How much do I water my plant?

Before everyone starts telling me to look it up because this question has been ask hundreds of times, hear me out please. I've read a ton and looked around so i know about the water whenever the soil is dry or water every couple days, stick a finger in and see if it needs water and all of that. My question is physically in terms of like gallons or ml or ounce of water do I give my plant. Some people say water till water goes through the drain holes.

I have a 5 or 6 gallon pot with a fairly young plant, maybe 3 weeks old, just transfered it over to the big pot. How do I go about watering this thing? Am I suppose to take 5 gallons of water and water it or just 1 or 2 gallons till i see water come out of the drain holes then stop? Wouldn't all this water just drown the roots and kill it? I know it sounds like a stupid question but this is my first grow and I can't find anything online that can help me. Thanks in advance.

depends on how big ur plants are, mine drink a gatorade bottle every 2-3 days, i think thats 1 qt, just water it till it comes out the holes....then wait couple days till top couple inches are completely dry then water it again

My bad I forgot to mention. its only like 4 or5 inches tall. still kinda small. got like 2 sets of fan leaves growing with like a couple more coming out.

gallardo412 said:

My bad I forgot to mention. its only like 4 or5 inches tall. still kinda small. got like 2 sets of fan leaves growing with like a couple more coming out.

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then it really doesnt take much, just keep soil moist and dont feed them till they get a lil bigger....& post a pic if possible

I know this isn't a great help right now, but you have to get the feel for when you plants pots are dry. you can lift them and they will feel real light, and the top siol will be dry as hell. when you water them pick them up and see how they feel. If the leaves start to droop record how many days it took them to get like that and water a day sooner than that. You will get the hang of it as you go along, there are so many factors in how often you need to water. What size pot they are in, how much of your pot is filled with roots, temp and humidity in your room, and how you water them. Some people water less per water but water every day, others like me like to water plants till you see some water come out of the bottom then wait till the plants need to be watered again.

There isn't really anyone that can tell you to how to water your plants, it is one of those things you have to get the hang of. I was searching for the same answer when I first started growing and like I said you will just have to get the hang of it, but once you do it is easy street after that on when to water your plants!

GL brotha and happy growing!

ganjaluva2009 said:

a pot that size will probably need no more than 2g of water at each watering.....i personally like to water until i see runoff in my catch pans....no, the water will not drown the roots if u have properly draining soil...if ur soil is tight and holds water then u can "drown" ur roots so to speak...make sure ur soil is fairly drainable....u can loosen up most soils very simply by adding perlite....hope this helps...ganja

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I'm using Fox farm soil. I thought at first i should only give enough water proportional to the size of the plant. My plant is small so before I honestly only watered it like 1/2 a water bottle, not even. Thanks both of you for the response. Think I get it now.

ganjaluva2009 said:

a pot that size will probably need no more than 2g of water at each watering.....i personally like to water until i see runoff in my catch pans....no, the water will not drown the roots if u have properly draining soil...if ur soil is tight and holds water then u can "drown" ur roots so to speak...make sure ur soil is fairly drainable....u can loosen up most soils very simply by adding perlite....hope this helps...ganja

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Putting Hydroton rocks in the bottom of your pots will help with drainage and also help your roots breathe!

Howard Stern said:

Putting Hydroton rocks in the bottom of your pots will help with drainage and also help your roots breathe!

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That's a very good idea, except I already have my plants in the pots. I could try and get them out and put in some of that drainage stuff but I don't want to cause any additional stress. I've pretty much made nearly every noob mistake there is to making. My plant actually just recovered from my last mishap. Thanks again, much appreciate it.

gallardo412 said:

I'm using Fox farm soil. I thought at first i should only give enough water proportional to the size of the plant. My plant is small so before I honestly only watered it like 1/2 a water bottle, not even. Thanks both of you for the response. Think I get it now.

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fox farm is a good soil...i used to use it myself...so u dont have any problem with drainage im guessing...and i didnt know ur plants were that small until i seen ur second post after i was done typing...so yes u are correct in watering in proportionally to the size

Howard Stern said:

Putting Hydroton rocks in the bottom of your pots will help with drainage and also help your roots breathe!

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yea its very good for drainage...i use 'droton on the bottom of my pots....

Mine is about the same age....I was over watering her so she stunted...then i went 8 or 9 days without watering her...top soil was totally dry....But if I fingered the soil with my index finger I could feel moisture and dampness....

When I finally watered her I could barely feel any dampness on the tip of my finger.....Also I was lifting the bucket as well to feel it's weight....Between those two things you should be able to figure it out....

Water until you see run off. When you think it is ready to water again, wait another day, then water! If the plant wilts, water. My cycle tends to be around every 3 days or so water, water, then feed after the first 3 weeks.
Hydroton or stones in the bottom of the pot are a great help for drainage & air for future grows.
Also, a general guide is 1gal pot size for each ft of plant.
Dont worry about the mistakes, they are good!!! As long as you learn from them and dont keep repeating them you are learning.
Peace W

I recommend U to get a soil tester at Lowes, they are only 10$.. It tests your moisture, PH, Light... Something a first time grower should must have!!!! Here is a pic of mine,, i dont know if u can see or not (shity pic) but it's still in the green that means it's still moist,,, U want to water it as soon as it hits the red!!! The only way u will be a successful grower is to invest a little money and TIME,,, Hope all go's well