What are your thoughts on uppotting not for root growth but for water retention?

Pretty sure I'm in this exact situation.

The soil in my 10 gal smart pots went hydrophobic, so they were underwatered even if I watered slowly. I went ahead and dug giant holes in the ground, pulled the smart pots off slowly and transplanted them with new Recipe 420 soil. I think I am done using pots...the moisture distribution is so out of whack. I saw that you're also a fan of recipe 420 OP.

Pretty sure they will have a big boost of N because of the recipe 420 but I don't think it will matter as much. I'm just now seeing preflowers and to play catch up on the dry soil I'm soaking the shit out of them. Should leech out some N.

Here they are 3 hrs ago right after transplant and super dry:



And now 3 hrs later, definitely starting to perk up but not fully recovered yet:

Wizzlebiz said:

So im not in flower yet however im having to water these plants which are in soil like I have them in coco. Minimum once a day. They are in 10 gallon grow bags. Once they are in full flower the frequency I will have to water will be frustrating to say the least.

So what are your thoughts on up potting during stretch to give more soil for more water retention?

A second question piggy backing off of the 1st.

Do you know of any bloom only soil meant for this kind of thing?

I certainly dont want to use a nitrogen rich mix which would affect the 1st couple weeks of flower.

Click to expand...

If the roots don't develop much they will not break into that new space, it will end up sodden and full of unused nutrients, or at-least this would be my fear. I would personally make sure to water thoroughly around the edge of the pots to run off, to clear out any anaerobic or toxic build ups. I don't know if it will effect oxygen levels or not though, as it isn't coco.

Add vermiculite to up pot mix … it helps retain moisture.