How much do I water?

I watered 2day until just a little drained. Like a little puddle. But in the Jorge Cervantes video he says to allow a 10% run off. So am I watering correct or should I water till a nice amount of water drains out? Also I water twice. For example, I started out watering about 2 liters then waited for 10-15 minutes. Nothing came out of the bottom. So I added another 1 liter and that's when a small puddle drained so didn't water anymore. Thanks for any help. Peace-♥

I♥BUD;3363938 said:

I watered 2day until just a little drained. Like a little puddle. But in the Jorge Cervantes video he says to allow a 10% run off. So am I watering correct or should I water till a nice amount of water drains out? Also I water twice. For example, I started out watering about 2 liters then waited for 10-15 minutes. Nothing came out of the bottom. So I added another 1 liter and that's when a small puddle drained so didn't water anymore. Thanks for any help. Peace-♥

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By water with that technique it is good. You are making sure the soil gets a good saturation

But before you water make sure the soil is dry. Not just the top layer

What you can do is after you saturate you soil with water. Pick up the pot and get a good feel how heavy it is.

Later when you pick it up, if it feels very light, and the soil is very dry, then you'll know the plants need water

Also if you see the leaves starting to droop down then she is thirsty

you should also get a water meter that you stick in the soil, they are cheap (less than 10 bucks at Lowes/Home Depot/walmart) and take the guess work out of it. Stick it in, if it says dry, water till it seeps out the bottom. If it says wet, than wait till it drys out. Simple. Never have to worry about over/under watering again. Looks like this:

My fingers and eyes are as efficient as any water meter...

Its fairly simple. Pretty much already as said you need to water til there is some run off in soil. The amount of run off is really up to you and it pretty unimportant until you get to flushing.

I inspect my pots on the surface and through the drainage holes. The drainage holes are actually better indicators of when to water. The surface of the soil can get dry fairly quickly with there being ample water still remaining below.

A 'dry-wet' cycle is important but it isn't really what it seems. Plants gain most of their mass from interaction from the air, not water.

The term used in cultivation of fungus is called field capacity. You want your medium to be wet to the point where it will barely release any water, a drip or two, when squeezed firmly.

Also your plant will always tell you when it needs to be watered if you pay close attention.

I notice that my plants tend to have their saw edges up closer to watering time. I think this is due to slight ph changes in the media that occur through drying and concentration of solutes. Also it is a natural reaction from plants to v their leaves slightly before wilting in an attempt to conserve moisture. I can generally tell about 24 hours before the plant needs to be watered just by looking at the plant's body language.

GreedAndVanity said:

My fingers and eyes are as efficient as any water meter...

Its fairly simple. Pretty much already as said you need to water til there is some run off in soil. The amount of run off is really up to you and it pretty unimportant until you get to flushing.

I inspect my pots on the surface and through the drainage holes. The drainage holes are actually better indicators of when to water. The surface of the soil can get dry fairly quickly with there being ample water still remaining below.

A 'dry-wet' cycle is important but it isn't really what it seems. Plants gain most of their mass from interaction from the air, not water.

The term used in cultivation of fungus is called field capacity. You want your medium to be wet to the point where it will barely release any water, a drip or two, when squeezed firmly.

Also your plant will always tell you when it needs to be watered if you pay close attention.

I notice that my plants tend to have their saw edges up closer to watering time. I think this is due to slight ph changes in the media that occur through drying and concentration of solutes. Also it is a natural reaction from plants to v their leaves slightly before wilting in an attempt to conserve moisture. I can generally tell about 24 hours before the plant needs to be watered just by looking at the plant's body language.

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whatever works for you...but for a beginner, a meter is a good investment. It will allow you to begin to recognize the signs you are describing.

I suppose but it is about the equiv of sticking your finger a few inches below the soil. If it is feeling dry all the way to two inches it will probably need water within the next 48 hours with those signs I was talking about showing within the last day before wilt and get progressively more developed until wilt.

Water stress is not that big of a deal to deal with for a n00b.

The worst that will ever happen (unless god forbid they really aren't paying attention and don't water) is some wilting which will be recovered from in record time. The grower will be better from the experience of not relying on modern tools in this regard.

The reason I am the grower I am now is because of the little fuck ups I made at first. My eyes and fingers don't malfunction nearly as much as a water content meter.

GreedAndVanity said:

I suppose but it is about the equiv of sticking your finger a few inches below the soil. If it is feeling dry all the way to two inches it will probably need water within the next 48 hours with those signs I was talking about showing within the last day before wilt and get progressively more developed until wilt.

Water stress is not that big of a deal to deal with for a n00b.

The worst that will ever happen (unless god forbid they really aren't paying attention and don't water) is some wilting which will be recovered from in record time. The grower will be better from the experience of not relying on modern tools in this regard.

The reason I am the grower I am now is because of the little fuck ups I made at first. My eyes and fingers don't malfunction nearly as much as a water content meter.

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but if you could have avoided those little "fuck ups" in the first place, would you still not be a good grower? I'm not saying that a water meter is the next best thing to sliced bread, i'm just trying to help take some of the pressure off of a first grow

...and I would only think that using "modern tools" would benefit the user, yeah technology fails, but if it fails, than you can always rely on your instincts. But to a new grower, when to water, how much to water, the fear of over/under watering can be a pain in the ass. Always second guessing yourself, the use of a meter can help sort all that shit out. And for on a few bucks, why not use one?

He isn't getting the opportunity to learn which instincts are actually good ones.

If he wants to use a meter fine, but its 10 bucks I wouldn't spend on something I can literally do myself. Modern tech is great, ph meter, ppm etc etc. Those are important, the exact water content of your soil is not.

I find that a meter is inhibiting as far as time is concerned as well.

Those small fuck ups are the reason I am a good grower now or did you not read my post? I learned very important things very early due to fucking up but catching myself before the fuckup became really detrimental at all.

People have been growing dank weed without moisture analysis for thousands of years. The exact correctness of water content could even be possibly detrimental because it leads to over caring for the plant.

I am not saying I am right, I am just saying it is unnecessary and if you pay attention to your plants through out the day a few times (I know I can't stop myself from gazing in my room anyways so its not a big deal) you will notice that they change slightly as they cycle through the conditions you give them. You will quickly see the difference between an amply watered plant, a plant that is growing in medium saturated to field capacity, and a plant that is too dry. It is worth watching it happen atleast once especially if you are a n00b and looking out for the issue so you can correct it.

Then you would always have the knowledge that that is a bad look and what you need to do to get them to look happy again.

Get a meter if you want the result will probably be almost the same but it is 10 dollars I don't have to spend on something unnecessary.

Edit--

The second guessing yourself through your first grow is the second thing I attribute to me being as good as I am now. Second guess yourself a ton and you probably won't end up doing anything drastically wrong. If you are second guessing yourself ask someone who knows better. A machine isn't going to have a conversation with you and you can't be sure your meter isn't lying to you unless you feel it for yourself anyway.

GreedAndVanity said:

I find that a meter is inhibiting as far as time is concerned as well.

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wow...seriously?...anyway....



I'm not trying to argue over this, I have better things to do. I should have kept my mouth shut...I was just trying to give a little advice.

Cronic The Hemp Hog said:

wow...seriously?...anyway....



I'm not trying to argue over this, I have better things to do. I should have kept my mouth shut...I was just trying to give a little advice.

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HAHA yeah the 2.3 seconds it takes me to put my meter in the soil and read the dial is a real time strainer for me too rofl what a jackass. Relax Greed he was just tryin to help out a bro no need to get all high and mighty. just chill and light one up