Grow Mediums Autopots and Hand Watering

[Screwauger]

My two ladies are in their AP's and I am currently hand watering in anticipation of filling/using the res.

I am using a nutrient plan/schedule that calls for 3-4 one feed only "slams" with GH Kool Bloom.

I have read mixed advise regarding any hand (top) watering after the res has been in use (washes out built up salts??).

Will it be okay to give a one time (x2 or 3) blast of bloom nutes through this method (as opposed to bottom feed through the res)? What I was planning to do was to turn off the res on the prescribed days and hand water to apply the "slam."

Thank you

 

[A-Train]

Should work just fine. I had an autopot screw up once and i had to hand water for a bit. I did it the same as you described with no bad side effects.

Turn off valve let the plant drink the tray.... water from the top. Then a bit later turn her back on... just remember dont water too much from the top if its coco it wont retain a lot and youll over flow your tray

 

[Screwauger]

Thanks A-Train. Almost there!!!!!

 

[HemiSync]

My two ladies are in their AP's and I am currently hand watering in anticipation of filling/using the res.

I am using a nutrient plan/schedule that calls for 3-4 one feed only "slams" with GH Kool Bloom.

I have read mixed advise regarding any hand (top) watering after the res has been in use (washes out built up salts??).

Will it be okay to give a one time (x2 or 3) blast of bloom nutes through this method (as opposed to bottom feed through the res)? What I was planning to do was to turn off the res on the prescribed days and hand water to apply the "slam."

Thank you

I only feed beneficials from the top but it should work. As small as they are I would turn off the reservoir the night before and leave them off for 24 hours to give them time to drink the tray dry. I have found 500ml from the top is a decent feeding and usually won't overflow the tray with coco as a medium. I have never used the autopots with soil so can't say about that.

 

[Screwauger]

Thanks. My medium is 50/50 Botanicare brick coco and large chunk perlite. I have an inch of hydroton in bottom (not covering air domes completely) and I threw a thin layer of hydroton on top of the pots and misted them with a neem oil solution to proactively ward of fungus nats or other unwanted things!

It's basically the RezDog recipe with flavors of Head's coco formula. I'm new to growing in anything but soil so new to Autopots, new to nutrient solutions and trying to keep it as simple as possible. Thanks again folks.

 

[HemiSync]

Thanks. My medium is 50/50 Botanicare brick coco and large chunk perlite. I have an inch of hydroton in bottom (not covering air domes completely) and I threw a thin layer of hydroton on top of the pots and misted them with a neem oil solution to proactively ward of fungus nats or other unwanted things!

It's basically the RezDog recipe with flavors of Head's coco formula. I'm new to growing in anything but soil so new to Autopots, new to nutrient solutions and trying to keep it as simple as possible. Thanks again folks.

Start a journal so we can follow along. It doesn't have to be fancy but can come in real handy when trying to reference one of your grows or if you need help from the community.

By the way, should have said it before but Welcome to AFN!

 

[Corgy]

I handwater my autopots when I see fit, i.e from topside, with soil, coco and Mapito ....... Usually when giving additives, "cleansing with FloraKleen or when testing this or the other add on for a few plants in a run and I want them separated from the controls, then those plants will be handwatered to the end, filling the tray to run off whenever they're a little light..... I don't even give it a second thought anymore, just like that bit of redundant advise from Autopot about drainage clay pellets at the bottom......

In the XL autopots (25 l) with coco or soil 4-5 l goes in, slightly less with Mapito as it appears to have somewhat less retention and capillary properties.

If there's any possible negatives to a bit, or a lot, of top watering to the sweet end.....I've never noticed.......

 

[Screwauger]

I handwater my autopots when I see fit, i.e from topside, with soil, coco and Mapito ....... Usually when giving additives, "cleansing with FloraKleen or when testing this or the other add on for a few plants in a run and I want them separated from the controls, then those plants will be handwatered to the end, filling the tray to run off whenever they're a little light..... I don't even give it a second thought anymore, just like that bit of redundant advise from Autopot about drainage clay pellets at the bottom bottom.

In the XL autopots (25 l) with coco and soil 4-5 l goes in, slightly less with Mapito as it appears to have somewhat less retention and capillary properties.

If there's any possible negatives to a bit, or a lot, of top watering to the sweet end.....I've never noticed.......

Thanks very much.