Poor drainage

[Bsharp]

Hi guys, new grower here.

I have a 2 autos both with same soil mixture OF + perlite(not enough i think)+ DE. Watering every 3-4 days about 80% of 1 gallon of water per pot . I am 12 days into flower I don't want to repot unless I have to.

One plant is healthy but my other, each day after watering it will show signs of overwatering not just for the following hour or so up to 10-20 hours(guessing roots are drowning). Then the plant leaf will bounce back for a day then show signs of thirst , and top soil will be dry and pot will be lighter, rinse repeat .

So how can I keep my roots from drowning every watering? Should I water every 2 days but only half of what I am doing currently?

-Thanks in advance

 

[Waira]

...get me pics mate, have to start there,...
Ironically, both over and under watering cause the same symptoms, but for entirely different reasons,... It's possible that the one pot has roots more damaged by the overwtaering (smothers them, starved for O2 and can die off),... damaged roots can't keep up with water demands, then you water, and then they choke out more! --- a bloody vicious circle, I know,..
You may have to get a root tonic going in there, something that will stimulate rooting,.. inoculants to help support the root zone,... Si and humic-fulvic is also highly recommended,....

 

[Bsharp]

Thank you!!
I will get pics when it starts to show underwater /overwatering again (probably tomorrow)

My current shopping cart is

Great white mycorrhizae

General organics- root booster

Raw organic humic-fulvic(Amazon)

Already have si.

Edit- Or could I just get some recharge and call it a day?

Am I missing anything?
Thanks again @Waira

 

[Waira]

Recharge is solid stuff, a better deal than GW too,...plus h-f's, some molasses, kelp... Root Booster, hmmm, kind of redundant.... I'd go with Superthrive instead, or better still, Jump Start (Grow More)... that's my go-to -- now that I'm spending your $$!

 

[Tommy Bahama]

You shouldn't be watering on a schedule. You should be watering when your plants need it. It could be that one is ready to be watered and the other isn't.
One way to do this is by sticking a finger into the dirt up to your second knuckle to see if you feel moisture.
Another way to judge this is by the weight of the pots. Compare when they are very dry to just after you water them.
You said you were adding a gallon per pot, but you didn't say how big the pots were. Depending on the size, you may be under or overwatering them.

 

[Bsharp]

Recharge is solid stuff, a better deal than GW too,...plus h-f's, some molasses, kelp... Root Booster, hmmm, kind of redundant.... I'd go with Superthrive instead, or better still, Jump Start (Grow More)... that's my go-to -- now that I'm spending your $$!

No problem waira, thank you

You shouldn't be watering on a schedule. You should be watering when your plants need it. It could be that one is ready to be watered and the other isn't.
One way to do this is by sticking a finger into the dirt up to your second knuckle to see if you feel moisture.
Another way to judge this is by the weight of the pots. Compare when they are very dry to just after you water them.
You said you were adding a gallon per pot, but you didn't say how big the pots were. Depending on the size, you may be under or overwatering them.

Thank you, that's my bad its 5gal pots

I am sure I am not overwatering because I am going by weight of the pot, dry soil inch deep, crumbly top soil, and leafs and stems will sag not just the leaf. My issue is it will be under watered after feeding they will look overwatered for a lot longer then they should ( they should spring back 1-2 hours then look underwatered when thirsty again but,
they spring back for a day then look overwatered for the next day then transition into looking underwater again). I have noticed too since my post after I water and my pot sits for 5+ hours and if I tilt it at 45degree at each drain hole and hold I will get a little more runoff , i am also going to try and poke a few 2mm holes to help drainage ( should of just got fabric pots not these lowes pots)


-Thanks again guys! and lesson learned on how important good drainage is

 

[Tommy Bahama]

I am sure I am not overwatering because I am going by weight of the pot, dry soil inch deep, crumbly top soil, and leafs and stems will sag not just the leaf.

Yep, it sounds like you are underwatering. Generally, when both the nodes and leaves sag it is from underwatering.
Also, 1 gallon isn't very much for a 5 gallon pot - unless your plants are still pretty small. I use about 1.5 gallons of water for 3 gallon pots. I water until I get about 10% runoff coming out of the pot. Of course, everyone's situation is different.
Pics would definitely help here.

 

[Tommy Bahama]

i am also going to try and poke a few 2mm holes to help drainage

Woah, I just noticed this statement. What do your pots currently have for drainage? Usually the drainage holes are big enough to stick your finger through. Photos of one of your pots may be helpful, as well.