Watering till run-off, but soil VERY dry

[Reap911]

I noticed huge difference with just a pinch of aloe when foliar spraying. I've tried couple different mulch layers and straw seems to be working out good for me at keeping the top layer moist between waterings.

Yes sir. I do a combination of raw aloe vera blended and added to the water plus I have used the KNF fermentation process with brown sugar for a week and then beneficial bacteria's for 2 weeks to aid in the breakdown of the organic material. That stuff works like a bomb and the smell is something you might consider drinking.

I see a a huge boost in biological activity when I keep the soils moist and rotate between foliar and just normal watering. I like to do like 1/1. One day spray, one day water just to keep the top layer nice and moist. I never exceed 10% of the soils volume when watering over a 3 day window. This varies when it comes to plant size and stage of life. Sometimes I water 10% on the 3rd day, other days I do 3.5% each day using a variety of spraying and watering normally.

So far that has prevented me from getting gnats and seems to promote the top later biology quite nicely.

 

[TaoRich]

I know that this is an old thread from the OP's question, but here's what I learnt yesterday:

FirstCavApache64 said:
I'll let him give you the right way to do it but I use a bamboo chopstick and push it down to the bottom of the soil and work it side to side to loosen the compacted soil. I poke around 8-10 holes in a pot usually. I do it weekly or bi weekly depending on the soil conditions.

@hotrodharley said:
There’s no system or link. As old as farming. The loosening of the soil to increase aeration and allow better penetration by water. Peat products pack down with watering and hydrostatic pressure. As well it degrades and particles get finer and pack hard easier. Your method is perfect

That poking helps with the 'water just runs off to the side of the pot and out' issue. It will get more water down into the centre of your root ball. Especially if your soil has become too compacted, which is often the cause of that side runoff.

 

[Southernontariogrower]

I'm fairly new to growing cannabis, and I'm having trouble understanding how to water my plants. Many people say with super soil, you don't want to water until you get runoff, but even if I put 1/4 a gallon in my 5 gallon pot, I will IMMEDIATELY get run off. If I left that runoff sit, it will get soaked up by the bottom of the pot because the soil is still very dry.

It seems to me like the first couple of seconds watering the soil almost always flow right out of the bottom of the pot until the soil gets sufficiently saturated, then it starts to hold the water.

Does anybody else notice this as well?

My grow doesn't allow for runoff, or I get to sponge it up! But I like big pots in and out. Five gallons is a drink in my main pot!

 

[sh0wtime]

That poking helps with the 'water just runs off to the side of the pot and out' issue. It will get more water down into the centre of your root ball. Especially if your soil has become too compacted, which is often the cause of that side runoff.

Simply water slowly, if you don't want runoff from the sides.
Or spray some water first to moisten the top layer, if you wanna be precise.
Personally, I never poke holes in my soil, but whatever works, I guess.

 

[TaoRich]

Personally, I never poke holes in my soil, but whatever works, I guess.

You've never tried it.
Yes, it does work.

Simply water slowly, if you don't want runoff from the sides.

This doesn't work for compacted soil.

Next time, please try to add something useful or helpful.

 

[sh0wtime]

You've never tried it.
Yes, it does work.

This doesn't work for compacted soil.

Next time, please try to add something useful or helpful.

Sir, you don't need to get mad at me for trying.
I'm not the one who has soil so compact that I can't get any water through...
also: If you can use my info use it if not, don't complain it was for free wasn't it?

 

[bk78]

Or spray some water first to moisten the top layer, if you wanna be precise.

Let’s spend 3 hours in our grow room misting the tops of pots to water them instead of poking holes in our medium.

 

[Jjgrow420]

Let’s spend 3 hours in our grow room misting the tops of pots to water them instead of poking holes in our medium.

You mean there's a better way?

 

[sh0wtime]

Let’s spend 3 hours in our grow room misting the tops of pots to water them instead of poking holes in our medium.

3 hours? Get outta here that takes 5 minutes, lmao lazy f*ck.

 

[Nope_49595933949]

3 hours? Get outta here that takes 5 minutes, lmao lazy f*ck.

Lol you aren't watering properly

 

[coxnox]

I'm fairly new to growing cannabis, and I'm having trouble understanding how to water my plants. Many people say with super soil, you don't want to water until you get runoff, but even if I put 1/4 a gallon in my 5 gallon pot, I will IMMEDIATELY get run off. If I left that runoff sit, it will get soaked up by the bottom of the pot because the soil is still very dry.

It seems to me like the first couple of seconds watering the soil almost always flow right out of the bottom of the pot until the soil gets sufficiently saturated, then it starts to hold the water.

Does anybody else notice this as well?

your soil is too dry then, water more often.

 

[sh0wtime]

Lol you aren't watering properly

I do it with, uhm Water how's that wrong?

 

[Nope_49595933949]

I do it with, uhm Water how's that wrong?

Lol just dump a bucket in and walk away bud?

 

[sh0wtime]

Read carefully... we were talking about moistening not watering.

 

[Nope_49595933949]

Read carefully... we were talking about moistening not watering.

Who's sock are you?

 

[sh0wtime]

Was there a question?

 

[PadawanWarrior]

Use a wetting agent like yucca.

 

[Nope_49595933949]

Use a wetting agent like yucca.

I feed my plants nothing but yucca and hlg.

 

[cougheeesm]

Here to parrot the yucca suggestions lol. Also when doing water-only soils (no-till) you do not want to water until runoff. A moisture meter is a good investment, but the nice ones are really spendy. A good middle-ground is the blumat one. Proper moisture is everything with no-till and it can be just as bad to over-water as to under-water.

 

[vampz87]

Here to parrot the yucca suggestions lol. Also when doing water-only soils (no-till) you do not want to water until runoff. A moisture meter is a good investment, but the nice ones are really spendy. A good middle-ground is the blumat one. Proper moisture is everything with no-till and it can be just as bad to over-water as to under-water.

It would cost an arm and a leg to get yucca sent here from a place like Build-A-Soil, I can't find anything local in South Australia.......should i just buy a wetting agent at my local garden store ?