Having issues keeping soil wet

[ramborfc]

Planted my seeds two days ago under a 300w led with one small computer fan as a extractor fan, I've been spraying the soil to keep it moist but within a few hours it's bone dry, any advice ? Should I be watering it more or more often?

 

[tokingtiger]

pour a little water down the sides, you do not want to create a Crust on top that could stop the fragile seedling from poking though, you want the soil more dry than wet.. too wet and you " drown" the seed and it will never pop. You can take a fork and work the very top soil over the seed to break up the crust you already have going.. good luck and remember Patience is the best friend of the Gardner.

 

[ramborfc]

pour a little water down the sides, you do not want to create a Crust on top that could stop the fragile seedling from poking though, you want the soil more dry than wet.. too wet and you " drown" the seed and it will never pop. You can take a fork and work the very top soil over the seed to break up the crust you already have going.. good luck and remember Patience is the best friend of the Gardner.

So pour a little water down the sits of the pot around the seed? So I should move the top soil around a bit to break the crusty soil I've been watering ? Also should I stick the the spray bottle I've been using it creates a kind of mist when I spray it.

 

[ramborfc]

Anyone help explain this problem?

 

[Walter9999]

The seed needs moister...you must monitor this to the point it breaks ground and then it gets tougher

 

[Herb & Suds]

Add a drop of dish soap to a gallon of water
Similar common practice is used in farming under the guise of a wetting agent

Btw
You can use a daylight cfl, bulb for a couple weeks till you need the 300 watt

 

[Rentaldog]

What are your containers?

Red solo cups work great for the first few weeks. Poke holes in the bottom so the water can drain. Water until you see it draining out the bottom of the container then stop. Leave it until you can push your finger into the soil a bit and have no soil come back with you - once that happens, water it again the same way.

 

[ramborfc]

What are your containers?

Red solo cups work great for the first few weeks. Poke holes in the bottom so the water can drain. Water until you see it draining out the bottom of the container then stop. Leave it until you can push your finger into the soil a bit and have no soil come back with you - once that happens, water it again the same way.

im using a small 5" pot, so even if the soil is very dry on the top i should stick my finger down and if soil sticks to my finger as i pull its up its still fine? also what should i water with, a sprayer, bottle, watering can?

 

[Rentaldog]

Hmm, my 5 inch container took four quarts of water at a time give or take. That would cause drainage from the bottom, and it would keep my plant good for 2-3 days. Thats a mature plant, I started my seeds out in solo cups.

For seedlings use a smaller container if you can, then transfer the plant to a bigger one once you have a few node built up.

Aside from that though, yea, just stick your finger in to the first knuckle (the bend above your fingernail), and if the soil is dry go ahead and water. You can also pick the container up after a full watering to feel its weight - that will let you know what wet soil feels like compared to your soil when its drying.

 

[AimAim]

Hit it 2-3 times per day with your mister. That's all you need to do. Once the seedlings come up through the soil water it from below by setting the pots in a tray of water.

 

[ramborfc]

Thanks for the replies! great help ill hopefully get the hang of it soon with the info given and was also thinking of bottom feeding after they sprout like Aim said. Thanks!

 

[Sativied]

Cover up the soil to prevent the top layer from drying out, just a quick and dirty example pulled off the web:

Once the plant covers the pot you can obviously remove it again. Or not if it's still an issue.

 

[GrowinDad]

Not saying this is the total cause but would contribute. Turn off the light. Once they pop, you will fry them under so much light. Get a CFL or two until the plants is established.

 

[ramborfc]

Not saying this is the total cause but would contribute. Turn off the light. Once they pop, you will fry them under so much light. Get a CFL or two until the plants is established.

They have just popped last night, would the light still be to intense for the small seedling ?

 

[GrowinDad]

Yes, one or two CFL a couple inches away for now.

 

[bigsteve]

Here's an OG trick of old - mix one drop of Dawn dishwater soap to each gallon of water. Dawn makes the water wetter. Means the droplets are broken down to much smaller size and can more easily flood your soil. I tested this out by using 2 pots that were nearly clear. Filled both with my soil and gave each 2 cups of water. The pot receiving the Dawned water showed much more water coverage. Good enough for me. Good luck, BigSteve.

 

[hyroot]

put a clear cup over the seedling or a ziploc bag over the pot until it drops its helmet. if you add mulch or a cover crop that will help keep soil moist too. Thats usually after the plant gets larger.