How long between watering?

[Marxsman]

I was wondering how long is the ideal length between watering? I want to make sure my plants are getting proper drainage. I use FFOF soil and usually I have to water about every 5-6 days. Does this seem acurate? and my temps are holding at 72 ambient and 80 with lights on.

thanks again

 

[Fire On High]

Just let them go a little long one week and see how long it takes for them to start wilting. Then water just before that happens. You want them to dry out as much as possible without dehydrating them.

 

[hippydan]

Just let them go a little long one week and see how long it takes for them to start wilting. Then water just before that happens. You want them to dry out as much as possible without dehydrating them.

That's what it's all about. Learn to read your plants, they are constantly talking to you. It's much better than being mechanical and doing the same thing all the time without actually learning why/how/what works.

 

[DiscoBiscuit]

Good advice. You can also familiarize yourself with moisture weight. The dryer your medium is, the lighter it is.

 

[greenmatter]

gotta "know", this is not an answer you can get without some hands on

 

[Marxsman]

Thank you ALL for the advice. I actually was going by weight but am afraid I am not letting them dry enough. I am going to let them go then untill the plants talk to me

I will assume this is the same in veg and flower both?

I was wondering if there was an actual scientific time frame this should be for growing the healthiest plants. like. the ideal time would be watered and dry, say in 4 days, oppossed to say, 8 days? and the cycle repeats at 4 days instead of 8 and this is better or worse? i hope I didn't confuse anyone.

 

[hippydan]

It depends on too many variables Marx. This isn't a science, it's an art. Depends on relative humidity, temperatures, size of the pots your plants are growing in, etc, etc, etc. I wish it was easy and I could just say water every other day at 0.5L of water per 8" of plant height or something stupid like that (I made those numbers up). However it's just not that easy. Learn to speak the plant language and you'll be much better off in the long run anyway.

edit: Also it can depend on strain, some plants like moist soil, some like it more dry, etc. There is no cut and dry easy way out.

 

[SOTF420]

If anyone is reading this and growing in coir you should never let it fully dry out, keep it moist.

 

[Marxsman]

Thanks again guys, that's what I thought since there are so many variables between climates, strains,etc... I will learn plants, strains etc...

thanks again

 

[Oshay]

If anyone is reading this and growing in coir you should never let it fully dry out, keep it moist.

Thanks For the Heads up SOTF420, I was just about to put this thread into practice untill i seen your comment.

 

[TruthOrLie]

I water every day in the same conditions OP described... but I skip days when they don't feel like they drank at least half of what I already gave em the last time.

some days I go in there and they drank everything, other times nothing. Really depends on where they are at in their cycle, too

 

[HeriMarry]

For me , 2 gallon grow bags need watered every 2 days with six cups/48 oz , under 1k .

 

[SOTF420]

Thanks For the Heads up SOTF420, I was just about to put this thread into practice untill i seen your comment.

Yeah I know man that's why I posted for ya

 

[señorsloth]

I think the time between waterings depends on the pot size, plant size, medium, tempurature, ventalation, and other things. There is no perfect number for all plants in all conditions, ideally you want them to get exactly as much water, nutes, and oxegen a the plant can handle with no excess...aeroponic setups constantly barage the roots with all three and the plants grow very fast, with ebb and flow they go from completely saturated to pretty dry several times a day.

With soil you dont want to oversoak the plants, and drown the roots, though if you are using a good soil oversaturation should be less of a problem, pearlite helps as well. over time you will get a feel for how much water it takes to completely wet the soil but not so much that its pouring out the bottom like a river, and wait till your plants are just about to wilt before adding more, so that the roots get a good dose of oxegen among other things, only watering half as much, twice as often wouldnt be benifitial in any way because the soil that never gets wet wont be available for your roots to grow in. Not to mention its i needless hassle. Every grow room, medium, pot size, lighting, strains and many other things vary much so the only way to know whats best for your setup is to test the limits of your plants, (very carefully mind you!) And learn to feed them just enough to dampen the soil perfectly and to wait untill just before they need more to add again. This will change a lot depending on the size and stage of the plant so dont get too complacient!

 

[BOMBAYCAT]

I also use FFOF and I have pretty good luck just lifting a pot and feeling the heft. If it is light it needs water. You can also stick a finger several inches into the soil mix and see if it feels damp to you. Plants like to get almost dry before you water. Don't let the plants wilt very much before you water as it will slow them down. There is no regular schedule as it depends on the strain, pot size, lights and etc. When you water you should have a little runoff to wash out the salts that come with the fertilization of the plants after you go a couple of months in FFOF.

 

[GreenMAX]

Its easy when you have same sized pots...I have some 11 L some 2 L and some 1 L(sexing moms for outdoors)..Its pain but its doable with just weighing pots...

 

[ddrew]

Know your pot weights.

When they are light, water them, some plants that are taller with bigger root balls need water more often then smaller plants in the same size pots.

First thing I look at is the color of the top of the soil, if it still looks moist, I pass it by, if it looks dry, I pick the pot up, not light enough, no water(they can look dry on top and still be heavy sometimes) If looks dry, and is light when I pick it up, water time.

 

[greenmatter]

Its easy when you have same sized pots...I have some 11 L some 2 L and some 1 L(sexing moms for outdoors)..Its pain but its doable with just weighing pots...

just my two cents but i had a chronic and a sour kush growing in the same size pot right next to each other, the chronic was getting watered 3 times for the chronics 1. i agree that the pot size makes it easier but it still is never a given.