The Organic Water Dance

[Wilderb]

So I am doing my first run going more the organic route.This is my small, personal grow. Started with a organic soil base, amended, sat for about a month, and now growing in it. Plants are doing well. About 4 weeks in veg and in 5 gal.
Also first run with cloth pots and fresh worm castings.
My only concern is watering. I have been soaking about every 3 days and kind of light watering the top in between. Seems to working fine but what is the best way to keep the soil moist?
I see many are using blumats. Do they work as well as they seem?
Is covering the soil with something (plastic, carpet, rice hulls) the best approach?
I have found older answers using the search but was wondering what current approach is.
Thanks
WE

 

[ShLUbY]

I use blumats and rice hull mulch. The mats are awesome. Saves time, and does a great job keeping the soil moisture dialed in. A mulch is crucial when using them though if youre only using a single drip and no spreaders. Check out pg 15 in my thread link is in my signiture below. Youll see a shot of them in action

 

[Wilderb]

I use blumats and rice hull mulch. The mats are awesome. Saves time, and does a great job keeping the soil moisture dialed in. A mulch is crucial when using them though if youre only using a single drip and no spreaders. Check out pg 15 in my thread link is in my signiture below. Youll see a shot of them in action

I could've sworn I had marked your post to follow. So a single unit should be able to do a 5 gal pot with mulch?
Thanks for the reply.
WE

 

[greasemonkeymann]

So I am doing my first run going more the organic route.This is my small, personal grow. Started with a organic soil base, amended, sat for about a month, and now growing in it. Plants are doing well. About 4 weeks in veg and in 5 gal.
Also first run with cloth pots and fresh worm castings.
My only concern is watering. I have been soaking about every 3 days and kind of light watering the top in between. Seems to working fine but what is the best way to keep the soil moist?
I see many are using blumats. Do they work as well as they seem?
Is covering the soil with something (plastic, carpet, rice hulls) the best approach?
I have found older answers using the search but was wondering what current approach is.
Thanks
WE

another approach is getting a cardboard cut-out that matches the plants container, slicing into the middle to allow for the stalk.
works reaaally well in high temps, not so well in the humidity...
high temp out door grows and it's almost crucial.

 

[Wilderb]

another approach is getting a cardboard cut-out that matches the plants container, slicing into the middle to allow for the stalk.
works reaaally well in high temps, not so well in the humidity...
high temp out door grows and it's almost crucial.

Doing this as we speak. I have NO shortage of cardboard, lol.

 

[greasemonkeymann]

Doing this as we speak. I have NO shortage of cardboard, lol.

works really well, also gives your worms something to much on too
also is a great way to keep your compost or wormbin mist during summer too
but as a cover to your plants you'll notice in about a week or so that the roots grow UP into the cardboard.
cool shit

 

[ShLUbY]

I could've sworn I had marked your post to follow. So a single unit should be able to do a 5 gal pot with mulch?
Thanks for the reply.
WE

Oh yeah i have singles in 10 gals. The trick is to put the blumat not quite halfway to the main stalk so youre slightly to the side of the container. For fabrics, This way you measure moisture nearer the edge of the pot where it gets dry faster and have it drip next to the main stalk. The mulch/cover will help the moisture spread throughout the comtainer.

 

[Wilderb]

So the Patio set version should work fine?

 

[whitebb2727]

I use mulch. Easy peasy.

Use something to help keep moist.

Thing about organics is a lot of the action takes place in the first few inches of soil. It needs to be moist and not dry too much or it could hurt your micro herd.

I use plastic pots though.

You could just put them in a container and water good and let them wick water from the bottom.

With organics you don't need a lot of run off like synthetics.

However, the soil can get pockets that get hydrophobic and not take water.

Keep that in mind and I think you will do fine.

 

[ShLUbY]

So the Patio set version should work fine?

Maxi is what u want

 

[ShLUbY]

I use mulch. Easy peasy.

Use something to help keep moist.

Thing about organics is a lot of the action takes place in the first few inches of soil. It needs to be moist and not dry too much or it could hurt your micro herd.

