Fox Farm Light Warrior watering schedule

[MPL]

Anyone out there using FFLW got a watering/feeding schedule? I mixed my soil 2:1 LWerlite and it seems to dry out pretty quick. It's really light and drains well. I think it almost requires daily watering. Is anyone else watering this often?

 

[MPL]

Oh and how often should I feed nutes in LW? Every other watering?

 

[Smoking Gun]

I actually went with the Canna soil product over Light Warrior, but I would say a daily watering is required. Especially with that perlite in there (I thought the Light Warrior was mixed for good drainage already, even without perlite). I know that my Canna soil needs watering on a daily basis due to good aeration of the soil. And although you may need to water every day, it might simply be a sign of good healthy roots.

If your soil is totally drying out on a daily basis, you may want to try watering more than one time each day. One of the problems with soil is that even if it looks moist on the top, you cannot really check the middle of the soil, where the root mass is. Even with one watering you may only be hydrating the top of the soil or specific areas of the soil. Having dry spots within the soil mass can create salt build ups and other problems. So make sure to keep your soil moist, but do not over water.

 

[Smoking Gun]

Oh and how often should I feed nutes in LW? Every other watering?

What nutrients are you using?

 

[MPL]

I haven't started feeding yet (the clones are recovering from some overwatering and pH issues caused by the dispensary I got them from), but I have GH MaxiGro and MaxiBloom, along with some American Hydroponics Supernova and Dark Energy. These were given to me as samples, though I've heard good things about the GH Gro and Bloom.

What nutrients are you using?

 

[MPL]

It's not totally drying out, but it is only slightly moist 18 hours after a good watering. Watering every day isn't a problem for me, I just wanted to be sure I wouldn't overwater the plants and drown them.

I make sure to water to about 10%-15% runoff, and I do it evenly along the entire surface of the soil so I don't get dry spots and whatnot.

I actually went with the Canna soil product over Light Warrior, but I would say a daily watering is required. Especially with that perlite in there (I thought the Light Warrior was mixed for good drainage already, even without perlite). I know that my Canna soil needs watering on a daily basis due to good aeration of the soil. And although you may need to water every day, it might simply be a sign of good healthy roots.

If your soil is totally drying out on a daily basis, you may want to try watering more than one time each day. One of the problems with soil is that even if it looks moist on the top, you cannot really check the middle of the soil, where the root mass is. Even with one watering you may only be hydrating the top of the soil or specific areas of the soil. Having dry spots within the soil mass can create salt build ups and other problems. So make sure to keep your soil moist, but do not over water.

 

[Smoking Gun]

Sounds like you've got a good plan. And as long as the soil is not totally drying out, you are ok. In fact I like to let my soil dry out every now and then, it actually makes the roots stretch downward in search of moisture. Then when you give it water again the roots stop searching and grow outward again. Explosive root growth equals explosive foliage growth.

I would suggest feedings every other watering. Molasses with every watering and a clean flush once a week.

 

[MPL]

Thanks for the advice!

I let the soil go two days with no water and it was nearly bone dry. I'm ok with that, because these clones were not so healthy and I figured after being overwatered letting them dry out a bit would force the roots to grow. I've also just recently buried the stem a bit deeper, which should also help with the root growth.

I suppose I will feed them on the next watering, at 50% strength, and see how they do.

I don't have molasses yet but I think I'm going to buy some as I keep hearing nothing but good about it.


Thanks again!

Sounds like you've got a good plan. And as long as the soil is not totally drying out, you are ok. In fact I like to let my soil dry out every now and then, it actually makes the roots stretch downward in search of moisture. Then when you give it water again the roots stop searching and grow outward again. Explosive root growth equals explosive foliage growth.

I would suggest feedings every other watering. Molasses with every watering and a clean flush once a week.

 

[Smoking Gun]

Thanks for the advice!

I let the soil go two days with no water and it was nearly bone dry. I'm ok with that, because these clones were not so healthy and I figured after being overwatered letting them dry out a bit would force the roots to grow. I've also just recently buried the stem a bit deeper, which should also help with the root growth.

I suppose I will feed them on the next watering, at 50% strength, and see how they do.

I don't have molasses yet but I think I'm going to buy some as I keep hearing nothing but good about it.


Thanks again!

If you want to be gentle, start the seedlings on molasses first. This will help aid the growth and health. Also I would suggest investing in Canna's Rhizotonic, this is a great product, a little on the expensive side, but worth every penny. It will promote healthy roots and in turn healthy vegetative growth. It can also be used as a foliar spray. 50% strength in nutrients sounds like a good place to start, and when they are healthy enough slowly bump them up to full strength.

 

[greenisgold]

Light warrior is considered a soilless mix. What that means is it is somewhat like promix, etc... In other words you should never let it dry out. When I let my promix dry like I did with ffof soil the plants always look like shit. But that does not mean you should water them all the time either. After a while you will be able to tell when it is time to water. But do not treat it like reg soil is all.

 

[Smoking Gun]

Light warrior is considered a soilless mix. What that means is it is somewhat like promix, etc... In other words you should never let it dry out. When I let my promix dry like I did with ffof soil the plants always look like shit. But that does not mean you should water them all the time either. After a while you will be able to tell when it is time to water. But do not treat it like reg soil is all.

You are correct, Light Warrior is a soilless mix. But it does retain many of the properties of soil. And you are also correct in saying the plants don't need to be watered all the time. But so long as the plants have not wilted a little drying out will not kill them.

 

[MPL]

I watered again today. I think this is going to need daily watering, which I'm fine with. I enjoy it.

So, on a daily watering schedule, feeding every other day is still ok yes?

Thanks for all the great info!

 

[Mrpiston38]

wow im am having to water my fflw soil ever 3-6 days depending but i am in flowering i think the fastes i ever had to water was ever 3 days. if i were you nect time or when you transplant to not add more purlite and let it take a couple more days to dry out and your plant will thank you for it..

mr.p

 

[MPL]

Well, I added the perlite so the roots could get more oxygen. The fact it drains so fast and needs watering every day or day-and-a-half is a tradeoff I'm more than happy to accept. I think in the long run this will benefit the plant. It will also make flushing/feeding much easier, and the plants will respond a bit faster I think.

Is there a reason I'd want the mix to dry out slower?

wow im am having to water my fflw soil ever 3-6 days depending but i am in flowering i think the fastes i ever had to water was ever 3 days. if i were you nect time or when you transplant to not add more purlite and let it take a couple more days to dry out and your plant will thank you for it..

mr.p