New Grower My First Grow. Finally. Feedback appreciated!

[fauxnacho]

Good luck dude remember not to f##k with em til they're a bit tall and tough - hardest thing to learn as a newbie, not to get over eager
Got a good setup here
On the runoff thing, have you thought about bottom watering? Makes it a breeze really
I'm all for the paper towel germ in a warm place but it's aaaall about doing what works for you, and changing what doesn't :smoking: peace and good luck again

 

[Tom Bombadil]

It is never a good idea to let run-off re-soak into the pot:
1. It will cause a salt build up in the pot.
2. The bottom of the pot remains too wet too long opening a pathway for pathogens especially root rot and fungus gnats
3. plants should be held above the run-off tray with an air space underneath.
4. water your outdoor plants with it.

It takes skill to water just to run-off in soil but it is the goal.

Alot of times with cloth pots I will get some water coming out the sides midway up the pot while watering. I am only organic and do not use any salt based ferts so I dont have any buildup, all the stuff that comes out the bottom of the pot is full of good things.. My pots sit in their trays and suck up the excess. Is that going to cause an issue for me eventually? All the fungus gnats ive had were caused by the top of the soil being overly moist, since thats where they live and breed, kind of part of the territory when top dressing and mulching i guess. My pots never stay wet for too long since they are made of cloth. Ive tried over watering them on purpose in the past as an experiment and its nearly impossible, even with them sitting on the ground.. So are you talking about salt based fertilizer grows or all grows in general? @Mañ'O'Green

thanks

 

[Zer0]

My pots never stay wet for too long since they are made of cloth. Ive tried over watering them on purpose in the past as an experiment and its nearly impossible, even with them sitting on the ground..

I raised my fabric pots off the ground because i found yellow dog vomit mold on the bottom of 1 pot, i hear its harmless but i didn't want it there.

I had to learn to water fabric pots a certain way or it does fall out the sides making your runoff look like the pot got enough water.

learning as i go

 

[Tom Bombadil]

I raised my fabric pots off the ground because i found yellow dog vomit mold on the bottom of 1 pot, i hear its harmless but i didn't want it there.

I had to learn to water fabric pots a certain way or it does fall out the sides making your runoff look like the pot got enough water.

learning as i go

Yeah I figure to just let them soak it back up and fill in whatever dry pockets there were from the water coming out the sides... I dunno best way I can tell if the pot is watered good is its heavy and the sides are a little damp and cool to the touch.. otherwise they are starting to dry out!

 

[Zer0]

Yeah I figure to just let them soak it back up and fill in whatever dry pockets there were from the water coming out the sides... I dunno best way I can tell if the pot is watered good is its heavy and the sides are a little damp and cool to the touch.. otherwise they are starting to dry out!

Just for good measure, after I'm done watering them and they are heavy i spray the outside of the fabric all around the pot just to make sure the sides got wet enough.

 

[Mañ'O'Green]

Alot of times with cloth pots I will get some water coming out the sides midway up the pot while watering. I am only organic and do not use any salt based ferts so I dont have any buildup, all the stuff that comes out the bottom of the pot is full of good things.. My pots sit in their trays and suck up the excess. Is that going to cause an issue for me eventually? All the fungus gnats ive had were caused by the top of the soil being overly moist, since thats where they live and breed, kind of part of the territory when top dressing and mulching i guess. My pots never stay wet for too long since they are made of cloth. Ive tried over watering them on purpose in the past as an experiment and its nearly impossible, even with them sitting on the ground.. So are you talking about salt based fertilizer grows or all grows in general? @Mañ'O'Green

thanks

@Tom Bombadil yes and no. TLS would not be as much a problem as a salt grow for sure but you still have the potential for a soggy bottom. The real trick to TLS is to water without run-off but that is easier said than done. Try using some Yucca Powder in your water. It is a natural surfactant and feeds some microbes as well. It will help re-wet any dry pockets in the soil. If the water wants to run out the sides of the fabric pot you have water channeling going on. You may need to water slower so you have more capillary action going on to re-wet the pot.


It is not a good idea to bottom water soil. There will be a level inside the pot that the salts will precipitate out even though the water may wick to the top. This can happen in all substrates. The effects can be mitigated by regular top watering to rinse the salts out but why do it in the first place.

 

[Tom Bombadil]

@Tom Bombadil yes and no. TLS would not be as much a problem as a salt grow for sure but you still have the potential for a soggy bottom. The real trick to TLS is to water without run-off but that is easier said than done. Try using some Yucca Powder in your water. It is a natural surfactant and feeds some microbes as well. It will help re-wet any dry pockets in the soil. If the water wants to run out the sides of the fabric pot you have water channeling going on. You may need to water slower so you have more capillary action going on to re-wet the pot.


It is not a good idea to bottom water soil. There will be a level inside the pot that the salts will precipitate out even though the water may wick to the top. This can happen in all substrates. The effects can be mitigated by regular top watering to rinse the salts out but why do it in the first place.

To be fair, if the bottom of my pots feel really wet a day or two after a good watering, and/ or the plant decides to drink less for whatever reason and I badly time a thorough watering, I do lift them off the tray for a day or so.

thx

 

[Mañ'O'Green]

To be fair, if the bottom of my pots feel really wet a day or two after a good watering, and/ or the plant decides to drink less for whatever reason and I badly time a thorough watering, I do lift them off the tray for a day or so.

thx

An Old Farmer that did row crops near where I lived as a child used to say "Plants don't like to go to bed with wet feet". He only irrigated in the mornings. He could grow vegetables and flowers of the highest quality. I live by that mantra to this day. It might be Bro-Science but it has not failed me.

 

[indicalla]

An Old Farmer that did row crops near where I lived as a child used to say "Plants don't like to go to bed with wet feet". He only irrigated in the mornings. He could grow vegetables and flowers of the highest quality. I live by that mantra to this day. It might be Bro-Science but it has not failed me.

What a helpful conversation. This community is great.

I’ve been trying to water slowly and deliberately. I’m going to keep them elevated and see if I can minimize runoff by taking my time.

 

[indicalla]

Good luck dude remember not to f##k with em til they're a bit tall and tough - hardest thing to learn as a newbie, not to get over eager
Got a good setup here
On the runoff thing, have you thought about bottom watering? Makes it a breeze really
I'm all for the paper towel germ in a warm place but it's aaaall about doing what works for you, and changing what doesn't :smoking: peace and good luck again

I’m really going to try to take your advice and not fuck with them too much.