Having issues keeping soil wet
- Thread starter ramborfc
- Start date
tokingtiger
Well-Known Member
pour a little water down the sides, you do not want to create a Crust on top that could stop the fragile seedling from poking though, you want the soil more dry than wet.. too wet and you " drown" the seed and it will never pop. You can take a fork and work the very top soil over the seed to break up the crust you already have going.. good luck and remember Patience is the best friend of the Gardner.
So pour a little water down the sits of the pot around the seed? So I should move the top soil around a bit to break the crusty soil I've been watering ? Also should I stick the the spray bottle I've been using it creates a kind of mist when I spray it.
Walter9999
Well-Known Member
The seed needs moister...you must monitor this to the point it breaks ground and then it gets tougher
Herb & Suds
Well-Known Member
Add a drop of dish soap to a gallon of water
Similar common practice is used in farming under the guise of a wetting agent
Btw
You can use a daylight cfl, bulb for a couple weeks till you need the 300 watt
Similar common practice is used in farming under the guise of a wetting agent
Btw
You can use a daylight cfl, bulb for a couple weeks till you need the 300 watt
What are your containers?
Red solo cups work great for the first few weeks. Poke holes in the bottom so the water can drain. Water until you see it draining out the bottom of the container then stop. Leave it until you can push your finger into the soil a bit and have no soil come back with you - once that happens, water it again the same way.
Red solo cups work great for the first few weeks. Poke holes in the bottom so the water can drain. Water until you see it draining out the bottom of the container then stop. Leave it until you can push your finger into the soil a bit and have no soil come back with you - once that happens, water it again the same way.
im using a small 5" pot, so even if the soil is very dry on the top i should stick my finger down and if soil sticks to my finger as i pull its up its still fine? also what should i water with, a sprayer, bottle, watering can?
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Hmm, my 5 inch container took four quarts of water at a time give or take. That would cause drainage from the bottom, and it would keep my plant good for 2-3 days. Thats a mature plant, I started my seeds out in solo cups.
For seedlings use a smaller container if you can, then transfer the plant to a bigger one once you have a few node built up.
Aside from that though, yea, just stick your finger in to the first knuckle (the bend above your fingernail), and if the soil is dry go ahead and water. You can also pick the container up after a full watering to feel its weight - that will let you know what wet soil feels like compared to your soil when its drying.
For seedlings use a smaller container if you can, then transfer the plant to a bigger one once you have a few node built up.
Aside from that though, yea, just stick your finger in to the first knuckle (the bend above your fingernail), and if the soil is dry go ahead and water. You can also pick the container up after a full watering to feel its weight - that will let you know what wet soil feels like compared to your soil when its drying.
They have just popped last night, would the light still be to intense for the small seedling ?
Here's an OG trick of old - mix one drop of Dawn dishwater soap to each gallon of water. Dawn makes the water wetter. Means the droplets are broken down to much smaller size and can more easily flood your soil. I tested this out by using 2 pots that were nearly clear. Filled both with my soil and gave each 2 cups of water. The pot receiving the Dawned water showed much more water coverage. Good enough for me. Good luck, BigSteve.
