What's the proper way to water plants in fabric pots?

[Ggrow]

There seems to be lotsa contradiction online. When to water? How much to water? Runoff or not? Always moist or dry/ wet cycle? How dry? Lift pot? Top inch bone dry? Feel bottom of pot? Wait for droop?

As you can see, its pretty confusing with some saying one thing and others saying another.

I've seen amazing grows by awesome growers on here. You guys seem to rock every grow even if blindfolded lol.

Can anyone share their best watering practice? Set the record straight once and for all? Teach a growmie how to properly water his plants?

I grow in 5gal and 10gal fabric pots with my own soil mix.

 

[Frimpong]

There seems to be lotsa contradiction online. When to water? How much to water? Runoff or not? Always moist or dry/ wet cycle? How dry? Lift pot? Top inch bone dry? Feel bottom of pot? Wait for droop?

As you can see, its pretty confusing with some saying one thing and others saying another.

I've seen amazing grows by awesome growers on here. You guys seem to rock every grow even if blindfolded lol.

Can anyone share their best watering practice? Set the record straight once and for all? Teach a growmie how to properly water his plants?

I grow in 5gal and 10gal fabric pots with my own soil mix.

I just pour slowly . What exactly is your medium? U plug up all my holes so no run off for me . Ut all depends upon the medium

 

[Gentlemancorpse]

I do the lift pot method to see if they need water and water slowly from the center of the pot out. I find if you water from the edges in you lose a lot of water right out the sides.

As for Hoe much it depends.... coco or soil with added nutes I water till I see some runoff (the whole 10% runoff thing never made sense to me... how can anyone tell if it's 10%??). If it's my super soil I don't worry about runoff really and just water until I start to see the sides look moist then check the weight of the pot again.

Really though there are a lot of ways that work, the real trick is to find what works to you and then stick too it.

 

[Frimpong]

I do the lift pot method to see if they need water and water slowly from the center of the pot out. I find if you water from the edges in you lose a lot of water right out the sides.

As for Hoe much it depends.... coco or soil with added nutes I water till I see some runoff (the whole 10% runoff thing never made sense to me... how can anyone tell if it's 10%??). If it's my super soil I don't worry about runoff really and just water until I start to see the sides look moist then check the weight of the pot again.

Really though there are a lot of ways that work, the real trick is to find what works to you and then stick too it.

Agree 100 that u have to lift . There's just no other way that I can rely on. And it's so dam important

 

[Ggrow]

I just pour slowly . What exactly is your medium? U plug up all my holes so no run off for me . Ut all depends upon the medium

I grow in my own amended soil, in 10 or 5 gal pots.

How do you determine when to water? If they are too big in flower to lift? Or if I can't reach them to lift, how else would you decide when to water? Do you let it dry out very much? Wait for droop?

 

[Frimpong]

I grow in my own amended soil, in 10 or 5 gal pots.

How do you determine when to water? If they are too big in flower to lift? Or if I can't reach them to lift, how else would you decide when to water? Do you let it dry out very much? Wait for droop?

As soon as they are feather light I water . Obviously u wanna get em just before droop . I have a yardstick that sometimes I'll push the pots with that I can't reach to see if they are light

 

[Gentlemancorpse]

I grow in my own amended soil, in 10 or 5 gal pots.

How do you determine when to water? If they are too big in flower to lift? Or if I can't reach them to lift, how else would you decide when to water? Do you let it dry out very much? Wait for droop?

It's not ideal but the trick I use in that instance is I slide my hand under the pot and see if the bottom feels damp still. But usually at that point I have a routine going and just stick too it unless I see the plant tell me it needs something different... I never intentionally let the leaves droop

 

[Frimpong]

It's not ideal but the trick I use in that instance is I slide my hand under the pot and see if the bottom feels damp still. But usually at that point I have a routine going and just stick too it unless I see the plant tell me it needs something different... I never intentionally let the leaves droop

Same , thank God they do that though. In big tents peeps can get forgotten about lol

 

[Ggrow]

It's not ideal but the trick I use in that instance is I slide my hand under the pot and see if the bottom feels damp still. But usually at that point I have a routine going and just stick too it unless I see the plant tell me it needs something different... I never intentionally let the leaves droop

And you water when the bottom feels dry? Like not even damp?

 

[Ggrow]

As soon as they are feather light I water . Obviously u wanna get em just before droop . I have a yardstick that sometimes I'll push the pots with that I can't reach to see if they are light

Feather Light sounds like you really aim to give it a dry cycle. Do you picture the roots needing to be dry to get a hit of oxygen before you saturate it again?

 

[Ggrow]

And you water when the bottom feels dry? Like not even damp?

Do you try to feel at the middle of the bottom section?

 

[Ggrow]

Cos when you lift it a little to feel the bottom, can basically gauge the pot weight a little too? Cos if feather light is the goal, a slight tip of pot should be good enough to tell?

I guess I just want more methods to be more sure? Until I get the hang of it?

I was always under the impression that i gotta keep my soil moist.

 

[Gentlemancorpse]

Cos when you lift it a little to feel the bottom, can basically gauge the pot weight a little too? Cos if feather light is the goal, a slight tip of pot should be good enough to tell?

I guess I just want more methods to be more sure? Until I get the hang of it?

I was always under the impression that i gotta keep my soil moist.

No I have the best results when I let them get fully dry before watering again. Honestly couldn't tell you why, just some advice I got a long time ago that worked so it's how I do it. Helps keep the gnats at bay that way too.

And your right, tipping the pot would work well too, but sometimes these stretchier plants get so ungainly even that's tough.

 

[Idlewilder]

If you can’t lift the pots, watch the lower leaves for drooping. That’s an indicator for me to water. Also, the amount of water and frequency should be relatively consistent if you flower everything at the same time. Different strains need different water schedules though. Some like to dry way back before watering. Some are like Goldilocks and need their shit just right or they throw a tantrum

 

[stanknugzz77]

U plug up all my holes

WHAT?! Haha. Positive vibes...

~nugzz

 

[GthaEnigma]

I usually start with a set amount of water for each one and observe. The ladies will show me who's the thirsty ones and i adjust future waterings accordingly. Lifting pots is not an option for me.

 

[GthaEnigma]

No I have the best results when I let them get fully dry before watering again. Honestly couldn't tell you why, just some advice I got a long time ago that worked so it's how I do it. Helps keep the gnats at bay that way too.

And your right, tipping the pot would work well too, but sometimes these stretchier plants get so ungainly even that's tough.

The dry cycle iswhen most of the nutrient exchange at the root zone takes place

 

[Ggrow]

I usually start with a set amount of water for each one and observe. The ladies will show me who's the thirsty ones and i adjust future waterings accordingly. Lifting pots is not an option for me.

Would really appreciate it if you can share your process? Do you watch for the lower fans drooping?

 

[GthaEnigma]

Yes, you can tell by lower leaf droop. It is usually pretty obvious who is not happy. My grow bags tend to be in the 100 gal range, my plants show unhappiness very clearly.

 

[Ggrow]

Yes, you can tell by lower leaf droop. It is usually pretty obvious who is not happy. My grow bags tend to be in the 100 gal range, my plants show unhappiness very clearly.

How would you suggest someone in 5 gal Or 10 gal fabric pots water their plants? Medium is self amended and reused soil.