Hey DGC – I’m Embarrassed to post this question but I’m having problems gauging the water level in my 15 gallon fabric pots. This is the first time I’ve grown in anything bigger than 5 gallon buckets. This is also the first time I’m growing without bottled nutes. The soil mix is a Coot Mix with all the goodies in it. I’m using a cheap moisture meter to gauge my water schedule but I’m really not sure if I’m too much, too little ? I don’t think lifting pots is an option and I don’t want to disturb the cover crop to dig down to check. I added 30 red wigglers to each container a few days ago and they dove right down into soil with lights out. Haven’t seen one since. I recently watered 1/2 gallon each with a mix of Recharge and worm castings bubbled for a couple hours. The plants in pics were transplanted a week ago from 1 gallon fabric pots and were very healthy. Been growing in 3-5 gallon Hempy buckets with coco and perlite for years so I’m a little out of my element. Any suggestions on watering pots this size would be appreciated.
Cheers-Lord Blueberry
It shouldn’t be an issue sticking your finger through the straw without disturbing the cover crop much. The plants are fairly small still and with the straw as a mulch layer you should be good for at least 5 days between waterings until they get bigger with more roots. If the surface is drying out fast you can give them a little dose to keep the cover crop healthy. You don’t want the middle to bottom of the pot over-saturated so careful using too much.
looking good!
The cheap moisture meter isn’t a bad idea until you get used to watering bigger pots. I still like to grab the side of my pots and lift them up a bit just to feel the weight. Even if they are too big to fully pick them up, you can still sorta lift up a corner of the pot to gauge the weight / moisture.
I like to water the heck out of my plants when I first transplant them, and then I let them dry out quite a bit before they get their next watering. This seems to help the plant get established, and then encourages it start sending out new roots once the soil starts to slowly dry.
I use a pump sprayer to gently mist the soil surface/straw mulch once a day for the first few days to help the cover crop seeds sprout and get established. This helps ensure the cover crop seeds sprout, but other than that surface misting I usually dont’ do another full watering for several days days after transplanting.
sweet
Thanks jmystro. I was concerned with keeping the top level wet enough to establish cover crop. To that end I’ve been misting or lightly watering the top layer although it does seem to dry out quickly.
This is a perfect situation for Tropf Blumats. https://www.sustainablevillage.com/blumat
In pots that size, with plants that size, I wouldn’t water more than once a week, maybe 10 days.