Misanthrope
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Hi, in the summer when its hot I'll drop them off their stands and let them sit flat on the tray. They were drying out so fast I had to do something. It seemed to help retaining the moisture a little longer and I didn't have any issues because of it. Fabric pots dry out so fast any ways I don't think there's really a need to keep them lifted in the short term, if you need that extra inch or 2 go for it. With plastic pots I'd say no they need the air.It's a golden rule and I follow it, my question is whether that means to keep the pot on a grid-like plant riser or can I place the pot flat on a saucer _after_ the runoff has been removed? Up til now I have always kept them on a riser to have air flow beneath for air pruning. I'm running out of space and could squeeze in another plant or two if I didnt have to keep each pot on its own circular riser and could put more than one in a rectangular basin instead. I assume more air flow would be better but would it be harmful to place them flat? What about in the short term? Has anyone tried both setups and seen a difference?
Absolutely! One of the main idea’s behind the cloth bags were that they could get air and light exposure so they could sheer off the excess roots, just like what would occur in nature. This was also to keep the tap roots from coiling and the plant sending a bunch of goodie’s to the root at a time when it’s needed up top.With a riser, all surfaces of the fabric pot are exposed to nearly the same air temperature and relative humidity.
That's how I do it.I grow organically and I do allow a tiny bit of run off, and am not satisfied that they are properly watered unless I have a good slow steady drip from the bottom in the root zone.
I don't have the time, patients or back to water slowly. I try to water 3 at a time with each getting some before I refill my 1 gallon jug. Once the water is off the top I giver more. A bit of running down the sides is no bother I make sure the pots are sufficiently wet before moving on. In the summer I was double watering where I'd saturate in the morning then pour another 1/3 - 1/2 gallon on later in the day and it would disappear without runoff. I'm thinking I need to add some vermiculite to my mix... to retain more water in the summer monthsThat's how I do it.
Water slowly, as well, to allow time for the water to spread and to keep it from leaking out the sides of the pot. Basically, if it leaks out the sides, you're doing it wrong.
Regardless of you saying you dont have the time, you are really still doing it right. Your doing it in stages. You gotta remember some peeps dump it all, it runs off, they don’t go back, flower wilts and croak’s.I don't have the time, patients or back to water slowly. I try to water 3 at a time with each getting some before I refill my 1 gallon jug. Once the water is off the top I giver more. A bit of running down the sides is no bother I make sure the pots are sufficiently wet before moving on. In the summer I was double watering where I'd saturate in the morning then pour another 1/3 - 1/2 gallon on later in the day and it would disappear without runoff. I'm thinking I need to add some vermiculite to my mix... to retain more water in the summer months
Promix is bad for compacting I didn't have as much of an issue with it in plastic pots. That being said I like fabric pots for the way the roots grow through the soil and not around it and wrap the bottoms. I'm going to start using a lot more perlite in my mixes and maybe some vermiculite as well to keep it from compacting and squeezing my roots to death when I miss a watering.Regardless of you saying you dont have the time, you are really still doing it right. Your doing it in stages. You gotta remember some peeps dump it all, it runs off, they don’t go back, flower wilts and croak’s.
I have found that in the winter time if I half my watering like you do, that evening when I come back for round two, they drink more than normal and I can hold them a little longer. Even with that I get four days max.
So much depends on the garden and the gardener and they're all different. Leaking out the sides is a waste. Did you think I meant pouring it in slowly? I didn't. I don't drizzle it in. By watering slowly, I meant pouring it in a little at a time -- that is, in stages, if you prefer -- to avoid wasted runoff because the soil is too dry to absorb the water. It's the wet sponge/dry sponge idea. It takes some time for the water to spread within the pot. So, I pour some in each of my three pots, wait a while, pour some more, wait a while and repeat until I see water coming out the bottoms of the pots. After about two days, I start checking the soil moisture with a meter to help judge when to water again.I don't have the time, patients or back to water slowly. I try to water 3 at a time with each getting some before I refill my 1 gallon jug. Once the water is off the top I giver more. A bit of running down the sides is no bother I make sure the pots are sufficiently wet before moving on. In the summer I was double watering where I'd saturate in the morning then pour another 1/3 - 1/2 gallon on later in the day and it would disappear without runoff. I'm thinking I need to add some vermiculite to my mix... to retain more water in the summer months
BUTT CHUGGING! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha , I can't breath, ha ha ha ha haResearch "Buttchugging" or bottom feeding for 15-20 minutes then raise the plant back to it's above water perch. There are other methods, others here may elaborate,Cheers SS
I was taught how to tend house plants 50 years ago and I'm doing it the same way I've always done it. Even turning the plants 90* after each flood because there's always a slope........can't do that with a scrog or full tent but I mostly have grown under hps in an open space.BUTT CHUGGING! Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha , I can't breath, ha ha ha ha ha
I do that for soil sometimes and have wondered whether or not it would be ok for coco. Wouldn't I be risking salt buildup in the coco by bottom feeding? ("buttchugging" sounds way too much like college shenanigans go horribly - or wonderfully - wrong). I've been toying with the idea of trying a small SOG set up with bottom fed coco to see if it would work. Does anyone have experience with bottom feeding coco/perlite mix?Research "Buttchugging" or bottom feeding for 15-20 minutes then raise the plant back to it's above water perch. There are other methods, others here may elaborate,Cheers SS
The auto pots are a bottom feed system & they recommend a 50/50 mix Coco/ perlite....Soil/ perlite... Coco /Clay balls...Soil / Clay ballsI do that for soil sometimes and have wondered whether or not it would be ok for coco. Wouldn't I be risking salt buildup in the coco by bottom feeding? ("buttchugging" sounds way too much like college shenanigans go horribly - or wonderfully - wrong). I've been toying with the idea of trying a small SOG set up with bottom fed coco to see if it would work. Does anyone have experience with bottom feeding coco/perlite mix?
General consensus seems to be it's better to have a fabric pot elevated but not crucial.
I have used 1 ft. plant stands since @Aquaman got me started with this Coco Coir & perlite. They allow air flow and give me a foot of height to play with as to canopy distance from the LED. Cheers SSWith a riser, all surfaces of the fabric pot are exposed to nearly the same air temperature and relative humidity.
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