Autoflower in a 2L pot, 6 days from sprout - when to water to runoff?

To answer the original question, you should water to runoff from day 1. I regularly plant seeds directly into 2 gallon pots which have necessarily been drowned in order to force any air pockets out. Usually takes 9-11 days to need water again in my extremely dry environment (35% on avg).

There are two reasons to water to runoff from day 1 that come to mind easily

1. It forces air pockets out. Air pockets will become hydrophobic salt pockets over time and could (I have no evidence for this but have read it online) hurt your plants or cause lockouts.
2. Roots grow towards water and nutrients, where do you want them to go? Down. So you need to keep the bottom moist.

TrippleDip said:

To answer the original question, you should water to runoff from day 1. I regularly plant seeds directly into 2 gallon pots which have necessarily been drowned in order to force any air pockets out. Usually takes 9-11 days to need water again in my extremely dry environment (35% on avg).

There are two reasons to water to runoff from day 1 that come to mind easily

1. It forces air pockets out. Air pockets will become hydrophobic salt pockets over time and could (I have no evidence for this but have read it online) hurt your plants or cause lockouts.
2. Roots grow towards water and nutrients, where do you want them to go? Down. So you need to keep the bottom moist.

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Thanks for your input.

Again, I didn't mean to offend anyone else and my tone clearly came off wrong. I've been reading and looking into people growing some great stuff out of soil 2L pots with autos. Check out awolace for example. I just wondered how the watering schedules and ratios might differ in such a smaller medium. I appreciate what everyone else said but I'm not growing in the 2L out of ignorance, I'm looking for the fun of it! So thanks all.


Any other input RE the original question is appreciated also.

bowjig said:

Again, I didn't mean to offend anyone else and my tone clearly came off wrong. I've been reading and looking into people growing some great stuff out of soil 2L pots with autos

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Honestly, this is the internet. People are not really offended even if they type like it. They just want to help. My perspective is that right now I keep putting plants in 1.7gallon (7L) pots. I hate it. I have to water everyday, but I keep doing it because I have the pots. Even I will tell you to choose something bigger and flatter just because you will make it easier on yourself. Having to schedule your life around watering plants twice a day is not fun!

Anyways, imo watering schedules don't differ. Water to a little runoff every time the soil is dry starting at day 1. If you live in a super humid environment or use pots bigger than five gallons maybe it's not such a good idea idk. With 2L for sure water to runoff every time starting at day 1. Light hurts roots so be sure to cover the outside of your bottles.


Edit: with only 2L of soil there will never be enough nutrients to get through the cycle. You will need either more soil or chemical nutrients. The nutrients in 7L of soil barely got me through four weeks this time and my plants are less than 2' high. Will produce between 1 and 2 oz each..