Drlove585

New Member
New to growing autoflowers. Growing in 5 gallon pots. 3 pots with a mix of cheap soil and perolite and peatmoss. And 2 pots have miracle grow potting mix and 1 pot ffof. First 5 weeks I’ve been using nothing but dechlorinated tap water with ph between 6.3-6.7 and just letting it run off to about 1/3. Im starting to add nutrients and have cut the watering to 1 liter every other day with feeding 1/2 recommended nutrients every other watering instead of completely watering till run off. Ive started low stress training about week 3 and starting defoliating fan leafs the week after Am i headed in the right direction?
 
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Drlove585

New Member
Im a newbie to posting.
Im having issues with watering and looking for inputs. Ive read everything from watering with run off to watering enough so soil drys out in a day or two. The bottom of my pots still have some moisture in them but are slowly drying out over the weeks. Im not using any trays under them.
When i started lowering the amount of water i was doing the knuckle test and had very little moisture but the bottom of the pot was still a bit moist. Im starting to add fox farm nutrients and looking for input on that with the current situation im in.
 

MickFoster

Well-Known Member
I'm no soil grower, but I do know that when you water it should be to run off.
Good luck and welcome to RIU.
 
i am new here but i put clay pebbles in the tray and it seems to let the bottom of pot breath better and still read your run off..if that helps you
 

LeastExpectedGrower

Well-Known Member
Once your plants have established roots, definitely water and feed to runoff. Don't stress about 'dried all the way to the bottom' as long as its dry to a few inches down it'll give enough air to the roots not to be waterlogged. If your plants haven't been watered to runoff for a handful of weeks in their 'biggest' container, you may need to be a bit aggressive for doing that to avoid having lock out.
 

Boreal Curing

Well-Known Member
I always water from the bottom. I add 1/2 inch of water to the tray and let it wick. Then dry for a day.

Like @Autodoctor said. Don't start defoliating until it's in flower. You'll only slow it down. The plant needs energy and you're pulling out the batteries.
 
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