puff adder
Member
I recently built a drip system. As I am in catch trays my room is basically a "no runoff" style room.
Some plants drank more, some less. A few were constantly wet, and a few were constantly dry (underwatered). I adjusted by hand watering the heavy drinkers occasionally.
Upon doing my "rootopsies" I found that the plants that were wet all the time had much smaller root systems that did not completely fill out the pot.
The plants that were constantly dry had thicker woody roots that filled out the entire pots. I could kick these around like a football without the rootball breaking up, whereas the wet rootballs fell right apart.
There was a noticable difference in the roots between the differently treated plants.
Yields were the same however, so I think the plants simply adjust the style of roots they grow for the conditions they are given.
It's almost like consistency is more important than wet, or dry, or perfectly moist. The plants do fine in any of these situations.
I do find that newly transplanted plants like it dryer, which seems to force the plant to send roots shooting, searching for water.
Some plants drank more, some less. A few were constantly wet, and a few were constantly dry (underwatered). I adjusted by hand watering the heavy drinkers occasionally.
Upon doing my "rootopsies" I found that the plants that were wet all the time had much smaller root systems that did not completely fill out the pot.
The plants that were constantly dry had thicker woody roots that filled out the entire pots. I could kick these around like a football without the rootball breaking up, whereas the wet rootballs fell right apart.
There was a noticable difference in the roots between the differently treated plants.
Yields were the same however, so I think the plants simply adjust the style of roots they grow for the conditions they are given.
It's almost like consistency is more important than wet, or dry, or perfectly moist. The plants do fine in any of these situations.
I do find that newly transplanted plants like it dryer, which seems to force the plant to send roots shooting, searching for water.