Overflow/runoff or not when using organics

[lunarman]

It's my first grow so lots to learn. I recently transplanted seedlings from solo cups to pots and trying to learn about best way to water now. My medium is coco/perlite with compost, EWC, organics amended.

I read on growweedeasy that when using organics you don't want to water to get runoff. That way you won't lose nutes. Is that a good idea? Or does it not really matter?

I'm about do a good watering now that the transplant has had a couple of days to settle in. And I'm trying to figure out do soak all the soil and get some runoff, or not.

 

[Tommy McCain]

Runoff is not an issue until you get them in the final pot. Once in the final pot you do not water until you get runoff. The runoff will deplete your mineral content in the soil. You want to keep your soil moist all the time. Not wet but moist like a damp sponge. Check my post that shows my two organic water systems that help keep smaller pots constantly moist. I top water with a 3.5 gallon pump sprayer because it gets the soil evenly moist. Keep your microbes moist and happy.

 

[lunarman]

@Tommy McCain


Which post Tom? Do you have a link or what search terms can I use to find it?

And if you let a batch of TLO mix dry out and microbes basically die, can you bring it all back later by adding water? I have a batch in a large bin that I created and did water and cook for weeks, but winter is coming and this is going to freeze and I will stop watering it. Was curious if I should allow this to happen or not.

My plants are small and now in the final pots. I am trying to figure out how to water these so that the microbes are happy and alive, but I am only watering around the small plants root circumference only now because I read that is what you do when you plants are small but in big final pots. It sounds like I should be watering the full pot, but don't allow runoff. Is that true? See picture below and you can see where I watered and did not water.

 

[Tommy McCain]

When a plant is small you have to watch over watering. You will get a feel for this overtime but that picture looks alright. I also like to keep give the outer edge a good soak once a week. I like to use a sprayer to do that.

And if you let a batch of TLO mix dry out and microbes basically die, can you bring it all back later by adding water?

Some die some do not. It does not matter because there are plenty in a soil mix with a quality compost. Below is my link. I had issues with this when I started growing. My thread will explain everything. I have taken a few photos and will update that thread here in a few days. Let me know if you need anything else.

edit: If you think your microbes are dead you can make a "tea" to get the party going. I am not much for tea (lazy man gardening), but you can look it up in the organics section. Maybe one of the other organic growers can give you a recipe( @hecno, @Jraven, @dankstyle J, @robbio).

Oh yeah...what was I thinking. Mulch is another option to keep moisture on the surface. I plant white clover in my pots when they are small. This will help maintain soil moisture.


https://www.autoflower.org/threads/tommys-wet-microbes-grow-stinky-stanky-weed.61074/

 

[lunarman]

@Tommy McCain

I have not read the whole thread yet. I am thinking of trying a SIP using trays and perlite. Seems like an easy thing to add in to my grow without having to wait for parts or spend much money. Is SIP good? I see you did the bluemat and SIP but didn't read to the end to find out how SIP did.

 

[Tommy McCain]

@Tommy McCain

I have not read the whole thread yet. I am thinking of trying a SIP using trays and perlite. Seems like an easy thing to add in to my grow without having to wait for parts or spend much money. Is SIP good? I see you did the bluemat and SIP but didn't read to the end to find out how SIP did.

SIP is killer. I started with a SIP and still use it with smaller pots. Although, I have used one with a 25 gallon pot successfully. I have a friend with a 100 gallon fabric pot in a kiddie pool in his basement!

I would recommend this route (SIP) for your first grow. Then if you want to upgrade you can later to blumats. No real difference in growth.

 

[lunarman]

@Tommy McCain

Do you have to drain the water periodically from the containers?

I dropped by a local hydro store today and picked up the lava rock pebbles. And I read some stuff online (like rollitup discuss board) where it looks like people putting the pebbles in a bucket and water up to an inch below and then put the fabric pot on top and leave it. The local shop said you have to play to drain the container and fill it up almost daily, otherwise the water will get bacteria, sludge etc. But from what I can tell online it looks like people are not draining and just watching the water level and topping it up when required.

If I have to drain that adds complication. Need to raise the containers up and put in a drain hole and hose.

 

[Tommy McCain]

@Tommy McCain

Do you have to drain the water periodically from the containers?

I dropped by a local hydro store today and picked up the lava rock pebbles. And I read some stuff online (like rollitup discuss board) where it looks like people putting the pebbles in a bucket and water up to an inch below and then put the fabric pot on top and leave it. The local shop said you have to play to drain the container and fill it up almost daily, otherwise the water will get bacteria, sludge etc. But from what I can tell online it looks like people are not draining and just watching the water level and topping it up when required.

If I have to drain that adds complication. Need to raise the containers up and put in a drain hole and hose.

I never drain mine. My plants drain it for me. I get some algae but nothing that hurts the plants.


Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[lunarman]

Thanks @Tommy McCain

I'm going to put in a SIP system Saturday if I can. Glad I asked about watering and you replied. It's obviously not earth shattering for experienced growers, but I certainly learned something new in pretty short order from this.

 

[lunarman]

would aerating the res and pebbles and water with an air pump be beneficial?

I'm going to put landscape fabric on top of the pebbles and the pots on top of that. Read that reduces algae issues.