just to finish it first time out. Best advice is to chill and forget about it. (easier said then done!!)
Keep lights as close as possible without burning them, don't over water or over nute (over nute is WAY worse then under nute!)
You have a couple months to research nutes.
Try to research the next step/stage as it progresses. As in keep a step ahead.
Alright heres how you should water. First off, make sure your containers drain well. What your gonna wanna do is water them with 1-2 gallons of water and completely soak them. Then check on em after 4-7 days, and check the top 3 inches of soil. After the top 3 inches has been dry for 1-2 days, water them again with another 1-2 gallons water. Always watch your plants as they will tell you if you adding too much, or not enough water.
You DONT want to water everyday as you will get rootbound plants. You want to give em plenty of water, them have em dry out a bit so that the roots grow bigger.
If your containers arent draining well, add perlite to your soil.
nkn6312
Active Member
like im in the same boat here, and this MG doesn't drain unless i put a shit load of water in. when i do, i feel like im going to kill the bastards... so ive been putting 1 cup of water into an 8inch pot every few days, like when the soil is dry on the top inch. also, ive had to poke holes in the soil so that the soil can breath, cause when its watered it gets really heavy. my plants are bout 6 inches at 20 days. they look good, but i really want to make a better soil mix. what should i do?
BigBudBalls
Well-Known Member
Tough to add perlite after the fact. Thats like slowing down after you see the flashing red lights in the rear view mirror.
1-2 gallons of water for a 2 gallon pot???? You *gotta* be joking. Why waste the nutes? He doesn't need to flush. Once water is draining, thats enough water. I use 1/2 gal for a 4 gal pot on an established plant in flowering. Works flawlessly. (its also a seedling, it would float out)
Rootbound is from it being in a too small pot. I think you mean root rot. And that is mainly from the roots not having enough air.
You won't know if you have given it too much water until about 1/2 day after watering it as the leaves droop.
Drying out the soil to make the roots grow to look for water is fine (and a good thing) for a seedling. But an established plant? Why make the plant waste energy on looking for water when it could be growing the above ground (plants will naturally balance the root ball and above ground mass.)
BigBudBalls
Well-Known Member
Next round add in a lot of perlite. Can't have too much. Just will have to water more often. But 10%-25% should work nice.
Well 1-2 gallons is just a general amount, I didnt look at what size pot he was using. Plants can become rootbound form being watered everyday ive seen it a lot.
Once every 3-5 days is all you need. Different grow setups and different people use different methods. I think he just needs to change his watering cycle to every 3-5 days and use plenty of water and they will grow fine without becoming root bound.
easy way to water your potted plants, if the pots feel light water them! if they feel heavy dont water them! a simple rule of thumb used by many pro growers! when you water them try and get a 20% run off, out the bottom of the pots! this will ensure no salt build up in the bottoms and replenish the co2 in the soil better!