Looking to confirm a watering technique. I’m trying to water by weight so I’m doing half the container volume with water/nutrients which usually gives me 10-15% runoff. My question lies in the percentage of weight change to indicate when best to water again.
I’m trying a model first with the following amounts:
3.5” container with “oven dry medium” = 90g, Container and medium at full saturation (one cup water)= 290g.
3.5” container holds 2 cups of water. 1cp water/nutrients = 10-15% run off.
I’m almost tempted to re saturate once medium starts to pull from container sides but fear this may be to dry! Any help would be appreciated! Thanks again
The amount to water a plant usually depends on the root mass, not the soil mass. Less roots = less water.
good way to find out would be to take same size container and fill it as if then get your weight than do the water until it drains out the amount you like it to let it stand alone to dry out for about an hour and you should have at best enough accuracy to move forward the plant weight is not very substantial until you get into 3 to 5 or 7 lb containers and even so you’d be ok and take a little guess as to plant weight but I hope this helps
Your method will work, I’m pretty sure but most people just do it by ‘feel.’ Get the substrate/medium nicely saturated and remember what that feels like. Let it dry until you notice the pot is substantially lighter and.. it’s time to water again. As Mystro talked about, the rootball will determine water use. So, as you go along, your water needs will change and you won’t be able to calculate a perfect amount of water to add throughout the cycle – that amount will fluctuate. Plus, one plant may be a much heavier drinker than 10 other of the exact same varietal. That’s why learning to ‘feel’ the weight of your pot and judge WILL be a useful skill!
Watering techniques are also style-specific. Sounds like you’re growing in a variation of hydro with bottled/packaged nutrients. If so, follow the recommendations of someone that grows the way – I don’t. I grow organically with living soil so we don’t want big swings in moisture – we want a constant level of moisture, at the optimal moisture. Am I right that your growing with some hydro method?
@dtom420
you are right DTOM but even easier yet is a water soil meter cost about eight bucks and you can usually rely on the “meter” feel for the soil. I us one myself and plunge the rod about half the distance through the soil and if it reads a one out of three I water. Well now I’m thirsty so abla blah blah !
Pretty sure this doesnt work unless you find a way to account for the weight of the plant, and I’m not sure how you would do that.