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Container sizes for autos

P

PuravidaC

New member
Got some relatively minor issue going on and trying to figure out problem. It appears to be either over watering or wind burn. I have adjusted fans and keeping an eye on soil before watering. Tutorials mention small plants in large containers are susceptible to over watering. I am growing autos in 5 gal fabric pots and have been watering to run off every other day. Pots seem light and top of soil has been dry before watering. I know some here use 5 gal fabric pots for autos and others use 3 gal fabric pots. I would think it would be difficult to over water with a fabric pot but could 5 gal be too big for autos?
 
Probably watering every other day would be the reason they are overwatered.
When your pot is light as a feather dry - then it is time to water.
Drowned plants will not produce any buds.
 
Watering every other day in a 5 gallon pot seems like a lot to me, I’m in 3 gallon fabric pots and I can go 4 days between watering with photos week 4 of flower. Are you lifting your pots to see if they feel light? Pics of the plants could help.
 
Hey PuravidaC, yeah ,I'm with what 147,an 99, said . That's way to soon to be watering in a 5 gallon pot, that's been watered to runoff, 1 time or 2 times a week at the most. It takes a while for a 5 gallon pot to dry out where I live. Pick up your pot when it's bone dry an feel how lite weight it is, pick it up again after you water to runoff, it's alot heavier, then don't water again till it's light weight again. To much watering will slow them down to where they aren't even growing anymore, that's when bad problems start.Let it get bone dry before watering again, at least that's what I would do, lots of people do it differently I reckon.
 
PVC, you mention soil and you mean soil correct? Not coco? Just making sure, I have been using little 7" plastic square pots that hold about 1.5 gals of coco/perlite and I use 1qt of nutes in each one every 24hrs, that gives me runoff as well, I run about 1pt in between the 24hr full feed (just for flower), but again this is coco and small pot. I just got 5 of the 3 gallon smartpots and am already thinking that due to the water retention and size, I will probably only need to feed every few days, which will be nice for a change..haha

Good Luck..:)
 
Are you in real soil? Any perlite in it? Or other assistance for draining / oxygen?
i feed every other day in the last weeks of flower. I don’t agree with really dry light weight bit yea..light in weight.
i believe Green75 uses 5 gals for his autos
 
This sounds like too much water to me. Unless your plants are huge or very dry and ventilated. Do you have pics? Info?
 
I think you guys are right... over watering! I always watered every 2 or 3 days with 5 gal plastic pots and thought top 1 inch of soil (FFOF) was dry enough to water this grow but... again, thought fabric pots would dry faster than a plactic pots. They were growing great until a week ago, then flower started and now they have stopped stretching and are droopy. They are 4 1/2 weeks old now. I'll diffently let them get thirsty before watering again.
 

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Thanks for your help, everyone. When I took photo above, I added a fan to blow directly on fabric pots to help dry. Even though I watered this morning, the bottom of the pots are still soaking wet (pots are on stands) and water drains out easily from bottom of pot when pressed with finger. Feeling like a rookie! 😁
 
Yep, FFOF. I have perlite but didn't add any as FFOF has perlite and I thought using fabric pots would provide plenty of drainage. Really jacked about new grow area, able to control environment perfectly and new 315 LEC light, then I make a simple mistake... everytime I think I got this shit figured out I get another helping of humble pie!
 
Yea, Socks. I using FFOF soil. I'm a simple man with simple pleasures so I use soil. Hydro or even coco seems labor intensive compared to soil. I know everyone praises hydro and coco but obviously I have a ways to go just learning growing in soil!! 😁
 
Got new grow space, new 315 LEC and first time using fabric pots and growing autos. Thought I had this shit figured out but... I was anticipating around 2 oz per plant (Gorilla Glue auto), but may have to lower that expectation after stressing these girls.
 
I thought they were lite when lifted but not feather lite. I have about a half of bag of soil left over and will feel the weight of the bag for a reference. Have new grow space dialed in perfectly and then this!
 
Yea, I have been lifting pots and thought they were lite enough but I think photo below speaks for itself. Grow and learn...
 
I like to lift my plants out of the tent when I water. Gives me a good idea on weight and I can check them out in natural light. Then I empty my saucer before replacing. I’ve found doing this makes me pay more attention to the weight of when they need watered, and I can more easily check them out. If for no other reason just to look lol. Just whatcworks for me. I’m sure they’ll bounce back nicely.
 
I like SmartPot brand. as I think they are thinner than other brands..maybe poke some holes around the bottom. They are wet indeed.
if you are growing inside/ indoors. I recommend coco/ perlite..my same recommendations as boring as it is
and for outside. With coco/perlite maybe air pots.
Your sausers look wet and shouldn’t be even in coco. Drain totally and remove all drain from environment unless you need humidity
feel free to pm me with any questions
your plants are good the save is on
 
I hear ya Pura, I had one picture perfect grow after another and thought I had it all down. Changed my soil a little and all hell breaks loose. Its very humbling but hey, thats how we all learn and get better.
 
Thanks Tika. I have my humidity dialed in and have my pots on stands like yours. I didn't think a little water in pan would hurt as pot is not sitting in it but will poke some holes in fabric and keep dry as you recommend. Was trying to figure out how to accelerate drying soil and get back on track asap so thanks again for the tip.
 
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