Can I add dirt?

I'm one week into flowering and have noticed that the dirt level has really dropped.

We're using 3 gallon pots and the dirt has dropped to the half way mark.

At this point would it be OK to gently lift the plant and add soil to the bottom|? I tried researching first and found something about adding hydroton clay balls to the top but I'm not clear on whether that would help at this point.

From what I read, roots don't generally occupy the top few inches so I'm concerned there is not enough medium.

Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

Depending on how low the first set of leaves are you can actually bury a pot plant about six inches higher than when it started. Pot is one of the few plants that will send out new roots out of the stalk of the plant if it becomes buried to deep. you can also do what you asked. water it well, then let it dry out very well then just ease it out of the pot. Judging by what you said, it must be very root bound by this point and you should have no trouble getting the root ball out in one piece.

- by the way - If it is root bound make sure you take a knife or razor and gently slice open the roots in quarters around the plant and slice an X on the bottom. That will help it grow roots outward.

Thanks Jonny. So do you think it would be safer to just add soil on top? I thought roots didn't especially like to grow up, directionally speaking

Celtic Vixen said:

Thanks Jonny. So do you think it would be safer to just add soil on top? I thought roots didn't especially like to grow up, directionally speaking

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I transplanted into the same size container, adding 2-3 insches of soil to the bottom and then another inch on top. Then watered. Hopefully they aren't too shocked. 75% were not rootbound.

u should be ok just give a couple days or so to recover
but dont want to transplant to much when flowering
dont want to stress em out where they turn on u u want mamas

Should I wait on the nutes or keep on my same schedule? They are beautiful and healthy so no pre-existing conditions when I added dirt.

if its ok ya go by the schedule
u know how to feed while ur in flowering right?

Just started following what FDD2blk recommends on feeding (from his It's all bullshit thread) and they look great. He nutes in the mornings and rinses at night. I don't go full strength on the nutes though. I've had plants really droop after transplanting but these look better than ever...so far. Two out of twelve are males and they started showing the next day. It may have pushed that. I watered after the transplant and since they weren't root bound, didn't see the need to agitate the root ball.

ya normaly the males show thier sex first
u just dont want to put stress on them spiecally when flowering
u transplant before u start flowering so stress dont happen
stressing it whlie it is in flowering stage could turn it hermie or worse
and when starting to nute i always would go with 1/4 the dose to get the plant used to the nutes then gradully work my way up to the hole dose.but for some good advise for feeding while ur flowering go to growfaqs on the top of the page and check what they have to say.