Watering with fabric pots and a "water only" medium

After water runs out the sides, I use a turkey baster to distribute the the run off equally on the soil surface. No run off afterwards

Obepawn said:

After water runs out the sides, I use a turkey baster to distribute the the run off equally on the soil surface. No run off afterwards

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So you are putting all the waste and salts and crap...back into the plant? This defeats the purpose of runoff...

JohnDee said:

So you are putting all the waste and salts and crap...back into the plant? This defeats the purpose of runoff...

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Someone more knowledgeable than I can correct me, but in organic soil growing, there are no salts or waste. If you water to runoff, you are leeching all the good stuff out of the soil.

LawnXweeds said:

Someone more knowledgeable than I can correct me, but in organic soil growing, there are no salts or waste. If you water to runoff, you are leeching all the good stuff out of the soil.

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No you are right organics you don't have to worry about chemical fertilizer salts building up so no need to water to run off. Better if you can keep the medium around a 70 to 80% hydration level to keep the fungi and bacteria happy. They don't like to be flooded along with no reason to wash organic nutrients out of the soil. There still will be salt in a soil to some degree but not at levels that will harm anything. I put salt in my soil but it is a sea salt with all the minerals for life in it. Mostly I foliar spray it on all my plants veggies and cannabis. https://seaagri.com/product/sea-90-foliar-hydroponic-fertilizer/?v=400b9db48e62

JohnDee said:

So you are putting all the waste and salts and crap...back into the plant? This defeats the purpose of runoff...

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Imma organic grower, and make my super soil. Not recommended for chemical growers but putting organic run off back in has not hurt my grows at all.

LawnXweeds said:

Someone more knowledgeable than I can correct me, but in organic soil growing, there are no salts or waste. If you water to runoff, you are leeching all the good stuff out of the soil.

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Exactly my point in doing it.

LawnXweeds said:

Yea, I started watering the trays. Then, I moisten the top with a spray mister just to give myself a visual queue. I am now mainly relying on the weight of the pots since my plants are finally taking full waterings.

Thank you

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When I grew in soil I alternated top and bottom feeding. It helps prevent fungus gnats and I liked watching a full sized plant suck up the water. I liked the weight method too. Good luck with your grow!