When I transplant, if you haven’t already used it (and likely, even if you have already) mycorrhizae sprinkled lightly in the hole before transplanting helps the roots get a good start in the new soil. The rest of your transplant procedure looks fine. I water the soil before transplanting and that cuts down on the amount of water you have to use, keeping more of the mycorrhizae around the roots. I put the soil in a little at a time and hand pack it. That is just a procedure I used as a little kid in the family garden and it has served me well for a long time.
This may not be for you, but it seems to work for me and that is really what it is about, finding what works for YOU ! Hope this helps.
I often use a modest amount of ground cinnamon near the root zone for root health. I like to keep it all natural, so organic cinnamon works for me. It is also a pesticide/funcide for a lot of pests and fungi; such as ants, powdery mildew, etc; and for whatever reason the roots react very well to it. As the previous grower mentioned, it is all what suits you best. Just do a little research and you will find what you like.
Hi guys thanks for your input. Im not sure where i can obtain mycorrhiza but i read on Wiki that it hordes nitrogen from plant roots in times of nitrogem scarcity.
Hi everyone is it wierd that my blue plant is starting to grow closer together if you look at the difference between each stem they are not as far apart. Do i need to do anything with my lights?
I also just learned there are drainage holes on the bottom that will prevent this issue:
Open diameter of Self Watering Planter is 19.09 inch
Bell-shaped silhouette design with internal drainage reservoir
Self-watering disk helps prevent damaging root rot and helps allow oxygen to easily access plant roots Excellent drainage reservoir to trap water and keep it away from plants roots
The roots will grow through the holes and end up in the reservoir on the bottom.
@latewood can chime in if he wants, as maybe he some experience with some of these type pots, but as I said, any “pooling” or sitting stagnating water is not good around an indoor cannabis grow. You are just giving places for fungus gnats, molds, mildew, and potentially even worse pathogens and pests to get a foot hold in your grow.
I started with using similar “self-watering” pots too, like way back in my beginning, like 17 plus years ago. And I always had problems with fungus gnats, it was pretty horrible, and I also kept wondering why my plants kept getting sick, until I discovered my plants were having all the symptoms that come along with over-watering.
I understand the feeling of “but I paid good money for these pots!” and I’m not exactly telling you what you want to hear, lol. But I would rather the good money and time you invest in the plants works out for you than tell you something that I’m not sure about. These might have a better design and maybe work better than the ones I used – almost 20 years ago, but I still wouldn’t let water sit in the tray(reservoir) at the bottom.
All I can say, is that I used that type pot, and had excellent grows. I think of the water in the reservoir as the same as bato buckets, or simplified hydroponics with a 1’-2" weep hole.
However; This is soil…right?..And with that said; What I did was add a layer of rock in the bottom to proactively allow for oxygen in the bottom of the root zone. I also put the ppot in a “Saucer”, even though it had a reservoir. I did this so I could fill it untill it overflowed. Then I did not have to water for almost 3-4 days in Veg, and 2-3 days during flower.
I would sweat it. I woudl grow it. If it does not appear to you as a good gorw method. Adapt.
Okay that sounds great! I will add rocks to the first layer of soil before i transplant them. Unfortunately, i was not able to water it for three days and i saw my plants in a dehdrated state and one spider mite crawling on the outside of the pot. Is there anyway to use like an aqua globe to maintain self watering?
Based on how fast the water is being absorbed i think its time to transplant.
The problem is; That you have only half the pot filled with soil. This would be real easy of you had an extra pot.
Gently remove from current pot and set on some newspaper. Add some well rinsed lava rock, or any nice clean small rock and fill 1/2 way up in those pots you have. Set the plant back into pot on new soil, and back fill. Generously water in.
Now your plants will maintain moisture for an extra day or 2…For now. Plants will fill out after new roots migrate into the new soil, and then you will need to transplant into bigger pots.
If you replant into bigger pots now, with plants as is; You are wasting good soil. Happy Growing,
As per your instructions i pulled out the plants added rocks i rinsed with water and added some more soile before putting my plant cake back in the i topped it with more soil and i filled it with water.
Should i remove those bottom leaves which are curling? So the Green and Blue plants are nearing one foot. I’m running out of ideas on how to raise the lights to keep them 2 inches away. I plan to have move them to the bigger pots i guess in a week or two once they stabilize. Is there anything else i should worry about for these plants?
When you transplant try to fill the pot close o the top, it will give you more root room. When I change pots I wet the soil some so it sticks together around the roots.
You can remove damaged leaves; Especially any that are below the main secondary branches. I do generally clear this out. I do it for air circulation. This helps keep down pests, too. Just be careful and do not do your 1st re-potting in too large a pot. Happy growing
Not as long as you The plant tin the little pot is planted way too deep in the pot. Make sure you fill the pot up, so plant is 1/2" below rim of pot. Peace
Also, the plants survive the weekend but become really dry, but i will be going on a trip for 5 plus days soon. So should i get an aqua globe since no one will be able to help me water them?
i also noticed that the roots are growing down through the drain holes to get water, (pass the rocks and soil) see picture below. Is there anything i should do to keep these roots alive?
