Soil will not dry out need expert advice... again!!!

  • Thread starter Frego
  • Start date
  • Tagged users None
Frego

Frego

195
43
Ok so
Soil will not dry out need expert advice again
dont know if this is a issue or not but I first planted them, then did research and joined this brilliant forum.
would I have done it differently... yes! The only difference is perlite in the mix

so as you can tell I didn’t mix perlite up to now no issues, till I took the advice and watered the whole of the top soil, In stead of my circle method around the base..

It’s in 1/4 manure
3/4 organic potting soil
Manure is really heavy so that’s probably storing all that water
Temps are usually 27c
RH was like 75 but I’m lowering it to maybe help dry soil out it’s at 65 at the minute
Soil will not dry out need expert advice again 2
the pots feel heavy and it’s been 5 days up to now!! Up to half way the meter is reading green which is in the middle but when I hit the bottom it’s like off the charts

I’ve raised the pots from there dish but them on pebbles so there raised abit, added more holes
But I don’t think I’ll ever get my bottom soil dry( maybe till the roots drink it at the bottom)

any advice?
should I water as usual and only measure top half of soil?

there 2 weeks old now so really want to add cal mag and up the PPM
What should I do? There autoflower

PS next time I’ll add perlite
 
boomgagem

boomgagem

Supporter
373
63
Cotyledons are still green, I’m not an expert so wait on advice, but I can say for certain don’t stress about adding any nutrients, they don’t need it right now
 
Frego

Frego

195
43
Cotyledons are still green, I’m not an expert so wait on advice, but I can say for certain don’t stress about adding any nutrients, they don’t need it right now
More stressing about the watering situation the bottom of the pot is not drying
 
lvstealth

lvstealth

Supporter
1,507
263
couple things, one, just have a bit of patience. everything is not a crisis.

next, to help things along the way you want to raise it off the floor a bit, then point a fan at the pot, the air will help dry the medium. do not add water till it needs water, the plant doesnt know about your half a pot watering plan, it wont like it. only ever water when it NEEDS water.

read this by @Aqua Man watering-how-media-pot-size-shape-and-environment-affect-it

then, when you up pot next, use a bag pot and add the perlite

and on a final note, why did you pick manure and organic potting soil? you studied the mediums and chose this one, why?

it has the stuff the plant needs, but you start off wanting to manually add stuff like cal/mag and upping ppm... you might want to rethink this choice, it wont like your methods. if you use coco, you can make her eat and drink on your schedule, but with organic soils and manure there are things in there that need to be considered. sort of like your plant is living in a food fantasy and then you stuffing mcdonalds burgers in there and wondering why they dont like it. then the burgers rot and things go haywire and you will be left wondering wtf.

beware when all and sundry start you worrying over ph, the soil you are using probably has a buffer so it will make the ph somewhere between 6.3-6.5, no matter what you do to it, and the stuff you use to alter it might not get along with the stuff they use. most speak of ph as it applies to coco or soilless (things like flushing and measuring runoff dont really apply like they do in other mediums), but soil changes things up for you. when you say "organic" soil, what exactly is it? i think all soil is actually organic till you/they stick stuff in it. what stuff is in it? was the manure aged? was it store bought?

till your plant is about 4 weeks old it shouldnt need any of those things you want to force on her no matter what soil. someone mentioned the first little leaves, they are looking at them and telling you they are still green so they are still helping your plant along and you dont need to add things to make her mad.

learn how to water by picking the pot up. you dont need to atlas it over your head, but just reach down and tug up on both sides, you will notice right away if it is light or heavy. do not water at all till it is light like sawdust. then water slowly, letting it soak in, till a drop or two come out the bottom.

i just noticed they are autos, watch out, doing things to her she doesnt like will slow her down and have a bad effect on yield.
 
Last edited:
freezeland2

freezeland2

3,421
263
Question - are you stuck with that soil you mixed up? It got you started ok but obviously is giving you issues with drainage right now. Why not pot up and use some quality commercial soil? Adding perlite may or may not need to be added depending on what you get. I’d also think about fabric pots.
 
ComfortablyNumb

ComfortablyNumb

6,099
313
Along with what @lvstealth said, you also have a drainage issue. Read the article he posted and then this one;

Then put a bunch of holes in those pots before your babies drown.
 
HoleyPot
freezeland2

freezeland2

3,421
263
Along with what @lvstealth said, you also have a drainage issue. Read the article he posted and then this one;

Then put a bunch of holes in those pots before your babies drown.
Said he already did that.
 
Beach_Bum

Beach_Bum

114
43
I made some soil for Lemon trees in 7 gallon fabric pots. Citrus does not like poor drainage or wet feet. I love perlite so I put that togeather with a sack of potting soil and some sand. I was just noticing today with a garden hose without the nozzle the soil kept up pace with the hose draining. It would not fill up the top of the bag and over flow. It came out the bottom. Would be a great mix for those who like to over water their weed.
 
Beach_Bum

Beach_Bum

114
43
I picked up a meter like that one at Lowes. I wanted something to test my PH.
Wow it was so far off from reality I wouldn't trust it to measure anything. Toss it.
 
ComfortablyNumb

ComfortablyNumb

6,099
313
Needs to do some reading then.

That's a tough mix. They are buried in food and can't even eat because the water lockout.
 
lvstealth

lvstealth

Supporter
1,507
263
well... actually... the first pic shows the plant is just winding up its push to grow roots and has started growing more veg. you say it is 2 weeks old. it looks like a text book 2 week old in growth and color. it is fine. do not do anything to it till it drinks its water. if you think it is sick, transplanting is a bad idea. it is just 2 weeks old so look up 2 week old plants, google it. they grew their 3 lobe leaves and just finishing the first set of 5 lobe leaves and at two weeks that is just what they should be doing.

you are going to let yourself get talked into doing crazy things to this girl. it has been just two weeks, so MAYBE one watering or maybe 2 - how did THAT mess up your ph and all? your ph is not the issue, in soil it is almost never the issue.

it is 2 weeks old so it is not nutes or cal or mag or anything, ff has what the plant needs for a while, longer than 2 weeks by any measure.

it is an auto, so dont up pot or repot. dont do anything to stall her
 
ComfortablyNumb

ComfortablyNumb

6,099
313
I don't see anything wrong with the plants themselves. OP said its not draining so, there is a fix. Its called more cowbell! Oh, sorry... more holes.
 
Frego

Frego

195
43
Question - are you stuck with that soil you mixed up? It got you started ok but obviously is giving you issues with drainage right now. Why not pot up and use some quality commercial soil? Adding perlite may or may not need to be added depending on what you get. I’d also think about fabric pots.
Thanks for the reply brother

yes I am in there final pot

I’ve heard mixed reviews about fabric pots I’ve also heard you can grow without perlite successfully...
The manure and soil did have grit and organic matter in it

well I may have found a solution I lowerd the RH to 60% and there drying out. Y the looks of the meter it’s day 5 of last water maybe it is actually a week to dry out
 
Frego

Frego

195
43
Along with what @lvstealth said, you also have a drainage issue. Read the article he posted and then this one;

Then put a bunch of holes in those pots before your babies drown.
I have put more holes in

I was going to do the sides but I read you get a uneven water and a bunch other stuff I can’t remember

it took me like 2 hours to do the extra holes and a lot of sweat, it was a frustrating time but tomorrow I may do 1 inch from the base with a hot bike spoke
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom