HELP! Smart Pot Newbie with Questions

[Jennykush]

So, I am running smart pots for the first time and had a few questions for this knowledgeable community!

1. What is the best watering schedule have you found for 5 gal smart pots?

I understand that I can run it like hydro. Everyday? Nutes how often? Until their soaked or for 20%?

2. Do you remove them from the plant from the tent? If not how do you water for run off, what's your system?

Any feedback would be helpful. Thank you!

[Speedygreen]

I started running 4gal smart pots this yr and as far as fresh sprouts I've been watering just around the root area. Once they're big enough to soak the whole pot I do 20% run off in a drip tray with aquarium air tube as a drain. Nutes every other watering. I get 3-4 days between watering once I can soak the whole pot (2/3 coco 1/3 perlite) week 5 of flower with very healthy plants and a set of babies destined to take their place

[Dutchman1]

Question is are you using soil or coco coir?

[Jennykush]

Coco coir

[PuravidaC]

I used 5 gal smart pots, with FFOF soil, for the first time this grow. I thought they would dry out faster than plastic pots and wound up overwatering. I got a miosture meter and settled on watering around every 5 days. I believe coco would be different. I broght some plactic stands, around $2.50 each at the same place I bought the smart pots. It is crucial to keep pots elevated so air flows under the pots and they don't sit in water. I bought sauces at Lowe's to set everything in to catch run off. Hope this helps.

[Waltermelon]

With coco yes, you can water everyday. But unless the root mass is big enough to fill the pots it's kind of wasteful to water the entire pot to runoff.
I don't use smart pots, but I just drain into the bottom of my tent liner. It holds water really well and every week or three I'll take it out and wash it. It is a bit drier climate here in the desert, and since I started watching my humidity in my tent, it stays just about right and is dry by the mornings when I water at night. You could run a drip tray under your setup if you don't like how I do it. My tent is also maxed out as far as floor space running 9 3 gal pots in a 3'x3' tent. That makes it a bit tough to get plants in and out.

[Mr.furley]

I personally water to runoff every 3-5 days, Some water everyday but I have no experience with it so I can't help you there but it is a common practice . There is a lot of creative ways to elevate your pots for height, watering needs without removing them from the tent, I personally love taking my plants out of the tent to prune, water, rotate and inspect.

hope this helps.

[Campesino]

Hi Jennykush
I grow in a very similar fashion. I invite you to check out my journal: https://forum.growweedeasy.com/forum...manifolds-grow
I water my plants every day. A couple points about this...1. It is important to have sufficient Perlite mixed with your Coco to do this, 30-50% perlite. 2. It creates a lot of humidity... I get away with creating a ton of humidity because it is very dry where I live.
For most of the grow I watered once per day before lights on. Plants took about 1 quart each (dry climate and 7-gallon pots). During flowering I have increased the quantity and started adding a second daily watering a couple times a week. I am now in the final weeks of flowering and watering twice per day.
20% run-off for non-nute days (ALWAYS ADD CAL/MAG...ALWAYS). Just need to soak medium on nute days.
I do not move my plants. I have them on elevated saucers with drain lines. Plants generally don't like being moved and it will become increasingly difficult to move them. Certainly many people do that, but I recommend building/creating a drainage system of some kind. You can see my system in my journal.
Happy to help if you have follow-ups

[Jennykush]

You all have been very helpful! I can't wait to get started, beans should be in soon. This isn't my first grow but I haven't been very successful before. I'm excited to be in the community now:

[BlueBudz]

Welcome!