Grow Mediums Help with Top feeding autopots

[Dreminem169]

I know top feeding auto pots is a big no no, however I want to do soil in my auto pot system. specifically OF or HF. My question becomes if I only use the OF until the soil is about depleated and only put regular water in the reservoir, no salts would I still be able to Top Dress dry amendments every once in a while with a top feed here and there? My thinking behind this is there would be no salt buildup on the top layer since I would not have been using salts? Where do dry amendments produce salts as well? Can someone please clarify if this would possibly work?

 

[Olderfart]

Top dressing autopots after they have been on the reservoir with salt nutes can be risky as you suggest. Doing it when the reservoir has only used water should work just fine as far as salt risk is concerned. The issue in my opinion is going to be getting sufficient and balanced nutes to the plants once your soil winds down. I can't help you much there other than to suggest that top dressings might not do it unless you completely change to top watering once the plants need more. Further, making sure that the plants are getting a balanced mix of nutes with top dressings while the soil winds down is likely to be a crap shoot because you have no way of knowing what is left in the soil, and therefore what to provide with top dressings.

In a nutshell, keeping them on water until top dressing seems needed will avoid the risk of salt buildup. However, keeping them properly fed after that is not IMO going to be simple.

Good luck with it.

 

[Dreminem169]

Top dressing autopots after they have been on the reservoir with salt nutes can be risky as you suggest. Doing it when the reservoir has only used water should work just fine as far as salt risk is concerned. The issue in my opinion is going to be getting sufficient and balanced nutes to the plants once your soil winds down. I can't help you much there other than to suggest that top dressings might not do it unless you completely change to top watering once the plants need more. Further, making sure that the plants are getting a balanced mix of nutes with top dressings while the soil winds down is likely to be a crap shoot because you have no way of knowing what is left in the soil, and therefore what to provide with top dressings.

In a nutshell, keeping them on water until top dressing seems needed will avoid the risk of salt buildup. However, keeping them properly fed after that is not IMO going to be simple.

Good luck with it.

I was thinking that when the nutes start to deplete top dressing with a 444 or 394 like you would with any other organic grow. They are balanced nutes so I’m hoping it should work. Any other ideas such as teas maybe?

 

[Olderfart]

I was thinking that when the nutes start to deplete top dressing with a 444 or 394 like you would with any other organic grow. They are balanced nutes so I’m hoping it should work. Any other ideas such as teas maybe?

I am the wrong person for that approach. My only diversion into the organic side of things was a complete bust, so I don't have useful information for you. Other than the transferable fact that knowing what is left in pre-amended soil is a problem for all of us, organic or otherwise.

Maybe one of the top dressers on here could chime in.

Good luck with it.