What is the recommended watering frequency with Coco/Perlite

[Weedgrodamus]

There seems to be divergent advice. I have heard growers doing 3-5 days as recommended here and also 6 times per day in late stages.

I have been using the first knuckle rule since they are still small, but it seems kicking it up will be necessary later. Will the first knuckle rule stay valid?

[Tika]

IMO...the lift test is a superior method. I'm in smart pots, 5 gallon.
i have found under my conditions every 4th day.
i water/feed 1.5 to 2 gallons per pot. Drain thoroughly & return to tent.

[South Sierra Dude]

Sound like five gallon pots to me. Still figuring all this out but the amount I water/feed is usually about 1/5 to 1/4 the volume of the pot per watering. I stop when it flows, not drips, then drain. With no co2 treatment I get 4 days usually between watering. With co2 I get three days between watering.

[Weedgrodamus]

My girls are only 3"-4" tall in 3 g smartpots, does size matter for watering.

Also what do you mean "drain thoroughly"?

[South Sierra Dude]

Your medium stores water and nutes. less medium less room. I've never used that size pot but I'd start with 3/4 to 1 1/2 gallons. Drain thoroughly means don't make a mess in your tent. Size does not matter. Water the entire pot, edge to edge till water runs, not trickles but flows, a little, then drain thoroughly.

[Tika]

Yes size matters.
I drain to waste as SSD indicates. Infeed/water until the fluid starts to flow from bottom of pot ( having a good saucer underneath to catch) I dump the runoff and once it has ceased to drain put it back into its regular saucer and back into tent.

[South Sierra Dude]

You mean the size of the pot, right? The size of the plant will effect frequency more than quantity.

[NebulaHaze]

Both the size of the pot and size of the plant affect frequency and quantity of watering. Smaller plants drink less, so they need to be watered less often. If small plants are in big pots they also need less water quantity at a time so they don't get "wet feet" while the growing medium dries out. Big pots take longer to dry out so you usually need to water them less often.

On the flip side, big plants drink a lot and need a lot of water at a time. Small containers dry out faster, so they need water more often. If you have a very small pot with a big plant, you want to completely soak the medium every time to help the medium dry out slower, but soaking the medium could kill a seedling in a big pot.

To add another wrench, smart pots and air pots (which get air from the sides) dry out a lot faster and need to be watered more often and more thoroughly than regular pots of the same size.

Additionally, the temperature, the airflow, the humidity, and the composition of the growing medium all have a big effect on how much water the plant drinks, and how much water evaporates.

With all the different variables, it's hard to come up with a "set schedule" that will work for every plant in every setup. That's why it can be so hard to get a solid answer to the question of how much and how often to water. It's important to give both the right amount and the right frequency to make sure roots stay wet but not too wet, yet that schedule is different for everyone!

[Weedgrodamus]

What kind of frequency for 3-4" girls? First knuckle?

[South Sierra Dude]

When they are dry. Size no matter.

[South Sierra Dude]

I pick my plants up. I'm used to their weight and water when they are light.

[Flockshot]

I have a problem with the heavy pot / light pot method of watering. How much does a heavy pot weigh and how much does a light pot weigh? If I had that information I would know the difference and when I am getting close.

[OzBud]

you don't need to know the number figure, water a pot properly and then pick it up and you'll know how heavy it is. lift it every day and you'll notice the weight difference.

[Flockshot]

I agree. It gets lighter every day. So how light should it get? I let it get light till it finally wilted a little and I never let it get that light again. It never wilted, but my root autopsy revealed significant under watering, so for a while I will be going by some numbers till I get to be a better water manager.

[South Sierra Dude]

You just get used to it. The weight combined with slight loss of turgidity.

[Chemichael]

I picked up a burpee moisture reader a long time ago- and I find it very useful now. You can sink it deep into the soil and get a moisture reading. So if you feel like overwatering- go ahead- if this thing has moisture you will know.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/like/282273875325?lpid=82&chn=ps&ul_noapp=true

That said, coco is weird for me. I tried and have a nice plant in coco- but will keep soil as I find it easier to maintain right now. Starting plants in coco was a challenge for me. for me that is

[South Sierra Dude]

I started in happy frog/light warrior in the tent. Then transplanted.

[Weedgrodamus]

Does the moisture reader work in coco?

[insomniaczzz]

I use a soil probe that is similar to this. Measures moisture content and reads pH. Probes are about 7 inches log.

http://www.acehardware.com/product/index.jsp?productId=17850436&KPID=14766487&cid=CAPLA:G:Shopping_-_Hydroponics_&_Accessories_-_New=&pla=pla_14766487&k_clickid=8601b241-723d-49b1-ba97-0484eb4ae1c3

[Chemichael]

That works also. Good pickup. I have a few gadgets for each thing that I'm doing.