xxgreendayxx54
Member
My plant is about a week old and am curious how much water should I give it? I haven't watered in a couple days cuz I was told to let top soil dry out. Thanks for your help.
question about watering
- Thread starter xxgreendayxx54
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IXOYE
Active Member
it depends on the environment but probably twice a week. Yes let the top soil (down to an inch or two) dry up. It is far better to let them go without too long than it is to give them too much water which can lead to root rot. If you have a drainage hole big enough to get your pinky into check from the bottom. If its dry, water again. You'll get to know your plants and they will tell you in their "expressions" soon enough. As they get older and move into flowering they will need more.
xxgreendayxx54
Member
K thank you. I am still using a plastic cup so I just made the slits big enough to feel the soil...I actually posted this second question before but I d like to get more feedback: I am using jiffy starting mix( told it has low nutes) and curious as to when I should switch soil and switch into a bigger pot? Right now it is about two inches n a week old.
ink the world
Well-Known Member
Agree 100%....common and easy mistake to make is to over water
Nullis
Moderator
Ideally you want to water your plants before they start wilting; which doesn't usually happen until the soil is already bone dry and pulling away from the sides of the container. Much beyond that point and vascular damage is likely to result, if it hasn't already.
More commonly new growers are ridiculously fretful about watering, possibly due to the constant alarmist warnings against over/under watering. Some new growers apparently heed these warnings a bit too seriously and become so worried about over-watering that they don't water properly; they are afraid to water sufficiently and frequently enough.
I would say that over-watering is more likely to result in those who obsess over their plants and fuss with them more than they should or are just a bit impatient; i.e. checking on them every hour, thinking if they water/feed them more they will grow faster, always wondering what else they can do to them, etc. In reality over watering isn't something that happens that suddenly. It also has a lot to do with your medium/soil structure. Compacted soils with too many minute particles become water logged, water will drain through very slowly if at all. This also means hindered air exchange, so any oxygen that was dissolved in solution will quickly be depleted. Plant roots need oxygen as do aerobic bacteria, without it things go anaerobic, which also allows bad microbes to proliferate.
Therefore, if you have a medium with proper structure and which can hold both air and water, it is much more difficult to over water.
When the top inch (for smaller containers) or two (for larger containers) is dry, as others have mentioned, you water and you use enough so that you get run-off. If you let the soil get extremely dry before watering it is probably going to piss through your container quickly. Best to water before that, otherwise you would then have to wait until some is absorbed and water some more, or you let it all drain into your tray and more will eventually be absorbed. As a general rule, though, you don't let your containers sit in stagnant water/run-off, because this water will soon be depleted of oxygen.
More commonly new growers are ridiculously fretful about watering, possibly due to the constant alarmist warnings against over/under watering. Some new growers apparently heed these warnings a bit too seriously and become so worried about over-watering that they don't water properly; they are afraid to water sufficiently and frequently enough.
I would say that over-watering is more likely to result in those who obsess over their plants and fuss with them more than they should or are just a bit impatient; i.e. checking on them every hour, thinking if they water/feed them more they will grow faster, always wondering what else they can do to them, etc. In reality over watering isn't something that happens that suddenly. It also has a lot to do with your medium/soil structure. Compacted soils with too many minute particles become water logged, water will drain through very slowly if at all. This also means hindered air exchange, so any oxygen that was dissolved in solution will quickly be depleted. Plant roots need oxygen as do aerobic bacteria, without it things go anaerobic, which also allows bad microbes to proliferate.
Therefore, if you have a medium with proper structure and which can hold both air and water, it is much more difficult to over water.
When the top inch (for smaller containers) or two (for larger containers) is dry, as others have mentioned, you water and you use enough so that you get run-off. If you let the soil get extremely dry before watering it is probably going to piss through your container quickly. Best to water before that, otherwise you would then have to wait until some is absorbed and water some more, or you let it all drain into your tray and more will eventually be absorbed. As a general rule, though, you don't let your containers sit in stagnant water/run-off, because this water will soon be depleted of oxygen.
woodsmaneh!
Well-Known Member
Your plant can live in the cup for 6 to 8 weeks, water when they need it. Put 2 slits in the n bottom of the cup for drainage. Water till it cones out the bottom. Water every 5 to7 days or when they need it, top 1" or so is dry. Do not feed till you move it into a bigger pot.