Away for five days, any cheap watering tips?

[cococouple]

Posted a couple of times and greatly appreciate the positive feed back that I have been getting. Actually, with any luck, I will be posting pics today
So, I'm growing PK, one plant (my first time). She is on day 24 of flowering (almost 1/2 way there and she is looking BEAUTIFUL!!! My upcoming dilema is that next week I will be leaving for 5 days. Absolutely everything is accounted for and ready to go except for watering. (So, no, absolutely everything is NOT ready ) What advice can I possibly get out there for a cheap watering solution for while I am away. It will be 3 full days where she will be alone, I feel like a worried parent, my baby has never been alone.The other 2 days are 1/2 days that I will be away from her. The temperature will never raise above 80, and she generally drinks/eats about 3/4 gallons a day. The days that I will be completely away from her are on days 33,34,and 35 of her flowering. If this is a common question, I apologize, I DID check thread and such, to no avail.
Thanks for any and all help.

 

[tastyaces]

im assuming it is dirt... u can just make a small drip system with a timer and give her so much per day.. the easiest way i think... good luck friends use hyrdo and when there gone they just use a larger resovir. i dont know just puttin it out there

 

[phearless]

By the way do you have photos, I would like to see your plant at day 24.

 

[Garden Knowm]

If leaving for 5-10 days.... this is what ONE does

Water the plant 24 hours before ONE leaves... heavily.. with about 1/2 gallon of water per 3 gallons of soil... then just before ONE leaves, water again with 1/2 gallon of water.....

Basically 1 gallon of water per 3 gallon container of soil... 24 hours before leaving plants alone... works perfect every time.. even in a closet with 1000 watt BULB...

iloveyou

 

[MrFishy]

If you're NEEDING to water everyday, as implied, then it's time to transplant. IMO.
Very few plants take water daily and pot isn't among them.

 

[cococouple]

Thank you for your replies so far, can't wait to see what all is said by the time I leave! I will have pics as soon as I figure out how to get them from my crappy camera to my shitty computer

 

[seamoose]

i love u guys, just found this site...very helpful....i hope u all get laid sometime in the near future.

 

[regrets]

You shouldn't need to be watering every day. Every 3 days or more is standard. If you are in a 3-5 gallon pot as you definately should be with a plant that thirsty you should be able to just water once and then leave for 3 days with no problem. Watering every day is not good for your plant anyhow. You risk root rot and also deprive the roots of oxygen as well as stopping your plant from growing as much root as it can; if the roots don;t need to expand to get water they won't. I don't know that I would transplant 5 weeks into flowering unless you are flowering a 12 week sativa (unlikely), but if you are in a pot that is less than 3 gallons you may need to or your plant will freeze up on you at a very important part of bulking during flowering.

 

[cococouple]

Okay, well maybe I have been watering too much. I use the soil tester, and every day at about the same time I water. Reckon that I can hold off today and see how her leaves look. Thanks for all of the input.
By the way, when does one stop watering. How long before I cut her down do I want to stop watering?

 

[regrets]

You don't really ever have to stop watering, if you hold off for a few days to a week prior the buds will dry faster and lose less weight (a technicality) in drying. However if you are not worried about time you should water right up until the end and the plant will continue producing for you. lots of people stop watering for the last week, to dry them out ahead of time but these people end up losing final weight because of it. In my opinion there isn't much point in rushing the last couple of weeks once you have spent all of the time getting there.

 

[BigBudBalls]

Now I have played with *very* ariry soil mixes that need watering a often. Also done standard soil in 5gal buckets that went a week between waterings.

Now to topic. Got $35?

$10 for water pump
$8 for timer
$10 for lines and fittings.
$5 air pump
$2 air stone.



I would NOT use nutes for short trip. Water is just fine if soil.

 

[paltema]

I'm in a similar situation but I'll be gone for about a week and I have no idea what to do about lighting. what do you guys think??

 

[cococouple]

You don't really ever have to stop watering, if you hold off for a few days to a week prior the buds will dry faster and lose less weight (a technicality) in drying. However if you are not worried about time you should water right up until the end and the plant will continue producing for you. lots of people stop watering for the last week, to dry them out ahead of time but these people end up losing final weight because of it. In my opinion there isn't much point in rushing the last couple of weeks once you have spent all of the time getting there.

Let me tell you, this thread has been not only helpful in my original question, but also informative in regards to my follow up. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you all!!! I swear that as soon as I am actually able to, there will be pics.

 

[cococouple]

I'm in a similar situation but I'll be gone for about a week and I have no idea what to do about lighting. what do you guys think??

Put your lights on a timer (if your are flowering, you should be on a timer, anyway). You can get timers for VERY cheap at Target or Walmart or Harbour Freight.

 

[juststartin]

Put your lights on a timer (if your are flowering, you should be on a timer, anyway). You can get timers for VERY cheap at Target or Walmart or Harbour Freight.

Yeah, timers are so cheap and so reliable. Don't know how I managed without them!

 

[Where in the hell am I?]

Awesome ideas, people. This place rocks!!!

 

[bossman88188]

I would suggest mixing some polymers into the soil as deep as you can with out destroying to many roots a couple damaged roots are ok as it will shock the girl just a little and she will require a smaller amount of water while bouncing back and the polymers will slowly release water so she might make it through your trip