How much water for autoflower seedlings

[skudra]

I am just trying to confirm the appropriate amount of water for the beginning of an autoflower grow. I am indoors with an Optic Slim 650S in 5 gallon SmartPots. Day 6 and am running ~230par. I see that Tang suggests only 50ml ~every other day per seedling for the first 10 days. Another autoflower expert on youtube says a cup/cup and a half of water per watering. That is a big discrepancy. Would someone/Tang please clarify that it is indeed 50ml per seedling at the beginning (through day 10) please?

 

[parsing_trees]

What are you growing them in? Soil, coco, something else?

I grow in coco. For the first week or so I'm usually watering seedlings with a shot glass or so (~30-50 ml) of low-EC (maybe 1/4 strength) nutrient water every day. That's in small containers such as solo cups, but in larger pots I would still start out with that little water for the first few days. Watering too much loosens up the coco around the small root ball and can easily uproot the plant. Once growth picks up and the plants' roots get established I start watering wider around the plant (slowly, still not flooding the coco), and around ten days in I switch to bottom-feeding.

 

[skudra]

What are you growing them in? Soil, coco, something else?

I grow in coco. For the first week or so I'm usually watering seedlings with a shot glass or so (~30-50 ml) of low-EC (maybe 1/4 strength) nutrient water every day. That's in small containers such as solo cups, but in larger pots I would still start out with that little water for the first few days. Watering too much loosens up the coco around the small root ball and can easily uproot the plant. Once growth picks up and the plants' roots get established I start watering wider around the plant (slowly, still not flooding the coco), and around ten days in I switch to bottom-feeding.

Thank you very much for the reply. I am in ProMix HP in a 5 gallon fabric SmartPot using RO water with a ph of around 6.8. I have not begun any nutrients at this 5 day mark-only water.

 

[parsing_trees]

Thank you very much for the reply. I am in ProMix HP in a 5 gallon fabric SmartPot using RO water with a ph of around 6.8. I have not begun any nutrients at this 5 day mark-only water.

Okay. I don't know anything about ProMix HP. It looks like that's a mix of peat and perlite?

Seedlings don't need much water.

 

[skudra]

Yes, you are right. Lots of Perlite and peat. OK, I will stick to the 50ml waterings for these seedlings. Thank you!

 

[automan2]

The appropriate amount is just enough to make the seedling seek its nutrition.....Personally, even though I start every seed in a 16 oz solo cup of premoistened bio bizz light mix (similar to pro mix), It's several days before needing anything. A 'feel' for the weight of the pot or a simple and cheap moisture meter....but I will assure you that a seedling can withstand a drought much better than a flood.
On feeding in soil less mediums, seedlings typically need nothing for 2-3 weeks and even then lightly......

 

[FRUMPLEMEIST]

I use a spray bottle/ pump sprayer and moisten the top. I spray an area of about 3 inches around the seedling with just enough to make it moist. Each time it starts to dry up I do it again. Each day I widen the area that I spray. I never direct pore water on the medium until about week two. Grab a water bottle and poke a bunch of small holes in the top. Use that for more direct watering. That will help keep the medium intact instead of creating water holes. Water holes…..I hope I got my point across on that one….? I will spray my young seedlings about 3 or 4 times a day. Let the water go deeper as she grows.

 

[PeaceLove&Buds]

 

[2budz]

I don’t typically water seedling/vegging plants until they’re 20ish days old. But I do saturate the soil completely before dropping beans and keep it moist with a spray bottle.

I did just drop 2 beans in some coco loco almost a month ago and I started watering and feeding them right away as sort of an experiment and they’re doing great. But for a beginner the method I mentioned before is fool proof.

 

[2budz]

Keep in mind seedlings drink almost nothing. So you’re losing the moisture in the pot to evaporation. If you keep the top moist it will trap a good amount of moisture. In bags the outside will dry out as well so there’s nothing wrong with running a quart around the edge of the bag to keep it moist there as well. You just don’t want to dump a ton of water directly where the seedling is.