I use plastic pots though.

You could just put them in a container and water good and let them wick water from the bottom.

With organics you don't need a lot of run off like synthetics.

However, the soil can get pockets that get hydrophobic and not take water.

Keep that in mind and I think you will do fine.

Run off? Whats that ???

 

[whitebb2727]

Run off? Whats that ???

Can't tell if you are serious.

The run off water from the bottom of a pot. When using synthetic fertilizer you need run off to prevent salt build up.

Not in organics though. You can still get dry spots. Happened to me.had a plant that was almost dead and I couldn't figure it out. I went to dig it up and the whole center of the root ball was bone dry. It would not take water.



A person can add a drop of dish soap to the water to break water tension and water the pots more thoroughly.

 

[ShLUbY]

Can't tell if you are serious.

The run off water from the bottom of a pot. When using synthetic fertilizer you need run off to prevent salt build up.

Not in organics though. You can still get dry spots. Happened to me.had a plant that was almost dead and I couldn't figure it out. I went to dig it up and the whole center of the root ball was bone dry. It would not take water.



A person can add a drop of dish soap to the water to break water tension and water the pots more thoroughly.

lol i was joking. i never have runoff with the blumats (unless some freak accident happens which is rare). just a little sarcasm the blumats are great cause once you dial them in... all is well never have to worry about dry spots again!

but yeah, hydrophobic peat is no joke. hard as fuck to get resaturated.

Aloe vera helps break surface tension and makes the water thicker so it cant run through as easily.

 

[whitebb2727]

lol i was joking. i never have runoff with the blumats (unless some freak accident happens which is rare). just a little sarcasm the blumats are great cause once you dial them in... all is well never have to worry about dry spots again!

but yeah, hydrophobic peat is no joke. hard as fuck to get resaturated.

Aloe vera helps break surface tension and makes the water thicker so it cant run through as easily.

I need to check blumats out.

 

[ShLUbY]

I need to check blumats out.

make your life easy man. no more hand watering except for the solo cup sized ones. just keep the res full and use the time you spent watering for other things

 

[whitebb2727]

make your life easy man. no more hand watering except for the solo cup sized ones. just keep the res full and use the time you spent watering for other things

I kind of enjoy that time though.

I like the idea of being able to leave for a few days and not worry about it.

 

[ShLUbY]

well i mean you get more time with the plants! take care of other things in the garden and stand back and admire how well they handle themselves! I'm gone 4.5/7 days a week now, all my girl has to do is make sure the res has water, and I don't even worry about the plants. they grow themselves. and i spend as much time as i can on the weekends and watering my flower room is one less thing i have to take care of So i get to admire!

its a good feeling knowing that you can leave and everything is taken care of. I'm ordering a 30-35 gal res this weekend. I'm gonna start getting the rest of the blumats for the garden so i can run more plants in flower, and have the veg room outfitted as well. just been a bit short on funds for a while but things are turning around.

 

[Fastslappy]

Yucca works very well as a wetting agent ,the spray dry extract is the best & strongest .
Same stuff in most joint vitamins
I get mine on eBay yucca gold
2 grades SD spray dry powder & meal
meal is the left over mash after extracting the juice for the SD powder yucca
The meal is a excellent soil additive but it's really pricey
The SD has the highest saponins
Yeah that's the Best part Yucca is full of Saponins

 

[ShLUbY]

Yucca works very well as a wetting agent ,the spray dry extract is the best & strongest .
Same stuff in most joint vitamins
I get mine on eBay yucca gold
2 grades SD spray dry powder & meal
meal is the left over mash after extracting the juice for the SD powder yucca
The meal is a excellent soil additive but it's really pricey
The SD has the highest saponins
Yeah that's the Best part Yucca is full of Saponins

aloe full of saponins too! I have yet to try yucca but i keep hearing good stuff about it.

 

[Fastslappy]

aloe full of saponins too! I have yet to try yucca but i keep hearing good stuff about it.

Ease of use 1\4 tsp to a gallon & that's heavy use
Works as a cytalist in teas but it will foam up as any wetting agent would